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

We're All Family

Chapter 29

Adam lifted Brennan to a sitting position and had John hold him up as he bent and crossed his legs. "Sissy, listen to me, Sweetheart." Adam stood and took hold of her shoulders. "I want you to sit in Brennan's lap; that way you can hold him up until you come to a safe place to stop. When you feel you're far enough away, lay him down and keep watch. We'll find you as soon as we can." Adam gently squeezed her shoulders as she nodded her understanding.

Jack saw the fear in her eyes as she looked at the man giving her instruction. "Sissy." When she turned to look at him he put his arms around her and pulled her close, whispering in her ear. "Don't be afraid." He felt her arms tighten around him. "Just remember your self-defense. I've seen you fight. You can do this." He felt her nod her head against his shoulder. When he moved back his eyes met hers for a brief second before he kissed her cheek.

She turned back toward Adam. "Ok. I'll do my best." She saw Adam smile as he took her hand and helped her to get into position. A quick chuckle left her as she sat. "I hope he doesn't mind if I make his legs go numb."

"I'm sure he won't." Adam settled her on Brennan's calves and had her put her feet on the floor at his hips. "Having your feet like this will allow you the extra support you need to hold him upright. Otherwise, his weight would just pull you over. Now remember, start just beyond the door. Work in short-distance jumps so you can control your destinations."

"Ok, I got it."

"Wait," Jack stepped up and put his hand back to her shoulder but looked at Adam. "Shouldn't she get us all out of here?"

"Jack, I haven't seen the stairwell," Sissy reminded him gently. "I might put somebody through the wall."

"Just take one of us at a time. We can move up the stairs and give you room for the next one."

"I agree it would be better for us to all be out from behind this door but if we're spotted and Thorne triggers the governors…you two and Shalimar could handle it but I don't think Brennan could."

"I could jump there and back quickly to make sure the coast is clear," Sissy offered bravely. She much better liked the idea of everyone out.

Adam thought for a moment and then nodded. "Ok." He gently lowered Brennan to the ground as Sissy stood. "If you see anyone, and they don't spot you, you just take Brennan and make a run for it. The rest of us will manage."

Sissy took a deep breath to try and slow her thumping heart as she slowly moved to the door. "Ok, here goes." She turned and looked at Adam. Seeing him nod, she turned to Jack. His smile reassured her. She knew he always supported her and had faith in all she could do. Finally her eyes met John's. The smile he gave her helped to settle her but she imagined there was something else behind his eyes. Is he worried about me? In that instant she was gone.

Sissy appeared and just as quickly disappeared. She smiled when she turned to the men who seemed a little shocked at the suddenness of her actions. "The stair is clear but I want to try something. Be right back." In a flash she was gone.

This time she didn't instantly reappear. Jack rushed the door and tried to hear her through it. "Sissy," he strained but heard nothing. He paced away. "What does she think she's doing?" He'd know her for years now and he knew she could defend herself to a point if she had to but this situation was infinitely more than she could handle.

Sissy reappeared on the other side of the door and heard Jack call to her but she didn't dare try and respond. Dropping low, she slithered up one stair at a time.

The four guards stood near the opened barn doors as Shalimar and Wolverine sat in the cage, waiting for the rest to affect any plan they had by now. Wolverine had adjusted to the constant war between his healing mutation and the punishing governor. It wasn't pleasant but he would deal with it. His consistent deep breathing came to a sudden halt when his senses picked up on someone else. Moving only his eyes he noticed that Shalimar sensed his alert. Slowly he turned his eyes to the guards then around the barn letting them rest at the cellar opening.

Though deaf at the moment, her other senses seemed keener than ever. She, too, smelled someone, though it took her longer to figure out whom. Imperceptible to the guards she clenched her fists to wait out the anticipation that seized her.

Sissy was almost to the top. Moving at a snail's pace to not attract attention she crept to the top step and slowly raised her head so she could just see over the edge. After assuring the guards hadn't seen her she looked into the cage and met her teacher's glaring eyes. Taking only a moment to wink at him, knowing he would've seen it, she lowered herself more quickly, and returned to the men waiting for her.

