"Nada, nothing, rien, nyet," Storm reported, collapsing into the chair in Scott's hotel room. Picking up the remote and starting a rapid flip through the channels.

"That last was no, not nothing," Scott commented his voice angry. "And you might have better luck if you'd actually spend some time at the high school. Your comm. was off. You weren't in class. I spent most of the afternoon looking for you instead of the killer."

"Just because the victims were High Schoolers that doesn't mean that the killer is," Ororo replied with a shrug. "We've been hanging around the freakin' school for nearly a month with nothing to show. I thought I might have better luck at the college."

"Yeah, I saw you," Scott said. "You certainly looked like you were on the verge of getting lucky."

"Grow up Scott," Ororo said. "We're under cover and flirting works to get people talking. And even if I did mean anything by it, it's not like I've got a boyfriend at home is it?"

"Hey stop, what' the Professor doing on TV?" Scott said suddenly.

Ororo stopped channel surfing and turned up the volume.

"Due to the continued concerns being expressed about the presence of a minor at my Institute without the consent of a legal guardian, it has been agreed that Remy Lebeau will be staying with a foster family until his parents can be contacted or failing that, until a guardian can be appointed..."

"What is the Professor thinking!?" Scott exploded. "He can't send Remy away. He's going to get killed if Sinister goes after him again."

"Why didn't Xavier just tell them about Sinister and the Marauders," Ororo wondered. "I mean if they knew what kind of people were after Remy there wouldn't be anyone wanting to take him, then they'd have to let him stay."

"I wish Remy had more of a choice," Scott sighed. "He always feels so trapped, but he really doesn't have any place else to go, not if he wants to be safe. I'm going to call the school, there has to be something going on."

Ororo waited while Scott dialed the number.

"Xavier's School for the Gifted, Jean speaking."

"Hey sweetie, miss me?" Scott asked hopefully.

"Every minute," Jean replied.

Scott grinned stupidly for a moment, then his expression turned serious. "I didn't just call to talk," he admitted. "I need to find out if the Professor's taken leave of his senses."

"You saw the interview huh?" Jean said. "It isn't as bad as it seems, the Professor has a plan. You're going to hate the plan and it's got Logan trashing the danger room right now… Who'd of guessed that the world's foremost assassin has a strong parental streak?"

"Who'd of guessed," Scott repeated scowling. "Now about this plan I'm going to hate?"

"I'll let the Professor tell you," Jean replied. "Love you."

"Love you too," Scott said.

A few seconds later he and Ororo hear the Professor's mental voice inside their heads, "I was expecting your call Scott."

"How can you send Remy away?" Scott demanded.

"I'm not, I'm sending him to you," Xavier replied. "He'll be staying with the Denara family."

"The parents of the mutant teen who's still missing?" Ororo asked.

"Yes, the family that requested our help in locating their son," Xavier said.

"Does Remy know you're setting him up as bait?" Scott asked pointedly. "We didn't take Hank because he was too obvious of a target, but now you're sending Remy?"

"Yes, he knows" Xavier said bluntly. "I didn't send Beast because of his current mental state. I'm afraid becoming the target of a hate group combined with his current anger and depression could have had disastrous results. Remy believes there is an outside possibility that Sinister took the missing children. He asked to help."

"What happened to not sending kids on missions?" Scott asked angrily.

"First that was never a decision, you simply stated an ultimatum. Second, despite the unfortunate media coverage, Remy handled himself quite well in combat. Third, I'm sure you remember Remy turning sixteen a month ago since you arranged the birthday party," Xavier replied.

"And if that had been his eighteenth birthday I wouldn't be objecting," Scott said considering 'hanging up' on Xavier. Given the distance the only reason Xavier could reach his mind was because of their familiarity and receptive mental state. Scott knew he could close off his mind as easily as slamming a phone down. "I meant it, I'm not going to lead a mission with Remy on the team."

"I'm not asking you to," Xavier said. "All you have to do is protect him if any trouble develops. I'm sure I can trust you with his safety. He'll be starting classes Monday." With that Scott felt Xavier's abrupt departure from his mind.

"That bastard!" Scott exclaimed. "He don't even have to manipulate us telepathically, I mean why bother when an old fashion guilt trip works so well?"

Scott grabbed up the phone and pounded the redial button.

"Remy really can't stay here without bring the wrath of the courts down on us," Jean said, answering the phone before the first ring was half finished. "This way he's still got you to watch out for him and if something does happen then everyone will realize he's safest with us and drop the whole mess."

"Gimme the phone Red," Scott heard Logan growl in the background. "Listen up Summers, what Jeannie doesn't want to admit is that if Remy does get hurt it'll compromise the Drake's position against the school. Chuck's makin' damn sure everyone knows he's agreeing to this under protest because of the legal pressure they're putting on him."

Logan paused for a few moments. "Normally I'm all for killin' a few birds with one stone and this plan has it's points: It could blow the lid off your cover up, permanently resolve Remy's legal status and hurt the Drakes' chances of shutting down the school, but I don't like the risk to Remy and I don't like the idea of us using the kid like that. He's had enough people using him already."

"If you were really worried about Remy's safety..." Scott began.

"Put a sock in it Summers," Logan snapped. "That's an old tune. If I'd know we were going to run into the Acolytes I would have brought the whole team, but Remy's more than capable of handling the muggers and other assorted low-lifes Pete and I usually run into. If it was just your hate group I'd say go for it, but Sinister is still out there and with all this media crap we're damn near putting out a neon sigh inviting people to take a shot a Remy."

