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 in the hospital again, sorry for the delay… I hope you'll like this chapter.
Specail thanks to:
Aur: You have not seen anything yet! Lol… thanks for the review… I will miss it (specially now that the fic is about to end). Thanks again…
Spike_storm: thanks a lot… here's the chapter
Bri: it's ok. At least you had you time to post now. LOL. I'll write a bren/shal story for you but not too much in this fic okay.
Enorm87: the action will be following soon. Hehehe! Don't worry though. And about the names, you're right maybe the names would be for babies… hehehe
Telempath: thanks! Keep on reviewing!
Gold: Cole is about to come out really soon. LOL
Theblondeone07: as you requested, emma will have her time to kick his ass, but not now ok. Hehehe!
Bjvision: yeah, it's about to end really soon… I'll miss all of you. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Maddy: hehehe! We'll I'm really quite confusing sometimes. Sorry dear. LOL. Thanks for the review.
Here's the story! Enjoy! And please R&R
Underestimated
~Thought ~
Memory
/Sounds/
"Conversation"
Chapter 30
The club was not as crowded as they thought and it was easy to get a table for everyone. You could even see everyone from one end of the club to another. Maybe it's just not a party night that evening. Everyone expected Shalimar to air out her disappointment but they heard no complaint. Brennan and Jesse looked at each other and then they looked at the girls.
"Why don't you two get us a table while Jesse and I get something for us." Brennan suggested and Shalimar and Emma agreed. The ladies left to find them a place while he and Jesse went straight to the counter.
Jesse signaled at the bar tender to give them drinks and then he looked at Brennan. "Do you think this is the right time to ask her?" he then asked his elemental friend.
"You mean, ask Emma why she was in her room all afternoon?"
"Yeah!" Jesse turned his head to look for the girls and then he found them at the table near the wall.
"There is no better place and time to ask her than here and now." Brennan told him as he patted Jesse's shoulder.
Jesse smiled at him and he nodded. ~Brennan may not be the best person to be asked for advice but he sure have good points sometimes. ~ Jesse thought.
**********
Emma and Shalimar sat quietly at the place which they chose. Emma was thinking of how to keep her pretense; Shalimar kept thinking about Gabriel; both were trying to make a scheme to get each one out of the scene.
Emma was trying to avoid Shalimar's eyes so she could hide her resentment towards her friend. She can't help it. There is now a fine line between friendship and rivalry but she didn't want to play a 'tug-of-war' with Shalimar because she still believes that Shalimar has just been through a lot and she wants to spare Shalimar another heartbreak. Poor Emma, she doesn't even have a hint that Shalimar has her in her palm…or should we say poor Shalimar and Emma, both are dancing in Ashlocke's hands.
Brennan and Jesse came back with drinks in their hands. Emma wanted so much to ask Brennan to sit beside her but she knows how Brennan really wanted to be with Shalimar that night. She could even see it now in the elemental's eyes. Emma observed how Brennan looked at Shalimar with hunger.
Brennan liked Shalimar's attire that night. The feral looked really tough in her camouflage tank and low-rise flare jeans paired with black cat-heeled pointed boots. Brennan can't help but stare at Shalimar.
"Would you like to dance?" Brennan invited Shalimar with a big teasing smile on his face.
Shalimar hid her disgust and smiled back but turned Brennan down. "Later, Brennan. I'm still not in the mood."
"Oh!" poor Brennan bit his lower lip and took a sip from his cola. "Would you like me to get you anything?" he offered again, really wanting to catch her attention.
Shalimar smiled at him again. "Well, we could use something to eat here while waiting for the crowd."
"Yeah! Shal is right. Maybe some onion rings." Emma added when she felt that Shalimar wanted Brennan away. She looked at Shalimar and the feral mouthed a 'thank you' towards the psionic.
Shalimar was doing really great with her pretense and Gabriel is doing great controlling the situation. He knew exactly when Emma is trying to sense Shalimar and he would guard Shalimar's mind from Emma so that Emma would not penetrate.
Brennan finally nodded, still unaware that Shalimar was just trying to get rid of him.
"Add some pizza for Jesse." Shalimar added.
