A/N: Here's the A/E I promised you all. It leaves much to the imagination,
but I'm sure you all have an adequate imagination for this sort of thing!
More Jesse angst up ahead too.
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Chapter 17
Brennan and Rhian wandered over to the lab to see Adam. As they entered, Brennan heard an insistent beeping emanating from one of Adam's machines. Adam was nowhere to be seen, so Bren approached the source of the sound cautiously.
"Adam?" he called out. No answer. He hit a button and the beeping stopped abruptly. "Adam, your test has finished running," he spoke into his comring. Still no answer. "That's strange. He doesn't usually leave his tests for so long, and he's not responding to his comring."
"Could he have deactivated his comring?" asked Rhian.
"Not Adam. I can't imagine Adam doing that. Something must be wrong." Brennan's face hardened as he walked over and tracked Adam's comring. "It is deactivated." He tapped on the screen. "It's in Emma's room," he said furrowing his brow in confusion. He strode out of the lab towards Emma's room with Rhian running behind in his wake.
"What's wrong," she asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not good news," he answered sternly as he neared Emma's door. "Stay back," he warned Rhian as he pushed the door open forcefully.
Immediately, Rhian heard a woman's scream. "Brennan!" Emma yelled. Brennan stood frozen at the door.
"Adam?" he almost whispered. The low rumble of a male voice from inside told Rhian that Adam was in fact in there with Emma. "You're test is finished," Bren finally mumbled, backing out of the room and closing the door firmly behind him. As he turned to Rhian, she could see his face was bright red and frozen in an expression of shock.
"What is it?" she asked him as he strode back down the corridor.
"Maybe I should've knocked," he mumbled. "That's a sight I never wanted to witness."
"What is?" she insisted.
"Leave the man alone, for goodness sake," came Shalimar's growl. They raised their eyes to find her lounging by the waterfall. "He obviously doesn't want to talk."
"Shal, did you know about Adam and. . ." Bren started.
"Adam and?" she questioned.
"Did you know Emma and Adam were. . ." He still didn't know quite how to put it. ". . .Seeing each other. In the flesh. Intimately," he finished uncomfortably. Shalimar's eyes widened.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure I'm sure! You don't wanna see what I just saw in Emma's room!" Shal's face hardened.
"He has better things to do than sleep with Emma," she whispered dangerously as she got up and made a beeline for Emma's room.
"Shal, don't do anything you'll regret," Bren shouted after her.
"I won't regret this," she growled as Brennan hesitated for a second before following her.
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"Are we satisfied now?" asked Eckhart as he walked into the room. Jesse shot him a look of pure hatred. "Don't get any ideas about attacking me in feral form. I still hold the control over your governor." Silence reigned between them. "Aren't you going to thank me for the wonderful feast I set before you?" he taunted.
"It wasn't enough," Jesse growled. His voice sounded so different - deeper and more hoarse. The sound sent chills up the spines of the doctors watching over the security cameras.
"Still hungry? Well, that's exactly how I want you," Eckhart returned.
"Where's the woman?" Jesse asked him softly, not wanting to give Eckhart anything with which to torment him further.
"You mean Ms James? She was taken away. If you want to see her again alive, I suggest you help me now."
Jesse stared at the white haired man. "How?"
"She's being held at the Mutant X headquarters. You know the way in, you can go fetch her." Jesse remained silent. Was he honestly doing this out of a will to help him? Or solely to get Rhian back. Jesse was adamant that he wouldn't return Rhian to him. On the other hand, maybe Eckhart meant to use Rhian as a tool to control him.
"What's in it for you?" he asked warily.
Eckhart laughed. "Honesty is becoming, but can get tiresome very rapidly." He paused as he gazed at Jesse. "OK, you win. When you go after her, we get to track you and find out the location of these headquarters."
Jesse weighed up the pros and cons. On the one hand, he got back the only person that mattered in his life, on the other, he practically delivered Mutant X into Eckhart's hungry hands. There was no competition. He was nothing without her.
"OK, I'll do it."
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Rhian was still sitting by the waterfall, trying not to listen to Shalimar's angry yells and Adam's low, soothing tones coming from Emma's room. She focused on the flowing water. *What's the big deal?* she wondered. *So two of them are in a relationship. Weren't Jesse and Shalimar doing the same thing?* A hand on her shoulder jolted her out of her daydreams.
