Do Your Best

Jean was extremely careful, avoiding absolutely everyone in the mansion. Her only communication was tentative and restricted to Xavier. Their telepathic conversations really revolved around her new teaching position.

She was walking through the halls the Sunday before the day she was to start when she overheard a conversation.

"Professor, are you sure?" Jean stopped dead in the halls.

"Scott, she has done nothing to make us worry about her abilities, in teaching or control." The professor's voice was calm.

"But the children…"

"The kids were the ones that convinced her to come back. They want her." What was Logan doing at this meeting? Was she the only one not involved?

"They're just children," Ororo tried again. Jean could feel Logan's annoyance and importance.

"They will be if we keep treatin' them that way. These kids know more than we give 'em credit for."

"Professor!"

"Jean will teach chemistry and biology as she has in the past," the professor said with finality. "The children are not afraid of her and as her oldest colleagues, you might due well to learn from them." Jean was shocked. The professor, she was pretty sure, had not meant to get involved.

"Professor… I really think…" Jean's concentration was cut off when the door opened and Logan stepped into the hall. She knew he was aware she was standing in the halls. He did, after all, have an impressive sense of smell.

"Jeannie?" he said softly, hoping no one in the office would hear. She hadn't realized tears had flooded her eyes until his thumbs gently brushed away the moisture.

"Walk with me?" she requested softly.


The grounds were bare and white in the frigid January air, but Jean didn't mind so much. The bite on her cheeks stung sharply and her eyes watered, disguising her tears.

"Jeannie?" She took a deep breath.

"They really don't trust me, do they?" It was a statement and thus, didn't require an answer from Logan. She tried to scoff, but it got choked on the lump in her throat.

"Thank you for defending me in there," she said as they continued wandering down the snow-covered driveway.

"I shouldn't have to defend you to people who have known you years longer than I have," he pointed out. She shrugged.

"In a twisted, subconscious way, I knew it would happen," she responded. "I mean, it wasn't going to just go back to the way it was. Things were already changing."

"Changing." She rolled her eyes.

"Things began shifting the minute you stepped into the Institute, Logan," she told him candidly. "They had to shift again when you left, then when you came back… Everything shifts."

"So you expected 'em to turn on you?"

"I made my choice in Alberta. I've come to terms with it," she told him honestly. "That doesn't mean everyone understood, For a group of people with a steady routine, the constant changes uprooted most of us."

"Is that how you're justifyin' it, Red?" Jean shrugged.

"It's the only way I can. I can't think of another reason." Suddenly, Logan stopped, gripping her hand so she did the same.

"Jean, there's something you should probably know about your Golden Boy," he said.

"Logan…" It was still a poorly kept secret that Logan and Scott were civil at best.

"Chuck sent us out on a mission to Korea a month after Alkali Lake. We had to split up to be able to conquer the most ground. When Summers came back, something was off. At the time, I figured it was just the pressure but watchin' him avoid you and the way he didn't hesitate to slander you… I smell a rat."

"You think he switched sides?" At that particular moment she trusted Logan much more than she trusted Scott. Logan shrugged.

"We have no proof," he responded.

"And when has that ever stopped you?" Jean teased. They continued their stroll.

"Am I ready to teach?" she asked softly. She felt a flare of annoyance from him and winced.

"If you have to ask yourself all the time, maybe you're not." His brutal honesty was one of the things Jean loved about Logan, even if it hurt her.

"Am I not allowed to be insecure?"

"You chose to go back," he pointed out. "You must've thought you were ready."

"So then I'm not? I'm not allowed to worry that the first time I get angry I'm going to lose control and injure a student? Thanks a lot, Logan." She sped up, belatedly realizing this was their first major fight they'd had. She also realized that it was probably a stupid fight.

"Jean, stop." She did, with a deep breath.

"I don't want to fight with you, Logan," she said curtly. She didn't want to push him away, especially since he was her only real adult contact. He came up beside her, neither of them making eye contact and still looking forward.

