Title: Home from the Hill, Chapter 2
Author: Ramos
Rating: PG for language
Category: Adventure
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Marvel Comics, and no profit is made from their use.
It was a short walk from the planetary shuttle to where the Blackbird waited in the massive hanger of the Shi'ar Destroyer. The gantry lowered itself on command, and Scott stood by as Jean handled the thank-yous. He was aware of his wife working her diplomatic skills with the grace and tact of years of experience, but his attention was focused on the smaller woman behind her. He watched as Jubilation Lee approached the Shi'ar pilot who'd lifted them from the planet's surface. The man clasped her wrist in his own large palm and leaned over to whisper something in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Jube laugh, and she smacked him on the shoulder in a gesture he'd seen old soldiers use, one that he'd used himself on veteran teammates. Eight months ago, Jubilee had been a college student. Scott wasn't sure what she was now, but the entire situation left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Behind Jubilee, a handful of tattered warriors waited for their captain to finish chatting up the local pilot. Even Bishop and Creed, and Scott's lip wanted to curl at the utter wrongness of that, waited with the patience of well-trained dogs. And as the young woman nodded to the Shi'ar official and followed Jean to the steps leading up to their ship, the six of them automatically moved out to flank her like a roiling cloak in her wake.
She had introduced each of her people to him and Jean during the hour-long journey from the garrison to the space center, then the shuttle ride up to the orbiting ship. Chibar, the tall, stooped-looking older man with dark brown on brown mottled skin, had been a history teacher before the revolution. Now he was the repository of a history for a clan that no longer existed. The twins, whose real names he could not begin to pronounce but answered readily to Jubilee's affectionate Tweedle and Dee, were of medium height with light olive skin. The brother, Tweedle, was half a head taller than his sister, and they could have come from the Mediterranean sector on Earth if it weren't for their dark blue hair. The last was a straggly teen boy who preferred Jubilee's nickname of Tommy. The boy had blonde hair over soulful green eyes and skin, and judging by the wrists and knobby ankles visible below the hemline of his clothing, Tommy was hitting a growth spurt that threatened to take him well over six feet tall. Scott's scrutiny at last fell on the two giants at the back of the line. Bishop was an old and trusted friend, but Victor Creed was another matter entirely. So far, the hulking man had opened his mouth exactly once, and shut it promptly at a look from Jubilee.
Ironically, the journey from Shi'ar space to the Sol system was over by the time he'd finished the pre-flight checklist and had the engines started, thanks to the Empire's advanced technology. The native soldiers had settled into the last four seats in the jet, but not one of the ten passenger seats had been designed for a man as large as Sabretooth. He overflowed his space and imposed on the slight woman next to him. Scott had to hide a grin; he'd never expected to see Jubilee pat Victor Creed on the knee to sooth his nerves.
"Hang on, people," Scott announced. "We'll be dropped off outside Earth's orbit, so it'll be a few hours before we hit atmosphere."
Jean was a comforting presence at his side as they ran through the familiar sequence of engine startup and flight planning. When they were safely on their way, the destroyer a rapidly disappearing blip in the instruments, Jean murmured something about coffee and contacting the professor, and left the small cockpit.
~Jean. Send Bishop up here, please? It's time for some answers.~
Her familiar mental voice answered back on their private connection. ~I agree.~
Within minutes, a large hand offered a cup of black gold, and he sipped it gratefully as the dark tattooed man settled into the co-pilot's seat. Outwardly, the only change visible in Bishop was the clothing. He was still stoic as a rock wall and nearly as calm, sipping his own coffee with eyes focused on the miniscule green planet barely visible through the canopy.
Scott took a breath and blew the steam away from his cup, glad the gravity generated by their engines allowed the use of cups rather than the zero-G baggies. Drinking hot beverages through a straw was just plain painful.
"So," he started, knowing Bishop would not volunteer anything. "What happened?"
"Gateway."
"Yeah, we figured that out."
Bishop quickly outlined the beginning of their adventure – the standard recruiting mission to contact a Los Angeles teen, a short demonstration of Jubilee's power, and her description of the re-opened Massachusetts School. Stumbling across Creed as he left a bar, the half-hearted exchange of insults that would have likely ended in both sides walking away if Gateway had not appeared, sucking the three of them into a universe light-centuries away.
"When we found ourselves in a strange forest, it was Jubilee who convinced Creed to cease hostilities while we explored our surroundings. We found a small village, and Jubilee went in to recon. When she returned, she was... annoyed."
