Seventeen Years and 58 seconds
Chapter 11
So there I was: Siren was back where she belonged, I was part of the X-men, Jean knew I loathed her, the research was going good ... and I was really missing Logan. But I was about to get a nice surprise.
Two days before my 20th birthday, I received a phone message from Logan. He asked me to meet him at a bed and breakfast in Albany. There, we spent a leisurely weekend together, enjoying each other's company. Still unable to consumate anything physically, we improvised pretty well between sheets of handwoven silk.
Lying in his arms, I started to chuckle to myself. He looked at me questioningly until I explained.
"I just realized .... I'm still a virgin. Technically." He grinned, the grin I love so much, and pulled me closer into his arms.
"Not for much longer." he whispered.
Hope. I finally had hope that what was between Logan and me would be able to blossom to its rightful stage. We had a certain level of affection that seemed to be waiting for the moment when it could be made real. If my research panned out, I was hoping for some time soon.
No, he didn't stay long. He left me with a birthday gift of a silver bracelet, a tender hug and a promise to see me soon. I returned to the school. I thought to myself that perhaps it was difficult for him to be around me, but I never asked him.
A year passed almost without notation. Well, all except Logan's visits became more frequent. I noted it mentally but never said anything outright. I was only too glad to welcome him every time.
I do recall the first time Logan and Jean were together since I returned from looking for him. Logan was visiting me - he never stayed at the mansion, always at a hotel - waiting for me to join him for a long weekend. Jean rounded a corner and bumped into him. On purpose? I don't know. She couldn't have known I was witness to the whole thing; I watched and waited to see what would happen.
"Logan! Logan, what are you doing here? When did you get back?" She was smiling, excited.
Logan shifted to one foot and looked at her.
"I'm not back. I'm here for Marie."
She blinked and nodded.
"Well you look great! Where have you been? Have you found anything ... about your past?"
He paused, shifted again.
"No. I haven't found anything new." He looked agitated.
"I ... I missed you." she said quietly. I tensed up.
He looked at her sharply.
"You missed me? How could you - What does Scott have to say about that? No, never mind, I don't want to know. I hope you're happy, Jean. I really do. Excuse me."
He moved past her and started down the hallway away from her. My heart swelled. I went out a side door and met up with him in the driveway. When he saw me, he smiled and opened his arms. I couldn't help running toward them and thrilled when he squeezed me tight, lifting me off the ground. Does it get much better than that?
So the year passed and my only great discovery was a radiation combination which appeared to have some affect on my skin. The trick was finding the right dosage. My 21st birthday came and went without a cure. We celebrated with a suitable drinking binge and party, but that night, in the dark, I let a few tears slide while Logan held me.
"I thought ... for some reason ... I thought I'd be better by now, you know? 21, an adult ... I thought we'd be together. You know?"
He held me close and didn't need to say anything.
As luck would have it, my 21st year *was* important. Logan was gone again and I was back to research when we had a breakthrough. We discovered that it was impossible to change my DNA permanently - a crushing blow for me. BUT! But we found it was possible to kill the rampant DNA in the lower layers of my skin! This would mean that until my skin regenerated its lower layers, I would be 'cured'!
Our first live test, however, didn't go well. We overburned my skin with radiation and my skin started to die off. We'd forgotten that the cells needed some direction when we killed off the DNA. We had to find a way to leave the RNA - a more primative version of DNA - alive. After some tinkering, we were ready to test our new improved proceedure for me.
The proceedure goes like this: I have to stand in a small chamber, similar to a shower stall, and be bombarded by radiation while I'm naked. We found clothing stopped some of the UV rays we needed for the 'cocktail' of radiation. Next, we needed a test subject to see if the bombardment worked. The ONLY person besides Logan I wanted in my head, was the Professor. He graciously agreed to allow me to touch him briefly. If it didn't work, he'd have the strength to push me off if I didn't.
X-Day. That's what I called it. I took my radiation shower, changed into a robe, and walked over to the Professor. Deep breath.
"Ready?" I asked. "Yes" he said.
10:07am I reached out and touched his hand, resting on his wheelchair. I tensed up, waited for the pull to begin. And waited. And waited. I whooped with joy as a full minute passed and nothing happened. I danced around the room, tears of joy streaming down my face.
