The cellar was dark except for one light bulb with a cord dangling from it in the middle of the room.  Jenna Mcleod mentally reran the directions through her head satisfied that she was in the right place.  She moved to stand behind a wooden pillar to the left of the staircase.  Taking out her automatic she checked to make sure that the safety was off.  A noise at the top of the stairs alerted her to another presence.  She aimed the gun between her feet waiting for the person to show themselves.  Another creek then silence once again descended.  She could see the figure moving toward the window at the opposite end of the cellar.

"Freeze," she said loudly enough for them to hear, at the same time levering the revolver in her hands at the still moving figure.

"I'm not armed," came the deep reply.  "I'm a doctor, names Price, Jonathan Price."

She was certain that this was the name of the contact that she was to meet, but wanted to make sure that he was unarmed before proceeding. Stepping out from the darkness and away from the pillar, she crossed the room to stand behind him.  "Move into the light where I can see you, and put your hands on the wall in front of you and spread em'."

"Whatever you say lady, just don't shoot me, all right?" Jonathan asked.

"Do it!" she said harshly; waiving the gun in the direction of the wall.  As the figure appeared under the light, she could see that he was tall, about 6'4, Black hair worn long enough to touch the back of his collar.  He was dressed to blend with the shadows, Black jeans, a black turtleneck and black sneakers with a black leather jacket to shut out the cool night air.  She frisked him, no gun.

"Fine, you can turn around now," she said taking a step back.

Turning, Jonathan was surprised to find a small blonde, also garbed in all black, blonde hair in a pony tail trailing along her left shoulder.  She was pretty, sharp blue eyes assessed him from beneath dark lashes.

"Quite through?"  She asked caustically.

With a half grin on his face he nodded.  "I thought you knew who you were meeting here?"  He said looking toward where she had been standing in the shadows.

"I did, can't be too careful now a days though."  She flipped the safety on the gun, and tucked it into the back of her jeans so it was hidden under her jacket.  She moved back toward the stairwell, Jonathan following close behind.  "My name is Jenna Mcleod.  I'll be your guide," she said sarcastically.  Jonathan gave her a smile.

"Why are you here alone, I thought there were to be five of us altogether?"

"There are five Mr. Price, the others are waiting for us at headquarters.  You’re the last to be brought in.  I was sent to collect you and answer any last questions as well as take you to meet the rest of our team.  Are you ready?"

Nodding his head, Jonathan pointed toward the top of the stairwell.  "Yeah, but I have to pick up my duffel, it's up there.  I brought what Med Supplies I could get my hands on.  Not a whole lot I'm afraid."

Smiling sincerely at him for the first time, Jenna replied, "That's all right, we know that Ham Tyler has what we sent him back to LA with as well as some that we intend to bring, that should help out, but thanks for trying.  Let's move, we're already half an hour late meeting the others."
 

Setting: Outside Los Angeles, The new headquarters of the LA resistance fighters, an empty Bar and Grill with an attached hotel called "The Grand".

Setting the small, black briefcase on the desk, Tyler stripped off his leather jacket and hung it on the back of the chair.  He sat down and popped open the briefcase.  Inside were correspondence from the New York members who would be arriving to help get them back on their feet.  Anticipating a quiet hour before the rest of the group rose, he started sifting through the pile trying to make heads and tails out of who and what he should expect.  This is how Mike Donovan found Tyler about an hour or so later.  Without asking, Mike reached down and plucked a sheaf of papers off the table.

"What're these?" he asked motioning to the mess spread out in front of Ham.

"All the correspondence from the organization concerning who and what's being sent to help us.  They're being headed up by an old friend of mine, name’s Jenna Mcleod.  She says we should expect her in the next week or so."

Donovan sat down across the desk from Tyler and took a deep breath.  "I thought we where recruiting from the streets with the survivors that had been left after the sweeps?"  He said motioning one hand toward the boarded windows and the world beyond.

Sighing, Tyler ran a hand down his face before answering Mike's question.  "We're in need of some expertise that the survivors can't give us Donovan, besides, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth.  Problem is that they can only spare five, lucky for us that Jenna can pull some strings, we've got the best five that they can offer, including a doctor."

Mike dropped the papers he had been holding back on the desk in front of Tyler.  He stood starring across to Tyler sat and angrily jerked his head toward the papers strewn across the desk.  "Do what you think is necessary, but I want it made clear to them when they come that they must clear their actions through us before they make any moves.  All the expertise in the world can't save them from the smallest of mistakes.  Remember how easily we can be recognized."

Tyler leaned back in his chair before answering Mike.  "I've been at this a lot longer than you have Gooder.  Don't make snap judgements on this.  Give them a chance first.”  Mike nodded stiffly and left the room.  Tyler let his gaze fall to the papers in front of him.  It'd be good to see Jenna again, he just hoped that Donovan gave her a chance to help get them back on line.  He stood tucking the papers back into the briefcase then headed to the kitchen to grab something to eat.
 

Setting: New York Headquarters, an empty schoolroom.

Adam Mackenzie slid into his chair and watched Jenna Mcleod at work.  He was impressed with her leadership qualities.  She had managed to gather the five best fighters and scientists available.  He had also noticed that all the ammo plus some surplus funds had been shipped to her to take with them.  Including to his own delight, a visitor shuttle craft on loan from the fifth column.  He had to admit that the organization had been kinder to her than he had anticipated.  He also knew that she was an old friend of Ham Tyler's and suspected that, that had something to do with her good fortune with the tight fisted bureaucrats who ran the organization.  Along with Adam, Ham had also been one of the first founders of the organization that had been sent from the Company.  Knowing someone like that came in handy when you needed things that where in short supply.  He watched as she gathered her notes as well as her thoughts and brought everyone toward the front of the room.

"All right everyone, I wanted to pull you together, make some quick introductions and answer any questions that you might have before we go.  First I want to say that I'm grateful that you could all accompany me to Los Angeles.  I know that we've all been swamped with a thousand other duties since the end of the truce with the Visitors.  However, the LA group's had some devastating set backs and is in need of help.  Ham Tyler returned to LA shortly after the truce was established.  They lost Julie Parrish in a firefight and that loss has hit them hard.  Mike Donovan is still there alongside Tyler, but they are dangerously low on ammo as well as med supplies and funding.  This is where we come in.  We'll help to renew them with supplies and maybe bring some new efforts in with it."

"Sort of like being the Calvary, huh?" quipped Jonathan.

Jenna nodded her head absently.  "Exactly, now let me proceed by introducing you to your new teammates.  I'll start with Dr. Price."  Jonathan stood while Jenna gave a quick rundown on his background.  "Jonathan comes to us from a Minnesota resistance.  He's an MD. as well as one of the first doctors to have had a chance to study the visitor's anatomy.  He'll be our personal physician on the trip as well.  Next is Nick Cantrell, Nick is a special agent with the FBI, he's had the chance to get to study some of the technology aboard the Visitors ships.  He'll serve as our computer expert and all around break in artist."  Nick flashed a grin at Jenna at the end of her last comment, before resuming his seat.  Next to stand was Adam Mackenzie.  "Adam will be my back up on this trip.  All orders are to be cleared through either Adam or myself.  Nothing is to be done without checking with one of us first.  Adam is one of the founders of the organization and has a background in weapons and ammunition, as well as a military career with the navy seals.  He’ll be in charge of distribution and training of the new weapons once we reach LA.  Next on the list is Sarah Cassidine.  Sarah will be, we hope, our greatest secret weapon.  Before Juliet Parrish died, she had been working on sending a signal through space to what we think are the Visitors enemies.  Sarah is coming to see how that's going and also to try to pick up where Juliet left off on any running scientific research on the visitors.  Last but not least is myself, my name is Jenna Mcleod, I've been with the New York resistance for two years, before that I was stationed in Europe during the first battle.  I have the pleasure of knowing Ham Tyler as well as the background on the main members of the LA group, I also studied alongside Nick on the different technology the visitors have and I’m also qualified in computer languages.  He and I will serve on this mission trying to learn about their computer database.  "O.K., Let me hear any questions you might have."  Sarah raised a hand.  Jenna nodded.  "Go ahead Sarah."

"How do you plan on getting us to Los Angeles?"

"Good question, we have a visitor squad vehicle that the fifth column have lent us.  We should arrive in LA in about three days if all goes well.  Anything else?"  Jenna asked, scanning the room.  No one spoke.  "Fine, get a few hours rest, you're gonna need it.  Dismissed."  She left the podium she had been standing behind and headed for the back of the room where Adam Mackenzie stood waiting for her.

"So, how am I doing?" she asked as he accompanied her out of the room.

"Fine.  I'm grateful you stressed the command of coming to one or the other for approval of orders.  The organization is big on both of us communicating with each other before any new moves are made."