"Uh-huh," Scott grunted. He could just imagine.
"I believe, 'We're in bumfuck Shi'ar, dudes!' were her exact words." The stubbled lip twitched slightly, the closest Bishop ever came to smile. "We returned to the village, hoping to make contact with a Shi'ar official and somehow get word back to you and the Professor in New York, when the village was attacked by rebels of the Gui'vos." He paused for a moment. "Are you familiar with the political situation there?"
Scott shifted in his seat. "Typical Shi'ar expansion – they don't really care whether they're welcome or not."
Bishop considered, then backtracked. "The planet has been in an agricultural and industrial stage, but the political system is still in strong feudal control. Through religion and a strong basis of tradition, the ruling party, the Gui'vos, has not fluctuated in centuries. The Shi'ar introduced change to this system."
"And the traditional lords didn't like it," Scott guessed.
"No." the larger man replied flatly. "The remaining ruling class has stirred a revolution of sorts. The rebels were not widely popular, but the traditional obedience is deeply ingrained. They were financing themselves through a lucrative slave trade.
"The attack on the village was intended to capture more slaves. They were not anticipating any opposition, and our presence in the village was … unexpected." Once again, Bishop displayed his talent for understatement.
"The attackers were defeated, and I understand we were hailed as heroes by the local people. Unfortunately, I was injured during the fighting, and have few memories of what happened."
"What do you remember?"
Bishop hesitated. "Creed wanted Jubilee to leave me to die. I.. I told Jubilee to leave me as well. I did not believe I would recover."
Scott examined the big man's torso more critically, but did not notice any indications of grave injuries.
"Jubilee refused to leave me, despite Creed's threats. He tried to force her to go with him, knowing she was his passport home, and I was unable to protect her."
"How did she change his mind?" Scott asked, intrigued.
"She found his heart."
Cyclops opened his mouth, but for several moments, nothing came out. "Are- are you telling me…" Scott could hear himself stuttering. "Sabretooth is in love with her?"
Bishop looked at him strangely. "No. She ruptured his lungs and heart with a plasma burst and put a hole in his pericardium."
"Oh," he muttered, feeling foolish. "Wait a minute. Jube took down Sabretooth?"
A wolfish grimace creased the dark man's face, quickly gone. "More than once."
"Wow." No other words came to mind. He had never considered a pinpoint attack on the hairy mutant under discussion, he didn't have that kind of control. Of course, Sabretooth getting that close wasn't usually healthy, either. "Then what?"
"The village was in disarray, the elders of the village killed. Jubilee took command."
"Until you were back on your feet?"
Dark eyes peered into Scott's visor, trying to convey something. "I am a soldier, Cyclops, not a leader. And Creed is an animal without discipline. Jubilation Lee, however, is more than you have ever guessed at."
When Scott made no reply, Bishop continued with his narrative. "The village had a healer, and he was able to save many of the gravely wounded, including myself. The survivors wanted to journey to a larger town for safety, and we soon realized we were in the center of the war zone. After two days of traveling, we came across a caravan of slaves being sent into rebel controlled territory to be sold.
"We had no intention of taking on the slavers until Jubilee heard a child, crying in the tail of the caravan. I still have no idea how she talked Creed into backing her up, but between them they destroyed the caravan and freed the captives. And we became an army."
"An army?" he echoed, questioningly.
"You are familiar with the historical figure of Spartacus?"
Scott thought for a minute. "Roman slave, became a general and nearly destroyed the Empire?"
"Something like that. If the Shi'ar officials knew of the legend, they would have killed us all instantly. The symbol we adopted, " and he tapped the circled X on his chest, "has become a third political option between the old regime and absorption by the Shi'ar Empire. And Jubilation Lee and her army have become a symbol of freedom for the entire planet."
Silence fell in the cockpit as Scott processed the information he'd heard. Jubilee, the firecracker spirit who loved junk food and vying with Bobby over who could create the most outrageous practical jokes, involved in a ragtag army of ex-slaves. Leading an army. Good god, no wonder Brial had wanted her off the planet, but was afraid to kill her.
"You should be very proud of her, Cyclops. She has utilized your training with great efficiency."
He nodded, but his assumptions were busy realigning themselves. "Bishop, when you first came to the mansion, you recognized Jubilee's name."
"Yes."
