OUT OF MIND continued ...
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As Emma awoke, she suddenly became very aware of two things. Firstly, she was not in her bed. Secondly, she seemed to lying half on top of a warm, solid body, whose grip around her waist was preventing her from moving off the couch. She blushed as she realized that they must have fallen asleep together like this, and was silently relieved that no one else seemed to be up yet.
"Brennan!"
"Hey," the elemental yawned and released his hold on his friend. He seemed slightly disorientated for a moment, before remembering where he was.
"Morning, I guess I must have drifted off as well." He stretched and Emma moved off the couch to stand up. He looked at her, memories of what he had seen last night came flooding back. "How did you sleep?"
"Better actually." She smiled at him reassuringly, "Thanks."
"Don't mention it" He was glad to see that she seemed to have gotten some rest, she looked less pale anyway.
Emma meanwhile, was wondering what would happen now. She thought Brennan would probably want to talk about it, but she really couldn't bring herself to go into what she was experiencing. The pain was too fresh. Still, she had to admit; she hadn't had any more dreams with him there. His presence had seemed to have a positive effect.
"Brennan, please don't say anything to the others, I don't want everyone looking at me in sympathy, like I'm losing my mind or something."
"If that's what you want. I still think you need to talk to Adam though."
"No, I can handle this on my own. Please Bren, promise you won't say anything."
"Okay." Brennan sighed. She might look a little better but that didn't stop him worrying about her. He watched her leave as she returned to her room to get showered and changed, then heaved himself off the couch to start breakfast.
A few minutes later, Shalimar bounded into the kitchen. She had the lucky distinction of an extremely fast recovery time from late nights. Something to do with her metabolism, Adam had said. The others always complained how unfair it was, the morning after a night out, when they would all be nursing hangovers and Shalimar would be jumping about like she had slept for a week.
"Morning Shal, have fun with Jesse last night."
Shalimar was almost going to ask him about what had happened with Emma last night, but she stopped herself. Nothing had happened, she was sure of that, and all she would do was cause an argument. Instead, she grinned at Brennan and launched into a full account of their night, finishing with the part where a drunken Jesse had nearly picked a fight with some giant and Shalimar had dragged him out quickly before any trouble erupted.
They were both laughing hard when they were joined by the friend in question. Jesse stumbled into the kitchen, his eyes still half closed, holding his head as though it were a delicate piece of china.
"Ughhhh...."
"Morning Jess, want some coffee," Jesse just groaned again
"What is that noise? My head feels like it's about to explode!"
"Just the boiler, mate," answered Brennan, still chuckling slightly, " plus I'm sure there's still a bit of last nights music hammering away in there." Jesse glared at him, clearly not amused.
"So did you have a good night?" The elemental asked innocently.
"Shalimar, got me drunk!" He glared at the feral, "I don't remember much really, I don't even remember getting home."
"That's 'cause you passed out and I had to carry you to bed" Shalimar smirked.
"Awww, the little sleeping beauty."
"Shut it!" Jesse dropped himself into a seat at the table and nursed the coffee Shalimar had handed him.
"So what did you two get up to last night?" The question was innocently directed towards Brennan, and the feral made sure to keep her voice matter of fact.
"Nothing." he shrugged. Shalimar eyed him suspiciously but he had already turned away from her.
"So Jess, are you up for a rematch in the dojo?" If looks could kill, Brennan was sure he would now be a pile of ashes, inconvienently dirtying the kitchen floor.
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Emma sat by the pool, staring into it's rippling depths. She liked the way the movement of the water caused the light to reflect and refract, bouncing shimmering patters all around the room. Emma closed her eyes. She had come here to concentrate. She needed to get a better control over her mind if she wanted to get a grip of these nightmares. Relaxing her breathing, she began to work through the exercises, keeping her mind clear and focused.
She sensed it as soon as her friend entered the room.
"Emma." Not bothering to apologise for disturbing her friend, the feral jumped up the steps and sat down beside her.
