Chapter One
Jean Grey-Summers plugged her key into the door of her apartment in the X Mansion. She had a bag of groceries in one arm and was trying her hardest not to drop them. She kicked the door open and threw her keys on the stand by the door and flipped the light on. "Scott?" She called. "I'm home!" She walked into the kitchen and put the groceries on the counter, shedding her jacket and tossing it over the chair. "Scottie?" She called, walking into the bedroom. She frowned. The bed was messed up, and her drawers were open. Things were knocked over, and she frowned. She went to the kitchen and picked up the phone, pressing speed dial for Scotts cell. It rang for a while, and then he picked up.
"Hello!" Scott called loudly. Jean could hear noises and yelling in the background.
"Scott?" She said. "Where are you!"
"Hi, honey!" he said. "I'm in downtown New York. Bobby and Hank and I came down here to deal with this – ouff!" She heard the phone clatter, and a moment later, Scott picked it back up. "With this sentinel," he panted.
"Do you need some help?" Jean asked as she started putting groceries away.
"Nah, I think we got it. Hey, I'll see you later this evening, okay? I need to get to helping these guys. Love you, bye!" The line went dead, and Jean put the phone down. There was a knock on the door.
"It's open!" Jean called.
The door opened, and Ororo entered, teetering on her long, tall heels. "I got some great shopping deals at the mall today!" She exclaimed, setting her shopping bags down on the table. She pushed her long, beautiful white hair behind her dark shoulders, where a traditional dress hung from the beautiful African. Ororo started rustling through the bags. "I saw this pair of shoes I knew you would love," she explained.
"Wow, those are gorgeous," Jean said, taking the pair in her hands. "Can I borrow them?"
"Keep them," Ororo said with a wave of her hand. "I bought a pair for myself as well.
"Thanks!" Jean smiled. She leaned back against the counter. "So what time did Scott and Hank and Bobby leave?"
"Oh, an hour or so before I left," Ororo said, sitting on the table. "They said they wouldn't be long. Warren didn't even bother to go." Ororo rolled her eyes.
"Warren's been off lately," Jean thought aloud. "Ororo," she asked abruptly. "Did you see anyone here today? Someone who looked suspicious?"
"Sean stopped by for lunch today, but otherwise, no," Ororo said. "Why do you ask?"
"I think someone may have been in our bedroom," Jean said. "And I've just had this . . . feeling. Like someone's watching me."
"Perhaps a mutant," Ororo said with a wave. "I imagine they may be looking for a way to approach you."
Jean nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right." She looked at her watch. "Ah, shoot, I'm meeting Agent Duncan in twenty minutes." She grabbed her purse, and she and Ororo walked from the apartment quickly. Jean waved to her friend before walking briskly outside as she called a taxi telepathically. As it pulled up, Jean froze. She looked over her shoulder, almost swearing she saw two glowing eyes from the bushes. She shook her head, though, and didn't see anything. She narrowed her eyes and got in the taxi.
Jean sat at her vanity that night, brushing her hair out and removing her make up telepathically. "I just feel like someone is watching my every move," she continued to her husband.
Scott dried his hair with a towel, coming from the bathroom in his pajama pants. "Who, though?" He wondered aloud.
Jean shook her head, frowning. "I don't know anyone who would want to – who's out of jail, anyways."
"Anyone bust out recently?" Scott asked, picking up a paper and skimming it.
Jean shook her head. "No, I checked the papers and even called the station. Nothing."
"Maybe you're just stressed, Jean," Scott said gently, kissing her head.
Jean sighed and nodded. "Yeah, probably. . ."
She got in bed and turned the lights off, letting Scotts easy breathing lull her to sleep. Her dreams were littered with blood, death, and for some strange reason, a diamond. It shone like a light at the end of the tunnel, and Jean raced toward it . . . She could almost touch it . . .
"Ahh!" Jean landed on her butt, staring up in a daze. Scott flipped the lamp on. "Jean?" He asked, fitting his glasses on. "Are you okay?"
Jean nodded, wiping some sweat off of her brow. "Come here," Scott said, pulling her into his arms. He stroked her long red hair back. "Another nightmare?" He asked gently.
Jean nodded. "B-but it was different this time. . . There was something worth running for, Scott. I think the dreams mean something, something that's going to happen. And I think it'll happen soon."