MarvelMaster616 -

I'm glad to know that you liked how it all went down. That moment between Scott and Alex was something that I knew I wanted to be heavy-handed with drama. You're going to see more of that with this chapter between the two of them.

Chapter 23: Restoration

Xavier Institute for Higher Learning – Charles Xavier's Office

'The world is freed. We stopped Apocalypse. Yet . . . I failed Cassandra,' thought Charles Xavier, eyes closed.

It was the next morning after they returned home from Krakoa. Despite being home, there was a lot of heaviness that hung over everyone.

Lamenting on the death of his cousin was one of the biggest, most bitter pills for Xavier to swallow. He knew that Cassandra had been so far long gone, that there was no saving her. However, there was still a part of him that had wanted to save Cassandra from herself. Despite his best efforts to bring her back home and make her see the light, Cassandra continued spiraling downward, until now.

Now, Cassandra was gone. Her "children" and Apocalypse's four horsemen had turned against her upon their minds being cleared of Apocalypse and Cassandra's manipulation. Though Charles could hardly blame Warren, Scott, Jean, and Rogue. They'd been used, manipulated, and lied to by two people who acted like parental figures for them.

'I cannot help but wonder if things turned out differently,' thought Charles sadly. 'What if I had been the one to find those four mutants?'

He could only begin imaging what it would have been like if he'd been the one to find Scott, Jean, Warren, and Rogue. He probably would have taken far better care of them than Cassandra or Essex ever did. To think that Cassandra and Sinister had taken four children, and used them the way that they did, made Charles feel unsettled.

But what hurt the worst was knowing that his cousin was gone. Charles wished that he could somehow turn time back and make Cassandra not lose hope. But the more he sat there lamenting on how she died at the hands of her own "children," the more Charles realized that she couldn't have possibly been saved at all. She'd been one of the last members of his family that he had, and he failed her in more ways than one.

'I'm sorry, Cassandra, that you felt compelled to partake in anything such as this,' thought Charles.

Despite his own grief that he had for his late cousin; Charles also knew that there were other matters at hand. They had to decide what would happen to Scott, Jean, Warren, and Rogue.

Together, the four mutants had broken hundreds of laws. They'd caused significant damage in not just Nova Roma, but also to Warren Worthington III's father. Charles wasn't sure if he would be able to restore Warren Jr.'s mind back to what it used to be. This meant, that Warren Jr. would be spending years in a psych ward, at least until he gained back his sanity. No amount of psychic therapying the world was going to bring him back from something like that.

As Charles continued sitting there, he heard a knock at his office door.

"Come in," he said.

Upon his office doors opening, Nick Fury entered the room with a stern look upon his face. Charles had a feeling about what this would mean.

"Colonel Fury," said Charles.

"Professor," Fury said. "While I am glad that you put a stop to your cousin and Essex – as hard as that might've been – there are other matters that we must discuss."

"I know," Charles whispered.

"First, I do give you my condolences," said Fury. "I know that you tried to save your cousin."

"Try as I might, there was no way she could've been saved," Charles whispered. "She decided her path. I tried to reform her and bring her back home, but it only further pushed her away. I just . . . I have to find a way to move on, and I must begin a path towards something better."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Professor. But you know we have to discuss those four mutants," said Fury.

"Colonel, with all due respect, they didn't know what they were doing," said Charles strongly. "They were being manipulated and lied to by two individuals who claimed that they cared about them. I cannot begin imaging the pain that they are all feeling right now."

"I know," Fury said. "But you also know that there's the chance they could face punishment for their actions. They committed serious crimes; ones that aren't easily forgiven."

"I know that, Colonel. But they do not need prison," Charles said. "What they need is a little bit of compassion and they need a second chance so they can have redemption. After what all four of them have gone through in their youths, they deserve that much."

"That's where I agree," said Fury. "So, I'm willing to work a deal with you, and with them. I'll be willing to discuss this with them once they officially awaken. I would be willing to create a compromise where they can be part of the X-men, rather than prison. If that's what they choose, then this will be their way of redeeming themselves. I'm also willing to pull some favors and cover up for them."

