Only Human - LOGS: catchup round.

The last breakfast with Sunset.
It's a wonder that Warren's letting Cole leave the apt alone at all, but the buisness world doesn't stop forever. But at least she isn't wandering off to who knows where. Instead she came by to visit with Sunset. Despite the nice weather that's hit New York, she's dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt. Puffball is tucked under one arm as she lifts the other to knock.

If there is one thing she hates about pregnancy, it's how you suddenly lose you're ability to stand without taking five minutes, along with the fact that you will not reach a walking speed higher than 2 miles an hour. At least, not without good reason to walk fast. As such, it is a moment for the door to be answered, but Sunset does answer. Barefoot, and dressed in pair of sweatpants and a tanktop, Sunset's expression flashes to one of slight shock for a moment, before morphing into motherly concern. "Hi, sweetie." She greets, stepping back from the door so Cole can enter the apartment. "How are you?"

Cole offers a smile to the pregnant woman. "Hi Sunny." When the doorway is freed, she steps tentativly inside. "Uh, I'm okay. Do you mind if I stay over and hang out for a while? Warren had to go do some work stuff." And I didn't want to be alone is implied after that statement."

"There has never been a visitor turned away from my door." Sunset answers, shutting the door and locking it. "Of course, in other words. I was just about to make breakfast, actually, if you want some. I only know how to make pancakes and scrambled eggs, but I've near perfected those."

Cole nods, "Yes, please. I can help you make it, if you want? I know how to cook, a little." Puff ball is moved from under an arm to held at her chest. "Your apartment is very nice." She adds, polietly.

"Thank you, sweetie. But, no, you're a guest. Just make yourself comfortable and try and find something good to watch on TV. If there is such a thing." Sunset smiles, waddling for the kitchen. "And thank you, again. I'm trying to keep it clean for as long a possible, considering there's a chance I'll be too tired to even tidy up right after the baby is born."

Cole looks over to the tv, but, after a few moments hesitation she follows Sunset to the kitchen anyway and takes a seat on one of the bar stools. Puffball is set on the bar so that Cole can lean against her like a pillow. Her nose wrinkles a little, "She still smells a bit like bleach." Cole notes, meaning the toy obviously as she pats down a bit of the cleaned white fur.

"Hopefully neither her or you are too upset with me. I had to cut off a bit of her fur to find you, the other night." Sunset mentions, glancing up at Cole as she starts mixing up the pancake batter. "Though, that is all I will say on the subject. If you wanted to talk about it to me, you would be talking about it already."

Cole shakes her head, "We're not upset. And well, I did also come over to say thank you, for helping to find me." To the last statement, Cole chews her lip thoughtfully. Everyone seemed to just assume that she didn't want to talk about what happened and so, she didn't. "Yeah...I guess so. Warren's still upset about it though, I think."

"I can't say I blame him. /I/ am still upset about it, though some of the edge does get taken off by knowing that that man will not be treated well in prison, not even by his fellow inmates." Sunset murmurs, checking a skillet on the stove. "He is not upset with you, is he?"

Cole furrows her brow a bit, "I--I don't know. I don't /think/ so, but maybe he's just disapointed." Sigh. "He told me all about how I shouldn't give my name or talk about him to people on the computer and I promised I wouldn't. I guess it's okay now...I'm just sorry for being so much trouble." She tilts her head, leaning on cheek on her hand. "What do you, he won't be treated well in prison?"

"Doesn't matter where you go. There isn't going to be anyone that will show sympathy on people that hurt kids. Even people who have done their fair share of crimes." Sunset murmurs, moving in front of the stove, pancake batter at the ready. "You want round pancakes or funny shapes?"

Cole sits up on her knees to lean forward and try to see. "What kind of funny shapes?"

"Hearts, moons, squares. Think I managed a Mickey Mouse head once, too."

Cole chuckles, "A moon /is/ round! That's too easy. You can make square ones? That's funny. If you color them yellow, we could make them look like spongebobs."

"Crescent moons, silly." Sunset teasingly replies. "So, funny shapes then? Got any preferences for shapes?"

Cole nods and then shrugs, sitting back down flat. "Nope...you can make it a surprise. I don't care."

Starting to pour, Sunset gives a small smile. "Surprises for breakfast, coming right up."


Warren wakes up.

It's been a bad, hairy couple of days. Warren's been in a coma and /things/ have been going on. The first twelve hours or so had been the worst ... Warren had flatlined for a few moments early on, and then there'd been something that bore a remarkable resemblance to seizures, but hadn't been. Tests proved it was a secondary mutation kicking in ... at a /damn/ good time, as the secondary mutation seemed to be a healing factor. But Warren remained down and out, as the healing had a LOT of damage to fix. Multiple broken bones and internal bruising and cuts and gouges. Now, a little over 48 hours since the attack, the broken bones have knit, and the soft tissue damage is fixing itself, though not entirely fixed yet. The heart monitor and other equipment started picking up increased activity about ten minutes ago. Seems like Warren might wake up soon.

