Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men.

Author's Note: This chapter is way lemonier (is that a word?) than the previous ones. If you don't like lemons, skip the section I notated. You'll be able to figure out what happens, I promise.

mattb3671: Hey! Thanks for the review! I just wish more people would give OOC fiction more of a chance. BTW: If you have not read his Xman is Australian for Mutant, you need to!

V.V.V.V.V.V

Pietro halted and stared in horror. How did the dragon get in front of me? He heard a loud thud and looked around only to see a second dragon behind him. "Hey! Help me!" He could see the X-geeks standing over by the mansion. Just then the dragon behind him hissed, and was answered by the dragon in front.

Etienne looked at the other dragon that was facing off in front of him, trying to steal his prey (anger). It replied with a hiss. He growled and mantled his wings in a threat gesture.

Brooke faced off against Etienne. She didn't know the boy he had been chasing, but guessed he must be one of the bad guys. She looked at Etienne again, the pounding in her head had receded only slightly since she shifted, making it was hard to think. He outweighed her by at least 100 pounds while in this form, and she doubted she could take him in a fight. Suddenly he charged, she threw herself to the side but he still slashed her thigh with his claws. She used her tail like a whip and cracked him across the neck and shoulder, drawing blood. He hissed at her before charging again. This time she met his attack, using her wings to bash him in the head, which made him retreat, shaking his head like a dog as he did so. She could feel the fury and bloodlust getting worse as both of them got caught up in the fight and the link only served to heighten the feelings. She had to get him away from everyone else to calm down, but how?

The other X-Men were all staring in shocked awe at the sight of the two dragons fighting in front of them. Just then Jean came out to join them. "The Professor is about 15 minutes away. What did I miss?" She looked over and did a double take. "Wow!"

Kitty nodded. "Like, that's the understatement of the year."

Pietro chose at that moment to foolishly move and try to get away. He instantly drew Etienne's attention, who seeing his prey getting away, tried to grab him. Brooke saw what was happening and using her head as a battering ram, threw Etienne onto his side, allowing Pietro to escape. He got to his feet, his rage battering at Brooke's mind. She didn't hesitate but jumped into the air, heading for the opposite side of the property and the lake to give her some space away from him. It took him a split second to realize what she was doing, and then he was after her with a snarl.

Everyone looked at Scott. "Like, should we follow them or wait for the Professor?"

He shrugged helplessly. "Lets split up. The girls can stay here and wait for the Professor and the others. Guys, we'll follow them."

Jean spoke up. "No, you'll need our help to find them. We'll come with you."

OKAY SKIP THIS PART IF YOU DON'T LIKE LEMONS!

Etienne caught up with Brooke in the air and dived, forcing her to back-wing in the air to avoid a collision. He pulled up and turned, catching her this time, forcing her down towards the beach by the lake. She landed hard and froze, instinct taking over in the face of a superior predator. Etienne landed nearby and screamed, understanding by her posture that she acknowledged defeat. He stretched out his head and sniffed, it was his female! The smaller female dragon backed up, unsure what he was going to do. He rumbled low in his chest and bobbed his head, beginning a ritual reptiles the world over would have recognized. The other dragon took a step forward and sniffed him, recognizing the scent. She moved forward to rub her head along his neck, using her tongue to lick daintily at his jaw (approval). He nuzzled her side with his nose before moving behind her. He moved to cover her, snaking his head down to bite her shoulder where it met her neck to hold her still. He penetrated with one thrust; their link exploded, twisting and then snapping back, binding the two of them together as their bodies joined.

Etienne returned to consciousness slowly. He rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth and rolled over, only to be horrified when he saw Brooke laying next to him bleeding from a bite mark on her shoulder. He scrambled over and felt for a pulse, only to have her eyes open in shock as she scooted backwards from him.

"What happened?"

"Don't touch me!"

He looked at her, the memories slowly clicking together in his brain. "Oh God." He turned away and threw up, finally realizing why he could taste blood.

OKAY THAT'S OVER!

Brooke scrambled up and started to run back to the mansion, only to stop short when she collided with Remy. "Give me your coat." He took one look at her and complied, handing it over with no comment. She put it on and then continued running, passing the others who had come up the trail after Gambit.

Jean looked at Scott. "Kitty and I will go check on Brooke." Both girls turned back to the mansion.

