Alistaire Stuart displayed a pleasantly dumbfounded smile as Emma pulled off her top and strode in to Kurt's bedroom. From his vantage point in the hall he had a direct and obvious view of her as she walked.
He stood up a little straighter and wandered over to drop down on to the couch with Kurt.
"I love my job." Alistaire smiled.
Kurt smiled. "She took off her top, didn't she?"
Alistaire nodded. "And then looked back to see if you looked." He finished with a smile.
Kurt shook his head. "Oh, Alistaire… Emma, Tabby and Illyana all under one roof… It's not going to go well, is it?"
"Oh, lord no. It's a disaster waiting to happen. But that's not the worst of it." Alistaire sighed. "As it turns out, Miss Rasputin was the one who put the curse on Brian for the Hellfire Club. She confessed it to Brian and Betsy to bring them around."
"Ach! How did it go? I just sent Illyana and Betsy off together…" He sighed. "I hope they both come back."
Alistaire smiled. "Brian took it really well. Defended Illyana to Betsy. He said that since she was under a spell then it wasn't her doing."
Kurt rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I guess that's the best thing to believe. Were you listening when Emma told me about Illyana?"
Alistaire shook hie head 'no'.
"She's the one who tossed that little girl off the building. She knew Emma was going to unmask me and she decided to put a different spin on things." Kurt said. "She was sabotaging Emma's efforts to sabotage us."
"Heavens. I need a score card." Alistaire was slightly shocked.
"Vhy? Everyone's on our team."
Alistaire chuckled. "You gave her five years service, didn't you?" Alistaire smiled. "Can you put up with her for five years sir?"
"Ach! Don't make me think about it." Kurt rubbed his head and glanced back at his closed door. "How much did you hear?"
Alistaire smiled. "You should have tucked her in sir." He said mockingly.
Kurt glanced out on to the deck. Lucy was talking quietly with Wilson. "So what happened to Brian?" Kurt met Alistaire's eyes. "Last I recall you were going to keep him busy."
"Ahhh, yeah…" Alistaire rubbed the back of his neck. "I kind of thought he might kill me… So… I … Just did my best."
"Well, who backed you up?"
"Oh, no one. I hit him with my car, torched him with the jets and hit him with a double-decker bus from about five stories up. Oh, and a great big magnet. I think we owe Donovan Salvage a new crane." He smiled, relieved to finally voice the experience calmly.
"You did all of that?" Kurt looked at him like he was seeing him for the first time.
Alistaire smiled sheepishly. "Lucy says I should ask for a raise." He said softly.
"Done." Kurt extended his hand and Alistaire took it then shook it.
Meanwhile in the communications room Beast's image flickered on the screen. "I'm afraid this isn't good." He said at last. "The analysis of Mr. Williams genetic structure shows some serious abnormalities. If I had to guess I'' say the he misjudged the amount of Rogues blood. It seems like he used at least twice what was nessessary. If left untreated he's going to suffer some permanent damage from the contact. The only problem being… I've no idea how to separate her blood from his. It might be a case of 'damage done'."
Forge pursed his lips. "I think he knew the risks he was taking. All the same, it's sad to be out of options."
"Oh, I'll keep working on it but…" Beast looked around the room. "Did anyone tell Rogue what's happened yet?"
Forge looked at Kitty.
"No." Kitty shrugged. "We just now made it home so I haven't had the chance."
Beast furrowed his brow. "She was quite upset to discover that Mystique had stolen her blood. I'm not sure how she'll react to finding out that this Williams used it to get a peek inside her head. Unintentional as it might have been."
"I'll tell her." Kitty said. "If you'll get her for me."
Beast smiled wide. "No problem, but are we done for now? I want to run off once she arrives."
"Yeah, we're done." Forge told him. "But you've got to come visit and see some of the new equipment I've designed."
"As soon as I can." Beast smiled. "I'll get Rogue." And he vanished from the screen.
Forge stood up. "I think this is a private matter, don't you?" He smiled.
"Gee, thanks." Kitty shook her head and looked away. Men! They're all such babies!
Rogue bounced over to the screen and stopped short. "Oh, Kitty. Hi." She shrugged. "I thought it would be Kurt."
"Kitty smiled. "Kurt took a nasty fall. He's recovering in the other room. But I have news about your missing blood. We've found it. It's in the body of this guy who mimics other people's powers. He used his ability to mimic on your ability to drain powers permanently and he stole a power from one of the Hellfire Club."
"They're the bad guys, right?" Rogue asked.
"Yes." Kitty nodded. "Williams, the guy with your blood, he was working as a vigilante when we crossed paths. But I have to say that so far he's done nothing but good with both your power and the other one he stole."
"Doesn't sound too terrible then. So it's all accounted for, right? A half pint of it isn't going to turn up somewhere else, is it?" Rogue asked, concerned.
Kitty sighed. "You haven't heard everything yet. First, he used all your blood – which was about twice what he needed – and he's going to suffer some permanent damage to his genetic code because of it."
