Brennan saw the young man running up the stairs. "Jesse," He spoke into his ring. "He's going up."

"I see him," Jesse responded.

Brennan turned to Emma. "Stay here," he told her and after receiving a nod from her he ran after the fugitive. Hearing plenty of footsteps, she tried to see what was happening, but from the corner of the wall where she was, Emma couldn't see anything else except a few shadows going from one place to another. She sometimes wished this young girl could get more physical action on these assignments.

"He's heading towards the left exit!" Emma suddenly heard Shalimar's voice. Quickly turning around she found herself facing the young fugitive. Emma saw the fear in his blue eyes. And the emotions she was sensing were pretty intense. Something wasn't right. Wanting to use her psychic power on him, she was about to do it, but couldn't. Something stopped her. She felt sorry for him… so Emma shouted instead, "Brennan, Shal, Jesse! He's here!"

"Thank you," the young man said quietly and took off.

Seeing him in the distance with the heavy streetlights reflecting their glow on the street, Jesse and Brennan ran after him once more. Shalimar stopped in front of Emma, touching her arm gently when she asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Emma said and saw Shalimar nod before looking at the direction to where the three men went. "Should go help them," She said and followed them. Emma leaned with her back on the brick wall and opened her mouth slightly. Why did she let him escape?

"He was right there in front of you. You had the chance, why didn't you use it?" Brennan's slightly annoyed voice was heard behind her.

Emma stopped and turned to him. "I-I don't know. When I saw him, I couldn't do anything. "

"What stopped you?" Brennan came closer to her. They barely noticed Shalimar and Jesse going to the lab.

"It was the feelings I sensed from him. They were so intense. Something wasn't right. He knew it would've been safer for him to get caught but something kept him running away," Emma tried to explain. She did not mention that the mutant had thanked her. Brennan looked at her with doubt. "This doesn't seem enough, Em." He told her.


"He escaped, I see." Both looked towards the lab when they heard Adam.

"It's my fault, Adam, I'm so sorry." Emma admitted.

"He was very important to us, Emma," Adam said.

"I know." Emma looked down. Adam had gathered them this morning explaining the importance of capturing this young mutant. James, the mutant's name, had cells in his body which intensified his mental abilities. He hadn't been a psionic but some other, new breed.

One of Adam's biggest worries was that James could be captured by their enemies. This mutant was fairly young, maybe Emma's age and wasn't very aware of what he was capable. Adam wanted to take advantage of that, possibly even recruit him in Mutant X.

"What happened?" He asked her to which he got the same reply as Brennan.

"Well, we'll have to make sure we'll catch him next time then." Adam waited for Emma to look at him. "Come in the lab, Emma, I want to scan you to make sure he didn't do something to you."

Emma nodded and followed him silently. She felt even guiltier now despite that there wasn't much she could do. And the looks her friends gave her didn't help her either.

Twenty minutes later, Brennan came in the lab. Emma was sitting on the chair, her blue eyes capturing Brennan's figure the minute he entered.

"Found anything?" he asked Adam.

"Nothing," Adam replied. "But I think she should remain here next time you look for James.

Brennan understood and looked at Emma. Her eyes had fallen on the floor by now. "We'll get him now, Em. Adam's right, you should stay here." And placed his hand on her shoulder.

Emma didn't think Brennan would agree with Adam, despite knowing that she might do the same mistake again. "I'm not going to screw up again. I'll help this time." She got off the chair and switched her gaze between Brennan and Adam.

"You being a psionic, it's not such a great idea, Emma," Adam told her.

"If it isn't why did you let me go the first time?"

"I didn't think this would happen, but now..."

"He's right, Em. Please, stay here alright?" Brennan took her hand but she just pulled it out of his.

"I can help. I know how important James is." She tried to say it more calmly but it didn't work. "Please, Adam!" Emma wanted to correct her mistake. She didn't want her friends to have such doubts about her.

"He might do the same thing again to you," Adam said, joining his hands behind him. "It was only two seconds tonight and he had already gotten to you."

"But you didn't see the fear in his eyes, Adam, he-"

"Emma, you're staying here. I'm serious."

Tiny tears were building up behind her eyes. She sighed. "You don't trust me I can do this?" her voice was raised.

Adam didn't reply. She then looked at Brennan. "I do think you can do this but," he whispered, "he might hurt you next time".

This wasn't encouraging at all for her. "He wouldn't hurt me." She said and wanted to run out of the lab when Brennan caught her arm, tightening his grip. "You don't know, Em. This is especially dangerous for you." Brennan spoke gently while his worried browns searched for her blues. "Please let us finish this. Don't make me worry about you even more." His eyes pleaded peacefully.

"I know." Emma nodded slowly diverting her gaze away from him.

He then let go of her arm and gave a small smile. "Otherwise I'll turn gray by the time I'm 32."

Emma couldn't help but to giggle at this. Not being helpful at all sometimes but he always managed to get at least a tiny giggle out of her when she should be doing something else. Inhaling some air, she gave in. "Okay, Bren…I'll stay." She responded quietly.

Putting his arm around her shoulders they exited the lab, and he kissed her head. "Good. Love you for it," he told her.

"You know, I think I should try and remove that part of your brain which always manages to get to me," she then said.

"You won't have an easy time my friend." Brennan looked at her briefly.

"Never underestimate the power of a psionic, Brennan," she tried to sound harsh.