Mere Paperwork

Posted on Sun May 31st, 2026 @ 3:30pm by Jean Grey-Summers & Jennifer Bryant

1,444 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 7: Pathogens and Contagions
Location: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Timeline: March 13, 1992

Jennifer looked back as Jean herded her into the other. "He needs....I mean...I called him back. Before, I called him back." She seemed to think she was making sense.

“Called him back?” Jean raised a single quizzical eyebrow at Jennifer’s statement as she closed the door to Cecilia’s office. “Drew called us less than an hour ago because Angela is sick.”

"Not then," Jennifer said. "Before that. When he was in a coma. I talked to him and he woke up."

“Drew will be alright,” Jean said gently, her voice wrapping around Jennifer like a warm blanket. There was a steadiness to her tone, the quiet certainty of someone who had soothed countless fears before. “He’s been pushing himself too hard. He forgot that he needs care too while he was looking after Angela. His blood sugar dropped… that’s all. A little dextrose, some rest, and he’ll be back on his feet before you know it.”

Jean offered a small, reassuring smile, the kind meant to lend strength when someone else’s knees felt weak. But then Jean’s expression softened further, compassion deepening in her eyes as she prepared to share the harder truth. She didn’t rush it; she let the silence cradle them first.

“Angela is very sick, Jennifer,” she said quietly, the words were spoken with care, cushioned in empathy rather than fear. “She has the Legacy Virus.”

"She...but..." Jennifer stammered, not quite coherent. She looked down and took a deep breath.

“Drew and Dr. Reyes are going over his options and what he wants to do next,” Jean said, her voice calm as she gathered a small stack of rumpled papers and straightened them with absent, practiced care. “It’s… not an easy place to be in. But I’m glad he came to us. That he asked for help.” She glanced up briefly, her expression softening. “Xavier’s is the right place for her right now and, honestly, probably for him too.”

She let the papers settle back onto the desk, her attention shifting fully to Jennifer. Her reaction didn’t go unnoticed, the flicker of surprise, the uncertainty underneath it. None of this had been expected, and Jean wasn’t entirely sure where things had last stood between Jennifer and Drew. A year was a long time to be apart… long enough for things to change, or to stay painfully unfinished.

Jean stepped a little closer, her tone gentler now. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly. “Do you want some water?”

"Some water would be good, I think," Jennifer said. She looked up to Jean and offered a small, uncertain smile. It was a lot to take in.

With her telekinetic touch, Jean poured and delivered a glass of water to Jennifer. Allowing her to take a few sips and to settle herself before they continued. “I don’t mean to pry into the personal lives of the residents of Xavier’s. You are all adults now and unless you do anything outside of the code of conduct, I am respectful of your privacy and of your personal relationships inside and outside of the school. But if there is anything you would like to talk about, I’m always available.”

"What do you mean outside the code of conduct" Jennifer said, suddenly worried she'd done something wrong.

“I swear, none of you read your orientation packets. Maybe I need to start quizzing people…” Jean said with a soft chuckle before continuing, slipping easily into a recitation of the basic standards of conduct everyone at Xavier’s was expected to follow. “All residents are expected to treat one another with courtesy and respect, regardless of age, background, or status, and must refrain from harassment, bullying, discrimination, or threatening behavior. Because minors live on the premises, safeguarding their wellbeing is a priority. Students must follow established curfews, check-in procedures, and the guidance of authorized staff or supervisors, while adults are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries and may not supervise or discipline minors unless they’ve been formally designated to do so. Interactions between adults and minors should remain respectful and appropriate, preferably in common areas, and any concerns about safety or misconduct should be reported immediately. Residents must respect one another’s privacy and may not enter another person’s room without permission, especially when it involves a minor. Quiet hours are to be observed during designated times to support rest and study, and shared spaces such as kitchens, lounges, and bathrooms need to be kept clean and usable for everyone. Illegal drugs are prohibited, alcohol isn’t permitted when minors are present, underage drinking is strictly forbidden, and smoking is limited to designated areas...”

She lifted a scarlet eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t think I need to go on when it could all be summed up as don’t be stupid, you live and work with children. But I digress. Xavier’s rulebook probably isn’t the most exciting conversation to have, so my original point still stands. If you want to talk about anything, I’m available. And if you’d rather have a moment alone to compose yourself, that’s perfectly fine too.”

"I don't know," Jennifer admitted. "I thought he was gone. Now he's back but she's sick and that has to be the main thing on his mind and I had all this weird stuff with the vampires. I don't know how he'll feel about all of that. It was kind of, I don't know, they got really close."

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from my time with the X-Men, it’s that ‘weird’ stops being weird pretty quickly around people like us. We’ve all seen too much, been through too much, to judge someone for how they’re coping. And when it comes to Drew’s headspace…” Jean’s voice softened, a shadow of her own grief passing through her expression. She’d lost so many, her husband, her mentor, the men she’d once called brothers, all to the same relentless virus.

“Just take it slow with him. Don’t try to fix everything in one conversation, and don’t feel like you need to have the right words lined up. Half the time, just being there and actually listening is what matters most. Let him come to you in his own time.”

She offered a small, reassuring smile. “And don’t overthink every silence, either. Silence doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, it just means he’s sorting through things. Give him that space. Be steady, be patient, and be honest when it’s your turn to speak.”

Jean’s tone softened further, warmer now, more like a sister than a teacher. “You don’t have to carry this for him, you know. Just stand beside him while he figures out how to carry it himself. That’s more help than you realize.”

She paused, then added gently, “The first conversation is always the hardest part. After that… it gets easier. Maybe not all at once, but little by little. You just have to get through that first step together.”

"Thank you, Jean," Jennifer said. "I think that makes sense. I won't push anything. I'll just be there for him and listen."

“I think just knowing he has someone in his corner will make a world of difference,” Jean said softly. “It always did for me… and for Scott.”

Her fingers drifted to the ring on her left hand, brushing it absently before she straightened and grounded herself. The Legacy Virus was merciless, it didn’t care how important someone was, or how deeply they were loved.

“I’m sorry his return came as such a shock,” she continued gently. “But I hope the two of you can reconnect… and find some comfort in each other.” She offered a small, reassuring smile, then glanced around the room. “Come on—let’s tidy up while we wait. Once Cecilia’s ready, she’ll call for us. Okay?”

Jennifer's eyes moved to the ring as Jean brushed it. She knew that Scott was also among those infected. "I hope so too," Jennifer said. "And I..." She paused. She felt the should say something about Scott. But she wasn't sure what. She wasn't as good at this as Jean. "I hope we're able to bring our loved ones back. All of them."

"I do too." Jean nodded her head in somber agreement, "And until that day comes, we'll keep on making this world a better place for them to return to."

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