BNW 2
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XAVIER INSTITUTE: 11:30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING
"Wolverine? What's up? You're not leaving are you?"
Looking up from his task, the older man threw his young female colleague a complicated look that she was unable to completely decipher, then he gave a brief answer.
"No. Charles asked me to change rooms for a while... watch out for the new guy 'till he settles in."
Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, the young woman in the doorway smiled and moved a step or two into the room.
"Need a hand?"
Tossing a last pair of jeans into a box, Logan smiled, turned and held out the cardboard container. Rogue accepted it from him and followed him out, trailing him down the hall to the elevator. As the door closed in front of them, she gazed at the floor and cautiously began to question her companion on their visitor.
"So... what'd the professor say about him? The new student, I mean."
"He's not a student. More like... a specialist. He'll only be here long enough to help us out on one mission."
"What's his power? I've been tryin' to guess, but... we've got just about everything here already."
"Everything but him."
"Okay. So what kinda mutant is he?"
"He's not a mutant. Not really. He's closer to my side of the line." Logan answered cryptically, studying the wall before him intently. Despite his reluctance, Rogue's quick mind connected the dots easily.
"You mean they put somethin' in him he didn't want? They changed his body.... like they did to you?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Now he can turn invisible whenever he needs to."
"Whoa. Can't wait to see that. What's his flip side like, though?" she asked as the car stopped and the pair exited the elevator.
"Flip side?"
"Yeah. For you it's the pain when you use your claws.... sometimes even when you don't. For me, it's knowin' how bad I could hurt somebody if I.... anyway, I was just wonderin' what his was."
"According to Charles, the guy depends on a drug they made just for him. The stuff that lets him be invisible turns into a poison that builds up in his blood the longer he stays outta sight. If he doesn't get a shot on a regular schedule the poison messes with his brain and he kinda.... goes nuts."
"Nuts... how?" Rogue asked uncertainly as she set the box she was carrying on the bed in Logan's new room.
"Don't worry about it, kid. They're sendin' plenty of his meds with him an' Jean's got it all under control. Thanks for the help." he acknowledged, favoring the teenager with one of the soft smiles he so rarely showed to the others at the school. In response both her cheeks and her eyes began to glow.
"Yeah.... You... coming to lunch?"
"Be there in a while. I got one more load to bring down."
"I can...."
"Nah. You go eat. I can handle it. I promise I'll be there soon. Go on."
Reaching out, Logan laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the door, making sure to stay in contact with fabric and not touch her skin. He had experienced her energy transfer ability once before and, as much as he cared for her, he was loath to be subjected to it again. Still, he understood how utterly her unique power frustrated her normal desire for human contact, and found himself reaching out to Marie in ways he never would to anyone else. Over time he'd realized that a touch on the elbow or a pat on the back cost him nothing and restored, however temporarily, her connection to the world around her. The unfortunate fact that every touch also increased her intense crush on him was something he hadn't yet found the courage to confront.
"Okay. Hey, Logan.... can I go with you tonight.... when you pick him up? I'll score major jealousy points with the other kids if I'm the first one to see him."
"Long as your homework's clear, I got no objection, but check with Jean an' Professor X."
"I will. See ya. At lunch."
"Not if you don't get movin' you won't." he teased, beginning to unpack.
"Right. Bye." she replied, finally backing out the door and heading for the elevator again. Logan paused in his work, grinning and shaking his head.
{Man, I gotta do somethin' about this before she starts pickin' out wedding dresses an' china patterns...}
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THE AGENCY: 1 HOUR LATER
"Claire? Hey, you here?"
"Hang on, Bobby. I'll be right out."
A few moments later, the lovely blond scientist emerged from her tiny washroom facilities at the back of the lab. "Is it time for the morning briefing already? I was so wrapped up in my work I didn't notice."
"It's gettin' on nine a.m. That's way past time. You seen Fawkes? I checked his place, all his hideouts here in the building.... nothin'."
"Darien? No, I haven't seen him today. Perhaps the Official will tell us. We'd better hurry...." she mumbled, pushing by him to get to the door. Immediately, a warning claxon went off in Bobby's head.
"Hold it, Claire. What's goin' on?"
"Going on? Nothing's going on, Bobby. We have a briefing to get to."
"Whoa! Stop! I know when somebody's lyin' to me, Keepie."