She stopped as she reached her office, it was only a small room that had been crammed with a desk so she could do what paperwork needed to be done.  She motioned Adam toward a seat across from her and took her seat behind the desk, setting the binder she had been carrying down in front of her.  " I realize that communication is a key factor here Adam, but I don't want interference run between myself and Tyler.  I know that you had some doubts that he shouldn't have been returned to LA.  I on the other hand have complete confidence that he can do the job.  We're going only to get them back on their feet.  Is that understood?"

Before saying anything, Adam took a deep breath and counted to ten silently.  "Look, I know that the two of you are old friends, I know that you think he's fine and that nothing's wrong, but you didn't hear his debriefing when he came back east.  He had a very close call with Diana's conversion chamber.  I'm only coming to make certain that nothing goes wrong.  Don't make me out to be a bad guy here.  I'm glad to be coming along and also willing to be your bouncing board for calls that have to be made.  I assure you that I have NO intention of coming between you and Ham Tyler.  Only as someone you can depend on to help out when I'm needed and be as much a part of this team as anyone else.  Understood?"  Jenna had watched him carefully through his speech and nodded her head.  "Truce?"  He asked with a lopsided grin on his face.

"Mmmm."  Was the only response Adam got.  Adam rose and excused himself so he could catch an hours sleep before departure time.  Jenna returned her gaze to the folders and letters in front of her.  She wasn't happy about Mackenzie coming along.  It made her feel like she was being watched by her own people.  She had known Adam a long time and she considered him a good friend, but wasn't anxious to have Tyler and Adam butting heads on things.  All she wanted was for the job to go smoothly and get the LA resistance back up and running again.  Sighing, Jenna rose from her chair behind the desk and whistled low.  She heard the soft padding of feet come toward her down the hall.  She waited as her only companion of late joined her in the hallway.  He was a Black, Brown and White Newfoundland herding dog, 3 years old and Jenna's travelling buddy and all around best friend.  His name was Wallace, after one of Jenna's favourite people in history, Robert Wallace.  A Scotch freedom fighter.  Wallace, often known as Wally, followed Jenna as she made her way to the Kitchen for a quick bite before take off.
 

Setting: 3 days later, outside the L.A. Headquarters about 3pm.

The shuttle landed with a soft whirring of engines.  As Nick Cantrell shut down the machine all went quiet.  Jenna pushed a button and the hatch slide open and a ramp descended to the ground.  Jenna, blaster in hand, disembarked first, Wally at her side.  She was greeted by a trio standing about 15 paces away, all holding blasters in hand, and all three where aimed at her.  She recognized the figure standing closest and shot him a wide grin.  "Well, Tyler I didn't think you'd forget me so soon.  I thought I'd made an indelible impression on that hard head of yours, I'm crushed."  She took a few steps down the ramp, Wally Sticking to her side.  Lowering her weapon she slide it into the holster at her waist.

"She's O.K."  Tyler said motioning for Donovan and Kyle to lower their blasters.

"That's certainly a good thing to hear."  Came a deep voice from behind Jenna.  The tall dark figure of Adam Mackenzie emerged from the ship.  As he stepped off the ramp and took position behind and to the right of Jenna he offered a hand in greeting to Tyler.  "Good to see you again old man."

Shaking his head, Ham took the offered hand.  "Well, well, Mackenzie, you’re the last person I thought would agree to the recruiting call.  I see that you’re still denying the pull of political agendas."

"Uh-uh, guys, not now O.K.?"  Jenna said as she turned and whistled toward the ship.

Two men dressed the same as Jenna and Adam in black flight suites, both tall, one dark haired one fair, emerged from the ship.  Carried between them where two boxes piled one atop the other.  As they reached the ground, they deposited the boxes in front of where Mike Donovan stood.  Pointing at the crates she turned and addressed Tyler.  "Those are the newest fashions from Paris and Rome.  I thought they might be appreciated."

Tyler threw her a smirk.  "That they are.  I have to say your timing is impeccable."

Laughing, Jenna said, "I live to serve."  She bowed toward Ham mockingly.  Turning she offered her hand to Mike Donovan with a smile.  " You must be Mr. Donovan, I'm Jenna Mcleod, motioning toward the remaining members of her team she introduced them one by one.  This is Adam Mackenzie she said pointing to the man beside her, turning slightly and motioning to the two men behind her, she introduced Dr. Jonathan Price and finally Nick Cantrell."  Noticing for the first time that she was missing Sarah, she turned and walked back toward the ship.  Calling up the ramp.  "Hey, Sarah!  Move it or lose it!"

Sarah Cassidine appeared at the top of the ramp.  She too wore a black flight suite; she had her straight black hair in a ponytail like Jenna wore.  She looked considerably worse for wear then the others.  She threw a murderous look at Jenna.  "You people are all crazy, you know that?"  Sarah gripped the side of the ship as she made her way down the ramp.

"That bad, huh?"  Jenna asked, with an apologetic voice.  Looking back toward Tyler and the rest she introduced Sarah to the LA group.  Jenna explained that she, unlike Sarah, had slept most of the way through the last leg of the journey and had been spared the expertise of Nick's flying techniques or lack there of, depending on the opinion.

Tyler nodded toward Mike.  "Reminds me of someone I know."

Donovan shot Ham a dirty look as he responded to the jibe.  "Hey, at least I can fly the damn thing, you haven't had the guts to even try."  Donovan looked at the crates at his feet and then back up at Adam.  "Any more of these?  We should finish getting you unloaded and then get you all settled in.  I still have to get rid of that."  He nodded toward the ship.

Adam looked toward Jenna.  "Jenna can help you get rid of the ship.  There are at least half a dozen more crates.  Jonathan and I will finish unloading while you show the others where we can bed down.  We'll need someone to show us where to store these as well."

Mike nodded and pointed behind him at Kyle.  "This is Kyle Bates, he'll show you where to store these.  Tyler and I will see the rest of your team settled.  Anything else you need, just ask."

"Thanks."  Adam said as he stepped back up the ramp followed closely by Jonathan.

Walking beside Tyler, Wally at her heels, Jenna nodded her head toward the motel.  "Good choice, but isn't it a bit obvious a search for the visitor sweeps you mentioned?  I thought you'd be a bit more discrete."

Ham shook his head and motioned his hand toward the street.  "This town was one of the first ones to "disappear" when the visitors first came.  It hasn't been repopulated since.  It's about the least searched area near the City.  Don't worry, I did my homework."  As she was about to continue forward, Tyler stopped Jenna with a hand on her arm and waited as the rest of the group passed by.  She looked up at him with a question on her face.  Tyler pulled her close and hugged her.

Wrapping her arms around his neck she returned the hug.  "It's good to see you again Ham.  I thought that when you left I might not get another chance.  How have you been?"  She asked pulling away and looking up into his face.  The openness of emotions that had shown on his face a second before, disappeared and a blank look washed over his features again.  Just as Jenna was about to question him further Mike Donovan approached from the doors of the hotel.

"Your team is settled, if you want to grab something to eat, we should dump the shuttle craft and be back here before dark."  Donovan said passing the two by as he headed toward the shuttlecraft.

Jenna nodded her understanding toward Mike.  Looking back at Tyler, she asked him to keep an eye on Wallace while she joined Mike.  Ham rolled his eyes skyward.  "Fine, but if the mutt gets into anything I'm not promising I won't shoot his tail off.

Grinning, she looked down at Wally and pointed to Tyler as she addressed her furry friend.  "You be good for Tyler, and stay near to him, O.K.?"  As if understanding his owner, Wally wagged his tail and made a small chuffing sound.

“I'll wait to eat until after we return." Jenna said as she followed Mike toward the ship.

Tyler nodded and said, "Go, you and I can talk later."

"Promise?" she said, smiling at him.

He nodded and walked back to where the rest of the group waited Wally not far behind him.

Setting the Ship down, Mike disembarked and closed the door as Jenna followed him down the alleyway.  Moving quickly, a wide grin split his face as he heard Jenna curse, he had been unable to recognize the language but knew the meaning of the words must have been pretty bad by the agitated look on her face.  She'd had a hard time with some of the manoeuvres it had taken him in order to settle the ship in place.

Speaking to him for the first time since first taking off Jenna sounded a little shaky.  "I assume you know where you're going?"

Looking over his shoulder he could see her picking her way delicately down the alley.  An even wider grin than before appeared on his face.  This was the person Ham spoke so highly of?  Mike couldn't believe the background Ham had given him on her.  "Uh huh."  Mike responded, continuing down the street.

"Not much for words are you Mr. Donovan?"  Jenna said as she caught up with his long strides.

He looked down at her and flashed a grin.  "Nope."

Shaking her head, she let him take a small lead.  "What's the distance from here to the HQ?"  She asked.

