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-That smooth but seductive tone of Emma Frost had answered the phone. She had let it ring a few times before she just casually said:- “Hello, Scott.” -almost as if she had been waiting for his call. There was a pause on the end of the line when he asked her that question. He could almost hear the smirk moving over her face.- “I’m already at your front door.” -she said and she disconnected the phone just as she had answered it. Her voice had been almost like a surprised tone that he didn’t know she would already be there. Telepaths were a funny breed, and Emma had no problems with using hers in way that Jean would give her a look for her. The woman were so different. They weren’t friends, but they weren’t enemies. Jean had saved Emma’s life a few times that maybe it was about time Emma paid her back. But who was anyone kidding. She wasn’t doing it to be altruistic. -If he thought calling Emma was the hardest thing he had to, that would probably be easier then dealing with Laura. She was still getting a handle on everything. She had already scented him coming so he didn’t sneak up on her. She had her fathers nose, but her sight was something to be reckoned with. She could see things that no other human could. She had only glanced at him with a non-impressed look as he was smiling at her. There was no smile on her face. Though there was a twitch of her eyebrow as he delivered the message. She pushed herself off the wall and walked over towards him. No it was more like stalking. Whatever kept Logan mostly human had not been passed to the young woman in front of him that was hunting him like prey. If you weren’t the predator you were prey. It was something she was trying not to think about. The eye brow twitch would let him know that the message meant something different.- “She’s in trouble.” -she said to him flatly and she looked down at his heart.- “You’re heart rate is normally 42 beats per minute. You moved up to 49. You also smell like sweat but I see no perspiration. You’re concerned.” -she said towards him.- “You are lying to me.” -her tone was not quiet dangerous but it was enough to let Scott know he was on eggshells with her for lying. Logan at least was polite about his senses most of the time, but Laura didn’t have such grace yet.Laura took a deep breath in and she let it out.- “You have a scent I don’t know on you.” -he had shaken Johnny’s hand and she didn’t know what he smelled liked.- “But I can smell them in the house.” -she eyed him with distrust, Laura didn’t trust anyone, but there seemed to be a bond between her and Jean and when he mentioned it was something she was looking into she gave a nod of her head.- “Will it help Jean?” -she asked him, apparently Scott and Logan didn’t know about their bond, but Jean established a trust with her. Laura could easily fight of telepaths. She had kicked a few out of her head so for her to allow Jean in said a lot and Jean said nothing to anyone about it per Laura’s request.- “I’ll meet them at Central Park.” -she said as she shouldered past him even though she was smaller then him she had strength.- “Lying doesn’t suit you.” -she said as she was walking off because she was already over the conversation with him and she made no qualms about letting him know it. At least she didn’t stab him.- -Jean smiled as Logan talked about a few dollars more with Laura. If only he really knew how truly special she was. Jean was under a promise to Laura, and she would never do anything to break the woman’s trust even if that meant omitting details to Logan and Scott. She hated it, but there were good reasons for it. But now she was talking to Logan and she was having a hard enough time handling that. The guilt of whatever she might have allowed to happen was eating away at her. She knew the movements he was making with out looking at them because she could see them out of the corner of her eye. The way he called her Jeanie always made her heart skip a beat and she hated that he could hear it. Could she mask it from it? Probably. But would she? No. There was no reason too. He already knew. His hand was warm against her chilled skin as she was easily guided to look at him. She met his eyes with shining emeralds. At his words he could see the light starting to return to them, and he would see a smile turn up at her the corner of her lips. He could see some of the tension ease out of her shoulders as she breathed out and her smile became a fraction bigger.- “Logan, not even you are that good of a planner. I guess some might find all the camera’s romantic and being monitored by Hank. I don’t judge.” -she said as she put her hands up in fake defense in case that was his thing.There had been so many unspoken words between them. So many pauses allowing the air fill in the gaps. All they did was dance. It was so familiar to them that they knew all the steps to take and how far to push it so it never truly crossed a line. She walked with him back towards where Hank had gone. She let the vapor hit her and she entered into the area. Jean knew they would be monitored except in the bathroom. That might be the only privacy they get. She was sure the suites had camera’s in them. She said her good byes to Hank before he had left and thanked him and also gave him an apology for yelling at him. Once they squared away he asked her a complicated question.- “Laura?” -she asked him as if she wasn’t sure.- “She’s doing the best she can understand the circumstances.” -jean dropped herself down on the couch unceremoniously.- “She just has a lot of confusion. She’s still guarded but she’s working on it. I spend some time with her.” -she said casually towards him not really revealing what they do.-  “We watch movies together. She was supposed to come out with me tonight, but it was a bad day for her. I wasn’t going to push it. I’m really proud of her though.” -spoken as if she was Laura’s mother, but ask any of the kids here, Jean was the mother hen. – “And before you ask we watch more G-rated or PG rated movies. I stay away from the violence with her. She doesn’t need that.” -Paige let out a laugh and shook her head.- “Did ya miss the part where Ah said Ah have five brothers? Four sisters? There’s 10 of us Guthrie kids from Mah mama and daddy alone.” -it was almost said proudly.  They also grew up pretty poor due to living in a coal mining area.- “Ah can cook for 11 people in my sleep. One guy that can put it away ain’t gonna put a dent in mah time.” -again all of that was a true. Sam could also eat a lot, so it wasn’t something new for Paige.