Disclaimer: Don't own them, just like to write about them.
~*~*Chapter 4_Letting Go*~*~
~*~* Genomex *~*~
After extensive searching for Shalimar, Jessica stood in Eckhart's office. "Miss Eisley, I am not happy about you letting Miss Fox get away." He said in a stern voice.
"I apologize, Mr. Eckhart. It won't happen again."
"You're right, Miss Eisley, it will not." He motioned for his men to take her and an hour later, Jessica was in stasis, no longer a threat to Mutant X.
~*~* Next morning in Sanctuary *~*~
Adam walked down into the lab and found Shalimar just staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, how do you feel?" He asked.
"I've been better. Adam, I'm scared, what's going to happen to me if the antidote didn't work?"
"That's up to you, Shalimar. You are more than welcome to stay here and help out in different ways, or you can go off and live a perfectly normal life."
Shalimar took a deep breath. "Adam, I don't think I'd be able to stay."
Adam walked over to Shalimar and gripped her hands tightly. "Whatever you decide, Shalimar, we'll back you up." Then he kissed the top of her head. "There's something you need to know before you make a decision though."
Shalimar placed her finger over his lips and shook her head. "I already know. Don't tell the others. I'll be ok."
Adam nodded. "Are you sure though? What about Brennan?"
"No, Adam. I don't want anyone to know."
"Alright."
"If the antidote didn't work, can you find me a place to stay?"
"Of course."
"How soon? I think that the longer I stay the harder it will be for me to leave."
"In that case I might take my time looking." He smiled at her. She laughed and smiled back. "I'll pull some strings and have a place for you by tomorrow if that's what you want."
"Thank you, Adam." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Do you want to wait for everybody or do you want me to take the scan now?"
"No, wait for them."
"Wait for us for what?" Brennan asked as he walked through the door, with Jesse and Emma following.
"I'm going to take the scan now, which will let us know if the antidote worked." Adam replied. "Are you ready, Shalimar?"
She glanced at Brennan and then back to Adam and nodded.
Adam started the scanner and watched as the yellow beam of light ran over Shalimar's body. The scan finally finished and Adam pulled up the results. He took one look and had to turn away. Tears were blurring his vision, but he refused to let them fall.
"Adam, what is it?" Emma asked.
"I'm not feral anymore am I?" Shalimar's voice quivered.
Adam turned around and hung his head. "No, Shalimar, you're not."
Everyone was shocked, they couldn't believe this was happening. A tear fell from Shalimar's eye, but she quickly wiped it away. She drew in a shaky breath and simply said, "Well, it looks like I should go get ready to leave then."
She slipped off of the lab chair and left to her room. Everybody's mouths hit the floor. They all thought that she would be devastated, but she wasn't taking it as hard as they thought she would.
~*~* Shalimar's room *~*~
Shalimar was packing some things when she heard a knock on the door.
"Shalimar, can I come in?" There was no answer. "Shal, please I want to talk to you."
The door opened slowly and Brennan stepped in. Shalimar didn't look into his eyes, she couldn't. She was too afraid of what she might see; anger, disappointment, hurt.
"Shalimar, look at me." Brennan reached out and lifted her chin with his index finger, but she just pulled away and turned. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. "Shal, it's ok. We'll figure something out."
Shalimar smiled, she heard love in his voice and that gave her the courage to turn to him. "Brennan, I knew I wasn't feral the minute I woke up this morning. That's why I wasn't shocked when Adam told me, but I was hoping that...that maybe I was wrong and that maybe there was still a chance." She walked back over to the bed and started to pack some more things as tears streaked her face.
"You're really leaving?"
"Yeah. Brennan, I can't stay, I wouldn't be able to handle being cooped up in Sanctuary and I wouldn't be of much use to the team without my feral abilities."
"That's not true."
"Yes it is. I wouldn't be able to fight anymore and I can't help Adam in the lab." She replied as she grabbed a pile of clothes.
