Special thanks to my beta Amands. She provided all the medical terminology, as you don't want to know what my terms would be. She says I'm getting better and NOW mainly provides knowledge and help with the accents, and the story wouldn't be the same without her. You're the best Amanda, couldn't do it without you!


disclaimer: All characters are the property of Marvel, except Jenny who is MINE.


Human in a Mutant World
by Dizi


Chapter 7

The next time Jenny awoke, she opened her eyes to see a bald man in a wheelchair beside her bed. He was holding one of the books she'd loanedHank, flipping through the pages.

"Hello, Jenny. I hope you are feeling better. You slept a long time, I believe by your coloring it was good for you." He stated when he saw she was awake.

She blinked at him. "Do I know you?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced. My name is Charles Xavier. Welcome to my home." Charles said quietly, he put the book on the bedside table. "I know of you from Hank, Logan and the others, and have heard so much about you, I forgot we haven't actually met. I promised to watch over you while Hank went out. He'll be back soon."

He saw her relax at his words and nod, before he continued. "I wanted to reassure you that you are welcome here as long as you like. You seem to be a very popular young lady."

"Me?" she asked surprised.

"You have made quite an impression on several residents here. Logan and Hank do not give their friendship easily. From what I've been told you are the same." He smiled at her. "I believe they are honored by your trust in them."

She nodded and stared at him thoughtfully, before saying. "Logan and Remy told you about the pictures, didn't they?"

"Yes they did, but only to allow me to help you because of the attack. I have not seen them, nor will I, without your consent. Logan has them put aside for you." he said gently. "Also, I must inform you the police would like a statement from you. It seems a man named Phillip Notheis killed himself in your apartment. He was about to be arrested when he disappeared and was later found dead there. Was he the one harrassing you?"

She closed her eyes and allowed the relief to wash over her. "Yes, it was him."

"You are not in any trouble but they have some questions and would like you to call and make an appointment. You can see them here."

"Can... can I have someone with me?" she asked nervously.

He wondered if she wanted Hank or Logan. "That should not be a problem. I'm sure anyone you ask will be happy to attend the meeting with you."

She nodded not answering, keeping her eyes closed. After a moment, she said, "You're a mutant too, a telepath, aren't you." She said it as a statement and seemed to have no doubt what the answer was.

It was his turn to stare as he answered, "Yes, I am. How did you know?"

She shrugged, opening her eyes but not looking at him. "When I close my eyes I can feel you here and all around me too, like you're always there." She looked at him closely then. "But you don't like it that way, do you?"

"No, I don't always like it, but I am happy the way I am. Hank said you're human but perhaps you should be tested?"

"No, I'm very much fully human." she said.

"Really, I think it would be of benefit. To be able to sense-" he began to persuade her.

"No. It's been done. I'd really rather not talk about it, if you don't mind." she broke in.

He nodded. "That's fine." He was starting to understand what Logan had meant when describing this young woman's strength. 'I think that's new to her.' he'd said.

They both looked toward the door as it opened and saw Remy walking in with a vase full of white roses.

Jenny managed to force a smile. "Gonna bribe your girl into a date, Remy?"

Remy smiled a genuine smile back at her. "Non, she not sick, chere, dey for you."

Charles watched her eyes go very wide and felt something from her for the first time through her tight shields. It was a bright and beautiful feeling of wonder.

"F-for me? You got me flowers? Roses?" she gasped. "I-I've never been given flowers before. You shouldn't have spent so much money, I feel fine..." she trailed off as he plucked one from the vase and handed it to her.

"Beautiful girls deserve flowers, chere." He placed the vase on the bedside table. "Hank say when you wake you can go upstair long's you don' get excited. You want some food?"

"You should be able to join us for dinner and join the others in the rec-room later. I'm sure Hank won't let you overdo." Charles added.

"It sounds nice but, uh, I-I don't really have anything to wear..." She glanced down at the short t-shirt she was wearing and blushed. It was much tighter than her usual clothing, not uncomfortable but she was very aware of it and what it didn't cover. Not to mention what it seemed to... emphasize. Not that she had much to emphasize but it was obvious what was there. She wondered briefly who had put it on her, and decided to wait to ask Hank.

Hiding a smile, Charles gestured to a pile of clothing sitting on another bed. "Ororo left some things for you. I can call her to help you dress. The... treatment you went through left you almost fully healed but you may experience some cramping in the area of the injury and may also be a weak for several days."

Jenny wanted to try by herself as he knew she would. Charles told her they would wait outside and if she needed assistance to call and they would get her some help. Jenny slowly got out of the bed and looked at the clothes. There were clean panties - thank God - some sort of jammie bottoms that barely went to her hips but fit otherwise, and a robe. It was soft, frilly, very feminine and so lovely she felt guilty accepting the use of it.

She called to let them know she was done and started for the door. Remy stopped her and picked her up, ignoring her protests, saying "You get tired walkin' all dat way an' you be back here. Den you don' get meet ever'body."