"We missed you at breakfast again," Shalimar gently brushed a stay piece of hair out of her young friends eyes. She knew something was up with Emma, and couldn't help feeling slightly hurt that the psionic seemed so reluctant to confide in her. Emma said nothing, it was clear to the blonde that she would sit meditating all day unless someone physically forced her to move.
"Seeing as it's been quiet on the GSA front recently, we're taking advantage of the free time and going to a movie together. Come on, get your coat, the boys are already getting the car." Shalimar could see the protest already forming on the redhead's lips.
"Come on Emma, no excuses, you're coming! You need to get out more, that's an order."
"You can't give me orders."
"Fine, I'll get Adam to issue one. Either way, you're coming out. A good movie and a nice dinner is just what you need." Emma could see she wasn't going to win, so allowed Shalimar to drag her to her feet.
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This had definitely been a good idea, Emma though as she sat in the restaurant a few hour later. The movie had been quite good, despite Shalimar's complaining about the male-dominated action in the film. She and Brennan had spent the walk from the movie theatre to the restaurant arguing about the fact that only men ever seemed to get to do the car chases. Emma and Jesse had watched them amused, following arm in arm.
The only mistake she had made that evening, the psionic realised, was pointing out the sign on the door as they entered the Steak house. "Finish a 30-pound steak dinner and your meal is free!" The white banner had announced. So it was really all her fault, Jesse proclaimed later, that the competition had began. Brennan, still smarting from the sparring match the previous day, had challenged Jesse to see who could finish their meal first. Shalimar had wrinkled her nose as the huge slabs of meat had been produced, and made some comment under her breath about testosterone and male competitiveness.
It was nearly two hours later that Brennan leaned back in his seat, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Yes! I win! One clean plate, which makes one free 30 pound steak for me. Hard luck man." Jesse stared dejectedly at his own, still unfinished piece of meat.
"You guys are pigs," Emma frowned, still hardly able to believe the amount of food she had just witnessed her team-mates consume. Jesse was groaning again,
"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick!" He pushed his plate away, trying to ignore Brennan, who was still basking in his triumph.
"Actually, eating a piece of steak that size takes a lot of skill. You have to set the right pace, take just the right sized bites..."
"And basically stuff your face 'till you want vomit." Emma finished. Brennan grinned at her, about to reply when the molecular jumped up from the table.
"I'm going to the bathroom!"
"Poor Jesse, he finally gets over his hangover and now he's throwing up again." Emma said, sympathetically. "This is entirely your fault you know,"
"What can I say, I guess I'm just the better man,"
"You think this is impressive to women?" Shalimar asked disbelievingly.
"What can I say," Brennan grinned mischievously at her, and leaned back, accenting his chest muscles, "I guess some guys just have it." As Shalimar snorted and turned away in irritation, Brennan caught Emma's eye and winked at her. She shock her head, sometimes those two could be so impossible. The elemental was saved from Shalimar's comeback by the arrival of the waiter, carrying the Chocolate Decadence cake that Emma had been just unable to resist.
"Your dessert, Madam,"
"Thank you," Emma smiled and took a mouthful of the cake, looking wickedly over towards Brennan.
"You want to try a piece Bren?" He shook his head firmly, a slightly greenish tinge creeping over his complexion. "Aw come on," Emma leaned over to him, pushing her dessert closer, "Just look at that thick, rich chocolate, oozing through it..." That was all it took. Brennan leapt up from the table and followed after Jesse, making a beeline for the men's bathroom. Shalimar laughed,
"Did you use your powers?"
"Didn't need to, I knew just looking at another piece of food would finish him off. I've been sensing his discomfort for the last half hour." The two girls looked at each other, and burst out laughing. Yes, Emma decided, it had definitely been a good evening. Originally she had intended just to put on a happy front to stop the others worrying, but as the evening wore on, she had definitely started to relax. Brennan had kept looking over at her, as if to check she was all right. A part of her was secretly quite pleased to see this caring side of him. And she hadn't even thought about the dreams once- maybe tonight, she would actually get some rest.
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Thank you for the reviews guys : ) Your kind words keep me inspired. The next part is already written so should be posted shortly...