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marysuevirus2024-06-21 08:36 pm
ladydeathfaerie) wrote in marysuevirus2024-06-21 08:36 pm
Among the Strong
Title: Among the Strong
Chapter Twenty: Questions Without Answers
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs todazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar .
Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Warren was exhausted. But it wasn't the kind of exhaustion that a good night's sleep would cure. It was a bone-deep, soul-sucking kind of exhaustion that would take years to be rid of. He supposed it was what might once have been called battle-weary. And there was no time for a respite. Because things were about to get that much harder. He had to find Morgan. And he had to speak with Jehnna.
It had been something of a surprise to wake up and find himself in, of all places, New Jersey. Especially when he couldn't remember going to sleep. It had been akin to a horror story to realize he'd woken up alone. No Morgan at his side. Just a satchel which, when he looked, contained clothes he assumed were hers. He was wearing his uniform and he wasn't going to even consider who might have dressed him. Fucking Sinister. If Warren ever got his hands on the man...
Warren had taken to the skies the moment the grogginess had cleared from his mind. Some instinct said he needed to find Morgan, that he needed to assure himself she was okay. That their baby was okay.
It didn't take him more than fifteen or twenty minutes to make the flight from Jersey to the school. And, during the whole flight, he'd allowed relief to rush through him. He'd felt the first stirrings of that joy he got whenever he was aloft and gliding. Flying. Feeling alive. A year in Sinister's clutches had effectively clipped his wings and it was so good to take to the skies that it almost felt like the best orgasm of his life.
That feeling was lost the very second his feet touched the ground.
He'd almost made it to the steps when Rogue came outside. She took one look at him before pulling him into a hug that might have made his bones creak. Just a little. "Come on, sugar," she said, a bright smile in her voice right next to the tremble of tears. "Let's get you down to Hank so he can look ya over."
"Okay," Warren nodded. Rogue stepped back from him and turned to lead him into the building that felt both familiar and foreign all at the same time. Of course there were people standing around, staring at him. He did his best to ignore their presence and the way their curiosity seemed to crowd around him. It had been so long since he'd been around other people that he felt just a little claustrophobic. He kept his eyes on the back of Rogue's head while his hands held tight to the strap looped over his shoulder. He didn't properly breathe again until they were in the elevator and the doors had closed behind them.
"The others?" he asked quietly.
"Morgan is back. And so is Jehnna," Rogue told him. He sensed a hesitance in her words that put him on edge.
"But?" he prompted.
"Haley and Dare ain't come back yet," she admitted. She turned to look at him, confusion and her own questions in her eyes. "Jehnna asked for Sam as soon as she woke up. And Morgan's in labor."
The last sentence hit him with confusion. But it also saw relief wash through him so strongly that his knees almost buckled. Morgan was in labor. That meant Sinister hadn't taken their baby. But why? She was supposed to be one of Apocalypse's horsemen. Why would Sinister leave her if that was the case? Something about that felt off to Warren, but he pushed that aside. It was more important that Morgan was in labor and she was going to need him. A pulse of anxiety shot through him and the elevator was suddenly taking too long to reach the sub-basement level.
He barely made note of Rogue not following him when the doors to the elevator opened. The slid closed a few moments later and he was alone in the corridor, on his way to the medlab and Morgan's side.
Mild chaos ruled when he stepped into the room. A quick glance showed him that Jehnna was in a bed on the other side of the medlab. It was easy to see she was anxious and on edge, with hints of fear and worry mingling. Her eyes met his and he saw the sorrow in them. The guilt. He flashed her a smile and nodded his head in her direction. He hoped she knew that meant he understood and he didn't hold it against her. Then a young man he didn't know was taking her hand and holding it while he spoke to her softly.
"I believe, Morgan, that your baby is coming," Henry's voice drew his attention to the bed where Morgan had been settled. Henry and Roxxy both crowded around it, Henry's face caught between concern and curiosity. Warren spared a brief thought for why before crossing to Morgan's side.
"No shit!' she got out, her voice tight with pain. He'd been through this enough to know that she was riding a contraction and, if Henry said it was time to push, that meant she was in the final stages of labor. Warren took the chair beside her bed and wrapped his hand around hers.
"I'm here, sweetheart," he said quietly. Her eyes rolled toward his face and he got the briefest smile before she grit her teeth against the contraction.
"Fuck!," Morgan ground out. "You and those pesky Worthington genes!"
A noise that sounded like choking drew Warren's gaze to where Henry sat between Morgan's spread legs. The urge to chide Morgan for her language was there to see in his eyes. But discretion held his tongue. No doubt because he knew saying anything wouldn't do him any good. "How long has Morgan been in labor?" Warren directed his question at Henry.
"Her water broke as Bobby was bringing her down to the medlab. I suspect she's been in labor for some time," Henry responded without drawing his attention from his patient. "I hope you're ready to welcome your child into the world, Morgan. The head is crowning, which means it will be any time now."
"Henry, you need to stop talking. Right now," Morgan said, teeth clenched tightly together. Warren hid his smile and gave her hand a squeeze.
"I know it hurts, sweetheart. But don't take it out on Henry. It isn't his fault," he said gently. She turned accusing eyes his way.
"No. It isn't This is your fault," she returned, pain edging her words. Her fingers tightened on his, squeezing harshly as she battled her way through the contraction. It struck Warren then, with his gaze pinned to her face, that they were really having a baby. The idea had always been there, but it had been tempered by the notion that Sinister would take their baby and hand her off to Apocalypse. For all of their talk and their wishing, he was sure neither one of them had actually allowed themselves to consider this moment.
Warren took the time to study Morgan's face. Her hair was a mess, pulled up into a sloppy ponytail to keep it out of her face. Her bangs stuck to her forehead, clinging to the sweat that beaded up there. Her cheeks were red from effort and exhaustion crowded her gaze when it didn't flash with anger. She was an absolute mess and no less beautiful for it.
"That's right. Its my fault," he agreed, a faint chuckle in his voice. "Me and my pesky Worthington genes."
"You're mocking me," she said, lips forming a pout.
"Never," Warren asserted. Morgan relaxed for all of five seconds before her face contorted in pain again.
"Push, Morgan," Henry instructed.
She tugged her hand from his hold so that she could wrap it and its mate around her knees. Warren helped her into a sitting position, one hand remaining on her lower back in support. Tension spread across the muscles of her back and he saw it in her face. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes squeezed shut tightly. She was pushing for all she was worth.
Warren watched as Henry did whatever it was that needed doing. Roxxy hovered just behind him, obviously waiting to assist. The tension in Morgan's back was suddenly gone and it brought his attention back to her. She was slumped toward her knees, breathing raggedly as she tried to draw air into her lungs. The hand on her back stroked up and down the length of it slowly in the hopes it helped.
