Disclaimer: Okay, still don't own X-Men and I'm defiantly not making any money off of this so no one sue. You won't get nothing but a headache. And I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of it's references or quotes or anything else you recognize from elsewhere. Oh, but I do own Ebony and the story idea and probably any characters you don't recognize. Yay me. And I don't technically own Sakura and Eric. My friend Megan does. So let's all thank her. Everyone together, THANK YOU MEGAN.
Authors Note: Everyone, y'all need to go and read Mercury Dream's stuff. It's really, really, really, really, really good. (Did I mention really?) A Rogue's Touch and All Grown Up are my favorites but the others are all really good as well. So go read her stuff to. Now, quickly! Oh, and if any of you didn't already know, Ishandahalf has posted a fic that you all need to go read too.
Only one more chapter after this one. ::Tear::
Man, that last chapter was the longest one I've ever written. Go me. Don't know if this one will be as long or not. Thanks to all the reviewers.
And yes, Rogue's a killer, but then she already was. Remember, she killed Carol Danvers in chapter 8 so she's got two under her belt now. And maybe more, you'll just have to read and see.
'text' internal speech
dreams
Wandering Souls
Chapter 39: Dealing and Coping.
Washington DC…
Meranda sat idly next to Hank, enjoying the feel of his soft blue fur and well muscled hands oh her own silky skin. The image inducer could fool a lot of things, but not the sense of touch, and for that she was grateful. She slowly traced her fingertips over his knuckles, eliciting a grin from the blue scientist who tried very hard to give her a disapproving look, but the glare not quite making it to his eyes.
She grinned back playfully and re-crossed her legs, running her booted foot over his calf. She was bored out of her mind and trying desperately to keep from listening to the debate transpiring before her. She had no earthly idea why the Professor insisted on attending these, now almost weekly, 'Mutant Problem' lectures. They infuriated her more often than not, and so she'd just stopped listening, only picking up on the few important tidbits that were occasionally mentioned, and mostly flirting with Hank.
She went back to the task, her mind wandering around idly when a sudden pain racketed through her body, causing her vision to blur and go white. She sucked in a deep breath and clutched the arms of her chair tightly, causing the metal to bend under her strength. Blurred images came to her, out of sequence and distorted with Rogue and Cody as the main focus. They were talking, of sorts, then fighting, Rogue had cut Cody on the abdomen.
"Meranda, what's wrong?" Hank asked worriedly, resting a hand on her back. All around eyes turned as Logan, Ororo, Charles and all the people around them looked to see what was wrong with her.
"Kid what is it?" Logan whispered, an all to familiar protective air coming into his voice.
"Are you all right dear?" Ororo asked, as Charles began trying to probe her mind, only to be thrown forcibly out by a strong mental barrier.
Meranda willed the pain back, fear flooding her mind as she opened her eyes, her vision once again normal. "I'm fine," she said weakly, rising on unsteady feet. "I just need some air," she then moved down the aisle and out towards the lobby.
"Charles," Henry began, but the Professor was already waving for him to follow, Ororo, Logan and Charles right on his heels.
Once in the lobby, Meranda made a beeline for the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it with a satisfying click before stumbling over to the sink. She turned the water on cold, letting it run full blast and splashing several handfuls on her face. She paused for a moment, gasping for breath as she clutched the sink for support, pain continuing to rack her mind. Slowly she pulled her hands away from the sink and looked at them, trembling as the wild power jumped from her fingertips. 'What's happening?' she thought wildly, trying to slow her breathing and regain control over the many powers she'd been given. 'Why am I losing control?'
She groaned as another vision hit her, her eyes going white. This one moved more quickly and with more detail as a sudden cracking sound, that she was all too familiar with, echoed through her mind. "Oh no," she whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at her reflection, her eyes still blind and unseeing. "Baby what have you done?"
"Meranda, are you alright?" Ororo continued to bang on the door to the ladies room as Hank, Logan and Charles all watched anxiously.
"What's wrong with her Chuck?" Logan growled, pacing like a caged animal.
Hank looked over at Charles eagerly, wringing his massive hands impatiently.
Charles sighed and steepled his hands beneath his chin. "I wish I could say. Her mental shields are stronger than usual," he was about to continue when the door opened and Meranda exited, she was tired but resolved.
"We have to go home. NOW," she emphasized as she made a move to go and stumbled, still slightly weakened from the pain of the visions. Hank caught her effortlessly and Ororo rushed to her side, placing a supporting hand on her back.
"What has happened?" Hank inquired just as Ororo's cell phone began to ring deep within her purse.
She handed it to Logan, who dug out the ringing instrument and flipped it open, while Ororo remained close to Meranda, eyeing her friend cautiously. "Hello?" he said gruffly into the mouthpiece. Around the lobby, Kitty's frantic voice reverberated through the phone. "Wait a minute slow down Half-Pint, Rogue did what?"
Meranda walked slowly over to Logan and took the phone from him, placing a hand on his arm to steady herself. "Katherine, breathe child," she said in a soothing voice. "Now, tell me what's happened."
Everyone watched her for a moment as she listened to Kitty's tale, her face becoming graver by the moment. When it was finished, Meranda spoke again, her voice unchanged. "It's alright Kitty. Lock the doors and don't let anyone in or out. I'll be there as fast as I can. And don't move the body at all okay?" She hung up the phone and handed it to Ororo. "There's been an accident at the mansion. Rogue killed Cody."
"WHAT?"
"By the Goddess!"
"Oh my stars and garters!"
"We must hurry back X-men," Charles began as they all headed towards where the jet was hidden.
"You go," Meranda said, her voice unbelievably calm. "I'll take my own path," as soon as they exited the building she took to the air, shooting off like a rocket.
"Dammit, I knew we never shoulda left those damn kids alone," Logan growled.
"Come chere," Remy said soothingly, taking Rogue's hand and pulling her to the other side of Cody's dead, body, his eyes staring lifelessly up at her.
Rogue pulled her eyes away from the corpse to look at Remy. As soon as their eyes met she collapsed into his arms.
"Shh, dere, dere cherie," Remy comforted her, as Tony ushered them out of the room.
Maddie took a step forward and stared at his body. "Serves you right jackass," she muttered before closing his eyes and taking out a rosary from her back pocket, saying a quick prayer, a tradition she'd had since her first kill, and rose, exiting the room and shutting the door behind her. "Guess you can take the Catholic girl out of the church, but can't take the Catholic out of the girl," she muttered as she headed down the stairs. All the students were once again gathered in the rec room, but the music had stopped and everyone wore somber expressions as they sat around, all looking at Rogue who sat on the couch between Eric and Tony, staring ahead, her face emotionless.
"Should we call the police?" Jean asked uncertainly.
"And tell them what Red? That it was self defense? Yeah, they wont love to arrest her for that," Lance muttered.
"I called the Professor," Kitty said entering the room. "They're on their way back. Meranda said to lock the doors and not let anyone in or out."
"Why?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, she didn't say," Kitty replied softly as she took a seat next to Lance.
