Growing Up A Superhero (5) Jean watched with a chill running down her spine as her eight-year-old
daughter stood at her dead brother's grave. It had been a year since he'd
died, and Brigette seemed . . . changed. After he had died, when she had
become so introspective and quiet, everyone assumed it was grief and she
would eventually return to herself. But she hadn't. Not really. Depression seemed to set in, and nothing
would lift it. Over the months her fire-powers had started to manifest
prematurely. It was obvious now she would be powerful, though they didn't
think she would ever be as powerful as her brother would have been. And then one day Jean had asked for a spoon, and it had floated across the
room into her hand. Brigette, before that time, hadn't had telekinesis.
Cody had. Later Brigette had asked someone if they were going to pick up the phone.
But she had asked before it rang. Cody had been able to "see things
before" as he had said. But Brigette couldn't. Hank had come down to inspect the girl mentally and physically, and had
finally announced that she and her twin brother must have had the same
abilities, though Brigette's may very well be less powerful than Cody's had
been. Jean and Emma had done telepathic scans after that, and found the
remnants of a psychic link, one that had been broken when Brigette's
brother had died. It had been there since birth, and when suddenly it was
crushed and Cody was gone, it had seemed to the young girl as though a
piece of her mind departed with it. It explained the depression that was
so severe, and she was swiftly put into counseling with the elder
telepaths. But Brigette was still different. Still subdued, and depressed.
***
Brigette stared down at the tombstone coldly. "What's wrong with me?" she
asked quietly, her eight year old brow furrowing. "I hear voices now.
Cody, I need you." Silly girl. The voice was younger than hers, and male. She turned, pivoting on her
heel to look about. There was no one there. I know you need me, Brig. That's why I came back. Brigette scowled. "Took you long enough. It's been almost a year." She
sighed and glanced around, wishing she could see her brother. "How do you
do that, anyway?" Think. I can hear your thoughts. I talked with Illyana. If someone has
the power--the mental power--they can make themselves take shape and see
their families. But it's so hard. It's a secret among us dead. Most
can't do it at all. Then how come you can? Brigette thought as loud as she could. I'm a telepath, Brig. And 'Yana says I'm oh-so powerful. But it's very
hard to stay for very long. Brigette sat down on the cold tombstone, considering. You need help? I just need to be more powerful. And it would help if I had a body to
focus through--right now I have to gather my energies, make a semi-thought
form, cast my thoughts while protecting myself from other thoughts, keep my
form otherwise my thoughts get lost, and sometimes they still do and you
end up with a flash of my powers! It's sooooo tiring. Brigette giggled. You make me tired just talking about it. What if you
had a body to cast from? Cody was silent. Brigette thought she could see him now, when she looked
hard. A bright spot in the otherwise dull day. If she was right he was
standing . . . well, hovering right in front of her. Where would I get a body, Brig? You could use mine! Cody was quiet again, then she saw the light move toward her. It would
make me be able to stay for longer periods of time. . . . Brigette smiled happily and opened her mind. But you would have the same problem I did. With my power inside you,
you'd die like me. My body wasn't strong enough to hold my power, yours
couldn't possibly hold both of ours. Brigette scowled. "What if . . . I got stronger?" The brother-voice chuckled. If you can find a way to support us both,
that would be great. Maybe if you get strong enough I can even borrow some
strength and get more of a form, working off you as my base. She could hear the grin in his voice. I have to go now, Brig. I'm awfully tired. "You'll come back, won't you?" Brigette asked quickly, seeing his light
start to disperse. It coalesced once more for a final thought. I'll come back to see you
tonight!
***
"You seem happy," Scott said to his daughter, watching her closely. The
past year had been stressful for his wife and he, and they both watched the
girl as though she might disappear at any moment. Brigette shrugged. "I guess I am." "You spent a lot of time out by the graveyard this afternoon," he said
with studied casualness. Brigette shrugged again, not an easy thing to do when lying in bed. Scott bent to kiss her goodnight, then, seeing that she wasn't going to
say anymore, got up and left. Cody? Are you there? She cast her thoughts as loud as she could,
unafraid of her mother hearing. Jean was very careful not to intrude on
even the loudest of thoughts. I hear you. Light, so faint that if one had not been looking for it it would never
have been seen, swirled into existence next to the bed. I have a plan. Brigette smiled in the darkness, pleased with herself. Well? Let's hear!
