X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter One Hundred Fifty Three

Author's Word: Happy Almost Father's Day, fam! Thanks yet again for that magnificent feedback! I am loving this! So since this is the Weekend of the Dads, it's time again to vote for favorite Rise or Fall dads, older brothers, and brotherly combinations. Tomorrow my sisters and I will be treating our own dad to a burger of enormous proportions.

Appropriately, this Sunday is also the anniversary of one of the greatest films to ever touch my life, The Lion King. Hard to believe that the producers were so uncertain about how audiences would react to it. I felt much of the same when I posted the first chapter of Rise or Fall. I know I've managed to speak to a few of you and that means a great deal to me. Now, please enjoy and review!

The house fell into absolute silence after ten. Shortly before midnight, he left his room. Situated on the bottom step with arms wound around his legs and face buried against his thighs, he found that night did not bring him anymore clarity than daylight. Raising his head, stormy blue eyes stared ahead into the entryway.

Rising at last, Sean walked the short distance into the living room. At one end table, his hand hovered just above the phone. After several seconds of deliberation, he retracted the appendage. No, he could figure this out alone. Exactly like Hank or Alex could. Of course, Alex would not have to worry because he never would have gone to begin with. No, the plasma flinger sought higher learning sure, but not normalcy.

With a sigh, Sean turned and made his way back upstairs and into his room. He flopped stomach down onto the bed and remained face planted against the pillows. A full minute later and no sleep could he find. Were he in his other bed, Erik would come and thump his bottom to lull him as both a comfort and a not-at-all firm reminder about bedtime to the mean insomnia gremlin. Either that or Charles would ease him into sleep mentally or simply hold onto him.

The corners of Sean's mouth upturned at one of the first times the Professor did such a thing for him. After they, the First Five kids, arrived at the mansion. Charles had given him the sort of treatment that had become so fleeting after Tommy's birth. For the first time in years he knew what it felt like to be the youngest boy. Not that he did not love his brother of course, but that kind of situation where no one expected him to constantly be one of the big kids had been so sensational. Even when Frank and later Joey came around, it remained there to some degree whenever he needed it.

Punching his mattress for no reason particular, Sean's gaze fell on his closet. A sincere smile growing on his face, he jumped up and walked over. At the very back, he found the green and yellow outfit. Getting into the uniform as quickly as he could, Sean got a good look in his mirror; Banshee grinned back at him.

Making his way downstairs, he retrieved his bike from the garage. Before he could complete one block, however, he picked up on another set of wheels. In blue jeans and a jacket he had thrown on over his pajama shirt, the nine-year-old rode up beside him.

"Tommy, what do you think you're doing?" Sean hissed. "Get back in the house."

The brunette youth shook his head. "No, I want to come, too."

"Forget it," Sean shot down. "It's too late for you to be outside."

Tommy crossed his arms. "But it's okay for you to be outside?"

Sean glared and stood up on his bike. "You're asking for a BBS."

"Sean," the audacious face melted into one of absolute pity, "please. I want to go with you. Please?"

Letting off something between a groan and a sigh, Sean gave in. "Okay, but only for a little while. And stay close."

Tommy happily did so as they continued biking together.

"What are we doing here?" he asked when they wound up near Sean's old high school.

"You'll see," Sean's eyes glinted, "follow me."

Leaving their bikes in front of the school, the brothers made their way around the side. Taking the fire escape up, they reached the roof.

Sean looked down. "Want to try something cool?"

Getting the idea, Tommy nodded eagerly. "Definitely."

Having the younger male attach himself to his taller form tightly, Sean ran forward and jumped off the roof. Letting off a low impact shriek, he soared off in a flight.

"Whoa!" Tommy reacted, hanging on for dear life. He closed his eyes twice but simply could not look away from the experience entirely. "This is amazing."

Pleased that it did not create horror but actually joy in his brother, Sean took a couple more turns before returning to the rooftop. They climbed down quickly and started back for their bikes, both talking excitedly about the flight.

As they pedaled away from the school, they both paused at heavy breathing behind them. A stocky janitor with a broom in hand ran up to them.

