Mutation sternuation: Laurie and Jean

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During a fit of baking early Monday morning, Laurie gets an unexpected surprise due to a particularly infuriating news report.




Laurie placed the tray of macaroons in the oven and closed the door, the sound of the News a soft susurrus in her ears as she worked. She pulled a clean glass bowl toward her on the bench and lined up the ingredients she'd be using to make the ganache that went between the macaroons.

It took her around twenty minutes to get the different types of ganache ready and it was as she was placing them in a line on the table that she heard the opinion piece currently airing on the television about mutant/human relations after what had happened in New York.

Moments after that, the sound of a smoke alarm went off as the TV burst into flames.

The smoke alarm going off in the kitchen wasn't actually that uncommon, but as Jean was passing by anyways she stuck her head in. She was definitely glad she did, because 'flaming television' was not usually the problem. "Jesus, what happened?" she said, telekinetically ripping the cord out of the socket as she reached for the extinguisher in the corner. "I don't..." Laurie began, staring at the television in shock when she felt a kind of surge, and a gust of wind blew past her, knocking the television to the floor. "know."

Jean's eyes widened, but she flicked the lock off the extinguisher and was already aiming it at where the television had gone. "And that was...?" she asked, although she wasn't really expecting an answer. "If we're being haunted then this summer officially needs to end."

"I don't know," Laurie answered, backing up from the television under the counter hit her in the ass. "I think, um...maybe I should go down to the medlab?"

Another gust of wind seemed to curl around her legs, and she tripped, going down with a small scream.

A quick glance assured Jean that Laurie was ok, at least for now, and the fire was the more important problem. It took only a few moments for the extinguisher to put out the fire, and then she turned to Laurie and raised her eyebrow. "Given everything that's been going on?" she said. "Yes, I think so. Need a hand up?"

Laurie was about to answer in the affirmative when she felt air swirl beneath her and she was suddenly flung upwards, catching herself before she hit the cupboards above her and then falling to the floor again, this time on her knees.

"Maybe I um...I don't think I should think of anything right now," Laurie muttered, admittedly shaken.

Jean nodded faintly, feeling the wind buffet around her feet and quickly anchoring herself with her telekinesis. "Think you can make it downstairs on your own or do you want me to move you?"

Laurie didn't answer at first, too busy wondering if there was a way to hold onto the ground, so to speak. She finally raised her eyes to Jean's, a scared and somewhat helpless look surfacing through all the racing thoughts. "Please, I don't know what'll happen if I try to move myself."

The telekinetic bubble which formed around Laurie was not that dissimilar from that which she had used all those years ago to transport Haroun through the building when the slightest molecule of air escaping could have potentially been the death warrant for everyone in the building. It lifted up off the ground with Laurie sitting securely in the middle of it and Jean could feel the pressure inside shifting as Laurie reacting instinctively, this new power beyond her control, merely lashing out in every direction, although outside the bubble not even the slightest breeze could be felt.

Laurie shut her eyes for a moment, trying to quell the initial panic she'd felt as 'something' that she couldn't name disappeared from her senses, and eventually realised was her connection to the air around her outside this small space. She could feel the air inside the bubble lashing about, trying to find an exit in reaction to her panic, but there were no exits, not even the smallest chink to use for escape. It was building now, swirling about the bubble and gaining speed as she fought for control over unfamiliar sensations and abilities.

"Deep breaths, Laurie," Jean said soothingly as they moved through the halls. "Some things about power control are constant and you know how to keep yourself calm better than most."

Jean was right, and Laurie had spent the last several years learning techniques to control her own powers, emotional control was something she lived and breathed daily, she could do this. It took a long time, with the noise of the wind in her ears, and the panicked feeling making the air move faster she had to concentrate on the techniques she'd learnt long ago. Eventually though, eventually she managed to start calming down, and seemingly within minutes the air around her settled back, a mere breeze zipping playfully about her feet as she sat cross legged in the bubble Jean had made. She couldn't shut them off entirely yet, but at least they weren't a danger now.

"I think I've got it now," she whispered to Jean, not wanting to speak loudly less she shattered the fragile peace.

"Good girl," Jean said, sounding proud as the door to the medlab opened in front of them. It had been a very quiet trip, telepathy being useful for avoiding people in awkward situations. She let the two of them into one of the private exam rooms and carefully set Laurie's bubble down on the bed before thinning it out, making sure the return of external air wouldn't upset Laurie too much before she released it entirely.

It was a relief, and Laurie almost lay herself out on the bed as her muscles relaxed now that her connection with 'outside' was back. Air that had been settled around her now swirled slowly in the medical room, but it seemed calmer now, more contained and less destructive. "Jean? What's going on? First the others, now me. I don't understand."

"I don't either," Jean admitted, stepping forward seemingly undisturbed by the breeze. "But we're going to figure it out. How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Confused," Laurie said immediately, and then after a pause. "Scared."

She hugged herself, wondering at the fact that she didn't feel cold at all, even though the air in the Medlab had always felt slightly chilly. She wondered if that meant something, and figured she'd have to talk to Crystal about it eventually.

Jean's hand on Laurie's wrist was partly to check her pulse but mostly it was meant as a comfort. "I know, sweetie. I promise, we'll get this all figured out as soon as we can. For now, think you'd be able to handle an examination? We need to run some tests and Moira will want some blood work and samples."

"I think I can?" Laurie said uncertainly, not entirely sure what any sort of pain, even that from a simple blood test would do. "Is there maybe a room that I can't damage though?"

Jean quickly ran through alternatives in her head. "The heavy containment room is in use," she said after a moment, "but I think we can do the exam in one of the overnight rooms. I'll take out the sensitive equipment and set a shield." She was pretty sure she'd be able to hold it. Well, mostly. And there weren't really any better options.

"That should be fine then," Laurie said, trying for a brave smile but not entirely sure she made it completely there.

"Come on then, sweetie," Jean said, offering Laurie a hand. "Let's try walking over there and see how we do."