Nightingale

Sing us a song

 Of a love that once belonged

Nightingale

Tell me your tale

Was your  journey far too long

Does it seem that I'm looking for an answer

To a question I can't ask

            Callie awoke and rubbed her eyes. At first, she believed yesterday was a bad dream, some sort of night tremor from something she ate before she went to bed. To her dismay, the bright fluorescent lights coupled with white padded walls and John still in her lap let her know the contrary, it was all real.

She ruffled a had through her knotted hair and arched her back. She was sore from sleeping against the cold hard wall. Albeit padded, It was far from comfortable. She watched John sleep. She shook him gently, just to make sure he wasn't… Well, she didn't try and finish the thought. He groaned softly and his eyes fluttered open.

" 'S ok, You can sleep. I didn't mean to wake you." She whispered very softly. She gently rubbed his arm. His eyes drooped and he was asleep.  Callie gazed around the room. She looked where the window should be, but there was no window there. Apparently, Its one of those you can see in but not out things.. She sighed.

After an hour or so, counting ceiling tiles had ceased to hold the same fun as it had earlier. Callie was bored. Even if she was very glad to be near John and holding him close and all… she was bored. In a matter of moments, Callie was wishing she had not wished for something to do..

Hank, Scott, Remy, and Kurt all came through the door in biohazard suits.

What the--? Callie's question was answered before it was finished being asked.

Kurt and Remy wheeled in an extra bed. They lifted John to it as Hank held Callie down.

LET ME GO! She started to scream.

Through his plastic visor thingy, Callie saw him wince in pain.  He stuck a needle in her arm and took a blood sample. Callie started to fight furiously but the deed was already done. She sighed angrily.

That afternoon, John finally woke up. He was coughing again, and when he put his hand up to his mouth, a small amount of blood appeared on his hand. Callie was instantly by his side . She had almost jumped the moment she had heard him cough.

Days passed. It had been nearly a week since John had first returned to the X-men.

"How much longer until.." Rogue trailed off.

"I cannot be sure. As harsh as it sounds, anytime now. He has been sleeping away most of his days and all of the night. His body simply cannot cope with the stress. I don't know how he's managed this long to tell the truth." Hank said.

"I do." Kurt said softly. "Callie."

"Does she.." Scott couldn't bring himself to say it.

"We can't be sure. All the blood samples we have taken are Legacy free but.. There's no possible way for anyone to last this long without catching it…there's just no way." Professor X had tried to be as gentle as possible but the words still seemed harsh.

John sat up for the first time in week.

"Cal."

"Yeah?" She tried her best to sound upbeat, but Callie was worn out. The last few days she had trouble sleeping, more so than usual. She rushed to John's side.

"Promise me that you will live your life for me."

"What?" Callie was taken aback.

"No regrets. Never have any regrets at the end of the day. I have always regretted letting you go. I don't want that to happen to you.." He choked up, coughing and sputtering for a moment and then he finished

"For me, Live life to the fullest for me." His eyes met hers. Tears streamed down her face.

"I won't have to live life for you. You can live for yourself."  Callie sniffled.

"No, I can't fight anymore. I have you here, I have made amends, I can die in peace." He smiled the best he could for her.

"No." She said

"I have to go. Every one does sometime."

"No"

"Callie baby." He touched the bottom of her chin gently, causing her downcast face to look up.

She smiled. "You always win our arguments."

He smiled and closed his eyes.

"I love you. I always will." He said softly. Then he breathed his last.

Callie leaned over and gently kissed his lips one last time.

From the outside, the X-men watched in horror. Callie was all alone. Scott and Kurt each wanted badly to make sure she was OK, to hold her, console her, anything they could do. Nothing could be done though. Callie had to wait out another week of isolation to be safe.

John's body had been taken out of the room, as had the sheets he slept in, and everything he had touched. It was all carried out in plastic bags.

Mercilessly, his empty bed was left behind. It was a constant reminder to Callie of the one she lost.  She didn't cry when John died. In fact, oddly enough she had uncharacteristically shown no emotion at all.  After two weeks and no shower, Callie was a sight to behold. Her hair was messy and hung flat to her head. Her eyes looked ahead, motionless and cold. It was like her life had left with John's. Remy and Hank slipped into the room and silently took another blood sample. 100% Legacy free. Hank brought Callie a set of clean clothes and a plastic bag. He told her to change clothes and to make sure to stop so she could be sanitized, and to put her old clothes in a plastic bag. Callie slowly changed her clothes and slipped into the in-between room. The shower came on. Even though her clothes were wet she didn't care.  She watched the water slowly wash down the drain as Kitty tried her best to wash Callie's hair. Once she was dried off and taken out of the room, the X-men took their turns hugging her and giving their condolences. Callie looked around the room and frowned.

"Scott had to take this new mutant up to her room at the last minute. He should be here in a second."

No sooner had Bobby said this than Scott appeared.

He hugged his sister warmly. But she didn't hug him back.