Invasion:MSV Chapter 5

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Okay, here we go again.

Title: Invasion:MSV
Fandom: Marvel Universe
Rating: 18+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable  characters here. They and the world this is set in are the property of Marvel Entertainment. The Purple Team is the property of ginevrasm, ladydeathfaerie, sessys_fangirl, nanaeanaven and dazzledfirestar. They are not to be used without permission. I make no money from this, and it is simply a form of entertainment. 
Warnings: graphic M/F sex (not in this chapter though), language, Preg (sort of... arg, this is hard), and as always... ANGST

Roxxy sat in the arm chair in the corner of Haley’s room, watching as her friend’s body slowly relaxed. The redhead would still occasionally whimper, and her brow was still furrowed, but she was sleeping and that was at least a step in the right direction. Roxxy sighed and pulled her legs up to her chest. How much weirder could this day get? When Henry had put his hand on her shoulder, all she’d wanted was to collapse against his chest and cry her eyes out. It seemed like every time she felt she had a handle on things, something wholly unbelievable popped up. Her eyes drifted shut of their own volition. Just a few minutes, she told herself, I just need a few minutes.

 

Sunlight streamed through the thin drapes, hitting Roxxy directly in the face. She woke with a start, her eyes falling on the still sleeping form in the bed across from her. Haley’s cheeks were streaked with tears. Apparently, the sedative hadn’t helped with the dreams. But she was still asleep. Roxxy hoped that she’d gotten at least a little rest. She stood, stretching and bending to get the kinks out of her muscles after sleeping in the chair all night. A quiet knock on the door startled her slightly.

 

“Can I come in?” Jehnna peaked into the room.

 

“Of course.” Roxxy smiled and gave one more good stretch. “She’s still asleep. It was a rough night.”

 

Jehnna sighed. “I can imagine.” Roxxy cocked her head to the side. “The nightmares… they’re… bad, Roxxy. Really bad. I woke up screaming a few times last night. Good thing Storm’s a forgiving roommate.” She let out a quick laugh. “And I know I’m getting a toned down version.” Her eyes locked on Haley. “I can’t even imagine what she’s going through.” Jehnna slumped into the chair that Roxxy had vacated.

 

“She told me a little of it last night… sort of.”

 

“It’s really weird.” Jehnna shook her head a little. “It was like watching yourself on TV or something.”

 

“I don’t think she was watching anything.” Roxxy sighed. “She said… she said she felt herself die.”

 

Jehnna’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my god.”

 

“Yeah, she had a panic attack shortly thereafter. Henry had to sedate her.” Roxxy looked over and noticed that Haley had opened her eyes and was staring blankly at the ceiling as if trying to remember where she was. “Haley?” The redhead sat up slowly, still obviously a little dazed. “Good morning.”

 

She let out a bit of a snort. “Yeah, right.”

 

“Did you get any rest?” Roxxy watched her friend stretch carefully. She seems alright, physically anyway.

 

“A little.” She spotted Jehnna and gave a nod. “How about you?”

 

“Nightmares.” Jehnna wrapped her arms around herself.

 

Haley nodded again, seemingly a little bit braced by the fact that she wasn’t alone in that. She brought her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly, her eyes fixed on the comforter.

 

Roxxy sat down next to Haley. “Was it more of the same?”

 

Haley shook her head. “No, it… it’s a bit piecemeal. Some of it… if I didn’t know how it was all going to end… some of it would have been… good.” By the end of her sentence, Haley’s voice had faded to little more than a whisper. She closed her eyes, trying to fight back another image. She hissed as the pain set in, and a small scene played before her closed eyes. When it was over, she wiped the tear that had escaped off her cheek as quickly as possible.

 

“What was it, Haley?”

 

“Wedding night.” She mumbled and sniffled. Both Jehnna and Roxxy had the urge to ask her which one it was, but thought better of it.

 

“Was it like the dreams?”

 

“No,” Haley’s fingers traced out patterns on the covers. “No, it’s more like…”

 

“Watching yourself on TV?” Jehnna leaned forward a little.

 

“Yeah.” Haley lifted her gaze to the younger girl. “The dreams are… I’m there. I’m part of it. These flashes aren’t like that.”

 

“You should tell the Professor.” Roxxy kept her voice low even as Haley began to shake her head.

 

“Why? So he can get Hank to drug me up again?”

 

“I just think that if he has all the information, he might be able to figure out some way to help you.” Roxxy put her hand on Haley’s shoulder, trying to reassure her friend.

