Dark Dawn

Chapter Seven: The Runaway Found

A/N:

It's finally here! I'm sorry it has taken so long to write this, but my rl has been pretty hectic, and with school starting again in August, I cna't promise when the nxt chapter is going to be up. I'm really sorry, but I'll try the best I can to find some time to finish this story, and I promise I will finish it!

"It was an accident!" Scott explained to Ororo for the fifth time, since she had discovered him sitting behind Jean's gravestone in fetal position, hugging himself tightly while sobbing quietly. Now he had regained self-control and was sitting in the office in front of Ororo.

"But Hank told me you had complete control when he left you." Ororo said. Hank had helped her carry Scott inside, but he hadn't come to himself until Hank had left.

Scott let out a desperate sigh. "Look, I told you. I was upset and shocked. I lost control."

"That's not like you, Cyclops" Ororo said, using his codename for extra effect.

Scott didn't answer. He crossed his arms and stared at the window. He was wearing his sunglasses again.

Ororo stood up and walked over to him. She kneeled down beside him and said: "I am only asking you, because I'm worried about you. I've never seen you like this before, and I… I'm scared for you."

"I don't need you to worry for me." Scott said, still staring at the window. "You're not Jean and you're not the professor."

Ororo got up and left the room.

Scott regretted hurting her, but it seemed the only way to make her leave. He did not want to talk about the so-called 'accident', meaning the fact that he in a fit of anger had destroyed his own gravestone. He didn't even understand, what had happened, himself. He could not remember anything from the moment he destroyed the stone until he was sitting in the chair in the office, with Ororo holding a cold cloth on his forehead, muttering "Don't leave me again".

His thoughts were interrupted by the office phone ringing. He lazily rose and answered the call.

"Xavier's school for gifted youngsters. This is Scott Summers speaking." He said without thinking. This was how he always answered.

"Hello? It's Marie" a small half-sobbing voice said in the other end.

"Marie, what's wrong? Where are you?" Scott asked.

"I'm somewhere in New York City. I'm lost and don't know how to get home. Please, come get me."

"Of course, I'll be right there, but you have to be a little more specific. New York is a pretty big city"

"Um, well. I was at the Rockefeller Center and then I went down the street and I ended up at the steps of some church. Figured it'd be the safest place."

"Alright, I think I know where you are. Just stay there and try not to draw any attention to yourself. I'll be there as soon as I can, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you Mr. Summers" Marie said and hung up.

X

For a time which seemed like forever Marie sat on the steps of a church hugging herself, thanking her lucky stars, that she had learned some self-defense. She wondered if Remy was already back at the mansion. Had she been too naïve to think he might try to make a move on her, even though he had promised not to?

A metallic blue Mazda RX8 pulled up beside her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She opened the door and got in.

"Thank you so much Mr. Summers. I don't know what I would have done without you." Marie said, whilst fastening her seat belt.

"You're welcome." Scott said and smiled "But I think we both know that you easily could have found a train and gotten to Westchester. After all you did manage to get from Mississippi to Alberta all on your own."

"I know." Marie said sheepishly "But I didn't have any money…"

"So, what were you doing in New York City, anyway?" Scott said, and started driving. Suddenly he sighed and took his glasses of.

Marie gasped and burst out: "What are you doing?"

"Calm down. I know what I'm doing said Scott and opened his eyes, to reveal bright blue eyes to Marie.

"How…?"

"Apparently the scar-tissue that has been keeping me from controlling my powers is gone." Scott said matter-of-factly, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Oh, wow. That must be really nice, huh?" Marie said. She had always felt connected to Scott, because they both had powers they couldn't control, but now she was 'cured' and he could suddenly control his optic blasts.

"I guess." Scott said.

"But how can it just be gone?" she asked. "Does it have something to do with what happened…? … you know…"

"Yes, apparently Dr. Essex…" he paused, searching for the right words "recreated me using some of my DNA, and the scar-tissue is not a part of that. Now back to my question; what were you doing in New York?"

Marie bit her lip nervously. "I was on a date…"

"With Bobby?"

"With Remy…"

"Why would you go out with Remy?" Scott asked "What happened? Did he hurt you? I swear I'll-" Scott tightened his grip around the wheel.

