The sight of the medical bay broke Gambits heart. He leaned his forehead against his fist. His arm was leaning on the glass wall as he looked in. No less than twelve of the students had been infected. Each one immobilized to their bed, forced to breath through a filter mask strapped to their faces. And to make things worse, each one was having a reaction with their powers. Bobby had blankets piled on top of him to keep him warm. Several had been given separate cooling units to lower their temperature. Jamie's physical structure had been compromised, forcing hank to keep him in a container. Hank had cleared Gambit of the virus with the first round of blood tests.

Hank was busy moving from student to student, keeping them alive. Kitty and Jean had been allowed inside without suit once Hank had completely convinced they wouldn't become infected. They helped him any way they could. Just the sight of the kids in pain made Gambit want to look away, but what killed him more was the sight of Rogue. Her skin had taken to the mutation. Her veins were visible all over her body, outlines in black on her porcelain white skin. Her eyes had become darker than earlier, taking on black shades. Yet despite her appearance, Rogue did her best to aid Hank with the other ailing students.

"Dis can' be." Gambit said.

"I'm afraid it is Gambit. And what's worse, hank cannot create the antivirus." Charles explained.

Gambit turned from the window. "But Rogue brough' deh antivirus back wit her."

The doors hissed behind them. Hank emerged from the medical bay. "Yes she did. However, I made a very disturbing discovery about that. It would appear that the creator of this virus didn't want to be proportional with the vaccine and the virus."

"'Friad Gambit no' followin'." Gambit replied.

"What I mean, is that-" a loud crash form inside the medical bay stopped Hanks explanation. They turned quickly. Kitty was rushing to Rogue, who'd fallen to the floor. Hank rushed into the medical bay. Kitty was already lifting Rogue into her arms. Hank took rogue into his arms and placed her into her bed.

Charles sensed Gambits uneasiness watching Hank with Rogue. "Gambit, Rogue mention a way of becoming infected while the two of you were at the facility."

Gambit turned from the window. "Rogue mention somtin' 'bout getting' scraped on her arm." Gambit lowered his head. "Come at tink o' it. Rogue said deh man who shot 'er was speakin' durin' de recent conference talk. Gambit didn' tink nothin' o' it."

"I'll look see what I can find out about the conference speakers. However, now that we know the cause of this, we need you to get back into the facility." Xavier said.

"Pourquoi?"

"We need the data used to create the virus and antivirus. Perhaps Hank can recreate the antivirus in time." Charles explained.

"He'll never get back in without help." said a voice. Gambit pulled out several cards and charged them up. Xavier and Gambit turned toward the voice. Mystique stepped into view.

"Mystique, I trust you have a reason for your intrusion." Xavier said.

"I do, Charles." Mystique pointed to the medical bay. "She's dying in there. I merely came to offer my assistance. Nothing more, nothing less."

Charles pressed the intercom button. "X-Men, please gather in the briefing room, immediately."

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To say that there was tension was an understatement. As soon as Kurt caught sight of Mystique, he turned directly around until Xavier stopped him. Logan, was another story. It took both Jean and Xavier to keep him from slashing her to ribbons. Once everyone was seated, with Mystique placed far from the others, Xavier began.

"We are faced with a most difficult task. Hank has informed me that the vaccine Rogue brought back isn't close to the amount the children need to survive." Xavier began.

"but there were five vials of vaccine." Scott said.

"Yes Scott, however, the creator of the virus didn't want mutants to survive, so he designed the virus to need a sufficient amount of vaccine in order for the mutant to survive. And as it is now, hank doesn't have enough vaccine to cure even one of the children." Xavier explained.

"So like, what happens to them, Professor?" Kitty asked. The room went silent, waiting for the Professor to answer.

"Gambit will return to the facility and obtain the data hank needs to create the vaccine." Xavier started. "And in order to do so, Mystique must first slip in. Her reasons for being here are merely to see Rogue live through this," Logan growled. "and she will leave us be. I have her word on that."

"But how can ve trust her?" Kurt asked. "I mean, she already broke into zhe institute."

"You and Rogue have both stated you want nothing to do with me, Kurt. However, I witnessed the Sentinel attack. I wasn't able to help Rogue then, but I can help her now. As soon as McCoy has the data he needs, I shall not return." Mystique explained. "My word is all you have, but can you name anyone else who can easily slip into the facility?"

Kurt was silent.

"I know none of you trust Mystique, however, we need her help, or our friends will not survive the week." Xavier stated.

That was all Gambit needed to hear. "Jus' tell moi when we leave."

Xavier looked to Gambit, as did the others. "As soon as possible."

Logan pushed himself off the wall. "Let's go."

Mystique and Gambit followed Logan toward the door.

"Good luck to you." Xavier said.

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Gambit waited in the vent above the computer room, waiting for Mystique's signal. Gambit hated the idea of waiting on someone else during a mission, but waiting on someone he never trusted was worse, especially under the circumstances. He watched one of the last scientists exit the lab, leaving one sitting in the chair at the computer.

"clear." Mystique called.

"Gambit to Wolverine. Goin' in." Gambit said.

"Copy that. Make it fast." Wolverine replied.

Gambit popped the cover off the vent and dropped into the ground. He walked calmly to the computer and stared at the screen. The scientist ignored Gambit, shifting back into Mystique. Her fingers typed quickly, sifting through the data.

"Y'sure y'can ge' da data?" Gambit asked.

Mystique gave no reply. Her eyes were focused on the screen in front of her. She scanned the information she was given, searching for the virus documents.

"What's the status Gumbo?" Wolverine asked.

"Still lookin'." Gambit replied.

"Ya runnin' outa time." Wolverine said.

"Got it." Gambit turned to Mystique. "Deh Wolverine says we runnin' ou' o' time."

"Give me the disk." Mystique demanded.

Gambit looked up at the screen. "Y'found it?"

"Of course it did!" Mystique snapped. She took the disks from Gambit and began downloading the information.

Gambit watched the door as Mystique finished the downloading. She handed him the disk and stood from the chair. Gambit followed her to the vent. Mystique shifted into a bird and flew up into the vent. Gambit took a running jump onto a nearby table and launched himself up. He grabbed the edge and pulled himself up into the vent.

"Gambit at wolverine. We go' da data." Gambit said.

"Copy that. On route for pick up." Wolverine said.

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yay!!! cure recovered. and why won't it end you ask....CAUSE I WON'T LET IT!!!

i own nothing