xp_logs | Kurt and Amanda, Saturday afternoon

Kurt and Amanda have a late lunch and catch up on things.

"So how did things go in New Orleans?" Kurt asked once the two were settled in their booth and orders had been placed. "Productively, I hope?"

"Mostly." Amanda sat back, relaxing. "Tante was cryptic, which is par for the course, but she seems to have taken a personal issue with the Staff which means she'll move hell and high water to stop it fucking over Nico. Marie-Ange came back with us, too - apocalyptic visions averted, world saved and all the rest of it. She's staying with me for the meantime."

"I am glad", he said sincerely. "That you have an ally against the Staff, and that Marie-Ange has returned safe and well with her goal achieved. She is safe and well, yes?"

"Pretty much. She's still finding her feet - it's been a long time since she was with people she could trust." Their drinks arrived and Amanda sipped at her beer, enjoying the simple fact she was legal and in Harry's after so many years of being barred. It was something she would never get tired of. "How's Nick doing? You were saying he agreed to come back to the school?"

"With some persuasion", he agreed with a wry smile. "He still remembers nothing and knows himself as John, but I have hope. With the familiar surroundings and some very careful telepathic therapy from the Professor..."

"Nothing at all?" Amanda winced - it reminded her of Manuel's mind-wipe, which had been partial, not total, at least. "That must be hard to deal with."

"Nothing before waking on what he says was an operating table, taking his wolf form and escaping." His face had turned a little grim. "Which, since Vanessa turned up nothing in any legitimate hospital records, suggests to me that the Reavers had him after all. And yes, it was not very easy at first."

Another wince, at the idea of the kid being in the hands of the Reavers and whatever experiments they had thought to do. "I remember, back when Manuel lost his memory... I almost couldn't deal with it. Having him walking around, looking like himself, but a totally different person." She let the sentence hang, for her reticent brother to pick up on her meaning, if he wanted.

Kurt nodded quietly. "There are flashes, sometimes, when I think I see the old Nick in there. As he must be, somewhere... he was working as a paramedic when we found him. Still helping people."

"And the teeps can't help?" she asked, gently.

"We think it is best if only the Professor tries, and later on perhaps Haller", he said, voice low. "They are the most experienced with psychic therapy, and since the trauma was so great as to take his memory, if someone should misstep in the attempt... we could lose him again."

"And if the damage is psychological, even a Healing spell wouldn't help," Amanda finished. "So, as always, we wait and see?"

"So it would seem", Kurt agreed, soft and sad. "And I think the mansion is the best place to do it, if his memory is ever to return. Otherwise, I would take him home."

"He'll come back," Amanda reassured him. "where there's life there's hope, right?"

"Always", he agreed, managing a smile. "And there is one good thing. At least I know now where he is and that he is safe."