The group met up in the danger room. It was time to get physical. Jubilee was already throwing fireworks at Pietro.
"You'll never get me!" Pietro said.
"Don't give up, Jubilee, he said that to me as well," Ororo chuckled remembering how she made him lose focus.
"Did you talk to Logan yet?" Kurt asked Jean.
"Ummm...kind of," Jean blushed.
"Oh, so you..."patched things up"," Kurt made the air quotes gesture.
"Ororo already told you!?"
"No, your face did," Kurt laughed.
Where was Logan anyway? And the professor?
"Here we are," professor said as he came in, followed closely by Logan who didn't seem to be in a good mood.
He couldn't see Scott's eyes, but if he could, they would surely be giving him a death stare.
"I know I said 2-day rest, but that may not be possible now," professor told Jean telepathically. Jean looked at Logan. Was this the reason for his mood? But he didn't even know about the 2-day rest in the first place.
"Is something wrong, professor?" Jean asked telepathically.
"Yes, I'll explain in a minute. But first we need to tell everyone about your powers."
Jean promised to tell them anyway, so right now seemed as good of a time as any.
"Alright, professor," she said.
"Is everything okay?" Pietro asked when he figured Jean and professor were engaging in a telepathic conversation.
"I have received a message from Magneto," professor said.
"Oh..." Pietro said. He still hasn't told Magneto that he's his son. He missed his chance when he and Raven were trying to talk him out of destroying the world, and he hasn't seen him ever since. Would there be another chance?
"We are facing a new threat. Well, rather old but improved threat. A man called Henry Gyrich has made a few adjustments to the sentinels. He hates mutants, and Apocalypse gave him a good excuse to persuade the public that we need to be dealt with. Our school is going to be one of the targets."
"How does Magneto know all this?" Ororo asked.
"He received a tip from Raven," professor said.
Hank closed his eyes and sighed. Raven. She broke his heart so many times, but not enough to stop loving her. It's been months since he's last seen her. She trained the young mutants for some time, and when she thought they didn't need her anymore, she left. And now she was with Eric again.
"What should we do? Should we leave the school?" Jubilee asked.
"They will follow us anywhere. I'd rather them target the school than other places, where no one is ready for them," professor said.
"Can't we just stop that Gyrich guy?" Pietro.
"He is protected very well. In order to get him, there would have to be violence. Raven was about to kill his predecessor - Trask, more than a decade ago. That's what nearly started the war in the first place. We have to stop the sentinels without hurting any humans" professor said.
"We did that last time. Where did it get us?" Logan said.
"It gave us years of peace, Logan," professor said.
"How do we stop them?" Hank asked.
Professor looked at Jean.
"Well, damn," Jean said realizing all the responsibility that lay on her shoulders. Jubilee, Pietro, and Kurt looked at each other, recalling the conversation in the living room the other day. Whatever her powers were, they must have been very destructing, and dangerous.
"Jean, what's going on?" Scott asked.
"I have the ability to destroy every object on the planet. I can destroy many at once," Jean said.
"That actually sound like something we could use right now," Pietro said.
"Yes, but I have a hard time controlling it. Once I start, I can't stop," she said.
Logan thought of what Charles said about Jean's mind. It was strong, maybe even stronger than Charles'. How was she able to stop it on her own that one time? Was it so intense that it burned her out? Or perhaps she stopped it simply because she had to? Whatever it was, they had to find out very soon.
"Not always. You stopped it once," Logan said.
Jean was surprised to see Logan's mood completely change. There was determination and some sort of calmness in his voice.
"True. I was able to control it when we battled Apocalypse," she said.
"Ahhh, so that's how we beat him!" Pietro said. This has been itching Pietro's brain for quite some time. He remembered how all of them had to use their powers just to keep Apocalypse in place. And then just like that he vanished. He never understood how that was possible. Until now.
"Remind me to be nice to her in the future!" Pietro joked. Ororo punched him lightly in the arm, "Now's not the time!" she whispered.
"What did you do? Was there something you did differently than any other time?" professor asked.
"Nothing different. At least that I know of," Jean said.
