Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing them. Borrowing them, ya hear!

AN: This segment is a bit shorter and of slightly different format, but it's important and I like it. :0)

Chapter seven: Speaking with Wisdom

The day dawned black for Rogue. She stumbled to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, hoping to shock herself into some form of anything-other-than-how-she-was.

It figured--her plan had backfired completely. Apparently, laws don't take vacations. Her body had woken her after only a few hours' worth of sleep and it wouldn't allow her to fall back asleep. The clock read 7:45.

Her evening had been singularly unproductive. Bishop's files were of absolutely no help. All they had been good for instilling a reluctant respect in her for Gambit's skills. Rogue had been in this business for a long time, she recognized quality when she saw it. There had been a theft in Spain where Remy had to deal with elite ex-military security guards and a top of the line, truly impressive security system all in a two minute window. He had done it in a minute and forty-five seconds. Flawlessly. The only reason that they knew it was him was because he had left a playing card behind...

And lying in bed admiring Remy LeBeau's skills was not at all helpful.

And Rogue couldn't find any information connecting Remy to any of the mutants on FORCE or FORCE's watch list. There had to be one. But she couldn't find it. She needed Tessa. Or Kitty. But she couldn't have them. For all she knew, Tessa was in on "it" and Kitty...

Damn it all ta hell.

Her cell phone rang. She checked it--the number came up as unlisted. With the technology on this phone, that could only be a few people.

"'ello?"

"Hey luv, 'ow are ya?"

Rogue sank onto the bed, holding the phone to her ear and her head in her other hand. "Like hell, Pete. Ya?"

A dry chuckle, "Haven't left the place for months."

A long silence.

"Ah'm so sorry, Pete."

"Like hell you are, girl. If you keep blaimin' yourself, I'll come across the Atlantic and kick your ass meself."

Now Rogue had to laugh. "Takes one ta know one, Pete."

"Don't I know it, luv," he didn't even bother to hide the sadness in his voice.

Rogue felt her heart constrict and hot tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Ah'm sorry."

"Don't be. You did the necessary. I only wish you'd saved me some." The hardness in his tone was bracing.

Rogue snorted softly, "So do Ah. Would've like ta watch."

Another long silence.

"So d'ya wanna go get pissed together? Sure we won't be in the same country, but we can leave the phone on."

She sighed. "Ah wish Ah could, Pete. Ah'm on an op."

Work. Something they always could and could not talk about. As safe a topic as they could get.

"How's it going?"

"Smells worse than four day fish. It's not enough that Bishop is in charge of it, but there's just something in mah gut that tells me there's something off."

He was all business, instantly protective. "Ya make sure you listen to your gut. Did you pick anything up to confirm the feeling?"

"They're not tellin' me all the information. They won't even tell me what the objective is. And they put me on spy duty."

A long silence.

"That ain't good, luv. Did you talk to Danvers about it?"

"Tried. She's avoiding meh. Won't even let meh run over mah options with her. She's stickin' ta Bishop's story. They won't even let me talk ta anyone alone. Something's very wrong."

"Listen 'ere and listen good," he said. "If you need anything, anything, you call me, do you understand?"

"Yes suh, Mr. Wisdom, suh!"

"I'm not playing, Rogue. She would kill me if anything happened to you."

The tears were back. She was not going to do this. She was not. Pete had enough to deal with without her grief.

"If Ah need anything, Ah'll call," she promised softly.

That silence again.

"Can Ah call any time?" Rogue teased in a weak attempt at a joke. She knew how much Pete hated being woken up.

He growled over the phone. "If you're prepared to deal with the consequences, mate."

Rogue sighed. "Ah've gotta go. Ah need at work out how Ah'm gonna accidentally bump into the target today."

"Accidentally bump into the target?"

She sighed again, embarrassed and irritated. But Pete would probably be amused…anything to help him out. "Yeah, they have me kinda datin' him."

He laughed like she hadn't heard him laugh in months. That was a good sign. "Who's bright idea was that?"

"Emma's."

"Figures," he snorted.

Then a genuine smile twitched over her lips, "Yeah, but ya know what, Pete? It was his idea first. Even after he knew about mah mutation, he still wanted me."