Cyclops, Iceman, Jubilee and Jesse made their way to the back of the barn. Jubilee and Iceman were sent in opposite directions to check the sides and surrounding area. After reporting no one in sight, Jesse was given the ok to check the inside. Slowly he phased only his head through the wall. Remaining in phase he looked around slowly then pulled back. "There are four guards just inside the doors. Shalimar and Wolverine are sitting in a cage about fifteen yards from here. Waiting for us I guess." Jesse hesitated and then looked back to his leader. "There's something else. I think I saw Sissy. It was only for a second but I could have sworn I saw her pop her head up out of the floor for an instant then …disappear."

"The floor, Jess?" Jubilee whispered at his side.

"There's a storm cellar opening between here and the cage. I think she was on the stairs. If her governor was deactivated like we thought…"

"It's possible their affecting an escape." Cyclops thought for a second. "I guess we should help out by offering a diversion." He smiled as he led his team around the barn.

In the house, Thorne sat at a monitor watching as the different cameras offered their view of the barn in rotation. A very old and weary man stood by his chair. "Who is that other guy? And why are we doing this? Kane's in there. Just go do what you're being paid to do?"

Thorne stood abruptly and faced the old man with a dangerous stance. He saw the fear cross the wrinkled features as he glared. "I'm in charge here. You got what you paid for. Kane is captured and will die. You have his son and your son's killer. What I do now is my business. I've waited a long time to get back at Mutant X. I'm not going to let some petty vendetta of yours get in the way of my seeing them all suffer. There's still one missing and I'm not making another move until he shows up." Thorne turned to the guards he had in the house. "Take Mr. Hennessy, here and make him comfortable in the other room. One of you stay with him and make sure he doesn't bother me again."

Hennessy's eyes opened wider in shock as two guards grabbed his arms and pulled him across the room. His distress kept him silent as they roughly escorted him out. He was finally seeing the real reason this man agreed so readily to help him. Fear gripped him as he began to wonder if he'd walk out of this house…alive.

An outside camera revealed what Thorne had been waiting for. "That's it!" He shouted and turned to the guard beside him. "He's here and he has company. As soon as I give the order you take six men and give the others back up. I'll be watching to set off the trap and then follow you in." He saw the men carry out his orders then turned to watch the monitor, setting the feed from the camera he most wanted to see.

Adam and John stood silently as Jack paced. "If she doesn't…" He didn't get the chance to finish his statement as Sissy appeared with her back to the door and a huge smile on her face. "Sissy, what do you think you're doing, taking off like that," Jack growled as Adam and John moved closer to her.

"Relax, Jack. Geez. First I get glares from Wolverine then you have to drill into me."

"Wolverine? You saw him?" The train of thought that Jack was on to tell Sissy how stupid it was for her to go off like that was suddenly derailed by the information she offered.

"If you'd just settle down, I'll tell you." She looked at Adam and stood tall to give her report. "The first jump showed the stairwell was empty but I also noticed that there wasn't any sound. I went back to creep up the steps and find out why. There are four guards near the outside door. That guy Jack fought with wasn't with them. Shalimar and Wolverine are sitting in a cage about ten yards from the cellar opening, between us and the guards. He saw me. Probably smelled me coming, knowing him."

"No sign of the others?" Adam asked.

"No. None."

"OK, good job." He touched her arm as he accepted her report. "Take Jack out first." Adam turned to the young man. "You go up the steps but stay out of sight until we're all there." He saw Jack nod as Sissy took his hand. In an instant Sissy was standing there again…alone. "Wow, you're fast," Adam commended. "Let's keep moving. John, help me get Brennan set up against the door. That way, Sissy, you only have to sit down and take him out. We'll wait for you on the other side." Adam and John got Brennan ready to move then stood back as Sissy approached John next.

"Ready?" She smiled up at him.

"You're doing a great job. Just be careful when you take Brennan." John reached for her hand and in a blink of the eye they were in the stair well. "Good luck," he whispered to her and moved up the stairs to be by Jack and leave room for his uncle.

"Ok, your turn." Sissy smiled at Adam. She took his hand and he was suddenly on the other side.

Adam moved as Sissy disappeared.

