If you haven't read the updated Chapter 7 please do so! You need that information for future chapters. This chapter is a little confused, this is because it was written during the wee hours of the morning after an attack of insomnia. The weather described might be a bit off, but hey, I live in Britain. It's winter and yesterday we had a day that wouldn't have looked strange mid-summer. Today it's a day for ducks. Tomorrow they're predicting gale force winds. Go figure.

Chapter 8

Shalimar opened her eyes to Onca's worried face.

"Shalimar?"

"I have to go talk to Adam." She answered breathlessly.

The sun seemed hotter than usual today, although, Shalimar reminded herself, she hadn't been out for the last couple of days. Perhaps summer had finally set in after the long wet spring they had been having. The warmth on her skin seemed strange in light of the last week. Like the sun shouldn't burn as brightly without her. It was a day that demanded picnics and relaxing in the sun. So many days like this they would miss She blinked in the sunlight for a minute as her eyes adjusted and then set of for Sanctuary. Something told her this reunion would not be the best.

Stopping in front of a small electronic panel hidden in the grass, Shalimar entered a code and watched as the invisible door slid to one side. She smiled as the door squeaked predictably through those last couple of centimetres, putting her teeth on edge. Nothing had changed. Somehow she had expected it all to be different.

She pulled her bike up carefully beside the Mustang in Sanctuary's garage. Running one finger along the bonnet of the beautiful car, she made her way into Sanctuary's main hall. There were so many ways in which she missed this place. There were memories in ever corner.

Walking into Sanctuary she found Brennan sparing on the dojo. Jesse was completely involved in something on the computer. She looked for the familiar form sat by the meditating pool and had to reprimand herself. Emma wasn't sat there.

Knowing where Adam would be she didn't bother disturbing the guys. Heading into the lab she stood quietly at the door and watched for a moment. Adam was manipulating a molecule on the computer screen, the traditional double-helix shape span slowly in one corner. Obviously satisfied with what he saw, he turned to pull a disk out of the slot, jumping as he saw Shalimar in the doorway.

"Oh, Shalimar. I'm going to" He did a double take. "Shalimar. You're here! What are you doing here?" He looked tired, she noted. Tired and old. He was slouching a little more than usual and generally he didn't look well at all. Impulsively she hugged him, truly startled by his appearance.

"When was the last time you went out into the sun?" He smiled.

"I honestly can't remember."

"Come with me."

"But" He gestured at his work.

"It'll wait. Come."

She sat on the grass, breathing in the air. Everything smelt of Summer. She smiled at Adam as he collapsed onto the grass beside her.

"Shalimar. What are we doing here?"

"You're getting some sun." He chuckled.

"Any other reasons?" She sighed.

"Something freaked me out today and I wanted to see you. Being out here makes me feel a little safer."

"OK. I'm listening when you're ready."

"I had I had a nightmare, but not. I just phased out on everyone. I I came out of it convinced Emma was alive. It was like she'd tried to connect with me."

"Shalimar you know"

"Yes, yes. I know Emma's dead. I know that, but Adam it was so real. It was like I was receiving emotions. But so mixed up. Lonely and confused and tired. So tired. I felt like energy was being drained straight out of me."

"What do you want me to say, Shalimar?" Adam asked softly as she stopped.

"Tell me Emma isn't really dead. Or the person you saw die wasn't Emma. Tell me Emma's out there somewhere trying to make contact. Trying to find us."

"I can't do that Shalimar. I'm sorry."

"Let me see her?"

"Of course. I would never have stopped you doing that."

"Thanks Adam."

"Can we go back to Sanctuary now, or do we stay out here. I have to admit, I'm quite enjoying the sun."

"You have to stop working so hard, you know. You don't have Emma or I around anymore to drag you out of your lab."

"It's going to be different without you, Shalimar. This whole thing, Mutant X, the Underground. It all started with you."

"I know Adam. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm not asking for apologies. I understand why you want to leave. I just wanted you to know how much we're going to miss you being around."

She had only been in this room once before, after Richard's death. It was a cold room, with bright white walls, fluorescent lights and a complete lack of smell. Even the thought of this room made her cringe. And now she was headed back into this hated place.

Emma was laid there, a plain white sheet covering her. Shalimar hesitated at the door, unsure. Why was she doing this? What was there to gain? Why couldn't she take the other's word? Surely their own grief was proof enough. Stepping up to the table she drew back the sheet.

She was so pale

Shalimar had to turn away as a wave of grief threatened to take her to her knees. Sobs, harshly restrained, quickly became deep breaths as she brought her emotions back under control.

Turning back she brushed a stray hair off of Emma's face, wondering absently if it was the unusual light that made her hair look darker or if it had been dyed again. She hoped it was the former as she would have hated to miss the latter.

Again she questioned why she was here. It was foolish. Emma was dead, and this was plain torture.

Lifting Emma's hand from her side she brushed her lips gently across the knuckles, her own private goodbye. Setting it back and replacing the sheet she moved to leave. Stopping, she frowned. There was something niggling at her, just out of reach. Sighing, she reached out to open the door. Then it hit her. The ring. The some ring all of them wore and that was there on her own finger. The ring encoded to their own DNA that they tried never to take off.

Emma wasn't wearing hers.

"Adam," she spoke into her own ring. "Did you take off Emma's comm. ring?"

"No, Shalimar. Why?" Ignoring his question, Shalimar continued.

"Jesse, track Emma's comm. ring."

"Why Shalimar? Surely it's"

"Please Jesse? I have a hunch."

"Sure, OK. Give me a sec." There was a moment's silence and Shalimar started walking towards the main hall. She was running by the time she reached the door and she reached the huge open space in time to see all of the colour drain from Jesse's face. He looked up as she entered.

"Shalimar? What the hell is going on?"

"What have you got?"

"Emma's comm. ring is active, so she must be wearing it, right? But its locator is in the house where we were originally supposed to pick up that New Mutant, the other day."

"Sarah." Adam supplied, walking down the stairs and joining Jesse at the console, Brennan close behind.

"That's the one." Jesse confirmed.

"How's that possible? Emma's" Brennan gestured to the corridor Shalimar had just left.

"Adam" Shalimar began.

"Take the double helix." He pre-empted her question. "Jesse and Brennan go with her. If she's out there, bring her back." Shalimar nodded her thanks and was out of the door; Jesse and Brennan hot on her heels. "Good luck." Adam called after them.