Emma kept the smile on her face while she begun crying inside. ~Has Shalimar no consideration at all? Can she not avoid showing her feeling for Jesse while I am around? ~
Brennan nodded. "Is there anything else?" he asked.
Shalimar glanced at Emma and then at Jesse. "I guess that's it." She then turned to Brennan.
"Alrightie…" Brennan stood up.
"Don't be too long." Shalimar bade and it made Brennan's heart leap in joy.
***
Jesse still doesn't know how to start a short conversation with Emma. He was afraid that he might not say the right words and screw everything up but then he thought that it is now or never. With a couple of sighs, he summoned all his courage just to say a… "Hi Emma".
Shalimar and Emma were a bit startled to her Jesse's voice, finally. Emma nodded and smiled at the molecular and then turned away again.
"Are you feeling okay?" Jesse finally got the courage face her as he was now worried about her.
"Yup! I'm great." Emma said and then turned her face away from Jesse. She knew where this would lead them and she was afraid to talk to Jesse. She is so afraid to here the truth from him.
But Jesse was persistent and he wanted to hear from here. "Ems…"
"Huh!" Emma turned back at Jesse, trying her best to look the exact opposite of what she was feeling—happy.
"Stop it okay! I know something is wrong. Something's bothering you. Tell me!" Jesse took Emma's hand in his but Emma just pulled it away.
"I'm fine Jesse." She smiled at him and gently pushed her locks behind her.
"Emma…"
"I'm fine." Emma gave off a big smile at Jesse and then turned away. Her heart begun pounding loud enough. ~How could he pretend that he does not know anything? ~ Emma gnashed her teeth.
***
Shalimar was looking away from the couple but she was now sensing that Jesse was about to ask Emma about the scene in the dojo and she was not ready to get caught. She was looking at the dance floor while thinking of a good plan to get Jesse out of Emma's face. Suddenly, an idea hit her.
Shalimar turned to Jesse. "Jesse, would you like to dance with…oh…I'm sorry." She pretended to have over looked that the couple was talking.
"No, it's alright, Shal." Emma said, waving her right hand just about her chest level signaling that it was alright.
"But…" Jesse was trying to air his protest but Emma willed him with a cheerful look.
"I'll be fine here, Jess. Go and dance with Shalimar." Emma looked at Jesse's blues and she knew that it would be hard to make Jesse leave so she decided to give him a peck on his cheeks. "I'm fine, now go!" she repeated and she successfully got rid of them.
********
Cole was beginning to feel restless in his room. He could still hear his sister, Meg, at the other room. He started pacing back and forth as he waited for Meg to have her night out but the is still young and he knew Meg would probably go out latter than they usually do.
Cole grabbed his own hair as he could not think of anything to make Meg leave. He knew that Meg is doing everything she can to help Emma. A part of Cole hated that but he could not hurt his sister, even if he hates her that much. He knew that his strength is of no match.
Meg was also restless at that moment. He knew that this is the night where Gabriel would fulfill his plan, making Emma leave the Sanctuary forever. "That's it!" she uttered and then she started to dress up. She needed to get to the Sanctuary and tell Adam everything she knows and she mean everything even if it means hurting his own brother.
Cole was a bit surprised when Meg appeared at his door. "I'm leaving." She said to him.
"Where to?"
"Somewhere. Are you staying here?" She willed him to tell her the truth but Cole avoided her eyes.
"Yeah!" he said. With that Meg left Cole in the house.
******************
Shalimar and Jesse paved their way to the dance floor, which was not really crowded. Jesse shook his head and sighed. "Have I done something wrong?" he asked the feral.
"What do you mean?" Shalimar tried her best to act all innocent and she was good at it.
"Well, I feel like she's pushing me away."
Shalimar pulled Jesse closer to her into a tight hug and she started tapping Jesse's back. "Jesse, you are just being paranoid." She whispered in his ears. "She's not mad." Shalimar slowly moved away from Jesse. "I know Emma and she is not that shallow."
"Yeah, you're right." Jesse smiled and thanked Shalimar.
"No problem." Shalimar posed a flirtatious smile towards Jesse.