- “You ain’t burning off what Ah’ll feed you quickly. Though we only have a half hour so it won’t be anything great but it’ll be enough.” -she caught his joke and just shook her head at him. She was actually nervous by the fact she offered to cook for him. Damn that southern hospitality her mama instilled in her. This was starting to feel like the longest elevator ride and she was trying to look at anything but him at the moment. Oh there was a spot on the floor, was that there before? And she looked at the numbers they seemed really polished. She couldn’t believe she mentioned about shedding her clothes.He made his last comment and she almost hesitated leaving the elevator. Her mouth dropped opened and closed before she walked out. She didn’t even know how to answer that one. She only had a beat red face as a reply. Paige walked in front of him and took him to the large kitchen. It was a little empty but the kids were all out and about and the X-men were all occupied.- “Ya can sit right there.” -she pointed to a stool at the breakfast bar they had. Just a casual place to eat or to hang out. She would not even bring up the conversation of clothes again. The problem was when she wasn’t in control she could sometimes accidently remove patches of her skin giving her a patchwork look. She had to really concentrate right now and not let her mind wander about him seeing her shed her clothes.Paige started to rummage through the fridge till she started to pull out some things, mostly some left overs. Then she got some stuff from the cabinets, flour, seasonings, cast iron pans..everything she needed to cook him something quick.- “Ah’d normally not use left overs but we ain’t got time for anything fancy.” -which it seemed as though she might be making something fancy.--As they were in the kitchen, the sound of heels clicking on the hardwood floor could be heard, before a bombshell of a blonde was seen standing in the entrance way.-“My, ain’t this quaint.” -she said looking towards Paige and Johnny with icey blue eyes. Her eyes lingered on Johnny a little to long and a little to openly. She chose her wordings like a country girl might just with out the accent.- “I hope you won’t smell like food on the plane. But I wouldn’t mind the smell or even a taste of dessert.” -she said as she locked her eyes on Johnnys before giving a devilish smile and heading off to find Scott. She wasn’t kidding when she said she was at the front door. Paige just was looking where she was and then put her head down to cook. Because it was Emma Frost. How in the hell did one compete with her? How did Jean stay sane around her? That woman could make any woman feel inferior especially with her confidence level.-

Fine. Ok.Something familiar in Scott lurched at those words. It meant she was not fine, or ok, with whatever had been decided. There was still a part of him that hated to disappoint her. He opened his mouth to say something, but let them die in a sigh before moving right along. She was going to be an adult about it, and it wasn’t his place to try and console her, especially in that moment. Now, he had to be the leader they expected him to be. He looked back to her when she asked him that favor. A moment of confusion, a glance hidden by his glasses to Logan, then a pang of guilt before he nodded. All within a second or two.“Of course. I’ll let her know.”But before that, he was making a call. He moved towards the elevator, letting it close before he let it go through to one Emma Frost. When she answered, he tried to move straight to business.“Hey, Emma. Can you be ready in 30 minutes for a flight to Australia?”And after a moment, he nervously added, “For a mission”He held the phone away was he swallowed audibly. Get it together, Summers.*After the phone call*Putting the phone away, Scott was moving towards the mini-theater they had on campus. It could be reserved between various times, and it was a comfortable, inviting place with sound proof walls. If her and Jean had actually wanted to watch a movie, they could. But it was otherwise a safe space for a few hours a week to Laura for her therapy.She would have been sitting outside, waiting for her appointment when Scott approached. He slowed his pace, and offered an award winning smile when she caught wind of him — like Logan, he made a point of not trying to sneak up on the young woman.“Hey, Laura. Jean got caught up with something down in the labs, and she won’t be able to make the movie. She said she’s sorry,” he said the lie easily, because whether Jean had uttered the words, the sentiment was there. For whatever reason, he did not turn away from her right away. He lingered, canting his head and observing her through red lenses.“If you’re up for it, X-Factor Investigations is heading to Central Park to look at an anomaly Jean was looking into earlier. They could use a tracker since Rahne quit.”He shifted on his loafers, putting his profile to her, letting her feel like the choice was hers.“Thanks Summers, now you’re ruinin’ everyone’s fun,”Logan shot over his shoulder, pausing momentarily to considering saying something in regards to Laura, but decided against it. No use in worrying the girl yet.“Tell her not to watch ‘For a few Dollars More' without me.”When Jean addressed him, he would stop hunching his shoulders, drawing them back as he turned to her, watching her with a softened expression. “Jeanie…” he started, before letting her finish the apology. A smile would curl on his lips, brown orbs shining kindly. A finger would move to her chin and force her to catch his gaze.“Don’t thank me yet. This could have been my evil plan to get you alone.”He grinned and winked, turning and moving to go inside the quarantine bay. A decontamination chamber right before the actual bay with multiple medical suites and a common area. They would be hit with a non-intrusive burst of vapor before gaining access to the main bay.Hank would bid them adieu as Logan went to check the fridge, disappointed there wasn’t beer, “How’s she doin’, by the way?”Johnny kept catching her glances, and he in turn kept glancing back. Smiling. Sometimes it was innocent. Sometimes it was knowing. Green eyes catching hers and holding there as they spoke, traces of a grin emerging just as her accent would. It was cute how she wasn’t sure whether to lean in to it or cover it up. When’s he mentioned fixing him something, his brows would raise in surprise. And delight. Not many girls in New York had ever offered to make him food. And something told him a southern girl could throw down in the kitchen.“You sure? I can put away quite a lot. I burn it off pretty quick.”A bad joke, but it was true. She was explaining her power to him and he was fascinated by the complexity of it: to literally shed skin into any known element she could -accurately- conceive. Keep her away from Reed. But then she went and distracted him with that flush of red on her pretty face. He looked ahead, but didn’t hide the mischievous grin on his face as he replied.“So I should get used to seeing you shed your clothes?”The elevator would open, and he would let her lead the way, following her to the kitchen.