"Another contraction is coming," Henry told her, his gaze focused on the monitor beside the bed. "I know you're tired, Morgan. But you need to give one last push. You're so close.Just a little bit more before its all over. On three. One."
Morgan straightened up and gripped her knees tighter.
"Two."
Once again, she leaned forward.
"Three."
With Henry's last word, Morgan's eyes once more squeezed shut and her jaw clenched. There was some kind of sound at the back of her throat as she pushed. It didn't quite sound like a grunt, but that seemed to be the best word to describe the sound she was making. Warren leaned close and whispered into her ear, offering her words of encouragement and promise and love. The whole time, his gaze was locked on Henry's big blue hands. And he watched as they helped bring forth the tiny life that had been, only a short time ago, inside Morgan's belly.
Roxxy was there to offer a tray holding several items Warren recognized from the birth of his other children. Henry took a clamp from the tray and locked it in place around the umbilical cord. Then he cut the cord and did whatever was necessary to close it off. A blanket was then wrapped around the tiny form and Roxxy was the one who offered her to Morgan. "Your daughter," she said softly. Warren thought he saw a hint of tears in her eyes. "She's beautiful."
And she was. Warren glanced at the tiny bundle Morgan held. She was so small and he could see the bits here and there that would one day become physical reminders of him. Or her mother. Those traits that would, with time, write her parentage all over her face. There were even a few wisps of pale blonde hair on the top of her head. She was tiny and beautiful and just perfect.
And Morgan clung to her like a lifeline.
"She has your chin," Warren commented.
"Your nose," Morgan countered.
"She's perfect. And beautiful. Just like her mother," Warren whispered. His words brought Morgan's curious gaze his way. She stared at him a moment, then shot a worried look toward Jehnna. Warren laid a hand over one of Morgan's. "Its all good, Morgan. Let me worry about it. But later. Right now, I want to enjoy time with you and our daughter."
"What are you going to name her, Morgan?" Roxxy asked. There was a touch of wistfulness in her voice, making Warren wonder if her friends being pregnant was giving her a mild case of baby fever. He'd seen it go in circles among Purple Team since the first time Dare and Morgan had been pregnant.
"Kayla Marie Worthington," Morgan said, the name rolling off her tongue so quickly that Warren knew she'd thought about it even when she'd been sure she'd never see her child.
"That's a good name," Roxxy nodded.
"It is," Warren agreed. Then he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. A kiss meant to tell her he was proud of her. A kiss meant to tell her that he thought she was amazing.
A kiss meant to tell her that he loved her.
And he did. He loved her. Just like he still loved Jehnna. God help them, they were going to have to figure out how to work things out. Because he wasn't sure he wanted to let all of this slip through his fingers. There had to be some way to make it work.
There had to be
~*~
Sam had never been so glad to see the bright green expanse of lawn in front of the mansion in all his life. Waking up in Kentucky, not far from his family home, had been disorienting. More so than waking up in that room disguised as a cage with Jehnna had. And that had left his head spinning for a good ten minutes. Waking up in the backwoods had come in at a very close second. He'd considered going to visit his mother for half a second. Then his memory had kicked him hard in the ass, reminding him that Jehnna was pregnant and she needed him. There'd been a solid minute of panic because he hadn't known where to start looking for her or even if she'd been returned. And then the professor's voice had filled his head and let him know that Morgan had been returned to the school. That had been all he'd needed to hear because logic dictated that Sinister would send Jehnna back if he'd already sent Morgan back.
That thought in mind, Sam had figured out where north was and he'd thrown himself head first into speeding his way back to New York. He didn't stop to think about the fact that Sinister had had him put in his uniform. And he clutched the bag he'd woken up holding to his chest. It contained Jehnna's uniform and any other personal items she'd had with her.
It had taken him much longer than he liked to reach Westchester and Xavier's mansion. But he was home now, and he was eager to find Jehnna. She had to be lost and confused. Scared. No doubt she was confused as to how they'd returned home. He knew he was. Sam had almost reached the front steps when the door opened and Rogue stepped out. She was smiling, though it looked strained, and she pulled Sam into a hug. "Welcome back, sugar," she said, her voice pleasant and gentle. "C'mon. I'm gonna take you down to Henry. Professor's orders."
"Where's Jehnna?" he asked, following after her into the mansion. The crush of bodies, a large group of students with curiosity on their faces, left him momentarily stunned. But he shook off the urge to turn around and run and continued after Rogue.
"She's with Henry," the woman told him. If she was curious as to why he was asking about Jehnna, she said nothing. She merely led him to the elevator and rode it with him down to the sub-basement. When the doors slid open, she walked him to the medlab's door. Rogue offered him that smile again. One hand touched his shoulder lightly. "Its good to have you back, Sam."
Her words were still echoing up and down the hall when she stepped back into the elevator. Sam took a breath, then opened the door and stepped into the medlab.
There was a sense of controlled chaos about the room. A glance at the interior showed him Morgan settled in one bed, a baby held firmly in her arms. Warren was at her side, speaking to her softly and staring intently at the tiny bundle she held. Another bed was occupied by Haley. She looked pale, her eyes huge and watery. Her husband was at her side, holding her hand. It didn't look as if either of them were speaking and something about the haunted look in Haley's eyes said she expected bad things to happen.
He didn't see Dare, which left him wondering why that was. But he did see, in yet another bed, Jehnna's face. She was staring at him with wide eyes, hope burning brightly in them. She, as well as Haley, were both still very much pregnant. He took a second to wonder why Sinister would send the girls back still pregnant. Then he pushed the question aside as unimportant in the moment. He moved to the bed where Jehnna waited for him. A young man he didn't know looked at him before glancing back at Jehnna. Seeing the look on her face, he rose from his seat after patting her hand with his own.
"See ya, Jehnna," the man said, a smile on his face. He tipped his head at Sam, then stepped around him and headed toward the door.
"Thanks, Duke," Jehnna said absently, her voice barely above a whisper. All of her attention was focused on Sam.
Seeing Jehnna sitting there, staring up at him with love and joy in her eyes, her belly still swollen around their baby, left Sam with jelly legs and he sat hard in the chair the man called Duke had just vacated. "Hi, there, beautiful," Sam whispered.
"Sam!" Jehnna somehow turned his name into a prayer. She offered him a smile and leaned toward him for a hug. Sam shifted to the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She was solid and real in his hold, and their baby kicked him in the ribs as if to remind him that she was there.
His hand settled on the bump even as he was drawing back from her. Jehnna was staring at him as if it had been year since she'd seen him. "When I woke up and didn't see you, I was scared that Sinister had done something to you," she whispered to him.
"I felt the same when I woke up and you weren't there. I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. Kentucky is a ways away," Sam told her.
"Its okay. You're here now," she replied. The baby kicked again, a not-so-subtle reminder that she was there. Jehnna let go a small puff of air before putting her hands on her belly. "Why am I still pregnant? Why didn't he take her? Did he change his mind? Is he going to let us keep her?"
