Chapter 5: Overprotective Men
Mackenzie woke up and felt like hell. She could feel the bruises on her face, the cuts on her cheek, and pain from her back. She groaned, having hoped that it had just been a dream.
She moved a tiny bit and felt the well-worn cotton sheets under her skin. She also felt a towel that was partially wrapped around her upper body. She moved to sit up and found herself in a strange dark room. She also found that she was naked in the strange room. She quickly pulled the sheets over her breasts and tried to figure out where she was.
"Hello?" Mackenzie finally called out. She looked around and noted that the drapes were pulled closed. She could make out a couch and an entertainment center. "Hello?"
A groan came from the couch and a dark man peeked over the back of the couch.
"You are awake" Kurt said sleepily.
"Kurt?" Mackenzie asked. "What happened? Why am I here?"
Kurt got up and turned on a lamp. He was in white and blue pajama bottoms. He stretched and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"You had a late night visitor" Kurt said. "Hank said zat you should sleep in a bed, so I gave you mine."
"Oh" Mackenzie said. She looked down at herself. "What….happened to my clothes?"
"You were covered in mud. You needed to be cleaned before Hank could look at the wounds" Kurt said moving to sit on the bed. "Are you okay?"
"I…um…yeah" Mackenzie said. "I think so."
Kurt smiled and stood up. "Give me a minute and I'll get something for you to wear." He quickly bampfed out of the room. Mackenzie waited for a minute before Kurt was back with Mackenzie's robe and spare pajamas. "It looks like Sean cleaned up ze glass and put plastic over your window."
"Okay" Mackenzie said taking her clothes. "Thank you, Kurt."
Kurt nodded and moved to collect his own clothes. Mackenzie managed to slip the shirt on without exposing herself and also slide into the pants without pushing the covers from her self.
Kurt changed behind a small wall partition. He came out wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
"Hank would like to see you zis morning" Kurt said. "You had a lot of glass stuck in your back last night."
Mackenzie stood up and pulled her robe on. She ran her hands through her hair and tried to straighten it up, but she couldn't tell if she was doing a good job. There was a knock on the door and Kurt answered it. Remy stood there only in jeans.
"I was wonderin' if da petite was feelin' okay" Remy said with a smile.
"I'm fine, Remy" Mackenzie said. Remy tried not to cringe when he saw her face. Her cheeks were purple, even in the dim light, and her left eye was black.
"Why don't we get some breakfast" Remy suggested. Kurt and Mackenzie nodded and followed Remy out into the hall.
"Holy shit!" Jubilee cried when she saw Mackenzie enter the kitchen. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Jubilee!" Storm chided. Storm was standing between the coffee pot and the sink with a mug in her hands. Jubilee was fishing around a cereal box for the prize inside.
"So what happened?" Jubilee asked ignoring Storm.
"I don't quite remember" Mackenzie said.
"Some jerk picked a fight wit' her last night" Remy said grabbing a handful of cereal from Jubilee's bowl. Mackenzie looked worried.
"Did anyone get a good look at him?" Mackenzie asked.
"You said his name vas Stephen" Kurt replied. He moved to look in the fridge.
"Stephen? Stephen's here or…was here?" Mackenzie asked.
"Henry has him downstairs, frauline" Kurt replied pulling the orange juice from the fridge. Mackenzie gave an almost involuntary shake of her head and stepped backwards.
"No" Mackenzie said. "No, no he can't be here. He can't."
"Well he is" A gruff voice said from behind Mackenzie. Logan went to Jubilee and gave her a quick kiss on the temple before getting his coffee.
"Mornin', Wolvie" Jubilee said finally pulling out the toy from the cereal.
"Petite, what's wrong?" Remy asked. "Who is dis Stephen?"
"He…He's just bad news" Mackenzie said. "That's all." Her head hung slightly and she lifted it as if someone had said something. "You said Hank has him?"
"Yes" Kurt said. Mackenzie nodded and sat down on a stool next to Remy.
"Don' worry petite, he won' be goin' nowhere" Remy said. Mackenzie tried to smile. Logan pushed a cup of coffee in front of her.
