What the Cat Dragged In

Hi Everyone!

I know this has taken forever. I hate the fact that real life intervenes so much sometimes. Also I realized this chapter was getting insanely long (even for me) so I decided to split it into two. Hopefully the next update won't take quite as long to come out.

As always, you guys are the best ever! All the reviews, alerts and just knowing people are reading and enjoying makes my day in ways I can't even begin to describe.

Enjoy!
Psyche b

22. Scars...

Kelly looked up at Victor, afraid that if she took her eyes off of him that he would disappear and she would be back in the darkness that had held her captive for so long. His mutton chops were connected by a rough growth of stubble. She should see the exhaustion etched around his eyes.

“You look like you haven't slept in days.” Her own voice sounded strange to her. The gravelly feeling in her throat took a moment to hit her.

He grinned down at her. “Thanks. Wanna tell me how bad I smell now?”

“Maybe in a few minutes.” She smiled and immediately winced.

Concern flashed across his face. “You in pain?”

She nodded slowly. “Everything hurts.”

The door opened quickly and Kelly jumped, cowering against Victor's chest. He held her tighter. She vaguely recognized the blue doctor that rushed in as the one who had promised not to let her die, but the other man was a stranger to her. She recognized a look of shock when she saw it though.

“Miss Demmer?” The doctor said.

Kelly nodded. “Sorry, I don't remember your name.”

He smiled and squatted down in front of her. “Quite understandable. Dr. Henry McCoy.” He turned on a small light and raised it to her eyes. Kelly pushed it away.

“Can't I at least have a glass of water first? I feel like I've been swallowing sand.”

McCoy kept his eyes on her. “Logan, water please.”

The other man disappeared into a small bathroom and emerged with a paper cup of water. The longer she looked at him, the more Kelly was reminded of Victor. He was staring as he held the water out to her. Kelly held those intensely curious eyes, but didn't reach out to take the water. Victor held her a little tighter and took the cup. Kelly relaxed against him.

“This is my brother, Jimmy.” He held the cup to her lips. “Usually he ain't mute.”

He tilted the cup slowly. Cool water drained into her mouth and down her throat in a heavenly river. She doubted anything had ever felt so good. A tremor of pleasure coursed through her. For a minute, what he said didn't register. When it did, the water was still far more important to her.

“Brother?” she asked when he took the cup away from her lips.

“Didn't tell her about me?” Jimmy or Logan or whoever he was didn't take his eyes off of her.

Victor gave a little shrug and a cold smile. “You ain't been on my mind lately, Runt.”

“Could you two continue this discussion somewhere else, please?” McCoy sounded annoyed.

“Jimmy can. I'm not goin' anyplace.” Victor's arms tightened around her. It was the protective side of him coming through. Kelly wanted nothing more than to sink into those arms and hide there for the next few months. She knew there would be time for that later.

“I'd prefer to have a few minutes alone with Miss Demmer.” McCoy's eyes were fixed on Victor.

“Why?” Victor's anger was rising now.

“Because she's my patient and she's just made a nearly miraculous recovery. I need to examine her.”

Kelly stroked her forehead against his cheek. “Victor, I'll be okay.”

He returned the gesture, only with more vigor. She moved with him. “You sure frail?”

She managed a little smile. “If you'll come back.”

He grinned. “Take more than all of these assholes put together to keep me away.” He held her close and got up, depositing her carefully on the bed. Kelly arranged the blanket around herself so that she could move.

Victor turned to McCoy. “It's late. You got half an hour, no more.” He turned to her. “I'm gonna find a shower, frail.” Kelly nodded and watched him and his brother leave the room. Victor gave her one last look before he closed the door.

She looked at McCoy. “What time is it?”

“A little after ten. Do you know how long you've been here?” He turned the light on and moved it in front of her eyes again. This time, she didn't stop him.

“I don't know. It must be a long time because I don't hurt nearly as much as I did when I got here.” He grasped her wrist and found her pulse. While she waited, Kelly started to rotate her ankles and stretch her toes. The ache was deep in her bones, but at least she could move. He released her wrist and made some notes.

