Title: A Friend in Need II: Sweet Child of Mine 04/22
Author: Somogyi
Email: somogyi02@yahoo.com
Archive: Sure, just please ask first
Rating: PG-13 for language, violence, and some disturbing imagery
Summary: Jubilee is well on the way to recovery from the physical injuries she
sustained during "A Friend in Need," thanks to the help of Logan and Jean. The
psychic damage, however, has been slow to heal: she is still plagued by regular
nightmares and her memory has not yet returned. And while Jean's endless devotion
to Jubilee is helping her to recuperate, it is starting to put a strain on Jean's
marriage to Scott.
Disclaimer: The X-Men and Generation X are property of Marvel Entertainment.
Characters are used without permission, no profit is being made, and no infringement
on copyright is intended.
*****
A Friend in Need II: Sweet Child of Mine
by Somogyi
somogyi02@yahoo.com
Chapter 4
"I trust your physical therapy session went well?" Hank asked, listening to
Jubilee's heart as part of her weekly physical exam.
"Kid's a regular trooper," Logan replied from where he stood on the other side
of the medi-lab, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "She did good,
like she always does. We'll have her back on active status in no time."
"Heart and lungs sound great," Hank said, tucking his stethoscope into his lab
coat pocket and reaching for Jubilee's wrist to take her pulse. "You're feeling
all right, I take it?"
"Yep. I feel great."
"No problems? How have the headaches been?"
Jubilee thought for a moment. "I haven't had one in a couple of days. When I do,
Jean gives me one of the pills you prescribed, we do some meditation exercises
to help me clear my mind and help me relax, and then they usually go away."
"Good. How do you find your energy level?"
"A little better lately. I made over half the trip today by myself."
"That's wonderful, Jubilation. You really are advancing in your recovery by
leaps and bounds. A model patient."
"I'm the best there is at what I do," she said deadpan, even as she gave
Wolverine a wink.
"I think we'll be able to remove your cast next week," Hank said as he began to
scribble notations onto Jubilee's file. "After which, you'll of course have to
add some additional exercises to your repertoire in order to strengthen the
atrophied muscles in your wrist."
"Of course," Jubilee replied with a sigh. "My work is never done."
"Speaking of which, aren't you and Jean supposed to work on some mental
exercises posthaste?" Hank inquired.
As if on cue, Jean entered the medi-lab with Ororo at her side. The two women
were conversing amongst themselves in soft tones.
"Well, lookit what the cat dragged in," Logan commented dryly from his perch
against the wall.
"You look like you could use this," Hank told Jean, handing her a towel.
Normally, especially due to her fair complexion, Hank would expect Jean's face
to appear flushed after such an obvious exertion; at the moment, however, she
was looking rather ashen.
"Thanks, Hank," she replied softly, using it to mop the perspiration from her
brow.
"Would you like some cold water?" Ororo suggested, already heading toward the
refrigerator.
"No, I'm fine," Jean told her, walking over to where Jubilee sat on an exam
table. "How'd your session go, sweetie?"
"Great. How was yours? You look like you just finished a marathon."
Jean managed a weary smile. "As much as I'm chagrined to admit it, I think Scott
was right. I'm a little out of practice."
"Nonsense," Ororo countered. "This morning's workout was unusually intense. You
held your own, Jean, and performed quite admirably."
Jean rolled her eyes. "I think I'm getting too old for this," she grinned.
"That, or I'm losing my touch."
"It is just that this particular scenario required an equal component of
physical exertion as it did mental effort," Storm insisted.
"Are you saying that as team leader, or as my best friend?" Jean asked, hoisting
herself up to sit beside Jubilee.
"Both."
"Well, I don't buy it, but thanks all the same, Ororo."
"Man o man," Jubilee muttered, getting a good look at Jean's spent visage. "And
I thought Wolvie was a regular drill sergeant. Whoever wrote that training
program could have a successful career running boot camp." She shook her head
sadly. "And would probably enjoy it too, the sadistic bastard," she muttered
almost as an afterthought.
