Disclaimer: I don't own LOST- obviously.

Rating: Pg-13...just in case.

Author's Note: This is my first mutant x fanfic, so thanks for being so kind. I love Lexa and Jesse, so it will circle around them a lot. PLEASE continue to read and review, 'cause i am addicted to reviews. Enjoy!!

Thanks: -Melodie568: I am so pleased that you like the story thus far. Keep reading and reviewing. Here is another chapter I hope you will like:)

-Loveconquers: Thanks for the review and the tip about annoymous reviews. I didn't know it didn't let them review, I changed that- Hey, I'm still new at this

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Chapter Four: The Ties That Bind

A Few Days Later In Shalimar's Room (11:00pm)

(Cassidy and Shalimar Talking)

"Shal…" Cassidy asks wondering whether to go on.

"Ya, what's up?" Shalimar asks curiously looking at the young girl who was all suddenly so nervous.

"…I was wondering if you could help me find someone… ever since Alyssa found out Jesse was her brother, I've just got to thinking…" Cassidy tapers off.

Shalimar waits patiently and encourages her feral friend. "I'll help you the best I can…just ask."

"I was looking for my mom, but I couldn't find her. Apparently when I was five my mom found out about my mutation and that my dad was a part of it." Cassidy looks embarrassed and rushes on, "He worked for Geonomex. Soon after that my dad took me and ran away from Geonomex."

"So you wanna find your mom." Shalimar asks.

"Yes." Cassidy nods, her eyes tearing up. "When I was ten my dad died and I ended up in foster care. I've tried to find my mom ever since. I really want to know her." Some tears spill down her cheeks.

"Hey, it's alright. Jesse has all this technology stuff, he'll help you find her." Shalimar says putting a comforting arm around Cassidy. "Tonight we sleep and tomorrow we'll talk to Jesse about finding your mom, K?"

"That sounds good." Cassidy wipes her tears and getting into bed. "Night Shal… and thanks."

"For what?" Shal asks.

"For just being there. No one has ever been there for me before." Cassidy sighs contented and drifts off to sleep.

A few minutes later Shalimar snaps out of her thoughts and whispers, "Night Cass… sweet dreams." Before falling asleep herself.

Lexa's Room The Next Morning (6:30am)

(A dreary morning when the fog settles so thick that you can't see a foot in front of your face. The cold settles in your bones and chills you from the inside out; dampening even the liveliest sprit.)

Alyssa rises early, careful not to wake Lexa as she tiptoes out of the room and into the hall. She smacks her toe on something left carelessly on the floor. "Ow!" Quickly covering her mouth to stifle the squeal from the pain now shooting through her foot. She reaches down to find out what her foot hit and discovers Brennan's thick poetry book. 'That darned Brennan, always wrapped up in poetry'. She thinks to herself negatively.

She continues on to the living room and through to the computer center. "Now for some research." She whispers into the darkness. Putting Brennan's book down beside her she pulls the keypad closer and shivers in the early morning air. Quickly she turns on the computer and waits for it to boot up. 'This place is so nice'. She thinks sarcastically. 'Why, I really cannot see.' The computer 'beeps' letting her know that it is ready to go. "Okay, here goes nothing." She says while typing in the words 'Geological Elemental' before clicking on search.

Jesse's Room

Jesse just couldn't sleep. "Errr." He lets out a frustrated sigh and gets out of bed. "Why can't I just sleep?" He says to himself then thinking. 'My sister…wow! Yes I have a sister that's why. A little sister that needs my help. She sure is withdrawn; so much like Lexa, not letting anyone in. At least Ian and Cassidy seem to be adjusting well. If only I could get through to my sister like I can her friends.'

Stumbling down the hall he sees a light on and Alyssa on the computer. "Mornin' Allie," Jesse yawns startling Alyssa, "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. Just looking some mutant stuff up." She quickly shuts off the screen but not before Jesse sees what she was looking up.

"Controlling Geological Mutisims," Jesse reads then turning to Alyssa, "Ya know Allie, I can help you find more information if you need. I'd love to help my sis."

"I may be your sister," she says. She goes on not knowing that her face betrays her thoughts of fear and loneliness. "But it's just biology. It doesn't mean anything." She says, then putting on the 'couldn't care less' routine. "I don't need anyone."

"You say that, but I just don't believe you." Jesse says hoping he wasn't pushing his sister away by trying to get her to open up to him.

Jesse and Alyssa are silent while Jesse finds some helpful information on geological mutations. "Hey, look at this." Jesse startles Alyssa out of her riviera. "This might actually help."

Lexa's Room

Waking up Lexa instinctively looks over to where Alyssa sleeps and is surprised to see she is not there. Looking at the digital clock on the night table she discovers it is only quarter past seven. 'Go back to sleep, the kid is fine'. Lexa rolls over and then thinks. 'No, she might need someone to talk to.' Back and forth her conscience battles, 'Go make sure Allie's alright, you'll feel better. No, just go back to sleep and rest then you won't be so tired…you stayed up late.' "Oh Jesse, damn you. "Lexa mumbles to herself as she slowly gets out of bed. "You always make me do the right thing, even if you're not in the room."

Walking down the hall and across the living room where Ian sleeps oblivious to all else, she sees Alyssa and Jesse huddled around a computer screen deep in conversation.

"Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes." Lexa says eyeing Jesse and Alyssa in a caring way uncharacteristic of her 'tough girl' fashion.

Jesse looks at Lexa returning the look and says, "Well good morn to you too."