But Jesse didn't notice that. Emma occupied his mind and he could not think of anything else but nevertheless, he smiled at her in gratitude. "How could I ever repay you?"
"Well, you could start by dancing with me." Shalimar teased and she didn't fail to get a laugh from him.
"Okie dokie." Jesse tried to free his mind for a while and dance with his friend.
**********
Brennan came back with the onion rings. "Where are they?" he asked Emma. Emma looked away to Shalimar and Jesse's position while Brennan followed her stare. She looked back at Brennan and found the obvious jealousy written all over his face.
"Where's the pizza?" Emma asked to take Brennan's attention away from the feral and the molecular. He knew how protective Brennan could be specially when his male hormones are being challenged.
"They said they'll serve it later." Brennan replied and he took a sip from his cook and a bit of onion rings. Brennan looked at again at Shalimar and Jesse, then he asked Emma. "Why is Jesse dancing with Shalimar and not with you?"
Emma faked a laugh while trying to make a reason. "Well, Jesse asked me to dance but I'm not in the mood yet and Shalimar is waiting for you but it took you that long so I told Jess to dance with Shal while waiting for you." Emma explained and Brennan nodded as a sign of accepting the reason. "You're not jealous, are you?"
Brennan eyed Emma and then giggled. "Me? Jealous? Nuh!" he shook his head and laughed.
Emma giggled with Brennan and she slapped him slightly on the back. She could sense a little jealousy but not that serious. Emma turned her gaze to the dance floor again when Brennan continued talking.
"You said that Shalimar was only waiting for me, right?" Brennan inquired as she took a sip from his coke. Emma nodded with a cute smile on her face. "So that means I could go and steal her now." Brennan grinned.
Emma felt that Brennan would really go and steal Shalimar from Jesse and she didn't like the idea if sitting alone with Jesse. "Yeah…" she honestly replied. "…but they just got in the dance floor." Emma tried another excuse so Brennan would let Jesse dance with Shalimar a little bit longer.
Brennan smiled. "Okay then." He said and he stared at Emma a little longer. "Ems," he tried calling her attention.
Emma looked at him. "Yup?" she beamed.
Brennan shook his head and smiled sadly at her. "Ems, I'm your longest friend. I may not be your best friend but I know you." Brennan started.
Emma's smile slowly disappeared and she looked away for a while before returning her gaze to Brennan. She tried to smirk at him but to no avail. "What do you mean?"
"Something is wrong with you and Jesse. Why don't you admit it?" Brennan willed Emma to spill it. He knew that something is wrong. He may not be a telempath but he could sense it. "Come on Emma, this is the least that I could do for you after the messy things that I've done. Let me help you. Let me be your friend."
"You are my friend but I'm fine, I am." Emma tried to conceal herself but the pain started coming back when she saw Shalimar holding Jesse closer than she should. Brennan followed her stare but his outlook is wider than Emma's that is why even if he is jealous he still knew that Jesse meant no harm.
All the pain, jealousy and anger came rushing to her wits crushing her guards lower than she usually keep it and it sent her to the edge. She was about to snap so she decided to just walk out of the club. When she stood up, her long silk skirt was caught in a sticking nail and it ripped it. "Oh my god!" she uttered.
Brennan stood up and offered to help but she turned him down. "Com'on Ems. Let us just sew it…somewhere." He hesitated as he knew that his idea was lame since there is no sewing kit in bars like that.
"Sew it? Here?" Emma shook her head and instead she completely ripped it off turning her long skirt into a mini that is paired with a bare back blouse. Emma was a knock-out even Brennan can't help but to stare at her beautiful legs and at the enticing amount of flesh presented to his eyes.
But Brennan's protective instinct worked over time and he stood up tried covering Emma's exposed flesh.
"Bren! What are you doing?" Emma demanded.
"What am I doing? What are YOU doing? Do you want every man here to stare at you and feed on your voluptuous body?" Brennan raised his voice a bit.
"I appreciate your concern but…again…I could handle my self pretty well, Brennan."
"Emma?"
In the middle of his argument with Brennan, Emma heard a familiar voice. She looked past Brennan and found a familiar face. "Cole?"
