Title: Strange Encounters                                                                                                                                                 Date: 08/02/03

Author: Water-Soter

Main Characters/Pairings:  Scott, Jean, Professor X, Bobby, Warren, Hank, Logan, Ororo, Connie and Moira.

Series:  The Road Home Book I Part 4

Author's Notes: Even though this story is an AU, some facts are taken from the various X-Men verses. This story is dedicated to Nadja for her kind words and support, and to Amber for her inspiration. Thank you both. Without you this wouldn't be posted. I want to thank my beta-god Tarch for his initial work on this fic and as always, my current beta Kris for working her magic on this. You so RULE! J

Feedback: Absolutely! I'm new at this, so please don't burn me at the stake. Nevertheless I will appreciate any comments or suggestions you have on this story J. Write to me at www.Water_Soter@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Marvel comics and the almighty Stan Lee. It's free so please don't take the shirt of my back J. Connie belong to me and may not be used without my permission.

Warning: this story contains mild mentions of rape, violence and foul language. So be warned, if you're easily offended, please don't read. Otherwise J be afraid, be very afraid . . . hee! ha ha ha ha  (diabolical laugh!).

                                  Squishy  thoughts          "Yummy"  spoken         Whoopee   telepathy

In the rough, worn-out warehouse district somewhere in the Bronx.

"WHAT THE FUCK YOU MEAN YOU LOST 'IM?" A rough man, hairy but muscular shouted at the two men before him, the empty aluminum walls rebounded his voice throughout the large area.

"I'-it's like this, boss, ya see . . . ah . . ." The shorter of the two men mumbled, cowering before his angry boss.

"We had 'im cornered in 'Braska, but he just upped and left." Another one spoke, eyeing the first with annoyance.

"So, where the fuck did the freak go!" Their leader boomed, smashing a large fist into part of an air vent on the ground.

"We 'hink to New York, at 'east that's what Har said." The second spoke again, looking at his boss with a bit of fright.

"Listen you shit-heads, you find him, and when you do, bring him to here, UNDERSTAND?"

"Yeah, 'ure boss." The second man answered for both of them, seeing his partner too pale and shaken to get even a squeak out.

"NOW! No one leaves me, you hear, not that little piece of shit, not that cunt, bitch, NO ONE!"

Ororo Munrou always woke with the rising sun, a habit she'd developed in her time as an African Goddess. Before she had accidentally flooded another village, before she was forced into hiding from an angry mob, before she had run into a young Charles Xavier who had been treating the ill in a small 'hospital' not far from where she had made a small shack. So many things had brought this young woman to this place she now called home, she owed her future to this man, and now another child would be in his debt as well.

The white haired woman stared at the beautiful sunrise, how the sky broke into a multitude of pastel colors from the blackness of the night. The rays of light caressing lovingly the snow covered area around the school, even the empty trees and bushes showed a sing of life with the commencement of a new day. The energy that flowed as life starting anew gave her the serene feeling she craved, especially today. 

Why me, Charles? She thought exasperated, the confidence she had felt days before faltering as the full weight of the enormous responsibility her mentor had placed on her shoulders sank in. All doubts, all anxiety she had calmed down when the proud thrill of Charles trusting her with something like this came back unbidden, What could I possibly offer Scott that you yourself could not?

"By the Bright Lady, what have I gotten myself into?" She whispered, burying her head in her hands.

"Talking to yerself 'Ro? Not a good sign ya know?" A strong male voice startled the young woman, nearly making her loose her balance and falling three stories, turning toward her attic bedroom from her place on the window sill. She could see her long time friend standing at the doorway, a wicked grin on his stubble covered face.

"Logan!" She practically shouted, "There is such a thing as knocking before entering another's room."

Shrugging, the man made his way to her, stopping just short of her delicate frame. "Just thought ya might  need to talk before heading down for breakfast."

