Chapter 5: Speed and Spyke

One day, that's how long Jean hadn't done anything but sit by Ethan's side as he was unconfident. His doors were close so he was okay in his mentally level. His physically however had been dammed a lot. He had lost a lot of blood and some bones brook. As Jean sat by his side as normal, Charles enter the room.

"Jean, you should need a break." he told her. "You need to rest." she shook her head.

"Sorry, Professor, but I won't leave his side before he asks me to." she told him. He didn't become shock as he knew how close they were it was only expected. "It's my fault he got hurt, Professor." Jean whisper. "I shouldn't have let my guard down for Fred. I should have been ready and let someone be close."

"No Jean, you did the right thing." Charles said. "You gave him your trust as Ethan has given his to you. You were just unlucky that he didn't understood you wanted his beast and not understanding everything was about him." Jean didn't reply, making Charles continued to speak. "I don't know, but Ororo said you two was fighting last night. Care to talk about it?"

"It's just," Jean hesitated, "he seems to keep something from me, and I don't know what."

"I see."

"You know what it is, don't you?"

"I do, but I believe it's not my choice to tell you." Charles said. "He will tell you when he is ready." Jean nodded.

"I hope he know I am here for him, whatever it is."

"He does. Trust me, he knows."

Ethan opened his eyes and try to focus. He still felt the pain, but try to ignore it. He slowly remembered what had happened as his sight become better and he saw Jean sitting on a chair beside him, her head against his bed and sleeping. It was dark outside and he just watch as Jean sleep.

"She has just come back from a trip." Logan had entered his room and stood now by the end of it. "She hasn't left you side before your father told her to go with Scott to meet Evan."

"What have I missed?" Ethan ask, still looking at Jean who look all exhausted.

"Ororo's nephew has some trouble with accepting to come here, but he is here as he promised to give us a chance."

"Evan is here?" Ethan ask. "Ha, I would never believe that if I didn't feel a new present in the building." he lean back and look at Logan. "Where is my father?"

"Asleep as all the others."

"When why are you up?"

"You know me kiddo, I just wanted to check on you." Ethan raise an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe I wanted to see if you were alive and could perhaps hear your thought about something. I wonder what you are going to do, with your mother."

"Don't Logan." Ethan warned him. "I will not talk with you about this."

"I'm just worried okay, I'm unsure if I can trust you or not." Logan told him. "You might be here and Chuck and Red might believe in your all good side. But you don't have me convinced." Logan said like a warning, making Ethan smirk.

"The Wolverine, worried about me turning his back. What a joke."

"Don't please yourself." Logan told him. "Just answer this one question. When your mother come to collect you, will you go with her?" Ethan didn't reply as he didn't really know what to say. Logan took the silent as a maybe and more a yes than no.

"Don't worry, I will be on my way when I'm on my feet again."

"Where do you plan to go?"

"I have some things to do. Nothing for you to worry about." Logan snorted and left the room. Jean work up as he smashed the door after him. She looked around and then saw Ethan be awake. She stood up and hug him.

"Oh my God, Ethan!"

"Jean, you are crashing me."

"I'm sorry." she said and let him go. "How are you feeling?"

"It's good, you?"

"Only a bit tried. I and Scott meet Evan today. He was not… happy to see us, can you say."

"The boy might be a kid, but you must be amaze of how he has control himself for so long." Ethan muttered and look at Jean. "You should go and sleep in your own bed, Jean. You don't look that good."

"Like I said, just a bit tired."

"When go and sleep, I will see you in the morning, I promise not to go anywhere."

"And you expect me to trust that you won't go to the Danger room the second you can stand?" Jean joked, but had a serious face. Ethan shook his head.

"Bye, Jean. Sleep well." he said and made Jean roll her eyes. She however bent forward to kiss his cheek and left the room to go to her own.

Jean found Ethan in the kitchen the next day and she stared at him. He stood there like he hadn't been hurt and he didn't seem to have any problems. Charles was sitting by the table and had a newspaper, Ororo walk back and forth to place breakfast on the long table.

"Should you be out of bed?" Jean ask as she walk over to Ethan and start helping him take the eggs to the plate.

"Good morning to you too."

"You two, less talk more do." Logan said and Ethan roll his eyes but had a smile as he took the plate with egg out to the table. The other came in to the dinner room and everyone sat down. Jean, Ethan and Ororo to Charles left and Kitty, Kurt, Scott and Logan to his right. There was an empty chair for Evan beside Ororo.

"Where is the new kid?" Kitty ask

"Still sleeping." Charles told her. "He had a quite rough night."

"He knows who broke those lockers, has he told you?" Scott ask Charles.

