Disclaimer: I do not own any X-Men characters appearing in this story, they are the property of: Marvel Comics, 20th Century Fox, Stan Lee and a whole bunch of other people none of which include myself. This has been written for purely recreational purposes, I make no money from this so please don't sue.
"Abruptly the poker of memory stirs the ashes of recollection and uncovers a forgotten ember, still smoldering down there, still hot, still glowing, still red as red."
-William Manchester
"Memories may escape the action of the will, may sleep a long time, but when stirred by the right influence, though that influence be light as a shadow, they flash into full stature and life with everything in place."
-John Muir
"We are a people who do not want to keep much of the past in our heads. It is considered unhealthy in America to remember mistakes, neurotic to think about them, psychotic to dwell on them."
-Lillian Hellman
"Our memories are card indexes consulted and then returned in disorder by authorities whom we do not control"
-Cyril Connolly
"Marie, are you awake, sugah?"
Marie rolled over in her bed to face the entrance of her hospital room. 'Oh Great—Nurse Betty is back and this time she has company—fun!'
"Ah'm awake." Marie rubbed her eyes blearily, she knew they had to be red from all the crying she had been doing but the oft irritating nurse seemed to be oblivious to her plight.
"Oh Good! Now Marie there's someone Ah want y'all ta meet. This here is Docta Jones—he's been yoah doctor since ya were brought in."
Marie examined the doctor, he was probably in his mid to late fifties, bald—although it looked more shaven than naturally bald. All in all he seemed to be a portly black gentleman who towered over the petite, plump, overly cheerful nurse. His great height and girth were belied by the gentleness of his manner.
"Miss D'Ancanto, how are we feeling today?"
"Fine, suh."
"Really? So no complaints? No nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, fatigue, dry mouth, muscular pain or weakness of any sort?" The Doctor raised an eyebrow in a show of amused skepticism.
Marie chuckled weakly for a moment before stating somewhat sheepishly, "Well, now that ya mention it, a lil' o' all the above."
Dr. Jones let out a booming chuckle before approaching Marie's side. "That is all to be expected of anyone who's been bedridden for a month—stare straight at my nose while I shine this light in your eyes—let alone someone who sustained serious trauma in a car accident—open your mouth real wide, stick out your tongue and say 'Ahhh"—we were all very excited when your brain waves showed increased activity today—now I want you to squeeze my hand with all your strength…good!—Although I must admit that we had feared you would have lasting brain damage from the accident. All the tests we ran indicated that—push your hands up against the resistance I will supply—sections of your brain were abnormally active for a person—Okay now push down—who was, for all intents and purposes, comatose."
He continued in this manner for quite some time, peppering Marie with questions as he continued to manipulate her frail body.
"Well Marie, aside from being slightly underweight and weak you are in excellent health. With regular solid meals and a month of intense physical therapy you should be back in shape very soon."
Marie brightened visibly, she hated hospitals and couldn't wait to be released so she could go home. The smile slid off her face. Home? She no longer had a home…or a family—her parents and her brother were all she had in the world and now they were all gone.
Where was she going to go? Not yet seventeen Marie was too young to live on her own…she didn't even think it was legal at her age. So where then? An orphanage? Marie shuddered at the very idea.
The doctor's voice broke Marie from her inner musings.
"Marie? Marie are you listening?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry sir. Ah just—well there's just so many things to do so many things that are up in tha air. What's gonna happen to meh? How am I goin' ta pay my hospital bills—or tha funerals? Mah Gawd, I have to make arrangements fo' mah family—" Marie was panicked, breathing in and out so rapidly she really wasn't getting any air. She was dimly aware of the fact that someone had shoved her head between her knees and was rubbing her back in small circular motions.
Her breathing slowed as she regained control of both her emotions and her body. Marie also realized that Nurse Betty had, at some point, re-entered the room and was now sitting at her side.
Calm now, she looked up at Dr. Jones who was standing at her other side.
"Marie, I want you to see our Grief Counselor. She can help you through the mourning process and can also answer all your questions."
"Yah mean a shrink, rahght?" Marie asked indignantly, her voice cracked slightly. "You want me ta talk to a shrink. No way—Ah hate people who try an' get inside your head—" Jones cut her off before Marie could work herself into another panic attack.
"Miss O'Riley is not a 'shrink', Marie. She is merely a certified counselor and her job here is to help you in the grieving process. She can answer your questions regarding your family's final resting place and the police investigation regarding the accident."
"Police?" Marie squeaked. "Investigation!"
"Rest now Marie. We'll talk more regarding this later." The doctor's soothing voice did little to calm Marie.
