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[x-psylocke.livejournal.com]

A holiday call.



Betsy sat on her bed, staring at her hands. She sighed, letting her head fall. It was better to bite the bullet and accept that she needed to make this call. She picked up the receiver and dialed the number. Hesitant, she closed her eyes as the phone began ringing.

"Muir Island Research Facility. This is Doctor Kellerman."

"Hello, this is Elisabeth Braddock calling for Nathaniel Essex. Is he in?"

"Let me see if the General is free. Please hold." The line clicked over into a wait queue.

General? Since when?

"Transferring you now, Ms Braddock." Kellerman said, and the phone beeped twice before being picked up. "This is Doctor Essex."

"Hello, Nathan. It's Elisabeth," she paused, grabbing the receiver with both hands. "How have you been?"

"Ms Braddock. This is a surprise. I assume you are mobile again?"

“You must've guessed I'd ring you sometime," she laughed. "Oh yes, I've been mobile for quite some time. Against Hank's medical advice and his need for constant study of your handiwork. Thank you for asking."

"Dr McCoy is trying to make up for his past incompetence with present over-protectiveness. It is not surprising. Still, I would avoid anything too strenuous. Some parts of your brain are going to be quite delicate for a time. It is best not to risk over-stimulation."

"Over-stimulation?" Betsy loosened the grip she had on the phone. "I'm curious, what sort of consequences could this entail?"

"Ms Braddock, the vascular web in the brain is very delicate. Too much could result in inter-cranial bleeding and even a full on aneurysm. The chances are low, but doing your leather fetish suit and traipsing off with the rest of Xavier's geno-terrorists is not a good way to assist with the healing process."

"I would never endanger myself that way," she scoffed at the idea. "I'd rather not addle my brain any more than it already is."

"Then you just might live to a ripe and bitter age, Ms Braddock." Essex said, leaning back in his chair. "I trust the children are well?"

"As well as can be expected. It is a never-ending saga." A harsh image of Sarah dressed in blood and close to tears slammed itself into the forefront of Betsy's mind. "Nathan," her voice almost pleading.

"Yes, Ms Braddock?"

“Would it be possible for me to say that I'm going mad without managing to insult your handiwork?"

"Going mad? Really? I thought that wasn't supposed to happen until this Thursday." Essex said dryly. "Tell me what is going on."

Surprisingly, she laughed at this. "I'd at least given myself two months before institutionalization, but one can never tell." She took a deep breath before continuing.
"As recent as a few days after leaving the labs, I've been privy to very vivid hallucinations, deviations from my personality. If Shiro is correct, I’ve been sleepwalking while committing myself to some rather impressive blade work. I think," she exhaled. "I did something to Sarah and I can't remember what. I can't explain it and Hank attributes it to stress. Honestly, I think I should leave the school before something else happens."

"Things that your mind normally would regulate, such as desires, whims, and random thoughts, you are more likely to act on instinctively. I doubt it will be more than a slip of the tongue or the occasional psychical gesture that you would normally restrain from making."

"It feels like more than simple acts of impulse, I've felt odd since Scott left and Charles hasn't been able to help me isolate the reason." Leaning back on her headboard, Betsy rolled her shoulders and continued. "I don't like the idea of blacking-out around students and still functioning. I can't teach like that."

"It feels like more than simple acts of impulse, I've felt odd since Scott left and Charles hasn't been able to help me isolate the reason." Leaning back on her headboard, Betsy rolled her shoulders and continued. "I don't like the idea of blacking-out around students and still functioning. I can't teach like that."

"Mr. Summer has left. How interesting." Essex muttered. "Ms Braddock, I have no doubt that is feels odd, but there are likely to be repercussions as your psionic abilities resurface."

"It's possible that you are latching on to the mental streams of those around you, or are merely acting out long suppressed desires of your subconscious. I can understand how disconcerting it can be, but it is hardly a sinister effect."

"How is Scott leaving interesting?" She turned her head into the receiver, biting her bottom lip to stave off the nervousness. "What you're saying is this is all apart of the process and that I shouldn't worry? That it will abide in time?"