"No, no. It wasn't his fault. Or really it was… no, it was my fault. I should have never gone out with him in the first place. I mean, I think I kinda always knew that it would end up like this, or not like this, but-"

"Marie."

"Sorry. He made a move on me, and we kissed, and I just felt so stupid and guilty, because I'm with Bobby, and I love Bobby."

"Of course you do. Then what?"

"Then I ran away. He wanted to take me home, but I didn't want to talk to him so I kept running and I ended up here…"

"I see." Scott said and grasped Marie's hand. "Now listen to me. What you did was stupid and irrational. You have absolutely no idea how dangerous New York City can be for a pretty young girl like you."

"Logan has taught me self-defense" Marie said.

"And every man in New York has a gun. So tell me, when where you going to kick a mugger's ass, before or after he blew your brains out?" Scott's voice was growing louder.

"Mr. Summers, nothing happened."

"But it could have." Scott said, opening his mouth to say something more but didn't.

"Mr. Summers, I'm okay. Nothing happened and I'm safe now. Okay?"

Scott loosened his tight grip on the wheel and her hand. "Listen, you kids are the only thing I have left now." Scott's voice was shaking. "I don't what you to get hurt. That's all."

Marie nodded and stared out at the bright New York lights.

"It's strange" She said, after some minutes of silence.

"What is?"

"It never really felt like you died. I mean, we all knew, well we all thought you were dead, but it was so hard for us to grieve. Ever since…" Marie paused, unsure if she should continue, but finally decided to get it off her chest "Ever since Jean died, you'd been different, and we kinda lost you too back then, you know?"

Scott didn't say anything, but Marie knew he was listening.

"And then you left us, and it was like you just didn't come back, until now."

Scott's jaw clenched.

"Are you going to leave us again?" Marie asked.

Scott was quiet for a while. Then he swallowed and said: "I won't let you down again, and I promise not to leave you ever again."

Marie smiled and started fidgeting the white strand of hair hanging at her cheek.

"I'm glad you answered the phone" she said.

"Why?" Scott asked.

"Because Ms. Monroe and I aren't the best of friends right now."

"Why not?"

"She's mad at me for taking the cure. She thinks it's insulting, because we're not sick."

"I'm sorry." Scott smiled at Marie "For what it's worth, I understand why you did it."

"Thanks, I knew you would. At least she let me stay at the school. I don't know where I would have gone if she had kicked me out"

"You could have gone home" Scott suggested.

"I never want to go back there again." Marie said and crossed her arms defiantly.

"Why not?" Scott gave her a strange look, like he didn't understand.

"Because… you should have seen the way they looked at me, like I was some kind of monster. They cast me off. They said I wasn't their child anymore." A lump started forming in her throat, but she was not going to cry. She hadn't cried for them since she had arrived at the mansion.

Scott took her hand again.

"They couldn't accept me then, and I don't want them to accept me now. You know, it's not like I changed or anything, not when I got my powers and not now." Marie said.

"I know."

Marie leaned her head against the window and after some time she fell asleep, leaving Scott to his own thoughts.

X

Bobby and Ororo sat in the hall waiting for Scott and Marie to come back. Bobby was too worried to talk, so Ororo had started grading papers. She was worried too, but the Scott she knew could take care of himself and Marie. The only problem was; she was not sure if the Scott that had returned from Alkali Lake was the Scott she knew.

Suddenly the double doors opened. Ororo stood up so fast that she lost the paper she had been grading on the floor. Bobby was already headed towards the doors, but stopped as soon as he saw it was only Logan.

"You missed me?" Logan chuckled.

Bobby quickly found his seat again.

"I take it's not me you're waitin' for?" Logan said.

"No, we are waiting for Scott and Marie. They should be back from New York any time now" Ororo said.

"What are they doin' in New York?"

"I'm not sure, but Scott called a couple of hours ago. He said he was on his way to pick up Marie in the City and not to worry." Ororo told him. She picked the paper up and put it on the small coffee table beside her chair. "Do you want to wait here with us?"

"No, actually I wanted to talk to you. In private." Logan said.

