"Like anyone know how long this is gonna take?" Kitty asked, hugging herself. The room, despite being full, was strangely silent. Jean sighed. "It depends on Rogue," she replied. "How so?" Jubilee asked, glad someone had started a conversation. Jean sighed again. "Rogue's reaction to them being inside her mind." Jean absently rubbed at her temples. "It could be anything." "But, what's the big prob?" Evan asked, "It's not like the Prof's never been inside her head before." "This is different," Jean and Logan replied, simultaneously. Evan looked taken aback. Logan's voice had a dangerous edge to it. Ororo walked over to her nephew and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Evan, hearing the Professor in your mind and having him in your mind are two different things." She smiled. "Understand?" He nodded.

"Ach!" Rahne cried, flopping into a nearby chair, "Isna there a way we could know what's goin' on? I'm gonna go crazy if I dannae find out." "I'm afraid not Rahne," Hank replied, "There is nothing we can do but watch and wait." Rahne huffed and sat back.

Ray was staring at the Professor and his compatriots. "Got a question," he said. "What is it?" Hank asked. Ray's gaze didn't move away, but he tilted his head toward Hank. "If something happens to 'em in Rogue's head, will it show on their bodies, like in the Matrix?" "Ray! The Matrix is a movie! You can't trust a movie!" Jubilee cried. "Hey it's just a question." "Yea a dumb question." Ororo moved to stand between them. "Enough," she said. Ray and Jubilee stared at each other, then they both looked away. "I'm sorry," Jubilee offered. Ray shrugged. "It's okay, you're right. It was a dumb question." "I don't think so," Amara said, "I think it was a good question." "Me too," said Sam. Amara turned to Hank. "So, is it?" she asked. Hank thought about it, then shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure," he replied. "Jean?" Evan asked. Jean shook her head. "No. At least I don't think so." She ran a hand deftly through her hair. "I really don't know that much about it." "But, haven't you been training extra with the Professor?" Jubilee asked. "Yes. But, this is different. Going into people's minds, actually going in them is dangerous. Only for the advanced." She shook her head. "I'm no where near accomplishing anything this big."

"How dangerous is it Jean?" Scott asked, from across the room. Jean exhaled. "Dangerous." She sighed. "Like I said before, anything can happen. Absolutely anything. A person's mind isn't anything like the real world. There are no rules, no law, just will. It's the only way to survive." Jean looked at Kurt and Pietro. "What I'm most worried about is the Professor's decision to bring them in with him." Everyone turned to look at them. "Neither of them are telepaths. And Pietro isn't really good with authority…" "He knows better than to misbehave in something as important as this," Scott said, "Give him some credit. He cares about Rogue, he's not going to do anything to hurt her." Everyone stared at him, a few slackjawed. Scott looked at them. 'What?!' was written all over his face. Logan chuckled. "Ever the optimist, eh Slim?" Realization dawned on Scott, and he blushed slightly. He'd been defending Pietro's honor! Pietro. The enemy. But, Scott had stopped seeing that line a long time ago, at least where Pietro was concerned. He'd seen the way Pietro, cold, conceited, heartless Pietro had fawned over Rogue; helpless and concerned when he thought her ill. Concerned enough to befriend Scott and keep his eye on her. Scott sighed, deciding not to offer anything, and turned to look at them again.

Desperation hung thickly in the air as they all went back to waiting, albeit impatiently. Bobby brought his hands up to his face in a silent prayer, Rogue's hand still clasped between them. Her knuckles pressed against his lips, smooth and soft and warm. Jamie gulped audibly. "Bobby," he said, with wide eyes, "don't move."

A/N: If you haven't already noticed the recurring theme, I don't own The Matrix either. ^.^