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Chapter 10

Marie tugged at the strap of her duffel bag. Two days…two days since she had seen Logan. Since they had kissed and made love. Two days since she had touched him and felt him pour into her. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

She wanted to be with him but she was frightened. Scared at how much she wanted to touch him. She didn't want to hurt him again. He still hadn't woken up from her last touch. His presence in her mind was stronger than ever...different from before. Now instead of just an imprint the connection she had established let her feel the real Logan.

The connection let her know not just his past but his present too. She knew he was still unconscious. She was a little frightened about what he would feel when he woke up. He would know her in a way no one did. He would know her past and present. He would know about her father, about the hunger that burned her, about the people she had hurt. Would he still want her?

'He'll know your real age too dear. Really I wish you hadn't lied to us about it. I can't even imagine how guilty…' The professor spoke to her in her mind.

Rogue cut him off. 'How is he?' She asked. She didn't like the professor's sermons but she didn't want to cut the connection till after Logan woke up.

'I am actually on a flight to Washington. There is an important senate meeting I have to attend but don't worry Jean is with him.' The professor told her.

She didn't like that idea. Even though she had given in to her uncontrollable need for him she still had doubts. Did he still want Dr. Grey? It would be better for him but she could no longer feel good about it. Not that she had ever really felt good about it…more resigned.

If he did want Dr. Grey she didn't know if she would be able to step aside now. She growled softly at the thought of it. No there would be no stepping aside. She would get a hold of this burning hunger and she would be with him. No one else was going to take her place.

She began walking again, her feet taking her back to New York. It would take her a while to get there. In that time hopefully she would gain enough control.

She traveled for a few hours her mind quiet. It was calming but strange and she missed the chatter. She especially missed Cody. Logan and the professor's presence had blended into the link she had created with them so they weren't talking to her. Logan was unconscious and the professor was busy. She supposed she should enjoy it but instead it made her feel lonely.

Marie was frowning at these thoughts, but shook off her melancholy. She was making plans for ways to overcome her skin when she felt it. Someone was following her. She raised her head and looked around carefully. She couldn't see anyone but her instincts were screaming at her and her skin was reacting. Whoever it was, was a mutant. A powerful one if the strength of her skin's reaction was anything to go by.

"Ya might as well come out Ah know ya there!" She called.

A woman landed in front of her. Marie almost laughed as she recognized her. It was the woman who annoyed her on the train. What was her name?

"Hello Rogue. I'm here to help you." She told her.

Marie just looked at her. She didn't trust her and she tugged at her gloves, itching to touch her.

"I have been stationed at Alkali Lake under Colonel Stryker. We saw you and your lover. Stryker wants the Wolverine and he wants you. He is planning to raid the school to get Wolverine then use him against you." Carol told her. The woman was telling the truth. She felt it and smelled it. A deep fear gripped her.

"What could he possibly want with me?" Marie growled.

Carol looked at her disbelieving. "You are very powerful and you have more potential than any mutant he has ever seen. He plans to make you his perfect weapon."

It didn't really matter, what did matter was he planned to use Logan in his plans. She didn't want to sit here talking to this woman while her mate was in trouble. Marie turned and started running. She would get to a town, steal a car and get to the Mansion. She was so far away though it would take her too long!

She felt strong arms pick her up and suddenly she was flying. She was too startled to struggle at first but when she had a chance to think she decided to just let the woman fly her there. She didn't trust her but it would get her there fastest.

Logan woke up with a pounding headache. His first thoughts centered on Marie. He vaguely remembered her speaking to him. Telling him goodbye…

He sat up slowly, his whole body hurt. How long had he been out? He groaned as he opened his eyes and looked around his room. This was not the med bay at the mansion. His body tensed and his senses became alert.

He got up off the bed and prowled his cell. It smelled here of ammonia and pain. He growled low in his throat as fear rose in him. He remembered that smell, he could never forget it. They had caught him again.

He tried the door. He knew it would be locked, it was also proof against his strength. He let his claws out and attacked it to no avail. He had to get out of here. He had to find Marie. He knew she was feeling guilty about touching him but he didn't care. He didn't care if she touched him as long as she stayed with him.

He wanted to rip the room apart but instead he took deep breaths and struggled to control his anger. It wouldn't help him right now. He went to the bed and sat down, leaning his head against the wall. He would just wait, they would be here soon.

He waited for two hours before he smelled them outside his door. Gun oil, sweat and fear. The door opened and he saw six men with guns pointed at him.

"Come with us." One of the men said.

He stood up slowly scowling. He eyed the guards, sizing up his chances. He could probably take them but he needed to get information first. Where was he? Who had him? Did they have Marie too?

He followed them down the hall, not saying a word and making no sudden moves. The men were nervous and he didn't want to cause an incident till he knew what was going on.

