"Yeah," he said. "come on in, I'll go get him,"

Lance and Scott walked in and stood in the large doorway. They watched the young man stick his hands in his pockets and walk away through a hall, leaving them alone in the large corridor.

"Wow," Scott mumbled, while looking around. "never thought I'd be back here,"

"Yep," Lance nodded. "a lot of times I got my ass kicked in this room," Scott smiled knowing that it was true.

They heard laughter echo down the stairs and through the halls. Scott suddenly felt more homesick then he had before. He sighed and started to pace slightly.

"I think I've lost my nerve," he said to Lance. Lance just gave him a weak smile and started playing with his ear again.

The young man walked back into the corridor. "He'll be out in a minute," he said. They watched him quickly walk up the stairs and disappear behind the wall.

"Manners are a thing in the past, apparently here at the institute," Lance frowned.

"Wonder what's taking him?" Scott wondered out loud while staring down the long hallway towards the Professors office.

"He knows it's us and is conspiring to announce us to the world,"

"Lance," Scott warned.

"Sorry,"

"Please come to my office," came a deep voice that seemed to echo through the institute.

"What was that?" Lance asked looking around for the source.

"That would be the Professor," Scott said quietly. "he knows it's us,"

"Told yeah,"

"Lance," Scott warned again.

Scott walked down the hall with Lance trailing not far behind him. The brown walls seemed to be closing in on Scott. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They came to a large handcrafted wooden door with a sign that read "Professor Xavier". Scott took another large breath and opened the door.

There, sitting behind the desk was a man. He wore wrinkles over his face and his bald head. His eyes were wide with amazement and teary with emotion. As he rolled out from behind the desk they noticed his new wheelchair with the letter "X" on the wheels.

"Scott," he breathed quietly.

"Hey Professor," Scott smiled weakly. "you miss me?"

The Professor opened his arms for Scott to hug him. He did and soon felt tears in his eyes but refused to let them fall.

"Lance," the Prof. smiled turning after letting go of Scott.

"Hey Professor," he smiled with less emotion and a small wave. "how are ya?"

He smiled wide. "i'm good Lance," he said and then turned to Scott. "where have you two been all this time?"

Lance looked at Scott. Scott looked at Lance. The dreaded question had come up sooner then expected. Lance started messing with ear again while Scott tried to figure a way to start the long and painful story.

"We...," he stopped to clear his throat. "we were kidnapped."