This chapter is dedicated to loyal reader/reviewers ~Stormysongbird and ~shejams! And also to ~ScruffyLoving, whose review kicked my butt into gear so I'd update this.

Henry Phillip McCoy was tall and exceedingly well-built, with large, muscled limbs of an athlete and seemingly oversized hands and feet. He moved with surprising grace for a man his size, and folded into a large plush armchair with the comfortable familiarity of one used to sitting in large plush armchairs whilst balancing delicate Victorian cups of tea. It was almost hard to believe that this was the same, bumbling teenager Charles met over a decade ago.

"It's so good to see you, my friend," he was saying, "I know you've been a busy man. I hate to take you away from your work on such short notice..."

"Now Professor, don't mention it. After all, I do not think I could in good conscience refuse to come to the aid of a woman as lovely as your Ororo." Hank grinned charmingly, before continuing on a more serious note: "But I do mean it when I say that there is much I owe you, Professor. I am only exceedingly happy to do small favors for you."

"Is that so?" Charles asked, eyes twinkling. "Can I take that to mean that you have reconsidered my offer then?"

Hank chuckled. "I have. But truth be told, I am rather happy with teaching at the university." His smile turned warm, and fond. "After earning a thousand and one degrees, as my colleagues continue to put it, I thought it might be best to impart what knowledge I've gathered to those who wish to learn."

"And it's very noble of you, Hank." Charles tipped his cup of tea towards him in a sort of toast. "But you know, I do plan on eventually converting the mansion into a school..."

"So you've said." Hank leaned foward, interested. "An institute for young mutants to learn control over their powers. It's a fantastic idea if I must say so, Professor. Heaven knows I would have been lost without your guidance, all those years ago."

"I have high hopes for it," Charles agreed. "And I would love for you to teach here as well. In any capacity."

"We'll have to see. It's certainly a fair bit more appealing than playing superhero..." Hank grinned. "Though of course, the latter has its own appeal, I won't deny."

Charles chuckled with him. "Well, as I've mentioned, you would be welcome to join our fledgling team any time you wish, Hank."

"And as I've mentioned, it is a worthy cause, Professor. Perhaps some day. But not now."

"No? That is a true shame."

The two men looked up and saw Ororo coming into the study, her posture flawless despite the sling her arm was in. Behind her stood Logan, arms crossed and leaning on the doorjamb. His eyes trailed after her, though Hank detected no malice or ill-intent in his gaze. Rather, it seemed like he was waiting for her to fall over or faint, and was poised to assist her if she fell.

Ororo just continued speaking, smiling in Hank's direction. "You've proven to be quite helpful. I know I would not mind having you with us, Dr. McCoy."

Hank rose to meet her, setting his teacup down on the table between him and Charles. "Miss Munroe. I believe I mentioned bedrest when we last parted ways?"

Behind her, Logan snorted. "Yeah, if I can't persuade her to bed, I ain't rightly sure you can, Big Guy." He paused, as if just registering what he said. Then he shrugged it off.

Ororo flushed prettily, though she went on as if Logan hadn't said anything at all. To Hank, she gave a reassuring smile. "Thank you for your concern. I'm on my way to bed right now, actually. But I couldn't quite help but overhear part of your conversation...?" She glanced at the Professor curiously, then back to Hank.

"Ahh, yes. The Professor here was just trying to convince me to make my stay here a little more permanent." Hank chuckled. "He's making it hard to refuse."

"So why refuse at all, eh?" Logan finally stepped inside.

"Well, I am quite busy at the university..." Hank began, looking to the Professor for support. Logan was much shorter than he was, but he seemed to possess a natural tendency to intimidate.

"... Henry here happens to be a full-time teacher, on top of being a capable physician." Charles informed his two X-Men. "But he is also currently earning a degree in quantum mechanics, among other things. He's been an instrumental force in the construction of our sublevel facilities, you see. We have much to thank him for."

Hank smiled broadly. "Think nothing of it. It is always a pleasure to work with you, Professor, especially with such new and exciting ideas."

"Even with as busy a schedule as yours?" Ororo asked, impressed.

"It's really not a problem." Hank blushed under their apparent praise. "It is still a schedule far too busy for me to join your team more reliably, after all. Think of this as my contribution to the cause, for now."

"Fer now?" Logan asked skeptically.

"For now." Hank smiled. "In the meantime, I will still be making semi-regular visits to help oversee Professor Xavier's current projects. For example, the Professor and I were discussing how we might find a way to power his Cerebro unit without having to rely on your powers, Ms. Munroe."

"Oh," Ororo looked startled. She hadn't known that was an issue. "Is that possible? You know that I do not mind doing it, Professor."

"I know, my dear. But this way will be more convenient for all of us, and far less taxing on yourself." Charles reached out to clasp her free, uninjured hand fondly. "And with all the additions to the basement levels, it would probably be in our best interests to construct a separate generator anyway."

"We thought we might use the waterfall located right behind the Professor's land as a potential power source..." Hank added thoughtfully. And then he grinned. "So as you can see, you will be seeing quite a bit of me in the coming months. After all, that holodeck of yours is not going to build itself..."

Charles frowned.

"... Actually, Henry, Logan and I were partial to the name, Danger Room. But I suppose you could call it a-"

Logan rolled his eyes, though he couldn't quite keep the grin off his face. "Don't kid yerself, Chuck. It's totally a glorified holodeck."

Meanwhile, Ororo could only blink in confusion.

"What is... a holodeck?"

The year is 2000 (or somewhere thereabouts,) so the phrase "let me google that for you!" isn't something Hank can tell Ororo yet. Oh, well!