Disclaimer- I do not own X-Men: Evolution in any way, shape or form. I will not make money off this story.

Chapter 9

Jean stared at Scott's still form lying on the bed. He still had his crimson glasses on but their colour really stood out against his terribly pale skin.

"Come on, Scott, wake up" she whispered into his ear while she gently stroked his hair out off his forehead.

"Ah, Jean, how is our patient doing?"

"He's not waking up, professor" she replied, not moving.

"Scott is strong, Ava knew that and that's why she did what she did."

"But we could have helped her" Jean said, her voice cracking slightly.

"She didn't know us and she had no real reason to trust us."

"I know but still..." Jean trailed off.

"I understand, Jean."

"Jean..." a voice interrupted them both.

Jean swung her attention back to the bed and saw Scott move and try to sit up.

"Scott" Jean cried happily as she threw her hands around his neck.

"You're alive" she heard Scott breathe.

"It was only a nightmare" Jean tried to explain.

"It was more, it was real and it was my fault" Scott said, firmly.

"No, Scott, it wasn't your fault. Ava reacted like any cornered animal would," the professor told them from the doorway; "She was scared, confused and fearing for her family."
"Where is she? Is she okay?" Scott asked.

Jean still had her arms around him and suddenly becoming self-conscious she moved her arms away and sat in the chair by his bed. Her face flushing deeply as she waited for the professor to answer Scott's question.

"We do not know where she has gone and I believe that the strain upon her is to great and she may harm herself or other people."

"The Professor has sent Wolverine and the rest of the X-Men out to search for her while Storm, Beast and the new recruits are trying to work out where Magneto may be hiding" Jean told Scott.

"Let's help them. Has anyone talked to the Brotherhood?"

Jean shook her head in response as she watched Scott jump up out of the bed.

"Let's go" was all he said to her.

~*~

Ava ran out of the Institute still reeling from Scott's nightmare, which was running through her mind. She hadn't wanted to hurt him or anyone for that matter but if Magneto worked out that they knew about her family he would hurt them.

She was frightened and didn't know exactly what to do so she kept running until she was far away from the Institute. She slumped to the ground and drew in ragged breaths listening to her heart pound in her chest. She knew that she had to get to Magneto before he got the wrong idea. One of her many nightmares ran through her head making her want to scream in frustration and fear.

Trying to calm herself down she thought of happy memories on her parent's farm. Riding her horse, laughing with her brother Adam and Ben. She smiled at the thought of Ben and his rakish smile. Her pulse slowed to normal and her mind began to clear. Thinking over her options she knew what she had to do.

~*~

Rogue sat in the back of the Blackbird jet listening as the others babbled about what had happened. She could hear the concern for Scott in all their voices and she knew that she was concerned as well but she was also worried for Ava.

Of all the people here Rogue knew what it was like to have people playing with her mind. Mystique had impersonated various members of the X-Men then attacked her making it seem as if they were out to harm her. Rogue had believed this until she had absorbed Mystique's memories and she had learned the truth.

"Rogue, are you okay?"

Rogue focused on the face in front of her and smiled crookedly.

"I'm fine, Kurt. Just angry at Magneto and Mystique" she drawled.

"Ja, they really messed her up" he replied before disappearing off.

She looked at the others in the jet and saw that they all wore similar looks of worry on their faces. This told her that things were getting tense and she was not looking forward to the outcome. When she had learned of Mystique's betrayal both her and Scott had nearly died. A stony silence settled over everyone in the jet.

~*~

Ava got to the Brotherhood house and stormed up forcing the door to slam open.

Hoping that luck was on her side she prayed that Mystique was not there and relieved to find that she wasn't but neither was anyone else. Ava didn't know what was worse at that point but she had to find Pietro or Wanda, preferably Pietro because she was ready to use her powers again.

She searched every room in the house, making sure to hold her nose when she entered Todd's room but she found nothing that told her where they might be. Walking down the stairs se saw something of interest. A single, glowing, playing card. The ace of spades. Something stirred in her memory and she backed away quickly as the card exploded throwing pieces of shrapnel everywhere.

Ava felt a warm trickle on her face, reaching up she touched it. Looking at her fingers she saw it was blood. She hardly felt any pain and stormed outside. If she couldn't find Pietro another one of Magneto's lackeys would do just fine.

