A/N: Hello, anyone still out there? lol. I am so sorry for not updating sooner. I really have no excuse other than I've been working in the Criminal Minds fandom these days and this story just kept getting put on hold. I'm hoping with this chapter I'll get back into the swing of things and hopefully there will be some quicker updates.
So, if you're still with me, thank you very much. And please let me know what you think about the chapter (or my crappy updating skills). Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men.
Chapter 43:
Warren looked over at a glowing Rogue. They'd just done Rogue's ultrasound and she couldn't take her eyes off the pictures Hank had printed out for her.
"Thanks for being here for meh, Warren," she startled him out of his thoughts. She surprised him further when she turned her head and placed a kiss on his cheek. Her full lips against his skin were almost more than he could handle.
She pulled back, giving him a huge smile. She really had no idea how she affected him, did she?
"You're… uh… welcome," he stuttered out.
After thinking about her for the past couple of nights he was starting to believe that maybe it wasn't just her new charismatic aura that was drawing him to her. He couldn't seem to get enough of being with her. He knew now that he was probably falling for her.
She laughed suddenly. "Why so serious?"
Caught off guard, he began to blush. He looked down, attempting to hide it. Instead, his gaze fell on her still exposed belly, the scars glistening with the gel. He felt anger, suddenly, at what had been done to her.
"Hey," she said gently, taking hold of his hand. "Ah'm fahne now."
He caught her gaze in his own hoping to convey how much it hurt him to see her hurt, how scared he was that he cold possibly help to do this to her.
"Uh…" Rogue's turn to stutter, she looked quickly away. "Uh… ah should get off this table shouldn't ah?" She laughed nervously.
He took hold of her hand before she swung off the table.
"Rogue—"
"Warren," she cut him off.
They stood like that, staring at each other, something electric passing between them. Warren couldn't really decipher the look she was giving him. But there was definitely confusion mixed with something else. Something that started to draw him towards her.
The sound of throat clearing drew him back to his senses. He let go of her abruptly and they both turned around to see Logan standing in the doorway.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"Logan," Rogue exclaimed in surprise. "What are ya doing here?"
He gave her a wry smile. "I came to see the kid, remember? It looks like I missed all the fun. Everything all right down here?"
Warren watched Logan's suspicious eye go from Rogue to land on him.
"It's fahne Logan," she said approaching him. She took hold of one of his hands and started to attempt to drag him. "Come on; ah've got pictures ya can look at."
Logan took a couple of steps then turned out of her grasp. "I'll meet you upstairs Rogue. I've got to talk to Angel boy for a sec."
Rogue turned to grimace at his back and then threw Warren an "Is this ok?" look. He nodded, not wanting to stress her out. She let out a huff, showing how displeased she was with the situation and then left the infirmary.
Warren refocused his gaze on Logan. The man was not smiling now.
"Look, Logan—" Warren started to hedge.
"No, you look bub," Logan growled out. "I don't know you very well… but what I do know is you're supposed to be some kind of angel. So act like it!"
"Logan," Warren tried again. "What you walked in on was nothing, all right?"
"It better had been nothing," Logan grunted. "Rogue does not need anything else to complicate her life. She's got Scott; she's got the kid, that's all she needs."
"I know," Warren answered, sheepishly.
What had he been thinking?
"So, if you're going to be her friend, then be her friend. Otherwise," he paused, and Warren jumped back a bit at the sound of Wolverine's claws popping out. "We'll have to do something drastic. And we wouldn't want that, right?"
Warren shook his head.
"Good," Logan answered, pulling his claws back in. "It was good talking to you."
Logan walked out of the infirmary, leaving Warren to wonder why he was making a mess out of everything.
Magda was anxious and nervous. She absolutely hated feeling this way. She knew it was only a matter of time before the X-men caught up to her and waiting in that damned tiny apartment the whole day did not help her jitters. At least she'd been alone.
She'd allowed Essex to do what he had to get Remy and the Morlock under his control so they could get the hell out of there. She hated feeling powerless. She'd been careless with the usage of her powers, first getting them out of Bayville and then the mind control she'd used over her two horsemen. She was utterly fried. The only power she had at the moment was Jean's and that was weak as well. She'd breathe a sigh of relief when they were back in Bayville; by then her powers should have returned and she'd be that much closer to Rogue and her baby and Apocalypse would be that much closer to returning. Oh how good it would feel to be by his side again.
"This way, Mistress," she heard Veil mumble.
Magda shook her head to get out of her reverie. She saw Veil point down yet another hallway. Veil had bribed an airport worker to show her a back route into the hangar that Exodus's jet would be parked in. She looked behind her at a glazed eyed Remy and matching Calysto, and the pale Essex and knew that the less people who saw them the better. Not many people for the X-men to question. She'd have to reward Veil somehow for her individual, quick thinking.
