Well the good news is she's not dead... Yet anyway.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Friday afternoon, Professor Xavier calls Lorna's parents to tell them about the accident.


Charles sighed as he picked up the receiver and dialed. These conversations were becoming more and more frequent, but that did nothing to make them easier.

Two rings, and then the click of the receiver on the other end, and a breezy "Hello?" forced Charles to collect himself. "Good afternoon," he said quietly. "May I speak to Mr. Dane, please? This is Professor Charles Xavier."

Janice shifted the phone to her right shoulder as she dug through her purse for her car keys, "Oh, hello Professor. Hold on just a moment. Paul is out back. Is this about Lorna's tuition?" Paul had been threatening to cut off Lorna's tuition and her credit cards for months now, following the media storm that had forced them to move. He'd never really forgiven her for walking out with that Frost woman. Janice had managed thus fair to keep him sensible but perhaps there was something she didn't know. Lowering the phone slightly, she crossed the living room to the backyard, "Paul, the phone is for you. It's Professor Xavier."

Paul took the phone with an eyeroll and a huff, "This is Paul." He probably didn't intend to sound quite so rude. At least, Janice hoped he didn't.

"Hello, Mr. Dane. I'm afraid I have some bad news. Perhaps you should ask your wife to pick up on an extension."

Paul looked sharply at Janice and gestured her back inside the house. "Get a phone, Jan. He wants to talk to us both." She went quickly to the kitchen and lifted the phone there. Paul followed her with the portable. "Go ahead, Professor," he said once she had the phone to her ear, "What sort of bad news?"

There was little to be gained by attempting to cushion this blow; it would fall hard, however he phrased it. "Lorna suffered a serious accident yesterday afternoon. She was caught in the uncontrolled release of another student's mutant ability, and seriously injured. Dr. McCoy is making every possible effort, and there is every reason to believe that Lorna will make a full recovery, but she has not yet regained consciousness."

"Oh my god," Janice gasped. She looked at her husband with panic in her eyes. He stepped closer to her and took her hand even as the knuckles on his other hand went white with the strain of gripping the phone. “What happened?”

Paul’s jaw clenched, “I’ll make arrangements to have her transferred home immediately. I trust the student responsible will be expelled?”

"Over an accident?" Charles said mildly. "This school exists to teach mutants to control their powers, Mr. Dane; expelling students because they cannot strikes me as somewhat counterintuitive." He shook his head, irritated with himself; this was hardly the time to be provoked into an argument. "Lorna suffered third degree burns across her back and right side; transferring her cross-country would be inadvisable at this time, and in any case Dr. McCoy has matters well in hand. If you would like to be here when she wakes up, I can arrange a flight at your earliest convenience."

“Don’t you dare talk to me about my earliest convenience. You’re supposed to protect my daughter, Xavier. You’ve failed. I want her home. If she’s burned then I want her treated by the top specialists in the field--does your Dr. McCoy qualify?” Paul snapped out, ignoring Janice’s quiet, “Paul, please.” This man was playing with his daughter’s life; and by God, he wouldn’t stand for it. “I didn’t want her to go back there. You already failed once to keep your students safe earlier this year. Now you’ve failed again and my little girl is paying for it. I want that student dealt with. Immediately.” He hung up the phone and gestured for Janice to do the same. When she merely stared at him, he stalked away leaving her to untangle the mess he’d wrought.

Janice took a deep breath, “Professor, I apologize. Paul is just in shock. We both are.”

"I quite understand; we're all still coming to grips with it here, as well. I can assure you that Lorna will receive the best possible care. Henry would be the first to recommend a specialist if her injuries were beyond his skills." Charles sighed. "Your husband is correct, however, that I failed to keep your daughter safe, and for that I am truly sorry."

“I believe you have the best interests of the students at heart, Professor. That’s why we allowed Lorna to attend in the first place. But,” she shook her head, “how could this happen? What happened? Lorna never mentioned being in danger from her fellow students.”

"Ordinarily, she isn't; in this case, the other student has a power we are only beginning to understand, and over which he has very little conscious control. He would never have harmed Lorna intentionally. Unfortunately, many mutants can be dangerous before they learn to control their gifts--Lorna herself was, as I'm sure you remember--and even the most careful precautions cannot prevent every accident. We are, after all, only human." He sighed. "And we must obviously do more than we are, since we failed to prevent this accident--but even without any warning, Lorna was receiving treatment at a world-class medical facility within minutes."

Janice watched Paul storm across the dining room, shouting furiously at someone on his cell phone. The slam of the front door a few seconds later was expected and she only sighed wearily, “Professor, thank you for calling us with this. Paul and I will most certainly be flying out as soon as is possible. I do think that it would be wise of us to begin arrangements to have Lorna brought home once she is sufficiently stabilized, however. I’m sure you understand. Lorna is our only child; it would kill us to lose her.” Janice’s voice remained calm and reasonable but there was steel under her tone.

"I'm sure I would feel the same if I had children of my own. Please let me know when you expect to arrive; I can have a guest room prepared at the school, and ensure that Henry knows to expect you."

“I imagine that Paul is making flight arrangements right now. We should be there in the morning. We will have to call you with a more specific time when things get settled.” Janice wasn’t sure how much longer she could have this conversation, not when all she wanted to do was break down and cry. “Thank you again, Professor. We’ll see you tomorrow.”