Rogue wasn't surprised when she didn't see Callie the next morning at breakfast. She had upset Callie by asking her to do something with her powers that she really didn't want to. Rogue knew how she felt, under the pressure to do something for someone else to prove the friendship. She had felt this may times with Bobby. He insisted that he kiss her, even when he knew that she couldn't control what would happen to him. Callie couldn't control what she'd see if she decided to look into Rogue's future. Maybe she'd see Rogue controlling her power, though. That is what Rogue really wanted. She sat alone at breakfast, wondering what Jean was going to make her do, and if she'd actually end up doing it this time without making a big deal of it and running away. That was what she was good at, running. It was actually quite depressing, knowing that every trial she had faced in her life she had just run away from. She had run from her parents, run from the school the time she had almost killed Logan. Now, she just wanted to run. Rogue got up silently and left for the lounge. She knew that she couldn't run, so today she resolved that she wouldn't.

She sat on the flowered couch in the lounge room, pondering about how to build up her barrier. She tried to concentrate, but knew that the only way she would know if the barrier was working would be to test it out on a person. It was more than a little nerve-racking for her to remember that if her barrier didn't work, then the one who she was practicing on would suddenly be in a very bad situation. Rogue stood up as the door opened and Jean entered the room.
"No one's going to be here with us today?" Rogue could hear the disappointment in her own voice, and Jean just closed the door behind her.
"Callie is a little upset." She told Rogue. "She'll get over it, but not today." She moved into the room to stand in front of Rogue. "Today you're going to have to have a lot of courage on your own." Jean told her. Rogue took a deep breath and placed her hand into Jeans now outstretched hand.
"I'll try." She breathed out. "What do you want me to do?"
"Do you have a barrier?" Jean asked her.
"I think so." Rogue answered nervously.
"Well, it had better be at least a little strong." Jean told her.
"Why?"
"We're going to test it out…" Jean grabbed hold of Rogue's hand as she tried to pull away. "… Without you running off first." She continued as Rogue calmed down.
"But… what if I don't know how to make a barrier? How do I make one, anyway?"
"You just tell your mind to make it, and if you believe in the power of your mind enough, then the barrier will be strong."
"But what if-"
"The barrier wont fall if you don't panic and let it fall."
"But how will I know if-"
"Rogue." Jean whispered softly as she pulled her into a hug. "You're already doing it, sweetie. That's how you know." Rogue stiffened in Jean's arms, but as Jean began to stroke her hair, she relaxed.
"So if I closed my eyes and concentrated, I'd be able to see your full power, with no barrier?" Rogue asked her as she pulled away and looked into Jean's eyes.
"You could." Jean responded. Rogue placed her hand back in Jean's, but then slowly let go.
"I could, but I won't." he smiled at her friend. "I know where I shouldn't be looking. She turned to leave the room, happy that she had accomplished something.
"Rogue, you have more tough times to come." Jean told her. "Controlling your power was only part of it, now you have to learn to use it."
Rogue felt the smile fade from her face. She didn't turn around. "Yeah, I know, but I am going to enjoy this victory for a while first."

"Callie?" Rogue called out into the training room. A few people looked at her curiously as they still didn't know who she was, but Callie blatantly ignored her. Realizing this, Rogue walked slowly across the room to where Callie was punching a punching bag. Rogue placed her hand on Callie's shoulder, and Callie just turned around and smacked her in the face.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "I'm so sorry."
"No you're not." Rogue told her as she rubbed her jaw and smiled. "You've been wanting to hit me since you left my room yesterday."
"No, before that." Callie continued on the joke. "I've wanted to hit you since the first time I saw you. Now that that's over with… I'm sorry about yesterday, and today."
"It's okay, I get it. You were scared, Callie. I used to be as well."
"And you're not now."
"Okay, sorry. I said it wrong. I'm scared, too."
"What have you got to be scared of."
"Well, not this any more." Rogue took hold of Callie's hand and looked down at it, shocked that she had actually had the courage to do it.
"What's supposed to happen now?" Callie asked her.
"Well, it depends on what my power can really do. Are you going to come tomorrow? Be my courage."
"You don't need me to be brave." Callie commented.
"No, but I want you to be there with me."
"Do I get something in return?"
"What can I possibly have to give?"
Callie took Rogue's other hand.
"Show me how to do it. Show me how to be brave."