A big thank you to everyone who is reading this story. As well as a thank you to those who have added it to their follow/favourite list.

Shout out for all of your kind words on the last chapter: Guest, Cassie-011, Intothevoid, Mary-Ann, Isandxd, Guest and D Xin. Thank you all for leaving a message and loving the dynamic within the story.

To Guest: I did not mind your mammoth of a review, it was so lovely to hear your thoughts on different matters within the story. On Charles, on Ann and as well as where she might stand with Erik at some point. I hope I will be able to keep you interested with the story :)

Enjoy this new chapter!

Chapter 8 - All eyes on you

The room was as grim, cold and uninspired as any place could possibly get. The wallpaper was absolutely horrid. A cool beige with an odd pattern, as if somebody had thrown several sponges against it. A dark wooden floor which was mostly covered underneath a large Persian rug. If anything, that carpet was probably the most beautiful thing in the entire room. And lastly, situated in the corner and underneath a window, was a small double bed. It was large enough. Unfortunately the mattress was incredibly soft and the sheets weren't very inviting either.

Ann could go on and on about her sleeping accommodations, as well as the rest of the room and why she detested it. Though admittingly, it wasn't exactly the worst of places she had ever been and if she had to be completely honest, the room wasn't even the real issue here. It was Ann herself. She'd slept quite alright, despite waking up a couple of times due to several doors opening and closing near hers. If that was going to be a nightly occurrence, she was going to get her hands on a pair of earplugs.

Eventually she woke up one last time around six o'clock and found herself unable to fall back asleep. She had stared at the concrete ceiling for a couple of minutes, replaying last night events in her mind. Why things had gone the way they did and if whether or not she had overreacted at any certain point during her talk with Erik.

She hadn't been in the best of moods and it only got worse as their conversation progressed. She still didn't quite understand why Charles had apologized to her for not interrupting Erik sooner. It was true it hadn't gone as she had hoped for and that had most likely to do with the fact that Erik had a specific goal in mind by asking her about her powers. Ann compared it to her exchange with Raven the day before and there had been significant differences. Raven had shown a genuine curiosity towards what she could do, whereas Erik had shown a specific interest and tried to uncover details. What did she need in order to find someone?

'If you had something that once belonged to Shaw, would you even try to find him?'

She had told him yes, even though her initial reaction was to say no. The look in Erik's eyes had frightened her and he himself had confirmed her suspicion that he was willing to do anything in order to get to Shaw. Ann was beginning to believe that the only reason why Erik was with them, was for his own personal gain and not because he wanted to be around people who were like him. She was beginning to regret telling him yes, because it had been a lie. Even if there was a slight change she could help him, she wasn't going to. But something told her she had dug her own grave and that Erik had something up his sleeve to make sure she was going to keep her word.

::::::...::::::

It was nine o'clock and Ann was sitting on a marble bench in one of the courtyards reading the same book she had brought with her on the plane two days ago. She had no idea where the others were, not having encountered any of them as of yet despite the time of day. In fact, she hadn't seen Moira at all anymore since dinner last night. Ann wondered if the agent had stayed at the base even. If the latter was the case, she might bring up the idea of staying somewhere else herself. Though she already knew what Moira's answer to that was going to be.

"Ann!" A voice yelled from across the small square and the woman looked up to see a familiar blonde running her way.

"Gee, this place is humungous." Raven noted as she plopped down, slightly out of breath. "Not that I've been roaming around or anything, I was with Hank in his lab."

Ann closed her book and placed it in her lap, slightly surprised. Raven had disappeared after dinner last night, at the same time as Hank had. She hadn't thought too much of it, but seeing as Raven seemingly spent her morning with the young scientist already, perhaps that's where she'd also been last night. Apparently the two of them had taken an instant liking to each other. Ann couldn't help but envy her a little. She wasn't skilled at all when it came to making new friends or keeping them for that matter. Raven seemed to possess a natural ability for it.

