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Yay! Thanks for all the nice reviews guys. I don't suck after all. Well, decide for yourselves after reading this chapter.

Chapter 4

Remy drummed his fingers on the desk as he waited impatiently for the background he wanted. The Thieves' Guild had an extensive network – very useful and necessary for their kind of business. Not that Rogue had made it easy. Without a last name, or first, for that matter, he had used an indirect route to get to her. He was after all a thief, so he proceeded with the most logical course of action. Knowing that Kitty was with Piotr, he had silently helped himself into her room. Call it a precaution, but he had booked single rooms for the women. Rifling though her bags, he had found something useful: a small sachet containing her passport. As far as jobs go, this was like taking candy from a baby. Katherine Pryde, age 18. A satisfied grin on his face, Gambit set to work.

He couldn't help but think about his conversation with Rogue. He wasn't used to being turned down, especially after making it clear that he was seriously interested in her. Uncertainty on how next to approach a woman was definitely new territory. For the umpteenth time, he tried to ignore the part of his mind cautioning him against going any further with this. Forget about her, leave now for New Orleans, and call Scott en route tomorrow morning. Make that this morning. It was already after one.

Lost in his thoughts for a while, he finally noticed the words Download Complete flashing on the monitor. Enfin. At first, he had eagerly skipped through the files, but by this time he was beginning to get bored. He knew that Katherine's father had died when she was very young, her mother only recently. She did ballet and gymnastics for years, and had an affinity for pink lip gloss, low rise jeans, and flip flops. However he had found nothing linking her to Rogue. Hmmm. Rogue had mentioned that the two had known each other for a long time. Maybe he wasn't looking back far enough. Switching tactics somewhat, he looked into Kitty's parents. Her mother had been the personal assistant of former Senator, Owen Chase. He found a photograph from a newspaper article dated several years earlier of a petite brunette standing beside the smiling senator. Something about him was familiar, only Remy couldn't place what that was exactly. Frowning slightly, he started a new search. Owen Chase had served in the military before running for political office in Mississippi; his wife Priscilla died a few months after giving birth to their only child, a daughter, Anna-Marie Justine Chase. He came across another photo of Owen; the resolution was much higher than the last. Remy found himself looking into a pair of very familiar green eyes.

Remy cursed loudly in his native tongue, as he got up and began pacing the length of his room. Fumbling through the pockets of his long brown trench coat, he found the pack of cigarettes he was looking for. His Rogue was Anna Chase; daughter of the man who, along with Graydon Creed, legislated Mutant Registration. No, that was their term; legal slavery was what he called it. What could she be doing here? Dumb question. It was obvious. He couldn't believe he had been that gullible, that stupid. The whole time he was playing at romance, he had let the enemy into their world. No doubt that had been her plan all along. It all began to make sense. The SCF officers had been a set-up. Gain their trust, get inside, and destroy the resistance from the inside, from the top down. To think that he had been afraid Piotr would give up information to Kitty, when it was he that had let his guard down, and almost let the team down. Remy crushed his cigarette in the tray on the nightstand. Anna was in for a big surprise if she thought she could take him down.

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Anna knew something was amiss when she woke up. She pretended to be asleep as she felt someone approaching her in the darkness. When the figure reached over her, she put her hands on his face, absorbing his energy. Piotr slumped over her, comatose, as his memories and powers flowed through her.

For several years after first gaining her powers, she had been unable to control them. Any skin to skin contact would result in that individual becoming unconscious for a short while, or put in a coma, possibly even die, depending on the length of contact. She would feel the memories as though they were her own; she would lose herself and become the person she touched. After a while, she would be back in control, but the psyches she took remained in her mind, always talking. She had felt as though she were losing her mind, with so many personalities residing in her head. She had almost gone crazy. But now, after a long, difficult process of learning how to use it to her advantage, she could turn her power on and off at will, and had learned how to process the memories she absorbed, able to distance herself from the memories as they played in her mind.

Thanks to Piotr, she now knew that Remy and Scott were standing around somewhere, waiting for Piotr to restrain her. A repeat of the procedure they used earlier on Kitty. What she hadn't counted on was Gambit's acute sight in the dark. His voice rang out clearly.

