Hank McCoy exited the Professor's office with a lighter heart and an intense headache. He had just finished informing him on all that he had seen in the mall- including the mysterious sighting of a possible current time James.

And now, speak of the devil, I have to find him.

Changing direction, he turned into the corridor, pushing open the kitchen doors when he reached them, and upon seeing no James in there, made to walk off.

Henry, he's outside, on the lawn... with Ororo, I believe.

Mentally thanking the Professor from saving him from hours of searching, he turned and headed outside.

"Ororo, seriously, it isn't that hard."

"Maybe not for you, but it is for me. And there is no way I am trying to do that."

"At all?"

"At all."

James stared at her, before both teen's eyes drifted back to the giant tree he was currently trying to persuade his friend to climb. "You've never climbed a tree before?"

Ororo shot him a look. "Yes, but only once and even then it was thorny." She looked away, trying to hide her blush. "I fell off, and if you'd had thorns stuck where I had them stuck you'd be avoiding trees as well."
James stifled a laugh, and sniggered instead, before moving in front of her. "C'mon 'Ro."

"'Ro?"

"Well sure," he smiled slightly at her tone of voice, "I mean, everyone's got to have a nickname."

"And what's yours then? Jamie?"

"No," he scoffed, making a gagging noise, "my brother calls me Jimmy. And everyone else in camp calls me Logan."

"Camp?" Ororo blinked, but kept her curious thoughts to herself. "What is there to do for fun around this camp?"

James grinned slightly. "I go on hunts with the wolves. And climb trees." His slight grin faded. "Or do chores. But mainly it's just the mining."

"Mining?" Ororo blinked slowly, eyes narrowing as suspicion settled in. "Where are you from again?"

"I told you before, Canada."

"Let me rephrase that- what year are you from? Mining camps that employ children are banned nowadays. Since, let me think, the nineteen, oh... forties?"

James blinked, expression one of confusion or thought, as his mind thought back to the conversation he'd had with the Professor- how his world was... different to this one. "Oh, um. Well..."

"James! Ororo!" Both turned to see Hank walking towards them. "I'm glad I found you two. Wouldn't want you climbing that tree and falling, would we? James, the Professor wishes to talk to you. About your... situation."

"Okay," he muttered, shooting Ororo an apologetic glance. "I'll be right there."

"As in right now, young man."

As Hank led James off inside, Ororo turned back to the tree and stared up at it in thought. Then, with her mind made up, she gripped the bark with her hands and hoisted herself up to the first branch.

XXX

"James. As we have explained to you, Jean's little incident brought you here, and while we are searching for a way back for you, there isn't much possibility of finding one reasonably soon. That is why, from as of next week, you will be attending certain classes. Obviously ones that give away too much information, but still, you will be attending school. Are you going to find that a problem?"

Processing the information, James stared at the floor, twitching in his seat.

"James?"

Looking up, he slowly nodded. "I... I was home schooled until ten... before... I haven't really, been to school for..."

"It's okay," Hank soothed. "If you want, I'm sure one of your new friends can be in the same class. Would Ororo mind helping you?"

James jerked his head towards the scientist, not missing for one second the twinkle in his soon-to-be-teachers eyes. Blushing slightly, he shrugged. "I... don't know."

"Ask her, and find out her answer. I'll have a timetable planned for you," Charles instructed him, "and please don't go climbing that tree. If you fall, it would be a major setback for your classes."

James nodded meekly, shooting a fierce glare at McCoy as his inner animal- which had been eerily quiet for days now, woke up again, demanding dominance and blood. "Alright then."

He was about to close the door behind him, when he remembered something. "Professor," he asked slowly, "what was that... thing, chasing me when I arrived here?" He was perceptive enough not to miss the way both men stiffened slightly, and the way their scents- old paper and well, fur- changed.

"We are not sure as of yet," Hank said after a moment's silence. "But, after the final tests are conducted, we'll be sure to inform you. You shouldn't worry yourself about that anyway- it's not the biggest issue around."

"Yeah, sure. But," the teenager continued, hand on the door handle, "there won't be any side-effects from the bite it gave me?"

"Not as far as we can tell, no."

As James left, the two men shared a look, and without a word, headed down to the lab.

To the cells.

So, what do you think? Please read and review!