“You've been with us for eight days.” He held his stethoscope over her heart and listened for a few minutes. “Can you sit forward a bit?”

Kelly moved forward and he put a cold stethoscope on her back. “That's all? I would have thought it was longer than that.”

“Why?” He moved the instrument slowly.

She turned to look at him. “Because I have some idea of the state I was in.” She shook her head. “Eight days doesn't seem long enough.”

“There's an explanation for that. Do you think you can stand?”

“I'm not sure, but I know I could eat.”

He chuckled. “I'll have something brought in to you in a bit. Let me help you up.”

Kelly moved slowly. She made sure the gown was tied around her, then she moved her legs over the edge of the bed. The deep bruises that had been there were mostly gone. At first her knees trembled and she took Doctor McCoy's arm for balance. She took a shaky step forward, then another more solid step. By the time they reached the door, her balance had returned. She still felt weak, but she was able to move on her own. She sat down on the bed again when they got back there.

“Dr. McCoy-”

“Please, call me Hank.” He smiled.

A smile fluttered over her lips because it was polite. “Hank, I have some idea of how badly I was hurt. The bruises alone wouldn't be gone in eight days.”

He looked like he was debating with himself. Finally, he pulled a chair forward and sat down. “Were you aware that you have dormant mutant genes?”

“No, but a lot of people do, don't they?”

He nodded. “They do, but I found that the gene cluster that controls your healing factor was partially active. Victor said you don't scar.”

“Well, not in a long time.” She looked at him curiously.

“The partial activity kept you from scarring. I was able to more fully activate the rest of those healing genes.”

It took her a moment to process what he was saying. “You mean I have a healing factor, like Victor's?”

“Similar to his, yes.”

She shook her head. “No. I can feel a wound on my side and there's still one on my head.” She touched her forehead lightly. “Victor heals much more quickly than that.”

He smiled a little. “The wound on your side is a surgical incision. I had to remove your spleen the first night you arrived. The rapidity of healing is dependent on a number of things; activity of the genes, nutrition, rest.”

Kelly looked away. It was almost too much to take in. “You mean I'm a mutant now?” Addled as she felt, the irony wasn't lost on her.

“I'm not inclined to put a label on what you are, other than to say that you're on your way to a complete recovery.”

She glanced at him, not entirely certain she believed anything he was saying. “I am?”

He smiled. “I'll need to do some more tests tomorrow, but I would certainly say that you are.” He got up. “I'll have some food brought in to you.”

“Thanks. Could you bring some Tylenol or something with it? I ache everywhere.”

He paused. “Your healing factor will treat any drug I give you as a poison and metabolize it out of your body before it can do you any good. Once you eat and rest I'm sure most of your pain will dissipate.”

Kelly's stomach turned when she thought of the agony Victor must have been in as he recovered.

“Kelly?” The doctor walked toward her, concern written on his face.

“Sorry,” She forced a smile. “It's just a lot to take in. Is there a shower I can use?”

“In the bathroom. There should be a couple of clean gowns and a bathrobe in there too.”

Kelly nodded. He offered his arm. Kelly tried to stand without his help and succeeded.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Creed followed Jimmy into the kitchen and up a set of back stairs into a quiet wing and then into a room strewn with clothing and empty beer bottles. He could tell from the scent that the room was his brother's.

Creed wrinkled his nose and looked around. “Goddamn Jimmy, you ain't got that southern fried cunt trained yet?”

Jimmy turned on him and growled. “You watch you fucking mouth. She's just a kid!”

Creed rolled his eyes. “Oh please. She's what? Twenty?”

Surprise registered on Jimmy's face. “Yeah.”

Creed shrugged. “Then she ain't a kid. And just because she can't touch your dick don't mean she can't come in here and change your sheets now and then.”

“You're a bastard.”

“I'm an honest bastard. All that 'she's too young' shit is just so you can keep torturing yourself.”

