So Little Time

by The Scribe2

Post First Movie: It's been two years and Logan has returned to the mansion. He and Rogue rekindle their friendship, but could there be more between them? Rogan, Storm/C. Xavier

2. Monday

Title: So Little Time

Author: The Scribe

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone. Thanks for letting me borrow them.

Feedback: YES! Read and Review, it helps me to write.

Monday

Logan

Logan's head was pounding. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. 6:45. He didn't think he'd ever been up that early. The pounding started again, but this time he realized it was someone knocking on the door. Something must be wrong. Why else would someone be knocking so early? Logan jumped out of bed and wrenched the door open.

"What's wrong," he asked Storm who stood in the doorway blinking at him.

"Nothing is wrong. I just came by to invite you to our Monday meeting."

"What," he asked staring at her a moment.

"Our Monday meeting," she repeated as her eyes traveled over his naked form. He motioned for her to come in and preceded to flop back down on the bed, face first.

Storm sat down on the corner and poked Logan on one of his nude rear cheeks. "Don't go back to sleep. I need you to listen. Are you listening?" He grunted. "Good. The others and I meet with the Professor every Monday morning at 7:00 to discuss any important issues concerning the school or our other work."

Logan turned his head on the pillow and looked at her with a raised brow. "What does that have to do with me?"

"You remember Magneto and his friends. Well, they all survived our little skirmish on Liberty Island, and there are more of them now. Magneto treats his prison cell as though it were his base of operation. They have wreaked havoc all over the country."

Logan shook his head and broke into her speech. "Again I ask, what does this have to do with me?"

"We received news that a new bill has been passed by the house and is being debated in the senate. It is one that will spawn the brotherhood into acting on a larger scale. We need you to stand with us, to fight with us." Logan sat up and was about to speak when Storm held up her hand to silence him. "I know I asked you before to fight with us and you were very passionate with your refusal, but I'm begging you now. As long as those in the brotherhood continue to perpetuate the mutant stereotypes, no mutant will be safe from the human retaliation. We'll all suffer if we don't stop them."

Logan's first instinct was to tell her no, but her argument made sense. The more damage that those bastards in the brotherhood caused, the worse humans would think of all mutants. Logan immediately thought of Rogue. He'd be damned if he'd let some human take away any future she might have or wish for.

"I'll do it, but I'm not going to be Scott's trained dog. I don't take well to following his orders."

"Then you can follow mine. Since you've been gone, leadership of the X-men has changed. Scott and I share command of the team." Logan nodded his head and found that he had a new respect for the white haired woman.

She got up then and headed toward the door. "We'll be in Professor Xavier's office." She gently closed the door behind her, leaving Logan to hastily make himself decent.

When he finally made it into the office, Xavier was in the middle of his briefing. "If passed this law would mandate that all children who are discovered to be mutants be segregated to government regulated boarding schools. Not only would these children be ripped from their families, but I have no doubt in my mind that these schools would eventually be used for governmental testing."

Elusive images of long needles and men wearing lab coats flashed in Logan's mind at the professor's words. Not wanting to think about his past at the moment, Logan concentrated on the faces surrounding him as he listened. Apparently leadership wasn't the only thing that had changed about the X-men. They had gained a few new members. His gaze lit on Rogue who was seated next to Jubilee and Kitty. On either side of them sat Bobby and the guy that Rogue had called John.

"I have already dispatched a summons to each spearhead of the association. We're going to do everything in our power to stop this piece of legislation from passing." Xavier looked at the red headed doctor. "Jean, I'll expect you to be preparing to plead our case to the Senate."

"Of course," she replied nodding her head and making notes on a clipboard positioned on her lap.

"As for the rest of you, I have another assignment." Charles steepled his hands and rested his chin on his finger tips. "Magneto and his brotherhood are not going to react diplomatically to this situation. They're going to do everything in their power to hurt and destroy humankind. Your mission will be to seek out the brotherhood and to stop them." Sighing he continued. "For now Magneto is still in prison but he won't be there for long. I'm going there to read from him what he knows before I lose my chance."

He looked toward Scott and Storm who sat next to each other. "I trust that you two can handle things from here?"

"We won't let you down," Scott intoned in his usual boy scout manner.

Looking back at Rogue and her friends Logan spoke up. "Are you seriously going to let these children fight?" Logan had directed the question to Xavier but it was Scott who answered.

"These children, as you call them, have spent the last two years in intensive training. Their fighting skills combined with their mastery over their powers makes them more than ready."

"Really? And how exactly did Rogue master her power? The only gift she has is a lethal touch, and consider how easily she could be killed if she's close enough to touch someone."

Charles maneuvered his chair near Logan before speaking. "I understand your concern for Rogue, Logan, but she has been well trained. With everyone working together I don't see any reason why she couldn't be a valuable asset to the X-men. We protect one another. That is the nature of being a team."

Logan wanted to say more but one look at Rogue and he knew he wouldn't win the argument. She was looking straight at him, shaking her head slightly at his protest. So he nodded his head curtly, vowing to himself that he would watch over her.