"Pardon me, boys," he panted then suddenly regained his composure as he revealed the ID badge tucked away inside his coveralls, "Agent Hanson, Department of Mutant Affairs."

"Mutant Affairs?" Sean echoed, a mist of disbelief and shock covering him at once.

Hanson bobbed his head, putting the badge away. "I'm going to need you to come with me."

Before Sean could conjure a reactionary scream, a wide arm came from behind him, taking him by the throat. The dark suit clad man injected him through one arm, instantly making the teenager grow weak.

"Sean!" Tommy cried out. "What did you do?" He attempted to pull his brother away. "Sean!"

The one in janitor garb seized hold of the distraught child. "I'll handle him." He gestured with his head towards Sean. "You get him taken in ASAP."

The other man nodded and carried Sean the other direction with Tommy calling his name out while being brought forcefully towards a van.

IIIIIII

"We're coming!" Liam called out, attempting to get into his robe as he and his wife hurried downstairs.

"Just a moment!" Noreen got the door open as soon as they reached the front then shuddered and gasped at the sight of the large man gripping her youngest son.

Liam demanded, "What the hell is going on here?"

He released Tommy into his mother's clutch. "Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy? We need to talk."

IIIIIII

Stopping off inside Eye Spy, Hank shook his head at the theatrics taking place between the chair spinners.

"You two were able to subdue Victor?" Hank rubbed his chin in playful thought. "I don't know whether to feel pride or shame."

Leon managed to slow down his seat, black strands of hair covering his face almost entirely. "We're filling in while he and Cody drive the deliriously happy couple to the airport."

"I still can't believe they're hitting up Vegas for their anniversary." Alex bumped Leon's chair lightly. "Geez, I hope I get half that much fun when I'm ancient."

"Oh," Hank wiggled his glasses, "does this mean you actually intend to wed someday?"

Alex released an audible scoff. "Uh, more like twenty-first birthday. Road trip!" He shared an enthused high-five with Leon.

"Hank, Alex, Leon," Erik's voice over their communicators captured their attention promptly, "the parlor. Now." He cut off with that.

The three young males exchanged the briefest glance between them before starting up. When they arrived inside the specified room they found the extremely pensive Headmasters standing together near the fireplace. Emma, Cordelia, and Maya had one sofa while Raven sat between Frank and Scott on the other.

Alex glanced around worriedly. "Where're the other kids?"

Raven looked over at him. "Becca has them in the living room watching TV."

"What's happened?" Hank asked next.

Tone matching his grave expression, Charles told the group, "Flynn Walsh just telephoned."

Hank recognized, "Sean's grandfather?"

While Charles nodded somberly, Erik announced, "Sean's been taken into containment."

A resonating, "What?" sounded throughout all of the young people.

"What for?" Frank wanted to know.

Emma filled that with, "Undercover agents observed him using his powers after midnight on Friday morning."

"Friday?" Maya sprang to her feet. "It's Sunday and we're just now hearing about this?"

"Apparently so are Sean's grandparents." Charles then looked to the three they had called in. "Hank, Leon, Alex, get ready. We're going in after him."

"Yes, sir," came the unison response before they headed out.

"But what about us?" Frank got up.

"Professor, please," Maya regarded him with pleading eyes, "I have to go with you."

"Yeah." Cordelia stood after her. "They can't go around snatching one of ours and not expect to deal with the entire X-Men."

"No." Erik fixed them all with eyes that would not stand for questioning. "We are going to have to violate a government regulation in order to recover him. And we will recover him, however we have to. We want to get in and out while putting few of you at risk of ending up in someone's file."

Her arm around Scott, Raven piped up, "They're right, guys. This is too high risk."

Emma brought up, "And the rest of us remaining here will help keep the children calm."

As the Headmasters walked by, Erik took a moment to cup Frank's cheek. "We will bring him home, boychick." He continued after Charles.

At Maya sending both hands through her hair, Cordelia turned her slightly to bring her into a hug. "Don't worry, gorge. Banshee has the best possible team coming for him."

Maya returned the embrace tightly.

