Author's notes:
I had some trouble with this chapter, had to change some things over before putting it up …^^;
Anyway it's done now and I'll be working on the next chapter right after this.
Once more, thank you for taking the time to read my fic and for all the wonderful reviews ^o^!
***
Torn Pages Part 1: Sacrifice
Chapter 3: The broken barrier
There stands A wallA barrier
Between you and me
A barrier
That separates
That keeps
Us apart
A barrier
Of distances
Of coldness
That we dare not cross
A barrier
That was built
Brick upon brick
By both you and me
A barrier
That we'll tear down
That we'll break away
Today…
A barrier
Between us
Broken…
***
Rogue sat next to the bed that Scott rested in.
She'd been greeted by both worry and concern by the others as soon she came back to the institute with Jean and Kurt.
After that, she came up to see how Scott was doing.
Scott didn't look so good.
Sadness washed over her as she saw how pale and in fever the fearless leader of the X Men was.
She could hear his heavy breathing as he lay there.
Breathing,
Breathing in and out as his though his life force seemed to be falling away from him by each breath he took.
Helpless,
That was what she felt as she sat by his side.
Helpless to relieve him of his pain and the agony he was going through.
Scott…Gently touching his face with the tip of her gloved fingers, the moment of when he had encouraged her to go on even if all seemed at loss flashed back in her mind.
"If you still have the strength left to fight, then go on! Nothing is over until it is over…"
That's what he had told her, that's what he had made her believe.
That's what he had done as a leader.
And
Yes, he'd always been there for her,
Understood her…
That was why she had fallen for him...
And now…
It's my turn to return the debt…
"Ah won't let you leave us this easily," she whispered. "Just hang in there…"
Getting up, she slowly walked towards the door.
Taking one last look at him she thought,
We'll be here when you wake up,
All of us…
***
The wind hollered across the decayed territory, lifting and flinging in its path the dust and dead dried leaves.
Rising higher and higher, into the thick grave air that loomed with the fair warning of destruction ahead.
Something else lingered in the hollow echoes of the crying wind, something that threatened to rip the doomed silence apart.
Feelings,
Feelings of those who stood there,
Mixed and in waiting.
The twins stood up on an uphill mound, staring down at the other three before them.
Evan and Kitty had stayed at the institute to take care of things back there while the others came to face the Terror Twins.
"I see you didn't waste time for a rematch," clacked Trieste, the hint of mock pure in her voice.
"Where are the others? Chickened out?"
"We came for the antidote," Jean said bluntly. Neither she nor the others were in any mood for pointless bickering.
Tristen raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his face.
"What makes you think we'll give it to ya that easily?" he asked coolly.
"Because ya will," Rogue told them, her cold green eyes flashing with a dead serious look that caused the twins to shudder slightly.
"Not if you we beat ya first!"
The twins laughed as they levitated off the ground hand in hand they began their combination of psychic power.
"Oh, great. Their doing it again!" groaned Nightcrawler as he felt the energy drawing him and the others to the ground.
Rogue ducked just in time as a beam from Trieste barely missed her shoulder.
She sighed, Scott's life hung in the balance of time and here they were stuck like glue, easy bait for their enemies.
Trieste blasted at them again with numerous beams and not able to evade all of them at once, they got hit – hard.
Jean eventually managed to hold back the beams with her power but at the moment the twins had twice the psychic energy she had meaning she wouldn't be able to last out much longer.
If is this keeps up they'll shut us out like a night lamp and the whole point of this battle would be meaningless…
Rogue could hardly contain her frustration, as she stood there – frozen to the ground as dust rose from it surrounding her and blurring her vision.
She clenched her fists.
Ah can't take this anymore! If Ah don't do somethin' we're gonna lose…and Scott will…
Scott will…
At that moment, the exact same thoughts seemed to echo in both Jean and Rogue's head.
No…
Scott's life depends on this…
No way are we gonna give up this easily!
Both thoughts seemed to bond into one as both girls turned to each other.
Jean and Rogue, once in constant dislike ness for each other, had now a similar goal.
They exchanged knowing glances,
A firm line of understanding flowing between them
Forget what had happened between them; forget the pain that had been caused between them, the differences and everything…all that mattered now was saving his life.
Jean nodded as Rogue gave her a 'thumbs up' sign.
Focusing her attention back to the twins she gave it all she got to hold them down,
To break their psychic field with just enough time to be able to move freely throughout the area.
She felt the burning pain surge through her mind but she ignored it, having put her trust in her teammates.
For a moment the twins faltered but overcame it by raising their powers against her and she knew that if this went on much longer she'd be thrown back.
Just in the dearest moment of the breaking second, having taken complete advantage of the brief situation, Nightcrawler appeared behind the twins with Rogue.
Reaching for the youngest of the twins, Rogue placed both her hands on Trieste's forehead.
The psychic force struck that surrounded the twins struck at her arms but the pain had little meaning as she absorbed the girl's life force wielding it into her own.
Trieste cried out, her eyes blank as she collapsed into Rogue's arms.
The psychic link was broken.
Tristen stared in shock at his sister's state and tried to reach for her but in a flash Nightcrawler had transported them safely to Jean's side.
Scowling and glowering with dark anger, Tristen raised his hand to shoot out his treacherous needles but failed to do so as Jean warned him,
"Unless you give us the antidote I don't think we can ensure your sister's safety. We'll only leave once we have get what we came for - the choice is yours."
Tristen looked helplessly at his twin, hesitating.
As the elder one of the twins he'd taken it as his responsibility to look out for them, vowing to protect her from any harm that might come to her even at the risk of his life.
She'd always protested saying she was old enough to take care of herself, but despite that, she was and always would be to Tristen his little sister that still needed him.
He wouldn't let her down,
Not now not ever.
Taking a deep breath, Tristen slowly nodded.
"Okay…you win. I'll give you the antidote, just let her go."
They nodded in agreement and using Trieste's own powers, Rogue sent the young girl into her brother's arms as he gave up the antidote.
Succeeding in getting the cure in their possession, the X Men proceeded to leave.
Tristen watched as they left, feeling the cold emptiness of the wind blowing against his face.
Gazing at his unconscious sister in his arms he gently whispered,
"Lets go home now…"
Slowly, he walked away from the battle scene, leaving the place empty and alone with its silence once more.
***
Continued in chapter 4…