Chapter Sixty-One

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Kitty Pride sat uneasily on the couch, sipping her tea, attempting to ignore Shaw as he leered at Sage. Their new friend was standing behind the couch, near the wheeled tea tray she had ushered into the room, as they had waited for Shaw earlier. She was standing at attention, waiting for Shaw to issue his next order. There was a little distance between the couch and Sage, somewhere between ten and twenty feet. Still, as Sage was behind her, all of Shaw's looks, which were aimed at Sage, felt like they were directed at her. She was doing her best to ignore it.

Kitty didn't understand why she was here, why Sage was subjecting herself to this vile man who thought he owed her under a false name. You couldn't owe people. That- that shouldn't be allowed, not here in a free country. She didn't get it. She didn't get any of this. 'Maybe I should have gone to class and let Rogue handle it,' she thought. Rogue reached over and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. Kitty smiled up at her before she took it back and sipped her tea.

Kitty's eyes darted up to Shaw's as she noticed he had watched the exchange an inquisitive look on his face. He looked like he wanted to remark, but then their attention was turned toward the door as they heard it opening. Emma was backing into the room.

'Wait, is that a wheelchair?' she asked, confused as Emma maneuvered it, turning it towards the group.

As Kitty caught sight of Jean, she barely noticed as her teacup slipped out of her hand and onto the rug. Jean was hunched back in the chair, unconscious, her face swollen and bruised. Her feet were bare and bandaged. Kitty could tell she was still alive but severely injured as her breathing was very shallow.

'Oh my god,' she thought appalled as she covered her mouth with her hand, fighting to keep herself from remarking. Rogue had made her promise to keep her comments to herself and now she knew why. 'What did they do to her?' she asked as out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sage grab a small dish towel. Kitty felt tears forming in the ducts of her eyes as Sage hurried, kneeling to retrieve the fallen tea cup. "Sorry. Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she said as she moved to help Sage.

"It's alright," Sage said as she mopped up the liquid with one hand and used her other to keep Kitty from leaving the couch.

"I'm sorry," she said again before turning to look at Rogue. "What happened to her?" she asked in a hushed voice before she looked at up Shaw warily.

"Mystique did," Rogue sighed as Sage stood with a teacup in hand.

"Poor Miss Grey," Shaw said. "The state that woman brought her to us in was atrocious. I had Tessa tend to her wounds immediately. All guests are treated with the utmost hospitality. Your teammate was no exception. Regardless of the circumstances that brought her to my home," he said smoothly.

"Oh, thank you," she said quietly, feeling an odd sense of gratitude. Though, she still wanted to wipe the smug look off of his face and tell him to wear a corset if he liked them so much.

"Now, if you're satisfied," he said turning to look at Rogue again, "I'd requested an amount," he said.

"I have one last concern that needs to be addressed. Can I assume your subordinates have been unable to complete the task which your organization was hired for?" Rogue asked.

Shaw turned to look up at the blonde woman with a scrutinizing gaze before stating, "You can. "Miss Grey's abilities have proven to be formidable and Emma's lacking." His voice was dripping with displeasure and Emma seemed tense under his gaze.

"Sebastian, I know I can break through. I need more time," Emma said defensively.

"You shouldn't be too hard on Emma, Mr. Shaw. My finest mental defenses were crafted utilizing Jean's powers. They're the reason she hasn't been able to read my mind either," Rogue said.

Shaw gave Emma an examining look, his head cocked slightly. Emma looked as though she wanted to discredit Rogue's claim but was unable to. Shaw's eyes narrowed as it became clear Rogue's accusation was correct. Fear passed over Emma's face before she bowed her head in apology and submission.

"My counter-offer will render her continued efforts unnecessary," Rogue asked, having watched the same exchange.

Shaw's gaze held onto Emma's for another long moment before he turned to look at Rogue and said, "I'm listening."

"Mystique promised you twenty-five thousand. I'll double it," Rogue proposed. "Half now. The other half once you've had a driver chauffeur all of us X-Men back to Bayville," she said. "You can have one of your subordinates accompany us to finalize the second transaction."

"Hmm," he said, considering the offer. Kitty watched Shaw shift his gaze to Sage and then back to Rogue. "Emma would be delighted to usher you three home. To repay me for her failings in this venture," he said.

