Okay well here is the next chapter as promised. I need to warn you that as of right now I'm still plugging away on chapter 19 so once I get to 18 you might have to wait a little bit, but hopefully not too long for me to post these.

I don't own any of it. I hope you all know that by now. I am just a lowly writer of someone elses ideas.

Thanks to all of my reviewers. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the nice things you have said.

Of course I have to give props to Stephanie, Sara and Rachel for their help. They are the best!

14 Revelations and Decisions 14

When Shalimar finally returned from her run, Beau and Angel were awake and having coffee and some breakfast in the kitchen.

"Good morning." Shalimar said as she spotted the two of them sitting at the table and looking up from their conversation.

"Morning." Angel said stifling a yawn, "You were up early." she continued as Shalimar walked into the kitchen.

"I was having trouble sleeping." Shalimar lied. She wasn't sure if she should tell anyone about her dream just yet. She already felt like her sanity was hanging by a thread. She wanted to make sure that her dream was the work of Ian's sister and not a powerful psionic tapping into her already tortured subconscious. No, she decided, she would talk to Ian first and confirm her suspicions before letting the others know what had happened.

"When Lexa wakes up we were going to take another look at the plans to find any alternate routes of entry and exit we can use." Beau said, "Actually we were discussing different tactics used in Dark Star that might be of use to us. If you think of any alternatives or ideas, let us know."

"Okay." Shalimar said looking at the two sitting comfortably side by side. For a moment she was struck with a pang of concern. They had never discussed what would happen once Brennan and Jesse returned. She wondered if her feral brother and sister would stay or if they would opt to leave and take on another path. It was odd how territorial ferals could be, and yet the three of them had very few problems living together. She was too caught up in her own thoughts to hear what Beau had said and only caught the last few words.

"… arrange for care."

"I'm sorry. I missed all that." Shalimar said with a blush painting her cheeks.

Beau smiled indulgently as one might do with a child, "I was saying that we need to discuss with Ian if he has arranged for medical care for Brennan and Jesse if they are in need of it, and if not we will need to make the arrangements."

Shalimar was never so glad to have them there as at that moment when she realized that there was so much that she and Lexa had taken for granted while living in Sanctuary and having Adam. Beau and Angel were so accustomed to planning attacks and the aftermath that they were really the backbone supporting them over the past few months.

"I didn't even think about anything like that yet." Shalimar said looking slightly ashamed.

"Shal…" Angel stood and pulled her feral sister close "We have a lot, and I mean a lot, of experience with things like this. You guys have always had a base to do your treatments and care. We are more accustomed to winging it if we have to." At this Beau scowled at her, grumbling something about having good plans, "Oh, hush Beau. Between the four of us and Ian we will have all our bases covered." Angel finished with a smile.

Shalimar couldn't help but to smile back. Then as she shifted her arms, her feral sense of smell took over and she realized that she was still in her sweaty workout clothes. "Ok, well I'm feeling a little ripe so I'm going to go and hop in the shower before Lexa gets up… and uses all the hot water." she added with a grin and bounded down the hallway to the shower.

Jesse lay face down on his cot. He was musing to himself various ways he would like to spend the summer. He had been thinking about buying a new car shortly before they had been captured. He imagined going on a long road trip and driving with Lexa next to him and Brennan and Shalimar in the backseat of a new Audi S4. Brennan might not fit, but it was his daydream, so what the hell? He could just mute Brennan's complaints of his legs being cramped.

He longed to go to the beach and see the sun until he felt his skin beginning to burn, which in his current condition would take a grand total of twenty minutes. He smiled to himself. It would be nice to live like they used to, not on the run anymore, and be able to go where and when they wanted. His daydream was abruptly halted by Brennan's voice hissing his name.

"Jesse… Yo, Jess."

Jesse scowled for a moment at the thought of successfully having a nice break from their brutal reality, but then decided that talking to Brennan was definitely more important then his musings of a sandy beach, and damn it, he was almost believing he wasn't in this dank cell.

"Whhhhaaaattttt?" Jesse finally answered, his voice reverberating off of the walls

"I think that we don't have much longer." Brennan said quietly

Jesse's head teamed with thoughts of what he could possibly mean by that comment. Foremost was that Brennan had overheard the plans for their executions. "What?!?" Jesse voice rang with a mixture of fear and uncertainity as he shot up off the bed and almost tripped over his own two feet racing for the door.

"I think that we might be out of here soon." Brennan said, "I had this dream…"

"I've had them too Bren, and that…" Jesse cut him off.

"Would you just listen for a minute?" Brennan hissed at him, and hearing Jesse's silence continued on. "Somehow Shal and I shared a dream, and there was this woman, but they said that we don't have long to wait."

Jesse had heard his friend out and tried to make sense of what he was told. "Brennan, do you really think that it might have just been a dream? I mean what hope do they have in actually finding us?" Jesse was afraid that, between the loss of freedom and the psychics playing with his mind, Brennan might finally be reaching the end of his rope.

