X-Men Evolution is a trademarked product from Marvel, all the characters are owned by Marvel and not me. This is a work of fiction based off of said series. I make no money off this, yadda yadda yah.

"In The Garage" - by Val Shrum (kiyonekatz at yahoo dot com)

Chapter 25

Authors notes: Hope everyone had a good winter break.

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The clock on the wall read as seven fifty five AM. An older man, known as Logan, looked through the glass observation windows to the two sharing the small hospital sized bed.

"Well, what do you think, Hank?" Logan finally asked.

"It does seem a bit... improper. However, surveillance shows that nothing happened other than occupying the same bed space. I'm quite sure young Lance has a good idea that this isn't acceptable." Hank put a hand on his chin.

"You say that, but he's still there." Logan seemed annoyed. "I think it's time for his wake up call."

"Be gentle, Logan. If Charles was okay with letting them stay like this all night, then it can't be all bad."

"Yeah yeah. Chuck'll have to yell at me later. This is just too good to pass up." Logan left Hank's side and headed toward the door.

There was no sense of time down in the infirmary. Basically in a basement area of the institute, it served as a recovery area for those injured, or even just if one of the students had been sick. Only one or two beds, and monitoring equipment. Currently occupying one bed was the student Kitty Pryde, and her significant other, Lance Alvers. It didn't take long for Logan to make it over to the bed. He grabbed Lance firmly on the shoulder and tugged at him.

Lance hazily blinked. He turned to notice the man known as Logan jerk his shoulder. Lance's eyes widened as he quickly moved away from Kitty in the bed. Logan took this opportunity to grab him by his shirt and drag him out of the bed.

"Yer comin' with me." Logan said in a low whisper. His strong hand around Lance's arm, dragging him along. Lance stumbled in his half-awake state, almost terrified.

'Oh-my-God-oh-my-god-I'm-going-to-die. Wait a second... he can't do this to me.' Lance struggled away from Logan, "Lay off, man." He vocalized.

"We gotta talk and Kitty's still restin'." Logan grabbed the boys arm again, dragging him over a locker-like room. Most likely a place they prepare and get suited up in. Logan practically threw him down onto a bench. "So what exactly is wrong with you?"

"Wrong... with me?" Lance blinked.

"You know, yer mental damage. Because I know yer smart enough not to have done what you did." Logan crossed his arms.

"I don't know, what's YOUR damage?" Lance returned the question.

"This isn't a time to be funny, boy." Logan glared.

"I don't see what the big deal is. We were just sleeping." Lance held up his hands, "Yes, I know, we're reckless teenagers and dating and we can't be left alone for long periods of time, but I'm serious. She asked me to. That's got to mean something."

Logan made a 'tsk' noise and sighed. "Kid, put a little more thought into yer actions? Sure, we can't control her personal life. But did it even occur to you that someone might... I don't know... want to gut you for what could happen in a situation like that?" Logan emphasised by popping out the claws on his right hand. "You've got gall, considerin'."

"I'm sorry? What do you want me to say? Geez. I'll get my guitar and leave, then. Don't pull out the threats, little man. I may not be your age, but I'll still fight for my right to be by her side." Lance stood.

"Well, you do have spunk. I'll give you that much." Logan retracted the claws, then touched Lance on the shoulder. "But next time you do something like that under my roof? I won't go easy on ya."

"Yeah, whatever. You X-Geeks need to learn to lay off."

"Grow up. I was talkin' to you about bein' a proper man. It has nothin' to do with affiliation. She is our family. Any other time and you would have woken up in a ditch, boy. Yer lucky I gave you the benefit of the doubt." Logan sneered. "I'm already not fond of your attitude, don't give me a reason to change my mind."

Lance shrugged. "Fine, I'll go."

"I didn't ask you to leave. I asked you to put more thought in yer actions. That's all." Logan leaned against a locker. "You can go, I'm done."

"Thanks." Lance scoffed. He followed the path back to the room. 'Dammit, I'm still tired and I can't exactly go back to sleep now. I can't sleep where I was...'

Lance chose the chair next to the bed. He leaned over and laid his left arm down, setting his head atop it, then reaching over with his right hand and taking hers into it. He gave her a gentle squeeze and started to speak softly, "You know, I want to regret yesterday. I want to blame myself for taking you into the city. But I can't. And I won't. I can look around the rough edges to find all the good. Kinda like you do with me, huh?" Lance laughed, then began again, "Musicals really aren't my thing. Not even close. I wouldn't have even given it a second listen, but it was nice to share. Something I'm glad to have shared with you."

At the door an interruption in the form of a cough from the good doctor on duty, Hank McCoy. "Sorry to barge in like this, but I need to check on her."

Lance moved away from Kitty, scooting his chair off to the side, "Sure Doc."

Hank nodded and went right to it. He had a little clipboard and checked her statistics, finally waking her, "Katherine. Time to wake up and greet the world." He nudged her. Kitty responded by letting out a faint groan. Hank smiled and replied, "Goodmorning to you, too."

"... ngh... oh... Mr. McCoy. What time is it?" Kitty asked innocently with a yawn.

