Jean sat in a darkened room that she had been in for hours, trying to block out the voice echoing in her head. She could do this; she could, she could stay in control. Jean wrapped one arm around her chest and the other around her head as she rocked back and forth muttering no, stop it to the demanding voice echoing in her head.

'Let me out. Come on you know you want to; let me out.'

"No! I am in control! Not you; never you!"

'You're in control? What are you in control of? You have nothing. You've thrown Logan away, Scott doesn't want you and your so called best friend is probably bedding him right now!'

"Stop it! That's not true. Scott and Ro are just friends and she would never do that to me!"

'Really? She didn't tell you he was alive and wasn't she the one that convinced you to back off and give Scott room?' The voice in her head laughed sarcastically. 'Room to what? To make sure she had a clear path to his heart and his bed? Can't you picture it the two of them intertwined, skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, his hand sliding down grasping her leg and bringing it to rest around his waist? Or perhaps its the two of them in the shower steam rising, her head thrown back against the shower wall, her body arched so far out that the only thing supporting her is him. Can't you see it? Her legs wrapped around his waist as he moves within her? His hands grasping her hips, as he uses his legs to steadily drive himself within her warmth. Do you see it? Do you feel it? You remember what it felt like; how good it felt, how with a slight roll of his hips he could send your senses flying?'

Jean fell back onto the bed and rolled into the fetal position; trying to block out the images that were suddenly running through her mind.

"Stop it, please, stop it." Jean nearly whimpered.

The voice in her head softened and became cajoling.

'I can make it stop. I can stop all the pain and the doubts; I can even bring Scott back to us. All you have to do is let me out. Give up control for just a few moments and I can make everything like it once was.'

"No…"

'Yes, it would be so easy. Just let go and we can have it all, everything.' When Jean doesn't respond the voice continues. 'Do you remember how it felt to be connected to him; to always have a part of him in our mind? We could have that again. So easy, so simple; recreate the link...a gentle nudge in the right direction...and he's all ours again.'

"No, I need the Professor. He'll…"

'The Professor? What do you think he can do for us? He kept Scott from us for months; he won't give us what we want. But can give it to ourselves. We can get him back all on our own. All you need to do is let me help you.'

"I…I can't."

'But, I can. Let me out; let me do this for us…for you.'

Jean lay in silence on the bed for a few more minutes before she rose, wiped under her eyes with her hands and left the room.

Scott and Ro headed across the lawn toward the mansion. Ro had told Scott that she was pretty sure that she could make it home alone but he had insisted on walking with her anyway. As they walked along they discussed the time frame for recruiting the possible new team members; if the Professor's approved of their plan.

"If we get the go ahead from the Professor, I would like to get started as early as next week." Scott said.

"That seems awfully fast." Ro stated.

"Yes, but I would like to have the new team members in place before the school year begins."

"Mm, where would we start?" Ro asked.

"In Europe with Elizabeth Braddock and then we come back and make our way across the states to recruit the others."

"Sounds good." Ro stops as the reach the terrace steps and smiles at Scott. "Are you going to see me to the door are do you think I can make it on my own from here?"

Scott snorts out a laugh.

"I think you'll be fine on your own from here and yes, I know you would have been fine any way." Scott shrugged his shoulders. "I worry. It's just something I do."

Ro reaches out and touches Scott face.

"Thank you. It's nice to know you care." Ro leans forward and places a kiss on Scott's cheek. Pulling back she smiles at the surprised look on his face. "Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow." As she turns to go up the stairs Scott stops her by placing a hand on her arm.

"I'll always care." Leaning forward slowly as if to give Ro time to turn her head or pull back, Scott gently brushes his lips across hers. Pulling back a little he opens his eyes to gauge Ro's reaction. Seeing her lips curve into a slight smile, he smiles in return and steps back. "Goodnight Ro." Turning away he starts back across the lawn turning back once to see Ro touch her fingers lightly to her lips before she turns and heads up the terrace steps.

Ro started across the terrace towards the French doors when she was stopped by the sound of Logan saying her name.

"Ro." Ro stopped as she spotted Logan sitting in the shadows.

"Logan." Logan stood up and walked over to Ro as she said his name. She stood silently, eyebrow quirked in inquiry, as Logan's gaze traveled slowly over her body. Until finally frowning at his scrutiny Ro folded her arms under her chest and asked, "Is something the matter Logan?"

"No, not at all. Nice outfit by the way. Did you and Summers get all your business taken care of?" Ro frowned in confusion at Logan's sarcastic drawl.

"Yes, we did." Ro stated.

Logan moved over to the terrace railing and casually leaned back against it, legs and arms crossed in front of him.

"Hmm, you know, you and I have discussed a lot of X-Men business when Scott and the Professor were gone and I don't ever remember your dressing like that or giving me a kiss. That something you reserve for Summers only?"

