Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own them , I swear!! If you don't believe me refer back to the prologue.

Author's Note: Just to point some things out for you before we really get going here. Jean and Scott are a couple here and they share the link that they have. Assuming that in this timeline of the story, the episode, "Day of Reckoning" parts 1 and 2 have already happened, so everyone already knows they're mutants. Whew, glad that's over with. Now on with the story. Read, Review, and ENJOY!

Feedback: Of course I would love to hear what you guys think. Or email me: sugargurlm87 yahoo. Plus, if I don't get enough reviews I will not update. I know that sounds a bit harsh, but hey, an author's gotta do anything just to get people to review. Hope you don't hate me for it! Enjoy the story!

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Sacrifice

By: pinkchick

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Chapter 1

The light of the moon disappeared as the dark storm clouds hovered over, covering the moon. Thunder roared as anyone still standing outside ran to seek shelter from the soon to come rain and those inside stirred in the sleep. The wind picked up and brushed the remaining leaves on the trees roughly. Animals hid as if they felt and knew something that the rest of humanity could not even comprehend. The night sky drew even darker as the last bit of light went into hiding behind the dark looming storm cloud.

At the Xavier Institute, it had been a long day for the six resident students living there. After finishing piles of homework that they already had, they also had to work with one of Logan's Danger Room sessions. A session they usually despised, albeit they never showed it in front of their fierce instructor. They had trained until it was time to turn in. Now, as the thunder still cackled and the lightning lit up the sky, all six students stirred in their sleep. The students' ages ranged from fourteen to eighteen and they each had their differences. Although, they were all the same; all having gifts of different magnitudes.

That night, everyone in the household seemed to be having an unfitful sleep. Even the elders of the house seemed to toss and turn. Ororo Munroe shivered in her sleep. It was about to pour down outside and the strange thing was that she had nothing to do with this dark weather. She was the resident weather witch, codenamed Storm for her mutant abilities of controlling the weather. Ororo was the calm, motherly figure of the household. She was always there to fulfill everyone's needs in replacement of their real mothers. All of the students looked to her for wise advice.

All of a sudden, her eyes snapped open before the nightmare that she was having could get any worse. She sat up in her bed and hugged her knees. Ororo brushed her long silvery white hair away from her face and stared out the window at the strong and heavy rain clouds hovering oustide. Another shiver ran up and down her spine as she didn't dare to close her eyes again. She pulled the sheets back over her ebony colored body and lay back down. Ororo tried to calm herself, but the images of the horrid dream came back to her. She immediately snapped out of her reverie when she heard a shrilling scream pierce the air. Ororo jumped out of her bed and grabbed her robe, leaving her room to make her way towards the pained scream.

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Jean Grey was having a hard time falling asleep. It was well past midnight and she knew that. Yet, sleep just wouldn't come. Something had kept her awake; being a telepath, she could sense things. She knew someone was near, but for some reason didn't feel the need to be alarmed. A shiver ran down her spine. At that very moment she sensed some great evil and hatred, and then just as quickly the feeling vanished. She shuddered again and wondered why she was so cold to begin with. The house was warm enough. Still, though, something tugged at the back of Jean's mind. She sank her head deeper into the pillow, letting her fiery red hair cascade down the sides. When Jean finally closed her eyes to fall asleep after a long day, she heard it.

"NOOOOOOO!!" the voice shouted.

Jean bolted from her bed at warp speed and headed down to the room producing those shrilling cries of terror. She knew that sound all too well. When she finally reached Scott Summers's room, she opened the door and bounded in. The sight before her reminded her of the old times -- some things she wanted to forget -- but, others she wanted to keep. Scott would have woken up from a nightmare about his troubled past, especially those that were about losing his parents in the plane crash. That crash had also rendered his mutant power uncontrollable. Scott was now forced to wear special ruby quartz glasses to prevent his optic beams from destroying everything in their path. Jean's one wish, deep down, was to once in her life be able to see his eyes.

Jean's thoughts were interrupted when she started noticing Scott mumbling incoherent things in his sleep. She looked at his torn body under the light blue sheets as he tossed and turned, tangling the sheets into a heap around him. Scott let out another cry of agony, as if someone was physically harming him. Before Jean reached the bed though, Scott jolted awake and into a sitting position. He started visibly shaking violently and hugged his knees to his chest, instinctly reaching up to his face to make sure his glasses were still on. Sweat soaked his entire body and made the undershirt he was wearing stick to him like a second skin. Jean finally reached his bed and sat down next to Scott. She brushed the stray brown hairs out of his face and cupped his face with her hand. "Scott?" Jean asked, concern dripping in his name. "Are you ok?"

