Okay, personally I am an E/B fan. However, I WILL seriously think about ALL the different ways you want the story to go. Do keep reviewing, especially if you think it is becoming a bit too sentimental. x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

The next morning, Shalimar found Brennan sprawled on the couch. His head was cradled on his arm and he looked so peaceful that Shalimar hated to disturb him. She bent over him, gently shaking him. He shifted, but didn't get up. Shalimar moved in a little closer to look at his face. His cheeks seemed smudged with something that suspiciously looked like . . . *~ tears? ~* She softly wiped his cheeks. Yes, these were tears. Why had Brennan been crying? *~ He must be more worried about Emma than I thought. Poor darling. ~* She shook him again, a little more roughly this time.

"Wha . . .? Shalimar, what are you doing here?"

"Waking you up silly. You must have fallen asleep on the couch. Are you alright?"

Brennan nodded yes, not wanting to talk about last night.

"You sure?" Shalimar tenderly prodded. Brennan looked at her and nodded once again, smiling at her. It was so much easier to be around Shalimar, she didn't accuse him or make him feel unwanted. She would not hurt him, ever. Shalimar almost blushed under his intense scrutiny, not really understanding what had prompted it.

"Hey what do you have in your hand?" Brennan looked blankly at her. "You know, in your hand? You haven't opened your fist since you got up. In fact, it was closed even while you were sleeping. Must be something important?!"

Brennan looked down at his fist. He could still feel Emma's tears in it. He slowly opened it, "No nothing important. See it's nothing." *~ And yet . . . no, nothing important . . . only . . . precious. ~*

Shalimar did not persist, and sure enough, Brennan's face cleared up and he smiled at her. *~ Yes, that was much better. ~*

"So what are you doing up so early? I thought ferals were nocturnal."

"Oh, you know, felt a bit restless, so I thought I'd kick some butt in simulations." She ginned in anticipation and Brennan felt the excitement infect him as well.

"Need any company?"

"Sure, it's always better when I kick some real ass." With that Shalimar swept passed him into the dojo, leaving Brennan with a very enticing view of her . . . back.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

Jesse watched, greatly amused as Shalimar beat Brennan for the third time in a row. "Give it up Brennan, there is no way you can beat her."

"Would you like to try?" Brennan growled.

"No thank-you. I am not feeling too suicidal this morning." Jesse quickly backed off. Shalimar smirked at both of them; she was feeling much better after her morning dose of mayhem and violence. After sweeping Brennan off his feet once more, literally, she ended the session.

Towelling off, she turned to face both the boys. "Now that we are all wide awake and our creative juices are nicely flowing, I have a question to pose."

They looked at her expectantly. "What are we going to do about Emma? I know Adam said that we have to give her time but I don't think spending so much time on her own is healthy."

"So what do you think we should do?" Jesse inquired. Brennan remained determinedly silent.

"I think we should go out and have some fun. Take her mind of whatever is bothering her."

"I don't think Adam will agree, especially with the Strand still out there."

"We can't stop living our lives because of some maniac. Emma needs us; she needs to be cheered up. Taking her out will the perfect thing to do." And that was the end of the discussion, Shalimar had made up her mind and Jesse knew that she wasn't going to change it. Maybe she is right, he mused, Emma could do with some cheering up.

Brennan did not say anything, he was more than willing to do anything to help Emma but he didn't think it was going to be as simple as taking her for a wild night out. He remembered the hurt in those blue eyes. He couldn't help but remember and immediately felt sorrow cut into him. He shook his head slightly; all it took to wound him was to think about her. He sighed. He was getting tired of the ache and the confusion.

It was all Emma's fault. Somehow, he knew, the pain he was feeling was Emma's fault. And he wasn't about to let her get away with it.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x

Emma tentatively poked her head out of her room. She had missed breakfast and lunch and now her stomach was protesting vigorously. She could not hide out in her room all day otherwise she would starve. She judged that everyone would have finished dinner by now and it would be safe for her to go eat.

No one was in sight so she came out of her room and quickly walked towards the kitchen, only to be accosted by the determined trio of Shalimar, Jesse, and Brennan. She contemplated running back to her room before they could say anything. But their faces showed that they were resolved to talk to her, or at least Shalimar was resolved and the other two were going along for the ride.

Emma squared up her courage and decided to face them. She would face them and take whatever they had to say to her. *~ I won't run from you again. You can't hurt me anymore. ~* Famous last words

"Emma, glad to see that you are awake. We are planning to go out, maybe to that new club. And we want you to come with us." Shalimar said, ignoring the almost panicked expression on Emma's face.

"A club . . .? I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Of course it is a good idea. It's just the thing. Good music, maybe a few good men. What more could a woman ask for?"

"What about the Strand? I don't think Adam would think it is a good idea to go out." Emma was grasping at straws now. The idea of being around such a mass of humanity was frightening.

"Adam says its fine. You do need to get out more Emma." Jesse clarified.

"I . . . I really can't . . . I . . . " What could she say?

"It's us you don't want to be with." Brennan quietly interjected. Emma looked at him, he really meant it. He truly believed that she was deliberately avoiding them.

Brennan returned her stare for stare. *~ You don't want to be with us. You will make any excuse to avoid us, stay away from us. What enjoyment do you get from hurting us? . . . from hurting me? ~*

Emma paled at the disgust in Brennan's thoughts. What had she done to deserve this; did he comprehend what he was asking of her? What right did he have to accuse her, make her feel guilty and wretched? She clenched her fists, the anger rising in her. She was tempted to take a swing at him, hurt him as much physically as he hurt her mentally.

Shalimar watched Emma lose colour. She couldn't force her friend to do what she obviously didn't want. "It's okay, Em. If you don't want to come we won't force you." The love laced with sorrow in Shalimar's voice made Emma's decision for her.

She would do this for her friends; she would go with them and be strong for them. She nodded and tried to look positive. She would show him that she was not playing games.

"Give me ten minutes and I will be ready. Now don't leave without me." With that, Emma turned to go back into her room before anyone could see the sheer terror in her eyes.

x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x