ManualImpact and Beaubier: Thanks! It's always fun to write the guys in their awkward situations. Rest assured that they are not over yet. Glad you enjoyed it. :-)  The seriousness is something that will be staying from here on. I'm not sure if all the chapters will be too serious  

We were caught red handed and I knew there was no way we could talk ourselves out of this one. Granted our master plan wasn't brilliant but I thought we would at least have some time to snoop around before anyone returned.

"May I ask what you boys think you are doing?" The Prof asked, emphasizing the word 'boys' with the most patronizing tone I have ever had the displeasure of hearing. You would think after enduring such treatment I would have a higher tolerance to it. With most people that would be true, but Charles Xavier was not as conventional as other people. He didn't use the same simplistic taunts as others; he aimed right for the heart. As you can guess I wasn't that thrilled to have to explain myself to him.

"We just--we had…" It was a consent struggle to keep myself rooted to my spot and not wither under his intense glare. Why can't he just read our minds and be done with it?

"I'm waiting Angel." When he started using your codename you knew your chances were rapidly deteriorating. It was one of those "your damned if you do and your damned if you don't" situations. Knowing he wouldn't rest till he got the truth I continued my speech in a more Worthington type of manner. (In other words, without the stuttering.) I explained that Bobby and I were worried about him. That not knowing what else to do we had taken it upon ourselves to find out what was wrong.

"As…touched as I am that you broke into my office out of concern--you still disobeyed me."

"We wouldn't have to if you'd just tell us in the first place." I muttered automatically.

"As the leader of the X-Men it is my decision, not yours." He replied in a quieter tone, still having that sever over-bearing parent vibe going for him.

"I know sir, but how can we do what you want us to if you hide the truth from us?" I chanced a glance at him and was stunned at what I found. Charles Xavier, the normally powerful looking man seemed like he was aging before my eyes. Creases were formed at his temples and around his mouth as he held the most painful of expressions. "Professor Xavier? Are you alight sir?" Had I gone too far? I didn't think so, but then again I was never sure how most of my comments would be received.

"I am fine Warren. Or I will be as soon as this week is over." He sighed deeply, shoulders hunching down as if he was suddenly collapsing into himself.

I took this time to take a risk and attempt to quench my inquisitiveness. "Sir, why is all of these--"

"—articles covering my office wall?" He finished with a rueful scoff. Even though he couldn't see me from his current position I nodded.

"Well yeah, I mean why put them right here?" I motioned to the 'wallpaper.' I recall watching a partial scary movie where a psycho had done pretty much the same thing, and I thought seeing my teacher doing it was VERY disturbing. Though no less so than the images themselves…

"I feel that it brings about certain…perceptions. Some reporters it seems, feel that the 'mutant problem' is more important to inform the general pubic than a few 'random' deaths." I cringed at the bitterness that had crept into his voice. "No matter how young or innocent."  The Professor absentmindedly ran his hand across the headline of a paper on his lap. 'Two children gunned down'…it happened only a couple of days ago! And in the area…oh god…

"I didn't…I didn't realize…" I found myself blurting out.

"Realize what Warren? That people are dying? That things are this dire? I tried to warn you that you had no concept of the gravity…I--Bobby?"  I had completely forgotten about the kid, normally you couldn't miss him. You wouldn't think he'd stay quite foe so long. I followed the Professors' gaze back to the immobile figure in the corner. Bobby was still positioned by the clippings, staring at them in a haunted sort of way.

"Bobby? Robert?" The Prof didn't receive a reply; Bobby didn't even shift at his tone. "Could you leave us alone, Warren?"

"But--"

"Please leave us, Warren." I mutely responded by means of a small nod, and then left without glancing back.

______________

Scott refused to speak with me for the rest of the day. He no doubt believed that I had been involved in his 'poisoning'. The two of us had classes with Duncan, neither our team mate; nor our leader ever showing up. If I didn't know better I'd swear I was beginning to worry about the kid. He had been alone with Xavier so long…was he in trouble? Was he okay? I didn't find out till after Scott and I had gone to bed. Bobby had slipped into our dorm and gone to bed without a word.

I noticed because I was having trouble sleeping. The images from the news paper had left their mark on me, and the pictures were burned into my minds' eye. The girl—Cindy Kirby--who had fled her home after discovery of her wings only to be attacked by a mob. Her wings slashed…bleeding to death…then finally amputating them. She couldn't survive without them and died shortly afterwards. It all sounded so cold and final in the print. No suspects were ever rounded up, none of the important questions asked. It was all so cut and dried. 'Girl dies for the way she was born but in other news our town has received a new traffic lane.'

My family has never been religious, a fact that makes my mutation all the more ironic. We Worthingtons generally believe that you work hard to provide not only for your family but also your workers. Nothing is given to you in this life, you have to work hard for it and give others a chance to as well. Well Cindy never had a chance. No one bothered to give her one. Her physical mutation made it impossible for her to hide what she was. No one could see past it, to see the kind of person she really was. Oh no, that would be too logical for our species, after all it's only human nature to kill what we don't understand. One less freak off the streets and we all can sleep easier at night, right? If that was what it meant to be human then I'm glad I'm one of the freaks.

"N-no…uhh…" A wavering voice cried out in the dark. I shivered before it hit me that I did not imagine it. It was Bobby.

"No! Stop--don't, NO!" He screamed. I could only listen to Scott and him from above. It was gut-wrenching for me to hear Bobbys' sobs and Scotts' unexpectedly gentle manner. Especially since I knew there was nothing I could do to help.

"Easy Bobby…" Scott hushed.

"N-Nooo!"

"Wake up; it's just a dream--"

"Uhh…*pant*…please don't…" Bobby sobbed.

"It's me Scott, you're with us. You're safe Bobby…" Scott murmured soothingly.

"*Gasp*……… S-Scott?…I…I saw…"

"I know kiddo. I know. You're safe now."

Thanks to me none of us would get any sleep now. It would take a miracle for us to get through tomorrow.

A/N: I haven't read the issue, but I recall hearing about a New XM Annual where a girl gets her wings cut off by humans and dies. This isn't meant to be the same girl, but I thought it might need to be explained why she dies and Warren didn't during the X-Factor days. During Warrens' operation the doctors were basically working blind since they had no idea how a mutant body worked. So different mutants different bodies I guess. In the XM: THY it was said that at that point none of the Worthingtons were religious.