Chapter Twelve:
Protest

Rating: T

Pairing: Alex(Havok)/Sean(Banshee) & Erik/Charles, don't like it don't read it.

Disclaimer- I DO NOT own any of the characters in this, they all belong to Marvel. However, the story is mine.

A/N: And here is the other chapter I promised. I may still even get another one up for Charles' homecoming today… depends on how long I'll be stuck in this room. As always, please comment and review! I'm eager to know what y'all think!

It had taken a few hours, but all of the discharge paperwork had been filled out thanks to Erik and Charles had managed to change into decent clothes consisting of a pair of tan slacks as well as a white button up shirt with a tweed jacket over top. The nurses had tried to help with the changing of clothes but Charles had refused, insisting that he do it himself. It had taken him longer than it would have with help, but he'd done it himself and had gained some small amount of accomplishment from it. Now he was working on transitioning from the bed to the chair beside his bed, but was stopped when it suddenly moved away, just out of his reach.

"Erik…" He growled, a low warning note in his voice. Right now all Charles wanted was to get home, not to play silly games with the metalworker. Slowly Erik appeared around the corner of the door, a smile in place as he met Charles's eyes. Today he'd dressed in his typical black turtle neck with faux brown leather jacket over top. One hand was tucked in his pants pocket while the other reached back and gestured to someone out of Charles' sight. "What are you-" But before the question could finish Charles got his answer… and a rather large grin worked its way across his face.

"Erik's been telling me that you prefer to do things yourself… but, well, I…"Hank's voice carried quickly as he came into the room, his large, blue, fur covered fingers gripping the handles of a wheelchair tightly as he rolled it in. "I thought I'd make you something…" He managed, coming fully into the room. Slowly he removed one large hand from the chair and pushed his glasses up his nose, yellow eyes slowly lifting to land on Charles who was still grinning ear to ear.

"It's wonderful, Hank." Charles managed, taking in the metal chair before him. The wheels had large, thick x's at the center while the rest was made of a beautiful, solid steel. On the right arm sat a small joystick so that Charles could control the chair and move it in whatever direction he pleased.

"I just… I wanted you to have something. And I figured a chair with power would make it a lot easier to get around the house despite Sean and Alex's-" The words were cut off when he caught a quick glance from Erik, blue eyes narrowed indicating that Hank was talking too much. Immediately the blue fuzz ball shut his mouth, and stepped back, allowing Erik to slide the chair up to the side of the bed.

A rampant curiosity flooded Charles at the glance, but he said nothing, instead his gaze flit towards the door before he looked back to Hank. If he truly wanted to know he could always search their minds… but he'd promised himself he wouldn't do it with out there permission, plus there was something more pressing.

"Hank, I'm incredibly glad to see you, but what about…" He trailed off, lifting a hand to gesture to Hank's appearance.

"Moira was kind enough to give us an escort." Erik responded, answering for Hank who simply nodded in agreement.

"And Celicia was incredibly understanding." Hank added with a smile, casting a sideways glance towards Erik before looking back to Charles. After all, Erik was the one who believed all human kind couldn't be trusted. "She said she understood what it's like to be looked down on." He added, beaming slightly. Charles took the information in and nodded, smiling slightly.

"Wonderful." He replied simply. With that he grabbed at the ring on the bed and used it to help maneuver himself into the chair that Hank had so kindly built for him. The seat was surprisingly comfortable as he slid into it, settling himself and shifting back and forth.

"It looks like a good fit, Charles." Moira called with a grin as she stepped into the room, folding her arms over her chest. Her auburn hair hung low in her face, covering her dark eyes just slightly.

"It's good to see you, Moira." He managed, nodding slightly as he lift his arms and allowed them to rest on the arms of the chair. She'd come by to visit a few times, but for the most part she'd been kept at the capital, battling to keep the government from over stepping their boundaries. However, as she'd promised to Charles, she hadn't uttered a word about what had happened or where Charles' mansion was located.

"You ready?" She questioned, pushing herself away from the door frame that she'd come to lean on, glancing to Hank and Erik before letting her gaze fall back to Charles, who was absolutely beaming.

"Yes, more than you'll ever no." He replied with a nod. Hank stepped over then and bent slightly to show Charles just how to work the wheel chair. Once the telepath had the hang of it, Hank stepped back and away, allowing the chair enough room as Charles moved this way and that, practicing for a minute.

"This is wonderful, Hank. Thank you." He managed, fighting back the few tears that threatened to spill out. With that the four of them made their way from the room, pausing for a minute so that Charles could say his goodbyes to the staff before they made their way to the doors.

"Charles, there's something you should know…" Hank managed as they neared the glass doors, but before he could fully explain Charles pushed ahead, coming to an abrupt halt just outside the hospitals doors… The sight that stretched before him stole every ounce of oxygen from his lungs, leaving him breathless. Erik stepped up protectively behind him while Moira's hand flew to the gun on her hip. Hank hung back, trying desperately to ignore the words that were being slung into the air.

"Freaks!"

"Mutants!"

"Unnatural!"

Automatically Erik's hand flexed at his side, searching out the metal around the immediate area should he need to use it. It seemed that somehow word had gotten out about the hospital's occupants as well as Charles' release date, and people had quickly gathered together an 'anti-mutant' demonstration.

"Come on, let's get to the car." Moira managed, gesturing towards a black sedan that rest near the curb just one-hundred or so feet from the hospital doors. Though a throng of people were covering the sidewalk, blocking the path. Signs were held up into the air with black lettering scrawled across them, reading things such as 'God hates mutants!' or 'Freaks belong in hell!' and things of that sort. The sight completely threw Charles off guard, causing his mouth to hang open as he lingered there. No… This couldn't be happening.

"I told you Charles…" Erik murmured, leaning over slightly so that he could be heard over the shouts. "It's us against them."

With that he gripped the handles on Charles' chair and forced him forward since the telepath was not about to move himself. Once they got to the black sedan he helped slide the immobile telepath into the car before allowing Hank to get the chair into its proper position, and once they were all inside, Moira took the driver's seat and began to drive off. Though no matter how far away they got, Charles' gaze still remained out the back window, watching as the protesters sank further and further into the distance.