Professor remembered how he once taught Eric to use his powers. Eric thought it was anger that triggered his abilities, but there was much more to actually controlling them. There was also love he felt for the people he wanted to protect, a sense of urgency that he had to do it, sadness after experiencing a loss. A perfect balance of all the strongest human emotions.
"What did you feel?" Logan asked her as if he read professor's mind.
Jean thought of that moment which now seemed like ages ago.
"I was scared and angry to watch the whole world being torn down. I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it, but I knew I had to. I thought of you..." she paused, "all of you," she looked at Logan. Logan's been a part of her life ever since they met. Even through all the years they haven't seen each other. She always thought of the troubled man with no memories and wondered whether they'll see each other again.
"I wanted to keep you all safe," she said.
"Peace..." professor said, "you have to control your emotions, Jean. I know it's a difficult thing to do especially while using something so powerful, but your emotions have to be in a perfect balance."
"Can you show us?" Kurt couldn't wait to see it.
"You may not be so happy once you actually see it," Jean said.
"You can do it, Jeannie," Logan encouraged her.
"And I'm here, just in case," professor said. Just in case he had to shut her brain off yet again.
"Alright," Jean said, "but you better step back."
Jean faced the targets, and waited for everyone to get behind her. Jean took a deep breath as she always did. Flames formed around her body.
"Whoa!" Pietro gasped.
Scott's jaw dropped. He wasn't sure if he was afraid or excited. The sight was magnificent and terrifying at the same time.
Then the targets started disintegrating one by one.
"Oh...my...God," Ororo said, grabbing Pietro's hand.
"Alright, Jean, now try to make it stop," professor said calmly.
Jean concentrated, trying to take control of her powers and emotions, but this incredible force was consuming her, taking control over her.
"Come on, Jean!" professor said.
Scott covered his mouth in horror when Jean started destroying the obstacle course, breaking it down into small pieces, than those pieces vanishing altogether. Was Jean going to come back from this? Kurt squeezed Scott's shoulder to comfort him.
Tears were starting to form in Jubilee's eyes. She was very worried about Jean, she didn't even seem like herself.
"What's gonna happen to her?" she asked. She didn't get an answer, but she got a hug from Hank.
Professor put his fingers on his temple, he was about to shut Jean's brain down once again.
"No, wait!" Logan screamed.
Logan was slowly walking up to Jean.
"What on Earth are you doing?!" Kurt yelled after him.
Logan stood right in front of her. He would have vaporized in a second if it weren't for his healing ability.
"Jean! I know you're in there. Listen to me!" Logan said as he touched her hand. His healing power barely kept his hand in one piece. It looked as if he was about to shatter into a million little pieces, but he kept on regenerating. He was in some serious pain though. He felt as if he was burning.
"How long can he keep on healing like that?" Scott couldn't believe he was actually concerned about Wolverine's well being.
"Jeannie, d'ya hear me?" Logan spoke softly.
It sounded as if he was speaking to her from a great distance, but she heard him.
"I'm right beside ya," he held her hand firmly.
Jean panicked when she realized Logan was "in the line of fire", accidentally intensifying her powers even more, "Logan, you can't stay here," she said as she tried to let go of his hand, but he wouldn't let her.
"I ain't leavin'. I'll NEVER leave," he said stubbornly.
"I don't want to hurt you," Jean was on the verge of crying.
"You can do it, Jeannie, I believe in ya. Calm down, darlin'," he was in so much pain, he thought he would pass out, "We'll change the future together, Jeannie, and I'll be right beside ya through it all."
Jean thought about their last night together. Then she thought of the future. She imagined humans and mutants getting along, no more sentinels and evil humans or mutants to fight. She imagined herself with Logan, and spending the rest of their nights like they spent last night. He did so much to secure the future she was now imagining. It was the future they both dreamed about. She could help make that dream a reality.
The fiery storm was starting to fade within her, her breathing was slowing down. The flames started to disappear as her mind felt at peace.
"She did it, she did it!" Jubilee squealed, hugging Hank back.
Professor gave a long sigh of relief.
"Logan..." Jean whispered. She was exhausted, but she was okay. And so was everybody else.
"Jeannie," Logan said as he let her rest in his arms.
"Thank you," Jean said, hugging him as tight as her momentary strength let her.
"For what?" Logan asked while moving his hands up and down her back.
"For making me hope again."