Chapter 3

"Do you think she's in trouble?" Scott asked. "She already missed two meetings and she's not returning calls."

"Jean's out my range at the moment," Charles replied.

"How about Cerebro?"

"I'm heading towards it now. I'm sure it's nothing. She did tell me she's been busy. Don't worry too much."

Charles furrowed his brow. "We have other pressing matters on hand - the murder of Senator Landon's brother. It's been the second murder associated with a famous mutant supporter."

"Yes, I'll be scanning the news about that."

Charles smiled inwardly on how his student had grown affections for Jean. "Odds are she's fine. I'll let you know as soon as I find her," he said, tapping his temple.

Scott headed to the control room and passed Logan down the hall without even noticing him.

"Why are you lookin' uptight? Danger room broke down or somethin'?" Logan called out smirking.

Scott didn't even try to humor him. "We can't find Jean."

Logan knew she stopped coming and it was for the good. He doesn't know why, but he never did tell anyone about what he had discovered about Jean. All he knows is that he couldn't forget the sadness of her eyes when she cried that night.

He figured if she's ready, she'd come to them.

Then a thought crossed his mind. What if she's in trouble now?

Stepping into the control room, Logan found Scott already furiously scanning the news on the huge computer screen.

Logan would need back-up if he wanted to find her, just in case something goes wrong. And this obsessed guy on the keyboards seems fitting to help him.

Logan bluntly announced, "Jean's working for Magneto."

The clickings from the keyboard stopped.

"What?" Scott turned around to face him.

"Jean's meeting with Magneto," he repeated, "I think she's working for him."

"That's crazy. She can't be working for him."

"It looked that way when I confronted her."

Scott set his jaw. "Confronted her? And when was that?"

"Two weeks ago."

"And you didn't tell me?"

Logan replied sarcastically, "Sorry, I forgot."

"You should have told me," Scott replied furiously, "Do you know where she is now?"

"I was going to ask you to come along for the search, but you looked too worked up. Better just bring Stormy with me," Logan smirked.

Scott was already heading towards the door. "Let's go," he said in a tone that leaves no room for argument.


"And on other news, police had been on the manhunt for the murderer of Senator Richard Tanner's brother. According to authorities, an anonymous tip called in yesterday and gave them a lead on the murder's identity. Further details remain undisclosed…"

Jean switched off the television with her telekinesis and turned back to the thick textbook that lay open before her. She scooped up her damp hair, particularly the ones sticking on her neck, and pulled it back into a loose bun. It was stuffy and cramped at Andi's apartment, but Jean was very grateful that her friend had let her stay in such a short notice.

Jean fiddled with her pen as she tried to concentrate on her readings. She can't pull her mind into it though, she haven't been able to for the past weeks.

She was curious on why none of the x-men had tracked her down yet. And of course there was the case of Magneto. She would be meeting him soon again next week and she doesn't know what to tell him.

There was a sharp rap on the door. Andi must have forgotten her keys again. But when Jean peeked into the eyehole, her heart practically jumped out of her chest.

"Fuck." They had caught her off guard. After two weeks of silence, they suddenly show up without warning.

Jean decided to just keep quiet. Maybe they'll just go away, she desperately thought.

"I know you're in there, Red. I heard you," came out Logan's voice.

"Fuck." She stood frozen while thinking wildly on what to do.

"You do know we'll be gettin' in even if ya don't open the door for us," Logan said, tapping the door.

Her eyes roved around the room, landing on a window. Maybe she could fly away. If the door opened, she'll give them a big blow with her TK then she'll rush out of the window. She hesitated, she's not sure if she has enough control over her TK yet.

"Jean, please, open the door. We're here to help." This time it was Scott who was speaking.

His reassuring voice made her hesitate.

Jean bit her lip.

"Jean? We just want to talk."

Perhaps they could help.

She pulled open the door just as Logan, who was getting impatient, unsheathed his claws to slice the door open.

A surprised Jean backed away when she saw Logan's claws.

"Wait!" Scott said, grabbing her arm, before she started to run.

Jean yanked her hand away. "So you're going to fight me now?" she said hostilely, "Fine, I can take both of you."

It wasn't an empty threat.

Logan quickly retracted his claws and held his hands up. "Hey, it's not how it looks. We just want to talk. Nothing more."

Jean glared at both of them warily.

"Then talk."

"No, you do the talking. You're the one lying to us."

Scott sighed at the bluntness of his teammate's words. He had hoped for a more delicate approach.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Jean muttered hotly.

She walked towards the tiny living room and both men followed.

For a moment, they all just stared at each other in silence. It was then that Jean became conscious that she was only wearing a white cami and a pair of boxers. She grabbed a long sleeved button down that was lying nearby and put it on.

Scott cleared his throat, embarrassed that he was staring too long. "Logan said you were working for Magneto. Is that true?"

"Yes," Jean answered, suddenly feeling cold at what she knows she's about to confess. She wrapped the oversized shirt tighter.

The answer fresh to his ears, Scott tried not to show how upset he really felt. "What are you doing for him?"

Jean exhaled. "I've been probing the Professor's mind for facts, secrets, information, opinions… anything I can get."

"What will Magneto do with that information?" Logan asked sharply.