-Jean wasn’t happy about Scott’s instructions to her and Logan. She didn’t want to be benched when she was clearly fine. Hank could easily take samples from them and not put them in quarantine. As unfair as she thought it might be she didn’t argue against it because at this moment it wasn’t the best idea. But she would have that conversation with Scott privately. It was also probably a good she didn’t know who he was calling. After all it was convenient that he put them quarantine to galivant around. It wasn’t so much as galivanting as it was working a mission, but tell that to a temperamental red head.-“Fine. Ok.” -was what she said in response and it would leave Hank, Logan, and Scott knowing she wasn’t happy about this but she would go with out a fight. She gave Scott a look, it wasn’t the same look she gave Johnn earlier, but it was different. She was looking at him but more looking through him before she turned and started to follow Hank and Logan to the bay. Hank’s jovial tone was lost on her at the moment. She also brought her hand up to look at it. She clenched her fist and unclenched it just watching the black marking not go away. Her eyes glanced down to Logan as he was looking at his hand and watching where his eyes traveled. As she was walking she wouldn’t look to Logan, again she had that issue with making eye contact with him at the moment. It was the shame and guilt she felt. It was hard to face at the moment. Jean then stopped and turned to face Scott. This time her face was soft and thoughtful.- “Will you let Laura know I will not be there for the movie?” -she left it there, Laura would know. Most didn’t know that she was working with Laura at Laura’s request because there was the fear it wouldn’t work. However, Jean still had to let her know she was going to miss her sessions. It was the code they came up with if she couldn’t tell Laura herself. Johnny had once thought about what Jean taught in this school, one of the things she did people was control and helping them over issues that could affect that control. Jean then turned and started walking again. And then she spoke to Logan. Finally, even if she couldn’t look at him.- “I’m sorry Logan.” -she said softly towards him. It didn’t matter if Hank could hear her or not.- “I was coming to have Hank look me over. I should have…I should have said something sooner. This is my fault.” -she then took in a deep breath, she stopped walking to finally face him. She glanced towards Hank.- “Hank, give us a minute please?” -sure they would have plenty of time in quarantine together but it was important. Hank gave her a nod of his head in understanding and went ahead of them.- “If something happens to us-to you. I can’t forgive myself that Logan. And I know I am might seem in self-pity mode, but I’m not. I’m being realistic. We don’t know what this is.” -she said glancing at their hands.- “And if anything happens to you, to me…I want you to know…” -she let that trail for a moment there.- “That I’m sorry.” -her eyes moved over his face, but still not maintaining his gaze. She then looked down at her feet and let out a breath of a laugh.- “Let’s go before our jailer gets restless.” -no time for any mush, it was business now.- -Paige listened to Scott, really listened. If there was one member of the team that she wanted to be like it was to be like Scott. The way he could so easily take control of a situation she admired it. She wanted to wield that type of confidence. So when Scott gave her the compliment of good thinking, that seemed to lift her spirits back up. Though when he said join the three of them, she stood there questioning and actually glanced around the room to see who he meant. Jean and Logan were sent to time out, Hank was to be working with Reed. That meant her. To say she was excited was an understatement. Though she wasn’t so sure about flying in the Blackbird with all those people. There was plenty of room, but that wasn’t the issue that dashed her thoughts. Johnny had smiled and winked at her and it was taking all of her resolve to hold it together even after the compliment that Scott gave her. Her eyes kept on him as he moved but then he was right back next to her asking her about food.- “There’s a kitchen. Come on, Ah’ll fix ya something’.”  -her whole accent came out in that sentence but when she spoke to Scott she had lost it, again it was something she did. Sometimes she didn’t realize it was happening. Paige nodded her head for him to follow her.- “We’re gonna prep and grab food.” -she then looked up to Johnny.- “Ah should change too. Ah have a uniform but Ah don’t really wear it much.” -she said as she was walking out of the lab with him.- “No real sense if they gotta keep makin’ it fe-for me.” -she realized that the accent was slipping out a little to thick.- “Ah don’t know if you figured it out yet, but I’m what’s called a omni-morph. Ah can shed this layer of skin to whatever I choose. Sometimes it’s not always what I choose if I’m not concentrating, but Ah also gotta know the chemical or elemental formula of it. Ah also think you realized what the side effect of that is.” -she said as stepped in the elevator and let the doors close.- “Ah shed my clothes as well as mah skin.” -she then realized how that sounded about shedding her clothes and a small blush crept on her cheeks.- “Ya know what Ah mean.” -she said awkwardly.-

It was generally believed that the less time Scott Summers had to formulate a plan, the better it was. As a leader of the X-Men, it had felt like they were in a state of perpetual crisis, so damage control was second nature. There was no time to hesitate, just make the call. Take the shot. And he would. It wasn’t always the right call, but even Logan was hard pressed to argue that Scott’s instincts were usually right, even if they didn’t seem like it a the time. When Paige explained her theory to the group, Scott looked to Hank for his input. McCoy would be chewing on the stem of his glasses, broad shoulders rolling and a nod given.“It holds water…”Nodding, Scott would take a deep breath and began laying out their action plan.“Jean, Logan, let’s get you in the quarantine bay so Hank can run tests on you concurrently with the device. He can take samples from a controlled environment.”His voice was calm, reassuring. He wasn’t worried, and he wasn’t trying to worry them or punish them. He had to think about their safety as well as the school’s. Hank was typing into a consul, accessing the X-Mansion’s controls and prepping a bay for two. The blue, furry man in a lab coat woudl stand and move towards one of the sliding doors with a large X on it, which opened into a larger hallway. Scott was pivoting to Paige and Johnny.