A/N: (1) Always keep in mind my disclaimer from Chapter 2, Danelle and Luc Roi are my original characters, but Danelles mutation is similar to and inspired by the X-Men character of Wolfsbane, so lets continue to think of this whole work as belonging to Marvel Comics and so on. (2) I have really developed these characters in my mind (which is why I may have spent a little extra time here focusing on them) and I hope you like them. Please let me know if you do and if you would be interested in other pieces with more Danelle & the X-Men. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I cannot help but wonder what we have gotten ourselves into, as we follow the man they call "the Professor" and "Xavier" through an elaborate series of futuristic metal hallways to an elevator.
We had been away from civilization for too long, I admit to myself as Luc clutches my hand nervously and bulks at again entering the cramped space of the lift. Each of us were overwhelmed by our surroundings, but I smiled my "Trust me, I will let no harm come to my baby brother" smile at him and we joined the man in the elevator.
"I know I have not yet asked you, but I hope that you will at least stay as our guests here tonight. We will need to talk to you more and I fear I'm too tired to do anything now but sleep." The man says to us both, turning slightly in his wheelchair.
Slowly, I look him over yet again.
From the second he turned his steady, clear gaze to meet mine as I stood anxiously watching them in the clearing, I had trusted this man without hesitation. Something in him awoke the human inside me I'd been hiding from for five years.
He was a good man.
Not like the others I had known.
Not like the ones at the Lake.
Shuddering at the thought of those men, I focus and answer his unspoken question. "We understand and would appreciate a place to stay tonight."
Our eyes meet and we share a smile.
"Good." He says as the lift comes to a stop. "There are a few rooms along here that you may choose from. This wing is away from student quarters, so you will not be disturbed."
"'Student quarters?'" I ask, not immediately following him to any of the rooms he indicated.
"I'm sorry, my manners have been completely absent today, Danelle." He turns with an endearing smile and explains. "This is Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It is my institute for mutants to find sanctuary and learn to live with their mutations. You will find everyone within these walls to have something that makes them different from humans, as do you."
*How strange my given name sounds on his lips.*
"What about me?" Luc asked suddenly, obviously nervous at learning he was the only "human" under this roof.
"You've nothing to fear from anyone here, Luc. We are all peaceful people here, unless absolutely necessary, and endeavor to promote acceptance among humans of mutants and vice versa." Xavier replies, easing my brother's concerns.
Satisfied, we follow him to the first door along the corridor.
He opens it to reveal a modest bedroom with a single bed. That will not do for Luc.
As if he read my mind, the Professor rolls his chair to the end of the hall, where the doors are spaced further apart. He opens the last one on the left and gestures us inside.
A double bed dominates the room. Furniture is sparse, only a bedside table and lamp occupying the space left by the bed. There are two doors in the room. I find one leads to a closest and Luc opens the other to see a small bathroom.
He looks at me with a smile at that discovery, causing me to laugh. We have not had the luxury of plumbing for years and were both eager to use those facilities.
"I take it this is more to your liking?" The Professor asks, a smile in his voice.
We both smile and nod in answer.
"I would like to shower," Luc hesitantly asks for permission to do as he wished.
"Of course. There is a supply closet right here," we follow him to the small door a few steps down the hall, "feel free to get what you need. You'll find soap, shampoo, towels, washcloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes and all manner of grooming items as well as extra sheets and blankets for your bed."
Eagerly, I move around him to gather what we might need.
I smile upon seeing an electric razor and shaving cream, pulling them out to show Luc with a quirk of my brow. He scowls at me, indicating that he does not wish to shave his tangled mess of a beard. I make a face at him but am secretly glad of his choice.
He looks so much like Papa with that beard, I think and the thought comforts me as always.
I put the man's razor back and grab a more feminine version as I notice how badly I need to shave if I don't want to continue being seen as some kind of hairy beast.
"This should be enough, thank you." I say, handing all the items I'd collected to my brother and watching him dash eagerly back into our room to begin his shower.
"You will need clothing for when you are done. We have students who are near your sizes, I will visit them and return with something for each of you to wear."
Xavier begins moving down the hallway to do just that when I stop him.
