Summary: A single act brings hurt and grief

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men

Rating: T

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took so long. Life, work, didn't feel like typing…blah, blah, blah. LOL

Betrayal

Chapter 8

Westchester, New York: Present Time

…midnight hour…

"I…I, uh, need a pregnancy test…" Ororo stammered in between sniffles and hiccups. Never in her life had she been as nervous or as frightened as she was at this moment. A baby? She was still freakin' out about the possibly of being pregnant with Logan's child. She didn't know whether she should be thrilled or repulsed by the fact that man's seed was growing inside her. This wasn't exactly a planned pregnancy; she wasn't even prepared. And Logan…hell…he didn't look like the fatherly type. She shivered and gripped the Professor's hand, somehow needing a connection, needed support.

"Does Hank keep any pregnancy tests here in the school?" The Professor asked.

The weather goddess nodded slowly before gradually lifting her eyes to her mentor, friend, and father figure. "Yes…he keeps…a few downstairs…just in case…" Her voice trailed, her face burning with embarrassment. Xavier understood. Just because they ran a school for mutants, doesn't mean he didn't have an assembly of students with raging, teenage hormones. So far, to his relief, they're had been no surprises.

He wheeled his chair closer. "You have to be sure," he said tipping her chin.

"Yes," she exhaled and rose steadily to her feet.

Stepping around the Professor, she slipped out her room, and padded barefoot down the hall. She took the stairs two at time and walked swiftly to the elevator secluded in a wall on the east wing of the school. She pressed her hand to a scanner and it opened. Authorized members of the X-Men were allowed access to this particular elevator for it led to the lower levels. A quick descent, the hatch slide open, and Ororo made her way to the storage room. All the medicine and equipment were kept there. She looked around to see if anyone was in the vicinity then entered. Switching on the lights, she went to a cabinet and drew out a First Response pregnancy test. Her fingers were cold and shaking as she slipped the package in her pants pocket.

"Ororo?"

Gasping, she spun on her toes, finding Hank standing in the doorway. She quickly drew her sweater down and smiled. "Hank, I didn't know you were down here."

"I was doing inventory," he said, as a large, furry, blue hand removed his glasses. "Was there something you needed in here?"

She froze. "Uh, yes…cough medicine," she giggled, tucking a white strand behind her ear. "I just can't seem to find any."

Hank entered the storage room. His massive girth consumed the small space leaving Ororo tucked in a corner. He reached out, pushed aside the sliding glass, and plucked a bottle of Robitussin cleanly off the shelf.

"My goodness," Ororo exclaimed tapping her head. "I swear it would have jumped out and bit me."

"Right," Hank smiled and closed the cabinet.

"Thanks." Turning, she hurried back to her room where the Professor sat waiting patiently for her return.

"Do you have it?"

"I feel like a teenager hiding this secret from my parents."

Xavier put his chair in motion and stopped in front of her. "This is nothing to be ashamed of."

Ororo shook her head. "Speak for yourself," she groaned and pushed away from the door. As she headed to the bathroom, she set the bottle of Robitussin on the table.

"What's that?" asked the Professor.

"Cough medicine."

He frowned. "Why do need medicine? Are you sick?"

"No. Hank was down in the lower levels," she closed her eyes. "Inventory. Anyway, he caught me in the storage room…I was too ashamed to let him see that I needed a pregnancy test."

"Oh."

She bit her lip and looked into the bathroom. "I…I think I can go. Wish me luck." She stopped in her tracks and glanced back at the Professor. "Wrong choice of words."

Xavier gave her a reassuring smile and watched as she entered and closed the door behind her. Fifteen minutes went and by then he was at his wits end. He was so nervous it was as if he had taken the test himself. What was taking so long? Where was Ororo? Perhaps she couldn't go to the bathroom and had to drink some water and wait. If so, he would surely die from a nervous breakdown. Normally, in these situations, it was the boyfriend or husband sitting in his position; not a crippled old man such as himself. He never felt a more greater reason in his life to contact Logan and force him to return to mansion.

But it would only upset Ororo…and Jean…and Scott…and Rogue…

Oh, the list went on and on.

Some of the students, Jubilee in particular, didn't fancy him at the moment either. Feeling weary, he tried to meditate on something other than this calamity. Sadly, his thoughts found no solace in blue skies and singing birds. His eyes shot open when heard the toilette flush. Hearing the tap run, he monitored the door closely. Sweat beaded his brow as the door knob turned. Ororo filled out the bathroom, her sky blue eyes shallow, face drawn.

The Professor could hardly contain his anticipation. "Well?"

Ororo lowered her eyes. "I'm pregnant."

"Ororo…"

She lifted her hand. "Don't…" She could feel her head splitting; the room was spinning. Her last desire was to listen to the Professor babble on and on about how her circumstances.

"Please…let me help you." He came towards her, taking her hand.

"Help me," she cried wrenching free from his touch. "Where were you when I truly needed your help? Where were you when I was happy and Jean was plotting to seduce Logan?"

"Ororo…"

"I don't need your help," she hollered going to the door and yanking open. "I need you to leave."

