Hey everyone! This chapter should go some way towards answering the questions you've all been asking! Or it might just confuse you even more ..... who knows!!

Once again, a warm thank you to all my reviewers! Sabrielle-X, FrozenVoices, Laudine, wolfbane17 and 12kirby12! I appreciate the time you take in order to let me know how I'm doing!

Onward .... our story awaits ...... !

ooXoo

7. Misguided Intentions

Professor Xavier looked up from the papers on his desk as a polite knock sounded at his oak panelled study door. "Come."

Scott Summers entered, followed closely by his fiancée. He closed the door softly behind them and they crossed the floor to stand before Xavier's desk. The Professor indicated they should be seated and studied each of them carefully before speaking.

"Thank you, both of you, for taking time out of your schedules to attend me this morning."

"It was the least we could do, sir," replied Scott, easily.

Xavier nodded. "You have probably surmised that I wish to speak to you concerning last night's …… incident between Wolverine and Blizzard." The Professor made a steeple of his fingers and regarded his X-Men keenly over the top of it. "I have already spoken to both of them this morning. Each claims the other started the fight."

"They said as much to me, too," admitted Jean.

"And your impressions are?"

Jean hesitated a moment, frowning. "Logan may be a lot of things, Professor, but he certainly isn't a liar. I believe him. Despite not being able to read him telepathically, I received strong impressions of disbelief and betrayal from him, which would not have been so had he started the fight."

Professor Xavier nodded, thoughtfully. "Thank you, Jean. That's very interesting. Scott, do you have a thought to add?"

The man called Cyclops inched forward slightly in his seat. "I think so, Professor. We all know how volatile Logan can be at times and he's made no secret of the fact that he doesn't like Blizzard. But he's mellowed a lot over his years with the team and I honestly don't think he'd attack a fellow X-Man without a damn good reason. But someone started the fight and it all boils down to who. I'm inclined to believe it was Blizzard. We all saw how Logan reacted when Daniel messed up the training session the other day and, while I admit that this makes it seem as though Logan is guilty as sin, I honestly think that Daniel was so ticked off at being singled out for the blame that he actively sought Logan out and started the fight himself. I know it doesn't seem fair to accuse the new guy, Professor, but Daniel had no other reason for being in the garage last night."

Xavier nodded. "That's a valid point, Scott, and I appreciate your honesty. I must admit that it bothered me that both Daniel and Logan claimed the other had started the fight and, while Logan seemed to have taken the most punishment, this doesn't mean that he didn't start it. However, considering the evidence, I have been forced to conclude that Logan is most probably the innocent party in this matter."

Scott let out a breath that he didn't realise he'd been holding. "So you're going to punish Daniel then, Professor?"

"No, Scott. I am not."

This revelation hit Scott and Jean like a ton of bricks. In all their days at the school, they had never heard of a student not being punished for wrongdoing. And for something as serious as attacking a senior X-Man, Daniel should have been removed from the team and made to give up all privileges for at least six months – at the very least.

Scott leaned forward in his seat. "If I may ask, Professor, why not?"

Xavier sighed, as if the answer was perfectly obvious. "Because Daniel claims innocence, Scott. And I will not punish a student who claims innocence."

"But he's just saying that, Professor. You said yourself that Logan is the innocent party. And, while I don't take a perverse pleasure from punishing students, we can't have them attacking senior X-Men and thinking they can get away with it. Discipline would go right out the window."

"I said Logan is 'probably innocent', Scott. There is still an element of doubt. And while that doubt exists, I will not take the chance of punishing an innocent man."

Scott looked to Jean, anxiously. "But there must be something we can do. Why don't you just mindscan Daniel and settle this once and for all, Professor?"

"You know my feelings on that, Scott, as well as I do. The students have to feel that they are trusted here. If I scanned people's minds at the slightest altercation, I would soon lose that trust and everything I have worked for would begin to fall apart."

Scott nodded, hesitantly. "I understand what you're saying, Professor. But wouldn't it be best for the team if we knew exactly who started the fight and why?"

"No, Scott, I will not violate Daniel's privacy with a mindscan. It goes against everything we stand for."

"So what are we to do?" asked Jean, unhappily.

"For the time being, we should act as though none of this happened, but try to keep an eye on Daniel and find out what prompted the attack. It may be that a simple remark on Logan's part struck a nerve and made Daniel angry. Logan isn't the most tactful person I know and he is inclined to speak first and think later. However, I will not have my X-Men fighting amongst themselves and for that reason alone we must keep the two of them apart as much as possible. Scott, for training purposes, I want you to split the team into two groups, with Wolverine in one and Blizzard in the other. The less they see of each other in the Danger Room, the better."

"Yes, Professor."

"With time and patience, maybe Daniel will come forward and admit his mistake. But until then, we will continue to make him feel welcome here and treat him like part of the family. We need to earn his trust and flush out any ideas he may have that make him feel he must lie to cover up a rash moment." Xavier paused, looking from one to the other. "Any questions?"

"No, Professor."

Jean shook her head, unhappily, unable to trust her emotions enough to speak.

