Timelined on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
McCoy: Dr. Hank McCoy was unsettled as he entered the state-of-the-art in-patient center. As the personal physician of Dr. Charles Xavier, his number was first on the list to be called if there was any change in the condition of the founder of Xavier University and the X-Men.
McCoy: For more than seven years, there had been no cause for the facility to call. Hank had visited, from time to time, honoring his old friend and having a small toast in his memory.
McCoy: Of late, however, Dr. Xavier's persistent vegetative state was not not as vegetative as it had once been. Then this morning, the call came.
McCoy: For days, Xavier's brain had shown increasing amounts of activity, and while at first no one had wanted to get their hopes up, it seemed entirely possible that Charles would awaken, and soon.
McCoy: Other names on that list had been called as well, including Massachusetts Academy Headmaster Erik Lehnsherr and President Tony Stark.
McCoy: But, before anyone got too excited, Hank was here to investigate the situation. While this facility had become more and more adept in dealing with mutants over the years, Charles was still one of, if not the most powerful telepath on the planet.
McCoy: He spoke quietly to the nurses, then entered the room and picked up the tablet, reading over the notes of the various attending physicians.
McCoy: Charles lay still in the bed, impeccably groomed, thanks to the professional staff, but still.
Xavier: Slowly, the blackness of Charles Xavier's mind opened, not unlike someone opening their eyes after closing them to an intense flash of light. It was bright and multi-layered as he stood on a ground he once considered more real than the actuality of the outside world.
Xavier: He took a cautious step forward, feeling his way through this plane of existence. He was aware that there had been some changes to the landscape, but it still felt comforting. Xavier levitated up to a platform and inspected some damage wrought by an attack or misuse, he wasn't sure which.
Xavier: Placing his hand flat against the largest portion of the damage, the cracks that had splintered off from it started to recede, healing the abused atmosphere with a careful thought. Charles stepped back to look at the now completely healed section of his mind and turned to carry himself to the others. This could be a long process, but in the end, all would be well and he would be whole.
Xavier: Once the last of the severe damage had been tended to, he floated back to the center and looked around with a slight smile. The smile was evident on his physical body as well; he could feel it.
McCoy: The steady beep of his heart monitor was background noise to the words on the screen and he lost track of time until a nursing assistant brought him a cup of coffee - and a Twinkie! How thoughtful. Charles truly could not have been in better hands.
McCoy: After his effusive response to the young lady and fast snack, Hank rose, cup in hand, and went to the bedside.
McCoy: "Charles," he said, as he always did. "You're looking well." In fact, Charles was looking very well.
McCoy: Was he... smiling? The rather dense hair on the back of the doctor's neck rose.
Xavier: Charles spread out his arms and let his head fall back, eyes closed, searching for like-minded individuals near his physical body, testing the use of his telepathy on a minor scale. He lowered himself to the ground and frowned. Such turmoil. And yet, a strange sense of peace alongside it.
Xavier: His closest remaining students were no longer near him, but he could feel them as well. Their lives were utterly changed and completely different than he remembered. Friendships sundered, lives lost, wars waged between loved ones. This was not right. He needed to fix it, but first he needed to fix himself.
Xavier: Xavier pulled his focus inward again, looking for any lasting damage that could be impacting his ability to control himself. There. With a thought, the rend in the fabric of his mind sealed up, almost as if someone was watching it being torn in reverse. His eyes flew open and he gagged, weakly tearing at the obstruction in his throat.
McCoy: As he was not gifted in the same way as Charles, Hank knew nothing of the inner turmoil, simply noting that the monitor of his brain functions continued its sustained uptick in activity.
McCoy: Hank gasped when his old friend awoke, all at once. "Oh my stars and garters! Charles!"
Xavier: Hank? Xavier forced himself to calm and slowly pulled the breathing tube from his throat, knowing that if Hank were with him, that was likely all it was. Once freed of the contraption his eyes shifted to his old friend. "Hank," he rasped in greeting. "Water?"
McCoy: Hank was completely flabbergasted, gobsmacked, possibly stupefied. "Charles," he repeated, working to help his friend before the man choked himself. Thank the heavens it wasn't a full ventilator! "Yes, of course. In a moment." He looked up at the monitors and checked Charles' pulse.
McCoy: Hearing the medical staff running to the room, he barked an order for water.
Xavier: Charles lay still, taking in everyone who was now bustling around him in the room. He didn't dare speak any further just yet, so instead he closed his eyes while they worked, retreating back into the psychic plane for a moment.
Xavier: He wanted to make sure that everything was still the same now that his physical body had awakened. It was evident that there was a bit of strain on the landscape, but nothing that shouldn't be easily mended with time. He opened his eyes again to look at Hank and smiled. Ever loyal and a comforting presence to be sure.
McCoy: Hank took Charles' hand while the staff bustled around the room, one finally returning with a cup of water.
McCoy: "First, baby steps," he said, holding him steady as a nurse raised the head of the bed a bit and he helped Charles to take a small sip.
Xavier: Charles was grateful for the water, taking a second sip before pulling his head back to indicate he was finished. He had just wanted to get his throat moist. Xavier gave Hank's hand a small squeeze as he looked up at the other man. "Thank you. I feel," he cleared his throat, swallowed, and continued, "I have missed quite a bit."
McCoy: "Oh..." he said, caught halfway between a sigh and a chuckle. "Just a few things."