I don't know what to say anymore. Thanks to all the people who took the time to leave a little word. It really, really made me happy. Enough of my rambling now.

Chapter 5

The quietness of dawn was quickly disrupted by a continual activity of cars, cheerful shouts and parents bringing their kids on the college parking. Brennan watched with dread as the students gathered together one after the other near the bus each carrying a colourful backpack. He and Emma had already put their stuff in the bus ten minutes ago. All they had to do was checking names on a list making sure every one was there.

Wearily the elemental rubbed his eyes and yawned. It was barely 6 AM and he was already exhausted. Emma had woken him at five to check their respective equipment for the third time. Shortly before they had left Adam had called them. The second girl had been found dead barely a few hours ago with a written note clutched in one of her hands. 'I'm watching you… and I'll get you'. The police had been unable to find out if the murderer had written the message for the girl or if it was truly a message. However Adam suspected that the assassin had already found another victim and was waiting to strike. The note was just a warning.

Thinking back of the conversation with their leader made Brennan shudder. They should be staying in the school to protect the kids instead of going on that little trip. The whole situation was ridiculous. Suddenly he felt Emma slipping her hand in his. Looking down at her smile, her eyes, a strange sensation swelled from deep inside his heart making him forget all his worries. Then the certitude he had found his place slammed strongly in his mind. It was right to be there with her.

As they boarded the bus and took their places on the front row Emma settled in his embrace her head resting on his chest. Instantly he wrapped his arms around her giving her a comfortable place to rest. And when the bus sped on the road both drifted asleep to the sounds of one of their favorite song. Neither was aware of the pair of eyes angrily fixing them from one of the backseats.

XXX

They reached their destination around 1 PM without any incident. As soon as the students left the bus they spread around, happily putting their equipment on. Emma had awoken more than twenty minutes ago with Brennan sleeping on her shoulder. Seeing his peaceful expression, she had not dared waking him up at that moment. Instead she had just leaned her head on his, savouring the moment.

Seeing Helena waving at her she gently shook Brennan's shoulder waking him up. The elemental yawned and opened his eyes only to find Emma staring at him with a loving smile. It took him less than a few seconds to realize where he was and less than five for a plan to form in his head.

"We need to go Bren. They're waiting for us"

He only groaned in response and refused to move perfectly knowing it would annoy her. Her eyes locked with his, hoping she could somehow comfort him. She knew this trip was a nightmare for him. However the smile on his lips was bright; bright, happy and mischievous. It surprised her and then realization downed on her. He was playing with her again.

"Oh you!"

Trying to fake an angry pout, she slapped his arm and exited the bus. Brennan chuckled and quickly followed her. Their little trip was definitely starting under the best auspices.

Both mutants put on their backpacks surveying the teenagers playing around the place with playful laughter and shouts. In a far corner, Patti, Sam, Rory and Nina were anxiously watching their surrounding. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Emma's stomach as she spotted the four young mutants talking. Patti locked eyes with her and the tele-empath clearly heard the younger woman telling her to stay out of her mind. Somehow she had guessed who they were. Why she hadn't talked about it was still a mystery for Emma.

In a distance, the dark shadow was watching the exchange with a smile. The soul of the younger one was still so innocent so full of illusions. It would be like eating a peach sorbet on a warm summer night, refreshing and pleasant. But it would not quench his thirst completely. On the other hand, the older one was so full of passion; her experience was far more extended, her soul full of delicious emotions. She would be the culmination of the hunt. The best desert one could ever find.

XXX

The first hours of walk were the longest the couple had ever experienced. The kids kept getting away from the little road they were following, hiding in the surrounding forest, trying to frighten their classmates.

Brennan had already gone two times after one of the students. He had chased him through nearly half the forest eating cobwebs, stumbling on roots and getting scratches on his hands because of brambles. When he had caught the kid the second time, he had pushed him back on the road angrily, nearly dragging him. The elemental was seriously considering zapping him as an example for the others but he had the feeling it would not be welcomed.

