He woke up too late.

He knew it when he opened his eyes, his blurry vision clearing as he stared at the open door.

He didn't remember much, but he did remember her green eyes when she spoke to him, and her brown ones when she knocked him out.

"I wish I could love you, Warren, like you love me. But…I can't. I can't love anyone else but him. That's why I have to do this. You're going to find a girl because you are the most amazing man. You're going to find that girl for you. You're going to find the most amazing girl that you love and who loves you. You're going to find a girl that can give her entire heart to you. But…I am not that girl Warren. I love you so much, but I can't love you with everything I have. Everything I have belongs to him. If he wants to be able to touch…I will give everything I am to that and let him touch. I will die…for him. I will die…to love him. To save him."

He groaned as he rolled over, getting up on all fours. He let out a breath, trying to remember what had just transpired. What had she been talking about? How could she die?

He sat there for the longest moment, thinking.

That's how Scott found him.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked, looking at him strangely. Warren glanced up, his face calm as he spoke to the man. "I am thinking, you mind?"

Scott shrugged and started walking away. Warren watched as he stopped and turned around. "I was looking for Rogue. Have you seen her?" Warren sneered. "Why?"

"I wanted to tell her that…in the danger room…" He hesitated. "You were sorry?" Warren asked, wondering if Scott actually cared. Scott looked up, taken aback. "Sorry? Hardly. I wanted to tell her to be careful next time she's around Jean. Rogue could hurt her." Warren scoffed. "typical." he muttered. He struggled to his feet and the wince of pain had Scott asking again, "What are you doing?"

"I was sitting here wondering the same thing." he muttered, glancing at the open door again. His memory was flashing back slowly, and in it, he saw her.

"I will die…for him. I will die…to love him. To save him."

He glanced at the clock on the wall and let out a curse. An hour was wasted. Warren began stalking out the door with every intention to get Rogue back.

"Hey! What're you doing?" Scott yelled, reaching out a hand to wrap around Warren's arm to jerk him back. "I am going to save Rogue, Scott." Warren said, turning and his eye flashed as he glared at the man.

Scott paled, and for one moment, he felt the familiar tug of worry and protectiveness that came over him whenever Rogue was concerned. Something slid over his mind and his face remained impassive when he asked, "From what?"

Warren saw the change and it angered him more the way Scott could slide from concerned to not giving a shit. He pulled his arm out of Scott's grip. "it's none of your business." He muttered, turning to walk out again. "Hey! We're not done talking!" Scott yelled, grabbing him again.

Warren turned and his arm swung out, landing a punch on the side of Scott's face. Scott let go and stumbled back. "If you even care a little bit for Rogue, stay away from her." Warren growled, turning to walk once more. Scott regained his senses and clamped a hand on Warren shoulder to turn him around. Warren turned and Scott landed a punch to his gut. He lost his breath, bending over as he clutched the fist. He jerked, sending Warren sprawling on the floor. He stood up fully and glared down at the blonde man. "Stay away from her? What do you think I've been doing since Jean came back? I am trying to love Jean and that stupid child is in my head constantly! I am always worried about her, always wondering what trouble she's gotten into, or longing to just…just touch her!"

Warren stumbled to his feet. "It's called love, Scott! You love Rogue!" Warren screamed. He knew what it was.

Because it was what he felt every time he was near Rogue too.

Scott shook his head. "I don't love Rogue."

"Would you stop lying to yourself?" Warren yelled, grabbing Scott by the collar. "Lying to myself? Tell Rogue to stop lying to herself! I don't care about her!" Scott yelled, trying to tug away.

Warren let go, only to swing his fist again. He grunted with satisfaction when it made contact and Scott stumbled back. "That's complete bullshit and you know it!" Warren yelled, running to catch him by the collar again. "You loved her! You meant something to her!" He pushed and Scott staggered back. "How can you just not love her so suddenly?" Warren screamed, continuing to push Scott. Scott pushed back, his voice rising as he yelled back. "I love Jean!"

"Bullshit! You love Rogue!"

"I loved Jean since we were kids! I've loved everything she was!"

"That thing in there isn't Jean and you know it! Jean is dead!" Scott reached out and tried to stop Warren's onslaught. "Jean is here! She's alive! She's all I want in life!"

"So the last year meant nothing!" Warren asked, an image of Rogue flashing through his mind.

That last year, Warren…Scott saved me. He saved me from becoming something I wasn't.

"Rogue meant nothing?" He asked, throwing another punch at Scott. Scott dodged and Warren felt pain when Scott's fist slammed into the side of his face. "That last year was a fluke! I feel nothing in my heart but what I feel for Jean! Jean is everything!"

