Title: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave (1/3)
Author: queenB
Email: planitclare@yahoo.com
Rating: PG

Disclaimer: The X-Men don't belong to me and are property of Marvel Entertainment Group. No money is being made from this endeavor... yadda, yadda, yadda.

Continuity: X-Men Movie Universe. Set after the events in the movie with flashbacks from before.

Characters: The whole team.

Summary: The prodigal son returns. Warren Worthington, one of Xavier's original students finds himself back at Xavier's School.

Archiving: Archive only with my permission.

Feedback: Yes, please! Comments are adored, cherished and drooled over at planitclare@yahoo.com

*   *   *
"Land of the Free, Home of the Brave"
Part Two
by queenB
 

"Jean?" Warren sat up groggily as he wiped at his eyes. "Is that you?"

He felt her hands on his shoulders, steadying him as he blinked himself awake, somewhat unsteady from his injuries.
"How are you feeling?"

Turning his head to look at her, he flashed his most convincing smile. "Better. Much better. Thanks for your
help."

She smirked as she pulled a chair next to his bed. "You can't lie to a telepath, Warren."

He released a sigh as he reclined uncomfortably in the narrow bed and let his wings fall to either side of him.
"In that case I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck."

Grinning as she made a few notes on a clipboard, "Now, I wouldn't say you're that bad off. But just to be safe I want you to stay here for a few days and get some rest. That bump on the back of your head has me a little worried."

Warren grimaced. "You're not the only one."

"One thing I can say for you, Mr. Worthington. You do know how to make a dramatic entrance. If Scott and Logan hadn't called ahead I would have thought you were doing this just to get my attention."

"You know me, Jeannie. Always trying to steal the show."

They sat in silence for a while as Jean continued to scribble on her clipboard when Warren finally spoke. "So how have you been, Jean?"

Looking at him over her glasses, she put aside her work and smiled. "I've been good. Busy but good."

"That's good to hear. And Scott? How's he been?"

"He's been good."

"Good."

Warren stared at the floor, at a loss for anything else to say. Two years ago he vowed he'd never set foot in the Xavier School again and now there he was, lying battered, bruised and broken in Jean's infirmary. The last time he was in here was from injuries he sustained in one of Xavier's training sessions and that was when he knew there was no place for him in Xavier's dream.

*   *   *

"Cyclops. Angel. Look sharp! The purpose of this exercise is to simulate real combat situations. You'll need your wits about you if you're to defend yourself under a real threat." Professor Xavier's voice boomed over the intercom as the two young men stood in the empty metal room, dressed in battle gear. From the looks of it, the room took up a good size of the mansion's foundation and was over six stories high, buried deep into the soil and bedrock beneath the great house.

Warren shrugged and smirked at his friend as the mechanisms hidden in the room's walls whirred to life and seemed o
come alive. But Scott ignored his friend's casual air and stared straight ahead in his custom-made visor that allowed him to release his optic blasts with a touch of his finger. He was taking this seriously. Too seriously, Warren thought. Dressing up in leather and battling high-tech obstacles in the School's basement was hardly his idea of a productive curriculum.

As Scott blasted at a set of missile-shaped projectiles, Warren took to the air, moving with ease in the wide-open spaces of the specially constructed part of the sub-basement as he dodged and weaved through an array of laser beams that fired from a cannon lowered from the room's ceiling. This was ridiculous. What was he supposed to do with a set of wings? Unlike Scott or Ororo or even Jean, his mutant power was completely non-offensive. All he could really do was get out of the way. Xavier had coached him before the exercise, telling him that he needed to focus on not being a target. He needed to be as agile as a bird and as fast as a hawk. He sighed as he pushed off a wall and flew back toward the center of the large room and told himself that even hawks had talons.

Before he had a chance to wallow further in his self-doubt, the door opened at the far side of the room as Ororo Monroe
stepped in. Xavier's voice once again boomed over the intercom. "The exercise is about to get a little more interesting. Storm will be joining in the battle... not as a teammate but as an adversary."

