Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X-Men, title or characters. Evie is my
character.
Chapter 24 – Trust Restored
He began to emerge on the other side and fell to the ground gasping for air. His lungs and throat burned and his heart was pounding in his ears but beyond that he heard her.
Kitty still couldn't see but with the lack of her sight her hearing seemed to be very keen. She heard the thump and the heavy scratchy breathing. Still confused she screamed and tried to scamper away from the sound. Her only thoughts were of an animal from further in the caves.
Jesse fought with his aching body to stand. He reached for the wall behind him for support and began to call to her. His voice was scratchy at first but soon found its strength and familiar tones. "Kitty? Kitty, don't be afraid. It's me." He listened for her response and worried when he didn't get one. "Kitty?"
Panic subsided and confusion began to clear. "Jesse?"
Still panting heavily he reached for the light. "Yeah, Kitty. I'm hear. Listen, I'm going to turn on a light. Cover your eyes until they adjust." He did the same thing and after a moment's pause he switched it on. They both slowly moved their hands and began to see their surroundings and searched for each other in the new brightness. "Kitty," Jesse smiled and began to approach her.
"No. Stay away," she yelled, holding up her hands. On the floor leaning against a large boulder about 20 feet from him, she began to cry.
Outside the cave Shalimar moved toward Brennan and took his hand. The fear in her eyes reflected his own as he slowly lifted his hand to activate his ring. "Jesse?" No answer. Their friends gathered around them. "Jess, come on man, please tell me you're in." He waited with baited breath.
Jesse finally heard Brennan's voice and quickly responded. "Yeah, Brenn, I'm in. I found Kitty but---"
"But what?" Wolverine spoke with new concern.
Jesse heard him. "She's confused and won't let me near her. She's moving but her head is bleeding. Give me a minute." He began walking slowly toward her. "Kitty, it's only me. You don't have to be afraid." His voice was gentle and calming.
"Don't come near me, Jess!" she ordered. "It's a lie. It's all a lie." Her voice was barely a whisper as she began to cry.
"Kitty, what's a lie? Please let me help you." He stopped in confusion when she suddenly straightened her back and glared at him.
"No. That's how this whole mess started." She said through her tears. "I tried to help you. It broke my heart to know you were hurting. All I wanted to do was help you."
"You did help me." Jesse slowly began his approach again. "I wouldn't have been able to get out of that bed if it weren't for you. I told you that."
"I should have come home. I should have never let you kiss me."
"Kitty, I'm sorry ---,"
She inhaled suddenly as if she were just slapped. "Jubilee was right. You really don't want me."
"No, Kitty, that's not how it is. Please let me explain." Jesse's heart began to ache in a whole new way.
"I love you, Jesse. I always have but you're just using me." She cried as she put her head down on her knees. "That kiss---you kissed me like you meant it and now---you're sorry---sorry that I could never be Emma."
"No, Baby, please. I wouldn't do that to you. That's not what I'm sorry about. I'm not sorry I kissed you. I don't want you to be Emma. I was only sorry that I let it go too far too fast. I promised we would take it slow but when I had you in my arms---I couldn't resist. I want to hold you. I want to kiss you. I want you, Kitty, not your body. That's why I had to pull away from you. I really want just you and I don't want us to get messed up." He saw her look up at him with eyes shining from tears. "Jubilee told me about what she said. Now she knows she was wrong. She's waiting outside the cave. She'll tell you." Jesse pleaded as he got closer and knelt down in front of her whispering, "Please, please believe me, Baby, I would never hurt you. ---I love you."
She sprang forward and released all the anxiety and fear that had built up the night before as she cried in his embrace. Jesse held her firmly and caressed her back as he gently sshh-ed away her tears. When she stopped crying he leaned her back against the boulder. "Let me see your head." He pulled out the first aid kit and began to clean the wound on her forehead. They were silent until he was done. "There, now we have to get you out of here so Hank can check you out. Can you stand?" He reached out a hand to help her.
Kitty smiled at him and took his hand but when she tried to stand the cave just spun and she fell back to the ground as Jesse quickly caught her. "I guess not. I'm really dizzy."
"Can you phase?" He watched as Kitty tried but in less than 2 seconds began to alternate back and forth as she tried to maintain it. Don't worry. We'll get you out." He smiled at her and gently kissed her now bandaged head. Standing up he moved back toward the wall that he entered through and contacted Brennan. "Hey, Brenn,"
"Yeah, Jess, we're here." Everyone gathered from their resting places to hear as Brennan adjusted his ring to allow the open communication.
Jubilee moved closest to Brennan and took his hand. "Jesse, is Kitty all right?"
"Yeah, Jubes." He smiled and glanced back at Kitty. "She'll be ok. Listen, is Wolverine still out there?"
"Right here," he answered.
"Is there a back way out of these caves?"
"No. I've checked them and with all the slides there's no telling what they look like now. Can't you phase back through?"
"No, Kitty can't hold her phase. I barely made it, myself. Carrying her will only take more time."
"Hold on a minute," Cyclops said as he turned and went to a cave about 30 feet away. Adjusting his visor he blasted through the fallen rock.
Jean walked into the lab with a sleeping baby in her arms. Evie held out her arms as the baby was smoothly moved from the arms of one woman to those of the other. Evie loved holding him. Jean walked around the lab checking the monitor read outs and glancing at the tests results scattered on Hank's desk.
Hank smiled as he approached the couple who was now cooing at a newly awakened infant. "It would seem that the news I have for you is all good. Adam, you seemed pleased with the result you had and my testing of the natural mutancy seems to confirm that Evie is indeed a full telepath." He was pleased when she smiled at his good report. "I believe that with time the use of your telepathy will become second nature to you, just as the healing is."
Adam put his arms around his wife's shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Hank took a deep breath and continued. "There is however one other thing I must disclose." The smiles suddenly left both their faces as they turned to him with new concern.
~Hank, please let me.~ Jean's voice in his head was not disconcerting for him. He was quite used to it by now as she often used her powers as they worked together in the lab.
Adam and Evie watched as Hank silently turned to Jean.
~Very well, my dear. Be my guest.~ He stepped back as Jean stepped forward, their movements sending waves of apprehension through their patient.
A worried husband now spoke up. "Hank, I didn't find anything wrong. Was their something I missed?"
"Don't worry, Adam." Jean smiled at him. "I'm just going to give Evie her first lesson in using her new powers.
"Evie, I want you to concentrate and tell me what you are sensing."
A bewildered Evie frowned as she looked around the lab. "I can sense all of you around me."
"That's not your mind. That's your eyes. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Relax and tell me what you can see in your mind's eye."
Dirt and small rocks shook loose from the vibrations and began to fall on Jesse and Kitty as they covered their heads. Jesse ran back to her in case anything else fell. "Hey, what just happened?" he called out.
"Cyclops blasted one of the other caves. It took a while. He got through but more rock started falling." Brennan informed him.
Cyclops saw that as the wall was blasted the debris did scatter as he predicted right to the back of the cave. Rejoining the group he was not confident. "Jesse, was Wolverine right about the depth?"
"Yeah, I'd say it was about 9 feet."
"The one I just hit looked to be about 6. It will take even longer to get through this one."
"Maybe Ah can weaken it for you," Rogue walked up to the rocks and slammed them with her open palm.
Jesse massed over Kitty as more dirt and rock fell from the ceiling. "Whoa," he called out as his flesh softened around the frightened girl with him. "Give a guy a warning, next time."
"Sorry, suga'. Ya'all ok?" She moved to stand back with Gambit.
"Yeah, but that caused a bigger fall."
"Blasting through is going to be too dangerous." Shalimar almost growled in her frustration.
"Maybe not if we move fast enough." Cyclops began forming a plan.
"By the time you blast in, that whole mountain will be on top of them," Wolverine stated.
"So we cut the blast time. Gambit and Jubilee can fire with me. That should give us some time. If anything starts to fall, Rogue can lend some support. And Storm can cause a vacuum to pull the falling debris this way. Wolverine, you and Brennan have to get in there and get them out. I'm guessing Jesse won't be able to catch his breath fast enough to pick up Kitty and bolt after having to hold the mass. Shalimar, clear away anything you can to make them a path out."
"Dat sounds like a plan. Let's do it." Gambit smiled as he was suddenly shuffling a deck of cards that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Jess, did you copy all of that?"
"Yeah, Brenn, I got it. But you have to make it quick. Kitty's starting to drift on me." Jesse held her close to him as he watched her struggle to keep her eyes opened. "Come on, Baby, stay with me," he whispered as he kissed her forehead.
"All right everyone, get ready." Cyclops watched as everyone took their positions.
Shalimar activated her ring as she stepped back. "Jesse, hold off massing for as long as possible."
"Right, Shal. See you in a minute." He smiled knowing that his sister was focused completely on protecting her pack.
"On my mark---NOW" Cyclops blasted as Jubilee and Gambit joined him in clearing away the massive wall. It took as long as he had predicted.
"Don't worry, Baby. We'll be out soon." Jesse whispered as he loosened his grip on her and moved to position his body over hers. Debris began to fall. He waited as long as he could then took a deep breath and massed. He held out as long as he could. As soon as he could hear the blasting done he had to exhale. A moment after he did some smaller rocks fell on his position. In his weakened state he collapsed with only enough strength to keep from crushing Kitty underneath him.
