"Honestly, this place is becoming a regular Grand Central Station." Hank commented to Jean when the Med-Lab's door slid open and Micah walked in. He looked over at Bobby, then at Hank and Jean.

"Don't be so antisocial, Hank. You know you love all the attention you get when you're here." Jean replied. "Good morning, Micah."

"If I was the subject of the attention I would but this parade of people is not for me but for young Mr. Drake over there. If I was any younger, I would be jealous." Hank said. "Good morning, Micah."

"Good morning, Dr. Grey. Good morning, Dr. McCoy. May I see Bobby?" Micah asked.

Jean looked over Micah's head and caught Bobby's eye. He shrugged.

"Go on but be quick about it. You're going to be late to class as it is." Jean told Micah.

Micah walked over to Bobby's bed and looked up at the older boy. "I'm really sorry. Please, please forgive me. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I wish...I wish I could take it all back but I can't. I'll do anything to make things right."

Bobby watched Micah's face very carefully as the younger boy spoke. He wanted to stay mad at Micah, wanted to hold on to the anger. The longer he did, the less time he had to be mad at himself for going off half-cocked. Micah wasn't the only one responsible for his extended stay in the Med-Lab.

"I understand what you're saying, Micah and I know you're sorry but it's going to take me a while to forgive you." Bobby told him.

Micah dropped his eyes from Bobby and nodded. "I...I hear you. I...I just don't want you to hate me."

Bobby made a face and said "I don't hate you but I don't like you at the moment either."

Micah nodded again. "I understand." He turned to leave but Bobby reached out and grabbed Micah by the wrist.

"Micah." Bobby said, letting go of Micah's wrist. "Just don't do something dumb trying to 'make things right', you got that? You wouldn't like it down here. There's no tv and the food's terrible."

Micah met Bobby's eyes and mumbled "Yeah, sure, whatever." His eyes stayed on Bobby for a long moment, then he turned and left.

*******************************

"You wanted to see me, Professor Xavier?" Micah said.

"Yes, Micah, come in. Have a seat. I do not want to keep you from lunch. Cook will be very unhappy with me if I do, but I did have some questions that only you can answer." Professor Xavier said. He looked at the office door and it swung shut noiselessly.

Micah sat down and waited. He knew what the questions had to be about, Jonathan. Just like all the other questions over the past two days.

"If you were to set a trap for Jonathan, what would that trap look like?"

Micah blinked. "You're asking me?"

"Yes. No one here has the insight into Jonathan's mind that you do."

Micah frowned. "What's 'insight' mean?"

"You know how he thinks." Professor Xavier supplied.

"If I was to set a trap....Jonathan likes money, he always wants more of it, he never has enough. Any trap would have to have a lot of money with it."

Professor Xavier nodded.

"Maybe if I can get a hold of him and tell him that I've got another kid for him to snatch or that I know where he can get his hands on a lot of money, he'll come out from wherever he's hiding. I know he's got to be ticked at me for letting Bobby get away."

The casualness with which Micah mentioned 'snatching another kid' sent a cold shiver through Professor Xavier. Micah was far too young to be knowledgeable on such things but he was.

"I know where he stays, if I could get a message to him then he could call and then he'd come out and then he'd be caught. You could use me to lure him out!" Micah blurted out the last part with a smile on his face.

"That is something to think about." Professor Xavier told him, leaving out the tiny detail of NOT using children as bait. "Is there any particular method you used to use to contact him when you were with him?"

Micah shook his head, then his eyes widened. "He got a pager just before I left. He was real proud of it but I don't remember the number."

"Would you remember what Jonathan's last name is?" Professor Xavier asked. Even the smallest piece of information could be used to find and trap the man.

Micah shook his head again. "He wouldn't have it under his own name anyway."

"That's all right. You've given me exactly what I was looking for. You've been a great help."

"Really?" Micah's face lit up at Professor Xavier's words. "What else can I do?"

"Nothing at the moment. However, when I need your help, I'll send for you. Go on to lunch. Give Cook my apologies." Professor Xavier told him.

"Yes, sir." Micah slid out of the chair and walked from the room.

//Jean, after classes are finished for the day, come to my office and bring the others. I think I may have a way catching Micah's guardian.// Professor Xavier sent out the mental message to Jean, then turned to complete the equations on the blackboard next to him.

