Returning to consciousness was slow, confusing, and downright painful. Gambit first became aware of sounds, penetrating the perpetual darkness that surrounded him. The whirring hiss of an air pump, the soft beeping of machinery, and then low voices, hushed conversations that were murmured around him. He drifted on the edge of consciousness; occasionally, he felt Professor Xavier touch his mind a couple of times, but he lacked the strength or presence of mind to answer the telepathic call.

Soon, he became aware of other physical sensations; the press of an oxygen mask against his face, the dull ache in his side, stomach and chest, indicating a pain waiting to crash over him were it not for the medicine he must be receiving, the crispness of the sheets he lay upon, the warmth of a blanket over his legs. He could feel the pinch of intravenous needles in the back of his left hand and the crook of his right elbow, no doubt feeding him vital fluids and medications.

Several times, he felt a gentle hand stroking his hair, and the cool press of a damp cloth against his face, head and chest when his fever peaked. Soon, he was able to identify some of the voices – Beast, Wolverine, Storm, Jean, Cyclops, but especially Rogue. She was a constant reassurance at his side, and eventually, after an eternity seemed to have crawled by, he summoned every ounce of strength he had, and tried to force his eyes open.

Blinking, slowly, he tried to bring the room into focus. Thankfully, the lights were dimmed, but even then he felt a spike of pain through his head as his eyes, unused to the light after being unconscious for so long, protested the sudden usage. He grimaced, blinked, and tried again. Emboldened by this success, he twisted, and tried to sit up; pain exploded through his side and stomach, and he cried out with the shock of it, hands automatically clenching to his wound. His cry caught in his chest, which triggered a coughing fit, which in turn only served to exacerbate the pain in his side.

"Easy, my friend, easy!"

Hank McCoy was large, blue blur at his side, materialising from nowhere, supporting him and easing him back onto the bed. Gambit felt, rather than saw, something tug on one of his intravenous lines, and then the strange sensation of an icy liquid being fed into his veins. Moments later, the agony faded to a nagging ache, and Beast helped him lean forwards a little, still coughing, gently patting his back to help him clear some of the fluid from his lungs. When he finished, he slumped back against the bed, gasping for breath. Hank adjusted the airflow on the oxygen tank and he drew in a shaky breath, blinking away involuntary tears.

Beast gradually came back into focus, and Gambit found himself looking at a toothy, fanged smile.

"It is good to see you awake, my friend," Beast told him, warmly, resting a furry, clawed hand on Gambit's bare shoulder, "you gave us all quite a scare... no, no, don't try to speak yet. I know you must have many questions, but for now you are alive, and that's all that matters. I will fetch you some ice chips, I have no doubt your throat will be extremely dry and sore. And while I am gone, I will summon Rogue – she will want to see you."

Beast very gently patted his shoulder and padded out of Gambit's limited visual range; Gambit leaned back against the pillows, unwittingly allowing his eyes to slip closed. When he reopened them; he felt his heart skip a beat. Rogue was sat at his beside, green eyes locked onto his, her white-and-brunette hair framing her delicate face, and her delighted smile, as he looked at her, warmed him in a way no fever ever could.

"Remy! Yer awake!"

He tried to speak, but the oxygen mask was in the way and his mouth tasted like glue; the effort of inhaling triggered another coughing fit. He felt her bare hands on his shoulders as she supported him, holding the mask in place even as he tried to pull it off.

"No, sugar, leave it, ya still need it," she told him, gently, "just breathe... that's it, honey, just breathe..."

Eventually, he managed to get his breathing back under control, and Rogue helped him remove the mask for a few moments, offering him a plastic cup with a straw.

"Here," she told him, "Beast said ya could drink some of this..."

Obediently, he sipped from the straw, and the icy water was probably the best thing he had ever tasted.

"Not too much now, don't wantcha ta start coughing again," Rogue removed the cup, and nestled the oxygen mask back over his nose and mouth, "how're ya feelin', sugar?"

"All de better for seein' you, chère," he croaked out, his voice hoarse from illness and lack of use.

"Still got a tongue made a' honey, ain't ya, swamp rat?" Rogue teased him, but he could tell his words had pleased her, "when you get outta that bed I'm gonna give ya such a hidin' for scarin' me like that!"

"Gambit sorry, chère," he whispered; even speaking seemed to drain what little energy he had, but he was determined to stay awake as long as possible, "I don' remember much, but do 'member de one t'ing... Gambit loves you..."

"Rogue loves you too, darlin'," she murmured, leaning in close, "Ah gotta go on a mission soon for the Professor. Ah didn't want to, not yet, but it's important, sugar. Ah've been waitin' days for ya ta wake up, jus' so I could do this..."

She gently lifted the oxygen mask away from his face, and placed a single, deep kiss on his lips. He returned the gesture, reaching up to clasp her face gently, stroking her cheek with his thumb, as she cradled his chin in her hand. It was the most physical contact she had ever experienced and she did not want it to end, but she could feel Gambit starting to tremble with the exertion, and his breath was coming in short, wheezing gasps. Reluctantly, she pulled back, sliding the oxygen mask back into place. His eyelids were already drooping, and she smiled at him tenderly.

"Get some sleep, sugar," she told him, softly, stroking his hair in a way that had become so familiar to her, "ah'll sit with ya awhile..."

He sighed with contentment, and drifted off to sleep under her tender touch. She smiled at his expression, then regretfully touched her collar. Reluctantly, she went to go and see Beast.

It was time to get her powers back.