A/N First let me thank everyone who reviewed. Thank you. Thank you. Second, I'm sorry it took me so long to update but my computer got a virus and I lost a lot of stuff including this chapter so I had to retype. And to answer an anonymous question, Anna can control her powers in this little ficlet. And anything in italics is going to be psychic talk.
"We better rest Anna, we've got to get moving again in the morning," Remy laid down and pulled her tightly into his arms. He absently rubbed her arm thinking of what they would do next. Anna was still very weak, the past few days had been a nightmare, and they needed to find their way back to civilization quick. He just prayed the X-Men would find them, because he didn't know what else to do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The X-Men sat in the war room, watching apprehensively as Professor Xavier tried to locate his missing students. They had been missing for four days now and things were beginning to look bad. Jubilee paced back and forth, back and forth, increasing her speed with each pass of the room. Occasionally she would stop thow her hands in the air, stomp her feet, let out an exasperated sigh, and start all over again. Cyclops sat still and quiet, a look of calm plastered to his face, ever the vigilant leader. Jean sat next to him, eyes closed and her face in her hands, massaging her temples, trying desperately to soothe the ache that pounded in her head. Storm stood behind Jean, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Bobby leaned back in his chair, feet up, playing with his ice formations, trying, in vain, to make light of the situation. Wolverine leaned against the wall, his face expressionless, his stance, nonchalant. Only the click-click-clicking of a claw against the wall, betrayed his unease. Beast sat unmoving, deep in though, his chin resting atop his hands.
"Logan would you please stop that tapping! You're driving me crazy!" the normally calm Jean Grey snapped.
"Hey you're not the only one worried Red!" Logan snarled. He wasn't really all that worried about Rogue, or Anna as she now liked to be called, he still wasn't sure if they could trust her, but Remy he liked. He was good kid. He had been at the institute for over a year and a half, and had proven himself as far as Logan was concerned. But Anna....he couldn't get over what she had done to Carol Danvers. He didn't think Remy even knew, but the Professor had sworn him to secrecy, so he couldn't ask.
"Why don't you lay off Logan!" Cyclops shouted.
"Why don't you try and make me pretty boy?" Logan growled, brandishing his claws.
"Calm down you two, this isn't helping," Storm reasoned.
"I'll calm down when he stops acting like an animal,"
"That's it Cyke I'm sick of your shit..."
"Stop shouting!" Jubilee interrupted, hollering. "How is the Professor supposed to concentrate with you guys arguing like that? So why don't you just shut-up"
"I've found them," Professor Xavier turned and stated, effectively silencing their bickering. "And I think I know why I've been having a hard time finding them,"
"What is it Professor?" Jean questioned.
"It would seem that something is negating their powers. Which is what made it so hard for me to find them, but now that I have we must leave immediately. I've narrowed their location down to this group of islands here," he pointed to a screen with a map on it, "Once you get close you should be able to tell exactly which island they are on,"
"All right people let's get moving then," Cyclops said, "Everyone to the Blackbird,"
Everyone got up and headed to the hangar, including Jubilee and Bobby.
"Nuh-uh, not you two," Cyclops ordered, "You guys are too young, you stay here,"
"But Mr. Summers, Anna's my friend, please, we just want to help,"
"Yeah man, we just wanna help get our friends back," Bobby added.
"Look, we don't have time to babysit, so if you two are going to come you better keep up,"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remy paced while Anna slept. Her bruises were fading now, they had taken on the sickly yellow color of butter. Her face was still swollen and her hair was dirty and matted. She still looked beautiful though. Abruptly an urge from nature hit Remy and he didn't know if he should wake her or just sneak off. He decided the latter would be better, she needed her rest, and besides he wouldn't be long.
Anna woke with a start. She ached everywhere. She sat up slowly, as her whole body screamed in protest. Panic shot through her as she looked around and couldn't find Remy. Where could he have gone to? He probably just went to relieve himself, she reasoned. Anna stood and stretched. She walked off into the bushes, nature was calling her name too.
Remy couldn't believe it. He had walked no more than five feet into the jungle and he couldn't find his way back. He turned and walked to his right, this looked like the way back, that rock looked kind of familiar. He just hoped Anna was all right.
Anna sat on a boulder in the clearing where they had slept. Remy still hadn't come back yet. She wasn't sure if she should look for him or just stay put. She got up and started pacing as her temper rose. What happened to him? She decided she'd go look for him.
Remy finally found his way back to the clearing, but Anna was gone. He prayed she was all right, and was about to go look for her, when he heard sometihng.
Remy? It's Jean. Stay where you are we're coming to get you.
But Jean, Anna's missing, I gotta find her.
No stay there. We'll help you look for her.
Sorry Jean. I gotta find Anna
Remy ran off into the jungle after mentally filling Jean in on what had happened. He wasn't about to sit around and wait when Anna could be in danger.
