xp_logs | Tuesday afternoon

As the teams prepare to depart on their search, Jean approaches Ororo. Somehow Ororo manages to convince her that a one-woman crusade isn't a good idea, though she has to promise something that makes her a bit nervous.

Jean had managed calm for almost a whole ten seconds after she heard. Admittedly, those ten seconds had mostly been taken up with shock and disbelief, but she hadn't started screaming straight off. That was good, right? And she still wasn't screaming. Although from the look Ororo was giving her, saying something now would possibly be a good thing. Reassuring. Something.

"I'm getting him back."

Well, that was reassuring. At least Jean wasn't screaming, or knocking down the nearest wall to begin her search. "We are all going to concentrate on getting him back," Ororo amended, keeping her voice calm, even. "As a team. I have already begun to draw up a search plan, and you can be sure it will not be long before we depart."

"Not long is not soon enough." Jean's voice was calm, too, but it was a very disturbing sort of calm. After everything that had happened, no one was allowed to threaten her and Scott ever again.

"We cannot allow ourselves to rush into this without the proper preparation. If we are going to find him, we must be organized and unpanicked." It was strange, saying these words, when she could understand Jean's need to go, now. Perhaps she didn't fully comprehend it, but it had taken all Ororo's willpower to begin assembling the search teams instead of grabbing the Blackbird herself. "Jean, please. It will not be fruitful to attempt this alone. We must work as a team."

That broke through, and Jean's eyes narrowed - it may not have been what Ororo meant, but... "I'm not a member of the team," Jean said slowly, and then, "You can't keep me out of this. I've got to find him." There was hysteria hovering in the back of her mind, but she kept a tight reign on it, not letting herself break yet.

"We are not keeping you out of this. But you must think, if you leave now, you may not be here when the call comes in." Ororo was hoping this logic would be enough to curb Jean's desire to leave; she didn't know how else she could persuade her to stay. "We will find him, Jean."

That was logic. That was rational. And Jean needed to be rational, so they could find Scott, so they could go get him. Focus on that. On bringing him home. Not on hurting whoever had taken him. Jean nodded, lips pressed tight together. "I'm going with you when you do," she said, her voice uncompromising. "I know I'm not active again, but I don't care."

Oh, no. "Jean..." Ororo let out a ragged sigh, for a moment looking more tired than she had let on before. There are so many reasons I should not agree to this... and one very good reason why I should. "Very well. If you will stay here, at the mansion, until we all go to get him."

Jean nodded, her shoulders untensing slightly. "Thank you," she said, some of the worry and fear edging into her voice. "Thank you."

Moving nearer, Ororo reached out for Jean's hand, drawing the red-haired woman closer. "We will find him, Jean. I promise you. Please believe me, I will do everything in my power... we will find him."

Jean squeezed her hand, but couldn't let herself break down, fairly sure that if she started sobbing she might never stop. "I... I promised him. I can't... I need him, 'Ro."

"I know, I know," 'Ro murmured. "We all do. That is why we are going to find him and bring him home. Together."