The truth Behind...
SUMMARY: imagine for one second that what we saw in season 1 and 2 was only part of the truth. Imagine that everything that led to season 2 final started in season 1 after Emma was divided. Imagine that Emma is not dead... . This is the fifth chapter, girl talk and a little dance on the menu... . Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
ARCHIVE: anywhere BUT ask me first )
RATING: For this chapter PG13 (might be a little high, but it's safer!)
PAIRING: Adam/Emma
REVIEW and FEEDBACK: Yes, Yes, please, I'm begging!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Rory for the inspiration. No beta readers for this one (if someone is crazy enough to volunteer, don't hesitate, you're welcome!) sorry for misspelling errors, they are all mine... Huge thanks again for the reviews, they keep me going on.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to their respective creators (wish they belong to me... but....) I just borrowed them and put them in a not too nice situation.
italics indicate thoughts; bold indicates silent conversations
Chapter 5: Hide and seek...
Emma Delauro roused from unconsciousness to the reverberating roaring of thunder. Every part of her body felt numb with pain; her mind was trapped in a scorching and noisy nothingness. One breath, then another, her lungs were burning. The young woman dared not open her eyes or move, every tiny part of her body was hurting as if she had been skinned alive. Then in the blink of an eye, the haze dissipated, the pain subsided leaving her drained. Carefully she lifted her eyelids letting her eyes time to adjust to the semi-darkness and occasional lightning. After a few minutes she pushed herself on one elbow and warily sat up. Wooden furniture was spread across the room together with little personal touches like pictures and books. The whole place looked cosy. On one of the chairs, she recognized Adam's shirt. Whatever this place was it did not belong to GSA. Cold air blew through the opened window making her shiver. Looking down at herself she realized she was only wearing her underwear and an oversized tee-shirt. Her left arm was bandaged and still hurt "What the hell had happened" Her last memory was leaning on Adam and getting in a car. After that there was nothing, her memory was a black hole. Adam must have brought her here, taken care of her wounds and got her in "night clothes". The young woman should have felt embarrassed but the thought of his hands on her only made her giddy with need. "You're sick Emma, you nearly died and all you can think of is Adam!".
Emma examined her surrounding carefully an uneasy feeling slowly building in the pit of her stomach. Lightning was casting eerie and surreal images of distorted trees on the walls. Each of them seemed alive, prepared to enclose her in their gigantic claw-like fingers. Emma felt like suffocating; waves of panic were trapping her in darkness. The hostile shadows were frightening moving like chimeras. The young woman closed her eyes trying to control her imagination; but the trees kept playing in her mind, whispering threats, names; they became a shrill shout in her mind warning her from them. Sound of thunder became deafening, mirroring the inner yells. Emma breathed deeply, trying uselessly to locate Adam. But the spark created by his presence was nowhere to be found. Not able to sense him, sheer panic washed over her leaving her shaky and desperate.
"Adam?! Adam?"
A shadow rushed up the stairs and before she could call him again, she was securely wrapped in his strong arms. One of his hands was gently caressing her hair, the other was squeezing the small of her back bringing the shaking young woman even closer to him, trying to comfort her.
"Shh, it's okay Emma. You're safe."
The young woman was in a state of terror he had never witnessed before. Her arms went around his neck holding him tightly, desperately clinging to him. Tears of relief and joy welled up in her eyes, it had all been a nightmare. Nothing could happen to her when Adam was with her. After a few minutes, Emma stopped quivering and relaxed a bit in his embrace.
Suddenly Adam became aware of their closeness. He could feel her unsteady and hot breath on his neck. That simple gesture, not even a touch, felt like a brazier on his skin. Blazing heat quickly spread through his veins and he had to fight his treacherous body reactions. The feeling of her, pressed so intimately to his body was incredible, exhilarating like nothing he had ever felt before. His throat got constricted leaving him slightly breathless. But right now the young woman in his arms needed comfort and someone to listen to her.
"What happened to me Adam? Why was I unable to sense you or the other new mutants in that house?"
While Emma was unconscious, he had done some research on the names of the owners of the house. The police record he had found had explained it all.