Warren winked at his girlfriend, still retaining a bit of levity about the simulation, but before he even had a chance to blow her a kiss, her irises grew white and her body crackled with power. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as the temperature of the room dropped more than forty degrees and the cold air and wind made navigating extremely difficult. While Storm continued her windy assault, the obstacles continued to fire from the walls and Warren narrowly avoided getting tagged by a laser beam. Just as he thought he was in the clear a sudden gust blew him into a tailspin and he flapped his wings desperately as his mind reeled in panic and he did his best to straighten out and regain control over his flight. But it was too late. He spun out of control and flew into the path of the missiles Scott was battling on the ground. As the hard floor rushed up to meet him and the projectiles exploded all around him... he knew he would definitely feel this error come morning.

As he crashed into a heap on the floor and he heard Ororo crying out his name, one thought entered his mind before he lost consciousness. Training to be a super hero was dangerous work. Way too dangerous for him.

*   *   *

"I won't lie to you, Warren. We all took it very hard when you left," Jean removed her glasses and rested her elbows on her knees. "But I think I understand why."

Warren raised an eyebrow as he looked out over the well-manicured garden from the bench he and Jean shared. It was
his second day here and Jean had suggested he get some fresh air, a prescription he avidly accepted. "You do?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. I think so... maybe more so than the others. We all need to do what we're best at. That's
why I went on to medical school. To carve my own niche in Xavier's plans and to still do what I enjoy... what I find most fulfilling. It may have set me back a few years as far as learning my powers go, but in the long run it means I have more to contribute. And that's what it should all be about, really."

Releasing a deep sigh, Warren massaged his forehead. "I don't think Scott, Ororo and the Professor see it that way in my case."

"I think they took your departure very personally."

"And you didn't?"

Jean winked at him. "Well, I didn't lose my roommate and best friend like Scott. Or have my heart broken like
Ororo."

"So what's the Professor's excuse?"

Turning her gaze away from Warren, she said quietly, "You were the first to walk away. To him you'll always be the
prodigal son."

"I haven't seen him yet."

"You need to. Soon."

Just as he was about to ask Jean for advice on what to say to Xavier, Warren heard the bustle of students racing through the garden. A few of them smiled as they raced past him toward the house and he searched their ranks for any familiar faces. Before he had a chance to compose himself and remember any of their names, he found the smiling
visage of Bobby Drake standing before him along with a few other students he remembered from his stint at the school.

"See, Dani. I told you he was here."

Warren shook his head. "Well hello to you too, Bobby."

Bobby blushed as Jean chided him. "Bobby. Where are your manners?"

"Sorry, Dr. Grey. Hello, Mr. Worthington."

Warren smirked as he studied the boy. He had grown so much since he had last seen him and was well on his way to
becoming a man. "I'm not a teacher here anymore, Bobby. You can call me by my first name."

Bobby blushed again and smiled, "Sure thing, Mr., um, Warren."

Next to him, Jean was doing her best to repress a giggle. "So how have you been, Bobby? How are your studies coming along?"

"Good. I'm really getting the hang of my powers. Ms. Monroe has really been a big help."

Warren looked up to see Ororo standing behind them and as she made eye contact with him, he said, "I'm sure she has."

Turning his attention back to the students, Warren asked the dark-skinned girl next to Bobby, "And how about you,
Dani Moonstar? How have you been?"

"Well, sir."

He tried his best to remember the names of the other students... Kitty Pryde, Jubilation Lee, Sam Guthrie... but there was one standing off from the crowd that he didn't know and he was sure he hadn't met before. She wore a scarf and long gloves, even though it was a warm spring day. She kept glancing nervously around her, every now and then sparing a look at Bobby and his friends. It was obvious she had formed a tight bond with them. Warren spoke in her
direction in a soft tone so as not to startle her, "And what about you, I don't think I've met you before?"

She stepped forward, a shy grin on her face as she stared at the immense wings hanging from his back. "I'm Rogue."

"Hello, I'm Warren Worthington. I used to be a student here... a long time ago."

He extended a hand that she refused to take, stepping back from him but still remaining amicable. "Nice to meet you,
Mr. Worthington."

"Please. Call me Warren."

She smiled and her voiced dripped with a strong southern accent. "Warren."

Ororo then stepped forward and placed a hand on Bobby's shoulder as she addressed the students. "Back to the mansion with you. I believe you have a Biology lesson with Dr. Grey?"

