Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men.
Note: From the reviews I've read, I think you are all in for a shock. What else can possible happen to torment poor Brennan? Thank you all for the reviews. You encourage me so much. I will post what I can now. This weekend is Hannah's Sweet 16 Luau and I will be very busy. I will try to get back here for the anticipated stress relief but if no one hears from me, that's why.
Imaginary Friend
Chapter 29
The dining room was bustling with activity, much as always. Mutant X had shared this time with them so often that they slipped comfortably into the chaos around them. Adam walked in with Shalimar and smiled when she made her way over to Jesse. He looked around then moved to Scott's side. "Brennan?" he asked keeping a congenial smile pasted to his face.
"He…uh…" Scott was having more difficulty with the façade. He turned his back to the table and whispered. "Adam, he couldn't handle anymore. I can't blame him. He took one of the cars and said he'd be back…late."
Nodding, he gave Scott a grateful pat on the shoulder and turned to take his place at the table.
Some were still arriving. Logan walked in and sat across from Shalimar, his usual position when she was in the mansion. As he was answering a question from one of the younger teens he heard a low call. Without turning he finished the answer he was giving and turned only his mind to the professor. "Chuck…"
"Yes, Logan, I sense it."
Jesse not only sensed her shift in attention but he also heard her. For only a second he watched as she stared at Logan and was relieved when Logan didn't even look at her. "Shalimar, let's see how much you really remember." He had to get her attention off Logan. "It just so happens that about 2 weeks ago, before Bryan was born, Kitty was going through the closet in our room and found a box of stuff I had stored from years ago. She pulled out a stone about the size of my fist."
"The cliff," she answered distractedly.
Ororo and Jean came in from the kitchen carrying trays of food. Logan stood and took the heavy tray from his wife as he smiled at her appreciation.
"Yeah, when I asked you if you remembered it you said n…" Jesse stopped and followed her eyes when he heard her low growl.
Logan heard it, too and turned quickly to see golden eyes glaring passed him to his wife. Protectively he moved to block her from sight.
As another growl was released, the room grew more silent and Jesse put his hand on her arm but she didn't respond. He noticed Adam move quickly to stand behind her. "Shalimar," Jesse tried. "Look at me."
Her only response was in her slowly rising to her feet; eyes never leaving their intended target; another growl rising from her throat.
Chuck,… Logan called, as he slowly put the tray on the table, watching closely to intercept any movement on Shalimar's part.
At that moment, Ororo made the mistake of placing her hands on her husband's arms as she moved back into view.
Shalimar's response was instantaneous. Her knees bent ready to spring just as a louder growl split the air.
Jesse wrapped his arms around her from his seat by her side, trapping her arms against her. Still she struggled and tried to pull away. Adam grabbed her in a choke hold, careful to allow her to breathe. Still she struggled and became more wild.
Jesse massed his arms solidly around her.
"Shalimar," Adam warned from behind. "Settle down, now!" Concern was more than clear on his face as he turned and met Charles' eyes.
Jesse exhaled and tried to mass again quickly but he wasn't fast enough. Shalimar pulled free of his arms and struggled against Adam who was now putting his body weight into bringing her down.
I will get her. Charles sent answering Adam's silent plee. "Shalimar," he appeared in her mind. His eyes grew wide when he saw her. Feral…Angry…Wild. Crouched ready to attack. Calculatingly, he furrowed his brow and struck out just as she sprang forward toward him.
Jesse kept her from falling and Scott, who had moved to Adam's side to assist, steadied him as Shalimar went from frantically struggling to pass out cold in the blink of an eye.
"Jesse, will you please take her to her room?" Charles requested. Turning to Adam he continued, "She will not awaken again until morning." After seeing Adam's grateful nod, he turned to everyone else. "Let us continue with dinner, please. Don't concern yourselves with Shalimar," he spoke more for the children who all knew and liked her. "She has just returned from a mission that had some unsettling repercussions. You have seen the same from the X Men. She will be fine, tomorrow."
Evie excused herself and followed Jesse out to help. Once they had Shalimar tucked into bed for the night, Jesse finally let out a breath and spoke. "Where's Brennan?"
"I overheard Scott tell Adam he took a car."
"Thank God. I can't wait until the professor gets her caught up to date. This is starting to get on my nerves."
"Only starting?" Evie chuckled as they walked back to the dining room arm in arm.
After the evening chores were completed and the children all put down for the night, the adults met in the library with more than drinks and conversation in mind, tonight.
"Chuck, what's going on in her head?" Logan asked. "It looks like…"
"Yes. I know. When I calmed her at the dinner table, it was in defense of an attack. She had sprung at me in her mind. She was completely feral. There was no rational thought that I could sense."
"What would set her off like that?" Jean asked.
"I'm afraid it was Ororo," Adam said quietly.
"Me? But why?" Ro leaned into her husband as he put his arm around her.
