"Jimmy, what the fuck did this place do to my pup?" I asked as I glared at him while we sat in the in the control room for their "Danger Room" so we could keep an eye on Nina. It was just a forest at the moment, and there was no actual danger to speak of. Xavier let us borrow it for the purpose of giving Nina some space, even if it was fake space. She had a bag with her, some water, a snack, a book, and some writing materials. I was hoping she'd stay in there for a couple hours and calm down. Jimmy had explained to her what the room was, and that if she needed someone all she had to do was yell and that I'd go sit with her or we'd shut down the program and go get her. We didn't tell her that we'd be able to see her; we hoped she'd assume with the trees in the way of the observation window that we wouldn't be able to see her. I suspected if she needed to cry, like some frails did, she wouldn't want to do it in front of us.

"I did my best Victor, she's not a complaining type of kid, except for the whole business with Cyke, I would've gotten her space if I'd known she needed it," Jimmy sighed as we watched her on the screen. She'd found a place to settle down and she was currently in the middle of reading. "She spent most of her time with me, and when she wasn't with me I assumed she was alone or with Rogue. She really isn't a social animal; I didn't think everyone was trying to interfere with her."

"She feels surrounded," I muttered as I played with the camera flicking it around to different angles. "She said something about people being in her head."

"Right, I was going to let her get into that with you because she didn't even really tell me, but Jean says she can feel it when people are rooting around in her brain," Jimmy said looking over at me for a moment before looking back at the screen, "If a telepath stays in there too long it'll start to hurt, and since no one knew in the beginning Jean and Chuck were checking in on her without directly confronting her since she didn't seem to like them much. Hank suggested that it happening so often in a short amount of time also started to get to her. They promised that they'd stop doing it, and Nina says that she hasn't been feeling it…" Jimmy paused and when I looked at him he waved his hand saying, "Quire was dicking around in her brain too, but after I explained exactly what you'd do to him he cut it out too."

"Quire… I've heard of him," I said as I stopped on a profile view of Nina and leaned back scenting the air, one of the frails had been walking by a couple times now, "Pink haired little shit, actually tried to destroy your precious little school?"

"Is there some kind of newsletter y'all bad guys get?" Rogue asked after the door opened.

"Word just gets around little frail," I said looking back at her. Actually I was pretty sure I heard it from Magneto he'd had a job for me a couple months back, offered me a position in the brotherhood. I hadn't liked the politics and turned him down on the position and merely took the job.

"Kid what are you doin'?" Jimmy asked as he turned to look at her too.

"Ah heard Nina wasn't doing so well, and well Logan ah've seen you not do so well," She said as she came closer to look at the screen. Seeing Nina just sitting there seemed to ease her, her scent even calmed.

"She was just starting to feel cagey," Jimmy explained as I looked back at the screen. "We're hopefully heading it off before I have to drop them in the middle of a forest somewhere."

"You just want to leave me in a forest somewhere," I snorted as I found Nina moving around a little; actually she was putting her stuff back in her bag. She'd only been in there for a half hour, and I hoped she wasn't calling it quits. She just started wandering off a little though, and Jimmy leaned forward typing in a command, not to mention ignoring my comment, getting the cameras to follow after her. Nina came to a clearing after a couple moments and she dropped her backpack before looking at one of the trees. For a second I thought she was going to try and climb it, but instead she sat under it. She didn't open her bag though to get anything out and I frowned.

"Is she bored?" Rogue asked bluntly as she leaned over Jimmy's shoulder to see the screen better.

"She's in there to relax, I'm not really concerned if she's bored," I shrugged as I clicked one of the buttons I was permitted to touch less I accidently send man eating creatures in there to get my young mate. The screen flickered to a different angle and then I zoomed in. "Well looks like we're watching Pup sleep," I sighed.

We all settled in, Rogue pulling up a chair, and I asked, "You think since she can feel her mind being probed she'll eventually be able to stop it?" I had a natural defense against most psychic attacks, and when they were strong enough I could feel them trying to get in there. Mind reading still happened from time to time, but there were things that Pup would eventually have to find a way to protect herself from.

"Maybe, it'd require a telepath to practice with," Jimmy said looking over at me, and I could tell he could see my displeasure on my face.

"Is tha' a problem?" Rogue asked as she too looked to me.

"Yes." I answered simply as I leveled her with a bland look.

"Dare I ask why?" Rogue asked a thin brow arched high.

