DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-Men or any other characters, etc. Marvel, etc.
Reviews: To Guarded Secrets, enchantedlight, Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: Thank you, glad you like it so far.
To chicita: lol, I don't know - I guess there is just a twisted little part of me that likes to make Sabortooth seem, I don't know, human. It's strange I know, but oh well. I'm glad you're enjoying this. :)
Chapter Three:
Scott Summers, AKA Cyclops, wakes up from a strange dream where a beautiful girl waits for him, a girl with white stripes in her hair. The light in the cold room is startling. He closes his eyes and reaches under his glasses to rub them.
"Glad to see you decided to finally join us," a voice sounds.
The voice is familiar. It's Jean's voice, Jean's beautiful voice. "Hey Jean. How long have I been out?"
"Not too long, a few hours or so. The girl's still out. I just left her room."
"The girl?" A bewildered look crosses Scott's usually solemn face. "What girl? Not the one who..."
But he is cut off. "Yes, THAT girl. I think Kurt knows her somehow. He's the one that brought her."
He shakes his head. Concern covers his best friend's face. "Scott, are you okay?" she asks, worried.
"I feel fine. I was a little dizzy when I woke up, but other than that, I'm fine."
A sigh of relief escapes Jean's lips. She's been so worried about him since she found out what happened to him. She hates to admit that she was also slightly jealous. But I love Duncan. I do not love Scott that way. But she isn't convinced.
Jean is brought out of her reverie rather suddenly by Scott's voice, "Um, Jean? Do you think you could leave, so I could get dressed?"
An impish grin sparks up on her face, "No. No, I don't think I can do that." He throws the pillow at her, which shocks her. "How immature of you! I think Kurt and Bobby are starting to get to you." She throws it back at him though.
He laughs, a laugh that only Jean can get out of him. "Come on, give a guy a little privacy," he pleads.
"Well... okay, but you owe me, Summers." She smiles as she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her. She walks to the room across the hall, pausing slightly at the doorway to watch the people inside.
Mystique hasn't left the room since the girl was brought in. Professor Xavier has only left when his presence was especially needed. Kurt has been pacing, in the room for a while, then he would BAMF into a different room, and then start pacing, all the while muttering incomprehensible words in German, under his breath. He refuses to speak to anyone in English. Jean is worried about them. She isn't really worried about the girl, however. The girl DID attack her and Kitty that day. Besides kissing Scott. Then, shocked that the thought even ran through her brain, she announces, "Professor?" When Xavier looks up, she continues, "Scott's awake. He's fine."
"That's good news, Jean. Thank you." Mystique and Kurt nod in reply. Then all three of them turn they're attention back to the unconscious girl laying on the hospital bed. Jean leaves silently. She is unsure of the emotions she feels coming off the other three, but feels it's best to leave them alone.
A few minutes later, Scott himself walks into the room. His breath catches at the sight of her. She is beautiful, just as she was in his dream. Just as beautiful as Jean. He sighs. "What are you planning on doing with her, Professor?" he asks suddenly.
"Nothing. She was unconscious. We couldn't leave her there." There's a tone in Professor Xavier's voice that is new to Scott. He gets the feeling the professor is lying to him, hiding something.
"Who is she?"
"I don't know. I'm glad you are awake and healthy, Scott."
Scott shakes his head. Charles Xavier hasn't looked at him the entire time. There's more to this girl than meets the eye. He decides to go off an find Jean. Maybe we can finish that pillow fight.
The new mutants are sitting on the porch steps, talking. At least they were sitting, and they were talking. Now, they are having what looks like a war. Apparently Ray said something Amara didn't like and the war began. No one is angry, but every one is having fun. They are trying to forget that three of their teammates are missing. Three rather valuable teammates. Storm shakes her head as she watches them intently, trying to forget as well. It's impossible to forget, she sighs. Her nephew has been captured, and Logan. Tears well up in her eyes at the thought of Logan being captured and what torture they may induce upon him. Hank too, her mind reminds her, more as an afterthought.
All at once, her thoughts are interrupted as a strong wind hits her. She instinctly looks up and sees a helicopter landing in the front lawn. A man steps out with a file in his hand. "Ororo Munroe?"
