Chapter 4: Together

"Professor Charles Xavier at your service. I am the headmaster of this school and founder of the X-Men." He didn't bother holding out his hand to be shaken, he knew all about Tony's quirks. Professor Xavier wheeled himself inside the room closely followed by Storm, Hank and Logan. Upon seeing the mutants flanking the Professor, the Avengers casually placed themselves near Tony; this place was unknown territory and it was better to stand together.

"You were my daughter's shrink back in the day. Skye wouldn't see anyone until you appeared on our doorstep." Tony answered, quickly hiding his shock. He clearly remembered that time, it was one of the worst for Skyler and him. Skye's nightmares had been getting worse, to the point on where she had start getting paranoid, wouldn't leave the building and jumped at the sight of shadows. He lost count of how many times she had tried to knock him out or stab him (he had hidden all firearms) because he had appeared unexpectedly near her. Skye refused every psychologist Tony had thrown her way until this man had appeared out of the blue one morning while both he and Skye had been healing the wounds of a very hectic and violent night. After one session with Xavier, Sky had been calm and more open. After several sessions, the nightmare ceased to a minimum, and Skye had started opening up to her father. Although obviously there were still things she hadn't told him.

"How long has she known she's a mutant? Why didn't she tell me?" Tony asked, his tone a bit desperate. Charles waved a hand, indicating that everyone take a seat. After a last glance through the window and seeing that Skye hadn't woken up yet, Tony sat down in front of Charles and the others around them.

"This is not my story to tell and I am afraid that you will have to ask her for her reasons why. On her defense, Skyler thinks she is protecting you. When you found her, she was already a mutant. I suspect the reasons of how her gene was activated but she has never confirmed it. To be honest, it was one of the reasons why you found her."

"I found her because I became a number on her hit list."

"How do you believe that came to be?" Charles asked patiently. "Why would the famous Anthony Stark be put on the hit list of a twelve year old? You are the type of person where failure is not an option. No my friend, you were placed there by me. You see, your daughter was made a mutant by undergoing such a traumatic event that she mentally and subconsciously reached out to anyone that could help her. Fortunately for all of us, I happen to be connected to Cerebro that day."

"What is a Cerebro?" Steve asked, interrupting the Professor. He cast a worried glance towards Tony who had gone unnaturally pale.

"Cerebro is an enhanced machine, that when I have it on it mentally connects me to anyone in this world; mutant or non-mutants. I had it on the day she made the call of distress and after several long hours I managed to locate her. I sent my team to a facility in northern Sokovia to retrieve her, but they were defeated and the facility along with young Sky were relocated. I continued investigating a bit more and through the grapevine I heard that you were searching for a young girl that fit Skyler's description. After manipulating several minds, I managed to have you placed on her list and the rest as you say is history." Charles finished explaining his part of the story and Natasha seeing Tony speechless for once in his life took control of the situation and placed her seat in front of him; giving him time to gather his wits.

"You are saying that you knew about this girl before he did. Why wasn't he informed? Why wasn't the authorities informed? Why sent him on this wild goose chase?" Storm stepped forward and placed herself next to Charles.

"You have to understand that we are a species in persecution. We try not to meddle in human affairs because even though we act for the good of mankind, if it all goes to hell we are blamed, viewed as evil and we are attacked. If things doesn't go to hell we are still viewed as evil, we become scapegoat for something and are still attacked. We protect humans because it is our responsibility. With a great gift comes a great responsibility, but when it comes to one of our own especially if its a child, they become our responsibility. We knew Tony Stark only by the news, why would he believe us? For all we know he could be a mutant hater and we placed the child in even more danger. The authorities, knew about this facility. It had been approved by the Russian Government and kept under wraps because it violates every human rights that ever existed. Mr. Stark was sent on this chase because this way we could see if the child would be safe with him. The day he managed to kidnap her, we were waiting on the sidelines in case she was in anymore danger. We are glad to say that Tony Stark proved us wrong."

"What were you going to do if Stark turned out to be just as dangerous?"

"Neutralize him and bring the girl back here to be cared for. But since it didn't come to that there is no use in talking about it." Storm answered. Tony stood up and placed himself next to Natasha.

"I would say thank you for clearing things up, but my brain feels like it's be through the wringer… and for me that is saying something. I have always shown her that I trust her, that I believe in her but I guess I never gave her reasons enough to trust me." Tony said seriously to Charles. Charles was about to answered when a knock on the door interrupted them. Dr. McCoy went to answer the door and stepped aside to let in the King of Wakanda in the room.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Steve asked T'Challa nervously. T'Challa's dark face showed no emotion his dark eyes serious and cold.