"Good, then that's settled. That's all for now," Xavier announced and the group immediately began to disperse.

Logan was just about to seek out his bed again when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Rogue standing behind him.

"Let's get some breakfast." The way she was smiling at him, he couldn't refuse.

"Sure, kid. It'll help me clean out the cobwebs in my brain."

Rogue

Later as they sat in front of the TV eating cereal, Rogue flipped through the channels looking for anything interesting. When she found some early morning cartoons she put the remote down and settled comfortably next to Logan.

"So what happens now?" Logan, who was speaking around a mouth full of cereal, inquired.

"Nothing, really. We can't leave because we're on call for battle, so we just wait for further instructions."

"Sounds like fun," he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. After they had finished their food, they cast their bowls aside and Logan emitted a loud yawn that caused Rogue to stretch her eyes at him and smile.

"Are you sleepy, honey?"

He dropped his head onto the back of the couch and closed his eyes before informing her, "It's a little early for me."

For a moment Rogue allowed herself to study him. His lethargic state caused his face to relax in a way she had never seen before. She reached out and ran a finger down his cheek. He cracked an eye and looked at her with a raised brow.

"Why don't you stretch out here and take a nap," she asked softly. "Here, put your head in my lap." Noticing his hesitation she added, "Come on, I don't bite."

After another moment of indecision he quipped, "What the hell," and positioned himself so that he lay on his side with his head propped on her thigh.

Rogue ran gloved fingers through his hair, smiling when she heard him sigh. Looking down at his sculpted do, Rogue wondered out loud, "Have you ever considered a different hair cut?" He laughed, and turned his head to nip her on the leg.

After a while Logan's body relaxed and his breathing evened out. Looking down at the slumbering man, Rogue couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to touch and be touched by him.

Logan

As Logan began to wake, a familiar feminine scent filled his nostrils. He felt a denim covered thigh move under his head and fingers covered in soft leather played with the hair on his face. He slowly remembered where he was and remembered that the thigh belonged to Rogue. But something had changed…her scent. She emitted a gentle fragrance of desire that wove it's way through Logan and settled in his groin. He opened his eyes and looked at her face. He wasn't expecting to see the soft look in her eyes.

"What are you thinking?" He asked noticing the huskiness of his own voice.

"You remember when I said that some girls like hairy guys? Well…I think I'm one of them." She ran a finger down his fur-covered cheek and Logan insanely wished she would take off her gloves. He wouldn't allow himself to think before he turned and pressed his lips to her warm thigh where his head had previously rested and ran a hand up the other. "Mmm…" The sound came from low in Rogue's throat as she curled her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Logan, look at me," she commanded quietly and he sat up, his eyes meeting hers. He couldn't be sure what she had intended or what might have happened between them then, because at that precise moment Scott walked up and perched on the arm of the couch.

"I hate to break up the reunion but we start conditioning in 30 minutes."

Logan cleared his throat and leveled his gaze on Scott. Had he seen? "What conditioning?" His tongue didn't seem to want to work.

"Combat conditioning," Rogue supplied for him.

"Logan, I hope you'll join us." Scott stood before saying, "I've got some things to take care of before then."

"We'll see you there, Scott," Rogue replied, standing and pulling Logan up with her. When Scott walked away Rogue spoke softly. "Don't say anything right now. We'll talk later." Sighing she continued, "I'll come and get you for conditioning."

Logan nodded feeling a bit disoriented with the sudden and irreversible turn their relationship had just taken. He watched Rogue walk away and wondered, again, where the hell she had learned to move like that. He'd been a fool to step over the boundary between protector and would be lover, but he'd been seduced by her innocent sensuality. It was one thing to lust after her secretly, knowing that she didn't see him in that way, but now he'd taken it a step too far.

When he had awakened to her amazing scent, it had intoxicated him in a way nothing else ever had. It had been that change in her that had altered everything. He couldn't resist a woman that reeked of arousal for him, especially when it was a woman as beautiful as Rogue. But the question remained, how was he going to handle it from here?

If Logan were honest with himself, he would acknowledge that he wanted to be more to her then just a protector. He wanted to give her her first moments of pleasure and see the look of wonder that would float across her face. But that wasn't going to happen. He knew that she didn't really want him, knew that she just wanted someone, anyone, and he wasn't going to take advantage of that. A new wave of guilt ran through Logan. This was entirely his fault. He shouldn't have let his infatuation get the better of him. It was now up to him to put a stop to it.

Later, she came to his room and led the way to something she called "The Danger Room". On the ride down the elevator she explained, "There are all of these holograms that are so realistic that they could potentially kill you. You have to treat the situations as though they are 100% real."

When the doors opened she led him down a dimly lit hall. Logan couldn't really visualize anything so elaborate as what she had described so he replied, "I'll take your word for it, kid." She gave him an amused look at the use of her nickname. She stopped in front of a set of double doors marked with an "X".

