Author Note: This one is a little bit long. This part is kind of the turning point for Rogue. One of the many she will have in the story.

Disclaimer: Yeah don't own X-men. Yet you can always sign my petition for me to own X-men.

"Oh my god, she is like waking up"

Rogue eyes fluttered opened. The blaring ceilings lights were the first to greet her. She quickly got up but, soon regretted it. She stumbled grabbing her head from the sudden rush.

"Take it easy Stripes…" Logan said pushing Rogue back down to bed.

Rogue scanned the room seeing Logan, Kitty and the Professor as the only people in the room. She sighed, a little relieved but not sure why. She grabbed her head trying to remember why she was in the infirmary. She was talking to Scott, telling him about the debate team. Then Jean came with flowers and started talking to her. After that it was blurry, but the sting on her hands made her feel she punched something or maybe even someone. Rogue went to rub her hand and felt it bare. She panicked

"Where are my gloves?" Rogue stared at Kitty panicked tracing her face.

Kitty pulled her gloves from her pocket "Like, I got a pair from your desk."

Rogue sighed carefully grabbing the gloves from Kitty's hands. She quickly put them on, and muttered a small thank you.

The Professor cleared his throat. "May I have a moment with Rogue?" Kitty looked at her friend if she needed any emotion support.

Rogue had spent all day sleeping ever since Monday night. Ever since Kitty got the news she had been on Rogue's side hoping her friend will wake up. No her best friend, as much as Rogue would deny it, they were close and confided in each other. After many years Kitty could decipher the complex emotions Rogue tried to hide. Except right now Rogue didn't hide a thing. Right now, Rogue looked too tired causing too much vulnerability to surface. However The Professor explicitly stated that he rather talk to Rogue alone.

Rogue looked at Kitty and Logan. Kitty stared at her with those big blue eyes biting her lip as though in the brim of tears. Right now Rogue didn't need a pity party.

"I will be fine…" She hung her head low. Logan put his hand on the small on Kitty's back and led her out of the room. The Professor stared at them and then looked back at one of his most troubled students.

"Rogue, I will begin that I do not appreciate fighting with your powers with your peers outside the danger room." The Professor started and Rogue tensed up. "That matter will be handled by Logan. There are more pressing issues…" He looked at Rogue and sighed "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, Professor…" Rogue bit her lip looking at her teacher. "Ah just have slight headaches…"

The Professor folded his hand and rested his elbows on his legs. "Rogue, back there you had used your powers on Jean. A power that had not been used since…" He frowned trying to put it lightly. "since the accident with Scott. We have no idea what could have happened to her but fortunately Jean came out virtually unscathed."

The breath Rogue held in was slowly let go. She didn't know what came over her to use her powers on Jean. She was torn between gratification and fear. She didn't want another person in the medical bay because of her. There was already too much guilt floating in her head. However there was certain gratification no matter how small of a feeling, that she finally got one up on the queen of the institute.

"However what is most unsettling is the fact that once you held on to Jean, your barriers were completely shattered." The Professor looked at Rogue whose face was lined with confusion. "This is not something Jean would have been capable if she was under…the pull of your powers"

Rogue scoffed and crossed her arms. "Ya right Professor, she probably leaked into my mind as soon as Ah touched her…"

Professor shook his head "No Rogue this happened from inside your head." Professor touched his temples "Something in here stopped you from hurting Jean and potentially doing something that you regret later…"

Rogue chewed on her lip holding the urge to cry. All of the sudden her emotions were out of whack. She had given up long time ago on the fruitless motion of tears, ever since what happened to Mystique. What she had done to Mystique. She felt tears brimming her eyes when she always held strong. When she wanted to lock herself until the sun exploded she socialized. Saying something was wrong with her psyche and the people who roamed her head is an understatement.

"It may not have been the best plan of one of your…occupants but it probably was the quickest without taking over." The Professor sighed "Your powers seem normal, the pull had returned but even though Jean was able to stay conscious, Jean was not able to use her powers afterwards. Your powers Rogue I am afraid are…evolving into something we never suspected. We may need to run some test…" He looked at Rogue "With your permission of course…"

Rogue sighed letting her arms fall beside her "Ah'll think about it Professor…"

"Please do Rogue. Whenever you need me…I will be at my office…" The Professor wheeled out of the room and motioned Logan and Kitty to go back in.

"You sure know how to throw a party Stripes" Logan crossed his arms entering the room right after Kitty.

"Huh?" Rogue looked at him puzzled.

"Like Jean has a bruise on her nose the size of like Texas." Kitty shook her head "No amount of like make up can cover that up."

Rogue looked at them. "Great…" She rubbed her temple. No wonder the Professor said virtually.

"She woke up!" Bobby voice was heard and he rushed beside Kitty. He had gone out of the room for a moment to go to the bathroom and he missed her waking up. He surely had a bad stroke of luck. "Good to see un-scathed Rogue. Sadly we can't say the same for Jean. You re-arranged her face, now it is like half as pretty as it used to be."

Kitty punched Bobby's arm. Bobby flinched and rubbed his arm. Why did all the institute girls punch so hard?

"What I thought it would cheer her up knowing Jean got her face re-arranged." Bobby smiled "Didn't know you would finally snap."

"Bobby enough…" Logan growled "Don't know what got you all upset Stripes but beating up on a teammate isn't the way to go. Even if you were angry you made the fight into a UFC match."

"Mutant UFC" Bobby slipped in.

"Bobby" Logan snapped again and Bobby held his tongue.

Rogue chewed on her lip. The memory of that night slowly slipped in. She had brutally attacked Jean and used her powers on her. Her strategy to get to Jean would be something Logan would be proud of but then again it was her teammate she had attacked. She had initiated it, and ended it. Logan was a lover of a good brawl but always thought Rogue had more sense than him. Rogue opened her mouth to speak but Logan quickly cut her off.

"Don't want to hear excuses Stripes. Double danger room sessions and kitchen duty." Logan grunted her famous grunt. He was not up for any excuses.

"But-"

"Nope. Jean already got her punishment. You better suck it up and accept yours." Logan said leaving the room.

Bobby waited until Logan was completely out of the room to speak. "But seriously, nice left hook…"

Kitty punched Bobby in his arm again. "Stop encouraging her"

Bobby rubbed his arm looking at Kitty "Seriously, all you X-women punch so hard. Look at the number on Jean- ouch!"

Kitty rubbed her hand for punching Bobby too many times. "Like Rogue, I don't know what happened but like you and Jean should apologize to each other."

Rogue sighed "It was a stupid fight…" Rogue rubbed her head feeling a slight pang "Ah'm fuzzy with da details but Ah know it wasn't good."

"Like Professor said your like mental shield broke and like you were in pain and whatever. It is like the end of Tuesday and missed all your classes!" Kitty spoke a mile a minute.

Rogue groaned "Ah got like half of that" Kitty opened her mouth again but Rogue cut her off "Nah, Ah got the important parts…Jean and Ah…." Rogue rubbed her face "Gotta a fight over Scott"

Kitty gasped. Did Jean know that Rogue liked Scott? That wasn't something the red head would be mad about right? As sad as it was, she shouldn't be. Scott was noble and would never leave Jean without good reason. Scott stick up his butt was good for one thing, he was ridiculously loyal.

Bobby gave a slight frown. "Why would you fight over that?"

"Well it wasn't directly about Scott…" Rogue sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the medical bed. "She wanted to get a baseline of my powers ta see what exactly went wrong that put Scott in a coma." Rogue sighed "Ah told her no cause Ah didn't want to hurt anybody anymo'." Rogue shook her head "Jean called me selfish and Ah punched her…."

"Like ouch. I mean Jean knows how sensitive you are with your powers….Jean like doesn't get it. She means well but it kind of hard for her you know?" Kitty sighed crossing her arms.

Bobby looked between the two. He had only a slight clue what they were talking about.

"Yet Jean was right about som'thing…" Rogue held the bridge of her nose. She couldn't believe she just said Jean was right. "Ah had been hiding behind my powers, keeping everyone in arm's length. What has it gotten me?"

Kitty chewed on her lip and looked at Bobby who looked clearly confused. Bobby stared back at Kitty. Why the hell did Kitty have a sorry look on her face?

"Alone…." Rogue sighed staring at the floor. "Every time the Professor helps Ah always think it ain't gonna work. Ah think Ah'm too broken too fix. Always keeping everyone away…" Rogue shook her head "It's like Ah don't want help…"

"Rogue…" Kitty started raising her hand to touch Rogue's shoulder. When it reached it's destination Kitty was surprised to see Rogue not shrug her off. She held in a gasp.

"Ah need more confidence" Rogue scrunched her face and stared at Kitty "Maybe, wanting people close instead of faraway will do me some good….."

Kitty looked at Rogue. It was Rogue but, somehow she was being so not Rogue. She wasn't hiding way in her room or trying to find Jean for a round two. "So, are you going to work it out with the Professor to gain control?"