“That's bullshit-”

“I can just hear it now, 'She doesn't need all my shit.' 'Once she really gets to know me, she'll leave.' 'I'll hurt her somehow.' 'She'll find out what I did.' You probably got a shitload more of 'em kicking around in that metal-plated head of yours. Just means if you keep her away she can't reject you. When she finds some skinny kid to make eyes at, you can get all hurt and pissed off and have an excuse to run.”

Jimmy looked at him closely. “Sounds like experience talking.”

Creed shrugged. “Known you long enough to know how your head works. S'pose the bathroom is just as much of a pit?”

Jimmy tossed clothes at him. Creed looked at them and realized they were a black version of the sweats he was wearing. He told himself that they were clean and disappeared into the bathroom.


*~*~*~*~*~*

Kelly sat on the edge of the bed. A dish of fresh melon salad was on the tray in front of her. The turkey sandwich she'd been given was only a delicious memory. The shower had made her feel more human. The food made her feel stronger, but she still watched the clock as she waited for Victor.

Every little sound made her jump. The sight of the white linoleum on the floor dragged her back to that sterile chamber of horrors. The image of her own bright blood spattered over it came back. Her stomach turned. Her mind started to race as the memories threatened to carry her back to the pain and humiliation and the feeling of being utterly bereft of hope for anything other than death. She forced herself to push those thoughts away, to focus on the knowledge that Victor was going to be there soon and that she now had a healing factor. Sometimes, getting lost in the surface of things brought the most comfort.

The healing factor intrigued that very superficial part of her consciousness. Other than feeling like she was on the mend, she didn't really feel any different. She wondered if that meant that she wasn't really a mutant, or if it meant that other abilities would develop later. Hopefully the tests tomorrow would give her a better idea.

She heard a soft sound in the doorway. The scream rose in her throat, but stuck there. The sound came out in a strangled whimper. She scrambled back, nearly upsetting the tray. An instant later, she recognized Victor's broad frame.

“Frail?”

Kelly could hear the concern in his voice. She turned away. “I'm sorry.” Tears started to slip down her cheeks. She drew her knees up and hugged them. She felt him sit down, then he stroked her back.

“You ain't gotta explain.” He squeezed her shoulder and she turned toward him. He reached out to her, but there was a hesitancy she didn't usually see there. Kelly moved forward, waiting for some reproach. When she settled against his chest, he held her. “The kind of shit you been through fucks with your head.”

She shook her head and relaxed against him. His musky, masculine scent was a little slice of heaven. His fingers tangled in her wet hair, claws teasing her scalp as he separated the strands.

“Where are we?” Her voice was soft.

He looked down at her. “You don't know?” Worry flickered through his eyes.

“I know it's a hospital, but Hank didn't tell me which one.” She started to tremble. “I know they took me on a plane, but I don't know where that plane ended up or how long it took-”

He held her tighter. “It's not a regular hospital. It's the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, or whatever the fuck he's calling it these days. You're back in New York state.” He picked up the unfinished dish of melon. “Finish. Food fuels your healing.”

Kelly ate the last few bits slowly. He looked at her strangely when she handed the empty bowl back. “What?”

“Conlon told me you were drugged when they took you away.”

“I was. I know they injected me with something.” Kelly rubbed absently at her shoulder, even though the pain of the injection was long gone. “I guess they didn't use enough. I woke up in the back of a van or an SUV.” She looked up at him.

He looked like he might have been about to say something. The sound of the door opening sent a rush of terror through Kelly's consciousness. She curled up as tightly as she could and hid against Victor, certain that an attack was imminent. He held her close.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The scent of the frail's terror ripped at something inside him. He glared at the woman in pink scrubs. “What?”

“I-I came for Miss Demmer's tray.” The blond bitch smelled almost as scared as the frail did. It was an ephemeral kind of fear though. The kind that faded quickly.

“Then take it and get out. And don't come back tonight.”

“I need to check on-”

“Look through the fucking window. You can see she's breathing.” He held the frail close, giving her a place to hide.

