A/N - PracticallyAnAvenger and XoverA - thanks for the reviews! We look forward to them. Here ... have some more HEALING.

Chapter 64 - Support System

K didn't take hardly any time to run down Craig Hale … and everyone and everything he held dear. When she was done, she made her way over to Scott during coffee and dropped her pristine dossier in front of him so he could comb through it himself, effectively distracting him from the news coming out of Genosha. "They're clean. All of them. All of them, all their friends, family, the whole group of them are all pro-rights for all and your picture perfect example of classic southern morals - the good ones. Not the redneck light a torch kind," K told him.

Scott blinked in surprise. "That… paints a picture," he said, already opening the file to get into it.

"I try to paraphrase in a way that both summarizes neatly and makes you want to know more," K said sweetly on her way to grab a cup of coffee.

"Well, mission accomplished," Scott said, shaking his head as he tried not to react too much. He'd missed this too.

K pulled up a chair across from Scott, though she was very sure that he hadn't noticed she was blocking the exit as she settled in for coffee with him and the kids. It wasn't something she normally liked to do - stick around while someone read her work, but … she figured that Scott would probably think she was just worried about him and wanted to stay to clarify. Especially since that's pretty much what everyone else had been doing thus far.

And while she was there, keeping track of Scott with a fat folder of intel, Logan had gotten his Billy to take him over to the institute to have a word with the headmistress and her staff. The group of them had just returned from Genosha, and they gathered up as soon as Storm had asked them to. Even Bobby and Kitty had made it there, glad to put Genosha behind them and to let Wanda run things there - but before they could get into the marathon of the same questions everyone asked, Logan held up a hand to stop them.

"Short story is that I was brought here to help. That's all you really need to know about me," he said. "I know you all went through the wringer, but it's high time you got together again for a bigger cause."

"Bobby and I already told the kids we'd join up in the new team," Kitty said, though she was staring at Logan like she wanted to drink in every second she could see him.

"I'm not talkin' about the team," Logan said, smirking crookedly at her. "Though I'm glad they'll have you to whip 'em into shape, half-pint."

Kitty smiled a little wider when she heard it. "Missed you."

"Love you too," Logan said, then shifted his focus slightly since for him, it was a lot harder to see Kitty smiling and brightly ready to dive into the fight. "Scott needs your help and the damn mule won't admit it."

Bobby seemed to straighten up at that and then leaned forward. "It's that bad?" he asked, thinking of how Scott had been talking on Genosha.

"Yeah," Logan confirmed. "By some miracle, I got him to talk to a doctor, but he needs to get there every day - same time until the doc says it's time to ease up. You can imagine how well ol' Fearless took that."

"Not well at all," Warren surmised, though he wasn't surprised at the news after he'd gone to donate some blood.

"I drove him there, hung out, waited for him to finish, and I got a talkin' to from the doc informing me he can not be alone under any circumstances. At all."

"I didn't realize the situation was so dire," Ororo said, looking crestfallen.

"You know as well as I do if he wants to hide it, no one'd know how bad it was, Ro," Logan said. He paused and turned her way fully. "When we're done with this, I needed to talk to you anyhow. Other matters."

"You know my door is always open to you," she said with a fond smile.

Logan nodded and again, spread his focus across the group . "I need to know who can take the time to help him. There should be some kind of rotation figured out to keep him around people. Even for as little as I've been here, Rachel keeps tellin' me to keep doin' what I'm doin' - and I'm tellin' you, he's not that reactive to whatever crap I throw at him, so those kids? They're used to him acting a lot worse than we're seein'."

"Rachel's been worried about him," Betsy said quietly. "For a long time."

"She's been scared to death she's gonna firebird all at once, too," Logan agreed. "But I think that might lighten up if she isn't so worried her dad's gonna off himself."

"He was thinking of doing it on Genosha," Bobby said in a quiet tone no one had heard from him before.

"Yeah, and James talked him out of that before he showed up to do in Erik," Logan agreed. "He's gotten a little better but he's still right on the edge."

"And some guardian angel brought you in to get us all involved," Betsy surmised.

Logan held his arms out wide. "What can I say? It's my secondary mutation."

