A.N.:
Okay, so since I left you with a good cliffhanger I thought I shouldn’t keep
you waiting that long for the next chapter, that and I need to avoid my
homework just a while longer.
~**~
A
~**~
The
warning was the ground shaking, and Hope slammed on the breaks as the street
before her lurched upwards and walled off her route. Hope slammed on the breaks
and turned the car so the passenger side hit first. There were the sounds of
breaking glass, twisting metal, and screaming breaks when Hope crashed into the
protruding street. Clutching the large bump on her forehead Hope stumbled from
the car and stopped when she came face to face with the Brotherhood.
~**~
“Jean,
have you seen Dr. Chandler?” Charles asked, as he came into the main sitting
room, “I need to talk with her. There was something about the Doctor’s theories
on Bobby and Rahen, something in how they healed wasn’t fitting.
“No,
Professor, I haven’t,” Jean answered looking up from the schoolwork she was
doing.
“I have,
Professor,” Scott said, walking in from a side door, wiping grease from his
hands.
“Where,
Scott?” Charles turned towards the boy as he walked towards him.
“She
left, Professor, said she needed something from the library.” Charles sighed.
“Professor!”
Kurt appeared and dropped to the floor next to Charles, “There’s something you
ought to see.” Kurt scrambled over to the panel in the wall and on the coffee
table where Jean was working a slit opened and another hidden plasma screen
appeared. Kurt grabbed the remote and changed to the news.
“This is
chopper seven news and we are at the intersection of
“Scott,
get everyone ready, there’s trouble.”
~**~
Hope was
not going to be able to stand up much longer. She had diagnosed herself with a
mild concussion that was slowly getting worse, probably had a fractured, if not
broken, ankle, and her car was totaled. With no means of escape Hope was
trapped between revenge seeking teenagers and a hard place. “What do you want?”
When in doubt, keep them talking, Hope thought.
“Nothing,”
Toad said, springing forward, “Okay, maybe a little revenge, but nothing
really.”
“I’m
sorry about the way I acted when we dropped by that night, but you now how
people act when there stuff gets stolen, so how can I make it up to you?” Hope
chuckled, pressing herself tighter against the side of the car.
“Stand
still,” Lance said as he threw his hands forward and the ground started to
lurch towards Hope. Hope jumped to the side, and into the arms of the speedy
kid.
“Gotcha,”
he grinned, having Hope reach for the nerve in his shoulder, but he was gone
before Hope could grab a hold of him. Hope fell forward as Toad perched on her
shoulder, driving her further into the asphalt as he sprang away. Hope rolled
towards the car, and crawled under it, hoping for some protection. That did
last long either, Hope rolled on to her back, propping herself up on her elbows
as the car was lifted off of her, and Hope stared in wonder. For being
incredibly over weight the kid was strong, Hope thought, as she brought her
arms up to cover her eyes against the falling glass and pebbles. There was a
blinding flash, static crackled in the air and a stunned groan. Hope opened her
eyes to see the car lifting kid waver, and begin to fall forward. Hope scrambled
out of the way, only to get knocked to the ground at the force of the dropping
car. Jumping to her feet Hope started to look for Berserker, he had to be the
one who took out the large kid, but there was no sign of anyone from the
Institute. Hope jumped as her hands were held behind her, the fast kid had
captured them behind her. Hope struggled against the kid’s hold, begging to
hear the sound of approaching sirens, or a helpful citizen, anyone!
There
was a hiss of metal appearing, “Let her go, bub,” Hope sighed at the familiar
voice and her mind gratefully called out ‘Logan’.
“Gotta
catch me first.” Hope stumbled forward as she was suddenly released. Logan
jumped down from the hood of the wrecked Santa Fe, and stood defensively in
front of Hope.
“You okay?”
He asked as Hope looked over his shoulder to see the whole team from the
Institute coming to her defense.
“I’m
fine,” Hope mumbled, shaking her head to clear it. The concussion was clouding
Hope’s vision, and she had to add cuts from the glass and stones on the street
to her list of injuries. “Watch out!” Hope yelled as Scott was thrown sideways
into Logan. Hope’s eyes locked onto Lance’s and when he threw his hands
forward, Hope threw her own up, shielding against the wider more powerful
attack than the last one. Hope watcher her own hands as the lest loose a stream
of white bolts. They connected with Lance and he dropped like a stone. That
froze everyone, including Hope. Though her hands no longer were pouring out
bolts of…something, she couldn’t move her arms down.
“I think
I’m going to pass out now,” Hope said before plunging into the concussion.
~**~
“Charles?”
Ororo poked her head inside the Professor’s office, and took one tentative step
inside when she saw that he was sitting by the large window, looking out on the
grounds, “Hope is stable and seems well enough.”
