Day 3.

The night is long. There barely is any movement in the dark, except for some night birds, and the AC comes on every now and then. He is lying on his back, eyeing his hand, which is stretched up in front of him to the ceiling, thinking back to the many conversations that happened today. There is a comforting touch, and Charles says "you have betrayed us", and also "the present is all we will ever have". He tries to think if it would be a true betrayal, working for the future and not doing anything in the present. I'm an old man, he chuckles to himself, thinking, how that affects the equation, and then he realizes with horrible clarity that there is a tense still missing from it. It's the past, of course, with its hunting images, with a sinister and malevolent figure of someone Nathaniel Essex in it. He is almost sure it is the man from his memories, with something so horribly wrong with his entire being. He spends the next our trying hard not to think about the nightmares of his childhood. He does not realize when it is that he falls asleep, but he sleeps through the night peacefully and wakes up much later than usual, and he knows exactly who is responsible for that, and he is not going to give any thanks.

The kitchen is bright, full of kids, as always, and full of laughter, and Charles and Ororo are there, but there is no sign of either Hank or Logan, who, as Ororo explains, are still in the infirmary, keeping a watch over Scott.

I do not remember asking your help, Charles. There is an edge to his mental voice, as he sits down next to the telepath and starts his morning coffee. Remembering the last time they had an argument, he decides to spare some humiliation and talk to his friend mentally. It is usually enough to simply call his name and think about him. The answer comes back, in a matter of seconds, clear and sharp.

You needed sleep, and so did I.

Whateveris that supposed to mean, my friend? Surely, you would have regained control over your powers enough not to slip into my dreams by now.

I am almost sure of that. However, Erik, I'm still not the only telepath at the school, and dreams as disturbing as yours, unfortunately, attract visitors. You would not be as cruel to assume I should have let a young girl look into you.

I've had enough young girls looking into me to last a lifetime. Thanks.

I do hate to rub it in, my friend, but touching Rogue was really your idea.

Get of your high horse, Charles.

And good morning to you, too.

There is a smile on Charles face. He must have missed having an equal to bicker with. True, he would consider the older members of the team his equals, but they never argued, never doubted him. Erik realizes they have been looking at each other, exchanging the thoughts, and looks away, quickly, but, of course, the kids have noticed that a mental conversation has taken place. He gives Magma a very stern look, but that does not seem to help.

- I do have to remind the students, - Charles says, with a look of determination on his face. – That gambling is not permitted on the grounds of the Institute, and that includes bets.

What did they bet upon this time that made you interfere?

Erik, you really do not want to know.

They next make it down to the infirmary. Erik pauses and steps aside, to check on the younger child. Freya is sitting on her bed, with a small smile on her face that brings out her childlike delicate features. She is playing with her hair, and Hank is sitting next to her, explaining in his kind manner, the precautions she should take in the next couple of weeks to make sure her wound is fully healed. Logan is standing his vigil next to Scott, and is clearly thinking about Jean Grey, as usual. It seems that her shadow would never be completely gone from the mansion.

- I have not told him, - he says, throwing the Professor an accusing look.

- Told me what? - are the first words that Scott mutters, trying hard to focus his eyes on anything. The room must be dark-red to him, as it always is. - Jean?

Xavier looks at him.

Welcome back. You should rest, my friend, - he says. - We have much to discuss.

- Professor? Where are you? Is that really you? - He seems disturbed and tries to sit up, unsuccessfully. - What happened?

- I'm here, Scott, - the man walks up to Scott's bed. - It's a long story. - He is at a loss for words, trying to explain what happened without bringing up Phoenix, but Logan gets there first.

- So what, Shades, the old man's got himself extensive plastic surgery, you got a problem with that? He's got a right to be pretty as much as any of us, you know. - Erik smirks at that, still hidden from Cyclops' point of view. His presence at the infirmary would be one too many shocks to young Scott. Cyclops would be having a blast.

- Ok, it's you, - Scott relaxes visibly. - Not to mention that you are still a dick, Wolverine. - He pauses, rubbing his forehead, with a confused look on his face. - We... must find Jean! Something is wrong with her!

There is an awful silence following that.

- I'm afraid we know that, - Professor says. - Scott, I'm really sorry. You have been gone for a long time. Jean... is not with us anymore.

- Is she? - Young man turns pale and his voice is weak. He is not able to finish the question.

- Dead. - Logan looks away.

It takes both Beast and Wolverine to hold back a weakened man, struggling to break free, frantically refusing to hear the words of consolation and comfort, as Ororo ushers Freya out of the room. Scott breaks down and his eyes are wet.

- I lost her again. Oh, Jean. Lost her again... Hold on, - he trails off. - What ha... what happened? I was at the Alkalai Lake, and... How did she die? - He demands angrily. - How did you let that happen?

- She was out of control, - Professor says. - Really, really, out of control. Scott, it was 20 states and a piece of Canada or her. Her powers turned out to be too much to handle. She killed a lot of people. We tried everything we could.

You tell him a single word above that and you will consider yourself a proper Catholic nun, Logan, - he says at the same time. - We've lost too many as is and we are not losing Scott.

There is a look of repressed anger on Logan's face, but he decides to not push the matters for now, grudgingly telling the general public he's tired of this and he's going to be out on his bike.

- What killed her? - Scott finally asks, wearily and not looking at anybody in particular.

- We all did.

Cyclops turns his back to the rest of them, dwelling on that. The rest of them leave the room, one by one, Hank being the last one to go.

