Chapter 28

The next time she woke, the sun was starting to set over Bayview. Her head ached something fierce but at least her body didn't feel like it was tied down with weights. Nami took a deep breath as she stared blankly at the ceiling before she sat up. There was some tightness in her muscles, but that could be ignored in favored of the throbbing pulse behind her eyes as she shuffled forward towards the door. The young woman gave one last look over her shoulder towards Adelina, the girl still dead to the world.

Metaphorically speaking, Nami reminded herself.

There was a moment where she lingered at the door, her brow furrowed as she recalled the moments of her torment done to her by Phobos.

Her father pushing her away, being far harsher than he was in real life. Her council whispering behind her back, spreading the thought that she wasn't up to the task of leading an army, leading a kingdom against a mutant superhuman that was intent on destroying all life. Adelina, her mentor Scott Summers…. everyone she had worked with had whispered thoughts in her head.

Doubts really. Doubts that she has had since she could remember.

Nami's legs stumbled a bit as her heart stuttered. She took a deep breath and forced the tears down. She survived.

She and Adelina survived Phobos's fear gas. That was nothing short of a miracle, considering that no one that has ever come in contact with the fear-inducing mutant lived to tell the tale. She would have to talk to Dr. McCoy about what he did to cure the both of them.

I'll do that once I am able to form a decent coherent thought.

Her stomach roiled as another jab of pain pierced her mind. But she pushed through the pain and opened the door.

Only to stop and gawk at the sight that greeted her tired eyes.

She was in a mansion, large and incomprehensibly luxurious considering she spent most of her life in a cavern with a city hewn from the rock. The ceilings were held aloft with flying buttresses that were crafted from elegantly dark wood, which contrasted beautifully with the dark red and gold ceiling. The floor underneath her bare feet was a lovely plush carpet, the same deep red as the ceiling above. The halls were silent as a tomb as Nami moved forward, using the walls for support as she hobbled forward.

There were so many hallways and doors to be explored but Nami wasn't able to muster up enough energy to open them or to peer around the corner. She only was able to get to the stairway, plopping down as a wave of dizziness threatened to tip her over. The young queen sat, propped up against the banister with her eyes closed and her breathing slow and deep. It would look really bad If she vomited on the tapestry.

They were really there.

In the past, before Phoenix went nuclear and destroyed the entire world. Before she whittled down the human race from seven billion across the entire world to only a handful of colonies in only a few places. They were in a time where the X-Men were still young, still coming into their own. Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Kurt Wagner, Kitty Pryde…..they were all here, alive. They had a chance to change the past and make a better future.

Nami felt a bit lightheaded, giddy at the thought.

Or maybe that's the concussion talking.

Footsteps on the carpeted floor could be heard, getting closer and closer to where she was. She probably should move, but she was just too tired. She felt that if she moved, her stomach would expel what little she had eaten. The footsteps grew closer and closer and closer until-

"MIEN GOT!"

She jumped at the shout (when did she close her eyes?) which caused her to groan and curl inwards at the pain and nausea. Her eyes went up to see the slightly blurry, blue-furred face of Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler. The two sat there for a couple of minutes before Nami tried to get up, only to have a wave of dizziness wash over her. Not thinking, she leaned back, expecting something to be behind her to steady her, but all she came into contact was air. She leaned further back, not exactly missing the horrified look on Kurt's face as she continued to lean back…..

Only to find herself falling down the stairs. Painfully.

Thankfully, they were carpeted, so the tumble was only slightly less painful. And there was a landing halfway down, so she found herself staring up at the ceiling while her body screamed in pain. All this time, she heard Kurt mutter nervously. Nami's ears picked up his claws clicking down the stairs before stopping over her.

"Oh! Are you alright?" He asked in his thick accent. The blue mutant fluttered over her, and she couldn't help but compare him to a mother hen.

Some things are timeless, I suppose.

"Fraulein? Uh..miss? Are you okay? Are you alright?" He paused before asking, "Do I need to get Dr. McCoy?"

