An hour-and-a-half later, the four of them sat in the lounge, eyes fixed on Dr. Knight. He had arrived and examined Jubilee, and was now giving them his prognosis while a nurse sat with her.

"Let me start by saying that her awakening is a great leap forward in her recovery. I am very pleased about that," he told them. "There appears to be no major damage to her mental faculties. A you know, she is, however, experiencing some short-term memory loss-- for what appears to be the past couple of years. This is not uncommon with concussion victims."

"Is that going t' be permanent?" Sean asked.

"In most cases, it is not. It should return with time. She is going to need counseling to deal with the trauma she's been through-- both the attack, and dealing with the injuries she's sustained. This should also help her to regain her memories. That, and being around familiar surroundings should do the trick. Just give it time, and don't push her."

"What about her legs?" Jean asked. She felt Scott's grip on her hand tighten.

"I've done a thorough examination, and while she is unable to move her legs completely, she does have sensation in her toes and feet. Again, this is not unheard of in such cases. There appears to be no permanent nerve damage. She will, however, have to relearn how to control her motor functions-- particularly the fine control-- and hopefully bring them back to normal or near-normal levels. And she will, of course, require a great deal of physical therapy. Which brings me to another matter."

All eyes were once again on him. He cleared his throat, obviously a little uncomfortable with what he had to say. "I have been contacted by a member of social services. It seems that since Jubilation is an orphan, they have taken a special interest in her case, and have asked me to keep them apprised of her condition. Now, due to recent developments, I am placed in a very awkward position. While I expect a full recovery, the fact remains that Jubilation is quite ill. She will require a lengthy convalescence, both in and especially out of the hospital. She will need months of therapy, both to help her to regain full use of her legs, and in order for her memory to return and for her to deal with the trauma she has faced. All of this will require a great deal of care, and countless hours of patient attention." He stopped to clear his throat again.

Sean did not like the way this was headed. "Just what are ye sayin', Doctor?"

"What I'm saying, Mr. Cassidy, is that right now, Jubilation is not fit to attend a private boarding school. She needs to be somewhere where she can receive around-the-clock attention. Attention that I'm afraid she will not be able to receive from you or her other instructor."

"Of course she will. We give each an' every one of our students the care they need. We will make the time t' ensure that Jubilee gets the necessary--"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cassidy, but with over half-a-dozen other students, Jubilation will not receive the care she requires in order to make a complete recovery. There are special long-term care facilities for people with similar injuries, where she can be attended to."

"She's not goin' to a blasted group home! We're her family!" Sean's face was turning crimson. Jean reached up to place a reassuring hand on his arm.

"You would be able to visit her, of course. Perhaps even a foster family might--"

"No one would take her," Scott said plainly. There was bitter sadness in his voice. "Not if she's been injured." He had grown up in an orphanage, and was passed over time and again for adoption because of the brain injuries he had received. He knew that no couple would want to shoulder the responsibility of a "damaged" child, especially one as old as Jubilee.

"You don't understand, bub," Logan said, his voice low and guttural, his dark eyes seemingly looking right through Dr. Knight. "The kid lost her parents a couple of years ago. She don't have no blood relatives. We're all she's got. You can't expect us to hand her over to some strangers or into some kind of orphanage. We're the only family she's got."

"I'm sorry, really I am. I know how much you all care about her. But I think this is in the best interest of the child. I will call social services tomorrow morning to give them my recommendation. In the meantime, I suggest you all go home and get some rest. This has been a very draining day, not just for for Jubilee, but for you as well. She'll be moved to a regular room in pediatrics tomorrow. Regular visiting hours start at ten a.m. I will be in tomorrow to check on her. Good-night." He hastily retreated from the lounge.

"I don't believe this shit!" Logan growled. "I'd like to give that doctor a piece of my mind," he said, protracting his claws.

"I can't believe he wants them t' take Jubilee away, lock her up somewhere, away from us, away from her friends," Sean said. "She was finally thrivin'-- able t' trust, able t' love. An' he wants t' take it all away! What right does he have t' judge what's in her best interest!"

"Because he's a well-respected doctor, that's why," Scott said. "They don't care that we know her best, that attending the school was the best thing that ever happened to her. They just see two teachers, ten students, and think that there's no way she can receive the necessary attention."

"Then I'll leave the teachin' t' Emma, an' I'll take care of her," Sean said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Sean," Scott said. "You've made a commitment to your students-- all of them. It wouldn't be fair to them if you abandoned them. What kind of message would that send?"

"It's better'n them seein' us just givin' up an' lettin' her go. If she goes into one of those homes, she's just gonna slip through the cracks. She'll be miserable. Plus the fact, she'll probably have no desire to do her therapy."

"To say nothing of the fact that she won't be trained in the use of her mutant powers," Scott added.

"Screw the trainin', Cyke; she won't get the love she so desperately needs," Logan said.

"Believe me, Logan, I know that. Better than any of you."

Jean reached up to Scott and took his hand.

"You've been awfully quiet during all of this, Jeanie," Logan said. "An' somethin' tells me there's gotta be a reason."

Jean nodded. "There's something strange going on here. I don't know if any of you noticed it, but the doctor was quite on edge."

"Yeah," Logan agreed. "I could smell the fear on em."

"I did a psi-scan," Jean said. "He was definitely afraid. I noticed his fear was strongest when he mentioned the person from social services."

"Do you think the person threatened him?" Scott asked. "He seemed awfully uncomfortable with this entire situation-- almost as if his hand were being forced to recommend Jubilee be taken from Sean's custody."

"Are ye suggestin' blackmail?" Sean asked incredulously. "Why would anyone want t' force Jubilee into an orphanage?"

"I can think of a good one-- the same reason they'd want to hurt her and Everett in the first place," Logan said. "To get back at Emma."

"You can't be serious," Scott said. "Do you mean to suggest that Shaw is behind this?"

"I wouldn't put it past him," Jean stated. "He was once a powerful businessman. I'm sure he still has connections. Why not take his revenge one step further? Already, Everett's leaving. Now, by getting rid of Jubilee, another one of her students would be removed. He's slowly whittling down the school."

"An' t' hell with the child's life he's ruinin'. . . ." Sean muttered. "I swear, if I ever get me hands on that sonuva--"

"There's got to be something we can do to stop this," Logan said.

"Maybe Emma knows of some people," Sean suggested. "If Shaw's got connections, she could, too. I just wish there were a better way. . . ."

"Listen, we're not getting very far now," Scott said. "It's late. We're all tired. Jean here is dead on her feet, and can barely keep her eyes open. Why don't we all get some sleep, and tomorrow morning, we'll talk it over and see what else we can come up with?"

"Aye, Scott. Always the voice of reason, eh? Come back t' the school. We've got a guest cottage f'r ye and Jean, an' another f'r Logan."

End of Chapter 9
Jennifer Sorowitz '98