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Chapter Three

"If I may ask, where is their father?" Charles asked me quietly, once the door shut behind Alex. When I didn't answer, he sighed. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"

Hank reentered after Charles called him. He helped him into a wheelchair that I hadn't noticed sitting in the corner of the room, then turned to me. "Will it be too much for you to push him?" I hesitated. "Are you strong enough?"

"It won't be a problem," I said finally. "I'm used to pushing people around in a wheelchair." Hank gave me a questioning look, but said nothing.

Charles spoke. "There is a garden outside." I looked at him. "Why don't we go there?"

The garden had a small path going through it, just wide enough for a wheelchair. I pushed him to where a bench was, and sat down. "Is this alright?" I asked.

"It's perfect," he whispered, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "I haven't been outside in a week. I've missed it." There was a long silence. Then finally- "I don't want you to think me rude, but I would like to know who it is you've pushed in a wheelchair before."

I swallowed. "His name was Henry, Henry Anderson. We grew up together in New Hampshire. We dated for four years, from the time I was fourteen until I was eighteen. That's when I found out I was pregnant, with the twins."

"What happened to him?" Charles asked me gently, when I stopped.

"There was an accident. We were coming home from our high school graduation, and a truck crashed into his side of the car. He was paralyzed, from the waist down, like you. But he couldn't handle it, not even with me and the twins. When they were six weeks old, he took a gun to his head." I felt tears form in my eyes. "After his funeral, Darien moved up here, and asked me if I wanted to come. I had to get away from that town. Everyone knew me there, knew what had happened, and I was sick of their pity."

"But you don't live with your brother now, do you?"

I shook my head. "No, I live on my own. My parents passed away, and left me their house and inheritance. I won't ever have to really work, though I do have a part time job." I paused. "I have no idea why I'm telling you any of this," I said. "I never told anyone. Everyone who I would've told already knew."

A shadow fell over us, and I looked up to see Jeff standing there, glaring. "Katherine, may I speak with you?" he demanded.

I glanced over at Charles, then looked back. "Can't it wait? I'm in the middle of a conversation."

"No. Now." He grabbed my arm, yanked me up, and dragged me away from Charles. "You need to stop hanging out with that… that freak!"

"Excuse me?" I hissed, crossing my arms. "Charles isn't a freak. He's different, that's all!"

"He's a mutant, Katie! You don't need people like that in your life! You heard what Stryker said! Mutants are dangerous! He's going to hurt you! You need to keep away from those… those monsters! I know I intend to!"

"Mutants are dangerous, huh?" I snapped. He nodded. "And you're going to keep away from them, right?" He nodded again, looking slightly confused. "Then stay away from me." He stared at me as I began to walk back over to Charles.

"You're… you're one of them?" he whispered.

"Yes, Jeff, I am." There was a moment when the two of us just stared at each other. Then a look of disgust crossed his face, and he whirled around and fled. Shaking slightly, I went back to where Charles was watching.

"Don't let him get to you," Charles said. "They will accept us, someday." I didn't respond. "Katie."

"How do you know?" I said finally. "You heard him. He hates us. And he was my best friend. Hell, he was my only friend, other than my brother."

"I'd like to consider myself your friend," Charles said softly. "If you'll let me."

I smiled at him. "I'd like that."

It was about three weeks after I had met Charles that I entered his room to find out he was being discharged from the hospital.

"The truth is, nothing can really be done to help," he told me quietly. "I will never walk again, and the only reason they have in keeping me in here is to keep me away from the people out there who wish to harm me."

"What are you going to do now?" I asked.

"I'm going to go back home," he said. "I have a mansion in that I'm planning on making into a school, but not until I'm more comfortable with this… this thing," he gestured towards the wheelchair and sighed. "I hate this," he admitted. "I hate being confined to a damn chair, unable to get up and walk, let alone run. I loved running."

"Oh Charles," I whispered.

"I feel useless."

"You're not," I said. "You're far from useless. Look what you plan to do! A school for people like us? That's wonderful! And you can do it, even if you can't walk! You're a great man, Charles. Don't doubt that for even a second! You're going to do great things!"

"Perhaps," he said. "But I'll be doing them alone. No one will want to be with a man in a wheelchair."

"You told me three weeks ago that you'd like to be my friend if I'd have you," I told him. "Now, I'm saying this. I would love to do these things with you, be with you, if you'll have me."

Silence filled the room for a moment, with him staring at me. "You would?" he whispered finally.

"Of course, Charles. I told you, you're a great man." And I leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips, just as the door burst open and Jeff entered, carrying a gun.

And chapter three is finished. I already have part of the next chapter completed, and will have that up soon. And my husband comes home Sunday! I'm so excited to see him.

By the way. Henry Anderson is based off of my childhood friend, Austin, who was in track while in high school, and on the night of his graduation, was hit by a drunk driver. He became paralyzed from the waist down. A year after the accident, he shot himself.

I really hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and reviews are welcome.