Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or its characters. Evie is mine.

Notes: Hey thanks for all the encouragement. I'm so happy that you all like to visit my world. Some days I wish I could retreat there and stay forever. KitKnits00, Sorry. Good guess but too easy. Keep reading. Mxfan214 and brigitta1, If you think the last chapter was ended mean, you won't like me in a few moments. Sorry. But I promise if you hang in there, I'll make it all better. Loveconquers, You're great. I really love the clips on your site. I hope you keep making them. Bohemianbabe, I love your reviews and always look forward to them. Keep them coming. Courtney, You're not slow but you did miss something. Maybe you read too fast, but Shal and the rest were in the kitchen and ran to the lab, not out of the lab. I know I get long winded, sorry if I lost you. To all: This is the first story that I started posting before it was actually done. Usually, I have the story finished, proofed and edited before you see chapter 1. I guess I got a little anxious with this one and really thought it was going to be shorter than it's turning out. Anyway, that explains why my updates are a little slow. I keep going back to ensure continuity and do a little more editing. Be patient with me and I'll have it going smoothly soon, I hope.

Imaginary Friend

Chapter 4

Tears were still in Jesse's eyes as he closed the distance to his wife. His mind was so full of fearful thoughts that he didn't notice Adam come up beside him. Had he looked at anyone else beside Kitty he would have seen the same thing Brennan did. All he could see was pain.

The others gathered quickly inside the door but were stopped and silenced as Hank move to join them with an upheld hand.

"Jesse," Adam began and put a hand to the young man's shoulder.

Jesse jumped at the contact and turned in surprise. "Adam…Adam what's happening?" his voice rasped and choked.

"Jess, listen to me. We've can't deliver Bryan unless he stops massing." Adam looked into his eyes then turned to include the others in the plan. "The serum I created to suppress his mutation isn't strong enough. It looked like it began to work but then his system seemed to just push it away. A comparable dose for Jesse would have had his massing inoperative for an hour."

Jubilee turned and faced Hank. "Can't you just operate?" Bobby moved to her side when he heard her voice. He had never heard such quiet, soft tones come from her before. He touched her shoulder as she continued. "Get him out and close her up."

Hank's eyes moistened at the pain he heard from her. "We can't do that. There are…too many complications and the success rate is…well…we would most likely lose them both."

"There is an option though," Evie was quick to point out before total despair could take hold of everyone. She moved to Adam's side as everyone's attention was suddenly intense.

Adam turned back to Jesse and explained. "I have to give Bryan a higher dose of the serum…a little more than the amount I would use to sedate you. There's…only one complication." There's no easy way to say this. God, please let this work. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as he looked down then back up to Jesse's eyes. "That much will shut down his mutation but…it'll also stop his heart." Adam tried to keep focused on Jesse as everyone around gasped. "It's the only way to deliver him."

"You'll be able to restart it, right?" Shalimar walked closer to stand by Jesse. Her heart was breaking for her brother as she put a supportive hand on his arm.

Adam looked at her, slightly shook his head and sighed. "We don't have machines capable of being regulated low enough." Then with a gleam in his eye he turned his head upward… "But we do have Brennan."

"Me?" A shocked Brennan looked around at all the eyes suddenly trained on him, then back to Adam. "I know I've done it before for adults but…a baby…I'll kill him."

"No,…" Adam shook his head and looked at Kitty's still form. "You can do it. If we do this…" He brushed his fingers lightly over her brow and down one side of her face. "I'll be the one who killed him." After a sigh he looked back into Brennan's eyes. "You're the only one who can revive him." Adam stated confidently. "You just have to keep the voltage down."

"Adam,…" Brennan's mouth was suddenly dry as visions of grown men falling helpless at his attacks crossed before his mind. "I don't know if…I can get it that low."

Shalimar could hear his heart beating against his chest. She could almost feel the weight settle on him. She met his eyes and saw the hesitation and self doubt. Reaching out her hand to his she conveyed as much confidence and pride as she could. Their silent contact was broken when someone spoke.

"There is a way to maximize the likelihood of our success." Hank stepped forward. "Ororo can help."

"Yes, of course." Ro move to stand beside Brennan. "I can create an electrical void in the air around the child. It will absorb the excess electrical energy." She turned to Adam. "But I can not localize the field to such a small space. With all the lab equipment and computers this close, I will likely drain and shut down the entire lab."