"Brennan," she exclaimed. "Is everything OK?"
"Hardly," he replied. "Shalimar's ready to commit murder because she thinks Adam was neglecting Jesse." He frowned.
"What is it?" she asked him, softly touching his arm.
"I think Adam's made a mistake with this," was his reply. "He should never have gotten involved with Emma."
"Why not?" she asked in surprise. He stared at her in astonishment.
"He's much older than her, she's vulnerable," he replied, as if this was blatantly obvious to anyone with half a brain.
"Well, yes, he is older, but Emma is a telempath, isn't she?" Brennan nodded. "That makes her less vulnerable than most, in the case of love." Brennan was silent. She had a point, but something still didn't feel right about this relationship. "How is it different to Jesse and Shalimar's relationship?"
"It just is!" he answered exasperatedly. Rhian fell silent. "How can Adam take advantage of a young girl? She depends on him as a father figure, and he's abused that trust!"
He was quickly silenced as a now fully dressed Adam strode down the corridor towards the lab. Shalimar's yells could still be heard as she argued with Emma.
Rhian thought a moment before speaking softly again. "If Emma really is as vulnerable as you say, she shouldn't be on the team." Brennan refused to answer. Instead, he walked towards the lab, determined to get some answers from Adam.
"So explain to me," he challenged as he strode into the lab. "Explain why you felt the need to seduce a young girl, and one of your protégés too."
Adam looked up momentarily from his test results. "I haven't seduced her. It works both ways, Brennan. I don't have time to talk about this now."
"Yes you do," he challenged. "You had the time to, to. . .be with Emma," he stuttered, not wanting to hear himself say the truth.
"Brennan, it's a two way process. Emma and I love each other and we want to be together. Jesse and Shalimar can do it. Why can't we? Simply because I'm a bit older than her?"
"Not only older, but the person we look up to."
"Then that's where the problem lies. Emma is perfectly happy with the situation. It's you who has the problem. 'The person we look up to' were your words. Do you fear you won't be able to look up to me if I'm in this relationship?"
"It's got nothing to do with the way I feel."
"Then who does it have to do with? Emma and myself, and we're both extremely happy." Brennan was speechless. He knew that it didn't feel right, but he couldn't explain it to Adam.
"Leave him alone, Bren" came Emma's soft voice from the doorway. "It's between him and me. I appreciate you're trying to look after me, but I can look after myself." Emma, Shalimar and Rhian walked into the lab.
"Shal?" Brennan exclaimed.
Shal shot a vicious look towards Adam before speaking to Brennan. "I agree with Emma. She knows what she's doing. It's him I've got a problem with. Having fun whilst Jesse is still being held in that torture chamber they call Genomex labs."
Adam closed his eyes tiredly. "I know, Shalimar, and I've apologised. Now let's just get on with getting Jesse out of there before his DNA breaks up."
"Breaks up?" asked Bren.
"Yes, Brennan, that's what I was trying to tell you earlier. Your DNA was not compatible with the feral mutation, so you were able to reject it. Jesse's is compatible, and he's already started transforming, but since he's already a new mutant, his own DNA will start breaking down as the feral mutation takes hold." A shocked silence echoed round the lab. "I have been able to find a way of reversing the feral mutation, but I have to treat him soon, before his DNA breaks down irrevocably."
"I'll go," Rhian said, breaking the silence. "I'm the only one who will not be affected by his bite, and who will be able to take him on."
"Never," Shalimar hissed. "I'm the one who's going. I'm not letting you anywhere near him again." Her eyes flashed feral yellow as she glared at Rhian.
"Be sensible," Rhian replied. She didn't want to get into a fight with the feral. She was still trying to get on her good side, although Shal was having none of it. "I'm the obvious choice."
"Why should any of us trust you?" Shal growled, the hatred and anger so evident in her voice. It was Rhian's turn to flash her feral eyes as she felt the familiar anger rising within her as well.
"What do I have to do to get you to trust me?" she returned angrily. "I'm telling you I can get him out much quicker and with much less bloodshed than you."
"And then what? You keep him, feast on him?" she spat.
