Chapter 11
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"You should eat." Talia said, holding the plate of food out in offering to the seated figure.
Nadya looked up at her from the chair in her room.
"And don't use my cooking skills as an excuse....the others ate it and all of them are still alive," the older woman got out before Nadya could protest.
"But they are mutants...and who knows what kind of healing powers the might have..." the girl trailed off half-heartedly.
"Joe had seconds...no excuse. Eat." Talia set the plate down in front of her friend and then claimed the second chair for herself.
"Talia..."
The other cut her off. "You haven't eaten in a while. You will feel better once you do. It will help you handle things."
"I did eat."
"Breakfast...it's going on 9 now. I notice everything, especially stuff that affects my friends."
Nadya shook her head but began to eat anyway. She soon found herself hungrier than she had thought.
Talia let her eat for a while before beginning. "Now about what happened..."
"I told the professor he could read my mind; that was my right to do if I wanted. I am sorry if you and everyone else don't like it, but I thought it would help." Nadya ended, laying her fork down.
"Ok...I was going to ask about the Russian..." Talia trailed off.
Nadya blushed and stammered. "Oh. Piotr...he...I...well..."
Talia laughed softly, causing Nadya to lean forward and lay her head in her lap. "Why me?"
"Because the Russian has good taste.....and I daresay you do, too." The older woman smiled. "He is nice, apparently, and concerned for you....especially when you disappeared."
"I'm sorry." Nadya began but her friend shook her head.
"It is all your business, Nadya. All of it. You owe me no explanations."
"But what if everything here goes wrong? What if...."
"What if in a thousand, in two thousand years, I look back on this as a bad memory....or as a good one? The players in it will almost all be dust a hundred times over, regardless of what was done here today...or what will come tomorrow." Talia leaned back in the chair. "Now, have you kissed him yet?"
"Talia!"
"Oh, that is most definitely a 'yes'."
"Stop it!" Nadya laughed and threw a pillow at her friend, who ducked.
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The klaxons blared!
The children woke to the sound and rushed into the halls, their minds immediately thinking fire--desperately hoping for fire--because the last time the house had been thrown into upheaval still haunted their dreams.
It wasn't a fire.
It took them only five minutes to find him.
"Kurt?! Kurt!!" Rogue rushed over and felt for a pulse through her gloved hands. Breathless seconds later she found one.
"He's alive." She hugged herself as Bobby bent down and turned the older man over. There was a small pool of blood on the floor from a gash in his head but it didn't seem too severe.
Kitty rushed into the hall gasping as she rounded the corner then froze. Bobby looked at her.
"Is it safe?" he asked, jolting her out of the daze she had fallen into. A nod answered him
"I checked the security room. Perimeter is secure, and the thermal sensors only show the students in the safe rooms were they should be. I don't know if it was a break-in...." Kitty paused and looked at Kurt again. "I guess it was...but...I..."
"Kitty, it's alright. The sensors would show an intruder if he were still here." Bobby tried to comfort. And then he looked back to Kurt. "The two of you help me move him down to Med lab. Then, Rogue, you call the Professor and let him know what happened, and, Kitty, you go let the rest of the students know it's ok."
Kitty nodded, but Rogue shook here head. "What did happen, Bobby?"
"Good question. Hopefully, Kurt can answer it when he wakes up. For now, we have had an intruder who attacked Kurt."
With that the trio hefted Kurt up and moved to the elevator the sub-level of the mansion, Kitty's abilities speeding up the trip considerably.
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A world away, the Immortals and mutants at the villa had awakened to a glorious sunrise. Well, Talia had awakened to watch the sunrise, at least. The others had emerged from their rooms somewhat later, Logan being the first. He found Talia sitting in an overstuffed leather chair. An old dusty tome lay open on her lap, catching the early morning sun and illuminating the almost-there letters.
Logan watched her read a bit, her brows occasionally knitting together in..... contemplation, confusion. Suddenly, the book was snapped shut and tossed unceremoniously to the floor.
"Frustration." Logan's thoughts decided upon, just in time to meet the lady in question face to face.
"You aren't carrying a knife now, are you?" he asked.
A puzzled look was his answer.
"No? Well, in that case, good morning," he said off-handedly and then sauntered over heading for the kitchen.
A whisper of a response halted his tracks.
"Sorry?"
"If you had not been such...a jerk, I would not have done that. Nadya is a good...."
Logan cut her off. "Hey, I know the kid is not a problem. She's about the only person here who isn't; I was just out to..." Logan sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck.
