Disclaimer: We all know what goes here, right? Right. No need to sue me.

A/N: I feel like my writing is getting worse. (cries) This is a really bad chapter, and I'm sorry. I'll definitely try harder next time. This time, though, I just wanted it out of my head and onto FFN. I'll get better as time goes on, I promise.

Chapter 21 – Seven Fifteen

I was rudely awakened that morning by a loud buzzing noise. I reached one hand from under the blankets and whacked at my alarm clock. However, the noise didn't stop.

Blearily, I lifted my head and looked at the clock: seven fifteen in the morning. On a Saturday.

I pounded on the wall beside my bed. "Chris!"

Through the wall, I heard muffled cursing. "It's not me!"

I didn't have the energy or ambition to try to figure out whose alarm it was. Instead, I put my pillow over my head and arranged myself so that both my ears were covered.

When I found that person that left their alarm on… I didn't know what I was going to, but it probably wasn't going to be pretty.

"We need to include the Christians of Alabama in our prayers," Pastor John said solemnly. "There are demons there, and we must pray that our brothers are able to defeat them."

Everyone in the room put their heads down, closed their eyes, and linked hands.

"Heavenly Father, we pray to you that our comrades in Alabama will be able to defeat Satan in the name of God, and that they will return to their homes and families alive and well, and that those who don't will be able to revel in your glory forever more. Amen."

"Amen," everyone murmured.

My eyes snapped open. If that was a dream, it was certainly the most real one I had had in a long time. It was almost like the time I saw Chris in the cave, only this time I wasn't seeing from someone else's eyes. I was there, but I couldn't do anything. I could, however, hear, and that was what counted.

I pushed myself up and looked at the clock: seven forty-five. I didn't know if Professor Xavier was up yet, but if he wasn't, he was going to be. Professor?

There was no response. Just moments after I spoke, though, I could have sworn I heard my words come back to me, like an echo. I guess I hadn't reached him. Maybe he had some sort of mental shields. Why he would need them, though, was a mystery to me.

Sighing, I stood up and hunted around for some clothes. I would have to go talk to him in person.

After I got dressed, I slipped quietly out of my room. I didn't know how many of the people on the hall were still asleep, and I didn't want to wake anyone up.

When I got to his door, I stopped. It sounded like there was somebody else in there. I hesitated for a moment, then knocked.

The voices stopped. "Come in," Professor Xavier called.

I opened the door and stepped inside. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, Professor, but I think that CAMD is going to attack a bunch of mutants somewhere in Alabama."

His eyes narrowed. "How much do you know?"

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but I know it's in Alabama. Pastor John said something about defeating Satan in the name of God."

The Professor wheeled out from behind his desk. The room's other occupant stood up. It was Basil. He had been so still I hadn't noticed him.

"We will continue this lesson tomorrow, Basil," Professor Xavier said to him. Then he motored past me and out the open door.

Basil stood there glaring at me. "Thanks," he said dryly. Then he pushed past me out the door.

I thought of last night, when he had suddenly shown up in my room. "Basil!" I called. "Wait a second!"

He didn't wait. He didn't even turn around. "Basil!"

Still no response. I sighed. I'd have to ask him another time, preferably when he wasn't in such a bad mood. Oh, wait. There was no such time.

I sat on my bed, staring into space. Since I had been the one who knew about the attack, it seemed like it was my burden. There was no word on what was happening. No word if they were too late. It was driving me batty.

Theresa.

I jumped. Professor?

The team is reporting in. Would you like to hear their news?

Yes! I pushed myself off the bed and almost flew out the door. If there was going to be any word on how the mission went, I wanted to hear it firsthand.

When I arrived down in the communications room in the basement, Professor Xavier was talking to someone on the radio. He looked up when I came into the room. "So far the mission has gone well."

There was definitely more to that than he was telling. However, I refrained from saying anything.

"How many casualties?" Professor Xavier asked.

There was a pause. "Three so far. There's a lot of wounded. There might have been a few more inside the building when it blew. Storm took some damage, I have a few scratches, Wolverine took heavy fire damage, but he's fine, and there are a lot of wounded mutants from the rescue site."

"Hurry home, Scott." Professor Xavier turned to me. "Would you be willing to help with the wounded?"

I nodded. "I want to help however I can."

"Theresa, I need another stretcher!"

I turned around ran back towards the infirmary. I skidded through the door and yanked open a door to my right. "We're out!" I yelled back.

There was loud cursing – Wolverine. "Give her to me, I'll carry her."

I stepped back out the door. There were only a dozen refugees left, and of them, only four were wounded.

"I can get there by myself," the woman insisted weakly. She had a long cut down her arm, but it looked shallow. Her face was covered in soot, but other than that, she looked alright. "Really, look after Jack first." She pointed at the man behind her. The right side of his face was black and blistering, and there was blood on his shirt.

Scott studied her for a minute, then looked at the man. "Logan."

Logan stepped forward, slipped his arms under the man, and hefted him with a huge grunt. Then he carted him off towards the infirmary, walking as fast as he could.

I came up to Scott and the woman. "May I assist you, ma'am?" I asked politely, extending my hand to her. She was a wounded lady. It was the least I could do.

She smiled weakly. "Thank you." She took my hand, and I steadied her on the way to the infirmary.

She was greeted by a few other people when she got into the infirmary. It was crowded in there with the fifty or so people they had picked up. "Thank you."

I nodded. "You're welcome." Then I turned around and went back out to the jet to help the rest of the survivors.