A New Beginning - Part Two

"Jack, have you heard from George yet?" Warren asks nervously, keeping his voice low so Allana doesn't hear his inquiry.

"No," he whispers, glancing over his shoulder at Allana, who is completely engrossed in the screens monitoring the cages.

Warren looks over at the clock on the far wall, and then turns back to Jack. "They should have been back by now." Growing impatient, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. After dialing in George's number, he puts the phone to his ear, turning his back to Allana to get a little privacy. Several rings later, he places the phone back in his pocket. "No answer," he says grimly.

"They could be on silent approach or George could have left it in the van," Jack replies, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I guess," he replies absently, slowly walking back to the control panel.

"What's the temperature in the storage area, Warren?" Allana asks tersely. Becoming infuriated at the cooperation she had witnessed earlier between the prisoners, she'd decided their living conditions weren't dire enough. Soaking them with water and turning on the cooling units had been her way of venting and of punishing them. This wasn't meant to be a "share with your neighbor" experience, after all, she'd thought to herself grimly. She planned to use all three as weapons against each other.

Leaning over to check the thermometer, he replies, "Fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, ma'am."

"I think it's been long enough, don't you?" she asks, standing up casually from her chair to turn down the volume on the listening device.

"Yes, ma'am," Warren replies, looking over at the screens to see three freezing prisoners, one of whom only appears semi-conscious.

"You and Shawn will join me," she states evenly, grabbing her coat and then heading toward the storage area, her heels clicking on the hard flooring.

Warren looks over at Shawn. He's grabbed his weapon and is quickly washing down his last handful of chips with a large gulp of grape soda. Warren grimaces at the sight, and says flatly, "Let's go." Turning to Jack, he asks, "Let me know as soon as George calls."

Jack nods his head silently, walking over to the monitors and placing his coffee cup on the table. Turning up the volume, he waits for Allana to reach the cages.

*****

"Sloan," Tom calls out, worried that she's approaching a state of hypothermia. He's been watching her for the last few minutes and her breath sounds are getting shallow...too shallow. "Sloan, you need to stay with me. Don't fall asleep," he pleads.

Rubbing his hands up and down his arms, he looks over at Lewis. He's sitting in the middle of his cage, his knees pulled up to his chest, his eyes closed. Suddenly, Tom draws his attention back to Sloan, who is muttering something under her breath.

"Radio isotope...won't be long...Mark will rescue us..."

Tom's eyes widen as he listens to Sloan's incoherent babble. Could this be what she'd been hiding from them? He'd known that she had been trying to clue him in earlier when she'd lied about receiving a call from Walter and leaving Ed at the hospital. Could help be on the way? Hearing footsteps coming their way, Tom snaps his head around and sees Allana approaching. He panics. If Allana hears Sloan talking about a rescue, it could ruin everything.

When Allana reaches the cages, she simply stands there and stares at each of them in turn, Tom being the only one making eye contact. Turning to Lewis, she says mockingly, "What's the matter, Lewis? You playing hard to get this evening?" When she doesn't receive a response, she nods to Shawn, who steps into the spotlight and bangs the side of the cage with the butt of his rifle.

Lewis stays calm, refusing to flinch at the soldier's weak attempts to get a rise out of him. He knows if he stays silent and unresponsive, it will only frustrate her. It hadn't taken him long to realize that she is the kind of woman who has to have things her way or not at all. He has the injuries to prove it.

Realizing Lewis isn't going to respond, at least not to her, she turns her attention to Tom, who seems to be distracted with Sloan. "Sloan's not looking so well, Tom," she points out, knowing his concern over her well-being is growing.

"Why are you doing this?" Tom asks, turning his head to look at her. "Why are we here?"

"You wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for Walter." Placing her hands in her pockets, she continues, "Walter thought he could betray me and get away with it. He was wrong."

"What are you talking about?" Tom asks, unaware of Walter's meeting with Mark or of the shooting in the alley.

Tilting her head to the side, she replies, "That's right...you haven't heard yet." Walking a few steps closer to his cage, she continues, "It seems that there is a faction of the new species that is willing to negotiate peace...or should I say was willing to negotiate peace."

As Allana talks with Tom, Shawn walks slowly towards Sloan's cage. Staying just outside the circle of light, he kneels down to get a better look at her face.

Tom senses Shawn's movements, but keeps his eyes on Allana. If he looks over, he will surely draw Allana's attention away from him. If he keeps her talking, she might ignore Sloan, thinking she's unconscious.

With his eyes still closed, Lewis uses his senses to assess his surrounding. Shawn has moved over to Sloan's cage, Warren is still standing in the darkness, and Allana is standing in between his cage and Tom's. If a rescue plan is in the works, it would provide the perfect distraction for his escape, he muses.

"You've destroyed everything we've worked for...why?" Sloan asks, slowly opening her eyes and tilting her head to look at Allana.

"Ah, Sloan, I'm so glad you could join us," Allana states, a little rattled by the doctor's sudden interruption. "I was beginning..."

"You didn't answer my question," Sloan interrupts, trying to pull herself up off the floor of her cage. "Why?" she repeats, her voice rising in anger.

"You and I both know that co-existence is a childish fantasy." Allana turns around to face Sloan, stepping into the center of the spotlights. "They can't be trusted," she states flatly.

Sloan starts to laugh hysterically. "Can't be trusted? That's funny because from where I'm sitting...locked in this cage, freezing my ass off...you're the one who can't be trusted."

"Don't be foolish," Allana says harshly. "You've seen what they're capable of, Sloan. You should know better than anyone how deceitful they can be...Tom's the perfect example." Leaning down, only inches from Sloan's face, she continues, "Tell me, Sloan, was it easy to forgive Tom for all the lies? What did he say to make you trust him?"

"It wasn't what he said," Sloan counters, staring her straight in the eyes.

"Right, I forgot," Allana states mockingly. "Actions speak louder than words."

Breaking eye contact with Sloan, Allana stands up and then looks over to Shawn. "Get her out of there," she orders, turning to walk back to the edge of the spotlights.

Still standing in the darkness, Warren mentally braces himself. This is going to be a long night, he thinks, taking a deep breath to help relax his nerves.

Unlocking the cage, Shawn dives forward, pulling Sloan to him by her ankles. "Come on, sugar," he says.

"I can get out on my own," she yells, kicking him right where it counts, sending him back a couple of feet. "That's for pulling my hair earlier."

Shawn's face turns red and he sinks to the floor, grabbing his aching crotch. Trying to get back to his feet, he lets out a painful moan.

He sounds like a beached whale, Lewis thinks, opening his eyes to get a glimpse of Sloan in action. Reaching out to Tom with his senses, he feels a mixture of pride and panic. His young pupil is about to see what his life partner is made of.

Realizing he'd better do something fast, Warren runs up to the cage, pushing Shawn out of the way.

Scrambling back into the cage, Sloan quickly grabs its door, pulling it almost closed, her hands on its bars. When Warren reaches for it, Sloan pushes forward with all her weight, knocking him to the ground, his head smacking the floor.

"What the hell?!" Allana screams, throwing her hands in the air. "You two can't handle her on your own?" In the middle of her tirade, she doesn't hear her cell phone ringing until the second ring. Grabbing it from her pocket, she checks the caller id...Mason Jones. "Shit," she mutters, quickly walking toward the control room.

Coming back with a vengeance, Shawn kicks the door, slamming it into Sloan's knee caps. Then, reaching in and grabbing a handful of red curls, he drags her out again, saying harshly, "Come here, you bitch."

Tom starts throwing himself against the bars of his cage. "Leave her alone!" he yells, reaching his hands through the bars of his cage. "Damn you!"

Sloan cries out in pain, trying desperately to stand, but the floor is slippery from the water from the sprinklers and she's unable to gain any traction. Finally seeing an opening, she yanks on his ankle, sending him crashing to the ground, landing flat on his back. Getting to her knees, Sloan moves between his legs. Clasping her hands together, she brings them up over her head and then punches him in the stomach, his body jerking upward from the blow.

Still lying on the floor behind Sloan, his head throbbing viciously, Warren reaches over and pulls on Sloan's legs just as she's about to punch Shawn in the stomach for a second time. Thrown off-balance, Sloan's knees fly out from under her and her jaw hits the floor. Stunned, she lies still as Warren gets to his knees beside her and pulls her hands behind her back.

Holding her down, he looks over at Shawn. "Are you all right?"

Shawn merely nods his head, unable to catch his breath.

Lewis shakes his head and begins to chuckle as he watches Shawn struggle to breathe and Warren wince with pain as he pins Sloan down. He'd never thought he'd see the day when a bioanthropologist would get the better of two trained soldiers. This is the most entertainment he's had in over a month and it's not over yet, he realizes, suddenly sensing four distinct minds, including one that is all too familiar, just outside the cargo door.

Picking up his rifle, Shawn slowly makes his way back to the control room as Warren struggles to push Sloan back into her cage until Allana returns. Suddenly, there's a loud explosion.

