She was right about some of it there wasn’t any denying it, not that Sam would. The riots were a cluster of messes that just fed off of each other. There was looting, vandalism, assaults. Just one thing after another and when she said they would have called swat Sam smirked slightly. There was swat there, just in a different location. No one came to this one on time, no body knew about it until it happened. There were a few more instances like this but he kept his mouth shut.

He knew he was on thin ice with Amelia so he remained silent even when she asked him a question. Looking her right back in the eyes he just raised an eyebrow. Finally he spoke ”I don’t. I’d like to know though.” he was sincere and wanted to know. He also wanted her to rejoin the team but if there were more issues with trust there wasn’t much he could do except for trying to rebuild it.

Hindsight if he knew there was an issue with trust he probably would have stayed away from this type of test.

Amelia sighed, and ran a hand through her hair. This entire conversation had gotten brutally awkward, but she needed to finish it. She needed to tell him.

"Rebecca and I," she began. "Got into a situation in the sewers stopping a mutant named Sewer King. We nearly died. And I realized that this, this whole thing." She gestured at the Danger Room, at the idea of the X-men around her. "Is something meant for people better trained to handle it. A job for the police. So I finished school and became a cop. I just didn't think it was responsible to train children and teens to fight bad guys and try and save the world."

It was a complicated situation. She agreed that adult X-men could do a lot to help the world, to help mutantkind... but encroaching on police business just wasn't the way.

Sam had said the X-men started helping police because police weren't equipped to handle problems. There were problems and lots of people died. They couldn't go global because home needed the most attention. Finally, mutants joined the police. Like her. And MRC developed to help handle mutant related crimes.

"Look, I understand why the X-men help in New York, and I understand your reasoning for staying here rather than going global. I wish I could help more with that because the X-men as a thing to show humankind the positive side of mutants is a good idea... I just took exception to the age groups involved."

"Older mutants are adults, and they can learn how to handle situations. They're old enough to make their own choices. But I joined very young. And I probably wasn't old enough to grasp the dangers involved, should a mission go south. That was why I distanced myself. I just disagreed with some of the choices the X-men have made about who can join... and when." Amelia finished lamely. She felt lame. But that had been her reason. She was being honest. Sam would just have to respect her reason.

As for her reason for deciding against joining now... "I can work alongside grown up X-men, from a police side. But I don't think I need to join up to fight the good fight." Amelia said. She didn't look away from Sam in shame. Once her anger had vented, she was left with something like that. She always regretted mouthing off. She always tended to say too much.

Sam waited till she was done before he responded to anything. He wasn’t mad and understood her hesitation in working as an X-Woman. In truth she was right but that was why there was a difference between team leaders and trainees. Most full fledged X’s shouldn’t be under twenty. At least in his opinion. ”You know I didn’t just get a badge right?” Sam asked and continued before she could respond. ”You’ll have access to my records in your police files, I went through the academy, even an accelerated course for the detectives exam.”

Sam folded his arms and continued, ”I fended off dragons, assassins and volcano’s. While I might be qualified to handle some situations I know there is always someone more qualified than I.” Sam paused for a second to let the words sink in before he added, ”Trainee’s shouldn’t be handling things on their own. That’s when things go wrong.” Sam raised an eyebrow, ”I’m not saying you aren’t capable as a cop but if you wear the X, there is no reason you should be in a situation like that.”

Sam nodded his head and shrugged, ”So why the tryout then?”

He felt the need to defend himself, state that he'd gone through training and gotten a badge fair and square, and it took all Amelia had not to shake her head. To her, it wasn't the same. He hadn't walked a beat, or gone through the things new police officers go through to learn the job and learn their place in the system. He definitely hadn't done routine things like issue tickets... but those were things of law enforcement, not things if X-men. She didn't verbally minimize his efforts at trying become "one of us". Amelia could see the exception behind it all, but it wasn't her place to expose it. She let him say his piece.

His response about younger members was fair. Honestly, she had no problems with him (outside the drinking). He seemed to take care with mansion students and trainees. Her case had been an exception, rather than the rule, and Rebecca and her had gone of their own volition. It didn't change her opinion about the whole thing. Extreme cautions needed to be taken. The X-men needed to be vigilant and responsible vigilantes. Vigilant vigilantes. Heh. Moving on.

Why exactly had she taken the test? Amelia shrugged a shoulder. "Someone came to me expressing interest in getting the x-men more active, and trying to get them to focus beyond New York. The x-men could use new blood and a bit more focus on their vision of showing the world what good mutants can do. That's something I agree with. I see the X-men potential." Barring minor disagreements, of course. "I wanted to help. But the test helped me realize I don't have to be an X-men to help with the vision... and I already mentioned the things I don't agree with, about the team. With all the respect in the world."

"We've got to be careful. I know you know that, Sam." Amelia said quietly. "Us mutants got to stick together. Cartoonish X emblem, or no." She moved her right hand as she spoke, smiled a wry smile, teasing him about the costume situation. It was a wonder x-men uniforms had never fallen into the realm of capes and miniskirts.