Hey Everyone :)

So the last chapter was NOT the end :0 hahaha

Anyways, haven't updated in awhile because I was in Washington D.C. for a week and came back with BRONCHITIS! And while on bed rest what better thing to do than write?

Hope you enjoy and R&R!

Explosions of Every Kind Chapter 18: A Murderer's Conscience

The air had an unusually cool nip in it for a summer breeze. The funeral was not held at a church or at the mansion. No. All mutants— X-men, acolyte, and brotherhood— surrounded a silver-flecked charcoal gravestone on the local cemetery's hill that read the name 'ERIK LENCHER ~Beloved friend and father~'. No one dared speak, no one could. Warm voices choke while icy sobs were allowed to run free. Only one voice rose above the black-clothed crowd.

"We are gathered here today to not only celebrate the life of a dear personal friend of mine and great adversary to us, but a true visionary," Xavier was choked-up not knowing if he had the strength to go on then continued, "Erik Lencher cared for mutants greatly. He dedicated his life to bringing independence to theirs, and although our methods were diverse, our ideals were one. He knew the price of these ideals, and he paid them."

Rogue's stomach flipped violently and turned fiercely inside of her as he spoke these words, and although no one was looking at her she felt as if their nonexistent stares she swore she sensed upon her face carried the burning intensity of a thousand suns.

"Although our 'teams' may have different names and different faces," Xavier, his eyes filling with tears, peered about at his own mourning X-men and at Magneto's own grief-stricken brotherhood and acolytes then persisted, "we all have a common goal. Perhaps this one tragic event will bring us closer together…as mutants… 'As brothers' to quote a great man."

Gambit, dressed in a sullen ash and charcoal suit, attempted to reach his bare hand out to Rogue's covered one. As he did so she retreated farther into herself, enveloping her torso further into the onyx, lace wrap draped about her shoulders with the purpose of covering her floor-length, slate dress that she donned.

A translucent tear rolled down the curve of Rogue's supple face. Her thoughts plagued her more than locust plagued the desserts of Egypt. 'Murderer. There is no forgiveness for you. No redemption in your future. No salvation. No friends… No love. You are a murderer.' Rogue stood there shivering, not from the chill in the air but from the chill of the nightmares she embedded in her own mind.

Gambit once again reached out his hand to comfort his girlfriend, except she ripped away from him once again and broke. In the midst of all the mourning, Rogue ran. She ran to a nearby oak tree and fell to the moist grass, her back slamming against the rigid bark as she bawled. 'Murderer!' Her make-up smeared along the length of her elongated gloves as she wiped her sodden eyes. 'Murderer!'

Across the yard, Magneto's funeral had progressed into each mutant who could still vocalize their words giving speeches and paying their respects. The muffled sounds of despaired mutants made Rogue's heart sink until she felt it could go no lower. "Ah took away their father," Rogue sniveled as she heard Pietro talking. "Ah destroyed their family." Her back skidded off the tree's foundation and she sobbed into the dew of the fresh cut grass not knowing what to do next. Unexpectedly, her back arched as her chest heaved in and out. Rogue's slender figure writhed while she hurled up discolored flem instead of the breakfast she felt to nauseous to eat.

Unsteadily she lifted herself on to shaky knees as she meandered back to the crowd of her peers. As soon as Rogue clutched the back of an unknown mutant's suit for stability the harsh wind picked up and whipped against her face as if trying to slap her pale features. Letting go of Bobby's jacket, Rogue announced, "Ah'd like t'say a few words."

Xavier nodded, although Pietro had to hold a scowling Wanda back.

"Ah…Ah," Rogue struggled to find the right words, "Ah don't expect any of y'to forgive meh. So Ah shall not ask for such a thing. Mah actions took away a friend, a father, and a leader," she stopped to wipe tears from her smeared eyes, "It is little consolation f'r meh t'say Ah'd change mah actions if Ah had a second chance. Ah'm truly sorry and Ah don't know what else t'say t'you all." Her voice finally choked and she was unable to regain it. Rogue melted back into the crowd of shadowed mutants and took her place leaning against Gambit's chest as the wind raged about them.