"Bobby, please..."
"Darien's my partner, Claire.... my partner an' my best friend. To hell with whatever the fat man told you to tell me. Just be straight for once. Is Fawkes okay?"
"The last time I checked him over was three days ago and you were right here in the room. He was fine then."
"Why do I still feel like you're holdin' out on me?"
"Why would I lie about Darien? I care for him as much as you do. I swear to you I haven't seen him this morning. Now, are you going to the briefing or not?" Claire asked, waiting at the open door, inviting Bobby to leave first. Eventually, he acceded, though his eyes remained narrowed and his mind still whirled with suspicion. Once he was out of sight, Claire leaned against the door frame, put both hands over her face and breathed deeply, struggling to justify her actions over the past week or two and having very little success.
{It wasn't a lie. I haven't seen Darien since I gave him the sedative yesterday afternoon. My God, how could I have done that.... how could I have given them those drops? He was so frightened.... and his beautiful eyes.... Alright, Claire, that's enough. Straighten up. Surrender to your regrets later. Right now you have a façade of innocence to maintain....}
A few minutes later, Claire entered the office and claimed a chair one removed from Bobby, who was still glaring daggers at her. She kept her eyes on the floor and vehemently promised herself she would never again let Charles Borden use permanent separation from Darien to coerce her into such a monumental betrayal of her principles and her friends.
"You're picking up character traits from Fawkes, doctor. That's not a good thing. Don't let lateness become a habit, hmmm?"
"No, sir."
"Sir..." Bobby began, but his boss cut him off.
"I know. You're worried about Agent Fawkes. Frankly, so am I. Yesterday he became extremely ill. Whatever it is infected three other agents. Two of them died within hours."
"What? Are you sayin'... is Darien..."
"No. Not yet. Doctor, I want you to go into isolation with him until this resolves itself one way or the other."
Claire studied the Official's eyes carefully for what he was really saying. She quickly realized she was being sent after Darien and her heart froze in her chest. Valiantly, she kept her struggle with her fear internal for Bobby's sake and kept the charade going. "Of course. When?"
"As soon as you can pack and be ready for transport."
"He isn't here at the Agency, then."
"I couldn't risk exposing anymore of our people. He's been placed in a private facility outside the city."
"What the hell? You won't risk any of us, but you'll risk Claire?"
"It's alright, Bobby. I'm the only one who knows his history. I have to help. I'll be fine."
"Claire...."
"I'll take all the precautions to avoid being infected. Really, it'll be okay. I'll bring Darien back safe and sound, I promise."
{I will, Bobby. Please believe that. I won't let him be hurt.... not anymore than I already have.} Claire sent at her friend and colleague, hoping against hope that he would hear her somehow.
Proving that he couldn't read her mind and hadn't received her silent promise, Bobby breathed heavily in and out through his nose and stood, pushing back his chair.
"I'm goin' too."
"No you aren't. I have a vitally important assignment for you to complete right here in San Diego."
"Boss...."
"Agent Hobbes. You can't do anything for your partner. You'll be in the way. You're staying here. Understood?"
Bobby lowered his head briefly, then looked back up at his employer.
"You got the details on this.... vital mission?"
"Not all of them. I'll be ready in about an hour."
'I don't work with anybody else."
"I know. This is a solo job."
Nodding curtly, Hobbes turned and strode out of the office. Claire pried her tense hands from around the arms of her chair and began to flex them. When she spoke to the Official, her voice thrummed with anger.
"Not that I'm not grateful you're letting me go to him.... but am I allowed to know why?"
"I considered having the necessary amount of counteragent shipped to the institute, but I changed my mind. Too many things can happen in shipping. I want you to deliver the vials, but you're not to have any contact with Fawkes. See the package safely to its destination, then turn around and come right back. Stay at home until I call you to come back to work."
"Sir.... he's my patient... as well as a close friend. You can't expect...."
"I can and do. This is a very sensitive situation, doctor. I'll give you the same instruction I gave Hobbes. Don't get in the way. Report to lab three for your dose of the eye-drops in thirty minutes."
"You don't mean I have to suffer through that as well!"
"It's their requirement, not ours. For what it's worth, I'm sorry either of you had to deal with this, but...."
"No you're not." Claire countered, rising and exiting before her temper took control and Charles Borden was forced to pry her fingers away from his neck.
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TBC.......
