*Special thanks to Jessica and Ally for taking the time to beta my fic.*
Eve
Part 5
Sitting alone beside her, Jesse leaned into the plush chair, listening to the sound of her even breathing. It was now early morning and the rest of the members of Mutant X had disappeared into their rooms, leaving the sanctuary seemingly empty and jarringly silent. An hour ago he had walked into the room and found Adam, head bent over several documents scattered about Emma's bed. His back was hunched over the sheets of paper and he had been too absorbed with his study to notice Jesse silently creeping up beside him. "Whatcha got there?" He asked lightly, startling Adam out of his deep reverie.
"I didn't see you." Adam managed, quickly standing up to deftly sort the papers together in a small pile, away from Jesse's prying eyes.
"Yeah, Shalimar told me I might want to drop by in several hours and let you get some rest." Nodding his head towards the papers clasped tightly in Adam's right hand, Jesse continued to pry. "So, what's that?"
"This?" Looking down, Adam shoved the papers in a manila folder. "Just some work I thought I'd go over." Glancing at the door, he gave Jesse and apologetic grin. "I have some things I need to get done right now, I'll leave you here with Emma."
An eyebrow raised, Jesse watched Adam disappear, his suspicions once again raised with Adam's questionable behavior.
***
"Hey." A sleep-filled voice drawled out from the bed.
"Hey," he greeted her, a deep warmth spreading through his body as he viewed the tousled girl in the bed.
Leaning on an elbow, her hand shading her eyes from the sun, Emma turned her eyes upward towards Jesse. "What time is it?"
"Around twelve," he answered, standing several feet away from her. At her bewildered expression, Jesse gave her a tight smile and shrugged. "I thought you could use some rest."
"Ah," Emma answered wryly, "Another person that thinks I look like crap."
Opening his mouth to speak, Jesse paused for a moment then continued. "You haven't been getting much sleep. You needed to catch up," he reasoned rationally. Sitting up, Emma rubbed her eyes and yawned. "You still tired?"
"No, I feel-good," she answered with a small smile.
"All I need is a nice long shower and I'll be bright and chirpy."
"Then I guess I'll get going." Hesitant, he waited for her reply.
"Yeah, sure."
Nodding, Jesse held himself back from pulling Emma into his arms and stiffly walked away. Perturbed, Emma looked out the window, wondering when the air between her and Jesse became so strained.
Lingering at the doorway, Jesse turned his body halfway towards Emma and called out her name. Looking at him expectantly, Jesse gave her a boyish grin. "You know, you're always beautiful."
And with that said, he took a quick step past her doorway to the side and disappeared, leaving Emma startled, yet strangely exhilarated. For the moment, Emma forgot the shadow of Gabriel that constantly loomed over her and she was a normal girl that had been told by a cute boy that she was beautiful. Foolishly grinning to herself, Emma got up to get ready for the day and began to hum.
***
"So," Shalimar asked after they all sat down together. "What are we going to do?"
Trying not to feel uncomfortable, Emma squirmed under the concerned glances constantly being thrown her way from the various occupants of the room. "We wait for Gabriel to make his next move." Adam stated carefully, knowing full well the protests his plan would incur. "We don't know what Gabriel wants, his motive."
"He's hurting Emma," Brennan growled. "That should be enough."
"I realize it seems coarse to let Gabriel continue with his actions, but we don't know enough of the situation to jump in. Physically Emma is protected. Genomax and Gabriel do not know where the Sanctuary is. As long as Emma stays put and waits it out until we have a plan, she should be fine."
"Wait," Emma protested as soon as she heard Adam's plans. "I don't want to spend all my time hiding in here."
"What about nights?" Shalimar asked, looking over Emma to Adam.
"Last night I set the bio-bed up to monitor Emma while she sleeps."
"The bio-bed?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"It won't stop him from entering her mind, but it will notice any immediate changes in her REM cycle. I'll set an alarm to go off when it does happen, which should wake her. However, I believe with time, Emma will be able to block Gabriel or any other mutant from entering her head. I'll teach you several meditation exercises that will help you gain full control of the abilities you posses."
"Wait a minute," She intervened. "Hiding during the day? Sleeping on a bio-bed in the lab during the night?" Vehemently she shook her head. "No."
