Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Never have, never will. I do, however, own "We Could See".

A/N: I've been wanting to write this chapter for a very, very long time, and I knew I had a great song for it. Hope it's good!

Chapter 20 - Understanding

"Theresa, did you sleep okay last night?"

I rubbed my eyes and blinked at Chris. "Yeah…"

He frowned at me across the kitchen island, but didn't argue with me, for once.

I didn't remember how I'd gotten back to my room and into my bed last night. I got the feeling that I'd fallen asleep out in the garden, after I'd sobbed my heart out on Basil's shoulder. He must've carried me…

Basil hadn't come to breakfast yet. I was grateful. I was rather embarrassed that I had acted the way I had. I hated crying in front of people. If I hadn't been so tired, I would have stopped myself. But I hadn't, so I'd managed to humiliate myself.

It was another few minutes before I heard footsteps walking in the door. Basil. I watched him for a minute, then grabbed my crutches quietly and slipped out the door. I wasn't going to make a fool of myself again.

"Hey, Basil, do you know what's up with her?" Chris asked after Theresa left.

Basil didn't turn around to answer. "Yes."

Chris waited for more, but nothing came. "Well, enlighten me!"

"I'd rather not." Basil sat down with a bowl of cereal and calmly started eating.

"Why?" Chris asked loudly.

Basil finished chewing before he answered. "Because, one, you're yelling at me, which is normal but nonetheless annoying. And two, it's none of your business."

"I'm her brother, for cryin' out loud!" Chris glared across the table. Then he took a deep breath. "How about if I stop yelling?"

"Perhaps."

Chris grimaced. "Basil, would you please tell me what is wrong with Theresa?"

Basil thought for a moment. "…No."

"I hate you," Chris muttered, then threw his bowl in the sink and walked out of the kitchen.

Basil watched him go, then went back to eating. Tormenting Chris had been fun, but not fun enough to keep him from thinking. And try as he might, he couldn't stop thinking about whether he'd done the right thing or not.

I woke up at two thirty in the morning. For a moment I thought that I was back where I belonged, in my own time, and swung my legs out of bed to go down to the kitchen and grab something to eat, probably along with Basil. Then I remembered where I was, when I was, and I laid back down. That was gone now. And I would never get it back.

I had only been awake a few minutes when I heard something. I would have ignored it, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I sat up again and listened. It sounded like…piano. Someone was playing piano. I stood up and grabbed my crutches. Then I hobbled out of the room, down the hall, and down the stairs, being as quiet as I could so I didn't disturb anyone.

When I got downstairs, I could hear the music far more clearly. It was a sad-sounding tune. I hopped softly down the hall to the door of the Rec room and took a step inside.

Basil hadn't been able to sleep. His thoughts were torturing him, driving him to insanity. So he'd done the only thing he could think of to do, the only thing he'd ever been able to use to bring his emotions back under control. He didn't like the fact that he drank, but it worked. Usually.

Tonight, though, he just couldn't seem to drown his thoughts. So he'd done the only other thing he knew to do. He went downstairs, sat down at the piano, and started to play. He was an alright pianist. He wasn't the best, but he prided himself on having a good ear.

He hadn't wanted to play anything out of the book, so he'd settled on a song he'd learned off the radio a month or so ago. He still remembered it, because it had been particularly – well, not touching – but it sounded good to him.

So he'd sat down, put his fingers to the keys, and started to play.

It was Basil. He was sitting at the piano, playing a song that I hadn't heard before. It must've come out while I was…away. It was a beautiful song, but it sounded rather sad. I didn't move or speak, not wanting to disturb him. He seemed engrossed. Then he started singing.

"I'm trying not to let it show,
But in my heart I can't let go.
And I still wish and hope and dream,
'Til sometimes I just want to scream.
'Cause there's nothing I could say to you
That could ever make you change your mind.
But I can try…

But I could never tell you that I dream of you at night,
And that all I want to do right now is reach out and hold you tight.

But I hold back because I'm scared of what you'll say to me.
'Cause I'm afraid you'll tell me that you and I cannot be we.
And I know you'll walk away
And leave my broken heart someday.

Somewhere in my mind I know
That I should tell you; let it show.
But deep inside I know the truth:
That you and I just couldn't be.
But we could see…

It's the last thing that I thought I'd do,
Never thought I'd fall in love with you,
But I think somehow I knew…

I'm trying not to let it show,
But in my heart I can't let go.
And I still wish and hope and dream,
'Til sometimes I just want to scream.
'Cause there's nothing I could say to you
That could ever make you change your mind.
But I can try…

It's the last thing that I thought I'd do,
Never thought I'd fall in love with you,
But I think somehow I knew…
But deep inside I know the truth:
That you and I just couldn't be.

But we could see…

We could see…

We could see…"

I felt a tear drip down my cheek, and I sniffed a bit. Basil's head snapped around, and he stared at me like a deer in the headlights. I couldn't think of anything to say.

"How long've you been standin' there?"

His words sounded a little slurred. His thoughts, too, felt a little hazy. His mind was partially numb, almost. It took me a minute to determine why – he'd been drinking. Now I knew how he'd coped for two years. He hadn't.

Basil stood up from the piano bench and pushed past me out the door, not bothering to wait for me to respond.

I followed him as fast as I could. "Basil, wait!" He stopped, looked back at me, then kept going. I lunged forwards and grabbed his arm. "Wait!"

He stopped and turned around to look at me. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. His eyes said it all.

I pulled him into a hug. "It's okay, Basil. I understand." He didn't say a word. "I understand perfectly."