AN: I don't own the X-Men, as much as I hope and dream I could.
AN2: This is an edited update. I felt that I could make it better, so I pulled an all-nighter and produce this. Original upload - June 6th, 2015. Edited update - August 14th, 2015.
AN3: Should I do another chapter showing Rogue's funeral?
Panic. It was the dominant emotion that raged through her body. Panic over the oncoming wall of water - Rogue was sure that death was iminent, Death's cold fingers ready to pluck out her soul.
Turning back to the chaos, Rogue watched helplessly. Cyclops and Storm were trying to pilot the Blackbird, whilst Wolverine and Nightcrawler secured the rescued mutants into seats. And Jean stood motionless at the side of the cockpit. Why isn't she doing anything?! Rogue thought.
The red-head backed away from the controls, a look of determination set on her face. Her space immediately filled by Cyclops. Back rigid, Jean limped towards the bay-doors. Rogue realised what was happening. Jean's going to lift the jet and die, Rogue thought, why does it have to be her?
Since arriving at the Xavier Mansion, Rogue felt more connected to people. Yet, she still felt useless - compared to the X-Men, she was just a leeching parasite. Extreme scenarios had played over in her mind, each ending in the death of Jean Grey - her mutation useless to help.
A single scenario stuck in her mind. Her own sacrifice, she couldn't see the ending of her own scenario. Rogue thought of how many people loved Jean: Cyclops, Storm, Logan - the list went on. Rogue's own list consisted of no-one. No-one to miss her, mourn her, or ever truly love her. In that split second, she made her decision. Jean was an essential member of the X-Men, whilst she wasn't even a part of the team.
Sneakily, Rogue approached Jean. Slipping off a glove, she placed her hand on Jean's neck - the task made easier by the older woman's short hair. Jean never had the chance to fight back, as her powers were taken. She dropped like a stone. No-one noticed in the panic - the senior X-Men trying to get the Blackbird in the air; Bobby comforting Kitty. They look good together, Rogue thought. Now was her chance.
Summoning Jean's telekinesis, Rogue levitated to the shaking snow outside the jet. The bay-door closed behind her, preventing anyone from following her. Putting distance between herself and the Blackbird, Rogue controlled Jean's voice - to explain.
Inside the jet -
"Where's Rogue?" Kitty asked aloud, genuinely concerned for her missing friend. None of the adults heard her. Looking around, the petite brunette began searching for Jean - maybe she knew where Rogue was. Chaos broke loose.
Storm turned round to see Jean's limp body on the floor, the bay-door shut. She screamed, running to her friend's side. Jean's eyes snapped open, a milky film over the warm colour. The voice that came from her mouth was not her own - it was that of Rogue.
"Ah'm not useless anymore. Ah can help. Jean's more important to the team than Ah am. It's the only way..." The mantra repeated once more, before Jean regained control of her body - her eyes becoming green once again.
Wolverine was at a loss. Rogue was like a daughter; to hear her say that she wasn't important struck his heart. Desperation overtook him, he attempted to run to the bay-doors. Cyclops hurried to restrain him; slightly taken aback when the feral mutant collapsed broken in his arms, tears of a broken man in his eyes.
"Nightcrawler, get her!" Cyclops yelled. The teleporter concentrated for a few seconds before delivering the heartbreaking realisation - "she von't let me!" The professor's voice rang out in the chaos. "She is gone..."
Outside the Jet -
Rogue cut the connection with Jean, tears in her eyes. They don't need me, she repeated in her head as she tried to keep the tears at bay. Now she understood why her mother had claimed that 'goodbye' was the hardest word to say - it felt like a blow through the heart. In her mind's eye, she saw inpenetrable chaos. The reality of her decision sunk in - the realisation that she wouldn't be going back to the mansion, her home. The X-Men had become her family. People do crazy things when their family is in danger, right? Rogue reasoned with herself, focusing on remaining calm.
Reaching out, Rogue began lifting the Blackbird - the water racing towards her, like a stampede of wild horses. There will be others more important that need guidance, you can't linger on a lost cause, Professor, knowing that he could hear her - even if Jean couldn't. No verbal response came, only a feeling of understanding.
The crashing wall of water was practically on top of her, but she needed more time. Erecting a blockade, the water diverted the mutant and the Blackbird. Water sprayed at her, small debris scratched at her cheeks - but it wouldn't distract her. Rogue continued to raise the ship, re-align the wings and engine. A harsh reality sunk in - Rogue was really going to die. The heroine was going to die.
The sound of engines alerted her to the hardest word she could say. Now came that moment, the moment she had been preparing herself for - letting go. Rogue could feel her hold on Jean's powers waning. More water sprayed at her; a large rock hit her leg. There was no time for one last goodbye. There was only one thing Rogue could do. She had to let go.
So she did. Dark water crashed around her body. When some people die, their lives flash before their eyes. For Rogue, it was different - she thought of her regrets. She never got to thank the X-Men for everything they had done for her; would never see the smiling faces of her family again. Whilst Rogue proved that she wasn't as useless as she thought...she never felt that blow in her chest at that word, because she never got to say goodbye.