Logan couldn't believe what the Professor had just told him. He was waiting for Xavier to burst into laughter any minute and tell him it had all been a big joke.

But he didn't.

Suddenly, the Professor looked up at Logan and exclaimed, "Gambit!"

"What?"

"Gambit, Juggernaut." He didn't say anything else, just shouted, "Go!"

Logan ran from the room, almost crashing right into Storm, Rogue and Jubilee.

"Slow down, Logan, you'll hurt someone," Storm advised with a smile.

"If I do slow down, someone is definitely going to get hurt." His eyes were desperate.

"What do you mean?" Rogue asked.

"The Professor just said about Gambit, and Juggernaut. I don't think it's good news anyway, so, if you don't mind?" He gestured to get round them, but Jubilee had already started off into a sprint.

Logan, Storm and Rogue ran after her, Logan overtaking her easily. They all crammed into the elevator, and waited impatiently for it to make its descent.

Once it had stopped, and the doors had opened, they ran from it, and down the corridor. Jean joined them, and they all ran down to the room where Logan had left Juggernaut about ten minutes ago.

Logan reached the room first, and slammed the door open. "Gambit!" he cried as he saw that he was in the grip of Juggernaut, being choked to death, much to the enjoyment of the larger mutant.

Jubilee tried to push her way past Logan, but Storm held her back. She was deeply worried for her friend, and surrogate big brother, and wanted to help him. But Storm and Logan both knew she could do nothing for him. Juggernaut was too strong.

Logan allowed his claws to explode from his knuckles, but as he went to move forward, Jean reached out and grabbed him.

"You could hurt Gambit," she warned, and he turned to her.

"What do you think is gonna happen if I don't do this? Huh?"

Before either of them knew what was going on, Rogue had moved forward from the group, and up to the bars where Juggernaut held Gambit.

"Rogue!" Logan cried, Jean keeping tight a hold of his arm.

Rogue breathed in deeply, and reached up, wrapping her hand around the trunk-like arm of Juggernaut. She gave a little cry as her powers kicked in.

Juggernaut grunted, and he wavered a little, but did not let go. Gambit struggled desperately to get out of his grip.

Rogue took hold with her other hand also, and then she did scream.

Juggernaut cried out also, and one of his legs failed him, then the other, and finally, he allowed his hand to release Gambit.

Gambit fell to the floor hard, and began coughing violently.

Rogue released Juggernaut, and collapsed panting against the wall behind her.

Logan and the others rushed over. He and Storm rushed to Rogue, whilst Jubilee and Jean ran to Gambit, who continued to cough, and gasp for breath.

"Are you all right?" Jubilee asked frantically, putting her hand on Gambit's shoulder.

He was unable to reply, as he continued to cough.

Logan asked Rogue how she was, and as soon as she said she was fine, and he believed her, he too moved over to Gambit, who still appeared to be having trouble breathing. Logan glanced over at Juggernaut, who had passed out in the cage.

"Gambit? Are you all right?" Jean asked.

Gambit breathed a little easier, but still coughed a little. Then he spat on the floor in front of him, making Storm back off a little. The others were not even bothered. Jubilee rubbed Gambit's back as he coughed a little more.

"Are you okay?" Jubilee asked him, and he looked up at her with his blue eyes.

He nodded, and took in deep gulps of air.

"Can you stand?" Jean asked. "We need to get you to the infirmary."

He looked to her, and nodded.

"Logan, help him up please," Jean said, and Logan nodded and obeyed.

Logan helped Gambit off of the floor, and aided him as they moved towards the infirmary.

That had been too close.

* * *

Scott paced, like a tiger in the zoo, bored out of his mind. After his lecture from Magneto, he was angry too. Mystique sat behind him, watching his movements with a certain interest.

"God dammit, why can't we just go now... we'll beat them. They've only got, what? Three people capable of combat, we'd kick their ass! But he won't let us." He was angry, and he intended to let everyone know about it.

"He's just making sure we're ready," Mystique purred in her soothing voice.

He glanced at her, and smiled. "Whatever, but I'm still angry at him, and bored stupid."

"So, who have they got who we can fight?" Mystique asked as she stood.

Scott sighed, and seated himself on a nearby rock, resting back on the stonewall behind him.

"Well, you've got Logan for one." He smiled broadly, and closed his eyes momentarily. "I'm gonna enjoy killing him."

She laughed. "Who else?"

"Storm. God, she's annoying. So righteous! I should imagine Sabretooth and Toad are gonna fight between themselves to see who gets to kill her."

They both laughed quietly.

"And there's Jean." Scott's smile disappeared for a moment, and he held his head as if he was in pain.

"What's wrong?" Mystique asked him, concerned.

He looked up to her and shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just getting a headache I suppose." He smiled for emphasis, and she moved over to him, sitting next to him.

Sitting there in silence, he leaned forward and kissed her.

