A/N: And the story continues! This fic is my most popular fic by far. Thanks to you who read every chapter and review. You know who you are! Okay moving on…this chapter is mostly dialog but it's still good. Okay, I'm done rambling … enjoy!

Snow and Fire Don't Mix

Ch. 14

Nowhere To Be Found

As the girls went with John back to the lodge, Bobby stayed behind to ski.

The lobby was somewhat busy with people checking in and out and some just roaming around.

John sighed as he sat on the large couch in the lobby. "We should have gone to Kokomo instead."

Rogue and Kitty looked at each other. They weren't expecting him to say that.

"This is all Scott's fault. If he thought I was a bastard then, he hasn't seen anything yet," John said remembering Scott warning him to look out for trees.

The girls looked at each other again and smiled because for a moment they thought maybe John hit his head instead of his arm.

"Did you, like, have fun at least?"

"Sure Kitty … I had a hell of a good time … crashing into a tree." He reached into his pocket looking for his lighter but it was empty. He tried the other pocket and it was empty too. John paled and looked at Rogue like he'd seen a ghost.

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"It's gone."

John didn't even have to be more specific. Rogue knew instantly what he was referring to.

Without hesitation, he jumped off the couch. "I have to find it!" he exclaimed.

"Do you think it's wise to look for it now? After what you've just went through?"

John looked at Rogue like she was crazy.

"Okay, okay you're right … what on earth was I thinking? Your lighter is more important than your health."

"Good. Now that we've got that straightened out, help me find it."

John shuddered as he walked down the snowy hill of death. Okay … maybe that name is a little extreme but he thought it fit perfectly.

"Is this the spot, John?" Rogue asked.

"I'm positive. It probably fell out when I gave the tree a firm hug."

"John …" Kitty said warily.

"What …"

"I, like … don't see it."

"It didn't snow while we were inside … did it?"

"John, we were only inside for five minutes … not even."

He sighed. "Great. Now I'm going to have to search through the snow."

"Why don't you like just melt the snow in this area?"

"Kitty, I want to find my lighter … not destroy it!" He moaned. "I hate looking for things."

"John, you, like," Kitty started. Rogue tried to stop her from finishing that sentence but she was too late, "-have others".

Rogue had to think of something fast to say, "Kitty, why don't you try to find Bobby?"

"Others?!" he yelled.

Rogue looked at John and back to Kitty. "Go … now!"

"Others!" he yelled again.

"Ummm, yeah, I think I'll go find Bobby."

Kitty was almost out of sight when John yelled "OTHERS!"

She shook her head. 'What the hell was I thinking?'

John scanned the area over and over again but found nothing. He sarcastically laughed. "I never thought this day would come. What did I do to deserve this? I've been good on this trip."

She laughed.

"This is not a laughing matter, Rogue!" He was very serious.

"We will keep looking. It has to be here."

-Two hours later-

"John, we've been looking for over two hours … it's gone." She didn't want to say it but someone had to.

He looked at Rogue eye-to-eye, and said, "It's gone … it's really fucking gone."

A/N: OMG he lost his precious lighter! Admit it…I'm evil! However, don't let that stop you from reviewing! Evil authors are people too.