disclaimer: Except for Jenny, all characters are owned by Marvel.
Human in a Mutant World
by Dizi
Chapter 3
Hank couldn't believe it. He'd gone through the whole book and it didn't have the information he needed. All the trouble he'd gone through - of which didn't include his helping of Charlie - and all the wait was for nothing. It was no help at all.
He decided to return it to Jenny but was going to have to consider other options to getting the information he needed. Dr. Heinrik Grenislavich was deceased but perhaps there were relatives who would be willing to give him access to his notes and works in progress. The only relative listed in his bio was his wife who died two years ago, but surely there were others. He could always duplicate the doctor's findings but it would take more time to do so than to track down the information. But only if it was possible in the first place, otherwise it would be another waste of time.
He sighed. That's the way it was with science, hundreds of wrong answers for one correct.
Harry eyed Jenny up and down, taking careful note of the shadows under her eyes. They were actually better now than they had been after her friend died. Then her eyes had looked like black pits sitting on her face, whereas now she just looked like she was working too hard. Of course, she was working too hard since they hadn't replaced Michelle yet. At least, she was sitting down while reworking the weekly schedule at the end of the bar. She didn't do that enough.
Jenny glanced up, catching his eye and grinning at him. "I'm fine, Daddy." she teased.
He snorted, flushing at her words. "You're still smoking, aren't you? And I ain't nobody's Daddy, girl, and don't you forget it."
"I might not quit, I deserve one bad habit. And that's not what Candace says." Her grin got bigger.
"Unless you're offering, you might wanna close your mouth." He raised one big brow, glad to see her blush. "You might go out every once in a while yourself. That boy the other night acted like he was willin' to show you a good time."
"Please, someone at least as mature as me would be nice." It was her turn to snort.
"I didn't say marry him! Just go have a good time."
"The only good time he was interested in was the horizontal mambo." she muttered.
"You might try going someplace besides here, then." Which would probably be good for her. Harry added silently.
"I go other places." she protested. Briefly.
"The grocery store don't count. Huh, maybe you need to get horizontal with somebody." Seeing her eyes go wide, he added gently. "I just don't think this place is enough for you. You need more of a life, girl. You're only, what twenty-two? You make sure you schedule yourself a day off and get your nails done or something." He walked away muttering under his breath,"Daddy."
"Whatever you say, Daddy." She whispered with another grin, and stared after him a moment before getting back to the schedule.
"Enter at yer own risk." Logan answered the knock on his door. He grunted as Professor Charles Xavier opened the door. "Chuck. Whaddaya want?"
"Good afternoon, Logan." Charles took a moment to look around, he didn't often come to 'Wolverine's Cave' as he privately thought of it. "I wonder, if you might tell me about the young lady that was here last week, while I was away." His tone said it was not a question.
Logan shrugged, he'd been expecting this. "Her name's Jenny. She's a head-waitress at Harry's Bar."
"That much I am aware of." was the dry reply. "I am most curious about a waitress who studies a geneticist who was determined to find a way to detect mutation in the embryonic state of human development, and who is reputed to be responsible for the death of a thirteen year old girl reported to be a mutant." He paused. "A young woman no one seems to know much about, except that she is a waitress and had a homeless woman for a friend who in turn proved to be a mutant. Is there anything else you can tell me about her?"
"I know she's had it rough, just about anyone who meets her can tell that. I know she's been a good friend to Jubes. I know she was real tore up about that woman's death." Logan sat down on the bed with a sigh. "Hell, no one could help but be, the way the old woman looked. They hurt her bad, Chuck, real bad. Kid took it hard." He chuckled. "Shoulda heard her light inta Cyke."
"Oh?" He made a mental note to speak to Scott later.
"Yeah, she was cryin' 'bout how she couldn't take 'er friend to a hospital or somethin', and Cyke says that that's what we live with everyday. Made her mad, she said just 'cause she's normal don't mean she don't care." He chuckled again remembering.
"She amuses you." Charles said, wonder tingeing his voice.
"Regularly. Remind me ta tell ya about her first night at Harry's sometime." Logan smiled at the memory. "She's a good kid, Chuck. If you're worried, don't be. Besides I'm pretty sure she knows who we are, or at least what we are. Probably has for some time."
"And yet you tell me not to worry? And you don't seem curious to know more about her yourself." He wasn't worried, just curious himself as to Logan's answer.
"Oh, I'm curious. But I'm not worried. This is a girl who told us to drive carefully because of the rain last week knowing what we do regularly. This is a girl who told Hank where she lived so he could go help her friend, when she's known Remy alot longer and wouldn't let him give her a ride home no matter what the weather's like. She's the kind that shows up to work even if she's dying. She's stronger than she thinks. Definitely stronger that she looks. She don't take crap off nobody - Hell, she don't take crap off me! - but I think that's new to her." He scratched his head, thinking. "I guess I don't really know how to explain it, but if yer worried ya can always go to Harry's and meet her."
