Shalimar smiled on the ride home in the Helix happy in the knowledge that she no longer had to look over her shoulder. At least not for Felicia and her gang.
"It's gonna be a little quiet around Sanctuary now that Felicia won't be around to stir up trouble," Jesse said turning to the feral.
"Nah. There's always something going on at that place," the feral reminded rising from her seat and walking to stand behind the molecular lowering herself and wrapping her arms around his neck. "But at least we're all alive," she said thankfully.
Jesse turned his head up to look the feral in the eyes and was grateful to receive a kiss for his efforts.
"Thanks," she said before sitting herself back down in preparation to contact Sanctuary for a report of the events.
Soon enough the Helix was pulling itself back into the hanger and the three successful mutants were proudly marching their way back into Sanctuary. Shalimar was the first off the craft and nearly ran to the lab excited about seeing Emma again.
"Emma," she said as she nearly rushed through the lab doorway and over to the psionic.
"Hey, there's my favorite feral," Emma said eagerly extending her arms to hug the blonde she'd missed immensely while she was away.
Shalimar smiled and hugged the woman close but not too tight as she didn't want to cause her any discomfort.
"I missed you," Emma informed when Shalimar finally pulled back to look her over.
"Well Felicia and all her goons are long gone so I'll be around to take care of you from now on."
Shalimar rubbed soft, comforting circles on Emma's bare arms bringing serenity to the psionic. Turing to the chair Shalimar noticed Lara was in the room and felt a little bad for not acknowledging her before hand.
"Hey, Lara."
"Welcome home, Shal. Well, I guess since I'm not needed here I'll go get some dinner started."
Lara smiled and stood up beginning to head for the door.
"Lara, you don't have to rush outta here if you don't want to," Shalimar informed not wanting her guest to feel slided although she did want the alone time with the psionic.
"It's ok. You two need some time. I'll see ya later," Lara said happily before leaving the room.
Shalimar turned back to the psionic smiling and taking both her hands before sitting herself down.
"So whatcha been up to?" she asked running her fingers over the soft skin of the back of the red head's palm.
"Oh ya know, just missing you," Emma replied enthusiastically. She hadn't felt that happy since before the whole ordeal had started and was grateful for things to be taking a turn backs towards normality.
"Well I won't let that happen again," Shalimar reassured.
Shalimar grinned and leaned herself over to the psionic making it known she wanted to kiss the red head again. Instead of allowing the feral to follow through with her plan however Emma put her hand up to Shalimar's shoulder to prevent her from drawing any nearer towards her.
"Shalimar, we need to talk."
Shalimar paused before letting herself sink back into her chair in union with the heart inside her chest.
"Yeah. I know."
"I wanna talk about what happened yesterday in the church."
"What about it?"
"You were prepared to save me even when I was already dying."
Shalimar furled her bow looking the psionic straight in the eye and gripping her hands tighter.
"You know I'd never give up on you, Emma."
"But I was going to die and you risked Lara's life to save mine. You deactivated my collar taking the risk with Lara even though I was already dying."
"I had faith in Jesse."
"But what if he hadn't been there? You would've still made the same choice wouldn't you?"
Shalimar remained silent. Was Emma actually upset with her that she'd chosen to save her?
"Emma, I'd never accept your death. I'll fight it as long as I can."
"I don't want you to risk other people's lives to save me, Shal."
"Emma, what is this? Are you saying I should've just turned and deactivated Lara's collar and killed you? Would that have made you happy?"
"No. I'm glad everything worked out the way it did but what about next time? We could both be dead right now, Shal, because you couldn't accept the inevitable."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm going to die one day, Shalimar. You can't stop that."
"Yeah well I'm gonna try my hardest. Besides you've already died three times and you'll still here."
"Well the last one was a little too close for comfort. What happened anyway no one's told me?"
Shalimar was quiet for a moment as she prepared herself to relive the previous nights events not wanting to see the images of the love of her life dying again.
"You died last night. Jesse, Brennan, and I rushed you back here to the lab and Adam was able to give you a blood transfusion and revive you. It was too close."
"Blood transfusion?"
Shalimar nodded and lifted her arm to show the psionic the small hole still slightly visible on her arm.
"Your blood?"
Shalimar nodded again.
"I gave you CPR and that only did so much but luckily Adam was quick to react."
"Thank you."
The sudden playful grin on the feral's face brought curiosity to Emma's eyes and she looked over the suspicious looking feral before her.
"What?" she asked unable to tell herself what the big secret was.
"You know you broke your promise."
Emma couldn't help but smile back at the feral as she questioned, "what promise?"
"That you'd never die again. You promised me."
Emma laughed tilting her head back and recalling the night she'd informed the feral she wouldn't have to see a psionic death again.
"You're not gonna hold me to that are you?"
"You know I am."
"I was only saying it to shut you up," Emma insisted unable to keep herself from chuckling once again.
"Yeah well, you also said that I had the right to yell at you."
"Ok, ok. You have the right to yell at me."
Shalimar grinned slowly standing and leaning over the woman below her.
"I can think of better ways to punish you," the feral informed before lowering herself towards the psionic's lips grateful that this time she didn't pull away.