A different kind of silence.

"You like him, Rogue?"

"Ah…how can Ah, Pete? He's the target."

"Of an op that smells worse than four day old fish," he reminded her.

"True."

"So do ya like him?" He was impatient. Not like Kitty. He wouldn't wait for her to spill her guts. The very fact that he was asking twice was something rare.

"Ah…Ah don't know."

"That doesn't sound like the Rogue I know. The Rogue I know always knows exactly what she thinks of people."

She blew out an exasperated breath, "The Rogue ya know has never met anyone as frustratin' and confusin' as this Cajun."

A short pause, then "What's so frustrating about 'im?"

Rogue lay back on the bed. It was weird talking to Pete about this, today of all days. But she figured he was doing it for Kitty as much as he was doing it for her. Besides, interest wasn't wallowing, and she would do anything to help him out.

"Couple of things, really. For one, he keeps touching me. He's not scared of mah mutation at all, and he makes his interest very clear. For another, he's just so damn sure Ah want him. Not touch, but him. He's just so frickin' arrogant. But…"

"But?"

"He's got reason ta be. He's really good at what he does, Pete. Ah've got to respect him for that. Fights almost as good as me, too. Maybe better, if Ah was completely honest."

"You've fought the bloke?" he exclaimed. "I thought you were supposed to be dating 'im?"

She snorted. "Our first 'date,' he invited me to work out some frustrations on him. In a combat ring."

"I don't know if I like the man, or if I think he's bloody insane."

"Now ya know how Ah feel." Besides, his eyes turn mah knees ta water.

"And you're attracted to 'im?"

Rogue groaned, "Like a magnet, Pete. But ain't nothing gonna happen. Ah'm no one's conquest, an' mah gut tells meh that's all this is. B'sides, did we forget the fact that he's the frickin' target?"

"'We' did not forget that 'e was the target. But this is the first time I've ever known you to be confused about a person. That 'as to mean something, "

"Yeah, it means Ah'm losin' mah mind."

"Ya lost your mind ages ago, girl."

He was mocking her like he used to. That was a very good sign.

"So ya don't know if ya like 'im, and 'e's your target. What are you gonna do about it?"

Rogue sighed. "Ah haven't thought that far about it yet. When Ah'm with him, Ah'm not strategizing. He makes me react. It's all Ah can do to stay one step ahead of him."

"That's not like you, Rogue. Must be serious. Think about it: what are you going to do."

What am Ah gonna do? Ah hafta do something… Ah can't just let mahself be used.

"Ah guess…Ah'll find out more information an' make mah decision then."

"Ah, that's the Rogue I know and tolerate."

"Aw, Petey, ya're so sweet ya're givin' me cavities."

"So why don't ya start by giving me the bloke's name so I can get me mates workin' on it?"

"Was all this just ta get the name of the man aftah me, Mr. Wisdom?"

"Ya think I'm gonna go big brother on ya, luv?"

"Something like that, yeah."

"Well, in this case my intentions 'appen to be perfectly 'onorable. I just want to 'elp out a friend."

He sounded so devious. Gawd, it was good to hear him speak with some life in his voice.

"Remy LeBeau."

A beat of silence.

"Ya recognize the name, sugah?"

A dry chuckle. "Well, let's just say that I can understand your confusion a lot better now. We've run into each other a couple of times."

Rogue took a moment to digest that.

"And?"

"And what, Rogue?"

"And what do ya think about him, ya bloody Brit!"

"Rogue! Language!"

He was laughing at her. That was a very good sign. And if she wasn't so annoyed with him, she'd be grinning.

"Ya should talk, potty mouth."

"Potty--"

"Ah mean it, Brit. Talk. What do ya know about him?"

The pause of a heartbeat. "I know 'e's a 'eartbreaker who's used to getting anything 'e wants. I know 'e's a damn fine thief with a quirky sense of 'onor. I know that 'e's fiercely loyal to 'is friends and family. I know that your pushing 'im away has probably been good for 'im."

Rogue was impressed. "Don't know much about him, do ya?"

She could almost see his shrug. "I also know that if 'e hurts you, I'll rip out 'is 'eart. That 'elp?"

