Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men or any of the characters. Only a few people
here and there are mine.
Chapter Five
Resting
Theo turned on her side in the hospital bed, trying to get comfortable. Her head was throbbing like crazy and she felt very weak from her meeting with Xavier.
"Are you okay?" Ororo asked. She was standing next to Theo's bed and looked down at her worriedly.
"My head," Theo answered. "It's pounding." Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Ororo's hand, gripping it tightly.
"Did you tell Jean that you have a headache?" Ororo asked, squeezing Theo's hand back.
"I did," Theo answered. She then sighed and said, "She gave me some aspirin, but I doubt it will help at all."
"How come?" Ororo asked.
"Ororo," Xavier said from the entrance to the room. "I'd like to speak with Eleanor for a moment."
Ororo nodded and then smiled at Theo, letting go of her hand. She walked out to the hallway, closing the door to the room behind her.
"Did you see it?" Theo asked when Xavier stopped next to her bed.
"I did," Xavier answered. "Why did you have me see that particular memory?"
"That was about five years ago," Theo said. "That is the only memory of mine that I wanted to show you."
"You chose an odd time to do that," Xavier said.
"I thought it was best," Theo said shrugging.
All of a sudden, the door to the room flew open and Scott marched in, followed by Jean.
"What is it Scott?" Xavier asked calmly.
"Jean told me that she's collapsed again," Scott said acting as if Theo wasn't even in the room. "How can she fight with the X-Men if she collapses all the time?"
"It's only when I use my healing powers that I grow weak, Scott," Theo said. "I assure you that I will not be using that particular power when I fight with the X-Men."
Scott frowned and then turned and left the room.
"I'm really sorry Theo," Jean said to the woman on the bed. "He'll accept you, don't worry."
"I won't," Theo said, smiling softly.
Jean nodded to the Professor and then she left the room, closing the door.
"How are you feeling?" Xavier asked once he and Theo were alone once again.
"Not good," Theo said truthfully. "I feel very weak. And my head hurts."
"From letting me into your mind?" Xavier asked, already knowing the answer.
Theo nodded. "I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about what you saw," she then said.
Xavier nodded without asking for a reason. "So that's how you came to own Atar?" he asked after they were both silent for a few moments.
Theo smiled and nodded. "He's been a loyal companion, and has protected me a number of times," she said. She then grimaced and lay back against her pillow.
"Have you told Jean that your head hurts?" Xavier asked.
"Yes," Theo whispered.
Xavier looked over at the little bedside table and seeing a wet washcloth there, he picked it up and put it on top of Theo's forehead. "Try to get some rest Eleanor," he then said.
"I will," Theo said.
"I will come down to see you later," Xavier then said.
Theo nodded and then closed her eyes.
Xavier turned and left the room, going back up to his study.
~~~
Jean walked over to Theo's bed and took of the washcloth that Xavier had put there earlier. She then took the woman's temperature quickly in her ear.
"Any chance I can go to my room?" Theo asked suddenly, opening her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Jean asked.
"Much better," Theo said, sitting up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About four hours," Jean asked. "I'll go get your clothes and then you can go."
~~~
The next day, Theo was sitting on her bed and reading a book. Jean had told her that she would have to rest in her room for the day, or else she would have a relapse and have to go down to the medical room once again.
There was a knock on the doorway, and Theo looked up to see Rogue and Bobby standing in her doorway. "Hello Rogue, Bobby," she said pleasantly.
"Hi," Rogue said. "We didn't mean to disturb ya, but we wanted to see how you're doing."
"Come in, please," Theo said, smiling. She held out her arm and two chairs that were across the room levitated and floated until they were next to the bed. "Have a seat please."
"Um, Rogue and I brought these for you," Bobby said, handing Theo a small bouquet of flowers.
"Oh thank you," Theo said, smiling, she took the flowers and put her nose to them, inhaling deeply. "They smell wonderful."
"Are ya all right Ms. O'Malley?" Rogue asked.
"I believe you two are part of the X-Men, are you not?" Theo asked.
"Kind of," Bobby said.
"We're kind of like junior X-Men," Rogue answered. "We go on small missions with one of the others for the Professor."
"Ah, then I would appreciate it if you would both call me Theo," Theo said to them.
"But you're our teacher," Bobby said.
Theo smiled and said, "It's only during your visit here."
"Oh," Rogue said. "So how are ya feeling?"
"I'm alright," Theo said. "I just wish I could go out. But Jean has me stuck in here with the promise that if I collapse again, she'll make me stay in the medical room overnight."
"Will you be teaching class Monday?" Bobby asked.
"What's the matter Bobby," Theo said teasingly. "Getting bored with my class."
Bobby blushed and shook his head. "It's interesting," he said.
"Really?" Theo asked surprised. "All we do in my class is read and discuss the book."
"Yeah, but you have us readin' books about people who are outcasts and misunderstood like we are," Rogue said.
