Diagnosis: Diagnosis...

[doctorbeast]

WHO:  Dr. McCoy, Dr Grey, Xavier's faculty, students 
WHERE: The New Institute, Medical facilities.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
WARNINGS: Some medical terms that may or may not be completely made up.
SUMMARY: Jean realized that there hadn't been anyone with medical skills at the institute since.... forever. So it's high time for everyone to get their

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Exam Room 1 | Dr. Jean Grey

[fireintheflood]

[fireintheflood]

Jean sighed, knowing exactly why she was hesitating and she turned, trying to give her a reassuring smile.

[Please. I promise it's completely confidential.]

[temporaltossed]

Yeah, this had been a bad idea. Rachel set the clipboard aside. She wanted to see Jean, with her own eyes and up close, not drag up any or all issue that might arise once she figured out what Rachel was.

[Confidential or not, maybe I should just go see if Hank's free. I'm sorry to have bothered you.]

[fireintheflood]

Jean nodded with a weak smile, turning to finish recalibrating the table's sensors.

"I'm sure he'd be happy to see you, Ms. Summers. You can take the file with you if you like."

[temporaltossed]

"Actually it's Gr-" Oh, crap. Rachel had her hand on the door before she realized what the automatic correction meant. Well, so much for subtle. She turned with a slightly sheepish look on her face.

"Scott told you didn't he?"

[fireintheflood]

Jean leaned on the edge of the exam table, shaking her head. "No, he told me only that we had children here. Two children. But he felt it important that either I discover who you were on my own or that you reveal yourselves to me when you were ready." She frowned a little. "Where I'm from we're not even married yet, Scott and I. I can't imagine what it must be like for you, Rachel. And I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

[temporaltossed]

Rachel took a deep breath, and tried to pick her words carefully. "The Jean he was with wasn't exactly married when she met me either. It went... badly. That's why he waited. Honestly, he knew I was freaking out about it."

[fireintheflood]

She dropped her gaze, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, again. For whatever you've been through."

This wasn't easy for her; her maternal instinct had always been strong - it was why she loved her job at the Institute so much, why it felt so much like home. Being able to mentor or take care of children who needed guidance, it filled a void. And now, faced with her own child, granted a child that she hadn't borne but who did obviously inherit her genetic makeup, she was at a loss at how to comfort her. "I hope that you won't hold that against me. Though, I wouldn't blame you if you did."

[temporaltossed]

"I would never-" Rachel shook her head. This was harder than she thought, probably because it seemed to be going so well. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the rug to get pulled out from under her because these things? They just didn't go right for Rachel, ever.

"I wouldn't hold it against you. I just don't want to... make any demands. I'm not... asking for anything, I just wanted to see you..."

[fireintheflood]

She nodded, smiling at her. "I know. And it would be alright if you did. Ask for something, that is. This might be the only chance I get to know you," she said somewhat sadly. If transported back to her world, she would probably be dead. "I'm here for you. Whatever you need, okay?"

[temporaltossed]

Rachel tried really hard not to stare. Who was this Jean and how the hell did she end up so well-adjusted?

"I... thanks. I mean, really, thanks. You're taking this... really well by the way."

[fireintheflood]

"Where I'm from, my fiance just tried to kill me, a dam nearly collapsed on top of not only the team but some of our students as well. Magneto nearly succeeded in killing every human on the planet..." she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I will probably die if ported back there, so... why not take advantage of the time I have here? Especially if that means seeing a child I might never get the chance to have otherwise."

Jean sat down at her desk, folding her hands in her lap so Rachel wouldn't see them tremble. "I'm grateful to get to meet you, in whatever capacity."

[temporaltossed]

"You just described an average week back home." She smiled and tried not to wince at the mention of Magneto, or of Jean's impending death, seems some things stayed the same across timelines after all.

"Then I'm glad to be here. For you. If there's anything I can do..?"

[fireintheflood]

"Just don't be a stranger," she said with a smile, handing Rachel the half-finished sheet from her clipboard. "And tell Hank I said to be a gentleman." She grinned even more at that.

[temporaltossed]

Rachel managed a chuckle. "Not a bad warning for your first time, how'd it feel?"

She considered straying, but realized that if Jean carried out the exam, she'd see the brand on Rachel's back and no way was she opening that can of worms yet.

[fireintheflood]

Jean laughed, shrugging. "Not too bad, actually. Though I daresay you don't need any help taking care of yourself. And Hank, of course, is always a perfect gentleman."