"I don't know, Jehnna. There's no telling what he's thinking," Sam replied. He honestly didn't know. But he had some ideas. Ideas that involved Sinister giving them just enough time to fall in love with their babies before he showed up and ripped them from their arms. Sam didn't mention any of that to her, though. He didn't want to worry her with things that weren't set in stone. He didn't want to cause stress that might see their daughter being born earlier. "And that isn't important right now. You and our baby being healthy is what's important."
"What about you? Henry should check you over to be sure that Sinister didn't do anything to you," she insisted.
Sam wanted to say he was fine. But there was no telling if that was true or not. Sinister had drugged all of them before sending them home. He could have done terrible things before opening more portals and returning them to where they belonged. He hoped such wasn't the case. He didn't know what it would do to him if something were to happen to Jehnna. And, in all honesty, hadn't they all suffered more than enough over the course of their captivity? "I'm sure, once he's done with Morgan and her baby, he'll do just that."
The mention of Morgan saw Jehnna's gaze seeking out the other woman. Warren still sat at her side, one hand resting on her shoulder while the other touched the baby she cradled to her chest. A glance at Jehnna showed a touch of melancholy in her eyes. "He still loves you," Sam said, despite not being sure it was the truth.
"I know," Jehnna replied. Some of the sadness she felt leaked into her voice. She turned a watery smile his way. "But its hard..."
"I know, beautiful," Sam replied. "I just hope he isn't mad at you. It isn't like you could help what happened anymore than I could. Or him. Sinister played with our minds and our emotions."
"I don't think he's mad. At me or you. He did look at me earlier. And he smiled. I think it was his way of telling me he understood. But that doesn't mean I can put aside ten years of loving him and not let all of this hurt me. We were supposed to be together until death do us part." The last of her words were thick with tears. Sam reached out and laid a hand on hers.
"I know, Jehnna. And that's still a possibility. It isn't set in stone that you and he will split up. You're going to have to have a conversation with him about everything before you and he come to that bridge. So don't go borrowing trouble," he told her.
Jehnna offered him a slight smile. "You're right. Of course. But its hard." Her gaze slid to where her husband sat with another woman. She stared at him staring at his newborn daughter. She didn't say that it should have been her. But Sam could see the thought on her face for a moment before her expression slid into something more neutral. "And I suppose, I can't really talk to Warren until I figure out what I want."
She turned big eyes Sam's way and he was instantly lost in her gaze. "No. You need to know what you want to tell him before you can talk to him. And he needs to know the same things." Sam kept his tone level and pleasant. There was no need to add to the things she felt by letting her know that he was petrified of what she'd end up deciding about Warren. Petrified that she'd chose to stay with her husband and leave Sam in the dust. And petrified that she'd leave Warren for him. That was scary in ways he couldn't exactly put his finger on just yet.
To distract himself from his thoughts, he let his gaze once more skim the room. Henry and Roxxy had moved to Haley's side and Henry was asking questions. Roxxy was dutifully marking things down on the clipboard she held. Every once in a while, her eyes would lift from the paper in order to look at Haley. Even across the room, Sam could see the guilt in her gaze. Didn't she know there was nothing she could have done to changed the outcome? The horsemen had been stronger and more capable. It would have left Haley upset if Roxxy had gotten hurt or killed.
His attention eventually slid away from Haley to return to Warren and Morgan. The woman looked exhausted and was fighting sleep. Warren looked like he was trying to convince her to sleep and she kept stubbornly refusing. A moment later, Faye popped up at her side. She was staring down at Morgan and the baby with an incredibly intent look on her face. And she spoke to the woman for a few moments, one hand reaching out to gently glide over the baby's head. Then she was suddenly tense. It lasted only the blink of an eye. The tension slid away and Faye leaned in to press a kiss to Morgan's forehead. A moment later, she was gone as quickly as she'd come and even Morgan looked confused by her sudden departure.
"Where's Dare?" Jehnna asked, her spoken question echoing the one that circled Sam's brain.
"I don't know," Sam replied honestly.
"You don't... Do you think Sinister is going to keep her? Jehnna's voice was small, as if she believed saying the words aloud with give truth to them. Before Sam could formulate an answer, Henry was moving toward one of the empty beds. A moment later, Kurt ported into the room and a new round of chaos started up.
~*~
"Dare?" Haley asked, tugging her hand from Johnny's in an attempt to throw her blankets back. Johnny kept his grip on her hand, intent on keeping her in bed. He knew what was happening. She was unsettled about something and she didn't want to face it head on. So she was going to focus her attention on someone else. It was how she dealt with things that made her uncomfortable and she'd done it forever.
Of course, he understood why she'd want to go to Dare's side. While Johnny didn't know anything about what had happened, he knew that Dare probably hadn't done well with being held captive by Sinister. They both watched as Dare grabbed at Kurt's arm, effectively keeping him from stepping back from her. Which was a problem because Beast was trying to conduct a quick exam. He didn't hear what she said to Kurt, didn't hear his response. Her gaze slid around the room, landing briefly on the inhabitants.
She said something else then, and Kurt answered. Whatever it was must have upset her because she started crying. Kurt backed away and Henry took his place. Even from this distance, it was plain to see that something had distressed her.
"Let me go, Johnny," Haley said, trying to tug her hand from his hold. "I need to go check on her."
"You need to rest," he replied. It was an odd way for their conversation to start. The two of them had been silent for the better part of half an hour. He'd been at a loss for something to say and Haley had seemed withdrawn. Upset about something. He hadn't wanted to push her. Not when she'd just gotten back. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was pregnant and obviously ready to give birth any day now. Who was the father of her child?
"Dare needs me," she insisted. "Sinister kept us locked up in rooms that were little more than cages. We didn't get to see anyone else. I can't imagine what kind of bad memories that brought up for her."
"Haley..." Johnny began. Something in his voice drew her attention fully his way. "You were locked up, too. I know it couldn't have been easy for you, either. Just sit here and recover."
"Dare is alone. And crying," Haley began. How she could tell with Beast blocking her way, Johnny couldn't say. But she sounded so sure about that. "She needs someone."
He heard the unspoken part of her sentence. 'Since no one is here to sit with her.' And he understood where she was coming from. She took her friendships seriously. More seriously than she took her team. And she was really damn serious about her team. But that didn't change the fact that Haley was just as pregnant as her friend. Just as traumatized by what had happened as her friend.
"Haley. Babe. Please," he said softly. The way she looked at him told him that she heard the small thread of fear in his words. For a moment, he saw the love in her eyes. For a moment, it felt like none of it had even happened, that it had been nothing more than a dream. And then Haley was suddenly crying, silent tears that slid down her cheeks to soak into the neckline of the tank top she wore. "Hey! What's this? There's no reason to cry. Why are you crying? Haley, please."