"So what do we do now?" Amara asked.
"I tell you what we do mates," John said grabbing his lighter and flipping it open, igniting the flame. "We get rid of the evidence."
"John we can't do that," Scott stated.
"Why the hell not Summers? You got a better idea?" Lance asked.
"Because it's wrong Alvers. And yeah I do. We wait for the Professor to get back. He'll know what to do," Scott growled back.
"Is he dead?" Rogue asked, her voice soft.
Everyone looked at her, afraid to speak. Finally Remy broke the silence walking and kneeling in front of her, running his hands over the sides of her legs soothingly and looking into her eyes. "Oui ma chere."
Rogue nodded slowly. "Good."
Everyone looked shocked for a moment before Kurt spoke. "Rogue, vhat are you saying?"
"Shut it blue boy," Maddie warned, stepping forward and taking a defensive stance near Rogue, Sakura doing the same on the other side.
"Ah'm sayin' that Ah'm glad he's dead," Rogue stated simply bringing her eyes to meet his. "He shouldn't have attacked meh."
"But Rogue, he's dead," Jean said. "You killed him."
"Yeah Ah did," Rogue said rising and heading for the hallway. Remy went to follow her but Maddie laid a hand on his wrist stopping him.
"I got this one," she said walking out the door behind her, finding Rogue sitting at the kitchen table sipping a soda. "You're taking this rather well, considering it's your first kill."
"Not mah first. Killed Carol didn't Ah?" Rogue replied taking another drink.
"Yeah but that's not the same. That was with your gift and a setup. This was bare handed, all you," Maddie took the seat across from her and looked at her hard. "That's what makes it different."
"Yeah, but not that much," Rogue stated. "Was still meh that killed Danvers."
"True I guess," Maddie said and stood, unbuttoning her black midriff short sleeve silk shirt and revealing the black lace bra beneath and clear ivory skin.
"No offense Maddie, but Ah ain't inta that. And last Ah checked, neither were ya," Rogue declared raising an eyebrow.
"Haha," Maddie mumbled turning around and lowering the shirt, revealing a rosary tattoo on her left shoulder next to a heart with a dagger piercing it, surrounded by flames with blood pooling beneath it and a read rose, veining around the handle, and blooming at the top on her right. The rosary looked normal, excepted it was 6 beads longer than normal.
"They're beautiful, but what's that got ta do with anything?" Rogue asked, admiring both tattoos.
"The heart and dagger isn't important, it's the rosary that is," Maddie said impatiently. "I started with just the cross and added a bead to it with my first kill. And I've added one with every kill since then. I need to go get it touched up after this last mission, but that's not the point. The point is, this is how I deal with it," she pulled her shirt back on and re-buttoned it, sitting back across from Rogue. "I know I can be one tough bitch at times, but I was raised a Catholic. And killing is a big no no. You're an X-Men, and I hear the same rule applies. So deal with it however you have to, but please just deal with it. Don't leave it locked up inside behind a wall of "I don't give a shit" cause that'll hurt you more in the end," Madison stated taking Rogue's hand in hers.
"Ah understand that Maddie and thanks," Rogue said pulling her hand away. "But ya jus' don't git it. Ah don't give a shit."
"Bullshit," Maddie replied. "I know you and you're way too damned emotional to not care. So ready to tell me the truth yet? Or shall I beat it out of you. And believe me, the second one is really appealing to me right now."
"Invulnerable and super strength remember?" Rogue grinned and continued to sip her drink.
"What should we do, Scott?" Jean asked timidly.
"We need to call the police," Scott looked to Eric, Tony and Sakura, seeing the biggest challenge there. "We are calling the police," he stated.
"It's hard to make a phone call when you're dead." Sakura said blandly as Tony grinned beside her and playfully brandished a wicked six inch 'pocket' knife.
Eric, who had moved when Rogue left the room, stood from his position by the wall and idly looked over a phone box dangling from the cord in his hand. "Uh." was all he said.
"Meranda said not to do anything until they got back," Jubilee said. "I say we stick with that."
"And if we used a cell phone?" Evan asked, ignoring her and flashing his mini phone before their eyes. Sakura smiled sweetly and Evan found himself staring at the barrel of a cocked gun.
"I still maintain that dead men make no calls," she stated coolly.
Bobby opened his mouth to say something when the French doors banged open to reveal the raven haired Goddess standing before them, glaring out over the startled teen faces.
"My, my, what have I missed here?" Meranda asked entering the room and closing the doors telekinetically behind her. "And I have to agree with the one's with the guns. You touch that phone Scott Summers and I can promise you, there won't be anything left to save. Now, where is my daughter?"
"In de kitchen wit' Maddie," Remy replied walking up next to her and dropped his voice. "Ah only left fer an hour wit de boys. Dis be mon fault."
"It couldn't be helped Remy," Meranda said reassuringly placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This started when he rapped her. Where's the body?"
"Upstairs in their bedroom," Wanda said stepping up. "That's where he attacked her."
"Okay," Meranda nodded slowly. "So, is he really dead or what?" she looked over towards the Dragons, knowing if anyone could give her verification it would be them.
"Oh yeah," Sakura said, leaving no room for argument.
"Can't get much deader," Tony added, a small proud look on his face.
"But can't you, like, do something to help her Ms. Davidson? Like heal him or something?" Kitty asked anxiously.
"Ja. Could one of those powers the government gave du help?" Kurt added hopefully.
Meranda shook her head slowly. "I can heal an injury, not resurrect the dead. If he's dead than that's pretty much it. Now, you guys wait here, and don't touch that phone. I'm going to go check on my daughter." She turned and headed towards the kitchen.
"So what do we do now?" Amara asked after the woman exited the room.
"We wait for the Professor. He'll know what to do," Scott said firmly, leaning near the window, glaring over at the Dragons as an uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
"So what am I interrupting? Whose the better killer? Cause I love that game," (AN: Couldn't resist. I saw Chronicles and yeah, I loved that line.) Meranda said entering the room as Maddie and Rogue still sat at the kitchen table staring at one another.
Maddie just smirked while Rogue rolled her eyes. "So I guess this means the party poopers are here huh?" Madison said rising.
"Nope, cavalry ain't shown up yet," Meranda said walking over to the fridge and looking in disappointedly as she searched for some kind of liquor. "Just me. It's cool when you can fly," she turned back to Madison. "Would you mind getting me something other than chocolate milk? I don't think I can handle something that hard right now," she said sarcastically. "Besides, Sakura's threatening Scott's life and I know you love to be there for those numerous occasions."
"Alright," Maddie said looking over at Rogue. "If you need me holler. And if I'm not hurting Scott or Red, I'll be right in," she turned and walked quickly out of the room, yelling to Sakura to save her some.
"So, how you dealing?" Meranda asked sitting across from her.
"Fine," Rogue began before Meranda cut her off.
"And don't even try to feed me that "I'm fine" shit. That may work with some of those jackasses out there, but not me got it?" Meranda stated firmly.
