Title: A Friend in Need II: Sweet Child of Mine 05/22
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 5
"Scott, have you seen my moisturizer?" Jean called from the bedroom.
Peering into the refrigerator, Scott grabbed the container of eggs, carton of
milk, and tray of margarine, and pushed the door closed with his foot. "Did you
check the bottom shelf in the medicine cabinet?" he called back, carrying the
armful of ingredients over to the counter.
"What can I do?" Jubilee asked from where she sat at the kitchen table.
"Why don't you measure out the pancake mix?" Scott suggested, bringing her a
measuring cup, mixing bowl, and the package of mix.
"Found it!" Jean shouted from the bathroom.
"How many are we gonna make?" Jubilee asked, studying the instructions on the
back of the box.
"Depends," Scott replied, retrieving a frying pan from a cabinet. "How hungry
are you?"
"Scott, have you seen my green sweater?" Jean asked, walking into the kitchen.
"I can't find it anywhere."
"Mornin', Jean," Jubilee called.
"Good morning, sweetie," she replied, bending to place a kiss on top of her
head. "Pancakes, huh?"
"Yep. Scott's idea."
"Did you try the hall closet?" Scott suggested. "Maybe you put it in with the
coats."
"The hall closet," Jean repeated, as though one of the world's mysteries had
just been revealed to her. "Let me check."
"What's gotten into her?" Jubilee asked, struggling with the plastic liner
inside the box of pancake mix.
"I think it's been so long since she's gone away for the weekend that she's
forgotten how to pack," he replied. "How about six-to-eight? Is that an option?"
"Yeah. Thick or thin?"
"Light and fluffy. How many eggs do you need?"
"Looks like just one," she replied, measuring out the mix. "And `bout three-
quarters cup milk."
"Coming right up."
"Found it!" Jean announced, cutting through the kitchen, sweater in hand, on her
way back to the bedroom. "What time is it, Scott?"
He glanced at the clock. "Going on eight."
"Dammit! Ororo's going to be here any minute, and I still need to figure out
what shoes I'm taking."
Scott shook his head. "Jean, honey, you're going to be gone two days. How many
pairs of shoes can you possibly need?"
"It depends on what outfits she's packed," Jubilee explained, dumping the mix
into the bowl. "And the weather."
"You women make things entirely too complicated."
"No, you guys just have it way too easy. You can wear the same pair of pants and
shoes for anything from a casual get together, to a business meeting, to a semi-
formal dinner party. The same is not true for a woman."
"You just give yourselves too many choices, that's all," Scott countered, adding
the milk and egg into the bowl. "You wanna mix that all together?" he asked,
handing her a wooden spoon.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Tell her I'll just be another couple of minutes!" Jean called from the bedroom.
"Poor `Roro," Jubilee sighed, shaking her head. "She doesn't know what she's in
for this weekend."
"Better her than us," Scott replied, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. Jubilee
looked at him, and was sure that if she could see his eyes through the ruby-
quartz glasses he wore, he would be winking. "Be right back. Keep mixing,
Jubilation. I don't want to see any lumps by the time I get back."
"Geez, it's not like it's mashed potatoes or gravy," he heard her remark as he
headed for the door.
Opening it, he found Ororo standing outside, dressed in a long, flowing leopard
print sleeveless dress. Her long white hair was twisted up and off her neck, a
few stray pieces hanging casually near her ears. The large, golden hoop earrings
she wore helped to accent her elegant neck, and offset her bright blue eyes. As
usual, she was a striking sight to behold. There was little wonder as to how she
could have once been worshipped as a goddess.
"Hi, Ororo. Come on in," Scott said, stepping back so that she could enter.
"Good morning, Scott."
"Can I take your bag?" he asked, indicating the small duffel bag that was swung
over her shoulder.
"No, thank you, I am fine. Is Jean not ready yet?" she asked, glancing around.
Scott smirked. "Can I interest you in a cup of coffee? Or perhaps some pancakes?
Jubilee and I were just making breakfast."
Ororo's eyebrows raised. "That bad, huh?"