So Remy carried her to the kitchen with Jenny blushing the whole way, Charles amused beside them.


Remy put her down in a chair between Bishop and Logan and took a place next to Rogue. All the while, he pointed out everyone she didn't know and threw names at her. Warren she knew she would remember because both Bobby and Hank had mentioned him in passing. Something about money. She vaguely remembered Jean from the night of Charlie's death. Betsy had the purple hair, Sam the accent, Sarah the attitude, and Rogue had Remy's heart. There were others but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep them all straight.

For their part, the team was impressed by the way Jenny just accepted all of them. Comments they didn't expect, but she didn't sneak looks or flinch in anyway like most would. She did get a little startled when Jean passed the food telekinetically, but she smiled and said how it must make clearing the table easier. They were the one's sneaking looks at her not quite believing how accepting of them she was, like Hank had been before them.

Jenny was trying hard not to be rude, but she didn't see the one person she had been looking for. Hank wasn't there. When she asked no one seemed to know where he was. Or wasn't telling her. She couldn't tell which and kept looking at her three protectors suspiciously.

When dinner was over and everyone got up, it was Logan who carried her to the rec-room. On the way, Jenny told him "Mr. Xavier said you have the pictures. I would likethem back."

"No."

She frowned. "You don't have them?"

"I got 'em. You cain't have 'em." was Logan's answer.

"But they're mine! I want them!" She couldn't believe her was refusing to give them to her. What he could want with them was beyond her understanding.

"Nope." He dropped her on the couch and stalked out of the room with her staring after him.


The Big Movie Argument seemed to be a nightly occurrence from what Jenny could gather. She watched the bitter battle with total fascination. Everyone had a favorite she just had to see once Bobby told them Jenny hadn't seen any. Each one's frenzy to get her to pick their movie put the panicked look in her eyes they'd expected to see at dinner. From Bobby's 'Terminator' to Jean's 'An Affaire to Remember' (the original, of course) she was completely overwhelmed. Finally, out of desperation - and an effort to avoid bloodshed - she randomly picked Sam's 'Ghostbusters', which he assured her was a classic.

Jenny didn't see what was classic about it, but it was fun and no one was shouting anymore. She laughed along with everyone else but was distracted.

There was still no Hank.

When the movie was over, while Sam and Bobby sang the theme song, Jenny sneaked into the kitchen for a glass of water. It was a blatant attempted to avoid being involved in a repeat of The Big Movie Argument she saw was about to start again when someone said the words 'What are we going to watch next?'.

She sat at the table and was trying to decide how to go about finding Hank when Logan found her.

"Hiding?" he asked.

"Maybe a little." she admitted with a laugh. "I can't face the movie decision again."

He gave her a sly look. "Well, there's always my favorite."

"I don't even want to know." she groaned.

"Hey, John Wayne has somethin' for everyone." Logan chuckled.

"I remember him, a little." Jenny contemplated him a moment. "Why won't you give me the photos?"

"Do ya know what yer gonna do with 'em?" He countered.

She hadn't really thought that far and had just wanted them safely in her possession. "Not really." she admitted.

"When ya do, I'll give 'em to ya." Logan pulled a cigar out of his shirt pocket. "I'm goin' out back, jist holler when yer ready to go back down ta the lab."

"Wait." Jenny hesitated. "When you finish, will you find Hank for me?"

Concern evident, he asked, "Ya hurtin'?"

"No." Though she was tired she wasn't going back to bed without seeing Hank. "I just need to see him."

"I'll take care of it." He said before walking out the backdoor.


Logan did go outside. He just didn't stay there. He walked around to a sidedoor and went back in. Then he walked down a short hall to the security room. The one with all the cameras where he knew Hank was watching over Jenny.

"What the hell do ya think yer doin'?" He asked walking through the doorway.

"Um, taking an interest in security?" Hank suggested nervously. No one wanted to confront an angry Wolverine.

"That girl's been lookin' fer ya all night long!"

"Uh-"

"She's tired an' ain't goin' ta bed til she sees ya! So get yer butt to the kitchen an' talk ta 'er so she can get ta bed." Logan finished.

"It was my fault she was stabbed! Do you realize, she did not almost expire, she did in fact die! If it were not for our advanced Shi'ar technology, she would still be dead! She will not wish to speak to me once I inform her of the circumstances leading to her attack." Hank defended himself weakly. He knew it was weak but didn't want to see the look on Jenny's face when he informed her of his part in her near death experience.

"It wasn't yer fault! Chuck told ya that. Some sicko that liked ta hurt little girls did it. Not you! But you are hurtin' her now by lettin' her think yer abandonin' her. That's yer fault." He growled. "Now like I said, get yer butt to the kitchen before she falls over waitin' fer ya!"

Logan watched Hank until he was out of the room. Then he lit his cigar - ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign placed in the room just for him - propped his feet up, and focused on the monitor marked 'kitchen'. The night's real entertainment was about to start. Jenny wouldn't disappoint him. She wasn't about to put up with Hank blaming himself and he couldn't wait to see what she'd do.