"Well I didn't know you were interested Logan. Besides, weren't busy with Jean at the time." Logan uncrossed his arms and stood up straight.

"Don't play games with me Ro. You know what I'm talking about. How in the hell do you think Jean would have felt if she would have seen that touching little display?"

"What display Logan? All she would have seen was two friends saying goodnight."

Logan snorted.

"Yeah, me and my friends exchange kisses when we say goodnight all the time. Give me a break Ro! Why don't you just come clean and admit that you and the boy scout are an item!"

"That is not true Logan and even if it were it would not be any of your concern." Ro stated sharply.

"The hell it ain't! Jean…" Logan breaks off as Ro interrupts him.

"Is a grown woman who can handle her own life! She does not need you to play the role of protector!" Before Logan can respond the Professor interrupts.

"What is going on here?"

Scott made his way back to the boathouse. He couldn't believe he had kissed Ro. Granted it wasn't a lengthy kiss, just a slight brushing of the lips, but still he had kissed her and she hadn't seemed to mind. No instead she had smiled and gently touched her lips where theirs had met. Chuckling softly he jogged up the lake house steps and let himself inside, only to be greeted by the sight of Jean standing in the middle of the room waiting for him.

"Jean?" Scott closes the door behind him and approaches Jean. "What are you doing here?" When Jean doesn't respond, Scott steps closer and places a hand on her arm. "Jean? Are you alright?" When he still doesn't get a response he tries to move with her to the sofa, only to find that he is suddenly unable to move. Jerking his eyes to her face he realizes that she is keeping him immobile.

"Jean? Jean!? What in the hell are you doing? Release me!"

Jean raises her hand and places it on Scott's check almost in the same exact spot that Ro had touched earlier.

"Shh, it's alright. I'm going to make everything okay again." Jean ran her hand lightly down Scott's face, to his neck and finally to his chest where she starts to slowly undo the buttons on his shirt. "Nothing and no one will ever come between us again."

"Jean stop this. Whatever you plan on doing stop it now before it's too late." Scott tried again to move away as Jean finished unbuttoning his shirt and started to run her hands over his chest and abdomen. "Jean, please this is not you. You don't want to do this. Jean listen to me no one has come between us. We've just grown apart, it happens. But it will be okay. Jean do you hear me it will be okay. I just need you to let me go."

Jean responds by wrapping her arms around Scott's waist and nuzzling her face against his neck and chest. Bringing her face up she places several kisses upon Scott's mouth. When he remains unresponsive to her overtures, she opens her eyes and places her hands around his head; pulling him forward until his forehead is resting against hers. Looking deeply into his eyes she chides him once again to be silent. Scott sucks in a breath as he notices the color of her eyes – black!

"Shh, yes, it will all be okay. Just relax and I will make it all okay again." Scott frowns as he starts to feel a tingling in the back of his mind. As he realizes what is happening, what she is attempting to do, he tries to block her out of his mind.

As Jean realizes what he is attempting to do, she tightens her grasps and digs her fingers into his skull as she tries to force her way past his minds defenses.

"Don't fight me Scott. Don't fight us. Just let me in and everything will be alright again. We were so close when we had our link and we can be….no…we will be again once we are reconnected."

Scott immediately picks up on her use of us when referring to herself.

"Jean listen to me you have to fight this. You have to fight her. Don't let her have control. You're stronger than this." Scott breaks off as he feels Jean working her way further into his mind. Feeling as if his head is being split in two he tries one more time to reason with her. "Jean? Jean, you don't need to do this. I…let me help you. Jean, please…" Scott breaks off once again as the pain in his head becomes too much to bear and he sends out a mental cry.

'Professor! Jean…ahh…Phoenix!'

The Professor looks between Ro and Logan as he awaits a response to his question. Ro speaks up first.

"It's nothing Professor. It's just…" Ro stops speaking as Logan overrides her explanation.

"It's hardly nothing! She and Summers are getting all cozy…" Logan starts only to be interrupted in turn by Ro.

"We we're not getting cozy…" She breaks off as the Professor suddenly grabs his head and gasps out, "Scott!"

"Professor!" Ro declares.

"Shit!" Logan curses as they both rush to his side.

The Professor raises a hand and waves them off.

"No! Get to the lake house. Jean…the Phoenix…Scott is in trouble!"

Logan spins with a word and sprints off toward the lake house with as Ro summons the wind and takes to the sky. The Professor sends a mental call out to the other X-Men, Hank, Kitty, Colossus, Bobby and Rogue, telling them about the situation in at the lake house and ordering them there as well. Breaking off contact with the others he maintains contact with Rogue.

'Rogue?'

'Yes, Professor?'

'I need to know that if becomes necessary, that I can count on you to do everything you can to stop Jean.' Rogue is silent. 'Rogue?'

'Yes. Yes, you can count on me.'