p class="MsoNormal""Raven… what was behind that door?" Amanda asked, "What was in there that no one was to see?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait… you'll see why few were allowed in there." Raven replied simply as memory Jean hesitantly went through the door./p
p class="MsoNormal"On the other side was a small apartment space, sparsely decorated to be welcoming to the people that lived within it. Then a ball came bouncing into view a small girl running after it. Jean caught the ball, but the girl wasn't able to stop fast enough to not run into him and in that second they hear bits of speech and sounds from events in Raven's life but not enough to identify what they were or who spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal""That… Raven that was you wasn't it?" Amanda said turning to her cousin in surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… especially at this age I was isolated not only to protect me but to protect the people my powers could hurt." Raven explained./p
p class="MsoNormal"Memory Jean looked down at her and handed her the ball with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""I believe this is yours." He said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks" she said and ran further back into the apartment./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you get in here?" a woman said from within./p
p class="MsoNormal""I… I'm sorry the door… it just opened." Memory Jean stuttered in confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal""You must go… if you are found here you will be in serious trouble… it is unsafe for you." The woman came into view./p
p class="MsoNormal""Mother…" Raven whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal""I… I got lost…" Memory Jean replied, "I was going to a class and… and I got lost."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's okay… just go… do not speak of what you have seen here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Memory Jean nodded and ran back through the door./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful, child." He heard the woman say./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The scenery changed to a gymnasium where a young girl that looked like Amanda was doing stretches./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on Roth… let's work on the beam." A female coach called./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a bunch of gymnastics equipment set up in the middle of what was normally a basketball court./p
p class="MsoNormal""I remember this." Amanda commented as her memory-self mounted the balance beam. "I broke my ankle that day."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Meanwhile Memory Jean was picking up basketballs singing idly to himself./p
p class="MsoNormal""I've got a lovely bunch of basketballs… de di de di di… there they are a standing in a row…" he sang "do do do… one ball… two balls… all as big as my head. Give them a toss the gym across and that's how I cleaned them up."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He tossed the last one in and turned to watch her dismount only to land wrong and cry out in pain. She fell to the ground her ankle not supporting her weight. The coach ran up to her as another gymnast went to get the trainer./p
p class="MsoNormal""Easy… you're going to be okay." The coach assured her as one of the other girls giggled unsympathetically then screamed as memory Jean caused a bucket of powdered chalk to fall over the girl's head./p
p class="MsoNormal"Amanda looked at modern Jean./p
p class="MsoNormal""That was your doing, wasn't it?" she said in surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""Guilty…" modern Jean preened./p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought there was a reason I liked you." Amanda smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal"Then the scene changed again to a street that was all too familiar to Amanda and Jean./p
p class="MsoNormal""NO… not again" Amanda said hiding her face in her hands "Tell me when it's over!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean pulled her in a door as shots rang out, he was able to obscure Amanda's view of the events but Raven saw everything./p
p class="MsoNormal"When they saw Raven her eyes were wide with shock, and she looked at Amanda with a new understanding of the horror she had seen. She swallowed thickly before speaking again./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's… let's keep going."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They then get to a park where they see memory Jean with an older-looking boy, one that looked exactly like he would at that age. The older boy was playing with another person like one would a puppet./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why didn't you tell me we could do this?" the older boy asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Because that isn't right, stop it!" Memory Jean yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let me guess… Syphon?" Raven assumed./p
p class="MsoNormal""You would be right." Modern Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"The memory fades and they find themselves back in the empty space of the mental plane where they had been before./p
p class="MsoNormal""So do you remember us now?" Amanda asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… I do." He replied, "Sorry for the trouble I caused."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Amanda replied, "Though that still leaves the question… why was I dragged along for the ride?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""From the moment you spoke to me in the closet you were the only one that seemed remotely familiar so… I can only assume I latched onto you for security… I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No… it's okay… now I feel like I know you better." She smiled as they returned to the physical plane./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Black Canary and the Question entered the room to see them still in their trance states./p
p class="MsoNormal""What are they doing?" Canary asked as they came back to their own bodies./p
p class="MsoNormal""That is the question." Question replied casually earning a glare from Canary./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean was first to his senses./p
p class="MsoNormal""Who are you two? How long have you been standing there?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Those are also Questions… they call me the Question, and this is Black Canary … my turn… question is who are the three of you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am Jean this is Raven and Mockingbird of the Teen Titans." Jean replies "You intrigue me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, I have been told." The question replied and then quietly left the room followed by Black Canary./p
