Logan stalked the halls, Scott's door in his sights. The man was leaving just as Logan was on top of him. They assessed each other, and Logan noted the bag on his shoulder.

"Hey, I'm not going to be able cover for your ass all time." Logan stopped the other man before he could slink away. "Scott, listen. Maybe it's time we move on."

Scott smirked and jerked out of his grasp. "We don't all heal as fast you do, Logan." He pulled something out of his pack and tossed it to Logan. "Make sure Rogue gets that."

Logan watched Scott walk away, knowing that it was probably the last time either would cross paths. He weighed the box in his hands, considering following him and forcing Scott to stay put. When it came down to it, Logan was actually envious of him. Jean's loss wasn't something he wanted to live with, either.

He moved on to his next stop, Gambit's room, needing to get another errand checked of his list before he could get on the road for a quick beer run. "Hey, Cajun." The door was opened without much fuss or show. "Listen, I need you to get into Storm's account and order Rogue a new uniform."

"If you think I hadn't already done that, you're losing your mind to old age faster than I thought." Gambit smirked and leaned against his door frame. "Glad to see you trust me to know ma Rogue's size. Gonna turn me into Cajun-kabobs?"

"Not just yet." His hand flexed around the box. "You've been good for her. I had a feeling you would be, just maybe not like this."

Gambit's eyes caught sight of the box in Logan's hand. "What's that?"

"Gift for Rogue. Scott's gone."

Gambit nodded. "I wondered how long he would last. The man's been empty since before I got here. Nothing much to live for."

Logan paused as the Professor sent our a mental call for a meeting of the senior X-Men. "We're getting summoned, Bub. You coming?"

"Might as well." He shrugged, closing his door as the two men began wondering toward the professor's office. "Do you know what Scott left her?"

"Keys, I think. He had a penchant for sports cars, but his Porsche didn't survive our escape from Stryker's attack on the school two years ago." Logan shoved the box in his back pocket, nodding toward Storm as they converged on the open door. "There's an old red Mustang hidden away in the back of the garage though that looks like something he'd own." Logan sniffed the air. "Someone's here."

Gambit paused and his eye's lit with curiosity. "Who?"

"No scent I know. At least I don't think I know it. It's a vague echo." Logan gave a noncommittal grunt. "With my memory he and I could have been roommates and I would have no clue."

"Well, at least you're self-aware."

"Hank!"

"Oh, look, Stormy knows him." The two men took stock of the blue beast embracing their team mate. "Care to introduce us to your garçon, Stormy?"

"This is Hank McCoy. He used to teach here before he left to get into politics."

"Right, the mutant ambassador." Gambit cocked his head and Logan snorted. "Great job you're doing there, homme. Any news on Magneto's whereabouts then? Or how about what exactly is going on at Alcatraz?"

Hank grimaced. "What do you know about that?"

"More than you or the government would like, I imagine." Logan took a step back to assess his old friend. "I have connections. I know the FDA is eager to roll it out. I know that the government is already working on ways to weaponise it if they haven't figured it out already. Want me to continue?"

"Remy." Xavier eyed Hank who was smelling very much like fear. "Let him say his piece. He's here to inform us, not fight us."

Gambit smirked and took a seat in an arm chair. Logan took up station against the Professor's desk so he could see the whole room. Hank sat down heavily on the couch, and Storm followed his lead, looking very uneasy.

"Hank?"

"Worthington labs has developed what they are calling "The Cure." It suppresses the mutant gene. They claim permanently, but long term effects are unknown. It does work according to the trials. The FDA has cleared it and they are ready to go public." He adjusted his glasses and sighed. "They've derived it from a young mutant by the name of Jimmy, code name Leech. He is under the custody and care of Worthington Labs."

"I don't understand. There's nothing to cure." Storm leaned away from her old friend. "Who would want that?"

Logan automatically considered one very eligible candidate. He locked eyes with Gambit and could smell the hidden anger boiling just under the surface of his calm exterior. Logan shifted his view around the room but levelled a look at the Professor when his scent shifted to one of regret.

"How do we know the government wasn't in on this from the beginning?"

"The government had no prior knowledge of this. I assure you, they know just as much about it as I do."

"I've heard that before."

Hank scowled at him and he was sure that look was familiar for some reason. "You listen here, boy. I've been fighting for mutant rights since before you had claws. Metal ones, at least."

Logan was taken aback, and not just because of the comment regarding his built in weapons. "Did he just call me boy?"

"I hate to interrupt, but they're announcing it now." In a matter of moments, Rogue was rushing through the door. "Rogue."

Gambit was at her side and attempted to pull her to him. "Is it true?" There was no masking his pained expression when she brushed his attempts at affection away. "Can they really cure us?"

Logan raised a brow and considered her. The desperation in her eyes was a shot to his conscience. She refused to meet his gaze, and he lowered his, wishing like hell he didn't have to witness this. Regret for every missed chance to step up and be the father figure she wanted him to be hit him like a punch to his gut.

"Non."

She looked over her shoulder at him, betrayal flooding her system. "I didn't ask you. I asked the Professor."

"It would appear so."

"No, Remy's right." Storm stood and walked confidently toward Rogue's other side. "They can't "cure" us. You know why? Because there's nothing to cure."

