New Student Pick up

Posted on Fri Mar 14th, 2025 @ 1:06am by Charles Xavier & Scott Summers & Jean Grey & Sarah Mitchell

5,289 words; about a 26 minute read

Mission: Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: JFK Airport / X-Mansion
Timeline: December 8th, 1990

Stepping out of the airplane, Sarah followed the crowd down to the baggage claim area. The flight over from LAX had been a little restless for her as she was still thinking about the group of guys who had been beating up on the mutant. She'd heard the whole mutant rights debate was more intense over here in the states compared to back home, but she still didn't expect to see such blatant bigotry in public like that.

Shaking her head to clear out those thoughts, Sarah focused on getting her luggage and making her way out of the airport. She'd been told that someone might be there to meet her, but that wasn't a 100% solid guarantee, so she was prepared to take public transport as close as she could to the school. Stopping next to the baggage carousel, Sarah waited for her bag to make its way around.

---

“She’s sixteen and of average height with red hair and green eyes,” Jean paused and chuckled at the description and how the colorful details were lost on Scott. “How about I just keep telepathically scanning for her instead?”

Scott and Jean were waiting at the baggage claim area of JFK airport for the latest student for Xavier’s. Sarah Mitchell had been found thanks to Cerebro and the couple had offered to drive her to upstate New York and to the Professor.

“Do you think she’ll be hungry?” Jean worried as they watched the next surge of people arriving from the terminals. “It’s such a long flight from Australia. I should have brought something.”

"Her itinerary says she had a layover in LA," Scott said, reading the confirmation stub the Professor had faxed over to them. "Still, airport food isn't great. I'm sure we can get her something on the way to the Mansion."

“There she is,” Jean said with a smile as she honed in on Sarah. She waved her hand through the air in an attempt to catch Sarah’s attention.

Sarah had been informed that Scott and Jean would be meeting her at the airport but she hadn’t expected the Professor’s description of them to be so accurate.

Standing by the nearest luggage carousel Sarah saw a woman a touch taller than her with the brightest red hair she had ever seen. It was a shade closer to scarlet rather than a copper hue and her smile was incredibly warm and inviting, she felt more like an excited sister than a total stranger.

By her side was a tall and solid man with a square jawline and a pair of glasses on his face whose lenses were the same ruby shade as the woman’s hair. For all the joyful exuberance the woman provided, he was neutral faced and stoic.

“Sarah?” Jean asked even though she knew the answer to her question. “Welcome, Sarah, I’m Jean Grey and this is my fiancé, Scott Summers.”

"Welcome to New York," Scott added, his stony expression cracking with a small but sincere smile.

“Thank you, Ms. Grey, Mr. Summers. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sarah replied, trying to keep her voice down. Last thing they needed was a sonic boom blasting through an international airport, “and thank you for coming to pick me up. I hope I’m not being a bother.”

“Oh no, of course not,” Jean said with a wave of her hand. “We live in the city and drive back to school on a pretty regular basis. Dropping you off gives us an opportunity to catch up with the Professor and also see how the current students are fairing.”

Jean began to watch the carousel along with Sarah, already knowing what her luggage looked like without having to ask. There was a maternal sort of sense to the older redhead, like she had spent a good portion of her life mothering and looking out for mutants. “Are you hungry? Do you need anything? It’s about an hour and half to the school in upstate New York.”

Sarah shook her head, but before she could answer her stomachs gave a growl. With a slightly embarrassed expression, she nodded. “Yes, please,” she answered as she put a grateful smile on her face.

"I'm sorry, did you say yes?" Scott leaned forward with a hand cupped around his ear.

Feeling a little self conscious, Sarah leaned up so she could whisper in his ear, “yes, please, Mr. Summers.”

~Is she not feeling well?~ Scott pondered in a shared thought with Jean.

~* ‘Her voice has the ability to create sonic attacks, she’s trying to be cautious.’ *~ Jean replied telepathically to his question. ~* ‘I’m glad she’s coming to Xavier's. I'm sure Charles can help her become more comfortable with her abilities.’ *~ She had affirmed that picking up Sarah from the airport wasn’t an inconvenience because tasks like this were the exact cause that Scott and Jean believed in. Charles Xavier had saved both of their lives by helping them navigate and control the powers, helping others find that same confidence and control was a part of their calling.

