(Just in case you were wondering in the last chapter, Jean was conducting her tests after school. That's why Rogue and Evan were outside to overhear, instead of being in class. Jean has been excused from school to take care of Kurt – she's got good enough grades, after all!)

Rogue and Evan exchanged glances as they saw each other the next morning. Both of them had found it difficult to get to sleep last night, after what they had found out about Kurt. When Kitty flounced into the kitchen and gasped in fake surprise, "Wow, isn't the furball, like, up yet? He must be totally sick if he's missing breakfast again! Should I, you know, wake him up?" it took all of Rogue's self-control not to tie her tongue in a knot. Evan would have punched her, but Ororo shot him a warning glare as he bunched up his fist. He reluctantly let go, but managed to tread heavily on her foot instead.

"OW! Like, Evan, you should watch where you're going, you know," Kitty griped, missing the victorious look on Rogue's face. Ororo noticed it, but decided not to interfere. After all, this might be enough to satisfy the other two, and keep them from starting a real fight. She sighed as first Evan and then Rogue stalked out of the room without waiting for Kitty. 'If only Kurt were here,' she thought. 'His tricks and jokes may be annoying, but at least he makes sure that we aren't mad at each other – at him, sometimes, but not each other.'

True, the professor agreed. In the three months that he's been here, Kurt has become a very important part of our team. He makes sure that we never take ourselves too seriously – which I sometimes feel is part of Eric's problem.

Ororo smiled slightly. 'Are you suggesting that when he gets better, we should send Kurt to Magneto and wait for him to see the error of his ways?'

The professor chuckled with her. I wish it were that easy, he admitted. Ororo paused, aware that he had just come as close as he ever would to admitting that they would never be able to convince Magneto that humanity had as much right to live as mutants. She carefully ignored the opening he'd just given her, wondering what she could change the subject to.

The professor chuckled again. That's why I told you, he said. Because you are the one person here who respects my privacy enough to ignore the chance I just gave you to throw my trust in Eric in my face. I wish that there were some way of showing Eric that what he does is wrong, he continued with a sigh. But so long as he continues to blame all of humanity for the actions of a few, he will never understand. Still, that has nothing to do with our latest problem. Who is currently watching over Kurt?

'I think that it is Scott's turn,' Ororo thought. The professor frowned.

Is that a good idea, considering his need to improve his grades?

'He will be studying in the Infirmary,' Ororo explained. The professor's brow cleared.

Well, in that case I can see no objection. Kurt seems to have a quite strong bond with Scott, and – what? Oh, no –

"What?" Ororo asked aloud. Silence.