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: hello everyone! I was very happy you liked the chapter. I was thinking of cutting the story short… what do you think? Anyway, I'm a bit engulfed about my health now especially now that I'm going to have a baby. Yeah, I'm six weeks pregnant. Could you believe it? =)

Special thanks to:

Theblondeone07: you are new from my list. Don't worry I'll your hopes are for the best.

Emma453: of course I would write more of Emma and Jesse stuff but my next fic would be a Brennan and Emma story.

Aur: Gabriel won't stop there. Wait and see what happened next. You like Brennan and Shalimar I guess… =)

Enorm87: it's okay if you didn't had time.

Bri: what could I say…hehehe…here is your request…

Maddy: I was planning to write a fic about her, coming back from the sanctuary even if the first episode of the third killed her. Are you a B/E fan? Hit me back ok? Mwuahh!

Bjvision: hahaha! You are full of wonderful comments and I like that. Hehehe! Thanks for the review.

Shalimar2: hi! You are new on my fic I could see that. Welcome. Hehehe

Underestimated

            ~Thought ~

            Memory

            /Sounds/

            "Conversation"

Chapter 25

            It took them week for brainstorming then the plan was carried on. Adam made a COM ring link for Meg just to keep her connected and she was sent back to her place to keep an eye on Emma. Meanwhile Jesse worked over time in changing the codes in the Sanctuary since Shalimar knew all the codes. They knew that there is no telling when Gabriel would plan to attack and he could even use Shalimar to enter the Sanctuary undetected. Although they know that Gabriel is obsessed with the feral, there is still no telling what he might do.

            It was an almost normal day in the Sanctuary as Brennan wasted himself in the dojo while he tried to forget all that has happened. Adam found the elemental in the dojo, throwing electricity at the solid hologram.

            "Brennan!" he called out. "That is not the way to break the system!" he told the elemental.

            Brennan looked at the scientist and sighed. He allowed his fist to drop on his side as his sweat made a path on his sleek body. "I could have protected her…" he uttered as the memories crept back in his thoughts.

            Adam pulled a small forced smile on his face as he walked closer to Brennan. "Shalimar is a strong feral even powerful than you are… but Ashlocke is not a match to any of you…"

            "And what does that mean? That we can't beat him? And why didn't you tell us that he was revived?" Brennan demanded as he controlled his anger. With hands on his waist, he glared at Adam as he gnash his teeth.

            "Like you could have done anything…" was Adam's terse and calm reply. It's not that he doesn't care at all. He does, really but this is not time to blame anyone and Adam knew that. Conversation such as this one is only a waste of time and energy.

            Brennan looked away and he bit his lips. He couldn't help but blame himself… he was one of the reason's why Emma went away. Now, he didn't even have a chance to protect Shalimar. He feels worthless.

            Just at that moment, they heard Jesse running and shouting at the hallway…

            "Adam! Brennan! Meg is back and she said Emma is with her!" Jesse called out.

            Adam didn't waste any second. He gathered his feet and decided to meet Meg and Emma on their way. He missed the psionic. Emma has spent all of her life in the Sanctuary since she joined the Group. Unlike the other's who have secret lives outside the Sanctuary, Emma has dedicated all her time and her life to the Sanctuary and that is why she and Adam became closer than the rest. Adam treated her like his own daughter. God, how he missed her and he couldn't believe that the psionic is back.

            Jesse turned around when Adam met him halfway. He wanted to be one of the first to see Emma back. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to tell her how much he loves her… he missed her so much. There was no time when Emma drifted away from his mind. Emma was everything for him—his morning, his noon, his air, his life…

            Brennan followed Adam and Jesse. He too wanted to see her, not because he is still in-love with her but because he still loves her—as a sister, as a teammate, as a friend, as his best friend.

            The three men stopped at the Sanctuary's entrance when it opened. There was excitement on their faces as they waited. Brennan even forgot to wipe his sweat away. Meg went in first then Emma. Happiness could be traced in the men's faces but their happiness vanished when Emma begun to deliver her short speech.

            "I'm here just to get Shalimar back…after that I'm out of here so don't start getting ideas that I'll stay here… We are not friends anymore and we will never be…again…ever…" she said and then looked at Meg. "I'll get some of our stuff." Emma walked away and left the three mutants and her creator inside.

