Not So Plain Jane - They Say You've Changed

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Almost by coincidence, Ororo and Jane meet in the city. It's an unexpected meeting for Jane, but she manages to encourage the seeds of unease growing in Ororo's mind about Jean's actions and her own abilities as a friend and confidante.

Ororo had come into the city for two reasons. The first was to stop by Patrick's to check up on him - after his ordeal the weekend before she wanted to make sure he was all right. The other reason, which she had kept a secret from everyone including Scott, was to see if she could find Jean.

She knew she shouldn't, for so many reasons. Jean was not herself, hadn't been acting like it for weeks, and 'Ro knew there wasn't anything that she could do that Scott or Haller or Charles couldn't do better. Still, Jean was one of her closest friends, and maybe, just maybe, she would be able to find out what was going on.

The only problem was that she hadn't a clue where to find Jean... it wasn't as if the redhead had left an address or a phone number. Ororo figured the city was the best place to start, and so afternoon found her checking all the spots she would've expected to find Jean. She was nowhere to be found, however, and Ororo had nearly given up. She needed to get back to the Mansion, as there were quizzes to grade and students to watch over and things to do.

She decided to stop by the stand of one of her favorite street vendors to get something to eat before heading back to the garage where the Jeep was parked. The stall was located right outside a busy theater, surrounded by shops and apartment buildings that stretched up to the sky. She felt a touch of discomfort as she walked quickly through the streets - the city always made her feel so closed-in. She swallowed it though, and picked up her pace, hoping to be done soon so that she could get back to the wide-open road.

Jane was incredibly bored. She'd had business to do in the city, but that had been finished hours ago and she really didn't feel like going back to deal with Matthews or any of them. Not right now. So she'd started wandering. She'd thought about hitting a bar and picking someone up, but it was still fairly early for that and in the end, shopping had won out.

Ororo bought her food and took a seat on a nearby bench, eating neatly as she glanced around at the people passing by. So much variety... so many accents and ways of dressing. A person could live here forever and never see the same people twice.

Which was why it was such a shock for her a moment later as she saw a familiar figure emerging from a nearby store. Another look confirmed that it was indeed Jean, the woman she had come there to find. She looks a little different, maybe, but it is still her.

Quickly Ororo finished her food and stood, cutting through the crowd towards Jean. She waited until she was nearer to speak, and kept her voice low. "Jean? What are you doing here?"

Jane started at the familiar voice and whirled around to see Ororo behind her. Cursing herself for not paying more attention she said, "Ororo, hello. This is a surprise." She hefted the bags in her hands and added, "I was shopping, clearly."

"Yes, I see that," Ororo said, nodding. She was still slightly astounded at the coincidence, but decided that it was a good thing. She smiled slightly, stepping slightly closer to her friend. "I have not heard from you in so long. It is good to know you are well."

"Mmmm, yes," Jane said. "Getting away from everything has done wonders. Certainly feel freer." She hadn't been expecting this encounter, and wasn't prepared, but she was hardly going to let the opportunity go to waste.

"I am glad. Your departure was so sudden, many of us were unsure if you were all right." Ororo was first and foremost among those concerned for Jean, and her friend's behavior since had not done much to reassure her.

People being nice to Jean tended to put Jane on edge - she didn't like it at all. This whole encounter had her floundering far more than she liked. "Well, you know," she said, somewhat lamely, shrugging slightly, as though this was an answer. "I mean, you of all people ought to understand needing to get out of a bad situation. I was trapped and the first chance to leave had to be taken."

Ororo said nothing for a moment, merely listened and watched her friend closely. "Yes..." she said eventually. "Perhaps I do understand. I do not think I understand the suddenness of it, though. To just pull yourself away like that... it must have hurt almost as much as staying."

Damnit, Jane, pull yourself together. This is one of Jean's friends, her best friend. This is an opportunity! Get with it, girl. "No," she said, shaking her head firmly, as much to refocus herself as in answer to Ororo. "No. I needed out and away from it all and I got what I wanted."

"Well. Good, then," Ororo replied, her expression a bit puzzled. "But I have never known you to back down from a challenge, Jean. This is the first sign I have seen that you were truly unhappy. Why did you not try to stay? If you were not happy with the school or the team we would have tried to change things so that you were. You know that we would do anything we could for you."