"Tessa would be preferable," Rogue said. Shaw's eyes darted back to Rogue's and Kitty watched him chuckle.

"I'm sure she would be," he chuckled as he stood, teacup in hand.

'Get ready, but don't do anything until I say so,' Rogue projected as Shaw walked towards Sage. Rogue adjusted her position on the couch to ensure her head was facing Shaw as he walked around the couch and towards Sage.

"What guarantee do I have that Mystique won't retaliate for her missing funds?" he asked abruptly, shifting the focus, as he held out his teacup for Sage to refill.

"I'll talk to my mother," she said as Sage refilled his cup.

"That's hardly a guarantee," he commented.

Kitty watched Rogue's eyes close for a brief moment before she added, "she won't miss that amount."

Another chuckle escaped Shaw as he turned to look down at Rogue. "Could I presume, a woman with her considerable means, wouldn't bat an eye, if we were to say, double it again?" he asked with a smirk before sipping his tea.

"Fifty thousand now, fifty thousand after we're returned to the institute," she retorted.

"And Emma takes you for that amount," Shaw said, gesturing toward the blonde with his teacup.

"One hundred thousand now and after. Tessa takes us," Rogue countered, doubling it again.

"One million now and one million later, for Tessa," he said as Kitty's eyes widened.

"Five-hundred-thousand now and later for Tessa, Mr. Shaw," Rogue said. Shaw opened his mouth to speak. "It's my final offer," Rogue said before he could speak again. "You can either agree to one million. Or you can settle the matter with the master of magnetism," she said.

"Threats, Mrs. Eisenhardt?" he said as he placed his teacup on the tray. "And here I had thought we were to part as friends," he stated.

"I would prefer that. But my mother's tolerance has its limits and I'm afraid we've reached it," she said. "There is a great deal you could do with the funds I've proposed. Use them to find a new personal assistant. One who shares in your proclivities."

"Tessa, as I've stated, has been invaluable to me. It would be impossible to place a price on her services," he said.

"And yet you've wagered two million," Rogue said pointedly. Shaw glanced at Rogue for a long moment before chuckling again.

"We're dropping the pretenses, I presume?" he asked.

"If you would prefer that, we can, Mr. Shaw. This is your household after all and she should never have been a part of it for so long. We both know that."

Shaw snapped his fingers at Emma, who pulled out a needle full of some type of clear substance. From where Kitty didn't see.

'Oh my god,' Kitty thought as her eyes widened. She moved to stand, but Rogue placed her hand on her knee, silently telling her to stay seated. 'But,' she asked, confused as Emma pushed Jean's head to the right and pressed the needle to the base of Jean's now exposed neck.

'Not yet,' Rogue said as Shaw removed his jacket and white undershirt. Kitty watched confused as Shaw threw his clothing over the tea tray, leaving his chest bare. He was a lot more muscular than she had expected and Sage suddenly looked so small compared to him.

"I never did quite grasp what Charles Xaiver was playing at by sending her to me," Shaw stated as he stood in front of Sage.

'Huh?' Kitty asked bewildered as Shaw ran his hands up and down her arms. "The Professor wouldn't do that," she said almost instinctively.

"I can assure you, child, he did," Shaw stated. "He went to all that trouble of installing a spy in my home and then he didn't contact her. He never asked her for anything," he laughed as Kitty made eye contact with Sage, who was trying very hard not to look at Shaw. She looked so scared. "It was absurdly entertaining," he leered as he grabbed her throat. "Wasn't it, Sage?" he asked cruelly.

A short distressed gasp let Sage before he loosened his hold on her throat. With a flick of his wrist and by pulling at her arm, Shaw spun Sage around and pulled her back against his chest. Once again, his hand tightened around her throat as he forced her to look up at him.

"Stop it. You're hurting her," Kitty called out as she looked back and forth between Sage and Rogue.

"Silence, brat," Emma said as she pushed the needle slightly into Jean's neck. "Sebastian can do as pleases," she said as a small bead of blood dripped down Jean's neck.

"You truly were the perfect assistant," Shaw continued. "So terrified I would find out your little secret, you did everything I asked. Every last depraved order was followed with the utmost vigor," he taunted Sage.

"Nine years is a long time, Mr. Shaw," Rogue said, far too calmly. "You've had your fun. And Sage has long since paid the price for Charles's half-baked schemes. Take the severance and end this," she ordered.

