/indicates song lyrics/

/Long white arms
Losing their strength and form/
 
 

In the med lab, a solitary figure lies in a bed he will never rise from. The figure is the once strong and virile Professor Charles Xavier. A man with a dream, a dream that he will not survive to see fulfilled. There is no hope that he will recover. No hope because he had suffered a severe stroke and only the machines he is hooked up to keep him alive.

A hulking man enters the sterile room and makes his way over to Charles bedside. "Hello my friend." The man says. "It is a most unhappy day today is it not." The man picks up Charles wrist and checks his pulse rate. He could have easily just looked to one of the machines Charles was hooked to, but he took comfort in doing it manually.

"I had hoped this day would never come. It is not an easy thing to say goodbye to ones friend and mentor. If only I had detected the blood clot then you would not have had the stroke. I will never be able to forgive myself for failing you in that way. Please forgive me." The man turns his face to the side and covers his eyes with a blue fur covered hand. Tears seep from under his tightly shuteyes to soak into the blue fur on his face. The man is Dr. Henry McCoy or Hank to his friends.

Hank turns back to look at Charles. "I will miss you my friend. May you find the peace in death that you never had in life." Hank turns then and exits the med lab, shoulders hunched in misery.
 

/Sixty year man on twenty year old skin/
 

The next visitor to enter is a tall black woman with long flowing white hair. Her name is Ororo Munroe also known as Storm. Death does not scare her, but the prospect of losing her long time friend does.

He has been the one constant in her ever-changing world. Losing him will be like losing a part of herself. She walks towards the bed; head held high, looking like the goddess, she was once worshiped as.

She stands by the bed and looks upon the man who was the center of her universe for so long. He looks peaceful lying there she decides, like he has just lain down for a nap. Of course, she knows he will never open his eyes again, but it is oddly comforting to think he is just taking a very long nap.

Reaching over she strokes his cheek, his skin is so soft, and no wrinkles mar its perfection. "Oh Charles, I do not wish to let you go. You are my world, my heart, and my very reason for living. I have loved you all these years in silence and now I will never know if you loved me in the same way." Tears cloud her eyes. "How will I go on without you? Why must you die? It does not make sense. You are needed here." Her voice cracks as her regal composure crumbles. "I will love you forever Charles, do you hear me, forever." The last is uttered on a hushed whisper as she rushes from the room.
 

/Skeleton, your eyes have lost their warmth
Look to your father for some support/
 

Hushed voices can be heard from the other side of the door moments later, as three young women pause outside the med lab door. "Dude we like have to go in and say our goodbyes and shit. It would be way harsh if we didn't ya know." The cracking of gum punctuates the Asian girl Jubilation Lee's comment.

"Ah'm not saying we shouldn't go in Jubes. Ah'm just saying it feels strange ta say goodbye ta him. Ah've never had to say goodbye for good ta someone before." The young Southern girl Rogue says.

"We're doing this together Rogue. Out of the three of use only Jubes has ever lost someone." Said the tall girl known as Kitty. "I wouldn't be able to say goodbye alone. So don't you wimp out on me now."

The three girls looked at one another then and linked hands before going inside. Walking over they made a semi-circle around Charles bed. "Hey Prof. man. Ain't no easy way to say this dude so I'm not gonna get all mushy and say a bunch'a crap. I just want ta say that I'm real grateful ya took me in and taught me ta control my powers. Ain't no one else woulda done that and I just wanted ta thank-ya since I never did before. And I guess I have ta say goodbye now too. So, like be happy with the Angels." Anyone who didn't know her wouldn't have seen how much that little speech had cost the brash young woman, but her friends did.

"Ah want ta thank-ya also fer taking me in. Ya taught me how ta handle all the people in my head and Ah thank-ya fer that. Ya helped me see that there is a future fer me. Ah just wish ya could still be a part of that future." Rogue bit her lip to keep from crying out loud, as she spoke that last sentiment.

Kitty was crying openly by this time and had to clear her tear choked throat before she could speak. "My parents sent me here to learn control, but you helped me with more than my control. You helped a shy young girl to become a strong young woman. I have no adequate words to thank-you for that. You will always be in my thoughts." By the time Kitty was finished talking all three of the girls were crying uncontrollably. Wrapping their arms around each other, they all left the room.
 

/Hush, hush, hush
Says your daddy's touch
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Says the hundredth sheep
Peace, peace, peace
May you go in peace/
 

A stealthy shadowed figure steps through the door after the three young girls have left. Walking towards the bed the light illuminates a young Cajun man named Remy LeBeau, although he prefers to be called Gambit.

