Disclaimer: I don't own X-men.

A/N:  I had to get this story out before it ate me alive!!

 I hope you all enjoy it and will review!

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I hate this place. I hate who I become when I come here and I hate how my father has changed since coming here. And most of all, I hate her. It's been almost three years now, since my father and her married. At first I wasn't sure about it all, glad that my father was happy but sad that it wouldn't ever just be the two of us again.

 It's late and I don't know what possessed me to get in the car with my father and her, just going to the store, he had said and I wanted to tag along. It wasn't long before I spotted my mistake in getting into the car or even letting him drive. In the review mirror I could see his eyes, slightly glassy from one too many. He looks at me as he takes a drag from his cigarette and smiles. I force myself to smile back leaning back against my seat. Suddenly a blinding light fills the car I open my mouth to scream as I see my short-lived life flash before my eyes. Instinctively I raise my arms to shield my head before I black out as we ram into the on coming semi-truck.

 I feel blinding pain shoot through me as I hit the water's surface at a high speed and then sink below the surface. My mind reels at the freezing cold temperature and I remember thinking to myself before I blacked out once again, 'Where did the water come from?'

The disoriented garbling voices echo in my head not making any sense no matter how hard I try to clear my mind.

 'Where…' '…She … ' ... Alive…'

 It was a long time later before I could finally think straight let alone open my eyes. But when I tried they were assaulted with a bright blinding light instantly making my head pound. I moaned in pain and tried again keeping them open longer this time trying to let them adjust to the light. Everything was so blurry I blinked refocusing my eyes. I was in a white room on top a cold metal table with only a thin white sheet covering me. I was hooked up to several different machines that made their presence known by their steady beeping. A woman with long red hair wearing a white lab coat walked into the room and up to my side.

  'Where had I seen her before?' I thought blearily staring up at her.

She smiled, "I see you're awake. Can you talk?"

I nodded my head not even sure myself if I could still talk but decided I should try anyways.

  "Where?" I asked my voice cracked from being unused for so long.

She had gotten my message though, "You're at the Institute For Mutants, my name's Jean Grey."

 'Is that why she looked so familiar?' I thought my mind still fuzzy, 'She's from the X-men… wait now that doesn't make sense.'

 "What," I cleared my throat, "What you ay your name was?" I whispered clearing my throat again.

She looked at me curiously, "Jean Grey."

I shook my head chuckling, "This is crazy." I said out loud noticing the confused look Jean gave me, "My dad!" I blurted out suddenly remembering the accident.

 "Your dad?" Jean repeated with furrowed eyebrows.

 "Yes, I was with my dad and… someone else when we crashed." I sat up clutching the sheet to my chest still ignoring the fact that I was naked… for some reason…

 "Logan didn't mention anyone else, or a car for that matter. He found you unconscious on the beach."

I laid back down suddenly overwhelmed by emotion. I was the only one here; did that mean I was the only one who made it… or did it mean I was the only one who didn't make it?

 "Can… can I have some clothes?" I whispered trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall.

Jean must have sensed my distress for she laid a hand on my should a smiled sadly, "Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine." Then she walked off to get me some clothes.

  It was about an hour or so later that I met up with Professor Charles Xavier. I took a seat in the chair in front of his desk and stared at the floor still silently grieving the loss of my father in my mind.

 "I am Professor Charles Xavier, owner of this school." He introduced himself and I tugged at the bottom of the dark blue shirt Jean had given me to wear along with a pair of blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

 "Nice to meet you Professor," A said softly raising my eyes to look at him, "My name's Ripley."

He nodded with a smile, "I understand the stress you must be going through Ripley, and let me assure you that it is quite alright that you stay here."

I sighed, "Thank you." If only he knew what was really going through my mind, and he probably did. But from the look on his face I could tell that he didn't have a clue and I silently thanked God that he was polite enough not to go through my mind.

 "I must also tell you that a few tests were done while you were unconscious, are you aware that you carry the X-gene?"

I looked up at him in shock; the thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

 "I'll take that as a 'no'." He chuckled.

 "But… there's no way I could be… be a mutant!" I stuttered in shock.

The Professor looked at me sadly, "Being a mutant is nothing to be ashamed of." He said softly.

 I shook my head and laughed, "No it's not that. Its just… jeeze… I can't believe this is all happening." I could tell now that he was tempted to read my mind but was resisting the urge. There was suddenly a knock at the door. Charles tore his eyes from me to the door and cleared his throat, "Come in." He called and the door opened.

My jaw dropped slightly, Logan walked into the room folding his arms over his chest.

 'How could I have forgotten him!' I shouted in my mind immediately closing my mouth and then berated myself silently when the Professor gave me an odd look.

Logan raised an eyebrow at me then turned to the Professor, "Who's the kid Chuck?"

 "This is Ripley, the girl you found two days ago."

I could feel myself begin to blush, 'Don't blush!' I repeated over and over again in my head.

 "Ya feelin' better kid?" He smirked.

 "Yea, thanks." I smiled back still berating myself for being such a loser.

Logan nodded then turned his attention back to the Professor, "I need ta talk to ya Chuck." He said seriously and I took this as my queue to leave.

 "Is it okay if I go look around?" I asked standing up and received a nod from the Professor.

I quickly left the room closing the door behind me as I walked out into the hallway. I leaned up against the wall and sighed in relief, 'How did I get myself into this mess?'

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A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review now! ^_^