Chapter 15

"Logan!" Beast grabbed him and broke the connection between the two.

He lifted him on the next available bed and looked at the three patients, "I'm afraid the Professor is going to be none too pleased about the current situation. Especially since he specifically told Rogue not to try that maneuver."

Jean checked Rogue's thermometer and let out a breath, "Nevermind that, Beast, her temp's coming down. How's Logan?"

"He's alive, barely. However with his healing abilities, I believe he should recover. He didn't absorb any of the fever, that was a one way drain. I wish they would have warned us before performing a stunt like this." Dismay hung heavy in his voice.

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"Whoa, what happened?" Rogue lifted her head and looked around the room.

"You stay put, young lady. Don't you dare get out of that bed! You've been out for a couple of hours."

"But Ah feel fine, Beast." However as Rogue sat up, she wavered a bit then plunked back down, "Well maybe just a few more minutes."

Beast glared at his patient, "I'm not the kind that says 'I told you so' but 'I told you so.'"

She looked over at Scott, "Did it help?

"I'm not sure Rogue. He still has a very high fever. Although it is lower, I'm not sure if it was because of you or because he went for a swim in ice water. We may have to wait a little longer to find out."

"Man, who dropped the truck on my head?" grumbled Wolverine. He lifted a hand to his face.

Jean scowled at him, "That'll serve you right Logan for pulling that. You could've gotten yourself killed."

"Is she ok?"

Rogue smiled over at him, "Ah'm just fine, Suga'. That was a dangerous but noble thing y'all did for me. Ah sure do appreciate it."

"Well, why d'ya do that to Cyc? Dontcha think that was a bit dangerous yourself? You absorb his sickness, but you don't have my healin' powers."

"Ah dunno. Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

All eyes turned to the door as Charles, Storm and Jubilee entered.

Charles' face was red with anger, "What the hell do you think you were doing! It's bad enough to have one X-Man sick and dying. I don't need THREE! I told you earlier Rogue that I didn't want you to try that. And did it work?"

Jean started to answer, "We're not sure…"

"Of course not! If you thought about it you'd realize that you absorb powers. That's energy, not organisms. The infection in his body is from micro-organisms, bacteria attacking his system. You very well could have killed him instead of help him. You robbed him of the energy he needs to heal. What were you thinking!"

None of them ever remember the Professor yelling at this pitch before.

He pounded his chair with his fist. All in the room stood in silence, looking to the floor like little children under the scolding.

Hank tried to change the subject, "What did you find out about the shooting?"

"Once everyone is up on their feet, providing they GET up on their feet, with the exception of Scott, we will all meet in the War Room to discuss it. But I'm in no mood now to go over this. Before you try anymore hairbrained ideas, you run it past me first."

Charles turned to leave the room, stopped, then reversed. His face had softened a bit. "By the way, Jean, how is Scott?"

Jean and Hank looked at each other. They had told Storm what Rogue and Logan did, but did not elaborate with Scott's mid-winter's swim.

"Professor, why don't you freshen up? That will give us some time to see if Rogue had any affect on Scott's condition."

Charles, looking like he has just aged 10 years in the last five minutes left the room. Storm went over and stood between the beds that Rogue and Logan occupied. Jubilee went over to Scott and was horrified at the lack of color in his face. She looked to Jean, "Has he gotten worse?"

Jean looked at the young girl, hesitated, then told her what happened.

"NO SHIT!" She exclaimed.

No one bothered to correct her language. Upon hearing the news, Storm looked to Jean, "You should have told Xavier."

"I will. The timing just wasn't right. I don't ever remember Charles being that angry."

"I can't say that I blame him really. You know how deeply he cares for all of us. I could hear it in his voice when you two were stuck in DC, how badly he wanted to come home and search for Scott and Jubilee." After answering Jean, Storm looked to the newest patients, "…and how are you two doing?"

"I'm ready t'get outa this joint, but…"

"…but I won't let him," finished Beast as he placed a large, powerful hand on Logan's shoulder.

"Same here. Swamp Rat's guarding me like a junkyard dog."

Storm looked to Remy who was holding Rogue's gloved hand, "From the sound of it, you should be in bed as well."

"Who? Me? Remy jest fine. Got plenty o' energy t'spare."

Storm went over to Scott, and placed her hand on his. "I have the powers to command Mother Nature, the most powerful force known but there is nothing that can do to help heal him."

"Well, I got plenty t'help him with if only I could get my powers into him."

