Emergency or Setup?

[Jason Campbell]

It came in today as Jason was working at the clinic. The school requested some assistance. Now, certain people in their lovely town were not mutants. But a lot of people were too. And they knew Jason could heal pretty much anything simply by laying his hands on someone. So it was to no surprise that the lovely task of going there and find out what it was all about ended up on him.

Jason knew anything could happen at the academy. A bunch of students who had but vague control over their power, some still very aggressive, not trusting anyone. Guy shared enough of his stories with him for Jason to know. Which reminded him that the man still owed him some stories about that detention he had with them. He knew it was not kind to laugh at their expense. But they were not here to listen to them! And like they don’t talk in their teachers’' back. Jason had been a student there before, he knew what it was like.

As he drove, he tried to recall the nurse’s name, the one he had talked to once on the phone but never saw. Was she the same Guy described as distracting? Usually, you would assume only one nurse would suffice for a school, but this one was particular so maybe there were more. For a second, he did worry this might have been a setup his friend made for him. He did say he would torment him by matching Jason with someone, at least so he could have some action. He really hoped it was not the case but even if it was, Jason couldn’t take the risk this was a real emergency. He had to go and see for himself.

He arrived at the school, slightly disoriented for a moment. It had been a while since he returned here. But he seemed to recall where the nurses office was. He didn't want to ask a student. Call it silly but it was kind of an ego thing. Plus he might as well end up on some funny guy who’d send him to the auditorium or some random class instead. He finally found the right door. He opened and knocked on the door frame to get anyone’s attention. Please, let it really be some emergency. Or even just someone sharing his interest in powers and their origins or ways to better control them. Anything but one of Guy’s little plot to torment. Maybe he should check every crack, in case he was hiding somewhere.

[Ceanna Riggs]

The day had been dull, for the most part, as the young doctor had spent her morning nursing a cup of coffee and eating a wholegrain bagel, lightly toasted with a smooth spread of melted butter and avocado on top. It had taken her most of the morning to eat it, though she wasn't particularly sure why. Maybe the fact that there were whispers of spring in the robin that had landed outside her window, or that she had recovered from her unfortunate event out in the wood some nights ago, but Ceanna was certainly in a good mood. Folding Psychology Today closed, she opened the bottom drawer on her desk, sliding the brightly covered magazine into it for later. She knew if she read everything now, it would just irritate her that she would have to go to town to get another magazine, and she would also have to give the magazine over to the stuffy older teacher that taught biology. He seemed nice enough, that she was sure, and judging by his medical file that held what his mutation was, she figured he might be stuffy because of it. 


That was one thing she was thankful for. With each intake of student, she was able to complete a full medical report. All the students had been willing (for the most part) to supply what their power was, and any medical background. All but one. Frowning as she saw the file folder sticking out from a small stack of paper, Ceanna sighed, wishing she knew exactly what was wrong with the boy that refused to talk to anyone. Besides the obvious signs of withdrawl, which she couldn't do anything for unless he allowed her near him. But he wouldn't, and had given her a smart kick in the shoulder when he thought she got too close. It made her wonder, but she wouldn't ask to respect the youth, just what he had gone through, and how he had ended up in the state he was in when he first arrived.


Yes... everything had been going smoothly, everything made it such a lovely morning. But after morning classes ended, it seemed as though someone had flipped a switch. Someone had bumped into the electrically charged student, who jumped backwards and bumped a visitor into a metal mutant, and then screams of pain could be heard all through the school. It was a shock, when they brought her in, and the poor young woman had burns down her face, blisters bubbling up from her skin, with third degree burns. Ceanna had worked fast, trying to stop the continual burn, knowing that if it continued there would be more damage then just the surface. Throwing a is1050 mask over her small face, she was careful not to breathe on the wounds, prepping a needle to help with the pain. As soon as she touched the young woman's skin with the needle, she pulled away, screaming again, a new burn on her arm. 


