Thanks to:

Steph14Wales – glad you liked the Jean/Taryn stress! Enjoy! And I'll mail you with my thoughts on 'Cruise Control' and mark it a spoiler in case you have to watch the repeat.

Risty – yeah! That's it exactly! I didn't want to totally change Jeans character, so instead I had Mystique persuade her to change the little things and now it does seem necessary, not to mention it makes her life easier. Glad you like Mystique, for some reason I find her really hard to write. Thanks for the review!

Rogue14 – Mystique will have to wait a while for her revenge, but they will butt heads again! Thanks for reviewing!

Wen1 – no, Duncan doesn't count as anyone! I'm undecided about a minor flirtation with some one later in the fic, but it's not gonna be serious. I do like Jean and Scott together, but I don't think they'd get together here. Glad you like it and thanks for the review!

Carol J – the Frankenstein analogy is perfect! I so wish I'd thought of it! I didn't have Jean read her mind because it would ruin things later on (lol!) and I made it so that Jean has trouble reading Mystiques mind. The reason why will become clear on two or three chapters…Thanks for the review!

X00001 – Mystique and Jean are in for tumultuous times! Thanks for the review!

Lyranfan – I didn't originally plan for Mystique and Jean to butt heads at this point, but I couldn't resist! I'm glad you found it realistic. Thanks for the review!

DemonRogue13 – doing the stalker stuff was fun! I'm glad you liked the argument, my favourite part was when Jean said "She's my Rogue", I had fun writing it. Thanks for the review!

LadyEvils – if you felt sorry for Rogue before, wait and see how you feel by the end of this chapter! I always felt sorry for Rogue, crush on Scott and he barely notices her, although he doesn't treat her badly like Jean does. Thanks for the review!

XX-Goth-Gal – yeah, Jean is really mean to Rogue! Mystique will have to wait a while to get revenge, the reason to be revealed in this chapter…Thanks for the review!

Furygrrl – nah, I don't think Scotty's a hottie either! I thought Jean might take the BH with her if she was feeling spiteful when she left and it would be easy for her to do. I was gonna have the ring tone for Destiny be the theme tune for Futurama, but I forgot to put it in. This is the Jean flakes out chappie – hope you enjoy it! And is this my fastest update ever or what? Thanks for the review!

Disclaimer: The disclaimer got twisted out of shape and is now floating around the Brotherhood house. I am so not going after it!

Before I start – {This is telepathic thoughts}

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Jean was in soccer practise when it happened for the first time.

One moment she was celebrating her second goal of the day, a perfectly executed shot into the upper left-hand corner of the net, the next it felt like some one had flipped a switch in her head and a cacophony of voices assaulted her mind.

{…lucky goal, don't know…}

{…never be on the team while she…}

{…meet up with him after…}

{…looks like she…}

Putting her hands to her ears, Jean squeezed her eyes shut, willing the voices to stop. It made no difference at all.

{…says it's not dyed but I bet…}

{…doesn't look too…}

{…acting weird for…}

{…headache or…}

Just as she felt like screaming at them all to shut the hell up, the voices stopped as suddenly as they started. Cautiously, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes to see a concerned crowd around her.

"Uh…just a migraine," she said quickly. "It's gone now."

Mr McCoy put a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to go home for the rest of the day?"

"Yeah, I will," replied Jean, still feeling a little shaken.

"Shall I arrange for some one to drive you?"

"No, I'll walk. Might do me some good."

Changing her clothes quickly and answering the well-meaning but irritating questions of her teammates, Jean hoped fervently that the incident was a one-off. She walked back to the Brotherhood house and spent the rest of the day lying on her bed, trying to overcome the headache that nagged at her. When the others returned from school, Rogue brought her up a meal that she couldn't eat and then she was left alone for the rest of the evening. It wasn't until the rest of the Brotherhood were watching an action film on the TV that she began hearing their thoughts.

{…more girls than that Bond guy…}

{…hope she's OK, don't know how to tell her how I…}

{…hungry, wonder if there's any…}

{…how cool is…}

{…dumbest film I've ever…}

{…only moths and I don't…}

"No, not again," she whimpered, covering her head with a pillow, trying to drown out the voices. It didn't work.

{…don't bother saying…}

{…check on her but…}

{…earlier than usual coz…}

"Jean?"

The voices stopped abruptly and Jean took her head from beneath the pillow, realising that she was no longer alone in the room. Mystique was stood by the bed, arms folded, eyebrows raised.

"Have you been having problems with your telepathy?"

"I'm just tired. Maybe I've been pushing myself too hard."

"Maybe."

Mystique didn't look convinced and Jean tried to reassure her. "I'm sure I'll be alright after I've had some sleep." And even if I'm not, what can you do about it?

"Then I'll leave you to sleep." Mystique exited and went down the hall to her own room. It was time she made a phone call.