He nodded. "She's been running around like a chicken without a head. Her latest
quarry are shoes."
"Goddess, we are going to a spa, not a country club. I do not foresee many
opportunities to even wear shoes."
"You know Jean. She has to be prepared for any contingency. I swear, she must
have been a boy scout in a previous life."
Ororo smiled. "Perhaps I should go check on her and see if she requires any
assistance."
"Please do if you'd like to leave before noon. You're sure I can't interest you
in something to eat or drink?"
"No, thank you. I shall hopefully return momentarily with Jean."
"Good luck," Scott said, saluting her, before returning to the kitchen.
He found Jubilee kneeling on a chair for better leverage, one arm around the
mixing bowl, the other hand moving the spoon in tight circles. The tip of her
tongue was visible at the corner of her mouth and her brow was furrowed in
concentration. "Hey, Scott, ya got any chocolate chips around here somewhere?"
"I will not have my pancakes defiled by chocolate chips," he replied sternly.
"Aw, c'mon, Cyke. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"I don't have one," he deadpanned.
"Even you've got one, Scott. Don't you like to try new things every once in a
while?"
"Not when it comes to my pancakes. I'm conservative that way."
"Puh-leeeze? Pretty please with sugar on top?"
"Forget it, Jubilation. The only thing sweet you'll be eating with your pancakes
is maple syrup."
She pondered a moment. "It's not that fake stuff in the bottle shaped like a
little woman, is it?"
"Nope. This is the real deal. Sean picked it up at some sort of county fair and
gave everyone a jar for Christmas."
"All right. No chocolate chips. *This* time."
"Next time you pick breakfast, you can make whatever you want."
"Fat chance of that ever happening. Like Jean would let me cook in her kitchen."
"Hey, it's half my kitchen, too. If you want to--"
". . . sure I only need the one sweater?" Jean was asking Ororo as the two women
entered the kitchen.
"Jean, the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. Besides, I really
do not think you need worry about being cold when traveling with me."
But Jean's mind had already moved on to other matters. She looked around the
kitchen at the countertops and table already covered with food and utensils.
"Look at my beautiful kitchen," she all but gasped.
"See?" Jubilee whispered to Scott knowingly.
He frowned. "Don't worry, sweetheart, we'll be sure to clean it up when we're
done."
Jean looked from her husband to Jubilee, whose cheeks and pajama top were dusted
with pancake mix. She was filled with a terrible feeling of foreboding. "I think
you two should have enough to eat. There are some leftovers in the fridge, and I
got several types of cold cuts. There are cans of soup in the pantry, and
pasta's not too difficult to make. All you have to do is boil some water and
heat up the sauce."
"Jean, we'll be fine. It's only a couple of days. You'll be back Monday morning-
-"
"Actually, I was thinking of coming back Sunday night."
"Nonsense. The gift certificate is for two full days of pampering. You're not
going to skimp. You're going to take every opportunity to relax, and you're
going to enjoy every minute of it. Isn't that right, Ororo?"
"I shall make sure of it," Ororo assured him. "Now, Jean, we really should get
going."
"I know," Jean said, staring at Jubilee. "Are you sure you'll be okay by
yourselves? Maybe I shouldn't go. . . ."
"We'll be fine, Jean," Scott insisted. "I've got everything under control."
"Yeah, Jean, no worries," Jubilee said surely. "We've got lots planned to keep
us busy."
"Oh?" That was news to Jean. "Like what?"
"This afternoon, we're going to a Mets game," Scott said.
"And tomorrow, we were gonna catch a movie and check out the mall," Jubilee
added. "Scott was gonna help me pick out a new pair of `blades."
"What?! Absolutely not. You are not going skating."
"Not yet. But Wolvie said I've been making great progress with my physical
therapy. An' Hank said that in another couple weeks, I should be strong enough
to start bladin' again."
"Jubilee, you still cannot walk without the aid of crutches. It's far too
dangerous for you to attempt roller blading. I forbid it."
"Wh-what?" Jubilee stared at her in disbelief. Unbidden, she felt the stinging
prick of tears in her eyes. "You can't be serious!"