"Yeah, well, if it had been salvageable, maybe." In a flash, Jane knew what she wanted. "Hell, I was trying. Every day was trying and challenging and it was horrible. I gave everything to the school. I gave my life, and then I got to keep on giving and there wasn't anything left for me. So, yeah, maybe it was a shock, but I just couldn't take it. I guess, really, everyone'd have been better off if I'd never come back." Certainly Jane would have.

There was almost a flinch as Jane described her sacrifices for the school, and Ororo's puzzlement was mixed with more confusion and a hint of guilt. Was this really true? Had it been happening all along? Why hadn't Jean told her earlier, why hadn't she shared this? True, Ororo was just as wrapped up in the school, the team, everything, but that didn't mean she wasn't her friend.

"Don't say that, Jean," she said, shaking her head. "It isn't true. No one feels that way, you should not either. Whatever has happened, I am glad you came back. At least now I know that you are well."

"And it's better to know I'm alive and unhappy than to think me safe from the world's ills?" Jane asked, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have thought you so selfish, 'Ro."

"I would not wish you unhappiness, Jean, but I know that it will not last forever. You are the only one who can change that, and it seems that you are." At whose expense? "So yes, it is better that you are alive, because at least now there is a chance. And hope."

"Sure, but I wasn't actually dead, was I? You all thought I was, and could cope with the grief and not have to deal with the real me, the me who does change things so I'm not unhappy. If I hadn't come back, if I hadn't remembered, I'd be happy and well in Canada or somewhere, not having to deal with all of this, not having all these expectations I've outgrown."

"We are dealing with you now, Jean. And none of us want you out of our lives. I am sure you know that. But yes, you will do what you must to be happy. I hope that you are able to find what you need." Ororo offered her friend a smile. "Only do not forget about us completely. Please."

Jane smiled in return, but it was a small, tight little smile. "Couldn't if I tried, Ororo."

Ororo ignored the little voice inside her that begged her to pull Jean aside, to ask her all the questions that had been building up for those long weeks. She merely nodded, though, and reached out to place a hand on Jean's arm. "Will I see you again soon?"

Jane stepped back, pulling away from the other woman. "Don't know," she said. "Don't exactly want reminders of all that, these days." With Ororo, just distance might almost hurt as much as actually being cruel.

"Oh." Dropping her hand to her side, Ororo pressed her lips together. "I've missed you, Jean," she admitted, fighting the urge to reach out for her friend again. "You don't have to come back. I will come here to see you, if that is what you like."

"Here? A bagel stand halfway down 34th? Well, I admit you'll have a better chance than getting me to come to the school. I'm not coming back, 'Ro. How many times do I have to tell people that."

"I never said that you were..." Ororo frowned, openly now. "I just don't want our friendship to end because you're not at the school." I don't want to lose my friend. My best friend. What happened to her?

Yep, definitely getting to her. Reaching up to rub at her temple, Jane said, "Jesus, 'Ro, you're better at shielding than this and we both know it. Bad enough to have to deal with all of New York who don't have any training without you pulling something like this. If you have something to say, come out and say it - letting it just sit in your mind and stew at me is childish."

"I did say it," Ororo responded, perhaps a bit more hastily than she would've liked. "I don't want our friendship to end. You are my friend, Jean, and that will not change no matter where you go. If you are here, I would like to see you. That is all." She hastily clamped down on any stray thoughts, her stubborn streak irritated by the unease that gnawed at her in the face of this new, caustic Jean.

Jane kept back the smile at Ororo's hurried defense. "Right," she said, nodding slightly. "I get that. Sorry - too many people, you know." A handy little excuse for any telepath; 'Oh, don't mind my being a bitch, I've got strangers on the brain...' "Can't really make any solid plans but I'm sure we'll see each other."

"Very well. If you like, you know how to reach me." Ororo shifted, taking a step back. "I am glad I saw you, Jean." The words were half-true, though she tried to sound like she meant them. "Please, take care."

"Oh, I will," Jane said. "I have to take care of me, since I'm the only one who can." For a surprise meeting, this was going very well, Jane felt. Adjusting her grip on her bags, she nodded at Ororo. "Have a safe trip home."

"I will." Ororo gave her one last searching look, as if the unspoken questions could be answered that way. Seeing nothing, she then turned and made her way through the throngs of people, her white hair standing out among them even as she got further and further away.