I still don't own the X-Men. Just Mattie.

Thanks to all my reviewers. You guys read my work so quick. ;o) Thanks

Phone Call

Sam hadn't objected too much to the idea of Paige and Ray going out. He'd taken Ray aside and had a quiet word with him. Ray had come back looking rather shaken. After that Sam had just butted out and left Paige to take care of herself. Something that she proved more that capable of doing.

It turned out that Paige and Ray made quite an explosive couple. Not a day went by without the screaming at each other about something. Two passionate, highly charged young people had been brought together. And all you had to do was sit back and watch the sparks fly. Neither one of them would ever admit defeat. Neither one of them was ever wrong. And to the best of anyone's knowledge neither of them would ever admit that the other one was right. Sam watched all this with a self satisfied smile. He'd know about Paige's stubborn streak all along. Ray was only just finding out how stubborn it was. Of course all this hostility meant that they then had to make up afterwards. And passionate as they were about fighting with each other, Ray and Paige were just as passionate about making amends afterwards. You were just as likely to find them making out as you were to see them wishing death and destruction on each others heads. And you never knew which mood they were in from one second to the next. On one occasion Mattie had left the room to make a speedy dash to the kitchen for a snack. When she returned, they were screaming blue murder at each other.

"Why did I do it?" Mattie muttered to Jubilee one day as they sat in the Rec room listening to Paige shouting at Ray. "I can't believe that I thought it would be a good idea to get them together. What was I thinking?"

Wordlessly Jubes handed her the DVD of Clueless.

Mattie took it and then looked questioningly at the other girl.

"This is how I felt after I got you and Bobby together. Watch it. You'll understand."

"Or you could read the original." Jean said from where she lay on the sofa, her books spread out around her. The end of term coursework deadline was getting close.

Both Mattie and Jubilee stared at her.

"Emma." Jean replied. "That film is based on the book, Emma."

Mattie screwed up her nose. "I'll stick with the film thanks."

"Yeah well, you want to know what I think!" Ray roared back at Paige.

"No. I don't!" She responded.

Mattie rolled her eyes. "Tell me, Bobby and I are never this annoying."

Jubilee shrugged.

Mattie looked crestfallen. "Sorry."

"No biggy." Jubes told her, and turned her attention back to the banner that she and Mattie were working on.

Technically Paige was meant to be helping too, but she was a little busy at the moment. The banner was to celebrate the end of school. Jubes needed a project to hand in for art and it was as good a reason to celebrate as any. The summer holidays were getting closer and closer by the day. Mattie couldn't wait, days and days of endless nothingness. She was planning to go home and stay with Dad for a few weeks. She really missed having him around. She'd like Dad to come up and meet Bobby. They'd heard a lot about each other, and she was keen for the men in her life to meet. Dad objected to Bobby on principal, but she knew that he would be nice to him.

Paige stalked into the room and threw herself down on the floor beside them. Mattie and Jubilee both scrabbled to keep the paint from spilling.

"Idiot!" Paige commented.

Jubes and Mattie exchanged glances, neither of them wanted to be the first to comment on this latest lovers tiff.

Paige grabbed a brush and started slapping paint onto the banner. Mattie watched, while Jubilee tried to get Paige to paint in the right colour and in the place.

"He's so stupid sometimes." Paige muttered.

Mattie rolled her eyes.

Paige glared at her. "Don't you think?"

"Oh no!" Mattie shook her head. "I am staying well out of that one."

"What?" Paige asked.

Mattie didn't reply and she turned her attention on Jubilee instead.

"Don't you agree with me?"

Jubilee froze like a rabbit caught in headlights.

"Whatever you say, Paige." Jean murmured from where she sat.

Paige glared at her. "What is up with you guys?"

"Do you remember the last time you and Ray got in a fight?" Mattie asked.

Paige nodded.

"And I agreed with you that he was really annoying." Mattie continued. "And then later when you made up again. Who was in the doghouse for over an hour?"

"Me to." Jubilee added.

"Same." Jean muttered.

Paige looked guilty. "Sorry guys. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Mattie grinned at her. "It's fine; just don't drag us into it. We never know what to say."

Paige sighed. "He just makes me so mad."

"I think it's fair to say that you have the same effect on him." Jubilee said.

"You fall in and out with each other so quickly that it's impossible for us to keep up." Mattie added.