"No." Nami's voice was harsh to her own ears, rasping and painful to use. Her eyes screwed shut before she opened them. Her head was pounding painfully. "Though I will take painkillers if you have them."

"Are you hurting anywhere?"

"My head…..my limbs too but mostly my head." She tensed. "Oh no…."

"What?"

Kurt got his answer as Nami turned to his side and heaved. Not much remained in her stomach after the biscuits she scarfed down before passing out whenever that was. All of it was spilled out onto the wooden stairs, just barely missing the carpet. It would be easier to clean.

Once that….wretched business was concluded, Nami laid down on her back, all energy completely gone. She couldn't bring herself to care as Kurt muttered something under his breath, hopping form paw to paw in agitation before finally the footsteps retreated. Nami felt better in the world of darkness, but she couldn't find herself back in the comforting arms of sleep. Her head pounded far too painfully for her to dip back into unconsciousness. Not to mention her stomach still clenched violently, torn between wanting food and expelling all that she took in. Another violent clench had her tightening up, curling into a fetal position as she sobbed.

More footsteps.

"This way! I found her like this."

Kurt, She thought distantly. Kurt….that's Kurt Wagner.

"My dear?"

That…and that's Dr. McCoy.

"Yes, my name is Dr. McCoy." Soft fingers touched her face, turning it towards the light. She tried to pull away from the bright white that pierced her skull but the fingers held her. "Can you open your eyes for me, my dear?"

"Can't…." Nami croaked out. She licked her dry lips with her equally dry tongue. "Too bright."

"Where are you hurting?"

"Everywhere. Mostly my head." Her stomach tightened again. "Oh, I think about hurl again."

"What are we gonna do?" She heard Kurt ask the doctor.

She painfully cracked open her eyes, her gaze falling on the chandelier above her and before focusing on Dr. McCoy's face. Namie felt her breath catch as her vision blurred from the tears. Dr. McCoy….

He was here. A younger, lither version of the man that she had admired and enjoyed. His fur was a lighter blue, a much softer color than Kurt's. His eyes looked at her with worry, concern. It reminded her of when she was sick and Hank McCoy would watch over her, taking care of her.

Just like he was doing now…..

She could feel hot tears running down her face.

"Oh, gods…Dr. McCoy….."

"Yes, my child. I'm here."

"Oh….I don' feel s'good."

"I know. It's lingering toxins in your blood. They're not quite out of your body right now. Do you happen to know how long it'll take for them to leave?"

Nami moved her head side to side, but stopped when it made her dizzy. "No one's eve' lived through Phobos's fear toxin before….it'll take a while to….get out."

Dr. McCoy's brow furrowed as a spasm of pain had Nami curling inward. She turned to her side, resting her head in her hands. Her eyes were half closed, and it sounded like Dr. McCoy and Kurt were talking through cotton balls that someone stuffed in her ears. The room was going fuzzy and her eyes slid shut.

She opened them again and found that she was in the infirmary. Her arm was straightened out, an IV stuck in her arm. Clear liquid seeped into her veins and despite the fears that it created, she couldn't brign the energy to care. Though the more and more she stayed awake, the more Nami found herself to be a bit clearer in the head. She could focus, and had a coherent thought. Though it was only one thought, Nami latched onto it with a fury, allowing it to drag her around. Just three words.

Three simple words.

We did it. We did it. We did it. We did it. We did it.

How was it possible? That they were able to travel through time and find their way to the X-Men? The members who were all dead in her timeline-

Nami took a shuddering breath. Beside her, the heart monitor started to race, beeping frantically in time with her heart.

No….they were all still alive….in the past. But…

She had to stay focused.

Nami had to find a way to stop the Phoenix. But right now….she was so tired.

The door opening on the other side of the room. She watched blankly as none other than Professor Xavier rolled into the room. His soft, but wizened gaze settled on her, stopping just at her bed.

"You have come a long way haven't you, my dear."

"Don't know the half of it." Nami whispered. She sighed.

"Get some rest. We'll talk later." He placed his hand on her forehead. A wave of exhaustion, heavier than any tsunami that she had ever seen swept over her and dragged her back down into sweet, ever-loving darkness.