Warning: Cliff-hangers, misery and Logan going the extra mile.

Rogue was having a bad day.

After accidentally meeting Logan at the Zoo and encountering an over-familiar lion, they had gone to the nearby diner. Logan had insisted on accompanying her to her car, as though he'd picked up secret signals that she was so completely done with this day. He waited until she had climbed in before making the offer.

"There's a diner not too far from here. How about I stand you a meal. Best way to wrap up the day."

She snorted. "Thanks but Ah'd better get back."

"C'mon kid, you have to eat."

She shook her head. "Ah'm really not hungry."

"Sure you are. Come on, what's one more hour of your time going to do?"

She leant her head back against the head-rest. "If Ah do, will you promise to leave me alone?"

He shook his head. "I can't do that. I promised your mother I'll look out for you."

She was too tired to argue further and conceded to his request. They went to one of the regular diners and Rogue ordered a burger, while Logan went for steak.

It was a quiet meal, whether Logan sensed her unwillingness to talk or chose not to talk himself was immaterial. Afterwards, he followed her back to the Brotherhood at a distance, only leaving when she was back in the house.

XxX

Dear Scarlett,

Ah'm not sure how much longer I can stay in this house and remain sane. Most of the time I'm ignored, for the benefit of male solidarity. All I wanted to do when I got home was chill out, but the boys kept the TV blaring all night and they barricaded themselves in the room.

Fahne! Ah thought. Take the room, take the kitchen, take the whole God damn house. Ah don't care.

Earlier at the zoo, when we had been on that trip through the big cats home, one of the lions had been curious by our presence in his domain. Ah'd deliberately sat away from Logan, taking the seat at the back, annoyed when he took the last but one back row to himself. The lion had put his front paws on the back floor, before hoisting himself up next to me.

He kind of snuggled up to meh but Ah was worried that he'd turn and bite me or scratch mah face with his paw.

Either way, it was a long few minutes, before he stepped down and returned to his corner, leaving me time to get my heart-rate and breathing back to normal. As an apology, the Zoo gave me a voucher for a return visit and a huge stuffed lion from their gift shop. No doubt Logan thought it was hilarious. Ah decided to keep the lion in the boot of my car. If Ah brought it in, the others would destroy it and Ah was getting fond of the thing.

Ah found it difficult to sleep and the nights were too long. It was quite a lonely existence. The only thing to break up the monotony and the lingering grief were the interludes with the X-men. Like when Kurt found the old lab and accidentally zapped himself into a different timezone… Or was that my fault? Ah can't really remember. Everything is becoming a blur. All the small tasks seem to take so much more time and honestly, Ah'm losing the ability to feel, anything.

Things were quiet for a while. The X-Men were keeping to themselves and Ah was keeping a low profile. Ah went to school, did my homework, tried to ignore the pain of isolation. My room at the Brotherhood became my sanctuary and after Lance asked me what side I was on and ah responded that it wasn't mah fight, he left well enough alone.

Ah'd hoped that the quiet and lack of interruption would continue until Ah graduated, but Ah guess that was too much to ask. The Geology club were off on a trip, the Captain and Pretty-Prom-Queen-Jean were helping out and apparently, they were talking about a battle simulation their Professor prepared for them... Miss Darkholme overheard it all. My mind didn't want to process it. It was bad enough thinking that they had that kind of technology and strategy in place but when I found out that I was the target...

I hadn't seen any more of Logan, which is just as well. I don't think I could have survived the betrayal. How could he talk of being there for me with one breath, then plan my demise with the other?

"You seem upset. I hope you weren't thinking of joining them? After all that's happened."

"Ah'm not upset." The lie tasted bitter. "Ah'm disappointed." Ah could feel my heart hardening. Any trace of faith was fading. "In myself."

Miss Darkholme nodded. "You've been working too hard my dear. You're exhausted. Perhaps now is the time for a little, excursion."

She dropped a bag at my feet. "Enjoy the trip. I'm sure you'll find it positively enlightening."

XxX

Scott had reached the caves to find Rogue's partner vomiting heavily, leaving the girl herself unapologetic. As the teacher began his lessons on the rock formations, Scott noticed that Rogue wasn't with the group. He followed the curve of the caves, going deeper, before reaching a dead end, with a deep drop.

"Is this where the game stops?"

He heard the voice but couldn't see her.

"Is this how your Professor's simulation tells you it ends?"

"It wasn't like that. It was an exercise, nothing more."

"Oh, so do you go against all prospective teammates? Or is it just me?" She stepped out of the shallow cove she'd positioned herself in. They faced each other and Scott was all too aware that one false move and he'd be a goner.

Rogue stepped back, allowing him to move away from the edge. Her eyes were dispassionate.