Out loud, Scott said, "Point out your luggage when it comes around and I'll help you to the car."

Sarah’s face lit up with a smile as she nodded in response and started to politely push her way towards the baggage carousel. It didn’t take her long to spot her bag, a large, rectangular, aluminium suitcase with an Australian flag bandana tied to the handle. Quickly, she moved forward to collect the bag, straining a little to pull it off the moving carousel.

"Hey," Scott said with an interjecting hand on the suitcase handle. "Allow me." It was a rather imperative offer to help, one which brooked no room for objecting. "You've had a long trip. Get your feet back under you for a bit, stretch your legs, try not to breathe in too much of the big city air."

Looking at Scott in surprise for a moment, Sarah opened her mouth to argue but quickly thought better of it. She figured arguing with the people who were kind enough to pick her up was not the smartest thing to do, or the best first impression. Instead, she simply walked behind him until they had cleared the crowd. Looking over at Jean, Sarah thought she better say something, "What's New York like?"

“Loud, busy, and crowded," Jean confessed as they exited the airport and started to head towards the garage where Scott’s Jeep was parked. “But it’s also amazing. It’s a true melting pot of people and cultures with a deep love and pride for the city itself. But Salem Center has its own charms too. The school is in a more rural area of upstate New York, the house was created as a summer home by Xavier’s family during the Gilded Age. There is a lake and a stretch of woods that backs up to a national park that are all part of the grounds. I find it to be a very peaceful place, it’s a safe and serene environment.”

Once they were free of the crowd and alone in an elevator Jean was finally able to speak freely. “Sarah, I have the ability to read minds and hear thoughts. It’s a different way of communicating, so if you’re uncomfortable with speaking out loud, you may speak with me telepathically. Simply think with the same intention of speaking and I’ll be able to hear you.”

~* ‘Like this.’ *~ Jean’s silvery sweet voice moved through Sarah’s mind as though she was speaking to her out loud. “Of course, some people aren’t very comfortable with telepathy so speaking aloud is fine too if that’s your preference.”

Sarah looked at Jean with surprise and amazement, "That's amazing. Can you read anyone's thoughts?" she asked, turning to Scott. "What about you, Mr. Summers? What can you do?"

"I hope you'll never have to see it," Scott said with a wry half-smile. "Let's just say that what you can do with your voice? I do that with my eyes, just times a million and I can't turn it off."

Sarah’s mouth dropped open in shock. She’d seen some of what she could do, but a million times more? That sounded insane. She quickly looked over at Jean ~ ‘He’s kidding right?’ ~ she asked in her head.

~* ‘Unfortunately, no. It’s the reason why he wears those ruby quartz lenses; they are the only thing stopping his optic blasts from ripping holes in anything he looks at.’ *~ Jean paused and looked up at Scott and Sarah saw the adoration in her eyes. ~* ‘Despite his misgivings about his powers I think they make him the good person that he is. Scott is responsible and considerate, diligent and brave. I don’t think he would be as amazing of a person without them, at least that’s my opinion but then again I’m probably biased.’ *~ She briefly kissed his cheek before they departed the elevator and Sarah saw the slightest uptick to the corner of Scott’s mouth from the gesture.

“There is opportunity and growth from life’s challenges.” Jean replied as they began walking through the garage and towards the freshly washed and waxed red Jeep that belonged to Scott. “I know right now it feels like your mutant abilities are a burden but my hope for you is that with the Professor’s guidance and direction you can find the good in what you can do. Who we are is a gift, never forget that.”

~Gift? Yea, gift for insurance companies maybe~ Sarah thought before she quickly looked at Jean with an apologetic look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that so loud….or maybe think it??” She said as her mind got caught up trying to figure out the proper grammar for telepathy.

Scott rolled his eyes. Although he didn't hear Sarah's thoughts in the same way Jean did, the psychic rapport between them left him aware of the gist. ~So dramatic. Must be a redhead thing~

~* ‘I am not dramatic.’ *~ Jean scoffed at Scott’s remark with a touch of trademark sass.

"Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger," Scott said. "Just remember to get back up every time you fall down." He entered the parking garage and turned a corner to where their Jeep was parked. The canopy covered the entire passenger and cargo compartment alike due to the weather. After placing Sarah's luggage in the rear, he opened both the front and rear passenger doors for both ladies.

“Your telepathic communication is fine Sarah, I intentionally don’t pry. It’s only surface level thoughts and strongly expressed ideas that I can hear. But talking is fine too.” Jean hopped into the front seat of the Jeep, a faint jump was required to get into the lifted vehicle. “Would you like a burger or something? We can get drive-thru on our way out of town, we can eat in the car while Scott drives us.”

Jean’s smirk turned coy as she finished her comment. The interior of Scott’s Jeep was pristine; the idea of eating in it seemed like a sin.

~* ‘Call me dramatic.’ *~ She commented to Scott mentally.

“I wouldn’t mind a strawberry milkshake.” Jean said to Sarah, “Dunk some fries in it and hope I don’t make too much of a mess.”

~I'm inviting Reed and Sue to dinner tomorrow night~ Scott shot back between their linked minds. ~And then I'm going to get caught up downtown with a very important thing. So enjoy that~

"Jean is very messy, you'll come to find." Scott cranked the ignition and the Jeep roared to life. "Always getting herself into one jam or another."

Climbing up into the back seat, Sarah was still trying to process Jean’s comment on dipping chips into a milkshake, she’d never heard of anyone dipping potato into milk like that. After the Jeep turned over, she looked to Scott. “A burger does sound nice if you don’t mind, Mr. Summers.”

~Such manners~ Scott mused inwardly. ~And from a redhead. Color me shocked~

~* ‘Don’t forget this redhead sleeps next to you each night.’ *~ Jean replied with a very empty threat, ~* ‘So you better watch what you say and think.’ *~

"Sure." Scott's amused smirk doubled for both Sarah's request and his cagey banter with Jean. "Anything fancy or do you like it plain?"

“Oh um, a cheeseburger, coke and chips please” Sarah said, as she reached into her pocket, pulled out her wallet and grabbed out an American $20 note. “Here.”

Scott shook his head. "No, your money is no good here." He chuckled at how true that actually was. "Literally. We'll make it our treat just this once."

Looking a little confused, Sarah quietly put the money back into her wallet. She felt a little guilty about how generous Scott and Jean were being to her and she wanted to pay them back in some way. Sitting back in her seat, Sarah gave a sigh. “Thank you, Mr Summers,” she said, half under her breath.

After pulling in and out of the first drive-thru they saw, Scott navigated toward the 684 from the 678 which was a slightly more direct route despite the winding interstate highways.

"You're in luck," Scott said over his shoulder while Sarah dug into her burger. "You get to see two states today. The highway passes through the smallest sliver of Connecticut before winding back into New York."

“I’m afraid I don’t know a lot about American states, Mr. Summers. It wasn’t covered in my geography classes at school,” Sarah replied as she looked out the window at the passing scenery.

“You’ll get some American history and geography with your curriculum.” Jean said while stirring and playing with her straw in her milkshake, her motions were intentionally exaggerated in an attempt to annoy Scott with a possible spill. “We have a few students from Europe and one from Canada so you’re not the only one who’s new to the United States. Most courses at Xavier's are self-driven, more like homeschooling but with weekly lectures, but a lot of the students like to study together and a few offer tutoring.”

Jean turned her head back so she could look at Sarah from her position in the front seat. “What’s your favorite subject?”

Sarah’s face lit up for a moment before falling to a mix of sadness and disappointment. “Um, well Music used to be my favorite subject, though I suppose science is a close second”

“Music can still be your favorite subject,” Jean said with a characteristic touch of optimism. “The Professor has special training facilities inside the school that allow for you to safely practice and hone your abilities. I’m sure with his guidance you’ll be singing again in no time. Just as long as you don’t run off into the woods and try to figure it out on your own, gosh that could be disastrous…”

Jean took a sip of her milkshake while she contemplated the result of such an experiment. “You could accidentally injure a hiker in the woods or make a flock of birds crash.”

