Untouchable

AN Sorry for suck along time since and update, but on the brighter note, today was my last day of classes. YEAH! College here I come (which I am going to Rhode Island for). So please keep up your great work, and I promise to work really hard this summer to update and finish stories.

Love to all reviewers.

Bry

sumerstormesaol.com if you don't get me because I am on my cell, please IM me again)

Chapter 28

Concentration

            Jean Grey stood alone in the locker room underneath the school. She pulled the leather gloves on and absently flexed her fingers.

            She couldn't sit still.

            The power, the Phoenix, burned through her veins giving her the combined feeling of intoxication and anticipation. It almost had a mind of it own. The Phoenix pressed against her skull until the room started to quiver.

It wanted out. It demanded freedom. It needed to feed.

Jean rested her head against the cool pane of the locker glass.

Concentration was the key. As long as she continued to be in control, it couldn't take over.

This power might have saved her, but all Jean wanted to do was die. Nothing resembled the same after her death at Alkali Lake. The children seemed different in her eyes. They looked at her strangely, as if they were more prepared to mourn her death than accept her back again even though she died for them.

Her research didn't matter anymore. How could it? No one could understand her cause. Ways of processing mutation didn't matter in the main stream of process, and she didn't have the technology to help protect the children from themselves. Just the coding of their most simplistic level… DNA. She had to push it aside. They pushed her aside. Dr. McCoy saw to that. It rose inside.

Her friends weren't the same any more. Ororo watched her cautiously as if Jean might explode. Impossible. Jean had always been the sane one, the responsible one. She didn't understand how 'Ro didn't understand that.

Charles was different. His blue eyes dug into the recesses of her soul with one glance. He wanted to go into her mind. It didn't want him too. Those kinds of powers are best kept away.

Her breathing increased and fogged against the glass. Her bottle glass green eyes turned amber. Her mouth trembled open.

Scott wasn't even the same any more. He didn't trust her. She knew it. He was just patronizing her until he could find someone else. Brighter, prettier, more satisfying. He never wanted her. He was using her.

Her fingers twitched. The inflammable layer of leather like substance that was meant to keep the X-Men safe started to melt against her touch.

            Logan wanted her. The way his pupils dilated when she entered the room. The way his gaze transfixed on her. He feigned disinterest, but she knew the truth. It knew. But he wanted her power. To protect himself. He knew she could unlock the deepest secrets of his soul within a second. It was hers, not his.

            Why was she dressing to go out into battle to find an imbecile that couldn't prevent from being taken from his room? It didn't make sense.

            The power made sure to block out everyone's redeeming qualities. Bobby's jokes, Ororo's trust, Charles compassion, Scott's love, and Logan's vulnerability.

            Wings began to spring from her back in an orange glow. He body was consumed.

            And then it stopped and sprung back from where it came. Her breathing slowed, her hands relaxed. She found the strength with in herself to push herself away from the glass. Concentration, Jean. That was the key.

            She sat down onto the cold tiled floor and cried.

            Rogue opened her eyes slowly, not aware of how long she had been knocked out. It could have been hours, it could have been days. But she did know she was alone.

            Her back rested against the metal wall. The fragility of her night gown top couldn't protect her from the frosty touch. Goosebumps raised on her skin. She was cold.

            Her wrists hurt under the restraints of iron wrapped around her. One false move, and Magneto could propel her anywhere he desired. Great.

            The one thing that surprised her when she awoke was her lack of strength. She felt weaker then the smallest pup. It hurt even to move her neck.

            She was free of Carol's power.

            She sat crouched in the corner of that room for what seemed like hours just thinking and waiting.

          If she no longer was super strong, was she still deadly to the touch? Was she free from her curse? Was she a mutant?

            The feel of her own skin didn't satisfy her need to touch. She had to wait. But who would her first contact be?

AN: I know, short, short. But the next update will be really soon so we can wrap up the story. Tell me what you think. I am building the story up for the end.

Thanks for all your work.

Bry

Sumerstormesaol.com