Hot coffee and a good book were the recipe for the perfect break. Juliette was working a short shift, but it had been a wearying one. There had been a META bot malfunction, which resulted in injuries for both humans and mutants. The E.R. had been full for hours, and that moment was the first chance of a break she had gotten. 

It was pure bliss.

That was, of course, for the first ten or so minutes of it. 

There was a loud bang down the hallway followed by shouting. And screaming. A lot of screaming. Juliette set her book and coffee down on the table and looked out into the hallway. There was a man standing with a gun pointed to the ceiling, dressed in all black clothes, save for the red letters printed on his shirt that read Human Rights Now. Other men and woman dressed identically lined the halls, pointing identical guns at anyone who moved.

Juliette pulled her head back immediately, breathing quickly. A thousand thoughts ran through her head. It made sense to target a hospital, especially following an attack that left so many mutants defenseless, but that didn't make it any better. 

She stood still against the wall opposite to the group, sliding down so that she was sitting with her knees against her chest. It was the position least likely to get her shot. 

She glanced at the light. She had enough energy to do something to help, but definitely not enough to take on the entire group alone. That would be stupid. She still had her phone on her, so she pulled it out and looked through her contacts. She could call the police, but she didn't want to talk out loud. That would probably get the attention of the group right away.

Her thumb hovered over one contact, Sam Johnson. It was the guy she'd met at the hospital a while ago. She sent him a quick text:

Shooting at the hospital. In need of an X-man.

And then sent another to the police. She hoped that either Sam or the police would be able to get there quickly to help.

Not a lot of things causes a man to run out of a parked car faster than a text from a beautiful looking woman the only thing he could think of at that moment was the text he received. ‘Shooting at the hospital. In need of an X-man.’ Was enough to grab his attention so much so that he didn’t see the officer he was working with who was bringing back coffees. “Sam where you going?” the officer asked as he spun out of Sam’s charge. ”Hospital!” Sam said as he reached into his back pocket and tossed his flask to the rookie officer. ”Shoot out at a hospital, send back up and then you fill coffee with this.”

Before he could question or protest Sam was long gone traveling over buildings and alleyways towards the hospital where he first met Juliette hoping she was at that hospital. He didn’t call because he was familiar with shootouts. When shooters take hostages it doesn’t take much to send them over the edge a ping from a phone a phone call. All it took was one noise and then there would be a shot heard and one last hostage. Sam was hesitant to send the following text but he was hoping it wouldn’t be heard. He was only sending one.

‘Where we first met? See you soon, I’ll be waiting. Hope I get there before anyone else. How many people are there already?’

If she was near and he could see her face she’d roll her eyes most likely or treat it as something that wasn’t read or said. Though he meant to make it sound like they already had plans. Just in case someone heard the text unless she had it on vibrate. Sam definitely didn’t want anything to happen to Juliette, which is why he only sent that one text then found the closest window to hospital that was open.

Where we first met? See you soon, I’ll be waiting. Hope I get there before anyone else. How many people are there already?

Juliette wrinkled her brow at the message. Why would he send a smile in a response like that? Actually, why would he send a response like that at all? It sounded like they were meeting friends for drinks.

Oh.

That was smart, actually. He would have no idea if the text was being read over her shoulder by someone of less-than-pure intentions. She had turned it to silent before her shift started so that it wouldn't be a distraction and was hiding it under her knee, but she greatly appreciated the thought.

Where we first met. I count at least eight. See you soon!

She texted back a response and glanced at the door again. Most of the sounds from the group were muffled, but she could hear scattered conversation. It sounded like they were going to round up any suspected mutants they saw. They had already caught one boy with very obvious green skin and were going through the rest.

The tenth floor was not where he wanted to be. Sam landed in the room and his first response was to shut the door and activate his sixth sense. The floor lit up like it was the fourth of July. There were too many humans and mutants near him to focus too well so he did what he could with what he had he focused on how peoples arms and hands were. No guns or at least nothing that resembled guns the hand placement was all off. A knife or a scalpel sure but Juliette said shooters.

Sam looked around the room and found a patient dead asleep or in a coma. He couldn’t tell but the fact that they guy didn’t wake from the entrance was enough to tell Sam the guy wasn’t waiting. Looking around the room for something to use Sam spotted a pair of patient garbs and an extra IV with the rolling pole. Sam thought for a second and decided if he was going to infiltrate he might as well not come in with a tight t-shirt with a NYPD badge on it.

The only thing he kept on his person was his phone as he change into the papered fabric that was supposed to protect his body. He felt weird with his rear exposed, normally it was his top half that was naked not his ‘bottom’ half. Walking around the tenth floor with his phone out and an IV taped poorly to his arm he shot Juliette another text as he felt and looked for a shooter.