"I wouldn't want him anyway!" Rhian explained angrily. At once, Shalimar leapt towards her, swinging a leg around to land a blow on Rhian's shoulder. Rhian swung round, falling to the floor. As she raised her head, the others could see the ferocious yellow eyes as she focused on Shal and lashed out, kicking her in the stomach. Brennan, Emma and Adam could do nothing but look on as the two ferals fought it out in the middle of the lab.
"Shal, please," cried Emma. "Jesse needs you now."
"There's no time for this," Adam added, pleadingly, but still the battle raged and blows rained on then both. Somehow, suddenly, Rhian caught Shal unawares and managed to catch her throat in her hand. Rhian squeezed, throwing Shal up against a wall and holding her there. As soon as it happened, the light faded from Rhian's eyes as she realised what she was doing. She dropped the feral immediately and Shal fell to the floor.
Emma approached Shal, helping her up as Brennan ran over to Rhian.
Are you OK?" he whispered.
"I didn't want to do that," she sobbed. "Why does she fight me all the time?"
"Never, ever say that again," whispered Shal rubbing her throat. "Jesse's worth ten of you."
"I didn't mean it that way," Rhian whispered.
"I don't care what reasons you each have, you're all going," said Adam in an attempt to change the subject and pacify everyone. "Rhian, you know where they're keeping Jesse, and as you said, you know how to handle a canine feral. Shalimar, Jesse needs to see that you're there for him. Now calm down and get into the Double Helix."
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Emma0211 - Jesse is more changed than any of Mutant X think, but I'm going to have to keep you hanging as to what's going to happen between Jesse and Brennan!
aimless - You're addicted? I've done that to you? Please accept my sincerest apologies! As for Brennan/Rhian, the true nature of his feelings for her will become apparent within the next couple of chapters.
Brigitta - I'm always open to ideas, so if you have any more, let me know. In the meantime, if you want a beta reader when you start writing, I'd be more than happy to beta for you. :o)
K.A.T.E. - LOL, I take it you're happy that Brennan's got his act together and made a move on Rhian? More to come, I promise!
evanfarmersonlygirl - more A/E coming up. It'll be easier now cos it's out in the open.
Framling - It always makes my day when I receive reviews telling me they prefer other pairings, but still like my story. Means I'm doing OK! Thanks also for your recognition of the tough task of trying to give equal importance to every character. :oD
What do you think, shall I state my usual plea again, or are you all becoming more psychic? ;o)
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Chapter 17
Brennan and Rhian wandered over to the lab to see Adam. As they entered, Brennan heard an insistent beeping emanating from one of Adam's machines. Adam was nowhere to be seen, so Bren approached the source of the sound cautiously.
"Adam?" he called out. No answer. He hit a button and the beeping stopped abruptly. "Adam, your test has finished running," he spoke into his comring. Still no answer. "That's strange. He doesn't usually leave his tests for so long, and he's not responding to his comring."
"Could he have deactivated his comring?" asked Rhian.
"Not Adam. I can't imagine Adam doing that. Something must be wrong." Brennan's face hardened as he walked over and tracked Adam's comring. "It is deactivated." He tapped on the screen. "It's in Emma's room," he said furrowing his brow in confusion. He strode out of the lab towards Emma's room with Rhian running behind in his wake.
"What's wrong," she asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not good news," he answered sternly as he neared Emma's door. "Stay back," he warned Rhian as he pushed the door open forcefully.
Immediately, Rhian heard a woman's scream. "Brennan!" Emma yelled. Brennan stood frozen at the door.
"Adam?" he almost whispered. The low rumble of a male voice from inside told Rhian that Adam was in fact in there with Emma. "You're test is finished," Bren finally mumbled, backing out of the room and closing the door firmly behind him. As he turned to Rhian, she could see his face was bright red and frozen in an expression of shock.
"What is it?" she asked him as he strode back down the corridor.
"Maybe I should've knocked," he mumbled. "That's a sight I never wanted to witness."
"What is?" she insisted.
"Leave the man alone, for goodness sake," came Shalimar's growl. They raised their eyes to find her lounging by the waterfall. "He obviously doesn't want to talk."
"Shal, did you know about Adam and. . ." Bren started.
"Adam and?" she questioned.
"Did you know Emma and Adam were. . ." He still didn't know quite how to put it. ". . .Seeing each other. In the flesh. Intimately," he finished uncomfortably. Shalimar's eyes widened.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure I'm sure! You don't wanna see what I just saw in Emma's room!" Shal's face hardened.
