"Charles, while this may seem, rather cliche, I do believe Magneto is correct."
Dr. Hank McCoy informed a displeased Xavier.
"Cliche how?"Xavier asked.
Dr. McCoy glanced at the next room and gestured to the scene before him. Kurt, Kitty, Genesis, and Magneto all surrounding the unconscious girl with white hair framing her face. They all where watching her intently, trying to see if there was any change.
"Well it certainly does seem like some overused scene from a movie. Girl in a coma for a week only wakes up for a few seconds when her lover is near." Dr. McCoy said as he frowned.
"You don't believe it?" Xavier asked curiously.
"Oh, I know it happened. Her vitals tell me that much. What I'm working on wrapping my head around is the fact that Magneto is involved with one of our students. That student." Hank said disbelievingly. "Closed off, keep to herself Rogue."
Xavier rubbed his temples. He was not going to have this discussion again. "Yes, I know."
"And your not going to do anything?" Dr. McCoy asked. "It did happen before she was legal age." He pointed out.
Xavier stressed his words. "I know."
"Charles, I've know you long enough to know you won't sit by and let this happen."
Xavier glanced to the room, studying the occupants. Being sure none of them where listening in. He turned back to Dr. McCoy.
"Hank, I'm going to ask Magneto to leave."
"You're sure that's the best course of action?"
Xavier sighed, frustrated. "What else am I to do Hank? She was seventeen!"
"Charles, if it was strictly sexual activity between them I would agree. However, from what I've observed I have the oddest feeling it's more than that. Even if we do get Magneto to leave without becoming too upset and killing us all there is still the matter of Rogue." He pointed out. "These feelings that he has may very well be mutual between the two, have you thought of that?"
"You are suggesting that they share these feelings of possession, affection, and lust."
Dr. McCoy nodded. "Yes."
"It's very plausible."
Neither of the two men seemed to notice the red haired female standing at the entrance of the medical wing. At least not until she decided to venture forward and maker herself known.
"Ah, Professor, could I have a word?" Jean asked.
Professor Xavier turned. "Why, Jean I hadn't noticed you. Odd. But, yes, yes of course. What is it you wish to speak about?"
"And should I leave?" Dr. McCoy asked.
"No. Stay please." Jean clutched the bracelet on her hand tightly. "Professor, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation...and I think you're making a mistake."
That startled Xavier. "Excuse me?"
"With asking Magneto to leave I mean."
Xavier turned his full attention to her. "Continue."
"Look I may not agree fully with what happened between Magneto and Rogue. I doubt anyone in the mansion does. But he has been a valuable asset to this team. He trains the New Mutants better than Scott and I ever could, he was a big help during the Shi'ar fight, and I can't believe I'm saying this...but he's one of us now. He's earned his place."
Professor Xavier sighed once more, frustrated all over again. "Jean-" He started.
"Let me finish." Jean said. "Furthermore he may be the only connection to a comatose teammate right now."
"You're saying he may be our only way to wake Rogue?"
Jean nodded. "Yes. Scott and Genesis come down here almost every other day. Kurt and Kitty are with her for at least an hour and a half every day. Everyone tries to wake her no one succeeds. Maybe it was luck of the draw, or maybe Magneto being in the room helped. Rogue's sub-conscious may have felt him and desperately tried to wake up..."
"Because he was in the room." Xavier finished. Jean nodded.
"Either way we're never going to know if you send him away."
Professor Xavier let his former students words sink in. This had to be the most irritating domestic issue he has ever had. And it was being dragged out much for far too long.
Four hours had passed before Professor X, Jean, and Dr. McCoy had formed a plan that was considered mostly safe, but had it's fair share of risks. Desperate times for desperate measures.
It was nearly ten o'clock at night, most students where preparing for the next day. The infirmary was empty save for Magneto, whose attentions where concentrated on unconscious Rogue.
"Magneto." Jean ventured first.
Magneto glared, irritated his attention had been called elsewhere and he was forced to take his eyes off Rogue. "What is it?"
Jean chose to ignore his slightly hostile mood."We have an idea that just might bring Rogue out of her comatose state."