"About 3 miles, Why?"

"What direction would it be in, Mr. Donovan?"

Mike looked back at her and pointed off to the right.  Nodding her head, she asked him to confirm the name of the street that the hotel was on.  He did and finally came to a halt.  "Why all the Question, Ms. Mcleod?"  He asked putting a strong emphasis on her name.

"Tell you what, Gooder," she said using Tyler's favourite nickname for Mike.  "I'll see you back at the HQ."  With this last remark, she headed down the street at a trot.

Mike was silent for a second and hurried to catch up, cursing under his breath.  Tyler would have him for supper if he lost this friend of his on her first night in the city.  He gained the corner of the street finding only that she was nowhere to be seen.  "Damn it!"  He swore as he headed back toward the HQ.  "Ham's gonna skin me alive!"

As Mike entered the Hotel Lobby a smiling Ham Tyler greeted him.  "Whad ya do Gooder get lost?"  Tyler said with heavy Sarcasm.  As Mike was about to reply he spotted Jenna Mcleod lounging in a chair in the dinning area.  She was looking right at him with a smile on her face as wide as the Nevada Mountain Range.  "How...?  How did she get back here so quickly?"  He demanded of Tyler as he motioned toward the object of his question.

"She walked Gooder, whatd' ya think, she flew?"  Tyler couldn't help himself; this was too good a chance to get Donovan to show some emotion.  The man hadn't shown much fire since the loss of Juliet Parish.

Shaking his head in confusion, Mike passed Ham by and approached the table that Jenna was sitting at.

She grinned up at him like a fool and stood as he reached her.  "Hello again Mr. Donovan."  She said happily.

Mike looked down at her and grabbed her arm; he couldn't fight the swell of anger that engulfed him.  Pulling her across the room to a coach, he yanked her down across his knees.  She began fighting him and started squirming.  Before Mike could follow through with his intention of giving her a good spanking, Tyler had crossed the room and grabbed Jenna from Mike's grasp.

"Donovan!"  Tyler screamed. He pulled Jenna to a standing position and shoved her behind him, so he stood in between the two.

Mike looked up at Tyler from where he sat, his body visibly shaking as he pointed to the woman standing behind Ham.  "That GIRL, cost me two hours of searching the alleys three miles to here and a massive headache!  She deserves a good paddling for what she did!"  He yelled.  Jenna was about to open fire and let the man have a taste of his own medicine, but before she got the chance, Mike rose and strode from the room.

Looking at Jenna with an eyebrow raised Tyler said, "Good work Jen, at least he's finally feeling something."

Jenna's gaze was still riveted to the door that Mike Donovan had disappeared through.  "He's gonna explode Tyler, if something isn't done soon."

Ham slung his arm across her shoulders, "I figure that now that you're here, you and I could work on him together.  I never did much to help him after Julie died.  He took off for a while and then re-appeared.  I'm still not sure to this day where he was and what he was doing."  Tyler sat on the coach that Mike had just vacated and motioned for Jenna to join him.  There was no one else in the room.  Most had turned in for the night and some of Jenna's team where getting aquatinted with the remainder of the LA resistance fighters in the bar off the entryway.

Jenna looked at Ham and asked, "He's kept to himself since she died?  I thought you said that he had helped to set this place up?"  Tyler nodded absently, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so.  Jenna reached over and massaged it for him.  Speaking to him quietly as she gave him a brief massage.  "I missed you after you left New York.  No one to have any fun with."  She said smiling at Ham.

Tyler looked up and gave her a grin.  "You been misbehavin' again?"

Jenna just shook her head and rose from the coach.  She didn't wait for an answer to her first question.  She turned when she reached the doorway and looked back at him.  "First thing tomorrow we need to get you guys briefed on the new weapons and you can have Jonathan establish a first aid station and Infirmary.”

Tyler watched Jenna head off to her room after wishing her goodnight.  He decided to try and hunt down Mike and have a little chat.  Whistling, he rose and headed in the direction of the poolroom, it seemed to have become Mike's favourite hang out late at night.

Reaching her room, Jenna opened the door to find Wally sprawled out across her bed.  "Oh Wally."  She sighed.  "Get down before you infest the bed with fleas."  At this the dog raised baleful eyes to its owner and chuffed softly.  As if to tell her, not only that her last statement was false but also that she would have to find her own quarters, he had claimed his.  Shaking her head and pointing to the floor, she watched as Wally climbed down off the bed and sat staring up at her.  She entered the bathroom and found that she had been provided with a clean set of towels, soap and shampoo.  She set the temperature of the water, stripped and climbed in under the spray.  She heard Wally yawn and the soft thump as he landed against the door as he lay down for a nap.  Letting the spray run down her, she could feel the kinks start to come out of her neck.  She reflected back on her encounter with Mike Donovan.  If what Tyler said was true she had a long assignment ahead of her and Mike didn't seem to plan to make it any easier.  Finishing her shower, she dressed in a lose pair of sweats and unpacked her and Wally's things.  As she came to a finish, she realized that Wally was sitting at the door holding his leash in his mouth.  The dog looked at her with pleading eyes and gave a little whine.  "Oh all right!"  She said as she crossed the room and hooked the leash to his collar.  Running a hand absently over his coat, she started to open the door and was about to head out when she heard another door further down the hall softly open and close.  She waited until the footsteps had passed her door and she emerged to see Mike Donovan heading down the stairs toward the reception area.  She decided to walk Wally and then see where Mike had gone.

After walking Wally around most of the outside property while he acquainted himself with what Jenna thought must be each blade of grass.  She returned him to her room and headed to the pool area.  She was careful to enter quietly so no one would know that she was there.  The last thing she needed was to disturb anyone having a quiet midnight tryst.  She found the room dim, only a few lights had been left burning and those where aimed toward the pool so that the swimmer could see what he/she was doing.  It smelled heavily of chlorine.  No one was in the room.  She turned to go. Out of the darkness an arm grabbed her around the throat.  Using her hands she grabbed the arm that held her and used it to lever herself as she swung her head back.  It slammed into her captor’s chin.  Releasing his hold on Jenna with a shout of pain, Mike Donovan stumbled, bringing his back up against the wall.  Raising his hand to cradle his throbbing chin he uttered a string of colourful curses.   Jenna swung around and almost hit him with a right hook, but discovering who it was, she dropped her arms to her side.  Breathing hard, she backed up a few paces and waited till Mike opened his eyes to look her in the face.

"I could have killed you!  What on God's green earth did you think you where doing!"  She screamed at him.

Mike motioned toward the windows on the opposite side of the room.  " I was outside taking a walk and saw someone sneaking in here.  I followed them, and then lost track of where they had gone.  Until I saw someone creeping around in here, that is.  I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."  He looked away from her furious gaze, guilt written all over his face.

Jenna answered him, still shouting as she did. "I was out walking Wally.  I only came in here to see if anyone was in the pool.  I had thought about taking a swim!"   She knew that wasn’t the complete truth, but wasn’t about to admit she had been looking to see where he had gone off to.  Jenna's yelling had captured the attention of all of those whom where still in the bar area down the hall.  Adam Mackenzie stood on the threshold of the door, one eyebrow raised sardonically.  His movements caught Jenna’s attention.  She swung away from Mike Donovan and headed past the small group that had formed outside the doorway.  Tyler, Jonathan and Sarah where among them.  She brushed past them, but not before Tylers hand snaked out and grabbed her arm as she passed, bringing her to an abrupt halt.

"You O.K.?"  He asked her.

"Yeah, just fine for someone who had her sixth life scared out of her."  She said.

Mike had followed her out of the room and came to stand in front of her.  "Please accept my apologies.  I wasn't aware you were out with your dog.  From now on Ms. Mcleod may I suggest you tell someone when you plan on leaving the building so late at night?"  With this last comment Mike strode down the hall in the direction of the sleeping quarters.

Jenna couldn't control the anger she felt bubbling up.  She let out a furious "Ohhh, that MAN!"  She shook off Ham’s grip on her arm and headed toward bed herself.  All the while inside her head rattling off ever name that she could find to fit Mike Donovan.  "Stupid, Pigheaded, Brutish, Hostel, MAN!"  The funny thing was, that at that very same time Mike was in his room looking in the mirror and rubbing his jaw, cursing all women as Jenna was cursing him.
 
 

Mike Donovan looked at the beautiful woman in front of him and wanted nothing more than to throttle her.  "Yes, me."  He said.  Turning on the charm and deciding to give both of them a break, he offered an arm and offered to escort her to breakfast.  "You know," he said waiting for her to take the proffered arm; "we really have gotten off to a bad start.  What's say we start again Ms. Mcleod?"

