Chapter 4
Iris felt comfortable for the first time in months, years even. The peaceful blackness of unconsciousness enveloped her gently as she felt the last vestiges of her energy store leave her body. It was peaceful here, where she didn't have to worry, didn't have to think.
Hank McCoy watched the monitors attached to the unconscious girl and noted the changes. She would be waking soon, and after a week spent in and out of a coma- like state he knew that the Professor and Gambit would feel relieved. Hank shook his head thinking about how Gambit had been in and out of the hospital bay more times in the past week than he had ever been before. Siblings or not, Hank had a feeling Gambit and Iris were going to have a bond. It had been Gambit who had prevented Hank from running the genetic test on the two of them while Iris was unconscious, "Gambit wouldn' wanna test run on him when he was out, Gambit don' tink she would either." He had said firmly. One of the monitors started beeping startling Hank out of his reminisce. He quickly commed Gambit and the Professor, as well as Rogue, who had requested to knock some sense into the girl she had saved.
Iris felt warmth, soft blankets and pillows. She snuggled into the pillows, they smelled like laundry, like home. Relaxing again she dreamed about the only parents she knew.
"Shh," Hank McCoy blocked the stampede of people from Iris' room. "She's sleeping." He said quietly, "But should be completely conscious soon."
Rogue made a noise of impatience and flopped into one of Hank's many lab chairs. Gambit followed suit with slightly more grace and pulled out a deck of cards, "Wanna play a game wit' Gambit, chere?" He asked with a wink, shuffling the cards between his hands.
"No ya no good swamp rat! Ya always cheat!" Rogue retorted crossing her arms and slouching in her chair. Gambit raised an eyebrow, "Gambit don' cheat, Gambit jus' lucky." He pouted, "Jus one game, chere? We cin play War, der ain't no way to cheat in War." He looked so miserably bored that Rogue gave in. "Fahne, but Ah'm dealin'" She responded.
A thin, weak voice said, "Aww, aren't you just adorable." The pair looked up to find Iris leaning heavily on the doorframe looking absolutely exhausted. Before they could say a word she simply asked, "Anyone have any food?" Promptly fainting where she stood.
-ooOOoo-
Back in bed, Iris's eyes felt heavy, actually everything felt heavy. She struggled to move and finally managed to open her eyes after what felt like an eternity. "Wh-what happened?" She asked blearily.
"I duhno petit, we were hoping you could tell us"
Iris looked up and saw a concerned Gambit, Rogue and Hank standing over her. "I-I don't know." She said rubbing her head, "one minute I was in the Professor's office the next second I was here." Three stunned faces looked at her.
"You mean you don't remember any of it?" an almost excited Dr. McCoy repeated. "Nothing like this has ever to you before?"
"I don't… think so" Iris said shaking her head again, "What happened?"
"Yah kinda went crazy with your powers" Rogue said, looking concerned, "Took out a good chunk of the forest north of here."
"Oh," Iris looked scared, shocked and worried, "was anyone hurt? Please tell me no one was hurt!"
"'Tis okay, petit, der was no one in da forest," Gambit reassured her.
"Oh good…" Iris said sleepily.
"Go back tah bed, sugar. Yah look like a train ran yah over," Rogue said softly, all of her earlier anger gone as she looked at the now sleeping teen.
-ooOOoo-
The Professor rolled down into the lab just as the trio were exiting the room.
"Sorry, Charles, Iris has just fallen asleep again" Hank told the concerned looking man. "And, that is a good thing considering the amount of energy she released."
"Yes, I know, I was rather hoping you would have a better idea of what she is capable of now." Professor Xavier replied.
"I would have to run a few tests to be sure, but I believe she influences the bio-energy around her. From what she told you I believe she is capable of something similar to telekinesis, in that she may be able to move objects but with the limitation that there must be living cells in the objects." Hank said thoughtfully.
"Hmm, I see, but then, how do you explain her earlier display?" The Professor pondered, she seems to have actually unleashed an enormous amount of energy from within her self."
"Yes, I was quite confused as to how that figured into my earlier hypothesis. I did run one test, using this sensor I was able to actually see the energy from this plant decrease when I put it in the room with her – it was literally giving energy to her without her realizing it I'm betting."
"So the energy she unleashed…"
"Was simply too much for her body, or mind to handle. Were you talking about anything that might have upset her?" Hank asked.
Professor Xavier nodded, " I had just brought up her past, while I thought it might be a sensitive subject I felt it was important enough to discuss, considering her similarities to Gambit. And Gambit's own interest in the matter."
Hank sighed, "So many scared, broken or angry mutants pass through these doors, Charles, and she seems to be no exception. I do not know what her past holds, but I think Gambit should not get his hopes up too high for finding any real answers. If she got this upset about it, it must not be good."
-ooOOoo-
Wearily Iris opened her eyes yet again. Subconsciously she knew she should be well rested by now but she was still as exhausted as before. Dr. McCoy bustled into the room doing the regular check-ups and examinations that Iris had gotten so accustomed to in the last few days. "Well, my dear, it seems that your stay in the medical facility here has drawn to a close. I'm giving you a clean bill of health this afternoon." Hank told her cheerfully, "But that is not without the warning that you still need plenty of rest."