"Lockers?" Ethan ask. He didn't really understand what they talk about as he had just come back from bed. He understood he had missed quite a lot.

"Evan run away then we try to talk to him." Jean told Ethan and gave Logan the plate with eggs as he asked for them. "He went back to his school there the cops catch him with all the lockers damage."

"He said he didn't do it." Logan snorted. "I don't know, but he seems kind of arrogant like he think he can do anything he want to."

"Are you saying we shouldn't help him?" Ororo ask Logan.

"I say we help him but have an eye on him, we can never be sure if he is on our side or do something for his own purpose." Ethan got the point from what Logan was saying. He didn't trust him. It was obviously. Ethan stood up and walk to leave.

"I just need to rest some more." he told his father when he asked where he was going. In the stairs he met Evan, his housecoat all asunder. They look at each other and Ethan had a hard time to really see the small kid he used to play with sometimes as a kid.

"You have grown up."

"Yeah, you too." Ethan relay.

"Why would he not trust me?" Evan asked after a while of more stare.

"Trust me, it's not you he was meaning." Ethan answered. "I will have to go. I have some things to do."

"No game?" Evan asked.

"Sorry, body." Ethan walked past him. "Not today."

Charles looked at his son in worry. They were in his office as Ororo, Scott and Jean was with Evan to see is game which had come up in the last minute.

"You think she plan this, don't you?"

"She is not to trust, Ethan,"

"I know dad, but that doesn't mean she has to do with everything what come out bad." Charles shook his head.

"You right, she doesn't, now tell me why you have a bag packed and why I saw you fix with your motorcycle that you almost haven't use in ages."

"Dad, listen-"

"You are leaving, aren't you?"

"Just for some time. I will be to hand if you need me, but there is someone I have to meet."

"You are not going to talk to your mother, are you?" Charles ask.

"Maybe I stop by and talk to her, but now." Ethan said. "I, I think I have someone to help me with my powers." Charles raised an eyebrow. "See, you know we talk about all these doors for each power and my blood lust. I think this person might be able to help me keep them closer for longer and maybe make me able to use my powers more, to help in the fights and not be worry to make Jean or you worry. I also need to think dad."

"Because of that Logan said? You know I trust you even if you would end up with your mother. It's just, I don't like the idea that you are going to go and think someone can help you."

"I told you, I want to try, train and think." Ethan repeated. "I will be a call away and I won't block Jean out if she needs me, I promise."

"Very well, if you think this will help you. I will not stop you."

"Thanks dad."

"But," he stopped Ethan in his tracks to go. "I need you to help Rogue first."

"How will I help her?" Ethan ask. "We both know she doesn't trust the X-Men. How am I to help you with getting her here?"

"I don't know, just try something. Just talk to her, and when you have done that you can go to where you have to go."

"If I go now and talk to her, can I leave after?" Ethan ask.

"Okay then, go, but please be careful and take care."

"I will."

"So, you are leaving?" Logan enter the garage and saw Ethan pack his old motorcycle. It was a lot like Logan's but black and a bit newer model. Ethan didn't answer him as he didn't feel to talk to him. "What are you going to tell Red? Hey kiddo."

"Shut it down, Logan." Ethan yell. "I'm leaving, okay. I'm to meet a friend and when I will leave this town for a little while. Not too long, I promise."

"And if your father needs you?"

"I will be available to help you, but I will not come here before I'm ready."

"Where exactly, are you going?"

"None of your business." Ethan told him and jumped on the bike and drive away. He drove to the school there he found Rogue by a three. "Kait." he call and walk over. She looked up at him and she saw his bike.

"Hey, are you okay? Are you leaving?"

"Yeah I'm fine and I will just be gone for a week or two I hope. I'm off to see an old friend and ask for her help." Rogue look at him.

"Her?" she asked. "Can't Grey help you?"

"I'm afraid not with this. I'm… going to see if I can make my powers more stable without Jean having to, you know kiss me every time."

"Yeah, she told me about your so-called doors." Rogue almost said in a whisper.

"I'm want to thank you, for helping us against Fred." Ethan said. "My friends and I am in debt for you. Here." he gave her a note with a phone number. "Why don't you call me if you need anything. I will do what I can to help you. About anything."

"Thanks."

"No problem, and one more thing. Be careful with Mystique, she can play nice but be a real tiger." Ethan told her. "Trust me, the X-Men will help you if you need it, but as long as you are careful I guess you won't have any problem, will you Rogue?"

"Rogue?"

"I might have some better knowledge than you think." Ethan smirk. "I will see you Rogue, take care." he left her by the tree and drive off with his bike.