___________________________________________________
Katie gave a small moan as she returned to consciousness.
"I'm glad to see you're finally awake," said a voice beside her.
Barely awake, her eyelids fluttered, a confused look drawing upon her face.
"Katie," the voice repeated, firmer this time.
Her eyes snapped open, and she bolted up right in the chair. She looked around; she was in Xavier's office once more. "What happened?" She questioned.
"You were going to run," He simply stated. "We can't have that now, can we?" He asked condescendingly, smile still stuck upon his face.
She moaned again as she stretched her muscles. "What'd you do to me?" She asked more directly.
Xavier's eyes turned away, looking ruefully out the window. "I had Kurt sedate you, just a simple drug Dr. Grey used to make all the time."
'Like I care who made it,' She thought with annoyance. Annoyed at herself, annoyed at Xavier, and annoyed that every muscle burned like it was on fire.
Xavier chuckled. "Don't worry, the side effects will wear off fairly soon, plenty of time before dinner."
"Wait, Dinner?! How long was I out?" She demanded.
"Just overnight and most of the morning the first time, and only about twenty minutes or so the latter." Xavier explained. "One of the students will be coming by soon to show you around the school soon." He added.
Katie merely nodded.
Xavier continued, "And I have a list of your classes which you will be attending, starting tomorrow." He said with yet another polite smile.
"Classes?" She questioned.
"Yes, classes. School." Xavier defined.
"But I'm too old, I would've graduated from high school last summer." She protested.
" 'Would have,'" Xavier accented. "Which is why you will be taking classes you missed here."
"Ok, well then, how do you propose me – a human – to actually be with your students?" She asked, sarcasm and anger laced in her voice.
Xavier looked down on her condescendingly, "Who said anyone would know your human?"
"But Bobby and Marie know, as do the other people you introduced me to."
Xavier chuckled, "They will not tell anyone unless you want them too…"
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," Xavier called.
The wooden doors were slowly pushed open, revealing a short Asian girl.
"This is Jubilation Lee- " Xavier began.
"Ah, It's Jubilee, or Jubes, don't really matter to me." The girl replied quickly with a slight bop of her head. The enormous hoop earring that adorned her ears swayed with the action.
Xavier nodded, "Yes, the is Jubilee. She is in most of your classes, so she will be showing you around."
Katie opened her mouth in protest once more, but was met with a strong telepathic message.
'Don't mess with the arrangements. You will be attending classes, it's too late to back out. And don't even think of leaving….' Xavier's now cold voice rang through her head.
Katie stared at him.
Xavier widened his smile, "I hope you are able to adjust well, dear." He said before turning towards Jubilee, "Now, why don't you show Ms. Becker around, introduce her to a few of the students. She will be staying in dorm 103. Good luck you two."
With that, The two teens left quietly.
"So why'd you like, come here?" Jubilee asked a few minutes later as the two walked down a deserted hall. "Oh, I'm sure you will totally like it, everyone here's great. I'm just like, curious though- ya know?" She continued.
Katie nodded slowly. 'This girl should be banned from all things with caffeine,' she thought before answering as she noted her classmate's hyperactive behavior. . "Well, I suppose you can say that Xavier just…found me." She replied blankly after a moment's hesitation.
Jubilee looked slightly unconvinced, but she was already on to a new topic.
"So what's your power?"
Katie stopped walking.
Jubilee stared at her. "You ok?"
"Who told you?" Katie demanded, ignoring the latter question.
"Told me what?" Jubilee asked confused.
Realizing her error, Katie silently cursed her own stupidity. She stared walking again, her pace faster this time.
"What was that?" Jubilee demanded, falling back into pace with the human.
"Nothing. Nothing at all, just…my mistake." Katie struggled, her face flushing.
To this, Jubilee just nodded silently.
"Look, I don't really feel up to this, can you show me to the dorms?" Katie asked.
Jubilee nodded again and they took off towards the dorm rooms.
__________________________________
Katie spent the rest of the afternoon isolating herself in her empty dorm room. She hadn't been around people, not like this for so long. She sniffed. God, she'd been tearing up all day. She sighed and rolled over on the wrinkled bedspread. She was so lost.
Classes, Students, Mutants. Living here, forever? With Xavier, his cold, watching eyes and constant invasion of privacy? Could she deal with it? And of course, everyone would find out soon enough. Whispers would follow her in the halls, the anxious stares of classmates and teachers. Oh god, She thought, her breaths becoming quick. No! No, She reaffirmed. There is no backing out now, as Xavier had so harshly reminded her. But still, part of her mind tugged at the notion that things were not always as they appeared.
She stood up and stretched, her worn out jeans falling low on her hips. She pulled at the waistband gently, taking note that while she was here she really should wash a few of her clothes. Katie gently rolled her neck and was met with a satisfying pop. She then padded her way into the bathroom, pausing to examine herself in the mirror. Blonde hair was matted against her head and fell in snake-like clumps here and there. Eye makeup was smeared, giving her dark circles underneath and around her eyes. She gave herself a half smile.
"It's going to be alright," She murmured absently as she turned and began to draw a bath. Her thoughts were still swirled around Xavier's mysterious ways. Her main concern though, was a simple question. Why? Why was he doing this? What made Mr. High and mighty mental mutant decide to track her down? And why did he imply he was looking for others like her?
Katie suddenly turned at stared at herself in the mirror with a raised eyebrow. "You're going insane," She said, pointing a finger at her reflection. She laughed, grabbing what appeared to be a clean towel from a rack underneath the sink. She closed the door and settled in for a nice, long bath.
_________________________________________
Xavier sat up in his office, drumming his fingers rhythmically against the rich, dark wood of his desk. He had found another one. He gave a faint smile, drawing his hands up to stroke his chin. 'Perhaps,' He pondered, lost in thought. 'Perhaps I may prove Eric wrong yet.'
A knock from the door jostled him from his daydream.
"Yes, Yes, Come in." He called cheerfully. The thick door opened to reveal the slender form of Ororo Munroe, carrying a silver tray laden with a delicate looking china cup, a small stainless steel teakettle and a matching china plate of biscuits. Xavier smiled as she slowly walked in and set the tray down on his desk. With a sincere smile, Ororo turned to quietly leave. She closed the door behind her, leaving Xavier alone once again with only his thoughts.
He reached over and took a sip of tea. He thought about contacting Eric, but he tossed that thought aside. When he was finished, and everything was working again, then he and Eric could talk until the end of days. But until then…
Xavier carefully set down the cup on the tray and began to look through files on his desk. He was looking for something, a small scrap of paper he knew had to be somewhere in this highly organized mess. Several minutes later though, Xavier gave up with a frustrated wave of his hand. Ah, he could just use Cerebro.
Leaning over to take another sip of tea, he wondered with a smile how his good friend Neil was doing on his island. Xavier laughed, remembering the man. Yes, soon he would plan to take Kate down there. He was sure Neil would be happy. He let out another small chuckle with that thought.
"All in good time," He muttered, turning his wheelchair so he could see out his large office window. Tea in hand, he wheeled a bit closer and surveyed the children playing below. With another long sip, Xavier repeated his ongoing vow to make it all right again. He just needed time.
___________________________________________