There had been a mission. As is sometimes the case when X-Force is involved, everything had gone sideways in the most colossal way.
Quite literally, in fact, as Colossus had been thrown, unconscious, off a very high cliff with jagged rocks and water below. While Cable had been at least fairly certain that the rocks wouldnāt harm the metal man, he had not been as certain of what the water might do given the otherās state at the time.
As soon as heād seen Colossus go over, he had done the only thing he could. Heād shouted for the others to cover him before running to the edge. And then heād done exactly what he shouldnāt.
Diverting a portion of his telekinetic energy from its perpetual task to one far more urgent time-sensitive, he had caught his plummeting teammate just before he had hit the water and returned him to where he had been only moments prior.
He had felt the familiar agonizing pain from the very instant he relented.
Of course, as soon as Kate had heard what heād done, she had immediately insisted that he go see Dr. Ross. And once Hope had accidentally overheard, he knew there would be no peace until either he was at peace or he went to see her. If only he hadnāt made the mistake of uttering that gallows humor within earshot of Kateā¦
Another appointment. Theā¦ third so far. This one had been a bit of a rushed write-in based on the situation. Sheād made space in her, no doubt, busy schedule for the exact purpose of seeing him.
As ever, heād been somewhat begrudgingly cooperative, removing his shirt that she might examine whether the Virus had expanded what of him to which it has laid claim.
A topical inspection. A comparison to pictures taken for this exact purpose in previous visits: to map what was affected that they might better pinpoint any spread. And then tests and scans, to determine if anything had been affected internally, though by the fact that heās still alive and breathing, heās already quite convinced that isnāt the case.
Of course, when heād finally been given leave to don his shirt again, it had gotten caught between the metal plate that now functions as clavicle and scapulaā¦ and the one that vaguely resembles a shoulder. A quiet hiss follows, as much for how ridiculous this is as for the offending sensation of the fabric over the wires beneath those plates.
The noise, however soft, must have drawn the attention of his physician, however, because just before he had begun reaching in an attempt to dislodge the material, he feels something on his back. A quick look, at least in part due to being startled, informs him that itās Dr. Ross.
Gentle yet firm, she sets one hand to his back whether to keep steady or to reassure is anyoneās guess, the other endeavoring to free his shirt.
He freezes, muscles and muscle approximations going tense. It isnāt that he doesnāt trust her. It isnāt that he isnāt used to her poking and prodding and examiningā¦ But this is different, and thereās that stubborn pride that flares and perhaps just a flash of anger.
He could have gotten it by himself. He doesnāt need her help. He doesnāt need anyoneās help. Or their concern. Or their crowding. He managed for a decade without any of this, and he certainly doesnāt need it now. Just another reminder.
Even still, small, deft fingers make faster work of the hang up than would his own and, as she takes her hands away, the shirt falls into place as it should have earlier.
But, if she had expected a thank you for her kindness, she would be sorely disappointed.
āā¦ā¦ I donāt need your help, Doctor.ā Or your pity.
Whether help means aiding with his shirt or examining him for possible developments on a disease that means to kill him or any of this.
When Kate and Aaron had approached her -- for the second timeĀ -- Betty patiently explained that sheās not thatĀ kind of doctor. If this -- Cable? -- were in need of someone to help monitor and treat a chronic illness, heād be better with a general practitioner.Ā
Dammit Jim, sheās a scientist, not a doctor.Ā
But, that girl was nothing if not stubborn and dammit if Betty wasnāt interested in something called techno-organic virus. And when she first met him, yeah, her eyes may have lit up before she reeled herself back because this was a serious, debilitating, terminal disease, Bets, pull your shit together.Ā
Betty was the first to admit she was a little beyond her depths, but if he was willing -- and two (reluctant) session in, he seemed (mostly) willing -- she would see what she could shake loose. No promises given.Ā
At Kateās frantic phone call and then Aaronās re-explanation in a much more level tone over what had happened, of courseĀ Betty shifted things around to see Cable. If only to sooth Kateās worries and get her to shut up.Ā
Scans and prods and blood tests -- Oh my. She had collected more than enough to sink her teeth into it. But, as always, she could sense he was ready to go, leave, get the hell away from her and out of her office, so she worked quickly to get him out.Ā
Really thatās the only reason she helped him with the shirt that got caught on his wiring. That was it.Ā
His rebuff wasnāt what Betty was expecting, but then again, she wasnāt really surprised either.Ā
āNo. You donāt. But Iād rather you didnāt spend fifteen minutes fussing with it in my lab.āĀ
Her tone is chilly and she levels a supremely unimpressed glare onto the much larger man. Most people might have balked at him, at how he looked, at how big he was. Most people werenāt divorcees of the Hulk.Ā
āIām sure you donāt need my help to find your way out, either?āĀ
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