When Brennan spoke again, it was with conviction, "Don't you think I have thought of all of that before saying anything to you? Jesse, I've never had a dream this vivid in my life, and I believe in it." Brennan stopped and took a deep breath. He had thought about the dream for the past few hours, pacing his small cell trying to reason with himself what had happened. He had come up with the only answer that he could think of… It had to be some sort of dream sharing. "Jesse, you have to believe me. They aren't going to leave us here much longer."

Jesse felt a lurch in his chest. It was something that he hadn't felt in weeks… maybe closer to months. A grin crossed his face as he realized that the feeling was hope. He feared letting it build itself, but somewhere deep inside a voice echoed, You can always trust in me, Jess, Shalimar had said that when he was upset about all of the lies his father had told him, and even Adam had caused him doubt. It was true. Shalimar was the one person in his life who had never blatantly lied or hid anything from him (…well with the exception of her relationship with Brennan.) She had been honest when she told him that, when she and Brennan had gotten together she wasn't sure where it was going and didn't want to cause more problems then they were already dealing with.

"Bren, I hope your right." Jesse said as he sat staring intently at the door almost willing it to open.

Brennan sat in the next room on the lumpy cot replaying the dream over and over in his head. Shalimar had started to say something before he woke from his dream. He had wanted to tell her he loved her so badly. He had been thinking about those three little words a lot since the last time he saw her. He had never said it out loud. He thought it a lot when they were together, but hadn't been able to say it to her other then whispering it when she had fallen sound asleep in his arms. He was always too scared of what might happen, but didn't know why. If it was true, what was the big deal? He snorted to himself. It was the fear that he would openly admit it and that it would be real… as if thinking it everyday made it a pipe dream.

Brennan heard footsteps clicking down the hallway. He heard his door open and looked over from his seat at the well dressed guard, Samuel, and smiled. He knew that this guy was going to get a severe ass beating soon, and Brennan hoped that he would have the strength to do it himself.

Lexa had awoken to the smell of pancakes and eggs. For a moment she wasn't sure where she was. The vestiges of a dream tickling the edges of her mind with images of an entirely different life. The remnants were still flashing briefly while she found her bathrobe and made her way to the kitchen causing a flicker of a smile to cross her lips. The three ferals were in the kitchen, Shalimar at the stove, doling out some pancakes and eggs onto a plate and handing them to Lexa as she walked in, and then pouring her a cup of coffee, adding the cream and sugar, and placing it by Lexa's plate. Lexa looked up at the feral she had come to regard almost as a sister and smiled before taking a sip of the coffee.

"Thanks." Lexa said after taking a few sips from her mug.

"You're welcome" Shalimar and Angel chorused shooting grins at each other.

Lexa took a few more sips from her coffee before realizing that it was only nine am in the morning and it appeared that everyone else had been up for a while. "What time did you guys wake up?"

"Beau and I were up by seven... and God only knows when Shal woke up." Angel said casting a wry grin at her.

Shalimar took a deep breath and decided to tell them about the dream that she had. She had quickly called Ian this morning after her shower and confirmed her thoughts that Kelly had created a link between both Shalimar's and Brennan's dreams. She started slowly, "Well, I woke up early after this crazy dream, but it wasn't really a dream at all… or it was, but it was like a dream reality made by Ian's sister, Kelly. I was walking down this hallway. I opened a door and Brennan was there." Shalimar paused to look at the others faces, and noticed that Lexa looked as if she was going to say something, but at the last minute changed her mind. "I talked to him, and told him we were going to be coming for him and Jesse soon."

"Shal, I've had dreams too, but it doesn't generally mean anything, besides it could have been a trap." Lexa started, but Shalimar motioned her to wait while she finished the story.

"I saw a woman there. I remembered her, and when I woke up I researched it. It was Kelly, Ian's sister that Jesse, Emma, Brennan, and I saved over two years ago. I called Ian this morning to confirm it." Shalimar stopped and suddenly found herself having three sets of eyes intensely set on her.

"How did they look?" A voice that Lexa swore wasn't hers even though it was issued from her very lips said.

Shalimar tensed for a moment. She had no idea how Jesse looked, but if Brennan was any indication, not good. "I didn't see Jesse. I only saw Brennan for a few moments and I was gone before I even had a chance to find out. If Brennan is anything to go by, we need to act soon." Shalimar said her voice dropping to a harsh whisper at the end.

Lexa wasn't an emotional person. She liked to repress and then use it as fuel when she needed a reason to be destructive. She felt her eyes well for a moment, and then decided to bottle her rage and save it for the kidnappers who awaited them in a little over a days time.

The three ferals watched as Lexa processed the information, and then saw the steely gaze slide into place, and the mask of all business present itself.

"Let's take a look at the other disk Adam left us." Lexa said with a neutral tone as she headed down the stairs, almost half of the breakfast she had in front of her left without another thought.

