When they reached Sanctuary Shalimar began to escort the wounded Emma to her room.

"Shal, where ya goin'?" Brennan asked as soon as he noticed Shalimar was leaving.

"I'm gonna take Emma to her room. Here, give this to Adam," she explained as she removed the plastic bag from the pocket of her leather coat and handed it to him. She flashed him a look as if to state "not now" as he lingered his hand on hers when taking it.

"Meet us in the lab when you're done," he instructed.

Shalimar nodded and Brennan turned to head to the lab where Jesse and Adam were already waiting.

Emma braced her weight against the ferals as she gently accompanied her towards her bedroom. Shalimar opened the door to Emma's room slowly and helped her inside and walked her over to the bed. She eased the psionic down to the mattress and sat herself beside her.

"Ow," Emma bit out. "That guy kicked me all over while I was down."

"Scumbag. Here, lemme take a look at that," Shalimar said and rolled up the psionics tank top revealing her middle section which was badly cut and bruised. She leaned in closer to examine her and gently touched the psionics warm flesh.

"Does that hurt?"

"Yeah, a little."

Shalimar positioned her hands above the psionics chest seeming to pause before making contact with her skin. She gripped the woman's body and her soft fingers began to massage each of the psionic's ribs one by one. Emma twitched slightly but held her top up above her bra encouraging the feral to proceed. Shalimar worked her hands gently down the psionic's sides being sure to get a good feel of every muscle and bone she passed by.

Emma forgot about her pain for a moment and concentrated only on the warmth of Shalimar's hands skimming their way across her sore flesh. The feral's heated fingertips seemed to radiate a warm, healing glow that soothed every ache in the psionic's body. Every soft touch relaxed her further and her face displayed her gratefulness in a beautiful smile.

"Well, I don't think you broke anything but you might have bruised a rib," Shalimar said and removed her hands from Emma's body.

Emma instantly felt the pain of her wounds again as Shalimar's hands left her body.

"But I think we'll still have Adam take a look at it to be sure."

"Thanks for your help, Shal."

Shalimar smiled and gripped Emma's hand.

"Anytime."

"Can you help me off with this? I wanna put something more comfortable on?" Emma asked, shaking her top between her hands.

"Oh, sure," Shalimar agreed. She reached out and took the tank top in her hands and gently eased it over the psionics head. She smiled and gently placed it at the foot of the bed before standing to her feet and opening Emma's top dresser drawer.

"What do you wanna wear?"

"The silk nightgown in fine. It's really comfortable."

"You got it."

Shalimar removed the outfit and closed the drawer. She headed back to the bed and sat at Emma's side. She lifted the silk blouse and prepared to help the psionic into it.

"Wait," Emma interrupted. "Can you help me off with this first?" Emma asked, resting her hands on her bra straps. "I don't want any more pressure on my chest."

"Sure."

Emma leaned up slightly and Shalimar could see how discomforted she was. Shalimar paused for a moment and looked over the psionics bare skin. The dim light in her room helped bring out the hue and Shalimar reached around Emma's back, lingering in place for a moment.

"It's not like you've never seen me naked, Shal," Emma chuckled.

Shalimar grinned and began to unhook the psionics bra. Upon completing her task she pulled the soft garment forward and Emma assisted by removing the straps from her shoulders. Shalimar set the bra behind her on the bed. She picked up the nightshirt and helped ease it over Emma's head.

Emma smiled a thank you and lie herself back down on the sheets. Shalimar looked at the way the top covered half of each of Emma's breasts in a blue, silk waterfall. The sight of the silk against the hue of the psionics skin seemed to hypnotize the feral.

As Emma began to button her shirt Shalimar stood up and headed to the end of the bed. Gently removing the psionics shoes, she placed them in the corner of the room. When she turned around she noticed Emma was sliding her pants down her legs in a swirling motion that further enraptured her interest. She dropped the shed pants to the floor and look over to Shalimar.

"Can you hand me those pants please?"

Shalimar walked to the bedside and picked up the matching silk pants and handed them to the grateful psionic.

"Here ya go."

"Thanks," Emma said, slipping the comfortable pants on her half naked body.

Shalimar stepped closer to lean against the edge of the bed and Emma studied the ferals stomach as it pushed against the sheets.

"You're hurt," she said, reaching out to run her fingertips along the scratches of the ferals belly.

"I'll be fine but I want you to rest for a while."

