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: Hey there! Mutant X season 2 just ended here (in the Philippines) last week. It's a cliffhanger and I really hate to think that Emma won't be in the 3rd season. I have heard that Lexa was not that bad. Well, I'm not saying that she is or whatever, its just that… *sigh* I'll be missing Emma. I hope they could make her stay…

Oh by the way check out Impression by I forgot hahaha! Anyway just check it out. It's really good and I mean really GOOD!

Special thanks to:

Goldstranger: Sorry, LOL, I didn't meant to give you heartache. Anyways, here's the end of jesse's torture

BJvision: sorry for breaking emma and jesse again. Hahaha! Don't worry, the team will get to emma just in time.

Aur: Yeah, this chapter I'm giving emma time to kick some ass. LOL

Bri: sorry, your wish was not granted. I has in the hospital again. Anyway, I'm starting to write another fic about brennan and shal, maybe you could help. Email me if you want to co-author me okay. And thanks for the review.

Telempath: thanks for the comment. Love you  for it.

Maddy: hahaha! Well, brennan was just being a friend to emma (know what I mean) LOL

Theblondeone07: hahaha! Don't worry, Gabriel will have his place!

Enorm87: this was long? Well, you inspired me… (I mean all of you) thanks for the review.

So here is the very delayed chapter… hope you all like it. 

Underestimated

            ~Thought ~

            Memory

            /Sounds/

            "Conversation"

Chapter 31

"Bullshit!" Brennan cursed as soon as the reach the Sanctuary's lounge. "This is all shit!" he allowed his body to drop on the soft cushion of the sofa. "How could I be so stupid and not see those things?" he exclaimed before he place one throw pillow on top of his face and then screamed.

Jesse shook his head and bit his lower lip. "Arghhhhhh!!" covering his face with his bare hands, he screamed with the elemental.

"Jesse! Brennan!" Adam came in the lounge panting with Meg just behind him. "Where are Emma and Shalimar?" he said before he took another breath. His eyes covered with fear and concern. He did not expect this. He thought that the group will return to the Sanctuary complete.

"Where are they?" Brennan sarcastically threw back the question to Adam after placing the throw pillow beside him. "Where else?"

The group stood silent for a couple of minutes till Jesse broke the silence. "I could not believe we let Shalimar break us up." He uttered as he was shaking his head.

Brennan resent at that idea, as he knew that Shalimar was not herself and it was unfair to judge her. "Sorry?" he said towards Jesse. "I can't help but think that you are blaming Shalimar for it."

"Damn right I am!" Jesse said without even thinking.

Brennan's fist came in contact with Jesse's jaw. "Never talked of Shalimar that way in my presence!" he hollered sticking his finger in Jesse's face. He couldn't stand Jesse's judgment. How could he?

Jesse fell flat on the floor. He's eyes are burning red as he stood up and massed his fist ready to hit Brennan when Adam stopped him. "Jesse!" The doctor called out. "Control yourself. You too, Brennan. Killing each other won't do us any good."

"Yeah? And what do you suggest?" Jesse demanded. He couldn't think any straighter than Brennan. Both were too worried about the woman of their lives that they even forgot that they are still a team and family more than anything else. "Come on Adam, what do you suggest? You are the brain here after all. Tell me, what do we stand against patient zero?" Jesse blurted out.

"Stop it!" Meg yelled and she got their attention.

But it took only a few second before they heard Brennan's sarcastic laugh. "And what do you know?" he summoned.  "What do you know about us in the first place." He crossed his arms at his chest.

"You know, you are absolutely right." Meg glared at Brennan with her brow raised in a 'I-hate-you' look. "What could I possibly know that you don't?" Meg sarcastically spat the words out. She didn't wish for this and she hated it every time she and her kind were being underestimate.

Meg shook her head in a disappointed leer. "I only want to save my friend, Emma, but if you don't want my help then fine. I'm out of here!" she started to leave but decided that she was not done yet. She turned around and faced Brennan.

"You know what, Mr. Know it all. None of these should have happen if it were not for you and your stupid attitude. You pushed Emma away leaving you, the team—specially Shalimar, vulnerable to Gabriel's attack."

Meg's words hit Brennan worst than a punch. He didn't knew that his attitude was that bad. He thought that he was only protecting the group—the women in the group. Brennan clenched his fist as he now put the blame to himself. Meg is right.

