Jennie and Scott - Tuesday Morning

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Jennie talks to Scott about her ...complication



The knock on Scott's door was soft and hesitant. Jennie had spent the last few minutes before the knock pacing up and down the hallway, trying to work up the courage to talk to her CO. Telling Nate had been a moment of desperation, knowing that she in all good conscience couldn't continue out in the field. That was a stop-gap. This, this changed status quo, permanently. Jennie wasn't sure she was ready for that. But she couldn't go out in the field anymore, and Scott needed to know why. So...

The door opened, and Scott, leaning on one crutch, raised his fingers to his lips in an unmistakable 'shhh' gesture. "Jean's resting," he said, but hopped aside to let her in. "We just need to keep it down a little. What's up?"

"C-can I talk to you? About ...well, about the team. And me?" Jennie nervously smoothed her shirt and then ran her fingers through her bangs. No amount of straightening or neatening was going to do away with her anxiety. She just need to face it head on. Even if she did feel like barfing, and not just from the morning sickness.

Scott gestured her to a seat, hopping back over to the couch. He was going to be so glad when he got rid of these crutches, and it wasn't too much longer... "Something happen in Budapest? Beyond the obvious, of course..."

Jennie perched awkwardly on the edge of the chair, back ramrod straight and hands reflexively rubbing her thighs again. Everything about her posture screamed 'nerves'. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Did Nate tell you why I was benched in the middle of fighting?" she said.

Scott's eyes narrowed. "Not yet," he said quietly. "I think he was maybe waiting for you to do that."

Jennie visibly squirmed. She felt like a child confessing to her teacher that she'd fed the class hamster to the class snake. "I. Um. God, there's no easy way to to say this. I-I'm pregnant." The last was said just barely as whisper.

Scott's cheek twitched in a familiar and ominous way. He opened his mouth - and then closed it again, jaw just a little bit too tight. He might have swallowed his initial response but it was as clear as day what it would have been. "I'm not going to ask you if you had a reason for not telling me before Ororo and I made up the roster for Budapest."

Jennie shrank in her seat. He'll be understanding my ass Nate. "I-I just didn't know what to do, okay? I haven't seen a doctor yet. I don't know if I'm keeping it. I just didn't want it to be real. I thought ...I just needed more time to think about it. And then suddenly there was an emergency and I was too scared to speak up during the initial meeting and then we were on the plane to Budapest," Jennie threw up her hands. "But, you know. I had to tell someone. So I did," she finished quietly.

Scott shook his head, looking away from her for a moment while he collected his thoughts. "I'm just glad you weren't hurt," he said finally. "One of those terrorists could very easily have made the decision for you."

"I know," Jennie said, putting her head in her hands. "That's why I'm here now. I need to be taken off-duty until I figure out what the hell I'm going to do." And that.. she really didn't know yet.

"Well," Scott said very dryly, "I think that's a given. No worries there. If you feel like you're shirking as a result, I'll assign you extra DR supervision and coms shifts."

"Thanks," Jennie said, which came out as half-sarcastic and half-frazzled.

"Jennie..." Scott was silent for a moment, then gave a little shrug and a faint smile. "It's a curveball. I can't imagine being in your position right now, and not just because I'm the wrong gender. But you're a tough person," he went on, "and more importantly, a good person. You'll make the choice that's right, even if it takes you some time to figure out what that is."

"Thanks," Jennie said, this time softer and more sincere. "I- just needed time, you know? The-- my ex-- haven't heard anything from him since he dumped me, so. Whatever it is I have to do it by myself."

"Except you're not by yourself," Scott pointed out. "Not that any of the rest of us can make the decision for you, but just keep in mind, you don't have to live with it yourself. One way or the other."

"One way or the other," Jennie repeated, sounding tired. Her heart was still going a mile a minute, but she suddenly felt exhausted. "Thank you, Scott."

"You're welcome. You know, compared to 'I'm possessed' or 'My long-lost great uncle showed up and he's a supervillain', that was a pretty mild sort of revelation."

"You know me, I've always done my own thing," Jennie said tiredly. "I-I guess I'll keep you posted on ...whatever happens."

Whatever that would be.