Standard disclaimer: I don't own them; I'm just borrowing them for our entertainment.
As always, I'd like to thank my beta-readers, Jen and Amy, and Amy's mom, Joanne, for reading chaapters one and two, making sure I wasn't completely inaccurate regarding Scott's legal situation. All errors are mine.
A Tale of Two Brothers
Chapter II -- "... For this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
Scott Summers headed for Professor Xavier's office. He was now eighteen, a tall, good looking young man with thick reddish brown hair and a bright smile. His eyes had been blue, but he hadn't seen them in over two years. Scott was a mutant and his gift was powerful optic blasts. To contain the massive power, he had to wear ruby quartz glasses constantly.
The intervening years had not been kind. Scott had been bounced around the foster care system in a succession of homes, group homes, and hospitals before finally running away from a brutal psychiatric institution at fourteen. He had barely survived two years on the streets before having been rescued (there was no other word for it) by Professor Charles Xavier, courtesy of the FBI, after Scott had accidentally blown up a building in Washington, D.C. He had spent the last two years at the Xavier Institute, which was the cover for the actual purpose, a place to shelter and train young mutants in their gifts. Slowly, Scott had recovered from the abuse he had suffered.
He had not regained his memory. All he had left of his early life were brief flashes. Other than that, all of the doctors prognostications had been wrong. Apart from his memory, the sole result of the accident was the loss of the ability to control his mutation. He wasn't in any way physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled. And once his mutation had manifested, even his migraines ceased to plague him continually (although he still had the occasional bout). In short, Scott Summers was an intelligent, stable young man, with many remarkable gifts and abilities.
He had never forgotten his brother, Alex. But he had no way of finding out where Alex was. Scott was terrified of being forcibly returned to Nebraska. Although that became highly unlikely after he turned sixteen (by New York state law, he could live where he liked), Scott was determined to stay off the official radar, until he was legally an adult. Which was now.
Scott opened the door to see Professor Xavier was not alone. There was another younger man with him. Scott judged his age to be mid-twenties, while his dark glasses and white cane proclaimed his blindness. Scott looked quizzically at the Professor.
"Good, you're here," the Professor said. "Scott, this is Matt Murdock; he's going to be our new lawyer for the Institute. Matt, this is Scott Summers, the young man I was telling you about."
Matt Murdock smiled and extended his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Scott. Professor Xavier's been telling me a lot about you."
Scott shook the hand politely. "Oh?" he said. Scott was surprised and a little uneasy. He still wasn't used to the idea that since he had turned eighteen, his days of hiding were over.
Professor Xavier decided it was time to explain. "I know you've been concerned for many years about your younger brother, Alex -- what became of him. But until you didn't want to draw attention to yourself until you were legally an adult."
Well, that was an understatement. But Scott only said, "But Alex was adopted. I thought there were laws that would stop me from finding him."
"There are laws and laws," Mr. Murdock explained. "Some you can get around. It all depends on how you ask for the information."
"What do you mean?" Scott asked.
"If we go to the front door of Nebraska Social Services and asked about Alex Summers, adoptee, we'll be shown the door," Mr. Murdock said. "However, if we starting asking about the Summers' family estate, of which you are entitled to a share, that's a different question. Which will get us a different answer, but with, perhaps, the same result. You see, your parents had a will, or rather, your father did, as he was required to have one by the Air Force. Unfortunately, he didn't update it, which is why you and your brother were left without a guardian. The man charged with that duty died some six months before your parents."
Scott nodded his understanding, although this was, in fact, news to him. "So, because I share the estate with my brother ..."
"We have the right to ask where that estate went," Matt Murdock finished. "Your parents had life insurance, I'm sure, plus there were personal effects, furniture, bank accounts, etc. Somewhere there are records detailing the disposal of your family's assets. We may have to litigate to get the information, though."
"We're going to sue the state of Nebraska?" For some reason, this amused Scott.
"Possibly," Mr. Murdock replied. "We may have to sue the United States Air Force."
"The Air Force? Why?" Scott was stunned.
"Because they're the starting point," said Mr. Murdock. "Your father was in the Air Force; you lived on a military base. Anything that was done, liquidating your parents assets, moving furniture, anything, would have required approval from someone on the base. That's the information we're after, Scott. That's how we're going to find your brother."
