Okay. Here we are. The next chapter. Enjoy. There will be a slight delay before the next one as I am going to visit New York. New York! I'm very very very excited.

But I'll be thinking up ideas for the next couple of chapters so don't dispare. Until then enjoy this one.

I don't own the X-Men

Iceman At Home

Mattie watched from the window as Bobby got into his car and started the engine. She saw him look to the front door, but she wasn't there anymore. They'd already said goodbye. Mattie had clung to Bobby for ages before she made herself let go of him. He had to go. He had to go and see his dad. But she didn't want him to. She didn't want him anywhere near the people who'd hurt his father. She was being irrational. She knew that. Bobby was just as likely to get hurt here in Bayville as he was anywhere else. But she didn't want him to go.

Bobby looked up at the windows. Mattie would be there somewhere, watching him. He knew that this had frightened her. He wanted to tell her it would be alright and make her feel better. But right now all he could think about was getting to his dad. And settling the score. His eyes scanned the building and he found her. He gave her a small wave. Then revved the engine and rolled out the drive.

Mattie dashed from window to window. Watching his car for as long as she could. "Come back to me safe, Bobby." She whispered. "Please."

X

Mattie struggled with her agitation. Bobby had called once, just before she had gone to bed, to let her know that he had arrived safely. He'd sounded drained and in no mood to chat. Mattie had sent her best wishes to Mr Drake and then let him go.

Bobby put the phone down and gave a thin smile. It was time to do a little investigating. He was going to find out who'd done this, and then… He didn't let himself think that far ahead.

X

Mattie dragged herself through school. Waiting for Bobby to come back was taking up all her time. She didn't know when he'd be back. Bobby didn't know. It all depended on his dad and how he was doing. She got the odd phone call from him, but for the most part, the last few days had just been empty of Bobby. At least if she had a date to work towards, it would be something. What if he stayed away for the whole summer? And in the back of her mind she couldn't get away from the nagging feeling that Bobby was in trouble. Maybe she knew him to well. She knew that he wasn't going to take this attack on his dad lying down. He was mad. And Bobby tended not to think too well when he was mad. The bell sounded to release her from class and she made her way to her locker still deep in thought. Maybe she could head over there. It wasn't that far, and at speed it wouldn't take more than half a day at most. Provided she didn't get lost of course. But where would that get her. Bobby didn't want his girlfriend gate crashing. If he'd wanted her there he would have asked her to tag along. No. She had to let him do his own thing. He'd be back, sooner or later. Sooner she could cope with, later… she wasn't so sure about.

"Hey, Drew."

Mattie bit her lip in an attempt to keep her temper. "Not now Pietro!"

"What's up?"

"Nothing. Now run along and bother someone else."

The speedster moved quickly from behind her to the side, he grinned at her. "What you say you and me blow of the next class and I'll teach you how you really use those powers of yours."

Mattie rolled her eyes. "Like I need lessons from you. I out classed you the day we met." She smirked at him. "And I just keep getting better."

Pietro scowled at her. "I hear that Drakey boy had to run home to Daddy. Was he really upset?"

Mattie clenched her jaw. "Don't." She warned.

"No really." Pietro continued grinning as he saw his barbs hit home. "Did he cry?"

In a blur Mattie's hand gripped his neck and she slammed him back against the locker. Anger blazed in her eyes. "You picked the wrong time to piss me off." She hissed in his ear. "You wanna go? We'll go and I'll kick your arse from here to where ever you like." For a moment she saw a look of fear in Pietro's eyes, and then it was replaced with his usual mocking glint. He looked over her shoulder and smirked at her.

"Miss Drew!"

Shit

Mattie glanced over her shoulder to see Mrs Rackon glaring at her. A crowd had gathered to watch the developing scene. Mattie took a small amount of pleasure in the knowledge that Pietro was being seen being man handled by a girl. Let him try and laugh that one off.

"What do you think you are doing young lady? Release him right now."

Slowly Mattie made herself release her hold on Pietro.

"Are you alright Pietro?"

Pietro nodded, rubbing at him neck and contriving to look very sorry for himself. Mattie wasn't buying it for a second. She hadn't hurt him, mores the pity.

"You should go to see the nurse." Mrs Rackon told him, and then she turned her attention back to Mattie. "As for you. You are in detention. I expect to see you later this afternoon."

Mattie scowled at her. She hadn't done anything wrong, Pietro totally deserved to get his arse kicked. She opened her mouth to say so and found herself with a mouthful of bubblegum.

"She'll be there Mrs Rackon." Jubilee told her.

Mrs Rackon gave Mattie one final glare then walked off.

"Jubes!" Mattie howled. "What did you do that for?"

"Yeah. Cause I'm gonna let you open your big mouth and get yourself in heaps more trouble." Jubilee replied, not fazed by Mattie's glare. "I know you Mattie. And I know what that look in your eye means."

Mattie said nothing for a while, just chewed angrily. "Well he deserved it."

"No argument there. Just don't get caught next time."

X

Jackpot!

