Day 2 for those left behind.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Alex and Lorna turn Lorna's suite into an impromptu slumber party for those without roommates and then hide in her room. Clingyness, comfort and questions with no answers are the theme. Woeful fluff is the best description.



Lorna gave the darkened common room a quick look to ensure that all her guests were safely ensconced on couch or chair then eased her door closed. She leaned against it with a sigh and rested her head on the cool wood. She'd spent the entire day keeping tabs on the remaining students and had discovered that an alarming number had been left the only one in their rooms. She'd gathered a few here scattering them through Ali's room and the common room. "Dane's Home for Orphaned Roommates. It's got a catchy ring, don't you think?" she said wearily.

Alex looked from where he lay on her bed. He'd just gotten through helping Artie and some of the younger kids get calm enough to go to sleep in Ali's room by reading them numerous stories, all of them insisting he read in his "Crush" voice. Not one to disappoint, Alex had read nearly ten stories in surfer before all the youngins were asleep. "Very. It can sponsor the Summers Surfer Story Hour..." He lay his back down hard, making the bed bounce slightly. He didn't want to move so he asked, "Mind if I stay here tonight?" He tried to hide that he also didn't want to go back to an empty room, where only nightmares of Her awaited him.

"God, no." She rolled until her back rested against the door. "In fact, I'd rather you didn't leave me alone. Call me paranoid but I'd rather have you where I can keep an eye on you." She pushed off the door and crossed over the bed, sitting next to him, bracing herself with an arm on either side of his body.

Alex looked up at her from his position on his back and gave her a tired smile. "Paranoia noted and to be expected, given the situation." Of course, its the same situation that makes me not want to be alone... He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Not going to think about it... Then he realized...he was in her bedroom. Now that he remembered...he'd never been in here before, at night.

She tried to return the smile but only succeeded in looking worried, "I can't believe they're all gone. How could someone take more than a dozen people without a trace?" This wasn't the first time she'd said that exact thing and probably wouldn't be the last.

He again shook his head. "You right it's too weird. I mean...it's like poof and their gone!" Alex closed his eyes. "We know they didn't pull my trick because we both know a) they aren't that type of people and b) Alison and Shiro would know better then to do this to us. At least I hope..." Alex bit his lower lip, hoping his reasoning was right.

"C) It's unbelievable that that many of them would take off all at the same time." Lorna sighed again and nudged him so he would scoot over and give her some room then laid down and pillowed her head on his shoulder. "The team is reacting like this is a threat and not just a runaway." She hesitated then told him what the Professor had said about not sensing them anywhere.

Alex flinched a bit. "You know, Scott told me that when I was with Her, the Professor couldn't sense me either. Do you think this is something like that? Because that would be a threat instead of me being stupid."

Her grip tightened at the mention of That Bitch as she was formally dubbed in Lorna's head. "I don't know. It's worth following up though." A tiny part of her hoped that it was so the team would have an excuse to take her down entirely. Lorna didn't often hold grudges but when she did, she was fully capable of doing so until the seas dried up.

Alex bit his lower lip, thinking. "I don't know...I'd hate to pull the team off of a real lead just because of similarities..." Plus I really don't want to have to face her again... He involuntarily shuttered, which Lorna would have felt even as he tried to hide it but smiling and changing the subject. "They’ll find them...they have too."

She curled around him, clinging. "I wish I had your faith." She couldn't even pretend confidence now, in spite of how she'd been acting with the students. Here and now, she was taking the opportunity to lean on him.

He held her close, leaning his chin on the top of her head, his arms wrapped around her waist. "You guys found me...I have to believe you can find them." He closed his eyes, hoping to sound strong, for her, despite his own fears.

She'd read those mission logs and pestered Alison for what the logs didn't say. Alex's rescue had been luck. Her confidence level took another hit. "I can't believe this happened."

"Neither can I." He closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on from too much worrying, about Shiro especially. "It shouldn't have, what with how many telepaths and stuff around. But it did...and now we're the ones left to deal with it..."

She closed her eyes and drew in a shaky breath that would have been a sob if she had let it. "I feel so helpless. If the Professor can't find them, what chance do the rest of us have?"

He hugged her shoulders. "Have faith and comfort each other...it's all we can do." And make sure everyone knows they’re not alone...

"Just don't leave me." Faith was somewhat beyond her right now. And she'd given all the comfort she had to give already. All she had left was him. For the first time, that seemed like a thin strand to hold on to.

Alex hugged her tightly, suddenly feeling rather guilty. "Never again...I promise." He felt guilty she felt that way, guilty that he felt relieved Lorna and Scott were still here when Shiro was missing and guilty that he was still here when others were missing. He closed his eyes, and just concentrated on hugging her.

She felt like everything she wanted to say wasn't coming through exactly right. So she just held on instead and tried not to think of how relieved she'd been when she'd found him yesterday--still here, still okay. She felt like she'd betrayed the missing with that relief. She had thrown herself into work immediately trying to assuage the guilt. Now she tried to deny it by clinging to him. So long as he was here, she would be okay.

Alex stared up at the ceiling as the long silent moments passed between them as they held on to each other for what seemed like dear life.