Sue Penkivech: Yeah, writing phone conversations are fun aren't they? :D Nope, the item in question was sitting on the bookcase below the comic. When Warren heard Bobby coming up the steps he slipped it in his pocket without thinking about what he was doing. Though the comic book was hinting at something else that does have to do with the item. You'll learn what it is in this chapter. Thanks for the review!

zcjm72: Thanks! LOL, yeah it seemed like something that could happen with a group of teenagers and a telepath. Okay, but be warned my computer has crashed and since it's been resent it's been acting up.

smeg1: LOL! Yeah, I guess that would be a problem...

Sorry about the delay. This chapter would have been up sooner but my computer crashed, so the whole system had to be reinstalled.

Shameless plug: If you want to try another fic regarding the original X-Men (centered on Bobby) please try my other story "Uncle Bobby." Set during the X-Factor days when Scotts' son Nathan Christopher needs a babysitter, which leaves it up to Bobby. Ends rant.

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 "Bobby?" Scotts' voice sounds far off. The people close to me, even the jet its' self is nothing but a blur. All I see is an extremely pissed off mutant ready to kick my ass. The funny thing is that I hadn't meant to get him riled up this time. The whole incident was in fact a mistake, not that he would take my word for anything. I hadn't given him a rational reason to do so. Wouldn't you know that would be the occasion that I had crossed the line?

Frigid air hit my face and I forced myself not to be intimated by my frozen 'friend.' I hadn't been afraid of his second form since our first encounter. Why? Because I knew there was anything to fear from the twerp. This…was different. I had frozen immediately when I had seen those intense ice blue eyes glaring back at me. A chill went along my spine just thinking about it.

"Why did you do it?!" Iceman raged. When I did speak, the others looked at me, no doubt for an explanation. Naturally, no one ever bails me out of anything. Well that's not entirely true, I'll admit. No one EXCEPT the kid, the one who now wants to give me hyperthermia for something I never meant to do.

"I don't steal." I hissed, pleased and relieved that my tone didn't falter. Same Worthington speech pattern it would seem.

"Oh yeah? Did you just borrow it and forget to ask?!" Iceman sneered with such vehemence it acted like a slap in the face. I was a Worthington, I couldn't cower for anyone. I would NOT.

A thin sheet of snow blanketed slowly extends from its' master, successfully blanketing the carpets floor. I note the Profs' minor quirk of the mouth, a sign I have come to recognized as growing impatience. Which means that he will only take some much of Bobby s' temper before he puts an end to a potential dangerous situation. At least that was what I had hoped…

"I don't even know what that was, Drake." I stated evenly, looking directly into his inhuman eyes. "I must have accidentally picked--"

"Don't give me that lame excuse! It was in my room, I never take it out! Since you were there how you could say it was an accident!" He countered.

Maybe because I was just there to pull that prank on you, I thought recalling our little war. As you might have already guessed I instantly regretted it. It's never good to think incriminating thoughts in the presence of a telepath. Yeah, I know that's common sense but in case you can't tell at this point, it was something I lacked.

"How…...enlightening." Xavier mused, eyeing me with something akin to anger. "Bobby, seeing as you have your possession returned would you kindly go back to your seat?"

"But--"

"Now, Robert. Revert back and sit down. In case it slipped your notice, we are currently flying in this jet. I don't want to have to remind you again. Now…I will handle matters from here." I winced, this was bad. "Let's start with your last 'comment.' " This was REALLY bad.

Charles Xavier had always been a passionate person; it was evident whenever he spoke. You just had to listen to his words, even if you didn't agree on his stance; you had to admire his beliefs. When he was really on fire for a cause his speeches usually left most of his audience in awe. But when he started on one of his infamous 'talks' god help whoever was on the receiving end. That famous spark of fervor was still present but instead of inspiring it stung. Badly. He would attack you on a personal level without mercy. Ripping old wounds and creating fresh ones in their wake. It would never fail to leave the other party feeling desolate and well…crappy. Now I understood why Bobby had that pained look whenever he was called to the Profs' office.

Did I mention that my talk down was in front of the others? Or the condescending voice our mentor used? Or even the facts that he made were valid?

"--and appalled at your behavior. I thought I had already made it clear to you that this is not a game. It seems I was wrong. You are with us to study for a reason. If you are in fact serious about this team, about our purpose than you should not take such responsibilities lightly."

"I DON'T." I bit back.

"I would not consider playing infantile games with a team mate as an important means to spend your time."

"Excuse me, sir, but since when has that ever mattered? All of us are studying hard," hard than you'll admit, I silently added. "Working on developing our talents like you wanted. How can a few dumb pranks ruin all that work?"

"You mean besides demean the reason you all were gathered in the first place?" He countered. Ouch, another point to the Prof. "You are not just learning about your own abilities, Warren. You are to learn about your team mates as well. In the field you will need to depend on one another more often than not. I would have thought our initial introduction would have proven that much. It seems I was mistaken again." There he goes after another sore spot, rubbing salt into the reopened wound.

Xavier is impossible to halt once he's gathered up this much stream. I have no other option that to ride it out and hope for the best. I'm not sure how long the flight took but the berating ended about a third of the way. To make matters worse (something I hadn't thought possible) Xavier said Scott, Bobby and I were to share a room. He claimed it was to 'help bridge the gap' in our relationships, and to forge a bond of friendship. I grumbled about the Prof being too cheap to get us separate bedrooms.

Neither of my future dorm mates seemed thrilled about the arrangement either. Slim sat stiffer than ever, hardly addressing his beloved teacher. He spoke little and when he did his replies were one-worded. Yeah, he was going to be TONS of fun to being hanging out with. I wasn't prepared for Bobby s' reaction, or rather his lack of reaction. He hadn't acknowledged even hearing Professor Xavier. Bobby just fingered the tags on the silver chain absently.