- There is only one thing, - Ororo catches up to them in the elevator, before they go their separate ways for the day. - It does not add up. I remember clearly Logan bringing Scott's glasses when we assumed he was killed, or lost. Where did the visor he is wearing now come from?

That is an uncomfortable question.

Logan comes back to the infirmary in a few hours, half-expecting to hear the same "you are a dick" response as before. It would be a good sign. Cyclops not being in the infirmary would be a really bad sign, on the other hand. Reality is something in between. Cyclops' body is there, but it seems his leader spirit is AWOL. Logan plops onto another bed and begins starts staring at the back of Summers' the head. He knows it's irritating. Cyclops gives up after some time.

- Go away.

- Your bike's fueled, - Logan says. – I ain't giving it back, though.

There is a long pause after that, and more staring into the dark hair, as Cyclops tries to ignore him.

- Are you here because you decided you want to be blown up?

- Look, - he says. – We've been through hell since you were gone, team leader. Nobody counts on you anymore, but you missed the old Wheels getting killed by Jean, and a big fight. You're not the only one suffering, so quit the prima act.

Cyclops jerks forward and there is a mighty kick, some punches, a few pieces of broken equipment, and the alarms go off in the building, but in half a minute Logan manages to hold him down. He faintly recognizes that should have been harder, which means Summers must be in horrible shape.

- Before they get here, - he grumbles, - I wanna tell you something, bub. There is another fight about to begin, and I don't need you, but this place might. You wanna miss it and stay miserable? Your call.

Beast makes it down first, in one marvelous jump, ready to fight whatever danger there is, but seeing it's just two idiots, relaxes.

- Predictable, if disappointing. - He acknowledges. – I thought this was infirmary, not Danger Room, but if the two of you insist, I should really make sure we update the map of the mansion. Logan, I do not approve of alternative medicine, which you appear to be practicing. – He goes to the computer and shuts down the alarm, sending an "all clear" message.

Logan lets Cyclops go, only to feel a hard punch in the face delivered. He turns his head, stretching the neck, until his nose is set back into place, and looks down.

- Think about it, Shades.

He walks out, not paying any attention to the rest of Beast's monologue, trying to not be too offensive about it. Alternative medicine, huh? You might call it that, but it sure as hell is more effective than the touchy-feely treatment Cyclops got from everybody around here last time.

Hank helps Scott back to bed.

- I'm not going to as you what happened, but I may forbid him from visiting you, if you wish.

- I don't care, - Cyclops says. – Hank, what happened? Last think I remember is the Alkalai Lake and Jean… He shifts uncomfortably.

- We know no more, - the Beast assures him. – We brought Jean back, but you were nowhere in sight. Do you remember anything?

Scott rubs his forehead, looking miserable.

- Nothing. She was strange, so powerful. It's not that she was forgetting herself, it's almost like her old self seemed unimportant and she was storing it just in case to the back of her mind. I could feel it. She was projecting herself, all of her feelings, right into the world. – He pauses, trying to think about what happened next. – So how did you find me?

Beast pauses.

- It wasn't us. Logan said Jean thought she killed you.

- Someone must have scared her and then picked me up, - Scott makes a vague gesture, trying to come up with a surprise rescue story. - There is no other way to explain it. She must have been so confused...

Mr. McCoy shakes his head, taking measurements of blood pressure and pulse. - But what could possibly scare her?

- I don't know. The next thing I know I was… – he pauses. – It's strange. It's like I've been in the medlab of some sort, but I don't remember anything! I might have regained consciousness once or twice, but it's all a blur. How long has it been?

- Two months, - there is a genuine smile on the blue face, parting the lips. A small one, concerned and kind at the same time.

- The story of my life! – Scott groans, feeling around the head for any bumps. – Hitting my head and spending a month or two in a coma. Tell me to not do it again. So, when did you get me, and how?

- Logan did, - Beast admits with a small amount of satisfaction in his voice. – Yesterday. You were really weak then. Whoever was taking care of you, it was not a proper medical rehab.

- All right. – Scott sits up again. – I need to talk to him. If you thought I died, and Professor died, and we are both alive, there must be a small chance she would be, too!

A flicker of hope in his eyes is hidden by dark red shades he is wearing, but apparent in the voice.

- I will let him know you expressed a desire to continue having a civilized dialogue. – And with that, the Beast leaves the room, and then peeps in a second later. – Or, and by the way, seeing that you are already trying to walk, I should warn you that Magneto is a teacher here now, and he had the "cure" in the last fight.

- Cure? – Cyclops holds his hands to his temples, feeling that his head is about to explode from the information overload. Given the nature of his powers, that may yet be possible. – Magneto' s here?

- His powers gone, - Beast explains. – They created a "cure" for mutants two months ago that seems to cancel all of our abilities permanently. Magneto has taken it as a declaration of war once they integrated it into guns. That was also about the time I resigned from my position in the government, as, I, too, mistook this apparent good will gesture for witch-hunting. Soon after, Magneto took the war to the "cure"-producing facility and leveled it, while we defended the civilians. He got injected with the cure in that fight, so his powers are gone. Mystique's, too.

- Don't tell me she's also teaching here. – Scott moans.

Beast shrugs at the thought.

- Her strongest sides would not be appropriate learning for kids. No, we don't know where she is nowadays. Should I go fetch Logan now?

- No need. – Scott manages to stand up, feeling the mansion swirl all around him. He is dizzy, but that's not going to stop him. – I'll go find him myself. Thanks, Hank.