Professor X let out a sigh as he prepared for his class. He had everything he needed, the video of his good friend Moira MacTaggart explaining the patient's condition, so he could have the students discuss when it is ok for them as mutants to draw the line…when was it appropriate to do that kind of thing? There was a knock on his door, snapping him out of his musings, and he turned towards the door. "Come in," he called at, fully wheeling himself to the view of the person coming in. The sight that walked in shocked Professor Xavier. "Alex…" he said, wheeling his chair towards him. "It is wonderful to see you," he said, surprise clearly apparent in his voice.

"Hi Professor," Alex said, walking fully into the room. He felt like just he did when he first arrived at the school; a little afraid. "It is good to be back," he admitted with a soft smile.

"It is great to have you back home," he said. "What can I do for you today?" he questioned, really glad to see an old student. Alex shifted uncomfortably on his feet, and looked out the window. "Is there something bothering you?"

"I have felt a little weird since I left the school…" he admitted.

"Alexander, you know that you always have a home here; you could have come home at any time," he assured his ex-student.

"The only thing that is bothering me is that Scott…" Alex let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Ever since that stupid argument, we hadn't talked at all…he didn't even tell me that Jeannie died," he sighed softly. "I only found out because you and Ororo contacted me,"

"Alex…what was the argument about?" the elder man questioned.

"It was just a stupid simulation…and Scott was always babying me…" he murmured. "Ever since our parents died, he hasn't let up at all. He always thinks he is the father in any situation, and that he always is in the mindset that he had to protect me. Last thing I said to him was that he could just butt out of my life…and then I left the school…" he didn't want to really get into the full argument, and he knew that the Professor wouldn't push him to talk about it. He shook his head, and held back the tears that were threatening to fall out of his eyes. This wasn't the reason he came up to see the Professor. "Anyways, I wanted to see if there is anything I could do to help 'Ro…" he murmured. "With Scott out of commission, I don't think that he is going to be able to teach all that well considering his drinking problem,"

"Well I think Ororo would appreciate if you took over some of her classes," he murmured. "You could take over Scott and Jean's motorcycle classes,"

"I would like that," Alex murmured. "What are we going to do about Scott?"

"I don't really know Alex…all I know is that we need to worry about the students…they need all their teachers. We would greatly appreciate it," Alex nodded his head with a small smile. He had to admit now that he was kinda happy to be back. He didn't have to hide that he was truly a mutant, and that was a freeing feeling.

"Sure no problem," Alex said. "Just let me know what else needs to be covered so I can start on the plans,"

"Will do…" Professor stated. "As much as I would like to catch up…I got to start my lecture…" he said.

"We can talk later if you want," he said.

"Sure," he said. "It was good to see you again Professor," he said with a smile. The professor nodded his head, and Alex went out the door. Students started to pile in, and Alex let them pass. He headed back towards his room, and as he continued to walk on, he heard some moaning. It was his brother's room. He wasn't sure how he would take it if he knocked on the door. Alex couldn't stand hearing his brother in pain like that, so he walked into the room.

"Jean…" Scott moaned out loud.

"Scott," Alex said to him. "Wake up Scotty," he said, shaking him lightly.

"Jean!" he gasped, shooting up from the bed. Scott let out a couple shaky breaths, and finally noticed that Alex was there. "Get out," he muttered.

"Scotty," he murmured. "Look, I know it is hard Scott…."

"I don't want or need your sympathy Alex," he shot, apparently still a little drunk.

"Scott…" he murmured, sitting down next to his elder brother. "I know when we last spoke…we said some horrible things…but can't we put that behind us?" He questioned. "You're my brother and I am really worried about you," Scott softened his glare.

"Look…I just want to be left alone," he murmured, not wanting Alex to see him like he was.

"Scotty, I am not a kid anymore. You don't need me as just some kid," he murmured. "Let me help you as your brother," he murmured. Scott shook his head, and Alex knew that it was a attempt he shouldn't make again. "Alright…I'm here if you need me," Alex said, standing up. Scott nodded his head, and Alex walked out of the room.

As Alex left the room, he heard Jean in his head again.