"Of course I'm right." Meg sensed what Brennan was thinking and she responded to it quickly. "There are many instances that Emma knew what would happen but you are so proud enough to even trust her." Meg did an over acting gestures just to point out what they did to Emma.  She knew that Gabriel was in the Sanctuary and you didn't believe her. Come to think of it, all of you is to blame." Meg looked at them.

Adam was quiet. He could not object because he knows that there was really a time when he doubted Emma's ability. His ego was so high that he thought if there is something to be discovered by mind, it would be his mind. He forgot that Emma is the master when it comes to the mind. He was too occupied of his success that he forgot about Emma's fast evolving mutation.

Adam sadly closed his eyes and shook his head. It was not Brennan's fault after all. It was his. He was in-charge. He should have kept the balance in the team but instead he placed more trust to the others while the others are left feeling worthless. He was the one that made Emma feel worthless. He is to blame.

The three of them listened to Meg and Meg didn't wasted her time. It was now or never. She knew that Emma would not tell them her true value so She is doing it for her instead.

"You might not notice it but Emma is necessary for you to keep your sanity in-tucked. She keeps your mind safe so no other psionic could read you and find out your deepest secrets. Her mind against the rest of the psionic world. Losing her would be the greatest lost your team could ever have." Meg finally ended her speech and she made her way out leaving the three gentlemen staring at the empty space she once stood on.

***********

Emma sat silent in the empty lot where Cole took her. Cole told her that it was a place where he and Meg used to hang around before they had their business. Emma had cried enough and her eyes were all swollen. She thought about Shalimar and Jesse and she closed her eyes on the thought.

She has learned to love Jesse more than anything else in the world. She could have given him everything she has. She thought about Brennan and his ego. She hated him and love him at the same time. And then she thought of Adam. Her creator; her father; her brother and friend, how could she leave him again?

She had done this before. She had run away and she was as good as the prodigal son. She could not do this. She could not run away for the second tome just because she was hurting. Adam trusted her enough to accept her back and she could not let him down.

Cole had gone out to buy them some food and now he is back. He found Emma sitting silently at one part of the lot. His heart was aching to see her that way but he was also happy because she is here.

"Here's the food." Cole called out to Emma but then decided to be the one to come near to her. "Let's eat." He willed her but to no avail.

"I'm not hungry." She told him with her eyes glued on wall.

"But you need to eat."

"I'll be fine, Cole." Emma politely responded and then she sighed. "Thanks Cole." She uttered.

"For what?" He asked her.

"For just being a friend." A single tear leaked from Emma's eyes as her tear duct have made another set of tears ready to go.

            Alas, Cole looked at Emma with a defeated smile. "We are two different person, right?"

            Emma was a bit surprised to hear a new topic from Cole. She looked at him and then nodded. "Right!" she responded.

      "Then why is it that every time I look at you… I feel so much?"

Emma giggled. "Simple, because you are a telempath and I am too." She humored but her smile disappeared when she saw the seriousness in Cole's eyes.

Cole shook his head slightly. "No, I mean everyone in this place kept asking 'why is Cole here?' or 'what could Cole do here?' or…or… 'What good could Cole do at all' but you…you are so different." Cole looked straight into Emma's eyes, drinking her, invading her soul.

Emma never felt this before with Cole. She always saw him as complete, whole. Now, all she could see is pain, sadness, emptiness, incompleteness.

"Cole…"

"I know! Jesse." Cole smiled, a defeated smile. "You are making this so difficult, Ems. It's like you and Jesse are not together but you are not apart." Cole laughed but it sounded more like a sob. He looked back at Emma and shook his head. "You are suffocating in this set-up, Emma. We BOTH are!"

Emma could not move. If she saw it right, Cole has indeed fallen for her. What could she say? Cole is special for her, but not enough to replace Jesse from her heart. She took her eyes off him.

            "I need you Emma." Cole said softly.

            Emma shook her head. "I need to be alone." He told him. Emma was too occupied with her own emotions that she didn't even noticed or sensed that Cole was already feeling so much for her. This is not right. She was not ready for something like this.

            Cole looked away and nodded. "All right! I'm sorry to … I was …" he paused. He didn't know what else to say. For the first time in his life, his mind was not working properly.  "Okay." He just said instead, leaving Emma on her own for a while.

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

Jesse was not going to stand there and leave Emma to peril. Meg was their last resort—his last resort and he could not let her leave the Sanctuary. After gathering his wits, he begun to run after Meg.

