Disclaimer: Making no money out of this
A/N: Sorry for the mild delay, I've been off work on holiday so my days of the week has gone all screwy! Happy Christmas to one and all, sorry I've no feastive story this year, so you'll have to make do with random action/adventure/angst as per usual! Enjoy, and don't forget to review. Luv Lamby
Shattered Like Glass: Scene 06"How bad is it?" Gambit asked, lurking behind Ilehana. He didn't need an answer though as he peered down on where Blaze was unfastening the button on her trousers, exposing more battered flesh. There was an awful lot of blood stemming from a gash as long as Gambit's hand across Blaze's stomach. Equally as bad as that, there seemed to be a lot of internal bleeding as Blaze's pale skin was turning black and blue.
"I can staple it closed and patch you up." Ilehana confirmed, poking at the wound to see how deep it went. "But it will hurt, all right?"
"You'd better sedate me." Blaze gasped. "My controls are all over the place Vixen, the pain wont help…"
"Sorry Blaze, you know I can't. We need you lucid when we get back to the mansion for the debriefing."
"Vixen listen to me." Blaze pleaded. "There is a fuel tank two feet below me. The pressure is already slightly higher than normal. Also the engines are running five degrees hotter. If I can't stifle my powers right now, this whole jet will explode."
"She's right." Cyclops confirmed from the front of the plane without Vixen even needing to ask him. "Engines are hot, and the pressure is building." At that Logan got out of his seat and went to examine the consoles for himself. Shadowcat and Nightcrawler exchanged worried looks. Bobby, Shockwave and Jubilee turned in their seats to watch what was happening at the rear. "I don't know how she knows that, but she's right Ilehana. Even down to where the tank is…" That obviously confused Scott, Blaze had never shown any interest in engineering as long as she'd been an X-Man.
"I'll give you a local, and help you telepathically." Vixen compromised. Blaze didn't look convinced, touching the sticky blood on her stomach tentatively.
"Chere." Gambit spoke calmly, taking a seat behind Blaze and lifting her head onto his lap. She looked up at him desperately, letting him take her hands in his. Vixen went for the med kit and removed the sterile staples from the packet. It was a medical stapler, much quicker than sewing stitches, and more effective for such a gash. All she had to do was pull the two sides of the wound closed and click a button, hoping that Blaze didn't move too much.
Vixen injected a strong local anaesthetic directly above the wound. Blaze winced but didn't make a sound as the needle pierced her skin. They waited a few moments until Blaze nodded that her stomach had gone numb and tingly. Just to test, Vixen tried layering the two sides of the wound back close to each other again. Blaze didn't do anything more than blink a few involuntary tears from her eyes. She was lucky, Ilehana thought, there was no flesh missing so the wound should heal smoothly.
Blaze jerked suddenly at the sound of the stapler firing more than at the sensation of the staple piercing her flesh. Squeezing Gambit's hands tightly, she clenched her jaw and screwed her eyes tight shut. The sensation of someone strong pinning down her ankles made her glance up again. Wolverine was making himself useful, probably at Ilehana's telepathic suggestion. The next five staples came in rapid succession, but then the painkiller started to wear off. Blaze stood five more, but was exceedingly glad when Ilehana pulled away and Logan let go of her feet. She hadn't realised she's stopped breathing until she drew in her first gasping breath with relief.
Gambit peeled his hands away from Blaze's slowly, letting her clenched fists fall on her heaving chest. He glanced down at the remains of his fingerless gloves reproachfully, and then up at Ilehana. The gloves were seared away, the flesh underneath blistered and burned. The smell of burning things made Logan sneeze abruptly, the bench underneath Blaze was scalded as well. Bobby didn't need to be asked, jumping out of his seat like a man possessed.
"Leave the seat, it'll be okay." Vixen told Iceman calmly. "I don't think Blaze would appreciate having to lie on an icy bed for the rest of the journey. Gambit, show Bobby your hands."
"Ouch." Bobby winced appreciatively as Gambit peeled off the remains of his gloves with gritted teeth. Holding his hand palm downwards, Iceman sent a blast of cooling air filled with delicate ice crystals to caress Gambit's burnt skin. Remy couldn't help but sigh with relief as the pain subsided and the burning ceased to go deeper into his flesh.
"Merci mon Ami." Remy thanked his teammate sincerely, meeting Iceman's eyes with a small smile. "Much appreciated."
"No problem Gambit, glad to be of service." Bobby quipped, ducking out of the conversation to go back to his seat. They were coming up to the mansion fast, and everyone knew Cyclops' landing style. Nobody particularly wanted to be un-harnessed on the final approach. Ilehana strapped Blaze in with a harness that came up from the wall of the jet and fastened underneath the front edge of the bench, then went back to her seat. Gambit dropped onto the bench across from Blaze and fastened himself in gingerly.
"I'm sorry Remy," Blaze looked up at him mournfully. "Didn't mean to hurt you…"
"I'm used to it Cherie." Gambit answered with a reassuring grin. "Don't you worry none, it'll take more than a pair o' scalded hands to scare me off you."
Shockwave turned her head away from watching the pair in abashment. She folded her arms across her chest defensively, sniffing a little as her nose ran after her drenching. What were these people on? How on earth were they all so close to each other? The swell of jealousy she felt was only battled by the slight loneliness that made her sigh a little. Would anybody hold her hands and not be afraid of her powers if she needed them to? She doubted it very much.