Adam groaned, as he looked at the substance in his hands.

"How you doing Adam?" Shalimar asked, leaning forward to the man in the front.

"Nearly there I think, just got to arrange it right, and then hopefully it'll stable Jesse enough to get him back to sanctuary."

Adam had been fiddling around with everything he had brought with him, the moment he had entered the car.

"Hopefully?" Brennan queried. Emma glanced at Shalimar as she glared at Brennan.

Adam answered not looking up, almost afraid of their reaction. "It'll only work if we get to him in time."

"If not?" Emma queried.

"Then he will be beyond our help."

Shalimar swallowed heavily. She couldn't imagine what she would do it the serum would be of no use

"Why did he have to do this," Brennan said angrily. "We would have gone with him."

"Don't blame him," Shalimar snapped.

"Comon Shal, don't act as though it wasn't his fault, he's an idiot, going off, knowing he's getting worse."

"What, and you're saying that it is his fault?" Shalimar growled. "You think he asked for this?"

"Hey, you two, arguing isn't going to get us anywhere," Adam spoke, not taking his eyes off his work, until now when he looked pityingly up at the two arguers. "If anyone is to blame it would be me. I should have told him about his father."

"Hey, don't put the guilt trip on yourself Adam. He's the one who went," Brennan said, his voice rising slightly.

"He didn't even know what he was doing," Shal snarled. "The anger made him do it. And I'm not surprised." She glared at Brennan, and was only distracted by a crouched Emma sitting next to her with her head in her hands.

"Emma, what is it?"

"It's you guys. I'm so sorry. But all I can get is your emotions. Can you at least stop arguing for Jesse's sake? Adam, it's not time to feel guilty. As for you two, its hardly time to argue when I know that you both care for him. Yeah, even Brennan," she said looking at Shalimar defiantly. She knew it was Brennan's way to hide his pain. Shal she knew was the closest to the young missing member. They were like brother and sister. She looked pleadingly at Shalimar. "Please Shal, I would have got something now if, you know-" She left the sentence open.

Shalimar glanced at her and looked away. "Sorry," she muttered, which was followed by Brennan's apology.

Adam chimed up, but instead of a 'sorry' they got an exclamation. "Done it." He smiled grimly. "Lets just hope we are in time."

"Yeah," Brennan chimed in, as they pulled up to a grey building, which they knew belonged to a man, named Professor Avell.

* * *

Jesse wandered through the white walled corridors of the restricted section, looking for signs of anything. By the looks of things, Avell was the only one who used this place for his scientific research as the walls were empty, and silence reigned. He leant wearily against the walls for a moments rest, his head pounding more than ever, a sick feeling in his stomach making him leant over in pain. He looked desperately at his hands as they began to phase in and out uncontrollably.

'Concentrate,' he muttered, picturing Shal's reassuring face in his mind as his hands slid from ghost to mortal. He breathed heavily. His angry edge was wearing off, at least it felt this way to Jesse, and in it's place stood pain and torment. He had been wandering, document in hand, for what seemed like hours, although in reality only a mere 30 minutes had passed.

He froze. Turning his head slightly to the left he listened vigilantly. It came again. He walked clumsily towards the wall where the noise appeared to be coming from, and closing his eyes, knowing that pain would inevitably come, he phased out. Taking a step through the wall, Jesse opened his stinging eyes, and looked at the room. Dingy, and bare, with a few rusty filing cabinets stood to one side, while on the other, a camp bed had been put up, with little skill it seemed. Jesse took a step closer, puzzled. On the bed was Sophie.

He leant towards her as she reached weakly for her hand. No longer was Jesse angry for her. In fact, any initial anger he may have got had instantly disappeared as he looked at her pale and lifeless face. He knelt beside her, pity on his face. He could see she was dying.

"Jesse," She muttered, looking with heavy eyes at the weak Jesse, who felt tears coming to his eyes.

"Can I help?" Jesse asked, pleading, knowing the answer, but hoping, somehow, fate would save her.

"I'm sorry, Jess-" Sophie began, then spluttered, her chest weakly coughing.

"Its ok," Jesse said pityingly. He looked at her, a haunting question coming into his mind. "Why, Sophie? Why did you do it?"

"I was so weak," She began, her eyes glazing over similar to how Jesses were appearing. "My powers were no use to anyone. Who would want me? Not anyone. Only Avell. He wanted to help me make me brilliant. The only person who cared."

Jesse stared at her in silence.

"I didn't mean any harm to come to you. Honest. I thought it was for the best. You would understand when you were more powerful than you could imagine. He told me," she coughed, "He told me that your father had given him permission to help you, like he was helping me. I'm sorry Jesse."

Tears were brimming up in her eyes, and Jesse could tell that this was her last hour.

"I just wanted to fit in. I was kicked out of society because of what I was, and I was discarded from my new friends because I didn't match their powers. I wanted a chance," she looked pleading at Jesse, "A chance to lead a life with people who cared.."

Jesse took her hand, tears streaming down his cheeks, as he thought of his own life, with his family, mutant x, who he had left behind. This girl had no one.

"I'm sorry-" Jesse began, whispering, his throat parched and tight.

"No," Sophie interrupted, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you here. You have to get away. You need help." She looked miserably at him. "I'm dying, I know that, but get to someone who can help you. You didn't finish the treatment."

"I can help you," Jesse said desperately, "Just let me take you to-"

"you can't. You're getting worse. I was worried at first, when your symptoms were different to mine, but you can see that its effecting you more," she said, blinking, to release the dam of tears brimming up.

"I asked for this. You didn't. I could have been happy. I could have gone into the underground. But I wanted to match everyone. No, I'm happy now Jess. I'm going somewhere where the world wont mind who or what I am."

She smiled sweetly. "I would have loved to get to know you."

Jess gave a weak smile. She continued.

"Please, promise me." She coughed. "Don't let him test on other people. Please."

Jesse grimaced. "I promise," he muttered. He could see that she was deteriorating, and could see that he would end up like this. He lent forward, and kissed her on the forehead. She whispered 'go' and he gave her one last look as he heaved himself up, his strength wavering, and left the room, knowing he could never return to her. She was gone. His thoughts were cruel and harsh, and yet they made him stronger, determined to get this man. This man who had taken the life of one person, and soon another would be gone. Him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * I am sooooo sorry people, for not updating in sooooo long! I have been incredibly busy, and only just had time to finish the chapter. I have been doing it in little chunks, and all your review have given me energy to do so. Thank you for bearing with me, and I will attempt to get the next chapter out as soon as possible. Suggestions and Criticisms welcome. It all helps!

Sister of the moon, thank you. I liked the comlink part as well :D:D:D Glad someone appreciated it!

Lgbabyblu - nope, I'm not lazy, just attempting to do a dozen things at one time!

Brigitta - you made me a very happy person! Thank you for telling me I'm a good writer. Its sooooo nice. I never thought of myself as a fan fiction writer, its my first mutant x fic (though hopefully not my last!) but its amazing to hear from you.

Britt - sorry, left you dangling for along time!!!!!!! Ill try and be quicker this time. But please stick with me.

You know what to do to make my day, and that is REVIEW! It honestly gives me that little push! And of course, you want to know what happens to our team ?! lol ; )

* * * R * E * V * I * E * W * * * ( you know you want to! )