“Paige, good thinking. It’s at least worth exploring. Johnny, I’d like you to invite the rest of the Fantastic Four here. Tell them we need them ASAP. Ben and Sue can join the three of us to inspect the Australia location. I’d like Reed to stay here with Hank to examine the device. Grab some food, suit up, and be ready when they get here.”He stayed in the lab, watching everyone leave before turning his shaded gaze towards the device. A number of scenarios played through his mind, and he reached into his pocket for an X-Men phone — basically a beefed up Motorola Razor that Forge had worked on for the teams.“ Jamie. We have a situation on our hands. I need X-Factor to investigate something for us in Central Park. Yes, it’s an ‘all hands’ situation. I’ll send you the coordinates.”The next call he was about to make made him hesitate. He glanced over his shoulder, about where Jean would be at that moment down the hall.Logan couldn’t stay angry at Jean. He wasn’t really angry. The scowl on his face, those bushy brows furrowed was interrupted by the slight grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. But he wasn’t going to gloat. There were more important things to handle. Looking at the spot on his palm, he would shift his gaze between Cyke and Beast as they started making decisions. And he went, annoyed, but he was moving his feet. Not being on the away team was frustrating for him. “I’m afraid our spa is down this week, but we have excellent room service. Can I offer a hot towel after I take your tissue samples?”Johnny had given Paige a reassuring smile, a casual wink to try and bestow some of his natural confidence to her. When Scott started giving directions, Johnny was nodding, spine straightening as he moved to the hallway behind Hank, Jean and Logan, pressing his communicator to relay the message to Ben. When he was done, he returned to Paige’s side, grinning wide.“They should be here in thirty minutes. Then it’s gonna be a long trip to Australia so… is there a cafeteria around here? I’m kinda in a caloric deficit right now.”

-Jean watched as Scott came in to do damage control. He had a lot of admirable traits. He was someone the younger generation looked up too and it was never hard to see why. The way he could easily assert himself into any position and take control of the issue at hand. He did it in such a calm manner that wouldn’t allow anyone to feel as though they made a mistake, even if they had. The fault ultimately layed with her. She should have spoke up, but at the time she didn’t realize something was wrong. She had fully intended Hank to look her over, but it was to late for that when she walked into the lab and saw what they were doing. Her thoughts were pulled away as she caught Logan screaming in his head. She normally didn’t invade peoples mind, but if someone screamed loud enough she would catch it. This would of course get her to take a glimpse over towards him.  She couldn’t maintain his eye contact though, so it was a quick look. An acknowledgment of that she caught his screaming. Logan called it from the beginning and yet he still touched it. If she had his mutant ability she probably would have too. Jean’s eyes went to Logan’s hands, before she was able to meet his with an apologetic and guilty look written over her delicate features. Thankfully, Hank spoke up. It seemed to make sense that it transferred only to bio-organic. Paige was in a different form when she touched it. She more like a stone then she was bio-organic. Jean gave a soft nod of her head.- “Hank, will you take a sample from Logan and myself? I don’t think what we have is contagious. It seems to be passed through touch. It could be a security protocol, or the device is malfunctioning.” -she knew that they might not want to listen to her. And she was not looking forward to having her ass reamed by both Scott and Logan. Hank would always be polite about it, but between those two…she wasn’t sure she wanted to be alone with them. Johnny spoke up and Jean glanced over towards him, this time it was a normal look. Not the look she had just given him.- “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring them into this. Johnny raises a good point. Ben can touch it along with Paige. Sue’s force bubbles and her brain are a force to be reckoned with. Let’s not go burning things quiet yet.” -she said with a soft smile, trying to ease some of the tension. When Australia was mentioned she glanced to Hank and Scott for a moment, they were in there when they arrived so she wasn’t sure if they knew what they were talking about. Paige looked like she just joined back into the conversation, there was a hint of embarrassment on face, she felt as though she was at fault for this because she suggested that someone touch it. While she owned her part, she would beat herself up for it in the days to come. Nobody would have touched it if she didn’t say anything. Paige heard her name being called and she turned back into the conversation and looked surprised.- “Huh?” -she asked as she looked at Johnny with a confused look, her confidence had spirled down.- “Oh Australia.” -there was a hesitant look on her face because she was a little afraid to lay out her train of thought after what had just happened.- “It was just an idea. We know this device is some kind of travel mechanism, it’s a little similar to what I’ve seen from Bishop and Cable. Coordinates would have to be entered in. I think the intended wearer meant to come to New York, but the device landed here and perhaps by some miscalculation, which we all know can happen.” -she gave a small pot shot to herself.-   “The wearer might have ended up in the coordinates antipode. Like it’s the exact opposite of where we are. Johnny asked Ben to check out any hotspots, similar to how we found the device. Just perhaps not as loud or as noticeable. All the power was with the device causing a heat spike. I think the wearer might have landed somewhere in the Indian Ocean, which is right near Augusta Australia.” -She laid it all out and hoped she explained it the right way to them. There was now a slight nervousness in her because she couldn’t be wrong twice. That would devastate her and she would probably never speak up again. She was terrified at this moment, so she looked at the rest of them in the room. Her fingers were interlaced together and they were fidgeting. Showing that fear she had while speaking. Her voice did not waiver but there was still doubt in there.- -At this point Jean looked to Scott, she was having a real hard time making eye contact with Logan at the moment. Normally she was good about that.- “It might be worth a shot.”

