Chapter 21: Home Sweet Home

The residents watched as the taxi drove away with Jean in the back seat. Storm put a hand on the Professors shoulder, "It is the right thing Charles."

He looked down at his hands, "I know Ororo, but seeing her like this again, does this mean I have failed? How many more will come so far only to fall back down once they have almost reached their full potential?"

Ororo spoke sternly, "No Charles, you mustn't think that way. Jean made a choice it was the wrong one, but a choice none the less. You worked hard with her and it showed. This is not your fault."

The Professor sighed, "Perhaps you are right Storm. However, I can't help but feel somewhat responsible. Why could I not see what was going on in my own home?"

"Oh come on Chuck, she learned from the best, so well in fact that she was able to hide her real emotions underneath strong false ones." Logan let out a grunt, "Of course the real ones had to come to the surface sometime."

Scott walked across the field towards the cliff where Rogue sat in the gazebo. She was watching the gate as it swung closed. Scott stood in front of her but she didn't acknowledge him. Instead she looked past him towards the mansion where the residents were slowly walking inside or lazily tossing a football around. When Scott didn't move Rogue said, "What d' ya want Scott?" She still refused to look at him.

"What do you think Rogue?"

This time Rogue turned and looked at him, "Ah'm sorry Scott, but Ah'm not the magic Jean fairy. Ah didn't make 'er leave so stop hoverin' over meh like a hawk."

He pursed his lips into a thin line, "Not until I get some answers Rogue."

She looked away from him again. Rogue was not surprised by Scott's reaction. She knew he would somehow find a way to pin this all on her. "What d' ya wanna know Scott?"

Scott seemed to think hard and then said, "I want to know what happened in the DR. No one will tell me, not the Professor, Logan, not even Jean."

"Maybe that's all f'r the best." Rogue stood up but he blocked her way.

"I need to know Rogue, what was so bad that Jean felt she needed to leave?"

Rogue sighed, "Fine, ya really wanna know?" Scott gave a brief nod. Rogue looked at Scott in the eyes, "Alright, Jean locked everyone out and tried t' kill meh, 'appy now?"

Scott looked slightly taken aback, "She tried to kill you?" Rogue gave a nod and pushed Scott back so she could walk around him. She really didn't want to go into detail with him. Experiencing it in the DR was deadly and it was still so vivid in her mind that it was like being tortured.

Scott watched her walk back towards the mansion frozen to the spot. 'Jean had tried to kill her? My Jean, the woman I love a killer?' Scott tried to sort through all his thoughts and emotions. The more he thought the more things seemed to make sense, the anger at not being chosen to lead a team, loosing bets, the music in the DR and more. Everything pointed at Rogue being at fault, well in Jean's eyes. Why hadn't he seen it? 'That's easy, I was feeling the same way, but I would never kill her, would I?'

The taxi pulled up in front of the Grey's house. Jean paid the driver, grabbed her duffel bag and stepped out of the cab. As the taxi pulled away Jean stood in front of her house. What should she say? What would her parents say? What exactly had the Professor told them? All these questions and more were buzzing through her head as she picked up the bag she had placed on the ground. She slowly walked up the drive and knocked on the door. When the door opened a women answered. Jean looked at her and softly said, "Hi Mom."

Mrs. Grey pulled Jean into a hug. "Sweetheart, it is so good to have you home." Jean kept her eyes averted from her mothers. Mrs. Grey noticed and said, "Jean, the Professor told us that you needed some family time back here with your father and me."

'Sure he did,' Jean thought. 'Wonder if he said why.' "Yes, well things were getting very busy at the institute for a lot of the kids. Being out of High School there wasn't much for me to do." 'She is so not going to buy that Jean.'

"It is the summer Jean, what could possibly be so busy?"

'Busted,' "Nothing too important Mom. Is dad home?"

Mrs. Grey nodded and the two walked into the house closing the front door behind them. "Guess who's home darling," Mrs. Grey said with a smile.

Mr. Grey came down the stairs, "Is that my Jean? You look so grown-up." He gave her a big hug. "Missed you pumpkin."