"Oh no." Rogue shook her head. Even when I'm not around I'm hurting people…
"And…" Kitty took a deep breath. "As a side effect, he kind of ended up with your personality and memories. We think how power to mimic somehow crossed with your ability to absorb memories and he… Ended up with yours."
"WHAT?" Rogues eyes opened wide. "Like what?"
Kitty shrugged and made a sympathetic face. "Well, for starters like how you didn't tell me about your shower peep-hole because you didn't want me to get in any trouble."
Rogues jaw hung open and flopped for a minute. Obviously she was just too stunned to react just yet.
Come on … Say something! Anything! Kitty smiled weakly and shrugged again. "Thanks?" She offered
"Is he there now?" Rogue asked.
"Ummm… No. But he'll be back tonight. Why?" Kitty hesitated.
"JUST KEEP HIM THERE!" Rogue slammed her fist down on the communications panel and the image winked away.
Kitty swallowed. Well, looks like Jean wont be the only visitor we'll be having tonight!
Kitty smiled slightly. She won't hurt him, not for real… But she's right… It shouldn't have happened.
Williams held on for dear life as the car streaked across the water from England to Scotland.
"How much farther?" Williams asked Tabby as he pressed his hands against the dashboard to brace himself.
Tabby glanced over and realized that Williams knuckles were white from strain. She smiled. "Not long at all. You were right, flying was way quicker."
"Doesn't feel safer! Does not feel safer!" He found himself climbing the seat as he braced his legs against the floor.
The little car exploded through a tree with a "Whoomp!" That sent branches and leaves flying.
"Whoops." Tabby smiled at him. "I really can't see well at night." She admitted.
"Hill." Williams strained against the oncoming mound of earth. "Hill, hill!"
"We should jump it." Tabby shrugged. "I think that's how it works."
Williams covered his eyes. "Y'all gonna kill us!" He twanged at her.
She smiled and slowed down slightly. "The hospital's right up the road."
He spied the rapidly approaching sign and she slowed steadily until they were there.
She cut the engine and the car slowly lowered itself down off it's ion cloud and settled in to the space she had hovered over.
Williams leapt out so quickly that he forgot his seatbelt and got pulled back in. He unfastened it quickly and jumped out, closing the door behind him.
Tabby walked confidently over to the doors and knocked. It was after hours but she knew most of the nurses and they knew she was with Excalibur. One of the hurried over and unlocked the doors.
"Hey Gladys." Tabby smiled. "I wanted to try to bring Marie around. This is Jamie Williams. He has the power of suggestion."
"Now how's that work?" The small pudgy woman asked.
"Okay, thanks." Jamie nodded and smiled.
The woman pursed her lips at him and then smiled at Tabby. "Just go right on down dear."
And Tabby led Williams down the hall.
Every room and ever bed was quiet as a morgue.
"Is everyone sleeping?" He asked Tabitha.
She shook her head. "Everyone's in a coma." She explained. "It's a specialty facility attached to the hospital."
"All of them?" He asked, shocked.
"Here from three continents and five countries." Tabby added. "It's an expensive place too. Most of these peoples families are spending serious cash to keep their people alive."
Williams swallowed. So many… Why so many?
Tabitha pushed in through the door and then the little curtain that surrounded the bed.
"Jimmy?" Tabitha came up short.
There, at his daughter's bedside was Jimmy the guard – praying a rosery.
He finished and smiled at her. "Tabby-Dear. Who is yer new friend?"
"This is Jamie. He's a mutant and he's going to try and wake Marie." She hesitated. "It's just a first attempt." She explained. "We have other idea's coming."
"Shure, shure." Jimmy stood up and shook Jamie's hand. Jimmy had a firm grip.
Jamie Williams turned hesitantly toward the motionless girl.
She was too pale and had a bluish hue in the dim light. Her red hair looked like spun purple silk and her eyes sat maddeningly half open and half closed.
Jamie walked around and took her hand. "Hey Marie. I'm Jamie." He swallowed. "I want you to do something for me." He explained. "You know that you've been sleeping for a long time now… And we need you to come home, okay? It's time to come home, so please, wake up."
One of the machines beeped repeatedly and they all turned hopefully to look at it.
A nurse walked in and ushered them aside. "Needs to change the I.V." She said, terminating the alarm.
Jamie, Kitty and Jimmy looked away, discouraged but Jamie recovered quickly. He squeezed her hand again. "Listen. This is what you've got to do… Heal. Okay? Get well soon and wake up as soon as possible. Will you do that for me? Okay?"
But still, there was no reaction.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I don't know what I could do."
"Thanks for trying." Tabby smiled.
"That was it?" Jimmy looked at him "I do that every day. Not that she hears me."
"What?" Tabby met his eyes.
"Deaf." Jimmy nodded. "The doctors said she'd lost her hearing because of the coma. First thing to go they said. Some kind of brain damage."