"Already in the lab at this time of day?" Ann asked with a small grin.

"He's an early bird,- and a night owl actually. I was also with him last night." The young woman quickly added.

"You don't say?"

Raven nodded vigorously. "Hank is,- quite amazing. I mean, don't you think? He's smart. He makes stuff. He asked for my help with something scientific. Me! Not even Charles."

Her face was practically beaming and Ann let out a soft chuckle. It seemed meeting another mutant was really brightening Raven's day. Even more so as Hank showed an interest in the young woman as well. To whatever end that was intended for, Ann didn't know. It sounded harmless so far, but then again, she was a sceptical person by nature.

"I'm certain your brother felt heartbroken."

Raven shrugged. "Charles has his own life and I have mine. Besides, he was too busy taking care of other things. I doubt he was worried about my whereabouts."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Erik tried to leave last night."

"He did?" Ann's brow furrowed automatically and she cocked her head, eyeing the other woman questioningly.

"I don't know all the details, I came across Charles as I was coming back from the lab and he told me he was on his way to stop Erik from leaving. He also added I wasn't allowed to interfere." She twitched her mouth as she said that.

This all must have happened some time last night after he had left the sitting room. Was that the reason behind all of those doors opening and closing near hers? A sense of guilt went through Ann. Could it be he was planning on leaving because she'd told him she wasn't able to find Shaw? No, that was preposterous. Ann doubted someone like Erik would let himself be stopped by such a simple matter. But Charles had deemed his leaving serious enough to try and stop him apparently.

"Raven, you said he tried to leave?"

She nodded. "I spotted him a couple of minutes ago. Whatever Charles said to him, it did the trick."

"Any idea what he might have said?" Ann questioned but Raven shrugged.

"Beats me. But that's not why I'm here. I was actually looking for you." She jumped up. "Well, it is Hank who asked if I could go and find you. Will you come with me?"

"Me?" She frowned with surprise, what could Hank possibly want from her? She hadn't even properly spoken with the young scientist since meeting him yesterday. "Whatever for?"

"I don't know. Come on." Instead of letting Ann get up herself, she grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her with.

Ann clutched her book tightly against her chest as Raven hooked her arm through hers. This girl had way too much energy coursing through her veins. Ann was starting to feel dizzy already. Albeit rather reluctantly, she let herself be abducted for whatever unknown reason. If Raven was this enthusiastic, it couldn't possibly be that bad, could it?

::::::...::::::

Hank was obviously nervous, his entire demeanour showed it. From the way he kept readjusting his glasses to the shifting of his weight from one foot to the other. His jittery behaviour did nothing for Ann's state of mind, who was convinced that allowing Raven to drag her along towards the lab had been a bad decision. The young scientist cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head as he looked at the caramel haired woman over the rim of his spectacles.

"Ann. Thank you so much for coming." Hank smiled shyly. "I didn't think you would accept my request, especially after having only met yesterday, and from what Charles has told me,-" He suddenly paused to look at the blonde standing behind Ann, coughing into her hand before shaking her head vigorously. "Anyway, once again thank you for being willing to help."

Ann arched an eyebrow at Hank's choice of words. Charles had said something to him about her? The woman could only imagine what it was the professor had to say about her. Something negative most likely. But she was not in the mood to discuss it as it would surely put a damper on both Hank and Raven's apparent enthusiasm. Ann did however wonder why Hank was already under the impression she was here to help him?

"I'm sorry, Hank. But I'm not even sure why I'm here in the first place?"

Hank blinked, slightly confused and he turned his attention to Raven. "You didn't tell her?"

The blonde shrugged. "It was too specific for me to remember, but I got the most important part. Would you please go and ask Ann to come? Which I did." She smiled warmly at the guy causing his cheeks to slightly redden.

"That's okay. I'll explain it myself." And again Hank cleared his throat. He walked over to a desk, followed by lifting something from it.

