In the following week Adam performed the procedure to stabilize the genetic structure on Shalimar and Brennan as well; so all four members of Mutant X were officially out of the woods.

Lexa, despite constant complaints, had rested and was almost fully recovered.

Since their last encounter with the Dominion and rescuing Adam they had neither heard nor seen anything of them. So, Mutant X had more than willingly taken the opportunity to relax for a while.

Adam however had not adopted such a laid back attitude. He had spent most of his time cooped up in the lab or sat at a computer. The lack of retaliation from the Dominion worried him. He feared that the fact that there was no sign of activity from them meant that they were regrouping. He had spoken to some of his contacts and they had all confirmed as much. Adam had been putting off telling the others his theory but hearing his contacts confirm his suspicions he felt he had to tell them.

He got up from the computer and ran his hand through his scruffy, slightly greying hair.

'Here goes,' he said sombrely to himself, and he set off to find the others.

Lexa, Jesse, Shalimar and Brennan were outside, picnicking by the river not too far from their new home. They had a checked linen blanket laid out on the grass with food and drinks dotted about over it. Lexa was sitting on Jesse's lap leaning back against his chest, and Shalimar was leaning back, propping herself up by her elbows, and had her legs over Brennan.

It didn't taken Adam long to find the others, he had heard their laughing and chatting from just outside the cottage and followed it to down by the river. As he approached Adam thought once again how happy they all looked. It pained him to think that he would ruin that by bringing up the Dominion.

'Hey Adam!' Said Shalimar cheerily, seeing him walking towards them. 'Want to join us for lunch?'

'Umm, actually I was hoping to talk to you guys about something.' He said hesitantly.

'Sure, take a seat,' said Brennan, motioning to a clear area on the blanket.

Adam knelt down slowly, the other four looking at him curiously, wondering what he going to say.

He braced himself, and then spoke. 'Now, you're not going to like what I'm going to say…' He started.

'Oh man, what's happened now?' Jesse sighed.

'Is it to do with the Dominion?' Lexa asked, a worried look flashing in her eyes as she remembered their last encounter, and what she had done to all of those agent. Jesse squeezed her hand in comfort and she relaxed a little.

Adam nodded. 'It appears, and my contacts have confirmed this, that they are regrouping. They're preparing for an attack. So, I think you should start preparing, start getting ready.'

'Damn, don't they ever just stay down,' Brennan exclaimed. 'First we blow their headquarters to oblivion, then Lex slaughters half their men by barbequing them alive…'

'Brennan!' Lexa shouted at him, hitting him on the arm.

'Lex, I'm not saying it's a bad thing…'

'Yeah, but is it absolutely necessary to put it like that?' said Lexa. 'You're making it sound like I'm some kind of masochist. I did not 'barbeque them alive.'

'You kind of did sweetie,' said Jesse said to her. Lexa turned around in Jesse's lap to face him and gave him an unimpressed look.

'Ok,' said Jesse getting the hint, 'shutting up now!'

Shalimar and Brennan smiled at each other, amused at Jesse's backing down.

'Guys please; I don't think you understand the severity of the situation. '

'We understand Adam. The Dominion wants us dead, it's pretty simple to comprehend,' Shalimar replied.

'Yeah, and you know what, who cares.' Brennan said.

'Brennan…'Adam started.

'No Adam, Brennan's right,' Jesse interrupted. 'The Dominion have been screwing with us and messing with our lives for the past year now, and frankly I'm sick of it.'

'Me too,' said Lexa firmly. 'We shouldn't have to put our lives on hold for these guys any longer. When the Dominion comes knocking on our door for a fight we'll be ready and we'll give it to them. But we can't spend every waking moment until then sitting around waiting for it to happen.'

'We don't want these people dictating our lives anymore Adam.' Shalimar finished.

Adam sat for a while, thinking about what they had all said. Then he spoke, 'I trust you all, so if that's your decision then I respect it.' He got up and dusted of his knees. 'I'm going to head back to the lab. I'll see you all later,' and with that, he headed back up towards the house.

Adam was quiet for the rest of the day after the earlier confrontation. So, after dinner that night the other four decided to apologise.

'Hey Adam, wait up' Brennan called after him as he went to return to the lab. Adam stopped and turned around.

'Yeah?' He said.

'Well, we were thinking about earlier and we know that you're only trying to look out for us,' Shalimar said to him.