"Only Luc will need such items. It has been a long time since I assumed this form and after I too shower I will be returning to my wolfen state." I confess, once again wishing I had already changed back.
"I understand, but you will need something in the morning."
Realizing he was right, since I cannot talk in any form but human and we will need to talk in the morning, I nod my consent and he leaves to collect the clothing he had mentioned. I return to the room Luc and I had been given to await my chance at the shower.
My dear brother seemed to be relishing the luxury of running water and still had not released the shower for my use by the time the professor returned.
"Ah, not big on sharing is he?" the man asks as he rolls back into the room. "Each room on this floor is equipped with a bathroom, feel free to pick the one you like for the night." He offers, giving me the clothing he's found.
I look at the sweatshirt and pants obviously intended for my brother and the jeans and T-shirt for me. They are indeed very close to our sizes and should fit nicely. "Thank you and you must give our thanks to the people who were so kind to lend these items."
"You will have the opportunity to do so yourself if you wish. The clothing for your brother was wrangled away from Logan, whom you've met and Rogue volunteered the materials for you. They will both attend the briefing I'd like to hold in the morning, regarding today's events. If you are willing, I would also like for you to fill us all in on exactly what happened at the lake."
"Of course. I must warn you though, it may be a little difficult to believe. I went through the events and still find them unimaginable." I say, referring to how my brother and myself had come to find the wounded woman.
"I have no doubt about that. The fact that Jean survived her ideal is a miracle and I expect a rather miraculous story to be behind it. I will wait with the others until tomorrow to hear it. I hope you will both rest well and please let me know if you need anything more." With that offer, he begins moving from the room as Luc finally tires of his shower.
I shove his borrowed clothes at him the second he emerges from the bathroom wrapped in a sheet and dive into the room myself. Vowing to kill him if he's used all the hot water, I turn the faucets and check.
I took a moment to marvel at the heating system that they must have here, I feel a burst of hot liquid over my fingers. Shedding the coat I wore, I added a little cold to the mixture and stepped under the spray from the showerhead.
It's amazing how in my preferred form as a wolf, I hate rain and other water hitting my fur, but as a "human" the feel of this water pounding into my flesh was heavenly. I felt like I hadn't bathed in a decade, which was very nearly true, and the filth just flowing from my body down the drain.
After twenty minutes of pampering myself, I stepped from the shower minus the dirt and unsightly body hair I had entered the stall with. I squeezed my hair a few times, working the excess moisture from it before rubbing myself nearly dry.
Knowing it would be easier to shake myself dry, I finally allow my body to transform back into a splendid white wolf. Since first glimpsing one of those majestic animals when I was just six years old, it had been my favorite among God's vast kingdom of mammals and the form I'd lived in for the past few years.
Within seconds, the transformation was complete and I was again at home in my thick white fur.
The fur was damp from my shower in human form and I had to shake myself repeatedly to get comfortable, but it still felt great to be back.
I walked slowly into the bedroom, my claws clicking on the hardwood floors, and saw Luc sleeping soundly. Smiling, I moved to the foot of the bed and lay down.
For the longest time, I watched the door, guarding my brother as I had most of my life. Until finally, the events of the day caught up with me and my head sank to my front paws and I slept.
~*~
I awaken with a growl, my pointed white ears twitching at some noise that had disturbed my sleep. Rising slowly to my feet, I quickly assure myself that Luc is still sleeping safely.
His loud snores tell me he is and I move slowly toward the closed door of our room.
Again, my ears detect the faint noise, this time closer to us.
Growling softly, I try to place the sound.
A squeak followed by the soft thud of a sneaker on the hardwood floors that covered these upper levels of this place. Remembering the events of yesterday and where we now are, I relax.
We are at Xavier's institute.
Everyone here is like me and within these walls we are safe.
Mentally groaning, I realize the approaching footsteps mean it is morning.
Time for Luc to wake and I to retake human form. I almost hate doing that anymore, even it is how I was intended to be from birth. My body itches when it is left bare with only that thin layer of flesh protecting it.
*If only I'd been born a wolf.*
I transform and dress in the clothes I'd been given last night before waking my brother. Sound must really carry here, because the person sent to wake us did not arrive until after Luc had shaken all traces of sleep from his head.