Jackson may have disappeared from the mansion over a month ago, but upon hearing of Angel's injuries he rushed back as fast as he could, planting himself at Warren's beside and Lord help anyone who attempted to pull him away. The teenager has -- likely not really slept since his arrival, though you'd not be able to tell from looking at him; it's amazing what a little touch of illusion can do to cover the shadowed eyes and unhealthy pallor of the past few days. Curled up in baggy jeans and a baggier sweatshirt in a chair by Angel's side, he sits with his sketchpad, quietly at work though his eyes flicker constantly from the page to the man lying in the bed. At the increased activity from the heart monitor, he perks up, too, blue eyes darting from equipment to Warren's face, brightly hopeful; his charcoal is set down, and all his attention is on Angel. One hand lifts to cross himself, lips barely moving with silent prayers. They are far from the first prayers he's said, the past few days.

Someone managed to drag Cole out of the medbay to get some food eariler because she's been worrying herself sick since she'd gotten here and first seen Warren in his condition. Along with Jackson, she's stayed at Angel's bedside nearly all the time, except without his stamina so at least there were times she'd gotten a little sleep. Still, one can't say she looks all that great herself. She strangles back in, going over to plop down in a chair next to Jackson's. She curls her knees to her chest, the stuffed animal, Puffball popple clung to her, as always. Heavily bitten down nails start to get another round of nibbling.

Jafari hadn't been paying much attention to news that anyone was hurt or nothing. He'd, in fact, been away for a while, in Montreal. Little sisters had to be taken care of sometimes, after all. "Where's the Doc?" He says, while looking down at his hand, not paying attention to the rest of the room just yet. "Dang electric burns. I thought I'd stopped getting these." He mutters to himself. When he looks up, though, he notices Jackson sitting beside a bed...and Warren on the bed. He frowns, the electric burn on his hand pushed out of his mind for the moment, despite the fact that the unburned one continues to subconsciously rub it. He approaches the bed slowly. "Hey." He says, standing behind Jackson and Cole.

Ow. Sound and light start to filter into Warren's mind as he gets dragged back to consciousness. Ok, he'd obviously gotten his ass kicked at some point. The fact he was /waking up/ made him wince mentally. Shit. Probably had to have a damn surgery. Shit. What the HELL had happened? And then, even as memory started to filter in ... oh /crap/. Cole. His eyes snap open and he starts to sit up, but doesn't get more than about an inch off the bed before he lays back down. "Ouch." But that had been enough for him to get a gander at the gathering at his bedside. Jackson? Damn. He must've been in pretty sorry shape to drag Jackson back to the mansion. But then ... four metal tentacles. Yeah. That'd about do it.

Jackson looks up as Cole enters, nearly as much worry flickering across his expression for her as he has for Angel. "His monitor's sped up," he informs her, words dragging with exhaustion but tinged with hope, for all that. "That's -- I think that's good." His only response to Jafari when the boy enters is a slight nod, but he sits up ramrod-straight as Angel's eyes open, a relieved sigh rushing out. "OhmygoshMisterWorthington." But he is the /picture/ of self-restraint, honest! -- he does /not/ smother the man with a hug, though from his fidgeting, it is taking a lot of control not to do so. His eyes look dry, but his voice is choked with emotion. "You're -- thank God -- we've been -- I was -- /hi/."
Cole tilts her head upward to look at Jafari, "Hi--" Any explaination is cut off by Warren making a sound. Cole jumps to her feet, half tripped over the seat. "Dad!" Cole is not bound by restraint, like, at all. After picking herself back up she hurries over to Warren's bed, throwing one Puffball-handed arm around him. "You're awake! Thank you, thank you God so much!" She hugs with happy tears rolling down her cheeks.

Jafari looks at Warren. "Hey, man. You don't look so good, man." He says, half-joking, half-serious. He puts a hand on Jackson's shoulder. "Take a deep breath man. Take a couple. In and out. Deep breath in, deep breath out." He nods. He looks between Cole and Warren and Jackson, but quiets up again. Doesn't say anything to the mention of thanking God, though. He only has a slightly thanking of anything like God ever. Sure, he was raised in a church, though. "Well, I guess it's good that you're awake, man."

Warren manages to wrap an arm around Cole, though it's more reflex than him wanting it to happen ... he's still sore enough that his body's not keen on moving too much. "Hey." He says softly, voice rather hoarse. He makes a face, and then glances at Jafari. "Could use a drink." He grumbles, before he half-growls at Jackson. "Get over here and hug me before you vibrate off the chair, Jackson."

"I'm breathing," Jackson assures Jafari, "I just -- been so --" He does not finish his sentence. Instead he launches himself out of his seat at Warren's invitation, claiming the side of him that Cole is not occupying; despite this enthusiasm he remembers to be gentle in his hugging. "Thank God," he whispers again, and despite his eyes /looking/ dry, his cheeks are distinctly damp where they press briefly against Angel's shoulder. Illusion can only go so far towards hiding. "-- I should get you water," he mumbles, though he doesn't quite seem willing to let go just yet.

Cole smiles over to Jackson as he joins in the cuddling. She stretches her hand over to however much of Jax that she can touch with her fingers to include him in the hug. "We stayed here all the time Warren. Are you okay? I was so scared and worried. You've been here for days and I thought I we were going to lose you." She blurts out in one breath.

