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The Names…

Xavier Institute for Higher Learning

5:21 Pm

She dipped her head beneath the steady stream of letting the water wash away the soapy suds before lifting her hair and letting the blast knead the tight knots that sat at the base of her neck. , She closed her eyes at the pressure allowing herself just a moment to gather her thoughts. The hot water felt good against her stiff and aching muscles. Glancing down she frowned at the bruises covering her arms and legs. How she got them she didn't know and she didn't know if she wanted to know. The shower was a welcome escape from the room full of strangers who had been more than anxious to ask her a long list of questions. They didn't have to say anything she had seen it in their eyes.

What are you doing? How did you get here?

They were the same questions she was asking herself and she didn't have the answers nor did she feel like sharing her thoughts with people she hardly knew. She hadn't protested at the red heads- She paused trying to remember her name. Jean. She hadn't fought Jean's Suggestion of a shower it was a welcome escape from the large group.

Sighing she reached for the large knobs, shutting off the water before pushing aside the gray shower curtain . She took a breath, relishing in the heat from her shower before stepping onto the cool tile floor and wrapping herself snugly in a towel before making her way to the mirror.

She hesitated a beat, wiping the precipitation away before she stood starring at herself. She was shocked at what was reflected back at her. Her eyes were red rimmed with exhaustion, her body covered in bruises in places she didn't think she could bruise. Gingerly she reached up pressing along her cheekbone, wincing at the touch. What the hell had happened – A wave of nausea rolled through her the faint humming returning to her ears. Blindly she reached out gripping the sink for balance.

She took a slow shuddering breath, turning on the faucet and splashing cold water on her face. She was better than this. She forced herself upright , gritting her teeth as the room spun. Your Fine. She told herself. You have to be.

He was irritated No Logan thought absently he was beyond irritated. He had spent the last twenty minutes listening to his teammates bitch and complain about how best to handle Jane Doe. As far as he was concerned they didn't just need to handle her, they needed to handle her and quickly.

He dropped a hand on the back of his neck, trying and failing at easing the crick that had set in from his meeting with the steel wall in the med lab.

"What happened?"

Logan turned to look at Scott Summers, leader of the Xmen and again fought the urge to jump over the table and smash his fist into his face. His gaze dropped lower watching as Jean's cheeks flushed at the question.

" I think " Jean said slowly her eyes meeting his from across the room " It had something to do with Logan and I fighting."

Scott sucked in a breath his lips pressed into a thin line " What we're you two fighting about?" he was speaking to Jean but his gaze was trained across the room

"Not important One- eye." Logan said easily

"I think it is."

"Scott Please." Jean placed a hand on her husband's arm , " Let's talk about this later. We have more important things to worry about."

For a moment Scott looked like he wouldn't be swayed but with a stiff nod , he turned his attention to the professor.

There was no doubt in Logan's mind that there was a separate argument going on telepathically one he was glad he wasn't a part of .

"This woman," The Professor started " has been able to block my physic probe for days. It wasn't until she heard Logan and Jean that something jarred her back to the present."

" Is she a mutant?" Scott questioned

The professor was silent considering the question " I do not know, her mind is closed to me. I can only see pieces and flashes of her mind. " He leaned forward steepling his fingers in front of him " I fear my X-men that she may be one of the strongest minds I have ever encountered. Perhaps even stronger than you Jean."

"And we're all fine with her running amuck in the mansion?" Scott asked his tone one of disbelief.

"At one point we were all strangers here in the mansion Scott." Ororo said calmly

Scott made an impatient sound " Your right Storm, I shouldn't be concerned we let Wolverine run a muck around here as well . What's one more nut case."

"You got a problem Cyke?" Logan snapped , his claws instantly appearing " If so I got nothing but space and opportunity just waitin fer ya."

"Easy sugah."

Logan paused at Rogue- Marie's gloved hand on his arm " We're just having a friendly conversation aint that right Scott."

He retracted his claws slowly " I agree with Cyke." He said tightly choosing to ignore the bait and leaning back in his chair " We know nothing about this broad, who are we to say if she shoul-"

"This broad" a voice from the door way "doesn't appreciate being talked about like she's some invalid."

They all turned watching as Jane Doe made her way into the den. Logan's eyes followed her as she walked to the large fireplace, warming her hands in front of it . She was taller than he had expected, her frame swallowed by the gray X sweats Jean had given her. Her dark hair, tumbled down her back in waves and curls, but it was her gaze that gave him pause. Deep violet eyes lay against milk chocolate skin, surrounded by thick dark lashes. She wasn't beautiful in the convention sense but what she was intriguing. The word streaked across his mind before he could stop it.

Her gaze moved around the room, pausing on each X Man before landing on the Professor.

"We " The professor said gently " are the X men."

"I know who you are."

Charles rose an eyebrow " and how do you know that?"

" I make it a point to know what inhabitants and forces are in each sector of the galaxy."

" I see ." Charles said wheeling himself closer to look at his guest " Then I fear you have us at an disadvantage. You seem to know who we are but we know nothing of you."

She held his gaze for a long moment " You know the important things." She said avoiding his question "Like how I ended up in your basement."