Hank looked at Logan, brow furrowed in deep thought, then he bolted into his lab.

All the X-Men in the room looked in his direction, confusion marked each of their faces.

Logan spoke first, "What's that all 'bout? All I said was I wished I could give Cyc my powers. Then Beast bolted outa here like his britches was on fire."

Jean's face brightened and she left the group following Hank.

"Ok, what do they'all know that we don't?" chirped Rogue.

Remy just shrugged.

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Storm knocked on Xavier's door.

"It's open."

She stepped into the office and found Charles staring out the window at the stark grey day. "Professor…"

"It doesn't take psychic ability to know what you're thinking, Ororo. I didn't lose my temper because they disobeyed me. I lost it because I care so deeply for each and everyone of them."

"They know Professor. They sent me here to let you know that both Rogue and Wolverine are completely back to normal."

"And Scott?"

"I'm afraid you were right that Rogue only absorbed energy. There is no change. His fever is still raging out of control."

"You know, I appreciate what she did. She showed what lengths she would go to, to help a fellow X-Man. But if Logan wasn't around, if he didn't do what he did, we could have lost her."

There was a long uncomfortable silence before she spoke again, "I will take my leave and get back to the sick room now."

"Before you go Storm. Can you tell me what that hole in the middle of the frozen lake is doing there?"

"Hmm, Professor. I think it best if one of the others explained that to you."

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A short while later Hank emerged from his lab and cried, "Eureka!" A beaming Jean followed closely behind.

"Scott's blood type is AB positive, a universal recipient. And I just did a quick test with Logan's blood type and there is no rejection."

Jubilee cocked her head, "So?"

Bursting with her own excitement, Jean answered, "It means that we can transfuse some of Wolverine's blood into Scott. Hopefully some of the healing powers would transfer too."

"I think before we go any further, we should call Charles."

"I heard, Storm. Thank you." Charles looked at Hank and Jean as he entered the room, "What are the negatives?"

"The worst that could happen is that it doesn't work. Logan would be no worse for wear, other than down a quart and Scott would not have improved."

"And what if Scott reacts to Logan's blood?"

"I have just performed extensive Blood Bank test, including Coombs, both direct and indirect. There was no agglutination whatsoever.

"We have nothing to lose, Professor," Jean pleaded.

Charles sat quiet for a while, deep in thought. "Logan, are you willing to do this?"

"Hey, Cyc and me have our differences, but that don't mean I want 'im to die. Besides, there's no danger to me, so yeah, I'm ready whenever they are. Eeewwwww, I hate needles."

Charles closed his eyes. After a couple of agonizing minutes, he opened them, "Ok. Perform the procedure."

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Seated in the War room, Charles looked at each person there. "I thought that we could discuss what we've found while we wait to hear about Scott's condition.

"Well, Ah don't think it's Sinister. Ah had a little, uh, discussion with Ruckus and he'all didn't seem t'know anything about it."

"Ruckus?" Remy looked at her incredulously. "Chere, how did ya get him t'talk without blowin' ya away?"

"Ah put a sock in it. Well actually, a dirty rag. As soon as Ah saw 'im, I shoved it down his throat. Took off mah gloves and gave 'im a little southern lesson in manners. Then he was all willin' to talk nice t'me. But he didn't know nuthin' about anythin'. Ah don't believe they did it."

Rogue looked sheepishly in the direction of Charles, "Uh, Professor, y'all might get a bill from that bar. Ah didn't quite get the hang of that shoutin' stuff."

Gambit burst into a side splitting laugh.

A voice from the doorway asked, "What's so funny?"

All eyes turned to the newest arrival.

"Logan! How did it go? Any news? How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine Professor. Jean and Beast are still workin' on Cyc. We're not sure yet if it worked or not. So now, what's so funny?"

"Ah'll tell you later, Suga."

"Well, Remy hit a dead end, too. Calisto don't know nuthin' about an attack on Cyclop's plane."

"Howarya so sure?" Logan asked.

"Gambit got real close to dat Morlock leader. She spilled all da beans under Remy's spell and Cajun charm."

Rogue's face turned bright red, "Why you Swamp-Rat, you slept with that bitch!"

"Now, Petit, t'was all in da line of duty. The sacrifices Gambit makes's never appreciated."

As she went to throw her mug at him, Charles intervened, "Now Rogue. Let's hear how Logan faired."