"I'm sorry, Johnny," she told him. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't... I couldn't protect my team and they were taken captive. Sinister..."
Haley's voice trailed off on a sob. He reached out with one hand and settled it on her cheek. "Babe. That is nothing you need to apologize for. It isn't your fault that the horsemen grabbed you. It isn't your fault that any of this happened," he told her. And it wasn't. One of her best traits was that she was dedicated to being the best. It was also one of her worst traits. Because if things went wrong, she took the blame onto herself.
"But I... There's a baby and... Everything is wrong," she said, her words thick and wet with her tears.
Johnny laid his hand on her belly, a gentle touch meant to soothe and calm her. Haley only cried harder, her breath coming in hiccupping gasps. He thought he understood. She'd no doubt been afraid of what would happen when he found out she was pregnant with another man's child. To be honest, he didn't know exactly how he felt about that yet. He understood that it wasn't anything Haley had done intentionally. This had been Sinister's crazy plan. No doubt to sow discontent while also bringing to life a set of horsemen who were unique and powerful.
"Not everything is wrong, babe. You're home finally. That's right." Johnny made sure that he sounded like it was enough. For now, it was going to have to be. He was going to need some time to come to terms with someone else having gotten her pregnant. Everything he'd read about Sinister made him believe that this was one of the better outcomes they could have hoped for. But it was possible that he'd done something worse to Haley and her team that didn't immediately show. He wanted to ask her about it, but he didn't think he was able to do it diplomatically. Diplomacy wasn't normally in his wheel house and the last thing he wanted to do was alienate Haley when she'd just been returned to him .
"But I've been gone so long! What if the kids don't remember me? TJ was so young when we were grabbed. Do you think she even remembers me at this point?" The tears were fatter and falling faster. And Johnny was at a loss. What did she mean, she'd been gone so long?
"Babe, you've been gone a week," Johnny told her. His statement saw her turning big green eyes full of disbelief his way.
"Johnny." She laid a hand over the one that still rested on her belly. "We've been gone a whole year. Sinister gave us a calendar. It was a year. I haven't seen you or our children in a year. It couldn't have been a week."
"Johnny is correct, Haley. You have been missing for a week," Beast interjected. They both turned to look at him in surprise. Neither of them had heard him coming. Blue eyes stared at Haley intently over the rims of his glasses. "I had been wondering how Sinister had managed a full pregnancy in only seven days. It would seem that you have been kept in a pocket dimension where time moved at a different speed than it does here. Fascinating."
"How's Dare?" Haley asked. If she was processing what she'd been told, she was keeping it to herself. Johnny was fairly shocked. But it explained so much. Johnny stared at his wife and, again, wondered if Sinister had done anything else to her.
"She's resting," Beast told her.
"Hank." That single word was spoken sharply enough that it drew Beast's full attention her way. Johnny saw the way Haley stared at Beast, her gaze harsh and demanding. He knew what she was really asking. And he couldn't blame her. But she needed to think about herself for a minute or two.
Beast stared at Haley a moment before removing his glasses and offering her a sharp look of his own. Johnny watched as he lowered himself into a chair on the other side of the bed. Then he heaved a sigh and let his gaze slide up and down Haley's torso. "She's resting, Haley. Which is what you should be doing. I have no doubt your time in Mr. Sinister's clutches were fraught with fear and worry. Just as Dare's time was. Just as Morgan and Jehnna's time was."
"And you know why that's so much worse for Dare than any of us," Haley returned, unwilling to relent.
"I do. I remember what she was like when Logan rescued her from that RV. I remember what she was like for weeks after. I also remember that much of her trauma was brought about by abuse that didn't show on the outside. Victor Creed and Mr. Sinister's methods are not dissimilar. Which means you have suffered a trauma and must rest from it."
"Dare needs someone to sit with her," Haley insisted.
"I agree. Which is why I am staying here in the medlab. As will you, Dare, Jehnna, and Morgan. Until I deem you well enough to leave," Beast told her. Haley opened her mouth to argue further, but the look Beast sent her saw her mouth closing again. "Your desire to ensure your friends are all well and cared for is commendable. But you cannot ignore your own situation, Haley. How do we know that Sinister hasn't done something truly horrible to you? To your friends?"
"He didn't hurt me," Haley insisted.
"I beg to differ," Beast countered. "And unless you were awake twenty-four hours a day for the entire time you were gone, you cannot say with any certainty that Sinister didn't hurt you. Can you? Is it so horrible that you stay here for a while under observation?"
The gentleness of Beast's question saw Haley deflating. Just a little. "No. Its just... We were confined to one room most of the time. The room we were given. The only deviation was trips to Sinister's lab and to the gym. The rest of our time, day and night, was spent locked in a single room. You'll have to forgive me if I am not at all anxious to spend time here. Other people or not."
"I understand, Haley. But you cannot ignore your health. Not now," Beast told her. The look on his face was not unkind. Moments of silence ticked by as the two of them stared at one another.
"Please, Haley. For me?" Johnny added. Her gaze swung his way and she stared for a few moments before letting go a sigh.
"Fine," she agreed. It sounded like it hurt her to agree. Johnny smiled.
"Thanks, babe. I won't leave your side."
"It isn't me I'm worried about. Its Dare." Haley's eyes drifted toward the bed where the other woman lay. She'd turned onto her side, her back turned toward the rest of the room.
"I will sit with Dare," Beast assured her. "And when I need a break, Rosemary will sit with her in my stead. Even though she should be in bed, as well. Though she will no doubt refuse to stay in bed with the four of you returned to us."
"Stay in bed? Why does Roxxy need to be in bed?" Haley asked before she started looking around the room. It was obvious to Johnny that she was looking for her best friend. "Where is Roxxy?"
"I sent her to find clothes for you, Dare, and Jehnna," Beast informed her. "And she should still be in bed because she almost died a few days ago."
Haley stared a moment, as if she wasn't sure she'd heard Beast correctly. "What? How did she almost die? What the hell happened?"
"Henry," Roxxy's voice chided from the doorway. Haley's gaze swung her way and stared, as if trying to find the reason Roxxy had almost died written somewhere on her friend. "Now is not the time to tell Haley such things if you want her to rest. You know how she gets."
"Too true, my dear. Too true," Beast said on a sigh. "You have excellent timing."
"Of course I do," Roxxy said as she moved deeper into the room. She carried with her a canvas bag that obviously held the clothing Beast had sent her to retrieve. She stopped at Morgan's bed and pulled out a smaller bag, which she set on the foot of the bed. Then she did the same with Morgan and Dare before joining Henry by Haley's bed. She pulled a handful of material from her bag and held it out to Haley. "Come on, Haley. Let's go get you changed and I'll tell you all about how I almost died.
"Damn right you will," Haley replied. She tossed the blankets back and followed Roxxy across the room to the bathroom. The two of them disappeared through the door. It shut behind them with a thump. Beast chuckled.