"Thanks" Mackenzie said. Jubilee poured milk into her cereal and started to eat her sugary food.
"So, this guy just showed up last night and started a fight? I totally didn't hear anything" Jubilee asked.
"Yeah" Mackenzie said.
"I thought you could make force fields and had telepathy" Logan said. He scratched himself through his boxers and stretched his neck.
"I can do those things" Mackenzie said. "Stephen just…he can block the telepathy and he can pass through my shields."
"What else can this man do?" Storm asked. Mackenzie sipped her coffee before answering.
"He has claws, extendable ones. He also starts to glow red at times and it allows him to touch electrified fences and pass through my force field and not be affected by a lot of stuff" Mackenzie said. "I don't know the full extent of his powers."
"How do you know him?" Kurt asked. He had a glass of orange juice and moved to lean against the counter near Logan.
"I…used to date him" Mackenzie said. "He turned out to be the right hand man of a gang that the mob liked to employ." Jubilee was watching Mack as if she were telling the most interesting story. "When I found out, it was too late. He became overly possessive and used his connections to follow me around the states when I left him." Mackenzie sipped her coffee. "The professor said that he wouldn't find me here, but I guess he was wrong."
Remy rubbed her back and squeezed her shoulder.
"Kurt" A voice called from the small intercom system that was neatly placed in the kitchen. Kurt pressed the button.
"I'm here, Scott" Kurt said.
"I need you and Storm to meet me in the conference room" Scott said. Kurt looked to Storm.
"After you" Kurt said to Storm. They left the room.
"So Remy will be taking care of you today, petite" Remy said. "No one will t'ink of hurtin' you."
Mackenzie smirked. "Thanks, but I don't think I need to be taken care of."
"Den you hang out wit Remy today" Remy said. Mackenzie smiled and finished her coffee.
"I have a job to do" Mackenzie said with a small laugh. "But, I'll let you walk me to the medical lab."
"Consider it done" Remy said with a large smile.
It wasn't long before Mackenzie and Remy were walking down to the lab. They turned a corner and the floor changed into a stainless steel floor grate.
"Ow" Mackenzie said. It felt worse then walking on sharp gravel. She glanced at her foot, seeing a small cut on her heel. Remy wasted no time in picking her up. Mackenzie gasped and clung to him until she was sure he wasn't going to drop her.
"You okay, chere?" Remy asked. Mackenzie looked up to find him looking into her eyes. Remy licked his lips before he looked away. "I bet Hank is watchin'."
Remy hit the button to open the medical bay doors and entered with Mackenzie.
"Oh my" Hank said from behind them. "Is something wrong?"
"No" Mackenzie said with a slight blush. Remy set her down on the sterile steel floor. "I'm fine, Hank."
"Well" Hank said moving over to her. "Take a seat on that bed please. I just want to look at your back and your bruises."
Mackenzie sat on the bed. Hank looked at the bruises on her face, checking to make sure that she wasn't hurt too badly. He then had her lie on her stomach with her shirt off. He looked over the small wounds the glass had made. He pulled out the yellowish-clear liquid from the night before.
"I'm going to use this tincture of iodine to clean these wounds" Hank said. "This will sting a little bit."
He doused some cotton balls and started to clean the small wounds. Mackenzie gasped when she felt the stinging sensation. She gripped the pillow that she was resting her head on and tried not to make a sound.
It didn't take Hank long to finish, though it felt like forever to Mackenzie. "There. I'm finished; you can put your shirt on now."
Mackenzie sat up and faced away from the two men in the room before putting her shirt and robe back on. Hank moved into his office with a clipboard. Remy moved to lean against the medical bed.
"Petite, what say you an' me spending lunch together?" Remy said. Mackenzie turned towards him.
"Are you asking me out for a lunch date?" Mackenzie asked.
"Yes" Remy said with a small smile. Mackenzie stood up.
"I don't know" Mackenzie said touching her cheek. "I don't feel like going out or socializing too much."
"We all get bruises 'ere, petite" Remy said. "Don' worry about hidin' them. We all've seen worse."