"Don't let him do it! He's coming," Scott muttered softly like a scared little boy. His body still shook as if he was having some kind of seizure.

Jean looked at his frightened face and ever so gently wrapped her arms around him. "Who's coming, Scott?" He didn't answer. He just tensed in her arms and then looked down at her and snapping out of his fear, relaxed under her touch.

"Jean?" Scott asked, not sure of his surroundings.

"Yeah, it's me, Scott. It's ok now," Jean said with gentleness as she started stroking his back softly. "It was just a nightmare. I'm here now, it's gonna be ok."

"It was so real," Scott's muffled reply came. He was clinging to Jean as though he was petrified of letting go at any second. The images of the nightmare flashed through his mind again. He shuddered. He was somehow cold and yet sweating at the same time.

"I know, but it's over now, I promise." Scott buried his head into her shoulder. Jean closed her eyes and ran her hands through his semi-thick brown hair. She turned her head at the sudden sound of footsteps outside of the door.

Ororo reached the door to find it already open and walked in to see Jean comforting Scott on his bed. She slowed her run into a fast walk and reached his bed questioning Jean with her eyes. Jean mouthed the word 'nightmare' and Ororo understood. Ororo breathed a sigh of relief that it hadn't been anything else. She was a very gentle woman who would turn on anyone if they were to harm the students she thought of as her own children.

"It's alright, my child," Ororo whispered into Scott's ear. He slowly stopped shaking as violently and it became a mere tremble. Not a minute later, Professor Xavier and Logan came into the room. Professor Xavier carefully wheeling his way towards Scott's bed, while Logan checked the room and made sure there was nothing there. He slowly retracted his adamantium claws that had been protruding from his skin when he had burst in on the scene. Those claws were the only thing that could make him remember anything about his past. His burly appearance made him look very intimidating with a rough edge. But, deep down he cared about everyone who lived in the mansion -- they were his only family and would protect them until death. To speak of death with Logan wouldn't be a very rational conversation being the fact that he has a healing ability which causes his age to slow down.

"What happened?" Logan gruffly asked, standing at the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Yes, Scott, are you alright?" Professor Xavier asked calmly and gently. Scott broke Jean's embrace and looked at the bald man in front of him; his only father figure. Scott thought that he could never repay the professor after all he had done. He took him in when he was blind and helpless and no one cared for him. Scott could never forget that and in turn is helping Professor Xavier make his dream a reality. Although Professor Xavier was a telepath, he did not like to intrude into people's minds without asking for their permission. After all, everyone was entitled to their own privacy, especially that of their minds. He was a calm and peaceful man, wanting to further bring the existence of mutants and humans into a peaceful co-existence. He looked at his surrogate son for the answer he had asked.

"Yeah, Professor. I'm fine," Scott replied, semi-believable. "It-- it was, uh, nothing. Just a bad dream, I guess."

Professor Xavier placed his hands together in a calmly fashion and looked like he was pondering something for an instant. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine, I promise," Scott answered with more confidence in his voice.

Professor Xavier just nodded his head and smiled before he wheeled himself around and out of the room. Logan followed suit, but not before turning around and casting one last concerned glance at Scott's disheveled form. Without another word he left the room. Ororo also looked at Scott as she got up and started for the door. "Sleep well, Scott," she said and walked out of the room.

With everyone gone, that left only Jean. There was silence in the room as Scott tried to untangle his sheets. He wiped the remaining perspiration from his face and purposefully ignored the fact that Jean had her settling gaze on him. He continued with what he was doing and still ignored her as her eyebrows went up. When Scott came to the side where Jean was sitting on his sheets he looked up at her, but not completely. She had her arms crossed over her chest and she had her eyes narrowed. Scott smiled and his features told Jean that he was grateful that she had been there for him. To Jean, that still wasn't satisfying enough. It's not what she was looking for.

"You know you can't ignore me forever," Jean stated. He sighed and stopped untangling the mass amount of sheets that lay crumpled in front and around him.

"I know. I was at least attempting to try," Scott said, managing a weak smile.

"What was your nightmare about, Scott?" Jean asked. He turned away from her and stared out the window. "I felt a little bit through our link. It was torture, wasn't it?"

