Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X Men.
We're All Family
Chapter 32
When Adam had arrived in the lab Hank had Brennan scanned and hooked up to an IV. Satisfied with the diagnosis and prognosis he moved on to Shalimar.
Evie held his shoulders as he removed the sheet to check her wound. She smiled slyly as his head snapped around to face her. Shrugging her shoulders she offered her explanation. "You had the bullet out. I just healed the wound. And yes, I'm fine." She answered his next question before it had a chance to form on his lips.
Adam smiled at her and just nodded as he moved on. Hank had just finished removing the bullet from Sissy's shoulder. "I saw the report on Brennan. Thank you."
"No need for thanks." He turned, "Evie, Sissy is ready."
"Whoa. Wait." Adam reached out to his wife as she began to step passed him. "Another bullet wound?"
"Darling, I've already strengthened Jesse and Bobby and healed Hank's ears and Jack's arm. I'm fine."
"That's too much," Adam began to shake his head.
"Adam," Jean softly called for him to turn as she walked up behind him. "I've been monitoring her and making sure she's not overdoing it. It's been a while since she worked on Shalimar and she only strengthened the guys. Jack's arm was easy."
Adam looked from Jean to his wife as Evie entered his mind. Darling, I'm fine. You can feel it. Come with me and we'll do it together. Maintaining the connection they walked into the room where Sissy was lying. Adam stood and watched as he felt Evie's powers begin. He could feel their strength and waited for any sign of weakness. When he didn't get it, he smiled and waited for her to finish. Their minds embraced as he sent his love and apology to her. "I love you," he whispered as they turned to leave the now healed girl to sleep off the anesthesia.
Jean smiled as they emerged and handed Evie Jubilee's X-ray. "Two breaks. She said Bobby dropped her. If you don't heal her, she'll never let him live it down."
Adam shook his head as the women giggled. "I'll get the governors off." He moved to get the device he knew Hank stored for him after the incident with Kitty and Marie. Moving to Logan first he saw the man, seeming asleep with his wife by his side. Slight movement only seen upon careful examination told him that sleep wasn't the cause of his closed eyes. "I don't know how you've done it," Adam's voice was full of admiration. He smiled and held up the tool when Logan's eyes slowly opened. He waited for the man to roll enough to give him access. Making quick work of the deactivation and removal Adam sighed in relief knowing the pain had stopped. "Your gift should have you on your feet in no time." Leaving him in the care of his wife Adam turned to repeat the process on both Jack and John.
Rest was desperately needed for everyone. With orders given and a 'doctors only' watch set, all retired for the night leaving Sissy, Brennan, Shalimar, Jesse and Bobby to awaken in due time.
Friday
Hours later it was mid afternoon by the time everyone began actually moving after being in the lab most of the night. Hank was where expected, scanning patients and making notes in charts. Adam and Evie walked in just as Jesse began to stir. Evie closed her eyes and called to Kitty.
Kitty came in just as Jesse sat up. She silently moved into his arms and held him for long moments. She only moved back when she heard Adam speaking.
"How do you feel, Jess?"
"Actually," he smiled as he looked at his wife, "I feel wonderful."
"Kitty, step back for just a moment, please. Jesse, I want you to phase." Adam watched as he complied. "Ok, good. Now, stand up and phase the bed. Good. Now, mass." Adam smiled and nodded his head. "Your scans show all clear. Go find your son and have something to eat."
"What about them?" Jesse indicated the other patients in the lab.
"Sissy and Shalimar are fighting off the anesthesia. They'll be around soon. Brennan's system is trying to re-establish its normal rhythm. He'll take a little longer."
"What about Bobby?" Jesse moved to the side of his friend. "Is he ok? He can't hold his breath as long as I can. I saw him pass out."
"Who said…" a dry voice croaked as Bobby tried to swallow and speak again. "I did…not pass…out."
Evie came to his side and handed him a glass of water after Jesse had helped him to sit upright. She smiled at him as he returned the empty glass with a wink.
The lab doors swooshed opened as Jubilee came bounding in. "Bobby, are you ok?" She ran into his arms as he pulled her close.
"Oh, Baby, I'm so sorry. I wanted to get you out of there and I just wasn't fast enough and…I dropped you." Bobby pushed her back to look her over. "Are you ok? Did I hurt you?"