 

Haley shook her off, got up and went to her closet. “I just need to keep busy.” She pulled out some clothes. “If I don’t have to think about it…” Even she wasn’t really buying it, but she just needed to get out of bed, out of her room… out of the mansion if she could manage it. She seriously doubted she’d be able to pull that off, but a jog around the grounds sounded good too. “I just need to clear my head.”

 

Both girls looked at her long and hard. “Okay,” Roxxy finally spoke. “But if you need anything…”

 

“I’ll come find you. I promise.” The other girls left, leaving Haley to get dressed. When she left the confines of her room she noticed something. Everything seemed dull, and a little blurry.  She had to stop, every few minutes and let the pain and the images pass over her. It took twice as long as it should have for her to get to the entrance foyer. Her blurred vision made it nearly impossible to get to the doors. She clung to the railing, trying to set herself down on the bottom step. The only things that were clear to her were the images that flashed before her eyes. She let out a frustrated sob.

 

“Haley?”

 

She tried to focus on the girl in front of her. “Morgan… I need to get to the med lab.”

 

“Okay, come on. We’ll get you there.” Haley felt four hands reach out and help her to her feet and she leaned on Morgan and Faye as they helped her to the elevator and down the halls to the med lab. “Dr. McCoy!”

 

He turned from the patient he was checking on and took a quick appraising look at Haley. “Sit her down in my office, Miss LeFavre. I’ll be in as soon as I can be.”

 

Morgan let Haley down gently into Beast’s oversized desk chair. “Okay, just relax. I’m sure Dr. McCoy won’t be long.”

 

Haley nodded, her vision becoming a little more focused. “Thanks. I’m a little better I think.” She lifted her eyes. Everything was clearer, but suddenly she wished for the blur to come back. At one end of the med lab she saw Piotr. He looked like he was asleep and for a moment she thought that if she just touched his cheek, he might open his eyes. She was tempted to try; despite knowing that there was no way it would actually work.

 

The sound of metal on metal caught her attention as someone she didn’t recognize moved through the room pushing a metal cart full of bandages, medical tools and other such items. She caught a glimpse of a head of hair so dark blue, it was nearly black. Hank looked exhausted, and she felt like a moron for making things that much worse, though the rational part of her mind, or the bit of it that was left functioning at that point told her that she couldn’t help it, and that it wasn’t her fault.

 

When Beast moved, her breath caught in her throat. Morgan rested a hand on her arm, but she barely noticed. The last time she’d seen Johnny… no. She shook her head. No, the last flash she’d had… his arms had been around her. Now one of them was bound tight to his body, obviously broken in several places. Vaguely she could hear Beast speaking to the assistant. Words like clavicle and scapula fractures, and  punctured lung floated to her ears.

 

She stood and started pacing, trying to outrun the emotional Molotov cocktail that was building in her. Fear for both of them, embarrassment that now everyone knew something that she’d wanted to bury as far down as possible, guilt that maybe somehow she was betraying Piotr and a niggling idea… maybe, she’d made the wrong choice. Before she could really consider it, the stabbing pain came back, blinding her to everything but what it wanted her to see.

 

She blinked against the bright sunlight streaming through the windows and reminded herself to mention getting blinds to Johnny. The thought that half of New York could have seen what they’d been doing up against that window the other night made her blush. She stopped just behind the oversized couch. “How can you see anything with the glare on that screen?” She moved around to settle herself next to him.

 

He turned off the TV and pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers. “Just killing time til you got here, Beautiful.” He pressed her back against the couch. “Where have you been all day, anyway?”

 

She wiggled away from him with a giggle and a sudden rush of nerves. “I… I had a doctor’s appointment.”

 

His brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?” He sat up, obviously concerned.

 

It took everything she had not to laugh, but she couldn’t hold back the smile. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.” She leaned in placing a quick kiss on his lips. “But…”

 

“But what?” He pulled her a little closer.

 

“We’re going to have a baby.” She bit her lip as she watched her words sink in.

 

“We’re… you’re…”

 

“I am. And we are.” She let out a laugh as he pulled her up into his lap, kissing her tenderly. “I take that to mean you’re happy.”

 

“Of course I’m happy.” He kissed her again. “I’d have to be out of my mind to be miserable with you around. With both of you around.” His hand traveled down her side, and came to a stop just under her belly button. She smiled, letting her eyes drift closed as he held her.

 

 

Her eyes flickered open. She’d never been so tired in her entire life. The annoying beeping noises that always fill hospitals were the only things keeping her from closing her eyes and going to sleep. Well, nearly the only things. She felt Piotr squeeze her hand gently and turned to him. “Ya polon lyubvi k tebe.”

 

“English, Piotr. I’m too tired to translate.” She blinked sleepily again and he smiled.