"I don't wanna talk about it, ok," Scott said, somewhat annoyed. He truly wished she hadn't felt it through their link. Although he loved Jean and would do anything for her -- even give his life -- he hadn't wanted her to feel this dream. It was unlike any other he had ever seen before. Jean was right, and that's what he was afraid of. It was torture. He definitely didn't want Jean to feel that. Scott didn't want her to have any pain. They looked at each other and Jean tried to find his eyes behind his glasses. For a moment they locked eyes and Jean felt many emotions run through her. They weren't hers though, they were Scott's. She felt fear, pain, worry, and most of all sadness for the fact that Scott didn't know what was going on and what he really saw in the dream.

"Oh, Scott, I'm so sorry," Jean whispered and embraced him once again. They stayed like that for awhile longer until they heard the clock strike. "I'd better get back to bed. Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No, Jean, go," Scott said, ushering her with his hands.

"You sure though? You're gonna be ok?" Jean asked, concern dripping in her every word.

"I'll be fine," Scott assured her. "Go to bed. Now!"

"Ok, ok, I'm going. Geez!" Jean exclaimed. She got up from the bed, but before she did she looked at him and gave him a long and passionate kiss. Their lips locked in a sweet embrace, both not wanting to leave the other. When they finally parted, Scott held Jean to him for a moment and then let her go. She reached the door and looked back at him lovingly. "I love you, Scott."

"And I love you, Jean," he declared softly. "Goodnight."

"Night," she replied. "Sweet dreams." Jean smiled before finally closing the door behind her. Scott stared fixated on the door for a few moments and then went back to untangling his sheets. When he was finally done, he sank into his pillow and listened to the rumbling of the thunder oustide. He covered himself up entirely with his sheets as another unexpected shiver ran down his spine. The nightmare's images haunting his mind's eye once again.

"So much for sweet dreams," Scott mumbled to himself. "Not tonight, Jean. Not tonight." It took him awhile before he could get back to sleep. All the while thinking of what the dream really meant, while listening to the thunder and freshly pouring rain pound against the earth.

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"Alright team, your goal today is to capture the flag first for your teams and get to the end of the cliff before time runs out," Logan informed the X-men who had now been split up into teams of two with three on each team. "Each team is gonna have to fight the other one to get to the flag first. You have to cover each other's backs throughout this entire simulation. Cyke here, will be in charge of Team A and Jeannie, of Team B. Good luck."

Logan left the two teams amongst themselves and headed up towards the main tower where he could monitor them as he set the simulation. He looked down on the two teams as the Danger Room's walls of metal turned into seaside cliffs and hills. The simulation had started. The flag appeared in the air and the first one to catch it was Rogue. She jumped into the air and reached for it with her black gloved hand. Rogue landed back on one of the cliffs safely as she brushed her streaks of white hair to the side. Before she knew it, she was being bombarded by shots of red beams as she looked to see Cyclops trying to keep her busy. From behind her, she smelled something of brimstone and sulfur but before she could realize what was going on, Nightcrawler had taken the flag from her and teleported to the other side where his team stood.

Spyke, from the opposite side started firing the spikes through his body at Nightcrawler, but he kept teleporting. Jean, seeing that her team was losing the race, used her mind and telekinetically halted Nightcrawler in mid air, releasing the flag from his hold and moving it towards her. Jean smiled as she grabbed a hold of the flag. Behind her, Shadowcat phased through the cliff and came around behind Jean and grabbed the flag from her grasp.

"Get to the cliff!" Cyclops shouted his order as Shadowcat nodded her head and tossed the flag to Nightcrawler. He caught it through mid air with one of his acrobatic jumps and teleported to the cliff. Once there, he placed the flag into the ground as the simulation ended and the virtual surroundings disappeared to be replaced with the regular metallic walls.

Logan smirked in approval, but immediately was replaced with a serious face. He clicked a button and his voice boomed over the speaker. "Good job, Team 1. Good job on teamwork, everyone. You're dismissed."

Everyone gave a sigh of relief and headed out quickly so they would be in time for breakfast. Scott watched as everyone left. Jean came up behind him and asked, "You coming?"

"Yeah, you go ahead, I'll be right there," Scott replied.

"Ok," Jean said, kissed his cheek and headed out the door.

Just as the Danger Room doors closed and he was alone, a sharp pain clouded his mind. He closed his eyes to contain it, but it just wouldn't go away. All of a sudden it got very cold and he shuddered as he sank to his knees, his hands clutching the sides of his head. Nothing was wrong with him, so what was going on? Images flashed through his mind; all too familiar ones. Fire, it was everywhere. Scott could hear someone laughing maniacally in the distance as he felt something go through his body, aching every muscle and causing immense pain in his abdomen. One hand left the side of his head to clutch his abdomen and chest. All he could feel and see was fire, all he could hear was sinister laughter. The pain became too much and blackness began to absorb him when heavy hands grabbed his shoulders and Scott opened his eyes.

