The X-Men: New Additions - Part 8

Author:  Stacy Ricco

 
    Alex slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She looked around as best as she could and found herself in a rather plain looking room, which appeared to be a hospital room. She tried to swallow and was suddenly aware that a tube had been shoved down her throat. She tried to bring a hand up to yank out the tube but her arm felt as heavy as lead. It took almost all her effort to move it an inch. She heard the door opened and tried to see who it was. She couldn't see the person until they were right next to the bed. It was Logan.
"Logan."
"Hello darlin'. I'm glad to see that you are awake. You gave us quite a scare."
"I think I'm going to just paint a bull's-eye on me."
"You do seem to attract danger."
"Can you ask the doctors to remove this tube? I am able to breathe on my own."
"Sure. I'll let everyone else know that you're awake."
"Thanks Logan."
   
    Logan returned ten minutes later with two doctors. They examined Alex and eventually removed the tube that was in her throat. Logan gave her a few sips of water and after a brief period she was able to talk again.
"I feel like my mind was scrambled," she said barely above a whisper.
"It was from what the doctors tell us. Alex what happened? Sean and Emma mentioned people coming after you."
"They were trying to take me back. I didn't want to go."
"I'm glad you didn't go," he said with a smile.
"Me too," she said with a yawn.
"Darlin' you need to get some sleep. You can tell us what happened later."
Alex nodded and closed her eyes. She felt Logan take one of her hands and hold it. She was asleep in no time at all.

    She woke up hours later. Logan was sitting next to the bed and was still holding her hand.
"Morning."
"Morning. How long have I been sleeping?"
"About twelve hours."
"That long? Ugh."
"Darlin' you were unconscious for a week."
Alex groaned. Her stomach started to rumble quite loudly.
"Hungry?"
She nodded. Logan left the room and returned with a tray full of food. Her stomach rumbled even more when she smelled the food. She tried to move her arm. It moved but with awkward jerky movements. She had enough control over it so she could eat.
"So what happened?"
"They came for me. If I went back with them I would have been killed. I was a little surprised that they were sent to apprehend me and not kill me right away. They don't like people getting away from them. Anyways, one of the people used to be in my old squad. She helped me get away from them."
"I wouldn't call dying exactly getting away. We were barely able to bring you back."
"Logan I had to die. At least in their eyes I had to be dead. The only way they would have been satisfied was that I was dead and the implant was removed."
"Implant?"
"A small sub-dermal implant attached to the nervous system. Every soldier has one. It's implanted upon entry into government service and removed at death. It was their way of controlling us. If we ever got out of line they would be able to neutralize us in matter of seconds. Sybil had to active the implant and kill me so that she could remove it. It was the only proof of my death that they would accept."
"Oh I see. Is there anything you would like to tell me so we're all not surprised in the future?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Is there anything I can do or get for you?"
"Some books maybe. I don't know how long they're going to keep me in here and I'll go nuts if I don't have something to do."
"I'll have Hank pick some out for you. How are you doing?"
"My arms are moving, if somewhat a little erratically. I can't feel or move anything from my waist down. Probably take more time for my nervous system to straighten itself out."
"You gave us quite a scare. You were technically dead for almost ten minutes."
"So that's what she meant."
"Who?"
"A fortune teller Rogue dragged me to. She said that I was going to die, but only to come back cause my task isn't complete yet."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought it was all nonsense. You think that I would actually believe in that stuff?"
"No. What else did she say?"
"Some nonsense about two warriors fighting and eventually stripping each other of their armor and twin stars burning bright with the Great Mother's blessing. There was also something else about the warrior finding love again. Who knows?"
"Strange," Logan muttered.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
"Hey. Up for some visitors?" Jubilee asked popping her head in the door.
"Sure."
Jubilee and the rest of the students entered.
"How are ya doing?" Paige asked.
"I've been better," Alex said with a slight grin.
"We were worried about ya chica."
"Thank you Angelo, and all of you."
"What happened?" Jubilee asked making herself comfortable on the foot of the bed.
"Well I'll give you a short description. I'm sure my nurse here won't let me go on forever."
Logan hmphed and sat back in the chair. The students made themselves comfortable as Alex began to relate the events that took place in the Public Gardens.
"Wow," Jubilee said when Alex finished her tale.
Alex yawned. That was Logan's cue.
"All right. You kids can visit again later. She needs her rest."
"See what I mean," Alex said with a grin.
A few of the students chucked and then said their goodbyes.
"Logan?"
"Yes?"
"Can you get me some more food please?"
"Sure darlin'. I'll be right back."
He returned a short while later with another tray of food. Alex cleared the tray in next to no time. She leaned back in the bed and was asleep in a matter of minutes.

