Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men. Evie is my character.

Author's pathetic plea for forgiveness: I'M SOO SORRY! Please forgive me. My story was not only low on the list, it was even thrown to the next page. I thought once school was done I would be able to spend more time writing. Actually, it would seem I have less time. I promise to try harder. I finally figured out how to get over the crisis of climax of the story. It was hard trying to get to where I wanted to be. I'm writing the wrap up now. I hope to have it done soon. Thank you for your patience.

Redhead2

Imaginary Friend

Chapter 8

It was late when they got back to Sanctuary. Brennan had called in to wake Adam and have him standing by. Everyone but Brennan turned in as Adam set to work. After a few scans and about an hour's time, Shalimar seemed to be in no more pain. "I really am feeling better, but what happened?"

"I'm not sure," Adam came to her side. "All of your readings seem normal now. You're blood alcohol level is not too high. Looks like you only had one drink."

"I don't think I finished it."

"Your endorphin levels are high but I imagine you hit the dance floor as soon as you got there."

"You know me, too well," she smiled up at him then frowned. "The voice I heard, who was it? It sounded very familiar in some way. But… it sounded like a child."

"I don't know. There's nothing there now. I suggest you get some sleep and I'll scan you again after you've had a good breakfast."

There wasn't too much that could scare Shalimar. She wasn't easily thrown into self doubt. This…this was different. She didn't know what was happening. Adam didn't have any answers. This time she was nervous. She loved her husband and was always most comfortable in his arms. Now it wasn't just comfort she drew from him. Now she needed his strong arms around her to chase away the claws of fear and anxiety that scratched at her mind. She smiled when he pulled her close and held her. Resting her head on his chest she let the steady sound of his heart lull her. Shalimar fell asleep but dreamed again of the long hall and the child crying in the room. She went into the room this time and reached the child without being awakened. As the child turned she saw a familiar face. "Who are you?" she asked. "Why are you crying?" The child turned and wrapped herself in Shalimar's arms. "Don't leave me," she sobbed. "Please don't leave me. You can't leave me."

Shalimar tossed and turned and began crying. Immediately Brennan was awake and trying to still her. "Shal," he whispered. "Baby, come on. Wake up. You're dreaming." Gently he shook her, careful to hold her at arm's length until she was awake.

"Brennan? What…what happened?"

"You were crying and tossing. You woke me up. Were you dreaming about the pain at the club?" He pulled her close to him now that she was awake and held her to his chest.

"No, it was a little girl. She was crying. She grabbed me and begged me not to leave her."

"Who was she? Was it Nadene?"

"No. I don't know who she was but somehow she looked very familiar, like I'd seen her somewhere before."

"That's happening a lot around here; first Bobby, now you."

"Well, Bobby told me that the girl he recognized was one of the caterers from the wedding."

"Wow, that's weird. I don't think you're little girl was at the wedding so let's try and forget it and get some sleep." He pulled her closer as she snuggled into his side.

The next day everyone enjoyed the visit and prepared to go home. School had officially started and there was work to do.

Adam scanned Shalimar again and found nothing out of the ordinary. Since Kitty was now informed, everyone else was told about Bobby and Jubilee's engagement. Though no surprise, it was received with joy.

After lunch Adam had received a call for help from a mutant needing to get into the underground. He asked if Bobby could stay and go with Brennan to find the mutant and get him to the safehouse and ready for transport. "He's a fire elemental; a young boy who's having trouble controlling the powers that are developing. I need to get him to Sean for training. With his powers out of control, I don't want to risk sending in Shalimar and I'd like to give Jesse a little leave time with the baby," Adam explained.

"I don't mind, if it's ok with you, Professor."

"It will be no problem at all. You may stay for as long as you are needed. The rest of us must return. Until our next meeting," Charles shook Adam's hand and good byes were made. Bobby was the only one who stayed behind as he kissed Jubilee and watched her board the Blackbird.

That night Shalimar dreamed again. She was walking in the halls of the psych hospital where she was kept as a child. She knew exactly where she was and shivered at the memories being stirred. Then she heard it again. The child was crying. She entered a room and saw her there on the bed. "Please don't cry," she tried as she moved into the room.

The little girl looked up at her and wiped her tears. "You left me. Why did you leave me, Shalimar?"

"I'm sorry I left before. I didn't try to leave. It just happened." Shalimar move closer and concentrated on the little girl's face.

"You don't remember me do you? It's me. It's your Cassie. Don't you remember when we used to sit and talk together?" The tears were gone now and there was an edge to her young voice.

"Cassie? I don't know a Cassie. I…" Shalimar was stopped in her tracks and forced to move back as the little girl forcefully stalked toward her.

"You don't remember me! After all I did for you! I took care of you. Then you left me. Get out. I don't want to talk to you anymore right now. GET OUT!" she screamed, sending a frightened Shalimar running down the hall.

As she ran, she looked back over her shoulder at the angry child standing in the doorway. When she did she tripped over something and began to fall. Then the floor… was gone and she kept falling…and falling…and falling.

Shalimar screamed in her sleep and was flailing her arms wildly. Brennan fought to grab her and was struck a few times in the process. "Shalimar,…Shalimar, wake up. WAKE UP!" he yelled as he shook her.

She suddenly stilled in his grip and opened her eyes in fright. "Where am I?" she panted.