"They had stored drugs in that house. It was in the air when we came in. The new mutants in there were producing some kind of mélange which blocks psionic powers. What you have experimented earlier might be the combination of that drug and the shrill yell of a sonic mutant."
"The agents were there to recover the drug. Wrong place and bad timing."
Adam nodded and let her go on.
"When I realized I could not sense you, I... I thought something had happened to you. And then there were those shadows. I know it's stupid but they wanted to hurt me... I was so terrified! "
The young woman was barely able to restrain the falling tears, terror filtering through her voice. His grip on her tightened as if he could shield her from the world. She did not mention to him that those shadows had names like Eckhart or Gabriel. Her mind was too blurred to acknowledge she had caught a glimpse of their dark future.
"Emma honey, I'm here and I won't leave you. What you have felt was a side effect of the drug. You have been exposed a long time to it. It's normal to suffer from side-effects."
The young woman nodded burying her face in his neck. Drugs side-effects! What she had felt was more like one of her trance dreams gone bad. Adam's low voice jerked her off her thoughts.
"Now, you need to sleep."
She nodded but left her arms around his neck not wanting to let him go. Adam gently extricated himself from her embrace and made her lay back down on the pillows. Quietly he got up and bent down, his hand still holding one of hers. He brought his lips to hers, kissing her gently, lovingly his lips lingering on hers, nibbling, teasing. After a few minutes, he stopped and stared at the woman he loved. Emma's eyes had turned slightly gray and were mirroring her passion and indescribable love for him. He needed to get out quickly.
"Adam? Stay with me tonight."
Her soft pleading voice sent shivers down his spine, shattering the last fragments of willpower he might have had. The man looked back at her wondering what he should do. He was fighting an inner battle. Rushing things would not be something good. Emma needed time to get used to them, to their mental closeness. But on the other hand, he needed her presence, the feel of her body like a reminder everything was now alright; he had been so close to loose her. Emma sensed his turmoil and gazed at him with loving eyes.
"I trust you Adam."
No other words were necessary; her words were like a powerful spell. He went to the unoccupied side of the bed and slid between the sheets. Staying with her and sleeping in that bed was not something wise and he knew it. But for tonight, he would be satisfied to only hold her close to him.
The time would come when they would be only one, mind, body and soul.
Brennan watched Shalimar shifting in the passenger seat of their car; her hair and her clothes were rumpled from their earlier fight with Black Curtain men's and she wore a disillusioned and sad expression on her face. Looking in the rearview mirror, he saw the full moon providing an unwanted light on the desert, a reminder of their failure. The ruins could be seen in the distance illuminated by an eerie moonshine and the blaring light of a gigantic fire. A fire they had created. Guilt crept in his heart. He should have been prepared for such a thing. He should have been prepared for death.
Victory this time had a bittersweet taste. They had lost Ellis and nearly got killed in the process. Many lives had been lost today. Silence stretched in the car leaving them gloomy and uncomfortable. Brennan glanced again at Shalimar afraid she was just an illusion. He had been so close to loose her. She had seen the fear in his eyes as well as his love for her. When that man had held a gun to her head, he had been ready to give his life to save hers; he had seen the same light in her eyes.
Ellis had saved them both in a last desperate effort. The young molecular had sacrificed himself to save total strangers. Brennan focused on the road again; Ellis sacrifices would not stay fruitless. From now on, he would do his best to help the others.
A few days later.
It was nearly 6 PM and everything was quiet around sanctuary except for the kitchen and the dojo. Emma and Shalimar were preparing the evening meal while Brennan and Jesse were training. Adam was locked in his lab as usual still trying to understand how the drug Emma had absorbed had been able to produce such huge side-effects. Nor Shalimar, neither Brennan had spoken about the fiasco in Ryiad. Emma had tried several times to bring the subject only to get shot down. Reading their mind to know what was wrong would only be a violation of their privacy. She respected and loved them too much to do such a thing.
Something in Shalimar was brewing, a suspicion about her best friend, something she had witnessed before Ryiad. Something that could change their lives. The young feral desperately wanted to talk to her but the words seemed to be caught in her throat. She felt slightly uneasy, not knowing how to approach the subject. What if her first impressions were true.