"The best advice I can give you is to be prepared for anything." Rogue allowed the computer to scan her retina and the doors opened to reveal a large empty room. Well, almost empty. All but one of the X-men had already arrived. Logan watched silently as Bobby quickly approached Rogue. A white-hot bolt of fury ran through Logan when he saw the boy reach out and touch her hair. To her credit, she did step away slightly, but not without giving Bobby a brilliant smile. Well, he was just going to nip that shit in the bud right now.

Logan took two steps toward the youth before he heard someone call his name. He turned to see Jean walking toward him. "I'm glad Scott was able to convince you to join us."

"Speaking of Mr. Tight Ass, why isn't he here?" Logan avoided looking her in the eye.

"He'll be here soon." She reached out and caught his chin in her gentle grasp and turned his face toward hers. "Can we talk about yesterday?"

He sighed. "I hope there are no hard feelings. You were right, I should have called you." Looking into her sparkling eyes, Logan was reminded of why he had been so attracted to her. Even now he could see how beautiful she was, with her sharply angled features. Her sophistication had been so alluring to him when they had first met, but now it just wasn't what he wanted.

She slid her hands to his shoulders saying, "The important thing is that you're here now." Logan gazed dumbly at her. He should want this, so why did he want to push her away from him? Frustration bubbled up in Logan's gut. He suddenly felt desperate to be away from her. And what was worse, he couldn't stop himself from looking over his shoulder at the younger couple. He both wanted and didn't want to see what that ice prick was doing. At the moment little Bobby was speaking softly into Rogue's ear, bringing an amused expression to her face.

"Logan?" It was Jean's voice. She pulled her hands away from him, looking at his face in concern. Logan closed his eyes to the splitting headache that had begun to pound in his head and felt a strong urge to break something or someone. His wish was granted when Scott walked in and declared, "Let's get this show on the road."

With one last worried look at him, Jean moved away. Within the blink of an eye Mystique appeared in front of Logan, licking her lips provocatively. A lethal grin slid onto his face as he tightened his body, popping out his claws. "Oh, I am so ready for you, bitch."

Scott

Later, as the various holographic enemies evaporated, Scott worked a kink out of his shoulder calling, "Is everybody okay?" Everyone came together around him nodding and replying in the affirmative. Everyone, that is, except Logan. He stood back a ways silently observing the obviously close-knit group.

"I think we're ready. I want everyone to keep up with their regular workouts and we'll limit conditioning to every three days. Stay rested folks. We need to be on our toes."

As the small group disbanded, Logan approached Scott with an amused look. "I thought you and Storm shared leadership."

Scott nodded replying, "We do." He could tell already that it was a mistake asking Logan to join the team.

"I see. Is that why you do all the ordering around?"

Taking an impatient breath, Scott settled his eyes on Logan's. He was such a smug son of a bitch. "I have a job to do, Logan. If Storm has a problem with me, she comes to me and tells me about it, and believe me, it happens. Right now she's got other things on her mind, so I've taken charge. Unlike you, she and I understand that no one can do everything alone."

Scott was prepared for another round with Logan but was caught by surprise when he heard him say, "She's tougher than she looks. Storm, I mean."

Scott stared at him for a second before giving a small smile. "Yes, she is." An idea suddenly occurred to him. Maybe Logan had finally given up on his fiancée and was setting his sites on Ororo. Scott really liked that idea. "She's tough, but beautiful, don't you think?"

Scott watched Logan's face for any indication of his thoughts, but the man's countenance revealed nothing. His words, however, revealed a lot. "There's no denying that she's beautiful. I have to admit, I'm growing rather fond of her, after everything she's done for Rogue."

Scott couldn't stop the grin that stole onto his face. "Glad to hear it. We're a pretty close group around here. Maybe the two of you will get the chance to spend more time together."

Logan studied him a moment before saying, "It could happen."

Feeling satisfied with himself, Scott started for the door with Logan trailing behind him. They met up with Xavier and Storm outside in the hallway.

Xavier declared, with irritation in his voice, "I've just come from the prison. Magneto has escaped." Scott watched Ororo put a comforting hand on the older man's shoulder, and it seemed to have a soothing effect on him. The professor continued in a milder tone, "It seems that he was aided by one of the guards who was later found dead in the lavatory. Mystique's handiwork, obviously. Those humans were no match for the two of them."

"Damn it," Scott swore softly before asking, "When did this happen?"

Charles shook his head in frustration. "Mere hours before I arrived."

"Why don't you use that cerebo thing to find them," Logan inquired rather testily.

"Cerebro," Scott corrected.

"Whatever," Logan shot back with hostility.

"Not only has Erik blocked himself from Cerebro, but also Mystique, Sabortooth, and Toad," Xavier informed them.

"Where the hell do you people get these names," Logan asked shaking his head at the absurdity of it.

"I don't know, Wolverine, you tell me." Scott retorted, throwing him a pointed look.

Storm squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples in annoyance. "Gentlemen, please. We don't need this right now."

Scott reined in his aggravation with Logan. She was right, this wasn't the right time to spar with him. "What do you want us to do, Professor?"

