Darkness Falling

Bohemianbabe.

Note: some of the scenes will be extremely familiar to you in the next few chapters. As I work on integrating the newer scenes I also have to include some of the ones from earlier chapters. Do make sure to read each carefully because some of the scenes will be lengthened. Also, I have another story up called "Second Chances" it is a j/l story with some s/b in it. Please read it and send me some feedback.

6 days to change things.

That morning

As she ate breakfast Shalimar noticed that Lexa was sitting unusually close to Jesse, and that the other couples body language suggested they had spent the night at least sleeping in the same bed.

Brennan also noticed the two moleculars, but dismissed the whole thing with out a second thought.

The meal was quick and quiet. Both couples were too wrapped up in their own little worlds to really talk as a group.

When the meal was over the boys went out to take care of the various jobs that they had to do while the girls stayed in the kitchen to clean up after breakfast.

"So were you two safe?" Shalimar asked when she was sure the boys were out of hearing range.

Lexa startled at the question, but then smiled. "We didn't do anything last night."

Shalimar raised an eyebrow. "You didn't do anything last night? Not what your body language says."

"We talked, kissed a little and I slept in his room in his bed. No sex involved, not yet anyway."

"You mean in the nearly eight months you two have been 'together' you haven't had sex with him?"

"Jesse and I aren't together. I thought that you understood that I wasn't looking for a relationship."

"Doesn't mean that you two wouldn't have." she wiped a plate dry and put it away in the cabinet. "So did you help Brennan pick out my birthday present?"

"I did and all I can say is that you will love it. It took him forever to pick out though."

"I'm sure it is perfect. I think we're going to a club tonight if you and Jesse want to come."

"Exactly how do you expect me to get the nerd wonder away from his computer for that long?"

"I'm sure if you promised him a reward he'd leave the computers alone for a while."

"I don't think I'm up to a night out." Lexa put away the final fork and turned to face Shalimar. "That temporary treatment Jesse tried on me is starting to wear off."

"You haven't told him yet have you?"

"I figure he's got enough to worry about right now and I don't need to add to the stress load. I'd be the straw that broke the camel's back."

"If you don't tell him and you end up dead it would be worse on him. You know how he feels about you."

"I know that it makes him weak, and that if he's not careful his feelings will get in the way and he'll get sloppy in his work."

"Don't worry about Jesse so much. He knows how to separate himself from personal feelings when work needs him too."

"I'll talk to him about the treatment wearing off, but I'm not promising anything else."

"You do that much and I'll let you have a couple of days off before I start to make you crazy about telling him how you feel."

The two women laughed and then walked out of the kitchen.

Lexa headed to the lab where she knew that Jesse was hard at work going through files to find a way to permanently stabilize her.

"Having fun?" she asked as she leaned on the counter.

"I wouldn't exactly call this fun." Jesse looked up at her. "Did Shal give you a hard time?"

"What do you mean?" Lexa asked coyly.

"She's got to know that you slept in my room last night. You haven't showered so my scent must be pretty strong on you from where you were all cuddled up with me."

"She just wanted to make sure that we acted like responsible adults. I think she's scared we're going to act like teenagers and have a baby."

"Just like her to play overprotective big sister." Jesse shook his head. "So did you want me for something?"

"You're not going to be too happy when I tell you this. My last treatment is starting to wear off. I can feel control of my powers slipping."

"Damn it!" he hit his fist on the counter. "I thought this one was going to last longer. Let me scan you and I'll see what I can get for you."

"This is not your fault." She walked around the counter to stand by him. Gently putting her hands on his shoulders she turned him to face her and then lightly kissed him. "You have done absolutely everything you could to stabilize me. Jess, you can't expect to find the answer in just a few tries. It took Edison hundreds of tries to find the filament for the light bulb."

"I don't have time for hundreds of tries. I don't even know exactly when your date was. The last time Adam was here he locked that bit of information away from me. I can tell you the date for Brennan or Shal, but not for you."

"Then get to work. It's Schrödinger's cat. As long as you don't know how long I have you're free to assume that you have years to work."

"I just don't want to mess this one up. This goes beyond you three to all of new mutants."

"Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders will make you old before your time." Lexa stepped away from him and walked over to the scan chair. "Let's see if we can't save you from that weight a little sooner."

That evening.

Lexa laid her head on Jesse's shoulder as a slow song played. The couple had started out sitting silently in the booth while Jesse worked on his handheld computer, but with the urging of Brennan and Shalimar and the help of several strongly intoxicating drinks they had managed to make it to the dance floor.

Brennan and Shalimar now sat in the corner both. Shalimar leaned against Brennan and closed her eyes as she listened to the music.

"So how did you talk them into coming?" Brennan asked as he looked at the two on the dance floor.

"It is a woman's touch. Somehow I get the feeling that they are going to stay that close for a while tonight." She smiled slightly. "Maybe all night."

"Score for Jesse. So what about us? You planning on sleeping in my room or do I have to invade your room?"

"I'd say that you could share a room with me tonight. Come to my room after we get home and shower."

"I'll look forward to it." He kissed the top of her head. "I don't suppose you'll be up to a little fun then will you?"

"If you can behave yourself we might have some fun." She twisted in the booth so she could press her lips to his. "But knowing you that will be nearly impossible."

That night.

Shalimar lay in Brennan's arms as they drifted off to sleep. From the faint laughter she could hear from down the hall she knew that the next morning would have its share of interesting conversations, but she looked forward to the finality she knew that tonight was bringing for Jesse and Lexa. Now that the raven haired woman had allowed herself to step into the relationship it was certain that the couple would stay together. Shalimar smiled, knowing that somehow Lexa's love would get Jesse through the work he had to do.