Ann was starting to feel a little bit worried now. Hank's restlessness and the way he seemed to be stalling his explanation. Raven had mentioned she'd been helping Hank out with some scientific stuff. Could this mean that he needed her for something exactly like that? A thing which Raven couldn't have helped him with? Hank was making his way back to the table she was currently standing behind. It was then Ann caught a glimpse of the object he'd just pulled off the other desk.

It looked white and rubbery, like a swimming cap one would wear in a pool or the ocean. Only this thing had about a dozen wires attached to it. Ann followed the cords until her eyes landed on a machine with switches and a television screen situated on top of it. Warning signs went off in her mind.

"What the bloody hell is that?!" Ann's eyes grew wide as saucers and she leaned forward to take a closer look as Hank set it on the table before her.

"This,-" He grunted as he tried not to get tangled up in the wires. "Is what's going on your head."

"That is not going on my head." The woman told him firmly immediately standing back.

"It has to if I want to measure your brain waves. I need to see what part of it lights up when you use your powers. That way I can tell if I have strengthened the right location on my Cerebro machine."

Machine? He did want to test something on her. Ann's eyes shot to Raven for a quick second and she threw the girl an angry glare filled with betrayal. Obviously Raven could not have grasped the impact a matter like this would have had on Ann, but she still blamed the young woman for dragging her to the lab without explanation.

Hank raised his hand and motioned for Ann to relax. "Nothing will happen. It only assesses what goes on in your mind. The machine I'm working on is a transmitter, one that will amplify brainwaves. I designed it so it will enhance Charles's telepathy powers."

"In that case, you can go and test it on him. Fry his brain for all I care, I'm not a guinea-pig."

Hank looked over at Raven, obviously searching for a little help here. He wasn't skilled in these type of situations. Talking to women that was. Heck, he'd been incredibly surprised that asking Raven for help had gone as easily as it did. Whatever he managed to accomplish with her, did not seem to go as smoothly with Ann. Charles warned him this would happen, but he had wished him luck all the same. Hank had honestly hoped the man had been joking. Clearly, he hadn't.

"It won't fry your brain. It measures it." Hank repeated, throwing another pleading look at Raven. He was starting to feel rather annoyed with Ann. Charles seemed more than happy about this idea when he told him about it this morning during breakfast. He'd responded incredibly eager even.

"It's probably fine, Ann." Raven finally spoke up. "Hank took some blood samples from me last night because he wanted to see how my cells work. He think my mutation is amazing."

Whatever desired effect she was hoping to achieve with these words, clearly didn't happen as Ann looked even more hesitant to help than before. In fact, she looked a little shocked.

"You do realize he works for the CIA, Raven." The woman exclaimed.

"Uh, with,- not for." Hank interjected but nobody seemed to hear him as Raven started to raise her voice.

"That doesn't say anything. Technically, we work for them too. Besides, Hank is one of us. He never even told the CIA he was a mutant. I'm certain he has our best interest at heart and not that of the CIA." For the longest time the two women stared at each other. Raven confident and calm, Ann defensive and anxious.

Hank felt most uncomfortable and was actually contemplating on leaving the lab all together. He was rather grateful for what Raven had just said about him. She was right, though. He did care more about them than his job prospects with the CIA. He would leave them in a heartbeat the second he realized they were planning on using them or his scientific discoveries for their own personal gain, or worse. He would never let them harm other mutants.

"If you're not going to help Hank then I will." Raven said as she stepped up to the table to place her hands on the rubbery cap. "May I?" She asked Hank.

The young scientist blinked at her. "Oh, no. You wouldn't be able to. Only people who have some type of extrasensory perception can. At least, that's the idea." He muttered under his breath.

"Oh." Raven said. "Why didn't you ask Charles to help you?"

Hank let out a deep sigh. "Because Charles's power only extends this far. From what I understand your reach,-" He turned his head to Ann. "Can go as far as the other side of the world. I know your mutation is not the same as Charles, but it is similar in the sense. I merely want to have a look so I'll know if I need any further adjustment to the device I'm building in the tower."

