I don't own the X men.
The Power of Touch
Chapter Four – Roughing It
Marcy groaned – sleeping on the ground wasn't good for her back – at all. It didn't help that the baby had decided to sit right on her spine all night and practice kickboxing. They had been moving around for about two months – long enough for her to start showing.
She pretty much stayed with Erik or Mystique unless they were gone. Victor had joined them about a week into the 'duck and hide' as Toad called it. He hadn't said much, kept to himself, but he was there when she needed protection, which wasn't often. Some of the new recruits questioned why she was there, but Magneto didn't put up with it, they accepted her – or they left.
"I heard that." Myst said from outside the tent.
"Just the baby – and my back." She moaned.
"Get up and move around – it will help."
"Marcy felt like whining – but knew it wouldn't do any good. The last time she had tried to stay in bed, Erik had sent Pyro and Victor in to drag her out – in her night gown. She unzipped the sleeping bag and climbed awkwardly out. She pulled a clean T-shirt and shorts on and tossed her nightgown in the bag she had for laundry.
"Fine I'm up." Myst unzipped the tent and ducked in.
"Lets get everything packed up – we are heading out by noon. Erik wants to get moving."
"Tell me this time we won't be sleeping on the ground."
"I hope not – I could really use a bed."
Marcy grinned – Mystique and Erik were still off again – something to do with abandoning her in a truck after the Cure – so she was sleeping in her own tent instead of with their 'Fearless Leader.'
They had the tent packed up quickly, and Toad walked by and grabbed their bags and the bundled tent. He grinned at Marcy as he went by. She'd hardly seen him since they started moving, just when they packed up, or sometimes when she cooked something he liked for dinner.
John – Pyro – on the other hand was always right there, normally. She looked around for his familiar bleached blonde head but he was no where to be seen.
"Where's Pyro?"
"Mission."
"Oh." She knew better than to ask. Erik didn't want her knowing too much of what was going on – she wasn't involved in the planning or execution of any of the missions – which was fine with her.
"You are riding with Dr. Peters today." Myst said as they headed for the trucks. Marcy was one of the four they considered in need of transportation, so she didn't have to hike everywhere. She didn't complain – Dr. Peters said she got plenty of exercise around the camps. She wasn't even sure where they were – just that it was in the middle of nowhere.
She climbed inside the rickety old truck with the older man.
"How are we doing this morning?" He asked.
"Back hurts and the baby was kickboxing all night." She moaned.
"Sounds normal – take some Tylenol for the back." He handed her a couple pills.
"Well – I guess that's the nice thing about riding with the doc – meds." She grinned. He laughed. She heard another laugh from outside and looked over; Erik was standing by the door.
"I am glad you are in a good mood this morning, Treasure."
"Tell me we get beds tonight?"
"We'll see – if we can get moving – maybe." He smiled and moved toward the front of the column. He made them move like an army – the vehicles carried the heavy stuff, everyone else carried what they owned on their backs, and they hiked in columns of three, not really in lines or in step, but close enough that it looked like an army moving. She looked out at some of the younger kids who had come with the last recruiting run – some of them were younger than she was. She wondered why they came here – to the Brotherhood. Life wasn't easy – that was for sure.
The truck started moving and she leaned back in the seat. She didn't have much to do on the 'marches' just stay out of the way. Erik had put her in charge of the camp kitchens – planning meals based on what supplies they were able to scavenge – or kill, in Victor's case. Supplies were getting low, something she was worried about.
"I think Magneto wants supply reports at our next stop, mine is in the glove box if you want to use the clip board to work on yours while we move." The doctor said.
"Thanks." At least she could concentrate on that. She had a mental inventory of what they had available for food stores and dry goods but it helped to write it down. When she did it looked pitiful. They had probably enough food to get through the next three days – two if any more mouths came in from any of the missions. Erik wasn't going to be pleased; they were going to have to interrupt the moves to scavenge. She tried several different ideas on paper but even with strict rationing – they might be able to make it four days at most. She glanced at the doctor's report – it was as bad as hers. Things weren't looking very good.
