Hope

By Smiley

Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X, if I did, the outcome would have been very different.

Distribution: just ask

Rating R for future chapters

Summary: Shalimar still grieves for Emma one year later, is there any hope?

A/N I was never a Brennan fan so don't shoot me for what I may or may not do to his character. This is my first fic published here so be nice when you review, and I hope you will review.

Chapter 1

Shalimar parked her bike at an old familiar nightclub. She remembered frequenting this place with Jesse, Brennan and Emma. They would drink and dance the night away, making good use of a rare break from the struggles of saving new mutants. As her eyes scanned the club for anything familiar, she was saddened to realize there was no familiarity here. It had been one long painstaking year since she last laid eyes on Emma and Adam. It was slightly over a year since she came to this club with her friends. She shook her head trying to disengage her nightly memory of the Naxcon explosion, she had told Emma to hold on but as the facility collapsed, Emma did also.

She stepped up to the bar and ordered a strong drink then chugged it down with ease. "Shalimar Fox?" A young man from behind the bar asked.

"Who wants to know?" The feral asked in an uncaring tone, as she looked the unfamiliar man over.

"I have a message from a doctor Thomas Ellers," the man said just as three mutants jumped on the attack from out of nowhere.

The man received a deadly psionic blast and electric charge from two mutants while Shalimar disposed of the other. The psionic prepared to blast her as well but her agile form drop kicked him across a table and into the bar while ducking the coil from the elemental. "Jesse," she said into her comlink in an out of breath tone as she raced from the club. "I need for someone to come pick me up."

"Shal," Jesse's tired voice replied. "Brennan is on his way."

- - - - - - -

Lexa and Jesse sat impatiently waiting for Shalimar and Brennan to return. They both wondered if Shal had got herself into trouble, per usual of late; or there was trouble for them all lurking near. "Do you think she will ever be all right?" Lexa asked with concern etched on her face. "She's like a ticking time bomb Jess."

"Well she lost Adam; he was like a father to us all but there was more of a bond with Shal. Also," he dipped his head down as he spoke. "She and Emma had grown to be good friends. That was a hard time for us all."

Brennan burst into the lab without Shalimar. "She said a man was killed by three mutants before the man could give her a message." He stated out of breath.

"Does she need scanned?" Jesse asked looking at his friend in earnest concern.

"She says she's fine," Brennan said with a gesture to indicate she had gone to her room.

"Bren, I thought you were going to try and talk to her." Jesse spoke with a tired voice. "You know, connect a little and get her out of here for a few days."

"I've tried," the elemental frowned. He had wanted Shalimar since they first met but had no luck thus far. She would playfully flirt back on occasion but that was the extent of things. He told himself months ago that if he could not have her, she would have to remain single. He hoped that nobody would ever find out of this jealous streak but it was there.

- - - - - -

Shalimar sat in her room typing on her laptop. This investigation would have gone over more easily if she had told someone on the team the doctor's name. She had tried to withdraw herself from the group since Emma and Adam were killed but it wasn't easy. Brennan seemed to be trying hard to turn their flirtatious games into something more and Jesse hovered around her like a protective father. She supposed he was trying to fill Adam's shoes and Brennan, unknowingly, was trying to fill Emma's.

Shalimar looked at the computer screen somberly as she thought of how Emma never knew her place in Shalimar's life. The two had become fast friends upon Emma's arrival to Mutant X. Over time, Shalimar grew more protective, fonder of and more serious about Emma. She was afraid to tell the psionic how she felt for a few reasons, but mostly out of fear of rejection. She knew Emma and Jesse were rather comfortable together was another reason and Brennan's feelings brought up the rear of her list of reasons. It was all so complicated at the time yet now Shalimar wished day in and day out that she had just one moment in time to tell Emma how deeply she cared.

