Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. Evie is my character.

/Personal thoughts/

~~telepathic communications~~

Chapter 15

The evening and night passed quietly. Jesse made sure Evie rested. Shalimar and Onnaka made sure everyone was comfortable as the village women brought them food and drink.

Jean was the first to awaken. She ate and within an hour with Evie's help, she was on her feet and checking Brennan. After a round together, Jean insisted that Evie sleep for a few hours. Everyone was clearly out of danger and rest would only help her to continue in the morning.

Saturday

The professor was up by sunrise as was Storm. After breakfast and after another round of checkups, Jean and Evie decided Emma and Brennan could be safely moved. Storm was awake but extremely weak. Getting her home was the best thing as well. Jean wanted Hank to check her as soon as possible just to be sure.

Everyone was safely loaded onto the two aircrafts as Scott and Jesse prepared everyone for the flight back to the mansion. It made sense for each team to fly back in their own craft. Jean was there for Storm and Evie could handle Brennan and Emma. After an emotional goodbye to Onnaka, all were in the air.

Hours later the mansion was notified to prepare for landing. All the adults were outside watching as the crafts powered down.

Hank and Remy rushed into the Blackbird. They were pleased to find everyone in fairly good condition. "Storm needs to be in Medical but otherwise we're fine," Jean informed them. "Mutant X needs our help."

Marie awaited each of her friends as they exited the craft. Each greeted her with varying degrees of hugs and tears to share her joy.

Logan carried Storm to the lab as Hank, Jean and the professor followed.

Scott and Remy moved on to help Adam with his team.

When Adam entered the Helix he was filled with emotions of both joy and thankfulness for having his team back and concern and sadness for the ones who were not able, at that moment, to smile back at him. Brennan and Emma had never regained consciousness. Jesse informed him that about half way through the flight home Evie passed out from sheer exhaustion.

Marie came on board. She and Shalimar hugged and cried both for joy and release as Adam quickly checked the others.

Adam and Jesse carried their girls as Scott and Remy put Brennan on a gurney Adam had prepared.

Marie walked with Shalimar as they talked and briefly filled each other in on what happened.

After Hank and Adam checked all the returning mission members, the professor, Jean, Scott, Logan, Shalimar and Jesse were released with orders to sleep until dinner. All complied reluctantly.

Storm woke periodically through the flight home and her time in the lab. Hank was satisfied that the poison was sufficiently dissipating from her system. Her previous experience with that particular poison did indeed work as expected to give her the resistance her body needed to fight it.

Logan refused to leave until she was released. Then he insisted on carrying her to her room.

Shalimar sat next to Brennan until she was assured his scans were clear. Adam found the destabilized poison still in his system. The antidote had some affect but his extreme weakness didn't allow for proper resistance. Shalimar had brought a sample of the plant for Adam to examine and more of the antidote Onnaka had made. After further examination, Adam was able to develop his own antidote designed for Brennan's specific physiology.

"Shalimar, go to bed." Adam told her. "He'll be out for a while. He may not even wake until late tonight. Get some sleep and then you can come back and sit with him." Adam hugged her and sent her off.

Jesse only left Emma's side to get himself checked out. "You should have seen her, Adam. She shot her blasts so fast. It was amazing."

"That's what did her in. Charles told me that he and Jean were augmenting her abilities once she initiated them. They're so potent that their power sustained the effort; then overwhelmed her as she tried to stop. Her scans are clear, so she will wake. I'm just not sure when. I am sure it won't be for a while, though. Go to bed." He smiled as he sent Jesse on his way.

Hank had assisted until only Evie was left unchecked. Adam knew hers was a case of regenerating after taxing her powers. He wasn't worried. He sat by her as Hank left only to return periodically until evening to check on his friends.

As night approached everyone was well on their way to being fully recovered. Dinner was pleasant with talk of Marie's procedure and the mission. The professor finally had a chance to tell everyone of his offer to host the wedding. Since Evie was still unconscious, the girls had to contain their excitement and delay the planning. Night brought more needed rest.

Storm was able to go to dinner with the others but was still tired. The energy it took to dress and be there, wore on her quickly. Logan noticed. "Ro, let me help you upstairs. You don't have to stay down here."

She began to refuse but thought better of it when Jean agreed that she still needed rest.

Once in her room, she went to change as Logan waited. She came out of the bathroom and sat on her bed. "Logan, it is very kind of you to care for me like this but I assure you it is not necessary."

Slowly, he approached and sat on the bed next to her. "It is, Darlin'." Logan paused a moment and looked into her eyes. "Ro, I want to talk to you about something." He hesitated and looked down. "Before you went off to the mountain…I told you something."

She put her hand up to stop him, "We were in a desperate situation and I was frightened. I know you were being a good friend and trying to take care of me. You do not have to continue."

Logan couldn't believe his ears. What was she trying to do? "Ro, we're not in a desperate situation now and you don't seem frightened to me." He moved closer to her and put one hand on her cheek. "I love you." Seeing her close her eyes against the feel of his hand, he leaned in and kissed her. Moving slightly to embrace her fully, he let his kiss tell her the meaning of his words. When they had finally moved apart, Logan saw tears in her eyes. "What is it, Darlin'? What's wrong?" When she hesitated he turned away from her. "Oh, I understand. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

"Logan," Ororo stood and moved to sit on his lap, "you don't understand. I can't remember when I first realized I was in love with you. I have lived with that love hidden in my heart for so long that I was beginning to think that my love would never be returned. I didn't think you would ever notice me for the woman I want to be for you."

Logan wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. "I've been a fool. I never let myself think of you like that because I didn't want to ruin the friendship we had. I was afraid to let myself go because I didn't want to scare you. You're too important to me. After the night at the club and I had you in my arms, I couldn't think of anything but how you made me feel. I realized that you were a part of me that I never want to let go." He moved his hands to her hair and brought her head slowly down as he gazed into her eyes. Soon his lips were over hers and she eagerly responded letting him know that from now on neither one had to hide their feelings.

In the lab, three Mutant X members lay sleeping, still too weak to wake. Having rested themselves, Jesse and Shalimar insisted on staying in the lab for the night, waiting and watching as the ones they loved most fought to come back to them.

Midnight found Jesse, Shalimar and Adam asleep in their chairs. Evie stirred and opened her eyes. Knowing not to move too quickly she sat for another moment then looked around the lab. Smiling at the loving scene before her she slowly got out of bed and walked over to Adam. Gently lowering herself to be seated on his lap, she smiled as he woke and put his arms around her. "Welcome back," he whispered.

"Thank you, I missed you." She leaned down and kissed him. "How are they?"

"They'll be fine. We just have to wait until they wake up. Sit back and let me scan you." As they began to move around Shalimar and Jesse woke.

"Hey, Evie."

"Hi Jess."

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, Shal, I'm fine."

"Yes, she is fine. Perfect in fact."

"Take her to her room, Adam, and you get some sleep, too. We'll stay here."

Smiling gratefully at Shal's directives he put his arm around Evie and led her out of the lab.

TBC