Jafari nods at Warren. "Yeah, of course, sir. Right away." Instead of bothering to look around to see if there was any water here in the Medbay, he sticks his hand in the closest thing connected to the main power line and he disappears. Within a very short minute or two, he reappears with a glass of water in his hand. Sure, it might be dangerous to carry a glass of water in electricity is bad, but he doesn't care. "Here you are, sir." He says, holding the water and waiting for Warren to be ready to have it.

Warren takes the water and drinks about half of it before he puts it aside. It at least gives him a chance to think ... because something is /seriously/ hinky here. "How long've I been out?" He wants to know, wrapping the now free arm around Jackson and giving him a hug along with Cole. Yeah. Something is going on here.

"Days, now." Jackson shifts his arm to wrap around Cole, too, and flashes her a smile in return. "I just been praying so hard," he says, the worry in his tone backing up what Cole expresses. "I know lately I ain't been -- but it doesn't mean I don't -- I mean. I." He blushes, taking a shaky breath. "Care about you. We've all been -- m'just really glad you're -- you're gonna be okay now, right? I mean you were so close to -- we thought -- but then you -- you're gonna be okay." The second time, it is more statement than question.

Cole nods along with Jackson's stamerings. That's all pretty much her sentiments too and for now, she's content enough to just stay snuggled up while Warren gets his answers.

Jafari smiles slightly. Jackson always seems to have problems expressing himself when he's worried or really relieved about something. "I think what he's trying to say, sir, is that he was really worried about you and that he's glad that you didn't die." He nods.

"A couple of days?" This only seems to increase Warren's bewilderment. "Not that I'm bitching ... but I feel better than I really ought to." He frowns. The only place he /does/ have a cast is his left leg. (broken thigh bone). Wierd shit.

"Well, you -- kind of -- sort of maybe fixed yourself a lot." Jackson explains, somewhat awkwardly. "I mean -- a lot of the -- healing. Your mutation -- I think God was looking out for you."

Cole nods solemly again to the explaination given. "Yeah. You look a so much better already. At first it was..." her voice cracks a little, "really bad."

Jafari just stands back for a moment. Really, this isn't a moment for him. Not really. Those two were really worried. Who is he to impede on their happiness that he's awake?

"Wierd." Warren says, mind not instantly jumping to 'healing factor' for rather understandable reasons. "I should really be up to my neck in casts, but like I said, not complaining." He huffs out a breath. "Sorry I scared the two of you so bad." Then he eyes Jackson. "Though if I'd known this is what it'd take to get you out of hiding, I'dve faked something like this a lot sooner."

"Maybe weird. Maybe but -- but lots of people get -- secondary mutations or -- their mutations grow or change or things, right? I'm just glad. That you're still here." Jackson leans in to kiss Warren lightly on the forehead before finally pulling back and returning to his seat at the bed's side. "I came the second I heard -- but don't scare me like that again!"

Cole gives Warren the evil-eye-of-doom that women can give, even at 12 years old. "Don't joke about that stuff. You will not!" Huff and then she goes back to cuddling.

Jafari smiles slightly at the little group. "Well, it seems like you're getting better, man. So there's no reason for anybody to worry, right?" He furrows his brow at Jackson. "Why were you hiding man? I mean, I know I was gone for a while, but I didn't think I was gone for /that/ long!"

Jafari smiles slightly at the little group. "Well, it seems like you're getting better, man. So there's no reason for anybody to worry, right?" He furrows his brow at Jackson. "Why were you hiding man? I mean, I know I was gone for a while, but I didn't think I was gone for /that/ long!" (re)

Warren eyed Jackson. "Don't you scare /us/ like that again, and you have a deal." He shot back, blinking a bit at the kiss. He glances over at Cole. "All right, I won't." Then, to Jafari. "That's something I'd like to know myself."

"M'sorry, sir," Jackson says, head bowing sheepishly. "I just --" His head shakes. He does not want to answer Jafari's question! And so he changes the subject -- "I should call Miss Sunset, I'm sure she's been worried too." /Someone/, it seems, is out of the loop.

Jafari frowns at Jackson. "Jackson? Don't you go about avoiding my question none. We want to know. Sunset can find out soon."

Warren flinches at the mention of Sunset and sighs. Damn. He /really/ doesn't want to be the one to break the news, but it looks like he's going to have to. "Ummm ... guys? About Sunset ... " Damnit. "She was killed the other day. Car wreck."

Jackson cringes back into his chair, the motion as abrupt as if he'd just been punched. The illusions that kept him looking bright and healthy drop, with the sudden shock; face pale, eyes shadowed, form dangerously thin, and his eyes narrow on Warren. The light in the room trembles, and his voice trembles just as much along with it. "-- That's -- that's not funny, sir."

Cole sits up, staring down at Warren. She hadn't known about it either. "What? Oh...oh no. But..." She voices catches for a moment before she's able to finish her question every so quitely, ",what about the baby?"

Jafari stops there. This time it's time for him to take deep breaths in. "Okay. Dead...dead. Okay." He shakes his head.