"Oh, yeah, Storm." Rogue backed away from her two sentinels. "If that's true then why don't you go ahead and give me a hug."

The group watched as Rogue faced the other woman, arms akimbo. "That's what I thought." She then turned to Gambit. "What about you? How far are you willing to go to live up to your promises? So far I've got you clocked at 30 seconds before your mutation starts to dull from fighting mine off." She looked around the room and finally met Logan's eyes. "I decide if I need cured."

With that, she bolted from the room. "Gambit!" He paused and turned back to face Logan. "She just needs to breathe. Rogue will sort herself out and get you when she needs you."'

"I'm not her father, Logan."

"No, but you're her friend. Let me talk to her first." Logan pushed off from the desk and stalked toward Hank. "As far as you're concerned, be prepared to pick a side. We have it on good authority the government is already vying for rights to weaponise. Don't give me some bullshit about being surprised. I would be able to smell it on you if you were lying."

"I'm well aware of what this could mean for us." Hank steadily met his gaze. "I think you need to come to terms with the role you already play, son."

"You have to stop that. I'm older than we've been able to clock, and don't pretend you don't know that. You've heard of me, and I know it." He quirked his nose for emphasis. "Some mutants will want this cure. Hell, some will need it, but let's not start acting like we're always going to have a choice."

With that he left the room, intent on finding Rogue. He tracked her down at the bench that had once been her and Bobby's perch. She was stretched out across it, looking up at the sky as her feet dangled over the other end.

"You're hair's pretty wild these days."

"I'm pretty wild these days." Logan quirked a brow, not having noticed much change in her strict restraint himself. "I don't have the energy to keep straightening it anymore. It used to be curly when I was a kid and I thought I had beaten the curl out. Guess I was wrong. Suppose you can always suppress your true nature for long."

"So you've already considered this "cure" could be temporary."

She shrugged, still looking up. "Is it so bad that I want to have hope? I just want to know that it would somehow, some way, be possible."

"Kid, just cause the Professor can't get passed that wall, doesn't mean no one else can. Some psychics specialise in different things and maybe one of them could help. Who knows, maybe all Xavier needs is a second telepath to help him get passed it." He raised his brows when she sent a confused frown his way. "I care, Rogue. If you think I'm sitting idly by and grieving, you're wrong. I'm here cause you need me."

She squinted at him and he saw the ghost of the scared 15 year old girl he'd followed onto a train all those years ago. "I made you a promise once, remember? I haven't let you down yet, have I?"

"And you say you're not my father."

He huffed and worked the box Scott had given him out of his back pocket. "I'll argue that I'm not to the grave, but like I've said before, if if makes you feel better I can be." He tossed the box onto her stomach. "That's from old One-Eye. He took off earlier, and I don't think he's gonna be back any time soon. I'll actually wager he ain't coming back ever."

She looked down at the box with watery eyes. "Poor Scott. I know he was a hard ass, but he wasn't all bad."

"People rarely are." He watched as she opened the box and pulled out a set of keys. "Bet that goes to the candy red convertible stored in the garage. How about we go check it out?"

She hummed but went back to looking at the sky. "Maybe later, Logan. I need to think." She toyed with the keys, absently. "I got a lot I need to process."

"Sure thing, Stripes. I'm here if you need me." He stood up but felt her hand grip his arm almost painfully tight. "You okay?"

"Thank you." She didn't look at him but he saw unchecked tears streaming into her hair. "I know you don't like staying put, but you are here. Thank you."

He reached up to squeeze her hand. She loosened her grip and let him move out of her reach. Her hand dropped and she was smiling as she watched the clouds pass over head.

"You'll be fine, Rogue. No matter what, you'll be fine."

With that, he left her to her thoughts. He didn't see her the next couple of days, having suspected she would hide away to process things. After two days, he stalked toward her room to check on her and wasn't surprised to find Gambit sitting against the wall across the hall, waiting.

"We have plans."

"I think whatever plans you had are out the window, Bub. She needs space." Gambit let his head hit the wall behind him in a soft rhythm. "Come on, Cajun. Let's go drink."

"Thanks, but no thanks. She's gonna be ready at some point, and I'll be here when she is." The door knob turned and the door was left to hang open a fraction. "That is my cue."

Logan hadn't had the chance to continue passed her room as the mental onslaught began. It was the sound of pure screeching pain, much like that of a bird. Logan grasped his head, and blinked blearily as Rogue's door swung open to reveal the two in an equal amount of pain. Seeing the two in clear mental distress set Logan into attack mode. The two weren't susceptible to mental attacks because of their mutations unless the mutant was level 5.

The assault stopped almost abruptly. The three considered each other, then began tearing down the hall toward the main part of the mansion. Storm met them at the stairs and the group rushed to the Professor's office.

"Professor!" Logan was out of breath for a different reason than their rush to get to him. "Jean."

Xavier's solemn gaze met his. "Yes. I fear you must return to Alkali Lake."

A/N: Have I mentioned that one of things I adored about the movies was the relationship between Logan and Rogue? If I haven't, here's the thing: I totally love the relationship between Rogue and Logan. Thanks to those who have reviewed, followed and favourited thus far. You all make feel warm and fuzzy. Love from this cheeseball writer.