Title: A Friend in Need II: Sweet Child of Mine 12/22
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 12
"You want that last dumpling?" Jubilee asked.
"No, go ahead," Jean replied, sliding the container across the coffee table.
"You sure?"
"It's all yours," Jean insisted, taking a sip of tea.
"Cool. Thanks." Just as Jubilee bit into it, the phone rang. She caught sight of
Jean, chopsticks paused in mid-motion. "I'll get it," she told Jean, quickly
swallowing what was in her mouth. Leaning back against the couch, she hoisted
herself to her feet and reached for the cordless phone on a side table. "Hello?"
"Hi Jubilee."
"Hey Scott!" Jubilee replied cheerfully. "How's it goin'?" Sitting on the arm of
the couch, she glanced over at Jean. The other woman stiffened, face trained on
her plate as she traced a pattern in the rice with her chopsticks.
"I'm okay. How are you? How's the therapy going?"
"It's goin' great. I'm still just usin' a cane. Wolvie says I'm gettin' stronger
every day."
"That's terrific, kiddo. I'm glad to hear it."
"Classes going well?"
"Yeah. All the kids have been asking about you. Paige and Angelo especially.
They want to know when you'll be back. Sean and Emma send their regards as
well."
"If things keep goin' this well, maybe I can go back for the fall term, huh?"
"I'd say that's a pretty sure bet." There was a pause as he cleared his throat.
"How's Jean?"
Jubilee looked over to Jean, who sat watching her, unconsciously chewing on her
bottom lip. The inner turmoil was rather obvious on her face. "Jean's okay.
Sitting right here with me, in fact. We ordered in Chinese."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner."
"No, that's okay. We were just finishin' up. Almost fortune cookie time."
"Well, you'll tell her I called?"
"Yeah, sure thing. I--" A sudden movement caught her eye. Jean was holding out
her hand palm-up, fingers wiggling slightly toward her. It took a moment for
Jubilee to realize that Jean was gesturing for her to hand her the phone. "Hey,
Scott, hold on a sec, okay?" Jubilee silently placed the phone in Jean's hand.
Jean closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as though centering herself. After
several long moments, she slowly raised the phone to her ear. Even then, it was
many long, agonizing seconds before she finally spoke. "Hello Scott."
"Jean?" he asked in surprise. Apparently, he had not been expecting to hear her
voice on the other end of the line. "H-Hi."
"How are you?" she asked, her tone painfully formal.
"Miserable," he replied without losing a beat. "Without you, absolutely
miserable."
Her mouth quivered as tears pooled in her eyes.
"How about you?" he asked.
Blinking, the tears slowly tracked down her cheeks. "The same," she managed to
say in a soft whisper. She felt Jubilee's hand on her shoulder, drew comfort
from the gesture as she covered the girl's hand with her own. "I . . . I miss
you, Scott."
"Say the word, Jean, and I'll come home."
She took a shaky breath.
She felt Jubilee squeeze her shoulder a moment before rising. "You okay?"
Jubilee mouthed, even as she pointed toward the hallway that led to her bedroom.
Managing a small smile, Jean nodded, mouthing "Thanks".
With a final wave, and an encouraging smile, Jubilee took her leave.
"Jean? You still there?"
"Yes. I-I'm sorry, Scott," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry.
Sorry for the terrible things I said to you. I-I don't know what came over me."
She began to sob.
"Shh," he soothed, his voice like velvet. "Shh, Jeanie. Don't cry. It's okay."
"No, Scott, it's *not* okay," she managed between sobs. "There's no excuse for
how I treated you. For the things I said."
"Jean, you've been under a great deal of stress lately. It's perfectly
understandable--"
"You were right, you know."
"About what?"
"About why I got so upset with you when Jubilee had the seizure. Why I blamed
you. I *was* jealous. I didn't even realize or acknowledge it at the time, but I
was jealous. I'm still not sure why exactly. I think I've just come to care for
Jubilee so much, to revel in the relationship that I have with her--the way she
depends upon me, the way she looks to me for love and understanding--that I
didn't want to share that with anyone. Not even you. I know that's incredibly
petty of me." She tried to fight the tears, but found it a futile battle. "Oh
God, Scott, how can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"
"That's easy. Because I love you."
Jean threw a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. "I love you, too, Scott. I
love you so much. Come home to me. Please, Scott, come home. There's so much I
still need to say to you, to tell you. But I want to do it in person."