"I start tomorrow," she said softly, tucking her hands in her pockets. She tilted her head to the overcast sky, eyes closed.

"First thing?" Both knew the issue hadn't been solved in the slightest.

"Yeah. John's class," she said. Suddenly her eyes shot open, a huge grin on her face.

"It's snowing," she breathed, watching the flakes flutter down over them both. Her face lit up and Logan watched the flakes contrast sharply with her flaming hair. She turned into a little girl as she watched them fall around them. He wasn't really paying attention and so wasn't looking when she grabbed a handful of snow. With a sly grin and quick hands, the snow was in his face and Jean was making a run towards the mansion.

"You are going to get it…"


The next day, Monday, Jean felt like her life was slipping back to normal. For the first time, she woke to bright sunlight, leaking into the bedroom as it peeked over the trees.

"Jean?" The knock on the door made her horribly confused.

"Come in." Logan stepped through he door and Jean clamped her sheet to her chest as she sat up.

"Good morning," he said, sitting on the edge of Jean's bed.

"Morning," she responded. "What are you doing here this early?" He shrugged.

"Today's your first day. Thought I'd come, wish you luck." Her eyes lit up.

"Logan…"

"Not a word to anyone," he said gruffly. She chuckled.

"Promise."

"And I have to go away." Why that stung Jean she wasn't sure. The jolt ripped through her heart faster and tougher than she would have liked. She didn't meet his eyes and palyed with the edge of her sheet.

"Why?"

"Cyke and I are headed to pick up a mutant in Vancouver. We're hoping it won't take long." Jean nodded, feeling the jolt rip through her again.

"Try and play nice," she suggested with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'll make sure to come back in one piece."

"I can't say I'm all that worried about you," she groused. He tried to catch her gaze, but she wouldn't lift her head.

"Jean?" She took a deep breath.

"Its nothing," she told him. "Just an irrational thing."

"Come on, Red."

"You have a job to do, Logan," she said strongly.

"And…?"

"You have to go." He almost chuckled. Now he understood.

"Would you feel better if I told you I'd check in every day?"

"Don't tease me about it," she scolded. "Its irrational." He pulled her head forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I'll check in when I can," he told her, and she felt her emotions settle a bit. "Let's go to breakfast. We can't have the teacher late to her own class."

"I'm never late," she murmured, grabbing her robe as he dragged her out of the room.


When she stepped into her classroom, having split from Logan to shower and get ready, the light green bear caught her gaze and she grinned. Apparently, Logan had a bear for her first day of classes too.

You don't need him, really, but Do Your Best… doesn't need an explanation. Remember every moment for when I call.

--Logan


He did call. She was looking at the papers written by the 'disrespecting' students in the lab – the only thing resembling her office – when the phone rang.

"Dr Grey," she answered absently.

"There's a private number for your play room?" Jean couldn't stop the smile from creeping over her face. She half hadn't expected him to call.

"My play room?" The happiness sounded heavy in her voice.

"You going to try and prove its not?" She giggled.

"It won't make a difference," she replied. "How was your flight?"

"Silent."

"No one's dead yet?"

"Yeah, but remember the last word."

"You promised to play nice," she reminded him, abandoning the papers to focus fully on the conversation.

"Tell me about teaching." She sighed wistfully.

"I didn't know I missed it so much," she answered. "It was a thrill to do it again."

"And everything went okay?" She wasn't going to lie to him.

"Most of it. Some of the students are still scared."

"No trouble?"

"Not today," she assured him.

"Good," he said. "Jeannie, I have to go I'll…"

"Thanks, Logan," she said, cutting him off. "Good night."

"Good night," he answered, a smile in his voice. Then she clicked off.


I'm sorry that it's probably ridiculously repetitive, but hey, life goes on. Plus, Logan's probably OOC, though I am justifying it by the X-3 movie SPOILER when he mentions he'd die for her. Hope you're all still there and don't hate me!