Rogue looks softly at the Phoenix. "I was gasping for breath, and he was lying next to me, cut, sliced, and bleeding. All because he didn't want to watch me die." She pauses. "He nearly died that night."

"Nearly?"

Rogue closes her eyes. "We had the best doctor in the world living at the mansion with us. She was also at the statue. She patched him up and let his body do the rest."

"This woman you keep mentioning, Jean Grey. She sounds perfect."

Rogue smiles. "No one is perfect Phoenix. Not even Dr. Grey. She was honest, trustworthy, and loyal. I trusted her."

"Tell me more about her."

"Why?"

"I don't know. She seems familiar. As though maybe I knew her…"

The team is coming your way Rogue. Be vigilant, Brotherhood members are closing in. Stay close to the Phoenix.

"What was that?" the Phoenix stands abruptly, looking at Rogue warily. "Who said that?"

Rogue stands next to her. "Hush. We don't have time for this right now. They're coming." She pulls the Phoenix's arm and guides them into the forest, speaking quietly. "You need very much to trust me right now. There are dangerous people tracking us, and I need to get us out of their range so that we can get to safety. A lot of things are about to happen very quickly, and you're going to have to go along with it. I'll try to field any questions. When my friends get here, keep your face out of sight." She hands the woman a cloak. "Better yet, try to blend into the background. No matter what anyone says, the only people you can trust are the ones who call you Phoenix. One of the people tracking us is a shape-shifter. Do not leave my side, and do not trust anyone. We only need to make it about a half mile before we get to my car."

"You have a car?"

"I swear to you that I will explain everything, as soon as we can get out of tracking range. If I fly us out of here now, the Brotherhood will follow us easily. We need to get to that car. More importantly, you need to keep out of sight."

"I'm her aren't I?"

"Who?"

"Jean Grey."

"We don't have time for this."

"Make time."

Rogue shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. The time isn't there. We need to get moving. I swear that as soon as we're safe, I'll tell you everything, answer every question, but first, we need to be safe." She looks up as a dark jet coasts over to land on the beach. "Let's go."

She grabs the Phoenix by the arm and they set off, flitting in and out of the trees, sometimes gently flying between the branches of the trees, never above the treeline, and never below eight feet off the ground.

"MARIE!" a booming voice sounds through the trees. "I swear to god darlin', if you don't come down I'm going to start slicin' these poor trees to the ground so that your cover is gone."

"Dammit." Rogue whispers, hovering with the Phoenix in a pine tree. "I was hoping he wouldn't notice that."

"Who?"

"Later." Rogue tightens her hold on the woman, and flies as fast and as high as she dares, coming to a halt at the edge of the forest near the road, landing softly.

"Hello dear." A man's voice resounds softly from nearby.

Rogue's eyes close, and she feels the Phoenix stiffen. "What do you want Eric?"

"I want to talk to Carol. You're going to let me do that, right?"

The Phoenix stares at Rogue as her eyes begin to shift from blue to green. "Don't you dare." She mutters, grabbing the girl's arm and locking gazes with her.

Rogue's crystalline blue eyes meet Eric's as a wave of strength hits her from the Phoenix. "No Eric. I'm not. Go home." She pauses and looks in the other direction as the Wolverine bursts through the forest farther down.

"MARIE!"

She closes her eyes. "Identity: Rogue." She says calmly, and the silver Ferrari materializes. "I'm sorry Logan."

She opens the door, and the Phoenix climbs through to sit in the passenger seat as Rogue takes a seat behind the wheel. The Phoenix's eyes bulge as the rest of the X-men burst out behind Logan. "Scott." She whispers as Rogue peels away, turning to watch the team fade as they speed away.

"Marie!" the Wolverine shouts at the car speeding away.

"My, my, my. I've missed you Wolverine." Eric Lenscher's voice sounds from the other side of the highway.

Cyclops focuses a small beam on Magneto's hand and fires. "Go away Magneto." He says drily. "We don't have time for you right now. Storm, do it."

Storm's eyes glaze, and an icy fog descends abruptly on the area as the X-men retreat to their jet.

When they are in the air, Bobby is the first to speak. "Was that who I think it was?" he asks carefully.