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XAVIER INSTITUTE: 11:30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING
"Wolverine? What's up? You're not leaving are you?"
Looking up from his task, the older man threw his young female colleague a complicated look that she was unable to completely decipher, then he gave a brief answer.
"No. Charles asked me to change rooms for a while... watch out for the new guy 'till he settles in."
Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, the young woman in the doorway smiled and moved a step or two into the room.
"Need a hand?"
Tossing a last pair of jeans into a box, Logan smiled, turned and held out the cardboard container. Rogue accepted it from him and followed him out, trailing him down the hall to the elevator. As the door closed in front of them, she gazed at the floor and cautiously began to question her companion on their visitor.
"So... what'd the professor say about him? The new student, I mean."
"He's not a student. More like... a specialist. He'll only be here long enough to help us out on one mission."
"What's his power? I've been tryin' to guess, but... we've got just about everything here already."
"Everything but him."
"Okay. So what kinda mutant is he?"
"He's not a mutant. Not really. He's closer to my side of the line." Logan answered cryptically, studying the wall before him intently. Despite his reluctance, Rogue's quick mind connected the dots easily.
"You mean they put somethin' in him he didn't want? They changed his body.... like they did to you?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Now he can turn invisible whenever he needs to."
"Whoa. Can't wait to see that. What's his flip side like, though?" she asked as the car stopped and the pair exited the elevator.
"Flip side?"
"Yeah. For you it's the pain when you use your claws.... sometimes even when you don't. For me, it's knowin' how bad I could hurt somebody if I.... anyway, I was just wonderin' what his was."
"According to Charles, the guy depends on a drug they made just for him. The stuff that lets him be invisible turns into a poison that builds up in his blood the longer he stays outta sight. If he doesn't get a shot on a regular schedule the poison messes with his brain and he kinda.... goes nuts."
"Nuts... how?" Rogue asked uncertainly as she set the box she was carrying on the bed in Logan's new room.
"Don't worry about it, kid. They're sendin' plenty of his meds with him an' Jean's got it all under control. Thanks for the help." he acknowledged, favoring the teenager with one of the soft smiles he so rarely showed to the others at the school. In response both her cheeks and her eyes began to glow.
"Yeah.... You... coming to lunch?"
"Be there in a while. I got one more load to bring down."
"I can...."
"Nah. You go eat. I can handle it. I promise I'll be there soon. Go on."
Reaching out, Logan laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the door, making sure to stay in contact with fabric and not touch her skin. He had experienced her energy transfer ability once before and, as much as he cared for her, he was loath to be subjected to it again. Still, he understood how utterly her unique power frustrated her normal desire for human contact, and found himself reaching out to Marie in ways he never would to anyone else. Over time he'd realized that a touch on the elbow or a pat on the back cost him nothing and restored, however temporarily, her connection to the world around her. The unfortunate fact that every touch also increased her intense crush on him was something he hadn't yet found the courage to confront.
"Okay. Hey, Logan.... can I go with you tonight.... when you pick him up? I'll score major jealousy points with the other kids if I'm the first one to see him."
"Long as your homework's clear, I got no objection, but check with Jean an' Professor X."
"I will. See ya. At lunch."
"Not if you don't get movin' you won't." he teased, beginning to unpack.
"Right. Bye." she replied, finally backing out the door and heading for the elevator again. Logan paused in his work, grinning and shaking his head.
{Man, I gotta do somethin' about this before she starts pickin' out wedding dresses an' china patterns...}
-----------------------
THE AGENCY: 1 HOUR LATER
"Claire? Hey, you here?"
"Hang on, Bobby. I'll be right out."
A few moments later, the lovely blond scientist emerged from her tiny washroom facilities at the back of the lab. "Is it time for the morning briefing already? I was so wrapped up in my work I didn't notice."
"It's gettin' on nine a.m. That's way past time. You seen Fawkes? I checked his place, all his hideouts here in the building.... nothin'."
"Darien? No, I haven't seen him today. Perhaps the Official will tell us. We'd better hurry...." she mumbled, pushing by him to get to the door. Immediately, a warning claxon went off in Bobby's head.
"Hold it, Claire. What's goin' on?"
"Going on? Nothing's going on, Bobby. We have a briefing to get to."
"Whoa! Stop! I know when somebody's lyin' to me, Keepie."
