Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men.
We're All Family
Chapter 31
Jack was on his feet and moving quickly toward the door. Just as he got to the opening he heard Adam call his name.
"Jack, hold it! Where're you going?" Adam moved quickly and in a few strides was by his side.
"I have to find Sissy."
"Wait for Cyclops. We'll get the injured on board then we'll look for her."
"Stand around? I don't think so. I can't carry anyone but I can start to search. With any luck I'll find her quickly."
Adam looked out the doors. Looking around he tried to decide which direction she would likely have gone in. "Alright, go off into the woods, there. She may have gone for cover. Don't go more than a radius of a hundred and fifty yards. I told her a hundred was clearance for the governors. If she was hurt she might not have even gotten that far. If you find her stay with her and we'll find you." Adam looked around for a moment, "Here." He moved to the body of a fallen guard and reached down for his gun. "Take this," Adam checked the ammo clip. "When you hear us calling, fire into the air to let us know where you are; once if you're alone, twice if you found them." He watched as Jack nodded then ran and disappeared into the trees.
When the craft arrived, Beast's agility and strength were essential in getting everyone out of the barn. After all the injured were on board Adam explained about Sissy and Jack going after her. Cyclops and Beast left to search. Adam and John made sure everyone remained stable. Shalimar was the worst on board. She'd lost a lot of blood. The bullet must have missed her heart and lungs as her pulse was steady and she didn't seem to have a hard time breathing but it was still in there. Left unattended too long, it would cause infection and tissue damage. He decided to use the time and med supplies on board to at least get the bullet out. John aided as they administered an anesthetic and began the painful task of finding and extracting the bullet. Twenty minutes and a lot of lost blood later, the bullet was out and the wound was covered.
Out in the woods, Jack had run through the natural overgrowth. Minor cuts and scrapes from branches attested to his focus on task and not his own care. Not far into the woods he found what he thought was her first stop. Blood caught his nose and eye as he searched carefully.
Brennan was more than weak; weaker than he's ever been. But the grasp of black unconsciousness couldn't hold him forever. Painfully he stirred for brief moments and was vaguely aware of his own body. Like in a dream, he felt there but oddly detached; feeling but not really, seeing but in distortion…floating in a sea of pain and fog. Shal…he tried to focus but only succumbed once more to the pull of the darkness.
Calling her name insistently, Jack refused to give up. Pain shot through his arm as he repeatedly brushed through the growth but he gritted his teeth…took a deep breath and let out the pain in peels of her name…praying beyond logic that she would hear him.
Left with nothing but autonomics in his body, his mind was left with only instinct. Brennan couldn't think but somehow he could sense…and now he sensed something…someone…out…there… That instinct pulled him back from total darkness once more. First there was the pain and the detachment. Then he began to notice…pressure… Forcing the focus that seemed determined to evade his control he began to …feel…weight… Then he began to hear a distant sound. Having to force his focus now on hearing he began to distinguish…voice…calling…desperate… Torn between the instinct to keep hidden for self preservation and the nagging of the need for help he had to choose. Despair and desperation quickly moved in and chose for him. If it was danger he would die…probably with or without its help. If it was help…might...be…able…to…make…it. Summoning the little strength left in his entire being he focussed it into the ability to force his eyes to open. Could he do it? Would it be enough?
Beast and Cyclops had been searching and calling. Beast moved through the trees to attain a better vantage point but kept ever present of his leader's position. With his hearing out, he needed to be able to see if he was being summoned.
Cyclops let Beast take the lead. It was getting dark and his feral abilities would be better capable to the task at hand. Many times he saw Beast stop his scampering through the elevated brush to whiff the air and track a scent. He knew Beast was focusing on blood. It broke his heart to know it was Sissy's blood. In the few years she'd been living at the mansion, he'd become very fond of her. All were family and he was used to dealing with the kids who'd come to attend the school but Sissy was different. Her permanent status made her more part of his home…part of his family…the kid sister who most times got on his nerves as she was growing up…but now was maturing into a very loving young woman. He prayed she'd survived.
Jack stopped when a noise other than that which he made caught his attention. Was that?…Brennan… it had to be… Running in the direction of the sound he'd almost tripped over them when he passed a clump of trees and skidded to a stop falling instead against a trunk, crushing his broken arm against it to break his fall. Screaming as he fell to the ground…when he could see again against the blinding pain…he reached out hesitantly to feel for a pulse. Exhaling loudly to his own ears, he slumped over as he felt a light unsteady pulse. Reaching for the gun, Jack shot into the air as instructed.
Cyclops heard the shots and stopped as he saw Beast do the same.
Not hearing but otherwise sensing the unnatural disturbance, Beast understood its meaning and began to lead the way.
Within moments they both were in view of the injured trio. They saw Jack awkwardly trying to shift Sissy from her fallen position on Brennan's chest. "Jack," Beast fell from the heights beside him. "Allow me." He easily lifted Sissy's lithe form into his arms as Cyclops appeared from around the trees. "If you will take Suzanne," Beast shifted her unconscious form toward Cyclops, "I will carry our bulkier friend and we will make a rapid return."
