Chapter 36-Preparing for the Future
By the end of June the calls were still coming in and more frequently, and Professor Xavier had installed a separate phone line just for Jordan. Her summer wasn't going as planned. She had hoped for long bike rides, a trip to Germany, days at the beach, and nights in the mountains. Sleeping in, staying up. Instead she was awake by dawn each morning checking her voice mail and e-mail. After lunch she went into her regular training session for no more than two hours. Those were her days when she was in Bayville. But two or three days out of the week Jordan was traveling to different cities.
"Jordan, would you come into my office please?" Professor Xavier called to her from the hallway.
"Give me five minutes, Professor." Jordan said. "Sorry about that. Yeah, I can do Friday afternoon as long as we are done by five. Thank you. See you then. Mmhm. Bye." Jordan hung up the receiver and set down her notebook she was using to schedule her dates before going to Professor Xavier's office.
"Please, have a seat." Charles said calmly.
"What's up, Prof?"
"I wanted to ask you the same thing, Jordan."
Jordan narrowed her eyes at him, puzzled. "Oh…I'm sorry, help me out here. What did I do wrong? Was I supposed to run a training session?"
"No! No! You've done nothing wrong!" Charles smiled. "I simply wanted to discuss with you your plans."
"Um, I'm done for the day. Did a phone interview, had a good session with Bobby and Sam…"
"Not for today, Jordan. For your future. The summer will not last forever, and I see that you have not yet chosen a college. Do you plan to take a year off like Jean did?"
"Well, I have been busier than I thought I would be this summer, but I do want to go to college. I would love to go in the fall, but…there are a few things keeping me from making a choice."
"Really? Does this have to do with the media attention you've been receiving?"
"One part of it is, yes. I have really come so far, I think, in speaking to people on our behalf."
"Yes, you have." Charles smiled and nodded.
"And I want to keep speaking for mutants."
"I certainly hope you do, Jordan. People listen to you, and that's a wonderful thing. But I also would love to see you have a college degree in something. If you want to take a year to do this some more, I completely understand and encourage you to do so. But I don't want you to lose sight of your future and other possibilities that are out there for you."
"What I'm doing I can do while I'm at school. Honestly it's not keeping me from signing up with a university. I'm waiting for BSU to contact me."
"Bayville State? You want to stay here to attend college?"
Jordan nodded, almost embarrassed. "I don't want to leave Bayville to go to school. I don't want to be that far away from home. I know it's silly…"
"No it's not." Professor shook his head, "It's normal. You are anxious about leaving."
"Yeah. This is the first place I've ever considered home. My father is here. My friends are here. I want to be able to stay here while I'm going to college. As long as it's alright with you."
"Of course it is, Jordan. I hope you hear from BSU soon."
Kurt wasn't going to college, he was staying with the X-men and filling in as an instructor once Jean started going to school. Jean never completely left the X-men, but she didn't have the time like she did before.
Jordan continued working with the X-men and was a part-time instructor, and full-time student and still mutant activist. All of her classes were online, she was working on her generals while exploring the option to study law.
Edward Kelly didn't get elected as mayor, in fact he dropped out and was now running for senate. Jordan had been flying back and forth from Washington as mutant laws were being discussed.
Strong and gentle hands rubbed Jordan's neck, she smiled slightly and leaned into them. "Hey, you."
"What are you still doing up?" Kurt asked softly.
"I am working on a speech."
"For school?"
"No, the one I need for Washington."
"You've never actually prepped for anything before."
"Yeah, but I don't want to stammer in front of the Senate!" Jordan laughed, resting her head on Kurt's stomach as she looked up to him. "Thank you for putting up with this, with me."
Kurt managed a smile as he continued to rub her shoulders, "I miss how things used to be, when you weren't so busy, but I'll live with it. You amaze me, Jordan."
Jordan pulled Kurt down to kiss him, "You are the sweetest person, I swear." Jordan turned in her chair to be able to face him, "So what is on your mind?"
Kurt's smile faded. "I talked to my mom a bit ago. My dad had a mild heart attack, nothing serious, but I am going to go back and help them out for a while."
Jordan nodded, "See, you are the sweetest person."
"I wanted to tell you first. I'm going to leave on Friday, and I'll be gone for a while, a month at least. I wish you could come with me, you still haven't gotten to meet them."
"Oh, I know. And I really want to."
"And they want to meet you, too. You've made such an impression on them just talking over the phone, whenever I talk to them they always ask about you. So…will you come with me?"
Jordan inhaled slowly, "I can't…right now. I mean, I have the Senate this week, finals next week. And if they pass the bill I'll be in Washington for the House of Representatives trying to get them to push it down. Or even to the White House."