Looking at the brute in front of her...' Well a very handsome brute she had to admit.'  She instead looked down at Wallace and gave a command.  "Wally, Sick him!"  Wally looked at Jenna and whined.  Instead of growling and ripping the man's throat out as his owner had ordered him, he looked up at Mike; rose up on hind legs and planted both front paws on Mike's chest, and started licking his face!

Mike let out a snicker, and pushed the dog off of him.  "You'll find Ms. Mcleod that I am an avid animal lover.  I think that I must radiate that... shall we say, certain charm?"

Jenna looked at Wally with disgust and said, "Traitor!"  She then turned away from Mike with a "hurumph".  She passed him, stopping only long enough to call Wally back to her side and continue down the hall.

Mike Donovan waited till she was out of earshot and then did something that he had not done in a very long time, he laughed.

What Mike and Jenna didn't know was that Ham Tyler stood only a few feet away listening to the confrontation that had just taken place.  He had never been a best friend with Donovan, but considered him someone he could trust and he had actually come to like the man.  It had taken Ham by surprise when Mike had disappeared so suddenly after Juliet's death.  He knew that the two had been an item at one time, but had heard and practically seen it cool to a very steadfast and loyal friendship.  Ham had also taken Julie's death as hard as most on the team but knew that she would have wanted them to fight now and do the mourning later.  Glancing around the corner to make sure it was clear, he followed in Jenna's footsteps and headed to breakfast.  After the briefing, he planned to get time alone with her and do some apologizing and try and explain Mike's strange behaviour.  She was a good friend and he had known that the blending of the two groups would be rough, but had never expected any trouble between Mike and Jenna.  He had figured that the two were so alike that they would hit it off right away.  That's why he had been glad that it had been her that they had sent to help get the LA team back up and running.  He hoped that it wasn't too late to help Mike.  He had figured that Jenna would be a distraction, and maybe form a friendship with Mike.  Ham sped up his pace and hoped that he could get Mike and Jenna back on somewhat steady ground.

After breakfast all of the LA resistance as well as those five from the New York group gathered in one of the two ballrooms in the hotel in order to go through the briefing that the New York crew was to give on the new weapons.  Beforehand Jenna had taken a small tour with Tyler as her guide.  He had shown her all five floors and the basement of the hotel.  He had also tried and apologize for Donovan's earlier bad behaviour, Jenna had only brushed past the apology, saying that it was uncalled for.  The basement allowed them a quick and easy exit under ground if ever anything where to happen.  Meaning that if the visitors ever caught on to where they where hiding.  The escape exit was a tunnel that was hidden under some large crates.  He said that the idea had come to him from another route that had been in one of the former HQ's.  Jenna found that of the rooms on the ground floor that she liked the grand ballroom the most.  It had been the name sake of the hotel itself due to it’s size and grandeur.  It looked to her like it could have easily been half the size of a football field.  With a smile, Tyler assured her that it wasn't quite that large.  It had a high domed ceiling; letting in sunlight threw a large skylight that stretched across better than half of it.  The floors where made of real oak and had been recently buffed to a shine.  Commenting on this, she was told that the group had used it as an infirmary in the beginning and that it had been cleaned due to that fact.  The walls where what drew Jenna's attention the most.  They had been designed so that they were wall to wall mirrors, they only ended where the alcove to where the doors opened out.  Jenna looked around and followed Tyler back to the smaller ballroom next door.  As she trailed beside him she asked if the larger one was used since all of those who had needed help had left.  He said that it was only used when the group threw parties after raids and such.  He failed to see the smile that spread across her face at his reply.  Jenna knew that she would be spending a lot of her spare time in that ballroom.

The briefing ended several hours later and the two crews were allowed to grab some lunch and spend some time getting to know each other and explore "With care", as Tyler had said, the hotel.  Jenna walked Wally and changed her clothes so she was in a white one piece top, a pair of gray sweat pants that hugged her legs and a loose denim shirt tied at her waist and a pair of tennis shoes.  This is what she commonly referred to as her workout clothes.  As she descended the stairs heading back toward the grand ballroom, Wally again tagging at her heals; she carried a long cylinder shaped leather case and a small portable tape player.

Mike had noticed her enter the ballroom and close the doors behind her.  Being careful that no one noticed him, he crossed the foyer and slowly cracked open a door to see what she was doing.  As he watched she placed the "boombox" as he called them down and plugged it into the nearest outlet and kicked off her shoes.  Wally settled comfortably nearby and watched his owner as she worked.  Yawning he closed his eyes to sleep.  Mike decided that this must be a regular routine for Jenna .  She popped a tape in and hit the play button.  The music sounded like what you commonly hear in church in Latin masses, woman's voices, singing in Latin soared around the empty ballroom, bouncing around the walls with abandon.  He saw Jenna smile softly as she made her way to the centre of the room.  He was shocked at the next item she produced.  She was unzipping the long, cylinder shaped case.  She removed a SWORD!.  The hilt was rounded, it appeared to be made of silver and gold and the very end resembled a growling dragon. This type of sword is referred to as a Samurai   It was beautiful with the light reflecting off the blade.  Mike could see that it was honed to a razor sharp edge.  "Who is this girl?", he thought silently.  He hadn't seen a sword like that in his life except for in a museum.  Forgetting that he was spying, he opened the ballroom door all the way and entered, letting the door slam shut behind him.  Jenna jumped about a foot straight up and spun around bringing the sword to bear straight out in front of her.  He could see that she hadn't expected to have any interruptions.

Pointing to the sword she held in her hands, Mike spoke for the first time since their encounter earlier that morning.  "What are you doing with that thing?“

Jenna frowned at him.  Not answering his question, she pointed at the door he had come through.  "Mr. Donovan, she said taking a breath while trying to steady herself, "didn't anyone ever teach you how to knock?"

Mike, not answering her question, again raised a hand and an eyebrow in the general direction of the sword she still held in her hands.  Jenna sighed and crossed to the boombox, turning it off she swung the sword with a flick of her wrist so that the edge was aligned with her back, the tip appearing just above her right shoulder blade. Trying to control her temper, with great difficulty she practically screamed,  "Mr. Donovan, I didn't realize that I needed to explain my actions to anyone here.  I'm a big girl and I came in here for a little piece and QUIET!"

Mike looked toward the doorway, fully expecting another interruption from those who where within earshot.  No one came.  He turned back to her, finding that she had quietly swung the sword back in front of her, advancing toward him so that the tip of it was against his throat.  Losing his smile and any patience that he had entered the room with he took a small step back in surprise.  Jenna gave an evil grin and a raised brow and advanced toward him so that the tip was once again, against his throat.  He swallowed convulsively.  Her grin grew wider.

"May I suggest," she purred, "next time you enter a closed room, that you knock?"  She swung the sword away and placed it once again behind her back.

Mike nodded dumbly.

The door behind him opened and Adam Mackenzie stepped through.  Before realizing that Jenna had company, he began speaking to her.  "I thought that I might find you....here"  He broke off and swung a confused look between where she and Donovan stood.  Mike looked over his shoulder at Mackenzie and then back at Jenna.  Mike gave her a mock salute and left the room through the door in which he had come, brushing past Mackenzie as he went.  Adam swung his gaze back to Jenna after watching Mike leave.  "You know," he said, "I think he has it in for you?"

Jenna just shook her head and walked back to the music box.  Hitting the play button with the tip of her sword.  "What's up Adam?"  She asked as she again went to the centre of the room and began warming up with the sword.

"I bring good tidings."  He continued with a smile after dodging the tip of the sword as it swung dangerously close to him.  "I found out that Tyler has a raid planned in two weeks on a small compound just outside the city limits.  We know that it's outside the boundary we had decided on but he and I had thought it might be a good idea to try and get a few more people out and give our new 'team' a try."

As he had been speaking, Jenna had continued with her swordplay.  She stopped as he came to a finish.  She nodded.  "We should be running a lot more smoothly together by then.  Anything else?  How do you like the place?  Are you getting along better with Tyler?  Have the others said anything to you about anything?  Complaints, requests and such?"  She crossed the room as she spoke, coming to stand about three feet away from him.

"No, I like the gym the best, yes, and no, no complaints.  Jonathan is in his glory setting up the infirmary, Sarah is in her room reading over some of Juliet Parish's last notes and Nick is taking a swim and getting better aquatinted with the female population."

With this last Jenna let out a snicker and shook her head.  "I just bet he is.  Well, want to get yours?"  She said motioning with the sword back and forth in her hands.  "You could use the practice."

"No, I want to get a better feel for this place, another time?"  He asked her as he headed back toward the doorway.

"Sure."  She said watching him leave and went back to what she had been doing before Mike had interrupted her.
 
 

"What have you been up to?" He said laughing as she swatted a hand at his arm in mock irritation.