Eyeing him, she let out a long, weary sigh, "I am surprised Connie would allow us to be tardy for any meal, she is insanely obsessive when it comes to food. Hmm, perhaps our very own Queen Mary will chop off our heads."

The older man just stared at her, " What?"

"Nothing, Darling, just didn't figure ya had a sense of humor in ya, that's all." He replied coyly while shaking his head.

She glared, he laughed at that. "Been hanging around Jeannie too much."

"If you came here to irritate me, little man, you are doing a wonderful job at it."

"Nah, I just wanted ya to lighten up and tell me what's wrong. Ya've been wearing that 'kicked puppy' look since dinner last night." He sat next to her, playing with a cigar in his rough hands.

"How did things go last night?" At his questioning look, she continued, "With Charles and the child."

"Well . . . Charles was pissed." When she raised an eyebrow at him, he ginned, "Yeah, I know, Charlie doesn't get mad, but he was, at himself though."

"Why was that?"

"Ya know Chuck, relies too much on his powers to read people."

"I suppose he forgets that not all people are easy to read."

"Yeah, well, the kid almost bolted and he wasn't too thrilled with that. But I think he got the message loud and clear. The boy's gonna be good for him. For ya too ya know."

She stared ahead, seeing the splash of colors covering the sky, beautiful was a poor word to describe it.

"I'm afraid." She said after a moment of silence. It was hard for her to admit this much to anyone. "I'm afraid that I will not be able to help Scott."

Logan just studied the young woman, letting the silence stretch before commenting, "Ya two come from the streets 'Ro."

"Yes, I know. But I at least had a family, even if it was ill fated, I was part of something, belonged somewhere. How can I step back to those times with all that has happened since?"

Putting a muscular arm around her, he held her close, like the first time he had when she had broken down. "Listen to me, 'Ro, ya don't need to go back there to help him, hell I'm probably the last person who should be telling ya this, but the kid needs someone he can relate to. I can't do it because he doesn't trust men, Charles can't because even though the guy went through hell with his stepdad, they come from different places."

"And you think that I am the most qualified."

"Not really," He said with a grin, earning him a hard smack from the white-haired woman. "But if ya need someone to talk to about it, ya should go pay Connie a visit. She and her husband used to run a shelter before he was killed in a drive-by. She's dealt with it all, maybe that's why she runs the place like a drill sergeant."

"Making even the big, bad Wolverine cower before her wrath." She added coyly.

"Ya got that right, Darlin'," He answered while puffing his chest, "Even I know my limitations, kid."

And at that, she burst out laughing, letting the tension drain out of her before the only person that could make her break her rigid control. "Logan, you're an idiot."

"But ya love me anyway," He said with a wink, "C'mon, 'Ro, ya need to gather up your ducklings for your little trip to the mall before they start running wild on ya."

"Mother Goose, am I?"

"Well, someone's gotta keep them in line." And they left for breakfast as Ororo let the anxiety drain from her, letting her natural calm fall on her, "Ya gonna be just fine, Charles wouldn't let ya loose on them if he didn't trust ya."

"Thank you, Canuck." She said with an impish smile, before rapping her arm in Logan's.

"Yeah, well, ya better not call me that in front of the kiddies, they might start getting ideas."

"Of course not, I would hate to tarnish your reputation."

Three hours in a noisy, crowded mall was enough to make Scott want to run into the hills screaming. He had always hated public places, always preferring quiet and desolated areas where he couldn't accidentally run into someone. Here he felt vulnerable, more handicapped because his senses were overwhelmed. These places always made him lose control, and although few things in his life were his to manage, Scott clung to them like a drowning man to a life raft.

Jean walked next to him, acting as his guide while Ororo was at his left and the rest of the 'men' were behind them, carrying all their load. Between the two females, they had managed to buy half the mall making Hank, Bobby and himself groan each time Jean or Ororo would mention that they stop at a shop. Strangely enough, Warren had been the most complacent, helping pick out things for Scott, and being the most notorious critic. "This isn't even wearable . . . whoever came up with the idea that woman were fashion gurus . . ." were among his usual comments.