p class="MsoNormal""What is that supposed to mean?" Raven asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know, but I like him" Jean smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal""You would…" Amanda glared at him "by the way thanks… now I have a killer migraine." She continued rubbing her temples./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sorry…" Jean squeaked./p
p class="MsoNormal"They leave the room and Batman stops them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is everything okay?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine…" Raven replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""What time is it?" Amanda asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fourteen hundred hours… two in the afternoon." Batman said mildly confused./p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay that would explain the headache… sorry I blamed you, Jean… I probably should go eat something I haven't eaten all day." She commented./p
p class="MsoNormal""What…" Raven trailed looking a little upset./p
p class="MsoNormal""What… I wasn't exactly keeping track of time… I had just woken up when I got the word of what happened, and I've been at his bedside all day."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Batman./p
p class="MsoNormal""Didn't anyone try to get her to eat?" Jean asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… several times, but she refused… we were on the verge of calling Nightwing to see if he could persuade her when she came up with the idea of calling Raven in to help her heal you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Aww, you were worried about me…" he said in mock surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know why… you're only my best friend." She responded./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean hugged her./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're hugging me…" she commented sounding once again more like Raven./p
p class="MsoNormal""Since when do you not like hugs?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't like being squished and you were squishing me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean backed up and let her go "Sorry you're just squishable…" he then thought about what he said "Sorry that didn't come out right."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Excuse me… I really don't feel good… I need to get some food." Amanda replied and started to follow Batman to the cafeteria where they found Virgil, Richie, and Flash with several empty pizza boxes./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ooo… pizza…" Amanda commented grabbing one of the few remaining slices amidst protests from the guys./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean's stomach growled./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm kinda hungry too."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Unlike Amanda who grabbed from a box with an almost finished pizza he grabbed the last box that hadn't been touched this garnered even more protest from Flash./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey, I'm a growing boy!" he responded./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"Growing how… you haven't age in what, 6 years"/em Amanda shot back telepathically./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"They don't need to know that."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""What are they doing?" Flash asked looking between Jean and Amanda who were just standing there staring at each other./p
p class="MsoNormal""Among other things being extremely rude." Raven replied hitting Amanda with a firm elbow to the back./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow… Raven… oh… sorry" Amanda said the last part coming out sheepishly then takes another bite of her pizza./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean opens his pizza "Eww… who in their right mind orders anchovies?" he asked then shrugged and waved his hand over it as if wiping them off and the fish disappeared as if they had never been there in the first place./p
p class="MsoNormal""That's cool… especially considering none of us ordered that." Flash says./p
p class="MsoNormal""They probably got the order mixed up or something… heh… who knows." Jean says sitting down to eat his pizza and glared as Amanda stole a slice from him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey… that's mine!" he protested./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't see your name on it." She smirked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really… cause I could go ahead and actually put my name on it." Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"Amanda just grinned smugly and took a bite of the slice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Now that's just plain rude."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You would have done the same thing." Amanda replied with a shrug./p
p class="MsoNormal""True…" he looks down and sees a stray anchovy in the box. "That is one weird looking fish" he said holding it up to see a joker style smile plastered on the thing's face./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman pulled an evidence bag from his utility belt and Jean placed the fish inside./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can't be sure just yet but by the look of it you might have saved the entire tower. I'll have to run some tests" Batman said holding the bagged fish at eye level./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean shrugged "All in a day's work." He then looked at Virgil. "Static I think we need to talk."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean took Virgil to the conference room where he Raven and Amanda went through the procedure to return his memories./p
p class="MsoNormal""What's up?" Static asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I wanted to apologize to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You have every right to be upset with me, it is my fault… if I hadn't told him about the device he wouldn't have got it in his head to create one." Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""Your point?" Virgil replied leaning on the wall "You told him about something you didn't put a gun to his head and force him to do what he did."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No… but… the information I gave him put your friend and sister in danger and put you in the situation your in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What situation… Batman and Superman got it all covered… apparently Luthor has some skeletons in his closet they threatened to expose to Lois Lane."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't think you're hearing me, if I hadn't told him about the device you wouldn't have had to go stealing for him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I heard you… but he seems like the kinda guy that would have found a reason to torment us without your help." Static said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Unfortunately, your right about Syphon." Jean sighed. "I am still sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, its all good, I spoke to Amanda and apparently Syphon has been going after you for a while."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You spoke to Amanda, how is she doing? It couldn't have been easy for her to go Back to Dakota."/p