"Remy left to look for Anna. We better find them both and quick," said Jean.
"Leave that to me," Wolverine said tapping his nose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anna was beginning to think this was a bad idea, when the pain in her side began screaming for her to stop. But she had to find Remy, so she trudged on, panting and heaving, trying desperately to ignore the pain shooting through her body. She was about to atop and rest when her foot snagged on a root and she tumbled face forward into the mud.
"Dammit," she swore trying to lift herself up only to fall back down. "How could things possibly get worse," she slammed her fist into the ground, lifted her head and saw a pair of black boots standing before her.
"Oh I think they could get much worse," the man in the boots said.
"Who..who are you?" Anna stammered.
"The names Alaster and you, my dear, almost cost me my job. But I think the tide may have just turned in my favor," he snarled, bending down to look her in the face.
"What do you want with me?"
"You? Nothing I want the X-Men, you're just the bait,"
Alaster bent down and grabbed Anna by the hair lifting her into a standing position. Anna cried out despite her best efforts not to. She kicked her legs and swang her fists, trying to get away, when Alaster pulled out a gun and pointed it in her face. Anna stopped fighting, hating not having her powers. Alaster smiled at the look of defeat on her face.
"Stop fighting me of I'll shoot you. Or better yet I'll radio my men and tell them to shoot your little boyfriend," Anna's eyes widened at this revelation.
"All right, I'll cooperate just don't hurt him,"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaster took Anna back to the compound and handed her over to two heavily armed guards. They each grabbed one of her arms and held her firmly in place.
"Take her downstairs and put her with the other on," Alaster commanded.
"Yes sir," They replied in unison.
The guadrs led her to an elevator and took her down four levels. They led her out into a dimly lit, narrow hallway. The hallway smelled damp, and Anna thought they must be deep underground. The guards led her to a small steel door, they opened it and threw her inside. Anna banged on the door before slumping down against it. She squinted her eyes trying to vainly to see in the dark room. Her eyes were beginning to adjust to the dark, when she saw a figure lurking in the shadowy corner of the cell.
"Who's there?" she called.
"Hello chere. I see they got you too," drawled a familiar cajun voice.
"Remy?!" Anna shrieked excitedly. She ran over and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly."Where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over for you. It's your fault I'm here,"
"It's good to see you too, chere," Remy chuckled. Anna let him go and saw he was only wearing his boxers.
"What happened to your clothes?"
"Since I escaped last time they decided to search me, and found lots of hidden pockets ands picks, so they decided they would be safer taking all my clothes," Remy said, grinning.
"So what do we do know?" Anna sighed.
"Wait for the cavalry I guess. They could have at least left us a pack of cards to pass the time. Of course I can think of something else we can do to pass the time, and I'm dressed just right for it too," Remy said suggestively, moving towards her.
"I don't think so cajun," Anna replied, placing a hand on his chest to stop him. "I don't even know you that well,"
"O-kay lets get to know each other better, so next time you wont have any excuses," he said pinning her with his intense stare, his eyes full of lust. Anna licked her lips, feeling uneasy with his gaze.
"All right," she cleared her throat. "Tell me about... your family,"
"My family?Not much to tell there. I never knew my real parents, I lived on the streets for awhile, when a man named Jean-Luc LeBeau took me in. Him and his son are the only family I've ever known. What about you," Anna had a feeling there was more to it than that but decided not to push him.
"I don't really have a family," she replied elusively.
"O-kay, then what brought you to the institute?"
"Professor Xavier asked me to come,"
"Look, Anna, I know you weren't always a good guy. I don't know much since you dropped off the scene around the time i arrived. why don't you tell me about who you really are, and not who you pretend to be around other people?"
"What do you want me to tell you? You seem to have everything figured out already," she snapped slightly irritated." You know I am... I was Rogue, what else do you need to know? I'm not her anymore, Remy. I came to Xavier's to start over, to be a new person,"
"Be a whole new person?" Remy retorted skeptically. " You can't just change who you are, Anna, it's not that easy,"
"I did a lot of bad things, Remy, to a lot of good people. I can't be who i was anymore. It hurts too much when I think of all the terrible things I've done...I have to change who i am, so that it wont happen again,'
"I'm sorry but that's dumbest thing I've ever heard. So you made some mistakes, who hasn't? You can't just change who you are, that doesn't change what you did. Only you can make sure you never do those things again. Besides I like you better when you're just being yourself,"
"Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make me want to be myself. It's kinda annoying,"
"Yeah, well....hey, do you her that?"
"Hear what?" Anna listened, not really hearing anything, when she heard shouts, gunfire, and...lightning?
"I think the cavalry has arrived," Anna muttered, when the wall next to them blew apart. Cyclops and Wolverine stood on the other side. Wolverine smirked at Remy.
