Chapter Title: A silver lining

Series: Rogue's Journey

Author: Lil-fleur

Chapter Summary: Rogue gets a phone call- is there a hope for her?

Chapter Pairings: mentions of Rogue/Bobby

Archiving: Ask and ye shall receive.

Disclaimer: The X-Men and the characters do not belong to me. They are just being used for harmless fun which does not contribute monetarily. Scarlett is my own creation. Hank's hypotheses are the product of my own imagination.

Notes:

This is my very first venture into writing fan fiction. So I would be grateful for any reviews & comments.

I have used British spelling. My knowledge of Southern US (or in fact, any other) accents are limited, therefore, I haven't played with the pronunciations apart from anything remotely British.

The universe is semi-alternative and semi-X Men movie world. However, I have made some changes irrespective of the X-Men movie plots.

I am not sure where exactly the plot is heading to, apart from a rough idea. It is very much a spontaneous series.

For more info, notes and disclaimers, please click on my profile.

A frustrated and exhausted looking Dr Hank McCoy emerged from his research lab. It had been an uncharacteristically tiring day- he had been confined to his research lab ever since waking up at 0500 in the morning. Not that he gets more than 5 hours of sleep every day, but this instance, he had been speedily browsing through hundreds of research papers, performing some experiments and corresponding with other researchers. It was all about something which the Professor had asked him to look into- specifically, it was about Rogue.

After disposing the gloves into the bin, he washed his hands and headed towards his desk. He was ravenously famished after skipping both breakfast and lunch. Sitting down at his desk, he located a tin of Harrods biscuits he had bought during his recent visit to London.

Munching away at the biscuit, he mulled over the events of the past year. It was Jean's 'death' which brought him to the School and most of the days were very eventful, and more fitting for a Hollywood plotline. To start with, Phoenix returned and there was an incident which staggered the entire community- the deaths of Xavier and Scott (though a more appropriate term would be 'trapped in another dimension'). It was tough for the School to pick up the pieces and move on. But then emerged Scarlett, the daughter of Destiny.

Hank could distinctively remember the beautiful Scarlett with her short auburn hair and numerous tattoos. She had given the exterior facade of a cactus, somebody to keep away from. She was plain uncouth and anti-social. And it astounded everyone when Xavier and Scott returned back to the living world, albeit at the price of Scarlett's life. It turned out that Scarlett's behaviour was due to her high intellectual faculty and unfathomed abilities. Her diaries exhibited how much she was erudite about science and how each day saw her discovering newer abilities- abilities so diverse that practicing each meant the expenditure of her body's energy. One of these abilities was bringing back individuals trapped in a different dimension and this was precisely what she did without consulting anyone (especially him) well knowing that she wouldn't survive to see whether her mission was a success. Hank was very touched by her actions and Xavier constructed a memorial on the gardens commemorating her selfless deed. He also started a Scarlett scholarship scheme for academically talented mutants to study in the Ivy League universities.

Rogue reminded him of Scarlett, having far deeper layers behind the exterior façade and with an aura of tragedy gyrating around her. However, Rogue was far confused but very mature for her age. In fact, Hank always felt profound esteem for this sweet girl who had suffered so much in the past. He admired her tenacity. Rogue's quandary was that she was distrustful of nearly everyone and worried for the safety of the rest. He could remember clearly how a very different Rogue returned, bouncing with joy, after getting the 'mutant cure'. The School had been stunned by her actions given that she was a fully fledged X-Man. That's when he confronted her.

'Rogue, you ought to know that I am shocked. How can you make such a hasty step?', he chided her when he saw her emerging from her class. He sensibly didn't refer to how the cure would reduce her lifespan drastically, leaving her with just 5-10 more years to exist.

Instead of a glower which he anticipated, Rogue's eyes had brimmed, 'But Dr McCoy, I want to touch and to feel'.

This had made him impetuously embrace her. Ororo later told him about how Rogue's actions might be related to Bobby. In any case, was Bobby worth her efforts?