“Kill all the fish in Breakstone Lake,” Scott chimed in with a chuckle.

“Poor Bobby.” Jean winced and laughed a little at the incident that was now humorous. “One of our classmates, in an attempt to show off, froze the whole lake and he accidentally killed all the fish because he didn’t know what he was doing. We joke about it now but it was terrible at the time.”

Jean paused and took another sip of her drink. “But what I’m trying to say is that if you want to sing again, the Professor will help you do that. I know it seems impossible right now but don’t give up hope, he’ll help you.”

"Yeah," Scott added, "because when the Professor found me, I accidentally took the roof off a train station. If there was hope for me, then I'm sure you'll do all right. Just follow his lead and don't do anything crazy." What was he saying? Scott smirked. Teenagers were hard-wired for crazy. "Personally... I owe everything to Professor Xavier's guidance. With hard work and the right mentor, there's no limit to where life can take you."

Nothing Scott and Jean were saying were making her feel any better. Sarah had gotten lucky with the incident in the School's gymnasium, although there were a few minor injuries, no one was seriously hurt. From what Jean and Scott were telling her, she was more of a threat to those around her then she'd thought. Causing a sonic boom at the wrong time could hurt people she didn't even know were in the area. Even being alone in the woods wasn't safe.

Bringing her knees up to her chest, Sarah wrapped her arms around her legs and curled up on the seat. ~I'm not sure I want to even speak again if I could end up hurting someone~ she thought to herself, feeling her chest get tighter as her fear grabbed hold of her gut.

~* ‘Hey now, don’t fret.’ *~ Jean replied with a soothing tone. She set down her drink and unclipped her seatbelt. In an all too familiar manner she climbed into the backseat while Scott continued to drive.

“That is one of the things I hate about our mutations. The power we have requires us to be responsible, it makes us grow up far too quickly.” Jean reached out and placed a hand on Sarah’s back, she gently rubbed it softly in an attempt to ease some of her distress. “When I was a little girl, my powers manifested in a moment of tragedy. My friend, Annie, had been fatally struck by a car while we were playing. She died from her injuries and my telepathy allowed me to experience it alongside her. Annie’s death was violent and painful, she died scared and confused. I was left horribly traumatized by it along with newfound telepathy that I didn’t know how to control.”

Jean brushed Sarah’s hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ears in the same way that sisters cared for one another. “I withdrew from the world after that. I didn’t speak, play, or smile. I could hear and feel every thought and emotion the people around me had. I was a ghost that was too scared to die and too afraid to live. My parents didn’t know what to do, their once sunny daughter was now an empty shell. They brought me to Charles Xavier as a radical last chance form of treatment before sending me to an institution. He saved me.”

Jean’s tone lightened a little as she continued, the sound of hope returning to her voice. “I know it seems impossible or daunting, these awesome things that you can do. And yes, they require you to be more responsible and considerate than you once were, but don’t wall yourself off and forget who you are and what makes you happy. You’ll sing again and you should definitely speak because your voice is beautiful and unique. It would be a travesty if you didn’t.”

"It's true," Scott added. "If I'd never opened my eyes again... I would've missed out on so much, and that's to say nothing of everyone I've managed to help along the way." He couldn't take his attention of the road, so he just gave a reassuring shrug. "Give yourself a chance. That's what Xavier's school is all about."

Closing her eyes, Sarah took in a deep breath and held it for a moment to try and calm herself down. This was all becoming a little too much for her, this talk of powers and helping others. After a moment, she slowly released her held breath and chose to focus on being herself again. One of the child-psychologists she'd been to before Professor Xavier found her once said to her that 'you cannot help others without first helping yourself. Deal with your own burdens before taking on someone else's'. At the time, she didn't understand what she meant, but now after hearing Jean and Scott's stories, something finally clicked for her.

Looking up at Jean, Sarah forced a smile onto her face. "Thank you, I'm sorry I'm being such a bother."

The sound of her voice resonated inside the Jeep enough to make Scott wince no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. "No bother," he assured Sarah.

~Good thing I didn't go with my first thought which was Don't mention it~ The telepathic comment to Jean brought a smirk to Scott's face that he hoped made up for his reflexive reaction.