p class="MsoNormal""She's doing pretty good all things considered… does she know that you're Sage?" Static asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Who do you think helped me come up with the name?" he chuckled./p
p class="MsoNormal"Gear came in with a smile "Hey Static, your dad wants to know when you're gonna be home?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm coming." Static replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean opened a portal to the community center./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can get us there, so we don't have to mooch off the league." He then closed it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's go get Sharon and get out of here." Static suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal"It didn't take long to get Sharon and Amanda. Then he reopened the portal and they all walked through it to get back to Dakota. Raven wasn't sure why but she decided to go ahead and tag along, perhaps to help Amanda tell her siblings what happened before going to Jump City./p
p class="MsoNormal""But my parents aren't in Dakota." Richie pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Jean said. "I'll take you there but first I think Mr. Hawkins would appreciate seeing both of you okay./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Robert was pacing when Virgil, Sharon and Richie entered the house. His knees went weak with relief as he saw all three of them unharmed. He embraced them, trying his best not to cry but failing spectacularly./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm so glad you are all okay." He said through his tears./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't cry, daddy." Sharon said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Virgil was in no condition to speak, the stress of the weekend crashing in on him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sharon and Richie realized Virgil was on the verge of a breakdown and subtly slipped away to let Robert focus in on Virgil who needed him most./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean had looked away his thoughts going to his cousin and uncle who were likely worried about him./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't mean to interrupt but I think its time to get Richie back to his parents." He said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful, you two." Sharon said as they walked through the portal./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"You better come back this time!"/em Kathy told him telepathically em"I can and will track you down if you don't!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em"Okay, okay… I'll come back!"/em he replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"I'll be waiting for you in Dakota."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll be there." Jean replied not noticing he was speaking out loud./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie looks at him in confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Jean shrugged then pointed to the door where Sean and Maggie were staying./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie knocked on the door hesitantly, he wasn't sure what his parents knew of what had transpired this past weekend. He wasn't prepared for the tight embrace he found himself in./p
p class="MsoNormal""M… mom…" he said in confusion slowly returning the embrace./p
p class="MsoNormal""We were so worried about you." She said pulling him inside./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean started to leave when a message flashed on his screen./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't even think about leaving, I'm expecting you with the Foley's" he read, it was Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Its scary how well she knows me." He said getting face to face with Aura who meowed and rubbed the top of his head on the end of Jean's nose in reply. Jean then scratched behind Aura's ear then they returned to the Foley's hotel room to see Sean and Maggie still embracing Richie. Maggie's eyes filled with tears./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean ducked into the bedroom and began playing a game on his phone as Richie and his parents caught up on what happened over the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie and his parents took seats around the room./p
p class="MsoNormal""So how much do you know about what happened?" Richie asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well… we really didn't know anything until Static…Virgil… showed up with that kid." Sean sighed./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait… you know Virgil is Static… what else do you know?" Richie looked scared./p
p class="MsoNormal""In these fights he doesn't let you get hurt does he?" Sean looked serious./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know… don't you? You know I'm Gear."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Honestly, after finding out who Static is it wasn't too hard to figure out you are Gear." Maggie pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""You want me to stop, don't you?" Richie asked, not looking at his parents./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sean and Maggie looked at each other for several seconds and Richie looked down at Aura./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why do I get the feeling they're speaking telepathically?" Richie asked the cat./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aura just meowed and jumped in his lap./p
p class="MsoNormal""Even if we were going to try to stop you I get the feeling we couldn't so we're going to trust you. Just be careful, son." Sean said./p
p class="MsoNormal""I will, dad." Richie replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""We also want you to let us know what is happening once in a while." Maggie added./p
p class="MsoNormal""I will, mom."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sean put his head in his hand "In the future can you keep the explosive stuff out of the garage."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, sir." Richie replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"The Foley's got back to Dakota and Amanda seemed annoyed when Jean didn't immediately appear out of the car./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jean Luc I swear to God…" Amanda muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" he interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal""JEAN LUC XAVIER!" she yelled glaring at him as he busted out laughing./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on, admit it you thought I was going to bail."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought you had bailed, and I was going to have to chase you down!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""And ask Raven to send me to the corn field?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""She wouldn't have had to ask and I'm sure I could come up with worse than the corn field." Raven replied casually./p
