Title: Lingering Shadows
Disclaimer: All the characters from the show are the property of the producers and owners of Mutant X. However, all the other characters belong to me.
Feedback: Please Read and Review as often as you can. I greatly appreciate any and all feedback. My first fanfic, "The Time Must Come," focused mostly on Jesse and Emma and was completely different. With this story I'm going to try and explore each character in depth since I really like all of them.
Chapter 5: Bait
Looking at the black sweater enfolding his arms and waiting to cover his chest, Jesse considered Shalimar's words carefully. "She honestly feels like you don't want her here." Struggling with his desire to rush to Emma's room and the knowledge that it won't change anything, Jesse forcefully pulled the sweater back over his head and tugged it down until it reached the top of his gray pants. Looking at the clock, he had fifteen minutes left before everyone would be meeting at the double helix.
Walking out of the room, Jesse turned when he heard a thump coming from Emma's room. Looking back, Jesse walked down the hall and began knocking.
"Emma? Emma, are you okay?" Jesse asked, concern filling his voice and furrowing his brow. Hearing only a little screech, Jesse started getting worried and rushed into the room. "Emma?!" Stopping suddenly, Jesse stared, mesmerized at the brunette before him, half undressed and clinging to a knit top that was obviously snagged on the dresser drawer. Pieces of a glass dolphin Brennan had once bought Emma as a gift surrounded her. Trying not to stare as Emma clutched the top over her bare chest, Jesse began stuttering. "Uh… so… sorry… I…uh… heard a crash… and… uh… when you screamed… uh… I was worried." Finishing lamely, Jesse quickly looked to the floor.
Slightly flustered, Emma sighed. She would have been fine if the sweater hadn't snagged and then on top of that, she bumped into the dresser and her favorite nick nack is in a million pieces. Jesse had startled her to be sure, but she was flushed from embarrassment not anger.
"It's okay. This is just kind of embarrassing is all." Emma said softly, forcing Jesse to look at her to hear her words. Smiling, Emma stood there for a second, unable to think. Smiling back, Jesse and Emma looked at each other for a few seconds more before Jesse realized how stupid he looked. Oh that's it! Gawk at her why don't you? Moving forward, Jesse hedged around the glass.
"Here, let me help you." Jesse said, trying to figure out the best way to remove Emma from her current position. Confused, Emma looked down and realized she was barefoot. Jesse's concern for her was touching, confusing her all the more. Reaching out, Jesse gently encircled Emma's waste in his arms and picked her up. Hearing a rriiipppp, Emma moved suddenly in surprise causing Jesse to lose balance and fall back onto Emma's bed with her still in his arms. Shocked, both remained still while their minds registered what had just happened.
"Hey Emma, we're waiting for you and…" Adam froze, forcing the two remaining members of Mutant X behind him to do the same. Looking like deer caught in headlights, Jesse and Emma stared back, to their mortification hearing quiet laughter coming from behind Adam. No one moved for what seemed like an eternity. UH… Neither Emma nor Jesse had any idea how to explain this. Finally swallowing, Jesse decided if he was going down, which from the looks on Adam and Brennan's face he was, he figured he'd go with dignity.
Slowly extricating himself from the tangled position he and Emma found themselves in, Jesse gently placed Emma on the bed and made sure the remainder of her sweater covered her fully. Looking into her blue eyes for a moment, Jesse saw something there he wasn't familiar with.
"Are you okay?" Jesse asked softly with his voice low, for Emma's ears only. They were both unaware as Shalimar stopped giggling, hearing Jesse's concern-filled voice. A few beats later, Emma nodded. Reassured for the time being, Jesse stood up and turned his back to the others saying, "We will leave you to finish getting ready." Seeing Emma smile brightly, Jesse turned around with great dignity and walked straight out of the room, holding the door open and waiting for the others to pass expectantly. Dumbfounded, Adam, Brennan, and Shalimar walked out. Closing Emma's door, Jesse turned and headed to the double helix, not offering any explanation. Looking from Jesse's back to Emma's door, Brennan wondered where to begin. Sensing his indecision, Shalimar firmly placed her hand around Brennan's arm.
