Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the characters. (Mina and Talya are
mine though.)
Note: A Father's Love - Sequel to, Lost and found.
~*~*Chapter 3*~*~
Lorna didn't have the strength to try and force a smile, but she did try to explain a little. "I...I need your help."
"Why should we help you?" Emma asked. She was still angry at Lorna for trying to take Brennan away from them.
She put her head down. "You have no reason to help me, but don't let my daughter suffer for what I've done." She paused for a minute and then continued. "I'm dying. Something is happening with my abilities and I thought maybe... Adam could... help me. If he can't though, I need to know that she'll be safe. The best person to keep her that way is her father."
Not having much of a choice Jesse and Emma took Lorna and her daughter back to Sanctuary with them, making sure the ocular blinder was well in place.
~*~*Spa*~*~
After spending the rest of the day relaxing about, Brennan and Shalimar decided to get massages before going out to dinner and then heading home. They lay on tables that were opposite each other and waited for the masseuses.
"Should we call and make sure everybody's ok?" Shalimar asked.
"I'm sure they're all fine. You need to stop worrying and relax. You've been tense since the steam room."
"I know, but I can't help feeling like we're missing something."
Brennan reached over and took her hand. "Relax. I'm sure everybody is fine and if we are missing something we'll find out when we get home, ok?"
Shalimar smiled and nodded. "Ok."
~*~* Sanctuary *~*~
Adam had taken Lorna and her daughter to the lab for scans, but after he was finished he wouldn't let either of them leave.
"What are we gonna do?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, how are Brennan and Shalimar gonna take this. Lorna can't just come back and leave him with a kid that may not even be his." Jesse said.
"So far all she's told me is true." Adam replied. "She is dying and the little girl is Brennan's. I ran three DNA tests."
"Can you help Lorna?" Jesse inquired.
"I think so."
Just then they heard Brennan's Mustang pull into the garage.
"Here we go." Emma sighed.
~*~*Lab*~*~
Being a feral and an elemental defiantly had its advantages. Mina was able to easily sneak past Adam and the others and get to the lab. She had awoken from her nap while Emma and Jesse were out. Adam put on a movie for her to watch, which is where she stayed even after she heard her aunt and uncle return. She had sensed someone else was in her home the minute they had brought Lorna in, but she decided she would find out who it was after the movie she was watching finished. Now that the TV had lost her interest, curiosity was in control.
The fact that the doors were locked weren't a problem either. She just gathered up a little electricity and zapped the lock. Walking slowly in, she saw Lorna laying on the med chair asleep and a little girl playing with two small dolls. "What's your name?" Mina asked softly, not wanting to scare the girl.
She looked up a little surprised to see another girl her age. "Talya," She answered.
Mina walked over and sat down next to her. "I'm, Mina."
Talya smiled. "You wanna play with me?" She asked holding out one of the dolls.
"Ok," Mina happily took the little doll.
Shalimar and Brennan came in laughing and smiling, but that stopped when they saw the solemn expression on their teammates faces. "Geez, who died?" Shalimar asked.
"Yeah, you guys don't look like the happiest bunch of campers. What's up?"
Jesse and Emma both looked at Adam not wanting to have to tell them the news.
"We got a call from a new mutant today and Jesse and Emma had to bring her back here. She's dying, but I'm going to try and help her. She also has a daughter, not much older then Mina."
"Ok, so why the long faces?" Brennan thought that should be considered a good thing.
Adam was silent for a few seconds but then continued. "It's umm...it's Lorna."
Brennan looked at him shocked. "What!?"
"Brennan, please try to stay calm." Adam instructed.
He did his best to control himself, but when he spoke everyone could still hear anger in his voice. "Where is she?"
"In the Lab." Adam replied.
Brennan stood looking confused for a minute and then looked back at Adam. "You said she was dying?"
