-Hey Alara,
Here is my story

Author Notes:

    This story takes place in an alternate timeline where Onslaught and OZT
never happened.  I would like to thank Sarah Crauder for allowing me to use
her character Dana.  I would also like to thank her for being my Beta-reader
and for all the invaluable suggestions that she made.  I would also like to
thank Gary Johnson, and Skyrocket for all their invaluable help too.  Thanks
also to Luna Tiqua for proofreading for grammar and punctuation mistakes.


# . . .# telepathic communication

* . . . * internal thoughts

Disclaimer: The group X-men is © to Marvel Entertainment  1998, and is used
without permission.  The character of Dana belongs to Sarah Crauder and is
used with her permission.  Melissa Evans and her family belong to me, please
ask if you would like to use them.  No profit is being made from this story,
and is for entertainment only.

Not Just Another Student (1/?)

Xavier leaned back against his hovering chair after rereading the letter.
He placed the unsettling letter back down onto his desk.  He reached over,
picked up the accompanying photograph, and sighed.  He felt a presence
approaching the door. Before a knock could be heard, the Professor chimed,
"Please come in, Jean."

Jean shook her head, opened the door, and walked into the room.  A low click
was heard as she shut the door behind her.   She walked over to the big
brown leather chair directly in front of the Professor, and seated herself.
She looked at the Professor as a small wave
of curiosity overcame her.

"Jean, thank you for coming.  I believe --" Xavier halted.  He felt another
familiar impression that was heading for the room and had paused in front of
the door.
"Sam, won't you please come in?"

The door opened with a surprised Sam standing at the doorway.  The Professor
motioned for him to come into the room.  Sam strolled over to the tan,
cloth-covered chair next to Jean. "Thank you both for coming on such a short
request," Xavier began.

"What's going on, Professor?" Sam said, looking straight into his mentor's
face and wondering too why he had been called.

The Professor responded, "Sam, Jean, there appears to be a young female,"
Xavier pointed at Sam," that is around your age."

"Is she - -" Jean interjected, but stopped when Xavier raised his hand.

"I received this letter this morning." The Professor lowered his hand,
picked up two copies of the letter, and slid them over to his students.  He
then slid, in addition to the letter, some pictures of the young woman. Sam
reached over, picked up the letter, and began to read it.   It was from a
former mental-health professional informing the Professor of a potential
mutant. According to the informant, the girl appeared to be a telepath.  The
letter went on to say that the individual's powers were out of control. It
mentioned a few other details as her location and such.

Meanwhile Jean obtained the two photographs.  She brought them closer to get
a better look.  She noticed the dark brown, curly hair.  Sam placed the
letter down on the desk, and Jean handed him the photographs. Jean read over
the letter, experiencing an up-welling of curiosity.

The Professor felt this surge and clarified, "The writer of this letter is
an old colleague of mine and is a mutant sympathizer."  Xavier leaned
forward, "The unusual part is, after I received this letter, I performed a
several scans of the region with Cerebro."

"What does Cerebro suggest about this individual?" Sam asked.

"Nothing." Xavier leaned back up against his chair.

Jean looked straight at the Professor with an arched eyebrow, "Nothing?"

"Each scan failed to register any mutants in the area that would fit the
description provided in the letter." The Professor looked at Jean and Sam.
"That is why I would like for both of you to go and visit her."  Xavier
pointed at Jean. "Being a telepath would allow you to find out this mutant's
powers."  Jean responded by shaking her head.  Xavier turned his eyes to
Sam. "Melissa and you are about the same age, so she would feel most
comfortable around you."

"When are we supposed to visit her?" Sam said after shaking his head.

"I have scheduled a flight for both of you at the JFK Airport that leaves
tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.  You will arrive at the Little Rock International
Airport at 1:00 p.m.  I have also made reservations for you at the
Bentonville Holiday Inn and at the local Rent-A-Car business," Xavier
responded while handing a slip of paper to Jean. "Here are the reservation
numbers.  You will check into the hotel, from there you will visit Melissa."
The Professor then looked at Jean. "Try to find out how experienced she is
with using her powers."

"I'll do my best. Is there anything else we should know about Melissa?" she
responded.

"Not that I know of. Do either of you have any other questions?"  The
Professor asked while his two students shook their heads no. "All right, if
there is nothing else, then you are free to leave."

