Spiritwalker

A/N-Thank you to those who have reviewed. I appreciate it more than you know. More is coming. Stick with me, it's going to become a series, I feel it in me.

Legal Stuff-Hey, I don't own these characters, they are owned by Marvel. Thanks Stan. Kari Spiritwalker is mine, she's for sale, see me for details.

Reality and dreams

Jesse woke with a start, he had realized that he had dozed. The dream had actually drained him, so this last bit of sleep was more restful than he knew at first. He finally felt better.

Kari was still asleep. She was curled up next to him, her head on his bare chest, her jet black hair spread out like a fan. He watched her for a moment, her steady breathing an indicator that she was finally sleeping normally, her sleep not drug induced from the times he first watched her sleep.

The mere fact that he was awake again startled him. The experience of his shared dream with Brennan and Shalimar was terrifying, yet awe inspiring. The woman who slept beside him was in no way ordinary, instead she was an extremely powerful mutant. Her powers were at a level he had not seen before and the burgeoning scientist in him and he wanted to study her further.

'Kilmartin, you are thinking more and more like Adam Kane every day,' he thought to himself, shifting his gaze from the woman at his side to the light crawling up the wall.

By the amount of light filling his room, he knew it was past nine and the others would be up and moving. He needed to join them, but he knew it would be hard to leave Kari. Duty did call.

Moving slowly and quickly, he pulled several pillows from behind his head, phased them and put them on his chest, phasing himself.

Kari didn't move. She just gathered the pillows and curled up with them, leaving Jesse to move off the bed. He watched her for a second, then pulled on his discarded shirt and headed for the kitchen.

Coffee would help. The need for caffeine was shared by his teammates, his own little 'family' in Mutant X. It would be awkward though. They had shared a dream. Lexa wasn't in it, how would she handle it?

How would they interpret Emma's message? Damn, he had thought of Emma again, and it still hurt. The amount of energy used to bring her and them together was astonishing. No wonder Kari was wiped out. He mused the situation as he entered the kitchen and found his teammates silent.

Brennan and Shalimar were sitting there with coffee, not talking but trying to wake up. Lexa sat at the table as well, her tea slowly going cold. Jesse joined them, his coffee mug warm, but the atmosphere at the table chilling him. No one was speaking.

Lexa decided to break the silence.

"So, how did everyone sleep?" she asked, deadpan, "Or are we all going to guess?"

Brennan couldn't help but laugh. The looks on his friends face looked like a funeral, not the look of morning at Sanctuary. Jesse's face alone looked like he had run a metaphysical marathon where the mind hadn't rested, while his body had. Shalimar on the other hand looked fine, but knowing her, she had her mind racing faster than a cheetah.

"I just want to know how she did that," Brennan thought aloud, "You know that must have taken all of her strength and so much energy…"

"She's out cold in my room," Jesse interrupted, "I decided it best to let her sleep. Nearest I can tell, she is like a magnet for the spirits that are hanging around here. I mean we all knew Emma had power, but Kari is off the scales."

Brennan nodded.

"Okay, I am a bit lost here," Lexa stated, "Who did you guys dream about last night? Emma?"

Shalimar nodded.

"Emma, why? Who did you dream of?"

"My brother," Lexa replied, "Damn, it was so real. He was here, we were walking and talking about all of you."

"Hopefully all good," Shalimar smiled as she put a hand on Lexa's arm, "I don't know why you weren't in the dream with us."

"She never met Emma," Jesse answered, "C'mon Shal, it makes sense. Leo would be perfect to talk to her, he's someone she knew and loved like we loved Emma."

Brennan's eyes met Lexa's. She looked more relieved than upset that she was left out.

"Leo mentioned how important it was for her to be here," Lexa continued, "He said it was wonderful that someone with her abilities could be here for all the spirits here."

"ALL?" Jesse asked, "Wow."

"Sure changes your view on the physical world, doesn't it," Brennan added, "We probably should be having this conversation with Kari, but guys, how did she do that?"

"She didn't do it alone," Jesse continued, "Brennan, Emma was helping her from wherever she is, the beyond, the hereafter, purgatory, whatever. Kari's a magnet, guys."

"She sure is," Shalimar agreed, getting up to get another cup of coffee and taking Jesse's mug with her.

"Problem here is that she's very strong and undertrained," Jesse held back a yawn, "I want to help her, but I don't know how. I have Adam's records on her, but they are incomplete. She has a tremendous database of knowledge in her head that we need."

"You want to study her?" Shalimar came back in with the coffee, "Do you think she'll go for that?"

"I'll need your help," Jesse watched everyone's face as he took the coffee from Shalimar, "She needs to know she's safe here. She doesn't show that much emotion, but she really trusts us. Can we help her?"

"I think we can," Brennan's response was automatic and Shalimar's smile was the perfect compliment to him.

Jesse met Lexa's gaze.

"You in?"

Lexa stared back at him.

"I'll help, but I have to ask this. Will this happen again, because I don't think I can take it," she stared back at the table as she said it, afraid to meet his gaze.

"Lexa, I don't think it was a dream, I think it was a visit," Jesse took a moment to reply, his fingers joining hers on the table, "Emma was far too real for it to be a simple dream."

"But is it even possible?" Lexa asked.

"There are things beyond our capabilities at work here, Lex," Shalimar interrupted, "I'm with Jesse on this one."

Lexa didn't answer. The thought that her brother simply wanted her to live had changed her more than she would like to admit.

"Brennan, you have grown quiet," Jesse gave him a sideways glance, "What are your thoughts on this?"

"I think it was a visit and it was great to see her again," he said, taking Lexa's hand, "And I think we can definitely help Kari Spiritwalker."

Kari slept on. Jesse checked on her in the late afternoon but didn't have the heart to wake her. She stirred when he sat on the edge of the bed and slowly opened her eyes.

"What the?" her voice was soft and cracked, "Where am I? Jess?"

Her eyes met his as she tried to focus.

"Hey there," he smiled, "You feel like joining the land of the living, or you want to sleep some more?"

Jesse bit his lip. He shouldn't have said that to a medium. The memory of the dream flooded back to Kari as she focused on him.

"Funny, but I don't think I want to go back to sleep," she said, her voice a little stronger, "I don't know if I am ready to get up either."

"Take your time," Jesse smiled at her. He was discovering that she didn't wake up well.

Kari nodded at him and slowly moved her feet to the edge of the bed. She started to stand and waved off his offered arm. She yawned as she stood up.

"Sorry, it's not the company," she turned to him, putting a hand on his arm as he stood.

"You guys okay?" she asked.

He took a second before answering her, studying her face.

"Somewhat," Jesse's reply was a shock, "They're wanting to talk with you when you're ready to hear it."

"And you?"

Jesse didn't answer that question. He really didn't want to. Time to change the subject.

"You hungry?" he asked.

Kari quickly realized the subject was dropped.

"Yes, I am hungry," she answered, "I think I could use a shower first."

"Bren and Shal brought your pack back from the safehouse, it's in the guest room, which also has a shower," Jesse added.

"Thanks."

She let him go and turned to the door. She took a second then turned back to him.

"Jess, really, thank you."

Jesse looked at her. She was still tired, but her dark eyes were amazingly bright.

"You're welcome," he replied, "Go on, I'll even make dinner."