Scott and Ororo, Saturday morning

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Scott stops by Ororo's office to let her know that he's going to be off-campus that afternoon (and possibly overnight) and why. Ororo's somewhat perturbed, as much by his attitude as his reason for being away.


He supposed it was a good sign, that Ororo was comfortable working in her office again. Reassuring, Scott thought with a faint little smile as he paused in front of the half-opened door, seeing her at her desk.

"Hey," he said, looking around the door.

At the familiar voice Ororo looked up. A smile spread over her features and then halted only to be replaced by a look of worry. "Scott. Come in and sit down, please."

"You're scowling at me," Scott said, doing as she suggested. Chairs were nice. It wasn't that walking was precisely uncomfortable, but he seemed to get tired so easily.

"I am not," Ororo denied, doing just that. "Or rather, I would not need to if I knew why you had circles under your eyes the size of Cain's footprints."

Scott smiled a bit. "I'm going to be gone this afternoon," he said lightly. "Possibly overnight. Amelia's made me an appointment with an acquaintance of hers at the hospital in town."

Ororo blinked, leaning forward slightly as if she hadn't caught his words. "A hospital? Scott, why? What is the matter?"

"You're not allowed to hit me," was his first reply to that, before he shrugged a little, the faint, defensive smile lingering. "It starts with a 'u' and people have been teasing me about the possibility for years. Your first two guesses don't count."

"Oh, Scott... I am so sorry." Immediately Ororo was on her feet, crossing around the desk to stand by his chair. She leaned on the desk, looking down at him with a still-concerned expression. "Why have you not gotten it looked at sooner?"

"I just thought it was stress." His lips quirked. "Then I fell over in front of Logan and started throwing up blood. In front of Logan. My pride's still smarting."

"I think your pride is the last thing you should be worried about. You look like you haven't slept in days. Are you in much pain?"

"Quite a bit, actually." He wasn't about to lie to her. "Amelia told me that if I collapsed again I'd be heading to the hospital in an ambulance, though, so I've been trying to take it easy as much as possible."

Pressing her lips together, Ororo shook her head, though Scott knew it wasn't in condemnation of him. "I hope you will stay as long as they tell you to... no rushing back here as soon as they have looked at you."

"It should be just an in and out sort of thing. They have to cauterize the ulcer - Amelia's going to wait with me and drive me back home, since they'll have to sedate me to do it." Scott made a face. "I haven't let it be known, generally... I'm hoping to avoid that. The last thing we need around here is the appearance of more instability."

"Yes, of course. Still..." Ororo's shoulders lifted in a sigh. "I suppose it is time for you to take a break, yes?"

"Like hell." The crooked smile came back. "I'll be back tomorrow at the latest. Most I'll need to do is mind the caffeine and follow the new diet Amelia's been growling about for a bit."

"I will at least have to raid your coffee stash, then," she said, reassured by his smile and confident words. It wasn't as if she wasn't still worried, but as long as Amelia knew what she was talking about (and 'Ro knew she did), then perhaps he'd be all right.

But his smile faded, even as she bantered back at him. "Seems damned unfair, really," he said quietly, looking away. "I suppose that's what happens when you stop displaying your stress and just turn it inwards." Whatever Amelia had said about bacteria.

"Scott..." Ororo knelt smoothly by his chair, looking up at his face. "I know I have not been helpful at all this week. But I am here now, if you need to talk."

Scott looked back at her, smiling a little again. "Don't," he said, his voice gentle. "We don't always have to be helpful. Or have it all together. Especially when things like this week happen." He reached out and put a hand over hers where it rested on the arm of his chair, and was quiet for a moment. "Logan said something about me not being able to hack the stress," he finally said. "That this was my body's way of letting me know that."

Ororo shook her head, wishing that Logan had thought to keep his mouth shut in this instance. Besides, what else was there to do but to handle whatever came along as best they could? "Then what will you do?" she asked, trying her best not to sound apprehensive.

"Keep doing what I'm doing and hope that Amelia's right about ulcers not being caused by stress, but just aggravated?" Scott suggested wryly. "Let her friend fix the problem and just... hope it doesn't reoccur." He sighed, looking away, his eye unfocusing a little as his gaze rested on the window. Not raining today. "I feel like such a failure, you know."

"No, you're not," 'Ro immediately said stubbornly, shaking her head. "Don't say that, Scott. Of all the people here, you are the last one who could say that."

Scott looked back at her, focusing again. His voice, when he spoke, was still calm, incongruously light for the words that came out. "Of all the people here, I'm the first one who should say it. I suppose the conclusion I'm coming to is that it doesn't really matter, though. I'm who I am, doing what I'm supposed to do, and so long as my... personal lapses don't kill anyone, I can at least hope that I'll do better in future."

"You have accomplished so much," Ororo said, staring up at him as if the intensity of her gaze could somehow add emphasis to her words. "You must remember that, as well. The people you have saved, the children you have taught, the lives you have changed. You have left an impression that will last for many lifetimes, and you should be proud."

"The children who call me Captain Fuckwad?" It was supposed to be a joke. Really, he had meant it to be funny. Ororo didn't look like she thought it was funny. He took a deep breath, then let it out again, the pain in his stomach kicking up a few notches. "It's what we've accomplished," he finally said, his voice still low. "What the team's done. What the school's done. Not me. I just fill a role, and not a particularly unique one at that." He patted her hand, mustering a smile. "Look, it's just the ulcer, making me introspective. Check back with me tonight - I'm liable to be on the happy drugs."

Ororo reached up to put a hand on his cheek, her expression serious. "We could not have done it without you, Scott. I know that. You should, too."

Scott's only response was a smile, as if he was accepting her words, but his gaze slid away. The words were more like stones skipping across the surface of a lake, never penetrating the depths of the water, but he didn't necessarily need to tell her that. "I really hope I don't have to stay overnight," he said. "You know me - long-time dislike of hospitals."

"If you do, I will come and smuggle in Lorna's cooking, just for you." 'Ro dropped her hand, sitting back on her heels. Through some enormous effort, the skies outside stayed clear, though secretly Ororo wondered if that wouldn't be healthier to let them fill with clouds and lightning.

He laughed, very quietly. "You spoil me. And I interrupted you, I think?" He glanced back at her desk. "If I know you, you're trying to catch up. I didn't leave you much to do, mind you."

"I suppose I should thank you," she said, straightening up. "But there is always more to do. Cain deserves my help outside tomorrow, I think. Please let me know when you are back?" she added, giving him a pleading look.

"Absolutely. You'll be the first... okay, maybe the second one I check in with." Scott got - slowly, because the pain in his stomach redoubled and he needed to take it slow.

'Ro helped him with a hand on his elbow, unable to keep the concern from showing on her face. "Take care, Scott. Please." For all our sakes.

"Careful as... okay, failing to come up with a metaphor. I should quit while I'm ahead." He patted her hand. "I'll see you later, all right?" he asked, turning towards the door.

"Of course. I am going nowhere," Ororo said, taking a seat at her desk once more.

"Helps to know that, you know," he said over his shoulder. "I don't know what I'd do without you, 'Ro. I really don't." With Hank in Scotland and Jean gone...

"And you will never have to find out," she said with a serene smile. "Now go on, Captain, I believe your coach is waiting."