"Wish to god I was kidding, Jackson, but I'm not. 'swhy I was out, that night. I was more'n a bit upset, and went for a flight. Wasn't watching where I was going, and damn near flew /into/ Octavius." Warren flinches at the memory, then glances at Cole before shaking his head sadly.

"No but -- she's -- we made pancakes -- it was -- she can't -- she's not --" Jackson was already pale; he has somehow managed to become even paler. The light flickers again. He is stubbornly disbelieving. He slips his cellphone out of his pocket, scrolls through to find Sunset's number, rocks back and forth in his chair as he dials it. There is, predictably, no answer. Jackson keeps the phone held to his ear. Just in case.

Cole squeaks a sound before anything else can come out and words are tangled up in her throat. Her hands cup over her mouth before they lower again, one just hovering to make the sign of the cross before she lays her head back, gently onto Warren's chest. Her body shakes a little with quiet sobs.

Jafari shakes his head again. He didn't really know Sunset. But he wouldn't've been as effected regardless. He just...wouldn't've. He places one hand on one of Jackson's shoulders and with the other one he puts gently tries to push Jackson's arm down. The one that's holding the phone. "Jackson...Sunset won't answer. Just put it down."

( Jafari beats Warren to his comment, so he just pats whatever part of Jackson is closest sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Jackson." He hugs Cole closer. "Been a hell of a shitty week, hasn't it?" )

Jackson /jerks/ away from Jafari's touch with a sudden breath that hisses out between clenched teeth; he gets to his feet with motion abrupt enough to send his chair skittering backwards. The light stops flickering, but only because it is coalescing around his form; the teenager himself is shaking now, though, even as he glows bright. The only casualty is the cellphone, fried in his hand by a brief discharge of energy; twisted and melted plastic falls from his fingers to the floor. Jackson doesn't speak, and he doesn't cry. He just stares down at the ground, numb and unblinking.

Cole doesn't look over at Jackson but the sound of his his and the chair raking along the floor as it's pushed backward is enough to get the point. She snuggles closer into Warren.

Jafari jumps back only slightly, going into a slightly defensive posture. He relaxes only slightly, though, as Jackson just stands there, but he stays on alert, though. "Jackson. Stop." He says in a calm voice. "No about of anger will change this. No outbursts of light will let you bring her back."

"Jackson ... " Warren tries to sit up a second time, and is marginally more successful, even cuddling Cole as he is. "C'mere."

Jackson's head lifts, and the look he gives Jafari is utterly bewildered and disbelieving. He does not bother to answer. He takes a step backwards, and then a step towards Warren, but he doesn't come closer, holding up his brightly -- dangerously, the light burning hot -- glowing hands as mute explanation. No touching. His breathing is ragged and gasping. "I -- I need to -- she can't -- I --" His head shakes. He looks very lost.

Cole sits up as Warren does, but remains mousishly quiet and still very close to Warren. With a sniffle she looks toward Jackson and his glowing hands, but otherwise, she just clings to both Angel and Puffball for a sense of security in this mass of insanity.

Jafari sighs. "Jackson..." He says slowly. "Concentrate." He thinks through his brain. What'd he do with his sister when her powers started acting up and she couldn't control them, again? Oh, what a time to have a mind block. He just got back from visiting too! "This is hard. Yes. Very hard. Just...what can we do to help? What do you need from us to help?" He's not sure what else to do.

"Take deep breaths, Jackson." Warren says. "Nice and slow. Picture something nice and calming in your head, like the lake on a summer day or something."

Jackson is taking deep breaths, or trying to; they are shaky and ragged, but eventually they calm. "Help?" He is still bewildered. "You /can't/ help." The light is subsiding, though, and he drops heavily back into his chair, elbows propped on his knees and his fingers splayed through his hair as his forehead drops to rest in his palms. "She wanted me to go live with her. She wanted to be my --" He falls silent, eyes still wide and staring.

The doors of the med bay open up to allow another mutant to enter the room, and this one is a bit worse for wear from the looks of things. Kaji walks into the room looking rather beat up; he has cuts, scraps, bruises, and a few gashes here and there. Though he looks perfectly calm about the entire thing. The group of people in the med bay snaps him out of his little personal dream and he arches a brow for a moment. Though staying silent for now. He lets out a sigh before he starts to go for the guaze and bandages.

Jafari shakes his head. "Look man, we've all lost people, all right?" Nope, that probably won't do it. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can say or do. I know that. But I'm here, man. I know what it's like to lose someone. I can't say how much she meant to you, but believe me, I think I can understand. If you want me to leave, though, I'll understand."

Warren breathes a sigh of relief as the light fades from Jackson's hands. Then Kaji walks in. "The hell?" Warren says. "Kaji?"

Jackson continues to take deep breaths, and he just shakes his head at Jafari's words. His head lifts as Kaji enters, and his brow creases with worry as he looks at his. "-- Kaji? You're hurt?" Concern washes over his expression.

Kaji looks back at everyone with a gauze bandage packet hanging from his mouth and he blinks a bit before bringing a hand up; removing the packet from his mouth. "I needed to relieve some stress, so I went to the DR. Didn't care what settings I put it on as I needed to fight against something. Turns out that-- When did you wake up, Warren?." He bites the packet once more and rips it open before he looks back at Jackson; confusion flickering over the teen's face. "Jax? When did you get back?" He glances over at Jafari and stays silent; he's trying to help and Kaji distracting him won't help much.

