A/N: I'm horrible for making you wait, I know, but no one said trying to balance a fic and take multiple APs at the same time would be easy. Thanks so much to Lavender Gaia for pointing out the mistake with Kitty's age! On with Chapter Two!
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except for any changes to the plot that you don't recognize. Bob belongs to the joint ideas of me, Melissa, and Gwen.
"Normal speaking"
/telepathically speaking\\
'thoughts'
XxX
Dinner was a quiet affair that evening. Scott and Jean sat across from each other, as was usual, keeping their blushing faces downward, careful not to meet each others' eyes. Jean had formed a strong mental block to prevent Scott's emotions from overwhelming her. She felt a twinge of guilt at the thought, she still hadn't told Scott about the link that had developed between them. Between their newly established relationship and Scott's reluctance to discuss anything related to his ordeal, Jean hadn't found the time – nor the courage – to bring it up.
Logan, in particular, seemed at loss for an explanation as to the unusual silence. "Not that I ain't enjoyin' the change, but what's eatin' y'all tonight?"
"Nothing, Mr. Logan, we're just tired," Kitty said and the rest of the X-men mumbled their assent.
Logan cast an inquisitive glance to Ororo who shook her head slightly. Her eyes clearly told him to let the subject alone. She knew what was going on, he could tell by the small smile playing on her lips, but he did as she wished, grumbling beneath his breath.
Jean sent a silent thanks to Kitty. She knew Logan would find out about her and Scott eventually, she would just prefer the situation to be on her own terms.
/Jean?\\ Startled, Jean jumped slightly before focusing in on the thought.
/Yes, Professor?\\
/I'm sorry to have startled you Jean, but it has been brought to my attention that Scott is not yet aware of how you managed to find him.\\
Jean felt her face flush. /I haven't really had the chance to bring it up. He doesn't want to talk about what happened.\\
/Nevertheless, he deserves to know. I want to see you both in my office after dinner. I'm afraid this bond may serve as a . . . distraction.\\
/Yes Professor.\\ Aloud she asked, "May I be excused?"
XxX
"Sir, the tracking device has been located." Bob Hayman stared nervously up at his boss, wishing for the thousandth time that he hadn't drawn the short straw. In the period of 72 hours they had captured a mutant, implanted a tracking device within the right forearm, run countless tests, suffered a power failure, lost the mutant, had the lab sustain serious damage, and had finally managed to locate the tracking device. Bob didn't' want to be the one to test Bolivar Trask's patience after such an ordeal but it seemed he had no choice.
"And?" Trask asked impatiently.
"It was in Petoskey, sir, inside a Rainbow Trout."
"Inside a fish?"
"Yes, sir." Bob winced at his tone. "It seems the fish swallowed it."
"Of course, and I suppose the mutant force fed the fish our device?" Trask's words had a mocking edge.
Bob shifted nervously on the balls of his feet. "We can only assume, sir, that the mutie located the tracking device while in that area."
"Or he purposely abandoned the device to throw us off track."
"Sir, we believe that is highly unlikely."
"We picked up the mutant in New York," Trask pointed out. "Would it not make sense for the mutant to return to that area?"
"Perhaps he was . . . visiting?" Bob suggested tentatively.
Trask sneered, "Do you wish to keep your job, Hayman?" Bob nodded. "Then I suggest you start following orders rather than questioning them. I want our current team to remain in Petoskey but I want another to search the area where we first found the mutant."
"Yes sir," Bob saluted and fled the room before Trask had the chance to say anymore.
XxX
Scott was already seated in front of the Professor when Jean arrived, leaving her feeling slightly unnerved. She had no reason to feel nervous, she knew she had done nothing wrong, yet she couldn't ignore the gnawing pit of anxiety growing within her.
"Ah, Jean," the professor smiled pleasantly, "Please, have a seat."
Scott offered her a small smile and Jean realized that he, even more so than her, had no desire to be here. Their fingers brushed as jean pulled her chair up beside his and she instinctively grabbed his hand, squeezing it in reassurance. His emanation of emotions flooded her mind in a tumultuous wave and all at once she understood his reluctance to relive past events. She tightened her hold on his hand, vowing silently to make this discussion as painless as it was in her power to do so.
"I know the memories are difficult for you, Scott, but there is still more to the other night that we need to share with you." The professor nodded to Jean.
