Author's notes: Ok. I'm so sorry it took so long to get this next chapter out. Mainly computers problems are to blame (I lost unwritten chapters twice, so frustrating!) and my muse appeared to go on a holiday or something. Anyway, he came back and brought with him the second series of X-Men Evolution (only airing in Ireland now!).

Hope you all enjoy this chapter and endless thanks to everyone who reviewed. Thanks for staying with me! (A special thanks goes out to David Goldsmith, Lyra Silvertongue, Internutter and Sprocket for you especially supportive reviews, thanks guys!)

Kitty woke slowly the next morning. The sun was slowly climbing over the horizon; it's first timid rays caressing the burnt out shell of the once pristine mansion. Breathing deeply, the acrid smell of smoke assaulting her senses, Kitty sighed deeply, afraid to open her eyes and have the harsh reality of the situation burned onto her corneae. Blinking slowly she took in her surroundings; the photos on her dresser curled from the intense heat, her books, singed and smoke stained. Pain constricted her chest as she surveyed the devastation.

She jumped slightly when the covers next to her shifted and moved. Tilting her head, a slight smile graced her face as she observed Kurt's sleeping form. She sighed; his sleep seemed fitful and troubled. A small squeak erupted from her throat when she felt movement under the covers, something snaking around her waist. Gingerly she pealed back the duvet to reveal Kurt's long, dextrous tail. She sighed deeply, how would she have survived this if not for Kurt? He was such a pillar of strength. He mumbled incoherently in his sleep and Kitty mused briefly on whether he dreamed in English or German. She watched with concern as he grimaced, his features contorting. He called out; clutching and twisting the bed covers. "Kurt" she lulled, "Shhh." Hesitantly she reached out and brushed the hair back from his face, stroking his forehead soothingly. She ran the thumb of her other hand along his spade tail, wondering at the silkiness of his fur. Kurt sighed deeply and settled back to a peaceful sleep making Kitty chuckle slightly, biting her lip.

Kurt sighed deeply once more before suddenly, his eyes flew open. He stared horrified at Kitty for what seemed like an eternity before, without warning, teleporting himself across the room. "Kitty!" His voice was unusually high pitched and as far as Kitty could tell he was blushing. He broke eye contact and turned to look out the window, drumming his fingers loudly on the windowsill.

"Kurt, are you, like, ok?" Kitty got off the bed and began to smooth her creased clothing. "What's wrong?" She took a few steps toward him.

"Nothing!" Kurt's voice was now so high pitched it squeaked.

Kitty paused momentarily, shaken by his behaviour. "Kurt, please. Something's obviously wrong."

He continued to stare out the window, refusing to look at her. "Ehhh....it's nothing really. It's.......it's just that...."

"What?"

"My...eh tail, it's a little......eh.."

"What?"

"Eh, it's kinda...."

"Kurt!"

"SENSETITVE." Kurt looked up at her briefly before once more glancing away, casting his eyes over the mansion grounds.

"Oh Kurt, I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you? Let me see. I'm so sorry." Kitty moved towards him again.

Kurt was quicker, expertly he dodged her, placing her chair between them. "Not that kind of sensitive." He replied quietly.

"Oh." Kitty said, sounding slightly confused. Suddenly it dawned on her. "Oooohh. Oh God, eh....mmm...." She laughed nervously, looking around for something to occupy her in the awkward silence that followed.

Minutes dragged slowly by before Kurt summoned the courage to speak. "So what now?" he asked, still sounding mortified.

"I suppose we should go to the hospital. See who....who survived." Kitty blinked her eyes rapidly, tears once more threatening to spill from them. Kurt rubbed her shoulder reassuringly, still a little too embarrassed to risk an embrace. Once she composed herself Kurt teleported them to the front door of the mansion. A chill wind lashed their skin as they took one last look at their home. It looked even more forlorn in the early morning sun. Tattered curtains swayed slowly in the breeze highlighting the glassless windows and vast desolate rooms within. The regal front door hung precariously from its hinges in a parody of the kind and open nature of Professor Xavier and all the other members of their once family.

