Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men.

Just a general note of thanks. I really appreciate everyones continued support. I will try to address everyone individually in the near future but right now I have to make this quick. Sorry. Right now I have three more chapters for you. I am still writing the end. I hate this. I'm up to the final wrap up but I just can't seem to get it to flow the way I want. I hope I get it out before you catch up to me. We'll just have to see.

Imaginary Friend

Chapter 26

Jesse went to shower and change. He didn't want to leave her but knew that with Charles, she would feel safe. When he finished he would set out to find his wife and son.

Charles and Adam went to his office to wait for Shalimar to be brought in. They discussed the possible outcomes, not all pleasant. Adam formally gave Charles full permission to handle any situation which might arise until Shalimar was emotionally fit to resume her life. Charles was confident that all would be well…soon.

Brennan gently placed her down on the bed they shared when visiting the mansion. He sat beside her and just looked at her sleeping face. For a long time, he was silent and couldn't move.

Evie went about the room gathering items to help clean her up. When she finally returned to the bed with a warm wash cloth and towel, Brennan still hadn't moved. She put the items down and knelt on the floor in front of him placing her hands over his thighs. "Brennan, she'll be ok," she whispered to him.

"If she were to wake up right now…she wouldn't know us. She wouldn't recognize me at all." His voice was hollow and distant.

"It was necessary…" she paused as he turned to look at her, tears threatening to spill once again. "Charles will help her to rebuild her memories. He couldn't let her stay the way she was. The next time she sees you…she won't be afraid of you. That will all be gone."

Brennan was emotionally drained. He couldn't think anymore. He couldn't see beyond the woman on the bed. He closed his eyes as a single tear leaked beyond his hold.

"Come on…" Evie urged. "The sooner we get her changed and cleaned up the sooner Charles can give her back to you." She smiled as he slowly nodded in resignation.

Charles requested that they be left alone for the process. The only one he allowed to stay in the office with them was Jean. "I want you to enter her mind but keep yourself masked. She must not sense your presence yet. You will focus on her physical condition and warn me of any reactions that surpass the safety limits."

"I understand."

"Remember that Shalimar is very strong. Her feral abilities allow her to endure much more than others normally could. Treat your judgment of the situation as if you were watching Logan. He endures much before his healing kicks in."

"I will."

"Good, then let us begin."

Charles stood in Shalimar's mind. He was in a room only the size of a walk-in closet. The only thing with him was a small cube in the middle of the floor. Slowly he made the sides and top of the cube fade into nothingness and release the woman curled inside.

Shalimar felt the cage release. Slowly she stood as her eyes darted from side to side. With apprehension they rested on the man before her.

"Shalimar…do not be afraid, Child. I will not harm you." Charles cautiously approached her, fully aware of the fact that all she had left were her feral instincts. He kept his voice soothing and his manner non-threatening.

He started with the basics and worked up. He picked through her memories as if he was fingering through a file cabinet. Order remained important. He quickly restored up through the age of 9. It was at age 10 that she had been put into the institution. All those memories took special care and wisdom to review. He released some of what she would eventually have, but left most for a future appointment. This had to be handled slowly. He took her up to the age of 20 and stopped. The process had already taken over 4 hours. They all needed a break. Charles opened his eyes, watched and waited as Jean soon joined him. "Thank you. You know that I left her with memories up to her 20th birthday. She had not yet met us so we will need to be reintroduced. I am a familiar presence for her so she should respond well. After you are introduced I need you to meet with the rest of the team and explain."

"Yes, Professor," Jean sadly understood but was contented to know that her friend would soon have all of the wonderful memories of times they shared. For now she would just have to wait. It'll be hard to act as if we've just met. Oh, poor Brennan, this is going to kill him. Jean sat in her contemplation as she saw Charles lower his head.

Adam…

Yes, Charles Adam had been out on the porch with his wife and Scott. They were watching their toddlers stack blocks and laugh when they fell. Adam lowered his head and closed his eyes to concentrate on his communication. Evie noticed and waited with trepidation.

I am going to awaken Shalimar. I would like you and Jesse to be here.

Charles? Adam knew he didn't have to verbalize his questions.

No one else, yet. We must handle this slowly. At this point she only knows the two of you. I will explain when you arrive.

On my way, Adam looked up and met the concern in his wife's eyes and tried to smile. "Charles only wants Jesse and me in the office right now. Go to Brennan, he'll need you."

Evie nodded and turned back toward the children. "Scott?"

"Go ahead, I'll watch her." Scott nodded then went to sit on the ground with the kids. "How about I build a wall and you can knock it down."

Adam and Evie walked toward the house. Adam kissed her and left her at the door. As he walked through the halls to the office, he activated his ring and asked Jesse to join him. Evie could see Brennan on the basketball court. Logan and Remy were making every effort to keep his mind off Shalimar. She slowly made her way over and sat with Marie and watched.

"Adam, come in, please." Charles greeted.

He walked in and nodded to Jean. Silently walking to the sofa he knelt beside Shalimar and absently brushed his fingers over her forehead and down her cheek.

Out of breath, Jesse stopped a jog at the opened doorway. "Shalimar…is she…" he panted as he stepped up behind Adam.

"She's quite alright. Please sit down and I will explain." Charles gestured to the sofa where Jean was sitting and waited as the men moved to sit, one on each side of her. "I will be waking her in a few moments."

"It's over, then…You did it?" Jesse had regained the proper beating of his heart but there was still a slight windedness to his voice.

"No…I'm afraid not." Charles looked at the men and watched as fear, once again crossed both their faces. "This is a long process. I was able to restore memory up until the age of 20. Anything after that is still hidden from her. Restoration has been hard on her and I believe the best course of action would be to take a break for the evening. Her mind is working hard to reconstruct what happened. She is very tired."

"The institution…" Adam asked.

"I did not give her full access to those memories. What she has now is very vague at best. In order to properly regain the memories without the overload, if you will, like what she experienced when you brought her to me, I will have to work with her in a one on one session with her cooperation and participation. That is best left for the future."

"Her 20th birthday…I remember that night." Jesse whispered as he looked back in his own mind to that time.

"Yes. That is why I requested that only the two of you be present. When she awakens, she will be frightened." Charles turned to face Adam. "At that time she did not know Jean or me, so you will need to reintroduce us. Make no mention of our relationship over the past few years. Just introduce us as close friends. Jean will leave to explain to the others what is happening. We must have everyone's cooperation for her sake."

"At 20 she went through a rough period trying to adjust to the changes in her mutancy. Her senses were on overload. The feral side warred constantly for control over her rational side. Once she lost it completely. I had to confine her until it passed and her rational side reestablished the balance."

"I did sense that. Her feral instincts are dominant right now, but I believe it is a response to the need for self-preservation rather than adolescent development. Jesse, you seem to be able to keep her grounded when instinct rules over intellect. I need you to convince her that she's not in danger and that she's able to look to you for support."

"Absolutely. But what about…"

"Brennan?" Charles finished for him. "She won't know him. I want to have Jean bring him in once she is calm. I'm not sure how she will react. The sight of him may revive memories or…she could just not know him. We will just have to wait and see."

"Charles, how long before you continue to work with her?" Adam needed a solid plan. He hated the unknown when it came to his family.

"I would like to give her the night to rest in the peace that I am hoping her early memories will give her. Then I can begin again in the morning. If all goes well the process could be over in a timely manner. Are there anymore questions?" He looked back at Jean then at Jesse. "Then I will awaken her and we shall see how she is." Charles closed his eyes and called to her with his mind.

TBC