Disclaimer: Not the owner….
A/N: Okay here's another chapter and well all of the reviewers gave the same vote for my last question so here's the newest Chapter to Watching. I do hope ya'll enjoy this. I really like writing this story.
The flight felt incredible long as we quickly flew across America's different terrains. Images soared past us quicker than I could process as the jet rocketed through the air. The rest of the admirable x-men sat quietly behind Logan and I as we directed the large aircraft.
I almost snorted at the reverse in roles when Logan started speaking out coordinates to me. I wouldn't in a million years imagine the wandering Wolverine leading a bunch of leather clad hero's on a rescue mission. I especially wouldn't have ever dreamed seeing me, the once quite and reserved Mississippian bring up the forefront of this crusade. The irony in it all was almost too unbearable.
"T.I. in fifteen minute, Rogue, go debrief the team while I find a suitable landing position," Logan commanded of me as I nodded in understanding. Immediately taking off my headset and removing the leather straps that had me latched to my seat.
I beckon for everyone to do the same as they followed me to the back center of this large plastic bird. In the center I start the holographic image inducer. Laying out the floor plans of the amazing Pyro's holding cell and all surrounding buildings and geographical images. Everyone gathered around and waited for my plan of action, even Storm has taken a backseat to this mission.
"Alright, this isn't going to be a cut and dry mission here. Shadowcat you're going to be our main gal in this one. Only because this is all about stealth, we don't need the government or the news getting any wind of this," I tell them seriously as I start to maneuver the holographic building so that I can show them the path that we will be taking.
"Shadowcat I want you to go in first and knock out all security systems and I also want you to download all information that they have on any mutant in the facility. Then once that is complete I want you to shut down the power, hundred to one Pyro is in a maximum security cell and probably has electricity lining the bars. However, the power going out all of a sudden is really suspicious, so Storm that's where you'll come in. I want you and Shadowcat to work together on this. Cat you tell Storm when you're about to shut down the power and Storm I want you to fry all generators. So were going to need you to start up a little shower ASAP," I pause to make sure they understand what I'm telling them. This has to be done exactly as I say or it won't work out properly.
"Then Shadow I want you to signal me, you and I will go and relieve this establishment of one of there finest criminals," I pause when I notice Bobby raise a questionable eyebrow at the idea of me rescuing Pyro.
"Yes Ice-man?" I ask him in sheer annoyance because we really don't have time for his childish antics.
"Do you really think it's a good idea for you to be going on this mission?" He asks me blatantly and I almost laugh at his stupidity.
"You really are a fool you know that?" I tell him as I continue on with my debriefing, never really fully answering his questions.
"Also while Storm creates her little rain storm I want Colossus and Wolverine to get rid of as many guards that are surrounding the premises as possible. That way when Shadowcat, Pyro and I are coming out we won't be hit with that much resistance once they get the back up generators going," I tell them as Logan tells me we will be landing on the north side, closest to the entrance with little cover.
"Storm you better start while the rest of us get prepped for the landing," I tell her as I move towards the front once more, only to be stopped by Bobby.
"Wait, what am I supposed to do?" He asked me with the innocents he still excluded.
"Well seeing as this is a stealth mission and you have no specialties in stealth, you're going to be watching the jet," I tell him with a smile as I sit next to Logan to help him land the Blackbird.
"But that's a kid's job! Everyone else gets to do something cool, why not me too?" He whines to me as I nearly chop his head off at the stupidity in his behavior.
"Someone's life shouldn't be considered by what's cool or what is not Robert Drake! Beast is going to need help once we get John back here; we have no idea what kind of condition he will be in once we find him. We will also need someone at the helm to start the fucking jet so that when your team mates get in we can get the hell out of dodge!" I scream at him pointing a finger in allegation at him.
"Okay Rogue, sorry," he says as he sits back down in his leather upholstered seat. I sigh and sit with a huff back down next to Logan. He looks over at me and gives me one of those knowing smiles as I place my headset back on. I think he really is proud of me right now, standing up for what I believe in and what not. I just hope he'll still be this proud when it's all over.
