[Kurt, Madelyn] Fairy Tales Can Come True

[x-madelyn.livejournal.com]

Late Monday night/early Tuesday morning, Kurt heads down to the medlab with donuts and sandwiches for the doctors. Moira's been sent upstairs to sleep, it's Hank's night off, and Madelyn is on duty. She endures the hellacious wait for a fresh cup of coffee with what turns out to be wonderful company. Kurt and Madelyn find something in common, though it's not something Madelyn tends to publicise about herself.


Kurt slipped down to the medlab kitchen with a tray of sandwiches, freshly made and wrapped, as well as fruit and a box of donuts. It was standard fare down there and Kurt liked to make sure there was plenty to eat when the medical staff was under strain. He stored the sandwiches in the fridge and then began to clean out the coffee maker to start a fresh pot, humming softly to himself.

Madelyn looked in on Amanda and Manuel, checking the monitors for their vitals. Everything was normal, or as normal as could be expected, for two young mutants such as they were. She headed to the kitchenette for some coffee, desperately in need of caffeine, and was surprised to see a fuzzy blue man standing there, and not the one she was familiar with. "Hello?" she asked quietly, checking the cupboard for her mug.

Kurt looked over his shoulder to see one of the doctors, the blonde woman. "Doctor Bartlett? If you would like coffee, I was just washing the coffee maker out. It was looking a little questionable and I thought a fresh pot might be in order." He began assembling the coffee maker and, flicking the towel over with his tail, drying it off.

Madelyn smiled and pulled her mug down from the cupboard: green, with the Montefiore logo emblazoned on the front. "You're lucky it's not a pot of Moira's muck. She'd be mortally offended that you'd called it questionable. I think she thinks it's better when it's aged."

Kurt chuckled at that and shook his head. "It was trying to escape, I just helped it along," he defended himself. He got things set up and started the coffee brewing. "If you're hungry, there's fresh sandwiches in the fridge or there's a box of donuts on the counter over here." He reached over for the box and put it closer to her.

Madelyn's expression went from amusement to craving instantly upon the mention of donuts. "Donuts," she cooed, and put her mug back on the counter. "Ooh, donuts." After selecting a suitably sugar-coated donut and taking a large bite out of it, she gave Kurt a sugary smile. "Thank you. You're a Godsend."

Kurt's cheeks warmed and he gave Madelyn a shy smile. "I would not be so forward as to call myself that, Doctor. I'm just trying to help a little and I know that most doctors run on caffiene and refinined carbohydrates." He busied himself washing some of the other dishes that had accumulated since the last time anyone had been able to do the washing-up.

Madelyn took another bite of the donut and, after swallowing the sugary-sweet goodness, smiled and said, "Well, you've helped me a lot, just by bringing donuts. Donuts are fabulous."

"I'll make sure to remember for next time," Kurt promised. "I'm rather fond of them myself. I have a sweet tooth. Well, several, really," he confessed. "I blame it on a high metabolism, but I expect it's really lack of willpower."

"Mm, for me it's definitely a matter of willpower. My mother always used to say if it weren't that I forget to eat so often, I'd be huge from all the donuts I do eat," Madelyn said with a laugh.

"I notice that people do that around here," Kurt said, putting away the mugs he'd just dried. "Forget to eat, that is. It is a poor habit. No offense," he said apologetically, looking over at Madelyn. "It is just that we should take care of ourselves in order to make the most of what we are, or so I believe. God blessed me with a special form, I like to keep it in good working order for him, should he need me to use it on his behalf."

Madelyn shrugged off any imagined slight. "God blessed me with a brain that remembers obscure medical facts, but doesn't remind me to eat when I need to," she said with a grin. "I try to keep up, but sometimes I slip. Usually when we've had a rush on the infirmary. The bag of Totino's Pizza Rolls in the freezer is mine, for when I remember to eat."

Kurt looked in the freezer and poked at the nearly solid lump in the bag. "I see," he said, eyeing the list of ingredients. "Perhaps some other foods in the freezer might be good too?" He snagged her coffee mug with his tail and pressed the 'hold' button on the coffee maker. "What do you take in your coffee, Doctor?"

"Madelyn, please. And just the barest splash of sugar in, please." Madelyn smiled and took a seat on the sofa. "I haven't had a chance to go grocery shopping lately, but I'll keep your suggestion in mind, when I do."

Kurt put a little sugar in her coffee, then poured himself a cup and brought both over. "I hope it is not too rude to ask how Amanda is. I was waiting for some official word, but..."

"We've been waiting, to do a public announcement, until Pete gives the okay. She's doing well. As well as can be expected. She'll wake up when her body -- and her mind -- have had enough rest. Based on what Pete and Emma said, I'm guessing a week or so," Madelyn said, sipping her coffee. "Mm, perfect. Thank you so much."

Kurt crossed himself quickly, ducking his head and murmuring, "Meine Seele preis die Grösse des Herrn, und mein Geist jubelt über Gott, meinen Retter." When he looked up, he smiled apologetically and reached for his coffee. "That's wonderful news, Madelyn. Thank you."

