A/N: Ok, now that I know I have a decent following of readers (yay and thanks!) I can rattle on about this story. Hopefully I finally have the chapter-posting issues figured out (my computor doesn't like me sometimes *slaps monitor*) and I will now have enough time to be posting new chapters! I'm sorry they're short, but my excuse is that the smaller the chapters, the more time I have to post! So here's chapter 3. Thanks for the reviews! (you know, flames ARE welcome, if something sucks, tell me so I can change it!) PS it was in the summary, but here it is again…X2 spoiler warning!!!! If you haven't seen it yet, a) go see it cuz it's a darn good movie and b) for your own sake don't read any more of this story!!! If you do don't yell at me about giving away the ending!

            An hour and a McDonald's stop later, Scott brought the Mazda into a long, tree-lined driveway.  A sign at the side of the road welcomed them to "Xavier's School for the Gifted."

            "Do people buy that?" Sami asked dubiously.  "I mean, I know you can't just call this place a school for mutants, but 'gifted'?  Are all mutants just more intelligent than other people, so you can get away with saying that?"

            Scott snorted.  "Believe me, some mutants in here are far less intelligent than humans.  Not naming any names, but…"

            "Scott…" Xavier groaned in exasperation.  "Not now…"

            Scott laughed.  "Just telling the truth, Professor."

            The older man shook his head.  "No, Sami, that sign is only there for the public.  Actually, the parents of the students here are under various impressions as to what this school is – a prep school; a simple low-cost private academy; and for some, a…ah…'correctional facility' for some of our students who were upset about their new talents.

            "Of course, some parents know the truth.  A couple families actually sought out this school after their children became mutants and were not found by me first."

            The driveway suddenly flared out into a large courtyard, proudly displaying a massive ivy-covered mansion that was obviously Xavier's school.  As Scott drove around the mansion, Sami saw several sport courts, a grass field, and a swimming pool before they pulled into a garage that must have been half the size of the mansion.  Several other cars were parked inside, along with half a dozen ATV's and four motorcycles covered with a tarp.  Scott stared at them, frowing, as he helped Xavier out of the car.

            "One's missing…"

            Sami got out of the car, then promptly flattened herself against it as a man on a motorcycle roared past.

            Scott groaned as the newcomer returned the bike to its original space under the tarp and tossed the keys to Scott, laughing all the while.

            "Nice bike.  Thanks for the ride."  He removed his helmet and nodded at Sami, then at Xavier.  "Well, Charley, I see you were successful."

            "Yes, Logan, this is our new…member, Sami."

            Logan extended a hand, grinning, and Sami shook it cautiously.  She wasn't sure what to think of him – he was handsome enough, but the hair and sideburns on his head made him look like an animal.

            "Pleased to meet you," he said, then studied her face.  "You're a little old, though, eh?"

            "Twenty-three," she responded, a little defiantly.  Xavier rolled his wheelchair up next to her.

            "Remember, Logan, mutations don't only occur during puberty – a strong emotional event can trigger one."

            "Ah," Logan said tactfully.  "Another broken heart to mend?" Okay, not so tactfully.

            "Put it that way," Sami replied bitterly.  "What, your lives are perfect?"

            Xavier glared at Logan, who took out a cigar and lit it.  "Far from it.  We're currently recovering from a loss of our own…"

            Scott abruptly left the garage.  Sami watched him, puzzled.

            "What…"

            "We'll talk about it later.  Logan, would you show her to the empty room next to Storm's?"  Logan nodded and set off with Sami following in a cloud of confusion and no little fear.

            The inside of the mansion was as regal as the exterior – dark wood paneling, carved banisters, formal chandeliers – but the room Logan led her to was stark white with minimal furniture. 

            "This so needs a paint job," Sami said with a grimace.  Then she spotted her suitcases sitting on the bed.  "How did those get here?"
            Logan grinned.  "We had a friend get them."

            Then – bamf – a demon appeared on the desk.

            Sami shrieked and jumped backwards against Logan, who caught her and held her up.  The blue-skinned, yellow-eyed thing grinned at them, revealing perfectly white pointed teeth.

            "Guten morgen!  I apologize for frightening you."

            "Who…who's that?"  Sami gasped, goggle-eyed.

            "If he doesn't tell you himself, I'll eat my shirt," Logan grumbled, apparently unheard by the newcomer.

            "I am Kurt Wagner, but in the Munich Circus I was known as - "

            "The Incredible Nightcrawler, yeah, great," Logan interrupted, obviously expecting this showy introduction.  "This is Sami, she's new, be nice."

            Kurt jumped off the desk and extended a three-fingered hand.  "It is a great pleasure."  He kissed her hand dramatically, then he too examined her face.  "I think you are old for a student – your mutations arrived only recently, yes?"

            Was it only yesterday?  "Yes – I – was in an accident."

            Kurt nodded gravely.  "I understand if you will not speak of it yet, but I hope you will come to trust us."

            "We are here to help you, kid," Logan added.  "Just… realize that right now we have to help ourselves, too."

            He turned and left, closing the door behind him.  Sami suddenly realized that Kurt was still holding her hand, and she looked pointedly at it.  He released her, but before he could apologize, she asked, "Who are they all talking about?  Did a student die?"

A/N: Absolute last warning! I assume if you're here you've seen X2 and you're fine with reading this, but if not…well you were warned.