Author's Note: Well we all knew my streak of fast posts had to end sometime. This was a lot harder to write than I thought it would be. So many possibilities! Speaking of which – I do appreciate feedback at times like this. I am aware that OCs are not always the best idea. I struck it lucky with Jinx and Tommy but that doesn't mean that you are all going to want to meet Jamie's kid. I don't want to get bogged down into a Jamie/son fic – need to keep it Jamie/Piotr but if you guys wanna see more of the kid I will write about the kid.
Disclaimer: Don't own the x-men but I will stake my claim on the uber-cuteness of Jinx and Tommy and Abi if they pop up!
Sleeping With the Enemy
Chapter 24
Ororo shrugged helplessly, looking to Mystique but the other female looked just as clueless. "So what on earth is going on?"
Mystique inhaled deeply, opening her mouth to offer a reply but it was Jamie's voice that was heard.
"He's my son."
Surprised eyes turned to look at the multiplying mutant, none more shocked by the statement than the rest of the Brotherhood.
"Since when?" John exclaimed.
"Since high school," came the shrugged response.
"You never said you had a son," Mystique commented.
"You never asked," Jamie replied blandly. The other mutants in the room looked further startled by the tone but none commented. Ororo blinked rapidly but maintained a calm expression.
"Well at least now we know what we are dealing with," she pointed out, picking up a nearby pen. "So, tell us about Brendon."
The multiplying mutant squirmed slightly.
"He just turned sixteen," he replied. "7th July."
There was a slight pause as everyone waited for Jamie to continue. When he did not, Hank spoke up.
"Mutation?" he prompted, presuming the other mutant was at a loss for what information may be pertinent. Jamie bristled slightly.
"Does it matter?" he asked defensively. Hank refrained from rolling his eyes at what he considered a quite typical Brotherhood response.
"It would just be useful to know if they have Brendon to have Brendon or if it's an incentive to lure us all into an ambush," Hank replied diplomatically.
Jamie's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Oh. Right. Yeah…" he mumbled before giving a shrug. "Well I don't know."
"He hasn't displayed signs yet?" Hank arched an eyebrow. "Some are late in showing…"
"No – I said I don't know," Jamie emphasised with only a slight scowl on his otherwise calm face. "I haven't seen him since he was a baby."
The brief silence returned.
"So you're saying that the only thing you know about your son is his date of birth?" Magneto arched an eyebrow. Jamie's scowl deepened.
"'Cause you know so much about your children," he muttered. Magneto's shoulders tensed but before he could respond Mystique stood up, stepped between the two.
"Boys…" she scolded lightly, concentrating her warning – albeit understanding – look on Jamie. With an arch of the eyebrow she turned toward Hank and Ororo. "We have a starting point. I'm sure we can find out whatever we need to know."
Jamie sighed quietly, running a hand through his hair.
"Someone should call his mother," he said simply, delving into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone. Flipping it open he quickly scrolled through the numbers, sliding the phone onto the desk between Mystique and Ororo. "That's her number. I think. She changes it every now and then so I can't call her but I haven't used that one yet so…"
Kitty scoffed quietly as the multiplying mutant shrugged absently.
"So how do you keep managing to get her number if she keeps changing it?"
Jamie rolled his eyes, not bothering to hide the contemptuous curl of his lips.
"Do I really need to answer that?" he screwed up his face slightly. "Sneaky, crafty thief!"
Ororo exchanged a quick glance with Mystique before grabbing the cell phone, copying the number and passing the phone back to Jamie, arching an eyebrow at the colourful name the number was listed under.
"Her name?" she asked quietly, choosing not to draw attention to it.
"Maggie," Jamie replied blandly. "Her husband's called Jake…or something… They married when Brendon was just a baby. As far as Brendon's concerned he's his dad. He doesn't know I exist."
Once again Ororo and Mystique exchanged a look but quickly she looked over at the gathered x-men.
"I think for now the rest of you can get back to what you were doing. We'll let you know when we know more."
Obediently the x-men stood, making their way toward the door. Piotr paused briefly; casting his eyes back to the multiplying mutant sitting at the side of the room but Jamie kept his head bowed. With a silent, grudging sigh he followed his fellow x-men from the room, Warren and Logan behind him ushering him along.
