Disclaimer: The disclaimer is trying to entice the plot bunnies to walk under the mistletoe with him. It's really sad, actually...
CHAPTER 10
Secrets and Sacrifice
"Get the hell outta my way!" Logan roared at the helpless teen that blocked his thunderous trek down the hospital corridor.
Startled and more than a little terrified, the teenaged boy tried to maneuver his wheelchair out of Logan's path and into the safety of the sidelines. Onlookers turned to stare at the commotion. They saw a trio of men racing toward the end of the hall, a mixture of fear and worry painted on their features.
Bursting into the emergency room, Logan grabbed the first person he saw wearing scrubs. She was a small brunette woman that barely reached the top of his chin. She matched his feral glare with one of her own, obviously not appreciating being manhandled in that fashion.
"Ororo Monroe," he barked, gripping the nurse's upper arms tightly. "Where is she?!"
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to calm - "
"I'll calm down when you start tellin' me what I want ta know!" Logan flexed his right hand, ready to unleash his claws as an intimidation tactic.
Remy jumped into the fray, recognizing the look in Logan's eyes for what it was. "Maybe," he said, squeezing himself in between his infuriated friend and the woman, "de mademoiselle is right, mon ami. Maybe you should calm down a bit."
"Stay out o' this, Cajun, before I slice yer guts out."
"You pop dem claws out here, homme, in a hospital, dey ain't never gonna let us see 'Ro." Remy could see that his words were sinking into Logan's thought process, however slow. He felt the other man back down slightly. Remy turned to address the nurse behind him. "We're lookin' f'r Ororo Munroe. We were told dat she was in a car accident."
"Are you family?"
"I'm her fiancé," Logan snapped impatiently.
She nodded, apparently use to hot-temped relatives. "I'll check her status at the nurse's station. It'll only take a minute."
"Merci, chère. 'Ppreciate it." Remy watched her walk off before addressing his friend. "Fiancé?"
"Got her ta check where 'Ro is, didn' I? Under the circumstances, I'm sure 'Ro wouldn't mind. Frankie," Logan called to the other man with them. "Did you talk ta Stripes?"
"Her cell was off, but I left a message. Told her what happened."
Logan nodded as the nurse returned with a patient chart in her hand.
"She came in a little over an hour ago. They stabilized her condition enough to rush her into surgery. She's on the fourth floor right now, surgical wing." The words had barely left her lips before the trio shot off in the direction of the elevators.
Logan couldn't believe how ridiculously slow the elevator appeared to be ascending. It felt like an eternity ticking by as he watched the lighted numbers flash from floor to floor. If he were honest enough with himself, he would admit that he was more than a little frightened. Still, at that moment, he preferred the warm comfort of a lie.
'Ro's fine, he thought to himself. She's a fighter - always has been. She's fine.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, they stepped off and immediately spotted Sam and Paige in the waiting area.
"Sam," Logan called, as they neared the pair. "What the hell happened?!"
The younger man shot to his feet as soon as he recognized Logan. His t-shirt was covered with dirt and sweat, and there was a bandage on his left hand.
"M-Mr. Logan, Ah'm sor- "
"What happened?!" Logan demanded briskly.
"It was a drunk driver," Paige piped up from her seat next to Sam. Her blonde ponytail was messily coming out of its confines, and her clothes were also streaked with dirt. "Ms. Ororo came ta pick us up an'... a truck came out o' nowhere."
Sam nodded. "We were loadin' the car an' we heard tires squealin'. Before we knew it, Ms. Ororo shoved us out o' the way." He looked down, as if ashamed. "Everythin' happened so fast. When we looked up, Ms. Ororo was pinned between her car an' the pick-up truck."
Paige let out a sob, and Sam settled back down into his seat to console her. "She was still awake!" Paige wailed. "She was askin' if Sam an' me were okay. Ah-Ah don' think she really understood what had happened..."
"Logan!" a voice nearly screamed from behind them.
They turned and saw Rogue racing down the hall toward them, Bobby not far behind.
