I don't own the X men or the Brotherhood.
The Power of Touch
Chapter Four – Revelations
She woke up to shouting. They had been in the fallback location for over a month, and things had been quiet. There had been a few people come back for treatment – but very few injuries. Erik and Victor were expanding their plan – taking on more than just Sentinel facilities – and there had been a few encounters with the X-Men – but no major problems. She lay there and tried to decide if she wanted to get involved in another argument between John and Mortimer.
"You don't get it. We need to have everything ready to move on a moments notice." Mort was saying.
"And I say we can have some comfort – Treasure could sure use some." John was saying.
"She ain't complaining – she knows what's at stake as much as the rest of us do – you just want your damned video games."
"Fuck you, Toad. I am worried about Marcy and the baby alright." That was it – she was going to have to get involved.
"Sure you are…" Mort was saying as she walked into the conference room.
"If you two are going to fight over me – would you do it where it won't wake me up!" She snapped at both of them.
"Sorry – kid." Mort said. She braced her hands against her sore back – three more weeks – according to the doctor – and she could get rid of this weight on her back. She couldn't wait.
"Your back bothering you again." Mort asked, pointing to how she had her hands braced.
"It's always bothering me. It will until….WHOA!" She stopped dead. That HURT. Both men looked at her – and held their breaths. "Okay – got to sit down." She said and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was probably just the damned Braxton's again – they'd been bothering her all night – starting and stopping – starting and stopping. Dr. Peters said they were normal – but they HURT – and if this was ANY indication of labor – Pyro BETTER get some good painkillers on his next supply run.
"Now what are you two arguing about this morning." She snapped.
"I keep telling Toad we can unpack some things – stop living out of suit cases – let the littles relax an play – but Mr. Cautious over there wants us to stay at high alert."
"I agree with him. The report from Myst yesterday wasn't very encouraging. If that group with the FoH finds us – we are going to have to move in a … OUCH!" She glanced at the clock – eight minutes – ok wait for the next one.
"Marcy – I am going to get Dr. Peters." Mort said.
"It's probably just Braxton…" She felt something wet under her - "forget I said that – get the doctor."
"What?" Pyro looked panicked.
"My water broke." She said.
"PYRO – get her back to her bed – I'll get the doc." Mortimer was calm – in control.
John helped her stand and helped her to her room – they had to stop halfway down the hallway – another contraction hit.
She waited for the doctor – what was taking so long. It wasn't like – and then she heard the sounds of rushing feet – way too many for just Dr. Peters and Mortimer.
"Get her up and moving – we need to get her into one of the trucks – FoH is on the way." Mort snapped at Pyro. "Sorry, Marcy – but we can't wait."
"Move." She snapped at Pyro, as she climbed back out of the bed. Pyro was standing there looking around helpless. "Go get your bag – I have mine and the baby's MOVE!" She shouted at him again. Mort grabbed the bags from her and Dr. Peters took her arm to help her to the truck.
They had a mattress from one of the rooms in the back of the truck and Dr. Peters helped her lay down. The other trucks were overloaded with supplies – since they were using this one as a mobile delivery room. Pyro climbed into the cab, throwing his bag into the back.
"Idot – bags go in another truck – Marcy doesn't need any extra gear flopping around back here." Dr. Peters snapped at him.
"Sorry – we need to get moving." John snapped back.
The truck bounced along – but after the sixth contraction she completely ignored it – all she wanted was the pain to stop.
"Alright – Marcy – we are going to try to get you up on your feet – I want you to squat down. It will be easier this way – especially under these circumstances." The doctor put clean towels under her and she felt a huge pressure against her pelvic bones. "When the next contraction starts – I want you to push." He said – she just glared at him – what was she going to do – stand there and do the hula. She was cursing Tom – swearing to NEVER have sex again – it felt like she was being ripped in two – and then Dr. Peters told her to stop.
"I need to clear the nasal passage – then I want you to push again – another big one and the shoulders will be out." He said softly – as the soft cries of a baby filled the air. She pushed – and felt the rest of the baby slide out of her. She collapsed back against the arms holding her and realized it was Mortimer. She hadn't even noticed him. She felt another urge to push – and Dr. Peters wrapped the afterbirth in one of the towels before turning back to the baby.
