The anticipation had kept Dominic awake in his motel room through out the night. That and he discovered why New York had earned the name ‘The city that never sleeps.’ Through the night, the 16 year old could hear the sounds of horns, cars, and arguing New Yorkers and it prevented him from going completely to sleep. Instead he continued holding the picture of his brother and himself, glaring at it, while also thinking about the Ice Mutant from the television footage covering the Valentines Ball a few weeks back. Dominic found himself to be a bit nuts, having travelled halfway across the country with hopes of this ‘Sam Johnson’ being the one who went missing from his life over 13 years ago. It’s not like he had anything to really lose, besides his savings that he wasted traveling from Colorado to New York. Other than that, he didn’t have anything else. No friends, no family…he found himself to be just alone and the more he thought about it, the more his heart ached because he had nobody to care about nor did he have anyone to care about him. He was after all still just a kid.

Hours passed by and looking down at his Spongebob Squarepants watch he had received from a Burger King kids meal, since his cash was low and he couldn’t really afford the real deals, he noted that it was not 7:02 am. Though he didn’t really reek, Dominic was a very tidy and cleanly person, and he tended to take 2-4 showers a day. When he went into the hotel’s restroom, he turned on the faucet and saw the murky brown water. A disgusted frown crossed his lips as he had definitely decided that he could skip his daily morning shower instead of contracting some kind of disease by bathing in the filthy water. He grabbed the rest of his things and checked out of the motel and he was more than happy to. Still, at least he had a bed for that night because now, from his lack of funds, he wouldn’t have a place to sleep. He was placing all his hopes into the Ice Elemental being his sibling…and even if he wasn’t, he heard that the Xavier Institute still housed mutant who had no where else to go, so that was another option Dominic had. With his last $15, Dominic caught a cab and asked the driver to take him to the institute, and when they arrived, the fare had stopped at $14.98. Luck seemed to have been him then, now he hoped that it stayed on his side.

He paid the taxi driver the fare and grabbed his duffel bag. Walking up the mansion grounds, towards the frond door, Dominic’s icy blue eyes glanced around at the architecture and environment of the school. The place was huge and didn’t even compare to the orphanage he was staying at before. It was comforting to know that his potential new home was pleasant, but would it have the family he longed for?

Dominic feet carried him up the steps and with a shaky hand he gave the mansion doors a couple of hard knocks, though no one answered. He cautiously opened the door to let himself in and his eyes lit up again as he was amazed by the interior just as he was by the outside.

“Um…Hello? Sorry to intrude…but, is there anyone here?” he called, hoping for an answer.

"Yea-yes, Thank you, thank you very much. And you'll be delivering this Thursday? Mhmmm." Ghost scribbled down the delivery time and some movement outside of the window caught her eye. "Oh. I-I have to be there to accept the oh-okay. Okay thank you again, but something urgent is requiring uh-Me so. Bye!" Ghost hung up the library phone in a hurry, leaving her papers scattered around.

She ran for the library's emergency exit, coming from the side to take down the new comer in a flying tackle. Ghost didn't weight a lot, but she had the momentum and force of will to take this newcomer down. A net whizzed and several rubber pellets flew over her shoulder on their way toward the ground. One rubber pellet bounced right off of Ghost's arm. How he had managed to dodge the booby traps so far, she didn't know. But the front door traps were the worst. If he were to stay on the stoop, Ghost was told there would be some electricity involved.

Ghost lay still for a moment on top of the boy, slightly winded and surprised at herself as much as anyone else. "You okay?" She breathed and pushed up on her arms to inspect the boy underneath her. "I'm sorry I--" She stopped short and hesitated. He looked familiar somehow. "Do I know you?"

Well Dominic sure got an answer, just not quite the kind he was looking for. Instead of a nice polite greeting, the young mutant found himself being hit with blunt force and on the ground with extra weight atop of him. He had hit his head on the fall, but he came to a few moments later. He saw what, or rather who had knocked him off of his feet and was very surprised to see a petite white haired young woman. A light blush came into his cheeks as he definitely didn't see himself in this sort of situation. Not that he would complain...the lady was pretty.