"Yes, that's me."
"My name is Nick Fury, I am with an agency called SHIELD."
"I know who you are."
"I need to speak with Xavier." Storm nods. "I'll show you to his office and inform him you are here." After showing him to the office she reaches out with her thoughts. /Charles, Nick Fury is waiting in your office. He needs to speak with you right away./
/I'm on my way./
"He'll be right here, Mr. Fury. Is there anything you need while you wait?"
The middle-aged man shakes his head in response. A grim expression on his face. She starts to leave the room. "Ms. Munroe?"
"Yes?"
"I was never here. A helicopter did not land in your front lawn today."
"I understand. I'll inform the children to keep silent about it as well."
"Thank you." Xavier arrives a few minutes after Storm leaves. "Ah, Mr. Fury. Always a pleasure."
"Likewise, Xavier."
"I assume you aren't here for a personal visit."
Nick Fury smirks at him. "No, I'm not. As you know, I have tried for years to hide mutants from the rest of the world, to protect them so to speak. I'm sorry this has had to come to this."
Xavier arches his eyebrow. "Come to what, exactly?"
"I've been given a direct order to stay out of this, not to help you."
"However?"
"However, I cannot stand idly by while a man like Bolivar Trask," he cuts himself short to calm down. "The reason I came here today, is to give you this." Here, he hands Xavier a disk. When Charles, give him a curious look, he goes on, "The disk contains the exact location to a secret military base called Area 51. That is where your friends are being held captive. I can't do anything further, except to tell you to hurry. Trask is there. You must get them out quickly."
"Thank you." The two men part ways and the helicopter soars into the sky an out of sight.
A while later, a team of X-Men boards the Blackbird and flew to Nevada. Among them are Jean, Scott, Kitty, Bobby, Storm, and Kurt. It took a lot af begging to get Kurt to come. He is anxious. He doesn't want to leave, but they need him and he knows it. So he agrees to go. And yet, he wills the plane to go faster, wanting to get home as quickly as possible.
The next morning, Rogue is disoriented. Random thoughts run through her head. Her head is pounding. A low groan escapes her lips and two people rush to her beside. Technically, the man in the wheelchair was already by her side, but he leans in quickly.
"Anna?" a soft feminine voice asks. "Anna, are you okay?"
"Ah – need – an asprin." Then, she opens her eyes. Green daggers pierce into Mystique's yellow orbs. "Where in the world am Ah?"
Mystique smiles. "You're safe, dear. Rest now, my Anna."
"Anna?" Rogue asks, sitting up in bed. "My name's Rogue. And don't y'all forget it." Her expression is angry. She's suppose to be with Remy, back at Magsy's base, not Charles Xavier's prisoner.
"You are not a prisoner, here." he replys to her mental complaint. The only response he gets is a scowl.
Rogue knows she shouldn't be angry with him. She knows he never knew about her, but she can't help feeling hurt. She doesn't want to be here in this room, hooked up to wires and wearing a hospital gown. She sighs. Well, she thinks, placing a mental shield around her thoughts (something Irene had taught her), it won't be long anyway. He'll come for me. I know he will.
"An – I mean Rogue." Mystique corrects herself. The name is strange to her. All these years of thinking of her daughter as Anna and now Anna was Rogue. "I want to explain things to you."
"Don't bother," Rogue snaps. "It's not like Irene ain't told me anything you got ta anyway."
"Irene?" Mystique's face grows pale and she asks again, "Irene Adler?"
"Av course, Irene Adler. Who else could Ah be talking about?" a smirk on her face. Rogue knows full well Destiny never told Mystique she'd adopted her daughter. Rogue is almost enjoying the look of pain that crosses Raven Darkholme's face, almost.
Mystique is realizing her dearest friend has betrayed her, lied to her for sixteen years. She suddenly knows Charles' pain and squeezes his had. "I'm so sorry, Charles."
"I told you, I have already forgiven you, Raven."
