Hey peeps. Sorry if this chapter sux, but I had to post it in kind of a hurry, due to parental rushing. ;-)

Queen of the Elven city: Can I call you Queenie for short? How bout Elf? Queen Elf? City? Lol. Aww.I got insane claps! *bows weepily*

EternalEvanascent: She hath disappeared! *begins searching frantically* ETERNAL?!?!? ARE YOU THERE?!?!?!? Lol.

Bandgeek#9: Special thanx to you again, Dearest. My first reviewer. *sniffle*

Ok, enough blab. Here you are:

Chapter 2

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was not an ordinary school.

It was not, in truth, a mere academy for 'gifted youngsters', though gifted, the children were.

It was, in truth, a learning ground for young mutants, a safe place for those scorned and hated by humanity.

Ororo Monroe had lived there for nearly a decade, and she was so used to the magnificent building that it hardly stunned her like it had the first day she'd been there.

The building was a rich cream color, its hundreds of windows shimmering in the sunlight like gold while the front door welcomed occupants with its mahogany engraved front. The grounds were spacious and wide, stretching forever in rolling hills or emerald dotted here and there by colorful flower beds and fountains.

The entrance was guarded by a cast iron gate, and only students or teachers of the school could enter.

Ororo sat along one of the many pathways winding through the grounds, a cool breeze whispering through her hair, the faint chirping of crickets leaving a pleasant hum in her ears. She could hear the students laughing and splashing in the pool nearby, and the spicy smell of freshly cut grass enticed her.

Next to her, her best friend Jean Gray was on the ground, leaning her head back on the bench as she spoke.

"You have to understand, Ororo,:" she was saying softly, "They had to do it. They couldn't just let her scream and scratch at herself like that."

"But did they have to do it so.harshly?" Ororo sighed, tilting her head back and closing her eyes, "Why couldn't they have been more gentle?"

"It's a little hard to be gentle with a thrashing child," Jean pointed out.

Storm shook her head, "They just.piled on top of her and.stabbed her with the needle. I just don't understand."

It had been nearly two days since her visit to the hospital, but the memory of Meghan's frightened eyes and loud screams were still fresh in her mind.

Jean sat up a little more, stretching, "Listen 'Ro, just try to picture yourself in their place. There's a horrified kid tearing at her straps and screaming bloody murder. You don't know what she'll do if she gets free, and while she's struggling, she's hurting herself by scraping her skin on her nails. ON top of that, you have an already-nervous visitor-who happens to be a mutant-and you're responsible for her safety. Wouldn't you have done the same?"

Storm thought about that for a while, her eyes scanning the color-splashed sky above. Finally, she nodded slightly, "I suppose I 2would have.maybe not quite so abruptly and not so harshly.but I would have."

"I thought so," Jean replied, smiling slightly as she laid a hand on top of her friend's, "Just give it another shot, 'Ro. By now I'm pretty sure they've figured out how to better handle her."

Ororo bit her lip, actually considering her friend's seemingly manic proposal.

Eventually, she surprised herself by agreeing.

By the next day, she was on the road to the one place she thought she'd never go to again.



The first hour or so of her visit was the same: Visit the doctor, hear about Meghan, wait for a while, meet Mark in the corridor (he seemed glad to see her), go to Meghan's room, say hi, and stand dumbly to one side.

Meghan was strapped down again, but this time her blanket covered the chains and she was lying down. For the first couple of minutes, Mark explained to Storm about Meghan's health, and about how they were getting worried that she would go into a coma from shock.

"She's just been doing so horribly these last few days," Mark explained, eyes glued to Meghan, "She completely freaks out if anyone goes near her. That's why she's watching us both now, to make sure we stay here."

It was true; Meghan's eyes were focused on her visitors, and she seemed slightly tense, despite the fact that she was lying down.

Ororo gave her a friendly smile, forcing herself to seem completely calm and in charge, "I hope you're planning on eating soon," she said quietly, "It just isn't healthy not to eat."

Meghan blinked.

"She acts so different around you," Mark laughed, "Not so robotic and skittish."

Ororo smiled, watching as Meghan sat up slightly and stared at her ceiling; her muscles relaxed slightly.

"What do you think she sees?" she asked Mark softly.

Mark shrugged, "Beats me. Probably her own little world."

Then, following a slight crackle, a speaker above them sounded, "Mark Jacobs, please come to the front desk. Your cousin is here to see you."

"My cousin?" Mark looked truly confused for a minute, and then he laughed, "Oh. Yea! I forgot. My cousin's here from Florida."

He started for the door, and then paused, turning back to look at Storm, "You gonna be ok for a few minutes? I'll just tell him to meet me after work."

Storm thought for a second, turning to look at Meghan, who was now staring in awe at the speaker.