The rain Storm started is slow at first along with the creepy fog she also added to it was the perfect cover for the x-jet. Colossus, Wolverine and Shadowcat exit the lift the moment I lowered it, each with there matching com-links on.
It takes all of fifteen minutes before I get confirmation from Shadowcat that she's in. I smile at how flawless this mission is going. Not a single alarm has been sounded and I am so thankful that I actually have good people following my orders.
"Storm, just give me another five minutes and let me download the information and then lets get rid of all this light," Kitties irritating giggle crackled into the com-link as I rolled my eyes. No matter what that girl will never grow up.
I start to tap my foot in nervousness as I wait patiently for Kitty to give me her signal. I'm already getting ready to go down the lift so I can be outside when she calls me. The rain out side is coming down in thick sheets and the lighting is more than threatening as I see through the small flashes of light, Colossus and Wolverine taking out four guards in one sickening strike.
"Alright Storm on my count down, three…two…one," Then the entire compound goes completely dark. I take that as my signal and make a hard dash for the metal doors that Kitty had used to get into the compound only minutes before hand.
The rain whips around me, stinging my eyes as I run almost mad towards the large double doors. My hair is clinging to my face and my leather suit making it horribly uncomfortable as I heave one of the large metal doors open. Mud cakes my leather boots as I silently make my way towards the main security room that Kitty is supposed to be stationed. With flashlight in hand it takes me all of five minutes to run down the two corridors to where I am instantly met up with a smiling Kitty.
"Get the files?" I ask her as I continue my slow jog down to the prison cells.
"Well duh, what else do you think I would be doing in there? Pop bubble gum?" She asks me and I look over at her with a raised eyebrow and shrug. She just clicks her tongue in annoyance as we round the next corner.
"He's on the third level, second cell to our right. Remember he is probably a little disoriented so let me go in first. He doesn't know you as well as he does me," I tell her as we head up a flight of stairs, white cell blocks streaming by us as we make our way up the small flight.
"Speaking of which, how much does Pyro know about you?" She asks me as we continue running up the stairs.
"Shadowcat this really isn't the time for you to be digging into my love life, especially when your own isn't doing so well," I tell her which gets her to shut up. As we continue to run I slowly start to notice that we haven't seen a single guard in this whole place.
"Shadowcat where are all the guards," I ask her curiosity getting the better of me as we reach the third level. She once again uses that annoying giggle as she walks next to me.
"Oh I sent an alert for all guards to go over the East side of the building saying there was a disturbance there," I almost smile at her cleverness as we finally reach the second cell.
Kitty phases me through the faded white washed bars into the dark, dank cell even before I notice she's doing it. I shine my flashlight around the room looking for any sign of him. My heart is racing at this point, at what I'm not sure. I think it's from what I might find or something far worse. The room is tiny compared to what I am used to, probably make Storm go into shock. The walls are moss covered and dripping wet from some unseen source. There is no light in this room except for the over head lamp that is turned off and swinging methodically above me.
As I continue shinning my flashlight around the room, I finally see a huddled figure curled up against the right hand corner. He's so dirty I can barely tell him from the dirt cover walls and I am not surprised that I almost missed him. I run over to him the moment I figure out that he's not just part of that filthy wall, not touching him as I crouch next to him, just letting my pale hands hover over his tortured body.
"Johnny?" I whisper as I try to grab his attention. He turns his body towards me and I know he will hate me if I look at him with pity, but his face is so distorted by gashes and bruises I can't help but do it.
"Marie?" He says in a raspy voice that doesn't sound like him at all as he presses his back as far up against the wall as possible. He looks almost paler than me once I get a good look at him. Fear is apparent on his bony features and tears threaten to spill over for my wounded lover.
"Yes, now Johnny we need to get you out of here sugar, I'm taking you with me okay? Were going home," I tell him as reach over to help him into a standing position. He seems frightened at first when I touch his bruised arm. But he finally relaxes and I finally get him to start standing up, he instantly starts to fall back to the ground, yelling out in pain.