A long pause followed as Kitty held her breath, hoping, praying Shaw would take the deal.

"And if I were to say no, Mrs. Eisenhardt, will you summon your husband?" he asked.

"Perhaps, I haven't been clear," Rogue said as she stood. "I do apologize, Mr. Shaw, I had assumed you knew what my powers were," she said before she reached out her hand and ripped the needle away from Emma and into her own hand.

"Pardon me, Mrs. Eisenhardt," he said as tightened his hold on Sage's throat. "I shouldn't have presumed you would come here unarmed," he said as Sage gasped for air. Rogue gestured for her to stand. She swiftly did so.

"Here's what's going to happen," Rogue said as she waved her hand and the couch she and Rogue had been sitting on was pushed across the room, removing the obstacle between them and Shaw and Sage. "You will accept the payment," she said as Jean's wheelchair was pushed forward towards Kitty. Emma tried to grab it, but Rogue released a magnetic wave that pushed her back against the bookcase. A few knick-knacks dropped to the floor as Emma hit the bookcase. The wheelchair moved up to Kitty and she took the hint and moved behind it, taking hold of it, and securing Jean. "Everyone leaves this room, more or less, no worse for wear. And you never contact Sage again," she said.

"Or perhaps, I'll snap her pretty little neck," Shaw countered, pulling his other hand up to her throat, positioning his hands to make good on his threat.

"Do that and I'll be forced to rip your home from its foundations and hurl it into space," Rogue said dryly.

"You're buffing," he said.

"I'm really not," Rogue said as her eyes began to glow and the room shook.

Various items from around the room fell from the vibrations. Books crashed to the floors. The grand piano in the corner moved forward, hitting the fireplace. The tea tray rolled away from Sage and Shaw, tipping over in front of the door, blocking the exit with a crash of fine china breaking in its wake. The curtain rods were dislodged from their holders, drapery and metal alike collapsing. The once elegant room was rendered into a state of disarray.

Kitty felt herself shaking, and upon realizing Jean's wheelchair was being held firmly in place, gripped onto it to keep herself from swaying. She watched Shaw eye's dart around the room as each fallen item drew his attention, his grip on Sage tightening.

Kitty's head snapped as she heard Emma stand. Now wielding a fallen curtain rod, Kitty let out a gasp as she swung it at her and Jean. Kitty quickly phased them both in place and Emma passed through them harmlessly.

"Watch out," she yelled, as Emma had altered her aim, launching herself towards Rogue. With the slightest turning of her head, Rogue took hold of the metal rod and turned the weapon against her would-be assailant, throwing Emma back against the bookshelf a second time, and pinning there with the metal rod.

"Incompetent imbecile," Kitty heard Shaw mutter his breath. Rogue turned her attention back to Shaw. "Not a step closer or I'll," he warned his hands still in a position to kill Sage.

"No, Mr. Shaw, you won't," she said firmly as blue lightning escaped the corners of her eyes. "The fact of the matter is, Charles should never have subjected Sage to your household or the role of a spy within it. None of this should have ever fucking happened," she yelled. "But here we are," she said, getting her voice under control. "I ain't leaving this room without her," she said irate, her tone cold as ice.

Kitty felt her breath caught in her chest, a little afraid, as she gripped the chair.

"So," she said as the room stopped shaking and the blue lightning dissipated from her eyes. "One million dollars, Mr. Shaw. Even for a man with your resources, that is a significant amount," she said.

"You're still negotiating?" he asked in disbelief.

"Sage's freedom goes beyond today's events. And she has every right to travel wherever life takes her without requiring my or my husband's protection. You've taken nearly a decade from her. She will not spend the next decade, looking over her shoulder, worried about your petty sense of revenge. I am offering to pay you for her release. Take the fucking money and agree to my terms so we can all go home already," she said exacerbated. "I have been more than reasonable and extremely patient. I will not ask again," she said firmly.

Kitty watched as Shaw stared at Rogue, as he considered the offer.

"A million for Sage before anyone leaves my home and the hundred thousand we agreed to for Miss. Grey," Shaw countered.

"Seriously?" Rogue asked.

"And I'll have Emma call the car service to transport you X-Men to a location of your choosing," he offered.

Rogue let out a sigh before saying, "fine. Agreed." With a wave of her hand, the metal rod dropped to the floor and Emma was freed. She quickly stood up, looking to Shaw for their next move. "Now you," she commanded, gesturing with her head to his hostage.