Hank could remember another afternoon. He had been opening his mail at the reception hall when he was startled by piercing screams. Turned out that most of the School heard it as well and he rushed towards the source of the screams which happened to be Rogue's room. He was joined by Ororo and Kurt and the spectacle which greeted them was that of an iced up room having a screaming and bawling Rogue (her tears were all iced) next to the window and a convulsing Bobby on the floor. Bobby was admitted to the Medlab and remained in a comatose situation for 2 days. It eventually took him a further 3 weeks to recuperate completely. In the meantime, Rogue spiraled down into depression, aimlessly wandering around weeping tears of ice and realizing that her mutation didn't have any cure, no matter how much Hank might be optimistic. After Rogue calmed down, he gleaned out that Rogue and Bobby were kissing when the inevitable happened- her draining powers were back! It was very apparent that Bobby was keeping her away at arms length and it pained Hank that Rogue didn't seem to discern it.

The recurrence of Rogue's mutation surprised Hank. How a seemingly permanent cure can have such a short-time effect in Rogue, he asked himself. This meant researching on the matter more and he stumbled across something amazing. Similar to how the human body reacts when a pathogen enters the body, Rogue's body had not only reacted against the cure but also effectively expelled it from her body. He hypothesized that her cells produced a factor which led to the proliferation of the mysterious factor which was controlling her mutation. This took some time and the cure had been wholly expelled right when the inopportune episode took place. Hank was now hoping excitedly that he could find an effective solution for her mutation. He had called her some days ago to gently remind her to 'visit' him at the lab. But now that Xavier was coming to the lab within 15 minutes, he had to call Rogue and insist on her joining him at the lab. Taking up the phone's handset, he dialed Rogue's extension.

Rogue sauntered down the passage to Hank's Med Lab. A rather weary sounding Hank had rung her up around 5 minutes ago to request her to join him at the lab for some 'discussion', whatever that meant. She had been slightly exasperated since she was in the motivation to organize more notes for her students.

'Well, it must be something important or else Hank would have conveyed it over the phone', she consoled herself.

Opening the door of the Med Lab, Rogue was surprised to come across the impeccably attired Prof. Xavier in an animated conversation with Dr McCoy. Noticing her, Prof. Xavier welcomed her- 'Hello Rogue. How are you feeling today?'

Rogue smiled. 'I'm doing okay, thanks Professor. How are you?'

'Fairly fine. Dr McCoy here has something important to inform you. He is rather serious today and determined not to beat around the bush', laughed Xavier

'Something important to tell me?', asked Rogue astonished.

Meanwhile, in a no-nonsense manner, Hank addressed Xavier, 'Sorry Xavier, I am pretty thrilled as you can see'

'And perchance you might need to take a nap soon?', asked Xavier smiling

'Absolutely'

And the two men laughed which drew a bemused stare from Rogue. Noticing her gaze, Hank addressed her, 'Hello Rogue. I am so happy that you have finally agreed to have tea with me. Nonetheless, there is something to discuss with you', said Hank.

'You are scaring me Hank, what is it on?', asked Rogue

'Well Rogue, do you remember the incident you had after taking the mutant cure'.

'Yes, what about it?', whispered Rogue quite subdued and a bit piqued. Why was he reminding her of that ghastly day?

'You might call to mind how I was awestruck about how your body reacted to the mutant cure. Generally, each mutant who took the cure was cured of his or her mutation but also found that they had just about 5 to 10 years to stay alive. And you are no dissimilar from them, so you would have had a comparable consequence. You were able to touch people without draining their powers. Am I not correct?', asked Hank.

'Yes, but what significance does it have now? I admitted that I was immature and felt that I needed the cure', said Rogue quite aggravated. She utterly hated references to the past.

'Of course, you loved Bobby so much that you did not care about the consequences. I think that it is admirable', soothed Hank.

'Of course it is', assented Xavier.

'Thanks', said Rogue blushing.

'Now let me see how I can make this clear so that you can comprehend. What happens when you catch a bug, Rogue?', asked Hank

'A bug? As in an infection?', asked Rogue puzzled.

'Yes'.

