A/N: Set around the time of 'Cajun Spice', where poor Rogue can't catch a break. Events go back and forth between present and the event. They will be labelled clearly.

Apologies for being away but RL intruded. Updates will be sporadic as there is no update timetable.

Before the rescue...

Gambit had always prided himself on assessing every aspect of the situation. He was strategic in his planning. He knew how to achieve his goals and if he had to use coercion techniques and manipulation... well, let's just say the end usually justified the means. He knew the stakes he risked, should he fail. But that was not an option.

So he was all in...

XxX

After the rescue:

It was late when the bang on the door heralded the arrival. A quick scan on the security camera revealed the presence of one gruff Canadian.

His adoptive father, Jean-Luc was back in his rightful place after the trouble with the assassins. He was none the worse from his abduction. He knew Remy would do whatever he could to have him released.

It was no secret that Jean-Luc, King of Darkness, favoured his adopted son, rather than his own blood. It used to bother Henri, when he was younger. But Remy never let the knowledge go to his head. He was the best brother a boy could have.

The knocking grew louder as Remy reached the door, allowing it to slowly open before the Canadian dragged him outside, lifting him bodily in the air.

"Wolverine, the man can hardly answer you if he is incapacitated." Came the cool voice of one Orora Monroe. It had been part of the strategy to let Logan approach alone. He was more than capable of handling the unexpected and angry enough to let his rage carry him through.

Storm's cool tones did not sooth the antagonist. "Where is she?"

His hold loosened minimally.

"She ain't here. Chere gone, long gone."

This didn't appease Logan one bit. "Why didn't you see she returned safely?"

"She wouldn't of allowed me. Rogue swore..."

Here the Cajun's voice lowered enough for only Logan's ears. Whatever passed between them did not help the man's mood. Gambit felt the collision with the ground all too painfully. Henri appeared by his side to lend a hand.

"What trouble you in now Remy?"

Remy shook his head, his tolerance for the day's events having well surpassed their expiry...

XxX

It had all seemed so simple. With the girl's help, he could infiltrate the Assassin's stronghold, rescue his father, than ship her back to the X-Men. He already knew of her unhappiness, her discontent. Still, despite what he'd heard, she was still a good person and maybe if he'd had more time, he'd of been able to persuade her to his way of thinking. Instead he bombarded her with their similarities, made her see that they weren't so different after all. He'd given them a mutual cause.

It was all going so well. She was buying all he sold and if he hadn't of gotten knocked out by that trigger, well, she wouldn't of been in a position to absorb his thoughts.

He hadn't been ready for that volcano...

XxX

She stood above him, her eyes empty and pale. Had there been rage, he would have been able to cope with that. He could have charmed her into thinking it was a noble service she had committed. An act of redemption, if one such thing existed.

Since joining the LeBeau's, Remy had been indoctrinated in the Catholic religion. Despite all this time, he wasn't particularly religious and was well aware of the perpensity of people who used religion as a shield to hide their own misdeeds. Not all of them though. Still, as a strategy, it was his best hope.

"I needed to make sure my father was safe."

Her words were stilted. "You could have asked. You could have been straight with meh, told me the risk. Asked meh to help. But no. You had to manipulate me for my powers. You're just like Mystique, only she would never try to disguise her self-interest. You dressed it up, tried to make out we're similar. But we're not. You're nothing to me and you never will be."

Her words cut deep, but he brushed them off. For despite it all, she agreed to help. It was only when the time came to part ways that he thought to gift her one of his Queen of Heart cards. A talisman, a keepsake for the future. For a time where she may find herself in need of a friend.

Her eyes were dull as he offered the card. He watched her take it in her hands. examine it delicately, then stood frozen as she ripped it into multiple pieces.

"Ah had hoped you would keep your word. But you couldn't resist breaking it, even now. Stay away from me. Don't follow me home. Don't call the institute to check on me. For if you do, Ah will forget all about the way home and instead drive mah car into the Mississippi river and allow myself to be torn apart by the gators, if the river doesn't drown me first."

XxX

Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location, a lonely worker takes the nigh watch. It wasn't her favourite task by any stretch of the imagination, but everyone needed to pull their weight. Since she'd woken from her coma, the boss had her on a heavy dose of rehabilitation. She barely spent any time in the field, but it was important to her to contribute. So it made sense to take over the watch for any other members that had been more active than her.

She heard the doors slide open, revealing her boss.

"Anything?"

To match his inquiry, the alarm sounded, casting their attention to one of their covert army bases, way down south. The screen revealed a stationary car parked directly at the entrance and motion sensors picked one solitary form. It could have been completely innocent but it would still require investigation.

