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

We're All Family

Chapter 28

As Thorne regained his balance from being pulled against the bars, his head snapped to the side as an unexpected howl came from the shadows. He and his guards were turned and aiming weapons immediately at the figure who fell from hiding, much in the same position now as their captive beauty. "Well, well, well, you brought a friend." He turned to his men. "Don't shoot him. Put a governor on him and throw him in the cage." He watched as his men approached the man. When he saw him try to stand and fight he turned up the dial on the device he'd withdraw from his pocket.

Through the rising pain, Wolverine could hear Shalimar scream louder and stilled his defense allowing the agents to follow their orders.

Beast rolled over and fought fiercely to not give away his position as he barely registered the voice calling to him.

Cyclops heard the howling and began to demand a report when his first two requests weren't answered. "Beast, what happened? REPORT!"

"Sound…so loud…" was all he could get out.

Wolverine's roars and Shalimar's screams were all that was heard by the captives in the cellar. Adam moved to listen at the door as Sissy covered her ears in fear. "What's wrong? Why are they screaming like that?" Sissy turned her head into John's chest as he pulled her to him.

"They sound like they're right here," Adam stated. "I don't hear any fighting, though."

"It must've been a trap." Jack pulled at the door, not knowing what else to do but feeling as if he had to do something…anything… "Aaahhh," he pounded his fists. "I can't stand this."

Adam put his hand on Jack's shoulder to still him. "If they got Wolverine and Shalimar, Jesse and Cyclops will be rushing in at any moment. Let's get Brennan ready to move. I want him out of Thorne's reach as soon as possible."

When the stranger was safely caged, Thorne turned off the offending device and moved to sit on a bench and watched as his captives regained their composure.

Beast panted as he deafly reported the sound gone and Wolverine discovered.

"High frequency sound waves," Jesse gritted. "He's got this place rigged to capture us."

"Well, we're not waiting around to see what he's got in store for you." Cyclops laid out a plan to take down all the guards on the perimeter. "Eight of them and four of us; I'd say the odds are pretty good."

"More than good. Let's go." Jubilee kissed Bobby as she headed off with her orders.

Bobby moved toward the guards he was ordered to take out and Jesse stood to go off as well but stopped when he heard his name.

Cyclops waited for the man to turn and look. "Be careful. We don't know what he has in store for you. I can only imagine the worst, knowing your weakness."

Looking into the other man's eyes Jesse cringed with a feeling of vulnerability. He doesn't think about it often but his weakness is obvious. Having the fact that many people know it, stare at him through the eyes of his friend made his gut wrench in self deprecation. He felt the feeling abate slightly as an understanding hand was placed on his shoulder. He nodded and moved off to take care of the guards.

Shalimar glared at Thorne as he sat and whispered to the men beside him. Still feeling the slowly diminishing pain, she made her way to Wolverine who was panting heavily as he stay on hands and knees, not able to make it further in his attempt to stand. "It's the governor," she whispered. "Your powers are probably healing your ears." She could see from his eyes, she was right.

After a few seconds of serious pain he raised himself upright on his knees. "It's…better…now," he gritted through clenched teeth. Can you…sense…Beast?"

Shalimar looked sadly into his eyes and shook her head. "I'm…I…can't. My ears…" She had to concentrate hard to maintain a hushed voice without the use of her ears.

With a questioning frown, Wolverine gently pushed her hair behind her ears, then growled at the sight of blood trickling down her neck. "You can't hear me." Wolverine looked into her cat-eyes. The quiet statement brought a twinge of further pain to his heart before a grim determination washed through him.

Not knowing what he said she had a pretty good idea, "I've got nothing." Shalimar kept her back to Thorne and let her senses heighten even more as she tried to pick up sound or motion around them. "Nothing." She reached out and put her arm around Wolverine to hide her other touching his communicator.

Understanding came instantly as he whispered, "Beast, can you hear me?" He shook his head indicating no response.

"Without your abilities, he's probably in the same boat I am." Shalimar fell back on her heals in resignation.

"A cheating heart, Shalimar?" Thorne grinned evilly not realizing she couldn't hear his jibes. "Maybe I'm doing you a favor by getting rid of the husband and making room for the lover. But I'm afraid your little affair won't last for very long."

Shalimar gasped at the unexpected when Wolverine rose to his feet and with a ching and a growl, his claws were out and he'd cut through four of the bars. Unfortunately, before he could slice again he was overcome by intense pain. Through it he barely heard Shalimar scream.

"NO! STOP!"

Sissy also screamed as Jack and John yelled out at the unexpected attack. She watched them fall to the ground and was quick to mimic them. Her mind was taken from her acting as soon as she heard Brennan's painful and half conscious groans. Peeking through her fingers she saw Adam move to his side.

"Brennan," Adam voiced as he tried to restrict the man's trashes.

In a few moments it was over and the groaning stopped. Sissy jumped to her feet and reached for Jack whispering his name as he lay panting beside her.

"Damn, that hurts." Jack tried to rub his neck but fumbled around the pain-dealing device he was gifted with.

Brennan passed swiftly back into the realm of the unconscious when the pain stopped. Adam checked his pulse then looked up to check the others. Seeing Jack and Sissy seeming to be dealing well, he turned his attention to John…who was still on the floor. "John…"

Sissy's head snapped around when she heard Adam call him. Worry rising anew, she moved to his side as Adam was checking his pulse and looking into his eyes. "What's wrong?" she squeaked as her voice was strained with fear. She reached out and stroked her fingers gently over his brow as Adam continued to check him.

