EDO Chapter 5 - Reawakening

By aniki19

Disclaimers : u know e routine… they're not mine…please don't rub it in by suing me

Back at the lab, Adam was frantically doing his best to find a neutraliser for serum BC13. Fortunately, before making his way out from Genomex, he managed to obtain an original sample of BC13 and a vial of Jesse's blood. Looking over behind his shoulder, he gave a quick glance at the grey container, now occupying almost a third of the med bay. He sighed and went back to the work at hand. It's now a race against time.

-------

Shalimar peeked in to watch Adam at work. It's been almost eight hours since they rescued Jesse and he had been at it since then. She remembered him mentioning that the first twelve hours after being cytogenetically frozen were vital if you need to wake the patient. Any longer the risk of brain damage increases with the time spent in the pod. She cringed as Adam vent out his frustrations at another failed attempt. She saw that the vial of blood has almost been used up. He's going to run out of blood samples to do more tests soon.

She shook her head and sighed. Making her way into the middle of the room; she stopped to take a look at the object of Adam's frustrations. Well, he's kind of cute; she thought. Jesse, you've got to wake up. If only for me to kick your sorry butt for putting us through all this for you. Alright, I'm just kidding…just wake up, ok? Please?

--------

Finally, after almost ten hours since Adam first laid eyes on Jesse, he found a neutraliser for the serum. Since he couldn't open the pod without putting his ward's life in danger, he proceeded to administer the antidote through vapour; all the time monitoring Jesse's vitals on the monitor.

The yellow gas slowly infiltrates the pod chamber. Few minutes later he flushed it out with oxygen into the chamber and then another booster of the neutraliser. He kept doing that for the next half hour or so, careful to notice of any change in Jesse's vitals.

He was floating in darkness for quite some time…that much he knew. He didn't remember much about how he got here but he knew he like it. He didn't know whether he was dreaming or not, except the fact that he felt really light and very, very calm. He hadn't felt this way since; hell, he's never felt this peaceful before. He felt comforted; here of all places. Slowly, he became aware of a little light and he frowned, looking for it's source that's disturbing his tranquillity. Jesse opened his eyes and took a deep breath.

It took him a while to get adjusted to the harsh lights after so long in the darkness and for his conscious to kick in. Then when he finally took stock of where he was; he started to panicked. White walls confine him in his space with a glass window overlooking him. It reminded him of his many nightmares of being buried alive and his childhood when his mother had kept him in the dark closet whenever she entertained guests and he wasn't on his best behaviour. Where am I? He looked around frantically. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of brown eyes looking down on him. He stared back, willing those eyes to help him get out of this claustrophobic prison.

The shrill alarm from the monitor jolted Adam from his slumber. Oh no, he's going into shock. Jesse's heart rate was rocketing and the sharp beeping was worrying. Yet Adam dared not open the pod for fear that Jesse's condition hasn't stabled enough. All he could do was stare in silence and prayed like he never prayed before for the god he thinks existed somewhere. He waited impatiently for the gas to dissipate so he could look in to the glass to check out on Jesse.

Shalimar rushed in to the lab at the first sound of trouble. She stopped and stared at Adam. What is he doing? Jesse's in trouble. She went over to the pod to try to pry the thing open.

"No, stop!" he exclaimed. " No Shalimar, I'm still not sure how stable he is yet. It's too dangerous to open the pod." He walked quickly to where she was. The last of the yellow vapour cleared and he took a chance to look in. To his dismay he was staring back at frighten blue eyes; pleading for help; for mercy. Damn, this should not be happening! He shouldn't be awake, not now; not yet.

"Hang on Jesse, hang on…just one more flush and then we can get you out." he whispered softly.

In a blink of an eye, those brown eyes were gone. Where did he go? He started to panic. What is this place? He tried to push his way out; tried to break the small window. Anything , he just want to get out. Why can't I get out ?! Oh god. He could feel the walls closing in on him; his worst fears coming true.

No one is going to get him out of here. He could feel a yellow mist descending on him. Oh god. What is this stuff? He could feel his throat constricted; the mist filling up his lungs. He could hardly breathe. He started coughing; panic-stricken. I'm never going to get out. His breathing coming to raspy wheezes, he could already feel the darkness creeping back to his conscious. Oh god, no…before complete darkness envelope him in their embrace.

"Bbeeeeppp…!!!" Adam was alerted by the shrill alarm. He's stopped breathing! Fingers furiously typing away on the keyboard; he struggled to make sense of the situation at hand. Staring at the monitor; his worst fears came true. Jesse's heart had stopped beating.

No, not now; not yet! Again he waited for the gasses to be fully emitted. Come on Jesse, you can't do this to me. The minutes ticked by.