“Any
word of how the Brotherhood boys are?” Charles asked still watching the
grounds.
“Both
woke up in the ambulances and have escaped,” Ororo answered, walking further
into the room. “Did Cerebro give you an information?”
“No, she
doesn’t appear as a mutant,” Charles turned to face Ororo, “She has the gene
though, there’s no doubt in that fact.”
“The
news hasn’t figured out who she is yet, so there’s one small miracle,” Ororo
said, sitting before Charles, “Do you think we should call her family?”
Charles
sighed, “And tell them what? The only member we could call is her brother, but
he won’t be able to do anything. No, we’ll wait, she’ll wake soon, and we’ll
see. I’m calling everyone here, I want to talk with them.” Ororo nodded and
listened as Charles’s voice echoed through her head, asking everyone who was
involved in this mornings attack to come to his office. It didn’t take long for
everyone file in to the office.
“What
did you call us for, Professor?” Scott asked, standing near the door.
“I
wanted you all to keep this to yourselves, no one spread rumors to the rest of
the students, until we know more about what happened,” Charles ordered, looking
each student in the eye, along with the staff members.
“And
what do we tell them when they ask about what happened to the Doc?” Logan
asked, leaning against the wall.
“Exhaustion,
would be the best excuse, she’s been staying up late working on making up the
stolen research,” Hank stepped forward, “I’ve helped her with it and can vouch
it would do well enough to keep away those who are curious.”
“Good,
I’d like you to stay with her, Hank, you know her the best,” Charles nodded,
“What we all saw today may just be a fluke, Cerebro hasn’t picked up on her, if
she has powers they aren’t developed.”
“Do we
know what she did to Lance?” Kitty asked slowly, shuffling her feet, and
staring at the floor.
“No, but
both have recovered, I think it would be best if someone could talk to them,
ask them what happened, but I don’t believe it will happen. The only choice we
have is to keep this quiet.” Everyone nodded, “Good, back to what you were
doing.” Logan was the only one that remained after everyone else had left,
“What’s troubling you, Logan?”
“How’s
the doc doing mentally, Charles?” Logan didn’t look at Charles, his eyes were
restlessly roving the room, settling on nothing.
“She’s
not thinking just yet, Logan,” Charles watched his old friend, “Why don’t you
go wait with Hank?”
“Do you
think Magneto knows about what’s happened?” Logan asked, skillfully avoiding
the question that was too personal for Logan to answer.
“By now,
Magneto might know something,” Charles watched Logan turn towards the door, but
Charles had one thing left to say, “Logan if you’re worried about her, go see
her.” The door was held open for a split second; the grunt of ‘maybe’ was
almost lost as the door finally closed.
~**~
Thank
god they didn’t intubate me, Hope thought as she came around to consciousness.
For the most part Hope remembered what happened to her, she remembered she
needed to buy a new car, she had to pay the library for the two ruined books,
and she had to study her own X-gene. Hope sighed, and struggled forward, she
saw Hank sitting in the corner reading Sherlock Holmes. “What time is it?” Hope
asked, but it didn’t startle Hank.
“Around
one in the afternoon,” Hank answered, folding the book closed and meeting
Hope’s slightly glazed look. “How are you feeling?”
“If you
look in the top left shelf and get me some Advil I’ll be much better,” Hope
said, pressing her hand against the large bruise that was over her life temple.
When I turned the car and slammed on the breaks my head jerked to the left,
Hope remembered. “Also an ice pack from the fridge.”
“Here
you are,” Hank said, handing over the Advil and ice pack. Hope tossed down the
medicine and pressed the ice pack tentatively against the bruise. “Are you
hungry?”
“Yes,
but nothing heavy, soup and crackers would be best,” Hope said, and wasn’t
surprised that Hank only had to turn to the counter and bring over a tray. “You
always planed ahead don’t you, Hank?”
“For
you, Hope, I would plan ahead for years,” Hank said, bringing the chair he had
been sitting in before Hope as she started to eat.
“Well,
I’m glad,” Hope said, “What are you doing down here Hank?”
“I’m
watching over you, since I have the most medical knowledge,” Hank pulled a
chart from the end of the bed and handed it over to Hope, “You can see for
yourself.”
“I
should have scratches on my hands, knees, from when I fell, I don’t,” Hope
wondered looking down at her hands.
“You
didn’t have any Hope,” Hank said, pulling out a pen light, “Come on stander
procedure, follow the light with your eyes.” Hope followed the light, answered
the standard, do you know where you are, and other such questions.
“I would
like to get some work done, Hank, do you think you could bring me the note pad
in my room, it’s on the coffee table,” Hope asked when the test were finished.