p class="MsoNormal""Touche…" he replied then created a portal to Titan's tower./p
p class="MsoNormal""Bye, Virgil… see you later."/p
p class="MsoNormal""See ya"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Virgil and Jean share a fist bump/handshake before Jean follows the girls through the portal./p
p class="MsoNormal"Nightwing is waiting when they arrive at the tower./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did it go?" he asked looking between the three of them./p
p class="MsoNormal""It went well." Raven replied before they launched the report./p
p class="MsoNormal"After they finished the report Jean made his bag appear./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, I guess its time for me to go." He picked up the bag and started towards the elevator only to find a black energy field in the way,/p
p class="MsoNormal""We were kinda hoping you'd stick around." Nightwing said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean turned to look at them "Really… even with everything that has happened? Knowing where my powers come from. Knowing what Syphon can and will do… you still want me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""My father used me to end the world…" Raven replied, "You fit in fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Nightwing and the others as if to see if they agree with her. Nightwing doesn't speak aloud just tosses him a communicator in leu of an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean caught it then looked to Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on you know you want to join and there is safety in numbers." She replied "Plus you kinda have an awesome new room."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What room?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Your bedroom…" Cyborg said with a smirk./p
p class="MsoNormal""The guest room…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's not a guest room anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They get to the room and Jean opens the door to find lots of glowing stars on the ceiling with a disco ball in the center reflecting the lights. He then sees the Xavier Institute plaque and almost starts crying./p
p class="MsoNormal""But I don't even have a code name."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, you do, Sage." Amanda retorted./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really?" he said disbelievingly./p
p class="MsoNormal""What, it worked in Dakota?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It did?" Nightwing asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah it did…" Jean said switching to the older looking Sage appearance./p
p class="MsoNormal""Welcome to the team, Sage." Nightwing said./p
p class="MsoNormal"The alarm goes off./p
p class="MsoNormal""TITANS GO!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The team takes off leaving Jean behind./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait for me!" Jean called then opened a portal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;"stronguThe End/u/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait… you'll see why few were allowed in there." Raven replied simply as memory Jean hesitantly went through the door./p
p class="MsoNormal"On the other side was a small apartment space, sparsely decorated to be welcoming to the people that lived within it. Then a ball came bouncing into view a small girl running after it. Jean caught the ball, but the girl wasn't able to stop fast enough to not run into him and in that second they hear bits of speech and sounds from events in Raven's life but not enough to identify what they were or who spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal""That… Raven that was you wasn't it?" Amanda said turning to her cousin in surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… especially at this age I was isolated not only to protect me but to protect the people my powers could hurt." Raven explained./p
p class="MsoNormal"Memory Jean looked down at her and handed her the ball with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""I believe this is yours." He said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks" she said and ran further back into the apartment./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you get in here?" a woman said from within./p
p class="MsoNormal""I… I'm sorry the door… it just opened." Memory Jean stuttered in confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal""You must go… if you are found here you will be in serious trouble… it is unsafe for you." The woman came into view./p
p class="MsoNormal""Mother…" Raven whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal""I… I got lost…" Memory Jean replied, "I was going to a class and… and I got lost."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's okay… just go… do not speak of what you have seen here."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Memory Jean nodded and ran back through the door./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful, child." He heard the woman say./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The scenery changed to a gymnasium where a young girl that looked like Amanda was doing stretches./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on Roth… let's work on the beam." A female coach called./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a bunch of gymnastics equipment set up in the middle of what was normally a basketball court./p
p class="MsoNormal""I remember this." Amanda commented as her memory-self mounted the balance beam. "I broke my ankle that day."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Meanwhile Memory Jean was picking up basketballs singing idly to himself./p
p class="MsoNormal""I've got a lovely bunch of basketballs… de di de di di… there they are a standing in a row…" he sang "do do do… one ball… two balls… all as big as my head. Give them a toss the gym across and that's how I cleaned them up."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He tossed the last one in and turned to watch her dismount only to land wrong and cry out in pain. She fell to the ground her ankle not supporting her weight. The coach ran up to her as another gymnast went to get the trainer./p
p class="MsoNormal""Easy… you're going to be okay." The coach assured her as one of the other girls giggled unsympathetically then screamed as memory Jean caused a bucket of powdered chalk to fall over the girl's head./p