"Better Rosemary than me," he remarked. Johnny had to agree.
Chapter Twenty: Questions Without Answers
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs to
dazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar . Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Warren was exhausted. But it wasn't the kind of exhaustion that a good night's sleep would cure. It was a bone-deep, soul-sucking kind of exhaustion that would take years to be rid of. He supposed it was what might once have been called battle-weary. And there was no time for a respite. Because things were about to get that much harder. He had to find Morgan. And he had to speak with Jehnna.
It had been something of a surprise to wake up and find himself in, of all places, New Jersey. Especially when he couldn't remember going to sleep. It had been akin to a horror story to realize he'd woken up alone. No Morgan at his side. Just a satchel which, when he looked, contained clothes he assumed were hers. He was wearing his uniform and he wasn't going to even consider who might have dressed him. Fucking Sinister. If Warren ever got his hands on the man...
Warren had taken to the skies the moment the grogginess had cleared from his mind. Some instinct said he needed to find Morgan, that he needed to assure himself she was okay. That their baby was okay.
It didn't take him more than fifteen or twenty minutes to make the flight from Jersey to the school. And, during the whole flight, he'd allowed relief to rush through him. He'd felt the first stirrings of that joy he got whenever he was aloft and gliding. Flying. Feeling alive. A year in Sinister's clutches had effectively clipped his wings and it was so good to take to the skies that it almost felt like the best orgasm of his life.
That feeling was lost the very second his feet touched the ground.
He'd almost made it to the steps when Rogue came outside. She took one look at him before pulling him into a hug that might have made his bones creak. Just a little. "Come on, sugar," she said, a bright smile in her voice right next to the tremble of tears. "Let's get you down to Hank so he can look ya over."
"Okay," Warren nodded. Rogue stepped back from him and turned to lead him into the building that felt both familiar and foreign all at the same time. Of course there were people standing around, staring at him. He did his best to ignore their presence and the way their curiosity seemed to crowd around him. It had been so long since he'd been around other people that he felt just a little claustrophobic. He kept his eyes on the back of Rogue's head while his hands held tight to the strap looped over his shoulder. He didn't properly breathe again until they were in the elevator and the doors had closed behind them.
"The others?" he asked quietly.
"Morgan is back. And so is Jehnna," Rogue told him. He sensed a hesitance in her words that put him on edge.
"But?" he prompted.
"Haley and Dare ain't come back yet," she admitted. She turned to look at him, confusion and her own questions in her eyes. "Jehnna asked for Sam as soon as she woke up. And Morgan's in labor."
The last sentence hit him with confusion. But it also saw relief wash through him so strongly that his knees almost buckled. Morgan was in labor. That meant Sinister hadn't taken their baby. But why? She was supposed to be one of Apocalypse's horsemen. Why would Sinister leave her if that was the case? Something about that felt off to Warren, but he pushed that aside. It was more important that Morgan was in labor and she was going to need him. A pulse of anxiety shot through him and the elevator was suddenly taking too long to reach the sub-basement level.
He barely made note of Rogue not following him when the doors to the elevator opened. The slid closed a few moments later and he was alone in the corridor, on his way to the medlab and Morgan's side.
Mild chaos ruled when he stepped into the room. A quick glance showed him that Jehnna was in a bed on the other side of the medlab. It was easy to see she was anxious and on edge, with hints of fear and worry mingling. Her eyes met his and he saw the sorrow in them. The guilt. He flashed her a smile and nodded his head in her direction. He hoped she knew that meant he understood and he didn't hold it against her. Then a young man he didn't know was taking her hand and holding it while he spoke to her softly.
"I believe, Morgan, that your baby is coming," Henry's voice drew his attention to the bed where Morgan had been settled. Henry and Roxxy both crowded around it, Henry's face caught between concern and curiosity. Warren spared a brief thought for why before crossing to Morgan's side.
"No shit!' she got out, her voice tight with pain. He'd been through this enough to know that she was riding a contraction and, if Henry said it was time to push, that meant she was in the final stages of labor. Warren took the chair beside her bed and wrapped his hand around hers.
"I'm here, sweetheart," he said quietly. Her eyes rolled toward his face and he got the briefest smile before she grit her teeth against the contraction.
"Fuck!," Morgan ground out. "You and those pesky Worthington genes!"
A noise that sounded like choking drew Warren's gaze to where Henry sat between Morgan's spread legs. The urge to chide Morgan for her language was there to see in his eyes. But discretion held his tongue. No doubt because he knew saying anything wouldn't do him any good. "How long has Morgan been in labor?" Warren directed his question at Henry.
"Her water broke as Bobby was bringing her down to the medlab. I suspect she's been in labor for some time," Henry responded without drawing his attention from his patient. "I hope you're ready to welcome your child into the world, Morgan. The head is crowning, which means it will be any time now."
"Henry, you need to stop talking. Right now," Morgan said, teeth clenched tightly together. Warren hid his smile and gave her hand a squeeze.
"I know it hurts, sweetheart. But don't take it out on Henry. It isn't his fault," he said gently. She turned accusing eyes his way.
"No. It isn't This is your fault," she returned, pain edging her words. Her fingers tightened on his, squeezing harshly as she battled her way through the contraction. It struck Warren then, with his gaze pinned to her face, that they were really having a baby. The idea had always been there, but it had been tempered by the notion that Sinister would take their baby and hand her off to Apocalypse. For all of their talk and their wishing, he was sure neither one of them had actually allowed themselves to consider this moment.
Warren took the time to study Morgan's face. Her hair was a mess, pulled up into a sloppy ponytail to keep it out of her face. Her bangs stuck to her forehead, clinging to the sweat that beaded up there. Her cheeks were red from effort and exhaustion crowded her gaze when it didn't flash with anger. She was an absolute mess and no less beautiful for it.
"That's right. Its my fault," he agreed, a faint chuckle in his voice. "Me and my pesky Worthington genes."
"You're mocking me," she said, lips forming a pout.
"Never," Warren asserted. Morgan relaxed for all of five seconds before her face contorted in pain again.
"Push, Morgan," Henry instructed.
She tugged her hand from his hold so that she could wrap it and its mate around her knees. Warren helped her into a sitting position, one hand remaining on her lower back in support. Tension spread across the muscles of her back and he saw it in her face. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes squeezed shut tightly. She was pushing for all she was worth.
Warren watched as Henry did whatever it was that needed doing. Roxxy hovered just behind him, obviously waiting to assist. The tension in Morgan's back was suddenly gone and it brought his attention back to her. She was slumped toward her knees, breathing raggedly as she tried to draw air into her lungs. The hand on her back stroked up and down the length of it slowly in the hopes it helped.
"Another contraction is coming," Henry told her, his gaze focused on the monitor beside the bed. "I know you're tired, Morgan. But you need to give one last push. You're so close.Just a little bit more before its all over. On three. One."
