A Favor

In the hallway, as the various team mates scattered to get ready, Emma and Rev were heading to the main computer while Cat and Shalimar went over the equipment needed for their investigation. Coming from the kitchen, Angela touched Emma's arm. "Do you have a minute?"

"For you, Tweety, as many as you want," answered the red-headed psionic, already aware of what the older feral was feeling that moment: embarrassment.

"Emma..." Angela started and stopped, trying to find the courage to proceed. "Would you do me a favor, please?"

"Whatever you need, just name it." Emma felt Angela's discomfort grow heavier.

"If we make a positive identification of the remains and determine they're really Allison's..." Angela paused and took a deep breath. "If it is really Allison... and I think it is, Emma, I can feel it..."

"I know, Tweety, go on."

"If it is Allison," Angela repeated, "would you, please, warn her parents? I'll talk to Vince and Ruby to arrange things so the Underground will go on as usual, but could you, please, warn Allison's parents? I can't. You know how they feel."

A few feet away, having heard the conversation, Cat's feral temper flared and she asked, "What is it? They don't like mutants?"

Emma shot her a look that all but froze the feline.

Angela looked at the stranger and smiled sadly, her eyes filled with tears. "They like mutants fine, dear. They just don't like dikes."

Cat looked at the woman. "Sorry, I didn't know. I only met Allison once when Brennan introduced us."

Cat walked back over to Shalimar. "Shal, tell me about your friend. You know that I don't take to new people all that easily." she said to her fellow feral.

Shalimar laughed. Cat had been having a hard time of late dealing with people. She didn't go out with Brennan like she had before. "What can I tell you? She's an Avian feral. Adam has known her longer than the rest of us, he can tell you more. Or you can just ask her," Shalimar stated.

Cat froze and looked at Shalimar. "I don't know. I..." she stopped and looked at the other woman. "I can't seem to be able to deal with people right now," she told her friend.

Shalimar picked up the pack she had just finished getting ready. "I've noticed. So have the others. Talk to me, Cat. What's going on? All Emma tells us is that you're sad about something. What's got you all out of sorts, girlfriend?" she asked.

Cat handed Shalimar the newspaper article. It was dated not long after Rev had left. Shal read the announcement. "Dr. April Scott died last night after a year-long fight with cancer. Family members will lay her to rest on Tuesday. She is remembered by her four children, Catherine Kay, Marie, Mike, and Silvia." Shalimar looked at Cat. "Your mother! Oh, Cat why didn't you say something to us?" she asked.

"I hadn't seen my mother since I was fourteen. I was shocked to see my name even in the paper as one of her children. I ran away from her because I was tired of her trying to make me into something I could never be." The anger in her voice easy to hear.

"What was that, Cat?" Shal asked

Cat looked at Shalimar her eyes flashing for a brief second their feral gold. "Normal!"

 
Cat picked up her pack and headed out to meet up with Adam in the lab. He took one look at Cat, and could tell something was wrong with the young feral. "Maybe you should stay here." he said to her.

"An do what? I can't use a computer. They tend to blow up when I do," she joked, but very little humor could be heard in her voice. "I need a job to do."