Jean cleared her throat as she got to her feet and addressed the students with a mockingly stern tone. "Yes. And I hope you read your chapters last night because I'm in the mood for a pop quiz."

The students groaned as they followed her back to the main house and Warren couldn't help but laugh. While Jean was one of the most understanding teachers at the school, she also had the reputation as one of its toughest. They had
his deepest sympathies as he watched them leave the garden.

As soon as they were out of sight, Storm sat next to him on the bench and they sat in silence for a few excruciating
seconds before he finally spoke, staring at the fine gravel of the walkway in front of him. "Jean tells me you came to visit me yesterday. I'm sorry I wasn't more lucid."

"I probably should have waited but I just needed to see you. I think I just needed to make sure you were not a
dream."

He looked at her and smiled, "Well, it's me. Warren Worthington III... in the flesh."

Returning his smile, she said steadily, "I can see that."

He stared at her for a long while, realizing that in the last two years he had almost forgotten how beautiful and graceful she was in person... almost. Seeing her like this again brought all the memories tumbling back and for a brief moment he felt like he couldn't breathe. What a fool he was to run away from her like that. Out of everyone at the school, she deserved an explanation. He hadn't meant to cut her out of his life so suddenly and so brutally... but at the time he felt he had no choice. He only hoped that over the last two years she had come to understand his decision.

As the breeze picked up, scattering a few fallen leaves across the garden, a lock of white hair fell across her face and without even thinking, he reached out and brushed it away. She blinked at him as his hand lingered on her cheek and he quickly took it away as he said awkwardly, "I'm sorry. I didn't... you know, old habits?"

"Die hard? Warren, I don't want to be your habit."

He smiled as he shook his head. "You were never a habit, Ro. You were my goddess... I think you know you always will be."

Tilting her head as she studied him, she said quietly, "I don't want to be your goddess, either."

He breathed a deep sigh as he turned his gaze away from her. "Then what do you want from me?"

"I want to be your friend again."

"And I want to be yours."

Taking his uninjured hand in hers, she asked, "Promise?"

"With all my heart."

A smirk rose on her lips as she released his hand. "I will hold you to that, Mr. Worthington."

He grinned, the pressure in his chest disappearing at the radiant smile on her face. "You'd better."

"So are you going to be rejoining us now?"

He had been wondering when someone would broach the question. He had thought it would be Scott or even Xavier.
Somehow, he wasn't expecting it from her. "You know I can't."

She sighed as she turned her head to stare out over the garden. "I know. But I thought I would ask... just in case."

They sat quietly for a while, the only sound a pair of birds chirping from a nearby tree. Finally, Ororo got to her feet and offered Warren her hand. "I need to get back to the mansion. I have another seminar in half an hour I need to prepare for. Will you accompany me back?"

"No. I think I'll stay here for a while. You don't get this kind of peace and quiet in the city."

She took his hand one more time. "Let me know if you need anything?"

Squeezing her hand lightly and then releasing it, he said, "Actually there is one thing. When I'm feeling better, I'd love it if you would go flying with me."

A broad grin spread across her face and her eyes seemed to twinkle with delight. "But of course."

"Then it's a date?"

She nodded as she walked toward the house, "A date it is, Mr. Worthington."

And as she left his view, Warren smiled to himself. It seemed ending back up at Xavier's wasn't the disaster he had dreamed it would be. No, it was turning out to be almost pleasant if it wasn't for the injuries he had to endure.

*   *   *

"No. I won't allow it. I forbid you to turn in your resignation."

Warren's eyes darted with anger as he stood quickly from his chair and addressed the Professor. "I don't care about your permission. It wasn't a request... it was statement of fact. I am leaving and that's that."

Xavier looked studied Warren with a calm expression from the other side of his desk, his tone composed and even as
he continued to plead with him, "I can't believe you would consider leaving after one minor set back. It isn't like you."

Clenching his jaw tightly, Warren spoke quietly. "It wasn't a minor setback, Professor. I fell the equivalent of four stories in an exercise of your design. I was out cold for close to a day for crying out loud."

The Professor smiled gently, trying his best to be reassuring. It was an expression Warren had seen a hundred times before and it always seemed to set him and the other students at ease. But it wasn't going to work this time. No, a pat on the back and a simple pep talk were not enough to smooth away this discomfort. "But you weren't seriously injured, Warren. And this was only your first time in the battle simulation. I know you will get better."

