I Wanna Be ... Banshee

“Sean! You’re awake.” Jean hugged him tightly before she returned to taking his vitals. He had been out for a few hours since they found him and got him back home. She was by his side as his nurse of sorts, trying to get him back to healthy, even if it would be slowly. “I told you not to give up.”

“Inspector Cassidy,” the blonde agent greeted, having spotted the redhead in the lobby just as she had entered. He stood out in the sea of dark clothing despite his own black suit. She approached him with a friendly smile and extended her hand once she was close enough. “I’m Agent Morse and I’ll be your liaison– But please feel free to call me Bobbi.” SHIELD had been playing nice with local authorities whenever possible. Emergencies excepted, of course. Doing things this way meant less headaches for everyone involved. 

“In that case, please, call me Sean,” Sean smiled and shook her hand. Part of him wondered if there were any mutants within SHIELD, or if all those involved who had certain gifts had other reasons behind having them. It was more through curiosity though. Still, he’d been sent for a reason. He was a mutant, which made him of interest already, and he was likeable. What temper he had rarely reared its head and he was capable of being polite, as well as getting himself out of difficult situations.

“I know where he is Hank. Get the blackbird ready. I wish we had more friends around, but we’re going on a tough run.” Jean carefully stood up with his help, smiling slightly. “We’re gonna bring them home.”

Hank blinked in shock before nodding rapidly and darting off to get the blackbird. They needed to rescue Sean, and all of the others who might be trapped in the facility.

‘Just hold on, please.’ Jean couldn’t hold off any longer, putting the helmet onto her head, causing the doors to close and no doubt alerting Hank what she was doing. She could feel everyone, everyone’s mind and thoughts, their pain. She could understand why Charles didn’t want to use it anymore. It didn’t change her mind though as she concentrated on Sean. She knew there was supposed to be a certain level of concentration or she could kill, but she had to find him. It didn’t take long, but she couldn’t keep her promise of staying with him, losing the link as she ripped the helmet off, falling to her knees.

Hank knew when he felt the slight nudge at his mind. It wasn’t Charles which meant...Jean. She was using Cerebro and he nearly knocked over his desk in his hastiness to run to her, dropping down beside her and lifting her up partially, “Jean? Jean, talk to me!”

‘Hold on Sean, just hold on.’ Jean entered Cerebro, knowing she had limited time. She took a deep breath before grabbing the helmet. It was all or nothing as she slipped it on.

She couldn’t take it anymore. His worry and fear was feeding into her own. She had to do something now. She moved to the subbasement, determined to use Cerebro and pray she could find him.

Logan nodded, not knowing what to say. He was terrible at the whole heart-to-heart thing… Though that didn’t mean he couldn’t at least try.

“I hear ya, Irish. Havin’ to move everything behind ain’t easy.“ Was it ironic of him to say that? After all, Logan was a wanderer, hardly staying in one place for more than a few months. It was the forced change he didn’t like.

“Glad ya ended up here.“

“Me too. It all worked out for the better anyway so I guess it’s not so bad. I’d still like to go home for a visit though. See the rest of the family and the old place and all that. We’ll see.”

Warren looked at him and nodded. He wasn’t so sure that he would have been so forgiving but he wasn’t called a drama queen for nothing. “That’s true. You’re still in one piece so we can’t complain about it.”

“I’m not surprised that you prefer Charles.” He was always a little hard pushed to not feel that Erik was right sometimes. He’d been on the receiving end of mutant hatred after all.

‘I know you are. We all are but that doesn’t mean we’re giving up on you, so don’t give up on us. Hank and I are going to bring you home no matter what it takes.’ She dropped off the serum, knowing Charles could do it himself. She didn’t even want to see his face or else she would scream, pleading to save Sean. If he wasn’t going to be the telepath they needed, she would have to do. She just hoped she’d be enough with Hank’s augment.

The cynical part of his mind whispered to him that they might be bringing him home in a box but he pushed it away, curling up tighter as he heard footsteps and the sound of someone dragging a baton along cell bars that sent a shiver down his spine. He whimpered softly, trying to scuttle further back into the cell, his back hitting the wall.

Jean wordlessly set down the tray. She couldn’t bear to speak as she felt useless in the current situation. If she was just stronger, more in control, she’d be able to know where Sean was. If he didn’t make it, she didn’t know what she would do. She shook her head as she grabbed Charles’ serum, prepared to play nurse briefly before she returned her focus to worrying. ‘Sean. He might have changed, but it isn’t doesn’t mean his words don’t mean the same thing. Never give up. Please, don’t lose hope.’

‘Hank is working as hard as he can. He doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep. I’m doing what I can to help all three of you. Charles is in a bad place since you all left. He doesn’t want to believe any of it or feel anything. I’m not leaving your head until Hank finishes this, okay?’ Jean was on her way to Hank’s lab, bringing him some coffee and food if he needed it.

“It...it hurts...they’re going to come back for me...you shouldn’t...you shouldn’t have to deal with that too...” he mumbled, whimpering faintly as he curled himself into a ball in the vain hope that it might protect him somewhat if the experimenters came back for him. As it was, his vision was still fuzzy and he was pretty sure something was broken.

Jean was doing her best to comfort him. Her powers were shaky and sometimes unreliable as she learned to control them over long distances. She wasn’t allowed to use Cerebro, it was too powerful for her to control. She managed to find Sean, though it wiped her out for the whole day. She lucked out, managing to establish a link with him so she could continue to talk to him. ‘I’m sorry. I’m doing what I can to get to you. I only managed to find your mind, not really your location. Hank and I are working on a way to help me with Cerebro since Charles is basically unwilling. I’m gonna get to you. You’ve gotta hang in there.’

It hurt to think of Charles as being unwilling. He knew Charles was in a bad place right now, but the thought of the person who had been a mentor and father figure to him being unwilling to find him, to help him...that hurt. He wasn’t even sure how long he’d been in here, the days all blended in together now, broken up only by hours of experimentation that left him convulsing and sobbing. They would be coming again soon, most likely...they’d come for Azazel this morning and he hadn’t come back...Sean wasn’t sure he would be coming back.

He knows that she’s not physically there, but yet he’s fairly sure if he struggles to properly open his eyes, he’d see her as if she was. Telepathy is handy sometimes, it seems, especially for the fact that she’s the only thing keeping him remotely sane as the weeks turn into months in Trask Laboratories. Maybe he’ll be rescued some day soon but he’s not too hopeful. He knows they’re looking for him but he’s not sure how much longer he’ll last, and Charles...he isn’t in a good state these days.

He has Jean though and she keeps him company and helps him through. It must be horrible for her, he thinks, but the comfort is a godsend.

“I mean, apart from the bit where you could have died, right?” Warren narrowed his eyes a little. Even as used to flying as he was he’d had a few crash landings from time to time and he couldn’t say he’d enjoyed them too much but it was usually when he’d done something stupid and Jean wasn’t around.

“I imagine Erik was quite a harsh teacher all around. He’s very opinionated.” That was a carefully chosen word.

“Yeah, well I try not to think about that bit too much. Not worth the worry given that I’m fine,” he shrugged. The thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t been able to fly...well, not worth thinking about.