Bobby stared at the hall in front of him. It had taken him two days of talking to his mates and anyone else he could corner. This was where the H.O.M or Humans Opposed to Monsters held there weekly rallies. From what Bobby had heard it was a group of teenagers who had attacked his dad. Although the leaders of HOM had stated that they did not endorse their behaviour, they had also issued no apology. The message was clear; Mr Drake had got what he deserved for being a mutant sympathiser.

Bobby thought about his dad in hospital. His face covered in bruises, linked up to various machines, with tubes coming in and out of him. It had shocked him so much that for a while it was as though it was the only image in his brain. Then slowly the numbness had faded to be replaced with a slow burning fury at the ones who had done this. Someone was going to pay, and Iceman was here to collect.

He iced himself up and mounted his ice slide to take him to the roof of the building. This summer was a hot one and they had opened to skylight to let in the warm night air. From up her Bobby could see and hear everything that was going on at the meeting. He inched closer to the skylight and pushed it open wider.

The meeting was long and laborious. It was a non-stop rant about mutants and how terrible they were. Bobby had heard it before and he was sure that he would hear it again. He let the words wash over him and focused on his target. The leader of the HOM was sitting on the stage listening to the speaker. He was going to be listening to Iceman before the night was over. Bobby doubted it was a speech that he was used to hearing. He settled down to make himself more comfortable. From the sound of it, he was going to be here a while.

X

Mattie arrived back at the mansion in a black mood. That detention was so unfair. Why should she have to suffer just because of Pietro? He deserved it anyway. What if Bobby had called and she'd missed it. If that was the case then Mrs Rackon was going to be in big trouble. And who gave out detentions on a Friday anyway? That was just messed up. Everyone knew that the second the bell rang on a Friday it was the weekend. She better not have missed a call from Bobby.

"Any calls?" She asked as she walked in.

Jamie shook his head as he headed upstairs.

"Any calls?" Mattie repeated as she saw Rogue and Kitty.

Kitty gave her a sympathetic smile. "Sorry. Nothing."

Mattie sighed. "Thanks."

Mrs Rackon was safe. Why hadn't Bobby called? She hoped that he was safe. He'd call when he got that chance. She hoped.

X

Bobby shifted again. How long was this going to take? No one was saying anything new. It was just consistent mutant bashing. Surly it was time for them to go home. Then he could have a quiet word with their great leader and be back with his dad. Dad was going to be okay. He was ready to come home any day now. Bobby could tell that he was getting better because things were becoming strained between him and his parents again. He loved his parents. But a long distance relationship really was the only way that he could deal with them. His dad had never really got over the fact that his only son was a mutant. Although him sticking up for one was a major breakthrough. And his mom wanted him to give up being a mutant and go to college. Like being a mutant was like playing the piano of something. He was one of the lucky ones with a mutation that didn't make him stick out from the crowd. So she wanted him to just pretend that it had never happened. That he'd never learnt to turn his body into ice, that he could travel on a slide of ice, that he could make icicles to throw with incredible accuracy. They wanted him to give all that up? Just to be an accountant or a lawyer? They'd sent him to the Institute in the hope that he'd get it out his system. Bobby shook his head. How did you explain to them that being a mutant was who he was. It wasn't something he could pick up and put down like a jacket. He'd noticed that there were more and more instances where they were biting their tongues over things that they wanted to say. Mom would never forgive him if they were seen arguing in the hospital. But Dad would be coming home soon. And then the same old arguments would start all over again. He had to go back to Xavier's, and soon. But first he was going to make sure that no touched his dad ever again. He shoved at the skylight and levered his body further into the room. There where quite a few of them. Hence his plan to wait for the leader so he could have a little one on one time. "So maybe you guys could get with the program and speed it up a little." He muttered. Grumbling to himself he switched positions again. Sitting still had never been one of his strong points. On the plus side, he was really testing out the limits of his power. He'd never been iced up for this long. True he wasn't exactly doing anything, but it was interesting all the same. He glanced back down, it sounded like the speaker was winding up his speech.

A technical tune rose over the speaker's voice. People glanced around to find the person who'd been stupid enough to leave their phone on. Bobby didn't have to look very far, his phone was singing out its tune from in his bag. Franticly he dug around trying to find and silence it. He pulled it out his bag. It was his mom. Dad! The thought shot through him as he heard a yell from below.

"Up there! A mutant!"

"Time to go!" Leaping off the roof of the building he sent a jet of ice to cushion his fall and act as a slide.

"Mom!" He yelled into the phone. "What's wrong? Is Dad okay?"

"Yes honey. Your father is fine. Sorry if I worried you. But I really feel that you and I should have a little talk."

Bobby glanced behind him. The crowd were pouring out of the hall and they looked angry. Some took off after him on foot, while others leap into cars and onto motorcycles.

"Not good! Not good!" He increased his speed.

"There is no need to react like that! I just want to talk to you."

"Mom!" Bobby glanced around him. They were closing fast. And his listening in on their meeting had obviously pissed them off. "That's great, but I can't really take right now. I'll have to call you later."

