'GGRRWWWLLL' Logan paced across the room; he glared at the professor.

"There is an explanation, Logan. I assure you, I would never do it without good reason."

"You can take your 'good reason' and shove it! NO one takes chances with her! No one does ANYTHING that puts her in trouble! No matter how damn innocent it might look!"

Jean stepped closer watching Logan cradle the girl as he paced. "Logan, I NEED to look at her. To assess and make sure there isn't any damage done."

Logan whirled and looked at her, his eye twitching "You're so damn quick to want to 'assess' this! Why didn't you assess the fuckn' way that got like this?"

"It was impossible to evaluate all of the possible outcomes in a venture, at such short notice." Charles tried to sound calm, when he himself was nervous with a furious Wolverine stomping around.

Logan's claws shot out at a safe angle, as to avoid hurting Marie. But they shot out in anger none the less. "All the more reason for her not to be there. There was a risk, Wheels. And I don't care if you throw every member of your little team into an unknown outcome. But you DON'T do it with HER!"

Jean snorted, "It's always about her, huh? Even when you were with me!" she started to sarcastically taunt him, " 'Oh no! Little, innocent, perfect, Rogue is in trouble! We must stop the world from turning in order to save her."

Xavier looked at her sternly, "Jean we are trying to get this into some order. We are not trying to escalate the problem."

Jean had started to say something just as Ororo and Scott burst into the room.

"Why the HELL wasn't I told? I'm the team leader, and neither one of you little chummy telepathics think it's a damned good idea to tell me? You sent an innocent little girl out into a battle, Charles! I don't mind if we go out there. Were prepared! We know the risks; hell we live the risks. We go out there because we believe in the cause, and let me tell you something, Charles. I'm starting to doubt it. Especially when you believe that this kind of cost is acceptable!" Scott glared at Jean when she tried to get in his way, and stormed over to Logan. All his heat seemed to seep out of him as he looked to the slumbering girl. "How is she?"

Logan and Scott had bonded, and none would deny that it was all due to Rogue, or Marie as they called her. She had stood up to both, snorted at their pissing matches and brought reason to their world. She had single handedly tamed a beast known as the Wolverine, and quieted the fighter in a man with blazing eyes.

Scott brushed Marie's platinum locks from her face and rubbed a battle-roughened knuckle over her cheek, as Logan answered. "She'll be out for a little longer, she took a lot of me this go-round."

"I'm glad for every last drop she took." He smirked, "Now there is something I never thought I'd say!"

Logan let out a smile and nodded, "Damn near killed ya, huh?"

"Oh yeah."

Logan rubbed his chin over her hair, "I'm glad I was there to do it." He took a deep breath, breathing her in. "Wanna hold her while I make this point clear?"

Scott's right eyebrow went up. Logan's protectiveness was legendary. So instead of commenting he simply nodded and accepted Marie's weight finally in his arms.

Ororo walked over and started running her hands through Marie's hair. Their relationship had grown close; she had changed from 'Rogue, a lost child in need' to 'Marie, a loving sister'. She was no less angry than the two growling men were, but she was always the voice of reason, as Marie was always the voice of peace.

"Your gonna regret doing this, Wheels."

"Are you actually 'threatening' him, Logan?"

"Yeah Jean, I am."

"Logan I will not toler..." Xavier started.

"Shut your trap, Wheels. I ain't done talkin', and when I am... your going to see me carrying her outta here." Scott looked sternly at the man that had been his mentor. He knew at that moment, that Logan wouldn't be the only one leaving. He saw the clouds turn outside and knew Ororo had made her choice as Logan continued. "This shit between you and me, ain't finished. Not by a long shot. I know I made it damn fuckin' clear that she was top priority when I left. I don't give a flippin' fuck if she was the only one that could find out Ol' Magnet head's thoughts. I don't care that you can't read him through his shinny new helmet. You used her, Wheels, and I'm going to make damn sure she's far enough away from you that you can't do it again. You and Red over there seem to be the only ones in this damn house to not get who and WHAT she is." Logan leaned closer, putting his hands on the desk.

Xavier's brow rose, "And what is she, Logan?"

Logan growled and shook his head, he wasn't explaining... couldn't put it into words. When suddenly 'Ro did.

"She's peace, peace and tranquility. She is one that you can drown your fears, hates, and anger under her pool of acceptance. Even when she was untouchable, she touched everyone she loved in a way that cannot be described. She does not judge, but yet is the ideal of justice." Ororo hadn't taken her gaze from the girl's face.

"Oh, that's just peachy! She's little Miss Perfect, huh?"

'Ro continued as if Jean hadn't spoke. "She's love... and she's warmth." She smiled at the girl's moan, signaling her return to wakefulness. "And I shall not accept you tarnishing anything that is such."

"Ororo, I never would want to tarnish her. I admit my plans were foolhardy and spur of the moment. I admit I was wrong in including her in this endeavor. I was trying to do what was best at the time, I too make mistakes, I am not perfect and I have made a significant mistake here."

Logan's intense stare that had fallen on 'Ro as she talked about Marie, had yet to leave. But what she said next pulled every eye to her in surprise.

A sudden flash of lightning skimmed the grounds outside as 'Ro spun and locked tormented eyes on the professor. The light was followed by a furious rolling clash of thunder, as 'Ro began, giving her a whole new edge, a show of fury that neither, Scott or Logan could ever dream to express with their shouts and growls. "You almost TOOK HER FROM ME!" she yelled and her eyes turned milky.

Gasps filled the room as the goddess's storm out side flared louder, showing her torment, her strength...her power. No one had ever seen the goddess like this. She had never been anything but calm and collected always the voice of reason, always the goddess.

The difference of this moment was she had never opened up to anyone before Marie. Never showed fear, hurt or anger, and because of that, they thought that it simply rolled off of her. That she was above the petty emotions around her, since she had the knowledge of nature, and all it's simple basic laws of life and of death.

What no one saw, what she hid, was that she felt everything... and because of that understanding, she took it deep. With no outlet, no one's arms to breakdown and cry in. Until Marie. Marie had seen her, the real her. The scared white haired little girl surrounded by a village of those who shunned her. She wasn't normal, her eyes turned milky for no reason, her hair was whiter than the elders were when she was not even a tenth of their age. Until her eyes turned color for a purpose, then they feared her. She ran away and huddled down as storms and winds went wild, with no direction, no control. Marie saw what no one else had tried to see. How she had fought to become the person that they wouldn't fear. Instead she became the person that they feared, and from that fear spouted respect. That was her shell, that's what people saw, a Goddess, a Weather Witch, an African Beauty. No one but Marie saw the white haired little girl, huddled terrified, amidst the storms.

Logan walked over, he'd known Marie had gotten close to Ororo. He had thought it was a good thing to have a wise woman to lean on if she needed to. He didn't know it was the other way around. His eyes fell on Scott and the man nodded. Logan turned back to Xavier as he stood by 'Ro and Cyke. "We're outta here."

"Logan, wait!" Xavier called.