Kurt smoothed her hair back, "Its okay."
"I'm not doing this just for myself, Kurt. I'm doing it for everyone here, and all…"
"I know!" Kurt said, grasping her hands. "I know you are. And I'm just…amazed at what you are doing, and what you've done. You amaze me, everyday."
"I promise, as long as that act doesn't pass through the Senate I'll come to Germany."
"That would mean a lot to me. And to my parents."
Jordan's stomach did a flop. She had spoken to Kurt's parents countless times over the phone. His mother loved her, his father had Kurt's sense of humor. She honestly wanted to meet them, face-to-face, and knew doing so would mean more to Kurt than it would to her.
"Soon. I'll schedule a vacation in the next month. Go to them, and I'll be there as soon as I can."
That was around Christmas time. Jordan's speeches convinced the Registration act to be delayed. Another development on the west coast attracted her attention, though. A secret Sentinel factory had been discovered.
"Sure you feel safe this close to a hundred of these things?" Fury asked her as she landed, her father standing right beside her.
"What the hell happened, Fury? You said once Apocalypse was taken down…"
"I know what I said, because that's what somebody told me. Apparently Trask, the creator, whispered to just the right people to get this place up and running. From what we can tell this was one of his original bases, converted into a factory. None of them are active."
"Where is Trask, anyways?" Jordan asked.
"He's still in prison. He may have been the mastermind behind Sentinels, but he didn't do everything himself. We never had much luck finding others who worked with him, and for him." Fury admitted.
"So there could be more of these places, each holding a hundred or more Sentinels ready to launch an attack?" Jordan raised an eyebrow.
Fury shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."
Jordan reached the news cameras that had been expecting her. Logan stood at her side, glancing around casually at the anti-mutant crowd that was gathered around. "Here is Jordan Smith, mutant activist. Tell me, Ms. Smith, what is your view on what has been discovered here?"
"I'm concerned. Finding this place, it looks like whoever was running it was getting ready for a war. Sentinels are killing machines, they identify and destroy mutants…"
"TURN THEM ON! TURN THEM ON!" The crowd behind the camera's shouted.
"I think we should go." Logan growled, getting uneasy.
"I've been promised that all robots at this factory, and every one found hereafter, will be destroyed. And for good reason. That is all."
Logan led his daughter back to the helicopter. "Jeez…I was afraid they would charge us at any minute."
Jordan looked anxiously out the window, "Take off before they decide to."
Jordan had been unable to get a real vacation as soon as she promised Kurt she would. They talked on the phone or over the computer every morning, updating each other on what was happening. Before she realized it, it was already February.
"Happy Valentines Day!" Jordan said as soon as Kurt answered the phone.
"Happy Valentines Day to you, too. Even though it isn't until for a few days."
"I got you a present. Guess what it is!"
"What?" Kurt asked, she could hear his smile in his voice.
"Me! I'm in Europe." Jordan blurted out, nearly jumping for joy as she said it.
"What!" Kurt gasped. "Where are you?"
"Well…England right now."
"What are you doing there?"
"I have a few things set up for me, and then I've cleared my whole schedule for next week and I'm on my way to you."
"My parents will be so happy. I…I'm so excited! It's been…"
"A few months!" Jordan laughed. "I'm coming to see you, hun. I'm catching a jet the day after tomorrow for Germany, and then I'll rent a car and find you."
"Heh, call for directions. I can't wait, Jordan. I've missed you so much."
"Oh I know. It's true, being apart does make the heart grow fonder." Jordan smiled and closed her eyes, "I'll see you soon. I love you."
"I love you too. You just can't get here fast enough."
Jordan shut her phone, holding in the squeal of delight she wanted to let out. The two months without seeing Kurt, only talking to him on the phone or over the internet, had made her realize how much she truly did love him. She could barely stand to wait, she wanted to cancel her interviews and go to him at that moment. She stepped into the airport, found her driver, and was on her way to her hotel.
"Ms. Smith, we will be stopping in the back entrance of the hotel," said the driver.
"Why is that?"
"An anti-mutant group was informed on where you were staying and have rallied at the front entrance. To avoid a riot and to ensure your safety the police have ordered us to keep you hidden."
"Ah." Jordan leaned back in her seat. "But I bet none of the police are there to help."
"Most likely not, miss. Since the museum was ravaged by mutants a few years ago…well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that mutants are not well-liked in London. I wish you the best of luck, though."
Jordan knew he didn't mean it, but he was only doing his job. She would work from her hotel room for the rest of the day, tomorrow she would be shuttled around the city, then the day after she was on her way to see her Kurt.
