Chapter 8
Jubilee plopped down on her blanket next to him and held his hand. She didn't know what else to do. He was right. It was too dark to return to the plane tonight to clear it off.
She stroked Scott hand while studying his face. The soft light from the lantern carved shadows on his sweat glistened features. He had such a classically handsome face. Although she knew he was married, she had always longed for him from afar. What girl won't? Strong, handsome and a leader. But now as she sat there, she began to feel more. She knew there was a name for this, the Florence Nightingale syndrome, she believed. But it didn't help her contain the feeling. Her subconscious told her she had a school girl's crush on him, which she denied. But now…now it was growing into real love. She convinced herself of this. Her tear stained face didn't show the fresh ones trickling down. He was married and in love with Jean. Jubilee's love for him would never go anywhere. Then she choked back the flood that was starting. He may not even make it back for Jean. He could very well die here in her arms.
Should she confess her love for him before he died?
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"Now, when are you gonna get this bird in the air, Cajun?"
In answer to Logan's demand, Gambit hit a switch and sent the Black Bird soaring skyward. "Hold on, Remy gonna punch it."
"I think our best bet is to start in the center of the search area. That has the highest percent chance of finding them. Then proceed on a circular pattern outward," Hank offered the pilot.
"Gambit agree, mon ami."
Silence monopolized the inside of the jet as the endless search continued past dusk. Rogue looked to the blue doctor, "Hank, you sure we'all can pick them up in the dark?"
"Well, yes, if they are alive and out in the open. If they are trapped inside the plane, the infrared radar would show us the outline of the aircraft. Then we would have to land and do a manual search of the it. But Logan should be able to tell us immediately if they are around." Hank nodded towards the gruff man.
"See anyt'ing yet, Beast?"
"Not yet, Gambit. But I'm not giving up hope."
"Over there!"
"Where, Logan? Gambit don't see anyt'ing."
"Listen, Gumbo. I don't hallucinate. I just saw what looked like a flare over there." Wolverine growled and pointed to a distant location against the night sky.
"Well, since we have not'ing else to go on. Gambil'll head in dat direction."
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Scott's breathing was getting shallow and raspy. She knew he wasn't going to make it through the night. She just squeezed his hand, willing her life energy to flow into him.
"Scott. Please don't die. I…I…," she choked on the words.
He hadn't been awake in a couple of hours now and although she knew sleep was the one thing he needed most, she was afraid it was a slumber he would never return from. She sobbed softly. She felt as helpless now as when they first crashed two days ago, before she developed hope, before she grew conviction, before she aimed for a goal and found a means to get there. But with Scott almost gone, it all evaporated like the water in a desert. Once again she turned into that helpless teenage girl.
"Scott, I don't know if you can hear me or not. But I must tell you. I must confess…"
She stopped suddenly. Engines. Did she hear a plane in the distance? She dropped his hand and ran outside into the cold night, the stars blazing above. She knew she heard something, but she didn't know what. Where did it go? How could she signal them?
"DUH!" She screamed, hitting herself in the head, "I'm a walking sparkler. A pyrotechnic show of fireworks that'll light up the sky."
She stood away from the cave, raised her arms and started sending flares of colorful lights shooting skyward. "A regular 4th of July, Jubilee. They gotta see this," she said to herself.
She stopped and waited to see if she could hear them. "Come back! Come back!"
Stomping her foot, she screamed, "NO!" and the tears started once again. When no response came after another burst of spectacular lights, she reluctantly turned and trudged back into the cave.
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"There! There!"
"Where, Beast. Gambit need more info dan dat."
"Sorry Remy. Hover here. Yes, I do believe it is."
"What already Beast?" yelled Logan.
"I believe we have found their plane. Set it down right here. We should be just a few yards away."
Wolverine just about tore open the door hatch and ran in the direction Hank told him the plane sat.
He called back to the others, "It's here, but they aren't."
Landing softly beside him, Rogue asked, "Are ya sure?"
"Yeah. I would've smelled 'em even if they was dead. They're not here."
Coming up behind them, Hank stated, "I didn't pick them up on the thermal scan anywhere around here. Maybe they were found and taken to a shelter."
"Den, what we do? Take da Bird back up or search here on da ground?" Remy asked
Hank looked over at a brilliant display of fireworks, "I believe that question has just been answered, Gambit."
"Ever'body back in Black Bird. Hurry. Gambit fly us over dere."
"Heck no. That'll take too long, Ah'm flying there mahself." Rogue said.
Storm added "I'll join you."
"Hey Storm, how 'bout givin' your ol' buddy a lift?"
Ororo smiled, "Sure thing, Logan."
Rogue looked to Remy, "What 'bout you, Swamp Rat, wanna lift?"
"Wit' you, Chere, Remy go anywhere."
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Jubilee was kneeling next to Scott, holding his hand. She was crying freely now, rocking softly back and forth. She didn't hear her 'family' enter the cave behind her.
"Jubilee!"
Logan's was the first voice that she heard. She turned her head, tears streaming down her face, "He doesn't have a pulse.
Beast immediately knelt down beside the wounded man, "She's right, I can't feel one."
"He's alive, I can smell it."
Hank was pulling a stethoscope from his pack even before Wolverine's words reached his ears. He listened intently, "There is a heartbeat. Weak, thready, but there. We need to get him to the Black Bird at once…"
"I'll get it. That'll be the fastest way." Rogue ran out of the cave and immediately took flight.
Holding tightly to Jubilee, Logan patted her lightly on the back. "How're you doin' darlin'? Are you hurt anywhere?"
She just shook her head in between sobs.
"Don't worry about Cyclops. We got to him in time. He'll be alright. It takes more than a plane crash to kill that ornery cuss," he said softly in her ear.
'I wish I believed what I just told her.'
Dust and dirt swirled around the entrance to the cave as the jet landed just outside. Within seconds Rogue showed up with a stretcher. "The faster we get Cyc inside and hooked up, the faster we can get him back home."
"Do y'all t'ink we should head to da nearest hospital instead of the long flight back?"
Logan looked at Remy, "No hospital'll take a mutant. And the second a doc opens his eyes to look at them, he'll get fried. There'll be no mistakin' Cyc's a mutant."
Hank looked to the pilot, "This time I happen to agree with Logan. We have superb equipment aboard the aircraft that should keep him alive until we get back to the school. But I suggest we stop discussing the matter and get him on board."
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Logan came forward from the sickbay area and was assaulted with, "How're they doing?"
He looked to Rogue, Storm and Gambit, "Jube's a lil scratched up, dehydrated, and a bit shell shocked, but she'll be ok. Cyclop's not doing so hot."
They all saw he had more to say and waited. He sat down and took a deep breath, "They were shot down."
A unison exclamation of, "WHAT!" hit him.
"That's what Cyc told Jubi. She said that was probably true because there was a strange sound of several things hitting the plane just before it went out of control. And Cyclops does have a bullet in him."
"Who would shoot them down?" Storm said incredulously.
"We have lots of enemies, Darlin'. It could be anyone. What I want to know is how'd someone know they were going to be there at that time?"
Hanks voice crackled over the intercom, "How much longer, Gambit?"
"Remy got the petal to da metal, Beast. Maybe we get dere, 'bout half an hour."
"If we don't get home soon, I fear we will lose Scott."