DISCLAIMER:
As you should know, I do not own the X-Men. They are the sole property of Marvel Comics Group. However, I do claim assorted OC's and will generally share if asked politely.


Lost, Then Found
by Dizi

Chapter 2

As had become his habit for any of the oddness surrounding Melody, including his own, Logan ignored or made excuses for it. "Ya musta scared her off."

"Logan, I'm blocking the exit and I've been here a few minutes," Jean told him slowly, wanting to be very clear. "I saw you. You were talking to thin air, nothing even on the psychic plane. No one was there."

"Aw, Jeannie, ya cain't say that fer sure, yer powers ain't workin' right," he protested stubbornly. He talked to Melody often and knew there was nothing wrong with him. Was Melody a teleporter?

Knowing there was no point in arguing when he used that tone, Jean suggested, "Um, maybe you should talk to Charles?"

"Damn right, just what I was plannin' on doin'. Whats goin' on around here that a kid like her is havin' problems an' nobody gives a damn?" Even as he said the words they didn't ring true for him. The assorted teachers, staff, and X-Men - the former two also sometimes part of the third - DID care about the kids. To his disgust, he did too. So how had Melody slipped through the cracks?

But he was angry and confused, which made him even angrier, as he stomped his way out and to Xavier's office/study.

After he was gone, Jean contacted Charles telepathically. 'Professor?'

'Please, Jean, a little less power,' he replied with a mental wince. 'You're supposed to use your abilities sparingly for now. And I understood you were on your way to your room to rest.'

'I know, and I'm going to take a nap, I promise. But you should know there was a strange incident up here involving Logan and he's on his way to see you.'

'From your tone, I surmise it may not be a pleasant visit. Don't worry, I am very used to Logan's moods. Just take your nap and leave it to me.'

No sooner had they released their mental connection than Logan burst in on Charles privacy.

"I've had it, Chuck," he announced. "We're supposed ta be helpin' these kids, but ain't nobody doin' nothin' fer Melody."

"I can see you are concerned." Charles kept his voice calm and soothing. "By coming to me, you are helping her. Now, Melody is the girl who sings, correct? The one who can entrance a whole crowd?"

"Naw, that one's older an' has dark hair. She's a young 'un, maybe ten, with light curls. Kinda reminds me o' Shirley Temple, only not as cute an' she don't go 'round singin'." Logan didn't know if Charles was using his telepathy, he had trained himself to calm down when he was in this room, or if it was natural, but he was feeling more reasonable.

In fact, Charles was not using his powers at that moment. He was trying to recall the child from Logan's description and couldn't. "Off-hand, I don't remember anyone like that, and I try to pay close attention to younger students. Do you mind if I look through your memories of her?"

"Whatever ya need ta do. I want this taken care of." Logan relaxed, leaving his mind wide open. He wouldn't have allowed it for anyone but Charles or Jean, and trusted him to not mess around with what he shouldn't.

Because Logan was thinking of Melody, his memories of her were at the forefront of his mind. Charles could clearly see everything Logan remembered about her. With apprehension, he looked more closely, now taking the matter much more seriously.

Because he had never in his life seen the girl before. Until now within the confines of Logan's mind.

Examining each sighting and meeting carefully along with Logan's subconscious observations, Charles noticed many things out of place. For one, the child was always dressed in the same red plaid dress with puffy sleeves. Her curly blond hair with the crooked red bow on the side was always the same. By comparing images, he could see she hadn't grown at all, staying the same height. Melody didn't change.

Logan should have noticed these things. Part of him had, but had come up with explanations. Her lack of scent and sounds when she walked should have made large impressions. But for some reason, Logan's subconscious had ignored them. Perhaps because it was protecting him from the unknown.

Very telling was that aside from sitting or standing on a surface, Melody didn't touch anything or anyone.

Another thing that bothered him was how she acted. It was as though she really were a student. Logan had seen her in the hallways, outside of classrooms, in the corridor leading to the dorms, the cafeteria, and the back lawn; everywhere the students went. She appeared to be studying or playing, many times talking to people. In one she was even talking to him and he remembered the day clearly. In the memory, Charles saw himself seem to be listening, but in his own memories no one had been there.

Yet, Logan had seen her. Spoken to her.

Charles could detect no psychic traces. Logan didn't seem to have been invaded in any way. His mind was as sound as ever. Though in the past that was not always the case, at this time there was no indication this was from some trauma, not post-traumatic stress disorder. Due to his healing factor, it was unlikely to have a physical reason or it would not have gone on for so long.

He could simply not come up with a reason for the girl who wasn't there. Melody.

"So what's the verdict, Chuck? Ya recognize her now?" Logan asked once he was sure the other man was done playing around in his brain.

"I..." Charles hesitated. "I would like to consult Emma and Betsy."

"Huh?" Logan's confusion was palpable. "One a them in charge o' the kid?"

"Logan, it's clear you have a seen her, but she's not a student."

"What's she doin' here if she ain't a student?" Logan demanded.

"The better question is," Charles said softly, "why is she only in your mind?"


Just to rule out any possibilities, Hank did a full CAT scan. As Charles guessed, no abnormalities were found.

It took a little convincing on Charles part, but Logan finally agreed to let Betsy and Emma look through his memories too.

They were left just as confused as Charles for a root cause, with Betsy flat out refusing to do more. In her opinion, Logan's brain was too complex to mess with and she didn't want to delve any deeper.

However, Emma was intrigued. She was convinced there had to be a psychic touch that was too delicate for them to find. It was her idea to set a trap for what she assumed to be a wayward telepath. Why said telepath would choose Logan to experiment with was beyond her.

More convincing was needed for both Charles and Logan, but in the end they agreed. Charles would stay in Logan's mind at all times - no matter how loathsome he found it to be both because it was against his moral code and he didn't want to know what Logan was thinking at any given moment - and when next Melody made an 'appearance', he would contact Emma and together they would trace her back to the source.

Another week went by and Charles thought he might go insane. Logan's mind went from animal to man in a split second, sometimes warring with each other. Try as he might to ignore the mundane as well as sometimes crude thoughts, they were there for him to see and at times feel himself. It wasn't pleasant to say the least.

Then it happened just as before. Logan saw her. It wasn't a meeting, they didn't speak. She was in a crowd of students. To the side, Melody was either out of their way or they instinctively avoided her. But again, only Logan was able to see the girl.

Charles and Emma hurriedly made their way to Logan, again in the corridor, but they could only see her through their connection to him.

Emma's theory was proven false. There was still no psychic touch.

Melody smiled sadly and faded away.

to be continued.


note: It's time to get a little off my usual schedule. Chapter 3 will be posted Sunday the 1st, then I'll also post on my usual day of Wednesday for chapter 4.

Now, I know I usually give a little hint to the next chapter. I don't want to do that with this one to keep up the suspense. There's not much of it but I don't want to ruin the little I have running. So I'm just going to leave you to guess!

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi