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 4*~*~

Adam walked into the lab and found Lorna lying on the medical bed with Talya next to her, still asleep. "How are you feeling?" He asked quietly.

"My head hurts and I still feel tired, even after sleeping all night."

"Come over to the chair and let me run some scans." Adam helped her up and then went over to the computers.

Lorna settled back into the chair and tried to relax as the scanner started. "Does Brennan know I'm here yet?"

"Yes. I told him last night." Adam replied.

"If you can't help me will he keep Talya here with him?" She asked almost fearing the answer.

"I'm not sure. His decision is going to be influenced by what Shalimar and Mina want as well as what he wants."

Lorna smiled and closed her eyes as another scan started. "I knew they would eventually get together."

"Really? How so?" He asked.

"Well aside from the fact that I can still feel that punch she gave me when you guys came after Brennan..." She trailed off and gently rubbed the side of her jaw.

Adam chuckled.

"Adam, I know what I did to him was wrong and I'm sorry, but I don't want to die. I couldn't think of anyone else who might be able to help me. Please don't let what I did in the past affect your helping me now."

Adam walked over and took her hand. "I don't let things like that affect me. I'm going to do everything in my power to help stabilize your abilities, for you and for your daughter."

Lorna smiled. "Thank you,"

Adam nodded and walked back over to the computers to run yet another scan.

~*~* Emma's Room *~*~

As Emma woke up she realized she was tangled in someone's arms. Opening her eyes she found Jesse asleep next to her. Then she realized that he must have fallen asleep while giving her that wonderful massage last night. "Emma? Emma, are you awake yet?" She heard Adam's voice over her comm. ring. She groaned. "I'm awake. What is it?"

"I need you in the lab." Adam replied.

Sighing Emma replied, "I'll be down in a few minutes."

Jesse yawned and then opened his eyes half way. "Emma? What are you doing here?" He asked thinking that he was in his own room.

Emma laughed at the sight of him. His eyes were only slightly opened and his hair was a mess. "You fell asleep in my bed last night. This is my room."

Jesse's eyes snapped opened as he looked around. "Oh, Emma, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

She laughed and put her fingers against his lips. "It's ok, but can you let me up now? I need to get down to the lab."

Jesse quickly pulled his arm back and apologized as he got out of the bed.

Emma almost instantly missed the feeling of his warm body next to hers. She got up and smiled. "How about a cup of coffee before I go?"

"That sounds wonderful." Jesse replied rubbing his eyes.

Emma smiled and waited for him to leave before taking a quick shower and heading downstairs.

~*~* Shal and Brennan's room *~*~

Shalimar smiled as Brennan rolled over and draped his arm over her bare stomach simultaneously laying his head on her shoulder. Bringing her hand up she began to stroke his hair. "Morning, baby," she said softly.

"Morning," he mumbled.

"You ready for today?"

Brennan smiled and tightened his hold around her. "As long as you're with me. I love you."

"I love you, too." She smiled. Every time she asked that question he would give the same answer. It made her feel loved and even though she knew Brennan loved her more than anything, she needed to hear it. Especially now.

They sat in silence for a moment before Shalimar said, "I think I'm gonna take Mina and Talya and make them breakfast when they wake up and let you talk to Lorna."

"But Shal..."

"No, buts," she said cutting him off. "I think you should talk to her. Adam will be in the lab, so I'm not worried about anything happening."

"What are we supposed to talk about?"

"I don't know. Ask her about Talya. If we're going to keep her, we're gonna need to know a little bit about her."

"Like what?"

"Like if she has any medical problems, how old she is."

"Adam, can figure that out with a scan."

"Well then you just have to go down there to meet her."

Brennan frowned, and looked up at her not being able to reply.

Shalimar laughed. "Come on." She rubbed his shoulder. "I think the sooner this is over the better."

Brennan groaned and got out of bed with Shalimar. They both got dressed and then went their separate ways.

~*~*Lab*~*~

Brennan took a deep breath and then walked in. He wasn't sure he was prepared for this, but he really didn't have a choice.

Adam and Emma looked up when they heard the door and smiled.

"Can I talk to her or would I be disruptive?" Brennan asked.

Lorna looked back when she heard his voice. Her heart almost stopped. She wasn't sure of what Brennan was going to do to her.

Adam shook his head. "Of course you can talk to her."

He walked over and pulled a chair up. Not knowing what to say he just sat there looking at her. After a moment he spoke, "So, umm, I hear I have a daughter."