"Of course we'll help," Ororo said. "We couldn't possibly turn our backs."

"Good," Logan said, nodding to himself as he let his shoulders drop. "I think I've got it for today - or part of it. You need to figure out who's goin' back with me to start up though."

"I'll go," Ororo said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Kitty can make a rotation in the meantime."

Logan nodded again, and looked as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't quite get a grasp on it yet. But before he could quite get going, Kitty was the one to break form and then all but tackled him in a hug.

"I missed you so much," she breathed out.

"Missed you too," Logan replied just as quietly as he held onto her tighter than she was expecting, fighting to keep his composure.

Kitty frowned but decided not to ask him why he had any reason to miss her, instead holding on tight until she finally, slowly, peeled herself off and wiped her eyes. "I just… thanks," she said. "For everything, okay? I never got to say it enough, and I just love you, okay?"

Logan was shaking his head at that. "Goes both ways. You made me proud of you every time I turned around."

Kitty nodded and sniffled before she latched on again - which set off a round of hugs from everyone there who really had missed him. It took Logan some time to finally get past them so he and Ororo could head back to Scott's house in Brooklyn.

Ororo's eyes were still shining as she smiled Logan's way, though she hadn't said anything yet, simply drinking him in.

"So you know," Logan said as they headed off. "It's not just Scott I'm worried about, Ro."

"Oh?"

"James was the one that had the final blow on Erik. He doesn't remember a bit of it either," he told her quietly. "I've talked to him about it while I've been here, but you know … you know how that hits a person. You've seen it enough. Kitty too."

"Yes, he told me as much just after it happened. You know that I'll watch out for him," Ororo promised.

"Rachel needs a light touch," he told her. "She's so stressed out about what might happen if she loses control - you know that's a recipe for disaster."

"I know," Ororo told him. "Betsy has been working closely with her, and Nate and James both have been wonderful with her in the few scares she's had."

Logan shook his head. "That's not all, Ro. She has to learn to harness it or when it finally does decide to come out, she won't have a prayer."

Ororo let her shoulders drop, but she nodded along quietly. "I know. I've talked to Scott about it, and I know that they were working together before the X-Men debuted and Magneto showed his face again."

"Don't tell her to hold it all in all the time. I know you're all layin' low for now, but she needs to start small so she can build up the mental muscle to handle it when it's bigger."

"There hasn't been anywhere safe to practice," Ororo admitted. "The school is watched closely."

"Then tell Stark to make a place. If you can't, I'll sic K on him before we go."

Ororo smirked at that. "As entertaining as that would be, Tony Stark has actually been one of our best allies. He still feels guilty about what happened, and he's done everything in his power to help us when we ask."

"Then he can work something out for you," Logan said. "He can see potential. That means he can see the potential wreck this will be if she can't handle it when the time comes."

"I know," Ororo said in a breath. She leaned back. "We've spent so long in the shadows, Logan."

"Time to step into the light," Logan said.

"Those kids are leading the charge," Ororo said with a fond smile. "I know they have their own issues, but Logan, I'm proud of them too."

"They're good kids," Logan agreed. "So teach 'em everything you can. I didn't get much time, but I tried to go over a few things with them. You could do a helluva lot better."

"Believe me: I've been hearing the same thing from Mia," Ororo said. She sighed. "It's just difficult to change when we've been living a desperate attempt to keep history from repeating itself. I know it's time, and Bobby and Kitty both have agreed to come onto our staff as teachers specifically to help us build the school back to its old splendor." She smirked. "As strange as it sounds, they're 'new blood'. Living on Genosha as long as they did, they've been using their powers much more than we have."

"Gonna have to get back into it, windrider."

"I do miss it," Ororo said with a smile. She reached over to rest her hand on his arm. "We are stepping into the light, my dear friend. I hope you won't worry too much about us. I believe we really have turned a corner."

"If things go too far south again, I'm sure Billy'll bring us back to help."

"As much as I love your presence, I'll try not to let it get that bad," Ororo said, letting her smile fall. "Especially if it means risking our fearless leader. I knew that he was struggling, but I don't think anyone thought…"

"You know if he's showin' any signs at all it's bad," Logan said. "He'd always hide it otherwise."