Scott’s own concern etched into his face when Jean gave him that look. He didn’t like being right all the time. This was one of those moments. He looked to Hank, then to Paige, and step forward in the room, shaking his head.“Everyone, it’s okay. Mistakes were made, but Logan’s right. We should move forward…”He trailed off as Jean looked to Logan again, then him. The indication noted, he narrowed his gaze behind those ruby quartz, then shifted his attention to Jean’s hand. The concerned etched further into that handsome face. Something told Scott they had to act fast. They had to act smarter than they just had.*I Fuckin’ knew it* He might not have had telepathy, but Logan could damn well shout his thoughts on the off chance she was gleaming the surface of his mind, almost willing her to hear what he was thinking.He’d known something was off. She’d been hiding it, keeping it hidden from them until after he’d gone and done somethin’ stupid. His hand tingled, what seemed like charred flesh not healing like it should have. Or maybe it was, and this was something different. He flexed that thick mitt, stepping back and holding his hand out for everyone to see. “My, this is a conundrum. It seems to respond to bio-organic material in a way that Paige’s… well, husks, are immune. At least some of them, like the bismuth.”Hank shifted his gaze from Logan and Jean’s marks to the unfinished readouts of the device, then a slightly worried look to Scott.“Until we know what this is, we might need to quarantine the two of them and find replacements.”There was a bit of pride at causing that blush to her cheeks, because it made her that much cuter. It would have been nice to focus on such a sweet girl getting light in the feet around him, one that he was going to get to know better from the mission ahead. But there was so much happening after that exchange that it was lost in the sauce. She stepped up to accept her role in this, which Johnny felt was brave of her, and showed her character.But then Jean was showing that she wasn’t as good as she’d let on. Whatever the thing was, it had blackened her fingertips, and even left a mark on the world’s toughest Canadian. It was Logan’s hand that made his eyes bulge slightly. His face said it all. Uh-oh.The look from Jean had his heart skip a beat. Something about the look she’d sent him put ice in his veins. His mind felt blank but for a moment, it felt as if she’d stared into his soul….If Paige thought he might be regretting joining their party, his next words defused that.“ Ben and Sue could help on this. Ben being a big rock man and Sue being able to create protective force bubbles. And a genius. I guess Reed could come, too. Or I could just burn that thing with fire, see what that does. I’m kind of down for anything right now. Oh, Paige, tell ‘em about the Australia thing.”

-Paige felt a slight blush creep onto her cheeks when he winked at her and not knowing who her brother was. She felt so stupid in this moment, she wasn’t the type to blush. She was, but in this case she didn’t want to be. It made her nervous for no reason whatsoever. It had nothing to do with the fact he was Johnny Storm. Any number of the women that lived in this house would love to be in her position. Standing next to him, having him wink at them. They might appreciate it. Paige on the other hand felt like she might have an anxiety attack, because her mind was going a mile a minute. She also was not blind. He was attractive, handsome in a roguish type way but also charming. His smile was also bright enough to distract her from all that was happening them.- “No…no he did not.” -she said thoughtfully because it was a sweet thing of him to say. She rocked back nervously on her heels while she turned her attention to the scene in front of her. Paige was trying to get herself under control. She was in the room with the world strongest telepath and the worlds greatest tracker. The way her mind was going and the way her heart was thumping was humiliating to say the least. The silent conversations were happening, she glanced up to Johnny to see if he realized what was going on. Then she saw the look. It had dawned him on what was happening. This was so embarrassing.- -Jean went silent again as she was looking at Scott. He had been with Jean long enough to know that his assumptions about her were always right. He would also know the sorrowful look that etched across her features. He had called her out on it. That there was something she wasn’t telling them. She had not yet been seen by Hank, and while she wasn’t completely sure if something was wrong, there were things that concerned her.- As Hank spoke, another voice joined in with him. It was Paige. She had stepped forward from Johnny’s side for only a second.- “It was my idea, Ms. Grey.” -she said before she quickly stepped next to Johnny. This brought a sigh from her. She glanced at Scott and Logan before addressing both Hank and Paige.- “Hank, I understand. Sometimes we get caught up in the moment. And Paige, I know you had good intent with it. I know everyone did.” -She had pulled her presence from both Scott and Logan, so she was no longer in their heads. But she would speak up to address what was probably the elephant in the room.  Her eyes lingered to where Logan was touching his hand. Where he touched the device would blacken. Just like Jeans.  