Chapter Six – Done a Runner

Hank checked his watch; the time on in his watch stated it was eight-thirty pm, but as he glanced at the clock on the wall in the lab, the large blue digital numbers stated it was only three-thirty. He looked over to the laboratory phone and noted one of Moira's assistant researchers was using it – and had been for a while; he'd been trying not to listen in but had heard the words 'love you' quite a lot and had the distinct feeling the guy was talking to a girlfriend rather than conducting laboratory business as he should have been.

Still, Hank wasn't in the mood to demand the guy get off the line so he could use it, and instead, he made his way out into the hall to use the payphone in the corridor. He put in several coins, and dialled the lengthy code following with the Professor's private office number. He waited patiently for an answer, realising it may take several moments.

"Hello," came the Professor's answer eventually.

Hank leaned in to the wall. "It's me," he said tiredly. "Just...checking in."

"Hank," greeted the Professor. "How are you?"

"Exhausted," said Hank, "I know I've been here a while but I still haven't quite adjusted to the timezone yet."

"How is the treatment going?"

"It's almost completed – he's sleeping peacefully for now..." Hank rubbed the back of his neck, "the healing process has been quite remarkable to watch. Considering only days ago he had almost completely stepped over the threshold of death's door, it's been nothing short of miraculous that he's healthy again."

"That is good to hear," responded Professor Xavier.

"Any word on the front about Rogue?" Hank yawned.

"I'm afraid not," said the Professor. "She took off by flight – Logan was unable to follow her scent."

"Can't you sense her?"asked Hank.

"I'm afraid not. Jean has been unable to do so either."

"So she may have gone considerably far away from Bayville, in that case," Hank thought aloud.

"For all we know, she may still be in Bayville..." said the Professor.

"And how is Jessie doing?"

"She's tired...the pain medication makes her feel incredibly drowsy..."

"The pain will eventually ease off and she'll forget about it."

"It was a clean break – I was advised it would heal fine."

"Considering the damage that could have been done with Rogue's strength, it's miraculous it was only a break...so much more damage could have been done to her arm..."

"An interesting revelation was made this afternoon..."

"Oh?" Hank asked.

"Jessie has revealed some new abilities..."

"Jessie? New powers? Such as?"

"Being highly empathic for a child her age," answered the Professor.

"Highly empathic..." said Hank, he chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered this. "Interesting – but it does make sense. Jessie has always seemed to be able to tell how other people are feeling. I'd always just assumed she was bright – and perceptive...but it would seem it goes far deeper."

"Her new abilities may also be why myself and Jeana cannot sense Rogue from Bayville..."

"Why should that prevent you and Jean from sensing Rogue if she was still in Bayville?"

"It appears as if Jessie also has the ability to dampen the powers of others around her," the Professor answered. "Something that Gambit has shown very slight signs of..."

"Yes! Of course," said Hank, "I've noted it myself – not of course that Gambit's powers have ever effected my own abilities. But his ability to touch Rogue – even briefly..."

"I had always assumed that his powers were creating some kind of electro-static barrier between himself and Rogue..." the Professor confessed. "But it seems I'm wrong – Jessie's powers may be hereditary...only simply more powerful than his."

"Obviously she's not in control of those powers...I imagine they must be unpredictable..."

"Yes, I don't think she's aware of this power at all..."

Hank paused, "then again..."

"Hmm?"

"She very well could be aware of the powers..." Hank said, he took a moment to consider his new theory. "You said her arm got broken when she reached out to-" Hank turned, he thought he heard a shuffle in the corridor.

"Hank?"

"Sorry. Thought I heard something. Probably one of the assistant researchers," Hank sighed. "Anyway. You said Jessie's arm got broken when she reached out to touch Rogue...that was how Rogue put it?"

"Yes. She told Kitty that Jessie reached out to touch her face..."

"Yes, and instinctively, Rogue grabbed out to stop her of course..." Hank explained. "But what if...just what if Jessie knew that if she touched Rogue nothing would happen. What if...she'd already experienced it?"

"You think that's possible?" asked the Professor.

"I think so," said Hank. "Charles...I know it hasn't escaped your attention that Jessie is a bright child. Exceptionally bright."

"Yes," agreed Professor Xavier immediately. "She's sharp – she picks up on things very quickly and even catching up with school work at amazing levels."

"So...with full awareness of how bright Jessie is, can you honestly say she didn't fully comprehend how powerful Rogue really is?"

"Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding about how Rogue's powers work?"

"No...I believe she fully understood how Rogue's powers work...we all gave her the lectures several times when she first came here. Never touch Rogue...if you do make sure you touch clothes, not skin...we drilled it into her. There was no way she could not understand."

"So you're suggesting...?"

"I'm suggesting that somehow...she might have touched Rogue before...and perhaps that it might even have worked. It makes sense why she would take such a risk."

"Rogue would have known about this surely?"

"Perhaps Rogue didn't realise? Maybe when Rogue was asleep? Who's to say?"

"Dr. McCoy!"

Hank glanced down the hall, one of the assistant researchers was standing there looking most distressed, her hand in her hair. "I have to call you back..." he said with a sigh. He hung up without giving the Professor a chance to say goodbye. "Yes?" he asked of the assistant.

The red-head gritted her teeth and inclined her head towards the recovery room Remy had spent the last twenty-four hours inside.

Hank raised an eyebrow and passed by her to glance in. The bed was empty, the covers hanging halfway down one side, the I.V. Drip needle had been ripped out of Remy's arm and was dripping out the contents onto the mattress , a spot of blood had dripped onto the pristine white tiled floor. The monitors had all been unplugged at the wall.

Clever, Remy, thought Hank. Unplug all the equipment so that when you remove the electrodes, alarms don't set off...

Hank turned, and nearly ran into Moira, who had come rushing towards the room.

"He's done a runner," Moira huffed, her face red with fury. "He's knicked our new untested plane and took off!"

"How long ago?"

"Two minutes ago!"

"Fabulous," said Hank, he sighed, "well...I guess it's safe to say that he probably overheard everything I said and by now is on his way to Bayville..."

The End - Or Is It? DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN

Thanks to everyone out there who's still keeping up with this story (and keeping it alive!). Can't believe it's already up to episode 19! (and there's more to come). If ya like it or have thoughts on the story, remember to review! Thanks to the ones who've been leaving the lengthier reviews – I love knowing that I'm still keeping you all guessing! :)