Overwhelmed part 3
***
// She can't die // thought the young leader.
*We will do all we can not to let that happen, I promise you,* Charles told him through telepathy. Scott's fear had been so overwhelming that he couldn't help but hear it.
- "But you can't reach her telepathically."
- "I admit that's what worries me the most," the professor answered. "Nevertheless, we all need to take care of her; bringing her to a hospital would only cause more problems, because of her identity."
Dejected, Scott sighed and let himself slowly fall down on his knees, his legs seemingly unable to support his weight anymore.
- "You can stay with her," Charles told him. "Even if nothing was detectable telepathically, she's still alive. Her mind works and her heart beats; so wherever she may be, if you talk to her and she can hear you, I know that would help her."
Scott nodded silently as the professor left the room.
***
At supper, the students and their instructors gathered in the dinning room; crestfallen, most of them nibbled more than they ate. Scott was the only one to miss the meal; he hadn't had left Jean's bedside and didn't touch the meal Storm brought to him on a tray.
He looked after his friend throughout the night, the following day into the night, leaving her only a few minutes, quickly returning to her side to make sure she knew she wasn't alone by talking to her. Her fever had broken, but there were no others changes in Jean's condition. She remained motionless, lost in a universe only she could see.
***
When the third night began, Scott still hadn't had eaten a meal and still hadn't have left Jean alone since the 'accident'. Logan and Hank finally insisted he return to his bedroom in order to sleep for a few hours. Having said that, Cyclops didn't stay here for long, and the lock on his door was no match for his optic blasts. Later, thinking back on the incident, the two instructors agreed that, maybe they should have knocked out Scott rather than just locking him in his room.
Silently, Scott walked through the dark corridor and reclaimed his post at Jean's bedside, weakened by his three days of not sleeping or eating, but determined to not leaving her alone. He was afraid of not being here if she…he could barely bring himself to think the words: if she died. Like before, he sat on the ground leaning against the bedside table, taking the young woman's hand in his own. The unceasing beeping of the equipment created an uneasy atmosphere in the room.
- "Jean, I'm begging you. Please don't leave me," he said, his voice tired. "You can't…you can't give up. I know you better that anyone ever has or ever will, I know what you're capable of. I know that you can fight, so do it, please fight!"
Professor Xavier's words came back to him. The day before, he had reminded Scott that Jean had survived another coma, one caused by the manifestation of her powers when she was eight years old. It should be easier for her to come back to them this time, because now she knew the way. But Charles had also admitted that he was worried because unlike her previous coma, he still was unable to contact her using his telepathy. It was still possible, in his opinion, that she would wake up like before, but without his help leading her back she could stay in the coma indefinitely or wake up in a catatonic state. With that much uncertainty, he didn't want to give Scott false hope.
Tears began to silently run down Scott's cheeks, escaping from beneath his ruby-quartz glasses. His parents, his brother, and now Jean? No!
He drew himself up a little and stroked his fingers along the soft skin of Jean's face. Electrodes framed her face, sending a pulse of all brain activity to the EEG. Scott softly caressed Jean's cheek, the young woman he had always loved, and started speaking again in a desperate voice, his nerves beginning to fray under the stress of the situation and the lack of sleep.
- "Jean, I…I wouldn't be able to go on without you, I care about you too much, do you hear me? You helped me to overcome so much. You taught me to smile again, to live, when I thought I would never be able to after losing my family."
He broke off, unable to hold back the tears any longer.
- "I'm begging you, Jean, don't leave me. Please wake up, please. I never had the courage to tell you, I was too afraid that…I don't even remember why I was afraid. I want you to know, I need you to know that I love you, Jean. I always have and I always will. I need you, Jean. Please wake up, please."
Overwhelmed by emotion, Scott collapsed against the bed. He kept murmuring to Jean, gradually trailing off as exhaustion finally took over. With his head resting on the edge of the bed, Jean's hand still gripped in his, he succumbed to sleep for the first time in three days.
To be continued…Review please !