"I'll be fine," she finally said, and watched nervously as Mark left.

Ororo once again glanced at Meghan; she was staring at her.

Ororo smiled, "Hi."

Meghan blinked.

"Do you like this room?" Ororo sat down on the chair, scooting it away form the bed, "It just seems so plain to me."

She thought for a second, her eyes scanning the room, her creative tendencies sparking.

She grinned, "With a few flowers there, and a mirror or two, and some color, this room would be great to relax in. WE should give the nurses a heads up."

Ororo laughed at her own joke.

Meghan smiled.

Storm was certain she saw her smile out of the corner of her.

She stopped laughing abruptly, gazing intently at the child.

"Did you just smile?"

Meghan blinked.

Disappointment sank in her chest, "Oh. I thought I saw.never mind." She paused for a second, and then smiled softly, "I never really thought I'd be talking to you so soon after.last time. I never really thought I'd come here again after that. It wasn't YOUR fault.it was just the way the people came in so suddenly.does that scare you?

Ororo shook her head, "I must be going nuts. You probably can't even here me, right? You know something.I've never really felt so insecure before. I've never really shown anyone how scared I can be. See, when I'm with the X-Men, I'm really different. Lots more bossy.braver.really, much more mature. I just feel so.childish in here."

Meghan blinked and cocked her head to the side.

Storm frowned slightly, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were listening to me."

Meghan's blue eyes seemed to flicker for an instant.

Then she turned away and stared up at the ceiling again.

Ororo sighed, "I really wish I could understand what happened to you. I'll bet you were so interesting before.before what happened."

The swung lightly open in that instant, and Mark came in, followed by who Storm assumed to be his cousin.

"Hey, Ororo. This is my cousin Todd. Todd, this is Ororo, and you already know Meghan."

Todd looked younger than Mark by at least five years, but stood almost as tall as him. He was dressed in all black and covered completely, from head to foot.

"Hi," Ororo said, and she was surprised to hear her voice sounding so bold and confident.

Odd nodded in reply.

"Todd doesn't talk much. And he doesn't like people to see him."

Mark leaned forward and whispered confidentially, "He's a m-u-t-a-n-t."

"Oh!" Ororo raised her eyebrows, "He is?"

Mark nodded, "Yea. He's still getting used to it." A startled gasp caused all of them to turn towards Meghan, who was star8ing at Todd with a mask of horror on her face.

Ororo didn't think she'd ever seen anyone look so scared. Meghan's face was drained of all color, her eyes wide and frightened, her body starting to tremble.

Her dark eyes flickered form Mark to Todd quickly, and a sudden sense of recognition seemed to hit her as she let out a terrified shriek, throwing herself backwards.

She saw the straps.

Mark swore loudly, shoving Todd out of the door as he raced down the hallway.

Todd stood for a second, seeming a little stuned, and then he turned and followed his cousin.

Ororo felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness start to drown her, and she pressed herself against the wall, heart thudding painfully.

Meghan was banging on the wall, screaming incoherently, tears streaming down her face.

Storm's mind was fogging up, becoming lost in a blanket of fear.

Shaking her head, she turned and started for the door, until Meghan suddenly turned, sobbing desperately, holding her arms out to her, "Please don't leave me please come back help me please don't go please!"

Ororo stood rooted to the spot, breath caught in her throat, mnouth going dry.

Meghan continued her pleas as the sounds of footsteps echoed ever closer, scrabbling madly in the air for.for her.

For Storm.

For a person she'd only just met a few days before and someone whom she had probably never even paid much attention to.

Maybe it was some long-hidden maternal instinct.

Maybe it was a crazy impulse.

Maybe it was just a simple case of spontaneity.

Storm rushed forward after only a moment's hesitation and tore the straps loose, taking the shaking child in her arms and falling on the bed, embracing her tightly.

"It's ok.I'm here, you're safe now.I've got you."

Ororo had never spoken those words before.

Not once.

And somehow, they sounded so practiced and perfect.

As half a dozen nurses entered the room, they stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of Storm cradling the still-shuddering child.

No one said anything.

Eventually, Mark squeezed his way into the room, frowning in confusion; when Meghan saw him, she ceased moving altogether.

Mark grinned, "Hey, Kid. It's ok. I'm here now."

He held out his arms, "Wanna come to Uncle Mark?"

Meghan's eyes seemed to go dead in that instant.

The sudden spark of life and awareness went out.

She went somewhat limp in Storm's arms and let the arms wrapped tightly around the woman's neck fall to her lap.

Mark smiled and took her, hugging her tightly "Hey! You ok now? Was that all you needed was a pretty lady's hug?"

Ororo smiled slightly, the confusion in her mind stronger now then ever.

