Chapter 11 - So Much Potential

Eventually, Jan and Scott had managed to get two overly energetic kids inside, fed, watered, and in front of a kid-appropriate movie while they ate their graham crackers and milk. If that wasn't impressive enough, the snacks didn't come until after they made sure the kids had their healthy lunch first - something that entertained Jan to no end when Nate seemed perfectly used to Scott laying out the rules, even when Mia wanted to negotiate getting graham crackers first.

The two adults were both finally getting to sit down and have something to eat themselves, though Jan was sure Scott wasn't even thinking about it as he got out the sandwich supplies for both of them like it was normal to just make food for whoever was in front of him.

"Ham or turkey?" he asked over his shoulder as he got started building sandwiches.

"Oh … whichever," Jan said, her shoulders up to her ears as she leaned on the counter watching him go into autopilot.

Scott shrugged, and a few minutes later, he sat down next to her and slid her some lunch. "Nate doesn't get to play with younger kids very often. He's used to bringing up the rear."

"He's keeping up great," Jan said, and was sure to thank him, even if it was wild to watch autopilot dad on Cyclops.

"What about you? I thought for sure you'd be next. Last time I really talked to Natasha, it had sounded like you were going that way and she was expecting a boy after their little girl a couple years ago, but we haven't been in regular contact."

Jan frowned at that. "Yeah, I haven't … really been seeing anyone seriously enough to get that far," she said.

Scott frowned and turned her way with a confused expression. "I thought you and Hank…"

"No," she said, shaking her head quickly, though for how she said it, it was clear something had happened. "No. That is waaaay over."

Scott froze, realizing he'd hit a nerve but not sure which one. "I'm sorry."

She turned toward him with wide eyes. "No, no. No. It's better this way. Really. He wasn't the guy I thought he was." She put on a forced smile. "He's not on the team either, so there's that, too." She shook her head. "I can't believe you didn't hear about that. It was kind of … public."

"I've been keeping my head down, Jan. If it didn't reach my small town or if it wasn't something one of our friends said in a visit…"

"Yeah, I know. It was kind of national news for a minute there, though. I mean … it's not every day Captain America bodily throws someone out of the tower."

"Well, now I'm curious," Scott said with the smallest smirk at the corner of his mouth.

"Hank lost his temper," Jan said, shrugging lightly. "And Steve … lost his, too."

Scott frowned as he put together what it was Jan wasn't saying. "I would have thrown him out too."

"You don't know that for sure," Jan said, forcing a little laugh. "Circumstances …"

"You think there weren't a few parents I was ready to put through a wall back when the X-Men were rescuing kids from bad home situations?" Scott shook his head. "If it hadn't been for our creed, there would have been more people-shaped holes in walls."

"Now you're sounding like my therapist."

"Must be a rotten therapist, then," Scott said without missing a beat. "Everyone I talk to around here says I need one, so yours might be a little nuts if they're agreeing with me."

"Well, it was a therapist that Tony found for me, so, you know … she might be biased."

"Yeah, that's why I haven't gone to any of the ones Storm recommended."

"Because they might agree with you or back you up?"

"Because they already know the story, and I'm not interested in rehashing it."

"Maybe you can be my therapist, since you don't know the story," Jan said.

Scott smirked and leaned back, gesturing with one hand. "I'd be terrible at it."

"Yeah, but it sounds like you're the one person in the country that hasn't heard it," Jan teased.

"I know. I'm slipping," Scott said. "Used to be I knew everything before even the Avengers did."

"No, no, you've got much better things to concern yourself with," Jan said. "And the Avengers didn't know … well. Nearly as much as we should have." She leaned toward him. "Between you and me? It's a pattern. I blame the guys in charge of information gathering."

"Well, did you put Katie in charge yet? Because the last time I saw her, she told me she was."

"She thinks she is," Jan said, nodding. "And she was mad she wasn't around when Cap threw Hank out."

"Anyone who hears that is mad they missed it. It sounds like a good show," Scott pointed out.

"Not really," Jan said. "It started with Tony, really - there was a lot of yelling, took his clearances, banned him from the workshop loudly, and you know, Tony's really not much of a yeller? So that drew in Steve … and, well … the two of them yelling in agreement is definitely weird, but ... " She gestured openly. "I thought Tony was going to hit him."

"I'm glad he's out of your life, then," Scott said. "And I'm sorry for what happened."

"I've gotten worse on the job," she said, the closest she'd say outright to a confirmation of what had happened.