****************************

The end of school came quicker than anyone had expected and, as soon as the children were released, the adults made their way to the Professor's office. Scott arrived first, followed by Jean and Storm and, finally, Logan. Kurt was asked to keep an eye on the some of the children, especially Micah, just in case.

After the Professor related what Micah had told him, he asked Scott "How easy would it be to trace Jonathan through his pager without knowing his last name?"

"Depends. If he bought it legally, it can be traced based on where and when it was bought. Illegally? That's a bigger problem. There's no real place to start looking for the stolen ones." Scott replied.

Logan snorted.

Scott looked over at him and said "You got a suggestion, Logan?"

"Yeah, Micah said he knew where this guy stayed, work at it from that angle and skip the pager. Yer gonna spend a whole lotta time looking for something that's not there. If ya can't find him that way, then go back to the pager thing."

Scott frowned, he hadn't gotten quite that far in his thinking and it annoyed him that Logan had.

"Okay, once we know where the guy is, do we call the cops?" Jean asked.

"Give me some time with him and I'll come up with somethin'." Logan replied, smiling a truly evil smile.


"Logan, as much as it might make you feel better, beating the stuffing out of the guy isn't going to solve anything." Jean replied.

"Yes, it will. He'll think twice before pulling that kind of *%&*^ on some other kid." Logan said.

"I can't believe this but I'm agreeing with Logan, again." Scott said, earning him a LOOK from Jean. "What are the police going to do?"

"All right." Professor Xavier said, holding up his hands. "We've gone over this already. Beating the man senseless will accomplish nothing in the long run and that is what we need to focus on. Yes, Logan, beating him to a bloody pulp would be quite satisfying, I'm sure but what then? Are you going to keep watch on this character for the rest of his life? No. What is needed is his removal from society."

Logan smiled again.

"Through legal methods," Professor Xavier added. "We must also take into account what will be best for Micah. He has witnessed enough depravity, he needn't see any more especially at the hands of people he trusts." Professor Xavier looked pointedly at Logan and Scott.

***********************

Once again, it was the phone that brought Micah and Jonathan together. That very night, just after dinner, the phone rang and it was for Micah.

With not a little trepidation, Micah took phone from Jenna, a telekinetic like him, whispering to her " Could you get Mr. Summers for me? Please?"

Jenna eyed him for a moment, then nodded.

Micah took a deep breath, then spoke into the phone. "Hello?"

"I am NOT happy with you." Jonathan's irritation came across the phone lines clear as a bell.

"I told you it wouldn't work. Bobby was on to me from the start." Micah replied, his stomach tightening at the sound of Jonathan's voice. He looked around the room and prayed that Scott would show up soon.

"It would've worked if you had told me he was a mutant freak like you."

"I tried to tell you but you were too busy spending the money before you had it." Micah felt some of the old fear climb up his spine. He swallowed and refused to give in.

"Shut up, boy! Now, I'm gonna give you one more chance to make things right or I'm comin' to get you and no one's gonna get in my way."

Scott came into the room at a dead run at that moment and Micah pointed at the phone 'Jonathan' he mouthed. Scott nodded and withdrew, looking for another phone to listen in on.

"Are ya' listening to me, boy?!" Jonathan's voice rose in anger.

"Maybe I don't care, ya' ever think a' that? You think you can get me?" Micah snapped back. In the background, he heard a faint click as Scott picked up a receiver nearby.

"Feelin' pretty brave, are ya? How brave you gonna be when your precious school finds out you helped kidnap one a' the other kids? You think they're be so understandin' then?"

"I know they will. They actually care about me."

Jonathan laughed and laughed. "You know what? After I'm done with you, I gonna leave ya where I found ya', on the side of the road."

Micah gulped but took a deep breath and remembered what Kurt said 'Have faith, child....We are not perfect. We make mistakes...The Creator has already forgiven you.'

//Micah, tell Jonathon to meet you near the New Salem Dinner tomorrow evening around six and you'll give him enough money to go away and leave you alone.// Jean's voice echoed in Micah's head.

He nodded, even though Jean wasn't there to see him. "If I give you some money, will you go away and leave me alone?"

"Maybe, depends on how much money we're talkin' about."

"Meet me tomorrow night around six near the New Salem Dinner and I'll give you enough money to leave me alone."

"You sure you got that much?" Jonathan asked, an evil chuckle following his words.

"You want the money or not?"

