I don't have much to say other than thanks for the wonderful reviews, as always! Sorry it took so long to get this done but we had like 2 beautiful weeks, where I'm from, (kind of like the first chapter) where it was like 20 degrees Celsius and so I was outdoors for the week. And I'm leaving for New York for a few days with my drama class so I've been busy. I'm really sorry if this chapter seems… messy but I had so many ideas that I wanted to put into this chapter and I don't know how well I conveyed it. It seemed fine to me when I proof read it, but things change when someone else reads it. What may make perfect sense in my mind may not make sense in your mind. If there is any confusion I will be happy to inform anyone and edit it to my best abilities. But all in all I don't think it's that confusing I'm just overreacting haha.

P.S. I actually sat there for 5 to 10 minutes debating on whether or not to use some foul language and at a certain point where I felt it was necessary to use some language to express anger. I'm sorry if anyone gets offended!!

Without further ado, here is chapter four….

Chapter 4:

Jean, Scott, Evan and Rogue hurried down the stairs of the school. The basement was an all too familiar place for the X-men, as there had been another incident with Kurt and Forge's machine. The walls were a sickly ochre colour and the floor was cold, hard cement. In the middle of this dark and drab room was, looking quite out of place, Kitty who still held the shaken up Kurt in her arms. She turned around with her mouth gaped open in liberation at the arrival of her friends.

"Jean! Oh my God! How the hell are we going to get him out of here?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can get him to port himself home or at least to the car."

"I doubt that's going to happen."

"Let me try."

Kitty gently ceased her hold of Kurt and stood up. He pulled himself into a "ball" again.

Jean crouched down and became eye level with Kurt. All Kitty could do was watch hopelessly just like the other students, in silence, as Jean tried to help Kurt get out of the school. Jean put her hand under Kurt's chin and lifted his head to gain his attention. She spoke in calm, comforting voice trying to use her X-men training to be composed in all situations.

"Kurt? Look at me. You need to port yourself out of here. Can you teleport to Scott's car? It's in the student parking lot… Can you do it?"

Kurt's panicked neon yellow eyes had turned to a deep, rich gold colour that no longer read "fear" but pure agony and resentment. Jean had to struggle to stop the tears, which had welled up, from falling down her cheeks. She had never seen Kurt that way. He was always such a happy, go lucky person no matter what the circumstances were. She stood up and turned her face away from the rest of the students to hide how disturbed she was.

"We're going to have to get him out of here ourselves. He doesn't look like he's going to be moving under his own free will anytime soon."

"Scott, help me pick him up." Evan said, slipping his arms under Kurt's.

"Can't we just call the professor and get him to help us?"

Everyone turned to look at Rogue who was genuinely fearful for what would happen to Kurt who was not only a good friend, but her only form of supportive family as he was her pseudo sibling.

"It's worth a shot." Evan shrugged.

"Come on Jean! Please try and get the professor!"

Jean glanced over at Kitty, who was using every ounce of strength she had not to cry, but failed miserably as several tears coursed down her cheeks. Although she was also upset, it was definitely worth a try.

"I'll see what I can do. Give me a minute"

Jean placed her right fingertips to her temples and closed her eyes. Kitty went back down to comfort Kurt. Rogue joined Kitty's efforts. Scott and Evan looked back and forth from the group cluttered on the floor to Jean whose eyebrows and facial expressions showed either a deep conversation with whomever she was communicating to, or she was trying desperately to get in contact with someone who could help them.

Time slowly ticked by for what seemed like hours. Nobody had patience anymore; especially with the awkward stillness that no one had the heart to interrupt except for the roars of the students upstairs obviously in an array of pandemonium screaming about the "blue demon mutant". Kitty finally snapped she knew it wouldn't be long before teachers and students would seize them in a frenzy of turmoil and panic. Kitty's sudden outburst caused Jean to fall out of her trance and startle the other students.

"Jean! We've been sitting here for, like ten minutes! Did you get a hold of the professor yet? Or are you just going to stand there like you did in the cafeteria?"

"Excuse me?"

"You did nothing while Kurt was up on that table, just like you're doing nothing right now!"

"Hey Kitty, she's trying her best! And as I recall you didn't jump up to help him either! No one did."

Kitty looked over at Rogue who glared at her in a defiant stare that sent shudders starting at her tailbone and going right to the nape of her neck. Rogue's piercing green eyes, rimmed with harsh black makeup, were enough to make anyone tremble when she stared, almost as if she was looking right into their thoughts. But she was right. Kitty even knew she had done nothing before Rogue had made that comment.