"Gawd, what's with the people in mah life? Why the hell don't y'all believe meh?" Rogue growled.
"Because we know you sugar," Meranda smiled. "So stop with the tough girl shit and just tell me."
"Mamma, Ah really am okay. And that's what's botherin' meh. The fact that Ah'm okay wit' the fact that Ah killed him and Ah'm not broken up about it," she looked Meranda in the eye. "What's that say about meh?"
Meranda opened her mouth to speak when the back door slammed open and a very angry Logan barreled into the kitchen looking more pissed than usual.
"Oh good, your both here. Go pack your bags darlin'," Logan said entering the rest of the way in. "We're going up to the cabin."
"Logan what the hell are you talking about?" Meranda asked rising, looking at him pointedly.
"Xavier's in there getting ready to call the police," Logan growled. "So we're takin' a little family vacation. It'll be fun. 'Sides, you bitched at me enough to do it when we were married so I figured, why the hell not?"
"The hell Xavier's calling the cops. The little fucking prick's lucky one of us didn't gut his ass," Meranda fumed.
"Uh guys," Rogue stood up and tried to get her parents attention.
"Yeah and he wants to talk to us, all of us, before he does it," Logan stated waving his hand around the three of them, ignoring Rogue as he focused on Meranda.
"Damnit. This is all your fault for working for a fucking goodie goodie like that," Meranda barked glaring at him.
"Hey, I'm not the one who ran off for a glorious military career."
"Uh guys…"
"Yeah, getting shot in the chest is really running off!"
"GUYS!"
"WHAT?" they both asked turning to look at Rogue.
"Enough. We ain't goin' ta the cabin. Maybe we can talk the Professor out of this. Besides, bein' locked in a two room box wit the two of ya ain't mah idea of a vacation," she added as she headed out towards the front hall where everyone had now gathered.
Logan and Meranda watched her leave before Logan looked over at Meranda, a slightly wounded expression on his face. "I thought she liked the cabin."
"She did when she was three," Meranda said as they moved to follow her. "And if it makes you feel better, I like the cabin."
"Not really," Logan muttered.
"Love you too."
Rogue entered the room and tensed as all the eyes turned to look at her, some supportive, but most with disparagement and shock. She stiffened as her parents stopped and stood behind her, their stances daring anyone to say something.
Slowly the room seemed to divide as Remy, Madison, Sakura, Tony, Eric, Wanda, John, Amara, Piotr, Jubilee, Ray, Jamie and Lance came to stand nearer to her while the others backed the Professor. Well, at least she knew where their loyalties lied. Surprisingly enough, at least from her parents perspective, Ororo and Hank stood behind the Professor.
"Rogue, we need to talk now," Charles said turning and heading for his office, leaving no room for argument. "Henry, go see if there's anything that can be done for the boy."
"Trust me, there isn't," Maddie stated stepping forward and glaring at the Professor, who simply returned the favor.
"Humor me Dr. McCoy," Charles stated coolly, his eyes never leaving Madison's. "And you children should get home. The police will be coming soon, and I'd rather not have a lot of dead officers on the grounds of my school."
"Why you son of a bitch," Maddie stepped forward, going for her blades when Tony's arms wrapped around her, pulling her back easily.
"Don't do it Maddie," Rogue stated, stepping in front of her friend and lowering her voice. "Go back to the warehouse and wait fer meh. Jus' in case huh?"
Madison and Rogue stared at each other for a long moment before Maddie shook her head once and let her body relax in Tony's arms. "We can leave before the cops can find their donuts," she whispered and placed a hand on Rogue's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Move out. We're going back to the base."
"Are you sure that is wise?" Eric asked, eyeing the professor cautiously.
"As sure as ever Silent Bob. But we're doing it anyway," Madison replied as Tony started out the door, Eric and Sakura following close behind, Sakura waving excitedly at Rogue. Madison left last, her eyes still on the Professors, like an animal ready to strike as she left the room. Moments later, the roar of their engine's could be heard as three bikes and the black Eclipse pulled out towards the road.
"Rogue this way please," Charles said once more, his voice commanding and filled with disappointment as he lead the way to his office.
Rogue cast one final glance at her friends, or at least those who used to be her friends, before following, Logan, Meranda and Remy hot on her heels.
"If you could just wait outside a moment," he said to Logan and the others as he indicated for Rogue to enter.
"Yeah no," Meranda said following behind Rogue, Remy already at her side and Logan close behind.
"Please. This is a discussion that Rogue and I should have alone," Charles tried.
"Yeah, like the discussion you had with her that involved letting that little prick move in here?" Logan growled. "How you plannin' on guilt trippin' her this time Chuck."
"I do not plan on 'guilt tripping' her into anything Logan. I am simply going to appeal to her sense of reason and responsibility," Charles defended.
"And de difference be," Remy muttered pulling out a deck of cards.
"Verdict's in Chuck," Meranda stated, daring the man with her eyes. "We ain't leavin."
"Lest y' wan' make us," Remy challenged the cards in his hands moving easily back and forth, as he charged and uncharged them with ease.
"Very well," Charles replied sounding defeated as he took his place behind the desk. The others took seats, Rogue in the chair in front of the desk, Meranda in the one next to that as Logan leaned near the doorframe and Remy near the window, looking out onto the lawn. After everyone was settled, Charles steepled his fingers beneath his chin and looked at Rogue. "Now my dear, please tell us what happened."
"He attacked meh. Ah did what Ah had ta," Rogue replied, stiffening her body and looking at the professor, her eyes cold as ice.
"I see. And you couldn't have handled it any other way?" Charles asked.
"Obviously not," Meranda retorted.
"If she could have Chuck she woulda," Logan agreed.
"Yes, but I was asking Rogue," Charles stated sternly.
"Ah probably coulda, but Ah didn't. And now we ain't gonna know are we?" Rogue challenged.
"Well Rogue, I'm afraid I'm unsure of what to do here. I hope you understand that we must call the police and report what has happened," Charles continued.
"Why?" Rogue asked.
"Because it's our duty. If we do not report this then we prove what all the reports say about mutants as being true," Charles countered.
"Ah. Jus' lahke we would have been doin' if we didn't let him stay here right? So let meh ask, when doesn't that defense work?" Rogue retorted.
"Rogue please be reasonable," Xavier began as he started to go into a long, drawn out explanation of how this wasn't the same thing near the window Remy was plotting, waiting for his moment. And here it was. Meranda entered the argument.
"No she's right Charles. You convince her to let him stay here, but then you do nothing to ensure that he wasn't a raging psychopath before hand! And now you're going on about how you have to do something, and have never once asked how my daughter is after the experience!" as Meranda began her rant Remy made his move, unclasping the window silently.
He turned and looked back, making sure the telepath and the two women were still focused on their argument, and caught Logan's eye. The elder man raised an eyebrow questioningly as Remy shot him a look. Understanding, Logan nodded his head slightly and Remy was gone out the window, silent as the night.
As Logan watched him go, he came to a conclusion. The Cajun wasn't that bad after all.