"The voice of an angel..." he thought as the woman apologized, but he shook his head and gave her a flash of his pearly whites with a smile. "I-It's not a p-problem..." Dominic replied timidly, still in awe by her looks...and the fact that she was on him. "Thank you for saving me..." he added, remembering the bullets that had flew above them just then. "

"Do I know you?" she asked him and Dominic blinked, shaking his head in a 'no' gesture. "I don't think so. I'm not from around here, um..." he gently removed himself from under her, scooting away. "But I should introduce myself. My name is Dominic Johnson. I actually traveled here from Colorado to find someone. Do you know if someone by the name of Sam Johnson is home right now? It's a weird and long story about why I am here...but, here." he said picking his duffel bag back up and opened it to remove a photo.

"It's a long shot, but this is my brother and I when we were young..." Dominic said showing Ghost the photo. "He disappeared 13 years ago...and I haven't seen him since. His name was Sam, but that's all I know of him because he was taken away. I saw the mutant-human Valentine ball...and I saw a Sam Johnson on tv...he was a mutant....and I hear that he takes residence here. I know its weird, because there could be a million Sam Johnsons in this world, but I'm a mutant too, and I figured that I am one, and the guy on TV is one, plus he had the same name as my brother, not to mention sharing the last name..." he paused and set his ice blue eyes on the white haired woman. "I figured, maybe he is my brother?" Dominic said. "I don't have anyone else and even if it's probably not true....I figured it's worth a shot and my mind would be at ease instead of continuing to wonder..."

There were a few more sorry's and excuse me's as Ghost extricated herself from the boy. "There's a gate for a reason, you know. You can't just walk up and knock on the door, we've had one too many surprise visits for that kind of thing." She had the grace to be embarrassed on her part, but tried her best not to lecture him to death. He was probably not a threat to the Mansion. At least, she liked to give people the benefit of the doubt when it came to suspecting them of being mass murderers and such.

Ghost smoothed her skirt and composed herself as best she could by smoothing down her skirt and brushing the grass from her hair. She flicked the rubber pellet back toward the doorway and tried to remember to get some kind of remote or override command for the new security measures.

The boy introduced himself and Ghost immediately felt guilty again. "I'm sorry, I was so busy lecturing I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ghost." She dipped her head in greeting and listened to his story with ever widening eyes. Of course the name Johnson rang a bell. and Of course the name Sam Johnson was sending off all kinds of alarms. She closed the jaw that had been hanging partially open for perhaps Dominic's entire story.

"Wha-yeah. Yeah Sam lives here." Ghost ran her hands through her snowy hair. Encouraged, the kid rummaged though his rucksack and handed her a photo. Her already pale skin turned whiter. She'd seen this exact photo. She'd held it in her hand not even two months before this very day. She'd heard the other end of this exact story.

"Oh my goodness..." and once more with feeling, "Oh. My. Goodness." Ghost's yellowish eyes flicked up to Dominic's face. No wonder! The family resemblance was striking now that she knew who to compare him with.

Dominic was still rambling on. 13 years. No where else to go. Ghost shut her mouth again and took a deep breath. "You are always welcome to stay here free of charge, Dominic." She said the line absently as if it were automatic. This was nuts. They were going to need Sam right now.

Ghost reached for her... oh, her communicator was inside with her paperwork. Instead, Ghost reached for Dominic's hand. "Let's go find Sam." She pulled at him, pressing the picture gently into his chest as she pulled him and herself toward their feet. And then she was practically running, kicking up her feet as she towed Dominic around the Mansion in search of Sam. They could always check his room too.

"Ghost?" Dominic repeated as the woman introduced herself to him. That was a weird name and he couldn't figure out why she would have that name. "Well, it's nice to meet you and again, sorry about barging in. My nerves are like on end right now..." he chuckled nervously with a smile and his dimples appearing in his cheeks.

He was relieved to find out that he was at the right address and that Sam Johnson lived here. He raised an eye brow as Ghost looked like her namesake as her skin became paler, and the "Oh my goodness" made him even more confused.