"Tower?" Ann frowned.

"The dome outside, you've probably seen it during the tour yesterday."

Right, now she remembered. He was referring to that odd looking gigantic golf ball she'd spotted not only during the tour but also from the large rectangular window in the sitting room last night. Ann let her eyes roam over the cap once more. It seemed this was merely a testing instrument and not the actual device Hank was talking about. But whatever Charles was planning on using it for, was still unclear to her.

"What is Charles going to do with it?" She asked.

"The plan is to find others like us. Perhaps even find Shaw, if we're lucky."

Raven turned to Ann and gave her a smile of comfort. "Sounds like a good plan, if you ask me."

Find Shaw? Ann blinked with surprise, a little disbelief even. Charles was planning on finding Shaw himself? In all honesty, she figured that eventually the CIA would approach her help for it. Wasn't that the main reason why Moira had gone through so much trouble to persuade her to stay in the United States and join the others? Ann hadn't made it a secret that she had doubts on whether or not she could do it. But now it seemed there was another plan on the table when it came to finding Shaw and she wasn't involved in it. Apart from the fact that Hank needed to scan her brain in order to improve his machine for Charles.

Ann looked at Raven and Hank, her fear had subsided in the meantime. They were both trying their best to convince her to help out. She didn't know Hank, she hardly even knew Raven. But based on their words and what she'd learned about the girl since meeting her for the first time, what would she gain with refusing a small request like this? She licked her lips nervously and nodded.

"Alright. I'll help."

Without hesitation, Hank lifted the cap from the table with a broad smile. "Please, sit." He said gleefully, not willing to waste anymore time or give Ann the opportunity to change her mind.

Ann did as she was told, but never took her eyes of the dozen of wires plopping onto the floor. "Will I feel anything?"

"No, no. Not a thing. Once I place this on your head, you'll lie down on the table. Close your eyes, or keep them open, whatever you like and then just,- you know. Do your thing."

"Do my thing?" She frowned.

"Locate Raven." Hank said.

"I beg your pardon?"

Raven placed her hands on the table right next to Ann. "I will go somewhere within the facility and you have to find me. With your head, I mean."

It sounded simple enough. But in order for her to find Raven, Ann needed something. Some sort of personal belonging. She nodded at the ascot wrapped around Raven's neck. "Mind if I borrow that?"

"Oh, right. I forgot about that." Raven unwrapped the tie and pushed it into Ann's hands. "I'll leave now, give me two minutes. But you have to tell us properly where I am. I need proof for myself to see if you can actually do it."

"Groovy."

Ann pressed her lips in a tight line as Raven waved and dashed out of the lab, leaving her and Hank behind. A weird tension settling around them the second the blonde had left the room. Hank lifted the cap and furrowed his brow in an apologetic manner. Ann shimmied further back on the table and threw her hair over one shoulder as Hank lowered the device onto her head. It was heavier than she'd anticipated, lying down was definitely the way to go. Hank pressed the cap firmly against her head, before adjusting the straps underneath to secure the object in its place.

With a bit of help from the young scientist, Ann lied down on the table and moved around a bit until she was more comfortable, as far as that was possible. Hank walked away from the table and headed to the machine across from her. He flipped a couple of switches and a soft hum entered Ann's mind. Her heart was practically beating out of her chest and the palms of her hands were sweaty. She inhaled deeply through her nose and closed her eyes.

"Is it working?" Hank's voice suddenly sounded from her left and Ann opened one eye to look at him.

"If you give me a second." She replied. "I haven't even started yet."

"Right, sorry, I'll just watch the monitor." He apologized stepping back in the process.

Ann waited a couple of seconds before redirecting her attention to Raven's ascot and once again she shut her eyes. That familiar tug and tingling sensation shot through her body. It was an odd feeling, like when you're in bed with your eyes closed and your blanket wrapped around you, when all of sudden you feel yourself falling and you wake up with a jolt. The sensation settled and the next thing she noticed was the clicking sound of a pair of heels echoing.

