Who: Nate, Emma and Scott What: checking in and breaking down When: 6/25 Where: Graymalkin Status: Complete! Triggers: Mentions of dying and coming back (aka your typical x-men tuesday)
Yo, mom. How are you holding up? His mind touch was gentle as Nate let part of his attention waver from what he was doing on the bridge. He had just heard his mother was alive and well, and he was feeling exhilarated.
Nate’s mind was a new one to the mix in her head. Emma blinked a little, and thought back That’s an interesting question. She truly had no idea how to answer it. She wasn’t hiding her mental state at all, her mind was simply flatlined. Her body did things as she thought of them, and there were few thoughts other than those. She had a vague worry for Scott and the others, but that was all she could muster, as far as emotions went. I’m glad you’re safe.
Nate slid his shields around her mind, gently shielding her from the others aboard. I am. In the bridge now, seeing if I can get more knowledge of what the heck is going on downstairs. You should ask Professor to send you a trolly to take you to a room, and rest. Worry and love bled through the connection.
Emma’s mind didn’t react when he cut off the other external sensations. She looked at her hands, checking to make sure she had both while she talked to Cora. I died. I didn’t expect that.
Nate winced. I know. I’m sorry. I thought... He swallowed as the panic he had felt before bubbled up, and he pushed it down. I’m glad Magius was here. Relief, and hope sang in him then. I’m sorry you were killed.
It’s probably not a good idea to mock terrorists to their face. Emma noted blandly. I assumed they wanted us alive. She said she wouldn’t hurt the baby. For the first time there was real emotion in her thoughts. Terror clutched as her heart, and she put her hands over her stomach, as though she could protect the child that way.
I’m sorry. They felt like death. The doctor lady especially. He shuddered. You and your baby are as safe as can be now. You’re in the heart of one of the biggest and densest battleships ever built. You can rest and recuperate here. As soon as he is done kicking ass, I’ll make sure Dad gets to you..
I really want to see Scott. Emma concluded. Are you busy? I would like to see you as well.
I'll get him to you as quickly as I can. And I always have time for you. He smiled as he started.toward.her. “Neena, You have the Conn.” At least you're safe now.
I appreciate that. But don’t stay too long, they might still need you. She was hugging Cora now, and the warmth of the younger woman’s body was soothing her shock away somewhat.
Yes, ma’am. He skidded down halls and around corners, and slowly walked toward her. We’ve got everyone, and I left Neena in charge. She’ll love that. Scott should be here soon , too.
Okay. That’s good. Emma decided she could sit still and wait for a little while longer.
And then he *heard* Professor announcing the arrivals and he smiled, and spoke to their minds, even as he came around the corner and saw Emma. “Hey, beautiful mom-lady! Want a hug from your loving son, then an escort to your husband?”
Emma nodded, sliding off the stool Cora parked her on. She was still a wretched mess. She had a bowl of soup in her hands, which she wasn’t eating. She put the bowl on the counter and stared at Nate blankly. “You’re bigger.”
“Got older again. Think I’m around 26, Sorry.” He hugged her then, and his telekinesis cleaned her hair and face, even as he let warmth play over her. He was healthy now, as she was, but still very thin.
Emma hugged him back. “Guess you don’t need a mom anymore.” She noted, resting her head on his chest. He was taller than her by a lot. It was vaguely annoying.
“I’ll always need you, mom. Always.” He hugged her tight. But gently. “The world sucks without a mom.” He nodded and just smiled. She was there and safe. That was what he needed.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” She tugged him down so she could kiss his cheek, stroking his hair softly. “Do you want some soup?”
He smiled softly. “Sure. Then we can go Grab Dad, and you two can have some snuggle time.” He nodded to her.
She took his hand, letting him lead her to Scott. “We should have dinner after all this is over.”
Nate nodded and led the way toward the medical bay. “Sure. We can do that. Whenever you two like, Professor is an even better cook than I am.” He bounced and hugged her a little, as he led her along.
Emma let herself be led. She didn’t really have anything else to say, so she just followed quietly.
Scott was waiting impatiently, even waving off the doctors about his shoulder. His family was far more important right now.
Emma let go of Nate’s hand when she saw Scott. Now that she knew Nate was okay and everyone was safe, she really needed to talk to her husband. While clinging to him and probably crying. She could feel the artificial calm of being in shock melt away, and she thought she might have a couple minutes before she started to lose her mind. She hoped to be somewhere private when that happened.
Scott wrapped his arms around Emma, and then guided her out of the med-bay. The bullet in his shoulder could wait a little while.
Emma let herself be led, wrapping her arm around his waist. She was shaking a little, now. “You were hurt.” She looked at his wounded shoulder. “You should get that looked at.” Her voice wasn’t very demanding, as it would normally be. If he was willing to ignore it so was she. She needed him right then, and he wouldn’t die of that wound.
“Later.” Scott shook his head. He was just grateful to have Emma in his arms, and he’d been hurt worse in the past. “Were you hurt badly?”