"Oh okay. Let's go to my office." Ororo said, then turned to Bobby "Let me know when they get here."

"Sure Ms. Monroe" Bobby said.

X

The office was not far from the hall, and as soon as Ororo had closed the door, Logan said: "I don't trust him."

Ororo already knew who Logan was talking about, but asked anyway, hoping she was mistaken.

"Scott" Logan almost growled "You saw what he did to his own grave stone, and what he was like afterwards. Something ain't right here. Dead guys don't just show up on your door step, even for us that's weird!"

"Logan, I am fully aware that Scott's mental state has not been… I mean, Scott has been through a lot lately, well, actually through his entire life. We all know what happened to him when Jean died. I can only dare to imagine what happened to him up there. You and I are in no place to judge him."

"Yeah, 'cuz life has been real kind on us two!"

"Logan, that's not what I meant…"

"We lost Jeannie too! And the professor…"

"I know Logan, but Hank has performed every test possible and there is no doubt that this is really Scott." Ororo said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Now if you don't mind, I have had a rough day and I still have a lot to do. I don't have time for your uncertainties about Scott, which have always been there."

"Ororo, you know that's not-"

"Really, Logan? I honestly do not understand this cat fight between the two of you. What is your problem with him? It's not like you have Jean to fight over anymore" Ororo had said more than she meant to. "Please, Logan."

"Yeah, I know… I'll try…" Logan said and left.

X

The blue Mazda finally pulled into the driveway around 11 pm. Marie got out and went inside, while Scott drove the car into the garage. Marie was met by Bobby's open arms.

"I was so worried" he said, while hugging her.

"Nothing happened. I was with Scott the whole time." Marie said, hoping that would suffice.

"What the hell were you doing in New York anyway?"

It didn't.

"That… is a long story. I'm really tired. We should go to bed." Marie tried to drag him inside, but he stood firmly on the ground.

"Kitty said she saw you leave on a motorcycle"

When is Kitty going to get over him? Marie asked herself. She was going to deal with her later. Right now her jealous boyfriend was more important. How was she going to explain going skating with Remy, without it sounding like, she was cheating on him?

"Is there a problem?" Scott asked. He had returned from the garage.

"No, Mr. Summers. Everything is just fine." Bobby said as he took Marie's hand and squeezed it, a little too hard.

"Good. We should go inside then. It's cold out here, and Marie's tired. Besides both of you have classes in the morning, and it's past curfew"

Saved by the bell. Marie had to remember to thank him later.

"Of course, Mr. Summers." Bobby said, and led Marie upstairs to their bed rooms.

X

Scott knew exactly how Bobby felt. He had been in that very same position once, and as he stood in the hallway, he wondered why he had let Marie off the hook so easily. She should have had to explain it to her boyfriend, whom she apparently loved.

"Aren't you quite the hero?" Ororo asked. "What took you so long?"

"We stopped to get some food at the Bayou Restaurant in Mount Vernon" Scott explained.

"Did you eat the whole menu?"

"'Ro, why are everybody so upset? We're both alright and safe and nothing happened" Scott's mind went back to Marie using those same words when he had picked her up. "Listen, Marie had gone out with Remy. He tried to kiss her and she didn't want to, so she ran away. She didn't want to take the train alone so she called the school. I was the first one to answer, so I went to pick her up. I thought it the most reasonable, because I used to live in New York, and know my way around, and she had no idea where she was. End of story."

"I'm sorry" Ororo took his hand "I was just worried something had happened. Like earlier today…"

"Have you seen Remy?"

Ororo sighed "No, I haven't."

"Fine I'll call him. Can I borrow your cell phone?"

"Sure, why?"

"He stole mine."

Ororo shook her head and gave him her phone.

Scott dialled his own number and reached Remy.

"'Allo"

"Remy, where are you?" Scott asked.

"Um, visiting an ole friend?"

"I know all about what happened today"

"Meaning?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you were safe"

"As long as Remy is wit Remy, Remy is safe"

Scott rolled his eyes.

"'Ey don' do dat!"

"Do what?" Scott asked.