She saw him standing out of the way with a smile on his face. He was slowly rolling a pack of cards around in his hands looking perfectly as ease. She ran towards him, her bare hand outstretched, screaming incoherently. She had nearly reached him when she felt herself stop. Twisting herself around she still couldn't move. She felt as if she were stuck to the ground.

She looked behind her and saw Jean standing there, her hands was at her temples and she had a look of utter concentration on her face. Beside her was Scott and next to him was Professor Xavier. Behind them stood the members of the Brotherhood, minus Pietro and Wanda, all of them wearing bemused or confused looks.

"Let me go" she said through gritted teeth.

Her mind was foggy and she didn't know why she was so angry but she had to hurt someone else. Still she wasn't able to move. The Cajun was smiling but the others were still looking confused.

"I can't Ava. You don't want to hurt anyone, do you?" Jean asked, her voice calm and kind.

"I don't give a damn anymore. I have no choice, Magneto will kill them just because they love me, or they did" Ava cried.

Her eyes were flashing as she tried to control the anger in them.

~*~

"She is right. Gambit saw what they did to her" the Professor heard Gambit say.

"What exactly did they do?" he asked.

"All sorts of things. They put a mental block in her mind. They did that to Gambit and the others" he replied in his thick accent.

"Why are you helping her?" Scott interrupted.

"Can you quit asking questions? I can't hold her like this forever" Jean said through gritted teeth.

"Ava, please calm down. We all want to help you" the Professor said in a calm tone.

He watched as Ava rolled her eyes and screamed a couple more times before falling still. He didn't see Gambit come up behind her and hit her over the hit but he saw when she crumpled to the ground.

Charles was about to berate him when the ground rumbled and Gambit fell to the ground. The three members of the Brotherhood quickly surrounded him.

"Leave him alone. He has to lead us to where Magneto is hiding" Scott yelled.

Charles watched as Lance turned and glared at him.

He didn't want this to turn into another brawl between the two opposing teams.

"Scott, Lance, please be calm. We are here to help Ava and her family not to sort out our enmity" he berated both teams.

"Sorry, Professor" Scott apologised.

"Scott, can you call Storm and Logan and tell them what has happened and get them to meet us here. Lance, do you know where Mystique, Pietro or Wanda are?"

~*~

"How did you find out?"

"She is a good little actress but she didn't seem the sort to work for us. You used her to get to me then to Charles. It was an interesting move on your behalf but I think you have underestimated your little spy and Charles's students."

Magneto's expression of disdain did not change but he shifted uneasily. He did not like being told he was wrong but he was worried that Mystique may be right. Ava had seemed the perfect candidate, although she was unwillingly. But now he thought that he might have been too hasty.

"Xavier worked it out and as far as I know they are on their way to find you" Mystique smirked.

"They will not find me. He cannot read our minds so we will be safe" he replied.

"But aren't you missing someone?" Mystique teased him.

~*~

Ben watched the tall blue skinned lady talking to his captor and smiled slightly at the way their conversation was going. It looked as if they were going to be rescued. Adam was asleep at his feet and the Jensen's were whispering on the other side of the cage. Ben didn't know if he wanted to tell them what he had heard since both of them had been ignoring him since the fight.

He leaned down and shook Adam's shoulder.

"Wake up, Adam. I think something big is going to happen."

"I don't care, Ben. I just want to go home" he mumbled.

Ben sighed and looked back at the two arguing mutants, still trying to listen in on their conversation.

The tall man was wearing his interesting get up and he had begun to pace angrily. The blue skinned lady was standing there smiling away with her hands placed on her hips. She said something insulting and turned into a bird and flew off. Ben swore loudly at that drawing the attention of his captor.

"Your little girlfriend has gotten help but I think that she is no longer in total control of her power" he laughed before walking away with a swish of his cape.

Ben froze when he heard that. His eyes widened in fear as his memory kicked in.

When Ava had first used his powers on him he had seen horrible things but it had only lasted for a short time. After practise, so to say, she had gained some control and was able to make the nightmares last longer. She had also changed as a person. Ben knew that if she were losing control she would be living her worst nightmare and that would not be good.

To Be Continued