Chapter 8
All the kids turned out to be far more than Emily had ever thought her sister could handle. The introductions had been as short as possible with eighteen kids to introduce. After their name they stated their age, mutation, number of years they'd been with Jenna and Dan then their relation to the other children if any. Of course for a mutation to have taken place they were all teens though the more she listened to them and the information she had with the 'system' she found that many of them had mutated quiet early.
"Emily! Dear I never thought I'd see you here!" Dan greeted her in a pink apron pulling her into a one armed hug.
"Yea, I didn't except to be here." she said taking him in. He was handsome as far as bumpkin doctors went. He had thick unruly dark hair, sharp grey eyes, and a sturdy build that made it obvious he'd grown up a farm boy from the Midwest. Now he stood in the kitchen shirtless in his blue jeans and boots with the apron over him.
"We'll we're always glad to see you in any case." he let go of her and returned to his pot.
"What's that?" she asked going to sit on a barstool that was on the opposite side of the stove.
"We've got a hundred mouths to feed around here. Its spaghetti. Wonderful cheap spaghetti." he grinned. "So what've you been up to Sis?" Dan had come to New York shortly after graduating from high school, to visit cousins and met Jenna she'd been barely 19 herself they'd fallen in love and since had rarely spent a day apart.
"Oh you know. Chase my tail trying not to drown." he laughed.
"Amen, hun." She couldn't help but grin. "How's your girl?"
"Oh she's her father's daughter."
"Made of leather that one?"
"Yeah, just wish I could have broken him better." He stirred the tomato sauce and looked up at her.
"Now, don't you dare tell your litter mates but that man of yours is like a mustang."
"Really?"
"Oh yes. Knew it the moment I saw him. See he needs space to run. Get a good feel for his limits but something's bound to scare him back to his herd. Lucky him though his got the best mare her side of the Atlantic." he winked at her. "But just don't tell Zander and Jen."
"I won't. How are you any way Danny?"
"I work my behind off to keep our practice running. I love my kids and don'na give a rat's tail they ain't my blood. I've got a good wife and there's always my own health. So you know what I'm good. But there's always room to improve." he said with a shrug. "So what drove the ole mare home any how?"
"My mustang. Can't live without him much longer. My foal's a filly now and'll be off with her own mustang soon enough." He nodded.
"I
hear that. No mare's complete with out her stallion. Not that she
really needs him she just feels all empty inside. That's why that
mare in the stalls outside loves the kids so much. She ain't never
had no stallion or fillies and colts. She's never had a herd."
"What about you? You trying to fill your stables with colts
and foals that aren't yours to fill a hole?" he looked at her
thoughtful for a moment.
"It's not about me and Jen no more. It's more for the young'uns now a days. Who else is gonna love um?" Emily shook her head.
"Just a handful of half wits I know it."
"So, you're Auntie Em?" Emily turned around to look at the boy who had come in from outside. He was just short of six foot tall, dressed in all black, his pants too big, and his shirt extra baggy, piercing in places she hadn't thought was possible and spiked collar around his neck with a dog tag hanging from it.
"That's what I'm told." he'd not been around for the introduction. Jenna had said he liked to disappear from time to time.
"A witch eh? Sounds cool."
"Can be. But so can a mutant."
"Yea, that's what they tell me. All it's done for me is get my mamma to toss me out like bad meat. Not that she was the greatest role model to start with." he mumbled inching closer. Dan looked from one to the other then returned to his meal chopping more garlic for his sauce.
"Pyrokinesis?"
"What's it to ya?"
"My old man was had the ability of pyrokinesis. Jenna tell ya that?" he shook his head. "Didn't think Princess Perfect would have. Kinda her style ya know. So what happen you burn down the trailer?" he laughed.
"No, her boyfriend. He was always commin' in drunker than an skunk and set into beat her. No one touches my mother on my watch. Your pops what happen to him?"
"Wizard." she said and it was all that needed said he shook his head.
"You knew him though right?"
"Oh yea. Was the most loveable pain in the butt I ever knew. My fault he's dead now."
"How you live with that?" she allowed a small smirk.
"I'll let you in on a secret." he stepped closer as she let her voice drop. "You can't change the past. Not even a witch can do that. So it's best to leave it be and make the best of what you have." he looked at her a calculating look.
