Chapter 14: The Mansion's Garage

The cars and motorcycle pulled into the garage of The Xavier Institute at 3:00am, 4:45am, and 5:15am. All the occupants of each vehicle slid out of, or off it. Jean and Sam were back first and noticed that The X-Van was there.

"Kurt and Jamie must have finished quickly." Jean yawned. "Well we better check in with the professor."

Sam yawned and wined, "Can't you do it? I am toast."

Jean glared at him. "What, and I'm not?" she shot back.

Sam stumbled for words, "No, I mean yeah but I'm, and you're…"

Jean raised an eyebrow, "What Sam, I couldn't understand you?" Sam shrugged. Jean took this opportunity and said, "Maybe Rogue was right to have you go on this mission."

Sam looked at her like she was loosing her marbles. "What, you're siding with Rogue? I think you need sleep Jean."

He started to walk away but Jean mentally yanked him back. "So how did it feel Sam, being an X-Man and all?"

He blinked, "What?"

She played on this. "Oh you know, saving mutants from a killer drug, staying up to all hours of the night, and not knowing when you'd get home."

Sam thought of this. "Well, I didn't like it when you started to cry, and I am exhausted. This wasn't even a full blown mission. Well it was, sorta." He looked at Jean with a confused and tired face. "Are missions always like this Jean?"

Son of a bitch! Rogue knew exactly what she was doing! She had pared them up like this on purpose! She knew that Jean would keep Sam in line. She also knew that deep down Sam was sensitive, they all were. She sighed.

"No Sam, this was an easy mission. No one got hurt badly. You have a few bumps on your head from people chucking boxes out of windows at you, but that is all. Once we check in with the professor I am sure you can go to bed."

They walked off into the mansion.

Next to arrive back were Scott and Jubilee. Scott saw Jeans SUV and gave a sigh of relief. He also saw the X-Van. "Looks like Gambit and Amara are still out. Why don't we go in, I'm sure you are exhausted. I know I am."

Jubilee looked at Scott, "Shouldn't we go check in with Professor X first?" she asked.

Scott looked at her and then nodded, "Yeah Jubes, we should. Thanks for keeping my head on my shoulders."

They started towards the door and Scott stopped. She'd planned this! Rogue had it all figured out! She knew that Scott would be so wound up during a mission that he would hit his pillow as soon as he got the chance. She also knew that Jubilee had enough energy for the both of them and would keep Scott on track in a similar way to Jean. Rogue was good, way better than what they gave her credit for.

"Scott, ate you alright?"

Scott looked at the fifteen year old in front of him. He smiled. "I'm fine Jubilee, just thinking. So, how did you enjoy your first mission?"

She looked at him. "Oh, it was fine I guess."

"You guess?" Scott repeated. "What was wrong with it?"

Jubilee sighed, "Well there wasn't that much action. I hardly got to use my powers unless someone wanted proof that I was a mutant. It wasn't exactly how I'd thought my first mission would go."

Scott started to laugh and then became serious. "Jubilee, you saved over fifty mutant lives last night. That is a bigger deal than fighting Magneto or sentinels. Besides, I saw plenty of action watching you from the car." He smiled.

"You did," she asked. "When?"

Scott couldn't contain it any longer. "I saw and heard many a door slam and watched you jump or stamp your feet. I even heard you yell at some people. You were quite entertaining Miss Lee." He laughed. 'God I must be exhausted, when do I ever laugh?'

She walked back to him and punched him in the arm. "Ow, kid I'm…"

"I am not a kid Scott. I am an X-Man. I have just been on my first mission."

"Ok, Jubes, but that still hurt."

They entered the mansion hoping that Jean, Sam, Kurt and Jamie had gotten a good number of boxes too.

Gambit pulled up on his motorcycle with Amara on the back. He helped her off the bike and placed her feet on the garage floor. Gambit looked at her. "Tired petite?" Amara nodded. Gambit chuckled, "Come mon ami, we mus' go see de prof. non?"

Amara sighed, "Yes, he will want to know we made it home alive, well that I made it home alive." She gave Gambit a tired smile.

"Gambit was careful, non?" He looked a little concerned. Had he gone too fast?

Amara smiled, "Qui Gambit you were very careful. I just saw the way everyone looked at us when I got on your bike. They were scared stiff."

Remy smirked. They all knew Remy could drive safely. Hell if he couldn't he would of been a Cajun-kabob a long time ago when Rogue was on his bike. Granted she was seventeen and this petite was fourteen.

Mon dieu! His Cherie had set him up! He had to care for the petite and keep her safe. Rogue knew that Remy would use his powers to get what he wanted. She also knew Amara did not like it when people were hurt, therefore she would be a peace keeper making sure nothing got blown up. Amara and Remy both had good hearts, with two different ways of showing it, just like him and Rogue.

"Chaud Cherie tries chaud." Remy mumbled (Tricky darling, very tricky.)

"What?" asked Amara.

"Nothin' petite. So 'ow y' like yo' firs' mission?"

"It was actually kind of fun."

"Oh, why dat?"

"Well, I got to work with you."

Remy chuckled, "Remy glad y' like 'is company."

"You know, you aren't as bad as they say you are. You should tone it down a bit though, for Logan's sake, and our health." She smiled and yawned.

"Well Remy glad dat y' were dere t' Amara. Y' 'elped Remy get ova 100 boxes last night. Remy only use 'is power 70%0 o' de time. Y' use' ya words de other 30%."

She laughed, "You know what my favorite part was?"

Gambit shook his head, "Non petite, what was y' fav' part?"

Amara's eyes widened and she had a brief burst of energy, "When the man saw your flaming card, ran around in a circle and then ran to get the drug. That's going to stay in my mind for a long time."

They both laughed. "Qui petite. Everyone' 'ave a favorite memory from dere firs' mission dat dey find funny den or later."

Amara nodded and then asked, "What was your favorite part of your first mission Gambit?"

He stopped and thought. "Well petite what mission 'r' we talkin' 'bout? De X-Men?"

She shrugged. "Any mission Gambit."

He thought for a second and then smirked, "Albright' petite, on one 'o Gambits first missions he tripped an alarm, not a good ting. De guard was a big gorilla o' a man. I wen' out de vent an' de man tried t' follow. Gambit made it t' de roof an' when he look down, Gambit see's de guard stuck in de middle o' de vent."

Amara laughed, "So not one of your X-Men missions then."

Remy smiled, "Non."

They walked through the side door of the garage into the mansion.