************
"Meg?" Adam was a bit startled to see Meg's car in the transport stable when he check the monitor in the central nervous system. It was not very long when Meg finally came beside Adam.
"Adam! You have to know something." Meg started with a husky voice.
"What is it?" the doctor was as calm as he could possibly be.
"It's about my brother, Gabriel and Shalimar!"
*****************
"Emma?"
In the middle of his argument with Brennan, Emma heard a familiar voice. She looked past Brennan and found a familiar face. "Cole?"
Brennan followed Emma stare and found a familiar face. "You?" Brennan placed his hands on his hips and arrogantly posed in front of Cole.
Cole shook his head and raised his hands in front of him signaling a halt over Brennan. "Hey man, I'm not here for trouble." He said and then he turned to Emma. "I'm gonna see you later dear." He bade but Emma stopped him.
"No, Cole. Wait!" Emma called out and she paced towards Cole exposing her beautiful self again. She looked at Brennan, nodded towards him and then faced Cole again. "Dance with me?"
Brennan glared at Emma, letting her know that he does not agree with her decision. Emma stared back at him sending him the vibes that she wanted to be with Cole. Brennan could not do anything about it when Emma finally decided to use her powers on him. ~sorry Brennan ~ she whispered in his thoughts.
Cole smiled at Emma. "Why, sure!" he replied.
The two psionic pave their way to the dance floor leaving Brennan behind. Both started moving with the sound. Emma moved like she didn't care. Her skirt hugged her hips and it didn't take too long before almost every male in the dance floor noticed the radiant lady in minis—who else, Emma of course. And Jesse noticed her too.
"Is that Emma?" he asked himself and Shalimar.
"Yeah, I think so." Shalimar didn't saw this coming. Her plan was not like this.
~Don't worry darling. I have it all cover-up ~ Gabriel said in the feral's wits.
Shalimar smiled and she was satisfied. This is her game and she is in control. Tonight, Emma will leave the group and her mission is over. She couldn't wait to be in Gabriel's arms once again.
***********
Emma and Cole danced the night out while every eyes of the male species in the club feast at the enticing amount of flesh presented before their eyes. Cole brought his arms around Emma's hips and pulled her closer. Emma followed Cole's lead and she placed her arms around his shoulder.
Jesse stopped from moving as his jealousy begun eating him alive. He swallowed hard as he could feel his hands shaking and are wet with sweat. He was gnashing his teeth as Cole grinds his body against Emma's exposed legs. Jesse finally stood up when Cole moved a little closer to Emma.
***
Emma met Cole's gaze and there was this hanging question between them. Emma could feel something from Cole but she was prude enough not to assume anything.
Cole knew something was wrong. ~what is it dear heart! ~ he asked Emma's wits.
Emma smiled at him and replied back at his thoughts. ~I know that you are reading me but let me tell you that I'm not that ready to talk about it now. ~
Cole nodded and beamed at her. 'OK', he mouthed he pulled her closer to him. Their eyes were fixed at each others and there lips were almost inches apart. Emma could not understand what she was feeling at that moment as Cole's charm allured her being. Both of them started moving closer…and closer…and closer…and….
BAM!
Cole fell flat on the floor as Jesse's fist hit his face.
"Jesse!" Emma yelled and then she bent down to attend to Cole's bleeding nose. Jesse's body was trembling in pure anger and it took all of Brennan's strength to try and control Jesse. The molecular move a little closer to the male psionic when the empath stopped him. "Stop it Jesse!" she screamed. "What do you think you are doing?" Emma demanded an explanation.
Jesse's jaw dropped in an 'uhh' expression. "What was I doing? What are you doing kissing other guys…"
"I was not kissing him! We were…"
"Yeah right. You were NOT YET kissing him!" Jesse stressed out the 'not yet' and for that he received a slap on his face. Both were quiet for a second or two as everyone bare witness to the scene. Emma sighed and started to move away when Jesse stopped her. "Emma!" he called out.
Emma signaled him to stopped with her hand raised just about his lips. "Stop the pretense Jesse. I know." She softly said.
"Know what?" Jesse was clueless of the lies, which Shalimar told Emma. "You know… what?" he demanded.