"Sorry sugar I forgot they said you broke your leg, you're too big for me to carry so you're going to have lean up against me. Now Shadowcat is just outside that door and once out there she'll help me get ya to the x-jet okay?" I tell him as I once again reach to help him up. He doesn't resist me or make a smart ass comment, just grunts from the pain. At first I thought maybe his silence is from the pain, but then later I would learn it's from the abuse instead.
He leans against my body as if I was the only thing keeping him up right. Kitty easily phases us through the bars again and we quickly make it to the stairs. It seems none of the other prisoners are even aware of what's transpiring at the moment because all is deadly silent. All I can hear is the pained wheezing coming from John and the loud clangs of our feet hitting the rusting metal of the stairs.
This is all too easy and I start to wonder if maybe this is just another ploy or trap. But I instantly shake that thought out of my head as we start down the first of the many hallways that will lead to our escape.
"Wolverine, we are on the ground, we will be exiting the building in five minutes, and I am going to need your assistance. Colossus you're going to be our only cover once we're out in the open," I hurriedly speak into the com-link as I all but drag John down another white tilled hallway.
"Copy that Rogue, I'm already stationed out side the main entrance," Wolverine barks into the link as the three of us make our way down another corridor. Two more left and we were home free.
We were about to turn on to the last corridor when the back up generators begin to start back up. My eye's immediately get big as I begin to push us faster to the large double doors. I look over at Kitty who has her teeth bared from the extra weight of John as she seems to start to match my quickening pace.
"Shadow, how long will it be before the security is back online?" I ask her as we continue our struggle.
"Five minutes from the moment the generators are turned back on," Kitty huffed out as we man handle John at the door.
"Wolverine you better go ahead and make us an exit," I tell him as we start closing in on the metal doors.
"You got it kid," he all but yelled in to our ears as we watched the door that only minutes ago I had to heave open get sliced in half.
Logan kicked the halved pieces away and took Pyro from me and Kitty as we all sprint across the now lit prison yard. We run into Colossus as the rain slowly begins to cease, slipping on the still wet ground.
"Iceman get that hunk of junk revved up and Beast I hope you're ready to set a leg. Storms are you back in that jet yet?" I yell into my link as I continue my long dash to the Jet's lift.
"I am already helping Iceman with the start up procedures," Storm said coolly into her own com-link.
"Perfect," however perfect seemed too soon as the guards who weren't taken out by Wolverine and Colossus started there advance on us. I pause and turn back around; Kitty is in phase-mode as she follows closely behind the metal mass of Pete. Wolverine is dragging behind with Pyro now slung over his shoulder.
I start to run back towards Logan pulling out my own gun that I had tucked earlier into my holster along with the flashlight I used earlier. As I run I take a bare hand out and grab onto Colossus, only long enough to get his power and not leave him unconscious on the floor.
Metaling up I immediately take on a shooting position as I try to stop the brunt of the firing from hitting Logan's already mauled back. The guards are using automatics which seem to have no real rhyme or reason to where there aiming towards. So many of the bullets shot at me or one of my team mates miss by a long shot.
However some are luckier than others as I feel tiny pelts hit my metal amour. I let out a ferocious roar one that could easily beat Logan's in the heat of battle. I shoot dead center as I make sure that my team and especially John get back to the jet safely.
"Rogue come on! We only got three minutes before the security camera's are back online!" I hear Bobby's weak voice crackle across the link as I slowly start to back up and run towards the Blackbird.
But that's when I feel it, Colossus powers fading and fading fast. I pick up pace but keep slipping on the wet ground underneath my muddy boots. I nearly face plant the ground but manage to keep my balance only long enough to feel the sickening rip of a bullet pierce my left shoulder blade.