"Don't waste no time do ya cajun?" he laughed.
"What can i say the ladies can't resist me,"
"Give me a break," Anna said, rolling her eyes.
"O-kay hold still you two," Wolverine ordered before slicing their collars off.
"Finally," Anna sighed, rubbing her neck.
"All right let's quit wasting time and get out of here people," Cyclops said.
They all ran after him as he led the way to the blackbird. Storm, Bobby, and Jubilee were in front of the blackbird holding off their attackers. they all quickly boarded the jet and took off.
"What the hell did those people want with us?" Anna asked.
"Alaster works for a branch of the government that catalogs mutants. He was hoping to infiltrate the mansion and check cerebro's files to add to their list," Jean answered.
"O-kay but they had said they were supposed to get Storm, why her?" Remy asked.
"They thought she would know the security, and someone was watching us, because they knew that Storm often took the students out, so they thought she'd be an easy target, they just didn't explain what she looked like very well to the guys who were supposed to kidnap her,"
"I'm sorry, Anna," Storm said, unexpectedly. "Jean told me what they did to you and I'm sorry," Anna didn't know what to say. It wasn't Storm's fault they had grabbed her, she didn't need to be sorry.
"Speaking of said atrocities," Henry McCoy interjected, before Anna could reply. "I would like you to come to the lab once we arrive so that I may determine the extent of your injuries,"
"Sure thing Doc,"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two hours later Anna was in the med lab hooked up to an I.V., after going through a barrage of tests. She had had blood tests, x-rays, cat scans, and had been poked and prodded by numerous instruments. She prayed she wouldn't have a reason to undergo these kind of exams for a long time. She would have rather put up with the pain. Dr. McCoy walked back in staring intently at a clipboard.
"So what's the diagnosis, Doc?"
"Well you'll live, but you're very dehydrated, hence the I.V., you have numerous contusions to the head, two broken ribs, and various cuts and bruises. A couple of days of bed rest and you'll be right as rain,"
"You mean I have to stay in bed? For days?"
"Only a few, and then I'll examine you again and if everything looks good you can go back to your normal routine,"
"So how's Remy?"
"Oh he's fine no serious bruises, just some bumps and scrapes,"
"Sure he gets off easy," Anna muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Hank questioned looking up from her medical sheet.
"I, uh, said, can I go to my room now?"
"Yes, just remember to take it easy and rest,"
Anna left the med lab and went to her room. She stripped off her tattered and dirty clothes and turned on the shower. She threw her clothes into the trash, glad to be rid of them after wearing them for three days straight. She then climbed into the shower and tried to relax. She let the water hot water ease her tense muscles, as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She stood there, motionless for awhile, as tears threatened to spill out. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself not to cry.
A sob escaped her lips and racked her body, breaking down the dam that held her tears at bay, and allowing a flood of sobs and tears loose. She slumped down and brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. She wasn't crying because of what had happened to her on that island. Her kidnapping and torture seemed insignificant after what had been revealed in her conversation with Remy in that cell. She knew know she couldn't change who she was, but how could she lie with the guilt of what she had done? How could she accept it and move on? She had tried so hard to be someone else, and remy had seen right through her act. She couldn't change who she was, so what was left but to embrace it?
Anna turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. she dried off quickly and threw on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. she brushed her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. She opened her window and stepped out onto her balcony. Checking to make sure no one was around she flew a few feet into the air. How she had missed flying those few days. She had allways felt guilty using her stolen powers, but now she was glad to have them. Anna looked around and saw that the light in Remy's room was on, so she flew to his window and tapped on it.
"Hey chere, you should be resting," Remy said, opening his window and letting her in.
"Nah I'm feeling much better," Anna replied waving her hand.
"If you say so, what can I do for you then?" Anna just smiled at him coyly and sat down on the edge of his bed. She was wringing her hands nervously in her lap as she tried to think of what she wanted to say.
"I,uh,I just wanted to let you know that you were right, about me not being able to change who I am, and if that changes how you feel about me, I just want you to know that I understand, and I wouldn't blame you. We can still be friends, if you still want to that is, it's o-kay with me," she had stood and begun pacing halfway through her speech, not daring to look at him, lest she lose her nerve.
"So you're just going to be yourself now? No more trying to be someone you're not?"
"Yeah,"
"Well it's about time," he laughed walking towards her taking her in his arms. She sighed with relief and laughed as he kissed her.
"I better go Remy, I am supposed to be resting,"
"Just stay a little longer," Remy said, while lightly kissing her neck.
"If I don't go now, I don't know if I'll be able to," She said pulling away from him. she walked to his window and started to climb out.
She turned back and blew him a kiss."See ya later sugar," She said, before flying out into the night.