Safe-houses
Eckhart watches.
Foolish he knows, but he can hardly help himself. Outside, Jesse rises from his seat, remembers the last bit of toast from the remnants of his breakfast - it's coated in American peanut butter, his latest craving and as before it's indulged. He makes his way to the stairs slowly, seemingly small within one of the sweaters he favors these days. One step and then another until he disappears into the gardens of the villa.
"Sir..."
Eckhart doesn't turn. He is a fool. They are enemies, this is just a lull wrought by necessary compromises. There has been no request for the location of Sanctuary nor has there been any conversation about Mutant X. Within the walls of the villa anyway. Perhaps, Eckhart muses the reason for Jesse's love of the gardens has been staring him in the face all this time after all. No one can hear him out there. Sam's reports reveal nothing of Mutant X either. Though he is wary to believe Sam's reports.
What matters is that Jesse has denied Eckhart and the team of doctors nothing. Not his medical history, nor his compliance.
"Sir, the villa's been compromised. We've confirmed transmissions to Gabriel. It's Nathan."
The report draws him back from his reverie. Unsurprising as Nathan is a weak-willed idiot. They'll have to leave. A pity, because this place is beautiful.
Behind him he can hear Sam breathe, shuffle. Waiting.
Eckhart knows where Jesse will be. At the reflecting pool. On the bench at the far end.
"Get the house in Brussels ready," he orders without turning around.
"Mr Eckhart, odds are all the safe house locations are compromised. We cannot keep him safe in Brussels, or Amsterdam," Sam trails off. Accurate assessments, Eckhart concedes and he does not deny that returning Jesse to Genomex is his last resort, because Jesse hates the place.
Such a simple thought, that *Jesse* hates the place. It's an indulgence on his part, he knows this, but he cannot afford to lose the child, or Jesse, not when they've come this far. Or at least this is what he tells himself as he watches Jesse every day.
"Very well," Eckhart replies. Genomex, then. "He will not like returning."
Claustrophobia he knows well. Walls closing in on Jesse like they had before the move to Italy.
"No sir," Sam says dryly.
"Do whatever you have to, to make him comfortable, Sam," Eckhart says. He turns finally from the view of the garden. Surprise that Sam doesn't bother to hide which he ignores. Promises himself not to have the mutant killed because Jesse likes him.
Likes him.
He chokes on that every time.
"Yes, sir. Shall I tell him?"
"No. Don't."
It's not an answer he should have given, but it's out there and Eckhart refuses to back down. Sam nods sharply, disappears into the room from which he appeared.
Rash, foolish answer he berates himself as he threads his way through the garden to the reflecting pool. On the way he passes a sculpture of a lion that looks over the shaded path which leads to the reflecting pool. Its mate is at the other end. Seated the lions look out regally over the path, their tails at rest next to their back legs. He almost misses it because Jesse simply doesn't use his powers anymore. The end of the tail is gone, as if it were torn away. Left behind is a jagged edge in the stone and rubble that peppers the ground.
Eckhart runs the tip of a gloved finger over the jagged edge of the stone.
Touch. Ironic, that Jesse understands him more than anyone else ever will. Danger to them both from just a single touch, whether it's chaos of the world that surrounds Eckhart or the chaos Jesse can cause to his surroundings...or the child just by a single touch. A consequence that appeared when they arrived - when everything he touched phased. Control for Jesse was hard fought, aided by a governor as his powers changed with his body. The effect on the child was unanticipated. Harrison has never seen a mutant's powers retreat like that once they begin to develop. He thinks they're dormant now, that the child will be born as other mutants are. Eckhart refuses to take any more chances. The governors are not an option until the child is born.
He continues along the path to Jesse.
Jesse.
Harrison doubts he'll ever regain full control of his powers. Jesse does not deny his words and Eckhart will not risk anything with a request for Sanctuary or Mutant X, not while Jesse's greatest weapon is himself and his will.
Jesse is, as always, on the bench at the far end of the reflecting pool. Eckhart walks to him, his cane tapping methodically on the stone. It's only when he stops at the bench that Jesse looks up. Long, blonde hair grazes his chin. He tucks it absently behind his ear.
"We've been compromised," Eckhart manages. No surprise in Jesse, because he is observant, he haunts the villa and listens. He knows they've been trying to track transmissions for months now.
"When do we leave?" Jesse asks dully. He tilts his head, catches the light breeze from the rest of the garden.
"Today."
"Genomex?" Jesse asks. Doesn't look at him.
"Yes." Eckhart doesn't miss the hands that curl around the edges of the stone bench.
"Nothing changes," he offers, ignores the disbelief in Jesse's eyes. "Sam will still get you what you need."
"Fine."
The word is clipped, as Jesse tries to rise, falters and Eckhart moves without thinking, aware of what it is to have no control over your body. Uncomfortably aware that he would have spared Jesse that. But reality is this, the surprise in blue eyes accompanied with more knowledge than Eckhart likes.
"Are you all right?" Eckhart allows himself as he guides Jesse back to the bench. Jesse nods, but Eckhart steps away his hands clasped behind his back.
"I'll send Sam for you," he says quickly before he walks away, acutely aware of the blue eyes boring into his back.
He hurries through the garden head bowed wrapped in his weakness. His body remembers the feel of another against it, even if he has tried very hard to forget.