Magneto's attitude changed rapidly as he gave Jean his full attention. "I'm listening."
"But we need your help." She added.
"Of course, what do you need done?"
Xavier wheeled closer. "All along the main issue is that Rogue is lost within the void that is her mind, even when telepathically connected we cannot find her. But you seem to set off a reaction in her. If you can produce the same response that we had earlier today her sub-conscious may be close enough to the surface for me to find and pull back."
Magneto nodded, assessing what was said. It seemed to work in theory, but to work in reality remained to be seen. There was only one way to find out. Magneto stood up and walked over to the medical supply counter, where he had placed his winter coat. The metal buttons opened with a snap although Magneto hadn't touched them. He pulled out a pair of thin, good quality leather Gucci gloves. He put them on quickly and returned to Rogue's bedside.
"Why do you have gloves on Erik?" Xavier asked pointlessly. He could make a deduction easily enough, everyone in the room could. And he did not at all like his assumption.
Magneto sighed, irritated all over again. "Well you see Charles, my dear girl's mutant ability is to absorb on skin contact so the logical course of action before touching her would be to put on a pair of-"
"Yes, Erik I get the idea." Xavier cut him off. "That doesn't mean I am comfortable with you touching my student."
Magneto chuckled lightly. "Charles I don't really care. And in any case if you where uncomfortable with me touching her it is a bit late don't you think? Seeing as how we have already done plenty of touching."
The very air in the room seemed to get tense. Many are familiar of the phrase so silent you could hear a pin drop...that phrase would be most accurate in describing the current scene in the infirmary. Dr. McCoy looked rather uncomfortable, while Jean was just concerned about a yelling match beginning. Very wisely she made the tactical decision to step in.
"Well I think we should begin." Jean said as she moved closer to Rogue. "Professor I think you and I should go over the psychic link procedure one more time, just so I'm comfortable with it."
Xavier glared angrily, ignoring Jean. "If you think I am going to sit here and watch as you-"
"HEY!" Jean shouted. "That's enough, you two can argue later. Right now our main priority should be Rogue."
Magneto and Xavier both stared at Jean a moment before turning to each other, each weighing the options of arguing or giving their full attentions to Rogue. A silent and temporary truce seemed to pass between the two as they both decided on the latter.
Magneto moved to Rogue's right side, while Professor Xavier moved to her left. First Magneto rested his gloved hand on her head, moving her hair to the side.
Dr. McCoy watched carefully for any change due to physical contact. There was none. The furry doctor tapped his hand on his chin thoughtfully as a new idea formed.
"Magneto, have you every embraced Rogue?" Dr. McCoy asked, this time not at all uncomfortable or embarrassed, but curious.
Magneto appeared slightly taken back by the question, but recovered quickly and nodded. "Yes."
"Although I fail to see what relevance that has." Xavier added.
Dr. McCoy was still tapping his chin. "Charles you of all people know how curious the sub-conscious is. There are times when it is often aware of something before we are. That twisting feeling you get in your stomach during a suspicious situation-otherwise known as "gut feeling"-is your sub conscious."
"Your point Hank?" Xavier asked.
"I have an idea." Dr. McCoy turned to Magneto. "If you have embraced her then she has probobly inhaled your scent."
"He has a specific scent?" Jean asked.
"Everyone has a scent." D. McCoy confirmed.
Jean still looked slightly confused. "But Rogue doesn't have enhanced senses." She pointed out.
"It doesn't matter. You can still be recognize a close friend or a family member by scent. Having enhanced sense of smell only makes scent stronger. If the bond between Magneto and Rogue is as strong as I think it is her sub conscious mind may be able to recognize his scent, thus helping in waking her up."
"How do you propose we go about this?" Xavier inquired.
Dr. McCoy didn't waste any time. "Magneto, roll up your sleeve to where the inside of the cuff is on the outside. Good. Now place it gently against Rogue's nose, careful to avoid her mouth."
Jean moved closer to get a better look. "Couldn't he have just put his hand against Rogue's nose?"
"Yes, but the inside of his cuff is better. His skin has been touching the clothing all day, it's sure to have his scent all over it."