"You are always welcome to stay here free of charge, Dominic." she told him, and he smile returned. "Thank you. I appreciate it." Dominic bowed slightly to Ghost. With the picture back in his possession and his hand in Ghost's, the young mutant suddenly found himself being pulled into the mansion. Not surprising for her size, she moved pretty fast, and he continued his best to keep up with the white haired woman in search of possibly the only family Dominic had left.

Yawning as Sam walked over to the window and opened his windows that lead to his balcony and to the location that his dogs used when they were being trained to go outside. It had been going on for a few months now but they certainly had a knack for the far corner of his balcony. Clean ups were a breeze all Sam had to do was point and freeze and with in a few seconds the dookie would freeze and there would be no marks of it what so ever.

As his dogs ran outside Sam walked over to his dresser and pulled out some clean boxers with giant bear designs etched into them. They were his lucky pair the ones he first wore when Leila first…spent the night. Tossing on some pants and his shirt Sam was ready for the day. Walking over to the window Sam let a whistle go and the dogs all ran back in and sat down at the entrance to the room and waited for him. “Good pups” Sam said as he waved them in. once inside Sam shut the windows and said, “Speak” the dogs all let out one bark as Sam said, “Down” all the dogs obliged as well as Cammie who was smart enough to figure out how to get the treats that he passed out.

Tossing a few treats out for the dogs and one for Cammie, Sam picked the cat up and put her on his shoulders while she purred up a storm, “What’s on the agenda today?” Sam asked the cat like she would have an answer for him. “Training with Susan in the danger room and then a class with students at three.” Looking at the clock Sam realized he had a few hours to kill. Picking Cammie up and setting her down Sam walked over to the door and opened it up to find himself staring at Ghost and some boy, “You guys need something?” Sam asked as he pulled his key out and locked the door to his room.

She was a ball of energy, pulling Dominic through the halls and up stairs and around corners. Sam had to see this! This was incredible! By the time Ghost had dragged Dominic all the way to Sam's door she was practically out of breath. She flashed a smile to Dominic and raised her hand to knock on the door, but Sam was already standing there.

“You guys need something?”

"Oh!" She put her hand down and stepped out of the way so that Sam could see Dominic clearly. Pushing the youth forward so that the brothers were face to face, Ghost beamed from behind the 16 year old. "Sam! Look at his picture." Ghost reached forward lining the back of Dominic's arm with her won and grabbing his forearm to puppet Dominic's picture arm up and toward his brother. It had to be proof that they were brothers. The picture meant everything, right? She was so excited!

After a nice shove, Dominic gulped as he was now face to face with the man he had seen on television. He had to admit, it was kind of like looking in the mirror of an older and slightly different appearance of himself. The features between them were the same. The blonde hair, the ice blue eyes, the good looks, though Sam was a few inches taller and more built than Dominic himself. Then Dominic felt Ghost extending his arm and the photo of the siblings now hung in Sam's face.

"Uh...." Dominic began. He had gone over what he would say repeatedly in his head before when he would be in this position. "Mr. Johnson?" he asked, timidly, looking down towards the floor. "I don't mean to be a bother but...My name is Dominic Johnson and this picture...was taken a long time ago of me and my older brother. He disappeared when I was still a toddler. I don't remember much about him because I was young, but I know that from this photo that we were happy and close so, to have him taken away has been a bit rough on me and for years I wondered about him. Then I saw you on TV and...well...." he paused and raised his head backup as his blue eyes met Sam's. Looking at Sam, Dominc felt a warm feeling inside himself. Usually when he met with strangers he was on edge, but looking at Sam was just a familiar comfort and his mind suddenly jolted back 13 years of memories where he knew that exact same feeling had taken place. The kind you only get from being around your family and Dominic hadn;t felt that since his parents died.

"Funny thing is, my brother's name was Sam too, just like yours. I'm a mutant, just like you also. So...Are you my brother?" Dominic asked, nearly on the verge of tears.