The woman in pink picked up the tray and walked out quickly. He didn't give a shit about her, or what she thought or felt. All that mattered were the pairs of circular burns he'd seen among the bruises and blood on the frail's body when he'd first found her. Nobody needed to tell him they came from a stun gun. Her reaction told him that they'd used it to control her when they took her out of the cell. Given the number of marks, probably as torture other times too.

He purred softly. The tension started to leave her body. She took an unsteady breath.

“I'm sorry.” Her voice was an unsteady whisper.

“For what?” He stroked her back.

“Being so jumpy, so-.” She relaxed more fully.

“'F you say anything about being weak I'm gonna fucking test that new healing factor of yours.” His voice was a soft rumble.

Despite his harsh words, the scent of her fear started to drain away. She looked up at him. “What would you call it then?”

“Don't know, but I do know you're here and everybody else in that bunker is feeding maggots. I'd say you won.” He stroked the cut on her head with one finger. She didn't flinch.

She knew it was because of him that she had survived in the first place. She kept that thought to herself. “Feels like it's almost gone.” She reached up and found his fingers, following their path.

He couldn't resist a little smile. “Cause it is. The ape explain?”

She shook her head. “He didn't say much. I'm not sure I could have processed much.” She looked up at him and smiled a little. “You shaved.”

“Yeah.” He pulled her head down against his chest. “Figure as long as I was getting cleaned up I might as well do it right.”

Her hands moved over his back. Her body relaxed against him. “Do I smell like them? To you, I mean.”

She didn't have to explain who 'them' was. The idea that she'd worry about that made it hard to breathe. He held her tighter. “No frail. I can smell the ape on you and some of the nurses who've been in and out.” He pushed her back on the narrow bed. His head moved down over her body. Fear crested and ebbed as he moved down from her neck.

“You smell like warm sun on sweet pines.” He lingered at her breasts, his lips touched each nipple through the thin cotton of her gown. They hardened and made little peaks.

“Vanilla sugar cookies.” He moved downward, the tip of his nose teased the depression of her navel.

“Cold water over rocks.” Little rushes of anxiety surrounded her as he moved lower. He stroked the outsides of her hips carefully while his head hovered over the crux of her legs, taking in the familiar sweet scent of her core. Her back arched. A little moan escaped her lips. She squeezed his shoulder, her eyes closed. The more he lingered, the more nervous she got. He saw her look over at the uncovered window. He grinned up at her. “And you still smell like me.”

She blushed deeply. He got up. “Get under the covers. I need some sleep and I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna try and sleep in that fucking chair again.” He took off his shirt, then turned off most of the lights. He lowered the rest of the sides on the bed. Creed told himself that he was simply exhausted, that he needed to sleep if he was going to get her out of there tomorrow. He rationalized that the frail was calmer when she was close to him and that if she was calm he'd get more rest. It was all bullshit. He needed to feel her close to him, warm and breathing, to reassure himself that she really was alive.

She looked at him nervously as he tried to make himself comfortable on the narrow bed. Finally, he pulled her against his chest. He felt her tremble.

“Cold?” His voice was soft.

“A little.” She relaxed against him.

He pulled the thin blanket up over her shoulders. One hand moved between the ties on the back of her gown. She flinched when he touched her skin, then she relaxed into him. For a few minutes, his fingers drifted over her spine. Each one of her bones stood out under the pads of his fingers. Anger and guilt rose in his chest.

“Not your fault.” Her voice was a sleepy whisper.

“You think I need to hear that?” The words were too swift and too harsh. He knew it as soon as they were out. Why the fuck did he have to screw everything up?

She snuggled closer. “No. I needed to say it.”

He twined his legs with hers. “Right at that minute, huh?”

Despite the dim light, he saw the slight smile that touched her lips. “You got tense. I guessed.”

He growled softly. “”F that fucking ape gave you something to put you in my head even more than you already are, I'll kill him.” He kissed the top of her head.

She fell silent again. He could feel the tension leaving her body in slow degrees.