* * *
As Matt Murdock said, they were dealing with bureaucracies, namely, the state of Nebraska and the United States Air Force. And like all bureaucracies, there were papers and files on everything. You just had to ask for the right ones. Finding the right ones would be the trick. Armed with a letter from Scott requesting information regarding his parent's estate, a copy of Scott's birth certificate, a recent photograph, and a detailed history of Scott's movements from Omaha to New York, Matt Murdock began work. He was quite right, the Air Force was the correct starting point. He didn't even have to sue them for the information he needed. But, as with all bureaucracies, it took a lot of time. It took over two years.
He kept Scott and Charles Xavier up to date on the search, informing them of every paper twist and turn, and every substantial lead. Finally, Matt Murdock struck gold. It was the inventory of the Summers home at Offutt AFB. It was signed by a representative from the base and countersigned by someone else. The signature read "Maj. Ben Masters." A gut feeling told Matt to follow up on this officer.
He had a name. The information came fast and furious after that.
* * *
Scott sat in the den of the Xavier mansion, reading a book. It was two days after Christmas, with all its traditional joyful celebration.
Scott felt he had a great deal to celebrate this year. He was halfway through his junior year at college and he now had a real career goal -- he was going to become a teacher. Specifically, he was going to be the first math teacher at the soon to be organized Xavier's School for the Gifted -- or something like that, they hadn't decided on the name yet. A school for mutants so the kids at the Institute could finally stop hiding their powers at the local high school.
Even better, he and Jean Grey, with whom he had broken up almost two years ago, were now back together. And while he knew the Professor still didn't approve of his relationship with the pretty doctor, he hadn't said anything this time. So life was pretty good.
The phone rang and Scott went to answer it.
"Xavier Institute," he said.
"Merry Christmas, Scott," said Matt Murdock joyfully. "Or as they say in Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka!"
"Merry Christmas to you too," Scott replied. He wondered vaguely if Mr. Murdock had been celebrating too liberally.
"I'm in Hawaii and I've got a present for you," Mr. Murdock continued. "I've found him. I've found your brother, Alex."
Scott almost dropped the phone.
* * *
Scott sat in the waiting area of the airport and Jean had given up precious free time to wait with him. The first phone calls with Alex and his family had been something of a shock. A part of Scott never expected Alex to be found. Thankfully, Professor Xavier was a trained psychologist and got everyone through the mind-numbing shock phase. Also, it had helped to have Matt Murdock *in* Hawaii, discretely answering questions and providing information and feedback to all parties. Now, Scott was going to go to Hawaii for almost two weeks and see his brother for the first time in over ten years.
Typically, Scott refused to talk about his fears. Jean helped as much as she could, knowing that Scott would often 'say' through their mind link words he had trouble speaking.
"Call me when you get there," Jean told him.
Scott smiled. "It'll be past midnight for you -- my plane doesn't land until seven, and I don't know how long it will take to get to their house from the airport."
"That's okay -- I want to know you're all right."
"It's been ten years, Jean," Scott said suddenly. "He's my brother and I know almost nothing about him. Suppose ..."
"Suppose what?"
"Suppose he doesn't like me?" There, he'd said it.
Jean leaned forward and kissed him. "How could he not like you?" she responded. "You'd better go to your gate now, they'll be calling your flight soon."
Jean kissed him goodbye warmly and sent him warm thoughts of love and reassurance that got him to the gate and on the plane.
* * *
At the Honolulu Airport, a family waited expectantly. The flight from New York would be arriving in less than fifteen minutes. Ben, Linda, and Alex Masters sat waiting impatiently. All of their hopes and dreams for this moment were finally coming true.
And yet, not without anxiety. Alex held the plastic bags that contained the big red carnation lei, as well as the two smaller plumeria ones. Three leis for luck.
Physically, there was little resemblance between Alex and Scott. At sixteen, Alex was a little shorter, and blond and blue eyed, as their mother had been, whereas Scott favored their father strongly. Nine years of living in Hawaii had given him a healthy tan, as opposed to Scott's paler complexion. But still, they were brothers.
Brothers who hadn't seen each other for over ten years.
