Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men.

Imaginary Friend

Chapter 28

Before anyone could do or say anything, Brennan turned and walked out. Scott looked around. Jesse was holding Shalimar. Logan would have gone after him but in this case… "Excuse me," he whispered and turned to follow his exit.

"Logan, will you please see if Remy and Marie are back with the students yet?" Charles tried to break the building tension and nodded as Logan looked at him and left. "Jesse, will you and Evie take Shalimar to her room so she can rest before dinner?" He waited as they left the Library. "Jean, Jubilee," he silently requested. They came up to him and took the children from his lap as he kissed each child and released them. "Please see to dinner for the evening."

"Yes, Professor," Bobby responded as he reached for Kitty and followed the others out.

When only Adam remained, Charles closed his eyes and touched his temples in an attempt to sooth away the tension.

"She almost reacted to him," Adam dropped into a chair and mirrored Charles' tenuous posture.

"Brennan? Reacted, yes…but it was not fear. It was more a feral reaction. A part of her knew him. Yet, Logan…I should have foreseen an incurrence of this sort."

"No, Charles," Adam countered. "It didn't occur to me either. I was so concerned with helping her handle the fear and shock that I failed to consider her feral nature. She did seem to know Brennan but when Logan was introduced into the equation there was an unfair shift in the balance. Without their history to fall back on, Shalimar would naturally gravitate to another feral."

"We will have to watch her through out the evening. If there is a major problem arising, I will have to force her mind to sleep. It is not my first choice. I would much prefer she rest naturally."

"Her instincts act independently of her memories. We may have no choice."

Scott searched the house and couldn't find him. When Logan came out of the library, Scott recruited his help. "I can't go after him. I'm not somebody he wants to see right now."

"I'll go, just point me in the right direction." Scott waited while Logan 'searched' with his nose then pointed out the front door. "Thanks." Scott ran out beyond the fountain and looked out toward the gate. He wouldn't leave the grounds he thought. He turned to look toward the west side and caught sight of Brennan moving toward the woods. Brennan had a lead on him and longer legs with anger to fuel them. Scott shook his head and took off in a full sprint. "Brennan," Scott called as he tried to catch up. "Brennan…wait…" Scott was grateful Brennan heard him and stopped, though he didn't turn around. When Scott finally caught up to him he took a second to get his breathing regulated so he could speak.

Brennan didn't want to wait. "Go back to the house, Scott. I don't need you to check up on me."

"Good, I already did my share of babysitting, today."

Brennan turned at the unexpected answer.

"I'm not here to check up on you. I…well…ok…I am here to check up on you. But you would do the same thing. Look, Bren…I know this doesn't look good but you know Logan wouldn't do anything to…"

"Damn it, I know, Scott. I know he didn't answer her call. It's just that,…AARRGG," Brennan raised his fists over his head and brought them down on the nearest tree trunk he could find. "I can't stand it. First she's afraid of me. Terrified, Scott. You didn't see her. Like I was going to beat her or worse…Jesse had to calm her down when she went feral and panicked." He paced and his anger echoed in the woods. "I tried…It killed me inside to not be near her…but every time I did, she'd freak. Even in her sleep…she'd sense me. All I could do was watch as Jesse held her…and comforted her…and soothed her to sleep…And now," his voice finally lowered as he came to a stop facing away from Scott. He paused then chuckled in disgust. "Now, she's not afraid," he pulled his hand from his pocket and looked at the diamond ring and band he kept with him. "Now, she doesn't even know who I am." Closing the rings securely in his hand he turned. "It took everything I had to walk in there and let them introduce me…ha…introduce me…When I first met her we weren't so formally introduced. I stood there fighting every impulse I had not to take her in my arms. Then she turns around and calls to Logan as soon as he walks in. I couldn't take it. I had to get out of there. Listening to her call to someone else was…was just too much."

"Brennan, I understand, Man, but it's only for tonight." Scott came up and put a hand on his shoulder. "She needed a break and the professor decided to stop and let her mind rest."

"I know, I know. Jean explained it…That doesn't make it any easier to watch." Brennan stood silently for a moment then looked back to his friend. "Scott, I have to get out for a while. Can I take one of the cars?"

"You know where the keys are."

"Thanks. Tell Adam, will ya? I'll be back…late." Brennan's mouth curled into a half hearted smile when he saw Scott nod. He shook his hand and headed for the garage.

Ororo's classes ended and the students on the field trip returned. Everyone attended to chores and got ready for dinner.

"Poor Brennan," Ro said as she changed and heard the story of all she had missed.

"He stormed out, pretty mad. I can't blame him." Logan sat in their room.

Shalimar had changed and took a nap after Jesse left her. Now she was up and hungry. Wandering around the mansion, she understood what Jean meant by school when she saw all the kids milling around. Using her senses she reached out and located Adam. He was in the library.

"Hi," she called hesitantly from the door.

Adam looked up and smiled. "Hi. Did you get a chance to rest?" He put down his book and moved to meet her as she came in.

"Yeah. I wasn't really tired. This is all just…"

"I know, Sweetheart." He reached out and hugged her, very grateful that her fear of him was over. "We'll get through this. Rest tonight and Charles will restore your memory in the morning." He moved back as he placed his hands on her arms. "By lunch we'll all be going home."

"I hope so…Adam…" she needed to ask but she didn't know exactly how. "Evie and Nadene, they great."

Adam smiled knowing she was dancing around something. He also knew what. "Yes, they are. Nadene loves you very much."

"And Kitty…Jesse actually…"

"Yeah…Bryan is almost a week old."

"Adam…what about…"

"Brennan?" He saw her nod her head. "He joined us about 6 years ago."

"When he walked in,…I…felt something."

"You and he are very close."

Shalimar blinked in surprise and stepped back then focused on the floor between them. After a moment of thought she looked back up. "What do you know about…Logan?"

Adam hesitated. This was going in the wrong direction. Gratefully, they both heard Jean's telepathic summons for dinner. He smiled and draped his arm over her shoulder. "Come on. I know you must be hungry." Without any more said, he led her to the dining room.

TBC