A/N:  I thought I should let you all know, there's an upcoming chapter that's a bit gruesome.  This is a PG-13 fic, not R, but it means PG-13.  That's it.

Disclaimer: 

Moira: "Brian? Britanic? Wee Dougie said you've been
in here f'r the last… two… days… OCH!! Ma puir wee hovercraft.
What did ye do tae ma puir wee hovercraft?? Brian Braddock, when I get ma
hands on you, it'll be just as well I'm a doctor…"
Brian: "So, umm… Do you like it?"
Moira: "It's ma own fault! I let an Englishman on ma island! ME!!"
Brian: "I just thought we could use a faster transport so I adapted some Shi'ar 
tech-- Hank had some stuff flown in from Westchester-- and it was good therapy, 
going back to physics. Engineering. That was my specialty, you know. 
Moira: I want some therapy wi' yuir head an ma boot. I loved ma wee hovercraft! It 
was cute! Not some big thrusting macho speed demon thing…
Brian: And once it's had a proving flight, I can start working on the medical 
version. 
Moira: Medical?
Brian: A hypersonic medical installation, Moira, reaching any situation in the 
world in hours.
Moira: You know, you're a very handsome young man. A veritable genius, too. I've 
always admired the English.   
~Excalibur #86 

            Leslie sat on her bed, staring out the window.  Night had once again fallen, and her companions were all asleep.  Moving silently, Leslie once again left the house and went into the desert.  The sand has given up its heat of the day and was cool under her bare feet. 

            She stopped when she came to a good-sized rock.  Leslie sat on it and closed her eyes, trying to mediate like Jean had taught her.  Minutes passed, and it became increasingly obvious that it wasn't going to happen. 

            Sighing, Leslie opened her eyes.  Resting her head on her knees, she stared at the stars, thinking about the day.  And, more importantly, Kurt.

            He terrified her.  But also, on some level, he attracted her.  She couldn't deny that when she'd lain beneath him…well, she'd wanted to do things that you weren't supposed to do with a priest.  She blushed, thinking of it now.  Hell, she wasn't even sure you were supposed to do some of those things if you were married!

            She'd felt him, too, felt the same emotions from him.  But, she wondered, did I make him feel that?  She already knew she could unconsciously use her power.

            Letting her mind drift away, she stretched her senses back towards the house.  Her psyche drifted towards Kurt's.  She gently caressed it before scanning it.  Nightmares, again.  She winced, knowing the emotional turmoil he was in didn't help prevent them.

            Leslie was about to retreat back into herself, but paused.  She could take away his feelings for her.  It certainly would make life easier for him, and he's already been through so much because of her…I shouldn't…But she only wanted to help him…

            Determined, she reached into him, looking for level where his feelings for her lay.  Hurt was there, a fact which made her ashamed.  Friendship, yes…Amusement?  What on earth…?  Shaking the distraction away, she delved deeper.

            There.  Attraction, and the beginning of something that one day could be Love.  She tentatively "grabbed" it, determined to tear it away.  She tensed…

            …and then, sighing, let go and drifted back to her body.

            Back on the rock, Leslie glared at the moon, disgusted with herself.  I should have done it for him…But she couldn't, for the simple, selfish reason that she wanted him to feel that way towards her. 

            Groaning, Leslie stood up, shaking the sand off of her nightgown.  She returned to the house.  Climbing into bed, she surrendered herself to sleep, and the nightmares she knew would come.

            That night, for the first time since coming here, the blackness stayed away.  Instead, an older nightmare took its place, one I'd had for two years, one I had known I would have that night.  Horrified, I tried to leave, to enter Kurt's dream, Julia's, anyone's…

            But fear confused me.  I couldn't remember how.

            So I stayed and suffered, constantly working on keeping my fear away from the link and Kurt.  And I succeeded…

            But I was still in Hell.

            Leslie padded into the kitchen, a strange sight in her Victorian nightgown, bunny slippers, and sunglasses. 

            "Morning!" Julia cheerful called from the adjoining den where she was watching MTV.

            "Snarl," Leslie replied, opening the refrigerator and getting the necessary mixings for an Acid Bath. (A/N: an Acid Bath is a drink that is half Coke, half O.J.  It is called that because of the damage it does to your stomach lining.  It is excellent, however, for waking you up when you've spent the whole night studying for a chemistry final that you have to ace.)

            Julia laughed.  "'Snarl?'"

            "Yes," Leslie said, taking a long sip of her drink.  "Snarl.  I'm too tired to actually try and do so."