"He has better things to do than sleep with Emma," she whispered dangerously as she got up and made a beeline for Emma's room.
"Shal, don't do anything you'll regret," Bren shouted after her.
"I won't regret this," she growled as Brennan hesitated for a second before following her.
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"Are we satisfied now?" asked Eckhart as he walked into the room. Jesse shot him a look of pure hatred. "Don't get any ideas about attacking me in feral form. I still hold the control over your governor." Silence reigned between them. "Aren't you going to thank me for the wonderful feast I set before you?" he taunted.
"It wasn't enough," Jesse growled. His voice sounded so different - deeper and more hoarse. The sound sent chills up the spines of the doctors watching over the security cameras.
"Still hungry? Well, that's exactly how I want you," Eckhart returned.
"Where's the woman?" Jesse asked him softly, not wanting to give Eckhart anything with which to torment him further.
"You mean Ms James? She was taken away. If you want to see her again alive, I suggest you help me now."
Jesse stared at the white haired man. "How?"
"She's being held at the Mutant X headquarters. You know the way in, you can go fetch her." Jesse remained silent. Was he honestly doing this out of a will to help him? Or solely to get Rhian back. Jesse was adamant that he wouldn't return Rhian to him. On the other hand, maybe Eckhart meant to use Rhian as a tool to control him.
"What's in it for you?" he asked warily.
Eckhart laughed. "Honesty is becoming, but can get tiresome very rapidly." He paused as he gazed at Jesse. "OK, you win. When you go after her, we get to track you and find out the location of these headquarters."
Jesse weighed up the pros and cons. On the one hand, he got back the only person that mattered in his life, on the other, he practically delivered Mutant X into Eckhart's hungry hands. There was no competition. He was nothing without her.
"OK, I'll do it."
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Rhian was still sitting by the waterfall, trying not to listen to Shalimar's angry yells and Adam's low, soothing tones coming from Emma's room. She focused on the flowing water. *What's the big deal?* she wondered. *So two of them are in a relationship. Weren't Jesse and Shalimar doing the same thing?* A hand on her shoulder jolted her out of her daydreams.
"Brennan," she exclaimed. "Is everything OK?"
"Hardly," he replied. "Shalimar's ready to commit murder because she thinks Adam was neglecting Jesse." He frowned.
"What is it?" she asked him, softly touching his arm.
"I think Adam's made a mistake with this," was his reply. "He should never have gotten involved with Emma."
"Why not?" she asked in surprise. He stared at her in astonishment.
"He's much older than her, she's vulnerable," he replied, as if this was blatantly obvious to anyone with half a brain.
"Well, yes, he is older, but Emma is a telempath, isn't she?" Brennan nodded. "That makes her less vulnerable than most, in the case of love." Brennan was silent. She had a point, but something still didn't feel right about this relationship. "How is it different to Jesse and Shalimar's relationship?"
"It just is!" he answered exasperatedly. Rhian fell silent. "How can Adam take advantage of a young girl? She depends on him as a father figure, and he's abused that trust!"
He was quickly silenced as a now fully dressed Adam strode down the corridor towards the lab. Shalimar's yells could still be heard as she argued with Emma.
Rhian thought a moment before speaking softly again. "If Emma really is as vulnerable as you say, she shouldn't be on the team." Brennan refused to answer. Instead, he walked towards the lab, determined to get some answers from Adam.
"So explain to me," he challenged as he strode into the lab. "Explain why you felt the need to seduce a young girl, and one of your protégés too."
Adam looked up momentarily from his test results. "I haven't seduced her. It works both ways, Brennan. I don't have time to talk about this now."
"Yes you do," he challenged. "You had the time to, to. . .be with Emma," he stuttered, not wanting to hear himself say the truth.
"Brennan, it's a two way process. Emma and I love each other and we want to be together. Jesse and Shalimar can do it. Why can't we? Simply because I'm a bit older than her?"
"Not only older, but the person we look up to."
"Then that's where the problem lies. Emma is perfectly happy with the situation. It's you who has the problem. 'The person we look up to' were your words. Do you fear you won't be able to look up to me if I'm in this relationship?"
"It's got nothing to do with the way I feel."
"Then who does it have to do with? Emma and myself, and we're both extremely happy." Brennan was speechless. He knew that it didn't feel right, but he couldn't explain it to Adam.
