A special thank you to ObsidianKiss, one who loves The Used as much as I do. And you like my story so that's a huge perk as well. And thank you to all the others who reviewed, it's very much appreciated. I would mention you all by name, but I can't seem to find the time. I do promise I'll try.

Brick

Rogue awoke with something warm pressing against her back. She jumped instinctively back, causing her to nearly topple out of the bed. "Shit," she mumbled groggily, the effects of the morning still pressing on her. The lump next to her stirred.

"Wassamadda?" a barely audible voice reached her ears.

"Sorry." Rogue pulled herself into a more stable position on the bed. She stretched and let out a small sigh. She looked over at John and saw that his eyes were closed as he had resumed sleeping. "Funny little ducky," she muttered. A stretch of sunlight hit her eyes and she focused on Kitty's unoccupied bed. Either she never came back or she did and.

Rogue leaned over John and cautiously put a finger on his bare shoulder, then pulled away. She pursed her lips, how was she ever going to find out if her powers worked if John was asleep? Granted she had woken up with him touching her, but what if it stopped working now that she was conscience?

"John," she pulled the bed sheet over his shoulder and then proceeded to shake him awake. "John, wake up."

John rolled over onto his back, shielding his eyes from the sun. "Huh? Isall early." John rubbed his eyes, groaning.

"John, I need to know something."

"What?" his speech was gradually becoming less slurred and more alert, though still slow. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just I want to make sure I can't hurt you." "You could never hurt me, babe." A grin played across his face. "I'm invincible, I thought we went over this already."

Rogue snorted. "Yeah, you're some superman, alright." She licked her lips. "I just want to make sure I can touch you."

John sat up, spreading his arms wide. "Well, touch away."

Rogue stared at his body for a minute, then settled for his neck. She tentatively placed her hand on his neck, resting it there.

John raised his eyebrows. "See, nothing. I'm perfectly fi-" his last word was caught in his throat as he suddenly gasped.

Rogue pulled away. "John! John, holy fuck, are you okay?"

John shook his head. "I'm fine, I'm fine," he caught his breath. "I'm fine, it was just a little unexpected is all," he closed his eyes as his veins receded back into his skin.

Rogue's look a relief melted into disappointment. She quickly tried to cover her sadness with a smile. She nodded. "Okay, that's good." She bit her bottom lip. "Yeah, okay, I think I'm going to get dressed." Rogue made a move to get up when John pulled on the sheet she was using to cover herself and yanked her back down.

"Rogue, wait a sec."

"What?"

"Rogue, you controlled your power last night, you can do it again, just concentrate."

"That's the thing, I don't think I was." Sighing, she pulled the bed sheet closer around her. "I know it sounds weird, but I don't think I ever made a conscience effort to keep from hurting you."

John raised his eyebrows. "So you were trying to hurt me."

Rogue let out a small laugh. "No-you know what I mean."

"Yeah, okay. So then don't try to not hurt me."

"See, I don't think I can. Every time I try to not think about not hurting you I think about it and then I can't concentrate on anything but not hurting you." Rogue winced. "Sorry."

"For what?"

"For being a complete and total mess."

"You're not a mess, I mean, everyone looks this way in the morning."

Rogue gently slugged him in the shoulder. "Hey!"

John shrugged his shoulders. "Look, I know this is tough for you, but.I better split before Kitty decides to turn up and sees me half naked on your bed. I think she might have a heart attack."

Rogue nodded with a smile. "Yeah."

John leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Take care, love." With a nod of his head, John gathered up his clothes and slipped out the door with Rouge's throw wrapped around him tightly.