IIIIIII

The first thing the hazy, lethargic form experienced upon rousing was a sudden chill. He instinctively clutched the thin blanket on top of him. Upon further clearing of his vision, he took in the four gray walls that made up the windowless room. Managing to sit up a little, he saw his uniform gone and replaced with a plain t-shirt and sweat pants he knew he had not clothed himself in.

Spotting the door, Sean used all of his strength to rush at it. He turned, twisted, yanked, pulled, and pushed at the knob, but the passage proved absolutely solid. Shaking his head in a combination of refusal and incredulity, Sean opened his mouth. Hardly a squeak escaped.

Hand going over his throat for inspection, he attempted to shout, holler, and scream as loudly as possible for someone to come. No matter what volume he attempted, no sound escaped. He remained motionless for a long moment, not even able to blink.

Not until clear footsteps could be heard did he tumble back to a sitting position on the bed. The door opened and in walked an armed guard and another man in a white lab coat.

"Ah Mr. Cassidy, you're awake," the latter acknowledged the teen. "My name is Dr. Burke. I am the physician assigned to your case." He looked on while the redhead tapped his throat vigorously. "Don't worry, that's only the serum at work. We wanted to keep your," he searched for a term, "unusual condition at bay. Unfortunately, it had an initial mild aversive effect on you. You've been sleeping so much, it's all we could do to keep you hydrated since your arrival here. Which reminds me."

The guard stepped forward, bottle of chilled water extended.

Sean looked from the doctor to the guard. When his eyes settled on the bottle, he glowered and slapped it away against a wall.

"It's alright," Dr. Burke said to the clearly agitated armed man then turned to the boy again. "Mr. Cassidy- Sean, you've already been a burden on your poor parents. Do not become one for us as well. We only want to help you."

Remaining in place at first, Sean bolted up and made a move for the door. Before he even neared it, he felt himself tackled face down hard against the tiled floor. He grunted in pain at having both arms shoved behind his back. He raised his head a little, moistened blue eyes ready to overflow.

Dad…

IIIIIII

Patience nearly ended on Charles' part as he attempted to speak over the zealous and heated adults within the Cassidy living room.

"How could you possibly call these people against our wishes?" Noreen fumed.

"Don't you hurl accusations at us," Lydia retorted, getting near to her daughter's face. "You are the ones who did not tell us that the government had picked up our grandson like some common criminal. Like a thug!"

An equally livid Flynn added, "If Tommy hadn't had the good sense to call us, we'd still be in the dark." He waved a finger Liam's way. "I know that was all your doing. By God, if anything happens to our grandson—"

"He is our son, Flynn!" Liam emphasized.

Taking hold of every metallic object offered in the sitting space, Erik created a clatter that sent all eyes his way.

"Silence!" he mandated. "All of you!" His gaze went right to Noreen and Liam. "This is your doing. They have had that boy locked away for two days, doing God only knows what, and you did nothing."

"We did everything we could," Liam insisted. "We talked to a good dozen lawyers. None of them gave us a way out."

Erik gave him a forceful shove, making the on-lookers of Alex, Leon, and Hank jump back. "You failed him! They took him away and have had the opportunity to do the unthinkable to him because you could not protect him! You are weak, pathetic, cowardly—"

Charles intervened by getting between his brother and Liam. "Erik," he touched the older man's shoulders, "that is enough."

Noreen took hold of Liam's arm and he jabbed a finger Erik's way. "I want you people out of my house."

"We will be leaving." Charles turned around, his normal palpable nature nowhere present on his features. "As soon as you tell us everything you know. We will be returning later, however. With Sean. And I expect his things packed and ready to go. Because clearly you cannot keep him safe."

An utterly taken aback Liam and Noreen only stared at each other for a moment.

At the noise behind him, Alex turned from where he propped up against the door. "Tommy?" He followed after the rapidly departing figure. "Tommy!" He met up with him on the landing going upstairs. "Tommy… are you okay?" The boy sat on a step, head bowed. "I'm Alex- Alex Summers. And Sean's one of my main guys. He talks about you all the time. He couldn't wait to come see you."

Tommy slowly brought up his tear stained face. "What're they gonna do to my brother?"