            Julia looked at her friend.  "What time did you get to sleep?"

            "It wasn't the sleeping that was the problem.  It was the nightmares."

            Julia waited, but, as Leslie didn't seem to be about to elaborate, shrugged and went back to her show.  "By the way, Jean got a call from Xavier.  Apparently things are crazy back there."

            Leslie snorted as she rummaged through the cabinets.  "What else is new?" she asked as she pulled out a box of granola.

            "You're telling me.  Anyway, he needs her back there, which means we're leaving tomorrow."

            "Was wondering how long we'd get to stay," Leslie mused as she munched.  "It's not like we're making any progress with my powers, anyway."

            Julia shot her a sympathetic look.  "I'm sorry, Les."

            Leslie waived her apology away.  "Not your fault.  'Sides, it could be worse.  Not sure how, but it could be."

            "That's what I love about you, Leslie, always the optimist."

            "The voices in my head thank you," Leslie replied with a grin, washing her bowl and putting it away. 

            "So…Jean's packing and Kurt and Bobby drove into town…"

            Leslie raised an eyebrow.  "Uh-huh.  And?"

            "AND, I was thinking, this would be a good time to tell me about those comics of yours…" Julia suggested, a wicked grin on her face.

            Leslie glared at her, crossing her arms over her chest.  "I only tell nice people about my comics.  Not evil people who spray me with water!"

            Julia gave her her best puppy face.  "Aw, Les, come on!  You know I was just kidding!  Bobby forced me to!"

            Leslie looked at her, a thoughtful expression on his face.  "Forced you, huh?"

            Julia nodded.  "Uh-huh."

            "Well, that wasn't very nice, was it?  I suppose we'll have to punish him for that, won't we?" Leslie replied, a grin spreading over her face that would have rivaled Sabertooth's best one.

            Julia smiled back at her.  "Comics now, revenge later.  So, come on!  Tell me!"

            Laughing, Leslie plopped onto the couch next to her.  "Can't I even get dressed?"

            Julia vigorously shook her head.

            Leslie rolled her eyes at her.  "Alright, O-Impatient-One.  What do you want to know?"

            Julia shrugged.  "I don't know!  Anything!"

            Leslie rested her head on one hand, thinking.  "Hmmm…well…"

            "Come on, Kurt, can't we go back?"

            Kurt rolled his eyes under his image inducer.  "Bobby, your name is Iceman.  How on earth did you manage to not finish your ice cream before it melted?"

            Bobby batted his eyes at Kurt, grinning.  "Just natural talent, I guess.  Come on, you're not nearly as much of a grouch as you were before we went.  Just think, we go back again, you might actually start to be pleasant!"

            Kurt glared at him as he unlocked the front door, angry that Bobby had reminded him about last night, however indirectly.  "No, Bobby."  Vhat vere you thinking?  he asked himself, tossing the keys on the end table.  Now she'll just think that you're some sort of sick pervert…vhich you obviously are!

            Kurt's mental berating of himself was interrupted by peals of laughter.  He glanced at Bobby, who sent an equally quizzical glance back at him.  "Vhat on earth…?" he muttered as the two of them followed the laughter into the living room.  They stopped short at the doorway.

            Leslie and Julia were lying on the floor, both hysterical.  Luckily for her, Leslie had taken the time to get dressed, and now wore a tank top and shorts, similar to what Julia wore. 

            Kurt stared, wondering how the girl who had been depressed for a week was now radiating amusement and happiness.

            Bobby looked at him calmly.  "They're drunk.  I told you to lock up the alcohol."

            Leslie looked at him indignantly, quickly calming, while Julia still lay laughing.  "We are not drunk," she declared.  "We're just having a good time."

            Julia sat up, apparently calming, but when she saw Kurt she burst into giggles all over again.  "BAMFS!" she yelled, falling back over.  "Horny Bamfs!"

            Blushing, Kurt remembered a story Kitty had once told.  "Leslie, you didn't…"

            She grinned at him.  "I did."

            Kurt sighed, then looked at Bobby.  "Get them!"

            Still laughing, the girls ran into Julia's room and locked the door.  Bobby grinned at Kurt.  "Bamfs, huh?"

            Kurt glared back at him.  "Shut up."

            Whistling, Bobby hurried to his room.  There was a crash and a splash, then Bobby was heard screaming, "LESLIE!!!"

            Kurt did the smart thing and went to find where Jean was hiding.