"Yes. Her powers are mutating faster than her body can handle." Adam paused. "Brennan, she came to me because she wants me to help her. She doesn't want to leave her daughter, but if I can't do anything for her, she wants the child's father to take care of her."
"Who's the father?" Shalimar dared to ask, taking Brennan's hand and giving it a light, loving squeeze.
Adam was silent for a moment, but was completely honest with them. "Brennan, you're the little girl's father." He quickly added, "I've already run multiple tests and they all gave me the same answer."
"Run more!" Brennan pulled his hand out of Shalimar's and stormed to their room.
Adam shook his head. "Shalimar, I'm sorry."
"It's not you're fault, Adam." She replied softly. "I'll talk to Brennan, but I'm gonna give him a few minutes to cool off first. Where's Mina?"
"She should be in the rec. room."
"Thank you"
As Shalimar entered the rec. room she noticed that no one was there. A sense if motherly worry washed over her for a minute, knowing her daughter would have sensed another feral in sanctuary. Shalimar didn't want Mina alone with Lorna. She hated her for what she did to Brennan and didn't want to have their daughter near that woman. She quickly headed for the lab.
When she arrived she found Mina and Talya playing on the floor and Lorna watching them.
Mina jumped up and ran to her. "Mommy!"
Shalimar knelt down and hugged her before walking over and sitting down opposite Lorna. Since the little girls were having fun Shalimar felt no need to disturb them, but she did want to keep an eye on her daughter. Lorna was defiantly not one of the people she trusted.
"Who's your friend, Mina?" She asked knowing very well who the little girl was. There was no mistaking that she was Brennan's child. Her eyes had the same sparkle of innocence and mischief and her mouth curled into the same sweet smile. As Shalimar looked at her, it became harder and harder to tell that she was also Lorna's child. The girl had almost no trace of her mother in her at all.
"That's Talya," Mina replied.
Shalimar smiled and watched as they continued playing.
"She's a pretty little girl." Lorna said looking up at Shalimar.
Out of concern for the two little playmates in front of her, Shalimar decided that it couldn't hurt to at least try to be nice. "Thank you."
Just then Adam walked in. "Mina? Shalimar, what are you doing here?"
"Well, when I went to the rec. room to find Mina, she wasn't there, so I took a guess and came here." Shalimar replied.
"But I had the doors locked. She couldn't have gotten in without my security code."
"Pop Pop..." Mina looked up at him and let some sparks come onto her hand while a mischievous yet innocent smile played across her lips.
Adam laughed. "She's definitely her father's daughter."
Shalimar just shook her head.
"I can do that, too!" Talya put her doll down and held both hands out, letting streams of electricity flow from one finger to the other.
Lorna frowned. "Talya stop that!" she snapped.
Shalimar looked up and narrowed her eyes, as Lorna discouraged the little girl from using her gifts. "Mina, sweetie, it's bed time. Say goodnight and you can play with Talya tomorrow."
Mina pouted, but obeyed her mother. She handed Talya's little doll back, and then let her mother pick her up. "Say goodnight."
Mina smiled. "Night, Talya,"
"Goodnight, Mina." She replied sweetly.
"Night, Pop Pop." She said as she kissed his cheek.
Adam smiled and kissed her back before Shalimar took Mina up to her room.
~*~* Emma's Room*~*~
Jesse peeked in Emma's door and found her laying on her bed with tears trickling down her face.
He knocked softly and then stepped in. "Em, you ok?" He asked softly going over to her bed and sitting down on the edge.
"Brennan and Shalimar have to calm down. They may not be showing that their angry and tense and worried and..."
"Emma, that's enough." He said softly brushing the tears off her cheeks.
"I've got a killer headache and I can't get to sleep for my life." She whimpered.
"Role over, I'll give you a massage. It'll help you relax."
Emma did as he said and rolled over. She closed her eyes and sighed softly as his hands started to rub in soothing circles on her back. They trailed from her shoulders down to the base of her back and then moved back up. Jesse massaged up and down a few times and then stopped thinking she had fallen asleep, but he was wrong.
"Jess, don't stop." She mumbled.
"I thought you were asleep."
"Uh, uh." She paused for a minute and then said. "If it would be more comfortable to lie down you can."
Jesse smiled and started to rub her back with one hand as he lay down on his side. "Goodnight, Emma."
"Night," She managed to get out, right before she fell asleep.
Jesse smiled and watched her sleep as he continued to rub her back until his eyelids couldn't stay open and he fell asleep beside her.
~*~*Shal and Brennan's Room*~*~
Shalimar tucked Mina in her bed then headed out to find Brennan. Knocking softly on the door, she slowly pushed it open and stepped in before closing and locking it. She found Brennan leaning against the headboard of their bed, reading some poetry. Walking over she spread her hand over the pages and pushed the book down, before climbing in between his legs and leaning back, into his arms.
Brennan put the book down and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."
Shalimar smiled. "I know you love me." She turned her head up and kissed him. "So, what are we gonna do about this?" She asked as she rubbed the top of his hand.
Brennan frowned. "I don't want to see her, Shalimar and I don't want to see her kid either." Brennan was being extremely stubborn. He knew that the minute he set eyes on his other little girl he would probably fall in love with her. He was afraid of what it would do to his family, though.
"You don't want to see your daughter?"
"She's not my daughter, Mina is."
"Wrong. Lorna's baby is as much your daughter as Mina is."
"Shalimar, I'm going to be reminded of Lorna every time I look at her. I don't want that."
"Brennan, you haven't even seen her yet. She looks so much like you and she's an elemental. Don't push her away just because she's Lorna's baby."
"That's exactly what she is, Lorna's baby. So, Lorna can take care of her."
"And if Adam can't help Lorna and she dies, you're gonna leave that innocent little girl in the street?"
"You and I survived."
"We were much older and I was feral! Brennan, come on, she's only a little older than Mina."
Brennan sat silently.
"You really don't mean that. Don't hate Talya because of who her mother is."
"Her name's Talya?" His head snapped up in surprise.
"Yeah,"
Brennan smiled. "That was my grandmother's name. I always liked it."
"See, there's something you like about her already and you haven't even set eyes on her yet." Shalimar took his hands in hers.
Brennan put is head down. "You're right. I'm sorry. I should be more willing to accept her."
"Don't be sorry, just meet her. I know you'll love her."
"I know you're right. That's the point. What if Adam can't help Lorna? Then, all of a sudden I have another daughter. What's that going to do to our family? How would you feel if Talya has to stay?"
"It would be absolutely fine with me." She slowly turned around and kissed him, straddling his lap. "Brennan, she's a part of you and that makes her a part of my life, too."
He smiled at her soft words. "What about Mina, though?"
Shalimar smiled and shook her head. "Relax, when I walked into the lab Mina was already acquainted and playing happily with her new friend. I think it'd be good for her if Talya stayed. I'm not ready to have another baby, but she needs someone her own age to play with. As long as I have you to help me I could handle raising two girls, I just can't go through another pregnancy and delivery...yet anyway."
Brennan chuckled. "I guess it's settled then. If Adam can't help Lorna we'll keep Talya here with us."
Shalimar smiled brightly and kissed him. "I knew you wouldn't stick to putting her out on the street. You're not heartless enough for that, you teddy bear."
"Teddy bear, huh?" He raised an eye brow.
"Yep,"
Brennan pushed Shalimar back on the bed and quickly moved on top of her, kissing her passionately. He broke away a minute later leaving Shalimar gasping for air. "Do teddy bears kiss like that?" He asked as he started to kiss her neck and collar bone.
Shalimar couldn't answer, only moan as he continued to kiss her and untie her shirt.
~*~* lornein: *Claps hands* Very good guess! *~*~
~*~* Ok, that's all for chapter 3. Find out if Adam can help Lorna or not in the next chapter and see what plans she has up her sleeves. *~*~
Note: A Father's Love - Sequel to, Lost and found.
~*~*Chapter 3*~*~
Lorna didn't have the strength to try and force a smile, but she did try to explain a little. "I...I need your help."
"Why should we help you?" Emma asked. She was still angry at Lorna for trying to take Brennan away from them.
She put her head down. "You have no reason to help me, but don't let my daughter suffer for what I've done." She paused for a minute and then continued. "I'm dying. Something is happening with my abilities and I thought maybe... Adam could... help me. If he can't though, I need to know that she'll be safe. The best person to keep her that way is her father."
Not having much of a choice Jesse and Emma took Lorna and her daughter back to Sanctuary with them, making sure the ocular blinder was well in place.
~*~*Spa*~*~
After spending the rest of the day relaxing about, Brennan and Shalimar decided to get massages before going out to dinner and then heading home. They lay on tables that were opposite each other and waited for the masseuses.
"Should we call and make sure everybody's ok?" Shalimar asked.
"I'm sure they're all fine. You need to stop worrying and relax. You've been tense since the steam room."
"I know, but I can't help feeling like we're missing something."
Brennan reached over and took her hand. "Relax. I'm sure everybody is fine and if we are missing something we'll find out when we get home, ok?"
Shalimar smiled and nodded. "Ok."
~*~* Sanctuary *~*~
Adam had taken Lorna and her daughter to the lab for scans, but after he was finished he wouldn't let either of them leave.
"What are we gonna do?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, how are Brennan and Shalimar gonna take this. Lorna can't just come back and leave him with a kid that may not even be his." Jesse said.
"So far all she's told me is true." Adam replied. "She is dying and the little girl is Brennan's. I ran three DNA tests."
"Can you help Lorna?" Jesse inquired.
"I think so."
Just then they heard Brennan's Mustang pull into the garage.
"Here we go." Emma sighed.
~*~*Lab*~*~
Being a feral and an elemental defiantly had its advantages. Mina was able to easily sneak past Adam and the others and get to the lab. She had awoken from her nap while Emma and Jesse were out. Adam put on a movie for her to watch, which is where she stayed even after she heard her aunt and uncle return. She had sensed someone else was in her home the minute they had brought Lorna in, but she decided she would find out who it was after the movie she was watching finished. Now that the TV had lost her interest, curiosity was in control.
The fact that the doors were locked weren't a problem either. She just gathered up a little electricity and zapped the lock. Walking slowly in, she saw Lorna laying on the med chair asleep and a little girl playing with two small dolls. "What's your name?" Mina asked softly, not wanting to scare the girl.
She looked up a little surprised to see another girl her age. "Talya," She answered.
Mina walked over and sat down next to her. "I'm, Mina."
Talya smiled. "You wanna play with me?" She asked holding out one of the dolls.
"Ok," Mina happily took the little doll.
Shalimar and Brennan came in laughing and smiling, but that stopped when they saw the solemn expression on their teammates faces. "Geez, who died?" Shalimar asked.
"Yeah, you guys don't look like the happiest bunch of campers. What's up?"
Jesse and Emma both looked at Adam not wanting to have to tell them the news.
"We got a call from a new mutant today and Jesse and Emma had to bring her back here. She's dying, but I'm going to try and help her. She also has a daughter, not much older then Mina."
"Ok, so why the long faces?" Brennan thought that should be considered a good thing.
Adam was silent for a few seconds but then continued. "It's umm...it's Lorna."
Brennan looked at him shocked. "What!?"
"Brennan, please try to stay calm." Adam instructed.
He did his best to control himself, but when he spoke everyone could still hear anger in his voice. "Where is she?"
"In the Lab." Adam replied.
Brennan stood looking confused for a minute and then looked back at Adam. "You said she was dying?"
"Yes. Her powers are mutating faster than her body can handle." Adam paused. "Brennan, she came to me because she wants me to help her. She doesn't want to leave her daughter, but if I can't do anything for her, she wants the child's father to take care of her."
