Challenge answered!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel chaers.ers. This is purely for entertainment purposes.

Jubilee was sweating. Not just under her arms and under the waistband of her shorts. She was sweating everywhere. The temperature in Bayville was nearing one hundred degrees for the second day and the humidity was fierce. There was no breeze to relieve the brave individuals who left the house that had been like a prison for the past two weeks. It had rained hard and constant for those weeks; quenching a long drought, but making things a bit tense for a lot of teenagers who were forced to spend way too much quality time together without school to break up the monotony.


Most of the students were either swimming in the pool, or indoors where the air conditioning kept the temperature well below volcanic. Some of the mutants, like Amara and Sunspot, enjoyed the heat, being able to absorb and channel it. Jubilee was not one of them. She was also craving solitude. Two weeks of constant company made her yearn for a little privacy. She ventured out of the main yard and headed towards the forest, hoping that thadehade would provide at least a little relief from the heat. The drought had lasted for several weeks during the month of June with little or no moisture. Then the heavens had opened up and poured down all the rain that they'd been hoarding.


"It's either feast or famine with the weather." Jubilee said to herself as she picked her way down an overgrown path. She took this route when she walked to the river that ran through the estate. Despite the extreme heat, the ground was still moist under some of the thicker patches of grass. The humidity made it impossible for water to evaporate completely in the saturated air. Her toes were wet by the time she caught sight of her destination. She'd heard the sound of rushing water long before she could see it and was pleased to note that although the swollen river wasn't bursting its banks, it was much more impressive than the sluggish trickle it had been before the rain. This was one of her favorite spots and she was relieved to have it all to herself.


The water was moving fast but it still gathered in a few deep pools at the wider spots. Jubilee found her favorite rock; an ancient giant that formed a semi-circle around into the river and caused a natural dam that created the pool. It dropped straight into the water but had one part that jutted out over the water to a point. It was flat on the top and a great place to sunbathe. Jubilee was inclined to do more than that. She slipped out of her sandals and hopped gingerly from the hot stone to a patch of shade on the sun-baked rock provided by the large pines that lined the riverbank. Looking around to make certain no curious eyes were upon her, she peeled off her navy-blue tank top and dropped it on her sandals. She wore only a brief pair of dark khaki, twill shorts. And brave though she might be, she decided that topless was as naked as she was going to get in the great outdoors. At least today.


Jubilee stretched her hands above her head and enjoyed the nervous flutter in her belly as she anticipated the chill of the water. She had not tested it first, preferring instead to be surprised. She sprang off the edge of the rock and dove into the pool. The cold was an almost painful shock. She forced herself down to the pebbled bottom and planted her feet, kicking back up to the surface. When her face met the air, she couldn't help but to yip and yelp a little over the cold water.


The water in the pool was fairly clear since this part of the river was mostly rocks and pebbles instead of the soft sand that would cloud it when it was disturbed. Jubilee's teeth chattered involuntarily and she swam to the far end of the pool where the large rock ended and a few smaller, yet still impressive, boulders lay beside it. There was a narrow space, approximately three feet wide, that went from the edge of the semi-circular wall of rocks to the opposite bank. The gap was about a foot and a half-lower than the wall and allowed the water to continue down the river. It rushed fast and hard over the lower portion and dropped down to a more narrow and shallow pool before moving over a series of submerged and partially submerged rocks that gave the surface a bumpy look.


Jubilee took extra care not to scrape her knees or elbows as she hoisted herself onto the boulder at the edge of the pool. Her fingers were numb with cold and the smooth rock was hard to grasp. When she gained the top, she slowly rose to her feet. Her nipples resembled the tiny rocks at the bottom of the river she noticed with a private chuckle and thought of all of the glass-cutting jokes she'd heard over the years. Well, right now, she thought her two little girls might be able to accomplish a bit of glass cutting after her frosty commune with nature. She was so focused on keeping her balance while stepping from rock to rock that she didn't look anywhere but in front of her. She was startled by a voice off to her right.


"Jubilee! What the Hell?"