"The Association members will be here tomorrow. Until then, we wait."

Logan sighed before saying, "I've got to find Rogue."

"I just saw her heading for the east elevator with Bobby," Ororo explained. She pointed in the direction, and without another word Logan began to walk away. "Wait, I'll come with you. I was just on my way up," she called as she quickly caught up with him.

Watching the two of them walk away, Scott said, "We're going to have problems with him, Professor."

"We must give Logan a chance, Scott. Everyone deserves at least one. Besides, I think he proved himself quite adequately the last time he was here."

Scott couldn't argue with that. He silently nodded before adding, "I'll brief the others on the change in plans."

"Good." Scott and Xavier then began to move together toward the elevator.

"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I'm worried about Storm," Scott said, voicing his concern.

"Oh? What seems to be the problem?" Charles didn't quite meet Scott's red gaze.

"I know that she's heavily involved with the Association and that keeps her busy, but she's been distracted lately."

"What do you think is the cause?" They had made it to the elevator and were on their way up as Charles posed the question.

"I'm not completely sure. I think maybe she's a little burnt out. You know, all work and no play. She's so wrapped up in teaching and leading that she doesn't have a personal life."

As the elevator doors opened up and the men made their way down the hall Charles replied, "Maybe she likes to keep her personal life private."

Scott shook his head. "No, I don't think that's it. I think she's lonely and I have just the thing for her." Scott followed Charles into the privacy of his office. "I think that Logan has a thing for Storm."

Charles whipped his head around and stared at Scott. "Really?"

"Absolutely. And I think they would be good for each other. She would influence him into being more civilized and he would give her a little something that she needs." Scott smiled down at Xavier with a suggestive slant to his brow. Xavier, however, did not smile back. "Is something wrong? You don't like the idea?"

Charles looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "I like the idea of Ororo being happy. If she and Logan find their way together then that's wonderful, but we shouldn't push them together."

"It wouldn't be pushing, it would be just a gentle guiding." When Charles looked like he would object Scott cut him off. "I'll be discrete. They won't even know I'm doing it. Maybe I'll get Rogue to help."

Xavier gave a weary sigh. "I'm sure they'll appreciate your concern for their happiness."

Rogue

Rogue had spent the remainder of the afternoon with Bobby. It had been unavoidable. They had played pool, hanging out with the others, and when he had asked her softly if she wanted to go somewhere to be alone she had politely said, "Later." But later had never come. As the group of young adults now sat around listening to one of Kitty's big adventures Rogue saw Logan pass by. Their eyes met and she knew he wanted to talk.

"I'll see you guys later. I'm going to entertain Logan for a while. He looks bored."

"Let me know if you need help entertaining him, Rogue. I'm definitely up to the challenge." Kitty raised her brow with a sexy grin.

"It's not like that, slut," Rogue teased. When she looked at Bobby he wore a knowing expression as though he saw right through her. She gave him a tentative smile before heading to Logan's room.

She opened the door without knocking and found him lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling. She sat down next to him and looked down into his face.

"I've been trying to get your attention all day," Logan said.

"I know. Bobby seemed so eager to spend time with me today, I just couldn't seem to get away."

"Hey, don't let me keep you. I wouldn't want to deprive your precious Bobby of your company."

"Careful there, Wolverine. Your claws are showing." She smiled slightly. "Besides, I saw you and Jean before the conditioning started looking pretty cozy. Anyway, I thought we were going to talk about earlier."

Logan groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. "Ah, God I'm sorry. I can't believe I touched you like that."

Rogue reached out and touched Logan's stomach where his t-shirt had ridden up. "I was only sorry that Scott Summers didn't have better timing."

He caught her hand. "I'm ticklish."

She grinned. "I know. I did some exploring while you slept."

"I feel so violated," he teased as he returned her smile. When she reached out her other hand he caught it too, his expression turning serious. "Rogue, I know you're curious and want to do what comes naturally, but we can't just go with our impulses."

She cocked a brow at him saying dryly, "And I suppose you're going to explain why."

"Yes." He released her hands and sat up. "Rogue, you're going to remember your first experiences forever and I think that they should be with someone worthy of you."

Rogue gave an incredulous chuckle. "Logan, you're not making sense. I've never felt this way with anyone else. That must mean something, right?" Their eyes met and for one brief moment Rogue thought that she was getting through to him. She held his gaze for countless moments before Logan's eyes slid shut and he turned his head away from her.

"It's not me, Rogue. You'd feel the same way with any guy who wasn't a snot nosed school boy." Logan stood and gazed sightlessly out of the window, turning his back to Rogue. "One day you're going to leave this mansion and there'll be a whole new world out there. You'll be glad, then, that you didn't waste any time with me."

Rogue came up behind Logan, slipping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek into the solid expanse of his back. "How can you be so sure? What if you're wrong?"

Logan sighed as he lightly caressed her covered arms. "What if I'm right?"

