AN: Thanks to snow-leopard-demon24 and Darcenary for your reviews and anyone that favorited, alerted and read. Guess I didn't explain very well what's going on with the Professor. When I said the Professor can't take care of himself I meant more emotionally. The boys just took over everything else and he let them. He is physically capable. And they have tried talking to him but not as much as they could have. He wasn't really responsive. I figured everything in the movie happened fairly fast and they really didn't have alot of time to bond so they aren't that close to him.

Hope that explains things a little better. And thanks for the suggestion Darcena. I will have someone talk to the Professor I'm just not sure who and I don't have plans to bring back any character permanently. Well here's chapter 4 and I don't know when Chapter 5 will be up. I have a big project for school that I am working on. Please leave a review!

Chapter 4 Choices

"Good morning," Sean said as he walked into the kitchen. It was a few days after the storm and things in the mansion were pretty much back for normal or at least for them.

"Don't you mean good after noon?" Hank asked. He was sitting at the table with a notepad and pencil writing furiously.

"Same diff," Sean said as he opened the fridge and got out the orange juice. He poured himself a glass before joining the other boy at the table. "What are you working on?"

"Stuff," Hank mumbled and then sneezed.

"You still have that cold?" Sean asked.

"No I sneeze for fun," Hank said and then went back to writing. Sean rolled his eyes. Hank usually wasn't one for sarcasm. "Sorry I didn't mean to snap."

"It's fine," Sean said with a shrug. "But don't you think that you should be resting instead of working," he peaked at what Hank was writing and didn't understand one word, "whatever it is that you're working on."

"This is important," Hank muttered without looking up.

"If you don't tell me I'll tell Alex that you're working instead of resting," Sean said in a sing-song voice. He smiled when Hank dropped his pencil.

"Don't tell Alex. He…I don't understand him. One minute he's treating me like I'm on my deathbed and the next he's snapping at me. I don't even want to think what he'll do if he finds out what I'm working on," Hank pleaded.

"Alright I won't tell him," Sean said with sigh. He wished that Alex would make a decision about Hank instead of playing hot and cold. It was driving him nuts and stressing Hank out.

"Thank you," Hank said with a sniffle and then sneezed again.

"But," Sean said earing him a sigh.

"But," Hank said.

"But I'd still like to know," Sean told him.

"You aren't going to leave me alone until I tell you, are you?" Hank said sounding resigned.

"Nope," Sean said with a shake of his head.

"I'm working on something for the Professor. When I brought him breakfast this morning he asked me to start working on building that thing he used to find you all," Hank said quietly. Sean was stunned to say the least.

"I can see why you don't want to tell Alex," Sean said as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Why didn't you tell him no?"

"Because I…because he needs it," Hank said with a shrug and then went back to writing. Sean frowned wondering if the Professor might have projected his feelings of need onto Hank.

"Alex is going to find out eventually," Sean thought he would point out.

"I know but Alex has enough problems at the moment. I know that something is bothering him but he won't talk about it. Did he talk to you?" Hank asked with a frown.

"Ah…yeah he did kinda…" Sean stuttered trying to figure out what to tell him. He didn't want to tell Alex's secret but Hank was obviously upset by not knowing.

"I see," Hank said his frown deepening, "he asked you not to tell me."

"It's not like that," Sean was quick to reassure him. Hank gave him a look of disbelief. "Trust me on this it will all work out. Just give him some time. Alright?"

"Alright," Hank agreed although he didn't look reassured.

"Hey isn't that show you like about to start, why don't we go watch that," Sean suggested hoping that it would make the other boy feel better. Hank nodded as he picked up his pad and pencil.

"I was just about to come and get you. That show Hank likes is on," Alex said as soon as they entered the sitting room. He then looked over at them and shook his head. Hank looked more miserable today than he did yesterday. "You feeling any better?"