"Then I thank you for your time, and trust in your ability to carry out my wishes in this regard. We must not let this situation colour our opinions of Daniel at all. He needs our help."

Scott and Jean nodded, then rose and let themselves out of the study. Once out in the hallway, they made their way silently to the den which, at this early hour, was deserted. Jean sank into a chair, while Scott leaned unhappily against the fireplace, lost in thought.

"Well," prompted Jean, finally.

"Well what?"

"What do you think to the Professor's solution?"

Scott sighed. "Do you want the truth, Jean? I think he's way off base on this one. He's sure Daniel attacked Logan, yet he won't find out why. What kind of solution is that? A simple mindscan would solve the problem."

"You know how the Professor feels about that, Scott."

"Yes, I do, but there's more at stake here than the Professor's feelings. From your impressions of the fight, Blizzard was pulling out all the stops. What if he truly meant to harm Logan? What if the incident wasn't a simple argument? Don't you think we ought to know?"

Jean sighed. "I agree with what you're saying, Scott, but it isn't as simple as that. The Professor won't agree to mindscan Daniel and a casual scan won't work. The Professor has already started training him in psychic defence techniques. Daniel would know if I tried to read him without permission."

Scott nodded, sadly. Many of the X-Men's foes were telepaths and the team were trained to resist psychic attack. If Daniel was scanned passively, he should be advanced enough in his training to know about it, even if he wasn't experienced enough to resist. But Scott was surprised that Jean had even considered the possibility. Like the Professor, she was opposed to reading people's minds without their permission. That she had considered it meant she was clearly disturbed by the attack on their team-mate.

"You know, this whole situation reminds me of when Logan joined the X-Men," Jean began, drawing her legs up into the chair beneath her. "He just couldn't get on with Angel, do you remember, Scott?"

Scott nodded. "I remember. Warren thought he was a psychopath."

"They hated each other on sight," Jean continued, softly. "And Angel finally left the team because of it. They've managed to straighten themselves out a bit since then, at least enough to work together on the same side without tearing each other apart, but there's still tension between them."

"I hope you're not saying what I think you're trying to say, Jean." Scott's brow creased into a frown.

Jean merely nodded. "Scott, what if history's repeating itself? What if Logan decides to leave because he can't get along with Daniel?"

Scott shook his head. "He won't leave, Jean. At least not permanently."

"How can you be so sure?"

Scott smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging fashion. It was strange to see his fiancée, normally so stoic and full of encouragement for everyone else, needing his assurance now. That it was for fear of Logan leaving did not go un-noticed by the young leader, but this time he had no worries that his fiancée still courted the feral's attentions. She had made her choice and Logan had his own girl now. "He won't leave," he repeated, more forcefully. "Lord knows he's had reason to in the past, yet he's always drifted back after he's had time to cool down. The X-Men are his family now, Jean. He may take off to Madripoor every now and then, and visit Canada to trace his roots, but he'll always come back here. I'm sure of it. Besides, Kristi's here. If they're so in love, as you say, he won't leave her."

Jean wished that made her feel better, but it didn't. Her talk with Logan in the early hours had revealed his qualms at courting Kristi for fear of dishonouring Mariko. If he truly felt this was so, he had no reason to stay if the incident with Blizzard escalated. She desperately hoped her words of advice had gone to his heart.

The two lovers fell silent for a time and then Scott moved slowly away from the fireplace to sit in a chair opposite Jean's. He started moodily into the unlit grate for a moment, then glanced towards his fiancée.

"I pulled Blizzard's records this morning," he announced, sharply. "I thought it might help, but nothing in them suggests why this situation should have happened. He seems to have come from a good family. Parents are British, but moved to Australia shortly after Daniel and his sister were born, followed by another move to the States when they turned sixteen. Near as I can tell, they had a good upbringing. There's certainly nothing to suggest a volatile nature or anything we should be wary of."

"Maybe I ought to have another word with Logan – see if he's got anything new to say on the subject?" suggested Jean. She'd told Scott everything that had been said the night before, apart from their heart to heart about Kristi and Mariko. That was between her and Logan. "Maybe now he's slept on it, he may remember something – anything – that was said or done that may turn out to be important."

"If you're going to talk to him, you'll have to wait until tonight," Scott informed her. "He took off on the Harley right after the Professor spoke to him. To be honest, I think he's sussed the Professor's intention and is keeping out of Blizzard's way so as not to aggravate the situation."

Jean shook her head, sadly. "It isn't right, Scott. Logan shouldn't have to keep out of Blizzard's way. He's a senior X-Man, for heaven's sake! The Professor should have sorted all this out by now."

"You and I know that, Jean, but the Professor obviously thinks otherwise." He reached out to pat her hand. "I think Logan's doing the right thing, hon. Maybe all this will blow over in time."

"Maybe." But Jean wasn't convinced. At a time like this, Logan needed his friends around him. She imagined he must feel as though the one person who should be standing up for him had left him to the mercy of the wolves, and she experienced a sudden surge of annoyance towards the Professor, the man who had sworn to protect his X-Men and uphold certain values. What good were those values now?

