PART TWO: Love And The Nasdaq

Kurt was worried and, although he'd be the first to admit that worried was indeed his natural state (albeit only when it came to other people), it was something pretty bad. "Hey! Archangel, meine Dame Husk! Have you seen Northstar and Bobby? I haven't seen them since Northstar flew into the multi-storey."

"So, they're probably just skiving off." So much for Warren's new found sensitivity.

Kurt glowered, time to state the bloody obvious again, he thought, it seems that with every passing day Warren is becoming more and more like Brian Braddock, standing there upfront whilst Kurt did all the leading from behind, "What I meant was that Northstar looked in a pretty bad state. If he was just winded, I'd expect them back by now, it's not like Northstar to miss a chance to kick ass or Bobby to miss a slip up."

"I agree with the Elf. I can smell blood. Not good," Wolverine was being his usual expressive self.

"Okay then," barked Archangel petulantly, "Computer cease simulation!"

The colour slowly faded from the street around them, the acolyte froze mid rant, and then everything disappeared in a shower of pixels. The danger room was revealed and with it Northstar slumped comatose in Iceman's arms. Iceman was sobbing, "I said I wouldn't leave him alone, not alone anymore." There were tears frozen to his cheek, looking like exotic jewels.

Bobby wasn't making all that much sense but that was nothing unusual. Kurt bamfed swiftly across the danger room to his side, "Leiber Gott! This does not look good," he said, his training as field medic kicking in.

"Erm, I think he's broken about seven ribs on the front, he wouldn't let me even touch his back and he's been coughing up blood, does that mean a punctured lung 'cause I don't want Jean-Paul to have a punctured lung and his leg's all funny and I tried to keep him talking…"

"Don't worry Bobby, you've done all the right things and I'm sure Northstar's going to be fine," the lie rankled somewhat with Kurt but Bobby looked on the verge of going into shock and the last thing he needed was two sick team-mates, "You know, all these Canadians are pretty darn shatter-proof like those glasses Phoenix bought for the kitchen after we had the juggling tournament."

"Not fair. You were using your tail."

"All's fair in love and war," said Kurt somewhat relieved to have snapped the Iceman back to reality, or at least whatever reality he usually inhabited, "anyway, you were trying to use limbs you didn't have or at least that's what it seemed like. So what were you talking about?"

"Love and the NASDAQ"

"I thought those were pretty synonymous when it comes to Northstar," said Kurt showing all his teeth in what he mistakenly believed was a friendly grin.

"Not quite as much as you might think," said Iceman. Kurt wondered if he could detect a blush or if his strange yellow eyes were deceiving him.

A thunder of wings (Warren could never manage anything as tactful as a murmur of wings) heralded that the Archangel himself had finally deigned to join them. "Is anything wrong?" he said, blind entirely to the obvious or for that matter anything that wasn't a schoolgirl from Kentucky.

"Broken ribs, respiratory trauma, loss of blood, unconsciousness and a leg broken in several places. Everything's wrong."

"Oh"

"I'm going to bamf him directly to sick bay and I'll take Robert here with me his information will be useful. Unlike you."

"Wait a minute…"

BAMF!

"…I think I can help!" said Warren somewhat too late and wondering what he had done to annoy Kurt.