Disclaimer: Making no money out of this
Shattered Like Glass: Scene 14For a moment, silence. Then like a wave breaking suddenly on a rock, Gambit's words stirred a spray of emotion-filled voices.
"Convenient, Gumbo, very convenient." Wolverine challenged the Cajun, making Gambit press his lips into a thin line. "You didn't tell 'em nothin', but they just happen to know everything anyway?"
"He came back didn't he?" Jubilee protested, backed up by a nodding Shadowcat. "Either he's innocent, or he's the stupidest traitor ever."
"How 'bout we skin him anyway, just to be sure." Logan growled, standing and releasing his claws. Remy barely flinched.
"We wont have much time." Cyclops announced. "Who told them what doesn't matter, if they are coming to close us down…"
"The plan is already in place." Xavier felt suddenly exhausted. He knew this plan would essentially mean the end of his X-Men, his dream. But looking about him at the arguments raging between his team members, some time apart might do them all good. Besides, the safety of the school's pupils was the first priority. Xavier looked to his daughter, who nodded singularly. She agreed. It was time.
"Each of you will take a group of students to a safe house. The safe houses are prepared for your arrival, and there will be other adults there to help you. However to maintain the security of the locations, only one safe house will be given to each X-Man. You won't know where the rest of the team and the pupils have gone."
Several pairs of accusing eyes fell on Gambit. He ignored them.
"What about you Professor?" Storm questioned. "Will we still be able to contact you?"
"It would be safest if you did not, as I will be remaining here where I belong."
"But Professor!" Kurt exclaimed even as Scott decreed, "Then I stay too!"
"That won't be necessary." Ilehana told her childhood friend. "I'm staying with him. We'll be fine."
"I'm really not sure about this Professor…" Scott tried to smile and failed, already imagining all the horrid things that might happen whilst he was absent.
"I have very little choice Scott. If I stay here I can keep working to calm the situation. It is the only way." Charles smiled genuinely at his foster son, and then lifted his chin to include the whole group in that gesture. "I will call you to my office in turns to give you your directions. The less any individual knows, the safer we all are against an enemy like this. When you instruct your groups of children, I suggest you ensure they pack light. Remind them they are on the run, not on a field trip…"
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A little while later, Scott took his turn to be instructed by Xavier. The directions he was given were not drafted shabbily onto some bit of paper nor printed off the Internet. Rather the Professor preferred to place his fingertips on the temples of his student and imprint the details directly into Scott's willing mind.
"J..J…Jean's folk's place?" Cyclops paled rapidly, his stomach lurching at the thought. "Professor I can't, I mean…"
"They've missed you Scott." Charles spoke kindly. "You hurt them when you didn't return their calls or reply to their letters. They didn't just lose Jean that day, they also lost the man they thought of as their son."
It was the right tactic to take with the orphan. Ashamed and abashed, Cyclops nodded. Swallowing his emotions he left the office, passing Ororo and Kurt embracing hesitantly, yet another friendship sundered over this.
"You're up." Cyclops informed Logan distractedly. "You too Gambit, looks like the Professor is pairing you off."
"Say anythin' Gumbo an' I'll slice your tongue out. You too Firefly." Logan growled in the direction of the thieves.
"What, other than this bein' some kinda mistake?" Gambit returned, looking from Wolverine to Blaze. He was clearly wondering why she wasn't included. Everyone else had already been assigned now, why hadn't the Professor spoken to Blaze? He couldn't have overlooked her, could he?
"Hyperactive imagination Wolverine. You have to lower any innocent comment to the worst level and then imagine everyone else is thinking like you." Blaze lectured, sounding weary. Eyeing each other apprehensively, the two men want through the office door and closed it behind them. Blaze sighed.
A/N:Ok, this time I'm begging... Please review... Please? I don't want essays, just a quick heads up would be good if you have the time? Thanks so much,from a truly apathetic Lamby