An Unwelcome Suprise

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I was there Julia. And... the madman behind it all... he did something to me," he began.

(fade out to avoid doing this twice)

[Narrator]

Julia just sat there looking as if she didn't know what to say at first. "How are you holding up?"

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Better than can be reasonably expected," he answered.

[Narrator]

"Guess, its time for me to get Charlie." She said getting up.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Do you want me to wait here or go with you?"

[Narrator]

"You, waiting here would probably be best."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I... suspected as much."

[Narrator]

"I'll be back in just a bit." she said as she headed out.

[Charlotte Irving]

Sometime later Charlie would come in followed by her mother. She then sat down in one of the seats without saying anything.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Hey kiddo," he said, unsure if he deserved to talk to her like old times.

[Charlotte Irving]

Judging from her expression the answer was no. "Hi." Was all he got in response.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

He sighed.

"It's alright. You... don't have to forgive me. I hope you will one day, but I'm not going to push you," he said like a man who's had a lot of time to think about his mistakes.

"And what I need to tell you is not to garner pity. I just didn't want you to find out through the grapevine how I came to work here. It... isn't pretty."

[Charlotte Irving]

"Okay, go on."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Do you remember the news coverage of the X-Men having uncovered a 'mad scientist' at work in the town of Thornhurst?" he said, beginning how he did with Julia.

[Charlotte Irving]

She took some time to think "Yes, but not much."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I was there too. First to find someone, then..."

He hesitated briefly.

"As a victim."

[Charlotte Irving]

Charlie didn't say anything, but her expression softened some.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I was experimented on by that lunatic... changed in ways I may never understand... and forced to battle the X-Men. They freed me from his control and I spent the next seven months being treated at the facility on Muir Island."

[Charlotte Irving]

Charlie looked down, still not saying anything.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Mentally, I've recovered. Physically... there wasn't much they could do. I'm... actually wearing a holographic device at the moment. Mind you it's nothing horrifying... no stranger looking than many here, just... hard to adjust to."

[Charlotte Irving]

Charlie looked up. She was about to say something, but decided not to.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

Sergei noticed but, though the silence hurt, he didn't want to put her on the spot.

"To add insult to injury, the Metro wouldn't take me back. They are apparently only alright with mutants on the force with innocuous media-friendly abilities," he said, a little bitterly, "So I reached out to X-Corp and here I am."

[Charlotte Irving]

She finally let something slip. "Media friendly?"

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"A harmless ability and looks normal on camera."

He sighed.

"The pathetic part is I can't even blame them. I can't even trust my new found strength yet, so how can I expect anyone else to?"

[Charlotte Irving]

"Oh." She still wasn't saying much.

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Well... that's the brief version of how I ended up here anyway. I'm... willing to show rather than tell if you need more than my word for such a story."

[Charlotte Irving]

Charlie seemed to think it over for a moment. "No, you don't need to."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

Sergei appeared relieved despite himself.

After a long and very awkward silence, he said, "Charlie, I... It's good to see you."

[Charlotte Irving]

Charlie clearly didn't want to have this conversation right now. She stood up and headed for the door, turning around to only utter "Bye." before heading out.

[Narrator]

Julia, remained in the room and waited until Charlie was out of earshot. "It going to take time and a lot of effort to get her to forgive you. I hope you work it out, for her sake."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"Do you think she will?"

[Narrator]

"I think its possible. She took it pretty hard at first, then developed this I don't care front. I'm sure she still cares, but its just going to take a lot for her to let you back in."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I know I made the wrong choice. I just... couldn't take her disappointment every time I had to put a case first, not after you told me how much I was hurting her. I should have quit the Metro. Found something private sector like this."

[Narrator]

"You can't change the past, no use beating yourself up thinking about it. You just have to try and do it right in the present."

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"That's a tall enough order by itself," he sighed.

[Narrator]

"It is. I better go help get Charlie settled in." She started to head out the door then turned back. "Look, I know she will make it hard on you, but, don't give up on her, Okay?"

[Sergei Tereshchenko]

"I won't," he answered.