Brennan knew what Jesse have decided to do and he was with him. He now understand how important Emma is to the team. He became so selfish before that he was protecting Emma not because she was important in the team but because he was in love with her and when he fell out of love, his care for her lessen. That was one of his mistakes and he was determined to right the wrong so he followed Jesse to make Meg stay.

It took time before Meg reached the transport stable because she had to pass by the laboratory first to pick up her things. Jesse and Brennan made it at the lot, ahead of Meg.

"Meg!" Jesse started. "Please stay. We need you to find Emma." Jesse's voice was begging for Meg to help them.

"What do I know?" Meg replied as she moved towards her car and placed her bag inside.

"I'm sorry Meg." Brennan apologized. "I didn't mean to bark at you like that. I'm just—" he paused and sighed. "Please stay and help us."

Meg looked at them. She really didn't want to leave anyway. She wanted to help Emma. She released a heavy sigh and nodded. "Okay."

"Thank you!" They heard Adam's voice behind them and Meg nodded towards their creator. Adam walked closer to them. "What are we going to do now?"

"I know where my brother took Emma."

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

Hours have passed and Cole is still outside the empty lot after Emma wished him to leave her. He was not supposed to be the bad guy here. He was only supposed to be in love but what has he done? Like it or not, he is still the main reason why Emma is emotionally in pain. He placed his hands on his face and sighed then suddenly he heard something. It was a landing sound. He couldn't see anything but he is sure something is there.

He was surprised when his sister together with Brennan, Jesse and Adam emerged from nowhere. Cole's instinct was to get to Emma and take her away from that place but Meg was quick and she got on his brother's way.

"I'm sorry Cole but this has to stop." Meg told his brother with a tearful eye.

Cole shook his head. "I won't give her to you that easy. I'll fight you if that is what it takes to have her." Cole somersaulted and landed in front of Brennan giving him a quick knock out 45 degree kick.

Jesse run for Brennan's help giving Cole a punch on the side but Cole was quick to block it and twisted Jesse's arms and pushed him away before he made his to the entrance of the lot when Meg got him by his jacket.

"You can't run away from us, Cole." Meg screamed and threw Cole back in the field near Jesse and Brennan.

****

Emma heard noise and she got worried about Cole. She stood up and was about to go outside the lot when she sensed something very strange. She could feel Jesse. ~But it's impossible. Jesse is in the Sanctuary right now. ~

~What if he's here? ~ a voice suddenly barge in Emma's thought. She shook his head. She believes that Jesse was too in love with Shalimar and that he is probably with the feral right now. ~What if you're wrong? What if Jesse only loves Shalimar as a friend and he is willing to risk his life to find you just to prove that he loves you that much? ~

Emma almost fell on her knees when a pack of emotions hit her. There was love, concern, pain and fear—fear of losing her. This she had to see. She could not trust her powers that much anymore after it failed her a couple of times and besides, her own emotions clouded her judgment.

She swore she almost died when she felt Cole torturing Jesse's mind. Her body swiveled when she saw Jesse twisting in pain. She has to help him…she has…

Cole lost his balance when someone appeared in front of Jesse and blocked his connection. "Emma?" he said unbelievingly. "How did—"

"I have powers even my creator does not know." Emma blurted out as Brennan and Adam stood amazed to see Emma standing on three different positions.

There was a moment of stillness as Emma and Cole stared at each other.

Cole looked at Emma with full of compassion. "Darling, you do not know who you are protecting. He is the one who hurt you, not I!" Cole threw another wave of emotion towards Jesse but Emma blocked it again. Emma clenched and unclenched her fist as she released a psi-blast towards Cole but Cole effortlessly averted it.

"No Cole. I know very well whom I am giving my life for. It's you that I don't know." Emma did not want to hurt the man that had helped her but he cannot afford to see the man that he loves, be hurt.

"Please darling, don't make me hurt you!" Cole warned her.

"And don't make me hurt you either." Emma jumped off to Cole giving of several punches, which Cole successfully avoided. She gave of a roundhouse kick and then she planted another punch to Cole's belly. Cole fell and twisted in pain. Emma moved back, not wanting to hurt Cole anymore. Cole recovered and he jumped on top of her, tussling with her for a few seconds and successful pinning her down.

*****

Brennan wanted to help Emma but his body objected and he still couldn't move. Meg run to Jesse's side willing to relieve him of the pain that he is still in. Adam brought out a calming drug and injected it to Jesse. He looked at Meg and asked her. "How did Emma turned out to be like this?"

