Author's Note- This chappie is fairly dark, it describes what happened before they rescued her.

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Dealing

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And that's all that I need Someone else to cling to And Someone I can lean on until I don't need to Just stay all through the night And in the morning let me down Cuz that's all that I need right now -Matchbox Twenty

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Later that night

Kitty tossed and turned for several hours. Mr. McCoy had demanded that she stay in the med-lab overnight for observations, just in case. Pete walked in sitting next to Kitty's bed. "`Allo, luv," he whispered.

"Hey," she whispered back. She sat up.

"How do you feel?"

"My head hurts."

"Lie down." She shook her head at that. "You're shaking." He moved sitting next to her and slipping an arm around her shoulders. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"Piotr came first," Kitty said leaning into him. "But he couldn't do it. I told him that it would be rape and I guess that made him realize what he was doing. He left and Sabretooth came in." Kitty turned burying her head in his chest. "He told me what he was going to do, I started to fight and he kissed me. I bit him, pretty hard and he ripped off my shirt saying that the bite made him even more turned on."

"You don't have to go on," Pete told her feeling her trembling increase.

"No, I want to talk about it," she told him. "He climbed over me and made me touch him. . ." she paused shuddering. "Pete, he kept telling me that I deserved it, my clothes and my alliances."

"Pryde, that bloody wanker isn't worthy of licking the bottom of your shoes, much less having you like that. And you did not deserve it. Luv, any real man will know that when a lady says no to back off. This bastard. . . what he was goin' to do to you. . . no one deserves that."

"He climbed on me and grabbed me so hard. . ." She dissolved into tears. Pete pulled her closer. She lifted her head slightly and kissed him. He melted at the feel of her warm lips touching his but forced himself to pull away. "What's wrong?"

"Pryde, we can't."

"You don't want me now. I'm sorry, I mean you never showed any interest in me to begin with-" He kissed her on the cheek.

"Don't ever think that, you little idiot. Hell, Pryde, of course I want you, but I won't be used for you to forget what happened." She felt more tears sliding down her cheeks. Pete laid down pulling her into his arms. "Just relax, Kitty, you need to sleep." She cried herself to sleep clinging to him tightly.

The next morning

"Wisdom," Logan said nudging the British man. Pete opened his eyes.

"Shh, you're going to wake her up," Pete said gently moving Kitty so he could get up.

"What happened?" Logan demanded.

"She couldn't sleep," Pete said gently touching the girl in question's hair. "We talked about what happened and she cried herself to sleep."

"She told you what happened?"

"Yeah."

"Did he. . . ?"

"No, we got there before he could, but if I ever see that bastard again I will rip him apart, despite his super-strength."

"I'll hold him," Logan promised.

"Poor kid, first time she ever experiences anything remotely sexual and it's with that. . ." he trailed off.

"Animal," Logan growled. He looked down at Kitty sighing. "She gonna be okay?"

"Physically, she'll be fine," Mr. McCoy said coming in behind them. "Emotionally. . . I don't know." Kitty whimpered in her sleep. Pete was there in an instant gently shaking her shoulder. She awoke gasping. She threw herself in his arms.

"Shh. . ." he whispered. "It's okay, luv." Logan and Mr. McCoy exchanged slightly amused glances at the usually tough Brit's behavior. Kitty looked at him smiling sadly.

"Thank you, for staying with me last night," she whispered.

"The devil himself couldn't keep me away, Pryde," Pete whispered back.

"Can I go take a shower?" she asked looking at Mr. McCoy.

"Certainly," Mr. McCoy said. Kitty hopped off of the bed and stood shakily.

"You need help?" Pete asked.

Kitty allowed herself some humor as she looked up at him. "I'm sure I can manage a shower on my own, Wisdom."

"I meant walking."

"I'm fine. Thanks." She walked out. Pete sat down heavily.

"Damn," he whispered. "I have no clue what to do."

"She opened up more to you than the rest of us," Xavier said coming in.

"I've got to say, Wisdom, you really seem to be helping her," Logan said. "But I repeat, hurt her and you'll get up close and personal with these claws."

"If I hurt her you have my permission," Pete said.

"What are your intentions with Kitty?" Xavier asked.

"A little early to be asking that," Pete told the older man. "I really don't know; it's up to her. Right now though, I just want to help her."

"Good," Xavier said nodding. "I can't say I approve but Kitty is seventeen, she's old enough to make her own choices. I've taken the liberty of calling a psychologist, if Kitty wishes to speak to her."

Upstairs

Kitty slipped out of her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror. Her body was covered in bruises, especially her breasts and thighs. She sighed stepping into the shower. She stayed under the water for almost an hour after she had actually gotten clean, allowing the water to wash away her tears. She heard a knock at the door.

"Kitty?" Rogue called. Kitty sighed turning off the water and grabbing a towel. She opened the door slightly. "You all right, sugah?"

"Yeah, I just. needed to be alone."

"Sorry, Kit," Rogue said.

"No, it's okay," Kitty said. "I guess I should hurry up for the others anyhow. I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Alright." Rogue left and Kitty got dressed in an over sized sweatshirt and a pair of frumpy jeans. She came out and went into their room lying down but finding that she couldn't sleep. There was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she called. Pete walked in sitting on the edge of her bed.

"The others were worried when you didn't come down stairs," he told her.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'm just still tired."

"Okay, Pryde," he said gently stroking her hair. "I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"Thanks."