"That's why," he answered cryptically. He sadly looked around. Seeing all the concerned faces he knew he had to explain. These were her friends. They all cared about her and would truly understand but somehow he still felt as if he were reading her diary to them. Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. He rolled his glass between his hands and watched the amber liquid swirl. "20 is the age…when her feral nature… actually…matured." He looked around and would have laughed at all the questioning looks had the situation not been so dire. "When I found her and took her in, her powers were developing. She was extremely strong and agile. Her instincts and senses were very acute. All those are external. They're the outward signs of her mutation. Ferals are unique among mutants." Adam inclined his head and lifted his glass slightly, indicating Logan who nodded his agreement. "All other mutants have to learn to live with their abilities. Their minds accept a power as being as natural for them as a developed ability like…riding a bike. Once they learn to use it, it's there; available to call upon when ever they need to. Ferals do that to an extent as well. But…look at it this way. Psionics deal with other minds but they learn to block others out. Elementals like Brennan and Ro use the elements but don't become the elements. Jesse masses but isn't really a rock. Ferals ARE animal almost as much as they are human. They have to deal, in essence, with two personalities inside them. We all know this. We just don't often think about it because the Ferals around us are strong enough to deal with their mutations as naturally as we all breathe or walk." Adam turned to Charles and smiled. "No offense intended."
"None taken," he smiled back as everyone in the room chuckled.
"But what's all this got to do with Shalimar wanting to attack Ro?" Jubilee asked.
"I said that 20 is when her nature matured. It's the time when her feral side actually became an adult. She began to prowl and hunt…and she began her search…," Adam's voice dropped low along with his head, "for her alpha male."
"But Brennan…" Kitty began.
"Wasn't around yet," Jesse finished.
"I kept her busy with training and missions." Adam leaned back in his chair. "We didn't have a male feral around. I was her father and Jesse, her brother. She'd dated around but nothing got serious. As all the hormonal changes settled so did she. She became the mature, stable woman you all know."
"But she's not 20 anymore. Shouldn't her hormones still be settled?" Bobby asked, knowing it sounded dumb even to him.
"Memory for a feral is tied to instinct. For us, a smell can trigger a memory. It's much more intense for a feral." Charles moved closer in his chair. "When I stopped her memory reconstruction I did not take all of this into consideration. It was my error. Her mind was so exhausted, I only wanted her to rest."
"Charles put her to sleep for the night," Jean concluded. "In the morning when he continues the memory recon, everything should be fixed."
"I don't think it'll be that easy," Adam sadly added.
"It won't be." Logan's voice was low.
"She sensed Logan and was attracted," Jubes smiled. "We've all been taken by his animal charms." Bobby nudged her when Logan looked up with a sly grin.
"What we saw at the table wasn't just a little female jealousy." Everyone looked at Adam…Almost everyone.
"Logan, do not let guilt taunt you. We all know you did nothing to draw her." Charles stood beside him and put a hand to his shoulder.
"Adam..." Evie stood and moved to stand beside his chair. "Are you saying that she's chosen Logan as her alpha male?" She sat on the arm of his chair and caringly put an arm over his shoulders when she saw him silently nod.
"It's no big deal," Marie smiled. "When the professor works with her in the mornin', she'll have the rest of her memory and know that she's married to Brennan."
"Only her rational human self is married to Brennan." Evie continued for her husbandand almost shuddered at the realization. "Now that her feral side has chosen Logan,…I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring."
The silence of the room was broken when Bryan began to squirm and whimper in his father's arms. "He's hungry,…again," Kitty whispered.
"Like father, like son," Evie grinned when Jesse feigned insult.
The Kilmartins bid their good nights and went to care for their son. Soon after, Ororo and Logan also turned in. The LeBeaus suggested a walk in the cool evening air and Bobby and Jubilee agreed to tag along.
"I think I should wait up and check on Brennan when he gets in."
"No, Scott." Adam countered. "I'll handle it. Turn in with your wife." Adam shook his hand in gratitude. Turning to Evie, he kissed her cheek. "Go ahead up. I want to talk to Charles."
Silently Evie nodded. She turned and whispered to Charles as she kissed his cheek as well. "Good night, Charles."
"Good night, My Dear."
Alone in the library, Adam moved to pour another Scotch. "Brennan won't stay out much longer. He's not the night rover he used to be."
"I won't be able to restore her memory in the morning. The results…"
"Would be disastrous…I know. Brennan won't understand the delay."
"Perhaps it would be better if we do not try to explain everything to him. He did not witness the events at the dinner table. When all is righted again, he will better handle the information."
Adam studied his drink as if trying to extract the solutions to all the world's problems. "The morning will be difficult. If we just leave her alone she'll go after him. Even if we try to control the situation…her instincts will drive her."
"We will all survive it. I'll not let this situation damage all we have built between us. Do not worry. Good night, My Friend." Charles turned and the hum of his chair faded with his exit.
TBC
