Title: Project: Rapunzel
Chapter: 11
By: WebSpinner
Notes: Sorry it took me so long to get this out.
~ Tabitha~
"What were you thinking?" Logan roared at me. I crossed my arms and glared back at him.
"Keep your eyes on the road," I said flatly. The statement crossed him even more as he pulled the car to the side of the road.
"Come on Tabby, you know better then to light up hotels for the fun of it," Scott stated from the front seat. I would've stuck my tongue out at him but since he couldn't see it, it wouldn't be worth it.
"Why do you think it was my fault?" I asked.
"Because you're the one stupid enough and Kurt nor Kitty have the power of any type of fire. If you can't help in this mission then go home," Logan growled at me. I slouched back into my seat. It wasn't my fault all the X- men were such sticks in the mud. Life is too short to play it safe so you might as well have fun. I scowled at the two. I can't believe just because one of my explosions got a little bit out of hand that I got stuck with the two most boring guys in the X-men.
"Let's just find Scott's girlfriend and get out of here," I nearly yelled at the two. "She's not my girlfriend," Scott protested. I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever."
~Jean ~
"Have a nice spring break!" yelled a blonde girl to the whole class as the bell rang. I smiled and like all the other students left the school in a dead run. It would be nice to have time to just chill out.
"Jean, how 'bout a date," asked a brown haired guy named Chris. I shook my head and left him without another word.
"You have another guy, don't you?" he asked following me. I nodded.
"It would figure, Red. Need a ride anyhow?" he asked. Chris was the usual class clown but really sweet. Still his offer really surprised me.
"Sure that'd be great," I said. We walked out to the student parking lot in silence. "Hey Red," he said.
"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow in question.
"If your guy ever forgets how great you are, my offer still stands," he said and opened the door of his car for me.
"I'll remember that," I said and slipped in.
I opened the door to house and waved Chris farewell. I sighed and watched him drive off. It was tempting, I hated to admit.
"Jean!" called out Cat as I entered the house. Beside her was a couple about the age of my parents. The woman was about five feet tall and slim in build. Her auburn hair was unmarred with gray and she wore a comfortable pair of jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. The man beside her looked much like Rev. Grey. He wore a neatly trimmed beard and his brown hair was tinged with gray at his temples. He too was dressed very casually.
"Jean, I'd like you to meet my son, Patrick and daughter-in-law Amy," said Cat with a wide smile. I shook each of their hands. Cat had mentioned family would be coming still their presence surprised me.
"Nice to meet you," I greeted them. I then turned and fled to my room. It was weird having more people in the house. Strangers still scared me a bit much to my chagrin. 'Come on Jean, they aren't going to hurt you' I told myself and flopped on the bed.
I'm sorry
I jerked my head as the voice formed in my mind.
Don't be afraid, Mom said you might be nervous around us
'I don't know what you are talking about, I'm perfectly fine' I thought in return. There was a knock on the door. Please open the door The voice begged me.
"Come in," I called out. The door opened to reveal Amy. She gave me a small smile.
"You're telepathic," I said. She nodded.
"Basically," she said simply. I nodded. We stared at each other for a minute. Truth be told I had never met another person like me since Scott. It was sort of neat in a freaky sort of way.
"Do the Grey's know?" I asked.
"Yes, although it took Patrick awhile to get used to it, especially after we got married. Mom and dad told us all about you," she said. She wore a very calm expression but her eyes gave away her emotion. It was almost a spark of happiness mingled with a sadness that was deeper then any ocean.
"Yeah, well it's the usual story. Girl is happy, girl finds out she's a freak, some Frankenstein takes girl, girl meets boy, boy gets killed and girl runs away. So pretty much your basic story blah blah," I said gloomily. Amy nodded.
"You blame yourself. It wasn't your fault," Amy commented and rested a fragile hand on my arm.
"Yes it was. I could've saved him," I cried.
"We can't change the past, just try to get on with the future. I had a daughter about your age. I had to watch her slowly fade away and I cursed my gift. Why couldn't have been something useful like healing, I kept thinking as I watched her die of cancer. But she is still here in my heart like he is in yours," she said and placed my hand over my heart.
~Amy Grey~
The country night was extremely peaceful yet it was difficult me to drift asleep. Call me a city girl if you'd like but it was strange to not fall asleep with the sound of traffic and the noises of the city. In the distance, an owl called out in the night causing me to smile.
"Patrick," I whispered and turned over to face my sleeping husband.
"Umm," he mumbled sleepily. He pulled me close and opened his eyes sleepily. "What do you think about Jean?" I asked.
"She's a good girl although she looked about ready to jump out of her skin when I said I was a doctor," he said with a yawn. I nodded. Her fear had hit me like a ton of bricks. None of us blamed her for her fear, she had been through more then I could imagine.