Talia stepped closer, but he avoided her eyes. She raised a hand and drew it across his forehead, running her thumb over a dark eyebrow. Logan closed his eyes at the touch, breathing in her smell, like the first time he had: vanilla, ocean breezes...none of Methos! He inhaled again to be sure. The offending scent was gone; all he smelled was pure Talia. He opened his eyes and looked at her, almost wanting to ask.
But his eyes opened to meet her closed ones, shut as if in thought as her fingers moved lightly over his face and cheek, tracing lines, a corner of her lip turned up in smile.
"Forget about asking!"
Logan lowered his head....
"Scott! Storm! Logan!!!" The Professor's psychic blast caused Logan to start and look around for a person as usual. Talia tried to ask what was the matter but he hushed her.
"It's the Professor...hang on a sec." Logan stilled as Talia watched him. She saw the rage spreading across his face. Suddenly, he rushed from the room before she could find out what was the matter.
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Piotr leapt from his bed at the call, his heavy footfalls thudding along the hallway and staircase as he hurried for the professor's room. He found Scott, Storm, and Logan already there.
"What happened? Ktoh etahvah? ("Who was it?")" He lapsed into Russian.
"We don't know, Piotr. However, Rogue says that Kurt is stable and resting. Thankfully, the wound was not deep."
"We need to get back to the mansion." Scott insisted.
"I agree with you, Scott. However, we cannot let things disintegrate here. That said, you, Logan, and I will return to the mansion to investigate."
"But, Professor…" Storm began.
Charles held up a hand. "Storm, we have two incidents that require our attention now: the mansion and this summit. Neither of which can be neglected for even a moment. You and Piotr will stay here and Scott, Logan, and I will return as soon as we can. But right now, the children need us."
Discussion closed.
Storm nodded, though she could feel Logan stiffen even more next to her. Obviously, he disagreed with the Professor's decision but he would not voice it.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the Immortals and mortals had gathered in the kitchen, Nadya the last to arrive. "Where are the others? I haven't seen any of them this morning."
Talia shrugged and concentrated on her coffee; she wasn't about to talk about the moment she had almost had with Logan. However, that was a 'tell' to Nadya that the eldest Immortal knew something, but the girl kept her mouth shut, too.
Just then, Piotr entered the kitchen. "Nadya, can I talk to you for a moment, pazhualstah (please)?"
Joe smirked at Nadya from behind his coffee mug as the girl moved out into the hallway.
"Shtoh etah, Piotr? (What is it?)" she asked quietly.
"Nadya, something's happened back at the mansion. A friend of ours was attacked; we think someone broke in and Kurt surprised them. The Professor, Logan, and Scott are heading back to New York to investigate. But Storm and I are staying here. I just…I just wanted you to know," his voice dropped off.
Nadya felt something in her seize up, as she well knew what it was to be concerned for her friends. "Are you sure you won't go with them?"
Piotr shook his head. "The Professor desires Storm and I to stay and continue the summit."
Pity for him swelled over her; she saw how he wanted to be with his friends.
"I have to go see the others off."
"Do you want help?" came a deeper voice from behind Nadya. The highlander stood there, arms to his side. Joe stood beside him.
The younger man didn't understand why he was offering and voiced it.
"Because that's his nature." Joe supplied. "And count me in, too."
With that, Piotr nodded and withdrew, heading down the hallway, the other two men trailing him
When Nadya re-entered the kitchen, she saw instantly that Talia knew; the woman had excellent ears.
"Is he all right?" she asked, having refilled her mug.
"I...don't know," Nadya replied, sitting at the island again.
Under the edge of the island, Methos reached over and touched her hand. He didn't grip it, just touched it with the tips of his fingers and then pulled his hand back again; just to let her know that he was there.
Sighing deeply, Nadya put forth a smile for her friends and got up to get herself a plate of eggs and bacon.
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Shadowfax tossed his head, wondering if they were going out again.
"No, boy. Not today." Nadya just ran her hand over his neck, brushing his mane. The great animal stomped one hoof placidly, accepting her 'no'.
"Did I not do it right yesterday?"
Methos leaned against a nearby stall, munching on an apple. Of course he was being facetious; he had groomed horses more times than she had combed her hair in her entire lifetime.