Morgan straightened up and gripped her knees tighter.
"Two."
Once again, she leaned forward.
"Three."
With Henry's last word, Morgan's eyes once more squeezed shut and her jaw clenched. There was some kind of sound at the back of her throat as she pushed. It didn't quite sound like a grunt, but that seemed to be the best word to describe the sound she was making. Warren leaned close and whispered into her ear, offering her words of encouragement and promise and love. The whole time, his gaze was locked on Henry's big blue hands. And he watched as they helped bring forth the tiny life that had been, only a short time ago, inside Morgan's belly.
Roxxy was there to offer a tray holding several items Warren recognized from the birth of his other children. Henry took a clamp from the tray and locked it in place around the umbilical cord. Then he cut the cord and did whatever was necessary to close it off. A blanket was then wrapped around the tiny form and Roxxy was the one who offered her to Morgan. "Your daughter," she said softly. Warren thought he saw a hint of tears in her eyes. "She's beautiful."
And she was. Warren glanced at the tiny bundle Morgan held. She was so small and he could see the bits here and there that would one day become physical reminders of him. Or her mother. Those traits that would, with time, write her parentage all over her face. There were even a few wisps of pale blonde hair on the top of her head. She was tiny and beautiful and just perfect.
And Morgan clung to her like a lifeline.
"She has your chin," Warren commented.
"Your nose," Morgan countered.
"She's perfect. And beautiful. Just like her mother," Warren whispered. His words brought Morgan's curious gaze his way. She stared at him a moment, then shot a worried look toward Jehnna. Warren laid a hand over one of Morgan's. "Its all good, Morgan. Let me worry about it. But later. Right now, I want to enjoy time with you and our daughter."
"What are you going to name her, Morgan?" Roxxy asked. There was a touch of wistfulness in her voice, making Warren wonder if her friends being pregnant was giving her a mild case of baby fever. He'd seen it go in circles among Purple Team since the first time Dare and Morgan had been pregnant.
"Kayla Marie Worthington," Morgan said, the name rolling off her tongue so quickly that Warren knew she'd thought about it even when she'd been sure she'd never see her child.
"That's a good name," Roxxy nodded.
"It is," Warren agreed. Then he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. A kiss meant to tell her he was proud of her. A kiss meant to tell her that he thought she was amazing.
A kiss meant to tell her that he loved her.
And he did. He loved her. Just like he still loved Jehnna. God help them, they were going to have to figure out how to work things out. Because he wasn't sure he wanted to let all of this slip through his fingers. There had to be some way to make it work.
There had to be
~*~
Sam had never been so glad to see the bright green expanse of lawn in front of the mansion in all his life. Waking up in Kentucky, not far from his family home, had been disorienting. More so than waking up in that room disguised as a cage with Jehnna had. And that had left his head spinning for a good ten minutes. Waking up in the backwoods had come in at a very close second. He'd considered going to visit his mother for half a second. Then his memory had kicked him hard in the ass, reminding him that Jehnna was pregnant and she needed him. There'd been a solid minute of panic because he hadn't known where to start looking for her or even if she'd been returned. And then the professor's voice had filled his head and let him know that Morgan had been returned to the school. That had been all he'd needed to hear because logic dictated that Sinister would send Jehnna back if he'd already sent Morgan back.
That thought in mind, Sam had figured out where north was and he'd thrown himself head first into speeding his way back to New York. He didn't stop to think about the fact that Sinister had had him put in his uniform. And he clutched the bag he'd woken up holding to his chest. It contained Jehnna's uniform and any other personal items she'd had with her.
It had taken him much longer than he liked to reach Westchester and Xavier's mansion. But he was home now, and he was eager to find Jehnna. She had to be lost and confused. Scared. No doubt she was confused as to how they'd returned home. He knew he was. Sam had almost reached the front steps when the door opened and Rogue stepped out. She was smiling, though it looked strained, and she pulled Sam into a hug. "Welcome back, sugar," she said, her voice pleasant and gentle. "C'mon. I'm gonna take you down to Henry. Professor's orders."
"Where's Jehnna?" he asked, following after her into the mansion. The crush of bodies, a large group of students with curiosity on their faces, left him momentarily stunned. But he shook off the urge to turn around and run and continued after Rogue.
"She's with Henry," the woman told him. If she was curious as to why he was asking about Jehnna, she said nothing. She merely led him to the elevator and rode it with him down to the sub-basement. When the doors slid open, she walked him to the medlab's door. Rogue offered him that smile again. One hand touched his shoulder lightly. "Its good to have you back, Sam."
Her words were still echoing up and down the hall when she stepped back into the elevator. Sam took a breath, then opened the door and stepped into the medlab.
There was a sense of controlled chaos about the room. A glance at the interior showed him Morgan settled in one bed, a baby held firmly in her arms. Warren was at her side, speaking to her softly and staring intently at the tiny bundle she held. Another bed was occupied by Haley. She looked pale, her eyes huge and watery. Her husband was at her side, holding her hand. It didn't look as if either of them were speaking and something about the haunted look in Haley's eyes said she expected bad things to happen.
He didn't see Dare, which left him wondering why that was. But he did see, in yet another bed, Jehnna's face. She was staring at him with wide eyes, hope burning brightly in them. She, as well as Haley, were both still very much pregnant. He took a second to wonder why Sinister would send the girls back still pregnant. Then he pushed the question aside as unimportant in the moment. He moved to the bed where Jehnna waited for him. A young man he didn't know looked at him before glancing back at Jehnna. Seeing the look on her face, he rose from his seat after patting her hand with his own.
"See ya, Jehnna," the man said, a smile on his face. He tipped his head at Sam, then stepped around him and headed toward the door.
"Thanks, Duke," Jehnna said absently, her voice barely above a whisper. All of her attention was focused on Sam.
Seeing Jehnna sitting there, staring up at him with love and joy in her eyes, her belly still swollen around their baby, left Sam with jelly legs and he sat hard in the chair the man called Duke had just vacated. "Hi, there, beautiful," Sam whispered.
"Sam!" Jehnna somehow turned his name into a prayer. She offered him a smile and leaned toward him for a hug. Sam shifted to the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. She was solid and real in his hold, and their baby kicked him in the ribs as if to remind him that she was there.
His hand settled on the bump even as he was drawing back from her. Jehnna was staring at him as if it had been year since she'd seen him. "When I woke up and didn't see you, I was scared that Sinister had done something to you," she whispered to him.
"I felt the same when I woke up and you weren't there. I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. Kentucky is a ways away," Sam told her.
"Its okay. You're here now," she replied. The baby kicked again, a not-so-subtle reminder that she was there. Jehnna let go a small puff of air before putting her hands on her belly. "Why am I still pregnant? Why didn't he take her? Did he change his mind? Is he going to let us keep her?"