"Oh, I always like to know where the people who threaten my life are." Essex chuckled.
"Can I say substantively that it's just part of the process? No. However, it is most _likely_ part of the process. If you would like, I can conduct an examination to see how far along the healing process is. That could provide the Professor with a medical model for his own tests."

"Scott, threatening your life? I know he's ticked at me for not telling him the truth about...everything, but he wouldn't take it out on you. Or physically cause you harm."

She smiled into the phone, "And even if he's still mad about me doing what was necessary, I know that visiting you would kill him. I would worry about your life then, perhaps."

"Mr. Summers has already stated, with great conviction, that should I step foot on the school grounds again, I will not live it alive. Nonsense, of course. He is young, and youth is wont to be rash." Essex said.

"He did, I had no idea."

"I somewhat doubted that you had co-authored the letter, Ms Braddock."

"You're sense of humor continues to astound me, sir."

"The joint chiefs find me hilarious, I assure you." Essex said. "Are you sure you won't come to Muir? If there is a physiological element to your issues, this would be the best place to diagnose it."

Knowing it was probably the wrong decision, Betsy punctured the skin inside her cheek, as she spoke. "I can't. I made a promise. But thank you for giving me the option."

"Very well. Should the conditions persist over the next three months, you will need to come to Muir. Otherwise, even McCoy can use the imager in the lab. Have him look for swelling or inter-cranial bleeding."

"I will."

"Both can cause a wide range of strange effects, from blackouts to temporary memory loss. It is easily treatable." Essex tapped a few buttons on his RIM, bringing up the e-mail. "I'll sent him a list of medications that you can use if that is the case."

Surprised, "yes, that'll be something he'll appreciate."

"Good. No trouble with your vision?"

"No, it's..." She took a moment. "It's everything I could've hoped and more than I expected. I never had the chance to thank you for everything you've done. And I'm sorry for what it cost you."

"I made my own choice, Ms Braddock. They are my costs, and no one elses." Essex said. "Besides, our experiment only speed up what was the likely conclusion in any case."

"Do you honestly believe that?"

"Yes, I do. Unfortunately, I believe I've worked too long in the lab to be able to make the necessary political changes to that school. I suppose if I was more accomedating or personable," Essex snorted. "No, I think it was a foregone conclusion."

"Perhaps." Betsy replied. "Though I was surprised by something I did not expect from you."

"That being, Ms Braddock?"

"The letter."

"Your letter to be exact"

"And what did you find so surprising about that, Ms Braddock?"

"Your candor, Nathan. I appreciated it, as I did the heartfelt sentiments at the end."

"Not at all, Ms Braddock. It is important that the students do not suffer undue penalties for their actions, especially Ms. Pryde. The fact remains that I was responsible, and I should bear those repercussions solely."

"I've already told the Professor about my wishes. I've calmed Ororo and she will not bring up the matter anymore. As for their punishments, they did break school rules, I cannot help that. But their penalties will not be severe. A grounding here and there, having students wait on me, hand and foot." She smiled at this.

"I see that your recovery is not unaided then. I never did teach Ms. Pryde to properly mix a martini. I suppose that will fall to you."

"You have my word on that, I'm unsure if the rest of the staff will approve, but in my condition, I'd doubt they'd question my sanity for at least another month."

"True. Indeed, I can see them taking a certain dim view on the twists of your own recovery. It is a long process."

"I'll have to keep you inform of my progress, but I'm due for a meeting with Charles any minute. Would it be alright if I ring you every so often while you're at Muir?"

"You may, but I cannot promise my availability. I am very busy in the lab at the moment, and more to come. If I'm not available, the staff will let me know you called."

"I'll take that into consideration. Don't want the staff thinking you have an actual relationship with a woman that isn't professional, at least not totally."

"Actually, all calls made are screened via the NSA and MI5. If we were having an affair, it would exist on a government database in minutes."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I have no doubt that you will."

"Alright, I must dash. But I'll keep you updated; even send a scan or two. I only hope that this will abate after a few months. Goodbye, Nathan and Merry Christmas."

"Goodbye, Ms Braddock."