"Where is she?! Ah want ta see her!" She was about to charge through the double doors that clearly stated 'No Visitors Beyond This Point,' when Logan looped an arm around her waist and pulled her back. "Let me go!"
"Easy, darlin'... easy," her brother cooed in her ear. "She's in surgery right now. We can't see her."
To anyone else, it would have seemed strange to witness Logan's sudden change in demeanor. Not even two minutes before, he had been ready to tear the hospital apart, needle by needle. But as soon as his baby sister needed him, he was automatically transformed into a strong, authority figure.
"What happened?" Rogue asked, echoing her brother's earlier question. "Frankie's message said she was in a car accident..." As the details were relayed to her, more worry and fear crept onto her features. "Is she gonna be okay?" she whispered.
Logan smoothed a hand over her cinnamon tresses. "We don' know yet, darlin'. We're jus' gon' have ta wait."
"The nurse told us that it might be a while," informed Paige. "Ms. Ororo jus' went inta surgery about an hour ago."
Frank put a hand on Logan's shoulder, causing the older man to turn slightly. "I'll run down to the cafeteria and get us all some coffee."
Logan nodded, and then gently steered Rogue into a seat opposite Sam and Paige. Remy settled down onto a chair not too far away.
"'Ro's a fighter. She's gonna be fine," Logan stated, hoping that putting his earlier thoughts into words would somehow make them come true.
- oOo -
"Are you the family of Ororo Munroe?"
Rogue rubbed the last remnants of sleep from her eyes and looked up at the strong voice that had spoken. Her gaze met a seasoned man wearing green scrubs and a loosened surgical mask around his neck. She tried to gauge the expression he wore, but for the life of her couldn't determine if the news he was about to deliver was either good or bad. The doctor's demeanor did nothing to appease the lump that had been lodged in her throat for the past five hours.
"Yeah, we are," her brother answered for them, rising from his seat beside her.
"My name is Doctor Reynolds. I'm the surgeon in charge of Ms. Munroe's case."
Logan stepped forward to shake hands. "How is she, doc?"
Dr. Reynolds looked worn and tired as he removed the medical cap from atop his head. "We were able to stabilize her condition." He was quick to interrupt the sighs of relief that had broken throughout the room. "She's not out of the woods yet," he stated. "There's extensive damage to her spine and nervous system, and a number of other vital organs were affected as well: her heart, liver and kidney. Our biggest concern at this point is any possible neurological damage that she may have sustained, but there is no way for us to know the extent until she regains consciousness."
Rogue paled at the news. "Do y'all have any idea when that'll be?" she asked quietly.
Dr. Reynolds turned to face her. "No, I'm sorry, we don't." For a moment, he lowered his gaze. "I'm afraid she's in a coma."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
"I don't want you to lose hope," the doctor continued. "She's doing well - "
"What are you not telling us, doc?" Logan interrupted. "Don' sugarcoat it fer us. Jus' hit us with the truth."
Dr. Reynolds recognized the no-nonsense attitude in the other man, and sighed. Relaying bad news to family members had always been a difficult task. It was a delicate mixture of sustaining their hope, while still keeping them grounded with the ugliness of reality.
"At the moment, her chances are not that great," he answered honestly. "Because of the coma, we can't accurately gauge the full extent of her injuries. Right now, she's in the ICU, and we're monitoring her closely. If she pulls through the night, we have better hopes for her recovery."
Logan looked him square in the face. "Are we talkin' fifty-fifty here?"
Dr. Reynolds sighed once again. "More like thirty-seventy." He looked defeated. "I'm sorry. I wish I had something better to tell you."
"Can we see her?" asked Rogue, rising to her feet.
He nodded. "The ICU will only let one person in at a time, and I'm sorry, but I can only allow one or two of you to visit with her tonight. Allowing her to rest and heal is top priority right now. We'll keep you posted on her progress."
"Thanks, doc," Logan said, before Dr. Reynolds turned to walk away. A small sob escaped from Rogue's lips, and he wrapped his arms around her frame. "It'll be okay, darlin'. She'll pull through."