As they entered deeply in the woods, the light of day diminished until all they could see were ray of lights coming eerily between the gigantic trees. The road had narrowed to a mere path with roots and rocks emerging from the ground. The path slowly crept up a few hills, making their progress more difficult. The students walking ahead of them became quieter and silence settled on the forest.

Emma breathed deeply in the scent of the earth mixed with moss, ferns and moisture. Charlie started to talk about plant evolution and she relaxed listening to his voice and the sounds of nature. The combination of the two led her to a near hypnotic trance. As she did her shield slowly slipped away granting her a new perception of the group walking ahead of her.

Her brain began to isolate, catalogue feelings drifting her way; happiness, weariness, pain, sorrow, peacefulness, love, longing. And in the middle of all those colourful emotions a strange disturbing sensation, like the one that had hit her when she was close to Helena the other day, brushed unpleasantly against her mind. Only this time it was stronger, meaner and darker. A shiver ran down her spine as it invaded her mind; coldness was quickly spreading through her body as if drowning in cold black water. Soon there was nothing left but the sensation of thorns gripping at her ankles, tearing flesh, dragging her deeper and away from the light; she tried to look up but the surface was so far away. She tried to scream but no sound came out. What was happening to her? Where was Brennan?

Seeing her stop and looking around frantically, Brennan slowed down. Emma seemed to be lost in a strange world. She was struggling for breath nearly unable to stand on her feet. Unsure of what to do he simply took her hand. The contact came as a lightning bolt. A strong energy swept through her body and she felt the thorns releasing her. The darkness subsided leaving her shaking.

"Emma, are you ok?"

She shook her head trying to dissipate the remains of the illusion. She was back in the forest with Brennan and somehow he had sensed that something was really wrong. The emptiness was no more there but it had left a bitter anxious taste in her mouth. She had seen it at the bottom of that pool. It was there with them. Her voice was barely above a whisper but it held all her fear.

"The killer is with us Brennan. Don't ask me how I know it. I don't know who he or she is; but that 'thing' is with us."

He rubbed her arms in a soothing gesture hoping to ease her mind a little. If the killer was with them they were in danger; Emma was in danger. His eyes darted from right to left worriedly trying to find where it could hide but nothing seemed out of place. The forest was peaceful, not even a single leaf moving. However he knew that Emma's instinct had never been wrong and the thought worried him more than he cared to admit.

XXX

The walk to their first base camp was strenuous. But once they reached the soft meadow all their efforts were rewarded. Dark mountains with snow-covered tops were surrounding the place giving it a stately isolated quality. After Charlie and Helena had organized the chores for the group, every one dropped their backpacks and started to prepare their camp for the night.

Brennan wearily put his backpack on the ground. Emma had been right about the weight of their equipment. His back was starting to hurt and they had barely walked half a day. He stretched a little but it made his muscles groan in response. And he knew it would only get worse when they would be cold or worse after a night spent on the ground. Seeing him wincing Emma got closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'll go and fetch wood. You put the tent together ok?"

The elemental gratefully smiled at her. There were days he was happy Emma could read him so easily.

XXX

The first stars appeared quickly illuminating a dark blue sky. Most of the students started retreating in their respective tents exhausted after their afternoon walk. Their chatter slowly decreased to be replaced by the sounds of nocturnal insects. As the silence settled on the camp Emma crept back in her tent hoping she would find Brennan asleep. However she had no such luck. The elemental was desperately trying to find a comfortable position groaning and cursing with each new move tangling himself in his sleeping bag.

She sat crossed legs on her own sleeping bag watching him in the dim light provided by the dying fires through the fabric of the tent. Her smile quickly changed to worry as he settled on his stomach with an exasperated sigh. He had insisted on carrying more material than her and he was surely paying for that chivalrous decision. Without a word, she lied down close to him and entangled her fingers in his hair. In response, he turned his head to face her, a slightly forced smile on his face. Her voice was barely above a whisper from fear someone could hear them.

