xp_logs | [Jamie, Marie] My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks...

Marie drops some schoolwork off for Jamie and he apologizes for censoring her mail to Doug.

Marie gathered her mail out of her box in the teachers' lounge and was ready to head upstairs when she saw a stack of papers on the table with a post-it that read "For Jamie Madrox". She took a look to see a sample test and some reading assignments. Evidently Jamie's homework had gotten misdirected. -Well, I'll just run it up,- she thought, and tucked it on top of her own papers. There was a brief twinge as she stopped outside of Doug and Jamie's room but she steeled herself and tapped on the partly-open door.

"Jamie?"

Jamie blinked, flicked one headphone earpiece off his ear, and peered around his computer screen. "Marie? I, uh, hey. C'mon in. What's up?" He took the headphones all the way off and reached for a Kleenex.

Marie looked around the room cautiously and then stepped in. "I found some papers with your name on them in the teachers' lounge," she explained, holding them out to him. "So I figured I'd run them up with you just being down the hall and all." She glanced over at Doug's empty bed and desk.

"Oh, thanks. Doug's . . . gone, somewhere, I think . . ." He thought for a moment. "With Angie, I'm pretty sure. Dunno for what. I've been exercising my music collection and working on my play most of the day." He shifted uncomfortably. "Look, i'm--I really am sorry about the thing with your e-mail, I just--I felt sick, doing it, I hate keeping this stuff from Doug, but he . . ." Jamie shook his head. "And I didn't read the whole thing. Just the topic and like the first two sentences. And I can't say I didn't mean to hurt you because I knew it would and I did it anyway, but . . . I didn't _want_ to, for what little that's worth."

Marie paled a little at the mention of the email incident. "I..." She put Jamie's papers down and took a slow breath. "I understand. It got to me but it wasn't just... that. It's okay. You did what was right for Doug." She hugged her papers to her and stepped back. "As long as he gets over it."

"That doesn't mean it wasn't wrong for you, though. Or that it wasn't a crappy thing to do in general. And it's been eating me since I did it." He smiled humorlessly. "I wish I could say it was the worst thing I've done since I got here, but . . . at least it's one of them. I hope he's pissed at me when he finds out."

Marie shrugged and then shook her head sadly. "He'll probably just feel guilty for making you go to extremes. Might as well play it down, right? And if that's the worst thing you've done in this house, Jamie, you're doing okay. You were doing it for your friend, and that counts for something."

"Not enough. Grandpa always said if you can't do right, at least don't do wrong, and I--well, I try, but . . . everything's a lot more complicated here. But I just wanted you to know, that isn't . . .who I want to be, somebody who does that, and that I know it was a breach of trust and I take it seriously, because, well, I read back over that post and it sounded a little--a lot--too casual."

"Complicated is about right." Marie bit her lip and paused to think about what she was going to say next. "It helps to know that you don't think it was nothing. Because it wasn't. I feel stupid that it bothered me because, I mean, it's just an email and it's just me and I can take it, right? But it does make a difference that it bothered you too. Thanks for saying so." She held her hand, pale grey gloves today, out to Jamie.

Jamie took it solemnly. "It's not just you, and you shouldn't have to take it, and don't feel stupid. I did a wrong thing, and that doesn't change just because I was doing it to try and prevent a worse thing."

"Thanks again." Marie's grip was firm but gentle, a little squeeze and she let go. "This was awful all around, wasn't it? How are you holding up?"

"Been better, been worse. Talking to Doc Samson helped a _lot,_ I'd been kind of . . . running myself a little ragged there, and he called me on it. I'm seeing him again tomorrow. But Kitty and I are all right, and Doug's getting there. LIfe goes on." Jamie cocked his head. "How about you?"

"Truth?" Marie gave him a rueful smile. "I'm pretty awful," she said briskly. "Between that and things with Angelo, I'm not myself at all. But, I'm managing."

"Well, if there's anything I can do, I'll . . . try to remember I'm just one person and not obligated to fix everything." Jamie smiled just as ruefully. "And that Kitty will probably do something dire if I don't get enough rest. But the offer's open anyway, if you think of something."

Marie laughed and shook her head. "You're right, you are just one person. And that cold tells me that you've been testing that theory. Thanks for the offer, but I have back-up. I'll be okay. Just make sure you and Doug and Kitty are okay."

"How do you think I got the cold?" He grinned. "But this 'people will feel better if you let them help you too' thing Dr. Samson had me try seems to be working out, so I'm gonna keep doing that. Thanks for bringing the homework."

"No problem." Marie gave him an affectionate smile. "Sometimes stuff disappears forever in that lounge. I'll see you later. Um... say hi to Doug for me, will you? We've been emailing some and I got him back to calling me 'Em' again and everything, so... maybe we'll work things out soon."

"That's great! I'll let him know you came by. Going back to nicknames is a really good sign, too."

"I kind of hit him with an e-clue-by-four," Marie confessed. "I told him that what happened didn't change who he was to me and I wasn't giving up. I think it worked." She paused at the door. "Don't think I don't care about him, okay? I hope no one ever gets that impression. It's just not /like that/, you know?"

"No, yeah, of course. I've been hitting him with 'friendship isn't second best' practically since before he was done unpacking, no worries there."

Marie looked relieved. "Thanks, Jamie. Means a lot that you understand. I'll talk let you get to work." She gave him a little smile and a wave goodbye.

Jamie waved back. "Thanks again. I'm glad we talked."

"Me too, hon." Marie let herself out and closed the door almost all the way behind her before heading to her room.