Part 6

Gambit reached over and took Willow's hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

Willow smiled her thanks. She was nervous about meeting everyone and seeing Tara.

Jean had reassured her that Tara was fitting in just fine at the school and that someone named Hank was working on a cure.

As they disembarked the plane they saw an older man in a wheelchair waiting for them.

Charles smiled inwardly as he noticed Remy holding Willow's hand. Ever since he came back from New Orleans Remy's thoughts had been broadcasting all over the mansion about Willow. It was one of the reasons he had picked him to go to Sunnydale. Maybe his thoughts wouldn't be so loud now.

Jean caught the Professor's eye and winked. She quietly slipped in his mind. It's not so loud anymore. It's like she calmed his thoughts down.

Charles wheeled forward, "Buffy, it's very nice to meet you. Welcome to Westchester. Willow, it's very good to see you again."

Willow blushed, "Thank you for taking care of Tara and allowing Buffy and me to come here."

"Come, I'm sure you're anxious to see her. She's done very well and I believe Hank might be on to something. He has Kitty and Jubilee assisting him." Xavier turned around and the others followed him to the elevator.

Charles looked up at Willow, "I don't know if you remember the Institute but it has changed a lot since you were here last."

Willow smiled, "Oh I remember it. It seemed so big then and it still seems big. Though the water fountains aren't as big as I remember them."

The doors to the elevator opened as they all stepped out into a hallway.

"The others are waiting for us in the briefing room."

Xavier had told Hank and Kurt to leave their holographic images off. He wanted to judge Buffy and Willow's reaction to mutants that didn't look human. Also, he didn't want Kurt and Hank to feel like they had to hide who they were when they were at home.

The doors to the briefing room slid open and Willow saw Tara sitting next to a pretty Asian girl.

"Tara!" Willow ran to give her friend a hug. "Are you okay?"

Buffy smiled at Tara and waved. She noticed the icy stare directed at Willow from a young red head with a white streak. She leaned over to Wolverine and said, "Who's the girl with the streak and what bee flew up her butt?"

Wolverine mentally rolled his eyes when he saw Rogue's reaction to Willow. Gawd it was going to be a very long month. His cabin in the wilderness was looking better and better. "That's Marie and the bee is a past relationship with Remy."

Buffy glanced back at Gambit then over to Willow and back to Logan, "It is past right? I'm not going to have to kick Gambit's ass for leading Willow on am I?"

Wolverine laughed, "As much as I'd love to see you kick the Cajun's ass it is in the past. It's more along the lines of if I can't have him no one can."

Buffy nodded, she understood that. She felt that way about Angel. The relationship had burned bright and fast. "Should I be worried?"

"Nah, Marie's decent. She might not be friendly to Willow but she won't hurt her or anything."

"No pranks to look out for?"

"Well there might be some but if she does just enlist Jubilee's help. She's the queen of pranks and she loves to play them on Rogue."

Tara softly disengaged herself from Willow and turned to her new friends, "Willow, this is Jubilee and Kitty. They've been helping Hank."

Willow smiled her hello. "Which one's Hank?"

Jubilee pointed to a large blue furred man/beast. "That's Hank. Dr. Hank McCoy."

Xavier watched as Willow walked over to Hank and held her hand out without flinching. "Hi, I'm Willow. I just wanted to say thanks and if there's anything I can do to help just let me know. I'm really good with research."

Hank smiled and took Willow's hand softly in his. He was always aware of his strength.

"It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Willow. Tara has already articulated her belief that you would be an immeasurable help in research."

"Do I speak for anyone else when I say huh?" Buffy muttered.

Jubilee snickered. "It takes a bit getting used to the way Beast talks. But I've had years of practice I can translate to English. He said he's happy to see Willow and Tara said Willow'd be a great help."

"Well, why didn't he say that to begin with? Here I thought Giles used ten words to say two. I'll have to tell him I met someone else that has him beat in that department."

Rogue watched carefully how Willow greeted Hank. She grudgingly admitted that she hadn't flinched and had looked him straight in the eye. Still didn't erase the fact that she didn't really like her. She glared over at Remy who had a besotted look on his face as he watched Willow talk to Hank. The quicker they got Magneto the quicker Willow would leave.

She turned to the Professor, "Any news on Magneto?"

