Rising to the Sunset
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Marvel does.
The much anticipated…
Chapter 5
"We have to find a way to scout the cave," Scott decided, his tactical side taking precedence over his emotions for the first time in a long time. "Kitty, I was you to phase through the rock, into the cave, and look around. Can you control it so you don't fall all the way through?"
"I think so"
"Peter, take her ankles, just to be safe".
Kitty slowly immaterialized through the top of the cave. It was very dark inside, and she could hear the water rushing below her. For a moment she panicked, then remembered the light on her belt. As she pressed a button, a bright light shone from the buckle. It was still hard to see, the surface of the water was black, and so were the edges. So are our uniforms, she thought unhappily. But a glint of red caught her eye. Kitty pivoted to look at it. Jean's hair! She was lying on a ledge some 50 feet from where Kitty dangled. Quickly, Kitty phased herself back through the top of the cave.
"Well?!" Scott demanded, before she was even completely out.
"She's in there".
Scott gasped a sigh of relief and regained his composure. **Baby, we found you! We're coming**
**Mmmm**
This was a happier moan.
"So if we walk back down there hill over here, I should be able to phase right by her".
"Can you phase with someone?"
"Yes," Kitty answered. Truthfully, she had never tried, but before she came to Xavier's she has accidentally phased through her bedroom floor holding her cat. And Ginger made out fine.
They made their way down the uneven terrain until Kitty decided that they were close enough.
"Ok, Peter, I want you to take the com device and call the others. Kitty, you take me in, come back out and get Peter".
"Let me just pop in quick on my own first to make sure I know where we'll land".
Kitty quickly phased through the side of the cave. She was right on the ledge where Jean was. There were about three feet to where Jean lay, and she was right on the edge. It was going to be a tight fit.
"Okay. We're in a perfect position," Kitty relayed, returning to the surface. "But no momentum whatsoever going in. It's not a very big ledge. Give me your hand".
Scott took Kitty's hand and they phased through the wall. The sight of Jean laying there in a heap, caked with mud, her uniform ripped was too much for Scott, and he flung himself at her.
"Careful," Kitty warned. "You don't want to jostle her too much".
Scott muttered some agreement and gingerly clutched Jean closer to him. Kitty pulled another package of sensors out of her backpack.
"Put these on her. I'm going to get Peter".
Scott grabbed the package from her. He sat up and began applying them. **I'm here now. I'm here. It's going to be ok. Oh God, you're so cold. But you're alive** Scott shook as he applied the last sensor. Kitty and Peter phased through the wall and joined him.
"They're going to come meet us on the top of the cave with the Blackbird".
Kitty plunked away frantically at her laptop, keying in the new sensors. "It's all there! Everything's low, but there. Her temperature is very low. She is in hypothermia, which has slowed everything else".
"Is that bad?" Scott asked, as he rushed to remove the survival blanket from his pack.
"Well, hypothermia's not good. But the slowing of the heart and breathing is a survival tactic".
Scott nodded as he wrapped the blanket around Jean and cradle her in his arms.
"Her leg," he told Kitty, "is broken".
"Okay, uh, we just have to be careful with it then. It's probably begun to set already so we shouldn't splint it. It may end up needing to be rebroken and set properly".
"Maybe not. She had it set telekinetically before. That may have held".
"That could be".
Scott clutched her tighter. **I love you. I've got you. Stay with me.**
**I'm here**
Scott smiled and kissed her forehead. **How are you doing?**
**I'm glad you're here.**
**I wish you would wake up**
**I'm trying**
"This is so cool," Kitty whispered to Peter, pointing at her screen. "They are completely synched".
"Okay, now let's get Jean out of here. Kitty take Peter first, then come back and get me and Jean".
"Uh, Scott, why don't you let Peter carry her. You're really worn out…"
"I can carry her".
"I know you could carry her, but…"
"I can carry her".
**Scott!**
"Scott!" Kitty barked(at the same time that Jean barked it in his mind), "This is a mission. You need to think as Cyclops, not Scott. I know you could carry her, but Colossus could do it more easily, which would be because she wouldn't be jostled so much".
**She's right**
**But…**
**She's right**
"Fine," Scott reluctantly put Jean down, and Colossus took her. "Shadowcat, take them through first, then come back and get me". Kitty smiled to hear him use her codename.
"Certainly, Cyclops".
"Be careful Colossus".
"Yes, sir," They departed through the wall.
**Don't worry**
**I love you**
**I know**
In a matter of seconds, Kitty was back for Scott and they left the cave.
"Cyclops," Peter began "They will be meeting us at the top".
"Lead the way".
Colossus lead the climb with no struggle.
**Okay. I'm glad he's got you. He's having a much easier time at this than I am**
**That's one thing I love about you honey. You can admit when you're wrong**
They finally reached the top, Kitty and Scott panting, Peter barely winded.
Scott sat down. "Give her to me".
Peter down and lay her in Scott's arms.
**Mmmmm…Now do you feel better?**
**Yes** Scott laughed. **Should I find it amusing that you're teasing me, but unconscious?**
Jean's mental laugh tickled, and he held her closer.
