Sorry this took so long--I got grounded from the use of any electronics except the microwave, the stove and the toaster.  But, despite all that, I've got this here now!

Thank you to my reviewers.  I love you guys and it wouldn't be worth it without you.  *Sniff*  There were a few very minor alterations made to chapter one, just so you know.  The story will still make sense if you don't re-read.  German translations are at the end.

Quick note:  I'm not Catholic or even Christian, so please don't get upset if I misrepresent Kurt's beliefs.  Just correct me.  I want to include his beliefs because I thoroughly admire him for them and they are a large part of his character and life.

Now for chapter 2

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Chapter Two:  Tears Shed By Night

                Kurt stared at the ceiling above his bed.  Something was wrong.  No one had been angry at his suspension.  No one had said anything about it.  They'd just told him that he could go take a nap if he wanted.  He had wanted to, had tried to, but now he was nervous.  What if they were planning on throwing him out?  He didn't have anywhere to go.

                He said a quick prayer, then, unable to sleep, he picked up his dirty laundry and teleported into the laundry room.  At least he could wash his clothes before they threw him out.  He sat, crouched, on the dryer and let the myriad of sounds from the washing machine take over his mind.  He let himself drift, imagining that he wasn't so different, that everyone was like him.

                Finally, though, the washing machine turned off and he remembered that he had to put the clothes into the dryer.  That meant getting off the dryer.  Right.  He moved as though to hop down, and suddenly felt dizzy.  His vision turned dark.  He pitched forward and landed head first, twisting into a position that would have dislocated a few joints on any less flexible person and would leave even him stiff for a few days. 

                When Logan found Kurt, nearly an hour later, Kurt was still unconsious.

***

                Hank shook his head.  He couldn't figure out what had happened to Kurt.  Aside from a very minor concussion, the teen was fine.  Even when Kurt had woken up and explained what he'd been doing, Hank had remained stumped. 

                Kurt had been quiet lately, but that could be chalked up to sheer exhaustion... Of course!  Kurt was exhausted.

                Hank thought.  Danger Room training, work, school, goofing off.  Between all of Kurt's normal activities, it was enough to tire out any three kids.  And Kurt had been teleporting almost constantly, especially in training.  Scott was insistent that Kurt needed to get better, so that he'd be even more useful...

                Hank looked at Kurt's sleeping form, curled up like a cat, the tip of his tail lying on the pillow.  He looked so young...and so unusual.  It was amazing that he didn't hate the world, the way his natural appearance frightened people  Hank brushed away the thought.  Hank himself was blue and furry and he wasn't bitter.

                After checking one more time to make sure that Kurt was really asleep and not unconsious again, Hank headed upstairs to talk to the other adults.

                "He's going to be fine."

                "What's wrong?"  the Professor asked.

                "Sheer exhaustion.  He's been so overextended that he's just shutting down."

                "But he'll be okay?" Storm pressed.

                "Yes.  He's to be excused from training and everything else until the end of his suspension, but he'll be fine."

                "Excused from training?"  Logan raised an eyebrow.

                "Yes.  He needs a vacation.  I'd actually like to see him go elsewhere, away from the Institute and all of the other students.  I think part of his problem is the pressure."

                "Pressure?"

                "Yes.  He's under enormous pressure from his teammates and everyone else to do well.  Even we've pressuring him to do better, especially in school.  We should let him go off for a vacation."

***

                Kurt was having his usual dream.  He was talking to his friend from the dream-world, Morgen.  Morgen was in every one of his dreams lately.  She was an interesting character, and they had some cool conversations, when she wasn't in annoying younger sister mode like she was now.

                "Wie geht's?"

                "Ganz gut. Hey, why are you sleeping?" she asked him, in German.  "It's the middle of the day, isn't it?"

                "I am tired."  He kept speaking in German.  He always dreamed in German.

                "Oh.  Why don't you sleep at night time"

                "Because I don't really seem to have time."

                "You aren't very talkative tonight.  What's wrong?""

                "I'm failing almost all my classes."

                She gasped.  "Why?"

                "I can't keep up with the English.  I'm too tired.  I got suspended, too."

                "Oh no!  Are you in big trouble?" 

                "Not really, but I need to rest, can you leave me alone for awhile?"  Kurt wasn't sure why he needed to ask someone in his dream to go away so he could sleep, but he figured it was some kind of subconscious thing.

                "Okay.  Sleep well, Blau."