"I spent some time working out in the grand ballroom.  What's up Nick?"  She said turning and letting Wally proceed her into the room.  She followed him in with Nick close behind.  Nick closed the door and took a seat at the table that stood by the window across the room.  Jenna sat her boombox on the dresser and propped up the sword case inside her closet. Turning, she gave Nick her full attention.  Nick began playing with the tablet that had been lying on the table as he answered her.

"I spoke to Jonathan this morning and he says that he's in need of more supplies.  I thought I'd come to you first, and let you hash out the details with Tyler and Mackenzie on how to go about getting him what he needs."

Jenna let out a sigh and sat on the bed facing him.  "God, here I thought I'd get lucky and hope he had everything he would need between what we brought and what Tyler already has.  No such thing as wishful thinking huh?"

Nick laughed.  "Nope, I guess not.  What do you want me to do?"

Jenna rose and headed toward the bathroom, stripping out of the denim shirt as she went.  Go tell Adam what you told me.  Let him know you spoke to me first and that I want a meeting called of all the main people on both sides.  Let’s do it in about an hour.  Maybe we can make this coincide with the raid that Tyler has planned.  If Jonathan can hold off another two weeks, I guess we'll see."

Nick rose from his seat and headed toward the door.  "Fine boss, I'll let you know?"  He asked as he headed out.

"Let Mackenzie know that I'll be waiting for him in the lobby in thirty....no, make that forty minutes.  Tell him to have all the people needed ready.  And Nick, Thanks!"

"Sure boss."  He said smiling at her.

Forty minutes later, Jenna found herself faced with the largest problem that she could have had so early on.  The two sets of people from both teams had been gathered in Ham Tyler's office.  Sitting around Ham's desk where Jenna, Adam, Jonathan, Mike, Ham and Kyle, all with stricken looks on their faces.  She was sure that their faces must mirror what she felt when she had heard Jonathan's problem.

"What do you mean that they included the 'essentials", but NO medications?!"  She yelled sharply in Jonathan's direction making him flinch.  "I was told that the boxes that they sent had all the meds that we'd need!  My God, just wait till I get my hands on Simmons!"  She said as she fell back in her chair.  "Tyler, I'm so sorry, they told me that they had included the meds with the other things I brought."

Tyler shook his head and looked across at where Jenna sat.  Before he could say a word, Donovan stood up and crossed to where the windows where boarded over.  Turning back to the group at large he addressed Jonathan.  "Look, we can't help the mistake, you should have checked the supplies before you left to come here, but that can’t be helped, not now. We have to try and rectify the problem at hand.  How much stuff do you have?  How long will it last us?”

Jonathan looked around the room and took a breath, slowly letting it out before he answered.  "With luck, and if no one gets hurt or sick anytime soon.... maybe two weeks at most."

Mike nodded.  Turning back to Tyler he made a suggestion that shocked most in the room.  "I say that we sneak into the local hospital like we did before and take what we need."

"That's suicide!"  Adam yelled.  "From what Tyler has told me, the hospitals are being guarded more heavily now than ever before.  I say that we radio back to New York and have them send more stuff.  Jenna or I can get them to do what we ask.  It was probably just an oversight on some bureaucrat's part."

"How long would that take?"  Tyler asked as he kept his eyes locked with Donovan.

"With luck and speed, I could probably get them to have it here in a week, tops."  Jenna answered, looking to Adam for confirmation.

Adam nodded his head.  "I look at this way, Jenna was lucky to get what she did."

"All right, we give them one week, no longer.  If the stuff isn't delivered by then, we do as I suggested."  Mike said starring in Jenna's direction.

Adam just shook his head.  Tyler also watched Jenna for her reaction, as did most in the room.  Looking up at Mike, she nodded.

"Fine Mr. Donovan.  One week."

Mike shook his head in disgust at Tyler and then left the room.

"I'm so sorry Ham, I never thought they'd screw up so badly."  Jenna said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it.  You did what you could.  I appreciate it.  Let's just try and get what we need fast.  We're gonna need the supplies after we get these people out of the compound I think."  Tyler stood bringing the meeting to a close.

Jenna, Adam and Jonathan left together.  They headed for Nick and Sarah’s rooms.  They where gonna have to pool any favours they might have each had in order to get the supplies delivered within the week.  It was decided by the three, as they went, that Adam would call in the favour since he had accompanied the group at the request of the organization in the first place.

Adam and Jenna gathered everyone from their team together in Tyler's office along with Tyler and Mike so that they could listen to Adam's conversation over a speakerphone.  They had been waiting for 10 minutes on hold when finally someone picked up and said hello.  Jenna recognized the voice as Simmons, the man who had delivered and confirmed the order for her before she had left New York for LA.  She gave the little box his voice was coming out of a dirty look.  Mike almost laughed at her when he saw her do it.  They where all frustrated and the hold time hadn't improved their attitudes any.

"Hello?"  Said the voice.  Simmons was a government worker and was only a middleman.  Adam held a tenure and long time position with the organization and wasn't afraid to come straight to his point.  He didn't plan on letting this man off the proverbial hook anytime before he got what he wanted.

"Hello, Simmons, how are ya today?  This is Lieutenant Mackenzie.  I want to know why my team arrived only to find that we got shorted on the order that had been sent.  Dr. Price discovered that he had been sent the bandages but no meds.  What's wrong with this picture Simmons?  Why didn't Jenna get the meds that she was promised?  We need that stuff, now more than ever."  When Adam was done, he looked over at where Jenna sat.  She was nodding her head in agreement.  Silence was what greeted Adam from the box when he was through.  "Simmons?  You still there man?"  Adam called out toward the box.

"Yes sir, still here.  Give me a second to check over the lists and see what she was to be sent with."  They all waited as they could here Simmons flipping through papers on the other end of the line.  Finally he gave an answer.  The one that Jenna had been waiting to see if he would use.  "I'm sorry lieutenant, but I can't find the list, I'll have to get back to you on this."  With this last, Jenna looked hopefully at Adam for confirmation that she could finally speak.  He nodded his head in the direction of the phone, as if to say, 'You try."

"Simmons!  This is Jenna Mcleod speaking.  I don't give a damn what the list shows.  I was shortchanged on the supplies and I want this mistake fixed.  If you can't handle that I'm sure I can find someone higher up the ladder that would be very interested in what I have to tell them.  I want the meds shipped here by the end of the week.  I don't care how you do it!  Is that understood?"  Once again the group was greeted by silence on the other end.  Finally an answer.  More timid this time.

"Uh, Ms. Mcleod?  Ummm, I don't know if I can have it to you in a week, and besides that, I don't have the authority to just send this kind of thing through."

Adam rolled his eyes at the phone before speaking again.  "Simmons, this is Mackenzie do as the woman tells you, or find someone who will.  I don't care who!  Just Do it!  That's a direct order!"

"Mr., I mean, Lieutenant, I can check and get back to you."

Adam was near shouting with his next answer.  "No!  No, checking on this is not a request, if you can't do it than I want to speak to a superior who can.  NOW!"  Adam's answer was a clear and quick, "Yes sir!"  And again they found themselves on hold.  Jonathan and Nick both groaned allowed when they heard the muzac as they called it come over the speaker.  Mike and Ham both snickered.  Mike looked toward Jenna and spoke for the first time since the call had started.

"Do you really think this is going to get us anyplace?  It sounds like we're wasting time."

Jenna looked up from biting her finger nails while she sat starring at the speaker phone box.  "Mr. Donovan, please let us decide whether we're wasting time O.K.?  Have some faith, we'll get the supplies."

Mike shook his head at her and grinned.  "First, Ms. Mcleod, call me Mike O.K?  Also, I've learned that the only one I can 'have faith' in is me, not a bunch of bureaucrat's."

Before Jenna had a chance to come back at his last remark, they heard someone pick up on the other end of the phone line.  Suddenly there was a deep voice that made both Jenna and Adam sit up a little straighter.  Mike looked at the phone with interest when he saw this.  "Mackenzie! Mcleod!  What are you doing?!  Are you deliberately trying to scare the crap out of my employees?"  Yelled the booming voice in question.

Jenna grinned.  "General, this is Mcleod, I'm sorry to bother you sir, but I was sent to LA with a promise of supplies, including meds.  Sir, we got here and discovered that we had been shortchanged, no meds where included.  We want it rectified.  I don't think that's too much to ask sir, do you?"

"Mcleod, I don't know what Simmons told you, but you have my word that in a week's time that you and Mackenzie and Mr. Tyler will have the things that you had been promised.  I'm sorry for the mistake."

"Sir?"  Adam said stepping a little closer to the phone.  "Shall we have Dr. Price give you a list of what he needs?"

"Mackenzie, I don't take orders son.  I'll place Mr. Simmons back on the phone so he can take it.  If you two need help in further matters, I'll have Simmons give you my private number.  You will call me directly from now on.  Is this understood?"

