Author's Note: Okay, so this is another filler chapter. It's mostly concentrated on Chris but there is ROMY hinting and… well just read it. You know you want to.  Not that I could blame you, after all I wrote it. Hehe. Or maybe you'll read it despite that. *crickets chirp* Well I think I'm funny. That makes one.

Shout outs!!

Ishandahalf: Sorry I meant to give you props earlier but… my bad. And I LOVE the word UBER!! I use it all the time. You rock and thanks for reviewing my other stories as well.

Green sandels88: Thanks for the review! I hope you like the new chappy.

Rika-Chan: I love Logan's nicknames too. I tried to think of a good one for my OC but "Beanie" was the best I could do. What can I say? Thanks for the props.

Ladychopsticks: I know the 3rd chapter was being mean. I fixed it though. I'm glad you like it so far.

Rogue Pryde: Wow, you might give me a big head. I'm glad you like it! Means a lot.

UnMedicated One: Well, when you offer sugar, how could I say no? I'm hurrying with the chapters.

Barbara Ruiz: I think Scott is too dense to realize that Rogue liked him. It's more like he was on the receiving end of Rogue's sarcastic comments and he didn't appreciate it. He's also not used to Rogue being bitchy to him.

Sarah: Wow, you're so sweet. Thank you. I'm happy you like my fic. Hope you like the new chappy.

Beth: Well, this chappy has slight Romy but the next one is full out Romy interaction. Promise.

Without further ado… back to your regularly scheduled fanfic:

Making a Connection

by, Caliente

Chapter 5 – Late Night Talks and Gifts

Dr. McCoy's POV – After dinner in the med lab

How is Chris? the Professor inquired to Dr. Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast. The man was probably the kindest person to ever walk the Earth, but his mutation caused him to sprout blue fur and a beast-like exterior. He was one of the most brilliant medical minds in the world.

She's just exhausted from her experience Hank answered. I only wonder how it happened, Chris seemed to have control over her powers…

I know Professor Xavier replied It was quite unexpected. I suspect that though Chris knows a great deal about her powers, she is not always in complete control.

I see Hank thought. I will alert you when she has woken up.

That's not necessary Hank the Professor told the kind Doctor. Hold Christina overnight for observation. Ms. Cruz and I will talk tomorrow in my office.

Very well Charles Hank agreed. I will talk to you in the morning.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rogue's POV – Later that night in Rogue and Kitty's room

"Rogue," Kitty whispered impatiently. "Are you, like, awake?"

"Ah am now!" Rogue groaned back. "What do ya want Kitty?"

"Why won't you tell me if you like him or not?" Kitty whined slightly.

"Leave it alone Kit-Kat!" Rogue hissed. "Don't tell meh, ya woke meh up for that?"

"No," replied Kitty. "I woke you up 'cause of that." The younger girl pointed to the balcony.

Rogue got up from her bed and walked over to her dresser. She saw a beautiful bouquet of red roses and a beautiful necklace. The necklace was silver with an emerald surrounded by tiny diamonds shaped like a heart in the middle. Again the card was a playing card, however this time it was the Queen of Hearts. The card only had one word written on it, Chere. Rogue gaped at the necklace and roses for a moment and then walked back into the room holding them. Kitty squealed with excitement as Rogue moved silently across the room.

Rogue showed Kitty the necklace and then took the roses. "Ah'm gonna go put these in wata," she said softly as she exited the room, leaving her roommate speechless once again.

Rogue silently made her way down into the kitchen. Once she got there, she removed a vase and filled it with water. Rogue placed the flowers in the vase and arranged them so that they looked extra nice.

"Who're the roses from Stripes?" came a low voice from the windowsill.

"Logan, ya startled meh," Rogue replied, deliberately avoiding the question.

"Sorry Stripes," Logan grunted. "But ya still didn't answer my question."

Rogue sighed, knowing there was no way to avoid the question any longer. "Remy LeBeau," she answered slowly. 'At least Logan won't know who that is', the girl thought.

"So, is that what Gambit's real name is?" Logan asked innocently.

"But, but, how did ya… Ah mean, how could ya –" Rogue spluttered.

"Look Stripes," Logan took a sip of his drink, "I have the heightened senses, remember? I could smell that Cajun on you. Also, I heard y'all talking earlier on the balcony. I don't know many people who speak French and could get around the mansion security system."

"Oh," she said quietly. "Well if ya knew, why didn't ya say anythin' or stop him or somethin'?"

"Figured if he did anything wrong, you would drain him so fast…" Logan trailed off. He saw Rogue blushing slightly and he let out a small sigh, "Plus, you seem to really like him and vice versa. Maybe you can save him from Magneto." 'If he hurts her, I'll slice and dice him so fast,' Logan comforted himself slightly at the thought of sliced Gumbo.

"Okay," Rogue looked down, she wasn't sure what else to say. "Ah guess Ah better be headin' back ta bed. 'Night Logan."

"'Night Stripes," Logan replied. "Sweet dreams."