Scott nods slowly. "Yes." He whispers.

"Oh." Bobby looks at the rest of the team, who bear similar expressions, save the Wolverine, seated in the corner growling.

"I'm sure there's an explanation for why he didn't tell us Scott." Ororo tries carefully.

"None that I can think of." The team leader mutters darkly.

Jubilee, Remy, Kitty and Bobby look at one another with apprehension, unsure of how to approach the senior members of the team. The re-emergence of Dr.Grey had separated the group.

Leave it alone. I'll explain why I didn't tell you when you get back. The Professor's voice sounds in their heads.

Explain it now. Scott's voice responds drily

The silence in the jet is their only response.

"Storm, follow Rogue's car." Scott orders, and she looks at him sharply.

"Scott, the professor –

"Take us to the mansion 'Ro." The Wolverine states calmly from the back of the plane.

"Logan, we have to find Jean." Scott says carefully.

"We won't."

"I need to find her Logan." Scott presses.

"Take us home Storm." Logan clips. "Trust me, you won't find Rogue."

"You can track her." Scott presses.

Logan strides to the front of the jet and looks down at their distraught leader. "No, I can't. I made a promise Scott, to her and to the professor, that I wouldn't interfere in whatever it is she's doing. Had I known about Jean, I probably wouldn't have, but I didn't know. Get your head on straight."

"Logan…" Scott meets the Wolverine's gaze full on. "It's Jean."

"Don't be to sure about that Scooter. Take us home Storm."

She nods, and the younger X-men bristle at the thought of Dr.Grey not being herself. Who else could she be?

"Tell me what's going on." The Phoenix demands as we speed away from Logan and Scott quickly.

"Not now." I clip as I punch the gas, hoping to escape Magneto's reach quickly.

"Yes, now. Who were those people? Why did I recognize them?"

"I told you I would answer your questions as soon as we were safe. We're not safe unless Eric can't catch us. Cyclops' blow will have delayed him nicely, but try to understand that I don't have time to concentrate on you. I need to keep Carol quiet. I need to keep you away from the Brotherhood, and she's trying to stop me."

The Phoenix stares at me. "Who's Carol?"

"Not now."

"Tell me what's going on!" she shouts.

I check our distance and smile a bit. Almost. I flick the camouflage and ease up on the gas to meet the adaptive cameras' speed. "Just let me get us out of range. Please, I promise I'll explain. I just…" I trail off and feel Carol struggle within me for control. Swallowing deeply. "Just don't distract me right now." I need Logan.

"Who's Logan?" she asks carefully.

"What?"

"You said you need Logan. Who is he?"

"My rock." I whisper, not wanting to take the time to explain I hadn't really said it, but rather thought it. "My strength."

"Your lover."

I nod. "He's the best person I've ever met, the strongest too. Not just physically, but mentally. It's his strength that I use to keep her quiet. To keep her under control."

"Then why aren't you using it now?" she asks carefully.

"He's not here."

"You love him. That means he's a part of you and you're a part of him. Draw on that to help you."

Her words remind me of his so much that I realize she's seeing him in me. The Logan from so long ago on top of the Statue of Liberty that pushed me to live again. "How did you –

"I'm not sure." She pauses. I keep getting flashes. "You didn't always have streaks in your hair, did you?"

I shake my head.

"You're much younger than me, as well, right?"

"In a manner of speaking." I say carefully.

"Tell me now." She says, and as I flick my eyes to look at her I see a flash of fire in her eyes.

"I don't have time for this Phoenix. We're nearly out of range and Carol just won't shut up. If you don't stop asking me stupid questions that I already told you I'd answer when we're safe I'll shut you up myself." I snap.

"If I'm this Jean person that I think I am, you can't stop me."

"Try me Phoenix, just try me." I grip the steering wheel tighter and glance at instruments again. Nearly there.

"Tell me what I want to know, or I'll move this –

I reach out and grab her face roughly with my bare hand, never taking my eyes off the road, feeling the pull of power almost instantly. I hastily retract my hand and shake my head once more. "I warned you." I mutter darkly as I see a small motel with a gas pump up ahead.