Chapter 9- Arrival
Sarah looked in dumbstruck awe at the Xavier mansion. So this was where her real father lived. It was amazing and felt kind of familiar, but no memories came to mind as she looked. "Anything?" Naomi asked.
"Nope. It looks familiar. I will give it that, but I have nothing. Nothing comes to mind," Sarah said as they got out of the car.
"Maybe something will when you see Xavier. I just hope he's in and not finding students right now. I also hope he's very forgiving as I was the one who stole his daughter," Jackson said, scrubbing his face wearily with his large hand.
"Maybe he won't be angry if I say I don't blame you for it as you saved me from being a lab rat and later a weapon against him," Sarah said as they walked into the main foyer. It was enormous with oak panels and staircases. It looked like something out of the books Sarah read about England.
Sarah's eyes roamed the foyer, not even noticing the person who came up to talk to her mother and father. Her eyes then went back to a man with horn-rimmed glasses and brown hair. "Hi, my name is Hank McCoy. I'm one of the teachers here at the school," Hank said as he shook hands with all of them.
"I'm Jackson Nicholls, my wife Naomi, and our daughter, Sarah. I need to see Charles Xavier. Is he in?" Jackson asked
"He's in his office. I'll show you the way," Hank said and he walked down a hall to a set of doors that appeared to slide back. Hank knocked.
"Yes?" A distinct British voice asked from inside.
"Charles, I have someone who wants to see you," Hank said.
"Show them in, Hank," the voice said.
"I'd better go in first. He's going to be shocked. I had better prepare him," Jackson said with a visible gulp as he entered the office.
Charles looked up from paperwork as a man entered his office. The man was of medium height, light complexion, and blond hair and brown eyes. Another thing Charles noticed was how nervous the man looked. "Hello. My name is Charles Xavier. May I help you?" Charles asked.
"Professor, you don't know me, but I know all about this place and I know your daughter, Amanda," the man said, nearly felling Charles.
"Amanda? How do you know my daughter?" Charles asked in a low voice.
"My name is Dr. Jackson Nicholls. I worked at a medical facility for William Stryker. He kidnapped your daughter and a couple of other mutants. I was just like him. I didn't see Amanda and those children as kids. I saw them as he did; not a viable human being. Stryker made me inject all of them with a serum that has affected their minds. Professor, Amanda doesn't remember you or any of this, which is surprising as eidetic memory is one of her mutations," Nicholls said.
"Where is she?" Charles asked, feeling sadness, anger, and happiness all at once.
"Outside in the hall. But, she really doesn't remember anything. The drug was that effective. Once I saw what it did to her, I walked away from Stryker's plans and took her with me to protect her," Nicholls said.
Charles opened the door and saw Hank and a short dark woman sitting next to a girl, who looked fourteen or fifteen. Charles felt his breath catch as he looked at the girl. She had shoulder-length brown hair and was smiling at the woman. The look was one Moira had when happy. "Allow me, Professor. Hey, Sass," Nicholls said, flicking his fingertips at Amanda's ear.
"Abba, stop it," Amanda said, rolling her eyes. Correction, Charles's eyes.
"Sarah, I want you to meet someone. This is Charles Xavier," Nicholls said, resting a hand on Amanda's thin shoulder and pushing her to Charles. A look of surprise entered her blue eyes.
"You! I know you," Amanda said, her voice trembling slightly.
You should. You have always known me, my love," Charles said, pulling her down so her eyes could meet his.
"I used to see you at odd times during the day; often when I was reading a book," Amanda said, as Charles stroked her hair and face gently. It was to his immense joy that she didn't back away from him.
"I used to read to you every night after dinner and before you went to bed. You would sit on my lap and help me turn the pages," Charles said. Amanda's eyes filled with tears. Charles raised his hand to her temples.
"What are you doing?" Amanda asked.
"Allow me to do this, Amanda. I want to go into your mind and see the damage that was done," Charles said, stroking her forehead tenderly with his temples.
"Charles, maybe we should do this in my lab," Hank suggested.
"All right. I can wait a few minutes. Jennifer?" Charles asked a young girl as she walked down the hallway.
"Yes, Professor?" The girl asked.
"Will you go to my private quarters and get Mrs. Xavier and David? They are needed in Dr. McCoy's lab," Charles said. Moira and David would want to be there as Moira had missed Amanda as much as he did and Amanda was the reason that Charles was so strict with his son.
Sarah was on a hospital bed, Charles Xavier stroking her forehead gently. His gentle hand on her forehead was enough to make her feel sleepy. Sarah started to feel herself nod off when the door opened and a woman with light auburn hair, followed by a boy with reddish hair too, entered the lab. The Professor had yet to take his hand from her forehead as he turned to face them. "Charles, what's wrong?" The woman asked. Before he could answer she looked right at Sarah and her face paled and her breath caught. "Amanda?" The woman asked with a strangled sob as her eyes filled with tears. She looked at the Professor quickly.
"Yes, my love, it's Amanda," the professor said. It was all the woman needed to hear. She wrapped her arms around Sarah and hugged her tightly. Mrs. Xavier had to be her mother. Her mother sobbed into her hair and kissed her forehead. Sarah found herself hugging her back, feeling that it was right that she hugged both Charles and Moira.