Chapter 13. Maybe.

Ororo looked at the men in the room as Pietro calmed down, his breathing regular again.

The flashback had shaken him, but the memory ending with Lance's comforting words had somehow managed to solace him.

Pietro wiped the tears and pulled away from Ororo. "Thanks," he murmured.

"Are you all right Pietro?" Ororo asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Charles studied the boy to make sure he was telling the truth, and then nodded. "You can go back out when you want to, we won't ask you anymore questions."

Pietro nodded. He stood there for a moment; then he took a quick minute to clean himself up before opening the door and walking out, rejoining his anxious friends.


"Kid's got some serious problems," Logan said after Pietro had left, a veiled attempt to get things to feel somewhat normal.

"He feels guilty about Lances protective actions... Charles, these kids are troubled," Ororo looked at the others.

"Yes, I hadn't realized how serious this was. And I didn't know about the beatings. The flashback you saw from Pietro wasn't the first time, nor the last," Xavier closed his eyes. "It seems we have let them be for too long. I had hoped to let them come to their own conclusions on the world, to let them join us upon their own wishes; but I hadn't known what was going on. Had I known, I would have taken action before this," he sighed.

"It seems like Avalanche was always more than just a leader figure for the Brotherhood, we just never saw beyond that," Hank said, moving his gaze back on the teen, wondering what exactly was the relationship between the other Brotherhood members and him.

"Yes, but we still don't know enough to make any conclusions as to what is really going on."

"Perhaps we should ask another to come in, I don't think they'd be willing to talk if they were together. It took a lot for them to ask for our help, if it were themselves I have a feeling they wouldn't have come, unless the situation had switched and Lance had brought one of them in," Ororo said.

"This is great and all that, but weve got four messed up teens in the waiting room, all with potentially destructive powers. Shouldn't we go ahead with Shakedown's treatment first?" Logan spoke up, interrupting the discussion.

"You're right Logan; that is the bigger problem at hand," Xavier sighed, turning his eyes on Lance. "We still dont know why this happened, but I have a feeling it was connected to the mutant power I picked up last night on Cerebro."

"But Charles, that was huge, and it was nothing like Lance's usual pattern," Hank said as he washed the blood off Lance with gauze. "Not to mention it died out abruptly."

"I'm guessing it might have stopped after Lance fell unconscious."

"But what does this mean?" Ororo asked.

"We'll have to ask Mr.Alvers once hes awake."


"Even I can't answer five thousand questions at once!" Pietro said, quieting his friends down. "One question at a time."

"Did you see him? Is he hurt badly? How bad do you think it is?" Todd asked.

"That's three questions, but yes I saw him; he doesn't look that bad, he just has that one gash on his arm and the rest are little scratches."

"My turn: does he have any bones broken?" Fred asked.

"I don't know, they didn't tell me."

"Why'd they call you in and not us?" Tabitha wondered. "It's not like we couldn't relay his status just as well."

Pietro looked away. "They saw his scars."

Todd and Fred immediately froze.

Tabitha looked at Pietro. Even though she had not been with the boys when Mystique and Magneto were around, she knew what had happened. "...so they ask you about it?"

"Yeah... and I just told them," Pietro said, eyes downcast towards the floor, feeling bad about giving up the secret. Bad? Understatement of the year.

"Nah, its all right. Mystique and Magneto aren't around anymore, they'll just forget it," Fred said.

"Yeah it's not like they care enough to remember," Todd agreed.

"Think so?" Pietro asked. "Still..."

"Still nothing, Quickie. It's all right," Tabitha said, her words firm and ending the discussion.


"Maybe it really was Avalanche last night, this could only have come from one of his avalanches," Logan said, examining Lances clothes again.

Another hour had passed since the Brotherhood had arrived; it was now 1:30.

"Yes, and the damages seem to be from having things fall on him, one way or another. So it all fits, with the exception of one thing: why was the mutant signature so different last night? And why made Lance do this?" Hank replied; wrapping Lances right leg in a cast- it had been broken.

