Jean & Sooraya (backdated)

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Jean and Sooraya talk while doing some soup prep...

Sooraya quietly opened up the cooler they used, inspecting it's contents and the contents of the box of dry goods next to it to see if she could think of something she could make that was slightly different from the quick sandwiches and other cold food they had had so far. ' Hot food helps morale'  she knew all to well and their was something of a small camping thingie she could cook on. Maybe a simple kind of soup or something?

Jean pulled her hair into a pony tail as she made her way down the stairs toward the makeshift kitchen. There was not a lot to do when waiting. Waiting for a meeting, waiting to be discovered, waiting to go home. Either way, sometimes it could feel like forever.  She paused a moment, watching Sooraya. The young woman had had a rough few months. It hadn't really been that long since she had escaped Attilan and Sayyid, only to be subjected to this. There were so many of them, Maddie, Sooraya, Molly, Layla...children who had no place in a place like this yet the Genoshans saw fit to bring them into it for leverage. To get them to cooperate. It disgusted her

"Hi," Jean said, managing a soft smile.

The young Afghani looked up from where she was fishing something things from both cooler and boxes and lining them up. "Hi, Dr. Grey..."  She smiled back at her teacher and now also her teammate... Teammate... that was still a strange thing to think of one of her teachers. "Was there something I can help with... I was just looking if I could make something different then sandwiches. I know it's hot outside, but I think we'll all like something like some warm soup." She quickly looked around pulling over a few of the water bottles, the camping thingie and the single pot they only had so they could heat some water.   

"Soup sounds great," Jean said, her smile widening a bit. She leaned against the counter, or rather, the frame of one. The kitchen was half finished, having been one of the many thing the condo owners didn't agree on. Therefore it had some cabinets but no countertops. They were lucky to have electrical wiring in some places.

"I'm fine, just making the rounds," she said. She was used to it, and felt somewhat responsible for making sure everyone was okay. She had to make up for having to leave her team behind in the citadel. But they were alive. They needed hostages, bargaining chips. She knew she had to focus on the people around her.

"How are you?"

"I think I am well as I can be under the circumstances. I have gotten very lucky I am not hurt and I haven't been in prison for several days. I am very worried for everyone and even scared, but I am managing." She had opened the package of the camping cooking thingie in the meantime and frowned at it quizzically. "This makes no sense." She muttered softly as she pulled on one of the metal prongs.

A few seconds later she paused though and looked up at Dr. Grey. "This..."  With her hand she indicated Genosha all around her. "This is big, isn't it? I haven't been able to read everything in the team files, but I haven't seen any mention of something like this." She explained in a very soft voice. "When I was out there with Artie and Mr. Beaubier I didn't really think about it much, but now..."    

Jean glanced away, staring out the window nearby. "Yes, it is," she said quietly. She wasn't going to lie. She didn't want to. Knowledge was important. It kept them from getting captured.

She didn't know what to tell her. She wanted to say just the right words, something that would rally her on, inspire all of them, but right now she was afraid. Afraid for her children. Afraid for her teammates, her friends. Afraid for her husband. The fear had trickled in, but her anger was also giving it a run for its money. And right now she chose to hold onto that anger, because fear would only hold her back and keep her from getting the job done.

"Do you need some help?" she said, nodding to the contraption she was trying to set up.

Sooraya fiddled with the thing a few more moments, but finally admitted defeat. "And they claim it's easy to use..."  She looked up at the red headed doctor. "Maybe we can figure it out together?"  She held out the metal thing for inspection. "I think we have to fold out those legs somehow, but they seem to be stuck."  

Tilting her head, Jean examined the portable campfire stand. She reached out to tug on it, squinting.  "Hmmm. Regardless, this is meant for outside. We should probably try this on the patio once we get it working. I think the rain is starting to let up."

As they fiddled with the camping burner, Sooraya hesitantly glanced up at her teacher. "Dr. Grey... I know it's not really my place to ask, but are you okay? I have seen you so busy looking after everyone else..."  

Jean stared at the stand leg for a few moments before glancing over.  "I will be. Once we're home. But for now...I'm going to take care of my people," she said, smiling softly.  To make sure they get home.

The young Afghani accepted the reply with a nod and a smile back, but she didn't say anything. With some more work they finally managed to get one of the leg extended. "It would be easier if we just could built a campfire. John has a lighter and he would have it burning in just a few moments. I have cooked above those often enough..."  Sooraya looked up and smiled mischievously, venturing forward with a small joke. "Maybe he can just hold the fire in one hand and hold the pot above it with the other hand?"   

Jean laughed. "Unfortunately I think if the neighbors saw that might defeat the purpose of low profile," she said, then nodded affirmatively. She smiled a bit broader.

"This'll work. We'll make it work. And there will be soup for all."

Sooraya also had to chuckle a few times and looked over the ingredients she had managed to find. Not the ingredients she was used to, but she'd manage. "The soup might be a little... strange, but there will be soup."  

"It's the thought that counts," Jean grinned. "I think everyone's hungry enough that as long as its edible it'll probably work."

"And if they complain..." Sooraya threw a little smile back as she removed a knife and something she could use as a cutting board from somewhere. "I am not standing in their way to do better..."

"Take it or leave it," Jean smirked with a firm nod. She reached out to gently put her hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks for putting this together."

"I am happy to do so. It feels better just to be busy and I hope some hot food will cheer people up a little..." Sooraya ducked her head and blushed a little.   

"Distractions help," Jean said, glancing behind her. She could hear the others talking in the background. "And anything that feels like home."

"Hopefully we'll be there soon again and then I can fix us a really good pot of soup."

Jean smiled. "I'd like that," she said. She nodded toward the patio doors. "In the meantime, however, shall we head outside?"

Sooraya nodded and gathered up what she needed, ingredients, water bottle, makeshift cutting board and knife... "If you can get the camping burner thingie?"  

Picking up the portable campfire stand, Jean nodded. "Got it," she said. The doors slid open for them.

"That is very handy." Sooraya's eyes twinkled a little as she carried her things through the patio doors. She set them down in a handy spot and quickly pulled out a knife and her makeshift cutting board and started chopping. "I think I also put a lighter or some matches in that pot, but otherwise we'll have to pickpocket John, I think..."  

Setting down the portable campfire, Jean rummaged around until she found the book of matches. "Got it," she said with a smile.

"I'll get the fire started, then you can put the soup on to boil."