This was beyond her, she knew that, as she did her best to soak sterile cotton with cold saline fluids, and drape them across the woman's face and now arm. It wasn't until Guy had mentioned in his ever reasoning voice that he was calling the town's Doctor, that Ceanna saw a solution. Her pride had been pushed aside as she nodded, knowing it had to be done.


And that was the morning that led to her to be changing out the heated gauze, trying to talk quietly to the mutant before her that was too delirious in pain to respond much other then the his of pain if Ceanna moved to quickly. "It's alright... I promise you someone is almost here... I know it hurts... I'm sorry. I wish I could do something, but help is almost here."

[Jason Campbell]

Jason couldn’t help but recall his days at the academy as he walked the halls like he used to a couple of years ago. He had never been a popular kid but he was not bullied either. A ghost was almost the best way to describe him. It was not that he was a wallflower really, but his life was so uneventful, at least at school. He was in the book club, he remembered much but no sport ones. He was amongst the best students, a quiet, hard-working one. He never fought, rarely raised his hand in class, never caused mischief, never even had a detention. Boring. But he still had friends and in retrospect, if he does believe he could have loosened up a bit, he considered to have been a happy kid.

He also rarely went to the infirmary. Maybe for the regular cold or stomach bug every now and then, but nothing major. Also a faint or two when practicing his power but again, he recovered quickly. It was kind of funny that he would not be able to heal himself when he could do so even with animals. But everyone had limitations and he accepted this as his.

Jason had no idea what happened exactly. All he knew was that a doctor was needed and here he was. He heard some voices in the room and assumed they just didn't hear him so he walked towards them. It was not like he was sneaking his way in, he had a legitimate reason to be here in the first place. Again, the memory of his friend and his description of the nurse or doctor or whatever her title was came to Jason’s mind. Distracting. He hoped this was not just a call for a distraction. Couldn’t right? Surely a serious member of the medical care would never play some midget’s twisted fantasy about the medical corps he obviously got from watching too much porn.

“I’m sorry, you must be the nurse here? I was called, for an emergency,” Jason said as he finally saw the two silhouettes. He assumed she was a nurse. Schools usually have nurses right, not doctors. Besides, this was a nurse’s job, to change bandages. Not really waiting for an invitation, he walked closer to have a better look at what happened to this poor student. There were several burns. What caused it? The problem around here was that it could be many things. The face and the arm seemed to be touched and after finding some gloves, Jason examined her. “What happened?” he asked, turning around to stare at the woman beside him. Sure he needed not to know that detail to heal her, it was not medically relevant, but he was still intrigued, as anyone would.

Seeing the student was obviously in pain and right now he was doing nothing to help if not aggravate things, he let go of her arm and fully turned towards the woman he now fully assumed to be the nurse. “Where is the medical record?” he asked. He wanted to make sure she didn’t also have another disease that might take all the healing waves he would send to her and the only way to prevent that was to know and specifically heal the burn marks.

[Ceanna Riggs]

Hearing the door to her office and infirmary open, Ceanna felt her relief spread across her face. If it wasn't for the fact of the young woman's adverse reaction to metal, Ceanna would have been fine. But it was something she obviously needed a special talent for, the town doctor's infamous 'Healing Touch'. Yet her relief was quickly cut off as she stood, her eyes narrowing at him. "Doctor." She addressed, or rather, also corrected him, her temper flaring at the fact that so many people assumed she was simply a nurse.

"I am Doctor Riggs." She introduced, squaring her shoulders and standing high, even though if it meant she was looking up at the man before her. "You were called, because I need you ability, not simply because you are a Doctor." Her voice was dripping with the urge to have him question her, letting him look at the chart that she had managed to fill out. "No medical history, she isn't a student, she was simply visiting. Apparently went to one of the European schools." 

Her normal joking, happy self was coming off slightly cold, which was different for one as fiery as she was. "From what I can tell, she has an adverse reaction to metal, so don't try to examine her with any implements. The students were at least able to tell me that there was an unfortunate incident where she was bumped and pushed into one of are students who, well let's just say was in metal form, hence the burns on her upper face and neck. As for the burn on her arm, that was an attempt at an asthetic, but I am sure you can imagine that it didn't end well. Hence why you were called."

