Fractals

Fractals Chapter Fifty Four (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply

A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST WOMAN ALIVE ™, Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta… kitty emergency pretty much averted… I think. InterNutter, TC, Maxwell Pink and Dracena are loverly and wondermous for archiving/hosting. ;) ProPhile… Yeah, well. *poke* Morgan: *glomp * Readers/reviewers; Um… I guess you’re out there. Thanks for reading and reviewing as you get the chance. This week I’m going to take a day off of writing this and finish up the loose ends of the sideflings and get those out of the way before the New Year so…yay. I’ll post ‘em as I finish ‘em.


“Pardon?”
“I’m looking for Charles Xavier,” the man repeated. “Or one of his…ah…assistants.”
Astrid frowned and wiped her hands on the dishtowel she had carried absentmindedly from the kitchen. “I’m sorry but they’re all…out. Field trip,” she smiled thinly. “It is a school, you know.”
“Yeah, um, are you the housekeeper or something?” The young man’s eyes swept over her and took in her appearance, finding it lacking. “This is really important, so if you can just call him up or something that’d be great, thanks…”
“I am not the housekeeper,” she said tightly, her brows creeping up and her accent thickening. “I can take your name and number and have him get back to you when he returns,” she added, folding her arms over her chest and peering down her nose at the man.
“Yeah, okay, sure. I’m Bill,” he paused and looked at her again. “That’s B-I-L-L… can you repeat that?”
“I’m German, not stupid,” she spat. “Call back tomorrow.” She slammed the door in his face and vented a curse she would never have said if she had known she was being observed.
_*Bloody prat, *_ Jono observed pleasantly. At least Astrid assumed it was pleasantly.
“Probably selling something,” she muttered, stalking back towards the kitchen and her rapidly cooling tea. “I thought you left with the others.”
_*I’m just full of surprises, *_ Jono replied, sitting down across from her. He glanced at the cup held delicately in her hand and raised a brow. _*Sixth cup this morning, isn’t it? *_
She frowned. “I’m not counting.” She drained it in one long sip and hiccoughed. “Damn.”
Jono’s eyes crinkled in amusement. _*Can’t do anything else so you make tea, hm? I can understand that. I was left here, just in case, they said, so I’ve been pacing. I suppose making tea is more productive but… *_ He gestured to his bandages. _*Last I checked, the dead can’t drink. *_
Astrid paused, uncertain of the correct response. “I don’t think you can truly be considered dead,” she said after a careful moment. “Last I checked, the dead don’t have feelings. They would not worry about someone like Paige…”
Jono winced. _*Possibly, *_ he brushed the comment away. _*They’ve been gone two hours. When should we worry? *_
“I started about eighteen years ago,” Astrid sighed, peering into her empty cup. “I feel so…useless.”
_*Welcome to my world, *_ he replied in his monotone. Both of them looked up sharply as a knock fell on the front door again, followed by rapid ringing for the doorbell. _*Want me to scare the Hell out of dear old Bill? *_
“I think I can handle it,” she said on a sigh, on her feet and striding for the door before Jono could push away from the table. Jono rose and trailed her to the door, standing just inside the entrance to the Rec Room and out of sight of whoever was before Astrid. “I’m sorry,” she said politely, “we’re not interested. Perhaps another time.”
“Lady, I’m not selling anything,” a female voice said, obviously agitated. “I’ve got a few questions for you about the Institute and Professor Xavier.”
Jono edged closer, instantly alert. He fingered the edge of his bandages, wondering if he could actually be of any use if it came right down to it. Astrid frowned and replied, “Are you a parent interested in enrolling your child or children?”
“No, I’m Sue O’Hara with the Bayville Examiner.” The woman tried to step forward only to find Astrid immovable. “We pride ourselves at the Examiner on being up to date with the current events in our city and it’s a bit embarrassing that we dropped the ball on this whole mutant thing. We’d like to try and get a personal interview with Professor Xavier and set the record straight.”
Astrid raised one brow in eloquent annoyance. “There is no record to set straight. Professor Xavier is taking part in a field trip today with his senior students and several staff members. He will return this evening. Any questions you have can be directed through his attorney, who I am sure will be interested to hear the aspersions being cast not only on the Professor’s name but on the students as well. Mutants,” she added. “Pah!”
Sue O’Hara, a woman of middle years well preserved with a bit too much make up and too little healthy living, frowned deeply. “Look, I saw Bill Patterson leaving here. I know the Weekly Post is trying to scoop us here… We can offer five hundred dollars for this story.”
Astrid sniffed. “Do not insult me. Leave the property now or I’ll set the dogs on you.” She slammed the door and turned to face Jono. “Do you have dogs here?”
_*Not unless it’s a full moon, *_ he rejoined. _*I think this has officially become out of hand. *_ Carefully, he leaned to peer out of the sidelight at the aggravated reporter slamming her car door and preparing to leave the grounds. _*If it wasn’t for Lucas, I’d say we go after them. *_
Astrid seemed to be stricken by a marvelous idea, so brightly did her features light up. “You are a very smart boy, you know that?”
Jono stared for a moment before following her as she hustled to the study, finding her flipping through the thick black notebook the Professor kept by the phone. _*Astrid, what are you doing? *_
“Getting a babysitter. Do you know how to drive?”
_*Yes… *_
“Good. Be ready to leave in twenty minutes,” she ordered, already dialing.
_*I guess it’s true, *_ he muttered, turning to head towards the garage, _*Men really do go for women who remind them of their mothers… *_