The Wanderer [1st Draft]

Lost in Dreams

Boston, Massachusetts

September 20, 2007 – 02:36 P.M. Eastern

"Thanks, Brennan. I appreciate you doing this for me. How much do I owe you," Reed asked the tall, firmly built man who was sitting a few feet away.

"Six grand," he said nonchalantly. "I only got you the best. I didn't want something that wasn't going to last."

"I appreciate it," she said, turning to give him the halfhearted smile that had become the norm for her of late. "I'll send Paul a text to wire you the money. Are you still using the same account I paid to before?"

Brennan grinned at her. "Yes, ma'am. Always a pleasure to help out a great friend. Besides, it's the best way I can look after you. It's not like you're going to change your mind."

"Nope, I am not," she confirmed firmly.

"You stay in touch with me, please," he asked quietly, looking at her with worry.

"I will. I promise you, Brennan," she responded as she turned to meet his eyes. "Text me if you have to go, alright?"

"I'll try," he promised.

"Yeah, I know how crazy it is in your life," she said, remembering he didn't always have a minute to shoot off a text. He'd gotten orders one night and had to leave while they were talking. He was out of the house in less than five minutes and on his way. She grinned faintly.

"You know, you can come back anytime you want. You can stay here whenever you want – I'll never turn you away. Hell, you can stay here when I'm gone, if you like," he told her. "Just so you know, anyway, that you always have a safe place to come to."

"Thanks, Brennan," she answered quietly. "I appreciate it."

The big Irishman stood and walked to a closet by the front door, picking up a case and returning to her. He placed it on the table and opened it up. "I got this for you. I know you aren't a huge fan of guns, but... you can't be out there defenseless. Don't carry either out in the open if you don't have to, but you need it for self-defense, or the odd snake in the woods," he teased with a grin. "I brought you two that I know you can handle."

"Geezus, Brennan," she said as he laid the guns out, then the plastic cases with bullets.

"They aren't what I'd use, but you don't need that kind of power. You remember how to tell the hollow points from the regular bullets?"

"Yep."

"Good," he remarked, placing both guns on the table. "I also put a gun gleaning kit with the other stuff, and a whetstone for your fancy knife," he teased.

"Don't knock my Buck," she warned him with a slight grin.

"Oh, I'm not knocking it. I just prefer mine to yours."

They looked over the guns and ammo as what she was about to do really sank in.

"It can be lonely out there," he said softly.

"I'm lonely everywhere," she admitted sadly. "I don't see how it will be different out there versus what it's like anywhere else."

Brennan nodded, understanding her position. "I'll miss you."

"Same here, Brennan," she told him quietly, her throat tightening up. "I just... I don't know. I don't know what I could possibly expect to find out there, but I can't stay. I just can't. It hurts too much. Everything reminds me of them."

Brennan pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her upper body. "I know, baby girl. I wish I could make this better for you. I would crawl through burning coals if I could give you back some of that spark you used to have."