Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. The rest are mine but I'll share.

We're All Family

Chapter 13

Adam took the drive he needed, with the information from the simulations they'd run and met the boys in the hangar. "Do you like her?" He moved to John's side as he looked up at the Helix in front of him.

"She's amazing…like the rest of this place." John followed Adam on board.

Once at the mansion, Adam properly introduced John to everyone. Scott was holding Thomas as they were the last to be introduced.

After shaking hands with Scott, John reached out to the toddler. "It's very nice to meet you, Thomas."

Thomas looked at John. His eyes were hard as he hit the larger hand away. "Dene's my friend…not your friend. You leave her 'lone." He wiggled out of his father's arms enough to be put down then ran away.

"Hey, that's not nice," Scott reprimanded. "Thomas Xavier, come back here!"

"Oh, it's ok. We'll make friends," John tried.

Jean watched her son as he ran out the door. "Uhm, Adam,…Thomas just read John, I'm sorry."

Adam saw his nephew look to him in question. "Thomas is telepathic, like his mother," Adam nodded to Jean as she stepped closer to him.

"When he left he was projecting anger but I'm not sure why," Jean explained as she looked into John's eyes. "Forgive me, I'm not reading you but I sense Nadene around you. Maybe that's what Thomas felt."

"Well, I think it's a little more than that," Adam began. "Nadene sent for the first time, today."

"Oh, Adam, that's wonderful. I bet Evie was excited." Jean was.

"We all were," he nodded. "And surprised…it was to John. It would seem she made friends with him."

"It was really cute. She sent, then hugged me and fell asleep on my shoulder." John's smile quickly turned into a frown when he saw Jean look quickly to her husband than back to him.

"Well that explains things," she said with a sly grin.

"Not to me," John's confusion was evident. "I'm lost."

"Today wasn't really the first time Nadene sent," Adam smiled at his friends as he remembered. "The only time before today was right after birth…when she was introduced to Thomas. He was nine months old. They…made friends…right away."

"I still don't understand," John looked at his uncle.

"When Thomas read you," Jean explained, "he sensed Nadene presence in your mind. He's too young to understand but…"

"My son is jealous," Scott declared with a grin.

With understanding dawning, John looked down. "Oh,…I'm sorry."

"Come on, Tybalt, you can have it out with Romeo, later." Adam put his hand on John's shoulder and turned him toward the elevator. "We have a procedure to perfect." They left the hall…and Scott and Jean, chuckling behind them.

The 4 couples and the professor prepared to leave for Sanctuary while Brennan and Jesse took Thomas and the twins into the play room. Sissy and Jack walked in as Thomas jumped from the climber into Jesse's arms.

"Hey, we heard you were here," Sissy said.

"Hi," Brennan smiled as the twins were sitting on his back. "We flew Adam up to talk to the doc. Are you ready for your test?" he looked at Jack.

"Yeah, I'm ready. It's no big deal," he smirked as only a teen can do.

"He's been nervous for 2 days."

"Shut up, Sis."

"It's ok. You'll do great," Brennan encouraged.

"In your test, maybe."

"Sissy," Jack gritted at her. Living with her for the past 4 years made them best of friends but still there were times when the tall blonde just got on his nerves.

"What's going on?" Jesse asked.

"It's Logan. He's making me take the fitness test, too. He said the mountain was a good place for it. "

"If he passes he moves on to the survival test in the spring. He'll be 16 and if he makes it, he'll be allowed to train as an X Man." Sissy smiled proudly. She knew that for all his brain power, he worked hard to prove himself physically and though he had doubts, his efforts were clear in the ripple of teen muscle.

"That's quite an undertaking," Jesse turned after he caught Thomas from another leap.

"No problem," Brennan touted. "I've seen the fitness requirements. It'll be a piece of cake." He laughed as Jack flopped into a chair with a humf.

"I think I can help with this," Hank announced after they explained what they wanted to do and how all the attempts have failed. "This is what Adam brought you here for." Hank turned to a table and pulled a sheet from a very strange looking piece of machinery.

"It looks like an arm." John walked around it.

