Author's Note: Apologies for the delay. And apologies for the rushed-ness at the end. I am going to be away in a field until late on Monday so won't get to type till Tuesday so just wanted to get something up before I went and this seemed like a good place to leave it. Be back as soon as I can!
Disclaimer: Don't own the x-men but I will stake my claim on the uber-cuteness of Jinx and Tommy and Abi if they pop up!
Sleeping With the Enemy
Chapter 36
Jamie flinched slightly as Hank re-stitched his wound. The doctor looked up at him pointedly.
"Yeah, I know…" the multiplying mutant mumbled. "It's my own fault."
Hank arched an eyebrow, leaning back to put away his equipment.
"Was it at least worth it?" he asked kindly, pulling out a fresh bandage to re-cover the multiplying mutant's chest. Jamie could not help the faint smile that pulled on his lips.
"Yeah… it was worth it…"
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Piotr laughed heartily, rolling his eyes as Jinx glared unconvincingly at Tommy. The Russian shook his head helplessly at the puppy look Tommy returned. He opened his mouth to offer his opinion on the matter but a voice from the doorway stopped him.
"Tut, tut Pete, you should know better," Bobby offered Piotr a smile before arching an eyebrow at the two students, tapping on his watch. Piotr quickly glanced down at his own wrist, blinking in surprise at how late it was.
"Yeah Pete," Jinx smirked, clambering to his feet, reaching out a hand to help Tommy from his sprawled position on the sofa. "Keeping us awake with your need for gossip."
"My apologies," Piotr smiled, waving as the two students made their way toward the door. Jinx however paused in front of the older mutant.
"You going down to see Jamie tonight?" he asked quietly. Piotr took a deep breath, glancing at his watch again.
"He ought to be sleeping by now," the Russian shook his head. "I'll go down and see him in the morning."
Jinx rolled his eyes.
"Well don't leave it too long, yeah?"
Piotr could not help but arch an eyebrow.
"Cayden Poole, are you trying to give me relationship advice?" he asked quietly, his teasing smirk softened by genuine affection. The younger mutant scowled faintly, shoving Tommy lightly toward the door.
"No… just saying…" he grumbled, hitting Tommy on the shoulder as the other student exchanged an amused look with Piotr as they left the room, calling back over his shoulder; "And don't call me Cayden!"
Bobby smiled, shaking his head slightly.
"Wouldn't be the same around here without them, would it?"
"No it would not," Piotr agreed, smiling warmly. Bobby took a deep, quiet breath and rounded the sofa, sitting down opposite the Russian.
"He's right you know."
Piotr smiled wryly.
"I know," he nodded. "I just… he needs time to talk to Brendon. And he just woke up I need to… well I guess I wanna make sure that if he forgives me it's because he wants to and not just because he's too tired to argue."
Bobby too nodded in understanding.
"You're right. Well… I hope it works out for you," he offered the other mutant a sincere smile. "I mean it."
Piotr could not help but return the smile.
"You… don't mind, I mean, me and Jamie?"
Bobby inhaled deeply.
"I don't…" he screwed up his face slightly. "I'm worried about you, I don't think I'd be much of a friend if I wasn't. But it's more the Brotherhood thing than Jamie himself. I mean, he has his moments where he seems to be a complete ass but… I trust your judgement."
Piotr arched an eyebrow, giving a small nod.
"I guess that's fair. Thanks Bobby."
The ice mutant just smiled again, clambering to his feet.
"Well you know where to find me if you need me. I'd better go round up the rest of the kids. I'll see you later yeah?"
"Yeah, night Bobby," Piotr watched thoughtfully as the ice mutant disappeared out the door. With a quiet sigh he too stood, stretching tiredly. He may as well head off to bed. Maybe get a decent night sleep for a change now that Jamie was awake…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Brendon stifled a yawn as he sat on his bed the next morning. It was early but he was wide awake – too many long sleeps following his sedation was reeking havoc with his body clock. The teenager sent the occasional, thoughtful glance to the door that separated his room from Jamie's. It was too early to go through and see him. And perhaps too pushy? He did not even know how much of the other mutant he wanted to see. Or how much the other mutant wanted to see of him…
A quiet knock tore Brendon away from his thoughts. Looking towards the door that led out to the main corridor he took a deep breath.
"Come in," a small sigh of relief escaped his lips as Ororo slipped into the room, a warm smile on her lips.
"Good morning. How you feeling?"
"I'm ok," the teenager nodded.
"Good. I was just wondering if you wanted a little exercise," the teacher grinned. "We have a room here, a simulation room where the students – and teachers – can use their powers safely. I'm about to take a small group of the older students in," she arched an eyebrow. "You want a go? We can stop at any time if you don't feel up to it."
Brendon's eyes lit up.
"Sounds good," he nodded, his lips quirking up wryly. "You do realise that Mom will never let me be a student here though?"
Ororo chuckled quietly.
"Yes, I know," she nodded. "But that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun before you go."
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Jamie stifled a yawn, flinching slightly as pain ripped down his side. A slight scowl pulled on his face. He was getting fed up of not being able to move properly. The multiplying mutant cast his eyes around the room, trying to find something to tell him the time but there was no clock and he could not reach his cell phone lying on the table nearby – not without causing himself more pain, anyway. All he could do was wait for someone to come and see him. Perhaps Brendon would come through. A faint smile pulled on Jamie's lips as he considered the possibility. He would quite like to speak to the teenager again, a little more relaxed this time. Or perhaps Piotr could come down and see him. That would also be quite good…
A sharp knock on the door distracted Jamie from his brief self pity. The multiplying mutant took a deep breath, turning his head toward the door.
"Come in," he called, his expression quickly disintegrating into a scowl as Maggie slipped into his room. The multiplying mutant stifled a groan.
"Maggie," he forced a smile although he crossed his arms defensively across his bare chest, suddenly feeling a little vulnerable. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Jamie," the female returned a curt nod. "I want to know what you said to Brendon last night."
Jamie arched an eyebrow.
"I think that's between me and Brendon," he replied flatly, although he did shift a little uncomfortably. Maggie inhaled sharply.
"He is not going to become a student at this school," she stated bluntly. Jamie frowned slightly.
"Who said he was?" the multiplying mutant could not help his defensive tone. Maggie scowled.
"He's been taken into some training session with some of the other students," she explained, crossing her arms. "I want my son back Jamie."
"I got you your son back," Jamie grumbled, arching an eyebrow pointedly. Maggie however shook her head stubbornly.
"I will not let you ruin his life. You really think you can just waltz in and act like everything's ok?" the female scoffed as Jamie opened his mouth to reply, continuing without giving him the chance to speak. "You're just going to end up hurting him. You should do the decent thing and just back away."
"And what if I don't want to back away anymore?" Jamie replied indignantly. "Don't you think Brendon's old enough to make his own choices now?"
Maggie clearly bristled.
"He doesn't know what you're really like," she replied through gritted teeth. "I am going to take Brendon home this morning and you are going to leave him alone, do you understand?"
Jamie just returned a blank expression as the female arched an eyebrow at him pointedly before turning sharply on her heel, leaving briskly, the room behind her plunging back into silence…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Ororo could not help but smile as she led the students and Brendon out of the danger room.
"You did well in there Brendon," she smiled. The young multiplying mutant just shrugged. The student behind him however scowled.
"He's a sneaky moth…" Jinx looked up at Ororo, feigning an innocent expression as she arched an eyebrow at him. "Sneaky person."
The veteran x-man rolled her eyes as Jinx scurried off into the changing room, Tommy right behind offering Ororo an apologetic smile. Brendon turned back to Ororo, but before he could say anything Hank appeared beside the two.
"Have either of you seen Jamie this morning?" he asked tentatively, sighing as both shook their heads. Brendon blinked rapidly.
"He's not in his room?" a frown pulled on his brow. "But… I mean he could hardly move last night. Where would he… why would he…"
Hank and Ororo exchanged concerned looks. The doctor looked up to see Piotr coming down the corridor toward them.
"Anything?" he asked. The Russian shook his head solemnly, casting his gaze over Brendon.
"He's not answering his cell and John's gone too."
"So… He's just… gone?" Brendon asked quietly. He took a slow, deep breath but exhaled quickly as he saw his mother and Jake making their way down the corridor towards him.
"Good morning sweetie," Maggie took her son into a hug. "Did you have fun?"
"Eh… yeah…" Brendon nodded although he did not look all that enthusiastic. Jake frowned slightly.
"Bren, you ok?"
"Fine," the teenager shrugged. Ororo inhaled deeply.
"Jamie has… he's vanished."
Maggie scoffed softly.
"Oh sweetheart," she slipped her arms back around Brendon. "I told you he was unreliable."
"Yeah, I know…" Brendon mumbled. "What time are we going home?"
"You're… you're wanting to come home?" Jake looked quickly from Brendon to the gathered mutants, quickly looking to his wife but she kept her gaze fixed on Brendon. "This morning?"
The teenager shrugged, offering a wry smile.
"No point in sticking around here, is there?"