Teacher's Pets still exist?

[Kitty]

Kitty had always been great with school. It didn't matter if she was at home in Illinios or if she was here at the institute, she was a great student. Her teachers had always praised her, though she had always been great with computers, moreso than other things. It was fitting, but then again it seemed odd. She was a small girl, petite and she was cute by many people's standards.... It didn't really matter, though. Kitty had always been who her parents wanted her to be, though she had gotten out of that little habit when she came to the institute, having her mutation was something that changed her in many ways, but it all seemed for the better to her. She had a voice and an opinion and she used it. Fear didn't hold her back, that would always be a good thing.

The bells for class rang shrewdly in Kitty's ears as she grabbed her books from the desk she had been sitting at before lifting the satchel off of her shoulder and tucking a few strands of her dark hair behind her ears as she walked out of the classroom quietly. She got a few hellos and a couple of waves and she returned them politele before she went on her own way. Kitty was a social person, don't get me wrong, but she wasn't feeling that social today. There was just something about it. She wasn't sure what it was, but something was bothering her. Maybe it was the fact of everything she saw around her, and the fact that she didn't feel adequate for her spot as an X man. Who knew?

The sounds of shuffling feet reverberated through the halls and Kitty was at ease here. She always would be. The mansion reeked of safety and home for her most of the time, but sometimes it felt so much like a cage. At the moment she was sure that those thoughts were insane, but she was able to shrug it off as she walked into an empty classroom. Most people didn't go straight to class, but that wasn't unusual. Kitty was seventeen... she was one of the older students now, she was further ahead and she did more than she should have, but it was her own choice. This period she was a teacher's aid for Jean. It was biology, but then again it wasn't that bad. It was still a science, and Kitty's forte was technology, she wasn't that bad at any subject, though, really. She gently placed her books and her satchel on the table in the front before she took her usual seat behind the computer. Most of the time Jean let her sit there and add in things or whatnot. Kitty wasn't sure from day to day, but she knew she liked being in there with her favorite teacher, then again, today was either a lab day or a test day, Kitty couldn't remember, but then again she had already taken the class.... Jean was a great teacher.

Kitty heard the sounds of people entering and saw Artie approach the desk with a look of guilt. He was nervous too. He had all the telltale signs and Kitty looked up while playing with a pen and waiting on the computer, which she had just filpped on, to load.

"Kitty, I've really got to go to the bathroom and I left my book in my last class. I know I'll end up late..."

Kitty smiled. He wasn't usually late and Kitty knew as much. She sent him a sympathetic look before she grabbed the passes and jotted down a few things and then signed it. Teacher's aid priveledges, don't you love them?

"Don't worry about it, but don't make it a regular occurance. Hurry up."

Kitty said with a smile as he grinned back and muttered a 'thank you' before he ran out the door, Kitty heard it smack shut behind him, though it was opened not a moment later. Kitty knew Jean would be in soon.... She didn't mind too much. She always enjoyed this part of th day....

[Jean Grey]

"Yes Professor, but-"

"Jean, we have been over this many times now, you know this is all i can do for you. I'm sorry your nightmares are consistent, but there is nothing more to do about it. I've given all the help i know how to give. As for your not being able to concentrate, i think it's all in your head, just stop worrying, just let it go."

The fiery red-head was once again sitting in a comfy armchair, Xavier perched in front of her on his wheel chair. They were having another long winded conversation about Jean and her concerns about her long going trouble with sleep. When she did manage to catch a wink, her dreams were plagued with horrible images of devastating destruction, she saw genesis, a star being born, and that wasn't even the half of it. The nightmare that kept butting in it's ugly head was the one she hated most, the memory she wished with everything she had to forget. The day of Annie Malcoms death was the day Jean's world turned upside down, and she could not keep the scents, sights, feel, of that day out of her head.

"But Charles, don't you see, my mind won't let it go." Jean said exasperatedly.

"Maybe..." She began, lost in thought, "Maybe i'm supposed to be remembering something about that day."

BBRRRIIINNGG

The ten minute bell chimed in the halls, anouncing the end of this period. Jean stood up abruptly, grabbing her coat off the desk chair, and made her way toward the door. She paused, hand on the knob, then looked back.

"Thank you for everything, every little bit helps." And with a smile she was off, making away to her bio classroom.

As she rounded the corner that would lead her straight to her destination Artie, a younger student, barreled into her head-on.

"I'm sorry Miss Grey, but i have to go!" he said, jumping up and dashing away, waving a hall pass over his head.

