HEY GUYS AN' GALLS! Two six page papers and a massive pastel picture later and I can FINNALY GO BACK TO MY FANFICTION AND TALK TO YOU GUYS AGAIN! Man, I really missed you guys! My Mom said I couldn't get on here again till i finished my finals projects before i could update again. (Pout face) But I have finished and have regained custody of my laptop! I friggin' love my computer, because all my friends live in it!
...Anyway (looks away, embarrassed by outburst) here's the next chapter, and I made it a long one to make up for my days of absence! R&R please! chocolate chip cookies to those who reveiw!
ENJOY!
Patrick sighed and rolled over. He couldn't get that thrice blasted letter out of his head. It plagued his thoughts like fleas plague a dog. He rolled over again and grabbed his phone off the bedside table.
Twelve fifteen.
He had barely slept a wink the entire night. After several minutes he got up and pulled on his shirt and shoes. He quietly made his way down stairs.
Now where was that blasted elevator?
It only frustrated him more, when he realized that the elevator had a voice key, and his voice wasn't recognized by the school's computer. He was about to give up, when the elevator suddenly began to move of its own accord.
It carried him down to the correct floor, and released him out into the hallway. He looked around to get his bearings then headed down the hall toward Rhett's room.
In Rhett's room, it was now Kitty's turn to stand watch. She had relieved Scott around eleven thirty.
She was currently curled up in one of the armchairs against the wall, quietly braiding a friendship bracelet. She smiled as she braided the bright blue, silver, and black strings. This one was for Storm. She even had a little silver charm shaped like a lightning bolt to attach to it once she got about midway through.
Kitty. Xavier's voice entered her mind. Mr. Donahue is on his way down to see Rhett.
Kitty paused and set down her friendship bracelet. Ok. Don't worry Professor, I'll stop him if he tries anything.She thought, knowing that he was listening and would hear her.
No. Let him be. Xavier answered. I've been monitoring his thoughts, and he has been in a state of turmoil since he spoke with Kurt. I think Kurt might have finally reached him. But there is only one way to find out. I don't want him to see you. Leave the room please. I'll keep an eye on him.
Kitty nodded. All right Professor. If that's what you want me to do.
She stood, grabbed her bag and hurried through the wall behind her. The room she entered was another medical room. She dropped her bag down on the bed and settled herself down in one of the arm chairs. Now all she could do was wait, and hope that things came out ok.
She sighed and started braiding the bracelet for Storm again.
"I hate waiting…" she muttered.
Patrick peeked around the door. He was startled to realize Rhett was the only one in the room. Xavier had said someone would be watching over Rhett at all times.
Seems Xavier's pet mutants don't always follow his orders after all. He thought.
He slipped inside, closing the door behind him and went to stand at the foot of Rhett's bed. He shivered as he watched Rhett shift to male.
Rhett's shifts from male to female and back had slowed after he'd been injured. Shifting from one to the other took energy, and as this wound was deadlier than the last, it took longer for him to build up enough energy to do so.
At least, that was what he thought the big, blue furred mutant called 'Hank' had said. You almost needed to keep a dictionary on hand to decode what he said sometimes.
Look at him, Elena. He thought at his first wife. Look at our mutant son!
He bowed his head. I lost ye, and now I've lost our son 's well? Where did I go wrong? Where did I fail, that this curse should've befallen him?
He moved to sit on Rhett's bedside and sat staring at his son. Memories of his life in Ireland with his wife Elena, and with little Rhett came to mind and were dismissed again. He had done his best to forget all that after Rhett had powered up.
He didn't want to remember what he had lost.
He gently brushed some of the curly, blond streaked red hair out of Rhett's face.
He smiled.
No matter what he and Elena had tried, Rhett's hair had always gotten in his face if they let it grow longer than an inch or two. And neither Elena or Rhett had wanted his hair that short.
He shook his head. No! Don't think about it!
Another memory came, unbidden, to his mind.
It was at the cemetery, after Elena's burial. Rhett was down by the pond, out of earshot. Patrick was standing by Father McCrery.
"I worry about him Father." Patrick said, looking at the American born priest. "We were all close…But th' tie 'tween him and his mother was strong as iron."
Father McCrery smiled sadly. "I wouldn't worry about the lad too much Patrick. He's as sweet an' caring a boy as you could hope for. But he's made of a sterner stuff than any but God and his angels would guess. He'll surprise us all, I think."
He put his hand on Patrick's shoulder. "It's you I'm worried about Pat."
"Me!" Patrick asked, startled.
The priest nodded emphatically. "Yes you. It's a hard blow you've been dealt. And unless I'm mistaken, it's only going to get harder."
Patrick snorted tiredly and waved him off. "Ye think I don't know it?"
The priest pressed on. "God's going to test you sorely Pat. He tests us all in one way or another. And each test is harder than the last."
Patrick glared at him, but he had no answer.
"Rhett!" he called. "Come on laddy!"
Rhett trotted obediently back. "Coming Father." He answered. He smiled at the priest. "Both o ye."
The priest chuckled. "Hello Rhett."
Patrick grabbed Rhett's hand. "Time t' go laddy."
Father McCrery crouched down. "Goodbye Rhett." He said. "Look after your dad. He's gonna need all the help you can give him."
Rhett cocked his head curiously. "I'm not sure what ye mean Father, but I'll do me best." He answered.
The priest smiled and nodded. "That's all I ask." He stood and trained his eyes on Patrick. "Remember what I said Patrick Donahue…"
Patrick shook his head. He'd left Ireland with Rhett not long after that, and had done his best to push Father McCrery from his thoughts. He could handle life's challenges on his own. He didn't need help from anyone else.
Or so he'd thought.
Looking at his first born son lying there on the bed, almost on the brink of death…Now he wasn't so sure.
"Is this th' test ye spoke o Father?" he murmured aloud. "Is this Gods way o testin' me mettle? As he tested Abraham?"
A tear came to his eye. "Or is this somethin' I brought on meself through sheer stubbornness?" he murmured to himself, softer than before. He gently took Rhett's hand in his own. His heart breaking, he began to speak.
"I'm sorry Rhett." He whispered. "Sorry for bringin' this all down on ye head."
He bowed his head and gripped his sons limp hand.
"Come back laddy. You 'n I 'ave got a lot t' talk about…."
Upstairs, Xavier leaned back in his wheelchair with a sigh. All was well. Rhett was safe. Or as safe as any mutant could be in this world.
Now if only Rhett would wake. He thought.
I think he would be happy with the changes made in the life he left…
(Sniffles and blows her nose) ...