Old Flame

Chapter 2: Virus

Adam lead Jade into the Sanctuary, he didn't speak as they walked to the lab. He used his comlink to tell the rest of the Mutant X team that he was back with the new mutant and that they were heading to the lab.

Jade looked around as they walked and smiled "well, l like what you've done to the place. I see that you managed to fix the place up nicely after the damage that was done..." she said quietly.

Adam glanced at her and nodded "yes, l fixed it up quite nicely. Glad that you like it, just make sure that you control your powers this time young lady" he said smiling.

Jade laughed and gave him a mock salute "yes, sir! They will be under control at all times sir!" she said in an army voice that had always made Adam laugh.

Adam shook his head in amusement as they walked into the lab. He motioned Jade to the chair "you know the drill, all new mutants get checked out."

She sighed dramatically as she walked to the chair and sat down. Minutes later the chair raised and she lay still as the scan started.

Brennan and Jesse started to fight over one of the other containers of Chinese food.

Emma took a drink of her coke and looked at Shalimar "well l guess it's true what they say. Males are more immature then females..."

Shalimar laughed and again leaned forward and again grabbed the food container from the guys again and handed it to Emma. "Why can't you two do anything without making it a competition between you two?"

Brennan and Jesse looked at each other and frowned. "Why does she end up taking all our food? We are going to starve if she keeps that up," Jesse said crossing his arms over his chest as he sulked in his chair.

Brennan sighed and shook his head, "I don't know...she likes bullying us and taking our food. Maybe she doesn't like us as much as we think she does" he said with a wink.

Shalimar leveled a dark look at both guys, her eyes flashing yellow a moment. "Men... they always turn out to be just boys!" she said huffily, she stood and walked around the table to Emma. Just as she was going to suggest them going to meditate, Adam summoned them to the lab.

Emma smiled at Shalimar "l know. It always happens... l guess hoping that these two would be different just won't work this time." She shrugged her shoulders and jumped up "come on everyone, you do want to meet the new mutant don't you?"

Jesse grinned and jumped up "wonder what she looks like and if Adam will still be interested?"

Brennan stood to and walked around to Jesse and clasped his shoulder. "Well put it this way Jesse, if she's NOT interested in Adam. I doubt she'd be interested in you... some women might think your cute... but who would want a blonde, when they can have tall dark and handsome?"

Jesse frowned and smacked Brennan's arm as they followed the girls from the room and towards the lab. "Someone who likes blonde and thinks tall, dark and handsome isn't worth the effort?"

By this time Emma and Shalimar were howling with laughter as they walked down the hall. Emma wiped the tears from her eyes and looked back at them "you two stop it... she still has quite strong feelings for Adam. So l doubt either of you have much of a chance."

Adam smiled as he turned from looking over the scan results. "Perfect health, your powers have grown since the last time we saw each other."

Jade grinned, "l told you l was in perfect health. Though l haven't had the same work out routine as l did when l was here..." she said with a wink.

Adam cleared his throat and turned as Shalimar and Emma walked into the lab. Both women stopped as they saw Jade, Shalimar stepped forward and held out her hand "you must be the new mutant Adam has been telling us about. I'm Shalimar."

Jade smiled and took Shalimar's hand. "I am a mutant. I have been a mutant for a very long time" she said with a warm laugh.

Adam studied Jade and then looked at Jesse and Brennan as they walked in and stopped dead in their tracks. "Jesse, Brennan, good of you to join us. Come meet Jade, she the mutant l was talking about."

Jesse felt rooted to the spot, Jade was beautiful. There was just something about her that seemed so warm and caring, she had to be for Adam to bring her here. Jesse blinked a few times and managed to move forward, he was going to hold out his hand and introduce himself when Brennan beat him to it.

Brennan smiled and stepped forward "I'm Brennan. Welcome to the Sanctuary."

Jade smiled at him and shook his hand as well "nice to meet you Brennan" she turned to Shalimar "nice to meet you as well." She turned to Emma and held out her hand after releasing Brennan's hand "and you are?" she asked her kind smile still on her lips.

"I'm Emma," she said shaking the other woman's hand, getting a good feeling from her.