"All right, 6 o'clock tomorrow. But you cross me boy and there's nowhere you'll be...."

Micah cut Jonathan off and hung up the phone. He stood there for a moment, than another, then sat down on the floor, shaking. Jean came in and knelt by his side, followed by Scott.

"Micah?" she asked him.

Micah looked at Jean and smiled. "I did it. I stood up to him. He can't scare me anymore."

Jean nodded and said "You did a great job. You thought on your feet, you sent for an adult and you helped Bobby."

Micah's smile grew brighter. "I did. Can I tell Bobby? Is it too late?"

Jean looked at her watch, then at Micah. "Sorry, he's asleep by now."

"That's okay. You think he'd want to see me tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Micah nodded and scrambled out of the room, headed for his bed, a bed that no one could take from him now.

**************************

5:58 p.m. Micah looked at his watch, again and stamped his feet. Despite his warm clothing, the cold was seeping through and all he wanted was to go back to the mansion and warm-up but he couldn't go back to the mansion. Not yet, anyway. Jonathan hadn't shown up yet and until he arrived, Micah could do nothing but wait.

At least, he was out of the wind, sheltered in the shadow of The New Salem Diner . He leaned against the building and blew on his hands. He kept expecting a familiar fear to knot up his insides just as they always had when Jonathan was around or was coming to get him. Nothing so far. His eyes swept the length of the alleyway, starting at the diner. Nothing out there. Nothing that could be seen, that is.

Lurking in the shadows of the alley were Storm, Scott, Jean and Logan, all waiting for the chance to nab Jonathan, Logan taking the position closest to Micah. If he squinted, Micah thought he could just pick out tips of Logan's hair.

"Well, don't you look all warm and comfy?" Jonathan's voice echoed off the alley's walls and made Micah jump.

Micah looked in Jonathan's direction and wished he hadn't. He looked terrible, Of course, he never had looked too good to begin with. His clothes threadbare and worn, did not fit his tall, thin frame. His eyes were sunken into their sockets, a scraggly beard covered the bottom of his face with a layer of grime covered the top half and the stench wafting from him made Micah's nose wrinkle.

"Think you've got a pretty good thing goin', don't ya?" Jonathan said, advancing on him. Instinctively, Micah backed up, the familiar fear finally appearing. He backed up until his back was pressed against a stack of trash and old boxes.

*Have faith, child...We are not perfect...* Kurt's words rang in Micah's head again and he was not afraid any longer.

"You want the money or not?" Micah asked Jonathan.

"How much you got?"

"Enough. More than you would've gotten from Bobby. If I give you this, you'll leave me alone."

"What if I don't?"

"You want the cops on your case for kidnapping?"

"You think they'd believe you?"

"Over you? In a heartbeat. I told you kidnapping wouldn't work."

"It woulda worked if not for you and your screw-ups."

"Me? How's this my fault?"

"You never told me he was some mutant freak."

"Like you would've changed your mind."

"Don't smart mouth me, boy, you'll wish you hadn't."

"What are you gonna do? Kidnap me?"

"Don't tempt me. I've done it before."

"You don't scare me any more, Jonathan."

"I don't?"

Jonathan moved quicker than Micah could react, his hand lashing out and smacking Micah across the face. Micah stumbled backwards into the trash and boxes and tasted the blood on his lip. Jonathan loomed over him, grabbing him by his coat and hauling him to his feet.

"Where's the money? Where is it?!" Jonathan snarled, the smell of alcohol on his breath. He pushed Micah against the wall and starting searching Micah's coat.

A snarl came from behind Jonathan and suddenly, his feet were lifted off the ground and he was flying through the air, landing in the street in a heap.

"Logan, you're not supposed to toss the guy into the street. We don't want all of New Salem as witnesses." Jean came out from her spot and made her way over to Micah.

Logan grunted and stepped out into the street. Jonathan tried, desperately, to scramble out of Logan's reach but he didn't get far. When Logan collared him and dragged him to his feet, he started to plead and beg for his life, Micah now forgotten.

"Yer too ^&$%* lazy to steal so you get kids to steal for you? What kind of creature are you?" Logan snarled at Jonathan, throwing him up against the wall of the restaurant.

"Please....just let me go...I'll...I'll never bother the kid again, I swear...please, don't kill me." Jonathan babbled.