"Captain, I am not sure how to say this"- but he was interrupted by a frightened gasp from Wanda. They all turned around to see what had her so scared, but she wasn't staring at them but looking through the glass window at the medic bay. Tony rushed to the window and with one look started cursing and hitting the glass. That soldier had already taken his parents life...the bastard wasn't taking his little girl too.

"Well, this is an interesting turn of event," Natasha claimed as they all stared at the Winter Soldier through the window.

"James," Skye whispered under her breathe as she gazed upon the hardened soldier standing in front of her. James Buchanan Barnes still looked exactly as she remembered him; his face was hidden under the burgundy cap he had on, his shoulder length black hair, blue eyes and slightly unshaven beard the only things visible. He had a black shirt that marked his muscled chests and the dark grey hooded coat did nothing to hide his broad back or his strong arms. He wore gloves on both hands to hide his metal hand and not look like a fool by wearing only one. It had been months since Skye had last seen him, but he still looked the same. The only difference were his blue eyes; five months back his eyes had been hard as glaciers, haunted and fill with sadness. Now his eyes reminded her of the sky. They were not filled with such grief or hardship.

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. He'll kill you as soon as he can get here," Skye exclaimed to him as she struggled to sit up. She reached to her side as a sharp pain courses through her. James rushed to her side and helped her sit up. He wrapped her in his arms and she could do nothing but hug him back just as tightly. Frankly, she was grateful that he was there. She hasn't noticed until James walked in, but ever since they had to part Skye had been floating through the days with nothing to anchor her back to the ground; until he had appeared again.

"I was dreaming with you. We were back in Paris, in the Eiffel Tower looking down on the world going on and suddenly you were gone and I woke up. I woke up in the middle of my cryogenic state; scaring the shit out the scientists there; knowing that I had to get back to you and Josephine. I couldn't feel our connection anymore doll, and I was scared out of my mind." Bucky answered her, pulling out of their embrace and checking her over. He lifted her shirt and passed his hands over the several healing injuries. Skye shivered in response causing Bucky to smirk in response. She just smiled and softly slapped him the arm.

"What do we tell the others? My father is about to burst in the room any minute now." Skye told him seriously as they both heard several bangs against the window. He shrugged casually, his blue eyes cold;

"The truth? I'm tired of all the lies, Skye. Your father has every right to hate me. I don't blame him or expect anything else."

"That may be true, love, but that doesn't mean I will stand by and watch the two of you fight."

"That's just it doll, there will be no fighting. Whatever he wants to dish out I will quietly receive it." Skye rolled her eyes at this and pushed herself off the table. She steadied herself against Bucky for a moment as she slowly stretched her body. Quickly taking in the inventory of her injuries, she realized Logan's blood had healed her a lot quicker this time around. The worst of her injuries was the stab wound to the back, but it had healed quickly and the only thing left was the itchy feeling of the new skin.

"We'll tell him about our meeting in Paris after you saved the Captain from the river in Washington. When things calm down a bit I will tell him the rest. By now he knows already that I am a mutant and that I have kept it from him. I have a lot of kissing up to do. If we are lucky, I can get him to focus on that." Bucky snorted as he took of his coat and placed it on her shoulders, her shirt was hanging onto her by a thread. Tony and his team of superheroes were about to come barging in the room and he wasn't about to have a team full of testosterone ogling at her and making her feel uncomfortable. Skye smiles as she slipped on his jacket and zipped it up. It didn't take a genius to know that he was unconsciously marking his territory. A quick glance showed he had on a long sleeve shirt to his arm making her frown. He was ashamed of his arm and thought himself a freak, but to her it was just another part of him like the rest of his body; nothing to be ashamed of. Skye straightened and unconsciously linked her hands with his, placing herself slightly in front of him to protect him as they both heard the growing noise outside the door. Bucky smiles down warmly at her, tugging her back to his side so they were side by side;

"Don't do that doll, whoever comes through that door and whatever they say to us, we'll face as equals. Together, just like we have done everything else." Skye nodded at him, her face tight with worry but her eyes twinkling with love. As the doorknob turned, she faced the door her fingers tightening against his and said; "Together," as her father and Captain America stormed through door.