Everything was to the point, and if it wasn't for the fact she was clearly irritated with him at the moment, Ceanna would have noticed that he certainly was as handsome as Guy had informed her. But she certainly wasn't in the mood for listening to any sexist remarks that nurses were women and men were doctors at this time. 

[Jason Campbell]

Oops, doctor. By the simple way she corrected him, he could tell he insulted her. He should have thought that a school as special as Bellefonte would require more need than that of a simple nurse. But at the same time you were so used that the only doctors in a school are teaching, not actually sticking in an infirmary. Not wanting to start the professional relationship with Ceanna on the wrong foot, he nodded, acknowledging he was talking to a peer, an equal. “Doctor Campbell,” he introduced himself. Please, no joke on the name. Then again, after his mistake, he supposed he deserved a raised eyebrow.

Well, it didn’t start well. Now he looked like the doctor taking over. He never intended to sound as if she was incompetent or anything, but as she stated he was called for his ability and not his job, he understood it might be how it sounded. He sighed as she said they had no medical history. Well, he would have to assume she was in perfect health before and hope it was the case. He couldn’t seriously ask her right now, this would be torture.

Reaction to metal eh? He nodded as she explained. “I suppose listening to her heart might prove difficult then,” he stated as he looked at the girl. Yeah, best not take a stethoscope and listen to her breathing. In that case, he supposed he should assume the reaction might have hurt her interns as well.

He approached the girl. She was both scared and in pain and it was almost impossible which of the two she felt the most right now. “This may hurt you a little, but you will feel much better afterwards,” he said to her on a calm tone. Never let them see you were out of control. And he preferred not to lie to her. He had no metal on his hands and even if he didn’t need to touch her wound directly, she might not like his touch at first. But he knew he couldn’t just stop once it started.

He grabbed her hand, placed it between both of his hands. First, he focused on her insides, just to make sure she was doing fine. The problem with not knowing if she had no previous condition? He’ll be healing it as well as her burns, leaving him drained a lot more. Slowly, the energy he sent to the girl went to her face and arm. The burn marks started to fade, healing on their own, simply at a much faster rate they would normally do, leaving not even a scar left on her face.

Jason let go of her hand. He was feeling dizzy now. Holding his hand in one hand, as if that could stop the throbbing feeling coming from it, he stepped back. Eventually, he walked to the wall and held his back against it, helping him stand that way. The girl was fine but he would let doctor Riggs see for herself and let her go. He himself needed some rest now. His vitals were not doing so good. This had been actually more demanding than he expected.

[Ceanna Riggs]

Ceanna was quick as Jason moved away, amazed at his gift, and actually getting to see it in person. While she should have also been paying attention to him, she quickly checked over the smaller girl, her hands smoothing over the place where the wounds had been. Obviously, as Ceanna could tell as soon as Jason had walked in, the female was more comfortable around females then males. Talking softly, she told her that she could rest here if need be, and then she would need to get the information from her afterwards. Handing her a soft blanket, free of any zippers or clasps, Ceanna pulled the curtain around her, before turning to talk to Jason. 

"Dr Campbell, I must say that was remark..... Are you alright?" Her eyes narrowed in on his pale face, and leaning stature, reaching out and grabbing a chair and dragging it towards him. "Sit." She told him, not even asking permission as she put the back of her hand against his forehead, checking the condition of his skin, and temperature. If anything, she was a bit pushy, she would realize later, pulling her penlight out from her back pocket. "You pushed yourself to hard... shame on you." She remarked and reprimanded, situating herself in front of him, bending over to look into his eyes and see his reaction, but ready to catch him if he fainted. 