"Emma is like this before. You just didn't know." Meg replied with a smile.

Adam looked at Emma and Cole again then back to Meg. "Why don't you help her?" he said with concern.

"I am helping her." She smiled.

Adam was a bit confused. How could Meg be helping Emma when she is here with Jesse?

"By trusting that she could do this." She answered softly.

*******

"Please Emma, don't do this. You are meant for me. Not for Jesse, not for anyone else. I love you Emma!" Cole could hear Emma breathing underneath him.

"Love? Do you know what you are talking about?" Emma broke free from Cole. Using her mind, she made Cole froze in his place. "Love is about giving, Cole. It's about hoping for the other's happiness, it's about being contented for the other's joy." Her tears started to show. Her heart ached when she remembered Jesse's concern for Shalimar, when she remembered seeing Jesse and Shalimar together in Shalimar's bedroom. Her eyes gave off tears and she looked at Cole with a defeated smile. "You should know that. You taught me that. I learned so much from you Cole. Love is about giving up your own happiness for the sake of the one you love."

Tears found their way out of Cole's eyes. That is the farthest that he could go. He could not bring himself to hurt Emma more that this. His knees failed him and he cried out. He was sorry for what he had done and maybe…just maybe, helping  Emma get Shalimar back would make Emma forgive him. Cole looked at Emma again. "I'm sorry Emma. I was blinded with my emotions. I was selfish. Let me help you for the last time." He begged her.

"Tell me how this happened." Emma begged him. She was still not convinced she still don't know how. She needed to know. She has to know…

Cole nodded and he agreed. "It's Gabriel." Cole softly said.  "He convinced me to work with him with you as a reward."

Emma cringed her forehead. "What do you mean?"

"Yeah. What do you mean?" Adam echoed as his concentration was torn between attending Jesse and hearing Cole's explanation.

"Emma is the only reason why Gabriel could not control Shalimar's mind." Meg barge in, helping his brother explain.

"And all he has to do to take Shalimar is to get rid of you." Cole nodded towards Emma.

"That is also why he took his time and made you see Jesse doing something with Shalimar." Meg told Emma.

"He did that?" Emma wanted to be sure and she was sure enough when Cole and Meg nodded simultaneously.

Brennan finally stirred from his position after absorbing everything. The fight between Cole and Emma is over by then. He was listening to Cole's explanation but was confused. He looked away for a moment then looked back at Cole. "I'm sorry I don't get it. If Gabriel wants to get rid of Emma, why did he let Jesse touch Shalimar? Why not make Emma mad by making us… Jesse, hate her?" he confusedly asked.

Emma shook her head and stared at Brennan. "Because he knew that the only reason I would do something like that is when everyone in the Sanctuary would be better, if 'that' thing is done."

"Meaning?" Adam inquired as he, himself, didn't got what Emma wanted to say.

"After seeing and believing that Shalimar and Jesse together, I know that it would be better for them to have me out of their way. Shalimar is my friend and I didn't want her to feel restraint from expressing her affection to the man I love. That is why I decided to go."

"That is not all." Cole added. "Gabriel even took the opportunity that you are being underestimated by the team and he stirred your emotions while I blocked their emotion from you so you wouldn't know what was really happening." Cole confessed. "I'm sorry Emma." Cole said.

 Emma smiled and then she turned around to see Jesse. She run towards his unmoving body and she took him from Meg. "Let me." She said.

Meg smiled and willingly gave way to Emma. Emma took Jesse in her arms and then entered his mind, touching his soul, stirring his blood. ~I still love you ~ she whispered in his wits.

Jesse felt the warm presence in his mind and he woke up. His blurred vision couldn't figure out who was there with him so he patiently waited. A tear fell from his eyes when he finally saw. "Emma?" he uttered. Is this a dream? He asked him self. He brought his hands to reach out to her just to be sure and then his hands touched her face. "This is true!" he said and Emma nodded towards him.

Jesse pulled Emma down to him in a tight hug. "Don't leave me again, Emma. I don't know how to manage without you."

"I won't. I'll stay with you from now on. I love you Jesse. I love you before, I love you now and I will always love you…"

Emma bent down and kissed Jesse with tearful eyes. This time, those tears where of joy.

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

***Lyza***

okay! Maybe two more chapters and then were through. So what could you say? Tell me okay. Sorry for the delay. I was sick again. It's the baby, I think. LOL. Mwuahh! R&R. thanks…