"Nothing," Alex vowed, squatting to the youth's level. "Because we're here now. And I promise you, buddy. We are going to get him back. You did the right thing telling your grandparents. Now everything really is going to be okay."

Tommy leaned forward against him. "Don't let anybody hurt him."

Alex wrapped strong arms around him. "They're in for a world of hurt if they even think about it."

Leon remained paused at the bottom of the stairs before calling up, "Alex?" The petitioned one glanced back at him. "Time to go."

IIIIIII

The intense resonance of the shots in addition to the vexed mind unleashing them brought the female telepath down into the lower level's range.

"Maya?"

Whipping long brown haired head back, Maya acknowledged, "Emma. You shouldn't be in here while you're expecting."

"Yes." Emma then returned evenly, "The same way you should not be in here without an instructor."

Maya indicated the handgun in her possession. "Just blanks… yeah." She promptly lowered the weapon onto its correct position on the table. "I'm sorry." She began removing her ear and eye protection. "I just needed something to help me with this stress. All of this is unbelievable- no, it's disgusting and unconstitutional. Sean is a star student with a great driving record, no felonies, nothing that could possibly make any of this right."

"I know, sweetheart." Emma walked up closer, grasping the tip of the furious girl's fingers. "The only reason I am not displaying your current zest is because I've seen this kind of cruelty before. It can no longer surprise me."

"I'm not letting them get away with this," Maya stated adamantly. "I don't know what to do exactly but I won't stand by and let them hurt any of you. I swear, Emma, I swear."

Emma caressed her cheek gently. "I don't doubt you for a moment. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Come along now." She tugged at her lightly. "Let's go upstairs."

Maya nodded and walked out with the older female.

II

Huddled nearest to each other on the McCoy bed, a pleasant silence filled the room while Becky's eyes stayed on her journal and Raven focused on her poetry notebook.

"Aunt Raven!" Joey called for.

"Mommy, Mommy." Piece of white construction paper held high, Trav ran ahead. "Look what we did."

Raven laughed at the combination of wild red as well as green and yellow. "Is that Seanie?"

"Yep." Trav held the picture close. "He's flying home to us."

"He sure is." Raven then looked over when the tiny toddler left the playroom next, a mountain of toys in her possession. "Whoa, hey. Excuse me, Miss. Where do you think you're going with all those?"

Kiki deposited them onto the floor then climbed up onto the mattress, bouncing on her knees. "Seanie's coming home to pway with me."

"Nuh uh," Trav shook his head, "Seanie's coming home to play with me." He pointed a thumb at himself.

Kiki shook out her braided hair in turn. "Nuh uuuuh!"

Raven laughed lightly at their antics.

Becky completed another sentence then closed her pen inside before bringing the journal in near to her chest.

II

Cluster of comic books all around him, the thirteen-year-old attempted to find anything positive amongst the colorful pages. Putting aside the issue that currently held his attention, he hopped up from bed and went towards the daylight, undisturbed by the thick clouds.

"Frank?" Moving along through the hallway, Scott stopped outside the door. He remained quiet as he watched the other Eye Scream Team member ignite the candle on his windowpane.

IIIIIII

"A remote facility in northern Virginia." The metal wielder, now in attire fitting for Magneto, threw his arms into the air as he continued his angered pacing. "That fucking narrows it down, doesn't it?"

Vapor's eyes flinched a little at the uncouth swear spat out by the man.

"I don't care if I have to tear through every single one of these United States," stated Professor X, acting as Beast's co-pilot. "I will not leave without him. Bloody hell," he used one black gloved hand to touch two fingers to his temple, "if only I could get even the smallest reading from him…"

Beast remained silent, as the entire situation had more than stirred his inner creature and he had no desire to cause a crash.

Seated beside Vapor but away from the window, Havok bowed his head to steady himself with an utterance of, "Kid, you better be alright…"

IIIIIII

The gray walls continued on within the waiting room. Other than a stray illustration or two describing specific parts of the body, it offered next to nothing substantial. Sean kept his arms around himself, feeling as if the chill had followed him straight out of the holding room.