From inside the control room, Allana almost drops her phone. She watches in shock as three men enter the storage area, guns blazing, and Shawn and Warren both drop to the ground, Shawn mortally wounded. Quickly disconnecting her cell phone, she turns to her driver. "Go start the car," she yells, over the deafening gunfire. Looking back toward the storage area, she realizes that it's over, at least for the moment. Not only is she not going to retrieve her cell phone from Walter, but she's about to lose Lewis as well.

Unable to just stand by and watch, Jack jumps up from the panel of monitors, picks up his rifle, and then quickly runs over to the storage cabinet. Grabbing some extra ammunition and a bulletproof vest, he heads out the door. When he reaches the storage area, he sees that Shawn is already dead and Warren is sure to follow if he doesn't act fast. Ducking behind one of the support beams, he hastily pulls the vest over his head and cocks his semi-automatic rifle.

At the other end of the storage warehouse, Michael is working on the lock on Tom's cage as John and Jacob stalk Warren, who is using Sloan as a human shield, trying desperately to stay alive. Keeping a mental count on his bullets, as any good soldier would do, Warren realizes that he's down to four in the magazine of his handgun after having fired off several shots at the three attackers. As he fires those last four bullets, heading toward the control room with Sloan clamped in front of him, all he can think about is his wife and six-year-old son. What will they do without him? When the last bullet rockets from the barrel of his gun, he throws it to the side and checks the distance to the door. At least another twenty feet...he's never going to make it. Then Sloan throws out her arms, screaming at the top of her lungs for them to stop.

As the gunfire fades, everyone looking in her direction, she stares directly at John and Jacob, who have been following them, looking for a clear shot. Then, taking a deep breath, she glances back at Warren through the corner of her eye.

"This is only going to end badly for you if this proceeds," she points out. "Please, surrender. Think about your family."

Warren looks at Sloan in surprise and then down at his left hand, realizing she must have spotted his gold wedding band.

"You won't be killed," Sloan promises, looking back toward John, who reluctantly nods his head, knowing if Warren makes it to the control room, their chance of rescuing Sloan unharmed decreases.

Warren looks at John and Jacob just in time to see John's silent response and, conceding defeat, he calls out, " Put down your weapon, Jack."

"What?" Jack calls out from behind the beam. "Are you serious?"

"Do it," Warren orders, hoping this isn't an order he'll come to regret.

Just as Michael and Tom approach, Jack leaves the safety of the beam and slowly lowers his weapon, kicking it off to the side. Jacob walks over and picks up the rifle, keeping a close eye on him.

"Release Sloan and step back," Tom orders, struggling to control his anger.

Realizing this is not a man to mess with, Warren slowly releases Sloan and places his hands on his head. John immediately steps forward and leads Warren and Jack back to the control room.

Without Warren holding her up against him any longer, Sloan suddenly wobbles slightly, trying to keep her balance. She aches from head to toe and she's quickly losing her adrenaline high, which is the only thing that has kept her going. As Tom approaches her, she reaches out her arms, tears spilling down her cheeks. She's desperate to feel his touch. "Tom," she whispers, as his arms wrap around her, lifting her off her feet. Sloan wraps her arms around him and lays her head on his shoulder, burying her face into his neck. Finally, she can rest.

Lifting her up into his arms, Tom turns toward the cargo door, John and Michael at his side, and he immediately notices that Lewis is missing. During all the commotion, Lewis had obviously managed to break the hinges on his cage and escape. Reaching the door, they see Jossie walking toward them from the eastern side of the building.

"Allana and her driver escaped through the east door," Jossie states angrily, rubbing the back of her neck, trying to catch her breath. Noticing that they are one person short, she asks, "Where's the third prisoner?"

"Lewis managed to escape," John replies grimly, looking over at Tom.

Jossie's heart skips a beat, knowing she'd left the cargo door unprotected when she'd gone after Allana. Cursing herself for the mistake, she joins the others as they make their way to the security fence.

*****

Reaching the van, Jossie quickly opens the back doors, throwing their equipment toward the front. Then she steps aside, giving Tom enough room to lay Sloan down, and turns to John and Jacob. "Do either of you have a blanket in your car?" she asks, knowing Sloan's wet clothing needs to be removed.

"I do," John replies, running over to open his trunk. Along with the blanket, he pulls out an extra set of clothes he keeps for emergencies. Walking back to the van, he tosses Jossie the blanket and hands Tom the clothing. As Jossie steps into the van, pulling the doors closed so that she can help Sloan remove her clothing in privacy, Tom decides to dress beside the road, knowing they need to get moving.

"Where's my car?" Jacob asks, looking over at the empty stretch of road where his car used to be.

Michael bursts out in laughter. "It looks like Lewis decided to borrow it, Jacob."

"Damn it," he curses, shaking his head.

Inside the van, Jossie carefully helps Sloan remove her clothing. Since Sloan is exhausted, Jossie's doing most of the work.

Staring up at Jossie, Sloan frowns, realizing that there's something familiar about her. Sloan's frown disappears instantly as it hits her...Jossie's eyes. They're identical to Tom's. The eyes, the dark hair, the dimpled chin. 'Why didn't I notice that before?' she wonders, shaking her head in disbelief.

"It's nice to meet you, Jossie," Sloan states softly.

Jossie's hands abruptly stop, sensing the full meaning in her statement. Looking up into Sloan's eyes, she replies, "It's nice to meet you too."

As Jossie wraps the blanket around Sloan's bruised body, Sloan adds, "He's going to be so happy to meet you."

"You think so?" Jossie asks, smiling nervously. "I know he doesn't remember me."

Sloan nods her head silently, pulling the blanket tight and then rolling onto her side, already heading toward sleep.

Jossie gently pushes Sloan's hair off her face, and then moves to the back of the van. Opening the doors, she comes face to face with Tom, who is waiting anxiously to be with Sloan. Every nerve in his body is screaming out for her.

Sensing his needs, Jossie averts her gaze quickly and moves to the front, sitting in the passenger seat.

Tom steps into the van, shuts the doors, and crawls over to Sloan. Lying down behind her, he gently pulls her into his arms, and kisses the back of her neck. She shifts slightly, leaning back against his chest. Nuzzling her neck, he whispers softly, "I love you."

Once Michael jumps in, he quickly starts the engine. Shifting the van into drive, he waits until John and Jacob drive past before pulling out onto the road.

Reaching the main road that leads to the highway, he glances over at Jossie, who is staring out the window. Sensing her turmoil, he reaches over and touches her arm, sending her a comforting smile.

*****

Lying down on one of the benches at the deserted rest stop, Ed stares up at the stars. There's a full moon tonight and the sky is clear. Looking over, he notices that Walter and Ray are under the gazebo, drinking some coffee they'd bought from one of the vending machines, and Mark is still sitting in his Dodge Durango, looking over an atlas he had pulled from the glove box when they'd first arrived. He'd informed them earlier that they would be staying in a safe house located in the Clearwater Mountains in Idaho. To say the least, Ed isn't thrilled with the location. It might have the value of being remote enough to keep them all safe, but damn, he thinks to himself glumly, there won't be any waves to surf. For a native Californian, this place is going to be hell, and a cold one at that. Agitated by this whole situation and unable to just sit and wait, Ed gets up off the bench and starts to pace up and down the sidewalk leading to the restrooms, combing his fingers through his hair repeatedly.

Noting Ed's agitation, Ray walks over to him, throwing his coffee cup in the garbage. "What's wrong, Ed?"

"Nothing's wrong," Ed snaps, turning to look at Ray. "Everything's wrong. What the hell is in Idaho, Ray?" Ed shakes his head, walking over to a nearby picnic table. He sits up on the top, planting his feet in their worn-out sneakers on the seat and leaning forward to place his head between his hands.

"From what I hear, Idaho puts out some mean potatoes," Ray replies jokingly, coming over to sit beside him.

Ed lets out a strangled laugh. "You like potatoes, Ray?" he asks, looking up at him with a reluctant smile on his face.

"Mashed and with plenty of gravy," he replies, thinking back to when his mother used to save the bacon grease from breakfast in an old soup can so that she could use it for her homemade gravy. "What about you?"

"I'm kinda partial to french fries," Ed states, reaching out to pick up a fallen leaf from the seat.

"It could be worse, Ed," Ray points out. "It's just a safe place to stay...with a view of the mountains, I might add...until it's safe to go home."

"Do you think it will ever be safe to go home, Ray?" Ed asks grimly, knowing it won't be likely in the near future.

Before Ray has a chance to respond, John and Jacob pull into the rest stop, followed by Michael and Jossie. "They're here, buddy," Ray states abruptly, slapping Ed on the shoulder. "Let's go!"

Walking towards them, Ed panics, noticing that Tom and Sloan are nowhere in sight. Reaching the front of John's car, he asks anxiously, "Where are they?"

John looks over at the van. "They're in the back."

