A/N: The separations below will indicate flashbacks, so keep a look out for them in future chapters. It's also been brought to my attention that the "RR No Chap" is illegal on so I'll be coming up with something else. And don't forget the web site! Thanks Ya'll :)

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Logan left the mansion to restart his search shortly after Jean died. Try as he might though he couldn't rid himself of all the possibilities that waited back at the only place he ever knew as home. The main one in the forefront was a now twenty-one year old brunette with perfect white stripes framing her innocent face. Finding no more answers than he had when he left the first time he decided to give up on one life to start another.

Once home, Xavier quickly informed him and the other X-Men that there were reports of a strange series of sightings in the northern parts of Canada. People were calling the fire department about isolated flames bursting high over tree tops but when the trucks got there the incidents seemed to disappear in thin air. Coupled with a woman fitting Jean's description and mutant signature seemingly wandering the countryside, Xavier felt it was something that needed the X-Men's expertise.

Scott had immediately volunteered and was immediately rejected. Charles didn't want to get his field leader's hopes up and didn't need his attachment to the situation to cloud his judgment. Instead he appointed Rogue, Logan, Storm, Remy, Kurt, and Jubilee to stay at accommodations he had set up for them in Laughlin City until they were able to determine the phenomenon. That left Warren, Hank, Scott, Kitty, Piotr, and Bobby to assist the group at home.

Time passed slowly as the group wasn't able to tie down a definite answer. They had already been there for almost a month in a four bedroom cabin located near the latest reported sightings. Jubilee and Rogue had taken the room with twin beds, while Remy, Kurt, and Storm each took one of the remaining three. Logan preferred to take the loft since he could keep a lookout and didn't sleep much anyway. Getting cabin fever, Rogue suggested they all go to the bar where she had first met Logan.

As they entered the dark smoke filled warehouse the group was immediately assaulted by the sickening sounds of thrown punches and roaring cheers of drunken men. Taking a booth in the corner a somewhat familiar looking blonde waitress got the group's drink orders and put Logan on the list for cage fighting. Not to be outdone Remy also had his name added. It wasn't long before Kurt, image inducer and all, appeared on the list as well after a bit of 'think of it as a Danger Room session' speech from Jubilee and Rogue.

It didn't take long for the antes to be raised as the three human looking mutants started their predatory play of kicking ass. The early fights were against regular patrons of the bar. When the beaten men became few and far between the organizer of the fight started pitting two of the friends against each other. At any given moment throughout the night however there was always one of the men at the booth with the women to keep away wandering eyes and lecherous advances.

It was soon Residue's turn to once again fight one of his friends. That was the night he had started to fade into his depression and accepted the new name. Remembering to keep his mutant persona under wraps like so many previous fights he was easily able to beat his companion after ten full rounds and forty-five minutes of pummeling. He was stepping out of the cage when he looked over to the booth.

Storm must have gone to the bathroom as there was no sight of her anywhere. Jubilee was paying the tab at the bar since the waitress had apparently gone on break. That left Rogue and her bout-excluded guardian, alone, together. Residue's heart nearly stopped as he watched his friend lean into the woman sitting next to him, planting a soft, passionate kiss on her luscious lips. It wasn't the sight of her kissing back that shocked him the most, though touching was a secret Residue thought she would tell him as soon as she learned herself. No, it was the fact that this other man was making moves on the woman he himself hoped to keep as his own.

Residue didn't know what to think. Rogue hadn't shown any extra amount of attention to either of them other than her normal light flirting and the other man didn't seem the type to actively pursue the untouchable woman. The more Residue turned it over in his head the more he realized he had been ignoring the last three weeks, the heated glances, the light brushes of skin, the not so inconspicuous midnight ventures. They had been growing closer while he had been ignoring the situation.

Fortunately, the bar was closing up for the night and the group was gathering to leave. Residue hadn't had much opportunity to dwell on any of it since they found Jean the next afternoon wandering aimlessly in the woods surrounding the cabin.

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R/R: ishandahalf: Just wait for the intrigue coming :) Thanks for reviewing!

4Rogue: hehehehehe! The plot is about to thicken :) Thanks for reviewing!