"That `sadistic bastard' would be my loving husband," Jean remarked dryly, even
as she patted down her face yet again with the towel.
From across the room, Wolverine snorted. "Sounds to me like ole Scotty's gonna
be sleepin' on the couch tonight."
"Laugh it up all you want, Wolvie, but don't forget your turn's next," Jubilee
pointed out.
"Yes, don't you have a training session to attend?" Jean inquired with mock
innocence.
"Yep. You comin', McCoy?"
"Momentarily," Hank replied, making a final notation onto Jubilee's medical file
before placing it on a table and shedding his labcoat. "Ladies, I bid you
adieu."
"Catch ya later, Beastie-boy," Jubilee called. "Same time tomorrow, Wolvster?"
"You betcha, kiddo. Catch y'all later."
After the two men left, Jean turned to Jubilee. "You ready for our session?"
Jubilee's brow furrowed. "I am, but I don't think you are. Don't you want to
take a breather for a little while? Catch your breath, maybe take a shower?"
"I'll be fine," Jean replied, hopping down from the table. "The idea is to
adhere to your schedule," she said, reaching out to take Jubilee by the waist
and help her down.
"Surely rescheduling for later this afternoon will prove just as effective,"
Storm suggested, handing Jubilee her braces.
"I don't see what the big deal is about sticking to the schedule as originally
planned," Jean said, her patience growing short. "Now, Jubilee, are you coming
or not?" Without even waiting for a reply, she was half-way out the door.
"Yeah, hold on. Catch ya later, `Roro," the girl called, arranging her braces so
that she could hurry to catch up to Jean. "We goin' to the usual spot?" But Jean
did not reply. "Jean, I said are we goin' to our usual spot?"
"Yes," Jean finally responded, her voice soft and weary. "The garden always
seems to be a relaxing place, don't you. . . ."
When Jean's voice trailed off before she could even finish the thought, Jubilee
looked up at her. Jean had stopped walking, and now stood holding her head. She
started to waver.
"Jean?" Jubilee tried to steady her, but remaining upright herself was often a
struggle. Suddenly, Jean lost her balance, and fell into Jubilee's arms. The
sudden addition of Jean's weight was more than the girl's unsteady legs could
bear. She felt both of them tumbling toward the ground. They landed hard,
Jubilee's crutches making quite a clatter.
Ororo, who was still in the medi-lab, immediately heard the crash. She hurried
into the corridor, where she found the pair laying in a heap on the floor.
"Goddess! Jubilee, are you injured? Did you lose your balance?" Ororo asked,
grabbing her beneath the arms to help her to her feet.
"It wasn't me," the girl explained. "Jean fell on me. I think she passed out."
Ororo bent down and gently turned Jean onto her back. She felt her neck for a
pulse, and was relieved to find it beating strongly. "Jubilee, go see if you can
catch Hank and Logan while I get Jean into the medi-lab."
Jubilee looked down the lengthy hallway. "They'll be in the Danger Room before I
even make it to the elevator," she protested. "'Sides, I wanna make sure Jean's
okay."
Without further protest, Ororo lifted Jean into her arms and swiftly carried her
back into the medi-lab. She had no sooner placed her onto an exam table when
Jean's eyes began to flutter.
"She is starting to come around," Ororo told Jubilee, who was just now
approaching the exam table. "Jean, can you hear me?" she asked, gently tapping
her cheek with the back of her hand.
"Nnnn," she moaned. Slowly, her eyes opened. She looked up at the concerned face
staring down at her. "R-Roro? Wh-What . . . what happened?" she asked, trying to
sit up.
"Careful," Ororo warned.
"Oh!" Jean gasped, even as another wave of vertigo flooded over her. She grabbed
her head, even as she squeezed her eyes shut against the nausea.
