Arrival at The School Erik nodded at the mention of Plato. He'd heard that before somewhere, an overheard snipped of conversation between his father and one of his professor clients, perhaps. Either way, he agreed with the concept. He and Jean did seem to be a perfect completion of each other.
He watched her tend to her dead. He couldn't make a sign to mark their resting place, but he recited the Mourner's Kaddish for them instead: "Magnified and sanctified is the great name of God throughout the world, which was created according to Divine will. May the rule of peace be established speedily in our time, unto us and unto the entire household of Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May God’s great name be praised throughout all eternity. Glorified and celebrated, lauded and praised, acclaimed and honored, extolled and exalted ever be the name of thy Holy One, far beyond all song and psalm, beyond all hymns of glory which mortals can offer. And let us say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, with life’s goodness for us and for all thy people Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May the One who brings peace to the universe bring peace to us and to all the people Israel. And let us say: Amen."
He didn't know if any of the dead were Jews but it was all he could offer them.
After helping her inside the plane, Erik sat in the co-pilot's seat of this very strange aircraft. It was certainly unlike any plane he'd ever seen or been in, yet another indication that he had crossed through time as well as space through the vortex. He allowed his focus to slip as Jean spoke to the man named Charles. He didn't know the man so he had no reason to interject into their conversation. The crop circles were fascinating, though. Some of their patterns looked like the magnetic fields he'd seen in the cabin. They would serve as a permanent reminder of their time there, though the residents of the village would have no idea what they meant.
When they arrived, a basketball court opened up and the aircraft lowered itself into the space it revealed. Erik paid no attention to his surroundings. There would be time enough for a tour later. Now, the focus had to be on Jean, who looked ready to drop with every step she took. He followed her through the house to what he assumed was her bedroom. He sat on the side of the bed when she patted it, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "You rest. I shall get you some food for when you wake," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
He placed his hand on the baby bump, sensing Hope's presence through his bond with Jean. The baby had grown again, far too fast for a typical child. Frowning, Erik kissed the bump, too. He wouldn't be able to kiss Hope herself, but he wanted his daughter to know just how much he loved her.
Then, he stood and focused his metalsense. Kitchen appliances were grouped together, so it was easy to find the kitchen. A bit more rummaging and he found some dark wheat bread, cheese, strawberries, and a 500ml container of white milk. It wasn't much, but he would cook her something better afterward.
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Charles breathed a sigh of relief when he felt Jean's mind brush his, though it quickly faded. Something was different about Jean, wrong. The Phoenix was there, stronger than before, but there was something else, too. Jean's mind wasn't the same as it had been. It was different on a fundamental level. Something terrible had happened to Jean out there, and he needed to know what it was.
He maneuvered his wheelchair to Jean's room and knocked softly on the door. When there was no answer, he pushed it open and wheeled his way inside. Jean was asleep on the bed, dressed in soiled clothes, her belly swollen. "Jean," he said softly. "Jean?"
"Do not wake her," Erik said from the doorway. He brought the tray into the room and set it on the desk. "She is exhausted and needs all the rest she can get."
Charles startled, then recovered himself to project the same sense of calm he showed his students. "Ah," he said. "You must be the other survivor she mentioned." Charles turned his chair and froze. There, standing in front of him with his arms crossed was a very young, very fit, and very tense Erik Lehnsherr.