"Leave it alone Brennan." The feral smiled at Brennan, turning him upside down.
"But…??" Shalimar squeezed Brennan's arm before he could finish, understanding his concern.
"She's right Brennan, right now there are three men whose lives are depending on you guys." Adam said, reluctantly. Moving down the hall, Brennan headed towards the double helix with Shalimar close behind him. A few seconds later Emma walked out of her room and was startled to see Adam standing there in deep thought.
"It's not what it looked like…" Emma began, stopping at Adam's smile and the shake of his head.
"It's okay, Emma. There's no need to explain. At least not right now. The others are waiting for you." Nodding, Emma started to walk away when Adam gently reached out and stopped her. "Emma, if you ever need to talk. I'm here for you." Feeling the confusion radiate off Adam in waves, Emma smiled reassuringly before heading back towards the others.
As Emma walked onto the double helix, emotions bombarded her. Brennan was upset and confused, Shalimar was greatly amused and a little concerned, although for whom Emma didn't know. Jesse, well, Jesse was worried. Wondering why, Emma chanced a look at him. On the outside, he was all business. Punching in commands to help prep the double helix for take off. On the inside, emotions were barely held in check by his tight control. All she could sense was worry, nervousness, and frustration. Deeper emotions tugged at those, vying for freedom. Without openly reading Jesse, Emma would never know what they were. Filled with a sudden sadness, Emma's down turned eyes became shiny.
Forcing themselves to focus on the mission ahead instead of the compromising position two members of their group were found in, Mutant X made its way to the city where the conference was being held. Back in Sanctuary, Adam located a good landing area close to the building and transmitted the coordinates to the team. Receiving them, Brennan landed smoothly roughly ten minutes later. Everyone piled out of the double helix, concentrating solely on the mission at hand. As they located their individual targets, Emma stood in the back of the hotel's large conference room. Scanning the room, Emma saw no sign of Ryuko.
"Listen, I don't care what you bloody hicks think. There is no way we're gonna…" Hearing the argument, Shalimar turned and honed in on her assignment. He was currently in a heated discussion with the slightly younger man beside him, whose face was beginning to turn a bright red. Walking towards the two, Shalimar continued looking at the man as several people in front of the room brought everyone's attention to them. Deciding to start the conference, all visiting speakers were asked to come up and take their places at the table. Following the angry Senator, Shalimar remained close but far enough to not draw unwanted attention.
As everyone moved to their places, Brennan and Jesse followed their assignments in a similar fashion. Noticing movement of small groups, Emma made a quick mental note of the location of each of her friends before looking to the back of the room again. Freezing, Emma thought she saw Ryuko but a second later there stood no one in that place. Confused, Emma began walking down to the end of the conference room. Reaching the doors, Emma looked around. As two men in suits began closing the doors, Emma looked back and saw everyone settled up front. Seeing the rest of the team in place to act if needed, Emma quickly slipped through the remaining doors before they could be closed.
As the doors clicked shut, Emma felt a light pressure against her mind. Forcing herself to relax, thoughts began flowing inward. Hello Emma, thanks for joining me. Whipping around, Emma looked but couldn't see anyone. Hearing a light chuckle in her mind, Emma started lifting up her ringed finger. Don't worry, you're friends won't miss you. I'll see to that. Running quickly, Ryuko came around a corner and saw his prey backing towards the doors.
"Guys…" Rushing at full speed, Ryuko made his fist impervious and slowed down enough to hit Emma head on without killing her. Stopped before she was able to warn her friends, Emma slumped over. With his prize in his arms, Ryuko left at full speed to stow her away safely.
"Yeah Emma, what's up?" Brennan asked, looking at the man in front of him. Not hearing a reply, Brennan turned around and looked at the back of the room. Wondering where she was, Brennan wasn't pleased when he didn't see her. "Jesse, Shal, Emma's not responding and I don't see her. I'm going to go check it out." Nodding in agreement, the feral and molecular watched Brennan casually move to the back of the room. As he still didn't see her, Brennan quietly walked out of the room before stopping dead in his tracks. Picking up the silver ring on the ground, Brennan hissed. "He's got Emma."
