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[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

After the events with Scott, Jean goes looking for Moira to discuss what's going on. They've come to the same conclusion, it would seem, about what they think is may be happening with Scott.



Having something to work on that didn't involve stepping on any of the local doctors' toes was good. Not that Jean had any problem with treading all over their toes, but something else to work on was still a good thing. Consequently, after talking with McDonnell once again, Jean went searching for Moira. Which turned out to not be a terribly difficult search, since the other woman was apparently coming to check on Scott herself.

"Hello," Jean said, leaning against the wall and smiling faintly at Moira. "Just who I was looking for. There is a shocking lack of brilliant redheads in this hospital."

"Ach, I've noticed. 'ow can they run it like tha'?" Moira smiled back. Jean was...looking better than when she had first arrived, which was good. She'd been keeping an eye on the other doctor whenever she could, on the quiet but she figured it wasn't all that secret. "'ow's Scott doin'? An' 'ow're ye 'oldin' up?"

"He's doing all right." And the fact that Jean immediately threw herself into the work probably answered the second question fairly well all on its own. "He told me he talked with you about his powers, and what happened with That Damned Nurse?"

Moira snorted. "Aye, I 'eard all 'bout tha' one," she replied, scowling a little bit. "I tried somethin' wit' 'im an'..." She shook her head, still completely amazed by it. "It seems tha' th' lack o' control, th' inability ta turn off th' optic blasts is gone. But tha's jus' a first observation, though."

Jean nodded. "That's what I've been thinking about, too. He gave me the memories of what happened and... Well, it seems like his powers didn't come on until he looked at Helga." Jean smiled wryly. "Or, rather, until he saw her and panicked because he expected his powers to come on. And I've been wondering, what if, because he expected it, because he thought it would happen, it did. True control. Well, except he's got no training with it."

Chewing on her lip in thought, she nodded slowly. "Aye, tha' makes sense. Th' only reason they came on is because he thought they should be on but if 'e 'adnae reacted tha' way, there would 'ave been nay reaction. I was thinkin' as much but I'm glad I'm nay th' only one. 'Tis goin' ta take some time ta get 'im used ta this. Nearly back ta square one wit' some aspects o' controllin' his powers." Moira grinned. "But if he's able ta control it..."

"Yes, exactly," Jean said, honestly smiling. "It will be an incredible thing if he has actual control now. I still don't understand why this would have happened, but optics aren't my field."

"Same 'ere though I think we can probably get in touch wit' someone who would be able ta give us a clear, concise answer." She hated, above all things, the act of not knowing. "But I was able ta get 'im ta open his eye when I was in there an'...nay optic blasts, so tha's a verra good sign."

Jean's eyebrows raised. "Really? I'm actually thinking that the fact that he was willing to open his eye's a pretty good sign itself. He's going to have years of not just training but instinct to unlearn if this is true."

"Aye, I was testin' th' theory out...an' he was willin' only after a wee bit. Nay tha' I can blame 'im, nay after all these years o' bein' so verra careful." Moira projected the scene to Jean, of her holding up the glasses in front of Scott--to be safe--and him finally opening his eye.

"It's going to be difficult, there's no question. But, God, Moira..." Jean leaned back again the wall. "He saw colors. White. Who knew white could be so... so..." There weren't words for the feeling attached to the memory he'd given her.

"So mind openin'?" Moira filled in, the smile not leaving her face as she thought about it some more. "Th' loss o' th' eye is goin' ta 'ave 'tis complictions but, in th' end, ye know I'm thinkin' this may be doin' him some good. I wish it wouldnae 'ave 'appened this way, though."

"No," Jean agreed fervently. "This is definitely on the order of silver lining on a rather massive cloud."

"Aye, this we could 'ave done without, tha's fer sure." Rubbing her face, she sighed. "Ye two will 'ave all th' 'elp from me in th' months ta come for whatever ye need, I want ye ta know tha'. Trainin', a shoulder ta lean on, some time off, jus' let me know. Whatever I can do ta 'elp."

"Thank you, Moira. It means a lot." Sighing, Jean pushed up away from the wall. "And I should go talk with Scott. He's apparently being cranky. Well, McDonnell said 'recalcitrant' but I think he meant cranky."

Completely dead pan, Moira pulled a lollipop out of her pocket. "Tell him he can 'ave this if he's good an' does wha' the doctors tell 'im ta."