"I don't know, Jehnna. There's no telling what he's thinking," Sam replied. He honestly didn't know. But he had some ideas. Ideas that involved Sinister giving them just enough time to fall in love with their babies before he showed up and ripped them from their arms. Sam didn't mention any of that to her, though. He didn't want to worry her with things that weren't set in stone. He didn't want to cause stress that might see their daughter being born earlier. "And that isn't important right now. You and our baby being healthy is what's important."
"What about you? Henry should check you over to be sure that Sinister didn't do anything to you," she insisted.
Sam wanted to say he was fine. But there was no telling if that was true or not. Sinister had drugged all of them before sending them home. He could have done terrible things before opening more portals and returning them to where they belonged. He hoped such wasn't the case. He didn't know what it would do to him if something were to happen to Jehnna. And, in all honesty, hadn't they all suffered more than enough over the course of their captivity? "I'm sure, once he's done with Morgan and her baby, he'll do just that."
The mention of Morgan saw Jehnna's gaze seeking out the other woman. Warren still sat at her side, one hand resting on her shoulder while the other touched the baby she cradled to her chest. A glance at Jehnna showed a touch of melancholy in her eyes. "He still loves you," Sam said, despite not being sure it was the truth.
"I know," Jehnna replied. Some of the sadness she felt leaked into her voice. She turned a watery smile his way. "But its hard..."
"I know, beautiful," Sam replied. "I just hope he isn't mad at you. It isn't like you could help what happened anymore than I could. Or him. Sinister played with our minds and our emotions."
"I don't think he's mad. At me or you. He did look at me earlier. And he smiled. I think it was his way of telling me he understood. But that doesn't mean I can put aside ten years of loving him and not let all of this hurt me. We were supposed to be together until death do us part." The last of her words were thick with tears. Sam reached out and laid a hand on hers.
"I know, Jehnna. And that's still a possibility. It isn't set in stone that you and he will split up. You're going to have to have a conversation with him about everything before you and he come to that bridge. So don't go borrowing trouble," he told her.
Jehnna offered him a slight smile. "You're right. Of course. But its hard." Her gaze slid to where her husband sat with another woman. She stared at him staring at his newborn daughter. She didn't say that it should have been her. But Sam could see the thought on her face for a moment before her expression slid into something more neutral. "And I suppose, I can't really talk to Warren until I figure out what I want."
She turned big eyes Sam's way and he was instantly lost in her gaze. "No. You need to know what you want to tell him before you can talk to him. And he needs to know the same things." Sam kept his tone level and pleasant. There was no need to add to the things she felt by letting her know that he was petrified of what she'd end up deciding about Warren. Petrified that she'd chose to stay with her husband and leave Sam in the dust. And petrified that she'd leave Warren for him. That was scary in ways he couldn't exactly put his finger on just yet.
To distract himself from his thoughts, he let his gaze once more skim the room. Henry and Roxxy had moved to Haley's side and Henry was asking questions. Roxxy was dutifully marking things down on the clipboard she held. Every once in a while, her eyes would lift from the paper in order to look at Haley. Even across the room, Sam could see the guilt in her gaze. Didn't she know there was nothing she could have done to changed the outcome? The horsemen had been stronger and more capable. It would have left Haley upset if Roxxy had gotten hurt or killed.
His attention eventually slid away from Haley to return to Warren and Morgan. The woman looked exhausted and was fighting sleep. Warren looked like he was trying to convince her to sleep and she kept stubbornly refusing. A moment later, Faye popped up at her side. She was staring down at Morgan and the baby with an incredibly intent look on her face. And she spoke to the woman for a few moments, one hand reaching out to gently glide over the baby's head. Then she was suddenly tense. It lasted only the blink of an eye. The tension slid away and Faye leaned in to press a kiss to Morgan's forehead. A moment later, she was gone as quickly as she'd come and even Morgan looked confused by her sudden departure.
"Where's Dare?" Jehnna asked, her spoken question echoing the one that circled Sam's brain.
"I don't know," Sam replied honestly.
"You don't... Do you think Sinister is going to keep her? Jehnna's voice was small, as if she believed saying the words aloud with give truth to them. Before Sam could formulate an answer, Henry was moving toward one of the empty beds. A moment later, Kurt ported into the room and a new round of chaos started up.
~*~
"Dare?" Haley asked, tugging her hand from Johnny's in an attempt to throw her blankets back. Johnny kept his grip on her hand, intent on keeping her in bed. He knew what was happening. She was unsettled about something and she didn't want to face it head on. So she was going to focus her attention on someone else. It was how she dealt with things that made her uncomfortable and she'd done it forever.
Of course, he understood why she'd want to go to Dare's side. While Johnny didn't know anything about what had happened, he knew that Dare probably hadn't done well with being held captive by Sinister. They both watched as Dare grabbed at Kurt's arm, effectively keeping him from stepping back from her. Which was a problem because Beast was trying to conduct a quick exam. He didn't hear what she said to Kurt, didn't hear his response. Her gaze slid around the room, landing briefly on the inhabitants.
She said something else then, and Kurt answered. Whatever it was must have upset her because she started crying. Kurt backed away and Henry took his place. Even from this distance, it was plain to see that something had distressed her.
"Let me go, Johnny," Haley said, trying to tug her hand from his hold. "I need to go check on her."
"You need to rest," he replied. It was an odd way for their conversation to start. The two of them had been silent for the better part of half an hour. He'd been at a loss for something to say and Haley had seemed withdrawn. Upset about something. He hadn't wanted to push her. Not when she'd just gotten back. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was pregnant and obviously ready to give birth any day now. Who was the father of her child?
"Dare needs me," she insisted. "Sinister kept us locked up in rooms that were little more than cages. We didn't get to see anyone else. I can't imagine what kind of bad memories that brought up for her."
"Haley..." Johnny began. Something in his voice drew her attention fully his way. "You were locked up, too. I know it couldn't have been easy for you, either. Just sit here and recover."
"Dare is alone. And crying," Haley began. How she could tell with Beast blocking her way, Johnny couldn't say. But she sounded so sure about that. "She needs someone."
He heard the unspoken part of her sentence. 'Since no one is here to sit with her.' And he understood where she was coming from. She took her friendships seriously. More seriously than she took her team. And she was really damn serious about her team. But that didn't change the fact that Haley was just as pregnant as her friend. Just as traumatized by what had happened as her friend.
"Haley. Babe. Please," he said softly. The way she looked at him told him that she heard the small thread of fear in his words. For a moment, he saw the love in her eyes. For a moment, it felt like none of it had even happened, that it had been nothing more than a dream. And then Haley was suddenly crying, silent tears that slid down her cheeks to soak into the neckline of the tank top she wore. "Hey! What's this? There's no reason to cry. Why are you crying? Haley, please."
"I'm sorry, Johnny," she told him. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't... I couldn't protect my team and they were taken captive. Sinister..."
