Chapter 6: Calling It Quits

It had been several hours now since Jean's collapse after her explosive show of powers. Scott had never seen her do anything like it before; he hadn't even known that she possessed such powers. He had known, though, that she had been battling her growing powers for some time now, months actually. Scott was standing at one end of the infirmary watching Jean's unconscious body breathe slowly. Hank had concluded that Jean had fallen into a coma. He stood beside Scott reading the results of the scan he had just completed on her with Xavier's help. Scott stared over Hank's shoulder at the results.

"4.3" Hank stated. "Not a good sign. Definitely not a good sign. It seems that the dampers Charles placed on her aren't strong enough to restrain her telepathy and telekinesis to a level where it would be safe."

"Is she going to be all right?" Scott asked walking over to Jean's bed and sitting in the chair beside it.

"Yes, she should be fine, physically. I don't know about her powers, though, Scott. There's nothing I can do to hinder them."

Scott let out a deep sigh then took Jean's limp hand and held it gently stroking the back of it with his thumb. "I'll stay here with her." Scott stated quietly.

"Of course." Hank answered understandingly. "I'll bring you down some dinner later."

Scott was true to his word and remained by Jean's side until she came out of her coma, which was early the following morning. Hank was actually surprised by how brief the ordeal had been and secretly wondered whether or not it had anything to do with "Phoenix". He kept his notions to himself knowing Jean wouldn't want to hear them and they would only cause Scott to worry more than he already was. Hank allowed Jean to be released from the infirmary early that afternoon and she spent the remainder of the day on a couch in the foyer, feeling too weak to go upstairs and then have to come back down the following morning. Scott had stayed home from school to watch after her telling the professor that he should just tell the attendance office that he and Jean had come down with some kind of flu. Scott never found out if that was what Xavier had told the secretary in the attendance office or not.

The following day was Friday and Jean once again remained at the mansion while Scott, who had had a miraculous recovery from the flu, returned to school only to bring back minimal work for Jean and himself to complete. They spent the afternoon together working on it and laughing and talking with one another. They shared stories and jokes during their breaks in their work, and Jean actually fell asleep with her head in Scott's lap as he mindlessly ran his fingers through her hair and listened to her breathe. Scott loved to watch Jean sleep, she was so peaceful, her mind was at ease and her body wasso relaxed, which was a significant difference than how he normally saw her usually all tense and serious. Jean was angelic in her sleep, so beautiful, so hypnotic. Scott began to lean down to place a soft kiss on her mouth when he heard a loud knock at the front door and an insistent ringing of the bell. Carefully and slowly Scott rose from his position positioning Jean's head on a pillow and went to answer the door. Mid afternoon sunlight streamed in through the glass door nearly disguising whomever it was in front of it. Scott held in a groan when he realized who was standing at the door.

"Oh great…" He muttered to himself. "Hello, Warren, how can I help you?" He asked politely as he opened the door.

"Is Jean around, I want to speak with her. We have something rather important to discuss."

"It wouldn't happen to be the discussion of her moving in with you now would it? Because I can tell you right now, Warren, she's not up to it."

"Why the hell do you know about that?"

"Because Jean told me. I'm her best friend and I care about her."

Warren pushed past Scott muttering, "Yeah right, no one cares for Jean more than me." He walked to the center of the entry hall and shouted, "Jean! Are you here?"

"I'm here…" Jean said weakly as she walked from where she had been lying on the couch.

"Hey, baby. What's wrong, are you sick?"

"Yeah… What do you want?"

"We need to discuss a few things. Let's sit." Warren helped Jean over to another couch and they sat down. Scott lingered around in the shadows of the room. He had promised he would be there when she attempted her break up with Warren and he wasn't about to let Jean down, she was the most important person in the world to him, and he loved her too damn much not to watch out for her. "So, have you made a decision?" Warren asked getting right into what he had come by to discuss with her.

"About what? Me moving in with you? Yes, and I'm not doing it, and for a good reason."

"Well it had better be. Our parents are going to be mightily disappointed."

"Let me tell you something, Warren, I don't give a shit about what my parents are going to be disappointed about. I'm eighteen! I haven't even begun to live my life yet and everyone around me wants me to behave as if I were twenty-five. I'm not ready for commitments like this yet; I want to experience things first. I want to taste things get a feel for the world around me before I begin to settle down."

"What are you saying, Jean?" Warren's voice had only a slight accusatory tone, but he didn't hide it well.

"I don't want to marry you, Warren. I don't love you." Jean flatly stated.

"What… Did you… Just… Say…?" The anger in Warren's voice was steadily growing and Jean felt a twinge of fear, but she also felt Scott's presence very close by and that helped her to mask her dread.

"I said I don't want to marry you, Warren."