'I think that our body will generate antibodies to get rid of them'

'Exactly! When a microbe enters the body, it creates antigens which will aid in its proliferation as well as the expression of symptoms. And the body fights back by creating anti-bodies which might or might not overcome the bugs. It seems as if the cure was considered by your body to be a bug. So it reacted in an identical manner. Though the cure removed your mutation, it was temporary generally because your mutation is imprinted into your genes. There might have been a trigger somehow and when the cure had overtaken your body, the body reactivated your genes and expelled the cure from your body. Are you following what I am saying?'

'Yes, I can get the general picture of it'.

'Excellent. So what I find is that your cells created a factor which led to the proliferation of an unknown factor controlling your mutation. As a result, your own mutation fought back against the cure though it took some time', he completed.

'So…?', asked Rogue cluelessly. If there was one subject she hated to discuss about, it was about her mutation. Most of Hank's explanations were going over her head in any case.

'Rogue, I believe that your mutation is somatic. I don't have the evidence, so I'll need to conduct experiments on your samples'.

'Somatic? What is that?', asked Rogue. Where are all those hours of learning Biology now?

'I suppose that you know that mutations are changes to DNA or RNA? Your somatic mutation is not genetic but probably a consequence of exposure to something- it could be radiation or chemicals. These mutations cannot be transmitted to your offspring. So the good news is that your children are unlikely to be mutants'.

'I think you have immense foresight, Hank', laughed Xavier.

'Sorry, I am a romantic at heart! But anyhow, Rogue, I have formulated a plan. I hope to conclusively find if your mutation is somatic and to locate the X gene. As you might know, the X-gene controls your mutation. Then I'll experiment on the X-gene and study its properties. It might be achievable to mask some of its effects. For example, your powers are involuntary and I could see if it can be controlled so that it would be activated only if you trigger something. Of course, these are all hypotheses. Do you want me to go ahead?'

Rogue couldn't believe this. She gladly agreed, ''Please do. Does this mean that there might be a proper cure?'

'Not a cure per se. But I may be able to offer you something which allows you to have power over your mutation. I could possibly totally obliterate your X-gene as well. But these are ambitious thoughts'.

'How?'

'Once I locate, identify and characterize the X-gene, I will be able to find ways to get rid of its errant nature. This might mean you being subjected to extensive radiation or other chemicals. It might be expensive treatment and might take years, but it would get rid of your mutation forever'.

'I don't want that', said Rogue resolutely.

Astounded, Xavier asked, 'Are you sure about that, Rogue?'

'I know what you are thinking. But I want my mutation, though I want to control it'

Hank added seriously, 'I cannot give you any false hopes. I shall try my best but it is not fair if I give you hopes which I cannot accomplish. But let us keep our fingers crossed, ok?'

'Sure, thanks Hank', said Rogue with her eyes brimming in happiness.

Hank continued, 'This means that I will have to carry out extensive experiments. I would need samples from you- as in blood, marrow etc. And I will get results only after many weeks and possibly I would have to experiment again on controls to make sure that there won't be any toxic effects if I introduce it into you. Are you happy to sanction this?'

Rogue had no problems in assenting, 'Definitely. But would it hurt a lot?'

'Possibly. But nothing as bad as the danger room sessions', he quipped.

'Then I definitely would be fine', said Rogue determined not to hope too much.

'Maybe you could talk to Kurt', chirped in Xavier. 'He is a source of great encouragement for many students. And of course, if you ever need to talk to me, I am always here'.

'Thanks Professor', said Rogue gratefully.

'And don't tell anyone. We can tell everyone once we have conclusive proof. Is that fine?'

'Definitely Professor'.

'You may leave now, Rogue'

' Thanks so much Professor. Thanks Hank' said Rogue bouncing out of the lab in joy.

Xavier turned to Hank and said, 'I do hope that your experiments work out. Or else she would be very disappointed'.

'And I will be disappointed as well. I'll put in my 120 and see what I can do', promised a very resolute Hank.

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Thanks all for the comments (particularly to lunafan- you are a great encouragement!)