"Yes some," Hank said with a smile. Alex was tempted to call him a liar but he didn't. Instead he just plopped down on the couch. Sean curled up in the chair so Hank had no choice but to sit on the couch. Alex had a feeling that was why Sean chose the chair.

"I was thinking that after this we could test out your new disk," Hank suggested sounding hesitant.

"Not until you're over that cold. You should be resting not working," Alex said as he took the pad and pencil away. He knew by now that if Hank was carrying those things that he was working on something.

"Hey!" Hank shouted in protest but he made no real effort to get them back.

"Now watch your show and relax," Alex said as he set the pad down on the small end table. Hank glared at him but again he didn't do or say anything to get them back.

The three of them watched the show in silence. About halfway through Hank had fallen asleep and Alex once again found the other boy's head in his lap. Not even thinking about it Alex ran his fingers through Hank's fur.

"You still really need time to think?" Sean asked.

"Shut up," Alex hissed. "He's sick." No sooner had he said that, that Hank coughed and sniffled in his sleep. "I hope it's nothing serious," he muttered.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. If we can get him to rest that is," Sean said. Alex nodded hoping that he was right. He then tried to watch the show but wasn't enjoying it in the least. How someone as smart as Hank liked such drivel he didn't know.

Since the show wasn't interesting him Alex picked up the pad that Hank had been writing in earlier. Not surprisingly he didn't understand any of it. That was until he got to page thee. He still didn't understand it but he sure did recognize something; a very large sphere. He did not like it one bit.

"Sean do you know why Hank is working on this?" Alex asked.

"Hmmm," Sean said as he turned towards him so Alex tossed the pad at him. "Oh…ah…right. I'm going to go and make lunch." Sean then quickly left.

Alex had a feeling that he was missing something so he decided to follow the other boy. As carefully as he could he maneuvered himself out from under Hank and replaced his lap with one of the throw pillows. Hank made a sound of protest but settled back down and luckily stayed sleeping. Alex threw a blanket over him and then headed to the kitchen.

"What's going on? Why is Hank working on that mutant finding thing?" Alex asked as soon as he entered the kitchen. Sean was sitting at the table looking resigned.

"I promised Hank I wouldn't say," Sean said with a tired sigh.

"Well if he's working on that," he said as he pointed to the pad sitting in front of Sean, "I think you should tell me."

"He doesn't want to give you any more stress. He knows that something is going on with you and he's upset that you won't talk about it," Sean explained. Alex sat down at the table suddenly feeling tired.

"Look I promise to talk to Hank soon about everything alright. This sphere though…this isn't good," Alex pressed. "I don't even see a reason that he would work on it unless," here Sean paled. "The Professor asked him to, didn't he?" Sean shook his head looking really torn.

"It's alright," Hank said as he joined them at the table making both of them jump. "Yeah the Professor asked me to build him a new one."

"Did he say why?" Alex asked.

"He didn't say and I didn't ask. He wasn't in a very talkative mood but I do know that he wants it built as soon as possible," Hank explained.

"He told you this," Alex said.

"Not exactly," Hank said with a sigh. "I just sort of knew."

"About that. When you told me that this morning I got to thinking that maybe he projected his feelings onto you," Sean said.

"He wouldn't do that. The Professor wouldn't use his powers on us," Hank said sounding distressed.

"Maybe not on purpose but he has had trouble controlling them lately," Sean pointed out.

"If that's true then it really isn't safe for us to stay here. We're going to have to leave," Alex said. "The sooner the better."

"I don't like the idea of just leaving him," Hank said looking distraught.

"None of us like the idea but if the Professor is projecting his thoughts and feelings onto us more than the occasional nightmare it really isn't safe," Alex pressed.

"Are we ever going to come back?" Hank asked quietly.

"I don't know," Alex said as ruffled Hank's fur hoping to give some sort of comfort. "If the Professor learns to control his powers again but not before."

"You know it would be easier if just you tw…" Hank started to say but Sean cut him off.

