Disclaimer: Tell me any avid fan of Mutant X that doesn't know I don't own them. LOL. I don't know how powerful these characters are and I don't even know if they are really like this. All of the actions mentioned below are just my imagination.
Authors Note: I was thinking of ending the story there but as I have promised, I need to put Jesse and Emma back together (and so do Brennan and Shalimar).
Special thanks to:
Empacular: I share the same emotions as you do. I hate the idea of eliminating Emma's character in the show. Anyway, thanks for reading my work.
X-gangsta's-brat-x: hey there! I've missed you. Glad you drop by. Thanks for reading my stuff.
Enorm87: I was thinking of stopping but then again other readers might not like a sequel. Thanks for the suggestion though. c",)
Spikes-storm: don't worry girl. I wont. LOL.
Bri: you convinced me to work overtime so here's the update you are asking.
Aur: You are really good in giving ideas. I think I'll make Gabriel's plan to work a bit before Emma finally kicks his ass!
Emma453: are you the one who emailed me about the lyrics of a song? Oh well, if you are the girl, I will try and write a short fic just for the lyrics you sent me…Promise!
Maddy: LOL! Okay! I'll continue..mwuahh
La-angele321: hahaha! Okay, already! Hahaha! I won't stop.
Goldstranger: no, girfriend. That is purely Emma speaking. Don't get me wrong. She is not mad. Not ever. It's just the hurt she still feels. And yes she was just confused because she doesn't know the other half of the story. Girl. How could I concentrate when you keep on threatening me? *sigh*
Bjvision: thanks. I love the way I end it too. Hahahaha!
Okay… so majority wins---I'll continue!
Hope you'll like it.
Underestimated
~Thought ~
Memory
/Sounds/
"Conversation"
Chapter 23
Cole gathered all his strength while he looks for Emma inside his and Meg's house. Emma has been staying with them since she left the Sanctuary though she has suggested that she finds her own apartment to stay but Meg insisted that she stay with them so she did.
Cole found her in the porch. It was a cold night but Emma was still wearing her favorite tank and she paired it with a jogging pants. Cole admired Emma's long red hair even though she had it up in a ponytail. He love everything about her: her vigor, her smile, her lips, thnd in the porch.
"Oh no, not at all." Emma tried to force a smile.
"It's cold out here. Do you need a coat?" He offered her.
"It's all right. I like to feel the gentle breeze." Emma looked away and inhaled. She could feel the concern emitting from Cole and it made her smile. She could sense something strong from him but she didn't want to steal from the opportunity of expressing it to her she chose to wait.
Cole stood beside her and he threw a glance at her then he looked away. He wanted to read her—her thoughts, but she was guarding it very well. He smiled at this. Just being around her makes him feel better.
"Have you ever been in love before?" Emma asked him, trying to strike a conversation.
Cole was a bit startled. "What?" There was a short pause as they stared at each other and then he smiled at her. "Why, yes. Of course. What made you asked that?"
Emma sighed and looked away. She shook her head and lifted her hands to fix her ponytail. She leaned on a post as she allowed her hands to drop on her side. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to know…" Emma looked at him "…Was is a wonderful experience? I mean…"
"I know what you mean." Cole interrupted her and then he stared at her. "Why do you want to know?"
Emma clenched at the railings at the porch. "I just wanted to know if everybody hurts when they fall in love."
Cole could see the pain from Emma's eyes. It doesn't take a genius to know when a person is hurting. "You're still hung up with him are you?"
"With whom?"
"Come on Emma. You know I could read that from you." Cole willed her to tell him.
Emma sighed. "It's just that… I don't know. I think I'm meant to be alone."
"What do you mean?" Cole worriedly asked.
"Well, first I met someone but then he was just using me." Emma sighed as she remembered Caleb. She admits that Caleb used her but she knew he wouldn't was not it for his mutation. "Then I met someone…or should I say something." A smile adorned her face as she remembered Kyle. "Then again I met another man..." Emma closed her eyes as she tried to recall her life with Tyler. He was one of the most wonderful thing that had happen to her. She tried to smile but to no avail as tears slowly escape the tiny holes of her eyes. "Everything was going so right until he died. I was blaming myself. I could have done something."