"That's the thing, though," Scott said. "Even on the rare times Jean and I managed to get in each other's way on the job - which, by the way, I wouldn't recommend when Rachel comes into her own - it was a string of apologies, and it was all accidental, and we felt rotten for weeks. That? That's not the same thing."

She shrugged up one shoulder. "I still shouldn't have gone into the lab when I did."

Scott frowned and leaned forward, one hand on her wrist without thinking about it. "No way," he said sharply. "Nothing that happened is your fault. Don't even think it."

She smiled at him for just a moment. "Well, sure. I know that? But it doesn't change how I think about it."

"Yeah, you sound like-" Scott let out his breath. "Well, it's pretty common in the job."

"Yeah," she said, then quietly watched the kids for a moment before she reached over to steal a potato chip off his plate. "But here I am bringing you down, and I'm not supposed to do that."

"Oh, I didn't realize I came with rules of engagement," Scott said dryly.

"No, no, you don't," Jan clarified. "I do. I'm supposed to just … not do this."

"I'm not sure what 'this' is that you're avoiding, unless it's telling me about what's been going on in your life," Scott pointed out.

"Wow, you're really good at looking for stuff like that, Scott, no," Jan said, shaking her head. "I'm not supposed to get all wrapped up thinking about what happened with Hank. And I stink at that."

"You're talking to the wrong person, Jan. My daughter got telepathy and immediately freaked out because she could hear me panicking about her mom's powerset," Scott said, his smile tighter than before.

"That actually seems totally sensible though," Jan said. "At least as a first reaction. All things considered."

"Well, that makes you the first person to think so," Scott said, shaking his head.

"Then I must be nuts, right?" Jan teased. "I mean, it's not like I'm avoiding dating anyone because of this - or that the rare times I've considered it, I ended up shrinking down and flying off instead of going through with it because … well. The pity look."

"Jan, I'm active at an elementary school PTA of mostly women. I'm well-versed in that look," Scott said, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling.

"Then … don't throw stones, crazy person."

"Wasn't trying to," Scott promised, both hands raised.

"PTA, huh?" Jan asked after a long while.

"Hey, I used to run strategy for dozens of X-Men. I can handle a book drive or two."

"I'm not judging," Jan said. "Just sounds like a nice change of pace."

"The kids need to know I've got their backs," Scott said with a shrug.

Jan nodded and let out a sigh. "We were talking about kids before the .. ah … the thing."

"You'd be great. Nate was already saying he wants to come back and play with 'the nice lady,' so I think you're winning him over," Scott said with a smirk.

"Ooh, good," Jan said. "Maybe he'll remember my name when you come by next."

"Might be more often with Rachel going here," Scott admitted. "We've never been apart longer than a day - and only because I had to stay with James during a few overnight hospital visits while Natasha watched the kids with Katie, Clint, and Lexi."

"So what you're saying is that I've been robbed this whole time by that arrow slinger?"

"A...pparently," Scott said slowly, smiling despite himself that that was the direction she'd taken with that information.

"Unbelievable," she said under her breath. "Undercut by a freakin' cold war spy and her corn dog-breathed boy-toy."

"No, Jan, tell me how you really feel," Scott chuckled.

She turned his way and gave him a falsely angry side eye - not that she could sustain it. "I think I may have already," Jan said. "But … since you asked - that is totally a mistake. They can't be trusted. Honestly. Horrible influence. Both of them. And I will tell that to their faces. Their smug, kid hogging faces."

"Okay, okay, I'm convinced," Scott said, smiling a little wider. "Your application for first shot at babysitting is received, Jan."

"Oh good; it only took me this long to get my foot in the door. Even though I am clearly the best candidate."

"Hey, Natasha helped me set up security on the house."

Jan waved a hand. "Oh sure, that's one thing that she does well that can be applied around kids." She was at least smiling by that time, though.

"Oh, come on. You've seen her with Katie and Lexi," Scott laughed.

"Biased!" Jan said. "Totally biased!"

"I didn't even know you were so deeply interested until just now!" Scott said, still laughing.

"Well, you didn't really ask around, did you?" Jan said. "I have always loved these little troublemakers." She tipped her head. "Though … admittedly, I don't think I've really seen James outside of the lab and that little while that he was with Tony. And he totally hogged him the whole time."

"Yeah, we're pretty regular customers for Hank. He's starting to grow out of it as he gets older, thankfully, but he does still come down with every single bug that goes around the school," Scott said, shaking his head.