Quickly grabbing his medical bag from the back of the Durango, Ed runs over to the van. Opening the back doors, he finds them curled up together, sound asleep. Stepping up into the van, he carefully steps over them, catching sight through the front windshield of the others gathered around outside, and then sits down in front of Sloan. Reaching over to check her pulse, he notices the vivid bruises on her neck. The second he touches her, Tom's eyes dart open. Ed jerks his hand back, his heart rate skyrocketing.

"What are you doing?" Tom asks tightly.

"I wanted to check her out," Ed stutters, finding it difficult to make direct eye contact with him.

"She's sleeping," Tom states, propping himself up on his elbow. "Besides, she's fine. She just needs to rest."

"She doesn't look 'fine'," Ed says harshly, pointing to Sloan's neck. In order to check for other injuries, he reaches down to pull back the blanket.

Tom grabs his wrist in mid-air. "She's not dressed."

"Why not?"

"Her clothes were wet and they needed to be removed," he replies, releasing his grip, pointing over to the discarded clothing. "Why don't you get her some clothes? Jossie can help her get dressed."

Realizing Tom isn't going to let him near her until she is awake and dressed, Ed nods his head in defeat. "I'll be right back," he says, leaving his medical bag behind.

Walking over to the Durango, Ed digs through the supplies until he finds Sloan's luggage. Since she'd never made it to her apartment, Ed had volunteered to run up to her apartment and pack a few of her things. Rummaging through the bag, he pulls out a comfortable outfit, panties, a pair of socks, and her favorite running shoes. She would have killed him if he'd left those behind, he thinks to himself.

Gathering them all in his arms, he walks over to Jossie, who is talking with the others in front of John's car. "Jossie, would you help Sloan get dressed so I can check her out?" he asks politely. "I noticed she took quite a beating."

"Of course," she replies, grabbing the clothes and shoes from him. "I'll let you know when she's ready."

Inside the van, Tom gently whispers in Sloan's ear. "Wake up." When she doesn't respond, he places his hand on her shoulder, shaking gently. "Sloan?"

She lets out a soft moan, arching her back and stretching her legs. Then she slowly opens her eyes as she takes in a deep breath. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he states, staring into her sleepy eyes. "We've met up with the others and you need to get dressed."

"I need to go to the bathroom first," Sloan states, trying to sit up.

"Let Jossie help you get dressed first, and then I'll escort you to the bathrooms," he suggests, glancing out the window to see Jossie walking over. Tom can sense the others close by and doesn't want Sloan walking around with only a blanket wrapped around her.

"Okay."

When Jossie knocks on the door, Tom states briefly, "Come in." Turning back to Sloan, he places his hand under her chin, turning her face up so he can look directly into her eyes. "I'll be just outside the door."

Sloan nods her head silently, giving him a small smile.

As Tom waits outside, he glances over at the others, his level of wariness increasing. After the way he'd been kidnapped and badly treated, he feels that the only person he really trusts in Sloan. They notice his presence, but they hesitate to come over. Realizing it would be best just to get the introductions over with, Tom turns toward them. As they approach, Tom notices the way they space themselves in relation to Mark. He's their leader, Tom notes.

Stepping forward, Mark holds out his hand. "Hello, Tom, my name is Mark Ward."

Tom returns the gesture. "Where are we headed?"

"I have a safe house in Idaho, in the Clearwater Mountains," Mark replies, a little taken back by Tom's abruptness. Gesturing behind him, he asks, "Have you been introduced to the others?"

"Not formally," he replies, looking back at the other dominant males.

"Well, this is John Andrews and his brother, Jacob Andrews," Mark states. "And this is Michael Lyons. They will be traveling with us, along with Jossie, to the safe house."

Tom simply nods his head.

After several seconds of silence, Walter steps forward. "Tom, it's nice to have you back."

"Definitely," Ray adds, stepping forward to shake Tom's hand. "You're looking good under the circumstances. How's Sloan?"

"She'll be all right," he replies, glancing over at Ed.

Suddenly, the door of the van opens and Sloan steps out, using the frame for support. Her knees are killing her and she doesn't want to take any chances of falling.

Sensing her pain, Tom steps forward and immediately puts his arm around her waist.

Sloan looks around at all the somber faces and suddenly feels uncomfortable, touching her face and neck. "Hey, guys, don't look at me like that," she says, smiling nervously. "I'm okay, just a little bruised." Turning to Ed, she says, "Jossie said you wanted to take a look at my injuries, but just let me use the bathroom first."

"I'll wait for you here by the van," Ed says.

As Tom helps Sloan to the restrooms, Mark states, "We'll leave as soon as Ed treats Sloan's injuries."

Everyone watches Tom and Sloan for a few seconds before spreading out, preparing to leave.

When Tom and Sloan return to the van a few minutes later, Ed is waiting. He has already set out some supplies.

"Where do you want me, doctor?" Sloan asks jokingly, walking up to Ed.

Ed smiles. "Just sit here at the back of the van."

As soon as Sloan sits down, Ed immediately gets to work, falling back into the old routine. After checking her vitals and pupil response, he cleans her forehead. "Are you feeling any dizziness?"

"Nope," she replies. "I'm just sore and I've still got a little bit of a headache."

"You probably have a concussion," Ed says, rubbing his fingers along her neck and jaw. "If you decide to take a nap, make sure Tom wakes you every hour. There's always a chance that you'll develop a blood clot."

Sloan nods her head. "Are we done?" she asks, noticing Tom's tension.

"Yep, I'm just glad you're okay," he whispers, clasping her hand. Hearing Mark start the ignition, he states, "I better go." After gathering his things, he gives Tom a quick glance and then runs back to the Durango.

Sloan scoots back further into the van as Tom steps forward. After he gets in and shuts the door, he turns to Sloan. "You feeling better?" he asks, pushing a stray curl behind her ear.

Sloan nods her head. "I missed you," she whispers, tears stinging her eyes. "After they kidnapped you..."

"Shhhh...." Tom whispers, cutting her off. Grasping her hips, he pulls her across the carpeted floor of the empty van and into his arms. "I don't want to talk about that right now. All that matters is we're together."

Leaning forward, he brushes his lips across hers, his request unspoken. Sloan opens to him and he slips his tongue into her mouth, tasting her desire. Desire that surrounds him in warmth. As the kiss deepens, he feels her urgency growing, but pulls back. Michael and Jossie are approaching the van. After a couple of brief kisses, he shifts her to his side. Her confusion fades the instant Michael opens the door.

As soon as Michael and Jossie step into the van and take their seats, Michael starts the van, shifts it into gear, and heads out of the parking lot for Idaho. Their new home.

*****

They've been traveling almost a day and have finally reached their destination. Pulling off the main road, they follow a winding gravel path surrounded by dense forest on both sides, until they reach a locked gate at the edge of a clearing. Mark pulls a device out of his glove box that resembles a garage door opener and presses a button on it, opening the gate. Once all three cars are through, Mark pushes the button on the device again and the gate closes. Proceeding up the path, they approach the safe house.

'It's beautiful,' Sloan thinks to herself in awe, peering from her seat in the back of the van at the sprawling two-story house with its wood siding, shutters, and walk-around porch. It has an attached two-door garage, and she can spot another garage of sorts off to the side. The property is boxed in by trees in the front and on the sides, but the back extends the length of a rich, green lawn and dips down to the edge of what looks to Sloan like a small lake.

Stopping in front of the house, Mark turns off the ignition and exits the vehicle, walking up to the front door. After unlocking the door, he steps inside, disarms the alarm by punching in a four-digit code in the pad by the door, and turns on the lights. When he walks back out, Sloan and the others have all stepped out of their vehicles and are gazing curiously at their surroundings. Walking forward and stepping off the porch, he states, "We need to unpack the vehicles and get inside. It's going to be getting dark soon."

Reaching the Durango, Mark lifts up the hatch and then starts to pull out the supplies, handing them to Walter, Ray, and Ed. "Just set everything inside the front door. We'll sort out who will sleep where once we're all inside and I've had a chance to describe the layout," Mark says, handing Walter the first set of luggage.

Once all the luggage and supplies are unpacked and the vehicles are pulled into the garages, everyone gathers in the living room. The ground floor is an open concept, Sloan notes, and there's a nice flow to things with no walls between the foyer, living room, dining room, and kitchen. Standing at the front door, she glimpses the hallway off to the left and a staircase in the foyer that leads upstairs, while to her right is the living room and dining room, with sliding doors that lead out to the back porch. The kitchen is behind the stairs, with an attached pantry.

Standing in front of the fireplace, Mark briefly describes the layout of the house and the security system. "The house has eight bedrooms, five upstairs and three on the ground floor. Some of the rooms have double beds, since a few of us will need to double up. There are six bathrooms, four upstairs and two on the ground. Three of the bedrooms upstairs have private bathrooms. The basement contains a den and a small gym, which has a sauna and whirlpool, and there's a large work area. Other than that, most of the basement is being used for storage. There are a couple of generators, several large freezers, a washer and dryer, and an extra pantry."

