Lex and Nathan in the Medlab | Thursday Evening

[x-lexington.livejournal.com]

Lex heads to the medlab to get his ribs looked at and, searching for someone to treat him, finds Nathan in a private room.



His chest hurt, a lot. He hadn't realized it while on the hunt, or shopping, but as soon as he'd started carrying things into the mansion it'd hurt like a bitch. It'd been twenty-four hours so he decided to get it looked at. Walking towards the medlab he wondered if he'd be able to get treated there, he remembered reading something about Jean turning people away if they got themselves injured this week. He hit the button and the door opened before him.

The medlab was very different from the ones he was used to. There was so much sophisticated equipment lying around that his curiosity overwhelmed the pain. He started examining it, piece by piece, making sure he didn't touch any of it. He remembered what the doc had told him about messing with medics, 'Remember, Lex, you don't fuck with anyone who might be cutting on you. They will hold your life in their hands at one point and you don't want them harboring any hard feelings towards you.'

Moving around, he couldn't see anyone in the main room so he decided to look into the private ones. Maybe Jean was attending one of the other patients. As he approached one room, he stuck his head in and saw a man lying on the bed. He looked like he'd been hit by a freight train, and Lex felt really bad for him.

Amelia had just been in here, making him cough and all that crap - if he never heard the term 'pulmonary toilet' again, it would be too soon - and he felt like hell, especially since he was trying not to go quite so heavily on the painkillers today. Last thing he wanted was to be developing a taste for them. The appearance of someone he did not recognize at all at his door was a welcome distraction, Nathan thought, peering at the man in an attempt to get his eyes to focus.

"New guy, right?" he asked in his still-hoarse voice.

"Uh, yeah, I'm Lex," he stepped in to the room to offer his hand. He stood there awkwardly for a moment before he decided to just say it. "So this is what happens after missions," he asked. He didn't mind getting injured, it happened all the time in the field, but the man in front of him looked like hell, or worse.

Reddened, exhausted gray eyes narrowed a little. "Special circumstances," Nathan said, sounding more gruff than hoarse. "This was rougher than usual. Nathan, by the way."

"So I read. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nathan," he nodded towards the man. Looking around he found a chair sitting by the side wall, "You mind if I take a seat? I'm kinda waiting for the doc to get back, take a look at what I think are some badly bruised ribs."

"Feel free. Can't spare you much sympathy, though. Mine are in a few different pieces." Nathan's uneven, rasping breathing was all too audible when he paused. "What happened to you?"

Lex blushed involuntarily, he couldn't believe he was going to tell a man lying in pieces what happened. For a moment he thought about lying and saying that he'd picked a fight with Logan, but just for a moment. "You know, this might just make your day... I was an idiot and got myself kicked in the chest by a buck."

The corners of Nathan's mouth curved upwards briefly, and there was a spark of something close to sympathy in those tired gray eyes. "Didn't want to be dinner, huh?"

"More like I was interrupted by a big purple cat, and I do mean big." He laughed. "Then she yelled at me for killing her deer."

"I see. You're lucky the wolf's in Tel Aviv. She would have followed you back to the house apologizing profusely." The guy seemed to have a sense of humor, at least. Definitely a plus.

"Which wolf, Nick? I went hunting with him on Monday." Lex smiled, he seemed to be closer to the ferals than to any other residents, even Forge. "He's a damn good hunter."

"Haven't met him yet. Thinking about Rahne... similar powers, living in Israel these days."

"Ah, I haven't met him." Lex said, "So are you strictly an X-Man or do you do other things around, for fun and such?"

"Her." Small talk. Interesting concept, after the couple of weeks he'd had. "Teach a little. Run an NGO out of the boathouse. Run herd on my flying telekinetic daughter."

"Well now, that does sound fun." Lex laughed, he couldn't imagine doing all of that. Hell, he could barely keep track of himself these days. "What type of NGO?"

"Mutant issues, developing world. That sort of thing. We have a website," Nathan said, his lips twitching again. "Ordinarily I'd give you the whole spiel. But I don't think I'm up to speechifying."

"No worries. I was just wondering." He was finding himself liking Nathan more and more. "So, I have two questions, then I should really see to my chest. What's your power and how long do you plan on being here?"

"Telekinesis and telepathy - and don't worry, I don't have the energy to read your mind. Even if I made a habit of it in the first place, which I don't." Nathan raised his uninjured shoulder in a shrug. "How long, I don't know. Until they tell me I can go. I'm usually a less obliging patient. But your lungs are nothing to screw around with."

Lex understood all too well. He'd lost a friend that way. "Yeah, I'm with you on that one." He looked at the man, "Tell you what, it looks like you could use some company, to keep your mind off the pain and such. Mind if I stop by over the next couple of days to say hello, get some veteran feedback on how shit goes down with the team?"

"I can do that." Nathan's smile was tired, but there was a mischievous flicker in his eyes as he went on. "Just watch out for the redhead with the Russian accent. Her bedside manner leaves much to be desired."

"I'll be careful," Lex said. The thought of a vicious medic was almost a relief compared to the resurgence of pain in his chest. "You take care of yourself, and I'll see you tomorrow."