"Hey – Treasure – found something…" It was Toad, outside the door. He handed something in the window – another comic, one she had read before but she wouldn't tell him. Every time he went scrounging he tried to bring her back something. Usually they were just left inside her tent – but sometimes he would drop them off like this.
"Thanks – I can read after I finish this supply report." She grinned at him; he just ducked and went back to his place in the column. She watched him move up near Erik. They did try to take good care of her – all of them.
Erik always had a kind word – and made sure she had the time and privacy for her medical care. They didn't have a whole lot of equipment, but Doctor Peters was good, and keeping a close eye on her. It surprised her that she was the only one who was pregnant in the whole Brotherhood. Dr. Peters explained that women with the Brotherhood tried to avoid pregnancies because of the nature of the group – and accidents rarely happened. One of the things on his report was the supply of condoms and birth control pills, both of which were getting low.
There were no hard or steadfast rules against it – and from the way Marcy had been treated, she doubted anyone would be angry if someone did end up pregnant – but it was just something people avoided – and after dealing with all the moves and living arrangements – she could see why. She put her report back in the glove box with Dr. Peters' and tried to concentrate on the comic Toad had given her. The slow movements of the truck rocking over the rough terrain actually lulled her to sleep.
Pyro was outside her window when she woke up, handing her a couple packs of MRE's for lunch.
"We are moving through – Mags wants to get where we are going before nightfall." He said with a grin. She grinned back.
"You doin' ok today, Treasure?"
"Yeah."
"Was Toad there to help with packing?"
"Yes – give the guy a break will ya." She said
"He can be such a jerk sometimes."
"Hey – so can you."
He stuck his tongue out at her "Look who's talking Miss Hormones."
She stuck her tongue out at him and he took off running for the front of the line. At least the family was all home, she even saw Victor's head up there, it looked like the hydra was having a conference, all the heads in one place. She opened the brown packages and picked up the canteen from the floor to start the warmers working. She and the doctor ate in relative silence, and the line just kept moving. She groaned – eating hadn't been a good idea. She glanced over at the doc.
"Need me to stop?" He asked.
"Please." They pulled out of the line and she jumped out of the truck and into some shrubs. By the time she was done – Mist, Victor and Pyro were standing at the truck.
"You ok?" Vic asked.
"Bathroom break."
"I told you." Myst said, grinning at the men.
"Get caught up, Doc. And keep the stops to a minimum; Erik has plans for stopping tonight."
"Tell me that means a bed." Marcy moaned.
"With blankets." Myst grinned. Marcy let out a sigh of relief.
She climbed back into the truck and they hurried to retake their place in line. She dozed the rest of the afternoon, dreaming about a warm bed.
XXXXXXXX
She must have been exhausted – when she opened her eyes she was in a room – in a bed. She glanced around. She was alone, and only one bed in the room. She had her own ROOM. God she hoped they were stopping for a while. She climbed reluctantly out of bed and slipped on her shoes. She hoped she could find a bathroom in this place.
She heard voices coming down the hallway and hoped someone knew where the bathroom was.
"…can't stay here. We need to find her someplace safe." She heard Myst saying.
"Treasure will be fine – as will the baby."
"She slept most of the day, all this moving around is hard on her. Even Dr. Peters is worried." Myst argued back.
"Myst – at least here she can sleep in a bed – running water, it's better than on the roads." She heard Toad saying.
"But who will stay with her, she can't stay by herself, and…"
"I am leaving Dr. Peters and most of the support personnel here; we will only be taking front line troops for any strikes. This will be our fall back and recuperative position."
"And if the FoH find out about this place – about HER!" This time it was Pyro. "They would love to get their hands on a pregnant mutant – just to prove a point."
"Which is WHY at least one of you will remain behind, as protection for the camp – but Treasure's safety comes first. The others can take care of themselves.
"Why is she so important? I mean I like the kid – hell I'd kill anyone that looked cross eyed at her – but still, she's just a pregnant kid."
"She is a rally point – a recruiting point – we accept anyone in any circumstances – and accept them as they are. The child herself is engaging and bright – but as a symbol she is so much more."
"Symbol." Marcy said as she walked into the room. "Is that what I am?"
