Who: Nate Summers and Neena Thurman Where: Greymalkin What: Neena recovers after passing out When: 9/11 Warnings/Rating: Mentions of sexual assault, medical trauma, and pregnancy complications Status complete
Neena was a little mad that she was confined to the medical lab. She didn’t like this kind of place, and she couldn’t help but worry she’d be taken advantage of here. She didn’t like Thomas to be gone, either. She wanted him close, in case something happened and the ship was attacked.
She sat up quickly when the door opened, but settled after a moment when she saw Nate come in. “Oh, hey.”
“Hello, Neena. And how are you?” he checked things over, then nodded. “Your vitals seem to be getting back to normal, thank goodness.”
He didn’t like seeing her in danger either.
“Yeah? Great.” She sighed and flopped back down. “I hate this. I’m never getting pregnant again.”
Nate nodded. “I’m sorry.” He smiled faintly. “I wish I knew how to make it better. The machines are working on ways, but it could take some time.”
He patted Professor’s main central medical mainframe. And he sighed. “Just hang in there, if you can.”
Neena nodded and sighed. “So you’ve got something going on too, right?”
Nate nodded. “My powers are disrupted, pretty severely. My mom is sick, very sick. My aunt got split into two, and her evil side got killed. Cora now has telepathy, and no training. My life is sort of running around right now trying to help everyone.”
Neena nodded. “You don’t have to take care of me. I’m fine. You should bring Cora up here. There’s just me and Thomas, plus you when you’re around. I’m able to shield my thoughts, and Thomas is learning to control his emotions, so between the two of us maybe we could help her.” She worried about Nate. He always took on too much.
“I know I don’t. But you’re my friend. I won’t trip off and forget you.” He smiled and nodded at her. “True. I’ll ask her.”
He hmmed at her. “You always were the smart one.”
“Pfft. No. I just have common sense.” She smiled at him. “Beside, if the world ends you’ll want her around.”
Nate pffted. Then he nodded. “Very true. She helps me think.” He grinned at Neena. “Like you and Thomas.”
“No, Thomas helps me not think.” Neena said with a laugh and a smirk. “It’s a nice change, sometimes.”
Nate laughed. “Whatever works for you two.” He was just glad they were both happy. He liked them both and respected them both, and it was nice to see them smiling.
“So far so good.” Neena said with a smile, then looked down at her belly. “I’ve been thinking about something recently. I want your opinion before I tell Thomas, because I know I’m acting unusual and I’d rather keep this to myself than freak him out. But Sinister pioneered the type of genetic research that would have been used to create me in the dreams, right?”
Nate nodded, relieved to hear the fact that she knew she was acting odd as hell. He listened, as she talked, then he blinked. “Yes, back when he was just Essex, he started the trend and the research later used to create you. Why?”
“Because he killed the Morlocks solely because they were able to reproduce.” Neena said quietly, her hands balling up the sheet as a distraction. “Because only he was allowed to make viable genetic constructs.”
“And you fear if he comes here he might come after you and yours?” Nate nodded. “It sounds like a long shot, for sure, to me. A long shot that deserves some thought, but hardly likely in the immediate future.” He would make sure to get Professor working on that within the hour, though. “I promise I will have Professor work on it immediately.”
And professor, always there, immediately responded.
“As you wish, Nathan. Neena, I will do my utmost.”
“No, Nate, but thanks for that.” Neena made a face. “I think my body is rejecting the baby, or trying to.”
Nate sighed and facepalmed. “Well, we can’t have that. And I doubt it. But if you like, I can run up the med lab to be absolutely sure…”
“I don’t have anything better to do.” Neena said with a shrug.
Nate started up the machines even as Professor brought up her scans from before and the machines hummed as Nate gently guided Neena through laying back and relaxing, and the tests ran slowly. He peered at the readings and hmmmed. “Hey Professor, bring me up the medical records from Faiza’s clinic and lay them next to these? And the records from before any dreams?” They were all laid beside one another and Nate swore.
He sighed and came to Neena’s side. “So… your physiology has changed, and your, well, what I presume is your dream stats are overtaking your original stats. And your dream self was, it looks like, unable to get pregnant.” He rubbed his face.
“The good news is, I can help you keep the baby and deliver it. The bad news is, this is probably the only one, unless we can reverse the changes. But for now, with medicine and care, you and the baby will survive, and come out okay.” He would make sure of it.
Neena digested that information, but none of it was a surprised. She’d been raped for a year in the dreams without pregnancies. Part of her had expected this. if the outside was just like the dreams, the inside must be as well. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “As long as I won’t lose the one we have I’ll be okay.”
“Nope. Your body seems to be struggling with it, but already medicines given during pregnancy seem to be stabilizing you, though not even beginning to make it go away… who is your doctor?” He felt a respect for the man who had sneakily introduced high antioxidant and nutrient medicines to her.
“Magius.” Neena knew what was in her medications. It was the only reason she was still taking them. “I altered my diet, too.”
“Good. Good. Those foods and medicines are making your body behave.” He wouldn’t put it past the doc to use magic too. He’d have to ask someday.
Neena snorted. “If my body’s behaving right now then I’m fucked if it ever acts up.” She wasn’t as brave as her words sounded. She was frankly terrified.
Nate went to her and gently hugged her. “It’ll be okay, Neena. Just hang in there. It’ll be okay.”
She hugged him back, taking deep breaths. “Yeah. Can I-” She stopped, rubbing her face a little. “I just need a minute or two to short my shit out, and I need to talk to Thomas.”
“Of course. In here or you can use my den, right next door.” He smiled and nodded. “Take the time you need.”
“Just send him back here.” Neena asked, pushing her hair back from her face.