Cyclops nodded and reached for the offering made to him. As he settled Sissy in his arms, Jack came up beside him and moved her hair from her dirty, tear-stained face. "You did a good job, Jack. Are you ok?"
Jack nodded slightly, "I'm fine." Not having thought of paying attention to his direction in his frantic search for Sissy, he absently realized that he wouldn't know how to get back to the others. Choosing to keep that little slip to himself he silently followed as Beast ably led the way out.
As they waited for the others to arrive, Adam used the Blackbird's systems to mark their location and ETA and contact the proper authorities to handle the clean up. He also made contact with the mansion and had Evie and Jean on alert to prepare the med lab for all the injured. He explained all he could to allay their worst fears but he really wasn't sure about Brennan and Sissy. With voice only communication he requested Jubilee initiate for him, he hoped his doubts remained with him.
It was early morning when the Blackbird landed at home. All the children were asleep as all the adults sighed in tentative relief as they waited for the doors to open to help everyone to the lab. With gurneys and wheelchairs ready, the doctors rushed aboard to aid in the disembarkment. Evie met her husband's eyes for only a moment. Knowing he was fine, she turned her attention to Shalimar but her mind met and caressed Adam's. She could feel his stress and tried to allow her presence to help him as it often did.
Jean followed much the same path both in helping the wounded and checking on and soothing her husband.
Jubilee saw Kitty rush in and smiled tiredly at her as she had been keeping watch over Jesse and Bobby for the ride home. "They're both ok," she rushed to calm her friend's fears.
Remy stood by Sissy and waited for Jean to agree to his moving her out. When he saw her nod he gently lifted her into his arms and laid her to rest on a waiting gurney then made his way with Evie for the lab.
Hank carried Brennan and followed choosing to forgo the gurney as he could easily hold the man. As he was about to exit the craft he caught sight of another rescuer. "Marie," his voice was soft but full of concern.
Marie was about to lift Logan but stopped and stood straight again as she looked into his concerned eyes. "I'm ok."
Jean turned toward her blue friend and touched his arm. "She is Hank. I cleared her for all activity. It's amazing. Later you can see the reports but for now, don't worry."
Lip reading Jean's confirmation he just nodded and headed for the lab as she followed him.
Ororo watched and waited as she saw Marie carry out her unconscious husband. Having been somewhat informed of his condition she wasn't shocked but her heart still went out to him and hurt.
Logan stirred as he felt her presence around him. Groaning under the pain, he forced his weary eyes opened. "Hello…Beautiful…" he gritted as he saw her smile down at him from over his head. He reached up and wrapped his hand around her arm as she wheeled the gurney to the lab.
Scott carried Jesse out to a wheelchair as Kitty followed and then wheeled him out. Returning immediately he retraced the same steps with Bobby except he took him down to the lab.
Remy touched his wife's shoulder as he saw her about to lift Shalimar. Trusting in her strength but still being the overprotective husband he whispered to her. "Let me take her. Jubilee will be less strain on you." He smiled the charming smile he knew she wouldn't refuse. Lifting Shalimar gently he carried her to the lab not wanting repeated lifts to aggravate her wound.
Marie shook her head and followed with an uncharacteristically quiet Jubilee in her arms.
John and Jack appeared out of the Blackbird next.
Dria gasped at the ragged sight of her son. She forced a smile as he came toward her. Silently they hugged, both thankful for their safe reunion.
Charles watched as Jack walked down the steps. "Jack, are you alright?" He looked at the sling holding the boy's arm still.
"It's broke but I'll be fine," Jack stood tall before him.
Charles nodded after a brief examining look. He was proud of the strength he saw the boy exude. "After you are sufficiently tended to and rested I would like to see you in my office."
"Yes, Sir." Jack turned and walked out.
Adam looked around the Blackbird, now empty of all its passengers. For a long moment he stared at the blood on the deck plating…Shalimar's blood… he thought dwelling too long on the darker possibilities of how the day could have ended. Taking a deep breath he found the strength to move. He looked out and saw Charles leaving the bay. He couldn't help the smile that touched his lips as he saw mother and son in an affectionate embrace. Moving slowly he attempted to pass them quietly.
"Adam Kane, don't you dare."
His head snapped up and around at the threatening voice of his cousin. He looked at her smile and watched as she rushed toward him. Thrown back many years, he opened his arms and caught her in a secure embrace as he lifted her from her feet. Quickly returning to the present he gently put her down and moved away to look at her with concern.
"I'm fine," she replied to his glare then hugged him again tiptoeing to whisper in his ear. "It wasn't quite a run…but it felt wonderful." After a moment, she commended, "I knew you'd bring him home." She smiled as his embrace tightened around her and she could feel his relief wash over him. As John joined them they walked to the lab.