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Jean managed to get through the next day without incident. Rogue and Kitty had lunch with her and stopped by her locker between lessons to check on her. She could sense their genuine concern and she was too worried about letting her mental defences slip to care much about her friends and what they were talking about.

Duncan caught up with her as she walked to her final class of the day. "Hey babe. Meet me after school, we'll go for a drive."

"I can't tonight," said Jean irritably. "I'm getting a ride home with Lance."

"Yeah, if that heap of rust he calls a jeep can get that far without breaking down." Duncan laughed and Jean rolled her eyes. He wouldn't have dared make that comment had Lance been in earshot. "Seriously, I'll meet you at your locker…"

"I said I can't!" Jean arrived at her classroom and paused for a moment. "Look, I'll call you, OK?"

Knowing that Duncan probably wouldn't give up, she didn't bother going to her locker after class. Instead, she went straight into the parking lot to Lances jeep, which was parked in the far corner beside the bicycle rack. She was the first one there and stood waiting for the others, tapping her foot impatiently. Eventually she noticed Lance, Fred and Todd heading her way and raised her hand to greet them.

The assault on her senses was so sudden she had no time to prepare herself.

{…tons of homework tonight never…}

{…don't know why he has to…}

{…on the TV tonight so I'll…}

Jean covered her ears and fell to her knees, praying that the voices would stop. Instead, they grew louder, more and more joining in the noise.

{…and mother just don't get it…}

{…hate her that skanky…}

{…this weekend but it's gonna…}

{…need to sort it out before…}

{…like I never…}

{…totally wrong…}

{…hate it…}

{…need…}

Looking over at his jeep, Lance noticed the row of cycles he'd parked beside begin to shudder, the frames twisting out of shape.

"What the…"

Then he saw Jean on her knees beside the car, her eyes tightly closed, gritting her teeth. A carelessly discarded bottle flew up into the air, circled her head twice, then flew at them with amazing force, hitting Fred square in the middle of his forehead.

"Hey!" said Blob crossly, rubbing the spot. "What's she doing?"

"This doesn't look good yo," said Todd.

Lance ran over to Jean, catching her as she fell forward and picking her up. "Is Darkholme's car still there?"

"No, it's gone already."

"Shit! Blob, get the door. Toad, go get the girls and Pietro, tell them to get home."

"Pietro skipped out after – "

"SHIT! Just tell Kitty and Rogue what's happening."

Toad hopped off toward the school and Lance bundled Jean into the backseat of the jeep. "Fred, get in. We've gotta get home before anyone notices."

Fred managed to squeeze into the front passenger seat and Lance sped off, getting back to the Brotherhood house in record time. He carried Jeans motionless body into the house, startling Pietro who was sitting in front of the TV.

"What happened to her?" he asked as Lance dropped Jean on the couch.

"Her powers – "

"Oh shit it's happening again!" yelled Fred as the unwashed plates and glasses levitated from the table and began circling the room. Jeans inert form slowly rose from the couch until she hovered about four feet in the air, still unconscious.

"Let's get out of here!" ordered Lance as the TV and chairs flew into the air. The three boys ran into the relative safety of the hallway and peered nervously around the doorframe at a living room that had become a hurricane, with Jean as its eye.

"Oh man, the TV!" groaned Pietro as the box floated past their line of sight and suddenly twisted into a new and interesting shape, spewing broken glass.

"Pietro, go find Mystique," said Lance. "She was gonna go see that Forge guy and his folks. Don't let him know what's happening or we'll never recruit him!"

"I'm there." Pietro disappeared in a blur of speed.

Lance and Fred kept a nervous eye on Jean for a few minutes. Every piece of furniture was airborne, being twisted out of shape, all avoiding the girl floating in midair. After what seemed like an eternity to the pair, the front door burst open and Lance looked up, hoping for Mystique – but it was Kitty, Rogue and Todd.

"Oh mah God!" exclaimed Rogue as she took in the scene.

"This place is a dump," observed Todd.

"So like, what are we gonna do?" asked Kitty. "We can't just leave her like that!"

"Pietro's gone to find Mystique," Lance told her.

Rogue stood in the doorway to the living room, staring at the scene. Jean, the person she felt the most for, in serious trouble, unable to control her powers. She needed to help her in any way she could. And if she did, maybe Jean would realise just how much Rogue cared for her and stop treating her so shabbily…

"We can't wait."

"And what do you suggest?" Lance sounded irritated.

"Kitty, can you phase us through that stuff?"

"Sure."

"If ah can drain off some of her power, maybe she can regain control."

"Or maybe we'll end up with two telekinetic trashing the house," pointed out Lance.

"Got any better ideas?"

Lance shook his head. "But if this goes wrong…"

"It won't."

