Zero Hour II
Chapter 2
by
Nina
Disclaimer: All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are © and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities.All rights reserved.
PS: In my mind's eye, the X-Men should be able to run Danger Room scenarios without "monitors" if they rank high enough on the team. So, my muse wins as far as that's concerned. Also, I see Sabertooth as a psycho, so I portrayed him as one - mind games at all. Again if you have a problem, talk to my muse. She's driving.
"Hon'," Scott joked, "you're as jumpy as a cat in a room of long-tailed rocking chairs."
"Long-tailed cat," she corrected automatically, missing his joke.
She paced their room one last time. He sighed, got up from his chair, and stopped her from pacing by wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "You know I'll let you brood for a while, but I have my limits. Does it have anything to do with our multi-dimensional kids?"
She shook her head and laid her head on his shoulder. He smiled and ran his fingers through her long tresses, enjoying the silky feel across his fingers.
"No. I - I just remembered something. I think I should talk to Charles about it."
"About our little visitor?"
She nodded. "I'm worried about her. Mentally, I mean. There's definitely more to her than meets the eye."
"What, more than attitude?" Scott made a face. "That brat almost took my head off when I tried speaking to her a few hours ago."
"Honey, didn't Hank say leave her alone until she feels better?"
He shuffled his feet. "Yeah, well, I got curious. And, Jean, that kid doesn't just bite the hand that feeds her. She rips it out of its socket and mauls it with her sharp tongue."
Jean didn't bat an eye.
Scott sighed. "Tell me what it is. Please."
"I'm not sure what it is, Scott. I. . . "
She gasped, and the psychic bond between them suddenly shut down.When she began trembling, Scott turned her around and hugged her tightly.
"Don't do this to me," he whispered in her ear. "Don't shut me out. I hate it when you do that."
Jean bit her lip and clenched her eyes."I know, my love. I know.But. . . this isn't up for discussion right now, not until I'm sure about a few things. I know I have to talk to Charles now. Only he can confirm it."
"Well," he mumbled, "Just let me know if I should be afraid, furious, happy, or sad. Guess I'll figure the rest out later, when I'm spoon-fed with the rest of 'em."
Jean laughed. She ran her fingers across his bitter smirk, and lightly kissed him. "Sweetie, that's why I love you. You know exactly what to say to make me feel better.
***
Jean paused at Charles' door and couldn't quite muster the courage to knock. She had discussed major issues with him before - her family, Scott's infidelity, her death, her resurrection - but those things had not made her this afraid. She knew that no matter what, her friends' lives would be irrevocably changed. Forever.
<Charles?>
"Come in, Jean." Professor Xavier had been reading the same six lines of poetry for the past hour. His mind kept wandering to the secrets he read in the child's mind. Things that disturbed him.
"Henry was here earlier, Jean, and he dropped off some of his newest findings on our visitor. His. . .tests went through the entire spectrum."
"He knows, then." She sank in the nearest chair, and Charles' hoverchair silently floated beside her. "Is he going to say anything?"
Charles shook his head."He won't, until he's sure of his last DNA test."
"Well, dammit," she exploded, "how much proof does he need? The testimonies of two telepaths aren't enough?"
"Jean - "
"Charles, I think we can safely say that her presence concerns more than you, me, and Hank. You know that."
He nodded.Sad, hard lines dug through his cheeks. "And her secrets should be shared, when the time's right. But I agree with Hank. Until he has conclusive proof, we should keep this to ourselves."
"How am I supposed to keep this to myself, Charles? We've peered into hell."
Charles was too tired to comfort her with a smile. "It's the risk we face as telepaths, Jean. You know that, too. We saved her life, and now we must face both the good and the ill from our actions."
"Charles - "
"Jean." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not up to us."
She shook her head. "But what about Nada, Charles? She's holding on by a mental thread. She has to talk to them. They're the only ones who can save her."
"Nada must make that choice, Jean."
"But she's not willing to, Charles! That's my point." Jean put a hand to her forehead. "If she doesn't reach out soon, if they don't. . . "
Fear welled up in Jean's gut. Charles knew exactly what she was saying, but he didn't agree. Worse, his thoughts told her he wasn't even going to intervene--!
"You'd let her commit suicide," she said coldly. Charles looked down, confirming her worst fears. "You'd let her die!"
He left her side, sighing, and put his book back on his desk. "I told you, Jean. It's not up to us. This time, it's not our place to choose. It affects too much, and the risks are too great to - "
Jean got to her feet. " How can you sit there and proselytize about the damn 'Dream' when here it is, staring you in the face, and you won't do a blessed thing about it? How can you condemn her like this?"
"Jean - "
"And what about Rachel? Nathan--? Oh, hell, let's throw Maddie in there for fun! They're worthy, but she's not?"
Charles slammed his fist on his desk. "Enough, Jean. Yes, Nada's 'worthy.' Of course she is. But our meddling won't help the situation. We've done too many wrong things in the past. It's time to do something right for a change, something that will last."
"That's right, Charles. It is time to do something right for a change." She headed for the door. "And I'll do it, if you're too afraid."
His office thundered with the force of the slammed door. Charles' frown deepened. He didn't call after Jean or make any moves to stop her, but he tapped his fingers on his desk and stared out the window. He had no answers this time. And both arguments appeared correct.
Condemned to brood, Charles Xavier sighed, retrieved his book, and attempted to read beyond the sixth line.
***
"How's the kid doin'?"
Ororo shrugged. The sky blushed a combination of russets and golds as the sun began its slow, careful dip beneath the horizon. After a short trek over the highest peak on the grounds, they sat without speaking and watched it disappear. Logan had been the first to speak after ten minutes of silence. He glanced at Ororo's dark cheek, which glowed a beautiful reddish-brown. The same color as the sensual curve of a ripe, crimson apple.