 

“Mr. and Mrs. Rasputin?” The nurse moved in next to the bed, carrying a tiny bundle of pink. “Someone would like to say hello.”

 

Haley felt tears well up in her eyes as she reached for her daughter and quickly nestled the baby in her arms. She didn’t know what to say. She was sure there were no words to describe how this felt. She looked up at Piotr and let out a laugh. “Our baby.”

 

He kissed the top of Haley’s head and rested his palm on the baby’s head. “What shall we call her?”

 

Even as tired as she was, she had an answer ready for him. “Aleksandra.”

 

Piotr’s eyes shone for a moment. “After… yes, that is the perfect name for her.” He looked at the tiny sleeping girl. “But it’s not complete.” He thought for a minute, a slow smile crossing his face. “Aleksandra Charlotte.”

 

“My mother’s name too?” Haley smiled. “It’s a beautiful name.” A small cooing noise came from her arms. “I think she likes it.” She felt her eyelids getting heavy again. “Piotr, would you like to hold your daughter?” He reached down and scooped the tiny bundle up, cradling her carefully as her mother fell asleep.

 

 

The voices sounded so far off, but they were getting closer. “…out of here. It’s quite possible that proximity is a factor in all this.” Hank… that sounded like Hank. But Hank should be there… they didn’t allow visitors at the hospital this late. “Get her to her room.”

 

Haley’s eyes flickered open, and blinked against the harsh med lab lights. A confused frown on her face as she tried to work out where she was. The back of her head was throbbing. “What…” her voice sounded weak.

 

“Don’t worry, Haley, we’ll get you upstairs.”

 

“No.” She struggled against the hands that were trying to pick her up. “No!” She sat up, pushing several people off of her. “What happened?” Even as she asked, she knew. But this time it hadn’t been a flash, it’d be like the nightmares. She was there, a part of it all.

 

“Haley, we need to get you out of here.” Morgan crouched down next to her. “Dr. McCoy thinks that being so close to… both of them could be making the connections stronger. You passed out.”

 

Haley struggled to her feet, helped by several pairs of hands. “I can stand on my own. I’m not a fucking invalid.” Her head was still aching but she couldn’t tell if it was from the fall or if another flash was coming. She hurried on shaky legs, out of the med lab and started up the stairs, followed closely by Morgan. When she got to her room, she flopped down on the bed, letting out a sigh.

 

“You okay?”

 

“No.” Haley rolled over onto her stomach.

 

“What… I mean, was it bad?” Morgan struggled to find the right way to ask about Haley’s visions, for lack of a better term. Curiosity was killing her, and she thought that if she talked about it, maybe it would help.

 

“That’s the thing. It’s not. Or it wouldn’t be if I didn’t know how it was all going to end.” She hugged her pillow for a moment. “I just feel like… like I’m doing something wrong.” Her cheeks flushed a little. “Like if the things I’m seeing are really possible, does that mean…? I guess I always thought that there was one person that you are just meant for, and now…”

 

“Haley, out of six billion people on the planet, there’s got to be more than one person you could live happily ever after with.” Morgan sighed. “I think it’s all a matter of timing.”

 

“Well, mine sucks.” Morgan couldn’t come up with a convincing argument to the contrary. She watched Haley flinch again. A tear crept down her cheek. “I’m going to lose my mind.”

 

“Tell me about the good parts.” Morgan sat on the bed next to Haley and crossed her legs.

 

“What?”

 

“Well, maybe if you focus on the good things, it’ll make it easier to deal with the rest of it.” Morgan knew she was stretching, but it was the only thing she could come up with.

 

Haley thought about it for a moment. “I guess it couldn’t make anything worse.”

 

 

Catseye prowled the woods near the mansion, thrilled to be out of the confines of the over crowded building. She slunk between the trees, still feeling the effects of the well manicured lawn even this deep into the woods. If there had ever been a time when she’d wanted to lose all memory of the person she was, it was that moment. Reluctantly, she shifted back to her human form and curled up under one of the trees. She jumped as a soft voice called to her from a nearby clearing. “Ororo? I didn’t know you were out here.”

 

“I felt the need to… escape the madness in there.” The older woman was seated comfortably on the grass. “You seem to have had the same feelings.”

 

Roxxy nodded and joined her friend in the clearing. “It’s just so…” She shook her head, unable to find the right word. “I’ve never had to face the things I’ve faced in the last few days. I’m starting to think I’m not cut out for this.”

 

“I wouldn’t judge yourself too harshly, Roxxy.” Ororo rested a hand on her shoulder. “This has been a difficult few days for everyone. I shudder to think what it must be like working in the med lab.”