Theo looked surprised for a moment. "You know, I never really thought about it like that," she said. "I just brought books that I've liked since I was young."
"Hello Bobby, Rogue," a voice said from the doorway.
"Oh, hi Ms. Monroe," Bobby said.
"Hi," Rogue said.
"Hello Ororo," Theo said. "What brings you here?"
"I've come to visit you, I thought you might need some company, but I see you've got visitors already," Ororo said.
"We're leaving Ms. Monroe," Bobby said standing up and grabbing Rogue's gloved hand.
"But I wanted to talk with her a little longer," Rogue said, protesting as Bobby forced her to stand and walk out of the room.
"I'll see you on Monday!" Theo called to the two as they disappeared.
"Those two," Ororo said smiling. "There are many times when I think that they are already a married couple."
"How long have they been together?" Theo asked, placing the bouquet of flowers on her nightstand.
"About a year now," Ororo said. "But I've come to speak with you about something else."
"And what's that?" Theo asked curiously.
"I want to invite you to Jean and Scott's wedding and reception," Ororo said.
Theo looked troubled and said, "I don't think that would be a good idea."
"I know that you think Scott would be angry if you came," Ororo began. "But I would like you to go as my guest."
"Will you give me time to think about it?" Theo asked. "When is the ceremony?"
"It's sometime next month, probably the twenty-seventh," Ororo asked.
"I think you should come Theo," Jean said from the doorway. "I would be very glad if you do."
"Please," Theo said, raising her hands. "It's still a month away and I don't think I should intrude on a ceremony obviously meant for loved ones."
"Just think about it, Theo," Ororo said, standing up and patting her hand.
When Ororo had closed the door behind her, Theo sighed and picked up her book and started reading again.
~~~
Magneto looked out the window of the helicopter, thinking over the plan in his mind.
"Do not fear sir," Mesmero said. "She will come with us willingly."
"I'm not worried about getting her," Magneto said. "I wonder what kind of retaliation there will be from Xavier."
"He will not miss her," Mesmero said confidently.
Magneto glanced at the man next to him, a little disgusted. Mesmero was much too confident in his powers to think of the consequences if things went wrong.
"We're here," Mystique said from the front of the helicopter.
A mile away from the mansion, Pyro landed the helicopter in a clearing.
"Stay here Pyro," Magneto said as he, Mesmero and Mystique got off the aircraft. "And be prepared to take off quickly once we get back." Magneto moved his cape to the side and placed his helmet on his head. "Let's go," he said, setting off towards the mansion.
Chapter Five
Resting
Theo turned on her side in the hospital bed, trying to get comfortable. Her head was throbbing like crazy and she felt very weak from her meeting with Xavier.
"Are you okay?" Ororo asked. She was standing next to Theo's bed and looked down at her worriedly.
"My head," Theo answered. "It's pounding." Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Ororo's hand, gripping it tightly.
"Did you tell Jean that you have a headache?" Ororo asked, squeezing Theo's hand back.
"I did," Theo answered. She then sighed and said, "She gave me some aspirin, but I doubt it will help at all."
"How come?" Ororo asked.
"Ororo," Xavier said from the entrance to the room. "I'd like to speak with Eleanor for a moment."
Ororo nodded and then smiled at Theo, letting go of her hand. She walked out to the hallway, closing the door to the room behind her.
"Did you see it?" Theo asked when Xavier stopped next to her bed.
"I did," Xavier answered. "Why did you have me see that particular memory?"
"That was about five years ago," Theo said. "That is the only memory of mine that I wanted to show you."
"You chose an odd time to do that," Xavier said.
"I thought it was best," Theo said shrugging.
All of a sudden, the door to the room flew open and Scott marched in, followed by Jean.
"What is it Scott?" Xavier asked calmly.
"Jean told me that she's collapsed again," Scott said acting as if Theo wasn't even in the room. "How can she fight with the X-Men if she collapses all the time?"
"It's only when I use my healing powers that I grow weak, Scott," Theo said. "I assure you that I will not be using that particular power when I fight with the X-Men."
Scott frowned and then turned and left the room.
"I'm really sorry Theo," Jean said to the woman on the bed. "He'll accept you, don't worry."
"I won't," Theo said, smiling softly.
Jean nodded to the Professor and then she left the room, closing the door.
"How are you feeling?" Xavier asked once he and Theo were alone once again.
"Not good," Theo said truthfully. "I feel very weak. And my head hurts."
"From letting me into your mind?" Xavier asked, already knowing the answer.
Theo nodded. "I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about what you saw," she then said.
Xavier nodded without asking for a reason. "So that's how you came to own Atar?" he asked after they were both silent for a few moments.
Theo smiled and nodded. "He's been a loyal companion, and has protected me a number of times," she said. She then grimaced and lay back against her pillow.
"Have you told Jean that your head hurts?" Xavier asked.
"Yes," Theo whispered.