"You could work on the computers."
"And take Jesse's 'love' away from him. I don't think so." She turned and took some more clothes out of her dresser.
"I bet he'd rather lose that, than you."
Shalimar was silent, not being able to reply. Tears burned her eyes as she continued to pack.
"No," Brennan walked over to her bed and put the top to her suitcase down holding it firmly so she couldn't get it open again.
"No, what?" She asked sharply, scowling up at him.
"You're not leaving."
"Yes, I am."
"I won't let you."
Shalimar stood for a minute, glaring at him, before her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor in tears. Brennan bent down beside her and pulled her close. "Shalimar, I love you too much to just let you walk out."
"If you really loved me you would let me go." As soon as the words left her lips she wished she could take them back.
"Is that really what you want?" Hurt was evident in his voice and eyes.
Shalimar wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Brennan, I'm sorry. I don't want to leave. I love you and I had hoped that maybe we could..." Shalimar just looked away, "but that's not possible. It would be better for both of us if I left."
"Shalimar, how can you say that? I want you to stay. I want you to..."
She placed her fingertips gently over his lips. "Brennan, please. I need you to support me on this."
Brennan hung his head, but then looked back up and gently brushed his hand over her cheek. In his mind a battle was fought and sadly lost. "I'll always be here for you." He kissed her and then helped her up.
"Thank you, Brennan, it means more than you know."
He kissed her again and then just watched as she finished packing. He was trying to show that he loved her and would support her but inside he was dying as he watched her pack each piece.
That night Brennan tucked Shalimar into her bed like he had done so many times before. He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm, holding him back. "Brennan wait. Please, stay with me."
"Shal..." He wanted to stay but he knew it would only make it harder on both of them.
"Please Brennan." She pleaded. "I want you to hold me one more time. I want to fall asleep and wake up in your arms just once more." She looked up begging him to stay. "Please."
Brennan couldn't tell her no. He climbed into her bed and pulled her into his arms gently stroking her hair. "Goodnight, Shalimar. I love you," Brennan said softly as he kissed her head.
Tears came to Shalimar's eyes knowing she would probably never hear those words from him or feel his touch again. "I love you too, Brennan." She got out shakily.
Neither of them slept much that night. Brennan didn't want to miss one moment of having Shalimar in his arms and Shalimar wanted to remember every second that she had with him. These last few hours were the most precious to them both and neither wanted them to end.
~*~* Next morning *~*~
Shalimar's bags were all packed in the car. The only thing left that needed to get in was Shalimar herself.
"We're gonna miss you, Shal." Jesse said, as he took her into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Jess."
"Shalimar, be careful and keep in touch, ok?" Emma said as she hugged her friend.
Her eyes were wet but she refused to cry. "Don't worry, Emma, I will. Do me a favor, will ya? Make sure these guys don't get themselves into too much trouble."
Emma laughed. "I will, I promise."
Shalimar stood in front of Brennan, his head was bowed and he refused to look up. "Brennan? Brennan, please, look at me." Shalimar begged as she lifted his chin with her hand. His eyes were wet and full of hurt and pain. "Oh, Brennan." Shalimar threw her arms around him and started to cry.
Brennan held her tightly and let his tears out. "Shalimar, please, don't go. I need y..."
She stopped his words with soft a kiss. "I have to, Brennan, I'm sorry. You have to let me go." She brushed a tear off of his cheek.
"Shalimar, it's time to go. You're going to miss your plane." Adam said.
"I promise I'll keep in touch as much as I can." She looked deeply into his eyes and kissed him one more time. "I love you." Shalimar started to walk toward the door, but held on to Brennan's hand until they were too far apart to touch.
Adam drove Shalimar to the airport and helped her with her bags. "Be careful, Shalimar. If you need any of us for anything, call, please?" Adam said as he kissed the top of her head.
"I will. Goodbye, Adam." And with that they parted.
