Author's note:
My time of grief is over. The fate of Harry Potter and whom, who was walking through the veil lies no longer in my hands. So, before the King will return and defeat the dark Lord and Men, Elves and all free Folk can live happily ever after I pray continue with my story. Because the road goes ever on…
Chapter 19: Telling Adam
"Wait Emma!"
Brennan stopped her before she could open the door to the lab.
"I think it will be better to tell Adam first. Jesse is still in a bad state and this is too much to handle, more than he could at the moment, I am afraid."
He looked at her face, stricken with the terror of the last few days. He didn't feel like it but he gave her a warm smile to cheer her up a little.
"We will find her, don't worry. How about you go to the kitchen and make us some coffee and I will get Adam? We will meet you there."
Emma nodded and turned towards the kitchen, not before she looked one last time, worried, into Brennan's eyes.
He sighed when she was gone and pushed the button to open the door.
***********
Adam stood beside Jesse checking something. Brennan could hear the soft laughter coming from their teacher and father figure. He came closer and saw that Jesse was awake. He must have said something that caused Adam to forget about his worries for a moment.
Piercing blue-grey eyes met his own. The shadow no longer held his hands over them and Jesse actually looked on the way to recovery. A smile appeared on his face when he saw Brennan.
He turned his attention to Adam before Jesse could ask for Shalimar.
"Is our Baby here feeling good enough so I can have a quick word with you?"
He grinned down at Jesse and winked an eye. Brennan saw the slight sign of anger and the deep intake of breath to answer his joking words and quickly spoke on.
"I need to show you something, Adam. It is important."
Jesse answered instead to Brennan's question.
"Yeah, just leave the Baby alone. If I didn't feel so tired, I'd kick your ass all the way through the danger room!"
"I am sure you would. Give me a call if you need me, Jesse. I will be back in a minute."
Adam straightened the blanket covering Jesse before he followed Brennan out of the lab into the kitchen. They didn't say a word until they'd reached Emma. The smell of coffee filled the room and the young Mutant poured them both a cup of the hot drink.
Adam broke the silence.
"What did you want to show me? Had something happened? Again?"
Emma broke down into tears.
"Shalimar is gone."
"What do you mean, gone?"
He walked around the table and put a soothing hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Where is she?"
Brennan swallowed hard before he could answer.
"We don't know, Adam. She packed some of her stuff and one of the cars is gone too. She took the yellow Beetle and must have driven off."
"Have you tried to call her over the comm. Link?"
Emma forgot to cry for a moment and even Brennan looked quite surprised. And embarrassed.
"Well, no, we didn't. I haven't actually thought about that. I was quite shocked when we couldn't find her."
"Me neither."
Emma's voice was very quiet and sounded ashamed that they hadn't thought about such an easy thing.
"I think we've been through a lot in the last days. Don't worry about that."
Adam activated his comm. Link calling out for Shalimar. He got no answer and tried again but even after a third and fourth time he failed. A small sigh escaped him and Emma started crying again.
"She must have taken her Ring off. We have to try again later."
Adam faced Brennan. Deep shadows lay under his eyes and he looked very tired. Even his voice sounded exhausted and was full of worries.
"I want you two to check all the places she could be at. You have to inform Proxy Blue and call all of our sources. Maybe somebody saw her or knows where she could be."
He knelt down in front of Emma, wiping her tears away with his hands.
"I need you to try and find her. You think you are strong enough at the moment?"
Emma stared at him with huge, water-filled eyes but she nodded. Adam smiled relieved. "Good. I have to check on Jesse. Let's try to not tell him before we know something about Shal for sure, all right?"
He waited for them to agree before he stood up. Tired, he wiped one hand over his face. They'd come so far. They couldn't fail now and loose a member of the team after all.
TBC