"I think he's ok," Adam said as he checked for evidence that John may have hit his head. "I'm not sure why he passed out. John,…John,…can you hear me?"

John seemed to hurt all over. His mind was cloudy as he heard a distant call. Trying to focus on the voice he slowly crossed the bridge to the conscious world as he blinked and opened his eyes. "Uncle Adam? What…?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Adam smiled as he helped his nephew to sit. "How do you feel, now?"

"A little disoriented…but I'm ok." John rolled his head and looked around the room. "What was that for?"

"I don't know. It makes no sense to hit them randomly. Thorne may have gotten one on Shalimar and she's fighting back."

"Well, well," Thorne stood and walked closer to be able to see this new curiosity. "Aren't those interesting? I'd better keep my little button in hand. I'm sure that surprised the others. Mulwray probably danced a jig. I wish I could have seen it."

Realizing the extent of the punishment, Wolverine retracted his claws with a resounding ching and then he turned his back to Thorne. He pulled Shalimar in front of him blocking Thorne's view of her. Gripping her shoulders for support he refused to double over in pain. Her sorrow-filled eyes told him she understood.

"Where's Kilmartin? I expect he'll be rushing in now to find out what's keeping you. I've a special surprise for him, too."

"He's not about to walk into your trap," Wolverine growled through the pain.

"I think if you're here long enough, he'll come looking for you. Keep an eye on them," Thorne told one of the guards. "If they try anything hit the button." He handed the man the remote and turned to leave the barn. "I'm going back into the main house. If there's trouble I'll know."

Breathing deeply, Wolverine slowly scanned the area.

"What is it?" Shalimar whispered and looked around nervously. She watched as her cellmate's eyes directed her sight. Letting her eyes glow she turned and finally saw what he'd noticed. Two surveillance cameras were hung high in the shadows giving the observers a full picture of whatever might happen in the barn. "He's watching. He'll know the minute the others show."

Slowly he let the adamantium creep from under his skin but the need for healing only triggered the governor and he gasped in pain as he tried to retain the control he was losing fast.

Shalimar held his shoulders as his head fell on hers. "No, Logan, don't. It's too much." Her whispers were full of empathy. She knew something of the pain he was enduring for her sake.

Beast regained his senses, all but normal hearing and looked around. Looking back through the space provided by the disrepair of the roof, he watched as Wolverine was punished for his first escape attempt. He noticed the man leave the barn…alone leaving the four remaining guards to one side of the cage. Wolverine and Shalimar were standing together…quietly. He grinned, knowing that wouldn't last. "Ferals and cages don't mix." His keen unaffected eyesight noticed a brief flash of light to the side of the house. When he looked closer he saw Cyclops; having taken out one guard with his optic blast, now in hand to hand combat with another who came up from behind.

Out of the woods a man took aim as his friend had the intruder occupied. Before he was able to fire, a blast hit his back that knocked him off his feet with such force that when he hit the ground, his head hit a rock and was no longer a threat.

Cyclops refused to fire his blasts point blank so he continued the hand to hand until he was able to knock his opponent to the ground and distance himself from him. A short blast ensured there would be no more attacks from him.

Jubilee smiled as Cyclops came up to her and slid an arm around her shoulders. "Thanks. Where'd that other one come from?"

"I'm afraid he was mine." Bobby came into view and stood before them. "He'd gone off before I got in position and took out his partner. Must've decided to go for a walk."

"Well, Jubilee handled it." Cyclops commended.

"Nice work," Bobby kissed her head as she moved into his arms.

"No problem. I'm used to cleaning up after you now." She held his waist tight as he tried to push her away in mock offense.

Jesse got the attention of the guards he was to take out. He led them a short distance from their posts and managed to get trapped between them. Using his fighting skills he engaged both, blocking and striking where he could. They were closing in on him and giving him less chance to block. As he blocked one, the other took the butt of his rifle and struck Jesse but not exactly where he aimed thanks to his friends continual attacks pushing Jesse at the last moment. Contact was made but only causing its victim to fall to his knees where the other was able to execute a kick to the stomach. The wind knocked out of him, Jesse doubled over and fell to the floor. When he forced his eyes opened to not be vulnerable, he saw the second step back for a kick of his own. Phasing at the last moment caused the man to lose balance and fall on his back. In the instant of shock for both guards, Jesse rolled to his knees, massed his fists as he leaned over and struck the guard on the ground, stilling any further movements. The other prepared to grab at Jesse's shoulders but missed as Jesse evaded him and pulled him off balance giving him the same firm treatment as his friend. Taking a deep breath to settle his pounding heart, Jesse stood and went to rejoin the X Men.

Beast silently descended to the ground and joined them about the same time Jesse did. "A very impressive display," he said.

Beast saw Jubilee's lips move but was unable to read her lips. "I'm sorry, My Dear, but I can't read your lips with the addition of the gum chewing."

Cyclops touched Beast's arm to get his attention. "You can't hear anything we're saying?"

"My world is silent at the moment, except for intermittent periods of ringing and slight pain." He turned when Jesse's hand on his other arm took his attention. "Yes, a high frequency emitter undoubtedly meant to incapacitate Shalimar. It earned them Wolverine as well. They are both caged in the barn." He turned and nodded as he accepted Cyclops' lipped order to return to the Blackbird and get her ready to fly.

TBC