"Yes, but you didn't see him at the time it happened," Ororo said.

"No, I didn't," Logan agreed.

"I don't mind telling you, Logan: that was the lowest I have ever seen him."

"Good thing it can't happen again like that," Logan said.

She nodded. "It changed all of us," she admitted. "But it changed the world as well. Even though we retreated… I think Mia and the others have a point. Losing the X-Men showed the world what we were truly doing. I have to hope that means the path will be easier for them, even if they are starting out essentially where we were."

"They'll do fine," Logan said, covering her hand with his. "They got you and Scott."

"And they will have both of us for as long as possible," Ororo said fiercely. "I won't lose any more friends."

"No more like that anyhow," Logan said almost sheepishly.

Ororo sighed and then squeezed his arm. "This is different," she said. "You're only a visitor. I'm happy to see you, but you're not the same man we lost."

"No," Logan agreed. "I have my wife and my kids."

"I'm glad," she said. "You deserve to be happy."

"We do what we can," he said, smirking at her. "And you're one hell of an aunt to them."

"I am a goddess," she pointed out, smirking right back.

It wasn't long before they pulled in to Scott's house and Logan gave her one last look while they were alone. "I doubt you'll get as much of a fight out of him as I do."

"He needs you sometimes too," Ororo said. "I hope you keep yours in line."

"We're doin' alright," Logan said. "He's white-haired in my reality."

"Please tell me that's because he's much older and not because he stressed himself into it."

"It is," Logan said, smirking. "But it could be both. His son and my daughter are married."

"No." Ororo broke into a laugh. "That's beautiful."

"They grew up together, and were more or less goin' back and forth with crushes their whole lives."

"Then it was meant to be," she decided, then leaned over to squeeze his arm. "You're so lucky."

"Don't I know it." he pulled her closer to the door. "No tellin' what we're gonna find in there. I left 'em with K 'in charge'."

Ororo laughed outright. "Oh, so she's teaching them Swedish and how to draw and quarter their enemies."

"Likely," Logan agreed with a chuckle, and when they stepped inside, K had the kids and Scott around the table playing some ridiculous card game where they all had a card stuck to their foreheads - and she was, as Ororo had predicted - insisting that everyone only answer in Swedish to get their points. And Scott was right behind K in points.

Ororo couldn't help but grin when she saw it - especially when she saw that every single person at the table was laughing and enjoying themselves. "Oh, I've missed this," she said.

"Great, let's join 'em," Logan said - quick to slip into the seat directly across from K. Scott caught his breath enough to look between the two of them and shake his head.

"Oh no. They're going to cheat off each other if we let them," Scott said, even as K and Logan didn't bother looking at anyone else at the table - already going through their miniscule cues and prompts.

"Like Nate and Rachel aren't already," James pointed out, shaking his head and enjoying every second well enough that he wasn't really thinking about how guilty he'd been feeling.

"I didn't realize you were coming," Scott told Ororo as she sat down at the table on Rachel's other side.

"As you can see," she said tipping her head to either side of the table where K and Logan were clearly giving each other cues, "we can't keep them here forever."

"No, of course not," Scott said. "They've got their own kids to get back to. I know."

"I forgot how much flirting went on all the time," Ororo laughed.

"It's been nonstop this whole time," Scott said with a grin. "Explains why they apparently have a small army just on their own back home."

"As if our Logan and K wouldn't have done the same given the chance?" Ororo said.

"I know they would have. They were already having a 'discussion' about having more," Scott said.

"Did she show them to you?" Ororo asked.

Scott nodded. "She's got pictures on her phone - which, by the way, is way more advanced than anything I've seen, so they're pretty far ahead of us, timeline-wise."

"I'm not surprised," she said.

Scott nodded, then turned her way and let his voice drop a little. "So, what did Logan tell you?"

"That he needed to go home - possibly to work on another one by the look of things - and that you could use the support system."