That’s what was looking for. She could see the dark spot on his skin from where she was standing. Her eyes moved quickly over towards Scott and then back to Logan’s hand. She was indicating the mark. Jean then dropped the black hoodie she was holding as she flipped over her hand with the same matching marks.- “I thought they were maybe scorch marks.” -her heart still was beating rapidly in her chest. It should have settled by now, except it wasn’t calming.- “It still tingles, and I thought that was from the shock.” -she explained while still looking at her hand. She slowly closed her hand into a fist.-  “I don’t think it’s any of those things. It feels almost like it’s alive. “  -she opened her hand again to look at it before she moved her eyes mostly to Logan and Scott, between the two men.- “But why wasn’t Paige affected? And this…” -she held up her hand.- “What is it?” -But before Johnny made his comment about being awkward, before he spoke, Jean had glanced at him, almost as if she knew he was going to speak before he did. It might had gone unnoticed but it there was something unnerving about her stare towards him. Then finally she moved her eyes from him.Paige glanced up at a Johnny and let out a break with her eyebrows pushed up, because honestly this was probably the worst possible timing for him to be working with them. She wondered if he was regretting his choice of coming here.-

“Not everyone,” Johnny said with a wink. He didn’t know Sam, even when she revealed his codename. Maybe he’d met him once before, knew his face.He also knew that when a woman set her mind to something, it was hard to change it. Especially one with something to prove. Sue had taken all kinds of risks in order to be taken seriously, before and after their transformation. Johnny was certain Paige was tough enough to handle whatever was thrown at her, but that didn’t diminish his concern.Watching Scott walk into the room and own it was impressive. He almost felt star struck, even though he’d met the X-Men team leader numerous times before. He had the appropriate response to everything in order to control the situation. When Paige leaned in to him, he smiled at her words, leaning back just enough that their shoulders touched, “I don’t see Cannonball getting called up…”Then, things got awkward.Scott’s concern for Jean was tied to how selfless she was. She would downplay whatever was troubling her, ignore whatever ailed her to focus on saving a person, a place, the day. Logan likely knew it, too. And thus, she had the overbearing concern of two men in her life. But at a certain point, Scott had to let her make those decisions on her own, and trusted she would be smart enough to seek help when she truly needed it. For some reason, he hadn’t seen the flaw in this plan. Paige had already handled the device and seemed fine. Jean had been shocked, but otherwise said she was fine. Logan touching it made sense. He regularly put himself fin harms way for them. But as soon as that warning tone left Jean, he knew he’d miscalculated. Before he could say anything, Logan was touching the device. Just as quickly, Jean was ripping it away from him with telekinesis. His jaw tightened and he stepped towards Logan, brows raising above his glasses on that normally stoic face.Scott straightened his posture and turned to look at Jean, seemingly staring at her as they spoke mentally. ** It… I… You’re right, Jean. It wasn’t a good call. But you said you’re fine. If you’re so concerned about Logan, is there something you aren’t telling us? **If she had come into contact with it and was fine, then why was she suddenly concerned that Logan wouldn’t be? He’d seen worse than electrocution.Hank was locking the device up again behind that barrier, furry face gritted and serious as he began to do what they should have done — what Jean pointed out. Why had they jumped to “human” testing? It had been secured, ready to examine. “This is my lab, Ms. Grey. I have my share of responisibility for such a reckless act. Logan, please forgive my lack of foresight.” His many hairs were still standing up, a tremble running down his solid frame as the last of the surge escaped his body. Every muscle was tensed, having been constricted around a highly conductive skeletal structure. A shaky breath left him and he waved a hand at Hank, as if to say “it happens”. When he looked up at Jean, however, he could only offer a small grin as he answered back mentally, * No promises. I’m shocked you cared.*Johnny just watched all of this silent exchange going on with a perplexed look, mouth hanging open slightly, but Paige would see that it would dawn on him what was going on. “This is awkward.” He barely muttered under his breath. Maybe just to her. Everyone looked at him, though, and he cleared his throat. Yeah. Awkward.“Hank, run the damned tests already so we can figure out what the hell is going on.”“Well said, my conductive chum.” And with a few keystrokes, a number of instruments were employed on the machine, along with a number of diagnostic scans that would begin compiling a holographic readout for them all to examine. Logan rubbed his hand where he touched the thing, not liking the sensation he felt along the flesh, and he glanced to Jean with a raised brow, concern in his eyes as to whether or not she’d indicate the same.