"Thanks, but—" Mackenzie said with a small smile. Remy hushed her by putting a finger on her lips.
"You said you have a job, so Remy will bring lunch to you" Remy said. Mackenzie crossed her arms.
"What if Kurt beats you to it?" Mackenzie asked. Remy's smile widened.
"My food is better den Kurt's" Remy replied. Hank came back out to the two and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Well, Miss Burns, I think you're going to be fine" Hank said. "You're going to be bruised for at least a week, probably two. The good news is that the black and purple of the bruises should be gone in the next three or four days." Hank handed Mackenzie a small bottle that only had a prescription sticker on it. "You will need that rubbed onto your back every night. It will prevent infection. Be sure that you shower first and let the medicine soak in before going to bed."
"Okay" Mackenzie said. She put the bottle into her robe pocket. Hank put his clipboard to his side and smiled.
"I believe that is it" Hank replied.
"Well, I was wondering about something" Mackenzie said. Hank's eyebrows rose up. "I want to see Stephen."
"Petite" Remy said softly.
"Are you sure?" Hank asked. "He tried to kill you."
"I know that" Mackenzie said. "I want to see him."
"We have him strapped to a medical bed" Hank said leading the way around the room. Stephen was on the opposite side of the room with curtains pulled around his entire bed. Hank pushed the curtains back to show Stephen to Mackenzie. "He hasn't said a word since he came to."
Stephen looked Mackenzie in the eyes. She moved close to him, enough to keep her distance. Stephen made a kissing motion towards her. In a swift motion, Mackenzie slapped him across the face.
"Stephen, get it through your head that I want you away from me" Mackenzie said. She scowled and leaned in closer. "If you come near me again, I will be ready and I will kill you."
"Miss Burns!" Hank said. Mackenzie felt a surge of anger swell inside her. She lashed out, making blood appear on his lip and drip from his nose. Mackenzie was yanked back from Stephen. Remy was holding her back, pulling her back beyond the curtains.
"Get her out of here, Remy" Hank ordered.
Remy hoisted Mackenzie up over his shoulder and quickly left the medical lab. The entire time, Mackenzie spat out a stream of curses and threats. By the time Remy set her down in the hallway, Mackenzie had finished and had a cross look on her face.
"Petite, dose were tough words" Remy said with a smile. Mackenzie just crossed her arms.
"He's just lucky that I wasn't alone in there with him" Mackenzie said. Remy leaned into her, placing one hand on the wall behind her shoulder. Mackenzie raised an eyebrow when she noticed that he was practically salivating.
"Please tell Remy dat you need his help to 'calm down'" Remy said. Remy leaned in so his lips were only inches from her ear. "I help you calm down."
"Right" Mackenzie said. She slipped away from him and started walking the route that would lead up and out of the mansion. "I don't think now is the time, Remy."
"But you keep it in mind, no?" Remy asked following her.
"I might" Mackenzie replied. She pressed the elevator button and the door almost instantly opened. Remy stepped in beside her. "I don't promise anything though."
Remy escorted Mackenzie to Sean's cottage. He left with promises of bringing lunch. Sean came out of the kitchen with two cups of coffee. He handed one to Mackenzie.
"Thanks" Mackenzie said.
/ Nae problem. / Sean thought. He took a sip of his coffee. / How are ye doing lass//
"I'm okay" Mackenzie said. She took a sip of her coffee remembering how the fight had gone. "Thank you, Sean. I remember seeing you there first."
/ Yer welcome. / Sean replied. He scratched his beard, which was looking strangely longer and wild. / So, ye have a lunch date//
"I think so" Mackenzie replied without too much enthusiasm. Sean raised an eyebrow. "I'm just not in the mood for dealing with people in a relationship sort of way."
/ But ye are in t'mood to deal with my people. / Sean said. Mackenzie nodded and moved to sit on the couch. / I'll bring you the files that I need to have taken care of. /
Sean left the room only to come back with an armful of files and papers. He dropped them beside Mackenzie's laptop that was on the coffee table. Mackenzie was wide eyed at the stack.