Nadya glanced at him under the horse's neck. "You did fine but I just like to do it myself when I can." Her hair was caught up in a messy bun under a blue bandanna, the legs of her jeans rolled up and a lavender camisole clinging to her frame. The days had gotten strangely warmer here in the countryside. Shadowfax leaned his muzzle down to her shoulder and blew warm air onto her skin playfully.
"That tickles!" Nadya gently pushed his head away, which was how their games always began, the horse snapping her rear end with his long tail. "Hey! Now that's un-called for!" she scolded.
Shadowfax just nickered.
Methos cocked his head to the side. "Is that horse flirting with you?"
Nadya shook her head as she replaced the brush in the grooming kit and took out a comb. "No, it's just Mr. Sure-of-himself's way of playing," she laughed.
Methos hadn't heard her laugh in a while.
"Well, I'm done!" she announced, closing the door to the stall. "Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I am in need of a shower and a walk."
When she was gone, Methos ambled over to Shadowfax and offered the remainder of his apple. While the horse munched, Methos regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "Nice trick, old man. You need to find yourself a filly."
The horse's ears pricked up, but not from the man's comment. Methos felt a sharp sting in his shoulder. The last sound he heard was the horse's frightened whinnying.
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"How is he?" a girl in a yellow jacket paused in the door of the Med lab.
Rogue sighed. "He's stable, breathing all right. And the bleeding's stopped so…"
Jubilation Lee came over and sat down by her friend. "Don't worry, Rogue. The Professor will know what to do; he'll be here soon."
The two friends sat there in silence for a while, the only sound the regular, monotone beeping of the ECG.
"How's Bobby?" Jubilee asked.
Rogue bit her lip a little and then raised her head, something of a proud smile on her face. "He's handlin' everything really well. Ah mean, he is the oldest with Piotr gone so he's doin' really well. Scott'll be proud of him."
Jubilee smiled, too. "And the Professor will be very proud of you, Rogue." She laid her hand on Rogue's, her own hands gloved--out of fashion rather than necessity.
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The 'royal' gardens were beautiful this time of year, especially in the evening. Nadya stepped out from the archway and into the fragrant gardens, picking roses here and there. If you wanted quiet, you went to the smaller garden; if you wanted flowers and color, you came here.
The young woman soon found herself lost in the beauty, just smelling the flowers and admiring the artwork that she had seen dozens of times before. It just never got old to her.
She never even saw him coming.
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"You should eat." Talia said, holding the plate of food out in offering to the seated figure.
Nadya looked up at her from the chair in her room.
"And don't use my cooking skills as an excuse....the others ate it and all of them are still alive," the older woman got out before Nadya could protest.
"But they are mutants...and who knows what kind of healing powers the might have..." the girl trailed off half-heartedly.
"Joe had seconds...no excuse. Eat." Talia set the plate down in front of her friend and then claimed the second chair for herself.
"Talia..."
The other cut her off. "You haven't eaten in a while. You will feel better once you do. It will help you handle things."
"I did eat."
"Breakfast...it's going on 9 now. I notice everything, especially stuff that affects my friends."
Nadya shook her head but began to eat anyway. She soon found herself hungrier than she had thought.
Talia let her eat for a while before beginning. "Now about what happened..."
"I told the professor he could read my mind; that was my right to do if I wanted. I am sorry if you and everyone else don't like it, but I thought it would help." Nadya ended, laying her fork down.
"Ok...I was going to ask about the Russian..." Talia trailed off.
Nadya blushed and stammered. "Oh. Piotr...he...I...well..."
Talia laughed softly, causing Nadya to lean forward and lay her head in her lap. "Why me?"
"Because the Russian has good taste.....and I daresay you do, too." The older woman smiled. "He is nice, apparently, and concerned for you....especially when you disappeared."
"I'm sorry." Nadya began but her friend shook her head.
"It is all your business, Nadya. All of it. You owe me no explanations."
"But what if everything here goes wrong? What if...."
"What if in a thousand, in two thousand years, I look back on this as a bad memory....or as a good one? The players in it will almost all be dust a hundred times over, regardless of what was done here today...or what will come tomorrow." Talia leaned back in the chair. "Now, have you kissed him yet?"
"Talia!"
"Oh, that is most definitely a 'yes'."
"Stop it!" Nadya laughed and threw a pillow at her friend, who ducked.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The klaxons blared!
The children woke to the sound and rushed into the halls, their minds immediately thinking fire--desperately hoping for fire--because the last time the house had been thrown into upheaval still haunted their dreams.
It wasn't a fire.
It took them only five minutes to find him.