"I most certainly am. You are still recuperating, mentally and physically. The
last thing we need right now is for you to sustain another head injury."
"But--"
"No buts about it, young lady. So long as you are living under my roof--"
"Jean, I think you're over-reacting," Scott interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. We're not talking about Jubilee skating over hill and dale or
through an obstacle course. We're talking about some laps around a smooth track,
to help her strengthen her legs. Like everything else, she'd have to start out
slow and work her way up to more difficult techniques."
Jean shook her head. "It's too dangerous."
"Bullshit," Scott countered, anger seeping into his voice. "She'd be wearing a
helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads. Jubilee was once an experienced
inline skater. It won't take her long to regain those skills. Besides," he
added, his tone softer as he took a step closer to Jean, "you know how much
Jubilee loves to blade. How can you deny her that pleasure? Jean, she has to
have something to look forward to, some goal to aim for, if she's to find the
strength and initiative to continue with her physical therapy. If you deny her
this, it'd be like clipping an eagle's wings."
Jean looked from Scott's determined face to Jubilee's anxious one. The girl was
biting her bottom lip and seemed to be holding her breath. Were those tears in
her eyes?
Scott was right. Mere months ago, Jubilee was never happier than when she was
blading. If Jean took that away from her, the girl would be devastated. It would
push her away, and countermand all the steps they had taken over the past weeks
to build mutual trust and affection. How could she even consider it?
"All right," Jean conceded. "You can get the skates, Jubilee. But you won't use
them until Hank gives his okay. And even then, you'll start out simple and
slowly, and build up your strength before you try anything too radical. Okay?"
"Okay," Jubilee replied, beaming. "I'll be real careful, Jean. I promise."
Jean regarded her happy face and smiled herself. "I know you will, sweetie."
Jean sighed. "All right, I guess Ororo and I should get going."
"Don't worry, Jean," Scott assured her once more. "Jubilee and I will be just
fine. Don't give us a second thought. This weekend is for you. Enjoy it," he
said, embracing her.
Jean nodded against his chest. "I will. If anything comes up, you'll call me?"
"Jean, nothing's going to happen in two days. Don't worry."
"I can't help it."
"I know, sweetheart. But try anyway." He gave her a kiss.
"Yeah, Jean, this is your time to indulge and get pampered. Don't stress."
"I'll try," Jean said, bending to wrap her arms around Jubilee.
"There is no try. Only do."
Jean chuckled. "I'll miss you, kiddo."
"I'll miss you, too. Now, go on. Get outta here."
"Well, you two enjoy your weekend together."
"We will," Scott assured her.
"See you Monday morning."
"Yep. Have a good time," Jubilee called, turning her attention back to the bowl.
"You too, `Roro."
"Thank you. Come, Jean. Let us go."
Nodding, Jean followed Ororo to the door. She paused a moment. "Good-bye."
"'Bye!" Jubilee and Scott called in unison, waving.
"Jean!" Ororo barked, grabbing her arm and pulling her out the door.
Watching the kitchen door swing back and forth, Scott could only shake his head.
For a moment, he and Jubilee were silent, listening to the sounds of Jean
gathering her bags as she and Ororo spoke quietly to each other. In short time,
they heard the sound of the front door slamming closed.
Letting out a breathy sigh, Jubilee sat back in her chair. "Sheesh! I thought
they were never gonna leave."
"Me either."
"I still can't believe we managed to convince Jean to get out of this house for
an entire weekend."
"Well, I think that's in large part due to you, Jubilee. How could Jean refuse
the gift certificate you gave her for a weekend of the royal treatment at a
health spa?" Of course, the fact that the occasion had been Mother's Day really
pulled at her heart strings. Admittedly, he, Jubilee, and Ororo had conspired
together to devise a way to get Jean away for a few days. Having Ororo accompany
her for a girls' weekendout was necessary, they decided; but having Jubilee
present the gift as a thank you for Jean caring for her synched it. She really
required little convincing at that point.
"I'm just glad she agreed to go. She deserves some time for herself."