"The first step in learning to be comfortable around others is learning to be comfortable with yourself." Scott continued with his comments to Sarah.

Sarah looked at Scott in surprise because he had so perfectly matched and captured her internal monologue, “Are you a telepath too, Mr. Summers?” She asked, amazed that his words echoed her thoughts.

"Not last I checked," Scott said. "It's a heavy burden. If I had to choose between reading everyone's thoughts and covering my eyes, I just might choose these glasses."

“Sometimes great minds have a tendency to think alike, even without the aid of telepathy.” Jean said with a wink and a grin before reaching out for her milkshake in the front seats’ cup holder. She gestured for Sarah to do the same, hoping to draw her out of her balled up position of distress.

“Telepathy can be hard at times.” Jean replied to Scott’s comment but he has witnessed her struggles first hand over the years. “Hearing people’s thoughts can be awful sometimes, especially when they don’t know you’re listening. Or in a crowd, they can be overwhelming as everyone is talking over the other person.” She took a sip from her drink. “But it can also be beautiful, despite our differences we’re all the same. I have yet to meet a person who I could not find some common ground with. I love people and the goodness that exists in them.”

“Sometimes our abilities can feel like burdens but there is good in them, because there is good in you.” Jean once again tried to quell some of Sarah’s fears over her mutant powers. “You might have to change the tune a little but you shouldn’t stop singing because you have a beautiful song inside of you.”

Watching Jean struggle to retrieve the milkshake, Sarah waited for a moment for Scott to retrieve it for her before unbuckling her seatbelt and, using her smaller frame, climbed into the front seat and handed Jean her drink. “How many times have you practiced that speech in front of a mirror?” She asked as she turned around and gave Jean a smile. The more she learned about them, the more comfortable she became. Sarah started to think that if she had an older sister, she’d hope she’d be like Jean.

“Never, but I do attend a lot of public speaking events with Professor Xavier.” Jean said with a laugh before dipping a french fry into her shake. “But I believe in what we do at the school, mutants and people are worth saving and uniting. There is so much talk of ‘other’ and the fear it creates. We all deserve a chance to live, a chance to thrive.”

“I know, I’m doing it again!” Jean laughed as she raised her hand up in admission. “I can’t help it.” She turned the conversation back towards Sarah and getting to know her. “What’s something you’d like to do now that you’re in America? Skiing? Museums? Concerts?”

Caught off guard by the question, Sarah simply shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, I’d love to go to go catch a show on Broadway or see the Natural History Museum. To be honest, I hadn’t given it much thought”

“All good options.” Jean said with a smile before she glanced out the window and noticed how close to the school they were. “Give it a minute and Xavier’s will come into view.”

The setting of rural New York that was filled with cow pastures and apple orchards began to fade away as more and more trees began to dot the horizon. Scott turned down Graymalkin Lane and the mansion came into view. The school was an imposing, multi-story structure with a grand, aristocratic design. Its exterior was primarily made of stone, giving it a majestic and timeless feel. Surrounded by sprawling grounds, its well-kept lawns, tall trees, fountain feature and a long driveway all created a very grand entrance. “I’ve informed the Professor that we’re close to arriving.” Who needed a doorbell when you had a telepath in the car. “He’ll meet us out front.”

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Jean sighed as she gazed at the mansion. Scott began to drive down the long driveway to the front of the school. The central feature of the mansion was its large, elaborate front entrance, framed by tall, arched windows, and a set of heavy wooden doors. The mansion had a distinct early 20th-century architectural style with ornate detailing and columns. “It always takes my breath away when I see it. We’re getting married here next month partly because it never fails to be the prettiest place in New York.”

Looking out the window in awe, Sarah could scarcely believe her eyes. The beautiful grounds, the old style building, it was like she’d stepped into a painting from old England. The descriptions the Professor sent her didn’t do the place justice. “Oh my god, how many students are there? Must be thousands,” she said as she started to look around the grounds for any sign of other students.