Planting both of his hands on the desk, he stared squarely into the Professor's eyes as his wings twitched on his back. "Maybe I don't want to get better, Professor."

The Professor furrowed his brow in response and seemed to wear an expression of earnest confusion, but Warren found it hard to believe the world's foremost telepath could be taken by surprise with his statement. True, Xavier didn't
make it a practice to actively scan his students, but Warren knew a telepath of his power couldn't ignore the turbulent thoughts of one of his first pupils completely. He wasn't going to play whatever mind games Xavier had in store for him. It was time he started playing by his own rules. "I'm leaving in the morning. I've already spoken to my father and he wants me to come home... learn the business from him before..."

Xavier frowned. "I see. I didn't realize that. So he's getting worse, then?"

Sympathy. Somehow he hadn't quite expected that. Yes, Xavier knew his father was dying of cancer. Yes, Xavier had been like family to him for many years. So why was he so surprised by his compassionate expression? He was beginning to realize that this wasn't a game to Xavier. This wasn't a power play or a mind trick. It was concern... pure and simple. He simply wanted to make sure he was making the right decision.

"Yes. He is... but that doesn't change how I feel, Professor."

Warren shut his eyes and heard the motor on Xavier's wheelchair whir to life as he moved from behind the desk. "You know I will grant you sabbatical for as long as you need... but leaving the School permanently? That I cannot understand."

Drawing a deep breath and opening his eyes, he turned his head to look down at Xavier. "I can't be a part of this any
longer. I have to find my own way."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "That sounds awfully selfish to me, Warren."

Warren rolled his eyes as he slammed a hand down on the desk. "Selfish?! Oh, that's fair, Professor. Make me look
like the snotty, rich brat and hide from the real issue at hand."

"I'm sorry, Warren, that's not what I intended. But we have goals here that you are a part of... something much bigger
than all of us."

Releasing a deep sigh Warren folded his arms over his chest. "Yes. Your dream of the co-existence of mutants and humans. I've heard the speech a dozen times before. But do you really think turning us into a bunch of soldiers is the
best means to that end?"

Xavier narrowed his eyes. "If you had objections, you should have spoken up long before."

"Well, I'm speaking up now."

"So you are."

"Listen, Professor. I still believe in the dream... but your methods frighten me. The way to acceptance isn't in
militancy. It's in industry and law."

Xavier pursed his lips. "We need to know how to defend ourselves."

Waving a hand nonchalantly, Warren continued, "Defense is fine... but suiting us all up in battle fatigues and giving
us codenames? I'm sorry, but it's preposterous!"

His expression suddenly growing intense, Xavier spoke evenly. "There is a war brewing, Warren. Someday you will
see that and the X-Men will be there to protect the innocents that are caught in the crossfire. That is all."

Warren chuckled. "The X-Men? So that's what you're calling them?"

"Them? All of a sudden you find it so easy to separate yourself from your fellow classmates... your friends?"

Shaking his head, Warren walked toward the door. "That's not fair and you know it. I never signed on for this. I came here to learn how to control my powers... to get an education away from ridicule and judgment. And to be fair, you've given me that. But I never asked to be a soldier in some undeclared war. And frankly, when I look around and see your growing throng of young students entering these 'hallowed' halls, I am very afraid for the future."

"Don't even begin to cast judgment on me, Warren. I brought these children here to protect them. You of all people
should understand that by now."

Placing his hand on the doorknob and opening the heavy, oak door, Warren spared his former mentor one last scathing glance. "Are you sure you didn't bring them here to protect yourself, Charles?"

As he shut the door behind him, he drew a deep breath. It was the first time he had ever raised his voice to Charles
Xavier and truth be told, it was the most difficult thing he had ever done. No, saying good-bye was never easy, especially to a man who had been everything to him for the last eight years of his life. As he walked away from
Xavier's office toward the living quarters to pack his things, he realized that Xavier had never raised his voice
in return... that he had never once heard an angry expression escape his lips since he had lived under his roof. And as he climbed the stairs toward the men's dormitory, he couldn't help but feel pity for him and hoped he would never hear of the day when Xavier's shell cracked.

*Continued in Part Three*