Chapter 13 - 'Miscommunication'
Kurt was already feeling better after talking with his 'big brother' Scott, and after having expelled some angry energy in the Danger Room. By the time he reached the door to the infirmary he had assured himself that once he talked with Kitty, all would be put right. However, he wasn't quite ready yet for that particular conversation and was caught off guard when he opened the door to find a very bored and a very sad looking Kitty Pryde sitting on one of the exam tables.
She looked up as she heard him enter, her eyes were full of sorrow and Kurt felt immediately guilty knowing that he had caused it.
"Hey." Was all he could manage to say.
"Hi." Her voice was quiet and she immediately averted eye contact with him. "Danger Room session cut short?" She asked.
Kurt looked at his watch and realized that he and Scott usually had the room booked until 4:30pm on their training days and it was just barely after 4pm.
"I didn't really have my head in the game." He answered.
Kitty looked up after his generic statement and noticed for the first time the crimson stained towel he held against his left bicep.
"You're injured." She said, almost to herself, her voice full of concern. She hopped off the padded table and went to examine his arm. Her touch was soft as she put her hand over his which was holding the towel and gently moved it aside so she could inspect the damage.
"It's pretty deep." She stated. "How'd it happen?"
She kept her gaze fixed on the wound, attempting to tread lightly, knowing that he was probably still upset.
"I vas being stupid." He answered honestly before continuing. "Normally I can be a little stupid and then 'port avay if I get myself into too much trouble."
She silently nodded in understanding, feeling somewhat guilty for his inability to teleport as well.
"Kurt," She looked up and met his eyes. "about what I said earlier, I -"
She stopped as Dr. McCoy pushed the door open at the other end of the room startling the two teens. He walked in carrying several manilla folders while reading off his clipboard. He stopped to look up and noticed Kurt in the room.
"Ah, Kurt. I was surprised when you did not arrive with young Katherine." He stated simply and then adjusted his glasses.
"Sorry sir. I had a Danger Room session to make up."
"Indeed." Replied the larger of the two blue men, knowing all too well how much the boy's schedule had been messed up in the last week.
Upon his second glance, he noticed the gash on Kurt's arm.
"Oh my, that's a good one." He said as he pulled Kurt under an examination light attached to one of the nearby tables. "This will need stitches."
Kurt sighed in exasperation at the thought of even more stitches, he truly hated needles.
As if reading his thoughts Hank added, "On the good side, it looks as though the first set is healing nicely."
He peered through his reading glasses as he pushed aside the velvet like pelt on Kurt's forehead to examine the small length of stiff thread, just barely visible.
Realizing that he had traded patients and left his former one just standing there, Hank turned his attention back over to Kitty.
"You may leave if you wish Katherine. I want to run some more tests on the new samples I collected today and I'll let you know as soon as I find something."
"Otherwise," He continued. "carry on as you have been, you already seem to be doing much better than you were yesterday. Whatever you found to help, I suggest you keep using it."
Hanks comment caused the two teens to look at each other, both knowing all too well that Kitty looked better because she had been able to sleep last night thanks to Kurt.
Kitty silently wished that Hank hadn't described her temporary cure as something she was "using". She noticed Kurt cringe as the older man had spoken the word.
"So what have you found out about us doctor?" Kurt asked blandly.
"Well, I'm still not absolutely certain, but my initial testing leads me to believe that your symptoms may very well just need to run their course."
"You mean it'll just fix itself and go back to normal?" Kitty asked a little surprised.
"Well, as I said, I'm still running tests, but I'm feeling confident that this will have just been a temporary issue. You're both already showing significant signs of improvement." Hank finished his answer and immediately turned his attention back to his new patient's shoulder.
"Maybe by tomorrow you won't even need me as a tag along." Kurt commented, his voice was dry and cold and did not go unnoticed by either of the two listening.
"What do you mean?" Kitty asked, not really wanting to have this conversation in front of Dr. McCoy, but not wanting to wait either.
Apparently Hank could feel the tension building himself, because he stood as soon as Kitty asked her question.
"Well." He cleared his throat. "I need to go and grab some supplies so we can get this sutured." He motioned to the wound. "And if you don't mind Kurt, I'm going to let Jean stitch your arm. She's always dying for more practice. Not to mention, she's still a little angry that she didn't get to do the ones on your forehead."
"Zat's fine." Kurt answered nodding.