Every so often he spared a gaze at the two females across from him. One looked to be about thirteen or fourteen. Between her complexion and lengthy ebony hair, she reminded him very much of Kayla. She kept one arm around the younger shivering girl; a blonde that seemed to be a bit less than Becky's age. They both wore the same issued clothing as Sean except there's seemed more accustom to a girlish physique.

Sharing a look with him, the older girl got up, rolling her attached IV along with her. She took the spare built-in plastic seat beside the redhead.

"I'm Claudia Bradberry." She nodded towards the one across the way. "That's Elise." Sean squeezed at his throat while looking at her and Claudia looked back in understanding. "Your power must be in your voice. That's why they took it from you." Claudia glanced up to the IV. "They only give me so many fluids a day." She turned back to Sean. "I can control water. I was at the lake with my mom and I did one wrong thing. I remember her screaming when those men popped up, forcing her down while they took me away." Sean's blue eyes reflected sorrow against her deep brown. "I've been here two weeks now. Elise has been here for one." All three jumped at the shriek that echoed from the adjacent exam room. "That's Luis. His… he doesn't look anything like the rest of us. They have him in there constantly, night and day."

Sean swallowed, clenching his fists.

Claudia placed a hand over his tense wrist. "If you just lay there and let them do what they want, it's faster. Otherwise, it hurts a lot more. Believe me."

Sean started to look at her but faced the door as it opened. A nurse carried out a small boy who wept quite audibly but kept his dark haired head covered.

"Mr. Cassidy," Dr. Burke flashed a smile at him from the doorway, "we're ready for you now."

Claudia held onto his wrist until the redhead stood and walked too far out of her reach. She then transferred back over to hang onto Elise.

Staring at the exam table, Sean grudgingly climbed on, eyes locked on the light fixture overhead.

"Now, just be still." Dr. Burke wheeled over a cart of numerous and varied instruments. "It will be over before you know it."

Initially deciding to stay in place, an intense frown formed on Sean's face. Erik would never stand for him just lying there and taking any of this. In fact, Sean himself did not want to give into such a mentality.

However, the moment he moved to get up, an alarmed Dr. Burke waved his scrubs adorned associates over. The pair of men kept the lanky teenager down, though he continued to kick with all the vigor he had.

Shaking his head, Dr. Burke readied a syringe with a clear fluid. "Another quick dosage should do the trick." He advanced on Sean.

The moment the needle met with his throat, tears streamed straight out of the grief filled blue eyes and he released a completely muted outcry.

Charles… Daddy…

II

Magneto felt his own blood curdle at the scream that sounded from his brother. "Charles?" He ran to his side in a second.

Professor X pinched the bridge of his nose to gain control. "Seanie…" I'm coming, son. "Beast, we have to land immediately."

Havok leapt straight out of his seat. "You found him?"

"He is down there somewhere," the Professor said. "He's calling for me right now."

Needing no further instruction, Beast lowered them down several stories. "That's a correctional facility."

"And I'm willing to bet they have a dirty secret or two down in the basement," Vapor put forth.

After Beast landed them a reasonable distance away from the building and out into the deserted open grassland behind it, the five X-Men took prompt exit of the jet.

"Remember our goal is to find Sean and get him out safely," Professor X emphasized to all of them. "And with this mutant terrorism situation hanging over our heads, we must refrain from drawing excess attention. Havok, make especially sure you do not use your powers unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes, sir," the blonde nodded obediently.

"Let's go." Magneto led the charge towards the building. Before he could even raise his gloved hands, all four rear guards stumbled over into a sudden slumber. He glanced back at Charles. "I could have handled them."

"Painfully," the younger headmaster tacked on pointedly.

Magneto did use his abilities to force the door open, revealing a staircase leading straight down.

Once they made it down and through another but unlocked door, Professor X took a reading on the empty hallway before allowing them to proceed. "Beast, you're with me. Magneto, I want you to see if you can locate their control room. Take every file, destroy any and all cameras. Havok—" He grabbed his own head suddenly.

Havok frowned. "What is it?"

"There are other mutants here," Professor X detected. "Havok, I'm going to send their location to you mentally. You and Vapor get to them while Beast and I retrieve Sean."

