disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever in any way owned the X-Men. If I did, I would be rich and have lots more time to write about them. This is a work of fiction based on the X-Men comic book owned by Marvel Comics Group and I expect to receive absolutely no monetary compensation for it. Dammit.

Farewell Sunshine
by Dizi

Chapter 10

With strict instructions to leave the case alone until morning and to get both plenty of rest and exercise, we left the 'med-lab' en mass. The contradictory directions was proof enough to me that Hank is a real doctor. I wasn't completely normal physically but he'd warned me that would be the case until all the meds 'metabolized' out of my system. Now, do you really think I would drop the case? I don't generally follow doctor's orders too well. I was willing to not do anything too active on it. Really. But to just drop it for the night? I think NOT.

That wasn't taking into account my 'partners'. We all had the case, Sunshine, in common. It should have been natural for us to talk about it or her. Seriously, what could talking hurt? We didn't talk about the case though. They ganged up on me. Every time there was an opening and I started to bring up it up, one of them would change the subject. It was a conspiracy! No, I'm not being paranoid, they conspired right in front of me. Grrrrrr. They had to know I would think about it. We were still in the school, it was going to happen. It's the way I am. They weren't taking any chances, their exact words.

So I got a proper tour of the school. It was good exercise. The place is huge and should have signs telling people where they are like in malls. It was a quick tour though because my stomach started growling. Normally, I'd ignore it. I'm used to working through meals. There was no reason to this time and they didn't give me that option anyway. Can you say 'overprotective', boys and girls? I think you can! But what do I know? I've never been psi-blasted before. Go figure.

It's not surprising the cafeteria is a major hang out for students. We could hear the buzz of voices in the hall leading to it. Until we stepped into the room. It would be nice to think all conversation stopped because of the presence of teachers, but I'm not that delusional. Being a cop--having been a cop, that is, gotta get used to the life-change--it's not that unusual an occurrence to me. Nobody wants to talk around cops. Hmm, maybe that will change once it completely gets out that I'm no longer a cop? That'd be a nice change.

Young eyes watched us as we followed Logan across the room. He has this thing where he likes to sit with his back to the wall so he can see the whole room. Generally he doesn't make an issue of it but he likes to see trouble coming, can't really blame him for that. I almost laughed out loud when he gets to the table he wants, lets out a growl, and simply waits for it to empty. Logan's got a way about him, a style all his own. Thank God he's just a friend now, he's way too much work. But Logan's a good man to have at your back. After what happened this afternoon I like him being there. Times like this, a girl needs her friends.

Jubilee sighed. "And you wonder why most of 'em are scared of you."

"Don't wonder," he grunted. "I don't give a damn."

Sam was smart enough to stay out of it. "You just sit herah, Ma'am. Ah'll see what's left an' bring it to yah. Any preference on what yah want tah drink? Hank said no coffee."

"A beer would be nice." Alright, I knew he wasn't going give me one but it was worth a try. Can't have alcohol on top of major medication, that's a given. He just stood there waiting patiently. "Fine. Iced tea will work."

With a nod, he walked off. I stared at his ass the whole way. Nothing else to do. Logan and Jubilee are sniping at each other, probably their version of flirting. I sure don't want to get in the middle of that. So I watch Sam's ass until he disappears into what I assume is the actual kitchen. Then I don't have anything to do except watch all the teenagers pretend they're not watching me. Well, me along with Jubilee and Logan. Since I can't interview any of the kids and don't feel like going up to any of them and insulting them with my curiosity, I got nothing.

Except breaking doctor's orders. I just knew that opportunity would come along. Ignoring my 'partners' gives me the chance to think like I haven't since before I was supposed to interview MaryJo. Closing my eyes, I start to review what I know and what I can guess, stuff like that. From Antoine's statement, I know the perp is someone powerful in multiple ways. Not only a telepath but probably has family and money. He's most likely connected to one of the teachers in some manner, relation or a teacher's pet. He had a hard-on for Sunshine, probably is used to girls falling at his feet which made her rejection that much worse for him.

I'm going to need to talk to Bishop, the security guy, because the perp somehow got himself and Sunshine out of the school without any notice, then got back in leaving her behind. Now, whatever his mutant powers actually are, they are telepathically based. We know this from the attack. But how does that work with the electronic surveilance this place has? Telepathy is mind shit and cameras don't have a brain. Maybe he messed with Bishop's mind? Made him erase any recordings? That's assuming the type of telepath the perp is, which I now know there are many different kinds. Is there a way to check for that kind of thing? If someone's thoughts have been changed? That's a question to ask tomorrow, or have someone ask.