The minutes seemed to pass quickly for Magneto, who could only focus on Rogue's breathing, waiting for the steady pattern to break. Waiting for movement, something, anything. But surely scent alone couldn't wake her, Magneto reasoned, perhaps it was time to add something else to the mix.
"Rogue, dear." He spoke without moving his wrist, keeping it near his nose. "You woke up briefly today, earlier. I need you to do it again, one more time. Charles and Jean will help you. "
Was it his imagination or did Rogue twitch?
"Keep talking." Jean encouraged. "I thought I felt something there."
Magneto barely acknowledged Jean as he continued to speak to Rogue.
"My girl, I fear that if you are asleep too long Iceman in all his adolescence stupidity may try to replace you. If you care about the future of this team you will wake up before that happens, now would be quite preferable."
Beast looked slightly amused at his words.
Magneto didn't stop there though. "Although if you choose to ignore my warning I'm afraid when this horrible event does occur I will be forced to take drastic measures. We don't want that happening do we? No, not even in your worst moods would you be that cruel to your teammates...regardless of how well deserved it might be."
The monitor beeped, displaying a gentle and larger arch then the ones before it. Magneto smirked, knowing if Rogue where awake she would be grinning by now at his sarcasm.
"That's it dear, you could do better though. You could wake up fully and stay awake if you really wanted to, without the help of Charles. Though I'm not in the habit of gambling this would be one rare exception in which I would wager upon it."
Rogue's head stirred away from his sleeve as her breathing picked up slightly, gasping. The monitor continued to beep.
"Ah!" Professor Xavier suddenly exclaimed, his index fingers pressed to his temples. "I can feel her!" He concentrated harder as he gently tried to pull...
Rogue's body stirred and she gave a small but loud scream, catching everyone's ears. Magneto was immediately alarmed.
"What is going on?" He demanded.
Charles clenched his teeth as he desperately tried to hold onto Rogue's mind.
"It's Rogue! After all the years of being bombarded by memories she has developed an automatic blocking reflex when she feels a memory taking over and it's no different when I'm trying to take hold and pull her to the surface."
Jean stopped scanning at Rogue's distress. "Can't you just tell her to let you in and that you're trying to help?"
Xavier hissed as he tried again. "It's not that simple! What she has developed is a reflex and a reflex cannot be helped. Her mind will not accept me!"
Jean joined in and tried to help, peeling away at Rogue's blocking technique, shred by shred. Rogue gave another, louder, more pained agony filled shriek.
"STOP!" Magneto yelled. "There has to be another alternative, this is causing oblivious pain to her."
"There are no other options!" Jean argued. "This may be the only chance we get."
The mental strain was causing Xavier to become significantly weaker. "We may not have a choice, either of you. She's slipping."
"Then send me in!" Magneto decided. "This reflex she has, it may cease if it where my mind entering hers. It was demonstrated here today, twice, that I have an effect on her mind. And she has absorbed me many times, Rogue is accustomed to my mind merging with hers. If you are subtle enough to create a psychic link between Rogue and I gently her mind may open to me."
Xavier looked in disbelief. "Erik you know how dangerous that is, if any harm where to come to her body or mind with you still connected the result would be fatal!"
"We are out of time and options!" Magneto glared. "You cannot grasp her mind, allow me to try and merge with her mind, solve this problem from the inside."
"This is madness!"
"This may be the only course of action that succeeds!" Magneto argued.
Now he was yelling at his old friend angrily. "Charles for the last time SEND ME IN!"
How did you like this one? I'm really excited for the next chapter, and if I get a sufficient amount of feedback I should update within 3-5 days. Until next time!
Sneak Peak of Follow Chapters: Issue's with Rogue's mind finally coming to an end, the Brotherhood comes into play in later chapters, and a date!
Darksaber92: Thanks for your support, glad you enjoyed it!
Marigab: Yeah I could never hurt Rogue too badly to the point where it was permanent. No need to worry. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Kramer300: Thanks for your review!
Raven34link: A date will come in following chapters, along with a few surprises.
1983Sarah: Glad you liked it, thanks for your feedback!
chinaluv: Your support is appreciated!