Memories

Chapter Three

When Charles woke up the next day, he groaned as the sunlight hit his eyes. He'd left his curtains open last night. It took Charles a moment or two to finally get willpower to crawl out of bed and into his wheelchair.

It wasn't that he hated being alive- it just happens that sometimes he believes not waking up one day would be much easier.

Charles rolled himself over to his closet, picking out an outfit. If he didn't look like he tried enough, the boys would become worried. He went to his bathroom with the chosen outfit and began filling the tub with water. He wished he could have a hot shower instead of a warm bath, but showering requires more effort than Charles was willing to give.

He sat the outfit on the counter and struggled out of his pajamas. He got a towel out and sat it next to the wheelchair. He then crawled into the tub, letting the still-rising water flow over him. When he felt there was enough water, he turned off the water and began washing himself.

After his bath, he emptied the tub and dried himself off. He crawled out of the tub and onto the floor, getting his outfit on with minimal difficulties. After so long, some things just became easier.

He lifted himself into the wheelchair after that, then brushed his teeth. Charles observed his growing beard with disinterest; he was in desperate need of a shave, but he had given up on making himself look crisp and clean a long time ago- the same day Erik had deserted him, taking Charles's sister with him.

Charles rolled out of the bathroom after using the toilet and left his bedroom, going to use Cerebro. The house was quiet, it barely being after sunrise and all. The boys wouldn't wake up until around noon, except for perhaps Hank. Hank sometimes stayed up all night, working on some project or another. Charles sometimes worried for the furry scientist, but he didn't have much room to judge over another's unhealthy habits.

Charles rolled himself to the lab where Cerebro was held, finding a slumbering Beast drooling over his desk. Charles chuckled, rolling himself over to the scientist. He shook Hank awake, who sat up quickly, startled. "Go to bed, Hank. Get some rest in an actual bed," Charles ordered lightly when Hank's bleary eyes landed on Charles and lit up with recognition.

Beast nodded dejectedly, walking out with little protest. Hank knew Charles was right, and he definitely was too tired to argue with a telepath. Charles smiled at the man's retreating form, happy that he still had some respect from the scientist. Losing the boys' respect had been one of Charles's many fears after losing the use of his legs; he was happy to see that his fears hadn't come true.

Charles rolled over to where the helmet for Cerebro sat, placing it on his head. When he's first used it, the machine and Charles had both been overwhelmed. When Hank made the new Cerebro, it could handle the knowledge quite a bit better. Unfortunately, the machine had also given him dreadful headaches.

With time, though, and much practice, Charles stopped getting terrible migraines from it. Now, he could use Cerebro with no problems. As the machine hummed to life, Charles could feel his telepathic abilities expanding, his mind touching thousands of minds in one instant.

A smile grew on Charles's face- this was Charles's only delight as of late, except for his boys. He watched all of them, making sure none of his mutant brothers and sisters were in an danger. He was just about to remove the helmet when he felt a distress call- a girl, a telekinetic, telepathic girl, was in danger. Charles honed his powers in on her.

She was running, running away from danger. She looked back, allowing for him to see the government agents chasing her. She managed to escape them, though, and was now hiding in a barn. Charles realized her name was Jean Grey. Jean, don't be afraid. I'm Professor Charles Xavier. I'm here to help, Charles spoke within her mind in a calming voice.

How are you speaking to me like this? Jean asked, her voice full of fright. I am a telepath, like you. My team and I will come and rescue you. Where are you? Charles replied, hoping to calm her down as he projected calming thoughts to her.

I'm in a barn. I don't know where. I've been running for so long, she murmured, confused and scared. He latched onto a nearby mutant and combed their memory, discovering where they live. She was somewhere near the border of New York and New Jersey.

We're on our way, dear. Stay calm and stay where you are. When she gave him a tentative okay in return, he shut off the machine and quickly wheeled himself out of the lab. He quickly awakened the boys telepathically, telling them to get dressed in their uniforms and hurry to the jet

Moments after Charles arrived at the jet, the boys burst in, panting. "We have a mission," he told them, and they stared at him with bleary, confused eyes. Then, they snapped into action. Banshee opened up the jet, and Beast ran into the jet, getting it started up. The rest of the team got onto the jet, and once everyone was strapped in, Professor X having to harness his wheelchair to the jet, Beast had the jet take off. Professor Xavier broadcasted the location to Beast so he knew which direction to fly.

"What's the mission?" Havok finally voiced the whole team's thoughts. "A mutant teen girl is trapped in a barn, hiding from government agents. We're going to rescue her," Charles stated plainly, and the boys nodded.

After a quiet flight, Hank landed the jet in the general area where she was. He turned on the cloaking devise, committing the location of the Blackbird, their jet, to memory.

They all exited the jet, Charles extending out his mind in search of the girl. He also tried searching out the government agents. He began walking in their direction, honing in on the girl but keeping the others in his mind. He didn't want the government agents gaining the upper hand.

Charles could easily freeze them in place as he had done with Shaw, but he was reluctant to do so considering what happened the last time he did that. Sure, there were many different factors this time; first off, there was no blood-thirsty, metal-bending mutant who craved revenge for his mother's death this time. Secondly, they were endangering the life of a young girl- not quite as bad as threatening the whole world, but it certainly felt personal to Professor X.

Charles reached out to Jean, speaking to her calmly. He told her they were near, and that she needed to keep talking to Charles. He needed to know she was okay. She tentatively agreed, worrying that her powers weren't strong enough to do it. He reassured her, now focusing his mind more on her location.

He lead them to the barn, Charles mentally leading the government agents away from the barn. Professor X telepathically told Jean to come out, and soon the barn door creaked open, a little redhead peaking out of the door. The sun hit her hair just right, making it appear fiery. Her terrified green eyes met Charles's calm blue ones, and he opened his arms to the shaking girl.

She ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. She knew he wasn't a threat to her, and hopefully she would come to realize the others were also not threats. But now she was safe.

They got back on the jet and flew her back to her house.