"Kurt?! Kurt!!" Rogue rushed over and felt for a pulse through her gloved hands. Breathless seconds later she found one.
"He's alive." She hugged herself as Bobby bent down and turned the older man over. There was a small pool of blood on the floor from a gash in his head but it didn't seem too severe.
Kitty rushed into the hall gasping as she rounded the corner then froze. Bobby looked at her.
"Is it safe?" he asked, jolting her out of the daze she had fallen into. A nod answered him
"I checked the security room. Perimeter is secure, and the thermal sensors only show the students in the safe rooms were they should be. I don't know if it was a break-in...." Kitty paused and looked at Kurt again. "I guess it was...but...I..."
"Kitty, it's alright. The sensors would show an intruder if he were still here." Bobby tried to comfort. And then he looked back to Kurt. "The two of you help me move him down to Med lab. Then, Rogue, you call the Professor and let him know what happened, and, Kitty, you go let the rest of the students know it's ok."
Kitty nodded, but Rogue shook here head. "What did happen, Bobby?"
"Good question. Hopefully, Kurt can answer it when he wakes up. For now, we have had an intruder who attacked Kurt."
With that the trio hefted Kurt up and moved to the elevator the sub-level of the mansion, Kitty's abilities speeding up the trip considerably.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A world away, the Immortals and mutants at the villa had awakened to a glorious sunrise. Well, Talia had awakened to watch the sunrise, at least. The others had emerged from their rooms somewhat later, Logan being the first. He found Talia sitting in an overstuffed leather chair. An old dusty tome lay open on her lap, catching the early morning sun and illuminating the almost-there letters.
Logan watched her read a bit, her brows occasionally knitting together in..... contemplation, confusion. Suddenly, the book was snapped shut and tossed unceremoniously to the floor.
"Frustration." Logan's thoughts decided upon, just in time to meet the lady in question face to face.
"You aren't carrying a knife now, are you?" he asked.
A puzzled look was his answer.
"No? Well, in that case, good morning," he said off-handedly and then sauntered over heading for the kitchen.
A whisper of a response halted his tracks.
"Sorry?"
"If you had not been such...a jerk, I would not have done that. Nadya is a good...."
Logan cut her off. "Hey, I know the kid is not a problem. She's about the only person here who isn't; I was just out to..." Logan sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck.
Talia stepped closer, but he avoided her eyes. She raised a hand and drew it across his forehead, running her thumb over a dark eyebrow. Logan closed his eyes at the touch, breathing in her smell, like the first time he had: vanilla, ocean breezes...none of Methos! He inhaled again to be sure. The offending scent was gone; all he smelled was pure Talia. He opened his eyes and looked at her, almost wanting to ask.
But his eyes opened to meet her closed ones, shut as if in thought as her fingers moved lightly over his face and cheek, tracing lines, a corner of her lip turned up in smile.
"Forget about asking!"
Logan lowered his head....
"Scott! Storm! Logan!!!" The Professor's psychic blast caused Logan to start and look around for a person as usual. Talia tried to ask what was the matter but he hushed her.
"It's the Professor...hang on a sec." Logan stilled as Talia watched him. She saw the rage spreading across his face. Suddenly, he rushed from the room before she could find out what was the matter.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Piotr leapt from his bed at the call, his heavy footfalls thudding along the hallway and staircase as he hurried for the professor's room. He found Scott, Storm, and Logan already there.
"What happened? Ktoh etahvah? ("Who was it?")" He lapsed into Russian.
"We don't know, Piotr. However, Rogue says that Kurt is stable and resting. Thankfully, the wound was not deep."
"We need to get back to the mansion." Scott insisted.
"I agree with you, Scott. However, we cannot let things disintegrate here. That said, you, Logan, and I will return to the mansion to investigate."
"But, Professor…" Storm began.
Charles held up a hand. "Storm, we have two incidents that require our attention now: the mansion and this summit. Neither of which can be neglected for even a moment. You and Piotr will stay here and Scott, Logan, and I will return as soon as we can. But right now, the children need us."
Discussion closed.
Storm nodded, though she could feel Logan stiffen even more next to her. Obviously, he disagreed with the Professor's decision but he would not voice it.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the Immortals and mortals had gathered in the kitchen, Nadya the last to arrive. "Where are the others? I haven't seen any of them this morning."
Talia shrugged and concentrated on her coffee; she wasn't about to talk about the moment she had almost had with Logan. However, that was a 'tell' to Nadya that the eldest Immortal knew something, but the girl kept her mouth shut, too.