"We don't mean to." Paige said, toying with her paintbrush. "It's just that…"

"He drives you mad." Mattie, Jubilee and Jean chorused.

Paige grinned. "I'm being a broken record aren't I?"

"Just a little bit." Jubilee told her.

X

The banner finally finished, Jubilee took it up to her room to keep it safe. Various people had trooped in and out of the Rec room and she didn't want their hard work to get damaged.

Paige and Ray had made up their differences and were curled up together on one of the sofas. The others were loudly trying to choose what film to watch. No one could agree on what to watch. But then everyone was shouting so much that no one could be heard, so it really didn't make that much difference. Mattie was getting snacks from the kitchen while Bobby helped. This meant that he sat munching on the popcorn, while Mattie tried to find something else for them all to eat. The weekly shop was tomorrow and the cupboards were all but bare. The task of feeding hungry X-children was too much for them. She found a packet of chips which had been hiding at the back of the cupboard. For how long? If it had managed to go undetected there was probably a good reason. Sighing she threw the bag back. It looked like popcorn was all there was. And there was very little of that, thanks to Bobby.

"Would you please stop eating that? It is meant to be for everyone." She told Bobby.

His only response was to throw some at her.

"Great. Now there's even less!"

"See." Bobby told her. "It's better for me to eat it."

Mattie gave him a look.

"Catch." Bobby threw a piece of popcorn and her and managed to get it in her mouth.

"Ten points." She told him dryly.

"Twenty." Bobby protested.

"Ten."

"What do I have to do to get a twenty?"

"Nothing. There is not twenty. The points system only goes up to ten."

"Who made that up?"

"Me. It makes you work harder. You don't want to be stuck on ones and twos. So you work harder to get better scores."

"You sound like a teacher." Bobby muttered.

Mattie scowled at him. Bobby gave her his most winning smile. "Teach me Miss."

"Still ten."

"Twenty."

"Ten."

"Twent…" Bobby stopped mid-word as his cell phone started to ring. He fished it out of his pocket looking puzzled. Everybody was at the Institute, why would they be ringing him. With telepaths and teleporters around there were easier ways to get messages to each other than via cell phones. He looked at the number flashing on the screen. It was one of his friends from back home.

"Jessie? What's up man?"

"Bobby. I just had to call to say that I'm really sorry about your dad. Man that is just totally out of order."

"What?"

"I didn't see it or anything. You know that I would have stepped in if I had. I hope they get what's coming to them. Fuckers!"

"Jessie? What about my dad?"

"I can't believe they put him in the hospital. Someone should really teach them a lesson."

"What!" Bobby shot out of his chair.

Mattie whirled to face him.

"What! Jessie!"

"What!" Jessie was shouting at someone that Bobby couldn't hear. "Dylan! I'm on the phone here!"

"Jessie!" Bobby was shouting. "Jessie! What about my dad! Jessie!"

"Look man I gotta go. Alright Dylan, just hang on for half a second! I'm really sorry mate. Call me soon okay."

"Jessie! Jessie!" Too late, Bobby heard him hang up. "Jessie!"

Mattie watched him curiously.

Franticly Bobby tried to call him back. The number was engaged. His mind was racing. What the fuck had Jessie been talking about? His dad? In hospital? Put there by someone? What the fuck!

He keyed in his home number. It rang and rang until the answer phone kicked in. What the fuck was going on?

Mattie watched him as he grew steadily more and more agitated.

"Bobby?"

"I have to find the Professor." He told her. "Something's happened to my dad."

X

"Yes Mrs Drake. Yes I understand. I will tell Bobby immediately." The Professor looked up briefly as Logan entered the room. "Yes. I understand. Take care of yourself now."

Logan grunted. "Who's that?" As Charles hung up the phone.

"That was Bobby's mother. His father has just had to be admitted to hospital."

Logan raised an eyebrow. Charles was shaken, he could see that. Whatever this was, it wasn't good.

"It seems that there was some sort of anti-mutant demonstration. They were picking on a school child and Mr Drake intervened. He was quite strong in his views that mutants should be treated as people not some kind of monster. Logan, I'm afraid the mob turned their anger on him. He is very badly beaten and was sent straight to the E.R."

Logan growled, his claws unsheathing in response to his anger. "Picking on kids and anyone brave enough to stand up for them. The Human Race is a right piece of work. Huh, Charles?"