Lorna nodded and pointed over to Talya.

Brennan looked back at the child lying on the bed. His heart almost melted. She was a very beautiful little girl. A few strands of hair fell across her face and it reminded him of what Shalimar's hair did whenever she was lying asleep on her side.

"Brennan, please tell me you'll take care of her." Lorna begged.

Brennan looked back and nodded. "If Adam can't help you, Shalimar and I will keep her here with us."

"Oh, thank you." Lorna leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, but sat back quickly and blushed. "Sorry."

Brennan shook his head. "It's ok."

Just then Lorna felt someone tap her leg. She looked down and found Talya staring up at her. She picked her up and sat her down on her lap. "Momma, who's that?" She asked quietly, looking over at Brennan.

"That's..." Lorna looked over at Brennan, not sure what he would want Talya to call him.

"Daddy," Brennan supplied in a whisper.

She smiled. "That's Daddy."

Talya smiled and crawled from her mother's lap into Brennan's arms and hugged him. He smiled and wrapped his arms around the little girl's body.

Just then Shalimar and Mina walked in. Mina ran and threw her arms over her father's legs. "Morning daddy!" He smiled and picked her up, sitting her on his other leg.

"Morning, Mina."

"I thought you were my daddy?" Talya looked up at him confused.

Brennan smiled. "I am your daddy, but I'm Mina's daddy, too."

"How?"

Mina, being a little confused herself, listened intently for his answer.

"Uhh..." Brennan looked back at Shalimar then to Lorna and finally back to Talya. "When you're older I might tell you."

Mina and Talya both let out disappointed sighs. Shalimar quickly spoke up. "Mina, come and let me make you breakfast. Then you can watch the cartoons." Mina jumped down off her fathers lap and took Talya's hand. Tugging lightly she said, "Come eat with me. Then we can watch the cartoons and play."

Talya looked up at her mother, "Mommy?"

Lorna nodded. "Go ahead."

Talya smiled and climbed off Brennan's lap. She followed Mina and Shalimar out and the last sounds that were heard by the adults in the lab were the little girls talking about their favorite cartoons.

"She'll be happy with you and Shalimar and she'll have someone to play with now." Lorna said, sadly, but smiling. Her smile faded though, knowing that it would mean losing her little girl.

"Actually," Adam interrupted, "you may not be leaving her after all."

"Huh?"

Adam smiled. "Your new mutant DNA is mutating faster than your body can handle and that's killing you. There is a serum that I can construct, though, to slow the mutation so your body can adjust properly. It will take me about a day or two in order to construct it and then you'll have to stay a day more so I can make sure it's working correctly."

"Really!?" She asked excitedly.

Adam nodded.

"Oh, thank you, Adam."

"Now, I'm going to need you to stay here for more scans throughout the day, but tonight you can stay in one of the guest rooms if you'd like."

"Ok," She smiled. "Thank you."

The rest of the day passed quickly. Brennan spent most of it with Shalimar and his two daughters, Adam ran scan after scan on Lorna and Emma helped Adam until he told her she could have a break. Jesse had his eyes on the computer all day until Emma came and stole them away.

That night Lorna sat on the bed and watched her daughter sleep. It was late, about midnight, she estimated. She slowly took a deep breath and picked up her cell phone. Dialing the number she had in her pocket, she waited for someone to answer as it rang.

"Hello"

"Eckhart?"

"Yes,"

"It's Lorna."

"Ahh, Miss Templeton. Have you decided?"

"Yes, but I want twenty thousand."

"No, our agreement was ten." He said decidedly.

"I know, but I can bring you another. Brennan Mulwray has a daughter just a little younger than mine."

"Really?"

"Yes, I contacted Mutant X when you refused to help me. They brought me back to Sanctuary and Brennan's little girl, being the friendly thing that she is, introduced herself to my daughter. Adam Kane is coming up with a serum to stabilize my abilities. So, after I'm back to normal I'll bring you my daughter and Brennan's."

"Very well. Contact me again when you are ready to meet. I'll arrange a place and time. You bring the girls and I'll send someone with your money."

"All right"

With that the conversation ended.

~*~*Sorry guys, I didn't get most of the reviews with guesses on who our mystery person was until after chapter 3 was up. You all had really good guesses! Anyway, I'm trying to make things a little interesting. Is it working? Let me know. Please Review! *~*~