"Leave him alone, Bren" came Emma's soft voice from the doorway. "It's between him and me. I appreciate you're trying to look after me, but I can look after myself." Emma, Shalimar and Rhian walked into the lab.
"Shal?" Brennan exclaimed.
Shal shot a vicious look towards Adam before speaking to Brennan. "I agree with Emma. She knows what she's doing. It's him I've got a problem with. Having fun whilst Jesse is still being held in that torture chamber they call Genomex labs."
Adam closed his eyes tiredly. "I know, Shalimar, and I've apologised. Now let's just get on with getting Jesse out of there before his DNA breaks up."
"Breaks up?" asked Bren.
"Yes, Brennan, that's what I was trying to tell you earlier. Your DNA was not compatible with the feral mutation, so you were able to reject it. Jesse's is compatible, and he's already started transforming, but since he's already a new mutant, his own DNA will start breaking down as the feral mutation takes hold." A shocked silence echoed round the lab. "I have been able to find a way of reversing the feral mutation, but I have to treat him soon, before his DNA breaks down irrevocably."
"I'll go," Rhian said, breaking the silence. "I'm the only one who will not be affected by his bite, and who will be able to take him on."
"Never," Shalimar hissed. "I'm the one who's going. I'm not letting you anywhere near him again." Her eyes flashed feral yellow as she glared at Rhian.
"Be sensible," Rhian replied. She didn't want to get into a fight with the feral. She was still trying to get on her good side, although Shal was having none of it. "I'm the obvious choice."
"Why should any of us trust you?" Shal growled, the hatred and anger so evident in her voice. It was Rhian's turn to flash her feral eyes as she felt the familiar anger rising within her as well.
"What do I have to do to get you to trust me?" she returned angrily. "I'm telling you I can get him out much quicker and with much less bloodshed than you."
"And then what? You keep him, feast on him?" she spat.
"I wouldn't want him anyway!" Rhian explained angrily. At once, Shalimar leapt towards her, swinging a leg around to land a blow on Rhian's shoulder. Rhian swung round, falling to the floor. As she raised her head, the others could see the ferocious yellow eyes as she focused on Shal and lashed out, kicking her in the stomach. Brennan, Emma and Adam could do nothing but look on as the two ferals fought it out in the middle of the lab.
"Shal, please," cried Emma. "Jesse needs you now."
"There's no time for this," Adam added, pleadingly, but still the battle raged and blows rained on then both. Somehow, suddenly, Rhian caught Shal unawares and managed to catch her throat in her hand. Rhian squeezed, throwing Shal up against a wall and holding her there. As soon as it happened, the light faded from Rhian's eyes as she realised what she was doing. She dropped the feral immediately and Shal fell to the floor.
Emma approached Shal, helping her up as Brennan ran over to Rhian.
Are you OK?" he whispered.
"I didn't want to do that," she sobbed. "Why does she fight me all the time?"
"Never, ever say that again," whispered Shal rubbing her throat. "Jesse's worth ten of you."
"I didn't mean it that way," Rhian whispered.
"I don't care what reasons you each have, you're all going," said Adam in an attempt to change the subject and pacify everyone. "Rhian, you know where they're keeping Jesse, and as you said, you know how to handle a canine feral. Shalimar, Jesse needs to see that you're there for him. Now calm down and get into the Double Helix."
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Emma0211 - Jesse is more changed than any of Mutant X think, but I'm going to have to keep you hanging as to what's going to happen between Jesse and Brennan!
aimless - You're addicted? I've done that to you? Please accept my sincerest apologies! As for Brennan/Rhian, the true nature of his feelings for her will become apparent within the next couple of chapters.
Brigitta - I'm always open to ideas, so if you have any more, let me know. In the meantime, if you want a beta reader when you start writing, I'd be more than happy to beta for you. :o)
K.A.T.E. - LOL, I take it you're happy that Brennan's got his act together and made a move on Rhian? More to come, I promise!
evanfarmersonlygirl - more A/E coming up. It'll be easier now cos it's out in the open.
Framling - It always makes my day when I receive reviews telling me they prefer other pairings, but still like my story. Means I'm doing OK! Thanks also for your recognition of the tough task of trying to give equal importance to every character. :oD
What do you think, shall I state my usual plea again, or are you all becoming more psychic? ;o)