They led him to a conference room. An older man stood to one side with an Asian woman by him, she had startling blue eyes. On the other side of the room stood two women. One with white, blonde hair and the other…Jeannie. Both were dressed in lingerie. The blonde in white and Jeannie in red. Both had startling blue eyes.

"Jeannie…" He whispered. She gave no reaction.

He turned to the man. "What have you done to her?" He growled.

The man smiled. "I have only given her a purpose. She will be instrumental in helping us develop the ultimate weapon. Along with you of course."

His words rang in his head. He had heard that somewhere before in regards to himself. Images filled his mind, looking through water at scientist toasting each other and talking about a Weapon X.

"I don't know what you are planning bub but I won't go along with it." Logan growled.

The man actually laughed. "I don't need your cooperation. As a matter of fact it would be better if you did resist. It will make her more susceptible to me."

So it wasn't him that was going to be this ultimate weapon. It would be a woman. Logan glanced at Jean. Was he talking about her?

"She is on her way." The blonde said in a monotone voice.

Well that answered that question. It wasn't Jean. A deep fear started to rise as another possibility occurred to him. He started to growl. His claws shot out and he prepared himself to fight. He had to be connected to the woman that they wanted to use... Marie, they had to be talking about Marie!

He rushed toward the man but he only nodded at Jean and suddenly Logan couldn't move. She sauntered over to him and put one finger on his forehead and all went dark.

Marie walked around the damaged school. There were no laughing children, no Xmen, no Logan. She could see the signs of battle and her heart wanted to beat out of her chest. She struggled to control her panic. She needed to think.

She mentally called the professor. She showed him what she saw and told him about Carol. He told her that they were on their way back and that she should wait for him.

Marie agreed reluctantly. She didn't know where they had taken Logan. She knew he was alive, even knew he was awake but something was blocking her from talking to him. That worried her. Her telepathy wasn't as strong as the professors but she was in no way weak either. It would take a strong telepath to block her.

Carol was looking over the wreckage with a frown on her face. It was the first time she wasn't talking. The woman had talked incessantly, even when they were flying. Marie listened with half an ear, she was too concerned for Logan to give her, her full attention.

"Children…" The woman mumbled. Marie could feel and smell the distress coming from her.

"Ya know where they are." She said. It was a statement not a question. She couldn't read the woman's thoughts, that in itself made her suspicious but her emotions and actions screamed her guilt.

"Yes." Carol told her.

"Take me to them." She ordered. She told the professor she would wait for him but she couldn't do that. Logan could be in danger.

Carol nodded and they walked together out of the mansion. She took Marie's arms and soon they were in the air. This time Carol was silent and Marie concentrated on trying to contact Logan through their link.

'Marie…'

Marie jolted at the voice in her mind. She hadn't heard from him in so long…

'Cody!' She cried.

'Marie ya know this is a trap.' Cody told her.

'Ah figured but Ah have no choice. This is the quickest way to get to Logan and the children.' Marie told him.

Cody was silent and Marie was afraid he wouldn't talk to her again.

'Ah thought Ah lost ya.' She told him.

'At first Ah was angry with ya for trying to kill ya self again, then Ah figured ya didn't need me. Ah didn't want to be in the way.' Cody told her. She could read his jealousy and self sacrifice. He had stepped aside for Logan. She needed him though. He was her conscience. Without him the struggle to gain control of the need created by her skin would be ten times harder.

'Ah'll always need ya Cody. Please don't leave me again.' Marie pleaded.

'Ah won't.' Cody told her.

'Ah think Carol is in on it.' Cody told her.

Marie agreed with him. She had been suspicious from the start but she had been the quickest way to get to Logan. She looked at the ground rushing by and recognized where they were headed. Alkali Lake, she blushed at the memories that flooded her and Cody laughed in her mind.

They touched down on the road leading to the dam. Carol turned to her, her face a picture of indecision.

"You know I work for these people. I think the best course of action is for me to appear to be bringing you in. That is my orders." Carol told her.

Marie arched an eyebrow. A habit she had picked up from Logan. Carol brought out some handcuffs.

'Don't let her cuff you Marie!' Cody cried.

Marie had her own doubts and backed away from Carol.

"I can't bring you in unrestrained. They wouldn't believe it." Carol explained.

Marie took her gloves off then held out her hands. She wasn't going to let herself be totally helpless. Carol looked at her skin with fear and Marie couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face.

Carol's hands shook as she put the cuffs on her. She did it slowly and with great care not to touch Marie's skin. Marie was tempted to grab her hand but tamped down the instinct. This was the best way to find Logan.

She let Carol grab her arm and lead her into the building.

Author's note: Shorter chapter sorry. I know all you comic book fans will recognize the red and white queen images. I couldn't resist casting Stryker in Sebastian Shaw's role. Of course this is my own world and I am twisting the comic book and movie to fit my plot lol.