Rogue stood up and adjusting the hem of her skirt. She had been hiding away for the longest time. She was afraid to be close to anyone because of her powers. She stared at the people who were her friends; the part of her family that interacted with her despite her moody nature. She probably brought them more woes keeping them away then what she thought she was saving them. That's probably why Scott went to Jean, why Gambit hadn't come back. She owed it to them to change.

"Yeah…"Rogue smiled "Maybe it's time for a change"

Kitty jumped up and down "Oh my god, let me get the car and let's get you a new wardrobe" Kitty rushed out of the Medical Bay people getting the car keys.

"Should I freeze Kitty in place, or the car keys on the key post?" Bobby said smiling.

"No, let her have her fun…" Rogue grumbled "Why did Ah open my big ol' mouth. Ah meant small changes…" Rogue rubbed her face.

Bobby smiled and wrapped his arm around Rogue's shoulder. "Well we are with you a hundred percent."

Rogue clicked her tongue and looked at her friend. "Bobby?"

"Yes?"

"Don't get fresh" Rogue spat out "Get your arm off me before Ah rip it off and shove up your butt and make you into a true Popsicle…" Rogue shrugged away and walked out.

"One step at a time, one step at a time" He shrugged walking out.

Rogue scrubbed breakfast dishes hard. Logan had refused to let her use the dishwasher and she had to scrub every single dish from every student by hand. She didn't realize how many people occupied the mansion until two and half of the sinks were filled with dishes after breakfast. She grunted, she really needed to give Logan a piece of her mind.

"Rogue…"A nasally and soft voice came from behind her. Rogue quickly turned to around.

Then there was the last person she wanted to see, Jean. Well what was left of Jean's face. Jean nose was covered with a large bandage. However the bandage couldn't hide the bruising that plagued her eyes. Bobby wasn't kidding about Jean being half as pretty. Jean looked defeated and worn probably from too much pain medication, her hair up in a messy pony tail. Even though her face was black and blue her beauty was only cut to normal plain standard with the swelling and bruising. Rogue internally sighed, Only Jean can make a black and blue engorged face a fashion statement.

Jean bit her lip "How are you-….doing…" Jean started weakly her voice slight nasally.

"I…I mean, Ah'm fine Jean…" Rogue down-casted her eyes not able to see the damage she had done to Jean. She saw Jean raise her arms to fasten the bandage on her nose.

"Rogue I wanted to say-"Jean took one step forward that looked like it physically hurt.

Rogue raised her hand to stop Jean. "Look, we can cut the pleasantries. Ah should be apologizing, Ah lost my temper..." Rogue clicked her tongue "As usual, Ah'm sorry Ah shouldn't have done dat…."

"No, I am the one went out of line" Jean interrupted." Scott just been in there and I just couldn't help but-" Jean stopped grabbing her mouth to stop herself for slipping out the words that were already said.

Rogue shook her head. Now that is what Rogue wanted to hear. Jean under all the pleasantries, and kind smile Rogue knew that Jean blamed her for what happened to Scott. It was finally time that Jean owned up that she wasn't all rainbows, unicorns, and glitter.

Jean stared at her in horror "Rogue I'm-"

"No..." Rogue smiled "Ah'm actually glad you said that Jean…" Rogue leaned against the counter and whipped her hands against the hem of her skirt. "Look what happened to Scott, Ah regret it every day and probably forever for my miserable existence." Rogue frowned "Everyone quick to say it wasn't my fault. But Ah and ya know the truth. It was my fault, and Ah'm a big girl to take responsibility….Ah'm sorry Ah haven't gone to see Scott for five months…" Rogue chewed on her lip "Ah been a horrible friend to Scott"

"Rogue…" Jean said softly crossing her arms across the chest. "No you haven't Scott would have understood the pain you feel seeing him there. He was always understanding of your feelings." Jean winced feeling a little envious of her own words. "I shouldn't have asked you to touch someone for Scott's behalf. He wouldn't have wanted that…"

Rogue sighed "Scott has-"

"Always thought about you" Jean interrupted "He respected you as a fearless tough woman. He sort of looked up to you being an X-man without always using your powers. He probably jumped in front of that bullet to show off…" Jean gave a weak smile.

Rogue looked at Jean confused. Everything Jean said sounding like a little too revealing. There were too much of Scott that Rogue didn't know and probably Scott too afraid to admit. It was almost like Scott may have liked her. But what really scared her was Jean's tone. What sounded like Jean was admiring her too, but if one dug just a little deeper under the compliments anyone can tell the green eyed monster reared its ugly head. Jean was jealous, and jealous of Rogue of all things. Rogue could just burst out laughing at that point but held on firm.