"Well, at first glance, yes. It is an appendage of sorts. I designed this to be able to work on toxic materials without the need for protective gear. On someone of my stature, extra gear becomes cumbersome."

"How is this going to help us?" John asked politely.

"Hank and I tested this using an AI chip and a remote control. We were in another room and it was here, within a containment field. Without a single problem we were able to control the arm to do exactly what was programmed and it accepted split second programming changes without hesitation or shut down." Adam moved to the computer and brought up the last simulation they ran at home. As it played he explained. "This attempt failed because you weren't able to get the computer to do what you wanted fast enough. With the arm, you can. It can be modified with the surgical tools. If we program the chip to take impulse commands, you can interface with the computer it's in and it will run the arm as if it were an extension of your own.

"This is my dream," John whispered as he walked around the table again. He looked up at his uncle. "If that works…that's exactly how I hoped to be able to use my powers. I never could find the right equipment."

"Now you have," Adam smiled at the wonder and amazement he saw in his nephew. "We'll show you a few tests and then go back home. Over the weekend, we'll talk about the modifications needed. If everything works out, we'll be ready for surgery by Wednesday at the latest."

"If this could really work…mom will be…"

"She'll be cured. The three of us working together will make that happen."

As the time to return drew near, Adam, Hank and John were engrossed in tests. It was decided that Brennan and Jesse would return with the X Men on the Blackbird. Hank would do the final lights out at the mansion and fly over with Adam and John on the Helix.

When the Blackbird landed in the hangar, everyone was there waiting to greet them. Introductions were made for Dria as she sat with Nadene on her lap. Thomas ran right over to Nadene as soon as he was set on his feet. Brennan explained why only one craft had arrived. Evie smiled and shook her head as she met Dria's eyes and knew that they both understood their man. After a riotous beginning, Evie invited everyone to take their bags and settle in as she gave out their room assignments. Some special arrangements were made as this was the first time so many had been in Sanctuary at one time, but Evie made sure everyone would be comfortable. The mountain of presents that filled the cargo hold of the Blackbird was left for later. Jesse helped Dria stand and walk back to the rec room. She was amazed by the newcomers and absolutely in love with all the children.

After dinner and bedtime for all the children, the adults and teens sat in the rec room, still waiting for Adam to return. As they talked and got to know Dria, the computers signaled the arrival of the Helix. Brennan went to the hangar to help guide her in as there wasn't as much room with the Blackbird taking up most of the bay.

Adam, John and Hank continued making their plans as they ate a dinner that Kitty had put aside for them. When they were done they joined the rest in the rec room. Seeing John made Jean remember what happened with Thomas. She relayed the story as Evie smiled brightly.

"I don't know," Jubilee warned. "I think there's bound to be trouble. I saw the man Thomas grows into. You might want to make sure you settle this now."

"Uncle Adam has already likened us to Tybalt and Romeo. If I remember correctly, Tybalt is killed defending his cousin's honor. I think I'd rather make friends so I'm open to suggestions." Everyone laughed at the desperate act he portrayed.

The evening came to a close as people slowly began turning in for the night. Remy took Marie to bed first as she tired the quickest in her last month of pregnancy. Scott and Jean soon followed with John helping his mother to her room along with them. Jack and Sissy turned in to get rested for the testing tomorrow. Shalimar shocked Sissy when she announced that she thought it was a good chance to test her as well. The Logans, Drakes, Kilmartins and Mulwrays turned in soon after leaving only Hank, the professor and the Kanes to turn out the lights.

"I am anxious to proceed with the testing and observe as you make the re-alterations, tomorrow," Hank said as he stood to leave. "I have been processing other possible avenues for the extraction if need be. I will bid you goodnight and turn in now."

"Adam, did your idea prove out?" Evie hadn't had a chance to ask since they got back.

Adam rubbed his neck and smiled. "It will. Hank has the instrumentation in the mansion's lab. With some modification, it will work." He turned to look at Charles. "With your permission, I'll have to bring Dria to the mansion for the surgery."

"None needed. You know the mansion is your home as well." Charles smiled brightly. "I will also turn in now. Goodnight, My Friends."

Adam and Evie watched Charles leave then began turning out the lights as they, too, closed the day, looking forward to Christmas.

TBC