"So, tell me Rogue means nothing! Tell me what Rogue feels means absolutely nothing to you!" Warren screamed, throwing another punch. He missed, and in frustration shouted, "Tell me you can stand the fact that she'll hate you forever!"

Something shifted in Scott's mind, and for a moment, he hesitated.

Warren saw it and took his chance. "Tell me you don't want to hear her say that she loves you, Scott! Tell me!"

Scott shook his head, and his mind cleared. "I don't care what Rogue thinks of me." He whispered, his voice low and final. "I don't care what happens to her either." he began walking away, raising the edge of his wrist to wipe his bleeding lip. He passed Warren, beginning to walk up the stairs to Jean.

Warren voice stopped him as he turned to catch the words. "What?" He asked, his body suddenly alert. "I asked you, you don't care even if she kills herself? Even if she's thinking of taking the cure, regardless of what it could do to her?" Warren asked over his shoulder, his body tense.

He had a theory…and he was testing it.

Scott turned around fully, and Warren heard with satisfaction as Scott's feet brought him behind Warren. "Run that by me again, Angel-boy."

Warren turned around fully too, and his blue eyes remained unwavering as they stared at Scott. "She's going to take the cure, Scott, because she loves you enough to."

"The cure can kill her-" Scott began, and stopped when Warren shrugged. "Why do you care what Rogue does? Does her dying really matter?" Warren began walking and Scott's hand shot out to stop him. Warren glanced at Scott's face, swearing he could see it as Scott's mind began to shift, to work. "She could die if she takes that cure, and you didn't stop her?" Scott's voice asked, and Warren heard the fear.

He just needed one more push…

"Why does it matter? If she's dead, then she's not a bother anymore, right?" Warren asked, pulling out of Scott's grip. Scott's mind began to bend, his senses coming back to him. At one last attempt to prove his heart wrong, his head spoke. "I fell in love with Rogue to get over Jean, Warren." Warren shook his head, a chuckle close to escaping his lips. "You got over Jean because you fell in love with Rogue, Scott."

There.

Warren watched as Scott's face contorted, the internal battle between the two minds in his head fighting to take control. Scott's hand reached up, grabbing the side of his head as the battle continued. "No." Scott whispered and Warren watched with fascination as Scott began to shake. He fell to his knees, his head screaming as it seemed to split open.

Warren reached forward, trying to help. "Fight it, Scott. Rogue needs you. Come on…you can do this!"

Scott lurched forward, his body jerking as he landed on all fours. "No." Scott said, louder this time, squeezing his eyes shut against the pain. Warren pursed his lips. This had to work.

Scott began breathing heavily, and a sheen of sweat coated his forward. "NO!" he screamed, slamming his head against the floor. Warren let out a shout, and reached forward. "Stop." Scott growled and Warren hesitated. He stepped back and waited.

It was a full ten minutes before Warren heard Scott let out a breath. His body sagged and he rolled onto his back. "Scott…?" Warren asked, stepping forward cautiously. Warren watched as Scott swallowed, his Adam's apple moving visibly. "What?" he grunted, his eyes staring at the ceiling. "Are…Are you Scott?"

"What kind of dumb question is that?" Scott growled, sighing as he rolled back over. He struggled to his feet and glared at Warren. But, Warren wasn't convinced.

"Do you remember…anything?"

"What?"

"The last, I don't know…2 months? Do you remember anything?" Warren asked. Scott scoffed. "It's hard not to." He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "How do you feel for Jean?"

"Who?" Scott asked and lost his breath when Warren crushed him into a hug. "You're Scott! You're really Scott! I can't believe-wait, what am I doing? Rogue!" He turned to run and Scott grabbed him quickly, his grip biting deep into Warren's wrist. "Hey, ow, let go!" Warren screamed, looking at Scott. "What about Rogue?" Scott asked, his entire body on edge. "She's going to take the cure-"

Warren watched as Scott paled. "She's going to take…the cure?" Scott yelled. "You didn't stop her?" Scott shook his head, releasing his death grip. "I'm going. Tell the Professor to find Jean!" Scott yelled over his shoulder, already running out the door. "Find Jean?" Warren yelled, confused. But Scott was already gone. Warren heard the roar of the motorcycle engine before Scott appeared again, bolting down the driveway.

A small smile touched Warren's bruised face and he grimaced when his split lip protested. He laughed. "Oh man, what you do for love." he whispered as he heard Scott ride away.

To save Rogue.

To save their love.

To save his love.