~*~* Has Shalimar walked out of their lives forever? *~*~
~*~*Chapter 4_Letting Go*~*~
~*~* Genomex *~*~
After extensive searching for Shalimar, Jessica stood in Eckhart's office. "Miss Eisley, I am not happy about you letting Miss Fox get away." He said in a stern voice.
"I apologize, Mr. Eckhart. It won't happen again."
"You're right, Miss Eisley, it will not." He motioned for his men to take her and an hour later, Jessica was in stasis, no longer a threat to Mutant X.
~*~* Next morning in Sanctuary *~*~
Adam walked down into the lab and found Shalimar just staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, how do you feel?" He asked.
"I've been better. Adam, I'm scared, what's going to happen to me if the antidote didn't work?"
"That's up to you, Shalimar. You are more than welcome to stay here and help out in different ways, or you can go off and live a perfectly normal life."
Shalimar took a deep breath. "Adam, I don't think I'd be able to stay."
Adam walked over to Shalimar and gripped her hands tightly. "Whatever you decide, Shalimar, we'll back you up." Then he kissed the top of her head. "There's something you need to know before you make a decision though."
Shalimar placed her finger over his lips and shook her head. "I already know. Don't tell the others. I'll be ok."
Adam nodded. "Are you sure though? What about Brennan?"
"No, Adam. I don't want anyone to know."
"Alright."
"If the antidote didn't work, can you find me a place to stay?"
"Of course."
"How soon? I think that the longer I stay the harder it will be for me to leave."
"In that case I might take my time looking." He smiled at her. She laughed and smiled back. "I'll pull some strings and have a place for you by tomorrow if that's what you want."
"Thank you, Adam." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Do you want to wait for everybody or do you want me to take the scan now?"
"No, wait for them."
"Wait for us for what?" Brennan asked as he walked through the door, with Jesse and Emma following.
"I'm going to take the scan now, which will let us know if the antidote worked." Adam replied. "Are you ready, Shalimar?"
She glanced at Brennan and then back to Adam and nodded.
Adam started the scanner and watched as the yellow beam of light ran over Shalimar's body. The scan finally finished and Adam pulled up the results. He took one look and had to turn away. Tears were blurring his vision, but he refused to let them fall.
"Adam, what is it?" Emma asked.
"I'm not feral anymore am I?" Shalimar's voice quivered.
Adam turned around and hung his head. "No, Shalimar, you're not."
Everyone was shocked, they couldn't believe this was happening. A tear fell from Shalimar's eye, but she quickly wiped it away. She drew in a shaky breath and simply said, "Well, it looks like I should go get ready to leave then."
She slipped off of the lab chair and left to her room. Everybody's mouths hit the floor. They all thought that she would be devastated, but she wasn't taking it as hard as they thought she would.
~*~* Shalimar's room *~*~
Shalimar was packing some things when she heard a knock on the door.
"Shalimar, can I come in?" There was no answer. "Shal, please I want to talk to you."
The door opened slowly and Brennan stepped in. Shalimar didn't look into his eyes, she couldn't. She was too afraid of what she might see; anger, disappointment, hurt.
"Shalimar, look at me." Brennan reached out and lifted her chin with his index finger, but she just pulled away and turned. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. "Shal, it's ok. We'll figure something out."
Shalimar smiled, she heard love in his voice and that gave her the courage to turn to him. "Brennan, I knew I wasn't feral the minute I woke up this morning. That's why I wasn't shocked when Adam told me, but I was hoping that...that maybe I was wrong and that maybe there was still a chance." She walked back over to the bed and started to pack some more things as tears streaked her face.
"You're really leaving?"
"Yeah. Brennan, I can't stay, I wouldn't be able to handle being cooped up in Sanctuary and I wouldn't be of much use to the team without my feral abilities."
"That's not true."
"Yes it is. I wouldn't be able to fight anymore and I can't help Adam in the lab." She replied as she grabbed a pile of clothes.
"You could work on the computers."
