"Are we dead?"
"Aww c'mon! I know I wouldn't call it heavenly, but it's not a hellhole either!"
Ally opened her eyes slightly, and opened them further once she felt sure she beleived Brennan.
"Then where are we?"
"It's the subway safehouse."
Ally frowned at him slightly. "The way you say that, you mean there are other...safehouses, that are just like this?"
"Well not exactly like this one, but yeah, we have some locations that give us access to Sanctuary and food and shelter. Well, at least when they're routinely stocked."
Ally began to relax again. "Coolness."
Brennan smiled. "I'm gonna fill Adam in. Why don't you help yourself to what's in the kitchen and try to get some rest. We'll probably be here til nightfall."
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
LATER ON...
Reports on the incident at the mall were already coming out of the woodworks, but there still hadn't been an official release or profile descriptions of Brennan or Ally to the public.
'Guess they don't want people trying to make citizen's arrests. Wise choice. If it had been any other mutant they wouldn't stand a chance in hell of surviving an encounter. Lucky we got to Ally first.' Brennan eased back into his seat in front of the computer moniter, and stretched out his neck. A moment later her paused.
'Wait a minute...' It was too quiet in the safehouse. Only a couple moments ago there had been clattering in the kitchen. A few moments before that, Ally had been yammering on and on nervously.
'Definitly too quiet.' Brennan stood and went to investigate.
"Hey Ally, you alright?" He called and got no answer. She wasn't in the kitchen.
"Ally...?" The washroom door was wide open, the room vacant.
She wasn't sleeping on any of the cots set aside in another room either.
The only place left was the meditaion room Emma had been trying to piece together for months. And there she was.
She had pulled a stool out into the centre of the room, which she was perched on now, looking as though in a trance.
Then he noticed...
"Whew, man it's hot in here. Did you crank up the heat or something?"
Ally was visibly sweating, she was breathing in deeply, eyes closed. "Didn't need to."
She really is meditating. He thought by the tone of her voice.
It was then that Brennan could finally see what she was doing. Waves of heat were visible, seemingly concentrated around her alone.
"I figured this would probably be the best way to keep from performing another all out pyrotechnique display that would wipe out a city block." She explained.
Brennan narrowed his eyes. "Think it'll mellow you out some too?"
Her eyes still closed, Ally smirked. "Probably."
Brennan feigned relief. "Good. Cuz I can't handle anymore early mornings." Brennan was starting to sweat a bit himself, and he was getting uncomfortable. "So...how long is this gonna take exactly? Like I said before, we're stuck here till dark."
Ally finally looked over at him. "What's the matter, Brennan? Can't take the--"
"I BEG you not to finish that sentance." He interupted.
Ally laughed, but it turned into a groan of misery as throbbing pain hit her skull. She brought her hands to her head as if to protect it, and the waves of heat that had surrounded her, faded.
Brennan launched himself over to her aide. "Whoa, Ally, you okay?"
"Heahache. I already took some ibuprofen but they don't seem to be kicking in fast enough."
Brennan had an idea. "Maybe I can help." He moved around behind her, brought his fingers up to her temples and started to gently massage them.
After a few seconds, Ally sighed. "I'm feeling better already."
A few more seconds and Ally realized she should try not to think about how good it REALLY felt! She tried to distract herself by finding things to admire around the room. She found herself drawn to a vase in her direct line of view. It was beautifully decorated with intricate rosebuds.
Feeling a pinch in her shoulders, Ally stretched her arms out in front of her.
Abruptly, that vase shattered and both she and Brennan bolted.
"What the hell was that?" Brennan demanded.
They both watched in shock as the vase vaporized. There was nothing left in seconds.
"Oh my..." Realization hit Ally like a ton of bricks. "I...I think it was me!"
"What?"
"I think I melted it!" There was excitment in Ally's voice.
"How?" Brennan questioned as Ally went over to examine where the vase was. Brennan pulled her back to get a good look himself. "You weren't even near it!"
"I know! Isn't it amazing?" Ally shrilled.
"Whoa whoa, Ally, we gotta start thinking about what else you might be melting here!"