Hank quickly left the lab so that the pair could finish their discussion in peace.
"What did you mean by that Kurt?" Kitty asked again as soon as the doctor left the room. She was loosing her patience at figuring out what she had done to agitate her best friend.
"I vas saying that maybe you vill have your phasing under control enough that I von't have to tag along to prom and watch you make googly eyes at Alvers all night." Kurt regretted everything he said as soon as it left his mouth. 'So much for talking it over with her first.' He thought to himself.
"What?" Kitty was caught off guard by Kurt's comment and even more by his rudeness.
"I can't really say that chaperoning you and that jerk Lance to prom vas really on the top of my list of things 'to do' this weekend." He added. Usually he was able to hide his dislike of Lance Alvers when he was around his best friend. But something about what she had said today was bringing out of him every angry feeling he had ever had about the guy.
Suddenly realization sunk into Kitty of what Kurt was implying.
"You're right, Lance is a jerk. That's why I turned him down. I'm not going with him." Kitty's words were cold, she had never seen this side of Kurt before and it was causing her to be defensive.
"Good for you, finally realizing what an ass that guy can be." Kurt scoffed. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that he should end this conversation before it got worse. He was obviously upset and should know better than to try to rationally talk about this subject. But for some reason he just couldn't stop the words from leaving his mouth.
He would have never imagined that he was capable of being so disrespectful towards Kitty, but his heart had been crushed and somewhere inside him all he wanted to do at the moment was get back at her.
"So who are you going with now? A different Brotherhood lackey?"
Kitty had to resist the urge to slap him after those hurtful words escaped him. Was that really what he expected of her? That she would run off with any old jerk? Why didn't he understand that it was him she wanted to go with?
Tears stung at her eyes out of both anger and hurt.
"I guess I was hoping that you would make the best date." She snapped at him not able to ignore his appalling comments.
Kurt looked up at her when she mentioned him. He caught her gaze for the first time since their argument started and he noticed the tears and pain he had caused.
He instantly realized his error and tried to correct it, but before he could, she spoke again.
"But I guess I hoped for too much." She said softly, a tear trickled down her freckled cheek.
"Keety -" He tried to stop her, but before he could even say her name, she had phased through the floor, leaving him standing there with his shame.
"Shall we then?" A kind voice spoke up.
Kurt looked up at the doorway and saw Jean standing there with her tray of supplies all prepped to suture his arm.
"How much did you hear?" Kurt asked, hanging his head.
"Nothing actually." She replied calmly as she brought her tray over to the table beside Kurt, patting the bed, motioning for him to sit down.
"Although I think I could probably guess what it was about, there were some pretty strong emotions seeping from this room." She added, knowing that Kurt understood that she wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, but just picking up projected emotions.
Kurt sat and let Jean begin to clean out his wound as he thought over what had just happened. He felt horrible for assuming the worst of his best friend. He had so unfairly accused her of wanting him there for her own selfish reason of keeping her powers in check. When truthfully, she had been wanting him to be her date.
"Oh Gott." he realized out loud. "I'm the jerk!"
He hopped down from the table, causing Jean to telekinetically catch the tray his tail had knocked over in his haste.
"Jean, I have to go find her! I have to talk to her!"
"Oh no you don't." She commanded, using her teke to force him to sit back down.
"This," She pointed to his arm. "comes first."
"Besides, I'm sure that you could both use a few minutes to cool off." She added, directing a small glare in Kurt's direction.
His heart sank, knowing that she was right. If he had just resisted talking with Kitty when he was as upset as he had been, he might have avoided the whole fight. Honestly, if he hadn't jumped to conclusions in the first place, he never would have been upset. He could only blame himself for all of the trouble he had caused today.
He cringed as Jean brought the syringe containing the anesthetic to his arm, pricking his flesh in several spots. This time, he not only welcomed the pain and discomfort, but felt he deserved it a thousand times over.
They sat in silence as the red headed doctor in training began to carefully sew his wound closed. After several minutes went by and Jean was tying off the last knot she softly spoke up.
"Why don't you tell her how you feel?" It was part question, part suggestion.
Kurt looked at her, preparing to deny her accusation. But he knew better than to fool Jean, who everyday was becoming a greater and greater telepath. And for some reason, he didn't want to try and deny it anymore.
His silence, but refusal to contradict her suggestion urged her to continue.
"There's no Lance or Amanda in the way now, why don't you use this opportunity?"