I pick my self back up and feel only two more bullets lodge themselves into my right side as I stumble up the ramp. Bobby closes the lift the moment I basically roll into the metal floor of the x-jet. Blood smearing the shinny surface as I slide across it, Storm and Bobby get the jet quickly into the air. We can hear the tinkle of bullets hitting its sides and I sigh in relief as I check my watch, 52 seconds and we would have been done for. I slowly pick myself up off the floor and groan from the pain that seems to have made it way all over my body.
"Who in the hell are you!" I hear screamed from the back of the jet and I smile at how lucky we were at getting him out so quickly. I moved towards the scuffling sounds coming from the back room and let my small smile spread to an almost genuine one.
"Now Johnny that's no way to act around the good doctor," I chastise him as I lean against the cool metal door frame, trying to ease some of the pain in my right side. He stops his struggles and looks up at me first with a smirk and then with an angry snarl.
"Fucking took you long enough to come and get me!" He yelled at me as Hank started to work on him again. He just brushed him aside as he continued to look at me, defiance clearly noted on his face.
"Ain't really my fault you got caught in the first place now is it?" I tell him as I push off the door and walk over to him. I can feel the blood sliding in between the leather of my suit and my skin and it's an extremely gross feeling.
"I wouldn't have gotten caught if that stupid ice-prick of a boyfriend of yours didn't fucking head butt me," He point in the direction of the front of the jet and I just laugh at him.
"Johnny you got it all wrong sugar," I coo at him as I move to sit next to him my hand brushing away the oily pieces of his hair from his blood caked face.
"What in the fuck are you talking about?" He grounds out as he tries to move away from my delicate fingers. I just smile at him like a mother does an unruly child.
"The moment I stepped into your apartment I stopped being Bobby's girl," I pause as I watch his face change to one of surprise. I lean in close to his ear, my lips only millimeters from them.
"And I became yours," I whisper into that bruised ear of his and felt him almost shudder.
"I thought you were a bright boy Johnny; I don't understand why you keep asking me these stupid questions. So be a good boy for once and let the doctor clean ya up, because sugar you're a mess," I tell him as I walk out of the room to let Hank finish his job.
"Now my dear boy, this is going to hurt. A lot," I hear Hank say behind me as I pull the small grey curtain back to allow them some sort of privacy. Seconds later I hear John yell out in pain as I sway from the pain in my side. I had completely forgotten about it up until this point, must be my adrenaline or something. I can feel the blood dripping down my fingers onto the floor and the squishy feeling of the blood that seeped into my boot.
"Stripes you all right?" I hear Logan ask me as he gets up from his seat and rush over to me as I grope one of the seats trying to stay upright against the onslaught of pain.
"I feel…I feel cold," I mutter out as I slump to the floor from the blood loss. I watch as he eyes my blood stained suit, I think he got confused on who's blood was who's because he hadn't realized I was hurt until then. He looked down around the room and noticed the blood smears from my roll earlier and I hear him curse loudly as he picks me up.
"Fucking shit Marie!" He yells at me as he nearly rips that curtain off its rack.
"McCoy you better hurry up on Matchstick over there because I don't think stripes here is going to make it much longer. And I can't touch her yet until we land or I'll be spending a week in the heap!" Logan barks out as he lays me on the second gurney to John's right.
"Fucking stop and go help her before she dies you stupid blue over grown gorilla," I hear John shout out to Beast and I groan at his lack in manners. The next thing I know I feel cold metal against my skin as Hank cuts my leather suit open and I silently thank God that today I decided to wear underwear under it.
"Fuck Marie! How many fucking times did you get shot?" Logan asks me in my fuzzy state of mind and I just smile a lopsided grin.
"Enough times to hear you say Fuck Marie like twelve times in a five minute time span," I say sarcastically as I feel Hank insert the IV into my arm.
"This ain't no time for funny shit kid," he tells me as he crosses his arms across his dirty chest.
"Yea looks who's talkin'," I tell him as I slowly lapse into unconsciousness. The blackness over taking me as I fall blissfully into the black abyss, welcoming it with open arms like a long lost friend.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews I hope you like this chapter it's like huge! And it took me a whole three days to write it up. So I hope you all enjoy it.