Heat or cold didn't bother Bobby Drake. He was immune to the effects of winter weather, and when it became uncomfortably warm, he could just lower the water molecules in the air around him, keeping himself comfortable. On a day when everyone was suffering from humidity and heat, his company was in demand. He'd slipped out of the house and stopped briefly at the pool to stick in a toe and gain a few shrieks from the girls nearest him. He hadn't frozen the water, but he'd dropped it a few degrees. He'd changed into his running shorts and a t-shirt and headed for the woods. He'd run along his normal trails when he heard an odd sound. It sounded like a distressed cry coming from the river. It was hard to hear over the rushing of the water so he walked closer to investigate.


When Bobby neared the flat rock where a lot of students hung out on their down time, he noticed a pair of sandals peeking out from under a dark blue tank top. He picked up the shirt, curiously. He knew he'd seen it before, but being in possession of a penis, he was unable to recall whom had worn it that day. He walked to the edge of the rock and looked out over the swimming hole. He saw a flash of pale flesh by the rocks at the outer edge. A skinny arm was pulling a skinny body out of the water. The person no, the girl, had her back to him. She had dark hair that was plastered to her hair and neck. When she stood up and faced his general direction he gaped openly. She was wearing no shirt. He pulled his eyes upward and they fastened on her face.


"Jubilee!" Bobby's tone was disbelieving. "What the Hell?" She looked up at him, her eyes and mouth wide with shock, and then she flung her arms over her chest. The fast turn and moment of modesty cost Jubilee her balance. She toppled off the other side of the rock with a startled scream. He ran the last few step the the edge of the rock and leapt off. "Hang on." He shouted. Hoping she could hear him.


Bobby pointed his hand downward and flash froze the relatively still surface of the pool. He used it as a starting point and his feet landed on the ice. He formed an ice bridge that carried him over to where she had fallen. He saw her white arms paddling through the rougher water and his heart stopped for a split second when she bounced off a submerged rock. He used his height to cut in front of Jubilee and launched himself, headfirst, into the water. He froze it backwards, difficult considering the current, but was able to form a curved wall that she slid into and toward him.


Jubilee's shock turned to fear when she realized she was falling backward off the rock and into the more rapid and dangerous part of the river. Her gymnastics training kicked in and she twisted her body, managing to avoid contact with the edge of the boulder she'd been standing on. She plunged into the next pool and kicked up immediately. She surfaced just before she was swept over some submerged boulders, scraping her ribs and hip. She stuck out her hands and shot out a weak energy globule. It was enough to push her back from a rock, but she'd come very close to hitting it with her face. Her right side ached and she couldn't feel her hands. She focused her mind and managed a stronger burst that kept her from another concussion.


Jubilee managed to flip herself onto her back and stick her feet out in front of her, like she'd been taught. She hit a smooth, invisible wall underwater and felt herself sliding along. It was even colder then the water. She saw Bobby's face in front of her, steady and unmoving in the water, and she realized that he's put the wall there to catch her. She slammed into him but didn't budge him at all. His arms went around her waist and he held on to her tightly. She flung her left arm around his neck and kept the right one at her side, gingerly protecting her scraped ribs. He was shouting something to her but she couldn't hear him. Then she felt them both rising out of the water, surrounded by intense cold.


Bobby had managed to make a pillar of ice that went all the way to the bottom of the river and notched the top so he would have a place to secure himself. When he caught Jubilee, he used his arms and body to shield her from as much direct contact with the ice as he could and built an ice bridge beneath his feet. He brought her back to the rock from which he'd jumped and set her down. She sank to her knees, coughing and sputtering. She held one arm curled tight against her side and when he reached for it, she pulled away from him.


"I'm fine." She gasped. Turning her back on him. "Where's my shirt?" She was trying to cover herself with one trembling arm. Bobby looked around but didn't see the tanktop anywhere. He had his suspicions that he'd dropped it in the river in his haste.


"Uh, what did it look like?"


"You were holding it in your hand. When I saw you."


"I must have dropped it when I jumped off the rock." He said. "I'm sorry." Her face was pale and pinched with pain, but her expression was that of irritation.


"Whatever." She said, grumpily.


"Let me see your ribs." Bobby said, kneeling down in front of her.


