But I Didn't Say a Word

XXX

Chase shoved the food around on her plate, making short chopping movements with her spoon, mixing smashed broccoli and mashed potatoes together with the utensil like an artist with a palette knife. Bobby and Paige sat on either side of her, exchanging quick glances. Finally, the farm-girl from Kentucky spoke up. "What's botherin' ya, hon'?"

"Nothing really, I'm just not hungry."

"I think we've all used THAT excuse at some time or other," Bobby quipped. "Don't drag us all down with you, Chasey-babe. If there's a glitch in the matrix, you should try to talk it out and maybe the Agents won't get you if you run fast enough and whoa. . .I just realized how to get past level ten! Gotta jet, girls, see ya later!" he leapt out of his chair and rushed into the rec-room.

"So who do ya miss more, hon?" Paige inquired. "Warren, Wisdom, or Gambit?"

"I don't miss ANY of them. It's just something I may or may not have implied to Warren before he left, and I've already talked this out with both Nate and the Phoenix, so I don't really want to burden you with my problems."

"Whatever you want," Paige shrugged, "But I'm here for ya, you know that, right?"

"Course. Thanks, Paige." Chase stood up and headed for the greenhouse, where Storm was doing her nocturnal watering routine. The air was humid and warm, and the Chase tugged off the sweatshirt she had been wearing. She stood motionless for a moment, watching the goddess empty her watering can over exotic orchids, vibrant wildflowers, romantic roses, and sharp-leafed miniature palm trees. After the initial shock of the ethereal beauty and scent that pervaded the greenhouse, the young woman stepped forward, and picked up another watering-can, filling it from a tap and scattering the contents over a few vibrantly-coloured shrubs Storm had missed along the way. As she came abreast of the older woman, she said not a word, waiting for her former teacher to initiate a conversation.

"You seem troubled, child," Ororo Munroe's voice, soft and commanding, tainted by her tribal accent, sheared gently through the relative silence.

"I've been thinking."

"Oh, dear." Ororo joked, and Chase laughed quietly. "What troubles you?"

"Well, Warren's gone, Nate's recovering, and training with Jean. . .the Phoenix is in general remission, and Scott hasn't approved me for action. I don't know what I'm at Xavier's for."

"You're an integral part of our tracking team, Chase, but if you need some time to yourself, please don't conceal your feelings."

"I'm trying not to," Chase scrubbed a hand over her face. "I really am." She sighed and sat down. "I hate to foist a complicated heart-to-heart on you at this time of day, when you're trying to relax."

"But you must speak with someone, and apparently you can't speak with Nathan, as would be your habit."

"I really need a woman's take on this situation."

"Let's sit down," Storm led the girl to an ornate bench at the far back of the artificial environment. Chase lowered herself to the seat and curled her legs up, pulling her knees into her chest. "Tell me what the problem is."

"I don't know what to do about Warren. I love him, Storm."

"Then I do not see what the problem is, as he loves you, very much, as well. You'd make a lovely couple." Chase easily saw through the X-Woman's calm façade to the wheels turning in her brain.

"You're already planning our wedding reception, aren't you?" she rolled her eyes. "Ororo, I'm not IN love with Warren. He put his involvement with Paige on hold so he could work out his 'Betsy' demons. He didn't want to go into a new relationship still mourning another woman, and he suddenly realizes he's in love with ME? Paige and I are friends, I couldn't do that to her."

"Precisely. Paige saw how Warren was feeling before even HE did, and that is why she decided instead to date Bobby. She set him free so you could be happy. I've spoken with her, and she doesn't feel at all badly against you."

"This is ridiculous. This happened before, with Domino and Nate. She hates me; she hates him, because I LET him trade me in for HER! I LET myself come between a man and the woman he's supposed to be with, and I can't fix it. I CAN'T, and I don't want that to happen between Warren and I, and most especially not with Paige. She's one of my closest friends and. . .and I wouldn't know what to say to her if. . .damn it, I've got to talk with her, haven't I?"

"No, this isn't necessary, child. You needn't agonize over this. You and Warren were meant to be. Friendship can easily turn into romance. Just look at what happened between Scott and Jean."

"Scott and Jean were attracted to each other for just about EVER." Chase snorted.