"Why are we doing this again?" she heard Essex's annoyingly dour voice say from behind.
"Because," she said, long-sufferingly. She thought he was supposed to be some kind of mastermind genius. "We're a pretty conspicuous bunch, don't you think? If we were to walk through the airport we'd be noticed. And right now we don't want to be noticed. Not unless you're willing to forfeit the entire plan and anger our master."
She hoped that shut him up. She really hated the sound of his voice.
"And Exodus should be here?" Essex asked.
She looked back at him; he had a sinister looking grin on his face. He was enjoying annoying her. God, she yearned for the day that she could roast him like a pig.
"His jet should be here," she corrected, "That's all I care about."
"Me too," he agreed, cheerfully.
She eyed him warily over her shoulder. She hoped he could see the daggers she was mentally shooting at him. Die, die, die, she silently chanted in her head.
A wave of disapproval flowed through her and she knew it was Apocalypse. Her connection with him allowed her to feel his feelings and vice versa. Right now, he wanted her to calm the hell down.
But it was so hard when Essex was being so trying. However, for Apocalypse she would attempt anything, so for him she ceased her silent mantra.
"Mistress?" Veil said urgently.
Magda looked to her faithful follower and saw that they'd reached a door.
"We're here," Veil added.
Magda grinned as they opened the door to find it led to an outside hangar. And there waiting for them, just as she'd planned was a jet. She couldn't help it when she shot Essex a smug look. Take that, she thought, ungraciously. She felt Apocalypse sigh with disappointment.
She shook her head. He was right, what was with these childish thoughts?
As they walked towards the jet she took the moment to probe her mind. Wary of what she might find. She had a suspicion… she had a vague idea of what was going on.
Going into her astral plane, she floated through it, scanning intently for any sign of…
There she was, Jean Grey. Red hair floating around her, she was standing up ahead; free of the cage she'd thrown her into back when she'd first possessed the woman in Egypt.
"Hello Magda," Jean said, voice sizzling with anger. "Surprised?"
Damn, her drain on power must have allowed her to get free.
Magda shrugged, flicking back her own black hair over her shoulder. "I'm only surprised you haven't faded away yet. Do so, please. You're not getting out ever again. This body is mine, now."
Jean stood steadfast. "I'm not going to let you hurt my friends," she shouted, a staff materializing in her hand. "You're plans for Rogue's baby is sick. I won't let you use her like that!"
So, she'd been free long enough to know what was happening in the real world. Hmm…
"You mean the baby she created with the man you love," Magda said snidely. "You mean Rogue and Scott Summers' baby?"
She had the satisfaction of seeing Jean falter a step back. It was working.
"I did you a favour, you know. This way you don't have to see them kiss and be in love. It's disgusting, really," Magda continued. "You're welcome."
"You… you… bitch!" Jean exclaimed, swinging the staff at her head. She missed.
Magda materialized her own staff. "What? I'm only telling you the truth. I had nothing to do with them sleeping together. That was all them. The Professor gave them their magic potions and they just went at it. Do you want the details? I've seen them in their minds."
Jean let out a scream and ran at her again. This time Magda had to defend herself. She matched Jean blow for blow. She did not have time for this; she had a plane to catch.
"How did you get out?" Magda asked nonchalantly, between swings.
"Your. Not." Jean started, punctuating each word with a blow to Magda's ribs. She stumbled back. "As in control as you think you are!"
Magda recovered. Hmm… That was not good news. "Well, I'm going to have remedy that."
She swung her staff at Jean's knees. Jean went down. Now, to cage her again.
"Mistress!" she heard Veil yell.
Magda, momentarily distracted, looked outwards to see that they had company. Damn it, Scott Summers and those idiot X-men were headed their way.
She felt a surge of triumph come from inside and Magda realized now that some of Jean's feelings were blending in with her own. Not good.
Going inwards again, she saw Jean standing once again looking smug.
"Sorry Jean, I don't have time for this," she murmured. "Apocalypse, grant me strength."
She felt a surge of power and then she held her hand out towards her righteous counterpart.
"No!" Jean screamed. A tight cage started to form around the red-head. "No. You can't do this Magda! I will get out! I will—"
Overtop of the cage, Magda threw a box on top.
"Shut up," Magda murmured, hostilely.
It was only a temporary fix; she needed to get her powers back to put Jean away permanently. But right now her main concern was on the outside.
Magda once again looked to the outside, and she saw that they were almost upon them.
"Move!" she shouted. "The jet, let's go!"
Well that's it for this one. Hope you all liked.
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter: Aipom4; Anonymous; GohanRULEZ; Mark C (he definitely does; can't forget that Magda is really Jean, right…); Ryromaniac; D . Torres (I'm really good at drawing out the suspense. Lol.); and Celeste Belle (don't know if soon is in my vocabulary. Lol.)
Thanks again!
