yay, I've FINALLY updated this. I partially blame it on you people, who never reviewed the last chapter. grumble

As a harsh wind blew, Deidra pulled her trench coat closer around her shoulders. Checking to see if her right sleeve was still in her pocket, she crossed the street, her mind reeling with the events that had just happened. She went over them again, tears streaming down her unguarded eyes.

So Rogue, Jean and Scott were with them. They knew who she was. No doubt the feeling she had felt this morning was because one of their telepaths was looking for her. So school was now no longer a safe place to hide. Neither was the Brotherhood's house. Where could she go with out being found?

Deidra gave a loud sigh and sat down with a thud on the lone bench at the park. Her left hand instinctively went to the space where her right arm used to be. That was the worst event of all she thought, fresh tears erupting.

Now they knew of her final mutation. She had only used it one other time, to get away from her parents and run away from that horror when she was 12. Her arm had grown back in a day or two, just in the nick of time, for they had picked her up about that time as well. They had coaxed her into showing them what she could do. Oh how blind she had been! If it weren't for these cursed eyes that always gave her away! But she had shown them everything anyway, with the exception of the arm. Perhaps it was because she had just lost it and didn't know if it would grow back again, but for some reason, she held back on that. And she had been for glad that she had, for then the torture would be insufferable.

But now, with all that had happened, they knew of her secret, and they would surely persue her twice as hard now. They couldn't let this get away from them. She had to get out of this town and fast. But first, she had to deal with her growling stomach. What to do about the needs of being human?

As she was contemplating, something began replaying in her head.

"It's OK, I'm a mutant, like you"

"The Institute is just over there."

Whirling around, Deidra looked around for witnesses. Seeing none, she quickly camaflouged with her surroundings. Then she took off to where that kid had said to Insitute was. Rogue or no Rogue, it was the safest place she could think of.

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After what had just happened at the school, the professor decided that it was necessary to bring all of his students home to discuss the matter. Soon they were all assembled, even the still sullen Jamie from Smetston Junior High. The professor cast a glance at his students and addressed them.

"Tell me what happened."

Jean and Scott told the story of the clay pot, Jeremy's revenge, and finding out that Deidra was a mutant. Rogue added in her two cents.

"Ah said 'Chameleon', and it looked lahke she had just been slapped across the face."

The professor took this all in silently, rubbing his temples. Finally he came to a conclusion.

"It seems that our friend is now out of hiding, so she will try to leave the city as soon as possible. Rogue, I believe you caused her to think that you three were with 'them', who ever 'they' are." he said. "I suggest we head for any transportation areas that she may use, such as the bus, to see if she is there. Someone should also go to the Brotherhood house to obtain any information we can from them. I have been told that she was staying with them for some time."

This last request was met with silence. Who would want to go interogate the Brotherhood? Finally Rogue stood up.

"Ah'll go."

The professor smiled gratefully. "Thank you Rogue. Now the rest of you, let's hurry and get out of here."

The rest of the team obliged and ran off to get their uniforms on. Suddenly, the professor's voice loomed into their heads, urgent and fearful. Change of plans students. She is in the house, and I do not think she is being peaceful

Jean quickly scanned everyone's mind to see where they all were. Something caused her to pale; someone was in trouble.

"JAMIE!"

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Climbing up the wall to Rogue's window was a little difficult with only one arm, but Deidra managed with out much mishap. As she stole into the room, the mutant remembered to put up a thin mental shield to telepaths. It wasn't much, but she had learned that it stopped all but the most persistent of mind-readers. Slinking quietly along the wall, Deidra was surprised to hear the voices of Jean and Scott in a room below her. Weren't they at school?

Perhaps they've come to inform on my whereabouts. she thought bitterly.

Suddenly, bodies were heard getting up, and feet began climbing stairs. Slightly panicked, Deidra headed for an empty room to steer clear of the confusion. It wasn't until the room suddenly became filled with smoke and the smell of fire that she realized the room wasn't so empty.

Fighting back the urge to cough, Deidra looked down and nearly fell off the ceiling with surprise. There, below her, stood another like her, a mutant. He had blue fur covering his entire body, three fingers on each hand, and a long spaded tail. He seemed perfectly fine, singing some fight song under his breath as he looked through his closet. Resisting the urge to climb down and touch him, she sprinted out the still open door and made her way down the hall.

So there are even more like me. He is even more blatantly different than I am! Why haven't they experimented on him?

So wrapped up in her thoughts was Deidra, that she didn't notice that she was very low on the wall until it was too late. Jamie came shuffling out of his room, head down. He collided right into the camaflouged mutant, sending him sprawling backwards. The collisions knock Deidra off the wall and turned her visible. Standing up with a jerk, she came face to face with the boy she had met a few days ago. He regarded her with shock.

"Chameleon"

Deidra gave a small growl, livid with anger. So, he was with them too! Suddenly, there was a shuffling behind her. The furry mutant was coming out of his room. Stuck between a rock and a hard spot, Deidra did the only thing she could think of. Grabbing Jamie with her left hand, she sprinted up the wall and on to the ceiling, inhinging her fangs. Jamie was too surprised to move, until he saw those teeth unfold. Then he screamed.

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The X-men rushed into the hall, only to find Kurt already there, mouth open, speechless. Hanging upside from the ceiling was Deidra, holding a right-side up Jamie by his neck. Scott gripped his visor, but there was no way he could hit her safely with out Jamie getting hurt. "Can you reach them Jean?" he asked grimly.

In response, Deidra tightened her grip around Jamie's neck, who gave a choked cry. Scott gave a frustrated growl. "What about you Kurt?" he called.

Nightcrawler shook his head. "Are you kidding? With her reflexes, my teleportation is like a snail's pace." Deidra grinned smugly at this remark and brought her fangs closer to Jamie's neck. Jean decided it was time for telepathic negotiations.

Please, why are you doing this? We don't want to hurt you. We only want to help.

All she received was a mental Fuck You and then the link was closed by a thin mental shield. All the X-men could do was watch tensely and bide their time carefully.

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Fighting back tears, Jamie struggled to breath. He could feel this mutants breath on his neck, her fangs poised only inches away from his skin. Twisting slowly, he turned to look at his captor.

"Please, let me go. Don't kill me." he pleaded. Deidra snorted softly.

"Shut up you scum. I'll decide your fate." she hissed, but something made her falter slightly. Something in Jamie's eyes was much too familiar. Something about this situation was all too familiar.

In a flash, Deidra knew why. She dropped Jamie with a gasp, her face pale. It didn't even register to her that Jean had slowed Jamie's descent and saved him. It didn't register to her that Scott stood under her now, his visior ready. Only when she felt furry hands grasp her and she was suddenly on the floor in a puff of smoke did Deidra fight back. Hissing, she clawed at whoever was holding her, trying to get a solid grip before biting him. The creature held on for dear life, chanting softly over and over again.

"I've got you."

"I've got you."

"It's ok."

"I've got you."

Deidra let out a scream of fury, but she could do little else. Slowly, with Kurt's gentle coaxing, she succumbed to capture and fell to the floor, weeping.

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A small red light beeped on the computer screen in front of the scientist. He blinked sleepily, then bolted upright. With shaky fingers, he reached for the phone and dialed. The man at the desk picked up, and cracked a grin. These were the three words he had been waiting for.

"We found her"

Oooooooohhhhh the suspense!!!! Man, I love dragging this out! Anyone guess what happened? I'll tell you soon.