"Don't try anything! If you want Kitty left in one piece."

The light suddenly came on, as Scott found the light switch. For a moment, the light was blinding, and Anna found herself blinking until her eyes readjusted. Kitty's hands were restrained, and there was a power suppression collar around her neck. Remy was standing behind Kitty, one hand at her collarbone.

Anna realised it was hard to look intimidating in her position. She was still on the bed, sitting up, her feet dangling over the edge. "I thought you of all people would be opposed to using collars" She looked accusingly at Scott Summers.

"More judgemental than I would have expected from a traitor to her own kind" Remy countered angrily, his eyes glowed eerily.

"My 'kind'? Murdering thieves aren't my kind, Cajun" She spat out.

"What do you mean, Rogue? We just want some answers. You won't be hurt as long as you tell us the truth." Scott spoke calmly.

"Right. That's why my friend is being held hostage, and I was outnumbered and accosted in my room." Anna crossed her arms defiantly.

"I'm not a patient man. You should be happy you aren't dead after your little deception. Mais, I guarantee that if you don't cooperate, you will wish you were dead when I'm through."

Piotr was starting to come to. He groaned slightly, holding his head. Scott supported him as he tried to stand.

Anna couldn't believe she had ever thought Gambit was attractive. Had she been easily intimidated, she would be quivering right now, but she didn't back down under his glare. Kitty on the other hand looked terrified, although to her credit, she hadn't said anything. Anna felt guilty. She wasn't sure how to proceed now. She was willing to risk her own life, not Kitty's. If her friend had not been in danger, she believed she would have had a reasonable chance of taking the men out. If only Pietro had come when he was supposed to.

There was a knock on the door. They all looked warily at the door, before Scott motioned them into the bathroom. Another knock came. "Rogue?"

"Get rid of him, or else." Remy hissed in her ear. Instead of following the others into the bathroom, he stood by her bed as she walked toward the door and opened it.

"Pietro, It's good to see you." Her voice was flat as she greeted him.

"Let'sforego the pleasantries, Rogue. Where is Gambit?" He looked beyond her, into the room. Pietro was obviously impatient to enter, but Rogue stood blocking the way, one hand on the door.

"You're too late."

"Damn it, Rogue. You just let him leave."

"I can only do so much. I can't do your job as well as mine. Besides, as I said, he had company."

"Is there a reason we're having this conversation in the lobby."

She paused momentarily before stepping aside to let the silver-haired young man in. She wondered briefly where Gambit had disappeared to.

"Did you recognise the others with him? What happened? You were supposed to stay with him, until we could get to you." He was clearly irritated.

Anna poured herself a glass of water, and turned to face Pietro once more. She had to do something to keep from shaking. The feeling that she was in over her head was growing inside her. She tried to look nonchalant while she quickly thought up a plausible excuse.

"No. He got a phone call and said something came up and he had urgent business to attend to, in Seattle. He took my number and promised to call me. As soon as he does, I'll let you know." She tried to sound confident as the lie came to her lips. Pietro's cool eyes surveyed her. Did he buy it, she wondered? Could he tell from there how fast her heart was beating?

"How can you be so sure?"

"Contrary to popular opinion, I'm not entirely without charm." She shrugged. "Where are the others?"

"I left Wanda and Avalanche downstairs, near the front entrance. I thought it best to be discreet. Father will be very disappointed."

"I don't give a damn how Magneto feels."

Pietro chuckled. "You disappeared so soon after the ceremony. When I hadn't heard from you, I started to worry that you weren't handling things well."

"Well, as you can see, I'm just fine." Anna set her glass down with a thud.

"Yes. You look as beautiful as I remember." His eyes roamed over her. Anna felt nauseated by his interest. She usually avoided being alone with him, for that reason. To make things worse, she was intensely aware of the four people listening to their conversation.

"Don't even think about it." She warned him as he stepped closer to her.

"Ah, so the lady prefers older men. No need to be so…unfriendly, Anna. I merely thought we could help each other through a difficult time. You know, if Joseph hadn't beat me to it, you and I would be engaged, not the other way around."

"What makes you think I would have said yes to you?" Her voice dripped with disdain.