"We've got a case. What's the license plate?"

The woman took a quick glance at the zoomed in picture as she read the letters: "We have one 'ACG LSB'. Wait..."

"Something up, Danvers?"

"I know that plate. I'm coming with you."

Fury sighed, knowing full well that nothing stopped Carole when she set her mind to something...

XxX

The lights were blinding in their focus and strangely warm. Rogue couldn't remember the last time she felt so warm. Sometimes it felt as though all the warmth in the world had been dragged away with the death of her mother. Other times...

There were voices above, calling to her, faces came into sight but they were strangers, talking in code, talking to themselves, talking about her but never to her. It didn't make sense. Who were they...

They were drawing closer and closer, their bare, unprotected skin skittering dangerously close to her toxic skin. She opened her mouth to warn them but no legible sound could be heard.

"Easy kid, you're ok."

The woman's voice seemed familiar but there was no time to wonder why, as her bare hand grazed the side of her face in an oddly maternal way. Seconds later, the woman's body froze and she was pulled away. The remaining voices hardened as once again, she was the enemy...

XxX

It was less than two hours later that Carole woke up from her first Rogue-induced coma. The lights were blinding up above, but Fury was there to guide her through.

"Take your time now. Everything's going to be alright."

"What happened?" Her voice was groggy and her throat was raspy.

"There's been some changes Carole. I was going to clue you in."

She shook her head slowly.

"You'll be disorientated for a bit. You're still weak."

"Where is she?"

"She's secure."

XxX

He was on his rounds towards the end of his shift. He'd been part of the collection team less than two hours ago. After Captain Marvel's collapse, Fury had ordered the girl to be cuffed and chained and locked in a secure unit. They'd also tranquilised her with a heavy concoction, disabling her escape. As he reached her door, he saw no sign of the prisoner. Checking once, twice, he pounded the button that would trigger the alarm. The prisoner had escaped.

A thorough search was made of the base, leading them all back to the prisoner's room. Fury could detect no sign of escape and by now the whole team were present. Including Carole, Steve Jones, Natasha Romanoff and Hawkeye. Primed and ready for attack, they lay in wait for instructions.

"Where is she?"

Carole spied that chain that was meant to keep the girl secure and noticed how it was stretched upwards. She nudged Fury and together they looked up.

"You know, it would have been a good idea to make a full check before sounding the alarm."

All eyes looked upwards, to see the girl, clearly contained, but apparently floating, still unconscious.

"We'll wait until she's properly awake. Then you can both talk. It seems there been plenty of changes you need to catch up on."

They were almost out the door when they heard the chains clank together. Rogue had woken and panicked, cutting off the subconscious anti-gravitational balance, sending her crashing face down to the floor.

Despite their combined injuries in active service, they still winced at the situation that caused the girl's face to collide with the ground.

XxX

Rogue's return to consciousness was hampered by a heavy concussion and the sensation of heavy cuffs chaining her to the bed She had also suffered damage to her wrists and ribs, though in a minor capacity. Her eyes flickered enough to see several people waiting for her. One of them was Carole Danvers.

"Easy, Rogue. You take your time now."

"Carole?" She could hardly recognise her own voice.

The woman nodded. "It's me. It'll take more than a collision with a truck to stop me."

"How..."

"We'll talk more later. After you tell us how you came to be parked outside the military base."

"Ah didn't know..."

"Well of course you didn't. But that wasn't my question."

"G-Some guy grabbed me. He needed me to help spring his daddy out. Ah was going home."

"Why didn't he drive you?"

"Ah told him Ah'd drive into the Mississippi River if he came near me again."

The adults exchanged looks, whilst exhaustion reclaimed Rogue.

XxX

Carole was half-asleep the third time she noticed Rogue awaken. She had a long talk with Fury, who insisted on putting through a call to the Xavier institute and Rogue's father.

He'd refused their offer to collect her, buying time for Carole to consider her next move. She'd never wanted the maternal route, her career was too important. Especially now, when the world was turning inside out.

"Hey kid."

Rogue heard the greeting but frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"Ah thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry about that. Someone wanted me dead. Fury pulled the strings to get me into hiding. I've only been awake a while." She broke off. "So, when did all this start?"

"Shortly after the new term started. Irene arranged to adopt me. Ah thought she was fostering me." She shrugged. "Mah powers manifested at the school dance. Poor Cody, mah skin touched his briefly. It was only a second, but he, Ah, he was in a coma. The whole school turned on meh. Saying Ah'd killed him. People were chasing meh. Mah head was full of his memories, his thoughts. It felt like Ah was him for a while. Irene had a friend she sent me to, but that was all a plot. She wanted me for her team. Made mah life hell when Ah learned she was using me. Ah tried to escape, but it turns out she wasn't the one in charge. Her boss tried to keep me for his team but Ah wouldn't do what they wanted. In the end, he got fed up and Ah, Ah joined the X-Men. Only now..."

