Book Two - Part Two: Silk Spectre

Chapter Ten

Laurie takes a breath stood in the danger room buried deep in the mansion, used for training, but today it will be used for her to have a controlled episode so Elena and Hank can set up her new ring.

"Whenever you're ready, Laurel" Charles tells her over the comms, he, Elena, Hank, and Logan are in the observation room just off the danger room. Elena readies the equipment, Hank sits at her laptop, the synchronising software ready to go. Logan lingers in the doorway watching them work. Charles watches Laurie as she tries to force an episode. But that's not how it works. Not right now. Because she has no control over that part of her.

"Nothing's happening" Laurie complains looking to the glass.

"You have to make her angry" Logan comments. "Or scared...or upset..." Charles sighs.

"I was hoping to avoid doing that" Charles admits. "Laurel" he starts. "I'm going to help you but you need to let me into your mind...." she nods a little and closes her eyes concentrating before she can feel Charles in her mind. He searches her mind for her memories, one specific that he knows still affects her to this day. He pulls on it. Showing her it. making her reliving it. Tears stream down Laurie's cheeks as she relieves the moment she showed Howard her powers, but she's fighting the memory, it's jagged and hazy and flickering in and out of her mind. "I'm so sorry" Charles whispers. "But you need to let me in, you need to really feel this....." The memory is stronger now, reminding her just how bad it was the first time around. Laurie's eyes glow green before her entire body joins in, she lifts off the ground, floating, hovering. Elena tracks the levels on the computer before turning to Hank.

"Now" Elena tells him. who types away at the laptop, setting up the software, inputting the gamma levels and adjusting as necessary. The ring starts to light up in it's box as Hank programmes it.

"Now we have to wait for her to calm down" Charles offers. "She can't get out of the danger room, she can't hurt anyone...."

"Are we sure about that?" Logan asks, he can hear Philip crying on the floor above, and by the looks of it, so can Laurie who turns to face the door to the danger room. "Her kid's crying" Logan tells the other. "Mother's instinct to sooth her crying baby....that's got to be a pretty strong instinct" Logan asks as they all move closer to the glass overlooking the danger room. Laurie raises her hand towards the door. "She's Hulk strong, right?" Logan reminds them. "That thing is unstoppable, and whilst...Laurel didn't gain physical strength, she did gain mental strength....you really think a door is going to stop her if she puts her mind to it" And with that, Laurie actually rips the door from it's hinges and leaves the danger room.

"Logan, go after her, make sure she doesn't hurt anyone" Logan nods.

"And take this" Hank closes the ring box and holds it out, Logan grabs it then hurries out the door and after Laurie.

............

Logan slows reaching the room they'd converted into a nursery for Philip whilst he and Laurie are here. There is a soft green glow flooding from the room. He pushes open the door holding his breath as he enters, but they had nothing to worry about. Laurie's just watching Philip who's settled quietly.

"He likes it" Logan comments watching Philip stare up at Laurie as she glows, he's mesmerised by her. "He likes you like this" she lifts her eyes to meet Logan's. "You in there, Kiddo?" he asks her, she cocks her head slightly. "Laurel?" she blinks, the green around her softening only slightly as she pulls back, coming out of the blackout.

"Yeah" she answers, voice echoing slightly. "I..." she looks down at Philip. "Did I hurt him?"

"No" Logan assures her. "No, he likes the light show" He moves closer to her. "Look at him" She flickers down to Philip who smiles up at her.

"He's smiling" she comments.

"Yeah, he does that" Logan teases slightly. "Mostly when the others talk about you or...Banner" she looks at him. "Yeah, they do that..."

"Why?" she asks.

"Because you're his parents" Logan answers and then holds out the ring box. "Here...." she glances to it and sighs.

"What if it doesn't work?" she whispers.

"Are you kidding?" he asks her. "This mansion is filled with some of the smartest minds on the planet......you really think you guys won't figure it out?" she smiles a little and takes the box before opening it. "At least it's nice" he comments. "And doesn't look like some piece of science equipment" she hums in agreement.

"Better than the last ring I was given" she admits.

"Oh?" he asks.

"It was a piece of a string" she answers. "More of a promise of a ring I guess...silly really" she sighs and looks to her hand. She took the string off months ago. It seemed silly to her to wear it when that part of her life was over. She takes the new ring out of the box and slides it onto her finger. Her 'light show' instantly shutting down. Laurie lets out a breath, like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. The power subsiding inside of her.

"Guess that means it works" Logan comments, she nods a little. He touches her arm and gives her a smile. "I'll leave you to your kid" he offers and then leaves her alone. Laurie looks back at Philip who now frowns at her. Confused. She reaches down and strokes his cheek.

"It's still me" she assures him. "Just....less green" his features soften as he stares at her. Laurie reaches down and picks him up, carefully settling against her chest. She can do this. She can...control her powers and be a mother. She can do it for Philip. So he has at least one parent around to attempt to raise him. She hums softly moving to the window with him. He smiles again as her eyes begin to glow, Laurie still in complete control. The ring already doing it's job.