    The doctors coming into the room woke Alex up. She noticed that Logan was gone and really wished he were here while the doctors were in the room.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"How much feeling and movement do you have in your arms and legs?"
"My arms and hands are about eighty percent fine. My legs are tingling, but I can't feel or move them yet."
"It will probably take a few more days for them to be back where they were. You had extensive damage to your nervous system. Although, your recovery is remarkable."
Alex shrugged. The two doctors did some tests and were about to draw some blood.
"Why are you doing that?"
"We would like to run some tests."
"What tests?"
"We just wanted to see some of your makeup."
"No."
"No what?"
"No you are not going to take any blood from me for tests unless they are crucial for my survival."
"May we ask why not?"
"Because I said so, that's why not."
"Oh. We would really like to see what you might have in your blood. Your fast healing has fascinated us. You should have never recovered from the damage done to your nervous system."
"I said no."
"But…"
"I said NO! Now get out of here!"
Logan had entered the room to hear Alex shouting at the doctors.
"What's goin' on?"
"We were trying to take a few blood samples from her," one of the doctors said trying to explain what was happening.
"Bub, I would suggest leaving. If she says no, she means no," Logan extended one adamantium claw to make his point. The two doctors went pale and quickly exited the room.   
"Argh! I really hate doctors!"
"What happened?"
"They were curious and the wanted some blood samples."
"What's the deal?"
"Logan, I have antibodies to just about every disease there has ever been and it's not by choice."
"How?"
"When they discovered one of my powers was to adapt, they wanted to see if my body would adapt to diseases and the like. So they started injecting me with bacteria, viruses and the like. Of course they started out with rather harmless stuff and progressively moved to more lethal stuff. Human guinea pig never fit more perfectly. Now can you see why I don't want them to do any tests? They will turn me into another guinea pig when they discover what's floating around in my blood."
"I understand darlin'."
"Logan can you ask Hank to see if he could get me out of here under his care?"
"I will. You going to be okay?"
"Yeah. I can deal with them. I may not be able to move my legs or walk, but I can still keep them at bay."
"Okay. I'll be right back."
Logan returned pushing a wheelchair. Another person was with him.
"Hank?" Alex asked raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Image inducer."
"Ah. So am I getting out of here?"
"Yes. Hank and I persuaded them that you would recover much more quickly at home."
Alex groaned.
"Logan didn't threaten them too much," Hank said with a smile.
"Come on darlin'. We're getting you out of here."
"Thanks, both of you."
Logan picked her up and sat her down in the wheelchair. Alex was relieved that she didn't have to spend another minute in the hospital.
   
