Virago
Chapter Four
17 April 2009
Jean knocked lightly, calling out his name. No answer. She pushed the door open. 'Scott?'
He was standing out on the balcony, his back straight, straighter than usual, and was staring out into the gardens that lay before and beneath him. He must not have heard her.
She tried not to worry too much, aware that Rogue's return still preoccupied him. Scott had taken it the worst when Professor Xavier had confirmed Rogue's departure from the Institute. For over a year he had been unreachable. It wasn't until Kurt had all but given up on ever finding her – and almost losing his life in the process – did Scott realise that life was possible without Rogue.
That realisation had hurt Jean deeply, and for a time she had hated the missing girl. Hated her for running away and taking Scott's spirit with her. Hated her as much as Kitty still did.
Jean pushed the past out of her thoughts as she walked towards him. She slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder as she drew abreast him. 'Hey.'
Scott relaxed visibly at her touch, leaning slightly against her. 'Hi, Jean.'
'You doing okay?'
'I still can't believe she's really here.'
Jean's eyes swept the expansive grounds, noticing Kurt and Rogue sitting amongst Storm's amazingly red roses. He must have been watching her. 'This has been the happiest I've seen Kurt in a long time,' she commented.
'It's going to kill him when she leaves again,' Scott said, sounding so convinced that it startled her.
She lifted her head and looked at his profile. 'How do you know she's going to leave again?'
'She will.'
'Scott-' But she broke off, unsure of what to say. Jean was glad that Rogue had returned, happy that the girl had developed into a poised, intelligent, and graceful young woman. She saw no trace of the melancholy and often sullen teenaged Goth.
'Kitty isn't making her feel very welcome,' Scott said when she could think of nothing to say.
'Even though they had been roommates, Kitty never understood Rogue,' she said. 'None of us did.'
'I did.' Scott's voice was soft as he spoke, almost inaudible.
Soft peals of laughter rang through the air, so bright and clear that the cloudless day suddenly seemed lacklustre in contrast.
Jean clenched her jaw, forcing herself not to react strongly. In the few short months that Rogue had been part of the X-Men she and Scott had managed to form a strong bond. Scott had been the only person Rogue had trusted implicitly. Jean had sensed the younger student's feelings for Scott, but had always regarded them as insignificant. A mere crush. Scott had harboured no deeper feelings for Rogue. She had never before felt the need to be jealous or worried.
Yet, something gripped her at his words and she felt a familiar antipathy rise from the pit of her stomach as her gaze rested on Rogue once again. 'Yeah, I guess you did.' Jean straightened, her arm sliding from Scott's waist.
He finally moved, turning to face her. Above his shades, frown lines had appeared. 'Jean?'
She forced a smile, wanting nothing more than to reach up and smooth the lines away. But she kept her hands by her side. 'Have you spoken to Rogue yet? She asked about you at dinner last night.'
'I wasn't hungry.'
'You should talk to her, Scott,' she said, turning and taking a few steps back out towards the door. 'She can touch.'
Jean waited, not sure what she was waiting for. Maybe for him to reach out and take her in his arms, and maybe for him to tell her how much he loved her? She missed his caresses, his kisses, his murmured words of sweet nothings in the early hours of the morning after they'd made love. Scott hadn't touched her since Rogue's appearance.
When the silence stretched a little too long, grew a little too tense, Jean walked away.
*
'Professor, Warren, I'm sorry I'm late!' Rogue panted as she ran into the spacious office. She stopped before the large oak desk and took a few deep breaths.
Professor Xavier smiled kindly at her. 'That's quite all right, Rogue. Hank isn't here yet, and I'm sure both you and Kurt have had a lot of catching up to do.'
She smiled back, grateful for his understanding. 'Much more than both of us first realised, I think.' She could feel Warren's eyes on her, and she turned her head slightly to look at him.
That smile. The special smile that he reserved exclusively for her. 'Hi.'
Rogue held out her hand towards him. 'Hi.'
Warren reached out, taking her hand and gripping it. They both turned back to the Professor.
'It seems that I no longer need to wonder the reason for your happiness,' he said.
She felt heat suffuse her cheeks. 'Warren's been so wonderful to me, Professor. And I have you to thank for that.'
'We both do,' Warren added.
Professor Xavier's smile widened. 'I see that there was ever no need to worry about you, Rogue.'
'It seems that now that's my responsibility,' Warren said. 'Charles, you should have warned me about her persistence in constantly putting herself in danger.'
'I do not,' Rogue protested, but was unable to keep the grin from appearing.
'She is tenacious, isn't she?' Professor Xavier asked, laughter crinkling the corners of his eyes.
'I was led to believe that persistence and tenacity are commendable qualities in a person, Professor,' she answered mischievously.
'Yes, but not when it places me on the verge of a heart attack every time it happens,' Warren replied, shaking his head.
A loud knock on the Professor's office doors kept Rogue from any response. They all turned and greeted the Institute's resident doctor, Hank McCoy.
'Apologies for my lateness,' he said breathlessly, hurrying into the room. 'The latest mission met with more resistance than we first expected.'
Rogue grew instantly concerned. 'Is everyone okay?'
Hank nodded. 'Nothing a little rest wouldn't heal. Now, for these tests.'
Although she knew she appeared calm, Rogue's pulse quickened at the thought of what she was to do. What it could mean.
'You have heard of Langdon Garrison?' Professor Xavier asked.
A shadow passed across Hank's face, and he frowned. 'A brilliant geneticist who experiments on mutant DNA for the government.'
'He's been on the run from the government for a few years now,' Professor Xavier clarified. 'Ever since his creation of a microbe that destroys mutant DNA.'
Hank looked shocked, and Rogue had to look away. She had tried hard not to dwell on the implications of what the Professor had revealed about Garrison, but now knew that it was not possible. She had to face it, and she had to prepare herself for the worst. Whatever it may be.
'But he was all for mutants and humans coexisting,' Hank muttered, shaking his head in utter confusion. 'He was very much in support of mutants and mutations that would greatly benefit society.'
Rogue clenched her jaw. When she had first met Garrison, he reminded her of a compassionate grandfather. The kind that she would have wanted for herself.
'It was completely accidental. He was looking for a way to inhibit certain mutations, keep them from manifesting.' Professor Xavier looked at Rogue. 'I believe that is what you were led to believe, Rogue?'
She nodded. 'That's what he told us, and…and all I could think about was how I had finally found it, found my miracle cure. It had worked.'
'But it's killing her!' Warren stressed, a sudden savageness in his tone that surprised Rogue.
She looked at him with concern, squeezing his hand and silently reassuring him, but he kept his gaze from her.
'We will do all we can to keep that from happening,' Professor Xavier said in a calm tone.
Despite the severity of the situation, Rogue felt a sense of relief at the older man's words. She believed him, just like she had believed him many years before. 'I know you will.'
'We must find Dr Garrison before anyone else does, and Rogue, these tests may be unpleasant-'
'It's all right, Professor. I understand the reason for them.'
'But I don't.' An unanticipated, but easily recognisable, voice from behind him.
Rogue whirled around, unsure of how to react to the abrupt appearance. 'Scott!'
end chapter four.
Author's notes: As always, thank you all for the reviews. It seems that a lot of people have theories/preferences with what's going to happen and who is going to get with who. I do have the rest of the chapters already planned out, and I just hope that not too many people will be disappointed with how it ends. And, as usual for me, apologies for the delays in updating. I realise I'm not the best Evo writer out there, and though I enjoy writing and Evo is currently my favourite, I am struggling somewhat. However, I'm not a big fan of unfinished stories, so for all those who don't mind this little story of mine, I will finish, I promise! :D