She could practically hear the smile in his voice. "You don't know how long I've
waited to hear you tell me that, Jean."
"So you'll come home? Tonight?" When there was no immediate answer, she began to
panic. "Scott? Sweetheart, what--?"
"Jean, I want more than anything to hop on a plane right now and come home to
you. But I made a commitment to Sean and the students. I have one more lecture
to give tomorrow morning. I don't want to leave them hanging. . . ."
Jean could not help but smile despite herself. Same old Scott. Loyal till the
bitter end. "Of course, Scott. I understand."
"You're upset."
She sighed. "Disappointed, yes. But not upset. I'm just glad you're coming
home."
"I'll be home before you know it, Jean. In time for dinner tomorrow. Maybe we
could go out, just the two of us."
"I'd like that."
"So it's a date?"
She smiled. "Yes. It's a date."
"Until tomorrow then?"
"Until tomorrow."
"I love you, Jean."
"I love you too, Scott. Good night."
"Good night. Sleep well."
Jean pressed the phone off and then held it against her chest as she closed her
eyes and sighed. She blinked back tears of relief.
"Jean?"
She opened her eyes at the sound of Jubilee's hesitant voice from the edge of
the room. The girl crept closer to the couch.
"Well? How'd it go? What'd he say?"
Jean's face broke into an enormous grin. "He's coming home!" she beamed.
"Hooray!" Jubilee cried, launching herself into Jean's arms. They hugged
happily, laughing together. "I'm so glad."
"Me, too, sweetie. Me, too."
"So, did you tell him about the baby?" She felt Jean stiffen in her arms.
Jubilee pulled back in order to look Jean in the eyes. "You didn't tell him?"
she asked, confused.
"No, I didn't want to do it over the phone. I want to tell him in person. He
said when he gets back, we'll go to dinner, just the two of us. I'll tell him
then."
"Sounds like a plan."
Jean bit her bottom lip. "God, I wonder how he'll react."
"Are you kiddin' me? He's gonna flip. Jean, he's gonna be so excited."
"You really think so?"
"No doubt. Don't worry about it, Jean. Tomorrow night, you two are gonna be
celebrating."
"I hope so, sweetie. I really hope so."
End Chapter 12
*****
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 12
"You want that last dumpling?" Jubilee asked.
"No, go ahead," Jean replied, sliding the container across the coffee table.
"You sure?"
"It's all yours," Jean insisted, taking a sip of tea.
"Cool. Thanks." Just as Jubilee bit into it, the phone rang. She caught sight of
Jean, chopsticks paused in mid-motion. "I'll get it," she told Jean, quickly
swallowing what was in her mouth. Leaning back against the couch, she hoisted
herself to her feet and reached for the cordless phone on a side table. "Hello?"
"Hi Jubilee."
"Hey Scott!" Jubilee replied cheerfully. "How's it goin'?" Sitting on the arm of
the couch, she glanced over at Jean. The other woman stiffened, face trained on
her plate as she traced a pattern in the rice with her chopsticks.
"I'm okay. How are you? How's the therapy going?"
"It's goin' great. I'm still just usin' a cane. Wolvie says I'm gettin' stronger
every day."
"That's terrific, kiddo. I'm glad to hear it."
"Classes going well?"
"Yeah. All the kids have been asking about you. Paige and Angelo especially.
They want to know when you'll be back. Sean and Emma send their regards as
well."
"If things keep goin' this well, maybe I can go back for the fall term, huh?"
"I'd say that's a pretty sure bet." There was a pause as he cleared his throat.
"How's Jean?"
Jubilee looked over to Jean, who sat watching her, unconsciously chewing on her
bottom lip. The inner turmoil was rather obvious on her face. "Jean's okay.
Sitting right here with me, in fact. We ordered in Chinese."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner."
"No, that's okay. We were just finishin' up. Almost fortune cookie time."
"Well, you'll tell her I called?"
"Yeah, sure thing. I--" A sudden movement caught her eye. Jean was holding out
her hand palm-up, fingers wiggling slightly toward her. It took a moment for
Jubilee to realize that Jean was gesturing for her to hand her the phone. "Hey,
Scott, hold on a sec, okay?" Jubilee silently placed the phone in Jean's hand.
Jean closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as though centering herself. After
several long moments, she slowly raised the phone to her ear. Even then, it was
many long, agonizing seconds before she finally spoke. "Hello Scott."