"That she does. How's the batter look?"
"Smooth and ready to go." Jubilee got to her feet and carried the bowl over to
the stove. Scott said nothing until she put it down on the counter, and only
then thanked her.
That was one of the cool things about Scott. He did not make a big deal out of
her present handicaps. Sure, he knew that she had limitations when it came to
certain physical activities, especially anything that required a great deal of
strength or endurance, but he did not dwell on it. Whereas Jean would coddle her
and insist on doing things for her that required any sort of exertion, Scott
would rather stand back and let her attempt it. If push came to shove and it was
too much for her, he would help; but usually he would give her the opportunity
to ask for it. Or, during the times when she became frustrated when her body
would not permit her to perform the tasks she wanted to, he would wordlessly
give her a hand. And he was always nonchalant about it. He never made a big deal
out of it, he never tried to comfort her and reassure her that it would just be
a matter of time. Rather, his encouragement came in the form of an understanding
smile or a reassuring nod. By allowing her to struggle though her endeavors, he
let her feel like a capable person. It was a refreshing change from the kid
loves Jean used to handle her. Not that she would ever begrudge Jean's desire to
pamper her; it was just that sometimes one needed to expend a little elbow
grease and do things for oneself to know that she was alive and capable and on
the way to recovery.
"Thanks for standing up for me `bout the `blades," Jubilee said, watching as
Scott added a pat of margarine to the heating frying pan.
"No problem," he said, picking up the pan and swirling around the melting
margarine to coat the surface. "Jean means well, you know. She just wants to
protect you. Prevent you from getting hurt."
"I know. It's just, sometimes I think she forgets that I'm not a little kid. I'm
sixteen years old."
"Just give her a little time. When you first came to stay with us, you had to
rely on Jean to do almost everything. She became accustomed to helping you all
the time. And even though it was hard work for both of you, she really enjoyed
it. You know as well as I do that Jean has a heart of gold. That she's a
nurturing soul. So now that you're able to do things for yourself, she's finding
it a little difficult to cope with the fact that you don't need her quite so
much anymore. But I think she's coming to realize this--slowly. Sometimes,
though--like today with the skates--she just needs a little reminder."
Jubilee nodded. "Well, thanks all the same. You know, you're not quite as square
as I thought."
"More of a rhombus?"
She laughed. "Something like that. So, are we ready to start cookin', or what?"
"Let's find out." Scott dipped his fingers into a small cup of water and flicked
the drops onto the frying fan. It immediately began to sizzle. "That'd be a
roger. Want to ladle some batter into the pan?"
"Sure," Jubilee said, filling the ladle and pouring the batter onto the waiting
pan. "So, when's the game again?"
"Not until two. We should probably give ourselves about an hour-and-a-half to
get there."
"So that leaves us with a few hours to kill after breakfast."
"That it does. Did you have something in mind?"
"Actually, yeah."
Scott picked up a spatula and flipped the pancake over with a smooth flick of
the wrist. "Care to share?"
Jubilee paused, using the ladle to swirl the batter around the bowl a bit. "I
was, uhm, thinking that we might, uh, go for a swim in the pool."
"Sure. Sounds like fun. Hasn't Logan been after you to go swimming as part of
your physical therapy? What changed your mind?"
"Yeah, Wolvie thinks that the buoyancy of the water will help give me a sense of
control of my body's movements. And Hank said that it's a great means of
building up strength and endurance."
"Then why. . . ?" He turned to look at her, and as one, they both supplied the
reason: "Jean."
"She wasn't just being overprotective. Not at first, anyway. The cast on my
wrist kinda nixed the idea for a while. But now that it's gone, I realized there
was nothing to really stop me from giving it a try."
"Well, I'd be more than happy to go swimming with you this morning, Jubilee. We
should just make sure it's not right after we eat."
"Well, I've got an abbreviated PT session with Wolvie in an hour, so I was
thinking we could go for a dip after that."
"It's a date," he said, tossing the first pancake onto a waiting plate. "Slap a
touch of margarine on that puppy and I'll start on the next one."
"Ya got it, boss man."
