Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X-Men, titles or characters. Evie is my character.

Note: I feel as if I'm loosing you. I hope not.

Chapter 14 - Out On Her Own

Kitty cried into her handkerchief in the cool night air as she heard footsteps behind her. Gasping and turning quickly she saw her prey take the bait.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to startle you." The young man came up and stood beside her. "Is---is there anything---I can do for you, Miss?" he shyly muttered.

Wiping her tears with her hankie she sniffed and replied. "Thank you, no. I just---" she began to cry again.

"Here, now Miss, please come and sit on this bench." He gently led her to a seating area just outside the main door.

"Thank you," she managed as she wiped her eyes once again and smiled at him. "You are very kind."

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I saw how he was treating you. He should be ashamed of himself." He saw her smile at him and dared to continue. "Is there anything I can do---to help you?"

"Well, actually, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to go up to the room and get my bag but I'm afraid he might try to follow me. Might I impose on you to escort me upstairs? That is, if you wouldn't get into trouble for leaving your post." She sadly looked through tear filled eyes.

"I'm due for a shift change. There'd be no trouble at all. I would be honored to escort you, Miss---uh"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Kitty Parker," she said holding her hand out to him.

Taking her hand he responded, "A great pleasure to meet you, Miss Kitty. I am Security Officer Jimmy Clark." He raised her hand slightly and bowed to kiss it.

"Well, Officer Clark, I'm sure I won't have any trouble with you as an escort." She smiled as he folded her arm in his and they began walking back inside.

From their different vantage points around the room, the three X men in the club saw her come back in and head upstairs happily on the arm of her new friend. They all wondered the same thing. 'What in the world is that child up to?'

Kitty led the young officer through the hall and to the room she shared with Gambit. Unlocking the door she spoke, "It won't take me more than a moment." He smiled at her and took a position on the side of the door. In less than five minutes Kitty was back in the hall, having changed into something less formal and having her carry bag in hand. Handing him her bag she closed the door behind her.

"You certainly changed quickly, Miss Kitty."

"I thought pants would be better for traveling." She again linked her arm in his as they went back downstairs. Kitty never looked to see the faces of her teammates as she walked out of the club with her bag and a man. "You have been very kind to me, Officer Clark. If you could just point me in the right direction to catch a bus back to New Orleans, I should be fine from here."

"Please, I'd be very happy if you would call me Jimmy." He smiled hopefully at her.

"Jimmy sounds very nice. Thank you---but um---the bus?"

He seemed to be snapping out of a daydream. "Oh yeah---well---I'm afraid that there are no other busses until morning."

"Oh, ok, how about a motel?"

His eyes grew sad. "I'm sorry, Miss Kitty but because of the poker tournament there are no vacancies in town. Johnston really is pretty small."

"Oh, well, I guess I'm in a bit of a jam. I could call my brother for a ride but I know that he won't be back home until morning." Playing the part and beginning to look like a lost soul, Kitty turned and muttered to herself, "What am I going to do?"

"Um,---Miss Kitty---I---um" Jimmy hesitantly began as he looked down at the ground. "Well---I hope you um---don't think---anything---inappropriate, but I said that I was due for a shift change. Well, I have to go back onto the base and be the night watchman and make rounds and things. Well that keeps me pretty busy and well there is a cot in the back room off the security office. You could---um---stay there if you want. It's not as nice as the club but---well---I'll make sure you're safe." He kept his gaze down as if suddenly his shoes became very interesting.

"Why, Jimmy, that's very kind of you. Are you sure you wouldn't get into any trouble?" She saw him look up with a smile.

"No---I'm sure it will be ok. No one would even know. I'm there alone most of the night. In the morning I could take you to a phone to call your brother."

Kitty smiled wide at her great fortune. This guy didn't seem the type to be pushing himself on her so she wouldn't likely have to spend time fighting him off and he was more that willing to open the door of the base to her. This will certainly be a feather in her cap. Wait until the others hear about this. "Lead the way, Jimmy." She linked her arm in his and pulled close to him as he led her to a military jeep.

Back at the club Gambit saw Storm put her tray down and get ready for her break. He folded and excused himself. "Rosie's takin' a break. Tink maybe, Remy join her. Be back in a while."

He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Then whispered, "We need to go up to the room fo' your break."

"What about Rogue?" she whispered as she put her arms around his neck.

"Adam seems to be keepin' mon chere, very busy. Let's go." He locked his arm around her waist and guided her up the stairs. Once he locked the door behind them he let go of Storm and asked, "What you and de petite discuss before she decide to dump Gambit?"

"I don't know. She asked how things were going. I told her that I didn't have anyone on the hook. She asked me for the remote. After I gave it to her she returned to you."