"At least now I see how far friendship gets you on this team," Wanda growled at Scott as Remy silently entered through the balcony doors of the Rec Room. "I'm starting to regret leaving the Brotherhood."
"Come on baby, this is different," Evan tried, reaching out a hand to Wanda's shoulder only to be thrown back by a hex bolt.
"Don't you dare touch me," she growled menacingly, electricity lighting up behind her. "And don't you dare look at me with that 'higher than thou' attitude Jean Grey. The Brotherhood had it's problems, but when Danvers got killed, we didn't turn her in like she didn't mean shit to us."
"Wanda that's not, like, what we're doing," Kitty said and then looked at Scott. "Is it?"
"Sure looks like it to me mates," John stated, flicking his lighter. "Maybe Lance was right about you bloody twits."
"Hey, that's not fair," Jean said stepping forward. "We're only doing what's right."
"Well what's right isn't always what's best Red," Ray stated angrily.
"Where Lance and Amanda?" Remy finally asked, the emotions of the room over powering him for a moment. There was a lot of anger. And betrayal.
Everyone turned to stare at him for a moment before Scott answered. "They went home. We all thought it was best if Amanda wasn't involved and Lance left on his own. How is she?"
"Non," Remy growled at him, his hands glowing with power and unleashed anger. He took in a breath and brought his powers back under control, the glow leaving. "Y' non git t' pretend dat y' care bout her, hahn?" He headed towards the stairs. "John, Piotr, Remy need yer help mon ami's," he stated climbing towards the upper floors, the two men close on his heels.
"And where exactly are you going LeBeau?" Scott challenged, making to follow only to have six Jamie's, Jubilee and a flared Amara, along with an angry looking Wanda block his path.
"Remy don' think dat be any of yer concern non," Remy called back as they disappeared down the hall.
"Sorry Scott, but you weren't invited to that party," Jubilee stated, fireworks popping in her hands.
"And don't you two think of moving either," Wanda growled, looking directly at Kitty and Kurt, focusing her power on theirs.
Ray moved to join the girls and Jamie's as the X-men resumed their glaring contest.
Piotr transformed to his metal form as he, John and Remy moved silently down the hallway, ducking into Logan's room when they saw Ororo and Hank emerge from Remy and Rogue's.
"Pity. Poor child," Ororo said closing the door behind them.
"Yes, but it is curious why he would have attempted such a foolish act to begin with," Henry mused as they headed for the elevator at the end of the hallway. "With her acquired gifts, there is no way he would have stood a chance in hand to hand combat as it was."
"Perhaps his mental state was not as stable as the Professor hoped it was," Ororo supplied as they waited for the elevator outside the doors.
"Perhaps," Henry mused. "I just hope that Charles does not indeed inform the police of this. They would not care that a mutant was killed, but they would love the chance to kill another for committing the act."
"I agree my friend. But by not calling the police, we would be encouraging the act to happen again. It is indeed a tricky matter," Ororo sighed and ran a hand through her snow white locks.
"Indeed," Hank agreed as they boarded the elevator. "Let us just check on the children shall we?"
As soon as the doors shut behind the two instructors, Gambit, Pyro and Colossus were in motion, moving down the hallway and into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. Cody's body still lay motionless in the center of the room, a white sheet now covering his form. Gambit would have liked nothing more than for him to be alive, mostly so he could kill him himself and free Rogue of all this, but now that couldn't be helped.
"So, what's the plan mate?" Pyro asked.
"Colossus carries de body down de back stairs out de kitchen. Den, when we git t' de woods, y' and moi do what we do best non?" Remy charged a card emphasizing his point, his red and black eyes glowing intensely. "Den when de police git here, dere be nothin' t' fahnd hahn?"
"Da," Colossus agreed, lifting the body easily and heading for the door, the other two close behind him.
Henry and Ororo exited the elevator to find their students facing off against each other at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh my," Henry muttered as they ran into the middle of the fray.
"What is going on here?" Ororo asked, her voice commanding.
"Remy, John und Piotr vent upstairs," Kurt supplied.
"We think they're going to do something with the body," Jean added.
"But you don't have any proof," Amara said. "Just speculation."
"Oh my stars and garters," Hank said, bounding easily over the railing and up the stairs behind the students.
"Stay here," Ororo ordered and flew up after him as fast as she could. They both made it to the door at the same time, and Hank threw it open, to reveal an empty room, with only a white sheet in the center.
"Look Professah, Ah'm leavin," Rogue said, their exchanged having gone on for the better part of fifteen minutes and nothing really having been accomplished. "And if the cops git here before Ah do, then there's gonna be a lot more dead bodies ta clean up." It was a statement of fact, not a threat and Rogue knew the Professor knew that. Just like she also knew that she wouldn't be the only one doing the killing this time, especially judging by the reaction from some of the others outside. And by the way Meranda and Logan stood before her, backing her all the way.
"Rogue, please try to be reasonable," Charles began again as the door suddenly flew open, revealing Henry, nervous and out of breath.
"Sorry to intrude Professor, but something has happened that must be addressed immediately," he panted.
"What is it Doctor McCoy?" Meranda asked, her voice and eyes cold as she addressed Beast.
"The body's gone," Charles supplied, worry across his face. As one the group looked towards the window, where it hung open and a certain Cajun was no where to be seen.
The Professor, Rogue, Ebony, Wolverine and Beast all came out into the front foyer, joining the rest of the X-Men, as Colossus, Pyro and Gambit came in thru the front door, brushing dust and ash from their hands and cloths.
"Hard t' report a murder when dere be non body," Remy muttered as he headed for the stairs, brushing the dust from the shoulders of his trench coat. He paused next to Rogue and shot a look back towards the Professor, challenging him to say otherwise. Rogue looked at him and wrapped her arm around his waist and as one the two started slowly up the stairs again.
Wanda caught on fast and grinned. "What murder? I don't remember anybody named Cody living here," she looked at the group around her. "Do you guys?"
"Never heard of him," Jubilee said walking up to Piotr and knocking off a stray leaf from his shoulder.
"You guys can't be serious!" Scott yelled and turned to Xavier. "Professor we've got to do something."
"Yes Scott you're right. We do," Charles said causing Rogue and Remy to stop and stare at him, as everyone else did as well. "And that is to protect our own." He turned and wheeled back towards his office.
Rogue and Remy looked at each other for a long moment before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, she caught it and laced her fingers with his on her shoulder, keeping her other arm around his waist as they headed up the stairs towards their room.
"I don't believe this," Scott said throwing his hands in the air.
"Save it Scooter," Logan growled. "And clean up that mess in there," he indicated the rec room. "And the rest of you," he looked at everyone standing near the stairs. "Go to bed." He stopped next to Meranda who stood near Ororo and Hank, just staring at them emotionlessly. "Come on darlin'," he said placing his hands on her shoulders and steering her towards the stairs. "She's safe for tonight."