"First and foremost, My Dear, you are our friend – our sister. Mystique is a symbol, I am a symbol, Victor is a symbol – we all are. I don't apologize for using your situation as a means to an end – but you are what is most important – and the child you carry. "
"Is that why you called me Treasure – because I can bring in more recruits?"
"NO! My Dear – you are taking this completely out of context. YOU are a Treasure – what your story can do to help the Brotherhood – that is an advantage."
"I don't like being a strategy point."
"None of us do – Pyro especially hates it at times, but we all have our use – which reminds me, I managed to have the coursework for your testing sent ahead. Whoever will be saying in this encampment will assist you with your studies. I do not want you to neglect your mind in favor of the child your body is carrying." He smiled his grandfatherly smile. Marcy relaxed a little. He was right, if they could reach more people because of her – then it wasn't a bad thing. They had been kind – caring – in a way no one else had been in her life. She rubbed her hands over her belly, her reason for waking making itself felt again.
"That's fine – but I have one pressing question – where's the bathroom?" Mystique burst out laughing and walked over.
"Come with me – Erik you should be ashamed – keeping a pregnant woman standing there like that." Myst lead her down the hallway, and showed her around. "That's the conference room. This is your room, I am across the hall. Victor, Pyro, Toad and Erik are on another hallway. You and I have a bathroom to ourselves, at the end of the hall. When we are gone, this part of the bunker will be yours."
"Bunker?"
"Yes – Erik is talented at finding these types of places to use for headquarters. Most everyone will be housed in the underground bunkers here – there are five total in this complex. Those who can't be will set up like regular tourist campers above ground, mostly for guard duty."
"Do I have to stay down here?" She said as she came out of the bathroom.
"Of course not, no one is expected to, as long as there aren't huge numbers of people above ground at one time – we don't want satellites to pick us up.. This will be our fall back position, where we send the injured. Erik, Victor and I will be moving on in the morning, we have information about a – well about a target – and it would be dangerous to take you and the support personnel with us. We are planning to use this location for quite a while – Erik is hoping to use it until after the baby is born, so get comfortable." Myst gave her a quick, reassuring hug, and everything Marcy picked up from her was just that. She had gotten better about blocking things with casual touch but – the more intense the contact the less control she had.
"So Pyro and Toad will be staying to run the camp?"
"Toad will – he handles our tech in the field, and is usually considered support personnel unless we need his particular skills up front. Pyro will be in and out, he has different orders than the rest of us."
"Oh."
"I think Erik plans on you continuing with the logistics and meal preparation supervision, you were fantastic on the road. Dr. Peters presented your report, and one of the things Pyro will be doing is gathering supplies."
"Good – I was wondering how we were going to feed everyone. So who is in charge here – in case of problems?"
"Toad – over all – You – for basic logistics – Dr. Peters – for medical logistics and treatment – it will be up to you to pick a lieutenant who can handle things when you can't – or if we are still here – when you have the baby."
"Whoa – I'm in charge – ME! I'm sixteen – I can't even drive a car."
"Welcome to the Brotherhood – you have proven you can handle it."
Mystique left her sitting in her room, she was scared. She was going to be in charge of handling the camp – yes she would have Toad but the WHOLE camp. She tried taking deep breaths but they didn't help calm her panic.
"Hey – kid, you okay?" Victor stuck his head in.
"Scared to death – you?" She snapped.
"What the hell are you scared of?"
"Myst told me I am in charge of logistics – I don't know how to be in charge of anything."
"Kid – what that means is – you will have a list of who is sleeping where – schedule meal times and make sure everyone gets fed and clothed and basically keep inventory. Toad will handle most things – and if you feel overwhelmed go to him." Victor put and arm around her.
"Ya know – I have been more than a little confused about why Erik wanted you on this trip – for lots of reasons – but I am glad you are here. I think all of us would be just a little bit worried about ya – and this way we all will know you are safe. Erik's right about one thing, Marcy – you are a treasure – even when you are a pain in the ass." She laughed – he felt like Logan in her head – just what he felt and what he said – no hiding – very direct. She liked that about him. He was simple.