Bishop came in a just after Hank left and stopped in the doorway at the sight of Logan. Though he spent his alotted time in the security room, Logan had never before seemed so much at home there as he did now. "What are you doing?"

"Entertainment's about ta start." Logan grinned and gestured at the screens.

Seeing Hank heading toward the kitchen and knowing Jenny, Bishop adjusted the volume control and also got comfortable for the show.


Hank cautiously entered the kitchen and seeing Jenny forced joviality into his voice. "Good evening, Gen- Jenny. I trust my companions have not fatigued you in pursuance of their customary nocturnal entertainment?"

"No, it was great and I had fun, but Hank Iwant to talk to you..." she began.

"Ah, I'm certain you have inquiries into your affliction and current condition. The instrument used to inflict your injury was apparently a long one. It entered your thoracic cavity two inches above your iliac crest, through the obliqus externis and internis abdominus muscles, passed thruough the transversalis muscle, grazed the lower portion of your diaphragm and scrapped along the tenth rib before piercing your anterior descending colon through the small intestine. It also grazed a smaller portion of the abdominal aorta, resulting in significant internal bleeding which was extremely difficult to stop and almost necessitated a blood transfusion. As I'm certain Charles informed you, due to the methodology used for the accellerated therapeutics of your injury, you may experience light to severe spasmodic muscular contractions in the area of the injury and most likely will find yourself lacking in physical strength over the next several days."

Jenny watched him carefully throughout his speech. Hank was being more himself than usual and seemed somewhat desperate to keep talking. Her mind kept racing in circles as to the cause before she realized he'd stumbled on her name. She waited for him to stop and let the silence build between them. "You know, don't you?"

Hank hesitated. "Um, know what precisely?"

"Why don't you tell me whatever it is that's bothering you about me and we'll go from there."

He sighed, giving up the idea of avoiding a confrontation. "I came to the conclusion Genevra Grenislavich and Jenny Green were the same individual when provided the information of the identity of your assailant."

"And you came to that conclusion because...?" she prompted for the full explanation.

"The day you visited, if you with remember, I was performing research by way of the telephone. While Bobby acquainted you with the audio-visual entertainment currently available in our residence, I proceeded to my laboratory to continue the afore mentioned research. In an attempt to determine the current location of Genevra Grenislavich, I interviewed a promising informant identified as Professor Phillip Notheis. During said interview, Bobby arrived and I suspended the conversation to request he convey a message to you and mentioned your name and place of business. It was in this manner the said individual achieved the information necessary to ascertain your location."

Her eyes remained on him during the entire explanation. It was unexpected information but did not tell her why he had been avoiding her.

"Being an intelligent woman, you are in possession of sufficient means to discern the inherent responsibility to me for the attack upon your person." He finished, avoiding her eyes.

"This is why you've been avoiding me?" Jenny looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"It was unconscionable of me to be so unguarded-" he began again, still not looking at her.

She smacked him upside his head - HARD. Standing up Jenny shouted in his face, "I can't believe you! I've been freaking out all night because of THIS! I thought you're supposed to be some kind of genius and you're blaming yourself because of something you couldn't have known!" And she smacked him again for good measure.

Rubbing his head, he swallowed and started again. "I most sincerely apologize for any and all distress-"

"Shut. Up." Plopping back down in the chair, she gave him a hard look. "Is there more?"

"In his concern for your physical well-being Remy showed me the visual evidence of the mutilation of the posterior region of your upper trunk." He again avoided her eyes.

That made her pause but Jenny understood it was done with good intentions. "Anything else?"

"It was by my request Ororo changed your attire as she is the only female of our acquaintance I am aware of with knowledge of your scar tissue." Her lack of negative response gave Hank courage to glance in her dirction.

It had needed to be done, and she would have chosen Ororo if she'd been in a condition to be asked anyway. "That's reasonable enough. Is that all?"

"That is the extent of-" he started.

"Okay." she interrupted. "Here's the deal. You start acting like the genius you're supposed to be and don't blame yourself for things beyond your control and all's forgiven. And in the future I expect you to treat me like I do have any intelligence and talk to me if there's a problem. Got it?"

"Absolutely." Hank said with relief.

"Good." She smiled at him. "Then why don't you take me back to the lab. I feel like I could fall asleep right here I'm so tired."


As they passed by the security room, they could hear Logan and Bishop laughing and both wondered what the joke was about.

to be continued.


note:
S- Thanks, I'm trying!
Beany- Secret's revealed on Jenny's friend next chapter. Promise, its already written.
Jinxeh- I'm sure Jenny would appreciate that!
GothikStrawberry- Little Rogue this chapter and next, couldn't forget her, could I?
B Oots- I try not to leave ya hanging, really I do.

Okay, sorry about the mix up in the previews, I removed it from the last chapter. The bad news comes next chapter and info on 'the dead mutant girl'. Jenny's opening up! This one was fun though, huh? I enjoyed it anyway.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi