DISCLAIMER: in first part.
A Laying On Of Hands: Part Twelve
by Cascade
Waking in someone else's bed was not a regular occurrence for Sam Guthrie. It took him awhile to realize where he was. He laughed at himself for his inability to get to his own room. He looked down at Dana. She was murmuring something in her sleep, and a faint smile was on her face. He tried to pick up her words but they were too quiet. He thought that maybe she'd whispered his name, but that was probably wishful thinking.
He realized with a start that he'd never really seen her sleep before. All the times he'd stayed at her bedside, she'd been recovering from healing, or as was the case this last time, something very near a coma. In those cases she stayed very still. Her sleep, however, was not so quiet. She'd stopped talking now, but he felt her leg move next to his.
He didn't find it annoying. He found it fascinating. He studied her intently, and tried to figure out what she was dreaming about.
Dana awoke slowly. She felt more comfortable than she could ever remember being. Hearing the beat of Sam's heart under her ear reminded her why. She opened her eyes with a smile on her face, and looked up at Sam.
He smiled back at her.
"Good mornin'," he said quietly as he kissed her forehead.
"Mmm," She responded, snuggling as close as possible to him and pulling the blankets of her bed up to her chin.
He chuckled. "Cold?"
She nodded drowsily. Being totally relaxed did nothing to wake her up. Not that she was complaining. She was perfectly all right with the idea of lying here next to Sam forever. She started to pray for a temporal disturbance of some kind that would make that a possibility.
He shifted underneath her and rolled them both onto their sides so she'd get more of his body heat. It was a little chilly this morning. He reached to stroke her hair. His hand brushed her cold ear.
"You are cold," he acknowledged as he pulled the fluffy comforter over her head.
"Hey!" her exclamation was muffled by the thick blanket. "I can't see you." She tugged the comforter down below the level of her eyes.
He smiled and held her tight as he glanced at the clock. "We got a half an hour before the doc comes to give ya a check up."
"That gives us time to lock the door. I don't feel like having a freezing cold stethoscope stuck down my shirt," she grumbled.
He laughed. "What were ya dreamin' about this morning?"
She raised an eyebrow, but thought back trying to remember for him. She smiled when she had it. "You."
He smiled back and kissed her on the head again. "Ah love ya, Dana Hawkes."
It warmed her to hear him say it for the first time. "I love you too, Sam Guthrie."
McCoy knocked gently on the door to Dana's room.
"Come in."
He opened the door and was rather surprised to see Sam and Dana in bed together. He stood rather dumbfounded. He knew they were growing closer but he had no idea that their relationship had advanced this far. He was puzzled why they'd allow him in the room.
"Sorry Dana, time for me ta go," Sam apologized as he slipped away from Dana and out from under the covers. He bent down and kissed her, and slipped on his shoes. "She's all yours, Doc."
Hank nodded and approached Dana as his mind whirled. Hank ran through the implications as he began to examine Dana. *Do I have to tell anyone? No, they're both of legal age. Should I tell anyone?* Sam had been clothed, so it could have been perfectly innocent cuddling, but after such a long time of being separated, there was bound to be some sexual tension that wanted relieving. He sighed. *To think I sent her to her room to take it easy and not get too excited.* He was interrupted by Dana's exclamation of alarm that was collected almost entirely by the stethoscope currently in his ears and amplified.
"Geez Hank! Do you really have to store that thing in the freezer!?"
*I'll think more carefully about this, after my ears stop ringing,* he thought as he winced.
Dana gripped the headboard of her bed and pushed herself up to a standing position. Her legs were shaking from two weeks of inactivity but it felt so good to be on her feet again. She glanced at Hank who stood by her side to help steady her.
"How do you feel?" he asked her.
"Great. Can I get dressed and go down to eat breakfast now?"
"I think that would be hasty and inadvisable, Dana," he reprimanded. "I think we should ascertain your ability to walk first."
Dana nodded and sighed. She took a shaky step forward, and then another. She reached out to the desk for support. "Okay, I can walk. Toss me that pair of jeans over there."
Hank snorted. "If you think I'm going to let you go DOWN STAIRS to breakfast after taking two steps, you are sorely mistaken!"
She folded her arms and glared at him. "Well, what will it take?"
He pursed his lips and glanced around the room looking for a difficult task. He smiled as his eyes came to rest on her closet where her jeans were hanging. The closet was clear across the good-sized room, and there were few hand-holds.
"If you can get your jeans and come back, on your feet, I will be sufficiently impressed."
Dana squared her shoulders. "All right then." She clenched her jaw and took slow steps towards the closet. Sam had been conspicuously absent lately. The only way she was going to be able to see him for any length of time, would be to be given permission to walk. She was not going to let Hank keep her from seeing Sam.
She reached the closet and pulled her jeans and a T-shirt roughly from their hangers. *Halfway...* Her head was swimming a bit.
She turned stiffly and returned to Hank's side, slowly. She stood next to him and smiled smugly. "I guess I should be getting dressed now."
"No points for style, but I guess a promise is a promise. I just want to put in on record that I am very much opposed to you attempting stairs at this juncture."
Dana nodded as she zipped up the fly. "Isn't that what you said about Sam visiting me for long periods of time?"
"Why... I... uh... I don't know what you mean."
Dana rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt to backpedal. "I asked Sam why he didn't come visit me as much anymore, and he said you said that it wasn't good for me." She paused, considering. "Now why in the world would you say something like that? You know I feel better when he's around." "
I felt you would get more rest without him here to distract you."
Dana snorted derisively. "That's a load of crap. Why don't you want him with me, really?"
"He was beginning to neglect his chores and health."
She nodded. That would do for now, but she intended to get the real answer eventually.
Dana gripped the banister of the staircase with white knuckles. She was almost to the bottom but she could feel her thighs tremble with exhaustion. She took a deep breath, and took another step down.
She brought her back foot down to the lower step and slid her hand down the banister a bit. This was taking longer than it should.
#Don't get impatient or you'll misstep.# Jean's voice entered her mind and she jumped a little. She clung to the banister until she was sure she wasn't going to fall down the steps, and then glanced up at Jean who was watching her progress from the hall.
*Don't startle me when I'm in a precarious position, Jean,* she thought at Jean as she attempted the next step. *I'm really not into going down steps head-first.*
#Sorry about that.# Jean frowned as she watched Dana's slow progress. #Are you sure you're ready to be up and about? You feel a little tired.#
Dana glanced at her again. *I feel great,* she replied unenthusiastically. She increased her mental shielding to make it a little harder for Jean to tell just how tired she was. *'Sides, it was getting boring up in my room without any company. Do you know anything about that?* she asked as she finally made it down to the bottom step.
#About what?# Jean asked sincerely.
*Hank's kept Sam down to 15 minute, mostly supervised, visiting periods. It's really weird. It was like he didn't trust us all of a sudden.*
#Sorry, I hadn't heard about that. I haven't been privy to the latest gossip, but I was wondering why I saw more of Sam lately.# She chuckled mentally as she came over to help Dana to the kitchen. #I'll ask Hank about it if you like.#
*That'd be great. I think he's reluctant to reveal his reasons to us for some reason.*
"There she is!"
"How ya feelin', kid?"
"I wondered when Hank would let you down here."
Dana smiled at the greetings from the others. It felt nice to be around this many people again. She took a seat at the table next to Sam, who took her hand in his and kissed her cheek. "Glad yer up and around, Dana." He said quietly to her.
Her gaze caught on Hank's face. He looked a bit uncomfortable when Sam had kissed her. He glanced quickly to Scott. She frowned and followed his eyes. The leader of the X-Men was looking at she and Sam a little disapprovingly. He changed his expression to a noncommittal smile as he caught Dana watching him. *What's going on here?* Dana thought to herself as she accepted a pitcher of juice being passed to her by Sam.
"I think I figured out what's going on," Jean told Dana as she helped her back up to her room.
"Well?" Dana asked impatiently.
"Hank, Scott, and a few of the others are under the impression you two are sleeping together," Jean said timidly.
Dana paused and considered that. "Hank has a bigger mouth than I figured him for." She glanced at Jean's shocked impression.
"But I could have sworn you hadn't..."
"We didn't. Well, we slept together but we didn't SLEEP together. Hank came in as Sam got out of bed," she explained. "Hank told Scott? I didn't think it was really that much of the team's business."
"It's not." A masculine voice intruded on their conversation.
Dana looked up in surprise to see Cable at the top of the stairs. Her cheeks flushed a little red at the thought that her conversation had been overheard by her boyfriend's mentor of all people.
"I'm sorry, I accidentally overheard, but it isn't any of their business."
Jean cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I think Scott felt that it would put a stress on their working relationship if they got too far in their personal relationship and had a falling out."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "They're consenting adults. Scott can mind his own flonqing business and let them make their own mistakes."
Jean frowned. *I hate playing referee between you and Scott, Nathan,* She thought to herself. *If you would just both grow up and...* Her thoughts were interrupted by Dana's next comment.
"Uh, does anyone here care that we didn't do anything?" Dana asked as she hauled herself up to the next step.
"That's not the point. The point is that it shouldn't matter. It's between you and Sam." Nathan said.
Dana frowned. It sounded as if she and Sam's personal life had just become an ethics debate for the entire mansion. "Umm, speaking of Sam, since this is his concern as well, shouldn't we include him in further discussions of this topic. Not that I want there to be any further discussion."
Nathan gave her a hand up to the top step. "Good point. I'll go get him."
Dana groaned and made her way to her room with the help of Jean. "I don't suppose you could just make everyone forget..." Dana asked hopefully of Jean.
"Sorry. I'm not supposed to do that kind of thing unless absolutely necessary." Jean groaned inwardly as she thought about the confrontation that could result between Scott and Nathan over the issue. "Although that possibility hasn't been ruled out.."
"Look, I'll break up with Sam if it means I don't have to hear a "birds 'n' bees" lecture. Despite being locked in my room I got those. I don't think I could take it if I got one from a member of the team. How come everybody's being so overprotective about this anyway?"
"You're everybody's little sister. They all love you and they want to protect you from getting hurt, or having to deal with the consequences of your actions."
"But how come they automatically assumed..."
"Because all the men here remember what it was like to be Sam's age."
"Scott? Can I talk to you?" Dana asked, peering around the doorway of the library. Jean had told Dana she would be able to find him here. Jean and Dana had decided that a one on one discussion with Scott would accomplish more than some other options brought up in the discussion, and it would keep Scott and Nathan out of direct conflict, which was a very big plus as far as Jean was concerned.
Scott turned away from a bookshelf and looked at her, startled. "I thought I told you to go back up to your room. You don't have the strength to be walking around all day."
"I'll go up there as soon as I get an answer from you. Can we talk?" She took a few steps into the room and leaned on the back of an armchair.
He nodded and she moved around the chair to take a seat in it as he moved to take a seat opposite her. "So, what is it you need to talk about?"
"Sam and I spent all night in my room the other night. I am assuming from recent restrictions placed on his visits that some members of the team disapprove. I was wondering if you knew any way to get those restrictions lifted."
Scott studied her carefully. She was composed and businesslike. *She acts as if she were asking to open a checking account, not asking to be given the opportunity to... well...* He stopped that thought.
"I'm sorry, I think that the 'restrictions' are perfectly within reason. You are still very weak and I feel, as does Hank, that late-night... visits are not conductive to the healing process."
Dana raised an eyebrow and sighed. It wasn't going to be quite as easy as the scenario she'd envisioned in her head. She was stubborn, though. Scott wasn't going to win this without a fight. She prepared her next statement and was about to speak when she saw Scott's attention pulled internal.
#Scott, you're being a jerk, darling,# Jean admonished him sweetly. #She's not your daughter. You don't want that responsibility and you haven't been given it. Your only responsibility is for her training, and her ability to perform as a team member.#
*Exactly. This sort of thing can be a distraction. Especially if something goes wrong,* Scott replied. *Her training is difficult enough for her, without adding additional stresses.*
#Am I a distraction? I thought we were going to have children. Will that interfere too much with the team?# There was fire in Jean's mental voice.
*No! That's completely different!*
Jean sighed and her tone turned gentle again. #Scott, the only differences are that they're not married, and they're not doing anything. He fell asleep while he was waiting for her to drift off. It's sweet and perfectly innocent. As for them being not married I don't see you ever jumping on Remy's case.#
*They didn't do anything?* Scott looked rather surprised.
#Honey, give them some credit. They've both got good heads on their shoulders. It is possible to overcome adolescent hormones.#
Scott frowned and focused his attention back on Dana. "I guess I owe you an apology," he said quietly.
Dana's eyes went wide. It was going to be easy as easy as she hoped it would be, but she knew who was responsible. *Thanks Jean.*
#My pleasure. He can be a little stubborn sometimes. I just needed to beat some sense into him.#
"Oh, crap," Dana mumbled as she went tumbling backwards. She'd been unprepared for the punch she'd just been on the receiving end of. She hit the ground hard, but managed to turn the majority of her momentum into a roll. She rolled over her shoulder like a volleyball player and ended back up on her feet in time to see Cannonball slam into her former opponent and send him crashing into a wall.
"Ya OK?" he asked as he flew back by her.
"Just a little dizzy." She smiled at him.
