Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X and X Men.

Impossible

Chapter 7

Charles had gone, not able to do any more for his friends. Jesse, Shalimar and Adam were just finishing lunch when Evie came in. Jesse noticed her first and stood. "Dr. K, welcome back. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

Adam had had his back to the cavern entrance. When he heard Jesse's greeting he put down his fork and turned to look at the woman who had, so long ago, taken his affections but with whom he was too shy to share those feelings. With the information Shalimar had given him about his counterpart in her world, he began to wonder if this Evie might not also be harboring feelings for him. He hoped.

Evie came to stand beside Jesse. "Stop, you know I hate it when you call me that." She lovingly reprimanded as she looked quickly around the table, her eyes hesitated for just a moment with Adam's. Noticing his unusual stare, she quickly looked back to Jesse and smiled.

In that moment, Adam thought just maybe…he'd seen…something.

"I actually came to tell Shalimar something." She turned to the woman at the table, studiously avoiding Adam in the process. "Shalimar, Shawn's very cranky after the shot he got yesterday. The way I understand it, he didn't sleep at all last night and won't stop crying for you today. Message was sent to me…" she looked down as she wrung her hands, "to find you."

"Not again." Ignoring the questioning looks of the others Jesse turned to her and gently put his arm around her as her head lighted briefly on his shoulder.

Evie raised her head and looked into his eyes. "If it is a trap, I thought it best to follow through and be here with you. She put her head down again and let him hold her.

"It's ok, you were right," he whispered in comfort.

"Wait. Trap? Who's Shawn?" Shalimar looked truly confused.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Jesse took a deep breath and released some of his anxiety as he released his hold on Evie. "Evie, sit down, please. We have something to tell you that's gonna sound crazy." As she sat Jesse continued. "This isn't Shalimar. Well, at least not the Shalimar you know. There was an accident and our Shalimar was…switched with her counterpart from… another dimension." He almost winced at his own words as they still sounded crazy even to him.

"Another dimension?" Evie frowned. "Isn't that a little too fantastic to be true? That story's not going to be enough to fool Brennan if that's what you think," her eyes full of doubt as she looked into Jesse's.

"Evie," Shalimar called to her. "You're telepathic. Scan me and you'll see the truth in what he's saying." She closed her eyes and opened her mind to the woman before her.

Evie saw Jesse's nod then turned to join the waiting Shalimar. When she entered the mind of the other woman both groaned in pain. Evie quickly shielded herself and the pain subsided. It only took an instant for her to understand. Gently backing away, she opened her eyes and looked at Shalimar. "Oh my. This seems so…impossible. What can we do?"

"Thereisn't anything we can do. I have to wait for my family to find a way to get to me." Shalimar stood and paced. "I hate this!" Feeling suddenly guilty, she turned and met Jesse's eyes. "I'm sorry. It's not that I don't appreciate your kindness. It's just that I'm feeling…trapped. Ferals can't be trapped!" Her voice trembled with her frustration. "I need to feel like I'm doing something."

Jesse stood and moved to her side and placed a friendly hand on her arm. "I'm sorry you feel like that. If there's anything we can do…?"

"Maybe there is," Evie whispered.

When the others looked at her she was staring somewhere between herself and the table, deep in thought. "Evie?" Jesse questioned gently.

"At least something small to get your mind off the situation," Evie looked into Shalimar's expectant face. "Shawn."

"Who's Shawn?"

Jesse released her shoulder. "Shawn is…Shal's son. He's two years old." No longer able to bear the pain, Jesse turned away.

When Shalimar noticed Jesse's hesitation she began to feel the rise in anxiety around the table. Looking around the table she noticed none willing to meet her eyes. "What's wrong? Isn't he ok? Where is he?"

"Shalimar," Evie reached out but stopped before she touched Jesse's arm. "Shawn is with…his father."

"Brennan? But I thought she was with…" Shalimar could almost feel the pain as Jesse turned further away from her.

"She loves Jesse more than anything," Evie continued. "About 3 years ago, Shalimar was captured. Mulwray was attracted to her and he…"

The sudden silence at the table seemed to block out all the background noise in the caves. Jesse felt the pain all over again, just like when he was told when it happened. Eyes shining with that pain he turned and painfully whispered, "He raped her…repeatedly." He turned away and scrubbed his hands over his face.