"What about security?" Tom asks intently.

"The security system is quite advanced," Mark replies. "There's a control room down the hall that contains monitors that survey the grounds. There are pressure pads spread out around the house and laser fencing surrounding the perimeter, which will warn us of any movement. All the windows in the house are bullet-proof glass. By the way," he adds, glancing at the rest of them, "please talk to me first before you open any windows. If the alarm is triggered, you will hear a loud siren and then an automated voice that will inform you of the breach and its location. The house is rigged with an audio system that serves several functions."

Looking at their weary faces, Mark decides to cut his explanations short for now. "I'm sure everyone is tired, and if there's no questions, we can settle in for the night. The kitchen is well stocked and all the bedrooms and bathrooms should have everything you'll need. There's a lot we have to discuss, but it can wait until tomorrow."

With final nods to each other, everyone grabs their things and wanders off in search of a room.

*****

As the morning sun rises, Sloan crawls out of bed and slowly makes her way to the bathroom attached to the large bedroom she's sharing with Tom. Throughout the night, she had been plagued with nightmares of the kidnapping and her captivity, which caused her to bolt upright in bed, her heart racing, her body covered in sweat. Tom had been there each time to calm her down and comfort her, but still, she's exhausted. Pushing open the door, she automatically reaches for the light switch and heads for the bathtub against the far wall, turning on the bath water and sprinkling in some bubblebath set out on a ledge nearby. As the tub begins to fill, she pulls her hair up and then removes her pajamas, forgetting that she's left the door partially open. After turning off the water, she carefully steps in. The warm water feels incredible, soothing her sore muscles as she eases herself down into a sitting position. Leaning against the back of the tub, Sloan begins to relax.

As Tom enters the upstairs bedroom, he frowns at finding the bed empty. Taking a couple of steps forward, he hears the soft splashing of water and looks toward the bathroom door, which is slightly cracked open. He quietly walks over to the door. Sensing that it's safe, he peers inside, his eyes instantly drawn to her glistening skin, which is slightly pink from the water temperature. She is leaning against the back of the tub, her arms resting on the edges, her eyes closed. Absently, Tom touches the door, causing it to squeak open. Startled, Sloan sits up and looks in his direction.

Standing there at a loss for words, he says the first thing that comes to mind. "Sorry."

Sloan lets out a shaky breath. "It's okay," she responds, a nervous smile spreading across her face. She quickly glances down at the water, hoping the bubbles are keeping her covered.

"Breakfast is almost ready," Tom says, stepping closer, his eyes roaming across her exposed skin. He can sense her nervousness increase with every step. He walks up to the tub and then slowly kneels down, reaching for the bath sponge.

Sloan's eyes follow his every move. Her heart feels as though it could burst at any moment.

"Lean forward, I'll wash your back," Tom says, staring into her emerald green eyes.

"You don't have to..." Sloan says slowly.

"Lean forward," he repeats softly. "Just relax."

Sloan slowly pulls her legs up, hugging them with her arms, and lays her head down across her bruised knees, closing her eyes.

After dipping the sponge into the soapy water, Tom brings it up to the nape of her neck and squeezes it, letting the water cascade down her back. He gently rubs the sponge up and down her spine several times before turning his attention to the rest of her back, being careful of the bruises. When he rubs the sponge down her side, she pulls back slightly. At first, he's mad at himself for hurting her, but then he smiles, sensing that that area is extremely ticklish.

"You ticklish?" he asks playfully.

Sloan lets out a soft laugh. "Maybe...in certain places," she says shyly, opening her eyes to look at his face.

Tom's lips curl into a wide smile. This is definitely a topic he's interested in. He starts to move the sponge in small circles across her back. "What places might those be?"

"Secret places," Sloan replies teasingly.

Tom brings the sponge up and wipes it playfully across her face. "We'll see about that."

Sloan laughs softly, her eyes roaming across the features of his face.

"Do you want me to help you wash your hair?" he asks, reaching for a lone curl that had fallen from her bun, lying wet across her shoulder.

"No," Sloan replies, shaking her head slightly. "I just wanted to wash myself off. I feel a little grubby this morning."

"You had a rough night," Tom says, squeezing out the sponge and setting it back on the ledge.

Sloan sits up slightly, looking into his deep blue eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me last night," she says appreciatively. " I'm sure you didn't get much sleep."

"It's all right." Tom reaches over, trailing the back of his finger down the side of her face. Sloan closes her eyes in response, an instant ache forming in her stomach. Opening her eyes, she encounters his own, filled with desire...strong desire. Reaching over with her right hand, Sloan pulls him closer, kissing him softly on the lips. Tom moans softly as he leans into the kiss, letting his hands glide over her neck and shoulders. Her scent fills his senses and he fights the urge to jump into the tub with her, completely dressed.

As Sloan pulls back, Tom reluctantly releases her lower lip, his head moving forward slightly.

"I'll be out in a minute," she says softly, wiping some bubbles off his face that her hand had left behind.

Tom smiles in response, putting his hands on the edge of the tub and pushing himself up. "You need a towel?" he asks politely, clearing his throat.

"Yes," she replies, reaching over to open the drain.

Tom walks over to the linen closet, pulls out a towel, and walks back over to the tub. Standing beside it, he unfolds the towel, grabs two of the corners, and stretches it out in front of him, waiting patiently for her to stand so he can wrap it around her and help her out of the tub.

Looking up at him, Sloan suddenly realizes his intentions and softly chuckles. "You do realize that I'm fully capable of drying myself off, don't you?"

"I just want to help you out of the tub," he replies, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're still sore, and I don't want you to slip and hurt yourself. The last thing you need is another blow to the head."

Giving in, mainly because the water is draining fast and she's about to be left sitting in an empty tub covered in nothing but bubbles, she takes a deep breath and braces her hands on the sides of the tub, pushing herself up. Tom quickly wraps the towel around her, not taking his eyes away from hers, and reaches around to carefully lift her out of the tub.

As Tom turns to leave, Sloan realizes that she'd forgotten to bring a change of clothes into the bathroom. She follows him into the bedroom until Tom turns around with a confused look on his face, which stops her dead in her tracks. "Are you following me for a reason?" he asks uncertainly, and then his eyes flicker with amusement. "Or maybe you just can't bear to let me out of your sight?"

"I forgot my clothes," she says innocently, her face turning red with embarrassment, and she gestures helplessly at the dresser nearby.

"Oh," he says, his eyes darkening with laughter. "Fine." He nods his head and

heads toward the hallway. "I'll just wait outside, then" he says, closing the door only seconds before he starts to laugh.

*****

When Tom and Sloan reach the kitchen, it's bustling with activity. Walking through to the dining room table, Tom pulls out a chair for Sloan and then walks back to prepare their plates.

Sitting down, Sloan notices that Ray seems distracted, touching the wedding ring on his left hand. "Ray, you okay?" she asks softly, sending him a small smile.

"Yes," he replies, quickly grabbing his napkin off the table and placing it across his lap. "I was just thinking about Grace and Matt." Noticing the dark circles under Sloan's eyes, he points to them, asking curiously, "What's with those?"

Touching her face absently, she replies briefly, "Rough night."

"I can relate," Ed blurts out, including himself in the conversation. He places his plate and silverware on the table and then sits down beside Sloan. "I don't think I slept a wink last night," he adds, scooting his chair up to the table.

Over at the kitchen counter, Tom immediately notices that Ed has stolen his seat beside Sloan. 'What does he think he's doing?' Tom wonders irritably, spearing another piece of fresh fruit for Sloan's plate.

Standing at the refrigerator, pulling out another carton of orange juice, Mark senses Tom's negative emotions. Glancing over at the table, he immediately picks up on the problem. Ed has taken the only seat beside Sloan. Deciding it's best to let Tom fight his own battles, Mark pulls out the carton, closes the door, and walks back to his own seat.

Grabbing their silverware and plates, Tom walks over and hands Sloan her breakfast. Before turning to walk around the table, he glances over at Ed, who is totally engrossed in his scrambled eggs.

Walter, picking up on the awkward situation Ed has created...purposely, Walter guesses...silently relinquishes his seat at the head of the table with a nod to Tom, and sits beside Ray, wanting to avoid any unwanted problems. The last thing they need right now is Tom lunging across the table to strangle Ed during their first meal together. That would make quite an impression, Walter muses, biting into his biscuit.

Tom takes Walter's seat wordlessly and gives Walter a slight nod of thanks, his face still set in tense lines. Ed continues to focus on his breakfast, seemingly unaware of Tom's anger, and Sloan gives Tom an apologetic smile and a shrug of her shoulders.

As breakfast progresses, there's little conversation. When it appears that everyone is done, Jossie stands up and starts to clear the table, knowing Mark is eager to talk with everyone now that they're rested. Ray and Sloan both stand up to help, Walter following them a beat later, and all of them trail after her into the kitchen with their hands loaded with dirty dishes.

