Jean and Scott returned as the police were leaving. They left the car in front of the mansion and hurried inside. They went straight to the med lab.

"Hank, what happened?!" Scott asked as Jean turned to Xavier.

"Long story, Scott. I'll fill you in later."

"The Professor is exhausted, Henry, but I don't find any permanent damage," Jean told Beast. Jubilee sat in a chair next to Wolverine, her arms crossed, glowering at the other X-Men. Wolverine was her friend, but no one seemed to be concerned as to his condition. Jean smiled at her.

"He's my friend, too, Jubilee." She gently place her hand on Wolverine's forehead. "He's sleeping, dear. He'll be waking up soon. Will you stay with him?"

"Well, of course." Jubilee answered indignantly. "Like I'd take off and go play jacks or somethin'. Sheesh."

Storm took the warming blanket Scott brought from a cabinet and gently spread it over Star's motionless form while Beast checked the IV flow and the scanners. Jean moved next to Scott, who put his arm around her.

"How is she Henry?"

"I've seen worse, Jean. But they usually arrived in a body bag." He looked down at the young woman, her face as pale as the sheets surrounding her. "I'm afraid to even move her to a regular bed." He shook his head. "If this sort of thing keeps up, I'm going to install a zipper in her." Scott looked up at him, startled. There was just a ghost of a smile around the doctor's worried eyes. "She'll be all right if we can just give her the time she needs to heal."


The next morning there was a knock at the door. Jubilee opened it and stood glaring at the policeman outside.

"What do you want?" she demanded, one fist planted on her hip.

"Jubilee. Please remember your manners."

"But Jean, this is one o' the guys..."

"I know who he is. That does not excuse rudeness." She stepped into the open doorway. "What can I do for you, officer?" she asked coldly.

"It's Joshua Cowen, ma'am, and I'm not here officially. I just thought that you folks should know what was going on with your case. And I ... I wanted to check on the girl. Is she okay?"

"Please come in, Mr. Cowen." Jean directed the officer to the living room. She indicated the couch, then had a seat on a chair across from him. Jubilee stayed in the background, glaring. Jean looked at the officer expectantly.

"Jones resigned," he said without preamble. "They were going to convene a disciplinary hearing and would probably have relieved him anyway." Jean waited. "Look, I just had to make sure she was going to be all right, okay?"

"She hasn't regained consciousness since the surgery. Our doctor isn't sure she ever will." Jean told him, shortly.

"I'm sorry. I knew Jones was a member of the Friends of Humanity, but I didn't realize how deeply he hated mutants. I didn't think he would actually do anything to hurt her. After all, he's ... he was a police officer. We're supposed to help people, and it's not supposed to matter whether they're mutants or not." He stood up. "I apologize for disturbing you, ma'am." Jean stood and escorted him to the door.

"I will keep you informed if Star's condition changes."

"Thank you."

He went down the steps and got into his car. Jean watched as he drove away.


Jubilee was nowhere in sight when Jean closed the door, but she could sense her in the med lab. Jean quietly opened the door and went in. Beast looked up from his microscope and nodded to her. Star remained in the center of the large room, IV tubes and sensor wires running to and from her body. Jubilee stood next to the bed, looking down at her motionless friend. Jean put an arm around her.

"A month ago she couldn't read or even dress herself, but last week she was helping me with algebra. Now look at her. I know she can't hear me, so I tried to hold her hand. She's so cold its like she's already dead, an' we just haven't noticed."

"Things will work out, Jubilee. Henry says she's in hibernation and that if we give her enough time, she may be just fine."

"What if she's not?"

"We will deal with that when the time comes. Come on, now. Come back and visit her later. You know how much she hates it when someone is upset."

"Yeah."


For the next three weeks Star had almost constant companionship. Jubilee stayed with her for at least part of every day, doing her algebra 'homework' at a small table she pulled up next to the bed to which Beast had finally been able to move Star. Wolverine visited every day, sometimes staying for hours. Even Gambit stayed by her, whenever he found her alone. On the twenty third day, Jubilee finished her assignment and closed her book. She took Star's hand, to say good-bye for the day.

"Thanks, Star. Math's always easier when you're around." She squeezed her hand gently and was startled to have the pressure returned. She stared at Star for a moment, then squeezed her hand again. Star squeezed back, weak but definite.

"Beast!" Jubilee shouted.

"What is it, Jubilee?" the doctor responded instantly.

"I think she's wakin' up!" Beast took Star's other hand. Star turned her head slowly toward him and opened her eyes. She stared up at him, unable to see him.

"Jubilee, go get the Professor and Jean. I want to turn this field off as quickly as possible."

"Gotcha." Jubilee dashed out of the med lab. A few minutes later Xavier entered, followed shortly by Jean and Scott. Xavier took Star's hand from Beast, while Jean moved to the other side of the bed. Beast went to the control panel for the psi-dampener.

"Henry, expand the field until Jean and I are included within it." Beast nodded and adjusted the dials. As the field extended outwards, Star suddenly focused on the Professor.

"Professor," she whispered, her voice harsh.

"Welcome back Star. We've been worried about you."

"You can turn it off, Hank. She doesn't need it, or us, right now." Jean said. Star turned to her.

"Thought ... Jubilee ... here."

