Chapter 6: A Dying Friend

As they took off in the Double Helix, Emma saw to Danielle and managed to extract the sub-dermal governor now Brennan had deactivated it. Jesse glanced at Brennan who hadn't said much since they'd got into the Double Helix.
"Brennan, you alright?" asked Jesse.
Brennan looked at Jesse and shrugged before touching his comlink, "Adam? It's Brennan. We've got Danielle and we're heading back to you at Sanctuary."
"Everyone okay?" asked Adam.
"Yeah, just," said Jesse who looked back at Danielle who smiled weakly, "We had a couple of close calls."
"How is Shalimar?" asked Brennan to Adam.
There was a long pause before Adam spoke, "You'll see when you get back."
Adam cut the link abruptly making Emma and Jesse look at each other with bleak expressions on their faces.

Dana stepped through into Eckhart's office where she had been called after recovering from her fight with Jesse. Eckhart stood looking through the glass down at the room where scientists where checking mutants in their stasis pods. He didn't turn as Dana came in.
"Agent Phillips, could you explain to me how two members of Mutant X managed to overpower two of my most skilled agents, ultimately allowing them to help their friend and escape with our captive mutant?"
Dana's face paled at his words and there was a note of panic in her voice as she spoke, "Sir, I'm sure if you give Agent Karlstone and I another chance to prove ourselves we will not fail you again..."
Eckhart turns around to observe her before sitting in his chair.
"I'm afraid Agent Karlstone is no longer working for the GSA," said Eckhart carefully judging Dana's reaction.
Dana frowned, puzzled.
"Due to your lack of team work, Brennan Mulwray managed to do irreparable damage to Agent Karlstone causing me to do the only thing I can: I have had Mr Karlstone placed into stasis... where you shall shortly be joining him."
Eckhart signalled to the agents behind Dana who used their shocking weapons on her before she had time to react.

Back at Sanctuary, Danielle was amazed at the Mutant X base. Emma delighted in showing her things, whilst Jesse followed Brennan to the medical room after discarding their jackets. Adam had moved Shalimar on to a bed over one side of the room where he was still monitoring her. Brennan went straight over to her and took her hand in his before bending down and whispering in her ear.
"I did it, Shal. I made him pay. Don't die on me now okay?"
Shalimar gave no reaction to his words, she looked as if she was sleeping peacefully.
"Adam?" said Brennan as he turned to look over the other side of the room where Jesse and Adam had been talking in hushed voices.
Adam looked at Brennan and sighed, motioning for him to come over to him. Brennan kissed Shal's forehead gently before moving away. Jesse refused to look at him as they passed and Jesse took his place at Shalimar's side.
"What?" asked Brennan looking at Adam's face.
Adam put his hand on Brennan's shoulder, "There is no easy way to say this, Brennan. Shalimar... there is no cure for her. She will die and I can't do anything to stop it."
Brennan closed his eyes as the pain welled up inside him.
"How... how long has she got?" he asked uncertain he wanted to really know the answer.
Adam swallowed the lump in his throat, "An hour, maybe two."
Brennan moved away and punched the nearest wall in frustration and distress.

Emma was showing Danielle the garden when she suddenly was overcome with pain. She clutched at her head and Danielle asked what was wrong.
"Brennan... something's wrong with Shal," said Emma looking at Danielle, "Come with me."
Danielle nodded and followed Emma to the medical room.
Emma looked around the room as she and Danielle entered to see Brennan slumped on the floor with his head in his hands. Jesse was whispering to Shalimar with tears in his eyes. Adam was standing by the computers which were still monitoring Shal but he was staring over at her form on the bed. Emma couldn't block out the dreadful feeling coming over her.
"Adam?" she said quietly, but he didn't answer her.
Adam couldn't look at her either, but he didn't need to. Emma could see everything she needed to know in the expressions and feelings of her friends. She walked over to Shalimar's side and touched her face. She could also hear Jesse's mumbling now:
"You can't die, Shal... you just can't leave now... we've been part of the team since the beginning... it wouldn't be the same with you gone..."
Emma began crying silently.
Danielle stood helplessly and watched the Mutant X team as they each dealt with their friends' dying in a different way. She was moved by their closeness and obvious pain. 'I wonder...,' thought Danielle before going up to Adam.
"Adam?" said Danielle making him look at her, "I want to try, will you let me?"
Adam understood her meaning and eventually nodded. Danielle smiled and walked over to stand beside Emma.
"Where's Shalimar's wound -the one Harvey infected? Is it still open?" she asked.
Jesse snapped out of his mumbling to answer her, "It's on her arm, the one by you... it never closed over..."
Danielle took hold of Shalimar's arm and looked over the swollen, green wound. She placed her right hand just above the laceration and concentrated all her power on healing. Emma and Jesse watched as an orange glow built up under Danielle's hand and then began flowing into the wound. As the glow spread around Shalimar's body, Shalimar began moving in obvious pain.
"Hold her still," said Danielle still concentrating on healing Shalimar.
Emma and Jesse held on to Shalimar.
At the sound of Shalimar's whimpering, Brennan got up and looked at the scene. He became angry and called out to Adam.
"Stop her, Adam, she's making it worse! Shalimar's too weak for this!"
Adam moved over to stop Brennan interfering, "No, Brennan. Danielle is our only hope of getting Shalimar well again. Don't ruin it."
Brennan still looked furious but backed down, "Fine, but I will not stay to see her die like this."
Adam watched as Brennan fled the room.