After countless ivory lilies and crimson roses were placed at the foot of the gravestone, the sullen mutants returned like ghosts to their respectable abodes.

Olive green sheets tore apart as Rogue clenched the cool fabric tight in her fists, screaming, "No, no, no!" Her upper body shot up in her bed when suddenly she was overcome by vertigo and her head whirled back into the mahogany headboard. "Ouch!" Her body slumped down to the mattress once again, trembling incessantly. "No!" She shouted again, clenching her eyes shut, "Get away from meh! You're dead!" Rogue dug her nails all the way through her pale pillow and shrieked in terror.

Her door swung open and almost off the hinges as Jean and Scott darted to her bedside. Jean attempted to grab Rogue's quivering arm where her sleeve sufficiently covered it but had little luck in her endeavor seeing as Rogue was thrashing about from side to side. "Get away from meh! Y'r not real!" Rogue screeched in horror.

As Kitty and Kurt arrived in Rogue's doorway they witnessed Scott trying to shake Rogue awake, saying, "Rogue, it's just a dream, wake up. Wake up." Her body squirmed beneath his cold touch and her back arched up then plummeted into the mattress as her head knocked into his. Scott stumbled back and Jean caught his fatigued body.

"What's going on with her?" Kitty squealed as they entered the room.

"She's having a nightmare," Jean replied, "I can only guess it has to do with Magneto." The concern in her voice was clearly audible.

Rogue began to claw at an imperceptible noose around her neck while she let out one final scream then collapsed.

Motionless.

Noiseless.

She lay sprawled across her bed.

"Is she—?"

All of a sudden, a frantic voice paired with frenzied footsteps could be heard through the corridor, "Move! Move! Move!" A crash was heard, and then a second voice just as gruff and hysterical, "Lemme through!"

Within a matter of seconds Logan and Gambit burst through Rogue's doorway and into the crowd of already concerned mutants. "Wha— what happen'd?" Gambit breathed, given that their two rooms were on the other side of the mansion.

"She was having a nightmare. It must have been pretty real too because she was thrashing around and screaming," Scott answered.

"And now?"

"We don't know…" Scott told him uncomfortably, "She just stopped."

"Guys," Kitty piped up. They all turned to her, "If you like die in a dream what happens to you in the real world?"

With that, Wolverine shoved his way through the kids until he was next to Rogue's emerald bedspread. Subsequently, he reached out his hand to her wrist but was stopped by Scott.

"What do you think your doing?"

He growled at the younger mutant. "Checkin' for a pulse."

"You won't be conscious long enough to feel it," Scott argued.

"Maybe," he acknowledged, "But outta everyone I've got the best chance."

He leaned his hand back down when Gambit barged in, "Wait!" Wolverine snarled at him too. "This is unnecessary. I know where she keeps her gloves." They all watched with more wonder than they should have as Gambit opened Rogue's bottom draw and slid a few bras out of the way until he saw a fresh pair of black satin gloves that he proceeded to pass to Jean.

"Shocker you'd know where her bras are too, Cajun," Wolverine scoffed.

Jean slid on the gloves with care and laid her slender fingers on top of the veins in Rogue's wrist. After a few minutes of unsettling silence she announced, "Rogue has a pulse, but it's very faint." Every mutant let out an uncomfortable sigh of relief, in view of the fact that she would still not awaken.

"Now what?" Kurt posed, "Do we let her lie?"

Rogue seemed to answer that question herself as she started to gasp out a word that was not yet discernable. "He— he's—" Her eyes fluttered open but quickly shut once again.

"He? He's what? Who's he?" Scott tried to ask Rogue.

Rogue tilted her head up and with a vast gulp of air whispered, "Coming."

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

There WILL be another chapter. Promise.

I don't know when... like usual.

Much love everyone :)

Until next time!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN XMEN/XMEN EVOLUTION