                He groaned inwardly.  He wished she'd call him Kurt, and not Blau, which meant blue, but she couldn't seem to understand his name.  Even Nightcrawler or Elf would be an improvement, but she just didn't seem to listen to him.  "Thank you, Morgen."  

***

                "Come on, Elf.  It's time to get up."  Logan shook Kurt gently.

                Kurt sat up quickly, blinking.  Perhaps he had just had a nightmare and he hadn't been suspended or fallen off the dryer or...  He saw his surroundings--the infirmary.  The day had definitely happened. 

                "Come on.  You have to pack your bags."

                "Was? Nein.  Do not make me leave!  I am sorry.  I vill never svear again, I promise.  I vill pray und pray.  I am very sorry."  Tears soaked the fur on Kurt's face.  "Please do not throw me out.  I did not mean to."

                Through all of this, Logan had been trying to say something, but Kurt was too frightened to notice.  Giving up on words, he grabbed Kurt's arm.

                Bamf.

                Kurt was sitting above Logan's head on some cabinets in the dark corner.  Logan wrinkled his nose at the smell of brimstone that filled the room.  He glanced around and spotted Kurt's yellow eyes.

                "Kurt..."

                "Please.  I am sorry.  Do not throw me out.  I have novhere else to go!"

                Logan took a deep breath and bellowed, loud enough that Kurt froze with his mouth still opened.  "Kurt, den Mund halten!  Just go and pack.  When you're done, come and meet me in the front hall.

                Kurt sniffled and did as he was told.  Getting thrown out... It was definitely not his day.

***

                A few minutes later, Kurt teleported into the front hall.  He had a bulging garbage bag in each hand, and a battered suitcase hanging from his tail.  He all but yelled as he saw all of the mansion's inhabitants gathered there, smiling.

                "Was?  Have you come to laugh at the furry demon's misfortune?  It isn't enough that I am being thrown out, you have to all show that you don't like me, too?"

                "Cast out?" Storm echoed.  She turned to Logan.  "What did you tell him?"

                Wolverine shrugged.  "I told him to go pack.  He wouldn't shut up long enough for me to say anything else."

                "You scared him half to death."  Storm looked at Kurt.  "We are not throwing you out.  We are sending you off on a vacation.  Hank said you were overtired, so we decided to let you take a break.

                Kurt wiped tears from his face with the back of his hand.  He blinked in astonishment.

                "I can come back after?"

                "Yeah."  Logan smirked.  "You sure you're gonna need everything you own?"

                "Nein.  I vill pack better, but first I have to know vhere I am going."

                "You choose.  I'm just driving you to the airport," Logan said.

                "Airport?  But they vill make me take off the image inducer.  How vill I ever get through security?"

                Hank held up a piece of paper.  "According to this, your pacemaker is regulated by your "watch."  It's apparently an experimental technology, and forcing you to take off your watch could kill you."

                "I have no pacemaker."  Kurt cocked his head to one side.  "Lying is a sin."

                "I know, but sometimes it is easier to tell a little white lie."  Hank grimaced.  "Normal people don't usually appreciate us.  Would you rather I told them that you were a furry blue elf-boy and have them detain you and possibly deport you?"

                "Nein.  But I have no passport.  They vill deport me anyway."

                Kitty stepped forward, hugged Kurt and held up a little leather wallet.  "You have a passport right here.  Professor Xavier keeps up-to-date paperwork on all of us, in case we have to travel."

                Kurt took the wallet, which contained a passport and a credit card, both in his name.

                "Stop worrying, man," Evan said.  "You're getting an all expenses paid trip to anywhere you want to go.  You're free."

                "I can go anyvhere?"  Kurt looked around, and everyone nodded.

                He cast hs mind about, trying to decide where he should go.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his suitcase, which was covered in stickers.  One of the largest said "Berlin."  It occurred to Kurt that he'd never been able to just go sightseeing in his home country.

                "Vould it be okay if I vent to Germany?"

                Logan smiled.  "Sure.  Go pack and then I'll drive you to the airport."

                "But...vhat if there is no plane to Germany for awhile?"

                "There's, like, such a thing as a transfer flight, you know," Kitty said.

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                That's chapter two!!!  I'm gonna skip straight to Germany for the next chapter and ignore the flights because I've never been on an international flight and I don't know what to expect.  And yes, Kurt can teleport, I know.  I'm just not sure what his range is.  I wouldn't want him to get caught somewhere over the Atlantic or something.  Just for the sake of arguement, he's taking a regular airplane.

Wie geht's? = How's it going, How are you?

Ganz gut. = Quite well, Pretty good.

Den Mund halten. ­­= Shut up.