End Chapter 5
*****
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 5
"Scott, have you seen my moisturizer?" Jean called from the bedroom.
Peering into the refrigerator, Scott grabbed the container of eggs, carton of
milk, and tray of margarine, and pushed the door closed with his foot. "Did you
check the bottom shelf in the medicine cabinet?" he called back, carrying the
armful of ingredients over to the counter.
"What can I do?" Jubilee asked from where she sat at the kitchen table.
"Why don't you measure out the pancake mix?" Scott suggested, bringing her a
measuring cup, mixing bowl, and the package of mix.
"Found it!" Jean shouted from the bathroom.
"How many are we gonna make?" Jubilee asked, studying the instructions on the
back of the box.
"Depends," Scott replied, retrieving a frying pan from a cabinet. "How hungry
are you?"
"Scott, have you seen my green sweater?" Jean asked, walking into the kitchen.
"I can't find it anywhere."
"Mornin', Jean," Jubilee called.
"Good morning, sweetie," she replied, bending to place a kiss on top of her
head. "Pancakes, huh?"
"Yep. Scott's idea."
"Did you try the hall closet?" Scott suggested. "Maybe you put it in with the
coats."
"The hall closet," Jean repeated, as though one of the world's mysteries had
just been revealed to her. "Let me check."
"What's gotten into her?" Jubilee asked, struggling with the plastic liner
inside the box of pancake mix.
"I think it's been so long since she's gone away for the weekend that she's
forgotten how to pack," he replied. "How about six-to-eight? Is that an option?"
"Yeah. Thick or thin?"
"Light and fluffy. How many eggs do you need?"
"Looks like just one," she replied, measuring out the mix. "And `bout three-
quarters cup milk."
"Coming right up."
"Found it!" Jean announced, cutting through the kitchen, sweater in hand, on her
way back to the bedroom. "What time is it, Scott?"
He glanced at the clock. "Going on eight."
"Dammit! Ororo's going to be here any minute, and I still need to figure out
what shoes I'm taking."
Scott shook his head. "Jean, honey, you're going to be gone two days. How many
pairs of shoes can you possibly need?"
"It depends on what outfits she's packed," Jubilee explained, dumping the mix
into the bowl. "And the weather."
"You women make things entirely too complicated."
"No, you guys just have it way too easy. You can wear the same pair of pants and
shoes for anything from a casual get together, to a business meeting, to a semi-
formal dinner party. The same is not true for a woman."
"You just give yourselves too many choices, that's all," Scott countered, adding
the milk and egg into the bowl. "You wanna mix that all together?" he asked,
handing her a wooden spoon.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Tell her I'll just be another couple of minutes!" Jean called from the bedroom.
"Poor `Roro," Jubilee sighed, shaking her head. "She doesn't know what she's in
for this weekend."
"Better her than us," Scott replied, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. Jubilee
looked at him, and was sure that if she could see his eyes through the ruby-
quartz glasses he wore, he would be winking. "Be right back. Keep mixing,
Jubilation. I don't want to see any lumps by the time I get back."
"Geez, it's not like it's mashed potatoes or gravy," he heard her remark as he
headed for the door.
Opening it, he found Ororo standing outside, dressed in a long, flowing leopard
print sleeveless dress. Her long white hair was twisted up and off her neck, a
few stray pieces hanging casually near her ears. The large, golden hoop earrings
she wore helped to accent her elegant neck, and offset her bright blue eyes. As
usual, she was a striking sight to behold. There was little wonder as to how she
could have once been worshipped as a goddess.
"Hi, Ororo. Come on in," Scott said, stepping back so that she could enter.
"Good morning, Scott."
"Can I take your bag?" he asked, indicating the small duffel bag that was swung
over her shoulder.
"No, thank you, I am fine. Is Jean not ready yet?" she asked, glancing around.
Scott smirked. "Can I interest you in a cup of coffee? Or perhaps some pancakes?
Jubilee and I were just making breakfast."
Ororo's eyebrows raised. "That bad, huh?"
He nodded. "She's been running around like a chicken without a head. Her latest
quarry are shoes."
