A/N Well heres the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who gave me reviews. Very encouraging. Im sorry that in the last chapter the parts where Professor X was though-speaking weren't clearly marked. It seems that there are buttons on the keyboard that don't show up on this site. Anyways, Ill think of new ways to put his thoughts( probably in double brackets). So, without further ado, I present to you…
Born From the Ashes Part 2
((What's going on?))-((Did someone die?))-((THERES A BODY))-((somebody call an ambulance!))-((OH MY GOD DID THAT GIRL JUST GET RUN OVER!))-((Where's my mommy?)) Jean clutched her head in pain as the voices continued to scream. There were so much confusion and chaos, and Jean felt that she was caught in the middle of it.
"Stop it!" She pleaded, but nobody was listening. "Stop screaming in my ears!" her pleads were futile. She could barely even hear herself over the racket. Her tear filled eyes were shut tight in desperation. But suddenly, amongst the ocean of confusion, she could hear one voice. A familiar one, glazed over with a gentle and comforting air.
((Jean?))
((Anne?)) She felt silence, as if all other voices had faded for her friends' voice to be heard.
((Jean I'm so glad you're ok. You're the best friend I ever had. I just wanted to help you…Like you always help me… I'll never forget you…Jean…Tell my parents that I love them with all my heart, and that I'm sorry for hurting them last night)) the voice was fading away as Jean called after her.
((Anne! Wait! Where are you going?))
((It's ok Jean… I'm not scared...)) the voice completely vanished and Jean felt her body give way as she fainted.
"Hey! That girl is collapsing!"
"Oh no not another casualty"
"Here put her on the stretcher"
"Still has a pulse…" Jean heard fragments of those worried cries until she was finally plunged into darkness.
(The X Jet)
Ororo Munroe checked the monitors. "We're stabilizing at 30000 feet. Cloaking devices are activated. We should be arriving at New Orleans in approximately 20 minutes… Charles?" The professor was looking out the window, looking dazed.
"What? Oh. Thank you Storm."
The weather witch didn't buy his casual tone. "You seem distracted"
"It's nothing. I am just reflecting on our task is all."
Ororo decided not to dig in any deeper "So what is this girl capable of anyway? Who is she?"
"Her name is Jean Grey."
"Grey? Didn't you have a friend that goes by that last name?"
"Yes Storm. It just so happens that he and I went to college together. We were close friends and shared the same interest in humanity."
"And his daughter is a mutant?"
"It seems so, yes. Although she has absolutely no control over her powers."
"Then I guess we will be enrolling her into the institute?"
"If she so desires, Storm…If she so desires…"
(New Orleans hospital)
"How is my daughter?"
"I am afraid she is suffering a mild coma, Mrs. Grey. The readings I am receiving on our monitors tell me she had received a lot of mental stress prior to her collapse. We have no explanation for this but I am positive this has something to do with Miss Morting."
"And what happened to Anne?"
"Well, Mr. Grey, She was hit quite hard by that car. She survived only a mere hour before dying on the hospital bed." John Grey put his hand on his wife's shoulder and she burst into tears in to him.
"She was such a good friend to Jean…" She sobbed, "This must be so hard for Jane and Bill…" A nurse silently entered the room.
"Doctor Smith. Jean is waking up."
"Thank you Judy." Then he turned to the two others. "You may come in. I am sure that Jean must want to see you very badly." The three adults followed the nurse into the room.
"I'm fine daddy." Jean was sitting up on her bed, propped with a pillow supporting her back.
"Sweetie? I didn't say anything…"
"Yes you did. Mom you heard him right? He was wondering if I was ok"
"Honey, your father didn't say anything…"
((She must be having delusions…))
"I AM NOT doctor" said Jean impatiently. Her head was spinning and she put her finger to her temple. She had found that doing that helped her relax during her headaches. Along with aspirins, together they relived most of them, although sometimes sleep was the only thing that helped. After receiving confused glances from the doctor, her father spoke up.
"Sweetie, I know you are having a hard time adjusting you this. I mean, your best friend did…" but Jean cut him off.
