Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men, or any of its original characters. Nor do I have any type of claim to those characters. However, the characters of my creation belong to me, and cannot be used without my permission.

Responsibility (Welcome to Jack-X! Part III)

By: Moonchampion

            Bobby sat up in his bed.  He looked at the cast on his arm, and sighed.  He couldn't believe that things had gone so wrong.  What had happened?  Everything had gone according to plan.  It was just because of one small mishap, one tiny miscalculation had caused the injury to his arm.  Bobby looked up towards the intensive care unit where Ororo Munroe lay fighting for her life.  No, the stunt had caused a great deal more than just the injury to his arm.

            Hank McCoy stepped out of the intensive care unit and pulled the mask down off his furry face to take in a bit of fresh air.  Bobby was just about to ask him how she was doing when the doors swished open.  And when Bobby saw who was there, he felt the severe need to ask Dr. McCoy for a bedpan.

            Professor Xavier rolled into the room in his wheelchair.  He glanced once at Bobby, and then moved on towards Dr. McCoy.  The two whispered obviously discussing Ms. Munroe's condition.  From the looks of it, it wasn't all good news, as Professor Xavier closed his eyes and clenched the armrests of his chair.  The Headmaster then turned to face Bobby.  He rolled towards the bed, and looked up at the teen.

            "Dr. McCoy says that you're able to leave the infirmary," said Xavier.  "You're may leave the infirmary now, however I want you in the auditorium in an hour."  Professor Xavier then turned in his wheelchair and started towards the door.

            "The auditorium?" repeated Bobby.  "Why Professor?" he asked.  However Xavier didn't offer him any sort of explanation.  And just as Bobby was about to turn around and ask Dr. McCoy, the blue-furred mutant had returned to the intensive care unit.  Bobby sighed and got out of bed.  He walked over towards the glass and peered inside.  Ororo was hooked up to lots of different machines and monitors.  Bobby backed away from the window unable to believe the stunt had hurt Ms. Munroe so badly.

            Unable to stay there any longer, Bobby left the infirmary and started back towards his room.  On his way there, he saw Ray, Jubilee and scrubbing the walls and floors.  Bobby put a smile on his face as he approached his friends.  "Hey, dudes, what's up?" he asked.

            "Bobby?" said Jubilee.  She dropped the cleaning cloth she had and walked over towards him.  "You're okay!"

            "Yeah," said Bobby.  He looked down at the cast on his arm and held it up.  "Well, pretty close anyway.  So, you guys got stuck with cleaning detail, huh?"

            "Man, we're in so deep, that we have to scrub the grass!" said Ray.

            "You mean cut it, right?" asked Bobby.

            "No, he means scrub all right," said Sam.  "Every last one of us got in trouble, including Jamie, Roberto and Rahne.  As far as we can see, we're gonna be cleaning from now til Christmas!"

            "Yeah, don't remind me," said Jubilee.  She turned back towards Bobby.  "I guess you'll be joining us then?"

            "I don't know," said Bobby.  "I guess.  The Professor just wanted to meet with me soon.  Probably for a long, long lecture before he tells me my punishment."  Bobby hung his head, and looked towards the floor.  "And this one I definitely deserve."

            Jubilee looked at Ray and Sam, and knew instantly why Bobby felt as he did.  "Is Ms. Munroe going to be okay?" she asked.

            "I… I don't know," answered Bobby.  "I didn't really get the chance to ask Dr. McCoy, but… but things do look pretty bad."  Bobby sighed.  "I hope she'll be okay."

            "Hey man, we're talking about Storm, remember?" said Ray.  "If anybody can pull through, it'll be her.  She's an X-Man… and one of the strongest."  Bobby tried to smile at Ray's encouraging words.  His friend placed a hand on his shoulder.  "Go on, go see the Professor.  The sooner you get yelled at, the sooner you can get back here and do your share of the work!"

            Bobby smiled and continued on his way.  While on the way up to his room, he couldn't help, but wonder why he hadn't gotten his punishment yet.  Bobby entered his room, and sat down on his bed.  He took a deep breath, and after staring at his cast for a few moments, he turned towards the clock.  It was only a matter of time before he saw Professor Xavier.

***

Bobby stood outside the auditorium for a few minutes before he finally built up the nerve to push the doors open.  And when he did, he began to wish that he hadn't.  Bobby walked into the auditorium and saw that all of the students were seated in the audience.  Up front, at a long table sat Professor Xavier, Logan, Dr. McCoy, Scott and Jean.  Also, in the center of the room, before that table, was a single chair.

"Have a seat, Bobby," said Professor Xavier.  Bobby started to look about the audience for an empty seat.  "No, Bobby, have a seat there."  Professor Xavier had been pointing towards the single seat in front of the table.  Bobby gulped and then finally walked towards the seat, and sat down.

"Professor?" began Bobby.  "What's… what's going on?"

Professor Xavier took a deep breath before answering his question.  "Well, Bobby," said Professor Xavier, "in light of this recent incident, as well as your past record of reckless behavior, it is necessary that we have a hearing to determine if you're still eligible to remain here at the school."

"What?!" asked Bobby.  "You're kicking me out because of some prank?!"

"No," said Logan speaking up.  "Forget the pranks… forget the bike!  You're in the hot seat because this time you may have cost someone their life!"  Logan looked towards Hank, who only hung his head.  "Storm's down there fighting for her life because of your little 'prank'!"

"Logan," said Professor Xavier, "there were others involved, and their part will be taken into consideration as well.  Now, if we can…."

"No, Professor," said Bobby.  "The whole thing was my fault.  I'm the one that came up with the plan.  I made assurances that everyone would be safe.  I want to take full responsibility for this!"

Professor Xavier's eyebrow arched at hearing Bobby's words.  "Do you realize what you're doing Bobby?"

Bobby looked back at his friends.  He could see them mouthing the words for him to stop, but Bobby knew what he had to do.  "Yes, Professor, I understand."

Professor Xavier took a deep breath, and looked at the others on the panel.  And finally, he turned back towards Bobby.  "Very well, let's us begin."

TO BE CONTINUED…