A New Hope

Chapter Two

By: Lily Handle

------

Author's Note: Another chapter in the rewrite. Please read and review.

------

Hope smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from the simple black skirt she had decided to wear for the lunch with Charles Xavier, but he had chosen the restaurant. Hope had found a message waiting on her answering machine when she had gotten home from her shift. Hank was the one to leave the message, saying to meet at Luigi's at one, all she would have to do is say her name to the owner and she would be shown to the table. Luigi's was an upscale Italian place that was within walking distance of the hospital, the place catered the yearly Hospital's Patrons Ball, and had some of the best pasta alfredo this side of the Atlantic. Hope personally felt out of place here, it was just too fancy. You've been eating at the hospital's cafeteria too long, she thought picking up the glass of water before her and staring into her reflection. You use to eat at places like this all the time, you just haven't been home to see Mom and Dad for awhile.

"Dr. Chandler?" Hope glanced up and instantly was on her feet.

"Mr. Xavier," Hope said, "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you there. Yes, I'm Dr. Chandler." She held out a hand, trying to fight down the butterflies in her stomach, which had turned into frogs. She smiled politely as she shook hands with Xavier, praying her palms weren't clammy or that he wouldn't notice her hand trembled a bit.

"Please, Doctor, let me introduce you to the rest of the staff," Xavier gestured over his shoulder, Hope followed the gesture and couldn't believe she had missed the three people standing behind Charles.

"Hank!" Hope exclaimed, instantly recognizing her college friend. She stepped around the table, quickly crossed to him and hugged him tightly. "Oh, it's good to see you again."

Hank wrapped one arm around her shoulders, "You look well, Hope."

Hope took a step back, her arms still loosely around him, "So do you. You still get a Chandler Christmas card, don't you?"

"One somehow manages to find me where ever I go, but business first. I'll do the introductions, if you don't mind, Professor." Hank turned Hope towards the other two staff members, "This is Ororo Monroe," Hank said. A tall woman with snow white hair held out her hand, which Hope took, amazed by how much like an African Goddess she looked.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ororo said with an interested smile.

"Thank you," Hope said then turned towards the remaining man. He was a little taller than Hope was, with dark hair and brown eyes. He looked like a frown was perpetually stuck on his face, but he was working up something like a smile for her.

"This is Logan," Hank said.

"Just Logan?" Hope asked, holding out her hand.

"Yeah," Logan gave it one quick shake then returned his hands to his pockets. Hope mentally frowned, he was certainly a rude one, she thought.

"Well, Doctor, shall we order some lunch?" Charles offered, motioning to the table.

"Oh, that would be lovely, I haven't eaten since my shift started," Hope chatted as she took her seat. Hank sat next to her on her left, and Charles took her right. Ororo and Logan sat opposite.

"You like your work, Dr. Chandler?" Charles asked while looking over the menu.

"Yes, for all the stress it causes, I do enjoy it," She replied, smiling over the top of her menu.

"What made you want to go into medicine?"

"Oh, that's a little harder to answer." Hope sighed, folding her menu and propping her chin on her hands, "I think it was because I didn't want to take over my father's company, my sister does that. I liked helping people, I think, I was born with a natural instinct to heal."

"Compassionate soul, Doctor?" Charles offered, smiling.

"I try to be," She smiled back, "Emergency doctors have a chance to treat every type of person, and I liked be able to help every type of person."

"You're a crusader," Logan said stiffly, and Hope frowned at him.

"No, I wouldn't say that, Mr. Logan," She replied, just as stiffly, "I know I can't help everyone who comes through the doors, but at least I get a chance to try. That doesn't sound like a crusade, more like a doctor's reality."

"Well put, Hope," Hank said, grinning. There was a pause as everyone placed their orders with an austere looking waiter.

"Now, Dr. Chandler," Charles said, folding his hands on the table, "What got you interested in the X-gene?"

"A case came into Charity a few years back," Hope started, the memory drawing her back a little unwillingly, "A young boy, probably no more than sixteen. He'd been hit by a car, when we gave him morphine for the pain, he went into cardiac arrest. Due to his mutant DNA the morphine stopped his heart, even a small dose was lethal."

"I remember that," Ororo said, "Tragic."

"Yes, I started looking into mutant DNA and the anomalous gene, the X-gene shortly after that. I hope to fund a clinic that will specialize in mutant care, later in life though. Right now, my goals are the research."