"Doctor! Is Anne going to be alright? She was hit pretty hard by the car…"
"I-" but he was interrupted.
"Jean…honey…Anne has…passed on…"
"I don't understand"
"Sweetie…You are right… Anne was hit very hard by that car…"
"What are you trying to say daddy?"
"What I'm trying to say is…" He took a deep breath. "Anne is dead" The word took a moment to sink into Jeans mind. Then she laughed. It started as a giggle, and then erupted so strongly she had to hold her ribs.
"You can stop joking now dad." She managed to say through gasps for air.
Her mother took a step closer. "Honey I know this must be very hard…"
"No mother. Anne is fine. She is still alive. I was just talking to her a few minutes ago. She can't be dead." The three adults looked at each other confused. Mrs. Grey was about to say something when two new figures entered the room.
((The Xavier institute for gifted youngsters))
Scott sat back on the couch. He was watching TV. Well, he was actually listening to the TV. He always had fun trying to guess what was going on in the programs through listening to what they were saying. By just listening he could imagine the story in his mind and enjoy the show purely. This was his favorite show; Justice League. The leader of the group, Superman, was a man of courage and wisdom. He knew the distinct line between right and wrong. He gathered his power from the sun and used it to defend earth from all its persecutors. Above all, Scott idolized him because they were so alike. Both had no parents. Both were born to cause destruction on the world. Both had found people who cared about them for who they were. Both could shoot laser beams out of their eyes. But Scott knew there was a solid line separating the two. It was bravery. He knew deep in his heart that he would never become like Superman. He would never become a leader. One who would sacrifice himself for others. One who would never give up as long as there were people in need.
The show ended and he clicked off the TV, shutting off the machine, as well as his thoughts.
(The New Orleans Hospital)
"Jane!" cried Mrs. Grey as she rushed to her friends' side. The two women embraced each other and burst out into tears. The man beside her walked towards Jeans bed, where Mr. Grey was sitting.
"Bill…"
"It's alright John. I just want to talk to your daughter." Although his eyes were glistening with tears, his voice was gentle and soothed Jean. "Jean…Jeannie… I know it was all very sudden… the must be very hard on you… Anne was very close to you…"
"What are you talking about Mr. Morting?"
"Jean…" Her father said, exasperated.
"Anne isn't dead. She can't be. We were shopping. I just had a headache and blacked out…"
"Jeannie…" Her father's voice was getting firmer. "Even if you try to deny it, what happened is what happened. Nothing will change it. Anne is dead."
"No…" her voice was starting to quiver.
"It's true Jean." Said Mr. Morting
"No…This can't be…" Her head was spinning again. It started throbbing and she could hear the voices again. They were in such a blur that she couldn't even make out what was being said. She grasped her head again and let out a scream as chaos filled her mind once again.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" She shouted. The adults looked horrified at her, frozen on the spot. Doctor Smith called for some of his nurses and together, they pushed the shuddering girl onto the bed, filling a needle with tranquilizing fluids, in hopes of calming her down.
((That won't be necessary Doctor.)) The doctors' eyes glazed over and he, together with the nurses and the Mortings, stalked out the door without a word, passing a white haired African woman pushing a man in a wheelchair.
"What the…Charles!" Gasped Mr. Grey.
"John. It is good to see you again old friend."
After the Mr. and Mrs. Grey were calm, the four began to talk. Jean lay sleeping soundly on the bed.
"Maria, this is Charles Xavier. The man I studied in college with." John gestured to his friend as his wife took the professors hand and shook it.
"I have heard so much about you Professor. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
"The pleasure is mine. And this is Ororo Munroe, my assistant as well as a teacher at my institute."
Maria shook her hand as well and John spoke up. "So what brings you to New Orleans, Charles?"
"We are here to discuss your daughter." He handed them both a business card.
"The Xaviers Institute for Gifted Youngsters?" read Maria.
"Precisely. My school is dedicated to teach and help children with 'special' abilities and needs. It is a place when they can learn to control their gifts and deal with them in everyday life."