 

Roxxy suppressed her own shiver. She’d seen too many friends, too many people close to her friends… and Matt. She closed her eyes a little tighter, as if doing so could block the memory. She’d spent a good deal of time in that little room simply because Henry needed her to. The other substitute nurses were instructed to avoid the back rooms. The fewer people who knew the truth of who these men were, the better. But her conscience was eating at her. Had he been surprised to wake up alone? Had he heard her leave? The questions kept popping into her head, and she didn’t have the answers for them. “Have you ever done something you’ve truly regretted, Ororo?”

 

The expression on the weather witch’s face changed a little. “I think everyone has, dear.”

 

Roxxy took a deep breath, and let some of what was bothering her out. “I can’t stop thinking about it. The way I behaved…”

 

“You said yourself, you were feeling restless…”

 

Roxxy shook her head. “No, it’s not that. How I left… I just ran out on him. And now…” Roxxy let her head rest in her hands.

 

“Tell me something.” Ororo rubbed the girl’s back softly. “When was the last time you had thought about this before this week?”

 

“I’m not sure.” Roxxy’s brow furrowed a little. “I think about it every so often. Far more before…” she blushed a little, thinking about Henry.

 

“Then I wouldn’t trouble yourself too much.” Ororo smiled a little. “Though perhaps you do owe him an apology when he wakes.” Roxxy nodded and sighed, silently thankful that Ororo had said ‘when’ and not ‘if’. “Henry needs you as focused as you can be, and from the talk around the school, your friends do too.”

 

Roxxy nodded. “Haley’s not really sleeping. From what she’s told me I can’t blame her for not wanting to.” She didn’t quite manage to suppress the shiver that time. “And Jehnna, well, she’s not really complaining…”

 

“Don’t let that fool you.” Storm sighed heavily. “These nightmares are horrible. She barely slept either last night. I have no doubt they will take they’re toll.”

 

The Professor’s voice interrupted Storm suddenly. Ladies, if you would please come back to the mansion. We seem to have some information on the entity.

 

The professor’s study was packed, by the time Storm and Roxxy arrived. He waited for everyone to settle into whatever space they could find. “It appears that the orbit of the entity has changed. It’s now in an orbit that is nearer to the moon.”

 

“Is it leaving?” Kitty’s voice cut through the room.

 

“No.” Reed Richard’s stepped forward from behind the Professor. “It seems to be siphoning off just enough energy to heal itself. It could be a strategic retreat.”

 

“Who’s it getting this energy from?” Kitty’s voice seemed to have jumped nearly an octave.

 

“From us.” Sue was rubbing her temple and looked as if she hadn’t slept in days, which indeed, she hadn’t. “It’s orbit is directly above the mansion, and it’s sucking off any extra energy it can get from us.”

 

“It doesn’t seem to want to feed directly from the population yet for some reason.” Reed added.

 

A dry laugh came from one of the plush chairs near the desk. “Because it’s having too much fun watching all of us twist.” Haley’s eyes were closed, and she looked exhausted. Roxxy wondered how long she could keep this up.

 

Reed shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s possible.”

 

“As we learn more, we will keep you all undated.” The Professor sighed and motioned that they were all dismissed. “Haley.” She hadn’t even gotten out of her seat yet. “May I speak to you?” She nodded. “I understand that this is difficult, but I want you to know that we are trying to…”

 

“Difficult?” She laughed again. “No, what was difficult was watching two people I…” she stopped short and took a deep breath. “Watching two people I care about watch me die and not being able to wake up. Living out what should be wonderful moments in a life, knowing that it’s all going to be taken away in the most violent way possible and not being able to stop it. That was difficult, and that’s what your little drug plan did to me.” She closed her eyes, hissing slightly, and waiting for the pain and the images to pass.

 

“This could continue for some time, Haley.”

 

She shivered. “I know.” She got up. “I’ll… I’ll just have to deal then, won’t I?”

 

“We want to help.”

 

“How?” Her gaze grew colder. “By drugging me up again? No thanks.” She rose from her seat.

 

“If that is what you want. Then, barring extreme circumstances…” The professor folded his hands in his lap, slightly unnerved by the accuracy of her observations, even in the state she was in.

 

“Like what? You running out of ideas of what to do with me?” She flinched and he caught a glimpse of what she saw. She was above the scene on a street somewhere and it was a blur of flashing lights and manic movement… she muttered something, breaking his concentration. “Not again.” A small whimper escaped her.

 

“We are still working on it.” He wished he had better news for her.

 

“Yeah, and while you all work, I’m losing my fucking mind.” Without another word she was out the door, out the front doors and walking the grounds. Just a little fresh air, she was sure it would help. At the very least, it couldn’t hurt.