Chapter 4

'Seldom sighs the happy heart, but often a smile clings to the sad lips.'

-Unknown

Josh woke up in a bright place, and blinked. A little 'ding' sound was repeated somewhere around him, and he felt a needle in his arm... He lifted a shivering hand and, without looking at it, pulled the needle out. Still with his gaze fixed to the bright light above him, he tried to feel if he was restrained, or in other ways stopped of getting up. No. No ropes, no chains, no leather straps...Carefully, with his head spinning, he sat up and looked around, still blinking in the sharp light. A little lab, it seemed, with microscopes, large lockers, a couple of stretchers, a long bench with little glass items on it...all white and bright. He looked down on himself, half expecting to see large pieces of himself missing, but saw nothing different since the last time he checked. Even his clothes were in place, even if the arm of his polo had been rolled up to allow the needle to be put on the inside of his elbow. The spinning slowly diminished, and he carefully got on his feet, holding on to the stretcher as he rolled his arm back down. Where the heck was he?

'...and I think he'll be quite alright, with rest and some nourishment. He had a low blood count, and weighed depressingly little, but as I said, nothing that we can't cure.' Hank McCoy leaned back in the recliner at the fireplace, and put his hands togeather. He was a large man, whose looks brought forth the image of a blue gorilla, rather than the educated scientist he was. Xavier nodded, and then turned his head a little, as if listening to something. 'Well, Hank, I think your patient has awoken. What do you think of letting him return to his room for the night?' Hank shruged and smiled a little, showing white fangs behind his thin lips. 'You tell me, Charles. I am no psychiatrist, but I think he might be enclined to try running again.' Nodding again, Xavier sighed a little. 'Then I'll make sure someone brings him some food. Anyone you can think of right now that has a chance of gaining his trust?'

The bright light made his eyes hurt now. He tried to stay focused on finding an open way out, but something made him dizzy and unbalanced. Probably some medicine, that needle and all... But he couldn't give up now. The door was locked, of course, but there was other ways of getting out. He just had to remember what to look for. Tears of frustration welled up in his eyes, but with an irritated move of his hand he quickly dried them away before they had a chance to spill over. He wouldn't cry, because it wouldn't help him now. And when you'd seen what he had, you didn't start crying just because you were locked up somewhere, in a lab, with no way out and no hope of surviving when they found out you were awake...He had to dry his eyes again before his vision cleared, and he sat down in a corner, fighting back the lump that was forming in his throat. There wasn't even an aircondition in here... No way to get out.

He didn't know how long he sat there, but when the door opened, he didn't hessitate. He got up with a quick leap, and attempted to dash by the shape in the door, and...Bang! It was like running into a wall! The air had somehow turned solid and he staggered backwards, with a hand to his forehead, trying to see through the fog that sank down over his eyes.

'Oh, I'm sorry Josh, I just didn't want to chase you all over the lab...Are you allright?' He recognized the voice, it was Jean, even if he couldn't see her clearly.

'Right as rain...' he muttered, and sat down. The spinning was back, and he felt a little sick. She smiled, but kneeled down at his side and put a hand on his head. The spinning slowed down, and he felt better.

'Now, I brought you some food. Do you like chicken?' She motioned towards a plate that came...flowing...in...on the...air? 'Can't stand it...' he mumbled, hoping she'd just leave...before he started crying. 'Then you're lucky. I've got Logan to go and get you a hamburger and some fries.' 'Not hungry.' he managed to say, even if his stomach was disagreeing with him on that point, and the tears he pushed back made him sound strange. So much was happening to him, in so short time. What did these people want with him, anyway? He was a good-for-nothin', runaway thief and worthless kid...

'Well, if you change your mind, I'll leave it here.' As she got up, he found himself trying to grasp her hand. 'Don't go...' he found himself saying. What was this? He didn't need anyone! But the lab made him feel...alone. And unsafe. He didn't want her to go, but he didn't want her to see him cry either...But she sat down next to him again, and placed her hand on his shoulder. It felt warm and comforting. 'You've been a lonely boy for a long time, haven't you, Josh?' she asked, in such a friendly tone that he felt warm all over. He couldn't answer, only nod, as he pulled up his knees and closed his eyes on the shameful tears. He couldn't bring himself to let go of her hand. 'You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know that you have a home now, where you'll always be welcome. Trust us, and we'll trust you. No questions asked. Just come and live with us, Joshua, and you might even learn a thing or two.' She sounded so friendly, honest and trustworthy that he didn't even think about it. A little voice somewhere in his mind said that it was all a trick, that they'd soon throw him out, laugh at him and turn their backs...but a even smaller voice told him to trust her, and he choose.

Jean held the little shivering boy in her arms, and just talked soothingly as he cried on her shoulder. 'There, there...It'll be alright...Just let it all out...' But something told her that things weren't solved quite yet. That day, that sorrow, she thought and returned her thoughts to Josh.