"I don't even remotely like any of the telepaths running around this place, and the ones I know on the outside would probably fuck up her brain just to piss me off." I explained with an irritated wave of my hand. The only problem was that if she started practicing after she got to know me, I'd have to worry about people gleaming things about me that didn't need to be known. Without looking at her I tried to decide if I could get Rogue to absorb some psychic's powers to practice with the girl, but dismissed it as it would make the telepath she borrowed from wonder why they couldn't do it themselves.

"She might need to learn anyway Creed," Jimmy sighed. "You're not the most well liked man."

He was right…

"I'll see," I said looking back at the screen. Speaking of me not being well liked…

"Either of you know what's up One-eye's ass about my pup?" I asked looking over at both of them.

Rogue shrugged and shook her head, but Jimmy seemed to be thinking on it. I waited it out. Finally Jimmy said, "I figure you're his real problem. The fact that Nina thinks you're the best thing since air, and can do no wrong, just doesn't help."

"The book ta the face probably didn't help none either," Rogue chuckled as she watched the two of us.

ooo

"Mr. Creed can I come out now?!" Nina called out her voice an electronic hum. She'd so far read a good bit of her book, written things I wanted to know about, and taken a nap or two. It'd been about four hours and we were actually getting around to the time we were told we'd have to call it quits so there could be some kind of training session. Something for the staff.

Looking up from the instruction manual I'd pulled from the desk I eyed the screen a bit. She seemed okay, I'd know more once I could smell her again, but I was also starting to want her back anyway. Rogue had cut out about halfway through the pups nap, but looking to Jimmy I noticed him sleeping in front of the console his feet up on the edge of the counter containing those buttons that could in fact send machines in there to maim her. Well not likely maim her, but apparently there needed to be a chapter on emergency shut downs, and the exact location of the first aid kit written in the rather large manual I had in my lap. There was also, according to the table of contents, a couple of pages on CPR and general first aid. Knocking his feet down, and instantly gaining his attention, I told him, "Wake up and shut it down, she wants to come out."

"Bout time," Jimmy huffed as I stashed the manual back where I got it and headed for the stairs that led into the room. All we'd been able to see from the actual observation window had been treetops but as I opened the door and the stairs slid out from the wall the trees all flickered away revealing nothing but an empty metal room, and Nina.

She scampered right over to me, and practically crawled into my arms in her haste for some affection. She smelt amazing. She nuzzled my neck, just under my chin, trying to pull her herself closer to me. Growling contently I kissed the top of her head, and pulled her up a little higher to hold her to me better. Nina had a way of bringing affection out of me it seemed, but at least I knew as long as I had a hold of her no one else could get her from me. I could feel her tail swishing back and forth happily and I heard the doors opening to reveal Jimmy… and Red.

Nina's ears flattened and she clung to me tighter, which concerned (then immediately irritated) me. I nuzzled the top of her head before I walked over to the two. Red was looking at me disapprovingly, but I just bared my fangs at her asking, "You gotta problem Red?"

"No," She said tensely smelling like a lie, "Is Nina alright?"

"She's fine," I insisted completely content to hold onto her. "Now if you'll move aside, I'm gonna go get her something to eat."

"Are you going to carry her through the school?" Red asked, and I noticed Jimmy looked rather pained by the question. Like he already knew this wasn't ever going to end well.

"Just to piss you off," I grinned before I looked to Jimmy who just shook his head and moved out of my way himself. It was good to have someone who got me. I knew Jimmy wasn't pleased about all this, but it was something he was accepting. It helped that he liked Pup too, and most importantly he understood what was going on.

ooo

Nina was sitting in the computer chair in front of the desk in my room when I walked out of the bathroom later that night. Her head was in her hands, and with good reason. She'd snuck in here while I was in the shower, though I'd left her safe and sound in her room. I had put a towel around my waist just for her, but I had thought about walking out naked just to teach her a lesson about sneaking around me. She was lucky she was so young. Walking over to her I eyed her a little before saying, "Can I ask what you think you're doing Pup?"

She jolted, but she determinedly managed not to look up at me. "I want to sle-stay with you."

Quirking a brow I reached down and managed to capture her chin, getting her to look at me. She looked a little nervous, and she was blushing prettily, her scent gave away how nervous she really was. She was verging on fear. Leaning in I put my forehead to hers saying, "You're too young to be afraid I'd misunderstand you, of course you can sleep in here with me Pup."


AUTHORS NOTES:

Not much I can think to say about this one...

So maybe tell me what you think.

I think soon after this in one of the new chapters I'm writing I'm gonna do a time skip.

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Lorna Roxen: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!