John woke with a pounding headache and immediately drew in on himself. Walls, old walls, walls he'd thought were safe and unbreakable that had fallen like the walls of Jericho before the trumpets of his multiple personalities, went up immediately. Practiced motions that he still remembered instinctually but had gotten lazy in keeping up. He was chastising himself for his lax self-discipline when there was the soft sound of a whirring motor. Where was he? He sniffed, breathing in deeply and the air smelled like disinfectant. A hospital?

"Those walls will only be temporary again, John." A kindly voice, well schooled, mannered, echoed slightly in the clean room. John opened his eyes slowly, letting the light dilate his pupils gradually. He became aware of a hand holding his and jerked his hand back. The grip tightened and he panicked a little before he realized his hands were sheathed in the skin-tight leather gloves. At least one thing had made it through that nightmare whole. He spared a glance and saw a mane of white hair nestled against his sheet covered leg. Swan?

"She's all right," the voice said again and John finally turned to look at its source. A sharp intake of breath and he stared. Charles Xavier smiled and wheeled closer to the bed. "You're lucky to be alive."

"That's an understatement Chuck." Xavier didn't move, or flinch at the name, but the voice brought John's attention off the legendary telepath to rest on the solidly compact little man leaning against the doorframe. John stared in something akin to pure hero worship as he took in the wiry black hair that framed a narrow face with pointed, animal, features.

"Where am I?"

"He's a bright one."

Xavier waved a patient hand to silence Logan and addressed John directly. "Westchester, New York. My people brought you here for medical attention."

John felt the words, "I don't need medical attention" die somewhere between his throat and his tongue and instead he simply said, "Thank you." He needed help, he knew it.

"Who is this kid?" Logan asked as he pushed himself off the doorframe using only his shoulders and strode into the room, dark eyes sizing him up. Xavier ignored him and continued where he'd left off. "Those walls you put up? The barriers are only temporary. They will attempt to get out again and next time I fear neither you, nor I, nor that young woman, will be able to stop them."

"You put up one hell of a fight kid." Logan said roughly as he finally stopped moving a step behind Xavier's chair.

"They kept going even after you knocked me out, didn't they." It wasn't a question, John knew it was true, but he still wanted to hear it from one of the two. The words of praise from Logan, however, hadn't fallen on deaf ears.

Xavier nodded and Logan snorted, "What is this kid?"

"I'm like Rogue…only…I was experimented upon." John wanted to avoid that line of thought, but could see from Logan's sudden interest he wouldn't be able to for long. "What happened to the cops? The ones I left alive…"

"The ones that were alive when we got there were trying to stay out of yer warpath."

"They're looking for me," but Logan interrupted with a sharp shake of his head and Xavier explained. "Logan led the team that went to get you. They kept you busy while I worked in your mind, shutting down each of the personalities in turn. Once you'd been subdued, they brought you here while I altered the memories of all involved."

"Don't worry kid, everyone thinks a gas leak blew up the parking lot and when emergency and medical personnel arrived to secure the scene a secondary explosion went off. You're Scott-free."

Something about that offended John's morals somewhere deep. It didn't feel right on several levels. Mass memory altering, him getting away with countless murders and crimes…he should pay for them somehow. He wondered how he even had morals anymore…perhaps it wasn't morality, or conscience but just good old fashioned honor. Something must have read on his face because Xavier reached forward and touched him through the smock, "I know it is hard to accept, but it was what had to be done. The help you need can't be found in a normal hospital. You would only lose control again, and again, until you were consumed. I can help you."

Swan stirred by his knee and blinked pale eyes at first Logan, then Xavier, and finally John. He smiled at her and relief poured over her features like a waterfall, "Professor is he going to be all right now?"

"He will be, Chloe, he will be."

John hoped the bald man was right.