"Now, don't y'all go getting all lovie-dovie on me. Ah might just have ta touch and make ya shut up." She rolls her eyes and starts pulling wires off. Charles is taken aback by his newly revealed daughter's attitude, but her last comment confuses him. Rogue can tell by the look on his face that he doesn't understand what she means. She sighs. She hates explaining this. She really does. "Better get the fuzzball in here. Ah don't wanna have to explain this twice."
Kurt is sleeping peacefully. The mission had been a huge success, with only one mishap, when Bobby Drake accidently set of the alarms. Jean had made the guards forget they'd even heard it. By the time they'd reached the prisoners, all four of them were already free and set on getting out of there fast. They got home at 4:30am. It was 6:30 when the Professor wakes him up, telling him to come and see them in the med room. Anna must have woke up. He is still grumbling though, when he ports into the med room a few minutes later. "Vhat does a guy have to do to get a little sleep around here?" he mutters under his breath.
Rogue smirks at him, letting him know she heard him. Charles looks at him, and smiles. Then he turns to Rogue. He starts to introduce him to her, but she cuts him off. "Ah know who he is. That's why I said to send for him." She rolls her eyes. "Now, Ah'm sure y'all where curious about my last statement." She sighs. She really hates telling people about her powers. "I think Kurt, here, already has an inkling about my powers, don't ya, sugah?"
Kurt gives her a confused look. "Ja, you can knock people out by touching their skin."
Rogue smiles at him, remembering the soft feel of his fur under her hand. Sadness flickers in her eyes for a moment. They all notice it, but no one says anything about it. "Ah don't just knock 'em out, elf. Ah absorb them. Ah absorb their life force, their memories, their powers, even their souls." She pauses. "Ah can't control it. Ah can't touch anyone without absorbing them."
Charles looks at his daughter sadly. "I might be able to help you."
"Nah, Ah don't think so. Unless ya can get all the people in my head ta shut up." The smirk returns to her face. "Part of all the people Ah touch is left in my head when they leave. It's just one big party up here." She taps her head. "Magsy says Ah have the potential to be the most powerful mutant alive." She smile a very nasty little smile.
"Uh, Anna, I mean Rogue, sorry." Xavier says solemnly. "I'm sorry but Magneto was killed in the battle yesterday." There is a twinge of sadness in his voice, revealing his own hidden sorrow, over the death of his oldest friend.
Rogue just smirks back at him, "Are ya sure ya saw what ya think ya saw? Now, if y'all don't mind, and Ah'm really not a prisoner here, then Ah think Ah'd like to get out of this hospital gown."
"Yes, of course." Mystique answers, shooing the boys out of the room and shutting the door behind her.
Rogue is left alone. She lets out a big sigh and starts to cry. "Remy, where are you?"
Magneto, who is very much alive thanks to the efforts if his young son, Pietro, is sitting at his desk strumming his fingers together. He refuses to say or even think he is nervous, but he is. He and his men have grown very close to Rogue over the short while she'd been there. He sighs audibly. He hates to think what Charles Xavier is saying to her. What if he changes her mind, convinces her to stay? He's her father, after all. And Mystique is there, and Nightcrawler.
All the Acolytes are anxious as well. Piotr is sitting still, holding an open volume of War and Peace in Russian, but he isn't reading it. He is trying to, but his thoughts keep returning to her. If only he knew she was okay. John is nerviously flicking his lighter. He absentmindedly turns a flame into a miniture version of Rogue. Sabretooth is pacing and growling, muttering unrepeatable curses about Cajuns and X-Men. Rogue reminds him of a girl he once knew, a long time ago. A girl he loved and in his heart, while some beg to differ that he even has one, he knows he still loves that girl. That's why Rogue means so much to him. He doesn't want the likes of Wolverine to get to her. Remy is no where to be found.
Magneto floats in, "Acolytes, I think we could all use a little training session right about now." He doesn't ask where Gambit is. They all follow him into the training room without a single complaint. They know he's right. It will get their minds off of Rogue, if only for a little while.
"I wonder who she is." Amara states, looking at Rahne who shly shrugs in reply. Amara grabs a big handfully of popcorn. The girls are all sitting around the table gossiping. They were going to watch a movie, hence the popcorn, but they just started talking instead.