A thought occurred to Rogue then. What if he was just trying to let her down easily? What if he had changed his mind about what had started between them and was trying to find a gentle way to break it off? She had to know the truth. She stepped in front of him and said, "Be honest with me, Logan. Are you putting on the brakes for my benefit or because of Jean?"

He gave another weary sigh, shaking his head. "Believe whatever you need to believe, Rogue."

Pain gripped Rogue's stomach. She had her answer right there. Nodding, she made her way around Logan and headed toward the door.

"Where are you going," he asked her as her hand found the doorknob.

She turned toward him with a bitter smile answering, "Well, I thought that since I had embarrassed myself so thoroughly, I would leave."

"Don't leave, not like this." He stepped to her, catching her hand and pulling her away from the door. "Hang out with me for a while." He reclined on the bed, propping his head on a pillow then tossed the other to Rogue. She caught it easily wondering if she should stay or get the hell out of dodge with some dignity intact. Her mind was made up for her when he smiled at her in his charming way and patted the spot next to him. "Come on. I don't bite." Mildly disgusted with her weakness for him she situated herself next to him.

"So tell me, what are you going to do with yourself now that you've graduated from training," he inquired then.

"I think it's time I went to college. I've decided to go into political science. I want to become a lawyer so that I can help fight for mutant rights. The professor always says that the best way to fight the mutant/human war is with politics." She shrugged. "That's my plan, anyway."

"Good plan." He turned his head on the pillow and looked at her. She returned his gaze as he said, "You're the reason I agreed to fight with the X-men. I couldn't stand the thought of you with no future."

Rogue's heart tripped in her chest. Why did he have to keep saying things like that? "I want to ask you one question then we'll change the subject. What happened today will be just between the two of us, right?"

"Of course, who would I tell?"

Rogue didn't hesitate before responding, "Jean." She would die if the two of them discussed her pathetic situation behind her back.

"What happens between you and me stays between you and me."

Nodding Rogue moved herself to where her head laid on his chest. When Logan's hand came to rest on her t-shirt clad back, she closed her eyes against the waves of longing that ran through her.

Storm

"Oh, Charles. Oh, Charles. Yes. Oh…" Xavier's fingers dug deeper into Ororo's thighs, which straddled his, as she voiced her climax. She threw her head back, eyes tightly shut as wave after wave consumed her. It was not long before Charles was voicing his own finish, filling her with the most intimate part of him. Storm smiled as she slowly became aware of herself again and felt warm hands cup her breasts. She leaned down and kissed Charles slowly and softly, relishing the feel of his lips on hers.

After ending the kiss, Ororo reluctantly released him from her body and fell into his arms, lying next to him. Neither one spoke for a long time until Charles asked, "What do you think of Logan?"

Storm emitted an unladylike snort before pronouncing, "This is odd pillow talk."

"Humor me, Precious. What do you think of him?"

"I don't understand what you mean." She kissed his white haired chest, smiling as it tickled her nose.

"Do you think that he will be a valuable member of the team?"

"Yes. Once he commits himself to something, he doesn't back out."

Xavier nodded before asking, "What do you think of him on a personal level?"

Ororo frowned in thought. "I don't suppose I have a personal opinion of him. He is not as much of a brute as I once believed. Rogue helped me to see that. His concern for her, alone, says much for his character."

They fell into silence for a moment before Charles asked, "Do you think he is interested in anyone at the school, romantically?"

Storm wondered where he was going with the conversation. "I think he is interested in someone here who is already spoken for." Charles' hand, which had been stroking her arm, stopped. "What are you getting at, Charles? Has Logan done something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong. I was only curious."

Brushing her hair away from her face, Storm laughed. "You are one strange man, Charles Xavier, even for a mutant.

He smiled and again began to stroke her arm. "You seem to do that to me." She laughed again and this time he chuckled with her.

Charles

Sometime during the night, Charles Xavier became aware that he and Ororo were not alone in the room. When he awoke, he realized that she was no longer nestled against him. The room was completely dark, as he always liked it, but tonight it was not serving his purpose. He awkwardly tried to sit up to reach the lamp but stopped when he heard a strange sound. He stopped breathing and listened. When the noise came again, it sounded as though someone was trying to suck air through a closed throat. Xavier quickly reached again for the lamp on the nightstand as his mind searched for Ororo's. His probing hand only encountered open air just as his mind found hers, screaming for help. His mind finally reached for Scott's, waking him abruptly and alerting him to the danger. Charles broke out in a cold sweat as he reached out for his chair, which was usually right by the bed. It, too, was gone.

Just then a harsh roll of thunder sounded and a bolt of lightning lit up the room. That's when Charles saw her. Ororo was being held by the throat in mid air by that animal, Sabortooth. Her body was as bare as it had been when they had fallen asleep and her eyes were glazed over in white. Her mouth was slack with the effort of trying to breath and she batted uselessly at the man-beast as he licked her face. Charles reached out to Sabortooth's mind and commanded him to put her down slowly onto the bed. As the giant man began to do as ordered, Charles heard a sickeningly familiar voice from beside him.