p class="MsoNormal"Amanda looked at modern Jean./p
p class="MsoNormal""That was your doing, wasn't it?" she said in surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""Guilty…" modern Jean preened./p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought there was a reason I liked you." Amanda smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal"Then the scene changed again to a street that was all too familiar to Amanda and Jean./p
p class="MsoNormal""NO… not again" Amanda said hiding her face in her hands "Tell me when it's over!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean pulled her in a door as shots rang out, he was able to obscure Amanda's view of the events but Raven saw everything./p
p class="MsoNormal"When they saw Raven her eyes were wide with shock, and she looked at Amanda with a new understanding of the horror she had seen. She swallowed thickly before speaking again./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's… let's keep going."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They then get to a park where they see memory Jean with an older-looking boy, one that looked exactly like he would at that age. The older boy was playing with another person like one would a puppet./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why didn't you tell me we could do this?" the older boy asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Because that isn't right, stop it!" Memory Jean yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let me guess… Syphon?" Raven assumed./p
p class="MsoNormal""You would be right." Modern Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"The memory fades and they find themselves back in the empty space of the mental plane where they had been before./p
p class="MsoNormal""So do you remember us now?" Amanda asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… I do." He replied, "Sorry for the trouble I caused."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Amanda replied, "Though that still leaves the question… why was I dragged along for the ride?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""From the moment you spoke to me in the closet you were the only one that seemed remotely familiar so… I can only assume I latched onto you for security… I'm sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No… it's okay… now I feel like I know you better." She smiled as they returned to the physical plane./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Black Canary and the Question entered the room to see them still in their trance states./p
p class="MsoNormal""What are they doing?" Canary asked as they came back to their own bodies./p
p class="MsoNormal""That is the question." Question replied casually earning a glare from Canary./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean was first to his senses./p
p class="MsoNormal""Who are you two? How long have you been standing there?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Those are also Questions… they call me the Question, and this is Black Canary … my turn… question is who are the three of you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am Jean this is Raven and Mockingbird of the Teen Titans." Jean replies "You intrigue me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, I have been told." The question replied and then quietly left the room followed by Black Canary./p
p class="MsoNormal""What is that supposed to mean?" Raven asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know, but I like him" Jean smiled./p
p class="MsoNormal""You would…" Amanda glared at him "by the way thanks… now I have a killer migraine." She continued rubbing her temples./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sorry…" Jean squeaked./p
p class="MsoNormal"They leave the room and Batman stops them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is everything okay?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine…" Raven replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""What time is it?" Amanda asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fourteen hundred hours… two in the afternoon." Batman said mildly confused./p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay that would explain the headache… sorry I blamed you, Jean… I probably should go eat something I haven't eaten all day." She commented./p
p class="MsoNormal""What…" Raven trailed looking a little upset./p
p class="MsoNormal""What… I wasn't exactly keeping track of time… I had just woken up when I got the word of what happened, and I've been at his bedside all day."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Batman./p
p class="MsoNormal""Didn't anyone try to get her to eat?" Jean asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes… several times, but she refused… we were on the verge of calling Nightwing to see if he could persuade her when she came up with the idea of calling Raven in to help her heal you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Aww, you were worried about me…" he said in mock surprise./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't know why… you're only my best friend." She responded./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean hugged her./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're hugging me…" she commented sounding once again more like Raven./p
p class="MsoNormal""Since when do you not like hugs?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't like being squished and you were squishing me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean backed up and let her go "Sorry you're just squishable…" he then thought about what he said "Sorry that didn't come out right."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Excuse me… I really don't feel good… I need to get some food." Amanda replied and started to follow Batman to the cafeteria where they found Virgil, Richie, and Flash with several empty pizza boxes./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ooo… pizza…" Amanda commented grabbing one of the few remaining slices amidst protests from the guys./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean's stomach growled./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm kinda hungry too."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Unlike Amanda who grabbed from a box with an almost finished pizza he grabbed the last box that hadn't been touched this garnered even more protest from Flash./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey, I'm a growing boy!" he responded./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"Growing how… you haven't age in what, 6 years"/em Amanda shot back telepathically./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"They don't need to know that."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""What are they doing?" Flash asked looking between Jean and Amanda who were just standing there staring at each other./p