"You really thought I'd be the one to make the move?" She shook her head.

"Wait, Rogue. I'm sorry. I know you're not like that."

"How? You don't know anything about me."

"I know that you're a good person. You helped Jean and Kurt. I know that you've got Logan looking out for you. I know you deserve better than the Brotherhood."

She turned to face him. "What do you know about what I deserve?"

"You lost your mother. I lost my parents. Even though it was years ago, I still feel that loss. Which is why I have to do what I can to help others. Rogue, you've been lied to and it's got you all mixed up inside. I know if you gave us a chance, we'd help you see the truth."

There were footsteps echoing as one of Scott's friends appeared.

"There you are. I've been sent to find you."

Rogue took a few steps forward, only to feel Scott's hand grip her arm.

"Think about what I said, we'll be there for you whenever you need us."

Scott's friend had been a silent observer for the moment.

"I doubt she needs your help."

Scott frowned at him. "I'm sorry Paul, but this is between us."

Paul turned to Rogue. "Is he always so patronising?"

"Ah thought he was your friend?"

"Oh, we're far from friends." Both watched as Paul's body shifted into that of their principal.

"Miss Darkholme?"

"Hello Rogue, are you more surprised to see me," she shifted again into the familiar form of Mystique. "Or me?"

Rogue stepped backwards.

"Ah don't understand, what's going on?"

But Mystique wasn't looking at her any more. Her yellow eyes were focused dead on Scott. "Let me guess, your dear Professor didn't see fit to tell you the truth about who I am? It says a lot for his trust in you, doesn't it?"

Scott was edging back but Mystique pounced and he ducked, moving forward, getting nearer to the cliff edge, rather than the heart of the cave and safety.

"The Professor does trust us!" He tried weakly.

Mystique shook her head. "Poor deluded puppet. You're so indebted to Charles Xavier for his apparent kindness that he's really leading you into a trap. Well, I can gladly set you free. You and all your fellow X-Men."

She was standing right across from him, her hands breaking the distance and pushing Scott backwards...

Rogue's scream penetrated the cave. "Noooo." She ran to the edge but couldn't see Scott. There was real venom in her voice as she turned to Mystique. "Why did you do that?"

"Poor misguided Rogue, can't you see I'm protecting you from him and his lies."

"You're the one I need protecting from!" With that she lunged at the older woman, removing one glove and holding onto her bare arm.

The memories of herself were instantaneous. How frightened she looked as this villain posed as the X-Men to attack her. How she consulted Irene over the girl who had potential for limitless power. How the woman plotted to arrange an incident for Carole.

The worst was that through all this, she felt Mystique's malice, her complete lack of empathy and her disdain for the girl she'd adopted. There was something else too, but Rogue released her grip and Mystique collapsed.

XxX

Scott couldn't believe that he hadn't crashed to the ground below, but rather had his fall broken by a ledge. He looked up and saw Mystique jump down to where he lay, dazed and confused. No, it wasn't Mystique. It was Rogue.

"Scott, are you okay?"

There was little time to answer, for the ledge made a cracking sound and the two were hurtled even further, their fall broken by an old bridge of sorts. Rogue had landed flat on her stomach, the wind knocked out as she scrambled to escape the edge. The fall had knocked out Scott, rendering them trapped. She placed him in the recovery position, her finger grazing his face, taking a shot of his power.

She felt the full force of the cold air of outside as the roof of the cave had corroded, at least where they were. She moved away, nearer to the cool air, leant her head back and looked up at the sky, releasing a thin red beam into the air.

She wasn't sure how effective it would be and continued to send intermittent shots, until her efforts were interrupted.

Mystique was back, in wolf form this time and Scott was unprotected. Anger fuelled her body, throwing off the insecurities and the pain as she was left to face the animal that Mystique had been hiding under layers of cruelty encased in the form of a woman.

"Rogue!" Came Scott's weak call. "The others. They're coming. They need a sign."

Sure, there wasn't much else she had to do besides dodging attacks from a wolf. She sent a beam Mystique's way, smiling when she heard the yelp, before pulling Scott further into the air.

"Now Scott."

The wolf had gotten over the hurt and chose to make the shift from canine predator to one with the powers of flight. It charged at the two students but the X-Men blackbird appeared by then, with Wolverine ready for the jump.

She heard him warn her from further involvement but at the last moment, changed her victim. Flying at Rogue, whilst her opponent jumped from jet to ledge, she succeeded in gathering space between her prey.

She flew repeatedly, allowing her claws to rip at her body, her hands, her arms, all the while forcing her backwards. Wolverine had reached Scott and was ready to usher both kids to safety when he heard the caw of the eagle as Rogue lost her footing and tumbled backwards...