Domino lay sleeping in Nathan's arms. He had already been awake for some time, but he was loathe to wake her up when she was sleeping so peacefully. Far too often he had seen her sleep plagued by nightmares. And if he was truthful with himself he just loved the feel of her body against him. He was lucky for once, he had gotten her back and he didn't intend to lose her again. One pale hand with bright red nails lay across his chest. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent in some places. He gently traces the network of veins in her hand. It amazes him that something so delicate and fragile looking could be so deadly. He felt her slowly begin to wake and felt her smile as she groggily realized she was wrapped up in his arms.
"Tell me something, Dom."
"Yeah?"
"How is it your nails are always perfect? Everywhere we've been, wandering through deserts or hacking through jungles or fighting any number of bad guys, your polish is never chipped and you never even break a nail. How do you do that?"
"Well, Nate, it's one of my little know mutant powers. I have little force fields around my nails."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Nate, I swear, you're such a sucker sometimes. I guess it's part of my luck powers I never really thought about it before."
"Oh." Nathan grinned sheepishly. "By the way, I like this color."
"It's called "Arrest Me Red"."
"You must wear that a lot."
"Very funny. At least I'm only wanted in this century. So are you just going to lounge around in bed for another day and a half?"
He flipped her over on her back, pinning her to the mattress. "Maybe. I think I can find something to occupy my time."
************************************************************************************
"Nice o' ya to finally put in an appearance," Logan growled up from his table be the door.
"It's good to see you again to, Logan," Nathan said looking down at him.
"What a bunch of freaks," Domino said glancing around the dining room at the students of the Xavier Institute having lunch.
"Dom!" Nathan glared at her his eye flashing. Logan chuckled.
Domino winked at him and elbowed Nathan in the ribs. "So are we. Probably more than them. Bet none of them have adamantium skeletons or Techno-organic viruses."
Nathan ignored her and asked Logan. "How's Trish Tilby?"
"She's alive. That's the best to be said or the worst. She'll probably wish she was dead. Forge came up this mornin'. He's makin' a cybernetic arm and knees for her. But her face? Don't think there's anythin' to be done about that. She'll never work on TV again."
"Logan!" Domino exclaimed suddenly spotting someone she thought she'd never see calmly eating at Xavier's. "Is that the Juggernaut with the fish kid?"
Logan looked casually over his shoulder before turning back to his meal. "Yep."
"What's he doing here?" Nathan asked.
"Teachin' gym."
"So, what's he a good guy or something, now?"
" 'Pears that way. I got an eye on him. Don't worry." Logan tossed his napkin on his tray and pushed back from the table. "Scott and Jean had to run down to India, so you're safe for a couple of days, Nate."
"What's that supposed to mean, Logan?"
Domino put a restraining hand on Nathan's arm. "Chill, Nate. He's just trying to push your buttons. Let's go eat. I'm starved. Later, Logan."
"See ya, Bea."
******************************************************************************************
Bobby looked around the med-lab. Hank had fallen asleep in his chair next to Trish's bed. Bobby glanced down at Havok as he walked by. "Alex, why won't you wake up?" he whispered before moving on to Hank. Bobby shook him gently. "Hank, why don't you go to bed?"
Hank rubbed his eyes. "I'm fine, Bobby. I just dozed off."
"You need to get some rest. You haven't left the infirmary in a week."
"I said I was fine, Bobby."
"Let's go get a bite to eat. The dining common's still open."
"No thanks. I'm not hungry."
"Hank, you've got to eat," Bobby said beginning to get exasperated.
"I already ate," Hank pointed to some Twinkie wrappers wadded up on the table.
"Hank, this isn't healthy. You're going to make yourself sick."
"I think I'm the one with the medical degree here. If you're going to nag , you can leave. I'm fine."
"You can't do anything else for her, Hank. You-"
"That's right! I can't!" Hank roared. "Get out!"
"Calm down! You'll wake Alex!"
"I said get out!"
******************************************************************************************
"Jean?" Bobby stuck his head in the library.
"Yes, Bobby?"
"I didn't mean to interrupt," he said looking around the room at Scott beside Jean and Nathan and Domino on the couch across from them. "But Hank won't leave the infirmary."
"I know, Bobby. Scott and I have already talked to him. The Professor, Logan, Annie, even Barnell have all tried to get him out."
"Can't you telepathically make him?"
"That wouldn't be right, Bobby. I think he needs to be there for Trish. He'll come out when he's ready."
"Either that or kill himself."
"Hank's more sensible than that, Bobby," Scott said. "Just give him time."
"I guess you're right," Bobby turned and left.
"Speaking of Trish," Scott turned to Nathan. "How did you know she was in trouble to start off with?"
Domino rose from the couch beside Nathan. "Um, I don't think you need me for this, Nate. I'll see you later."
"Okay. Stay out of trouble."
She paused at the door and grinned at him. "I'll try." She shut the door behind her.
"What was that about, Nathan?" his father asked.
