DisclaimerI don't know if I have to put this before every chapter or not someone please let me know. I do not own the X-men or any marvel related characters or places. I earn no profit from their solicitation nor do I intend to.

Chapter 11: Depression

David remained in the bed the rest of the night only getting up once to use the restroom. After stumbling a few times he finally succeeded in finding the door connected to his room. He found the toilet and decided it would be for the best to sit and do his business as to not make a mess of the place. Afterwards he made his way back to his bed where he stayed for the remainder of the night.

David woke up the next morning after little sleep as he spent the whole previous day sleeping. While he felt better physically his sight had still not returned. Hunger immediately struck and he remembered he had not eaten in over 36 hours. David's stubbornness overcame him as he decided he could not always rely on others and he would have to fend for himself. He made his way out of bed and after a few moments found the door leading to the hallway. Using the wall as his guide he ventured down the hallway until he came to a handrail signaling he was now facing a set of stairs.

"Alright this shouldn't be too hard. At least I know my way around enough to know where I am at." David said to himself mentally mapping out his surroundings.

David slowly made his descent step by step carefully lowering each foot until he felt ground beneath him. He reached the bottom easily enough and made his way to the next set of stairs leading to the lobby. David had begun feeling pretty confident as he began his next climb down. His confidence would soon be shattered however when he missed the third step and fell forward. The Hard wooden steps showed no mercy as David rolled and bounced all the way down the long staircase.

"Are you alright comrade. That did not look very pleasant." Piotr Asked while offering his hand to help David up.

"Yea I'm fine thanks Pete." Replied David. Having not seen his hand David did not reach back for it. Piotr looked confused wondering why his help had been refused.

"Did I do something to anger you my friend?" Asked Piotr a puzzled expression playing across the giant mans features.

"No not at all." David said getting to his feet and looking in the general direction of Colossus.

"Well I am glad to see that you are ok. You had everyone worried when you were not seen yesterday."

"Sorry about that, I just kind of wanted to be alone."

"I guess that is understandable after you passed out after the fight."

"Yea I guess." David said not giving the man any more information as he was not quite sure how to break the news.

"Lets get breakfast. Then we can hit the gym." Piotr responded his normal cheerful self returning after seeing his friend was up and moving around again.

The two began walking toward the cafeteria or what David assumed was toward the cafeteria. The fall Having thrown off his sense of direction he now had no idea of where he was at. He followed the sound of the giants heavy footsteps and was soon disrupted as he bumped into a decorative table in the hallway. The sound of a vase sitting on top of the table shattering filled the quiet hallway as it made contact with the floor.

"David are you sure everything is ok? First the stairs, now the vase."

"Yea I'm fine just a little distracted Pete." Lied David.

The two young boys continue their trip and reached the delicious smell of breakfast as pete opened the cafeteria door. David's hunger struck full force and his mouth began to salivate. He continued following a few steps behind Piotr until he felt himself run into another person.

"Ow David what the hell is your problem?" Asked the familiar voice of a blonde student who David found slightly annoying.

"Sorry Tabitha, guess I wasn't watching where I was going." David said sorrow and frustration burdening his voice.

"You could at least help her up, don't be rude comrade." Piotr said turning around seeing the accident that took place behind him.

"What's wrong with you why are you being such a Jerk." Tabitha said as David still had not offered to help and she made her way to her feet.

"I'm sorry I did not see you." David remarked sadly.

"How could you not see me is the air really that thick that high up. Do you really think its just ok if you trample us smaller people. Your such an asshole." Said the thin blonde.

"Tabitha enough, get your food and eat before this morning gets worse for you." Jubilee shouted as she made her entrance into the room.

"Your oaf of a boyfriend pushed me to the ground." The young blonde shot back angrily.

"He said he didn't see you, let it go."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"Yea actually I do." Jubilee said glaring at the girl.

"And why is that?" Asked an angry Tabitha wondering how Jubilee could defend such a rude action whether it be her boyfriend or not.

"Cause I cant see!" David shouted getting pissed off at everything going on around him.

"Then get contacts if your eyes are that bad it doesn't justify you running into people." Tabitha responded obviously not understanding the full extent of what was said. Were anger not filling her voice she probably could have taken a cue from how silent the rest of the room had become.

"He cant see at all Tabitha.'' Jubilee corrected.

"You mean he's... he's..." Stammered a clearly embarrassed and now guilty feeling Tabitha.

"Blind, yea I lost my sight." David finished for her his shoulders slumping as he finished his sentence.

The room remained silent as Jubilee grabbed David's hand and Piotr put a hand on his shoulder and they led him to the table where they normally eat.

"David oh my god I am so sorry. I didn't know how could I? I heard rumors of what happened but none of them consisted of that. I feel like such a Jerk." Tabitha began rambling her apology.

"Don't worry about it tabby I don't want people feeling sorry for me. That's why I didn't tell anyone. I wanted to avoid this as long as possible. I guess its kinda difficult to hide when you start running into people and falling down stairs."

"You fell down the stairs? Oh my god David are you ok?" Jubilee asked quickly looking him over for bruises or bleeding.

