Title: Past Comes A-Haunting

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing...meh....

A/N: f you don't review, I won't update. So If you like the first chapter, I suggest you review. And the first chapter may be a bit uneventful, but, trust me, it gets better. Also, I am reposting this because they deactivated my other account b/c I got reported ONCE! Grr...

The phone rang, Jesse muted the show they were watching and Lexa picked up the phone from the end table. "Hello?" She said into the receiver. "Um, yeah, sure," she handed the phone over to Brennan. "It's for you." He looked at it in confusion. Who would be calling him? Everyone who would have any reason to call him was sitting in the room with him. Lexa shrugged and he took the phone.
"Yeah?" He said, still confused. "Yes, this is Brennan Mulwray. Who the hell is this?" He listened in silence for a few minutes, his expression becoming increasingly more grave. He stood up from the couch and began pacing behind it. "Yeah, what about him?" Another pause ensued. "WHAT!?" He shouted suddenly, making the others jump. "How could you let this happen?! Idiots!" He shouted. Brennan slammed the phone onto the receiver. "Dammit!" He ran his fingers through his hair. Shalimar came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, crossing them over his chest. She kissed the base of his neck.
"What is it?" She asked gently.

"Nothing," he said roughly. He shook her off, instantly regretting his actions at the hurt look in her eyes. He slammed his fist into the wall angrily, took a deep breath, and then turned back to Shalimar and the others. He wrapped his arms around Shalimar apologetically. "I'm sorry Shal. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"It's okay. Tell us what's wrong." She said. Brennan turned his back on them again.

"Shane escaped from jail." He muttered angrily.

"What!?" Jesse and Shalimar exclaimed simultaneously. Lexa looked confused.

"Who? And why is it our problem?" Lexa asked. Brennan sighed and explained.

"Before I came to Mutant X I ran with a pretty tough crowd. Shane Taylor was the worst one of us all. He wouldn't think twice about slitting someone's throat if they got in his way. Being the drunken moron that I was, I didn't see a problem with that at the time. Then one day he decided to develop an overly-extreme hatred of mutants. He started seeking them out; torturing, and murdering new mutants. I got scared, having only in recent years learned of my abilities, plus I feared for others like me. So one day, when he killed one, a young girl... God, she can't have been more than sixteen years old. I got pissed and I turned him in, and he got put away for life. Or that's how it was supposed to go down. But now he's escaped and..." Brennan paused and shuddered.

"What?" Shalimar asked. She hadn't heard anything beyond Shane's arrest.

"He swore, as the cops were dragging him out of the club that night, that he would get his revenge on me for betraying him." He sighed and sat down on the couch, running his fingers through his hair.

"Wow," Lexa stated, obviously impressed at his story. Shalimar put her arms around him, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Don't worry, Brennan, we'll catch him." Shalimar assured him. His eyes grew wide.

"No!" He exclaimed. "You can't. You guys have to stay away from me. This guy is dangerous and crazy. He'll come after me through you. I won't put your lives in danger." He backed away, heading for the nearest exit. Jesse ran and caught his arm, forcing him to stop.

"We're not gonna let you do this alone." Jesse told him.

"Yes, you are. I'm packing some stuff and getting out of here. I will not put you guys at risk. You mean too much to me." Brennan replied stubbornly.

"We're helping you and that's it." Jesse said. Brennan opened his mouth to say something but Jesse interrupted him. "No, don't argue. It won't due you any good. And don't try to ditch us either. 'Cause trust me when I say I'll find you. And it won't be pretty when I do. I'll phase your ass straight through a wall...and out to the cliffs and rocks below." Jesse glared at him.
"I don't want him to hurt you guys."
"We'll be okay. We can take care of ourselves. You should know that by now." Lexa told him, patting his shoulder.
"Okay," he gave in reluctantly. "Okay, but if anything happens to you guys, I'll never forgive myself." Shalimar hugged him again, kissing him gently.
"We'll work this out. Together," she whispered to him.
"I'll start looking on the computer." Jesse said and headed off.
"Okay, I'm too wired to sleep, so I'm gonna go train for a bit. Shal, why don't you and Lexa go try to get some shut eye? Jesse or I will call you if something comes up." Jesse nodded and headed to the computer room.
"Alright," Lexa said. "Later, Sparky; Try not to kill the training equipment, 'kay?"
"Yeah, sure," Brennan gave her a half-smile. Lexa looked at him oddly. Her little nickname always made him smile and laugh. This Shane guy's escape must really have been messing with him. Shalimar also noticed his strange reaction to Lexa's now-familiar nickname, which at first has made her feel territorial towards the newbie, but now just made her grin. She often used the name on Brennan when they were alone. It made him give her that sexy little smile she loved so much. This wasn't like him. It worried her. She and Lexa exchanged a look. Lexa raised an eyebrow, mouthing "talk to him', then left, patting Brennan's shoulder reassuringly. "

We'll be alright, Sparky." She said softly, and then strode away.
Shalimar wrapped her arms around him gently. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice strained. Shalimar knew he was lying. She pulled him tighter against her.
"Liar," she whispered. He kissed her forehead.
"I'll be okay when that asshole is back in jail and I know you're safe. Until then I'm just kind of... dealing." She kissed his lips gently, running her fingers through his hair.
"Promise me you won't go after him alone" Shalimar pleaded. Brennan stayed silent. Shalimar looked into his eyes, "Promise me Brennan. Please." She whispered, tears welling in her eyes. Again he stayed silent for a minute before taking a deep breath then letting it go in a huge sigh.
"Okay," he sighed.
"Promise," Shalimar insisted.
"I promise." Brennan vowed, feeling the love and concern flowing from her body.
"Thank you," she whispered, burying her face in her shoulder. He kissed her hair, laying his forehead on the top of her head.

TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Please review, please... ::begs::