"Doesn't seem too concerned about the fact that his kids been kidnapped does he?" Marie commented.
"What do you expect?" Logan muttered, shoving a cigar in his mouth. "Brotherhood."
Piotr's mouth opened to object but Warren spoke first.
"Surely they know that he has nothing to do with the kid? What's the point in taking him hostage?"
"I guess that's why they were waiting for all of us to get together before they called," Kitty replied. "We have a conscious. They know we're not gonna let them keep any kid."
Again Piotr opened his mouth to protest but all that came out was a relenting sigh. They would not listen to him anyway…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Jamie ran his hands through his hair, rubbing his eyes wearily as Ororo, Hank, Magneto and Mystique talked in hushed voices. The multiplying mutant could feel John's eyes on him, the pyrokinetic sitting fidgeting next to him, obviously at a complete loss for what to say.
"Well if they are wanting to lead us into an ambush then they will let us know where they are," Mystique spoke up, causing Jamie to look up. "Like they did when they were ready for us to find Tommy. They'll just… leak something."
"Ok," Ororo nodded. "Hank, you'd better call William, see what his team can dig up. I'll call Maggie," she offered Jamie a reassuring smile but the multiplying mutant gave only the slightest nod of acknowledgement. Ororo sighed quietly, giving Hank and nod as the ambassador slipped out the room to make his phone call. Magneto and Mystique took moved away from the desk.
"We're going to head back to the base, see if we find anything. Perhaps we overlooked something in our original workings," Mystique informed Jamie and John. "You two stay here – in case Miss Miranda gets in touch again."
Both mutants nodded although only John looked her in the eye, giving a small nod as she gave a pointed look in Jamie's direction. Without further word Magneto and Mystique left the room. Ororo looked over the remaining two mutants, taking a deep breath but Jamie spoke up before she could.
"I'm gonna go check on Tommy," the multiplying mutant clambered to his feet. Ororo opened her mouth to object but instead gave a relenting nod.
"I'll keep you informed," she said gently, turning to John as Jamie left the room. The fire mutant shifted slightly in his seat.
"Well, isn't this familiar…" he muttered, forcing a wry smile as he looked around his former teacher's office. Ororo allowed herself the faintest of smiles as John stood. "I'll find somewhere quiet to hide myself."
Ororo simply gave a nod, allowing the pyrokinetic to leave the room. Rubbing her temples wearily, she pulled the piece of paper with the phone number written on it and picked up the telephone on her desk. This was not going to be a pleasant call…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Piotr sighed tiredly as he made his way down the corridors, not entirely sure where he was going but staying still was driving him mad. He could not stop thinking about – worrying about – Jamie. The multiplying mutant may have been acting all calm and collected but the Russian knew better…
"Jinx!" Piotr spotted the younger mutant up ahead. The teenager stopped, turning to face Piotr with an arched eyebrow.
"Hey, what's up?"
Piotr could not help but smile faintly.
"Where's your shadow?" he asked, gesturing loosely to Jinx's side. The purple haired student curled his lip into a sneer although there was nothing malicious about his expression.
"Ha, ha," he rolled his eyes, waving a hand at the teacher dismissively. "Multiple Man came to see us. We told him about that… incident this morning so he took him down to the danger room."
"Danger room?" Piotr blinked.
"Yeah. Jamie said that the duplicates are building up in his head and that duplicating in a controlled environment might help."
"Oh right. So they're down there just now?"
"Yup. They headed down about an hour ago."
Piotr nodded slowly, maintaining a calm expression as he offered the other mutant a smile.
"Well enjoy the rest of your peace and quiet then," he teased, giving a small wave as he turned and headed back down the corridor, now with somewhere to go. Within a couple of minutes he was standing outside the danger room, although it was a good twenty minutes before anyone came out.
"Oh, hey Mr Rasputin," Tommy smiled at him cheerfully, the older mutant behind him just scowling. Piotr briefly met Jamie's eye before turning his attention back to Tommy.
"Hi there. I bumped into Jinx and he said you were down here," another glance up at Jamie, showing genuine concern for the student. "Everything ok?"