“Of
course,” Hank said before he left and instantly Hope was back laying down. The
space between her eyes pounded, her hands still weren’t as still as she would
have liked, and there was deep sense of foreboding looming over her head. What
was next for her, what would she have to change about her life style, what
would she have to sacrifice? Hope didn’t like the idea of losing her family,
but she could keep it a secret like Mike did, but she hated keeping secrets
from her family.
“Hope?”
Hank was back and Hope pulled herself forward, looking down at her notes Hope
felt a sudden disgust for them. They brought her into this, they were the cause
of every problem, but being mad at them wasn’t going to solve anything.
“Thank
you, Hank,” Hope smiled and took up the pen, “Can I ask you some questions?”
“Of
course you can,” Hank returned to his seat, “Okay, first question.”
“I know
most of your early history, so we’ll skip that, but what was is it like, living
in the world were at any second you might become the beast?” Just distract me
Hank, Hope thought, listening to Hank’s answer, get me to think of anything
else but this morning.
“Ah
good, you’re awake,” Charles was Hope’s next visitor, and Hope gratefully put
down the pen and pad of paper, she’d trounced Hank at 43 games of tic-tac-toe
and had lost 35, it was getting annoying.
“Yes,
takes more than a concussion to keep a doctor down,” Hope said happily, turning
towards Charles.
“How are
you feeling?” He asked, looking at Hope’s lovely bruise.
“Like I
survived a car crash, but I’m taking Advil, I take something stronger, but
morphine or vicodin would be too much after concussion,” Hope told him,
nervously crunching the ice pack in her hands.
“Good,
now Hope, I have to ask you about this morning,” Charles suddenly look
incredibly serious and it startled Hope a bit, “Can you remember it?”
“Most,
not all, some of my memories are fuzzy. My car is gone, the Brotherhood is
still after me, and you came to my rescue,” Hope said simply.
“Do you
remember your part in stopping the Brotherhood?”
“Yes, I
do. I don’t understand it, but I do remember.” Hope vividly remembered the
light, white and clear, the slight burn of it as it flew from her fingers, by
God she remembered.
“Have
you tried doing it again?” Charles looked as intense as Hope had ever seen him,
it was like the man exuded power.
“No, I
haven’t, but you would like me to wouldn’t you?” Hope met the intensity and
felt her hesitation disappear.
“If you
think you can,” Charles offered. Hope drew in a deep breath and looked down at
her hand. She could see in her mind the light, feel almost on her hands the
light, but when she tried to create the bolts, nothing happened.
“The
X-gene usually appears physically appeared normally under a stressful
situation, whether the stress is mental or physical, if it is strong enough the
X-gene will awake from a dormant state and move from the subconscious control
to conscious control,” Hope recited her own theory with a sigh, “If I have the
X-gene then mine is still under subconscious control.”
“It’s
not a problem, Hope, you didn’t kill those two boys, you seemed to have stunned
them,” Charles laid a comforting hand on Hope’s knee, and smiled up at her,
“I’d like you to take the day off, spend it resting.”
“Of
course Professor,” Hope sighed, “I’d like to warn you that my father may call,
he’ll easily see it’s me on the news and he won’t be fooled by the media not
knowing it’s me.”
“If he
does I’ll send the call down here for you to answer. I glad you weren’t
injured, Hope.”
“Thank
you Charles,” Hope smiled as Charles left, and turned back towards Hank, “You
don’t have to hang around either, I’ve got everything I might need for
entertainment here, and you’ve probably got students to work with, I don’t want
to hold you up.”
“I’ve
got the day off along with you, Hope,” the phone ringing interrupted, “That
would be your father.” Hope leapt to her feet and grabbed the phone quickly,
she didn’t want her father asking questions about Hank.
“Dad,
what brings you to call, don’t you have an empire to run?” Hope started, trying
to distract her father with the important Chandler Shipping company.
“What
kind of father would I be if I didn’t check up on my little girl when she’s on
the news?” the booming baritone of Marcus Chandler echoed through the phone and
had Hope wincing.
“What
channel?” Hope asked, turning the TV on and flipping through the channels,
hoping not to land on her own image.
“Seven,
but tell me deary, how are you, really?” Hope softened at her father’s concern.
“I’m
fine, I’m in a hospital because of a concussion, and no that doesn’t mean you
back mother in a plane and fly up here to check on me, I’m treating myself,”
Hope said, stopping at the news that had footage of this mornings encounter
running the corner.
“Well
then, you’ve got the best doctor available don’t you?”
“Thanks
Dad, but let’s get serious, has anyone figured out it’s me?” The publicity that
Chandler Shipping would receive if the media found out wouldn’t be good
publicity.
“No, but
I have the lawyers sitting by to handle any problems that arise,” Marcus
sighed, “you shouldn’t worry about little things like being on the news, Hope,
every news station in the country knows your sister is going to take over the
family business.”
“Dad,
thanks for calling,” Hope said, suddenly home sick missing her family extremely
strongly.