" She's about Joy's age," I said. Patrick frowned, he was thinking that I would cry again.
"I'm not going to cry," I chided him. He sighed.
"You know it really is unfair that you can read my mind," he laughed.
"Jealous?" I asked with a smile.
"Me? Never," he laughed.
"I want to adopt her."
"Jean?"
"Yes," I answered.
"She's not going to replace Joy," Patrick said seriously.
"And I don't want her to but the house is so empty and she needs someone. I know your parents love her but they will be unable to keep up with her soon," I debated. Patrick sighed again.
"Dad approached me the same idea. The house is rather quiet, so another person won't matter that much," he said. I smiled and kissed him.
"We'll ask her tomorrow," he said and pulled me against him. I nodded and closed my eyes letting sleep carry me away.
~ Jean~
"Welcome to the family, honey," smiled Cat as she lifted her glass in toast. I lifted mine as did the others. I have a family. It was almost surreal and I felt like I had been walking in a dream state. My mind lingered briefly over my real parents but I shook my head to get rid of the images of them both. They gave me up the day they turned me over to the Center. Goosebumps ran up and down my arms at the memory. Sometimes it still haunted my dreams but not as much as usual. The outdoor café was bathed in warm sunshine as we ate out to celebrate the adoption. Waiters hurried to and fro filling people's orders and delivering plates of hot and steamy food. Both Grey couples took their leave and went to walk around the numerous gardens that surrounded the café. It really was a peaceful spot. With the coming of spring, bushes of yellow had burst out in all of their glory. The birds had also returned and hopped on the neighboring trees avoiding humans as much as possible. I took a sip of my drink when claw like fingers wrapped around my shoulder. I stiffened and turned around. An elderly man stared down at me with piercing gray eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he said.
"What do you want?" I asked icily. He seemed unaffected by my tone.
"I know who you are," he stated. I raised my eyebrows in a mocking expression. "Good for you. Please go away or I will scream," I answered in the same icy tone. The old man didn't get the hint.
"You have a gift," he said and pushed up the sleeve of my shirt to reveal the tattoo. I grimaced.
"Yes, these humans never learn," he said and lifted up his own sleeve to reveal a tattoo of numbers faded with age. I turned away and stood up.
"Go away," I demanded and started to leave. He grabbed my arm yet again. "You're scared. These people don't accept you, they're frightened of you and will do anything to destroy you," he hissed in my ear. My heart slammed in my chest.
"I don't care, nobody knows anymore. So leave me alone," I commanded once more and pried his fingers away from me. Something caught my leg. I turned around to see the metal of one of the chairs twisting around my ankle. I looked up at him in horror. "WHO ARE YOU?" I demanded.
"I'm called Magneto. I can help you," he stated.
"Leave me alone!" I screamed at him trying to pull off the metal.
"Jean!" someone yelled. It was Patrick. I turned to see Cat, Rev. Grey, Patrick and Amy running toward me.
"No, stay back," I yelled but before my eyes the chairs came alive and encircled them. People started screaming and ran from the café.
"Leave them alone!" I demanded.
"You're really in no position to give orders, little princess," he stated with a sneer. "The future is ours. Humanity has persecuted us too long. It's our time!" he said and grabbed my wrist. I outstretched my hand and Magneto flew back from the invisible force.
~ Scott~
The cell phone rang interrupting Tabitha's and Logan's arguing. I picked it up and opened it.
"Scott, Cerebro found her. Now listen carefully, she's finally used her powers. She's on a second avenue in the town of Oak Ridge. Hurry, I think Magneto has found her as well," the professor instructed.
"Step on it Logan! We've found her!" I yelled. The car accelerated underneath me. I gave the information that the professor had given me. Logan let out a growl. My heart leapt in my chest. I lost her once and I swore I wouldn't lose her again. I would get to her and wrap my arms around her and never let her go.
~Jean~
The cold metal wrapped itself around my throat threatening to cut off my air supply at any moment.
"I'm not going with you. I have a family here!" I screamed at him. I outstretched my hand and dishware and glasses flew at him.
"Enough, foolish girl," he said and kicked me. The pain made my head spin and the plates and glasses fell to the floor harmlessly. The metal collar tightened. Dark spots appeared at the edges of my vision as my lungs screamed for air. No I will not give up, I couldn't! Not now when my life was beginning. I couldn't stand be taken again. Hold on Jean Amy's voice begged. I clawed at the collar trying to get air.
"Settle down and it will loosen!" Magneto boomed. I closed my eyes and fought unconsciousness.
"Jean!" some one yelled. I opened my eyes weakly. That voice! Could it be…
"Scott?" I whispered before I was plunged into unconsciousness from lack of oxygen.
