Thanks goes out to the people who have been sending us reviews. It's very encouraging! Here is chapter 11. Enjoy!
## - represents thoughts
CHAPTER 11: Hank to the Rescue!
Her mind was reeling. One moment she was breathing air; the next, water. All her senses were suddenly rendered useless as she floundered around in the watery prison, trying to find a way out. Panic wrenched her stomach and her muscles writhed with pain as she flailed her arms and legs, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a large, muscular arm wrap itself around her waist and she felt herself being pulled upward.
She gagged and choked as her head broke the surface. Her lungs were screaming for air, but the water was preventing the much needed oxygen from getting in.
"Don't worry, I've got you!" she heard a voice say into her ear, but she couldn't quite place just who it belonged to. She was too busy trying to breath. She felt her body being lifted, and her elbows and chest came to rest against the side of the pool.
* * *
"Don't worry, I've got you!" Hank said as they broke the surface. She didn't reply, but her flailing limbs informed him she was conscious. The gurgling sounds she made as he pulled her to the side of the pool worried him greatly. There was water in her lungs, and she had to get it out. His arm still wrapped around her, he placed his fist against her abdomen and attempted a one-handed Heimlich. He felt her thorax forcefully contract and water spurted from her mouth. He breathed a sigh of relief as spasmodic coughing and sputtering ensued.
Now that she was getting air, Tyger was able to focus her senses on the other things that were happening around her. Her eyes were closed tight, stinging from the chlorine, but she was aware of people milling around her, various voices asking what happened? Are you alright? She began to feel panicked again, claustrophobic - too many people around her. She had to get out of there. She tried to move, but the arm around her held fast and drew her closer.
As she was drawn into this strange embrace, a feeling of calmness suddenly flowed over her. She felt...safe. Her body relaxed and her nose picked up the mixed scent of chlorine and wet fur.
It was him. She flushed as rivulets of heat trickled over her skin where their bodies connected. Eyes still shut, she leaned her head back against his neck, drinking in his musky scent and marvelling at the strength of his body, and the aura of safety and protection that encompassed her.
* * *
Jean panicked briefly as Tyger's head seemed to flop back. She feared that the woman was unconscious, but a quick scan of her mind told Jean otherwise. Forcing back a smile, she announced that she wanted to take Tyger to the infirmary and used her telekinesis to lift her out of the pool.
* * *
Hank sensed that she was scared; panicked, and instinctively drew her closer to him. He felt her muscles as they tensed, then relax. He felt the warmth of her body against him, his skin prickling with heat where they touched. She laid her head back against his shoulder and he revelled in the sensation, her scent like sweet perfume filling his nostrils.
Then, without any warning, he felt her being pulled away from him. He tried to hang on, not wanting to let her go. But it was futile. He was transfixed, as if watching a movie. Rogue draped a towel around Tyger and Jean led her off to the infirmary. He was in too much of a daze to noticed that her steps were reluctant ones. He was broken from his trance only when Logan crouched down by him and said, "Don't worry Hank, I'll take care of it," then stood up and headed back to the barbecue.
Hank blinked, unable to make any sense about what Logan had just said. He let his body drift in the water for a moment longer, then swam to the other side and hauled himself out of the pool. Jean had unlocked the door, so he went inside.
All he wanted was to be alone right now.
* * *
Logan's sharp eyes noticed the telltale glimmer of ice on the tiles. He said nothing, but he shot Bobby a look that would make a seasoned murderer freeze in his tracks.
Their eyes locked. Bobby gulped. The look on Logan's face told him loud and clear that one simply does not do this type of thing. Period. Logan turned away, but Robert's body remained frozen in place. Even so, his mind was racing. #That wasn't supposed to happen! I didn't mean for this to happen! Honest to God, I didn't know she couldn't swim!#
As Tyger was being led to the infirmary, Logan informed Hank that he would take care of the problem. I won't deal with Bobby right now, he thought to himself as he headed toward the barbecue. #There's plenty o' time for that. 'Sides, there's a big, juicy steak with my name on it.#
* * *
Jean led Tyger to the infirmary. After making her lie down on the examination table, she checked to see that she was okay then asked her if she wanted to talk about anything.
