Back Step

Legal Disclaimer-The following characters are owned by the creators of Mutant X, who in turn need to thank Stan Lee. There, I said it!

Author's Note-Yep, two days and I have another chapter for all of you. To clear this up, Mutant X Fan, you did NOT bother me, and no, I am not angry with you. Keep reminding me. I get busy and forget that this is all brewing and if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be writing, so thank you!

Aniki, I am evil. And I admit it. BJ, thank you for the ideas, you might see some of them incorporated in here. Muhahahaha!

Chapter 11

He hated making the phone call, but he knew it had to be done. It would be a back step into his old life, one that vanished the moment he stayed behind to help Lexa defend the man in the chair. It almost cost him his present life, but, he knew that he had to make the call. He had to protect the lives of others, that was the duty he swore to nearly six years ago. The problem was when he could make the call.

After watching Emma stretch her limits by having an empathic hit from Lexa, she was in shock and truly unable to converse more than what she had told them. One look from her told Jesse that the best place for her was at home. Emma had passed out in his arms only moments after her hit from Lexa. The emotion and sheer terror she had felt off the woman had left her drained. Jesse also knew the emotions of her team members didn't help. They wanted to know what she saw and what made her think that Lexa had given up. Jesse had carried her to the Strand, sat on the bench seat in the back with her in his arms and quietly told Brennan to go back to Haven. He would let Emma rest for the trip, but what she had said disturbed him. If Lexa was going after the President, it was to get back at Adam. He had left her when she needed him and the Dominion was no longer there to parent her as well.

Jesse sighed. Emma stirred in his arms and he shut his eyes. Gently he entered her mind, trying to find some sort of response from her. She was finally and utter asleep. She had found her peace and was floating in it.

Jesse left her at it and opened his eyes. They had landed back at Haven and he knew it was time. He would step back into the old life he once knew.

He was first out of the Strand, carrying Emma, Brennan and Shalimar not far behind him. He sent the clear message to Brennan that he was going to settle Emma in their bed then meet them upstairs. While the words were unspoken, the intent behind them was clear. No more games. It was time.

A moment of sheer joy greeted him when he finally made it upstairs to the main deck of their new home. While Shalimar, Brennan and Adam were talking at the table, a small blond flash flew at Jesse, engulfing his waist. Jesse gathered his son in his arms, picked him up and kissed his forehead.

"It is so good to see you awake," Jesse said softly, his voice breaking, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," Pierce replied, his pale eyes meeting his fathers, "You missed me?"

"With every breath," Jesse replied, putting him down and looking toward the table, his silent thanks met by Adam's gaze. Shalimar met his gaze as well, she knew how badly he needed to see Pierce safe and sound.

"Where's Emma and Lexa?" Pierce asked, taking Jesse's hand.

"Emma's sleeping downstairs," Jesse replied, kneeling down to meet the child face to face, "You know that we are trying to find Lexa right?"

"Yep," Pierce stared at him, "Uncle Adam told me that she is far away. Is she coming back?"

"I hope so," Jesse replied, "We're going to try to find her, kind of like hide and go seek. You want to help us?"

Pierce nodded.

Jesse walked over to the table and picked up a pen and paper. Brennan and Shalimar watched the exchange with a mixture of shock and curiosity. Pierce sat down at the table and took the paper and pen from him.

"I want you to draw what you remember from when Lexa was with you," Jesse said, putting his hand on Shalimar's shoulder, "I know you remember a lot of what you saw, and I have seen you draw, Pierce. Draw everything, ok?"

"Okay, Jess," Pierce's reply was muffled as his face went down into the drawing.

"You keep drawing while we go and talk okay, buddy?" Brennan asked, getting up and motioning for the rest of them to follow him, "We'll be in the computer room."

"Okay," Pierce continued drawing.

Jesse leaned against the wall as they gathered. He was just beginning to realize how exhausted he was. He couldn't sleep yet, there was work to be done.

"What did Emma see?" Adam asked immediately, "Lexa was where?"

"Lexa's pretty much gone," Brennan replied, "From what Emma was saying she was unrecognizable, Adam. She blew the wall up behind the cell area where they were keeping Pierce, and from Emma's hit, she said something about going after the president."

"You see anything while she was going through it?" Adam asked, watching Jesse's reactions.

Jesse shook his head. Emma had remained a closed door to him and her exhaustion meant that it was an emotional drain. In protecting him and the others from the danger, she had overexerted herself. She wasn't going to be able to help them until she rested.

"She's out," Jesse replied, "She felt everything that Lexa went through Adam, and she said she gave up."

