Thanks for the wonderful feedback. And as before, same disclaimers apply.
Chapter 4: Things go from bad to worse
"What's that?"
"I'm not strong enough; I can't get the fire as big as they want, as fast as they want. Plus, I just don't want to. I don't see how it will help anything. But I have to at least try."
"Why do you have to?"
"If I don't, I have to leave. And I have nowhere else to go."
"Yes, you do."
John turned slightly, glancing at Bobby, searching his face. Then John looked down, over the edge of the rooftop.
"John…"
"Sometimes I think it's not such a bad idea."
"I definitely think it is."
"Do you?"
Bobby didn't answer; he just stepped up next to John, who was a step above him on the edge. Bobby reached out and took John's wrist and gently pulled him down.
"Iceman!" both heard Logan's voice call through a radio. "Wherever you are, get the hell out of there!"
"What's going on?" Bobby replied.
"Magneto's going to blow the place up," Logan answered, rushed.
Bobby and John exchanged glances. "I'm on my way, with company."
"I can't," John said.
"You don't have a choice. I want my roommate back."
Still holding on to John's wrist, he led the way back to the stairwell. Both raced down the stairs, and then heard a rumbling.
"It's too late," Bobby heard John exclaim.
A second later, they felt the building crumble beneath them. John slammed Bobby onto the stairs, his body over his friend's.