"Don't even think about going there!" Sean snapped. Hank looked surprised at the outburst and didn't finish his thought. "Alright I get that we're leaving but where are we going to go," Sean said.

"I think I figured something out. I did a little research in the library and the Professor's family owns some land about a day's drive north of here. There's even a house there. I think it might have been their summer home or something. I know it isn't the most ideal spot but we can stay there until we figure something else out or until he's better," Alex told them.

"We'll need to take one of his cars and the rest of the money from the safe," Sean added.

"We're stealing too," Hank said looking even more upset than he did before.

"It's not like I like the idea of taking so much either but we need it. It won't be easy for us to find jobs and if we don't take a car from here we'll just have to take one for someone else," Sean said and Alex nodded in agreement.

"I guess all we can do then is pack," Hank said finally giving in.

"Now as far as the packing goes I was thinking that Hank should grab the things from the lab that he'll think that we need. Everything else comes second," Alex suggested.

"Oh, alright," Hank said looking surprised. "There isn't too much really but…there are some things.

"Do you want some help," Alex offered.

"That would be nice," Hank said with a small smile.

"Sean you can go work on your room," Alex said.

"I don't have a lot …" Alex gave him a pointed look and Sean smiled, "but I'll get to it." Sean then left walking towards the bedrooms and the other two headed towards the lab.

"There isn't a lot that I can take that I can work on without the bigger equipment," Hank explained as they walked into the lab.

"Just tell me what you need," Alex told him. Hank smiled at him and then grabbed a box from one of his cupboards. "We can put the more delicate stuff in here."

They spent the next several minutes quietly packing. Hank would pick up some sort of tool, look at it for several moments and then either wrap it and hand it over where Alex would put it in the box or gently set it back down.

As Alex watched the other boy he tried to figure out his feeling for him which only confused him further. How do you confess to someone that you use to pick on that you think you might like them but you aren't sure yet. At the moment his questionable like feelings for Hank were not his top priority. What had him really worried was the way Hank thought that he should be left behind.

"What was all that earlier?" Alex asked breaking the comfortable silence.

"What was all of what earlier?" Hank asked as he was looking at one of his tools. He put it back down and then picked it up again.

"Us leaving you behind," Alex told him.

"It would be the smart thing to do Alex. I…I can't go out in public. If you and Sean left me behind you'll have an easier time of it. You wouldn't even have to hide," Hank said his voice not wavering. It was as if he was stating at fact.

"You honestly believe we'll have an easier time without you," Alex said feeling his anger rise. "You're the one that makes my disk so I am able to control my power and Sean his suit so he can fly. And even though we don't look different we are and we didn't have an easy life. I don't know about Sean but I'm not fond of people either."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply that you didn't. I just wanted to do the right thing," Hank said looking crestfallen. Alex felt his heart twinge. He hadn't wanted to upset Hank. He just wanted the other boy to understand. He felt even worse when Hank had a coughing fit.

"No I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that but I want you to understand that we need you. We can't do this without you Hank," Alex told him hoping that Hank would believe it. He didn't even want to think about doing this without the other boy.

"Thank you and I promise that I won't mention it again," Hank said with a smile.

After they finished with the lab they each went to their rooms to pack the things that they would need. It didn't take Alex long as he didn't have much. He packed a bag of clothes and figured that was enough. They then began the process of loading up the car.

They weren't trying to hide the fact that they were packing. In fact they were doing the opposite. Even though none of them would say it out loud they all hoped that the Professor would come out of his room to stop them but that didn't happen. Not wanting the man to totally panic they left him a note.

"I guess that's everything," Sean said as he looked up at the mansion.

"Let's go," Alex said as he got in on the driver's; he didn't believe in looking back. For a moment he thought that Hank was going to say something but he just sighed sadly and climbed in the backseat. Sean got in the passenger side. "Ready?" he got solemn nods in reply. He started the car and they drove off hoping that they made the right decision.