"Thanks, ," Iris smiled shyly, "May I ask a favor of you?"
"Certainly, what can I do for you?"
"I was wondering, well, I'm sure you've noticed…" Iris trailed off, fumbling her words and playing with her hands, "Is it possible to find out if Gambit and I are really related?"
Hank looked at her and nodded, "The, erm, possibility of the two of you being linked together somehow has been on Gambit's mind as well. I already have a sample of his DNA on file. Actually, I was going to run the test for both of you while you were unconscious, but Gambit stopped me citing his personal aversion to tests and medical professionals as his reasons."
"Oh, well, Dr. McCoy? How long does it take for the analysis to be complete? Would I have time to find Gambit and tell him about it before it's complete?" Iris said looking thoughtful.
"It would take a while to run through the system and locate any and all matching alleles." Hank replied, "But Iris, why is this so important to you?"
"I-I … I've been alone my whole life Dr. McCoy." The girl said looking down again. "The only thing I could call a family was an elderly couple who let me stay with them for a couple of years, back in Wisconsin. They were the one who found me. Lucy taught me how to read, write and cook. Dave, well, Dave was kinda quiet and grumpy," she said with a small laugh, "He taught me arithmetic, and how to take apart just about anything, and put it back together again."
"It sounds like you loved them a lot," Hank said softly, his voice full of compassion.
"Yeah, I still do," Iris said bitterly, "They passed away a month after I graduated 8th grade. After that I got stuck in the system. Other… people weren't as … understanding of my abilities, or strange appearance. I decided I was better off on my own."
"I see…"
"Dr. McCoy, I won't lie, I stole things for a living. I fell into a bad crowd, stealing for them gave me a way to feed myself, put a roof over my head. I had just gotten out when Gambit and Logan found me. I'm still scared my former employers will come here, looking for me." Iris looked down ashamed. "The Boss is a powerful mutant in his own right."
"Iris," Hank started.
"No. I should never have come here, I should leave." Iris began to rise, intending to get the hell away from the people who had helped her, "I've been nothing but trouble, and my future IS nothing but trouble!"
"Hold on a minute," Hank said firmly, placing a blue furred hand on her shoulder forcing her to look at him, "I was going to tell you before, when I was asking about the genetic testing, that no matter if you and Gambit are genetically related, you've found yourself a new family. Or friends, whatever you choose to think of us as. But we don't let people just leave, especially since I see you have Logan, Gambit and Rogue taking you in already."
Iris looked confused.
"Those three are the least trusting, generally gruff people you will ever come across. Maybe they sense a kindred spirit in you. But I guarantee, you'll have friends here for the rest of your life. Don't waste that." Hank finished, slightly satisfied with his pep-talk / sales pitch for staying.
Iris looked uncertain, "Well, I guess I could stay until the test is done at least." She said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Oh, Iris?"
"Yes?"
"You can call me Hank, everyone else does, or Beast, whichever you prefer." Hank called, already consumed with the test.
-ooOOoo-
Gambit was tinkering with his motorcycle when he heard careful, soft footsteps coming up to him
"Hand Gambit da wrench, petit"
"Sure, here ya go."
"Feelin' any better?"
"Yup, much better, I think I just had to get outside," Iris replied breathing in the cool fresh air mixing with all the normal fumes of a garage. "Nice, bike by the way."
"'Tanks, so petit, why ya wanna talk to Gambit, eh?"
"I told Hank to run our DNA, he said you had already said it was ok and was just waiting on my permission." She said, sort of awkwardly. "He said he would be finished after dinner"
Gambit sat up and looked at her, "Yah know, petit, it don' really matter. Whatever da good doctor says, ya live here, dat makes yah family." Sensing that she was troubled by something, and correctly guessing that it was about her place at the mansion.
Iris smiled shly, "Hank said something along those lines."
Just then Jean, Rogue and Kitty came walking into the garage, "Hey, like, I'm Kitty," the short, perky brunette said, sticking her hand out, "You must be, like, Iris."
"Uh, yeah, yeah I'm Iris," Iris said a little awkwardly.
"Everyone's been talking about you, are you feeling better?" Kitty asked, seeming genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, um, tons, thanks."
"We were just heading to the mall, if you'd like to join us." Jean offered politely.
"Oh, thanks… but I can't really afford anything right now…" Iris said realizing how old and threadbare her clothes really were, and how desperately she needed new ones.
"But, like, …" Kitty started when Rogue interrupted.
"Don' worry 'bout it, sugah, I'm sure the Professor just forgot tah mention you get a stipend. Ya know, money for living expenses."
Iris suddenly looked more hopeful , "Really?"
"Umm yahh!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Don' ya ladies forget 'bout da Danger Room session later ta'nigh'." Gambit's drawl brought them back to reality.
"You, like, never go to them anyway, why do you care?" Kitty asked
"Gambit has a point, Kitty, besides, it'll be Iris' first session and she can't skip it." Jean pointed out diplomatically, "We still have another day till the other kids return for the beginning of term, let's all go tomorrow."