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16. Two Patients

Rogue's POV

I wasn't completely sure of where Marina and the other had been taken, but I had several good guesses. When I searched Bean Bag's memories I saw several images.

An old factory

A camping trailer

And what looked to be a shrub. I quickly dealt that one out. It was probably a place Bean Bag decided to urinate at one point during his life. So I gave the professor the two remaining options and gave him permission to read my mind. I could only see images, but Professor X was confident that he would be able to find the exact location with the right probing in my head.

"Rogue, please lie down," said Professor Xavier, motioning to a hospital bed. I climbed in and closed my eyes when I felt the Professor's hands on my head. I felt a sudden tug in my mind, but I knew for sure that he was in when all the voices in my head started to complain.

0Hey you, this is our place, get out- John snapped.o

oHurt her bub and you'll be hearing from meoLogan said, and I heard the familiar sound of him releasing his claws.

oWant to see the photos of all my girlfriends?o David said. There was a crack and a scream. He punched me! Wolf boy punched me in my nose David wailed.

oYou deserved ito Logan growled.

Suddenly all the voices stopped and my eyes opened instantly.

"Did you find the right location?" I asked, looking at the Professor.

"The factory and trailer have not been used for a long time, but I kept seeing the strangest image of a shrub," said the Professor, his brow furrowed. I groaned and climbed off the hospital bed.

"Ignore that one, I don't know why its there," I said, rubbing my forehead. It was throbbing, and I guessed it was because all the voices talked at once, where usually they talked with me one on one. I know the Professor heard the voices as well, but I had already warned him that they were there. He didn't seem too surprised by it; I guess he'd seen me talking to thing air before.

"I believe they are in the area of that shrub, Rogue. That is where we are headed."

At dusk, the light in the cave began to dim. The cavern had small holes in the roof, allowing natural light to flow in. They were also rigged with explosives incase anyone tried to stick a body part through them.

It wasn't long before the cave was pitch black; so dark no one could even see their hand if were held in front of their face.

"I guess you should go to sleep," Marina whispered, leaning up against one of the walls.

"Don't tell me what tah do," Toad answered; he was in a bad mood. He didn't enjoy being trapped with two of the 'good guys'. Never the less, Marina could hear him moving so that he was lying down on the floor.

"Sweet dr-"

"Shut up," Toad snapped.

Marina giggled cheerfully, knowing full well that it would only grate the nerves of her companion. She leaned back on the hard rock, preparing for a very dull night. Marina morphed into water to make laying on rock much more comforable. There she stayed for about an hour, just one large puddle on the floor.

Sound waves rippled through Marina and she quickly changed human again and listened with her ears. Scott groaned in pain a second time and Marina jumped to her feet.

"Scott? She called, feeling around the room to find him. She tripped on her feet and landed on someone's stomach.

"Bloody hell!" shrieked Toad, struggling on the floor. "Get of me!"

"Sorry doll, wrong person," said Marina, resisting the urge to laugh. She didn't want Toad to be mad at her the entire time they were stuck together. "Scott speaks to me," Marina asked.

"Over here," Scott called. Marina followed his voice, and this time was more careful not to trip. She felt her hands brush against another human being.

"Hey Scotty, how you doing?"

"Bad. My chest is killing me," groaned Scott.

"Tell me what it feels like baby," said Marina, taking Scott's hand to comfort him.

"It feels like pressure is building up there, squeezing my chest to make it smaller."

"Can you breathe all right?" asked Marina, trying to mask the worry in her voice. She felt Toad quietly sit down beside her.

"It's easier when I'm not talking," Scott wheezed.

"Then don't talk, Scotty. Just get some sleep, and Toad and I will find a way out of this." Marina shifted so that Scott's head was in her lap and she began to stroke his head. Scott seemed to relax as much as he could in the pain he was in.

"'Rina?" he asked suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you staying?"

"What do ya mean, boy?"

"You know that when you're water-" Scott paused, gasping for air, and Marina began to stroke his head again. "Explosives can't hurt you. You can escape," said Scott falling quiet again. Beside her, Marina heard Toad's intake of breath. It hadn't occurred to him that Marina could leave at them at anytime she wanted.

"I stay Scotty, because you aren't well. I say 'cause Ken ain't stupid. He probably has got sensors around this place. And since he has me, he'll probably have electricity somewhere as well."

"Thanks," Scott whispered.

Marina bent over and kissed him softly on the forehead. Toad moved away and lay down again, but Marina remained the way she was for the rest of the night, cradling Scott's head in her lap.

