Scott and Betsy, Wednesday afternoon

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Scott's mysterious attackers might have tracked him down, but so did the X-Men, and Betsy's not taking 'Sorry, but I don't remember you' as an answer.



Just like before. Retreat was the only logical option. He didn't know any of the people fighting - a couple of them had called his name, but that didn't mean anything. He had to get away, put some distance between him and all of them until he could sort things out, figure out what the fragmentary images and voices that were starting to come back meant. Only logical thing to do.

It was like tuning in on a short hand radio, Betsy thought. Brief moments of clarity before she lost Scott to the obscure background noise. What was important was that she did sense him, if only for a moment. And when she ran up to the street where she'd last felt him, Betsy was surprised to see Scott standing there.

And it was then that chaos enclosed all around them and Scott ran. He turned down the corner and she followed, all the while trying to reach him down the link.

Chasing him. Of course, one of them was chasing him. He ducked into an alley, then cursed frantically as he saw that it was a dead end. He whirled, just in time to see the woman stop dead at the end of the alley, her purple - purple? - hair windblown and her similar-hued eyes wild and filled with what he couldn't interpet as anything but concern.

He had no idea who she was.

But she looked so familiar...

Looking at him, Betsy felt the air sucked out of her lungs. He looked so lost. So young. Without burden and she felt it. He was struggling with control, but his mind, his memories were fragmented.

Betsy raised her hands, non-defensively, moving slowly toward him. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm a friend."

Scott took a step back. "Don't," he said, raising a defensive hand. "I don't--just don't come near me, all right?" Whoever she was, he didn't want to hurt her. She looked upset, sad somehow.

"All right," Betsy said, raggedly. Stopping in her tracks, Betsy lowered her hands. She grounded her teeth, trying to keep the frustration from her voice. "I won't come any closer...." She could knock him out with a psychic bolt, but wanted to try less extreme measures. "Scott, please. There are some dangerous characters just around the corner and I'd rather avoid any public entanglements with them, if I can help it."

"I don't know who they are," he said, rattled. "Why they're after me... who you other people are. You all know me?" The sound of her voice was even more familiar, and he shook his head, grimacing. "I can't... I can't remember. Why can't I remember?"

"Those men are people who don't care for our sort, Scott." Noticing his confusion, Betsy grimaced. This might take some time. She inhaled deeply, turning her head, as she mentally searched the perimeter for any unwanted visitors. They were far enough away that she didn't feel any immediate concern, but it was only a matter of time.... Satisfied, for now, Betsy set her gaze on Scott. "I'm a mutant, a telepath to be precise. Which means, I can roam in and out of a person's mind without them knowing it. I'm also a teacher." She stated, matter-of-factly. "You, Scott Summers, were attacked while returning from a trip with your brother, Alex. Cute fellow with blond hair, about this tall." She raised her hand, at eye-level.

"I--" Scott blinked, shaking his head. He reeled back, leaning against the wall beside him. "Attacked... do I have a concussion or something? Is that why I can't remember?"

Betsy ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head. "No, Alex said they injected you with something." Looking behind her for a moment, she realized someone was coming. Betsy looked up at him, imploringly. "Scott, I love you, but we don't have much time for this stroll down memory lane." She took a step forward. "I can help you remember...."

Scott started to flinch back away from her, but then froze, his eyes widening behind his glasses at the look on her face. Imploring, hopeful... so very familiar. "I... you..." He really wasn't being very articulate. He shook his head again doggedly, trying to clear it of the haze. Squeezing his eyes shut, he rubbed at his temples, trying to focus on the coalescing sense of... something.

Another set of running footsteps. His eyes snapped open in time to see her whirl to face someone coming up behind her. Instinctively, he pulled down his glasses and as ruby light exploded from his eyes, the newcomer - the hostile, part of his mind said bluntly - flew back several feet, crumpling to the ground.

"There's more coming, you know." Betsy said, turning back to face him. She sensed the intruders starting to gather on their position, yet she sensed her fellow team members also moving towards them. "Scott," Betsy pleaded. The drug seemed to be working its way through his system. On the outskirts of his mind, she sensed the forming of awareness. To her. "Try to remember my name."

"You--" Purple hair, spread across a pillow, and a sleepy smile... a car? Definitely a car, and her laughter, teasing at the edge of his memories... Scott stumbled backwards, a cry escaping him at the sudden roaring inside his skull, as if too much was suddenly trying to crowd in where there'd been only emptiness before.

Betsy cursing inwardly, as she watched him fall back. She kneeled down next to him, placing a hand on his knee, and smiled. "Not the reaction I was hoping for," Betsy began, jokingly. "Mostly, I get fawning and a little bit of drool...."

It was too much. Too bright, too loud... Scott gasped, clutching at his head almost desperately, fighting to concentrate, to catch his breath. "No," he muttered distractedly.

A hand went up to his temple, slowing down the pace as his memories began to reinstate themselves. The pain was dissipating. Betsy helped even the flow of information, seeing for the first time what transpired the day before. It was a few moments before either said anything. Bright purple eyes perked up at him, up at a familar face. He was back. Betsy let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. ~Hello there.~

"B-Betsy," Scott breathed raggedly, and then shifted forward, clinging to her almost desperately. "Betsy... Betsy," he repeated, shaking violently, her name the only word that would come out.

Relief swept through Betsy at hearing her name. "Oh god, I thought I almost lost you." The link between them reignited, bringing so many emotions to the surface. And it was then, tears fell freely from her face, as she cradled him and held on tightly. Betsy brought herself out of her joyful reverie. "We can't stay here. It's not safe."

Scott clung to her, barely aware of what was happening. His memories were still settling, reforming back into their proper shapes, and she was the only solid thing, like a rock in the middle of a raging river.

She sighed, holding him close and sending reassurance down the link as she reached out to her teammates. ~I have him. A little help here?~