"No," she quickly replied (with a little too much force).
Jean just smiled. "Tyger, I saw the way you were cuddling into him, like he was a big, blue teddy bear. One doesn't have to be a telepath to read the contentment on your face."
"Welllll..." Tyger replied, feeling very uneasy.
"You were so adorable!"
Tyger winced and valiantly fought off the urge to slink off the table and out of the room.
"Besides, I think Hank has already expressed how he feels about you."
She looked up hopefully. "He has?"
"Of course. Don't you know that in some cultures, giving a lady a collar or necklace is a sign of commitment?"
"But Hank woouuldn't...that waasn't..." Tyger protested.
Jean looked at her sternly. "Are you sure?" she replied. "Do you really know what goes on in the levels of his mind? After all, I am a telepath." The last part was true, but she hadn't really delved that deep into Hank's thoughts. She was just hoping that her bluff worked.
"But he neverr said anything...he alwaays seems agitated when I'mm arround."
"He probably doesn't know how to express himself. He can be rather crude at times. It's not as if you've told him how YOU feel."
"But I don't..."
Jean smiled at her. "Really? Not even just a little?"
Tyger smiled back shyly. "Maaybee just a little."
"Only a little?" Jean pressed.
"What doo yoou want me to saay?"
"Tyger, I know that you're shy about this kind of thing. But Hank really is quite sweet and...gentle once you get to know him."
Tyger looked startled. "You meean you and...?"
Jean laughed. "Goodness, no!" she exclaimed.
"I jusst don't knnow what to dooo," said Tyger, looking rather dismayed.
"Trust your instincts, Tyger," Jean implored. "Trust him."
They talked for a while longer before Jean let Tyger out of the infirmary.
## - represents thoughts
CHAPTER 11: Hank to the Rescue!
Her mind was reeling. One moment she was breathing air; the next, water. All her senses were suddenly rendered useless as she floundered around in the watery prison, trying to find a way out. Panic wrenched her stomach and her muscles writhed with pain as she flailed her arms and legs, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a large, muscular arm wrap itself around her waist and she felt herself being pulled upward.
She gagged and choked as her head broke the surface. Her lungs were screaming for air, but the water was preventing the much needed oxygen from getting in.
"Don't worry, I've got you!" she heard a voice say into her ear, but she couldn't quite place just who it belonged to. She was too busy trying to breath. She felt her body being lifted, and her elbows and chest came to rest against the side of the pool.
* * *
"Don't worry, I've got you!" Hank said as they broke the surface. She didn't reply, but her flailing limbs informed him she was conscious. The gurgling sounds she made as he pulled her to the side of the pool worried him greatly. There was water in her lungs, and she had to get it out. His arm still wrapped around her, he placed his fist against her abdomen and attempted a one-handed Heimlich. He felt her thorax forcefully contract and water spurted from her mouth. He breathed a sigh of relief as spasmodic coughing and sputtering ensued.
Now that she was getting air, Tyger was able to focus her senses on the other things that were happening around her. Her eyes were closed tight, stinging from the chlorine, but she was aware of people milling around her, various voices asking what happened? Are you alright? She began to feel panicked again, claustrophobic - too many people around her. She had to get out of there. She tried to move, but the arm around her held fast and drew her closer.
As she was drawn into this strange embrace, a feeling of calmness suddenly flowed over her. She felt...safe. Her body relaxed and her nose picked up the mixed scent of chlorine and wet fur.
It was him. She flushed as rivulets of heat trickled over her skin where their bodies connected. Eyes still shut, she leaned her head back against his neck, drinking in his musky scent and marvelling at the strength of his body, and the aura of safety and protection that encompassed her.