Scott nodded at that and let it drop, not about to say anything more if he didn't have to volunteer more information. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, Scott," she said, then leaned over so the kids couldn't hear - particularly over the laughter and calls of 'no fair' from Rachel and Nate as the ferals showed them how cheating was done right. "One of your friends will be there with you every step of the way. Starting with me."

Scott let out a breath. "I'm sorry to take you from the school…"

"The school can survive a day or two without me," Ororo said. "I want to be sure the same is true for one of my dearest friends."

"I'm not going anywhere, 'Ro," Scott said softly.

"Good," Ororo said. "Then I get to spend some time catching up with you." She rested her hand on his wrist. "I have missed you, Scott."

"I'm sorry about that too," Scott said. "Maybe I should spend more time in Westchester."

"I'd like that," she said. "We can always find openings for those that want to teach."

"Maybe when the new school year starts up," Scott said. "I'll think about it."

As promised, Ororo went with Scott the next morning to his session with Craig Hale. Theoretically, since K had run down the man's background, Scott should have been more relaxed, but what actually happened was that he was steadily quieter as they got to Craig's office. Everything K had done told him he could tell Craig the full truth - now the only thing holding him back was the simple fact that he didn't want to talk about it.

But he had promised to get help. And to try to get better. He'd even promised Jean to go back and be there for their kids.

Still, he was dreading it.

If Ororo could tell that he was already ready to back out if not for the promises he'd made, she tactfully didn't say anything except to walk with him and wait in Craig's waiting room as Logan had done. And though Scott wouldn't admit it, having someone there waiting for him also cut off another avenue of avoiding this particular conversation; he couldn't just walk out.

The session started pleasantly enough. Craig asked about Ororo, since she was a new face and he was glad to see that Scott had multiple people in his support system.

At first, Scott gave the same answer he always did, that she was an old friend and ran the private school two of his kids had attended. And then, knowing Craig had follow-up questions to the story he'd already heard bits and pieces of, Scott tried to put it off that much longer by giving Craig the truth about something else: "Storm," he said softly. "Her name was Storm. Back when we were X-Men."

Craig raised an eyebrow but then started to smirk. "I thought I recognized your friend yesterday."

Scott shrugged openly. "Long story."

"Well, I've got time. It's not often a dead man brings a client to my doorstep." When Scott turned his way more fully, Craig kept an even expression. "I'm a therapist in New York City. If you think I haven't helped people through the fallout of Avengers, X-Men, Defenders, and every other battle this city has seen, you haven't been paying attention to the way this city keeps itself standing."

Scott very nearly smirked. "Fair."

"So, why don't you tell me how Wolverine brought you here, and we'll go from there."

"That isn't the long story," Scott pointed out. "He's visiting. He'll be back in his own dimension soon."

Craig leaned back and rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb. "Lord help us," he muttered. "That's the short version, huh?"

"More or less."

"So he's not the same Wolverine you lost?"

Scott's smirk fell, and he leaned back slightly. "No," he said, barely resisting the urge that had been more insistent lately to touch his face. He'd done that a lot in the immediate aftermath of everything Graydon Creed had done. Even if the scars were healed, they were still there.

"Then how about I do my job and listen to this story?" Craig suggested. "If I need clarification, I'll ask, but I don't know how to get started unless we start. Then, when we're through, if we have time, you can introduce me to your friend. I'd like to meet your back up."

"She probably wants to meet you anyway."

"I'm going to bet that's going to be a recurring theme," Craig said. "How many people will you be rotating?" He held up both hands. "I'm just assuming there will be more if the first guy isn't going to be available long term."

Scott shrugged lightly. "You'd have to ask them."

"After you tell me your story."

Scott sighed. "Right," he said, though he still didn't know how to start, which meant Craig was waiting patiently for a long time before Scott finally decided to approach the story the way he'd done with James, his gaze on his hands as he told Craig the whole thing at once - no details, just facts. He didn't raise his gaze, and he gave even less of the story to Craig than he had to James, explaining who had died and how as well as why he'd taken James in as well as his kids when he knew James needed quiet and safety.

