Nicole hissed as a nurse applied some stinging cleanser to the cuts in her back. Initially, Xavier was the physician, but today he was off on some errand or another.
"Oh, my, these are deep..." the woman commented, sounding somewhat surprised.
"No shit," Nicole muttered, grimacing and trying not to cry. As she struggled to keep back tears, the woman dolloped a large amount of the cleanser into one of the deeper wounds. "Hhmmm.." Nicole whimpered softly, wriggling in pain.
"Don't squirm dear, you're making this much harder than it should be.." the nurse cooed softly, patting her on the head like a disobedient dog. Growling deep in her throat, Nicole clutched her knees tightly and stared resentfully at the windowpane in the infirmary door way.
"So how exactly did this happen?" The nurse asked, while trying to decide whether Nicole would need industrial size Band-Aids or stitches. Nicole let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Logan happened..." she replied. "Accident in the Danger Room during a simulation."
"Oh my, he is sort of a danger hazard isn't he?" the nurse mumbled, poking and prodding gently at the wounds.
"Ooooowww..." Nicole breathed, gritting her teeth she answered. "Yes I think he is... since he has a hard time controlling his temper..."
The nurse tut tut-ed. "Well, as long as he doesn't bother me I won't bother him... I'm half glad that he can heal himself..." she muttered skeptically. "Those wounds should be fine, I'll just tape some gauze bandages over them to keep bacteria from entering them until they close up. You should be able to take them off tomorrow morning, your back will be a bit tender though.."
Nicole nodded. "Alright, sounds good..." she mumbled, sighing in relief.
"Are you going to the dance?" the nurse asked.
"of course I am," Nicole replied, a bit confused as to what that had to do with anything.
"Then you need to remember to be careful how close you decide to dance with someone. I wasn't kidding when I said that your back will be tender." Nicole nodded, getting up off of the table.
Katie appeared at the door, waving, as she'd run off to the locker rooms to fetch Nicole's clothing (Nicole having been rushed off still suited up in hot, sweaty leather that was none to comfortable to boot). Tossing the bundle to Nicole, Katie smiled at her friend. "Guess what?"
Nicole smiled gratefully for her clothes. She hopped gratefully into her jeans, and haltingly, slowly she pulled her black long-sleeved shirt on over her safety pin-repaired bra. "I hate guessing games, what is it Katie?" she mumbled, checking that her bandages were still securely in place.
Katie smiled, glad that her friend was in one piece... but she doubted the news that she came with would keep her that way... "Logan came here to apologize for hurting you." she stated cheerily.
Nicole blanched. "Tell him I died." she replied with an entirely straight face. Logan was (as usual) the last person she wanted to interact with right now.
"Nicole! It's Logan! Apologizing! You should make the most of it. Besides..." Katie turned to pleading. "This doesn't mean you can't still blackmail him about this. or keep making him feel really guilty..." Nicole shook her head. Ignoring her friend's protests, Katie yelled to the door, "You can come in now!"
Scowling, Nicole shot Katie a ' damn you to hell' look before the door creaked open and the unwelcome Logan stepped in. Logan certainly did not look like he wanted to apologize. Rather, he looked like someone made him come to apologize. It had been Scott most likely. Clearing his throat in a way that sounded like a growl he began to speak, making Nicole's scowl deepen. "So... how's the um... back doing... not too bad? You're alive right? No harm done.." he grumbled, leaning to the side ever so slightly as if expecting the back of her shirt to be ripped open and unveiling the nasty welts in her skin.
"Plenty of harm done." Nicole countered. "My back is killing me and its probably going to scar..." she went on and on in a mini-rant, glaring at him the entire time. Logan endured the rant because he had to, disagreeing with everything.
Katie sighed to herself, edging out of the way. They were so very alike. In fact, if he hadn't been some sort of teacher they would have been perfect for each other.
Logan sighed in an irritated manner. "Look, It's not like I meant shred your back to ribbons.." he growled, pointing a finger at the hormonally imbalanced young woman in front of him.
"Oh, yeah ok.." Nicole said, none too maturely.
"Look, kid. I'm sorry that I caused you serious bodily harm-" he began.
"Not to mention psychological harm as well, Mr. I Don't Know How to Knock..." snarled Nicole, blushing as she recalled the painful event. Oh god, why did I just bring that up!
Logan looked a bit taken aback, he really hadn't expected her to bring that up. "I'm sorry about that too! Again, I really wasn't trying to walk in on you undressing!" Of course now that was all that he could think of, and it really, really, really wouldn't help his cause if he got all turned on in the middle of her yelling at him.
Katie snorted mid-giggle, interrupting the little lovers spat.
Scowling, Logan fell silent, trying to concentrate on things other than Nicole's naked chest. Nicole continued to blush. I swear if he starts getting a boner... I really will kill him this time... Nicole thought mutinously.
Katie continued to grin, " But obviously you haven't forgotten it...so obviously it must be something that you don't exactly hate to think about.." Katie laughed.
Both of them turned to glare at her, unsure of which one she was talking to and neither agreeing. Backing up a bit, not really wanting to have to face an angry Nicole and an angry Logan, Katie just smiled sweetly and as innocently as she could. "Well, its true..." she protested as a way of defending herself.
Nicole shot Katie another warning look. Katie promptly shut up after allowing herself a small squeak of embarrassment.
Focusing once more on Nicole, Logan growled, "Look, I'm not going to say it again. But it you're just going to refuse my apology kid..."
"I'm not a kid!" Nicole interrupted
"Oh? Could've fooled me!" shouted Logan.
"Like I'd accept an apology from someone who doesn't even mean it you great, big, fur ball!" Nicole retorted, her face becoming red as her temper began to boil over.