Notes: This is very OLD. I will be updating sooner or later, but this is all posted in it's original form, completely unedited any farther than it had been. I apologize if it seems a bit rough!

He watched her sleep for a few minutes before retreating from her rooms. He had always thought of them as he sanctum, and never stayed to long, lest he get uncomfortable with a feeling of defiling her 'Area'. As he walked down the steps, all the students were gathered near the base, watching him descend with questioning looks. They were most likely confused, as they had never seen their headmistress act so oddly. 'But neither 'ave I.' He thought glumly.

He waved them off in a 'not now' fashion, and headed for the communications room. Dialing up the number for Westchester, he settled back into the chair, prepared for a somewhat long conversation. He waited a moment before someone answered. He was a bit surprised to see Jean on comm. duty, a bit disappointed too. He had hoped to avoid talking to her just yet, or any telepath for that matter.

"Hello Sean, I suppose it's to much to hope this is a social call." She greeted him calmly. "Is this about Emma?"

"Aye.. She's getting worse Jean. I dinnae suppose Hank is around?"

"Actually, he was just getting ready to venture down there to check her over himself. As it is, we're fumigating the lab.. His falling asleep at his desk while sating his lust for Twinkies has attracted rodents." She chuckled softly, "It seems silly, rodents in the X-Mansion."

He was able to spare a slight smile at the plight, but grew serious once more. "Kin I talk to Hank before he leaves?"

"Of course Sean, give me a moment to page him down." She turned away from the screen a moment and he could hear her speak softly into the intercom before she turned back to address him. "He's on his way."

"Thank ye Jean."

"Sean if you don't mind my asking.. How are you doing?"

This was why he wanted to avoid talking to telepaths. They always wanted to know how you felt about everything. The truth was, he didn't know what he felt, or even how he wanted to feel. "I'm fine Jean.. I dinnae really want to talk about it right now."

"Well I'm here if you change you mind." He saw her nod to someone off the screen then she turned to him. "Well Hank's here, so I'll just get out of the way. It was nice talking to you Sean."

He just nodded as she moved off and let Hank's blue furred bulk occupy the chair she had just vacated.

"Ah Sean, I was just on my way down to see how our glacial telepath is doing." he said as he sat down.

"Hank, she's getting' worse every day. When she's having these

nightmares, it's like she's nae sleeping at all."

"Did you give her the sedative I gave you before?"

"Aye.. She's asleep now, but I dinnae know how long it will last. It's getting harder to wake her from the nightmares.. She's getting' far more violent towards them. This last one took Jono, Everett and me to hold her down so she didnae injure herself."

"Has she opened up to you as to what these midnight illusionaries might be?"

"Nae.. She refuses to talk about it. She repeats tha' naeone will be able to help her and she must face it herself. I dinnae know what else to do at this point. Ye have to help her Hank, I dinnae know how much longer her sanity can hold on."

"Do you feel the situation has gotten that extreme?"

"Aye.. She's paranoid, edgy. She stays by herself a lot of the time, talking to herself when she thinks naeone is listening. She doesn't really pay attention to any of the students, and not much to me. If she does, she's staring, looking like she'll jump at the slightest movement towards her. I've done what I kin to comfort her, and let her know naeone is going ta hurt her, but she doesnae listen ta anything I say."

"Perhaps the situation is far worse then I originally thought. I will attempt to have yon fiery red headed telepath accompany me on this wayward journey. Perhaps she can shed some light on this predicament. I expect to be there a few days at least. Let me gather some things from the lab before they completely lock me out of it, and I will be on my merry way."

"I'll have the kids prepare some rooms for ye both. See ye when ye get here. Banshee out." He clicked off the screen, shutting down the connection.

He turned in the chair, ready to leave the room, only to see Jubilee standing there. "D'ye need something lass?"

"Is Frostbite really so bad that Big Blue is coming to stay a few?"

"It seems so Jubilee. Will ye get the others ta help ye prepare a room for him and one for Jean as well." It was not so much of a question then a polite order. Jubilee just nodded and turned to go. "And Jube? Nae a word to the others. It will nae do any good to have them all worried more then they are already. Understand?"

"Yeh yeh.. I gotcha.." she said softly as she walked down the hall.

Meanwhile, Emma Frost was having anything but uneventful sleep. Though her screams didn't pierce the air, and she didn't thrash around in an attempt to get away from some unseen assailant, she was not having the peaceful sleep she seemed to. In her mind, she was very much awake, though through a dream. If you could call it that. Dreams are not quite as disturbing as this, but neither was it a nightmare like those she had been having.

She calmly stepped around the other woman, unsure as to why she was here or who she was. She had never seen her in her life.

"Stop circling me like a vulture Emma. You aren't looking quite as

imposing as you tend to think." The other woman said with an almost annoyed tone to her boyish voice.

"And just who are you?"

"You are dreaming Emma. I'm a manifestation of your subconscious."

"Really. Enlighten me as to why my mind would manifest a woman who I have never seen before?"

The woman shrugged in response. "You tell me, you're the telepath."

"And being a telepath, I can tell you it wouldn't. An unconscious mind always manifests as someone or something significant to that particular person. Something or someone they can learn something from. Someone or something close to that person. I do not see how you would fit into any of those categories. That leaves me to the conclusion that you do not belong here, and are intruding into my mind. Kindly leave before I am forced to make you."

The woman raised a slim brow and watched her continue to circle her. "So my little story doesn't impress the great White Queen? Fine, I can live with that. But just how do you plan to make me leave? Cassidy gave you a sedative. You will find your powers a bit lacking because of it. So just what do you plan to do?"

Emma concentrated a moment, trying to effect a defense against the other woman, but she quickly found that she was indeed correct. Her powers weren't responding. She silently cursed a moment then turned back to the woman. "So just who are you ad what do you want?"

"Much better. Ever the businesswoman. I like that. First off, I am known as Distress. And what do I want from you?" she grins maliciously, "Everything." She then raised one hand towards Emma, and the next thing she knew, she was screaming in pain, awoken from the dream encounter.