"I believe you explained it quite well. But there's something else, isn't there?" he asked quietly, curious about the girl.
"Well," Logan hesitated, then shrugged, "I think she's lonely. After, what she told us about her friends, I can understand that. Maybe 'understand' ain't the right word. She's suffered, and I guess I feel if she wants to keep her pain close, that's her business. Ya understand?"
"Yes. Yes, I do." He wanted to know more about the young woman. If Logan was right - and in these instances he usually was - Charles didn't feel it would be right to impose on her, especially when his main motive at this point was only to satisfy his curiosity.
They both turned at the knock on the door.
Logan shouted an irritated, "What!" He wanted to leave and suddenly everbody was coming to visit.
"Hello?" Hank cautiously edged the door open until he saw Charles, then entered more freely. "Logan, my friend, might I prevail upon you to do me a favor?"
"No." He'd been involved in Hank's little experiments before.
Charles grinned. "Come now, Logan, you don't even know what he wants."
"Yes, and it shall not take you away from your normal endevors nor have any difficulty whatsoever." Hank added eagerly.
"Yes, it would, but it ain't, cause whatever it is, I ain't doin' it." They weren't sucking him in, he had plans.
"But you go to Harry's everyday, anyway." Hank said exasperated.
Logan grinned smugly. "Ain't goin' to Harry's. Goin' to Massachutes to see Jubilee."
"Oh." Hank frowned. "Maybe Remy will take it to her."
"Huh?" Damn, now he was curious. "Take what to who?"
"Yes, what is the problem, Hank?"
"Well, hmmm." Hank hesitated. "I, uh, need someone to take Jenny's book back to her."
Logan gave him a stern look. "No. You don't."
Hank looked away, holding the book behind his back.
"Would someone like to explain?" Charles asked, confused. He didn't understand why returning a book would be a problem.
"Jenny gave you something important to her because you helped her friend. It was all she had to give. It meant something to her to give it to you." It was obvious by his tone, Logan felt strongly about it. "If you want her to have it back, you should give it back to her, not anyone else. Remy will feel the same. It was important to her."
"That is my reason for wanting her to have the book. I know she felt strongly-" Hank tried to explain.
"No. It was important to her that you have it." Logan's sigh clearly asked why some people just didn't understand. "Yes, the book means something to her, but it meant more that she gave it to you."
"Is there some reason you don't want to see her, Hank?" It was rare that Charles saw Hank hesitate like this.
"Charles... you weren't here. You didn't see her, hear her. Jenny expected me to save her friend... and I didn't. I couldn't." His sorrow at his failure to help was palpable.
Logan said clearly. "No, she didn't."
Both men stared at him. "Please explain." Hank needed to know. He had felt like a failure since Charlie's death.
"Jenny knew her friend was dying. She might not when she called, but she did by the time we arrived. That's why she was cryin' so much, she was already grievin'." Logan was sure, whether he'd understood before or not, he was sure now that she'd known while they waited in the hall outside the med-lab.
"Look, I gotta go, Jubes is waitin' for me. Close the door on yer way out." Logan stopped in the doorway. "Ya outta go see her, Hank. I think she took to ya."
Hank and Charles both watched him go, leaving them alone in his room.
"Perhaps, you should see her, Hank, and not just to return her book." Charles was sympathetic, but knew Hank had to get over the woman's death.
"Charles, the issue is not simply the death of Charlie. Jenny did not show any reaction to my appearance, not at all. That is very rare, as you know, very rare. She provided me a great gift in her acceptance of me as I truly am. I have nothing so great to give in return." His voice was filled with both wonder and sadness, still unable to fully believe. "Do you know what she said when I turned off the image-inducer? She simply stated she wished her friend Ben had one as well. Remy told me she didn't describe him, just said it was obvious he was a mutant and because of this the hospital would not admit him. How many humans feel that way? That level of outrage at the injustice we see daily? Maybe a handful?"
"She does sound like an extraordinary young woman." Charles answered quietly, he was starting to get a better perception of his friends problem.
"Those were my precise words upon meeting Jenny." Hank smiled.
"And yet by avoiding her, you are in a way, rejecting both her and her gift." Charles said thoughtfully. "Do you not want to take the chance, Hank? Logan seems to think she is lonely. Perhaps you do have a gift to give."
Jenny almost didn't answer the knock on her apartment door. Before the night Charlie died, no one had known where she lived. She'd never had guests. What if she didn't do something right and offended someone? What if she didn't do something she should? There were so many things she didn't know. There was no one to ask and no one she felt comfortable inviting.
When the knock came again, she slowly walked to the door and looked through the peek-hole. Then she rushed to open the door. "Dr. McCoy! Is something wrong?"
"Felicitations, Jenny. I felt the need to return your property, as I have studied it sufficiently to accomplish my immedite objectives." Hank attempted to hand her the book.