TBC
Almost there.
Chapter 24 – Trust Restored
He began to emerge on the other side and fell to the ground gasping for air. His lungs and throat burned and his heart was pounding in his ears but beyond that he heard her.
Kitty still couldn't see but with the lack of her sight her hearing seemed to be very keen. She heard the thump and the heavy scratchy breathing. Still confused she screamed and tried to scamper away from the sound. Her only thoughts were of an animal from further in the caves.
Jesse fought with his aching body to stand. He reached for the wall behind him for support and began to call to her. His voice was scratchy at first but soon found its strength and familiar tones. "Kitty? Kitty, don't be afraid. It's me." He listened for her response and worried when he didn't get one. "Kitty?"
Panic subsided and confusion began to clear. "Jesse?"
Still panting heavily he reached for the light. "Yeah, Kitty. I'm hear. Listen, I'm going to turn on a light. Cover your eyes until they adjust." He did the same thing and after a moment's pause he switched it on. They both slowly moved their hands and began to see their surroundings and searched for each other in the new brightness. "Kitty," Jesse smiled and began to approach her.
"No. Stay away," she yelled, holding up her hands. On the floor leaning against a large boulder about 20 feet from him, she began to cry.
Outside the cave Shalimar moved toward Brennan and took his hand. The fear in her eyes reflected his own as he slowly lifted his hand to activate his ring. "Jesse?" No answer. Their friends gathered around them. "Jess, come on man, please tell me you're in." He waited with baited breath.
Jesse finally heard Brennan's voice and quickly responded. "Yeah, Brenn, I'm in. I found Kitty but---"
"But what?" Wolverine spoke with new concern.
Jesse heard him. "She's confused and won't let me near her. She's moving but her head is bleeding. Give me a minute." He began walking slowly toward her. "Kitty, it's only me. You don't have to be afraid." His voice was gentle and calming.
"Don't come near me, Jess!" she ordered. "It's a lie. It's all a lie." Her voice was barely a whisper as she began to cry.
"Kitty, what's a lie? Please let me help you." He stopped in confusion when she suddenly straightened her back and glared at him.
"No. That's how this whole mess started." She said through her tears. "I tried to help you. It broke my heart to know you were hurting. All I wanted to do was help you."
"You did help me." Jesse slowly began his approach again. "I wouldn't have been able to get out of that bed if it weren't for you. I told you that."
"I should have come home. I should have never let you kiss me."
"Kitty, I'm sorry ---,"
She inhaled suddenly as if she were just slapped. "Jubilee was right. You really don't want me."
"No, Kitty, that's not how it is. Please let me explain." Jesse's heart began to ache in a whole new way.
"I love you, Jesse. I always have but you're just using me." She cried as she put her head down on her knees. "That kiss---you kissed me like you meant it and now---you're sorry---sorry that I could never be Emma."
"No, Baby, please. I wouldn't do that to you. That's not what I'm sorry about. I'm not sorry I kissed you. I don't want you to be Emma. I was only sorry that I let it go too far too fast. I promised we would take it slow but when I had you in my arms---I couldn't resist. I want to hold you. I want to kiss you. I want you, Kitty, not your body. That's why I had to pull away from you. I really want just you and I don't want us to get messed up." He saw her look up at him with eyes shining from tears. "Jubilee told me about what she said. Now she knows she was wrong. She's waiting outside the cave. She'll tell you." Jesse pleaded as he got closer and knelt down in front of her whispering, "Please, please believe me, Baby, I would never hurt you. ---I love you."
She sprang forward and released all the anxiety and fear that had built up the night before as she cried in his embrace. Jesse held her firmly and caressed her back as he gently sshh-ed away her tears. When she stopped crying he leaned her back against the boulder. "Let me see your head." He pulled out the first aid kit and began to clean the wound on her forehead. They were silent until he was done. "There, now we have to get you out of here so Hank can check you out. Can you stand?" He reached out a hand to help her.
Kitty smiled at him and took his hand but when she tried to stand the cave just spun and she fell back to the ground as Jesse quickly caught her. "I guess not. I'm really dizzy."
"Can you phase?" He watched as Kitty tried but in less than 2 seconds began to alternate back and forth as she tried to maintain it. Don't worry. We'll get you out." He smiled at her and gently kissed her now bandaged head. Standing up he moved back toward the wall that he entered through and contacted Brennan. "Hey, Brenn,"
"Yeah, Jess, we're here." Everyone gathered from their resting places to hear as Brennan adjusted his ring to allow the open communication.
Jubilee moved closest to Brennan and took his hand. "Jesse, is Kitty all right?"
"Yeah, Jubes." He smiled and glanced back at Kitty. "She'll be ok. Listen, is Wolverine still out there?"