"I missed you too daddy."

"Professor Xavier tells us that you want to look at some universities with us."

"Oh John, your girl just got home, let her get settled back in for heavens sake." Elaine smiled at her daughter, "Why don't you go unpack and I will get dinner started." Jean nodded and headed upstairs.

When they heard the door shut they looked at each other, "John, we mustn't push her. Xavier said she needed space away from others we need to grant her that. University can wait." Elaine spoke softly, almost in a whisper.

After Jean had shut her door she re-opened it just enough to be able to catch the conversation. Home was quiet compared to the mansion and conversations could easily be heard here. Is that what the Professor had told her parents, that she needed space? Maybe he was right, she just hoped she didn't loose it with her parents the way she had with Rogue. 'At least there isn't a Danger Room here,' she thought gratefully.

Back at the mansion it was unusually quiet for a Friday night. Kitty was going through periods of being bubbly and then breaking down into tears, Kurt sat by himself in one of the trees, Scott had gone for a drive without telling anyone where he was headed and Gambit had tried to comfort Rogue only to get a broken nose.

Rogue was lying on her bed face down with the door shut and window locked. She felt responsible for Jean leaving, almost as badly as the Professor. Scott had every right to be mad at her, even though Jean was the one who had tried to kill her. She punched her pillow, "Damn it Jean, why couldn't we 'ave jus' talked," Rogue yelled. She then screamed into her pillow, "Arghh." There was a knock on her door, "G' away."

The door opened anyway and Logan walked in. "Heya Stripes wanna talk?"

"No," she mumbled into her covers.

Logan nodded but sat on the edge of her bed anyways. "You know it's not your fault Kid. You tried to talk to her; you asked her to help you train the Juniors and she turned you down hard, really hard."

"Why'd she do that?" Rogue's voice was muffled.

"What Kid? I couldn't understand you?"

Rogue knew perfectly well that Logan had caught every word she'd said, but she rolled over and sat up pulling her knees to her chest. ""Ah said why'd she do that? She could o' been mah co-leader or even mah back-up like y' an' Storm."

He sighed, "Jealousy does the strangest things to people Kid."

"D' ya think we will see 'er again Logan? Like, d' ya think she'll move back in?"

Logan looked towards the door, "I don't know Stripes. Something inside me says she will be back." Logan stood up and walked to the door. He started to open it and then turned to Rogue, "You might want to apologize to Gumbo. His nose has stopped bleeding but ya used a mean right hook." He shrugged, "Just thought I'd let you know."

Logan walked out of her room leaving Rogue to sort through a jumble of emotions. She guessed Logan was right, she probably should apologize to Remy, after all he had only come to comfort her. She also secretly hoped that Jean would come back. It would be good for the Professor and Scott, even Storm. The sun had been clouded over yesterday and today and that was only adding to everyone's unhappy moods.

Jean unpacked and came downstairs for dinner. She was greeted by the aroma of fast bake turkey, yorksure puddings, carrots and vegetable medley. "Smells good," she said. Her mother smiled and everyone helped themselves passing the vegetables and turkey around the table until everyone had a little of everything.

Jean was enjoying her meal. She only knew three other people that could cook, even if it was fast bake, Storm, Remy and Logan. She gave a sad smile at this thought but recovered quickly. "So Jean, what have you been up to now that you are out of high school?" 'Sure, dad had to drop the bomb shell question.'

"Well, I drive the kids to school during the school year, help the Professor keep the place clean and take my turn cooking. The only change is being out of school I guess." She paused, "Maybe in a week or two I could look at the Universities. I think I want to work in genetics."

Her father looked at her, "Jean, I think that is something that you would be quite good at. It will also give you a bit of a challenge." He smiled at his daughter.

Jean looked slightly confused. "What do you mean? I have always been top of everything I have ever done." The table rattled.

"Jean," said her mother.