Slowly they made their way down the drive, their heads hung low, lips silent for what was there to say? As they neared the main road Kurt engaged his holo-watch, a stern reminder of the danger they were both in. They walked a few blocks before reaching a bus stop where they waited in silence. Kurt could see that leaving Kitty (and also himself) to her own thoughts was counter productive. Whenever she went more than a few minutes without even the smallest conversation her eyes would well up, but for her part she would never say anything. Occasionally a tear would slip down her cheek. A woman also occupying the bus stop observed this. She assumed they had had a lovers tiff and smiled inwardly to herself, remembering that first love of hers and all the intense emotions that went with it. Kurt desperately wanted to talk to Kitty, to distract her attention for the awful and unbelievable events of the past few days but he could think of nothing with which to approach her. No words to comfort. After minutes that seemed to drag into hours the bus pulled up to the stop and their anxiety increased as they stepped aboard. In a matter of minutes they would know which of their friends had lived and who had died. The cityscape of their home seemed to blur into nothingness as each minute brought them closer to the awful truth. All to soon the bus pulled up in front of the hospital and they departed. Taking a deep breath, Kurt risked clasping Kitty's hand in his and together they entered the sterilised halls. After a brief explanation they were given directions to the survivors of the institute fire. They had yet to be identified as they were both still unconscious, cruelly extending their agonising wait for the truth.

They both waited outside the private rooms allocated to the survivors. Eventually Kurt squeezed Kitty's hand and shaking walked into the room. It was dazzlingly white, smelling of disinfectant and fresh flowers. They walked up to the bed hand in hand, Kitty lagging somewhat behind. Storm lay unmoving in the bed. Neither knew how to feel. How could they be happy to see Storm knowing five of their friends had perished? Unfortunately Storm looked terrible. Drips were inserted in her hands and inner elbows. A tube was down her throat connected to a machine that made a harsh sighing sound, breathing for her tired, injured lungs. Her eyelids were taped closed. Her skin was pale and her lips chapped. Storm, revered once as a God, always beautiful and elegant, lay broken in a New York hospital bed. Kitty moved in front of Kurt and took one of Storm's delicate hands in her own, sitting in a chair next to the bed. She rubbed her thumb across the thin knuckles, smiling slightly as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hey Storm, you look great." Her voice cracked and she fell forward resting her head next to Storm's inanimate body. Kurt rubbed her back reassuringly, struck dumb. They remained silent for some time, Kitty sobbing quietly. Kurt had never felt so lost in his life, not some much because of their present predicament but more because of his inability to comfort Kitty. Over the years they had become such close friends, spending most of their free time together, hanging around the mansion and getting on everyone's nerves, particularly Logan's. He was the joker, the wise cracker, never took life seriously and teased others that did so. But who was he now? His humour had perished along with the others in the fire that had ravished their home. He knew not how to react, how to bring solace to Kitty in this, the worst of times. In his moments of insight Kurt acknowledged he was a thinker, he was just as serious as Scott and with good reason. He was a mutant, but a painfully obvious one. As a child he had been treated well by the other members of the circus, but as any child, he was fully aware of his differences. People loath to touch him, to shake his three fingered hand, and though he understood this to be fear of the unknown, it ate away at his sense of being. He was born of human parents but was that enough to make him human? More than any other mutant he was aware he stood out. He knew truly other mutants were badly off, Rouge was incapable of physical contact but would anyone ever want to touch him? The mask of the joker expertly hid these apprehensions from others yet it served as a barrier too. He couldn't let others in for fear of getting to close, of them finding out how truly scared and alone he really felt.

He sighed deeply and sat next to Kitty, hoping that even though he could offer no words of comfort perhaps his presence would provide at least some reassurance. Kitty echoed his sigh and sitting up rested her head on his shoulder, still gently clutching Storm's hand.

"Do you think she's going to be ok?" Her voice was hoarse and throaty.

Kurt surveyed Storm, eyeing apprehensively the machine breath for her. "I hope so."

"She looks so small." Kitty breathed.

Kurt could not stifle the chuckle that rose in his chest. Shocked Kitty turned to look at him, a question marring her brow. "I'm sorry Katzchen, but that is funny coming from you." Kurt's grin did not quite reach his eyes, yet it was present all the same.

Kitty stared wide-eyed at him for some time, before playfully poking him in the ribs. "Hey, you're hardly Colossus yourself, mister." This time Kurt laughed openly, throwing back his head and closing his eyes with mirth. When he resolved himself and looked back to Kitty she was smiling brightly at him, the true smile reserved for special times. Kurt knew Kitty was unaware of this secret smile and how each time he saw it his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't resist, and so he reached out and cupped Kitty's face with his hand, smiling almost sadly and sighing deeply. Kitty smiled back at him, closing her eyes and resting her head against his hand. As Kurt watched her relax and begin to resemble the carefree Kitty of before he resolved to protect her, no matter what. Right now all they had was each other.

They were startled by the door swiftly opening and a large nurse who looked just as surprised to see them as they her barred the door. "Who in the devil are you?" Her voice was deep and she made no effort to disguise her annoyance.

