It was a good question.

What would Ezekiel do with the information he had sought to uncover for so long? Would he feel compelled to speak of it with his family? Would he continue to ask Brandon a million other questions and continue to prod for the truth? Would he back off? Would he act differently?

Perhaps sensing that the two of them were at a cross roads Ezekiel took a breath and instead of doing anything Brandon thought he would do Ezekiel conceded all of the control over to him with only a few murmured words. “I don’t really know....Brandon we obviously have more to talk about....but....” He softly admitted. “What do YOU want to happen now...?”

A sharp wave of emotion pricked Brandon. It was uncanny how alike the two of them were at certain moments; how unprepared for the current situation the two of them were and yet drawn to each other anyway.

 “I don’t know either....” Brandon softly laughed, and cast Ezekiel a sad smile before he said. “I guess first of all...We need to get back to the mansion?”

At Brandon’s slight demand/question Ezekiel seemed to hesitate to pull back for a moment as though he were reluctant to step away. He released a small chuckle that held a heavy note of resignation before he reached out and put a hand against Brandon’s cheek. A flash of light touched Ezekiels azure gaze as though the Leopard were dancing inside of him.

“Of course we can go back to the mansion if you feel better Brandon, but before we do anything else and before we go any further...” Ezekiel suddenly smiled at him. “I wanted to say 'Thank you' to you."

“For what?” Brandon asked with a sinking guilty heart.

With a soft slightly confused smile, as though the answer were obvious, Ezekiel replied. “You saved my life after we jumped down that waterfall. You used your power and got sick because of me. So, thank you.” Then Ezekiel leaned forward and kissed him again before Brandon could respond. This kiss was something longer and deeper than the kiss before. Somehthing more serious then the seduction and teasing.

Brandon was a little helpless to lean into the sweet touch, before he pulled back from this kiss even as a dizzying zing of arousal shot strait down to his gut and along the tip of his cock that was still semi-hard locked behind the zipper of his jeans. Brandon almost moaned, but sensing that making any sounds at all could reignite the fire between them Brandon bit his lip, hard enough to draw blood, in an attempt to quell the sound in his chest.

To Brandon’s surprise Ezekiel winced and reached out, lifted his chin and smoothed his bottom lip away from his teeth with his thumb.

“Stop doing that!” he snarled a small light of displeasure in his gaze that made Brandon want to whimper. Ezekiel pinned him with his gaze, even as he softened his tone. “Stop running away from me...hiding what you want.” He whispered “You don’t have to.” As he said this his thumb danced across the abused flesh of Brandon’s bottom lip, easily dashing away the pain, and releasing a flutter of desire. Just like that the heat between them was only moments from coming back, the urge to lean forward and coax Ezekiels strong body back into the cot was all but overwhelming.

But it was swiftly broken....as a new sensation over took desire...and stabbed Brandon heavily in the heart.

In the matter of moments, Ezekiels caress....and everything else in that room faded to the back of his mind...

Brandon almost felt his soul buckle as the Flame seemed to bark a warning across the valleys of his mind. With its power Brandon sensed a monumental shift in the air all around him. He felt something in the back of his soul. A familiar twinge......a familiar dread.

“I thought we were going to leave Ezekiel?” Without thinking Brandon reached up and pushed Ezekiels hand away. “I can’t stand being in this cot for another moment....Please.” He said as his only answer and explanation for his actions. Inwardly Brandon cringed at the cold sharp tone that he took, but something felt terribly wrong all of a sudden. All across his body he felt a tightness. And it was getting stronger.

Obviously confused, but not willing to press him, Ezekiel simply lifted up to his feet and sighed. “I’ll get my shoes on...” he said, before turning and walking away.

For a moment it hurt Brandon deeply that Ezekiel was so used to his carless actions that Ezekiel didn’t even think to be angry. Brandon almost wished Ezekiel would become upset....because he didn’t deserve to be turned away off hand or his kindness to be ignored.

The dismay of wanting Ezekiel back beside him the moment he went away was like a cold slap to Brandon’s soul. But the wave of disquiet that trilled across his skin swallowed his sentimental thoughts.

The terrible feeling in his chest grew bigger. It had goosebumps raising all along Brandon’s neck and it made him gasp out loud and tighten a gloved hand against his chest.

At the distressed sound Ezekiel, who now had a pair boots in his left hand came back across the room. “What is it? ” Ezekiel asked him seriously, before kneeling at the edge of the bed and putting a warm hand on Brandon’s left knee. “...You look a little green, are you okay? Do you want to lay back down?”

“No, It’s nothing” Brandon took a deep breath that didn’t help and sent Ezekiel a beseeching glance. “Common! Hurry up. Let’s go.”

