Disclaimer: All characters are trademarks of Marvel Comics. I don't own anything except the story.

Am I in Heaven, Hero?

BY:


kojie

The pain.

It was overwhelming her. She tried moving, but she couldn't. And it scared the hell out of her.

Her eyes were still closed, afraid of what she might see if she opened them. She let out a small whimper as she felt someone lift her head slowly, carefully.

"Jean."

The voice was gentle, soft. And she recognized it well. "Scott...."

"Open your eyes, Jean. It's me. Everything's gonna be alright." His voice shook with every word. Jean could feel him resisting himself not to panic, not to cry out, not to burst into tears.

Was it really that bad?

Finally, her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the most piercing green eyes one could ever see. Jean smiled weakly, but bravely. It took every single ounce of her remaining strength, and it was killing her. But she had to smile. She had to let Scott know she was still there.

And yet she didn't know what to say. It was bad timing to be speechless. Breathing shallow, she tried to keep steady. It pained every joint and muscle to move, so she didn't struggle.

"I was lucky... my life," she murmured. "I had... a great time, Scott."

And that broke him. The very mention of his name... Scott let out the breath he'd been holding, and shook his head, denying what logic had to say. No, he thought. It can't happen.

He raised a hand to sweep the red strands from Jean's beautiful face, and caressed her blood-stained cheek.

Don't talk like that, Jean. I'm not letting you go just yet.

"I know," he said instead. "The best times I had were the ones spent with you."

The pain seemed to be fading now. Somehow, it didn't hurt as much. His words added comfort.

I'm going to miss you.

She closed her eyes, and she was still.

==

When she opened her eyes, she was still on her back. She heard a steady beeping, and she instantly knew one thing for sure.

She wasn't dead.

Scott was still by her side, dressed in his usual civilian clothes. He was looking at her behind his ruby glasses, his hand tightly squeezing hers.

"I knew you wouldn't leave me." Tears escaped him and slid down his cheek. "I knew that if I believed—"

For some reason, she just didn't want to hear it. She was alive and well with Scott beside her. And that was all that mattered. If everything was fine now, then Jean didn't want to know what happened. Why would she? What good would it do? And so she cut him off, whispering a teasing sentence.

"Am I in heaven, hero?"

Scott stopped, surprised at her question. He didn't know how to answer her, and so he grinned like a fool. Unsurpassed happiness was overcoming him, and his heartbeat was trying hard to keep up.

"It depends on how you see it," he finally said.

Jean pulled his hand to her lips and kissed them.

"I think maybe I am."