"I'm gonna go get cleaned up Jenna won't let me at the table like this. I'll catch ya on the flip side dawg." he said leaving to go upstairs.
"That's the most that boy has said the entire time he's been here." Dan said lowering the temperature on the stove and going to check the table.
Scott sat on the floor against Emily's bed playing physiatrist while she talked a mile a minute. He'd done this countless times growing up and it felt good even if it was only for a few minutes not to think about Jean. Or his own heart ache. Emily had been gentle with the subject asking about it but never pushing him to talk. Mostly they just sat in silence when it came up. There was a huge difference in know she was dead and gone and being in Emily's shoes where you just don't know anything.
"Your PI say anything yet?" he asked. He felt her shift in the bed to prop herself up on her elbows.
"Not sure."
"What do you mean by that?" she grabbed a letter off her night stand and handed it to him.
"Dear Mrs. Rees, Your photos will be very helpful though they raise many questions. I have enough to work with for now. I'll be returning to the school around the holidays. Keep your calendar open. Wolverine" he read aloud. "Well that's good right? What pictures you send him?"
"The best I had. A few of snap shots of him working in the back yard, one of him holding Ann Marie then I walk up, umm our first anniversary. Nothing special just him as he was. Why?"
"Xavier tell you about this guy?" he asked trying to be conversational.
"Not really. Said he trusted him and that was good enough for me." Scott chuckled.
"You've got to start asking him question Lee."
"Fine you tell me about him."
"I'd rather not. My impression of him was….."
"You didn't like him."
"Understatement."
"Why?" she asked scooting closer and resting her chin on his shoulder.
"He tried to take Jean from me." he said trying not to sound as injured as he was. Emily pressed her cheek against his for a moment then moved to the floor next to him.
"Babe, you ought to talk to someone." he shook his head. He and Emily had history sure. But the present was too unstable to drop a boulder on .
"Not now. Just don't worry about me."
They fell in to another silence that stretched on for what seemed like years. Sometimes he wondered if maybe it spoke more than their words did. Hadn't it always? How many times had either of them been upset by something and instead of some great comforting words they'd heard on some old movie they'd just sat there. It was better he assumed than nothing but couldn't help but ask himself what the silence was saying. A little voice in his head said none of this would have happened had he fought for her years ago. Of course he wouldn't change that if he could now. But it didn't stop him from inching closer to her or her from placing a hand on his leg and giving it a squeeze.
Ann Marie laughed reading over her mother's words. She'd demanded when she was eight or nine to know everything about her father. Including whatever was found about him. Josh read the letter over her shoulder and gave her an amused smirk. He'd have laughed too had they not been sitting amongst their friends at their house's table. Eileen snatched the letter a way and read it herself then passed it on to Hubert.
"I don't get it! What's so funny?" she asked.
"You don't know my mum. See where she said that the PI would be meeting her while we're on Christmas break?" Hannah nodded looking up from the letter.
"Yes, and so what? She always plans it so you can meet the private investigator."
"I told her I didn't want to go to the states. She thinks I'll break now."
"Not want to go to the states? Why not! The states are great! I mean with all the people and the"
"Easy Han! I'm taking her and she'll meet the PI and hang with her mum's family and all that jazz." Hannah raised her brow skeptically looking Josh up and down.
"Swear it?"
"I swear it." Hannah nodded nearly losing interest in the topic.
"What part of the States?" Hubert asked.
"New York, not sure what city right off." Ann Marie said off-handily
"I would love to see Broadway and Lady Liberty… Oma and Opa talk about Liberty all the time! They say she's the grandest sight you'll ever see." Eileen about shot pumpkin juice out her nose when Hubert had called his grandparents by the German names.
"That's the cutest thing, Huey! How do you ask someone to Hogsmead in German?" Eileen asked hugging Hubert's arm. He cocked his head to the side for a moment a sign he was thinking.
"Wollen du Hogsmead gehen, mit ich?" Hubert said after a few moments. His parents had been sent off to Africa, since they were doctors, and he'd been left living with his grandparents who barely spoke a word of English despite having lived in the States for a decade.
"Yes! Of course I'll go to Hogsmead with you!" Eileen giggled and hugged his arm tighter. He passed Josh a 'please help me' look, only to receive a shake of the head.