Up until this afternoon, Kurt would have used Lance as an excuse. He and Kitty had been on again, off again for the last year or two. But after this recent argument, he knew Lance was no longer an "obstacle" he had to worry about. He thought it over for another moment, before answering.
"She's mein best friend." He replied softly. "She's the only close friend I've ever had. I don't vant to mess with that."
"I guess I can understand." She said, returning her tools to their tray and wrapping a bandage around his arm. "I felt that same way about Scott."
Kurt looked her in the eye, understanding that her and Scott had been happily dating for a couple years now after many years of being 'just friends.' She smiled knowing that she had gotten her point across.
"Thanks for the pep talk Jean, but vhenever I start to think about that, I always come to the conclusion that she deserves better than me. I mean, her parents have a hard enough time vith her being a mutant, how would they handle her dating someone who's not only a mutant, but who also happens to look like a demon." His voice was defeated as he gestured to himself.
"Why don't you give her the chance to decide that for herself?" Jean mentioned lightly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're a good person Kurt, the people who are important to you will see that."
She could see Kurt mentally running all of this through his mind.
"Can you tell me where she is?" He looked at her hopefully.
Jean smiled and nodded, placing one hand on the side of her temple, preparing to telepathically locate Kitty.
"She's in one of the subbasements, I can't get an exact location on her, she must be phasing." She paused, looking troubled. "Something's wrong, I sense a great deal of panic and fear." She looked in Kurt's eyes.
"Ve're still tethered, I can 'port right to her!" Kurt realized, his face full of concern.
"No! It's a blind 'port and she's phasing, you could end up in a wall!" Jean stated, grabbing a hold of his arm, hoping to stop him.
"I have to." He explained simply.
He shook free of her grasp and before she could speak again, he was displaced by a cloud of sulfurous smoke.
End chapter 13 - 'Miscommunications'
A/N: Hey y'all! I know I didn't say much at the end of the last chapter, but I was in such a rush to finally get it posted, that I forgot.
Anyways... I just wanted to THANK all of you for reading and reviewing my humble little fic. I was so completely thrilled when my reviews surpassed a grand total of 100! And now, I do believe it's somewhere around 112! Thank you all and please continue to READ, REVIEW and ENJOY!!
Kurt was already feeling better after talking with his 'big brother' Scott, and after having expelled some angry energy in the Danger Room. By the time he reached the door to the infirmary he had assured himself that once he talked with Kitty, all would be put right. However, he wasn't quite ready yet for that particular conversation and was caught off guard when he opened the door to find a very bored and a very sad looking Kitty Pryde sitting on one of the exam tables.
She looked up as she heard him enter, her eyes were full of sorrow and Kurt felt immediately guilty knowing that he had caused it.
"Hey." Was all he could manage to say.
"Hi." Her voice was quiet and she immediately averted eye contact with him. "Danger Room session cut short?" She asked.
Kurt looked at his watch and realized that he and Scott usually had the room booked until 4:30pm on their training days and it was just barely after 4pm.
"I didn't really have my head in the game." He answered.
Kitty looked up after his generic statement and noticed for the first time the crimson stained towel he held against his left bicep.
"You're injured." She said, almost to herself, her voice full of concern. She hopped off the padded table and went to examine his arm. Her touch was soft as she put her hand over his which was holding the towel and gently moved it aside so she could inspect the damage.
"It's pretty deep." She stated. "How'd it happen?"
She kept her gaze fixed on the wound, attempting to tread lightly, knowing that he was probably still upset.
"I vas being stupid." He answered honestly before continuing. "Normally I can be a little stupid and then 'port avay if I get myself into too much trouble."
She silently nodded in understanding, feeling somewhat guilty for his inability to teleport as well.
"Kurt," She looked up and met his eyes. "about what I said earlier, I -"
She stopped as Dr. McCoy pushed the door open at the other end of the room startling the two teens. He walked in carrying several manilla folders while reading off his clipboard. He stopped to look up and noticed Kurt in the room.
"Ah, Kurt. I was surprised when you did not arrive with young Katherine." He stated simply and then adjusted his glasses.
"Sorry sir. I had a Danger Room session to make up."
"Indeed." Replied the larger of the two blue men, knowing all too well how much the boy's schedule had been messed up in the last week.
Upon his second glance, he noticed the gash on Kurt's arm.
"Oh my, that's a good one." He said as he pulled Kurt under an examination light attached to one of the nearby tables. "This will need stitches."