The four descended the staircase to the basement area, and Shalimar handed Lexa the disk. Shalimar had become all too familiar with this hardened visage that Lexa used to get herself through. Beau and Angel were becoming more accustomed to it, but tended to follow Shalimar's lead when dealing with some of the light-benders drastic mood swings.

The new disk from Adam given to them by Ian was actually a set up for an entirely new Sanctuary. The file was entitled - Haven. When the file was opened, Adam's voice once again drifted through the speakers.

Hello, Shalimar, Lexa, Beau and Angel. Beau and Angel couldn't help but raise their eyebrows in an impressed expression. Shalimar and Lexa only grinned as they recognized that Adam, even under Dominion control, still possessed more knowledge and contacts them any one person had a right to.

I hope that you will soon have Jesse and Brennan back with you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more on my end. I haven't been able to see them, but I know that they are alive and still full of spirit. Ian will be able to help you rescue them. He will also be able to help you with this… Adam's voice trailed off as an image appeared on screen. The image was a layout similar to that of the old Sanctuary. The bottom showed a set of coordinates with the location that the new, Haven, was built. Adam's voice came on again after a few minute pause to allow them to look over the blueprints. I know that you all are shaken and scared. I apologize for not being completely honest with any of you. If I had maybe everything wouldn't have turned out the way it has, but we never know until the outcome just how things will be in the end.

When you get Jesse and Brennan back, you as a team need to decide if you want to continue with what I started. If you do, I have set up a new base of operations. 'Haven' is the backup that I had planned if Sanctuary had ever fallen into the wrong hands. It is almost completely done with the exception of finishing the network computer system and some minor work on the building. When I went into hiding, I started the final work on it. I knew it was only a matter of time before Sanctuary was destroyed. I actually started the network programming and Ian promised to aid you with the finishing touches.

Now it is your decision. I will respect whatever you decide. I don't want any of you to feel like you owe me for anything. The truth is I owe you all more then you will ever know. If you decide to rebuild Mutant X, then this can be your starting point. I had originally planned on being there to lead you. Maybe someday we will be reunited.

If you choose to continue Mutant X, there are additional files on the disk that will aid you in setting up. For right now, I want you to concentrate all of your energy on safely rescuing Brennan and Jesse. They don't have much time left before the Dominion loses patience with their lack of cooperation.

We have worked hard over the years to change the world, and if you want it you have the right to make the choice and join it. Once you have Brennan and Jesse, Ian will let me know. By then I should have information regarding Dominique and her gene-stabilization treatments. Be careful. You have always been the best and the strongest. If you choose a normal life please take care of yourselves and know that I really do care about you all more then I can ever express and I want you to decide based on what will make you happy.

The voice faded and the four stood around the terminal staring mutely at one another. No one had made a sound while Adam was talking and now they felt as if they couldn't if they tried. Shalimar was wiping her eyes trying to stem the flow of tears. Lexa stared blankly at the monitor just watching the blueprints continue with their 3D revolutions. Beau and Angel wrapped comforting arms around one another as they switched their gazes between Lexa and Shalimar waiting for someone to speak.

Finally Lexa's voice broke the silence. "I need to go for a walk and think for a while." She didn't wait for anyone to comment. The remaining three watched her feet disappear up the stairs and listened to the front door open and slam shut.

Looking between themselves Shalimar placed one hand on Beau's arm and the other on Angel's as she silently begged to leave. Both looked at her and nodded. She retreated to her room where she fell face first onto her bed and sobbed silently into her pillow.

Shalimar was more scared and confused then she remembered being in a long time. They could probably fly under the wire for a long time if they didn't oppose the Dominion. She had never really thought much about what was next for them. Sure, she had worried about what would happen to Beau and Angel once the team was back together, but were they really a team any longer? They had been on the run for a while now, and hadn't done much more then help a few stray mutants in need of transport or safety. She silently mused about the thought of a normal life. She wondered about being able to grow old and have children. It was an interesting concept. On the other hand, they had been fighting for so long she didn't know if she would know how to live a normal life.

Lexa sat out on the beach wishing she had remembered a jacket. It had been extremely temperate weather for this time of year, but there was still a chill in the air and she had run out of the house with only her sweatpants, a long sleeve tee, and her bathrobe. At least she remembered her shoes. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself as she perched on one of the rocks by the cliff.

Part of her wanted to rescue Jesse and run as far away as she could. Another part of her wanted to continue kicking the shit out of the Dominion for all of the underhanded tactics and evils they had caused. Even another part was confused as hell. She never really had a relationship with her parents. The only person she'd had in her life was her brother, and he was dead now. Then she met the new Mutant X. They had accepted her, albeit grudgingly, as family and as time went on she began to accept them also. Lexa knew that she could do a hundred different things with a new life. She scowled to herself as she realized that she might actually want to continue Adam's legacy. Who the hell was she now and where was the Lexa that she worked so hard to create?

Lexa watched the waves lap on the beach and prayed for inspiration or direction of some sort. She snorted to herself that she hadn't said any prayers since she was eleven. It seemed, in her mind though, that now was as good of a time as any to start.