Ch. 2 Meetings

The rain was coming down hard that night but that didn't deter the X-men. They searched high and low for their friend but to no avail. Logan sniffed the air, hoping to catch Rogue's scent but got nothing. "Logan?" a voice asked from behind him. He turned and saw Kitty Pryde, her arms wrapped around her chest to try and ward off the cold. "Got anything?" He shook his head and Kitty looked away. "I should have been with her," she said. "If I had been there I could've-"

"Don't do that to yourself," Logan said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "If you had been there, then you be in the same trouble as she is." Kitty nodded, tears threatening to spill over. She wanted to find Rogue and go home.

At that point Scott Summers and Jean Grey came up and Jean asked, "Did you find anything?" Both Logan and Kitty both shook their heads. "You?" Logan asked. "Nothing," Scott said, shaking his head as well. Logan sighed, "Alright," he said. "We have to expand our search. Jean, you and Scott-"

"Logan?" a voice in Logan's head asked. "Chuck," Logan asked. "Have you found Rogue?"

"Yes," the Professor replied. "She's hurt but she's safe."

"What happened?" Logan asked, very concerned. "Where is she?" "I'm not sure what happened," Charles answered. "But she's here at the mansion. Gather the team and get back as soon as you can."

"Alright," Logan answered, ending the conversation.

"The Professor found Rogue," Logan announced to the team. "She hurt but she's okay. She's back at the mansion, so we need to gather everyone up and head back." "Did the Professor say what happened to her?" Kitty asked. "No," Logan answered. "So I'm guessing he doesn't know either." He turned to Jean and said, "Tell the others that Rogue is okay and to head back to mansion." Right," she nodded and placed her fore and middle fingers to her temple.

"Excuse me, " a voice called out. "Mr. Castle?" Frank opened his eyes and saw a man sitting in a wheelchair in front of him. "Are you alright?" "Who are you?" Frank asked, ignoring the man's question. "I'm Professor Charles Xavier, proprietor of this institution," the man answered. Frank looked to his left and saw that the girl had not moved from where he placed her.

"What's her name?" Frank asked. "Rogue." the Professor answered. Frank looked back at the Professor with a raised eyebrow. "It's all she's ever gone by," the Professor answered. Frank nodded, then turned his attention back to Rogue. "What happened to her?" the Professor asked. "She was attacked," Frank answered. "By whom?" he asked. "Don't know," Frank answered, never taking his eyes off Rogue.

At that moment, both men heard a loud sneeze from outside, then the front doors opened and Logan and the rest of the team walked in. When Logan saw Rogue, he immediately went to her side. "What happened to her?" he asked. "She was attacked by unknown assailants," Charles answered, as he wheeled over towards him. "Luckily Mr. Castle, here, was able to prevent further harm to her."

"Castle?" Scott asked. "As in Frank Castle? The Punisher?" "Yeah," Frank monotoned. "If you're planning on calling the cops, just let me gather some intel, then I'll leave."

"Intel?" Jean asked. "At first I thought this was just a random attack against mutants but it seems that they someone backing them. I was hoping you could provide me with some insight."

"Where the attackers?" Logan asked. "Dead," Frank answered. "What makes you think they have a backing?" Scott asked. "Wait here," Frank said before stepping outside. He came in a few moments later holding an M4A1 Carbine with a M203 Grenade Launcher and Franchi SPAS 12 shotgun with folding stock and 8-round magazine.

"So?" Scott asked. "These aren't mine nor are these the civilian models. Whoever these people are they have access to military weaponry." "You're saying the military is behind this?" Kurt Wagner asked. "Doubt it," Frank answered, putting the weapons on the table. "There's probably a leak somewhere."

"Listen," Kitty chimed in. "Can we pick this up tomorrow? I think we should get Rogue to the Infirmary and I think I've caught a-ACHEW!" She sneezed. "A cold." "It is rather late," the Professor said. "Logan, could you take Rogue-" Logan had already picked Rogue up and was making his way to the Infirmary, while Kitty headed upstairs to her room. "Uhm, Jean," the Professor spoke after a long silence. "Yes, Professor?" Jean asked. "Could you find a room for our 'guest' here?" "Uh, sure," she said before turning to Frank. "Follow me," she said, leading him up the stairs.

"Here," Jean said, opening the door to an unoccupied room. Frank murmured his thanks before walking in and placing the M4 and Franchi SPAS 12 on the dresser. "Do you need, anything else?" Jean asked. Frank turned to her and said, "No. Thank you." Then he closed the door. He waited a few moments to make sure she was gone, then he grabbed one of the phones he had taken earlier and began to dial.

Frank still had contacts in the military: a Lieutenant whose now a Colonel, a Captain who went on to run the sniper school at Bragg, just to name a few. But he had an idea of where to start, "Fury?" Frank asked. "Castle?" the other line asked back. "I need favor," Frank said. There was a pause, then, "What did you need?"

When mourning came, a knock on Frank's door roused him from his sleep. He got off of the bed (still in full gear) and opened the door. It was the young man from last night, the one with the red shades. "The professor wants to talk to you," he said. "I'm suppose to take you there." Frank nodded and followed the young man down the stairs and to the professor's study. Inside the room was the Professor and the man known as Logan, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"That will be all, Scott," the Professor said. "Thank you." Scott nodded, then closed the door. The Professor turned to Frank and asked, "Are your accommodations to your liking?" They're fine," Frank answered. "What do you want?" "Yes, well," the Professor stammered, a bit taken aback by Frank's bluntness. "About the incident last night, would you happen to have any idea who would do this?"

"I was hoping you would," Frank said. "Logan?" the Professor asked, turning towards him. "The only one that comes to mind," Logan said. "Is Principal Kelly."

"Who?" Frank asked. "Edward Kelly," the Professor said. "He's a stark supporter of anti-mutant policies. He even ran for mayor on such a platform." He turned to Logan and asked. "Do you really think he would do something like this?"

"Unlikely," Logan answered. "But I wouldn't put it past him." At that Frank turned around and began to leave. "Mr. Castle," the Professor called "Where are you going?" "Frank turned and said, "I'm going to have a talk with this guy and see what he knows."

"Wait," Logan called before tossing his trench coat back to him, which Frank caught. "Thought you would want this back." Frank nodded his thanks before leaving. Charles then turned back to Logan and asked. "Do you think he'll kill him?" " 'Thing about Castle," Logan said, re-crossing his arms. "Is that he only punishes the guilty. If Kelly is innocent, then he'll spare him."

Then he added after a pause. "But that doesn't mean Kelly will come out of this unharmed."

AN: I'd like to say that I haven't seen X-men: Evolution in quite sometime. So if anything is out of place, I apologize.