Nathan and Chelsea
Nathan was talking to Chelsea as he stepped down onto the top stair. He only received a flicker of warning before Chelsea tripped and hurtled headlong down the stairs. He twisted and caught her, holding her on top of him as he curled protectively around her smaller body. They hit every step on the way down.
Chelsea yelped in fear as she started to fall, and then there was a strong, warm body holding her. She screamed as they kept falling, Nathan grunting with pain as his spine took yet another blow. She saw for the briefest instant the white faces of the people above them and then her world shrunk to Nathan's gasps of pain and the sickening thumpslide sounds of them falling down the stairs.
They landed at the bottom, and Nathan oofed, arms still tight around her. She twisted her head and stared at him. His lips were drawn back from his teeth and a frown of pain twisted his face as his eyes squeezed shut. "Nate? You ok?" Chelsea said softly, shaking like mad from reaction.
"Think I broke something," he said briefly. Chelsea's eyes widened with horror and she got off him quickly. He tried to stand up and yelped with pain. "Yep. Ankle, broken or at least badly sprained." He hauled himself to his feet using the stair rail and looked at Chelsea. "You alright, little red?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you." Chelsea's eyes were wet with tears. "Why did you *do* that?"
"Kinda like ya. Kinda don't want to see ya hurt." Nathan looked uncomfortable. "'Sides, I heal quick."
"We better gp to the Medlab. You need to get Dr McCoy to check you over."
"Good point." He leaned on Chelsea gratefully as she helped him limp to the Medlab.
~*~*~*~
"Concussion, and yes, that ankle is broken. Bruised ribs, sprained wrist, twisted spine...you managed to knock youself up rather badly." Hank McCoy looked at Nathan sternly. "Be mre careful next time."
"Couldn't let her get hurt."
"Yes, well...I've strapped your writs and ankle, and you'll need those crutches to get around." Hank handed Nathan a pair of crutches. The scarred mutant nodded and hobbled out of the room. Chelsea had been pronounced fine.