"There's Certainly No Prior Studies In Something Like This," Bruce Commented. "I'm The Only One Who Survived

"There's certainly no prior studies in something like this," Bruce commented. "I'm the only one who survived like this. By extension, she's presently the only child who can even be considered to hold radiation in her body like I can, never mind the X-Gene factor."

Bruce adjusted his grip on Rebecca, laughing at her lecture. "Good. It's good to hear she's learning all the right things."

Rebecca made a stern face that looked much like Andie’s as she looked up at him. “Bad word Da. No say bad word.”

"That’s part of why we think she hasn’t been effected other than accelerated development. We still don’t know what her mutation is going to be, especially with the radiation. She could take after me, she could have something completely different." Andie said, chuckling as Rebecca shook her little index finger at her father, still lecturing him about bad words.

"She picked that up from my always lecturing Logan about watching his words around tiny ears."

Bruce shook his head, seemingly without realizing it, as he looked back down at Rebecca. She looked... normal. Well, extraordinary to him, but, objectively, just like any other child. Healthy. Carefree. Bruce could hardly bear the heavy weight and the sharp pain that came with the words radiation in her blood. He pressed his forehead to Rebecca's again.

"I'm so sorry," he said quietly.

Hank sighed and looked at Bruce. “We found traces of radiation in her blood but not enough to draw any firm conclusions. It could end up being part of her mutation but we won’t know for sure until she’s older. She’s healthy and developing a bit ahead of the curve, so there doesn’t seem to be any negative effects as of yet.”

Bruce checked on his patients, ensuring they were still asleep, then set about getting his affairs in order. It took him several days but, a week after Andie and Rebecca's arrival, Bruce felt sufficiently prepared enough to leave. He called for Tony, rather than drag Andie and/or Hank all the way out again, and was standing outside with his one small duffel bag in the evening.

Andie sighed and took Rebecca in her arms, holding her close. Rebecca whimpered and reached out for Bruce when he went back into the house but Andie quieted her. “It’s okay baby girl. Daddy will be with us again soon. Just be patient, okay?” The little dark haired girl gave another whine and settled into her mother’s arms as they made their way back to the X-Jet with Hank.

Bruce hesitated, then surrendered Rebecca to Andie, lingering just for a moment. He gave Hank a short wave, then kissed Rebecca and Andie on the cheek. 

"Be careful flying out of here," Bruce warned. "I'll be with you again soon." He let his hand settle on Rebecca's hair for a moment before he kissed her again, on the forehead, and ducked back into the house.

"We need you more than you know." Andie said softly, shaking her head. "I’m going to trust you. And if you don’t come back I’m hunting you down. Again. Do you understand me?" She didn’t want to leave him, not after finally finding him, but she might not have all that much of a choice.

Bruce cradled Rebecca's head in his palm, letting her lean back, supporting her weight so he could look her over. He couldn't help but smile at her before he looked back up at Andie, his face turning serious again.

"I have to finish up here," Bruce informed her. "I have patients, a few people who need me right now. I just need to finish with them, wrap things up. And then I can come with you." Come home, he didn't say, afraid of the implications of a word like home.

"Bruce, I don’t care where we are. I just want us to be a family." Andie sighed. "And don’t go all brooding on me saying that we can’t be. Like I said earlier, clearly we need to try something different. Leaving doesn’t do anything."

Andie wasn’t about to back down on this, especially not with how happy Rebecca clearly was in her father’s arms.

Bruce reached up to hold onto Rebecca's ankles, tipping his head back at a severe angle to look at her. "Would you like that? Do you want to go see the house after Mommy's classes tomorrow?"

♤

"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"