"I'm sorry. I just can't believe that it actually happened…"

Jean was still mildly offended from Kitty's remark, but she knew that Kitty's mind was a flurry of different emotions. And Jean didn't need to be psychic to realize it. She looked at Kitty with a hint of compassion.

"Kitty, I know how you feel. We all can't believe it happened, but yelling at each other isn't going to get Kurt home any faster."

Why is Jean always right?

Scott nodded in agreement and looked over at Jean.

"Did you make contact with the professor?"

"Yes, but I don't know if all my messages got through to him. I'm just so worked up…"

Jean started to break down. No one had seen two things that day. Nobody had seen Jean lose her composure like that, ever; and no one had ever seen Kurt in such a hypnotized state of melancholy and apprehension. Scott was quick to comfort her. He held Jean's small form in his husky arms. Jean was leaking out hushed little sobs and sniffs while the rest just looked on as they had before. Then Scott, Kitty, Rogue and Evan all became very alert. Something was getting louder: shouting.

"Do you hear that?"

"Oh my God!"

The commotion and hollering became more coherent as the crowd grew closer.

"They're down there! I saw that one mutant chick fall through the floor with it!"

"Be careful! Did you see its teeth?"

"I think those other mutants came down here too."

The Xavier students were in a silent panic. None of them knew what they were going to do. Kurt unquestionably did not need more gawks and repartee sent to him, especially considering the state of hypnosis he was already in. Then, Rogue had an epiphany. She looked up in realization at how foolish she was that she didn't think of it sooner.

"Get out of the way."

Rogue pushed Kitty out of the way and shooed Evan off to the side. She hurled herself down in front of Kurt, pulled off her gloves and touched her bare hands to Kurt's arms. Rogue closed her eyes and felt Kurt's dead energy flow from his arms and into her body. It was like someone was injecting her veins with some sort of warm energy. Kurt finally showed some signs of life since the cafeteria. His eyes opened wide, his tail was fluttering at the tip like an irritated cat. Then his whole body seemed to go limp.

"Good idea." Evan said in almost a too jovial way considering the situation.

"Take him to the car." Scott urged.

Rogue wrapped her arms protectively around Kurt and with a "bamf" they were gone. All that was left was a puff of smoke that didn't smell the same as when Kurt teleported. It smelt more like a bon fire than brimstone and sulfur.

"Let's get out of here."

Kitty grabbed everyone while Jean levitated them all upwards. The outside of the basement was on the other side from where the car was parked. Thank God for the normalcy of their appearances that they could run unnoticed.

Scott had driven the Xavier students back to the institute right after Kurt's tribulations at school. The entire ride was painstaking for all the passengers. Jean was in the front, seated between Scott and Evan while Rogue and Kitty sat in the back on either side of Kurt. Everyone had a mix of emotions fluttering through their minds, but the overall mood was discouraging. Kitty and Rogue had been talking to Kurt the whole way home, trying to console him. Jean had regained her tranquility and was able to make mental contact with the professor telling him what happened through cerebral images and had given up on trying to get fully inside Kurt's head. Evan and Scott remained fairly quiet due to their extended exasperation at that moment. However, it was Kurt's silence that scared the Xavier students the most.

"Kurt, we're almost home." Kitty said, holding one of his long, furry hands in her small, flesh ones.

"Kurt, can you talk to us?"

Kurt had remained in an almost fetal like state the moment they got him into the car. He was bent over in his seat, his elbows resting on his thighs with the palms of his hands on his forehead. He hadn't said a word since the incident in the cafeteria. Everyone could only imagine what he was thinking and none of them liked what their imaginations were coming up with, except for Rogue who had an all too real taste of what he was truly thinking.

They had pulled into the driveway of the mansion. Scott put the car in park, cut the engine and turned around.

"Kurt. We need to get you inside."

The students all watched intently for Kurt's movements. Jean and Scott looked at each other.

"This isn't going to go smoothly."

"Did you get into his head?"

"Just little glimpses here and there. It doesn't look so good and those were just little snippets."

Kitty had been frantic the entire time. She was Kurt's best friend and she knew he would move mountains for her, yet she did absolutely nothing to help Kurt during the only time in his whole life that he actually would have needed it the most. Her heart had been pounding in her chest the entire time. She tried to summon some courage to speak to Kurt without showing how petrified she was.

"Kurt, let's go to your room. Do you need help getting out of the car?"

Evan looked over at Kitty.

"He's not going to move. Jean will probably have to lift him out."

