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~ Part Seven ~
Jean and Scott returned to the mansion to get more clothes and their plane tickets and information from the professor. They had been gone two days. As they walked into the mansion they were surprised to see all the gloomy faces. Everyone seemed upset, even Jubilee and Kitty who were always happy.
"What's wrong," Scott asked as Kitty started to walk past them.
"It's Mickey," Jean said, cocking her head to the side, as though she were concentrating. "She's dying."
As the two reached the infirmary, they found Logan at Mickey's bedside. The woman lay unconscious with machines monitoring her breathing and heartbeat. An IV was in her arm pumping her full of vitamins and keeping her from dehydrating. She lay perfectly still except for her slow breathing. Scott came further into the room, and Logan growled. "What happened?"
"She saved Jean's life," Logan said gruffly. He had been at her side since this began, leaving only long enough to use the restroom, and grab a five minute shower. Rogue had brought him food, but he hadn't eaten it. Even when she'd begged him to just eat a few bites; he'd ignored her soft puppy dog eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Logan looked up at him. "In saving your wife she took her own life. She knew what she was doing!"
Scott stared at him horrified. "Is she . . . ?"
"Not yet," he snapped.
"She died for me," Jean asked incredulously.
"Yep!"
"Give her some of your blood," Scott said, as if that were the answer to everything.
"We've already tried that, Scott," Professor Xavier said as he joined them in the infirmary.
"Yesterday, when this started, Xavier gave us the ok to give her some of Logan's blood, but she hasn't gotten any better. I've done everything I can think of to help her, but it's done nothing to help." Hank touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Summers."
Logan growled again. Mr. Summers? Where had Mr. Summers been when this lady was crying her heart out because she didn't think anyone would ever love her? Where had Scott been the first three hours of this, while Mickey was conscious and in excruciating pain? Where had he been the last fifteen hours while she lay here dying, because she wanted him to be happier than she'd ever been? His heart thundered and rage ran through his blood like hot lava. "Say your goodbyes and leave! Go on your happy little honeymoon and let her die in peace!"
"She's my friend. Where do you get off telling me to leave her alone? Why don't you leave?"
Logan jumped to his feet, and turned to look at him; the chair scuffing the floor along the way.
Jean jumped; she'd never seen Logan look so mean. Hatred was in his eyes, like never before.
"I'll be in the hall when you're through."
Jean followed Logan into the hall way to leave Scott to say his goodbyes to the woman he'd grown up with. "She's really made an impression on you, hasn't she?"
Logan glanced at her. "You could say that."
"Does she feel the same way?"
Logan glanced in the room, and had to suppress the growl that rose to his throat. Mickey didn't know how he felt; he hadn't even realized how much he cared about her until now. His hands balled into fists.
"She's a lucky woman, Logan."
He looked at her. "How?"
"Because you love her. . . . I'm sorry about everything that passed between you and me."
His brow furrowed. "Me too. We should have known better. Hell, I should have known better." He backed her against the wall. "Remember something, Jean. . . . That woman in there is dying for you. She gave her life to save yours. Remember that!"
Jean was stunned as Logan walked past her to get into Mickey's room. He hadn't even touched her, not a single brush of his hand. She knew in her heart that was the best way, but it was so different from how things had started off. He wasn't interested in her any longer. As much as that stung her pride and the slightest of feelings she'd begun to have for him, she was glad it was over.
Meanwhile in the infirmary, Scott sat next to the bed staring at the woman he'd grown to love like a sister. He reached up and touched her hand, her skin was chilled. She had been the only family he'd had between losing his parents and brother and coming to be a member of the X-Men. "You never had to do this; I wouldn't have asked you to. . . It's not fair that I have to live without one of you. You've meant a lot more to me than you'll ever know. I love you, Mick." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
It was just about that time that Logan came back into the infirmary. He didn't say anything, but returned to his seat at her bedside the moment Scott moved. Scott then made his way toward one wall and watched as Logan's hand covered Mickey's. He cocked his head to the side; he'd never seen the man act that way before. He'd been that caring about Rogue, but she was a kid there was a difference in it.
Logan leaned forward, watching her. "Come on, Mickey. Wake up, pull out of this one," he urged in a whispered tone.