Shalimar shook her head from her thoughts and read the computer screen. Thomas Ellers was a young doctor who studied genetic engineering and worked, for a short time, at Genomex under the supervision of a scientist named Adam Kane. He went into private practice a short time after Kane left Genomex and kept a low profile since that time.

Shalimar typed some codes into her computer to activate Adam's personal notes. She then did a search for dr. Ellers and came up with only the fact that Adam had kept in occasional contact with him on gene therapy, his daughter Sarah's well being and a couple of GSA matters.

Shalimar read the information twice over before disconnecting from Adam's personal files and removing any trace of her entrance. She knew she had to contact this Thomas Ellers and did not wish to inform the team. She knew however, that it would be wise to inform someone of her activities in the event something went wrong. As she stood from her bed, she decided to have an initial meeting with this man then speak with Jesse.

- - - - - - - -

Brennan awoke early and went in the living room where Shalimar lay sleeping on the couch. This had become a regular occurrence since the death of their mentor and friend, which gave Brennan reason to worry. He knew Shalimar wasn't resting well, they none did for quite some time after the tragedy. He also knew that she should have been picking herself up as time passed but there was no sign of that happening.

He stood and watched her move around slightly with a look of satisfaction on her face. He smiled with hopes that maybe she was dreaming of him and in some way, he was able to help her if only in the world of dreams. If only she would take the hint that he was ready, willing and very willing to help her in the world of the awakened, things would be much better. He smiled and leant down to hear what she was mumbling. He was ready for the ego boost of his name to come from her precious lips but stepped back in shock when he heard the name of Emma.

He pictured himself leaning down to comfort her and she reaching for him. Their lips touching in a tender kiss that quickly turned into hot passion. He leaned over the top of her pressing his aroused organ over her leg to show her what she was doing to him. "Bren," Jesse speaking brought him out of his sexual thoughts and in need of a cold shower.

"Yeah man?" Brennan said and turned away from the molecular to keep his bulge hid.

"What were you doing?" Jesse studied the taller man's back as if he were enthralled in some huge project for the team.

"Shal was moving around in her sleep. I was about to wake her," Brennan lied and shuffled off.

Jesse knew Brennan for a few years now but had been getting a funny vibe from the elemental over the last few months. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but something was off. He was startled when Shalimar grabbed his hand and pulled him close to her. "I know Jes," she said in a whisper. "I've been keeping logs of his behavior when he thinks I'm sleeping. He comes and watches me at least twice a week."

Shalimar stopped talking when Lexa entered the room. She had made friends with the molecular but was still hesitant on allowing her in the inner circle. "Um, I'll just go make us all some breakfast." Lexa said with a knowing smile at Shalimar. She wanted badly to be completely trusted and welcomed into the group but was willing to wait. She understood what they had all been through seeing as she helped Jesse through many nights of restless sleep and nightmares of the explosion. Jesse, in turn, had helped her through her own trials after she had to kill her brother Leo when his powers soared out of control.

Jesse gave Lexa a warm smile in way of thanking her as she walked towards the kitchen. "Continue," he said quietly leaning down to the feral.

"What you saw was nothing Jes," Shalimar continued. "If you hadn't noticed that I barely joke with him anymore, you will now. Sometimes when he watches me, he gets turned on and even rubs himself through his jeans. I'm afraid we never knew the real Brennan Mulwray."

A look of horror crossed Jesse's face and one of anger quickly replaced it. "He's got to go!" He shouted a little louder than he had anticipated.

"No, not just yet. He may be just in need of release in a bad way. Whatever the reason for his behavior, we need to keep him close in the event we have to take action. I'm not afraid Jesse; I just want to find out what is causing him to act like this before I make a move. You have to act as usual and I will keep you posted." Shalimar finished speaking then stood up to go get washed up for breakfast.

"All right," Jesse mumbled in defeat. He hoped that their friend's desire for Shalimar was so strong that he couldn't help himself. He hoped this didn't take a bad turn but feared it might.