After fifteen minutes, Danielle collapsed in exhaustion. Adam caught her and put her in the medical chair in the centre of the room. He quickly checked her over to make sure she was alright.
"Adam!" said Emma excitedly, "Shalimar's okay!"
Adam rushed over to the computer where Emma was and saw that Shal's vital signs had all gone back to normal. Adam closed his eyes in relief.
"She's coming round!" said Jesse as Shalimar stirred and opened her eyes, "Hey you!"
Shalimar turned to look at Jesse and managed a smile for him, "Jesse... Emma... Adam... what's going on? Where's Brennan?"
Jesse proceeded to tell Shalimar what had happened that day including what had happened at Genomex, and Brennan storming out of the medical room.
Shalimar digested what Jesse told her and slowly sat up with a little help from Emma. Adam rushed forward when Shal went to stand up. He tried stopping her from getting off the bed but Shal refused to sit around any longer.
"Adam, I really appreciate the concern but I've been laying around in here for ages. I'm fine, thanks to Danielle, now please just let me move!" Shalimar said with a smile to soften her argument.
Adam sighed but was so happy that she was okay that he let her do what she wanted. After stretching her muscles, Shalimar was suddenly hugged by Jesse and Emma at the same time.
"Don't ever frighten us like that again!" said Jesse grinning from ear to ear.
Shalimar laughed at both him and Emma as they squeezed her hard.
"Guys? Can you let go now? I kinda can't breathe!" said Shalimar before being abruptly released by Emma and Jesse.
"Sorry Shal," said Jesse and Emma together with laughter sparkling in their eyes.
Shalimar looked around at Adam and went over and hugged him.
"I know you did everything you could for me, Adam. Thank you for trying," whispered Shalimar.
Adam looked into her eyes, "I'm glad you are alright, Shalimar. I missed you."

Emma went up and checked on Danielle who came round slowly. Emma smiled as Danielle opened her eyes.
"Emma..."
"How are you feeling?" asked Emma.
"I'm fine... well... I will be... in a while. Shalimar's okay... right?"
"I'm fine. Thank you so much, Danielle," said Shalimar coming up beside Emma, "I owe you my life."
Danielle smiled, "I had... to try... I wasn't sure if it would work but it did."
"Yes, it did," said Shalimar smiling, "Thank you so much... sorry about Brennan."
Danielle tried to sit up and succeeded, "Brennan was only worried. He thought I was making things worse. He cares a lot about you, Shalimar."
Shalimar looked down, "It still doesn't excuse him from acting the way he did."
"It does, Shal," said Emma backing Danielle up, "He's been beating himself up over what happened to you. He blames himself for not protecting you. Brennan has spent so much time in here... he has hardly slept."
Shalimar sighed, "So, where has he gone?"
Emma smiled, "I've no doubt you'll find him in the garden. Don't be too hard on him, Shal. I know what he feels about you, it's written on his face every time he looks at you."
Emma hugged Shalimar again, "I am so glad you're alright... and Brennan will be too."
"Thank you," said Shalimar to Emma before looking at Danielle, "I'll talk to you later, okay, after you've had a rest."
Danielle smiled and she and Emma watched as Shalimar left the room.