Madelyn didn't know German, but the cadence was familiar enough and she smiled. "From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, for he that is mighty hath done to me great things." She took a bite of her donut. "You're quite welcome."

"Und sein Name ist heilig, Amen," Kurt finished the verse, smiling brilliantly at Madelyn. "Do you speak German?" he asked shyly.

"Not even a little bit," Madelyn replied, slightly apologetic. She took a sip of her coffee and offered, "but some things sound the same, no matter the language."

"Indeed," Kurt agreed, glancing up at her before drinking a little coffee. "Then you are Catholic? Or a student of religion?" He looked up at her from under his lashes, hardly daring to feel hopeful. There were few people in the house who took their faith nearly as seriously as he did and the rest, he felt, deemed him naive and even deficient for his convictions.

"Catholic," Madelyn said, smiling. "My family wouldn't allow anything else, even if I'd wanted it. We tend to be quiet about it, but it's obvious when you look. We've married too many Kennedys not to be Catholic," she said with a laugh. "And one of my cousins on my mother's side is a priest."

Kurt nodded. "I see. I am not so quiet about it." He ran a finger along the scars on his cheek. "Then again, when you look like I do, it is hard to be discrete about anything at all. I have little to lose by being open about my faith. Besides, it gives me such strength, it would be an insult to God to deny it. I know I make people uncomfortable, I do not mean to do so but..." He shrugged and gave her that same sweet, apologetic smile.

Madelyn shook her head. "It's my family's choice to be quiet about our belief and it's yours to be open. I think it stems from the days when we were persecuted, in England, but it works well for us now. We're raised to Believe and to dedicate our lives to His service, each in our own way."

"It sounds like you do not resent that too much, that you have been raised that way. And you became a doctor, and a good one, or else you would not work here." He tilted his head, looking at her curiously, remembering that someone had said she was human.

"Not at all," she said with a shrug. "I've always wanted to study medicine. My cousin Diane always wanted to be a teacher. Even Joe, who plays saxophone in a jazz band, donates lessons on weekends to children at the children's hospital near him."

"That's good to hear. It sounds like you have a wonderful family." He kept any envy out of his voice, though the idea of belonging to a family of many children, all teachers and doctors and even musicians, all raised in the Church, seemed something of a fairy tale to him.

Madelyn nodded and smiled, taking another drink of her coffee. "They are. I'm immensely grateful to them. Medical school, my time with the FBI... I can't imagine that being possible without them."

"May I ask..." Kurt paused, always uncertain about prying. "Why did you come to work at the school?" He was curious about her, curious about whether someone like her might be friends with someone like him.

"I wanted to..." Madelyn stopped, trying to decide how to say it without sounding like a bigot. "I wanted to learn about mutant physiology, so that I could develop some kind of standard emergency medical procedures for mutants. The physiology varies so much, though... It seems as though each case might be unique. I'm still trying."

"That would be a good thing," Kurt said thoughtfully, looking at Madelyn. She was lovely, in a refined, American way, the classic blonde hair and blue eyes and willowy form that they seemed to prize so much. "Even if all you do find out is that each of us is unique, you will save lives by reducing the ignorance that plagues the medical community right now, just by proving that we are not all alike and what will save one will kill another."

Madelyn nodded, smiling happily. "That's what I'm hoping, anyway. Being here has taught me so much about medicine. It's been wonderful. The people have been wonderful, too." That said, she decided to add Kurt to the list of wonderful people. He was obviously a kind man, a thoughtful man, and she wanted to get to know him better.

"It is a good place," Kurt agreed. "I have not felt so comfortable anywhere since the Munich Circus. I am fortunate that Professor Xavier decided to ask me to come here and gave me this opportunity to learn and teach. I do not think he is a religious man, but I am certain that God approves of his work, and that makes being here even better."

Madelyn smiled. "The work they do here -- the work /you/ do here -- is amazing. I believe that the good that can be done here is more important, for me, than anything I could have done, had I remained with the FBI."

She was beautiful, not lovely. And her eyes flashed when she smiled and spoke with that crisp enthusiasm that permeated her entire demeanor when she was talking about what inspired her. Kurt's coffee was getting cold and he realized that he was probably looking at her too intently so he got up to reheat it. "We're fortunate that you're here to help us," he said eyes on the microwave.

Madelyn shook her head, laughing quietly. "Not at all. I'm lucky to be here. If I weren't here, Hank would take care of you in emergencies, just as he did this past winter, while I was gone. There would be no loss."

Kurt looked over at his shoulder at her, expression slightly incredulous. "I would argue that point very much," he said firmly, startling himself with his own boldness.

Now it was Madelyn who blushed. "I'm not all that special."

"I would argue that as well," Kurt said quietly. "Each of us has a gift that no person before, now, or yet to be, can offer." This was somewhat safer ground. "You were called to be here, there would be a loss if you didn't come. You know that."

Madelyn nodded, accepting his argument. "You're right, of course. And that's why I'm here. To offer my knowledge. To help."

Kurt smiled at her from across the room. "And we're fortunate that you're here," he reiterated, knowing she wouldn't argue with him this time.

Madelyn dipped her head, smiling. "Yes. I suppose you are."