[Jason Campbell]

Jason hoped this had been enough. It better be for it took more energy than he expected. Either he underestimated the damage or she needed more care than just the burns. Could be both, actually. He was always amazed by what he could achieve. It was not him being selfish or anything. He was simply fascinated to see the result. And yes he took pride when someone who could have lost a limb, remain disfigured or anything else major actually walked out with almost nothing, a little scar maybe, at most. Of course, the price for it was not as agreeable. He thought once before that he might actually age prematurely thanks to it. But at the same time, if he could help, he was ready to try. He simply needed to break the link faster, which was not an easy feat. But nothing about mutants was easy, right?

He had closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing when he heard doctor Riggs speaking to him. He opened his eyes slowly, as if waking up. “I just need some rest,” he said, his tone clearly showing his exhaustion. He let her take command and did as she ordered, sitting on the chair she brought for him. But as she seemed to examine him, he wanted to protest. “I am fine, really. The process takes of my own energy to redirect it,” he felt the need to explain. But it did not stop her. In other circumstances, he would have smiled to her reprimand but right now, he just wanted to sit down and rest a little. He still stared at her and arched an eyebrow at the sight she gave him. Alright, he knew why Guy called her distracting now. “I did not expect the damages to be that advanced. But I will be fine,” he stubbornly replied. He didn’t need to be told what to do. Especially from someone younger and better looking than he was.

[Ceanna Riggs]

Ceanna admonished his protests, moving herself out of his line of site for just a moment, while she riffled through her desk and came up with a chocolate bar. "You're as pale as a ghost... Does your blood sugar drop usually when you use your power?" She questioned, very curious at his ability. Breaking the kitkat in half, she handed a stick to him, knowing that it always worked for her when she had used her power, the chocolate and sugar kick something that seemed to perk her up.

"You forget one thing, Dr Campbell. You are in the school grounds, and this is where I have juristriction unless I invite you in for a specific case. At the clinic or hopsital or wherever you work, you can have complete command over my care, however, here, you are just as quick a patient as you are a colleague." Lifting her head up, as she searched her hand to take his pulse, she swallowed the slight lump in her throat as she actually looked at him. God... He looked a bit like her father, and somewhere, that irritated her greatly. Her father that indeed had been trying to ply his way back into her life with medical instrument gifts for the school. Her nostrels flaring, she coughed slightly, looking away from studying his face.

[Jason Campbell]

Was he surprised she refused to listen to his excuses? Had he been the doctor here and she the, well he supposed he was a patient right now, he wouldn’t be listening to it either. People felt the need to justify their act sometimes. It didn’t make it any better though. He never thought he’d be doing that one day however. He took the chocolate bar she handed him as she commented his face and asked him medical questions. Pale? Yeah, that probably was the case. “I’m taking energy directly from my life force. All of my vitals drop,” he answered. Of course, not too dramatically. It was not like the girl was about to die or anything. He supposed however that healing someone on the brink of death would leave him in that state, no matter how well rested and fed he was before healing them. He mouthed a thank you for the sugar. He knew it would help. It was just the best when you needed a quick boost.

There was something almost amusing to be lectured by her. Now Guy knew he was spending way too much time with Guy as the thought it resembled almost the premise of a porn movie. Maybe it was just the fact she was a very gorgeous woman, or the fact that she looked younger and yet acted as the mature, responsible one here. She was now taking his pulse and he knew it might worry her. “Alright, I’m your patient for the time being. But can we drop the ‘doctors’ already?” he asked. It took Jason a while before he got used to be called Dr Campbell. It had always been his father before. He knew they were technically still working and so it was the proper way to refer to each other. But he also found it a little ridiculous to constantly go by doctor when talking to someone. Then again, he apparently started this the wrong way by assuming she was just a nurse so he doubted she would like to be familiar with him, even if it was just calling him by his last name.

“I’m sorry if I’ve worried you here,” he said now that he ate the chocolate. He turned his head towards the curtain behind which he knew the girl was. Was she awake and listening to them? “How is she?” he asked, nodding his head in her direction.