Chapter: 11
By: WebSpinner
Notes: Sorry it took me so long to get this out.
~ Tabitha~
"What were you thinking?" Logan roared at me. I crossed my arms and glared back at him.
"Keep your eyes on the road," I said flatly. The statement crossed him even more as he pulled the car to the side of the road.
"Come on Tabby, you know better then to light up hotels for the fun of it," Scott stated from the front seat. I would've stuck my tongue out at him but since he couldn't see it, it wouldn't be worth it.
"Why do you think it was my fault?" I asked.
"Because you're the one stupid enough and Kurt nor Kitty have the power of any type of fire. If you can't help in this mission then go home," Logan growled at me. I slouched back into my seat. It wasn't my fault all the X- men were such sticks in the mud. Life is too short to play it safe so you might as well have fun. I scowled at the two. I can't believe just because one of my explosions got a little bit out of hand that I got stuck with the two most boring guys in the X-men.
"Let's just find Scott's girlfriend and get out of here," I nearly yelled at the two. "She's not my girlfriend," Scott protested. I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever."
~Jean ~
"Have a nice spring break!" yelled a blonde girl to the whole class as the bell rang. I smiled and like all the other students left the school in a dead run. It would be nice to have time to just chill out.
"Jean, how 'bout a date," asked a brown haired guy named Chris. I shook my head and left him without another word.
"You have another guy, don't you?" he asked following me. I nodded.
"It would figure, Red. Need a ride anyhow?" he asked. Chris was the usual class clown but really sweet. Still his offer really surprised me.
"Sure that'd be great," I said. We walked out to the student parking lot in silence. "Hey Red," he said.
"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow in question.
"If your guy ever forgets how great you are, my offer still stands," he said and opened the door of his car for me.
"I'll remember that," I said and slipped in.
I opened the door to house and waved Chris farewell. I sighed and watched him drive off. It was tempting, I hated to admit.
"Jean!" called out Cat as I entered the house. Beside her was a couple about the age of my parents. The woman was about five feet tall and slim in build. Her auburn hair was unmarred with gray and she wore a comfortable pair of jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. The man beside her looked much like Rev. Grey. He wore a neatly trimmed beard and his brown hair was tinged with gray at his temples. He too was dressed very casually.
"Jean, I'd like you to meet my son, Patrick and daughter-in-law Amy," said Cat with a wide smile. I shook each of their hands. Cat had mentioned family would be coming still their presence surprised me.
"Nice to meet you," I greeted them. I then turned and fled to my room. It was weird having more people in the house. Strangers still scared me a bit much to my chagrin. 'Come on Jean, they aren't going to hurt you' I told myself and flopped on the bed.
I'm sorry
I jerked my head as the voice formed in my mind.
Don't be afraid, Mom said you might be nervous around us
'I don't know what you are talking about, I'm perfectly fine' I thought in return. There was a knock on the door. Please open the door The voice begged me.
"Come in," I called out. The door opened to reveal Amy. She gave me a small smile.
"You're telepathic," I said. She nodded.
"Basically," she said simply. I nodded. We stared at each other for a minute. Truth be told I had never met another person like me since Scott. It was sort of neat in a freaky sort of way.
"Do the Grey's know?" I asked.
"Yes, although it took Patrick awhile to get used to it, especially after we got married. Mom and dad told us all about you," she said. She wore a very calm expression but her eyes gave away her emotion. It was almost a spark of happiness mingled with a sadness that was deeper then any ocean.
"Yeah, well it's the usual story. Girl is happy, girl finds out she's a freak, some Frankenstein takes girl, girl meets boy, boy gets killed and girl runs away. So pretty much your basic story blah blah," I said gloomily. Amy nodded.
"You blame yourself. It wasn't your fault," Amy commented and rested a fragile hand on my arm.
"Yes it was. I could've saved him," I cried.
"We can't change the past, just try to get on with the future. I had a daughter about your age. I had to watch her slowly fade away and I cursed my gift. Why couldn't have been something useful like healing, I kept thinking as I watched her die of cancer. But she is still here in my heart like he is in yours," she said and placed my hand over my heart.
~Amy Grey~
The country night was extremely peaceful yet it was difficult me to drift asleep. Call me a city girl if you'd like but it was strange to not fall asleep with the sound of traffic and the noises of the city. In the distance, an owl called out in the night causing me to smile.
"Patrick," I whispered and turned over to face my sleeping husband.
"Umm," he mumbled sleepily. He pulled me close and opened his eyes sleepily. "What do you think about Jean?" I asked.
"She's a good girl although she looked about ready to jump out of her skin when I said I was a doctor," he said with a yawn. I nodded. Her fear had hit me like a ton of bricks. None of us blamed her for her fear, she had been through more then I could imagine.