            "Sorry about that…" Meg apologized for Emma's attitude. "I just convinced her to come with me. Don't mind her. She really wanted to help you, she just didn't want to tell you." She smiled at the gentlemen.

            Adam forced a smile although there was a pang in his heart. He could not believe that his sweet gentle and kind psionic child has now grew up and has left it's nest…that part made him smile but what made his heart ache is the fact that this same child—Emma, does not want to return to its nest—the Sanctuary. What went wrong?

            Emma came back with all those baggage but she seemed to handle does things with ease. She was carrying a back pack—a huge one; a travel bag in each hand and a medium sized body bag. Jesse and Brennan came forward and offered a hand but Emma shunned them telling them that she could handle it. Brennan and Jesse was left with no choice but to let Emma handle everything but they walked near her just in case. Adam nodded at them signaling to let Emma have her time and then he led them in her room.

******

            "So! I guess you have not seen any replacement yet." Emma sarcastically inquired and it made Adam to look at her. She smirked at him and arched her eyebrow. "Come on Adam. You didn't think I wouldn't know that you were looking for a replacement." She snorted and placed the baggage down as she went inside her old room. "That's all right." She said. "You should really think of replacing me." Then she turned away. Meg looked at Adam and she raised her shoulder. Adam looked back at Meg and forced a smile.

"If you need anything I would be at reach." Adam explained.

"Yeah, yeah! Whatever." Was Emma's careless reply.

Adam looked at Meg again and nodded towards her before he left with Brennan and Jesse.

*********

            "Why do you do that?" Meg then asked Emma after she closed the door behind her. She faced the telempath and crossed her arms.

            Emma looked at the Pre-cog telepath and smirked. "Do what?" she sat down on—what she called—her former bed. She leaned on her huge pillow and posed an annoying smirk.

            "That! Why do you keep on being sarcastic to your friends?" She walked closer to Emma.

            "Correction! Former friends." Emma uttered.

            "And why do you keep on denying them?"

            Emma stood up and faced Meg with an irritated feature. "Why do you keep on pushing them to me? How many times should I tell you that I don't care about them anymore?"

            "Come on Emma! You can't lie to me. You could lie to everyone even to yourself but you could never lie to me…not to me Emma. I've been in you mind."

"Stop It!" Emma begged.

"I know how you care about them…"

"Please Meg!" She pleaded.

"I know how you feel about them."

"Stop it!" Emma yelled.

"I know how you still feel about them."

"Stop it!" Emma repeated.

"I know—"

"I said stop it!" Emma finally screamed, which made Meg halt. "I don't need this." Emma turned around as she raised her hand and shook her head.

"Why do keep on turning away?' Meg suddenly changed her mode from taunting to concern. Emma has been her good friend and for the past few months that the telempath had stayed with her, she knew her better. She knew that Emma is just holding back but she don't understand why?

"Because it hurts. It hurts so much…" tears streamed from Emma's emeralds. "I died when Jesse and Shalimar—" she stopped. Even the memories hurt. She looked at Meg with those tearful and lonely eyes. "I don't want to feel that same pain again, Meg. I don't think I'm gonna make it next time."

Meg paced closer to Emma and she pulled her to her small frame. "You still love him." She uttered. It was not a question but rather a phrase. She was sure that Emma is still in love with Jesse.

Emma nodded. Of course she loves Jesse. Why would she be there is she doesn't? In fact, she's not doing this for anyone else… she's not going to help save Shalimar for Adam, nor for Brennan, nor for Shalimar herself… she's doing this for Jesse. She wanted Jesse and Shalimar to be together because she still believe that Jesse is in love with Shalimar…

That same thought crashed into Meg's mind and she pushed Emma away from her. "Why do you keep on thinking that?" she asked.

Emma didn't answered. She stayed sobbing as the memories washed over her frail mind.

"Emma, you have all the power to know if Jesse and Shalimar are hooking up together. Why don't you use it?" Meg suggested.

"For the last few months I've been sensing Jesse's feelings for me…and I trusted that. But look what happened. He betrayed the trust." Emma shook her head and closed her eyes. "I don't want to trust my powers that much anymore. This time I'm gonna use my brain and my heart."

Meg wanted to tell Emma the rest of the story but her phone rang. She stepped out of the room to take the call.

****************

***Meanwhile***

Jesse paced back and fort the laboratory where Adam and Brennan started on analyzing the file, which the molecular had gathered.