Rogue couldn't help but laugh. "Tremendously, Pete."

He sobered, "Listen, Rogue. I don't know why 'e's the target. 'e's been involved in some deep stuff, but not for a while. Make sure you find out all the information before you make a decision, OK?"

Rogue stilled. "Ya rootin' for him, Wisdom?"

"I'm rootin' for you, Rogue. I want you to know what Kitty and I 'ad. Love 'urts like the devil when you lose it," his voice cracked, "but crawling out of the pain is worth it. My time with Kitty is gonna get me through this time. I know it. Because I 'ad something that precious in my life once, I'm gonna be able to keep on living. You need that, Rogue. If LeBeau can give that to you, I want you to have it."

A very long silence. Rogue was stunned. Despite--or perhaps because--of how well she knew Peter Wisdom, Rogue never thought she'd hear him saying anything like that.

He must have loved her so much.

Rogue felt an iron hand clutch her heart and squeeze.

"Rogue, ya there?"

"Ah'm here, Pete. And Ah wish she was too." The words were out before she could think.

His voice clenched, he said "Me too, luv. Me too."

A short silence.

"I'll 'ave the boys put their ears to the ground."

"Thanks, Pete."

"I'm gonna go get pissed now. Call me if ya need anything."

"Knock yaself out."

"Oh, I intend to."

Click.

Still stiff and shocked, Rogue flipped her cell phone closed. She got up and walked over to the bathroom, clenching the sides of the sink so hard that her fingertips and knuckles turned white. She stared in the mirror a long time.

Then she let out a deep hard breath.

He wants me to know love like he had, even though he's hurting like this now. He thinks it's worth it. And he's looking out for me because Kitty would have wanted it.

Staring at her pale reflection in the mirror, Rogue took in the dark circles under her eyes.

Some of the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­grout on the side of the sink crumbled off because of her grip. It hit the floor and shattered.

Ah miss ya, Kit.

Rogue decided to go find a bar and get completely smashed.

AN: Sigh. I've had this written for ages. You have no idea how good--yet weird--it feels to post this. So yes. Kitty's dead. Will you ever find out why or how? Yes. "Today" is the three month anniversary of her death, and that's why Pete called Rogue and why Rogue wanted to avoid the day. I know, no Remy in this one. And I've been trying so hard to put them together in every chapter. But I think hearing her talk about him to Pete was a worthy substitute. Right?
Now, I know that Pete's at least five hours ahead of Rogue at this time, so technically he should be well on his way to being drunk already. But let's just say that he was out drinking last night too and slept in late, huh?
And for the record, I don't recommend drinking as a way to deal with problems. You just wake up with a hangover and all of the crap that you're running away from is still there staring you in the face. In this case, though, Rogue just wants to forget everything for a little while, she knows that she'll have to face stuff when she sobers up, but right now everything is going to hell in a hand basket (which is such a strange phrase) and she just wants to knock herself out for a while.
I extend humble thanks to melissaryxy1 for introducing me the character of Peter Wisdom through her story "Gaining Wisdom." I think he's Kitty's Remy.
I don't really have a favorite line in this one, but I do like the chapter title a whole lot! Grins. (Though now that I think about it, I kinda like: And lying in bed admiring Remy LeBeau's skills was not at all helpful.)

So, if you read and enjoy, please review and let me know! It makes it more fun to write!

Review Responses:

Kitrazzle Fayn, Lyrit Liltrick, and Chica--I missed your reviews!