She paused, as it was too painful to recall the bitter events of her life. "And then Jesse came into my life. I mean, he has been with me for quite sometimes but I haven't seen him in that way…you know…and I've loved him like I've never been in love before. I thought we were meant to be together but…" Emma had to stop. There were silent tears in her eyes. She looked at Cole with those lonely emeralds. "I died when I lost him."
Cole wiped the tears away from Emma's eyes. He was trying his best to justify what he did. His brain is bleeding in pain as he sees the love of his life in agony.
"All my powers in sensing and I didn't even sensed that coming." Emma sighed and she looked at stars.
"Love." Cole uttered as he placed his hands on Emma's shoulder. "It doesn't help that we are psionics. Brain is so far different from the heart. Emotions are tricky but some times thinking too much doesn't make it better."
"I wanted to fight for him. I really wanted him back." Emma shook her head as she thought of what she should have done.
"But do you think Jesse wants that too? I mean, he wouldn't have cheated on you if he loves you that much in the first place."
Emma nodded. "I guess I was too overwhelmed with my feelings for him that I didn't see our relationship was about to end." She bit her lips.
"You've done the right thing by leaving him, Emma."
Emma had to face Cole. "Why do you say that?"
"Love is not about what you feel. It's about what you make the other person feel. You knew he needed space and you gave him that, even if it was breaking you heart. That is love and nothing could be compared with the sacrifice you've done for him."
Emma looked down as she accepted Cole's reasoning. She knew and believed that she made the right thing about leaving the Sanctuary but if it was the right thing, why does it feel so wrong? Why does Jesse keep on asking her to come back? Why does she keep on sensing that Shalimar is madly and hopelessly in love with Brennan?
Cole held her tighter willing her to cry it out and it did made her cry. Cole took her in his arms and carried her to her room. "It's getting late…I thinks you need to sleep." He tucked her in and kissed her on her forehead. "Good-night." He bid her and he left her in her room.
**************
"Why did you brought me here?" Jesse asked Meg as Meg parked her car outside her place.
"This is my place." She told him.
"And so?" Jesse looked away, paying no attention to Meg's sentences. His mind is still bleeding which was caused by Emma's absence. It was only months since Emma left but for him it has almost been years. Anguish was written all over his face. He had not shave for months now as he had no time. All he could do is think and plan of how to have Emma back. How could they have Emma back if every time they come for her she keeps on moving away?
"Listen to me!" Meg demanded. "Emma is here with us."
Jesse stood straight because of what he heard. "Emma is here?" he asked and was about to got out of the car when Meg stopped her.
"Wait Jesse! You can't see her now. She doesn't want to see you." Meg got Jesse in his arms.
"You brought me here…telling me that Emma is inside…but I can't see her? What is that?" Jesse yelled at Meg. He didn't want to shout at her but he wanted to see Emma so badly. He didn't sneak out of the Sanctuary just to hear this stupid news.
"I'm not here to bring you stupid news Jesse, if you could only be patient." Meg yelled back. She was getting tired of them questioning her again and again. "Listen Jesse. I know what happened."
That got Jesse's attention. "What? What are you talking about?"
"I know what happen to you and to your friend?" Meg talked about the event between Jesse and Shalimar.
Jesse cringed his forehead. "What are you talking about?"
"Come on Jesse." Meg tried telling Jesse that she know about what happen to him and to Shalimar but Meg wanted to tell him without sounding like she was been spying on them. "I know what happened. That you really didn't know what you were doing and what Emma saw was not you." Meg finally explained to him and Jesse got it but he is still a bit confused. How did she know?
"You know?" He cringed his face more. "How?" was all that Jesse could ask.
Meg looked away, trying to avoid Jesse's eyes for she was ashamed of what her brother did. "It's my brother and a man named Gabriel."
"Ashlocke?" Jesse made face as he heard Gabriel's name.
"You know him?" Meg faced him again. She didn't have any idea he knew Gabriel but it didn't surprised her. She knew how Ashlocke's name has been dragged to the mutant's world and how his reputation precedes him.
"Know? We've been fighting him and his people almost half of our lives." Jesse lifted his shoulder and then allowed his hand to land on his lap. He was quite pissed on the idea that they can't keep Gabriel out of their sanity.
Jesse paused for a while and then he inhaled before he got a grip of the other part of what Meg told him. He looked at her and eyed her. "Your brother, Cole…He's working with Gabriel?" and then he realized that Shalimar already told them that one. He just couldn't believe that Cole could do that to Emma.
