Disclaimer: Don't own the Mutant X characters

Surprises All Around by Rosalie

Chapter One

Brennan looked down at the limp form in his arms and silently prayed he'd be all right. If he wasn't Shalimar would kill him for sure. Brennan sighed as he picked Jesse's inert form up and carried him over to the Helix.

****

Earlier that day.......

****

"Brennan, Jesse I need you in the lab." called Adam's voice over the COM system, startling Jesse. Jesse grumbled something under his breath and looked at Shalimar.

" He always calls at the worst times," he said smiling at his fiancee as he got out of bed. Shalimar laughed and followed Jesse with her eyes, as he got dressed.

" It is 10:00 Jesse. We had to get up sometime."

Jesse smiled ruefully has he glared at Shalimar.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it," Jesse snapped back as he gave her a kiss and left to see what Adam wanted.

Shalimar sighed as she got up and got dressed. While she was getting dressed she contemplated what was happening in her life. She thought about how things were going to change when she and Jesse tell the others they are getting married. She smiled at the look she pictured on Adam and Brennan's faces. Shalimar just hoped Emma, who had found out the night Jesse asked her because of her abilities, wouldn't accidentally blurt it out before tonight. "Better go see what's going on," she thought as she left her bedroom but not before one other thought crossed her mind that she quickly squashed for later. Did she want children?

****

"What's going on," Jesse asked as he entered the lab to find Adam and Brennan waiting for him.

" The G.S.A have found another target. His name is Dan Marshals."

"What can he do? Why's he a target for the G.S.A?" Brennan inquired eager to go on a mission after the spell of no activity there had been.

Adam's smile was gone as quickly as it came.

"He's a Thermal Elemental and a bit of a pyro."

Jesse sighed starting to get frustrated.

"Why does the G.S.A want him anyway?" He said restating Brennan's question.

Adam looked at Jesse with a frown. " What's wrong with him? He's never like this." He thought before continuing.

"He has a connection with......"He stopped as Emma and Shalimar walked in.

"Hi" The both said in unison.

"Hi guys," Adam replied as he continued. "As I was saying. His connection with fire makes him a target because he can be used as a weapon against Ferals. Eckhart can also use him against me. So it is imperative you find him before the G.S.A do."

They were all thoroughly confused now. Adam must have seen this because as Shalimar opened her mouth to ask why he waved her off. Adam sighed. He had hoped he wouldn't have to tell them. "Oh well, they would have found out sooner or later." he thought as he took a big breath.

"Eckhart will use him against me because he is my son."

"What!?!?!" came the immediate response from everyone.

Everyone stood in silence for the next several minutes. This made Adam very uncomfortable. He felt as though the others were boring into him. Adam was seriously regretting telling them.

Jesse was the first to speak. "Where is he? Why do you want only me and Brennan to go? Can't Emma and Shal come?"

Adam smiled. "At least he is starting to sound more like himself." he thought. "He's at 545 Clarence street in Jasper, Alberta. I want you two to go because I need Emma's help in the lab today and I want Shalimar to rest more."

Shalimar let out a quiet growl when Adam brought that up. It had been three weeks since she had been shot in the shoulder and she was healed fine. "I want to go on a mission." She thought bitterly as she stared at Adam. Shal sighed and gave Jesse a quick kiss and left the room slightly peeved.

Jesse sighed inwardly "Thanks Adam" he thought "Now she's mad. What a night it is going to be."

'When do you want us to go?" Brennan asked speaking up for the first time in a half an hour.

"I'd like you to go now. If you don't mind."

Jesse and Brennan both nodded and Brennan left to find Emma who had snuck out unnoticed when Shal left. Jesse lingered behind to talk to Adam.

"When will Shalimar be able to go on a mission?"

Adam sighed. "Soon, Jess I just don't want her to hurt her shoulder again."

Jesse sighed "Yeah, your right." Jesse said as he turned to leave but Adam started to talk again.

"Oh, no I'm fine, only that you have completely wrecked my plans for today." Jesse thought but didn't dare say out loud as he remembered his and Shal's plans for the day.

"What. No Adam I'm fine, "He replied instead as he left and went to the Double Helix as he was already ready to go.

****

Brennan had found Emma by the pond trying to clear her head. He was just about to go over and talk to her but was cornered by Shalimar, who appeared out of nowhere.

"Hey, Shal. What's up?"

Shalimar's eyes narrowed as she starred at Brennan. "Aren't you suppose to be going with Jesse?"

"Yeah, I was just heading over to the Double Helix now. I wanted to talk to Emma first."

"You can talk to Emma later. Go to the Helix. Jesse's waiting for you."

Brennan sighed and started to walk away hoping that Adam would allow her to go on a mission soon because she was getting impossible to be around.

"Oh and Brennan." Shalimar called after him.

"Yeah," he said turning around.

"I f you let anything happen to Jesse I will become your personal nightmare." Shalimar said as she left to see if Emma wanted to spar.

Brennan just stood there stunned. "I knew they were close but I had no idea they were this close." he thought as he walked to the Double Helix. Brennan had no idea how little he really knew.

****

Jesse heard a noise behind him and turned around to find Brennan walking on to the Helix. As Brennan sat down in the pilot's seat Jesse noticed he looked a little flushed.

"You alright Brennan?"

"What," Brennan said seeming shocked "Oh, yeah I'm fine," Brennan laughed silently as he thought "Yeah I'm fine, I just met with the animal queen of the west."

Jesse looked at Brennan warily and said "If you say so." and then into his com-ring he said "Adam we're out of here. We'll check in when we find him, K."

"Alright Jess." Came the immediate response.

"Alright let's go." Brennan said as he pulled the Helix out of Sanctuary.