Title: Lingering Shadows
Disclaimer: All the characters from the show are the property of the producers and owners of Mutant X. However, all the other characters belong to me.
Synopsis: Exploration of how each character deals with the burdens they must bear because of their powers as they face a mutant with extreme rage and a frightening agenda.
Feedback: Please Read and Review as often as you can. I greatly appreciate any and all feedback. Yes, the first chapter was unusual. It is necessary to understand Kage's (also known as Ryuko) background. Thanks for following along this far. I'm hoping this story will blossom, but we will all see. Thank you for all the reviews guys, I really appreciate the feedback.
Chapter 7: Hard to the Core
A few hours later, Emma's eyes fluttered open to find Jesse's darkened blue eyes staring at her intensely. With a hesitant smile, Emma slowly opened her mouth to exercise her vocal cords.
"Hel… Hello." Emma said softly, in an almost childlike way. Only a day or so ago Emma had been convinced that Jesse didn't want her there, and now… unable to sense him at all, no longer able to feel his constant presence, like a warm blanket in the back of her consciousness, she was scared. Hearing the doubt and fear in Emma's voice, Jesse smiled to reassure her.
"Hey, you're safe now. You're with us." Jesse said, thinking You're with me. Frustrated at not being able to say the words aloud, Jesse instead opted to pick up Emma's hand and squeeze it. Comforted by the warm touch, Emma smiled.
"Thank you. Thank you for coming for me." Emma said, relieved that her friends were there for her. Smiling sadly, Jesse wondered how he'd ever let this happen. I need to tell her…she needs to know. Debating whether to go ahead and confess his feelings to Emma or to wait for a better time, Jesse struggled while Emma watched different emotions cross his face in fascination. It's amazing. Beautiful even, if I'd ever paid attention, I'd have known how expressive Jesse really is. Time passed by, allowing the two would be lovers to just be together, without the hindrance of powers or the presence of their friends.
Wiping away the sweat on her brow, Shalimar put down the towel and lifted the water bottle for a drink. Behind the blonde feral, Brennan shortened his strides to ease into a turn so he could look at her. Seeing the crease of her forehead, Brennan figured her thoughts were probably still with their friends, much as his had been before seeing her worried expression.
"They'll be fine Shal. Emma is back with us, where she belongs." Brennan said, trying not to think about how different the woman he had come to think of as a sister is now. Looking into Brennan's coal colored eyes, Shalimar grimaced.
"I know, she's safe, and he can't hurt her anymore. But Brennan, her powers? How is Emma going to cope without them? The last time she trusted someone without benefit of her powers he almost crushed her spirit." Greatly concerned, Shalimar placed the water bottle on the counter with a thump. She had hoped their workout would calm her nerves and get her mind off the questions filling it, but it hadn't. And seeing those same feelings mirrored in Brennan's eyes did nothing in the way of helping.
"She's strong Shal. You know that, she'll be fine. Jesse will help her through it, and so will we." The certainty behind Brennan's voice caught Shalimar's attention.
"Have you seen him? He's worried to death about her. And the past few days… I thought he was going to kill Adam when he found out about the tracking device." Compelled to reach out, Brennan lifted his arms and brought Shalimar close to him. "Brennan, he needs to deal with his feelings for her. If he doesn't, he's going to drive her away. He's already come close." Shocked, Brennan froze.
"What are you talking about? Jesse cares so much for her, I don't understand what you're saying." Brennan said with a need to know that surprised Shalimar. Looking deeply into his dark eyes, Shalimar saw the concern there that matched her own. Sighing, Shalimar leaned in slightly.
"A few days ago… I was talking to Emma. She was pretty upset. It was the day that we were suppose to protect those three Senators. Emma picked up on some emotions from Jesse that… well, she ranted and raved that he was relieved she was only back up. She ranted and raved that he doesn't really want her here." Shalimar said, never believing it herself but concerned that it could lead to something drastic if Jesse didn't come clean. Expelling his breath quickly, Brennan lightened his grip on Shalimar.
"I see, so there was more going on than I realized." Brennan said, looking down slightly to gaze at the woman in front of him. Nodding her head, Shalimar told him the rest of the story.
"Yeah, there was. I didn't believe it myself but figured Jesse needed to understand how tied to him Emma is. So I stopped by and told him to talk to her, I told him how she felt." Feeling as if she had betrayed the trust of her closest friends, Shalimar looked down. "And then that fiasco, walking in on them… and Jesse just refusing to explain things." Sensing that the powerful woman needed comfort, Brennan leaned in the rest of the way and hugged her. The bear hug only lasted a few minutes, but in that time the two allowed themselves to feel the soft skin and strong muscles of the other, to breathe in the different scents, to be engulfed in warmth. The exchange left them content.
"Shal, please don't worry. They'll work it out. We're here to help them if they need it, and they know that. So please," Brennan said while lifting Shalimar's chin with his index finger, "don't worry." Even as the gentle words escaped his lips, Brennan leaned in for a kiss. Always interrupted, the two were shocked as they made contact. Brennan felt the sparks go off and wondered if he was losing control of his powers before realizing the true cause. Their feelings for each other had gradually increased over the past year a half, with them never allowed an opportunity to explore or express them. Now, as their lips touched and their tongues sought each other, the power of their attraction and pent up feelings were coming to the surface. Electrified by the intensity of her feelings for Brennan, Shalimar eagerly continued their passionate embrace.
Several minutes later, Shalimar and Brennan could be found slowly separating from each other. Looking deeply into Shalimar's soft brown eyes, Brennan began thinking Jesse's not the only one who needs to come clean. Sensing his turbulent emotions, Shalimar smiled brightly, showing off her near perfect white teeth.