There was no arguing with her. Once Ororo had set her mind to something, heaven and earth had to move in order to change her mind. Sighing, the Professor touched the knob and rolled his chair out of her bedroom. Alone, overwhelmed, Ororo sank to her knees and wept, a hand cupping her flat stomach.

"What am I going to do?"

()()()()

"You've got to do something Professor," Jubilee screamed. She stood in his office two days later, frantic, waving her Biology report in the air. "Ms. Grey's, like, totally gone ballistic. D-! I know I deserve better than this lousy grade. I worked hard, really I did. She did it on purpose!"

Charles Xavier was in no mood to listen to another one of his student bicker about their grade. In fact, he'd seen nearly all of Jean Grey's students, and doubt he could put up with one more riling child. "Yes, yes, yes, Jubilee," he exhaled, closing his eyes, a pain in his head. "Just leave your paper on my desk with the others and I'll overlook your essays myself and have a word with Jean."

"Thank you." Dumping her paper on top of numerous others she whirled around and stormed out the room.

The Professor sifted through the great amount of paperwork on his desk and let out a huge breath of air. Glorious. This was all he needed at a time like this. He was too preoccupied with Ororo's situation to worry about Jean cheating her students out of their grades. But he had no choice. One problem at a time and this was important. He leaned in his chair and selected the first report nearest to him.

"This can't be right," he said as he read the fine print. His mind as sharp as his eyes, he breezed through the entire stack in two hours. "What are you doing Jean? Bobby deserves better than his."

He tossed Bobby's essay on his desk and summoned Jean telepathically. To his astonishment, she didn't respond to him immediately. He summoned twice more with no reply. His patience running thin he sent out a stronger telepathic signal to her again.

Yes, she replied, sounding annoyed.

I want to see you in my office Jean right away. Don't let me ask for you again.

Minutes later, Jean graced him with her presence, sitting legs crossed in front of him. "Yes," she said with an air of coldness.

"I called you three times. Where were you?"

"If you must know," she huffed. "I've decided to take an impromptu vacation and was making arrangements with an airline."

Xavier tipped his head. "You wouldn't be planning to travel to Hawaii, are you?"

Jean shrugged. "Why not? I hear it's absolutely glorious, especially this time of year. Plus I'd like to lay out on the sand and get a nice tan."

"You wouldn't try to swing by Dr. MacTaggert's facility would you?"

"Why not? Scott is my fiancé," she stated. "I want to see if he's doing alright."

"He's fine. I've just spoken to him the other night. He and Rogue are flying back as we speak, so you might as well save your money." The Professor was not deceived. He knew exactly what she was up to and would not see Rogue harmed in anyway. He knew Jean too well. Jealousy and possessiveness were one of her dark attributes.

"Well," Jean rose out of her chair. "If that's all you wanted to talk to be about, I'll be going…"

Xavier held up his hand, motioned her to take her seat. "I'm not done." He snatched up Bobby's report and tossed in front of her. "I want to talk to you about this."

Jean rolled her eyes. "Charles, whatever any those children have said…"

"They didn't have to tell me anything," he said in a clipped voice, tossing Bobby paper before her. "I've read their reports myself and graded them accordingly. Jean, what are you doing? You're robbing these children of their future."

"So I'm a tough grader," she argued. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," Xavier's eyes narrowed, "but not when Bobby deserves an A rather than that C- you graced him with and Jubilee..."

Jean flew into a temper. "I suspected that girl is the cause of this little meeting we're having. I hoped she enlightened you on how rude and disrespectful she was to me yesterday."

"I'm aware of what happened and I will coach her for it." The Professor said. "But as far as I'm concerned, you have no right to dock any of their grades because you and Scott are having problems. You'll just have to deal with that on your own time." He picked up Bobby's paper and rotated his chair to the computer on his left hand side. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to enter these grades into the system and average out their final grade point averages…again."

Rising, Jean stormed out the Professor's office. Her dark mood exuberated, causing several students to duck and hide. As she turned left, she collided unknowingly into Ororo. The African woman gasped sharply as she stumbled. Jean struggled to gain her footing before she felt the searing glare of the weather goddess' eyes. She turned suddenly, struck by the cobalt pupil glimmering with hate.

"Watch your step. You might have an unfortunate mishap and break your pretty little neck," said Ororo, low and even toned.

Jean threw back her head. "I'm glad to see you have my welfare in mind."

The white haired woman took a step, shadows casting an odious gloom on her face. "I'm not going to kill you," she whispered, "but don't expect me to be nice to you when you disgust me."

With that, Ororo took a step to the right, and continued down the hall without a backwards glance.

Struck, Jean stared opened mouthed.

"Yes, come." The Professor said at the sound of a knock on his door. He was finalizing the grade point averages in his computer and sending it to print. By morning, the new grades will be posted on the bulletin board.

Ororo poked her head inside. "Can we talk?"

Xavier brightened. "Storm," a smiled growing on his mouth. "Yes, of course. Do come in. How are you?"

Ororo swept inside and took a seat in one of the chairs situated in front of his desk. "I'm fine. I've come to a decision on whether or not I want to keep the baby."