    It felt great being back at the mansion, although, she did have to explain a few times what happened when the members of the X-men came to visit her. Meph was probably the one who missed her the most. He planted himself on her lap and only got up for food and to take care of business. Logan insisted on her staying in his room while she was recuperating. She didn't mind.
Alex was able to wiggle her toes after another two days. She was able to move her legs only slightly. She was anxious to be up and moving again. Hank checked up on her everyday and she had frequent visitors. Rogue spent the most time with her. They made some more progress on Rogue controlling her powers everyday.
"Rogue just relax," Alex said as she sat rubbing Rogue's temples.
"Ah'm tryin'."
Alex continued to massage Rogue's temples. Alex ever so slowly shut off her powers. Nothing. Her fingers were touching Rogue's skin and nothing was happening.
"Rogue, what if I tell you my powers are shut off?"
"Ah'd say ya were pulling mah leg."
Alex just chucked. She heard the doorknob turning.
"Rogue close your eyes."
"Sure sugah."
Logan came into the room and Alex put a finger up to her lips in an effort to tell him to be silent. Alex motioned for Logan to come over to where the two women were sitting on the bed.
"Logan. Try massaging one of her temples like I am doing. I have a theory."
Logan looked at her suspiciously.
"Do you trust me?"
He nodded. He gently placed a fingertip on Rogue's temple. Nothing happened. He then tentatively pressed his finger more firmly to her skin and eventually touched her with another finger. Still nothing happened.
"How," he mouthed.
"She had a fear of touch. Since I was able to touch her, it has allowed her to trust the touch of someone else. She doesn't know you are touching her right now."
"Rogue open your eyes."
Rogue opened her eyes and was amazed. Logan stood directly in front of her and was massaging her temple like Alex had been doing.
"HOW?" she asked.
"Rogue what was the one thing you were terrified of?"
"Touching someone and absorbing their memories or their powers."
"What have I been doing every time we worked together?"
"Touching me, but your powers prevented me from suckin' ya powers."
"The most important part was me touching you. You learned to trust the touch of another."
Tears welled up in Rogue's emerald eyes.
"Oh sugah Ah owe ya so much!" Rogue exclaimed and gave Alex a bear hug.
"Uh, Rogue your squeezing a little too much," Alex was barely able to say.
"Oh sorry sugah."
Rogue stood up and gave Logan a kiss on the cheek and went bouncing from the room.
   
    Gambit was watching tv in the rec room when Rogue came walking in. He noticed the bounce in her step and a bright twinkle in her eye.
"Chere why you be lookin' all happy?"
"Come here swamprat," she said beckoning him with a finger.
Gambit was intrigued. He was never one to refuse a beautiful woman. He got up off the chair where he had been sitting and walked over to stand in front of her. He wasn't prepared for the deep passionate kiss that Rogue gave him. He started to kiss her in return when he realized Rogue was kissing him and she wasn't absorbing his powers or memories. He broke off the kiss.
"Rogue how you be kissin' Gambit?"
"Alex has been workin' with me for the past few weeks on learning to control mah powers."
"But how?"
"Alex discovered that I feared the touch of others and she helped me get past it."
"Dis be a nice surprise," he flashed her a wide grin.
"Isn't it?" Rogue said with a smile.
"An how is de other little surprise doing?" he asked as he patted Rogue's abdomen. A small bulge was just starting to show.
"She's doin' just fine."
"You know dat de baby be a girl?"
"No, but Ah have a strong feelin' it's a girl."
"I bet 'dat she'll as pretty as her momma."
"An' a hellion like her poppa," Rogue said and she kissed him again.
They had been getting closer and closer ever since Gambit returned to the mansion. They were both cautious, each not sure where things stood or where they were going. It looked like their relationship was on the mend, but they took it day by day.
They curled up on a couch together. They didn't say a word to each other, but sat there enjoying each other's presence.

