Shalimar remained motionless analyzing everything she'd just heard. It occurred to her if it was true the team members had been infected by a psionic she realized everything her friends had said and done to her might not be accurate. She knew there was something between her and Brennan and hadn't really seriously contemplated dating him until he was so bold with her, but if he was infected it would give her something more to consider.

She rubbed her head as it began to ache with all the doubts running through it. She remembered Emma had asked her to talk but wondered if she'd been infected too. She thought it might be best if she didn't go talk wit her, especially if she was going to act the same way Brennan and Jesse were towards her, but the more she thought it over the more she realized her friend was upset and counting on her to be there for her. She sighed and left her room and walked down the hall towards Emma's. When she reached her door she took a deep breath in preparation and knocked.

"Emma, it's Shalimar."

"Hey," Emma greeted when she opened the door. She instantly smiled at seeing the feral standing before her. "I've been waiting for you. Come on in." Emma stepped aside allowing for Shalimar to enter. Emma closed the door behind her and Shalimar headed over to sit on the bed.

"So how ya feelin'," the feral asked.

Emma smiled and made her way to the other side of the mattress to sit on the bed beside Shalimar.

"Better, thanks."

"Well, if there's anything I can do to help."

"Actually," Emma began and bit the bottom of her lip before continuing. "One of your trademark massages would be great." Emma smiled at her friend as she waited for her to answer.

Shalimar remembered what Adam had said and knew she should act normally but couldn't stop wondering if the psionic was infected or not.

"Sure," the feral agreed.

"Great."

Emma kicked her shoes off and lie on her stomach on her mattress, gently easing herself down. She reached back and pulled her long, red hair to the side exposing her soft neck to the feral. Reaching down, she pulled her silk top over her head and dropped it down to the floor. She inched herself over until she was in the middle of the mattress and sighed in comfort as she settled herself in. She crossed her arms in front of herself and rested her chin on her elbow, allowing most of her breasts to become visible.

Shalimar removed her shoes and gently climbed into bed. She straddled her knees on either side of the psionics slim hips and settled down, making herself comfortable atop the woman. She sat still for a moment looking over every bare inch of the beautiful woman beneath her. She reached out, placing her open palms on the psionics sides, sprawling her fingers into the warm skin underneath. She felt every breath the psionic took expand in her chest. She watched as her back moved gently with each breath, rising softly before falling back down again.

Shalimar loved the feel of the psionics soft, warm skin beneath her own and smiled when she'd sigh with pleasure at her touches. She moved her gently caresses up and down Emma's bare back, trailing a path from her shoulder to her hip. She felt a triumph as Emma moaned with content at her efforts.

As she moved her hands back up Emma's sleek, curvaceous sides she trailed her fingers across the psionics soft breasts and felt her instantly shiver and draw in a ragged breath as she did so. Emma couldn't hold back her delightful moan as the tips of the ferals fingers traced back down her breasts again. She massaged her way down Emma's ribs, taking special care as she brushed over her injured areas. Emma smiled and moaned deeper against her arm as the ferals fingers played in her lotioned skin.

"Hmmm…that's great."

Shalimar was pleased to give the psionic so much pleasure and leaned in to place a soft kiss on the large bruise of the psionics back. She pressed her lips to the purple and blue flesh, letting them linger slightly before pulling back to continue with her rub down. Emma drew in a long breath and slowly released it, telling the feral how happy she was making her.

When Shalimar finally finished her massage she eased herself off the psionic and stood to the floor. She hated herself for stopping almost as much as Emma did and she looked to the psionic who couldn't keep the large, satisfied smile off her glowing face.

Emma sighed and turned over to sit herself up. Shalimar tried not to stare at the topless psionic as she bent down to pick up her silk top. She couldn't help admire the woman's beauty as her breasts fell together when she leaned forward.

Emma lifted the top and pulled it over her head, disappointing the feral. She smiled gratefully over to Shalimar and leaned back against the pillow on the headboard.

"Thanks a lot. I'm so much more loose and relaxed from my neck down to the bottom of my spine."

"Glad I could help," Shalimar accepted and cracked her knuckles out.

"You gonna come sit down?"

Shalimar paused for a moment then smiled back.

"Yeah," she answered and headed to the other side of the bed to sit down beside the psionic.

"So," Emma began in preparation to talk but Shalimar turned to look at her and spoke before she could think of something to say.

"I know you saw me and Brennan earlier in the hall."

"I'm sorry. I guess I have bad timing huh."

