Terrors in the Night

"Adam?"

"My God, Emma! What happened?"

Lexa vacated a chair and gently pushed Emma into it when she swayed on her feet.

"The Naxcom explosion, Adam. I was burnt badly as you can probably see, and didn't know who I was until last week, "Emma said between her tears.

"Oh, Emma. I'm so sorry," Adam said as his eyes turned to Jesse. "So, this is the 'burn victim', Jesse." Adam coughed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, Adam," Jesse gulped nervously for deceiving his mentor and being caught at it.

"I understand why, Jesse. I must go now before this transmission is traced. I'll be in touch."

And as quick as he appeared, Adam's face was gone. Emma sagged in the chair visibly, spent by the shock and then she remembered why she was up in the first place. "Shal? Could you help me to the bathroom before my bladder bursts?" She asked softly. Shalimar jumped up eager to help and to rid of the icy stares the rest of the team directed at Emma for her interruption of Adam's cyber visit.

Emma leaned gratefully against her friend as she limped to the bathroom. "Don't go, Shal," she requested when Shal turned to leave her alone. "I don't want to be myself anymore," her voice was just above a whisper, but Shal heard her anyway, so she perched on the side of the tub as she waited, discretely not looking Emma's way.

A few minutes passed with neither girl talking.

Emma looked over at Shal. "Shal?"

"Hmmh?"

"Do you want me to stay?" Emma's voice sounded like a scared little girl.

"Oh, honey, of course I do. I've missed you terribly. If we had known you were still alive, we'd've come and sprung you out immediately."

Emma was only a little heartened by Shal's response. Too many things were going through her head for her to think straight and with her powers being kaput; she didn't have any of her normal input. She sighed as she stood up, and walked the short distance over to where Shal was perched. She pulled her shirt away to examine where Jesse had treated it with a laser, sighing yet again when she didn't see any difference yet.

Shal cringed inadvertently as she watched Emma's reflection in the mirror as she examined her shoulder and arm. Instinctually, she knew words wouldn't be enough for someone who was used to feeling every thing. Keeping her repugnance under control, she reached over and enveloped Emma in the biggest hug she could muster, ignoring her slowly dampening shoulder from Emma's silent tears.

"Feel up for some more food," she asked when Emma stopped shaking. Emma raised her head and looked Shal in the face before answering, "Not really. I'm ready to go back to sleep." She looked a little sheepish.

Shal ignored Emma's face as she stood up, "I'll come tuck you in." Emma smiled briefly.

In the bedroom Emma tried to ask Shal something but she stumbled over the words. Shalimar waited patiently for her. Blushing, Emma finally got the words out in a rush and then pulled the covers over her head, "Stay with me tonight, Shal. I don't want to be alone just now."

Shal's heart warmed for her younger friend. "Alright, Emma. Let me go let the others know, and get a more comfortable outfit."

Shalimar found Brennan and broke the news to him gently that he wouldn't have a bedmate tonight. "Sorry, but Emma asked and I don't trust her frame of mind just yet." She grabbed some t-shirts and went to inform Jesse and Lexa of Emma's request. Jesse looked visibly relieved that he wouldn't be needed for checking on Emma during the night. Lexa looked a little happier too for some reason. Shal quickly made her way back, tossing the extra t-shirt to Emma when she entered the room. "I'm under strict orders to get one of them up immediately," she giggled as she stepped behind the bathroom door to change, allowing Emma some time to change herself. Shal stepped back into the room and found Emma half-undressed and studying her various disfigurements, burns and scars.

She tsked with her tongue. "Don't dwell on it, Emma. Between Jesse and Adam, they'll have you looking like the old Emma in no time at all. " Shal slipped under the covers and was mildly surprised when Emma rolled over without putting her shirt on. She seemed to be struggling with her words again. She grabbed Shal's hand first, gulped and started talking finally, "Shal, I want to feel again, even if it is just pain at first. I want someone to look at me, hold me, and not be grossed out by my scars. I want to feel alive again!" Emma moved Shal's hand up to her bare breast. Shal initially pulled back, not denying to herself that it felt good under her palm, but surprised at Emma's boldness. "I want to make love with someone I trust, and feel it all over. I want to feel alive!" She repeated herself as she begged Shalimar.