"She's uncomfortable with the family thing."
***************************************************************************************
Hank heard the elevator hiss open and footsteps walking toward the medlab. They didn't belong to someone he was familiar with. He sniffed the air. With his recently enhanced olfactory sense he could smell the visitor's perfume, a clean spicy citrus scent. A nice smelling woman with a heavy un-lady like walk. The foot steps stopped and Hank looked up from his monitor to see the Domino leaning against the doorframe, staring at him with those sharp violet eyes. And they say my eyes look predatory, he thought. "May I be of some assistance, Domino?"
"I want a steak."
"My dear madam, while I have been a trifle preoccupied of late I should hope that I would have noticed if I've further de-evolved into a bovine state. And even if I had that's no excuse to eat a fellow X-person."
"I want to go to that Harry's joint you old-timers are always yappin' about. I hear they have a decent rib-eye."
"They do indeed." Hank leaned back in his chair and met her gaze. Her expression was unreadable, like that of a geisha. "Are you suggesting I take you out to dinner?"
"Yep."
"Isn't that why you have Nathan?"
"The Summers clan are having a pow-wow."
"I see. I that case, wouldn't Logan be a more suitable escort for you?" A slight smile played a cross his mouth as her facade cracked for about half a second with embarrassment. So the rumor is true.
"I want you." Her expression turned mocking, knowing exactly what button to push in retaliation.
"That, Domino, is something I have not heard from a beautiful woman in quite a while, nor am likely to hear for sometime to come. But I simply cannot understand why me?"
"I think you could use a couple of drinks."
"I could probably use a couple bottles but that is not the issue. There many more entertaining dinner companions in residence and I simply cannot leave my patients."
"What can you do for them at the moment? Havok's a vegetable and Tilby's drugged to the gills and neither one likely to wake up soon, besides isn't that why you have Nurse Annie?"
" Quite, but I was going over my notes on-"
"Bullshit, McCoy. You were playing Solitaire."
"I was just taking a break." Hank sighed . "You're not going to take "no" for an answer are you?"
"Nope." She smirked at him.
"Well, let us depart, if you insist."
"Not like that, we're not," she said pointing to his uniform.
"Are you always this demanding?"
"No use to draw undue attention to ourselves by walking around with "x"'s plastered all over us."
"And a big blue cat and a geisha with a perpetual black eye wouldn't normally." Hank pushed himself out of his chair and walked over to the closet where he kept some spare clothes. Domino sat down in the chair he just vacated and stared at the solitaire game on the screen.
"If you'll excuse me a moment," Hank pulled a privacy screen out to change behind.
"Oh, please, McCoy. Save the school girl modesty. You may be furry and blue, but it's nothing I haven't seen before."
"Oh, you might be surprised."
"Oh, really? I'm intrigued. Better watch out, McCoy, talking like that. You might just get "lucky" tonight."
"I think I'd rather not. No offence to you but Nathan may not be so open-minded and despite my current misery, I rather enjoy life."
Hank pushed the screen back. Domino turned to examine his outfit. White oxford shirt, khaki's, navy sports coat with brass buttons, and penny loafers. She raised an eyebrow. "Very Ivy League, Doctor McCoy."
"I'll take that as a compliment." He glanced over her shoulder at the monitor. " 'Congradulations!. You won!'"
"I can't say I've ever lost a card game."
"Remind me to swing by Vegas on our way back." He keyed the intercom. "Annie, this is Hank. I'm stepping out for the night. Could you keep an eye on every one down here?"
"Sure, Doctor McCoy. Have fun."
"Thanks."
Hank held out his arm in a courtly manner, "Milady Luck?"
Domino took his arm and he led her to the garage where his baby was parked. A brand new red T-bird convertible. She let out a low whistle. "Nice. Not the sort thing I'd thought you'd have."
"Well, what did you expect? A Volvo?"
"I guess." A persuasive smile lit up her face. "Haaannnk…"
"No," said flatly as he held the passenger door open for her.
"Oh, please. I promise I'll be very careful."
"Somehow I doubt that."
"Let me drive. Please?"
"No."
"Oh, c'mon. You're not the type of man to refuse a lady are you?"
"In regards to this area, I am."
She moved very close to and smiled suspiciously sweet at him.
"This charade will not work, Domino."
She reached up with one hand and caressed his cheek. Hank smiled slightly to himself and resolved to remain firm no matter what she did, but she distracted him just enough to fish the keys out of his pocket with out him noticing. Domino took a step back from Hank and then leapt in the car sliding to the driver's side.
"Domino, please…."
"Get in, McCoy. Live a little." She revved up the engine in invitation.
"God help me," Hank muttered under his breath and climbed in. Domino took off before he even had a chance to close the door. She went tearing down the drive and out the gate onto Greymalkin Lane, weaving in and out of traffic. The only reason they missed getting splattered several times over was her luck powers.
"I think I'm going to be sick."
Domino laughed maniacally. "Why does everyone say that?"
