It was several hours later and the Mutant X team was grouped in the lab, waiting for Adam's the test results from the EDT scans.

"What was that?" Jesse asked Adam, glancing at his teammate's faces. Everyone looked slightly haunted. Adam turned away from the monitors and faced his team, "Alanna was mutating. Due to the stress she was under, my theory is that she lost what little control she possessed over her new abilities. She picked out your individual fears, a few of hers, twisted them together, and projected them back into your minds."

Emma shivered slightly, "Is she going to be okay?" Adam glanced back at the curled up girl on the bed. "Her genetic structure is slightly unstable, but I can alleviate that. It's her mind I'm worried about." "Her mind?" Shalimar asked, uncharacteristically quiet.

Adam sighed. "As near I can tell, her memories were altered… possibly by another Psionic. I can only imagine what Eckhart put in their place." Jesse shook his head; "She's been with Eckhart all this time… and we didn't know." Brennan's jaw tightened, "Is there anything that we can do?" Adam shook his head, "All we can do is wait…" He turned to watch Alanna's unresponsive figure. "…And hope."


Alanna drifted in her mind, walking through the confused scenes of her past.

Cringing as all five members of Mutant X cruelly taunted her about actually thinking they had cared about a little brat like her, they regretted inviting her into their home, why would they ever consider a freak like her family?

Another account rose through that torturous version and it shifted…She was laughing with Jesse, teasing Brennan, talking to Emma, goofing off with Shalimar, the rare smile she got from Adam…

She had betrayed them… what had she done?

What was she going to do?

The lights in Sanctuary were dimmed. It was night outside.

Alanna slipped off the bed and limped to the garage, extracting a random pair of car keys. She cursed when the keys fell from her shaking hands.

A stern voice with an edge of humor cut through the silence; "I thought I taught you not to use language like that young lady." The lights intensified, revealing Adam and the team standing just a few feet from her.

Alanna froze, shaking, torn in two. She still loved them; she didn't want to hurt them.

Shalimar smirked, "Just where do you think you're going?" The girl blinked, surprised. "Away." Brennan looked confused. "Why?"

She stared at him, "Because… I hurt you." Jesse shook his head, "So you're running away? I don't get it."

Alanna looked down at her feet, throat constricting, "It's taking over."

Shalimar took a few steps forward, "It's who we are. Everyone has a wild side… ours is just a whole lot wilder than others."

Alanna took a shaky breath; her voice was a mere whisper, "I'm sorry."

Emma smiled softly, "Alanna… we still love you."

A sob broke the silence a moment later, a few tears falling onto the concrete of the floor in front of Alanna's feet.

"Come on," Shalimar put an arm around her shoulders, "You're staying with us."

They all walked towards the lab. Jesse shook his head again; "I can't believe you were going to leave us to Brennan's awful cooking. I'll end up with Cibophobia." Brennan stopped, "Aw, come on… I'm not that bad… right Adam?"

Adam cleared his throat, tactfully avoiding Brennan's question as he steered Alanna to the examining chair. "I'm just going to-" An insulted Brennan cut off Adam. "Fine. I'll never cook again." Jesse smirked, "I think all of us would appreciate that."

Alanna laughed along with Shalimar and Emma. It felt so good to be back… to be home.

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review; constructive criticism is welcome, along with ideas for future stories!

And here is one BIG "Thank you!" to all those wonderful people who have R&R..