Her lips brushed the front of his chest. “What happens now?”

“Well, right now you shut the fuck up so's I can get some sleep.” The soft, purring tone was at odds with the harshness of the words. Still, it was normal and he told himself that she needed normal. “Tomorrow, you'll do as many of the ape's tests as you want to, I'll coordinate with Conlon-”

“Conlon's alive?”

“Was when I left him at the gate. How'd you think we got here?”

She shook her head a little. Tension crept back in. “I remember you finding me, and then there were a lot of strangers around me. I don't know how I got from one place to the other.”

“He was shot, but he's alive.” Creed didn't tell her he wasn't sure how long that was going to last. “Xavier wouldn't let him in. He's waiting for my phone call. Anyways, once you're ready, we'll head back to Chicago.”

She nodded and closed her eyes again.

He watched her breathing become deep and regular. Her scent sweetened too. If he really concentrated, Creed could just about find the change in her underlying scent, the part of the palette that provided the structure for the rest. Not quite human, not quite mutant. Either that or he was too fucking tired and he was imagining things. Didn't matter. She was alive and for the moment she still trusted him. The rest he'd figure out later. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Kelly woke up slowly. The bed felt wrong under her. Her back was cold. As she came back to herself more, she realized she heard Victor breathing next to her. She opened her eyes and glanced around at the sterile room. The memory of waking up in Victor's arms came back. It looked like a hospital, but he'd told her it wasn't. She couldn't remember what he'd called it though. She guessed it didn't really matter, as long as he was there.

In spite of the fact that she was covered, she was starting to shiver.

Kelly slid out from under Victor's arm. When she stood up, he caught her wrist.

“Frail?” Despite the sleepy growl, she heard the worry there.

She gripped his hand. “I'm cold. I'm going to see if I can find another blanket somewhere.”

He sat up and found the sweatshirt he was wearing. “Put this on.”

Kelly pulled it over her head. “Thanks.” She settled next to him again.

“What the fuck did you do, stop eating entirely?”

“Yes.” She hoped he wouldn't hear the soft whisper.

He wrapped his hand in the back of her hair and forced her to look at him. He looked more shocked than angry. “Don't ever do that again.”

“I thought you were dead. Your blood was on my face-”

“So you gave up?” Now the anger was making an appearance.

She shook her head. “I tried to get away when they put me on the plane. Whatever they had given me had worn off while we were still on the road somewhere. I head them talking about putting me on a plane and I figured it was my best chance to try and run. My legs were shackled. I don't think I got fifty feet.” She smiled a little. “I guess I managed to kick one of them pretty good though. Twice.”

He chuckled. “Scrappy frail.”

“That's how I got the start of the wound on my head.” She rubbed it and found only smooth skin. “They injected me again and I woke up in that cell.” She started to tremble. “Every time they came in...”

“I saw the burns.”

Kelly nodded. She hadn't wanted to say it. Putting it to words would have made it too real. Even in the safety of Victor's arms she wasn't ready to face it. “I thought you were dead, and they kept trying to make me tell them your name-”

He rubbed the back of her neck. “And you got stubborn.”

“I felt like I was betraying you. Even if you were dead, I wasn't going to do that.”

He shook his head and looked into her eyes. “I ain't gonna lie to you. The shit I'm in, it makes you a target too. I'll do my best not to fuck up again-”

“You didn't-”

“Bullshit. I ignored my instincts and then I walked out of that cabin like some a fat ass tourist on a road trip.” He gripped her hair a little tighter. “That won't happen again. You gonna let me finish what I was sayin'?”

His gruff tone didn't completely cover the notes of guilty pain in his voice. An ache settled in Kelly's chest. She brushed her lips over his. “Yes.”

“'F I fuck up again, you do anything you have to in order to keep yourself intact and alive until I can get to you. I don't give a shit what you have to tell them. We can deal with the fallout after you're safe. That engineered healing factor can only do so much on it's own. Unless I'm in pieces, you can be damn sure I'm coming after you. You got that?”