    The next day Alex had more movement in her legs. She waited until Logan was out of the room and slowly swung her legs so they were dangling off of the edge of the bed. She put a hand on the nightstand and very slowly started to stand up. She was almost standing straight up when the door opened and Logan came into the room. She lost her concentration when she heard the door opened and her legs began to wobble. She sat back down on the bed and cursed.
Logan walked around to the other side of the room and just looked at her.
"I know. I'll get back in bed. I just wanted to see if I was able to stand."
Logan didn't say anything. He held out a hand to her. She took his hand and with his help was able to stand. Alex even managed a few steps before she started to fall. Logan caught her and helped her to stand back up.
"You've made some progress today. Let's save some for tomorrow."
Alex just looked at him and nodded. He helped her get back into bed and went downstairs to get her something to eat. Alex quickly finished the meal he prepared for her and went to sleep. She was still sleeping about twelve hours a day. She really didn't need that much, but the more she slept the faster she would heal. Logan was content with her sleeping so much. This way at least she wasn't trying to push herself.
She was barely able to walk with the assistance of a cane and sheer willpower the next day, but was determined to get out and about. She surprised everyone when she walked into the dining room for dinner. It felt good to be able to walk, even if it was with the help of a cane.
"Alex. What a nice surprise! It's great seeing you up and about."
"Thanks Jean. It's nice to be up and about. What's for dinner?"
"Rogue's fried chicken."
"Sounds great," Alex said sitting in the chair she customarily sat in.
Bobby started talking about the practical jokes that were played on him and was still insisting that it was Hank who was the perpetrator of the jokes.
"Hey Bobby."
"Yes Alex?"
"I have a confession. I did all the things that happened to you before I went to Boston."
"What? You?" Bobby's jaw dropped. "I would have never thought it was you in a million years."
"Well Jubilee helped. She gave me most of the ideas for the jokes."
"You know I will have to avenge myself."
"Ha! You can try!"
Bobby grinned mischievously at Alex.
"You try anything while she's recovering Bub and you'll have me to answer to."
"Um sure Logan," Bobby gulped.
The rest of dinner was spent with everyone asking Alex exactly what happened in Boston. She figured she might as well tell them while they were all here instead of telling it to them one by one.
Alex was done with dinner fairly quickly. She excused herself and got up and started to leave. Logan was still eating and she didn't feel like waiting for him. She was halfway to the door to the hallway when she tripped on the carpet and fell. She saw Logan starting to get up out of the corner of her eye.
"No! I don't need any help!" she said starting to pull herself up off of the floor.
It took her some time to get fully vertical. She slowly walked out of the room and didn't look behind her. She slowly made her way to the Professor's office and sat down at the piano. She started to play, but she couldn't play without making mistakes. Her pinky and ring finger of her right hand were a little numb. They had been numb on and off since she woke up in the hospital. She wasn't going to bother Hank with it. She figured that it would clear up with time. She gave up on playing and curled up in a chair with a book.
Logan found her asleep in the chair a few hours later. He started to pick her up when her eyes popped open.
"Logan, no. Please don't carry me upstairs. I will walk."
He stood by and watched her get out of the chair painfully slow. He saw her struggling to remain standing and to take a few steps.
"Darlin'…"
"No Logan. I will walk."
He didn't say anything, but shadowed her movements. It took them a long time to reach the elevator. He just looked at her when they stepped off the elevator on the second floor. She nodded silently and slowly made the walk to his room. She refused his help every time he offered it. She gently eased herself on to the bed and lay with her back to Logan. She fell asleep in no time at all.
    Alex woke an hour later and couldn't go back to sleep. She slowly got out of bed and headed downstairs. Her legs were a little steadier and she was able to walk a little better. She wanted to see how strong her legs were, so she headed to the exercise room. She got on the treadmill and started out slowly. She managed to get up to a brisk walk before the door opened and Logan walked in. He yanked the cord to the treadmill out of the wall and it came to a sudden stop. Alex, who wasn't prepared for the sudden stop, almost fell. She glared at Logan.
"Why did you do that?" she asked in a calm even voice, trying to keep a lid on her temper.
"You shouldn't be doin' that."
"I wanted to see what I am capable of doing."
"I don't think you're ready to be pushing yourself, and I'm sure Hank would agree with me."
"Oh. I wasn't aware of you holding any medical degrees."
Logan just grumbled. Like Alex, he was trying to keep a lid on his temper.
"Logan, you and I are so much alike. If the situation were reversed, you would be doing the same. Now, if you're going to help me then stay, but if you're going to try to play nurse with me then leave. I'm tired of feeling weak, and having a nurse around me twenty four hours a day isn't helping."
Logan wasn't sure of what to do, but he knew that if he stayed he would try to prevent her from pushing herself. In the three short months that he had known her, she had been through enough to kill a normal person. He stood there and stared at her. Her face was as calm as the surface of a lake, but he could smell anger radiating from her. He turned and walked out the door.