"But you never told us anything about our future, her future… why not?"
The larger man was slow in answering. "It was not my place to tell you your future or hers. And, after my time stream was lost, there seemed little point in muddying the future to come with expectations that may or may not come true." The wolfish grin reappeared, showing more emotion that Cyclops had ever seen on the man's face. "But I will tell you, from what I've seen in the last eight months, I am in no way disappointed."
**********
While Bishop went forward with coffee for Scott, Jean focused on their passengers. Jubilee's four soldiers were talking quietly, eyes already drooping, and she could feel the utter exhaustion radiating from them. Jubilee was no better, but her high-strung anticipation was keeping her jittery. She'd moved across the aisle to allow Creed to stretch out, but her bubbly emotions were almost painfully distracting. Jean rearranged her shields to deflect the nervous energy the younger woman was emitting, and mentally reached out to her mentor's familiar signature.
Contact was established quickly, and she could see in her mind's eye where he sat in Cerebro's familiar embrace, reaching back to her. His reaction to Victor Creed's presence was more puzzled than alarmed, and his utter relief at their successful retrieval did not waver when she explained the addition of Jubilee's strays.
~If Jubilee felt it was imperative to bring her people with her, then I will not argue with her motivations. I'm simply glad that everyone is safe.~
~They may be safe, Professor, but I'm not sure that Jubilee hasn't been permanently harmed by her ordeal.~
~Has she used the term 'ordeal,' Jean?~
~No, but I'm worried.~
~I'll speak to her when she arrives. I'm more anxious to see if her telepathic abilities have manifested as we'd once hoped. We'll discuss it more when you land.~
Bidding a quick goodbye to Xavier, Jean roused from her telepathic trance and stretched out in the seat. Nearly twenty hours had passed since they had left on this mission, and in that time she'd had only a few catnaps. Smiling at her own pun, she checked on the passengers behind her. The four in the back were out, and Creed was close, but Jubilee still vibrated with energy. Jean wasn't surprised to see a dark mop of hair hanging in the aisle, with a pair of boots propped on the back of the seat.
"I want . . . "Jubilee drawled.
A low growl rumbled from the opposite seat, cutting off when a crumpled wad, once a paper coffee cup, shot across the aisle from Jubilee's side.
"I want . . ." she repeated demandingly. "I want a hot fudge sundae."
"Go to sleep, boss."
"Can't sleep, I'm too wired. I want… a hot tub."
A grumbling sigh came from the other side. "I wanna whiskey. A whole freakin' bottle."
"I want a cheeseburger."
"I wanna steak. From something that used to moo," he clarified. From the sound of it, this was a pastime they'd indulged in often.
"I want a manicure."
"I wanna drive a car. Sick of those camels."
"I want a new pair of jeans."
"I want a real hairbrush." A chuckle came from Jubilee's side. "Hey, you get this much hair on ya, you try combin' it out."
"Umm. I want shampoo, and hair gel, and deodorant."
"Ya smell fine. I want a new pair of boots."
"I want a real bed, with sheets and a quilt."
"I want a real bed with a real woman in it."
"Oh, yeah," Jubilee laughed. "Like you went dry."
"All right, how about a human woman in it?"
"Can't help ya there, Sabey baby."
Jean nearly choked when she heard the nickname fall casually from Jubilee's mouth. Silence stretched out in the cabin.
"So, you gotta girlfriend back home, wondering where you been? Pissed off because you haven't called lately?"
"Any woman I spend time with knows better than to expect me to keep a regular schedule. What about you?"
"Only thing waiting for me is a bunch of incompletes, but I'm not going back there. The first time some professor tells me it's critical I get an assignment done, I'd probably laugh myself sick."
Jean heard the seat protest as Creed shifted. "What about the runt?"
"Well, yeah, I'm sure he's been worried."
"Not what I meant. I always thought you two were gettin' it on."
"Gee, I'm really touched you were worried about my love life, there." The dry sarcasm was rampant.
"Hey, messin' with you was always the easiest way to get a rise out of him. Figured he had a thing for ya."
"Vic, you mess with Wolvie, I will kill you." No sarcasm this time.
"Yeah, boss, I know. Tell ya what, if the runt don't get his head out of his ass, I'll take ya."
A giggle greeted this unromantic proposal. "Oh, be still my beating heart."
A genuine chuckle came from the huge man, a sound Jean had never heard in her life from the vicious Sabretooth. "Go to sleep, boss."