Jean shook her head. "He doesn't tell me."

Jean glanced at Scott. He was expressionless but she can almost feel his anger.

"There's more," she said hesitating. "Magneto wanted me to become familiar with Charles' mind… so I can later manipulate his thoughts without him noticing."

"He trusted you," Scott said in quiet anger.

"I know," she replied painfully, "that's why manipulating him became easy. He thinks of me as the eight-year-old child who once asked for his help years ago. He let his guards down with me. Little by little, with every session, I was able to access his mind."

Scott felt a huge let down at her confession. It was an illusion, but he had thought of her as nothing short of perfect. Scott couldn't help but say in disgust, "He always speaks fondly of you. Being his first student and everything."

"Don't even go there," Jean replied in a low voice, her eyes downcast, "Do you think I like what I'm doing?"

"Then why you're agreeing to this?" Scott asked.

Jean looked out the window. "I met Magneto 5 years ago. My family was financially in trouble. Eric helped us. He got my dad a job, provided tuition for my sister and me. We didn't ask why. We didn't even know who he exactly was. We just thought he was being a good Samaritan and we were just grateful for his help."

"Two years ago, Eric asked me to do a favor for him. That's when he told me about the x-men and his plan. He hired a telepath to train me to infiltrate minds. He threatened to hurt my family if I backed out or talked to anyone about it." Jean looked at both of them. "I couldn't let that happen."

"Tell your family and make them move to a place where they can't be tracked down," Logan said.

"You make it sound so simple. You know it's not. Magneto has connections. He'll find us out. Besides, I can't drag my family into this mess."

"Your family is already in this mess. Magneto didn't give them or you a choice about that," Logan commented.

"Then what do I do?" she asked, sinking into a chair.

"Tell the professor," Scott said simply, "He'll help."

Jean's face went ashen at his suggestion. "No. I used him. I can't tell him… I just can't."

"If you've spent that much time in his mind, then you know he has a soft spot for you."

"All the more I can't bring myself to it," Jean said distressed, "Just let me do it on my own time."

"Ya ain't got time," Logan bluntly said, "What if Magneto found out you told us? You'd be in trouble and so's yer family."

"I know," she said exasperated, hating to feel this trapped.

Suddenly they heard a knock. Startled, all three turned to the door.

There was a second of cautious silence as Jean rose from her seat and Logan took a few steps towards the entrance.

"It's not Magneto," all three said at the same time.

Jean would have laughed if she wasn't so frightened.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"Scent," Logan answered.

"He's not the type who'd knock," Scott answered. "You?"

"Probed his mind," she said as she reached for the doorknob.

"Hey!" Jean greeted a lanky man with dark blond hair.

Logan and Scott watched amused on how she had easily changed her tired voice into somewhat cheerful.

"Hi Jean," the man greeted back. He looked a bit confused when he spotted her odd company.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no, they're just leaving," Jean said hastily while shooting the pair looks towards the door.

Still not finished with their talk, both Scott and Logan stayed still in their position.

"You have somewhere to go to, right?" Her tone impatient.

"We still have time," Scott said.

Jean opened the door. "No, you don't."

Both reluctantly followed her out.

"So you're not coming with us?" Scott asked once they were in the hallway.

Jean rubbed her brow wearily. "I will soon." Her reply didn't convince any of them, least of all herself.

She shut the door before the two can say anything.

"You think that's her roommate or something?" Logan asked as they headed out of the building. He was exactly putting Scott's thoughts into words.

Scott hated to think it was true but where else would she get the men's flannel button-down she wore?

Scott maintained his cool demeanor. "Maybe"

He glanced at Logan. "Don't tell me you're bothered by it."

Logan smirked. "Only as bothered as you are."

Scott didn't answer. Though that short exchange revealed a lot on how they feel about the redhead.

"You know, she could be playing us," Logan commented, as he got in the passenger seat.

"I know. But she seems sincere enough."

"How can you tell? A lot of girls can act."

"No, not like this."

"I don't want ta think she's lyin' either. But face it, Summers, she got both of us wrapped around her finger. Just a few moments ago she said dead straight she's betraying us to our enemy. We believed her story just like that. And right now we're even rationalizing that she can't possibly be playing us."

"What are you saying? She's messing with our heads?" Scott replied, not admitting to himself that he was also thinking about it even before Logan suggested it.

"If she can take on the prof, then she can take us."

"But you've got Weapon X training," Scott pointed out.

"Like I said, she betrayed you but you're still defending her," Logan calmly said.

Scott replied annoyed, "I'm not ruling out the possibility that this part of a bigger con. But I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt."

Logan shrugged. "Who knows? But, if it is a trap, then I give a lot of credit to Magneto for choosing this girl for bait."

Scott silently agreed.

They already gave her too much leeway when they didn't tell the others that she was informing for Magneto. Both of them knew the consequences but both still didn't act on it.

How could I not believe her? Scott thought. She was telling the truth. She got to be.

But Scott knew something else was clouding his judgment. Just by looking at her - her green eyes, alluring smile, and trustful face. It can make Scott lose practical thinking.

For a man who relies on measured, rational actions, he hated the feeling of not being in control. And yet, to his own surprised rationality, liked it in some ways too.