"Jean are you…" Rogue held back a smile "Jealous of me?"

Jean body tensed and her eyes grew wide. She slowly raised her head to look at Rogue. And there it was, the look of horror when someone big dark secret was revealed.

"I'm…it's just that-" Jean shook her head. There was no bother denying it. "No matter what you think Scott didn't abandon you." Rogue clicked her tongue in response. "I am being serious; he always looked for you for a conversation or have a good laugh when he was stressed. College, work and X-men really did a number of him and he had no time. Even for me…" Jean sighed. "I couldn't but feel dishearten that he look for comfort in you…..that he explained his insecurities to you while I was his girlfriend…." Jean leaned against the kitchen table "It was sad to see that he was closer to you at times than to me. Especially sense…you held a candle for him."

Rogue held her breath. There was the elephant in the room. An elephant that Rogue was sure everyone could see. Rogue liked Scott when Scott and Jean liked each other. How silly she was to go after a guy she couldn't even touch. But how could she not? Scott understood. She knew Scott would understand the no touch. He was the most understanding of completely losing normal human privileges due to your mutation cutting off your senses. She thought the random far between talks Scott had were her was because he didn't want Jean to get jealous. That he had outright abandoned her for the sake of his feelings of Jean. In reality he was feeding the green eyed monster that grew inside Jean by talking to her with the little time he had.

"Ah held a candle for him…" Rogue said turning around and started putting away dishes. "Those feelings are dissipating knowing me and him can never be. He likes you Jean and is a lot happier than he could ever be with me."

"Rogue you don't think you are second best right?" Jean asked and Rogue stood silent. "As much as I hate to admit, it wasn't the case. Scott…had some feelings for you that everyone could see. It was just as painfully obvious as the feelings I chose to ignore he had for me. In honesty not to make Scott looked bad but…it was a matter of who said it first…" Jean sighed "He was torn between feelings he had for you and I. So however said it first his feelings bloomed for and stuck like glue. He probably was trying to get over his feelings for you for my sake…" Jean crossed her hands "I understand though….it that same feeling I had for Duncan and Scott at one point." She shuddered hating to admit that about Duncan.

Rogue slowly blinked; did the princess have her own insecurities? She couldn't believe that Scott liked her, but she could believe that Jean thought Scott did. Rogue was jealous that Jean had Scott and had a physical relationship that she could never have. Jean was jealous of all the emotion attachments. She smirked; she and Jean were quite a pair. Jean however was nice about it probably pushing her securities away and tried to act like friends, even if that person once liked your boyfriend. This was all while Rogue couldn't help but to be bitter towards Jean. The resentment was a little too lopsided.

"Jean Ah think ya and me both can agree…there some ugly tension between us…" Rogue turned back around placing the last dish into the cabinet. "Yet the resentment was one sided. Ah hate ya for all the wrong reason, while ya tried genuinely to be friends. Ya have Scott now…" She bit her lip "Ah rather not do anything about it. Ya have your happiness…while Ah will find mind." Rogue sighed and placed her gloves back on. "Ah'm sorry for punching ya, breaking your nose and used my powers on ya…" Rogue raised her hand to shake her hand. "Ah'm not saying we are going to be the best of friends, or even friends….but let's call a truce. It's silly to be jealous of each other…"

Jean stared at Rogue's hand, the very hand that punched her yesterday and took her powers. As much as she should have hated Rogue, she couldn't. It wasn't in her nature and somewhere deep inside she knew why Rogue was the way she was. Jean was many things and one of them was forgiving. Jean was happy with Scott, and Rogue would never purposely take that away, even if her lover was lying in a hospital bed in the last eight months. Jean rose up her hand and gave it a firm shake.

"I would like to be friends…but this is good enough for now…" Jean smiled.

"So wha' punishment Logan got ya on?"

Jean scrunched her face which made the bruise press the fine lines of her eyes. "Laundry and double danger room… I don't know what your brother does to make his gym clothes smell so bad…"

Rogue laughed. "It's the fuzziness of the fuzzy man."

Author Note: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews so far! I am happy to hear everyone enjoy the story so far! By any chance can anyone guess who shattered Rogue's mental barriers? It won't be revealed until a little later in the chapters but I want to hear your thoughts! Please place your guesses on the Comments and Review section. And no it wasn't Jean Grey

Also I will be posting Chapter 5 in a couple of hours. This had nothing to do with me procrastinating on my school work. -kicks her soil physics homework under her chair-. Yep, no homework here.