"Shay, wake up. It's time to eat," Thomas said. Shay pulled the pillow over her head. He smiled. She was back to hating mornings. For a while, he'd thought he'd never be able to force her out of bed again. Routine was such a comfort.

He yanked the pillow away from her. "Shay, wake up. You have to eat."

"Go jump off a cliff," she muttered. She pulled the blanket over her head.

"Is she always this hard to wake up?" Amber asked. She wasn't looking at him. She must still be embarrassed about crying earlier.

"She's speaking in coherent sentences. It's one of her good days," Brennan said sleepily. "Why did you wake me up? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to fall asleep?"

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Eat then drink your tea and go back to sleep. I'll make you extra if one cup doesn't work."

Brennan looked at the tray Amber rested on the stool in front of him. "Where's yours?" he asked.

"I already ate."

"Shay, wake up." Thomas pulled her into a seated position. Her eyes were still closed. He opened the bottle of medicine Yavar had given him. He pressed it to her lips. "Here. Drink." She swallowed the contents, her eyes still closed.

She grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards her. She hugged his waist and smiled. "Hm. Warmth," she said.

Thomas sighed. "I knew this was the only reason you married me," he said. Shay rubbed her head on his stomach. "Hey. Stop that!"

"Maybe you should just let her sleep. She must be exhausted," Brennan said. He picked at his food. Thomas knew he only wanted the tea and was forcing himself to eat some of what was on the plate.

"No. She took the medicine so she has to eat. She can sleep afterwards," Thomas said.

Brennan's fork froze to his mouth. He stared at Amber for a moment then put it down. "You were crying," he said. It wasn't a question. He noticed that even half asleep.

"It's okay. She borrowed Thomas for a bit, so she's fine now," Shay said. Her eyes opened. "Oops. Sorry. That just sort of came out."

"You borrowed Ju?" Brennan asked. "What does that even mean?"

"It means it doesn't concern you and you should finish eating breakfast," Thomas said.

"Ah." Brennan nodded. "You were crying and Junaid decided to assume the role of a teddy bear."

"How is that your first assumption?" Amber asked. She seemed extremely interested in the blue and purple carpet of Shay's room.

"Because it's Junaid we're talking about. There really is nothing else for me to assume," Brennan said. "You were crying. Tears are his kryptonite."

"What does that mean?" Thomas asked.

"It means you have an unhealthy obsession with Shay and you can't stand seeing people cry," Brennan said.

"I'm not obsessed with Shay," Thomas said. He had nothing to say about the second part.

"Let's stop talking about this," Amber said.

"There's no need for you to be embarrassed," Shay said, rubbing her eyes. "I reacted a lot worse to seeing both my parents abandoning me than either one of you reacted to hearing about your mothers' deaths." That was something they still hadn't talked about even though he knew it still bothered her. She yawned and looked at the tray. "Thomas, where's my milk tea?" He rolled his eyes and pointed to the thermos. She smiled. "Thomas makes the best tea."

"I completely agree," Brennan said, sipping his. "Shay, I know you've turned me down before but--"

"Don't kill my parents, Brennan. Let them live their lives. I will live mine."

He shrugged. "The offer still stands."

Shay inhaled her hashbrowns.

"Hey, slow down," Thomas said when she choked on one of them. He patted her back. "You're not in any rush."

"We have work to do. I've slept for too long," she said.

"No. You'll eat and then go back to sleep. You and Brennan."

Brennan laughed. "Not a chance."

"I'll tie you both down if I have to," Thomas said.

Shay and Brennan glanced at each other and slowly put down their utensils.

"I don't like his attitude," Brennan said.

"I think he should be punished," Shay said, cracking her knuckles.

They tackled him to the ground. Brennan held down his right arm and Shay held down his left.

"Amber his legs!" Shay shouted.

"I shouldn't--"

"His legs!" Brennan shouted. He grunted with the effort of holding down Thomas's arm. Amber held down his legs.

Thomas laughed. "You all are not nearly strong enough or heavy enough to hold me down." He sat up, lifting both his arms off the ground.

"Brennan, we can't hold him down!" Shay shouted.

Thomas easily shook off Amber's hold on his legs. He stood up with Brennan held under his right arm and Shay under his left.

"Dammit," Brennan said. "I really need to start eating more."

Amber tried to crawl away.

"And where do you think you're going?" Thomas asked. He lifted her up by the waistband of her pants. "You're going back to sleep as well."

"Brennan go for his side!" Shay said.