"Eh, we know Orora." Kurt explained as they both stood to face the imposing woman before them.

"Oh you do, do ye?" She eyed them wearily as she began working with the various machines attached to Storm. "It goes without saying you know who she is then." She stared down Kurt.

"Yes"

"Well then, make yourselves useful and give her information to the porter." She continued to inspect Storm. Kurt and Kitty however had not moved. "We're giving her an examination right now so you can't be in her, ok?" Her tone softened slightly. "The most helpful thing you can do right now is give her details."

They both nodded and exited the room, casting a fleeting glance at Storm as they went. Once they left the room Kurt headed straight for the porter's desk before being roughly stopped by Kitty tugging on his arm. "Kurt wait. Some government agency or something is targeting mutants, right? Do you think it's a good idea to just give out Storm's details like that?"

Kurt smiled sadly at her. "Good thinking Kitty. Nice and paranoid! Wolverine would be proud." He glanced at the room containing the other survivor and back to Kitty, a silent invitation. Together they entered, this time about to find out the exact fate of their friends. This room was dissimilar to the other. The curtains were drawn and the room was only lit by the eerie glow of medical machinery. As their eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness they could make out a male figure lying unconscious on the bed. Tentatively they approached him. It was Logan. Somehow it was even more pitiful to see him lying unconscious in the highly sterilised room than it had Storm. He looked quite like Storm, various wires and tubes were attached to his arms and chest. He, also had a tube down his throat forcing air into his lungs. Unlike Storm he was strapped to the bed with sturdy leather straps.

"Wolverine must have been badly hurt if he is still unconscious." Kurt surmised as Kitty took the chair closest the bed. He retrieved one from the corner and joined her.

"Why do you think they restrained him then? I mean if he's, like, unconscious, what's the point?" Kitty picked at the restraints suspiciously. While Kurt pondered this she got up and walked to the end of the bed. Checking the door first, she picked up Logan's chart and began leafing through it. "Huh."

"What?" Kurt had been watching her activity with some interest.

"He's been given a sedative."

"Maybe he woke up and was been aggressive? Wait, there's no maybe about it, this is Wolverine we're talking about!" Kurt replied sarcastically.

"But that's all he's been given. No other drugs, nothing. Only a sedative. Why would they only give him a sedative, it doesn't make sense!" Kitty began pacing back and forward, turning pages on the chart, searching for clues to Logan's treatment.

"Are you sure that's a sedative? You're not a doctor, you know." Kurt remained doubtful.

"Hello, I think I know a bit about medicine, thank you very much!" She did not sound to pleased with Kurt's scepticism. He refrained from questioning her further, Kitty was pretty smart and these things were her field.

"Ok, so they've sedated him. Why?" Kurt watched as Kitty approached one of the drips attached to Logan's arm.

"I don't know but there's only one way to find out." Kurt watched fascinated as she inspected the bag of liquid. Next she picked up Logan's unmoving hand and examined the needle inserted there. "Sorry Logan." In one swift movement she had extracted the long needle from the back of his hand and let go of it so that it swung free, dripping clear liquid on the floor.

"Kitty!" Kurt whispered harshly through clenched teeth. "What are you doing? What if he needs that?"

"This is Logan here, Kurt! I've seen him heal from a skull fracture in a matter of seconds! If he made it out of that fire there is absolutely no reason he isn't conscious! He's, like, indestructible!" Kitty couldn't bring herself to look Kurt in the eye, instead she watched Logan with morbid fascination. Kurt suspected her lack of eye contact was really due to lack of conviction, but did not voice his concern. Instead they both watched for any sign of movement from the inanimate X-man. For his part Logan remained immobile and unconscious.

Minutes dragged into hours with still no movement from Logan. Throughout this time neither Kurt nor Kitty spoke. He suspected she was beginning to doubt her earlier assertions but left her in silence. He wasn't convinced as she had appeared to be, yet he still had his hope and that had kept him going throughout the hours with no sign of change of Logan's condition. Kurt began to shift in his seat, shaking his leg incessantly and biting his lip. After a few minutes of these distractions Kitty looked up questionly at him.

Once Kurt noticed her eyes on him he looked around him, embarrassed. "I need to pee."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Is that all?"

Kurt grinned at her and got up to leave and go in search of a lavatory.

"The fact that he hasn't changed condition is a good thing Kurt. It means he didn't need that sedative after all." Kitty spoke quietly, grasping Logan's hand, her eyes never leaving his face.

Kurt merely smiled before exiting the room. Once he relieved himself he bought some high sugar content snacks for them in one of the over priced vending machines. Neither of them had eaten in hours, although this only occurred to him as his stomach grumbled passing by the teeth rotting food. Feeling very proud of his ingenuity he carried his load back to Logan's room, preparing mentally for the chastising he would receive from Kitty for his choice in unhealthy food. He stopped however upon reaching Storm's room. The door was open and numerous men in military attire now occupied it. Two men dressed in suits were talking to what Kurt assumed to be one of the hospital doctors. One he recognised instantly as the doctor from their ski trip. In an instant he hid himself behind the door and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Well, to be honest, I've haven't noticed any symptoms of any kind of virus in these two patients. We treated them for minor smoke inhalation but their injuries are not serious. Are you sure these are the people you're looking for Mr....?" Kurt assumed it was the hospital doctor speaking.

"Quite sure, Dr. Ende. Are they both properly sedated?" The man from their ski trip spoke next, send chills of panicky fear down Kurt's spine.

"Oh, yes. No worries there. Although I don't see why-?"

"And the other one, the male. Him too?" He cut off the doctor.

"Yes, yes and restrained although there's no point. The dosage of tranq you insisted upon is enough to knock out a small elephant!"

"Thank you Dr." The other man spoke now, the one Kurt had never seen before. "All right, suit her up and lets get her to Coop" The change in his voice signalled to Kurt that he was speaking to someone else.

"Hey, wait I want to-" The doctor was cut short, for what reason Kurt didn't wait to find out as at that moment he heard foot steps approaching. Instantly he teleported into Logan's room, not even checking for possible witnesses to his mutant power. Once he re-appeared he dropped the snacks and searched for Kitty. To his complete amazement she was helping Logan sit up. Hearing his re-enter she turned to greet him, her voice fell silent in her throat, however, when she took in Kurt's demeanour.

"Oh my God, Kurt! What's wrong?" She still supported Logan, who was shaking his head and blinking slowly and deliberately.

"When did Wolverine wake up? Is he ok?" Kurt moved closer to the older man.

"He's fine, a little groggy but that should clear up soon." She answered impatiently. "What's up with you? Are you ok?"

Kurt didn't know how to verbalise their present problem, he didn't want to panic Kitty further but he had no time for such considerations. "That doctor, from back on the mountains. He's here, in with Storm. I think they're taking her somewhere. They'll be in for Logan next!"

"What?" Logan sounded out raged, and moved to stand before losing his balance and grabbing both the bed and Kurt for support.

"Oh my God! We have to get out of here!" Kitty began breathing rapidly although she kept her composure.

" I can port us down a floor." Kurt took a hold of both Kitty and Logan and prepared to port before suddenly Logan wrenched his arm free and backed off from him.

"The hell you will without Storm, bub!" He made his way to the door, swaying slightly yet seeming more alert with each passing second.

"Logan there are about eleven men in there not to mention hospital staff. It's too dangerous." Kurt followed him.

"Number one rule of the X-men, elf, never leave a man behind."

Before either Kurt or Kitty could respond Wolverine had knocked the door off it's hinges and run into the hall. Kitty ran after him, followed instantly by Kurt who quickly disengaged him holo-watch and pocketed it. If they got out of this he might need it later and sometimes the few seconds a person was startled by his true appearance was just enough to gain the upper hand.

They burst into the crowded room, shocking the occupants with their sudden appearance. Wolverine immediately began fighting with two armed officers, reducing their weapons to scrap iron in a matter of seconds. He then turned on the men, knocking the first flying out the door and down the hall, where he crashed into the reception area. The other man had only time to stare at his fallen colleague before Logan knocked him unconscious with a blow to the back of the head. One of the officers swung his gun at Kitty, who phased on impact causing him only to hit a fellow officer, rendering him unconscious, with a large head wound bleeding profusely. Her attacked fell to the ground with the shock of passing through an apparently solid girl and she finished him off with a swift kick to the head.

A young officer cowered in the corner, screaming loudly into his walky talky. "Team Epsilon, requesting back up. This is Epsilon, we are under attack, I repeat we are under attack. Request IMMEDIATE bac-" Kurt teleported in front of him, his canines flashing. The man stared at his demon appearance, prettified before falling in a blind faint.

"The state of the military, no wonder-" His witty retort was cut short by two officers grabbing him from behind. They wrestled him over to the bed and pushed his face into the covers. Roughly they pulled his arms behind his back and handcuffed them.

"Keep an eye on him." The elder of the two officers told the other before running to help to doctor from the ski trip, now cornered by Wolervine.

"I thought they said they had the wolervine sedated!" He called frantically to the officer approaching, eyeing Wolervine as the feral X-man stalked him.