addtothenoise
All will be revealed, I promise! …Eventually… lol. And what's this I see? An update on one of my favorite stories? Go you!
Eileen B.
Yay! I'm so glad you're sticking around. Stupid fan-fiction elves--I swear the steal my reviews after I post them on stories too…
Yes, Emma is evil and so she flaunts, but wasn't Remy cute to get upset about it? No, there's no way that Bella deserved her Cajun lover. Glad you liked his conversation with Henri, I wasn't quite sure if I was writing them right (do you know if Emil and Lapin are the same person? 'cause I'm not sure anymore…). But yeah, older brothers, sticking their noses in their younger brother's business…fun times. No, you didn't forget about what happened to Kitty, you just knew that she was missing…and now you know why. LOL, yes, I had fun having Rogue slam Emma and I'm glad that you enjoyed it too. (No, I don't much like her either. But maybe you could tell?)
I haven't seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and I want to, but I'm not going to be able to until it comes out on video because I promised a friend I would watch it with her and she's all busy and whatnot, so…but I'm guessing that comparison's a good thing?
Not having a sister, I can't really relate, but yeah, it's gotta stink for Rogue. I mean, you would think that life would just give her a break. Oh wait, I'm the one writing this aren't I? Man, I'm mean...
Heh, I'm glad you loved that line. It makes me laugh.
Enchanted light:
Thank you! Here's an update--short but sweet (hopefully).
bored247
Soon the time will come when I can't hide anything anymore. Then I just hope that the answers are worth the questions. Hope you enjoyed!
Roguechere
LOL, happy to oblige. And I'm glad you liked that line! It came out completely spur of the moment, and you may certainly use it--just please let me know so I can see it being put to good use! And :blush: thank you for your kind complement.
ishandahalf
:Grin: Thank you! Glad you're loving it. Heh, I had the beach scene in my head for ages and I was never entirely sure how it was gonna go--I thought they were gonna be all nasty to each other, but they surprised me.
So, yeah, Remy was upset, but not enough to get out of the game. Cause he was playing her like he plays every other 'conquest,' the only thing that really ticks him off is that somehow his heart was starting to look at Rogue with-gasp-respect and admiration, and not just for her obvious "assets." So at first he was all like 'I'm gonna break your heart on purpose" and then he decided that he was just going to keep his heart out of the game, but win her over anyway. He knows that when he leaves after doing that, he'll have broken it anyway, but he's just not doing it on purpose. Yeah, right. Whatever helps you sleep at night, bud. And you're right--it's become a bit more than a challenge for him--he's forming an attachment. He even half-way wanted to protect her from his own revenge. (Can we get an 'aww how sweet and twisted?')
Yes, so keep hoping. We're getting to the good stuff now. I think you're really gonna like these next few chapters…
Realtfarraige
Oh, thank you so much and welcome! I'm glad that you're enjoying it. Yeah, a kinetic energy force field, not bad for a made up story, huh? If only Rogue knew… :grins innocently: I hope you enjoyed this bit as well, sad as it is.
Rogue-Slayer13
Thank you! Hope you enjoy.
Fingers905
:Grin: Thank you for your review!
Cat:
LOL, why are you the only one who picked up on STRIP? I nearly died with cheesiness as I wrote that, man my awful sense of humor deserves some recognition, don't it? Lol, anyways, to clear up that touch thing: YOU know and I know and REMY knows that he touched her that night that they fought. But Rogue doesn't know, and Remy doesn't know how it happened. For all he knows, her powers don't work when she's unconscious. Then when Bishop calls and tells Rogue to absorb Remy, she knows that she has to take steps. She's not about to just hand over whatever information they wanted without knowing what they it for. She needs more time to figure out what's going on and what she's going to do. So she made up the whole "I can't absorb him" thing in order to buy herself more time.
Glad you liked that Murphy's Law bit, I'm sorry it has a soft spot for you. Stupid law.
Yes, I read your FIRES! Understandable and hilarious. Is this soon enough of an update to avoid an 'or else'?
Spicy Sweet
:Grin: My lips are sealed. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And answers are coming, soon, I promise. Thanks for reviewing and letting me know what you think!
wrapped in banana foil
Really you think so? Wow, cool. I'm really glad you liked it. Just a little more build up in this chapter before things come to a breaking point…
rubic-cube
Well, I'm glad that fate brought you my way! Grin! I'm very glad you're enjoying it, and hope that you continue to. Don't worry about Remy winning something against Rogue, I have a feeling that things will take care of themselves…after all, it's the biggest win of all if he can manage to get her, yes?

Completely unrelated to story note:
I know that FF is a place where we can go and forget the outside world, but since I'm posting this today, I can't help but want to express my sincere sympathy and prayers for those affected by the attacks in London. May God have mercy on you and us.