Suit Up

Two hours of sleep. At most Amelia had managed two hours of sleep. Considering she was going to be in a life threatening situation, two hours of sleep probably wasn't a good thing.

She dressed in the first pair of clean clothes she saw and went down to the kitchen. Charles and Moira were there. So was a very blue Raven.

Breakfast wasn't made. Something was wrong.

Amelia finally noticed something else out of the ordinary for Raven. "Where's Hank?"

Raven looked to Charles but replied, "I'm not sure…"

Charles sighed at Raven and addressed Amelia, "He told me yesterday we were all to meet at the lab. Breakfast is going to have to be an individual responsibility today."

"That's okay. I don't think I could eat even if I wanted to." She served herself a cup of already made coffee.

Moira looked both nervous and determined. She rolled Amelia an apple. "Trust me; you're going to need all the strength you can get."

Amelia took the apple. It wasn't much but it was all the food she'd be able to keep down.

Five quick cups of coffee (extremely quick –scalded tongue quick) later, and Alex, Sean, and Erik came in. Erik was wearing a purple turtle neck. She tried not to read too much into that.

Everyone managed to get some food down their throats and then they headed to the lab. There was a note on the door: Gone to the airbase, bring the crate marked X. Hank.

Charles opened the door. The room was a mess. Completely and utterly trashed. They all walked in with wide eyes and trepidation.

Erik broke the silence. "What the hell happened here?" No one answered. They reached the back of the lab. There was a huge metal crate with black tape in the form of an X. Charles opened it and they all took a look. Erik's voice was droll, "Hank has been busy."

Dear lord… There was no way she was going to be wearing that.

Alex seemed be aligned with her thoughts. He asked aloud, "Do we really have to wear these?"

Charles answered (a bit snarky for him), "As none of us mutated to endure extreme g-force or being riddled by bullets, I suggest we suit up."

They ended up getting dressed at the airbase. They had all had to squeeze into the jeep. Apparently Hank borrowed Charles' car. Charles hadn't been too happy about that.

Amelia, Raven, and Moira dressed in the ladies room. The jumper suit thing was weird. The material looked like, but wasn't quite leather. And it was surprisingly comfortable. It was blue and yellow. Hank really needed to learn about discretion (but man, could he stitch) –weren't they supposed to blend in and be camouflaged?

Moira didn't match. She wore a green suit actually approved by the government.

Amelia tied her hair back in a braid. Raven had zipped up her suit to her cleavage. Amelia looked down at her own suit. It was zipped all the way up. She looked at Moira –her suit wasn't zipped up all the way either. Was there some kind of unspoken rule that the women had to show as much skin as possible? She left her zipper were it was.

They went out to meet the guys.

Amelia tried not to stare. Erik looked even more dangerously handsome. The bastard.

They stood in a line in front of a sleek and fast looking jet. Moira went to make a quick call to the CIA. Amelia stood by Charles –she didn't want to be near Erik. He was too much of a distraction.

Standing around waiting was getting annoying. Raven was concerned though and she raised a question Amelia had asked earlier. "Where's Hank?"

A voice gravellier than Hank's called out. "I'm here."

Amelia looked toward the hanger door. The outline of a man was visible. The outline got closer and it didn't look like a man quite as much.

Charles was confused. "Hank?"

The outline stopped being an outline. Amelia felt her jaw drop. Hank was… blue… and fuzzy… He looked… pretty freaking cool.

Hank reached them. He didn't meet their eyes but spoke, "It didn't attack the cells. It enhanced them. It didn't work." He was disappointed and ashamed.

Raven reached out to him. "Yes, it did, Hank. Don't you see? This is who you were meant to be. This is you. No more hiding."

Erik clapped Hank on the shoulder. "You never looked better, man."

Amelia felt like slapping a hand to her forehead. Erik was an idiot. Unfortunately Hank thought that was a pretty stupid thing to say as well. He reached out and grabbed Erik by the throat –choking him. This being blue and fuzzy thing really wasn't good for Hank's temper.

Charles sprang forward. "Hank!"

Hank snarled and was completely focused on Erik. "Don't mock me!"

Charles pleaded some more, "Hank, put him down immediately –please. Hank! Hank!"

Hank wasn't letting go. Erik's face was turning a nasty shade of red.

Amelia stepped forward and placed a hand on Hank's shoulder. She spoke calmly, "Hank, let him go."

Hank let go and Erik dropped to his knees.

Erik looked up at Hank. His voice was raspy, "I wasn't."

Erik got up and his eyes met Amelia's. Her breath caught in her throat.

She looked at him. He looked back.

They weren't having a silent argument or conversation. They just looked.

Alex spoke and Amelia snapped out of it. "Even I got to admit you look pretty badass. I think I got a new name for you: Beast."

Hank gave a growl.

Sean wasn't concerned with Hank's looks anymore. He was looking at the jet. Absolutely terrified. He looked at Hank. "You're sure you can fly this thing?"

Hank might have looked like a beast but at the mention of the jet he was normal, geeky Hank again. "Of course I can. I designed it."

Moira walked back and did a double take when she saw Hank. But then they started talking about the jet and the plan and she just shrugged and went with his new look.

They trooped in and took their seats. Hank was going to fly and Moira was sitting in the jet's version of a commercial plane's cockpit next to Hank.

Amelia sat next to Alex and across from Sean. Now if she wanted to look at Erik (who was sitting on Alex's other side) she'd have to lean around and crane her neck –that would raise a few eyebrows. Her seat was strategic.

Hank spoke, "This plane is pretty fast. If any of you get motion sickness, I apologize in advance."

The jet started moving and Amelia felt butterflies in her stomach. She was regretting not sitting next to Erik. She took a deep breath and the jet was in the air. She suddenly felt very calm –everything was going to be alright. It had to be.