"Here, try putting your head between your knees," Ororo suggested, helping her
into the position. "Jubilee, can you wet down a cloth with some cool water?"
"Sure," Jubilee said, hurrying to the sink as fast as she could. She returned a
few moments later with the cold compress, which Ororo placed on the back of
Jean's neck.
Ororo and Jubilee stood by silently, waiting to see what would happen next.
After a couple of minutes, Jean slowly sat back up.
"Easy does it," Ororo said, reaching for her wrist to feel her pulse. "Feeling
any better?"
"A little," Jean replied wearily. "I've still got the shakes."
"Jubilee, can you go get some juice from the fridge?" Ororo suggested. "Your
blood sugar is probably low," she told Jean. "Lightheadedness is often a result
of hypoglycemia."
"That's what you get for skipping breakfast," Jubilee chastised. "Tea's not
enough when you work out like you did today."
"Especially when you have not pushed yourself so hard in weeks," Ororo added,
taking the small bottle of apple juice from Jubilee and opening it before
handing it to Jean. "Take small sips."
Jean accepted it wordlessly and did as instructed.
"Jubilee, perhaps you should go fetch Scott," Ororo told her.
"No!" Jean protested, perhaps a bit too emphatically. "No," she repeated, this
time much softer. "I skipped breakfast and pushed myself too hard. There's no
reason to disrupt his training session for that."
"You sure?" Jubilee asked. "I'm sure he'd want to know if anything happened to
you."
"So he can lecture me on my poor dietary and exercise habits? I've had more than
enough of his preaching for a while. Really, I'll be fine."
"Jubilee and I will make sure of that," Ororo assured her. "We will get you
home, get some food into you, and put you to bed for some much-needed rest."
"Ororo, that's hardly necessary. I'll be fine. Besides, Jubilee and I are
supposed to have a session--"
"Will you shut the hell up about this goddammed session?!" Jubilee shouted. Her
small frame was shaking with barely-controlled rage. "I don't care about this
stupid session! I care about *you*, Jean. And you're pushing yourself too hard.
Running yourself into the ground. If you don't start taking better care of
yourself, you're gonna make yourself sick. And that's not gonna do you or me or
Scott or anybody any good."
She paused to take a breath, and felt the tears stinging her eyes. "I don't
wanna lose you, Jean. Call me selfish, I don't care. I've come to depend on you
too much. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't there for me anymore. I don't
know how I would find the strength to go on."
The tears were falling freely now. "See, this is all your fault. You're the one
who taught me to be open about my feelings. To be honest with myself, and with
others. Well, now I'm doing exactly what you said. I'm telling you to take a
step back and slow down before you self-destruct. If not for yourself, then do
it for me. I need you, Jean. Please."
Jean stared at Jubilee, quite taken aback. But the girl's words managed to hit
home. She *had* been pushing herself too hard lately. In her selfless desire to
do all that she could to ease Jubilee's struggle for recuperation, she had
managed to neglect herself. Which, just as Jubilee said, was not going to do
anyone any good. She had not realized how deeply she had managed to touch
Jubilee. That knowledge in and of itself made her own heart ache with joy. She
could not stop her own tears from falling. She held open her arms in silent
invitation.
Jubilee immediately moved into them, nearly falling into Jean's embrace. She
held onto Jean tightly, even as the sobs shook her.
"Shh," Jean murmured, stroking Jubilee's back. "I'm sorry, Jubilee. I'm so
sorry. I'm not going to leave you, sweetie. I'll always be here for you. I
promise. I'll take better care of myself, so I can take better care of you. It's
going to be better now. It will. I promise." She turned her head to kiss
Jubilee's temple.
While Jean held and comforted Jubilee, Ororo meanwhile busied herself with
straightening up the medi-lab. It was not until several minutes later, when Jean
called her name, that she finally returned her attention to her friend. Her eyes
had been dried, and a touch of color had since returned to her cheeks. She still
looked weary to the bone, though.