Her heart went out to her absent team-mate, hoping that he came to his senses and acted on her advice. Because the one person who could help him through this, was the very person his sense of honour was telling him to avoid.

oooOOOooo

Blizzard slipped into his sister's room, turning to lock the door behind him as had become his habit. The first thing he noticed upon turning back was Psyche, sitting cross-legged on her bed, her eyes closed in concentration. Her hands were resting lightly on her knees, and her head was tilted forward slightly, her long black hair falling softly over her shoulders to frame her face. Rachael and Jacquie, watching from the next bed, looked up at his entrance, Rachael putting a finger to her lips to remind him to speak softly while Psyche worked her magic.

"How did it go?" she asked, in a gentle whisper.

Daniel took a seat at the end of the bed, his eyes never leaving their raven haired companion. "Well, I told him I'm innocent, if that's what you mean. Managed to get one or two digs in about the animal too. Being lucky to get away with my life, that sorta thing." He grinned at Rachael, arrogantly. "Guess it's all down to Xavier now," he added, with a meaningful glance towards Psyche.

Rachael smiled back at her brother. "Piece of cake," she declared, confidently. She inclined her head towards the other bed. "Karen says Scott and Jean were called to see the Professor right after you left. So predictable. Always has to discuss things with his troops like a good little marshal."

"They've just left." Psyche's voice attracted their attention and they turned to see the tele-empath take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before opening her eyes to regard Daniel keenly. "You will not be punished, Blizzard. I have seen to that."

"Never doubted you for a second," grinned Daniel, his eyes shining. "How did Summers take it?"

"Not well," intoned Psyche, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "I would imagine he's feeling mighty confused right now."

"Serves him right," snorted Daniel. "Self righteous idiot."

"I like him," retorted Jacquie, with an indignant pulse of light. "You shouldn't call him names. He's kind."

"He's the enemy, Jacquie, and don't you forget it." Rachael twisted on the bed to wag a finger at the youngster sitting beside her. "He wants mutants to live in peace alongside the humans and we can't allow that. Humans must be wiped off the face of the Earth if mutantkind is to survive, and that includes any mutant who stands with them."

"But I like the people here, they're nice to me and they're my friends," protested Firefly, as her bottom lip began to tremble. She folded her arms, obstinately. "Why do we have to hurt them?"

"For heaven's sake, you know why, Jacquie." Psyche gave her a scathing look. "We told you when we came here not to get involved with these people. Why couldn't you just do as you're told, for once?"

Jacquie's face crumpled and she jumped up and ran around to her own bed, where she threw herself down, laying with her back to her companions and pulsing gently with a soothing light as she cried into her pillow.

Daniel glared at the distraught youngster. "We shouldn't have flamin' well brought her. She's gonna endanger the mission."

"She won't," asserted Psyche. "I can control her as easily as I control Xavier, if need be. Besides, we needed her to back up our cover story."

"She's useless," snorted Daniel, forcefully. "All she does is loll about the place an' get friendly with those damn trainees. We coulda left her back at the base for all the good she does here."

"Leave her alone, Daniel," spoke up Rachael, coming to the youngster's defence. "She's just a kid and she's confused and angry right now. But she won't endanger the mission. She knows what we're fighting for."

"Besides, we've got more important things to think about, than an antsy kid." Psyche leaned forward, her eyes wild with barely repressed excitement. "We had a message from the boss while you were having your little tete a tete with Xavier." Her mouth itched to give their leader his proper title, but all four had been coached never to say his name while at the mansion. It galled her to use a human metaphor for someone so highly revered, but orders were orders.

Blizzard leaned forward, attention immediately drawn. "Why the hell didn't you say so before? What did he say?"

"The machine is ready, so he's moving us up to the next stage of his plan." Blizzard grinned and clicked his fingers at this. "Hammer and Vixen are on their way and will take up positions in Salem Center to await further orders. If all goes well, the X-Men will be ours within the week."

"Excellent!" Blizzard turned to share a triumphant grin with his twin. "There's just time for me to take one or two more shots at Wolverine. I thought I might try tamperin' with the brakes on his bike next and ……" He broke off as he noticed Blaze and Psyche exchange glances. "What?"

"You'll have to tell him, Karen," prompted Rachael. "Otherwise he'll find out the hard way."

"Tell me what?" Daniel eyed the tele-empath, warily.

"The boss wants you to lay off Wolverine. No, wait, Daniel, hear me out before you go off the deep end. It's either all the X-Men or none of them, and Wolverine's part of the package. The boss doesn't want to leave any X-Man free to avenge their team-mates, least of all a pissed off feral. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I understand." Daniel slammed a fist down into the comforter beside him. "I understand all too well."

"Don't take it too hard," said Rachael, consolingly. "It's all for the best."

"Besides, if all goes according to plan, the X-Men will be ours for the taking in just a few short days," added Psyche, with a sly grin. "The boss said nothing about not roughing them up when we take them down. You can make Wolverine hurt as much as you want."

"Oh, I intend to, believe me." Daniel's smile was pure evil. "When I've done with him, he'll wish he'd never been born ……"

NEXT: Boys will be boys!