Walking to the stairs Sam sent the text, ‘Eight? Maybe I should wait longer? They on the first or third? See you soon honey.’ The last bit he was just trying to make light of the situation even if it wasn’t appropriate the rest of his text was just asking for their general whereabouts. It was either that or he’d check level after level. The hospital only had so many floors and unfortunately the tenth floor was the first one he got to.

Opening the staircase and avoiding panicked nurses Sam pushed his way down the stairs not sure if they were aware of the situation yet.

Come now. First floor, left wing.

She shook her head at the 'honey'. Maybe Sam was used to being shot at or making jokes in hostage situations, but she really wasn't in the mood. That wasn't even her first time being a hostage, but she didn't think she would ever really get used to it. It wasn't something that a person should get used to, though.

Juliette gave another glance at the door. She wished desperately that she could close it, or at least get some sort of protection from the shooters, but that would make them immediately suspicious. And from what she could hear, she really didn't want their attention.

She counted three shots that had been fired. From what she could tell, at least one of those had been at a person. They needed help soon before the shooting escalated. 

Once Sam was there, she could figured they might be able to actually do something to help, but until then, she was on her own. A sitting duck. 

‘Come now. First floor, left wing.’

Sam wished he got on a floor closer to the first one by the main entrance unfortunately he was ten floors above it and from what he could tell somewhere in the middle of the hospital. Things could have been worse though he could have been on the eleventh floor and the breeze he was now getting as he hopped over the emergency staircase wasn’t so bad as he dropped from the tenth level to the ninth then the eight until he skipped a few. Ice covered his hands and feet reinforcing his limbs making it easier to handle the jumps.

“Hey!” yelled a voice followed with a gunshot. The skirt of his papered clothing was shot through, thankfully his revered robe was caught by the wind if it hit any closer he’d be at the hospital for a different reason. Ice covered his body now, all of it he didn’t want to get shot somewhere he’d need later.

The gunman at the second floor was about to grab the radio when Sam fell past him and grabbed him by the arm while his IV back that was still in his other hand acted as a hook causing Sam to hook the gunman from behind the neck. The gunman’s arm broke as Sam held onto it and caused it to smash against the railing. The gunman flipped over the railing after his arm and landed next to Sam and didn’t move. Grabbing the walkie-talkie and the guys phone Sam froze and then smashed them both. The guy was still alive jus out cold.

Landing on the first floor still surprised he didn’t get shot anywhere else pulled out his phone and de-iced himself as he walked to the exit hoping it was the right direction.

‘I think I found someone sadly no answer. I’ll look around to see if there is anyone I know.’

Sam leaned forward and adjusted his paper skirt trying to smooth it out so it didn’t look like he just pulled it out of the garbage. ”Hello?” Sam asked as he poked his head from behind the door. His sixth sense activated but he did his best to prevent himself from seeming like the source.

Juliette chewed her thumbnail anxiously as she waited for Sam. She didn't know why exactly he was taking so long. The Hospital wasn't that big. Then again, she did walk through it most days, and he was probably trying to avoid detection.

That didn't make the waiting any easier, though. It felt like an eternity between his last two texts, and the next one didn't even make much sense. She typed out a response quickly and then continued to press her home button, as if that would make a response come faster.

I think most of them are down here. Just come as quickly as you can!

Waiting really sucked, especially when there were people with guns around the corner.

Juliette was just about to consider giving up waiting for him and trying something herself when she heard someone calling 'Hello' not far away. It was risky, especially when there were that many people nearby. She stood up and glanced down the hall before making her presence known to whoever had just called. She was placing a lot of hope on that fact that it might be Sam.

Thankfully, her assumption had been right. Sam was there, standing near the exit... In a paper gown. She blinked and called after him quietly. "Sam! Over here!" Juliette half yelled, half whispered. 

Sam spotted Juliette before she said anything or waved to him if he was sitting next to her he would have told her to not do that to sit down and look at the ground so she wouldn’t draw attention. It was too late though. “Hey! You!” one of the gunman pointed a gun at Sam as he slowly walked into the hallway from the room. ”Me?” Sam asked in response trying to play the part of an injured and scared patient. His eye patch didn’t help but he wasn’t afraid of being shot. Most gunman never went for the head.

“Yeah! Get over here sit down and shut up!” the guy pointed near the group and Sam nodded his head both hands shot up. He dropped his phone, which he wasn’t really worried about but he started to pick it up while his sixth sense spread out into the waiting room. The people sitting down on the ground were to clustered for him to make out an exact number but the people standing on the other hand were easy to feel. There were eight. The one he took out a second ago must have been out of her vision or there was one she couldn’t see. Sam picked up the phone then he heard the gun cock and someone running towards him. “Set it down! Now!” Sam raised his hand and dropped his phone. ”Just texting this lady, smoking hot… so you understand why I want keep the phone.” Sam raised an eyebrow as he rose leaving his phone behind.

