Julian, Hope and Topaz & Tandy (backdated)

[xp_trance]

Julian, Hope and Topaz try to take care of Tandy a bit after Adrienne goes into a coma. 

'You turned the car off,' Julian reassured himself as he used his telekinesis to give himself a boost as he jumped from the foyer to the second floor landing. He'd resisted using his powers the entire drive home, stuck in gridlock as the city emptied into the suburbs, knowing that Tandy was hurting and that he could easily have just flown home if those in power weren't so damned bigoted. Tearing down the hallway, Julian stopped at the door to their suite, out of breath, and threw the door open. 

Tandy was sitting on the couch, eyes red, but staring into nothing. After her astral meeting with Adrienne it had hit her that Adri wasn't coming back. They wouldn't be having sushi luncheons anymore. Who would call her Starlight? She didn't even register that Julian had busted through the door. Or that Topaz was getting tea. Or that Hope was sitting next to her. 

Topaz was doing what she did best as an emotionally repressed British person - making tea - when Julian burst in. She didn't acknowledge his haggard entrance, nor did she miss a beat - she just grabbed another mug from the cabinet and started splitting the water between the now four cups that were out.

Hope did look up when the door suddenly banged open, one hand still resting on Tandy's shoulder. "Hi Julian." She greeted him quietly, gesturing him over and rising herself, ceding her place to him. She moved to the other side of Tandy though, perching on the arm, moving her hand to Tandy's other shoulder. 

She barely had time to get out of the way before Julian was there, throwing his arms around Tandy and pulling her toward him. "I'm so sorry, Bow," he realized that he was still breathing a bit heavy, and was probably a little sweaty. Harley was nearby, seemingly a bit startled after the lap she had been resting her head on was moved without her consent. 

"She was fine and then she wasn't. She was Reading everything, every dust particle that was in that room. I can only imagine the history in that building alone but to add thousands of other people, mutants and non in the same room? That is chaos." Tandy hugged Julian back before looking at her two friends, ones she would consider her best ones. "I don't know what to do."

Topaz brought the tea over, setting three mugs on the table and shoving the fourth into Tandy's hands. "Drink, to start," she said, sitting down on the other arm of the couch.

"And have a bite to eat in a bit and try to get some sleep later on." Hope stated confidently. "In a day or two you can talk with Professor or maybe Dr. McTaggert about what they have so far and what you can do." 

"Not hungry." Tandy whispered softly as she stared into the liquid that was just handed to her.

"Tandy," Julian reached up to touch her cheek with his clock-work hands. "You're in shock...I think you're supposed to eat, or...something." Nodding toward the cup, "Or at least drink, let it cool or whatever, but-" he turned to Hope raising an eyebrow. "Has she eaten anything?"

"Nothing yet." Hope shook her head briefly. "Topaz did put the wine away and made some tea, but anything else... no success. I will get some soup heated up if needed in a bit."

"Forcing her to eat won't do any good," Topaz pointed out. She didn't like talking about Tandy like she wasn't in the room. It felt weird.

Tandy looked at everyone, they were were going to make food but she really didn't want to eat. She leaned forward, one elbow on her leg and her head went into a hand, the tea mug was on her other leg. "The sad part is...I am more upset about this than my own mother's murder."

"Yeah, but your mother wasn't-" Julian winced and stopped himself before he finished the thought. "Tandy," he continued, hoping that she wouldn't ask him what he was about to say, "Ms Frost...Adrienne...I'm so sorry. I mean, really, really sorry, but please, you need to drink something at least." 

Tandy lifted the tea up to her lips and took a sip, Topaz knew how to make a mean cup of tea. "I am not even mad at the other guy who did this to her. He was just a mutant that wanted a meal. I have the worst luck when it comes to this kind of things."

"Tandy..." Hope tried to inject as much confidence in her voice as she could. "Adrienne will be better. You know how strong the minds are around here. After all we have seen... you have to believe they will find a way."

"Seriously, people have come back from the dead," Topaz added helpfully. "They can fix a coma."

"Yeah..." Julian looked between Topaz and Hope. Finally he turned his attention back to Tandy, draping his arm across her shoulders and giving her a reassuring squeeze. "She is a fantastically strong willed woman- probably where you get it from- if anyone can get through this, it's Adrienne Frost." 

Tandy nodded. She remembered all the bullshit she had to go with the lawyers when her parents died, that was something she didn't want to go through again. She finally looked up at the people around her, people she had known for years. "I am glad I have friends like you guys, some of my very best ones. Group hug." She pulled in Hope and Julian but still had room for a Topaz as she wiggled her fingers to lure in the other girl. 

If it had been anyone else, Topaz probably would have busied herself with the tea and pretended not to notice. But it was Tandy, so with only a little sigh, she allowed herself to be folded into the hug, and even returned it.

With Topaz in the fold, a tear fell on Tan's check. They were right, if she had died and come back to life, there was hope for Adrienne yet.