A shadowy figure watching her as she went back to bed. ''Night chere,' he thought before making his way off of her balcony.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris's POV – The next morning in the med lab

"Oooh, mi cabeza, mis brazos, mis… todos (my head, my arms, my… everything)," Chris moaned, struggling to sit up strait. "¿Qué sucedió? ¿Dónde estoy? (What happened? Where am I?)"

"Just lay back child," came a soothing male voice. "You short circuited your powers yesterday. After the burnout, you passed out. Right now you're in the med lab. And, although you didn't ask, I am Dr. Henry McCoy or Hank." Chris looked for the source of the voice and saw a furry blue man. He had a beast-like appearance but his tone was soothing and he had a smile on his face. Chris smiled back briefly before concentration on her memories once more.

"Oh," Chris replied after a moment, still sorting through the memories of the day before. "¿Dónde están mis maneras? Hola el doctor McCoy, es muy agradable satisfacerle. (Where are my manners? Hello Doctor McCoy, it is very nice to meet you.)"

"Would you like to go back into your own room?" Dr. McCoy inquired.

"Sí, por favor (Yes, please)," Chris answered quietly. She was still thinking about what had happened with her and Cyclops. It was quite odd because she had never lost control quite like that before and it worried her. Sure she only had partial control over her energy absorption but she had never had an energy burst like that occur.

"Oh, before you go, perhaps you should know that you're speaking in Spanish," commented Dr. McCoy with a small smile.

Chris blushed slightly and replied, "Gracias (Thanks) for the heads up Doc."

Before you go back to your room, please join me in my office Chris the Professor's voice suddenly came into her head. Dr. McCoy, if you wouldn't mind showing the girl back to my office. I have requested that Scott and Jean join us as well.

Certainly Professor projected both Dr. McCoy and Chris as an answer to his request.

Dr. McCoy and Chris walked silently through the lower levels of the institute. Normally Hank would have been trying to make small talk and get to know the new student, however he respected that Chris needed to think about the day before. She was so deep in thought that she didn't even realize that they had reached the Professor's office.

She raised her hand to knock but Professor Xavier's voice suddenly came into her mind Come in Dr. McCoy and Ms. Cruz.

Chris let out a small gasp of surprise but then remembered that the Professor was a telepath. She laughed silently at her silliness while opening the door to see Jean and Scott already sitting on a couch. Scott looked serious but Jean offered a friendly smile. Chris could tell that Jean genuinely wanted to be her friend and Chris had many friends like her at her old school. Chris could almost see the worry and guilt emanating from Scott so she offered him a reassuring smile. Chris knew it wasn't his fault that she had lost control.

"How are you feeling?" Professor Xavier asked, more for Scott's benefit than anything else.

"I feel tired and achy, but other than that I'm fine, gracias (thank you)," Chris responded slowly.

"Dr. McCoy, what is your assessment?" the Professor inquired.

"Well, it seems that there is no lasting damage, however until we find the source of this problem, it may not be safe for Ms. Cruz to use her powers," Hank began.

"NO!" Chris interrupted her voice full of passion. "It's just, well, I'm always using my powers. You see, I absorb the sun's energy in addition to all other types of energy. In fact, when I first manifested my powers, I was asleep. The sun was hitting my body and when mi tía (my aunt) came in to wake me up, she found me floating two feet above the bed. I can concentrate the sunlight to fly but I can't use it as a weapon. So in a way, the energía is always flowing through me; however I do not concentrate it unless I need to use it. If I don't learn to completely control my powers, I fear what will happen if I lose control. I think it has to do with my emotions. When I'm afraid, the fear causes me to continually absorb like I did last night. When I'm angry, all energy around me becomes forced at the object of my anger. I need to learn control." Chris's eyes were filled with worry and concern. Her pale grey eyes pierced into the Professor. He could hear the pleading in her voice and feel her intense emotion about the subject. He sighed.

"Very well Chris," the Professor conceited, nodding curtly. "You may continue your training tomorrow."

"Thank you Professor," Chris smiled widely. "I am really excited to do this."

"Just wait until you go through one of Logan's training sessions," Jean joked.

"Yeah. The man knows no pain," agreed Scott. He looked confident but Chris knew his inner worries and fears were not gone. She felt the need to reassure him some more.

"Scott," Chris began, "I don't blame you. In fact, it was my fault because I allowed the fear of losing control overwhelm me. I began to doubt myself and my abilities. I lost control and you couldn't have done anything to stop it. Please stop blaming yourself." Chris flashed Scott a friendly grin before continuing, "Now, Professor, may I please go to my room? I haven't unpacked and I'd like to prepare for school tomorrow."

"Yes, you are all dismissed," the Professor answered. "I'll see you all later."

The Professor sighed as the students and Dr. McCoy exited. He had hoped that Chris would have more control over her concentration. Her powers could prove most dangerous if they were left untamed.

Okay, you know the drill. Read it. Review it. Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Don't leave me to die of curiosity. Luckily I'm not a cat.