/ Ay need ye to start a big project fer me. / Sean said. He set his coffee down and picked up a file that was on top. / My old database was completely destroyed. So ay need ye to go through these files and start creating a database of everything here. /
"When do you need this by?" Mackenzie asked.
/ Ye'll have the entire time yer here. / Sean replied. He showed her the inside of the file, which included a dossier, a photo, and case files. / It needs to be searchable from almost every aspect. Ay want photos, information, newspaper reports, everything lass. /
"I don't think putting these files into a database like that will take six months" Mackenzie said. Sean flopped the folder back on top of the stack.
/ Ay had three crates o'boxes shipped here. / Sean replied. / Ye can work on yer laptop, but ye will have t'transfer the files to my main system. / Sean pulled a disk from his pocket and handed it to Mackenzie. / Tha's how it should be set up. /
"I'll get started then" Mackenzie said finishing her coffee. Sean nodded and started towards the stairs. "Sean?" He stopped and looked at her. "For tonight, what should I wear? Casual? Semi-formal?"
/ Jus' look nice. / Sean thought before heading up the stairs.
By the time lunch rolled around, Mackenzie was ready for a break. She had spent an hour becoming familiar with the database set up and the rest of her time working on the first folder. Mackenzie's face still ached, but the initial swelling was gone.
There was a brief knock on the door before it opened. Remy came inside and shut the door with his foot.
"I come bearing lunch" Remy announced. Mackenzie smiled and moved towards Remy and the kitchen. "Workin' hard?"
"Yeah" Mackenzie said. "Sean has me working on some files."
"I don' know if I can compete wit files, but perhaps you will eat some lunch wit me?" Remy said with a smile. They sat down at the kitchen table and Remy started to unload the brown sack that he was carrying.
"I think eating lunch with you is worth my time" Mackenzie said with a smile. They both turned when they heard Sean come down the stairs. He paused and looked at them before moving to the refrigerator. He pulled out a beer and looked at Remy.
"As long as it's not dat lite beer" Remy said. Mackenzie nodded. Sean handed them both beers and disappeared back upstairs. Mackenzie looked down at the food before her. It was all still contained in carry-out containers and didn't have labels.
"So you brought us…..?" Mackenzie asked. She reached out for a container and found that it contained rice and beans. "Rice and beans."
"Tex Mex, petite" Remy said. He opened up the three other boxes to show enchiladas, brisket, and two pieces of apple pie. "I hope you don't mind spicy food."
"I love spicy food" Mackenzie replied.
"Good. Dese rice and beans have jalapeno peppers" Remy replied. The two served themselves food.
Lunch went by rather quickly. Sean had come back downstairs and had taken a piece of brisket. His presence had moved Remy out of the cottage faster then Remy had planned. Mackenzie was a little thankful since she didn't have to deal with his advances until later.
Sean retreated back up the stairs once Mack had started working again.
The work didn't stop until nearly four, when Sean came downstairs to remind Mackenzie about the time.
"I'm almost done with this stack" Mackenzie said following Sean upstairs. "I'll see if I can finish it up later tonight."
/ We should see how t'night goes / Sean replied. Mackenzie pulled the lotion Hank had given her from her pocket.
"Can I get you to help me with this?" Mackenzie asked. Sean looked at the bottle, but didn't recognize the name. "It's just a cream that needs to be rubbed onto my back."
Sean took a deep breath that was mistaken for a sigh and nodded. Mackenzie went into her room and threw her robe onto the chair. Sean had cleaned her room it seemed.
/ Lie on your stomach / Sean instructed. Mackenzie did so and awkwardly pulled her shirt off of herself. Sean knelt beside her and squeezed a handful of the lotion onto her back. Mackenzie gasped at the sudden cold lotion, but then calmed. Sean started to slowly rub the lotion into Mackenzie's back.
"Thanks for doing this Sean" Mack said. "I would have had a tough time by myself."
/ Not a problem lass / Sean replied. His large hands rubbed the lotion into her shoulders then moved lower to get her mid-back. In the process, Sean also massaged the knots that he felt in her muscles. Mackenzie let out a small moan. / Ye like that//
"Yeah" Mackenzie breathed. Sean blushed and hurried to finish. When he was done he stood up.
