Disclaimer: Although a girl can wish, I in no way shape or form own Mutant
X or any of the characters. Michael, Mari, Will, Nicole and Alex are mine
though.
Part Two: View of a Child
"Adam are you sure?" Shalimar said quietly as she looked down at her child. "Why only Michael? If it had to do with their accelerated growth, why was he affected like this and not Mari too?"
"I'm not 100 percent sure but I suspect it has something to do with the high concentration of electricity constantly flowing through her body. It must have neutralized the virus before it could do the damage." Adam said wishing he could give a better explanation.
"There's nothing I can do for him medically, he's totally and profoundly deaf. The good thing is that because he started speaking before going deaf, with speech therapy, he should be able to speak again. And Shalimar; remember that you, Jesse and I all know sign language from before the others joined the team. We can begin the lessons immediately for Michael and everyone else. It's going to work out Shalimar."
"I think that I need some time to work this out." Shalimar walked out of the lab still clutching Michael but forgetting Brennan.
With that Adam finally looked up and saw Brennan. He had honestly forgotten about Brennan and now was very sorry. "I'm sorry Brennan, I wish there was more I could do for Michael. I should have seen the damage that the virus was doing and been able to fix it. This shouldn't have happened."
"It's not your fault Adam. I know Shalimar's upset now but she'll get over it. I had a deaf friend growing up. I know that Michael will be fine, but I think I'll just leave her with him for a while. She needs to see that for herself, I can't tell her that."
Adam knew that Brennan was right but he still wanted to run and make Shalimar and Michael feel better. Instead of pursuing Shalimar, Brennan went to tell the others and find Mariella.
"Mari, can you come here for a minute? I need to talk to you about something important." Brennan asked his young daughter.
She walked over to her father knowing what was going to be said. She couldn't look him in the eye and instead looked at her feet. When she reached her father's feet and looked up she was surprised by the look she saw. He wasn't angry, but instead scooped her up in his arms and gave her a big hug.
"Mariella, did you know what was wrong with Mike?"
"Yes daddy. He didn't want you to worry. He didn't want you to know. I'm sorry."
"Honey it's okay. I know you were just trying to protect Michael and us but that's our job. We're supposed to protect you and Michael. Next time just promise me if something like this happens again, you'll tell us. It's important."
"I promise," Mari said finally smiling. "What's going to happen to Mike now?"
"Well Mari, Michael can't hear anything so we have to talk to him in a different way. You remember how grampa and I taught you to read?"
"Yes," Mariella said pointedly.
"Well now we're going to teach you and Emma and Will and Nic and Michael how to read in a different way. We're going to teach you how to 'read' and 'write' with your hands so you can talk to Michael and he can talk back." Brennan explained this hoping the young child would grasp what he was saying.
"That sounds like fun! When do we start?" Mari asked.
Brennan was amazed at how this huge moment barely changed his young daughter. He knew things were seen differently by children, especially his children, but this was amazing. Michael was going to be okay and Shalimar would see that eventually.
AN: This story is set up a little different from the other in that most of this is discovering their talents and quirks. An actual event/storyline will emerge around these twins but I'm not sure if it will be in this story or in another sequel but bear with me if you will. I promise you, this will be worth it.
Part Two: View of a Child
"Adam are you sure?" Shalimar said quietly as she looked down at her child. "Why only Michael? If it had to do with their accelerated growth, why was he affected like this and not Mari too?"
"I'm not 100 percent sure but I suspect it has something to do with the high concentration of electricity constantly flowing through her body. It must have neutralized the virus before it could do the damage." Adam said wishing he could give a better explanation.
"There's nothing I can do for him medically, he's totally and profoundly deaf. The good thing is that because he started speaking before going deaf, with speech therapy, he should be able to speak again. And Shalimar; remember that you, Jesse and I all know sign language from before the others joined the team. We can begin the lessons immediately for Michael and everyone else. It's going to work out Shalimar."
"I think that I need some time to work this out." Shalimar walked out of the lab still clutching Michael but forgetting Brennan.
With that Adam finally looked up and saw Brennan. He had honestly forgotten about Brennan and now was very sorry. "I'm sorry Brennan, I wish there was more I could do for Michael. I should have seen the damage that the virus was doing and been able to fix it. This shouldn't have happened."
"It's not your fault Adam. I know Shalimar's upset now but she'll get over it. I had a deaf friend growing up. I know that Michael will be fine, but I think I'll just leave her with him for a while. She needs to see that for herself, I can't tell her that."
Adam knew that Brennan was right but he still wanted to run and make Shalimar and Michael feel better. Instead of pursuing Shalimar, Brennan went to tell the others and find Mariella.
"Mari, can you come here for a minute? I need to talk to you about something important." Brennan asked his young daughter.
She walked over to her father knowing what was going to be said. She couldn't look him in the eye and instead looked at her feet. When she reached her father's feet and looked up she was surprised by the look she saw. He wasn't angry, but instead scooped her up in his arms and gave her a big hug.
"Mariella, did you know what was wrong with Mike?"
"Yes daddy. He didn't want you to worry. He didn't want you to know. I'm sorry."
"Honey it's okay. I know you were just trying to protect Michael and us but that's our job. We're supposed to protect you and Michael. Next time just promise me if something like this happens again, you'll tell us. It's important."
"I promise," Mari said finally smiling. "What's going to happen to Mike now?"
"Well Mari, Michael can't hear anything so we have to talk to him in a different way. You remember how grampa and I taught you to read?"
"Yes," Mariella said pointedly.
"Well now we're going to teach you and Emma and Will and Nic and Michael how to read in a different way. We're going to teach you how to 'read' and 'write' with your hands so you can talk to Michael and he can talk back." Brennan explained this hoping the young child would grasp what he was saying.
"That sounds like fun! When do we start?" Mari asked.
Brennan was amazed at how this huge moment barely changed his young daughter. He knew things were seen differently by children, especially his children, but this was amazing. Michael was going to be okay and Shalimar would see that eventually.
AN: This story is set up a little different from the other in that most of this is discovering their talents and quirks. An actual event/storyline will emerge around these twins but I'm not sure if it will be in this story or in another sequel but bear with me if you will. I promise you, this will be worth it.