"So you are saying that my daughter is one of these 'gifted'?" Asked the startled Maria.
"Yes. I believe that Jean has developed telepathic powers."
"The ability to read minds?" observed John.
"Exactly. Mutant powers usually surface in early teenage years, usually erupting in uncontrolled states. Before I got here, your daughter was open to all thoughts given out by from people within a certain range. I have placed a temporary barrier around her mind to shield out those thoughts, but if she is left untrained to do the same, she could become a danger to herself."
"Hold on a minute… So you have powers too?" Maria clung to her husband, looking at the lame man.
"Maria. Charles Xavier is one of the most powerful telepaths in the world" Answered John absently, as he continued to stare at his friend. "Charles, I suppose you are the only person who can help Jeannie. I will do anything for her happiness. Please, tell me whatever price you have and I will pay it if you will teach her."
The professor chuckled. "Dear friend, you do not have to pay. I just need both yours and your wife's consent and I will take Jean to my school. The sooner it is, the better." With that, He and Ororo shook their hands one more time and left the room. No sooner did they leave did they leave then the Mortings staggered back in. Once they were standing at the very spot they had been when they left did their eyes return to normal.
"Golly…I just had the strangest dream…" Said Mr. Morting.
(A few days later)
Jean had finally been let out of the hospital. Despite the urges of the doctors for her to take medicines, her father declined them, saying that she would be fine. John decided that it would be best to consult the matter of her transfer to the institute after the funeral. So he left it at that.
Dressed in a black dress, her hair falling loosely over her shoulders, Jean stood in the kitchen with her father.
"Daddy…" Her head was buried into his chest as she cried, his warm hand stroking her shuddering head under the volumes of long red hair. "I can't believe Anne is really gone. I seems just like yesterday that Anne was with me, sharing laughs, dreams…and now…and it was all my fault…"
"Sweetie… You know that isn't tru-"
"YES IT IS!" shouted Jean. She pushed him away and wrapped her arms around herself, looking away. "If I hadn't stalled, we would have both gotten out of the way!"
"Jeannie... I understand your pain. But you Anne wouldn't want you to be blaming yourself for this. She would want you to be happy." But Jean wasn't listening.
"It should have been me." Her eyes overflowing with tears. "IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!" She screamed this, collapsing onto the floor, her tears flowing down her cheeks in torrents. Her mother came in, but before she could run to her daughter, her husband stopped her. With his eyes he told her to leave their daughter alone. This was something she was going to have to think over herself.
Finally, with tears still streaming down Jeans face, the family went to the car and drove to the funeral home, silence surrounding them like a shadow.
(The St. Johns funeral Home)
"She was a brave girl. Loyal… Strong… She lived life to its fullest and kept a cheerful face to everyone she met. We gather today to grieve for her…to return the love she gave us in her life…"
Jean wasn't listening. From her eyes, tears continued to flow, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. She didn't even notice as her an arm went over her shoulder, and she automatically turned to bury her face into him. Her father's body was warm, giving her a sense of protection she knew nobody could ever replace. As a girl, she had always found her fathers arms to be a place of tranquility. If she had a bad day at school, or had fallen, she would turn to her father's arms and instantly she would feel better. Today, although tears continued to stream, her heart felt at peace, and for the first time since the accident, she felt normal.
Later that day, the group went up the hill to the cemetery, where Anne's casket was lowered into the ground. When it came time for Jean to place on her tulip (Anne's favorite flower) her eyes didn't fill with tears, but instead a smile filled her face, and she knew, deep in her heart, that Anne was smiling back.
A/N Well? Hows that for a second chapter? I got a review saying that Anne is actually Annie…sorry about that…but like I said before, Im going by the comic and info from other fanfics but my facts arnt full. For instance, I have no idea whether Jean is from New Orleans. Also, I don't know if theres a funeral home there named St. Johns funeral home. I have no clue what Jeans moms name is although Im pretty sure Jeans dad is called John. Anyways… Thanks for the reviews its really great to see them and think that people enjoyed my work. See you next time.