"Maybe it's a trial by fire for him," Jan said. "Get all the sick over with ... "

"Maybe," Scott said. "We had to get an X-ray last time we came after he landed wrong falling out of a tree, so we know he's got bone claws."

"So it's a possible thing," she said.

"I'd say at this point it's a likely thing," Scott said. "Considering his parents, anyhow."

"Just trying to be scientific. For like … five seconds."

"Well, you're not wrong. Nothing's guaranteed. For all I know, Nate will heal, and James will shoot optic blasts." Scott chuckled and gestured to his face and the three-pronged scars there. "Could surprise us."

"If that's the case, then I think you'd have some serious explaining to do," Jan teased.

"Oh yeah. The fact that he looks like his dad and Nate looks like me..."

"That just makes it really confusing," she giggled.

Scott rolled his eyes. "If you say so, Jan."

"I really don't," she said, smiling still. "But I think this is the most fun talk I've had with anyone in a while. All the guys are still half afraid to talk to me or, you know, treat me like I'm not a china doll that's going to shatter at any moment."

Scott shook his head. "You really need to get out more if I'm your measuring stick for fun. You can ask Rachel: I'm a boring dad."

"Hey. You bring the fun with you," Jan said.

"Oh, I see. You're using me to get to the real fun."

"Closest I'll ever probably get," she replied.

"I already said I'd let you babysit," he said, shaking his head. "We're going to be here pretty often for Rachel, and if James ends up needing more advanced schooling, we'll have to find a place close by and commute between them."

Jan tipped her head in concession and turned to watch the kids in the living room as Mia curled up with her head on Nate's shoulder as they started to settle down better. Which was about when Jan seemed to realize how long the kids had been separated from James. "How long is that evaluation supposed to take, anyhow?" Jan asked. "Seems like we might be getting close - if you go by how tired the kids are."

"I have no idea," Scott admitted, looking toward where Mia and Nate were curled up on the couch. "I don't know. Is that a good thing?"

"Want me to go spy on 'em?" Jan offered. "I can fly right through the keyhole."

Scott laughed, but before he could answer either way, the geniuses in question hit the hallway headed their way, and Scott got to his feet so he could grab James up into a swinging hug and check on him. "Hey, how'd it go? Did you make them all feel like neanderthals?"

"I don't think so," James said, shaking his head and looking a little confused now that he was out and away from them.

Scott raised an eyebrow and then readjusted the way he was holding James so he could point his gaze toward Tony. "See that look? That is the look of a man who has no poker face and is excited about his hand. That look tells me you did amazing."

"I don't know," James said slowly as Tony and Bruce came the rest of the way toward them. "They've been like that since before we did anything."

"Well, let's ask," Scott said, then made a show of looking toward Tony and Bruce. "Well?"

"He's got some serious potential," Bruce said, even cutting across Tony, which was impressive on its own.

"I could have told you that," Scott said, ruffling James' hair.

"He picks up equations after seeing the way they're solved," Tony said. "Nothing rocket-science level - yet - but yeah. He's gonna be bored with most things, I think."

"So, what do I need to do?" Scott asked. "Whatever program he needs, I'll do it."

"It's okay," James said quietly, curling in on himself. "You don't have to."

Scott let out a breath and turned to press his forehead to James'. "Hey, bud, it's not a problem. We found Rachel a school that works for her; now we need to find you one. And we'll find something for Nate where he can play every sport the world has ever known, too."

"Ah … about that. It might end up being more like a group of tutors," Tony said. "I can tell you from experience being a kid in a place meant for older teens and adults isn't … a great idea. And if he takes off like I think he will, a program might be restrictive." When Scott glanced up at him, Tony tried to clue Scott in at exactly how well James was doing. "I know I was bored in my programs most of the time."

"Right." Scott nodded and gave James a hug until he relaxed, then turned back to Tony. "I need them to be cleared by you, me, and Natasha before I'll let them meet him."

"Wouldn't dream of anything else," Tony said. "I'll start looking. Don't worry about costs; I'll get whoever you pick on contract and take care of it."

"Thanks," Scott said, adjusting the way he was holding James. "This really does mean a lot to me."

"Told you before you just had to tell me what you needed," Tony said. "I'm sticking to it." He reached out to rest a hand on James' back, which drew the little boy's attention. "You did great, kiddo. Really great."

James smiled quietly at that but kept close to Scott as Bruce started to chat with Scott and Jan - who was enthusiastic and cheerful enough that James started to relax more - a point that had Scott smiling at her. She was going to be an amazing influence if she was serious about her offer to spend time with the kids.