Logan pinned him to the wall, made a fist and held the claws inches from Jonathan's throat. "Yer a waste o' human being. You don't deserve to live."

"Please..." Jonathan whimpered.

Logan sniffed the air, wrinkled his nose and looked down at the growing stain on Jonathan's pants. "Not so brave now, huh?"

"Enough, Logan." Storm laid her hand on Logan's arm.

Logan looked at her, then over his shoulder to see what the other's thought. Jean was still talking to Micah but Scott stood there, watching.

"I think you've gotten your point across." Storm said.

Logan's scowl deepened but he relaxed his hand and let go of Jonathan. "You even *think* of moving, bub...."

Jonathan nodded and folded into himself.

"Now, what? Dump him on the cops?" Logan asked.

"That's the idea. They'll get him for assault, theft, attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and my personal favorite, contributing to the delinquency of a minor." Scott walked around Logan and squatted down next to Jonathan. "And you're going to write all that down, aren't you?"

Jonathan nodded.

*************************

Five sets of eyes watched from across the street as the cops pulled up to the dinner, lights flashing, siren going, in response to a 911 call reporting a break-in. Instead of a burglar, they found Jonathan, seated on the doorstep, hands bound behind him, a written confession tucked into the pocket of his ratty jacket.

The cops stared down at him for a moment, then one cop pulled the confession out of the pocket and started to read. He whistled when he was finished and handed it to his partner before going back to the patrol car and opening the patrol car's back door. By then, his partner was finished reading and was shaking his head. He tucked the confession into the pocket of his coat, then hauled Jonathan to his feet and stuffed him into the patrol car. Moments later, the police car pulled away and the five pairs of eyes came out of the shadows.

"You watch way too many 50's movies. That was just plain corny." Logan said to Scott.

"Corny it may be but it worked, didn't it?" Scott replied.

"He's not going to be back any time soon, is he?" Micah asked.

Logan squatted down in front of Micah and said "Nope. He's gonna be in jail for a long time."

Micah smiled and said "Good, bastard deserved it."

Even Logan was surprised at Micah's words but he didn't show it. Instead, he took Micah's hand in his and led him back to the car, with the others following behind.

************************

"Bobby? Can you help me with my math?" Micah came up to the older boy in the library of the mansion.

Bobby stopped reading the magazine in front of him and looked at Micah. In the week since Jonathan's collar by the police, Micah had gone out of his way to try and get back into his good graces. When Bobby was released from the Med-Lab, Micah was waiting for him. Whatever Bobby wanted, Micah got. If Bobby forgot his books, Micah retrieved them. If he overslept, Micah would come and wake him up. Micah even offered to do some of Bobby's homework, despite the age difference and grade level. And yet, Bobby did not appear to have let Micah off the hook, publicly anyway.

Way down deep inside him, Bobby had already forgiven Micah, he just hadn't told Micah yet. He didn't know if he ever would. Bobby had never been more scared then when he was trying to stay warm in the barn and he had never been more relieved to open his eyes and see Jean looking at him. He had trusted Micah and that had almost killed him. It would be a very long time, if ever, before he blindly trusted anyone again.

Micah stood waiting, patiently, math book with notebook paper sticking out, clutched in his hands.

*Oh, Hell. The kid needs help. I can be mad later.*

"All right. Pull up a chair and let me see what the deal is." Bobby said to Micah.

Micah's face lit up like a Christmas tree. He dropped the math book on the table and scrambled into the chair next to Bobby. He flipped open the book to the problem section and showed the assignment to Bobby.

Word problems.

*Not my favorite.* Bobby thought but he looked over Micah's work and began to explain the next problem.

"You going to do something dumb like that again?" Bobby asked later, referring to the failed kidnapping plot.

Micah vigorously shook his head. "Nope. I'm never gonna do that again."

"Good. If you ever do, *I'm* coming after you. You got that?"

Micah nodded. "Thanks, Bobby."

"Whatever."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Websites used:

www.hypothermia.org ---------------- This site has the best comment on hypothermia that I've ever read. 'Not dead, until WARM and dead.'

www.hypothermia-ca.com (res-q-air) ----------- This is where I got the oxygen mask that Jean uses in the first part.

www.sarbc.org (hypo.htm)l --------------- Use this link too for more information on the oxygen mask Jean used.

I also typed the word 'hypothermia' into Google's search engine and used what it came up with.