Jafari looks over to Kaji and waves slightly. "Hey man." Although he's been away for a while, he still remembers him of course. Why wouldn't he? Looking at Jackson, he says, "The last thing you need, Jax, is someone else to worry about. Just be concerned with yourself right now."

"About ten minutes maybe?" Warren says in answer to Kaji. "And still mildly confused as to why I'm doing so well, but like I said, not going to bitch."

"I got back as soon as I heard about Mister Worthington." Jackson presses his fingertips to the hollows of his eyes, tiredly, his jaw tightening briefly. "Please, Jafari. I'll be fine." He drops his hand to his lap, and curls his knees up to his chest. "I told you, sir," he says to Warren (as if his last explanation was /perfectly/ clear, "your body totally decided to heal itself. First you died an' then they thought maybe you were having --" His hand gestures to his head. "Brain -- things --" He is /so/ scientific in his explanations! "Only but it was just healing."

Kaji ahs for a moment before he grabs the rubbing alcohol and wipes off one of the more prominent gashes on his arm. "Ah. And you should have seen me last night when we brought you in. Didn't think I could feel that angry," He wraps the gauze around the wound. He glances back at Jax and smiles slightly, "It's great to see you once more, Jackson."

Jafari sighs, shaking his head. "If you say so, Jax." He looks at Kaji. "Haven't seen you in a while. How's it going?"

"I ... oh." The explanation hadn't quite sunk in the first time around. "Wierd shit. Thought I was too old for the manifestation thing." Then he snorts. "At least it was something that helped me get better."

There's a smile, that flickers briefly across Jackson's expression as he looks at Kaji. "I wish the circumstances were --" Well, pretty much anything else. At all. He exhales a slow, shaky breath, blue eyes flitting back to Warren. "I think you might'a died otherwise, sir," he says, quietly. "I'm -- well. /Glad/ don't begin to cover it."

Kaji glances over at Jafari and smirks, "Other than what you see before you. I'm doing pretty well actually." He lets out a small laugh before he looks back at Warren and grins. "Looks like you /can/ teach an old bird new tricks." Joking totally. But he wouldn't pass it up. His attention flicks over to Jackson once more. "I still have a promise to fulfill for ya, Jax."

Jafari smiles and nods, a little bit. He stays out of the conversation for the moment.

"Kaji, do not make me get out of bed and kick your ass." Warren mock-growls.

"You do?" Jackson's brow creases in confusion. Between (dissipating) worry over Warren and the news about Sunset and his generally chaotic mindframe of late, his memory is not functioning at its best. "-- An' please, sir, I think you should prooobably be staying in bed," he remembers to chide, with mock-severity to Warren's mock-growl.

Kaji gives a glance back over at Warren and says, "I dare you to try it." He cracks his knuckles and then looks over at Jackson, "Yeah, I still got that flying promise to hold up to. Remember that catching practice we did a while back in the DR?"

Jafari yawns. "You know what, I'm getting tired. I should get back to my room. I'll see you all later, I suppose. Don't strain yourself too much, sir."

Warren snorts. "If I wasn't so tired, I would." He snarks at Kaji. "Someone's gotta keep you lot in line."

Jackson winces. "'course I remember it. It was -- er." He grins. "I was sort of damaged. It was unwise." He leans back in his chair, gaze flickering over Warren. "Not you, right now, sir. /You're/ s'posed to be resting an' letting everyone else take care of you!" His grin brightens, impish. "-- /I'll/ keep Kaji in line."

Kaji looks over at Jafari, "I'll see you around the school, Jafari. Head to bed if you're tired." His gaze moves back to Jackson and then he says, "Oh? And how's a little firefly gonna keep me in line, hm?" He grins slightly before he looks over at Warren and says, "When you're /all/ better. We need to do that altimeter thing."

Jafari heads to a power outlet and whoosh, he's gone.


The prodigal Remy returns!

It has now been three full days since Warren got his ass beating ... not that you could tell. There is now not a mark on him. Severen's given him a going over with the proverbial fine-toothed comb, but all is well and Warren is free to leave ... just no funny stuff for a few days, in case something /else/ crops up, other than the healing factor.

Look what the gator dragged in. After a long absence the Cajun can be seen walking the halls. He seems tired and weathered but all in all in high spirits. Whistling a random tune, he walks along the corridors of the lower levels of the mansion, not having been spotted yet by anyone.

"Remy!" A high-pitched squeal is called his way ust a few seconds before impact. That impact being Cole around around his waist. Seeing the cajun again helped immensly in brightening up her day, which she needed. She also knew it would brighten up Warren's day. "Hi! Come on, we have to go to the medbay and see Warren."

Gambit laughs as the wind gets knocked out of him by such a tiny package. Letting himself be taken down to the ground the Cajun lets out a warm laugh. "Petite Cole! How are yah Chere?" He quickly gets up and tosses her into the air and catches her. He knows she's not that little but he can't help but adore the little one. "How've yah been? D'ya miss yah uncle Remy?" Still holding her in his arms he carries her along the hallway.

