I just couldn't wait to add more to this!

Chapter 2

Every student at the Xavier Institute for the Gifted was asleep and quiet, for a change. That did not mean that the faculty wasn't awake, however. Logan was in the Danger Room working out some frustration, Ororo was watering her plants in the conservatory, Hank McCoy was working on some experiment that had his colleagues very nervous, and Professor Xavier was in Cerebro. When the Professor's voice came over the intercom sounding very worried, all of the adults dropped what they were doing and rushed to Cerebro.

"What is it, Chuck?" Logan wanted to know. "Is it something I can slash?"

"I don't think so, Logan," the Professor said, shaking his head. "It is a young mutant needing our help, but I have a feeling that Magneto is also looking for her. Round up the older students, and tell them to meet us in the hangar. We must help this girl."

"What is so special about this child, Professor?" Ororo asked as Logan and Hank went to wake the appropriate students.

"As far as I can tell, she has the ability to do anything, and I touched her mind for only a moment: she is very frightened, and I think that her fear is beginning to overwhelm her. A mutant with that much fear in her will have trouble controlling her powers, and with a lack of control always comes difficulties. We must do what we can."

"Of course, Professor," Ororo said in agreement. "I'll ready the Blackbird."

The students rushed into the hangar, ready to do whatever was needed of them. Scott, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, and Rogue took their seats without being asked, and while they took off and headed to their destination, the Professor briefed them.

"Sounds kinda like me," Rogue said, folding her arms as the Professor finished. "You know, I touch a mutant and boom! I got his power. She's lucky, though. She can do the same thing without the whole 'hands-off' deal."

"I do not know if her power runs along the same lines, Rogue, but her situation is somewhat similar to yours," the Professor said as they neared the target city. A large fireball, dwarfed to the size of a marble by distance, suddenly blossomed in the air.

"I take it that's where we're going," Scott said as they drew closer. Logan began to fly lower in order to allow them to land on a roof. Another fireball showed them how close they were.

After landing and exiting, the X-Men looked down on a scene of chaos: Firefly was running from a tiger made of flames, Sabertooth was on the ground unconscious, Magnus was trapped under debris, Gambit was dodging small explosions, and Magneto was fighting off an attack from a couple of cars, some industrial-size chains, and an overflowing dumpster.

"What's wrong with this picture?" Logan asked, too surprised to say anything else.

"Where's the girl we're supposed to be helping?" Nightcralwer asked. "I don't see her anywhere."

The Professor looked around. "Over there," he said, pointing. The team spotted her, crouched beside a large blue mailbox with her hands held over her ears. Even from that distance they could see that she was shaking.

"Gambit be gettin' tired o' dis!" they heard from the street. "Magneto, you better be doin' something!"

Magneto, too busy with a chain that had wrapped itself around him like a parody of a boa constrictor, did not answer. Firefly, having run into a wall in his flight from his own fire, was now knocked out, and fatigue showed in every dodge of Gambit's.

"We have to do something, Charles," Beast said, "before they become even more injured."

"I agree, Hank," the Professor said, nodding. Putting his hands to his temples, he closed his eyes and concentrated, reaching for the girl's mind with his own.

Sensing his approach, she lashed out, but he dodged her mental "blow." Who? she demanded, trying to back away from him.

A friend, he answered. We have come to help you.

She tried to lash out again. That's what he said! I won't! I won't!!

We will not force our help on you, he promised, dodging again. I know that you cannot stay here, if you do, people will try to hurt you. If you come with us, neither Magneto nor they will be able to reach you. So saying, he allowed her to see exactly what was offered: a safe and comfortable home, school, and a chance to practice using her powers without censure. Uncertain, she made a request.

The Professor opened his eyes. "She's beginning to believe me, but she isn't quite certain. She wishes someone to allow her to look into his or her mind to verify what I'm telling her."

It was quiet for only a moment, but then Kurt piped up. "I'll do it, Professor. Should I teleport down to her?"

"I'll tell her, then go down," Xavier told him. One of my students is on his way down to you. Don't be afraid of him, he said, projecting an image of the rambunctious but friendly Kurt into her mind.

"Better hurry, Chuck," Logan said, watching the battle below. "Gambit's knocked out now, and it looks like Magneto's on his last legs."

Kurt teleported a few feet from the girl, surprising her a little, but not enough so that he was attacked. "Guten tag, fraulein," he said, smiling. "Look on what you like."

Hesitantly, she took his chin in her hand and turned his face toward her, making his eyes meet hers. It was only a few moments, but Kurt felt as if the contact lasted much longer. She was as good with her powers as the Professor was: she looked at only what she wanted to see, and allowed nothing else to intrude. She examined his memories of the Institute and how it felt to be there. She saw the fun he had, how he enjoyed school, and what he and his friends did. She even looked at practice sessions where he employed his powers. She looked away, breaking the contact, and rose to her feet.

"I'll come," she whispered. "Just don't let Magneto find me."

"How did you know what his name was?" Kurt asked, puzzled.

"I saw it in the Professor's mind," she answered, laying her hand on his shoulder.

BAMF!

Kurt blinked. They had teleported, but he hadn't been the one doing it. He smiled the slightest bit. He was going to like this girl.

"Can we go?" she asked the Professor quietly, turning towards him.

Logan was still watching the battle. "How 'bout you cut Magneto a little slack first?"

"Oops," she said, as if she had forgotten. With a small movement of her hand, the attack ceased and Magneto, exhausted, drifted down to the ground where he lay gasping.

"Will he be all right?" she asked, concerned.

"He'll be fine shortly," the Professor said, smiling at her encouragingly.

She looked worried.

"But he won't be fine soon enough to follow, I bet," Kitty said, sounding a trifle pleased. "Ooh, I'd hate to think of the headache he'll have in a little while!"

"That's enough, Kitty," Beast said gently. "One should not rejoice in another's misfortunes."

"You're only saying that because you have to set a good example," Kitty teased as she went up the gangplank into the Blackbird. "C'mon, let's go home!"

The others followed, and the girl sat down in the seat Scott offered.

"I'm Jean, and this is Scott, Kitty, Rogue, Professor Xavier, Mr. McCoy, Storm, Logan, and you already know Kurt. What's your name?" Jean asked as Logan piloted the bird up into the sky.

The girl smiled shyly. "I'm Elizabeth."