"Bobby, please..."
"Darien's my partner, Claire.... my partner an' my best friend. To hell with whatever the fat man told you to tell me. Just be straight for once. Is Fawkes okay?"
"The last time I checked him over was three days ago and you were right here in the room. He was fine then."
"Why do I still feel like you're holdin' out on me?"
"Why would I lie about Darien? I care for him as much as you do. I swear to you I haven't seen him this morning. Now, are you going to the briefing or not?" Claire asked, waiting at the open door, inviting Bobby to leave first. Eventually, he acceded, though his eyes remained narrowed and his mind still whirled with suspicion. Once he was out of sight, Claire leaned against the door frame, put both hands over her face and breathed deeply, struggling to justify her actions over the past week or two and having very little success.
{It wasn't a lie. I haven't seen Darien since I gave him the sedative yesterday afternoon. My God, how could I have done that.... how could I have given them those drops? He was so frightened.... and his beautiful eyes.... Alright, Claire, that's enough. Straighten up. Surrender to your regrets later. Right now you have a façade of innocence to maintain....}
A few minutes later, Claire entered the office and claimed a chair one removed from Bobby, who was still glaring daggers at her. She kept her eyes on the floor and vehemently promised herself she would never again let Charles Borden use permanent separation from Darien to coerce her into such a monumental betrayal of her principles and her friends.
"You're picking up character traits from Fawkes, doctor. That's not a good thing. Don't let lateness become a habit, hmmm?"
"No, sir."
"Sir..." Bobby began, but his boss cut him off.
"I know. You're worried about Agent Fawkes. Frankly, so am I. Yesterday he became extremely ill. Whatever it is infected three other agents. Two of them died within hours."
"What? Are you sayin'... is Darien..."
"No. Not yet. Doctor, I want you to go into isolation with him until this resolves itself one way or the other."
Claire studied the Official's eyes carefully for what he was really saying. She quickly realized she was being sent after Darien and her heart froze in her chest. Valiantly, she kept her struggle with her fear internal for Bobby's sake and kept the charade going. "Of course. When?"
"As soon as you can pack and be ready for transport."
"He isn't here at the Agency, then."
"I couldn't risk exposing anymore of our people. He's been placed in a private facility outside the city."
"What the hell? You won't risk any of us, but you'll risk Claire?"
"It's alright, Bobby. I'm the only one who knows his history. I have to help. I'll be fine."
"Claire...."
"I'll take all the precautions to avoid being infected. Really, it'll be okay. I'll bring Darien back safe and sound, I promise."
{I will, Bobby. Please believe that. I won't let him be hurt.... not anymore than I already have.} Claire sent at her friend and colleague, hoping against hope that he would hear her somehow.
Proving that he couldn't read her mind and hadn't received her silent promise, Bobby breathed heavily in and out through his nose and stood, pushing back his chair.
"I'm goin' too."
"No you aren't. I have a vitally important assignment for you to complete right here in San Diego."
"Boss...."
"Agent Hobbes. You can't do anything for your partner. You'll be in the way. You're staying here. Understood?"
Bobby lowered his head briefly, then looked back up at his employer.
"You got the details on this.... vital mission?"
"Not all of them. I'll be ready in about an hour."
'I don't work with anybody else."
"I know. This is a solo job."
Nodding curtly, Hobbes turned and strode out of the office. Claire pried her tense hands from around the arms of her chair and began to flex them. When she spoke to the Official, her voice thrummed with anger.
"Not that I'm not grateful you're letting me go to him.... but am I allowed to know why?"
"I considered having the necessary amount of counteragent shipped to the institute, but I changed my mind. Too many things can happen in shipping. I want you to deliver the vials, but you're not to have any contact with Fawkes. See the package safely to its destination, then turn around and come right back. Stay at home until I call you to come back to work."
"Sir.... he's my patient... as well as a close friend. You can't expect...."
"I can and do. This is a very sensitive situation, doctor. I'll give you the same instruction I gave Hobbes. Don't get in the way. Report to lab three for your dose of the eye-drops in thirty minutes."
"You don't mean I have to suffer through that as well!"
"It's their requirement, not ours. For what it's worth, I'm sorry either of you had to deal with this, but...."
"No you're not." Claire countered, rising and exiting before her temper took control and Charles Borden was forced to pry her fingers away from his neck.
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TBC.......