*~*~*~*~*~*

2 weeks later

*~*~*~*~*~*

Charles' wheelchair did not make a sound as he crept into the underground hospital wing. A cool draft filled the room and the only sound that was heard was the quiet his of the machines attached to Scott's respiratory system. Charles gave the little joystick on his wheelchair a tilt forward and wheeled silently to Scott's bedside.

A small pang of sadness filled Charles' heart as he looked down at Scott. All around Scott were various machines hooked to his body; machines that checked his BP and oxygen levels, and also his slow, but beating heart. Scott's chest rose and fell at a steady rhythm with every breath he took, but despite his current condition, Scott looked much better than the bloodied bruised unconscious boy that Jean brought to Charles over three months ago. Though he was still unconscious, there bruises had long ago faded from Scott's face, leaving behind only a thin, pale jagged scar on his left temple as a remembrance mark.

Charles let out a soft sigh, then placing both of his hands on his smooth temples, he closed his eyes. His mind sharpened, and every living creature's mind within a two hundred and fifty mile radius amplified. Charles felt the simple thoughts of the nighttime creatures and the slow, almost non-moving thinking of the large oak tree outside, but he pushed these thoughts out of his head. Making his mental radius smaller, Charles focused on the minds of the children in the school. Hundreds of dreams, thoughts and feelings flashed by and threatened to drown him…all except the feelings and dreams of the boy lying in front of him. With a frustrated sigh, Charles withdrew and returned to the sad and troubled thoughts of his own mind.

Dammit, Scott! Wake up, Charles thought to himself angrily. I don't know what else to do…I've tried everything I could think of and nothing has worked.

Charles lowered his head in silent defeat. Why wasn't Scott's mind opened to him? It was as if an invisible barrier was surrounding Scott's mind, repelling any telepath's probe.

It would seem that Jean was right, Charles mused, recalling what Jean had told him after her own visit with Scott a few weeks ago.

Charles knew Scott wasn't a psychic, but somehow his mind managed to close itself off to the world. Charles watched Scott's face a moment, hoping to see some sudden glimmer of life flicker across his face, but Scott stayed still.

"Good night, Scott." Charles said softly, and then with one final glace, he turned around and wheeled towards the door. It was almost dawn and the students would want an alert professor to teach them in the morning.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Arrgh!"

Charles jolted awake and sat up in his bed. His large master bedroom was silent, and pale yellow sunlight filtered out from underneath the curtains of his windows. A stab of pain pierced Charles mind again, and another cry escaped from him. He held his head tightly with both hands as if to keep his head intact. Charles' head throbbed painfully. It felt like it was being split in half by a jackhammer.

"Professor! Please, help me!" a voice cried inside Charles' head.

"Scott?" Charles asked aloud, his voice strained. The pain was excruciating, and his vision blurred as bright spots appeared before him.

"Please…Professor...help me." Scott's voice was a trembling whisper now, and Charles heard a soft whimper follow.

The pain subsided slightly; Charles shook his hear to clear it.

"Hold on, Scott. I'm coming."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Scott's room was quiet when the Professor arrived.

Too quiet, Charles thought as he wheeled closer to Scott's bed.

It was empty. Soft footsteps echoed from behind Charles. Charles swiveled around sharply in his chair.

"Scott!" he cried.

Scott was standing behind him, breathing quite heavily. His sea-green eyes were bright and livid under the fluorescent lights. His body trembled in the loose flannel pants he wore, and forgotten stray wires swayed limply on his bare chest.

"Scott..." Charles said again softly.

"Hey, Professor." Scott said weakly, his face contorted into a stained smile. Scott began to take a step forward, but his legs rebelled underneath him, and he fell to the floor.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The floor was cold and smooth against Scott's face, but the coolness did not ease the burning pain rippling inside his head. It hurt so bad…Scott slipped in and out of consciousness, his mind threating to take him back to the cold darkness that plagued him for so long. Scott struggled to stay awake.

"Scott…Scott…"

Scott could hear the Professor's voice, but he didn't open his eyes.

He sounds so far away, Scott thought.

He felt so weak, drained. Suddenly, a soft nudge pushed at Scott, and he soon felt gravity leave him as Charles' telekinesis lifted him off the floor and back onto the bed.

"Thank you." Scott said, grateful for the soft sheets of his bed.

The Professor's face came into view as the Professor wheeled by his side.

He looks older, Scott thought mildly to himself as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

The pain was gone, for now, but Scott's mind was now settled into a deep, sleepy fog, making it hard for him to think straight.

"Scott, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Charles asked. His voice was like a smooth butterknife that cut through the fog in Scott's mind.

"I've…been better." Scott admitted.

Charles gave Scott a warm smile, then he turned around to check the screens behind Scott's bed.

"Well, your vitals look good, and they are becoming more stable as time passes. You'll most likely be able to leave the hospital wing tomorrow morning." Charles said as he turned back around to face Scott.

"Great. Thank you so much, Professor." Scott said as he struggled to sit up in his bed a properly face the Professor. "You saved my life."

The middle of Charles forehead creased for a moment, and his blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the light.

"You're quite welcome, Scott," Charles said, smiling. "But I only did half the work; Jean was by your side night and day. She was the one who brought you to me."

Scott sat up straighter in his bed. His body tingled feverishly at the sound of her name.

Jean…

"Professor, how…" Scott swallowed. "How is she?"

Scott's cheeks grew warm when he noticed the small smile that flickered onto the Professor's face.

"She will be most pleased to know that you are awake and well." Charles said, still smiling slightly.

Scott nodded stiffly, then rolled over and got up from the bed. He felt stronger now as he landed steadily on his feet and he easily walked across the room, pulling open the doors of a small closet. Inside were a fresh white, jeans, and his worn-out leather jacket. Scott pulled the tee on and then the leather jacket over it. When Scott turned around the Professor was watching him with an unreadable expression. Scott licked his lips nervously.

"Professor…?" Scott asked tentatively.

"Yes, Scott?" Charles replied calmly, waiting for Scott's question.

Scott looked down at his bare feet.

"What…what happened that night?"

Charles closed his eyes as he brought his hands together on the top of his knees.

"I was wondering when you would ask." Charles said as he opened his eyes.

Charles gestured that Scott should sit back on the bed. Scott sat on the edge of the bed and looked straight into the Professor's blue eyes. An uneasy feeling began to bubble in the pit of his stomach.

"Rogue had the unique ability to absorb another mutant's power when they came in physical contact with her." the Professor began. "Because your power was not present at the time, when Rogue touched you her power caused your powers to manifest spontaneously and become uncontrollable very quickly."

Scott's mouth went dry as vague flashes of memories rushed into his head. A scream. A crash.

"Wait…"had"?" Scott asked. "What do you mean? Where is Rogue now, Professor?"

The uneasy feeling grew inside Scott, and a cold feeling of dread chilled his body to the bone.

Charles' expression faltered for a moment, then, slowly, he closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Scott, but the tree that fell that night fell on top of Rogue and she was badly hurt. We tried everything, but…we couldn't save her."

Scott's blood ran cold and froze in his veins. He felt like he was about to throw up. Hot tears filled his eyes as he clenched the sheets into two balls with his fists.

"I ki-"

Scott's voice caught sharply in his throat. He could not bring himself to say the word. He could not believe Rogue was gone. Because of him. All he could do was close his eyes and cry.

*~*~*~*~*~*

More to come soon!!