Yay!! Another chappie!! I'm working on my college apps, so I'm not having as much time to write and type, so thanks for being patient with me. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter, and I hope you all like this one too. Thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews, they mean so much to me (I save each one in my mailbox, I swear. I have every single one since September 10th!) Thanks for reading and reviewing!! Keep it up!!! (P.S. If you saw Cajun Spice last weekend… was Gambit not the best???)

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            "We have upwards 20 survivors in the med lab now. Wolverine, Caliban and Storm have gone back for the last three left in the tunnels." Betsy informed Xavier through cerebro. He nodded on the large screen in front of her in the big round room. "After that, Wolverine plans to gather a team to begin burying the dead. There's no word yet on who they're working for, why they did what they did, or if they're even alive or where they are." Xavier thought for a moment.

            "How is Evan?" He finally said.

            "He's still unconscious… When we found him, he'd punctured his own lung with one of his spikes. We let Healer fix him before we made her take a break. We've lost a few criticals due to our lack of medical expertise."

            "I've spoken with Moira; she will make accommodations for us to transport the wounded to Muir Island." Betsy nodded. "Have we heard from Callisto yet?"

            "No. We're praying she's one of those still left underground." Betsy said as she shook her head.

            "How are we?" The professor finally asked. Betsy had to think for a minute.

            "We're alright, I suppose. Kurt's worn out, Kitty is awfully shaken, Logan's tough as nails, Ororo's worried out of her mind about Evan, Rogue has withdrawn to her room and Scott is… a bit overwhelmed." She listed. "The new mutants have been doing their best in the infirmary, feeding people and freshening bandages and such."

            "What about Jean and Gambit?" Betsy's face perked at the question. She hadn't realized how long he'd been gone. She decided it would be better not to burden him with troubles he couldn't alleviate.

            "They're… all over the place." She replied.

            "Alright." Xavier said, none the wiser. "Peter and I will return home as soon as possible. I'll telephone as often as I can, but you can always reach me telepathically." Betsy nodded as his image disappeared from cerebro's screen. She resumed her security scan of the sewers beneath New York City, as well as the mansion's premises.

            "You didn't tell him about Jean." Scott's voice behind her startled her.

            "How long have you been standing there?" She snapped at him.

            "Why didn't you tell him?" He ignored her question.

            "There's no need. It's not as if there's anything he can do about it, and he's worried enough already."

            "Then you have to look for her." He ordered.

            "I can't." She tried to shake him off as he lurched closer to her at her post.

            "Why not?" He barked at her.

            "Because she would fry every synapse in my brain."

            "What does that mean?" Scott shouted at her as he grabbed her hand, forcing her to disregard her security duties and give him her full attention.

            "You need to calm down, Scott. Just because she's not here doesn't mean she isn't safe." She ripped her arm away from him.

            "How do you know?" He demanded.

            "She's the Phoenix, Scott. She's invincible. God help anyone who dares mess with her." He looked at her in shocked disbelief, then gained control of his emotions.

            "We're having a briefing later tonight, just to share information, make sure everyone is on the same page."

            "I'll be there." She replied calmly, going back to her job. He nodded as he began to back out of the room.

            "Cyclops, we need you down here. We've found Callisto, but she refuses to speak to anyone other than our leader." Storm said over Scott's wrist communicator.

            "You found Callisto?" He said back. Past that, he was out of the room and Betsy couldn't hear anymore. She sighed heavily as she went back to her surveillance. She winced under the shiny metal helmet that kept her connected to cerebro. She began scanning the front entrance of the institute when the alarm went off, making her jump. She punched the buttons for a visual. The bottom of her stomach dropped when she saw Sabretooth punching through the front door.

            "Oh no…" She mumbled to herself. "Uh… I need help." She formulated. She raised her communicator to her mouth. "I need help." She repeated, then realized she hadn't turned it on. "I need help" She said again, this time more forcefully as the initial shock of a murderous intruder in her home wore off. She watched Sabretooth break into the house. He lurked around the main foyer as she searched for something inside the mansion.

            "We're kinda busy here, Betts." Wolverine said back. "Get Kitty or Rogue." She continued to watch the man on the screen in front of her.

            "Uh, guys?" She asked for anyone else who may be listening, but they had all probably turned them off to finally get some rest. On the screen, Sabretooth was making his way down a hall. He sniffed the air as he caught a scent.

            Sabretooth lifted his head back and smiled as he licked his lips. "Morlocks…" He growled to himself. He glanced around him as he continued on.

            "Oh my god." Betsy mumbled, unable to do anything.

            "Betsy? I'm here, what's up? Iceman's got your back!" Bobby broke Betsy's bewilderment over the communicator.

            "Bobby, are you still in the med lab?"

            "Yeah."

            "Bobby, listen to me, do what I say." She ordered.

            "You're a pushy one, aren't you?"

            "I'm not kidding, Bobby, just do what I tell you, alright?"