Ezekiel searched his face. It was obvious that something was indeed wrong...but once more Ezekiel didn’t press him. “Alright...” He said. “Just make sure you take it slow on the march back.” He finally breathed, pulled his hand away, and got up, and took a seat on the edge of the cot as he began to tie on his boots. “I know you said the power makes you sick. I don’t want you to pass out on me again.” He finished turning his blue eyes away from Brandon and down onto his feet as he unlaced his boots.

“I’ll...try not to.” Brandon said quickly, trying to hide his disturbed thoughts, even as Brandon began to struggle up from the cot, anxious and in ever-growing discomfort and pain.

A stark and terrible apprehension was clawing its way up his throat removing all feelings of pleasure or relief that his half-truths or Ezekiel s touch had brought him.

Alarm bells clattered and broke off in the back of his head, making Brandon want to scream as the Flame pounded a silent warning inside of his soul. It let him sense everything around him. Sometimes he felt the vague, small and insignificant energy of nature. Fluctuations of small energies off of the trees....or floating off of a bird flying hundreds of yards away from him. Other times the energies that the Flame picked up on were stronger....more powerful. The Leopard Shifters. The Ghouls.

And especially....the energies of the men that were after him.

The Flame salivated....and whimpered in agony as it felt the brush of his enemies lives in the air. The hunger was ever present. The fear was like a conditioned response. Brandon couldn’t control the tremor that traced its way down his body, luckily Ezekiel was too preoccupied lacing on a pair of Tim’s to notice.

RUN!

A simple and primitive part of his mind supplied as the one and only solution to the crippling emotions racing down his spine.

I’ve got to Run. They are close...

Brandon felt like his insides were made up of scrambled eggs. His muscles and body were still weak from the events of the poison and the last week. The Flame was starving. Brandon was literally on his last legs....and it couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

“Okay, let’s move out.” Ezekiel called out to him as he stood up from the cot and bushed past Brandon on the way to the door, Brandon followed woodenly behind him.

His every step was harder than the one before. The door was swung open, bright sunlight flooded into the room, dancing around Ezekiels strong form in the doorway. The warm bust of sun kissed grasses and fields that danced off away from his view and Ezekiel golden hair shuffling in the wind was a sight that made Brandon’s heart squeeze.

I’ve got to tell him....I’ve got to say something before it’s too late....

Brandon thought...unaware that it was already too late.

The word irony was like a giant elephant on his chest, crushing the life from his lungs.

Unfortunately Brandon couldn’t speak, let alone breathe past the first few feet outside of the infirmary doorway.

His head hurt. His body shook. And the feeling of apprehension grew until with a muffled whimper a realization hit him that knocked him to his knees. He was so empty. The Flame was so weak. He didn’t have to strength to walk......but there was something else that stole his breath from him in the next few moments.

He recognized this energy.....he recognized the beast that it belonged to. His heart betrayed him by releasing a kernel of warmth and joy as he recognized the energy coming closer.... But Brandon’s mind and body felt so cold he feared he would shatter.

Oh god....its Jacob!

Brandon felt like someone had just suplexed him. The sharp jab of fear was all that Brandon’s body needed to cave under all of the stress and pain. His heart stuttered in his chest and his bones felt like jelly. Ezekiel noticed his distress and turned just in time for Brandon to slump heavily into his side. Darkness danced along the fringes of his sight.

****

“Brandon! Brandon?” Ezekiel called to him urgently.

He wrapped his arms around Brandon to keep him from falling farther to the ground. Holding him against his chest didn’t take him long to realize that Brandon was shaking like a leaf. “Seriously, Brandon what’s wrong? Should I take you back to your room? Is you’re power doing this too you?”

“Noooo leave me.” Brandon moaned. He turned his suddenly very hot and feverish head into Ezekiels side as if he could borrow inside of him to escape the pain.

“Shhh...Brandon.” Ezekiel tried to calm him mistaking his fear for another attack, but this was worse....so much worse.

“R...Run” he gasped. Brandon clutched his shirt right over his heart as it stuttered painfully once more. His body couldn’t take the abject terror he felt. He wondered if his heart would stop. “Just leave me here...and Run away right now!” Brandon cried, but Ezekiel wasn’t listening to him.

Oh god.....they are gonna kill him and its all my fault!

Brandon thought to himself and was immensely surprised by the roar of utter defiance that tried to claw its way up and out of him. It over took the fear.

Brandon was....angry at the idea. Angry at the thought of any harm coming upon Ezekiel. And yet standing there with his heart failing him and Ezekiels broad body encasing him he also felt...sorrow. A horrible sorrow that he was going to be the cause of what was about to transpire. It was the same thing that always happened to the people that he cared about. Brandon bought death. He carried it inside of him.....and it followed closely at his heels.

He ran and somehow they found him.

He had to get Ezekiel away as soon as possible, but screaming his warning to the Guardian was now impossible...because his terror finally stole him away.