The next morning Jean and Sam left at 7:30 a.m. sharp for the airport.
Scott had volunteered to drive them.  They checked in at the flight terminal
and  went through the luggage check uneventfully.  As they were about to
board, Scott told his wife, "Good luck honey.  I hope things go well."  Then
in a joking voice said, "Be sure to keep Guthrie out of trouble."
Sam looked straight at Scott and retorted with a smirk on his face, "Ah'm
going to have to be the one to keep Jean away from those Arkansas guys."

Jean stared right at Sam and then let out a small laugh.  Scott and Sam both
chuckled to themselves. Jean then kissed her husband good-bye before she and
Sam boarded the plane.  Four hours later, they found themselves in the
capital of Arkansas.  They made their way to the Rent-a-Car place.

"Hello. May I help you?" the clerk probed.

"Yes, my name is Susan Black.  I have a car reserved."  Jean took a piece of
paper out of her purse and read it: "Reservation #198265."

"Why, yes ma'am, here it is.  Your Ford Escort will be waiting on you out in
the front," The clerk stated.

* Ford Escort?  Ah thought the Professor would at least reserve us a Maxima*
Sam thought to himself.  Jean could tell what he was thinking and laughed.
She telepathically said, #Not when he is paying for it #.  Sam laughed to
himself. This was one of those rare incidents when Sam subconsciously
lowered his shields, in spite of his experience with X-Force. They later
checked into the hotel.

The next morning, after driving up a 6-mile dirt road and seeing no houses,
they were making their way up to the front porch of Melissa's house. Jean
suddenly put her hand on her head, let out a short painful "Ah," and
squeezed her eyes shut.   Feeling something akin to a knife being stabbed in
her brain, she almost fell backwards and was left gasping for air.  Sam,
with great concern, bolted to put his arms around her waist to steady her.
Worriedly, Sam looked down and asked, "Jean  . . .  Jean, what is it?  Are
ya all right?"

Jean reflexively established shields around herself and Sam, and then opened
her eyes.  She tried to stand on her own with Sam not releasing her until he
was sure she was steady.  She lowered her hand, and looking at Sam, she
responded  "Yeah, I'm all right now."

"What just happened?" Sam asked while looking back at his fellow teammate

Jean responded, "I'm not sure. Just now, I encountered a great amount of
psionic feedback.  I believe it's Melissa."  Sam nodded his head.
They continued up to the porch to ring the doorbell, and a woman who
appeared to be in her mid-fifties opened the door partway, "May I help you
with something?"

"Hello, Mrs. Evans?" Jean asked with a friendly smile.

"Yes I am Mrs. Evans  . . .   may I help you with something?" she said in a
very distrusting tone from behind the door.

Jean could tell that Mrs. Evans hated having strangers around her house, so
in the most non-intrusive manner she could, she said, "Hello Mrs. Evans, my
name is Jean Grey-Summers, and this is Sam Guthrie.  We are from the Xavier
Institute in New York. If Melissa Evans is home, we would like to speak with
her."

Mrs. Evans stood there in silence.  Just what kind of Institute was this
Xavier Institute?
Mrs. Evans was determined that no mental 'institute' was going to take her
daughter away from her again.  Oddly enough though, Mrs. Evans trusted these
people and felt that they weren't a threat. So she said to them, "I am not
sure if Melissa feels like having any visitors.  Please come in and have a
seat, and I will go ask her."

Jean and Sam proceeded to sit on the blue and green recliners on the
opposite side of room of the coach while Mrs. Evans went to ask her
daughter.  Sam looked at Jean and whispered, "She doesn't seem to be very
hospitable."

Jean, putting her purse down, responded, "She's very protective of her
daughter.  She barely trusts anyone; she trusts us even less because we said
we were from an institute."  While looking at the table beside Sam at some
pictures of Melissa, she added, "I could tell that she was going to slam the
door in our face so I planted a telepathic suggestion that we could be
trusted."

Sam responded, "Why do you think she's so . . . paranoid?"

Jean looked up at Sam and replied, "From what I can tell, it has everything
to do with Melissa.  I'm not sure what happened. Maybe after we talk to
Melissa, I can get a better idea."

Mrs. Evans walked into Melissa's room and even before the comment came out,
Melissa voiced, "I know Mom, I would like to talk to them."

Sitting beside her daughter and putting her hand on her daughter's arm, she
replied "Are you sure honey?  What if--"

Melissa thought about how she couldn't stand being at the 'mental
institute'.  She felt the pit of her stomach turn when she thought about
going through it again, but something strange was going on: she couldn't
hear  these people's thoughts.  She looked over at her mom trying as best as
she could to stifle her fear. "I want to talk to them, alone. I'll be fine."

A few minutes later, Mrs. Evans came out and continued to the kitchen,
allowing her daughter the privacy she had wanted.  Melissa walked into the
living room and looked the two strangers over. "Hello . . .  I am Melissa.
You said you would like to talk … to me?" She stammered while sitting on the
coach.

"Hello Melissa,"  Jean smiled, looking at the young woman on the coach.  " I
am Jean Grey-Summers."

Sam also looked at the person and said, "Hello, Melissa. Mah name is Sam
Guthrie. "

Melissa replied with a small smile on her face, interested and delighted
that she could tolerate being around these people.  "Nice to meet both of
you Mrs. Grey-Summers and Sam."

Trying to ease some of the concern she felt from Melissa, Jean jokingly
said,  "Melissa, you don't have to call me Mrs. Grey-Summers, that makes me
feel really old.  I am just a few years older than you are.  Please, call me
Jean."

Melissa replied, "Okay, Jean.  You said you were from the Xavier Institute?"

"Yes, The Xavier Institute for Education. At the Institute, we look for
individuals who exhibit talents that exceed the average person,"  Jean said.

At the word 'education', Melissa felt ten tons being lifted from her chest.
She then began to wonder what ability they thought she had that 'exceeded
the average person'.  After all, there was no way they knew about . . .

Jean smiled, sensing Melissa's relief and curiosity intensifying.  "We are
highly selective when in comes to perspective students.  That is why we are
here.  We would like to extend an invitation to you to attend the
Institute."

Feelings of shock and intense happiness begin to swirl in Melissa, then
suddenly  came crashing down when she thought about why she couldn't attend.
The blackness of depression engulfed her once more. With a great deal of
regret, Melissa voiced, "I'm sorry, but I believe that I am going to have to
turn down the invitation--"

Jean wondered what could cause a person to be so disheartened.   She raised
her hand at Melissa before she could go on. "Melissa, please consider our
offer before you turn us down."

Melissa just shook her head, looking down at the floor with a wry smile on
her face.  She again silently cursed the condition that she had – whatever
it was.

Jean felt a great deal of compassion for this young girl and asked her, "
Melissa, are you familiar with the term mutant?"

Melissa was suddenly jolted from her self-loathing, and looked at Jean who
was patiently awaiting an answer. "Yes. Basically it is when DNA changes,
and a new, sometimes unknown characteristic is inherited," she said sounding
like a dictionary.

Jean shook her head in agreement. "Basically, you are correct." She raised
her hand in disagreement and added," Sometimes those changes give people
certain abilities."

Melissa rested her chin against the palm of her hand, arched her eyebrow,
looked right at Jean, and then sarcastically asked, "Like what?"

Jean knew that the only way to get across to Melissa would be for a small
demonstration.  She let her shields down, # Telepathy, the ability to know
other people's thoughts, for example. #

Melissa remained motionless, just staring at Jean, as a small tear fell down
her cheek.  She didn't know whether to be afraid or what to do. "But how did
you, how could you know --?"

Jean got up from the recliner, went over beside Melissa on the coach, and
started in a compassionate tone, " -- that you hear voices in your head?"
Jean could feel Melissa's fear swelling up inside of her that the Institute
she was talking about was really a mental one. She gently placed her hand on
the young person's shoulder and began, "Melissa, I know that you are not
crazy.  You have the ability to hear the thoughts of other people because of
a mutation in your DNA."

Melissa began to sob as Jean gave her a hug. Melissa remained quiet, still
trying to digest everything that had happened.  A few minutes later, wiping
away the last of her tears with the back of her hand, she said, "What, you
mean there is actually a reason why I hear other people's thoughts in my
head? I'm not really crazy?"

Jean smiled and said, "No. You're not crazy.  Usually when an ability exerts
itself, the person is sometimes unable to handle it without special help."
Melissa cringed at the phrase 'special help.'  She felt like throwing up at
the thought of the 'special help' she had received. "I can do without,” She
exclaimed, “any special help!"

"What do you mean by that?"  Sam probed while sitting on the edge of the
recliner.

Melissa took a deep breath while looking at Sam and started, "It started
about two years ago after the death of my father and little sister." Melissa
took another deep breath, determined not to show her sorrow again. "A couple
of months after the funeral, I began to hear voices in my head.  It was
nothing much at first, but in a short time it got to the point that I
couldn't be around more than one person at the time."  She, picking up a
picture of her little sister, said, "At first, one doctor my mom took me to
said that I was just reacting to the accident. He then prescribed me some
medicine and told my mom to take me home for a little while."

Melissa set the picture back down and looked back up at Jean. "The medicine
didn't work so he prescribed more, and when that didn't work, he prescribed
even more.  Finally, he told my mom that he had done everything he could do
for me, and that my condition was psychological, not biological."  Melissa
looked at Sam and added, "Out of concern, my mother put me in a mental
institution.  I spent a year there." Sam noticed that Melissa was starting
to shake.

"The doctors, more like researchers, performed a whole bunch of 'tests' and
a myriad number of 'therapies' on me."  Melissa turned around and pulled her
hair up to reveal a long scar at the base of her neck to Jean.  Jean became
upset at the fact that anyone could do such things to a human. Melissa let
go of her hair, covering the scar again, and continued. "The first time my
mom came to visit me, they denied her access.  They told her that I no
longer wished to have any contact with her, and because I was no longer a
minor, they legally had to obey my wishes."  Sitting on the edge of her
seat, she added, "My mother knew me better than that and forcibly had me
removed from the facility.   That was about a year ago, and I've been forced
to stay at home ever since then."

Sam went and sat beside Melissa, who slid back against the coach as he said,
"I want you to know that you are not alone. There are other people whose
mutations in their DNA give them special abilities.  At the Xavier
Institute, we teach mutants how to control their abilities."

Melissa, sensing that these strangers' concern was genuine, looked at Jean
and said, "Strangely, for some peculiar reason, your thoughts aren't
overwhelming me." She then turned to Sam and said, "I can't even tell what
they are."

Sam explained, "As part of the training, we learn how to keep people from
picking up on our thoughts if we don't wish them to."

Jean began, "Melissa, I too am a telepath. I discovered my abilities at a
young age. A car hit my best friend, Annie, and I could actually feel her
dying. I then became unresponsive so out of concern, my parents put me under
the care of Professor Xavier."  Putting her hand on her chest, she
continued, "He helped me deal with my abilities and learn how to control
them." Jean pointed at Melissa and commented, "If you will let him, he will
help you too."

Melissa stood up, turned around facing Jean and Sam, and began, "I would
love to be able to block out other people's thoughts." She placed her hand
on her forehead. "But I can't just leave my mother.  My older brother and
sister-in-law live in another state.  My mother would be by herself."

Mrs. Evans stood at the door with tears in her eyes. Melissa looked up at
her. "Mom, what are you doing there?"

Mrs. Evans looked down at her daughter. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to
eavesdrop on your conversation, but after I heard Jean say that she knew you
heard voices in your head, I was concerned.  I didn't want them to take my
baby to some mental institute."

Melissa then walked over and hugged her mother.  Mrs. Evans suggested,
"Honey, if you think they can help you then go.  I couldn't bare to see you
like this the rest of your life."

"Mom, I can't just up and leave you."

"Don't worry about me, I can move in with Mike and Lindsay.  I will be
fine," Mrs. Evans said, hugging her daughter even more tightly.

Slowly releasing her mom, Melissa said, "Mom, it's a lot to think about.  I
just can't make this major of a decision in just a few minutes."

Jean said while standing up and putting her hand on Melissa's shoulder, "Of
course, take a couple of days to think about it." Melissa turned around as
Jean handed her an envelope. "Enclosed is a slip of paper with our telephone
number on it. Just simply call us and let us know that you are coming. We
will make the necessary arrangements and get in touch with you to make sure
everything is in order."

"Thank you, and I will let you know one way or the other." Melissa said with
the first semi-smile on her face in months.

Sam said while he and Jean walked toward the door, "We have to go now, but
if you need anything, let us know."

Melissa said, "I will" while hugging, and telling them both "goodbye."

A few hours later, Melissa was found lying across the bed in her bedroom,
staring at the piece of paper. She turned over onto her back, looked up at
the familiar ceiling fan while still trying to absorb what had happened
earlier. She sat up and started looking around her room at the floral
wallpaper and blue carpet she was so well acquainted to. She then thought
about what Jean had said. She really wanted to learn how to control this
ability and have a normal… more accurately semi-normal … life again.

Melissa was up well before her accustomed noon hour, having decided to call
the Institute.  She sat on the coach leaning over the coffee table, picked
the telephone up, and just held it in her hand. She sat staring at it, and
then she slowly put the receiver down.  Mrs. Evans walked into the room. "Up
already Melissa?  Did you call the Institute? Have all the arrangements been
made?"  Melissa just stared at the floor. Mrs. Evans responded, "Honey, you
didn't call?"

Melissa responded, looking at her mother, "No, mom, I can't just up and
leave you like this."

Mrs. Evans went over and sat on the coach beside her daughter, putting her
hand on Melissa's arm. "Melissa, I know you always put other people ahead of
yourself, but this time you need to be a little selfish You need to do what
is best for you. If these people can really help you, then let them."

"I know mom, but I am really scared about going there.  I would be totally
on my own.  It scares me to death to think about it.  Mom, do you realize
that the one time I have been on my own was at the mental institute."

"I realize that. But, honey, you've got to at least try it out.  You know
how distrusting I am of people, but even to me these people seem like they
honestly want to help you."  Mrs. Evans reached over to her daughter,
hugging her, and said, "I will always be here if you ever want to return.
Okay?"

"All right mom, I will at least try it. Please hand me that slip of paper,"

Melissa said while letting go of her mom and picked up the telephone
receiver.  Her mother handed her the slip of paper, and she dialed the
number.

"Hello, Xavier Institute for Higher Learning," The voice replied.
Silence. "Hello?" the voice replied again. Melissa looked at her mother and
was
about hang the telephone up.  Mrs. Evans, however, wouldn't allow her to do
so.

"He . . . Hello, is. . . Jean there?" Melissa managed to get out.

"She's unable to come to the phone at the moment. However, this is her
husband Scott," The voice replied.

"Scott. . . Summers? Hello.. this is Melissa, Melissa  Evans," Melissa
replied quickly.

"Oh, hello, Melissa. My wife has told me about you. Have you decided to join
us?" Scott inquired.

Melissa said, "Um..Ye..Yes, I would like to attend the Institute."

Scott replied, "I am glad to hear that you decided to attend here. Once we
have made all the arrangements, we will get in touch with you to see if
everything is in order."

Melissa said, "Thanks."

"We'll be in touch soon...talk to you then," Scott replied.

"Bye," Melissa said as she threw the phone down.

After getting off the telephone with Melissa, Scott went into Professor
Xavier's study. His wife, Sam, and the Professor were discussing the
information Jean and Sam had discovered. "What do you think, Jean?"

"From what I can tell, her telepathic abilities have surfaced in the past
couple of years.  They seem to have surfaced rapidly.  Melissa is unable to
control them and consequently, hears voices inside of her head."  Jean
scooted over on the coach to make room for her husband as she continued,
"Her mother eventually put her into a mental institute where she had a
horrific experience."

"Really, please tell me about it."

She told the professor the rest of the story as Melissa had told her,
mentioning the scar, and added, "Since then, she has remained in her home
with her mother, not leaving.  She avoids all contact with anyone.  She and
her mother live on a farm that is about five miles away from the next house.
The enormous size of the Mansion and this estate is definitely an advantage
to Melissa."

"She could really use our help. The best way I can think of transporting her
is by the Blackbird, with one or two people." The professor looked at Scott.
"It would be best if we go late at night, late enough for Melissa to fall
asleep." The Professor then looked up at Jean and remarked, "The journey
here is not as much a problem as her accommodations when she arrives here.
Until she learns how to build her shields, I am afraid we do not have a
place to put her.  Where arrangements could we possibly devise?"

Jean looked back at the Professor and suggested, "Professor, when we arrive
here with Melissa unconscious, could you not simply enter her mind? What if
you were to erect mental barriers, preventing her from using her telepathy
for now, but eventually weakening them as she learns her telepathy?  Like
you did for me."

The Professor looked at Jean and sternly said, "No, not while she is
unconscious. Allowing me to put mental barriers in her mind must be
Melissa's decision.  I will only do it otherwise only if no other option
exists."

Sam spoke up, "The only other choice we have is to set up a psi-dampening
field in one of the rooms until Melissa recovers.  At that point, she can
then decide what she wants to do. "

The Professor leaned back against his chair, forming his fingers into a
steeple, thinking about Sam's suggestion.  He finally commented, "I agree,
Sam.  For now I see no alternative." He looked back at Sam and added, "Any
other comments?"

Sam thought for a second and added, "Ah think that right now, she's scared.
That much was obvious from the visit Jean and Ah had with her.  It would do
her incredibly good to come here."

The Professor responded, "Just about every mutant experiences that kind of
response when it comes to their powers surfacing."  He then pointed at Jean
and said, "More than anyone else, you know what she is going through.  Until
she learns to build her shields up and they are strong enough, contact
between her and the other X-men should be limited."
"I'll go along with that Professor."

The Professor then looked at Scott and said, "What do you think about
Melissa?"

Scott responded, "I got off the phone with Melissa just a little while ago.
She seems really shy.  She also said that she would like to attend the
Institute."

The Professor, pointing at both Jean and Scott, inquired, "Will you both
make all the necessary arrangements for getting Melissa and bringing her
here?"

"Yes, Professor," they answered in unison.

"If there is nothing else then you are all free to leave."

The next day Scott made some of the necessary arrangements, while Jean
called Melissa. Mrs. Evans answered the telephone and handed it to Melissa.
Melissa took it and said, "Hello?"

Jean cheerfully responded, "Melissa? Hello, this is Jean Grey-Summers.  How
are you doing?"

Melissa returned, "I'm doing all right."

Jean remarked, "Good, we've made some arrangements and wanted to make sure
you were all right with them.  We are going to fly to your farm in our
private jet.  Do you have a clearing large enough that we could land on it?"

Melissa thought for a second and said, "Yeah, we have an acre-large clearing
to the south of the house. It should be large enough for you to land on."

Jean responded, "That will do."  She then told Melissa about the rest of the
arrangements, and Melissa said they sounded okay.

The next afternoon around 2:00 with her bags all packed, Melissa sat in the
living room.  She sat staring at the wooden clock on the wall when she heard
a loud rustling sound.  She ran to the kitchen to look out the back door at
the Blackbird. "My God, look at the size of that thing."

A few minutes later, Jean and Scott were standing at the back door.  Jean
greeted Melissa and her mother while Scott introduced himself and offered to
take Melissa's luggage onto the Blackbird. Finally, Jean asked, "Are you all
ready?"

"Yeah, I guess." Melissa then turned around to her mother.  "Bye, mom.  I
love you.  Tell Mike and Lindsay I love them too." She said while hugging
her.

"Bye, Melissa.  I love you too, and I'll be sure to tell them, "Mrs. Evans
said returning Melissa's hug.  Melissa turned back around to Jean and Scott.
"All right, now I am ready."

They boarded the Blackbird.  A few minutes after takeoff, Jean was seated
in the cockpit with her husband.  She heard a low, almost whimper-like sound
coming from the back.

"Melissa?" Jean said turning around, filled with concern. "What's wrong?"

Melissa, who was wound up in a tight ball, screamed "SO many voices . . .
won't stop."

"Blast it!" exclaimed Scott.  "We should have recognized  the possibility
that Melissa could perceive people's thoughts 20,000 feet in the air!" Scott
brought the steering wheel down. "I'll raise the plane to a safer distance."

"It's all right Scott," responded Jean, reaching over, grabbing, and then
gently squeezing her husband's hand.

Scott shook his head, looked at his wife, and through their bond, knew Jean
had placed a soporific, telepathic suggestion in Melissa's mind.  Jean
turned around to see the suggestion already have taken effect.

A few hours later, they arrived back at the mansion.  They gently removed an
unconscious Melissa and put her on the bed in the room with the
psi-dampening field.   The Professor asked, "Jean, will you please sleep on
the cot in Melissa's room.  I think it would be best that she wakes up to a
familiar face."

"Sure, Professor," Jean responded.

"The only other person that she is familiar with here is Sam.  It would not
be appropriate to ask him to sleep on the cot since he is a male," the
Professor commented.

Jean chuckled and added, "That and I don't think Dana would be too thrilled
about it either!  Well, it is getting late so I am going to go ahead and go
to bed.  Good night, Professor."

"Good night, Jean. I will be back in the morning to check on Melissa."