"I will let you know what they decide Colonel. I think that's really fair," said Charles. "But right now, they're in no condition to decide. I had Hank run a few tests on them when we arrived home, and they've over-exerted themselves to the point where they passed out. I do not know when they will wake up."

"I hope soon," said Fury. "Where are they staying currently?"

"Alex insisted that Scott stay in his bedroom. He wants to make sure that he looks after his brother. I think he wants to make up for not having done that years ago," said Charles.

"That's understandable," said Fury.

Alex's Room

As Alex Summers watched the quiet rise and fall of his younger brother's chest, he felt pure relief that Scott was finally back with him after years of separation.

Alex had insisted to Hank that Scott stay in his bedroom. Given the way Scott had passed out back on Krakoa, Beast had run several tests on him upon their arrival to the institute. According to the test results, Scott was running a fever of 100.2 degrees. Alex could only assume that it was because Scott had pushed himself beyond his limits. It also didn't help that Cassandra and Apocalypse had kept him under such deep mind control. Given the circumstances, Alex knew Scott was going to more than likely have a few nightmares.

For now, Alex was just glad that Scott was in a peaceful sleep. But at the same time, he didn't know what he was going to say to Scott once his brother woke up. Scott's features were still stark white and his face was clammy with sweat. Alex just reached over for a washcloth that was sitting in a bowl of cold water, and he passed it over Scott's forehead, wiping his face gently.

Scott let out a low moan as Alex wiped his face. The expression he wore was one of pure discomfort as he sweated through the t-shirt he'd gotten changed into. Alex knew the others were in a similar condition down in the medical labs.

"You'll be alright, Scott," Alex murmured, continuing to wipe his brother's face as he heard a soft knock at his bedroom door. Turning around, he saw Lorna standing there. She was dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of sweats, and her now-lime green hair was dripping wet from her shower. She looked a lot better than she did on Krakoa when Alex had gotten her out of the pod. In fact, she was glowing, and she looked a lot physically stronger.

Of course, it was given that Lorna was in great shape due to all her time that she spent in the Danger Room. However, the pod that she'd been stuck in on Krakoa seemed to make her look a little more muscular. Her hair had grown in length, to where it was reaching her waist.

"How's he doing?" Lorna whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"He's exhausted," Alex said.

"I don't blame him," Lorna said. "Essex and Cassandra pushed him to his absolute breaking point. He needs sleep."

Alex nodded in agreement, dipping the washcloth back into the bowl of water and squeezing out some of the moisture, wiping Scott's face once more.

"But his sleep, I wish that it were more peaceful last night," Alex murmured.

"What do you mean?" Lorna asked.

"He had nightmares all night," Alex muttered. "He talks in his sleep. He kept crying out for our mother and father."

"Like you did, when you first came here," Lorna whispered.

Alex nodded, closing his eyes as he vividly remembered Scott whispering in his sleep the previous night. Scott kept saying the words "Daddy" and "Mama" repetitively. Just hearing Scott say that – in a voice that made him sound like a scared child, no less – was hard for Alex to listen to. Alex also heard Scott asking for Jean in his sleep as well. Clearly, Scott was still greatly hurting, and Essex and Cassandra's revelation that they'd been responsible for their mother and father's deaths in the plane crash only seemed to hurt Scott more. It was comparable to a knife being stuck in Scott's heart.

"What do you think will happen to him?" asked Lorna.

"I don't know," Alex whispered. "I just . . . I hope he doesn't go to prison. He doesn't need imprisonment. What he needs is another chance. Because he didn't do what he did willingly, Lorna. You know that, right?"

"I do," Lorna said. "When I was on Krakoa . . . before I was pulled inside that – that thing, I begged Scott to help me. I could have sworn I saw emotion in his eyes that didn't include anger. He looked almost worried about me. I knew he was being mind-controlled if he had it in him to care."

