Hey…thank you all for those reviews…and for the honorary roll:
(Takes a deep breath)
Deb1, Brennan Mulwray, ShadowFox20 (who somehow always has an excuse for not login in), brigitta1, Molecular Psionic, goldstranger, rain, Ruffyan, Lgbabyblu, Raquelle2, Sister of the Moon.
Wow that was long. Thank you!!!!
Hey Jamie Lea Lighfoot: (holds out hands with bambi eyes): Cookie?
Disclaimer: Don't own the cast or crew. Just the story.
The silence was painful reminder to Shalimar of the past few hours. Of what she had done and especially of Jesse. She wasn't use to the stillness of the place. Her hands still felt hot and sticky from that blood pouring through her hands. Absent mindedly, Shalimar wiped her hands on the side of her pants before placing them back in their pockets. Than she stopped walking right in front of his room and she peaked in.
It was empty.
Of course it was empty, stupid. It's empty because of you.
The bed was left unmade, the blankets and pillows on a corner of the mattress, books and Cd's at another corner, It was kind of like organized mess. Gently Shalimar pushed aside the papers and other unidentifiable objects from his desk and revealed a small notebook. Nothing but numbers and symbols filled it and she guessed, that it was probably some programming codes he was working on.
Shalimar bit her lower lip and slid the door close before continuing her wandering. She hadn't realized how far she had done so until she saw him at the computer console. "Adam?" she called out.
"Yeah?" he kept his eyes on the screen.
Shalimar took a deep breath and set herself next to him. "So...what are you doing?"
He sighed and rubbed the sides of his neck. "Just finishing a program that Jesse was supposed to get done yesterday so that I can run some diagnostics." Adam's fingers flew over the computer keys as expertly as Jesse would have.
"Oh..." she silently whispered.
He stopped typing and swung his chair to face her. "Are you still blaming yourself?"
Shalimar didn't answer. The floors of sanctuary were suddenly very interesting to her.
"He'll be fine."
She looked up. "How fine is he?"
"He'll recover." Adam answered.
"Oh come on Adam, be brutally honest."
He sighed again. "A swollen eye, fractured ribs, bruised jaw, cuts-."
"See." She pointed out, her eyes stinging with tears.
"Shalimar…"
"Where is he?"
"Still unconscious, in the med bay."
She thought for a moment. "Adam…I-."
Shalimar's sentence hung mid air as an alarm popped up on the screen.
"What is it?" Shalimar asked, fearing the worse.
Adam stood up immediately. "Jesse…"
'No' she mouthed.
Her mind blank and unfocused, Shalimar rushed to the med bay with Adam behind her trying to catch up to her feral speed. She had reached the med bay first and let out the breath she had holding for so long. Jesse sat on the side of the med bay bed and was looking at his feet. Shalimar noticed the reason of the alarms; Jesse had switched the machines that monitored him, off.
"Jesse?" Adam said as he finally reached the med bay.
Jesse looked up, Shalimar gasped a little at his injured face.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked again.
He winced as he tried to stand. "Trying to get up?"
"Oh no, you are not. Stay in that bed now." Adam ordered, already at his side gently pushing him back.
Jesse was too tired to fight back and conceded.
Adam moved over to the machines and hitting a few buttons, disarming the false alarm. "You had us worried there for a minute. We thought-."
"It's going to take more than this to get to me... he interrupted, "Right Shal?"
Shalimar was taken back. How could he act like she hadn't contributed to his wounds and after all of it? She smiled weakly making sure she kept a safe distance away from him. She was afraid that Lamel still had a hold on her and she would lash out at him again. He frowned at her sudden distance.
"How do you feel?" Adam asked scanning him.
Jesse sighed. "Fine. Just a little sore that's all. Can I please get up?"
Adam checked the machines and than back at Jesse, as if contemplating. Shalimar knew that if Adam agreed, she would have to face him. She just couldn't do that right now. Please no. "All right," Adam finally said. "I guess you could use the a little walk, but that's it. If there's anything wrong I want you to call me."
"Uh-huh," Jesse gingerly sat back up and placed a foot on the floor.
She ran to his side to help him.
"Thanks." He muttered, obviously in pain.
How she dreaded this moment.
"Need to get to my room for some clothes…"
Shalimar had just noticed that he was only wearing a pair of baggy brown pants. "Okay…" she weakly acknowledged. She wrapped her arm around his arm and walked side by side.
The walk to his room was in silence as Shalimar thought of the right word to say. But before she could utter anything, he had slipped into his room and shut the door. Shalimar cursed herself and leaned against the door, ready to shoot herself. She wondered at how Jesse was going to get dressed with a shoulder wound. He's suffering because of me.
"Done." Jesse said emerging from his room.
Shalimar whether she should help support him or something, but Jesse answered that question by putting his arm into hers. She looked at him and smiled, grateful that he told her how he felt. Maybe it was better not to say anything. Just for now. The slow and hypnotizing ripples greeted them as they sat in front of the pond. Shalimar cautiously letting Jesse sit comfortably before she sat down herself, her arm still around his. Reflections from the pond danced across their silent and still forms.
"I know you blame yourself Shal…But I don't."
She looked at him completely in shock. "How did y-?"
"I know you…Shal." His blue eyes looking straight at her.
"Look what I did." she said gently touching the plaster on his face
He laughed, but it was a short-lived laugh, cut off by his pain. "At least I know I can survive an attack by Shalimar Fox." He said rubbing his sore ribs.
Smiling, she placed her head on his shoulder, relieved. "But still-."
"I should be thanking you."
"What?" She sat bolt upright.
"You manage to break away from her mental grip. That proves how much you treasure our friendship enough to fight off such a strong power." His eyes were staring into the pool.
With all her worry on Jesse, she hadn't realized how she did break away.
He placed her face into his hands and wiped away a tear running down her face. "You and Adam are the most important people to me and I have faith in you that you'll never betray me. Never. You're not just my friend, you're family." He gently kissed the top of her head and squeezed her hand.
Shalimar' tears rolled down. Not because of sadness or anger, but of joy. Jesse was the closest thing she had to family. She loved him like a brother and companion, and he'll always have a special place in her heart. She hugged him and whispered, "Thank you."
"No," Jesse answered back, "Thank you."
They broke away and Jesse rubbed his wound. "I think I'd better go and see Adam for a couple of pain killers."
She stood up with him and placed her arm around his waist, her heart lighter and mood better. He wrapped his arm on her shoulders. "You, okay dear brother?" she teased while smiling broadly.
"With you sis, I'm always OK."
Okay that's it for this episode…but I think I'll do another one…
So what do you guys think?
=^_^=
