「 The Professor & I 」Charles Xavier Love Story

(69) I Can't Lose You Again

Lynn's POV

There was an uncanny reversal of roles once we got back to the jet. For once I was the one strutting around and retrieving the wound care apparatus while Charles waited for me to dress his wounds on the long sofa where Hank had rested him. The nursing lessons as part of my medical program in Oxford could finally pay off after more than a decade.

I came to him with a metal tray of forceps, antiseptic and bandages and gently lifted his head onto my lap as I took a seat with him, just as he did when we returned from Paris after Erik almost ripped apart my spinal cord.

"Close your eyes, my dear," I instructed as he snuggled up to me while I concentrated on preparing a cotton gauze to cleanse his wound.

Thinking he had obeyed, I turned back to sterilize his forehead graze and almost had some antiseptic solution drip into his widely opened eyes from the soaking padding held by my tweezers.

"Charles!" I exclaimed as I swerved the drenched gauze back into my tray.

"If you're not going to close your eyes, I can't clean your wound," I chastised as I glared down at him in disapproval.

"I don't want to have to take my eyes off your beautiful face again, my love," he sighed as he raised his hand to caress my cheek.

"You're psychic, Charles," I whispered as I took his palm. "You can look at me through your mind," I reminded as I pecked him lightly on the lips.

"Now, that's a good boy," I chuckled and pecked his forehead again when he obediently shut his eyes.

"This is going to sting a little," I cautioned as I carefully nursed the brief laceration on his forehead.

As I enjoyed the privilege of finally being able to care for him, though I would much rather he had not been hurt, his eyes twitched slightly as the disinfectant stung him but he never seemed to wipe that smile off his face. Soon, I had hygienic dressings secured to his scarred head as well as bruised arm and proceeded to check his legs for further injuries.

"May I?" I sought to remove his pants and Charles nodded.

Undoing his trousers, I was gratified to find that Charles had only sustained light contusions to his shin with no obvious fractures that I could diagnose given my level of medical training. Icing the moderate swelling soon relieved the effects of being crushed under that large metal frame for an extended period of time, albeit Charles could not actually feel any discomfort it thereby caused.

"You know, Charles. I would never have forgiven myself if I had failed to save you today," I commented as I buckled up his pants and helped him to sit up on the sofa.

"But you did," he replied as he took my hands.

"You could have died when I lost control of that metal rack!" I denounced as I shook his hands off and looked away with rage taking over me.

"You, would have died if I let you stay in that chair!" He shouted fiercely as he forcefully grabbed my shoulders to get my attention and we glared into each other, anguish apparent in both of us.

"I saw you, Lynn," he grumbled. "I wished I could get to you but I could only send Logan to your rescue," he lamented.

I let out a deep sigh and broke eye contact as I felt myself tearing up with each of his words stabbing deep into my heart. Undeniably, he would have been able to get to me if it was not for the agonizingly useless paralyzed legs I had plagued him with.

"Why do you always close your eyes when using your powers, Lynn?" He challenged desperately.

"You know it helps me to concentrate," I croaked as the tears got to my throat.

"Do you actually see what is going on around you?" He grilled in resentment.

"Yes. Just not this time," I admitted. "I had more important things to focus on," I mumbled as I continued to avoid eye contact with him.

"Like what?!" He interrogated furiously.

"Like saving you!" I snapped back so agitatedly that my tears fell as I glared at him but the moment I saw his face, an immense sense of remorse engulfed me and immediately, I became apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Charles. I didn't mean for that to happen," I sobbed.

"I know you didn't," he assured as he pulled me into a hug. "Please know that I didn't mean to stop you from saving me either," he explained as he caressed the back of my head to comfort me as I cried on his shoulder.

"But I couldn't just sit and watch you sacrifice yourself for me again," he continued, his voice significantly shaky by now.

"I can't lose you again, Lynn," he stressed as he gently pecked my temple.

"Neither can I," I confided. "I love you, Charles," I wept as I looped my arms around him to embrace him tightly.

After a few moments, Charles pulled away just enough to kiss me on the lips and it was all I needed to calm down.

"I love you, Lynn," he asserted as he broke away.

"I hope this never has to happen again," I murmured as we sat side by side and I leaned onto his shoulder.

"As do I," he whispered as he wrapped his arms warmly around me.

We huddled together in silence, just enjoying each other's company, until Hank landed our plane back in New York. We headed to our chopper and in no time, we were back at the mansion. Hank fetched Charles' automated and upon settling him into it, I pushed Charles up the driveway and back to his room.

My instincts to serve and look after Charles had manifested so strongly over the past decade that I unknowingly deprived him of what both of us needed most when we were in that chair, the ability to independently care for ourselves in order to not feel like we were a burden to this world.

And I only realized after I had retrieved his night suit from his wardrobe.

"I'll get your bath ready," I informed as I turned around to face him with his fresh clothing in my hands, only to find him staring up at me with a stunned expression.

That moment hit me like a rock.

It finally occurred to me that I had just hurt him in the simplest of ways anyone could to a disabled person, by assuming that they needed assistance. His silent gaze snapped me out of my own indulgence and I hastily placed down his pajamas on his lap, lost for words as I looked guiltily towards the floor.

"Um... I'm sorry. I... I should just... Let you get to it," I stuttered and slowly made my way towards the door.

As I cursed myself under my breath for treating Charles that way, he caught up with me and grabbed my wrist just when I was about to turn the door knob to exit.

"Don't go," he pleaded as he gazed up at me with a pair of beautiful and benevolent crystal blue eyes.

"I don't need your help, but I want it," he confessed.

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Hi guys! Welcome to the first chapter post-DOFP! I hope you all liked it! There's still gonna be some time before XMA appears so yeah, just relax and enjoy for now! 😁

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