"You need to know how we found you, Scott, how I found you." And with a deep breath, Jean told him everything.
XxX
Scott had never eagerly entertained the thought of having someone in his head. He'd been reluctant to willingly allow himself to live amongst two telepaths, and had only relented when the professor had offered to teach him to construct a mental shield around his mind. The fact that a link had broken that shield and spontaneously formed a bond between him and Jean left him feeling very confused, to say the least.
"I'm sure the professor and I can find some way to block it off, if you want." Jean said softly.
Scott winced at her tone, hating the uncertainty and guilt he heard there. Sighing, he turned to Professor Xavier. "How did this happen?"
"I'm not entirely sure. Do you remember when Jean's powers began evolving last spring? You made a connection with her that day and I believe that opened the link." (A/N: Okay, so from what I've read that's not what happened, but for the sake of the story, that's the way it's going to work).
Scott nodded but offered no response.
Professor Xavier sighed, fixing his two eldest students with a piercing gaze. "The reason I bring this up is because I'm afraid this link may serve as a distraction."
Jean was prepared to capitulate when, much to her surprise, Scott protested. "With all due respect, Professor, couldn't this 'link' serve as more of an advantage?"
Professor Xavier looked curiously at Scott. "How do you mean?"
"The link has already saved my life once . . . and it could be a useful tool in the field. This way I could contact Jean mentally on my own terms – not just hers. It would be a powerful tool against opponents."
Charles Xavier didn't respond. "How do you feel about this, Jean?"
"I think Scott has a good point," she said slowly. "It would be an easier way to communicate. It has an ace-up-our-sleeve sort of effect."
The professor studied his students intently, finally he sighed. "If it becomes a problem you will have to take action against it."
Sensing their dismissal, Jean rose and waited for Scott but he waved for her to go without him. "Professor, I've been thinking a lot about Dr. Foster and," he sighed, mentally assuring himself that he was making the right decision. "And I think that we should go ahead with the mission.
The skin near Charles Xavier's eyes crinkled as he smiled, "I had a feeling you'd say that."
XxX
Jean was sitting on Scott's bed when he walked in minutes later. "What did you decide?"
Scott ran his fingers through his hair, sitting down beside her, "I told him that I wanted to find Foster."
Jean wrapped an arm around his waist and lay her head on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm, not many people would have been able to do that. You made the right choice."
"I hope so."
XxX
Scott Summers was awake long before his alarm beckoned the following morning. His sleep had been plagued by horrendous nightmares, yet when he awoke he'd only been able to recall the prickling sensation of fear. Scott wasn't sure which made him more nervous, the reoccurring nightmares or the thought of facing Bayville's judgmental students in the morning. Unfortunately he didn't have any say in living through either of them.
Needless to say, Scott was showered, changed, and half-way through breakfast before any of the others had even stumbled out of bed.
"Okay, I know we're s'posed to stick to the whole flu story," Evan was saying as the girls, yawning, traipsed in for breakfast, "but how are you goin' to explain all those bruises?"
"Tell them you vere playing basketball vith Evan and he flipped vhen you von." (A/N: Sorry for botching the accent.) Kurt grinned cheekily and disappeared with a 'bamf' as Evan lunged at him.
Scott rolled his eyes, "I'm leaving, anyone need a ride?"
"I'll take one," Jean walked in, smiling shyly.
"Ja, me too." Kurt reappeared in the doorway.
"Actually, Kurt," Kitty smoothly intervened. "I like, left my calc. book in my locker and totally need to check my work before class. Do you mind teleporting me over there? Oh, and Rogue needs to come to." Kitty grabbed the siblings' arms and threw a pointed glance at the couple before dragging the other two out of the room.
Jean and Scott exchanged glances. "You think she's trying to tell us something?"
"Whatever it is," Scott smiled down at his girlfriend, "I can take a hint."
XxX
A/N: Really short, I know, and I'm sorry about that. I do actually have the next chapter started! Yup, I have at least a page written, so that's good news . . . I think.
Oh, one last thing, has anyone read the X-men Trilogy by Christopher Golden? My brother found the first two books for me at a used books sale, and I have no idea where to even begin looking for the third.
Thanks for all the sweet reviews! You guys (and girls) seriously make my day!
--DOJ--
