Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. I created Evie and the children.
Note: I thank you all for your encouragements. Welcome back to all of you. Mxfan214, very perceptive. Loveconguers, thank you for the vote of confidence. I will try my best. Nessa, thank you. XFAN, Kitty goes through a lot. I couldn't help it. It just seemed to be the way it would really be. Bohemianbabe, actually, I wrote that scene just for you but unfortunately you'll have to wait a little while. Your encouragement always brightens my day. Courtney, I'm glad you're here. The teams belong together. It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who can enjoy that. You all have been wonderful through the other stories. I hope I can continue in your faith in me. I usually don't post until the story is complete and proofed but I was anxious ant only had the ending to write. Well, that ending has become a story in itself and I am still working. I already have 15 chapters and I'm still going, so we'll just have to see where this ends up. I'm glad you're all along for the ride.
Warning: Over the next 4 chapters our friends will got through a lot of intense emotion. But it's all due to mutation complications. Now, unless any of you are closet mutants, I don't want you, who haven't had children yet, to be frightened into a childless life. This is NOT how it happens in our real world. This is strictly mutant fiction. That being said, let us move our thoughts to our friends in my world.
Imaginary Friend
Telepathic communication
Dream
Thought>
Chapter 2
Kitty and Shalimar walked the path for about half an hour. It was a path that turned back on itself and only led back to where it started. The fresh air and exercise had done wonders for Kitty's mood. They were about two thirds of the way around when Jesse called. "Kitty, are you alright?"
She looked at Shalimar and rolled her eyes, then answered sweetly, "Yes, Darling, I'm fine. Don't sound so worried. You might think we were about to have a baby any time now." The girls giggled as they waited for him to respond. Kitty knew he was worried but felt so much better she couldn't help teasing him.
"Very funny. I've been worried. I hate it when you get upset with me like you did."
"I'm sorry, Sweetheart," she whispered a coo into her ring. She knew Shal would hear and really wasn't trying to be secretive, just calming to her overly nervous husband. Smiling back at Shalimar she lowered her hand and continued the walk as she spoke. "I just needed to get out. I really do feel better. We'll be back in a little while. I want to enjoy the scenery. The colors out here are beautiful."
"I'll be waiting." Jesse sighed and broke the link.
After a few minutes Kitty found a large rock and sat down with a grimace. Shalimar was at her side in an instant. "You really aren't okay. You were but…what just happened?"
"I'm fine. I really needed to get out. Thank you for suggesting the trail." Kitty rubbed both hands on her stomach and made another face.
"Is that a contraction?" Shalimar reached out excitedly and touched Kitty's abdomen.
"I don't think so. I think it's just from walking. Let me rest a minute and then we can…aaahhh" Kitty doubled over and almost slipped from the rock.
Shalimar braced her. "Kitty?" With feral eyes and senses on high she watched as the pain passed and Kitty sat up again. Letting her powers abate she sat beside her friend. "I think it was a contraction. We'd better get you back. You're husband will kill me if anything happens to you."
A small uncertain smile crossed Kitty's face as she gratefully accepted the helping hand offered to walk the path. "Adam said it could be anytime, right? This could be it, right?"
"There's nothing to worry about," Shalimar smiled as they slowly took each labored step. She carefully watched as each one became more difficult for Kitty. "I'm going to call in just to let them know to be ready, okay?" Kitty nodded eagerly and tried to keep going.
"Jesse,…I just wanted you to know that we're on our way back. Why don't you start wrapping up and meet us at the door?"
"I'll be there," Jesse quickly called back. He didn't miss the concern in Shalimar's voice. He had known her long enough for them to communicate very well without words.
Kitty chuckled though strained from the movement. When she saw the question on Shal's face she smiled, "He's been so attentive and excited. I just want everything to be perfect for his sake." Another pain struck and Kitty stopped to let it pass. "Well, that wasn't so… aaahh… bad."
Got to get her inside. Keep moving. Keep her attention off the pain,> Shal thought. "He loves you very much. You're his whole world, you know? I see it in everything he does." They continued trudging the path slowly. "I don't think I ever really told you how much I appreciated all you did for him when Emma died. Sometimes I think most of my tears were for him. Jesse is more than a brother to me; you know how close we are. From the time Adam brought him to live here we've been there for each other. We were all we had. But then, when his need was the greatest, he barely spoke to me. I've never felt more helpless. Then you were able to break through and reach him. I knew right away that there would be something special between you. I'm glad you both gave it the chance to grow. You know…when we…"
"AAAHHH!" Kitty tried to stifle the scream and fell against Shalimar as her legs gave way to the pain.
