Jesse watched Adam leave before facing Brennan once more. He wasn't sitting anymore. Instead he was wandering around the lab, picking some of the medical instruments up before dropping them carelessly back down onto the table.
He wanted to give him some time so he sat down in the chair Brennan had vacated, his feet relaxed on the floor.
"What's up, bro?"No answer. Brennan threw a quick glance over to him and just kept on walking around.
Ok, he obviously needed more time. All right, that was fine with Jesse. He kept wondering what could be bothering Brennan that much. Nothing unusual had happened since they came back, except for Emma's vision or whatever you'd call it.
Brennan walked into his peripheral vision, and then Jesse heard footsteps from the dark-haired Mutant come up behind him.
He trusted his partner so he did not feel the need to watch his every step. He never expected the next move…
The dark, brown eyes were fixed on the blond Mutant facing away from him. An evil smile loomed in the changing face. The tall shape of Brennan disappeared and the much broader form of Ezra stood in the lab instead. He slid one hand into the inside pocket of his jacket, taking the injection gun out of it.
Two fast steps brought him close to the younger Mutant. He wrapped his free arm tightly around Jesse's neck, choking him while he pulled him far enough back until he lost his balance. He pressed the gun hard against his neck and pulled the trigger.
Immediately, Jesse's body fell limp as the green liquid in the syringe rushed through his veins. Ezra pulled his body roughly onto the chair, holding his neck in a strong one-handed grip, still smiling that evil grin.
Jesse looked at Ezra with big eyes. Pain and fear could be seen in them like in Brennan's eyes before. It was a terrible feeling being fully conscious but at the same time unable to move or do anything at all. He could only stare and wait.
"She was my one and only! I would have gone to the ends of the earth for her, you know that?"
Jesse heard him clearly even though he didn't understand what he meant.
"My beautiful Puerto Rican Lady. And you took her away from me!"Ezra pulled a huge hunter's knife from under his jacket and showed it to Jesse. He could see his reflection in the shining blade. He was scared…
Ezra's voice was barely a whisper when he spoke on.
"You will pay for it!"He let go of Jesse's neck and grabbed his right wrist. The knife cut easily deep into the skin, slashing the veins wide open. The same happened with the other side.
Jesse felt the cutting sting but the drug wouldn't allow him to scream out his pain. He could only let out a small whimper of pain, not even loud enough for his friends to hear. The blood soaked into his clothes, making them stick to his skin before his arms slipped from his torso, hanging motionless down the chair.
And somewhere on her way to the garage, Emma stumbled as the silent rush of agonizing pain hit her like a fist, screaming into her ears…
___________________
Shalimar ran the few yards through the hall towards the lab. She was almost there when the door opened and Jesse came out. She jumped in surprise as Adam's spoke up from behind her at the same time.
"You talked with Brennan?"Jesse nodded, a light smile spreading over his face. Shalimar looked on with huge eyes at her friend who winked at her.
"He is fine, he just needs some minutes for himself. Then you can go and check him out as much as you want, old man!"
Shal's breathing was harsh. Something was wrong. She could sense it.
"What was up with him?"Adam asked, already turning again as Jesse took him by the arm, almost dragging him away from the door.
"You better ask him that yourself. It is kind of personal. What's for dinner today?"The last question took a bit of the tension from Adam, making him laugh.
"You have to ask the ladies. Shalimar, you coming?"She couldn't move and just stared at them. They didn't notice and walked on.
The scent…It was the same way Brennan had smelled earlier this day. This wasn't Jesse. No two men smelled alike. Whoever was with Adam right now, wasn't Jesse.
Shalimar looked at the door to the lab, straining her ears to hear a single sound. Then she turned to head down the hall, that Adam and 'Jesse' had walked down a moment ago.
The feeling of danger spread through her body. Adam was in trouble if this wasn't Jesse. But how could she know for sure?
Ready to follow the two men, she stopped in mid-step, her eyes turning yellow and catlike.
The tiniest noise reached her ears.
'Drip, drip, drip…' Like the sound of raindrops hitting the pavement. She inhaled deeply. That was no water dripping.
She smelled blood!Shalimar almost broke the button that opened the door when she hit it with her fist. Forgotten was Adam, he could help himself.
Her ring gave a buzz. Emma's scared voice filled the hall while the glass door slid to the side too slowly in her opinion. Still, it was too fast to prepare her for the sight before her…
"Shalimar! Jesse... something bad happened."
She heard Emma crying over the comm-link at the same moment she saw Jesse lying in the chair. He looked asleep, if you looked past all the blood on the floor. It was too much…
Tbc.
Abrupt end, I know. Big, fat yawn but I am so tired…