***
The Phoenix was unhappy. Jean could sense it in the back of her mind as
she drifted off to sleep. It had been there for years, and it didn't enjoy
it. But without an invitation into another body, it couldn't leave. And
only someone with enough power to control it could get past Jean's defenses
to invite it. That thought comforting her, Jean drifted off to sleep. She was plagued with odd dreams that night. Her son and daughter,
Brigette eight and her son as he was when he died, walked through a city.
A great bird of fire leapt out at them, meaning to hunt them down and chase
them. With the power of a thought Cody stopped it. His eyes were calm and
serene, as he had always been. The bird calmed and floated to the ground
in front of the twins, turning into a more recognizable human figure. Words were spoken, though it was impossible to tell what was said. The
human-bird stepped forward, smiling. Jean screamed silently as it encased
her daughter. The feeling was not harmful, however, or malicious, or even
with the intent to control. It was . . . protective. The two had reached
some sort of understanding. Cody smiled as he stepped away from the two,
then turned to look up at the robin that Jean seemed to be. He smiled and
waved, and warmth and love and hope and compassion flowed toward her,
engulfing her. And she seemed to understand; the phoenix would not hurt
Brigette. It would help them both. The match was made, and the two suited
each other far more then Jean and the phoenix ever had. They liked each
other, where Jean and the bird had always simply gotten along for the sake
of sanity. Jean took a deep breath and opened the gates of her mind, letting the
threesome out. Brigette walked, hand in hand with her brother, a golden
bird riding her shoulder, its wings, too large for its body, surrounding
them all protectively. *~Goodbye, Jean. Thank you,~* the bird sent. *~You were good to me. I'll
take care of my new host, and we will be friends as you and I never were.~* Jean understood, and nodded. Be gentle with my child. Warmth and love shot back, and the dream ended.
***
"You feeling all right, Jean?" Scott asked over breakfast. "Hmm. What? Oh, fine. Just had strange dreams." She frowned and
searched the recesses of her mind, finding the familiar presence gone.
"The Phoenix has left me." Scott's head shot up, his eyes wide. "I thought it couldn't do that!" Jean shook her head quickly, wisps of the dream coming to her slowly,
though no details could be seen. "I think . . . I think it's all right.
She's found someone better, someone who will be good for her. Two people,
maybe? I don't fully understand . . . but I know it'll be all right." "What'll be all right?" Brigette asked, running into the room and climbing
up on the sink. "Oh, school stuff," Scott said, pulling her down. "School" generally
meant something having to do with the X-Men, it was their special codeword.
Brigette sighed. "School" stuff was almost always boring. "Nevermind. I don't think I wanna know." Scott chuckled. "Have you done your chores?" he asked, putting her on the
floor. "Not yet. I'll do 'em later." She grabbed a bagel and ran out of the
room, tossing over her shoulder "I'm going with Logan today to learn about
wild stuff! I'll be with him ALL DAY!" Scott laughed and watched her leave. "She seems happy all of a sudden." Jean nodded. "I noticed it last night. I hope it holds." Scott silently agreed.
***
Cody? What? If you aren't using your telepathic stuff, can I? ~*Behave yourself, Brigette. You have to learn how to use it slowly, or
else your body will fall apart like his did.*~ You're holding it tight, ain'tcha Phoenix? A low laugh. ~*That I am. And you don't get it until I think you're
ready!*~ And you'll still help her with it, won't you? ~*Of course, Cody. I'll help you both with all of your powers.*~ "All"? How many we got? A sense of warmth, as though the Phoenix had smiled. *~Many. You're very
powerful. And we have to make sure that nothing bad happens you to, my
little hostess. Where would Cody and I be without a base of operations?~* Brigette giggled. This is gonna be like havin' lots of moms!! "What's funny, darlin'?" Wolverine asked, appearing out of nowhere. "Nothing." He sniffed, looking at her oddly. She smelled different, but he couldn't
place how. "Right then. Shall we get started?" Yeah. Logan whipped around, eyeing the girl. "Since when are you telepathic?" Phoenix? What do I do? *~Do you want to tell him?~* Not yet!! I want to keep it a secret, just for us! *~Well . . . say he mis-heard.*~ "I'm not telepathic. Silly Patch," Brigette grinned, reaching up to try
and ruffle his hair. Wolverine dodged back easily enough, a sparkle in his
eye. "Sure ya ain't. Let's go." He started to walk away, then looked back. "We all goin'? Or just you
an' me?" Brigette looked at him in shock for a moment, then started to laugh.
"We're all going! We're all going everywhere together!" ******************************
Back to the living room -
Love To My Sister
JBMcDragon
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