Alex nodded, running some fingers through Scott's sweaty hair. It evoked another low moan from Scott's feverish form as he pressed his face into the pillows.

"How are you?" Alex asked.

"Beast ran some tests on me," Lorna said. "Aside from the exhaustion that I'd felt upon being released from that pod, right now I feel great. My powers are . . . I don't know how to describe it, Alex. It's almost as though everything is just turned up right now. My powers feel stronger . . . I just feel . . . better."

"I'm happy that you're okay," said Alex. "But I was so worried. I thought I'd lost you."

"I know," whispered Lorna, reaching over to cup Alex's face in her hand. "But you don't have to be scared, Alex. You know that no matter what, I will always come back home, to you. I love you."

"I love you, too, Lorna," whispered Alex, leaning over and kissing her gently.

"Do you want to go downstairs and check on the others? I can take over from here and watch him," Lorna offered.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked.

"Yes," Lorna said softly. "Go, take a break and get something to eat. I can watch him."

"Thanks, Lorna." Alex leaned over and kissed her once more before rising from his chair, allowing Lorna to sit in the seat at the side of the bed.

Lorna took the washcloth from Alex and proceeded to wipe Scott's face softly. She laced her fingers into his hand, giving it a soft squeeze before dipping the washcloth into the bowl of water again. However, as she did this, she felt fingers squeezing back at her hand. She heard Scott letting out a low, pain-filled moan.

"J – Jean?" he asked, calling out so hoarsely that Lorna had to strain her ears to hear.

Lorna swallowed, contemplating what she should say to him. He was confusing her for Jean, somehow. But why?

'Does he love her?' Lorna wondered as she kept wiping at his forehead.

"J – Jean?" Scott asked again, trying to force his eyes open. However, just that movement alone seemed to make him nauseous.

"No," Lorna whispered. "It's . . . It's Lorna."

Scott groaned again. "L – Lorna . . . I –"

"Shhh, I know you're sorry. I know you didn't do it on purpose," Lorna was quick to reassure him softly.

"Where – Where are . . . the others?" Scott mumbled out.

"They're fine," Lorna said quietly.

"Where's Alex?"

"He's okay, too. I just convinced him to take a break."

Scott swallowed thickly, but even that seemed to cause him pain. He looked as though he wanted to fall back into unconsciousness, but he had more to ask. He had to know where he was, what was going to happen to him and his friends, where they were going to go . . .

He knew that their actions weren't going to be easily forgiven. Yet somehow, Alex hadn't given up on him, even when he was at someone else's mercy. The fact that Alex had believed that there was still a piece of him there meant something greatly to Scott. But at the same time, he knew the rest of the world wouldn't be forgiving. No matter what he did, he would be viewed as one of the people who hurt Warren Worthington Jr. and nearly destroyed Nova Roma. He and his friends would be viewed as terrorists. If word got out about what he and his friends had done, they would no doubt end up in prison. The thought of it alone caused his breathing to grow heavier as his eyes shot open.

"Scott, Scott, calm down," whispered Lorna, leaning a hand on his shoulder. "Relax, alright? We won't let anything else happen to you and your friends. I swear."

Scott sucked in a breath as his eyes shut once more. He coughed slightly as Lorna began to wipe his face once more.

"What – What happened?" asked Scott.

"You passed out. You've been sick. You've been at the Xavier Institute since last night," Lorna said.

Scott swallowed again, before saying, "Is – Is Alex sorry that . . . I'm sick?"

Lorna nodded quietly. "Yes, he is. He stayed by your side the whole night and had you moved to his bedroom so you can rest. Now, please, save your strength, and go back to sleep."

"Will . . . When Jean wakes up will . . . will you get her?" Scott managed to get out.

"I will," Lorna murmured as she watched Scott fall back into the world of unconsciousness. He nodded off against the pillows, going back into a deep sleep. Lorna pressed the back of her hand against his forehead gently. As she was about to presume wiping his face, she heard a quiet knock on the door. Turning her head, she saw her father standing in the doorway.