"Goddess, we are going to a spa, not a country club. I do not foresee many
opportunities to even wear shoes."
"You know Jean. She has to be prepared for any contingency. I swear, she must
have been a boy scout in a previous life."
Ororo smiled. "Perhaps I should go check on her and see if she requires any
assistance."
"Please do if you'd like to leave before noon. You're sure I can't interest you
in something to eat or drink?"
"No, thank you. I shall hopefully return momentarily with Jean."
"Good luck," Scott said, saluting her, before returning to the kitchen.
He found Jubilee kneeling on a chair for better leverage, one arm around the
mixing bowl, the other hand moving the spoon in tight circles. The tip of her
tongue was visible at the corner of her mouth and her brow was furrowed in
concentration. "Hey, Scott, ya got any chocolate chips around here somewhere?"
"I will not have my pancakes defiled by chocolate chips," he replied sternly.
"Aw, c'mon, Cyke. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"I don't have one," he deadpanned.
"Even you've got one, Scott. Don't you like to try new things every once in a
while?"
"Not when it comes to my pancakes. I'm conservative that way."
"Puh-leeeze? Pretty please with sugar on top?"
"Forget it, Jubilation. The only thing sweet you'll be eating with your pancakes
is maple syrup."
She pondered a moment. "It's not that fake stuff in the bottle shaped like a
little woman, is it?"
"Nope. This is the real deal. Sean picked it up at some sort of county fair and
gave everyone a jar for Christmas."
"All right. No chocolate chips. *This* time."
"Next time you pick breakfast, you can make whatever you want."
"Fat chance of that ever happening. Like Jean would let me cook in her kitchen."
"Hey, it's half my kitchen, too. If you want to--"
". . . sure I only need the one sweater?" Jean was asking Ororo as the two women
entered the kitchen.
"Jean, the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. Besides, I really
do not think you need worry about being cold when traveling with me."
But Jean's mind had already moved on to other matters. She looked around the
kitchen at the countertops and table already covered with food and utensils.
"Look at my beautiful kitchen," she all but gasped.
"See?" Jubilee whispered to Scott knowingly.
He frowned. "Don't worry, sweetheart, we'll be sure to clean it up when we're
done."
Jean looked from her husband to Jubilee, whose cheeks and pajama top were dusted
with pancake mix. She was filled with a terrible feeling of foreboding. "I think
you two should have enough to eat. There are some leftovers in the fridge, and I
got several types of cold cuts. There are cans of soup in the pantry, and
pasta's not too difficult to make. All you have to do is boil some water and
heat up the sauce."
"Jean, we'll be fine. It's only a couple of days. You'll be back Monday morning-
-"
"Actually, I was thinking of coming back Sunday night."
"Nonsense. The gift certificate is for two full days of pampering. You're not
going to skimp. You're going to take every opportunity to relax, and you're
going to enjoy every minute of it. Isn't that right, Ororo?"
"I shall make sure of it," Ororo assured him. "Now, Jean, we really should get
going."
"I know," Jean said, staring at Jubilee. "Are you sure you'll be okay by
yourselves? Maybe I shouldn't go. . . ."
"We'll be fine, Jean," Scott insisted. "I've got everything under control."
"Yeah, Jean, no worries," Jubilee said surely. "We've got lots planned to keep
us busy."
"Oh?" That was news to Jean. "Like what?"
"This afternoon, we're going to a Mets game," Scott said.
"And tomorrow, we were gonna catch a movie and check out the mall," Jubilee
added. "Scott was gonna help me pick out a new pair of `blades."
"What?! Absolutely not. You are not going skating."
"Not yet. But Wolvie said I've been making great progress with my physical
therapy. An' Hank said that in another couple weeks, I should be strong enough
to start bladin' again."
"Jubilee, you still cannot walk without the aid of crutches. It's far too
dangerous for you to attempt roller blading. I forbid it."
"Wh-what?" Jubilee stared at her in disbelief. Unbidden, she felt the stinging
prick of tears in her eyes. "You can't be serious!"
