Hello people, thanks for the review. This is the 5th part enjoy.

One of these nights (part 5)

Shalimar quietly sat on the bed careful not to wake up Jesse. The young woman gently brushed his cheek tenderly. Brennan and Emma could wait a few more hours; Jesse needed to rest after those stressful days. The young man stirred and opened his eyes only to find Shalimar lovingly gazing at him.

"Hey..."

"Morning, slept well?"

Jesse rubbed his eyes, clearing his mind from the lingering sleepiness. Instinctively, his hand found hers and their fingers entwined. Without a warning he pulled at her arm and she collapsed on the bed close to him giggling. The young molecular took her in his arms, thankful for the little respite away from work and the constant survey of their leader. The mission had ended yesterday and Adam had told them to stay in the house while he was taking care of personal stuff. He was a bit worried about their leader whereabouts but he could live with it. They had two days of freedom, two days that were going to be perfect. But first, he had to take care of one more detail.

"With you beside me? Always. Did you call Brennan or Emma?"

Shalimar snuggled closer to him bringing his arm around her waist. It was how she pictured happiness. Jesse and her resting after a long mission. Emma and Brennan locked down until they had solved their problems. At the thought, a small laugh escaped her lips and she slid back between the sheets.

"I guess from what I hear that our little trap has functioned?"

Her laughter deepened and was rewarded by a gentle kiss in her neck.

"Yes, and I think they deserve to be there for a little longer after the hell they put us through the last two weeks, always fighting, yelling for such petty things and above all denying they have a problem. The computer will unlock itself in a few hours, that's right?"

Jesse joined her laughter and deeply inhaled the perfume of her hair, basking in the scent that was purely hers.

"Yeah, it will unlock... maybe. Do you really think they have talked?"

"I hope so Jesse, otherwise, we'll have to talk to Adam about their problems."

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A golden leave swam through the air, dancing around gracefully to the sound of running water. It gently landed on the blanket in front of the young couple locked in a tender embrace. Emma sighed and leaned further against his chest; in response, Brennan pulled her closer feeling happy to simply hold her. He watched her picking up the leave, looking at the warm Indian summer sun through it as if it was a miraculous thing; her wonderment almost childlike, her happiness mirrored in her face.

Jesse had unlocked the computer a few hours ago and they had decided to go outside Sanctuary to enjoy the last rays of light of that autumn day. A book, a blanket and above all the woman he loved in his arms; the day was close to perfection, the four last days had been the life he had never dared dreaming of. But he knew deep down that this week was just borrowed time. The respite, like this sunny autumn day would not last forever. So both of them had delayed the inevitable conversation.

"Emma?"

She felt his fingers brushing against her cheeks as soft as a butterfly wing, his voice soothing her soul. He was just pronouncing her name and yet it held so much meaning, so much love.

"Do you want me to read something for you?"

"If you don't mind, page forty-seven, the skull"

Emma smiled gently and put the leave in her book before handing it to him. He gazed at it and had to stifle a laugh. Philip K. Dick collected short stories. It was a side of Emma he had never suspected. 'My little angel always full of surprise'. She closed her eyes as he started reading, the story playing in front of her eyes. His voice nearly held a musical quality flexing and changing with each sentence, it's warmth melding with the soft breeze like some kind of magical spell. A moment later he stopped and remained silent thinking about the deeper meaning of the story.

"Why do you like this story?"

Emma shrugged not knowing how to explain it. One word came clearly to her mind but other things were preoccupying her, nearly blocking any other thoughts. Her worries and hopes were impersonated in two names Brennan Mulwray. The moment they had admitted their feelings everything had become easy. No questions had been asked. Their love was there, an invisible bond so strong and beautiful it sometimes made her think it was just an amazing dream. Love filled every part of her, giving insignificant things a whole new meaning, bringing her a peace she had never felt before. What would happen when the others would come back? How would they ever be able to hide their feelings? What if someone decided to disown them that gift.

"What are we gonna do? I mean about us when the others come back."

Fear and worries were so tightly laced in her voice that he pulled her closer to him, trying to comfort her. This was the moment he had dreaded from the start. He had given her his heart willingly a long time ago and he trusted her to take the right decision about their future.

"Emma, I... what do you want to do? You know that Adam is not going to accept it. You remember his little speech about getting involved with a teammate."

"Yeah I remember quite well. I want us to be together Brennan no matter what people think of it. And if we have to hide it I think... we can manage. I don't want to give us up, never. "

The young woman turned in his arms and their eyes locked in a silent agreement. Life was going to be a daily challenge for both of them and deep down in their hearts, they knew and accepted it.

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Brennan downed his second beer without even tasting it. The music, the overcrowded club, the alcohol, nothing could divert his attention from the young woman dancing and laughing. Her hair was shimmering in the light like a halo, her hips moving in time to the rhythm conjuring other more intimate images of her up. Silently he cursed, blaming his hyperactive imagination. If only Jesse and Shal were not there, he could be dancing with her, holding her... kissing her. Wearily he rubbed his eyes, his hand finally settling in front of his mouth in a tired gesture.

The moment the helix had landed, the couple had stepped into hell. Emma and Shalimar had left a few days later to help relocate new mutants in the underground and they had come back only three days ago.