"Are you ready to return home now?" Ororo asked.
"Yes," Jean replied, slowly rising to her feet. Jubilee and Ororo each took a
step towards her, hands reaching out protectively to steady her should she fall.
Jean took a moment to ensure that her legs would hold her, and then took a
cautious step forward. She did so steadily.
"I shall walk you both home," Ororo said, linking her arm with Jean's as the
trio headed toward the door. "And while you take a warm bath and change into
something more comfortable, I shall prepare something for lunch. After we eat,
you will go to bed for some rest." The commanding tone of her voice made it
perfectly clear that she would accept no arguments.
This did not, however, stop Jean from trying. She opened her mouth to protest,
but Ororo cut her off before she could even get the words out. "Do not worry
about Jubilee. She will spend the afternoon with me. We will practice her
meditation skills. If weather permits--" and there was a smirk on Storm's face
as she said this-- "perhaps we will attempt to commune a bit with nature. And I
shall check with Betsy to see if she has some time to perform some psychic
exercises with Jubilee so that she does not fall behind in her lessons."
Silently, Jean nodded her head. Ororo had definitely thought this out. She had
covered all the bases, left no stone unturned. And Jean had to admit, the idea
of letting someone else shoulder the responsibility for a day while she
permitted herself some time to relax and regroup was delightful. Oh, to be able
to indulge in a long soak in the tub and a nap! She could not remember the last
time she had permitted herself such a frivolity.
"Thank you, Ororo."
"You are quite welcome, Jean. We all keep trying to tell you that we would like
to help out. Just because you agreed to be Jubilee's legal guardian does not
mean that you have to shoulder the entire responsibility for her care. You need
some time for yourself, as well. Rest assured, when you do, Jubilee will be in
good, capable hands."
"I know," she said, pulling her best friend's arm closer to her and giving her
hand a quick squeeze of appreciation. "The best."
End Chapter 4
*****
Author: Somogyi
Email: somogyi02@yahoo.com
Archive: Sure, just please ask first
Rating: PG-13 for language, violence, and some disturbing imagery
Summary: Jubilee is well on the way to recovery from the physical injuries she
sustained during "A Friend in Need," thanks to the help of Logan and Jean. The
psychic damage, however, has been slow to heal: she is still plagued by regular
nightmares and her memory has not yet returned. And while Jean's endless devotion
to Jubilee is helping her to recuperate, it is starting to put a strain on Jean's
marriage to Scott.
Disclaimer: The X-Men and Generation X are property of Marvel Entertainment.
Characters are used without permission, no profit is being made, and no infringement
on copyright is intended.
*****
A Friend in Need II: Sweet Child of Mine
by Somogyi
somogyi02@yahoo.com
Chapter 4
"I trust your physical therapy session went well?" Hank asked, listening to
Jubilee's heart as part of her weekly physical exam.
"Kid's a regular trooper," Logan replied from where he stood on the other side
of the medi-lab, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "She did good,
like she always does. We'll have her back on active status in no time."
"Heart and lungs sound great," Hank said, tucking his stethoscope into his lab
coat pocket and reaching for Jubilee's wrist to take her pulse. "You're feeling
all right, I take it?"
"Yep. I feel great."
"No problems? How have the headaches been?"
Jubilee thought for a moment. "I haven't had one in a couple of days. When I do,
Jean gives me one of the pills you prescribed, we do some meditation exercises
to help me clear my mind and help me relax, and then they usually go away."
"Good. How do you find your energy level?"
"A little better lately. I made over half the trip today by myself."
"That's wonderful, Jubilation. You really are advancing in your recovery by
leaps and bounds. A model patient."
"I'm the best there is at what I do," she said deadpan, even as she gave
Wolverine a wink.