Jean smiled, still trying to catch her breath, then walked, somewhat feebly, into her class.

"Hello Kitty." She said, smiling warmly at her aide.

Kitty Pryde was an outstanding student, Jean considered herself extremely lucky to have her help, for almost all of the other teachers had asked for her helping hand, but only Jean had prevailed. She made her way to her desk then seated herself gracefully, sliding a box out from under her desk, she scooted it towards Kitty.

"Ready for the Rat Dissection?"

{agg, crappy.}

[Kitty]

Kitty had just began to bring up the system for taking role when she caught sight of Jean. A small halfsmile appeared on Kitty's face, it was the one that she sent people most often. She liked being around Jean and she liked science, though she had a feeling today would be one of the rather disgusting lessons since she had caught sight of the box a few momrents before she was greeted.

"Hello, Dr. Grey."

Kitty had a habit of calling her that, it didn't even matter most of the time. Even when they were out on missions or whatnot she would always call Jean Dr. Grey, though it was a habit that could be broken with a bit of help, I suppose. Kitty's eyes trailed over the box for a moment before she made a face. She didn't like disections that much and she could admit it.

"I was ready for it when I had the class, but I hated it, and I'd say the same applies now."

Kitty said smiling a bit as she scrunched her nose up, shaking herself off a bit. Anyone else who had a Teaching Aid class wouldn't have been helping, but Kitty was. It wasn't as if she didn't have time to work on homework later. she knew she had time enough. Kitty was curious as to what was bothering JEan to an extent, though. She could tell easily, but it wasn't her place. Kitten's eyes trailed over the class and she finished role after a m oment, noting that Artie was grabbing his books and using the facillities. There wasn't anyone missing, surprisingly enough. Kitty clicked the okay button and turned to her teacher and, well, friend.

"Who's disecting? You, right?"

Kitty sent her a grin and leaned forward a bit.

[Jean Grey]

"Who's disecting? You, right?"

Jean smiled mischieviously.

"Not exactly."

She turned to the class and clapped her hands together, beaming, attempting to hide any signs of stress or worry.

"Okay class..." She paused for the full effect, knowing her students were hanging on her every word.

"Surprise Lab Test!"

This delcaration was met with groans, an exchange of exsasperated looks, and the rare half smile.

"You have been studying the anatomy of the human body for a while now, so i've decided to let you try dissecting. Kitty, " She said, nodding towards her aide. "Will pass out the diagrams, and while she's doing that please have one person from your assigned table come up the the front and grab a dissecting tray. You will find all the nescessary utensils in there."

Jean smiled whilst the class sat motionless.

"Well, get going!"

About ten students ran pell mell up to her desk, then grabbed a tray, and a rat, and hurried back to their table, some looking as if they might throw up. Jean smiled assuringly, then turned away from the class, ran a hand through her hair, and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. These slips in her telepathy were becoming a nuisance, she really needed to gain more control, thats all she needed, control.

[Kitty]

Kitty grinned when she heard those words. She didn't exactly like disecting, she was glad it wasn't her, but she figured that she might have to help students if they did something stupid. She just hoped it didn't get to that. Kitty'd rather not have to deal with anything too gross. A surprise lab was great. Kitty found herself smiling with a great amusement as she grabbed the papers, without really being instructed, but knowing what she was supposed to do. Her form danced around desks easily as she passed all of the papers out and then made her way back to the front. She could remember doing this herself. When Kitty was done she joined Jean back at the front desk and smiled, though she sent her a rather reassuring and caring look for a moment.

"Are you feeling okay?"

Jean reminded Kitty of her own headaches at the moment. Kitty could remember them easily, they were horrible and she had hated them with a passion. Was Jean having problems? Kitty wanted to help.... that was always her...

[Jean Grey]

"Are you feeling okay?"

Jean gave a start, then smiled nervously.

"Oh, yes, i'm fine." She replied, plastering on her trademark-fake, smile.

She turned back toward the class observing their progress.

"In a moment i will be coming around to the tables and make sure you are labeling all of the organs correctly on the diagram." Jean called imperatively.

And her mental guards dropped.

This is so gross...

Sophia looks hott today...

I wonder how many points this is worth...

Thoughts poured relentlessly into her unblocked mind, suddenly Jean was winded, overwhelmed. She fell back and, thankfully, landed in her desk chair. She put her hands on the side of her face, trying to calm her mind and re-build her mind set, to no avail.

Oh, god is this supposed to be bleeding...

I'm gonna hurl, i'm gonna hurl, don't throw up, please don't throw up...