Gambit walked slowly up to his cousin who was on his hands and knees.

"Can y'move?" Gambit crouched down, getting worried.

Etienne looked at him and the pain in his eyes made Gambit wince. "Est-ce que je, comment je l'ai violée vais jamais lui faire face encore ?" 1

Gambit shook his head. "Vous n'étiez pas vous-même. Il établira." 2

Etienne shook his head and sighed raggedly. "Est-ce que je de la protéger, et comment j'ai promis peux faire cela si je ne peux pas même la protéger contre me ?" 3

V.V.V.V.V.V

Jean and Kitty slowly opened the door to Brooke's room. She was curled up on the bed around a pillow, crying, still dressed in Gambit's trench coat. Jean looked at Kitty and they sat on either side. The back of her neck was bloody. Jean looked helplessly at Kitty unsure of what to say. Brooke looked up at that point. "Don't even try to make me feel better. I need to be alone for awhile." Jean opened her mouth only to be cut off. "No, just leave, please." Jean nodded. She and Kitty left, closing the door quietly behind them.

V.V.V.V.V.V

Remy saw Hank and Logan coming towards them across the beach. "Looks like we got company coming."

Etienne didn't even move.

Logan's nose led the two X-Men straight to the two Cajuns. "Heard you had some excitement while we were gone." Hank moved towards Etienne. "Lets get you to the Med Bay so we can get your arm stabilized since it's probably broken."

Etienne looked dazedly down at his arm as if noticing it for the first time. "Oh, yeah." He slowly stood up and allowed McCoy to wrap him in a sheet before following him back to the mansion, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Once in the Medical Bay, Etienne looked at Hank. "So how bad is de arm?"

"You broke both major bones in your arm again, but it appears they're almost healed."

"Dat some good news den."

McCoy watched him. "The injuries you received eight months ago are completely healed. I'm guessing with a little more exercise you will gain full use of your arm back."

Etienne jerked his head up, his eyes wide. "Don't tell anyone dat."

"But why? It's good news."

Etienne shook his head. "If m'oncle ever found out, he'd make me go back t' N' Orleans." He looked down. "I can't do dat. 'Specially not now."

McCoy nodded his head. "I understand your concern. I have to tell the Professor because it deals with what happened earlier, but I will not mention it to anyone else."

Etienne thanked McCoy and left the Med Bay, heading for his room and a shower. When he got to Brooke's door he stopped. He knew she was inside. He leaned against the door, resting his forehead and hand against the hard wood. What could he say to make her feel better? With a sigh he turned and walked into his room, doing his best to block her out of his mind.

V.V.V.V.V.V

The Professor met with Logan, Beast, Storm, Jean, Scott and Gambit in his study. "I would like to know exactly what went on tonight." Taking turns, Jean and Scott explained what had happened. The Professor stopped them at the appropriate places, being specifically interested in what had happened to Brooke and Etienne before they had morphed.

"Interesting. From what your saying it appears that they felt exactly what the other was. When Etienne got angry, Brooke knew something was wrong with the boys. When he fell on his bad leg, she felt his pain. She must have also felt his arm break."

Logan glanced at the Professor. "So if the boy is an empath, how did he suddenly gain her powers?"

"Perhaps the connection they seem to have had something to do with it, but I would need to talk with both of them to find out more."

The Professor turned to McCoy. "So how is he?"

McCoy cleared his throat. "The X-rays I took of his arm show he did indeed fracture bones in his arm during his fight with the Brotherhood. However, somehow they have almost completely healed. From the calcification, it appears the breaks occurred at least a month ago instead of just hours."

Gambit looked startled. "How is dat possible?

McCoy scratched his head. "My hypothesis is that the morphing between dragon and human had something to do with it, probably when the bones and nerves reshaped themselves, but the exact mechanics I can't say without further study."

Xavier nodded. "How is Brooke doing?"

Jean spoke up at this point. "Kitty and I tried to talk with her but she asked us to leave. She's still in her room."

The Professor shook his head. "I would prefer that she speak to someone, but we must respect her wishes for the time being. I will try to get her to talk to me tomorrow and see how we can best help."

V.V.V.V.V.V

Translations:

1. I raped her, how am I ever going to face her again?"

2. You were not yourself. It will work out."

3. I promised to protect her, and how can I do that if I cannot even protect her from myself?"