'Concrete floors. Concrete walls. Men in black suits and black ties throwing her certain looks.

Wherever Raven was going, it was definitely somewhere in the facility.
Ann couldn't imagine the girl was planning on actually hiding somewhere, not with all of those people around.

Suddenly Raven came to a halt as a familiar face rounded the corner in the distance.
A tall dark haired man, wearing a turtle neck and a brown leather jacket.
He hardly acknowledged Raven as he headed her way down the hall.
He looked up, nodded and was about to pass her when she jumped in front of him.

"Erik, you are just the person I'm looking for." She said to him.

He was obviously startled with her unexpected behaviour. It almost seemed as if he was about to step around her and keep on walking.

"Do you know any jokes, Erik?" She then asked.

"I'm sorry?"

Ann felt a laugh bubbling up. This was probably Raven's idea of finding proof that she had actually been inside the young woman's mind. Poor Erik. Although Ann didn't really feel sorry for him. The puzzled frown and look of confusion was rather interesting thing to see on the guy.

"Or you can just say hello." Raven said instead. "I'm not even sure if she's here and hearing any of this. I don't feel a thing."

"Am I missing something here?" Erik blinked, clearly befuddled by everything Raven was saying to him.

"I'm talking about Ann. We're testing her powers. She's currently looking for me,- or through me? I'm not sure." Raven tapped the side of her head.

Erik didn't reply this time. Instead he took a step closer to the girl and narrowed his eyes, as if he was trying to find something. After a couple of seconds he straightened himself. "Where?"

"In the lab. Come on. Let's head back together."

Bloody hell.

Ann breathed in deeply as she came back into her own body. She opened her eyes and immediately reached for the straps underneath her chin. Of all the people Raven could have encountered it had to be someone who Ann did not trust when it came to her gift. She had to get out of the lab before they would arrive.

"Here, allow me."

A hand reached for her face and Ann felt the strap loosen soon after. However the voice belonging to the person who'd helped her, was not Hank's. She looked up and stared into a pair of bright blue eyes locking with her. Charles Xavier. He smiled as he removed the heavy cap from her head and set it down on the table next to her. When had he entered the lab?

"You have a very interesting brain." He commented.

Ann had no idea how long he had been standing there. Observing her. Watch her as she was unaware of her surroundings while using her power. But she didn't feel comfortable at all. Not anymore.

"I bet you say that to all the girls." Ann retorted as she propped up on her elbows.

"I usually say other things to girls. I figured you would appreciate this compliment more."

There was that cocky grin again. Ann averted her eyes from him towards Hank as she pushed herself upward. "Did you find what you were looking for, Hank?"

"I think so. I was right or perhaps Charles was right. Thanks to you, I believe I now know where I need to make some alteration for my transmitter to work." His eyes were shining as he talked about it.

"Glad I could help. Now, if you two gentlemen will excuse me." She slid off the table as Charles walked around the table towards Hank.

"Job well done. Unfortunately for me, that does mean I owe you lunch." He patted the scientist on his shoulder and chuckled.

Lunch? Ann stopped and turned around at the door, eyeing the two warily. "Owe him lunch?"

"Oh, I had promised Hank here, I would buy him lunch for the entire week if he'd managed to convince you to help out with his research."

Immediately there was that same uncomfortable feeling Hank had experienced earlier. He watched Charles and the woman stare at each other from the corner of his eye. Quietly he took a step back and bumped against his desk, followed a second later by the distinctive sound of glass breaking. He lowered his gaze and spotted his empty coffee mug broken on the floor. When he looked back up, Ann was already making her way out of the lab with Charles not too far behind.

Feels like a good place to end it, doesn't it? I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Not a lot of Erik in this one, I do apologise for that.

Would love to hear your thoughts or anything else you wish to share.

Until next time and have a great day!