"Tickles, Shay?" Thomas asked. "That's such a childish move." He tickled her stomach. She laughed and squirmed trying to get out. "Surrender and I'll let you go."

"Brennan," she gasped.

"I can't! He has my arms pinned down. Amber!" he shouted.

"This is giving me a wedgie," she said.

"Kids these days recover so fast," Zahir said from the doorway, a box underneath his arm.

Thomas dropped them. Brennan landed on Amber. She groaned.

Shay pushed herself to her knees. "We lost this round but we won't lose next time. Right Brennan?" she asked.

Brennan got off Amber and brushed himself off. "Next time we'll target his arm first."

"How is he so strong when he's so skinny?" Amber asked. Brennan helped her up.

Thomas helped Shay sit on the couch. She was looking tired from just playing around a little.

"I came to give Shay something. I didn't expect to see everyone here this early," Zahir said.

"Thomas woke us up to eat breakfast," Brennan said. He yawned and stretched. "I suppose it's time to go back to work."

"Not quite. We haven't heard what Shay has to say yet," Zahir said. He stood in front of her and handed her the box. "I was saving this for your birthday but consider it a 'get well' present instead."

Shay opened the box. Her eyes lit up. "The Rise of the Mummy Collector's Edition with the book and action figures! It's even signed. I love it!" she said. She threw her arms around Zahir.

Thomas turned his head and scowled. If she thought that was good, she should wait and see what he was getting her for her birthday. There will not be another disappointment like her twenty-second birthday.

"You're spoiling her," Brennan said. Hypocrite. He bought Shay a sailboat for her last birthday because she mentioned once that she'd always wanted to go sailing. Thomas didn't want to know the price of what he was planning to buy for her this year. To think he'd hated her when they first met and now the two of them hung out together, without Thomas who couldn't bare to go to another circus or Broadway show, and ganged up against him in games. Shay had long since stopped trying to convince them not to spend so much money on her and instead enjoy he way his entire family was spoiling her. He wondered if he'd have to rent another storage unit to hold this years birthday gifts since the other one was already full.

"It's my money, I can do what I want with it," Zahir said. "And it's not like you're much better. How much money did you spend on your mother's birthday and on Ashia's and Renata and Jared's and--"

"Yeah. I get it," Brennan said. He'd developed an obsession with birthdays recently. Thomas wondered why that was. He'd never cared for them before.

"Shay, are you ready to tell us what happened yet?" Zahir asked gently.

She leaned back on her hands. "Nothing much really happened," she said. "Pretty much what you'd expect. Where's the Book? Why are the tattoo and key on separate people? Who is the mole? Tell me the future. Joseph tried to poke around in my head to find the answers but," she smirked, "he wasn't strong enough to force his way in."

"What do you mean he couldn't get in?" Amber asked.

"I mean that I have more control over my mind than he has with his." Shay shrugged. "Not that I'm surprised. Samuel had me trained in case something like this was to happen and Thomas' meditation techniques came in handy." She laughed. "He got so angry when I finally let him in and he saw nothing. It was fun."

"And when the mental probing didn't work, they tried physical," Thomas said. He knew how these things usually went. He'd done them enough times, though he preferred much... quicker techniques.

Shay nodded. "It wasn't too bad though. Like I said, this is something I was trained to handle since I was a child and I did have some help." Thomas was sure she was leaving out most of the story, she was too hysterical earlier, and it didn't explain why the medicine didn't work on her. He would have to talk to her later. She turned to Amber. "Derek was there. He must be really good at torture. He knew exactly where to hit and cut so that it would look bad but not be as dangerous or as painful, and it fooled the others into letting him do everything."

"Good thing I didn't kill him then," Zahir said.

"Some questions were strange though," Shay said. "They asked a lot about Brennan and his future."

"Brennan?" Thomas asked. He looked at him. Brennan didn't look as if they'd said anything worrying at all.

"So they're interested in me. That's not something I didn't expect," Brennan said. "Who isn't at this point?"

"You shouldn't sound so proud of that," Thomas said. This was precisely why he hadn't wanted any of his siblings mixed up with this business in the first place.

Shay shook her head. "It wasn't just that. They asked me to see your future. I couldn't see it."

That got everyone's attention.

"What couldn't you see?" Brennan asked.

Shay scratched her head. "I'm not sure. When I say I couldn't see, I mean that unlike when I decided to go after the Book and couldn't see anything at all, it was more like looking through fog, if that makes sense. I can see Zahir's future easily but Brennan's is harder."

"Don't force yourself," Brennan said.