The barrel of the gun in front of him started to fill with ice this was one of the first things Sam learned to do when he was a kid so all it took was for him to look at it and imagine the barrel filling with ice. ”Human rights. I’m with ya.” Sam made a fist hoping to touch on the fact that he wasn’t a mutant as he slowly dragged his IV pole behind him. ”I’m gonna sit next to her. She’s a nurse.” Sam said as he started to ignore the panicked look on the gunman’s face.

”Keep looking down. Don’t make eye contact with them.” Sam muttered under his breath as he sat down slowly making sure the tape holding the IV line stuck to his arm.

Juliette sat down slowly as they attracted the attention of one of the gunmen. It was a bad move, talking out loud, which she knew, but she had taken the risk.

Sam, on the other hand, seemed to be doing just fine. In fact, he didn't even seem bothered by the fact that he had a gun pointed at his face, save for the phone drop. She pressed her lips together as she watched him. Did the flirting ever stop?

The one thing she hadn't been expecting was for the gun barrel to fill with ice. She followed Sam's instructions to keep looking down and not make eye contact, but she couldn't help but keep watching the gunman.

His panicked expression was good to see; it meant that he didn't have a back-up plan. He turned the gun around and hit it against his hand, trying in vain to get the ice dislodged. "What the hell'd you do?" He yelled, his eyes focused on Sam. As much as he had tried to stress the fact that he was human, it was kind of obvious that it had been him. 

Juliette glanced at Sam, unsure of what to do next. She had sort of expected him to walk in with guns ablaze and take out the shooters right away. Even as she thought it a second time, she realized how stupid that sounded, but she really hadn't expected him to sit next to her.

"What's the plan?" She asked him quietly. "Attack, or wait?"

”Not sure yet.” Sam said as he looked back to the gun as the gunman panicked then caused the ice to dissolve just as quickly as it had filled. Sam looked to Juliette then smirked slightly, ”just do as I say and no one gets hurt other than the gunman. Yeah?” he muttered as he shrugged towards the gunman who was shifting his gaze from his gun to Sam. ”What are you talking about?” Sam asked the gunman who pointed the gun back at Sam.

“What did you do?” they gunman asked. ”… I didn’t do anything… I said I support human rights then you waved the gun at me saying their was ice in it.” Sam looked to Juliette, ”Did you see ice in the gun?” he raised an eyebrow then pointed to his IV. ”You think I can do much with this here?”

Sam shrugged again, ”I just woke up… I walked down here to find ‘my’ nurse and then you started to wave a gun at me.” Sam said folding his arms. And leaning against Juliette.

Juliette narrowed her eyes slightly at Sam and glanced back at the gunman. She wasn't quite sure where he was going with it, but she trusted him enough to go along with his game. However frustrating it might be.

She swallowed, trying to steady her heart rate and fix her dry throat. "No, I didn't see any ice," she stated, her voice a little shaky at first, then sure by the end. She hoped that the gunman would assume she was just nervous and not lying.

"And besides," she continued. "Sam here couldn't possibly do anything in his condition. It's progressed much too far for that. Stage four colorectal cancer. Nasty illness. I'm amazed he's even up and walking." Juliette squeezed Sam's arm and gave him a fake reassuring glance to heighten the effect. "All this sitting's probably not doing him any good, though."

The gunman looked a little flustered. He gave his gun another glance over and then shook his head, letting off a few choice words. "Fine. Whatever. Just shut up, alright? Another few words and I'm not going to be so forgiving."

”Errr… yeah… cancer!” Sam said not exactly sure what kind colorectal was. It had color and rectal so it could have been anything and now wasn’t the time to guess what it exactly was. They were in a hospital so anyone could have called Sam out on it if he got it wrong. ”I never wanted to spend my life in a bed.” Sam said simply as he winced and grabbed his side as if that was the source of his pain. He looked to Juliette for conformation before stopping the ‘pain’.

”Got it!” Sam said with a wince as he put his head back down. The gunman were stationed throughout the room and covered all the exits, well they would have covered all the exits if there was still one of the gunman in the stairway. Maybe there was more but Sam’s main priority at the moment was to clear the lobby. He could hear the sirens now and he was sure it would get worse with the police intervention. At least there wouldn’t be any Meta bots. ”Smooth, you’re doing great for someone with a boring life.” Sam whispered to her as he looked for some more information about the situation.