"Okay, we're agreed that Remy shouldn't be sent here," Scott said. "What are we going to do about it?"

"My first choice would be to tell all the legal-types to shove it where the sun don't shine, but since Xavier won't go for that we're moving on to plan B. I know more than a little about disappearing and telepaths can't track either Remy or I. I figure I could turn up in your vicinity in a couple of days and persuade Remy into hitting the road for a while. We go off the radar until this whole mess blows over and you and Storm complete your mission using the original parameters," Logan suggested.

"Heck, we could even use Remy's 'disappearance' to the same ends as a real attack on him," Scott said. "When should we expect you?"

"I can't take off right away without leaving Pete in a lurch, and there's a few things I need to set up ahead of time to disappear properly, but I'll be there by the end of the week," Logan promised.

Remy got out of the cab, paid the driver then swung a duffle bag over his shoulder and started for the house he could barely make out within the incredibly lush gardens surrounding it.

As he entered the gardens an air of sadness enveloped him. "What de hell? Someone here?" Remy asked looking around for the source of the emotions. He noticed all the plants were beginning to wilt, their leaves drooping as if they were in mourning.

"Yo' imaginin' t'ings," Remy told himself. "Plants don' feel."

A door creaked and Remy felt a hint of relief as he heard human footsteps approaching.

An older woman appeared carrying a bag of fertilizer. She started upon seeing Remy then smiled. "You must be Professor Xavier's student. I'm Rachael Denara, Kevin's mom."

Remy nodded, moving to take the bag for her. "Remy Lebeau, pleased to meet yo'."

"I'm just happy to help, what with his X-Men looking for our Kevin, still it was such an odd request. I'm sure there were safer places to send you."

"I can take care of m'self," Remy assured her. "An' dat not be de point. Cyke an' Stormy need someone to be bait, I needed somewhere away from de school to be. Dis fills everyone's needs... Where do yo' want dis?" he asked indicating the fertilizer.

"If you don't mind?" Rachael asked gesturing into the garden. Remy shrugged and followed her. "Still you're barely any older than my Kevin, I'd hate for you to get hurt."

"What was Kevin's mutation?" Remy asked.

Rachael looked around the garden sadly. "Plants loved him, under his touch they all flourished, even the ones that have no business liking California soils. I try to keep them healthy to welcome him home, but they're all dying, they miss him so much."

"I t'ought dey felt sad, t'ought I was goin' crazy," Remy said.

"No, they're Kevin's plants, they're different. He never wanted a pet, he had them," Rachael replied starting in on her gardening.

"Well, m' power involves t'ings 'xplodin'," Remy said halfheartedly pulling a few weeds. "Not as beau as all dis, but it keeps me safe. An' I got Cyke an' Stormy watchin' out for me. Cyke's a real worrier. Don' yo' worry none 'bout me getting hurt, he does it 'nough for ten people."

"The tall young man with the visor?" Rachael asked. "He seemed very responsible."

"I t'ink he be plannin' to legally change his name to dat," Remy replied, he glanced around looking for someplace to get rid of the weeds he'd pulled. Not seeing anything he called up enough of his power to burn them down to ash.

"It's a good quality, don't knock it," Rachael said with a small grin. "Oh where are my manners, I've already got you doing chores and you haven't even had a chance to unpack your bags. Come inside and get yourself settled."

Feeling a touch bemused Remy followed her into the house where he'd be staying until things hit the fan and everyone realized that he didn't belong with a normal family.

"Go ahead and explore a little," Rachael invited. "You'll feel more at home. Mark will be getting off work in a few hours. You can meet him then. Your room is straight down the hall, first door on the left, the bathroom is the second door on the right."

"Merci," Remy replied. "Yo' sure yo' don' mind me pokin' round? I don' want to be a bother."

"No bother, having you here will make the house feel less empty until Kevin gets home." Rachael replied.

Remy stared at her feeling both uncomfortable and curious. "Yo' heard 'bout what Jean saw when she held de backpack?" he asked.

"Yes, but she misunderstood what she saw," Rachael said with a quiet confidence. "Kevin's alive, I'd know if my baby were dead."

Remy tactfully decided to keep his opinions about maternal instincts verses mutant abilities to himself and just nodded noncommittally before taking up Rachael's invitation to explore.

He felt particularly drawn to the family's numerous photos. Kevin Denara's green thumb might have only been metaphorical, but his hair and eyes made up for that in spades. Remy traced Kevin's life backwards through the photos, then asked. "Your fils was born wid de colourin'?"

"He was," Rachael answered. "I always loved Kevin's eyes. Were yours the same or did they change? I read it's more common for mutations to be triggered by puberty."

"Den I be uncommon," Remy said. "M' eyes always been dis way. Bettah dat way I guess. Would have been a nasty shock t look in de mirror un matin and see dese starin' back at me."

Rachael let Remy's remark pass without comment and he turned back to examining the photos. "Photography be a hobby?" Remy asked after a few minutes.

"Oh no. I feel like a success if we manage to get a whole role without any thumb shots, Rachael replied.

"It's jus' I nevah seen a house wid so many pictures," Remy said.

"I guess we do like to keep our memories on display," Rachael said.

Remy smiled politely, but uncomprehendingly. His parents had never been fond of photographs, he vaguely remembered pictures of their wedding being displayed when he was younger, but they'd been put away years before he'd run away. There hadn't been many memories they'd wanted to keep fresh Remy supposed.