Disclaimer: I wish. But I don't, so with much hardship I admit I don't own anything remotely that I write about.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews. They made me feel all warm and fuzzy. ( This chap will be a bit short.

Chapter Eleven

"Hmm, I always thought doom would be a lot less comfortable." John mused as he reclined comfortably on the professors' couch and looked around. "Rather pleasant surroundings actually." He continued to daydream to himself until a sharp elbow connected with his ribs, breaking his concentration.

He glared at the guilty perpetrator. "That wasn't necessary."

"Remy t'ink it was. Y' were talkin' t' yourself."

"So? It's only when ya talk back that you're in trouble. Plus I wasn't talking to myself. I was commenting in general, as a whole to the room."

John rolled his eyes and sighed in sufferance as Remy just stared at him. "Imbecile."

Remy opened his mouth to retort but the professor and Hanks entrance interrupted his chance.

Charles smiled as he took in the scene facing him in his office. John and Remy were good-naturedly bickering while Rogue sat in the corner chair; head tipped back ignoring them, trying to sleep.

She opened her eyes as they entered and watched as he wheeled behind his desk. Her eyes flicked to Hank as he settled into the chair opposite hers.

Charles steepled his fingers, elbows resting on his desk. He surveyed the occupants of the room and nodded once. He'd made a good choice in having them stay behind. And had made an even better choice when he'd accepted the young Cajun, Gambit to his team. He had been accepted promptly and was fitting in well. He'd struck up a good, solid friendship with John and therefore with Rogue. He would benefit the team greatly.

"As you are all well aware the Recon team has departed and will be gone approximately a week. You four will take over their teaching. I'm aware you have little experience in their fields but I feel that you are the best for these tasks. You will take the challenge and flourish at it. I believe most of them had planned their classes for the week so it would be best if you followed through with them."

John frowned. "You mean we have to teach what they were going to anyway. That's no fun."

Charles smiled. "Maybe not from your point. But it is their class and after this week they have to continue teaching it. They have a schedule to follow Mr Allerdyce." John slumped back into the couch, pouting. "Now for which class you will teach. You'll have one each as well as your own sessions." He directed a look at John and Rogue who looked away trying to pretend non- existence.

"I've tried to match the subjects to that which I believe you will suit. Dr McCoy will be taking Scotts History class," Rogue sighed in relief, "Remy will take Jeans Maths, John will continue with Ororos' English," John shot Rogue an evil look, "I will continue teaching Science and Rogue will take over Logan's mechanics and the Danger Room sessions. The roster is on the wall." He watched as Rogues faced dropped with shock before continuing. "I trust you will have no trouble coping with the assigned classes."

At the almost verbal challenge Rogue snapped her head up and looked around. She sincerely hoped her face wasn't as shocked as Johns or Remy's.

She'd been given Logans classes! They weren't even classes, they were training! She was still doing them and now she had to teach it! She shook her head trying to clear away the fuzz. The professor was talking.

"Classes will resume tomorrow. If you'll excuse Dr McCoy and I." With that he and the Dr left as quietly and efficiently as they had entered. Charles smiled up at Hank. "How long do you give them?"

Hank chuckled. "They won't complain. They'll give each other hell but I think they'll cope."

Charles nodded. He had complete faith in the three mature, adult mutants that he'd left in charge.

~*~*~*~

"My class is better than your class." John went to sit down as he spoke, and landed on his butt as Rogue kicked his chair out from under him.

He glared at her from the floor as she smirked at him from above. "What was that Johnny?"

Remy was casually leaning against the middle island in the kitchen.

"Now, y' all know Remys class is de best 'cause dey got de best teacher."

Rogue snorted. "What's twelve eights Rem?"

Remy looked blank. "Twelve eights what?"

"Mah point is proven." Remy frowned, perplexed, as John, still sprawled on the floor, burst into hysterical laughter.

After five minutes John sat up, ran his eyes around the room and stood up. He sat again, this time in the chair and sighed. "Alright, I'm finished now." (Personal Experience.)

Rogue and Remy regarded him with wary looks and finding him serious dubiously took seats around the table.

Silence reigned.

Rogue shifted uncomfortably. Remy noticing the movement flicked a look at her and then to John.

"Soo, y' two finally don' somethin' 'bout..?" His sentence drifted off as he noticed the renewed tension between them. Kicking himself for bringing it up he grasped at straws to change the subject. "Y' still got those papers, mon ami? Maybe we should take a look at dem. Make sure dey be appropriate for de prof t' read eh?"

John let a sly smile creep over his face, the smile turned into a fully- fledged grin as he watched Rogue. He kept his gaze on her face as he pulled them out of his pocket.

"We should divide them up huh? You take half, I'll take the other."

"Good idea, homme."

Rogue made it through them reading one each. When laughter erupted from one and then the other she stood up and was all set to make her grand exit, nose in the air.

"Oh ma petit choux, don' leave."

Rouge froze. She turned and levelled the death stare at them. "Ah. Am. Not. A. Cabbage." She stalked out.

*~*~*~*

In the faint recesses of her mind she could hear something ringing. She mumbled to herself and flung out a hand, just barely making it to the phone on the bedside cabinet. She pulled it under the covers with her.

"Yeah." Her voice was hoarse.

"Rogue?"

"Umhh.."

"It's Irene."