Need to know how far away the crime scene Logan found is, how long it takes to get there and back. Timing is another factor I can only guess at, still don't know if Sunshine even went to bed that night. She couldn't have been in the water too long or she'd have died of hypothermia either in the water or in the emergency room, it's fall and gets really cold at night. Hadn't considered that before. It means she was probably raped more towards dawn than midnight. Assuming that, Sunshine would have gone to bed or been snatched and stashed before she'd had a chance to, then taken out later. Risky but possible. The perp is definitely arrogant.

Okay, so he somehow got past the school's security measures--cameras and alarms--and got Sunshine outside to the crime scene. Why there? Logan's fond of the woods, everyone knows that. Did he somehow know Logan wouldn't be there? He made a comment at Harry's once about one of his favorite parts of marriage is waking up next to someone every morning, that was when he was teasing me about finding someone permanent like he had, bragged he's getting relief for that morning boner. Do I take that to mean he does his wandering in the woods during the darkest part of the night so he can start the morning up right with Jubilee? If so, how hard would it be for others to figure out his pattern? I'll have to ask tomorrow and maybe get some jibes in about him becoming domesticated.

Back to the scenario. He got her there. Did he intend to kill her or just tell himself he was going to take her someplace private so they could talk, so he could explain himself, change her mind about him? Did he plan to beat her up, break her, or did he get angry she wouldn't listen to him? She rejected him, Antoine told us that. Don't know if the assault came first or the rape. So lets go the other way. Did he rape her to punish her or again got angry when she wouldn't listen? Did she then cry and say how she would tell everyone what he'd done so he started whaling on her? He had to have intended that she die, his bad luck she didn't right away. Did he plan that or was it because he'd done the rest and was covering his tracks? Without more info I don't know what was premeditated and what wasn't.

I do know the results. Sunshine was beaten within an inch of her life, brutally raped, then dumped in the river. I can picture her body covered in blood, lying on the side of the river. A girl tossed away like garbage. Was she aware going in? Did she fight the water or welcome it? Did the perp smash her head in or did that happen as she was tossed around by the currents? I hate that I can picture it both ways, not knowing which it was. I can imagine her unconscious body drifting as well as trying desperately to get to shore. It-

"Sanchez! Snap out of it!"

"What?" My eyes were instantly open at Jubilee's near shout. "What's wrong?"

Concentrating on the case, I'd been completely lost in thought. So I missed a new addition to our table. A girl, young, about five-eight, black hair, white skin--not Caucasian, actually white. She was standing on the other side of Jubilee where Logan... HAD been sitting, and she was the one who answered me. "Officer... ma'am... I'm sorry... you were projecting and Mao is in a bad way."

She made a nervous gesture and I followed it to see Logan holding down another girl's arms two tables away.

"She's empathic, the emotions of other's affect her. Usually Mao can control it, but emotions are high right now. On top of that, everyone has natural shielding of some degree and your's are practically non-existent after the attack. Everything you were feeling with your deep thoughts and everyone else's nerves, fear, and whatever... Well, it was too much for her."

'Everything you were feeling', Jubilee had said. Fuck! I was feeling lots of shit. Mostly anger at the perp, that's always there for me. There'd also been horror a what had been done to Sunshine, more anger. Now I've also got a horror of what I've done to this girl, unintentionally or not.

"Don't feel bad, Sanchez." Jubilee either guessed at my guilt or it showed. "It's not your fault. Not like you did it on purpose."

"But it's still my responsibility." Whether you meant to or not, when you do something wrong or that hurts someone, you've got to make it right. That's one lesson from my childhood I've carried with me, a good philosophy in my line of work. This girl taps into the emotions of others and mine had messed her up big time. I've got to find a way to fix it.

Whenever my thoughts and feelings start going the wrong way, I reach deep and pull out my 'mission statements'. I set in my mind that I'll do the job: I will catch the bastard, he will be punished for his crimes, when I'm done our little part of the world will be a better place. Making myself think it over and over again like a mantra, helps me. Like it's doing now. Because it's true. However long it takes, I will make it happen.

Steady, calm, determined, reassured, I hold those feelings tight. They are what I need to make things right. I bet they're what she needs too.