"Emma, l like that name. I used to have a sister named Emma...she died when she was younger though" she said her voice turning soft.

"I am sorry. Was she a mutant as well?" Emma asked, sensing the woman's pain.

Jade shook her head "no, no she wasn't a mutant. I was the only one in my family."

Adam stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay" he looked at the others. "Now we must discuss getting those two new mutants here and out of sight before Genomex gets to them."

Shalimar, Emma, Brennan and Jesse all smiled and moved to the computer and started to discuss ways to find the two new mutants. Adam turned Jade to face him and he searched her face, seeing something there that troubled him.

He pulled Jade to the side of the room away from the others. "What's wrong Jade? You know that whatever is wrong, that l will do all l can to help you."

Jade shook her head slowly "you always did have a heart of gold Adam." She raised her hand and a smile came over her lips as her fingertips touched his cheek. "I am fine, there is no mystery that you can help me with. But you know that l am glad of your concern."

Adam took in a small breath as her fingertips touched his cheek. Memories flooded back into his head, memories he had thought that he had forgotten over the years. "I know that you are a strong willed person Jade. But if you are ever in trouble, please let me help you. You know that's all l ever wanted to do."

Jade nodded slowly and suddenly gasped as an odd surging pain went through her stomach and upwards to her chest. "Adam..." she said her fingers slipping from his cheek. Adam grabbed her in his arms and turned "get the scan ready and fast. Something's wrong with Jade, Brennan come help me get her to the chair."

They all turned and Brennan ran to Adam and scooped Jade up in his arms and carried her unconscious body to the chair and set her down. As Brennan moved Jade the others were getting the scan ready and they looked at Adam "the scan is ready Adam" Shalimar said quietly looking at Jade and sighing.

Adam moved to the computer and the small group moved to give him room. "I'm going to adjust the scan. Broaden what it scans for" he said as he typed in commands. The others just nodded and looked back at Jade and at each other in bewilderment.

"Step back from the chair Brennan. I'm starting the scan," Adam said pushing the button to start it. Adam turned watching Brennan step back as the scan started moving over Jade.

Jade tried to shake her head but felt paralyzed, her thoughts raced in her head as the strange pain surged through her body.

She fought her terror as she felt pain sweep over her in endless waves. Jade tried to scream out for help, but her mouth opened only a little and no words came from her lips. Suddenly a voice was in her head and she grew even more frightened NO! Leave me alone! Go away, l won't let you hurt them... she screamed in her head.

The only response she got was an evil laugh that seemed to echo in her head as pain continued to sweep over her in growing waves.

A man turned from the computer in front of him and looked at the small group of people in front of him. "Well done, the virus has been activated... that troublesome mutant will be out of our hair within 24 hours." A satisfied smirk crept over the man's lips as he leaned back in his chair "no one leaves my company and survives to tell about it. A mutant is no exception... if the virus doesn't kill her in 24 hours..." the man paused dramatically.

"Come up with something... creative... but she must NOT be alive the next time l see you. We have a partner in this, who is quite insistent as well that this particular mutant die." He turned his brilliant green eyes to the tallest of the group, slowly looking at each of the 5 people in front of him, "if you fail in this... well... lets just say you will wish you hadn't. Now go! Don't return till your work is done."

The 5 people quickly nodded and left the room within seconds, the door shutting behind them.

Adam watched as the scan finished and he turned to the computer for the results and he blinked in surprise. "How did this happen?" He murmured staring at the results; he now saw a small object that had been hidden the first time.

"What is that?" Emma asked stepping forward peering at the object over Adam's shoulder.

Shalimar stayed at Jade's side and took her hand as she heard a very soft moan come from the unconscious woman. Jesse finally moved to the other side of Adam to look at the scan results to.

Brennan looked down at Jade and sighed. He looked at Adam "will she be okay? What's wrong with her?"

Adam turned slightly to look at Brennan. "It looks to be like an advanced virus of some sort that is attacking her nervous system and other major systems... it also seems to be increasing her powers" he said in surprise.

They all looked at Adam in surprise "wow... do you think that we can find a way to neutralize it?" Shalimar asked, shaking her head as she looked down at Jade.