Rogue removed the glove from her right hand and Kitty took her left hand. The pair hurried towards Jean, her powers not affecting them in their intangible state and the furniture passing harmlessly through them – but Rogue could see that she was going to have a problem as soon as she let go of Shadowcat to touch Jean. Noticing the cable from the TV flapping from the wall, she decided to use it to hang on to and pulled Kitty in that direction. As soon as she was within reaching distance of the cable, she let go of Kitty's hand and grabbed it, but found herself swept away from Jean in the telekinetic gale.

Kitty hurried out of the room and the Brotherhood watched anxiously as Rogue tried to make skin contact with Jean. Two inches…one inch…

The front door burst open and Mystique dashed in, followed by Pietro. Upon seeing what was about to happen, her eyes grew wide. "NO! ROGUE DON'T!"

Too late. Rogue finally managed to put her hand on Jeans face and began draining her powers. For several seconds they maintained skin contact, then the cable finally snapped and Rogue was thrown across the room. Lance broke cover to catch her, causing them to land in a heap in the hallway, the girl not even seeming conscious.

Mystique glanced at Rogue, saw the Brotherhood taking care of her and advanced into the living room. "Jean? Can you hear me?"

No response. Mystique thought for a moment, then morphed into Rogue. "Jean, talk to me!"

"Rogue?"

Jeans voice – but it had come from behind her. Mystique turned and saw the Brotherhood backing away from the real Rogue in a hurry.

"Jean?"

"I can't – where are you?"

The words were coming out of Rogues mouth, but the voice was definitely Jeans. Mystique knelt next to Rogue, still in the guise of the Goth.

"OK," muttered Kitty. "Now that is like, totally surreal."

"Jean, concentrate," said Mystique. "You've lost control of your powers."

"Rogue? Where am I?"

Mystique glanced behind her to where Jeans body still floated in the air surrounded by flying debris and then turned her attention back to Rogues body. "You're in the Brotherhood house. Jean, you have to get control!"

"I can't! Too many voices – "

"You have to Jean. Ah'll be here for you, ah know you better than anyone ever has! Ah know you can do it!"

"Rogue I can't!"

Mystique changed strategies and morphed into Scott Summers. "I knew it! You're weak. Guess this means I win!"

"NO!"

The cry came simultaneously from both Rogues mouth and Jeans. Rogue opened her eyes. At the same time, the objects flying around the living room crashed to the floor. The Brotherhood turned to see Jean collapse to the ground.

Regaining her own blue-skinned form, Mystique hurried over to Jeans side. The redhead was still unconscious. Raven lifted her head from the floor. "Jean? Wake up!"

Fred knelt down next to Rogue and helped her to sit up. "Are you alright?"

Rogue buried her head in her hands. "She lied to me."

"What?"

"Lied to me. Both of them. That bitch fucked with my mind!"

Getting clumsily to her feet, Rogue ran out of the front door as the Brotherhood stared after her in disbelief.

"No, wait! Rogue!" Mystique dropped Jean and raced to the front door, desperately searching for any sign of the girl.

Kitty took hold of Lances arm and pulled him toward the kitchen. "We have to leave."

"I wanna know – "

"We have to go now!"

The couple went into the kitchen and Kitty phased them through the wall. Lances jeep was parked at the side of the house and they climbed into it.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" Lances voice was filled with barely controlled fury. "Jean did something to our minds!"

Kitty nodded. "It was like as soon as Rogue opened her eyes I realised that it's been Jeans voice in my head ever since – "

"What the fuck is that?"

A shiny metal sphere was descending from the sky, heading for the front of the Brotherhood house.

"I don't know," said Kitty. "And I don't wanna know. Let's just get outta here!"

Mystique stood in the doorway of the house as her plans crumbled around her. Rogue was gone. The sound of the jeeps engine told her that Lance and Kitty had snuck away. And their founder had just arrived to witness it all.

The seamless orb opened and out stepped an angry Magneto.

"Am I to assume that your scheme has gone awry?"

A crack of thunder made Raven jump. "J-Just a temporary setback. When Jean recovers…"

Magneto floated imperiously into the house, ignoring Pietro, Fred and Todd, who were stood near the stairs. "Yes, when Jean recovers. That looks unlikely, doesn't it? I warned you about relying too much in the telepath instead of solving problems yourself."

"They'll come back!"

"I doubt it. You have failed Mystique. But you will have another chance to prove yourself." Magnetos eyes glittered coldly behind his helmet. "For now, Jean will come with me. I have a way for her to overcome this…setback."

"I – I don't understand."

"Nor would I expect you to. But soon, all of Mutantkind will know of my plans. Beginning with Jean Grey."

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Authors note: I know this chapter is out of sync. I thought that without Xavier training her, Jean would lose control of her telepathy much faster than she did in the series. Mystique's not a telepath and couldn't help her the way Xavier could. So go to the review button and leave me your thoughts on this chapter!