“Anytime,
Hope, just be careful.” And Hope hung up with a sigh, she wanted to tell her
father about why her fingers had spewed bolts of light, why she was worried
about being a problem with the media, but her father would try to get her
medical help, which wasn’t available for her.
“How is
the patriarch of the Chandler family?” Hank asked as Hope pulled herself back
into the bed, sitting Indian style towards him.
“He’s
still enjoys fine whiskey on the porch with the sun going down every evening,”
Hope replied, remembering evenings when she had listen to her father ramble on
about the stars and smell of fine whiskey, that was home.
“Well,
that’s the best way for Marcus to spend his time, besides making money,” Hank
smiled. One college visit had introduced Hank to Hope’s family, and her father
had named Hank an official member of the Chandler clan. What would he think
now, Hope wondered, studying Hank’s beast face.
He hoped he wouldn’t care, but Hope couldn’t be sure. Time moved slowly
for Hope, she was desperately tired, but she couldn’t sleep, she desperately
wanted to do something, anything, but she couldn’t, not when recovering from a
concussion. Hank was a helpful distraction from everything, he read some of his
novel to her, though he solved the mystery before Hope did, and they spent time
playing ‘Six degrees of Kevin Bacon’, but now Hope was alone and awake in the
hospital. Hank had long since gone to bed, leaving Hope with her own thoughts
to keep her company. Her thoughts weren’t doing very well at keeping her
company. She wanted to understand what had happened to her, but her thoughts
were slow. She had so far figured out that it wasn’t electricity that had flown
from her hands, but that was about it. She couldn’t figured out what it had
been unless she talked with the Brotherhood members, and that was probably
never going to happen. Hope looked up as the door opened, she wasn’t expecting
anyone least of all she hadn’t been expecting Logan to step in.
He
looked just as surprised that Hope was there, and blinked in surprise for a few
seconds, “Why are you still awake?” He asked.
“I can’t
sleep after having a concussion, I may slip back into unconsciousness,” Hope
said and slid back further on to bed, “Come, have a seat,” She offered, but
didn’t think that Logan would take her up on it. She wasn’t surprised that he
stayed standing though he moved further into the room.
“How are
you?” He asked, looking anywhere but at her, which Hope pretended not to
notice.
“Tired,
but alive, so I’m feeling okay.” Logan nodded in response, and Hope caught how
uncomfortable he was at finding her awake, “If you were looking for Hank he’s
in his room,” Hope offered, trying to understand what he was uncomfortable
about. He seemed reluctant to say anything, reluctant to move, and reluctant to
leave, which confused Hope to know end, or that might have been the exhaustion.
“Is there something you want Mr. Logan?”
“Nothin’,”
He said, turning on his heal he made to leave sent Hope to her feet for some
reason.
“Wait,
please,” Hope placed a restraining hand on his arm. She had no idea why she
didn’t want Logan to leave, she just didn’t, so Hope came up with a comfortable
excuse, “I didn’t have a chance to thank you for rescuing me today.”
“I
wasn’t the only one there,” Logan rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, the
action caused Hope to smile.
“But,
still I want to thank you,” Hope still didn’t know what she was doing as she
rose onto her tip toes and lightly kissed him, she just did. It wasn’t
surprising that Logan kept his lips stiff and hard under Hope’s, but for some
reason Hope didn’t want to leave it at the simple kiss it was. Hope gently
cupped Logan’s face and drew him deeper. Neither would remember who changed the
kiss, and later it wouldn’t matter. The gentle press became fierce, powerful,
passionate. Logan’s arms wrapped around Hope’s hips and pulled her closer, Hope
moved her arms to wrap around Logan’s neck and dove into the power of the kiss.
She felt him lift her up and carry her back to the bed, but when he set her
down, he released her, setting his hand to the bed beside her, and pulled back,
away from her. Hope took in a deep breath and looked into Logan’s eyes,
wondering what was going on. She could tell Logan was fighting with himself,
fighting what was happening between them. Hope ran her hands over his shoulder,
down his arms and placed her hands over his.
“I’m
glad you came to check on me,” Hope said, taking in what had just happened
before in her room, what was happening now, was bound to happen again, because
she wanted it to, for some strange reason.
“Just
get better Doc,” Logan said, kissing her forehead before he left. Hope sat
there, wondering how she had let him walk away, and why she felt the need that
he should walk away. God, her concussion had made her crazy, the only
explanation for it. Hope laid down on the bed and decided it was better to risk
unconsciousness then deal with what had just happened.
~**~
Okay,
another chapter down, and only, oh I have no idea how many left. I want to
thank all of those who have taken the time to review my story, it’s my first
shot at fan fiction and I was kind of worried that no one would like it. But
you people do, yea! Onward to the next chapter!