Meranda nodded her head slowly, tearing her gaze from her two friends and leaning against her former husband as he lead her up the stairs, leaving the others to watch dumbfounded.
Authors Note: And there you have it, another chapter. (In less than 6 months even). Hope you liked. Only one more left now. Please Review.
Authors Note: Everyone, y'all need to go and read Mercury Dream's stuff. It's really, really, really, really, really good. (Did I mention really?) A Rogue's Touch and All Grown Up are my favorites but the others are all really good as well. So go read her stuff to. Now, quickly! Oh, and if any of you didn't already know, Ishandahalf has posted a fic that you all need to go read too.
Only one more chapter after this one. ::Tear::
Man, that last chapter was the longest one I've ever written. Go me. Don't know if this one will be as long or not. Thanks to all the reviewers.
And yes, Rogue's a killer, but then she already was. Remember, she killed Carol Danvers in chapter 8 so she's got two under her belt now. And maybe more, you'll just have to read and see.
'text' internal speech
dreams
Wandering Souls
Chapter 39: Dealing and Coping.
Washington DC…
Meranda sat idly next to Hank, enjoying the feel of his soft blue fur and well muscled hands oh her own silky skin. The image inducer could fool a lot of things, but not the sense of touch, and for that she was grateful. She slowly traced her fingertips over his knuckles, eliciting a grin from the blue scientist who tried very hard to give her a disapproving look, but the glare not quite making it to his eyes.
She grinned back playfully and re-crossed her legs, running her booted foot over his calf. She was bored out of her mind and trying desperately to keep from listening to the debate transpiring before her. She had no earthly idea why the Professor insisted on attending these, now almost weekly, 'Mutant Problem' lectures. They infuriated her more often than not, and so she'd just stopped listening, only picking up on the few important tidbits that were occasionally mentioned, and mostly flirting with Hank.
She went back to the task, her mind wandering around idly when a sudden pain racketed through her body, causing her vision to blur and go white. She sucked in a deep breath and clutched the arms of her chair tightly, causing the metal to bend under her strength. Blurred images came to her, out of sequence and distorted with Rogue and Cody as the main focus. They were talking, of sorts, then fighting, Rogue had cut Cody on the abdomen.
"Meranda, what's wrong?" Hank asked worriedly, resting a hand on her back. All around eyes turned as Logan, Ororo, Charles and all the people around them looked to see what was wrong with her.
"Kid what is it?" Logan whispered, an all to familiar protective air coming into his voice.
"Are you all right dear?" Ororo asked, as Charles began trying to probe her mind, only to be thrown forcibly out by a strong mental barrier.
Meranda willed the pain back, fear flooding her mind as she opened her eyes, her vision once again normal. "I'm fine," she said weakly, rising on unsteady feet. "I just need some air," she then moved down the aisle and out towards the lobby.
"Charles," Henry began, but the Professor was already waving for him to follow, Ororo, Logan and Charles right on his heels.
Once in the lobby, Meranda made a beeline for the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it with a satisfying click before stumbling over to the sink. She turned the water on cold, letting it run full blast and splashing several handfuls on her face. She paused for a moment, gasping for breath as she clutched the sink for support, pain continuing to rack her mind. Slowly she pulled her hands away from the sink and looked at them, trembling as the wild power jumped from her fingertips. 'What's happening?' she thought wildly, trying to slow her breathing and regain control over the many powers she'd been given. 'Why am I losing control?'
She groaned as another vision hit her, her eyes going white. This one moved more quickly and with more detail as a sudden cracking sound, that she was all too familiar with, echoed through her mind. "Oh no," she whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at her reflection, her eyes still blind and unseeing. "Baby what have you done?"
"Meranda, are you alright?" Ororo continued to bang on the door to the ladies room as Hank, Logan and Charles all watched anxiously.
"What's wrong with her Chuck?" Logan growled, pacing like a caged animal.
Hank looked over at Charles eagerly, wringing his massive hands impatiently.
Charles sighed and steepled his hands beneath his chin. "I wish I could say. Her mental shields are stronger than usual," he was about to continue when the door opened and Meranda exited, she was tired but resolved.
"We have to go home. NOW," she emphasized as she made a move to go and stumbled, still slightly weakened from the pain of the visions. Hank caught her effortlessly and Ororo rushed to her side, placing a supporting hand on her back.
"What has happened?" Hank inquired just as Ororo's cell phone began to ring deep within her purse.
She handed it to Logan, who dug out the ringing instrument and flipped it open, while Ororo remained close to Meranda, eyeing her friend cautiously. "Hello?" he said gruffly into the mouthpiece. Around the lobby, Kitty's frantic voice reverberated through the phone. "Wait a minute slow down Half-Pint, Rogue did what?"
Meranda walked slowly over to Logan and took the phone from him, placing a hand on his arm to steady herself. "Katherine, breathe child," she said in a soothing voice. "Now, tell me what's happened."
Everyone watched her for a moment as she listened to Kitty's tale, her face becoming graver by the moment. When it was finished, Meranda spoke again, her voice unchanged. "It's alright Kitty. Lock the doors and don't let anyone in or out. I'll be there as fast as I can. And don't move the body at all okay?" She hung up the phone and handed it to Ororo. "There's been an accident at the mansion. Rogue killed Cody."
"WHAT?"
"By the Goddess!"
"Oh my stars and garters!"
"We must hurry back X-men," Charles began as they all headed towards where the jet was hidden.
"You go," Meranda said, her voice unbelievably calm. "I'll take my own path," as soon as they exited the building she took to the air, shooting off like a rocket.
"Dammit, I knew we never shoulda left those damn kids alone," Logan growled.
"Come chere," Remy said soothingly, taking Rogue's hand and pulling her to the other side of Cody's dead, body, his eyes staring lifelessly up at her.
Rogue pulled her eyes away from the corpse to look at Remy. As soon as their eyes met she collapsed into his arms.
"Shh, dere, dere cherie," Remy comforted her, as Tony ushered them out of the room.
Maddie took a step forward and stared at his body. "Serves you right jackass," she muttered before closing his eyes and taking out a rosary from her back pocket, saying a quick prayer, a tradition she'd had since her first kill, and rose, exiting the room and shutting the door behind her. "Guess you can take the Catholic girl out of the church, but can't take the Catholic out of the girl," she muttered as she headed down the stairs. All the students were once again gathered in the rec room, but the music had stopped and everyone wore somber expressions as they sat around, all looking at Rogue who sat on the couch between Eric and Tony, staring ahead, her face emotionless.
"Should we call the police?" Jean asked uncertainly.
"And tell them what Red? That it was self defense? Yeah, they wont love to arrest her for that," Lance muttered.
"I called the Professor," Kitty said entering the room. "They're on their way back. Meranda said to lock the doors and not let anyone in or out."
"Why?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, she didn't say," Kitty replied softly as she took a seat next to Lance.
"So what do we do now?" Amara asked.
"I tell you what we do mates," John said grabbing his lighter and flipping it open, igniting the flame. "We get rid of the evidence."
"John we can't do that," Scott stated.