"Emma?"
Emma slightly turned to take a look at her friend before answering. Her hesitant tone puzzled the young psionic. The always confident Shalimar seemed to be disturbed by something. For one second Emma thought she wanted to talk about their last mission or Brennan. But the tone in Shal's voice was too faltering; it was something more serious.
"Yes Shal."
Shalimar swallowed; it was now or never. Fighting the embarrassment slowly building inside of her, the young woman painfully started wondering why her throat had become suddenly so dry.
"There is something I wanted to ask you about the other evening when we came back."
Emma gazed at her friend not fully understanding which evening she was talking about. Then she realized and started to fear she knew the truth about her and Adam. For one second she considered lying to her friend. But it would only make things worse. Shalimar had a way to sense lies, especially when Emma was the one to utter it.
"The evening before our mission to Riyad, when we came back from our walk, I saw you and Adam curled together on the couch. And..."
Emma finished the question for her. Relief washed over her soul. For one second she had feared her "sister" had witnessed one of their nightly training sessions. Which would have been quiet embarrassing.
"You want to know why we were so close reading the same book."
"Yeah. But if it's too personal...."
"Nah. Well, you know that sometimes, I... my powers are overwhelming, they crush me and it can become like a physical pain and when I get really emotional, I just need someone to hold me and tell me everything is gonna be alright."
Emma stopped not wanting to explain more. She resumed cutting the vegetables and put them in the wok. Shalimar watched her friend amazed. The feral in her was screaming the young woman was hiding something.
"Emma is there something you're not telling me?"
Emma sighed. "Damn it Shal! Can't you drop the subject". She could not tell her friend the truth. Instead she tried to divert her attention with one of her other worries.
"I... are you all right with the fact that Adam and I have silent conversation Shal?"
The young feral looked at her surprised. Then realization hit her. Emma was fearing she was jealous of her closeness with Adam. After all, she considered him like a second father.
"No. it doesn't bother me at all. Emma, if you're happy with this, then it's ok with me."
The two young woman stopped their cooking and hugged each other. Emma felt slightly bad not to be able to tell her sister the whole truth. She hopped that with time, her family would be able to understand. Shalimar felt better.
"Now lets get back to work before the boys come here complaining we can't prepare a simple meal."
Shalimar giggled knowing how Brennan and Jesse could react when it came to food.
"Ok. Do you want to go dancing tonight, without the boys?"
Emma mischievously smiled at her friend. She definitely was in a dancing mood. Being away from Sanctuary would do her good. The spectre of the trees and what they had professed was still haunting her.
"Yep, we go out tonight."
The two young women confidently strode in the empty halls, their high heels clicking on the floor. Their quiet laughter could be heard from a distance.
"This guy was a jerk. I can't even imagine what was inside his head."
"Trust me Shal., you don't want to know."
Both girls giggled.
Adam heard them and put his book down on the coffee table. He had waited for them to come home. He had been waiting for Emma to come home. He had missed their training and his mind was screaming for her presence. She was addictive.
Emma, I'm in the lounge. Do you want a cup of tea?
The young woman heard him in her mind and smiled. She had had a great time with Shal but she wanted to spend a part of the evening with her lover. The feral watched her dreamy smile and faraway look and deduced Adam must be still up and talking to her. Despite their earlier talk, she felt a little jealous of their closeness. Since Emma's death at Caleb hands, he was always overprotective with her. The feral had truly realized things had changed after he had been turned evil by Charlotte. Emma had been the only one to be able to reach for him, only she had known words that would make him change. Shalimar sighed. What had been done could not be undone. She would have to accept it for herself and both for Adam and Emma.
"Shal. I..."
"It's ok Emma. Adam surely needs you. I'll go to bed. We can talk tomorrow."
Emma weakly smiled at her sister. She was lucky to have someone so understanding.
"Thanks Shal. Sweet dreams."
"Yeah, you too. And Emma, don't let him stay up all night. He also needs sleep."
"Ok."