"I guess we need to talk too, huh?" Shal said, eliciting a smile from Brennan. Laughing lightly, the two reveled in how light their burdens now seemed.
"Yes, we do. Shal…" Brennan started, stopping when he realized that Shalimar's eyes were twinkling with humor.
"Yes??" Shalimar purred, delighted in the deer in headlights look on Brennan's face. Feeling as if he'd been tricked, Brennan narrowed his eyes after a moment's initial embarrassment. Laughing lightly, Shalimar leaned in and kissed Brennan quickly on the lips before heading towards her room to shower and change. Staring after her, Brennan smiled. Well, some things don't change. With that thought in his head, Brennan walked off to shower and change too before checking on his friends.
Laughing at Jesse's funny faces, Emma smiled as he helped her get off the laboratory table. Alive and content in Jesse's company, Emma pushed aside her fears to cherish the time they had alone together. No other man calmed her the way he did, and she was beginning to discover Jesse affected her the same whether she had her powers or not.
"So, you up for a picnic? We could sneak off and leave the others to Adam's cooking." Jesse said, wearing an innocent expression but unable to hide the twinkle in his eyes. Laughing lightly, Emma reached out and gently pushed Jesse backwards.
"You're cruel! But a picnic sounds great, especially after…" Emma's lighted face became still and her eyes slowly turned downwards. Noticing the drastic change, Jesse squeezed the hand he was still holding.
"After??" Jesse prompted, cognizant of the fact that Emma had yet to talk about her experiences with Ryuko. Looking up, Emma saw the gentle strength and support Jesse offered. Still, it's so different from actually being able to feel it. Hanging onto Jesse's hand, Emma inhaled deeply before releasing her breath slowly.
"After being in that ward, with the white walls blending so well you can't even see a door to get out. After that and…" Changing her mind, Emma omitted the details of Kage's visits and insistence on them not interfering with him again. "I'm starting to feel claustrophobic." Emma began rubbing her arms in agitation. Noticing the shift, Jesse smiled lightly to try and bring Emma back to him.
"It's okay, a picnic is just what the doctor ordered. I tell you what. I'll prepare it while you go take a shower and get ready. What do you say?" Jesse asked, relieved when Emma perked up and agreed. As the brunette left the lab, Jesse walked behind her most of the way before breaking off and heading to the kitchen.
As Emma neared her room, she slowed down when seeing Shalimar walk out her bedroom door. Smiling, Emma laughed as Shalimar asked what she was smiling so brightly for. Shalimar's teasing look made her laugh even harder.
"Oh, nothing, " Emma sighed as her laughter died down. "Jesse is fixing a picnic for us, I was just about to take a shower and get ready." Shalimar's eyebrows shot up and her eyes gleamed.
"Doesn't sound like a man who wants to get rid of you, does it?" Shal asked, forcing Emma to look at her. Nodding her head, Emma agreed that it didn't.
"I still don't understand though. He genuinely didn't want me there. I know he didn't." Emma insisted as Shalimar began protesting. "I felt it, Shal." Looking at the earnest brunette in front of her, the sexy feral walked up and hugged Emma slowly.
"Then, ask him why." Shalimar whispered to a stunned Emma before drawing back and continuing down the hall. Looking after her friend, Emma reluctantly returned her attention to the door in front of her and the shower that awaited her. Feeling the need to be cleansed after everything Kage had put her through, and taken away from me, Emma thought, she desperately needed a shower. After twenty minutes of steaming hot water pounding against her back and face, Emma regrouped and scrubbed clean before getting out of the shower to get dressed.
Jesse devoted several minutes to finger food suitable for an outdoor excursion. As the small sandwiches, deviled eggs, and vegetables piled up, Jesse moved on to make sweet tea. Finishing the main meal, he then moved on to dessert. Debating whether Emma was a strawberry and whip cream or a banana pudding type, Jesse was startled to hear Strawberry and whip cream, definitely. enter his mind seconds before a cold, humorless laugh. Looking around, Jesse saw no one, and after pausing for a few minutes, he didn't hear anyone either. Forcing himself to focus on the picnic at hand, Jesse picked a dessert and started packing everything. Looking up a few minutes later, Jesse smiled at seeing a much happier Emma enter the kitchen.
"So how about that picnic?" Emma teased. Adding the finishing touches, Jesse grabbed the basket and walked over, offering his arm to Emma.
"After you, mademoiselle." Jesse said, feigning a debonair accent. Excited, Emma took Jesse's arm and they left the kitchen for the car. Smiling, Shalimar watched her friends leave, noticing the genuine smiles on both of their faces. Feeling Brennan walk up behind her, Shalimar let him slide his arms around her waist.
"Maybe he's not so hard after all." As the feline feral whispered the words, Brennan gazed after his friends in wonder.
"It's not that he's hard or tough or strong, it's just the opposite. When he's with her, even when he thinks of her, he goes soft. That feeling, that melting sensation that lets you know you're helpless, it's frightening." Brennan said, forcing Shalimar to turn and look at him. Piercing the veil of his dark brown eyes, Shalimar saw the truth of Brennan's statement in the depths of his soul. Turning around the rest of the way, Shalimar stood in his arms.
"Just as he goes soft, so does she. That's their bond, keeping them together and forever apart of each other. That's… that is what loving someone is about, Brennan. Facing that fear together, and becoming stronger because of it." Gazing at each other, Brennan and Shalimar knew they could no longer hide their feelings for each other behind concerns for their friends. They knew even as they spoke, that they were addressing their own situation even as they pondered that of Jesse and Emma's. Leaning into each other, Brennan and Shalimar forever changed their status from friends and teammates, leaving that world of denied longing for one without the duplicity. That day, even as Jesse and Emma laughed together and strengthened their bond, Brennan and Shalimar became lovers as well as best friends.