[Ceanna Riggs]

Ceanna's shoulders relaxed slightly, as he requested that they drop the 'Doctor' tittle. Though she did find it fascinating that he took part of his own life force to heal others, she knew that this probably wasn't the place to ask to many questions, when ears that weren't ones she knew very well were just a few feet away. "That works.... Whenever I hear Dr. Riggs, I think someone is talking to my mother. There is nothing more frustraiting then having to live in a parent's shadow when it comes to the medical field." 

She had no idea of Jason's father, or that Jason was in the same boat as she was when it came to that fact. "My name is Ceanna, if you would prefer that. Just don't call me 'Nurse' again. I didn't force myself to fast track through medical school with a double course load to graduate this early for nothing." A slight smirk, as she blantantly slipped the fact that she was a hard worker, and that nothing stood in her way, into the conversation. Glancing back at the curtain, she nodded. 

"Yes... she'll be alright. I remember hearing about someone that had the same allergy in one the European schools... I do believe that is her, judging by her Irish accent." Ceanna broke the second half of the kitkat off in her mouth, chewing it as she kept a critical eye on Jason. She got the feeling he was uneasy with the fact that she was so young, and was obviously commanding. "Very interesting case. Once she is all healed up though, wash your hands if you ever have to examine her, before touching anything. Eyes, mouth, anything at all that you might ingest. And don't breathe to deeply."

[Jason Campbell]

Well, apparently she didn’t take the nurse comment too badly. He smiled lightly when she said that Doctor Riggs was her mother. Man, did he understand what she was saying right now! “I know the feeling. Doctor Campbell was my father,” he replied. At least it was so here. “I found a way to live outside of his, I moved out of the state,” he added. He had a light tone which would make you think he was joking yet at the same time he sounded quite sincere about it. Then again, his father started to become a shadow of himself back then when he left. But she didn’t need to hear about it.

He nodded as she introduced herself as Ceanna. “I’m Jason.” Well, the introductions were properly made now. He had a sheepish smile as she warned him not to call her a nurse again. He was rather impressed she went through medical school so quickly. “Sorry for the nurse, it was not against you. I forgot this school was special and had special needs,” he said. He hoped she would understand and not hold this against him. Didn't every other school have nurses, not doctors? Yeah, but every other school was not equipped like this one, nor they had those students to take care of.

Well, at least the girl was doing fine now. He nodded as she talked of a European girl having some sort of allergy. What an allergy! She better be more careful in the future. He startled a bit when she proved him once again this was her territory and she was the one in charge. He chuckled lightly. “Thanks, I think I know the sanitary rules. She’s your patient however, so as long as you tell me she is fine, I trust you.” He didn't need to tell her how to treat her patient after all. It was not the reason he was called in. And now that he did what was asked of him, he assumed she’d like him to take his leave, eventually. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be off your back,” he promised her.

[Ceanna Riggs]

"I am not as lucky. Dr. Lynnsa Riggs... if you have been to any fundraising dinners for the Hospital or the clinics, you may have met her. She's hard to miss, being in a wheelchair and all. I unfortunately couldn't skip state." She smiled slightly, sinking into the chair beside him and stretching. 

"Well Jason... no harm done. After all, I haven't met a doctor as young as myself before. Most people who are in the medical profession at age twenty-five are nurses." She pointed out, before smirking at his comment of sanitation. "No.. it has nothing to do with infecting her... Here, one moment." Ceanna pulled herself up, heading towards her desk and opening a bottom drawer. There was a file about different powers that she had heard up, or come across. It was all part of her hopes to learn the different ones, and maybe see what could be done to help in the long run medically. Searching, she pulled out the paper in question, and returned to sit beside Jason. 


Lowering her voice, she glanced at the curtain, hoping their patient was asleep. "She sheds skin at a very high rate.. you ingest her particles, and you're addicted stronger then meth, or crack." She warned, hoping he understood why now. "And anyways, you're not going anywhere until I clear you. It's not often I have visitors with medical background down here." 