I think i might actually pass this one...

Too many thoughts, too fast... Way. Too. Fast.

[Kitty]

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Kitty asked, but she didn't get an answer because Jean moved around and was speaking to the class. Kitty respected that Jean could put the class first. She looked up to the woman and always would to an extent. She watched her quietly, following her as she began to act a bit oddly. Her breath seemed winded and Kitty moved forward watching as she flopped over into her chair. Kitty made sure that the kids were busy enough and moved forward leaning down closer to Jean watching. She was pretty sure it might have been similar to her headaches, but either way she could tell it was bad.

"Jean... Dr. Grey..,"

Kitty whispered as she moved the chair, with JEan in it, so that it was blocked from view. She did'nt want the kids to see Jean like this. She grasped the older woman's arms as firmly as she could and gave her a small shake.

"Jean...."

Maybe Kitty would have to go get Scott or the professor? The girl didn't even realize that she was calling her Jean, but it felt a bit natural. They were on the same team, but moreso, Kitten was worried.

[Jean Grey]

"Jean... Dr. Grey... Jean..."

Kitty's voice floated to her from miles away, Jean tried to shake herself off, to snap out of it, but nothing was working. Thoughts just kept streaming in, she wanted to scream, wanted to cry, yet all she did was sit there, hands on her head. Next thing she knew she felt the familiar tingle go through her body, the tingle that told her she was using her telekinisis. Her desk began to rattle on the floor, pencils began to rise, papers blew upward. God what was happening, what is going on?!

Suddenly a face floated through her mind, a smiling, warm face. Jean knew and remembered that face so well.. It was the face of her childhood friend, Annie Malcom, just before she was hit. It was the face Jean saw every night in her dreams. A tear rolled silently down her cheek, and, just like that, she was alone in her mind, everything was at peace once again. Jean sighed, wiped the tear off her face, then looked up at Kitty.

"Thank you Kitty, but, i'm fine."

Attempting to be the champ again, that was Jean for you, the strongest of the strong, or so she hoped...

[Kitty]

Kitty watached as objects began to rise. She stepped away a bit. She didn't want to do anything too drastic, but the kids in the classroom were turning their attention to the teacher. Several of them stood up and tried to migrate towards JEan and Kitty, but Kitty held up her hand.

"Keep working, everyone. We'll be around in a few moments."

She had the class calmed as she spotted the tear on Jean's face. The woman was coming out of it and Kitty couldn't belive that she was fine. There was something bothering her and Kitty could tell it. She peered at the class and then at Jean again.

"If that's fine, then I must be doing horribly. Dr. Grey, you were clutching your head and you started levitating things."

The rest of what she wanted to say hung off with her words. Jean wasn't fine. She wanted to know whether or not she should go get the professor or someone. It was obvious the woman wasn't fine, even if she insisted she was. Kitty was no dummy, and Jean couldn't fool her, especially since Kitty used to have headaches that were horrible, though she didn't have telepathy or telekinesis.

[Jean Grey]

"If that's fine, then I must be doing horribly. Dr. Grey, you were clutching your head and you started levitating things."

Kitty's voice came, once again, from far away. Jean was still struggling within herself, but she was more sure footed now.

"I was just... I'm fine." She said firmly, reassuring herself at the same time.

I'm fine, it was just a slip, i'm sure it won't happen again, she told herself, wondering how she had ever let it go this far.

Suddenly she felt dizzy, and lowered her head to her chest, taking deep calming breaths. Jean didn't know what was happening, she had never lost her grip this badly...

"I think.. I'm going to get some air, i'll be right back." She said weakly, ignoring her students completely as she hobbled out of the class and began walking down the hallway.

God what is happening? Xavier, can you hear me? Of course you can't, you're probably teaching... Jean reached the staircase and paused looking down, taking in the distance to the ground. if she had another dizzy spell... well, lets just hope she didn't.

[Kitty]

Kitty went silent. What the hell? Jean wasn't fine and she wasn't acting normally. Everything showed Kitty that! The woman was disoriented and Kitty was afraid she might hurt herself. Should she go after her, though? The kids didn't need to be alone and Kitty didn't want to leave them alone. Befoer Jean got out the door, Kitty blinked.

"Be careful, if you don't come back I'm so cmoing after you, Dr. Grey."

It was playful, yet caring. She knew that was the way to leave it for the moment. Kitty bit her lip quietly and watched the class. They were all working okay at the moement. Kitty found a piece of chalk and wrote some things on the board quickly. She knew that after they finished the labs they had to turn things in and clean up, so she wrote that and found the lesson plan, writting out their homework before she let them all know she'd be right back. Peeking out of the class room, Kitty saw Jean at the staircase, her eyes narrowed in and she moved towards the woman just to be sure.

