DISCLAIMER:
As you should know, I do not own the X-Men. They are the sole property of Marvel Comics Group. However, I do claim assorted OC's and will generally share if asked politely.

Lost, Then Found
by Dizi

Chapter 8

After all they had seen, the journey home was somewhat anticlimactic. The same cats acted as guides again but Dayne stayed behind, saying he shouldn't be needed this time. Leading in what seemed an entirely different direction than they had come, the cats fell away shortly before the gust of wind which signified to Logan they were back on school property.

Using her telepathy, Emma immediately contacted Charles who was frantic. Giving him only the bare bone of the events, she reassured him they were alright. Impatient, he resigned himself to waiting for them to finish their trek and join him in his office.

It took almost two hours for them to flesh out the details as all five felt the need to state their opinions and observations. Like his X-Men before him, Charles was horrified to learn Melody had been tied to Logan for three years. Doing what Morgan could not, he was able to repeat Melody's view of three years ago by accessing their minds in a quick group session, adding Logan and Scott's perspective to complete their knowledge.

He too remembered that night. Thinking the matter settled and any repercussions best handled by the police, and a doctor in Melody's case - though he hadn't known her name at the time - he had put it from his mind. Now he felt guilty for not following up. Charles knew if he had nothing would have been changed, but he was still ashamed of his lack of foresight.

With all he had learned, he didn't waste any time in trying to get a resolution. The next step was using their resources to find Melody's mother. Knowing the computer would be their best bet at doing so, Charles sent for Kitty since her last class had already ended.

Because the mother's name wasn't known, Kitty started by accessing the police report. From there she got most of what was needed. To be thorough, as it wouldn't do to have outdated information, she also confirmed it from the DMV, the IRS, and a Google search. Within a relatively short amount of time, Kitty presented them with the address and phone number of one Danielle Haugen.

As a bonus, she had also reviewed Melody's hospital records. Sadly, she told them the girl was in a coma. Having no physical reason found, the records cited it was due to shock from the trauma of her father's death and having been shot. Currently, Melody Haugen was at home in outpatient care with a private nurse visiting once a week.

Not knowing how Ms. Haugen would react to strangers showing up at her door and offering to help her daughter from a three year coma, Charles attempted to call her. A housekeeper answered, who was pleasant enough until he mentioned Melody.

Well aware of the charlatans that were known to come out of the woodwork after any kind of crisis, Charles didn't hold what was said against her. The woman called him a vulture and threatened to call the police. This was followed by a diatribe on the evil of trying to take advantage of her employer's sorrow and the phone being slammed down in his ear.

They were left with the dilemma of how to approach Melody's mother or get past her to do what was necessary. From Morgan's instructions, it wouldn't take long but getting to her in a legitimate fashion was the problem. Though not quite so legitimate or moral ways were mentioned.

Thinking honesty was the best policy, Logan made the decision to tell the truth; or most of it anyway. They really had just found out about Melody's condition, they really were interested, and they really did want to help. How and why were not important and need not be mentioned.

So Scott placed another call, this time stating where he was calling from and telling the housekeeper they wanted to make an appointment as an interested party. He was informed Ms. Haugen was sitting with her daughter and couldn't speak at the moment. However, she did suggest coming by in the morning.

As they had gone through everything else together, the same four teammates accompanied Logan to the Haugen home. They volunteered without him or Charles having to ask, which they would have done because Logan was not someone anyone would call diplomatic. Any one of the four would have been fine on their own, but all could be needed if Logan said the wrong thing.

Besides which, if Danielle Haugen became the least bit uneasy, they knew Emma would feel free to tamper. Neither Charles or Logan approved of that sort of thing, however there were times lack of psychic etiquette came in handy. They would never suggest she do it, but knew she would.

The housekeeper turned out to be a rotund and matronly woman. She said little and ushered them to a plush living room. It was obvious to Logan and the others that the house was owned by someone with a lot of money. Unlike the mansion, it didn't show because of priceless antiques or heirlooms. Rather, outside and in was very modern and new.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Danielle Haugen, Melody's mother," a woman said hurrying in several minutes after they had been waiting. "Judy, my housekeeper, tells me you're from the school where the... accident happened?"

Logan would have guessed she was related to Melody if he had seen her anywhere. With the same green eyes and mop of curly blond hair, Danielle Haugen looked just like her. Though he supposed it was the other way around and Melody looked like Danielle. However if he hadn't ever seen Melody, he would never have guessed this woman was anyone's mother. Danielle reminded him of a barfly. Stylishly thin, dressed in very tight designer jeans, no bra, and a silk spaghetti strap blouse with a deeply scooped neck which was barely decent, she wasn't the June Cleaver or Donna Reed type he'd been looking for.

"Yes, we are from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," Ororo stated, holding out her hand. "You must think us very rude to not have contacted you sooner."

"Ve vere very sorry to learn of your child's health." Seen through the image inducer, Kurt's expression was very sincere.

"Thank you, but I would never think of you as rude for that. I'm not one to cast stones since I've never met anyone as bad as me. You see, I'm... I'm not a good mother." A haunted expression flitted across her face. "She was... is my daughter and I treated Melody more like a possession. I'll be honest and say I have no idea why she's always felt close to me. It wasn't until after... it happened... that I understood what I had thrown away. If you think of yourselves as rude, what was I?"

"I would say you're a product of your upbringing." Emma raised a delicate brow when Danielle looked at her in shock. "It took me a few minutes to recognize you since we don't run in the same circles. I've seen pictures of you when I've done business with your father. Similarly I've met your mother and I have to say, I doubt she would have felt anything but inconvenience if she was in your position."

"I... thank you. That makes me feel better even if it doesn't really excuse me. Nothing can do that, I was so shallow. But I've tried to change, I really have. Judy, my housekeeper, has become my best friend and I didn't even realize she was there before, she was just a servant." Danielle shook her head, making her curls bounce. "Listen to me going on like that to total strangers! I'm not sure what's wrong with me today."

The corners of Emma's lips twitched in a secret smile. Wondering if she had actually met Danielle's parents or had reached into the woman's mind, Logan frowned at her

"So how can I help you?" Melody's mother continued. "A donation to your school? My father would be more than willing."

"Ms. Haugen, I'm sure a donation would be appreciated, but we're not here to solicit money from you." Scott said it emphatically so she would know he meant it. "We want to know how you and Melody are doing."

"Guess I already told you how I am, huh? Melody... she doesn't change." Danielle let out a soft trill of unamused laughter which closely resembled a sniffle. "She just lies there, not getting better or worse."

Logan was sure she would start crying any second and thought Emma might have 'meddled' a little too much. It was great the woman loved Melody and had changed her ways, but this wasn't getting him closer to doing what he needed to do. Listening to all the touchy-feely stuff was making his patience wear thin.

Knowing his friend so well, Kurt recognized the signs in his body language and blurted out, "Perhaps ve can see her?"

"I-I'm not sure..." Danielle might have been open about herself and Melody's condition, but letting strangers into her daughter's room was entirely different.

"Logan is the one who found Melody and probably saved her life." Whether she made another 'push' wasn't evident, but when Emma inclined her head Danielle was very interested in him. "He would very much like to look in on her. Maybe just a quick peek?"

"That was you? Everything was so crazy at the time, I didn't think to ask questions like who exactly it was. Come right this way." Moving quickly, Danielle led them out of the livingroom to a short hallway with a staircase. She went past the stairs to what had obviously once been a den or study. "With all the equipment, I thought it would be best to have her down here. Then if... when she gets better, her room will be waiting for her."

Against the wall was a bed surrounded by the medical equipment, the same kind seen in a hospital and in the same set-up. Melody appeared very small lying in that bed. She looked three years older than her spirit form and her hair was longer, but she had the same dark circles under her closed eyes.

Under the steady beep of the monitors, Danielle said in a hushed tone, "The doctors said it's good to talk to her. For the first two years, I said everything I could think of. I talked until I was almost hoarse but it didn't help. I know it's because I was such a bad mother she doesn't think I care, I don't blame her. Now I just sit and look at her."

Breaking down, she began to sob. Ororo quickly put an arm around her shoulders and drew her to the doorway, with Emma following.

"Let's go back out so you don't cry in front of the girl, then we'll clean your face and have a nice visit with her, hmm?" Emma murmured the words softly while winking at the men over her shoulder.

"Well, she was a little subtler than usual," Scott muttered once the door was closed. "Hurry up, Logan. Who knows how long they might be."

But he was already at Melody's side without needing to be told. Looking at her face, Logan took her hand in a firm and gentle grip.

Nothing happened.

"How long do you zhink it vill take?" Kurt asked, hovering at his side.

"Ya think I know? You was there with Morgan same as me an' know as much as I do." Logan continued to hold her small and fragile hand in his large one.

The three men remained silent, waiting. Still nothing happened.

"... she has to be moved every so often to prevent bedsores, Judy and I take turns." Danielle was heard just outside the door.

Logan let go and took a step back from the bed just before the women came back in.

'Well? I assume you did what was necessary.' Emma inserted into their minds. 'Anything?'

'Nothin'. I ain't got no clue how long it takes or if this is normal,' Logan projected back in disgust.

"It is clear your love for your daughter is very deep." Ororo's attention was fully on Danielle. "You should continue to tell her and not give up hope."

"I know you're right, but it's hard to keep hoping after so long." Taking one of Melody's hands in hers, she stroked her daughter's hair. "I should bring in a beautician to cut her hair, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do it. Melody loved my hair when it was long and I thought she might like it this way."