"You were in the medlab cause ya fell from the sky in mass of flames sugah. " Rogue explained

The strangers eyes narrowed " and I was alone?" She questioned

Jean nodded " Were there others with you?"

She hesitated, her gaze once more going to the large flames in the roaring fireplace. " It doesn't matter."

"I think it matters a lot more than you care to tell us." Scott said his tone fair from pleasant , she turned to look at him.

"I assume you want answers."

"Wouldn't you in our position?" Logan countered, her gaze flickered to his and he could of sworn the corner of her mouth hiked as if amused.

"What you saw, " She said slowly " was a manifestation of my powers. In great times of distress , I lose control, they take over. It is a defense Mechanism."

"You're a mutant?" Storm asked.

A brow rose " Is that what you would call it here On Earth?" She asked

" What else would you call it sugah?" Rogue asked

The strangers lips twitched " I'd call it normal."

"Round these parts, being a mutant aint normal. Far from it. ." Rogue said a frown gracing her face.

"I'm glad to see Earth hasn't changed… " she paused once more allowing her gaze to roam the room "much."

"You're from earth?" Storm asked exchanging a glance with Jean

She shrugged " I guess you could say that."

Logan leaned back in his chair , listening to the pointless conversation. The more question they asked the more elusive Jane Doe became

"Are you gonna keep dickin us around or are ya gonna actually say something worth listening to?" he interrupted.

Violet eyes locked onto his a simmering challenge brewing in their depths . " Your right… " She trailed off awaiting his name.

"Wolverine." He snapped

"Your right wolverine, I have been"dickin you around." Tell me something, if you were in my position would you be so trusting?" Her voice though calm, was laced with under currents of anger

"I aint the one standin around act smug an' ungrateful." His lips curled back "I'd say your ass owes us. We coulda left ya on yer own. How bout ya show some damn gratitude."

"I didn't ask for your help." She pointed out

"Yer right, ya didn't . How bout ya act like ya did and pull that stick out yer ass."

" Perhaps ." Storm interjected " If we were in your shoes we would not be so forthcoming. But thus far we have given you no reason to distrust us ."

Logan ignored the silent warning in Stom's eyes, everyone else could kiss her ass but he wouldn't There was something about her that didn't sit right with him. Perhaps it was the fact that he was having the damndest time placing her scent or gauging any type of physiological response from her.

The stranger shrugged rolling her shoulder beneath the large X zip up as if trying to ease the tension that had set in there.

"I am from the Zincara galaxy, which is two solar systems away from yours. How I ended up falling through your atmosphere and in you care I do not know."

"The Zincara galaxy" The professor repeated " There was a mission twenty –odd years ago that sent a group of humans to the planet to colonize it. "

Her brows rose " That is correct."

"Yes," The Professor Continued "at the time there was a Colonel Rason MacAvoy in charge. Have you heard of him?"

A flicker of emotion entered her eyes, before it was pushed away " He's my father."

The Professor's eyes widened " I see." He grew silent moving his chair to the large window overlooking the property.

She turned to look at Jean " Does that answer your question or would you like to take a look at my mind as well?"

Logan watched another wave of heat, fill Jeans cheeks " I was only tying to help you. We didn-"

"I would." Scott said from beside her " How do we know what you've told us is the truth."

She turned to face them, crossing her arms across her chest "You don't. But ask yourself this how do you know anything ,anyone says is the truth. You have to trust their word and right now I'm asking you to trust that what I am telling you is the truth. Trust" she said hauntingly " is the thing that helps you sleep at night. Are you willing to lose sleep over something or someone you refuse to trust?"

"If it means keeping the people I care the most about safe then yes." Scott snapped " I don't know how you do things on Zicara but here we trust each other. We're a team and we're only as strong as the weakest link."

" and you consider me to be a weak link?"

"I don't know what you are but right now I know one thing, I don't like you." Scott snapped " he turned to the Professor " This is your school professor , whatever decision you make I will respect." He held the strangers gaze a moment longer.

"Won't you consider staying awhile longer, at least until you get your strength back?" The professor questioned, a mysterious glint entering his eyes.

She glanced away, her gaze once more on the roaring fire. Had Logan not been watching he would have missed her stiff nod.

"Where are my things?" She questioned

"Jean can take you to them." The professor said gently " There's not much left ."

Again a stiff nod " I –" She hesitated blowing out a breath " Thank you." She said softly That Logan thought was perhaps the most honest thing she had said since she'd walked into the room. He was a good judge of character and right now his BS meter was at max capacity. She wasn't lying to them that he was certain of, but she also wasn't being forth coming.

The questioning was over before it had begun and the Professor seemed more than satisfied with her answers. He leaned further back in his chair. Something wasn't right that he'd bet his life on.

The Professor smiled moving to take her hand " You are most welcome my dear and welcome to the Xavier Institute

Logan said nothing, the professor had made his decision Jane doe was staying " I don't remember catching your name" he barked watching as she followed Jean out of the study.

"That's cause I never threw it." She replied flippantly , She paused in the doorway not bothering to turn around.

"Might want to since yer staying. Hey you is gonna get real old real fast."

"The names Mac. " She called over her shoulder and with that she gone.