Once the table is cleared, Mark asks politely, "Would everyone sit back down?"

"What's this about?" Ray asks curiously, taking his seat again.

"I would like to talk with you all about our situation," Mark replies.

After everyone has returned to the dining room table, Mark begins, "As you know, there is a faction among my species that is willing to negotiate peace." He nods his head in the direction of Jossie, John, Jacob, and Michael, who all watch him silently. "My colleagues and I are part of that faction. What you don't know is that despite the unfortunate attack in the alley and the death of our leader, we are determined to go ahead with our original plan."

"Which is what?" Ed asks, leaning back in his chair.

"To establish a 'network' in cooperation with humans like you," Mark replies, glancing over at Ed. "This place is one of several base camps the peace faction is setting up around the world, which are all equipped with the best security and technology we have to offer. When the network is complete, each base camp will be assigned a number, which will serve as its only means of identification. For security reasons, each base camp will be unaware on the locations of the other base camps. We will communicate and coordinate our efforts over secure channels."

"If we're secluded, how are we going to keep up with what's happening?" Sloan asks.

"Not every base camp will be as secluded as this one," John replies. "And not every member of the peace faction will be staying in the camps. In fact, most members will be living among the rest of our species, carrying out their daily routines. When they hear news of a project or plan that is in the works, they will contact us, and we'll investigate."

"How long before the network is up and running?" Tom asks, knowing this level of organization takes time.

"If everything stays on schedule, we are hoping to be fully operational within eighteen months," Mark replies.

"Eighteen months!" Ed says in amazement. "What are we supposed to do for eighteen months? Sit on our duffs?"

"If that's what you wish," Jacob replies evenly, irritated by Ed's attitude.

"Ed, this is going to take time," Mark says placatingly, "and until the network is set up, we all have to lay low. As I told Walter and Ray earlier, we are all marked. We can't go back. If we did, it would be a death sentence for all of us. Until the network is operational, we have no power base and no way of protecting ourselves."

Realizing Mark is going to need a little help calming Ed, Walter steps in. "Mark's right, Ed. With both sides hunting us, lying low is the best thing for us right now. It will give us a chance to recuperate."

"I get what you're saying," Ed snaps. "When you've got a big bull's eye on your back, you don't go waving your arms around." Getting up from the table abruptly, he heads down the hall to his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

"What about my wife and my son?" Ray asks grimly, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the table, his hands clenched. "There's no way I'm going to agree to being apart from them for that long, and I'm not leaving them out there in danger where I can't get to them."

"We've already thought of that, Ray," Mark assures him. "If you'll tell us where they are, we'll bring them here ourselves and you can be with them for however long you're here."

Ray looks at him warily, still feeling a measure of distrust, and Mark can sense his resistance. "Or, if you'd like, you can go with John and Jacob to get them .... that way you'd see for yourself that your family is safe, and you can bring them back here with you."

Ray glances at Walter, who gives him a small nod, urging him to accept, and then he looks back at Mark. "I'll take you up on that second suggestion," he says cautiously. "If you're serious."

"You can leave in the morning," Mark promises, and Ray leans back in his chair, his tension easing slightly.

After taking a deep breath and looking around the table at all of them, Mark adds, "I know it's going to take some time for us to adjust to this situation, but I'm hoping that the next eighteen months will give us a chance to get to know each other...build trust....form new friendships. It's up to you, though, to decide if we can do that." With that last comment, Mark leaves the table and walks upstairs, needing some time to himself.

"I guess this is going to be the true test," Sloan states, watching the other dominants leave the table as well.

"What do you mean?" Tom asks gently, touching her arm.

"Co-existence," she replies briefly, turning to look into his eyes, knowing he'll understand her meaning. Sloan slowly pushes her chair away from the table and then stands, using the table for support. "I'm feeling a little tired. I'm going to lie down upstairs for a while."

Once Walter and Ray leave the table, Tom is left sitting alone. Staring out the sliding glass doors, he wonders if he and Sloan will ever have some semblance of a normal life.

*****

Lying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, Ed thinks about the message Mark and Walter were trying to convey at the meeting. Deep down, he knows they're right, but it's just hard to accept. From the beginning, he'd known this wasn't going to be an easy fight, but he'd never thought their government would betray them and that they would be forced to leave their homes, their families.

Realizing he owes Mark an apology for his behavior, Ed rolls off the bed, opens his bedroom door, and walks down the hall. Reaching the end of the hallway, he finds the living room and dining room deserted, except for Tom, who is still sitting at the dining room table.

Without bothering to step forward, he calls out, "Where's Mark?"

Turning his head slightly, Tom replies tersely, "Upstairs."

"Thanks," Ed mumbles, turning to take the stairs two at a time. Reaching Mark's door, Ed takes a deep breath. Just as he lifts his hand to knock, Mark opens the door.

"Ed, I wasn't expecting a visit from you," he confesses, stepping back to give Ed room to enter.

Stepping inside, Ed turns to Mark. "I owe you an apology," Ed says. "There is no excuse for my childish behavior."

"It's all right," Mark replies, gesturing to the only chair in the room. Walking over to sit on the bed, he continues, "I know this is a hard thing to accept."

Taking a seat and rubbing his hands down his legs to his knees, Ed states honestly, "I just wasn't expecting an eighteen-month delay. I thought we'd have a more active role in this."

"Don't worry, Ed," Mark states comfortingly. "There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in this war we're facing. I am well aware of your skills, as well as Sloan's, and I don't plan to waste them," he points out, a small grin forming on his face.

"Are you going to be leading the peace faction now?" Ed asks curiously, feeling a little more at ease.

"No," Mark replies, shaking his head. "I was offered the position, but I turned it down."

"Why?" Ed frowns.

"There was a better man for the job," Mark admits. "I will be leading this base camp. And from the looks of it, that will be no small task."

Both men begin to laugh. This might not be so bad, Ed thinks, standing to follow Mark to the door.

*****

"Tom?" Jossie calls out, slowly walking up behind Tom. "Do you mind if I talk with you for a minute?"

"Of course not," he replies, gesturing to one of the chairs near him at the dining room table.

Nodding her thanks, Jossie pulls out a chair near his and sits down. Turning slightly in her seat to face Tom, she clears her throat. She has been waiting for this opportunity for so long and has rehearsed this conversation a thousand times, but now, sitting in front of him, the words are suddenly gone.

"Is something wrong?" Tom asks, confused by her nervousness.

"No," she replies, shaking her head vehemently. "I just lost my train of thought."

Tom nods his head understandingly.

Sitting up straight in her chair, she stares into his eyes. "I'm sorry about letting Lewis escape from the warehouse," she begins, and then curses herself for not biting the bullet and coming to the point.

"Don't worry about it, Jossie," he replies. "You had no way of knowing Lewis was in the warehouse. Besides, if you'd been standing by the cargo door, he might have killed you to escape."

"I don't think so," Jossie counters, letting out a shaky breath, staring down at the table.

Tom frowns at her response. His first impression is that she's being cocky, but that doesn't fit with the emotions she's projecting.

"Do you recognize anything familiar about me, Tom?" Jossie asks abruptly, looking up into his eyes.

"What's this about, Jossie?" Tom asks, getting a little irritated.

"Just look at me and tell me if you notice anything familiar."

Tom lets out a long breath and leans back in his chair. As his eyes roam over her face, he begins to notice echoes of his own features in hers and he straightens slightly, studying her more intently. "Are we related?" he asks finally, his voice a mixture of wariness and confusion.

"You could say that," she replies, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'm your half-sister. We share the same father."

Tom stares at her, stunned by her revelation. He had always wondered, especially after Randall Lynch's clone had killed his brother, if he had other siblings who were still alive. Replaying their conversation in his mind, he recalls the comment Jossie had made earlier about Lewis. "Is Lewis our father?" he asks abruptly. "Is that why you said he wouldn't have killed you at the warehouse?"

"Lewis is my uncle," Jossie replies, realizing there is so much he doesn't remember. "He is my mother's brother."

*****

As evening approaches, Sloan grabs a blanket from the couch and walks out onto the back porch to watch the sunset. The day has been pretty hectic and she needs some time to unwind. Pushing the sliding door closed, she spots a hammock off to one side of the porch. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders to keep the chill away, she walks over to the hammock and lies down in it.

As the sun starts to descend behind the mountains, the sky takes on a pink and orange hue. The crickets begin to sing and fireflies dance around the yard, flashing their lights. Before long, the sun is replaced by the moon and the stars fill the sky.

Just as Sloan starts to drift off, the evening breeze caressing her face, she hears the sound of soft footsteps nearby. Opening her eyes, she turns her head to watch him approach, his features hidden in the darkness.

"You looking for me?" Sloan asks softly.