Kelly nodded.

“Out loud.” His attempt at a rough tone fell flat.

She complied anyway. “I understand.”

“Good. You ready to go back to sleep?” His grip on her hair eased. His claws teased the back of her scalp.

“Yes. Can I put my back to you?”

“Hold on.” He got up and Kelly turned over. He got in behind her again. It took some shifting for them both to find comfort. “I'll be glad to get back into a bed that ain't the size of a fucking postage stamp.”

Kelly laughed softly.

He growled and gave her right nipple a startlingly accurate pinch. Kelly squeaked and pushed her bottom against him. “Keep rubbing your ass against me like that, frail. I might be tired but I can fuck you in my sleep.”

“Here?” Kelly felt a deep blush rise to her cheeks.

She felt him shrug. “I'd strip you naked and fuck you in the fountain at the goddamn mall.”

Kelly couldn't resist a shocked little giggle. “Victor!”

“What? I can't help it if you're too fucking shy.” The little smirk was obvious in his voice. “'Course I like having you all to myself too.”

She gripped his hand to still the ache in her chest. “I'll try and stay still.” She couldn't keep the tremor out of her voice.

“I don't give a shit what almost happened, frail. You're still all mine. Always will be, no matter what.”

Kelly gripped his hand tighter for a minute, the felt the tension start to leave her body.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Creed felt her relax as she moved from a light doze into a deep sleep. If this was anything like when she got away from Dawes she'd have a couple of good nights before the nightmares started. Might be more, might be less depending on how much she'd already repressed and how it came out. All he knew for sure was that it would come out. Infection always did.

He had no fucking idea how to help her through it either.

He'd turned hurt and fear and helplessness into rage and aggression and wholesale slaughter. She wouldn't. She might try it, but she wouldn't get lost in it the way he had. He knew that. She'd turn it inward and figure out a way to make the whole damn thing her own fault. That idea made the marrow of his bones ache.

She whimpered softly in her sleep. A moment later she started to tremble. His arm tightened around her waist. A deep purr rumbled through his chest. She tensed, then calmed.

At least this time she wouldn't be fighting through the dreams alone on a couch. He held her tighter and closed his eyes.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Kelly woke up when Victor shifted in bed. She felt him get up. Fear shot through her.

“Victor?” Her voice was still thick with sleep.

He brushed the hair out of her face and nipped the side of her neck. “Stay there. I'm goin' to get us some breakfast. Be back soon.”

Kelly watched him leave, and felt her heart contract when he left her sight. With him gone, it was so easy to think that she had dreamed the whole thing. Still, she was wearing a sweatshirt that was far too big for her, and the pillow did smell like him. She stretched carefully. The wound on her side still tugged painfully when she raised her arms. The rest of the aches were gone. Her head was clearer too.

A quick trip to the bathroom told her that her balance and strength was back. When she got back out she shifted the tray she'd eaten from the night before and lowered it so that someone sitting in one of the two chairs could eat from it comfortably. She moved the other chair so that they could eat facing each other. Next, she made up the bed. The small nods at domesticity brought her out of her own head for a few minutes.

The soft click of the door opening still made her jump.

“Just me, frail.” Victor said. He glanced around. “Goddamn, if I'd been gone another ten minutes you'd have started repainting the place.”

She blushed. “No.”

“Right. You'd have washed the walls first.” He sat down in the recliner and pulled her into this lap.

Kelly smiled and snuggled close. “Just trying to keep my hands busy.”

“Wait 'til we get out of here. I'll give you something to do with at least one of your hands.” His voice held a seductive purr. One hand started moving under the hem of her gown. She stopped it by lacing her fingers with his.

She felt a blush spread over her cheeks. “How's Cody doing?”

He looked away and shrugged. “Conlon would have called if there were any big changes. I'll find out later this morning.”

She nodded. “Why didn't you tell me you had a brother?”

“Lotta shit gone on between us. Had no fucking idea where to start.” He looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Why? He been on your mind already?”

