The X-Men had a lair, naturally, one that would do Batman proud...or make him jealous. It was all gleaming and efficient. Deep beneath the school, the storm raging overhead was a distant echo as Tom walked through the corridors to the infirmary. Sticking his head into the room, he found Lauren watching the door expectantly.

"I come bearing contraband."

He held up the bag of McDonalds, making her giggle and ask. "How did you get it past Hank?"

"Easy." Sitting on the bed, he opened the bag. "Beer." Before she could ask, he added, "Bribed Logan." He handed her the fries. "Got a friend up north to send down the good stuff."

"But of course." She popped a fry into her mouth.

"So, I figure we start a fire in the laundry cart for a diversion and go out the back way." Tom helped himself to a fry. "It's a risky plan but should work."

Lauren smiled and shook her head. The colour was back in her cheeks and she looked well. Physically, he knew, she'd recovered within hours of the extraction. Mentally...he wasn't so sure. Neither, as it turned out, was the Professor. Lauren's inherent empathy - tied to her healing abilities - meant she lived behind mental shields which kept everyone at arm's length. Especially now.

"Hank wants to be sure I'm not suffering any lingering ill effects." She smiled shakily, not quite holding her innate composure. "He's quite thorough."

"Thorough's good." He assured with a quick nod. "We like thorough."

"I know Xavier sent you." She commented placidly. "I'm fine."

"Which is why you're shutting him out?" Tom lifted a disbelieving brow. "Lauren, they tried to make you murder your *Dad*. I'm no shrink but I'd say that's pretty damn traumatic...you're nowhere near fine."

She flinched, he'd struck a nerve. Reaching out, he curled a hand around hers. "We've been friends a long time...you're not fooling me."

Lauren sighed. "She hated us...mutation is passed down from paternal DNA. She sees me as a freak and he's responsible. Her price to the Covenant...him dead at my hand."

That made *him* flinch. "Didn't count on your mutation, huh?"

"No." She smiled sardonically. "Ironic isn't it? my mutation gave me a greater resistence. The conditioning couldn't force me to do it. Mother always said I was willful."

"Stubborn as hell." He countered fondly. "Plus, a card cheat." That cracked her shell as she gave him a look of half-feigned outrage. "You do. You totally put the whammy on me so I can't think straight."

She snorted. "You've no feel for gin rummy whatsoever."

He grinned. "I like letting you win." He wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault her father was dead...that it was his wife's hatred and the whims of powerful men truly to blame...

He wanted to tell her but she already knew. She knew and it didn't matter.

Blood had spilled.

She was responsible.

She would never forget.

Or forgive...

Herself.

finis

 

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