Chapter 7

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"Don't look so grim, Scott. You didn't kill me, after all." She looked at every inch of his face, a different sort of seeing. His jaw clenched tightly and his brow furrowed into his visor. Dear, serious Scott.

"I couldn't do what you asked me to, Jean. How could you ever think I would?"

"I miscalculated," she acknowledged. "But it's a good thing, isn't it? Professor Xavier helped me defeat the Phoenix. She's in here still, but I have control of her now." As soon as she'd arrived at the school's infirmary, the Professor had entered her mind and found her. Together, combining their tremendous mental abilities, they had attacked the Phoenix until she was weak and tiny. Then Jean had attached bits of herself to wherever they could find traces of the Phoenix's presence. Locking her away wouldn't work, because she'd only grow in secret again. This way Jean could track everything the Phoenix felt and thought and desired, and she could respond. Even harness her anger, if necessary.

From now on, she would always have to manage her dual personality.

"I can't thank you enough, Scott, for bringing me to the Professor. When I was trapped with the Phoenix, she was just so strong—I didn't think anyone or anything could defeat her. But you believe the Professor can do anything, can't you?" she smiled fondly at him again. "And you were right. How is he doing, by the way?"

"He's sleeping. He's only woken up once since helping you beat the Phoenix. He looks bad, but he'll get better. I'm more concerned about you. How are you feeling?"

"I feel good. Better. I wouldn't have woken up if I didn't feel ready to start moving." She sat up then, pushing the sheet down to her waist. Her hair was braided and she pulled the long, tight braid in front of her body to undo it.

"The hair color stayed."

"You like it?" Jean asked, surprised. Scott shrugged shyly. "Maybe I'll keep it. I have to thank Storm for combing it and braiding it for me; that was kind of her."

"How did you know it was Storm?"

"I know everything. Oh, don't look so horrified," she laughed. "It feels like I know everything, I guess. Everything current, anyway; I can hardly predict the future or recover what's past. But I know—I know what you're thinking right now, Scott, and that you're scared for me. Even of me, a little bit. I know that Storm is leading a drama class right now on the front lawn. That's strange. Shouldn't Kurt—oh. Kurt's missing? What happened?"

"We have no idea. He disappeared four days ago and we've been searching for him. But Jean, I don't want you to tire yourself or strain yourself—" She laughed lightly and stroked Scott's jaw. She'd missed that jawline.

"It's no strain, Scott. I don't have to look for these things; I know them already. I just have to name the knowledge inside of me."

"Do you know where Kurt is, then?" She closed her eyes for a second. For some reason, Kurt was hiding from her.

"He's unconscious. I can sense his mind but—oh, it's odd. He's wrapped in something, like a rope, maybe? It's keeping me from—from pinning down, exactly—aughh," she held a hand to her head, feeling a sudden pain, and had to stop focusing on Kurt.

"Jean, look at me." She did. "I told you not to strain yourself. You just woke up, and you're still getting used to your new powers. Please, give it some time. Please?"

"Alright," she nodded. "Someone has covered Kurt in some material that blocks psionic detection. Don't let the Professor use Cerebro to search; it might kill him. It's very powerful, but I expect I'll be able to get past it once I'm feeling a little stronger."

Scott didn't look happy, but that hardly mattered. She would do what had to be done.