Cole lets out another squeak as she's lifted into the air. "I did!" She says with a smile and, as long as he's carrying her, she wraps her arms loosely around him. "But, lots of stuff happened. Warren got hurt, bad. He was in a coma for days...but, he's better now. He's got like, healing powers now, or something. And..." She adds a little softer, "I got kidnapped." She leans in to hug him. "You were gone waaay too long. Anyway, I know dad'll be happy to see you and he needs some good cheering up because Sunset, his girlfriend y'know? And..and her baby, they got killed in a car accident." Well that trip down the hall was informative.

Gambit doesn't break his stride as he turns towards the medbay but he doesn't make to withhold the surprise in his voice. "Yah kiddin me!" He has been gone a long time. Too long in fact. He holds Cole closer as he whispers. "Ah'm sorry chere... Remy woulda rescued yah if ah knew, same wid Angel." He walks into the direction of the Medbay and lets cole down just before the doors.

Cole nods. "It's okay..." She replies and then opens the doors to the medbay. A big smile replaces anything else on her face. "Hey Dad! Lookit what followedme home. Can I keep him?"

Warren, just finishing putting his shirt on, does up the last button before turning. "Hey Cole!" And then he blinks at Remy. "I dunno. He looks kinda scraggly." He says, teasingly. "I think maybe he needs a bath and some flea dip before we take him home, don't you?"

Gambit laughs as he leans against the doorway. "Don' know bout dah flea dip, but a ba'd sounds nice." He walks over to his friend and holds his arms open. "How are ya mon ami? Yah holdin up?"

Cole giggles as she bounds over to the bed and takes a seat near Warren. Other than that, she gives the two men a moment to catch up.

"I take it you've heard at least some of the news, then." Warren says. "To be honest ... I don't know. I think I'm dealing by /not/ dealing, if you know what I mean. A bit too much a bit too fast." He reaches over and gives Cole a hug. "And if you think I'm hugging your stinky ass, you got another think coming, Cajun." Warren informs Remy.

Gambit laughs knowing his friend won't get off that easy. "S'ok mon ami." He turns to Cole and informs her, "Daddy's bein difficult cause he tryin tah be strong. S'ok Angel, it ain' yah fault, jus let dah love make yah'll bedduh." Remy's hoping Warren knows him well enough to know that he too deflects these typs of situations all the time and that humor is is haven. "Jus lemme love yah mon ami, ah won' tell dah Petites." He pushes his way towards Angel trying to force him into a big hug.

Cole hugs Warren back and giggles as Remy squeezes closer. "Uh-uh." Is her warning before she tries to slip out of Warren's hug to lay back instead, which is still a good view of the show about to happen.

Warren wrinkles his nose, lets loose of Cole, and tries to dodge around the bed away from Remy. "You, sir, are a dirty, rotten, no good lech." He proclaims, in comically snooty tones. "And you will keep your uncouth hands off my person."

Gambit starts laughing. "Mon ami, dat jus earned yah a kiss too." Remy puckers his lips in a very exaggerated expression as he finally corners Warren and tries to speak coherently, the accent not helping, through his pursed lips. "Don' figh' d'inevitable mon ami. Yee c'in 'scape." Remy finally manages to wrap his arms around Warren moving in for what Warren will no doubt take to be the kiss of death.

Cole rolls over, off the bed and onto the floor again. This will keep her safe from the retaliation that is bound to come. Giggling, she cups her hands over her mouth and watches.

Warren is too busy laughing to evade Remy's grab at him, but he does elbow the man in the ribs and duck to one side to avoid that kiss, making a completely overdramatic gagging noise as he does. "Save me, Cole, save me! He's going to get my clothes all dirty!" He says it like this is a fate worse than ... well, worse than death.

Gambit can't help but laugh himself. "Yah keep dis up and ah might havetuh do sometin dat da church ou Rogue ain' goin be too happy wid mon ami." He finally manages to plant a big slobbery kiss onto Angel's cheek dropping him the moment it's accomplished. "Dere... Wasn't so bad was it?" Remy grins and remains silent for a while before saying... "so... Yah goin call me?" He offers Cole a wink.

Cole moves over toward Remy and Warren, but the kiss over before she can 'help' so she just chuckles again. "Opps, sorry dad. He got you." Hehe. And Remy winked...that just makes her blush a little. She turns to look up at Warren instead. "Are we going home tonight? Are you really all better?"

Warren makes a strangled, horrified sound when Gambit kisses him ... then promptly wipes his cheek on Gambit's shoulder. "Ewwwww. Somebody get me some disinfectant before I get gangrene and my face falls off!" He complains, then grins at Cole. "Yeah, we're heading home. Though I'm going to have to keep in contact with Severen for a while, to make sure nothing else wierd comes up with me manifesting again." Oh, he sounds /so/ thrilled about manifesting again. Really.

Gambit seems confused suddenly by all this manifestation talk. "Did ah miss somet'in mon ami? Wha's been going on since ah been way? What happened to yah exactly?"

Cole smiles, nodding. "Good." Again she allows the men to talk, wandering off a bit to go and get Puffball from the chair in the corner where she'd left her.

