Adam reaches Emma

~Hello love.~

~I'm not your love.~ Emma walked into the common room and smiled over at Brennan and Adam who were in an heated game of checkers. "Who's winning?"

"I am." Both of the men said without looking up.

Emma smiled as she sat down in the chair that faced them. She tried to read their minds to see if they were the ones who was playing with her mind. But once again she came up blank.

~Stop trying to find me Emma. You will not until you trust in my love.~

~No!~ Emma closed her eyes and tried to connect with the outside world to see if she could pick up the creep who was doing this to her.

"Hey Em. Are you ok?" Shalimar asked with concern in her voice as she walked up behind her best friend.

Emma opened her eyes and titled her head backwards so that Shalimar was upside down. She tried to read the other woman's mind to see if she was in her mind. But of course nothing.

~Trust me.~

"Emma!" Shalimar asked more concern than ever. She knew that her friend was trying to read her. Normally she would be put off about this instruction but seeing the look in Emma's eyes she knew that her best friend was in need of ... *Something.*

Adam and Brennan looked up at the note in Shalimar eyes.

"Emma!" Adam said getting up from his place at the table.

Emma brought her head back to face the table had unseeing eyes.

~Love is an most powerful thing Emma. Trust in it and you will be protected.~

~No!~

~Why are you so afraid of love?~

~It hurts.~

"Emma...." Adam bent down so that he could look into the young woman's eyes. He didn't like what he saw.

"Adam what's wrong with Emma?" Brennan asked getting up and walking over to his friends and teammates.

"Hey what's going on?" Jesse asked walking into the room.

"Something's up with Emma." Brennan said not taking his eyes off Emma.

"Yea I figured. After she tried to read my mind this morning." Jesse said joining his friends.

~Why does love hurt you?~

~Because anyone I ever loved has used me or abandoned me.~

~Your parents.~

~Yes~

"Emma come back to me. Tell me what's wrong." Adam said forcefully looking deep into Emma's eyes.

~Who else?~

~All those strangers who my parents chose over me. All those drunks and stoners.~

~What did they do to you?~

~They used me.~

"Jesse morph into the lab and get me my bag." Adam said not looking away from Emma.

Jesse morphed in and out of the room quickly. "Here we go Adam." He said handing the bag over to Adam.

"Thank you." Adam opened the bag and pulled out the tester that he used whenever the Mutant X's powers needed recharging. He run it over Emma's body starting from head to feet. Than tried once again from feet up to her head. He sighed and put the tester back into his bag. "Normal. She is fine. "

"What the hell do you mean she is fine. She's comatose dammit." Shalimar said angrily looking down at Emma.

"I mean she doesn't need any medical treatment." Adam said still not taking his eyes off of Emma's face. *Emma if you can hear me than listen to me. Come back to me. Come back to us. What is making you afraid. Tell me we can work things out.*

~How did they use you?~

~They beat and raped me.~

~The Strangers.~

~Yes and my parents. My parents molested me when I was only two years old.~

~My God. You remember that?~

~Yes. My trust was ruined than.~

~But you trust the Mutant X.~

~In time yes.~

~Why?~

~They only want to help me. They don't know everything. Not even ....~

~Adam.~

~Yes not even Adam.~

~Confide in him. Trust him to help you to forgive your parents.~

~Forgive my parents. Are you out of you fucking mind. Forgive those monsters who stole my innocence when I was only two years old!~

~Yes. It is the only way for you to trust our love Emma. You must forgive your parents.~

~No! Never!~

*Emma come back to us. What ever you are afraid of come back and let me help you.* Adam voice came suddenly into Emma's mind. Emma blinked and looked straight into Adam's eyes. "Adam."

"Welcome back." Adam smiled softly at the young woman. "Where were you?"

"It doesn't matter." Emma said still not taking her eyes off of Adam's face. *Can I trust him.*

~Yes it's the only way.~

*Would you like to confide in me?* Adam thought.

"Yes." Emma said.

*Here or the lab.* Adam asked without words.

"My bedroom." Emma said.

Adam nodded and stood up. He held out his hand so that Emma could take it.

Emma took his hand and felt more at peace than she ever had. *It's always been this way since the day I met Adam.*

~He is your protector. But so am I.~

Adam led the way out of the room.

The others watched with wonder on their faces. They wanted to follow after and find out what the hell was going on but knew that somehow Emma's trust was involve. So they stayed put and prayed that Emma would trust them enough to confide in them also.