"That's not what I meant. You asked me how to say it and…" he gave a sigh. "Not like I had any plans anyway. So, Josh I saw the Quidditch schedule posted in the common room. You've not said are you still on the team?"
"Yes, not that I'll be much use. You saw the Slytherins chasers last year!"
"Ja, also."
"English?"
"It means yes, well." Hubert laughed at his slip. Ann Marie half listened to the conversation slide toward the sport while her mind took her across the Atlantic where she might one day meet her father. The idea excited her beyond all reason and at the same time made her terrified. What if he had meant to leave her and her mum behind?
Emily had instructed the tightly sealed chest to be brought it the half line on the soccer field. On benches not far off were all the instructors of Xavier's school. She'd been teaching the students a lot of things about random attacks of blunt force. Each teen had a different ability and even if two had the same mutation their control over it varied to such a point it was difficult to teach them more than vaguely similar. She'd asked two of her senior classes to participate in a demonstration of a variation of Quidditch she was rather proud of. They had eagerly accepted the challenge. The older the student, she'd learned, the stronger the need to show off. She could only assume this was because the older students had the most experience and didn't have to worry as much about as sudden burst in their ability. Early that day she'd sat down with all of them and explained the rules and now they gathered one team wearing red tee shirts the other blue. The idea was to control the bludgers well enough to protect yourself and team, and even use a dodge ball like affect that if you were touched by the bludger you were out.
"Everyone ready?" she asked loud enough to be heard by the two teams. They gave different responses but all meant yes. She walked off to the sideline pointed her wand at the chest which sprang open then she summoned the chest to her side. While the bludgers hung in midair. When they had shot up from the chest the crowd had erupted in at gasp of ooo's and ahhh's. "Ready! Set! GO!" she released the balls and found a seat between Scott and Charles.
Instantly the bludgers had started diving toward the students. Bobby had frozen one of the balls, which had gone after Rogue, and it fell to the ground. He went and plucked it up running with it keeping it frozen he waited until he spotted a member of the opposing team, red, distracted by the chaos then on command one of the telekinetic kids controlled the ball as it smashed into the red team mate's , Jimmy Blake, shoulder. Jimmy was thereafter protected from any attack while he got off the field. Bobby and the telekinetic kid, who Charles said was Wendy Hershall, continued to use their tactic to put several players out. The Red team though wasn't without their own skills. They were in control of the other bludger and it was multiplying itself rapidly going after every blue member the balls spotted. Soon Wendy was benched and Bobby was left with a frozen ball. Jasmine, a teleporter took the ball from him and teleported herself around the field tapping it on random Red members. On and on this went until alone stood Bobby, his ball frozen in under his arm, and Reba her ball fought to get free from her grip. They stood still eyeing each other and the crowd that watched was held captive in the tension of the moment. Emily was briefly reminded of every old western movie she'd ever seen. Reba's ball escaped her grip, her ability being useless in offence, and went fly toward Bobby, who changed himself into a literal snowman far too slushy to hold together well but this made the difference. When the free bludger came at him he was able to split enough that the ball passed through him. He was stretching himself to his max when the ball came back like a boomerang he was barely missed, released control of his own ball and reformed himself to flesh and with less to concentrate on everyone was able to see Reba was frozen in spot her own ball grazed her arm and she was out.
"That was wonderful, Emily. Absolutely splendid!" Uncle Charlie told her patting her on the back.
"Shhh. It's not done. It will keep going until he's out, or he's got control of the two balls."
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard." Storm said leaning over Scott to address Emily.
"Oh yes it will. I've upped the balls resistance. It'll be a while yet."
Bobby, oblivious to the balls' new secret, continued on trying to freeze them. He managed to capture one ball in his hands and held it close to his chest and with it so close to him with no way out except sheer force it fell victim to his power. He then froze it into a block of ice on one of the midfield lines. He chased the other ball one way then it would turn and chase him the other. It was about like watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. The ball would zoom around for a few moments with a bit of frost bite, while Bobby leaned over hands on his knees panting. Then off they'd go again! Round and round the field they ran/flew.
"Come back here you evil basketball!" he yelled at the bludger.
Then, as if on command it changed direction and collided with Bobby's chest. He was down and out. The crowd gasp and Emily rushed out onto the field being sure to send both balls back to their chest to wait on the sideline. She knelt down over Bobby his eyes were shut and he was ice cold to the touch, so much that her fingers seemed to melt and invisible layer of ice with their warmth.
