In the end, Wesley agreed to let Kitty drive back to the mansion. Not because he'd enjoyed the trip to the hospital at all, but simply because he dropped the keys four times as he stood beside the car. Apparently, he'd been a lot more shaken by the old man's death than he'd wanted to believe.
Kitty's driving was actually much more restrained. She didn't go more than five miles over the speed limit, all four wheels remained in contact with the road at all times, no red or yellow lights were run, and she even remembered the turn signal – twice. Of course, she was muttering things to herself about 'pull yourself together' and 'it wasn't anything we did' the whole trip back, with both hands gripping the wheel with white-knuckled stiffness.
She took a few minutes to pull her hands from the wheel, and gave the keys back to Wesley. "Can you come in for a while? Maybe we can have Ororo fix us some tea or something."
Part of Wesley wondered if that was truly wise, if he should accept the offer. While it did seem that there was something growing between himself and Ororo, was that strong enough to let her see him like this? Shaken and probably pale and all… well, rather a wreck inside? As an alternative, did he really feel that he could safely drive back home? Glancing at his own white knuckled hand, he decided that he would be safer in the mansion. "I think it might be best to go in for a while."
It felt like it took a very long time to reach the doors, and when he tried to twist the doorknob, he couldn't seem to get a decent grip. Finally, Kitty reached over, taking hold of his sleeve, and simply stepped through the doors, pulling him along. Wesley felt a flash of relief mixed with embarrassment. He was a grown adult, he should be quite capable of using a simple doorknob… except that apparently he couldn't just now.
"Evan did mention that they had somehow convinced you to take Kitty driving…" The Professor's voice held a trace of amusement and sympathy. "I've asked Ororo if she could prepare you something soothing. Chamomile, perhaps? Or maybe Peppermint if the trip has left you a bit carsick…"
Kitty looked at the Professor, and in a soft voice spoke. "Two d… umm, two souls returned. Is she making enough for two?"
The professor blinked, watching as Kitty shuffled out of the entry area, her arms sort of wrapped around herself. "That is most unusual… What happened?"
Wesley felt the need to fidget, to do something other than just stand there. He settled for very carefully pushing his glasses a bit higher on his nose and then placing his hands in his pockets. "Evan came by my store earlier today, carrying the remaining three soul pearls and requesting a favor – that I be the licensed adult in the car for Kitty to drive. She took us to the hospital, fortunately without causing any accidents along the way, and we began making the rounds of the Intensive Care ward. My theory was that the… without the souls, the bodies would be… in a condition much like Ororo's, and therefore in the hospital on life support. The first was a girl, perhaps Kitty's age, with a great many flowers around her. The second… He was… he was very old. No sooner had the soul returned than… well… he… ahh… he died. Kitty was barely able to pull us through the wall into the neighboring lounge before the room was filled with nurses. It was… rather unsettling. I think perhaps that Chamomile would be rather welcome."
The Professor looked rather surprised. "And here I thought you were just the latest unhappy victim of Kitty's driving. That's…"
"Not something that's easy to deal with at any age. It's part of what makes us human, that uncomfortableness with death. With age and maturity come an intellectual understanding, and with time, grief from personal loss becomes a bit dulled, but death always carries a sting. That is one of the things that separates humanity from the demons." Wesley tried to put words to the mess of emotions and thoughts.
"I hadn't thought of it quite like that before." The Professor was looking at Wesley, as if he'd just posed an unexpected question that not only showed he'd been following the assigned reading but thinking about the implications. "Is that something that your Watcher's training taught you?"
"To an extent. It might be more accurate to say that it had broadened both my exposure to death and to the ways that people react to it. Those who care, those who possess that essential spark of humanity… it hurts. Even if it is only the inevitable result of time, it hurts. Those whom feel nothing… they either are among the soulless demons, or the most shriveled and ruthless of humans." Wesley watched the Professor, trying to observe the older man's reactions.
"It's almost refreshing to have someone who uses humanity as a reference to both humans and mutants." There was a pause, and a small shudder. "Until I consider that while most people consider mutants to be the other option, you consider the inhuman to be just that – demons, creatures that are not and never were human. Down to the biological structure of their bodies and the fluid in their veins… That's still very unsettling to me."
"It takes a while to adjust to the knowledge. You seem to be dealing with it fairly well so far." Wesley nodded, quite used to people being uncomfortable with the reality of demons.
"hmm…. I think I could have quite contentedly not known that particular fact. Shall we go see about that Chamomile?" The Professor glanced up, his brows slightly lowered as if trying not to be disturbed and not quite succeeding.