[Jason Campbell]

Lynnsa Riggs… yes the name seemed somewhat familiar. And a wheelchair, well now it was easy to tell who she was talking about. He nodded. He knew little of the woman, in reality, and never really asked about her. He wasn’t much into fundraising and wished to attend a few of those dinners as possible. “I’ve came back only a little while ago but I know the name. I’m not sure Charles Campbell would mean much to you however. He was forced out of practice a while before his death,” he commented. His father never really got over his wife’s death and had played doctor Frankenstein a little afterwards, hoping to bring her back or something. To no avail, of course, but you could understand how such an obsession forced him to stop his practice. And by the funeral the man had here, obviously he lsot a lot of friends while Jason was away.

Twenty-five. The woman was twenty-five! Great, now not only he felt older being reminded he was thirty-three but he also felt incompetent for graduating at a normal age. He frowned when she dug through her drawer and took a file from it. She explained what was in the file, basically the nature of the girl’s power. He turned his head towards the curtain. Whether it was intentional or not, their voice tone had lowered, just in case she was recuperating after her misadventure. “Interesting...” he let out in a whisper. “May I?” Jason asked, extending his hand to take the file and have a look.

This was fascinating. Jason kept records of the like too. He wanted to learn more about powers, how they developed, if there were any similarities within a family, how far they could get, if they could be controlled or contained... Some would argue he was being a little mad scientist hoping to do tests on them like ‘normal’ humans probably would. But Jason genuinely wanted to help them that way.

He lifted his gaze, a little surprised as the words she said did not sink in right as she said them. A smirk appeared on his lips. “And do I also have to fill one of those files?” he asked, pointing at the ones about this girl.

[Ceanna Riggs]

"By all means." Ceanna handed it over, glad that she was not assumed a psycho by her fellow doctor. It was always touchy, her collection of her database of powers, but she was sure he could see it from a professional point of view. Watching him study the file, she smiled, laughing at his offer with a smirk on her face. "Only if you want to. I haven't come across yours before, and I would like to catalog it. I have all the individual's in the school's powers, as well as those I have met outside the school." She pulled open the drawer, showing hundreds of files, blushing at her slight obsession.

"Sometimes... Sometimes the powers aren't always good. So I keep the information here, because I never know when someone might need the help of another person with a certain power." Her embarassment was evident in her bright cheeks, mainly at the fact that she was referring to her own power and her countless attempts to control it or at least create something where other's wouldn't get hurt. The heavily reinforced metal room at the back of her office was the closest thing she had to keeping others safe. "Would you be willing...? If not that's understandable."

[Jason Campbell]

Jason always had the feeling that researching powers, even amongst mutants, was not something appreciated, even less accepted by all. Jason had no intention to force experiments on anyone. And he was certain his research could help on the long term. The only way to have a better control over things was to know them and powers were no different. He was no mad scientist who wanted to push mutants to their limits just to see how far they can go. He was certain this would someday help and it was the reason why he studied powers so much.

He was surprised to see a peer doing the same. Again, the thought crossed his mind that he really shouldn’t be so surprised, that this was Bellefonte and so it was logical they would try anything to prevent a power to go out of control and it required documentation. Still, he was. She showed him her other files and Jason didn’t try to hide how impress he was. “I thought there was a healer at the school. But I suppose his powers don’t work exactly like mine,” he commented as he recalled Matthew. It also wasn’t as developed but that was just something that might happen with time.

Was she embarrassed of the worked she made? Suddenly, it made Jason wonder whether he should feel embarrass for doing the same with his patients. “Powers was but one reason why I chose to stay here. I know some people might consider it dangerous to have such a list but it is no different to me than a regular medical record,” he explained. He didn’t see it as a way of branding mutants. But when you required specific help, it was good to know right on the spot. You might not be able to tell. He didn’t think one second she might be referring to her own power. He arched his eyebrows at her question. “What, talk of my power? I suppose so,” he asked back, shrugging as he agreed to it. In the back of his mind however, it took note that he too would be asking questions then.