"She was, sweetheart. She went to tell Wolverine and the others that you were awake. We've all missed you."

"Why?"

"What kinda question that, Chere?" Gambit said as he and Rogue entered, Wolverine and Jubilee close behind.

"C'mon, sugah. You're part o' the family now." Rogue added.

"Only family most of us got, kid" Wolverine said as he moved to her side. "Families take care of each other."

"All right," Beast said suddenly, "Everybody out, Star needs to rest." Reluctantly, the X-Men left the med lab, Xavier and Wolverine remained.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Star?"

"What happened?"

"Your powers were a great deal stronger than they had been. I was ... unprepared."

"Did I hurt you?"

"No, dear. I am fine."

"Wolverine?"

"Look, kid, will you just worry about yourself for once?"

"Gentlemen, if you please." Beast motioned toward the door. Xavier turned and went out.

"I'll come visit ya in the mornin', darlin'." Wolverine patted her hand and left.

"Well, Star, we'll set up the field the same as before, but this time, no rude strangers are going to bother you." He adjusted the settings on the equipment then turned back to Star.

"Try to rest. You are very weak." He adjusted her blanket. "If you need anything, either Storm or I will be here, all you have to do is call out." He smiled at her, then moved away from her bed, out of the area of the field. She sighed and closed her eyes. Beast was right, she was very weak. Talking to Xavier and Wolverine for the few minutes they stayed had exhausted her. Soon, she slept.


Star slept for much of the next several days, waking only when Beast or Storm wanted her to eat, or when Wolverine or Jubilee came to visit. Beast limited them to five minutes at a time, not wanting to tire her. On the fourth day, they got her out of bed and Beast carried her down the hall to the porch outside. She sat in the sunshine for over an hour, enjoying the warmth. She gradually became aware of a commotion to the side of the mansion. She had learned that the others disliked being listened to, so she carefully got to her feet and, leaning on the building for support she suddenly found necessary, she tottered to the corner and peered around. Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee, and Wolverine were apparently arguing over a large round object. Their emotions were confusing, aggressive, but not hostile. Jubilee had the round thing. She bounced it once and Gambit snatched it from under her hands. Star was staggered by the flash of dismay and outrage from Jubilee. Without thinking, she reached out with her mind and took the object from Gambit. It bounced twice before returning to Jubilee's hands. The sudden effort exhausted Star's meager reserves. She leaned her back against the wall, away from the others. Her legs refused to support her and she slid down until she was sitting on the deck. She could still hear the others, but only faintly. They were trying to figure out what had happened.

"Hey, Jean!" Jubilee called. "Thanks for the assist!" Jean came to the window.

"What assist, Jubilee?"

"Didn't you just recover the ball for me?"

"Of course not. That wouldn't be fair."

Ball? Star thought. Then this was a game, and she had broken the rules. She hoped they wouldn't be too angry. She tried to get up, but lacked the energy.

"Well, if you didn't, who did? The Professor?"

"I doubt it. He's in the ready room, working on one of his projects."

"I'm sorry, Jubilee." Star sent faintly, "I didn't know it was a game."

"Star? Where are ya, kid?" Wolverine asked.

"On the deck. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interfere."

"Forget it, darlin'", he said as he came toward her. He rounded the corner.

"What are ya doin' down there?" he asked as he crouched beside her.

"I ... got tired."

"Uh huh," he responded. "Can ya get up?" Reluctantly, she shook her head.

"Let's get ya inside," he said, lifting her effortlessly in his arms.

"Can't I watch?" she asked, almost pleading. "Just for a few minutes?"

He looked at her, then said "All right. But only for a few minutes, then we get ya back ta bed." She nodded.

"I get a chair, petite." Gambit said, crossing the deck to the lounge chairs. He chose one and brought it around to the side of the house, where the basketball goal was set up. Wolverine carefully lowered her into it.

"I'm not made of glass." Wolverine glanced at the cage like cast still surrounding her left arm.

"Coulda fooled me, kid." She flushed, but leaned gratefully into the support of the chair.

"What is the game?"

"It's basketball," Jubilee answered.

"The idea, sugah, is to score points by puttin' the ball into that hoop, while keepin' the other team from scorin' points." Rogue told her, taking the ball from Jubilee. "There are lots more rules, o' course, but that's the basics." Star nodded.

The foursome returned to their game, while Star watched, fascinated. She enjoyed being with the others. She had been isolated her entire life and her recent status as an invalid had reminded her forcefully of a loneliness she hadn't even been aware of until coming here. These people actually cared about her, considered her part of their family.

Jean came out of the house and moved to stand next to Star. "Henry thinks you should come in now." Star nodded and struggled to her feet, accepting Jean's help without hesitation.

"Hey, Star!" Jubilee shouted, "When yer feelin' up to it, we'll teach ya how ta play!"

"Thank you."

Jean helped Star back to the med lab, where Beast put her back to bed.

"We'll move you back to your room in a couple of days," he told her. "Tomorrow we'll look at that arm and see if the cast is ready to come off."

"All right."

"You get some sleep now. I hadn't intended to let you up for so long, you know, but you did seem to be enjoying the game." She smiled up at him. He squeezed her hand and moved away from her bed. Surrounded by the silver sheen of the psi-dampening field, Star quickly fell asleep.

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