"It's a girl." Dr. Peters said. He had her in a small portable incubator – making sure she was alright. Mort helped Marcy up – and pulled the towels off the mattress. They had put a plastic sheet under them so she would have someplace to lie down after. He cleared everything away – and helped her get settled. Dr. Peters handed her the blanket wrapped bundle and she looked at the face of her daughter.
"So – you got a name in mind." Mort said softly.
"Dana." She said. He grinned.
"Dana's a good name." He looked down at the bundle in her arms. "Sure am glad she takes after her mother." He grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"She's beautiful." He said as he jumped down from the truck. She looked after him – stunned. She dozed off – waking when Dana cried – Dr. Peters helped her get the baby settled for feeding and she dozed while the baby fed.
"We are going to have to stop soon – I need to do a post natal exam – make sure there is no damage to Treasure." He said to Pyro through the cab window.
"Can it wait – Mort says we are almost to the camp."
"It needs to be soon. I am not seeing any sign of excess bleeding – but I need to make sure." Marcy dozed – waking only when the truck stopped and Dr. Peters did his exam. He was pleased which eased her own worries – and she went back to sleep – her finger wrapped in a tiny fist as Dana slept in a basket next to her mattress.
She woke to the cries of the baby – as someone handed her to her. She couldn't see who it was in the dark – but the soft whispers told her it was Mort.
"She's hungry." He said.
"Thank you." She whispered back. The camp was quiet. She was still in the back of the truck and could hear a soft rain on the canvas cover. It was comfortable – someone had rigged up a heater for her and the baby.
Mort climbed out of the back as she adjusted to feed the baby. He'd been so good about everything – she didn't understand why he was embarrassed by a little breastfeeding. Mort was a strange one – that was certain.
The trip was one she would never remember very well – mostly sleeping and feeding the baby – until they managed to find a safe place to hide. Mort and John were there to help as much as they could – and Victor and Myst showed up sometime during the run.
They managed to find her some privacy – and had her settled in before they set up the rest of the camp. She wasn't complaining – Dana was eating every two hours and only sleeping about one in between – and Marcy was sleeping when she could.
It was another argument that woke her up this time – between John, Mort, Victor and Mystique.
"…needs to be someplace safe – with people to help her – not running around the country side. Since we can't do that – she needs to say with us." Mort was saying.
"I agree – but what are we going to do if there is a problem." Mystique asked.
"I don't know – but she and the baby need to be safe – with us."
"The kid has held up this long – and the baby's doin' fine. I say they stay with us – Erik wants 'em to." Victor said.
"The baby isn't sleeping – keeping us all up – we need to find someplace for them." John was saying. "Marcy's a good kid – as soon as the baby is ready to travel we can pick her up again."
"NO! We aren't just leaving her." Mort said fiercely.
"What – old man – you think you can take care of her – you can't even stay in the same room when she's feeding the baby." John snapped.
She heard the sound of flesh meeting flesh – and Victor's threatening growl. "Put it away Kid."
"Fine – but something needs to be done." Pyro said as a door slammed. She tried to sit up but her body just wasn't listening.
"Mort – did you have to hit him." Mystique said.
"Marcy deserves better than this – she's just a kid herself – we promised to take care of her – all of us. I ain't said nothin – not to her – not to anyone – but I'm worried – about her about Dana."
"Dana?" Mystique asked.
"The baby." Mort said.
"Oh – didn't know she'd named her yet."
"See how much you pay attention – it isn't safe to leave her – not alone." Mort said.
"Mort – we all care about Marcy and the baby – but with the FoH dogging our heels like this – she's slowing us down." Mystique said.
"I ain't leaving her." Mort said. "Not without someone to care for her and Dana."
"I'm with Mort – she stays – or someone stays behind with her." Victor said.
"Fine – she stays – but who's going to be responsible for them – we all have our jobs to do." Myst said.
"I will." Mort said.
"What the hell do you know about babies?" Myst asked.