"Why the hell not Summers? You got a better idea?" Lance asked.
"Because it's wrong Alvers. And yeah I do. We wait for the Professor to get back. He'll know what to do," Scott growled back.
"Is he dead?" Rogue asked, her voice soft.
Everyone looked at her, afraid to speak. Finally Remy broke the silence walking and kneeling in front of her, running his hands over the sides of her legs soothingly and looking into her eyes. "Oui ma chere."
Rogue nodded slowly. "Good."
Everyone looked shocked for a moment before Kurt spoke. "Rogue, vhat are you saying?"
"Shut it blue boy," Maddie warned, stepping forward and taking a defensive stance near Rogue, Sakura doing the same on the other side.
"Ah'm sayin' that Ah'm glad he's dead," Rogue stated simply bringing her eyes to meet his. "He shouldn't have attacked meh."
"But Rogue, he's dead," Jean said. "You killed him."
"Yeah Ah did," Rogue said rising and heading for the hallway. Remy went to follow her but Maddie laid a hand on his wrist stopping him.
"I got this one," she said walking out the door behind her, finding Rogue sitting at the kitchen table sipping a soda. "You're taking this rather well, considering it's your first kill."
"Not mah first. Killed Carol didn't Ah?" Rogue replied taking another drink.
"Yeah but that's not the same. That was with your gift and a setup. This was bare handed, all you," Maddie took the seat across from her and looked at her hard. "That's what makes it different."
"Yeah, but not that much," Rogue stated. "Was still meh that killed Danvers."
"True I guess," Maddie said and stood, unbuttoning her black midriff short sleeve silk shirt and revealing the black lace bra beneath and clear ivory skin.
"No offense Maddie, but Ah ain't inta that. And last Ah checked, neither were ya," Rogue declared raising an eyebrow.
"Haha," Maddie mumbled turning around and lowering the shirt, revealing a rosary tattoo on her left shoulder next to a heart with a dagger piercing it, surrounded by flames with blood pooling beneath it and a read rose, veining around the handle, and blooming at the top on her right. The rosary looked normal, excepted it was 6 beads longer than normal.
"They're beautiful, but what's that got ta do with anything?" Rogue asked, admiring both tattoos.
"The heart and dagger isn't important, it's the rosary that is," Maddie said impatiently. "I started with just the cross and added a bead to it with my first kill. And I've added one with every kill since then. I need to go get it touched up after this last mission, but that's not the point. The point is, this is how I deal with it," she pulled her shirt back on and re-buttoned it, sitting back across from Rogue. "I know I can be one tough bitch at times, but I was raised a Catholic. And killing is a big no no. You're an X-Men, and I hear the same rule applies. So deal with it however you have to, but please just deal with it. Don't leave it locked up inside behind a wall of "I don't give a shit" cause that'll hurt you more in the end," Madison stated taking Rogue's hand in hers.
"Ah understand that Maddie and thanks," Rogue said pulling her hand away. "But ya jus' don't git it. Ah don't give a shit."
"Bullshit," Maddie replied. "I know you and you're way too damned emotional to not care. So ready to tell me the truth yet? Or shall I beat it out of you. And believe me, the second one is really appealing to me right now."
"Invulnerable and super strength remember?" Rogue grinned and continued to sip her drink.
"What should we do, Scott?" Jean asked timidly.
"We need to call the police," Scott looked to Eric, Tony and Sakura, seeing the biggest challenge there. "We are calling the police," he stated.
"It's hard to make a phone call when you're dead." Sakura said blandly as Tony grinned beside her and playfully brandished a wicked six inch 'pocket' knife.
Eric, who had moved when Rogue left the room, stood from his position by the wall and idly looked over a phone box dangling from the cord in his hand. "Uh." was all he said.
"Meranda said not to do anything until they got back," Jubilee said. "I say we stick with that."
"And if we used a cell phone?" Evan asked, ignoring her and flashing his mini phone before their eyes. Sakura smiled sweetly and Evan found himself staring at the barrel of a cocked gun.
"I still maintain that dead men make no calls," she stated coolly.
Bobby opened his mouth to say something when the French doors banged open to reveal the raven haired Goddess standing before them, glaring out over the startled teen faces.
"My, my, what have I missed here?" Meranda asked entering the room and closing the doors telekinetically behind her. "And I have to agree with the one's with the guns. You touch that phone Scott Summers and I can promise you, there won't be anything left to save. Now, where is my daughter?"
"In de kitchen wit' Maddie," Remy replied walking up next to her and dropped his voice. "Ah only left fer an hour wit de boys. Dis be mon fault."
"It couldn't be helped Remy," Meranda said reassuringly placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This started when he rapped her. Where's the body?"
"Upstairs in their bedroom," Wanda said stepping up. "That's where he attacked her."
"Okay," Meranda nodded slowly. "So, is he really dead or what?" she looked over towards the Dragons, knowing if anyone could give her verification it would be them.
"Oh yeah," Sakura said, leaving no room for argument.
"Can't get much deader," Tony added, a small proud look on his face.
"But can't you, like, do something to help her Ms. Davidson? Like heal him or something?" Kitty asked anxiously.
"Ja. Could one of those powers the government gave du help?" Kurt added hopefully.
Meranda shook her head slowly. "I can heal an injury, not resurrect the dead. If he's dead than that's pretty much it. Now, you guys wait here, and don't touch that phone. I'm going to go check on my daughter." She turned and headed towards the kitchen.
"So what do we do now?" Amara asked after the woman exited the room.
"We wait for the Professor. He'll know what to do," Scott said firmly, leaning near the window, glaring over at the Dragons as an uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
"So what am I interrupting? Whose the better killer? Cause I love that game," (AN: Couldn't resist. I saw Chronicles and yeah, I loved that line.) Meranda said entering the room as Maddie and Rogue still sat at the kitchen table staring at one another.
Maddie just smirked while Rogue rolled her eyes. "So I guess this means the party poopers are here huh?" Madison said rising.
"Nope, cavalry ain't shown up yet," Meranda said walking over to the fridge and looking in disappointedly as she searched for some kind of liquor. "Just me. It's cool when you can fly," she turned back to Madison. "Would you mind getting me something other than chocolate milk? I don't think I can handle something that hard right now," she said sarcastically. "Besides, Sakura's threatening Scott's life and I know you love to be there for those numerous occasions."
"Alright," Maddie said looking over at Rogue. "If you need me holler. And if I'm not hurting Scott or Red, I'll be right in," she turned and walked quickly out of the room, yelling to Sakura to save her some.
"So, how you dealing?" Meranda asked sitting across from her.
"Fine," Rogue began before Meranda cut her off.
"And don't even try to feed me that "I'm fine" shit. That may work with some of those jackasses out there, but not me got it?" Meranda stated firmly.
"Gawd, what's with the people in mah life? Why the hell don't y'all believe meh?" Rogue growled.
"Because we know you sugar," Meranda smiled. "So stop with the tough girl shit and just tell me."