"Some times in our lives we let our selfishness gets into our way." Meg said. She knew why Cole did what he did. She is aware how her brother is in-love with Emma. She knew that her brother would do anything just to have Emma.
Without another word, Jesse walked out of the car. Meg was a bit surprised but she was quick. She got out and run after Jesse.
"What do you think you're doing?" Meg got Jesse on his arm.
Jesse shook his head and lifted his arms, then he placed it on his waist. "I'm gonna tell Emma what happened. I'm gonna go there…inside your house and get Emma back." Jesse started walking away again but this time Meg did something that surprised Jesse.
Meg gave him a low kick, sweeping him off his feet and making him land on his butt; Meg jumped on top of him and successfully pinned him down. "Are you even listening? My brother is working with Gabriel…" Meg started in a low airy voice. It was more of a whisper. She could not let Cole know that she would want to help Cole's rival. "You are just a molecular and you would be fighting against Gabriel."
Jesse allowed his head to rest on the lawn. He didn't have to be beaten to come to his senses. He knew his powers are no match with that of Gabriel's but he couldn't let Emma alone. He just couldn't. He loves her so much and he would give up anything for her.
"I don't care anymore, Meg." He uttered. "Her absence is killing me…it's killing all of us. I would like to think that she's just another woman that have passed by my life but she isn't." Jesse tried to sit down forcing Meg to move away from him. He covered his face with his hands and he sighed. "She's everything I live for. If she's happy with Cole…" Jesse paused for a part of him rebelled on that thought. "God knows that I would let her but something inside me keep on telling me that she isn't so I have to get her back."
"I know what you're trying to say but rushing wouldn't make Emma come back with you. We need to plan our moves. We need to think about everything."
Jesse looked at Meg and nodded. Maybe she's right… Maybe they should plan for it…
*********
Brennan walked silently in the hallway of the Sanctuary. He knew that Emma has severed their bond forever and he really couldn't feel her presence any longer. He knew he'd get over her…in time…
/thug! Thump! /
He heard noises from somewhere he's not sure but he needed to check it out. He looked at his watch. It's 2:00 in the morning. Could it be Shalimar? ~No! At this time even ferals are asleep… ~ he thought. ~Oh well, it wouldn't hurt to check ~
Brennan tip toed to the feral's room and slowly and carefully keyed in the number lock and the door slowly slid open.
"Shal!" he called out with a silent voice. "Shal!" he repeated then something caught his eyes. The windows are wide open. ~oh my god ~ he thought. He rushed at the pane and looked outside. "Shalimar!" he screamed. But there was no sign of the feral. His heart was beating fast as the thought of Shalimar in Gabriel's arms hunted him. He tried to shook it off. "Shalimar!" he repeated but there was still no reply. He hurriedly whipped around willing himself to go outside and look for the feral when the bathroom door slid open.
"What are you doing?" Shalimar asked him. She only has the towel around her body, as she was still wet from the shower.
Brennan jerked back "God, Shal. You scared the hell out of me."
"I what?" she asked. She couldn't make out of what Brennan was telling her.
Without another word, Brennan grabbed Shalimar and he threw his arms around her. "I thought I've lost you too." He was kissing her head.
Shalimar couldn't believe what she was hearing from him. She pushed him away and she looked into his eyes. She could swear she saw tears in them. "Are you crying?" she asked him.
Brennan nodded. "You scared me…" he paused for a while. He didn't know why he was feeling this way. He knew Shalimar is special to him…everyone in the team is… but why is he scared so much? Maybe because his mind couldn't accept the idea that he could lose her that easy… Maybe because he couldn't accept the fact that he could lose Shalimar like the way he lost Emma… ~Maybe because you're in love with her ~ a part of his brain tells him. "I thought I lost you."
Shalimar smiled. She loved what she heard… she longed to hear that from him and now she did and it felt so good. She lifted her hand and touched his face. "You would never lose me. I'll always be here for you." She told him.
Brennan accepted that although he knew that was a promise she couldn't keep. He pulled her again in his arms and started kissing her in a wet hungry kiss. Brennan didn't know but it seems like she have wanted to do this all his life.
Shalimar didn't know what she should do. She wanted to kiss him back but she wondered if that kiss was really meant for her. Her mind started to bleed I disgust. Why is he kissing her? Does he think that she's Emma? Shalimar pushed Brennan away. ~NO! ~ her mind screamed. ~This kiss is not for me ~ she told herself.