"Who's the father?" Shalimar dared to ask, taking Brennan's hand and giving it a light, loving squeeze.
Adam was silent for a moment, but was completely honest with them. "Brennan, you're the little girl's father." He quickly added, "I've already run multiple tests and they all gave me the same answer."
"Run more!" Brennan pulled his hand out of Shalimar's and stormed to their room.
Adam shook his head. "Shalimar, I'm sorry."
"It's not you're fault, Adam." She replied softly. "I'll talk to Brennan, but I'm gonna give him a few minutes to cool off first. Where's Mina?"
"She should be in the rec. room."
"Thank you"
As Shalimar entered the rec. room she noticed that no one was there. A sense if motherly worry washed over her for a minute, knowing her daughter would have sensed another feral in sanctuary. Shalimar didn't want Mina alone with Lorna. She hated her for what she did to Brennan and didn't want to have their daughter near that woman. She quickly headed for the lab.
When she arrived she found Mina and Talya playing on the floor and Lorna watching them.
Mina jumped up and ran to her. "Mommy!"
Shalimar knelt down and hugged her before walking over and sitting down opposite Lorna. Since the little girls were having fun Shalimar felt no need to disturb them, but she did want to keep an eye on her daughter. Lorna was defiantly not one of the people she trusted.
"Who's your friend, Mina?" She asked knowing very well who the little girl was. There was no mistaking that she was Brennan's child. Her eyes had the same sparkle of innocence and mischief and her mouth curled into the same sweet smile. As Shalimar looked at her, it became harder and harder to tell that she was also Lorna's child. The girl had almost no trace of her mother in her at all.
"That's Talya," Mina replied.
Shalimar smiled and watched as they continued playing.
"She's a pretty little girl." Lorna said looking up at Shalimar.
Out of concern for the two little playmates in front of her, Shalimar decided that it couldn't hurt to at least try to be nice. "Thank you."
Just then Adam walked in. "Mina? Shalimar, what are you doing here?"
"Well, when I went to the rec. room to find Mina, she wasn't there, so I took a guess and came here." Shalimar replied.
"But I had the doors locked. She couldn't have gotten in without my security code."
"Pop Pop..." Mina looked up at him and let some sparks come onto her hand while a mischievous yet innocent smile played across her lips.
Adam laughed. "She's definitely her father's daughter."
Shalimar just shook her head.
"I can do that, too!" Talya put her doll down and held both hands out, letting streams of electricity flow from one finger to the other.
Lorna frowned. "Talya stop that!" she snapped.
Shalimar looked up and narrowed her eyes, as Lorna discouraged the little girl from using her gifts. "Mina, sweetie, it's bed time. Say goodnight and you can play with Talya tomorrow."
Mina pouted, but obeyed her mother. She handed Talya's little doll back, and then let her mother pick her up. "Say goodnight."
Mina smiled. "Night, Talya,"
"Goodnight, Mina." She replied sweetly.
"Night, Pop Pop." She said as she kissed his cheek.
Adam smiled and kissed her back before Shalimar took Mina up to her room.
~*~* Emma's Room*~*~
Jesse peeked in Emma's door and found her laying on her bed with tears trickling down her face.
He knocked softly and then stepped in. "Em, you ok?" He asked softly going over to her bed and sitting down on the edge.
"Brennan and Shalimar have to calm down. They may not be showing that their angry and tense and worried and..."
"Emma, that's enough." He said softly brushing the tears off her cheeks.
"I've got a killer headache and I can't get to sleep for my life." She whimpered.
"Role over, I'll give you a massage. It'll help you relax."
Emma did as he said and rolled over. She closed her eyes and sighed softly as his hands started to rub in soothing circles on her back. They trailed from her shoulders down to the base of her back and then moved back up. Jesse massaged up and down a few times and then stopped thinking she had fallen asleep, but he was wrong.
