Logan found Storm sitting in her office. Her head was bowed low, her hands clamped together, she looked completely defeated. He knocked lightly on the door.
" You ok?"
She looked up and sat up straight. She began to sort out a few documents on her desk.
" Yeah I'm fine Logan."
She sighed, as she looked at her speech.
"The Drakes are on their way. They'll be here in an hour. We, um, we need to make sure everything is normal. Have you spoken to Jean"
" Yeah I've just seen her."
" And, any news?"
" Rogue's awake."
"Thank God…"
" But Pyro is still in a coma."
"Oh no, does Rogue remember what happened at least?"
Logan hesitated. He felt that he should tell Storm his suspicions but he was not entirely sure if he was right.
" No she doesn't remember a thing."
"Well, you don't mind keeping an eye on her just until we know what happened." "Don't worry I will definitely be keeping a very close eye on her."
Logan left as Jean entered the room. They paused for a moment, looking into each other's eyes. They smiled at each other and went in opposite directions. Jean sat down opposite Storm. Storm hesitated then asked,
" Logan's told me the news. Is there no other way?"
"I'm sorry, the only way is for the professor to read her mind. Rouge's case is sensitive, which is why the professor suppressed those memories rather than see what happened?"
"He'll be back in two days. But until then I've got Logan keeping an eye on Rogue…"
"And I'll monitor John. What are you going tell the Drakes?"
"There was accident, a fire started, that's all we can say."
The Drakes arrived. They went in. They did not come out. They were staying for the funeral. Rogue turned and looked at her clock. 12:50. The funeral started at one. She approached her bedside table and found her black gloves. She put them on slowly. So that it was like time itself was stopping. She sighed, remembering that she could not control time, she could not go back. She walked out of her room pausing only to wipe the tear from her cheek.
"I doubt she'll ever be able to use a power."
If only they could see her now.
"…So let us remember him as he was in our hearts. Kind, loving, respectful and always eager to help. Let us never forget Robert Louis Drake or as he was known to most of us 'Bobby'."
Storm moved back and looked at the crowd. It was a heartbreaking sight. His parents were in tears as were most of his fellow students. Slowly they all stood up. Rogue took her rose and walked to the grave. She knelt down and placed it on his grave. She crouched for what seemed like eternity, tracing his name on the gravestone. She felt a hand on her shoulder. As Storm helped her up she noticed she was crying. She wiped her tears and walked away. Something caught her attention and as she looked up she saw Logan standing on the balcony watching. 'So they want to keep a eye on me' she thought. Concealing a smile she walked into the mansion and headed upstairs.
It was strange, walking in the mansion alone. Usually there was always someone with her, she'd spend breakfast with Bobby, partner up with either Kitty or Jubilee during classes, spend her afternoons with Bobby and Pyro or be in a session with the professor and at night before she went to bed she would be hanging out with whoever was around. But lately the professor has been away a lot with Scott searching for Magneto. Bobby became distant and all she could do was try to stay sane. In a way she was kind of used to being alone. In fact, she liked it. Because being alone meant that she was in control and could stay that way. As Rogue looked up she realised that while she was thinking she had unknowingly walked to the infirmary. As she looked at Pyro's still body she felt a sense of guilt. But she pushed it away; right now guilt was the one thing she refused to feel. She approached him slowly. His face was pale and ghostly. His body was rigid and stiff. If she could touch him she would of felt that his skin had become cold with little warmth left. The only comforting thing about him was the slow movement of his body as he breathed. The more she looked at him the more mesmerised she became.
"Don't leave me o.k, just hold on."
She turned around and headed back to her room. She knew Jean would be back up here soon and she had to avoid drawing any more attention right now.
Kitty Pryde looked at Bobby's gravestone. White roses now surrounded it and the flames had died. She had put them out so that the fire couldn't hurt him anymore. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I could of saved you if only I had known." The guilt built up inside as she remembered that if she had maybe gone with him she could of pulled him out of the fire. If…no she wouldn't beat herself up, deep inside she knew Bobby had the power. If he wanted to he would have stopped the fire. Something happened in there. Every time she saw Storm and Jean she could see they were suspicious. But what did happen?
"Kitty, are you ok?"
Kitty jumped up and hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes.
" Oh Rogue I didn't see you there. I'm fine, don't worry about me. What are you doing here?"
Rogue didn't say anything for a moment. Kitty began to feel uncomfortable by the cold piercing stare Rogue gave her. For a second she saw a look of hatred in her eyes. But then her gaze softened and she smiled.
"Sorry if I scared you. I just didn't want to be alone right now. Do you want to go somewhere?"
"I understand, right now being alone is the last thing I want but I don't think we can leave the mansion, besides you can't drive can you?"
"Don't worry, they won't know we're gone, we just take a drive somewhere. I just really want to get out of here, and I can drive I've taken a few lessons."
Kitty felt unsure. They'd been instructed not to leave the grounds without permission. But then again the more she stayed the worse she felt.
" O.k. but not too long. We should be back before night."
"Let's go then."
They went into the garage and got into one of the cars. Luckily Rogue had been able to 'borrow' the keys. She started the car and pulled out. As they entered the open road Kitty began to unwind. She felt free.
"I love this feeling. It's like we're leaving all our troubles and sadness."
Rogue watched Kitty through the corner of her eye. She struggled to keep the trusting smile on her face. She the burning inside her rise again as she saw the way Kitty's eyes sparkled and how her ungloved hands played with her hair. Bobby liked her because he could touch her.
"Rogue you're o.k. aren't you?"
Rogue turned and smiled at Kitty.
"Yeah, like you said soon all my problems will be gone."