Adam practically saluted as he answered.  "Yes Sir!"  Jenna gave Tyler than Donovan a huge grin.  As if to say, 'See, I told you we could do it!'  With his last command the general handed the phone back to a now VERY nervous Simmons.  Adam was wearing the biggest grin that he had in a long time as he gave his next command to Simmons.

"O.K. Simmons, I'll be handing the phone over to Dr. Price, he'll give you the list you need.  If you have any further problems, I suggest you take it up with the general.  Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, I understand."  Simmons replied with irritation plain in his voice.

As the phone conversation ended, Jonathan hung up, looked over at Nick, and laughing out loud they high fived each other, and then looked around the room.  All of the members from NY wore large smiles.  They had pulled a lot of favours to get the general's attention on the matter, but each had made an individual call prior to the one in Tyler's office.  Nick had pulled the biggest one with his connections inside the FBI.  He had been laughing as he came off the phone with his contact and made a promise to Jenna that there wouldn't be a problem.  It had been the timing that had been crucial.  As far as she was concerned it had all been worth it.  They would have their med supplies and she could breath again.
 
 

"What'd I do now Mike?"  She asked using his first name for the first time since he had known her.  It pulled at him in a way he couldn't quite, or didn't want to put a name to at the moment.  He motioned his hand up the stairs and continued up.  Jenna reluctantly following.  Once they had reached the top, he accompanied her to her room.  She stopped just outside her door and turned to him waiting for whatever was to come.

Mike hadn't really known what he was going to say or do once he had reached Jenna's side.  It made him nervous the way he had been drawn to her lately.  Whether or not they where arguing or just in the same room together, she caused feelings that he didn't want to put a name to.  He looked down at her now, and wasn't sure what to say.  He chose the safest thing he could think of...the dog.  "Are you going to take Wally for a walk?"

Jenna starred up at him with a bit of a confused look on her face.  She didn't answer his question verbally, just nodded her head.

"Mind some company?"  Mike asked.

She had wanted time alone to think, but decided if Mike wanted to come, it was fine with her as long as he didn't pick any fights.  "Sure, Wally seems to like you, I'll even let you hold his leash, if you’re good."  She smiled at him for the first time.

"Great."  He said returning her smile.  That was something that took Jenna off guard.  She had only been there about 2 days, but she had never seen this man smile, at least not one that reached his eyes like that.  The next thought that entered her head as she went to get Wally was that it would be worth a lot to see him smile like that again.

They walked in comfortable silence as Wally trailed ahead at the end of leash sniffing almost everything in site.  Jenna had noticed Mike watching the dog with almost a look of wonder on his face.  She wanted to know what he was thinking.

"Penny for your thoughts Mr. Donovan?"

Mike groaned aloud and looked at her with a crooked smile.  "Can we get past the formal names and you just call me Mike, or Michael, whichever you like best?  Please?  You make me feel ancient every time you use the word Mr."

Jenna laughed and nodded.  "Fine.  Penny for your thoughts Michael?"  Another genuine smile.  Wow!  She would have to be careful, she found herself deliberately trying to coax them out of him.

"I was thinking of my son, he loved animals as much as I do.  Before all of this happened," he said motioning toward the mother ship that could be seen hanging in the distant sky above the city.  “He was fiendishly trying to convince me to try and talk my ex-wife into letting him get a dog.  Wally just helped to bring that memory back to me."  The smile that had been on his face only seconds before disappeared to be replaced by a small frown that tugged at the corners of his mouth.  Jenna remained silent and kept walking, she didn't want to take the chance of interrupting him and losing a chance to let him talk.  Mike broke the silence first.

"Tyler says that you came from overseas after the first war, where were you stationed over there?"  Mike asked her.

"You just changed the subject."  Jenna said giving him a soft smile.

"I know."  He returned her smile and took the leash from her hands.  She forfeited it without complaint and walked to a small concrete bench under a nearby tree and sat down.  Mike followed suit and sat beside her, placing Wally's leash under his foot so the dog would have a larger area to cover with his nose.

"I was stationed at home."  She said without elaborating.

Mike looked at her and raised an eyebrow.  "And, Where is home?"

"Scotland."

Nodding, he said, "I thought I heard a bit of an accent.  Do you miss it much?"

His only answer was the nod of her head.  He could tell that he had entered tender ground, but he wanted to know more and decided to push a little further.  "Do you have family over there?"

Jenna nodded again.  "Two cousins.  One in Paris, and the other in Scotland."

"Are you close to them?"

Jenna took a deep breath and let it out.  She was silent a moment before answering.  "Very."

Her face had changed when she answered.  She seemed almost wistful.  Mike didn't want to upset her.  He stood and offered a hand to help her up from where she sat.  She looked at the hand and then up at him.  She smiled and placed her hand in his.  His fingers curled around hers as he pulled her to her feet.  They both felt the shock as their skin met.  Once standing, she was only an inch or so from him.  They starred at one another for what felt like decades to Jenna.  Wally was the one to finally break the spell. He began tugging at the leash in Mike's hands.  He was in the middle of trying to chase a butterfly that had been teasing him by staying just out of his range of attack.  Mike tightened his hold on the leash and gently pulled Wally back toward where he and Jenna stood.  With a soft whine, Wally walked to his owner and plopped dejectedly at Jenna's feet.  She and Mike both laughed at the dog's antics and turned to head back toward the hotel.  Wally rose and followed, tail tucked between his legs in dejection.
 
 

Jenna and Adam where bent over the crates that had just been delivered from New York.  Jenna with clip board in hand was checking off each item as Adam called out the names on the labels.  Jonathan was sitting not far away, checking each box as they finished.  He wore a small grin of utter content.  Tyler and Donovan had been surprised to see a black mini-van pull up to the hotel doors that morning and a man dressed in a black flight suit like the others from New York had worn upon arrival came asking to speak to Lieutenant Mackenzie and Ms. Mcleod.  Little did the man know what a ruckus he had caused among the fighters.  Tyler had pitched a fit at Jenna for the boldness of the delivery, stating that any Lizard that had been even remotely awake would have been able to follow the man and alert the others to the hide out.  Jenna had soothed his ruffled feathers and pointed out to the young man that from now on it would be best to call and alert them to any further deliveries.  Tyler just stood and scowled the whole time the crates where being unloaded.  Needless to say by the time the young man left he had been happy to flee the premises.

The raid that had been planned was two days away and Jenna had been unable in the past week to find much time to get any sword practice into her schedule.   Adam normally acted as a sparring partner, but they had both been run ragged trying to get the two new groups trained with the newest weapons that had been supplied, as well as handling any problems that needed to be worked out for Sarah, Jonathan and Nick.  Nick had mainly stayed to himself in his room with a laptop computer trying to find out as much as he could about the Mothership's computer systems.   He had not found much and had admitted to Jenna that after the raid was completed that the two of them would have to spend some massive amounts of time on study and tentative probing of the Visitor systems.  Sarah had been also quietly engrossed with her study of Juliet Parrish’s notebooks.  She had made contact with someone who worked at the listening station on the signals that had been sent into space.  She had been told that there had been no progress.  She was trying to find variations in the signal to see if that might gain anything sooner.  Jonathan had been a constant royal pain in the ass as Adam had not so delicately put it.  Jonathan had been at both Adam and Jenna all week on delivery time and place of the medications.  There had been no sickness among the resistance fighters, but with the approach of the raid, he was worried that the meds would not arrive on time.  Jenna had been glad to see them arrive, she hoped that it would now render some peace and quiet for both Adam and herself.

With the small lull that she found in the few days before the raid she was once again dressed in her sweats and sneakers, making her way to the ballroom.  Wally tagging along at her side.  When she suddenly came around a corner only to come face to face with Mike Donovan heading in the opposite direction.  They both stopped, laughing aloud as they dodged the collision.  Jenna noticed that he was dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt and his favourite sneakers.  He never seemed to be without them.  She had to admit he was a very good-looking man.  She had never noticed before how well built he was, or just how broad his shoulders seemed to be.  She mentally shook herself and brought her attention back to the man standing in front of her.

"Hi."  She said offering a smile.

"Hi, I was just coming to find you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I have the afternoon free, I swapped guard duty times with Kyle and I figured you might like to take a break.  I know how crazy it's been this past week."

Mike had been unable to get this woman off his mind the whole week.  The first chance he had, he found a reason to see her.  It disturbed him a bit to realize his attraction toward her.  It had been quite a while since his loss of Julie, but he still felt somewhat guilty over his feelings toward Jenna.  He wasn't even sure that she was feeling the same things that he was.

Jenna starred at the man standing in front of her.  She had been looking forward to her workout, but was curious to see what he was up to.