Of course, Craig had questions. Like the significance of certain players, since he didn't know the backstory on anyone and he wanted Scott to talk about the ones he was tying to avoid. And he wanted to know Scott's story behind the scars - especially when Scott kept touching them when he spoke about Logan - but he wasn't going to ask that just yet. Not when it was clear that even saying the names was enough to set the man back. So he had to try a different approach.

"Why now?" Craig asked after a long moment of silence. "You've been coping for all these years. Not well, I'm sure, but you've been coping. What happened to change that? Was it that your son has been outed publicly for who he is?"

"No," Scott said, shaking his head gently. "No, it's…" He sighed. "The international news doesn't have the full story out, but Magneto is dead."

"And you know the full story …. How?"

"My son killed him - after Magneto almost killed me." It wasn't an admission for himself; he just didn't want Craig to think James was a cold blooded killer.

"I think I might need to hear that story too."

Scott nodded tightly. "Some of my old teammates were on Genosha; they were able to tell me what Erik was like at home as well as when he was attacking people off the island." He paused. "If the professor was still around, he would have talked him down."

"And I'm going to take a guess here - you tried to do that in his place?"

"I did," Scott said in a sigh. "I was willing to give him every chance … until he threatened James' life."

Craig frowned at that. "I don't understand what …. Or why Magneto would want to threaten your son," he said, then shook his head to refocus as it was apparent that Scott was magnificent at gently shifting the subject. "How did you go from trying to talk him down to your son doing him in?"

Scott let his shoulders drop, rubbing the back of his neck and leaving his hand there. "My son knew I was going to face Magneto. And he knew … he knew what the man was capable of. He asked his teammate, Wiccan, to cast a spell to take him to me if my life was in danger." He gestured with one hand. "I haven't been Cyclops in a long time. I've practiced and kept up my defenses, but I hadn't been in a fight for a long time, and it's different. Especially blind. I haven't done that in a while either."

Craig drew in a deep breath. "Blind?"

Scott paused and then stopped himself from reaching for his old scars. "I have cybernetics in my eyes," he explained tersely. In his mind's eye the sound of James calling for Magneto to stop was exactly the same as a young James demanding his dad or Scott on the other side of a wall in his memory moments before he lost his vision and his powers.

"And Magneto …. Made use of the metal in the circuitry." Craig nodded quietly to himself for a long moment. "I think, Scott, that you are extremely blessed to have the people around you that you do."

"I know," Scott said.

"Did anyone else know about the spell that Wiccan cast?" Craig asked.

"I didn't even know," Scott said.

Craig had his hand tented over his mouth as he thought it over. "Then maybe you can tell me how close your friends are to you? Physically, that is. Clearly, they are like family to be taking turns already to try and help."

"We always said that the X-Men were family," Scott said softly.

"Alright, but is that morning coffee family, Sunday dinner family, or just write at Christmas and Easter with a card on birthdays?"

Scott shook his head and met Craig's gaze. "You have to understand, for most of us, the X-Men were all we had. We were more than family."

"I do understand that," Craig said gently. "I've treated my share of mutants that had been rejected from their families because they were born with a gene that their parents thought was wrong. But that's not what I'm asking, and I promise you, I'm not judging. How close are you to them now?"

"Well, I don't live in Westchester anymore," he admitted, frowning. "We live in a quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn."

Craig shifted how he was seated to square up with Scott better. "Your family and friends clearly care deeply for you and want to help. You have experienced a recent trauma that is triggering old ones - and I know none of that's news to you. But, see, my problem is that if you were anyone else, I'd be strongly advocating for an in-patient program. You should not be alone. At all. Not until you're past this. Now … I'd consider your children as a good source of help, because it's clear that they care for you, but …" here Craig took a moment to reorganize how he needed to present this. "For one thing, I don't feel right asking anyone that young to watch out for their parents unless there is no other option."

Scott's jaw was locked as he nodded wordlessly. He knew Craig was right; the kids were too young. He was just waiting for the other shoe.

