First of all, I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who reviewed. I really wasn't expecting this kind of response. Just wow! Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! I'm really having fun writing this, and it's great to see that other people like it too. Since everyone seemed so eager to read the next chapter, I wrote this in a couple of days. I know the chapters are getting steadily shorter (and my ramblings at the top are getting progressively longer) but I just got to a part that'd make a good ending. Don't worry though, I'll get the next chapter done quickly (you'll see why when you get to the end).

If you're an absolute obsessive fan of the show (like me), you may already be able to take a guess at what's happening to Emma. But if not, you're in for a big surprise.

In case it's a bit confusing, this next scene takes place at the same time as the last scene of chapter two. Anyway, without any further ado, here's chapter three.

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

Adam sat for a few minutes, thinking about all the things that had gone wrong in the last two days. Perhaps he had brought it on himself. But when he thought about it, he knew he had done the right thing. At least he hoped he had.

He got up and walked over to the lab. He'd better check on Mason. He had left him for a couple of hours, and after all the trouble he'd gone to to save his life, he didn't want him dying on him. He'd better he grateful, he thought. But somehow he knew that he wasn't, and he never would be.

Mason was sitting up in bed. A faraway look was in his eyes, but he didn't look at all relaxed. When Adam entered the room, he snapped back to reality.

"Adam," he said, "I was wondering how long you were planning on keeping me captive here." It was more of a statement than a question. Either way, Adam ignored it.

"You look a lot better, Mason." He hoped he could subdue him and prevent an argument. Perhaps they might even be able to have a normal conversation.

"Better...ah yes. Though I simply do not know if I could call the state I am in well. I have not felt well in such a long time that I have all but forgotten what it feels like." Adam couldn't help but notice that there was an accusing tone in his voice. He hated how Mason had a knack of making him feel uncomfortable and in the wrong.

"Look, I know what to you I did was terrible and unforgivable. Yes, I know. But please, can we go for one conversation without you bringing it up."

"Really, Adam. What makes you jump to that conclusion? That it is in the past, it is a fait accompli." He said offhandly, though a little too quickly. Adam forced himself to be pleasant, if only to get out of the room more quickly.

"Is there anything I can get you? Anything you want?"

"There are many things I want, Adam, and you are not at liberties to provide them for me. However I would like a glass of water." He paused for a second. "Bottled water, Adam. Regardless of how I feel, I do not think it would be wise to take any unnecessary risks."

"Ok." Adam said grudgingly. He had to get it for him, he had offered after all. Mason was so finicky and particular. It was clear that he was used to having his instructions carried out to the letter.

He set off to the kitchen, but just as he stepped through the lab door, Shalimar caught him. She looked very anxious.

"Adam. You've gotta help. Emma's having visions again." She told him hurriedly. She grabbed hold of his sleeve and pulled him over to where Emma was standing.

Emma was huddled over with her arms round herself and her head down. As she looked up, Adam saw that the her face was red and her eyes were scared and full of unshed tears.

"Oh Emma..." He said, looking at her with compassion. He took a stride forward and wrapped his arms around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and began to sob into his jacket. Meanwhile, Shalimar paced restlessly.

After what seemed like eternity, Emma lifted up her head and let go of him. "Want to tell me what you saw?" Adam asked softly. She nodded, wiped her eyes, and began to tell him what she told Shalimar. A look of horror crossed his face as she told him, but he made no comment on her visions.

"Emma, you've got to understand that your abilities may still be evolving, and that may be causing these visions. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to stop what you're seeing, but I'm sure you can put it to use. Try and remember all you can about the boy, then go and get Jesse to search the new mutant database to see if we have a match." He put a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be alright, I promise." Then he set off on his former route, to the kitchen.

"I don't remember much at all really." Emma said after he had left.

"Oh, come on Em, you must remember something. Just think. We've gotta try and help this boy." Emma closed her eyes and tried to bring up a memory of the vision.

"...he has dark hair, brown I think. His eyes are a light colour, blue...or maybe green. He looked to be about ten to early teens. But I can't be sure...oh it's too blurry...he looks somehow familiar, but he can't be. I don't know anyone that age."

"That might be enough, lets see if Jesse can get anything." Shalimar grasped her arm and pulled her towards the stairs.

***

Adam opened the refrigerator to see that they were out of bottled water. Great. He'd meant to ask someone to go shopping to replenish the supplies earlier in the week. He shrugged. Taking a glass out of the cupboard, he filled it with water from the faucet. Mason would never tell the difference. Anyway, it'd just have to do.

He loitered in the kitchen for a while, enjoying the time alone. He had been under so much stress lately, and hadn't had a moment to himself. He reminded himself to take a holiday as soon as things quietened down. But they never did.

Finally, he decided he'd better get back to Mason, so he set off to the lab.

He accepted the glass without a word and took a sip.

Mason looked up at him gravely. "Adam, I can taste the chlorine."

Adam sighed and rolled his eyes. Typical.

***

"Hey guys." Shalimar said as she bounded up the stairs. Jesse was sat at the computer, and Brennan was leaning against the wall, reading the old Walt Whitman paperback that he loved so much. "I expected to find Jesse up here, but what're you doing here Brennan?" She asked, teasing.

"Hey, can't a guy have some time alone to read poetry?" He refuted.

Emma walked slowly over to Jesse and put a hand on the back of his chair. She explained her visions to him, and he nodded and commented on how awful they were. "So do you think you can search the database for this boy?"

"Sure thing." He said. "I'll see what I can do."

She gave him a vague description of what she remembered, and with a few keystrokes, he had searched the database for a match.

"Twelve matches." Jesse said, and brought up the first one. Emma shook her head, the boy looked too young. The second one wasn't him. Nor the next one. He went through them all, and each time Emma shook her head. None of them were the boy she had seen, she was sure of it.

"He's not there. Oh Jesse, what are we gonna do?" She said, starting to panic. She hated having visions, but not being able to do anything made it worse.

"'Fraid there's nothing we can do. Being that age, he must be a second generation new mutant, and we can't keep tabs on them. Who knows how many there are out there who're not in the database."

"No luck?" Shalimar asked, though she could tell by the melancholy look on Emma's face that there wasn't.

"No." She said sadly. "Oh, what can I do? I can't just do nothing."

"Come on, lets go tell Adam. He'll know what to do."

They went downstairs and for a while they wandered about looking for him. Then Shalimar spotted him in the lab, arguing with Mason.

Emma followed her inside, but she only got as far as the doorway. She opened her mouth, but couldn't speak. A sudden realisation had hit her, and everything began to make a strange kind of sense.