He stared at his own fingers and was surprised to see them trembling. Damn.
"She refuses to speak to anyone. The Professor tried, Henry tried, Scott tried - "
Logan grunted. "Cyke couldn't charm a dog with a slab of beef."
Ororo smiled and fell back onto her elbows. "She's withdrawn from us, and no one really knows why. I suppose she will tell us in due time."
"Maybe." A breeze picked up, blowing some of Ororo's long, platinum strands into her face. Without thinking, Logan brushed them back.
"Logan?"
"Hm?"
"Level with me."
He nodded and dug his elbows into the ground. "Sure. You figure it out, yet?"
Ororo studied her fingers, which almost settled her nerves, but he could still hear her racing pulse.
"Nada's our child, isn't she?"
He didn't say anything and looked out over the hillside for a few minutes. When he was ready, he met her careful gaze.
"You know she is, 'Ro."At Ororo's look of fear he rubbed his eyes, sighing. "Okay, so maybe she's from another timeline, or another dimension, or somethin'. But she's ours. Yours an' mine."
Ororo surprised him with a throaty chuckle that sounded exactly like Nada's. "Are we at the beginning of another dimensional family? Goddess, Logan."
He smiled. "We already got two dozen Summers' runnin' 'round. What's another kid?"
"And Bishop."
"Yeah. Can't forget Bish." He chuckled and stared into the sky. The orange colors had turned the color of a bruise. "What's with us, anyway? I wonder if anyone else got this problem, or if its just Chuck's brood."
"Who knows?"
"Yeah. Who knows."
Ororo swore an indelicate oath. She flopped her head on his stomach, and glared at the sky.
"Honestly, Logan. I'm not sure what we should do, and it angers me to be in this position."
He lifted his arm to make her more comfortable, and combed his fingers through the ends of her long strands. "No kiddin'. Why d' you think I trashed the Danger Room?"
She looked up into his face, which stopped his heart. "You could have spoken with me. You did not have to go on a feral killing spree."
"Darlin', sometimes there ain't much of a choice."
"There is always a choice, Logan."
"Uh, huh."
She settled her head back on his stomach as the words echoed in his head.Choice. Always a choice. Always. . .
Ah, hell. Just go for it, Canucklehead.
He shifted position again and reached down, cradling her head in one hand. Ororo frowned and was about to ask him why, but his mouth covered hers, stifling her next words. Her heart raced, but she didn't pull back. Better still, she leaned into him and their kiss deepened. They searched each other's mouths with their eyes closed, with their hands cradling one another's bodies.Neither stopped. Neither wanted to.
"Mmm," Ororo said, when they finally broke for a breath. She traced the line of his jaw. Her eyes were bright, excited, and frightened all at once. "What was that for?"
"Felt like it," Wolverine said. "Felt. . . right."
"This had better not be one of your jokes."
"No joke," he whispered. She began crying.
"Oh, Logan. . . Why? Why now? You have the worst timing of any. . . " He brushed his rough fingers against her lips to stop her speech and she clung to his hand, kissing his fingertips.
"Yeah. So? You can't lie to me and tell me you haven't wanted this for a long time."
"How did you know?"
"How couldn't I know? Hell, woman, your heart booms louder than your lightning whenever I enter a room."
Ororo shook her head. She was still in shock, dazed at the newness of it. "And yet - "
" - I haven't done a damn thing about it," Logan finished. "Yeah, I know. Too wrapped up in other things. Had to deal with 'em first."
She was trembling, so he wrapped his arms around her. God, he wished he'd done this ages ago. Didn't make her wait any less right. She'd been waitin' for him for the longest time, and he'd kept her in damn limbo.
"Wolverine, what about Jean?"
"She loves Cyke, 'Ro. Cyke loves her. End of story."
"But you still love her."
He traced her chin. She looked up, and he felt stung by her eyes. "Not like you think. Not anymore. Took me a while, but I moved on."
"And if she feels - "
"Darlin'," Wolverine muttered, exasperated. He turned her around to face him, and felt her fear, and her anticipation. "I'm tryin' ta tell ya that I don't love her anymore. That I'm fallin' fer someone else. You gettin' it, yet?"
Ororo barely nodded, but he knew he didn't have her. Not yet. She tore away from him and stood up defiantly. "Damn you, Logan. It's not as if our lives are complicated enough. It's not as if we have a potential daughter in there, from another time, one that may or may not come from what. . . "
He slid behind her and grabbed her waist. He slowly swayed his body behind hers, and her pulse rocketed. She was lovin' it, and he was having fun wearing her down.
"Uh, huh," he said, rubbing his cheek across her neck. "Sounds like a big problem, X-Leader."
She stamped her foot. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Yep." He nibbled on her shoulder, and she moaned softly. "Ain't nothin' we can do about it right now, is there?"
"Are you. . . " Ororo swallowed. "Aren't you the least bit concerned with her entry? Don't you care about Nada's powers, or what she's capable of? Don't you want to learn - "
"Uh, huh." He placed his strong hands on her waist and spun her around to face him. He started grinning. Her face was moist with sweat, but he felt her desire clinging to his own body, like a second skin. "Tomorrow, 'Ro."
She licked her lips. "What if. . . what if we don't have time tomorrow?"
"Trust me. We'll make time."
She lowered her eyes, and he paused to take in her beauty. He crept closer to her lips, like a hunter after scared deer, but she startled him by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into the most intense lip lock that he'd had in over forty years.
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