Jean's POV
"Rachel?" I look up from the rack of jumpsuits when the lights start to flicker around us. She is rubbing her temples furiously, eyes closed tightly. She's in pain.
And then shimmering gold energy bursts from her, spreading through the department. I blink away spots and rush to her side.
I should have been more cautious when Rachel told me she had a headache. I should have sensed that this was going to happen. Maybe then we wouldn't be getting circled by humans. With the glares they are giving us, I am surprised that they do not have pitchforks and torches.
"That girl's a mutant!" One man exclaims.
"Get out of my store, Freak," The manager hisses. On his name tag is a yellow smiley face with "Happy to help" written around it in black letters. Apparently, he is only willing to help humans because while my daughter is crying out in pain, he's glaring at us.
"We'll get out as soon as we can," I say, hoping to defuse the situation. I sense that another man has a concealed carry and is itchy to rid the earth of mutant scum (his thoughts, not mine). "You are only overwhelming her. I recommend that you all leave, now."
"Mom, I'm fine," Rachel whispers, wiping what looks like a combination of sweat and tears from her cheeks. She raises from her kneeling position, her legs shaking underneath her. "Let's just go."
Just as she speaks, there's a loud CRACK! from above us. I look up just in time to find a support beam crumbling down on us. Acting fast, I hold it up with telekinesis. Rachel's powers must have knocked it loose when she lost control of them.
The doom of the collapsing building was enough to get most people out of the store.
"You have some nerve reproducing, Mutee," The manager, who could have been crushed if I hadn't caught the beam, shouts at me. "We don't need any more of your kind on this earth!"
"Sir, you are going to be hit when I drop this, so you really need to leave," I snap. I can't keep the entire ceiling up forever, it's too heavy. But these stubborn homo sapiens aren't giving me much of an option.
"Is that a threat?" He demands. What the hell is wrong with this man?
Dividing my strength between both tasks, I shove the man out of the store with my powers. Then I grab Rachel by the hand and lead her out of the emergency exit in the back of the store. Once I'm certain everyone is safe, I let go of the ceiling.
I navigate around the back of the mall to the parking lot. It's snowing again, and I have to hold Rachel up a few times when her feet slip out from under her. Her eyes have rings of exhaustion under them. She's unfocused too, like whatever happened back at the store just sucked out all of her energy.
After making sure she is buckled in the car, I get behind the wheel. "Rachel, are you okay?" I watch her clench her fist shut and then open it back up slowly with a count of five. Over and over she does this action, her eyes glued to her hand. It's a method we use when teaching the students how to control their powers. If they have something to focus on, like a repetitive activity, then it calms them and makes it easier to find control.
She shakes her head. "That shouldn't have happened." Her voice is quiet and shaky.
"Every mutant loses control of their powers occasionally, especially at your age," I try to reassure. "The important thing is that we figure out why it happened. Does your head still hurt?"
Rachel whimpers. "There's a lot of pressure. I'm trying to keep it all contained but... but there is too much. Mom, I don't want to lose control again! I've never felt this much power before!"
She buries her head in her hands. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, I reach over and rub her back. Even though she has the power of the Phoenix, the Professor did warn us that her powers were still in their developing stage. Like most everything in puberty, powers don't fully manifest overnight. It's a process. Rachel's process is not over yet. "Can you take some deep breaths for me? It will be worse if you're worked up. Breathe, Rachel. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Can you do that?"
She takes in a shaky breath and squeezes her hand tight again. She exhales through her mouth and opens her fingers again.
"Good job. We're almost home," I say. I cannot deny that I am speeding, but I am taking uncrowded streets and haven't spotted a police car yet.
As we drive up the gravel road up to the mansion, and I open the garage, Rachel turns to me for the first time. Drying tear tracks stain her cheeks. "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize," I say softly, wiping away her tears with my thumb. "It isn't your fault."
"I could have killed those people. If... if you hadn't been there to catch the ceiling when it starting to fall, then..."
