Disclaimer: You know the drill. 'Mutant X' and it's amazing cast of characters belong to someone who isn't me. Lexi and Izzy Fox-Mulwray belong to me.

Author's Note: Sorry about the update delay. Inspiration struck today so all three stories got an update. Please keep reviewing, let me know what you think. Is Izzy going too far?

Words in / / = Thoughts.

Chapter 6.

"I am very, very cross with you, young lady." Brennan scolded his less than contrite daughter. "I know that you miss Lexi and Mommy but that's no reason to take it out on everybody else, is that clear? You could have made Uncle Jesse choke with that toothpaste and shaving cream and as for what you did to Aunt Emma. . ." he looked over at the unhappy psionic, whose skin was a bright shade of orange. "What exactly did you do to Aunt Emma?"

"I put food dye in her shower stuff." Izzy told her father calmly, not understanding why he was making such a fuss. She thought that it was very funny.

"This better wash out before the wedding!" Emma told the little girl warningly.

Jesse laid a gentle hand on his fiancée's shoulder. "I'm sure that it will, Em." He reassured her. "If not, we can always change the date." He jested.

Emma gave him a look of pure horror and sprinted off to her bathroom to make a fresh attempt at restoring her skin's normal appearance.

Jesse watched her go, torn between irritation, amusement and even slight pity for Izzy who was now facing judgment.

"You have to admit," he told his friend in a low voice. "That it was very funny."

Izzy gave her uncle a small smile. Next to Mommy, Uncle Jesse was the best of the grown ups as far as appreciating her mischief related efforts went.

Brennan glared at the other man. "Don't encourage her, Jess." He said in a low voice. 'She's in big, big trouble."

Izzy sighed wearily, wishing that her father would hurry up and tell her off so that she could get back to work. She already had some ideas for a new spate of pranks.

Jesse nodded in understanding, clapping a hand of Brennan's shoulder. "See you later, man." He said before heading off.

Izzy watched mournfully as her last ally deserted her.

"Now," Brennan took his daughter's hand in a firm but gentle grip and led her into his and Shalimar's room. "You and I need to have a little talk."

He sat down on the bed and motioned for Izzy to stand next to him.

"First things' first." He looked her in the eyes. "Where did you get the itching powder?"

"What itching powder?" Izzy batted her eyelashes sweetly, hoping to avoid the topic.

"Don't even think about trying this one on me, Izzy." Brennan warned. "The itching powder you put on my clothes. I want to know where you got it."

Izzy clamped her lips shut, remaining resolutely silent. Her father's scolding did not trouble her greatly and she was not prepared to reveal the origins of the joke boxes, knowing that to do so would get both herself and her twin into trouble.

The four year old had no desire to listen to a lecture on the evils of using her powers for such trivial purposes.

"I'm waiting for an answer, Isabelle.' Brennan said warningly. "Where did you get the itching powder. "I know that I didn't buy it for you and neither did your mother. Grandpa, Aunt Emma and even Uncle Jesse all know better and it didn't appear out of thin air so how did you get it?"

Izzy set her chin determinedly. "Not telling." She declared stubbornly. "I don't care what you say. I don't even care if you spank me.' She added with uncharacteristic bravado, remembering Other Grandpa's earlier threats.

"Don't tempt me." Brennan said darkly. "Now, I'm going to give you one more chance. Where did you get that itching powder?"

"Not telling." Feeling especially daring, Izzy stuck out her tongue pertly. "So there!" She sighed impatiently, bored with the whole process. "Can I go now?"

"No." Brennan's voice was firm. "I think that you need a little time to think about what you've done and to decide whether or not you're going to answer my questions." He scooped his daughter up and carried her out of the room and up the shallow steps to the dojo. "There." He set her down unceremoniously. "I want you to think about what you've done. I'll be back in a little while."

 He stepped off the dojo, activating the forcefield around it and setting the timer for fifteen minutes.

Izzy glared out at him from behind the transparent yet impenetrable wall, stamping her foot. "I hate you!" She declared childishly. "I want Mommy!"

Much to her disgust her father did not answer her. He headed down the steps and into the rec room, not looking back.

Izzy sat down on the small platform in a huff.

/It's not fair! / She thought rebelliously. /It's not my fault that Daddy doesn't have a sense of humor. /

* * *

Ten minutes later.

"Hey." Jesse greeted his friend cheerfully as he stepped into the rec room, where Brennan was making an unsuccessful attempt to concentrate on his cherished volume of Walt Whitman's works. "Izzy's not a happy camper." He informed the elemental. "I don't think that time outs agree with her."

"She's not supposed to like it." Brennan objected. "It's a punishment."

"For her or for us?"

Brennan gave his friend a quizzical look.

Jesse laughed. "Come on, you know that Izzy's using this quiet time to plot her revenge.' He clapped the other man on the shoulder. "She's going to get you for this!"

Brennan's face fell as the impact of his friend's words struck him.

/Sh*t! /

* * *

Five minutes later.

"Alright, Izzy, you're free to go." Brennan disabled the forcefield around the dojo. "Behave yourself."

The little girl gave him a sweet smile. "Yes, Daddy." She skipped off back to her room, humming to herself.

Brennan watched her go with a sinking feeling of trepidation.

/I'm a dead man! /

TBC.