"WHY NOT?" Warren bellowed rising to a standing position and glowering down at the young redhead before him. "Haven't I given you everything, Jean? I've shown you such a wonderful life and things that you could have that other people could only dream about! And you turn me down just like that?"

"Yes." Jean answered plainly.

"You've been cheating on me haven't you?" Warren accused wagging a finger at her.

Jean stood up sparked with fury, the fire beginning to rise in her eyes again. "How dare you accuse me of something like that? I've been faithful to you, Warren, ever since we began as a couple! At first I did it to only please my parents, but then I got to know you and I thought you were this kind, sensitive man whom the ways of the upper class, snobby hypocrites of the world hadn't affected! I thought I was in love you!" Jean screeched. Neither knew that their raised voices had begun to attract the attention of several of the institute's residents and they were now hanging over the balcony railings watching Jean and Warren. Neither knew that along with Scott, who still hid in the shadows out of sight, also lurked Logan, ready to strike if need be. "I guess I was wrong about you this whole time." Jean's voice lowered and cracked as she strained to hold back her tears. "So don't you dare go accusing me of cheating, Warren Worthington, when I know that you go around to all these parties… The ones you've dragged me to… You see a girl that arouses you and you begin to chat her up conveniently neglecting to tell her that you're engaged so you can fool around with her. No, Warren… I don't read your thoughts, you just happen to have the problem of being weak minded and not knowing how to shield them from me." One moment Jean was standing her ground and the next she was crumpled on the floor holding the left side of her face with hot tears running down her cheeks. Warren was ready to strike at her again when he was shoved to floor by a massive man with claws protruding from his fists.

"Get off her!" Logan shouted tackling Warren. "Don't you ever touch her again!" Warren pulled the man to his feet and shoved him towards the door while Scott ran to Jean and checked her over.

"See what I mean…?" Jean whispered to him. Scott nodded and held her to him as she shook. "Thank you…"

Logan pushed Warren out the door. "I don't ever, EVER want to see you on this property ever again… So help me God…"

"Don't you threaten me! I'll have my lawyer so far up your ass…"

"You want to talk about threats, bub? Let's talk about this one." And Logan popped his claws to emphasize his point. "Now get out of here…" Logan growled. Warren gave Logan the smuggest look he could muster than whipped off his heavy coat, extended his magnificent wings and flew off. When Logan returned inside Scott had laid Jean down on the couch she had been resting on and was holding a cloth with icein it to her face touching lightly in some places where it hurt her more. "How hard did he hit you, Red?" Logan asked calmly as he crouched by Jean's side. Scott removed the makeshift ice pack watching Logan wince at the redness of Jean's face. A handprint was definitely clear; there was no mistaking that Warren had slapped her hard.

"I'm not going to make excuses for him." Jean started, "I'm only going to say that I am SO relieved it's all finally over. I can't wait to here my mother… I'm going to tell her exactly what happened. And even though she'll probably accuse me of lying…" Jean was silenced as Scott placed a finger on her lips. Logan took that as his cue to leave and to leave the two teens alone to themselves.

"Shh…" Scott whispered when Logan had gone. "Stop talking. Just lay there and relax." He pulled his finger away slowly as Jean reached up and slipped her hand into his. She smiled despite the pain and allowed herself to relax more into the couch. Scott began to lean down gently removing the icepack. Their lips were mere inches apart…

"Scott?" Scott looked up to see his younger brother, Alex, standing on the other side of the couch. "Can I talk to you about something for a minute?"

"Sure. I'll be right back, Jean. Just hold this to your face."

"I'll take care of her, Scott." Ororo called as she walked into the foyer. Scott nodded and walked off with his brother. "Are you all right, Jean?" Ororo asked resuming Scott's place with the icepack.

"Yeah, I'll live, unfortunately…"

"What do you mean by that, child?"

Jean sat up a little pushing the icepack away and folding her hands in her lap. "Nothing… I just… I'm so confused right now… I have so many feelings flying around inside. Feelings for…"

"Scott?" Ororo finished for her.

"Yeah. Am I that obvious?"

"You both are." Ororo stated looking at the young woman. "And I must say that it pains me dearly that you've never said anything to each other, no matter the situation. It's so clear that you two are in love with each other, yet you withdraw from admitting your true feelings. You shouldn't waste any more time, Jean. Every moment wasted is another moment lost." That gave Jean something to seriously consider. She took the icepack from Ororo and applied it to her face once more as her thoughts continued to stray back towards Scott.