"And the rest of Sanctuary if I remember the schematics you showed me once," Hank added. "The systems are too closely interconnected."

"What about Kitty?" Jesse whispered.

Evie touched his arm, "She won't be affected by any of this. Once we get Bryan to stop massing, it will be a normal delivery for her. I can wake her up and you can stay with her," she smiled.

Adam moved to the computers once more and began pushing buttons. After a moment's work he turned and walked back to Brennan. "I can set up a containment field around the other bio bed large enough to encompass the two of you. It will hold in anything you're both doing."

"Adam…" this was the first time Bobby had spoken. "If Ro can do so much damage to the systems by pulling out the electricity, wouldn't she also void out Brennan's powers?"

Smiling, Adam shook his head as he explained. "Brennan's body generates constantly and he only expels by will." Adam turned to Brennan. "You will feel the drain. You'll have to compensate by increasing the output. Try one hand in the air and one finger on the baby." To Ororo he asked, "The concentration within the field will be strong. Will you be alright?"

Ro smiled as Hank walked up beside her. He placed a large caring hand on her back. "She will be fine."

Adam nodded then turned. Final approval had to be given. And for once…it wasn't his call. "Jess?"

He knew what Adam was asking. "There's no other way?" he whispered without looking away from Kitty's closed eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jess. I wish there was."

Jesse nodded silently.

"We'll leave," Logan began to turn.

"Actually I think you should all stay." Adam moved to set the monitors and scanners. "There's going to be a lot of equipment to keep checks on. The more eyes the better. Evie, I need you to keep Kitty out for just a few more minutes." Adam set up the containment field and tested it with Ro, then had her and Brennan stand by to be enclosed with the child. He gave Bobby, Logan and Shalimar each a different readout to monitor.

Hank went about making sure Kitty would remain unaffected.

Evie and Jubilee raised Kitty enough for Jesse to get seated behind her. When she woke up, he knew she would be scared and he wanted to be able to hold her as they delivered their child.

Jubes stayed close to assist in any way needed.

When everyone was in place and knew their jobs, Adam went to get the serum. He filled the amount necessary and looked around the room. "Once we start, we can't stop for any reason. We have less than 10 minutes to revive Bryan. Everybody ready?" He moved closer as Evie reached for the syringe in his hand. Meeting her eyes he waited for her in his mind.

Adam?

I'll do it.

But…

If this doesn't work…I'll be the one who…

You're doing all you can, her mind caressed his. Everyone knows that.

He smiled at her as she held the scope that allowed him to see where to inject the serum. Looking one last time to Jesse he prayed again and then injected the child. "Evie, wake her up, please."

Kitty began to stir. Since her mind was rested and released and all the sedatives had dissipated, her body began to do what it had been trying to do, before Adam stopped it. She groaned as a contraction began. "Jesse?"

"I'm right here, Baby," he whispered over her shoulder.

The contraction passed quickly. "What's happened?" She opened her eyes and gasped to see all the faces looking back at her. "Jubes?...Logan?"…What's going on?"

"Did you think I was gonna miss this?" Jubes chided, trying to smile.

"Why are you all here?" She looked again around the room not at all calmed by Jubilee's attempts. "Aren't I alright?...Bryan?" she gasped. "Jesse, what's wrong with…" Just as she was panicking a stronger contraction struck. "Aaahhh!"

"Don't worry. We're having a baby, remember?" His voice didn't match the sadness in his eyes as he looked at Brennan. He was glad he was behind her and embraced her as securely as he could. Jesse encouraged her and focused all his energy on being the perfect coach.

After only one more contraction the baby was crowned. Evie smiled, "Ok, one more push and I've got him."

Adam moved to her side. "Everyone watch the read outs."

Kitty knew she'd missed something and now she felt it was something vital. Again her mind began to ignore the normal discomforts of the delivery and move to the fear of the unknown. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Oh, don't worry," Jubilee tried. "Adam's on top of it."

Before she could ask anymore, that last push came with a scream. She fell exhausted against Jesse's chest.

Evie clamped and cut the umbilical cord then quickly handed the child to Adam.

"I don't hear anything. Why isn't he crying?" Kitty panted.

"Shh, don't worry," was the only thing Jesse managed as his embrace tightened.

Adam placed the still child on the bio bed. "Engage containment field," he ordered as he stepped aside.

TBC

No, I'm not really evil. I just want to keep the story going…and going…and going…