Title: The Time Has Come
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Mutant X characters, and may occasionally
include a few of my own as the work progresses. All but the characters in the
show are mine.
Feedback: Guys, I really appreciate your feedback and all of the reviews. This
is my first fanfic, and it's been interesting to see it unfold. I hope you guys
enjoy it. I really look forward to your comments. Thank you Ambrosia, Megara,
Chic, Cand, and the rest of you for reading it and taking the time to share
your thoughts on it. I hope you guys aren't disappointed with the ending. : )
Chapter 13: Big Brother
Leaving Adam and Gerald to work on a way to slow down and reverse Emma's mutations, Brennan and Shalimar quietly left to head towards the common room. Glancing at Brennan, Shalimar thought now was as good of a time as ever to ask.
"So... what was up with you earlier?" Purposefully misunderstanding her question, Brennan asked "What do you mean?" before Shalimar slapped him on the arm. "You know what I mean. Earlier when you wouldn't let Jesse take Emma to her room, what was up with that?" Agitated, Brennan went to pick up the basketball discarded haphazardly on the floor the last time he and Jesse had played. Bouncing the ball back and forth, Brennan began playing a one-man game as he tried to clear his thoughts.
"I don't know Shal. It's obvious how they feel about each other, but..." Finding himself unable to finish the statement, Shalimar laughed.
"You care about them, don't you?" Not really surprised, Shalimar wasn't sure he would be able to answer.
"Of course I do, we're a team. I care about everyone here." Brennan said, exasperated. Shaking her head, Shalimar walked over and took the basketball from the struggling man.
"That's not what I mean, and you know it. All day today you've been acting like an overprotective brother. Admit it, you can't stand the thought of Jesse getting close to Emma." Shalimar's actions took away the chance for Brennan to ignore her and his conflicted feelings by playing basketball. Instead, he was forced to stand there and face both her and his feelings.
"Emma is like a younger sister. She can take care of herself, but I don't think she's ever let anyone in like she has Jesse. I'm worried she'll get hurt." The last statement filled Shalimar with pleasure, a distinct difference from the satisfaction she felt sure would come from Brennan's admission. Walking up and hugging Brennan, Shalimar held on until he was reassured that she understood completely. While Emma was a good friend of hers, Jesse was more like a younger brother than anything else. It was natural that Brennan would view Jesse as the friend and Emma as the younger sibling. Looking into Shalimar's brown eyes and seeing understanding, Brennan smiled.
"Adam, I think I have it. Try this combination on the latest blood sample." Gerald said, causing Adam to grab the last sample Emma would let him take and bring it over. They had been in the lab for hours, trying and failing to find a solution to the problem they faced. Unwilling to give up, the two men combined their knowledge of the field to create this newest possible cure for Emma's life threatening condition. As Gerald tried the latest formula on the blood sample before putting it under the microscope, Adam considered praying. Always more of a man of science than of God, he wondered at the thought now. "Yes!" Gerald's exclamation pulled Adam from his previous queries.
"Let me see." Moving aside, Gerald was pleased to see the smile forming on Adam's face. Examining the results again and again, both men felt comfortable enough with the results to take action. Calling for Brennan and Shalimar to bring Jesse and Emma to the lab, the two scientists worked on a dosage sufficient enough for Emma's size.
Moving through the hallways, Brennan and Shalimar hurried to Emma's bedroom. Knocking, the two entered the room when they received no answer. Looking around the empty room, Brennan began a string of curses before leaving and angrily heading towards Jesse's room. Knocking on the door, Brennan barely waited for an answer before barging into the room.
"What is going on here?" Brennan yelled, incensed upon seeing Jesse next to Emma in the young man's bed. Startled, both Jesse and Emma stared at Brennan and Shalimar. Unclear as to why they were there and what was making Brennan angry, Jesse stood up.
"What's going on?" Jesse asked, looking back and forth between Brennan and Shalimar. Quickly stepping forward, Shalimar spoke up before Brennan could say something he would regret later.
"Adam asked us to bring you guys to the lab quickly." Shalimar said. Turning to help Emma out of bed, Jesse let her lean into him as all four of them walked to the lab. Moving to help Emma in place of Jesse, Shalimar quickly grabbed Brennan's arm and pulled him by her side for the short trip. As they entered the lab, the four of them saw the hopeful but restrained look on Adam's face. Helping Emma into the chair, Adam quickly brought over a few pieces of equipment.
"What's going on Adam?" Emma asked, nervous and hopeful all at once. Leaning over her, Adam told her they thought they had a cure but it was important that they administer it quickly. Looking at Jerry, Emma was hurt to see him look away. At one time, he would have been there to offer her the assurances she needed. Instead, today he turned away from her even as her friends offered her support. In that moment she understood Jerry played a bigger part in this than he had admitted. Looking once more in his eyes as he for a split second looked into hers, understanding dawned. She knows. Lying down, Emma looked away from Jerry, the man she at one time called brother. Now she looked to her friends, Brennan and Shalimar and Adam, before lastly settling on Jesse, her best friend and the man she loved. Closing her eyes, Adam began treating Emma as she dreamed of a Christmas long since passed.
CHRISTMAS SIX YEARS AGO
"Who was it dear?"
"No one," Emma replied while shaking her head. Taking her foster mother's arm and walking with her back into the living room, Emma smiled as Michelle and Johnny laughed at one of her foster father's bad jokes. Placing the cup with the mysterious liquid on an end table, Emma moved to hug her foster father and thank her friends. No matter how bad his jokes or how awful his puns, Michelle and Johnny never failed to laugh and offer encouragement. Sometimes she thought they encouraged him too much, but seeing the dwindling relationship between him and his own son, she was happy that her friends provided something her foster brother failed to. After singing a few more carols and playing a couple rounds of Trivial Pursuit, their friends began leaving one by one. During all the fun and laughter Emma would take time to glance at the cup, wondering what Jerry had spent so long creating for her and why it was so important no one know of his visit that day. That night, after her family was in bed, Emma walked over to the cup in question. Slowly lifting it up in the air, Emma made a final toast for the evening.
"Merry Christmas, Jerry." After whispering the salute, Emma drank the magical liquid. Setting the empty cup down, she prepared for bed and that night she dreamt of days spent catching up with her big brother and the games they played.
PRESENT
Waking up, Emma looked around. Seeing Jesse talking to Adam, Emma smiled before Brennan walked over and asked how she was doing.
"I don't know. I feel okay." Emma answered, drawing the attention of everyone else in the room. Looking around, all of her friends beamed at her. "Adam??"
"You'll need to take it easy for the next few days, but you should be fine. The formula Gerald created worked well. Your genes are no longer mutating and many of the more recent mutations have been reversed." Adam said, smiling. Relaxing for the first time in weeks, Emma leaned back and closed her eyes. Allowing her senses to fill with the mingling relief and happiness of the others in the room, Emma smiled and reveled in their feelings.