Kelly recognized the dangerous growl and the implication. She sat up and locked her eyes on his. “I'm yours, Victor Creed. I don't care who walks through that door, or who looks at me on the street, nothing will change that fact. I can't just turn off my curiosity, though. If you have any female relatives who suddenly appear, I'll wonder about them too.”

For a long moment, he simply stared at her. Then, a smile twitched at the corner of his lips. “Too fucking much.” He kissed her firmly, his claws bit into her thigh. His tongue found hers. Kelly knew she shouldn't let herself get lost in the rising tide of emotion and physical sensation, but her logic and her body were decidedly disconnected. The aching need to feel like his again had already taken over. For the moment, she gave in to that need.

She turned and straddled his lap while his mouth and tongue asserted his dominance over hers, making it clear that even though she was on top for the moment, he was still completely in control. Her hands moved over his bare chest, fingers teasing his nipples.

A deep growl vibrated through his chest. One hand mauled her breast and nipple . The other clutched at her bottom, pulling the crux of her legs tightly against his rapidly growing erection, sending a rush of wetness and heat between her legs. She moaned into his mouth.

She pressed her hips forward, teasing him and herself at the same time. “That was quick.” She smiled. Her tongue teased his lips and the tip of his tongue.

“You figured I'd fuck you when you were comatose?” His claws dug into her bottom, holding her still.

“No.” She rocked against him.

“So since I ain't interested in fucking anybody else, means it's a goddamn good thing you got that healing factor now.” One hand went under the gown and the sweatshirt. Claws raked slowly over her bottom and down to her knee.

Kelly felt the contraction of pleasure and stinging pain deep between her legs. She trembled and relaxed against his chest.

“Good as you smell, I'm surprised I ain't cum yet.” He kissed her hard.

Kelly broke the kiss and rested her forehead against his.

“Frail-” A frustrated growl permeated his voice.

“Does that door lock?”

A deep sigh. “You kiddin' me?” He shifted her so that she curled up against his chest with her legs resting over her lap. He stroked the thin red trails on her thigh. “The whole time we been here, there's been someone else in the room. Guess they thought I was gonna kill you or something.”

She snuggled into him. The burn was rapidly fading from the scratches. “Why? You brought me here to save me.”

“Told you I got history with Jimmy. I got history with the rest of them too. Most of it's bad and what ain't so terrible is so fucking overshadowed that it might as well be bad.” He concentrated on his claws as they traced intricate designs on her pale skin. “Nobody said so, but I'm pretty sure that they figured me bringing you here was just a trick to get in the door. Hell, most of 'em probably still think that.”

She stroked his cheek. “Thank you.”

He nipped the heel of her hand. “Took apart Cavallo's bunker to get to you. Wasn't gonna let you go without a fight.”

Kelly smiled. “You're amazing.”

He gave a little half-shrug. A mischievous sparkle animated his eyes. “I know it.”

Kelly laughed and snuggled against him. His fingers traced the lines of the scratches, or where the scratches should have been. She shifted the hem of the gown. What should have been bright red raised welts had faded to pink trails on smooth skin. The pink was draining away before her eyes.

“It don't make you invincible.”

“But you got shot in the head-”

Worry flickered through his eyes. “Mine's different.”

“Because you were born with it?”

He covered her thigh again. “No, because it's different for everybody. Jimmy's works a little slower than mine, but even I gotta admit it's faster than most. Conlon's is about average. Depends on the person and a whole lot of other factors. The slower it is, the easier it is to overwhelm it. You start doing stupid shit just because you got it, you're gonna piss me off.”

She smiled. “I'll try to be good.”

The metallic sound of the door opening made Kelly cringe. Victor's arms tightened around her. An older, dark-haired woman in scrubs came in carrying a tray with two plates heaping with eggs and sausage. Even in her nervous state, Kelly could see the pure hatred in the woman's eyes when she looked at Victor. Anger pushed out the initial shock.

“You shouldn't be out of bed, Kelly.” Her eyes were still on Victor.