'And, we realise that what we said and the way we said it was probably a bit harsh…'Lexa continued.

'So, we wanted to apologise,' Jesse finished.

Adam smiled at the four of them standing in front of him.

'I appreciate it, but you have nothing to apologise for. If anything it's me who should be apologising.' He said. 'I thought about what you guys said too and I realised that you were right, I have been dictating your lives for too long…'

'Adam, what we said earlier, it wasn't aimed at you…' Shalimar cut in.

'I know, but I have been. We all know it, whether we like to admit it or not.' He said. 'That's why…I've decided to leave.'

'What?' All four of them exclaimed at once.

'You're leaving again?' Shalimar asked.

'Shalimar, I have no doubt in my mind that you will be fine without me. I've seen you in action over the past year, you don't need my help anymore.'

The rest of the group were silent, they all knew that what Adam had said was true.

'But there are mutants out there who I can help now that I know the stabilizing procedure,' he finished.

There was another moment's silence.

'When are you leaving?' Brennan asked.

'In the morning, I was hoping that you could give me a lift Lexa?' Adam replied.

'Of course,' Lexa smiled at him.

'Well then, I'm going to pack up all my things in the lab that I need. I'll see you in the morning,' said Adam, retreating down the hallway.

By ten o clock the next morning, the five of them were standing at Vancouver bus station.

'Are you sure you don't want me to take you somewhere specific?' Lexa asked.

'I'm sure. There are still people after me. This way you can honestly say that you don't know where I am if you're asked,' Adam said.

The four nodded in understanding.

'Now, promise me something,' Adam said to them. 'Promise me you'll be careful and take care. The Dominion…they're…'

'Adam, don't worry about us, we'll be fine,' Brennan said reassuringly.

'Yeah we will. How many run-ins have we had with the Dominion now? Two, three? And look…' Jesse said motioning to himself and the rest of the team. '…We're still standing!'

'And next time, we'll kick their ass' for sure!' Lexa finished.

Adam smiled at Lexa's comment. 'I'm sure you will.' He looked at them all, standing there in front of him. 'I just want you all to know, that I'm so proud of you all. You've faced so much past year, but you've come out of it all stronger and closer than ever. You've all come so far.' He finished, his eyes lingering particularly upon Lexa

A voice sounded across the tanoy announcing that Adam's bus had arrived.

'We'll I'd better be off.' Adam said reaching for his bag.

'Adam,' Shalimar said grabbing his arm. 'You promise us something too. That this…it isn't goodbye,' she said.

'Don't worry, we'll see each other again soon,' He said picking up his bag from the floor. 'I'm sure of it.' He gave the team a last smile of goodbye and then turned and walked towards the bus.

The team watched him until he disappeared into the crowd. They stood staring after him for a while, and then Brennan spoke up. 'Right then, let's head home.'

Minutes later, they stood at the top of the now familiar hill, looking down at their new home on the other side.

'You know, I think this place needs a name, seeing as it's now officially our new home and base of operations.' Jesse said.

'How about Sanctuary II,' Brennan suggested.

Lexa laughed, 'That's really imaginative Brennan, however did you think of that!' She said, causing the rest of the group to laugh.

'Fine then, if that's not 'imaginative' enough for you,' said Brennan. 'Let me think…how about…The Pad!' He exclaimed.

'Sorry baby, but no way,' said Shalimar laughing.

'Yeah,' Lexa agreed. 'No home of mine is going to be dubbed 'The Pad'.'

'What's wrong with The Pad?' Brennan said, looking at Jesse for support.

'Sorry man, I agree with Lexa!' Jesse said, earning himself a smile from Lexa.

'You're just saying that because she's your girlfriend.' Brennan said, clearly in a huff

'Don't take it personally Brennan. You can't help having lame ideas!' Lexa teased.

Shalimar burst out laughing.

'Oh, you think that's funny do you?' He asked Shalimar who just carried on laughing.

Brennan picked Shalimar up, put her over his shoulder and began to run down the hill.

'Brennan,' Shalimar screamed. 'Brennan, put me down!'

Jesse and Lexa looked at each other and laughed. Then they too started down the hill, hand in hand, following their friends towards their new home.

The End

Well, that's it, the last chapter. Hope you liked it.

Big thank you to all those who have been loyally reading and reviewing throughout, much appreciated.

LexaLane.