"Jess, don't stop." She mumbled.
"I thought you were asleep."
"Uh, uh." She paused for a minute and then said. "If it would be more comfortable to lie down you can."
Jesse smiled and started to rub her back with one hand as he lay down on his side. "Goodnight, Emma."
"Night," She managed to get out, right before she fell asleep.
Jesse smiled and watched her sleep as he continued to rub her back until his eyelids couldn't stay open and he fell asleep beside her.
~*~*Shal and Brennan's Room*~*~
Shalimar tucked Mina in her bed then headed out to find Brennan. Knocking softly on the door, she slowly pushed it open and stepped in before closing and locking it. She found Brennan leaning against the headboard of their bed, reading some poetry. Walking over she spread her hand over the pages and pushed the book down, before climbing in between his legs and leaning back, into his arms.
Brennan put the book down and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."
Shalimar smiled. "I know you love me." She turned her head up and kissed him. "So, what are we gonna do about this?" She asked as she rubbed the top of his hand.
Brennan frowned. "I don't want to see her, Shalimar and I don't want to see her kid either." Brennan was being extremely stubborn. He knew that the minute he set eyes on his other little girl he would probably fall in love with her. He was afraid of what it would do to his family, though.
"You don't want to see your daughter?"
"She's not my daughter, Mina is."
"Wrong. Lorna's baby is as much your daughter as Mina is."
"Shalimar, I'm going to be reminded of Lorna every time I look at her. I don't want that."
"Brennan, you haven't even seen her yet. She looks so much like you and she's an elemental. Don't push her away just because she's Lorna's baby."
"That's exactly what she is, Lorna's baby. So, Lorna can take care of her."
"And if Adam can't help Lorna and she dies, you're gonna leave that innocent little girl in the street?"
"You and I survived."
"We were much older and I was feral! Brennan, come on, she's only a little older than Mina."
Brennan sat silently.
"You really don't mean that. Don't hate Talya because of who her mother is."
"Her name's Talya?" His head snapped up in surprise.
"Yeah,"
Brennan smiled. "That was my grandmother's name. I always liked it."
"See, there's something you like about her already and you haven't even set eyes on her yet." Shalimar took his hands in hers.
Brennan put is head down. "You're right. I'm sorry. I should be more willing to accept her."
"Don't be sorry, just meet her. I know you'll love her."
"I know you're right. That's the point. What if Adam can't help Lorna? Then, all of a sudden I have another daughter. What's that going to do to our family? How would you feel if Talya has to stay?"
"It would be absolutely fine with me." She slowly turned around and kissed him, straddling his lap. "Brennan, she's a part of you and that makes her a part of my life, too."
He smiled at her soft words. "What about Mina, though?"
Shalimar smiled and shook her head. "Relax, when I walked into the lab Mina was already acquainted and playing happily with her new friend. I think it'd be good for her if Talya stayed. I'm not ready to have another baby, but she needs someone her own age to play with. As long as I have you to help me I could handle raising two girls, I just can't go through another pregnancy and delivery...yet anyway."
Brennan chuckled. "I guess it's settled then. If Adam can't help Lorna we'll keep Talya here with us."
Shalimar smiled brightly and kissed him. "I knew you wouldn't stick to putting her out on the street. You're not heartless enough for that, you teddy bear."
"Teddy bear, huh?" He raised an eye brow.
"Yep,"
Brennan pushed Shalimar back on the bed and quickly moved on top of her, kissing her passionately. He broke away a minute later leaving Shalimar gasping for air. "Do teddy bears kiss like that?" He asked as he started to kiss her neck and collar bone.
Shalimar couldn't answer, only moan as he continued to kiss her and untie her shirt.
~*~* lornein: *Claps hands* Very good guess! *~*~
~*~* Ok, that's all for chapter 3. Find out if Adam can help Lorna or not in the next chapter and see what plans she has up her sleeves. *~*~