Looking slightly confused as to why Ghost shoved a kid in his direction, the kid seemed familiar like they met before but Sam couldn’t place it. Was he at the ball? Or was it somewhere else. He didn’t know what it was about but if Ghost was throwing a kid at him it must be important. He frowned slightly at the kid in front of him as Ghost lifted his hand like a puppet to show a picture he was all too familiar with.

As he looked at the picture Sam took it form the kids hand as the kid started rambling, ‘Dominic Johnson’ Sam’s mind was racing he didn’t know how to react, at first everything seemed to go in slow motion as the voice of the kids voice slowed to that of a Charlie Brown special, you know where all the adults voices sounded like they were coking down peanut butter and taffy. Sam’s mind was focused on the picture and now that he looked at it the resemblance was becoming clearer to him.

Apparently the kid seen him t the ball, something Sam knew would come back and nip him in the rear but this? There was no way he could have predicted that this would be a outcome, a kid was looking for him and worse yet they had the same last name. Before the kid even asked Sam could tell what was coming.

Gently pulling the picture from Dominic’s hands Sam held it up to the kids face and looked at it. Sam could easily pick out who he was but the younger brother was a different story. He looked it over when he heard the words, “ "Funny thing is, my brother's name was Sam too, just like yours. I'm a mutant, just like you also. So...Are you my brother?"

Everything seemed to slow down after the question again. The kid looked like tears were about to leak out of his eyes while he looked to ghost and could see what he thought was her excited slow motion head nod. He could have been imagining all of this right now and then he heard it, a faint singing in the back of his mind. Sam being Sam was never used to a situation like this, he never had a family and he couldn’t remember how to act so without thinking Sam brought his right hook out and slugged Dominic in the face.

No there was no way this kid was his brother, he was supposed to find his family all of them not just his brother, where were the parents. Sam played this moment in his head and it was all-wrong. There was no way this kid was his brother, he needed more proof than a picture that was in TAT’s custody as long as he was.

He looked to Ghost who knew would be upset with him, then he looked down on the kid who was now on the ground. Sam looked at the picture again in his left hand and said nothing.

Dominic looked with hopeful eyes at Sam, hoping the older mutant would accept his story. Unfortunately instead of a hug , Dominic found himself being slugged across the face and it was like slow motion as the 16 year old fell to the ground. The spot were he had been struck felt numb, as Dominic's eyes were wide open in completely shock, but the pain soon came afterward. He placed a hand to his jaw and looked up at Sam with eyes of sorrow and hurt.

"Owe..." was all he could utter. Why did Sam hit him? Dominic knew this situation wouldn't be a walk in the park, but jesus christ, he didn't think he'd have to worry about being beaten either. "Ok...I know it's all weird, and it's not easy, but you have to believe me..." Dominic whimpered back at the ice elemental now towering over him. "Please...just hear me out. I don't have anybody else! My...possibly our parents...they're gone and you're the only person I have left. Don't you see?! Tell me you don't see the resemblance?" he said pointing to his face and then pointing to the picture. " I don't know your story, but if it matches up with mine, then..." he paused. "I know its messed up for me to just show up here like this and I'll do anything you want to get some proof. A DNA test, or whatever, but I don't care how much you want to hit me, I'm not letting this go until I have closure." he said sniffing.

Ghost had been so close to Dominic's back that the force of Sam's punch had her stumbling back as the boy's shoulders feel right through her arms. "SAM!" She... couldn't believe it. Stepping over, Dominic, not thinking at all about the fact that she was wearing a skirt and he was on the ground, Ghost stepped between the boys and shoved Sam with what little strength was blessed to her.

She just couldn't believe it.

"What is wrong with you? He came all the way from Colorado, he has the picture, Sam. YOU have that picture. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Ghost wasn't typically a shouter, but he outright slugged the kid! Even if they weren't brothers, even if they were just two human beings, he should have had more self control than that!

The Johnsons were some of the few who would ever see an angry Ghost.