All in all, the process had been less painful than Scott had thought it would be. He had enough clothes to last him for the rest of his life, but Jean insisted that he still needed another pair of gloves and some scarves.

"Are you done yet?" The youngest among them wined for the eleventh time, vocalizing his own question that he was too 'old' to ask. He could almost see the vicious look Jean sent him, the young man hiding behind the bigger boy, Hank as he observed the exchange with bewildered amusement.

"Jean, I do not mean to be difficult," Jean just glanced at Hank, daring him to say another word, "But if we were to purchase another item, I fear we will leave the premises vacant of obtainable items." Jean just sighed, thinking of ways to 'accidentally' clobber her friends.

Scott on the other hand, was feeling a bit ill. His ever constant headache was sharpened by the racket of people coming and going. It hadn't been this bad in a long while, and he was starting to feel nauseous and faint. He was trying desperately to keep his mind focused on anything else when someone rushed by them, nearly knocking Jean and him down.

The moment that Scott came in contact with the man, his power surfaced, causing him to connect mentally to him. The man's memories rushed through Scott's mind, causing him to waver.

Hank and Warren were there in a flash keeping the boy from hitting the ground. While Jean and Ororo made way for them to set Scott in a thankfully empty bench with Bobby closely following behind.

Scott was clutching his head, trying futilely to halt the images coming to his head. A first birthday of a child, a proud father holding the baby as she took her first steps, the baby's body lying lifelessly in her fathers arms. Stop, stop, STOP! The boy couldn't take much more. He felt like his skull was being ripped apart.

Jean tried using her telepathy to enter his mind, but his shields unconsciously threw her out. He was shaking and pale, completely unresponsive. Hank shook him as Jean contacted the professor telepathically, but just as quickly as it had begun, it ended.

"Scott, what happened?" Hank stared at Scott, his arms still on his shoulders. The concern in his voice brought Scott completely out of the stupor. He felt weak and lightheaded.

"I . . ." was all that Scott managed to say as he tried to stand only to nearly collapse; Hank and Jean kept him from falling to the ground.

"We must take him back to the mansion," Ororo said as Warren and Bobby grabbed the shopping bags and Hank and Jean helped Scott along. People stared, but they just ignored them, focusing on the youth.

Scott kept grabbing his head, as they made their way outside to the SUV. "Jean, contact the professor. Inform him of what has happened and that we will be there shortly."

Jean nodded as Hank placed Scott carefully in the vehicle while Warren and Bobby took either side, making sure he was strapped in. The drive back was quiet, Scott drifting in and out of consciousness.

Ororo prayed, Goddess, do not let there be anything seriously wrong with the child.

"What's up Chuck?" Logan said coming into his study after receiving the mental summon from Xavier.

"Jean has just contacted me. Something has appears to have happened to Scott."

Logan's face visibly paled but he maintained his detached demeanor, "Where? I'll get the Blackbird ready and . . ."

"That will not be necessary," Logan stared at the professor, giving him a questioning look, "Ororo is bringing them back here and should be arriving here in thirty minutes."

Logan crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. "Looks like ya have everything under control. So what ya need me for?" he asked, voice edged with annoyance. 

Charles eyed the man carefully, "I need you to help Scott down to the Med Lab when he arrives and stay with him, while I contact Moira, I hate cutting her vacation short but she might be needed."

"McCoy can take him down there and 'Ro can babysit."

"Right now Ororo's nerves are at wits end, as well as the other children's, I need her calm and for her to remain with them."

"Alright, Charles, but I ain't gonna mother the boy."

"Fair enough," Charles began making his way out toward the hallway, before stopping and turning slightly, "and Logan . . . if he were to wake, please try do not agitated him. I have a feeling that the child may know what happened to him."

Logan eyed the other man as he made his way to hallway, a thoughtful look on his face, then left toward the main entrance.

Tum, tum, tum . . . To Be Continued!