* * *

Jubilee sat in the infirmary with Doctor Grey and Gambit, who was now sitting upright and taking a drink from a glass of water. There were clear bruises forming slightly around his neck.

She had been incredibly worried for his life. In that moment when she had walked in the room, she had felt so many things. Worry, for Gambit, who treated her like a younger sister, and she in turn treated him as an older brother. She had felt fright, fright at seeing what that huge mutant was capable of. Last, but certainly not least, she had felt anger. She had wanted to run up to that mutant who called himself Juggernaut, and hit him with all she had.

But Gambit was okay now, and she was happy because of it.

Jean smiled. "You're fine, Gambit. It was lucky the Professor sensed what you were feeling."

"Excuse me?" Gambit asked, placing the now-empty glass down on the table near him.

"The Professor felt what you were feeling, and knew you were in trouble. He told Logan, who ran into Rogue, Storm and Jubilee. He informed me psychically. He's more powerful than you thought... isn't he?"

Gambit smiled, and nodded. "Yeah. Where is Rogue?"

Jubilee stood, and moved to his side. "She was going to go and talk with Bobby last time I heard. Maybe they're out front." She placed her gloved hand on his shoulder, and smiled at him. He smiled back.

"Guess I'll go find her then. I need to thank her."

Jean smiled. "I think she'd like that."

He nodded, and stood, walking with Jubilee from the room.

"Are you sure you're all right?" she asked him, looking up to him. He was quite a bit taller than her, but that didn't bother her. She had gotten used to being the small one.

He laughed. "Yeah, Jubilee, I'm fine." He removed his sweatband, and replaced it after running a hand through his hair.

They made a quick stop by the containment room, where Juggernaut was still unconscious, to pick up Gambit's staff.

Then they made their way up to the upper level to find Rogue.

As they walked, Gambit twirled the staff carefully, almost striking Billy and Gregg when he wasn't looking.

Jubilee laughed at him. Sure, he was skilled, but sometimes he was just plain careless. "You really should watch what you're doing with that thing. You could have someone's head off!"

He glanced down at her, ceasing his twirling for a moment. "I've never hit anyone before... why would I start now?"

"Never mind," she said, smiling. "Just be careful, okay? We don't want a couple of kids with a head injury, do we?"

Gambit smiled playfully. "Well, then they should watch where they're going. If they get hit... then I take no responsibility, just because I own this particular adamantium staff, doesn't mean I hit them."

Jubilee laughed again, and slapped him lightly on the arm.

Gambit turned on her, that familiar expression on his face. "Oh, you want to play it that way, huh?"

"No," she pleaded, and turned away from him in laughter, "don't do that again."

Gambit grabbed her, dropping his staff to the floor with a clang, and began tickling her, something he often did to make her laugh when they were both a little down.

She squirmed to get away from him, but found he was wherever she turned to escape him.

A clearing of the throat snapped them both out of their fun. Gambit stood to his full height of six feet, and fought desperately to keep a straight face, whilst Jubilee giggled behind her hand.

Logan stood before them, a certain grin on his own face, one that he concealed well behind bestial hair, and curious features. "Having fun?"

Gambit retrieved his staff from the ground, and twirled it twice, settling one end on the varnished flooring before replying with a smile, "As a matter of fact... no. We never have fun... incapable of it actually. It's really quite tragic."

Jubilee burst into laughter, whilst Gambit merely smiled to himself, shifting on his booted feet before Logan, who shook his head with a grin.

"Very funny, Remy," Logan said.

"I thought so, Wolverine." Gambit grinned, running a hand through soft brown hair.

Jubilee watched the two men with interest, giggling at their expressions. Gambit, Dmitri and herself had been guests at the mansion for nearly a week now, and she felt truly at home amid the friendly atmosphere and relaxation mixed with interesting learning.

"So," Gambit began, moving with Jubilee closer to Logan, "seen Rogue?"

"What for?" Logan inquired, placing a hand in his jeans pocket.

Gambit cocked his head. "Protective aren't we?" He smiled at Logan's annoyed expression. "I wanted to thank her for earlier."

Logan nodded once, seemingly lost in a reverie of thought. "I saw her with Bobby outside on the far bench by the perimeter. They look like they're talking or something."

Gambit smiled mischievously, and patted Logan on the arm. "Thanks, Wolverine."

Logan stepped in front of him as he went to pass. "When you're finished, come find me. I wanna try something." With that, he moved aside, and allowed Gambit and Jubilee to pass. Gambit glanced over his shoulder, and his brow furrowed.

Jubilee looked back and called to him. "Come on... you wanted to find Rogue didn't you?" As she looked at her friend, she felt that all too familiar feeling from when she had first met him. She still found him attractive. He had a certain charm that she was drawn to, and she sometimes thought she was falling in love with her surrogate big brother. But that could never happen... for he was ten years older than her, give or take a year, and he had never shown any signs of feeling that way either. She suppressed the feelings as best she could, but whenever he smiled that smile of his, they overtook her again.