"Somehow I knew you would do that." Suddenly, the overhead light came on revealing Magneto, who stood ominously next to the bed. "I have reached the end of my rope with you, old friend." He leaned in closer, speaking softly to Charles. "You and yours will not interfere with my plans ever again."

Charles' missing metal lamp came crashing into the side of his head. His hold over Sabortooth fell quickly and the creature shook his head as if to clear it. Charles felt his grasp on consciousness slipping and hoped that Scott and Jean would get there soon. He opened his eyes a crack to see that Storm had passed out; at least he hoped that was what had happened. Ororo's head lolled limply on her neck as the beast tossed her over his shoulder.

New anger arose in Charles when he heard Erik say to Victor Creed, "I hope you haven't strangled her to death. I want to sample Xavier's tasty morsel. Perhaps I'll share her with you. You seem to like her." The creature's thick tongue darted out to taste the smooth skin of Ororo's hip as his animal-like hand caressed her buttocks.

When Charles heard the bedroom door burst open he thanked God for Scott and gave up to the pull of unconsciousness.

Logan

Logan was trapped. Every part of him was hurting. His head pounded and a shriek bubbled up in him as he felt the scalpel cut into his leg…

Logan sat straight up, growling. He popped out his claws and panted, waiting for something to move around him. After a moment he began to relax, sensing no danger. With a shuttering breath he sheathed his lethal blades and collapsed back onto his pillow. He looked to his right and saw Rogue lying perfectly still, watching him.

"You okay," he asked her, relieved that he hadn't hurt her.

"I'm fine. You okay?"

"Yeah." He felt sincerely comforted when she took his hand into her gloved one. "Rogue, do you ever have my nightmares?"

"I used to, almost every night after Liberty Island."

"Shit, I'm sorry I did that to you." He draped his free arm over his sweaty face. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." He smirked. "Well, maybe a few people." He felt her let go of his hand and wrap an arm around his middle. His own arm slipped around her and he pulled her closer to him. "I didn't mean to talk you to sleep tonight. I should have sent you to bed at least by one."

"I'm cool. Sleep is sleep, it doesn't matter where it's done."

He looked at her and again felt a stab of disappointment that he couldn't have her. "Do you still have the dog tag?"

Rogue sat up and switched on the lamp. "Since we're up anyway, let me show you what I did with it." She tugged him up and led him down the hall to her room. She pointed to the bed, silently telling him to sit as she pulled open a drawer in her nightstand. She pulled out a small cigar box covered in stickers.

"This is my Canada box. Before I came here I had planned this elaborate trip to Alaska. Here is a map like the one I used to keep on the wall in my room back in Mississippi. I've marked off where I had planned to go in one color and where I actually did go in another." She picked up the folded map and set it out of the way. "And these are the post cards that you sent me. This one is my favorite." She held up one with a picture of a Mounty on it, and then put all of them with the map. "And this is your tag." She held it up for him to see then slipped it back into the box. "Don't even think that you're getting it back," she quipped, saucily.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied, giving her a reluctant smile. Suddenly his eyes widened as a peculiar sensation ran down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his body was instantaneously rendered paralyzed. He knew that feeling. Without warning, he was lifted off of the bed by an unseen force, and knocked against the wall. Holding a hand to his aching head he yelled, "Go find the professor. Hurry!"

She hesitated a moment until Logan was picked up again and thrown out of her second story window.

Rogue

Running as fast as she could go, Rogue took off for the elevator. She pressed the red button on the elevator panel and prayed that there was no security against getting into Xavier's room. When the door opened, Rogue stepped off cautiously.

"Professor," she called tentatively. When she heard a crash down the hall she went toward it without thinking. She burst through the door, and then froze where she stood. "Oh my God," she whispered as she took in the scene.

Magneto stood over the professor, who lay unmoving on the bed with an angry gash on the side of his head and Storm's naked form was draped over Sabortooth's shoulder. Rogue fought the panic that rose up in her as the tall, hairy man began to approach her. Sabortooth bared his teeth in the semblance of a smile as he picked her up by the back of her shirt and held her up to face Magneto.

Erik Lencher sneered at her as he spoke, "Well, if it isn't our little disappointment. You were going to be our salvation, girl, but look how worthless you turned out to be."

Hoping that her training had been enough, Rogue spit in Magneto's face, then raised her leg straight up over her head to kick Sabortooth in the face. He dropped her to the floor as his nose spurted blood, temporarily blinding him. Rogue took advantage of his vulnerability to knee him in the groin and then, jumping up, whirled around, kicking him in the face once again. He staggered a bit at the blow, but his grip on Storm never wavered. His wound already healing, Sabortooth dashed the red liquid from his eyes and swiped at her with his lethal claw. She only narrowly dodged him.

Magneto screamed behind her, "Grab her, you idiot."

Rogue swung out and hit Magneto in the face with the back of her fist. He reared back, touching fingers to his bloodied lip then let out a chilling laugh.

