Xavia peered through the lens of the microscope, watching the odd blood cells moving around the way that blood cells move around. She was seeking answers, trying to get down to the bottom of whatever it was that caused her body to react the way that it had the night she helped her friend Kendra out. Her white cells were normal, as were her red, she did not see anything out of the ordinary for her. With a sigh, she pulled away from the machine and moved to pull the slide out to stash so her biology students could see how her blood cells had walls like plants did. They were sure to be fascinated by that.

The fact of the matter was that she was teetering. Was it because she stretched herself so thin? Was it that she constantly missed Jupiter after all this time? Was it just the accumulation of mind mess that one got with PTSD after so much happened? It definitely wasn't missing her kiddo, for she had finally moved her into the house along with mama. Surely that was a load off of her mind, right? All she knew was she needed to focus and doing so felt impossible.

She was thinking too much, perhaps, as she walked out of her class and headed to the offices. As she was heading to her own office to change into her gym clothes (really, she used the office for a dressing room only since she preferred the serenity of the greenhouse), she peeked into Sam's office, not particularly looking for him but it was always nice to run into him. If he was there, she would lean her shoulder against the frame of the door and say, "Hey," softly, her eyes reflecting her troubles, as did the half smile of greeting.

She raked her fingers through her hair, took a heavy breath without realizing it and started to move away from the door frame. Whether he responded or not, she seemed kind of distant. A jog would do her some good, yes? That would surely ease her spirits, right? But so would training. Guh, shut up, mind! The movement of her hand in her hair was repeated before she kind of just.... Wandered away from the doorway and toward her office.

Xavia left the door slightly ajar when she got there, moving to sit down and kind of stare at the floor with her bottom lip pinched lightly between thumb and forefinger. What was wrong with her?

”Yo.” Sam eventually called out as he woke up from on his desk. This time he fell asleep due to him just being tired, not from the alcohol. Juliette was far more adamant on him not dinking much and as much as he wanted to he didn’t. She was good for him and he knew it. Ignoring a large drool spot on one of the pieces of paper he had face planted on he stood up and felt the thermal image of a woman a few feet away from his door.

Sam needed coffee or a drink and while he could just open the drawer and remove some cheap Irish whisky he didn’t. Coffee it was. Sam pushed himself up from his desk and walked out into the hallway and spotted Xavia. ”Yo!” Sam repeated again this time giving her a quick wave. With a loud yawn Sam pointed to the kitchen.

”Coffee…” he took a step backwards towards the kitchen and asked, ”You need something?”

"Hmm? What?" She blinked and then remembered. "Oh... Uh... Yeah, I just wanted to find out how much longer you t'ink I should train. But you seem as distracted as me." She snorted a little and followed him into the kitchen. She leaned her hip against the counter, wrapping her arms about herself. She deliberately put several feet between the two of them because she just... Couldn't be near anyone of the opposite sex.

She did not even think this would be such a huge issue, but she was quite wary. Ugh, she thought. Her hands were unreasonably clammy right then. "How are you?" This was crazy. Sam wouldn't do something bad. At least not to her! "You okay?" The words sounded slightly hollow to her own ears.

Her eyes lifted to his face because she made them, and she gripped her hands around her arms tight enough for her knuckles were white. She cleared her throat and said "Going for a long run later."

Sam shrugged not exactly sure how to answer the question or really what question she was asking. He had been distracted by a lot of things as of late and at the moment the need for coffee had distracted him. ”Trick question.” Sam finally said as he snapped his fingers. ”That’s a good one!” he said smiling slightly with a stifled yawn. ”No such thing as too much training.” he nodded his head and lifted the coffee pit half tempted to pour it straight into his mouth.

Fishing for a mug he found too and poured one for himself and one for Xavia. She didn’t ask for one but if she wasn’t going to drink it he would. Like training there was no such thing as too much coffee.

Sam raised his good eyebrow and took a swig of his mug and then shrugged. ”I could go fro a drink but…” Sam sipped his coffee, ”Looks like you could too..” Sam then nodded his head, ”or a run.” he took another swig then quickly refilled his cup as he started the process of making a fresh cup.

”Need some company?”

"I did not mean I wish to stop training," she said quietly, "Was just hoping to be part of team by now." Indeed it had been a year or so since she expressed her desire to join the X-men. She worked hard, maybe a but too hard with everything on her plate. But keeping busy... So very busy... Was keeping her semi sane.

"Thanks," she said as she took the coffee and sipped it black. Her fingers cradled the cup and she looked down at the ambrosia within.

Then came his next question... Did she want company in her run? She froze for a moment, hands visibly shaking for a few seconds before she dropped the cup of coffee. F**k. She grabbed a wad of paper towel and knelt quickly to clean up the spill. Damn it!

This was Sam, she thought... He would never hurt her in the manner she was freaking out over. He was not even... Into her. She had to get a hold of herself. "Um... Sure, if you want."

”You’re not yet?” Sam asked as he sipped his cup. She stared into her cup like she wanted to say something else but couldn’t. Sam had seen a lot of that face lately in himself but he knew that talking seemed to help others so maybe he should ask her? Nope, he’d change the subject instead but stopped short as he saw the thermal temperature of the mug drop to the floor as the glass shattered along with it.

”Whoa, chill.” Sam said as he tried to point out his mutation. He was built for cleaning up liquid spills. He had done it enough for his ‘not-real’ kids when he was in la la land.

”I was built for cleaning that stuff up.” Sam said as he pointed his finger to some off the coffee making sure it was just the drink and not the Xavia. The liquid condensed and solidified into iced coffee and he then sipped his own. ”More if you want. Been working out more since I stopped drinking as much…. I know it helps to be by yourself…” Sam said making sure he wouldn’t be offended if Xavia wanted to be alone. Clearly some things were on her mind.

"Not t'at I know yet. I t'ink I am ready but t'at is up to you, isn't it? Do you t'ink I am X-men material?" Even though she was probably in a bad spot right now in her life, she was not ready to give up on her aspirations even though she was freaking out internally.

As he took over cleaning the mess her damned nervous hands had caused, she quietly said, "Thanks," and stepped out of the way, taking a deep breath and sending a stray bit of hair floating out of her face. "Just... Trying to get my sh*t together after domet'ing bad happen, it is not you. I know you do not do what.... Um... Yeah... We can run... Or train."

She was determined to get through what had happened, she had too much stuff to do to be brought down by cowardly men. "I have ot'er problem I am trying to figure out wit' mutation. My vines keep getting ripped from my palm and I bleed from it. Not sure why."

Sam shrugged into his coffee mug. ”I think you’d do alright.” Sam pointed to himself. ”I mean, they say I’m X-Men material so…” Sam smirked into his coffee. ”You have a good shot.”

”I understand that.” he nodded his head starting to wish he had a drink because it sounded like they were going to talk about something serious. Sam didn’t do serious too well when it came to talking. Sipping his coffee and pretending it was more than just coffee he gestured to the hallway as he walked towards it after she accepted his offer.

”How about we go out to the woods out back.” Sam pointed through the kitchen windows to the large cluster of trees in the back. Sam figured she’d feel the most at home there. ”A little sparring and you can show me the issue with the vines? Not sure what I can do but I’ll try to get some ideas for you.” he offered as he walked down the hall.

”All good?” he asked having the feeling that things weren’t with her.

She nodded and said, "Let me change into my work out gear and will meet you in hallway in a few." She wasn't going to talk about the other stuff. There wasn't anything to talk about. She waited for him to reply before going to her office to switch from her teacher duds to her workout duds.

Shortly afterwards, she was back in the hallway, wearing a pair of sweats, some trainers, a sports bra and a loose tank top. Her hair was thrown up into a quick high messy bun. Her physique had changed over the previous year, certain muscles sculpted and toned, though she was not perfect.

As she waited for him, she took advantage of time and started her upper body stretches.

Giving her the thumbs up he finished another three cups before walking out into the hallway. He didn’t bother changing; he was one to practice in his regular clothes knowing he wouldn’t always have an opportunity to change if something happened all of a sudden. Walking out slowly he let out a yawn then met up with Xavia in the hallway who was already stretching. Something else Sam didn’t bother with at the moment, he was still pretty limbered up from his danger room session from before his nap.

”Alright then, all set?” Sam asked as he still had a coffee cup in his hand and took another sip then iced over the top so it wouldn’t spill on the walk or run to the cluster of trees. ”Where did we leave off last time we practiced?” Sam asked as he started to head for the door.

”Been a minute or two right?”

"Trying to get my speed on my abilities. I t'ink I am doing better now." And then she was done stretching. She wasn't stretching because she was about to spar, she was stretching because it was a habit before going for her runs to do so.

"Been a bit, yes." She said as they headed outside. Once they did get out, assuming he would keep up, she took off at a run toward the woods. She was pretty quick on her feet, having been running every day since after Delilah was born.

With his coffee in hand he jogged after her trying his best to keep up. It had been a while since he had actually ran and while his body was familiar with it his mind wasn’t he kept focusing on the coffee and his pants chafing against his legs instead of focusing on the destination like he usually did when he ran. Maybe he should focus less on sparring and more on running?

When they got to the spot Sam unfroze the top of his coffee mug and chugged it which he found was a mistake as he was gasping for air after it. ”Obviously been a while since I ran last. Looks like you beat me.” Sam said as he put his hands on his knees and breathed heavy for a few seconds. ”I need a drink” he said more to himself than to anyone else as he tossed the mug on the soft ground then placed his hands on his head.

”Running might be a bit harder but, I’m still the king of sparring.” he said as he leaned back stretching his back. ”No holding back?”

"Didn't know was a race," she said with a shrug and then led him to the clearing she had set up for training. There were trees with yarn marking branches and simple platforms, and there was enough room to spar.

"If you say so, Sam." She said. "Hand to hand or wit' gift?" She moved to her position, a standard fighting stance with poker face included. She was ready.

Once they arrived Sam took the ice off of his coffee and took a sip despite a few cold spots it was still warm enough to get the job done. Sam set his coffee down on a platform of wood that seemed to have been formed for either a step stool or a spot for coffee. Either way Sam made it a spot for his drink and then looked back to Xavia who seemed ready.

”Both will do. I guess, you wanted help with your powers, right? Might as well put you in a situation where you don’t have much time to think about them.” Sam said as he cracked his neck and then shot a beam of ice at her head. It wasn’t subzero but it would have been enough to give her a brain freeze should she have gotten hit. Sam then charged forward dropped down slightly then threw an uppercut at her gut.

She was lucky that she knew how much of a turd he was when he said stuff like don't hold back, he meant it for him too. She was prepared for the first move, dropping to a crouch just as the cold would have slammed her head, which would have done MORE than give her brain freeze due to her weakness. She shot a vine out as he was leading up to the uppercut, and if successful, would wrap the thing around his ankles and give a yank, hopefully to yank him from his feet or at least pull him off balance. Then she'd shake her hand free of the vine before it had a chance to break off. Not wanting to be on the defensive for too long, she used the trees to her advantage, leaping up and using a branch to fling her directly toward him, feet first.