"Yes?"

"Even that's falling apart."

Both women were silent for several moments, each caught in their own troubles. Carole looked up to see Steve and Natasha peering in. Perhaps it was time for a little diversion.

She motioned her head, beckoning them in.

"Rogue, these are some of my colleagues. Natasha Romanoff and Stephen Rogers."

Rogue looked up, nodded to Natasha, then stared at Stephen, feeling a vague sense of recollection. She knew she had not met him personally but knew who had.

"What is it?"

"You're Captain America aren't you?"

The man looked taken aback, but nodded.

"How did you know that?"

"I have someone's memories of you. I thought they were gone but they're still there. You launched a rescue mission from a concentration camp during the War."

By now Carole had vacated her seat to allow Steve to sit.

"What else do you know?"

"One of your comrades was a gruff Canadian who believed it acting first and asking questions later."

"That sounds familiar. How is the old man?"

"He teaches defence and strategy at the Xavier Institute."

"Really?"

"Everyone says he he gets paid to be an A-Hole."

"Rogue!" Carole did her best to sound disapproving, leaving Natasha and Steve laughing.

Rogue sulked. "What, it's true."

"Well, I'll be glad to see him again."

Rogue looked to Carole. "What happens now?"

"I'll speak with Fury."

XxX

It was late when the call reached the Xavier Institute. The conversation lasted less than five minutes. Fury was brief with his instructions and where the collection was to be made.

Logan opted to escort Charles. They chose to keep the others on a 'need-to-know' basis.

"Things need to change Chuck."

Charles sighed. "You think I don't know that? I know she's angry and hurt. She's already in counselling. Her self-esteem is at an all time low. She's lost, Logan."

"You know we'll do whatever you need us to. She's part of us."

"I know and I'm much appreciative. But you're right. Something must be done."

XxX

It was pre dawn when Logan pulled up outside the shack a couple of hours out of town. There were numerous black cars surrounding the shack, all had tinted windows and their plates were undescribed. Fury stepped out of the shack and nodded briefly to the men.

"Long time Logan."

"Some may say not long enough."

Fury grinned, used to the gruff Canadian. He pulled out his phone and gave a clear order. "Bring her out."

Several soldiers in full body armour led a chained Rogue out of the building.

"Is this really necessary?"

"The kid took down one of my agents and caused a full team panic due to a suspected escape. Plus, she was loitering outside a military base."

"Loitering? You've been reading the thesaurus again, haven't ya, bub."

The crowd came to a stop before the men.

"Do you Charles Xavier take full responsibility for the mutant known as Rogue?"

"I do."

"My men will lead her to your car and get her situated. The rest is on you." He paused. "Carole will be by in a few days."

"Why not today?"

"She's under orders."

"She complies?"

"Most of the time."

By now Rogue was in the backseat of the car, her restraints removed but her spirits low. The soldiers retreated, leaving her with Logan and Charles. Disinclined to talk, she closed her eyes and promptly fell asleep.

XxX

Rogue stood looking out of window in her father's office.

Her father was at his desk, watching and Logan was leaning against the bookcase. Orora and Hank were also attending, sitting on the sofas. Charles had called a crisis meeting, offering an upgraded supervision programme.

"Please, let us help you."

"By making everyone my warden?"

"It wouldn't be that way."

"You think so now but that's how it will end up. You'll take turns, checking me, policing me. Pretty soon you'll be weary. What started out of concern and kindness becomes duty. A burden. You have your own selves to take care of."

"Then what is it you suggest? You told Gambit you'd drive into the Mississippi River if he followed you."

Rogue's eyes snapped briefly at his. "That was to get him off my back. He thought he could smooth over my feelings and get me to forgive him with a poxy card and some lame-ass speech about being the same."

Charles took in a deep, reflective breath. "Never the less, your behaviour of late has been, erratic."

Rogue turned away. "Then send me away so I can be out of your way. Just don't take any suggestions from Magneto. You wouldn't want some pervert getting too close to the untouchable. Maybe it'll be an extra incentive."

Logan growled. "That ain't funny kid."

"I didn't say it was. My point remains the same Logan."

"We'll discuss your suggestion Rogue. For now, you may leave us."

Rogue was almost to the door when she turned back to say, "By the way, Steve Rogers says hello."

She didn't wait for a reply.