Discoveries; Narrative
She lay in the infirmary, having a little bed in one of the tiny rooms all to herself. There was an IV attached to her arm that she was fairly certain was completely useless by now. She wasn't sure how long she had been laying here, days, maybe. But it was home, and whatever panic she had felt when she awoke was chased away by Logan's lingering scent. He'd been here, with her, and that was enough.
Hank was with her now, though, and he smiled at her once she turned her head to look at him. "Ah, it would seem sleeping beauty has stirred from her slumber."
She managed a smile. "How long have I been out?" she asked, her voice a few octaves lower than normal. She reached up and ran a hand through her hair. Someone must have washed it for her while she was asleep.
"Two days," he replied. He came and sat on the edge of her bed, taking her hand in his. He was wearing his concerned face, one that Matty knew meant he had something on his mind. "Matty, there are a few things I must tell you."
Uh-oh. "Hank, what's wrong?" She could smell the worry, and something like sadness rolling off him in waves. "What happened?"
He covered her hand in both of his, meeting her eyes. "Matty, were you aware you were pregnant?"
"What?" She shook her head, tearing her eyes away from him. "I wasn't... I would know if I was pregnant."
"Not necessarily," he replied, sighing. "Even with baseline humans, there are some women who will have no signs of pregnancy during the first trimester. You, being a mutant, your healing factor may have been partially responsible for this." He looked down at their hands. "When we arrived here at the Institute, you were having a miscarriage. I'm sorry, Matty, but... the child did not survive."
Matty was silent for some time, staring blankly ahead of her. After several moments, she met Hank's eyes. "Does Logan know?" Her voice was small, tight.
Hank shook his head. "No, I haven't told him. I think it would be for the best if he found out from you." He patted her hand as he said, "I'm so sorry, Matty."
"It's not your fault." Deep in her heart, she knew it was hers. Now she realized what those pains were, while they were trying to escape. It had to have been when she threw herself at that robot to protect Laura.
Hours later, and she was alone again. Logan had stayed with her after Hank left, and though he wondered what was going through her mind, he didn't ask. He'd simply held her, until he had been dragged away to talk to the new students that the rescue mission had brought to the school.
Matty had been on the precipice of fitful sleep when the door to her room opened. She looked over to see the silhouette of a little girl in the doorway. Laura stood there, one hand on the doorknob. She stood there until, finally, Matty beckoned her inside. Laura closed the door behind her and then crossed the room to climb onto Matty's bed. She curled up against Matty's chest like a kitten, and Matty slowly wrapped her arms around her. She breathed deeply, shakily, into the girl's hair.