Guys – this is my first story. If you could leave a review, positive, constructive, whatever – it would be greatly appreciative. I am especially looking for what works, what doesn't, what's close but needs … something, and what is missing or overdone. Thank you.

oOo

X-Men Evolution: The unofficial season 5 Visitations Act 1 A long expected party of angst

Two months after Apocalypse:

The red convertible weaved through heavy traffic on northbound Highway 85, cutting close around the lumbering semitrailers threatening to box it in. With a roar, it shot through, slowing only when the drivers' rear view mirror showed them as the size of pillboxes. Wind whipped through his close cropped hair as he grinned.

"One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three … there!" the driver chanted. Agent Coulson of SHIELD turned his head, checking all mirrors once again just to make sure.

"Idiots," he said smugly. "Just assume that everyone's an idiot. It's safer." He beamed at his passenger.

Agent Hill wordlessly rapped her knuckles on the dashboard, pointing her index finger at the road ahead.

He laughed. "You have to learn to drive some time, Maria". Scowling, she slumped back into her seat.

Five minutes passed. The exurban sprawl faded to open farmland, with a few cut-outs of deeply clustered housing amid the dairy cows, knots of horses, and tight, precious little orchards. For the moment agent Hill enjoyed her view, if not the company.

It was all part of the plan. It didn't include her being annoyed by her companion; that was an optional extra. The plan: forged, sintered, refined. Weeks of meetings, conference calls, consultations with experts. The weeks Fury was away in Washington. Congressmen and their aides, reporters, sound bites. Diplomats behind the scenes, securing promises, expressing concerns.

It would not be theirs, Coleman nor Hill, nor Fury, nor any politicians' decision to change at the last minute. The president could, but he was on board.

A balancing act. Children, teens, some of whom didn't even shave yet, had saved the world. But a thoughtless moment, and what teen has not had one? They had stopped counting scenarios in late-June, another option was needed. And found.

"Babysitters", she muttered at herself, falling back into her seat.

She looked down at her phone. It rang, surprising her. "Fury," she announced, cradling it to her ear to compete with the road noise, once more wishing for the comfort and quiet of a SHIELD sedan. At the directors' name, Phil gunned the engine loudly, stepping out to avoid a slowdown from merging traffic.

"Nice view of your chin," Fury told her. "Wait – Phil's driving Lola, isn't he?" Hill nodded, her pained expression quite evident. Coulson was doing his part to ensure the decision could not be changed, driving his noisy sports car with the windows down on the freeway. His having fun was also an optional extra. No one could blame them for not hearing a stop order.

"Status. Make it brief," he said.

"We're northbound on 87, 30 Clicks off Poughkeepsie," she shouted. "We'll make Xavier's in twenty".

"Call me back," Fury's shouted words mixing with the blare of a horn from the right and behind as their car sharply returned to the center lane.

"Moron," she mouthed.

"Driving is fun!" Coulson loudly laughed, deliberately misunderstanding her intended target.

"They are on their way," Fury stated. At the other end of the SKYPE connection, Charles Xavier twisted the volume control of his headphones and nodded. Sunlight streamed in through the large Georgian windows of his study.

"We'll be ready," he said. "When should we expect them?"

"I'd say 20 minutes, give or take a speeding ticket. Coulson's driving the 'vette".

Upon seeing his partners not-unexpected reaction, Fury smiled. "You may have some unexpected guests as well. Please … don't kill them, no matter how annoying they are."

Xavier's left brow shot up. "A security test?"

Fury didn't answer. After a moment, Charles continued.

"Can they still be called back?" he asked.

"Possible, but it's going to be difficult," Fury said. "Everything is so finely balanced – but with a decision from all parties, we're shooting the slot at record speeds to make it official." It was unspoken they were racing the clock. A last minute push by opponents to throw sand in the works, to break this political alignment was only to be expected in an election year.

"I only wish that I could speak with you directly, face to face over this." Fury's countenance immediately darkened, prompting Charles to hastily add "I understand why it's not possible, but, still … I do miss the human connection".

"Yes," he sighed. "Charles, I know, but – I have to answer to five congressional committees, the Security Council, POTUS. Just the thought of my being near a telepath would send any of them ballistic."

It was the standard answer now, from anyone in a professional capacity, even his friends. He had enormous trust from them, but their paymasters and legal counsel dared not to take the risk. Ironically, the disclosure of his telepathic mutation had made Charles Xavier more isolated and alone than he had ever been before.

"Oh, and make sure Scott and Jean are there," Fury said. "We're good to go with the offer."

"Thank you – thank you, they will appreciate it, as do I." Xavier answered warmly. He ended the session and turned to the intercom, speaking briskly. "Logan, Ororo, McCoy, to the library, please. We will be have guests shortly. You too, Scott and Jean, this concerns you as well."

"Was ist going on?" Kurt asked, lowering his arms in a pleading manner as he met Scott just outside of the other's dorm room.

"I dunno," Scott answered. He stopped to gaze out the window and leaned forward. "There - a car," he said, pointing down to the outer drive.

"It looks just like yours!" Kurt said, eyes wide open. "No, wait – it's different."

"It's a Corvette, Mine's a Shelby Cobra," Scott answered with a note of rising pride. They walked to the center of the hallway where it joined the grand stairs to the main level. They both put two hands to the railing as the car slowed for the main gate.

"It's SHIELD," Ororo answered as she rushed to the door, her white hair flowing. "Scott: to the library!" she ordered.

"Sorry Kurt," he smiled, raising his hand to wave. "Orders are orders." He followed her down, and then hastily turned to the right before disappearing. Kurt walked sideways to where Scott had been standing.

"Did Ororo say SHIELD?" Kitty asked, just walking in.

"Yeah, like we've been expecting this for a couple months," Rogue answered from the other direction. She waved her index finger in a sweeping clockwise arc in front of her.

"And so the takeover begins," Kurt sighed, slumping his arms onto the hall railing, legs bent and played out so that only his head and forearms showed, tail flicking slowly downwards.

"Hey, it might not be that bad," Kitty said. "I mean, hey, anyone driving a 'vette has to be cool, right?"

"Dream on, Pryde," Rogue said. "To them, we're just assets, or in corp-speak, resources. Something to be used, and thrown away." Sighing, she placing her hands on the railing next to Kurt, and leaned forward with a bitter, disappointed look.

At the lower level, Ororo opened the door, wiping away a wispy hair with her cinnamon-coppery hand.

"You don't know that," Kurt sighed. "But maybe."