I groaned as I pulled my eyelids open. The lights above me were bright even through my shades. I caught the sanitized smell and realized that one of them had been smart enough to take me to the infirmary. I sighed to myself and looked around. Lance and Pietro sat by the door watching me.
Lance rose to his feet and came over. Pietro paused to watch for a moment before following him. Lance chuckled, "It only took the two of us to bring down the fearless leader."
"And a week of torture to set it up," I growled.
Lance had the mouth but had scared himself out of backing it up. "It ain't our fault you're too stupid to give up."
I stayed quiet for lack of a good reply. Pietro smirked, but Lance was the one who had the idea.
"Hey, Pie, go get Alex, will ya?"
"Why me?"
"Because you can actually get a hold of him, Speedy."
Pietro's face brightened slightly and then he was gone. I sat up in the bed and looked at Lance. He just watched me with a slightly amused look on his face. I restrained my anger as it boiled closer to the breaking point.
Cool it, Scott!
Jean?
You're radiating more anger than you ever have before. You practically flooded our link. Just retain yourself for a little while longer. We just entered the north side of town.
I'm just worn out.
Just keep your wits about you for a little bit more time.
No promises, I sighed inaudibly, but I'll try.
I tuned back into the action in the room. Pietro had just dragged Alex into the room. He had a firm grip around my brother's neck. I flinched but stayed quiet.
"Let go of me," Alex ordered while squirming.
"Not likely," Pietro stated. He was shorter than Alex but had the advantage of Alex's injuries.
I rose to my feet. Lance stepped up to me. He reached out. I looked at him in confusion as he touched my forehead. "What are you doing?" I asked in an undertone.
Alex jerked against Pietro's grip. I heard the frustration in his grunts as he threw himself to both sides. Pietro's grip never wavered; Lance took a step away from me and looked at Alex.
"Haven't you learned anything?" Pietro snarled.
I flinched; Alex stopped. Lance smirked as he strolled up to them. I took a hesitant step forward and felt my ribs shift, probably cracked. Lance grabbed Alex's chin to tip him up. "You're making this worse for yourself, kid."
Alex nipped at his fingers but missed as Lance pulled them back. Lance snarled and delivered a sharp strike to my brother's face. I growled quietly but didn't move. Lance suddenly did a quick sweep of the room. He looked at me and then Pietro. He seemed to be confused. I looked around and realized what was wrong.
"Isn't there supposed to be a woman in here?" Lance asked.
We all heard a loud howl of pain break through the air. Lance and Pietro exchanged a glance before taking off in the direction of the noise. Alex and I both forgot our pain and ran after them. My ribs ached, but I managed to keep up with Lance. We heard another howling scream as we ran into the front room. Alex stopped when I did. We stared in shock as a bruised Storm stood in the middle electrifying Sabretooth.
"Uh-oh," Pietro muttered before taking off.
Lance took one step before I fly-tackled him. We both knew that I could normally pin him, but as damaged as I was... We struggled and rolled. I heard the front door slam open and running behind me but kept tumbling.
"Let me down," I faintly heard Pietro's whine.
Finally I managed to pin Lance. I didn't dare to take my eyes off him to see what was going on around me. A motorcycle boot stepped beside Lance's head and his eyes widened. I still didn't move.
"I'll take it from here, Cyke."
I nodded and rolled off my catch. I watched Logan tie him up for a moment before scooping the scene. Sabretooth was out cold and Storm was sitting in a chair looking exhausted. Pietro hovered about a foot in the air due to Jean's TK. Alex helped me to my feet as Logan left Lance to tie up Pietro. I looked at the two mutants that had come in through the basement with Logan. Then I spotted three that had burst through the door with Jean. Jean lowered Pietro once he was tightly secured. Lance took a step toward Sabretooth but was distracted.
Rogue came running down the stairs and plowed into Logan's arms. Logan tucked her in close; she wrapped her arms around him. "Logan."
"Hey, Rogue," he returned, taking a step back. He scanned her bruises before looking at me. "Cyke take care of ya?"
Rogue nodded, "As best he could."
Logan looked back to Rogue and continued to talk to her. I tuned them out as I watched Kurt and some of the other boys tie up Sabretooth. Evan sat with Ororo, whispering something. I smiled to myself. Everything was coming together now. I took a step toward Alex. My ribs shifted and I collapsed with a muffled cry. Jean caught me with her telekinesis and set me down gently.
What happened? Jean asked me expectantly as she floated over to me.
Cracked ribs, I think.
I hated showing weakness, so I tried to sit up. Jean pushed me back down. Logan gave an order to the boys before coming over to check on me. Jean looked up and her telekinetic hold wavered. I struggled to get up. Logan smirked, "You're staying put even if I have to sit on ya."
"That might not be good for his ribs," Jean supplied.
"Come on, you're going to the infirmary," Logan growled, immediately stepping back into the role of protecting us. I let them control the situation, but I wouldn't let him control me.
"Not till this is all over."
"You're not much help when you can't even walk," Logan said. I shot him a look. He knew that I wouldn't give in. "Fine, but when's the last time you've had any pain medicine. I'm sure Jean can feel it too."
She nodded faintly; I grumbled. Let's see, besides the sedatives to make me sleep, it had to be when I nearly died, but I didn't want Jean to know that I'd-"
"You nearly what?" she boomed.
I flinched. "Um, we can talk about this later."
She sent me a glare to be read as no-way-in-hell. I sighed. Just calm down. Lance knocked the air out of me. I coughed up some blood. I'm fine now, honey. If you want to fuss over anyone, pick Ororo. She has to be hurting.
Don't worry about Alex. she ordered suddenly. I glanced over at him. I hadn't even realized that I was worried. He's going to be fine and you are in far more pain than he is.
I grumbled again. Logan snickered even though he didn't know what he'd been discussing. He turned back to Rogue. I watched their happy reunion from my spot on the floor. Alex came over and sat down beside me. "I'm sorry, Scott. I shouldn't have left you with them."
"I told you to go," I protested. "I wanted you and Rogue out of danger for a while."
Jean, I have to talk to them. Let me up. I pleaded.
No can do. There will be time for that later.
I growled, realizing how much I sounded like Logan but not caring. Alex took my hand. I looked up at him. He touched his cast and then his head. I shook my head. He cocked an eyebrow; I stuck out my tongue. Alex cracked a smile. Jean sighed in frustration. She always hated it when we communicated without words, even if I was just telling him that my head didn't hurt.
I smelled the sulfur before I even saw Kurt. He looked at Jean, "They're in the danger room. It's set to attack them if they move too much."
Jean nodded, "Good."
Kurt walked over to Kitty who was hastily removing the metal clamps that she hadn't previously phased off. Jean released her TK hold and sat down on the other side of me, opposite Alex. I stayed down, deciding that I wasn't going to fight Jean over this.
"I hate waiting," I complained.
Jean leaned over and kissed my forehead, "I know."
"What exactly are we waiting for?" Alex asked.
"Anything," Jean and I replied in unison.
I stared out the door for a moment. I saw Logan stiffen out of the corner of my eyes. I turned to face him as he smelled the air. He pushed Rogue behind him and glanced at me.
"Mystique and Charles."
I nodded and sat up. My ribs shifted, but I ignored them. "How soon?"
"A couple minutes tops."
"Good, I have a plan."
TBC