"Enough – Marcy is my responsibility." It was fierce.
"Mort?" She heard surprise in Myst's voice – and a deep chuckle from Victor.
"Fine – you take care of her – take care of both of them. This is rich – the frog boy has a crush."
"Fuck you – Creed. She's a good kid that's had some hard breaks – and doesn't deserve to be abandoned by her friends."
"I think someone is a little more than a friend." Mystique said.
"Not so she'd know – and I plan on keeping it that way." She heard Mort snap.
"Why NOT!?" Myst asked.
"She's a KID! Pyro was right about one thing – I'm way too old for her – no matter what I might feel – she'd never feel the same."
"Mort – the first time you touch her she'll know." Myst said.
"Nope – I know how ta hide it – lets say I have a lot of practice – not exactly popular with the ladies – what with my eating habits – and looks." He grumbled. Marcy lay there – he had no idea she was awake – and then Dana cried.
"Enough of this – she'll be awake – she don't need ta hear this." Victor said as Dana's cries reached them. Marcy forced her body to move – she wasn't sure how to deal with what she'd heard.
First – John wanted to leave her behind – with the baby and no help – Myst and Victor were somewhere in between – and Mort – she didn't know what to do about Mort. He'd been so nice – helping with her back – helping with the baby – listening when she needed someone to talk to – but not ONCE had he even hinted he was anything but a friend.
Heck – John had made a few passes at her – while she was pregnant. She wasn't an idiot, she knew exactly how he thought of her – but he never tried to hide it either. Even Victor had let her know – if she was interested – he was - but not Mort. HE rubbed her back – and her feet – and let her moan about being the size of a whale – and cursing herself and all men for her getting pregnant – and not once – even when he was touching her – not ONCE hinted that he felt anything for her but concern.
She cuddled Dana close, her hungry cries quieted. John was right about one thing – Dana was eating – and NOT sleeping much. Marcy was exhausted. She was growing – and quickly – but Marcy was worried. She should be going longer between feedings – but it was getting shorter and she was still hungry when there was nothing left to give her. Marcy was getting scared – and didn't know what to do.
Mystique opened the flap of the tent.
"Morning – sleepyhead – how's the little one?" She smiled.
"Hungry – always hungry." She said quietly.
"Try this." Myst handed her a bottle.
"Formula – I thought you said…"
"Hey sometimes it doesn't work out – and with all the moving around – as a supplement it's not a bad idea. You should still try – but this might help her sleep more." Myst said.
Marcy waited until Dana let go, her dissatisfied whimpers letting her know she was still hungry – and offered her the bottle. At first she didn't take it – and Marcy was close to tears – but finally she realized it was filling her tummy – and she started draining the bottle.
She quit about half way, and with a little burp went right to sleep. Marcy looked at Myst gratefully.
"I couldn't breastfeed mine – I tried – but I just didn't produce enough milk for him." The shape shifter said. "I kept trying until I had to give him up – but he just never got enough from me. I have been afraid this might happen – stress and moving around a lot can effect your milk production." Marcy had missed the other woman the last several months. She couldn't talk about this with Mort or John.
"Thanks."
"I'll have Pyro try to scrounge up more formula – and just keep trying – until you stop producing at all – she still needs what she can get from you." She held out her hands and Marcy handed her the baby.
"She is so beautiful." Myst said – a tear in her eye – before laying her down in the basket next to the bed. "Try to get some rest – hopefully she'll sleep a while with a full tummy."
"Myst – is Mort alright?" She asked.
"Toad – why?"
"I heard you guys."
"Oh no. Toad – well he's – Toad." She tried to shrug it off.
"Myst – I don't want to hurt him – he's been really good to me – and Dana – and I really care about him – a lot – he's nice and sweet and…" Myst held up her hand.
"Toad will be fine. He's been through things like this before – he bounces back."
"But Myst…"
"Enough about Toad – how's Dana other than hungry all the time."
The two women talked about the baby – but Marcy couldn't stop thinking about what she'd heard. Myst left and she curled up and tried to go to sleep. She didn't have time to think about it now – but she would as soon as she'd gotten enough sleep to think straight.