Shalimar noticed how displeased the psionics icicle eyes became and couldn't help wonder why she seemed saddened at the mention of her with Brennan.

"So is it official yet?" Emma asked, avoiding eye contact with the feral.

"No, but not for Brennan's lack of trying."

Shalimar studied Emma's expression again and couldn't ignore how put off she seemed to be.

"What's wrong?" she questioned.

"What?" Emma asked finally looking up into the ferals eyes. "Nothing," she quickly said, answering her own question.

"You can tell me, Emma."

Emma sighed wondering if that was actually true. She wanted to tell the feral all the reasons she didn't think she should be with Brennan but somehow held her tongue. She sat silently until Shalimar asked her again.

"Emma, what is it?"

She inched herself closer to the psionic hoping she might confide in her whatever seemed to be bothering her. If there was something upsetting her friend than it was bothering her as well and concern, not only curiosity, had dug itself into her emotions for the psionic.

Emma sighed, turning her eyes from Shalimar's again.

"It's just," she began before dragging out another long sigh.

"Just what?"

"You and Brennan."

"What about us?"

Emma instantly felt regretful for telling the feral what was on her mind. She knew she wouldn't let her change the subject now no matter how hard she tried.

"I don't know it just." Emma paused as she wondered how to finish her statement. "Doesn't sit well with me."

"Doesn't sit well with you?" Shalimar echoed as if to confirm she'd heard properly.

"No," Emma answered in a sigh.

"So you think I'm not capable of making my own decisions?" the feral asked, wondering why she'd even done so but had to find out what exactly the psionic was trying to tell her.

"No, that's not it."

"Then what?"

"I just worry about you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Well, thanks for your concern but I'm a big girl."

"I know, Shal, I just don't think…" Emma trailed off again. She desperately wanted to get out of the current conversation and hated herself for even bringing it up.

"I don't think you're right together."

Emma hoped she didn't offend her friend but couldn't help sensing the curiosity quickly building up inside the feral next to her.

"I mean in a way you are but in other ways…I just think he should find someone else."

"Really? Like who?"

"I don't know, anyone."

"You mean maybe you for example?"

"I didn't mean that at all."

"Oh really?"

Emma could tell by Shalimar's tone that she didn't believe her, not to mention she could sense the ferals doubt pouring off her immensely.

"Then how come the last two times you saw us together you stormed off?"

"I didn't storm off I-"

"Basically stormed off, Emma. Is it jealousy?"

"Can we not talk about this please?"

Emma wasn't prepared to handle the direction the conversation was taking and prayed Shalimar would let her off the hook.

"Why? It's ok to be jealous, Emma, you're only human."

"I just think you can do better is all."

"What?"

"I don't think he deserves you."

"Wait a minute, are you jealous of me or him?"

Shalimar sat in the silence for a moment awaiting her answer.

"I'm just trying to look out for you."

Shalimar sighed accepting the psionics answer. She moved herself closer to sit directly beside her and rested her head gently on her shoulder.

"I know and I appreciate it."

Shalimar smiled and reached over to take Emma's hand and offered a firm grip. Emma titled her head against Shalimar's, allowing red locks to combine with blonde ones and create a strawberry pond on their shoulders.

"I think I'm going to bed," Emma informed without moving a muscle. "Will you stay with me?"

Shalimar had almost forgotten everything Adam had told her until she felt Emma's fingers weaving between her own. She wanted it to mean something more but doubted the psionic really felt the same way.

"You sure you want me to stay?"

"Yeah. Your love heals me," Emma confirmed. "And I'd really like it if you did." She turned her head to Shalimar's as she prepared to answer.

"So would I." Shalimar returned Emma's warm smile with one of her own. She knew she could never turn down a night in Emma's room and it'd been a while since they'd shared a bed.

Emma began to turn down the sheets and slid herself in. Shalimar followed the psionics lead and joined her under the covers. She reached over to the light switch and flipped it off, turned back over in bed. She felt Emma inch herself closer and turned over to lie on her side. Shalimar smiled as she felt the psionics warm body close to her own. Emma's hand cupped against the ferals shoulder and the softness of her touch comforted Shalimar. Emma rest half her head on Shalimar's arm and she could feel the psionics hot breath as it escaped her body, passing through her full lips to blow across her arm.

"Goodnight," Emma said softly, her tiredness evident in her weary voice.

"Goodnight," Shalimar replied, closing her eyes to rest after a long day.