Disclaimer: Dylan belongs to me, the rest is property of Marvel/Fireworks etc etc. I'm borrowing the characters cuz borrowing is fun and I like action figures.

THIS IS NOT A JESSE SPECIFIC FIC! THERE IS NO MARY SUE HERE YET. MAYBE IN THE SEQUEL, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T FIT RIGHT. (If you think I'm wrong, feel free to correct me, I don't bite…hard.)

Enjoy!

THICKER THAN WATER

Chapter 1:  First Encounter

            She squished herself as far into the side of the building as she could.  This was no place to hide, she knew, but there was no concealment nearby, and she was too exhausted to move on.  Her escape had been futile, after all.

            She could hear footsteps on the pavement, approaching her.  They would take her back and she would never get this opportunity again.  Eckhart would throw her in a stasis pod for sure, this time.  She did not want to go back, but to get up again was impossible.

            "Hey, what are you doing here?" a young man asked her quietly.

            She looked up at him, wishing her new mutant ability was invisibility.  "Alright, well, you win," she sighed.  Despair overwhelmed her.

            "What do you mean?" he lowered himself to her eye level.  "Are you okay?"

            A curt laugh escaped her lips.  "That's a good one." she met his eyes briefly, and saw real concern.  "You aren't here to take me back?" she was incredulous, and a flicker of hope crossed her face.

            "Take you back--?"  It suddenly clicked for him.  Why she looked so exhausted and depressed.  "You mean to the GSA?"

            She nodded, the hope gone.  He must be playing her.  "Please, just kill me now and get it over with.  I'd rather die in an alley than under Mason's supervision."

            "You're a new mutant," he said in realization.  "I'm not here to take you back.  And I'm not going to kill you, either.  I'm a new mutant, too,"

            She did not believe him.  "Prove it,"

            "Okay," he agreed, holding up his hand.

            She regarded him skeptically, pressing her palm to his.  The appendage turned transparent, and her hand went through his.  Her eyes lit up.  "Neat trick, Casper,"

            He rematerialized his hand.  "I've got a few up my sleeve," he grinned at her.

            "So if you're not GSA, what are you?"

            "Mutant X," he answered easily.

            Her heart skipped a beat, but she tried not to look as thrilled as she felt.  "Is Adam still…?"

            The young man nodded.  "Of course,"

            She smiled—she couldn't help it.  "Take me to him, would ya, Casper?  And I'd appreciate it if you'd carry me.  I don't think I could manage another step."

            "It wouldn't do to leave you here for the GSA to find you," he agreed with a nod, then swept her up in his arms.

            "No, no it wouldn't,"

End Chapter 1. Please oh please be kind and leave me a review. What do you think? What's gonna happen next? Who is she? Where did she come from? Check back soon for the next instalment!