"Ian is a keyholder," Thomas said. "We need to watch out for him."

"That explains some things," Brennan and Zahir said together.

"Shay do you know which key he has?" Thomas asked.

She smiled sadly. "I know but I can't remember. Maybe in a little while I'll be able to tell you."

Zahir stroked her hair and Thomas had to hold himself back. He hated anytime Zahir touched her. He knew why she allowed it. It was to put him at ease and she was watching his reaction. As much as she said Zahir wouldn't hurt him that didn't erase any of his memories. Many people were hurt and killed in this house, including him, and he couldn't bare the thought of having that happen to her or Brennan or anyone else. He didn't care about her visions. He knew what happened and it changed nothing.

Shay held his hand but didn't push Zahir away. He knew she was trying to tell him that nothing would happen, that she wouldn't let anything happen, but it didn't ease his anxiety even a little.

"Take it easy," Zahir said. "There's no rush."

Shay sat up. "Where's the ring? Did they take it out of me?"

Thomas fished it out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Where did you get it?"

"They showed it to me and asked me about it. I picked it out of the man's pocket and swallowed it just in case," she said. She held it up to the light and turned it around in her hands. She held it out to Brennan. "Maybe you could examine it."

He took a napkin from the tray to hold it. "It is an odd ring." It looked like his and Shay's tungsten wedding rings but when it was held up to the light, there was a stripe down the middle that looked goldish-brown. He wrapped it in the napkin and put it in his pocket. "I'll have someone examine it later."

"What about Ian? Why does he want the keys?" Amber asked.

"Who cares?" Thomas asked. "I've never cared about the keys to begin with and I won't start caring about them now. I doubt he's the first to want all the keys and he won't be the last."
"Exactly," Brennan said. "His reasons for kidnapping you and Shay don't change the fact that he did, that he tortured Shay for information, broke our truce and destroyed our homes and it most certainly does not change the consequences of those actions. The only reason I want to know what key he has is to adjust my strategy accordingly. For now, I think Thomas should take you and Amber somewhere safe. They shouldn't have been able to teleport into the house so we know for sure someone let them in. We can't take any chances."

"You're going with them," Zahir said.

"What? No," Brennan said. He clenched his jaw. "I'm not leaving."

"Yes you are." Zahir's face fell. "They think you're important. They might come after you. Forgive me for not wanting to see you dead or hurt."

"There has and will always be that possibility," Brennan said. "I'm not going. I have a bone to pick with Ian." He looked as if he was ready to punch a hole in the wall.

"Maybe you should come with us," Amber said softly.

He glanced at her then quickly turned away. "I can't do anything from there."

Thomas wasn't about to argue with him. He could easily throw Brennan over his shoulder and carry him away and Brennan wouldn't have a choice in the matter.

"Brennan, you know I normally support your decisions even when they conflict with Zahir's and Thomas' because you are more aware of your abilities and weakness than anyone else," Shay started.

"But?" he asked.

"This time, listen to Zahir and come with us," Shay said. There was no emotion in her voice.

Brennan closed his eyes and took a breath. "Fine," he said. "But only if Zahir agrees to call me if anything happens."

"Zahir?" Shay asked.

He sighed. "If that's what will keep him safe then fine. If anything happens I'll call," he said.

It always amazed Thomas how easily Shay was able to get Zahir, Brennan and even other people to do what she wanted. She really had a way of getting people to wrap themselves around her little finger. They really trusted her decisions. It made him feel guilty about what had happened before.

"Finish eating and then go," Zahir said. "Don't come back unless I call. I hope this will be resolved quickly. Junaid will be angry if this interrupts his anniversary." He wasn't wrong there. "I have some things to do. I'll talk to you all later." He left.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Brennan said.

Amber grabbed his arm. "Wait. You didn't finish eating," she said.

"I need to pack. That house was only stocked with things for the three of you. The food will be fine but I need to get clothes."

"Do you need help?" she asked, pointing to his cast.

He looked down at it. "Yes. That would speed things up a bit. Come on. You should change out of those pajamas while we're at it." He turned to Thomas and Shay. "Give us fifteen minutes," he said, then the two of them left.

"He's nursing a massive crush," Thomas said.

"Well, at least they're both in the same boat."

"You approve?"

Shay thought about it. "I think that even if that wedding I saw doesn't happen, it won't be a bad thing."

Thomas nearly choked on his own spit. "Wedding? Brennan getting... married? I don't think he's ever had a girlfriend." He'd never even seen him interested in a girl before. Just how long ago did she see that future? Is that why she'd told him not to bother with disguises from the very beginning?

