Beaubier: I had to have a happy moment for the guys before I depressed them again. I always loved it in the comics where the guys looked out for one another. One of the reason I fell in love with the originals, they always had such a great bond.

zcjm72: Thanks. :) There will be some more tense moments coming up. Hopefully you weren't expecting some of them.

I was going to have a mental defense class but that's been pushed back. This just popped into my head and I had to write it out.

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When we returned to the camp the Professor was there waiting for us. He made some cliché speech about us fighting for the greater good or whatever. I don't think even Scott had bother to pay attention to him that night. The lone television we had was located in the Profs' office. Usually he'd never let us come in let alone watch the set. He made an exception this time.

While we were enjoying ourselves at Eddies' another mutant was spotted a couple blocks away. Like us he was just having a night out with friends when his powers manifested themselves. Most of his 'friends' didn't take this news lightly. He ran through the streets until they had caught up with him…the riot had started…and we the 'heroes' did nothing about it.

 "Hey Warren, isn't that the girl you talked to?" Scott motioned to the blond girl on the screen. A cold chill started to spread from the base of my spine. Penny was sitting in the back round on the curb crying. Her blond hair untidy, her face slashed…

"Yeah, it is."  I had been in the hero biz for less than a year and I was already failing spectacularly. I had almost gotten innocents killed by a nuclear device, and just an hour ago I stood idly by as a kid was murdered. It made me wonder if Xavier was right, that we weren't ready for the big leagues yet. Up until then I would have said he was wrong about us…but what kind of heroes have to run for their lives?

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I wasn't sure about the others but I was so exhausted that I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It's funny but I didn't have any nightmares. I don't even remember a single dream, just a sense of comfort and peace like I never felt before. Safe. I was safe, and somehow I knew that everything was going to be okay. I could I could almost hear a gentle voice smoothing away all my fears.

I was thankful that for once during this trip my slumber went uninterrupted all night. When I awoke I yawned broadly, feeling content. I leaped off the top of the bunk, heedless of the other X-Men. It had to of been just before daybreak and if those lazy guys weren't up they would have to be soon enough. I threw on my clean uniform; knowing my turn to do the laundry was next. Good old Scotty would never let me forget. Smirking I grabbed another costume and tiptoed over to the lower bunk. Grinning at the lump in front of me I yanked off the blanket and flung the costume onto my prone team-leaders' face.

"Waa--who!" Scott leaped up. His fist flew, jabbing and punching into the air. Without trying to remove the garments that covered his head. Our great field leader…

"It's your wake up call, Slim. Rise 'n shine." I said sweetly.

"Wha…War…Warren…?" He asked sleepily. Weird, this guy usually gets up in a flash.

"Uh huh, up and at them Cyclops!"

"Oh…right." He replied a bit…well cheerfully.

"You alright, man? You almost sound happy."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Besides the fact that it's YOU?"

"Very funny Angel, but for your information I just slept well last--"

"Me too. What about you Bobby?" When I didn't receive an answer I sighed. That kid could snooze through anything.

"He's not here." I frowned at that, Bobby was always the last one of us to get up in the mornings. And when he did it usually took the combined efforts of Scott and me to get him conscious.

"Huh…" In the back of my mind I knew something was wrong but I couldn't be bothered to find out what. "Well, I guess he must have fallen out of bed again." I shrugged.

"Wouldn't we have heard him?"

"I don't know about you, but I don't think anything could have disturbed me. I never slept so well in my life."

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Scott apparently was in such a good mood that he offered to cook Breakfast. He claimed that he didn't want me to burn down the kitchen. (Like I'd do that again.) We chatted until Duncan sat at the table. Though he said nothing his eyes darted in between us, as he studied us for awhile. Evidently he could no longer contain his curiosity as he cleared his throat.

"Ahem…how are you boys feeling?"

"Great."

"Never better. Why?" Duncan raised an eyebrow, open his mouth and shut it just as fast. There was no mistaking the look of clarity that passed over his features.

"When you see Charles, could you tell him that I would like to have a word with him?" I blinked back at him in surprise of his tone. None of us X-Men, no matter how much we screwed up had managed to get this reaction from the kind, and patient Agent Duncan. Jaw clenched; eyes sharp, nostrils flaring--what ever way you looked at it the man was livid.

"Uh…yes, sir. Where will you be?"

"I will be continuing my investigation." Duncan replied vaguely. "I may not be back for…some time but I want you gentlemen to keep practicing our drills. And remind Bobby that he will still have to redo his peer reliance run." Scott and I sat watched him go, neither of us knowing what had just occurred.

I had just dug into my second bowl of cereal (Slims' idea of making Breakfast seems to differ from most) when he came through the door. He, being our other team-mate Bobby. He grunted his greetings to us as he joined us at the table. I glanced up at him and nearly gagged on my corn flakes. Bobbys' hair was disheveled, and his usually bright eyes were so dull. Dark circles were forming under those brown eyes, suggesting he didn't get a wink of sleep last night.

"You look like hell!" I commented.

"Good morning to you too, Wings." He responded grumpily.

 Scott rushed over at once and starting interrogating the poor guy. Asking if he slept at all, or wanted anything to eat or if he was feeling well. He even felt Bobbys' forehead. It was unexpected for both of us to see Scott actually touch someone other than his usual handshake. Still, as strange as this was to witness, it also seemed natural for Slim. There was something very brotherly about this simple gesture that articulated more than he would ever be able to put into words.

"I--I'll be--"

"Do you want to lie down and rest Bobby? I'll tell the Professor you're not well--"

Wow. This was major, now he was actually suggesting Bobby take some time off training!

"I'm not sick--"

"You don't look well…"

"Yeah, well maybe I just wanna get away from some busybody!" Bobby growled.

"Robert? Are you in here?" Professor Xaviers' voice called.

"Well, speak of the devil." Bobby muttered darkly.  

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Next Chapter: What is going on with the boys?