Memories
Screaming and Slipping
Disclaimer: What do you think?
If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.
She was screaming as the woefully unprepared midwives attempted to make unmoveable joints bend, gave painkillers that were expelled from her system in seconds. They were confused and scared and more than half had refused to help when they realized they were dealing with a mutant. And when Logan had arrived, fearful looks had been flung his way.
"Mr Logan."
"Yes."
"I'm Dr Hamilton. I need to talk to you about your wife. Nothing we seem to do can help her but her records say she has already given birth. Who was the doctor in charge?"
"Dr Reyes, with help from Dr McCoy."
"The Dr McCoy?"
"Yeah. I have the notes he made. He was preparing for this birth as well."
"And your wife. The infants are not going to be born naturally. We will need to do a C-section but each time we start, the incisions heal."
"I've got something for that."
The doctor frowned at the vial.
"What is this?"
"An enzyme that slows and in some cases halts the mutant healing factor. Sorry, I don't know what it means, I'm just regurgitating what Hank and Tora say when they get excited."
"Your wife knew what was coming?"
"She knows better than anyone the risks."
"And her bones?"
"Adamantium. Implanted as a teenager."
"I've never heard of adamantium being used as bone replacements."
"Who said it was medical?"
The doctor paled.
"Smart lady. No one works that out as quickly as you do."
"That's…that's Weapon Plus… No, I swear I wasn't a part of it. I reported my superior who used to brag about it."
No smell of lies.
"Let me in."
The doctor nodded and waved the vial.
"With this stuff, I'll be able to sort this mess out."
Logan nodded curtly and prepared to walk into the room.
"You need protective clothing."
Logan snarled.
"I have a faster healing than she does."
"And that's the point. It's infection to her that is the real danger."
Ten minutes later, Logan was having his hand crushed as Tora, no longer screaming, locked eyes with his. She half opened her mouth.
"Hurts…"
"I know. Well, actually I don't."
He was gabbling. He, Logan, Wolverine, grumpy, antisocial, loner X-Man Wolverine, was gabbling. He calmed himself. No use going to pieces when she needed him.
"You've been through worse, remember? Doom, Creed, that stupid black hole business."
Laughter bubbled up in her eyes before the next wave of pain hit her. Something undistinguishable in French came out through clenched teeth. One of the midwives giggled nervously and spoke to Logan in a New Orleans accent.
"She says you haven't got a clue about pain and she will introduced you to a whole new brand when she gets home. I've removed the swearing."
He blinked.
"Swearing? She doesn't swear."
"Oh, she was."
He suddenly became aware that if he didn't have metal bones, his hands would be splinters by now. Her pupils were slit like with fear and he was suddenly more aware than ever that she wasn't even thirty yet. Most of the time she acted so old, so sensible, had seen so much that she acted like she'd lived several lifetimes. And now he was looking into the eyes of a young woman who was afraid and… it wasn't Tora. It was Marie, the girl who had 'died' in the hell of Tora's life.
"Tora?"
"Others…helping…taking pain…"
"Can they do that?"
"I…do it…all the…time."
"You would."
A flash of a smile and then his hand was being crushed again. Don't look at anywhere but her face, try not to smell the blood, keep her occupied while Dr Hamilton does her job. Keep her from thinking about them cutting into her flesh, through skin and muscle. Keep her from going back to the hell of Weapon X.
"Hurts…Logan, it…hurts."
And she couldn't hold it in any longer. Waves started playing around her hands, and specks of blood appeared on her knuckles.
"Control yourself."
"Easy…easy for you…for you to…to say."
"Sarcasm. Sarcasm is good."
And her eyes changed, relaxing. Then going thinner than he'd ever seen them go before.
"Où suis-je? Où suis-je? Qu'est-ce qui se passe? Quentin?"
The New Orleans woman turned and frowned, obviously looking at Logan for direction.
"Calm her down. This doesn't happen often."
"C'est bon, c'est bon, vous êtes sûr."
"Où suis-je?"
"Westchester, New York."
"AMÉRIQUE!"
And her eyes relaxed and looked at him.
"Logan? Thought…thought you were dead."
"What?"
When she was like this, slipping through realities, it was best just to go along with her.
"Magento…pulled my claws out…made me stab you…killed you…I killed you…"
"Don't worry. You didn't."
"Didn't do what? Logan, where's Hank? He said he'd be here."
"He can't be here Tora."
"Tora? Who's Tora?"
Then she flushed.
"Sorry…didn't mean to…lose control… feel like an idiot."
She grimaced, both from pain and trying to keep her mind tethered to her body.
Then Dr Hamilton smiled.
"Girl. And a boy."
Tora gave a look of pure relief and suddenly collapsed backwards, unconscious.
Logan turned. Two tiny babies were being handed to a nurse of some sort.
"Where are you taking them!"
"Your children are not only twins but premature. They'll have to stay in intensive care for a while."
He didn't know what to do. Go after the twins…Eva and Curt…or to stay with Tora. In the end it was decided for him.
"Some people claiming to be friends of yours are outside."
He walked out, feeling odd, as if something terrible was going to happen. Kurt, sans blue fur and tail pulled him into a hug.
"How's Tora?"
"Exhausted."
"And the twins?"
"Curt and Eva."
"Kurt?"
"Curt-with-a-C."
"I am honoured."
"Tora's idea."
"Can we see her?"
"I don't think so."
Hank, also with an image inducer on, came over.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"It's okay Hank."
"Mr Logan, your wife is conscious now. Only three visitors at a time though."
Quick glances decided on Kurt and 'Ro to go into the room with Logan. The cuts on Tora's stomach were already healing, after Logan's suggestion to cut out the tissue contaminated with the healing-halter. She looked worse than he had ever seen her, except for the times when she was dead but he wasn't counting those. Actually, he had seen her in worse states. Normally hanging in manacles and singing 'I Know A Song That'll Get On Your Nerves' repeatedly.
"I. Will. Never. Forgive. You."
"My fault? You insult me like that."
"Couldn't you have brought Hank in?"
"The nice doctor would have been upset."
"Elf, I didn't ask for your opinion. Thanks for coming you two."
Storm smiled.
"You are in hospital again. We have to be there for you and for the doctors' sanity."
Tora grinned and looked like she normally did when she was about to say something biting and sarcastic to an evil madman with a torture chamber.
"Well-"
"Mr Logan? Mrs Logan?"
It was Dr Hamilton, an odd look on her face.
"A moment alone please."
Ororo and Kurt exchanged worried glances and left. Through the glass in the door, they saw the doctor's lips move, saw the look of shock on Logan's face. And the utter devastation on Tora's. And then the doctor walked out, head down.
"Dr Hamilton? I am Dr McCoy. What is… What is wrong?"
The woman, bags around her eyes and a look of pain on her face glanced up.
"The boy. The boy died."
Death and Phoenix glanced at their companion whose face was fixed on the waters.
"Friend?"
"Jean. Scan her mind."
"Why me?"
"I want guilt absolved from her."
Phoenix nodded and touched the face of the doctor.
"No. She wasn't responsible in any way."
"Good. Else I would have torn her soul to shreds."