"Emma," Adam patiently tried to explain. "Every minute you spend out of the sanctuary, you are in danger."
"It's dangerous for all of us to leave the sanctuary," Emma argued. "It's a risk we take."
"A calculated risk that has grown too high for you."
Peeved, Emma sat silent, trying to process and agree with the information Adam presented to her.
"It's not a permanent condition. Just until I find out what it is Gabriel is after." He continued in her silence.
"You'll be safe," Brennan spoke out. "That's what's important."
"What about my sanity?" Emma demanded. "Isn't that important?"
Grinning, Shalimar patted Emma on the shoulder. "Apparently not."
"Compromise?" Emma asked hopefully, her eyes boring into Adams.
"I don't think that would be a good idea-"
"Adam," she cut in. "You know I hate hiding and playing the victim. I need to be out there doing something useful. If I let you guys go out and fight for me… I just need to be out there. A part of this team."
Silent, Adam glanced at the other members of Mutant X. Giving him an encouraging grin, Shalimar raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Looking back at the stubborn telempath, Adam sighed, letting Emma know she had won this battle. "I'd feel better if you are with someone whenever you leave the sanctuary."
Grinning, Emma immediately agreed. "Done."
"And the bio-bed…"
"Hooked and without a complaint." Emma finished, pantomiming a zipper across her mouth with her right hand. Looking at Emma with a disapproving gaze, his mouth broke out into a reluctant half smile at the sight of Emma's gleeful face. "Alright. Jesse, I need you to check the networks for any activity coming from Genomex. Brennan and Shalimar, check the streets."
Nodding their affirmation, they quickly dispersed towards their destinations. Looking at Adam expectantly, a small frown on her face, Adam answered her unspoken question. "It's not what you think Emma. I'm not deliberately trying to keep you off the streets." Her mouth tightened into a sheepish grin as her paranoia of being left out was answered aloud by Adam.
With renewed resolve, she continued to listen to Adam's perfectly sensible explanation. "There's not much for anyone to do right now. I'm going to teach you a few mental exercises to help you prepare for future mental attacks."
Standing up, he held out his hand for Emma. Grasping it, he pulled her up and they made their way to the meditation room.
***
"Alright, now I want you to exhale." Adam instructed, carefully watching his student perform the mental and physical exercises he prescribed. "A little slower, that's good."
"Adam?" Emma asked while stretching her limber arms to the ceiling as high as she could. Distracted, he continued through the motions of the exercise, leading Emma in a soothing rhythm of movements to controlled breathing.
"Adam?" She asked again, needing to continue their discussion from the night before. "I was wondering about Tyler."
Bringing his arms down in resignation, Adam faced the conversation he knew Emma would not let go. "Dr. Jonathon Tyler, he was one of the many scientists at Genomex." Adam dove right in. "I didn't know him very well. I don't think anyone did. He kept mainly to himself and reported directly to Dr. Breedlove. I believe he was a former acquaintance of Paul's. He spent most of his time on a small single manned project. Nothing important enough to warrant the use of one of the bigger labs or available teams of scientists."
"Do you know what he was working on?" Emma asked, trying to dig up any important information.
"There were so many projects and experiments going on at Genomex, it would have been impossible to have the details of them all. And most of the scientists were divided in teams that rarely worked together. They all had their own agenda and goals to reach."
"No time to compare notes?" She transcribed, a bit disappointed with Adam's vague answers.
"There were too many things to do, and everyone was racing to finish first." Glancing at his wristwatch, Adam gave Emma an apologetic look. "You seem to be doing well with the exercises. I have some things I need to touch up in the lab, I'll let you alone to continue practicing what we've covered."
Before she could protest, Adam bolted for the door and vanished into the hallway. Debating on whether or not she should follow him to the lab and offer her services, Emma decided it would be best for her to give Adam a bit of space. Exhaling as Adam taught her, she closed her eyes and tried to block all outside interference.
***
After several hours of scrutinizing the blaring computer screen, Jesse decided there was no point in wasting any more of his time online. Setting up a program to monitor Genomex's mainframe, Jesse stretched out his sore shoulders and stood up to break. Walking towards the kitchen to get a bite, he froze when he spotted the familiar figure rummaging through the kitchen cupboards.
