Ororo Munroe sighed as she watched the retreating back of the young girl. She hated having to ask Rogue to leave like that, but it was the simple truth. Ever since Hank had been assigned as ambassador to the United Nations, mutant acceptance had risen considerably, and parents around the nation had begun sending their children to the one school that would nurture and help them with their powers. They were quickly running out of room.
Still, she couldn't completely turn her back on the girl, even if, metaphorically and literally, Rogue had done that to her. She'd slipped her phone number into the girls suitcase, still packed from her short trip to the capitol. She'd rented an apartment for the girl, and provided for the first month of rent. If Rogue couldn't make it on her own, she'd have that to fall back on.
"You're just gonna let her go?"
Ororo sighed. The roaring voice wasn't hard to recognize. She didn't even bother to turn around, just shifted to the right a little to play with some of the potted flowers on one of the many stands that dotted the corridor.
"We don't have room for her here, Logan, you know that as well as I."
"But that kid doesn't have anything," he protested. "We gotta help her."
Ororo took a deep breath, and finally turned around. She searched her friend's face for a moment, trying to make sure he was calm and at least somewhat recovered from the events at Azkaban.
"I found her an apartment," she said. "And paid for a month of rent. There's nothing more we can do for her, Logan. She has to find her way in their world now."
He growled angrily, another reminder that he wasn't just a big hairy doof, but Wolverine. He raked a hand through his thick hair, frustrated.
"I think I'm gonna follow her for a bit," he said. "Just a day or two. Make sure she don't get in any trouble."
Ororo smiled. It was good to see him trying to do something productive for once, other than apparently trying to kill himself in the Danger Room.
"I think that sounds like an excellent idea," she agreed, and accompanied him as he headed down the staircase. He turned, apparently to give some kind of instructions, when the heavy front door suddenly flew open and Rogue walked in, dragging something behind him.
"Y'all want to give me some help with this?" she asked. Ororo and Logan glanced at each other worriedly, before walking forward to see what she had.
Ororo gasped as she looked down. It appeared to be some kind of a man, though his face was hidden by long brown hair, and his clothes were an assortment of dirty rags. To all appearances, he looked like some kind of hobo.
"Look, kid," Logan said uncomfortably. "You know we don't take in strays around here."
Rogue rolled her eyes. "I may have opted to give up my powers," she said, "but that doesn't mean I turned stupid. Look, hand me something you don't want."
"What do you mean?" Ororo asked. Rogue spotted another vase of potted flowers.
"Never mind," she said, dropping her grasp on the strange man and reaching out toward the flowers. A moment later the vase glowed golden, and then abruptly exploded. Ororo and Logan turned to stare at her in amazement.
"The vaccine didn't work," Rogue said. "I'm a mutant again."
"Welcome back," Ororo said, surprised. Rogue gestured toward the man on the floor. Logan instantly leaned down and hauled the man up, throwing him over his shoulders.
For a moment Ororo considered asking Rogue what had happened, but then bit back the question. The girl had always been sensitive about her powers; and the answer to the unasked question seemed fairly obvious. She must have met the man in the forest, and for one reason or another had physically touched him.
The professor only hoped that it had been a brief touch. Either way, there was nothing to be done for the man but find him a comfortable place to rest and recover. She followed Logan as he led the way to the infirmary, and Rogue followed close on her heels, head bowed in shame.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" she asked finally, as Logan deposited the man on a table. Ororo smiled at Rogue for a moment, before going to inspect the stranger.
"There's no way to know," she said as kindly as possible. She walked up to the man, and carefully brushed auburn hair away from his face. And there she froze, staring at him in shock and horror.
Logan said something, but it was just a babble of words. It couldn't be. . .
But there was no doubt about it. Remy LeBeau was lying unconscious, as still as death. She gasped, trying to push horrible memories from her minds. Clapping a hand to her mouth, she fled from the room, unable to deal with it all.
Logan and Rogue stared at her in surprise as the usually composed woman fled.
"What was that about?" Rogue asked. Logan shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea himself. Rogue shrugged, and began to leave, presumably to return to her room. Logan struggled with himself for a moment; wanting to allow the girl her space, as well as wanting to know what was going on. Curiosity won out, unsurprisingly.
"Hey, kid," he said, clapping a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Wanna tell me what's going on with this guy?"
The man stirred, groaning a little as his eyes blinked open. Rogue glanced at him significantly.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" she asked, before walking out of the room. Logan sighed and turned back as the man struggled into consciousness. He hated being a babysitter.