Again, Craig paused, watching Scott carefully for his reaction as he continued. "Honestly, just as concerning … your son would clearly do anything for you. And I believe that includes trying to spare your ego and your reputation with the rest of your family." Scott looked up at him, but couldn't argue it when it was so plain that Craig was right. "I asked about the rest of your family because you really should be around people that know this story and understand what you've been through and what you've seen. And you should be around them 24/7 … not forever, but until you can process all this without carrying it so heavily." He tipped his head, knowing he had another ace up his sleeve. "And to be honest, it would probably help the kids through the fallout from their stresses as well for them to see the rest of the family rallying to help you. It may help them see they don't have to carry it all themselves. They can reach out."

"They're already ahead of you," Scott said, almost smirking as he thought of Logan and K at his house. "I've been informed they're on shifts."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it. So … who will be staying with you first?"

"Ask Storm."

Craig nodded and got to his feet. He quickly crossed the room and left the door open as he went out to quietly ask Ororo to join them. Once they were in his office again and everyone was seated, Craig posed the same question to Ororo after a quick explanation on what he thought needed to be done first. Which was, of course, keeping someone with Scott at all times that wasn't under his care.

"The kids can't be included in the rotation - to start," Craig said. "Even the oldest is too young to handle this now. They can make their own appointments or come to his appointments, if Scott's alright with that, but they can't be considered the responsible adult to keep an eye on all of them." He turned to Scott for a moment before Ororo could answer. "And by the way? All three of them should be seeing a therapist as well. I don't know how Genosha will handle things, but I have to imagine your son should be prepared to face murder charges there at least. That isn't something to gloss over, even if it was justified as an act to protect you and defend himself."

"I'll speak to them about it. James is already talking to someone," Scott said.

"Good," Craig said, sitting back and looking a little more relieved. "Now … I'm sorry to interrupt myself there, Ma'am. Do you have a plan in place?"

"We do," Ororo said, frowning toward Scott. "I'm only sorry to hear how necessary it is, but we do have a plan."

"To be honest, that is my policy for anyone who's been through something even half as traumatic - to have someone close at hand," Craig said. "I'm afraid even the older teenagers aren't adult enough to handle things properly all the time."

"I completely agree," Ororo said. She smiled warmly at Scott. "Besides, our family has always come together in defense of each other."

"Wonderful," Craig said. "I'm sure Scott can fill you in on what we've discussed. I like to encourage my patients to talk to their family after sessions if they can. Same time tomorrow Mr. Mueller?"

"That's the plan," Scott said. He got to his feet, and seeing that Craig wasn't going to add anything else, he nodded to himself, letting out the breath he didn't realize he was holding before he slipped out the door.

"Ms Munroe," Craig said. "If I can borrow you for just a moment - there are a few things I like to give patient's families for reading material and some things to consider."

Ororo stopped and then nodded, though her frown had deepened the corners of her mouth. "Of course."

Craig pulled her aside and though he was pulling together a whole stack of pamphlets and flyers, he also made sure to point out a couple of things that he'd seen that looked like red flags as far as showing stress from the traumas - and reliving those traumas each time. Like the way Scott was touching the scars - though he was sure she'd seen that herself. Or the way he would hold his breath - not a full breath like he was weighing out answering a question … more like halfway between breaths as if he was trying to keep from being seen or if he was bracing himself for something horrible. Or how he was staring at his hands. All of those things were clear markers to Craig .. and he was sure someone who knew him well would find more.

Ororo listened silently to everything he said, nodding quietly. "He's been far from home for too long," she said at last.

"Then maybe you can work toward fixing that, too."

"It's time," she agreed. She tipped her head toward his pamphlets. "And these?"

"Maybe you'll find something helpful. Maybe they'll just be something to give you an excuse to have walked away for a few minutes."

Ororo smiled more warmly at that. "Oh yes. Logan was right about you."

"I don't know what he could be right about," Craig said. "He was only here while we had our first session."

"He picked you out," Ororo said.

Craig looked honestly confused. "I'm sorry, he did what now?"

Ororo smiled kindly. "I doubt he'll explain himself, but I have always trusted his judgement when it matters. I don't know if he knows you in his world or if he researched you, but he found a therapist sympathetic to mutants who thinks tactically and has treated trauma cases before. He was right to choose you." When Craig simply looked flabbergasted, Ororo smiled. "I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. Hale. I wish you luck."