A.N. The words in italics are being spoken in Charles's mind. None of the characters belong to me.

It had been at least a few days since the incident in the library. Hank had ran a couple of tests on Charles to make sure that everything was alright, and, apart from an elevated white blood cell count, Hank had released him with a clean bill of health. Charles came into the kitchen and sat down next to Erik.

"Morning Professor." said Sean with his mouth full of cereal.

"Good morning Sean." said Charles before he turned his attention to the whole table. "Hopefully you are all well rested. Erik and I are going to be putting you through your paces today."

There was a chorus of groans and a small smile from Erik.

"Everybody make sure you have your suit on that Hank designed for you. If we are going to fight in them, then we need to train in them as well." said Erik as he looked around the table.

Having finished their breakfast, everyone got up to go and get changed, leaving Erik and Charles alone in the kitchen.

"What is it Erik?" asked Charles without looking at him.

"Can't you just read my mind and tell me." joked Erik.

"I already know." said Charles. "I was just trying to engage you in conversation."

After a couple of minutes, Erik sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Well." he said.

"Well what?" replied Charles.

"Are you going to answer my questions?" answered Erik.

"Which one would you like to know first?" asked Charles.

"Why are you not eating?" asked Erik pointing to the empty space on the table in front of Charles.

"Not hungry." replied Charles. "Next."

"Why are you moving slowly?" queried Erik.

"I'm a little tired." said Charles as he stood up, effectively putting an end to the conversation. "Come on, we better go and get changed or they will all be wondering where we are." he finished.

Erik waited patiently as he watched the children cross the lawn. Charles was walking slowly behind them. To anybody else, it just looked like Charles was keeping an eye on them. But to Erik, he could tell that Charles was walking slowly because he didn't have the energy to move any faster.

As soon as they reached him, he said, "Alright, we are going to do five laps around the mansion. Anyone stops or sits down and they will be doing fifty push ups where they fall. Any questions?" Erik asked. He looked towards Charles. "If you want to sit this one out, that will be alright." thought Erik

"No, thank you Erik. I need to do this." replied Charles's voice in his head.

With a slight nod of his head to let Charles know he had heard him, he said, "Everybody get going."

For the first two laps, Erik had ran at the back of the group. He said it was because he was looking to make sure that nobody stopped or sat down, but the real reason was because he wanted to run next to Charles to keep an eye on him. They ran in silence with Erik glancing over at Charles every few minutes to make sure he was alright.

"Erik, I'm fine, stop worrying." said Charles suddenly.

"You don't look to good." said Erik.

"It's because I'm out of shape." replied Charles with a small smile.

Before Erik could replied, they turned a corner and saw Sean and Alex sat down on a step. They both jumped up guiltily when they saw Erik and Charles.

"I do believe you owe me fifty push ups gentlemen." said Erik with a massive grin as if he had just been told that Christmas was going to come early this year.

"You carry on Charles. This could take a while." said Erik.

Laughing under his breath at the looks on Sean and Alex's faces, Charles ran on ahead.

An hour later and Erik watched proudly as the group of children finished their final lap and collapsed down in the grass.

"Well done everyone." said Erik looking down at them. Looking round the group, Erik realised that Charles wasn't with them, and that he hadn't seen him since the second lap.

"Has anyone seen Charles?" asked Erik loudly.

The group looked around them as if half expecting him to jump out from behind a statue and shout "Boo."

"When was the last time anyone saw him?" asked Erik panicking slightly.

"When you made us do our push ups." said Alex.

"That was over an hour ago." said Erik. "Alright, Raven and Hank, you search the grounds to the east, Sean, Alex you search the grounds to the west."

"What about you?" asked Raven.

"I'll search the house. If you find him, Sean scream to let me know." said Erik as he moved towards the house.

As he entered the house, Erik marvelled at how quiet it was. Thinking that perhaps Charles went to lie down, Erik headed towards the bedrooms. When he pushed open the door, Erik looked around in shock at the mess that Charles's bedroom had become. Everything had been pulled out of the cupboards and wardrobe. The few pictures Charles had were smashed on the floor. Just as Erik stepped into the room, a small voice sounded in his head.

"Erik."

Erik froze, not entirely sure that he hadn't just imagined the voice.

"Erik." came the voice again.

"Charles?" asked Erik in confusion. "Where are you?"

"Roof." came the reply.

"Wait there." replied Erik, and without another word Erik tore out of the room and ran for the roof.

When Erik got to the roof, he pushed open the door slowly.

"Charles, are you here?" asked Erik in a quiet voice.

"Erik?" came Charles's voice, it took a second for Erik to realise that Charles had spoken out loud and not in his head, so he followed the sound. When he found Charles, he stopped motionless. Charles was standing up on the ledge, dangling precariously close to the edge. Only one of his hands was closed around something to hold on to.

"Charles, what are you doing?" asked Erik.

Charles didn't even look around as he replied, " I have to go."

"Go where?" asked Erik in bewilderment.

" To him." replied Charles swaying back and forth slightly.

Erik jumped somewhat as he heard Sean scream, and he knew that the rest of the team would only be moments away from coming up. He watched anxiously as Charles's grip on the wall loosened.

"Charles, who is he?" asked Erik, as he started to make his way to the ledge.

"Shaw. I have to go to him." replied Charles in a dreamlike voice.

Erik held out his hand behind him to stop the others from shouting or running to Charles and scaring him.

" How are you going to get to him?" asked Erik moving forward again.

Charles turned to look at him, and, smiling, he stepped off the ledge into nothing.

A.N. Let me know what you think.