“Five brothers and four sisters.” -One brother was adopted but she still counted him as a brother.- “Some of them, Ah’m surprised you don’t know Sam. Everyone knows Sam.” -she said and there only the smallest amount of jealousy in her voice. Paige held herself up to Sam. He was the oldest and she was the second oldest, but when it came to Sam it was almost like he was great at everything. Which was why she studied hard and put so much pressure on herself to become the best X-man.  There was a pitted competition between the two, except Sam just didn’t know about it. – “Sam goes by Cannonball.” -she said casually, because most knew him and it kind of made her happy that Johnny didn’t. Or maybe he hadn’t put it together. She lifted her hand up and moved a few things around on the touch screen of the computer. Paige really had no idea that Johnny was flirting with her at all. She just didn’t think that he would.Paige had glanced at him when he called her eager. She was, because she hated being told she couldn’t do something. She also would have rather preferred to do it herself then wait for an X-men to do it. Of course logically it made sense for Logan to do it, and as smart as Paige was she was also headstrong and would jump into the fire before looking for an escape route. It wasn’t always the best but she was still young and stubborn. She had a lot to prove so when Johnny seemed concerned about her being eager or wanting to run more tests she almost scoffed at him.-“This is a test, Joh—” -she didn’t get a change to finish her sentence when Scott walked in. His voice was commanding the attention in the room. His very presence could be felt. Paige seemed to shift a little on her feet and put her head down. Till Scott spoke to her, she lifted her eyes to him. Let’s face it Scott could make anyone feel small but he wasn’t condescending it was just the presence he carried with him. He was a founding member of the X-men, he was their leader. Paige had a respect for him, she didn’t have a crush on him anything. After everything went down with Jono she had decided to continue to focus on learning here at the school.  It was important to her to be the best, and if there was a best, Scott held that standard. It was more about wanting to impress him then it was anything else. Though as he mentioned he wanted her to stay on the mission, there was a light in her eyes. She wasn’t being dismissed.  She followed as Scott moved to shake Johnny’s hand and the fact that he called him John not Johnny. Such a Scott move to make.  She looked up at gave Johnny a smile. When Scott turned his attention from them, she’d whisper to Johnny, leaning in just a bit.- “He likes you.” -But then Jean walked in..and then Logan. It was as if you could cut the tension with a plastic knife. She hoped Johnny didn’t realize it. Because it was kind of like bringing a friend home to your dysfunctional family in a way. -Jean was not surprised to see Scott there, she was more surprised he got there so quickly. While he was dressed in his usual attire she was just in jeans and a tee shirt holding the sweat shirt. She gave him a smile and nodded her head. They still worked together, sometimes they could snip at each other but it wasn’t anything different then before. They had always kept it civil for the most part and any ugliness was reserved for when they were alone. Though lately things had seemed to be smoother. The respect they had for each other was always still there. Scott had been her everything for so long that feelings like that could be hard to let go. Time didn’t heal all wounds, sometimes it left a scar.-“I feel ok. Nothing out of the ordinary.” -she said towards him, because minus the rapid heart beat and the slight tingling sensation on her finger it was all on par with being shocked, she just kept that to herself though. She also neglected that Logan threatened her to be seen by Hank, but she would make sure Hank would check her out.  That would be when she had time. Jean always put herself o the back burner. Everyone and everything else came first. Right now her check- up could wait because it seemed as though they all formulated a plan before the man of the hour even stepped in. At the moment Logan walked in, she glanced at him along with everyone else. She even realized how it looked when every single one of them stopped what they were doing.  He did receive a little wave for Paige when he said hey to her.- “I don’t like this.” -she said in a slightly warning tone. There was a feeling in her gut that, but it was to late. He was already touching it. There was a burning sensation in her fingers. Her fingers gripped the sweatshirt tighter as if trying to ease the pain.- “Logan drop it! NOW!” -but just in case he didn’t listen she would rip it from him and push him back with her powers not to hard,  essentially ripping the two away from each other as if she was breaking up a fight.She let the device float back into the container that Hank had made and she scowled at all of them.- “You don’t know what this device is, and your idea was to put Logan’s life at risk?” -not that he could really die but none of them truly knew what device was. But while her face looked angry, her eyes turned to Scott and those emerald eyes were blazing. Though what came next would be a silent conversation. Normally she would essentially knock on someone’s mind before entering. It was more of a push of her presence to let them know she was there. Of course that was always option, and this case she just blasted into Scott’s mind with out his consent because they didn’t need to hear her words to him.-  *You approved of this Scott? You thought this was a good idea? Nobody thought to use another instrument to touch it?*_-Paige kind of rocked on her feet because most of them knew exactly what was happening, Especially with the way Jean had her hands on her hips facing Scott, but then she whipped around to Logan. She also made eye contact with poor Hank. Her, Hank and Johnny were just innocent by standers at this point.  She also felt bad because it was her idea and now Scott and Logan were more then likely in trouble with her. Scott might be the leader, but nobody wanted to be on the other side of Jean’s anger. *And you!* -indicating what he already knew that she was yelling at Scott in his mind too.- *Don’t you ever do anything so stupid again.*-Finally she spoke out loud so they could all hear her, but she was still filled with that anger. Her voice was even but firm- “Nobody is touching that thing again, until appropriate tests are run on it that does not involve touching it. And we figure out what it can do. Do I make myself clear?” -she eyed every single one of them, daring them to say something else to her. Her hands still on her hips, her face twisted up with annoyance and anger at the sheer stupidity of the plan.-