"Easy there, Scooter." Logan steadied him before he completely collapsed on the floor. Scott looked up at Logan, somewhat grateful to have had him rid him of that vision. He stood up, swaying to the sides at first, but Logan's hands steadied him. "Easy, take it easy. You ok, kid?" Logan asked with concern in his voice. Oblivious to Scott, Logan had been watching from the tower. He had immediately ran down to him when he saw him sink down to his knees and contort his face into one of pain. He didn't know what was going on with him, but if he didn't get any answers, he would just go to the professor.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Logan," Scott replied, voice far away and face pale. "Nothing to worry about."

"That's not the way it looked to me. I think I should worry," Logan retorted. "C'mon, the Prof should know about this."

"I'm fine, Logan," Scott reassured forcefully. "I better, uh, go get ready for school. I'll see you later."

With that, he walked out of the Danger Room quickly, leaving behind a very suspicious Wolverine. Logan raised his eyebrows and knew that what he had seen wasn't 'nothing'. He knew Scott was hiding what was happening or what was going on and Logan was going to get to the bottom of it. "Stubborn brat," he mumbled before heading back up to the tower and promising himself to tell the professor if anything like that happened again.

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Two days later and Scott kept on waking up to the same nightmare. He wasn't paying attention in class because he was spacing out and seeing the visions over and over again. He didn't think anyone knew because he wouldn't wake up screaming. Scott didn't want to worry anyone, at least not yet. He could handle this, couldn't he? He was even functioning poorly in Danger Room sessions and he knew someone would eventually notice. Logan hadn't said anything since that incident but he knew he couldn't hide it. Every time Scott looked at him, he gave a look of concern, but in a secretive and Logan type of way. Scott found it harder to concentrate on anything the last couple of days. Everything seemed to be a blur to him. All he kept seeing was fire. The nightmare played over again every night -- but tonight, he was not alone.

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Ororo Munroe sat at the kitchen table sipping the last of her coffee before heading to bed. All the students were tucked safely into their beds. She sighed at what a long day it had been. The younger students had kept her busy, very busy in fact. Bobby, Ray, and Sam were playing outside and in an attempt to grab the ball, Sam cannonballed his way over and accidentally rammed into the brick wall, forming a large dent. Bobby, the resident prankster of the house tried to, very discreetly, hop on Logan's motorcycle and mess with it. Unfortunately for him, Logan had caught him and grounded him for two weeks. No one was to mess with Logan's motorcycle. No one. Then, to top it all off, Ray had almost electrocuted himself and accidentally blew out the lights of the entire mansion. That had certainly set off a frenzy. Ororo had to laugh at that.

She washed her empty cup and put it away. She knew there was someone at the doorway without even turning around. "Hey 'Ro," was all he said and that put a smile onto her lips. She turned around to look at him. "Good evening, Logan," Ororo replied. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Sure, why not." Logan shrugged. Ororo poured him a cup and set it in front of him. He took a sip and put it down. Logan rubbed his temples and then set his hands down on the table. Ororo gently took his hands in hers and rubbed them smoothly. "You know that feels good, 'Ro."

"I know." Ororo smiled. "I also know that you've had a stressful day. Would you like to talk about it?"

"I'll just come out and say it. It's been bugging me for awhile," Logan started. He sighed. "It's Cyke."

Ororo sat straight up at the mention of Scott's name. "You've noticed some changes, too?"

"I haven't noticed 'em, 'Ro, I've seen it first hand." Ororo looked at him, confusion on her face. "The other day after the morning Danger Room session he almost collapsed, 'Ro. And, I don't know, he looked scared of something. And I know Cyke."

"Oh, Goddess," Ororo whispered, covering her mouth. "Have you told the professor?"

"No, but I suspect he knows something we don't anyway." Logan downed the rest of his coffee. "If Scott wasn't so stubborn--"

"Stubborn? Don't even start, Logan." Ororo laughed. "You know you are worse than any of us here in that category."

Logan made a sour face at her and she just laughed. Logan smiled. He loved it when she laughed. It could put a smile on his face any day. Logan didn't even smile very often to begin with. He put the cup in the sink and headed for the door. "I'm off to make my rounds. 'Night, 'Ro."