"Da Friends of Humanity didn't do it. I became all buddy-buddy with one drunk bastard. He was spillin' the bean 'bout everything. Didn't know nuthin' about nuthin'. But Professor, he did tell me of a few other things they was planning against mutants. I think we'll need to address that. Give them a little welcome party, if ya know what I mean."

"Do we have time?" Xavier said with a concerned look.

"Yeah, their first plan ain't for a couple more weeks. Trust me, the way that guy hated mutants, even if he knew someone else did it, he would've wanted to take credit for it."

Charles looked at his X-Men, "I expected as much. Storm, did you do a follow up?"

"Yes Professor. And you were correct."

"Well, don't keep us all in suspense, Storm. What did y'all find?"

Storm was unable to answer as Beast and Jean entered into the War Room.

Jubilee stood, eyes wide with question, "Did it work? Is he going to be alright?"

"His fever broke…"

Before Jean could add anything else, Jubilation jumped for joy shooting off a mild burst of fireworks. Logan slapped the table, a grin splitting his face. Charles looked down, his expression almost unreadable, but Jean could feel his relief. The rest of the team expressed their joy in various ways.

The professor looked at the pair standing in the doorway, "There's more isn't there?"

Beast spoke this time, "Professor. Scott had been suffering an intense fever. Fevers this hot tend to cause brain damage. Unfortunately, we won't know until he wakes up. If he wakes up."

"I thought you just said he would be alright?"

With compassion in her eyes, Jean looked to Jubilee, "I just said his fever had broken. I didn't have a chance to continue."

The young girl looked down. She had been through so much, carried such weight, it was the final straw. She ran from the room in tears. As Jean went to follow, Charles spoke up, "Leave her be. She needs to let it out. She needs a good cry, alone."

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There was a light tap on the door. So light that Jubilee didn't hear it at first, until it was followed by, "Jubie, they want you in the sick room."

She pushed herself off the bed and quickly dried her face with the back of her sleeve. A glance in the mirror revealed puffy, bloodshot eyes. "I can't go down looking like this."

She splashed water on her face at the sink, patting it dry. Studying her face once again she wrinkled her nose at her reflection. She pouted her bottom lip, "This will have to do."

She entered an almost deserted room, the lights were turned low. But there was no mistaking that Scott was sitting up in bed. She knew he was looking at her through his tinted glasses.

Jubilee pounced on him, nearly knocking him over, "You're alright! No permanent damage from the fever?

He shook his head, "All better."

Jubilation's face just about exploded with joy.

"I think I owe it all to you too. If you hadn't…"

"Scott, it was Wolverine who saved your life. He gave some of his blood to you."

"I know that's what broke the fever. But Jubi, if it weren't for you, I never would have made it out of the desert alive." He reached for her, pulling her towards him and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

She looked around and found that everyone had given the two of them privacy, "Uh Cyclops, I need to tell you something, I need…"

Charles entered the room, "You're awake. Wonderful."

"Hi, Professor."

"How do you feel, Scott?"

He watched Jubilee slip back, "Like I was in the pocket of someone's jeans going through several wash and dry cycles. I'm wiped. But, I'm alive and on my way to recovery. Thanks to a very special young lady." He nodded towards the teen who looked like she was trying to blend into the wall.

"I stopped in to tell you what we found out. I've told everyone else already, but you were still unconscious."

Scott's face furrowed, "So, who did this to Jubes and me?"

Charles looked at the pale face of his ground commander, "No one."

His jaw dropped, "What do you mean 'no one'?"

"Several decades ago, the government set up automatic defense systems throughout the country when the possibility of invasions from other countries loomed. They were supposed to have all been dismantled 10 years ago. They missed one. In a way, we did a great favor to many people both humans and mutants alike. It was a time bomb waiting to happen to any aircraft that ventured low enough into the airspace to trigger the defense mechanism. If any commercial flight was at the right altitude, they would have been shot from the sky. As it was, Scott, you triggered it by giving Jubilee a flying lesson and telling her to descend when you did."

Scott just shook his head, "Unbelievable! Did you knock 'em out?"

Jubilee started beaming again, "Yeah. Professor let me do it! I really wanted to just blow 'em to smithereens, but I decided to simply put them out of commission."

Charles continued, "They will be of no use to anyone now. I spoke to the President who will ask for a review of all the sites to make sure there are no more active guns. A lot of people owe their lives and thanks to you two. Scott, I want you to get some rest now. We can handle everything else here."

As he turned to leave, he heard Charles ask, "Does anyone know about the hole in the middle of the lake?"

The end.