~~~

Adam, Emma and Jesse merely stared at the doctor in complete and utter shock. Seeing the looks on their faces Holland took it upon himself to explain. "Back when I first started my research there was an accident and some people very close to me died"

"That's why you chose to work alone isn't it?" Emma asked

"Yes. We had a psionic, similar to yourself" he said glancing at Emma "he informed us that the two needed to willingly return to their own bodies otherwise the process would be useless"

"What happened?"

Rubbing the bridge of his nose he sighed as he was forced to relive a moment that almost made him quit being a scientist "They were so engrossed in the reality their minds had created that they didn't believe the psionic and refused to let go"

"Did the physical separation work though?" pushed Emma

"We thought it did but we were unable to be sure since their minds were essentially gone"

"So there is a chance that they could die anyway?" Jesse asked frustratingly

"I am afraid so"

"So you thought you would just start over somewhere else with a new idea and it would make it all right?" yelled Jesse

"Jesse" started Adam

"No Adam I need to know what made him think he just forget about the two people who died trying to help him become famous"

Dr. Holland put his hand up to stop Adam from saying anything in his defense as he turned and looked Jesse directly in the eye "Because my wife would have wanted me to continue my work"

Suddenly Jesse felt like an enormous ass "I'm sorry I didn't know"

"No you didn't because I didn't tell you or your friends of the danger of being near my experiment and for that I am truly sorry"

"Well we can't just leave them like this" yelled Emma

"We're not going to" started Adam "I've been running simulations and I am fairly confident that if we separate them I can heal Shalimar's injuries"

"Brennan won't be easy to convince" replied Emma

"That is where you come in Emma. I need you to convince them that this is the only way"

Emma hesitated for a moment then nodded in agreement. She moved over to Brennan connected to him as she had earlier.

~~~

[Brennan and Shalimar's mind]

Emma appeared in the safe house to soft sobs coming from the corner of the room. As she approached the muffled noise she was heartbroken to discover her best friend sobbing like a small child who had lost their favorite pet

"Shal what happened?"

"We had a fight and he stormed out" she said between sobs

"We got Holland to sanctuary and Adam is pretty sure he can heal you when the two of you are separated but you have to be willing to return to your own bodies"

"That's what we fought about" she replied as she wiped the tears from her cheeks "he said he would rather stay like this if it keeps me alive"

"Only it may not. Holland told us that staying like this could kill you both anyway"

"He won't listen to me"

Emma hung her head in frustration. She had always thought ferals were difficult to deal with when it came to changing their minds. But more she got to know Brennan she found that that state of mind wasn't solely reserved for ferals; especially when it came to something that concerned him and Shalimar

"Emma promise me something" started Shalimar "whatever happens you will make sure he wakes up"

Emma didn't know what to say. The last she wanted to do was lose her best friend but on the other hand she understood why the feral was asking what she was asking. Her first instinct was to protect and if Shalimar dying meant Brennan could live then that is how it had to be. "I promise"

"Thank you" she murmured

"I'm going to find Brennan. I'll be back though" she replied as she rose and left in search of the elemental.

~~~

TBC....I know I took the easy way out in the last chapter with Emma and Jesse getting Holland out of Genomex but hey this story isn't about that. So keep those reviews coming.