"I most certainly am. You are still recuperating, mentally and physically. The
last thing we need right now is for you to sustain another head injury."
"But--"
"No buts about it, young lady. So long as you are living under my roof--"
"Jean, I think you're over-reacting," Scott interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. We're not talking about Jubilee skating over hill and dale or
through an obstacle course. We're talking about some laps around a smooth track,
to help her strengthen her legs. Like everything else, she'd have to start out
slow and work her way up to more difficult techniques."
Jean shook her head. "It's too dangerous."
"Bullshit," Scott countered, anger seeping into his voice. "She'd be wearing a
helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads. Jubilee was once an experienced
inline skater. It won't take her long to regain those skills. Besides," he
added, his tone softer as he took a step closer to Jean, "you know how much
Jubilee loves to blade. How can you deny her that pleasure? Jean, she has to
have something to look forward to, some goal to aim for, if she's to find the
strength and initiative to continue with her physical therapy. If you deny her
this, it'd be like clipping an eagle's wings."
Jean looked from Scott's determined face to Jubilee's anxious one. The girl was
biting her bottom lip and seemed to be holding her breath. Were those tears in
her eyes?
Scott was right. Mere months ago, Jubilee was never happier than when she was
blading. If Jean took that away from her, the girl would be devastated. It would
push her away, and countermand all the steps they had taken over the past weeks
to build mutual trust and affection. How could she even consider it?
"All right," Jean conceded. "You can get the skates, Jubilee. But you won't use
them until Hank gives his okay. And even then, you'll start out simple and
slowly, and build up your strength before you try anything too radical. Okay?"
"Okay," Jubilee replied, beaming. "I'll be real careful, Jean. I promise."
Jean regarded her happy face and smiled herself. "I know you will, sweetie."
Jean sighed. "All right, I guess Ororo and I should get going."
"Don't worry, Jean," Scott assured her once more. "Jubilee and I will be just
fine. Don't give us a second thought. This weekend is for you. Enjoy it," he
said, embracing her.
Jean nodded against his chest. "I will. If anything comes up, you'll call me?"
"Jean, nothing's going to happen in two days. Don't worry."
"I can't help it."
"I know, sweetheart. But try anyway." He gave her a kiss.
"Yeah, Jean, this is your time to indulge and get pampered. Don't stress."
"I'll try," Jean said, bending to wrap her arms around Jubilee.
"There is no try. Only do."
Jean chuckled. "I'll miss you, kiddo."
"I'll miss you, too. Now, go on. Get outta here."
"Well, you two enjoy your weekend together."
"We will," Scott assured her.
"See you Monday morning."
"Yep. Have a good time," Jubilee called, turning her attention back to the bowl.
"You too, `Roro."
"Thank you. Come, Jean. Let us go."
Nodding, Jean followed Ororo to the door. She paused a moment. "Good-bye."
"'Bye!" Jubilee and Scott called in unison, waving.
"Jean!" Ororo barked, grabbing her arm and pulling her out the door.
Watching the kitchen door swing back and forth, Scott could only shake his head.
For a moment, he and Jubilee were silent, listening to the sounds of Jean
gathering her bags as she and Ororo spoke quietly to each other. In short time,
they heard the sound of the front door slamming closed.
Letting out a breathy sigh, Jubilee sat back in her chair. "Sheesh! I thought
they were never gonna leave."
"Me either."
"I still can't believe we managed to convince Jean to get out of this house for
an entire weekend."
"Well, I think that's in large part due to you, Jubilee. How could Jean refuse
the gift certificate you gave her for a weekend of the royal treatment at a
health spa?" Of course, the fact that the occasion had been Mother's Day really
pulled at her heart strings. Admittedly, he, Jubilee, and Ororo had conspired
together to devise a way to get Jean away for a few days. Having Ororo accompany
her for a girls' weekendout was necessary, they decided; but having Jubilee
present the gift as a thank you for Jean caring for her synched it. She really
required little convincing at that point.
"I'm just glad she agreed to go. She deserves some time for herself."
"That she does. How's the batter look?"
