((OCC. Thread takes place in Mid-September))

Kate finally had a day off. Class had been canceled because of something in her teacher’s personal life which meant not only the class she had today but the rehearsal too was canceled. Thank god for them being under the same professor. She called her car and asked David to drive to the mansion. Sam had asked her to watch his pets while he was away and she had been doing just that. She loved his dog and cat and they had learned to love her. This was one of those things that she did to help her unwind. Getting to spend an hour or even a few minutes with the animals was a great way to get out of her own head and nothing think about the score she had to transcribe or the piece she had to memorize. TI was a way for her to escape her life and deal with something simple.

Kate arrived at the mansion at 1 in the afternoon. It was unseasonably warm for September and Kate wore only a simple dress, sweater and flats. Her style had evolved over the years but there were certain things that would always be a Kate Stanley Finch-Hatton stables. She navigated her way through the halls to the teacher’s wing, digging through her bag for the key to Sam’s bedroom the entire time. She noted the quiet of the halls at this time of day remembering her time at the school wondering around while others were in class. This had always been one of her favorite points in the day.

She stuck the key in the lock and heard a click as it turned. The room was dark and the curtains were pulled, something she didn’t remember doing the last time she was here. Though in the recent weeks since she got back from Europe things always seemed different every time she entered the room. She moved into the dark and flicked the switch on the lap feeling something at her feet. She knelt down to greet the dog, “hi puppy.” It wasn’t exactly a puppy but he was sweet like one. She smiled and rubbed the dog as he flipped on to his back to expose his stomach.

That was when she heard it a noise off in the distance like a rustle of fabric. Kate’s head shot up and she looked over at the bed to see a rather familiar lump lying there. “Sam?” She whispered as she moved closer and confirmed her suspicions, “Sam!” This time it was a yell as she launched herself on the bed to sit next to him, “When did you get back?” She hadn’t really seen the man in months and had only started attending to the pets when he had asked her via phone months earlier. Before that it had been some time since she had seen or heard from him. She had truly missed him.

The sleep he was getting was long overdue, the riots were over or at least winding down enough to where sleep for Sam was an option. Things were starting to become normal again, or rather as normal as they could be given the past few months for Sam. Being mind controlled and forced to kidnap kids he taught and looked out for coupled with that the whole secret about his history; being a kid who was trained to hunt and attack mutants, that made him less willing to sleep in a place where people feared him. The riots and his new ‘friend’ managed to keep him away from his bed and unfortunately his pets as well, which was why they were both laying on top of Sam sleeping just as hard as he was.

Upon hearing the door open Bruno crawled out of bed and walked to the door to great a familiar smell. Sam however was still asleep with Cammie on his backside as his face was buried into his pillows, which now smelled like cheap whiskey due to him reeking of it from the night before.

>>>>> “Sam?”

He heard that voice before it was kind and familiar which brought a smile to his face under the pillows, he was however still dreaming and it might not have been who he thought it was. Sam let out a small moan and his legs stretched under the sheets.

>>>“Sam!” “When did you get back?”

Sam’s bed shook and he heard the voice again this time it woke him. Despite him still smelling of alcohol from the night before and despite his current hangover he still managed to react to the bed shaking as some sort of attack as he rolled over quickly (scaring Cammie off of him) and shot his hands up into a guard. He gasped awake and looked to see Kate sitting next to him and he blinked once and slammed hi head back on the pillow.

”You shouldn’t sneak up on me when I’m sleeping.” Sam said mumbling his words as he rolled over and buried his face into his pillow.

Kate didn’t move as she watched him flip and go into a defensive stance. This was Sam, her teacher and he had taught her just how to combat such a stance. She chose however to just sit there straight backed and smile at him till he notices who she was. This was not the first time she had woke him up. However this was the first time she smelled like this.

All of a sudden, just as Sam fell back onto the pillow, she was hit with a wall of smell and her senses were filled with the sour smell of cheap alcohol. She grimaced and waved a hand in front of her nose.

>>>>You shouldn’t sneak up on me when I’m sleeping.