"Hey you ok? You didn't say a word during diner."

"I'm ok. Wanna reconsider the massage issue? I have to admit that my back is hurting… a little."

She watched him stunned and pushed herself up to lean on one elbow. It was so seldom to hear him confess a weakness. That little sentence spoke to her about trust and the thought gave her a particularly warm sensation. How could she refuse him anything? So without another word, she reached inside her backpack in search of analgesic cream. Meanwhile he got out of his sleeping bag and took off his t-shirt lying back on the ground. Emma got closer, kneeling beside him.

When her small hands touched his lower back, he had to bite his lower lip to stifle a groan. Gently she began to work out all the tension from his muscles going up his spine. He relaxed under her ministrations trying not to focus on the effect her touch was having on him. His heart began to drum in his ears covering the sounds of the night. He had to take a deep breath as she worked on a very sensitive spot. Emma repressed a smile as she sensed the emotions drifting her way. It was amazing how he responded to her touch. Brennan's question startled her, calling her back to reality.

"What did you perceive when we were still in the forest? You had that strange look in your eyes. You seemed so lost Emma."

He didn't need to tell her he had feared something might have gone wrong; it was written in his words. Her movements stilled for a few seconds before she could answer him. The feeling of being observed had not left her since that moment and it disturbed her. And she could not tell him the truth. He would instantly call Adam and ask Jesse to bring her back in sanctuary.

"It was something so dark, so powerful. It seemed to feed on my strength, on my emotions, Brennan. I don't even know if it's human. I was drowning until you touched me."

She had reached his shoulders and started to work on his neck causing a sharp intake of breath from the elemental. It took all his self-control to focus back on their discussion.

"So that thing is what? Feeding on emotions and it is following us?"

"Yeah. It's waiting out there and I hate the sensation it left in my mind. If you hadn't been there I don't know what would have happened."

Her voice faltered when she pronounced the last words. She knew what would have happened. Her hands stilled resting between his shoulder blades. Brennan also knew and he simply refused to consider that possibility. He abruptly turned around so that he was facing her. In the dim light, he could barely see her but he knew that she had a worried frown playing on her lips. Whatever that thing was it was frightening her and it was not a good thing. His hand came to rest on her cheek softly brushing her skin, caressing her lips. She closed her eyes wearily taking in the comfort he was sending her.

"Emma, the world doesn't disappear when you close your eyes, does it?"

"No it doesn't. At least not when you're with me."

The elemental sat up and brought her in his arms holding on her tight.

"Oh Emma."

She felt his love drifting her way and she shivered in his arms. It was better than any words, any poems or song. The feeling soothed her, erased the taste the shadow had left in her soul.

"Thanks Brennan for always giving me what I really need. Now let's sleep. Otherwise tomorrow is going to be a nightmare and… I need you to carry our equipment."

A low laugh and a tender kiss were the only answers she got from him. Without a word he made her get off her sleeping bag and swiftly put the two together to form only one. He put his t-shirt back on before sliding back in their makeshift bed. But Emma was too stunned to follow him. She just stayed there watching him folding one of his sweaters to make a pillow. Thoughts were rushing at light speed in her head. All she wanted was to curl up at his side and take comfort in his presence. But was it safe for them both to sleep like that? Wouldn't it rush things?

"Emma you're going to freeze. Come here."

He was holding the upper cover in a silent invitation. It didn't take long for her to make a decision. She cuddled against him taking in his warmth. The elemental zipped the bag, offering her a place on his makeshift pillow. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, he wrapped his arms around her and she spooned against his back. Soon she felt his breath getting more regular on her neck and she knew he was fast asleep.

"Bren?"

"Hm, yeah Emma?"

She turned slightly in his arms until she was facing him. Her lips landed on his for a sweet kiss.

"Night."

The elemental tightened his grip on her knowing it was her own sweet way to tell him how much she cared about him. He would worry tomorrow about the killer following them. He would contact Adam to have him search the database. He had the feeling the killer was a mutant.

TBC