"Jubilee relax I am ok, Pete helped me up and we made our way here."

"Why did you let him fall in the first place you big idiot?" Jubilee shot towards the shy Russian.

"Because he wasn't there until I hit the bottom. Relax Jubilee I said I am ok."

"Where was he before? Who was helping you?"

"Nobody." David replied cringing, knowing he was about to receive an earful and slightly thankful he couldn't see the scowl on Jubilee's face.

"David you didn't. That was incredibly stupid what if you hurt yourself on the stairs." A now angry Jubilee shouted.

"What was I supposed to do Jubilee? Rely on others until my sight returns and that's if it returns. What happens when I am no longer a student here? I guess I just get a guide dog and only leave my house when absolutely necessary." David shouted back before lowering his face into his hands.

"David you have friends here that wouldn't mind helping. You wouldn't be burdening anyone. You don't have to do everything on your own." Jubilee's voice calmly argued back.

"That's not the point Jubilee. I cant rely on others forever. I need to face the fact that this could be permanent. I need to learn to get around on my own. You know what, I've lost my appetite." David stated before standing up scooting his chair out and walking back in the general direction from which he came.

Jubilee quickly got up and followed after him. She grabbed his arm to try to help him only for him to jerk his arm away from her.

"David you are going to hurt yourself. Stop being stubborn. You need to eat." Jubilee said grabbing his arm again.

"Get the fuck away from me." David yelled more angrily than Jubilee had ever heard him yell causing her to stop dead in her tracks.

Jubilee could do nothing more than stand there mouth open in disbelief as David stumbled out of the room catching himself on the doorway.

"Should I go after him?" Piotr offered knowing he would be physically better suited to help David whether he wanted it or not.

"No, let him go Peter." Jubilee said softly, trying to hold back the floodgate of tears that backed up behind her eyes. "I have seen him get into a fight when he was a lot less angry than he is now. I know that you could take it but I would rather just avoid it."

David made his way into the hallway using the wall as support. He ascended the stairs careful to remember what happened before. He made his way back to his room and after a few moments decided he needed a shower. He entered his bathroom and stripped his clothes off. He felt around for the shower door and eventually found the handle. He opened the door and turned on the shower as hot as it would go. Unfortunately for David he forgot where the step up to get into the shower was at. His foot hit the small step and he tripped forward. His hands unable to react in time caused his head to hit the tile wall. The sound of breaking tiles a loud crack from his head and then a loud thump from his body hitting the ground and the hot shower running were the only sounds in the bathroom before he passed out again for the third time in just over a week.

David awoke several hours later in the med lab once again. He instantly recognized the sterile smell of the medical equipment. The sound of Hank moving about could be heard as David sat up but still no sight was present.

"Damn it." David said barely above a whisper. Which didn't go unnoticed by Hank's super hearing.

"Ah back from the dead once again." Hank joked a little too cheerfully for David's mood or the throbbing headache making itself present.

"The one time I wanted to see that blue furry face of yours and still nothing." David joked back instead of telling Hank to go to hell like he wanted to.

"Still nothing? That's really quite a shame."

"Your telling me. How long was I out this time doc?"

"It has been nearly 2 hours since Logan found you." Hank answered the blind mutant who has been frequenting the med lab as if it were a bar or favorite restaurant.

"How did Logan find me? Last thing I remember was falling in the shower."

"Logan has heightened senses. His sense of smell picked up on a strong scent of blood. He broke the door to get to you. No one knows how long you were there but a School of this size has an impressive water heater and the water was cold when we retrieved you. You really should be more careful David. Your medical bills are beginning to pile up." Hank Joked once again.

"Put it on my tab doc. Can I go now?" David asked sitting fully up and swinging his legs over the side of the medical bed he lay on.

"I don't suppose I could talk you into remaining here for another hour or so?"

"Oh well what's the point. Its not like I can do much else." David stated, the obvious conceding defeat resonating in his voice.

"Is everything ok David? I expected you to fight me to get out of here."

"There is nothing for me out there Hank. I cant walk without tripping over everything. I pushed Jubilee away. I knocked Tabitha down. I don't even want to go outside, not being able to fully appreciate it. When I leave here the best thing I can do for myself and everyone else is just go back to my room." Frustration and sadness became thick in the air surrounding David.

"David, I do not wish to here you talk like that. You are better than that my boy. You have help here all you have to do is ask for it."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me. Why cant anyone understand I don't want help. On second thought I am out of here. Thanks for everything Hank." David said getting off the bed and making his way out of the med lab.

"Charles, do you have a moment?" Hank asked telepathically after David had left.

"For you Hank I have all the time in the world. May I inquire as to what this is concerning?"

"Its David it seems he is not quite slipping but plummeting into a state of depression. I must say it is very uncharacteristic of him. He is refusing help and shutting others off from himself. He is not normally extremely sociable but it seems he has pushed even Jubilation away."

"I see, Jubilee is the one person I thought could help him. I thought he would cling to her for support."

"As did I Charles, it seems this is worse than I imagined it would be for the young man."