Snippets of the latin were heard, and even though only a few of them processed. Johnny was intelligent and well educated, but he wasn’t an academic. He was much more interested in Paige and her pursuits, as well as her joke. A small chuckle escaped him, shaking his head as she had gotten him, then. “Five? Woof. Any of them go here?” He asked, out of curiosity. Hank chuckled openly at that, but kept to himself, just giving a knowing glance over his shoulder to Paige. Maybe he wanted to get to know her more. Maybe he was also worried about any said brothers being protective of their sister. Like Piotr with Illyana. Or Logan with Kitty. He remembered he’d approached Jubilee at a Superhero Holiday Mixer a while back and the Wolverine had just made eye contact with him, unsheashed his claws, put them back, and kept staring at Johnny until he’d decided to talk to Wanda Maximoff instead. Possibly the most bone chilling moment of his life.Johnny wasn’t shallow. Just as his powers did, his emotions burned bright. Anger, fear, hope, joy, and love. He was a hothead full of passion. He’d been burned just as badly as he’d burned others. I wasn’t malicious, it was just reckless. And he found himself falling in and out of love more than he cared to admit. And sadly, there weren’t many healthy relationships in or around his life in which to properly model his own after. He could almost hear Ben in his ear. Yer on a mission, match stick. Focus on this, not finding Miss Right now. And he was right. But there was no harm in a little flirting, right? She was smart, kind, beautiful in that Girl next Door sort of way, and she was brave. She was hitting boxes. But that flirtatious glimmer in his eyes turned to something more concerned as her train of thought, laid out in her argument involving more Back to the Future references, led her back to wanting to touch the device. His brow furrowed, lips frowning a bit. He would nod, but his shoulders rolled in a shrug as if to indicate he wasn’t completely on board with her idea.“I don’t think you’re wrong about any of it, Paige. Makes sense to me, but if I’m being honest…you seem a little eager? Let’s at least run a few tests, or…” he trailed off as Beast interjected, bringing up Logan. Yeah! Let the Honey Badger test it out. Nothing he could’t bounce back from, right? Hank kept the barrier up.“Hank’s right. We should wait for Logan to get here before anyone else interacts with the device.”The firm, authoritative voice of Scott Summers filled the lab as he approached the group, his height and build matching the voice. He wore khakis with a blue polo shirt tucked in, one button undone, a small X where the polo emblem would go. Most would have labeled him a square, dressed in his Teacher attire, except for the Cross-Fit body underneath. The custom ruby-quartz glasses he wore helped give him a mysterious edge that left a number of students wondering what was going on behind that sharp, handsome face of his. He nodded to Hank in solidarity, before smiling at Paige gently while he approached Johnny.“Just as a precaution. But since your Bismuth form didn’t have any initial reaction to it, I’d like you to stay on this mission, Husk,” he reassured her. Using codenames helped the younger generation members feel like they were apart of the X-Men. It also reminded them how important their work was, and how seriously they should take it. The Guthries were the second biggest family of mutants next to the Summers clan, and he knew Paige and her siblings were up for whatever was thrown at them. He would shake Johnny’s hand, keeping that reassuring smile going. “Thanks for being here, John. It means a lot to the kids to get a friendly visit from a celebrity like yourself.”Johnny was impressed by the handshake, and waved off the celebrity nonsense, but Scott meant it. The world was full of hateful people that were regularly given platforms to dispense racist rhetoric towards mutants. Many of their students were fleeing abusive or neglectful homes, or worse. And yes, the students looked up to and admired the X-Men, their resident superhero team. But it wasn’t lost on Scott that it wasn’t as cool to have said heroes also give you homework, or detention. But an autograph from the Fantastic Four? That could help brighten a young mutant’s day.When Jean arrived, he turned and his face visibly softened under the glasses, “How are you feeling?” They might not have been a couple anymore, but there was still concern there. She’d been his first love. She’d helped make him the man he was. It had been instinctual to approach her, but he held back. It wasn’t his place anymore.If Logan had noticed anything else about her with that keen sense of smell, he was a gentleman and didn’t say anything. Not that he had to. She could read his mind, but he knew she wouldn’t. She could see it in his face. Logan had a body count, and a number of dalliances with the fairer sex, both in and out of the team, but there was an air of chivalry that always clung to him. Sometimes it belied his old fashion nature. Most of the time it helped separate him from the animal that he sometimes resembled. He was more than just a beast programmed to kill, or rut. And yet the animal magnetism that radiated off him only complicated matters. It was part of the dance. Why they kept tip toeing around it was a curious thing, and a frustrating one. But fun.Her rational defense of Johnny was given a narrowing of brows and a rolling of his eyes. “I was messin’ around, darlin’. I’m the epitome a’ professionalism. Was just gonna make ‘em think I’d hurt ‘em.” He was warm to the touch, his body firm and still, though he unconsciously leaned in to her the closer she got. When he left her room, it was to go take a decidedly cold shower…And when he got to the lab, he was wearing a v-neck white t that clung to his chiseled, hairy torso, blue jeans and cowboy boots, looking around the gathering of Hank, Johnny, Paige, Scott, and Jean. Everyone turned to look at him and he furrowed his bushy brows suspiciously. Everyone always got this look on their faces when they wanted him to be a guinea pig— sheepish guilt. At least that’s what he was projecting onto Scott’s face. Things between them had been tense since Jean and Scott split. They’d grown to become friends, but now that Jean was single, Scott had a hard time letting go of the fact that Logan was blatant about his attraction to Ms. Grey.“Torch. Slim. Hey, Paige.”“Logan! I’m afraid your services are required, old chum,” Hank used a long, simian arm to propel himself on the rolling chair about the lab, thankful for the distraction from all the awkwardness, “Before Miss Guthrie continues handling our mystery device, would you be so kind as to put your healing factor to the test?”The barrier was raised, and Logan would approach the teleportation/ Time Machine-thingamajig, “Sure. Next I’ll just jam my claws into an outlet…” he grumbled, moving to pick up the item in his gruff hand, waiting to see if anything happened. He looked to Jean and smirked before his hair stood on end—MORE on end— thick hair on his arms raising before he tensed. The worst static electrical shock he’d ever felt coursed through him.