Xavier sighed. "They have their moments. As do we all."

"Drake know?"

"No. Not yet. I imagine that he will want to go and visit his father."

Logan nodded. "That's not all he'll be wanting to do."

"We must impress upon him that he is not to take actions against these people."

"Not going to be easy." Logan murmured. "He's going to want revenge. And who can blame him."

Xavier shook his head. "Violence is not that answer. Violence is never the answer."

"Is that why you have X-Men, Charles? Is that why I trained these kids everyday? Because violence isn't the answer?"

"We are teaching them to be able to defend themselves and those around them. I'm not raising an army, Logan."

"I know that, Charles. But would anyone else see it that way?"

"We have to hope that one day mutants and humans will find a way to co-exist."

"Until then." Logan sniffed. "Drake is going to be pretty angry at the people who did this."

"I will do my best to work him through that."

"Good luck."

Xavier nodded gravely. He knew Logan was right. Bobby was going to want to hurt the people who had hurt his father. Somehow he had to help him let go of that anger. But that would come after the far more pressing task. "For now I must tell him."

"Before he finds out some other way." Logan agreed.

Xavier looked up sharply as he came across Bobby's mind. "He knows!"

Logan blinked in surprise.

"He's headed this way." Xavier's gaze flew to the door as it burst open. Bobby came running into the room, Mattie at his side.

"Professor! My dad! Something's happened to my dad! I need to contact my mom!"

X

Mattie sat outside the Professors study. The Professor had explained what had happened to Mr Drake. Bobby had listened silently, his fists balling. He hadn't said anything. Just reached for the phone mechanically. The Professor had given Bobby the number for the hospital and Logan and Mattie had left while Bobby had called his mom.

Poor Bobby. She couldn't imagine how she'd feel if something happened to her dad. Poor Mr Drake. After he'd done the right thing and stepped in to stop them hurting that child. How could they? How could they do that to him? She thought back to her own experience. Cornering a mutant was one thing, but to go after someone just because they tried to stop someone being bullied. It just made you hate humans even more! Poor Mrs Drake. She must be worried sick. Mattie was worried and she didn't even know Mr Drake. She knew Bobby though. And she knew how much this was hurting him. She'd never seen him look so scared as when he'd told her that something had happened to his dad. Mattie was worried about Bobby. It was selfish really. Mr Drake was the one who'd been hurt and all she could do was care about her boyfriend. But, Bobby's face. It had scared her. She didn't want him to be going through this alone. No. Not alone. She was here. He'd been there for her and she was going to be there for him. Even if this scared her to death. What should she say? What should she do? She had no idea. And the idea of it was scaring her. If something happened to Dad… She left that thought, unable to complete it. She drew herself up determinedly. If Bobby needed someone. She was going to be here. Bobby would want to go and see his father. That would be hard for him. It would be hard for her to. Bayville was less that perfect. But the idea of Bobby going somewhere where this had happened to someone who just spoke up for mutants. It chilled her bones. What if someone found out that Bobby was a mutant? What then? What would they do to him?

Mattie looked up as the door opened and Bobby stumbled out the room. She leapt up.

"Are you okay?"

Bobby just looked at her with dull eyes.

"Okay, stupid question. Of course you're not okay." She reached out to him and helped him sit down in the chair she'd been occupying.

Bobby let her sit him down. Mattie bit her lip. She didn't know what to do, he seemed so switched off. So distanced from everything. She wished she knew what was going on in his head. She glanced at the door. The Professor wouldn't have let Bobby go if he was worried about him. But that didn't mean that she was any less worried about him.

"Bobby?" She looked down at him where he sat. His head was bowed and he still hadn't said a word.

"Mats." The word was wrung out of him. Then he threw his arms around her waist and clung to her, him face press tightly against her.

Mattie froze; what should she do now. Then she found her arms already around him. Offering what comfort she could. She stroked his hair in a soothing way. She didn't think, she just did it. It was as natural as anything else. Bobby needed her support and she was there.

Bobby tightened his hold on her. His shoulders shook slightly as he struggled to control himself.

"It's okay. It's alright." Mattie found that she lost track of what she was saying. She kept the tone of her voice, soft and calming. Hoping that would work where her words wouldn't.

"How could they do this, Mats?"

"I don't know. Oh God, Bobby I am so sorry."

Bobby didn't answer her, and Mattie just held him.