Jean touched Scott's arm and he slipped his arm around her. They stood together and would wait there until she was gone. Scott lifted a fist to grim lips watching in silence. She'd always been like a sister to him, and to see her like this was as if he were watching Alex lay there dying. "Jean, I need to know what she was thinking."
Logan growled again, having over heard Scott's request. "She was thinking that she didn't have anyone who cared about her, and she wanted the only person that she cared about to be happy! She knew that you'd never be happy without Jean."
"How do you know that," Jean asked.
"It's easy to see," he said softly. He couldn't tell them that Mickey had been in love with Cyclops and was dying because she didn't want to live knowing she could never have him. He had to fight the urge to go off on Scott every time he thought about it.
"Scott, let's give him a moment," Jean said.
Scott looked at her then nodded and left the room.
Logan reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. "I figured out what that dream was all about; why we shared it. . . . Come on, Kid, don't leave me now! Don't make me face this alone. Wake up!"
In that instant the heart monitor flat lined. Everyone that was close enough to hear the machine came running to see what was happening. No one in the mansion was in the dark about Mickey's condition. Hank and Jean both went to work. They removed the oxygen tube and the heart monitors and began CPR. Hank began breathing and Jean began the compressions.
Logan refused to move. He'd let go of her hand, only because he wanted to let them work. He watched with Scott at his side. His heart was on his sleeve as they worked. "Come on, Kid. Make it through this. Be okay!"
Scott lifted a fist to grim lips again as Jean and Hank traded places.
"You wanna call it," Jean asked.
"You can't stop," Logan snapped.
"It's been forty minutes, we can't keep going," Jean said softly.
Hank glanced up at the clock on the wall. "Time of death, 1:47 pm." He lifted the sheet and covered her face with it.
"No," Logan yelled. He jerked the sheet off of her, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Wake up!"
"Logan!"
Scott and Hank tried to pull him away but he shook them both off. He shook her slightly. "Get up! Don't do this to me, I love you!"
Everyone in the room stood stunned. No one had ever heard Logan confess the emotion of love before. Everyone had thought that he'd loved Jean by how hurt he'd been when they'd thought that she was dead, but were shocked by this declaration.
"No!" He wrapped his arms around her body and held her close. Laying her forehead against his chin, he closed his eyes as they filled with tears. "No!"
As Rogue reached out wanting to comfort Logan, Bobby stopped her. "Let him be."
Rogue looked at him. "I wanna help."
"You can't help him," Storm said softly. "None of us can."
~
She stood across the glorious garden from that great carpenter; you know the one that lived two thousand years ago. It was a very large and lavish garden with two large trees at its center. The trees were being guarded by HUGE white eagles. The colors were so brilliant and vibrant, like none she had ever seen. It was that carpenter that held her attention. White light surrounded Him, making it hard to see Him. She found that she couldn't move, only fall to her knees with her head bowed, as He came toward her. His glory was indescribable, as was the immensity of love pouring from Him. Tears filled her eyes as He came ever closer. A hand reached out and touched her shoulder. "Michelle."
"My Lord," she cried.
"Please stand."
He spoke Hebrew, but she understood him as though He'd spoken English and she rose slowly to her feet to face her King. He was not a handsome man by any means, though he was fairly tall and stocky, just as a carpenter of old should be. He had flowing dark hair that looked white as the light shimmered off of it. Soul piercing blue eyes stared back at her. He also had beautiful dark olive skin that set off His welcoming smile. Tears flowed from her eyes. "I've longed to see you."
He reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "And yet you've feared that you never would. Your work is not yet done, my child."
She stared. "But-"
"Go back; my angels will guide your path. You have work left to complete and a life you've longed for waiting for you."
"I don't want to leave."
He smiled with unwavering patience. "I love you, Michelle, and I will open my arms and welcome you to my home, when it is your time to come home. Your time will come, but I have work for you to complete."
~
Logan's hand rested inside of Mickey's, as he sat at her bedside. Hank had pronounced her as dead several hours ago, but he hadn't let go. He had laid her back on the bed, carefully propping her head up on the pillow. The week and a half that he'd known her had changed his life. There was something very special about this woman, that he couldn't let go of. Her body had grown cold as all traces of life had long since slipped away. He could still feel the way she loved, even in death.