"No, it's okay. I think I know what triggered it."
"Think? Ally you better be damn sure."
"No, I am. Look I'll do it again." She pointed her finger at a lamp.
Brennan quickly slapped her hand down. "Pick something else!"
With an exasperated sigh, Ally grabbed Brennan's hand and dragged him back out to the kitchen. "Here." She took a glass from the cabinet and set it on the counter. She stood several feet back from the counter (Brennan quickly moved behind her), took a deep breath and pointed a hand at the glass, focusing her eyes on it. It shattered and disappeared, just like the vase.
Ally cried out triumphantly and jumped around joyously. Brennan examined the area the glass had been and found the glass' bottom had fused to the countertop.
Ally ran up to Brennan and hugged him tightly. "Thank you!" She gushed. "I never would have discovered this without you!"
"Uh...yeah...I doubt that, but...no problem." Brennan muttered, returning the hug.
Ally paused, now aware of the close proximity they were in. She slowly loosened her embrace of him and looked up at his face, feeling her's growing hot from a blush.
Brennan looked down at her and their eyes met and locked.
He hesitated, unsure. Then, finally, Brennan leaned in and kissed Ally softly.
Pulling away shortly, he looked at her again, unsure what her reaction might be.
Ally pulled him back and kissed him full on the lips.
The kiss continued from there, growing deeper, more passionate. Ally's hands moved to Brennan's neck and his hands moved down to her waist. They pulled into a tight embrace and waves of heat started to rise again--
Brennan.
The pair paused, and a half second later they broke apart.
Adam was calling over the comm link.
Ally obviously tried to hide a smile as Brennan cleared his throat, frustrated.
And he answered the good doctor. "Yeah?"
How're you two holding up?
Ally stiffled a laugh. Brennan shot her a look. "Just fine. Ally's gotten some "interesting" skills since her mutation."
Right. Listen, I'd like to speak to Ally, so I need you to bring up the vid link on your end.
"Yeah, sure."
Brennan and Ally sat down in front of the computer screen and within a few moments they were looking at the face of Mutant X's leader.
"Adam." Ally greeted. "What's up?"
Adam looked pointedly at Brennan for a moment, and for a second, both mutants thought their lip-lock had been discovered.
Ally, maybe we should speak in private.
Ally frowned, wondering what this was all about. She glanced over at Brennan, then back at Adam. "Adam I've got nothing to hide...that I know of. Whatever you want to discuss we can do in front of Brennan."
"Adam what's going on?" Brennan asked.
It's about these recent arson attacks.
"Oh? Did you think I could help you investigate them?" Ally asked.
You can tell me the truth. Adam's expression was grim.
"Truth?" Ally was confused.
Brennan recognised Adam's tone and expression. He didn't like what he was implying. "Adam, you can't be saying what I think you are. Ally's been with us for the last two days. She's had nothing to do with the fires."
"What?!" Ally cried.
I realize that, but the police and history are telling another story.
"What history?" Panic rose, evident in Ally's voice.
Would you care to explain the events of November 17, 1988? Or February 12, 1989...or maybe May 16th, or September 21st? How about any of the other fires that occured within the next three years?
Ally's head fell, her lower lip started to tremble.
"Adam what are you--" Brennan was interupted by Ally's cracking voice.
"I was angry and frightened. My parents kept saying they...they didn't understand, didn't want to understand. I ran away and...things were complicated and I couldn't cope. Yes, I made mistakes, ones that I will always have to live with. But Adam, I SWEAR I had nothing to do with what's happened here in the last two days. I swear it."
Brennan stared at her in disbelief. There was silence for a time.
Alright, how long were you in town before the Links found you?
"Maybe an hour." Ally said, trying to remember clearly.
He knew you were coming and he obviously had some ideas on how to draw you out if we got to you first.
"He who?!" Brennan cried. "One second here. You mind explaining what the hell you're talking about? Ally, what's Adam saying?"
Several tears streamed down Ally's face. "Ashlocke's using fires I started as a kid to frame me now. He's got the whole city doing his dirty work for him."
And with Ashlocke's track-record for locating safehouses, the sooner you two get back here, the better.