"No," Jubilee smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine." She saw the skeptical look he gave her. "Really…ok…well…I did get a little hurt but…Evie healed me last night. I'm better than new."
"What does that mean? She healed you? From what?" He frowned when she looked down and didn't volunteer anymore information. "Please, Jubes, I have to know. I'll go crazy imagining the worst."
"It wasn't bad, really." Jubilee looked to Evie for help.
"Bobby, her ankle was fractured and there was a pressure hairline in her hip. I did take care of it. She's fine."
Bobby held Jubilee close again as he thanked Evie. Hank moved closer to the couple and gently laid a large blue hand against Jubilee's shoulder. "This time you got lucky. There won't be a next." His stern look bore into Jubilee as she turned to look question his comment. Without giving her time to ask he continued. "I have been far too lenient with you, Child." He turned a glare to Kitty and added, "I'm glad you are under Adam's care, or I may have made the same mistake with you." Suddenly turning and in a leap landing at his desk he shook his head and growled at himself. "I've always let you two charm your ways around me. Not anymore!" He looked back to their mystified expressions as they all gaped back at him; all but one. He held his glare as long as he could. Their shock and confusion at his change of demeanor was enough to make him crack. Finally, he had pity on them and smiled, sending them into further confusion.
Bobby stood and turned to face the doctor. Protectively, he turned himself, standing with his wife behind him to face and deflect the doctor's explanation. "Doc, what mistake? Is…is there something wrong?"
Hank could see that the concern he heard in Bobby's voice was permeating the small group before him. Slowly shaking his head as he returned to them, he looked into Evie's knowing eyes as she moved to stand with him.
Evie could sense that her movement further confused and worried them. She felt the unspoken questions from her husband and brushed his mind with a smile as she took her place beside the other doctor.
"You, Young Lady, missed your last two physicals." Hanks voice was stern and uncompromising. "It won't happen again." Hank put his hands on Bobby and Jubilee's shoulders, maneuvering them side by side. "You will be here for every appointment, without excuse, if you want that healthy, happy little Katie we met." He watched in amusement as his words settled on the couple before him.
Excitement amplified slowly as his words sank in. Kitty screamed and jumped to hug her bright smiling husband. Adam smiled and shook his head at the antics of his colleague. Jubilee had gone from stunned, opened-mouth shock to joyful exuberance as she, like Kitty, jumped and embraced her husband.
Bobby was the only one still looking traumatized as his wife turned from him to embrace the doctor. Noise around him muffled indistinguishable as his mind raced with shock and apprehension. So consumed with the fear and dread that locked over his mind, Bobby transformed and Iceman stood before his friends mumbling incoherently.
Jubilee turned and gasped in shock, stepping back as Kitty reached for her in support.
Hank, still the closest to him and the first to sense the change even before it was complete, now stood a little on guard as he spoke. "Iceman?"
"15 feet…" he was finally understandable. "15 feet…I dropped her from 15 feet in the air."
Evie fought the cold surrounding his mind to break through his dread. "Bobby, listen to me." She braved the frosty air around her. "Jubilee is fine." Sending as much calm as she could muster as she shivered, Evie stepped back and broke the connection with Iceman. Falling back a step, she felt her husband's arms around her, his warm hands moving over her chilled arms as he held her.
In a moment the air warmed and Bobby was back. Turning and embracing his wife, too tight for her to handle, he began muttering his apologies. "Oh, Jubes. I'm so sorry. I could have hurt you and our…Oh my God…you're…we're…we're gonna have a baby? Really? Oh, wow."
"It's finally happened," Jesse began as he moved closer to his friend. "She's finally rubbed off on you. I hope its just the excitement. I don't think we could handle it if you spoke as fast as she does all the time."
Ignoring the chuckles around him, Bobby sobered once again. "Doc, tell me the baby's ok. Tell me I didn't hurt them." The heartbreak in his voice instantly silenced everyone in the room.
Hank smiled at the tenderness. He so loved his family. "Fear not, Bobby. Both mother and child are fine. Jubilee is very strong and in the first trimester the child is most protected from external influence." Turning to Jubilee, "As of now you are off duty until further notice," he said. "I will not make the same mistake again."