"You don' know that, Logan," she cried into his shoulder. "You heard what th' doctor said! She's hurt bad!"
"'Ro's a tough chick," Bobby piped in. "If anyone can get through this, she can."
Rogue lifted her head. "Logan..."
"No," he answered, without the need to look at her or even ask her to complete the thought.
"But - "
"No." His voice was stern and definite.
"Ah can help."
"I said no."
She pushed away from him. "Yoah gonna let her die? When Ah can do somethin' about it?!"
"She ain't gonna die."
"You don' know that!"
"Sam, what's goin' on?" Paige whispered to her brother. "What're they fightin' about?"
Before Sam could answer, Rogue threw out, "Ah can help save 'Ro."
"No, you can't." Logan's voice held firm.
Remy looked from one sibling to the other. "What're you talkin' 'bout, chère? How can you help 'Ro?"
Rogue could visibly see the unyielding 'no' lurking in Logan's eyes. She knew it would take a lot to persuade him to allow her to help. Ororo meant the world to her brother - to both of them, actually - and Rogue knew that there wasn't a better reason than that. She took a shaky breath. "Ah can transfer Logan's healin' factor inta Ororo."
"Quoi? [What?]" Remy asked, unsure if he heard correctly. "You can what...?"
"Ah can absorb Logan's power, an' then transfer it ta 'Ro, ta help her heal."
"Yer power doesn't work that way," interjected Logan, pointing a finger at his sister. "That was jus' an idea you got when you were a kid, but you can't actually do it."
"Ah can try!"
"The last time you tried, you almost died!" Logan barked, the topic finally getting under his skin. "I said no, Rogue, an' I meant it." He turned on his heel. As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over. "I'll be in the ICU."
Rogue watched her brother walk down the corridor and then turn the corner. O' all th' stubborn-ass things - she fumed.
She could help Ororo. She knew that she could. The last time she tried to transfer powers was when she was fourteen years old. Seven years had passed since then, and she had a better understanding of how her powers worked. She was confident that she could do it. She had to do it. The alternative was not an option she was willing to consider.
- oOo -
"A lot of friends and family believe that the patients can still hear them, even when they're sleeping like this," the nurse informed Logan, as she straightened the sheets around Ororo. She delicately avoided the word 'coma' in the hopes that her patient's visitor wouldn't lose faith. "You might want to talk to her like you usually would. It helps."
He nodded stiffly and mumbled, "Thanks." He watched silently as the nurse continued to fix the tubes and wires that were connected to Ororo. She scribbled one final note onto the metallic chart, and then left the room.
Logan hated hospitals; never really had any need of them, actually. His healing factor had always taken care of any scrapes or pains that normally would have needed medical attention. There was just something about the sterile scent of antiseptic and death that sent chills up his spine.
Fer 'Ro, he thought, as he pushed the uncomfortable feeling to the recesses of his mind.
He trailed a hand over the top sheet that covered three-fourths of the bed. The texture was soft and woolen underneath his fingertips. He tried to concentrate on that sensation, rather than the painful pressure that was currently pushing on his heart.
"Yer gonna be fine, darlin'," he whispered, finally focusing his gaze to the head of the bed.
Ororo's eyes were closed and she looked like she was simply resting. He wanted to kiss the spot just below her ear - the spot he had found where she was very ticklish - and wake her up. He wanted to see her bright blue eyes staring up at him. Maybe see them fade into silver, as she used her power to get back at him for waking her up so cheekily.
"You gotta wake up fer me, 'Ro." He leaned down to stroke her hair. "You gotta prove me right, babe. Don' you go make a liar outta me, you hear? I've been tellin' all o' 'em out there that yer gonna be fine. You know how I hate bein' wrong 'bout things.
"The kid... she's really worried 'bout you. She's gettin' all kinds o' ideas in her head 'bout her transferrin' my power ta you, ta get you healed up. You an' me both know she can't do that. You gotta wake up an' tell her how nuts she is fer even thinkin' that shit."
