The Truth Behind...

SUMMARY: You know the drill... . Sixth chapter, next to last. It's a little shorter than the others. And surprises and angst in store (I won't kill anybody, promise); set a few days after the dance... with spoilers from 'presumed guilty'. For those who are interested: the title of the chapter is also the title of one of Dave Matthews band songs. Hope you'll enjoy.

ARCHIVE: anywhere BUT ask me first )

RATING: For this chapter R

PAIRING: Adam/Emma

REVIEW and FEEDBACK: Yes, Yes, please, I'm begging!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: The characters belong to their respective creators (wish they belong to me... but....) I just borrowed them and put them in a not too nice situation.

Chapter 6: The dreaming tree...

"Did any of you see Adam? Cause he missed one of my check up."

Disconcerted looks were exchanged between the three friends. How could he have forgotten that. Instantly their training became their last priority. Adam was not the type of man who could easily forget his duty. None of them had been suspicious about his absence. Sometimes, he would just leave Sanctuary for a walk and come back a few hours later.

"No."

Emma blinked trying to repress the panic flooding her heart. Last night, she had been waiting for him to come home till she fell asleep on her bed deadly worried about him. Adam would never miss one of their nightly training. It was the only moment they could be alone.

"Have you tried his comring?"

"Yeh. And I got no answer at all."

They had found him. And he had not recognised her, worse, he had surrendered to the police instead of trusting them. Emma wondered for the thousand time if it meant something. Sometimes, she would catch confusing feelings and memories coming the deepest part of his mind. Adam was hiding something from her. Jesse and Bren were on the way back from the prison and the young woman was still debating what she should do about the situation. His rejection had hurt her badly. His eyes had been empty like his mind when she had tried to read him. Emma exhaled and wrapped her arms around her knees. Tears were clouding her eyes. What if Adam never found his memory back? Emma felt herself be drowning in her sorrow and self-pity.

Have faith in us. No matter what happens, we'll find a way.

Echoing in her mind his words brought her a semblance of peace. Emma felt a smile creep upon her tears stricken face. Adam had thought her that even in the darkest hours there was hope. She needed to be strong, for them, for Shalimar, Brennan and Jesse.



Adam was standing in the lab watching the young woman beside him quickly tipping on the keyboard, retrieving the information he needed. The whole situation seemed familiar to him, the data scrolling in front of him, her presence, her perfume. Something coming from her was speaking to his mind and heart. Adam shook his head as if to clear his mind. One problem at a time, first his memory then...

"Can I try?"

Emma smiled and left her place in front of the computer. The ever-present scientist in him took over, scanning, reworking the data with a speed he would have never thought possible. Suddenly his vision blurred and he felt an excruciating pain drilling through his head. Within a few seconds, he was in an examination chair being scanned, two worried women at his side.



Emma watched Adam getting out of the car taking a black duffel bag with him. She had come to the house two days ago and had been waiting for him to come not knowing if he would do the first step. They had had their first fight while the three others had been taking the agents and Eckhart "home". When she had read Griffin to find the truth about his girlfriend death and a way to give Adam his memory back she had found the truth about his past. She had wanted to talk to him, tell him she had faith in them, that his past would not stay between them. The argument had come unexpected. Both had shouted, slamming doors not really wanting to know what the other had to say. It had been a stupid and useless fight. Adam had retreated behind his age and experience, Emma behind her abilities. During the evening supper they had not exchanged a word or a glance. After two questions from Shalimar about his silence, Adam had left the table saying he was not hungry anymore. She had had great problems deflecting her friends questions. The next morning she had left Sanctuary at dawn leaving a note for Adam telling him where she was if he wanted to talk.

Adam was staring at her, standing on the front deck, lightly bent over the wooden fence. He felt hesitant like a teenager. Coming here to talk to her had taken him two days filled with doubts and fears. Three steps that was all it would take; still it felt like half the distance to the moon. Sensing his doubts and fears Emma began doubting her own behaviour and certitudes. Adam would never hide something to hurt her. He had done it to protect her.

"I'm sorry!"

They both apologized in unison. Adam quickly covered the distance between them and took her in his arms.

"Emma honey, I need you to promise me one thing. You will never leave Sanctuary like that again. If we have a fight I want us to talk about it and clear things."

"You have my word. But you have to promise me the same thing."

"Ok."

They locked eyes and were lost in the moment. Both leaned forward, their lips meeting for a rough and demanding kiss. Gasping for air, they broke the kiss. Adam tried to calm his racing heart. Here they were alone, no one would interrupt them. But first he needed to tell her the truth. She had read it but he had to voice it. As usual, Emma was quicker than him to start the conversation.

"What did you tell the others about my departure?"

"I told them you had to see a friend. This morning I explained you called me for help."

"How long do we have?"

"Two or three days. Nothing more."

The young woman put her head on his shoulder closing her eyes. She could sense he wanted them to leave their life behind. But he could not, not until he had repaired his mistakes.

"Emma honey, there are a few things I need to explain to you. I know you read them when Griffin still had my memories but..."

"You need to get this out of your system."

Adam smiled. She always seemed to know what was inside his head before him.

"I'm an open book."

Emma smiled in his neck.

"No, you're not. I can't read you as easily as I can with the others. But, that's something I really appreciate. Now, go ahead, I'm listening."

The first words felt like burning ashes on his tongue. But as soon as they came out, the rest flooded like monsoon: Gabriel the first of his kind, his experiments on mutants, the fact that Eckhart knew about his work. At the end of his monologue, she could feel his tears running freely down his cheeks, slowly wetting her own face. His guilty was so strongly anchored in his soul that he would never forgive himself. The young woman felt her own tears welling in her closed eyes sensing his pain.

"It's ok Adam."

She never had the time to finish her sentence. Adam broke the embrace and leaned on the fence avoiding her stare.

"No Emma, it's not ok. It never will be. By manipulating DNA and letting Mason be part of it, I changed things, I tried to play god. I was naïve enough to believe I could change the world, make it a better place. I forgot that money and power were human weaknesses. I should have stopped everything when it was still time."

The young woman reached for his chin and made him look at her. She wanted him to see her eyes while she was talking.

"Adam, please listen to me. You told me once to have faith in us. Now, I want you to have faith in us, together, we are stronger than them. I know that you did some things you're not proud of. But you also did good things and I'm here to prove it. Adam, my love, we will stop Eckhart or anyone who wants to destroy what you have done. Together with Mutant X we'll construct the world you have dreamt of."

He smiled at her sadly not knowing who was the most idealistic or stupidest of them. She could read people how could she still believe they could change. Maybe he was too old or too disillusioned to fight anymore. He reached for her and pulled her in his arms. He wanted to believe her, desperately.

"I'm sorry, so sorry Emma. This is my fight, I had no right to enlist you in it. You deserve a life, a real life."

"Bullshit Adam! My life is here, with you. I love you Adam and nothing is gonna change that fact."

Adam watched her bemused. "What had she just said?"

"What did you just say?"

"That my life was with you..."

"No Emma, the last part."

The young woman smiled. She emphasized every word wanting them to sink in the deepest part of his heart and soul.

"That I love you. Adam, I repeat it. I love you. And you are not allowed to doubt it."

"I love you too Emma. And, I have faith in us."

TBC