"Your research is very basic, though, Doctor," Charles said, "I mean no offence by that, but I only bring it up to make a point. I've come to offer you a research opportunity."

"What do you mean, Mr. Xavier?" Hope asked, but was forced to wait for an answer as the waiter reappeared with their dishes.

"I would like to fund your research," Charles smiled, "For a time to be determined later." Hope paused, her mouth hanging open and her fork half way to her mouth.

"Pardon?"

Charles smiled, "I guess I should explain myself. I myself know a few mutants, and your work could be very good for their well being later in life. I believe you have trouble finding mutants for your research? And with your busy work schedule, you have trouble finding the time to talk with them."

"How do you know all of this?" Hope asked, surprised at how much this man knew when he claimed to only have recently taken interest in her work.

"I've been talking to those you've been talking to," Charles explained, "They speak highly of you."

"Oh, well, Mr. Charles, I'd like it very much if you would like to contribute to my research," Hope said, regaining her composure, "I can't make any spectacular promises that I'll be the cover article of Time one day or a Nobel prize winner, but I can promise that I'll do what I can with your money."

"There are certain terms to this, Dr. Chandler," Charles said, fixing her with a serious look, "If you do take the money, all of your research will be done out of my Institute. You'll have to adjust your schedule to be able to work nights there and your complete discretion is essential."

"I work shifts that can easily be twenty four hours, Mr. Xavier. As a resident I'm almost always on call, mornings and nights, I don't think I can play around with my hours like that. As for discretion, you don't have to worry about that. As you've read my work, you'll see I refer to those involved as subjects, no names."

"If your schedule becomes a problem, I have another option for you," Charles said slowly. Hope was surprised when everyone at the table looked towards Charles, a little astonishment in them. What was going on? Hope wondered. "We are in need of a trained medical professional at my Institute, you'd live on grounds, paid a salary if you'd like along with the research grants, and you'd have easy access to subjects."

"Quit? You'd like me to quit my job to become a school nurse? Mr. Xavier, I don't think I'll be able to do that," Hope said, a little offended at the idea. She didn't exactly need research grants, her family was very well off, her salary was respectable, and money wasn't a problem. Grants would be good, a little more money to spend on looking for mutants, bribing them to talk even, but not essential.

"Excuse me Doctor, I might have been a little hasty in my explanation unfortunately I have a business meeting to attend. I would like to speak with you more, Dr. Chandler, if that's alright."

"Yes," Hope said, unable to deny her curiosity about Mr. Xavier and his offer, "I would like that as well."

"Tomorrow, after your shift," Charles said, and then pulled back from the table, "Thank you for your time, Doctor."

"It was nice to meet you, Mr. Xavier," Hope turned to Hank, "It was very good to see you again, Hank."

"We'll have coffee sometime before you start work, Hope." Hank hugged her again, "I'll call you."

"Very nice to meet you, Doctor," Ororo said, this time Hope was the one to offer her hand.

"A pleasure," Hope answered politely. Logan nodded at her, then helped steer Charles's wheel chair of the restaurant while Hope stood, frozen in place. Amazing, she just had lunch with Charles Xavier, he'd offered her money and a job. What fate was smiling down on her today?

------

"A job offer here?" Logan growled, "What are you thinking, Charles?"

"That Dr. Chandler could change the way the world will see us," Charles said, "She's a non-mutant doctor, a member of a respected Southern family, and her work is revolutionary. She's a humanitarian now, if she spent time with the students here, she can only become more dedicated."

"And if she spills the beans on what's going on here?" Logan challenged, "We're screwed, and she's still a rich doctor."

"Hope wouldn't do that," Hank said in defense, "She's not likely to give up her job at Charity for a position as a nurse here, anyway. She worked hard for it."

"Ororo, you've been silent," Charles said, "What do you think of the doctor?"

"There's a chance she could do what Logan suggested, but when she comes here tomorrow, we can show her what she'll be working with. Let her meet a few of the students, see a training session with the newer students. If she can't handle it, erase her memory," Ororo suggest, pacing the room.

"A well thought out idea, Ororo, thank you." Charles looked towards Logan, "You see any flaws, Logan?"

"Don't trust her," He muttered softly, "I ain't got a good feeling about this."

------

Author's Note: Another chapter for the rewrite, I'm trying to work on this, while also working on Hope Returns, some times one is easier to write than the other. Thanks for reading and being patient.