Alyssa looks back and forth from Lexa to Jesse and abruptly, "I'm gonna go get dressed," starts to leave the room then with a mischievous look says, "You guys are so made for each other." And she races from the room before either of them can say another word.

"She sure is a character, isn't she?" Jesse says smiling to himself, "I think I was finally getting through to her, though." Looks at Lexa and asks, "So you think it's true?"

"What?"

"What, Allie said about us being made for each other." Jesse looks at Lexa teasingly.

"Oh, I dunno about that…we're just friends right?" Lexa evades his questions skillfully, but Jesse pursues.

"Come on Lexa, what do you really think?"

Getting a strange look in her eyes Lexa moves closer to Jesse and puts her arms around his neck. For a second their eyes connect and Jesse gets his answer. Then just as quickly the look is replaced by Lexa's teasing, "Don't you wish you knew." And she was gone quickly exiting the room.

'Whew!' Jesse thinks as he sits by the computer staring after Lexa. 'She's beautiful, she's smart and she loves to mess with me.' Then sighing, 'What more could I want.'

'Yikes,' Lexa thinks to herself leaning on the wall outside her bedroom door. 'This is getting to personal. I'm starting to care for him too much. This is bad!' Lexa scolds herself silently. But he is so sweet and has a way of getting under my skin and inside my head- no, no, no, stop it! Got to stay in control… can't fall for him.'

"Hey Lex, you all right?" Shalimar asks while walking towards Lexa, "You had a strange look on your face."

"Ya, it looked sorta like a smile." Brennan says coming up behind Shalimar. "But that couldn't be." He says sarcastically.

Lexa glares at Brennan then to Shalimar and says. "I'm fine." Smiles, "I'm gonna go get dressed." Lexa goes into her room and closes the door.

"That was weird." Shal says still confused.

"Your right about that," Looks at Shalimar, "She was nice." Brennan says mocking surprise.

"Awww, Bren you look disappointed. She's not evil after all." Gives Brennan a quick kiss taking him by surprise and leads him towards the kitchen. "Lets get some coffee."

Lexa In A Terminal Talking To The Dominion

"Have you located the mutant?" The dominion contact asks gruffly.

"It would be easier if I had a name, you're not giving me much to go on." Lexa says fishing for information.

"I have told you all you need to know. She is a geological mutant with destructive capabilities who needs to be stopped."

"A name would be nice, and don't tell me you don't know." Lexa pushes onward.

"Fine, her name is Alyssa Valentine." The contact stops for a moment then continues, "But that is all I can tell you."

(Alyssa peaks into the room to see what Lexa is doing. Lexa doesn't see her.)

Lexa is not surprised at who the mutant was. Instead she feels like a great weight has been laid on her shoulders. Lying Lexa says, "Now that I have her name I will be able to bring her in."

"You know where Alyssa is?"

"Possibly, we've been keeping an eye on someone matching her description." Lexa pauses contemplating then continues, "You're right, she's dangerous and needs to be stopped. We'll do all we can to bring her to you."

"Do it soon, Lexa." The dominion members are getting restless by your apparent lack of action. They may take action themselves, meaning our assassins will take care of her."

"I said I'd do it, okay." Lexa says just as the screen shuts off terminating their conversation.

(Alyssa leaves the doorway quickly before Lexa sees her.)

"Errr!" Lexa says in frustration putting her head in her hands. "What do I do know?"

Shalimar walks in and hears Lexa's question. "What do you do about what, Lex?"

Lexa looks at Shalimar intently then tells her about the dominions call. "I can't turn her in, she's Jesse's sister." Lexa tells Shalimar in frustration.

"What are you gonna tell the dominion?" Shalimar asks an agitated Lexa.

"I don't know." She looks at Shalimar for help. "Maybe just say that we took care of her, I haven't figured it out yet."

In The Kitchen For Dinner

(Everyone is sitting around the table getting ready to eat.)

"Where's Alyssa?" Brennan suddenly asks.

"Probably in Lexa's room, I'll go get her." Jesse answers.

"No, she's not there Jess, I already checked there on my way here." Shalimar says walking into the kitchen. "I thought she was here with you guys. I haven't seen her all day."

Uh, no, I thought she was with you." Jesse says then looks around starting to look a little worried. Within a few minutes everyone has searched sanctuary and meet back in the kitchen confirming that Alyssa wasn't in sanctuary.

"When was the last time anyone has seen her?" Lexa says taking charge as usual.

Cassidy speaks up, "We had lunch together and then she went to go look for you, Lex." She says with a wary look. "About the time you got the call from the dominion."

"Anyone see her at any other time… after the call?" Lexa asks the group.

"No, the last time I saw her was right before I talked to you about the call from the dominion and…oh, no!" Shalimar moans.

"What?" Jesse interrupts.

"She was leaving from the room you were in Lexa, do you think she overheard your conversation?" Shalimar asks worriedly.

"Damn…" Lexa pounds her fist against the table and gets up. "She probably heard what I said and got scared and left." She looks around at the confused group and attempts to clarify. "She's the mutant the dominion has been after. They want her terminated because they think she's too 'dangerous'…I told them I'd bring her in." Lexa finishes.

"You what…? How could you do that?" Brennan says to Lexa in disbelief.

Lexa glares and says to Brennan, "I wasn't really going to turn her in. I just said that to pacify the dominion." Then looking at Jesse. "I wouldn't do that."

"I know you wouldn't, Lexa." Jesse consoles.

"Now what?" Ian asks.

"Now we search. We have to find her before the dominion's assassins do." Shalimar says.

"We might not be able to." Lexa says.

"We will," Shalimar says fiercely. "For Jesse.

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