A/N: Hey everyone, welcome to my first ever X-Men fic! (: I just recently discovered the TV series and have been pretty excited about it...it was only a matter of time before I wrote a fic, eh?

X-Men and all the characters (c) Marvel, storyline (c) myself. Enjoy!

Desperate Measures

It was early March, and winter had begun to melt away across the landscape of Professor Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children. The frost coating of the early mornings gave way to fresh dewdrops sprinkling the lawn turned a pale green with new growth. The bits of snow lingering in the shaded peaks of the rooftops finally vanished, and trees, bushes, and flowers alike put forth shoots and buds. Birds which had flown south for the winter made themselves known again as their vibrant songs echoed sweetly in the steadily-warming air. Spring had sprung.

The students of the Xavier Institute had quickly taken notice of the warmer days and sun. Afternoons quickly filled with lively games of basketball or fast-paced swimming competitions in the large pond on the Institute's grounds. Many students moved their homework outside to soak up rays of sunlight and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

Rogue slipped into the bedroom she and Kitty Pryde shared, gazing absently out the open window as she dropped her backpack at the foot of her bed. The fabulous weather meant that her last period history class was becoming even more difficult than usual to concentrate on; she was happy to be home where she could at least enjoy the sun. She unzipped her backpack and fished out the novel she was supposed to be reading for English class, stopping at the window before she left the room.

There weren't any relays going on in the pond today, but the basketball court was occupied by a group of eight mutants playing four-on-four. A blonde boy leapt up to snatch the ball from the air, and Rogue recognized Sam. They're probably playing 'no-powers,' she mused. Else Sam's letting them win. The latter was highly unlikely.

She recognized some of her other teammates as well. Jean was studying under the shade of a budding oak tree with Scott lying on his back in the grass beside her. Rogue bit back the familiar bitterness rising in her throat at the sight of the two together. She quickly moved her gaze away from Scott and Jean, determinedly searching out her other friends.

There was Amara, or "Magma," with a ball for Rahne in her lupine form. Rahne watched the dark-haired mutant with total focus, her reddish tail stirring the grass around her. Amara suddenly flicked out her wrist and let the ball fly, sending Rahne bounding after it.

Kitty was half-heartedly reading the same novel as Rogue from a bench near the basketball court, though it was clear she was more interested in the game than the book. Professor Xavier was wheeling along the garden paths and chatting with Ororo on his left. Ororo, more commonly known as "Storm," was laughing, the normal lines of tension deep against her skin relaxed. Rogue felt a smile tug at her lips. She was happy to see Storm so relaxed. She deserved rest from her numerous responsibilities.

Logan was on a bench near Kitty's, absorbed in a newspaper article. He also looked calm, though "relaxed" was not the right word. Rogue didn't think she had ever seen Logan anywhere near relaxed.

Her eyes landed on her favorite place to sit: a large marble fountain surrounded by the rose garden. She was relieved to find it unoccupied and moved away from the window, heading outside at long last.

At the end of the hallway, the pad of approaching footsteps drew her attention to a corridor to the right. It was Kurt, walking towards his room. Rogue noted a slump in his body language and paused. He hadn't looked good at school today either, when she had seen him.

"Hey, Kurt," she called softly. He glanced up.

"Oh, hello, Rogue," he replied in his gentle accent, blinking slowly at her.

"What's wrong?" Rogue asked, confused by his lack of energy. From his wilting pointed ears to his forked tail dragging on the floor, Kurt looked exhausted.

"Nothing, really." He attempted to shake her questions with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Are you comin' outside?" Rogue tried a different approach.

Kurt shook his head. "Nein," he answered, lapsing into his native German. "I'm going to bed."

"Kurt, what's wrong with you?" Rogue had quickly lost patience with his weak answers. She was starting to worry about him, she realized. "You look like a limp noodle."

That at least drew a real smile from him, albeit a faint one. "I do feel like a limp noodle," he replied. "It's my allergies. I couldn't breathe well enough to sleep at all last night."

Rogue winced. "That's too bad. Are you feelin' any better?"

Kurt shrugged. "Some, I guess. The Professor gave me something that helps me to breathe better, and it also makes me sleepy. I'm going to try to get some rest before dinner."

"Ah hope you feel better," Rogue replied, beginning to descend the stairs. Kurt smiled as he entered his room and closed his door behind him.

I feel sorry for him, Rogue thought to herself as she stepped out onto the first floor. He really does look worn out.

"Rogue! Duck!" The second she exited the building she heard the shouted command and instantly obeyed, crouching low to the ground. At a school for mutants, when someone told you to duck, you ducked, and you ducked quickly. Rahne's ball whizzed overhead, set ablaze by Amara's powers, and landed in the pond with a cloud of steam. Rahne plunged into the water after it, her tongue lolling from her mouth.

Rogue straightened and brushed herself off, tucking her book under her arm as she continued towards her favored position by the fountain. As the teenage girl picked her way across the whitewashed cobblestone path, she couldn't help but smile. One of the sun's wandering rays gilded her cheek with warmth, and a gentle breeze made her hair whisper on her neck. By the time she got to the fountain, she was thoroughly content.

She hadn't had her book open for more than three minutes when a mind-call rang inside her head. X-Men, report to the Planning Room immediately! It was Professor Xavier, and his tone was urgent. Rogue sighed in frustration as she closed her book and got to her feet. All across the backyard, she saw her teammates drifting towards the Mansion. Evan reluctantly abandoned his game on the basketball court and walked in with Kitty and Logan. Jean and Scott gathered their study materials from under the tree. Storm and Professor X were nowhere to be found. Probably inside, Rogue reasoned. The Professor probably got an alert and went in to check it out. Hank would be inside as well, as would Kurt. Rogue wondered if Kurt would make it to the meeting. She doubted it; hopefully he was asleep by now.

A/N: Yay, chapter one! (: Chapter two is nearly finished, so keep your eyes peeled! Reviews are wonderful and welcomed.