The young mans eyes were red and glowing, but they were also puffy from the tears he had shed earlier. "Gambit come ta say goodbye mon aime. Don' wan' ta be sayin' no goodbyes, but dis thief knows ya don' always be gettin' what ya wan'. It be hard fer me 'for I come here. Ya take dis thief in an' teach him ta be respectable. Gambit no forget dat. Ya tell dem Angels Gambit say ta take good care o' ya." The young thief bowed his head in a show of respect and then exited the room as stealthily as he had come in.
 

/Cruel joke you waited so long to show
The one you wanted wasn't a girl/
 

Click clacking footsteps echo outside the med lab door heralding the arrival of Dr. Jean Grey. Pushing the door inward she pauses to compose herself before walking towards Charles bed. "I am here Charles. I would have come earlier, but I was waiting for Scott. He doesn't seem to be around anywhere though, so I decided to go ahead and come down and say my goodbyes." She knew she was babbling, but she could not seem to control herself.

"It will not be the same without you here Charles. It will be hard to go on without you here to lead us. Scott, I know will try to fulfill your dream, but without your guidance, I fear it will not be realized. It is not that I do not think Scott is strong or wise enough to make your dream a reality. It is just that without you here I do not think the rest of the team will want to follow your dream. Scott, of course, will continue to keep your dream alive and so will I, but we are only two people. We can not do it alone." She had to stop then and clear her throat.

"This is not why I came down here. I do not wish to burden your mind with my worries. I came here to say my goodbyes. I wish I did not have to say goodbye, but I do. So, goodbye my friend. You were like a second father to me. I will never forget your warmth and generosity. Sleep well." Leaning down she placed a kiss on the top of his smooth head. Turning away, she finally allowed the tears she had been holding back to fall. She kept her shoulders straight as she left, but once outside she let them shake with the silent sobs that were raking her slim form.
 

/All your life you kept it hidden inside
Now when you step
You stumble
You die/
 

A quartet of young men came to pay their respects next. A tall Russian boy Peter Rasputin, a slim German boy with a tail Kurt Wagner, a flame haired boy St.John Allerdyce and a wise cracking boy Robert Drake, better known as Bobby.

They circled Charles bed like the three young girls had earlier. "Uhm..Hi Professor. We all just came to say goodbye. I've never done this before so you'll have ta excuse me if I mess it up. All I want to say is that knowing you has been a pleasure and I really admire you and your teachings. It won't be the same around here without you to frown at me and say how disappointed you are at me when I pull a prank. I know you get a kick out of my foolishness. I'm glad I could bring some laughter into your world." Reaching over he grasped Charles hand and shook it. "I won't forget what you've taught me." Bobby stood back and let Peter take his place.

"I have much respect for you Mr. Xavier. Without your school, I would have no place to live. Go in peace comrade." Peter moved his bulky frame so the smaller boy Kurt could have his turn.

"You are a wise man Professor and you took me in even though I look the way I do. You took a chance on this humble boy and I will pray that God gives you a place at his side to advise him. Auf wiedersehen mein gelehrter freund*."

St. John went last. "Out of all of these guys I think I was the one who benefited most from your help. When I came here, I couldn't control my power at all. If you hadn't of took me in and helped me then I would have most likely hurt someone or possibly killed them. Now there will be no way for me to pay you back for helping me. The only thing I can do is continue to fight the good fight in your honor. Know that I will never be able to repay my debt to you, but it won't keep me from trying my best to make you proud."

The four boys all shook Charles hand, then turned and left. They did not cry in front of each other, but once they had all reached their respective rooms they all grieved privately.
 

/Hush, hush, hush
Says your daddy's touch
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Says the hundredth sheep
Peace, peace, peace
May you go in peace/
 

An unusually reserved Wolverine also known as Logan came through the door next. It had cost him a great deal to come down here. He didn't like the med lab it reminded him too much of the horrible things that had been done to him, but out of respect for his dying friend he had forced himself to come down here.

The smell of sickness permeated the air even over the usual smells of disinfectant and antiseptic. It made Logan's nostrils twitch in dread. Fate was a cruel mistress Logan mused as he looked at the man who lay dying.

Such hope and optimism Chuck had had and yet he would never live to see his hopes and dreams realized. It was cruel, but true. Logan forced himself closer to the man until he stood over him. Looking down upon the comatose man Logan could hardly believe this was the same man who had talked him into joining his X-men four years earlier.

The man lying there in the hospital bed was a withered shell. He was not the same vibrant man that he had first met. "Hey Chuck ya look like shit bub. People probably been telling ya different, but ya know I ain't one to pretty things up. I almost didn't come down here, ya know how it is fer me. But then I got ta thinking bout all ya done fer me. Ya know trying ta help me find my past and all. And not laughing or telling me it was wrong, when I told ya how I felt about Marie. Too bad ya ain't gonna be around ta see us get married. Kinda wish I'd popped the question earlier. I know she would have wanted ya ta be the one ta walk her down the isle. Or wheel I should say." He chuckled a bit at that.