"Forget it, Frosty." She snapped, trying to keep her back to him.


"You can still keep yourself covered, but let me see your ribs." When she shook her head, Bobby sighed dramatically and pulled his t-shirt over his head. "Show me the ribs and I'll give you my shirt." He dangled the wet cotton in front of her and she grabbed it, using it to cover her breasts. Only when she was satisfied that she wasn't giving a peep show, did she allow him to lift her arm away from her side. He urged her to lie on her good side and she didn't argue. The rock was very warm and she was cold to her bones.


She didn't try to look at her injuries but bit her lip and silently endured the gentle prodding of his fingers.


"So what's the verdict?" She asked through her chattering teeth. Her whole body was shivering violently now.


"No gushing blood, no bones sticking out." He said. "Can you breathe okay?" She nodded. He touched her hip and pulled the waistband of her shorts away from her. "Your hip looks pretty battered. I'll get you to Hank and he can check to see if anything's broken."


Jubilee wasn't certain which were worse, the pain and cold of her dunking or the embarrassment of Bobby seeing her without a shirt. She decided it was the latter when he examined her. She tried to think warm thoughts and absorb the heat from the rock beneath her, but she just couldn't convince her rebellious nipples to stand down. She held his shirt over her breasts and when he told her he would bring her to Hank, another thought came to mind.


"I am sooooo dead." She moaned, miserably. "The Professor is going to murder me for this." Since her arm and side were so sore, Bobby had to help her pull his shirt over her head. Unfortunately, his knuckled brushed one of her nipples and she jumped, involuntarily.


"S-sorry." He said, obviously embarrassed. He helped her to stand up and offered her a choice. "We can go the fast way or the warm way."


"Warm." She replied, allowing him to help her up, but declined his offer to carry her. "I'm in no hurry to face the music." She also didn't allow him to touch her during their walk back to the house. He'd tried to take her good arm to help her walk, but she'd shrugged off his hand. He knew she wasn't the touchy-feely type, but he was a little miffed that she didn't seem grateful for his help, or her rescue.


Jubilee's head was buzzing with thought. She'd nearly died in the river today. Bobby had jumped in to save her. Bobby had seen her naked breasts. Bobby had touched her injured side with surprising gentleness. Xavier was going to mount her head on the wall as an example. Bobby had touched her nipple with his knuckle. Her nipple had liked Bobby's knuckle.


She was so consumed by her own thoughts that the walk was over before she realized it. She was spared the humiliation of an audience as she walked out of the woods with a shirtless Bobby while wearing his wet t-shirt. Since her luck wasn't holding much past survival, the t-shirt was white and virtually transparent now. No one was in the pool or on the patio. She didn't see anyone in the yard and the garage door was open.


Bobby ran ahead to look inside the house. He shrugged and shook his head. Jubilee went inside and walked with Bobby toward the elevator. She'd almost made it when a voice called out behind them.


"Bobby, Jubilee, are you two alright?" They turned with guilty expression and faced Xavier's concerned expression. "I didn't see you at the pool, why are you both soaking wet?" His eyebrow rose in an inquisitive and suspicious way. And Jubilee stepped forward to head off his thought process. He rarely read their minds without a very good reason and always gave his students the opportunity to tell him the truth.


"It's not what it looks like." She said, moving forward stiffly, uncrossing her arms in an open palmed, peace-making gesture. When she saw his startled expression, she re-crossed them over herself.


"Indeed." He said. Then, noticing Jubilee's stiff movements he asked, "Are you injured?"


"She fell in the river and got scraped up. I was bringing her to Dr. McCoy." Bobby piped in. "Where is everybody, by the way?" He asked, gesturing around him at the empty house.


"Scott drove the van with some of the students into town to go to the movies. Jean took a couple of the girls to the mall. You two seemed to want to be off by yourselves so they didn't bother you."


"Yeah, I was trying to get a little time to myself." Jubilee said, nodding. "I went down to the river to go sit on the big boulder but it was so hot and the water looked so inviting." She didn't bother to finish her sentence.


"I thought you said she fell in." Xavier said to Bobby.