After a brief moment of more desolateness, Kurt moved his left hand from his forehead. The rest of students watched attentively as Kurt, who had remained in a vegetative state for the past hour finally showed some signs of life. He reached out and grabbed a firm hold of Kitty's forearm and teleported out of the car, bringing Kitty along with him and leaving the rest of the students in the car with a puff of his sulfur and brimstone smoke scent. All they could do was look at each other and exchange confused glances. Evan spoke up.

"That went better than expected."

Kurt and Kitty ended up in Kurt's room. The professor's far superior brainpower was no match for Kurt and he could tell Kurt wanted some alone time, so he decided to confront Kurt when he was more stable. Kitty and Kurt were both on his bed. Kurt was still latching onto Kitty's arm, but somehow, now, both of his long, velvet soft hands were clenched tightly to her, as his head was bent down and his eyes just stared blankly at the floor. It took Kitty a moment to absorb what was happening before she spoke.

"Kurt… do you want me to leave?"

Kitty wasn't really expecting a straight answer, and she wondered why she even bothered to waste her breath. She jumped a little at the unexpected sound of his voice finally breaking through.

"No."

She moved closer to him, almost to let him know she was not going anywhere anytime soon. She couldn't believe this was the world she lived in. Mutants were all too real. She felt so selfish. She had gotten so distressed when her powers started to show. How could she forget how she reacted? Thinking the world was coming to an end because her perfect little life had been interrupted by what the professor considered "gifts". She couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through Kurt's mind. Everyday of his life he and everyone else knew he was different. Even though just like every other mutant he developed his powers at puberty, there was no denying that his entire body was a mutation from birth.

"Do you want to talk about anything?"

She imagined smacking herself in the head at that comment.

Good job! He probably thinks I'm a moron for asking so many stupid questions.

She watched Kurt's eyes slowly close as his back lifted when he sighed.

"It was uncomfortable."

What is he talking about?

"What was?"

Kurt couldn't even summon the nerve to look Kitty in the eyes. He almost felt a sense of embarrassment at what had happened that afternoon and for the two of them to be sitting in his bedroom alone while he was in such a vulnerable frame of mind.

"Wearing that scheibe inducer all the time… you were right. It was uncomfortable sometimes… Every morning I had to make sure everything was controlled. That stupid belt needed to be done up right, I had to make sure I had no holes in my shirts and I pretty much needed to stretch my back and legs so I could walk upright through the day."

The last comment mildly caught Kitty off guard.

"Then why didn't you just get the professor to change some things on it so you could walk comfortably?"

"I asked him to change the angle."

"Why?"

Kurt paused for a moment. His eyes seemed to return to their usual golden colour, but the fear and humiliation was still present in his gaze. He circled his tongue around one of his top fangs and let out another sigh.

"I wanted to teach myself how to do it."

"Teach yourself how to do what?"

"Walk normal."

"Why would you put yourself through that?"

"I just get so frustrated sometimes. There are so many things I can't do that I would give anything to be able to do. I felt that it was a small stepping stone to feel even the slightest bit normal."

"What kinds of things can't you do?"

He finally turned his head to face Kitty. She knew this was a sensitive topic for him considering he would usually avoid talking about his body at all costs.

"I can't shake anyone's hand. Someone would feel my messed up hands and this... fur. When I hand in an assignment to a teacher I get more nervous at the idea of them touching me than the mark I'll get. Or on a hot day I can't even wear short sleeves to school because of walking through the hallways. I couldn't even take gym. I had to get the professor to lie in a note and tell the school I had already got a gym credit when I was at 'my high school' in Germany. I can't even hold a pencil or wear shoes without looking like an idiot!"

Kitty could tell that a lot of what he just said was difficult for him to spit out. Referring to having "fur" on your body would be hard for anyone to say, especially in Kurt's case when that wasn't the only thing "wrong" with him.

"Why can't you take gym? You're one of the more athletic people in this entire institute."

"Have you seen how I run? I can't stand on two feet and run, and incase that wouldn't be conspicuous enough, someone would definitely touch me."

"I still don't understand why you didn't just get the professor to change the angle back to how it was when you first got it. You walked comfortably before and the hologram looked fine. You're still human, Kurt. I know we're all mutants but we still are people with human rights."

"You could never understand. You have no idea what it's like from the moment you were able to comprehend your surroundings, that you were different. For some people it's just a skin condition or a mental thing or whatever. But imagine this; instead of being just a different race, I'm blue, Kitty. Look at me! I'm blue! I've got elf ears! Ears that you see in fantasy movies! My hands are missing two fingers and I've got two toes on my feet! My legs look like a dog's! I have a tail! I have a tail for scheisse sake! How in God's name am I supposed to feel human when I resemble an animal better than a person? I spent my childhood locked in my house and I couldn't even go outside unless it was dark out! Instead of playing with other kids, I watched them. Do you have any idea how that feels? Hell, my own biological mother, who is no better looking, didn't even want me. There is no getting around it, Kitty… I'm a freak."