"Sir?" Sam appears before him and he realizes that he's almost at the villa.
"Take care of him," he mumbles blindly.
"Yes, Sir," Sam answers.
It's enough to allow Eckhart his escape.
~~~
"Eckhart is back."
Adam announces this bluntly as they all gather in the lab.
"I knew it," Shal mutters, flicks a blonde strand away from her face angrily.
"There's more," Adam continues, his face haggard. He's been up most of the night, Brennan knows, waiting for information from a source.
"Eckhart has through the years acquired several properties, safe-houses of sorts when he needs them. Most of them have been empty for a long time."
Adam runs a hand through his hair, stalls.
"Most?" Emma prods gently.
"Six days ago these pictures were taken in Italy..." he answers dully. Swings to the screen and presses a button on the console in front of him. It flickers to life.
Jesse.
Shock, sharp like consciousness after a long nightmare, Brennan clenches his hands as he peers closer at the screen.
"Oh my God," Emma whispers fervently.
But it's Shal who says it.
"Jesse."
Gifts the word to the silence, to Sanctuary, to them in relief. Baseball cap low, Jesse is almost swallowed by a long coat and the GSA agents around him.
"There's more," Adam says. Another key, another picture and then another. Eckhart and then fire.
"Houses in Brussels and Amsterdam were destroyed in the same night."
"Jesse..." Emma whispers, her eyes wide.
"I lost them when they left Italy. What I do know though, is that two days ago a plane landed at the airport, hired in Germany with a flight path that took it through Italy and then here."
"Adam..." Shalimar purrs dangerously. Adam's smile is brittle.
"Airport security cameras picked up several GSA agents yesterday."
Another key, another image and Christ.
Jesse in black and white. Alive. Here and sweet relief more than Brennan can stand sweeps through him. He doesn't look past it, past everything else he sees in the other photos.
It's easier that way.
~~~
They go in as soon as they can - Shalimar on point, Emma and then Adam, while Brennan brings up the rear. Too easy, too quiet because Genomex for all intents and purposes looks like it has shut down and as far as they know it never does. Eckhart doesn't quit.
There's the hum of the stasis pods, the too cool air against his skin and the uniform that itches. It's too quiet. Adam exchanges a glance with him, Brennan can see he feels the same, but still they go on.
There are rooms in the center of the building, clustered within the depths of the lower levels - rooms Eckhart added when he took over. They're the only place left to check - Jesse isn't in a pod, in a cell. A keypad, another door and Brennan moves forward, energy already dancing at his fingertips.
"Don't."
A hammer clicks ominously before a GSA agent pulls Adam to him, uses him as a shield.
The energy dies at Brennan's fingertips.
"Where's Jesse?" Emma asks her voice deceptively soft.
"Please don't even try," the agent says instead, the gun wavers before her temple. "Jesse is the only reason you've made it this far alive and he's the only reason you'll make it out alive."
Adam grimaces as the agent turns the gun onto him again.
"It's your choice."
Shal chooses, walks past the agent and Adam then Emma and then Brennan. At the next junction, three other agents appear, escort them out.
The air is cold against them, real like the gun that was in Adam's side and the agent's words. Brennan looks at the building that looms before them. The grey facade is cold and they're leaving Jesse in there.
~~~
The call comes through an old number, one they still monitor just in case.
"Adam?"
Jesse.
Questioning, a brief pause as Adam looks at Brennan and then the console. Maybe they're both hearing things.
"Jesse..." Adam manages and a sigh echoes along the line.
His fingers fly over the keys, while Brennan gets Shal on his ring. By the time she and Emma come bounding in from the dojo they're on a video link and Jesse appears onscreen.
"Jesse?" Shal says breathless.
"Yeah, it's me," he answers with a faint smile. Hair pulled back neatly he's behind a desk, Brennan wants to reach for him, wants to make sure this isn't a dream. Instead he clenches his hands behind his back.
"Are you all right?" Emma asks, concern in the lines of her face.
"Yes." The answer is cool, like the gaze that flicks to him briefly and then away to Adam.
Regret. Then it ends.
"I'm done, Adam. With Mutant X."
There is no punchline, just Adam's face falling , Emma's gasp and Shal...Shal so very still caught in something she ...they...no.
No.
Brennan shakes his head.
"Where's Eckhart?" he snaps. "Whatever this is, this isn't you, Jess."
But Jesse is implacable.
"He's still in Washington, Brennan. He won't be back until tomorrow."
Words, that were chiding almost, because Mutant X should know this.
"Then why?" Shal asks her voice small. Jesse smiles coldly.
"I chose a side, Shal. I just never thought it was the wrong one."
Wrong, wrong words because Shal fires back before he's even done.
"Bull. You're lying. Chose a side?"
"Shal," Jesse interrupts the beginning of her tirade easily, a knack borne out of long practice between these two. Then again, this time softly.
"Shal..."
Her mouth snaps shut, her chin lifts, obstinate. It still works, Brennan thinks.
"Please don't." Jesse begs and there is regret in his eyes. Shal turns away and Brennan wants to reach in there and shake him, but the screen is blank.
Gone.
Fucking insane. Energy, anger, Brennan can't tell the difference anymore. It lashes out from his fingertips, across the lab.
Fucking insane.
~~~