Charles indicated they should all take a seat.

"As you all know Tara escaped from Magneto and we've been trying to find him ever since. Tara was nice enough to let me probe her mind and we did find where he held her but they vacated the place. It was completely empty by the time we got there. He is still blocking Cerebro so I can't track him and the last place we have for Sabertooth is in Sunnydale."

Charles turned to Wolverine and Gambit. "Did you see him again before Scott and Jean picked you up?"

"No, but maybe we got lucky and a vampire got him." Wolverine answered.

That caused a reaction in the room. "Vampires?!?"

"Not psychic vampires like Sinister. Sunnydale has real blood sucking Dracula vampires."

"Cool." That was from Jubilee. "How come I didn't know about that? I lived in Beverly Hills. You'd think something like that would make the papers. I mean mutants make the papers why don't vampires?"

Buffy smiled. "Well, our police department is really good at hiding their heads up their ass. Did you remember seeing anything about gangs on PCP attacking schools, malls, etc. in Sunnydale?"

"Sure I remember an incident involving Sunnydale High that supposedly a gang on PCP destroyed it."

"Vampires."

"Huh, go figure."

"What about Mystique? Have you been able to find her or Toad?"

"Lovely names." Buffy whispered to Willow.

"They all are not showing up in Cerebro. It's like they vanished off the face of the Earth."

Willow self-consciously raised her hand, "Can Cerebro pick up others like Tara? I mean was Tara the only one he experimented on?"

"Storm and Pyro are checking out three more mutants that have Tara's signature. They were scattered over the globe. One is in the United States, one in Russia and the last in a tiny island in the Pacific. Their signature came up a few days after Tara's did."

"So do you think someone is working with Magneto?"

"I am not sure but I think he may have an accomplice."

"Even if you catch Magneto someone else will still be experimenting."

Buffy looked over at Willow, "NO!"

The others looked confused, "No, what?"

"No Willow is not going to set herself up as a bait."

"I didn't mean right now, Buffy. I was thinking once they caught Magneto I could be the bait for whoever is helping or if they found whoever is helping I could be the bait for Magneto."

"Get over yourself." Rogue mumbled.

Buffy glared daggers at Rogue. "What's your problem?"

"I'm just saying that what makes her think that Magneto is still after her. I mean he's already gotten Tara and three others. Maybe he moved on and she's not a target anymore."

Buffy beamed, "Fine we'll just go back to Sunnydale." Buffy grabbed Willow's hand and started to stand.

Remy glared at Marie. Jubilee silently laughed. Way to go Rogue. You just pushed Gambit closer to Willow.

The Professor held up his hand, "Buffy, please sit down. Marie do you really want to take the chance that Magneto won't kidnap Willow? You of all people should know what it's like to be held against your will and changed."

Rogue had the decency to look embarrassed and lowered her eyes.

Willow was looking down at the ground and silently wishing she was anywhere but there.

"Until we know Magneto's plans Willow is safest here." Charles noticed that Willow still hadn't looked up and was studiously examining the floor. "Willow." He waited until she looked up at him and he softly sighed when he saw the tears in her eyes. This had to be tough on her. She found out she was a target, her friend was kidnapped and made into a mutant, she was taken from her home and friends and thrust in to the midst of strangers. She had offered herself up as bait and had been attacked by a jealous girl. All in all not a nice week.

"I thank you for your offer to help both Hank and myself. While the Xmen and I search for Magneto and his helpers I would consider it a great favor if you'd help Hank, Kitty and Jubilee find a cure for those that might need it. I remember you're keen mind as a young girl and I'm sure it has only gotten sharper with age."

Willow blushed and smiled her thanks.

Wolverine noticed the pent up energy of Buffy. She was spoiling for a fight and if he didn't get her out of there she'd be fighting Rogue.

"We done here, Chuck?"

"Yes, until we hear back from Storm and Pyro that's it."

"Right. Come on, Slayer let's go work off some of that energy."

Buffy batted her eyes at Logan, "Why Mr. Logan are you propositioning me?"

Remy's laugh turned into a cough when Wolverine glared at him.

"We're going to the Danger Room and fight some holographic Sentinels. That ought to take the fight out of you."

"Hey Wolvie can I come too?"

Buffy snickered, "Wolvie?"