She felt a little uncomfortable in this place with these particular feelings, being in the presence of two psychics, one who was especially powerful.

"I'm coming," Gambit said, throwing his staff in the air and then catching it in his hand with expertise. He strode up to her, and placed his arm around her small shoulders, moving along with her. "Let's go find Rogue then."

They moved through the large oaken doors and out into the warmth of the sunshine.

They stood there, glancing around themselves for a few moments, to try and see where Rogue was... and to their surprise; she was where Logan had said she would be. She was seated on one of the benches at the far end of the grounds, Bobby sitting to one side of her.

"There she is," Jubilee pointed out, looking up to Gambit who nodded and began walking in that direction.

She strode after him, feeling a little too warm in her yellow jacket. He looked perfectly comfortable in his white T-shirt and blue slacks though, and she envied him. She removed her yellow jacket, and tied it around her waist, feeling a little cooler in the afternoon sun.

It took them a few minutes to walk briskly over to the two seated students, who looked up at them in confusion, but Rogue smiled nevertheless.

"Hi, Gambit."

"Hi," he greeted them, nodding at Bobby who smiled at him kindly.

Jubilee stood behind Gambit, keeping quiet, impatient perhaps to get back inside the cool mansion.

"Look, I didn't thank you for earlier, so that's what I came up here for." He smiled. "Thanks."

She smiled back. "Oh... you don't have to thank me."

"Yeah... I do," he said insistently. "It's not often somebody saves my life, and when you did earlier... it meant something to me. Really meant something. So, I have to say thank you for that." He stood in front of them, one end of his staff rested firmly on the ground.

Rogue looked slightly embarrassed, and Jubilee found herself wondering why she should be. Saving someone's life usually wasn't anything to be ashamed or embarrassed of, so why should Rogue be?

"Well," Rogue began, shifting in her seat a little uncomfortably, "I had to do something. So I did. Don't worry about it." She smiled.

Gambit nodded. "Well I'm glad you did do something. Can I just say something?"

Rogue hesitated then nodded.

"Your power... it's really... well, powerful." Gambit's brow furrowed at his own words, then he smiled. "I wouldn't wanna get on the wrong side of you... that's all I can say."

Rogue's head hung a little at that statement, but then she looked up at Gambit, and smiled for a moment.

"Thank you," Gambit repeated.

They remained in silence for a minute at least, before Jubilee spoke up.

"Gambit?" He turned to her. "Logan said he wanted to try something... and that something included you. Don't you think you should get back?"

He sighed, turning back to Rogue and Bobby, smiling and saying goodbye, then turned back to Jubilee and began moving away with her.

"Well, that went well," Gambit mumbled, glancing back over his shoulder at the two younger people.

Jubilee smiled, and turned her head to him. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure she was grateful for what you said."

He seemed distracted somehow, as he glanced at her with distant eyes, and nodded somewhat dreamily.

"What's wrong?" Jubilee asked, touching his arm gently.

He glanced at her. "Nothing." Off Jubilee's doubtful expression, he insisted, "It's nothing... honestly." To back up his claim, he smiled.

They took a leisurely walk back across the peaceful, beautifully kept grounds towards the mansion. Neither spoke, they both simply walked one beside the other, glancing across at each other frequently, yet neither letting the other see their gaze. Jubilee greeted a couple of girls they passed, stopping momentarily for a brief conversation, making plans for the rest of their afternoon.

She smiled at Gambit. "I'm gonna go with Kitty... okay?"

He nodded at her, then smiled at Kitty, "Hi."

Kitty replied similarly.

"I'll see ya' later, Gambit," Jubilee said as she moved away with Kitty and the other girl, waving at her older friend.

Gambit waved back briefly, and then moved on into the mansion.

Kitty laughed quietly, and then turned to Jubilee, glancing behind the new girl at the door where the man had disappeared a few moments before.

"What?" Jubilee asked, glancing over her shoulder also.

"You don't think he's cute?" Kitty exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. She wore an innocent smile, and her eyes contained a certain sparkle Jubilee had not seen in quite a while.

Jubilee could feel herself going red, as she lied quickly, perhaps too fast, "No... of course not."

Kitty laughed and began walking away again, followed quickly by Jubilee and the other girl.

"What's so funny?" Jubilee demanded, a smile crossing her own young face.

"It's funny because it's so plainly obvious you're lying. You do think he's cute... don't you?" Kitty said, quietly so no one heard them.

Jubilee knew Kitty was going to see right through her petty charade... so she simply looked down at the ground momentarily before glancing back up at Kitty and smiling sheepishly.

Kitty nodded knowingly, then placed her hands on her Jubilee's shoulders. "I knew it. I don't know how... I just knew it." Jubilee opened her mouth to speak, but Kitty cut in, "Don't worry, I won't say a thing to anyone. I promise."