THICKER THAN WATER
Chapter 2: Reunited
"Helix," Brennan Mulwray's voice broke over the communicator. "You're home early. No trouble afoot tonight, or what?"
"Oh, there was trouble, but I managed to avoid it. Tell Adam to meet me in the hanger." Jesse Kilmartin returned. "There's someone here who wants to see him."
"Will do," Brennan wrestled with his curiosity briefly, but gave in. "Who?"
"A girl I picked up trying to outrun the GSA."
"That doesn't clarify much,"
"It's all I know,"
Adam paced the catwalk. Who could she be, this "girl" who wanted to see him? How was it that she came to be running from the GSA? Granted, all new mutants were, but –
Hiss.
The Double Helix's ramp lowered to the hanger floor. Adam turned to face Jesse and the newcomer. Her arm was around his shoulders, using him for support, and she looked like she'd been in a train wreck.
Adam's eyes nearly popped out of his head. His brain seemed to cease functioning, his breath hitching in his throat, his feet rooting him to the floor. Words failed him, all but one, "Dylan?" his voice was barely above a whisper.
She smiled, seeing her older brother for the first time in nine years. Finding new strength, she flew to him, throwing her arms around his neck. The action was too much for both of them, and Adam sank to his knees on the floor. It took a few seconds before his senses returned to him, and Adam could put his arms around his little sister. His little sister who used to make him read her bedtime stories every night, and got up early Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. His little sister who, at the age of twelve, had sacrificed her life to save his.
"I've missed you so much," Dylan sobbed, tears soaking Adam's shirt.
Tears welled in his own eyes, but all he could do was hold on to his sister, afraid she might disappear again.
Jesse quietly exited the hanger, feeling uncomfortable and uncertain at seeing his mentor in such an emotionally raw state. The younger man had questions itching for answers, but he knew now was not the time to blurt them out. When the shock wore off, and Adam had collected himself, he would explain everything.
Jesse joined Shalimar, Brennan and Emma in the main room. "Shalimar, how well do you know Adam?"
She floundered, uncertain of what he was referring to. "Well, I—"
"I mean, do you know him better than I do? No, nevermind." Jesse shook his head. "Does Adam have any family? A sister, maybe?"
"Is this about that girl?" Brennan inquired.
Emma was confused, having been left out of the loop. "What girl?"
Shalimar still had the same expression on her face. "He never said anything to me."
Jesse huffed. "He called her Dylan," he cast glances at Emma, then Brennan. "The girl I brought back with me," he turned back to Shalimar. "And I swear Adam looked like he'd just seen a ghost."
"I thought I'd never see you again." Dylan said, her voice muffled by Adam's shoulder. "It feels like I've been at Genomex forever."
Adam breathed out heavily, finding the capacity to speak. "I am so sorry," he murmured, tears of his own still streaking down his cheeks. "If I had known you were alive I never would have left you there." He squeezed Dylan tighter.
"No, no, Adam." She pulled back, looking into his sad eyes. "You couldn't have known. Eckhart thought I was dead, too, until I opened my eyes and sat up. Look, it's not your fault. I don't blame you, and I never have."
He tried to smile at her, but it didn't work. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up." Adam helped Dylan to her feet. She slung her arm across his shoulders, wincing as she put weight on her right ankle. "Should I get you a stretcher?"
Dylan knew he was only half teasing. "I'll make it,"
Dylan lay on her back, staring up at the scanner, grateful to be off her feet, and in a relaxing position. Adam was staring anxiously at the consoles as they made their diagnoses. "How do you feel?"
"Exhausted," she replied easily.
"I understand that, but I guess I meant how are you?"
Dylan turned her gaze to the floor. "Oh,"
Adam's expression iced. "What did that bastard do to you?"
"Well," she swallowed, her stomach tightening into a knot. "Thankfully, I don't remember most of it, but…well…" Dylan rolled up the sleeve of her teal shirt, revealing a purple bruise on the inside of her elbow. "Two days ago, one of the scientists gave me an injection. I don't know what it was, or what it was supposed to do to me, but it was kinda this sickly beige colour. I haven't felt any effects, except the occasional bout of dizziness and some insomnia, but I'm not really sure that that's related. I've just had this bruise."
Adam took a closer look at her arm, feeling around the bruise for signs of infection. "Does this hurt?"
"Actually, I can't feel that at all,"
He met her eyes, worry etched in his brow.
"If she is his sister, why wouldn't he have told us about her before now?" Emma queried.
"I—I don't know," Shalimar shrugged. "Maybe it's a painful subject."
"It can't be too painful—obviously she's alive." Brennan shrugged.
"Maybe he didn't know she was alive," Jesse mused thoughtfully, leaning against the banister.
"What else would he think?" Brennan inquired.
Jesse shrugged. "What if Adam thought she had been killed?"
"Let's just wait until Adam comes out to explain, alright? Asking each other isn't going to do us any good." Shalimar stated to end the discussion. She leaned back against the railing, beside Jesse. She tapped her foot anxiously, her feline instincts kicking in and making her fidgety. If Adam had a sister, why was it that he'd never mentioned her before? There had never been secrets—not since Adam, Jesse and herself had left Genomex.
Jesse sensed her heightened stress, and put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, but said nothing.