Notes: Yeah, um, no idea where the whole Michelle twist came from, or the femmeslashy subtext between her and Selene. But I kinda like it. Anyway, enjoy and review!

Chapter Five

The media was pressing as close to the yellow tape as they could, shoving recorders into the faces of the officers standing guard. Jamie was relieved that none of them were attempting to answer, she didn't want to have to counteract whatever they said whilst making her own statement. They weren't noticed at first, probably because they weren't wearing uniforms, but then one reporter caught sight of their badges and shouted out a question, setting off a cascade of questions and demands.

Jamie paused a foot away from the tape, close enough to be heard but not touched, and waited with one hand held up until silence fell.

"My name is Jamie Phillips," she said clearly, watching as those few without handheld recorders scribbled down the name, "And this is Selene Andreomea. We are Agents of the newly formed Mutant Control and Defence Agency. There has been a murder here, though until the victim's family is notified we will not be releasing a name. We do suspect mutant involvement and are working with the police department to help bring the perpetrators to justice. We are, of course, very busy so I will only have time for a few questions before we get back to work."

Instantly the reporters began shouting again and Jamie randomly picked out a middle-aged man towards the front of the crowd.

"Jason Reed, Daily Tribune-is this the beginning of another war between humans and mutants?"

"We have no evidence that this is anything more than an isolated incident and until we find the perpetrators and uncover their motive, this is simply a homicide like any other."

One of the women in the back practically jumped up and down to be seen, waving her hand frantically. "But the victim was killed by a mutant power?" she demanded, trying unsuccessfully to push throw the crowd.

"We suspect so but we won't know for certain until the autopsy has been done." A minor white lie, but if she said that it was a mutant power, it would set off a chain of events that she wasn't sure she could predict or control.

"How many Agents are in your MCDA and how many will be working on the case?"

"Our Agency is new but we are nevertheless a very strong organisation and will have the majority of our Agents on the case. This is our first serious case and we wish to set an example-that we will act professionally and efficiently and quickly deal with any crimes involving mutants."

"You have some mutants on your taskforce-are they not morally conflicted in pursuing a mutant criminal?"

"All of our Agents are highly professional," Jamie repeated emphatically. "Whether the criminal is mutant or human is irrelevant. Whether the mutant involved is the innocent or guilty part, we don't care. We are a neutral party. We are merely here to keep the peace between the human and mutant communities. Now, we have to get back to work, excuse us."

Jamie turned and quickly walked back to the house, Selene falling into step behind her. "That was well done," she commented quietly, "Very diplomatic."

"I just hope nobody manages to twist my words into something sinister. The last thing we need right now is to battle the press. I'm almost certain I can counteract anything they say, but I don't want to have to divide my attentions."

"Does it really matter? They can't stop us from doing our jobs."

"Yes they can. They can start a smear campaign, get the public against us, hassle us wherever we go… we'll be so busy dealing with them that we won't have time to do our jobs. We need the media to be on our side, or at least netural. Everyone always underestimates the power of the press and that is a mistake we can't afford, especially now. If we screw up with this case… we won't get a second chance."

Selene sighed and flicked a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Do you ever miss the old days?"

Jamie was silent for a moment before shrugging slightly. "Every situation has pros and cons. Now, I have to take the body back to the lab."

Selene nodded and watched as Jamie continued walking into the house, quietly issuing commands to the two techs from the coroner's office. Envee was doing wonders with the girl, constantly working to try and get her to loosen up, under the quiet direction of Michelle. Then again, pretty much everything they did was under the quiet direction of Michelle. Thinking of their resident empath made her frown and she wandered into the house to check on her friend.

Michelle was curled up on the sofa, tucked into a tight ball and her eyes squeezed shut. Three police officers were in the room, watching her, and Selene waved them away irritably. Kneeling down ,she brushed a stray lock of blonde hair out of the way and brushed her knuckles against the girl's cheek.

"Hey, Michelle, you okay?"

"Not in the slightest," Michelle mumbled without opening her eyes. "I'm just trying to sort out the tangle of emotions in this place. It's hard enough separating what is from what was, but trying to divine any sense from the echoes is damn near impossible."

"Why don't you leave, or at least stop trying?"

"Because my place is here and it's pretty much the only job I can perform in my current state. If I must be affected so much, I can at least try to make sense of things. Maybe I can feel something that will give us a hint to one of the mutants' identities."

Selene sighed and placed one hand on Michelle's tightly clenched fists. "At least let me help you," she murmured, and Michelle's eyes flew wide, knowing what type of help Selene was offering.

"No, I-I won't do that, not to you."

"I want you to," Selene whispered, gently coaxing Michelle to open her fists, placing the blonde's hands on her face and looking seriously into her eyes. "It's alright."

Michelle closed her eyes, but desperation drove her to surrender. Scarcely a month ago, the path of her evolution had twisted in a way that none had foreseen. She was able to now feed from others, suck their emotions into her and use them to give her strength and clarity when she was weak and lost. Not since she had learnt to control it had she ever done it willingly, for the power was frightful and could potentially cause much harm. But Selene was willing, had offered this, so with only the smallest pang of regret did she spread her fingertips over her friend's temples and open her mind.

Happiness, anger, sorrow, joy, love, regret… it all flowed into her like wisps of smoke and she gasped, feeling the emotions rush through her body and sear across her heart. The fog enveloping her mind dissipated, spears of pure, emotion slicing through like the sunlight through clouds, and for the first time since her premonition of the attack did she feel like she could control the emotions around her.

It was only the concerned mutters of the police officers that brought her back to awareness. With a gasp, she opened her eyes and saw that Selene was looking grey and drawn, her skin stretched tight across her bones and her mouth open with a silent scream. Michelle sobbed, once, and forced her hands away from Selene's skin. The other girl collapsed forward, her shoulders heaving as she dragged in breath after painful breath. Cursing softly, she slid to her knees and wrapped her arms around her friend.

"I am so sorry, Selene," she whispered into her hair. "I'm sorry, please, God, forgive me."

Selene let out a burst of quiet, breathy laughter. "Hey, at least I can get out of this little slice of hell for the rest of the day."

Michelle smiled in wry amusement. "Trust you to think of that." Looking up, she found the policemen still staring at her and she cursed herself for not thinking to clear the room first. She just had to hope that none of them blabbed about this to the press. "Could you please go find Miss Summers for me?"

"Uh… sure."

Michelle nodded and helped Selene to sit on the sofa. The girl moved as if she were boneless, her body limp and clumsy. Michelle sighed and brushed Selene's hair out of her face.

"I'm really so sorry, Selene," she murmured, and the girl smiled wearily, struggling just to keep her eyes open.

"Hey, I offered this, remember? It doesn't feel so bad, I just need a really long nap. You'll be more use here than me."

"Selene!"

Michelle turned around at the shout and was rudely shoved aside by Alistor, who knelt down next to the sofa and gathered his girlfriend in his arms. Holding her close to his chest, he looked accusingly at Michelle.

"What the hell did you do to her?" he snarled, though it was fairly obvious what had happened.

"She-she asked me-"

"What the hell kind of friend are you to do this to her? I can't believe you fucking fed off her!" Shaking his head in disgust, he stood up with Selene cradled in his arms. "I'm taking her home, tell Rogue I won't be back."

Michelle nodded miserably and watched as Alistor carried Selene out of the house. It was too bad the press were still out there, Jamie would have to think up some excuse for it. Letting out a huff of breath, Michelle dragged herself to her feet and went to find Rogue.

"Today sucks," she muttered under her breath.