After sharing the initial realization and joy of the revelation, the two young couples left together, all filled with new wonder and excitement.
Shalimar began to groan. Hank was closest and moved quickly to check her. When Adam and Evie moved closer Hank was smiling and helping a very frazzled feral to sit. "Now, just relax and let your senses adjust. It will be ok in just a minute."
Shalimar closed her eyes and breathed deeply for a few moments as she complied with the good doctor's recommendations. Soon she felt safe and rested and then she realized she could also hear. She touched her ears and looked at her hands.
"I cleaned the blood as best as I could last night." Evie soothingly touched her shoulder. "You'll feel better after a shower."
"Brennan, is he…" Shal looked fearfully into Adam's face.
"He's fine," he was quick to assure. "Very weak…but fine. Go take a shower, change, have something to eat with your daughter then come back down. By then I'll have more for you." Adam watched as Shalimar moved to her husband's bedside. He saw her gently take Brennan's hand in hers and held it to her heart. Moving behind her, Adam put his hands on her shoulders for strength. "Go on," he whispered. "I'll call you,…you know that…" He kissed her forehead as she nodded and turned toward the door.
Hank was about to check on Sissy as he saw Jack come in. "My Stars, I never get so many visitors as after a mission." He grinned toothily at the young man's downcast face. "Oh, I understand. You didn't come to see me." Hank teased as he lead the youth behind the curtain that hid his patient.
"Come on, Doc," Jack sighed, "How is she?" His whisper almost hurt as he looked down at her still form.
"Suzanne will be just fine, thanks to Evie." Hank turned as he sensed Evie walking up behind him.
"I didn't do much. You took the bullet out."
"A bullet she shouldn't have had. I didn't even see the gunman take aim at her. Hell, I didn't even know she was shot until Logan told us later." Suddenly realizing his words he looked at Evie for a brief second. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't…"
With compassion and concern on her face she stepped up to the young man and touched his shoulder. She'd sensed his self deprecation and knew it stemmed from his relationship with Sissy. She was his kid sister. "Jack you couldn't have done anything."
"I should have been able to protect her. I wasn't even aware enough to know she was shot." Angry at himself and not wanting it to flow to her he turned away. "I shouldn't have let her leave my side."
"That isn't the way we operate," Hank countered. You were both on a mission. She was given a job to do."
"She's too young, she shouldn't be forced into a mission like that…she…" Jack's words froze on his lips as he heard…
"Hey! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I knew I could count on you."
When Jack spun around he saw Sissy raised on one elbow as she clutched a sheet over her chest. Rushing to her, he leaned over and pulled her into a hug crushing her hand between them. "Sis…I was so worried."
"Thanks,…I think," she squeaked as he held her too tight. When he released her she readjusted the sheet and looked up at him. "I think I've been here before." She glanced at the sheet and back into his eyes, smiling.
"If you will let me scan you," Hank moved to her side, "I will release you and you may go and dress properly."
"Um…Doc?" Sissy's voice was suddenly full of fear.
"Yes, My Dear."
"Am I the only…um…patient?"
Evie moved forward and touched her arm, sensing her hidden questions. "Everyone came home and is fine."
"Brennan?"
"You saved him," Jack offered as apology for his earlier outburst. "You got him far enough away that when the governors were triggered again he didn't feel it."
"Again?" horror crossed her face. "Oh no, are you ok?" When she saw Jack nod she quietly added, "John?"
"He's fine, too…" Jack looked into her eyes and furrowed in determination.
Sissy couldn't stand up to his scrutiny, he knows, and she looked away quickly. "So…Doc, can I leave?"
"May I leave…and yes, you may."
"I'll walk you up," Jack offered. As he turned around for her to stand and take the robe Evie offered.
"No. That's ok. I'll…um…see you later." Sissy rushed passed and out the lab before he could answer or follow.
Watching Jack leave with his hands in his pockets and his head down, Adam looked up at his wife when she came to his side. "What was that about?"
"I think Sissy is crushing on someone?"
"Jack?" Adam asked confused.
"No, Darling. Actually I think it's John." She smiled as Adam walked into her mind and showed her a few specific incidents while on the mission. Definitely John.
TBC