"You stupid girl." Erik picked up the lamp with his power and tossed it at Rogue, hitting her in the stomach. With a grunt she crumpled to her knees. "Sabortooth," Magneto called in his mocking voice. "Incapacitate her. I want her alive but not quite so active." Sabortooth roared loudly and, almost reverently, set down Storm's inert body onto the floor. When his heavy footsteps approached Rogue, she struggled to get to her feet but wasn't quite fast enough. One powerful hand closed around her leg and the other grabbed her by the arm. He picked her up high above his head and threw her into the wall.

Rogue bounced off and landed in a heap on top of Ororo. Her naked face made contact with Ororo's bare skin and Rogue felt the pull come fast and furious. She scrabbled to get away from her friend and stared in horror as unnatural lines began to appear under Storm's mocha skin. Sabortooth grabbed her by the shirt again holding her high in the air and it was then that Scott appeared in the doorway and blasted Magneto with his visor.

Out of the blue, Rogue began to get hot. The air around her started to sizzle and her vision clouded over. Suddenly, it felt as though there wasn't enough air in the room. She wasn't aware what, but something made Sabortooth release his grip on her. As she dropped to the floor, she broke out in a sweat and clawed at her throat. The room was too small. There were too many people. It was too hot. She couldn't breathe.

Rogue ran over to one of the windows and kicked it out. She leaned out to breathe in the night air, but it didn't seem to be enough. Without thinking she stepped back a few paces then ran and jumped out. Fortunately for her, she didn't fall, but glided through the air sucking it into her lungs in large gulps. She managed, somehow, to get herself to the ground and began ripping at her clothes. It was so hot. Why the hell was it so hot?

Jean

Jean and Scott had had a late night. They had spent their day entertaining each other with TV, junk food, and sex. That was probably not the best plan when one needed to be ready to fight in a snap, but that situation wouldn't come up that very night…or so Jean thought until Scott had shaken her awake. "Jean, Jean wake up. I need you to call the others. Charles needs us."

Jean had jumped out of bed and called to the others, waking them as she pulled on a pair of sweats under her short nightgown. They all met up in the hallway. When she reached out to Logan's mind, she saw through his thoughts that he was in the middle of a battle with Mystique.

"Kitty, Jubilee, go outside. Logan's out there and may need help. He has Mystique out there," Jean said to them.

The three men had already headed for the elevator and she ran as fast as possible to catch up. The ride up was a tense one. When the doors opened up, the four of them silently approached Xavier's bedroom. Scott reached the doorway first and stopped, with a hand on his visor, to blast Magneto in the chest, rendering him unconscious. When her fiancé moved into the room, allowing Jean to see what was happening inside, she gasped as she took in the sight of Ororo's nude form crumpled on the ground, Xavier' still form laying unmoving on the bed and Sabortooth dangling Rogue in the air.

Coming to her senses, Jean rushed further into the room holding up a hand, and with her powers, immobilized Sabortooth. Her concentration was broken, however, when Toad dropped down from the ceiling and kicked her from behind, sending her headlong onto the floor. Unaware of the extra danger, Scott moved his hand to his visor with his sites set on Sabortooth, but he was prevented from using it when Toad's long green tongue rapped around his throat and pulled him backwards off of his feet. Scott hit the floor with a thud and struggled to remove the slimy muscle from his neck. As Jean got up off the floor, John brushed past her with narrowed eyes and clicked on his arm torch, producing a large flame. Using his mutation, he swiftly harnessed the inferno into a controlled ball of fire and sent it at Toad. The creature immediately drew back his tongue as his skin was scorched and his clothes went up in flames. Momentarily stunned, he screamed and rolled on the ground and Bobby was able to encase the grotesque little man in thick layers of ice.

Scott quickly got to his feet and delivered a blast to Sabortooth's shoulder, prompting him to drop his hostage. Jean was about to yell at Rogue to run when she saw the young woman's eyes whiten over, and she began to claw at her throat. Helpless to stop it, Jean watched as Rogue kicked out the window only to jump through it. A scream of fear for her lodged in Jean's throat as Bobby grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her out of the way while Scott and John blasted Sabortooth. Seeing he was cornered, the monstrous man climbed out of the window, and using his long, animal- like claws, scaled down the side of the building.

"Damn it," Scott exclaimed. "Jean, stay here and check on Storm and the professor," He called over his shoulder as he and the others immediately headed back for the elevator.

Taking a ragged breath, Jean pulled a blanket from the bed. After checking Storm's pulse, Jean sighed her relief and draped the still form with the blanket. Slipping a pillow under Ororo's head for comfort, Jean went to check the professor. His pulse was strong, but the gash on his head needed immediate treatment. After pulling the covers over him more securely and making sure his head was cushioned comfortably, she returned to Storm and examined her bruised neck. Jean hadn't actually seen what had happened to Ororo, but she could tell by the marks on her throat that she had been choked. More pressing, though, was the fact that Rogue had drained Ororo at some point. That had been obvious from the way the young woman had behaved. Jean quickly checked for other injuries and wondered to herself how long Charles and Ororo had been meeting like that.