"Well ... three days ago, I got the /shit/ beat out of me by Dock Ock." Warren says. "Severen told me all the damage. Both arms broken, both legs broken, both /wings/ broken ... three ribs broken, a punctured lung, cuts, gouges, and internal bleeding and bruises. Severen's good at healing, but that was /three days ago/." And there is absolutely no evidence of any of those injuries on Warren now. The only indication that something might have been amiss is the fact that his wing feathers are not sitting smoothly (they got a bit rumpled in the fight and all that happened after, and he hasn't had a chance to smooth them down yet). "Severen says I started manifesting a healing factor a couple of hours after they dragged my sorry butt back here."

Gambit grins. "Sounds like what dat Gut'rie boy got goin on... Looks like good genetics runs in dah family." He takes a moment to ponder admiringly about Paige and her... finer assets. "Well least y'alright mon ami. Bedduh seein yah like dis den up in a gurny somewheuh."

Cole picks up Puffball, cringing as Warren goes over his list of injuries. Even though he's all better now, she'll not easily forget the image of him when she first saw him. She wanders back over to the men, leaning lightly against Remy. "Oh, yeah...Joshua," escapes her lips with a smile, without her really meaning to have said anything out loud.

"Hey." Warren says gently. "It's all right, I'm better now." He gives Cole a squeeze, then grins at her. "And are you getting a crush on someone?" He teases. Better Joshua than some of the other choices around. "Yeah, and at any rate, Severen wants to make sure that's /all/ that's going to come up before he lets me off the leash completely."

Gambit nods. "Well das good." He can't help but smile at the sight of Cole. "Does our Petite have her first crush?" Remy kneels down and smiles. "Yah bedduh be careful, he kinda old."

Cole blushes like mad. "Crush? I--what? Um...no. I...I just think he's nice. And, he's not /that/ old." She rebuts to Gambit. Okay, floor can ppen up and swallow her at any time now. Suddenly she looks aghast and says to both of them, "Don't tell him that!"

Ahhh, revenge is sweet. Now Warren isn't the only one who's feeling highly embarrassed. Now if he could only get even with Remy ... but sadly, he has a feeling that particular reprobate has forgotten how to feel embarrassed. Warren grins at Cole. "We won't tell him." He says. Besides, if he's right about Cole having a bit of a crush, Josh'll figure it out quickly enough. Crushes at Cole's age are not subtle things.

Gambit shrugs his shoulders and coughs "cough Ah might tell him cough cough... Sorry Petite, ah tink ah'm allergic tah pigeons." He points to Warren and grins. "Where is dat boy? Been wonderin how he doin."

Cole looks up and pouts at Remy. "No, don't tell him, please." Pretty face, big hazel-blue eyes, pouty, sad face, pathertic whimpering voice...how can he possibly resist?

Warren whaps Remy gently with a wing. "Behave, you, or I'll take you on a flight and accidentally drop you. On purpose." Then, to Cole. "He won't tell, because if he does, I'll tell on him."

Gambit scratches his head. "Tell on meh fo what?" He laughs as he pats Cole on the head. "Don' worry Petite, yah secret's safe wid meh. Ah ain' gonna tell yah pretty boy dat yah wanna scream ovuh him like he some kinda backstreet boy."

Warren chuckles at their byplay. "By the way, Remy ... once I'm completely cleared ... would you mind working with me? I was always too twitchy about broken bones to want to mess with the nastier martial arts and stuff, but I think maybe I don't need to be so worried about it now." At the very least, if he breaks a bone, it won't mean weeks or even months out of commission.

Gambit hugs Cole and assures her, "Chere, yah really t'ink dat ah'm gonna let someone hurt yah?" Martial arts? He turns to Warren at the mentioning. "Yah mean yah wanna learn or yah want me tah be dah one dat does all dat while yah fly round asking fo help?"

Cole accepts Remy's hug, but then she spins on her heel to address Warren. Hands go directly to her hips, "You can't keep doing that stuff!" She says simply, as if there could be no question. "You could have /died/!"

Warren hunkers down to be more on Cole's level when she makes her opinion known. "I know. And I'm really sorry it scared you, Cole ... but I /wasn't/ doing the superhero thing that night, not at all. I just had the bad luck to come across a really, really cranky bad guy. Me not doing the superhero thing anymore isn't going to stop the bad guys from kicking my ass whenever they get in my vicinity. But if Remy teaches me how to do martial arts, I'll have a /much/ better chance at defending myself than I did before."

Gambit nods realizing it might be scaring Cole to say otherwise. "Chere, look at Remy, dah only time dis boy get huht's when dere are maybe 4 ou 5 bad guys coming aftuh meh. Remy can take cayuh o himself and if ah teach yah daddy, den we goin be able tah fight jus like Remy, maybe not as stylish or as cool, but he goin be able tah kick dah ol' squidy's derrier."

Cole narrows her eyes slightly as she listens to Warren. But she is not easily detered and turns to look back over at Remy and agian listens to him. "Fine. Then can you teach me too, please?" Back to Warren, she says, "That way, I can go out with you and help. And we'll be two against one, which gives you and even /better/ chance at defending yourself." So there.