Shalimar was confused. Was Emma asking her? Or did she want her to get one of the guys? "What do you want, Emma?" she asked, feeling something starting, but not willing to give into it.

"I want you," Emma's voice was barely above a whisper. "I never said anything before because there was other things to distract us. I've had time to reflect on what has happened to me, the things I've missed out on, and I'm not about to give up on some of those. I thought it was Jesse that I wanted, but seeing you earlier brought those feelings back up to the surface." She searched Shal's eyes to see if there was any response, being unable to 'feel' anything from her.

Shal hesitated. She couldn't deny her feelings either, but this was going a bit fast for her. "Are you sure, Emma, that this is what you want?"

Emma nodded and leaned over, her lips brushing Shal's gently. "More than anything else, Shal. I couldn't handle a male right now anyway, not with all the damage to my body. I want you." She pulled Shal's hand up to kiss it. "Please?"

Shal still resisted. Part of her brain reminded her that she had a relationship with Brennan. Part of her yearned for the young girl, no, woman in front of her. She could smell Emma's arousal and it was making her heady. "Let me think about it, Emma. This is kind of sudden for me." She hoped she was turning Emma down gently, with her mental facilities impaired at the moment they didn't need for Emma to go off the deep end, and definitely not over her. Noticing the tension in Emma's shoulders, she remarked, "What you need right now is a gentle massage and to get some sleep before Jesse does another treatment on your burns." She nudged Emma onto her side and pulled the t-shirt down over Emma's head, keeping it up high on her shoulders. Shalimar rubbed her back, careful not to hit some of the more painful looking burns and scars. Pretty soon, Emma was spooned up against her, t-shirt pulled down for modesty and fast asleep with a content smile on her face. Shal pecked Emma's check and pulled the covers up over them as she slid down into a more comfortable position without disturbing Emma in the meantime. She rested her arm across Emma's hip as they slept.

Explosion. Shock. What was that?

Fire. Shock.

Pain. All over. Burning, searing, sharp.

Hard to breathe. Why is it hard to breathe? Breathe in, breathe out. Cough. Cough.

Screams around her. Why are there screams?

'One, two, three.'

Coldness against her chest. Why was everything so cold and hot at the same time?

'I've done all I could for her.' An unknown male voice sounded at her left side.

'No, no, no, no,' a female voice screamed that reminded her of Shalimar's purr came from behind her head.

'Shalimar, no. She's gone!' a male voice that was garbled. 'We have to go now.'

Tears. Salty tears. Why couldn't she cry? Why was Shalimar screaming?

Screams. Who's screaming?

Metal against metal.

Blackness.

Silence.

Blissful silence.

Peaceful silence.

Sharp pain. Ow! Why am I looking at this tiled floor? 'Hold on, she's coming around. Need more anesthetic, nurse. Now!'

Nothing.

No sounds.

No voices.

Just clicks. Swooshes. Hums.

Pain. Pain. Everywhere.

Emma woke up screaming, incoherent and uncertain of where she was. It was that same dream that had enveloped her for the last few months.

Shalimar woke up and found Emma staring blankly, while still screaming, her t-shirt soaked with sweat. She reached over and held Emma tightly. "Sh! Emma, it's me. Shalimar. I've got you." She held Emma who started flailing her arms and looking for all the world like a little frightened girl. Shal's heart poured out for her. "Sh! Emma, it's just a nightmare," she crooned. Emma finally settled down and crawled onto Shalimar's lap and held on for dear life, sobbing silently, which frightened Shal more than the nightmare.