Logan

Logan landed hard on his back and the wind was knocked out of his body. As he struggled to breath in air, his keen senses detected someone's scent, and he knew it well. Logan rolled over onto his feet and his claws shot out of the back of his hands. He sniffed the air, but couldn't tell from which direction the odor was coming. His eyes searched the area, his body taunt with anticipation. That's when he saw her. Mystique slithered down a tree trunk and came to stand a few feet away from him.

In her hollowly haunting voice she taunted, "I can think of better things to do with you then killing you." She ran a hand down the front of her scaly body and grinned at him. Blood pumping through him wildly, he lunged at her. She dodged him and knocked him in the back of the head. Viciously, he twisted and slashed her shoulder with his claws.

"Bastard," she hissed as she came at him, throwing blows at him so fast that he couldn't block them all. Damn, she was a slippery bitch. She tried to sweep his feet from under him but he was able to sidestep and plow his elbow into her jaw. She staggered but was back at him in a heartbeat. During the fray, his foot connected forcefully with her stomach, but she still managed to whirl around to kick him in the back. A quick moment later he swung at her with his claws, barely missing her, but was successful in planting a kick to her face. She swayed and he used the opportunity to head butt her.

He was just about to swipe at her with his claws again when brightly colored beams of light passed in front of him and hit Mystique in the chest, causing her to fall to the ground. When the reptilian looking woman tried to get up, Jubilee shot her again with the firecracker energy that was her mutation. Logan held up his hand in a silent signal for the young woman to hold back, and knelt down to stab Mystique in the heart. A split second before his claws met her flesh, a long tongue slithered down and picked her up, bringing her into the trees where Toad cowered. Baring his load, the green man leaped from tree to tree away from the school.

Jubilee raised her hand to discharge more beams but Logan halted her with his voice, "Let 'em go. I don't give a shit if they live or die as long as they're not trying to kill us." He looked over at her and saw her bend over taking a shaky breath. "You alright?"

She looked up at him and said softly, "I was terrified."

"Hey, it's okay." He pulled her up and put an arm around her shoulders.

She nodded, then gasped when she heard a scream. Logan heard it too and they both ran in the direction from which it came. They found Rogue rolling on the ground tearing at her clothes. As he came closer to her, Logan felt the air around her simmering with intense heat. When she saw him she moaned, "It's so hot. Why is it so hot?" Logan sat down on the ground and pulled her into his arms trying to calm her.

"Shh, it's alright, Rogue. I'm here now." She continued to scramble for a moment, then relaxed and buried her face in his neck. Logan's eyes widened as his life force began to drain out of him. He felt strong arms pull her away before his head dropped back into the dirt and he was swallowed by blackness.

Scott

When the elevator door opened Scott, John, and Bobby ran toward the closest door. Scott's eyes scanned the surrounding area but saw nothing. He guessed that Sabortooth was long gone until he heard John yell, "Kitty!"

"Over there, Scott," Bobby called as he gestured toward the on-going fight. Scott turned and watched as Kitty fought Sabortooth, who growled with frustration as she moved through him to hit him from behind.

Scott's hand went to his visor but he couldn't get a clear shot. "Get out of the way, Kitty," he yelled. She faded through Sabortooth and ran for it. Scott blasted him in the chest with a beam that would have knocked out any normal man. Sabortooth only roared before running for the safety of the trees. Scott blasted him again but the savage man didn't slow down one bit. That's when Scott heard the scream.

"That sounds like Rogue," Bobby said with worry written on his face. They ran toward the noise only to find Logan holding her squirming body. Whey they reached the two of them Scott saw what was about to happen. Rogue nestled her face into Logan and began to drain him. Bobby took a step toward Rogue but Scott grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back as he bent down to remove her from Logan's embrace.

"Someone make sure that he's still alive," Scott said as Logan's head hit the ground. He held Rogue carefully as he carried her back toward the house. Bobby and John followed carrying Logan.

They were almost to the house when Kitty yelled, "Magneto's getting away." Everyone looked up to see the older man fly above their heads and away from them. A second later Jean burst through the door. "I heard a scream."

"It's okay now." He nodded his head at the retreating figure. "When you left, Magneto flew out of the window."

"Toad and Mystic escaped too," Jubilee supplied.

"How is that possible," Bobby asked. "We left him frozen upstairs."

"I guess when Rogue absorbed Storm's powers and heated the room, she must have melted the ice some. Not long after you guys left he broke out and disappeared down the hall," Jean explained.

"Let's just be thankful that they're gone now," Scott said as he made his way into the house.

Following him, Jean asked, "What about Sabortooth?"

"Gone," John informed her.

Jean nodded and then said, "When you guys get Logan down to the lab please come to the top floor to help me with the professor and could one of you girls help me with Storm?"

"Kitty, you go," Jubilee suggested. "I'll make sure the kids are alright." Kitty nodded her consent. And with that, the group of weary warriors set off to do their designated duties.