Chapter 10- Retrieving Memories
Sarah sat on the hospital bed, Charles's hand on her knee and Moira's arms around her shoulders as Jackson explained again how she had come to live with him and Naomi. "So, you see. William hates all mutants and he has never forgiven you for not "fixing" Jason," Jackson said.
"But you can't fix a mutant. We're all born with it," David, Sarah's brother pointed out
"We all know that, David. And there is nothing wrong with any of us any way. There is nothing to fix," Hank said.
"Well, except for this, Doctor. Are you and Abba smart enough to bring my memories back?" Sarah asked, touching her head to indicate her memory.
"Maybe, we'll have to take blood, skin, and bone marrow samples and see if we can synthesize an antidote," Jackson said.
"Okay. Why do I get the feeling I'm gonna hate myself for this? I just signed up for medical experimentation by Josef Mengele wannabes," Sarah said, rolling her eyes.
"The Death Angel of Auschwitz? That's the best insult you can do?" Jackson said, looking at her over his glasses.
"You got another name for it, Abba?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah. Being a doctor?" Jackson ventured.
"I think Josef Mengele was a doctor too, Sweetheart," Naomi said.
"Thank you, Mother," Sarah said.
"Don't encourage her, Naomi. You're supposed to be on my side," Jackson said to his wife.
"I know, but Sarah does have a point, dear," Naomi said.
"Of course she does. She's never wrong. Now open up, brat," Jackson said, tapping the side of her face gently. Sarah opened her mouth and he stuck the scraper inside, removing some of the skin tissue.
"Well, so far, so good," Sarah commented as she closed her mouth.
"I need to draw blood," Jackson said in his best Dracula voice.
"Okay. When Abba starts to sound like Bela Lugosi, that's when I wanna deck him with a pillow. The day before we disappeared me and him were watching "Abbot and Costello meets Frankenstein," Sarah said.
"Who's Bela Lugosi and Abbot and Costello?" David asked. Everyone turned to look at him.
"Xavier, this boy of yours has never seen Bela Lugosi or Abbot and Costello?" Jackson asked as he prepped a needle to stick in Sarah's arm.
"No, not that I am aware of. But it seems as if you have introduced my daughter to it," Charles said, squeezing Sarah's knee gently.
"I have a good reason for it, Professor. I like old movies. Me and Ima watch Gone with the Wind. But then again we also watched Schindler's List and Titanic," Sarah said as Jackson stuck the needle in her arm and drew both. Sarah exhaled sharply, the pain only momentary.
"Yeah and I didn't want you watching either one. Now I need to extract some bone marrow. Now this is gonna hurt worse than a needle to your arm," Jackson said. Sarah turned on her side, facing Charles. Charles reached forward , stroking her face tenderly. Sarah cried out as soon as the needle punctured her hip. She whimpered softly.
"I don't think I'm gonna be sitting up any time soon," Sarah groaned.
""Charles, I think you can try Cerebro now," Hank said as Jackson handed him the samples.
"Of course. Amanda, can you walk or do I need to have you carried?" Charles asked, the gentle touch of his hand on her forehead and face making her feel sleepy.
"I'll try to walk, Professor. I heal pretty fast. Besides eidetic memory, that is one of my powers. I cut myself with a butcher knife last Chanukah, making latkes, and I healed in under five minutes," Sarah said as she got up.
"Your brother has the same ability to heal himself. Come with me, Sweet," Charles said as he led her down the stainless steel corridor to a sealed room.
"Welcome, Professor," a mechanical female voice said as a bluish-white scan went over his face and they entered a large, cavernous room.
"Now what?" Sarah asked her father.
"Now, we try to see what I can find. Amanda, this might hurt and I am sorry for that. Amanda, you need to let me into your mind," Charles said, pulling her down and placing his hands on her temples.
"It is going to hurt?" Sarah asked as she looked into her father's eyes.
"Yes and I am sorry. Now just relax, my love. I will be as gentle as possible," Charles said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Sarah gave a cry as a pain shot through her head. She would have backed away if not for his hands on her temples. Just as quickly, he backed away, removing his hands from her head.
"Is it bad, Professor?" Sarah asked. Charles moved his hands to her cheeks and stroked gently.
"I found the block. I can't move past that without the antidote. If I try to I am afraid of what I could do. I could reduce you to a vegetable state if I'm not careful and I never wanted to hurt you. I love you too much," Charles said, kissing her forehead in a loving manner.
"Couldn't we risk it?" Sarah asked. Her father smiled briefly.
"No. I am not willing to make that high of a gamble when I could kill you. Like I said, I love you and I don't like hurting you any more than I just did. Now, why don't you tell me some things you like to do besides watch old movies while we wait for Nicholls and your Uncle Hank to synthesize the antidote?" Charles suggested.
"I wouldn't know where to start, Professor," Sarah said.
"Well, let's start there. You used to call me "Daddy." Do you think you can try again to call me that?" Charles asked.
"I can...I can try I suppose, but you are aware I might slip up and call you "Professor?" Sarah asked, her voice choking slightly.
Charles looked at his daughter. "I understand, Amanda. You are my girl, but it's going to be difficult. We'll take it one step at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is Amanda Xavier," Charles said. Charles hugged his daughter tightly, combing his fingers through her dark hair. It was a good thing Amanda couldn't see his face. She would have seen the absolute heartbreak in his eyes. Charles hoped that Jackson and Hank made the antidote soon. The sooner she had her memories back, the better.