My curiosity was in control again and I wondered what the deal with the kid was. I believed the necklace was some prize from a crackerjack box when I saw it. That was before I had read the name; it made me wonder why Bobby would carry around someone else's dog tags. Who was George Drake anyway? I knew his dads' name was William. Maybe it was an older brother?  I didn't get to dwell on the mystery behind the oddities of Bobby Drake too long as we had reached our training camp.

I think it's a fair bet that none of us were expecting this. The structure its' self had dump written all over it. To be fair it was nothing a simple construction crew couldn't fix. The two story building appeared to be a strange mix between a cheap motel and an insane asylum. The railings were all rusted over adding nicely to the chipped paint and boarded windows.

"Well……this is…cozy." Poor Scotty really did try to make the best out of it.

"This is a bit more rustic than I imaged." I found myself saying.

"No kidding, if I didn't know better I'd swear I saw this in a Wes Craven flick." Bobby agreed.

"Glad you approve, this will be your home for sometime." Duncan commented, wheeling the Professor near us. "It was a military facility, and as you gentlemen so kindly pointed out, hasn't been in use in years. Since the X-Men are presently a small and well kept secret it was the best we could do without arousing suspicion. Fortunately only a few rooms in the living areas seem damaged."

"You boys are free to choose any room you deem fit as long as it is on the second floor."  Xavier told us. "About seventeen miles down the road is a town. As we don't want to attract attention I want you all to stay close to the base. Above all else you are NOT to use your powers out in the open." He added giving me a meaningful look. Great, so much for my early morning flights. "Now if you'll excuse me, I do have work to catch up with." He wheeled himself towards a door and took out a small pass key. A beeping sound came from the door before it clicked and admitted him. Hmm, not too shabby.

Duncan finished off where Xavier left off telling us that we were to start our lessons at four thirty a.m. He handed us each our schedules for the next couple of weeks.

4:30   Flight lesson (Most likely dealing with jets and helicopters, since Duncan mentioned we would be getting one.)

5:55   Target Practice (Are we going to use guns? Why don't I like the idea of Bobby holding a firearm?)

6:55   Breakfast   ("As long as we don't have to catch it ourselves." "Don't give them any ideas Bobby.")

7:30   Mental Defenses   ("You mean he's going to mess with our minds?!" "Don't worry kid; you don't have much to lose." "Shut up Big Bird!" "*Sigh* It's going to be a LONG couple of weeks with you two.")

The rest of the day was pretty much hand-to-hand combat and using our powers. Though I did wonder what 'Required peer reliance' was. Shrugging the three of us made our way up (the thankfully) still intact steps, in search of a room. The ones that weren't boarded up only got worse as we progressed. Including one that didn't even have a roof, which Scott claimed wasn't that bad.

"It would just be like camping out under the stars, it would be fun." He said wistfully.

"Yeah, like when it rains." Bobby pointed out.  I swear that I actually saw Scott pout.

"It's not like we could stay anyway. There are no beds in here; all of the others are bolted to the floors anyway. And it's too cramped up in here for us all to sleep on the floor." I added, eyeing the small space with great dislike.

"Fine, on to the next one then…" Scott commanded. Bobby went on ahead, ignoring me as he checked out the area. Xavier words still rang in my ears burning me with shame. I was older than the kid; I should be the one to set things right between us. I should but I just couldn't bring myself to do so.

The best we could do, as far as our living arrangements were concerned, was a room numbered 235. Unlike Professor Xavier we didn't get to have the cool pass keys, the lock jammed but at least it worked. If you have ever been to a single occupant dorm in college you'd know how small that was. Basically it's the size of a closet space with a bed squeezed in for good measure. This aptly described our 'cozy' room, except for the extra bed that was bunked onto the first.

"It still beats the one with the hornets' nest." Scott grunted throwing his bag onto a wobbly chair in the corner.

"At least it had more space," I grumbled. "I've seen bigger closets than this!" I knew I sounded like a spoiled rich boy, but I didn't care. There was just no way this was going to work out. Little did I realize that because of my statement our little dorm would forever be known as 'The Closet.' Something on hindsight wasn't such a good idea.

"I call the top bunk!" Bobby exclaimed trying to squeeze through Scott and me. I winced as he brushed against my back against my tightly bound sensitive wings.  All freaking day someone or something had been hitting my back enflaming the pain. It happened often when I rushed when putting on the harness. My wings were bent uncomfortably in the twisted straps. I would have continued my mental whining if not for good old Slim.

"I guess I'll see on the floor then." We gaped at Scott, the dirty floor and back to Scott.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it--"

"Squeak!"

"Ahh!" The three of us 'manly' X-Men shrieked.

"A rat?"

"What else?"

"Dunno, I thought it was the pip-squeak--"

"Do you want to sleep in a snow suit Chicken boy?!"

"Who are you calling Chicken--?!"

"Could you two at least pretend to be civil?" Scott asked as he rummaged through his duffle bag. "You heard what the Professor said; we need to get along with one another." He elaborated this by flinging out an accusing finger in our direction. A move I think would have been far more effective if he didn't have a pair of briefs in his hand.

Scott was right. It was going to be a LONG couple of weeks…

A/N: Just to let you guys know there will be action later on. I'm not sure when that chapter will be though, but I wanted to give you guys the heads up. I never wrote an action scene before.

Next Chapter: The boys spend their first night in their makeshift dorm. Will they survive the night? More training, Xaviers' dealings in Washington, and Fred Duncan has a bit of a shock for someone.