" She's about Joy's age," I said. Patrick frowned, he was thinking that I would cry again.
"I'm not going to cry," I chided him. He sighed.
"You know it really is unfair that you can read my mind," he laughed.
"Jealous?" I asked with a smile.
"Me? Never," he laughed.
"I want to adopt her."
"Jean?"
"Yes," I answered.
"She's not going to replace Joy," Patrick said seriously.
"And I don't want her to but the house is so empty and she needs someone. I know your parents love her but they will be unable to keep up with her soon," I debated. Patrick sighed again.
"Dad approached me the same idea. The house is rather quiet, so another person won't matter that much," he said. I smiled and kissed him.
"We'll ask her tomorrow," he said and pulled me against him. I nodded and closed my eyes letting sleep carry me away.
~ Jean~
"Welcome to the family, honey," smiled Cat as she lifted her glass in toast. I lifted mine as did the others. I have a family. It was almost surreal and I felt like I had been walking in a dream state. My mind lingered briefly over my real parents but I shook my head to get rid of the images of them both. They gave me up the day they turned me over to the Center. Goosebumps ran up and down my arms at the memory. Sometimes it still haunted my dreams but not as much as usual. The outdoor café was bathed in warm sunshine as we ate out to celebrate the adoption. Waiters hurried to and fro filling people's orders and delivering plates of hot and steamy food. Both Grey couples took their leave and went to walk around the numerous gardens that surrounded the café. It really was a peaceful spot. With the coming of spring, bushes of yellow had burst out in all of their glory. The birds had also returned and hopped on the neighboring trees avoiding humans as much as possible. I took a sip of my drink when claw like fingers wrapped around my shoulder. I stiffened and turned around. An elderly man stared down at me with piercing gray eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he said.
"What do you want?" I asked icily. He seemed unaffected by my tone.
"I know who you are," he stated. I raised my eyebrows in a mocking expression. "Good for you. Please go away or I will scream," I answered in the same icy tone. The old man didn't get the hint.
"You have a gift," he said and pushed up the sleeve of my shirt to reveal the tattoo. I grimaced.
"Yes, these humans never learn," he said and lifted up his own sleeve to reveal a tattoo of numbers faded with age. I turned away and stood up.
"Go away," I demanded and started to leave. He grabbed my arm yet again. "You're scared. These people don't accept you, they're frightened of you and will do anything to destroy you," he hissed in my ear. My heart slammed in my chest.
"I don't care, nobody knows anymore. So leave me alone," I commanded once more and pried his fingers away from me. Something caught my leg. I turned around to see the metal of one of the chairs twisting around my ankle. I looked up at him in horror. "WHO ARE YOU?" I demanded.
"I'm called Magneto. I can help you," he stated.
"Leave me alone!" I screamed at him trying to pull off the metal.
"Jean!" someone yelled. It was Patrick. I turned to see Cat, Rev. Grey, Patrick and Amy running toward me.
"No, stay back," I yelled but before my eyes the chairs came alive and encircled them. People started screaming and ran from the café.
"Leave them alone!" I demanded.
"You're really in no position to give orders, little princess," he stated with a sneer. "The future is ours. Humanity has persecuted us too long. It's our time!" he said and grabbed my wrist. I outstretched my hand and Magneto flew back from the invisible force.
~ Scott~
The cell phone rang interrupting Tabitha's and Logan's arguing. I picked it up and opened it.
"Scott, Cerebro found her. Now listen carefully, she's finally used her powers. She's on a second avenue in the town of Oak Ridge. Hurry, I think Magneto has found her as well," the professor instructed.
"Step on it Logan! We've found her!" I yelled. The car accelerated underneath me. I gave the information that the professor had given me. Logan let out a growl. My heart leapt in my chest. I lost her once and I swore I wouldn't lose her again. I would get to her and wrap my arms around her and never let her go.
~Jean~
The cold metal wrapped itself around my throat threatening to cut off my air supply at any moment.
"I'm not going with you. I have a family here!" I screamed at him. I outstretched my hand and dishware and glasses flew at him.
"Enough, foolish girl," he said and kicked me. The pain made my head spin and the plates and glasses fell to the floor harmlessly. The metal collar tightened. Dark spots appeared at the edges of my vision as my lungs screamed for air. No I will not give up, I couldn't! Not now when my life was beginning. I couldn't stand be taken again. Hold on Jean Amy's voice begged. I clawed at the collar trying to get air.
"Settle down and it will loosen!" Magneto boomed. I closed my eyes and fought unconsciousness.
"Jean!" some one yelled. I opened my eyes weakly. That voice! Could it be…
"Scott?" I whispered before I was plunged into unconsciousness from lack of oxygen.