"You are right I'm afraid Henry. Give him a few days as strong as he is he may bounce back. In the event that he doesn't I have one other option. let me make a phone call and I will get back to you Henry."

"Of course Charles. you know how to get ahold of me." Hank stated before closing off the psychic link and going about his day.

David eventually found the elevator and made his way back up stairs. He battled the layout of the mansion and braved the staircases once more before reaching his room again. He laid in his bed and shut himself off from the world for the rest of the day.

The next 4 Days had continued the same way. David had avoided Jubilee and others as much as possible only leaving his room on rare occasions to eat. Even that was proving troublesome as he couldn't eat more than a few bites without beginning to feel sick. The only upside being that his rush of adrenaline remained at bay.

Thursday rolled around and Jubilee's worry grew. Everyone decided to give David his space after a few went to check on him and received some rather vulgar phrases from the other side of his door. Jubilee decided enough was enough and headed for her boyfriend or ex-boyfriends room she still wasn't sure where they stood. She reached her room hastily. angry that he had been avoiding even talking to her. She pounded on his door rather harshly.

"David get your ass up and open this door!" Jubilee yelled loudly.

''Go away." David groaned from the inside of his room.

"David I said open this door right now!"

"And I said go away! David yelled back as loudly as his lack of strength would allow.

Boom! A loud explosion broke through the newly replaced door followed by a shower of sparks. Jubilee stood on the other side of the gaping hole wearing what David could only assume was her usual yellow and a very unusual scowl. David Jumped up immediately hoping it was her that caused the explosion.

"That is enough of this shit David!"

"Leave me alone Jubes." David stated relieved that she was in fact the cause of the explosion.

"No I wont. This has got to stop. I don't know where we stand but either way I cant stand to see you like this. Its a good thing you cant see yourself right now you look disgusting. This room is a mess, you need to shave and your wasting away you look like you have lost 30 lbs over the past couple days."

"What do you expect, I cant do anything, I fall 5 times a day, and I can barely eat."

"And yet you do absolutely nothing about it. You refuse help. Instead you would rather wallow in this self pity. David you have been blind for less than a week. People go through it everyday and will for the rest of their lives, yet they somehow get by. You told me a few days ago to go have fun because you wanted the old Jubilee back, well I want the old David back."

"The old David could see. He could train. He could improve upon himself. That David is gone."

"The old David was a survivor I refuse to accept that he is gone. The old David was smart. The old David cared about himself and his appearance. The old David was determined. Where is that David? Where is the David that wouldn't leave me alone until I told him my name? Where is the David that tricked Scott into playing his game and nearly got himself killed to test his power? What happened to the David that wanted to resume training The day after he woke up from a coma? Where is the David that has been obsessed with controlling his gifts? Where is the David that Scared me on multiple occasions but still did everything in his power to make me smile? I liked that David. This new self defeating self deprecating you is ugly, its sad, and quite frankly its pathetic." Jubilee ranted hoping something she said would break through David's thick skull.

"Fuck you Jubilee. Do you have any idea what I am going through right now everything I used to love to do has been taken from me I'm sorry if that's a little hard for me to deal with in less than a week. Now if you said everything you have to say excuse yourself from my room." David stated angry that She would have the audacity to call him out even though part of him knew she was right.

"If that's how its going to be then I am done with you David. I am sorry for what you are going through but I can not be with someone who is just going to give up on life. I thought you were more of a man than that." Jubilee huffed before turning and walking away.

David sighed a heavy painful sigh as he realized the woman he had begun falling for was currently walking out of his life. Or at least out of his heart. He sat there for a moment contemplating chasing after her for telling her she as right, asking her for forgiveness and pushing forward with his blind life, but his pride refused to let him move. Just as he was preparing to lay back down a message from Charles came through his mind.

"David please come to my office, if you would like I can send someone to escort you. There is someone I want you to meet."

"Chuck I am not really up for meeting anybody right now." David answered back in his as of late usual depressed voice.

"This is not a request David. I now have to replace a second door this week. The least you can do is give me ten minutes of your time. Shall I send Logan?"

"No thanks Chuck, I have been there enough to find it on my own. Be there in 5 minutes maybe a little longer."

"Good I shall see you then."

David groaned as he got up, his legs weak from their lack of use and the malnutrition of the past days. He stumbled out of his room being careful not to trip over the wooden remains of his door that lay on the floor. He made his way down the hall and down a flight of stairs to the teachers wing. Down that long hallway was the professors office. David made his journey surprisingly not falling as his out stretched hand reached the large wooden door.

"David please come in."

"David fumbled around for a few moments until he found the door knob and entered the office. He entered slowly feeling around for one of the chairs in the office where instead he felt a mans shoulders.

"Sorry about that." David stated before finding another chair and taking a seat.

"No apologies required young man." Said the unknown man in the chair next to him.

"David I am glad you made it in one piece. The man next to you here is the man I wanted you to meet. I believe the two of you may be able to relate to one another. He happens to be a good personal friend of mine, and he is also blind."

If anyone knows who this man in Charles' office is please send me a message or review with the answer and I will give you a shout out in the next chapter.