"Bobby? You okay kid?" she asked. The crowd was now on the edge of their seats watching the pair on the field after a second that seemed to take hours his eyes fluttered open.
"That stupid thing hurts like hell." was all he said. She stood back up and offered him a hand. The crowd of teachers and students applauded and yelled. Whoops and whistles rang out washing over everyone.
"Scott, that's probably the most impressive show I've seen around here in a long while." Xavier said rolling down the pathway next to him.
"Yea, she's finally gotten them to do something." he replied watching a group of ten or twelve kids play with a bludger not too far off.
"It's not just that, did you see the improvements in other areas too? She's been here three months now?"
"Two months three weeks. You know how Wes has always needed everything explained step by step a few dozen times?" he asked.
"He's been working with one of my English lit students, who doesn't get Chemistry. She's gotten them to work together. Now if you'll take a big step backwards." Scott stepped back without asking why just in time for a bludger to whiz through the air where his head had just been.
"OH Sorry Sirs! I thought I had that one. Man, was I wrong." Scott had to bite back the usual reprimand when the boy didn't call him 'dude'. The boy held up his hand and the ball flew toward it and rested calmly in his palm. "I'll be more careful next time. Oh Professor that extra credit question, about the moral value of that book you've got us reading I've got it up to two pages and counting." the boy grinned running his free hand through his light colored hair. "Carla helped me find a jumping point then BAM!" the ball flew out of his hand and took toward the rest the kids, "I was off. Auf Wiedersehn!" Jackson turn and ran toward his friends.
"See what I mean? 'Sir', talked with Carla, and even doing extra credit?" Xavier asked.
"Auf Wiedersehn that was German wasn't it? I thought he took the required time in Spanish and was done with foreign language and stopped." Scott asked. Xavier chuckled.
"Nightcrawler is teaching German to a few of the students. A lot of them were just picking it up from him any way. " Scott shook his head and continued after his professor.
"Even with all the great progress she's making with the kids, what about him?" he asked his mind flitting back to the reason she was here in the first place.
"By him you mean her husband?" Scott didn't answer, but he really didn't have to. "I'm not sure exactly. But she and Wolverine have been talking through mail. The seem to be making a little lee way."
"So, she'll find him and be gone to England again." Scott stated more than asked. He failed to hide his disappointment.
"You know she's legally no longer married to Mr. Rees, and there will be a lot to sort out if she finds him. That's still a rather large if too. I wouldn't put money of her going back just yet. But we have more important business right now don't we?"
"Why do you play music during these things?" one of the boys complained. Emily laughed and the notes of the board scrolled down.
"Because, it's relaxing. Beside that this is a very popular band in England, you children need a little more time with other cultures." The truth Emily wasn't about to admit to was she liked this band. Boy band sound or not it was cute and reminded her of a lot of stupid things she'd done in her teen years. Didn't hurt that once she'd shown the girls in the class pictures of the band they all fell head over heels for the band.
"I like it when she plays music. 'Specially when we are practicing. It sort of gives you a rhythm for things. Like dancing." this was the golden girl.
"Right Goldie Locks. You just want Charlie and we all know it."
"That's enough kids. Get this stuff written down so we have the rest the week to review it on the field." she scolded.
With a moan they returned to their work, she dismissed them when the bell rang and was glad it was the final class of the day. She had mail from her private investigator she'd been dying to read since it arrived that morning. She slipped through the school, a mad dash to her dorm. There it was the crisp white envelope laying on her pillows. Waiting for her to return for it and break the seal. She wasted no time ripping the end off and tapping the letter out into her hand. She read it out loud as if there were actually people here to hear it. She didn't care any news was good news.
"Dear Mrs. Rees, As I've said, your packet has given me plenty to go on for the time being. Though, it raises many questions that you'll have to shed light on when I visit. So, now I'll tell you what I have found. Which isn't much.
"Your hubby, spent sometime in Brooklyn, before going to Canada. I know you already knew this but I've been able to get a hold of his passport information. It's quiet interesting. He made frequent trips between New York and Canada, for nearly a year. After that he seems to have gotten involved with medical studies as a sort of guinea pig.
"You've probably heard all of this before but just the same it's as far as I've gotten. It's difficult to follow him far or fast. Seeing as it's been years since he did any of this. Hate to keep it short but I've got things to do. Just one question before I close this: Your husband meant to come back for you didn't he?
"Wolverine"
She stared at the page for a long time. She had no idea her husband had been involved in medical anything, as long as she'd known him he'd never been sick, or even talked to a doctor. Automatic cell regeneration tends to do that to people. She wasn't surprised exactly, he said he was working on some trial stuff just until he got the money to bring her and Ann Marie out to him.
It all seemed to be happening so fast now though even as fast as it was going she couldn't help but feel the dread of finally finding her Logan. What if he'd changed, or didn't know her. Or even worse what if he wasn't? It was almost too much to bare but she had to know. She had to know if he was alright. If he'd forgotten her and had a new family that would be fine she'd leave it at that. She just had to know. Emily hadn't ever been angry that he left her. She'd only ever been scared and worried. Those were good things, at least the fear was. Fear could be a powerful ally.
Emily folded the letter up and stuffed it back in it's envelope then added it to the pile of letters and information she had collected on her husbands whereabouts in a box and slid it under her bed. Now wasn't the time to get lost in what wasn't. She had papers to grade, lesson plans to make up, and she had promised the disturbed pyro she'd 'hang' with him this weekend. So she got busy.
Her
favorite pyro was waiting at the end of the drive when the cab pulled
up. He even opened the door for her though he quickly stepped back
and let her pay the cabby. She knew why he'd stepped back when her
hand brushed the door handle. It was hot. He'd forgotten to lock
his powers. She winked at him.
"You need to put the safety on
that thing." she joked. He looked her up and down, as she looked
him over the same all black pierced dog collared look as when she'd
met him though now the black lipstick and eyeliner were no where in
sight.
"You say that like it's just a little button like you
push on a BB gun." He countered her. Emily shrugged.
"Where's
Doctor Perfection?"
"With her whipped husband up in their
office."
"So whose in charge?"
"That slug of a girl,
Jell-o. She's Dr. Mom's little pet. Training her to be just like
her. It's kinda sick ya know?" Emily nodded as the pair walked up
the drive. They would go past the house and barn and out into this
open field the size of a soccer field and then into the woods. There
was a nice open spot in the middle of some ancient oaks where Jake
worked on his abilities.
"You know I still don't get her
ability. She can turn into what a liquidy goo and ooze?" he nodded
enthusiastically.
"I'd like to treat her to some good
evaporation sometimes. You know she's a whole month older than me
and treats me like some little kid. Like I can't even cut my own
meat. It's sick and not in the good way."
"You ask Mommy and
Daddy about sending you off to Xavier's?" she skipped testing the
waters and jumped right in.
"Dan's all for it. Says 'It'll
do the boy some good.'. Now your sister is a harder nut to crack.
So I offered up that you would be there and that she turned out all
right. That just set her off. I didn't know and really didn't
want to know about you and that Summers guy. But man the way she told
it you two were at it like rabbits."
"She's exaggerating. We
were more like those cheesy teen flicks where the girl falls for her
best guy friend."
"Yea well that's worse, Auntie Em. Who was
Auntie Em by the way?"
"Oh umm I think she was the adopted mom
of Ann of Green Gables won't swear to it though. Wasn't much of a
reader growing up."
"No, you were a do her." He said with a
smirk.
By this point they had reached his little grove of oaks
and she sat down on a fallen tree while he took his place in the
center. After a few moments of looking around and making sure their
wasn't anything in the area that would go up in flames faster than
they could control Jake pulled out a lighter and with a click flame
danced in his hands. Neither spoke while he played with his fire.
Emily had left him their last visit with the instructions to make the
flames create shapes. She'd thought he'd have enough difficulty
making circles, and squares, so when he showed her how he could make
the fire dance in figure eights, and spell out words she was far
passed amazed.
"So, this is what you've been up to." a
girls voice sounded behind her. Emily turned around on her log to see
the girl called Jell-o. With one fluid movement the fire disappeared.
"What do you want?" Jake was quick with his words.
"You
shouldn't stop on my account. Scoot over Auntie Em. If I'm going
to report you anyway might as well give me something worth
while."