[Jean Grey]

"Be careful, if you don't come back I'm so coming after you, Dr. Grey."

Jean managed a weak smile at that, then continued staring dorm the stairs. It was such a long fall, no one could possibly survive that, i mean she was a Dr. she would know. Then, the worst thought of all struck her.

She could do it.

Right now, just jump and that would be the end. No more nightmares, no more telepathy problems, no more Jean. She would be wiped from the face of the earth, almost like she had never been. It would be so easy, just to fall, so peaceful. The wind rippling through your hair, the woody smell of tha stairs in your nostrils, the beautiful chandeleir above you...

No.

She wasn't a quitter, she wasn't going to leave her students, and most of all she couldn't abondon Scott. Or Logan... Jean took another deep breath steadying herself, then decided she'd be better off in her classroom. Perhaps she might have found a friend in this Kitty Pryde, perhaps Jean finally had someone, an outsider, to confide in...

Jean made her way back to her class, openeing the door slowly, then walking in calmly, as if nothing had ever happened. Of course she must look like the three shades of he!! all pale and clammy, but she didn't care, she was alive, nothing else mattered. Or at least, thats what she thought.

[Kitty]

The classroom was quiet and the students were working, Kitty was just glad that Jean came back, really. The woman had been staring at the stairs like sh wanted to jump and the fact that she turned right around made things a lot better. Kitty was glad, she wouldn't want to loose someone like Jean, not only because she was a great persona nd everything, but Kitty looked up to her a lot. The woman was more than she seemed and Kitty admired that.

The words were still upon the board and the students read their instructions quietly. Kitty, however, was tailing jean easily. making sure the woman was okay. She looked pale and sickly, almost like Kitty did with her headaches. AN idea came to the girl. she pulled some of the tea herbs thad she had been given and approached JEan.

"Um. I don't know if you've got the same problem I did, but this tea really helps to stop the pain. I used to have migranes from my power, maybe it'll help you."

Kitty held it out with a smile. It worked for her. It could work for Jean, right?

[Jean Grey]

"Um. I don't know if you've got the same problem I did, but this tea really helps to stop the pain. I used to have migranes from my power, maybe it'll help you."

Jean smiled at Kitty.

"No i'm okay, thanks for offering though." Jean smiled her warmest, then decided to say a little more.

"It's not headaches that are bothering me, it's just, well..."

She trailed off, thinking. Should she tell a student about her personal problems? Would Kitty think less of her if Jean said anything? Perhaps... Maybe she should just keep quiet, deal with this on her own...

"Nevermind. It's not important, i'll survive." Jean flashed Kitty a grin then turned to the class.

"Well, time's almost up, so if you would please put all of your utensils back into the tray i will come around and collect them shortly."

Jean watched as the kids silently cleaned up. Some of them shot her scared glances and she wondered why, then it hit her. She had had a lapse in front of her class. They must be horrified of her, they might even think she's delusional! Jean put a hand on her head, sighing, then looked back up and pasted a smile on.

"Kitty," she said quietly, "How much did they see?"

[Kitty]

Kitty sent back a very small smile. She was worried and she knew that Jean wasn't telling the truth. Kitty was completely hard to fool. Slipping the tea back into her satchel, Kitty watched Jean, she could see the thoughts from her easily and she watched her quietly.

"OKay, if it isn't headaches, then....does it involve your telepathy?"

Kitty was quick and she could tell. Though, Jean's telekensis had to have been off a bit too. Kitty was smarter than anyone gave her credit for at times. Technology may have been her genius, but that didn't mean she didn't know more. Kitty was quite smart. She knew quite a bit.

"You'll survive, but when you keep everything else upon yourself you'll find that it weighs more heavily than any big problem you could have."

Why was it that Kitty could be so smart beyond her years at times, yet she could always remain so nice and playful? Kitty didn't return the smile. She found herself shaking her head a bit as the kids were finishing their lab work, though Jean realized what she ha ddone after speaking. She tried to make it seem better and Kitty knew everything easily. The fake smile wasn't changing anything, the kids were afraid to an extent and Kitty knew it. she blinked and turned to the side, addressing Jean.

"Not as much as they could have. I pushed the chair behind the computer and file cabnet, but that didn't block them from seeing everything. They're not as scared so much as they are worried...."

Kitty....who knew she was good in a crisis.