/ Yer all done / Sean said. Mackenzie moved so she could see him.
"Thanks" Mackenzie said. Sean smiled and left, mentioning that he was going to take a shower.
Once the door was closed, Mackenzie stood up and pulled out a pair of black dress pants and a tight green turtleneck. Mackenzie pulled her clothes off and grabbed a bottle of green nail polish. Within minutes, her toenails were green. As they dried, Mackenzie got her make-up on and pulled her shirt on. Then she pulled her pants on. She looked through her closet and pulled out a pair of open toed heels.
The sound of water gushing through the pipes stopped. Mackenzie pulled the shoes on and went out to get Sean's approval. She knocked on the bathroom door, hearing only curses in her head before the door opened.
/ What// Sean asked. He was in a pair of new jeans and nothing else. His face, though, was another matter. He had his beard gooped up with shaving cream and the parts that had been attempted to be shaved were spotted with blood. Mackenzie couldn't help herself and busted into laughter. Sean crossed his arms.
"Want some help?" Mackenzie asked. Sean just narrowed his eyes at her. Mackenzie pushed past him and moved to sit on the bathroom counter. "Come here." Sean moved to stand in front of her. Mackenzie took a washcloth and wiped as much of the shaving cream from his face as she could. "Haven't you ever grown a beard before?" She paused. "Rinse."
Mackenzie tossed the washcloth into the laundry basket and grabbed a dry one. Sean bent over the sink and washed the shaving cream from his beard. When he was done, Mackenzie gave him the dry cloth.
/ Ay donnae remember having this much trouble / Sean said. Mackenzie smiled and pulled a drawer open from beneath her. She pulled out an electric shaver and plugged it in.
"Hold still" Mackenzie said. Sean leaned against the counter and watched his reflection in the mirror as she shaved his beard down to stubble. He nearly pulled her finger into his mouth when she moved it close to his lips. When she finished, he stood up and grabbed his razor again.
/ Thanks / Sean said getting the shaving cream all ready to go. Mackenzie moved from the counter.
"No problem" Mackenzie replied. "I actually came in to see if what I'm wearing is okay."
Sean turned to look at her with his face half covered in shaving cream. He looked her up and down then nodded. Mackenzie smiled and left the room.
The two met up with each other downstairs. Sean had put on a shirt and a brown sports coat. With his face clean shaven, Mackenzie couldn't help her surprised expression. He looked younger and extremely attractive, as opposed to his wild man look that he had had going.
/ Good// Sean asked.
"Yeah" Mackenzie replied. She stood up and moved to grab a raincoat. "You look younger."
Sean laughed in her head and pulled his coat on. / Ready//
"Yeah" Mackenzie said moving to his side. Sean casually put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her outside while also closing the door behind him. The rain had picked up again and was pouring. The thunder shook the sky and lightning could be seen in the distance. Mackenzie and Sean both hurried to get to the mansion before their pants became soaked.
Inside the mansion, people were gathered in the lounge, except for Storm and Emma, who had agreed to make the food. When Sean and Mack came in, the two were arguing over biscuits.
"You don't put baking soda in biscuits" Storm said adamantly. She was in the middle of making soup. Emma, with wine glass in hand had the baking soda to her side.
"I know how to make biscuits" Emma snapped.
/ Aye. There's no soda in biscuits. / Sean said to Mackenzie.
"There's baking powder in biscuits" Mackenzie said. Sean was helping her with her coat, placing them on the small coat rack near the door. Both women looked at her as if she had said to dump five pounds of salt into the mix.
/ Donnae worry about it, lass. Neither one can cook. / Sean thought. Mackenzie smiled.
"I heard that Cassidy" Emma said scowling.
"What did he say?" Storm asked. Sean's face turned into a wide-eye expression.
/ Lets go find the others. / Sean said practically pushing Mackenzie into the other room.
The lounge, where they ended up, had people watching television, playing cards, and talking. The kids, who were on the couch, had a cartoon playing. Remy, Kurt, Logan, Jubilee, and Paige were playing cards. Hank and Scott were both talking about something while sitting at the small bar.