After a brief hesitation, Shaw pushed Sage forward, practically throwing her at Rogue. Rogue ran forward and gently took hold of Sage as she coughed hunched over, trying to catch her breath.

"You're okay, now, sugar. That was the last time he will ever touch you," she said strongly as she ushered Sage over to her and Jean. "Kitty," she said, locking eyes with her.

"Got it," she said, putting an arm around Sage's shoulder, as she grabbed onto one of the wheelchair's handles. She rubbed her back comfortingly as she watched Shaw march up to Emma and seized her arm tightly.

"Make yourself useful, get my computer, and call for a car," he ordered through gritted teeth as he shoved her towards the door. Rogue pulled the tea tray out of the way, unblocking the door before Emma could hit it.

"Thanks," Emma said reluctantly as she rushed out of the room to follow Shaw's orders.


Wolverine laid in bed, back in his motel room, with the pretty blonde laying beside him. Both of them were nude beneath the sheets, enjoying the glow of the aftermath. He had no idea where she had gotten the cigar and at the moment he didn't care, as he took a long puff. He exhaled, handing her the cigar.

"You, ah- You know a thing or two, huh?" he asked as she inhaled. A smile formed on her face as she exhaled, making smoke rings with her mouth.

"I've been around," she said amused as she handed him back the cigar. "You weren't too bad yourself, Jimmy," she commented. He happily grunted before he placed the cigar back in his mouth. "It's been a while since I've been with a man who can keep up with me," she added.

"I can go again if you want," he said.

"I'd like that, lover, but I have to pick my daughter up from school," she said. "What time is it?" she asked. He moved to turn his head to glance at the alarm clock on the bedside table, but both of them turned towards the bathroom as a cell phone went off. "Excuse me," she said as she threw the covers off.

He inhaled, enjoying the view as she hurried into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. A moment later, he heard her turn on the sink's water and she picked up the cell phone as the ringing ceased. "What's wrong?" she asked.

With the water running, he couldn't hear who was on the other side of the phone call, not that it was any of his business. He cocked his spare hand behind his head as he inhaled from the cigar again, choosing to stay on the bed. He'd take a shower after she took off.

"How much?" he heard her exclaim a moment later. "Who the fuck is Sage?" she screamed. "No, I'm nowhere near Manhattan. I'm upstate… Yes, I- I was feeling nostalgic, alright…" she said.

Wolverine raised an eyebrow at that comment, before thinking, 'guess she's into one-night-stands.' He quickly dismissed the thought. She might've meant the location. Could have nothing to do with him.

"No, we're not talking about that now…. We- Like you've never fucked anyone for the hell of it?" she yelled.

He sat up from his relaxed position, biting down on the cigar slightly to keep it in his mouth. He grabbed his clothes off of the floor and dumped them onto the bed. He didn't know who was on the other side of that phone, but it was starting to sound like trouble.

'She said she had a daughter,' he recalled as he put on his underwear, then his jeans and his socks. He wasn't going to risk staying here overnight, only to be comforted by an angry boyfriend, or whoever the hell she was talking to. Better to move on. He could get another motel room a couple of hundred miles away. Maybe he'd keep heading north, towards Canada.

"It's fine," she said as he finished adjusting his belt. He pulled the cigar out of his mouth and scanned the room for a place to get rid of it.

'Shit,' he thought as he didn't see an ashtray anywhere in the room. 'Shit,' he repeated as he looked down at his own hand.

"It's- it's fine. It's only money. I'll take on a few clients and even out the accounts. It'll be fine," she said.

With an irritated grunt, he stuck the lite side of the cigar into the palm of his hand. He held back a growl as he bore the pain. Once it was smothered, he tossed the cigar into the bedside table as he shook off his hand, ash scattering.

"I said it's fine," she yelled as he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. "Meet me at the penthouse," she yelled as he snatched his boots. He sat for a moment, as he slipped them, fixing the cuffs of his jeans around them. "Meet me at the fucking penthouse, Irene," she yelled.

He paused at hearing that name. All his conversations with Rogue about the woman put him on edge just at hearing it. He dismissed that feeling, focusing on the context.

'Why the fuck would a woman care she had slept with me unless. Shit,' he thought as he got to his feet.