"Where's Adam?" Jesse asked casually, trying to keep a sense of normalcy in his voice and demeanor. Startled, Emma looked up and hesitated for a second before shrugging her shoulders. "He taught me a few moves then went to the lab to work on my bio-bed."
Wrinkling her nose in distaste at the last word, Jesse could not help but tease. "I thought you said no complaints?"
"Who's complaining?" She retorted cheekily.
Watching her continue with her search, Jesse's thoughts took a serious turn, leaving Emma oblivious of the sudden change of atmosphere. "I wish I could tell you everything was going to be alright." He was unable to stop himself from blurting out. Leaning his head down a bit to look at the floor awkwardly for a second, he lifted his eyes to look into hers and gave her a half-hearted grin. "But it seems like everyone beat me to the punch."
Emma broke the edgy tension with an agreeing chuckle. "Just about."
Jesse was leaning against the counter, his mind occupied with thoughts of Brennan, promising
Jesse he would take care of Emma. Sighing, Emma rolled her eyes heavenward and broke into his private thoughts with a few words. "You should listen to Shalimar."
"What?" Jesse looked at her in confusion, following Emma as she walked past him to the metal fridge.
"Brennan and I have a strictly platonic friendship." Pulling out various items from the fridge, she wrinkled her nose and frowned slightly when she couldn't find the juice. "We're out." She declared aloud.
Gawking at Emma in bewilderment, Jesse tried to catch up with her flighty logic. "Wait a minute, how did we get from you and Brennan to juice?"
Emma shrugged. "I'm thirsty." Placing his hand on the top of the open door, Jesse pushed it shut. Looking up at him in mild annoyance, Emma warily eyed his grinning face. "Why don't we go out for dinner? I promise to buy you all the juice you want."
Standing up, Emma lifted an eyebrow and gave Jesse a mischievous grin. "Should I contact the others?"
"We probably shouldn't interrupt them right now." He answered thoughtfully. "I'm sure they're busy."
"Well they might be hungry." Emma answered, the very picture of innocence with both eyebrows lifted and wide eyes looking up at him with a hint of mischief.
Flashing her a quick grin, Jesse offered a compromise. "Why don't we just bring them a doggie bag?"
Biting her lip, she nodded and broke out in a full smile. "Yeah, I think that might work."
Tilting his head to the door, he smiled and held out his hand towards her. "Let's get out of here."
"And suffer the wrath of Adam and Brennan?" Looking Jesse up and down, she placed her small hand in his. "Sounds good."
About to leave, Emma mentally groaned and bit the inside of her lip, wondering if she should interrupt the moment for a request she had been meaning to ask Jesse. About to speak, her thoughts were interrupted by a bustle of new noises coming from the front entrance.
"Hey guys." Shalimar smiled as she bumped into Jesse and Emma. "What's up?"
"Headed somewhere?" Brennan asked, his voice filled with suspicion.
"We were going to get a bite to eat." Jesse answered.
"And juice. We're out of juice." Emma added, trying to disperse the uneasiness she felt from the two males.
Smiling, Shalimar held up two plastic bags. "We're way ahead of you. Take out." Tossing a package to Jesse, she twisted her head to the kitchen for them to follow her. "So, you find anything?"
Covering up his disappointment, Jesse shook his head. "Nope, nothing. You guys any luckier?"
"Nothing." Brennan answered while pulling small white paper containers out of the plastic bags. "It was odd."
"Yeah." Shalimar agreed, tilting her head in thoughtfulness over the very uneventful day. "There was so little inactivity it was suspicious."
Pulling dishes out of a drawer, Emma began to set the small table. "I'm going to go drag Adam out of the lab." On her way out she smacked Brennan on a shoulder. "Don't eat everything." She warned him. "I'm hungry."
***
The doors swished open, affording Emma a full view of the lab. "Adam?" Looking around for him, she found him slumped over a table fast asleep. With a little smile she crept up behind him to see what it was he had been working on before he passed out. Little notes were scribbled in his indecipherable handwriting over long sheets of paper. Quietly she exited the lab, careful to not disturb him from his much needed rest.