Kurt sighed in exasperation at the thought of even more stitches, he truly hated needles.
As if reading his thoughts Hank added, "On the good side, it looks as though the first set is healing nicely."
He peered through his reading glasses as he pushed aside the velvet like pelt on Kurt's forehead to examine the small length of stiff thread, just barely visible.
Realizing that he had traded patients and left his former one just standing there, Hank turned his attention back over to Kitty.
"You may leave if you wish Katherine. I want to run some more tests on the new samples I collected today and I'll let you know as soon as I find something."
"Otherwise," He continued. "carry on as you have been, you already seem to be doing much better than you were yesterday. Whatever you found to help, I suggest you keep using it."
Hanks comment caused the two teens to look at each other, both knowing all too well that Kitty looked better because she had been able to sleep last night thanks to Kurt.
Kitty silently wished that Hank hadn't described her temporary cure as something she was "using". She noticed Kurt cringe as the older man had spoken the word.
"So what have you found out about us doctor?" Kurt asked blandly.
"Well, I'm still not absolutely certain, but my initial testing leads me to believe that your symptoms may very well just need to run their course."
"You mean it'll just fix itself and go back to normal?" Kitty asked a little surprised.
"Well, as I said, I'm still running tests, but I'm feeling confident that this will have just been a temporary issue. You're both already showing significant signs of improvement." Hank finished his answer and immediately turned his attention back to his new patient's shoulder.
"Maybe by tomorrow you won't even need me as a tag along." Kurt commented, his voice was dry and cold and did not go unnoticed by either of the two listening.
"What do you mean?" Kitty asked, not really wanting to have this conversation in front of Dr. McCoy, but not wanting to wait either.
Apparently Hank could feel the tension building himself, because he stood as soon as Kitty asked her question.
"Well." He cleared his throat. "I need to go and grab some supplies so we can get this sutured." He motioned to the wound. "And if you don't mind Kurt, I'm going to let Jean stitch your arm. She's always dying for more practice. Not to mention, she's still a little angry that she didn't get to do the ones on your forehead."
"Zat's fine." Kurt answered nodding.
Hank quickly left the lab so that the pair could finish their discussion in peace.
"What did you mean by that Kurt?" Kitty asked again as soon as the doctor left the room. She was loosing her patience at figuring out what she had done to agitate her best friend.
"I vas saying that maybe you vill have your phasing under control enough that I von't have to tag along to prom and watch you make googly eyes at Alvers all night." Kurt regretted everything he said as soon as it left his mouth. 'So much for talking it over with her first.' He thought to himself.
"What?" Kitty was caught off guard by Kurt's comment and even more by his rudeness.
"I can't really say that chaperoning you and that jerk Lance to prom vas really on the top of my list of things 'to do' this weekend." He added. Usually he was able to hide his dislike of Lance Alvers when he was around his best friend. But something about what she had said today was bringing out of him every angry feeling he had ever had about the guy.
Suddenly realization sunk into Kitty of what Kurt was implying.
"You're right, Lance is a jerk. That's why I turned him down. I'm not going with him." Kitty's words were cold, she had never seen this side of Kurt before and it was causing her to be defensive.
"Good for you, finally realizing what an ass that guy can be." Kurt scoffed. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that he should end this conversation before it got worse. He was obviously upset and should know better than to try to rationally talk about this subject. But for some reason he just couldn't stop the words from leaving his mouth.
He would have never imagined that he was capable of being so disrespectful towards Kitty, but his heart had been crushed and somewhere inside him all he wanted to do at the moment was get back at her.
"So who are you going with now? A different Brotherhood lackey?"
Kitty had to resist the urge to slap him after those hurtful words escaped him. Was that really what he expected of her? That she would run off with any old jerk? Why didn't he understand that it was him she wanted to go with?
Tears stung at her eyes out of both anger and hurt.
"I guess I was hoping that you would make the best date." She snapped at him not able to ignore his appalling comments.
Kurt looked up at her when she mentioned him. He caught her gaze for the first time since their argument started and he noticed the tears and pain he had caused.
He instantly realized his error and tried to correct it, but before he could, she spoke again.
"But I guess I hoped for too much." She said softly, a tear trickled down her freckled cheek.
"Keety -" He tried to stop her, but before he could even say her name, she had phased through the floor, leaving him standing there with his shame.
