Scott's car had just barely come to a halt when Dana jumped out of the back seat and started running for the front door. She was followed closely by Jean and lastly by Scott. The groceries lay forgotten in the trunk. Henry was waiting for them just inside the doorway and judging by his expression they knew they hadn't made it in time. They stopped in their tracks.
"What happened and who was it?" Scott asked quietly, bracing himself for the worst. He wrapped an arm around Jean who had gone pale upon seeing Henry.
"Please calm yourselves," Beast tried reassuring them before explaining, "Logan brought in a young woman. She had two serious wounds that I believe were caused by a high powered, laser weapon. One blow was to the outer right pelvis area and the other was to the upper right pectoral area. Aside from a punctured lung, which put a strain on her breathing, she was bleeding profusely. I tried to stabilize her until you arrived but the injuries were too severe. She bled to death." He finished looking very worn.
"Who was she?" Jean asked solemnly.
Beast shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure. Wolverine assured me that he would tell me later. She had two companions with her but I decided I should leave them alone a while before bombarding them with inquiries.
Henry noticed that Dana was looking past him and over his shoulder. He turned to see whom she was looking at. Wolverine was standing on the stairs, three steps from the bottom. Apparently he had heard everything. Logan closed his eyes and shook his head gently, "Poor kid."
"Wolverine!" Scott exclaimed in an almost accusing tone, "It is your responsibility to contact me and the rest of the team when there is a problem. Now, because of your reckless behavior..."
Wolverine cut him off, his voice low, "Slim, this was beyond my control. We were in a situation where we couldn't call for back-up. Bishop and Gambit will back me up on this."
"Great, the Commando and the Pickpocket are involved in this." Cyclops groaned.
"Scott!" Jean warned him with a single word.
Logan was fighting within himself to remain calm. Normally he would not have bothered except Jean and Dana were in the room. "Don't push if bub! I've have a long day."
"I suggest we hear Logan out." Henry offered, hoping to avoid a conflict. "I've called a meeting and we are conducting it in the study. The others will be waiting for us."
Jean nodded and led the way. Henry, Dana and Scott followed but Wolverine told Henry he would be there in a moment. While the others went down one hall he went down another.
*I'd better see how they're doing.*
"Alright." Scott massaged the bridge of his nose underneath his shades. "You were kidnapped by Mojo, you were rescued by three complete strangers, and then they teleported you back here but only on the condition that they came back with you."
"Oui." Gambit answered simply.
"Then, in the process of teleporting back, one of these individuals received fatal injuries."
Bishop nodded quietly and the assembled X-men were silent. Cyclops sighed, "I suppose the next logical question would be: now that we have them here what are we going to do with them?"
Rogue cocked an eyebrow, "Well shugah, why don't you try talking to them?"
Logan nodded to Bishop who offered, "I'll get them."
*Thank-you Bishop.* Jean communicated with him as he got up and left the study.
"Has someone called the Professor yet?" asked Cyclops, "I don't want him coming back to find two complete strangers eating across from him at the breakfast table."
Gambit offered humorlessly, "No Mon ami, we goin' to wait `til supper to spring dem on `im."
Scott glared at Gambit from his seat at the desk chair. Gambit was leaning against a bookcase. Sam was sitting at a ladder back chair while Dana sat cross legged on the floor, leaning back on his knees. Rogue, Joseph and Storm sat on the leather couch against the far wall while Bobby sat on one of the arms. Hank was hanging upside down from the ceiling in a corner. HIs hands were clasped underneath his chin. Jean sat in a green over-stuffed chair to Scott's right. Logan stood by the window looking out into the waning daylight and thinking about his visit with the two grieved individuals in the lab.
The woman, Andromeda, had been sitting outside in the hallway when he had visited the lab not more than thirty minutes ago. The doors had been wide open and she was staring through them. From there he could see the young man kneeling beside the table despondently. He was holding the girl's cold hand. Logan didn't feel right disturbing him or the woman in the hall. She had only noticed him briefly and he nodded to her. She didn't say anything so he just left her alone.
Jean drummed her slender fingers on the arm of her chair. She was curious to meet these people. They had saved Gambit, Bishop and Logan but at an awful price to themselves. This was not going to be easy on anyone. What do you say to people who you owe so much to?