Haley's voice trailed off on a sob. He reached out with one hand and settled it on her cheek. "Babe. That is nothing you need to apologize for. It isn't your fault that the horsemen grabbed you. It isn't your fault that any of this happened," he told her. And it wasn't. One of her best traits was that she was dedicated to being the best. It was also one of her worst traits. Because if things went wrong, she took the blame onto herself.
"But I... There's a baby and... Everything is wrong," she said, her words thick and wet with her tears.
Johnny laid his hand on her belly, a gentle touch meant to soothe and calm her. Haley only cried harder, her breath coming in hiccupping gasps. He thought he understood. She'd no doubt been afraid of what would happen when he found out she was pregnant with another man's child. To be honest, he didn't know exactly how he felt about that yet. He understood that it wasn't anything Haley had done intentionally. This had been Sinister's crazy plan. No doubt to sow discontent while also bringing to life a set of horsemen who were unique and powerful.
"Not everything is wrong, babe. You're home finally. That's right." Johnny made sure that he sounded like it was enough. For now, it was going to have to be. He was going to need some time to come to terms with someone else having gotten her pregnant. Everything he'd read about Sinister made him believe that this was one of the better outcomes they could have hoped for. But it was possible that he'd done something worse to Haley and her team that didn't immediately show. He wanted to ask her about it, but he didn't think he was able to do it diplomatically. Diplomacy wasn't normally in his wheel house and the last thing he wanted to do was alienate Haley when she'd just been returned to him .
"But I've been gone so long! What if the kids don't remember me? TJ was so young when we were grabbed. Do you think she even remembers me at this point?" The tears were fatter and falling faster. And Johnny was at a loss. What did she mean, she'd been gone so long?
"Babe, you've been gone a week," Johnny told her. His statement saw her turning big green eyes full of disbelief his way.
"Johnny." She laid a hand over the one that still rested on her belly. "We've been gone a whole year. Sinister gave us a calendar. It was a year. I haven't seen you or our children in a year. It couldn't have been a week."
"Johnny is correct, Haley. You have been missing for a week," Beast interjected. They both turned to look at him in surprise. Neither of them had heard him coming. Blue eyes stared at Haley intently over the rims of his glasses. "I had been wondering how Sinister had managed a full pregnancy in only seven days. It would seem that you have been kept in a pocket dimension where time moved at a different speed than it does here. Fascinating."
"How's Dare?" Haley asked. If she was processing what she'd been told, she was keeping it to herself. Johnny was fairly shocked. But it explained so much. Johnny stared at his wife and, again, wondered if Sinister had done anything else to her.
"She's resting," Beast told her.
"Hank." That single word was spoken sharply enough that it drew Beast's full attention her way. Johnny saw the way Haley stared at Beast, her gaze harsh and demanding. He knew what she was really asking. And he couldn't blame her. But she needed to think about herself for a minute or two.
Beast stared at Haley a moment before removing his glasses and offering her a sharp look of his own. Johnny watched as he lowered himself into a chair on the other side of the bed. Then he heaved a sigh and let his gaze slide up and down Haley's torso. "She's resting, Haley. Which is what you should be doing. I have no doubt your time in Mr. Sinister's clutches were fraught with fear and worry. Just as Dare's time was. Just as Morgan and Jehnna's time was."
"And you know why that's so much worse for Dare than any of us," Haley returned, unwilling to relent.
"I do. I remember what she was like when Logan rescued her from that RV. I remember what she was like for weeks after. I also remember that much of her trauma was brought about by abuse that didn't show on the outside. Victor Creed and Mr. Sinister's methods are not dissimilar. Which means you have suffered a trauma and must rest from it."
"Dare needs someone to sit with her," Haley insisted.
"I agree. Which is why I am staying here in the medlab. As will you, Dare, Jehnna, and Morgan. Until I deem you well enough to leave," Beast told her. Haley opened her mouth to argue further, but the look Beast sent her saw her mouth closing again. "Your desire to ensure your friends are all well and cared for is commendable. But you cannot ignore your own situation, Haley. How do we know that Sinister hasn't done something truly horrible to you? To your friends?"
"He didn't hurt me," Haley insisted.
"I beg to differ," Beast countered. "And unless you were awake twenty-four hours a day for the entire time you were gone, you cannot say with any certainty that Sinister didn't hurt you. Can you? Is it so horrible that you stay here for a while under observation?"
The gentleness of Beast's question saw Haley deflating. Just a little. "No. Its just... We were confined to one room most of the time. The room we were given. The only deviation was trips to Sinister's lab and to the gym. The rest of our time, day and night, was spent locked in a single room. You'll have to forgive me if I am not at all anxious to spend time here. Other people or not."
"I understand, Haley. But you cannot ignore your health. Not now," Beast told her. The look on his face was not unkind. Moments of silence ticked by as the two of them stared at one another.
"Please, Haley. For me?" Johnny added. Her gaze swung his way and she stared for a few moments before letting go a sigh.
"Fine," she agreed. It sounded like it hurt her to agree. Johnny smiled.
"Thanks, babe. I won't leave your side."
"It isn't me I'm worried about. Its Dare." Haley's eyes drifted toward the bed where the other woman lay. She'd turned onto her side, her back turned toward the rest of the room.
"I will sit with Dare," Beast assured her. "And when I need a break, Rosemary will sit with her in my stead. Even though she should be in bed, as well. Though she will no doubt refuse to stay in bed with the four of you returned to us."
"Stay in bed? Why does Roxxy need to be in bed?" Haley asked before she started looking around the room. It was obvious to Johnny that she was looking for her best friend. "Where is Roxxy?"
"I sent her to find clothes for you, Dare, and Jehnna," Beast informed her. "And she should still be in bed because she almost died a few days ago."
Haley stared a moment, as if she wasn't sure she'd heard Beast correctly. "What? How did she almost die? What the hell happened?"
"Henry," Roxxy's voice chided from the doorway. Haley's gaze swung her way and stared, as if trying to find the reason Roxxy had almost died written somewhere on her friend. "Now is not the time to tell Haley such things if you want her to rest. You know how she gets."
"Too true, my dear. Too true," Beast said on a sigh. "You have excellent timing."
"Of course I do," Roxxy said as she moved deeper into the room. She carried with her a canvas bag that obviously held the clothing Beast had sent her to retrieve. She stopped at Morgan's bed and pulled out a smaller bag, which she set on the foot of the bed. Then she did the same with Morgan and Dare before joining Henry by Haley's bed. She pulled a handful of material from her bag and held it out to Haley. "Come on, Haley. Let's go get you changed and I'll tell you all about how I almost died.
"Damn right you will," Haley replied. She tossed the blankets back and followed Roxxy across the room to the bathroom. The two of them disappeared through the door. It shut behind them with a thump. Beast chuckled.
"Better Rosemary than me," he remarked. Johnny had to agree.