Adam stopped. Those were words he didn't want to hear. The thought of one his first mutants giving up on life and light was heartbreaking. He closed his eyes then opened them.

"That's not the news I wanted to hear," Adam explained, "You guys have any ideas?"

"Yeah, I do," Jesse replied, "I know that we have to get the service involved."

Brennan shifted.

"I don't think that's the best idea," he began, "The chances of them killing Lexa are pretty high, don't you think? I know they are your people, Jesse, but the fact is we don't know what Lexa will do if we confront her when she's like this."

"She'll be herself," Shalimar said, "She's always been professional, no matter what the cause, sane or insane. She'll be focusing only on the president, and we know her style. We know how she works."

"And that is our advantage," Adam said, watching Jesse's reactions to the conversation. It was obvious that the younger man was figuring out a plan.

"I was thinking that, but we have to move on this now," Jesse said, "Like it or not Brennan, they have to be involved."

He turned away from them and walked into the other room, then out to the outside deck. He pulled the cell phone from his pocket that he remembered to pick up when he put Emma to bed. He had almost forgotten the number.

"Secret Service, please remember that your call is being recorded," the voice on the phone began, "Kilmartin?"

"Yes, Joycelin, it's me, can I be put through to her?" Jesse began, leaning against the rail.

The line clicked then a familiar voice said, "White House."

"Robert, it's Jesse Kilmartin," he continued, "Is she available?"

"You're on the "put through at once" list Jesse," Robert replied, "Remain on the line for the President."

Jesse smiled slightly, he had forgotten how much clout his name still had.

"Where are you?" the voice on the line demanded, "You vanished off the radar, and even your superiors cannot find you, Jesse. Are you okay? Is Emma?"

"Yes, Ma am," Jesse began, "It's a very long story…"

While Jesse continued the story, Brennan, Shalimar and Adam discussed the situation. Jesse making the call to the authorities was one thing; their plan to protect the President was another. They all knew that Lexa was in killer mode. She was lethal. Shalimar had taken the side of waiting and seeing what would happen with Lexa, her feeling more that they could still reach her. At least that was the hope. Brennan was scared that she would be killed by some overzealous secret service agent. Either way he felt that they were screwed.

When Jesse had reentered the lab, after checking on Pierce, he knew that decisions were made. Brennan was upset, but more for the decisions having to be made. Adam was stoic, his usual enthusiasm dulled by the darkness in the room.

"So, what did Joyce have to say?" Adam began, "She believes you?"

"Yes, and we are now deputized to help the service out," Jesse began, "We're not to reveal our true names, so I get to produce covers for everyone, and they were aware of something going on with the Director. Kind of scary that she knew more than I thought she did."

"Joyce has always been that way," Adam said, walking around the lab and trying to find a missing program, "She have any idea where the Director is based? He has to have some form of funding to get where he is."

"Yes and no," Jesse replied, sitting at one of the main computers in the lab, "There's been some unusual activity at a local hotel, but, it looks like it's for a scientific conference, and she's going to be speaking at it at the end of the week. I suggested that she cancel, but she's set on it. Turns out it's about genetic research."

"God, its March, that's the annual genetic funding one," Adam sighed, "You're looking at about 1,000 sponsors to 10,000 doctors looking for funding. Sounds like the perfect place for a trap."

"Probably," Shalimar replied, "She still wants to speak, considering the viable threat?"

"That's Joyce Abernathy for you," Adam continued, "She always was the type to make sure that every avenue was covered for any form of election. Her speaking there will keep people into genetic research."

"She told me she was a big supporter of yours," Jesse added, "I didn't tell her you were alive."

Adam stopped, then turned around.

"Thank you, and that gives me an idea," he began, "Shalimar, do you remember your bodyguarding me during your early days with Mutant X?"

"Yes, why?" her brows knitted, "You think someone there is funding the Director?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," Adam countered, "You know that scientists tend to be cutthroat, and these guys want federal grants for everything."

"The question is who," Jesse added, looking up from his computer, "And I think I might have found the corporation that is."

"Who?" Brennan asked, walking up behind Jesse.

"Some outfit called Newbro," Jesse continued, "Based out of New Jersey, they are into genetic research to create the newest brotherhood of man. That's scary sounding. Their management says they are a privately held company and currently researching a cure to cancer."

"Don't they all," Adam interrupted, "Any names on that corporate sheet?"

"No, and that's surprising," Jesse's reply was followed by a flurry of further typing, "Their history is only a five year span. That's way too familiar and that's why I think that this might be our people. Let me run another check, I think they are based…"

One click put the end to the sentence.

"At the local hotel with the unusual comments," Jesse stopped, "I think we found them."