Kate giggle, “I didn’t sneak up on you. I was here doing what you asked me to do before you left. Feeding and giving love to your pets.” She then whacked him on the back of the head as she got up and moved across the room with Bruno following her. “I can’t believe that you didn’t tell me you were back. I know I have been busy as of late and we have not be able to talk as much as we used to but that is no excuse to avoid me.” Kate grimaced again and held her nose, “You do realize you smell like a bar, correct?”

He was too dehydrated to think about using his sixth sense right now but he could still feel the heat from Kate’s hand as she hit him. He didn’t do much other than moan into a pillow. Had he told Kate he was back? No he had been pretty busy, it made sense he forgot to tell someone he was back when the whole school was talking about him being back. With the riots done with people actually could confirm he was back.

Another moan and Sam lifted his head, ”Simple answer for that.” Sam leaned over to his night stand his face still buried in a pillow and he grabbed a half empty can of beer and chilled it instantly as he brought it to his lips. He chugged the rest even though he could feel his stomach fighting to push it back up. Hair of the dog works wonders.

Sam didn’t explain further but just buried his face back in his pillow his sixth sense starting to turn on as Kate seemed to light up the room and obscure most of Bruno from his gaze. Sam turned it off as it started to give him more of a headache. ”What time is it?” Sam asked lifting his head from the pillow only to bury it again a few seconds later.

>>>>> Simple answer for that.

Kate’s mouth fell open in shock at Sam’s blatant disregard for both her presence and his own health. He was clearly still intoxicated and probably hung over, something Kate herself had never ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The real great thing about having a very high body temperature is that you burn off alcohol at an expodential rate. Well she had had a hangover once after drinking none stop until about 4 in the morning when she lived in Rome but she had never woken up drunk before.

Her hands clenched and her eyes narrowed as the temperature in the room rose a good 10 degrees in a second. Poor Bruno had no choice but to back away with a whimper as she became too hot to be near. ”Sam… What are you doing!?” Her voice was loud and easily filled the room and probably some of the hallway. Kate however didn’t care. She was furious. He was a teacher at a school that he lived in and he was waking up drunk. This was ridiculous and inappropriate in so many ways.

>>>>>What time is it?

Kate marched across the room with some force, her heels clicking on the wood floor as she walked. She could feel the flame forming in her hand and had to fight to keep it from becoming fully formed. She also knew that she was probably making him a little uncomfortable with how much she was warming the room but she didn’t care. He deserved it as far as she was concerned. “It is time for you to get up!” She reached down and pulled the pillow out from under his head while stripping him of the blankets as well. Tossing both clear across the room.

Sam’s pillow was the first thing to go, he was sad about it but didn’t put up much of a fight. He wasn’t done sleeping yet. His body was still facing down as the sheets were the next thing to go. Sam lifted his head slightly and realized he slept in the nude. ‘Serves you right’. Sam thought as turned his head to Kate and smirked, ”Stop yelling,” Sam buried his face into his mattress again and didn’t even try to cover his body, which was naked.

The room was warmer. It didn’t bother him too much because his body didn’t really adjust like normal peoples or mutants. Kate was angry about something he didn’t know why she needed to yell. He was right here. Sam rolled over to one side of his bed nearest the door and slowly sat up not really bothering to cover himself. ”Heh, bet you weren’t expecting a show when you decided to wake me.” he let out a small laugh and debated going over to the fridge where he had some more beer. Probably wasn’t the best call at the moment. Not when mom was in the room.

”How long you in town for this time mom?” Sam asked as he rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to emphasize the fact that he wasn’t appreciating the yelling or the fact that his pillow and blankets were stolen and now across the room. Knowing full well that the room was about to get warmer from his most recent comment he felt a bit of ice start to form on the back of his neck in hopes to prevent an oncoming headache.

>>>>>Stop yelling. Heh, bet you weren’t expecting a show when you decided to wake me.

The second the blanket left her hand Kate regretted pulling it off of him. As he shifted to face her, her face turned beet read and with a loud gasp she spun around to look away from the naked form of her friend and mentor. Kate wasn’t exactly innocent anymore but she still wasn’t one for nudity. In truth the only man she had ever seen naked was her boyfriend of 2 years, Albert.