"Shal…" Brennan whispered, willing her to let him have her.
"I'm not Emma." She told him softly. Tears were smearing on her eyes.
"Of course you're not…" Brennan cringed his forehead. Of course he know he was kissing Shalimar but why does Shalimar have to remind him that. Brennan moved closer to Shalimar but she moved away.
"Why are you doing this, Bren?" Shalimar demanded. She wanted to know why he kissed her. What is his agenda?
Brennan turned around and slowly sat on the feral's bed. "I honestly don't know. But I need you Shal. I can't afford to lose you."
Silence filled the feral's room. Both didn't know what to say. Both were surprised by their actions. What just happened? Why is Shalimar scared? What is it that Brennan is feeling?
Shalimar forced a smile. "I need to get dressed, Bren." Tears was gone from her eyes.
Brennan lifted his head and willed himself to look at her then he noticed that she was only in her towel. "Yeah! Sorry!" he uttered. He stood up and backed away. "I'm just gonna go now." he pointed outside while he waited for Shalimar to acknowledge him. When Shalimar nodded, he went out without another word.
*******
Emma lay uncomfortably awake in her bed. She could feel the emptiness in her heart. Cole's words kept on repeating in her mind:
"Love is not about what you feel. It's about what you make the other person feel. You knew he needed space and you gave him that, even if it was breaking you heart. That is love and nothing could be compared with the sacrifice you've done for him."
~I did the right thing ~ she told herself but her heart ached in the most bitter level of pain. Tears streamed endlessly from her emeralds. ~Why does it hurts like this? ~ her mind tortured her as she was reminded of Jesse.
She closed her eyes and tried falling asleep but her sense are still fully awake and there is no use in trying. She reached out at the left side of her bed and switched on the light then she sat up on her bed and sighed. She wanted to scream from the endless throbbing in her heart. She wanted to cry the emptiness in her soul. She knew she died when she saw Jesse with Shalimar but she did not know that dying is like this…endless…
*********
Adam walked back and fort in the confinement of the laboratory. If his steps would leave mark, there would be a thick unexplainable mark in the laboratory. After seeing Emma months ago, he started convincing himself that Emma is better off without them. He had to admit that he didn't expect her to be like that although he knew that Emma possess powers that even he—the mutant's creator, don't know.
He sighed and stopped from pacing. He loves his children, as he likes to call all the mutants, but Emma was the closest to him. Well, it was not surprising since Emma used to stay with him longer than the others. He remembered a day when he wished he had a daughter; he even wished his daughter would be more like Emma.
Tears streamed from the doctor's eyes. What had happen to his team? Where did he go wrong? He could feel his heart breaking as he watched them fight each other months ago when they tried to bring Emma back. It was something he never wanted to see again. All his life, he spent his hours looking for a way to make each of them stronger; he spent his days looking for a way to make their lives longer since he knew each mutation would affect the length of each mutants lives; now, he is spending his time to make a potion that would make his team forget.
They needed to move on and whether he likes it or not, Emma's absence maim their lives. He tried everything to make the team function again but since Emma left, every mission is a failure or at least half done. He tried giving each one new load but their emotions would still be gloomy. He tried throwing more jokes but the joke always seemed dead and flat even to him. He tried pulling out another psionic from the underground but the rest of the team didn't subscribe to his idea. 'Emma is coming back' they insisted.
~This is the best plan ~ he told himself. He would make them forget about Emma then maybe they could move on. He lifted the vial and looked at it. He made enough potion for each of them and he already made a note on his desk that each of them needed to drink it in case he forgets after drinking the 'forgetting-potion'. He has no one to test it to so he decided to take the first batch of potion. If his calculations were right, it would only take away sad memories of Emma. He inhaled as he gathered his wits… ~I should do this ~ he thought when a sudden scream from Brennan made him stop.
"Shalimar!"
Adam heard Brennan's voice he placed the vial down and run out off the lab to wherever Brennan is. ~What now? ~ he asked himself. He could not afford to lose another child. His heart beat like a drum… ~please don't make anything happen to her ~ he begged to his lucky stars….
MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-
***Lyza***
I really don't know what I should right next. You thought I was going to make it easy for Brennan to have Shalimar? LOL… of course not. *evil grin* time to go now. Please keep on posting your reviews. Thanks!