Shalimar slowly lowered her to the ground. "Kitty?" She could see the pain linger. This one wasn't passing as the others had. "Kitty, talk to me!"
"Hurts…all…over…different," she struggled with each word.
Shalimar let her eyes glow as she looked at her friend. "I'm going to carry you in. Put your arms around my neck."
Kitty tried to comply but screamed when Shal lifted her. Immediately placing her down, she cradled her on her lap.
"Guys?" Shal called anxiously, but tried to keep her voice as pleasant as possible for Kitty's sake.
"Shal, what's wrong?" Brennan knew his wife well. Concern flashed in his eyes as he looked at Jesse and knew his friend could hear it as well.
"Kitty's in a little more pain than we can deal with right now. She can't walk. I tried to carry her but that caused more pain."
"Where are you!" yelled Jesse unable to contain himself.
"We're about 2 minutes outside the door; the path on your left."
Jesse bolted for the door phasing through it not bothering to stop.
Brennan watched then turned for the lab, "I'll get the wheelchair."
"Shalimar," Adam called. "What's her condition?"
"She's in a lot of pain. She's had 4 of what I thought were contractions that hit and passed. This last one, though, seems to not want to stop."
"Is she coherent?" he called out as he ran to the lab to get it ready for her.
"Yes, so far."
"Kitty!" Jesse came around a turn in the path and saw them on the ground. Kicking up dust as he slid to a stop and fell beside them, he reached for his wife but stopped in panic when he saw the pain on her face. "Kitty, what is it?"
"Jesse…" she gritted, with tears in her eyes. "Bryan…aaahh" She crunched with the pain then fell toward her husband.
Jesse moved to lift her but stopped when she screamed. "Oh, God. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Jess, wait!" Brennan yelled as he ran with the chair folded over his back. Setting it up quickly and locking it securely, he moved to Kitty's side. "Together," he moved to put his arms around Kitty.
"Kitty, Baby, listen," Jesse soothed. "We're going to put you in the chair. We have to get you inside." Fear spread when she didn't answer. "Kitty?" Jesse gently shook her.
"Ok, Jess,…but don't… ever… tell Jubes," she panted, "that it… took…aahh…both… of you… to… lift me."
"Our lips are sealed," Brennan smiled at her. He looked at Jesse and counted, "One, two, three..."
Kitty tried to hold her breath to keep from screaming as both men rose to their feet. It was more than she could bear. The movement and pressure sent pain everywhere. As soon as they had her high enough in the air, Shalimar moved the chair under her so they could just lower her without having to move. When they set her down she could hold it no longer. She let out an anguished groan and squeezed both their shoulders until she was able to breathe again.
"It's ok, Baby. We're taking you in now. It'll be ok." Jess wasn't at all sure who he was trying to convince; his wife or himself. He wheeled the chair over the path as quickly and levelly as he could.
"Adam," Brennan called as he reached for Shalimar's hand. "We got her and we're coming in now." They jogged to keep up with Jesse.
In no time flat they were all in the lab and had Kitty transferred to a bed. "How do you feel, now?" Adam smiled as he ran a hand scanner over her.
"The pain has dulled, a little. I haven't had a strong one for a while…I guess. Adam, what's wrong? This doesn't feel right." Kitty held Jesse's hand in an iron grip, afraid that if she let go the worst would happen.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure everything is fine. Let's get you ready for delivery. I don't think Bryan wants to wait much longer."
Evie and Jesse helped her with her wrap and to undress as Adam, Brennan and Shalimar left them for privacy. When she was in a med gown and uncomfortably on a bed, Adam came back in and began a frenzied series of tests. Throughout the testing, pains of one sort or another struck. The problem was that they really weren't all contractions. The more Adam scanned the more he began to frown. After an hour Kitty was exhausted from the pain, Jesse was going crazy with worry, Evie felt helpless and Adam was beyond concern.
"Adam, I can't stand it anymore. What's going on?" Jesse stood but never left Kitty's side.
"Kitty, can you hear me?" Adam asked moving closer to her. Not getting a response he checked the computer then went back to her side. "Kitty?" Adam looked at Evie and saw her eyes closed in concentration.
"Adam?" Jesse choked on fear.
"She's unconscious, Jesse," Evie put her hand on his shoulder. "Her mind can't take anymore, so it's trying to rest. I was just with her and helped her to calm down."