Lorna sighed. This was the second time that her father had gone out of his way to rescue her, along with Wanda and Pietro. It proved that he did care about her. But at the same time, there was also a huge part of Lorna that didn't trust him anymore, given all that he'd done. According to the professor, Erik had attempted at killing Scott by means to rescue her from Krakoa. She knew her father was willing to do whatever he deemed necessary, but the last thing that she wanted was for him to resort to violence and malevolence by means to protect her.

"Lorna," Erik said.

"Father," Lorna said flatly, continuing with tending to Scott as she tried nursing him back to health.

"Lorna . . . I just wanted to say," Erik began saying.

"I know what you did," Lorna said. "And I understand why. But you know why I don't approve of that."

Erik nodded. "I was trying to save you, Lorna," he said. "I did not believe that that young man and his friends could ever be redeemed."

"They were being controlled," Lorna said sternly. "They did not know what they were doing. If they did, they never would have kidnapped Hank, Rahne, and I. Okay? You want to know how I know? Because before Sinister and Cassandra began experimenting on us, I begged Scott to help us. I pleaded with him. I wanted him to wake up and see what was wrong. And for a moment, I saw it in his eye emotion. I saw that he cared, and I saw that he didn't mean it. If he were pure evil, he never would have shown any emotion that signified he cared. He wouldn't have shown empathy if he were that far gone."

"And I see that now," Erik said. "Alexander got through to him last night when he started talking to him."

"And yet, you still wanted to hurt Scott for what he'd done," said Lorna.

"Because I didn't think there was another option," Erik said, repeating what he'd said early.

"There's always another option," insisted Lorna. "And Alex, he found a way, Father. He wasn't about to just let his brother suffer out there alone. You've always thought of our way as weak. But do you realize that your way isn't right, either? Not all humans are responsible for our suffering. You saw that with Sinister and Cassandra; they were mutants like us, yet they wanted the world to suffer, and they used and manipulated four mutants for God only knows how many years."

Erik sighed. He didn't know how to respond to that. Once again, Lorna was challenging him. She'd had a habit of doing that ever since she was a young girl. As Erik looked at her, he saw the bright twenty-year-old young woman sitting before his eyes. She'd grown and matured in so many ways over the years, and Erik hadn't seen all of it due to his selfishness. He'd neglected Lorna in favor of raising Pietro and Wanda to be his soldiers. Lorna had seen from a young age what he would make her do, so as a result, she ran away to live with Charles. Erik had pushed away his own daughter.

"I see that now, Lorna," Erik said. "But I also want to apologize to you."

"For what?" Lorna wanted to hear right from him why he was being apologetic.

"I'm sorry for pushing you away, and leaving you feel neglected," Erik said. "I put all my efforts into making sure that Wanda and Pietro were prepared to fight against the world we live in. I never put much thought into what you would have wanted. Unlike me, your brother, and your sister, you haven't lost hope."

"You know it's not like me to just give up, Father," Lorna whispered.

"And I admire that about you," Erik told her quietly. "I just wish that I had your mindset."

"Are you sure you do not want to give Uncle Xavier's dream a chance?" asked Lorna.

Erik closed his eyes. "I've given up on that a long time ago, Lorna. All I can do now is tend to Genosha, and give a home to those who want it. I presume you do not want to live there, right?"

"My home is here," Lorna said. "I can't just up and leave, not when I have a team that needs me."

"I can respect that," Erik said.

"Are you heading back to Genosha?" Lorna asked.

"Yes," Erik said. "I guess this is goodbye, for now."

"Father, I – I want us to try and have a better relationship. I'm sick of having it be this way, where you come only when I am in danger," said Lorna.

"If you are willing to try, I am too," said Erik.

Lorna managed a small smile to appear upon her lips as she rose from where she sat on the bed. She walked over towards her estranged father and embraced him lightly. Erik returned the hug back just as lightly.

