A New Threat

chapter 5:  The Calling
"Hey! Guess who!" Hank said as he walked in.

Marie stood up and screamed with excitement.

"Oh, my God! Hi! How'd you get in here without a scene?"

"I have my secrets," he replied with a wink. Where's Danielle?

Marie looked around not immediately spotting her.

"Storm, have you seen Danielle?"

Storm shook her head no.

"Jean, is Danielle around?" Storm asked.

Jean reached out telepathically and after several long minutes finally connected with Danielle. Danielle halted her pursuit of the odd scent reluctantly opting to jog back to her friends. She jumped up onto the stage passing by Jean.

"You ok?" Jean asked.

"Yeah, fine. What's up?"

"Marie's looking for you," Storm said.

Danielle turned around seeing her visitor.

"Hank!"

She ran over to him and they hugged.

"I brought the wife and kid with me."

"Where are they?"

"Out front getting a good spot to watch the show."

"Cool. Make sure you bring them up here afterwards. I want to meet Sara and personally thank her for the drawing."

"Where's your other half?"

"Home with our daughter. He should be along shortly."

"Danielle, Logan just phoned. He's on his way. Jean Marie was misbehaving," Storm said.

"OK, thanks," Danielle replied.

"Misbehaving. That's unlike her."

"Aw, don't worry. All kids go through it," Hank said.

Danielle felt a little queasy and sat down.

~Come to me. Find me. I need you.~ a voice in her head says.

Danielle holds her head trying to shake it off.

"Whoa, hey girl, you alright?" Hank asked.

Her mind cleared and she looked to her friends.

"I'm so nervous. This is the biggest show ever for me."

"Aw, it's nothing. Just try to imagine everyone naked."

"Hank, don't go there."

"Why? Bad image?"

"No. Could be a good one – imagining someone I know naked," she replied with a wink.

She started to get up and then her legs went out again. Her face flushed and her mind was swimming again.

~ I want you. I need you. Come be with me.~

"Jeez, girl. This is more than nerves."

Storm joined them seeing Danielle in obvious distress.

"Do you want me to get Jean? She's down there with Scott and the kids." Storm asked.

"No. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? Yer turning green," Hank stated while Storm handed her a bottle of water.

The voice subsided again.

"Look, I don't mean to be blunt, but are you..." he trailed off.

Danielle looked into his eyes. She hadn't told anyone of her expecting another baby and now told herself her changing hormones must be making her hear voices.

"Um, yer acting like Darleen did when we found out Sara was on the way."

Danielle perked up sensing Logan's presence. He peeked through the drawn curtain.

"Logan!" Danielle said with great enthusiasm.

Jean Marie peeked through the curtain mimicking her father.

"Mama!" the child shouted and ran to her mother giving her a hug.

Logan walked over slowly stopping just in front of Danielle and JM. She looked up to him, stood and introduced JM to Hank, who graciously took the child into his arms. Danielle faced Logan again. Logan wrapped his arms around her holding her close and then kissing her.
Danielle's hormone filled scent filled his nostrils. He pulled back and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Ya got something ta tell me."

"Ya already know."

"Yeah, I know. I sensed it for a few weeks now."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

Danielle hugged Logan again. Hank smiled seeing the hidden joy in the couple's sharing of expecting another child.

"I gotta go onstage. It's time."

"Bullshit that I am gonna let you do this show."

"Logan, don't start with me," Danielle said with a stronger tone of voice.

"Danielle," Logan retorted strongly.

She raised her finger to his lips hushing him and then proceeded out on stage. Several moments passed and the cheer of a large crowd was heard as dusk fell and Central Park was lit with assorted colors and the air filled with the sounds of a long whine from single electric
guitar.

"Spirited woman," Hank said.

Logan took his daughter from Hank.

"Got yerself a fantastic gal there. We both do," Hank added.

"She's too headstrong."

"Aw, she's just dedicated."

Logan cocked his head and glared at Hank. Logan couldn't deny Danielle's dedication.

"Friends?" Hank questioned.

"Yeah, friends," Logan answered and the two men shook hands.


Logan hoisted his daughter up onto his shoulders so she could see the show from offstage. Danielle, despite Logan's warning and her delicate condition, was determined to put on a show unlike anything she ever did before.

There were times during the show that Danielle felt she was being scrutinized. She sensed a strong presence unlike anything she ever experienced before. Danielle tried to shake off the feeling telling herself it was just nerves – a frightening feeling of playing on stage in front a crowd that had to be numbering close to two thousand people.

The band did several numbers before she introduced Hank. He walked out and the crowd erupted with great enthusiasm. They sang several duets together – the highlight being Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing". The crowd roared loving this heartfelt rendition. Danielle looked over to Logan and her daughter. She could see him mouthing, "I love you" to her.

After the song, the crowd applauded loudly and Danielle called Logan to come out from the sideline. He tried to refuse but Danielle's insistence brought him forward. They hugged tightly as Jean Marie clutched onto Danielle's leg. Hank brought Darleen and Sara out and the
entire group hugged each other.

"How `bout one last tune?" Danielle asked.

"OK – how's Time Warp fit ya?"

Danielle turned to the band and with a guitar riff, they got the entire crowd into `doing the Time Warp'.

Everyone returned to the mansion high with excitement. The concert was a smash raising in excess of $100,000 and the next day would be a party with several dignitaries wishing to visit the school and make investments into it. Xavier congratulated Danielle and Hank for a
job well done.

Danielle and Logan, carrying a sleeping JM in his arms, escorted Hank and his family outside to the front porch.

"I can't thank you enough for donating time out of your incredibly busy schedule to do this for us," Danielle said.

"It was my pleasure. Now, I must demand that should you ever venture 'over the pond' that you let me know."

"Yer on. Thanks again and have a safe trip home," Danielle said.

Logan shook hands again with Hank and the women hugged goodbye. Then, they parted ways as the Jackson family entered the limo and were driven away.


Kurt sat in church again – the very church where the homeless man died on the floor. The priest walked out from behind the altar and approached Kurt.

"You are troubled by something, my son."

"Evil – there is a great evil nearby," Kurt said.

"Tell me, my son."

"I don't know. I feel like something – some creature – is preying on mankind."

The priest felt a shiver run up his spine.

Kurt walked over to the statue of the Arch Angel Gabriel. He crossed himself before kneeling in prayer.

"I pray to Gabriel to save us from this evil."

The priest left Kurt to his privacy opting to leave to make a phone call to Rome.

"Connect me to the Vatican. Yes, this is of utmost importance."