"Sure, I can practice later.  You mind if I bring Wally?  He's not used to being cooped up like this."

"No, I'd love it if you brought him along."  Mike said with a smile as he bent to pet the dog sitting beside his mistress, tongue lolling out one side of his mouth.

"Great, let me change into something more comfortable and I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes."

"Great."  Mike said, as he turned and headed back downstairs, a grin splitting his face.
 
As soon as he was out of sight, Jenna turned and sprinted back toward her room.  Wally keeping pace at her side.  She wanted to look nice, but at the same time, not like she was trying too hard.  She felt an attraction to Mike Donovan and had been unable to admit it to Tyler when he had asked about the sudden verbal cease-fire between the two of them.  The last thing that she had anticipated was this.....What? , friendship, sexual attraction?  she thought, trying to put a name to her feelings.  She groaned allowed, stripped off her sweats and pulled on her jeans over her white one-piece top.  She had her hair in a ponytail and shook it loose and brushed it out.  She had never been one for make-up.  She took a look in the mirror assessing her appearance.  Happy with what she saw, she grabbed Wally's leash and hooked it to his collar and headed downstairs to meet up with Mike.   She was going to enjoy the outing and try to set her feelings for the good-looking blond man aside.  She couldn't allow herself any new romantic relationships.  Her life had rarely allowed for them before, and she wasn't going to start now she promised herself.

She met Mike in front of the ballroom doors.  As they headed toward the front of the hotel, Tyler stepped out from his office to call to them before they could make their escape.  Mike turned, but not before putting a hand to the small of Jenna's back and propelling her through the door.

 "Later, Tyler.  Whatever it is, it can wait."

Before Tyler could utter a word of protest, Donovan had vanished out the hotel door.  Tyler snapped his mouth shut.  One eyebrow raised he turned to go back into his office.  But, as he turned he caught a glimpse of Adam Mackenzie standing in the doorway to the lounge area.  The look on the man's face said that he was as curious and possibly as unhappy about the sudden about face of relations between Mike and Jenna.  He didn't say anything to Tyler if he saw him; he just turned and went back to whatever he had been doing, a small frown still creasing his brows.

Mike had been unsure where to take Jenna.  He had finally decided on an old HQ that the resistance had once used long ago.  It was an old abandoned lighthouse, overlooking the ocean.  It offered a beautiful view and had remained unoccupied since the fighters last departure from the place about 3 years before.  He pulled the truck that he had borrowed from Tyler up to the Lighthouse and turned off the engine.  Jenna had said little on the ride over.  She had been admiring the view most of the way.  She opened her door and stepped out.  She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  Everything smelled and felt so good.  The salt air was fresh and a slight breeze could be felt brushing past them.

"What do you think?"  Mike asked, a hopeful ring in his voice.

"It's wonderful."  Jenna said smiling.  She went around to the back of the pickup truck and opened the tailgate so Wally could jump out.  He padded to where Mike stood and looked back over his shoulder at Jenna.  As if asking, "Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Good, I hope you’re hungry."  Mike said.  He circled around back to the driver's side and brought out a picnic basket and blanket.  Jenna gave a soft laugh.

"One thing about me you'll learn quickly Michael, is that I'm always hungry!  Tyler and Adam swear that I have the appetite of a bear."  She laughed at the look on his face and took the blanket in his outstretched hand.

He led her to a spot under a loan tree standing near the edge of the cliffs.  There, she spread the blanket and he placed the basket on top before taking a seat beside her.  Jenna watched Wally trailing not far from them, nose buried in the grass. She gave a stern warning to him to stay near and away from the edge of the cliffs.  Mike could swear that he had heard the dog chuff as if answering to his mistress’s orders.  But the dog did as asked.  He really seemed to understand her commands.  Mike shook his head and watched as Wally caught wind of something interesting and headed off behind the tree.  Jenna was unpacking the basket and exclaiming at its contents.  He had managed to get a fresh loaf of French bread and some cheddar cheese as well as fresh strawberries.  The price had been high off the black market, but it seemed that it had been worth the extra expense.  He enjoyed her soft shout of glee at finding a bottle of wine as well.  She finally looked up at him with a broad grin on her face and a question in her eyes.

"Where did you get all of this?"  She exclaimed, holding up the bottle of wine.

"I have some connections on the market and I pulled a few strings.  Go ahead, dig in."  He said, opening the bottle of wine and bringing out some plastic glasses.  Not the most romantic, but he hadn’t wanted to raise too much suspicion among the other fighters, and so had kept his purchases hidden until they had been ready to leave.  Jenna tore each of them a piece of the bread and cut up the cheese into small pieces.  She chose a strawberry and closing her eyes, sunk her teeth into it.  She uttered a soft groan of pleasure and chewed slowly.  Mike laughed softly and bit into his own piece of fruit, at the same time enjoying the look of bliss on Jenna’s face.

Wally had joined them again; unlucky in his earlier search for whatever he had smelled, he lay curled at Jenna's feet.  He was well trained Mike saw, he didn't beg, but was busy looking off at the water where the seagulls danced on the wind overhead.  Jenna caught his attention by making a kissing noise with her lips, the dog turned toward her.  She offered him a piece of the bread with a small slice of the cheese stuffed in between.  He took it gently from her outstretched hand and gobbled it in a few bites.  Then lay his head on his paws and closed his eyes as if to take a nap.

They where both quiet as they ate the meal spread before them.  They both spent the time looking out to sea and letting the breezes wash over them.  Mike was the first to break the silence.

"Last week, in the garden, you spoke of some family you still have overseas.  When did you last hear from them?  Are they resistance fighters, like you?"

Jenna put down the strawberry stem she had been holding and wiped her hands on the napkin in her lap.  She was silent so long that Mike didn't think she was going to answer.  When she did, her answer came slowly and hesitantly, as if she chose her words carefully.

"I don't hear from them often.  The last communication I had from Conner, the cousin in Scotland."  She said looking over at Mike in explanation.  "He was staying clear of the war against the Visitors.  He has a family to protect and Scotland's climate allows them safety.  It's wet a lot of the time, and the Visitor's couldn't readily access it after the red dust had been spread.  He was lucky that way.  We both were, I guess.  Duncan, my other cousin, lives on a barge in Paris; he's really a warrior at heart.  But he also decided to stay as far from this fight as possible.  They both have other matters to deal with.  Those matters don't really allow them time for this fight."

With this, she fell silent again and reached out to stroke Wally's fur.  As if feeling his owner's unease, Wally crept closer to her and lay his head in her lap to give her better access to his coat.  Mike took a minute to let her explanation sink in.  He couldn't understand anything more pressing then the survival of Earth, as they knew it.  It was hard to understand how the two men didn't take part in this fight as their cousin had seen fit to do.  Mike leaned back, putting his weight on his outstretched hands behind him.

"What matters could be more important then protecting the survival of the human race?"  He couldn't help the edge of anger that had crept into his voice.

Not really answering, Jenna just shook her head and finally gave an answer as best she could.  "It's not something you would understand and I'm not really inclined to explain.  Needless to say that they're doing what needs to be done and I hope they stay safe and well protected.  I love each of them VERY much."

The anger he had felt seconds before faded as he heard the threat of tears in Jenna's voice.  If it was one thing that he could understand it was the threat of not knowing what had happened to the people you loved.  The Visitor's had taught him one thing.  Cherish those around you.

"I'm sorry."  He said softly in apology.  "I didn't mean to upset you."

Shaking her head and wiping a stray tear from her cheek, she said nothing.  Instead, she rose from her sitting position and looked down at where he sat.  "Would you care to walk with me?"  She said offering a hand to help him up.  Mike stood and without saying anything took her hand in his and led them in the direction of the lighthouse.  Jenna didn't pull her hand from his as he thought she might do.  It had been an impulse to even take her hand.  But it felt right.  Wally stayed close to Jenna's side in case he might be needed again.  His devotion to Jenna showed in every action he made.  Mike was impressed with the bond that she and the dog shared.  Wally seemed to be the only thing that came close to a best friend for her.  Mike wanted to change that.  It had been a long time since he had wanted to share his feelings with anyone around him.  He hadn't known this woman but two weeks and felt he could tell her almost anything without danger of being rejected.   They walked along in silence.  The only sound that broke the calm was the sound of the waves as they crashed up against the rocks below.  They walked for a quarter of a mile or better before stopping.  Jenna turned and looked up at Mike.  Not saying anything, she stepped closer and came up on her toes.  Placing her hands against his chest, she kissed him.  Mike hadn't anticipated her move and stood still as her lips softly brushed against his.  She broke off the kiss and took a step back, watching him warily from beneath lowered lashes.  He stood a moment in silence, then took a step closer to her.  Placing both hands on her arms, he drew her closer to him and leaned down so that his lips could possess hers.  His kiss was different from the one that she had given him.  Hers was friendly and tentative.  His was long and hungry, his tongue mingling with hers.  Jenna could feel her pulse quicken as she uttered a soft moan.   She pulled away and braced her hands against his chest.  She could feel it rise and fall rapidly beneath her touch.