"When she wakes, it can be cut if she doesn't like it," Ororo reassured her, placing a hand on the woman's back. It was heartbreaking for her to listen to Danielle as the only thing she could think of was her daughter. She had stated several times that she wasn't a good mother and had failed her daughter, blaming herself for what had happened. Apparently, Danielle had married 'beneath' her social status and her parents had refused to give them money. To support their lifestyle and unwilling to get an actual job, her husband had become a drug dealer. After his death and Melody's near death, her father had again taken care of them.

Because she was touching her, Ororo felt Danielle jump.

Eyes wide, Melody's mother whispered, "Her fingers moved. That's never happened before."

Logan heard a change in the girl's heartbeat at the same time the monitors beeped.

"Oh my God!" Danielle went into a panic, thinking there was a change for the worse. "Melody! Oh God, don't die Melody! Please don't die! I love you, I really do!"

Relieved, Logan could have told her that it was just the opposite, Melody wasn't dying but waking up. He thought it best to let her find out on her own though.

The other X-Men stepped back as the housekeeper came running, having heard the commotion.

"Judy! Call the doctor!" Danielle shouted.

However, the housekeeper was frozen in shock and just stood there.

Frantically turning to look at her, Danielle repeated her order, "Call the doctor!"

"Ma'am," the housekeeper pointed a shaking finger, "her eyes are open."

Ceasing her flustered movements, she burst into tears again. Melody's eyes were indeed open and her mouth moved as if to speak but no sound was coming out, her voice not working from disuse. Danielle grabbed her and hugged her daughter to her shaking body. "Thank God... I love you so much, Melody. Thank God you've come back to me."

Leaving mother and child alone, the five visitors left while Judy went running to call the doctor as Melody would still medical attention.

On the way back to their vehicle, the wind suddenly blew very hard.

Glancing around, Logan nodded to himself. All was as it should be.

The leaves on the trees were moving with the wind.

Five months later...

"Don't like that Chad kid," Logan grumbled aloud to himself on his way to get a beer after his last training class of the day. "He's too uppity an' know it all."

Now very large in the middle with her child, Jean was again leading a group of new students on a tour of the mansion. Feeling a bit of dejavu, Logan leaned against the wall to let them pass. He hoped Jean would keep going as he didn't feel like making nice for more kids, but he knew she wouldn't.

Pausing the group, she shot him a look which clearly said 'behave'. "Boys and girls, this is Logan. You'll all get to know him better when you have classes with him. He'll work with you on your mutant abilities and teaches self-defense."

Resigned, Logan nodded at them, managing a smile that ended up being a ferocious baring of teeth. Several students stepped back in fear.

"Let's move on, shall we?" Jean said to the group hurriedly, gesturing down the hall. Following her direction, they did as instructed with many looking at him over their shoulder.

However, a young teen with long curly blond hair and bright green eyes stayed behind. Unlike the others, she was seemingly unafraid and looked at him in fascination. Holding out a hand, she said, "Hi, my name's Melody."

Nostils flaring as he breathed in her unique scent, Logan ignore the hand. He looked at her from head to toe, taking in the new blue-jeans and hot-pink t-shirt before meeting her eyes. There was no sign of recognition. Swallowing, he managed to get out through his tight throat, "Ya oughtta stay with the others, Melody."

"Okay!" She smiled brightly at him. "I'll see you around, Mr Logan!"

As she ran to catch up with the others, he called out, "It's just Logan!"

Continuing to his original destination, he could still smell her in the hall and hear her footsteps. But just to be sure, Logan stopped and turned to look back again.

Melody was still there, standing at the back of the group. She waved at him and Logan knew this time Melody was seen by everyone because of the way the other students reacted to her actions.

The lost child had found her way home. That she had ended up back here was one of life's little ironies and he wasn't going to dwell on it.

The end.

note: A little different than my usual story, huh? And I suppose some might say it's not much of a ghost story but I liked it so I don't care.

Okay, now did everyone get that Melody was the girl in the last chapter of "Ordinary People"? She talked to Maggie. So I've got her in my 'student pool' of secondary characters and any time an unimportant student might be needed there's a possibility Melody will be used. I just realized, my secondary character pools are getting a little big.

Now, I have an idea and the possibility of a first chapter for a story about Morgan. I like her alot. She has such possibilities. But I now have at least SIX stories which are started but just petered out waiting for more inspiration - which comes and goes. It happened that way for the Jenny stories too. Anyway, if people want me to post these partial stories than I will but no promises whatsoever as to when they'd be finished, so if anyone has an opinion on that feel free to email me, my address is on my bio at the bottom of the page. Otherwise I promised to post the rest of what I have of "What Might Have Been", so that's next.

I hope everone liked my little "ghost" story. Maybe the next time I do one the ghost will actually be dead.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi