"We are now searching for the 'X-Geeks' in uncharted territory," Todd commentated in his best Crocodile Hunter voice, "we have spotted one of the species in the garden below and woooooheee! Is she a bigun!"

Down below Rogue kicked at a stone. "Ah don't know wha ah even botha," she muttered, "it's not like we're eva gonna find tham anyway."

"I'm going to try and get a closer look," Todd said. "Now be careful, we don't want to alarm her."

Freddy and Todd crawled through the undergrowth on their stomachs, taking quick peeps every now and then to check their prey's position.

"Alright," Todd continued his bad Australian accent, "we're going to tranquillise this beauty and tag her. Are you ready Terry?"

"Why am I the wife?" Freddy asked.

"Because dogs don't have opposable thumbs and I'm already Steve," Todd answered.

"Oh. Carry on then."

"Ready Terry?"

"Ready."

"Aim and FIRE!"

"OWW! What in tarnation was that!?!"

"What are you doing?" Todd hissed, "you were supposed to hit the birdhouse above her."

"Oh."

"Who's out thar? Is that you Pietro? If it is ah swear ah'll - " Rogue's rant was cut short as the birdhouse hit her on the head, knocking her out.

Todd rushed to her side. "Look at the size of this one! What a gorgeous animal! You'll notice the strange facial coloration's on her lips and eyes. Now this, is to attract a potential mate. The colours chosen by the X-Geek species depend on the mate they want to attract. The mating rituals of this Goth strain of the species is a bizarre and beautiful dance. Now you see, when she wishes to attract a potential mate she will initially turn on it. As the male comes closer she will scream and yell at it whilst waving her arms over the top of her head. It's a very touching sight. But isn't this one a beaut Terry?"

"She certainly is Steve."

"Wonderful," Todd smiled. "Now we'll just put her back where we found her," at this Todd replaced the birdhouse and placed a few leaves artistically across Rogue's body. "Aww, doesn't she look peaceful back in her natural environment? Let's leave her to rest."

"What's our next animal Steve?" Freddy asked.

"Well, it's always a surprise here in the outback, but I think our next one could be the ever impressive Cyclops. But don't be fooled by his appearance Terry. His bark is worse than his bite."

Toby ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

'Where the hell are they!?!' he thought. 'This is stupid. I'm walking around in circles and getting nowhere!'

He paused outside another bedroom from which a soft light glowed. The door to the room was open, showing two beds, one slightly rumpled. Toby yawned despite himself. Glancing up and down the corridor he wandered into the room. A laptop sat beside the rumpled bed and a picture of Kitty with her parents was placed next to it. Across the room Rogue scowled out of a photo of the old X-Men members. Toby smiled. That was Rogue. Always at odds with her team members.

A sick feeling hit Toby's stomach as once again the slightly panicked wondering of where Pietro and the guys (especially Pietro), had got to. He sat down with a quiet thump on the bed; his elbows resting on his knees as his chin rested in his palms. He yawned again. The sleep that had been lying quietly at the back of his mind had crept forward and was sitting thick and heavy just behind his eyes. For a small moment he wondered where the sleep had come from. Then he remembered the 'All Night Table Tennis Tournament' they'd had just the night before. The lack of sleep from that hectic night (which he'd won), plus the added ache of using his power a bit more than he was used to was making it very hard to keep his eyes open. Yawning again Toby stretched out onto Kitty's bed.

'I'll only sleep a few minutes,' Toby promised himself, 'then I'll continue looking for the guys.'

Second later, Toby McGivin was fast asleep, one arm hanging limply over the bed's edge.

"Pietro like, what do you think you're doing!?!" Kitty yelled as soon as Pietro had released her from his grip.

"Don't be angry with us Kitty," Lance pleaded, "please?"

"I'm like, not angry with you Lance."

"Fine. Pick favourites," Pietro sniffed. "I bet you were happy we dragged you away from the clutches of that boring German hairball."

"Well...." Kitty began, covering the small smile that was fast spreading over her face with her right hand.

"I knew it!" Pietro smirked. "I can recognise a damsel in distress any day!"

"Okay," Kitty admitted, "maybe I was like, a little bored. But you shouldn't have done that anyway."

"Alright," Pietro smiled. He sped to Kitty's side and gave her a charming smile. "Kiss and make up?"

"WHY YOU LITTLE!" Lance roared, rushing at Pietro, hands outstretched.

"Oh fucking hell Lance," Pietro snapped, dodging Lance easily, "get a grip."

"Lance like, calm down," Kitty said, resting a gentle hand on the furious senior's chest as she gazed up at him with her blue eyes, "we weren't really going to kiss. Right Pietro?"

"Speak for yourself Pryde. I was looking forward to a little kitty sugar."

Kitty shot him a warning glance. She turned back to Lance. "Please Lance? Calm down. For me?"

Lance's face softened as he glanced down at Kitty's face. "Okay Kitty. For you I won't give Pietro the pounding he so richly deserves." At this he glared at Pietro. Pietro stuck out his tongue.

Lance ignored him and turned back to Kitty. He gave a goofy smile and Kitty smiled back. It seemed to Lance that she was the most beautiful and caring person he'd ever met. Kitty's eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

"AHHH! IT'S WOLVERINE!"

"WHERE!?!" Lance yelped, leaping away from Kitty guiltily.

"Nowhere," Pietro said calmly, "I just couldn't stand the whole mushy, goo-goo eyed thing that was going on. Now, if you would be so kind as to take your mind off Pryde here for 5 seconds, hard as it may be, we have to find the two T's and the big F. Now let's get moving!" As Pietro finished his little speech Kitty began to move off. "Uh-uh-ahhhh!" Pietro sped to Kitty's side and grabbed hold of her wrist. "You stay with us. You're gonna play navigator. Okay sugar?"

"I like, so will not!" Kitty snapped.

"Well, okay," Pietro shrugged, "but I'd hate to think what would happen to Toby if Logan found him before us............."

Kitty chewed her bottom lip for a second and cast a glance at Lance.

"Or, alternatively, if Logan found us and we didn't have a hostage, Lance here could get in a pretty bad way."

'Okay fine," Kitty gave in, "I'll help. I wouldn't want anything to like, happen to Lance......or Toby."

"How kind of you," Pietro smiled. "Now, to the X-Mansion!"

"We're back Professor," Scott said as he and Jean walked back into the dining room. 'We didn't find them. I think they've gone."

"Very good Scott," Xavier nodded. "I'll wait here for the rest of the group. Can you and Jean take the new recruits up to their rooms?"

"Sure Professor. No sweat."

Jean was walking to her room when she heard a soft sigh from Kitty's room.

"Kitty?" Jean frowned, "is that you?" She pushed the door open.

Toby shifted in his sleep as if response to the opening door and snuggled deeper into the pillow.

Jean walked to Toby's side. She sat down softly on the bed and leaned down over him. For a moment she studied his face then she reached out and brushed a strand of his hair out of his eyes.

"Toby..." she whispered into his ear.

"Huhwha!?!" Toby shot straight up, his ice-blue eyes wide in panicked fright, a hand clutched to his chest. His dark ebony hair was in disarray, giving him a cute 'bed' look.

"Hi Toby," Jean smiled coyly.

Toby blinked and turned to look at her. The panicked look got worse and he managed to squeak out, "Jean!"

- - -

Ooh! What is that evil, evil Jean Grey going to do to Toby? And what will happen in the Safari? Will Lance and Pietro find the rest of the guys with the help of Kitty? God, cliff-hangers are great. ^_^