Dena was sitting on my bed, reading a book. You'd never guess that little girl was such a book work; though, I was the only one she ever read around. I could only feel her guard go down when it was either me or Logan in the room. If there was anyone else, she was like a fortress. Dena was not a trusting person. It didn't seem healthy for a girl her age. Then again, tell me something that had happened to her that was healthy for a girl her age. She wasn't going to have a normal childhood in any manner.

"How's school going?" I asked.

"I hate it." She answered, monotonously.

The Professor had enrolled her into school a week ago. He was…impressed with her placement test scores. Eleven years old, this girl was reading on a Junior level, writing at college level, and could speak three languages. She was slow at Math, however, but not too bad. Algebra confused her, and she was slow to answer basic division questions. Well, we all have our strong suits and our failures. She was the speaking type. She had the gift of gab, as Logan would say.

"Still not getting along with people?"

"Sis, I'm 11. Everyone else is, like, 16." She rolled her eyes.

"Well, at least you're in the same class as Kitty." I smiled.

"I scare her."

"You do not."

"Ask her." She frowned. "I scare everyone.

"Well, you do have a…foreboding demeanor."

"I like it that way."

"Well, if you want people to like you-"

"I don't, though."

"Why's that?" I asked, confused.

"If people don't like me, I won't like them. If I don't like them, I won't trust them. If I don't trust them, they can't hurt me." She said simply, shrugging, as if it were obvious.

"Not everyone is going to hurt you."

"'I know that, but why give them the chance?"

"Well, you trust me, don't you?"

"I don't think you'll hurt me." She sounded a little taken aback.

"I'd die first." I replied. She smiled. "What book ya got there?"

"The Scarlet Letter." She smiled broadly. "One of my favorites."

"That's an odd favorite for a kid to have."

"I'm odd in many ways."

"Very true." I chuckled. "But so are all of us."

"Scott says he's worried about me."

"It's imbedded in Scott's DNA to worry about everyone. He's a manly mother hen."

"When will he admit that he's in love with Jean?"

"One day, dollface. One day." I smiled and handed her a bag from Hot Topic. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"What is it?"

"Open it and see, silly girl." I laughed and she tore into the bag. She squealed as she pulled the Emily Strange backpack out of the bag.

"Oh my God, I love it!" She squealed as she hugged me. I laughed.

"I'm glad. Now, go and get in bed. You've got school in the morning, and I've got some homework to do."

"Liar. You haven't been to school in weeks." She frowned. "Don't treat me like I don't know what's going on."

"Maybe I like to pretend it's not happening for my own sake, Dena."

"No, you're not like that." She replied, putting her hands on her hips. "You're strong and stubborn. You probably remind yourself about this on a daily basis in an effort to be strong."

I had to laugh. She had me figured out. 'Ok, fine. I won't coddle you, then."

"Good." She smiled and kissed my cheek. "Good night , sis."

"Good night, Dena." I smiled as she walked down the hall to her room. God, that kid was such a mind trip. Sugary sweet and yet ice cold. She was smart, I'll give her that.

"Problem, kitten?" Wade was suddenly behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

"Problem? Never." I smiled up at him and kissed him softly. I closed my eyes, suddenly very dizzy.

"I got us some tacos." He slammed a paper bag down on my desk, making me laugh. I groaned. Shouldn't have done that. "Not feeling well, again?" He looked worried, I just smiled.

"I'm fine, Wade. I promise."

"You better be." He kissed my neck softly and pulled me onto the bed with him. I giggled.

"I have reports to finish, Wade."

"You work too much. You need to chill for a little bit." He pulled me in close to him and held me still. "I'll only let you go to eat tacos, but not right now."

"You're so clingy." I giggled.

"You like it when I'm clingy."

"Shush! You know nothing!" I snuggled into him and breathed deeply.

"I know enough," He kissed my head. "I know I love you."

"And you know I love you." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Don't make me bite that, little girl."

"You keep making yourself sounds like such a pedo."

"I do, don't I?" He chuckled darkly.

"Killbrew ran away." I said. I had wanted to wait until he was in a good mood to tell him. He stiffened, but didn't say anything. "He ran out of the containment area while the shooting incident happened."

"I wondered why it was so quiet." He said evenly.

"Are you going to go after him?" I asked.

"Eventually. Right now I have something more important to attend to."

"What?" I widened my eyes in surprise.

"Your ever need and desire." He nibbled at my ear and I giggled.

"Rogers is recovering fast."

"Good for him." He mumbled; too busy running his hands up my legs to bother with what I was saying.

"I should get to meet him next week."

"Right now, I should be the only man on your mind."

"Well, can I still think of Angelina Jolie?"

"Only if you wanna role-play, kitten."

"Wade…."

"Yes, kitten?"

"I can't feel my legs."

"Come again?" He froze.

"I can't breathe…" My chest felt so heavy. My sight was getting blurry "Wade…." I gasped, trying to shake away the bulr, but I couldn't get my head to function.

"Professor!" I heard Wade's scream like a whisper in my ear. I was so tired. I had to close my eyes. They were so heavy….