Finally sensing them right outside the door, I open it before they knock.
I am surprised to find three people in the hallway and wonder how I could have missed the sounds of them all approaching.
"Good morning, Danelle, I'm glad to find you already awake. I thought you may like to join us for breakfast before our meeting." Xavier says.
Kurt and Storm, the other two with him, simply smile kindly.
"That sounds wonderful, Xavier. We have not eaten since this time yesterday and I confess we could probably eat everything you have in your kitchen." I reply.
"You'll find us well stocked for such hearty appetites," he assured and without further ado we began making our way from the room.
My bear feet slap against the floor, drawing Storm's attention. "Were they unable to find you shoes?" she asks, concerned for my comfort.
"I'm so sorry, Danelle, I fear I didn't even think to ask for any when I got the clothing. We shall be able to rectify that immediately." Xavier answers.
"Please, don't. It isn't cold here, so I am actually quite comfortable without them. To tell the truth, it's been so long since I've needed to wear them, I'd probably be something of a klutz in shoes. Even these clothes take some adjusting." I confess with a grimace. "Speaking of clothing, I'm afraid I left your coat in the bathroom, Kurt. I can go get it, if you wish?"
"It ist not necessary." He informs me with a smile.
"I want to thank you again for loaning it to me yesterday. I'd forgotten how cold winter is to the human body," I say, returning the smile.
He just smiles and blushes slightly, turning to hold the black woman's hand.
Interesting to see a blue man blush, I think watching the apparent lovers. I had not seen such affection since Luc and Natalie and that realization saddens me, as did the brief memory of my deceased sister-in-law.
As we enter the elevator, I look at my brother and wonder as I often do if he regrets his decision not to live a "normal" life. He was human, after all, and could live among them easily even if his father and wife had been mutants, as was I.
Almost sensing the direction of my thoughts he scowls at me, making me smile. I notice the Professor is looking at me rather strangely as if he too felt something of my heavy thoughts.
The elevator doors opened on the main level of the institute and we departed the small chamber. After taking a few steps, we came upon the students Xavier had alluded to last night. They were a lively bunch, I realize as I hear the raised voices and laughter of youth mixed in with running footsteps.
"Mornings here take some getting used to." Xavier said with a fond smile.
Exploring my surroundings, I responded with a vague nod.
Luc, as usual, trailed along quietly beside me. He so rarely spoke anymore, probably because I stayed so frequently in my wolf state leaving him with no one to talk to. Back among other people, my thoughts were all concerned about my young brother and the past five years we'd spent in the wilds of Northern Canada.
*Had I been right to encourage him to turn his back on the world with me?*
Smelling food, all thoughts but eating leave me and we all arrive at the dining hall that seems to be our destination. The room is crowded with noisy children breaking their fast over the fattening dishes breakfast is famous for. My mouth so watered for the sausage and bacon I saw them consuming, that I did not even hesitate to enter as I often do a room with strangers in it. Luc also shed his similar reserve in favor of eating for the first time in a full day.
~~I'm sorry I could not provide a more private setting for us all to eat a quiet meal, but there was not time to make arrangements with the cook.~~
Snapping my head around to stare at Xavier, I am puzzled by that statement.
Not by it's meaning, but by the fact that I did not hear it with my ears. In an instant, it seemed to simply have been in my mind, like one of my very own thoughts.
Sensing my confusion, he comes close to actually blushing under my stare. "I seem to be making quite a few errors in my interactions with you. Again, I apologize, Danelle. I should not have projected like that without preparing you for it." Seeing that I'm still puzzled, he explains further. "I am a telekinetic and, as many so fondly call it, a mind reader. You are right in that you didn't hear my words with your ears, I spoke them directly into your mind from my own."
Eyes wide at such a gift, I stare at this constantly surprising male.
So very different from the others, I think again before blushing and rushing to join Luc in line for some food.
"Everything ok," he asks as I come to a stop behind him.
"Yes, just strange to be in such surroundings," I assure him, picking up a tray, plate, and utensils.
"Not exactly like what we're used to." Luc replies with a gruff laugh as he begins piling his plate high with food.