"What makes you think you're desires would have anything to do with it. I approached your father. He knows the political significance of a good match, even if you don't. Too bad that weakling got to him before I did. But now it seems I have another chance."

"I'm feeling kinda drained. It's been a long day." Rogue walked over to the door and opened it.

Pietro smiled "Always so blunt. Its one of the things I admire about you. Now about Gambit - "

"Look Quicksilver, it was a terrible ordeal having to endure the man's presence. I already told you everything I know. There's nothing I want more than to move on with my life and forget this whole thing ever happened. I told you I will contact you when I hear from him."

"Seattle, you said."

"That's all I know."

"Fine. I'll see what I can find." He strode through the door. "I'll see you soon, Anna." She locked the door behind him.

"I'm flattered."

Anna twirled around to find Remy leaning casually against the closet.

"Magneto sent his own children to take care of Gambit personally. You're a brilliant actress, chère. But then, I already knew that." He added mockingly.

"This had gone far enough" Scott cut in. "If Rogue's powers are what you say they are, she already knows where our hideout is.

Anna spoke up. "Wait. I know where you're going with this. I'm not trying to infiltrate the resistance. I'm not interested in your fight at all. My only motivation for doing this was to get Gambit taken in. Kitty was not responsible for any of this. So please let her go."

"Why is Remy so important to you" Scott asked.

Anna directed all her anger at Remy "I'm sure you don't even remember. It was probably just another day in your life. But one month ago, you killed my fiancé, Joseph, on Muir Island." Tears threatened to fall, but she fought to hold them back.

Remy didn't respond. His face held no expression.

Scott looked troubled by her words. "Rogue, I'm very sorry for your loss. I know this sounds terrible, but we are at war, and there are always casualties."

"Were you there?" She asked pointedly. Scott shook his head.

"You didn't have to identify his body. I wish I could get that image out of my mind. Do you think it would be that easy to dismiss if it were the other way around. If your wife had been left for dead by the other side, would you be able to let it go? I don't believe you could. If you knew exactly who was responsible, wouldn't you go after him?

Scott sighed. "I don't know." He paused before continuing "Rogue, whether you intended to or not, you are a danger to us right now. You know what Piotr knows."

Anna shook her head. "That's not exactly how it works. I can't control the type of information I absorb. It usually depends on what their immediate thoughts at the time."

"Nevertheless, I can't take the chance that what you have learned may fall into the wrong hands. I can't let you go, until we have relocated all our teams." Luckily only he and Remy knew where the next base was located. "Remy, you will take Rogue with you until I contact you. It will only be for a few days. After that, you will be free to go back to your life. I'm sorry but that's the best solution I can think of. "

Rogue looked over at Kitty and Piotr. He had untied her hands, and looked as despondent as she felt. The two were whispering, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Well, as far as plans go, she had certainly made a mess of this. Not only had she not succeeded in getting Gambit arrested, she was now his prisoner for God knows how long, she had lied to Pietro, and gotten Kitty mixed up in all this.

Kitty came over and sat beside her "I'm really sorry Kit."

"Hey, I knew this was going to be dangerous. I'm not sorry I did this, since I got to meet Piotr. I know you hate Gambit, Rogue, but I don't think he's like the evil person we thought. Maybe Scott was right."

Rogue didn't trust herself to respond to that. She couldn't believe Kitty was on their side now. Perfect. Now he had taken the two most important people in her life from her. "You want to go with Piotr, don't you?"

Kitty hesitated before answering "It's crazy, isn't it? I haven't even known him for two full days yet."

"It's ok. I'm happy you found someone you connected with. It doesn't happen every day." Anna was happy for her. She just wished he had been a normal guy somewhere else, instead of a friend of his.

"Rogue -" Kitty was cut off as Gambit picked up her duffel bag. "Where are the car keys?" he asked Rogue abruptly.

She reached into her handbag and dropped them on the bed beside her.

"We won't need them. Scott and Piotr will take the SUV. I've already found alternate transportation." He clasped the suppressor he had been holding around her neck. "Let's go before your 'friends' return." His sarcasm was not lost on Rogue. She glared at him before turning to look at Kitty one last time. Then they were on their way out.