"But I- I gave it to you. I want you to have it. Didn't it have what you need? I have others..."
"My dear, I perceived at our first meeting the importance of the book to you. As I said, I have fulfilled my objectives and merely wished you to have it back." Hank took her hand and gently placed the book in it.
"Thank you." she whispered, staring at the book. It didn't seem so important anymore.
Hank turned to go back down the hall.
"Wait!" she hesitated at the idea. "W-would you like to come in?"
"If you're sure I would not be interrupting your nightly rituals, I would be pleased to join you." Hank answered, unsure in light of her hesitancy. "I do not want you to feel an obligation to invite me if it makes you feel uncomfortable?"
"I... it's just... I've never had a guest before." Jenny said studying her toes. She was embarrassed to admit it, but didn't want him to feel that she didn't want him there.
"Then I am honored to be your first." He wasn't sure why she was embarrassed. Her apartment, though sparsely furnished, was clean and neat. Unlike his lab in which he was always pushing things aside.
"Are you hungry or thirsty?" She'd read somewhere that you should offer food and drink to guests. "I have moonpies and twinkies, milk, tea, um, I'm sorry I don't have a coffee maker. I have some coke..."
"Don't worry, Jenny, you already covered the most important food group with the twinkies." Hank chuckled.
She grinned, going to the kitchen and opening the cabinet. This wasn't so hard.
"I admit to some curiosity as to why you have not previously had guests. You must meet many people considering your place of employment."
"Well..." She found the contents of the cabinet fascinating at that moment, not wanting to look at him while considering her words. "I meet people, if you want to call it that, but the only ones my age are either on a date or not someone I can relate to. There's not many people who can understand me being friends with someone like Charlie. How many of them have been homeless? Or seen their friends die?"
"I see." And he did. Though he'd never been homeless, he also had many times felt like an outsider, like no one could understand him.
"Otherwise all they want is sex." she stated matter-of-factly. "Milk?"
"Is any other beverage appropriate with twinkies?" Hank asked.
"I'm glad you like them. I actually bought them for Jubilee and was going to bring them to the bar for her. Personally, I prefer moonpies."
"How can you compare the creamy goodness that is a twinkie with moonpies?" His eyes shining at more than the prospect of a whole box of twinkies to himself.
"I guess I don't get the cream filling thing in comparison to chocolate and marshmallow all in one package. Must be the woman in me."
"Sshh!" he said holding the box protectively. "You'll hurt their feelings."
Hank accepted the glass of milk and quickly opened the box. "Now, I have a friend who is very curious to know the detail of your first night at Harry's."
She laughed and told him about Harry's 'tests' and meeting Logan, Remy, Bishop and Jubilee.
They talked for over an hour in this manner. The weirdness that is such a part of Logan. The fun in Jubilee. Hank told her about Bobby. She told him snippets about Charlie, Ben and Marty. She talked of cleaning up after closing at the bar and he of cleaning up after failed experiments in the lab. He told her about everyone trying to drag him out of his lab and she told him about Harry trying to get her out of the bar.
They talked until he thought she looked tired and decided it was time to leave. But before hedid so,he had to know about something she'd mentioned. "Jenny, what did you mean by 'others'?"
"Hmmm." She glanced up with a face blank. She really was getting tired but she'd enjoyed having someone to talk to.
"Previously, when I first arrived, you stated if the book was not what I needed you have 'others'. What was your meaning?"
She looked uncomfortable as she answered. "Well, I have other books if you need a different one."
"Other books on genetics?" he asked.
"Um, no, other books by Heinrik Grenislavich." She looked even more uncomfortable, if that was possible.
"I believe I have his other two books." was Hank's thoughtful reply.
"He, uh, he has six books which are not specifically on genetics but does mention it along with other subjects."
Hank asked slowly, deliberately. "And you are in possession of the complete set of his work?"
"Yes." she cleared her throat, trying to loosen it. "You can borrow them, if you like. Um, one at a time. And no twinkies while reading, I don't want crumbs on the pages." She added with a grin.
"My dear young woman, I would never-" he protested.
"Yeah, right. I saw how you are with twinkies." She got up from the couch to get one of the books.
He took his leave after she handed it to him, advising her to get some rest.
On the way home, he decided to keep on with the search on Heinrik Grenislavich's relatives as his notes would still be helpful. So far, he'd found a birth certificate but had not found any information on the doctor's child. Perhaps a look into the mutant girl who had died would give him some indication of where else to look and give him more leads. Besides, Charles wanted to know more about that particular incident.
to be continued.
note:
Lots of hints on Jenny. Hope I haven't given too much away! I'm not quite ready to reveal all. But it's coming. Promise.
Next chapter Jenny goes visiting.
I got an e-mail from someone complaining about it not being pov. So tell me if you think I should insert a pov in here. Personally, I don't think it would really work but might be able to fit in one for 5, if others think it's needed or wanted.
Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi
