Sarah approached Cat hesitantly as she came down the stairs, back into the dojo. Sarah nodded to one side. She wanted to go into the corner to talk. "Bart told me what you did for Red. That'll be a lot off 'is mind, not havin' to think about his childhood anymore." "Did Bart tell you I made Red forget about his childhood?" Cat looked perplexed. "Well, he said you made him forget about Darius. I thought...." Cat laughed abruptly. "You, of all people should know Darius was not the sum total of Red's childhood, Sarah. Red's fixation with Darius had somewhat to do with his childhood, but it was really more about discovering the rotten sod was still alive and carrying on Red's foster-parents' work. Let me ask you this: Was Red obsessed with getting Darius before that night in the forest when he learned from the mutant that Darius and this Paphos woman were the ones that did that to him? That Darius was here and alive?" Sarah shook her head slowly. "Not that I remember. He barely ever mentioned him before...except the couple of times he told me about the incidents involving him." Cat's meaning was starting to sink in now. "That's a nice dress you've got on, Sarah," Cat remarked, leaning up against the support pillar now. "Huh?" "What if I were to take a pair of scissors to it and cut a big hole in it?" "Excuse me?" Sarah didn't know whether or not Cat was serious, but then Cat smiled. "It wouldn't be the same dress would it? If I'd wiped Red's memory clean of his childhood ...cut a big hole in it - and I could - he wouldn't be the same person, would he? Underneath all the bravado and sometimes boorish behavior, he's a very compassionate soul. He's that way because of what happened to him. In a situation like his, people either imitate it, or they turn 180 degrees away from it. Part of the reason Red got nabbed in KC was because he made it a habit to go and visit an old woman he'd met and take her food...check up on her. They knew right where he'd be and when, when they picked him up. True?" "Yeah," Sarah nodded, "that's true. He really is a good person. I'm sorry. I guess I totally misunderstood...." Cat waved it off. "Very few people understand what I do." Cat draped her arm over Sarah's shoulders and turned her toward the others. "But I have to say, that it was nice to help someone for once, instead of the usual. You weren't going to ask me if I could do that for you, were you?" Sarah's cheeks colored as she glanced over at Red. "Heh...uh, yeah. I was. Are you psychic too?" "No, Sarah I'm not psychic - just good at stringing things together. Tell me, what made you two bond together in the first place?" Cat saw Sarah's look returned. It was like they had 'radar' for each other. What was that like, Cat wondered as Sarah answered her. She was one of those women men were afraid of, but she wasn't going to change any time soon. "Our rotten childhoods. His was way worse than mine, but he knew I understood and I'd listen. Guess if we didn't have that, maybe we wouldn't be together. I don't know," she smiled, shrugging. "All I know is, I love 'im. You know all about all of us, don't you?" "Do you really think we'd invite you home with us, if we didn't?" They'd come up to Clay, Cherry and Mr. Xavier now. Red was talking to Mr. X. The recalcitrant, angry young man was gone now. Cat's father winked at her. "It seems everyone is agreed now to leave. I think that's splendid news, don't you Cat?" She nodded. "It is father. It's great news. You haven't explained to them how they're leaving yet though, have you?" Xavier pulled at his chin. "Mmmm, no. I suppose I should, shouldn't I?" ***** Well, it's either something deviously clever or a techno-marvel, knowing Mr. X! Thanks for dropping by dear friends! Your comments and faves are much appreciated - always! Live it up, it's the Thursday before Doomsday!! Cheers, Ray Characters are: SRG_Catriona and SRG_Saranta