"Now one eye is probably gonna be the one doing that. Fuck, man. I ain't no good with words. I don't know what ta say. I don't remember ever losing anyone I cared about before. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I once told Marie that you were a kind and truthful kinda guy and I still believe that. I ain't gonna cry fer ya, but I'll grieve fer ya in my own way. I know yer going ta a better place and all so, I guess all I gotta say is bye." He squeezed the older mans ankle and then left.
 

/Oh maybe next time, you'll be Henry the VIII
Wake up tomorrow, Alexander the Great/
 

One last visitor enters the room some time later. The man is Scott Summers and he is Charles most successful student. Scott hurries over to Charles bedside and picks up his hand. "I know I'm late, but there's a good reason for that. I brought you a special visitor Charles. It took me all week to track him down and most of today to convince him I wasn't just trying to take him back to prison." Scott turned then and motioned to the figure standing at the threshold of the door to come in.

The man was tall and white haired, although like Charles he didn't look his age. "Hello Charles. It is good to see you again even if it is under such sad circumstances." Scott stood back, watched for a moment as Eric Lensherr pulled up a chair, and sat down, placing his hand gently over Charles own. He left the two men alone then. Going down the hall a ways to give Eric some privacy.

"Old friend it is hard to believe that you will be the first to die. I always thought that it would be me. Yet, here you lie before me at deaths door. If only I had been here perhaps, I could have prevented the blood clot from reaching your brain. However, it is useless to think of the could haves. I am here now and that is all that matters. I cannot stay long though. I am a hunted man as you know." Eric smiled sadly. "If only we were not two such stubborn old men we could have come to an understanding. Maybe if we both would have tried harder to see the others point of view.... Oh, here I go with the if onlys and maybes. I am prone to rambling in my old age so you will have to forgive me."

He laughed then. "Ah, yes, forgiveness. You were always so quick to forgive Charles. I only wish I could have been half the man you were. You never gave up on me even when I had given up on you. You were the true friend and I was just a bastard. How could you have loved me Charles? I hated you so for making me feel like an uncaring fool. But still I love you old friend." Looking at the clock Eric was surprised to see how much time had gone by. "I must leave you now Charles. Find your peace in Deaths embrace my friend." Turning he looked at the young man in the red glasses. "I will go now. Will you stay with him?"

Scott nodded. And without another word, Eric left. He did not look back. His heart broke, but he did not look back.
 

/Open your eyes in a new life again
Oh maybe next time, you'll be given a chance/
 

"It's just you and me now Charles. And it's my turn to say my goodbyes. I will carry on your dream, you know that. I will not forget you either, you know that also. I'm going to try and keep the team together, although I don't know how I'm going to do that yet." Pausing he rubbed his aching temples. "It's not fair that you're dying. I'm not really ready to take over yet. How am I going to lead without your help? I know it won't help me to doubt myself, but you've always been there to help me with the really tough decisions. Now whom will I turn to?"

"I know what you'd say if you could. You'd say that I am strong and that you picked me to be the leader for a reason. I know that, but I still have my doubts." Scott sighed. "It does no good to sit here and ask stupid questions. I'm just wasting time. Time I could be saying goodbye."

"I told you once that I would take care of them and I will. I will be strong for the others. I will be the leader you have tried to mold me into. I will follow your teachings and try to teach the students the same. I will do this because I must, but it does not mean that I will miss you any less. It doesn't mean I do not curse the heavens for taking you away so soon. I don't want you to go. I want to keep you here with us. Is that selfish? I know it is. Where you're going there is no pain or suffering and you deserve to rest."

"You were the father to me that my own didn't have a chance to be. You were my mentor, my friend, and my confidant. I will miss you more than words can express. I love you Charles. I'm not afraid to say that. Be happy where you're going. Be at peace. Be free." Scott sat in silence with Charles then and as the first rays of sunlight came over the horizon, he watched as the heart monitor flat lined. Getting up Scott turned the machine off. Turning back around he sat down and waited for Hank and Jean to arrive. Nothing would ever be the same now. However, he had to be strong for the others.
 

/Hush, hush, hush,
hush, hush, hush,
hush, hush, hush,
hush, hush, hush
hush/

*Auf wiedersehen mein gelehrter freund- is German for goodbye my learned friend.  At least I think it is. <G> I got this translation from a friend who took German in High School. Please excuse me if it is wrong.