A/N: Yes, I'm finally getting the sequel to "Conner's Visit" written. I know it's been a while. This begins a little over a year after that story ended, and Conner is now at the boarding School Adam's friend arranged for him to attend. This is mostly B/S with a bit of A/E since that's what I set up on Conner's visit.

Wise beyond his years Conner knew something was wrong and could sense the eyes watching him. Making the gesture look casual he activated the COM ring Jesse had given him before he moved to the boarding school a month ago. Seeing a stay dog nearby he acted like he was talking to the dog, to avoid it looking like he was speaking into the ring.

"Dad?"

"Conner? What's wrong?" Brennan asked, with a parent's instinct for when their child was in danger.

"I'm being watched. Followed."

Brennan didn't ask if his son was sure, or how he knew that. He trusted Conner's judgement. "Where are you?"

"At that park near the school, where we had the picnic last weekend. I was on my way back."

"Do you think you can make it to the school?"

"No," came the simple, terrifying answer.

"We're on our way. Just leave this link open, what ever happens," Brennan instructed unnecessarily. "Can you tell how many?"

"Two, maybe three. But that's just a guess."

"You've got good instincts, trust them. I'm in the Helix now," Brennan said as he raced through the takeoff procedures. The others had heard the conversation on their rings and rushed into the Helix.

From one of the back chairs Emma spoke to Conner. "Conner. I'm going to try and get a mental connection with you. You'll feel my presence. Don't fight it or try to block me. Let me in."

"OK."

Emma reached out and used her previous telepathic contacts with Conner to sense him. Just as she was establishing a link his consciousness began to fade away from her.

"Ooowww" They all heard over the Com link, followed by a thud as Conner's body hit the grassy earth.

None of the four in the Helix spoke. They were all to busy listening to what Conner's ring was still transmitting.

Footsteps. Hushed instructions to hurry and get him in the van. The sound of metal doors slamming. A moment later they heard the doors open again followed by the sound of movement. The ring click off then on again.

"Mulwray. I'm betting you can hear this. That I just activated some kind of communication and tracking device. I've got your boy. We'll be in touch. Don't try anything stupid."

The ring clicked off and seconds later the signal vanished from the display in front of Shalimar.

"They took his ring off him," she reported.

"I think they hit him with some sort of tranquilizer," offered Emma. "He's till alive. I can sense that much."

"Thank you, Emma," said Shalimar.

Brennan pushed the Helix to it's limits and made record time to the park. As soon as they were out in the park Shalimar let her eyes, and senses, go feral in an attempt to find where Conner had been. Emma reached out telepathically for any sense she could find. As they walked Emma got the sense of intense fear and was sure it was from Conner. She called the others over.

"How do you know Conner was here?" asked Brennan.

Realizing she'd have to explain Emma did. "I can sense the lingering emotions. But only if the emotion was strong enough and pure enough, not mixed with other emotions. Conner's fear was very strong."

"You can do that? Since when?" Asked Jesse.

"I'll explain later. Right now let's worry about Conner."

Shalimar let her eyes go feral again and found the traq dart the attackers had pulled out of Conner and carelessly dropped.

After an hour of questions people if they'd seen Conner and having no luck They returned ot the Helix discouraged.

"Let's just hope they use the ring to call again, then we can track them," said Jesse.

"You don't think they'll disable the tracking signal?"

"The main one, yes. But for Conner's ring I put in a second one that kicks in if the main tracker is messed with. Just a precaution, for my nephew," the molecular explained.

"Nice work, brother," complimented Brennan as he set the Helix in motion.

Several miles away Conner began to return to consciousness. After a while the man who had called Brennan walked in.

"Good. You're awake. I'm sure Brennan will demand proof you're still alive before he trades himself for you."

Realizing that he was only bait, and they would not hurt him Conner's fear was replaced my confidence. That fact transmitted itself to the man watching him through the boys eyes and body language.

"You're after my dad?"

"Of course. You're useless to us, except as bait for him"

"We just learned an old saying from India in school. Don't go hunting tigers if you aren't ready to catch one. And that applies to mom more than dad, in some ways," Conner added, smiling at his own veiled reference to Shalimar's feline feral mutation.

"You're mom's dead, and I don't believe in ghosts."

Sadness flashed through Conner at mention of Becky. "I'm talking about my new mom. Shal. Dad told me there were two things you should never tempt. Fate- - and mom's temper. And you'd better start believing in ghosts 'cause when they come to get me you're going to be one."

As the man turned to leave Conner saw the wariness that creep into his eyes and tension into his body. He realized the man was now worried because he hadn't known about Shalimar and was now wondering what else he didn't know. Still feeling the effects of the drug Conner soon drifted to sleep again.

After leaving Conner the man went to a nearby room where his friend worked on Conner's ring.

"So what can you tell me?"

"That whoever designed and made this ring was a genius."

"Yes, Adam is a genius. And Jesse is able to make that genius into solid form. Or so Eckart said."

"He was right. I think I almost have the tracking signal disabled."

"Good. Let's get join the others and get some food."

Back at Sanctuary each member of Mutant X was dealing with the kidnapping in their own way. Adam was talking to his contacts seeing if any of them knew who had Conner. Emma was meditating and trying to reach Conner. For a few minutes Emma believed she sensed Conner but before she could strengthen the link his presence was gone again. Shalimar was in the dojo working out her anger and frustration. Jesse was at the computers trying to get a location on Conner's tracking signal. Brennan had left almost as soon as they got back to look up some of his old contacts, but called in frequently.

Conner was given another shot of sedative to make him sleep until morning. At Sanctuary none of the team had much appetite for dinner or slept well that night. Shalimar and Brennan were hardest hit and spent the night holding tightly to each other.