Queen of Random: This story is pretty much the only one of my three
published ones that I have been working on recently, dunno why. I have,
however, been taking some time out because of Christmas etc. and to write a
lot of my new story, 'God defend New Zealand'. It's about Pyro, and his
holiday to New Zealand. Just to clarify something: he's and Australian, and
they do not get on with New Zealanders, so I thought it would be
interesting for that to happen. I also thought it would be funny to make
him do stuff that a lot of tourists do when they go to New Zealand, like
bungy jumping!
Beauty and the Beast
Chapter Nineteen: Welcome Home!
Time seemed to pass very slowly for Jennifer while she was in the hospital. Not only was she frustrated about the limits that the hospital placed on her, but also the actions of the police. No matter how many times she told them, they still could not accept the fact that she could not identify her assailant. She kept explaining to them that she could barely remember what had happened that night, let alone her attacker's face or voice.
But there was some good news that she received during her period of recovery, and that was given to her by her doctor, Chris Winner.
"Well, Jennifer, you'll be pleased to know that with this rate of recovery, I will be able to discharge you by the end of the week. Since it's Tuesday now, you should be out of here in about five days."
"Really?" asked Jennifer.
"Really, really," said the doctor, smiling. "Now that the bandage that was on your face was taken off last week, and the burns on your arm are healing better than expected, you can go home. The same thing goes for the burns on your legs. Apart from the third degree ones, there should be little or no scarring, at this rate. You are very lucky, Jennifer, and I wish you luck for the future."
As he walked to the door, Jennifer realised something. "You know about Hank, don't you?"
Dr Winner turned, and nodded. "I do know what he is."
"When did you find out?" she asked. "Or did you always know?"
The doctor smiled. "I was watching the news during a break here at the hospital. I watched the mutants come to your aid, and one carry you out of your house. And your name is now synonymous with mutants, especially those in Bayville."
"Why did you not say anything?" asked Jennifer, confused.
"I'm a doctor. I'm here to heal, not to judge."
*
What Dr Winner said came to pass. At the end of the week, Jennifer was discharged from the hospital.
However, there was a catch.
For the moment at least, Jennifer was confined to a wheelchair, as the doctors did not like the idea of her putting pressure on her left leg, which was still heavily bandaged due to the burns Jennifer had received during the fire.
Parked in front of the Xavier Institute, Hank helped Jennifer out of the car and into her wheelchair. As he shut the door of the car behind her, she looked at the entrance to the Institute, slightly dismayed.
"Jennifer?" asked Hank, worried. "Is everything all right?"
"Half of me just doesn't want to go through with this, Hank."
Hank tried not to sound too worried as he asked, "And the other half?"
But he had no real cause for concern, as Jennifer smiled her old smile, but this time a hint of mischief played about her lips as she replied, "The other half of me is tempted to challenge Professor Xavier to a race in this thing." She gestured to her wheelchair.
Hank kissed her on the cheek. "You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, reaching for hank's hand and squeezing it gently. Hank moved behind the wheelchair, and the two of them entered the building.
*
"Surprise!"
Jennifer looked around the foyer at all the mutants who had gathered to welcome her to her new home. They had obviously spent some time decorating it in preparation for her arrival. There were balloons on the wall in places that no ordinary person could have put them without seriously endangering themselves or others, and there were other decorations around the entrance as well.
"Welcome home, Ms Reed!" cried Kitty, as she ran forward and hugged her former teacher.
This seemed to be the signal all the other students had been waiting for. They all rushed forward, and Jennifer disappeared from sight for a moment, buried by a bunch of teenage bodies.
"It's great to see you!"
"Welcome to your new home!"
That was pretty much what all the students were saying as they welcomed the new resident, and only human, to the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. There seemed to be no hostility in the room, directed at the woman, or otherwise.
"Come on, Ms Reed," said Amara. "We're having a special dinner to celebrate!"