“Why?” She got up, took the tray and set it on the table. There was a slight twinge in her side, but she ignored it easily. “I'm fine.” She selected the plate with the sausage that looked the least done and handed it to Victor along with some silverware.

“And you certainly shouldn't be waiting on him.” The woman grabbed Kelly's elbow.

Rage and terror blinded Kelly. She twisted her arm away from the strange woman and shoved her as hard as she could into the doorframe. “Don't you ever touch me again!” The words were forced out between her clenched teeth.

Shock was written across the woman's face. The rage abated enough for Kelly to be surprised by her own behavior.

“Frail.” Victor waited for her to look at him before he grasped her upper arms. She stepped back into him.

She shook her head. “I-I'm so sorry.”

The nurse looked at her with cold anger, straightened her clothing and walked out.

Kelly felt tears sting her eyes.

“Was her own fucking fault.” Victor guided her to sit down. “They all got some idea of what you been through. She should know better.”

“Still-”

“She'll get over it.” He sat down across from her. “Eat.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Creed watched her start to pick at the eggs. He knew she didn't want them at first, but she ate to make him happy. That suited him just fine. If her healing factor worked like his, it meant her metabolism would be moving faster than usual too. A few bites in, she found her appetite. She didn't finish, but he hadn't expected her to. Once she offered, he finished the rest. All of it made him realize how much he'd missed these quiet moments as well as her cooking. After the meal, she curled up the chair, her eyes closed.

“Tired?” He could still see the dark circles etched under her eyes.

“Kind of.” She didn't open her eyes. “I shouldn't be, I slept pretty good.”

“Healing takes energy. Most of the time this was healing,” He pointed at the side of his head. “I was asleep. Even stuff that ain't so big, I tend to sleep a lot if I can.”

He knew that wasn't the only reason she wanted to sleep. If she was asleep she wouldn't have to think about it, wouldn't have to face it directly. That wouldn't do shit for her in the long term. In the beginning it might let her start to process it in bite-sized pieces.

The door opened and she cringed again. She was getting better at hiding it, but he could still smell the sharp spike of fear that permeated her scent. The ape came in carrying a clipboard. Her fear dissipated to a kind of nervous undercurrent.

“Good morning.” He smiled at the frail. “Ready for those tests we talked about last night?”

Creed stood, stepping between the ape and the frail. “I got conditions.”

“This isn't up to you.” The ape's eyes were locked on his.

“Like hell it's not. I know the kind of shit 'experiments' go through and I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna let you do that to her.”

The anger was there in narrowed eyes and a sharp scent. “You really think I'd-”

“I got no fucking idea what you 'would' or 'wouldn't'. I'm here to tell you that she's in charge of this. She wants to stop, your tests are done. I don't give a shit what else you want to know. You don't cut her, or burn her, or any of that shit to test her healing factor. You've already seen it work.”

The ape gripped the clipboard. He'd moved beyond anger into pissed off. “Am I allowed to repeat the genetic profile? I'll need to swab the inside of her cheek to do it.”

He glanced at the frail. She nodded. “You can do that.”

“Anything else?” The ape's teeth were clenched. Creed had the feeling that if the frail had been out of the room, he would have had a fight on his hands.

“Ain't heard you agree to that yet.” Creed leaned against the chair the frail was sitting in. His arms were crossed.

“Of course I agree. It's not my intention to-”

“Good.” He looked at the frail. “I'll need my shirt back.” His voice was softer.

“Sorry.” She stood up. “I forgot I was wearing it.” She disappeared into the bathroom with the thin robe.

He glanced over at the ape. Some of his anger had abated and was replaced by confused curiosity.

“What?” He didn't take his eyes off the closed door.

“You care about her.” He sounded downright shocked.

“That's none of your fucking business.”

The frail came out again with the robe wrapped around her. She handed the shirt back to him. He gripped her hand. “You want to stop, you say so. I'll be in yelling distance.”

She nodded and he walked out. He had some shit to get together before they left.