* * *
Jean panicked briefly as Tyger's head seemed to flop back. She feared that the woman was unconscious, but a quick scan of her mind told Jean otherwise. Forcing back a smile, she announced that she wanted to take Tyger to the infirmary and used her telekinesis to lift her out of the pool.
* * *
Hank sensed that she was scared; panicked, and instinctively drew her closer to him. He felt her muscles as they tensed, then relax. He felt the warmth of her body against him, his skin prickling with heat where they touched. She laid her head back against his shoulder and he revelled in the sensation, her scent like sweet perfume filling his nostrils.
Then, without any warning, he felt her being pulled away from him. He tried to hang on, not wanting to let her go. But it was futile. He was transfixed, as if watching a movie. Rogue draped a towel around Tyger and Jean led her off to the infirmary. He was in too much of a daze to noticed that her steps were reluctant ones. He was broken from his trance only when Logan crouched down by him and said, "Don't worry Hank, I'll take care of it," then stood up and headed back to the barbecue.
Hank blinked, unable to make any sense about what Logan had just said. He let his body drift in the water for a moment longer, then swam to the other side and hauled himself out of the pool. Jean had unlocked the door, so he went inside.
All he wanted was to be alone right now.
* * *
Logan's sharp eyes noticed the telltale glimmer of ice on the tiles. He said nothing, but he shot Bobby a look that would make a seasoned murderer freeze in his tracks.
Their eyes locked. Bobby gulped. The look on Logan's face told him loud and clear that one simply does not do this type of thing. Period. Logan turned away, but Robert's body remained frozen in place. Even so, his mind was racing. #That wasn't supposed to happen! I didn't mean for this to happen! Honest to God, I didn't know she couldn't swim!#
As Tyger was being led to the infirmary, Logan informed Hank that he would take care of the problem. I won't deal with Bobby right now, he thought to himself as he headed toward the barbecue. #There's plenty o' time for that. 'Sides, there's a big, juicy steak with my name on it.#
* * *
Jean led Tyger to the infirmary. After making her lie down on the examination table, she checked to see that she was okay then asked her if she wanted to talk about anything.
"No," she quickly replied (with a little too much force).
Jean just smiled. "Tyger, I saw the way you were cuddling into him, like he was a big, blue teddy bear. One doesn't have to be a telepath to read the contentment on your face."
"Welllll..." Tyger replied, feeling very uneasy.
"You were so adorable!"
Tyger winced and valiantly fought off the urge to slink off the table and out of the room.
"Besides, I think Hank has already expressed how he feels about you."
She looked up hopefully. "He has?"
"Of course. Don't you know that in some cultures, giving a lady a collar or necklace is a sign of commitment?"
"But Hank woouuldn't...that waasn't..." Tyger protested.
Jean looked at her sternly. "Are you sure?" she replied. "Do you really know what goes on in the levels of his mind? After all, I am a telepath." The last part was true, but she hadn't really delved that deep into Hank's thoughts. She was just hoping that her bluff worked.
"But he neverr said anything...he alwaays seems agitated when I'mm arround."
"He probably doesn't know how to express himself. He can be rather crude at times. It's not as if you've told him how YOU feel."
"But I don't..."
Jean smiled at her. "Really? Not even just a little?"
Tyger smiled back shyly. "Maaybee just a little."
"Only a little?" Jean pressed.
"What doo yoou want me to saay?"
"Tyger, I know that you're shy about this kind of thing. But Hank really is quite sweet and...gentle once you get to know him."
Tyger looked startled. "You meean you and...?"
Jean laughed. "Goodness, no!" she exclaimed.
"I jusst don't knnow what to dooo," said Tyger, looking rather dismayed.
"Trust your instincts, Tyger," Jean implored. "Trust him."
They talked for a while longer before Jean let Tyger out of the infirmary.