Jean and Cece | A Tough Goodbye

[xp_reyes]

With her plans to leave the mansion set in motion, Cecilia says a goodbye to Jean that Xorn-logic makes about as tough as expected.

This goodbye was going to be a tough one, and mostly for reasons that Cecilia couldn't vocalize.

In the fourteen years since she'd first come to Xavier's, Jean Grey — some version of Jean Grey, anyway — had taught Cecilia so much. About medicine, about mutants, about genetics. But also about the burden of powers and, ultimately, about self-sacrifice.

That last lesson, the one that was so important, wasn't a thing that Cecilia could thank Jean Grey for. She never had, and now, with her departure from the mansion imminent (though hardly final; if she'd learned anything, it was that exits from Xavier's were never final), it would have been the perfect time.

Instead, she'd focus on what she could say. That this Jean had been a good friend, a fantastic doctor and a reliable colleague. And she'd try her best not to cry, too.

"Knock knock," she said, standing in front of Jean's door. "Got a minute?"

Jean glanced up from her book. She'd been so engrossed in it that she hadn't even noticed Cecilia coming.

"Sure," she said with a smile, then tilted her head.

"Something wrong?"

She had a weighted pause to her. Like something heavy was on her shoulders.

"No, actually," Cecilia smiled as she entered. "Well, maybe, yes, but I think I'm fixing it." She crossed over and took a seat on the nearest chair. The smile didn't fade. "I'm not sure how surprising this will be, but it is all kind of sudden." She folded her hands in her lap. "I'm leaving."

Jean sat up a little taller in her chair, eyebrows raised.

"Wait. Like..leaving leaving?" she said.

"Yup." Cecilia shrugged. It was nice to know she could still surprise people. "Leaving leaving. Moving out."

Leaning back, Jean sat there for a couple of moments.

"Oh. What brought this on?" she said.

After their year there was quite the array to choose from.

"Oh God," Cecilia groaned a little, then put her hands to her face. "You're not going to believe this, because, honestly, it's ridiculous, but..." She peeked out from behind her makeshift hiding place. "Quentin."

Jean's face fell blank. No, it was stuck, stuck in utter confusion. It was Cece's reaction that did it.

"Please do not tell me you two are running off together. I've already had enough weird this year."

"Oh God," Cecilia wrinkled her nose. "No." She raised an eyebrow. "God no. That'd be — don't even really know how that would happen." She shook her head. "No, it's kind of — well, it's not a long story, but the details aren't important. But honestly, I've been feeling a little... well, restless, I guess? And I think when it comes down to it, I can do so much more out there then I can in here." She shrugged again. "I'm better out there than I am here, I think."

Jean's shoulders slumped in relief when Cecilia denied it. She rose, slipping her hands into her pockets.

"I know you've done a lot here. But I know what it's like to be restless. Can't fault you there," she said, offering her a soft smile.

"So what are you going to do? Traveling world saver?"

Cecilia shook her head. "Nothing so grand," she said. "I'm sticking around - just moving into the city. New York Presbyterian needed a trauma surgeon. Or Cornell needed a teacher. Either way, they needed someone, especially a black Afro-Latina who knows more than a few things about complicated surgeries on mutants. Turns out all those years here were good for something."

Jean laughed. "New York could definitely use more of all of those. I think you'll fit in well at either. You'll have them whipped into shape in no time."

Cecilia smiled. "I hope so." Her smile faded a little. "I don't know," she admitted, "I'm a little worried. I mean, surgery's a ball-busting profession, and I haven't worked at a hospital in years. They're already going to resent me for not being one of them. And a mutant expert to boot?" She shrugged. "I dunno."

"Give them time. And if it doesn't work out you'll figure something else out." Jean said with a smile.

"I recommend a caffeine IV drip."

"I'll give it a shot," Cecilia laughed. "No pun intended, either." She grinned. "That one really just worked out." She broke eye contact, looking at the room around her for a few seconds. "I'll miss this place," she admitted. "I didn't — I mean, the last time, you know, I was so glad to get out of here, but this time... I don't know. It feels so different now."

Jean glanced around. "The place does grow on you," she said, then shook her head.

"You can always come visit. Door's always open. But I get needing to get out and spread your wings too."

"Don't think I'll be back for a while," Cecilia said. "Although I guess you never know. But it's probably best I keep a distance for a while. Let you all run the medlab as you see fit."

Jean laughed. "We'll try our best," she said. Glancing down, she smiled.

"I'm going to miss you."

“Oh, Jean.” Cecilia gave the other woman a warm smile in return. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you around all the time. Honestly. I mean, aside from your being a brilliant doctor, you’ve just been such an amazing friend. And someone I could really count on through, you know.” She waved a hand. “Everything.”

Jean stared at Cecilia a moment, then looked away, her smile widening. "Thanks. You've been amazing friend too. And colleague. It'll be strange not having you here to commiserate with whenever something weird happens," she said, letting out a laugh.

"In fact I'm kind of jealous of you now."

"Are you?" Cecilia was a bit surprised. "Don't be. I'm going to have to pay my own rent again."

Jean laughed. "Fair enough. I'm jealous that you might be getting away from the weird. It'd be nice to go a few months without something blow up."

"Things blow up everywhere," Cecilia reminded her. "Smaller scale, but it still happens. It'll just be less weird, I think. And less personal. And I'll get to leave it at the office for the first time in years."

Jean held up a hand, tutting her. "Just let me have my fantasy moment," she said with a smirk that widened into a warm smile, holding open her arms for a hug.

"Don't be a stranger. Send me an email every once and awhile so I know you're okay?"

"Of course." Cecilia moved into Jean's embrace, clasping the other woman tightly. "And same to you. Take care of yourself, Jean Grey."

Jean hugged Cecilia for a couple of moments, then finally pulled away, wiping her eyes. Greys were never good at goodbyes.

"Yeah, you too."