As Lorna broke away from her father's embrace, she breathed a sigh of contentment. At least now, she knew that she and her father were going to be in a better place. She knew now that they were going to try communicating better.

"Thank you for what you did last night," Lorna said.

Erik cast his estranged daughter a small smile. "You're welcome, Lorna," he said.

Lower Levels – Infirmary

The infirmary had been filled with quiet murmurs all night long. Jean Grey, Rogue, and Warren Worthington III were all ailing the same way that Scott was upstairs in Alex's room. All three were feverish with temperatures over one-hundred degrees. To make matters worse, the fevers were inducing nightmares and hallucinations for all three of them.

Jean kept crying in her sleep, begging her parents to not kill her older sister. Rogue kept whimpering, begging her dad to stop raping her. Warren had been murmuring things about his father the whole night. Knowing that the four mutants had suffered significantly made Hank "Beast" McCoy feel utmost sympathy for all of them.

Hank understood why Scott, Jean, Rogue, and Warren had partaken in kidnapping him, Lorna, and Rahne. The circumstances for why they'd done it made Hank worry about all four of them. The four of them had done it because they'd been manipulated into being loyal towards Cassandra and Essex. As a result, after they'd been freed from the mind control Cassandra had had over them, all four of them were left brokenhearted.

As Hank watched the rise and fall of Jean's chest as she slept deeply, still mumbling in her sleep, he heard Ororo entering the infirmary.

"How are they doing, Hank?" she asked.

"They keep talking in their sleep," Hank said softly as Jean let out a soft cry of, "Sarah!"

Ororo closed her eyes sympathetically as she walked over to Jean's bedside. "She's calling out for her sister?" Ororo asked.

"I think so," Hank said with a sad nod, watching as tears streaked Jean's face in her unconscious state. Ororo just reached over to wipe the girl's tears off her cheeks, when Jean's hand caught her wrist as the younger girl let out a soft sob of despair.

"S – Sarah . . . please . . . don't – don't die please," Jean whimpered out.

Ororo just took a seat next to her as Hank walked out of the infirmary. Jean's grasp tightened on her wrist in desperation. Ororo didn't know what to say to her, especially as she heard Jean whimpering out, "M – Mommy . . . Daddy stop it!"

Ororo closed her eyes, once again finding that she was speechless. She didn't know if she had the right words. But at the same time, she felt she needed to say something. She couldn't stand to watch as Jean talked in her sleep, asking for someone who was no longer alive. But just as she was about to try talking to Jean, she heard Rogue starting to whimper in her sleep as well.

"D – Daddy . . . Daddy please!" Rogue mumbled.

Ororo shook her head, hating every moment of needing to listen to these three mutants in pain. Just as she reached over to rub her hand against Jean's forehead, Logan entered the room with a solemn look in his eyes.

"They haven't woken up yet," Ororo said.

"I figured," Logan said, sitting next to his lover as his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Ororo's eyes filled with tears as she watched Jean begin to twitch and writhe in the infirmary bed. "Logan, we have to help them. How, though? I'm uncertain."

Logan shook his head. "But would they accept our help?" he asked. "They were offered help from Essex and Xavier's cousin when they were children –"

"Logan, they are still children," Ororo said, feeling Logan kissing her forehead. "But I know what you mean. They trusted two individuals who offered to help them. And then it implodes upon them learning that Essex and Cassandra used and manipulated them. Will they trust us?"

"I don't know," Logan said, casting a sympathetic glance in Rogue's direction; his voice was marked with emotion, which wasn't usual for him. Logan didn't often show affection. The ones he showed it more to were Ororo, Lorna, and Alex. But in this scenario, he couldn't help but feel bad for Rogue, Scott, Jean, and Warren.

"I guess we'll know what they decide when they wake up. When that will be, though . . . I don't know," Ororo whispered.