On the day of graduation the sun couldn't have been brighter, the sky less cloudless, or the wind softer. Ororo was very proud of herself. The ceremony was held on the school's football field, chairs had been placed in rows going nearly thirty across and twelve back. The students were seated by homeroom; meaning Jean was able to sit next to Scott. He watched herthroughout the ceremony and saw that her hands wouldn't stop shaking, almost causing her notes on her valedictorian speech, which were printed neatly on index cards resting in her lap, to fall to the ground. At one point during the class president's speech, which was being given by Duncan Mathews, Scott laid his left hand on his knee and looked over at Jean, who slowly lifted her right hand up then laid it in his and twined their fingers. Scott gave her hand a gentle squeeze and leaned over to whisper into her ear,

"You'll be fine, there's nothing to be worried about." Scott saw a flicker of a smile approach her lips then Jean leaned over just enough to place a soft kiss on his cheek. Her way of saying thank you, Scott didn't mind. When Duncan finished his speech he returned to his seat amidst a sea of cheers and shouts. Principal Kelly returned to the podium and announced that the next speech would be heard from the class's valedictorian. Scott gave Jean's hand another squeeze as her name was called. "You'll do great." Throughout her speech Scott could clearly see her hands shaking, but her voice never wavered. When Jean finished she was met with even more applause and several booming cheers from the stands. Scott looked behind him to see the entire institute cheering Jean on. When she sat back down beside him there were tears in her eyes.

The speeches that followed Jean's seemed to never end. Person after person, whether they were a guest speaker or a member of the District of Education, the talking seemed to never cease. Then came the presentation of the diplomas. The NHS members were called to the front to receive theirs first. Both Scott and Jean rose from their seats and took new ones in alphabetical order at the front. Four chairs only separated them now. Principal Kelly worked his way down the list of NHS members reminding everyone to hold their applause until the end.

"Jean Grey." He called next, and Jean rose from her seat to receive her booklet diploma. She shook the several hands of the persons on the stage then returned to her seat passing Scott along the way, who held his hand out to her and she took it for a brief moment. As soon as she sat down Scott was called. He was the last one, and with that the entire field busrt into applause and cheers. After the remainder of the diplomas had been handed out students let out a roar. They were finally free. Jean found herself walking away toward her parents while Scott received several pats on his back and 'congratulations' from his fellow track mates. He wasn't listening to them; however, he was looking around for Jean. He saw herwalking up to her parents.

"Uh oh, this could be trouble." Scott said to himself as he walked in her direction. He was stopped along the way by more of his fellow teammates and lost sight of Jean. When he finally broke free from them he rushed over to the bleachers where he was met with cheers from the fellow students at the institute. "Where's Jean?" He asked quickly, not able to stop himself.

"She left." Scott heard. He looked over to see Jean's mother. Her father held up a hand to his wife then rose from his seat and walked down to Scott.

"She went to sit, said she had a bit of thinking to do. Were you there when she broke it off with Warren?"

"Yes, I was, sir. Did she tell you…?"

John Grey studied the young man; he could tell that Scott was in love with Jean there was no mistaking that. "That he slapped her, I didn't exactly have to ask. Her cheek is still a bit a pink. I knew they would never last. Warren was trying to cage an untamed bird. Jean has never wanted anything more than to spread her wings and fly for the stars. But now… She clipped them herself… She didn't tell you?" John Grey asked watching the bemused expression on Scott's face. "Well, I guess it's better if she tells you rather than I. She's over there." And John pointed out his daughter for Scott, who was sitting on a bench by the wall of the school twisting her red robe in her hands. Scott thanked her father and walked off hearing behind him,

"She was so much better off with Warren, John. He had so much he could give her, so much to offer."

Scott ignored Jean's mother's comment and kept walking toward the woman he loved more than life itself. "Hey," he said softly upon arriving. Jean looked up at him a smile appearing on her face. Scott crouched down in front of her and took her hands.

"Hey." Jean answered dropping her gaze to follow his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Scott's voice was gentle and calm, understanding.

"Nothing, I was thinking…"

"What about?"

Jean took a deep breath then patted the seat next to her on the bench. "You better sit." She said softly. Scott sat next to her continuing to hold her hand. "Remember we discussed that it would be easier for us to share an apartment in the city while we attended college?" Scott nodded. "Well, you're going to be living by yourself, Scott. I'm not going to college."

"What?" Scott asked surprised, there was no mistaking the shock in his voice. "What do mean?"

"I overheard Logan and Ororo talking the other day. It was about you and me. They were discussing who would be leading the team when we were gone. They said that there was no point in asking usto stay when all we would be doing was our class work. They also said no one could keep the students in line quite like you, Scott. I told them both this morning that I had turned down all offers of acceptance to all the colleges I had applied to and that I would be more than happy to resume the role of field leader while you attended college."

"Jean… How can you just turn down an education like that? You had all of those scholarships… Offers…?"

"I'm needed hear, Scott. This is where I belong… For now."


A/N: REVIEW PLEASE!