He looked off into another area of the room for a moment before looking back at her. "Ah think ya might be needed somewhere else." He picked her up and flew her to the other end of the Danger Room where a mutant with an ability much like Cyclops was harassing Gambit. The mutant had Gambit pinned behind shelter. Cannonball dropped her quietly behind the mutant. She crouched unseen for a moment, considering her options, and than lunged at the mutant's arm. The mutant's power was abruptly interrupted and out of the corner of her eye she saw Gambit come out from cover and prepare a card. Still holding on to his arm, she managed to turn the mutant around so he'd be unable to renew the attack on Gambit. Then she dived away from him as one of Gambit's playing cards hit him in the back.
Gambit stood and inclined his head to her in thanks, and then departed at a trot to find another opponent.
Dana got quickly to her feet and glanced up to see Cannonball dispatch two more of the simulated opponents and then turn back to her.
"One left," he said as he touched down next to her.
Dana glanced behind him and watched as Gambit took care of the last man with a few well placed cards. "None left," she corrected, but she knew better than to let her guard down. She waited until the Danger Room returned to it's normal state before letting herself relax. Learning that particular lesson had earned her more than a few bruises.
"All right, people, good job." Scott's voice emanated from a speaker in the wall as the room emptied of its artificial participants.
Sighing, Dana let herself slump to the floor. Sam tossed her a towel and she wiped her flushed face with it as Scott entered the room.
Scott nodded approvingly. They had done well, but there was always something to improve on. Scott began to point out a few things as Sam knelt down next to Dana to listen.
Almost unconsciously, Dana covered Sam's hand with hers, instantly healing any bruises earned during the exercise and and dispelling his fatigue. Scott flashed her a disapproving glance. According to Scott she was 'spoiling' Sam. She shrugged at Scott slightly and removed her hand.
Scott's lecture ended and Dana struggled a little to get up on knees slippery with sweat and legs weak with exhaustion. Sam finally gave her a hand up and they started out towards the exit together.
Scott stopped her with a tap on her shoulder. "Dana, could you stay here for a moment?"
Dana cringed a little at the words and looked longingly at the door. Those particular words were usually followed by extra workout time. Sam bid her goodbye with a knowing glance and she was left alone with Scott.
She turned slowly to face him. "Okay... what did I mess up this time?"
He grinned at her. "Nothing actually. Don't get me wrong... you can always improve..." He grinned again as she rolled her eyes at the oft-uttered phrase. "but actually you looked pretty good out there today."
"Then why am I still here?" She looked at him pleadingly. "Please don't say I need a solo session! The workout we just had was a marathon! I don't think another one would accomplish anything."
He chuckled. "I know you're tired. Actually I asked you to stay because I wanted to talk to you." He took a seat on a bench against the wall and Dana took a seat next to him. "Why are you still here?" he asked conversationally.
She blinked in surprise, taken off guard for a moment. "Well... because I want to join the team."
He considered her reply. "Why?" he asked bluntly. "You'd probably be the most vulnerable person on the team. You'd be in danger almost every day. You'd be on call at any time any day. It would be very hard to go to college, get a job, or have a normal life outside of the team."
"Scott, why would I want anything else? You guys are a family to me. Without you guys it'd just be me and Marc, and frankly, I don't think he wants that responsibility."
"We'd allow you to stay here even if you weren't on the team. Why would you be willing to possibly sacrifice your life when you could just stay at home?"
She looked at him seriously for a moment. "Because I'm a mutant. I think all of us, humans included, that believe in the Professor's dream have an obligation to work towards it. This is the best way I know how. I want to help. I know I can make a difference."
Scott nodded his head. "I figured you'd feel that way."
"Why are you asking?"
"Because I think you need to make that decision. You've reached a point in your training where the team would be benefited by your presence."
Dana looked at him wide-eyed. "Really? I can join the team, get a uniform and a code name and everything?"
"Yes."
"When?" She was glowing with excitement.
"Well, we've all devised a little test for you first..."
She looked unamused. She knew that Scott's tests usually ended up with her getting the crap beat out of her. "What kind of test?"
"Well, starting tomorrow morning we'll be giving you a series of surprise attacks for a week. Meaning anyone could attack you at anytime."
"What!?" She rose from her seat in shock.
"It's the only area that is nearly impossible to work on in the Danger Room. I've watched you. Once you come into the Danger Room you're prepared for anything, but once you leave you're off guard again. That's not a good habit to get into."
"I'm not liking the sound of this."
"I've established a few guidelines. Your room is off limits... You're allowed to ask them if they're going to attack or not and they can't lie when they answer. You're allowed to surrender..."
"And I've gotta go through this before you'll let me join?"
He nodded.
She looked at him unhappily and folded her arms across her chest. "Fine." She sighed and slumped back onto the bench. "I have a feeling this is not going to be a good week."