I do not own X-Men anything.

You'd think I'd run out of words by now. You'd be wrong.

Reaching Out

Chapter 10: Birds, Squirrels, and Polo

Hank was outside in the bright, warming sunshine, engaged in discussion with Charles. All around them were signs of spring. Green grass, budding trees, timid flowers peeking out at the sun.

He glimpsed Hope walking up to them with a young woman beside her. Both women wore colorful t-shirts and jeans.

Familiar, he thought. Why am I suddenly thinking of pancakes?

His déjà vu grew as they advanced.

By the time the pair of lovely women reached them, Hank knew. Her brown hair was still cut short and her green eyes sparkled in the sun. She had grown into an attractive young woman. He wondered how her numbers were doing.

"Guys," Hope said, "This is Chloe."

Charles reached out to shake her hand.

"Wonderful to see you again, Chloe."

"You too, Professor."

She smiled at him then turned to Hank.

"Hello," she said.

It was obvious she did not recognize him. And why would she? He looked human. She had never seen him look human.

"Hello, Chloe. Do you still like pancakes?"

Chloe blinked in confusion like she'd heard him wrong.

"Well, yes, but how would you . . ."

Then she peered at him, squinting her eyes. Then her mouth dropped open.

"Hank?" she whispered.

He smiled at her. She seemed to realize she was gawking but was unable not stop. He allowed the beast to come out for the briefest of reunions and then bade his body to return to human form once more.

"You . . . you look . . . your blue form is a little . . . different."

The words struggled from her vocal cords even as her green eyes seemed to glow with happiness. Hank supposed a little explanation was in order.

"Yes. I made a serum to allow me to control my form and as a side effect, the beast looks a little more . . . human," he told her.

Hope nodded absently, seeming to study him. Charles and Hope were obviously trying not to look amused by the teenager's openly shocked reaction.

Hope finally spoke up, unable to bear the awkward silence anymore.

"So, you knew Hank from before?" she asked kindly.

Chloe's embarrassment cleared. She smiled easily now.

"Yes. He was my living ted . . . well, I had trouble with numbers. And Hank," she grinned broadly as Hank modestly ducked his head, "he showed me how I could work around it. With pancakes."

Though neither Hope nor Charles really understood the entire story, the happiness radiating from Chloe made them smile.

"After my parents took me away," a cloud passed momentarily darkened Chloe's expression, "I went back to regular school and eventually was able to graduate valedictorian."

Charles looked impressed.

"Well done, Chloe! And with dyscalculia as well. That is fantastic."

Chloe's beamed wider.

"Well, Hank's the one who started it. He made me feel like I wasn't helpless and dumb. I'm even thinking of being a math teacher!"

Hank, almost catatonic with embarrassment, just managed to smile and speak.

"You were never helpless or dumb. Your brain just functions differently."

She beamed at him.

"Well, it's all thanks to you."

Charles coughed pointedly, attempting to draw attention away from Hank before he stroked out.

"Will you be staying with us long?"

Chloe shrugged, shifting her eyes to the man in the wheelchair.

"I'd like to help if I can. That's why I came back. To see if you were still here after, you know, D.C. and all. And to ask if I could help somehow."

Hope smiled at the younger girl affectionately. Charles nodded and spoke.

"Well, we're quite glad to have you back, Chloe. Perhaps you can help tutor some of our students who need to pass their high school equivalency exams. You may understand how to help them in a way we have not."

Chloe's face practically glowed.

"I'd love to! Thank you!"

Suddenly, Ink dropped down out of the sky. Landing on his feet as lightly as a cat next to Charles, who immediately patted his shoulder and congratulated him.

"Well, done, Ink! That's your longest flight yet. You're increasing your strength and stamina almost every practice session!"

Hank noticed Chloe's mouth hanging open as she stared at the tattooed young man standing next to Charles Xavier.

Charles, of course, had not noticed. Still talking to Ink . . .

"How do you feel?"

. . . who was only half-listening, the other half of him trying not to stare at Chloe's emerald green eyes.

"Uh, fine," he stammered then turned to Charles. "A little tired."

Charles nodded.

"You've never flown so long. I'd imagine you would be."

Hope saw the looks passing between the two teenagers as well and glancing at Hank, threw him a look of interest.

Oh, boy, more teenagers.

Yes, we may have to build separate pens.

For us too.

". . . go in a have a bite. It will help you get your strength back," Charles concluded, apparently not realizing no one was listening to him.

Ink pulled his gaze away from Chloe's and spoke to the general air.

"Okay."

And then he hurried away toward the house.

After some more chitchat, Chloe and Hope continued on their way to meet more of the inhabitants of Xavier Manor.

Charles looked back at Hank, an eyebrow raised and spoke dryly.

"So, Hank. How good does it feel to be a rockstar?"

Hank could only shake his head and smile.

Not quite as much as Ink, I'd imagine. But okay.

"Dude! Get it!"

"I'm trying!"

"How did it get out anyway?"

"Chloe opened the door!"

"Well, I am sorry! How was I to know you were keeping wild animals in your room?!"

"It's not wild, it's just scared! It's a baby and you're yelling at it!"

"It hissed at me!"

"Well, you scared it!"

"It scared me!"

"Where is it?"

"Oh, I see it! It just ran under that chair in the corner!"

"Nope, now it's on the chandelier!"

"Roooaaarrrrr!"

"Hank, no! You'll hurt it!"

"It scratched my face!"

"Well, you roared at it!"

"Because it scratched my face!"

"Hank, who's evolved?"

"Are you really going to ask that question to the big, furry, blue guy right now?"

