Summary: What if the comlink rings ceremony didn't go as it did? (I guess that makes it A/U, right?)

Couple: Emma / Brennan, Emma / Adam (not romantic)

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: MUTANT X is copyright 2001, Tribune Entertainment Co. So the characters do not belong to me. Also, I am not making any money out of this story, I'm just giving the Emma / Brennan fans out there a little more to feed on.   The title of this fan fiction and of this chapter are  from the song 'If You Wanna Stay' by Keith Urban on his 1999 US debut CD 'keith urban' so copyrights apply to whoever owns them for that song as well.

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Chapter 1

'Go if you wanna go, stay if you wanna stay…'

Stepping forward, Shalimar Fox and Jesse Kilmartin presented them with small silver boxes. After looking at each other, Emma DeLauro and Brennan Mulwray reached for them and found themselves facing a choice that would change their lives forever. Both knew what accepting these rings represented.

Looking again at the brunette who stood beside him, Brennan understood his destiny was linked to hers, no matter what happened. It all started in that nightclub when he briefly saw life through her beautiful eyes.  Fate had brought her to him… not once, twice. And then she had saved his life by helping the Mutant X team locate him at Genomex. Brennan realized all too well that if it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't be offered this chance to make something good out of his life. But above everything else, he wasn't ready to let her run out of his life once again. With a smile, he slipped the ring on his finger and looked down at his hand as the ring glowed briefly with the promise of a new future. A future where Miss De Lauro would be at his side every day.

Emma remained still, looking at the ring she held. Thinking about the past few days since she literally ran into Brennan at the nightclub, she put it back in the small velvet box then closed it. The sharp noise startled everyone and made Brennan look up.

"Emma, what are you doing? " he asked, confusion in his eyes. He could have sworn this was what she wanted, to be part of this team. Had he read her wrong? And if so, was everything he thought he knew about her wrong as well?

"I'm sorry, I can't."

Emma handed the box back to Shalimar and turned around to leave. Adam took one step, reaching for the young woman.

"Emma, wait."

"Adam, the other day you said I could start a new life, with a new identity.  Let me know when transportation is arranged, will you?"

With a sigh, Adam dropped his hand to his side.

"If that's what you want, Emma."

"Thank you" replied Emma, leaving the room without looking back. If she had, the look in Brennan's eyes would have probably made her think twice.

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Shalimar spun around, her eyes flashing gold. She already felt very protective toward the younger woman and couldn't believe just what Adam had just agreed to do.

"Adam, you can't let her go! You know that Eckhart will not stop until the GSA get their filthy hands on her", she yelled.

"Not to mention what you told us earlier about what could happen if they get her to misuse her powers", added Jesse.

"I know", sighed Adam, closing his eyes. 'Emma, why?' he thought. Without another word, Adam went to the lab, closing the door behind him and leaving the three young mutants wondering what to do next.

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Fighting back the tears in her eyes, Emma entered the room that was hers. 'That should have been mine', Emma corrected herself. She had managed to keep herself together in front of the others and now it took her all her strength to not throw herself on the bed and cry her soul out. Deciding she needed to keep busy, she walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer. She took out the few clothes and personal belongings it contained and put them on the bed.

'It's better this way', she tried to convince herself as she took out her bag from the closet.

She would have brought them nothing but worries in the end, no matter what Adam and the others thoughts. Her face softened at the thought of Adam.  He had been nothing but nice and caring to her, never demanding and always patient, even when time was running out for them to find Brennan and the other new mutants held by the GSA. Emma felt that Adam could have taught her so much, not just about her new powers. And now, she was betraying him.

"No, I never made any promise to Adam", she said out loud, shaking her head. "He'll understand and soon they'll find someone else for the team. Someone who won't turn out to be the weakest link."

No longer able to hold them back, tears went flowing down her cheeks as she faced the reason why she couldn't accept Adam's offer. She was scared; scared she never would be able to pull her weight in this team and that in the end it could get someone hurt. Someone like Brennan…