"He got her pregnant and I was called in to care for her." Adam spoke quietly. "He kept her captive until after the baby was born. During that time, I carried notes and messages back and forth between her and Jesse. After that, he didn't keep her under guard anymore. He knew she would always return to her son."

"She's feral," Shalimar's voice was distant as she began to feel longing for her child. "Jesse, what can I…?"

"Nothing," he exhaled as he turned and sat up straighter. "There's no way we can get Shawn away from him. So I have no choice but to let her go there."

"Shawn is the one being hurt now." Evie sighed. "Brennan only wanted a son for the idea. He wanted an heir he hopes will grow up just like him. He spends no time with him knowing Shal will be there for him. Now, the baby's crying and doesn't understand why mommy hasn't come to him."

"It's a ploy this time," Jesse turned suddenly more anxious. "Shal told me that she thought she heard people whispering about her. Lisa told her she thought she was in danger and to be very careful. I didn't want her to go back but I couldn't stop her."

"Lisa?"

"Mulwray took over the club on the boulevard. He lives and works from there. His organization is responsible for all the crime in town. Lisa's the club manager."

"I know her…at least in my world. I can't believe she would be involved in business like that."

"She's not. He staged a forced take over. She only stays because she refuses to give up the club. Secretly, she works with us, like a double agent of sorts."

"Yeah, she works with us, too." Shal stated absently as she thought to herself. Deciding, she turned back to Evie. "Can you take me there?"

"What?!" Jesse's head whipped around to her. "You can't go down there. He'll…hurt you. I can't let that happen."

"Jesse, listen to me," she touched his arm soothingly, knowing that calm reason would get through to him. "I can get inside, find out something you need. If nothing else I can take care of her son. Maybe even find a way to get him out."

"It's too dangerous, Shal!" Jesse stood shaking his head. "You can't leave and go back to him. You don't know what he's capable of." Fear ran rampant in his mind and heart at the thought. "He'll rape you again? He takes you every time you go back. It kills me every time."

Shalimar stood and took hold of Jesse's arms, forcing him to look at her. "Jess, you're confusing us. I'm sorry but I'm not your Shalimar. He's never raped me. I can handle Brennan. And if he tries, well…I've sparred with him enough to know how to beat him. Trust me. I can get Shawn for you. For me, it's an easy rescue mission. Adam would…"

"Adam…" Jesse repeated as a thought rushed his clearing mind. He pulled out of her hold and turned in rant. "What happens if your family gets here and you're not? What do I tell them?"

"Tell them my mission. They can be my back up if…I don't return."

"Don't even think that."

"I'll be your back up." All eyes suddenly turned on Evie. Feeling very self conscious but determined she went on. "You'll need someone to get you in. It'll look most natural if I take you with me. If it is a trap, that's what he'll expect and as long as I'm there I'll make some excuse to stay. That way you'll have someone inside you can count on."

"Evie, it's very dangerous."

"I know, Jess. But it's also very necessary. We need to get that baby away from him."

Shalimar waited in anticipation. This really was his call, after all. (It is his world,)she reminded herself. She saw his nod and turned to Evie with a hug. "We'll make a good team."

They spent the next hour creating a plan and convincing the men they could do it. When they felt they had a viable course of action, the girls stood to leave. "Evie," Adam stopped her. "Can I speak to you for just a moment?" He saw her hesitant nod and led her to one side of the cavern. "Listen, I…I just wanted to…well," his heart pounded so hard in his ears he felt she could hear it for sure. "This is a dangerous mission. I just wanted to say…be careful and well, I'll go back to the lab. If you need…back up…call me."

Evie could hear how nervous he was. All this time and he'd never lead her to believe he'd even noticed her. Now he seemed genuinely…concerned. (He seems to really care.) "Thank you, Adam. I'll remember that." She hesitated, caught in his gaze that pinned her in place. (Should I?) "Will, um…will I see you when this is over?" She couldn't help the warmth she felt in her cheeks.

"I'll be here." He smiled as she turned. Watching them leave he moved back to Jesse's side. "I'm going back to my lab. Please send word when they call in."

Adam left Jesse standing alone and helpless…in a cavern full of people.

TBC