Author: Ramos
Rating: PG for language
Category: Adventure
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Marvel Comics, and no profit is made from their use.
It was a short walk from the planetary shuttle to where the Blackbird waited in the massive hanger of the Shi'ar Destroyer. The gantry lowered itself on command, and Scott stood by as Jean handled the thank-yous. He was aware of his wife working her diplomatic skills with the grace and tact of years of experience, but his attention was focused on the smaller woman behind her. He watched as Jubilation Lee approached the Shi'ar pilot who'd lifted them from the planet's surface. The man clasped her wrist in his own large palm and leaned over to whisper something in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Jube laugh, and she smacked him on the shoulder in a gesture he'd seen old soldiers use, one that he'd used himself on veteran teammates. Eight months ago, Jubilee had been a college student. Scott wasn't sure what she was now, but the entire situation left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Behind Jubilee, a handful of tattered warriors waited for their captain to finish chatting up the local pilot. Even Bishop and Creed, and Scott's lip wanted to curl at the utter wrongness of that, waited with the patience of well-trained dogs. And as the young woman nodded to the Shi'ar official and followed Jean to the steps leading up to their ship, the six of them automatically moved out to flank her like a roiling cloak in her wake.
She had introduced each of her people to him and Jean during the hour-long journey from the garrison to the space center, then the shuttle ride up to the orbiting ship. Chibar, the tall, stooped-looking older man with dark brown on brown mottled skin, had been a history teacher before the revolution. Now he was the repository of a history for a clan that no longer existed. The twins, whose real names he could not begin to pronounce but answered readily to Jubilee's affectionate Tweedle and Dee, were of medium height with light olive skin. The brother, Tweedle, was half a head taller than his sister, and they could have come from the Mediterranean sector on Earth if it weren't for their dark blue hair. The last was a straggly teen boy who preferred Jubilee's nickname of Tommy. The boy had blonde hair over soulful green eyes and skin, and judging by the wrists and knobby ankles visible below the hemline of his clothing, Tommy was hitting a growth spurt that threatened to take him well over six feet tall. Scott's scrutiny at last fell on the two giants at the back of the line. Bishop was an old and trusted friend, but Victor Creed was another matter entirely. So far, the hulking man had opened his mouth exactly once, and shut it promptly at a look from Jubilee.
Ironically, the journey from Shi'ar space to the Sol system was over by the time he'd finished the pre-flight checklist and had the engines started, thanks to the Empire's advanced technology. The native soldiers had settled into the last four seats in the jet, but not one of the ten passenger seats had been designed for a man as large as Sabretooth. He overflowed his space and imposed on the slight woman next to him. Scott had to hide a grin; he'd never expected to see Jubilee pat Victor Creed on the knee to sooth his nerves.
"Hang on, people," Scott announced. "We'll be dropped off outside Earth's orbit, so it'll be a few hours before we hit atmosphere."
Jean was a comforting presence at his side as they ran through the familiar sequence of engine startup and flight planning. When they were safely on their way, the destroyer a rapidly disappearing blip in the instruments, Jean murmured something about coffee and contacting the professor, and left the small cockpit.
~Jean. Send Bishop up here, please? It's time for some answers.~
Her familiar mental voice answered back on their private connection. ~I agree.~
Within minutes, a large hand offered a cup of black gold, and he sipped it gratefully as the dark tattooed man settled into the co-pilot's seat. Outwardly, the only change visible in Bishop was the clothing. He was still stoic as a rock wall and nearly as calm, sipping his own coffee with eyes focused on the miniscule green planet barely visible through the canopy.
Scott took a breath and blew the steam away from his cup, glad the gravity generated by their engines allowed the use of cups rather than the zero-G baggies. Drinking hot beverages through a straw was just plain painful.
"So," he started, knowing Bishop would not volunteer anything. "What happened?"
"Gateway."
"Yeah, we figured that out."
Bishop quickly outlined the beginning of their adventure – the standard recruiting mission to contact a Los Angeles teen, a short demonstration of Jubilee's power, and her description of the re-opened Massachusetts School. Stumbling across Creed as he left a bar, the half-hearted exchange of insults that would have likely ended in both sides walking away if Gateway had not appeared, sucking the three of them into a universe light-centuries away.
"When we found ourselves in a strange forest, it was Jubilee who convinced Creed to cease hostilities while we explored our surroundings. We found a small village, and Jubilee went in to recon. When she returned, she was... annoyed."