Emma didn’t answer that until they were in one of the private rooms close to the med center. She assumed they were for patient recover, and they both qualified for that. She sat on the bed, pushing her hair out of her face. It was clean, thank God. “I was shot too.” It was a good place to start.
“The baby?” Scott’s hand went immediately to Emma’s stomach. He didn’t know how Faiza or Magius’s powers would affect the child. Emma was clearly all right and he could put that out of his mind for now.
"Magius says it's okay." She put her hand over his. "We died. I was shot in the head."
“..What?” Scott paled considerably. “You died?” It was a particularly hard impact on him, considering his history with Jean.
She nodded, looking down at their hands, at her stomach. “I was trying to goad their leader into doing something stupid, I thought they wanted us alive.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “She said she didn’t want to hurt the baby.” Apparently she’d lied.
“Or she’d...” Gotten what she’d wanted, or something. Scott didn’t know. He decided to not let go of Emma or Nate ever again. Well Emma for now, he’d not let go of Nate later.
Emma shivered, pressing her face into the curve of his neck and shoulder. She held him tight with both arms and started to cry. At first it was just a few sobs and some shuddering, but it soon became wretched weeping. She held onto him with all her strength.
Scott held onto her, his hands rubbing at her back and it didn’t take much for him to start breaking down either. He didn’t really have the strength to hold it in right now. He could have lost Emma, and their child. Life wasn’t worth it without them.
The emotions she’d been suppressing for the past couple days were all clawing at her chest, tearing their way out of her with each sob. She’d made a grave mistake and it had nearly cost her everything. She knew she’d made a mistake, that she’d nearly destroyed her whole family. She’d only wanted to do what was needed, why was the price for that so high?
The price for that was always high. Too high. It was a price that they and the ones they cared for had paid for over, and over and over again. And it was a price that would never be paid in full. Scott knew it was only a matter of time until more blood was spent. He resolved to make sure it was his and his alone.
Eventually she ran out of energy, and her weeping tapered off to intermittent hiccups and panting. Her whole body ached. “We need to take care of these bastards before this happens again. They’re only going to get more sophisticated, they won’t stay stupid forever.”
“We’ll lick our wounds, and then we’re going on the offensive.” Scott decided that Kitty had been right. But they were going to have to do it his way.
“I need to work on Cerebra. I think I can master it if I start off small and work my way up. If I can’t run anymore I can at least use my other abilities.” She pulled back a little, wiping her eyes. “I’ll ask Nate to teach me how to do things on this ship as well. It seems like it would be remarkably useful.”
Scott kissed at her tears, and squeezed a little tighter. “Good idea. Go lightly, at least at first. I don’t want to risk the baby.”
“I don’t either.” She looked at his face again, stroking him softly. “I’m so sorry, Scott. I did what I thought needed to be done. I didn’t think I could escape, even with Kitty’s help, and someone had to tell everyone what happened.” She rubbed at her arm where the GPS chip was still embedded. “I need Faiza to take this out and check on the baby. I’ll feel better with visual confirmation that it’s okay.”
“Yeah. I’d feel better about that too.” He had had to stop himself from yelling at Kitty about leaving Emma behind. He understood how the world worked sometimes. He hated it.
She kissed him softly. “I’m so sorry.” She repeated. “I don’t think I’ll be going out without you or Nate for a while.” Not until the baby was in college, at least.
“Maybe you should carry a gun.” Scott was entirely serious. And he hated that, too.
Emma made a face. “I’ll think about it.” She didn’t want that. It was so inelegant, and dangerous in its own way. “I should have turned to diamond as soon as I realized it was a trap. I thought I could outsmart them, gain some information. I should have put my safety and the baby’s first.”
“Lesson learned.” And nearly too high a price, but he didn’t need to say that out loud. “I’m going to build a panic room beneath the house.” And try to talk Dani to stay there, if only to have an extra hand in case something happened.
“Couldn’t hurt.” Emma noted, and took the unsaid scolding with good grace. He was right, there was no arguing that. “We’ll need to make the place bigger, unless we’re moving. We still need to talk to Dani about that.”
“Think we’ll let things rest for a few days. But I wouldn’t mind her staying. It was originally her place and frankly and extra fighter nearby isn’t a bad thing. Nate isn’t going to live with us forever.” Or much longer, he feared.
“I think she’ll mind sharing a place with us.” She couldn’t argue with Scott’s fears. “He’s so much bigger.”
“Probably, but I wouldn’t want her to wander around in that rusty old truck without a place to sleep,” Scott said. He had his suspicions.
“Obviously we won’t be keeping her house, one way or the other. I was looking at comparable houses in the area and they can be as much as $500,000. There is no way on Earth she’s abandoning the place.” Emma sighed, rubbing her face. “Right now I just want to change clothes and get some sleep. We should both get checked up and our various foreign objects removed and go home.” They’d debate whose home it was later. “If you want to drug Dani and drag her along, I won’t say anything to anyone.” Her tone made it unclear if she was joking or not.
Scott nodded his head. "I'm in agreement. I'll see if I can talk Faiza into giving her something." Maybe a fresh start would be good for all of them. But they could talk about that some other time. Right now, he wanted to see to his wife.