Walking over to the foot of the hammock, Tom sits up on the porch railing, facing Sloan. He's pretty much kept to himself today, thinking about the conversation he'd had with Jossie earlier.

"Jossie's my half-sister," he blurts out, reaching under the blanket to find Sloan's feet.

"I know," Sloan says, smiling up at him.

Tom tilts his head and raises his eyebrow. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't my secret to tell."

Tom nods his head silently and starts to massage her feet with both hands.

Sloan lays her head back, closing her eyes, and then arches her back as Tom's hands slide under her pant legs, massaging her calves.

"It turns out I have several siblings," he states evenly.

Sloan opens her eyes and squints in the darkness to make out his expression. "How does that make you feel?"

Tom hesitates, trying to find the right words. "I'm not sure. It's good to know, but it's not like I'm going to get to know them. Jossie says she hasn't seen them in years, and that as far as she knows, they're not on our side."

"Maybe that's so," Sloan says gently. "But you can still learn about them through Jossie .... find out what they were like when she knew them, what kind of lives they'd led. I know it's not the same as meeting them personally, but it's better than nothing."

"Maybe," he replies softly, looking back at the lake, staring at the distorted reflection of the moon on the surface of the water.

"Come here," Sloan whispers, holding out her hand.

Tom allows her to pull him onto the hammock and wrap her arms around him, trying to give him some of her strength and comfort. Tom closes his eyes and absorbs the warmth of her, trying to ease the strain of the last few days and of his meeting earlier today with Jossie. The feel of her breath against his throat as she lays her head on his shoulder, and of her heart beating steadily against him, slowly begins to soothe him, and he closes his eyes, lying there with her in the darkness, the breeze gently swaying the hammock.

Time passes, and as Sloan shifts position, moving closer to him, the mood begins to change for both of them. They're alone at last after days spent in the company of others, and the emotions and passions that they've suppressed begin to emerge at the feel of being in each other's arms. Tom becomes aware of the pliancy of her body, and turns into her slightly, wanting to feel more. Sloan's breath comes a little faster as he moves closer, his face brushing against hers, and she reaches up to look at him in the darkness. Tom holds still, allowing the next move to be hers, and she reaches over and softly outlines his lips with her fingertip. Staring into her eyes, Tom slowly opens his mouth, captures her finger between his teeth, and bites down gently. Sloan smiles in response, leaning over to bite the side of his neck. Tom releases her finger, tilting his head to give her better access. As Sloan's mouth travels up his neck to his ear, he lets out a sensual moan. Reaching under the blanket, he places his hands on her waist, carefully placing her on top of him. Then, sliding his hands under her shirt, he begins to run his fingertips lightly up and down her spine. Sloan arches her back in response, her breathing coming in short gasps. Sitting up, her legs straddling his body, she starts to rock her hips gently against him, and Tom settles his hands on her waist, rubbing his thumbs in small circles on her skin. Reaching down, Sloan takes the hem of his shirt and lifts it up slowly, exposing his abdomen. Staring into his eyes, she uses her fingernails to outline his pecs, causing his stomach to flutter. Sloan laughs, a big smile spreading across her face, her mood now playful. Tom shakes his head in disbelief. This kind of foreplay is something he enjoys, but it still surprises him each time it happens. His people are never playful when it comes to mating.

"Let's go upstairs," Tom suggests finally, feeling rather exposed on the back porch.

Sloan's hands stop moving across his abdomen, and she looks at him in surprise.

Sensing her confusion at his suggestion, he states reassuringly, "It's okay, Sloan. You're not fertile."

"I am so," she huffs, her eyes going wide.

Realizing she has misunderstood his comment, he laughs out loud. "Sloan, I know you're fertile, but you're not in the fertile part of your cycle."

"And how would you know?" Sloan asks, putting her hands on her hips.

"My senses can easily pick up on your hormone levels and increase in body temperature," he points out. "Besides, I keep track of your menstruation."

"Oh," Sloan replies, a little taken back by this new piece of information. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? After learning about Kevin, I thought we couldn't....you know?"

Tom's smile returns. "Why would you think that?"

"Rachel was on the pill when she conceived Kevin," Sloan says, her voice rising slightly. "What was I supposed to think? You never told me any differently."

"I didn't know you were so confused," he says, reaching up to cup her cheek.

Sloan rolls her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief at how dense men could be, even dominant men.

"I'm sorry, Sloan." His words are sincere, but his expression is one still filled with humor.

"I don't want to hear it." Sloan struggles to keep a straight face, torn between exasperation and delight at his news and wanting to make him suffer just a little. She tries to get up from the hammock, but gets tangled up in the blanket, almost causing them to tip.

"Where you going?" Tom asks curiously, unable to sense any anger coming from her.

"Someplace else," she emphasizes, pulling the blanket off the hammock after her.

Just as Sloan turns to head back into the house, Walter opens the sliding doors.

"Tom?" he calls out, turning on the porch light. Spotting Tom on the hammock and Sloan standing next to him, Walter walks over to them. "Michael is getting ready to activate the security system for the night, and he wants to show us how it works for future reference."

Tom takes in a deep breath. "I'll be right there, Walter."

Walter nods his head and starts walking toward the sliding doors, and Tom turns his attention back to Sloan, who is about to follow Walter's lead. "We can continue this conversation when I finish," he says firmly. "This shouldn't take long."

Sloan nods her head, wrapping the blanket up into a ball so she doesn't trip over it. "We'll see," she states, walking away from him.

*****

As Tom lies in bed, he listens to the birds outside and watches the morning sunlight creep along the far wall as the minutes pass. Knowing that the house will soon be bustling with activity and that this serene moment will be lost, Tom takes this opportunity to freely stare at Sloan, who is sleeping peacefully beside him. She looks so fragile, so vulnerable, curled up in a fetal position under the covers, her back towards him, her curls fanned out across her pillow. Since they have taken one of the bedrooms on the top floor, mainly because it provides the most privacy, it is usually warm compared to the rest of the house, which means both of them have been wearing as little to bed as possible without making the other uncomfortable. Despite the fact that they are sleeping in the same bed and their touching has become more intimate, they still haven't consummated their relationship. Tom had thought for sure that he'd finally get to make love with Sloan last night, but by the time he'd finished talking with Michael about the security system, Sloan was already asleep.

Tom has on his usual pair of drawstring sweatpants. Sloan is wearing a pair of cotton boxers and a pale blue tank top with spaghetti straps, which leaves the skin of her upper back and shoulders exposed. As the morning sun continues to shine through the bedroom windows, Tom can sense that the temperature in the room is quickly rising. Sloan's skin is beginning to glisten and her pheromones are starting to fill his senses. Just like the climber who claims that the mountain calls to him, daring him to reach its summit, Sloan's body is calling to him, taunting him with its sensual curves and intoxicating scent.

Unable to resist, Tom reaches his hand out slowly, placing a single finger at the top of her spine. Focusing intently, he can sense the electrical impulses that are being channeled to and from her brain...her energy, her life force. Once he is tuned into her energy, Tom softly moves his finger down her spine, feeling each vertebra in turn, until he reaches the material of her top. Unwilling to break the skin-to-skin connection, which is causing an exquisite feeling between his legs, he moves his finger sideways along the trim of her top, purposely pushing the strap off her right shoulder. Suddenly, without warning, Sloan releases a deep sensual moan and instinctively exposes her neck, as if anticipating his next move. Tom smiles and shakes his head in disbelief. Unless his senses are out of whack this morning, Sloan is still sleeping, yet reacting to his touch, his closeness. Unwilling to explore further without Sloan's conscious consent, Tom reluctantly pulls back, shoving his head back down into his pillow.

Tom has never been so sexually frustrated in all his life. He isn't sure if it's due to the genogenesis serum or the close captivity with Sloan, but he is ready to take this relationship up to the next level, which is a complete 180-degree turn for him. Before, Tom was reluctant, wanting to hold off until they were both ready. But after their time together on the run, Tom could sense that Sloan was growing restless. She was ready to proceed, but he still had doubts. But now, those doubts have disappeared. His feelings for Sloan are clear. Before, it used to be satisfying enough just to smell her perfume or be in the same room with her. Now, he can't stand to be away from her. He must have her as a mate.

Tom closes his eyes, forcing himself to relax. While taking several deep breaths, he senses Sloan's heightened awareness; she is waking up. As Sloan rolls over, Tom glances down and quickly pulls the blanket up to hide his arousal. He doesn't want her to get the wrong idea, especially since he's unsure how she's going to react after last night.

Preoccupied with Sloan, Tom doesn't sense that Ed and Mark are awake, Mark moving around in his bedroom and Ed slowly working his way to the downstairs bathroom. Passing the staircase, Ed stubs his toe, causing him to curse loudly, and Sloan lets out a chuckle before slowly opening her eyes and stretching her muscles languidly.