"Please Jesse. Don't make me hate you. Stop lying, okay?" Emma's tears begun to crawl down her cheeks. She looked away for a second and then faced Jesse again. "I love you Jesse. I really do, that is why…" Emma paused and took a deep breath. "I'm letting you go."
Jesse was confused. He does not have the slightest idea what is happening to him and Emma. He does not understand what Emma was talking about. "What?" was all he could say.
With that, Emma bent down and helped Cole to stand up before they both went out leaving Jesse in the midst of the silent crowd in the bar.
*********
"What just happened?" Jesse thought aloud and faced Brennan, who was standing behind him all along. "Did she just broke up with me?"
Brennan could not say anything. He was afraid to say something that could make matters worst. He just stood there and looked back at Jesse. Jesse swallowed hard and stared blankly at the floor as the club resume the activity.
Jesse didn't move at his position. He still does not get anything. What did Emma know? What was she talking about? –he asked himself. 'I love you Jesse. I really do that's why I'm letting you go'? what does that mean?
*************
Emma broke down as soon as she and Cole were out of the bar. The pain was just too much to bear. What has she done to deserve this agony? It was too late before she realized that her knees have gave up on her and she fell kneeling on the ground. With her right hand for support, he covered her mouth with her left hand to hide her sob but to no avail.
Cole forgot about his bleeding nose. He knelt beside Emma and pulled her close to him. "I'm sorry Emma." He said softly. "I really am." He gently caressed her back willing her to cry it all out.
"What have I done?" Emma thought loudly. "Did I broke up with him? Are we already through?" he clutched Cole's shirt as she demanded for an answer.
"I guess so." Cole sensitively answered back.
Emma's breathing became constricted as her cries became louder and louder. She started shaking her head as a sign of regret. "I shouldn't have done that." She looked at Cole. "I'm not ready to lose him, Cole. Not yet."
"But he does not love you anymore. That is what you know, right?"
Emma nodded.
"Then it's time to set him free." Cole willed Emma to look at him and Emma just nodded. They had this same talk before. Emma knew what Cole was trying to tell her again. Cole already told her the true meaning of love. It is about giving and sacrifice. If it is true then she'll be happy for Jesse and Shalimar.
Cole knew that what he did was wrong but he was so near of having Emma by himself and he has not gone this far just to be bothered by his conscience. He took Emma and they both left the vicinity of the bar.
*************
Shalimar witnessed everything and she knew her mission is finally over. She believes that there is no way Emma is coming back to the Sanctuary after everything that transpired that evening. She was brilliant. She had a great plan.
She smiled inside as she gazed at Emma marching out of the club with Cole. ~it's about time you go! ~ she thought. She was tired of flirting around with Jesse and trying to put up with Brennan. She hated all the testing. All she could think about was joining Gabriel.
Brennan led Jesse to where Shalimar was. At least they still have the feral to help them look for Emma again.
"That's what you think." An evil voice was heard among the crowd. Brennan turned around and found Gabriel behind him.
"You!" Brennan exclaimed as Jesse returned to his consciousness.
Gabriel laughed and smirked at Brennan. "Aren't you happy to see me?" he taunted.
Brennan lifted his arm to hit Gabriel when Shalimar caught his hand. "He's mine!" the feral said.
Brennan looked at Shalimar and even held his hand out with a smiling face to let Shalimar have Gabriel. But Shalimar has a different idea in mind. She walked closer to Gabriel and then gave him a torrid kiss.
Jesse and Brennan were stunned and both could not move. What the hell is happening to their team?
"I've come to talk what is mine." Gabriel said and with that he and Shalimar disappeared right before Jesse and Brennan's eyes.
Both stood silent and then Brennan's body fell into his seat. He could not believe he just lost Shalimar again. Now he knew why Shalimar didn't say anything when they entered the club and found it half empty. Shalimar was not herself.
Brennan shook his head, took his wallet and took some bills leaving it on the table as he started walking away. Jesse sighed heavily and followed the elemental out of the club.
MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-
***Lyza***
I was having a terrible headache when I wrote this one… thanks for reviewing. Please continue reading and reviewing my works… thanks a lot. Mwuahh…. Later……