Jean closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Sorry," she looked towards the living room. 'Better confront them.' "I heard you talking about why the Professor wants me here." John and Elaine looked at one another. Jean noticed but did her best to ignore it. "I don't want to hurt you." She turned to her father, "I'm sorry dad, you are right, a challenge is probably something that would be good for me."

"Just as long as you don't get angry at your professors if you get a mark that is lower than what you expected."

Elaine glared at her husband and Jean laughed, "Yes, well I suppose I will have to get my emotions under control first." She carried her plate to the counter and cleared off the remainder of the food. "I think I will go and lay down for a bit."

Her parents nodded, "See you later sweetheart."

Once Jean was in her room she grabbed the phone and called the institute. "Hello, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Ororo Monroe speaking, how can I…"

"Storm it's me, please put on the Professor."

"Oh, Jean, child, of course." "Charles, Jean is on the phone for you,"

"Thank you Storm." The Professor picked up the phone, "Hello Jean, it hasn't even been a full day yet, how are things with your parents?"

Jean shut her eyes and then opened them. "Alright I guess. Professor, I almost lost control again over a simple comment that my father made. The table started shaking and…"

"But you caught yourself Jean."

"Not exactly, it was my mother. I could have caused serious damage again."

The Professor thought for a moment, "Jean, have you been practicing relaxation techniques? We talked about meditation, Yoga, even quiet time alone."

"No, I let them slip back a bit." Jean's eyes widened, "Oh gosh, I let my calming techniques slip, Professor, if that is all it is maybe I could…"

"Jean, I am certain that is a large part of it, but you of all people should know that the mansion is far from quiet. Spend some time at home, get your techniques back up, start University and then come for visits."

"So you still don't want me back?" A few pictures fell off the side table and Jean sighed.

"I have a proposition for you Jean."

"Do I get a say in it," she asked with a bit of a bite. She levitated the pictures up off the floor and put them back to the table as she listened.

"Of course my girl. You take your courses and get your major. I believe you will become a Doctor, of what I can not say. However, I know of a house that could always use an extra hand in the infirmary. Are you interested?"

Jean smiled, "How could I say no to you Professor?"

He chuckled, "However you must get your own needs taken care of first."

"I will, I will do whatever it takes."

"I am glad to hear that Jean. He looked around him. All the students were gathered on all sides of him. "Jean, would you mind if I put you on speaker phone for a moment?"

"They are all hovering, aren't they?"

"Yes indeed, good news travels fast around here."

"Go ahead Professor." Charles hit speaker phone and it was mad chaos.

"Hi Jean!" "We already miss you," "Bobby's driving us nuts without you here," Rogue gave Gambit a bloody nose," "Kitty's an emotional mess," "Scott keeps driving off," "Tomorrow is supposed to be our dance off."

Jean's smile widened a bit but her eyes were sad. "Sounds like I am missing out on a lot," she told the group.

She heard laughter on the other end followed by, "Get outa mah way. Professor, can ya turn off speaker phone?" Rogue gave her death glare to everyone around the phone and said, "Shoo." There were grumbles and mutterings as the Professor handed Rogue the phone. "So how's life in the quiet zone?"

Jean was in shock. She'd never in a million years expect Rogue to speak with her, especially not after the near death experience the day before. "Um, it's, well too quiet."

"Well that's a shame," Rogue said sarcastically.

Jean shook her head at this comment. Typical Rogue, complaining of wanting space and quiet while deep down wanting to be close. "So, are you still taking the kids to the arcade tomorrow?"

Rogue sighed, "Ah don't really 'ave a choice. They've been practicin' all week. Ah can't le' 'em down now." Rogue looked over and saw Logan. He gave her a knowing nod. "Well, Ah 'ave t' give ya back to the Prof. "Ave a good nigh' Jean."

"Bye Rogue."

Rogue handed the phone back over and walked over to Logan. "Good job Stripes, I'm proud of ya."

"It was jus' a phone call Logan."

He snorted, "Sure Stripes, just a phone call." She rolled her eyes and Logan caught it. He shook his head. He wouldn't say anything this time, she was already stressed enough.