'Rest? Now? He must be insane if her thinks I'll be able to rest anytime soon. Wait, what's that? Is that a needle? I don't like needles. Where did it come from?'
Dr. Jones injected the mild sedative into the IV and seconds later Marie was already feeling woozy. He handed the syringe to Nurse Betty, who put it back onto the tray she had carried it in on.
'Oh I see…Nurse Betty's a slick one. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on her—maybe two—she comes in and out without me noticing. Sneaky. I think I like her much better now—"
Marie's somewhat incoherent thoughts guided her into the care of Hypnos.
"Good afternoon, Marie. Mah you certainly slept in today!"
Marie winced, the Nurse's cheerfully screechy voice was not a pleasant thing to wake up to, still her Momma had always tried to instill manners in her children and Marie was not about to dissrespect her mother's memory.
"'Morning ma'am." Marie jumped, starled, when Nurse Betty made a sudden flailing gesture with her hand.
"Oh, tush! None o' that now. I tol' ya ta call me Betty—Nurse Betty if'n you prefer."
Marie smiled weakly. "Well sugah, y'all know tha routine. Let's check yoah vitals…" Betty kept on talking as she went through the daily routine but Marie was no longer paying her any mind. Instead she allowed herself to sink back into chaotic and depressing thoughts surrounding her future and her past.
Marie jerked her attention back to reality when Nurse Betty patted her on the shoulder.
"Alright than, darlin' you an' Ah are done fo' now."
"Thank ya, ma'am."
"Ah'm jus' doing mah job, sugah. —Oh! B'fore I forget, today is Sunday and that means the Holbrooks are comin' to visit ya." The perky nurse paused significantly like Marie was supposed to recognize the name.
Betty slumped in disappointment for a moment before a thought seemed to dawn on her, "Well if Ah'm not jus' about as useless as a one-legged alley cat—I neva told ya just who it was that pulled y'all out that car, did Ah?"
Marie shook her head slowly, already not liking where this was headed.
"Derek and Donna Holbrook came upon the accident minutes after it happened. The fire had jus' started and Derek risked his life to pull ya out. Ever since then they've come to visit you every Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evenin' driving the whole hour an' a half that it takes to git here from Meridian, where they live."
"Wow…" Marie had no idea what she was supposed to say to that bit of information. What could she say? 'To be quite honest ma'am I find that news kind of creepy' just didn't seem like a polite reaction.
"So Ah'll get ta meet them today?"
"Sho' nuff sugah, they usually get here around three so you got a bit o' time ta kill."
All too soon three o'clock rolled around and Marie found herself propped up in bed surveying the Holbrooks.
There were older than she had expected, in their mid-to-late forties. The man, Derek, had close cropped hair and a handlebar moustache, he wore pressed khaki pants with loafers and a button down plaid shirt…he didn't seem to be the type to pull people out of burning cars but then again Betty had said he was retired military so maybe the 'hero shoe' fit. The woman, Donna, was noticeably older. She had long, wavy, dark brown hair and a worn face that spoke of inherent gentleness.
Both adults seemed to quiver with barely restrained excitement. Evidently they were thrilled to see Marie up and almost about. Marie decided to break the silence before it got awkward.
"Ah suppose I owe you an eloquent, heartfelt thanks but I'm not really all that good wit' words so Ah guess y'all will have ta settle for heartfelt. Thank you both for saving my life."
Donna almost rushed forward before she restrained herself. "It was nothing dear, really."
"We only wish we could have helped you all, Marie."
More silence. Marie amused herself with the thought that these people probably found it easier to talk to her when she was unconscious.
"So…yeah…"
The Holbrooks looked at each other for a moment then both spoke at once. "Marie, we were wondering if perhaps you wouldn't mind—we wanted to know if you want to live with us."
Marie gaped at the couple stupidly at a loss as for what to do. Donna was undeterred. "We know that you don't really have anyone now that your family has passed on and we couldn't bear the thought of you having to go to an orphanage until you turned eighteen—"
"Oh, wow, I don't…jeez, I really don't know what to say to that."
"Well, it would mean the world to us if you said 'yes'. It's probably really strange for you but we've become rather fond of you over the past month, and we never could have children…"
"Could Ah think about it, Mr. Holbrook? I'm not saying no, but it's still a lot to process."
"Of course dear. And please call us Donna and Derek."
"Thank ya kindly, ma'am."
Derek moved closer to the bed's side and placed a fresh vase of flowers on the side table.
"We're glad to see you recovering Marie. If you don't mind we'll come back and visit you again next Sunday?"
"That'd be nice, thank ya again, Derek."
"Good morning, Maire!"