Rahne's Room – Upper Levels

Rahne Sinclair had always considered herself to be a person of faith. There were many times where her faith should have been shaken, especially when her mutation first manifested. However, in the last few hours, it gave her a lot to think about.

All that time she'd spent inside the pod deep in the grounds of Krakoa had been a true test of faith for her. She didn't know whether she, Lorna, or Hank would get out of those pods alive. When they were rescued, however, that was the moment Rahne had found herself praying to God, thanking Him that she was still alive.

But she also knew that those who'd been responsible for her powers now being the way they were, were staying in X-Corporation.

She didn't know how to feel towards Scott, Jean, Rogue, and Warren. The four of them had kidnapped her and brought her to Krakoa. As a result, her mutation had changed permanently. She would forever look like a half-human, half-wolf freak. It would forever give the world a reason to be afraid of her. She didn't know if Scott, Jean, Warren, and Rogue were worthy of forgiveness, given what they'd done. But at the same time, she wouldn't feel right if she didn't forgive them.

'I know why they did it,' she thought as she kept her hands folded in prayer. 'They were controlled. They were made to believe what they were doing was right. But still . . .'

Rahne closed her eyes as she heard a quiet knock at her bedroom door. Turning around, she saw Alex standing in the doorframe, leaning against it.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

Rahne sighed. "I don't know," she whispered. "Can you tell me how I'm supposed to face everyone at school when I look this way?"

Alex sighed. "I'm not sure, Rahne. I don't hold all the answers. Maybe the professor can work out something that can make you look human."

"Even if something like that existed, I would never feel human," Rahne said, gesturing to her new, wolf-like snout. "Look at me, Alex. I'd give for everything to be invisible right now."

"I know," Alex told her.

"How's your brother doing?" asked Rahne.

"He's still sleeping," Alex said, shaking his head. "I don't know what's going to be done with him. All I know is that there's the chance he could face a severe punishment for something that he had no control over. I don't want to see him going to jail, when he was manipulated and used."

"Is it bad to say that I'm not sure whether I can forgive him or not?" Rahne asked.

"Rahne, I know it's hard for you. But you need to try," Alex pleaded. "Okay? He deserves a second chance after all the hell he'd been put through all these years. What he needs is help. All four of them need our help."

"Well I hope they get the help that they need," said Rahne. "I'll try giving them another chance, Alex. It doesn't mean it'll be easy for me, though."

"I wasn't expecting it to be easy for you," said Alex, just as he heard Lorna rushing towards him. "Lorna, what is it?" he asked.

"I think he's waking up," she said to him.

Alex nodded, exiting Rahne's room to follow his girlfriend to his bedroom. Upon opening the door, he saw that Scott was stirring in his sleep and trying to force his eyes open. Quickly, Alex sat next to him and leaned a hand against Scott's shoulder gently.

"Easy, Scottie," he whispered. "It's all gonna be fine."

Scott let out a slightly wheezing breath as he whispered, "Alex" in a hoarse voice.

"It'll be fine," Alex repeated as he watched Scott's eyelids beginning to lift upward. Upon seeing Scott's blue orbs opening, Alex breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Scott come back to consciousness.

As Scott looked at his brother, he felt his eyes stinging with moisture. Alex reached forward and just grabbed his younger brother into an embrace, hugging him firmly as one of his hands moved to run through Scott's scalp gently. He felt Scott's form starting to shake as his tears dripped onto Alex's neck.

"It's okay I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," murmured Alex.

"I'm sorry Alex," Scott mumbled out tearfully, beginning to cry fiercely.

Alex just closed his eyes, rubbing a hand up and down Scott's back soothingly. As Alex kept Scott in a firm hug, he knew why Scott was crying. Scott was not only in relief that he had his brother back; he was also in deep confusion. Scott didn't know what was going to happen to him and his friends, let alone how he was going to move past his adoptive "parents'" betrayal towards him. However, Alex also knew that for now, Scott was safe in the Xavier Institute. It was just a matter of waiting things out, and seeing what would happen.