Wolervine inhaled through his nose, never taking his eyes of the man cowering before him. "I smell fear." He straightened his arms in one quick jerk, freeing the adamantium claws within. The doctor's eyes widened in fear and he soiled his trousers before fainting. The officer coming to his rescue was stopped savagely by Wolverine as he hit him hard with the back of his hand. The man crumpled to the floor, his nose broken, cartilage protruding.

The man guarding Kurt swallowed nervously as Wolverine efficiently took down two other officers, aided slightly by Kitty. He backed away from the scene and accidentally bumped into Kurt. He turned rapidly only to find Kurt rubbing his now freed hands together. "Did I ever tell you I grew up in a circus?" He asked twirling the hand cuffs around one finger. The man watched him for an instant before jumping the bed and fleeing the room altogether. "Hey!" Kurt called after him, before turning to survey the damage. Nine men lay unconsciousness and bleeding in the room before him. He wondered briefly where the other was before he caught a glimpse of him slumped against the desk outside the room. It was only them he noticed a siren wailing out in the hallway.

"Come on." Wolverine retracted his claws and walked over to Storm. "So you think she's gonna be ok, half pint?" He asked, worry etched across his face.

"I..I think so. From this chart it seems she's only sedated too." Kitty placed the chart on the bed and eyed Storm apprehensively. "But she hasn't got you're healing powers Mr. Logan. I can't say from certain she'll be ok."

"The hospital doctor said you two were only sedated. That there was nothing else really wrong, besides minor smoke inhalation." Kurt repeated what he had over heard.

"Only one way to find out." Logan approached the bed and with gentleness unimaginable for such a man, extracted the needle from Storm's hand. Kitty joined him in removing the other various tubes and wires. Once Storm was free from the medical restraints Logan picked her up and checking the hallway exited the room. Kitty and Kurt followed closely. "No offence, squirrel, but you go first. Seeing a blue elf running past might give 'em a good fright and that'll give us time."

Kurt nodded, unseen by Logan, and bounded on all fours to the front. The hospital was more or less deserted as they were nearing the end of visiting hours. They only ran into a nurse, who dropped the stainless steel tray she and been carrying upon seeing the trio, before they reached the elevator. Kurt pushed the button for the first floor while waiting for the other two to enter. Once inside Logan shifted Storm's weight slightly on his shoulder and leaned against the carpeted walls. It was clear he had still not full recovered from the effects of the sedative.

"Wait, hold the lift, hold the lift!" A voice boomed down the hall. The three visibly tensed and Kurt began frantically pushing the "close doors" button. The doors had almost closed when the owner of the voice reached the evaluator and jammed his hand inside, forcing the door open. They moved back to reveal a young, tired looking doctor. He eyed the four occupants amazedly, the blue, skinny boy covered in fur and in a slight crouch, the wild-looking short man carrying an unconscious black woman with snow white hair to the perfectly ordinary looking young girl with the high ponytail.

"Eh, going down?" she asked.

The young doctor nodded in the affirmative, his mouth hanging open in shock, and watched as the doors chimed closed whisking the occupants away. He would later quit medicine and go live far out in the countryside, away from people and with more scruffy dogs than anyone has right to.

When the doors opened again the sight of the much-occupied lobby greeted them. A crowd was waiting to enter the elevator but they all moved far back as the remaining X-men bounded out the doors and made a break for the exit. People and medical staff moved far back to allow them passage, earning them a cheeky grin from Kurt. Once safely out of the hospital Logan made a dash for the nearest vehicle, a large Chevy with mud staining most of it's paint work. Silently Wolverine handed Storm to Kurt and proceeded to punch through the glass of the window, shredding the skin of his hand as he did so. The wound had healed by the time he pulled up the lock and opened the door.

"Oh my God, Mr. Logan. You can't steal that car!" Kitty sounded out raged.

"All's fair in love and war, half pint." He replied as he began to fiddle around with the wires under the dashboard.

Kitty looked to Kurt for support. He merely shrugged, nearly dropping Storm in the process. Kitty sighed and took one of Storm's arms helping Kurt support her. Within a few seconds the engine roared to life.

"Ok, load her up" Wolverine called from the front, taking Storm from Kurt and sitting her nearest the window. Kitty and Kurt followed. "You know, half pint, if you really objected to me stealing this car, you'd probably be walking right now." He smirked sideways at her, whilst revving the engine.

Kitty made no reply, but scowled out the window.

Kurt sighed, literally and physically caught in the middle. "Where are we going?"

"Home" Wolverine answered gruffly.

Kurt and Kitty exchanged looks. Neither had the heart to tell him they didn't have a home anymore.