Focussed, I stood. All eyes were on me, I didn't care. Jubilee started to say something and stopped, I didn't pay attention. I walked to the opposite side of the table from the girl, faced her. "You feel the emotions of other people?"

Her eyes were wild in her head, swimming with too many feelings to recognize. "Y-yes, b-but I'm b-blocking..."

"Okay. Can you lock onto one person?" I had an idea, probably not a good one but an idea. Can't let myself think about what might happen if it doesn't work. Isn't negativity an emotion? I'm thinking positive. To paraphrase the Church, MY will be done.

"N-not supposed to..."

"Sanchez, she been taught it's an invasion ta do that kinda thing," Logan snarled at me. "Get back an' wait fer the calvalry ta arrive."

Yeah, I'm gonna do that. You just know it. "Mao, it's okay. You need calm, right? Well, I'm as calm as it gets right now." And I am. Because I have a purpose. If I'm 'projecting', then that's what's coming from me. "Feel it, Mao, take it inside you."

There was a commotion going on, Logan bitching, Jubilee behind me; I ignored it all, held to my center. It didn't happen right away, she didn't instantly let go. After a couple minutes though, she didn't have as many expressions twisting her face, her eyes became less wild, her hand slowly stopped shaking as it came to lay in front of me. Putting my hand on top of hers, I hoped touch would make it easier.

Honestly, I was surpised I didn't feel like something was being taken from me. Mao was a mix of genetics. Red hair--which could be dyed--slanted almond-shaped eyes, green in color, skin that was lighter than mine but also didn't quite look Asian. She was what I'd call heavy-set, not really over-weight but not skinny either. It was easier to absorb her physical characteristics when she wasn't shaking and freaking out on me. Mao wasn't really all that pretty but I'd call her striking.

About then is when I realized Sam had returned with a tray full of food and a jug of tea, ever my wonderful job perk. I pulled the tray close without letting go of Mao's hand, asking her, "You want some of this? I don't think I can eat it all."

"I've already eaten, thank you." She spoke softly, like she'd found a new inner peace. Sitting up straight, as though she'd recovered a profound dignity. "You are kind and should not fear showing it. Many do not like to be near such as me. I will not forget."

"Alright." That was a little deep. I took it as the thanks that it was, letting go of her hand to better take a drink of tea. Miss the coffee; coffee is our friend.

Then to my surprise, I found the table surrounded by teenagers. They were no longer too afraid to approach me. Lord help me. No good deed goes unpunished. I think they now understood that I was on their side. More now than before, but I wasn't going to mention that. For the next hour kids swarmed in and out of the cafeteria to gawk at me. They didn't even seem to care that I wasn't being very friendly. It could have been the company I was keeping, Logan had a scowl that wouldn't quit. I had no idea how to interact with most of them.

Turned out tentacle-boy from the hallway that morning is named Richard, we didn't talk much and I didn't indulge in curiosity. He was one of the few that actually got up the courage to mention Sunshine. They had French class together but that was the extent of their association. I might have asked some of them more questions in that direction but Jubilee firmly stated the case couldn't be discussed. In my opinion, they accepted that too easily. Or it could be that I did.

The black and white girl turned out to be Mao's roommate. She's very outgoing and was grateful for my help. Called 'Ink' because her mutant powers are to absorb and expell actual ink such as for tatoos. Apparently, she's going to open a tatoo parlor when she graduates next year. It'll be a unique business opportunity for her since she can remove unwanted tatoos without the expense of laser surgery. Ink gave an impromptu demonstration of her powers by quickly putting a stylized Chinese symbol of luck on my left wrist.

I thought it was appropriate: luck is always a factor in a case. I'll take all the help I can get.

to be continued.

note: This chapter seems to be a bit different--and it is--but it does still apply to the overall plot/story. Next chapter will explain how more fully. Personally, I feel this one didn't have to make it into the story, she could have just "talked" about it. However, I've cut out lots of scenes like this that weren't totally relevant and since this one came to me so clearly I decided this was the one to make it in. I had this vision of poor Sanchez, loner cop extrordinaire, suddenly being decended upon by a large number of mutant teenagers, not being allowed to interview them, and not having a clue how to talk to them otherwise. And there ya go.

As to progress... well, I'm working on chapter 12. It's going a little slow even though I know pretty well what should be in it. Chapter 11 was revised four times and is now completed, but to give me enough time to finish 12 (and hopefully 13 too) I'm not going to post chapter 11 for two weeks.

Thanks for reading and the support!
Dizi