Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men Evolution. Why are you picking on me?

So here's the latest chapter. It's also the third to last one, the next one will be the second to last, and then comes the eighth and final chapter. I am warning you now, if you hate sad endings, turn back now. Oh yeah, and a message about people not reviewing. This story is will soon hit it's 400th hit (yay! Thank you!). And I know that couldn't have been done without you, but let me just point something out. Hits for the story: 372. Reviews: 12. You do the math. Thanks to those who did review!

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Chapter 6: Nothing to Say

It was now Lance's turn to get up and answer the door.

"Oh, great," was Lance's reaction when he answered the door and saw a very angry Scott Summers there. "Hey, Ray…"

Ray came down and froze when he saw Scott. "Hi Scott…"

"Ray! What the hell are you doing!" Scott yelled.

"I'm here…"

"I can see that! You can't just up and leave like that!" Scott seemed to have predicted that Ray had left to join the Brotherhood.

"You're not the boss of me!" Ray fired back immediately. "I can do what I want!"

"Are you crazy?" Scott stepped inside. "Ray, if you don't…"

"Don't even think about threatening me! I'm not leaving! I finally belong somewhere! Go away and leave me alone!" Ray ordered defiantly.

Scott's face suddenly softened a bit. "Look, Ray, I know you're unhappy, but you can't solve all your problems by running."

Ray sighed. "I don't want to talk to you. I'm not leaving here, I'm not coming back. You may as well let everyone else know that."

Scott was at a loss for words. He simply turned and walked out the door.

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Ray sat next to Pietro, who was flipping the channels on the TV too fast for anyone else to see what was actually coming up on the screen. "Cool!" Pietro stopped on a show where two scientists were inspecting a dead body. "CSI!"

Ray usually liked the show, but tonight he didn't feel like watching right now. He was still thinking about meeting up with Scott at the door earlier.

Pietro seemed to be able to read his face. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about Summers! Forget about him, you're with us now!"

"You're right…" Ray agreed.

The doorbell rang again.

"You get it. It's probably for you." Pietro said.

Ray got up and answered the door. He saw Bobby at the doorway.

"Ray…"

"Look, Bobby. Don't try to convince me to come back. I'm fine here…"

"But Ray, you have to come back! You don't belong here!"

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Pietro shouted from the den.

"Ray, we miss you already. Even Roberto does."

"I bet. But I'm still not coming back. Goodbye Bobby. Go away now, please."

Bobby was about to say more, but the door was suddenly blocking his way. "Yeah, bye…" he shrugged.

"Hey, Ray! It's time for your first Brotherhood mission!" Pietro exclaimed proudly.

"Yay?" Ray responded, not knowing exactly what to say. "So…what is it?"

"We have to go to the docks."

"Why?"

"There's equipment my dad needs there."

"Why are we serving your dad?" Ray asked.

"Because…" Pietro paused, not sure of an answer himself. He caught himself not knowing what to say for once. "Because that's what we do sometimes! Is that okay with you?"

Ray realized he touched a nerve and decided not to continue. "Yeah, okay."

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At the docks, Ray didn't feel quite right. He couldn't place it; he just didn't feel in place.

"What am I doing?" he asked himself. "With the X-Men, I would stop this kind of thing. Now here I am, caught in the middle of stealing electrical equipment."

"Yo!" Todd said loudly, knocking Ray out of his thoughts. "Wake up! We're in the middle of something!"

"Hey, look!" Freddy said, pointing to the road leading away from the pier.

Ray saw the familiar X-Van coming down the road. When the full crew of the X-Men stepped out, they and the Brotherhood met face to face. Nobody knew what to say.

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