Jordan hooked up her laptop and checked her e-mail. "I was hoping you'd be online, did you just arrive?" Professor Xavier's face appeared on the monitor.
Jordan clicked on her webcam, "Yes. You should have seen the welcoming committee I got, they were a sight for sore eyes."
He frowned, "I heard about them. I wanted to make sure you were alright before Logan found out. With all the threats recently…"
"Oh…don't let Dad see the letters."
"It's too late." Logan growled. Jordan saw Professor Xavier look up from the camera, then a few moments later Logan stepped behind him. "I really don't like you being so far away by yourself, kiddo. I'm thinking about jetting over…"
Jordan only needed a split second to see her date with Kurt have her father's shadow over it, "Dad, don't be silly. If I have a bodyguard walking with me they'll triple and they'll be aimed at you, too. Remember, I'm the non-aggressive mutant that no one has a reason to fear. And I want to keep it that way."
"Have you read some of these letters?" Logan hissed over Xavier's shoulder. "It's not just name-calling anymore, Jordan, these are serious threats against you!"
Jordan faked a yawn, "Listen guys, it's late over here and I have a serious case of jet-lag. Dad, stay in Bayville and stop reading my mail. After I'm done in London I'm taking a vacation in Germany to see Kurt. And hopefully he'll come back with me. Tell everyone I said 'hi' and that the weather sucks. And…" Jordan smiled. "Make sure Magneto doesn't go too easy on the new kids."
"Jordan, I'm coming. I'm worried…I got a bad feeling…"
"Dad, Professor needs you to stay there and help him at the institute. The hotel is making sure no one gets into my room, they are letting me use their limo and driver for everywhere I need to go. I've been doing this for a while now…I can handle this. And I can take care of myself."
"Jordan, I'm serious. I don't like it…"
"Dad, remember all those times I asked you to take me with you on a mission or to be careful or something like that. And you told me not to worry, that everything would be okay…"
"That's different. I'm your father and…"
"And part of a being a father is letting your kid go out into the world after she's eighteen. I'm nineteen now. I…I don't need you to hold my hand with this. I appreciate all of your support and help, and concern. I'll call you guys when I'm in Germany."
Professor Xavier was able to keep Logan from running to London to stand by his daughter, but just barely. "Hey, you okay?" Scott asked, walking up to the two of them.
Logan sighed, "Yeah. Just worried about Jordan being so far away."
Scott smiled, "Kurt is on the phone, he wanted to talk to you."
Logan took the phone from Scott, "What do you need, blue boy?" He asked gruffly.
"Hi, Logan." Kurt said in a small voice. "I just got off the phone with Jordan a bit ago."
"Yeah, she told me she's going to Germany to see you. Now that I think about it I'm glad you called, wanted to know what you and my daughter were going to do while she's there."
"Logan!" Professor Xavier gasped.
Kurt laughed nervously, "Whatever she wants to do. She'll be smothered by my mother, no doubt. But, Logan I needed to ask you something."
Logan stepped into the next room, "Alright, shoot."
"Well, you know Jordan and I have been dating for about three years now."
"Right."
"And ever since we graduated…even before then, I was thinking…well I really knew, that we'd probably spend the rest of our lives together…you know?"
Logan grunted, "Did I know? Kurt, what are you trying to say?"
Kurt took a moment, "I want to ask Jordan to marry me. I want to do it when I see her. And I called you to…to ask for your blessing."
Logan sat in the chair, nearly fell in it really, "Are you serious?"
"I've been planning it for a while now. It's just…with me living in Germany for these past few months I've had to put it off. But my father is better now, and my parents will be alright if I leave. I love Jordan. More than I think is possible. You've always been a bit indifferent to our relationship. But I need to know that you are alright with me asking her."
"I never meant to be indifferent." Logan admitted. "I just had no idea what to say about it. By the time I decided I had any opinion or say in the matter, you two were practically attached at the hip." Kurt waited in silence, his heart racing. "I know how much you two care about each other. And it probably took you some guts to ask me this, but it lets me know you are serious. Of course you have my blessing, Kurt."
Kurt let out a breath of relief, "Thank you, Logan! Just, don't tell any of the others, alright? Only you and my parents know so far, I think Jordan should be the next to know."
"Got it." Logan said, a small smile forming on his lips, "Make sure Jordan calls home."
"You got it." Kurt said. "Bye."
Logan hung up the phone, and it really hit him right there. His daughter…was a woman now. She was a fully functioning adult…she really didn't need him standing over her shoulder. Although she never really did, she was always so self sufficient…but…she was going to be married.