"Aww c'mon! I know I wouldn't call it heavenly, but it's not a hellhole either!"
Ally opened her eyes slightly, and opened them further once she felt sure she beleived Brennan.
"Then where are we?"
"It's the subway safehouse."
Ally frowned at him slightly. "The way you say that, you mean there are other...safehouses, that are just like this?"
"Well not exactly like this one, but yeah, we have some locations that give us access to Sanctuary and food and shelter. Well, at least when they're routinely stocked."
Ally began to relax again. "Coolness."
Brennan smiled. "I'm gonna fill Adam in. Why don't you help yourself to what's in the kitchen and try to get some rest. We'll probably be here til nightfall."
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
LATER ON...
Reports on the incident at the mall were already coming out of the woodworks, but there still hadn't been an official release or profile descriptions of Brennan or Ally to the public.
'Guess they don't want people trying to make citizen's arrests. Wise choice. If it had been any other mutant they wouldn't stand a chance in hell of surviving an encounter. Lucky we got to Ally first.' Brennan eased back into his seat in front of the computer moniter, and stretched out his neck. A moment later her paused.
'Wait a minute...' It was too quiet in the safehouse. Only a couple moments ago there had been clattering in the kitchen. A few moments before that, Ally had been yammering on and on nervously.
'Definitly too quiet.' Brennan stood and went to investigate.
"Hey Ally, you alright?" He called and got no answer. She wasn't in the kitchen.
"Ally...?" The washroom door was wide open, the room vacant.
She wasn't sleeping on any of the cots set aside in another room either.
The only place left was the meditaion room Emma had been trying to piece together for months. And there she was.
She had pulled a stool out into the centre of the room, which she was perched on now, looking as though in a trance.
Then he noticed...
"Whew, man it's hot in here. Did you crank up the heat or something?"
Ally was visibly sweating, she was breathing in deeply, eyes closed. "Didn't need to."
She really is meditating. He thought by the tone of her voice.
It was then that Brennan could finally see what she was doing. Waves of heat were visible, seemingly concentrated around her alone.
"I figured this would probably be the best way to keep from performing another all out pyrotechnique display that would wipe out a city block." She explained.
Brennan narrowed his eyes. "Think it'll mellow you out some too?"
Her eyes still closed, Ally smirked. "Probably."
Brennan feigned relief. "Good. Cuz I can't handle anymore early mornings." Brennan was starting to sweat a bit himself, and he was getting uncomfortable. "So...how long is this gonna take exactly? Like I said before, we're stuck here till dark."
Ally finally looked over at him. "What's the matter, Brennan? Can't take the--"
"I BEG you not to finish that sentance." He interupted.
Ally laughed, but it turned into a groan of misery as throbbing pain hit her skull. She brought her hands to her head as if to protect it, and the waves of heat that had surrounded her, faded.
Brennan launched himself over to her aide. "Whoa, Ally, you okay?"
"Heahache. I already took some ibuprofen but they don't seem to be kicking in fast enough."
Brennan had an idea. "Maybe I can help." He moved around behind her, brought his fingers up to her temples and started to gently massage them.
After a few seconds, Ally sighed. "I'm feeling better already."
A few more seconds and Ally realized she should try not to think about how good it REALLY felt! She tried to distract herself by finding things to admire around the room. She found herself drawn to a vase in her direct line of view. It was beautifully decorated with intricate rosebuds.
Feeling a pinch in her shoulders, Ally stretched her arms out in front of her.
Abruptly, that vase shattered and both she and Brennan bolted.
"What the hell was that?" Brennan demanded.
They both watched in shock as the vase vaporized. There was nothing left in seconds.
"Oh my..." Realization hit Ally like a ton of bricks. "I...I think it was me!"
"What?"
"I think I melted it!" There was excitment in Ally's voice.
"How?" Brennan questioned as Ally went over to examine where the vase was. Brennan pulled her back to get a good look himself. "You weren't even near it!"
"I know! Isn't it amazing?" Ally shrilled.
"Whoa whoa, Ally, we gotta start thinking about what else you might be melting here!"