"I'm sor-ry," she stammered, "I don't know what came over me."

"I'm not...sorry that is."  He said, a wolfish grin beginning at the corner of his mouth.  "I've felt drawn to you since you showed up.  It's been driving me crazy not to be able to have done that sooner.  I just wasn't sure how you felt."

Jenna dropped her hands and turned back toward the direction they had come, her steps where faster then they had been before.  She had promised herself she wouldn't do this.  Mike caught up to her in a few short strides.  He stopped her with a hand on her arm and brought her up short swinging her around so she faced him.

"What?  What'd I say wrong?  Is this not what you wanted?  You did after all start it.  Am I not a good enough kisser?  Tell me what I did wrong?"  His questions came rapidly like gunfire.  He could feel her body shaking beneath his touch.

She shook off his hands and took a few paces backward, putting some distance between them.  "It's not you! I'm sorry, I didn't...I mean, I'm not sure what came over me.  I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't.... I wouldn't do something like this.  Please, let's just go back?"

Mike nodded curtly and headed back in the direction they had come from.  Jenna practically had to run to keep up with him as they made their way back.  He gathered the remains of the picnic and shoved them roughly back into the basket.  Picking up the blanket, he shook it out and headed back to the truck.  He opened the tailgate and called to Wally to get in.  The dog cast a glance at his owner before obeying.  Nodding in the direction of the truck, Jenna told Wally to get in.  He did as told and lay down for the ride back to the hotel.

The ride back was long and silent.  Once they reached the doors to the hotel, Jenna scrambled out of the truck and called to Wally.  The dog hopped out and followed her inside, only once casting a glance behind him to the truck that Mike still sat in.

Mike let the engine idle as he watched Jenna make her way back into the hotel.  He considered driving around a while and squashed the idea almost instantly.  It was just too dangerous.  Besides he could find some peace and quiet in his room or maybe on the roof, or even in the pool area.  They where both normally deserted at this time of day.  He took the car around back and parked it.  Not wanting to come face to face with Tyler just yet, he decided to return the trucks keys at a later time.  He headed up to his room for time to think about what happened and to decide what to do next.

Jenna too had wanted solace and time to think things through.  Upon entering the hotel she spotted Adam and Nick in the lounge sharing an early dinner.  Before either of them could say anything, she rushed past and headed toward the stairs, her room, and the quiet she so desperately needed.  Wally had to run to keep up with her.  Adam and Nick followed her progress until she disappeared; their gaze's met briefly.  Nick shrugged and stood up excusing himself saying that he had wanted to hit the computer again and see what else he could gain from the motherships systems.  Adam said goodnight to Nick and then rose from where he sat.  He headed toward Jenna's room.  She may not want company now, but she was getting it anyway.  He had a bit of a reality check to give her.  He had thought that she was crazy to even go off with Mike Donovan.  He liked the man, but had known Jenna close to 15 years and knew her life would be even more complicated than even she could handle if she started anything now with Donovan.  He knew that after what he planned to say to her that she may avoid him like the plague, but knew that she had to hear reason.... before it was too late and she did something stupid.

Jenna paced back and forth between the windows and the door in her room.  She had been doing this close to five minutes before the dreaded knock on her door came.  She knew he'd show up sooner or later, it had just been a matter of time.  She opened the door without looking at who stood waiting.  She paced back toward the window and stood gazing out, she heard the door close and the bed creek as someone sat down on it.  Silence stretched out for several long minutes.  Finally, she couldn't take it any longer and she whirled around and stood starring down into Adam Mackenzie’s face, hot tears running a path down her cheeks.

"WHY!  Why now!"  She screamed.  "This can't be happening to me!  But Adam, I can't help it!  I'm drawn to this man and it's like I'm being taken apart piece by piece.  Don't tell me that I can't do this!  Don't you think I know that?  I stood in this very room this afternoon and made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let it happen."

With this last statement she crumpled to her knees in front of where Adam sat and let the sobs rack through her.  Adam, taking a deep breath, stood, headed toward the bathroom and came back with tissues in hand.  He handed her the box.  She took it and blew her nose still sobbing softly.  He grasped her by the arms and pulled her up.  She fell against him, a loud sob bursting from her.  He held onto her, rocking her back and forth gently, letting her cry.  Finally the sobs subsided and he sat her on the bed.  She hiccuped one last time and finally met his gaze sheepishly.  He sat beside her, silent, an intense look on his face.  He let out a deep sigh.  Shaking his head, he lay back on the bed and starred at her.  Jenna was waiting for the outburst that she knew would come.  It never did.

She couldn't take his silent scrutiny any more.  "Why aren't you yelling at me?  Why aren't you telling me that what I'm feeling is completely irrational?  That my timing stinks?"  She stood up and looked down at where he lay, lazily sprawled across her bed.

"Because, you already know what I think, don't you?" he asked gruffly.  "You knew when you left this afternoon.  Tell me something though."  He sat up as he made his request.  "What's drawing you to him?  I mean, you've only known the guy, what?  Two weeks, tops."

Jenna just shook her head from side to side.  "I don't know.  I've never met anyone quite like him."  She answered, taking a seat on one of the chairs near the window.

Adam just made a rude noise in the back of his throat in response to her answer.  Jenna looked up at him in surprise.  "What a crock!"  He said, laughing out loud.  "Remember, how well I know you, I know how long you've been around Jen.  You must have met a dozen just like him.  The chronic good guy.  The “cowboy”.  Give me a break!  I only have one thing to say to you about this.  Reign it in before it goes too far.  Shake it off and lets get back to why we where sent here in the first place and what we need to accomplish.  Tyler's already upset and on edge.  Look," he said sighing as he stood and headed toward the door, "Get your sword and meet me in the grand ballroom in 30 minutes.  If you're not there, I'm gonna come looking for you.  Now, move it Mcleod!"  With this he slammed out of the room, leaving her sitting still staring at the door still sniffling.

30 minutes later, Jenna entered the ballroom; she heard some of Adam's favourite music blasting from the boombox on the floor.   She recognized it to be the group called "Def Leppard".  The music reverberated around the large room.  Adam stood in the middle, dressed in protective gear.  A sparring mask hid his face.  Jenna was dressed only in sweats and a light short sleeved shirt.  In her hand she held her sword.  She had left Wally behind in her room.  She knew that she might be a while and needed a good uninterrupted workout.  The music was loud and helped to conceal the sound of the clashing swords as she made her first strike.  Everything around her dimmed except for Adam and the sword he held.  She focused on him and the motion of his sword as he countered her strikes.  Her sword moved as if it had a mind of its own.  It was an extension of her.  Her strikes where hard and merciless.  With every thrust she thought of who and what she was.  She had a job to do and had no time for anything else.  She had to stay focused.  She became aware that she had corned Adam and he couldn't move any further than where he stood, she heard him panting behind the mask. She felt the tears running down her cheeks, and with one of the sleeves of her shirt, she wiped them away.  She backed up, breathing hard, knowing that she had made her choice.  She moved back toward the doorway.  But before she reached it, she felt a hand on her arm and looked up into Adam's face.  He pulled her close and held her tight.  Saying only, "I'm so sorry Jen."  She stayed that way for a while before finally disentangling herself from his hold and heading back toward the doors.

What Adam and Jenna didn't know was that Mike had seen the whole thing, from the sword fight to their quiet moment at the end.  He had watched Jenna take her anger out with the sword.  The person he had watched swing that sword wasn't the same person he had been with earlier in the day, this person, ....was different.  This was a warrior on the rampage, she had tunnelled her frustration and unleashed it threw her actions with the sword.  He was shaken and backed out of the room quietly before he could be noticed.  Only to run smack into Tyler, who stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow raised in question.  They stared at one another for a few seconds before Tyler moved away in the direction of his office.  He hadn't needed to say a word, at least not out loud.  That's one thing that Mike disliked about the man, his body language always spoke loud and clear.  Only this time, Mike didn't like the message and planned to ignore the warning and dig a little further into finding out just who Jenna Mcleod was.  He was certain of one thing, that kiss they had shared had told him that the feelings they had for one another where mutual.  He knew with no doubt at all that she felt the same things he did, and he planned to make her realize it.  For now though he would settle on taking his frustrations out in the raid that was planned for the day after tomorrow.  He'd take his time, but knew that when he was threw that Jenna would be as willing as ever to admit her feelings.  Whistling he made his way to the ammo room, he wanted to get in some target practice before the raid.
 

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