"We can only assume until he tells us, but its obvious he didnt do this on purpose, or he had not been expecting such severe results," Ororo said.

Logan turned. "The kids should be getting curious by now. And Im talking about the ones living here, not the four outside this room."

"Yes, wed better go check on them," Charles nodded and telepathically sent messages out to all the X-Men, telling them to gather in the dining room for lunch.

"Ill go with ya, Ororo can help Hank out," Logan said.

When Logan and Xavier walked out of the infirmary, both were further disheartened at the sight of the four teens on the couch, asleep. Pietro and Todd were each leaning next to Fred on each side. Tabitha was next to Pietro, but stirred when she heard them close the door.

She rubbed her eyes and yawned; it was another second or two before she recognized them and remembered where she was.

"How is he?" she asked, getting up, taking care not to wake the boys.

"We still dont know for sure," Charles replied. "He hasnt woken up. But he has a broken leg, a deep gash on one shoulder, and he has some bruises."

"Why isnt he waking up?"

"Were still not sure, but it seems to be a light concussion. He may just be tired."

"Idiot," Tabitha muttered. "Whyd you have to go and do this to yourself," She turned her attention back on the two adults.

"But it wont be anything serious, right? Nothing dangerous?"

Charles didnt meet her searching eyes. Logan sighed and stepped closer to the girl. "Ki... Tabitha, nothings certain yet. Hank will be able to tell us more soon. In the mean time, were going to lunch, gotta see what the kids are up to. Youd better come along."

Tabitha was still; Logan wasnt sure if she was too depressed to answer or just thinking. Then she spoke, her voice concrete and decided.

"Hell be fine. Lances always okay in the end. Youll see. Hell be up and ordering us around in no time."

Logan couldnt help but marvel at the strong conviction in her eyes. She was absolutely certain she was right. He hid his surprise as well as he could before talking, succeeding in making it almost invisible.

"How do you know?" he said, his voice stopping her as she turned towards the Brotherhood boys again, to wake them. She looked back at him.

"Because Lance would never leave us," she stated, her tone implying that it was obvious.

Logan looked at her, his doubt visible. He didnt understand how the girl could speak with such clarity, as if she was reciting a scientific fact.

Tabitha smiled weakly. "Lance would never leave us," she repeated.

"Not when he knows we depend on him," she turned around fully to face Logan and Xavier. "That one time he left us to join you- it wasnt even a week, just a few days, and we were a wreck. He was so surprised to find us that way when he got back, since we hadnt talked to him at school, he really hadnt known. I dont think he really believed it, even when he saw us. Hes such an idiot. He still doesnt get how much we need him, just thinks we depend on him to take care of the money and stuff."

Tabitha closed her eyes at the memory. Lances return had been great, of course, and it was during his leave, up to his return that they had really realized what Lance meant to them. And upon his return- what Lance thought he meant to them. And what Tabitha found unbelievable was that the two ideas were so different, so far apart, that they were in two different worlds. What she found even more unbelievable (which she had previously deemed impossible) was that his thoughts were still the same. "He never thinks hes good enough for anybody," she murmured, now to herself.

Opening her eyes again after a brief minute, she turned, leaving a silent Xavier and rather stunned Logan.

"I know for sure that Lancell be okay... because we cant afford to lose him," she said softly, her eyes resting on the other members of the Brotherhood. After a silent pause, she moved over to the couch and gently laid a hand on Freds shoulder and shook him lightly. Fred woke at the touch. It took a minute for him to realize where he was, then, seeing Tabitha, woke the two boys on his sides.

"Im going to get us some food," Tabitha said. "Tro, you want to get our clothes?" she asked, motioning to their sleepwear.

Pietro nodded and was gone, returning a few minutes later, fully dressed and carrying their usual civilian garb.

"...Lance okay?" Todd gathered up the courage to ask.

"Hes fine, just a broken leg and that cut on his shoulder. Hes sleeping though," Tabitha answered.

Todd nodded. That was enough for him.

Pietro and Fred knew better than to ask for details.