"'Mornin' Miss O'Riley."
"Now Mare, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Susan?"
"Sorry ma'am."
"Well I guess I could let it slide just this one time." The pretty, young redhead smiled at Marie before donning a more serious countenance. "Now on to the serious stuff. We have been meeting twice a week for the past three weeks and you and I have talked about anything and everything except for where you are going to go once you are released.
Have you given any further consideration to Mr. And Mrs. Holbrook's offer?"
Marie sighed. Truth be told she didn't want to go live with the Holbrooks but she didn't want to go to an orphanage even more. The mere thought put a sour taste in her mouth.
"Ah have,"
"And…?"
"And I've decided ta accept—but only until Ah've finished high school. Afta that…" She trailed off uncertainly.
"That's great Marie. I was hoping that would be your response. I will alert the Holbrooks immediately. You'll be released within the week and on your way up to Meridian."
'Meridian here I come.' Marie thought unenthusiastically.
"Hey, ya must be the new girl everyone's been talkin' 'bout. It's Marie isn't it?"
Marie looked up from where she sat on the railing of the front porch of her new 'home'. She had thought herself to be alone but still, there before her stood a young man, about her age with short, dark brown hair and longish sideburns whose presence shattered this illusion.
"Everyone? Mah Ah've forgotten how quick news travels in small towns. I'm sorry but I don't know yoah name."
"It's David. David Sawyer. Ah live jus' a couple houses up tha road."
"Well It's nice ta meet you David."
"Tell meh something 'bout yourself."
"What d'ya want ta know?"
"Oh I dunno. Anything. Surprise meh."
"Okay. Let's see, mah father was a executive in a company. His job moved us around a lot. Ah was born in Caldecott County, south of here, but I haven't lived there since Ah was six. My family and I moved all around the country and just recently returned to Mississippi eight months ago. We were supposed to be here to stay." Marie paused for a moment pushing back the desire to start crying for her lost family again. Two months since the accident and the pain was still raw.
"My mother was a stay-at-home mom an' she loved to come to all our games—me and my little brother's—she loved to cook and she had a beautiful voice. Mah brother, his name was Louis, played soccer. He was a funny kid, although annoying as younger siblings often are, he could always make me laugh."
Marie paused again this time lost in happy memories. A rare thing for her recently. David gently pulled her back to the present.
"And you? Tell meh something about yourself."
She turned to the boy seated next to her and smiled. "Me? I love catfish and horseback riding. I'm not too bad at basketball though Ah am a horrible dancer. And my deepest, darkest secret desire is to…" David was hanging on every word leaning in close as Marie was barely speaking above a whisper. "Travel." She finished, laughing at the crestfallen expresiion on the boy's face.
"Travel? Where do you want to go?"
"Out there. Anywhere that isn't here. I've always wanted to see tha world. Ah have eva since I was a lil' girl."
David watched the girls face as she gazed out onto the horizon. He frowned. "Is it really so bad for you here?"
She turned her attention back to him. "No and that's what troubles me." Before David could even begin to open up that can of worms she stood and gestured for him to do the same. "Come on there's something Ah want ta show ya."
"What?"
"My plan for the future. It's up in mah room so if ya wanna see it yah're gonna have ta get up."
David stood and smiled. "Lead the way mah Lady. Ah always look forward to tha next great adventure.
Donna's work at the piano followed the pair up the stairs.
"Marie? Marie, darlin' can you hear me? Chuck said you could and that talkin' to ya might help but seeing as how sitting here talking to myself makes me feel like an ass I'm gonna have ask that you wake up so that I can pretend you're listing to me."
Rogue blinked in confusion and as the light hit her eyes she hissed in irritation.
"Lo-logan?"
"Hey, kid. How d'ya feel?"
"Turn off the damned light an' Ah'll be a sight betta."
Logan snorted in amusement and dimmed the light. When he turned back to Rogue she was once again asleep.
AN: Thanks to my reviewers who provided me with cronstructive criticism. I'm currently looking for a beta reader so if anyone is interested me contact me, my e-mail address is in my profile.
Also I was wondering if any might be interested in reading the story of Rogue's life in a more complete form as the only information you really have is what Rogue can recount and it really is more indepth in my mind. It would be a shame if I were the only one who knew all the plot intricacies. If any are in support of this idea it will be written once this is finsihed.
On another note...Woo Rogue is finally awake and I can stop calling her Marie. I hate that.
Next Posting Date: Your guess is as good as mine. Sorry. (Although you might be glad to know that the number of reviews I get for this chapterwon't impact the next posting date, I am currently at an impasse as to which way I want to take this story.)