"But first, I think Hank should show you to your room, Jennifer," interrupted Xavier. "It will be a while until dinner is ready, anyway."
"Thank you, Professor," said Jennifer. "And thank you for your hospitality. Had it not been for your offer, I would have had no place to go once I was discharged from the hospital."
"You're welcome, and I hope that everything will be in order up in your room."
"Thank you again."
As Hank and Jennifer began to make their way to the upper levels of the mansion, Jennifer couldn't help but wonder, quite bemused, which student it was that was brave - or crazy, or stupid - enough to try and get Logan to wear one of those little party hats.
But the thing that made her even more curious was how had they managed to get it done.
*
"Welcome to your new home, Jennifer," said Hank, opening the door to a room in the adults section of the bedrooms.
Jennifer gasped when she saw how large the room was. "It's at least twice the size of my old bedroom!" She wheeled herself into the room, and spun the chair around so she could see the whole room. "It's huge!"
"I assume you like it," said Hank with a grin.
"Like it?" asked Jennifer, running her hand along the polished wood of the vanity. "I love it!"
Hank tapped a hand on the dresser. "There are some clothes in here. I don't know what they're like, as the girls got them as a gift for you."
"I hope that Kitty didn't go overboard with the pink."
Hank laughed. "Don't worry, Ororo went with them."
"That makes me feel a lot better."
"Dinner will be ready shortly," said Hank. "I'll leave you to get adjusted."
He was about to leave the room, but Jennifer stopped him. "Thank you, Hank. And I love you."
He could not help but smile. "I love you, too. And remember, if you need anything, my room is just down the hall."
*
Jennifer was the last to enter the dining room that evening for the celebratory dinner. She was dressed in a dress that she had found in the dresser, and there was a broad smile on her face.
"Hi, Ms Reed," greeted Jean.
"You go girl," added Tabitha.
Jennifer smiled almost shyly at her former students. "Thank you, for all of your generosity. And for the new clothes."
"You're welcome, Ms R."
"Can we eat now?"
Xavier and the other adults smiled. "All right, Kurt."
In the split second before he began devouring the food that was set out before him, Kurt could be heard to utter, "Lecker!"
Jennifer smiled, and joined in the feast as well.
She was now part of the family.
Beauty and the Beast
Chapter Nineteen: Welcome Home!
Time seemed to pass very slowly for Jennifer while she was in the hospital. Not only was she frustrated about the limits that the hospital placed on her, but also the actions of the police. No matter how many times she told them, they still could not accept the fact that she could not identify her assailant. She kept explaining to them that she could barely remember what had happened that night, let alone her attacker's face or voice.
But there was some good news that she received during her period of recovery, and that was given to her by her doctor, Chris Winner.
"Well, Jennifer, you'll be pleased to know that with this rate of recovery, I will be able to discharge you by the end of the week. Since it's Tuesday now, you should be out of here in about five days."
"Really?" asked Jennifer.
"Really, really," said the doctor, smiling. "Now that the bandage that was on your face was taken off last week, and the burns on your arm are healing better than expected, you can go home. The same thing goes for the burns on your legs. Apart from the third degree ones, there should be little or no scarring, at this rate. You are very lucky, Jennifer, and I wish you luck for the future."
As he walked to the door, Jennifer realised something. "You know about Hank, don't you?"
Dr Winner turned, and nodded. "I do know what he is."
"When did you find out?" she asked. "Or did you always know?"
The doctor smiled. "I was watching the news during a break here at the hospital. I watched the mutants come to your aid, and one carry you out of your house. And your name is now synonymous with mutants, especially those in Bayville."
"Why did you not say anything?" asked Jennifer, confused.
"I'm a doctor. I'm here to heal, not to judge."
*
What Dr Winner said came to pass. At the end of the week, Jennifer was discharged from the hospital.
However, there was a catch.
For the moment at least, Jennifer was confined to a wheelchair, as the doctors did not like the idea of her putting pressure on her left leg, which was still heavily bandaged due to the burns Jennifer had received during the fire.