Warren glances up at Remy. "Well, I did promise to ask Remy if he'd be willing to teach you some martial arts, didn't I? He was just gone longer than I thought he would be." And really ... it'd ease two minds at once. Cole would be a lot happier, thinking she could protect Warren ... and Warren would breathe easier knowing she'd be able to defend herself if someone tried to kidnap her again.

Gambit shrugs. "Alright, Ah don' mind, but ah'm jus telling yah now mon ami, chances are, she goin be bedduh den yah and a lot quickuh at learning... S'not cause ah t'ink yah been eatin too many escargots or anythan, s'just dat she's young and prolly mo flexible so she goin be able tah do all dah acrobatic stuff." He holds out a hand for Warren. "But if yah wanna learn, den ah'm gonna turn yah into a mean fightin machine." Turning to Cole he adds, "Et vous... (and you) Remy gonna turn yah into a heart takin, ball breakin lil kung fu princess." He offers a quick wink and not being able to resist, "Dat way, when yah ask yah lil Justin Timbuhlake friend out on a dat and he say no? Yah can beat him into sayin yes." He knows Warren's gonna scold him so he quickly adds, "What? Dah boy's good lookin?"

Cole is put at ease and smiles again, "Cool. Thanks Remy! But Joshua is /not/ Justin Timberlake! And I'm /not/ asking him out." Unless she actually thinks he'd say yes. Would he? He was so very handsome...and now she's cherry red again and sheepishly scoots out from between them. "You two can go back to kissing, I'm going to get a soda!"

Warren snorts. "Don't count me out just yet, Remy." He says. "I think it'll be a tossup who learns faster, her or me." They both, after all, have motivation, and Warren at least already knows /some/ Judo, which, even if it isn't high on the hit-and-kick scale (being more about throws than anything else), it's still a martial art. "You /better/ run, missy!" He squawks, and lunges at her. "You're gonna get tickled for that one!"

Gambit can't help but laugh at the cuteness of Cole. "Ok but if ah gotta kiss yah ugly poppuh 'gain, yah gotta go and give dat boy of yahs a peck on dah cheek." He sticks out a tongue at Cole as he too begins to chase after her with fingers waggling in front of him.

"No!" She squeals, darting away from the two old geezers. She darts behind another of the beds before whirling to face them. "No tickling!" She sticks her tongue out at them, "Maybe I will go out with Josh and then he'll protect me from the likes of /you/!" She teases.

Warren glances at Remy and cocks his head giving a 'you go that way, I'll go this way' nod and jerk, then takes off in the direction he indicated for himself, stretching one wing out to block Cole from sliding under the bed.

Gambit laughs as he chases after her. Diving to get a hold of her he managed to eat floor tile and slide a few feet before stopping. "She quick mon ami, but ah goin ged her." Remy quickly slithers onder the bed towards the opposite site of Angel so that they can trap her.

Cole laughs as Remy goes slidding by. Then she quickly meeps and makes another run, hoping to slip past Warren.

Warren has an advantage Remy doesn't. Namely, big-ass wings. Which he uses to good effect, cutting off Cole's escape route and then herds her towards a corner where he can catch her.

Gambit slides under Warren's legs and starts wiggling his fingers. "Come ovuh here yah lil rugrat, Remy goin tickle ya like dere no tahmorrow." He finally finds a hold of her little belly tickling wildly and laughing at the sight the three must be.

Cole is giggling. "No...don't!" After a few seconds of the tickling however, and for whatever reason actualy triggers it, weather it's thier proximity, or a certain touch, the game is quickly no longer fun. She actaully still laughs, because of the tickling but her tries to push him away become more forceful, "Okay Remy...stop. Stop, stop!"

Warren, hearing Cole start to freak slightly, grabs Remy by the collar and pulls him back, whether he wants to go or not, and those wings snap down, giving her an escape route. "Sorry about that, Cole." He gives Remy an 'I'll explain later." look.

Gambit sneezes and seems to have a mini panic attack at the feathers in his face before calling out. "Sorry Petite. Didn' mean tah make yah mad... Yah wanna kick Remy tah make yahself feel bedduh? Or maybe some money?" Ok cut him some slack, when he was a kid, those woulda been awesome consulation prizes.

Cole crosses her arms around her body in a self-hugging manner, feeling the goosebumps that popped up along her flesh. She gives them both an apologetic look. "S'ok." She murmurs before scurying past them into more open space. "I'm not mad. It's okay." is also murmured. Embarrassed, even more so then when blushing over thier Josh teasing, Cole scoops up PB again. "I think I'll go and get that soda. Um...I'll meet you in the foyer so we can go home, dad. Bye Remy."

"You going to be ok, Cole?" Warren asks, reluctant to let her just bolt like that. Then, to Remy. "Sorry about the feathers in the face, man." Even though he's kinda not ... revenge for earlier.

"S'okay mon ami... She goin be ok? Ah hope she ain' gonna hate me fo dis. Ah didn' t'ink it was goin be bodderin her so much." Remy shrugs innocently wondering whats going on. Certainly many things have changed, just what else is the question.

Cole nods quickly, "Mmm-hmm. Yeah...I'm fine. Just...thirsty." She forces a smile to reassure him and then dashes off.