Bella hadn't slept well the night before. Logan's phone call had brought back all the nightmares that had accompanied that incident the first time. She wanted to run and hide again. That incident was the reason she hadn't finished her lessons with the professor. She had run back to Phoenix.

She had woke up so often through the night she wondered why she'd even bothered going to bed in the first place. 'Damn you, Logan. You knew what would happen when you brought THAT up.'

She slipped down the stairs, hoping that Charlie had already gone to work. No such luck. "You are actually going to school, aren't you?"

"Yeah, Dad. That's the plan." She ate a quick bowl of cereal before heading out the door.

Once at school Bella immediately noticed that she could hear the thoughts of those around her. She could already feel the headache starting. 'Not again.' She knew that she'd be in the hospital by the end of the day. She wanted to go home now.

At lunch she didn't get any food. Her stomach was protesting even thinking about food.

Edward watched her from where he sat with his siblings, worried. "Jasper, can you tell what's wrong with her?"

"She doesn't feel good." He cringed. "Massive headache. She doesn't want to move."

Edward nodded. He would keep an eye on her in biology.

****

Biology started. Bella felt like curling up on the floor. She was fighting tears.

"Bella, are you okay?" Mike's worried voice right over her head made her flinch.

"Back off, Newton," Edward whispered viciously. "She doesn't feel well."

"Edward, why don't you take her to the nurse's office and stay with her for the class?" Edward nodded. He stood up and gently helped her to her feet.

"Can you walk, Bella?" he whispered in her ear. Tears streamed down her face freely now. She shook her head once, pain flaring with the movement. He gently gathered her into his arms and walked out of the classroom.

****

Mrs. Cope was standing at the desk when Edward walked in carrying Bella. "What happened?"

"She has a headache. It hurts so bad that she can't even walk."

The woman held the door while Edward carried Bella inside and laid her down on one of the little cots. "Please turn off the lights," Bella whispered carefully.

Mrs. Cope did it without any argument. Edward could tell that there was something different about the woman. She was so worried about Bella that her mind didn't have a trace of the usual thought patterns.

Before Edward could think anything more about it, she walked out and pulled out her cell phone. Bella whimpered. Edward placed a cool hand against her forehead and he was certain she was running a fever.

"Bella, hang on. If nothing else, I'll take you to the hospital and Carlisle can help you." His voice was full of worry and he only wanted to help her.

****

"Professor, can you come to the school? Bella has another one of those headaches like she used to have when you were first teaching her. I think it has something to do with being around that Edward Cullen. You said he could read minds. Maybe he's opened her mind too much."

"I'll be there soon. Just keep her in the nurse's office, Mystique. I'll take care of her once I get there."

"Hurry, Professor. I fear for my granddaughter."

"I will."

****

Not even twenty minutes later, Professor Xavier entered into the school. Mystique led him back to the nurse's office where Bella lay. Edward still had his hand against her forehead.

"She's running a fever?"

"Yes. My hand seems to help." He looked into the professor's eyes. "I did this to her, didn't I?"

"Being around someone who can read minds doesn't help her. She hasn't learned to build shields. Too much exposure to thoughts gives her migraines that sometimes take days to be rid of. I'll have to build her some shields for now."

"Can I stay with her?" Edward's voice was worried.

"I think I can allow that." The professor sat down on a chair next to the cot and placed his hands on Bella's temples.

She winced at first but relaxed a bit as the professor continued to work.

After about fifteen minutes, Edward stood up. He needed to check on something.

Walking out into the office, Edward noticed Logan sitting along the wall. He nodded to the man and walked over to Mrs. Cope.

"Mrs. Cope, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Who are you really?"

She turned to face Edward. "What do you mean?"

"Mrs. Cope has certain thought patterns. You don't. Who are you?"

"I guess he caught you, Raven," Logan laughed.

"That's what I get for trying to fool a mind-reader." Mystique laughed. She looked at Edward. "I am actually Bella's grandmother. My name is Raven Darkholme. Some call me Mystique. I'm a shape-shifter."

"Well, that explains your consuming concern for Bella. I wasn't sure why the thought patterns had changed. But I'm glad to know that it's because you're related not just someone who wants to experiment on her." Edward sighed. "Thank you for trusting me."

The professor left the room. "How is she, professor?"

"She'll be alright, Raven. Her shields are in place. Unfortunately, until I teach her how to build them herself, I'm going to have to keep her out of school." He shook his head. "She didn't get much sleep last night. I couldn't find out why. Somehow she kept hiding it from me. She knows that lack of sleep makes it easier for these type of things to happen. Why won't she tell me what happened that made her loose so much sleep last night?"

"Professor, that might be my fault."

"How so, Wolverine?"

"We talked on the phone last night and I mentioned the incident at the school five years ago. That could be why she didn't sleep well last night and why she can't function as well today."

The professor shook his head. "Logan, you and I both know how that incident affected her when she was just eleven years old. She has had five years to put it behind her but I don't think she was able to."

"She ditched school to spend the day with him. What could he have done to her out there alone? She needed to think about it. She needs to remember what could happen to her."

"That incident was not of her making. Daniel wasn't listening to anyone when it came to Isabella. He decided he wanted her and he went after her. I have been eternally grateful that she'd spent the day with Siren and was still able to use her ability. That I believe is precisely what saved her that day."

"Did anyone ever find out what happened to Daniel after he ran from the school?" Mystique asked. She knew what had happened to her granddaughter that day and still wanted to punish the boy for it.

"He was hung by a vigilante group three weeks later. They discovered his mutant abilities when he tried to have his way with a normal girl. They hung him but his neck didn't break so they gutted him while he was still alive."

Mystique and Logan both bowed their heads. Neither had wanted such a thing to happen but the boy had brought it on himself and they both knew it.

"Is there anything we can do to help Bella get through this more quickly?" Edward asked.

"Keeping her cool and quiet is the most important thing right now. Darkness helps too."

"My house has several rooms like that. It wouldn't be hard to make them cooler."

"We'll take her there then. Bella should be able to rest peacefully there."

"I'll carry her." Logan stood. "Maybe some of my healing factor'll rub off on her and help a little."

"I'll call Esme to let her know that we're on our way."

Logan walked into the office, took his bandana out and wrapped it around Bella's eyes and picked her up. She moaned as he settled her in his arms. "Too hot. Too hot."

"Logan, I could carry her. My body temperature is lower and it might make her more comfortable," Edward offered from behind him.

Logan turned and glared at Edward. "I know that. But don't you do anything that could hurt her."

"I never intended to. I don't like to see her like this anymore than you do. I helped to cause this and I want to help fix it."

Logan turned over the young woman in his arms and led the way out of the school.