"Mamma, Ah really am okay. And that's what's botherin' meh. The fact that Ah'm okay wit' the fact that Ah killed him and Ah'm not broken up about it," she looked Meranda in the eye. "What's that say about meh?"
Meranda opened her mouth to speak when the back door slammed open and a very angry Logan barreled into the kitchen looking more pissed than usual.
"Oh good, your both here. Go pack your bags darlin'," Logan said entering the rest of the way in. "We're going up to the cabin."
"Logan what the hell are you talking about?" Meranda asked rising, looking at him pointedly.
"Xavier's in there getting ready to call the police," Logan growled. "So we're takin' a little family vacation. It'll be fun. 'Sides, you bitched at me enough to do it when we were married so I figured, why the hell not?"
"The hell Xavier's calling the cops. The little fucking prick's lucky one of us didn't gut his ass," Meranda fumed.
"Uh guys," Rogue stood up and tried to get her parents attention.
"Yeah and he wants to talk to us, all of us, before he does it," Logan stated waving his hand around the three of them, ignoring Rogue as he focused on Meranda.
"Damnit. This is all your fault for working for a fucking goodie goodie like that," Meranda barked glaring at him.
"Hey, I'm not the one who ran off for a glorious military career."
"Uh guys…"
"Yeah, getting shot in the chest is really running off!"
"GUYS!"
"WHAT?" they both asked turning to look at Rogue.
"Enough. We ain't goin' ta the cabin. Maybe we can talk the Professor out of this. Besides, bein' locked in a two room box wit the two of ya ain't mah idea of a vacation," she added as she headed out towards the front hall where everyone had now gathered.
Logan and Meranda watched her leave before Logan looked over at Meranda, a slightly wounded expression on his face. "I thought she liked the cabin."
"She did when she was three," Meranda said as they moved to follow her. "And if it makes you feel better, I like the cabin."
"Not really," Logan muttered.
"Love you too."
Rogue entered the room and tensed as all the eyes turned to look at her, some supportive, but most with disparagement and shock. She stiffened as her parents stopped and stood behind her, their stances daring anyone to say something.
Slowly the room seemed to divide as Remy, Madison, Sakura, Tony, Eric, Wanda, John, Amara, Piotr, Jubilee, Ray, Jamie and Lance came to stand nearer to her while the others backed the Professor. Well, at least she knew where their loyalties lied. Surprisingly enough, at least from her parents perspective, Ororo and Hank stood behind the Professor.
"Rogue, we need to talk now," Charles said turning and heading for his office, leaving no room for argument. "Henry, go see if there's anything that can be done for the boy."
"Trust me, there isn't," Maddie stated stepping forward and glaring at the Professor, who simply returned the favor.
"Humor me Dr. McCoy," Charles stated coolly, his eyes never leaving Madison's. "And you children should get home. The police will be coming soon, and I'd rather not have a lot of dead officers on the grounds of my school."
"Why you son of a bitch," Maddie stepped forward, going for her blades when Tony's arms wrapped around her, pulling her back easily.
"Don't do it Maddie," Rogue stated, stepping in front of her friend and lowering her voice. "Go back to the warehouse and wait fer meh. Jus' in case huh?"
Madison and Rogue stared at each other for a long moment before Maddie shook her head once and let her body relax in Tony's arms. "We can leave before the cops can find their donuts," she whispered and placed a hand on Rogue's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Move out. We're going back to the base."
"Are you sure that is wise?" Eric asked, eyeing the professor cautiously.
"As sure as ever Silent Bob. But we're doing it anyway," Madison replied as Tony started out the door, Eric and Sakura following close behind, Sakura waving excitedly at Rogue. Madison left last, her eyes still on the Professors, like an animal ready to strike as she left the room. Moments later, the roar of their engine's could be heard as three bikes and the black Eclipse pulled out towards the road.
"Rogue this way please," Charles said once more, his voice commanding and filled with disappointment as he lead the way to his office.
Rogue cast one final glance at her friends, or at least those who used to be her friends, before following, Logan, Meranda and Remy hot on her heels.
"If you could just wait outside a moment," he said to Logan and the others as he indicated for Rogue to enter.
"Yeah no," Meranda said following behind Rogue, Remy already at her side and Logan close behind.
"Please. This is a discussion that Rogue and I should have alone," Charles tried.
"Yeah, like the discussion you had with her that involved letting that little prick move in here?" Logan growled. "How you plannin' on guilt trippin' her this time Chuck."
"I do not plan on 'guilt tripping' her into anything Logan. I am simply going to appeal to her sense of reason and responsibility," Charles defended.
"And de difference be," Remy muttered pulling out a deck of cards.
"Verdict's in Chuck," Meranda stated, daring the man with her eyes. "We ain't leavin."
"Lest y' wan' make us," Remy challenged the cards in his hands moving easily back and forth, as he charged and uncharged them with ease.
"Very well," Charles replied sounding defeated as he took his place behind the desk. The others took seats, Rogue in the chair in front of the desk, Meranda in the one next to that as Logan leaned near the doorframe and Remy near the window, looking out onto the lawn. After everyone was settled, Charles steepled his fingers beneath his chin and looked at Rogue. "Now my dear, please tell us what happened."
"He attacked meh. Ah did what Ah had ta," Rogue replied, stiffening her body and looking at the professor, her eyes cold as ice.
"I see. And you couldn't have handled it any other way?" Charles asked.
"Obviously not," Meranda retorted.
"If she could have Chuck she woulda," Logan agreed.
"Yes, but I was asking Rogue," Charles stated sternly.
"Ah probably coulda, but Ah didn't. And now we ain't gonna know are we?" Rogue challenged.
"Well Rogue, I'm afraid I'm unsure of what to do here. I hope you understand that we must call the police and report what has happened," Charles continued.
"Why?" Rogue asked.
"Because it's our duty. If we do not report this then we prove what all the reports say about mutants as being true," Charles countered.
"Ah. Jus' lahke we would have been doin' if we didn't let him stay here right? So let meh ask, when doesn't that defense work?" Rogue retorted.
"Rogue please be reasonable," Xavier began as he started to go into a long, drawn out explanation of how this wasn't the same thing near the window Remy was plotting, waiting for his moment. And here it was. Meranda entered the argument.
"No she's right Charles. You convince her to let him stay here, but then you do nothing to ensure that he wasn't a raging psychopath before hand! And now you're going on about how you have to do something, and have never once asked how my daughter is after the experience!" as Meranda began her rant Remy made his move, unclasping the window silently.
He turned and looked back, making sure the telepath and the two women were still focused on their argument, and caught Logan's eye. The elder man raised an eyebrow questioningly as Remy shot him a look. Understanding, Logan nodded his head slightly and Remy was gone out the window, silent as the night.
As Logan watched him go, he came to a conclusion. The Cajun wasn't that bad after all.
"At least now I see how far friendship gets you on this team," Wanda growled at Scott as Remy silently entered through the balcony doors of the Rec Room. "I'm starting to regret leaving the Brotherhood."