”Right on time.” the biggest gunman said as he looked down at his watch, we have a few minutes before they set up a blockade, I want at least thee mutants shot by then.” So the big guy was in charge. That was easy enough. Sam looked around and spotted the kid with the green skin get pushed in front of the window. He was scared, as he should be. There was a gun pointed at his head.

Sam’s hand clenched as the room got colder. It was hardly noticeable at first but by the time they pulled the trigger it would be below freezing. Sam looked to Juliette, ”You said you dealt with energy and light right? Think you can make a flash similar to a flash bang? I’m gonna need them distracted to take them out.”

She maybe should have picked a more well known cancer type. Juliette winced as Sam grabbed his side, not really where he should have been grabbing. She just hoped that the gunman wouldn't notice enough to make a big deal about it. In hind sight, she should have just gone with prostate or something obvious.

Juliette eyes moved over to another gunman a little farther away, who was pointing a gun at the green boy's head. She held her breath, expecting a gunshot, but nothing came. The gun didn't move, though. It seemed that they were waiting to gather more and shoot them all in an execution-style example. It was a good way to show exactly what they thought about mutants without causing any human casualties.

>>”You said you dealt with energy and light right? Think you can make a flash similar to a flash bang? I’m gonna need them distracted to take them out.”

Juliette nodded, already starting to feel the temperature in the room drop. That must have been another aspect of Sam's powers.

Flash bang. She needed to make a flash bang. That was something she'd never tried before, but she figured that she could probably do it with the right amount of concentration. Perhaps not the actual bang, but definitely the flash.

Juliette glanced around. There were lights all down the hallway which would give her enough energy to do it. She closed her eyes and began to absorb some of the energy until she felt that she had enough. Then, she created a large burst of energy near the middle of the room where no one was standing, increasing it in size quickly to create a flash effect.

It wasn't perfect, but it would probably do.

Sam knew it was going to happen but he exactly wasn’t ready for it. If it weren’t for the alcohol in his system at the moment the shear amount of heat coming from the center of the room would have caused an intense migraine. Luckily Sam shut all his senses down till he could feel the light on his skin soften. Sam started to move his sixth sense activated along with his lone eye.

Jumping up Sam took the IV stand and swung it like a bat hitting the first closest gunman in the arm causing a loud crunch. His gun dropped and Sam shot a beam of ice at it then him. One down. Sam then started to run to the others as more and more ice started to coat the walls and the flooring it would be hard to stand for anyone unless they were on a pair of skates. Lucky for Sam he could form some and with the IV stand he started to skate around like a hockey player shooting beams of ice as the gunman recovered from the flash.

”Sure, let’s grab some guns and work out our problems! It always works! There is never anyone that can stop us!” Sam started to swing the IV stand a little harder after each gunman until he was knocking the wind and socks off of them. They were in a hospital and he was full of rage at the moment. The gunman had a few mutant children and some ‘not-real’ memories started to resurface.

Sam dropped the IV stand after the fourth gunman and started using his hands on number five Sam skated past and then grabbed him by the neck and fell on purpose causing the gunman to drop to the ice with the added weight of his body and Sam’s. A loud thud resounded behind him as he rolled to the side as a bullet landed where his stomach was a second ago. Ice started to coat his body as another bullet glanced his arm where his stiches finally healed from the first time he met Juliette he could feel some blood as the adrenaline was pumping he ignored it and shot some ice beams where the bullets were coming from.

”You’re all under arrest for being &&&&ing morons!” Sam yelled as he shot a beam of ice where he could see a gunman.

Juliette continued to stand, intending to help Sam in some way, but she wasn't entirely sure where to start. There was something going on everywhere at once, despite the fact that there was only one of Sam.

Ice had spread over the walls and floor, making it nearly impossible for anyone to stand. The room had also dropped several degrees at least. It was hard to bear, especially in only scrubs. Juliette stayed low to the ground, attempting to keep her balance.

Within just a few moments, most of the gunmen were on the ground, holding their freshly broken bones. It was a good thing they were already in a hospital. Sam was shouting something and shooting even more ice crystals where there seemed to be gunshots coming from.

Juliette stepped along the ice, attempting to see around the corner where it seemed two of the gunmen were. It was difficult, to say the least, as she wasn't even a little experienced at walking on ice. She walked slowly and carefully, being very sure that she didn't accidentally attract the attention of one of the gunmen.

Eventually, the gunmen came into view. From her position, she would be able to get a good shot or two out. Juliette raised her hand and shot a large blast at the two of them.

The blast made contact, hitting the first man in the ribs. The man was forced backwards from the blast, the ice knocking him straight into the second man. They ended up on the floor, unable to move due to the ice.

Juliette looked back, feeling the heat of the eyes of her coworkers on her. If any of them had doubts about her being a mutant before, they certainly didn't then.