Parked in front of the Xavier Institute, Hank helped Jennifer out of the car and into her wheelchair. As he shut the door of the car behind her, she looked at the entrance to the Institute, slightly dismayed.
"Jennifer?" asked Hank, worried. "Is everything all right?"
"Half of me just doesn't want to go through with this, Hank."
Hank tried not to sound too worried as he asked, "And the other half?"
But he had no real cause for concern, as Jennifer smiled her old smile, but this time a hint of mischief played about her lips as she replied, "The other half of me is tempted to challenge Professor Xavier to a race in this thing." She gestured to her wheelchair.
Hank kissed her on the cheek. "You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, reaching for hank's hand and squeezing it gently. Hank moved behind the wheelchair, and the two of them entered the building.
*
"Surprise!"
Jennifer looked around the foyer at all the mutants who had gathered to welcome her to her new home. They had obviously spent some time decorating it in preparation for her arrival. There were balloons on the wall in places that no ordinary person could have put them without seriously endangering themselves or others, and there were other decorations around the entrance as well.
"Welcome home, Ms Reed!" cried Kitty, as she ran forward and hugged her former teacher.
This seemed to be the signal all the other students had been waiting for. They all rushed forward, and Jennifer disappeared from sight for a moment, buried by a bunch of teenage bodies.
"It's great to see you!"
"Welcome to your new home!"
That was pretty much what all the students were saying as they welcomed the new resident, and only human, to the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. There seemed to be no hostility in the room, directed at the woman, or otherwise.
"Come on, Ms Reed," said Amara. "We're having a special dinner to celebrate!"
"But first, I think Hank should show you to your room, Jennifer," interrupted Xavier. "It will be a while until dinner is ready, anyway."
"Thank you, Professor," said Jennifer. "And thank you for your hospitality. Had it not been for your offer, I would have had no place to go once I was discharged from the hospital."
"You're welcome, and I hope that everything will be in order up in your room."
"Thank you again."
As Hank and Jennifer began to make their way to the upper levels of the mansion, Jennifer couldn't help but wonder, quite bemused, which student it was that was brave - or crazy, or stupid - enough to try and get Logan to wear one of those little party hats.
But the thing that made her even more curious was how had they managed to get it done.
*
"Welcome to your new home, Jennifer," said Hank, opening the door to a room in the adults section of the bedrooms.
Jennifer gasped when she saw how large the room was. "It's at least twice the size of my old bedroom!" She wheeled herself into the room, and spun the chair around so she could see the whole room. "It's huge!"
"I assume you like it," said Hank with a grin.
"Like it?" asked Jennifer, running her hand along the polished wood of the vanity. "I love it!"
Hank tapped a hand on the dresser. "There are some clothes in here. I don't know what they're like, as the girls got them as a gift for you."
"I hope that Kitty didn't go overboard with the pink."
Hank laughed. "Don't worry, Ororo went with them."
"That makes me feel a lot better."
"Dinner will be ready shortly," said Hank. "I'll leave you to get adjusted."
He was about to leave the room, but Jennifer stopped him. "Thank you, Hank. And I love you."
He could not help but smile. "I love you, too. And remember, if you need anything, my room is just down the hall."
*
Jennifer was the last to enter the dining room that evening for the celebratory dinner. She was dressed in a dress that she had found in the dresser, and there was a broad smile on her face.
"Hi, Ms Reed," greeted Jean.
"You go girl," added Tabitha.
Jennifer smiled almost shyly at her former students. "Thank you, for all of your generosity. And for the new clothes."
"You're welcome, Ms R."
"Can we eat now?"
Xavier and the other adults smiled. "All right, Kurt."
In the split second before he began devouring the food that was set out before him, Kurt could be heard to utter, "Lecker!"
Jennifer smiled, and joined in the feast as well.
She was now part of the family.