A hand touched his shoulder. "Logan, let her go."
He jerked away, his jaw hardening. "Not a chance, Jean!"
"She's gone," Scott said his voice touched with emotion.
He didn't know exactly how much time had passed; only that he wanted her to come back. He'd heard the others come and go to check on him, but hadn't responded to their questions. Logan leaned forward now, ignoring everything they were saying. "Come on, Mickey. Come back to me; don't make me do this alone!"
Her chest rose ever so slightly and Logan's eyes grew huge. He blinked hoping that it wasn't hope causing him to see something that wasn't there. Seven hours of stillness from her, and now she was breathing! He leaned closer yet again. "Come on." His eyes searched her face, urging her to wake. Praying to God that this wasn't wishful thinking.
"I'm not through with you yet, Bub," she said so softly only Logan could hear.
Logan cracked a half grin. "Hey."
Her eyes opened and she returned his smile. "Hey."
"You're all right," Scott exclaimed.
She moistened dry lips with the tip of her tongue. "Yeah."
"Get her some water," Logan ordered.
Mickey lifted her left hand and wiped a fallen tear from his face. She stared into his hazel eyes wanting to tell him everything that she'd seen. That great carpenters words suddenly became clear as she watched him. She closed her eyes, now knowing what He had meant.
"Here you go," he said taking the glass of water from Jean. He lifted it to her lips.
"We need to examine you," Hank said. "You've been dead for seven hours."
Mickey's eyes flashed open, and she met his gaze. "Don't you believe in miracles?"
"I believe in what I can see."
"Then take a good look, Herr Hank," Kurt said. "You're looking at a real miracle."
Mickey smiled at the blue-faced teleporting mutant she'd only spoken to once, and it was just an hour before she'd lost consciousness.
Hank and Jean ushered everyone out of the room to complete their tests. Logan left only because Kurt assured him that she was going to be all right. As he walked out of the room he could faintly hear, "I'm not going anywhere, Logan." He turned back to see Mickey. She was lying on the bed as Jean took her vitals.
~ Part Seven ~
Jean and Scott returned to the mansion to get more clothes and their plane tickets and information from the professor. They had been gone two days. As they walked into the mansion they were surprised to see all the gloomy faces. Everyone seemed upset, even Jubilee and Kitty who were always happy.
"What's wrong," Scott asked as Kitty started to walk past them.
"It's Mickey," Jean said, cocking her head to the side, as though she were concentrating. "She's dying."
As the two reached the infirmary, they found Logan at Mickey's bedside. The woman lay unconscious with machines monitoring her breathing and heartbeat. An IV was in her arm pumping her full of vitamins and keeping her from dehydrating. She lay perfectly still except for her slow breathing. Scott came further into the room, and Logan growled. "What happened?"
"She saved Jean's life," Logan said gruffly. He had been at her side since this began, leaving only long enough to use the restroom, and grab a five minute shower. Rogue had brought him food, but he hadn't eaten it. Even when she'd begged him to just eat a few bites; he'd ignored her soft puppy dog eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Logan looked up at him. "In saving your wife she took her own life. She knew what she was doing!"
Scott stared at him horrified. "Is she . . . ?"
"Not yet," he snapped.
"She died for me," Jean asked incredulously.
"Yep!"
"Give her some of your blood," Scott said, as if that were the answer to everything.
"We've already tried that, Scott," Professor Xavier said as he joined them in the infirmary.
"Yesterday, when this started, Xavier gave us the ok to give her some of Logan's blood, but she hasn't gotten any better. I've done everything I can think of to help her, but it's done nothing to help." Hank touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Summers."
Logan growled again. Mr. Summers? Where had Mr. Summers been when this lady was crying her heart out because she didn't think anyone would ever love her? Where had Scott been the first three hours of this, while Mickey was conscious and in excruciating pain? Where had he been the last fifteen hours while she lay here dying, because she wanted him to be happier than she'd ever been? His heart thundered and rage ran through his blood like hot lava. "Say your goodbyes and leave! Go on your happy little honeymoon and let her die in peace!"
"She's my friend. Where do you get off telling me to leave her alone? Why don't you leave?"