Ororo smiled behind him. "Good night, Logan." Ororo picked herself up off of the chair and headed to bed. It was late and she needed a good night's sleep. After changing into her night clothes she pulled open the comforter and collapsed onto her bed. She looked outside to see storm clouds once more. Confusion clouded her mind. Why was the weather so damp and dark these days? She shook her head and laid down. Ororo rested her head onto the pillow and was about to close her eyes when she heard an echoing scream coming from one of the student's rooms.

Ororo hopped out of her bed and grabbed her robe, much like she had the other night when Scott had screamed. Yet, this was not Scott's voice who was letting out this cry of terrorizing pain. She fled to the room and opened the door out of sheer force and will. There was Evan Daniels on his bed, tossing and turning as if someone was holding him down out of force. He scrunched his face in his sleep and ran his hands over his body, attempting to get something that wasn't there, off. His sheets were tangled around him and Ororo could see a stream of sweat running down his face. His blonde mane glowed on his ebony colored skin.

"No," Evan mumbled. Evan turned some more and buried his face into his pillow. He shivered in his sleep. "Get it off me!" He screeched. "GET IT OFF!! Don't let it get me, please!"

Before it could get any worse, Evan felt safe and warm hands gently holding his shoulders. He stopped yelling and opened his eyes. "Evan?" the feminine voice asked. "Are you alright? Evan?!"

At first, Evan's vision was just a blur of things. He couldn't make out anything. Then, his vision began clearing and his aunt's loving features came into view. "Auntie O.?" he asked hoarsely. Evan swallowed his saliva, clearing his throat so he could speak. He hugged himself around the shoulders because his shivering intensified. He was still sweating like crazy. What he had seen in his nightmare had terrified him. Fire, fire everywhere. There had also been something on his body prickling at him. Evan closed his eyes to gather his bearings and then opened them again. His aunt's voice snapped him out of it and back into reality.

"It was just a nightmare, Evan," Ororo reassured her nephew. She wiped away the perspiration running down his face.

"No, it was so real and he's coming. He's coming," Evan quivered.

"Who's coming, Evan? Who did you see in your nightmare?" Ororo questioned soothingly, yet at the same time pressing the matter. It seemed strange that only two days ago Scott had had a nightmare and then Evan. Evan usually never had nightmares, at least not this terrifying. Evan didn't answer her question, he just looked past her and at the air. Ororo hugged him to her and rocked him back and forth until he was fast asleep again. Ororo felt the presence of Professor Xavier and Logan outside the door. Once she was sure Evan was sound asleep, she gently placed his head back down onto his pillow and covered him with his blankets. She crept out of the room quietly and shut the door behind her.

"Lemme guess, it was a nightmare," Logan said. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. His worry became more evident when Ororo nodded, justifying his statement.

Logan and Ororo both turned to Professor Xavier for answers. He placed his hands together in front of him and leaned forward. "I fear there is something going on with these nightmares. A message of some kind, maybe."

Logan crossed his arms over his chest and placed one foot over the other. "Umph, you're tellin' me!"

"What do you mean by that, Professor?" Ororo asked him.

He sighed. "I don't know, Ororo," he replied. The truth was the professor knew there was something coming -- something worse than anything that they had faced. He feared not even his X-men could handle this. It was pure evil and couldn't be stopped, unless it was by something of purity. It was something, as the world's most powerful telepath, even he could not stop it from happening. That was all he knew. Nothing else of what was going on. He feared they would just have to wait and see what happened. "We should keep watch on all the students. We don't want anything to happen to them. Their safety comes first. I'll see if I can try to get some answers. For now, good night."

Professor Xavier left and left Ororo and Logan behind him staring in his midst. Logan started pacing and clenched his jaw. He usually agreed with the professor, but this was insane. If he had seen what Logan had then he would definitely change his mind. "We can't just wait!" he bellowed. "These are kids, for Pete's sake! We have to get to the bottom of this. What could these nightmares mean?"

"Logan, calm down," Ororo soothed. "Acting only on instinct is only going to worsen things. The professor is right. We should just wait and see what happens. Just because it was a nightmare doesn't mean it meant anything."

Logan stared open mouthed at her. That was obviously denial talking. "'Ro we can't have more of these kids having this nightmare. It'll only get worse."

"We'll wait, Logan," Ororo pressed. "Good night."

Logan sighed and headed back to patrolling before finally heading to bed. He had keen senses and they told him something wasn't right with these nightmares. He knew there was something fishy going on. But, he didn't want to press the matter any further. He would wait. As he was walking to his room, he thought back to his final conversation with Ororo. And they call me stubborn, he thought snidely. He entered his room and shut the door, scowling as the night was lit by lightning.

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