12

Prisoner

"Let's make this fast, Adam," Shalimar ordered as she made her way into the lab. He could see by her less than relaxed posture she wasn't the least bit eager for her appointment.

"Shalimar, nice to see you too," Adam replied, the slight hint of sarcasm in his voice not making the moment any more exciting for the feral.

Sitting herself in the chair with a sigh, Shalimar prepared herself for Adam's tests and remained as still as she could being anything but new to the ordeal. She was never one to love having tests run on her. It must've been her feral side that hated the whole lying still part or the fact someone else was examining her. She used to feel like some house cat on a trip to the vet but now she just brushed it off and cooperated to make the time go by as fast as possible. But it was harder for her to relax now, especially with Emma being here. She'd have no problem lying still and relaxing if she were still in the psionic's comforting arms. There she never felt like a test subject or eager to leave. If anything she never wanted to leave her and to leave her for this was even more annoying.

Adam looked her over, his smart eyes not fooled by her front.

"I know you don't wanna be here, Shalimar, but I think this is important," he tried to ease the experience for her but she would have none of it.

"Just hurry up, Adam, I have things to do."

Adam sighed and began to get to work. Since he'd been staying back at Sanctuary, well their Sanctuary, it had taken enough time for things to return to somewhat normal or as normal as a house full of mutants could be and he certainly knew better than to test the waters with Shalimar, especially in her current emotional state.

After a few minutes of checking the feral Adam knew he was almost done and remembered he didn't want her to leave without hearing his other suggestions.

"You know, Shalimar, I was thinking maybe you should talk to someone. It might make you feel better."

Shalimar's eyebrows came together in confusion at what he was suggesting.

"What are you talking about?" she asked turning her head for a moment but quickly moving it back as another red scanning line was moving up her neck.

"I'm talking about you getting help for the state you're in. I'm concerned it might not be healthy for your mind."

Shalimar couldn't believe her ears. Was he actually trying to say he considered her crazy or mentally unstable?

"What?"

"I think you should see a professional. Now I know quite a few doctors who specialize in helping mutants and I think it would be good for you."

"Adam, if I want someone to talk to I have Emma okay and I have the rest of my friends as well."

"Well that doesn't help very much when you keep everyone at a distance now does it?"

"It's complicated right now, Adam," was all she could explain knowing he wouldn't understand anymore if she tried to further and would probably only make him more worried about her than he already seemed to be and that certainly wouldn't get him off her back.

"Shalimar, I'm concerned about you. As tough as you've always been I think you need to admit you're going through something right now that-"

"Are you done?" she asked sitting up before he could answer.

"Shalimar, creating a clone of Emma has clearly affected your mentality and I think even before that you-"

"It's not what you think, Adam. I know what I'm doing and a little trust would be helpful right now."

"I don't think creating her was the best idea."

"Ya know the 'why clones aren't a good idea' speech really doesn't sell coming from you, Adam."

The statement hit a little more home than he wanted and he couldn't help but notice the snippiness in her voice and regret that the conversation had taken a turn he'd hoped it wouldn't.

"I have things to do," she informed standing and treating herself to a little stretch. All she wanted right now was to rest somewhere she wouldn't be judged and the first thing to come to her mind was being back in Emma's arms. That was usually the first thing to come to her mind in any situation actually and she'd become more and more aware of that.

As if on cue Emma was walking into the lab brightening it up as soon as she passed through the door. The feral's eyes took on a shine of their own at the sight and Emma smiled as she walked over to her friend.

"Hey," the psionic simply greeted. "How is everything?"

Shalimar sighed not wanting to bother the psionic with everything she'd been going through and returned the pleasing smile, reaching out to rest a hand on Emma's shoulder. The long sleeved black v necked shirt was soft under the feral's fingers but she knew it couldn't hold a candle to skin on the psionic herself.

"Hey," she replied. "Fine. What are you doing out here?"

"Well, I guess you forgot to lock my cage," Emma joked but somehow the statement hit a nerve in the feral bringing instant regret to the psionic for having made it. "I was hoping we could do something today."

"Like what?"

"I don't know maybe you could take me somewhere fun. I was remembering some of the fun we used to have and it kinda sparked some of my desires."

"You mean leave Sanctuary?"

Adam looked over to them at the question. He'd been listening the entire time but the thought of Emma leaving Sanctuary was more than enough to get his full attention.

"Yeah why not?" Emma asked.

"Do you think that's a good idea I mean you've only been home a day why don't you take some time to adjust?"

"I will and I can but we can still go out and have fun while I'm adjusting can't we?"

"I don't think it's a good idea," the feral protested running her palm down Emma's sleeved arm hoping not to sound too bossy but somehow it seemed like a false gesture to the psionic.

