The same disclaimers and restrictions from my last stories are in effect.
As I stumble away from Charles' lifeless form, the weariness and pain of the day almost consume me. Not only am I broken physically, but mentally. All that has taken place is due to my stubborness and failure to ask for help when I needed it. Pride has led to what has happened; my pride. And I don't know if I can forgive myself enough to face the task that lies before me. I know what I must do, but am I strong enough to accept the fate I must endure?
I mean, who can willingly face and accept death?
"Ryan?" a soft voice asks, "Are you ok?"
I look to my right and see Nick approaching me.
The fire and anger I felt at his 'betrayal' has dimmed to nothing as I smile and say, "Not really, but I'm getting there. How are you, buddy?"
Nick senses my forgiveness and smiles even wider as he comes over and puts one of my arms around his shoulder and helps me off the rubble towards some grass. He gently sets me down and sits next to me.
"I'm so sorry to have been ..."
"Save it," I state, "You did what you had to for the best of mankind. I'm sorry I was an ass about it earlier."
Nick fidgets, "I should have been honest with you; we told each other everything. I'm sorry ..."
"SAVE IT!" I exclaim, with what little strength I have, "I over reacted and I made the mistake. Friends?" I ask as I offer him my hand.
Nick seems both bewildered and relieved before pushing my hand aside and embracing me, "Friends!"
I can sense his wry smile.
"You STILL can't fuck me," he whispers.
"You asshole!" I exclaim, as I push him off me.
Reality invades.
"Oh my God! How is Cindy?"
"She's fine," Ryan assures me, "she is actually at home with her parents. We got into an argument, over you, by the way, and she thought it best to have some away time."
"I'm so sorry, bro, I didn't mean for me to come between you two."
Nick laughs, "Don't think you're THAT important! We needed some holiday time from each other. We've both been stressed over everything, and your treatment by the X-Men was an easy excuse to agree to spend time to cool off. Don't worry, we just talked a few hours ago, and nothing's changed. We still plan on getting married."
"Well that's good, I mean ... WAIT!"
Nick gets a bit red in the face.
"You two are getting MARRIED!!! When was I supposed to find out?!"
"Well, between your being an evil god and recovering from your fight, we just never got around to it. We wanted to tell you though."
"Oh my God, that's awesome, Nick! Have you set a date?"
"Not really. We wanted to make sure there WAS a date to set."
Nick's words suddenly bring me back to reality as I realize that with Liz running loose with the powers of Dark Phoenix there may not BE a tomorrow.
"You ok?" Nick asks.
"Yeah .. yeah, I'm fine. I need you to do me a favor. I know Cyclops doesn't care for me, but I need to talk to him. I'ts of the utmost importance, and I need you to convince him."
"I don't know," Nick begins, "you know how close to the heart this whole Phoenix thing hits him."
"More than you can know," I reply, "But his involvement is the key to everything. Can you do this for me? You're an X-Man, he'll listen to you."
Nick looks unsure at first, but upon seeing the resolve in my face, he nods and says, "Ok, let me see what I can do."
Nick stands and walks back to the rubble where Charles lies.
With what blurred vision I have left, I can see Cyclops standing numbly over the body of Xavier as Nick reaches him and begins to talk. At first Cyclops does nothing, but at a certain point of what Nick says, he pushes him back and begins yelling something. If I wanted to, I could have listened in with my powers, but I have neither the strength nor interest in voyeurism to focus on them. Nick stands and responds intensely, and after a few more moments of argument, Cyclops glares are me and starts walking towards me.
I try to stand, and do so, unsteadily, as he reaaches me.
"You wanted to talk," he states.
"Not talk, but convince," I begin, "The Phoenix needs you to ..."
With the word 'Phoenix' Cyclops steps back and punches me in the face with all of his might, and I fall back down to the ground. The pain doesn't annoy me as much as the fact of how much effort I wasted to stand.
"HOW DARE YOU!" he yells, "HOW DARE YOU USE THE TOOL THAT DESTROYED MY LOVE TO ASK ME FOR HELP!"
As I spit up MORE blood (GOD! how much more do I have LEFT?) I turn and look up to him, "If you loved Jean, don't deny me this! Phoenix led to the death of her body and it still has a hold on her spirit. If you loved her as much as you claim, LISTEN to me! I can help set her free!"
My words pierce his body and soul, and the hatred he showed me melts as the memories of the woman he loved wash over him. Tears stream from behind his red goggles, and he touches the wetness streaming down his face in wonder, as if he has never seen tears before.
"H ... how are you doing this?"
"Its not me," I reply, "I told you Jean is still here. Remember when you cried, so long ago with her?"
Cyclops falls to his knees and weeps, "Oh Jean! I miss you so!"
I give in to the power inside me, and let her take over my body and mind.
For the first time in months, I feel peace. For the brief moment, I let the Phoenix, Jean, assume my body, I finally get rest.
What can only be minutes later, but seems like a lifetime to me, I return to myself to see a resolute look on Cyclops' face, "Ok, Ryan, I understand and know what I must do. I'll follow your lead from here on out."
"What?" I mumble, "I have no idea what you're talking about. What just happened?"
"We both know what to do, and it will become apparent when the moment approaches."
Annoyed, I say, "Well it would be a HELLUVA lot nicer if I knew what is going on!"
Cyclops finally smiles at me,"You're actually a good guy, I know that now. But what you must do has to be of your own volition, otherwise it won't work. So I can't tell you anything or I'll endanger the outcome."
"So I have no choice in the matter?"
"No, the choice is completely yours," Cyclops responds, "But you have to make it when it is given to you But you ask too many questions. From here on out, you need to improvise."
"Improvise?!"
"Yes; go with your gut feeling."
I begin to protest.
"Okaaaay ... I'll improvise. Should I pull a rabbit out of a hat?" I ask sarcastically.
Cyclops finds this amusing and says, "Actually, YES!"
That's it for part 22. Yes, I KNOW it ends on a silly note which makes NO sense now, but it will! ;-) Feedback, as always, at ender2155@gmail.com