p class="MsoNormal""Among other things being extremely rude." Raven replied hitting Amanda with a firm elbow to the back./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow… Raven… oh… sorry" Amanda said the last part coming out sheepishly then takes another bite of her pizza./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean opens his pizza "Eww… who in their right mind orders anchovies?" he asked then shrugged and waved his hand over it as if wiping them off and the fish disappeared as if they had never been there in the first place./p
p class="MsoNormal""That's cool… especially considering none of us ordered that." Flash says./p
p class="MsoNormal""They probably got the order mixed up or something… heh… who knows." Jean says sitting down to eat his pizza and glared as Amanda stole a slice from him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey… that's mine!" he protested./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't see your name on it." She smirked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really… cause I could go ahead and actually put my name on it." Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"Amanda just grinned smugly and took a bite of the slice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Now that's just plain rude."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You would have done the same thing." Amanda replied with a shrug./p
p class="MsoNormal""True…" he looks down and sees a stray anchovy in the box. "That is one weird looking fish" he said holding it up to see a joker style smile plastered on the thing's face./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman pulled an evidence bag from his utility belt and Jean placed the fish inside./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can't be sure just yet but by the look of it you might have saved the entire tower. I'll have to run some tests" Batman said holding the bagged fish at eye level./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean shrugged "All in a day's work." He then looked at Virgil. "Static I think we need to talk."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean took Virgil to the conference room where he Raven and Amanda went through the procedure to return his memories./p
p class="MsoNormal""What's up?" Static asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""I wanted to apologize to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You have every right to be upset with me, it is my fault… if I hadn't told him about the device he wouldn't have got it in his head to create one." Jean replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""Your point?" Virgil replied leaning on the wall "You told him about something you didn't put a gun to his head and force him to do what he did."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No… but… the information I gave him put your friend and sister in danger and put you in the situation your in."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What situation… Batman and Superman got it all covered… apparently Luthor has some skeletons in his closet they threatened to expose to Lois Lane."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't think you're hearing me, if I hadn't told him about the device you wouldn't have had to go stealing for him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I heard you… but he seems like the kinda guy that would have found a reason to torment us without your help." Static said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Unfortunately, your right about Syphon." Jean sighed. "I am still sorry."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, its all good, I spoke to Amanda and apparently Syphon has been going after you for a while."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You spoke to Amanda, how is she doing? It couldn't have been easy for her to go Back to Dakota."/p
p class="MsoNormal""She's doing pretty good all things considered… does she know that you're Sage?" Static asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Who do you think helped me come up with the name?" he chuckled./p
p class="MsoNormal"Gear came in with a smile "Hey Static, your dad wants to know when you're gonna be home?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm coming." Static replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean opened a portal to the community center./p
p class="MsoNormal""I can get us there, so we don't have to mooch off the league." He then closed it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's go get Sharon and get out of here." Static suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal"It didn't take long to get Sharon and Amanda. Then he reopened the portal and they all walked through it to get back to Dakota. Raven wasn't sure why but she decided to go ahead and tag along, perhaps to help Amanda tell her siblings what happened before going to Jump City./p
p class="MsoNormal""But my parents aren't in Dakota." Richie pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Jean said. "I'll take you there but first I think Mr. Hawkins would appreciate seeing both of you okay./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Robert was pacing when Virgil, Sharon and Richie entered the house. His knees went weak with relief as he saw all three of them unharmed. He embraced them, trying his best not to cry but failing spectacularly./p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm so glad you are all okay." He said through his tears./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't cry, daddy." Sharon said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Virgil was in no condition to speak, the stress of the weekend crashing in on him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sharon and Richie realized Virgil was on the verge of a breakdown and subtly slipped away to let Robert focus in on Virgil who needed him most./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean had looked away his thoughts going to his cousin and uncle who were likely worried about him./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't mean to interrupt but I think its time to get Richie back to his parents." He said./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be careful, you two." Sharon said as they walked through the portal./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"You better come back this time!"/em Kathy told him telepathically em"I can and will track you down if you don't!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em"Okay, okay… I'll come back!"/em he replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"em"I'll be waiting for you in Dakota."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll be there." Jean replied not noticing he was speaking out loud./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie looks at him in confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't worry about it." Jean shrugged then pointed to the door where Sean and Maggie were staying./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie knocked on the door hesitantly, he wasn't sure what his parents knew of what had transpired this past weekend. He wasn't prepared for the tight embrace he found himself in./p