"Uh-huh," Scott grunted. He could just imagine.
"I believe, 'We're in bumfuck Shi'ar, dudes!' were her exact words." The stubbled lip twitched slightly, the closest Bishop ever came to smile. "We returned to the village, hoping to make contact with a Shi'ar official and somehow get word back to you and the Professor in New York, when the village was attacked by rebels of the Gui'vos." He paused for a moment. "Are you familiar with the political situation there?"
Scott shifted in his seat. "Typical Shi'ar expansion – they don't really care whether they're welcome or not."
Bishop considered, then backtracked. "The planet has been in an agricultural and industrial stage, but the political system is still in strong feudal control. Through religion and a strong basis of tradition, the ruling party, the Gui'vos, has not fluctuated in centuries. The Shi'ar introduced change to this system."
"And the traditional lords didn't like it," Scott guessed.
"No." the larger man replied flatly. "The remaining ruling class has stirred a revolution of sorts. The rebels were not widely popular, but the traditional obedience is deeply ingrained. They were financing themselves through a lucrative slave trade.
"The attack on the village was intended to capture more slaves. They were not anticipating any opposition, and our presence in the village was … unexpected." Once again, Bishop displayed his talent for understatement.
"The attackers were defeated, and I understand we were hailed as heroes by the local people. Unfortunately, I was injured during the fighting, and have few memories of what happened."
"What do you remember?"
Bishop hesitated. "Creed wanted Jubilee to leave me to die. I.. I told Jubilee to leave me as well. I did not believe I would recover."
Scott examined the big man's torso more critically, but did not notice any indications of grave injuries.
"Jubilee refused to leave me, despite Creed's threats. He tried to force her to go with him, knowing she was his passport home, and I was unable to protect her."
"How did she change his mind?" Scott asked, intrigued.
"She found his heart."
Cyclops opened his mouth, but for several moments, nothing came out. "Are- are you telling me…" Scott could hear himself stuttering. "Sabretooth is in love with her?"
Bishop looked at him strangely. "No. She ruptured his lungs and heart with a plasma burst and put a hole in his pericardium."
"Oh," he muttered, feeling foolish. "Wait a minute. Jube took down Sabretooth?"
A wolfish grimace creased the dark man's face, quickly gone. "More than once."
"Wow." No other words came to mind. He had never considered a pinpoint attack on the hairy mutant under discussion, he didn't have that kind of control. Of course, Sabretooth getting that close wasn't usually healthy, either. "Then what?"
"The village was in disarray, the elders of the village killed. Jubilee took command."
"Until you were back on your feet?"
Dark eyes peered into Scott's visor, trying to convey something. "I am a soldier, Cyclops, not a leader. And Creed is an animal without discipline. Jubilation Lee, however, is more than you have ever guessed at."
When Scott made no reply, Bishop continued with his narrative. "The village had a healer, and he was able to save many of the gravely wounded, including myself. The survivors wanted to journey to a larger town for safety, and we soon realized we were in the center of the war zone. After two days of traveling, we came across a caravan of slaves being sent into rebel controlled territory to be sold.
"We had no intention of taking on the slavers until Jubilee heard a child, crying in the tail of the caravan. I still have no idea how she talked Creed into backing her up, but between them they destroyed the caravan and freed the captives. And we became an army."
"An army?" he echoed, questioningly.
"You are familiar with the historical figure of Spartacus?"
Scott thought for a minute. "Roman slave, became a general and nearly destroyed the Empire?"
"Something like that. If the Shi'ar officials knew of the legend, they would have killed us all instantly. The symbol we adopted, " and he tapped the circled X on his chest, "has become a third political option between the old regime and absorption by the Shi'ar Empire. And Jubilation Lee and her army have become a symbol of freedom for the entire planet."
Silence fell in the cockpit as Scott processed the information he'd heard. Jubilee, the firecracker spirit who loved junk food and vying with Bobby over who could create the most outrageous practical jokes, involved in a ragtag army of ex-slaves. Leading an army. Good god, no wonder Brial had wanted her off the planet, but was afraid to kill her.
"You should be very proud of her, Cyclops. She has utilized your training with great efficiency."
He nodded, but his assumptions were busy realigning themselves. "Bishop, when you first came to the mansion, you recognized Jubilee's name."
"Yes."
"But you never told us anything about our future, her future… why not?"