Mark gave her a thumbs-up as he lifted Meghan up and set her on her bed, kneeling before her and talking softly.

The nurses all gave Storm grateful looks, like they had just been saved form Hell itself.

Ororo nodded in response and followed them out, casting a last wary glance at Meghan before leaving.

She nearly collided with Todd on the way out.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't see you."

"It's ok. Is she alright now?"

His voice sounded almost familiar, but Storm ignored that fact and nodded, "Yea. She's ok."

Todd grinned (or at least Ororo was pretty sure that he did), "You got a way with kids."

"I guess so," Storm replied softly as she walked slowly away.



Mark looked up as the door to the room closed after Todd.

"Way to go, showing p and alerting everyone," he snapped.but it wasn't in his voice.

Todd shrugged, sliding his sunglasses off and removing his hat, "You told me to check in sometime. So I did."

"I didn't mean while SHE was here, Toad!"

Slowly but surely, Mark's well-tanned skin began to shift, melting and twisting until it became a shimmering blue. His muscular body slimmed somewhat, his uniform dissolving into nothing and leaving scaly patches in some places.

His brown hair withered away, replaced by a stream of red.

His green eyes flushed out, replaced by an ethereal, glowing yellow.

Toad swallowed slightly, "Well.sorry, Mystique."

"Sorry won't cut it," Mystique hissed, "Now you've put that creature on alert. She's suspicious, you imbecile!"

Toad sighed, slumped against the wall, "I said sorry.maybe she won't.won't notice?"

Mystique was silent for a moment as she turned to Meghan and smiled slightly, "At least now dear little Meg can see that her old friends are back. I honestly didn't want her to see it was me for at least another week.but I suppose I can't do much about that now."

Meghan stared hard at the wall, forcing herself to believe that Mystique was not sitting on the edge of her bed, within inches of her.

"Meghan, I know you can hear me."

--Nope. Can't,-- Meghan thought to herself, and almost smiled

"Meghan, look at me."

--Uh uh. Don't think so--

In the next instant, she felt Mystique's hand at the back of her neck, "Meghan, I don't like being ignored. Look at me.NOW."

Biting her lip, tears starting to bloom in her eyes already, Meghan slowly turned, her head hung and her eyes gazing timidly up at Mystique through her bangs.

Mystique gave her a smile and tilted her chin up with her hand,. "That's better. Let me see you. I haven't gotten to really look at you since I came here."

Meghan obediently remained motionless as Mystique's eyes traveled over her face.

The woman laughed slightly, tracing her finger along a jagged scar on Meghan's cheek, "I didn't think they'd be able to get rid of that."

Meghan silently swallowed back a wave of nausea and tried hard to become a robot.

--Why do I always forget these things when I need them?-

"You know, Meghan, I really liked the little poem you wrote about your room back at the house. It really was very flattering." She snickered, cocking her head to the side as she mimicked, "Dark, cold, chains, hurt, pain."

Meghan repressed a shudder and tried to recoil form Myustique, but the older female grasped her wrist and pulled her closer, "Tell me, Dareling, why did you wirte that poem, anyway?"

Meghan stared hard at the ground, trembling.

After a second, Mystique tightened her grip on Meghan's arm, "Do I really need to remind you already that I don't like to be ignored? Answer me."

Meghan closed her eyes, tears streaming silently over her eyelashes; this was a game she always lost. If she spoke, she got beaten; if she stayed silent, she got beaten.

Already the anger was rising in Mystique's voice, and Meghan cringed, whimpering.

"Why do you continue to be so rebellious? Have I taught you nothing?"

The first blow wans;t as bad as Meghan had expected, but it was hard enough to knock her backwards, onto the bed.

"When I ask something I expect an answer!"

Meghan tensed her muscles, breathing hard, trying desperately to remember what lessened the pain.

She felt a stinging slap sear across her face and she landed face-down on the bed, something warm oozing from her nose.

Mystique's rage filled the entire room, so thick that the air dripped with it.

Meghan wasn't sure how many times she got hit, but she did know that in a matter of seconds, her entire body was screaming for relief from the agony it was drowning in.

Just as Meghan felt ready to collapse form pain and was barely able to hold her cries in, Mystique reached down and jerked her up by her hair, drawing back her hand to hit her again.

"Mystique!" Toad interjected, "Can't you just.stop now? I mean.you don't wanna kill the kid.you know.arouse suspicion."

Meghan watched as Mystique pondered Toad's words, fist still suspended, hand still clutching Meghan's hair.

After what seemed an eternity, Mystique allowed Meghan to drop to the bed, sneering at her condescendingly, "You're pathetic."

Then her features softened somewhat, and she smiled softly as she drew the blankets around Meghan, "Sleep tight, Sweetness. I'll see you tomorrow."

It was not a friendly statement.