"Well, perhaps you should ask the Phoenix what she wishes."

"Yeah. You're right, I guess. Thanks, Storm." Chase squeezed the woman's hand. "You've been a big help." Before Ororo could say anything, she leapt up and exited the greenhouse.

"But. . .I didn't say a word."

XXX

Wisdom shoved his way out of the elevator and past the teeming masses of students rushing to and from classes. Despite the large, dark glasses he wore, light seemed to be pouring at him from everywhere, enhancing the pounding headache and relentless nausea he was experiencing. The squeals of random children weren't helping, either. When he reached Professor Xavier's office, he stopped outside the closed door and leafed briefly through the file folder he held tucked under his arm. After assuring himself that it held the correct documents, he knocked on the door.

Come in, the Professor said, I hope that's the Garron file you're holding.

"Yeh, 'tis." Pete muttered as he opened the door and entered the dim, silent office. Sighing with relief, he sank into the comfortable armchair in front of the Professor's desk and tugged a crumpled pack of Craven A's from his jacket pocket. "Mind if I light up?"

"If you'll give me a drag," Xavier replied serenely.

"I give yeh a whole fuckin' cig if you'll numb me hangover." He opened his mind fully, and after a few moments, the throbbing ache subsided. He grinned. "Wot'll yer do if some villain captures yeh'n finds out that fags're yer biggest weakness?"

"Rather, they are my sole concession to human frailty." Murmured the Professor jokingly. Pete tossed the file at him, and he nipped it out of the air. "Thank you."

"I figure LeBeau's already bitched about its terms?" the former Intel officer dropped two cigarettes from the pack, handed one to Xavier, stuck the other in his mouth, and lit them both up with a hot knife.

"Actually, he thought they were rather fair, but advised me to take into account Mr. Garron's moral character."

"I swear, that bloody bayou rat 'as way too much'v a grudge against honest, hard-workin' lawyers." Pete sniffed, tightened his fingers around his cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"Indeed," Xavier pursed his lips. "However, he is a senior X-Man and his opinion will be taken into consideration."

"Christ, Charlie, th' kid's eighteen! 'E's barely legal an' jus' wants ter find out who 'is family is."

"Be that as it may, Wisdom…"

"Fuck me!" Pete rolled his eyes. "Enough with the wanking already! Jus' sign th' damn papers an' I'll toddle on ter Boston ter give 'em ter th' lad. Y' know yer gonna do it. S'just don't waste anyone's time."

"You know I despise making hasty decisions."

"Stop this bloody bullshit. I've gotta headache an' if yer lemme lie down in me own room, I'll never get back up. I'm goin' back ter Boston t'day'r not at all."

"You're scarcely the first choice for doing business."

"Everyone else's too important. Jus' sign."

"I haven't even read the terms."

"I 'ave. An' if th' loads of paperwork yer 'avin' me do all fuckin' day here isn't enough ter 'ave prepared me fer readin' some merger contract, dodgin' civil suits f'r th' 'collateral damage' I've inflicted in th' past has. Come one, Charlie. Do us a favour, will yer?"

"I'm not going to…"

"Yeh, y'are." Pete growled, by now more irritated than he had been when he'd walked into the office.

Xavier was silent for a moment. "I see that even without a headache of your own you somehow manage to impose one on everyone else."

"Yeh. It's an especial talent of mine."

Xavier scanned the document. "Well, if you're certain."

"Look, last night I wasn't jus' gettin' smashed, I was readin' over this thing, lookin' f'r loop'oles an' th' like. It's straight up, honest, good stuff."

"Well I suppose I DO owe you a favour." Xavier picked up a pen. "And I trust you."

"Well whoop-de-fuckin'-doo. Sign."

Xavier scribbled his signature at the base of the contract, and handed the file back to Pete. "Go on, then."

"I'm not takin' LeBeau."

"Well, then, who ARE you taking?"

"Someone else. Hey, wottabout Chase? Isn't Wings gone?"

"Yes, he is."

"Well, then, lemme take 'er with me."

"Very well, if she consents. But I won't have you going alone."

"Sure thing, Charlie. Cheers." Pete grinned and left the office.

XXX