The X-Project

Date: Friday 14th September 2007

Laurie goes to talk to Professor Xavier about going to find her father.



Laurie knocked on Professor Xavier's door, standing up a little straighter as she waited for him to answer. He'd always seemed a little intimidating, and she hadn't really had much of a chance to talk to him since she'd come to the school outside of Ethics class.

#Enter,# came the warm reply in Laurie's mind. "Have a seat my dear," he said once Laurie had entered his office. "Would you care for some tea? I was just about to have a cup."

Laurie shook her head in the negative; she didn't think she'd be able to enjoy tea right now, and she didn't want to be wasteful. Although, what was it with the Professor and tea? As far as she knew, he wasn't English, and tea had always seemed a foreigner's obsession, not that of someone born here.

Perhaps her somewhat small town, as much as you could have a small town this close to a large city, prejudices were showing? Either that or he did it because he figured people would misjudge some weird old coot that appeared to offer everyone tea, no matter who they were. Laurie wondered briefly as she took the proffered seat, which one it was.

Rolling to a table by the window, the professor finished preparing the cup of tea he'd been getting ready to have before Laurie had knocked on his door. Taking a sip, he turned his attention back to her, looking at her thoughtfully. "You look as though you have something pressing on your mind."

"I'd have thought you'd already know." Laurie replied with a slight frown. "Didn't Dr Summers-Grey tell you?"

A slight crease on Xavier's forehead was the only sign of concern as he shook his head slightly. "Tell me what, Ms. Collins?"

She heaved a sigh, feeling slightly resentful that she had to ask the Professor for permission to find her own father. If her mother hadn't been sick, she'd have been able to ask her if she could go. Instead, she had this new guardian, who she wasn't sure of at all.

"My mother is sick, Professor. Dr Summers-Grey was telling me that they need to find my father to have a viable place to work from to help her. I want to go talk to him, get him to help." she replied, looking out the large window that graced the Professor's office.

"I can tell that this is not easy for you, nor would I expect it to be. I know your mother's illness has taken its toll on you and it must be difficult to find out that someone who has not been a part of your life may hold the key to her recovery." Setting his cup down gently on the desk, his eyes remained focused on Laurie. "Harder still to have to come to me for permission." He hadn't really given her an answer, but he was hoping he'd given her the ability to talk a little more about what was obviously weighing heavily on her mind.

"I just want her to be better again." Laurie responded, not really sure she wanted to share her thoughts on her father but forging ahead anyway. "My father, I just...I'm hoping some of the man I knew in the dream is present in the man here. Just enough for him to want to help my mother. I think I can get him to help if I can just talk to him. Please let me go."

Xavier closed his eyes briefly, recalling some of his own experiences with Zach Garrison. He doubted the man would've changed much from the boy he had been. But Laurie deserved the chance to ask...just so long as she was able to do so without the potential of harm coming to her. Enough of his students had been hurt this year. "Ms. Collins, I won't deny that I have concerns about this trip. However, if you are willing to allow a staff member to accompany you and assure me that you will stay with that individual and follow their instructions, then you may have my permission."

"If it's okay, I'd like it to be Marie," Laurie replied, already certain of the staff member that she could accept. Not that she'd have had a choice if the Professor wanted to send someone else with her but she was almost positive he wouldn't protest her choice. Marie was not only invulnerable and super strong, Laurie had already told her about the fact she'd found Zach in Atlantic City only a few short weeks ago.

The professor nodded. Marie was an excellent choice, someone Laurie could talk openly with, yet she was also well gifted to protect the girl should the need arise. "I see no problems with Ms. D'ancato accompanying you, providing her schedule allows." He paused briefly, eyes seeming to search Laurie's for something. "Perhaps you could go ask her now and let me know if she is able to do so?" It didn't take a telepath to sense that Laurie needed to start feeling control over her life again and he hoped that even something as small as what he was offering would help.

"Thankyou Professor." Laurie replied, and meant it. She'd come in here half afraid that he'd refuse to let her go, she was glad that he'd surprised her. Now she just had to talk to Marie.