"And take Jesse's 'love' away from him. I don't think so." She turned and took some more clothes out of her dresser.
"I bet he'd rather lose that, than you."
Shalimar was silent, not being able to reply. Tears burned her eyes as she continued to pack.
"No," Brennan walked over to her bed and put the top to her suitcase down holding it firmly so she couldn't get it open again.
"No, what?" She asked sharply, scowling up at him.
"You're not leaving."
"Yes, I am."
"I won't let you."
Shalimar stood for a minute, glaring at him, before her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor in tears. Brennan bent down beside her and pulled her close. "Shalimar, I love you too much to just let you walk out."
"If you really loved me you would let me go." As soon as the words left her lips she wished she could take them back.
"Is that really what you want?" Hurt was evident in his voice and eyes.
Shalimar wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Brennan, I'm sorry. I don't want to leave. I love you and I had hoped that maybe we could..." Shalimar just looked away, "but that's not possible. It would be better for both of us if I left."
"Shalimar, how can you say that? I want you to stay. I want you to..."
She placed her fingertips gently over his lips. "Brennan, please. I need you to support me on this."
Brennan hung his head, but then looked back up and gently brushed his hand over her cheek. In his mind a battle was fought and sadly lost. "I'll always be here for you." He kissed her and then helped her up.
"Thank you, Brennan, it means more than you know."
He kissed her again and then just watched as she finished packing. He was trying to show that he loved her and would support her but inside he was dying as he watched her pack each piece.
That night Brennan tucked Shalimar into her bed like he had done so many times before. He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm, holding him back. "Brennan wait. Please, stay with me."
"Shal..." He wanted to stay but he knew it would only make it harder on both of them.
"Please Brennan." She pleaded. "I want you to hold me one more time. I want to fall asleep and wake up in your arms just once more." She looked up begging him to stay. "Please."
Brennan couldn't tell her no. He climbed into her bed and pulled her into his arms gently stroking her hair. "Goodnight, Shalimar. I love you," Brennan said softly as he kissed her head.
Tears came to Shalimar's eyes knowing she would probably never hear those words from him or feel his touch again. "I love you too, Brennan." She got out shakily.
Neither of them slept much that night. Brennan didn't want to miss one moment of having Shalimar in his arms and Shalimar wanted to remember every second that she had with him. These last few hours were the most precious to them both and neither wanted them to end.
~*~* Next morning *~*~
Shalimar's bags were all packed in the car. The only thing left that needed to get in was Shalimar herself.
"We're gonna miss you, Shal." Jesse said, as he took her into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Jess."
"Shalimar, be careful and keep in touch, ok?" Emma said as she hugged her friend.
Her eyes were wet but she refused to cry. "Don't worry, Emma, I will. Do me a favor, will ya? Make sure these guys don't get themselves into too much trouble."
Emma laughed. "I will, I promise."
Shalimar stood in front of Brennan, his head was bowed and he refused to look up. "Brennan? Brennan, please, look at me." Shalimar begged as she lifted his chin with her hand. His eyes were wet and full of hurt and pain. "Oh, Brennan." Shalimar threw her arms around him and started to cry.
Brennan held her tightly and let his tears out. "Shalimar, please, don't go. I need y..."
She stopped his words with soft a kiss. "I have to, Brennan, I'm sorry. You have to let me go." She brushed a tear off of his cheek.
"Shalimar, it's time to go. You're going to miss your plane." Adam said.
"I promise I'll keep in touch as much as I can." She looked deeply into his eyes and kissed him one more time. "I love you." Shalimar started to walk toward the door, but held on to Brennan's hand until they were too far apart to touch.
Adam drove Shalimar to the airport and helped her with her bags. "Be careful, Shalimar. If you need any of us for anything, call, please?" Adam said as he kissed the top of her head.
"I will. Goodbye, Adam." And with that they parted.
~*~* Has Shalimar walked out of their lives forever? *~*~