"Stop it," he murmured to himself. Jean was dead; he needed to get over that. Now that his only family is back he needed to calm himself down and make sure that he didn't make the same mistake he did last time they were all together at home. Scott! Jean's voice roared in his head once again. Help me Scott! "Leave me alone," Scott said out loud. He knew that the voices weren't going to stop. Maybe if he got some closure at Alkali Lake, he could finally mourn in piece. He got up, and headed for his closet to grab a bag. He hoped that he wouldn't run into anyone to stop him from leaving.

As Ororo taught her History class, she felt a tingle in her head. As she looked around the class she could tell that she wasn't the only one feeling this tingle. Something was going on, and Ororo knew she had to talk to the Professor. "I just need you to read…" Suddenly the tingle went into a roar, and she clutched her head in pain. She could hear the students letting out groans of pain. She hadn't felt anything like that since Striker had set up the machine to kill all mutants. As soon as it came it went, and Ororo weakly raised her head. "Go to your rooms immediately," Ororo said, running out the door. She was glad to hear the shuffling of the kids getting ready to leave.

As she ran towards the Professor's office, she met up with Logan. "What the hell is going on?" he questioned.

"I don't know, but the Professor will…" the weather witch replied. They barged into the room, and saw that Alex was already in there with the professor.

"The three of you need to go to Alkali Lake…now…" none of them had ever heard the urgency in the elder man's voice. They immediately headed towards the Blackbird, and got into the trademark black leather X-Men suits as Ororo prepped the plane for flight. Unbeknownst to the X-Men, the former leader snuck a peak in. Maybe he could just sneak onto the jet, and wouldn't have to drive all the way to Alkali. He knew that he wasn't the only one hearing Jean's call, so the professor must be sending them there. He traversed across the room, and managed inside the jet.

Ororo started up the jet, and started to fly towards Alkali Lake. The weather seemed to reflect her mood, and it was sour. Alex let out a sigh; they were going towards the place where their friend died months ago. Thinking of Jean made him think of the girl he left back in California, Lorna Dane. She and him had begun to come close when he came to find out Jean was dead. Being the kind of girl she is, she understood immediately. Once Scott calmed down a little bit, he wanted to tell him about Lorna. Scott always wanted him to find someone that made him happy and it finally happened. "You doing ok kid?" a voice interrupted his thinking. The young blond turned around to see Logan giving him a questioning glance.

"I'm ok…you?" he asked. Logan just grunted in response. He didn't want to be here, but he owed it to the team, and to Jean to come and do this for them. Ororo ignored them, and tried to focus on piloting the jet. Alex looked over towards Ororo and saw that her normally blue eyes were snow white. Rain started to downpour from the heavens. "Ro," Alex called out.

"I'm ok," she whispered, her eyes turning it back to normal. She felt cooped inside the jet, and wished that she could just get out and feel the air herself. "I'm ok," she whispered once again. The jet finally came down to Alkali Lake. The trio walked out of the jet, and saw that a fog covered the entire area.

"Hey…think you can do something about the fog?" Logan questioned.

Scott took this opportunity to sneak out of the jet, and walked around. He looked around and saw that the whole entire place was nearly covered in water.

California

It was a beautiful day on the beach, and Lorna Dane was enjoying the sunlight on her body. She let out a sigh, wondering how her boyfriend was doing. He had been nothing, but caring to her and she had wanted to do the same for him. She felt a pair of eyes looking at her, and her body tensed up. She reached out with her abilities and felt out with her magnetism. It wasn't anyone she knew, and that freaked her out. She opened up her eyes, and saw a blonde haired girl. "Can I help you with something?" Lorna asked, pushing her brunette colored wig in place once again.

"Lorna Dane?" she asked, ignoring her question.

"Yeah...need something?" she asked, preparing to strike her down magnetically if it came down to it. The girl came a little too close to her, and Lorna got up onto her feet. "Whatever it is-,"

"I know what you are...and your particular gift may help us,"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Lorna sighed, reaching out with her powers. The girl suddenly shot out, and threw her fist across the mutant's. Lorna shot out a magnetic blast towards the girl, but found that she wasn't there anymore.

"You are going to help us whether you like it or not," The last thing she saw was the blond girl turning into a blue-skinned, red haired mutant....