"Oh God! Yes! Yes!" I hugged the Professor and kissed his cheek. Still no adverse reaction. We then started a timer. 10 minutes. 30 minutes. One hour. Six hours. Eight hours and 10 minutes. I couldn't sleep that night as the realization of my dreams came true. For eight hours and 10 minutes I'd been normal!
I called Logan that evening and asked if he could come. He guessed right away why I was asking.
"You've found a cure?!?"
"We think so! Can you come down?"
"Yeah, of course! Of course! I'll be there -" he paused "-tonight. I'll be there tonight. About five hours, ok?"
"Ok. Alright. I'll see you tonight then. I - I'll see you soon."
I hung up the phone and looked around. Somehow, everything looked different. I couldn't get my head around the fact that soon ... so soon ... I'd be realizing my dreams.
I showered, did my hair, picked a nice dress and called the bed and breakfast for a reservation that night. The hours slowly - s-l-o-w-l-y ticked by as I waited for Logan. When four hours and 30 minutes had passed, I went back to the lab for another dose. I took the radiation shower with a huge smile plastered on my face. I dressed with nervous trembling hands, my eyes constantly straying to the clock on the wall. Too anxious to wait inside, I went outside to wait for him.
It was nearing midnight. It was quiet outside, a couple of crickets and grasshoppers were the only noise. The professor and the others had graciously allowed me to have this moment with Logan alone. Then, I heard it. His motorcycle. I saw the headlight pierce the night as he negotiated the street and up the driveway. The motorcycle had barely come to a halt when he was off, running toward me.
He stopped, breathless, his eyes wide and wild, searching my face.
"Is it true?"
Smiling, tears flowing fully, I reached up an ungloved hand and stroked his cheek. He covered my hand with his own and I felt his own tears against my fingers.
"Logan," I whispered and brought my other hand up to his face. He pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tight saying my name over and over. Then, he kissed me. Long and hard. My first real kiss! He hugged me again and swung me around, laughing and crying at the same time.
"Let's go" I said quietly. I picked up my overnight bag and joined him on the back of his bike. I clutched his waist and pressed my cheek against his back as we raced toward the small bed and breakfast. Occasionally he'd press his hand over mine. It seemed to be on the other side of the world; I thought we'd never get there.
---
Chapter 11
So there I was: Siren was back where she belonged, I was part of the X-men, Jean knew I loathed her, the research was going good ... and I was really missing Logan. But I was about to get a nice surprise.
Two days before my 20th birthday, I received a phone message from Logan. He asked me to meet him at a bed and breakfast in Albany. There, we spent a leisurely weekend together, enjoying each other's company. Still unable to consumate anything physically, we improvised pretty well between sheets of handwoven silk.
Lying in his arms, I started to chuckle to myself. He looked at me questioningly until I explained.
"I just realized .... I'm still a virgin. Technically." He grinned, the grin I love so much, and pulled me closer into his arms.
"Not for much longer." he whispered.
Hope. I finally had hope that what was between Logan and me would be able to blossom to its rightful stage. We had a certain level of affection that seemed to be waiting for the moment when it could be made real. If my research panned out, I was hoping for some time soon.
No, he didn't stay long. He left me with a birthday gift of a silver bracelet, a tender hug and a promise to see me soon. I returned to the school. I thought to myself that perhaps it was difficult for him to be around me, but I never asked him.
A year passed almost without notation. Well, all except Logan's visits became more frequent. I noted it mentally but never said anything outright. I was only too glad to welcome him every time.
I do recall the first time Logan and Jean were together since I returned from looking for him. Logan was visiting me - he never stayed at the mansion, always at a hotel - waiting for me to join him for a long weekend. Jean rounded a corner and bumped into him. On purpose? I don't know. She couldn't have known I was witness to the whole thing; I watched and waited to see what would happen.
"Logan! Logan, what are you doing here? When did you get back?" She was smiling, excited.
Logan shifted to one foot and looked at her.
"I'm not back. I'm here for Marie."
She blinked and nodded.
"Well you look great! Where have you been? Have you found anything ... about your past?"
He paused, shifted again.
"No. I haven't found anything new." He looked agitated.
"I ... I missed you." she said quietly. I tensed up.
He looked at her sharply.
"You missed me? How could you - What does Scott have to say about that? No, never mind, I don't want to know. I hope you're happy, Jean. I really do. Excuse me."