Scott let out a soft chuckle at Sarah's wide-eyed amazement. "Thousands? Not quite," he said with an amused smirk as he turned the wheel carefully up the long drive. "To my knowledge, there's never been more than forty or so here at one time. Professor Xavier runs a tight ship, and not everyone is what you'd call an official student. Some kids are runaways, some are refugees. Mutants with nowhere else to go. So long as they respect the house and each other, they have a place here. That's kind of the point." He shot her a quick glance in the rearview mirror, his tone softening. "It’s a safe haven, first and foremost. You'll be safe here too."

As the Jeep rolled further up the drive, the mansion loomed into full view. Strings of warm golden lights wrapped around the wrought-iron gates and climbed the lengths of the tall stone columns at the entrance. Great evergreen wreaths, dusted with snow and tied with bright red ribbons, hung from every door and window, their rich green offsetting the stone walls of the mansion. The fountain in the center of the roundabout driveway had been frozen over, but someone had artfully arranged lights around it, making the ice shimmer and glow like crystal.

Out on the lawn, several towering pine trees were strung with multicolored blinking bulbs that bathed the grounds in soft, shifting hues of red, green, blue, and gold. One of the larger trees close to the house itself was crowned with a bright star that twinkled high above, visible even from the long lane they had traveled.

Here and there, Sarah could make out a few students bundled up in winter coats, their breath fogging in the crisp air, some throwing snowballs, others stringing up even more decorations along the porch rails. Despite the chill and blanket of snow, the grounds were alive with quiet, happy holiday activity.

As Scott pulled the Jeep to a slow stop beneath the grand stone portico at the entrance, he glanced back at Sarah and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Here we are," he said simply, turning off the engine. "Welcome home."

Sarah was speechless as she looked around at the grounds, her mouth agape. It wasn't until Scott said 'Welcome home' that everything hit her at once. The excitement, the fear, the uncertainty, it was all a little overwhelming. Taking a few breaths in, Sarah started to tear up.

“Sometimes home,” Jean corrected as she watched Sarah well up once more. “You’ll have the opportunity to go back to Australia when you can. But while you’re here, we hope you’re comfortable like you’re at home.” She tried to ease her fear and uncertainty, Jean was eleven when she moved into the mansion and left her family's home. Feeling homesick had been a big part of her initial adjustment to Xavier’s. “The Professor has an amazing phone plan, you can call home whenever you want... It’s not quite the same as Australia but there is an amazing pool in the backyard, cable and a SEGA in the TV room, and there is always ice cream in the freezer.”

Turning back to face Jean, Sarah smiled as she wiped away a few tears, “thank you, but this moth as well be my new home. Believe me, I’m terrified, and I’d love to run home but this is where I need to be. So again, Thank you, both of you.”

The heavy oak doors of the mansion creaked open, and Professor Xavier himself glided out onto the portico, a welcoming smile softening his usually contemplative features.

"Miss Mitchell," Xavier greeted warmly, his voice as calm and reassuring as ever. "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. We are very glad you've arrived, and safely at that."

A chilly breeze stirred the edge of his long coat as he approached, his free hand tucked lightly into his lap as he maneuvered his chair closer.

"Come." Xavier gestured smoothly toward the doors behind him. "Let's get you inside where it's warm. You can meet some of the others once you're ready, but there is no rush."

Xavier turned slightly in his chair, glancing over to Scott and Jean, who stood just off to the side near the Jeep, fondly watching Sarah's induction to the school.

“Will you be staying a while?” Xavier asked, though the way he phrased it suggested he already suspected the answer.

Scott shook his head, slipping his hands into his jacket pockets. “Not this time, Professor. Jean has more strays to collect downtown.” His lips twitched in a subtle, teasing smirk when he looked at Sarah again. It had only been a decade since he had been the Professor's first stray, back when he'd accidentally given that train station a new skylight.

"Ah, then I shall leave you in her capable hands." Xavier and Jean shared a knowing sidelong stare that hinted at what went unsaid.

“I think I’ll keep this one,” Jean said with a smile before leaning in and placing a quick, sweet kiss on Scott’s lips. “It was nice to meet you, Sarah.” Her attention returned to the newest student to grace Xavier’s. “Don’t be a stranger, we have museums to go to, after all.”

Turning back around, Sarah smiled and gave Jean a wave. "Thank you, Ms. Grey, Mr. Summers. See you around."

 

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