Adam watched her coming his way and totally forgot about the tea. On her way to the lounge she stopped near the computer. Scanning the list Emma quickly found the three songs she was searching for. Slow music cut through the silence in Sanctuary lounge. And there she was looking like an angel. He watched her getting closer languorously, her silk skirt floating around her legs in waves with a low sound. Emma stopped in front of him and brought one hand to his chest lightly caressing it through his shirt. She searched his gaze and locked eyes with him. His throat went dry simply hearing her voice.
- I've missed you my love.
Adam closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waist. They had been separated only for a few hours but it was still too long for both of them.
- I've missed you too honey.
His left hand came to her neck bringing her even closer to him. Her hand mirrored his action entangling itself in his curls. His eyes were now roaming over her face, imprinting in his mind every detail. And their lips met for a long awaited kiss. It was quiet and loving at first but quickly turned wild with passion and need. Heat spread through their bodies like a bush fire quickly becoming out of control. Their hands began exploring, venturing past the barrier created by clothing, leaving trails of fire on skin. The world spun around them and faded away. They were alone, the only thing that mattered now was their hunger for the other. Emma felt her body melt under his sensuous assaults. His hands were everywhere on her. She needed him. Only him would quench her thirst.
Suddenly, out of her haze, she felt something pulling at her mind. Emma quickly broke the kiss but was unable to tell Adam why. He watched her a little surprised and disappointed. She backed away, a frustrated smile on her lips just in time before Jesse came in the lounge. Adam realized that she must have felt him coming. The older man only prayed both of them did not look too flushed and thanked god Emma was a psionic. The situation could have been quiet embarrassing if he had surprised them kissing.
Jesse went past the dazed couple his eyes still half closed, not even looking at them. The young man grumbled something under his breath about needing something to eat and headed to the kitchen. He took the opposite direction a few minutes later a bag of cookies in his hand.
Neither Adam nor Emma dared to move until the young man was in his bedroom. They looked at each other, releasing the breath they had been holding. Adam realized how they looked. Emma's hair was rumpled, her blouse was nearly totally open exposing her stomach and cleavage and he bet he was looking no better. Silently Adam cursed and felt guilty. They should have been more careful.
"Don't."
Her voice was soft and caring. Her hand had found his neck again and her fingers started playing with his curls.
"He was half asleep. He won't remember a single thing. You don't need to feel guilty about anything."
He knew she was right. He embraced her again, needing to feel her close to him. She was his anchor, his angel, the faceless woman he had dreamt about during all those years. They started moving in rhythm with the music, their bodies melting into one. Emma brought her lips to his earlobe and gently began kissing it.
"Emma, I really think...."
"Blame me. I went to this club with Shal and the only thought I kept having was dancing with you, having your arms around me."
Her voice became a suggestive whisper like a hypnotic spell.
"I wanted to kiss you, to feel your hands on me."
The young woman was now nibbling at his neck, softly moaning. Adam let out a low growl. She was not making things easy. The honest confession of her desire for him was slowly driving him crazy, arousing him beyond his own limits. She affected him like no other woman had. But there were other factors they had to take into account. His low voice cut through the voluptuous haze she was wrapped in.
"Emma. You know that little incidents like the previous with Brennan will be frequent if we are not more careful. And if we want to keep this a secret..."
Adam let the last words hanging between them. She stopped knowing he was right. They should find another place. She had been too wrapped in her own desires to even think about the lack of private spaces of the place.
"I'm sorry. I should have thought about that."
"No need to be sorry honey. We were two into this. When you're around, I can't think straight."On their own will his hands had found their way to her back, slowly tracing complicated patterns raising goose bumps on their trail. The young woman closed her eyes and threw her head back focusing on the touch. A low moan escaped from her lips. Adam watched her face contorted with desire and pleasure. His lips came crashing on her throat and he kissed his way back to her parted lips. Their kiss became deeper shredding all common sense to pieces. This time it was Adam who pulled away first. He was fighting to catch his breath and kept staring at the ground his arms hanging helplessly. He could not look at her or he would totally lose it.
"Emma... honey, please... leave now. Otherwise..."
Understanding what it was about she took one last glance at him and left quickly before changing her mind. She needed a cold shower. But even with that she knew her sleep would be filled by dreams of Adam.
TBC