"Right here," he answered.
"Is there a back way out of these caves?"
"No. I've checked them and with all the slides there's no telling what they look like now. Can't you phase back through?"
"No, Kitty can't hold her phase. I barely made it, myself. Carrying her will only take more time."
"Hold on a minute," Cyclops said as he turned and went to a cave about 30 feet away. Adjusting his visor he blasted through the fallen rock.
Jean walked into the lab with a sleeping baby in her arms. Evie held out her arms as the baby was smoothly moved from the arms of one woman to those of the other. Evie loved holding him. Jean walked around the lab checking the monitor read outs and glancing at the tests results scattered on Hank's desk.
Hank smiled as he approached the couple who was now cooing at a newly awakened infant. "It would seem that the news I have for you is all good. Adam, you seemed pleased with the result you had and my testing of the natural mutancy seems to confirm that Evie is indeed a full telepath." He was pleased when she smiled at his good report. "I believe that with time the use of your telepathy will become second nature to you, just as the healing is."
Adam put his arms around his wife's shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Hank took a deep breath and continued. "There is however one other thing I must disclose." The smiles suddenly left both their faces as they turned to him with new concern.
~Hank, please let me.~ Jean's voice in his head was not disconcerting for him. He was quite used to it by now as she often used her powers as they worked together in the lab.
Adam and Evie watched as Hank silently turned to Jean.
~Very well, my dear. Be my guest.~ He stepped back as Jean stepped forward, their movements sending waves of apprehension through their patient.
A worried husband now spoke up. "Hank, I didn't find anything wrong. Was their something I missed?"
"Don't worry, Adam." Jean smiled at him. "I'm just going to give Evie her first lesson in using her new powers.
"Evie, I want you to concentrate and tell me what you are sensing."
A bewildered Evie frowned as she looked around the lab. "I can sense all of you around me."
"That's not your mind. That's your eyes. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Relax and tell me what you can see in your mind's eye."
Dirt and small rocks shook loose from the vibrations and began to fall on Jesse and Kitty as they covered their heads. Jesse ran back to her in case anything else fell. "Hey, what just happened?" he called out.
"Cyclops blasted one of the other caves. It took a while. He got through but more rock started falling." Brennan informed him.
Cyclops saw that as the wall was blasted the debris did scatter as he predicted right to the back of the cave. Rejoining the group he was not confident. "Jesse, was Wolverine right about the depth?"
"Yeah, I'd say it was about 9 feet."
"The one I just hit looked to be about 6. It will take even longer to get through this one."
"Maybe Ah can weaken it for you," Rogue walked up to the rocks and slammed them with her open palm.
Jesse massed over Kitty as more dirt and rock fell from the ceiling. "Whoa," he called out as his flesh softened around the frightened girl with him. "Give a guy a warning, next time."
"Sorry, suga'. Ya'all ok?" She moved to stand back with Gambit.
"Yeah, but that caused a bigger fall."
"Blasting through is going to be too dangerous." Shalimar almost growled in her frustration.
"Maybe not if we move fast enough." Cyclops began forming a plan.
"By the time you blast in, that whole mountain will be on top of them," Wolverine stated.
"So we cut the blast time. Gambit and Jubilee can fire with me. That should give us some time. If anything starts to fall, Rogue can lend some support. And Storm can cause a vacuum to pull the falling debris this way. Wolverine, you and Brennan have to get in there and get them out. I'm guessing Jesse won't be able to catch his breath fast enough to pick up Kitty and bolt after having to hold the mass. Shalimar, clear away anything you can to make them a path out."
"Dat sounds like a plan. Let's do it." Gambit smiled as he was suddenly shuffling a deck of cards that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Jess, did you copy all of that?"
"Yeah, Brenn, I got it. But you have to make it quick. Kitty's starting to drift on me." Jesse held her close to him as he watched her struggle to keep her eyes opened. "Come on, Baby, stay with me," he whispered as he kissed her forehead.
"All right everyone, get ready." Cyclops watched as everyone took their positions.
Shalimar activated her ring as she stepped back. "Jesse, hold off massing for as long as possible."
"Right, Shal. See you in a minute." He smiled knowing that his sister was focused completely on protecting her pack.
"On my mark---NOW" Cyclops blasted as Jubilee and Gambit joined him in clearing away the massive wall. It took as long as he had predicted.
"Don't worry, Baby. We'll be out soon." Jesse whispered as he loosened his grip on her and moved to position his body over hers. Debris began to fall. He waited as long as he could then took a deep breath and massed. He held out as long as he could. As soon as he could hear the blasting done he had to exhale. A moment after he did some smaller rocks fell on his position. In his weakened state he collapsed with only enough strength to keep from crushing Kitty underneath him.
TBC
Almost there.