"Irish, you up for a little poker?" Logan asked. Sean smiled a devilish smile and sat down. Sean watched as his cards were being passed out and gestured for Mackenzie to sit.
/ Ask what we're playing for. / Sean said.
"What are we playing for?" Mackenzie asked. Remy and Kurt were both smiling at Mackenzie.
"Quarter to play, from there we're using whatever we have on ourselves" Logan replied. Logan pulled the cigar from his mouth. "Jubes, will you grab some more beers for us darlin'?"
"Sure" Jubilee said. "How many?"
"Four" Logan said.
"Five" Mackenzie replied. Logan looked up at her.
"You old enough, kid?" Logan asked.
"I'm twenty-four" Mackenzie said.
"Ya look like you're just out of high school" Logan replied. Jubilee came back with five beers.
"I'll take that as a compliment then" Mackenzie replied popping the lid off of her beer with practiced ease. She watched as the others chipped in their quarters and started going around switching up their cards and placing more bets.
/ Tell them Ay call. / Sean said.
"Sean calls" Mack said finishing up her beer. It hadn't taken her long and Logan looked like he was keeping an eye on her. Mack retrieved a few more beers from behind the bar and came back to find that Sean had taken the money.
"Jus' wait fo' dis next round" Remy said. "Dat was jus' a warm up."
"Sure it was, Cajun" Logan replied.
"I'm out" Jubilee said. "I've already lost $30 today."
"Same here" Paige said handing Kurt her cards.
"I guess zat makes ze game a little more cutthroat" Kurt said after the two girls left to watch cartoons. Kurt shuffled the cards and quickly dealt. The game went round after round until someone yelled that Professor Xavier was home.
Everyone poured from the lounge into the main foyer. Xavier was there in his wheelchair with a large Russian behind him.
"Welcome back, Charles" Storm said with a smile.
"Dinner is almost ready" Emma said.
"Wonderful" Charles said. He looked at the Irish man that stood near him. "Sean, it's good to see you."
/ Thanks, Charles / Sean said knowing that Charles would have a telepathic link to him. Charles' face dropped when he saw Mackenzie.
"Miss Burns" Charles said moving to hold her hands. "What happened?"
"Stephen, sir" Mackenzie said. Charles grimaced.
"He is still here, Charles" Hank said. A brief pause hung in the air.
"So how was your trip?" Jubilee asked. She moved over to Peter, the Russian, and gave him a friendly punch in the arm. "Long time no see, Peter."
"Our trip was good" Peter replied.
"Very good in fact" Charles said. He pushed past the others, hoping to redirect the conversation. "Now, I don't know how you all feel, but I'm starving."
"Dinner won't be ready for twenty minutes" Storm called to Charles. He just smiled at her and moved towards the lounge with the others following him. The kids quickly rushed past Charles and the others to see who could claim the best seat on the couch. The poker game restarted after a quick re-shuffle.
Charles watched from the bar, where Scott, Hank, and Peter were gathered. He asked about the kids, the other teammates, and then "How is Mackenzie doing?"
"Aside from last night?" Hank asked.
"Fine" Hank and Scott said together. Hank took a sip from the beer in his hand.
"She's actually caught a few of the guys' attentions" Scott said looking over at the girl who was saying something to Kurt. Wolverine chuckled and shook his head a little.
"Kurt's and Remy's, I believe" Hank commented. Charles smirked.
"How is Sean dealing with her?" Charles asked. He moved to pull out a jar of green olives, in which he speared two with a toothpick. "He wasn't pleased with her arrival."
"Honestly, Charles, I have not seen much of the man" Hank replied. Scott nodded.
"Yeah, he's been staying cooped up, except that it was him who brought Mackenzie in when she was attacked" Scott said. Charles ate his two olives and proceeded to tell Scott and Hank, with Peter's help, about the conference he had attended.
Author's Note: I'm glad everyone seems to be liking this. Feel free to leave a review or comment. You can also check out my Banshee fan site: http/