Xavier looked over at the little bedside table and seeing a wet washcloth there, he picked it up and put it on top of Theo's forehead. "Try to get some rest Eleanor," he then said.
"I will," Theo said.
"I will come down to see you later," Xavier then said.
Theo nodded and then closed her eyes.
Xavier turned and left the room, going back up to his study.
~~~
Jean walked over to Theo's bed and took of the washcloth that Xavier had put there earlier. She then took the woman's temperature quickly in her ear.
"Any chance I can go to my room?" Theo asked suddenly, opening her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Jean asked.
"Much better," Theo said, sitting up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About four hours," Jean asked. "I'll go get your clothes and then you can go."
~~~
The next day, Theo was sitting on her bed and reading a book. Jean had told her that she would have to rest in her room for the day, or else she would have a relapse and have to go down to the medical room once again.
There was a knock on the doorway, and Theo looked up to see Rogue and Bobby standing in her doorway. "Hello Rogue, Bobby," she said pleasantly.
"Hi," Rogue said. "We didn't mean to disturb ya, but we wanted to see how you're doing."
"Come in, please," Theo said, smiling. She held out her arm and two chairs that were across the room levitated and floated until they were next to the bed. "Have a seat please."
"Um, Rogue and I brought these for you," Bobby said, handing Theo a small bouquet of flowers.
"Oh thank you," Theo said, smiling, she took the flowers and put her nose to them, inhaling deeply. "They smell wonderful."
"Are ya all right Ms. O'Malley?" Rogue asked.
"I believe you two are part of the X-Men, are you not?" Theo asked.
"Kind of," Bobby said.
"We're kind of like junior X-Men," Rogue answered. "We go on small missions with one of the others for the Professor."
"Ah, then I would appreciate it if you would both call me Theo," Theo said to them.
"But you're our teacher," Bobby said.
Theo smiled and said, "It's only during your visit here."
"Oh," Rogue said. "So how are ya feeling?"
"I'm alright," Theo said. "I just wish I could go out. But Jean has me stuck in here with the promise that if I collapse again, she'll make me stay in the medical room overnight."
"Will you be teaching class Monday?" Bobby asked.
"What's the matter Bobby," Theo said teasingly. "Getting bored with my class."
Bobby blushed and shook his head. "It's interesting," he said.
"Really?" Theo asked surprised. "All we do in my class is read and discuss the book."
"Yeah, but you have us readin' books about people who are outcasts and misunderstood like we are," Rogue said.
Theo looked surprised for a moment. "You know, I never really thought about it like that," she said. "I just brought books that I've liked since I was young."
"Hello Bobby, Rogue," a voice said from the doorway.
"Oh, hi Ms. Monroe," Bobby said.
"Hi," Rogue said.
"Hello Ororo," Theo said. "What brings you here?"
"I've come to visit you, I thought you might need some company, but I see you've got visitors already," Ororo said.
"We're leaving Ms. Monroe," Bobby said standing up and grabbing Rogue's gloved hand.
"But I wanted to talk with her a little longer," Rogue said, protesting as Bobby forced her to stand and walk out of the room.
"I'll see you on Monday!" Theo called to the two as they disappeared.
"Those two," Ororo said smiling. "There are many times when I think that they are already a married couple."
"How long have they been together?" Theo asked, placing the bouquet of flowers on her nightstand.
"About a year now," Ororo said. "But I've come to speak with you about something else."
"And what's that?" Theo asked curiously.
"I want to invite you to Jean and Scott's wedding and reception," Ororo said.
Theo looked troubled and said, "I don't think that would be a good idea."
"I know that you think Scott would be angry if you came," Ororo began. "But I would like you to go as my guest."
"Will you give me time to think about it?" Theo asked. "When is the ceremony?"
"It's sometime next month, probably the twenty-seventh," Ororo asked.
"I think you should come Theo," Jean said from the doorway. "I would be very glad if you do."
"Please," Theo said, raising her hands. "It's still a month away and I don't think I should intrude on a ceremony obviously meant for loved ones."
"Just think about it, Theo," Ororo said, standing up and patting her hand.
When Ororo had closed the door behind her, Theo sighed and picked up her book and started reading again.
~~~
Magneto looked out the window of the helicopter, thinking over the plan in his mind.
"Do not fear sir," Mesmero said. "She will come with us willingly."
"I'm not worried about getting her," Magneto said. "I wonder what kind of retaliation there will be from Xavier."
"He will not miss her," Mesmero said confidently.
Magneto glanced at the man next to him, a little disgusted. Mesmero was much too confident in his powers to think of the consequences if things went wrong.
"We're here," Mystique said from the front of the helicopter.
A mile away from the mansion, Pyro landed the helicopter in a clearing.
"Stay here Pyro," Magneto said as he, Mesmero and Mystique got off the aircraft. "And be prepared to take off quickly once we get back." Magneto moved his cape to the side and placed his helmet on his head. "Let's go," he said, setting off towards the mansion.