Taking a moment to situate herself on Brennan's lap just like Adam had shown her she reached her arms around his neck as she whispered, "Don't worry, Bren. I'll get you out of here and the guys will get Shalimar. You'll be together soon."

Appearing at the foot of the stairs, Sissy waited as Adam came down to them. She watched as he checked Brennan then put a hand to her shoulder.

Near the door, Jesse once again phased through the wall. His presence got the immediate attention of the four by the door. He glanced and noticed Shalimar rush to the bars and call his name. Massing to deflect the bullets fired at him, Jesse stood his ground until the gunman's hand was frozen along with the gun, thanks to Iceman who'd just entered through the door.

Cyclops fired a low level blast and knocked out one other guard as he seemed just as shocked as his friend about the ice.

Jubilee rushed past the men, clearing her path with her own flare as she spun to a stop as Jesse's side. "Behind you, we've got more company." She shot and blasted the third guard as he was pushed to advance by the man seeming to be in charge.

Shalimar took advantage of the distraction and bent the bars, Wolverine had cut through earlier.

The guard in charge heard the calls of the men coming to his aid and hid as he drew his gun and prepared to defend himself and earn some credit with his boss by taking out a few of the intruders. He began firing, scattering his targets; his friends did the same as they entered the barn.

The blasting and yelling got their attention as Jack and John made their way to the top of the stairs. Adam turned quickly back to Sissy. "Go, Sissy," Adam leaned closer to be heard without yelling over the gun shots. "Keep jumping until you're safely out of range. The governors have a hundred yard radius of effectiveness. Once beyond that Brennan won't be affected if they try and activate them. Go and don't look back. We'll find you."

Sissy nodded then took only a second to look up at the young men looking back at her. She saw all she needed to for strength in their eyes.

Though her hearing was gone, her other senses were doing double duty. Everything happening around her filled her senses with sights and smells that almost overpowered her, now that she was off balance without her ears. Through the din she recognized a very familiar scent. Crouching low to the ground to avoid the flying bullets she moved back toward Wolverine who was panting and trying to fight the urge to release his claws which he knew would only trigger the governor. "Brennan," she whispered. "Do you smell him?" Her eyes pleaded with her friend to confirm her notion and not make her believe that she'd gone crazy.

Wolverine picked up his head and turned back toward the cellar doors for a moment then looked back at the woman before him. Nodding he saw the relief and fear mix in her eyes as she turned to glance around. The sight that confronted her left her with more fear and worry than she'd had before and her heart broke anew.

Jack and John turned quickly as Sissy disappeared and reappeared just beyond the cellar doors.

Sissy looked around and saw Shalimar and Wolverine looking at her in shock and fear. She pulled Brennan's head down to her shoulder as she ducked at the sound of the shots. She tried to look around to determine the best route out but there seemed to be no easy road. The X Men seemed pinned down in different spots in the barn as the men with guns seemed to be all around the entrance.

The last of the original four guards kept his eyes on the captives in the cage and his finger on the button that would prevent their joining their would-be rescuers in the attacks. He noticed their distraction and followed their sights. When he saw the girl and man from the cellar, evidently freed and escaping he leveled his gun and took aim.

Having decided on only one stop just beyond the door, Sissy looked again at Wolverine then nodded as she engaged her powers…just not fast enough. She felt the burning pain of the bullet ripping through her shoulder as she reappeared at the entrance. With her arms locked around Brennan, she forced her tightly shut eyes opened to look for her next jump. The pain began to work its way through her body, spreading like a ripple in a calm pond. Her mind forced out all else as she tried to focus beyond the pain that screamed for her attention. Vaguely she registered a voice calling her name. Wolverine. He's gonna kill me if I let this stop me. Gotta keep going. Jump, Girl. Just keep jumping. Her sudden appearance behind him took a guard by surprise as she saw him turn then fall as he was hit by a well aimed shot from Cyclops. Having chosen a spot quickly, Sissy and Brennan were gone again. She dared not stop. Two more jumps put her well away from the incursion and safely hidden until help could arrive. She used the last of her strength to let Brennan down as gently as possible, falling over his chest and praying for swift rescue as darkness settled over her mind, claiming her consciousness and quieting the pain.

TBC