As Sloan looks over, she realizes with some surprise that Tom is still in bed with her. That is totally unlike him. He is always up before she is, dressed and ready to face the day. She, on the other hand, usually requires at least ten minutes of prep time before she can even crawl out of bed. Given their current situation, that time has increased dramatically as she becomes more and more warn out by the events of the last few days.

Deciding last night, while lying in bed, that it's time to forgive Tom, she inches her way over to the middle of the bed, propping her head up on one of the pillows. "Ten dollars he hits it again tomorrow," she says jokingly.

Tom simply smiles as he reaches over to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. As he starts to pull his hand back, Sloan grasps it, interlocking their fingers. Tom's eyes move from their joined hands to Sloan's face. Her eyes still appear sleepy and her left cheek bears an imprint from the wrinkled sheets.

"We didn't finish talking last night," Sloan points out softly.

"No, we didn't," Tom replies, trying to sort through her emotions.

Several minutes pass without another word spoken. Feeling a strange distance forming between them, Sloan decides she has nothing to lose and lifts herself up off the pillow. Leaning forward and seeing Tom's eyes widen in response, she kisses him softly on the lips. As she starts to pull back, Tom quickly places his free hand to the side of her face, pulling her back to him, unwilling to break the connection he's been desperately longing for.

The kiss deepens, but remains fairly playful. Unlocking their hands, Sloan pushes back the covers and straddles him. Then, her lips begin to stray, kissing a V-shaped path from the right side of his neck to the left. Echoing her moves, Tom rolls over, pinning Sloan down gently. Pulling the spaghetti straps off her shoulders, Tom follows his own V-shaped path as Sloan reaches up to play with his hair, her fingernails gently scratching his scalp. Just as Tom reaches up to pull the front of Sloan's top down, exposing her breasts, Ed yells from downstairs, "Breakfast in five minutes."

Tom lets out a frustrated breath, dropping his head between her breasts. "Damn."

"He'll be banging on the door if we're not down there in five minutes," Sloan says softly, turning her head slightly to get a glimpse of his face, her finger tracing the outer edge of his ear.

Moving over to his side of the bed, Tom replies glumly, "I know."

Swinging his feet off the bed, he sits up, but before he can rise to his feet, Sloan reaches over and puts her arms around his waist, leaning against him. "I know it's frustrating," she says quietly, her chin on his shoulder.

"It's all right," he replies briefly, refusing to look at her or respond to her embrace.

Realizing from his short responses and lack of eye contact that he really doesn't want to be discussing this, Sloan decides to leave it at that and lets him go. "I'll meet you downstairs."

Without replying, Tom gets up and walks into their bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Within seconds, Sloan hears the shower running.

*****

Across the hall, Mark steps out of his shower and starts to dry himself off when he stops abruptly, sensing Tom's frustration. Focusing on his emotions, Mark realizes the problem and pulls back, not wanting to invade their privacy. Mark stands in the middle of the bathroom, stunned by what he has sensed .... he had assumed that Tom and Sloan were already mates. 'What are they waiting for?' he wonders, shaking his head in confusion. Throwing the towel into the hamper, he steps into his bedroom, grabbing the boxer shorts he had set out at the bottom of the bed. Slipping them on, he walks over to the dresser to find something to wear.

Once he's dressed, Mark slips on his shoes and heads for the bedroom door. Stepping out into the hallway, he glances over at Tom and Sloan's door, sensing Sloan's approach. Within seconds, she opens her door and steps out into the hallway, wearing a pair of old blue jeans and a long-sleeved cotton top. Quickly averting his gaze, Mark closes his bedroom door and heads for the staircase.

*****

After breakfast, which occurs without incident, Sloan sees Tom slip out the sliding doors. Trying to keep track of him through the kitchen window, she quickly helps Jossie with the dishes.

Once they're finished, Sloan steps out onto the back porch. Walking around to the front, she spots Tom over by the garage. Running down the steps, she quickly catches up with him.

"Hey," she says, wincing a little from the pain in her knees. "What are you doing out here?"

"I thought I would walk the perimeter," he says flatly. "Familiarize myself with the surroundings."

"Do you mind if I walk with you?" she asks, unsure of his mood.

Sensing Sloan's uncertainty, knowing it's due to his reaction to this morning's events, Tom reaches for her hand. "Of course not," he replies softly, sending her a reassuring smile.

About halfway around the perimeter, Sloan asks abruptly, "Do you have plans tonight?"

"Why do you ask?" Tom knows what she's getting at, but feels the need to string her along a little. He smiles to himself. All these months spent with humans must be rubbing off on him, he reflects ruefully .... he's learned to enjoy Sloan's sometimes light-hearted approach to foreplay, and now he finds himself liking to tease her, just to see her response.

"I was just curious," she explains, biting her bottom lip, keeping pace with his steady stride. "I thought we might spend some quality time together."

"Define 'quality time'." Tom glances at her out of the corner of his eye to see her reaction to his last request.

"Are you trying to give me a hard time, Tom Daniels?" she asks, coming to a stop and turning towards him.

"No," he replies mildly, trying to keep the humor out of his voice. "I was just trying to determine what you had in mind." Tom pulls on her hand, continuing their walk around the perimeter.

"A nice, uninterrupted evening together..." Sloan quickly pulls back on his arm and steps in front of him, staring directly into his blue eyes. "...under the covers."

A wide smile spreads across Tom's face and he releases their joined hands. Reaching up, he pushes her hair back off her shoulder and wraps his hands around her throat, his thumbs caressing her jaw. Before he leans forward to kiss her passionately, he whispers softly, "It's a date."

*****

After Tom familiarizes himself with the perimeter, he and Sloan spend much of the morning down by the lake, discussing light topics and skimming rocks.

When they finally walk back to the house, they spot Mark and Jossie sitting on the back porch, talking quietly. When they reach the steps, Mark calls out, "Would you two like to join us?"

Tom looks over at Sloan, who looks at him silently, letting him decide. Turning back to Mark, he replies cautiously, "Sure."

Pulling over a couple of chairs, Tom and Sloan sit down.

"Were you able to find everything you needed in your room?" Jossie asks, trying to break the ice.

"Yes, thank you," Sloan replies, nodding her head, finding the question a little odd since they've been there for a couple of days.

"Tom," Mark states, "Jossie tells me that you two had a chance to talk yesterday."

"Yes," Tom states evenly.

"I'm sure it was quite a shock to find out that you have other siblings," Mark adds. "From what I understand, chameleons have no recollection of their childhood."

"That's correct," Tom says, glancing over at Sloan. "I do get flashes every once in a while, but nothing whole, nothing I can really make any sense of."

"Perhaps you'll get some of those memories back when you have your own children," Jossie says, trying to put a positive spin on things. "That might trigger..." She stops in mid-sentence, bombarded by Sloan's negative emotions and the sudden darkness of her aura.

Sloan's heart drops to her feet. Looking over at the mountains, she lets out a shaky breath. This is still a sore topic for her, knowing that she and Tom will always be together, but will never have children, something she'd always dreamed she'd eventually have.

"Are you alright, Sloan?" Jossie asks, reaching over to touch her arm lightly. "Was it something I said?"

Sloan looks over at Jossie and just shakes her head, not trusting her voice.

"We recently discovered that a child with a human and a dominant parent have advanced abilities," Tom explains quietly. "Mind control."

Jossie and Mark exchange a look. "Are you referring to the breeding experiment being conducted by the Council?" Mark asks, trying to figure out where they've gotten their information.

"We were investigating a young boy, Kevin Taylor, who attacked a couple of boys on his way home from school, one of whom died," Sloan explains. "We determined through blood work and information from his mother that he was 'mixed' and had the ability to control our minds." She glances quickly at Tom. "We realized that it would be too dangerous for us to have children of our own." Sloan bites her lip and drops her gaze down to her hands, folded tightly in her lap. "We couldn't take the chance of producing a child like Kevin."

"But that's only half of the experiment," Mark says, and takes a deep breath when Tom and Sloan look at him in surprise. "The Council has been conducting that particular breeding program for over a decade. They determined that due to the isolation of our species in Oaxaca, Mexico, we were unable to continue adapting or advancing, mainly due to the lack of diversification. They were convinced that having us breed with humans would increase the number of possible gene combinations and enable our species to continue on its evolutionary course."

Looking back and forth between Tom and Sloan, Jossie adds, "The process would have continued in Oaxaca if our species had interacted with the other villages. When our ancestors decided to cut off contact with them, it stunted our advancement."

"And the mind control that children like Kevin have developed is one of the advances?" Sloan frowns, trying to make sense of everything they're telling her.

Mark glances over at Jossie, feeling her anticipation at what he is about to reveal to them, knowing it will change everything for Tom and Sloan. "The experiment's design is branched. There is a control group and an experimental group, Sloan. The 'mixed'children in the control group are being raised by dominant parents, and the 'mixed' children in the experimental group are being raised by human parents."

Unable to wait for Mark to finish, Jossie jumps in, saying, "The scientists found that all of the children displayed advanced abilities at birth, but that some of the abilities of the experimental group became mutated. They determined that due to the children's isolation and lack of guidance from their own kind, their abilities weren't developed properly."