Shalimar turned down the sheets and gestured for Emma to move over. Emma inched herself sideways so Shalimar could pull the covers down and Emma slid herself underneath becoming surrounded by the soft satin. Shalimar tucked the psionic in and offered her a warm, comforting smile.

"You rest here," Shalimar began. "I'll go get you some water and tell Adam he's gonna have to give you a body scan." She patted Emma's hands and stood up. "I'll be back," she informed and headed to the door.

"Thanks, Shal."

Emma smiled and reached for her television remote as the feral left her room.

Shalimar closed the psionics door and made her way to the lab where she found Adam, Jesse and Brennan already awaiting her arrival.

"Hey, guys," she greeted.

"Shalimar," Adam said looking up with a smile. "How are you?"

"Fine. Emma had a run in with a few psionics down at the warehouse. I don't think it's too serious but you should check it out anyway."

"Sure, I'll get right on it. In the meantime how are you?" Adam moved closer to the ferals side, tilting his head to smile as he looked into her golden eyes. "Do you need anything?" He took her hand gently within his own and stroked her palm lightly, tracing small circles over her skin.

"Really, I'm fine, Adam. Just please go check on Emma for me."

Adam sighed. Shalimar wondered if he was reluctant to ensure Emma's safety by the tone of his huff.

"Alright." He seemed unenthused to agree. "Brennan and Jesse will fill you in on the plans," he stated and turned to leave the lab and head towards Emma's room.

Shalimar watched curiously as he left and turned back to Brennan and Jesse across from her.

"So what's going on?"

Brennan smirked at her addressing him and walked to stand beside her. He leaned himself back against the counter and placed his hands behind him.

"Adam thinks they're still operating under a different drug lord somewhere in town. He's got a lead on a couple places he wants us to check out."

As Shalimar listened to him she noticed the seductive gleam in his eyes as he looked her over. With everything that had happened between them recently she didn't want to provoke it any further until her mind was made up. She pretended not to notice the desire overflowing in his eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. She sighed and shifted her gaze back to Jesse who was already smiling widely at her.

"So we're heading out again?" she questioned.

"Yeah," Jesse answered and side stepped to the computer next to him. "Adam thinks the man calling the shots in the operations is a Mark Harris. He's a psionic gangster and drug lord."

Shalimar and Brennan looked as Jesse displayed the profile information for the mutant.

"And you don't think he blew town already?" Shalimar asked, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder and noticing how Brennan grinned as she did so.

"No. Adam said he's not big time enough to feel he has to. Either that or he's too arrogant. Besides, he's in the business to recruit some new mutant gang members after our shakedown of his operations. Adam thinks whatever his new deal is he's closing it soon."

"Well, let's get over there and see what we can do about it," she eagerly suggested.

"Not until we patch up those cuts of yours," Jesse informed.

"Jesse, I'm fine."

"I know you're a tough girl, Shal, but-"

"Just get the Helix ready, Jess, I'll be right back," she insisted and flashed him a wide-eyed looked before exiting the lab. She headed down the hall back to Emma's room as the wellness of her friend was the only thing on her mind. She knocked on Emma's half opened door and peeked inside to see Adam at her bedside. They both turned and smiled at her as she entered.

"Hey," Emma greeted as Shalimar strode over to stand next to Adam. Shalimar wondered if Emma had actually seemed to glow when she entered the room.

"Hey, how ya feelin'?"

"Not too bad," the psionic informed with a bright smile.

"Hey, Shal," Adam said. "Did the guys tell you the plans for today?"

"Yeah, they filled me in. We're about to head out."

"You're leaving?" Emma questioned, her tone dictating how displeased she was at the news.

"They have to go on another mission. You're going to stay here and rest," Adam informed her.

Shalimar noticed how saddened and let down the psionic suddenly appeared to be. She wished she could stay by her side for the rest of the day but being she was never one to sit out a good fight she knew her duty was calling.

"Maybe we can talk when you get back," Emma suggested.

Shalimar smiled and leaned over to squeeze the psionics hands gently.

"You bet."

"Be careful."

"I will," Shalimar said playfully as she left the room. She thought about how much she'd rather curl up next to her friend than sniff out drug smuggling mutants downtown. She looked into the lab to see Brennan and Jesse still standing where she'd left them.

"You guys ready?" she asked and instantly turned to head for the Helix.

Brennan and Jesse looked at each other briefly before quickly and anxiously following the feral out the door.