I was in the dark again, only this time it wasn't as deep, completely cocooned by my sun the warmth a welcome reprieve from the constant cold that I had lived with since discovering my powers. Muffled voices were slow to reach me and it took me a moment to understand what they were saying.

"Just hand her over John she needs to go back to the med bay so she can be checked over." A hard stiff voice ordered

"Can't do that Cyclops. Besides she's fine." John's voice hummed against me

"John she was suffering from severe hypothermia when we found her. She's probably freezing and we have no idea what her powers could be. She needs to be in the med bay to get better. You want her to get better right John?" A sly woman's voice coerced John subtly manipulating him to do as they wanted

"She's fine. She's not even cold anymore and who cares what her powers are she can tell us when she wakes up." John argued further

"Fine." The woman sighed annoyance clear in her voice " Can I at least check her temperature?"

John must of given some sign of agreement because the next thing I knew someone was sticking something cold in my ear. I shied instinctively from the cold object. I didn't do well in the cold and wanted to stay as far away from anything to do with it as much as possible.

"Could you hold her still Scott I can't take her temperature if she's moving around." The woman asked of whoever was with her

"No I'll do it just give me a sec." John interrupted

I felt warm breath on my ear as John leaned into me further.

"Hey, I know it's cold and it sucks, but you need to hold still a sec so they can take your temperature so they'll leave you alone. Then you can go back to sleep." John promised quietly

He backed off a little without releasing me and the thermometer was placed back in my ear until it beeped and was blissfully removed.

"That's...not possible." The woman stuttered shock and surprise in her voice

"What is it Jean?" The man, Scott I think, asked barely concerned

"Her temperature...it's back to normal." The woman, Jean, answered obviously confused

"Isn't that a good thing?" John asked snidely

"Well...yes, but she shouldn't have recovered so soon. She should still be freezing." Jean answered confusion present still in her voice

"Jean, how is that possible?" Scott asked equally confused and slightly wary

"Maybe it has to do with her powers. Maybe she can heal or something similar. I'm not sure I need to run some tests to find out." Jean answered

Hearing this panic poured like ice in my veins and I started to weakly struggle against John's hold around my waist.

"I think she heard you." John groaned his grip tightening on me trying to stop my struggles

"No, no, no no no." I whined quietly

"Calm down, calm down. You're safe here no one's going to hurt you." That Jean woman cooed in her attempt to calm me down

I wasn't buying what ever the hell she thought she was selling. I wouldn't let her take me and turn me into a lab rat. I wouldn't become like the mutants I had met who had been captured, experimented on, treated like animals, I refused, I'd die first or them whichever it came to.

Then John was at my ear again "Shh. Shh. It's ok Vesta. They won't touch you. It's ok. Shh."

His voice combined with the heat he admitted comforted me, soothing me back into a more settled state though my muscles remained tense ready to get the hell out of dodge if they brought it up again.

"Got anymore bright ideas?" He snapped at Scott and Jean

They both were silent until Jean recomposed herself and said "Why don't you take...Vesta was it?...to a room until she wakes up."

John gave no indication of answering he just grunted as he got up and carefully lifted me into his arms. He adjusted me to be more comfortable in his grip before slowly walking away from those two.

The gentle rocking of his steps and the warmth of his body was quick to lull me back into a more peaceful sleep and hopefully this time I wouldn't be interrupted.