The larger man was slow in answering. "It was not my place to tell you your future or hers. And, after my time stream was lost, there seemed little point in muddying the future to come with expectations that may or may not come true." The wolfish grin reappeared, showing more emotion that Cyclops had ever seen on the man's face. "But I will tell you, from what I've seen in the last eight months, I am in no way disappointed."
**********
While Bishop went forward with coffee for Scott, Jean focused on their passengers. Jubilee's four soldiers were talking quietly, eyes already drooping, and she could feel the utter exhaustion radiating from them. Jubilee was no better, but her high-strung anticipation was keeping her jittery. She'd moved across the aisle to allow Creed to stretch out, but her bubbly emotions were almost painfully distracting. Jean rearranged her shields to deflect the nervous energy the younger woman was emitting, and mentally reached out to her mentor's familiar signature.
Contact was established quickly, and she could see in her mind's eye where he sat in Cerebro's familiar embrace, reaching back to her. His reaction to Victor Creed's presence was more puzzled than alarmed, and his utter relief at their successful retrieval did not waver when she explained the addition of Jubilee's strays.
~If Jubilee felt it was imperative to bring her people with her, then I will not argue with her motivations. I'm simply glad that everyone is safe.~
~They may be safe, Professor, but I'm not sure that Jubilee hasn't been permanently harmed by her ordeal.~
~Has she used the term 'ordeal,' Jean?~
~No, but I'm worried.~
~I'll speak to her when she arrives. I'm more anxious to see if her telepathic abilities have manifested as we'd once hoped. We'll discuss it more when you land.~
Bidding a quick goodbye to Xavier, Jean roused from her telepathic trance and stretched out in the seat. Nearly twenty hours had passed since they had left on this mission, and in that time she'd had only a few catnaps. Smiling at her own pun, she checked on the passengers behind her. The four in the back were out, and Creed was close, but Jubilee still vibrated with energy. Jean wasn't surprised to see a dark mop of hair hanging in the aisle, with a pair of boots propped on the back of the seat.
"I want . . . "Jubilee drawled.
A low growl rumbled from the opposite seat, cutting off when a crumpled wad, once a paper coffee cup, shot across the aisle from Jubilee's side.
"I want . . ." she repeated demandingly. "I want a hot fudge sundae."
"Go to sleep, boss."
"Can't sleep, I'm too wired. I want… a hot tub."
A grumbling sigh came from the other side. "I wanna whiskey. A whole freakin' bottle."
"I want a cheeseburger."
"I wanna steak. From something that used to moo," he clarified. From the sound of it, this was a pastime they'd indulged in often.
"I want a manicure."
"I wanna drive a car. Sick of those camels."
"I want a new pair of jeans."
"I want a real hairbrush." A chuckle came from Jubilee's side. "Hey, you get this much hair on ya, you try combin' it out."
"Umm. I want shampoo, and hair gel, and deodorant."
"Ya smell fine. I want a new pair of boots."
"I want a real bed, with sheets and a quilt."
"I want a real bed with a real woman in it."
"Oh, yeah," Jubilee laughed. "Like you went dry."
"All right, how about a human woman in it?"
"Can't help ya there, Sabey baby."
Jean nearly choked when she heard the nickname fall casually from Jubilee's mouth. Silence stretched out in the cabin.
"So, you gotta girlfriend back home, wondering where you been? Pissed off because you haven't called lately?"
"Any woman I spend time with knows better than to expect me to keep a regular schedule. What about you?"
"Only thing waiting for me is a bunch of incompletes, but I'm not going back there. The first time some professor tells me it's critical I get an assignment done, I'd probably laugh myself sick."
Jean heard the seat protest as Creed shifted. "What about the runt?"
"Well, yeah, I'm sure he's been worried."
"Not what I meant. I always thought you two were gettin' it on."
"Gee, I'm really touched you were worried about my love life, there." The dry sarcasm was rampant.
"Hey, messin' with you was always the easiest way to get a rise out of him. Figured he had a thing for ya."
"Vic, you mess with Wolvie, I will kill you." No sarcasm this time.
"Yeah, boss, I know. Tell ya what, if the runt don't get his head out of his ass, I'll take ya."
A giggle greeted this unromantic proposal. "Oh, be still my beating heart."
A genuine chuckle came from the huge man, a sound Jean had never heard in her life from the vicious Sabretooth. "Go to sleep, boss."