"I think we'll be able to remove your cast next week," Hank said as he began to
scribble notations onto Jubilee's file. "After which, you'll of course have to
add some additional exercises to your repertoire in order to strengthen the
atrophied muscles in your wrist."
"Of course," Jubilee replied with a sigh. "My work is never done."
"Speaking of which, aren't you and Jean supposed to work on some mental
exercises posthaste?" Hank inquired.
As if on cue, Jean entered the medi-lab with Ororo at her side. The two women
were conversing amongst themselves in soft tones.
"Well, lookit what the cat dragged in," Logan commented dryly from his perch
against the wall.
"You look like you could use this," Hank told Jean, handing her a towel.
Normally, especially due to her fair complexion, Hank would expect Jean's face
to appear flushed after such an obvious exertion; at the moment, however, she
was looking rather ashen.
"Thanks, Hank," she replied softly, using it to mop the perspiration from her
brow.
"Would you like some cold water?" Ororo suggested, already heading toward the
refrigerator.
"No, I'm fine," Jean told her, walking over to where Jubilee sat on an exam
table. "How'd your session go, sweetie?"
"Great. How was yours? You look like you just finished a marathon."
Jean managed a weary smile. "As much as I'm chagrined to admit it, I think Scott
was right. I'm a little out of practice."
"Nonsense," Ororo countered. "This morning's workout was unusually intense. You
held your own, Jean, and performed quite admirably."
Jean rolled her eyes. "I think I'm getting too old for this," she grinned.
"That, or I'm losing my touch."
"It is just that this particular scenario required an equal component of
physical exertion as it did mental effort," Storm insisted.
"Are you saying that as team leader, or as my best friend?" Jean asked, hoisting
herself up to sit beside Jubilee.
"Both."
"Well, I don't buy it, but thanks all the same, Ororo."
"Man o man," Jubilee muttered, getting a good look at Jean's spent visage. "And
I thought Wolvie was a regular drill sergeant. Whoever wrote that training
program could have a successful career running boot camp." She shook her head
sadly. "And would probably enjoy it too, the sadistic bastard," she muttered
almost as an afterthought.
"That `sadistic bastard' would be my loving husband," Jean remarked dryly, even
as she patted down her face yet again with the towel.
From across the room, Wolverine snorted. "Sounds to me like ole Scotty's gonna
be sleepin' on the couch tonight."
"Laugh it up all you want, Wolvie, but don't forget your turn's next," Jubilee
pointed out.
"Yes, don't you have a training session to attend?" Jean inquired with mock
innocence.
"Yep. You comin', McCoy?"
"Momentarily," Hank replied, making a final notation onto Jubilee's medical file
before placing it on a table and shedding his labcoat. "Ladies, I bid you
adieu."
"Catch ya later, Beastie-boy," Jubilee called. "Same time tomorrow, Wolvster?"
"You betcha, kiddo. Catch y'all later."
After the two men left, Jean turned to Jubilee. "You ready for our session?"
Jubilee's brow furrowed. "I am, but I don't think you are. Don't you want to
take a breather for a little while? Catch your breath, maybe take a shower?"
"I'll be fine," Jean replied, hopping down from the table. "The idea is to
adhere to your schedule," she said, reaching out to take Jubilee by the waist
and help her down.
"Surely rescheduling for later this afternoon will prove just as effective,"
Storm suggested, handing Jubilee her braces.
"I don't see what the big deal is about sticking to the schedule as originally
planned," Jean said, her patience growing short. "Now, Jubilee, are you coming
or not?" Without even waiting for a reply, she was half-way out the door.
"Yeah, hold on. Catch ya later, `Roro," the girl called, arranging her braces so
that she could hurry to catch up to Jean. "We goin' to the usual spot?" But Jean
did not reply. "Jean, I said are we goin' to our usual spot?"
"Yes," Jean finally responded, her voice soft and weary. "The garden always
seems to be a relaxing place, don't you. . . ."