Jean felt the presence of the two individuals when they were a couple of halls away. The man was in a heavy state of shock and grief. Jean's heart went out to him immediately. The woman was another story. Although Jean could touch her mind she was unable to go any farther because the woman had heavy psi-shielding. Jean was shocked.
*Scott, I think there is something you should know.*
*We'll talk later Jean. Right now we have to deal with this.*
*Scott...*
At that moment Bishop walked in followed by the pair in question. The man was wearing aqua colored pants and shirt made out of satin material. The front of the shirt was stained with blood. Jean cringed realizing that it probably belonged to the girl who had died. His eyes were down cast, his jaw was tight and his arms crossed. His appearance was a reflection of his pain.
Jean turned her head to look upon the woman and was met by a pair of bright violet eyes staring right into hers. Jean almost gasped, startled that she had been caught looking over the two strangers like race horses. The woman's wine colored costume was singed in various spots and there were red burns on her calves but she carried herself like a queen. Head high, back straight, arms at her sides and an expressionless face looked over the assembly. Jean received the distinct feeling that this woman was sizing her up as well. The eyes that looked into Jean's were fearless but they carried emptiness. Jean looked down at her hands, breaking her gaze so that she could get her bearings.
*Henry?*
*Yes Jean.*
*Were you aware that the woman has burns on her legs?*
Henry averted his attention to the woman's thighs and calves that showed through the generous slit up the side of her skirt. She did indeed have angry red marks on her legs and bare feet that he had not seen in all his concern over the injured girl. He inwardly cursed himself for not asking if she or the young man had been hurt.
While the rest of the team looked over the strangers Cyclops broke the silence, "Welcome. I am Cyclops." He said formally.
"My name is Andromeda." came the equally formal reply. When the young man didn't say anything she added, "He is Orion."
"For the time being you are our guests." Scott explained, "The gentleman who owns this home will be coming back here tomorrow. At that time we will discuss what course of action we will take in regards to your future here."
Jean closed her eyes, *Scott you are making them sound like a set of tax forms and you're the tax attorney.*
Scott ignored his wife's mental comments and continued while motioning toward Dana and Sam, "Dana and Sam will show you to your rooms and we'll provide a change of clothes."
Andromeda nodded quietly as Dana and Sam got to their feet. They silently went out the door while Andromeda and Orion dutifully followed. The door shut behind them and everyone's eyes went to Scott.
"Shugah, you have the people skills of a cactus sometimes." Rogue sighed with a tinge of aggravation clinging to her voice.
Dana and Sam parted ways at the top of the stairs. Their charges split company as well, Andromeda following Dana and Orion following Sam. Dana stopped at the end of one hall that had a couple of mahogany doors and opened one. She motioned Andromeda to go inside ahead of her. Following her in, Dana flicked on the light switch and Andromeda looked over the room quietly.
Andromeda had never had a room of her own. She was struck with an overwhelming sense of wonder that she barely managed to keep concealed. The bed was against the far wall and had a small table next to it with a lamp. The floor was covered with a soft, tan carpet. A small chest of drawers was against another wall and had delicate brass handles. A window was just above the foot of the bed and she caught a glimpse of pale stars through it.
Dana's voice startled Andromeda, "The bathroom is at the opposite end of the hall on the right."
Andromeda nodded mutely.
Dana was about to leave but stopped herself. "May I ask you a question?"
She looked at Dana a moment trying to make sense of her. Dana was gentle and unassuming, maybe even slightly naive. Andromeda realized with a small pang that Dana reminded her of Ursa. Swallowing hard she nodded again.
"I'll just call you Andromeda then."
Dana started out the door again when she heard a clear voice behind her say, "Thank-you."
Dana looked over her shoulder momentarily and added, "My room is right across the hall if you need me."
Closing the door on her way out, Dana glanced at Andromeda again. For a moment some emotion crossed over the woman's eyes that was a mixture of gratitude and grief. But the emotions that escaped were only temporary as Andromeda masked her eyes again.
*Gaining this woman's trust is going to be a miracle.* Dana thought as the door shut quietly behind her.
End of Chapter 4