Just then, Piotr entered the kitchen. "Nadya, can I talk to you for a moment, pazhualstah (please)?"
Joe smirked at Nadya from behind his coffee mug as the girl moved out into the hallway.
"Shtoh etah, Piotr? (What is it?)" she asked quietly.
"Nadya, something's happened back at the mansion. A friend of ours was attacked; we think someone broke in and Kurt surprised them. The Professor, Logan, and Scott are heading back to New York to investigate. But Storm and I are staying here. I just…I just wanted you to know," his voice dropped off.
Nadya felt something in her seize up, as she well knew what it was to be concerned for her friends. "Are you sure you won't go with them?"
Piotr shook his head. "The Professor desires Storm and I to stay and continue the summit."
Pity for him swelled over her; she saw how he wanted to be with his friends.
"I have to go see the others off."
"Do you want help?" came a deeper voice from behind Nadya. The highlander stood there, arms to his side. Joe stood beside him.
The younger man didn't understand why he was offering and voiced it.
"Because that's his nature." Joe supplied. "And count me in, too."
With that, Piotr nodded and withdrew, heading down the hallway, the other two men trailing him
When Nadya re-entered the kitchen, she saw instantly that Talia knew; the woman had excellent ears.
"Is he all right?" she asked, having refilled her mug.
"I...don't know," Nadya replied, sitting at the island again.
Under the edge of the island, Methos reached over and touched her hand. He didn't grip it, just touched it with the tips of his fingers and then pulled his hand back again; just to let her know that he was there.
Sighing deeply, Nadya put forth a smile for her friends and got up to get herself a plate of eggs and bacon.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Shadowfax tossed his head, wondering if they were going out again.
"No, boy. Not today." Nadya just ran her hand over his neck, brushing his mane. The great animal stomped one hoof placidly, accepting her 'no'.
"Did I not do it right yesterday?"
Methos leaned against a nearby stall, munching on an apple. Of course he was being facetious; he had groomed horses more times than she had combed her hair in her entire lifetime.
Nadya glanced at him under the horse's neck. "You did fine but I just like to do it myself when I can." Her hair was caught up in a messy bun under a blue bandanna, the legs of her jeans rolled up and a lavender camisole clinging to her frame. The days had gotten strangely warmer here in the countryside. Shadowfax leaned his muzzle down to her shoulder and blew warm air onto her skin playfully.
"That tickles!" Nadya gently pushed his head away, which was how their games always began, the horse snapping her rear end with his long tail. "Hey! Now that's un-called for!" she scolded.
Shadowfax just nickered.
Methos cocked his head to the side. "Is that horse flirting with you?"
Nadya shook her head as she replaced the brush in the grooming kit and took out a comb. "No, it's just Mr. Sure-of-himself's way of playing," she laughed.
Methos hadn't heard her laugh in a while.
"Well, I'm done!" she announced, closing the door to the stall. "Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I am in need of a shower and a walk."
When she was gone, Methos ambled over to Shadowfax and offered the remainder of his apple. While the horse munched, Methos regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "Nice trick, old man. You need to find yourself a filly."
The horse's ears pricked up, but not from the man's comment. Methos felt a sharp sting in his shoulder. The last sound he heard was the horse's frightened whinnying.
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"How is he?" a girl in a yellow jacket paused in the door of the Med lab.
Rogue sighed. "He's stable, breathing all right. And the bleeding's stopped so…"
Jubilation Lee came over and sat down by her friend. "Don't worry, Rogue. The Professor will know what to do; he'll be here soon."
The two friends sat there in silence for a while, the only sound the regular, monotone beeping of the ECG.
"How's Bobby?" Jubilee asked.
Rogue bit her lip a little and then raised her head, something of a proud smile on her face. "He's handlin' everything really well. Ah mean, he is the oldest with Piotr gone so he's doin' really well. Scott'll be proud of him."
Jubilee smiled, too. "And the Professor will be very proud of you, Rogue." She laid her hand on Rogue's, her own hands gloved--out of fashion rather than necessity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 'royal' gardens were beautiful this time of year, especially in the evening. Nadya stepped out from the archway and into the fragrant gardens, picking roses here and there. If you wanted quiet, you went to the smaller garden; if you wanted flowers and color, you came here.
The young woman soon found herself lost in the beauty, just smelling the flowers and admiring the artwork that she had seen dozens of times before. It just never got old to her.
She never even saw him coming.