Alex turned to Linda for reassurance. Nerves were starting to build.
"The flight's still on time?" he asked.
Linda nodded. "It will be landing in ten minutes." After a few more minutes of uncharacteristic silence, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Suppose he doesn't like me?" There, he said it.
Linda smiled and gave her son a hug. "How could he not?" she asked.
Finally, a crowd of people appeared. Alex scanned the crowd nervously. They had pictures of Scott now, and they knew about the glasses. Scott was going to stand out.
"There he is!"
Scott scanned the crowd ahead of him. He too had seen pictures of Alex and the Masters. They spotted each other at the same time.
The two young men took a step forward and wound up in a hug. The ten years that stood between them dissipated like a mist.
Linda took the leis from her son and draped them around Scott's neck with a kiss. "Aloha a E komo mai," she said. "Welcome to Hawai'i."
* * *
It didn't take long to get Scott's luggage and soon they were driving out of the airport and on the H-1. It was dark, so Scott couldn't see much except the city lights. He didn't have to worry about what to say -- Alex happily did all the talking. He talked nonstop from the airport to Aiea. Scott soon learned that wasn't nerves, but Alex's nature. He was a talker.
Alex told Scott everything. He was a Junior at Aiea High School, was on the swim team and belonged to the Hawaiian Dance Club. He was an avid surfer and there was a meet on Saturday -- did he want to come and watch? And there was a lot of things to do and see on the Island, "tourist stuff, but fun." Alex drew breath as they arrived at the Master's home.
It was a pleasant, three bedroom bungalow-style house. Scott smiled at the photographs on the bookshelves. Alex was the central theme; it was obvious he was the center of Ben and Linda's world.
"Alex, why don't you show Scott his room. I can have dinner ready in ten minutes. Do you like chicken?" Linda asked Scott.
"I like anything," Scott replied truthfully as he followed Alex down a short corridor. The guest room was the center bedroom. Small, it had louvered windows set high in the wall. It was obviously used as a study, with a desk and bookcases. But a futon couch had been pulled out and made up as a bed.
Scott put his suitcase down and turned to Alex. "I need to call my girlfriend and let her know I'm here before it gets too much later. I won't be long."
Alex smiled. "I'll be next door in my room -- at the front of the house." And he tactfully disappeared.
Scott dialed Jean's number. She got it on the third ring.
"Hello?" she said sleepily.
"It's Scott," he said. "I'm here. I told you it would be too late for me to call you."
"It's not too late," Jean insisted, making an effort to wake up.
"Yes, it is," he replied. "Go back to sleep, hon. I'm here, the flight was good, and I'm getting ready to have dinner with Alex and everyone. I'll call again in a couple of days. Love you."
"I love you, too," Jean said as she hung up the phone.
That done, Scott went to Alex's room. Like the guest room, it was small, but he did have a large window in front of the house. Alex's interests were obvious, from the surfing posters on the walls, to the rock collection on the windowsill. Scott was pleased to see a guitar in the corner.
"Do you play often?" he asked Alex.
Alex smiled, uncharacteristically shy. "A bit," he replied. "I do mostly ballads and some traditional-style stuff. I don't know if I'm that good."
"I play too," Scott said. "We'll have to play together one day."
"I'd like that," Alex said.
Scott's attention was pulled to a triple photograph frame on the desk. The center photograph was one of himself and Alex. Scott didn't remember the photo, but he looked about seven and Alex was about three. On one side was a photograph of their parents. Scott felt a lump in his throat to see it. He didn't have one. On the other side was a photograph of the Masters. Alex and his two sets of parents.
Scott realized Alex was watching him. "Mom and Dad have always wanted me to remember. You, Mommy and Daddy," he said. "We never gave up, you know. Mom always said we'd find you eventually."
Scott smiled. "It just took a while," he said as they went back to the living area for dinner.
* * *
Adrenaline kept Scott going. He got through dinner (cold chicken, macaroni salad and a garden salad) and tried to stay awake afterwards. There was so much to say. But the time change was starting to have an effect. Finally, Linda gently sent him to bed and Scott fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow.
* * *
So, the Summers brothers are reunited. But will everything be wonderful in paradise? Stay tuned for Chapter 3.