Adam sighed, "I'll have to look into it. For now you four go and try and find those new mutants, if l need help with this I'll call you on the comlink."

They looked at each other and smiled "lets go..." Brennan said taking charge.

He moved away from the chair and took Shalimar's arm "come on...Adam can deal with this. He'll keep us up-dated I'm sure" he said giving the feral's arm a reassuring squeeze.

Shalimar, Brennan and Jesse left the room. Emma hung back and looked at Jade curiously, she moves to her and took her hand, her eyes closed and suddenly opened as pictures flashed before her eyes.

Jade was laughing; Adam was standing by her side. They were at some fundraiser it looked like, Adam smiled at her and Jade smiled back.

There was a strong feeling that radiated through the two of them, a look that past between them that had a deep meaning. There was something else in that look, a feeling of a promise of sorts... something Emma didn't understand.

The pictures changed, to a younger version of Jade, holding a little girl in her arms. Jade was telling the little girl a story, and the younger girl laughed happily and hugged Jade. The picture suddenly jumped and Emma tilted her head a little, the two girls were older, Jade had the same dark hair as she did now. The little girl seemed vaguely familiar and Emma tried to get a closer look at the younger girl, but the image faded as soon as she tried to focus on her.

Emma blinked and looked at Jade for a moment, she knew the woman better now. She knew exactly how she felt about Adam and she was more then a little puzzled over the familiar girl she'd seen in Jade's memory...

"What did you see?"

Emma looked at Adam, who was watching her curiously.

"You and her at a party or something. You were both very happy..." she said seeing the pained look that came into Adam's eyes.

Emma quickly moved on to the second thing she'd seen "l saw a younger Jade... she was holding a little girl who was about 2-3 and Jade was telling her a story. The little girl was laughing and then hugged Jade...the little girl seemed so familiar. Like l knew her..."

Adam rose his eyebrows slightly "that was quite a odd thing for you to see. I wonder what it was about..." he murmured, his eyes on Jade.

He turned back to the computer and continued to work on a way to help Jade. Emma stood watching Adam work for a long while, feeling a great sadness at what had been between him and Jade and how it had just drifted away...

Finally, Emma left and found her friends lounging in the Rec room with a movie on the TV. Emma flopped down onto some pillows Brennan had kicked onto the floor when he laid down on the couch. She looked up at Brennan "l thought we were suppose to be finding those new mutants for Adam?"

Brennan didn't take his eyes from the TV "Shalimar is doing a search of the city on her computer...when the computer finds two mutants with the powers ours has, it will peep... it's some new program Adam made... Shalimar was eager to try it out."

Emma smiled and nodded; turning her eyes to the TV and settled in to watch the movie.

3 Hours Later...

Adam grinned as he finally finished the drug that would help Jade, he grabbed a needle and put some of the vaccine in it and moved to Jade's still body.

He gently cleansed the area on her arm and then gave her the injection. His eye stayed on her face, her skin was flawless and pale, his fingers moved slowly over her arm. Then with a sigh he turned and walked back to the computer and got the scan ready to check her over once the vaccine started to work.

Jade felt the rush of warmth fill her as the vaccine filled her veins. The pain slowly subsided and a half hour later she slowly moved, a moan escaping her lips. "Adam?" she whispered hoarsely.

Adam was at her side quickly, with a smile on his face. "How do you feel?" he asked looking at her in obvious concern.

"Much better...the pain is almost gone... and the laughter is gone to..." she said her voice betraying her relief.

"Voice? What voice?"

Jade was quiet a moment as she remembered the voice "it was a laugh... so evil..." she said reaching over and taking Adam's hand.

Adam smiled softly at her "we won't let anyone harm you Jade. I don't know how this happened, but l have a idea... but l won't know more till l do a few more scans."

Jade returned the smile. "You and your scans...but l trust you, l always did," she said laughing weakly, her eyes staring into his eyes.

"Good, now sleep. Your body needs to rest, I'll be here just at the computer if you need anything." Leaning down he kissed her forehead and then moved to the computer and sat down, starting to analyze the results of Jades scans.

Jade fell asleep moments later as she felt the pain drain from her body.