"Smooth and ready to go." Jubilee got to her feet and carried the bowl over to
the stove. Scott said nothing until she put it down on the counter, and only
then thanked her.
That was one of the cool things about Scott. He did not make a big deal out of
her present handicaps. Sure, he knew that she had limitations when it came to
certain physical activities, especially anything that required a great deal of
strength or endurance, but he did not dwell on it. Whereas Jean would coddle her
and insist on doing things for her that required any sort of exertion, Scott
would rather stand back and let her attempt it. If push came to shove and it was
too much for her, he would help; but usually he would give her the opportunity
to ask for it. Or, during the times when she became frustrated when her body
would not permit her to perform the tasks she wanted to, he would wordlessly
give her a hand. And he was always nonchalant about it. He never made a big deal
out of it, he never tried to comfort her and reassure her that it would just be
a matter of time. Rather, his encouragement came in the form of an understanding
smile or a reassuring nod. By allowing her to struggle though her endeavors, he
let her feel like a capable person. It was a refreshing change from the kid
loves Jean used to handle her. Not that she would ever begrudge Jean's desire to
pamper her; it was just that sometimes one needed to expend a little elbow
grease and do things for oneself to know that she was alive and capable and on
the way to recovery.
"Thanks for standing up for me `bout the `blades," Jubilee said, watching as
Scott added a pat of margarine to the heating frying pan.
"No problem," he said, picking up the pan and swirling around the melting
margarine to coat the surface. "Jean means well, you know. She just wants to
protect you. Prevent you from getting hurt."
"I know. It's just, sometimes I think she forgets that I'm not a little kid. I'm
sixteen years old."
"Just give her a little time. When you first came to stay with us, you had to
rely on Jean to do almost everything. She became accustomed to helping you all
the time. And even though it was hard work for both of you, she really enjoyed
it. You know as well as I do that Jean has a heart of gold. That she's a
nurturing soul. So now that you're able to do things for yourself, she's finding
it a little difficult to cope with the fact that you don't need her quite so
much anymore. But I think she's coming to realize this--slowly. Sometimes,
though--like today with the skates--she just needs a little reminder."
Jubilee nodded. "Well, thanks all the same. You know, you're not quite as square
as I thought."
"More of a rhombus?"
She laughed. "Something like that. So, are we ready to start cookin', or what?"
"Let's find out." Scott dipped his fingers into a small cup of water and flicked
the drops onto the frying fan. It immediately began to sizzle. "That'd be a
roger. Want to ladle some batter into the pan?"
"Sure," Jubilee said, filling the ladle and pouring the batter onto the waiting
pan. "So, when's the game again?"
"Not until two. We should probably give ourselves about an hour-and-a-half to
get there."
"So that leaves us with a few hours to kill after breakfast."
"That it does. Did you have something in mind?"
"Actually, yeah."
Scott picked up a spatula and flipped the pancake over with a smooth flick of
the wrist. "Care to share?"
Jubilee paused, using the ladle to swirl the batter around the bowl a bit. "I
was, uhm, thinking that we might, uh, go for a swim in the pool."
"Sure. Sounds like fun. Hasn't Logan been after you to go swimming as part of
your physical therapy? What changed your mind?"
"Yeah, Wolvie thinks that the buoyancy of the water will help give me a sense of
control of my body's movements. And Hank said that it's a great means of
building up strength and endurance."
"Then why. . . ?" He turned to look at her, and as one, they both supplied the
reason: "Jean."
"She wasn't just being overprotective. Not at first, anyway. The cast on my
wrist kinda nixed the idea for a while. But now that it's gone, I realized there
was nothing to really stop me from giving it a try."
"Well, I'd be more than happy to go swimming with you this morning, Jubilee. We
should just make sure it's not right after we eat."
"Well, I've got an abbreviated PT session with Wolvie in an hour, so I was
thinking we could go for a dip after that."
"It's a date," he said, tossing the first pancake onto a waiting plate. "Slap a
touch of margarine on that puppy and I'll start on the next one."
"Ya got it, boss man."
End Chapter 5
*****