When Jean's voice trailed off before she could even finish the thought, Jubilee
looked up at her. Jean had stopped walking, and now stood holding her head. She
started to waver.
"Jean?" Jubilee tried to steady her, but remaining upright herself was often a
struggle. Suddenly, Jean lost her balance, and fell into Jubilee's arms. The
sudden addition of Jean's weight was more than the girl's unsteady legs could
bear. She felt both of them tumbling toward the ground. They landed hard,
Jubilee's crutches making quite a clatter.
Ororo, who was still in the medi-lab, immediately heard the crash. She hurried
into the corridor, where she found the pair laying in a heap on the floor.
"Goddess! Jubilee, are you injured? Did you lose your balance?" Ororo asked,
grabbing her beneath the arms to help her to her feet.
"It wasn't me," the girl explained. "Jean fell on me. I think she passed out."
Ororo bent down and gently turned Jean onto her back. She felt her neck for a
pulse, and was relieved to find it beating strongly. "Jubilee, go see if you can
catch Hank and Logan while I get Jean into the medi-lab."
Jubilee looked down the lengthy hallway. "They'll be in the Danger Room before I
even make it to the elevator," she protested. "'Sides, I wanna make sure Jean's
okay."
Without further protest, Ororo lifted Jean into her arms and swiftly carried her
back into the medi-lab. She had no sooner placed her onto an exam table when
Jean's eyes began to flutter.
"She is starting to come around," Ororo told Jubilee, who was just now
approaching the exam table. "Jean, can you hear me?" she asked, gently tapping
her cheek with the back of her hand.
"Nnnn," she moaned. Slowly, her eyes opened. She looked up at the concerned face
staring down at her. "R-Roro? Wh-What . . . what happened?" she asked, trying to
sit up.
"Careful," Ororo warned.
"Oh!" Jean gasped, even as another wave of vertigo flooded over her. She grabbed
her head, even as she squeezed her eyes shut against the nausea.
"Here, try putting your head between your knees," Ororo suggested, helping her
into the position. "Jubilee, can you wet down a cloth with some cool water?"
"Sure," Jubilee said, hurrying to the sink as fast as she could. She returned a
few moments later with the cold compress, which Ororo placed on the back of
Jean's neck.
Ororo and Jubilee stood by silently, waiting to see what would happen next.
After a couple of minutes, Jean slowly sat back up.
"Easy does it," Ororo said, reaching for her wrist to feel her pulse. "Feeling
any better?"
"A little," Jean replied wearily. "I've still got the shakes."
"Jubilee, can you go get some juice from the fridge?" Ororo suggested. "Your
blood sugar is probably low," she told Jean. "Lightheadedness is often a result
of hypoglycemia."
"That's what you get for skipping breakfast," Jubilee chastised. "Tea's not
enough when you work out like you did today."
"Especially when you have not pushed yourself so hard in weeks," Ororo added,
taking the small bottle of apple juice from Jubilee and opening it before
handing it to Jean. "Take small sips."
Jean accepted it wordlessly and did as instructed.
"Jubilee, perhaps you should go fetch Scott," Ororo told her.
"No!" Jean protested, perhaps a bit too emphatically. "No," she repeated, this
time much softer. "I skipped breakfast and pushed myself too hard. There's no
reason to disrupt his training session for that."
"You sure?" Jubilee asked. "I'm sure he'd want to know if anything happened to
you."
"So he can lecture me on my poor dietary and exercise habits? I've had more than
enough of his preaching for a while. Really, I'll be fine."
"Jubilee and I will make sure of that," Ororo assured her. "We will get you
home, get some food into you, and put you to bed for some much-needed rest."
"Ororo, that's hardly necessary. I'll be fine. Besides, Jubilee and I are
supposed to have a session--"
"Will you shut the hell up about this goddammed session?!" Jubilee shouted. Her
small frame was shaking with barely-controlled rage. "I don't care about this
stupid session! I care about *you*, Jean. And you're pushing yourself too hard.
