Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Next chapter! Ok ok I know that Rogue doesn't say much, but the story will be picking up speed quickly. Enjoy!

Westchester hadn't changed at all. The grounds looked the same as when Logan left. The summer sun still beat down on the ridiculously green grass. The summer sun lured the children of Xavier's school out onto the field and into the pool. Sitting outside the main entrance were Jubilee and Kitty talking quietly. They each gave Logan a pleading look before getting up and walking around the side of the school. He looked around secretly hoping to see Rogue wandering the grounds with the rest of the school, but knew that she wouldn't be there.

How desperate were the Professor and Ororo to come to him for help? Was there no one else that could get through to Marie? He did want to help her. As much as he hated to admit it, if Marie had ever asked him for help he'd bend over backward for her. Part of him was furious with the Professor for even insinuating that she had something to do with Drake's death. Everyone who ever met Rogue would know that she didn't have a vindictive bone in her body. Well, until she had Magneto and himself in her head. There was no reason for her to kill Bobby. They were happy together the last time he saw them, hadn't they? Well it was three years ago. A lot can change in three years.

A lot did change since the last time he had seen her. When Logan entered the school he dropped his bag and went immediately to see Marie. He was hoping for the best. Ororo had tried to explain that Rogue wouldn't talk to anyone, but he assumed that she just meant conversing about the accident. When he got to her room, Marie wasn't speaking at all.

She sat alone in her room, with her knees tucked up to her chin. Her face was pale and she was far too thin. She wasn't the kid he left behind, but she still wasn't a woman. She appeared like a ghost to herself. It was like all the life had gone out of her, and she was now left the shell of the person she once was.

"Hey kid."

Marie slowly raised her head to look at him, but there was no response. Logan hoped for the slightest hint of a smile, some clue that she wanted to see him, but there was nothing. He had never seen her face so expressionless.

Logan sat down in front of her. A quick glance around the room proved what he originally thought. She hadn't eaten in days. "How you doing?" He realized how stupid that question sounded right after he asked. "Do you want to talk to me?"

Marie's only response was to turn and lean her head against the wall. She closed her eyes and let her hair fall across her face. She bore almost no resemblance to the girl he left three years ago. Logan was immediately overcome with guilt. If he hadn't left would any of this have happened? He had always promised to protect her and he failed. She was the only person left who really cared about him. At least he thought so.

"I'll tell you what kid. If you need me, you know how to find me." She knew where he lived when he was at Westchester. The grounds were not that big and his room wasn't far away.

Logan stood up and walked slowly to the door. He was inwardly hoping for any sign she had understood him. Just one response… He reached for the doorknob and there it was. Ever so softly he heard her speak. "Bye Logan."

Logan turned to look at her, but she hadn't moved. "Bye Marie"

Storm was standing outside the door and immediately bombarded Logan with questions.

"Did you find anything out?"

"No." Logan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cigar, which he proceeded to light.

"How did she look?"

"Like shit. You should know. You've seen her."

Ororo moved in front of him to meet his gaze. "Look, Logan, she's clearly been through a lot and I'm just trying to find out what happened. It's very likely that she had something to do with Bobby's death. We need to know everything."

"Look, Storm." He paused. Clearly, he was very annoyed that she would even hint that Rogue. He took a long drag at his cigar and Ororo wondered how he didn't choke. "She would never have purposely done anything to that boy. I don't know what's going on. I don't even know how I can help." Logan conveniently left out that he was internally ripping himself to shreds for leaving Marie.

"Can you just continue to talk to her?" She was grasping at straws and was practically pleading with him.

"I'm no shrink. And I-"

"But I am." Logan quickly turned to hear who cut him off. Walking down the hall was a tall, and he carefully noted, attractive blonde.

"I'm Dr. Lauren." She held out her hand and he shook it. She tried not to wince at his grip.

He arched his eyebrow. "Lauren?" He internally kicked himself. 'You ass you're flirting' Go with it bub.

"Actually, my last name is Lauren. My first name is Melanie. I'm um the resident counselor at Xavier's school now."

"Ok. I'm-"

"Logan. I know. I asked for Charles to find you when we weren't making progress with Rogue after a few weeks."

"A few weeks? How long has she been like this?" Logan made the transformation from flirty to furious in what seemed like a fraction of a second.

"Well the accident happened a month ago, and she was speaking at first but she quickly fell into the state you just saw her in." Dr. Lauren was quickly becoming uncomfortable with Logan's attitude.

"Yeah whatever. Anyone going to tell me what happened that day Drake died or am I going to have to guess?" Another drag on the cigar. Beer. He needed beer.

The two women walked with him toward the media room. Storm spoke quietly as if she was afraid of all the students overhearing. Logan wondered how many people were affected by what happened. "We don't even know what happened that night. We all woke up to Rogue screaming 'He's dead.' She wouldn't stop screaming and crying. All we could get out of her was 'He's dead and it's all my fault.' Those were the last words she has spoken to anyone."

"Until today." Storm and Melanie just stared at him.

"What do you mean until today? She spoke to you?"

Logan suddenly became bored with the conversation. He needed a drink and he couldn't remember the last time he slept. "Can we talk about this later? Yeah, thanks." He walked out of the room.

After stopping to pick up his bag he went up to his old room. It hadn't changed since he left. He dropped his things and went to collapse on top of his bed. It wasn't until then that he noticed a figure sleeping face down on his comforter. A strangely familiar figure with chestnut and silver hair…