Part Twenty-Six

Paige heard herself sigh, long and shuddering, for the millionth time since they left Salem Center. The cab driver was a big woman with a deep, grainy voice that didn't speak much English. After chattering away in what Paige could only guess to be Lithuanian, she finally demanded, "Where?"

"Massachusetts. In Snow Valley." The woman blinked, uncomprehending. "Berkshire Mountains?"

"Pay." It was a command she was used to, for who would expect a seventeen-year-old to carry the cash to get from New York to Massachusetts via taxi? Brandishing the Visa Platinum Rogue had given her, Paige was relieved when the woman nodded and spoke no more.

Now, her breath fogging her window as she stared out at the raging storm, she sighed again, still hearing Rogue's voice in her head. She knew the instant the Southern belle had pulled her aside that her stay at Xavier's mansion would be short-lived. ~It ain't your fault, sugah. Jubilee just needs comfort from people a little older, y'understand?~ Rejected, that's what she had been. One outburst from Jubilee and she had been sent away like a disobedient puppy dog.

She could just hear Angelo's teasing remarks once she walked in the door. ~Yo, chica, they couldn't stand ya there, either? So now *we* have ta put up with ya? Man.~ He'd lighten the remark with a grin and maybe a wink, but its weight would still be heavy on her heart.

Sighing again, she looked up in time to see the bold green sign proclaiming, 'NOW ENTERING MASSACHUSETTS' in big white letters, stark against the darkened skies.

(Written by Dana Night)

Kitty pulled the mail from the top of the dresser. She'd meant to read it last night, when she'd taken it from the mailbox downstairs, but Pete had insisted on going out for dinner and they'd been too beat to do anything but go to sleep right away. Shifting to be more comfortable, she felt Pete's arm tighten around her waist and sliced the first envelope with familiar hand writing, ripping a hang nail slightly, the cuticle bleeding.

"Damn." she whispered, quieting herself as Pete groaned in response to a hangover and rubbed his stubbly chin against her bare back. Curling against him comfortably, Kitty opened the white envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper, the writing scrawling long and high over the parchment.

Dear Kitty,

It's Logan, but you probably know by the handwriting. I've been taking good care of myself, just like you said to do. I thought I'd write to let you know what I'm doing and how Jubilee is. I know you two don't get along, but Hank told me he'd let you know everything and I thought maybe you'd want to know about her.

Paige (Sam's sister) came from the Academy to visit with some of the other kids. Jubilee asked her to stay, but the girl said something and got her all worked up again, so I asked Rogue to have her go home since I knew I couldn't ask her myself. It may have been the wrong thing to do, but I thought it was right for the time.

Jubes' ribs have been healing. Hank said that she'd be able to move around good as new in a week or so. It's taking a little longer than we thought to get her fixed up again, but Remy's been helping a lot in caring for her. I almost feel like a dad. Her cuts are gone; the bruises are green and we've been making her eat a lot. I've been teaching her how to walk without a wheelchair. Well, that's been taken away; she's on crutches now, swinging around and everything.

In a week or so I'm leaving the team with her. It's something we talked about while she was getting better. It won't be permanent of course, just for a bit to let her get better. See Kitty, her mind's not well. She's actually a very sick girl and she deserves to feel safe and have some good memories. The nightmares still come and wake her up every night and I know more than anyone that you need some good times to think about to calm you down.

I think of you a lot. I like to think of all of you guys as my family, but sometimes you just need to get away, so I'm going and taking Jubilee with me.

I hope your Pete's taking care of you. If he's not, send him my way and I'll beat some sense into him. I love you Kitty and I hope you understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. I'll send you some postcards from where ever we stop and make think of you every night and hope you're doing okay.

Love you, Logan

Kitty blinked away a few tears as she read through the letter. Checking the postmarked date, she saw it had been written only a few days before, having been sent by a courier. That meant that they'd be leaving soon, within a few days. Smiling, she picked up all the mail into a bundle and put it on the dresser again, rolling over to hug Pete as he slept, curling into his tightening embrace of sleepiness.

(Written by Nova Zion)