"If you don't stop, you will create a big whole in the lab." Brennan joked but it didn't make the molecular smile.

Jesse looked at the elemental and sighed. "Is it just me or does Emma seem to go further and further away from us?"

There was silence in the lab. Both Adam and Brennan don't know what to say. They would lie if they say that Jesse is imagining it for they both know and feel what Jesse is talking about.

Jesse then looked at Adam. "What do you think Adam?" he asked.

Adam forced a smile but he failed terribly. He really doesn't know what to say. He too is hurting. He love Emma as his own and it hurts him to see her pushing them away. "I really don't know, Jess. I'm sorry." He replied.

Even if Jesse, Brennan and Shalimar didn't tell him anything about what was the root was all this, he was not stupid not to have a clue. He knew what had happened between Jesse and Shalimar and he refused to believe his instincts. He knew Jesse and Shalimar didn't intend what happened. But he also knew that that must have hurt Emma too much that she didn't want to feel the same pain again.

**********

Cole was going crazy looking for Emma. He searched the whole house but still no sign of the telempath. He tried contacting her through her mind but he can't find her even. Where is she? That was the only time he decided to phone his sister Meg.

            "Meg!" He said as Meg answered back in the receiver.

            "Cole? Why did you call me?" Meg asked back.

            "I've been looking for Emma. Do you know where she is?" Cole waited for her reply.

            Meg thought for a while. Should she tell Cole that Emma is with her? Should she tell him where they are? Or should she lie to her brother.

            "Meg?" Cole repeated and it snapped Meg back from her thoughts. "Do you know where Emma is?"

Meg took a deep breath and then responded. "Yuh!"

"Where? Where is she?" Cole waited again.

Meg paused once more.

            "Well—" Cole willed Meg to tell him everything.

            "She's here—" Meg said softly. "—with me."

            "Where?"

            "."

            "Meg?" Cole wondered why Meg hesitated to tell him then he thought of using his power for a while. He tried entering Meg's mind.

            "."

            "."

            "."

            ~Oh my god! ~ Cole thought.

            Meg felt the invasion in her mind and she raised her guards higher. She felt like the invader was her brother.

            "Meg!" He hollered. "What are you doing in the Sanctuary with Emma? You know I—"

            "Cole. I'm not gonna sit there and watch you lie to our friend." Meg tried to control herself as not to be heard by Emma who is just in the other room.

            "Meg, I need Emma. I need her."

            "I know, but she belongs here."

            "Please Meg, don't do this." Cole begged.

            "Sorry Cole. You're my brother but what you are doing is wrong. Sorry." With that, Meg ended their talk.

            "Meg!" he screamed through the receiver. "Meg!" he repeated. Then suddenly there was an annoying laughter behind him and it made him turn around. "Oh my—" Cole uttered. ~Shalimar? ~ he thought when she saw that familiar face.

            "Hello Cole!" Shalimar greeted Cole.

            Cole place the phone down and shook his head. He could not believe his eyes. He could not believe his ears. What is Shalimar doing here?

            "Visiting you!" Gabriel answered his mind query as he emerged from nowhere. "Hello dear friend! It seems like your dream girl have escaped." He mocked Cole.

            "This is—" Cole acted like he wanted to beat Gabriel but Shalimar blocked his way as the feral's eyes turned yellowish green.

            Shalimar let out a small growl. "Back away if you know what's good for you." She warned Cole and good enough he moved away.

            Cole was quite confused. He didn't understand why is Shalimar protecting Gabriel. Isn't she supposed to side against the stronger mutant? Why is she with him now?

            Gabriel smiled contentedly as he taste the sweet feeling of winning after he had Shalimar. He moved to her side and put and arms around the feral. "Thank you darling." He told her and rewarded her with his kiss. He felt good as his tongue invaded Shalimar's mouth. He longed for this and now the feral is here with him. He looked at Cole and he grinned at his facial expression. "She's with me now, Cole." He said. "And we're here to fulfill the other half of the bargain…"

            "And what is that?" Cole asked.

            "Emma! You want her right? I'll get her for you!" Shalimar quickly replied.

MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-

***Lyza***

Okay! You probably all wanted to kill me now but please, please! Let me finished the story first…and then you could kill me! LOL. Thanks for posting your reviews. Keep it all coming! Thank you!