"Robert Drake! Don't you dare put the phone down on me!" His mom snapped at him. "This is more important that whatever little plans you have with your friends."

"Mom!" Bobby protested. But she paid him no mind and continued over the top of him.

"Your father and I feel that we need to talk to you. We never see you anymore, Bobby."

Bobby made agreeing noises. Along side him two members of the HOM closed in on him on motorcycles. They swerved towards him trying to knock him off his ice slide. For a moment he was squashed between them, and then they were forced to draw back. But they soon closed in again.

"I know that the Xavier Institute is the best place for you to be. And we knew that you'd be spending all your time there. But… Well we miss you Bobby." His mother continued in his ear.

He needed both his hands. Holding the phone between his cheek and shoulder Bobby sent two icicles into the spokes of both bikes. The bikers went soaring over the tops of their bikes. He was in the clear. For a while at least.

"I miss you guys too."

The silence at the end of the line told him that he'd taken to long to answer. Behind him he could hear the roar of the crowd.

X

Mattie paced back and forth in the room.

"Would you cut that out?" Paige muttered.

"I can't. I'm worried."

"God! Then call him."

"What if he's out with his mates? I don't want to look like a clingy girlfriend."

"Then stop pacing!"

"I can't!" Mattie rounded on her. "You know that I can't stop moving when I'm nervous."

Paige handed grabbed her cell phone. "Here." She held it out to Mattie. "Call him. Then you'll know that he's fine. And then you can stop pacing."

Mattie took the phone. "You really think I should call him?"

"Yes! For the love of God, please!"

Finding his number in the address book, Mattie pressed the call button.

Paige watched her closely.

Mattie frowned. "It's engaged."

Paige grinned. "Then we know he's alive and well. So stop with the pacing."

Mattie sat down, still listening to the engaged tone. "Who is he talking to?"

X

Here he was racing for his life, hotly pursued by members of the anti mutant faction of his home town. And his mother was giving him a lecture.

It was almost comical. If he wasn't pretty sure, no make that certain, that these guys would kill him if they got the chance. What was one more dead mutant?

"Mom, really. This is not a good time. Can I call you back later?"

"It's never a good time. We need to talk about this, Bobby. Your father getting himself hurt. Well… If it helps us be more of a family then maybe it has a purpose."

Bobby looked back over his shoulder at the HOM members. The layer of ice that he'd spread across the road was slowing them down. But it didn't seem to have put them off. They wanted mutant blood and they were going to have it. He could hear the revving of engines as they made it across the ice as fast as they could.

"We want you to really think about coming home. Mr Ryes needs a new assistant in his office. Oh I know that it's not very glamorous. But it would get you on the first rung of the ladder."

Turning, Bobby fired a volley of icicles at his pursuers. "Mom. I am not going to work for Mr Ryes! Whoever the hell he is!"

He had the satisfaction of seeing three of his icicles pierce the tyres of the cars. That should slow them down for a bit.

"Well you don't need that job. Any job would be a start."

Bobby groaned. He'd had enough. "Mom. I have a job. I'm an X-Man. I save lives." And with that he cut her off. Stowing his phone back in his bag he turned his attention to the members of HOM. X-Men saved lives. They didn't take them. Strange that it was his own words that had got through to him, where everyone else's had failed. Still… Just because he wasn't going to hurt anybody didn't mean he couldn't have any fun with them.

He raced back towards the members of HOM, who were struggling with their vehicles. Then wound round and round them creating layer upon layer of ice. He left a small gap at the top of his makeshift tent.

"Have fun getting out of that one guys." He called down to them, giving them a cheery wave before disappearing off again. It was time to go home. It was time to go and see Mattie.

X

Mattie padded down the corridor. It was dark, but she hadn't bothered to turn on the hall light. By now she knew her way around the Institute blindfolded. She knocked softly on the door. Then louder.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open she stepped inside.

"Kurt?"

"Ja? Mattie? What is wrong?"

"I can't sleep. I had a bad dream."

Kurt sat up and blinked at her. He was suddenly thrown back to the first night they'd met. Apparently Mattie remembered that too. The one who looked like a demon was the one who could keep demons at bay. How ironic.

He beckoned her over. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Mattie shrugged as she sat down on the bed. "It's about Bobby. He was getting hurt."

Kurt nodded. He knew that this was a fear that haunted Mattie during the day. No wonder it had turned up in her dreams. But dreams she had no control over. She couldn't push it away and think of other things.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up.

"Can I stay here with you for a bit?"

He nodded again and moved over so that she could slip into bed beside him.

Mattie curled up next to him. Kurt was all fury, like a giant teddy bear. She snuggled up against him and listened to the rhythmic drum of his heart beat.

Kurt kept a watchful eye on her; he hadn't notice before how much she was shaking. Whatever had happened in the dream, it had scared her. He wrapped a protective arm around her. Well, if it helped let her stay here for a while. He'd calm her fears and then she could head back to bed to get some sleep.

This thought was still drifting though his brain as he fell asleep.