"Report him? For practicing?" Emily looked between
the two teens before pushing herself to her feet. "Both of you come
with me. Jell-o where's my sister?"
"So you want to grow
balls now? Don't you think you ought to have done that before your
husband abandoned you?" Emily had to remind herself that she was
just talking to a little girl or she doubted she would have been able
to keep from hitting her.
"Just tell me where the doctors are."
she demanded. Jell-o stood her ground and refused to open her mouth.
When she was finally fed up she grabbed a hand of both teens and took
off in search of her sister. She was glad to find them in their
office just as Jake had said she'd be. With no patience in the
waiting room she went ahead and burst into the office. Both Jenna and
looked up from separate computers where they were busily entering
data.
"Em I didn't know you were here." said standing up to
greet her. Jenna had caught the look on her face though and adding it
to the two teens in tow jumped to conclusions.
"What did he do?"
Jenna asked.
"He didn't do anything. Mini-Jenna here, spied
on us. I was teaching him to control is ability."
"Emily
Elizabeth!" Jenna started her strict shocked voice was so shrill
dogs three towns over must have been howling.
"I don't see
where that's so bad. The boy has to learn someday. We don't have
the equipment or funds to take care of any fires he can't control
after they spark. It'd be nice don't you think, for him to get a
decent education?" Dan quickly took up a side.
"Sweet heart I
want you to go inside and take care of lunch." Jenna said turning
to Jell-o. The girl quickly complied and left. Jenna locked the door
behind her. "Emily, you're the one who put these ideas in his
head then? Going off to Xavier's?"
"You say that like it's
a silly thing to think! If you don't give him a decent place to
start off from when he goes out in the real world he'll likely make
all the wrong choices. Do you want him to end up some con?"
"He's
already there! He killed a man just a over a year ago! Do you think I
took that boy on lightly? With all the kids that run through here."
Up to this point Jake had stood quietly behind Emily listening to the
conversation. He chose this moment to interject but before he got a
word out Dan put a hand on his shoulder to signal that it was between
the two women.
"Jen! Every time a mutant mutates, they nearly
always hurt someone and if you don't teach them how to use their
skill it's like handing a two year old a rifle! What are the
chances that the kid's ever going to figure it out? Our own father
killed a dog his first time using his powers! Things happen and
there's nothing we can do to stop stupid first times! But second
and thirds we can!"
"Oh yea your all high and mighty! You
don't know a thing about what it's like! You didn't have to
worry about losing your control and blowing your best friend to
Kingdom Come!"
"Which is why we should help him control his
powers. Jenna, I know I've been far from the best sister or aunt in
the past but I'm here now. So, now I'd like to make up for that.
Just let me help him."
"You want to take him away." Jenna
countered.
"Maybe I want to go! Did you ever think of that. Not
everyone was cut out to live in a shoe!" Jake shot in. Dan looked
like he could box the boys ears.
"Fine! Go get packed." Jenna
sat back down in her chair woke up her computer and set back to
work.
"Jake, son, go get yourself packed up. Em out in the loft
now." he said the last part with enough force that Emily was half
afraid what he had to say. Jake took off to the house to pack his
things and Dan and Emily went to the loft without a single word
exchanged. "She's afraid Emily." he said once they were both
seated on bales of hay.
"Of what? I've never"
"You may
not have but your people. Look, she don't admit it, she's too
proud, but she's afraid of what the wizards are going to do. She
still talks with Xavier once or twice a week. He says your there
teaching so those kids have a chance. He says there's likely to be
a fight."
"It's not a fight, Danny. It's an all out war.
They want to wipe out the schools and large groups of mutants. If
they can't gather they can't cause wizards problems. There aren't
many high enough up to matter that are trying to stop this. They
won't listen to me. I'd like to say this will all blow over but
it won't. People are all to afraid of everyone else." Dan was
quiet for a long moment mulling this over in his head.
"You're
sure about all this then? You sure you can keep up with Jake, and
everything?"
"No. Dan, I'm not sure of anything. But I've
gotta try." Dan nodded.
"Well, then if you ever need back up
just give me a yell." Emily smiled at her brother in-law. The pair
stood up and shared a quick hug. "I better got smooth the feathers
down with the Mrs."
"I'm sorry Dan."
"Go get that
boy packed and to Xavier's before she has time to change her mind.
He's better off there than here."