Logan jumped to his feet, and turned to look at him; the chair scuffing the floor along the way.
Jean jumped; she'd never seen Logan look so mean. Hatred was in his eyes, like never before.
"I'll be in the hall when you're through."
Jean followed Logan into the hall way to leave Scott to say his goodbyes to the woman he'd grown up with. "She's really made an impression on you, hasn't she?"
Logan glanced at her. "You could say that."
"Does she feel the same way?"
Logan glanced in the room, and had to suppress the growl that rose to his throat. Mickey didn't know how he felt; he hadn't even realized how much he cared about her until now. His hands balled into fists.
"She's a lucky woman, Logan."
He looked at her. "How?"
"Because you love her. . . . I'm sorry about everything that passed between you and me."
His brow furrowed. "Me too. We should have known better. Hell, I should have known better." He backed her against the wall. "Remember something, Jean. . . . That woman in there is dying for you. She gave her life to save yours. Remember that!"
Jean was stunned as Logan walked past her to get into Mickey's room. He hadn't even touched her, not a single brush of his hand. She knew in her heart that was the best way, but it was so different from how things had started off. He wasn't interested in her any longer. As much as that stung her pride and the slightest of feelings she'd begun to have for him, she was glad it was over.
Meanwhile in the infirmary, Scott sat next to the bed staring at the woman he'd grown to love like a sister. He reached up and touched her hand, her skin was chilled. She had been the only family he'd had between losing his parents and brother and coming to be a member of the X-Men. "You never had to do this; I wouldn't have asked you to. . . It's not fair that I have to live without one of you. You've meant a lot more to me than you'll ever know. I love you, Mick." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
It was just about that time that Logan came back into the infirmary. He didn't say anything, but returned to his seat at her bedside the moment Scott moved. Scott then made his way toward one wall and watched as Logan's hand covered Mickey's. He cocked his head to the side; he'd never seen the man act that way before. He'd been that caring about Rogue, but she was a kid there was a difference in it.
Logan leaned forward, watching her. "Come on, Mickey. Wake up, pull out of this one," he urged in a whispered tone.
Jean touched Scott's arm and he slipped his arm around her. They stood together and would wait there until she was gone. Scott lifted a fist to grim lips watching in silence. She'd always been like a sister to him, and to see her like this was as if he were watching Alex lay there dying. "Jean, I need to know what she was thinking."
Logan growled again, having over heard Scott's request. "She was thinking that she didn't have anyone who cared about her, and she wanted the only person that she cared about to be happy! She knew that you'd never be happy without Jean."
"How do you know that," Jean asked.
"It's easy to see," he said softly. He couldn't tell them that Mickey had been in love with Cyclops and was dying because she didn't want to live knowing she could never have him. He had to fight the urge to go off on Scott every time he thought about it.
"Scott, let's give him a moment," Jean said.
Scott looked at her then nodded and left the room.
Logan reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. "I figured out what that dream was all about; why we shared it. . . . Come on, Kid, don't leave me now! Don't make me face this alone. Wake up!"
In that instant the heart monitor flat lined. Everyone that was close enough to hear the machine came running to see what was happening. No one in the mansion was in the dark about Mickey's condition. Hank and Jean both went to work. They removed the oxygen tube and the heart monitors and began CPR. Hank began breathing and Jean began the compressions.
Logan refused to move. He'd let go of her hand, only because he wanted to let them work. He watched with Scott at his side. His heart was on his sleeve as they worked. "Come on, Kid. Make it through this. Be okay!"
Scott lifted a fist to grim lips again as Jean and Hank traded places.
"You wanna call it," Jean asked.
"You can't stop," Logan snapped.
"It's been forty minutes, we can't keep going," Jean said softly.
Hank glanced up at the clock on the wall. "Time of death, 1:47 pm." He lifted the sheet and covered her face with it.
"No," Logan yelled. He jerked the sheet off of her, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Wake up!"
"Logan!"
Scott and Hank tried to pull him away but he shook them both off. He shook her slightly. "Get up! Don't do this to me, I love you!"
Everyone in the room stood stunned. No one had ever heard Logan confess the emotion of love before. Everyone had thought that he'd loved Jean by how hurt he'd been when they'd thought that she was dead, but were shocked by this declaration.