"Come on baby, this is different," Evan tried, reaching out a hand to Wanda's shoulder only to be thrown back by a hex bolt.
"Don't you dare touch me," she growled menacingly, electricity lighting up behind her. "And don't you dare look at me with that 'higher than thou' attitude Jean Grey. The Brotherhood had it's problems, but when Danvers got killed, we didn't turn her in like she didn't mean shit to us."
"Wanda that's not, like, what we're doing," Kitty said and then looked at Scott. "Is it?"
"Sure looks like it to me mates," John stated, flicking his lighter. "Maybe Lance was right about you bloody twits."
"Hey, that's not fair," Jean said stepping forward. "We're only doing what's right."
"Well what's right isn't always what's best Red," Ray stated angrily.
"Where Lance and Amanda?" Remy finally asked, the emotions of the room over powering him for a moment. There was a lot of anger. And betrayal.
Everyone turned to stare at him for a moment before Scott answered. "They went home. We all thought it was best if Amanda wasn't involved and Lance left on his own. How is she?"
"Non," Remy growled at him, his hands glowing with power and unleashed anger. He took in a breath and brought his powers back under control, the glow leaving. "Y' non git t' pretend dat y' care bout her, hahn?" He headed towards the stairs. "John, Piotr, Remy need yer help mon ami's," he stated climbing towards the upper floors, the two men close on his heels.
"And where exactly are you going LeBeau?" Scott challenged, making to follow only to have six Jamie's, Jubilee and a flared Amara, along with an angry looking Wanda block his path.
"Remy don' think dat be any of yer concern non," Remy called back as they disappeared down the hall.
"Sorry Scott, but you weren't invited to that party," Jubilee stated, fireworks popping in her hands.
"And don't you two think of moving either," Wanda growled, looking directly at Kitty and Kurt, focusing her power on theirs.
Ray moved to join the girls and Jamie's as the X-men resumed their glaring contest.
Piotr transformed to his metal form as he, John and Remy moved silently down the hallway, ducking into Logan's room when they saw Ororo and Hank emerge from Remy and Rogue's.
"Pity. Poor child," Ororo said closing the door behind them.
"Yes, but it is curious why he would have attempted such a foolish act to begin with," Henry mused as they headed for the elevator at the end of the hallway. "With her acquired gifts, there is no way he would have stood a chance in hand to hand combat as it was."
"Perhaps his mental state was not as stable as the Professor hoped it was," Ororo supplied as they waited for the elevator outside the doors.
"Perhaps," Henry mused. "I just hope that Charles does not indeed inform the police of this. They would not care that a mutant was killed, but they would love the chance to kill another for committing the act."
"I agree my friend. But by not calling the police, we would be encouraging the act to happen again. It is indeed a tricky matter," Ororo sighed and ran a hand through her snow white locks.
"Indeed," Hank agreed as they boarded the elevator. "Let us just check on the children shall we?"
As soon as the doors shut behind the two instructors, Gambit, Pyro and Colossus were in motion, moving down the hallway and into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. Cody's body still lay motionless in the center of the room, a white sheet now covering his form. Gambit would have liked nothing more than for him to be alive, mostly so he could kill him himself and free Rogue of all this, but now that couldn't be helped.
"So, what's the plan mate?" Pyro asked.
"Colossus carries de body down de back stairs out de kitchen. Den, when we git t' de woods, y' and moi do what we do best non?" Remy charged a card emphasizing his point, his red and black eyes glowing intensely. "Den when de police git here, dere be nothin' t' fahnd hahn?"
"Da," Colossus agreed, lifting the body easily and heading for the door, the other two close behind him.
Henry and Ororo exited the elevator to find their students facing off against each other at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh my," Henry muttered as they ran into the middle of the fray.
"What is going on here?" Ororo asked, her voice commanding.
"Remy, John und Piotr vent upstairs," Kurt supplied.
"We think they're going to do something with the body," Jean added.
"But you don't have any proof," Amara said. "Just speculation."
"Oh my stars and garters," Hank said, bounding easily over the railing and up the stairs behind the students.
"Stay here," Ororo ordered and flew up after him as fast as she could. They both made it to the door at the same time, and Hank threw it open, to reveal an empty room, with only a white sheet in the center.
"Look Professah, Ah'm leavin," Rogue said, their exchanged having gone on for the better part of fifteen minutes and nothing really having been accomplished. "And if the cops git here before Ah do, then there's gonna be a lot more dead bodies ta clean up." It was a statement of fact, not a threat and Rogue knew the Professor knew that. Just like she also knew that she wouldn't be the only one doing the killing this time, especially judging by the reaction from some of the others outside. And by the way Meranda and Logan stood before her, backing her all the way.
"Rogue, please try to be reasonable," Charles began again as the door suddenly flew open, revealing Henry, nervous and out of breath.
"Sorry to intrude Professor, but something has happened that must be addressed immediately," he panted.
"What is it Doctor McCoy?" Meranda asked, her voice and eyes cold as she addressed Beast.
"The body's gone," Charles supplied, worry across his face. As one the group looked towards the window, where it hung open and a certain Cajun was no where to be seen.
The Professor, Rogue, Ebony, Wolverine and Beast all came out into the front foyer, joining the rest of the X-Men, as Colossus, Pyro and Gambit came in thru the front door, brushing dust and ash from their hands and cloths.
"Hard t' report a murder when dere be non body," Remy muttered as he headed for the stairs, brushing the dust from the shoulders of his trench coat. He paused next to Rogue and shot a look back towards the Professor, challenging him to say otherwise. Rogue looked at him and wrapped her arm around his waist and as one the two started slowly up the stairs again.
Wanda caught on fast and grinned. "What murder? I don't remember anybody named Cody living here," she looked at the group around her. "Do you guys?"
"Never heard of him," Jubilee said walking up to Piotr and knocking off a stray leaf from his shoulder.
"You guys can't be serious!" Scott yelled and turned to Xavier. "Professor we've got to do something."
"Yes Scott you're right. We do," Charles said causing Rogue and Remy to stop and stare at him, as everyone else did as well. "And that is to protect our own." He turned and wheeled back towards his office.
Rogue and Remy looked at each other for a long moment before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, she caught it and laced her fingers with his on her shoulder, keeping her other arm around his waist as they headed up the stairs towards their room.
"I don't believe this," Scott said throwing his hands in the air.
"Save it Scooter," Logan growled. "And clean up that mess in there," he indicated the rec room. "And the rest of you," he looked at everyone standing near the stairs. "Go to bed." He stopped next to Meranda who stood near Ororo and Hank, just staring at them emotionlessly. "Come on darlin'," he said placing his hands on her shoulders and steering her towards the stairs. "She's safe for tonight."
Meranda nodded her head slowly, tearing her gaze from her two friends and leaning against her former husband as he lead her up the stairs, leaving the others to watch dumbfounded.
Authors Note: And there you have it, another chapter. (In less than 6 months even). Hope you liked. Only one more left now. Please Review.