Forced to stay the rest of the conference to make sure the Senators left safely, Jesse became more and more agitated. We shouldn't be here! We should be trying to find Emma! Emma! Concern intermingled with anger, coming off Jesse's normally stoic expression in waves. Finally able to leave for the double helix, the team didn't spare anytime. Shalimar had tried to pick up on Emma's scent, unhappy to discover it seemed to dissipate quickly within a few steps of the spot where her COM ring was found. Heading back to Sanctuary, all three remained silent, each involved in their own thoughts.
Rushing into the lab, Brennan and Shalimar started asking where they should start looking as Jesse began pacing back and forth. Looking at his worried companions, Adam smiled slightly.
"Everything is going as planned. Don't worry." Adam said, moving from one table to a computer console. Silent, everyone stared at Adam in disbelief. Typing furiously on the computer, Adam continued to focus on his most recent plan and didn't notice Shalimar walk up.
"Adam, are you okay?" Shalimar asked, deeply concerned that something was wrong. Looking up, Adam saw the state his friends were in and suddenly realized what they must be thinking. Exhaling, Adam wondered if maybe he shouldn't have mentioned this to them earlier.
"Yes, Shal, thank you. Emma is fine. When Ryuko kissed her hand earlier, he must have felt some connection with her. Otherwise he could have killed her without a second thought. I took the precaution of placing a tracking device on her before she left in case he tried something like this." Adam said. Making his hand impervious, Jesse turned and slammed it into the wall, expelling a great yell filled with frustration, concern, and anger. Shocked, Adam and the others stood still.
"You used her as bait." Jesse spit out, thoroughly disgusted. Rigid with anger, Jesse walked out of the lab without a second glance.
Looking at Adam, Brennan wondered what in the world the man could have been thinking. Now Emma was out there, tracking device or no, in the hands of one of the most dangerous New Mutants Genomax had ever devised. Damn it! Visibly upset and getting angrier by the minute, Brennan glared at Adam.
"Well, obviously Jesse's upset." Adam said before sighing sharply. Running his hands through his hair in an agitated motion, Adam began rationalizing. "Maybe he's too close to this one. I think his personal feelings for Emma are clouding his judgment." Flinching, Shalimar felt as if she had just been slapped in the face. Growling, the feline feral walked slowly and deliberately towards Adam, threatening to pounce.
"Jesse's right. You practically handed her to him. If one hair on her head is so much as misplaced…" Brennan threatened through clenched teeth, unable to control his temper.
"Get ready for a beating Adam. When I tried to catch Emma's scent at the hotel, I smelled blood before losing the scent. And it was fresh." Shalimar hissed, stepping in front of Brennan before the man could lunge after Adam. Grimacing, Adam looked at the glares Brennan sent his way and Shalimar's gold eyes, thinking Damn!
"Listen, I'm sure she'll be fine. I've almost located her. Give me a few more minutes, and I'll have her location. Then you guys can go get her and bring Ryuko in at the same time." Adam stated while walking over to the console and typing in a few more commands. Unable to reason with the cold, calculating scientist Adam occasionally let out, Brennan and Shalimar left the room for fresh air.
Sighing, Adam sat down abruptly on one of the few chairs in the lab. I didn't think this would affect them so much. Emma can take care of herself. What has happened to my team? Wondering where he went wrong, Adam stared mindlessly at the computer screen crunching data in front of him. He thought he had trained them well. Somewhere, something had changed and he'd missed it. Getting frustrated, Adam took a book off the table in front of him and slammed it onto the floor. The loud sound jogged him out of his frustrating thoughts. We're people first Adam. We are people first. Surprised, Adam wondered where the thoughts came from. As strange as it was, he knew instinctively that they were right. His team may consist of some of the most powerful New Mutants existing, but they were all human. Making decisions and living their lives based on their feelings and experiences, suddenly Adam felt the fool. I should have known they would grow this close, that things would change. Secretly vowing to make this up to his team, his friends, his family, Adam began scanning the computer rapidly and typing in commands until his fingers began bleeding. Twenty minutes later, Adam froze as the computer beeped. Emma's location had been determined, seconds before the signal disappeared.