"Let's move, X-Men." With Magneto's words, they all divided up accordingly.

IIIIIII

Arched back in his seat with feet propped up, the light blue and navy clad guard leapt up in his seat. "Look at this!"

His partner swerved around in his own chair, gaping at one of the monitors. "Rear east infiltration. I'm calling it in."

The telephone flew out of his reach and ripped straight out of the wall, creating a great startle in both men.

"I am afraid I cannot allow that." Magneto hovered in their wide doorway. He raised his hands again, causing every piece of their equipment to burst and shatter. "Now," he then took control of the metal made onto the base of their chairs, forcing them onto the floor, "you are going to tell me where I can find every file this facility has to offer. Lie to me," he brought the chairs up into the air over them, "and I'll be forced to take disciplinary action."

II

Knees clutched against his chest and laid out as far away from the other three males in the room as possible, Sean sniffed and wiped at his face occasionally.

Dr. Burke wrote into a chart while speaking with his colleague. "I don't believe he himself presents that great a threat but to be sure, I'm going to recommend sterilization."

Sean's eyes widened and he inwardly heaved.

The door breaking apart with pieces of wood hurling across the room hardly had time to register with the armed guard before a pair of enormous feet met his face. He flew hard against the back wall.

Rushing in next, Professor X ordered, "Get away from my boy," then grabbed each medical practitioner by a fistful of their hair.

Agonized screams exploded from both men. Vivid images, each more gruesome than the last, played throughout their minds until they eventually collapsed. With them writhing on the floor the Professor went to work erasing not only their knowledge of the ones contained but of mutation itself.

"Seanie." Beast collected the shaking youth into his arms, holding him in locked delicacy. "It's alright now, little brother. We're here." He ran a hand from his hair to down his tremor filled back. "We're here now."

Work complete, Charles came over next. "Seanie?" He bent, taking the boy's shoulder to look into his face. Sean took the Professor's hand and used his other to pat his throat. "Dear God," Beast loosened his grip for Professor X to latch onto the redhead next, "what have they done to you, baby?"

II

"Here!" Stopping his comrade's rapid movements, Havok placed his powers on the lowest charge he could deliver and released a bit of plasma to break the doorknob off. He then kicked the remainder of the door in, seeing two girls backed up into a corner. "It's okay, you're okay." He ran in. "We're mutants, too. We're here to get you out of this place." Taking Elise's hand, Claudia went right to him. "Be still, okay?" He gently removed the needle connecting her IV. "Are you okay? Is she?"

Claudia nodded then urged, "Please, we have to get Luis, too."

"Do you know where he is?" When she nodded again, Havok stooped to lift up Elise. "Easy, sweetie. I've gotcha. Vapor," he transferred the frightened child over to Vapor's arms, "Hang onto her while we grab Luis." He then followed Claudia out, keeping a hold on her hand as they sped through the hall together.

They eventually reached a door at the far end. "They keep him in here."

Using the same technique as he had before, Havok got the door open and hurried inside. He found a shivering figure cloaked underneath a blanket.

"Luis? Take it easy, buddy, everything's okay now." Havok walked over carefully and slowly pulled back the blanket. Underneath he discovered an absolutely shaken little boy with a face extremely canine in nature. Unmoved, Havok scooped him straight up. "Time to go, pal."

Not sure why or even caring in that moment, Luis found himself burrowing into the front of the stranger's uniform as they returned to Claudia.

Detecting a noise from the other end, Vapor ceased rocking Elise and stood her up in the room. "Stay right here." He stepped back out to see a guard running at him with gun loaded.

In an instant, the gun vanished from his clutch and reappeared inside Vapor's glove covered hand. He then proceeded to further subdue the astonished guard with a sock to the chin followed by swift kick to the abdomen.

When his delayed partner popped up next, Vapor stole a brief glance towards the room. Then, tightening his grip around the weapon, he fired it. Elise screamed and covered her ears the moment the miniature explosion sounded. His bleeding thigh in absolute agony, the guard dropped. Vapor's senses returned at the sight of Magneto, with a thick file tucked under one arm, hovering behind the injured one. The two mutants only looked at each other.