"Irene, just get on a plane," she yelled from within the bathroom.

'I'm overthinking this, right? It's gotta be a coincidence,' he told himself.

"You'll see things more clearing once you're closer to our daughter," she said. He felt rage within him swell up as the possibility grew.

'Do not fucking tell me, I just fucking slept with Mystique,' he thought as he turned towards the bathroom.

"I'll see you tonight…Yes, I know, I'll deal with it," she said as she turned towards the bathroom. "I said, I'll deal with it," she repeated strongly before he heard the cell phone snap closed.

'How does she know my name?' he asked himself as he heard the water turn off. The door opened, a moment later, and she came out, back in the yellow dress.

"Oh good, you're dressed," she said, her tone dry as she walked towards the door "Sorry to take off like this," she said before he stepped closer to her, blocking her path to the door.

"What's the hurry, Darlin?" he asked. "I thought you might be up for another round?" he asked, closing the distance between them.

"As I said, lover, I'd like to. But it's my daughter," she said as she laid her hand on her stomach, of all places. "She found out about something I did or maybe she's known for years," as he placed his hand on her shoulder. He gripped, not too tight, but not gently either.

"Does it matter when she found out?" he asked as he altered the angle of his hand. Now, his claws were within range of her throat, all he had to do was extend them.

"No, it doesn't," she answered as her gaze focused on the back of his hand. "She said she wanted to talk. That's why I was supposed to go pick her up from school," she continued. "But she's not there," she exclaimed as she looked back up at him. "She's out gallanting in Manhattan, stealing my money to help someone who's barely her friend and this other girl I've never even heard of," she vented.

"Sage?" he asked, recalling the name from her conversation in the bathroom. He hadn't heard the name before, either.

"Apparently," she answered.

"Kids, can be a handful, huh?" he asked.

"My Anna-Marie's always been a willful child," she said before he heard the sound of a gun cocking. He didn't need to look down as he felt the barrel press up against his stomach. "We both have places to be. So, for old time's sake, James," she said, confusing him. "I'll put my gun away and you won't unsheathe those," she said, her eyes briefly lingering on the back of his hand before flashing back to his eyes.

"You know my name, so what? You think I'm just gonna stand aside and let you hurt Rogue again," he said.

"She's my daughter. I never wanted to hurt her," she claimed.

"Maybe, you should've thought about that before you killed her real mother," he yelled.

"It was an accident," she screamed. "Priscilla wasn't supposed to be there. Irene said Rogue would be alone," she said.

"Well, she was wrong and you got an innocent woman killed. Rogue's never gonna forgive you for that. How could she?" he asked.

"Time'll tell," she said before she thrust up, knocking the top of her head into his chin. He was pushed back as he lost contact with her shoulder.

He extended his claws as he regained his footing. Already, Mystique was throwing open the door. She turned back, just long enough to shoot twice. He dodged both bullets before chasing her out of the motel room. He pursued her with speed as Mystique transformed herself into a giant owl and took flight. He jumped, swiping at the wing. He heard Mystique let out a painful cry as he rolled into his fall, landing in the parking lot in front of the motel. He looked up to see Mystique flying higher, out of his reach, but it looked like he wounded her.

'Good,' he thought, satisfied. He hurried back into the motel room and marched up to the phone. He quickly dialed the institute's number.


Calling it here for now! Woo, two chapters this month so far! I'll try for three if I can :) Please let me know your thoughts!

Kirouge: THANK YOU! Here's another fast update for you! Unfortunately, it's 2003, and while cell phones exist. It's not at the point yet where everyone is expected to have one. Phone booths are still around and no one's expected to be available 24-7 yet. Gotta say the year the show takes place is adding some fun restrictions. I hope you're enjoying it!

And yes, Kitty being there was essential for Rogue to have a sounding board for her plans and for us to have POV character within the Hellfire club. Having Rogue active in the moment, is a lot of fun. I've built her up as this competent strategist, it's great having a chance to show that rather than tell. :) Charles is starting to get a clue, which is really great as well!

More to come on Moria and the past timeline. (Though, I'm not sure when). Good point in your comment, but I think the misinterpretation is because I haven't told you guys enough about the past timeline yet. You've only seen snippets. More to come!

I'm glad you're enjoying the ride! There is still so much to come! Can't wait to hear your thoughts about this chapter!