"Den she tol' Remy to get possessive. She tried to leave Gambit. You saw what happen' when Gambit try to stop her. Was all an act. De petite be cookin' up sometin' in that head of hers."

"She left with the young officer who was watching her all day. Do you think she convinced him to take her back to the base?"

"Gambit don' know. Was watchin' him, too. Seemed like the lovesick puppy type but dat don' mean anytin'. A man's a man, chere. If she sends the wrong signals for too long, petite could find herself in a bad place. Tink it's time to report in."

Gambit sat in a chair and closed his eyes. ~Professor?~

~Yes, Gambit.~

~Gambit not sure if we have a problem or not. Mission seems to have changed. Kitty decided to go solo and try to get into the base. Couldn't stop her wid out blowin' everybody's cover. She made a big scene and dumped Gambit then ran off wid a security officer who'd been eyein' her all day.~

~I will contact her, myself. Stand by. ---Kitty?~

~Not now, sorry~

~Gambit, she is evidently not able to concentrate now. She knows I tried to make contact. I'm sure she will report in as soon as she is able. I did not sense danger at the moment. I will let you know what I find out.~

~Right.~ Gambit stood up.

Everyone had been with Charles when they witnessed his attention shift from their conversation. As he opened his eyes once more he saw them silently waiting to be filled in. "Evidently there has been a slight change in the way we laid out the mission. Gambit informs me that Shadowcat has taken the remote and decided to make her way into the base." Everyone muttered shock and disapproval. Jesse looked at Logan with desperation in his eyes.

"Can you contact her?" Logan turned away from Jesse.

"I tried. She is evidently unable to concentrate right now but in no danger. Gambit said she made a big scene to separate herself from him and then left the club with a security officer who had taken notice of her. We can do nothing until she reports in."

Kitty's hair was blowing in the night breeze as she and Jimmy drove to the base. "When we get there, stay in the jeep," he told her. "After I relieve the officer on duty, I'll come back for you. It shouldn't take too long."

In a few minutes they were parked and Jimmy turned to go. Kitty touched his arm before he could get out. "Please don't be too long. It's a little scary to be out here alone. It's so dark."

"Don't worry, Miss Kitty. I'll be back soon." Jimmy's smile seemed to be wider and more joyous as he got more comfortable around her.

Kitty was proud of herself. She had a plan and it seemed to be working out just fine. She closed her eyes and reached out to the Professor.

~Shadowcat, report.~

~Professor, I'm on the base.~

~Yes, Gambit reported that you had left him.~

~Sorry about that. I hope he's not mad. Storm didn't seem to be making progress and there was this security officer who had been making eyes at me all day. I decided to take my chances and see if he could get me on the base. So far I was right.~

~I understand. Have you gotten to the computers yet?~

~No. I'm still outside. He's signing in and then said he'll come get me.~

~Do you have a plan to get out?~

~Yes, sir. He's letting me sleep in the night watchman's office until morning. Then he's supposed to take me to a phone to call my brother Logan to pick me up since I dumped my boyfriend.~

~You seemed to have done well so far. Please be careful. After you get the remote in, don't do anything risky. We will wait for your call in the morning.~

~Thank you, professor.~

Charles opened his eyes and explained her plan to the others. "She seems to have thought it through and is in no present danger. We must let her continue."

"What if things don't go like she planned? She's on a military base." Jesse was obviously worried.

"Look, Jesse," Logan tried, "I know you're worried but you really don't know Kitty. She's been trained well. She has a strong handle on her powers and she knows how to fight if she has to."

"Her phasing is only defensive. She hasn't been on many missions. She doesn't have the field experience to be out on her own yet."

Charles intervened. "That is true but there is nothing we can do. She is an X Man and will do everything she can to complete her mission successfully. If she runs into a problem we will get her out. Until then we must let her do her job." With that he ended the debate and everyone went to their rooms to wait.

Jesse paced the floor in his room. His thoughts blaring in his ears, 'She's well trained he said. She knows how to fight he said. But don't they realize that she's on a military base with trained security officers all around her. One gorgeous girl with God only knows how many---I can't do this. I'm gonna go nuts.' Jesse stopped pacing and closed his eyes.

"Trust."

Taking a deep breath he spun around to see who had said that. Narrowing his eyes he scanned the dark room. He knew he was alone and yet he knew he heard it.

"Trust," sounded softly in his ears.

Smiling, he finally recognized the voice. His heart was warmed and he was at last able to relax. He went over to his bed and picked up his laptop. He could just picture Kitty on a cot sleeping peacefully. 'I have to trust her. We will both be on missions all the time. We have to trust each other if this is going to work between us. I'm sorry, Kitty. Just come back to me so I can tell you how I feel.' As he waited for the uplink from the remote, he smiled, 'Thanks, Em.'

TBC