"Magneto, Vapor!" Children in tow, Havok ran upon them. "What happened?"

Shaking his head out, Vapor quickly tucked the weapon behind his belt before reaching inside to take hold of Elise again. The small thin body wound arms around him and whimpered.

"Excellent work," Magneto spoke at last. "Now make haste. We have to get Sean and everyone home."

An elated grin grew on Havok's face. "They found him…"

Magneto nodded and with the younger males' arms loaded down, he reached out for Claudia. "This way, my dear."

Claudia smiled in earnest as she linked up with the caped figure.

IIIIIII

It took a great deal of mental strength for the telepath to keep focus on the front of the jet. Out of the corner of his eye in the row of seats, Sean laid with his head in Havok's lap. The blonde whispered assurances into his ear while running fingers through the red hair and thumping him lightly on the stomach every so often.

Warm shadow over the slumbering boy and girl blanketed by his cape, Magneto looked to the older one beside them. "My apologies. If I'd known we were going to pick up such a lovely passenger, I would have seen to proper stocking of the jet."

Claudia shook her head, lowering her second bottle of water. "No, this is perfect. Thank you. Thank you so much. I was on my knees every night in that place…" her brown eyes shined, "I can't believe I'm going to see my mom again."

Removing a wrapped chocolate from a pouch on his belt, Magneto handed it over to her with a special smile. "To keep up your strength." He bent, tapping her cheek affectionately. "Until we can get a proper meal into all of you."

Your control was commendable back there.

Beast kept his focus on steering but returned, Charles?

I could sense it all throughout the flight, the Professor told him, you wanted terribly to sever the heads of all we ran into back there but you displayed true self-control. Well done, Henry.

Dipping his chin somewhat at the praise, Beast still sent back, Thank you, Charles.

In one of the two-seaters by himself, Vapor absently stroked the gun over and over. Eyebrows and shoulders took a leap when it animated and flew right out of his clutch. He looked up to see Magneto taking hold of it.

Lowering to sit beside the young man, the metal wielder placed an arm around him. Vapor rested on his armor covered shoulder and Magneto left a peck on top the dark haired head.

IIIIIII

Once his wife, the Headmasters, Emma, Victor, and Alex gathered around outside the lab, Hank addressed them all.

"As near as I can tell, Sean underwent extensive testing," he began. "While nothing they did proved long-term harmful, the procedures themselves were most likely extremely and have left him severely fatigued and disoriented. His nutrition these last few days has been almost nonexistent as well."

"What about his screech?" Victor inquired.

Hank replied, "Whatever was in those drugs proved strong enough to temporarily but greatly paralyze his mutation."

"But eventually the effects will wear off," Emma surmised positively.

"Yes," Hank then added, "but I am unable to determine just how long that will be exactly. Because at the moment, he has no voice at all."

Raven's yellow eyes clouded over. "So he can't even talk to us?"

Hank shook his head in grim confirmation.

Charles crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he lowered his head.

A low growl emitted from Victor.

Turning to lean forward against the wall beside him, Erik rapped against the firm surface forcefully. "Damn it…"

Trying to contain his own building rage, Alex sent his arms around Emma and Raven's shoulders.

IIIIIII

Stretched out on the sofa, Leon promptly sat up when the elder mutant returned to his den. Erik took note of his posture; the contrite fledging awaiting his correction.

Leon spoke with, "I'm sorry if I did anything to defy orders or endanger this mission."

"You did what you had to in order to carry things out successfully." Erik approached him. "I am not angry with you, boychick, only a little surprised." He sat, deciding to reposition the young one onto his lap. Though it still took much getting used to, Leon settled into it. "What made you fire?"

Leon stared towards the desk. "I don't have the typical "survivor" story. I have no yearn for vengeance; not because of any great morals within me but simply because I don't carry the desire. I suppose I find it pointless. Those who carried it out were obeying a higher authority no longer even in power over the US. They wouldn't know my mother from any other oriental woman. As for my father, that could have been anyone under the sun; stranger or acquaintance. But today when I was holding Elise and she grasped at me as if terrified for her own life should I let her go, everything hit me at once. Sean's containment, those other children, the fact that this sort of thing has been carried out time and time again… I lost it- no, I felt it. Complete and total rage. And when I did, I wanted one of them to feel at least a tenth of the pain my parents had to endure."

