Scott and Jean stepped out to the main door, quietly laughing between each other. A grin adorned Scott's face as they passed through the area.

"Is that what actually happened? It would've been funny to see something that," he said.

"Would I lie to you Scott? It played out just like I told you," she told him.

Jean soon stole a quick glance at the nearby clock, taking notice of the time and Scott followed her gaze.

"Wondering when Hank and Rogue are going to be back?" questioned Scott.

"Yes, I'm eager to hear what Rogue thinks of Hank's new friend. I'd just like to put my mind at ease about this whole situation," she replied.

Another smile was passed between then when a loud knock filled their ears. No sooner had they glanced over to see what was happening, than Rogue and Hank burst through the door and the two immediately took notice of the limp figure in his arms.

"What happened?" demanded Scott.

"As we were headin' to meet up with her, Magneto, Pyro and Mystique decided to show up and started shootin' up the place. Kat here ended up takin' a bullet to the shoulder while helpin' Hank," Rogue angrily explained.

Jean quickly followed Hank to the infirmary while Rogue and Scott lingered behind. She had her arms crossed, obviously agitated.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get them!" she demanded.

"Hang on for a second Rogue: why should we go after them this quickly? It's not like they haven't done something like this before," Scott wondered.

Rogue mentally kicked herself for leaving out that piece of information but was so angry, she forgot to mention a few important details.

"Cyclops, they have Gambit and he's hurt. Badly," replied Rogue.

The leader couldn't believe his ears as he narrowed his eyes. The confusion was clear on his face and Rogue noticed it as she looked back at him.

"I know what you're thinkin'. I don't know how they captured him either and so quickly too. I mean, he was just at the meetin' a couple hours ago," she told him.

"Yes, it is more than a bit worrisome to hear this. Gambit's not an easy one to take down," agreed Cyclops. "What else can you tell me?"

Rogue sighed as the words that Magneto spoke came back to the forefront of her mind. She looked back towards the door, hesitating for a few moments before finally turning back to man patiently waiting for her to respond.

"I've got to talk to the professor," she finally said.

00000

Jean opened the door, allowing Hank to hurry inside. He gently placed Kat on the nearest table and took a look at her shoulder.

"It doesn't appear to be too serious, which is good. Must have passed out from the shock," he sighed.

Jean carefully watched as he cleaned and dressed the wound. As he turned to face her, the telepath crossed her arms and stared at the cat with a curious look.

"What's wrong Jean?" he asked her.

"I'm not certain. I'm trying to sense her mind but all I seem to be getting is sorrow and anguish," she replied.

The Beast looked over the human feline and wondered what could be going through her mind. He made a note to question her later as he looked over her prone form. After determining she was fine for the moment, he lead Jean out of the room and closed the door behind them.

00000

"Are you certain it was indeed Gambit?" Xavier asked her.

"Not unless Magneto's recently became acquainted with another shape shifter that we don't know about, I'm positive. Hank and I saw Mystique ourselves," Rogue replied.

This news was greatly troubling the professor. He was trying to put the pieces together but wasn't coming up with a viable solution or timeline with what Rogue and Hank had witnessed with what he observed earlier that day concerning Gambit. Wolverine stood nearby, arms crossed and unusually quiet for the moment.

"I have to wonder where Gambit was even going so quickly after the meeting. If he was as dishevelled as you say he was, they hit him hard after they got him. Hopefully, I'll be able to ask our guest some questions when she wakes up. In the meantime, let's try to figure out something for when I go negotiate for his release," he told the group.

Everyone nodded before they began to mill out of the room. Hank was one of the last ones to leave when he heard his name being called. He turned around to look at the professor, a worried look on his face. Hank waited until the room was empty before closing the door.

"Yes, Professor?" he said.

"Hank, how well do you know your friend?" asked Xavier.

Hank wasn't sure if he should be surprised by the question or not but he thought about his answer for a moment before he opened his mouth.

"Professor, I may have only known her a couple days but I found her to be a troubled young woman who has no home and almost no friends. Seeing that we have something similar in common - the outward appearance - I can see why she wanted to help me. In fact, I think she might even have a slight infatuation with me. All I ask is for more time to get to know her and find out what she is up to," he replied.

After a few seconds, a smile crossed his face as he realized what the professor was asking of him.

"Even though she did help me, you're worried she might go wandering where she shouldn't be," he finally stated. "Please give me a chance to talk to her first."

Xavier couldn't help but give a small sigh. Hank was a good friend that he sometimes forgot that the blue furred mutant had to hide under normal circumstances.

"Very well then. Until a decision is made, you will act as her guardian. Just be careful of anything she may say, do or go during her stay with us and keep her away from the lower parts of the mansion," Xavier reminded him.

Hank nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face before turning to leave the room. As he left, Xavier still couldn't shake the feeling that something was greatly amiss.

00000

Magneto watched Gambit as he lay in a heap at the back of the cave. Mystique stood behind him, arms crossed and a curious look on her face.

"Why give her four days to deal with them? She may not even need that much time," she finally piped up.

"You know her well enough that she will bide her time if she has to and if she's successful, Dr. Hank McCoy will begin to have doubts. You should know what it feels like to not quite belong anywhere," Magneto replied.

Mystique decided not to say another word as she remained where she was standing. She watched as Magneto turned to leave and he stopped right next to her ear before he left.

"Just remember one thing: we need keep him alive. Xavier values each and every member of his team and might not appreciate us allowing him to die for no apparent reason. Even though he could be considered a great fear for us as he could still identify Kat, he is still our bargaining tool. Is that understood?" he quietly told her.

Mystique barely gulped before nodding her head. She didn't even watch him leave the cave as Gambit began to move within his confines. He lifted his head enough to remember where he was.

"You'll...never win," he managed to sputter out.

"You've never dealt with Katastrophe before, Gambit. She usually gets what she wants. Right now, she's with the other members of your team at the mansion, with her sights squarely sitting on your blue-furred friend," Mystique explained to him before kneeling as close as she could to him. "And she's got him exactly where she wants him."

The statement made it through the Cajun's fuzzy mind and his worry for Hank greatly increased as he realized what exactly was happening.

TBC...