At first Sam didn’t answer the kid all he did was stare at him. His attention for the time being was Ghost who was now yelling at him for hitting a kid who claimed to be his brother. All Sam did when he was getting yelled at was blink and lean up against the wall from the shove that ghost gave him. “Ghost you knew full well where I was when I was a kid, me and this same photo, a photo that could easily be copied and distributed to every TAT base in the world, this photo means nothing.” Pointing down at the kid Sam said, “For all I know that kid is here to catch me.” His expression was as cold it was when Ghost and himself talked about his past a few weeks ago.

It was then Sam heard and fully comprehended what the kid had said; he was alone just like him. Frowning slightly Sam shot a beam of ice by the kids head and said, “Use that to relive the swelling…” looking to ghost he said, “your coming with us, if Doc Prof can’t confirm this kids story about him being my flesh and blood…” he stared her in the eyes letting the thread dangle, she knew that he had no pity for any TAT agent what so ever. Even if he did make a promise not to kill them an agent pretending to be his brother was just asking for a shard to the jugular.

He waited for Dom and Ghost to get a move on. Sam was going to walk behind the kid to make sure he wouldn’t do anything fishy. Even if Ghost could vouch for him there was no reason for her to trust him other than his word and the picture, which could easily be copied.

Dominic looked up at Ghost as she came to his defense shoving Sam into the wall. He was relieved that she was standing on his side and nodded as he mentioned the picture, but then Sam spoke again, taking about how the picture meant nothing and that stirred up a bit of anger in Dominic.

"This picture means nothing? This picture is everything to me!" the 16 year old shot back. "I don't know what the hell a TAT is but I've had this picture since I was a child and the only thing I have to remember my brother by, that is if he's not standing in front of me right now." Lord knows Dominic was ticked off. First there was the slug in the face, but to call his picture meaningless? Before he could say something else, Sam had show some ice on Dominic's face to reduce the swelling from the punch. Dominic supposed that was Sam's way of apologizing and the 16 year old got back to his feet shooting Sam a glare.

“your coming with us, if Doc Prof can’t confirm this kids story about him being my flesh and blood…” Sam told Ghost and Dominic looked over at Ghost, still holding the ice to his cheek. He guessed that his DocProf from his name was a Doctor and would be doing a blood test to see id the two blondes were indeed brothers, which was more than alright for Dominic who followed behind Ghost to the DocProf's office while Sam followed behind him.

Dominic walk behind Ghost? Oh no, no, no. He walked beside her and she put her arm through his and stuck her tongue over her shoulder at Sam as she lead them to the infirmary. He was being ridiculous and he needed to know it.

...Even if it was petty...

It wasn't that far of a walk, through the "adult" hall and down some stairs, past a small bit of the kitchen and right into the end of the administration hall. "Watch your step" Ghost mentioned before they went down a set of 3 deceptively shallow stairs. And then they were walking into the cozy medical bay.

"Oh no, what'd you bring me this time?" The Doctor teased, his wizened eyes sweeping the potential patients. "No head trauma, Johnson?" He didn't realize there were two Johnsons now and it was obvious his latest jibe was directed toward Sam.

"Oh, he'll have head trauma!" Ghost shrugged her shoulders curiously as she showed Domi to a char next to the examination table. They didn't need to be examined so she figured the chairs were fine. Well, maybe Sam's head did. Ghost pushed him toward the paper-covered table. "Do know what Sam just did? I think you should maybe check his head. He right out slugged this kid! His own potential brother." DocProf nodded and turned to evaluate the similar looking boys. Facial structure, general coloring, bone structure... it wasn't too far a stretch to imagine these two were brothers.

Ghost tried to ignore any snide comments that Sam would have to say about her comments and rolled her shoulders again in that peculiar settling motion. "Long story short, Doc, we need a sibling test or ... something." She wiggled her fingers like that something was spreading magical pixy dust on the two. "That way Sam can get over himself and apologize properly." She folded her arms and sat down in DocProf's recently vacated rolly chair. She'd said her piece now it was the good doctor's turn to work his magic.