Thinking of the three room shack, with it's separate outhouse, we had been born and raised in and now lived in having returned to the wilderness near Alkali Lake, I had to agree with that.
Focusing on food, I found the selection incredible. I quickly filled my plate with pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. For a long moment, I looked from at my full tray and the fresh fruit at the end of the line, wondering if we were allowed to make more than one visit to this buffet. Grabbing a bottle of apple juice, I decided to make sure I could eat what I'd already acquired, and moved to join the others at their table.
The one called Logan stalked into the room as I rose to get my second serving of food, which the Professor assured both my brother and I we were welcome to.
I stiffen warily at his entrance and skirt around him on my way back to the buffet. It wasn't that I feared him, though his near attack upon seeing me transform had been startling. It was simply that I recognized a strong alpha male within him and every member of a wolf pack knew to be cautious of the alpha.
I had recognized the strength in him the second I set eye upon him that first moment at the Lake, days before the events that destroyed the dam and nearly killed their friend. Somehow I doubt he remembers locking eyes with me as I watched him enter and leave the compound that day.
"Are we going to get down to business anytime soon?" he's demanding of the Professor when I return to my seat.
"Logan, you have already been to see Jean this morning, you know there is no reason to rush. Our guests are hungry. Please, allow them time to eat after going hungry for the past day because of us, even if the food does not appeal to you." The Professor reprimanded, drawing a smile from me at such bravery.
With a growl and glare at my smiling face, he turns on his heels and stalks back out of the dining hall.
"You will have to excuse him. This has been a very trying time for him, as for us all, and he takes it with a little less grace than the rest of us." Xavier says, to both my brother and I, but looking at me.
"There is no reason to explain. I am very familiar with restlessness of Alphas. He has reminded me of why we're here though. How is your friend?" I ask of the woman we had arrived at the school with.
"Hank did not alert me to any changes in her condition since last night, so I am taking that as a sign of good things. He will be at our meeting later to give us all an update on Jean's injuries."
Knowing now why Logan was so impatient, I focused on satisfying my appetite quickly.
Ten minutes later, a very full Luc pulls a completely stuffed me to my feet. Groaning, I had to concede that I should not have ate that last stack of pancakes and slowly follow the others to Xavier's office, where we are to have this meeting.
Logan is pacing the hall outside the door as we move toward it and he stops to quirk a brow at us all, sarcastically asking with his look if we could have taken any more time getting there.
Entering the office I see the doctor inside, already seated, as were a young woman with dark hair sporting two bold white streaks and beside her, a young male with a fair complexion. They rise as we enter, looking curiously at Luc and I.
"Bobby, Rogue, thank you for meeting us here." Xavier says greeting the couple.
Recognizing the second name, I move forward to thank the woman just identified as Rogue for the clothing I'm now wearing. She smiles and shrugs off my thanks, openly curious as to who I am.
"I would like to introduce you both to Luc and Danelle Roi. They are our guests of honor this morning and have much to tell us." The professor said, waving for us all to be seated.
Taking the seat closest to the position the professor took behind his desk, I wait for him to continue and set the direction of this gathering.
"I'm not exactly sure where best to begin to fill you in," he starts by addressing Bobby and Rogue. "The beginning is usually the best place, so I will go there.
"Tuesday morning while in this very room, I detected three faint distress calls from someone I believed to be Jean." The pair gasps and leans forward, listening more intently. "I immediately got Logan started repairing Cerebro so I could use it to attempt locating the source of those calls and verify that it was Jean.
"He completed the task and yesterday morning I did just that. Using Cerebro, I located Jean about 10 miles southwest of Alkali Lake. I called to Storm and within minutes we were on our way to that location to find her. When we arrived, Danelle was waiting for us. Luc soon followed with Jean and we made our way back here.
"I called Dr. Hank McCoy," he directed the pair's attention to Hank "here to see to Jean's care and he met us in the medlab last night when we returned. I believe that to be a pretty fair condensed version of everything I can explain. I think next Hank, you should give us all an update on Jean's medical condition then Danelle, I would like for you to tell us how Jean came to be in your care."
With those quick, concise words he sat back to allow Hank to take over the conversation. No one spoke, our attention just immediately went to the doctor.
"I'd like to begin by stating that Jean is doing beautifully this morning. Her temperature has returned to normal and her vitals have improved and are steady. Her lungs have cleared and I took her off her respirator after only a few hours.
"Regarding her actual injuries, I'll move from head to toe with my findings. She has a mild concussion and remains unconscious, but I don't believe her to be in a coma and still have no reason to worry about any brain damage. Most every bone along the left side of her body was fractured or broken and I've put her in a partial body cast to assure that they heal as best as possible. In her x-rays, I found a slight fracture in her pelvis that is unlikely to heal and may require surgery after she has recovered from her other injuries to have the hipbone replaced.
"As long as she is unconscious we must remain prepared for changes in her condition that may be for the worse. I'm optimistic, but she will require round the clock monitoring until she comes to again." Both Storm and Rogue gasped at his cautiously good news, tears filling their eyes.
How loved this woman was, I think looking at those in this room who had obviously mourned deeply thinking her dead and now began celebrating the unbelievable fact that she was back and alive.
All eyes turn to me and I sense Logan is especially impatient to hear my story. I clear my throat somewhat nervously and shrink back in my chair under their eyes.
"Well,…" I begin awkwardly. "um…I guess I should follow Xavier's example and begin at the beginning.
"My brother and I were raised in the woods where the Professor arrived yesterday to collect Jean. We lived there until our mother's death 30 years ago. We were teenagers at that time and our father moved us to Anchorage, Alaska to be near civilization and live with relatives. Five years ago we decided to leave there and return to the woods to live.
"We had always been familiar with Alkali Lake, fishing there and even daring to bathe in the icy waters when it got warmer out. When we returned there five years ago, we found the Lake a changed place. I soon observed very disturbing activity at the dam and came to realize that soldiers were doing something to others like me there. Not wanting to be identified as a mutant and caught, I watched the area constantly in my wolf form. Whenever we could, Luc and I rescued mutants trying to escape or poorly guarded while being transported to the dam.
"Unfortunately, those who escaped rarely had any energy left and died after we took them to our home. Those we "hijacked" we quickly fed and put in touch with trapper friends of Luc's who were willing to smuggle them to safety across the area or back into the United States, where a surprising number of them were from.
"Activity at the Lake began increasing, especially in the day time, which was very rare. I wasn't able to watch as closely as I had in the past during the days prior to the day the dam was destroyed and we found Jean. On that particular day, Luc and I were hunting to the North when we realized something big was happening. By the time I arrived to see anything, it seemed the most damage had been done and you were all preparing to leave, safely.
"I was still too far away to do anything when I saw the woman leave the jet as the dam broke. I must admit, I was frozen with shock for a moment when I saw what she was doing. Realizing that you would be leaving without her and the water would soon crash into her, I began racing to the lake.
"When I reached the water's edge, I transformed into my human form with enough characteristics of a sea otter to survive the freezing water and swim fast enough to reach her. I dove in the second I saw her lower her arm and get hit by the tidal wave. Breathing underwater, I race with the flow as the lake drains through the break in the dam until I see the black of her uniform.
"I found her pressed up against a tree, grabbed her, and swam to the surface. The current was strong and held us both against that tree. I made sure we didn't get swept away and did my best to keep her head above the water. The pressure of the flooding water lasted about two minutes until the whole valley was full and it had stopped rushing downhill.
"We kept a boat in woods along the northern shore of the lake, so the dam going did not disturb it. As soon as the water settled, Luc got into the boat and started in our direction, having seen me dive into the lake. When he got to us, we got Jean into the boat and traveled to the southern-most end of the new lake, taking us closer to our home.
"Once we ran out of water, Luc began pulling the boat with Jean in it over the snow until we arrive at our shack. In human form, I rushed ahead to build a roaring fire and prepare a bed for her. The second they arrived, we took off the wet uniform, wrapped her in every blanket and spare animal hide we could find and placed her next to the fire. We began feeding her hot soup and keep giving her all the water she would take.
