Memories

Chapter Eight

"Should we tell Charles?" Sean asked, staring wide-eyed at the TV as the story broke.

"President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated." But it wasn't just the death of the leader of the United States that had startled the team. It was the picture of the crowd- of the people in the crowd as they stared in horror at the car, realization dawning on their faces.

Magneto, Mystique, Emma Frost, and Azazel were in the crowd.

The newsman reported that the bullet that had killed their President had curved.

"I don't think Charles could take this. He's barely hanging on as it is," Hank stated, looking towards where he knew Charles's room to be. The little ones were all fast asleep, leaving only the original three boys- Sean, Hank, and Alex- awake.

"The Professor is stronger than you think," Alex shot back at the scientist, not liking anyone thinking Charles weak. Hank ducked his head, not wanting to argue.

"The fact is we don't know how this will affect his mind. He's fragile- we don't know just how close the two men had been. All we know is that they were close, and Charles won't stop drinking when he doesn't have to be around us. He's not the same man that had recruited us," Sean said, stepping between Alex and Hank.

Alex wanted to argue, but he couldn't. Sean Cassidy was right- for the most part. On the surface, Charles was still the same man. A little below the surface, however, he was a completely different man. But Alex believed and hoped that, deep down, Charles was still the same man.

"I vote we tell him," Alex stated simply.

As the old saying goes, speak of the Devil, and he shall appear; just as the words were uttered, Charles rolled into the room nonchalantly. "Tell who what?" Charles asked simply, and Alex and Sean stared at him with surprised horror as Hank dove to turn the TV off.

Charles raised an eyebrow at their suspicious behavior. "What? We're not doing anything! Nope, nothing is happening here!" Sean shouted, terrible at acting natural as he leaned awkwardly against the TV that had just been turned off.

"Really? But you boys are acting quite suspicious. What were you watching?" Charles asked coolly. He might be drinking more than usual, but his mind is still as sharp as a tack. Alex sighed in defeat. "We were watching the news and a story broke... President Kennedy was shot dead," Alex said lowly. "Alex!" Hank hissed in warning. Alex shrugged in reply.

"That's terrible, but I don't see why I couldn't know about it if that was all there was to it. What else is there?" Charles sighed. It really was terrible that he was dead- President Kennedy had been on the side of the mutants after the events of Cuba. He'd wanted to defend them, but Stryker was acting out against mutants on his own. Now, they had absolutely no protection.

"Magneto was there, and the bullet had curved!" Sean rushed out, not enjoying the silence that followed the Professor's question. Hank let out a frustrated growl and threw his hands in the air.

Charles just stared at the boys in shock, trying to process the new information. Erik was there when Kennedy was shot...and the bullet that had killed Kennedy had curved.

Charles head began to pound. He couldn't take the thought.

Charles wheeled himself out of the room, ignoring his students' calls. He needed a drink- badly. Charles found himself in his study, the door shut, and pouring himself a drink.

Once he'd downed the first two, he began to process what the boys had told him.

He'd slept with a future murderer.

He slept with the same man that would go on to shoot the President of the United States.

He'd fallen in love with the same man that had a complete disregard for human life and had crippled him.

Charles needed more alcohol.

After about five more glasses of brandy, Charles went to bed, falling asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, his dreams- or nightmares- consuming him in sleep.