"No, it's okay. I think I know what triggered it."
"Think? Ally you better be damn sure."
"No, I am. Look I'll do it again." She pointed her finger at a lamp.
Brennan quickly slapped her hand down. "Pick something else!"
With an exasperated sigh, Ally grabbed Brennan's hand and dragged him back out to the kitchen. "Here." She took a glass from the cabinet and set it on the counter. She stood several feet back from the counter (Brennan quickly moved behind her), took a deep breath and pointed a hand at the glass, focusing her eyes on it. It shattered and disappeared, just like the vase.
Ally cried out triumphantly and jumped around joyously. Brennan examined the area the glass had been and found the glass' bottom had fused to the countertop.
Ally ran up to Brennan and hugged him tightly. "Thank you!" She gushed. "I never would have discovered this without you!"
"Uh...yeah...I doubt that, but...no problem." Brennan muttered, returning the hug.
Ally paused, now aware of the close proximity they were in. She slowly loosened her embrace of him and looked up at his face, feeling her's growing hot from a blush.
Brennan looked down at her and their eyes met and locked.
He hesitated, unsure. Then, finally, Brennan leaned in and kissed Ally softly.
Pulling away shortly, he looked at her again, unsure what her reaction might be.
Ally pulled him back and kissed him full on the lips.
The kiss continued from there, growing deeper, more passionate. Ally's hands moved to Brennan's neck and his hands moved down to her waist. They pulled into a tight embrace and waves of heat started to rise again--
Brennan.
The pair paused, and a half second later they broke apart.
Adam was calling over the comm link.
Ally obviously tried to hide a smile as Brennan cleared his throat, frustrated.
And he answered the good doctor. "Yeah?"
How're you two holding up?
Ally stiffled a laugh. Brennan shot her a look. "Just fine. Ally's gotten some "interesting" skills since her mutation."
Right. Listen, I'd like to speak to Ally, so I need you to bring up the vid link on your end.
"Yeah, sure."
Brennan and Ally sat down in front of the computer screen and within a few moments they were looking at the face of Mutant X's leader.
"Adam." Ally greeted. "What's up?"
Adam looked pointedly at Brennan for a moment, and for a second, both mutants thought their lip-lock had been discovered.
Ally, maybe we should speak in private.
Ally frowned, wondering what this was all about. She glanced over at Brennan, then back at Adam. "Adam I've got nothing to hide...that I know of. Whatever you want to discuss we can do in front of Brennan."
"Adam what's going on?" Brennan asked.
It's about these recent arson attacks.
"Oh? Did you think I could help you investigate them?" Ally asked.
You can tell me the truth. Adam's expression was grim.
"Truth?" Ally was confused.
Brennan recognised Adam's tone and expression. He didn't like what he was implying. "Adam, you can't be saying what I think you are. Ally's been with us for the last two days. She's had nothing to do with the fires."
"What?!" Ally cried.
I realize that, but the police and history are telling another story.
"What history?" Panic rose, evident in Ally's voice.
Would you care to explain the events of November 17, 1988? Or February 12, 1989...or maybe May 16th, or September 21st? How about any of the other fires that occured within the next three years?
Ally's head fell, her lower lip started to tremble.
"Adam what are you--" Brennan was interupted by Ally's cracking voice.
"I was angry and frightened. My parents kept saying they...they didn't understand, didn't want to understand. I ran away and...things were complicated and I couldn't cope. Yes, I made mistakes, ones that I will always have to live with. But Adam, I SWEAR I had nothing to do with what's happened here in the last two days. I swear it."
Brennan stared at her in disbelief. There was silence for a time.
Alright, how long were you in town before the Links found you?
"Maybe an hour." Ally said, trying to remember clearly.
He knew you were coming and he obviously had some ideas on how to draw you out if we got to you first.
"He who?!" Brennan cried. "One second here. You mind explaining what the hell you're talking about? Ally, what's Adam saying?"
Several tears streamed down Ally's face. "Ashlocke's using fires I started as a kid to frame me now. He's got the whole city doing his dirty work for him."
And with Ashlocke's track-record for locating safehouses, the sooner you two get back here, the better.