"I don't care WHO she, like, is. She totally tried to kill us." Kitty proclaims, but she knows she's curious.
Jean frowns. "I don't think she was trying to kill us. I think it was more of a distraction."
"She was, like, firing laser beams at us, Jean."
"Yes, and Scott's eye beams at full blast could have easily penitrated my psy-shield, Kit."
Jubilee nods absently, "Well, who ever she is, Kurt must know her. He's been crazy since she got here."
"I bet she's an old girlfriend from Germany."
"Don't be ridiculous, Amara." Kitty scowls, "She, like, totally did not have a German accent."
"Yes, she must have a Southern origin, and that would not explain Mystique and the Prof." Jean speaks up. "I could try to find out." A wicked grin crosses Jean's face.
"Jean Grey!" Kitty fakes a shocked look. "Do you mean you would, like, look in someone's head WITHOUT their permission!" She giggles.
"Let's do it." Jubilee nearly shouts, jumping out of her seat.
"Jubilee!" The other girls scold. "Not so loud."
"Sorry."
Kurt has been eavesdropping. Feeling better after Rogue woke up and he had a nice nap. At this new development in girl's conversation, he shakes his head and ports to the chandelier. "No need for zat girls." He says, reaching down for some popcorn.
"Kurt!" Five angry girls stare back at him.
He just laughs. "If you're all zat curious, I'll tell you who she is." They stare on in amazement, none of them thought it would be THAT easy. "She's my sister."
"Your sister!" Jean cries out, feeling numb from shock.
"You so never told us you, like , had a sister!" Kitty blinks, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Vell, I just found out a few veeks ago. First, I found out about Mother. Then, after she let that sink in a vhile, she told me about my half-sister."
"Like, who's her father?"
"You don't vanna know."
The girls giggle. "So, like, who's YOUR father, then?"
A sheepish look falls on the upside-down face. "You REALLY don't vant to know zat one."
"Yes, we do." Kitty teases.
Just then the doorbell rings, and Kurt is saved when Ray walks in and announces Amanda is at the door.
Meanwhile, Rogue is tired of listening to Xavier and Mystique try to convince her to stay there with her family. She's standing, once again in her Acolyte uniform, in front of a mirror, brushing her hair. "He'll come for me," she cuts Xavier off. "He'll be able ta get past all your fancy security systems. He's a thief, ya know."
Raven and Charles aren't sure who she's talking about. They are about to ask her what she's talking about, when a voice cracks over the com-link. It's Logan, "Chuck, we got a problem. I can smell it."
Just then the door bursts open and a man they recognise from the battle the day before steps in.
"Ah told ya so." Rogue says, setting the brush down. She turns towards him. "Hello, tall, dark and Cajun."
"Mon amoure." He tips and imaginary hat and winks at Mystique. Her eyes burn with anger, knowing this man has come to take her daughter away again. Rogue laughs and runs into his arms. He returns her embrace. "You okay, chere? T'ey hurt you? Remy would have ta kill t'em if t'ey hurt you."
She laughs again. "Ah'm alright. They wouldn't hurt me, Remy. They're my parents." He is obviously startled.
"I t'ought Irene was."
"Irene was my adopted mother, sug. This is my BIRTH mother."
He looks thoughtfully at Mystique for a while. Then replies, "Dat explains a lot." Rogue scowls at him and playfully bats him in the arm. "Ready t' go, petite?"
"Ah'm ready whenevah you are." She turns towards the door nad then thinks twice and turns around. "Um, it's been nice meeting y'all. Maybe, we can talk again sometime. When, Ah not here involuntarily and all."
Charles chooses to ignore the last statement. "Sure, of course, dear. You are always welcome here, Rogue." Mystique feels tears welling up in her eyes and runs to Rogue, longing to hug her, but neither of them are wearing sleeves, so she squeezes Rogue's gloved hands tightly. Rogue returns the squeeze with a smile. And then they are gone.
To be continued. . .
A/N: Kurt and Amanda's conversation will be in the next chapter. Also, they'll all be in school again, soon. And a new student will be joining the X-men. No telling who though, or when.