"Shut up, Ring of Fire!"

"There it goes!"

"I can see it!"

"Then catch it!"

"Alright, Chloe, anytime you want to just grab him . . ."

"No problem!"

"Ahhh! Not me! Put me down! I'm afraid of heights!"

"Sorry, I missed. Big baby."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing."

"Hey, man, get ahead of it and wait for it and grab it when it runs by!"

"Man, I wish Peter was still here! This wouldn't even be a problem!"

"His mom said if he didn't come home to finish the semester, she'd ground him for life."

"How much duct tape would that take exactly?"

"Shut up, Alex! Catch it!"

"I'm trying!"

"Here it comes . . ."

". . . and there it goes! Dude, how did you miss it?"

"Quick little sucker . . ."

"I'll get it!"

"Morty, that's my arm!"

"Thorry."

"Ink, can't you, like . . ."

"No, he will most certainly not!"

The gang of young mutants ran on and the terrified baby flying squirrel that Max had been keeping his room while its hurt leg healed, scrambled, ricocheted, and glided all over Xavier Manor. Its eyes were wide and wild as it fled the yelling, fumbling mutants that hunted it.

When it was finally caught safely and released into the wild, Max wiped a tear away from his eye and wished it well. Then he went back into the house with the other mutants and surveyed the damage.

"Ugh, this could take a while."

"How was polo?"

They were almost home, Hank having picked Charles up from his polo game after all the hoopla died down back at the Manor.

"I'm exhausted. That special saddle really works the abdominal muscles, I can tell you that."

After Ink had cured Charles of his chronic pain, the rejuvenated man had fished around for exercises and activities to strengthen his body. He had played polo in his youth, but despaired of reviving the sport because it required the use of his legs.

And so Hank the inventor had secretly bought a top of the line polo saddle and spent a few days modifying it for Charles.

Leg harnesses held his legs in place and and granted him extra stability to keep him from falling out of the saddle. Another safety harness kept Charles from hitting the ground in case he did lose his balance.

With hopefulness, he had presented it to Charles. The man had first appeared dumbfounded, then as Hank explained and demonstrated the uniqueness of the piece, he had begun to smile. And tried to withhold tears as he realized that it just might work.

For a few weeks, Hank had taken him to the horse stables at the local country club to practice his riding and technique. Charles had relished the opportunity, working so hard that Hank was concerned that Charles would injure himself and have to stop altogether.

Then again, it was a fantastic sight to see Charles Xavier coming back to life. And not just in the 'determined-to-trudge-through-every-day' life either.

But true life.

You know, I'm not worried about him anymore. I do actually think he's going to be okay now.

Hank was several years younger than Charles and so the 'proud papa' feeling he got was strange but he accepted it because it was better than constant worry and concern.

When Charles joined a polo team, Hank drove him there and back again. He watched the matches. He drove him home.

It also helped Hank to stay busy when Hope went back to college.

After several matches, Charles said, "Hank, you know, I am glad you are so supportive, but you don't have to stay. I know you don't care for sports and you don't have to babysit me."

Easier than babysitting the mutants back at the Manor.

But Hank could tell it wasn't just for himself but something for Charles as well. A way for him to feel as independent as possible.

And so Hank drove him there and back again. Sometimes he busied himself in town. Once he tried to go to the diner but without Hope, it was pale, bland, boring.

Sometimes, he went back to the Manor.

Today, he wish he'd stayed in town. But then he would have missed the whole flying squirrel incident.

When Charles and Hank entered Xavier Manor, the place was still and quiet.

And sparkling clean.

After Charles attended to his toiletries, he searched for the others and found them in the tv room.

All of them.

Including Hank.

Splayed out on couches. Chairs. The floor.

Strangely silent and still.

Usually, somebody was making fun of something on the program. And someone else was arguing and telling them to shut up.

Not this time.

This time they all lay silent and still, like vegetables.

Charles cast a questioning look at Hank who shrugged innocently.

Charles gave it a go anyway.

"And how is everyone?"

Barely audible grunts and groans and murmurs all around.

"You know actually, later there is supposed to be a nature program on wild animals . . ."

"NO!" five, weary voices chorused in unison.

Charles Xavier paused, staring at the vacant, staring eyes latched onto the blinking lights of the tv.

"Um, okay . . ."

Here's hoping I send ChiefPam off to her meeting with a smile. :D

So if you're curious, Chloe's about 18 or 19 here since she was about 8 when Hank helped her with the pancakes.

Is it possible that Chloe has a little crush on Hank? Maybe. Maybe not. But don't hold your breath for a love triangle. These guys are too nice for that. Besides, there just might be someone else out there for Chloe. Maybe someone a little closer to her own age. Maybe someone shy?

A flying squirrel? Oh come on, they're cute. We hid a baby one in our college dorm for about two weeks. And I had a raccoon living in my house as a young child. Now I have no wild animals, except my nine year old son. *grins

I fully expect ChiefPam to find the Warm Bodies easter egg. *eyeballing you

Yeah, yeah, I stole the harness thing from Game of Thrones. Didn't think Tyrion would mind much. He has a soft spot for cripples, bastards, and broken things. So I've heard. ;)

Thanks to X. Kuchisake - Onna .X, MoonlitShadowsoftheHumanSoul, MissS.D1998, , ChiefPam, lol, Shanynde, and brigid1318 for taking the time to review. :)

Thanks to Hermione Sparkle for adding your support to this tale as well.

What's it like to live with a bunch of young mutants? About the same as regular kids in some ways. *wink* See you tomorrow.