The young man inhaled deeply closing his eyes. Two very long, awful and lonely weeks, they had not been able to be alone for two weeks, not even an hour. Jesse, Shalimar and Adam were always on their back, never leaving them on their own. With Shal prowling in the halls nearly all night and Adam doing the same it had been impossible to find a place where they could be alone. They had solved one problem only to fall in another. And it was worst because both knew what they were missing. Lassitude and frustration washed over him as he leant further close to the table while absentmindedly playing with his glass. He needed to hold her, feel her in his arms. His eyes returned to her, drawn, entranced by her moving form.

"Who are you looking at that way?"

Brennan nearly jumped from his seat at the sound of Jesse voice and slightly turned around to look at his friend grinning at him like a schoolboy. Brennan felt unable to retort, frustration weighing down on his soul; this evening was getting from bad to worst.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

Jesse laughed and sat down looking in the same direction as his friend. He spotted Emma and Shalimar dancing, smiles plastered on their faces and he couldn't help but wonder what or who was making his friend so depressed. His mood had changed from touchy and grumpy before their departure to extremely gloomy the last few days. Maybe locking him with Emma in sanctuary had not been such a good idea and he felt responsible.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Brennan took the beer Jesse had brought back and sipped it not knowing what to answer. The situation was infuriating. On the dance floor, some guy tried to ask Emma to dance. His body tensed, jealousy roaring through each and every fiber of his being, crushing his heart. He should be the one asking her. The feelings recessed as he watched his lover shaking her head to say no. 'What have you done to me Emma? How are we going to hide it any longer.'

Jesse watched his brother release his deathly grip on the glass he was holding. Something was definitely wrong between those two. His attention was diverted from Brennan and Emma by Shalimar sitting close to him. The young feral brushed his thigh gaining his full attention. They locked eyes and he answered her silent questions with small head movements in Emma's direction. Instantly the young woman knew that their plan had not worked. There were too many secrets between the four teammates. They needed this out.

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One hour later, they were all sitting in a nearly deserted Café, staring at their food unsure of what to say or do. Brennan and Emma watched each other surreptitiously, not knowing why Shal had called up this meeting in the middle of their evening out. The pent up tension was quickly eating all of Emma's strength, silence and awkwardness weighing down on her. 'Better go down to the root of the problem'

"What is the matter Shal?"

Shalimar took a deep breath and looked at Jesse searching for his approbation. The reassuring and loving glint in his eyes gave her the strength she desperately needed.

"Ok. We need to talk but we keep this between the four of us. Adam doesn't need to hear anything about what we are going to say here."

The three friends nodded. The young feral put her hand on top of Jesse's and smiled gently squeezing it.

"Ok... Jesse and I have a thing to tell you." Shalimar breathed deeply. This was harder than she had expected. She kept her eyes riveted on the table unable to face her friends. "You were locked in Sanctuary because of us. We kind of figured you would eventually solve your problem if you had no way to escape."

Brennan and Emma looked at each other not knowing what to say. They should have been mad at their friends. Yet they felt grateful for their intervention in their private life. Both Jesse and Shalimar misinterpreted their silence, knowing they had gone beyond the limits. Jesse looked at them knowing he had to say something.

"We did this because we thought you had a problem. It nearly cost the life of three new mutants a few weeks ago and..."

Brennan heaved his hand in the air stopping the molecular in mid sentence.

"Ok, first thing, we're not mad because you locked us down. In fact, it helped us."

"Good we were a bit unsure of our decision..."

Emma softly laughed.

"Being locked down helped us sorting things between us. We had the time to... talk."

Hearing her choice of words, Brennan choked on his coffee. 'Yeah, they had... talked alright'. His coughing was rewarded by the inquisitive stare of their two friends. Instantly he realized his mistake. Innocently he wiped his mouth with a napkin, praying it was not too late.

"What? It was more like you yelling and me... Nevermind. It worked nonetheless. We came to... an agreement."

Emma watched him in disbelief, her jaw slightly hanging. He was finding the situation funny and wanted to play. She slapped his arm playfully in protest.

"He, I was not yelling..."

"Yes you were..."

Brennan sipped a little more of his coffee and couldn't help but smile and wink at Jesse and Shalimar. They had avoided a huge disaster, at least for now.

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As Jesse drove back to sanctuary, Shalimar sitting beside him, he couldn't help but think of the evening and his friend's reactions. Something was out of place, their reactions felt unnatural, forced.

"The pieces don't fit together"

Shalimar diverted her gaze from the window to look at Jesse.

"What are you talking about?"

"Brennan and Emma. Something happened while we were gone. Brennan was so tensed in that club that I felt it, and I'm not a psionic. Then at the dinner they tell us they are ok?"

"Jesse, you are dreaming."

The young molecular laughed.

"Come on Shalimar. They were both relieved when we said we were going home. They are hiding something."

Shalimar shook her head. He was right; when she and Emma were on the dance floor the young psionic had seemed a bite out of it.

"Ok, they might be hiding something; but do I have to remember you, we are also hiding our relationship."

Jesse sighed knowing she was right. They could not interfere in this.

"Secrets like those are dangerous Shal."

That's it for now... Who will discover Emma and Brennan's secret??? What do you think?