Erik listened to him entirely. "And yet, you did not shoot to kill. Even through the rage, you maintained control." He inched his head forward to connect their cheeks. "You may have an edge on me there, boychick."

Leon laid a hand over Erik's arm. "It wasn't all about them." He turned to better face him. "I wanted them to feel your pain, too."

Fingers going into the long dark strands, Erik returned, "And I want to take away all the pain that you feel. The past has left us both with many scars. We will make our recovery into a brighter future together with our family."

Leon nodded with a tiny murmur of, "Mmhmm."

IIIIIII

Giggles completely filling the living room, the small boy squealed, "Quit it, Uncle Alex!"

Alex stopped blowing raspberries on the defenseless stomach and reached up to nuzzle noses with him. "If you want me to stop so bad, why're you laughin', huh?"

Trav cupped his uncle's face. "'Cause I'm happy."

"Oh yeah?" Alex could not help smiling down at him. "What're you happy about?"

Trav threw his hands out. "Seanie's home!"

"Seanie's home!" Alex mimicked. "Yep, right where he belongs." He then let off a fake yell when two other bodies clamped onto his arms. "Oh no, sneak attack! No fair!"

When Alex fell back, Joey climbed onto him while Scott bumped foreheads with him.

Trav crawled around to get close to his face. "We gotcha now, Uncle Alex."

"Oh yeah, you got me." Alex took Scott by the shoulder to bring him down to hold. "And you're stuck with me."

Scott picked up on something in his expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Alex said matter-of-factly. "In fact, everything's great." He sat up, leaving Joey in his lap while giving his arms to the other pajama clad boys. "After we got those kids back home, all I wanted was to get back here to all of you. Seriously, what would I do if I didn't have you shrimptoids around to drive me crazy?"

"Don't worry, Al." Joey wrapped arms around his neck. "We're always gonna drive you crazy."

"Oh yeah?" Alex gave him a tickle and got a laugh for it. "Okay, one cookie a piece then it's time to finish getting ready for bed."

"Aww," Trav folded his little arms, "I wanna stay up to play with Seanie."

"Seanie's sleeping just like you're going to be soon." Alex poked his stomach playfully. "Kitchen, now. Butt move."

"Cookie time, Trav." Joey took his hand and hastened out at a reasonable enough indoor pace.

Alex stood and Scott started to go after them until he found himself snatched up and tucked under the arm of the older Summers.

"Hey," Scott waved his own arms about, "sneak attacks aren't fair when you do them!"

"Got to be ready for anything, Scottie." Alex administered a gentle noogie as he carried him out.

IIIIIII

Unsure of what exactly had caused him to awaken, his eyelids peeled back. By the light of the reading lamp next to his bed, he found himself back inside his room; the one he had imagined waking up to for quite a while. Feeling a warmth tucked under his left arm, he immediately smiled at who and tried to say the name but grabbed his throat in alarm at the silence that resulted.

As though he had heard the acknowledgment regardless, Frank raised his head and rubbed at his eyes. "Sean…" He got a clearer view of him. "Seanie!" He flung arms around him. "Oh my God, I knew you'd come home. I knew it. I missed you like crazy, man." Sean held onto him tightly but pulled back enough to gesture at his throat. Frank only shook his head. "I know, it's okay." His face sank against the older teen's front. "I'm just so glad you're here…"

Sean closed his eyes and increased their lock as he inhaled sharply.

IIIIIII

Growing entirely still, Maya dropped her pen and looked back. At the one having to use the doorway to keep himself up, she stood in part disbelief and the rest awe.

"What are you doing? You shouldn't be out of-," her eyes enlarged when he started to sink, "Sean!" and she darted out for him. Helping him regain some stability, she stared into his face worriedly. "Are you okay?"

Not breaking their gaze for several seconds, Sean went in, closing the space that separated their lips. Finding herself in a weakened state now, Maya worked to keep them both up as she wholeheartedly returned the long desired kiss.