"Shall we then?" A kind voice spoke up.
Kurt looked up at the doorway and saw Jean standing there with her tray of supplies all prepped to suture his arm.
"How much did you hear?" Kurt asked, hanging his head.
"Nothing actually." She replied calmly as she brought her tray over to the table beside Kurt, patting the bed, motioning for him to sit down.
"Although I think I could probably guess what it was about, there were some pretty strong emotions seeping from this room." She added, knowing that Kurt understood that she wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, but just picking up projected emotions.
Kurt sat and let Jean begin to clean out his wound as he thought over what had just happened. He felt horrible for assuming the worst of his best friend. He had so unfairly accused her of wanting him there for her own selfish reason of keeping her powers in check. When truthfully, she had been wanting him to be her date.
"Oh Gott." he realized out loud. "I'm the jerk!"
He hopped down from the table, causing Jean to telekinetically catch the tray his tail had knocked over in his haste.
"Jean, I have to go find her! I have to talk to her!"
"Oh no you don't." She commanded, using her teke to force him to sit back down.
"This," She pointed to his arm. "comes first."
"Besides, I'm sure that you could both use a few minutes to cool off." She added, directing a small glare in Kurt's direction.
His heart sank, knowing that she was right. If he had just resisted talking with Kitty when he was as upset as he had been, he might have avoided the whole fight. Honestly, if he hadn't jumped to conclusions in the first place, he never would have been upset. He could only blame himself for all of the trouble he had caused today.
He cringed as Jean brought the syringe containing the anesthetic to his arm, pricking his flesh in several spots. This time, he not only welcomed the pain and discomfort, but felt he deserved it a thousand times over.
They sat in silence as the red headed doctor in training began to carefully sew his wound closed. After several minutes went by and Jean was tying off the last knot she softly spoke up.
"Why don't you tell her how you feel?" It was part question, part suggestion.
Kurt looked at her, preparing to deny her accusation. But he knew better than to fool Jean, who everyday was becoming a greater and greater telepath. And for some reason, he didn't want to try and deny it anymore.
His silence, but refusal to contradict her suggestion urged her to continue.
"There's no Lance or Amanda in the way now, why don't you use this opportunity?"
Up until this afternoon, Kurt would have used Lance as an excuse. He and Kitty had been on again, off again for the last year or two. But after this recent argument, he knew Lance was no longer an "obstacle" he had to worry about. He thought it over for another moment, before answering.
"She's mein best friend." He replied softly. "She's the only close friend I've ever had. I don't vant to mess with that."
"I guess I can understand." She said, returning her tools to their tray and wrapping a bandage around his arm. "I felt that same way about Scott."
Kurt looked her in the eye, understanding that her and Scott had been happily dating for a couple years now after many years of being 'just friends.' She smiled knowing that she had gotten her point across.
"Thanks for the pep talk Jean, but vhenever I start to think about that, I always come to the conclusion that she deserves better than me. I mean, her parents have a hard enough time vith her being a mutant, how would they handle her dating someone who's not only a mutant, but who also happens to look like a demon." His voice was defeated as he gestured to himself.
"Why don't you give her the chance to decide that for herself?" Jean mentioned lightly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're a good person Kurt, the people who are important to you will see that."
She could see Kurt mentally running all of this through his mind.
"Can you tell me where she is?" He looked at her hopefully.
Jean smiled and nodded, placing one hand on the side of her temple, preparing to telepathically locate Kitty.
"She's in one of the subbasements, I can't get an exact location on her, she must be phasing." She paused, looking troubled. "Something's wrong, I sense a great deal of panic and fear." She looked in Kurt's eyes.
"Ve're still tethered, I can 'port right to her!" Kurt realized, his face full of concern.
"No! It's a blind 'port and she's phasing, you could end up in a wall!" Jean stated, grabbing a hold of his arm, hoping to stop him.
"I have to." He explained simply.
He shook free of her grasp and before she could speak again, he was displaced by a cloud of sulfurous smoke.
End chapter 13 - 'Miscommunications'
A/N: Hey y'all! I know I didn't say much at the end of the last chapter, but I was in such a rush to finally get it posted, that I forgot.
Anyways... I just wanted to THANK all of you for reading and reviewing my humble little fic. I was so completely thrilled when my reviews surpassed a grand total of 100! And now, I do believe it's somewhere around 112! Thank you all and please continue to READ, REVIEW and ENJOY!!