"Shh," I stroke her hair, leaning over to kiss the top of the head. "I promise you, Rachel, it will be okay. No lives were lost, and the only damage was to the property. In a few months, that store will be back up running again as nothing happened. This will all be old news soon enough. Don't worry."
I can tell that she isn't convinced, but we cannot worry about that right now. We must get her inside to see the Professor before the pressure in her mind builds up too much again.
The decision Scott and I made to prevent him from putting psychic barriers in her mind like he did mine is for the best in the future, but unfortunately, it is having some unpleasant circumstances now. I feel bad, but it is for the best that she learns to control the bulk of her powers now instead of later in life like I was forced to.
Thanks, Professor.
Scott is working on his motorcycle in the garage when we arrive. He stands up, wiping oily hands off on a towel. "Hey, how was shopping— what's wrong?" Maybe the distress was transferred through our psychic rapport, or maybe he just noticed our expressions. Either way, he is rushing to us, frowning.
"We had an incident at the mall. I think Rachel's powers are growing quite quickly," I explain.
"I lost control." She hangs her head in shame. I'm quick to wrap my arm around her, hugging her gently to my side.
"Oh." His frown deepens. "Was it just your powers or did the Phoenix...?"
"No. Just my telepathy... and maybe my telekinesis. I don't know."
Unlike me, Rachel has complete control of the Phoenix. From what she has told me, she was born with a bond to the being. Even if it ever decided to find another host, she will always be tied to it because of the bond.
It is scary to me to think that my daughter will always be connected with the being that nearly destroyed my life. But as long as she's happy and healthy with it, then I try not to think about it too much. I've already spent too many sleepless nights because of the Phoenix, I do not need or want anymore.
So we take her upstairs, and the Professor is already waiting for us in his study. Rachel hugs her knees to her chest once she's seated in the chair across the desk. I watch Scott puts a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it.
"I can take it from here," The Professor promises. I know that he likes to work alone when it comes to these situations. He told me once it is so no one but him will get hurt in the events that the mutant powers go absolutely haywire. Nevertheless, I don't feel right leaving her like this. As her mother, I should be right by her side.
The next thing I know, it's my shoulder Scott has his hand on, and he's coaxing me from the room. I refuse to go any further than the hallway outside of the office, so we lean against the opposite wall.
"Did she hurt anyone?" he asks, breaking the silence that we'd fallen into for many minutes.
"No, only caused some property damage and anger amongst the other shoppers," I tell him, staring at the door in front of me. I can barely hear the Professor's voice through it, but it is too thick and he is speaking too softly to be able to tell what he is saying.
Scott cups the back of my neck, massaging it. "If he was able to put up with you, I'm sure Rachel will be fine in there. You should keep your stress levels down."
I roll my eyes. "Wow, thanks for the advice, Scott. I don't know why I haven't tried that before." Does he not realize that even if it weren't for Rachel, I would still be stressed? The world has all but declared an official war against mutants, and the day where they do is coming soon. Mutants are already starting to show up dead in their own houses. It is far from a coincidence that their deaths have been becoming more frequent since mutant hate groups have started publicizing their causes.
But I digress because right now my main focus needs to be on Rachel.
By the time the door opens and the Professor wheels out, dinner has already ended and the student's curfew is approaching. Scott has paced the hall nearly a thousand times and has probably racked up at least four thousand steps on his Fitbit.
"Is she okay?" I ask. I sigh a breath of relief when he nods.
"You were correct, Jean. Her powers were growing at a faster rate than she could easily control them. I've helped gain control of them, and no, don't worry. I did not use psychic barriers of any kind. She just needs to rest now. She'll be much better in the morning."
"Thank you, Professor." Scott headed into the office. I watch him scoop Rachel up from the chair, putting her arm around his shoulder to carry her. We go up to her bedroom together, laying her on the bed. As gently as I could, I untie her sneakers and take them off her feet. Scott tucks her stuffed elephant under her arm and I cover her with her blanket.
She sleeps peacefully the rest of the night.
To Be Continued...
AN: Don't worry, everyone, Jean and Rachel aren't going to be the only ones causing a scene in public! Stay tuned for chapter 5 when a familiar face will be returning :)