Running yourself into the ground. If you don't start taking better care of
yourself, you're gonna make yourself sick. And that's not gonna do you or me or
Scott or anybody any good."
She paused to take a breath, and felt the tears stinging her eyes. "I don't
wanna lose you, Jean. Call me selfish, I don't care. I've come to depend on you
too much. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't there for me anymore. I don't
know how I would find the strength to go on."
The tears were falling freely now. "See, this is all your fault. You're the one
who taught me to be open about my feelings. To be honest with myself, and with
others. Well, now I'm doing exactly what you said. I'm telling you to take a
step back and slow down before you self-destruct. If not for yourself, then do
it for me. I need you, Jean. Please."
Jean stared at Jubilee, quite taken aback. But the girl's words managed to hit
home. She *had* been pushing herself too hard lately. In her selfless desire to
do all that she could to ease Jubilee's struggle for recuperation, she had
managed to neglect herself. Which, just as Jubilee said, was not going to do
anyone any good. She had not realized how deeply she had managed to touch
Jubilee. That knowledge in and of itself made her own heart ache with joy. She
could not stop her own tears from falling. She held open her arms in silent
invitation.
Jubilee immediately moved into them, nearly falling into Jean's embrace. She
held onto Jean tightly, even as the sobs shook her.
"Shh," Jean murmured, stroking Jubilee's back. "I'm sorry, Jubilee. I'm so
sorry. I'm not going to leave you, sweetie. I'll always be here for you. I
promise. I'll take better care of myself, so I can take better care of you. It's
going to be better now. It will. I promise." She turned her head to kiss
Jubilee's temple.
While Jean held and comforted Jubilee, Ororo meanwhile busied herself with
straightening up the medi-lab. It was not until several minutes later, when Jean
called her name, that she finally returned her attention to her friend. Her eyes
had been dried, and a touch of color had since returned to her cheeks. She still
looked weary to the bone, though.
"Are you ready to return home now?" Ororo asked.
"Yes," Jean replied, slowly rising to her feet. Jubilee and Ororo each took a
step towards her, hands reaching out protectively to steady her should she fall.
Jean took a moment to ensure that her legs would hold her, and then took a
cautious step forward. She did so steadily.
"I shall walk you both home," Ororo said, linking her arm with Jean's as the
trio headed toward the door. "And while you take a warm bath and change into
something more comfortable, I shall prepare something for lunch. After we eat,
you will go to bed for some rest." The commanding tone of her voice made it
perfectly clear that she would accept no arguments.
This did not, however, stop Jean from trying. She opened her mouth to protest,
but Ororo cut her off before she could even get the words out. "Do not worry
about Jubilee. She will spend the afternoon with me. We will practice her
meditation skills. If weather permits--" and there was a smirk on Storm's face
as she said this-- "perhaps we will attempt to commune a bit with nature. And I
shall check with Betsy to see if she has some time to perform some psychic
exercises with Jubilee so that she does not fall behind in her lessons."
Silently, Jean nodded her head. Ororo had definitely thought this out. She had
covered all the bases, left no stone unturned. And Jean had to admit, the idea
of letting someone else shoulder the responsibility for a day while she
permitted herself some time to relax and regroup was delightful. Oh, to be able
to indulge in a long soak in the tub and a nap! She could not remember the last
time she had permitted herself such a frivolity.
"Thank you, Ororo."
"You are quite welcome, Jean. We all keep trying to tell you that we would like
to help out. Just because you agreed to be Jubilee's legal guardian does not
mean that you have to shoulder the entire responsibility for her care. You need
some time for yourself, as well. Rest assured, when you do, Jubilee will be in
good, capable hands."
"I know," she said, pulling her best friend's arm closer to her and giving her
hand a quick squeeze of appreciation. "The best."
End Chapter 4
*****