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Chapter three- Sudden Decision

Saturday and Sunday passed exactly the same. Half-feigning illness, Rogue stayed in her room listening to music and reading. She exited for one or two meals, but barely ate anything. Besides some intruding visits from Kitty and Kurt, it went off without a hitch. The question was, how long could it last?

Monday was not nearly as relaxing. For the first time in probably her whole life, Rogue thanked her alarm clock for waking her up at 5:30 morning. It interrupted the feeling of rough furry hands roaming across her chest as cold eyes leered at her. "At least, I'm experiencing my own nightmares again," she thought bitterly. She quickly and quietly dressed in her work out outfit and headed to the danger room. Logan awaited her.

"'Bout time, stripes"

"It is five 'til six Logan. Back off."

He narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Instead he just led her inside. She waited for him to call out a simulation but he remained silent. When she looked at him questioningly he explained, "Just one on one today, darlin'"

After a ten-minute stretch, they took their positions. Logan made the first move, lunging forward with welding a fist. She easily dodged the offense. Wolverine often started weakly to warm her up. However that usually only lasted through one blow. That was the case today as Rogue had to put in a fair amount of effort to avoid a strong kick aimed at her chest. Even through exhaustion from poor eating and sleeping, Rogue was not doing too badly in the duel. It took almost ten minutes for Logan to take her down. He squatted down, unexpectedly swinging an arm into he back of her knees, forcing her to collapse. Using that he leaned over her, pinning her to the ground, holding her hands above her waist. Rogue went to give him verbal victory, when his face suddenly changed before her eyes. Suddenly brown/red eyes stared down at her viciously. A horrible smile teased her, promising pain and betrayal. She had no escape, her whole body was pinned. He was going to do it again to her, hurt her again. Rogue did the only thing that she could think of at that moment, she screamed.

Immediately, She was released. Barely breathing she looked at her attacker her, ready to do anything for revenge. Logan's shocked and worried eyes were staring at her, unblinkingly. Of course they were. Because he was the only one in here with her. Sabertooth was not in the mansion. He was not in the danger room. She was loosing it.

"What the hell stripes? That's it, match over, you tell me what is going on, and you tell me now."

Finally regaining enough control over her body to answer, she replied, "Nothing Logan, I'm sorry. I just panicked that is all."

"Nothing my ass. You never found reason to freak out before. I want answers. You can hide from everyone else here, but not from me. Honestly kid, I thought we were closer than that. I think I deserve a little more respect than the bullshit you feed the rest of the mansion."

Rogue was being split down the middle. She and Logan were closer than that. She would also tell him things before and more often instead of any one else. He was the only one who understood her. To lie to him was torture, but she couldn't' tell him. Even if she were willing to lose to Sabertooth, how would she even begin? Truth be told, he understood a lot of things, but he would never get this. Not in a million years would he understand. Therefore she stood at a fork in the road. Which could she stand more, lying to Logan or loosing to Sabertooth. As she decided she remembered the main lesson she had learned in her life- you can depend on only yourself. Her pride was one of the only things she could always have. She wasn't about to lose it now. She had to lie to Logan; it was for the best for both of them. Why burden him anyways? It wasn't his fault, at least directly. No, it was time to play pretend.

"Fine Logan, I'll be honest. I just have had some bad dreams lately. When you took me down, it just reminded me of one and I freaked out. Don't worry about it, I have got it under control," Rogue stated as if telling a deep dark secret. It wasn't a lie. Rogue had to be careful about that. Wolverine was no telepath, but it didn't mean he wasn't just as good, if not better, at detecting untruths. He looked at her for a moment as if deciding if this was a good enough answer.

After what seemed like forever, he said, "Alright Stripes, I'll go with that. I want you to tell the professor."

"Logan, I said I was-"

"I know what you said kid, and I don't care! I want you to talk to the professor. You freaking out during a fight is dangerous. You could be a liability in a mission," Wolverine said seriously. To the spectator it might seem cold that all Logan cared about was a mission, but that was only a cover up. What he really meant was that he was worried about her. However neither of their attitudes would allow such a confession, so it stayed strictly business. Don't endanger a mission.

"Fine, I will later."

Wolverine opened his mouth to argue but Rogue continued, "After school, I promise. I just don't have time now."

"Fine, now hurry up or you will be late."

Rogue rolled her eyes and left the danger room. As she left, she reminded herself that she was doing the right thing for both of them

School was the normal horror. However as usual Rogue worried more about her own thoughts than algebra. From a different perspective, Rogue would have found the situation humorous due to irony. From what she knew from a random health class or two, Rape victims had common behaviors. Often they became unsocial, quiet and guilt-ridden. They could become depressed, losing interest in activities and life. They also might shy away from physical affection, fearing it. This was Rogue on a normal day. What a glorious alibi she had. With the exception of the sickness and less eating, there was an amazing chance that no one would notice a thing. In fact, Wolverine, Kitty, and her foster brother seemed to be the only ones showing any concern as it was. No one at school said a thing, not that she cared or noticed really. No one talked to her but mansion kids anyways. On the outside, nothing had really been affected. From any other viewpoint, this would have been funny.

Rogue went home as usual and pretended to do her homework. In actuality her bag wasn't touched after it was dropped on her floor upon entering. Even if she felt like doing homework she wouldn't know where to start since she hadn't given any concern to her classes. Hell, she could barely recall attending them. A fog seemed to have settled around her.

The training session was a brilliant dictator. Teamed up with Kitty, they were the last pair to finish in simulated obstacle course. It wasn't entire Rogue's doing. Kitty could be a class A klutz when she tried. In Rogues option she sure gave the college try this evening.

Dinner was shortly after the exercise. Everyone sat with their little groups discussing homework, crushes, friends etc. Rogue sat in the corner half listening to everyone. Within her fog, she felt light years from the group. Carefree was a cliff she had fallen off into darkness and there was no climbing back up.

Logan suddenly interrupted the group with a rough, "Hey midgets." Ignoring the random scatterings of "I'm taller than you," he continued, "Team training after dinner Wednesday. Today was awful. I want you all there Wednesday and you better be amazing." Again ignoring the students in outraged cries, he turned to Kitty and Rogue, stating "especially you two. In fact, Wednesday morning I want you two together in a small session."

"What? Mr. Logan, that is so not fair. I have got homework and stuff. You can't make me-" Kitty whined but was interrupted.

"Impress me on Wednesday and we won't have to deal with this again." He said calmly but forcefully.

Kitty huffed in response.

"That okay with you Stripes?" he asked, looking at her now.

"No, it isn't." she replied. Where had that come from? Well, she knew actually. She couldn't do it. She was sick of training sessions. She was just too tired for them. It was a challenge to stand up without being overcome with dizziness. However she wasn't supposed to say that. Sadly, her mouth worked before he head.

"Excuse me?"

"I can't come to the Wednesday sessions," She explained. She should not have said that. Rogue should have said never mind, but she didn't. How the hell would she explain this?

"Why?"

Damn good question, it was. Why indeed? Still sick? Wouldn't work Had a club meeting? Yeah right. Finally she just said to everyone's surprise including her own, "I won't be here. I'm leaving tomorrow."


Third installment in complete. In the next chapter Rogue is going to be on the move. Many surprises await her, where she decides to go.

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