"What were the abilities that became mutated?" Sloan asks.

Jossie smiles. "The 'mixed' children have the ability to communicate without words...telepathy. We're able to relay messages or respond with our emotions, but they can actually carry on conversations with their minds. What the scientists running the breeding experiment discovered is that those children who had interaction with other dominants had the opportunity to communicate on a level that nurtured and fostered their gift, and, most importantly, helped them learn how to control it."

"But the children raised by humans didn't have that opportunity, and so their abilities became mutated," Tom surmises. "They couldn't control them, and their worst instincts took over."

Mark nods and states evenly, "The Council has recently collected together all of the children in the experimental group to try to determine if the mutation is permanent or simply a lack of discipline or focus on their parts. But, given their ages, our scientists suspect that the ability to develop the kind of control they need to keep their gift in check is lost to them by now."

"Do you understand what we're trying to say?" Jossie asks, sensing Tom and Sloan's confusion. "This experiment means that you'll be able to raise healthy, well-adjusted dominant children. They will have abilities that are more advanced that yours, Tom, but they'll do fine as long as they have the dominant interaction that you and other members of our species can provide them with."

Sensing that they've given Tom and Sloan a lot to absorb, Mark touches Jossie's arm. "Maybe we should give them some time to talk," he suggests softly, and she nods her agreement, letting him take her hand and help her to her feet.

After Mark and Jossie enter the house, Tom turns to Sloan. "Are you alright?" he asks, concerned by the array of emotions she's emitting and scooting his chair around to face her.

"I'm a little overwhelmed," she replies, looking down at her hands. "Just give me a few minutes."

Sitting back, Tom waits patiently for Sloan to gather her thoughts, which he senses are running in a thousand different directions.

After a couple of minutes, Sloan asks softly, "Do you still think starting a family would be nice?"

Tom's expression softens. "With you...yes." Leaning forward, Tom takes her hands in his. "Would you want to start a family now, given our situation?"

"I don't know," she whispers, tears stinging her eyes. "Could we handle raising dominant children? I know nothing about raising children and less than nothing about raising dominant ones."

Tom smiles, rubbing her palms gently with his thumbs. "It's obvious we're not experts, but we can learn." He smiles at her teasingly. "What else do we have to do for the next eighteen months?"

Sloan lets out a strangled laugh, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "Jossie might be able to help us out with the basics," she suggests, pulling one of her hands free to wipe away her tears.

"Probably," Tom says, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "We don't have to decide today."

Sloan nods her head, letting out a deep breath, and then reaches forward to hug Tom, needing his closeness.

*****

As evening approaches, Tom makes his way to the kitchen. After filling a tall glass with ice water, he walks upstairs, a sense of anticipation increasing with every step he takes. He's got a date tonight with the woman he loves.

Entering the bedroom, he notices that Sloan has spread several burning candles around the room, lending it a warm glow. Glancing back, he locks the door, wanting no unexpected interruptions tonight. Sensing Sloan's movements in the bathroom, he walks over to place the glass of water on the night stand and then goes over to the bathroom door, knocking softly.

"I'll be out in a minute," Sloan says from inside, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Needing to do something, Tom walks over to the bed and pulls back the comforter. Sitting on his side of the bed, he leans down to slip off his shoes and socks.

In the bathroom, Sloan takes a couple of deep breaths before turning off the light and opening the door. Standing there, in her boxers and tank top, she watches as Tom's eyes travel the length of her body.

As Sloan walks over to him, she searches for something to say, suddenly nervous. "Do you like the candles?" she asks uncertainly.

Tom stands slowly, taking a couple of steps toward her, his eyes still taking in her beauty. "Yes," he replies absently, reaching out to take her hand in his, savoring the soft touch of her skin. Candles are the last thing on his mind.

Licking his lips, his mouth suddenly dry, he leads her over to his side of the bed. As Sloan goes to crawl in, Tom stops her, and, with her back to him, he pulls her against him and slowly runs his hands up her flanks, causing her to shiver. Leaning forward, he places a series of soft kisses on her right shoulder and neck.

Sloan's head falls back against his shoulder, her breath coming in short gasps, her insides beginning to melt. Tom moves his hands slowly up her sides and under her arms, gently urging her to lift them over her head. Then, taking the hem of her top, he eases it up over her head and over her outstretched arms and tosses it aside. Returning his hands to her waist, he brushes his thumbs over her skin before hooking them in the waistband of her boxers and pushing them down over her hips. Kneeling, he slides them down the length of her long, sleek legs, and with a touch to her ankle, he urges her to step out of them.

Sloan slowly turns around as he gets to his feet, letting him see her from the front. Tom's eyes darken as he takes in the sight of her and, feeling emboldened, she takes a step closer, slipping her hands under his shirt and around to his back, running her fingers up and down his spine. Tom rests his hands on her waist and smiles, knowing she's mimicking his actions when they'd been lying in the hammock. Moving her hands to his chest, she gently rubs circles around his nipples with her fingers, feeling them pebble under her touch as his tension rises in response to her teasing.

Unable to stand it any longer, Tom swiftly pulls off his shirt, wanting to feel her firm breasts pressing against his chest. But when he tries to pull her close, Sloan pushes on his chest, shaking her head slightly, looking directly into his eyes. Then her eyes stray lower and she unfastens the button on his pants. Looking down, Tom watches intently as she carefully unzips them. Since his pants are rather baggy, they fall to his ankles without much assistance. Sloan kneels down to gently pull his boxers off next, and as she takes the waistband in her hands, she leans forward to trail her tongue down the length of his chest to his navel. Tom's head falls back and his breath catches. Her tongue feels incredible, leaving a trail of cool moisture on his skin.

Once his boxers are removed, Sloan works her tongue back up his chest, and then Tom places his hands under her bottom, pulling her up and lifting her off her feet. Walking a few steps to the bed, he slowly sets her down, and she uses her hands and feet to slide back toward the middle of the bed, smiling at him softly. Tom crawls on top of her, his eyes alight with desire, and then leans down to kiss her, using his tongue to explore her secrets. Sloan responds in turn, sliding her arms around his neck and opening her mouth to him. The passion between them flares quickly, and Sloan soon instinctively spreads her legs and lifts her knees, preparing for him to enter her. Tom grins against her mouth, knowing what she's waiting for, but he wants to let her need build higher. Moving down, he softly tugs on one of her hard nipples with his lips, causing her to moan loudly. After giving the other nipple the same treatment, he looks up into her eyes, which are dark with passion.

Covering her with his body, he rocks gently against her, urging her to open her legs further, and Sloan smiles with a sensual delight as she obeys. He eases his way into her gently, wanting to prolong the sensation for both of them, but Sloan is so responsive that her release is almost immediate. Squeezing his hips tightly with her legs, she clutches him to her and lets the contractions ripple through her. When they're finally over, she lets out a shaky breath before lifting her head to capture his lips.

Wanting to give him the same kind of satisfaction, Sloan rolls them over and straddles his body. Her knees on either side of him, she slowly begins to move her hips against him, and, leaning forward, she lightly brushes his lips with hers. When Tom opens to her, Sloan slowly slips her tongue inside, exploring him. When the kiss starts to deepen, though, Sloan pulls back, teasing him. After a couple of attempts to capture her tongue, he reaches up and grabs her head with both hands, pulling her to him, and she laughs softly as she surrenders to him.

When he breaks the kiss a few breathless minutes later, Sloan whispers softly, "I've been thinking."

Tom raises his eyebrow. "I don't want you to think," he murmurs. "I just want you to feel." Placing his hands on her hips, he gently urges her to rock faster.

"I want to start a family with you," she says softly, looking down into his face. "I want to make you a daddy."

Tom smiles, reaching up to touch her cheek. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she replies. "We have no idea what the future holds, and I don't want to spend the next eighteen months waiting. We'll make it work. This place will give us some stability...a place to raise a family."

Tom shakes his head, teasing her a little. "You've been thinking hard about this, haven't you?"

Sloan nods her head. "Speaking of hard..." she breathes, her own voice suddenly full of teasing, and she reaches for his shoulders, pulling him into a sitting position. Wrapping her legs behind him, she nuzzles his neck and Tom cups her bottom with his hands to maneuver her, rubbing his erection over her most sensitive spots. Sloan moans deep in her throat as the sensation begins to build inside her once more, and, on the verge of his own release, Tom rolls Sloan beneath him. Thrusting deep, he whispers softly in her ear, "I love you...forever." Within seconds, they both explode in pleasure.

Later, cuddling together, Sloan asleep with her head resting on his chest, Tom softly rubs the nape of her neck. Thinking back on the passion they had shared, and the words she had said, a smile suddenly emerges on his face. Finally, a chance for a new beginning, he thinks contentedly, and, tightening his arms around her, he closes his eyes to dream of the future.

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