The night was thick with fog and he was glad for it. The last thing he wanted was trouble, and the fog would help to shield them from their enemies. Emma had located Storm's signature in this building. She had warned him that the trace was faint. She believed that Storm was sick or dying. He was afraid it was both. These detention centers were where they brought the infected mutants. Even if she had been healthy when she was captured, a few days inside these walls and she would certainly have the virus. Storm's fate was looking pretty grim.

"Alright Half Pint, phase us in"

"Right"

Kitty grabbed hold of his and Bobby's hands and walked them through the wall of the centre. Once on the other side Bobby shivered with displeasure and dropped Kitty's hand.

"Man, I hate that feeling"

"Can it Popsicle. C'mon let's go"

The three crept along disarming any guards in their way. Kitty pulled up a virtual map on her handheld computer. "According to what Emma told us, Storm should be through here" she turned left towards a closed door and tried the handle. Locked.

"Want me to freeze it off?" Bobby's hand took on a crystal ice appearance.

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Amateur. Watch and learn" typing away on her little handheld she hacked into the centers control system and turned off the locks to the entire section of the building.

"Impressive"

"Quit your yapping. We got a job to do" Logan snapped. The place had him on edge, and not knowing how Storm was faring had him even more so.

Turning the handle he entered the small room. He turned towards the two teens "You two stay back. We don't know If she's infected or not" Bobby and Kitty hung in the doorway watching as Logan approached the bed where Storm lay very still. Her skin was damp with perspiration and a sickly colour beneath her cocoa complexion. Her hair hung limp and stuck against her face in places. Wolverine unstrapped her from the bed and hoisted her up into his arms.

"It's alright Ro. I got you" he whispered too low for the youths to hear. "Alright you two, time to make a move"

Kitty looked uncomfortable. "Logan...shouldn't we.. I mean we're here and all.."

"Spit it out Pryde"

"Can't we check to see if Rogue is here?"

"Sorry Kitty, we have no reason to assume they're here. Besides, Storm's in bad shape. We need to get her to Hank ASAP"

"Yeah, of course" Kitty tried to conceal the disappointment on her face. "Let's go, times a wasti..." she stopped short as she turned and found the muzzle of an MRD stun gun placed just below her ribs.

"That's far enough mutie" he let off the shot before kitty had time to phase. She crumpled to the floor.

"KITTY!" Bobby iced up and hit the guard for all he was worth, sending him flying backward into the opposite wall.

"Move Move Move" Logan sprinted forward Ororo cradled in his arms.

"Not without Kitty" even as he said the words two more guards appeared and stood between him and the small girl.

"No time Drake. Move your frozen ass NOW"

They took off running, dodging shots as they did. Bursting into the night they ran full force back to the van. Logan strapped Storm in and threw Bobby towards the driver's seat."Go, get back to the base. Don't slow down for anything"

"What about Kitty?"

"I'm going back for her, now move" Logan disappeared into the trees amid the sounds of gunfire. Bobby stared after him only a moment before gunning the engines and making his way back to base. In the back seat Storm had yet to move.

(*)

They were back at the Westwego detention center late the next night. They waited patiently in amongst the trees looking for the perfect opening before attempting another break in. When it came they moved quickly and efficiently, as if they had been a team all their lives and not just the past month. Once inside they headed straight to the single cell in the circular hall not sparing a glance for the empty cells along the way.

A figure stood inside the cage, but it wasn't the cocoa skinned goddess trapped before them. Standing with her arms wrapped tightly around her small frame was Kitty.

"Kit! Ya'll right Gal? Where's Storm?"

"Rogue, Thank God. Get me out" tear tracks stained the pretty girls face

Gambit was back at the controls working through the complex coding system while Rogue murmured softly to the frightened girl. A few minutes passed in which Rogue's distress grew. Kitty didn't know where Storm was, or the rest of the team for that matter. The details of her capture weren't much more than a haze in her memory.

With a self satisfied grunt, Gambit made a final series of taps on the keyboard and Kitty's cell slid open. He turned towards the two women but as his gaze fell on the smaller girl, his grin died suddenly on his lips.

"An who might you be" he questioned while taking Rogue's arm and tugging her back so he stood between her and Kitty.

"Remy, what are you talkin about? It's Kit..."she trailed off as Kitty's form dissolved and grew to reveal a blue skinned mutant.

"Mystique, I should have guessed. Storm was never even here was she?"

Mystique merely smiled her haunting smile "Destiny predicted this moment. She knew you would save me"

"Did she know you'd have to trick me to do it?"Rogue sneered.

"Don't be so dramatic Rogue. There is …much more in play here than your ….petty complaints about my maternal skills. You have become a … very prominent figure in the future of mutants." Her breaths were coming in short rasps and she kept one arm wrapped tightly around her lower ribs.

Rogue eyed the shape shifter warily with a hint of despair. What do you mean Mystique?"

The alarm sounded then and Gambit was grabbing her arm and pulling her from the room.

Their escape was not as flawless this time around and they were forced to face a small group of armed guards. Somewhere in the shuffle of falling bodies they managed to lose Mystique on their way out of the building.

Rogue wrapped her arms around herself for comfort "What do you think she meant Remy?"

"Don't know Chere. Don't really think we should be stickin round to find out" They were off and running before he had finished the sentence, ghosting along the bayou and making their way back to the safe house.

The sound of twigs snapping to their right came too late. As their heads turned to face the invisible threat, out of the trees on their left sprung a monstrous form, slamming into Remy and pinning him to the ground.

"You remember me don't ya Cajun? You an me, we got some unfinished business" the beast sneered.

"RUN CHERE!"

Rogue had turned to fight the hulk attacking Remy giving Mystique a perfect opportunity. The shape shifter darted out of the woods to the girl's right and slammed the syringe into the soft skin of her neck. She watched as Rogue crumpled to the ground.

"Rogue No! Get off of me. ROGUE!" Remy fought desperately against the beast laying across him but it was in vain. Sabretooth rallied several punishing blows to his skull and he was out.

(*)

When Remy came back around, he was still in the bayou. His weapons had been stripped and there was no sign of Mystique or Sabretooth.

Or his Chere.

Rage consumed his body and the trees all around him took on a pinkish glow. His breaths came heavily as anger flowed white hot in his veins. He was supposed to keep her safe. That was his job, the one the Professor had charged him with. In the hands of her deranged foster mother she would be anything but safe.

"no" it was a mere whisper lost amongst the trees.

"No" his declaration was more adamant and the trees flickered.

"NO!" he screamed out and the lighted trees burst in a sudden pulse of energy. Gambit sank to his knees amongst the wreckage. Despair coursed through him as bits of tree flitted down from the sky. He would not leave her to her fate.

Rising painfully to his feet, he took in the destruction of his surroundings. He would find her, and when he did if one hair had been harmed on her head, what he had done to the woods would look like child's play in comparison to what those had taken her would suffer. He knew where he had to go.

He was going home after three long years of exile.

He only hoped they wouldn't kill him before he could plead his case.

(*)

Yikes, things are getting tense!

Thanks to all those who have followed along so far. I think we are just over halfway through

Thanks so much for the reviews guys

Nicci