"I did." Jubilee piped in. "I hopped in to cool off and I was climbing out when Bobby called out to me. He surprised me and I fell into the rapid side." Xavier closed his eyes, absorbing what she'd just told him.


"You could have been killed." He said softly. "You were hurt?" He nodded at her side.


"Scraped up on a rock, but Bobby pulled me out before I got hurt too bad."


"If I hadn't startled her she wouldn't have fallen." He said. "She was getting out."


"You don't know that she wouldn't have fallen." Xavier's tone was stern. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Henry is waiting for you, Jubilee, when you're done, please come to my office." He turned to Bobby.


"I'll have a few words with you for now, Mr. Drake." He turned in his chair and Bobby followed him. When they were alone, he faced the young man from behind his desk. "I don't have to read your mind to know that you're feeling guilty about something. I want you to tell me what happened." When Bobby opened his mouth, he stopped him with a raised hand. "And please be honest. You don't do anyone any good by lying."


"I wasn't going to lie." The young man said. "I went running to get rid of a little cabin fever and I was near the river when I heard something like a yell. I wasn't sure what it was because the river was so loud, but when I got there I saw Jubilee getting out of the water." He cast his eyes downward and a slight blush stained his cheeks. I called out to her and she turned around fast and slipped. She fell backwards and I got over to her as quick as I could and pulled her out."


"How did you manage the rescue?" Xavier's expression was curious now. Bobby described, in detail, how he'd done it. Xavier commended him on his quick thinking and told him he could leave. Just before he reached the door, the older man shot out another question. "Why was she wearing your shirt?" Bobby felt his ears begin to flame.


"Hers got lost in the river."


"You're telling the truth, but you're leaving something out."


"I swear it isn't anything important to the story." He turned and looked at the Professor with a pleading expression. "I promise that we weren't out there fooling around or anything, but please leave me a little privacy." The boy's face has honest. Xavier nodded and dismissed him. He didn't like to read private thoughts. It wasn't fair for teenagers to be without secrets.


Hank McCoy's giant, clawed fingers were gentle and efficient. He helped Jubilee remove Bobby's t-shirt and made a sympathetic clucking noise when he saw the bruises and scrapes on her side and hip. She wasn't shy around him. His bedside manner when dealing with anyone on a medical basis was completely professional. In the med lab he was a Doctor. In the Danger Room he was a Beast. The two sides of his personality co-existed separately. She told him the whole story and he nodded as she talked, giving encouraging noises until she was finished.


Jubilee had suffered a cracked rib two years earlier when she'd fallen on some stairs and she was able to describe that kind of pain to his satisfaction and he believed her when she assured him that it wasn't the same. He didn't take the x-rays but bundled her into a heated blanket for about twenty minutes until he was certain that her body temperature was back to normal. The med lab was air-conditioned for the furry doctor and he wasn't about to let her catch hypothermia after such a cold swim. He didn't lecture her on her behavior, but he gave her a few pills for the pain she would be having and a muscle relaxant for when she went to bed.


Jubilee walked stiffly to Xavier's office. The tape that Henry had used to secure the thin gauze that covered her scrapes was itching. He'd wanted to put ointment on for the first night or two in order to avoid infection. The door was open and Xavier was looking at her when she looked in the doorway.


"Come in, Jubilee." He said. She walked in and sat in one of the chairs that faced him. "First of all I want to say how relieved I am that you are not seriously hurt. Dr. McCoy has informed me of the injuries you've sustained." She nodded without speaking. "Now I realize how uncomfortably hot it is today and how stuffy it has been inside these past weeks so I can understand your need for solitude; however, you know very well that the first rule of water safety is to never swim alone." She nodded and her gaze fell to her lap. "I think your discomfort will be a better lesson to you than any lecture, but since you're not at your full strength I'm restricting you to the house and immediate area until Dr. McCoy gives you the OK."


"That's it?" She asked, automatically, then snapped her mouth shut. He raised his eyebrow again.


"Like I said, I understand a restless spirit, but if I catch you swimming alone again the penalties will be much more severe." He nodded to the door. Now go lie down and rest. I'll see that someone brings you some dinner."