            "Listen, Betsy, I like you and all… but I've been here longer than you, so you should be the one takin--"

            "Shut up, Bobby!" She interrupted him as she grew frustrated. "Barricade the entrances to the med lab. Don't let anyone through till I tell you to, d'you understand?"

            "But what if--"

            "Keep that door closed at all costs. Do whatever it takes." She screamed at him.

            "Alright, chill… take a Midol or something." He finally relented to following her commands. She hadn't realized he didn't know Sabretooth was in the mansion looking for the Morlock survivors.

*          *          *

            Rogue sat on her bed, clenching her knees to her chest with her ankles crossed. She stared out the window then at her crushed communicator on the floor. She never hated who she was so much as she did now. The Morlocks, mutants just like her, hid underground from the world waiting to attack them if they ever dared show their deformed faces topside. They weren't bothering, hurting, or imposing on anyone. Then the Marauders, also mutants just like her, invaded the Morlocks only safe haven to slaughter them mercilessly. She was disgusted with herself for being like those so ashamed; they would stop trying to find good in the world. She was also disgusted with the fact that she could be like those who would kill so many innocents for no apparent reason other than they existed. She was more disappointed in herself, and those just like her, for the fact that if mutants couldn't get along with themselves, why should regular humans think they could get along with the rest of society? Life was too complicated. Then, there was the matter that no one knew the whereabouts of the mutant, mutant killers or her favorite mutant. She rubbed her face on her knee to wipe away a tear that had fallen from her silent eyes. She closed them and imagined his breath on her neck as he whispered something inane in her ear. For a second, she felt as if he were really there. A chill went up her spine and it actually made her smile. When it happened again, even once she'd stopped imagining his eyes, she grew worried.

*          *          *

            Betsy walked apprehensively down the corridor. She clung to the wall to make sure it didn't end before she thought it would. She caught a glimpse of Sabretooth's back and ducked behind the threshold where hall emptied into the foyer at the bottom of the stairs. She fought to maintain a slow, calm breathing pace as she attempted formulate a plan.

            "I smell your fear…" Sabretooth purred as he turned around to see her in the hall on the opposite side of the foyer.

            "You may be able to smell my fear…" Psylocke said, stepping out of the shadows. "But you can't smell what I'm afraid of." She stood back on her haunches and firmly planted her elbows in her hips, her glowing, purple firsts flanking her. "And I can tell you, it certainly isn't you." He walked back toward her. She didn't move as he stood a foot over her small frame, breathing into her mouth. "You want a rematch, pussycat?" She taunted him.

            "This should be easy… no element of surprise." He chuckled as the purple knife twinkled in their eyes.

            "Wrong!" She darted off back down the hallway she'd come from. He was, indeed, caught off guard, giving her a head start before he began chasing after her. "Wolverine!" Psylocke shouted into her communicator. "Wolverine, it's Sabretooth, he's in the mansion!"

            "He's where?" Wolverine finally answered back.

            "He's in the mansion. He's lookin' t'finish off the Morlock survivors!" She turned a corner and ran into a dead end. She turned around to see Sabretooth turn the same corner, trapping her.

            "Betsy, I'm on my way. Don't do anything stupid or heroic." Wolverine instructed her.

            "Too late." Sabretooth replied, chuckling at Psylocke.

            "Not yet!" Rogue said as she jumped on Sabretooth from behind. She pinned him on the ground and began to rip off a glove to put him out. Psylocke managed to weave her way around them, and back down the hall. Sabretooth recovered quickly and knocked Rogue off him before she could drain him.

            "Get Wolverine!" Psylocke called back telepathically. Rogue stumbled to gather her center of balance, then dove out a window in a room at the end of the hall to find Wolverine.

            Psylocke was halfway down the main hall before she looked back to see Sabretooth gaining on her. She kept running down corridors and turning corners. Her only direction was away from the med lab. As long as Sabretooth was chasing her, he wasn't chasing after defenseless Morlocks. She jumped just inside the professor's study to catch her breath. When she looked back, Sabretooth was standing in the door way. She turned to run into the study, but Sabretooth pounced on her, clawing at her ankle and knocking her to the ground. Psylocke kicked him in the face with her free foot and he let go. She tried to get up to run, but her ankle was too weak. She turned over to see Sabretooth approaching her, smiling. She was ready to accept her fate, when Rogue threw Wolverine in through the window behind her. He collided with Sabretooth and they rolled across the floor until his momentum ran out. Wolverine ended up on the bottom, Sabretooth on top. Wolverine pushed up with his legs, throwing the cat back out the shattered window. Rogue ducked to the side, hovering over Sabretooth as he hit the ground. Rogue watched as Wolverine jumped out the window after him, then flew into the study to help Psylocke.

            "Betsy, you're bleedin' real bad." Rogue informed her.

            "Help me to the window." Psylocke ordered.

            "Ah'm takin' you to the infirmary."