He left her there, feeling a little better.
The next morning everyone left early. Marcy, Toad, Pyro and Dr. Peters held a meeting in the conference room.
"Ok – we need ta take this list and prioritize it. What we NEED first, and most urgent needs on top – what we could really use, but isn't a necessity – and then things we want – and we aren't including harem dancers – Pyro."
"Damn – a guy could hope." He raised an eyebrow at Marcy. "I bet Treasure there would look great in a pair of harem pants." She slapped his arm.
"Not even funny." Toad said, glaring at Pyro.
"Ah come on – lighten up frog boy. We get stuck with fall back position this time – lets have some fun."
"It's called fall back for a reason – we need to have everything we NEED and then be ready to move on a moment's notice – remember. Just cuz we ain't on the lines this time don't mean we get ta sit on our asses – well except Marcy there."
"Gee – thanks." She grumbled.
"Pregers gets carried out if we have ta run – don't need anyone havin ta fall back if she stumbles." Toad grinned at her again.
She really wanted to slap that grin off his green face.
"My list is pretty much in order – one thing I think – if you can get it – without too much trouble – is a portable ultrasound machine – not just for Treasure – but it can be used for many different things – and if we are going to be handling surgery and triage it should be on the at least can use list." Dr. Peters said.
"I'll see what I can do – Doc." Pyro said, glaring at the older man.
"I said the 'can use' list." They all laughed.
Marcy went over her list – Dry goods should come first – they would last the longest and be useable any time, canned vegetables and meats next – freeze dried and vacuum sealed if they could get them instead, then fresh produce and meats – while they were here – with electrical power it wouldn't be a problem keeping them – but if they had to move, they would be the first thing left behind. Paper products should be on the list of needs, too, paper not plastic or Styrofoam, paper would burn – less trash – less evidence of how many people they had here.
She put her revised list on the table.
"Treasure – that looks great – better than I would do." Toad said, looking it over. "For now though move fresh or frozen meat up toward the top – if we are going to be handling the injured – the more fresh protein the better." She hadn't thought of that.
The meeting broke up, the lists in Pyro's hot little hands. He gave her a swift hug as he left, and she was grateful it was swift – he was still thinking about her in harem pants – and somehow he found the idea – well interesting. She tried to contain her blush. At least he wouldn't be in the camp as much. He would be sending out teams – and going himself – to try to fill the list as best he could.
Marcy was in charge of setting up the camp – Toad had taken care of some things like assigning sleeping areas to men and women – but there were families – couples who wanted to be together – and other issues that he just didn't have time to deal with. She looked over the facilities that afternoon and got a team working in the third bunker, setting up privacy walls and making quarters for family units. It would be cramped but at least families could be together. Toad had a guard rotation every four hours, and Marcy took the last bunker for storage and food prep. The main bunker would serve as headquarters and medical facility. She drafted another team to start setting up the kitchen facilities, and her regular volunteers had stayed to help full time. She had a regular meal ready for dinner – something everyone in the camp was grateful for.
She dropped into bed exhausted that night – but feeling like she had actually accomplished something. It felt strange being 'in charge' but everyone seemed willing to help out. There was none of the whining and complaining she had heard just in her week at the school – of people not wanting to help out, they had something else to do. The Brotherhood didn't put up with that crap – you helped or you did without.
Her back was aching again – but she didn't want to say anything. She groaned when someone knocked on her door.
"Marcy – it's Mort."
"Come in." At least it wasn't a problem she had to deal with – she hoped.
"Are you alright?"
She sat up on the bed, and smiled.
"Other than an aching back – yeah."
"Turn around." He said – and she felt his hands against her lower back. She winced when he hit a particularly sore spot. All she picked up from him was concern – he was concentrating on getting the knots out of her back – and nothing else. She realized how rarely she touched him – and when she did, he was always calm – reassuring – and concerned.
"Feel better." He said finally.
"Yeah."
"You get some sleep – kiddo, we have another long day tomorrow." He grinned. "And you start your English homework." She threw a shoe at his back as he retreated out the door. Her back did feel better – and so did she.