The multiplying mutant's tense stance softened slightly.
"He'll be fine," he confirmed as Tommy just nodded. "We were just…showing the voices who's boss right?"
He gave the student a playful punch on the arm, earning a sheepish laugh. Tommy looked up at Piotr earnestly.
"I'll be glad when this wears off," he admitted before turning to Jamie. "I don't know how you've coped with it for this long. I don't know how you're not crazy," Tommy turned to Piotr, missing Jamie's arched eyebrow. "Do you know where Jinxy was headed?"
"I think he was heading for your room," the Russian replied. Tommy smiled and nodded, offering the two a quick wave as he scurried off down the corridor. Piotr inhaled deeply and turned to Jamie, a meek smile on his lips. "How you feeling?"
"I'm fine," the multiplying mutant shrugged, starting to walk past the Russian but a high, strong arm blocked his route.
"You're forgetting that I saw what you were like around about Brendon's birthday," Piotr stated firmly but gently. Jamie paused briefly, staring at the arm in his way before letting out a relenting sigh, slumping back against the wall.
"My one good deed for the decade and I lose you and my son gets kidnapped," he bowed his head, running his hand through his hair. "How the hell is that fair?"
Piotr frowned helplessly, pausing for a moment before stepping toward the other mutant, stopping again as Jamie flinched away.
"Someone'll see you."
"I don't care if anyone sees," Piotr replied softly, taking the step forward but not actually touching the other mutant. "I'm not gonna call a meeting and make some big show about telling everyone but if people find out then…"
Jamie glanced up, pursing his lips thoughtfully as Piotr just shrugged.
"I'm still mad at you," Jamie said quietly. A faint, wry smile pulled on Piotr's lips.
"I'm still mad at me too," he replied. "And when we find Brendon, I will bother you non-stop with apologies and begging you for forgiveness until you either forgive me or hit me."
The faintest smile pulled on Jamie's lips.
"Can I not do both?"
Piotr smiled at the barely audible reply.
"If it'll make you feel better," he finally closed the gap between them, placing his hands very lightly on Jamie's hips, lowering his head to the smaller mutant's level. "We will find Brendon."
Jamie's head bowed again, although he did lean closer to Piotr. Neither heard a nearby door opening.
"At least one of us is sure about that…" he muttered. Piotr just frowned, not entirely sure what to say. Instead he just removed one hand from the multiplying mutant's waist, reaching up to run his fingers gently down Jamie's cheek…
"You bastard!"
Jamie barely had time to turn round when he received a sharp slap across his left cheek, three duplicates splitting from his right.
"Owww…" Jamie shook his head and pulled his duplicates back in, focussing on the woman now standing in front of him. "I…"
"I should have known you'd have something to do with this!" the woman continued to yell, ignoring the two men trying to pull her back, one of whom Piotr recognised as Hank's colleague William. The Russian just stood back, blinking rapidly as Jamie returned a resigned look to the female. "My son is missing and you are just…" she threw her hand in Piotr's direction. "Ugh!"
"Maggie, sweetie," the unidentified male took the woman's arm, coaxing her away gently. "Please… not now."
"Mrs Jordison, Ms Munro will be waiting for us," William too stepped forward, speaking to the woman reassuringly. With one last glare at Jamie the female – now identified as Brendon's mother – followed William down the corridor. The other male however held back. Jamie forced something akin to smile.
"You must be Jake," he held out a hand toward the other man. Returning a tight smile the man took the hand with a brisk shake.
"And you must be Jamie."
The multiplying mutant smirked.
"Was it the slap that gave it away?" he arched an eyebrow dryly. Jake let out a wry laugh.
"That and the eyes," he too arched an eyebrow. "Maggie lied when she said Brendon doesn't take after you."
Jake gave a small nod, back away and scurrying after Maggie and William. Jamie just blinked rapidly, watching the group disappear down the corridor. Piotr sighed softly, making his way back toward Jamie but the multiplying mutant turned away sharply.
"I'm gonna go find Johnny."
Piotr opened his mouth to object but instead just let out a relenting sigh. Probably best to leave him be…