Kurt displayed the malformations on his body as he narrated them. Then put his palms to his forehead again and rested his elbows on his thighs. Kitty could feel her heart sink. She looked at him from head to toe. His shaggy navy blue hair hung hiding the side of his face from Kitty, his strong but slender arms showed how tense he was. Then she couldn't help but notice his tail moving back and forth like an agitated cat. A shiver was sent through her entire body as she felt all the blood rush to her face and the tears gushed down her cheeks.

"Kurt, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I can do."

"There is nothing you can do. I can't even do anything. I can't even accept myself after living like this for eighteen years... It sounds so stupid but every day I just imagine waking up and all of this," he gestured towards himself, "disappearing and I could be normal, like the professor, like Scott, Evan, Rogue, Logan, and you."

Kitty had no idea what to say. He never talked about his problems and quarrels that he had with himself to anyone, when it was undeniably evident how many issues he had.

"I'm sorry I didn't do anything today."

Kurt let out a laugh and sighed out what Kitty took as a "Yeah". Then he sat up and looked at her. Kitty started to feel uncomfortable.

"I was frozen in fear. I couldn't have done anything even if I tried. I'm so sorry."

She waited for Kurt's response. He looked as if he had just been punched in the stomach and was trying to hold in a scream. She had no idea what kind of response would come out of him.

"It wasn't just you Kitty… I mean, you could have done something, but Scott and Jean could have too, and Rogue and Evan... even I could have done something."

Kitty was taken aback by that last comment and a little irritated. How did he think he could have done something? Was he trying to be macho even when his worst nightmare had happened only hours before? Kitty knew herself that to phase she needed to concentrate and be aware that she was going to do it.

"Kurt, you couldn't have done anything. You were in so much shock and you were probably so scared you wouldn't have been able to port yourself out of there."

An angry and confused look spread across Kurt's velvet sapphire face.

"Were you guys worried about getting caught for using your powers in school?"

Kurt seemed to be building up a wall and that perturbed Kitty.

"What? No, of course not! You're more important than us getting expelled. And if I recall I was the one who took you down to the basement."

That was true. Kurt couldn't deny that she was the reason why he was taken out of viewing range. But one question still lingered in his mind.

"Why didn't you do it sooner?"

"I don't know. Kurt, the Brotherhood would have found a way to do it. Besides, the school would start to get suspicious as to why we all rushed to get you out of there. And like I said, the Brotherhood would have figured out a way, probably even more nasty, to expose you to the school if today's plan didn't work. I know it sounds harsh but that's what I think."

Kurt hated to admit it but Kitty had a valid point. They probably would have thought of a "better" way to get his secret out. Kurt didn't even want to imagine what they would come up with. He looked away and went back to his position of holding his head up with his palms, again filled with disgrace towards himself. The anger and defense in the room seemed to ease up and a more sullen mood fell over the two of them.

"I'm sorry, Kitty. I just have no idea what I'm going to do. I'll probably never even get to graduate."

Kitty bit her lips together to choke back some more tears. She followed Kurt's gaze to the floor and they stared into oblivion together. Then she spoke up.

"Kurt."

He looked up straight into her eyes. Those golden orbs of his were filled with pain and abhorrence like before and that didn't make Kitty's attempt at not crying any easier.

"No matter what happens, I'm here for you and we will get through this. I'll be here every step of the way. You're such a good friend and I'll do anything for you to get back on your feet."

Then she grabbed Kurt's arm and pulled him into a tight embrace. Kurt closed his eyes. A shiver was sent down his entire body as he felt her warm, soft, skin touch his hot and matted fur. He would have given anything to stay in that moment forever. But then a light flicked on in his head as he replayed her beautiful voice in his head at what she had just said.

'You're such a good friend and I'll do anything for you to get back on your feet.'

A single tear trickled down Kurt's cheek but was soon lost in his fur. Not at what had happened in the cafeteria, but at the fact that that's all they would ever be… Friends.

There you go. I'm sorry for the long wait and I hope I didn't upset anyone with this chapter. I'll be back soon! I'm headed off to New York. Please send back positive reviews and I can't wait to write the next chapter!! And thank you SO much for all the amazing reviews so far! Seriously, you guys rock!