Family Portrait: Lorna & Laurie and Zach and Jean log

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Posted a little late due to not having a home internet connection right now and not wanting to get fired for abusing the work Internet. ;) Apologies for any grammatical mistakes in these logs, I don't have time to edit them. Shall go back through once I have reliable internets.

Laurie's having a little trouble concentrating on Lorna's Advanced cooking class. They talk.



Laurie looked down at the pencil accusingly, as if it were somehow the fault of the inanimate object that the lead had snapped, and not the fact that she'd been pressing just a little too hard. It was another thing on top of many, many things this week and she almost wanted to cry with the frustration of it all. It wasn't just the fact that she still had to make an effort of getting through her classes, as well as appearing at least functional to the school population as a whole. It was also the overriding dread of passing time, the knowledge that her mother was going to die, painfully and slowly and there was nothing in the world that she could do about it.

Watching the woman who had always appeared so resiliant and strong get sicker and sicker with the treatments, so tired that she couldn't always stay awake for Laurie's visits. It was enough to make her hate the world, and everything in it.

If there was an upside to Laurie's power, it was that it was very easy to tell when she was upset. Lorna looked down her own hands, which had clenched to fists and forced herself to take a deep breath, feeling like there was a weight on her chest. "It won't repair itself no matter how long you stare, Laurie. Want to put the pencil down and tell me about it?" Her voice shook when she spoke, which wasn't promising for Laurie's control.

It was only with the briefest reluctance that Laurie allowed the pencil to fall from her fingers, glancing upwards and then fixing her gaze on that of her teacher. She didn't really want to tell anyone about it, if she were truly honest but she also knew that keeping this all in day after day wasn't helping her much either.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, noting the clenched hands and the shake in Lorna's voice. "I'm leaking, aren't I?"

"Some, yes. I'm all right." Such an odd thing to say when your whole body
wanted to hit something. "You don't have to talk about it with me. But the
state you're in, you can't possibly concentrate on your meal plans and we've
still got another half-hour so it's worth a shot, right?"

"Yeah. It's just, Mom looked so tired that last time I went to see her and I'm scared and that makes me angry because there's nothing I can possibly do other then what I am, and that makes me even more scared because what if she dies andand...I told my father I hated him," Laurie said in a rush, taking a deep breath at the end and trying to control the gamut of emotions swirling around in her mind.

Lorna made sure that her expression was nothing but sympathetic, easy enough to do when she could feel very well what Laurie was going through right now. Her own memories of her mother's accident surfaced and for a moment she had to close her eyes. "When we're upset, it's easy to say things that we don't mean or that we regret. You're right, you're doing your best. I know how totally frustrating it is when that's not good enough."

"But that's just it, you see. I do hate him, and I don't know what that means. I don't know if hating someone you've only just met and who didn't have any kind of interest in the fact that you were alive is a good or a bad thing," Laurie said, sighing and pushing aside the pad of paper she'd been writing her meal plan on. "Is it okay if we do this later? I really don't think I can concentrate right now."

Lorna shook her head, "No problem at all. It isn't needed for a while. And...I don't know what to tell you about hating someone. I certainly won't tell you that it's wrong. I've got too many people on my list for that. But I'll tell you that it's poison. It just...oh bother. Hang on, would you?" She stood to answer the ringing phone--since it was during a class session it was clearly important.

"Sure," Laurie replied, pushing the notepad she'd been writing on away and waiting for Lorna to finish talking on the phone. She wondered who was calling, and what it was they wanted.

It didn't take long for Lorna to come back, face quietly solemn in a way that had nothing to do with Laurie's imperfect control. "I think we're done here for today, Laurie. That was Jean." Her brow furrowed, worried, wanting to protect her student but not sure how best to do that. She tucked her hands in her pockets instead, "Your father is here to see you, if you'd like. He's down in the kitchen."

It might have been said that Laurie levitated in that moment, she was up from her seat and out the door so fast. Of course, she'd have to apologise for her abrupt exit later but she had a feeling that Lorna would understand. Her father was here, when she'd thought...it didn't matter what she thought, he was here and that was what mattered.



Meanwhile, someone unexpected arrives



Everything looked almost exactly the same as the last time he'd seen the place, Zach thought as he exited the taxi. Sure, there were new benches out along the lawn and the semicircular driveway was newly-repaved, but the big mansion was the same as he remembered it. The everpresent ivy still climbed up over the brick walls, like the time he'd climbed them to--

He shook his head, forcing his thoughts down. Wouldn't do to be nostalgic and soft-headed in a house full of telepaths, he reminded himself. They'd played the guilt card to get him to step foot on the grounds he swore he'd never visit again, and so despite his youthful oaths, he found himself knocking on the front door of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Jean had been waiting in one of the parlors near the front hall and was on her feet the moment she heard the knock. Stepping out into the hall, she forestalled one of the kids who'd been walking past with an, "I got it." Bracing her shoulders, she did her best to smile and opened the door. "Hello, Zach."

Zach blinked. Red hair, tall, oh good god...

"Jeannie?" Zach nearly stepped backwards off the porch, a moment of shock setting in. "Wow. You look... well, wow. You look good." A quick throat clearing and glance in one of the reflective windows and Zach unconsciously stood up straighter, almost to Jean's height. "This is practically a reunion, then. Hank still around too?"

The reaction rather firmed Jean's smile, although she didn't comment on the posturing. "No, I'm afraid not. He was teaching here for a while, but moved to Scotland a few years ago to work with Dr. MacTaggart. Come on in."

"Well, then. Nice to know everything's still well-kept-up and fancy-looking," he said as he stepped into the foyer. "And the mansion, too." The last bit was with a subtle wink in Jean's direction. "So you finally got your M.D., I hear. And still seeing... what's his name, kid with the glasses?"

Jean managed not to snort at the wink - same old Zach. "Yes, to both counts. Scott's the headmaster here these days. We got married over winter break two years ago. And you? Still living the life of an utter scoundrel?" Her tone was familiar, almost friendly.

Zach pressed his palm to his chest, feigning surprise. "Scoundrel?
Jeannie, you wound me. We're not all cut out for settling down, you know. I was doing pretty good for myself until the other week." He gave Jean a pointed look and shook his head. "You know how it is. You leave, and the Professor still sends letters to tell you how everyone's doing. Twenty-first century and the man still writes with a fountain pen. Took moving three timed before I guess the Post Office got tired of forwarding them. And then Erik shows up about... ten years ago? Gives me the same spiel he used to about mutants and humans. I didn't have any interest in being a part of it, so he just suggested," Zach made air quotes with his fingers to emphasize the word, "that I keep my head down and stay out of the way. And that was working pretty good for me, Jeannie. Not trying to save the world, no need to conquer humanity, just trying to get by. Until someone tracks me down and sends Gail's daughter to my doorstep."

Jean shrugged, not looking at all repentant. "What can I say. I was a born meddler even before Charles got his hands on me. Would have moved heaven and earth if necessary to find some way to help Laurie and Gail. Finding you was almost easy compared to that. Almost. Come on, we redid the kitchen a few years back. Want some coffee?"

Zach looked ready to protest, then sighed and slumped his shoulders slightly, although something resembling a smile crossed his face. "Does the Professor still get the good stuff imported? I have to say, sixteen years and I think I've lost my taste for that horrible store-bought stuff. There was this great place in Italy... Scott ever take you to Europe, Jeannie? I'm just sayin', the coffee there is out of this world."

"I've ended up there a few times, yes. And trust me, if we didn't have quality coffee in this place, there would be riots. I swear, half the staff are convinced that coffee is only slightly less necessary to life than oxygen. And some won't even admit that." Jean smiled brightly as she lead the way down the hall and held the door for Zach.

"Staff," Zach repeated incredulously. "I remember when it was just you and me, and Charles and Erik. And how much the Professor used to glare at every time you'd do that little hand thing, you and Erik both." Zach demonstrated, pantomining lifting an object and turning it in his hand. "Big powerful mutant brains, and you both still did the little hand thing. But now? Dozens of students, bunch of teachers, it's a regular institution."

In the span of a second, Zach's amiable facade seemed to vanish, and his face went impassive as he leaned towards Jean. "So there's the abbreviated version of the alumni newsletter. Really, I've never been all that interested in a homecoming but since I'm here, why don't we forget coffee and get right down to what you dragged me back for?"

And now Jean did snort - that was Zach all over. "Go on. Sit," she said, waving at one of the chairs in the kitchen. "Feel free to at least pretend to make yourself comfortable. I'm still making the coffee for me, your choice if you want it or not." Suiting action to words she began moving around the kitchen, not even looking at him as she went on. "You know why we dragged you back. Gail's sick, Dr. MacTaggart and I are convinced that it's from over exposure to your power - a facet we're all terribly grateful Laurie doesn't seem to have inherited - and that we can work up, if not a cure, than at least a treatment for her. But, we need samples." Turning back, she smiled sweetly at Zach. "Which would be where you come in."

"So what do you need, blood? I suppose I should make some kind of an objection here, but..." Zach stopped, then the cold exterior seemed to thaw a little. "A few years ago, I went to a doctor in Connecticut. I've been having some... changes." He held up one hand and scraped lightly at a manicured fingernail. What appeared to be a thin coating of neutral polish flaked away to reveal a fingernail tinted slightly violet. "Nails and hair, the doctor said. Whatever pheromone my power generates, it builds up over time. Gail... I was with her longer than anyone. I certainly didn't mean to... well, not cancer. Whatever problems we had, if this is because of me, then take what you need to fix it."

Jean nodded, appreciating that this was about as close to candor as Zach ever got. "Thank you," she said simply. Flipping the switch on the coffee machine, she moved away from it, picking up the telephone on the wall. "Help yourself to anything in here. I'm going to call Laurie and Lorna."

Zach nodded, choosing to just sit quietly and watch the coffee maker.