"That sounds very good. Please, lead the way. I'm not entirely certain where she would be." Wesley offered, still feeling nervous about facing Ororo while he was such a mess inside.
End part 16.
Kitty's driving was actually much more restrained. She didn't go more than five miles over the speed limit, all four wheels remained in contact with the road at all times, no red or yellow lights were run, and she even remembered the turn signal – twice. Of course, she was muttering things to herself about 'pull yourself together' and 'it wasn't anything we did' the whole trip back, with both hands gripping the wheel with white-knuckled stiffness.
She took a few minutes to pull her hands from the wheel, and gave the keys back to Wesley. "Can you come in for a while? Maybe we can have Ororo fix us some tea or something."
Part of Wesley wondered if that was truly wise, if he should accept the offer. While it did seem that there was something growing between himself and Ororo, was that strong enough to let her see him like this? Shaken and probably pale and all… well, rather a wreck inside? As an alternative, did he really feel that he could safely drive back home? Glancing at his own white knuckled hand, he decided that he would be safer in the mansion. "I think it might be best to go in for a while."
It felt like it took a very long time to reach the doors, and when he tried to twist the doorknob, he couldn't seem to get a decent grip. Finally, Kitty reached over, taking hold of his sleeve, and simply stepped through the doors, pulling him along. Wesley felt a flash of relief mixed with embarrassment. He was a grown adult, he should be quite capable of using a simple doorknob… except that apparently he couldn't just now.
"Evan did mention that they had somehow convinced you to take Kitty driving…" The Professor's voice held a trace of amusement and sympathy. "I've asked Ororo if she could prepare you something soothing. Chamomile, perhaps? Or maybe Peppermint if the trip has left you a bit carsick…"
Kitty looked at the Professor, and in a soft voice spoke. "Two d… umm, two souls returned. Is she making enough for two?"
The professor blinked, watching as Kitty shuffled out of the entry area, her arms sort of wrapped around herself. "That is most unusual… What happened?"
Wesley felt the need to fidget, to do something other than just stand there. He settled for very carefully pushing his glasses a bit higher on his nose and then placing his hands in his pockets. "Evan came by my store earlier today, carrying the remaining three soul pearls and requesting a favor – that I be the licensed adult in the car for Kitty to drive. She took us to the hospital, fortunately without causing any accidents along the way, and we began making the rounds of the Intensive Care ward. My theory was that the… without the souls, the bodies would be… in a condition much like Ororo's, and therefore in the hospital on life support. The first was a girl, perhaps Kitty's age, with a great many flowers around her. The second… He was… he was very old. No sooner had the soul returned than… well… he… ahh… he died. Kitty was barely able to pull us through the wall into the neighboring lounge before the room was filled with nurses. It was… rather unsettling. I think perhaps that Chamomile would be rather welcome."
The Professor looked rather surprised. "And here I thought you were just the latest unhappy victim of Kitty's driving. That's…"
"Not something that's easy to deal with at any age. It's part of what makes us human, that uncomfortableness with death. With age and maturity come an intellectual understanding, and with time, grief from personal loss becomes a bit dulled, but death always carries a sting. That is one of the things that separates humanity from the demons." Wesley tried to put words to the mess of emotions and thoughts.
"I hadn't thought of it quite like that before." The Professor was looking at Wesley, as if he'd just posed an unexpected question that not only showed he'd been following the assigned reading but thinking about the implications. "Is that something that your Watcher's training taught you?"
"To an extent. It might be more accurate to say that it had broadened both my exposure to death and to the ways that people react to it. Those who care, those who possess that essential spark of humanity… it hurts. Even if it is only the inevitable result of time, it hurts. Those whom feel nothing… they either are among the soulless demons, or the most shriveled and ruthless of humans." Wesley watched the Professor, trying to observe the older man's reactions.
"It's almost refreshing to have someone who uses humanity as a reference to both humans and mutants." There was a pause, and a small shudder. "Until I consider that while most people consider mutants to be the other option, you consider the inhuman to be just that – demons, creatures that are not and never were human. Down to the biological structure of their bodies and the fluid in their veins… That's still very unsettling to me."
"It takes a while to adjust to the knowledge. You seem to be dealing with it fairly well so far." Wesley nodded, quite used to people being uncomfortable with the reality of demons.
"hmm…. I think I could have quite contentedly not known that particular fact. Shall we go see about that Chamomile?" The Professor glanced up, his brows slightly lowered as if trying not to be disturbed and not quite succeeding.
"That sounds very good. Please, lead the way. I'm not entirely certain where she would be." Wesley offered, still feeling nervous about facing Ororo while he was such a mess inside.
End part 16.