Shay shrugged. "Neither did we before we met and that turned out fine." He couldn't argue with that. That was the one decision he'd ever made in his life that he would never regret. "She isn't the only woman is saw a future for him with. There's even a future where he dies old and alone if that makes you feel any better."

"No. It doesn't," Thomas said. If she saw him with other women and said nothing before, then this one must be the best for him, at least of what she'd seen so far.

Shay laughed. "Don't worry Thomas. They both looked much older so you don't have to worry about anything for now. There are some mistakes I won't let Brennan make. If I thought she was bad for him, I would deal with her myself. I'm looking out for him and I won't let anyone hurt him if I can stop it."

"Is that why you told him to come with us?" Thomas asked. "Did you see something bad? Does something happen to him?"

"I'm not sure and that's what worries me."

Thomas searched her face. "You didn't tell us everything that happened, did you?"

"I..." She looked up at him. "At the risk of seeing you stab yourself again, I'm going to ask you to drop this. You know all the information I know right now and the other part... well, you've seen the damage. There is nothing more to say and I don't want to talk about it."

Thomas wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair. "That's fine. I'll drop it for now. I won't repeat the mistake I made earlier."

"I've relived that memory twenty-seven times already." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I saw them shoot you twenty-eight times. I wish I could take this bracelet off. I want a break. I want it to stop."

There was nothing for him to say. Anything he said would be empty words. There was nothing he could do.

After a few moments, she spoke again. "Thomas, I might be going crazy," she said.

"Why would you say that?" he asked.

"Because Samuel has been standing in that corner of the room since I woke up."

Thomas glanced where she pointed. The corner was bare. "Maybe it's just the medicines and your recent near death experience."

"I was given something to drink by someone other than Derek. I don't know what it was."

"You were screened for poisons and other foreign substances. They found nothing," Thomas said. He was trying desperately to stay calm. He had to find out what they'd given her. He needed to see Derek. "Even if you are going crazy, it doesn't matter. I still talk about my past self as a totally separate person. Now I'll finally have company. We can be crazy together."

She laughed softly. "I really love you."

"I know."

"Let's not talk about me anymore." Shay pulled away and gestured for him to sit next to her. She guided his head to her chest and ran her fingers through his hair. He loved when she did that. It always relaxed him. "How are you? It must have been hard. I'm sure you were beside yourself with worry and blaming yourself." She sighed. "It's not your fault. Please don't think it was." She paused. Thomas didn't say anything. He didn't want to tell her that he disagreed. "Did Ashia heal you? You're not moving stiffly so I'm assuming all your wounds were taken care of. You lost a lot of blood."

He hugged her waist and pulled her closer to him. "You're here now, so it doesn't matter anymore."

"That's not true." She gently tugged on his growing beard. "Even if you're worried, you need to take care of yourself. You need to shave so I can kiss you properly without getting pricked."

"Maybe I should grow it out and get a mustache like Marcos."

"Nah. You can't do that. His mustache is legendary." She took his left hand and brushed her thumb over his knuckles. "I get that you were worried but how are you supposed to continue playing the piano and all your other instruments if you hurt your hand?"

"If it's a choice between you and my left arm, I would give it up in a heartbeat. You're more important to me than music."

"You only say that now," Shay said softly.

"What do you mean by that? How can I say any different?"

"Those aren't questions I can answer."

"Do you honestly think I'd ever say anything otherwise?"

She kissed his head. "Being kidnapped was tiring. I'll try to see the future better and prevent something like that from happening again. I hate seeing you so troubled." She was dodging his questions again.

"Did you look?"

"No but I know you and that question just proved it." She sighed. "I... hope that you go before I do."

Thomas raised his head. "What are you talking about? Why would you say that? What did you see? Where is all this coming from?"

She gently guided his head back down to her chest. "Don't bother. Forget I said anything." She yawned. "I'm feeling tired. Brennan and Amber will be taking longer than fifteen minutes. Let's take a nap in the meantime."

"... Sure," Thomas said, though on the inside he was worried.

She started humming a soft tune. It was calming but it worried him. When he'd just started working for her, she was always singing and humming. At first he'd thought that it was just because she loved music but then he realized that wasn't the case. Self-soothing. She did it when she felt upset and needed to break the silence. She did it to calm herself and, ever since they started dating, to calm him. Just what was Shay seeing?

When he was sure she was sleeping, he sent a message to Brennan.