Rogue's POV

I stepped out of the change room in my stiff X-Men uniform. I wasn't usually an x-man…woman, but today I was valuable and I finally earned my suit. Bobby got his long before me, but he actually had useful powers so it was no surprise to anyone. I looked up to see the boy himself looking at me.

"You look good in that outfit," he said, smiling at me. I smiled back and turned to look at the map, the Professor had set up for us. We were going to be dropped off in some forest in the mountains. And in that forest we had to look for a single specific shrub. The term needle in a haystack came to my mind; I'm not sure what the others were thinking.

"Femme looks troubled," said the familiar voice. I turned around and looked at Remy, who was standing only inches away from me.

"Femme is troubled, now please step back Cajun." I put one gloved finger on his chest and put pressure so that he would step away from me. I didn't like people standing close to me. It reminded me that I could never touch human beings skin to skin. "What are you doing down here?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"When Marina needs help, Remy comes running."

"What is it with you and Marina?" I asked irritably. "Are you lovers or something." Remy grinned at me and winked one of his red eyes.

"Non. Perhaps long ago it was a nice idea, but Marina and Remy, we be close friends. Only friends."

"Very close friends then," I commented. I couldn't think of any friend of mine who would spend their whole lives, prepared to rescue me at any kind of danger.

"Remy not exactly work for tha best company. Marina was in high places and got Remy out of tha company. For that I will always be indebted to her," said Remy, smiling down at me. Like Marina, his eyes also conveyed that he'd seen more in his years than most people would, and they enticed me, though I wished they wouldn't.

"Well I'm glad to have you on board." I turned from him and walked out of the room to find Logan. We had to go now.

Dim light shone into the cave, and Scott slowly opened his eyes and blinked. A hand was on his head, stroking his chestnut brown hair.

"'Rina," he whispered, his voice dry and scratchy.

" 'morning Scotty. How'd you sleep?"

"Good. Thank," Scott gasped out, barely able to speak. Marina put a hand to his mouth. When she pulled away there was moisture on his lips and he swallowed the water that had been put in his mouth.

"Don't talk. Just rest your throat," Marina whispered. She pulled off her dirty, cadet-blue clutch sweater and put it under his head. She carefully stood up and made her way over to where Toad was sleeping, his own black coat bundled under his head for little comfort. Marina thought he was asleep, but as soon as she stepped close he opened his eyes and looked straight at her.

"Scott is getting worse," Marina whispered, so that her patient wouldn't hear. "I think I should go get help."

"Come on luv, you said yoahself that there ain't a way out without no risks," said Toad, still lying on the ground.

"I know, but I think I should take those risks. Come on, lets look for the best way out," Marina said, standing up. Toad began to sit up but let out a yelp of pain and lay back down again, panting heavily. Scott lifted his head and looked over at Toad, as Marina knelt down by his side again.

"What's wrong?"

"Nuffin, its nuffin."

"It didn't sound like nothing to me. Toad I'm going to take off your shirt, so don't struggle." Toad looked like he wanted to resist, but gasped in pain as Marina sat him up and began to lift his shirt over his head. Although his skin had a green tinge, Marina could easily see the dark purple and yellow bruises that were forming on Toad's back, not to mention the bloody gash between his shoulder blades.

"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

"I ain't hurt that much. Besides luv, you had enough injuries on your hands already."

"I not to bad," Scott wheezed. Toad snorted and chose not to make a comment.

"I can't do anything for your bruises but I can clean up that blood," said Marina. She tore two strips of fabric from her coat and returned to Toad. Holding the cloth in her hand, it suddenly filled with water. Putting one hand on Toads chest, she began to carefully dab at his bloodied back.

Scott watched quietly as Marina treated the second patient. Even though Toad kept quiet, Scott could see pain in the mutants big eyes. Toad had turned his head and was watching Marina as best he could. It was then that Scott saw something else in his eyes that he was sure he misinterpreted; was that desire?

When Marina had gotten rid of all the dried blood, she wrapped the second piece of fabric around his chest and tied it up. Wordlessly she stood up and handed Toad his shirt.

"Need help?" she asked. Toad shook his head and slid the shirt easily over his body, and pulled his jacket on over top. Marina nodded and began to walk away, but Toad reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Thanks luv." He quickly dropped her hand, and stood up, walking in the direction of the caves entrance. Marina just stood there for a moment, watching him leave.

"Did he just voluntarily touch me?" Marina asked in disbelief.

"Is that such a surprise?" Scott wheezed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Marina, tuning to face him. Scott just shook his head and motioned that he could not speak any more.