I Will Protect You Chapter 2: remember me, a mutant x fanfic

Song Lyrics from Savage Garden "Crash and Burn."

*****

When Jesse finally opened his eyes, his vision cloudy for a second, he remembered at once where he was and he bolted up from the bed into the arms of a lovely woman.

"Shhh, it's okay. It's okay," she whispered, her hand rubbing his back.

Jesse was reluctant but he jerked out from her grasp anyway. "Get away from me."

He could see the hurt reflected in her eyes and he held a moment of regret before he remembered his father's orders to kill.

"What do you want?" he said defensively.

Adam had pulled his chair to position in front of the boy, holding his gaze. "Are you sure you don't remember any of us here?"

Behind him, there stood another blonde and a black-haired guy.

Jesse shook his head.

"That's Brennan," Adam said.

Brennan smiled. "Hi, big guy."

Jesse looked disgusted.

"That's Emma."

The blonde smiled a half smile, tear tracks still marking her pale cheeks. "Jess."

Jesse sighed inwardly. How many times he had to tell these people not to call him Jesse.

"I'm Adam."

Duh.

"And that's Shalimar."

Shalimar still had a glimmer of hope that Jesse would nod and say, "Yeah. Hi, Shal." But of course he didn't.

"I know," said Jesse sure of himself. "You are Adam Kane, he is Brennan Mulwray, she is Emma deLauro and you…" he glanced at the shocked Shalimar. "Are Shalimar Fox."

"Is he…" Emma stammered.

Adam looked at him in surprise. "You remember us?"

Jesse rolled his eyes. These people were so dumb. "No, you are all in the files," he said slowly.

"Great," Brennan mumbled.

"The marks on your back…" Adam started.

"You gave them to me."

"What?"

"Mutant X. Father said you captured me and did this. He told me that I lost my memory because of Mutant X and he worked long to let me have my revenge."

"He said that?!" Shalimar exploded.

Jesse looked taken aback, fear highlighting his features for a second.

"I'm sorry," Shalimar muttered sitting down again.

Adam took a deep breath. "I just have to tell you your 'father' is lying. Mutant x is designed to help new mutants, and you can be sure that even if you turned this place upside down, you won't find a single torture chamber."

"Why should I believe you instead of my father?" Jesse asked coldly. "He is the one who raised me."

"You are free to explore," said Adam.

"Are you trying to tell me that my father did this to me and sent me to kill you without any reason?"

"He's not your father, Jesse," Adam said. "He stole you from us two months ago."

"Stop calling me that," Jesse said reflexively.

"What should we call you?" Emma asked softly.

Jesse paused. "I don't know."

"What does he call you? You 'father', I mean." Brennan asked.

Jesse seemed deep in thought. "I don't know." He finally said. "He never called me anything."

"Why don't I let you call him and you ask him?" Adam asked picking up Jesse's contact device from the table.

Jesse looked unbelieving but he accepted the device, sliding off the bed and going to a far corner, sitting down. His handcuffs made his actions awkward but he managed to punch in the button.

The voice of an agent answered. "I want my father." Jesse said.

"Hold on."

A second later, Gabriel's voice answered. "Where are you?"

"What do you call me?"

"What?"

"My name."

There was a long pause. "Son."

"Name."

"Did you kill them?"

"Is that all you care about?"

"What?" Gabriel sounded aggravated. "What did they tell you?"

"That you aren't my father."

"That's crap! You know that don't you?"

Shalimar snorted.

"I don't remember."

"It's over, Gabriel," Adam called.

Another long pause. "Dear, dear. Adam Kane is it? I take it that he failed his mission."

"What did you do to him?"

"The device will self-destruct in 30 seconds."

"You are not my father, aren't you?" Jesse whispered.

"No. I never was."

"You never loved me."

"Sorry, son. A necessity." Gabriel's laughter echoed through the med-bay. The device promptly sputtered and started to give smoke. Jesse held it in his hands watching the hot flames start to lick his palm before Brennan knocked it out of his hands.

Pulling up his knees and resting his forehead on them, Jesse started to cry.

Fingers released the cuffs and warm arms protected him from the world and this time, he didn't pull back.

*****

"When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore"

Sitting by the edge of the swimming pool, Jesse watched as the water rippled and cast patterns on the surroundings. Without turning, he knew the person that had walked silently up to him was Shalimar. She was forever near him.

She didn't say a word but joined him.

"I'm sorry." Jesse finally said.

"For what?" Shalimar said.

"I don't know. Just felt I should say it."

"Whatever it is for, I accept it."

"Thank you."

"Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone"

"I just wanted him to love me."

Shalimar glanced at Jesse but couldn't find any expression nor tears. She found herself wishing that she could heal his pain, protect him from the world. Just hold him in her hands, watch his baby blue eyes light up with happiness and joy.

"You don't need him to love you."

Jesse looked at her. "Right. I don't need anyone's love."

"No. You have my love. You have Adam's love. You have Brennan's love and you have Emma's love. They all belong to you."

"But I don't know who you are."

"When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day"

"It's okay. I'll help you remember. We'll start all over again."

Jesse glanced back to the swimming pool away from Shalimar's gaze. "What did you say my name was?"

"Jesse Kilmartin."

"And this place is…"

"The Sanctuary."

"The large transport thing?"

"Double Helix."

"The one where you have that cool stimulated agents?"

Shalimar smiled. "Dojo."

"And there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again"

Jesse turned to Shalimar. "Hi, my name is Jesse Kilmartin."

Shalimar's face broke into a smile. "Shalimar Fox."

_______________________

END

Shall I do a sequel?:)