Chapter Text
After Awakening
Chapter One
He was falling through the darkness without any idea of how long it had been since his last actions in that other world. He took what comfort he could in the fact that he knew Scotty was safe and that he’d saved Maddie from the Goblin Force. He was doing his best to be at peace with his decision to sacrifice himself and the cost of finding himself here. Still, the long dark endless fall was draining and he knew there were times when he’d completely shut down unaware of how much time had passed since the last thought echoed in his head.
He did his best in his more lucid moments to recall the good times from both his lives. It helped ease the loneliness somewhat and helped to remember the people he loved in both his lives. He began to become aware of a new sensation. His fall was slowing down and he felt a tugging as if something was grabbing onto him. Just as he began to move forward there was a violent jerk and his fall resumed. “He’s mine he stays.” A voice that sounded exactly like his own said angrily from all around him.
He struggled against the unseen force but he was too week to do anything. “He doesn’t belong here,” a familiar voice said from the distance as a small point of light appeared. “Alex, belongs on his own world with his family and friends.” His fall stopped completely as the point of light exploded into a raptor made of fire and light. Jean stood in the center of it smiling. “It is time to go home Alex.”
“No, he doesn’t get to go back to his life after stealing mine,” an angry voice said as he was shoved aside and he saw another version of himself walking toward Jean. “If anyone deserves that life it is me and once your dead I’ll take it.” He watched as what could only be the other him the one whose body he’d ended up in attacked Jean.
She stood there unfazed with a dark look in her eyes. “You are just an angry bitter ghost with no power begone,” she said gesturing and the fiery raptor fell on him and he was gone. He was afraid to ask what happened to him as Jean approached holding out her hand. “Come on Alex it is time for you to come home.”
He took her hand cautiously and then there was a rush of warmth and light and he found his eyes snapping open to see what was clearly a hospital ceiling. He turned his head to the side to see Jean sitting there with her hand on top of his. “Welcome back Alex, it has been far too long.”
He struggled to set up finding it hard and difficult but he managed it. “How long was I in that other place?” He asked looking down at himself surprised to see his arms were still well muscled and not atrophied like he would have assumed.
“About six years,” Jean said after a moment which would make him thirty six now. “When we found you in that long term coma ward as a John Doe your body was in terrible shape.” She gave him a dazzling smile, “fortunately Genosha has the best medical care in the world and several mutant healers that restored your body to prime physical shape.” She reached up and pushed him to lay back down, “still it’ll take a few weeks for your mind and body to fully synchronize again so take things easy.” She then frowned as a shadow passed through her eyes, “and it will take time for you to adjust to all the changes that happened over the last several years.”
“We are on Genosha?” He asked doing his best to ignore the bad memories. “Are the x-men operating here now?” It was hard to imagine what could have happened to make the x-men use Genosha as a home base. “And where’s Scott shouldn’t he be here?” He had the terrible suspicion that his brother must be dead.
“Scott isn’t dead but he and I aren’t together anymore,” Jean said matter of factly. “Genosha, is a great deal different than you remember it.” She seemed to pause, “Even though it’s only been a little more than half a decade things have greatly changed for the better as Charles is in charge here and it is a living example of his dream.” That was hard to believe but he supposed anything was possible. “I’ll have someone bring you up to speed on the history.”
He’d withhold judgment on the Genosha thing then until he was caught up, “So is Scott here on Genosha?” He asked really wanting to see his brother. He could tell instantly by her face that he wasn’t.
“Scott isn’t exactly welcome on Genosha, it is a complicated situation,” Jean looked tired. “He is currently wanted by several world governments and while Genosha is not one of them we can’t exactly welcome him without causing issues.” He couldn’t believe it his brother a wanted terrorist. “I will get in touch with him as soon as possible to let him know your alright and I’m sure he’ll contact you soon after that.” He could tell she was dancing around some issue.
The door opened behind her then and Lorna walked in, “Alex, your awake,” she said with a smile. “I can’t believe you did it Jean, Even Charles said bringing Alex out of that coma might be impossible.” She hugged Jean quickly and then walked over to the bed and hugged him tightly for a few seconds before backing up. “So much has changed since I last saw you,” she said and then froze, “You don’t even know that Magneto turned out to be my biological father.”
After seeing them as father and daughter in the universe he inhabited for a while it wasn’t that surprising. “How’d you find that out?” He asked doing his best not to worry about Charles since the version of the man in the other universe made it hard to trust this one even knowing the difference.
“I was included in the will with Charles and his other two children,” Lorna said after a moment. “Apparently Magneto knew all along and was keeping it secret for some reason, Hank’s blood test confirmed it shortly there after.” She seemed almost happy about it. “I just wish he could have seen all we’ve built here it would have convinced him Charles was right.”
He saw Jean’s slight frown and guessed she didn’t share that view but was keeping silent. “We should let Alex, get some rest Lorna, it’ll take him a while to get caught up on things.” He saw Lorna shoot Jean an almost grateful look as she said a quick good bye and walked out. “I’ll be back in a few hours to check on you get some rest.”
He wanted to object that he wasn’t tired but as Jean left he felt himself getting tired way quicker than normal. It could be his condition or a cynical part of him thought Jean giving him a quick psychic nudge so he’d sleep now.