He moved past her and started down the hallway away from her. My heart swelled. I went out a side door and met up with him in the driveway. When he saw me, he smiled and opened his arms. I couldn't help running toward them and thrilled when he squeezed me tight, lifting me off the ground. Does it get much better than that?
So the year passed and my only great discovery was a radiation combination which appeared to have some affect on my skin. The trick was finding the right dosage. My 21st birthday came and went without a cure. We celebrated with a suitable drinking binge and party, but that night, in the dark, I let a few tears slide while Logan held me.
"I thought ... for some reason ... I thought I'd be better by now, you know? 21, an adult ... I thought we'd be together. You know?"
He held me close and didn't need to say anything.
As luck would have it, my 21st year *was* important. Logan was gone again and I was back to research when we had a breakthrough. We discovered that it was impossible to change my DNA permanently - a crushing blow for me. BUT! But we found it was possible to kill the rampant DNA in the lower layers of my skin! This would mean that until my skin regenerated its lower layers, I would be 'cured'!
Our first live test, however, didn't go well. We overburned my skin with radiation and my skin started to die off. We'd forgotten that the cells needed some direction when we killed off the DNA. We had to find a way to leave the RNA - a more primative version of DNA - alive. After some tinkering, we were ready to test our new improved proceedure for me.
The proceedure goes like this: I have to stand in a small chamber, similar to a shower stall, and be bombarded by radiation while I'm naked. We found clothing stopped some of the UV rays we needed for the 'cocktail' of radiation. Next, we needed a test subject to see if the bombardment worked. The ONLY person besides Logan I wanted in my head, was the Professor. He graciously agreed to allow me to touch him briefly. If it didn't work, he'd have the strength to push me off if I didn't.
X-Day. That's what I called it. I took my radiation shower, changed into a robe, and walked over to the Professor. Deep breath.
"Ready?" I asked. "Yes" he said.
10:07am I reached out and touched his hand, resting on his wheelchair. I tensed up, waited for the pull to begin. And waited. And waited. I whooped with joy as a full minute passed and nothing happened. I danced around the room, tears of joy streaming down my face.
"Oh God! Yes! Yes!" I hugged the Professor and kissed his cheek. Still no adverse reaction. We then started a timer. 10 minutes. 30 minutes. One hour. Six hours. Eight hours and 10 minutes. I couldn't sleep that night as the realization of my dreams came true. For eight hours and 10 minutes I'd been normal!
I called Logan that evening and asked if he could come. He guessed right away why I was asking.
"You've found a cure?!?"
"We think so! Can you come down?"
"Yeah, of course! Of course! I'll be there -" he paused "-tonight. I'll be there tonight. About five hours, ok?"
"Ok. Alright. I'll see you tonight then. I - I'll see you soon."
I hung up the phone and looked around. Somehow, everything looked different. I couldn't get my head around the fact that soon ... so soon ... I'd be realizing my dreams.
I showered, did my hair, picked a nice dress and called the bed and breakfast for a reservation that night. The hours slowly - s-l-o-w-l-y ticked by as I waited for Logan. When four hours and 30 minutes had passed, I went back to the lab for another dose. I took the radiation shower with a huge smile plastered on my face. I dressed with nervous trembling hands, my eyes constantly straying to the clock on the wall. Too anxious to wait inside, I went outside to wait for him.
It was nearing midnight. It was quiet outside, a couple of crickets and grasshoppers were the only noise. The professor and the others had graciously allowed me to have this moment with Logan alone. Then, I heard it. His motorcycle. I saw the headlight pierce the night as he negotiated the street and up the driveway. The motorcycle had barely come to a halt when he was off, running toward me.
He stopped, breathless, his eyes wide and wild, searching my face.
"Is it true?"
Smiling, tears flowing fully, I reached up an ungloved hand and stroked his cheek. He covered my hand with his own and I felt his own tears against my fingers.
"Logan," I whispered and brought my other hand up to his face. He pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tight saying my name over and over. Then, he kissed me. Long and hard. My first real kiss! He hugged me again and swung me around, laughing and crying at the same time.
"Let's go" I said quietly. I picked up my overnight bag and joined him on the back of his bike. I clutched his waist and pressed my cheek against his back as we raced toward the small bed and breakfast. Occasionally he'd press his hand over mine. It seemed to be on the other side of the world; I thought we'd never get there.
---