He leaned down further to rest his forehead against hers. "You gotta pull outta this, Ororo... please."
- oOo -
Remy pushed open the rooftop door and let the cool air assault him. It was a welcome jolt, stronger than the weak coffee Frank had been sold at the cafeteria. He closed his eyes and let the night sounds wash over him. His head jerked slightly to the left, as his ears picked up the soft scuffing he had been looking for. He moved in that direction until he came across the source.
"Been out here by ya lonesome f'r a while now, chèrie. Was gettin' worried 'bout you."
Rogue turned, and Remy could see the anxiety etched clearly on her face. "How'd you find me?"
"Not many places you can hide beautiful t'ings from a t'ief, you know." He came up behind her and wrapped the trench coat he was wearing snuggly around them both. "I'm here f'r you, mignonne. Anyt'in' you need."
"Ah need you ta talk ta Logan fo' me. Convince him that it's 'Ro's best chance o' gettin' better."
He paused, uncertain. "Can you really do dat, t'ough? Can you really absorb Logan's healin' factor, an' give it t' 'Ro?"
"Yes," she said, confidently. Maybe if she could get Remy to believe her, he could help persuade Logan. Turning in his arms, Rogue looked up at him. "Please, Remy... Ah know you an' me have been fightin' lately - "
"Shh, chèrie. Dat don' matter now."
"Ah don' want 'Ro ta die, Remy." Her voice sounded so small to him. "Ah don' want her ta die..."
"Ahem."
The couple started, and turned. Bobby was standing a few feet away. Remy quickly moved to disentangle himself from Rogue, but the younger man held up a hand to stop him.
"It's okay, Remy. I know about you two."
The Cajun quirked an eyebrow at that statement.
"Long story," said Bobby, as he came closer. "Frank's gonna drive Sam and Paige back to the house. The pair of them look terrible, but it doesn't look like they'll leave unless we force them to go." He gestured back to the door with his shoulder. "One of the nurses said Dr. Reynolds would be back soon for an update on 'Ro's condition. Thought you might want to be there for that."
Rogue smiled weakly. "Thanks, Bobby." She turned to Remy. "You'll talk ta Logan fo' me, right?" She waited for him to nod before turning to leave. "Y'all comin'?"
"Right behind you," Bobby answered, lingering until he saw her disappear back into the hospital. He stopped Remy before the other man could follow. "I don't know what's she's told you, Remy, but Rogue can't do what she says she can."
"What're you talkin' 'bout, homme?"
"Logan was telling the truth. It was just an idea she got in her head when we were younger."
Remy frowned. "She jus' told me dat she could."
"She tried it once... before." Bobby looked away. "Their parents were in a boating accident while vacationing up north, an explosion of some kind. There wasn't anything the doctors could do. It was just a matter of time. I was in the waiting room when Rogue screamed. I think she must have grabbed Logan's hand suddenly, trying to move his power into her mother. Because when I got to the room, Logan was unconscious on the floor and Rogue was slumped over her mom.
"She was barely breathing, and her heart stopped seven times while they were working on her, but the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her. Medically, she was fine. She just wouldn't come to."
"How long was she like dat?"
Bobby sighed. "Almost a month. She didn't get the chance to go to her parents' funeral because she was confined to the hospital." He shook his head sadly. "'Ro's like a second mom to Rogue."
Remy ran a hand through his hair, and exhaled sharply. "Dat explains why she's so hell-bent on doin' dis again. She doesn't want t' lose 'Ro like she lost her parents."
"Exactly," the younger man agreed. "We all know how she can get when she sets her sights on something. She's as stubborn as Logan - maybe even more so."
A distant look crept into Remy's eyes. "But what if we're all wrong, mon ami? What if Rogue can transfer someone else's power, an' we let 'Ro die 'cause we were too damn scared t' let her try?"
Ahh, aren't you all lucky? No signature cliffhanger in sight! ;)