"Jean?" he asked in surprise. Apparently, he had not been expecting to hear her
voice on the other end of the line. "H-Hi."
"How are you?" she asked, her tone painfully formal.
"Miserable," he replied without losing a beat. "Without you, absolutely
miserable."
Her mouth quivered as tears pooled in her eyes.
"How about you?" he asked.
Blinking, the tears slowly tracked down her cheeks. "The same," she managed to
say in a soft whisper. She felt Jubilee's hand on her shoulder, drew comfort
from the gesture as she covered the girl's hand with her own. "I . . . I miss
you, Scott."
"Say the word, Jean, and I'll come home."
She took a shaky breath.
She felt Jubilee squeeze her shoulder a moment before rising. "You okay?"
Jubilee mouthed, even as she pointed toward the hallway that led to her bedroom.
Managing a small smile, Jean nodded, mouthing "Thanks".
With a final wave, and an encouraging smile, Jubilee took her leave.
"Jean? You still there?"
"Yes. I-I'm sorry, Scott," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry.
Sorry for the terrible things I said to you. I-I don't know what came over me."
She began to sob.
"Shh," he soothed, his voice like velvet. "Shh, Jeanie. Don't cry. It's okay."
"No, Scott, it's *not* okay," she managed between sobs. "There's no excuse for
how I treated you. For the things I said."
"Jean, you've been under a great deal of stress lately. It's perfectly
understandable--"
"You were right, you know."
"About what?"
"About why I got so upset with you when Jubilee had the seizure. Why I blamed
you. I *was* jealous. I didn't even realize or acknowledge it at the time, but I
was jealous. I'm still not sure why exactly. I think I've just come to care for
Jubilee so much, to revel in the relationship that I have with her--the way she
depends upon me, the way she looks to me for love and understanding--that I
didn't want to share that with anyone. Not even you. I know that's incredibly
petty of me." She tried to fight the tears, but found it a futile battle. "Oh
God, Scott, how can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"
"That's easy. Because I love you."
Jean threw a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. "I love you, too, Scott. I
love you so much. Come home to me. Please, Scott, come home. There's so much I
still need to say to you, to tell you. But I want to do it in person."
She could practically hear the smile in his voice. "You don't know how long I've
waited to hear you tell me that, Jean."
"So you'll come home? Tonight?" When there was no immediate answer, she began to
panic. "Scott? Sweetheart, what--?"
"Jean, I want more than anything to hop on a plane right now and come home to
you. But I made a commitment to Sean and the students. I have one more lecture
to give tomorrow morning. I don't want to leave them hanging. . . ."
Jean could not help but smile despite herself. Same old Scott. Loyal till the
bitter end. "Of course, Scott. I understand."
"You're upset."
She sighed. "Disappointed, yes. But not upset. I'm just glad you're coming
home."
"I'll be home before you know it, Jean. In time for dinner tomorrow. Maybe we
could go out, just the two of us."
"I'd like that."
"So it's a date?"
She smiled. "Yes. It's a date."
"Until tomorrow then?"
"Until tomorrow."
"I love you, Jean."
"I love you too, Scott. Good night."
"Good night. Sleep well."
Jean pressed the phone off and then held it against her chest as she closed her
eyes and sighed. She blinked back tears of relief.
"Jean?"
She opened her eyes at the sound of Jubilee's hesitant voice from the edge of
the room. The girl crept closer to the couch.
"Well? How'd it go? What'd he say?"
Jean's face broke into an enormous grin. "He's coming home!" she beamed.
"Hooray!" Jubilee cried, launching herself into Jean's arms. They hugged
happily, laughing together. "I'm so glad."
"Me, too, sweetie. Me, too."
"So, did you tell him about the baby?" She felt Jean stiffen in her arms.
Jubilee pulled back in order to look Jean in the eyes. "You didn't tell him?"
she asked, confused.
"No, I didn't want to do it over the phone. I want to tell him in person. He
said when he gets back, we'll go to dinner, just the two of us. I'll tell him
then."
"Sounds like a plan."
Jean bit her bottom lip. "God, I wonder how he'll react."
"Are you kiddin' me? He's gonna flip. Jean, he's gonna be so excited."
"You really think so?"
"No doubt. Don't worry about it, Jean. Tomorrow night, you two are gonna be
celebrating."
"I hope so, sweetie. I really hope so."
End Chapter 12
*****