"No!" He wrapped his arms around her body and held her close. Laying her forehead against his chin, he closed his eyes as they filled with tears. "No!"
As Rogue reached out wanting to comfort Logan, Bobby stopped her. "Let him be."
Rogue looked at him. "I wanna help."
"You can't help him," Storm said softly. "None of us can."
~
She stood across the glorious garden from that great carpenter; you know the one that lived two thousand years ago. It was a very large and lavish garden with two large trees at its center. The trees were being guarded by HUGE white eagles. The colors were so brilliant and vibrant, like none she had ever seen. It was that carpenter that held her attention. White light surrounded Him, making it hard to see Him. She found that she couldn't move, only fall to her knees with her head bowed, as He came toward her. His glory was indescribable, as was the immensity of love pouring from Him. Tears filled her eyes as He came ever closer. A hand reached out and touched her shoulder. "Michelle."
"My Lord," she cried.
"Please stand."
He spoke Hebrew, but she understood him as though He'd spoken English and she rose slowly to her feet to face her King. He was not a handsome man by any means, though he was fairly tall and stocky, just as a carpenter of old should be. He had flowing dark hair that looked white as the light shimmered off of it. Soul piercing blue eyes stared back at her. He also had beautiful dark olive skin that set off His welcoming smile. Tears flowed from her eyes. "I've longed to see you."
He reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "And yet you've feared that you never would. Your work is not yet done, my child."
She stared. "But-"
"Go back; my angels will guide your path. You have work left to complete and a life you've longed for waiting for you."
"I don't want to leave."
He smiled with unwavering patience. "I love you, Michelle, and I will open my arms and welcome you to my home, when it is your time to come home. Your time will come, but I have work for you to complete."
~
Logan's hand rested inside of Mickey's, as he sat at her bedside. Hank had pronounced her as dead several hours ago, but he hadn't let go. He had laid her back on the bed, carefully propping her head up on the pillow. The week and a half that he'd known her had changed his life. There was something very special about this woman, that he couldn't let go of. Her body had grown cold as all traces of life had long since slipped away. He could still feel the way she loved, even in death.
A hand touched his shoulder. "Logan, let her go."
He jerked away, his jaw hardening. "Not a chance, Jean!"
"She's gone," Scott said his voice touched with emotion.
He didn't know exactly how much time had passed; only that he wanted her to come back. He'd heard the others come and go to check on him, but hadn't responded to their questions. Logan leaned forward now, ignoring everything they were saying. "Come on, Mickey. Come back to me; don't make me do this alone!"
Her chest rose ever so slightly and Logan's eyes grew huge. He blinked hoping that it wasn't hope causing him to see something that wasn't there. Seven hours of stillness from her, and now she was breathing! He leaned closer yet again. "Come on." His eyes searched her face, urging her to wake. Praying to God that this wasn't wishful thinking.
"I'm not through with you yet, Bub," she said so softly only Logan could hear.
Logan cracked a half grin. "Hey."
Her eyes opened and she returned his smile. "Hey."
"You're all right," Scott exclaimed.
She moistened dry lips with the tip of her tongue. "Yeah."
"Get her some water," Logan ordered.
Mickey lifted her left hand and wiped a fallen tear from his face. She stared into his hazel eyes wanting to tell him everything that she'd seen. That great carpenters words suddenly became clear as she watched him. She closed her eyes, now knowing what He had meant.
"Here you go," he said taking the glass of water from Jean. He lifted it to her lips.
"We need to examine you," Hank said. "You've been dead for seven hours."
Mickey's eyes flashed open, and she met his gaze. "Don't you believe in miracles?"
"I believe in what I can see."
"Then take a good look, Herr Hank," Kurt said. "You're looking at a real miracle."
Mickey smiled at the blue-faced teleporting mutant she'd only spoken to once, and it was just an hour before she'd lost consciousness.
Hank and Jean ushered everyone out of the room to complete their tests. Logan left only because Kurt assured him that she was going to be all right. As he walked out of the room he could faintly hear, "I'm not going anywhere, Logan." He turned back to see Mickey. She was lying on the bed as Jean took her vitals.