Shalimar awoke the next morning to find Emma still asleep beside her, peaceful as ever. She slowly inched herself out from under the psionic's arms and gently eased her head off her shoulder. She slid herself out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. As she reached for the knob she stopped as a piece of paper on the psionic's chair caught her attention. She reached down and slowly pulled it free from under Emma's jacket, being careful not to make any noise and wake her. She looked back to ensure the psionic was still asleep then stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.

Shalimar read the page that confessed the psionic's secret love for her, her mouth almost hanging open the entire time. She read every sentence almost twice, shocked at the news her friend was in love with her and hoped she could tell her. Shalimar felt flattered, special, that a girl like Emma would love her like that. Her smile faded. She remembered Adam's words. Emma only thinks she loves her and would soon come to her senses.

The sound of the psionic moving about in the bedroom prompted Shalimar to carefully fold the paper and slip it into her pocket. She leaned over to the mirror and began to brush her displaced hair. Upon finishing getting ready she opened the door to see Emma already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed putting her shoes on.

"Hey," Emma said cheerfully. "Good morning."

"Good morning. Did you sleep ok?"

"Yeah, great."

Emma smiled as she finished tying her shoes and looked up at the feral.

"Thanks for staying with me?"

Shalimar smiled and tried her best not to let the psionic know everything she was feeling after reading the note she'd written. She knew if she stayed in there much longer the intuitive woman would pick up on it.

"Anytime."

Emma stood up and waked herself over to the feral. Stepping as close as she could, she wrapped her arms tightly around her, eliminating all space between their bodies. Her head nuzzled itself against the feral's shoulder. Her arms rubbed her back in gentle, caring strokes over and over.

Shalimar smiled at holding the psionic so closely, feeling comforted and calm within her loving arms. The scent of the woman entered her as she breathed causing her to smile at the touching, so plain yet so amazing.

Emma finally leaned back keeping her arms wrapped around the feral's waist. Shalimar felt the psionic's fingers playing against her hips and starred deeply into her blue eyes. Their faces inched closer and for a second everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Shalimar froze in anticipation and Emma's lips brushed against her own so softly, almost teasing her, building her desire for a full kiss. Shalimar craved more as Emma's delicate and quick kiss was soon over. Too soon. Emma leaned back, smiling at the feral.

"I'm gonna finish getting ready," she informed, batting her long lashes at the feral before heading off into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Shalimar stood still for a moment as a smile made its way across her now glowing face. She'd shared many friendly kisses with the psionic before but that one seemed to reveal a new, exciting path in their relationship she found very intriguing and she had to admit she was curious enough to pursue more.

Shalimar headed out the door, waltzing back to her bedroom. Upon entering she saw a large, purple vase filled with roses on her dresser. She walked over to examine them and saw the tag informing her they were from a love struck Brennan. She turned around as her feral senses informed her of his sudden presence.

"Morning, beautiful," he greeted, standing in her doorway.

She knew it was best if she waiting to have any kind of relationship discussion until after he was "cured" and thinking straight.

"Thanks for the flowers."

"You gonna thank me properly?" asked the grinning elemental. He walked over to her, slipping his arms around her and leaning in.

"I can't, Brennan," she told him, regretfully she realized, and removed herself from his grasp. "Adam said he wanted to see us in the lab." And with that explanation she left the room leaving an annoyed elemental standing alone in the middle of her bedroom.

Shalimar walked to the lab where Jesse and Adam were waiting, trying to psyche herself up to deal with more affections from the team.

"Morning, Shal," Jesse greeted. "Did you think about what I said last night?"

"Not right now, Jess, ok?"

"Alright but don't keep me hanging here."

Adam shifted his gaze between the two as his curiosity regarding their conversation arose. He looked back to Shalimar as if to remind her of their talk the previous night.

Shalimar turned, noticing Emma enter the room with a bright smile looking as if she'd spent the entire morning having a make over, so glamorous and beautiful yet so simple. She felt some of her tension melt away at the psionic's easing presence.

"Jesse and I found out the deal is going down just after two today," Adam began. "So-"

"I love you, Shal," Brennan said rather loudly as he entered the lab, seeming oblivious to anyone else's presence.

Everyone turned their attention to him as he walked over to Shalimar.

"Please talk to me," he pleaded, taking her wrist with his hand.

"Not now, Brennan."

"What is up with you, Shal? I mean I know you're a feral but I'm really getting sick of playing cat and mouse here."

"Brennan, I said not-"

"I heard that story already, Shal."

Shalimar sighed, clearly agitated and took Brennan's arm to lead him out into the hall.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she snapped at him. "We have work to do and I'd appreciate it if you weren't so open about our affairs in front of everyone."

"I just wanna talk, Shal."

"I told you I'd talk to you when I was ready."

"When's that gonna be?"

"I don't know," she answered in a sigh.

"It's just that I love you so-"

"You don't love me, Brennan, and if you do you can't tell right now anyway," she said, taking a step away from him and back towards the lab door.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're being influenced by a psionic."

"I know how I feel, Shal."

"Well, we'll talk about it after the affects are reversed."

"I'm not influenced by anything, Shal. I love you and I'll prove it. I never even fought with those psionics."

He gave he a confident look as she turned and retreated back into the lab. She gazed to Emma noticing her slightly saddened facial expression.

"As I was saying," Adam continued as he looked up to see Brennan enter the lab and lean against the door. "They're expecting a large shipment in today after two. We'll have to take the Helix and get down to the docks so we can intercept it."

"We?" Jesse asked. "You're coming with us?"

"Yes. I think their security will be beefed up and I don't want any of you to get hurt," he explained and smiled to Shalimar beside him. "Emma, you're sure you're up for this?"

"Definitely," she surely informed.

"Great. There's probably going to be psionics there and we could really use your help."

"I'm ready."

Shalimar twitched and shifted uncomfortably, leaning herself against the desk. She could feel the elemental's eyes searching her body. She felt an attraction between them seeming to draw her closer, begging her to go to him and she wondered if it was just his feelings she was letting get to her. She let her eyes trail across the room and fought her desire to look at him, avoiding him like the plague. It was no use. She stopped her eyes on his hips, trailing them upwards to search his body. She watched in enjoyment as he ran his hand up his arm, flexing underneath, all the while keeping his eyes on her. She felt like she was the prey and it was he who was the predator. She slowly licked her lips as her eyes picked up more of his flesh in her search of his body. She wanted him. Wanted his body on hers, his lips on hers. Wanted to feel every inch of him and knew she couldn't possibly wait another moment.

Shalimar suddenly noticed she was moving closer to him and realized she was now half way across the lab and heading straight for the elemental's arms, now open in anticipation for her. She fell into him, hard and fast, instantly locking her lips with his and wrapping her arms right around his back, bringing her legs up to wrap themselves around his waist. He held her up, supporting her and caressing her thighs as he did so.

Jesse, Emma, and Adam watched in amazement as the two continued passionately kissing as if no one else existed but the two of them. Each of them wanted to question their impulsive behaviors but none of them could think of what to say.

Shalimar swung her legs off his waist and took his hand, fiercely leaning up to kiss him again before turning towards the door and pulling him through, the two of them quickly heading down the hall to Shalimar's room, both surprised they were able to make it that far. A door slammed shut and Emma turned to Adam as if he could offer some explanation. But she knew the real explanation. They wanted each other and there wasn't anything she or Jesse or Adam could do about it no matter how much each of them wanted to.