"Almost nine. Now, I need to run a few tests on you." Hank nodded and started taking her vitals.

"Nine? Must've slept in... a lot. I never sleep like that."

"Yes you have. That ATV accident a few months back?" Hank reminded.

"Oh... OH! Right. Geez, now I feel like I'm losing my mind. I'm all here, really. I just don't NORMALLY sleep like that... that sound better?" Kitty rubbed her head.

"Exceptionally better." He checked her tempurature.

"So uh... the Professor. He's really angry with me?"

"I wouldn't say that. More like frustrated. He's only looking out for your best interests, Kitty." Hank continued his tests.

"Jean AGREED with me. Maybe he's just overreacting. I'm not exactly the least experienced anymore."

"It wasn't experience that was the issue." Hank said frankly, "You were hurt, because the situation was far greater than you could handle. That also wasn't the issue, though. The main focus that Charles was getting at was that you being there changed the situation, for better or for worse, and you need to take responsibility and think of those consequences instead of rushing into the unknown."

"I DID." Kitty let out an exasperated sigh. "Why doesn't anyone believe me when I say I weighed those options and felt that I did what I thought was the best? For everyone involved, even? Sure, I got roughed up. Nothing I can't walk away from. Others might not." She looked at Hank, "I understand, I shouldn't have been as stubborn as I was with the Professor. I just... I'm not a new recruit anymore. And for all intent purposes, I have been trained by the best. Taking command in a tense situation is just another step in the growing up process."

Lance didn't speak. He was mesmerized by her words, almost as much as her strength. He didn't want to argue. He didn't even see it as a fight. His heart caught in his throat a few times. She knew exactly what she was going into, and did it anyway because of the weighted option in a scenerio Kitty had thought up in her own head. Suddenly, Lance felt far more detatched from the situation than he ever wanted to be. This was her life, and he was barely even a fractional part of it. He did not belong. His eyes shifted down to the floor, lost in thought.

"You can speak with the Professor about that, later." Hank reassured, "Looks like you're doing fine, considering your stitches and all. You can even move up to your room now to rest some more, if you like."

Kitty nodded. She looked over to see Lance. ".. you're not speaking much, what's up?"

"Huh? Oh... uh... nothing." Lance stood. "I'm glad to see you're doing better. I'm going to head home, actually. Make sure Toad hasn't burned down the place or anything."

"... okay." Kitty replied, unsure of Lance's rush. "C'mere, though." She gestured for him to approach the side fo the bed.

Lance did so. He looked uncomfortable. "What is it?"

She hesitantly took his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. Kitty looked down at the hand she held, "Thank you for staying with me, all night. I know you didn't approve of what I did, even less than the Professor. But.. yeah, I'm grateful. Thanks."

Lance didn't respond with words. He lifted her chin and gave Kitty a gentle kiss. "I'll be back later. Just gotta check on things, fresh change of clothes. Okay?"

Kitty blushed, "Sure... okay."

Lance pulled away and headed out the infirmary doors with a smile.

***

The office seemed empty. Professor Xavier wasn't at his desk, but that didn't stop Kitty from walking in and taking a seat in the chair before the desk. She leaned back, contemplating what to tell him. What she should say to the Professor, whether it be an apology or in complete defense of her actions. The sound of the door opening up behind her startled her train of thought. Xavier rolled into the room, just past the chair Kitty sat in and behind the desk.

"Good to see you up and about, Katherine." Xavier started.

"It's good to be up, Sir." Kitty politely replied.

"So, to what do I owe this honor?"

"About last night..."

"Oh yes, last night." Xavier leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk and resting his chin on his hands, "What about it?"

"I wanted to tell you first and foremost that I'm very sorry about how I reacted. I was very disrespectful. I realize in hindsight, all around, that I was thinking selfishly when dealing with you, and was thinking only about others when dealing with things in New York. I wanted you to know that I did think things through. I just... we're trained to deal with that stuff all the time, right? Sometimes it's just nice to really do a good deed of the day, without having to deal with the costumes or bureaucracy."

Xavier sighed. She really was a stubborn child. "Kitty, that bureaucracy, as you put it, is there to protect you. Not only physically, but other things such as the law. When you go into that thinly marked territory without that protection, things that you do that are heroic could be construed as endangering yourself, or even vigilantism."

"I know, Professor." Kitty resigned. "And I'm sorry. I understand that, now. It was a very dangerous situation. I made the choice, though. Can't undo that, huh?"

"You're right." He nodded. "I'm glad to see you have thought about what I had said. However, I regret to inform you that you are still grounded. In the meantime, you can catch up on your studies and get back to normal health. On the other hand, I will allow visitation from Lance if he so wishes to come by."

"... you're joking, right?" Kitty didn't quite believe Xavier.

"Not at all. In fact, I think it'd be nice if he hung around more often. Maybe get a better feel for the place. Also, it's entertaining to see him keep Scott on his toes." Xavier smiled. He chuckled mentally at his own joke, "If there isn't anything else, you should get back to your room and rest."

"Oh, right. Thank you, Sir. Have a good day."

"I will, and thanks."

Kitty left the office, a little mystified by the entire encounter. She shook her head and left to rest up in her bedroom.

***