"She was cold and a little blue for a long time, but eventually began to respond and show some healthy color. She was knocked unconscious and never opened her eyes, but the morning of the day after then one following that in which we found her - Tuesday, I believe you've said - I felt her speak to me as you did earlier in the dining hall, Professor. She showed no signs of life, except her shallow breathing, but in my head she told me simply that "They will come for me."
"When you arrived the next day, I knew you were the ones she spoke of and rushed to meet you in wolf form. After determining that the situation and you were safe, I howled to tell Luc to come and he loaded Jean back into the boat and used it as a sled to carry her to join us. The Professor told the rest. We all returned here and placed her in Dr. McCoy's care last night." I finish, hoping they will be satisfied with my explanation.
"What do you mean? How could you transform into "human form with enough characteristics of a sea otter to survive," the one called Bobby asks, breaking the silence left by my trailing off.
"That is my gift. I learned early in life that I'm able to change into any mammal or take on their characteristics, as the situation requires. Taking in the situation that presented itself to me at the Lake, I felt a Sea Otter would be my best choice of animal to transform into to help your friend. Otters are very fast swimmers, able to breathe underwater and protected from the icy conditions by layers of blubber and thick skin. I adapted those traits for a time." I reply, easily answering the question I had heard often before exiling myself five years ago.
"Mah God." Is all Rogue seems capable of saying as she takes in all she has been told.
"It is indeed a miraculous story, Danelle. I cannot thank you and the fates enough for returning to your childhood home and being at the Lake that day to so use your gifts." Xavier says, moving to clasp my hand warmly in his.
Rogue suddenly leaps to her feet, "Jean is here?!" that fact only just sinking in.
"Yes," the Professor turns his attention to the younger woman.
"In the medlab? Here? *Alive?!*" She demands, stalking to the Professor's desk then back to the chair she'd been sitting in.
"Rogue." Bobby rises and tries to calm the agitated female.
"Yes, Rogue, she is alive and in the lab." The professor answers her questions calmly.
She takes a shuddering breath and turns to meet his eyes. "Can Ah see her? Please?" she asks.
"Hank?" Xavier turns to the doctor for permission.
"She is not awake and needs the rest she is getting, but yes, you can see her. I will return below with you." Hank says rising.
Logan, Storm and her shadow Kurt also jump to their feet, intending to visit as well. As if expecting that, Hank simply ushers the group out the door.
Bobby simply sinks back into his chair and stares blindly at the floor.
He gulps suddenly and raises glistening eyes to look at the Professor. "She really survived?" He asks with such hope and disbelief that my own eyes felt moist.
Xavier nods and the young man stands. "Thank you." He says quietly to the man in the wheelchair before silently leaving the room.
Curious, I look to the Professor for an explanation.
"Young Bobby has been dealing with a great deal of guilt since the day of the dam. He feels he could and should have used his powers to prevent what happened." Xavier explains.
"Could he have?" I ask, wondering what powers could have prevented those events.
"It is possible, but we can never know for sure and speculating only brings heartache. In the last moments at the dam we all remember so vividly, Jean made a choice and was not willing to risk anyone else." Turning his attention to both Luc and myself he changes the subject, "I would like to take this time to thank you for all you have done. I'd also like to ask you both to extend your stay with us. I know you are uncomfortable in these surroundings, but I think you would both benefit from a little vacation here."
I look at Luc, letting him answer this one as I truly wish to know if he would like to stay and enjoy the comforts of a real home again.
"How long?" he asks.
"As long as you like," the Professor replies.
"I think it would be nice to spend a few days here," Luc says looking to me for agreement "it's not like we've anything pressing to return to."
Smiling at him, I turn and give Xavier my acceptance as well, with a simple nod.
"Excellent." The Professor states. "How about a tour of the facilities then I'll have Ororo take you into town to purchase a few articles of clothing and anything else you might like to get comfortable here?"
Not sure I liked the second part of the offer, I nodded automatically and we all left the room to begin our tour.
*Our days here are sure to be very interesting.*
This place – this school – and the people here were unlike anything I had ever known before and that fact warmed me.
Maybe not all civilization was to be shunned.
Perhaps my brother and I had only experienced the wrong parts of it.