            "No, put pressure on it and help me to the window. I'm goin' t'get some answers." Psylocke resisted. She clawed her was across the floor and hoisted herself on the window ledge. Rogue pulled a bandanna out of her pocket.

            "Betsy, Ah can see your bone." Rogue said worriedly.

            "Shut up! I have to concentrate, put pressure on it."

            "Betsy--"

            "Shut up!" Psylocke stared out the window, watching Sabretooth and Wolverine fight. She winced as Rogue tied the bandanna around her ankle. Sabretooth was distracted by his fight with his greatest enemy. Psylocke took the opportunity to find out who he worked for and why they did what they did. She easily broke through whatever mental barriers there were, and sifted through the thoughts of killing Wolverine, to get her answers. She found was she was looking for and then some. She turned away from the window and looked down sadly at Rogue.

            "What? What is it?" Rogue asked.

            "Just take me down to the med lab." Psylocke finally said.

*          *          *

            "Betsy, we don't have anyone who can do stitches, and we're letting Healer rest, so Scott's gonna take you to the hospital." Rogue said, she and Scott standing at Betsy's bedside. The bandanna was soaked with blood, but her ankle had stopped bleeding about an hour ago. Betsy nodded blankly as she watched Callisto, standing between Spyke and Torpid's beds, behind Rogue.

            "Can you walk?" Scott broke her reverie. She drew her attention to her ankle and pushed her foot down slightly, causing her get pain.

            "No." Betsy answered. Scott scooped her up off the bed and carried her out to his car. Rogue watched as they left the room. She saw Callisto move on to other Morlocks in the med lab.

            "Can I have some water?" Rogue was startled as Torpid pulled at her shirt. She was surprised at first, but then smiled at the little girl.

            "Water? Is that all? Do you want something to eat?" Rogue asked her. She nodded in response. "What would you like?" the shy girl shrugged her shoulders.

            "What do you have?"

            "I'm not sure. Do you want to come with me to the kitchen?" Torpid looked over at Callisto.

            "Okay." Rogue took the little girl's big hand as she hopped off the bed. She had a cast wrapped around her other hand. As they walked down the hall, Torpid watched her hand in Rogue's. "I like your gloves." She said, comparing them with her own.

            "Thanks." Rogue replied. "Ah hate 'em."

            "How come?"  Torpid's innocence only made Rogue smile.

            "Ah have t' wear 'em all the time. Lookin' at 'em reminds me Ah'll never get t'touch anybody."

            "Me either." Torpid's response surprised Rogue. She thought she was alone.

            "What do your powers do?"

            "When I touch people with my hands they freeze up like stone."

            "Oh…" Rogue nodded, she'd heard about Torpid's powers before. They finally turned into the kitchen to see Kurt crouched on the table eating ice cream.

            "Oh, hi!" He said with a mouth full of double chocolate rocky road. As he waved with a three fingered hand.

            "Why aren't you a Morlock?" Torpid asked him uninhibited, referring to his demonic appearance.

            "Just because you look different doesn't mean you have to hide underground." Rogue answered for him.

            "You don't? Don't they hurt you when you go outside?" Kurt shrugged his shoulders.

            "Sometimes, but I usually wear an image inducer so they don't know." Kurt pressed a button on his watch, making him look like a normal human. Torpid screamed and hid behind Rogue's leg. "That's funny, they usually scream when I turn off the holowatch." He turned it off and Torpid poked her out from behind Rogue.

            "But you're hiding too." Torpid mumbled, still shaken by Kurt's transformation.

            "The fact that we don't look different doesn't really matter to the outside world. The fact that we're mutants makes them want to hurt us just as much." Rogue replied, handing Torpid a spoon and grabbing the ice cream from Kurt. "Ya, know, you can stay here with us if you want to." She scooped the ice cream in her mouth. Torpid's face lit up at the proposition, but quickly went back to gloom.

            "I can't…" Torpid replied. "They're my family." Kurt and Rogue both smiled at her, then sighed at each other.

            "You can come and eat ice cream with us anytime you want to." Rogue offered. Torpid giggled as she ate a spoonful almost the size of her head, getting it all over her face.

            "You can come eat anything with me." Kurt said patting Torpid on the head with is tail.

            "Are those the stars?" Torpid asked, catching a glimpse out the kitten window.

            "Uh, yeah…" Rogue said.

            "Can we sit outside and look at them?" Torpid requested, enthralled.

            "Sure." Rogue took Torpid's hand again as she stood up from the table. She led the little girl outside and they sat down in the middle of the front lawn.

            "Callisto doesn't let me go outside much." Torpid finally explained.

            "She's just tryin' t'protect you." Rogue defended Torpid's only mother figure.

            "I know." Torpid lamented as she looked up at the sky.

            "They're really not all that pretty out here, there's too much light pollution, can't hardly see 'em sometimes, even on the clearest night." Rogue changed the subject.

            "They're beautiful." Torpid said bluntly. Rogue smiled at her.

            "Yeah they are, aren't they?" Then she too looked up at the sky.