I know, I know, I know! I'm a horrible author. To be honest, I didn't realize how long it has been since I've updated and I apologize profusely. Between finishing up my degree, work, finding a 'big girl job' and more work and then COVID; my mental health has not allowed for much creative functioning. But I had a stroke of inspiration recently and I promise to try and be a better author. And as penance, another NEW chapter.
_

We managed to get the dishes knocked out fairly quick, not that there was much to wash to begin with. After passing the time in comfortable silence, I was a bit surprised when Logan offered to sit and talk for a bit, the man did not strike me as much of a conversationalist; yet we found ourselves across from each other at the four-top table, shooting the breeze.

"So, there's twenty of yas? All on one property?" the look on his face was a mix of confused and impressed, "How in the world does that work?"

"Well," I laughed at his question, it's always the same one when people find out there's so many of us, "There's a few different buildings on twenty acres. It's not like we're all shoved into one house. My parents live in the main house with Nick, Flo and the littles, once they're older, they'll probably move out to one of the cabins we use for storage. The Williams live in a converted barn on the East side, did the conversion themselve, turned out great. The Millersons' took over the original homestead cabin, renovated of course but still authentic feeling to the North and The Franklins renoed and connected two of the old bunkhouses into one U-shaped home. I moved into the old mill on the Southern edge, by the river, when I was sixteen."

"So you live by yourself? And your folks are ok with that?" more confusion, then impressed and a little concern thrown in on his face.

"Well, I asked if I could, and we had a big family discussion about it. There was an...incident," I explained, "I kind, sorta, almost burntdownthehouse." I rushed out that last part with one breath. I kept my eyes locked on the table top in embarassment.

"You did what now?" He asked with a chuckle.

"We were in my room and Calla was being well, Cal, and there were some of my candles in the window and I may have accidently caused the wicks to burn higher than they should have. I should know better, the girl knows how to push my buttons, but for some reason she just was really irritating that day. We had to replace the drywall, because the flames jumped to the curtains and up the wall. Thankfully there wasn't any structural damage but, still..." I trailed off, keeping my eyes firmly down to avoid showing the tears that were welling up, "I was already using the mill as my workshop, so I asked if I could just move into the loft. That way if I accidently set fire to it, no one would be homeless."

"And they just let you?"

"Well when I say 'asked', it was more along the lines of 'I'm either moving my stuff in there with permission or I'm just going to slowly start shifting everything piece by piece and falling asleep out there.' So one was just a faster solution then the other."

"Well then," he paused, "What kind of workshop?"

I slowly looked up and made eye contact, blinking slowly at the change in subject but was happy to oblige. "When I said my candles, I meant, my candles. I make them, and personal care products: body washes, shaving creams, lotions and the like. I sell them at the Farmer's Market in the summer, Red's Apothocary, I'm Red." I let out a laugh.

He snorted in amusement, "Sell much?"

"Pretty decent, do some mail orders in the off season for my regulars too. Just depends on the scent."

"She's who I get that Sandalwood and Tobacco body wash and shave cream set you like from." A light feminine voice, cut in, "You know the one you complain about not needing and yet still smell like on a regular basis."

"Well 'Ro, I'm not about to waste it. And since you keep buying it." He grumbled back.

I smiled up at a familiar face, and held back a snicker at his put out one. "Ms. Munro, I didn't know you taught here. I knew you were a teacher but..." The white haired beauty smiled warmly and slid into the open seat next to me, "Have you seen the other girls yet?"

She hummed in the affirmative, "I've had all of them in at least one of my classes today, all except you. Of Course. The Professor told me about your, accident, at lunch when Summer asked after you." I groaned, "Don't worry, he didn't tell them anything, just that you weren't feeling well and had gone to lie down."

I sighed in relief, "Last thing they need today is to worry about me, especially Summer."

"She seemed to be doing ok," Ms. Munro went on, "Passed my pop quiz today, despite not having been in class for any of the material."

I smiled proudly, "She's a smart one, just easily panicked. She had a nightmare last night. She doesn't do change well." I paused to cover a yawn, "Slept in my bed, I took the sleeping bag on the floor."

"No wonder you hit the floor Hippie," I jumped at the sound of Logan's voice, blushing profusely; I'd forgotten the man was sitting right across from me. "Why don't ya hit the hay for a few. Dinner isn't until six and it's only..." He craned his neck, checking the clock on the wall, "3:30. Ya got time."

I nodded slowly, trying to think of an argument for not needing a nap. I couldn't think of one and when I tried to fight another yawn and lost, I conceded. "That doesn't sound like a terrible idea." I stood slowly, hoping I wasn't hit with another dizzy spell, "If you'll both excuse me." I smiled at the pair, receiving a short nod from Logan and another warm smile from Ms. Munro.

I made my way to the entrance of the kitchenette. "You can call me Ororo, you know that Phi." I stopped just inside the hallway and turned to the woman and nodded tiredly. "Sleep well."

I turned back to the hall and made my way to my door. By the time I reached for the knob, my whole body felt heavy and cold. I reached to pull the blanket around my shoulders tighter, only to realize I had left it behind. Too tired to worry about that now, I pushed my way through the door, that suddenly weighed a ton, and stumbled into the room.

I pulled the covers on my bed up and slipped in, curling up as tightly as possible, trying to keep myself warm. It didn't help much at all but was enough to let me fall into an uncomfortable sleep.