"Shal, you're in bed. What happened? What were you dreaming about?"

"I was falling. I tripped as I ran and then the floor was just…gone." She leaned into Brennan for assurance that she was still and safe.

"Shalimar?" Evie's voice was heard in their room.

"I'm ok, Evie. I had another nightmare." Shalimar hated being afraid and knew that's what Evie picked up.

"Another nightmare?" she heard Adam question.

"I'm ok, Adam."

"Uh huh," Adam was thinking more than answering.

Shalimar heard his next comment before he gave it voice. "I'll be in the lab after breakfast." She looked at Brennan and rolled her eyes.

"Good girl," he chuckled and snuggled back in bed with his wife.

"Go back to sleep, for a little while. We still have two hours before we have to be up. Lay back and I'll hold you." She smiled as she snuggled onto his chest.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Baby."

In the morning, Brennan and Bobby left on their mission. Shalimar went to see Adam. She told him about the nightmare and the dreams from the preceding nights. "Do you remember me mentioning a friend named Cassie, at all?" She smiled as Jessie walked into the lab.

Adam thought for a while, "No, I don't think so. I don't really remember you mentioning any friends at all."

"Friends?" Jessie asked.

"Yeah, Jess, when you came did I tell you about any friends I had before Adam found me?"

"No, actually you told me you hadn't had any friends. I remember you saying that when you were lonely at the institution you used to imagine a playmate just to make you feel normal."

Shalimar jumped off the bed she had been sitting on, her eyes wide as saucers. "That's it. That was her." Just as suddenly, Shalimar grabbed her head and closed her eyes in pain.

"Shalimar, what is it?" Jesse moved to her side as Adam reached out for her.

"I'm ok. I guess I just moved too fast." The pain was still there but more of a very faint echo. Bits and pieces of memories began to whirlwind in her mind. "Cassie was my imaginary friend. They pumped me with so much thorazine, that never worked anyway, I was able to create my friend. When I was left alone in my room I'd call her and she would answer me. I'd imagine that we'd sit and talk for hours. She was there when I cried and even there when I planned my break out."

"What brought this up," Jesse asked looking at Adam in concern.

"I've had two dreams where I've seen her again, but I didn't remember who she was." Shal moved to his side. "Thank you. I know I can always count on you." She leaned up and kissed his cheek then left the men smiling after her.

As soon as he was sure she was out of range, Jesse turned that same concerned look on his leader. "Adam?"

"Yeah, I know. We'll just have to watch her. I'm not sure why she's remembering all of this but it's obviously affecting her. I'll find some excuse to run another scan later today." Adam knew just how Jesse was feeling. The last thing he wanted was for her to find out all the things

he had successfully hidden from her for all these years.

It was later in the day. Brennan and Bobby still weren't back yet. Sitting alone in the rec room, Shalimar paged through a magazine. Suddenly she sensed someone else in the room. She looked all around her and found no one. The sense was gone so she passed it off. A few minutes later it happened again. This time the sense was stronger. She was immediately on her feet and almost to the door when she heard…

"Hello, Shalimar."

She spun around and saw the little girl from her dream. "Cassie," she yelped.

Adam was passing the door when he heard Shalimar's voice. Glancing in, he stopped when he noticed she was alone in the room. He stood silently in the doorway and watched her as her back was to him.

"Do you remember me now?...How nice."

"How could you be here? What do you want?"

"I want to see you, Shalimar. I know you love to dance. So do I. Come to the club. I'll be waiting." Cassie disappeared.

"Shalimar?" Adam called to her softly.

She jumped at the sound of another voice behind her. "Adam, Oh God. You scared me."

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart, but…who were you talking to?" He stepped into the room and looked around before coming close to her.

"This is going to sound crazy but Cassie was just here. She said she wanted to see me and that I should go to the club where we can dance." She looked at him nervously and with a bit of fear in her eyes.

Adam didn't like the sound of this. "Shal, Cassie was an imaginary friend. Why would you be thinking about her now? Did your dream really spook you that much?" He gently put his hands on her shoulders.

"I don't know… I know this is crazy but I really feel like I have to go to the club."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Shal." Adam began to get more nervous. "I really don't think you should."

"It's early. The place won't even be crowded now. I'll just go look around and prove to myself that they still don't let little girls into the club. I'm actually feeling a little freaked being here, where it's so quiet. I'll get out a little and I'll come home." She started to turn and felt his hands tighten on her instead of release.

"Wait and I'll call Jesse. He can go with you." Adam tried.

"He's taking a nap. Don't bother him. I'll be back in time to help make dinner." She smiled and kissed his cheek when she saw him reluctantly nod.

As soon as she had gone up to her room he ran into the lab. He knew he would only have a few moments before she would be ready and gone. Resetting and focusing Sanctuary's internal scanners, Adam scanned for anything he could think of which might be affecting her. He frowned when he began reading the results as they listed on his monitor.

'Sanctuary clear. No unauthorized access.'

'Communications systems clear. No disruptions.'

'Shalimar Fox BioScan clear. No abnormalities.'

Trying one more scan he waited.

'No outside telepathic intrusion detected.'

Adam sighed as his shoulders fell in release. He had checked all he could but his heart still jumped when he heard her come down the stairs and head for the garage.

TPC