"But what's going wrong? Why is this so hard?"
"From all the tests I've run, I know she's in labor. Evie's last check confirmed that her dilation is progressing. The problem is that Bryan's reacting to the contractions. He perceives them as a threat. He's been comfortable for 8 months and now his world's being shaken. I have to find a way to calm him down long enough to get through delivery."
Just as Adam finished, Kitty let out a terrible scream. Everyone in the lab jumped. Brennan and Shalimar came running from the other room. They watched in shock as Kitty's body began phasing in and out. It began as just a light shimmer. She hardly transformed. After a few second she was phasing in full, almost completely disappearing then solidifying fully. Everyone was shocked as they watched. Then it happened. She phased completely for only a fraction of a second but that's all it took. In that millisecond of time, Kitty was gone and Bryan had massed; but not just Bryan; Bryan and Kitty's stomach and bladder and a few other organs he was laying against. They all gasped in near disbelief.
Adam's voice moved everyone into immediate action. "Evie, get in there. Get her to calm down and not phase. Do whatever you have to do to disable her powers but don't try to heal." He saw her nod then turned to Jesse. "Jess, listen, you have to talk to your son. Let him hear your voice. You keep calm and calm him down," Adam ordered then turned quickly to Brennan. "Call Hank. Get him here, ASAP." Brennan turned and ran out of the lab as Shalimar moved to Jesse. She put her hands on his shoulders in comfort to help him in his task.
Adam turned and went to the med cabinet. After searching through vials he found one in the back that seemed to satisfy his quest. Returning he filled a syringe and emptied it into Kitty's arm. "This should put everything on hold until Hank gets here." He turned and watched the monitor stats level out. "Evie?" He knew his wife could hear him from where ever she was.
Evie slowly opened her eyes and looked at her husband. "She's ok. I just watched her fall asleep, again."
"I had to sedate her. I need Hank here." Adam tried to release the tension that fueled his actions. "Bryan's mutation is active. He's not even waiting for birth, much less puberty."
A whispered sob drew their attention. Jesse had his head down against Kitty's side where he had been talking to Bryan until the sedative took affect. Now all his fear was cresting and he had no strength left with which to fight it.
Shalimar moved back to his side and put her arms around him. As soon as she did he turned and clung to her, crying on her shoulder like an injured child. "Shal, what have I done? What's happening to them?"
"Oh, Jesse, you haven't done anything." Her heart broke for the pain she felt from him. "Hank'll be here. He and Adam will take care of both of them. Everything'll be just fine." Shal hugged him closely as she looked at Adam and Evie. Tears filled her eyes as she saw the same in Evie's.
"Hank will be here in 45 minutes," Brennan reported as he rushed back into the lab.
"Good. Thank you. I'm going to fill him in en route so we can be ready to go when he gets here." Adam caringly pat Jesse's shoulder then left to his office.
"Evie, uh…" Brennan hesitated as he saw their tears. "Nadene started crying."
Evie stepped closer to Jesse and touched his shoulder. She smiled as she sent to him silently, She'll be okay. Remember the beautiful children we saw when we went into the future. Bryan and Tracy were happy and healthy. And Kitty was as beautiful as she is now. Smiling at him, she turned to go.
Brennan walked in and stood by his side as Jesse looked down at his sleeping wife. Shalimar met Brennan's eyes and spoke softly. "I think I'll go and call Jubes. She'll have heard by now and is probably driving poor Bobby crazy.
Brennan smiled gratefully at his wife then turned back to the woman on the bed. He loved Kitty in a special way, too, and his heart broke to see his best friends like this.
"Tracy?" Jesse sighed. "Brennan, how can I do this to her again?"
"We don't know what's causing this. It's not just the pregnancy. Hank and Adam will take care of it. We already know that both Kitty and Bryan will be fine."
"What if that's not true anymore?" Jesse reacted and was losing control quickly. "What if we changed the timeline so much that nothing's the same? What if I lose her and the baby?"
Brennan grabbed Jesse by the shoulders and turned him to get his full attention. "That's not going to happen," he demanded, then softened, "You're stressed and not thinkin' clear, Man. You gotta step back. Adam and Hank have been checking her every week for the last 4 months. They've talked about every possibility. I'm sure they've got it covered…Come on. She's asleep. Let's go make a couple of pots of coffee. We're all gonna need it." Brennan waited as Jesse looked back at Kitty's face and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Together they walked out of the lab and turned down the lights.
TBC