Logan's POV

I watched her back as she retreated down the fall; something didn't feel right with her. Ro's voice cut through that train of thought, "Blanket." I turned my head and cocked an eyebrow, "Phi, she forgot her blanket," she elaborated, holding up the purple fleece.

I reclined in my seat, stretching my legs out under the table, "I'll take it to her later. When I go get her for dinner." It was her turn to raise a brow, "The Professor wants me to keep close, just in case. I'm the only one who doesn't have a full course load." The dark skinned beauty smirked and nodded. "How d'ya know her anyway?" I asked crossing my arms across my chest.

"I told you, she make the stuff I pick up at the Farmer's Market in the family also has a stand, they sell produce and food stuffs. Like she told you, she also does mail order for her regulars. I am a regular." I grunted at the information, "Everyone helps out. I've met all but the youngest two at some point or another. Flo was still pregnant with the twins last I saw her."

I hmmmed, "It's not a bad body wash and the shave cream does alright, I guess." I supplied absentmindedly. I heard a faint laugh from the science teacher; deciding to let myself be distracted, I watched as a pick up game got started on the basketball court, through the window. The sound of multiple sets of feet made me lull my head to the other side. I smirked as a group of 7 girls shuffled past the arch in a hurry. "Four o'clock then?"

Ro stood from the table, her chair making a scraping noise across the floor, "Must be. I should go and get some grading done. See you at dinner." I uncrossed my arms enough to give a short wave and turned back to the window.

I sat, watching as Blink played an entire team of other students by himself. I let out an amused huff as I saw him pass the ball to an empty space, only to appear just in time to catch it. I kept watch, not really focusing, as the boy just flashed from one spot to the next; I heard a light knock from down the hall, "Phi?" A young voice called out, "You there?"

A pause, then a sturdier knock and a more sure voice, "Phoenix?" another firm knock, "You in there?"

I wasn't sure of how much time had passed, but I knew that the redhead had indeed gone to her room and was pretty sure that she didn't sneak back past me; my curiosity was peeked. I knew she was tired but didn't strike me as the 'sleep through a bomb' type, unlike some students. Sighing, I stretched back from the table and stood, making sure to grab the forgotten blanket as I went.

By the time I had made it down the hall, all seven of them were crowding the door and whispering to each other. "Excuse me, let me get in here." I managed to manuver around two sets of identical faces and a pair of blondes, the older of which was trying to keep the younger calm. "Hey, doom and gloom, ya mind?" The brunette that was in front of the door let her head fall back to look up at me. She shrugged and motioned towards the door as if to say, 'knock yourself out.' As she side stepped out of the way, I let out another sigh and rolled my eyes at the girl.

I brought my fist down in a rough knock, "Hippie, you good?" No answer. One more knock, "Red?" Still no answer. As silence rang out from behind the door, a feeling of dread settled into the pit of my stomach. Not sure why I felt that way or why there wasn't the slightest sound coming from behind the door, I turned back to the gaggle of concerned sisters, "Why don't you lot go finish up your homework or whatever and I'll check on her."

I tried my best to sound more "approachable" and "comforting" in my tone; both Jean and Ro have told me I could come off as "gruff" and "intimidating" at times and this particular audience looked spooked enough.

"But-" the smallest blonde started to protest, but fell silent when she looked up at me. The older blonde just smiled a sad smile in my direction and pulled the little one close and whispered something in her ear. She sniffled and nodded, following her sister into one of the rooms.

Four sets of eyes watched me wearily as they passed by and went into another room. The remaining sister, the same brunette from before, just looked me up and down with a bored expression on her face, quirked an eyebrow and shrugged, "Whatever" and went to the first room alone.

After hearing multiple clicks, assuring me that all of them were contained behind shut doors, I turned back to the room in question. I knocked again, firmer this time, "Hippie, ya decent?" When she didn't answer, I gripped the knob and pushed, "Well, ya better be, because I'm coming in." More silence.

I was met with no resistence as the door opened and I stepped into the dark room. I gave time for my eyes to adjust and scanned the room, "Well, where the hell did she go?" I whispered to myself, not seeing any sign of her. "Dammit." I cursed under my breath and threw the blanket I had still been holding onto the bed, turning on my heel ready to go tell the professor I lost her.

A huff sounded from the bed and I pivoted back around. Taking a step closer, I noticed a lump in the middle of the bed that I had missed before. I pulled the covers back slowly and there, curled into the tiniest ball she could manage, was the missing occupant. She was shaking so hard, I thought se was having a seizure, "Phi?" I called out to her.

When she didn't respond to her name, I knealt down next to the bed, "Phoenix?" I asked a little louder with a more firm tone, still nothing. I reached out to shake her shoulder, the side of my palm brushing her neck. I pulled my hand back fast, she was burning up. So much for no fever. I thought back on what Jean had said earlier. I looked down to see a pair of blue-gray eyes trying to focus up at me.

"So, cold," she whispered so softly I almost didn't hear her. Her teeth gave a slight chatter and I could see sweat beading on her face.

Cold? I thought, She feels like she's on fire. Without hesitation, I stood up, wrapped her in the blanket she had forgotten and picked her up as if she were the lightest thing in the world.

For the second time today, I carried the young ginger woman towards the hall elevator. "We gotta stop meeting like this." I murmured into her hair, which was sticking up all over the place. I adjusted my grip on the still shivering girl as the doors shut and we headed down to med bay, again.