He knew the risks but he couldn't resist; his heart is breaking. He proceeded o open the pod. Jesse was pale; his lips a cold cruel colour of blue; his face deprived of any colour. Oh god. He began administration of revival. Shalimar had already switched on the defibrillator machine. The humming of the machine seemed to go on forever before he could start shocking him. He placed the pads on Jesse's chest. It's been almost four minutes since his heart stopped beating and the brain was cut off from its supply of oxygen. He prays he is not too late. "Clear!"

Almost a month had gone past. Jesse was on the road to full recovery from the effects of the serum. However, Adam was still worried. Jesse hadn't mentioned anything about his parents, hadn't asked any question about going home or anything. He had been spending most of his time alternating between his room and the computers. Though he may be physically getting better; his psychology is still questionable.

A few times Adam tried to bring up the subject but Jesse either kept his silent or simply changed the subject; although he did made one thing clear --- he didn't want to go home.

In the end Adam gave up trying to get him to open up; leaving the job to Shalimar. He monitored his health and showed him how to better control his powers but she was the one who coaxed him out of his shell, showing him all the wonders of life; wonders of feeling belonged. Those two became close --- sharing a bond almost like family. And in time, Jesse took his place as the second member of Mutant X.

Yet, Adam worries about him were not over. He still hadn't found a way to stabilise Jesse's molecular structure and he knows that Jesse is due for another one of his growth 'spurts' soon and by the looks of it, it could be Jesse's last.

Six years later…and present day

They have all the ones they need to make their mission possible. Emma and Brennan were recruited about six months ago and two had turned into four; Mutant X is now complete.

Adam sighed. Jesse's condition had been stable the past couple of years or so since he was rescued and just when he thought the inevitable wouldn't happen; it did. He brushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. Jesse is fast approaching his 23rd year. Time is not going to be on his side.

Looking at his ward lying on the bed in the med bay; he couldn't help but wonder what would really happened if he hadn't interfered from the very beginning. If he could turn back time given the opportunity, he would do everything exactly the same --- no regrets. He only regretted not having thought of a backup plan in case something did went wrong with his treatments. Again, he sighed. He's only human.

--------

Looking at Adam through the tinted glass --- absorbed in his own world; was Shalimar. She had suspected something was going on with Jesse when she found him unconscious that morning and for the first time since his rescue from Genomex; she was afraid that this time it was something worse; something that not even Adam could solve. She wondered when Adam would break the news to them; to her.

(sheepish grin) whoops! Sorry u guys; I've made u wait so long for this chpt but I couldn't get it all together till now. Um…am actually trying to study for my exams in less than a months time and then I thought I better get this off my chest before I truly start to concentrate on the task at hand (crosses fingers).

Anyway…I'm going to get back to the present now and on to the actual plot.

I want to thank all those who have been sooo patiently waiting n for putting up wif me…love u guys!

Katknits00 : o.k…I've updated…like finally! lol! Did I made u more frustrated coz u want to know more? I hope so. Well did u like it…or wat? Review please!

PyrokineticFeral: glad u liked the previous chpts n this story…hope u like this one enuff to review. Have u read my previous story? Pls do..I love to hear wat u think on tt one. Loved ur stories so far…so keep up e gd wrk. Sorry abt not updating faster but I'm getting there.

Brennan's Angel : am estatic and humbled tt u love the plot(gives the angel a chocolate chip cookie…aaww…changes her mind and gives the whole bag)! Soory if I've yet to reviewed any of ur stories but I'm not into so much of brennan/Shalimar thingy..I am a jesse-slave..lol! But when I do…I'll be sure to leave u a review…

Brigitta1 : Oh please, please say tt u could read the past few chpts…and please,please..do review this one…I love ur comments…but I seriously love ur stories…ur really good wif the emotional stuff..u should write more!

Feline-feral : aww…glad ur loving my story..and come on..u must give urself some credit. Ur plots are not only fine;they're good! just update 'time jump', please?!!! (bats eyelids furiously) I wanna know how they managed to revive the 'jesses'…

Falconwolf3 : Thank u sooo much for the beta-ing and the wonderful suggestions! (sents out hugs and kisses to Brenda) U've been a great help…rest assured I will put them into good use (evil grin). As for making this a death fic…I'm still contemplating but I think so…I quote.. " someone has to die if only so that ppl will value life more" but hey I could change my mind…or do wat I did previously…(shrugs shoulders). So when's the new story coming up? I can't wait for tt one! Keep up the excellent wrk so far!

p.s…must confess tt I've been kinda busy also coz…(horrors of horrors!) I've been hook on reading fan fiction on Nysnc! The ones wit slash terms in them r just sooo hilariously funny. Those authors r sick and I love them…they really brighten up my day…lol!…