"Rollin your eyes! I know you rolled your eyes"

"Fine, sorry." It scared Scott, how well Remy already knew him. "Do you plan on coming back?"

"Yeah, if you still wan' me I'll be back t'morrow."

"Great, I'll see you"

"Bon nuit" Remy said and hung up.

"I hope you plan on yelling at him when he returns" Ororo said and put her cell phone back in her pocket.

"Oh, I will" Scott said with an evil smile.

"Why do I get the feeling you are enjoying this?" Ororo asked.

"Because this is what I love about this place. This is why I love teaching, because I not only teach but I lead people in the right direction."

Ororo smiled.

"Jean is gone, and she isn't coming back. I don't know if I'll ever find anyone like her again. I'm not even sure I want to. I'll never have children, but the kids around here are my children."

"I know exactly what you mean. If you feel up to it, I guess you could return to teaching."

It suddenly made Scott angry that he had to get Ororo's permission to start teaching again, but he didn't let it show.

"That sounds great 'Ro. I'll let Logan know" His evil smile returned to his face.

"Scott, maybe you should wait until tomorrow-"

"No, I want to do this right now."

X

After his argument with Ororo, Logan went to work out his frustrations in the gym.

The Scott he had known, would never go berserk like that. Every cell in his body was telling him that something was wrong.

Logan had named his favorite punching bag Scott. It was a product of the time, when Jean was alive and Logan hated Scott with the fire of a thousand suns. Times had changed, and Logan no longer hated Scott. Not really hate. Now it was mostly frustration and suspicion, and a mild dislike.

"A tad frustrated, are we?" Scott said.

"What do you want?" Logan growled.

"I just came by to tell you that your teaching abilities are no longer needed." Scott smirked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I will be taking my old classes back again"

"Are you sure you should be workin' again in your condition?"

"What condition?"

"I mean, you just came back from the dead, maybe you should relax for a couple o'weeks."

"I'm fine!" Scott said.

Logan could tell, Scott was irritated and it thrilled him to no end.

"I will be taking over the position as leader of the X-Men too." Scott said.

Logan could accept Scott taking his shop class back, but there was no way he could steal his leader position away from him. Leading the X-Men was the place he felt most a home, where he felt he could finally belong.

"That ain't gonna happen, kid" Logan said and started punching 'Scott'.

"That's not really your decision to make, Wolverine"

"The hell it ain't!" Logan contemplated starting to beat up the real Scott, but it wouldn't help his case. "I know what happened this mornin' and I will not let that happen on a mission. God knows what could happen if the leader lost control"

Scott snorted "Yeah, because you're all about control. You're just an animal. You don't even belong here."

Logan noticed something in Scott's smell. The smell had changed. If it had been Scott before, it definitely wasn't now. And whoever it was, wasn't wearing his glasses and Logan was right in the line of fire.

Logan pounced and hit Scott in the stomach, knocking them both to the floor. Scott was stronger than Logan had thought and soon Logan was lying on his back, receiving multiple blasts in the stomach from Scott's bare eyes. Logan released his claws and managed to strike Scott in the arm, before Scott suddenly disappeared into thin air.

X

Raven was getting used to visiting Mutieville, but this time it was different. Caliban had called her and told her he had found Eric. She dared not to hope he was right. Hope had let her down too many times. But she still went to see him. If he hadn't really found him, and least she could find somebody to take her frustrations out on.

Her skin was almost completely blue again and covered in scales too. She had not had any luck shifting her shape yet, but she knew she would be able to as soon as she found him.

"Are you sure it's him?" she asked Caliban.

"Yes."

"Where is he?"

"In Poland"

Poland. Of course. Raven knew Eric was from Poland, and somehow she had always known he would have gone to Poland, but had been so desperate to find him that she never really thought it through.

Caliban handed her a half-torn paper with an address on it.

"But there's more…" Caliban started, but Raven had already left.

"He is not alone."

A/N: On Scott's Mazda. I have no idea if the car was blown up in Boston (X2), but if it was, my little back story is that Xavier bought him a new one after Jean's death to cheer him up, because Scott likes his machines (mistresses).

The chapter title "The Runaway Found" is the name of the 2004 album from the band, The Veils.