Author's Note: Blue Artkitty: I'm so glad my story inspired you! Btw, I went ahead and checked out the first chapter of your story. Abbi: Yep, you'll find out. Lol, you'll find out how nice I am too. Sooner or later. ElvisRules41: Yep! Nightninja456: I've heard your plea and… I'll take it under consideration ;) NaomiloveJelsa: Thank you! I hope this chapter meets your expectations. It's not very long, but there will be other chapters. Mystery girl: Thank you! I've heard the first two, but never the third! I think the Tarzan theory's a bit far-fetched. The parents don't really look alike. Just the thought of Tarzan's parents makes me sad ;(
Wow, I got a whole page of reviews. Thank you so much!
"Who had that same name," Jessica finished. Jessica swallowed and took a step closer. She was still beautiful, but now she kept her sleek black hair whipped into a professional twist and a pair of glasses graced her petite nose. Elsa thought the look suited her. "E-Elsa?"
Elsa was unable to do anything but nod dumbly.
"I-It's been ages. Wow, I haven't seen you since… graduation." Jessica set the clipboard on a nearby table and gave Elsa an awkward side hug, which Elsa failed to return in her dazed state. Jessica sat down on the opposite couch. "Wow, you're-you're okay. Wow. I just can't believe it's you!"
The utter shock began to wear away. A strange mix of apprehensiveness and relief swirled within her. Elsa swallowed. "Well, it's me."
Jessica smiled brightly. "How are you doing?" Her expression suddenly turned serious. "Where did you go?!"
Elsa twirled a lock of her hair nervously. "I was…"
"I mean you just, like, disappeared! But I guess I would too, after pulling that stunt."
Elsa pursed her lips. Did Jessica realize Elsa had powers? The intelligent gleam in Jessica's dark eyes told that she knew more than she was letting onto. Elsa's apprehensiveness increased tenfold. "You knew it wasn't a stunt."
Jessica smiled. "It's much more likely to be a stunt than… something else."
Elsa clasped her hands. Would Jessica use this as a chance to back-stab her? "So, what are you doing in Colorado?"
Jessica quirked an eyebrow, but didn't comment on the change of subject. "After… my father was apprehended… he still had some business he'd left unfinished. We had some unsavory characters hanging around our place, so I thought it was time for a change of scenery. I wanted to leave the past in the past. So, now my family's here and I'm attending medical school. I work some at the hospital. They're showing me the ropes and stuff. So, what are you doing in Colorado?"
Elsa almost grimaced. "I… um, just…" She squirmed in her seat. What to tell Jessica? Jessica watched her patiently, one leg nonchalantly draped over the other.
A small smile curved her lips. "You're still not much for talking, are you? Then let me do the talking." Jessica straightened, uncrossing her legs. "First of all, and I don't know how you did it, but that wasn't some sort of stunt. You have these… powers. Secondly, you left—disappeared—because you were forced to. It's quite possible you disappeared so abruptly because you didn't want publicity, you didn't want to be ostracized, or there something more serious at stake. Just tell me how off I am."
Elsa was briefly stunned. She hadn't expected Jessica to think so… logically. Elsa mentally kicked herself. She—more than anyone—should know not to stereotype. Elsa bit her lip. What had she to lose? Jessica already knew about the powers. "You're right on the first account. The second's a bit trickier… I was abducted by the AMD—"
"What?"
"Agency of Mutant Detainment. It's a government organization."
Her slender black brows nearly raised to her hairline. "I didn't know something like that… existed."
Elsa pursed her lips. "Unfortunately."
"Why? Didn't they treat you well?"
Elsa barked a bitter laugh. "Depends on your definition of 'treated well.'"
"Oh. Did you escape?"
"Recently. But I didn't have much to do with it."
"Oh?"
Elsa winced. Had she finally said too much? She didn't really want to reveal Jack's part in her escape and endanger him.
"Someone else broke you out? Who?"
Elsa bit her lip. She couldn't talk about Jack.
Jessica thoughtfully held her chin. "Jackson Overland? Don't look so pale, hon. It's all right; I won't tell. No one'll hear a peep from me. And it was pretty obvious. You shoulda seen him after you were gone. Poor boy was absolutely grief-stricken. I'd never seen some one so heart-broken. You two were real close, huh?"
Tears stung her eyes. "You could say that. Speaking of Jack…"
"Oh. Oh! He's the guy they're operating on?"
Elsa nodded.
Jessica covered her mouth with her fingertips. "Oh no."
Elsa jumped up. "What?!" she cried.
Jessica chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm supposed to tell you there's a chance he'll recover…"
"But?" Elsa began to tremble.
"He's just not doin' so well. That's all."
"What do you mean, 'not doing so well?'"
Jessica fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "He… lost a lot of blood. There is a chance he might recover."
"But there's a chance he-he m-might—" Her voice broke and she buried her face into her hands.
She felt a warm hand rest on her shoulder. "There's a chance anything could happen, hon."
Elsa inhaled deeply, trying to compose herself. "So, he needs to stay in the hospital."
"Definitely."
"But they'll find us."
Jessica waved a hand dismissively. "That'll be easy."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll just erase the records. It's not too hard. And I can do it without anyone knowing."
"How?"
Jessica winked. "I'm a bit of a computer whiz."
Elsa was stunned into silence again before she shook herself out of it. Just because Jessica liked mini-skirts and high heels didn't mean she was dumb. "O-oh."
"Didn't expect me to be so smart, huh?"
"Maybe," Elsa admitted.
"And you'll be able to see Jack within the hour. They just have to stitch him up. How did he get injured?"
Elsa swallowed. "Someone found us."
"The government?"
"Hans."
Jessica's mouth dropped open. "Hans?! Hans Westergard?" she asked incredulously.
Elsa nodded. "He's a bit… radical about riding the world of mutants."
"He did that to Jack? HOW?!"
"Well, his brother drilled a hole in him."
"What?!" Jessica looked completely outraged. "They can't do that. That's illegal."
"Maybe, Jessica, but we're illegal."
"We? You and who else?"
Elsa bit her lip. "Jack."
Jessica's eyes lit up. "Jack. Has. Powers. Doesn't he? Wow, what are the chances? What kind?"
"What kind?"
"What kind of powers?" she clarified.
Elsa cleared her throat. "Ice."
Jessica's eyes widened. "Wow. I can't believe it. Two people in the same high school with the same powers. When you guys were together, did you know that you had these powers?"
"We weren't even really together in high school."
Jessica snorted. "Oh, please. Everyone knew you two were an item."
Elsa sighed. "I didn't know about Jack's powers and he didn't know about mind."
"Wow," she repeated. "I mean, seriously, the chances of that happening are…"
"One in a million?"
Jessica laughed. "Closer to one in ten billion, I'd imagine. It's like you two were made for each other!"
Elsa's faint smile faded. "Maybe." How could she ever survive without Jack by her side?
"Don't worry, Elsa. He's strong. He'll make it."
"I hope so."
"Don't hope so, know so. He will make it."
Elsa offered Jessica a small smile, wondering if she could afford to be so optimistic.
