The X-Men gave a slight jump as they heard the lock on the bathroom door click. Scott and Jean stepped out. Both of them were wet but were wearing red bathrobes. Jean looked like she'd been crying but no one could really tell with Scott.

>Scott, I really don't wan to talk to them now> she said casting her eyes downward.

>It's all right. I'll do the talking. Just…just wait in your room> he sent back weakly. She looked him in the eyes and he gave her a small smile. She turned and headed for her room in a relatively slow pace.

"Is it really that bad?" Rouge whispered as she and the rest of the X-Men watched Jean's retreating figure.

"Yes" Scott breathed. All heads whipped back to him.

"Jean has breast cancer"

Storm gasped and Amara bit her fist. The rest of the X-Men remained motionless. Finally Logan spoke up.

"W-what?"

"Breast cancer" Scott repeated. The few remaining tears he had were wrenched from his eyes and they slid down his cheeks. He met their eyes for the first time and saw the same thing in all of them: shock and fear.

>S-Scott?> the message came weakly through their link.

"Jean needs me" he said as his gaze returned to the floor. He walked past them swiftly and went down the hall. No one seemed to notice.

The Professor was the first to snap out of it.

"Storm? Could you-could you get dinner started?" he asked in a state of shock. Ororo nodded her head almost mechanically and signalled Kitty and Amara to follow her. They responded in the same manner.

"Ah-Ah've gotta, brush mah hair or-or something…" Rouge said walking as fast as she could to her room.

The rest of the X-Men dispersed in a similar manner leaving only the Professor, Hank and Logan still standing in front of the bathroom door.

"Sweet Jesus…" Hank whispered.

"How could this happen to her?" Logan asked no one angrily as he popped his claws involuntarily. He really needed someone or something to blame.

"Put those away, Logan. No one knows what really causes cancer" the Professor said in a low voice. "Hank, give us options" he added.

"Well, Chemotherapy would work the best, but-but I still have to run some tests to see what stage she's at" was his response.

"Excuse me" Logan grunted heading down the stairs, most likely going to the Danger Room.

"I should go talk to her" the Professor said as he started wheeling himself in the direction of Jean's room. Hank followed suit.

When they opened the door, Scott was sitting on Jean's bed and Jean was lying down with her head on his lap. He was running his fingers through her hair while tears streamed down her cheeks. Scott stopped and Jean sat up when they entered.

"Jean, I want you to know that we're all here for you and we'll help you anyway we can"

"Thank you, Professor" Jean sniffled. She got up and hugged him. He returned the gesture warmly. She then went and hugged Hank with a gently sob.

"It'll be all right" he reassured her. Then with soft smiles, they both left Scott and Jean alone. Jean sat back down next to Scott and he brought her into his own arms tenderly.

"It will be all right. I promise" he whispered into her hair. She gave a weak laugh.

"Are you going to fight this cancer for me?" she whispered back.

"If I could, I would shrink myself, sink through your skin to your blood cells and remove whatever makes you hurt" he sang softly.

Jean slightly sniffled. Seeing that he wasn't planning on finishing, she sang the last part of the verse in an undertone.

"But I am too weak to be your cure"

Scott held her tighter. "That won't be the case" he said firmly and she gave a small nod.

"It's been a long day, Scott. I-I just want to sleep now"

"Okay. Just let me get my pillow" he said slowly as he released her. She snagged his wrist but didn't meet his eyes.

"You know how Logan feels about us having these sleep-overs"

"I'm sure he'll understand" he responded as he lifted her head with one of his fingers. "I'll be back in 2"

Jean changed her clothes and Scott came in just as she finished. They got under the covers and Jean shut the blinds with her TK. Scott enveloped her in his arms and kissed her fully on the mouth. Jean kissed him back hungrily and desperately. When they parted, Scott spoke up.

"I love you and I always will"

"I know" she responded tearfully, "I love you too"

He placed her head on his shoulder as the tears started up again for both of them.

I'm sorry this took so long to update. I got hit be 3 hurricanes and got sick twice. I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapters will be coming up sooner. The the verse is from the song "Guernica" by Brand New.