"So I'm guessing this dispute can't wait for one of the more thorough tests that take weeks and have to be sent off by mail." It was a question, but he said it as a statement as he looked between the boys. They seemed to be in a hurry. "Right. You kids these days and all your instant gratification..." The doctor muttered to himself as he went to the supply closet and dug around for a time. "I'm going to take some blood, Ghost, if you'll help me?" Ghost was on her feet in a hot second and two swishes of the skirt had her standing next toe the doctor as an extra pair of hands to help juggle the alcohol swabs, needles, gauze, and skin tape while the doctor handled to DNA kits. "X-gene, naw, paternity... no, no... ah here we are." He muttered to himself as he set the materials on a tray and rolled it between the two boys.

He passed off the alcohol swabs to Ghost. "You swab them and I'll come right after you to take the blood." She opened the little prepackaged towlette and went to CS first. Older brothers were honor bound to do the scary stuff first. She took his arm gently and swabbed the crook of his arm. Her eyes met his and begged him to be nice and unthaw. DocProf came in with a needle after Ghost had moved away to toss the towlette in the trash. He was gentle and practiced, it would hardly feel like a pinch, and afterward he gave Sam a piece of gauze to press against the vein to stop the bleeding.

Ghost went to Dominic next. She tried to reassure him with a smile. "Even if this is just a misunderstanding, Dominic, you are free to stay here at the Mansion." She repeated the process, swabbing the crook of Dominic's arm with the cold alcohol swab. DocProf took his blood with a second syringe.

While DocProf fiddled with the kit, Ghost went back and taped the gauze down so the boys wouldn't have to hold it. She made a good little nurse. "It says that it takes ten minutes to develop. Now, what you'll see are blue lines that are your DNA markers -- if enough are the same, you'll be siblings and this white spot at the end" He pointed with his knuckle, "Will turn orange."

The walk to the infirmary was an awkward one. He didn’t like it when his friends where mad at him and he could clearly tell that Ghost was pissed he hit the kid. But being a stubborn as he was he wouldn’t let her win, he had his reasons for hitting the kid. It was a shock Sam still was having trouble dealing with.

Imagine growing up without a family, limited to no contact with anyone that you could consider close. Sam was lonely, lonely almost his entire life; it was a feeling he was used to. Sam the loner, he used to call himself, long before he came to the mansion and found people he loved being around. His first friend, his first Real long term girlfriend. It was a lot to process for Sam, a lot. But over time he had thought he was able to manage it but this. Actually having someone to call “Brother” the concept to Sam was s foreign. He wouldn’t know where to begin in conversation. Even if Sam wanted a brother and the relationship that came along with it Sam wouldn’t know how to act, what to say or what to do.

The one thing that really stuck and sat in the of Sam’s stomach was that this kid could actually be his brother, “He had the picture and looked almost identical to Sam when he was younger, less muscle granted but Sam and the kid seemed to have way different life styles. The kid seemed timid as well; something Sam never had the luxury of being.

Keeping his cold disposition Sam just nodded to Doc and knew the Doc wouldn’t take it personal. Odds were he would brush the rude behavior off and then call it out next time when Sam came for one of his many visits due to a broken or cut limb from the danger room.

As Ghost rubbed the cotton swab on his arm his body went from tense to only mildly tense. That was the best he could do for now, if it wasn’t for his hatred of needles he would have been able to loosen up a tad more but, with needles without warning shoved into your arm or a needle carving a tattoo on his back when he was little, it didn’t help much in preventing the fear.

As the needle went into his skin he did his best to hide the fact that he couldn’t stand them. Doc knew of his fear but after so many times taking his blood he didn’t really get harassed by the old man anymore. Pressing the gauze on his arm Sam with out noticing himself had been taking in glances of the kid, making note of everyone of his facial features. ‘If he really is my brother…’ thought Sam as he looked over to ghost and glared at her to show her she had not yet proven anything, ‘this is going to be super awkward. ‘

Even if the kid wasn’t his brother Ghost was right once again. There was no way Sam would be happy with it if the kid wasn’t his brother and putting him through a mess like this. All Sam did was give a small grunt as the test didn’t come back with any results.