"Why not? Shal, I don't wanna stay cooped up in Sanctuary all day. I just wanna…be like I was," she pleaded sympathetically.

"You will," Shalimar assured stepping closer and resting both hands on the psionic's shoulders. "It's just not the right time yet."

Emma sighed in annoyance, disappointment setting in to her pretty features, and Shalimar wanted nothing more than to ease her feelings.

"Shalimar, am I your prisoner?"

"What? Of course not how could ask me that?"

"Because you don't want me to leave the room and now you don't want me to leave Sanctuary I mean why did you even bring me here then? Just so you could use me to help you with your problems but forget that I'm a human being. I wanna have some fun and feel like, like Emma."

"It's not safe for you out there, Emma," Adam intervened and for once Shalimar was happy he did so. "People think you're dead and there's a rise in mutant gang build up. Brennan, Lexa, and Jesse are going to check it out today and until we know more I think it's best you stay here."

"A mission? I'm a psionic, Adam, I can help them get information," she suggested with only the feeling she wanted to be one of the team, the thoughts of old times stirring inside her.

"It's too risky." He shook his head. "This is a strictly recon mission they're going to observe and find out what's going on. I think you and Shalimar should stay home."

Emma huffed and pulled herself free from the feral, feelings of uncertainty and misplacement sending her almost running from the room. Slouching as she reentered the bedroom she sat on the foot of the feral's bed. Shalimar was right behind her and closed the door after the psionic stormed into the room and sat herself next to her friend.

"Emma," Shalimar spoke softly, wrapping her arm around the psionic's shoulder and pulling her closer to her own body. "I'm sorry but I just wanna look out for you. I don't want anything to happen to you out there."

"So I am a prisoner."

"No. You're my friend and I promise we'll go out and have some fun ok. Just not today. I want you to rest."
"I've been here for a day and already I feel like I'm cut off from the rest of the world. Maybe it's 'cause I don't belong here."

Emma sighed heavily feeling saddened by the feral's refusal to take some time away from Sanctuary and her denial would only add to Emma's feelings of being unwelcome.

"Emma, don't talk like that. You know that's not true. This is where you've always and will always belong," she encouraged, unable to emphasize it enough.

"Not anymore. At least it doesn't feel that way to me. I wanna be somewhere I feel welcome. I want us to go out and have a good time together. I don't wanna go stir crazy in here."

Shalimar's hands began a gentle loving sensation across the psionic's shoulders and down her back and as hard as she tried to remain upset Emma couldn't help but give in to the feral's loving embrace. She always made everything better and now was no exception.

Emma smiled and closed her eyes allowing Shalimar's hands to take her further into serenity. It felt so nice and comforting she didn't even realize she'd unknowingly let out a soft moan of pleasure as Shalimar's hands were caressing her lower back.

Soon soft feral fingers had found their way underneath the psionic's top and were rubbing circles on the bare skin of her grateful back. Emma arched her body in deep appreciation at the gesture encouraging the feral to continue.

It'd been way too long since the feral had touched the psionic and she wasn't about to cease her actions as she ran her fingers up the psionic's back counting every bone she passed over. When she reached Emma's neck she weaved her fingers through the silky hair hanging there and massaged the base of Emma's neck. The psionic's muscles tensed and then relaxed under the feral's strong hands, the balls of her fingers sending sensational pulses through her body with every touch.

Another sigh escaped the psionic's lips and she flung her hair over her shoulder so the feral could get a better view of what she was doing. Her head hung at the pleasure Shalimar was providing her with and the feral lifted another hand to assist her with her task. Resting both hands on Emma's skin brought a sigh from the feral herself and she breathed in deeply taking in the scent of red hair draped across the back of her palm while she continued to rub the petite neck before her. The smell of a flower garden, a breeze, and bright sunny days radiated off her and Shalimar smiled whole heartedly.

A few moments of pleasure passed enrapturing the psionic but much to her surprise she was beginning to feel queasy. Hoping it would pass she ignored the feeling in the pit of her stomach and tried to concentrate only on Shalimar's kind hands and the warmth of her flesh on the back of her neck.

The sea sick feeling in the psionic's stomach was beginning to increase, tumbling around inside her like a boat aboard a rough sea, and Emma could hardly ignore it any longer. Reluctantly pulling herself free from Shalimar's grasp she stood up from the bed instantly realizing what a bad idea that was as it only heightened her nausea.

"Emma, what is it?"

"I…I don't feel so hot. I think I'm gonna…"

Emma ran from the room before she could finish and Shalimar could hear her in the bathroom and quickly jumped from the bed to help her friend.