p class="MsoNormal""M… mom…" he said in confusion slowly returning the embrace./p
p class="MsoNormal""We were so worried about you." She said pulling him inside./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean started to leave when a message flashed on his screen./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't even think about leaving, I'm expecting you with the Foley's" he read, it was Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Its scary how well she knows me." He said getting face to face with Aura who meowed and rubbed the top of his head on the end of Jean's nose in reply. Jean then scratched behind Aura's ear then they returned to the Foley's hotel room to see Sean and Maggie still embracing Richie. Maggie's eyes filled with tears./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean ducked into the bedroom and began playing a game on his phone as Richie and his parents caught up on what happened over the weekend./p
p class="MsoNormal"Richie and his parents took seats around the room./p
p class="MsoNormal""So how much do you know about what happened?" Richie asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well… we really didn't know anything until Static…Virgil… showed up with that kid." Sean sighed./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait… you know Virgil is Static… what else do you know?" Richie looked scared./p
p class="MsoNormal""In these fights he doesn't let you get hurt does he?" Sean looked serious./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know… don't you? You know I'm Gear."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Honestly, after finding out who Static is it wasn't too hard to figure out you are Gear." Maggie pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""You want me to stop, don't you?" Richie asked, not looking at his parents./p
p class="MsoNormal"Sean and Maggie looked at each other for several seconds and Richie looked down at Aura./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why do I get the feeling they're speaking telepathically?" Richie asked the cat./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aura just meowed and jumped in his lap./p
p class="MsoNormal""Even if we were going to try to stop you I get the feeling we couldn't so we're going to trust you. Just be careful, son." Sean said./p
p class="MsoNormal""I will, dad." Richie replied./p
p class="MsoNormal""We also want you to let us know what is happening once in a while." Maggie added./p
p class="MsoNormal""I will, mom."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Sean put his head in his hand "In the future can you keep the explosive stuff out of the garage."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, sir." Richie replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"The Foley's got back to Dakota and Amanda seemed annoyed when Jean didn't immediately appear out of the car./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jean Luc I swear to God…" Amanda muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" he interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal""JEAN LUC XAVIER!" she yelled glaring at him as he busted out laughing./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on, admit it you thought I was going to bail."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I thought you had bailed, and I was going to have to chase you down!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""And ask Raven to send me to the corn field?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""She wouldn't have had to ask and I'm sure I could come up with worse than the corn field." Raven replied casually./p
p class="MsoNormal""Touche…" he replied then created a portal to Titan's tower./p
p class="MsoNormal""Bye, Virgil… see you later."/p
p class="MsoNormal""See ya"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Virgil and Jean share a fist bump/handshake before Jean follows the girls through the portal./p
p class="MsoNormal"Nightwing is waiting when they arrive at the tower./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did it go?" he asked looking between the three of them./p
p class="MsoNormal""It went well." Raven replied before they launched the report./p
p class="MsoNormal"After they finished the report Jean made his bag appear./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, I guess its time for me to go." He picked up the bag and started towards the elevator only to find a black energy field in the way,/p
p class="MsoNormal""We were kinda hoping you'd stick around." Nightwing said./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean turned to look at them "Really… even with everything that has happened? Knowing where my powers come from. Knowing what Syphon can and will do… you still want me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""My father used me to end the world…" Raven replied, "You fit in fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean looked at Nightwing and the others as if to see if they agree with her. Nightwing doesn't speak aloud just tosses him a communicator in leu of an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal"Jean caught it then looked to Amanda./p
p class="MsoNormal""Come on you know you want to join and there is safety in numbers." She replied "Plus you kinda have an awesome new room."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What room?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Your bedroom…" Cyborg said with a smirk./p
p class="MsoNormal""The guest room…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's not a guest room anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They get to the room and Jean opens the door to find lots of glowing stars on the ceiling with a disco ball in the center reflecting the lights. He then sees the Xavier Institute plaque and almost starts crying./p
p class="MsoNormal""But I don't even have a code name."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, you do, Sage." Amanda retorted./p
p class="MsoNormal""Really?" he said disbelievingly./p
p class="MsoNormal""What, it worked in Dakota?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It did?" Nightwing asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah it did…" Jean said switching to the older looking Sage appearance./p
p class="MsoNormal""Welcome to the team, Sage." Nightwing said./p
p class="MsoNormal"The alarm goes off./p
p class="MsoNormal""TITANS GO!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"The team takes off leaving Jean behind./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait for me!" Jean called then opened a portal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;"stronguThe End/u/strong/p