She sifted awkwardly on her heels pushing herself onto her toes as she fidgeted not knowing what to do. She didn’t want to turn around but at the same time she was determined to help him sober up and then find out what was wrong with him. Sam didn’t drink like this. He drank but not like this. He had always been in control for the students. Always held himself together. It was just mind blowing and odd to see him like this.

She breathed deeply and calmed herself ready to turn back around and talk softly.

>>>>>>How long you in town for this time mom?

With those few words it was like her anger switched went to on and she spun around. She stared daggers at him as smoke began to rise from the blanket she had thrown over her shoulder. “Sam you are a teacher who is currently waking up drunk in his own school.” She wasn’t yelling, she wasn’t screaming, her words actually came out quietly, a good sign that she was now beyond angry. The smoke turned into a small fire that grew with every word behind her. “Excuse me for being a little angry at your brazen disrespect for this school and the students who count on it. I understand hurting or being lost or whatever your reason for this is, oh goodness do I understand, but this is ridiculous and now I am no longer caring I am just angry.” Kate didn’t notice at all as the temperature around her rose and rose and rose from both her and the white hot fire behind her. She didn’t’ care that he was nude in front of her, but instead, she just stood, clenching her hands into fists at her sides waiting for him to give some kind of explanation.

Sam tried not to smirk when her face turned red and she turned on the spot. Still sitting he ran his fingers through his hair and debated that second beer while waiting for Kate to start talking again or get out of the room. It was true he hadn’t seen her in a while but he figured she was just as scared of him as everyone else was. One of the main reasons Sam was acting like this.

She turned shortly after a breath and talked calmly now. It was clear to even Sam that Kate was upset. The calmer voice and the room getting warmer was a clear indication of that. Sam didn’t bother controlling or attempting to counter her ability, he figured something would get out of hand and his room would end up on fire. So he waited and listened.

”I’m still on the payroll but a teacher can’t teach without students.” Sam shrugged slightly and leaned back looking for something to at least partially cover himself. He didn’t really mind being naked but he was looking for something nearby to cover up for Kate’s sake. Ironically she had the bed sheets, which were currently steaming. Sam said nothing but waited to the fire to start.

Que the fire.”All is forgiven.” Sam said as he reached up and aimed a small jet of ice at the fire that was currently growing. He made sure it wouldn’t come close enough to Kate be an issue she’d be uncomfortable for a second but those were his only bed sheets.

Once the fire smoldered on the sheets Sam stood and walked to the fridge. ”Not much to talk about really, I’m only drinking to prevent a hangover. Not like I have anything to do today. All my students dropped my classes except a few meaning I got nothing to do really today.” Sam meant to thank Drew and Mirror for taking over the paperwork while he was standing back for a bit (riots, mind control and a little R&R made it difficult to do some paperwork). Sam opened the fridge and grabbed another can and cracked it then took a sip.

”Why you angry? Someone burn your bedsheets too?” Sam asked walking back towards his bed.

Kate spun again as she watched the ice jet past her and a hand flew to her mouth. She had done it again. She had lost control and done it again. She had tried so hard to get Sam to help her but he was never there and he never responded when she tried to talk to him. She had given up months ago when she was in Europe to even get an answer let alone help. So, why was she standing here trying to help him out of his drunken stupor? Why she was making an effort to get him to listen and explain?

The more he spoke the more Kate’s anger began lessoned. She was still annoyed but something was wrong. What had happened over the past year that her mentor had turned into this mess in front of her? For the first time since she had arrived in the room she took a good long look at Sam’s face. There were bags and dark circles under his eyes. He looked tired and it wasn’t just from one night of binge drinking. It was the kind of tired she had had a year ago after she lit her room on fire. She hadn’t slept for days after that and then didn’t have another good night sleep for weeks. She had been so afraid of everything she lost herself and she now had a feeling Sam was doing the same.

“Sam everyone has always loved your class. Why would no one want to take it?” Whatever had happened had something X-Men related she could feel it. Something she wasn’t’ aloud to know because she wasn’t’ one of them. Not yet anyway. “Sam what happened? I was trying to get ahold of you for weeks and you never returned my calls or letters. What happened that made you like this? What changed?” There was now genuine concern all over her face. She had no idea what happened but something told her it was worse than anything she could imagine.

Sam sipped the beer and shrugged, ”I think me kidnapping a few of the students had something to do with it.” h said simply enough he didn’t really find it difficult to say anymore it was just difficult to explain the entire situation. Sam was a little surprised she didn’t hear about it from any other of the students. Sipping the beer again Sam walked over to his bathroom and grabbed a robe from behind the door. Blue in color Sam looked to Kate and shrugged.

”I haven’t been around much, the kidnapping thing, then I had to get my head straight a bit got back not to long ago. Read a few of your letters.” Sam said shrugging, ”Didn’t bother responding but I read them.” it wasn’t anything against Kate he figured she knew him better to assume it was personal.

”The last year made me like this. Honestly the last few weeks with the riots have been some of the easiest days I’ve had. They kept me busy kept me focused.” Sam shrugged again and sipped his beer then sat down on the bed now somewhat clothed. ”A lot has changed Kate. Sam said simply enough.

Kate’s eyes followed Sam as he moved listening closely to every word and feeling worse and worse for getting so upset. She knew him well enough that she knew he wasn’t snapping at her he was snapping and angry with the situation and himself. To think he had some kind of hand in kidnapping the students. Someone must have had him under some kind of mind control or been forcing him to in some way. That was the only explanation she could think of for why he would do such a thing. She could count the people she trusted explicitly on one hand and Sam was at the top of the list. He was one of the only people who had seen her at all her worst points. Who had been there when she needed someone desperately to hold her up. Him and Mirror.

She moved to take a step towards him and stopped herself. She wasn’t sure what to do or say at first. She wanted to help him. She wanted to hold him up just like he did her but his last statement stopped her. Had he changed too much for her? Was that his way of saying he had outgrown her and the close friendship they had shared? “Sam... I…I didn’t know any of that. I’m sorry.” She took a shaky breath not sure what to say to him and avoiding his gaze at first before looking directly into his ice blue orbes, “If you want me to go I will, but know this. You have picked me up off the ground more times than I would like to admit. Which is why if you tell me to leave I will, but I don’t’ want to. I’m not afraid of you and I never will be. You aren’t just my teacher or my friend. You are my family. I trust you more than anyone and I am never giving up on you. No matter how hopeless you become because you wouldn’t give up on me.” The temperature of the room lowered as Kate spoke and stood her ground. She loved Sam the way she loved her mother and she wasn’t leaving him alone until he let her in. Even if she had to come back every day for the next year and pull him out of bed.

”You don’t have to go.” Sam said sipping his beer and shrugging his shoulders trying to put much feeling into it. Why did she have to make this meeting all mushy and heartwarming? He was too hungover and or partially drunk still for that. ”and thanks.” he made the motion and smelled himself and stood up. ”I probably should shower, don’t think I’ll be able to sleep much anymore anyways. The room smells like burnt bed sheets now.” Sam pointed to them, ”We can grab some grub or something and you can buy me a new set.” Nodding his head Sam strutted over towards his mini fridge and grabbed another unopened beer and raised it. ”Shower beer.”

Walking over to his bathroom Sam sipped his beer again and raised a beer in her direction, ”You should probably drive though.” Following that up and scratching the back of his head Sam gave the girl a smirk and said simply, ”Thanks.” he meant for everything, the letters and being here now. He wasn’t normally the type to express his feelings or emotions unless in very different situations. He didn’t think he should get all emotional now wasn’t really his style especially in front of Kate he kept an eye on her not the other way around.

The bathroom door behind him shut and he cranked the water on while sipping his beer till it was ready.

(OCC: Feel free to time skip to the car, Sam might attempt to slam another beer before they leave.)

Kate turned and watched him move into the bathroom with a raise of his beer. She was still a little angry watching him do such a thing. But at the same time she couldn’t help but smile at his small gesture of thanks. Sam had never been one for emotional moments. He had always watched out for her and consoled her in the dark times not the other way around. She, however, knew that that thank you was more then just a thank you. And she was going to do everything that she could to make sure he didn’t spiral further down the rabbit hole.

She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone, yelling through the now closed door, “You do know that I am not going to be seen in public with you falling over drunk? I have a reputation that keeps my boyfriend from scandal on purpose. I really don’t need or want what comes from going into public with a tall, handsome, drunken man and neither does Albert. I really really don’t want his mother, who already doesn’t like me that much, to hate me for taking you into a store in downtown.”She was very serious about this, but knew he may not have been listening. She had only met Albert’s mother once on her trip across Europe over the summer. She had made a special trip to stop in Monaco for it and it had been one of the most awkward meetings in her life. It was obvious that the woman was judging her and wasn’t sure Kate was good enough for her son. Kate really didn’t need to give her more of a reason to hate her.

Kate dialed the phone as she began to slowly move towards the door to exit the room and give Sam privacy. “David? Can you be at the mansion in about half an hour?... You are going to be bringing me and Sam into the city for some shopping… One moment, David… Sam I am going into the kitchen for a cup of tea.” She walked out of the room and made her way through the halls, “I am thinking that maybe we should go to Macy’s. At the present moment I don’t really think going to Saks is the best idea. Despite the better products. Also Sam wouldn’t care if it wasn’t Egyptian cotton with a thousand thread count…. Wonderful I will see you then.” Kate turned the corner to make some tea before her and Sam were to leave. A little something to warm her up on this cold day.

About half an hour later Kate was lounging at the kitchen table, sipping a hot cup of tea and looking out the large bay window leading to the back yard. She knew David had already arrived and was waiting with the car out front, but she also knew he never really mind having to sit in the car and listen to his sports talk radio while he waited for her. She really was just happy that she had chosen to leave a porcelain tea set and some good tea here for just such occasions. The school didn’t have many tea drinkers in it and really none of the silly cups that were about would taste the same as drinking out of a beautifully crafted tea set.

She poured one final cup and sat waiting and hoping he wasn’t going to come down with another beer in hand. Drinking in his bedroom was one thing. Drinking in the halls of the school was a completely different one.

”You really think I’m attractive?” Sam called back as he heard Kate yelling at him. Smirking under the hot water and sipping his beer he started to hum to himself as he continued on with the shower now ignoring everything else.

Once he was dried off and dressed Sam finished his beer other beer and left his room only after letting Cammie and Bruno out of his room. They liked to wander the mansion when he was out and he knew the kids loved to spoil them so on occasion he’d leave them out while he was away. Today was just like any other day. Well sort of.

Walking down past the kitchen Sam spotted Kate then snapped his fingers, ”Waiting on you now Kate, you can drink the tea in the car?” Sam asked shrugging his shoulders before walking towards the front of the mansion. When he opened the door he spotted Kate’s driver and he laughed, ”His royal highness didn’t teach you how to drive yet?”

Kate took one last sip of her tea before running out of the room to follow Sam and leaving the tea pot on the counter on the island in the kitchen and the used tea cup in the sink. This set wasn’t very expensive so she had no qualms with some student fining it and using it. She rushed off to follow Sam, stopping in the entrance hall to put on her coat and bundle herself up just in time to hear Sam’s comment about Albert. The two had never met and he was making fun of him something seemed off here.

“For your information Albert is far too busy to have the time to teach me and I am far too busy to have the time to learn. Someday I may learn to drive but it will not be until after college.” She stepped down the front stairs and smiled at the driver, “Thank you David.”

The man in question scurried over to the door as soon as he saw her and opened it as he offered her his hand so she could delicately place herself into the seat. “Lady Katherine.” Kate took his offered hand and climbed into the car. David still refused to call her just Kate but at least this was an improvement over what he used to call her.

She leaned out the door and looked at Sam, “Are you coming?”