The fight had been simple enough but as usual things hadn't gone as planned. With a confrontation split three ways between the Friends of Humanity, the Brotherhood and X-Men there had been people hurt on all sides.

Worst of all had been the hurt civilians.

No matter what happened or who did it it would come back on the mutant population.

Rogue knew that and she knew that the property damage and the bystanders were going to get the brunt of sympathy but in her mind there was only one injured person she was thinking about.

Remy was laying on a hospital bed while Hank stood over him, working furiously to save him.

Rogue could only watch from afar, feeling impotent and useless.

She could punch through a wall and fly as high as a plane but there was nothing she could do here.

She could knock a hole in a mountain but she coudln't help him and it was killing her.

Remy had taken a shotgun blast to the abdomen from a member of the Friends of Humanity and even if it had hit off center he was still bleeding badly and going in and out of conciousness.

He was out mostly now.

She watched and pressed her hands against the glass, wishing she could touch him and knowing that even if she could go to him she would never be able to.

It killed her inside and she looked around sadly to see Storm entering the small viewing room.

"How are you?" The other woman asked, voice low.

She shrugged and sniffed slightly. "I can't do anything, Storm." She said, her pronoun coming out sounding like 'ah'.

Storm came near, taller than her and perhaps more beautiful in some ways and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You're here for him and that is all he would have asked of you." The other woman said but she could hear pain in her voice too. "Hank is a brilliant physician. If anyone can save my brother it will be him."

Rogue swallowed and hoped that would be the case.

She really hoped because she had come to love the man on the operating table and the idea of losing him after she had already lost so much in her life was appalling. She didn't even want to think about it let alone imagine it.

"Remy." She whispered.

Storm's hand stayed, warm and heavy and it did help.

"I'm sure some part of him knows you're here." Storm said in a soft voice but Rogue could see her eyes going past her to the place where the man she called brother lay helpless. "He will take comfort in it."

"I hope." Was all Rogue could manage and the hand was lifted before it became awkward.

She wrapped her own arms around herself and shook her head. "He didn't even see it coming. He was fighting Toad."

"The man who shot him got in a dishonest and cheap shot." Storm said, voice taking on a hard edge. "He shot him from behind."

"I hate guns." Rogue said, thinking of all the times they had been pointed at mutants for no reason except hate. "They always end up in the wrong hands."

"Perhaps they seek out the wrong hands." Storm whispered as Hank worked, oblivious to their gazes. "Or the wrong hands seek them out. I do not know but I understand what you're saying."

Rogue was glad of her then, glad she wasn't watching this all alone and glad that Storm had the kind of level head she'd never mastered.

She felt like falling apart watching Remy like this now but the other woman was as poised and composed as ever.

"I'm scared." She whispered and to her surprised Storm put an arm around her and rested her chin on top of her head, an almost uncharacteristically vulnerable move.

"I am too." Storm said.

The admission hurt and yet made her feel less alone.

Someone else cared and she knew there were others in the house who were worried. Others who might hide it but who didn't want to lose a team mate.

Remy had come a long way since joining the X-Men. There had been good times and bad times. . . lies and misunderstandings but they had all come out of it together. She had come out of it with him and the sight of his pale face struck fear in her heart.

He looked so gaunt and dead that she suddenly wanted Storm to continue to hold her.

To her relief the woman did, perhaps needing some comfort herself despite her composed persona.

Then at last- at long last Hank emerged from the operating room looking weary and slumped onto a couch, taking most of it up.

"He'll be okay." The man said before Rogue could even ask.

She wanted to cry and felt her eyes prick with tears even as her heart slowed. "He will?"

Hank gave her a serious look and then nodded, some of his teeth showing. "I promise you that he will. I have done everything I know how to do and luck has provided the rest. Our Cajun friend will be up and about in just a matter of time."

Strom hugged her more tightly and then let go, her own emotions winning out. "I am glad to hear it." She said.

Hank smiled but his teeth were hidden and it was a grim smile. "He's weak and unconscious but if either of you wished to go and see him I think it would make him happy."

Rogue immediately hurried towards the door but then once she was through it moved softly and slowly towards his bed, Storm following suit.

"Oh Remy." She whispered, seeing his pale face and hair brushed back against the table.

Storm stood behind her, respectful and worried. "Hank say's he's stable." She said. "Are you okay, Rogue?"

Rogue nodded and slipped her gloved hand around his lax fingers. "I'm alright. Better now but. . . " she longed to feel the heat from his skin but she knew that one touch- one bare second of skin and he would die.

She could only kill him and she hated herself for it even as she squeezed his hand with her gloved one.

Another hand came to rest on her shoulder..

It was Storm again and gratitude radiated wildly from Rogue's body.

Storm loved Remy too and she was so grateful for her. So grateful that Remy had her also.

"His breathing is steady." Storm whispered.

Rogue squeezed his hand again. "He hates it in here." She said, sniffing softly more in relief than anything else.

"I know but at least he's safe here. Remy may be stubborn but none of us are afforded anything when we're in this state."

Storm was right and she wiped away a tear and nodded. "Hank is amazing."

"He is indeed. My brother will recover."

She wondered if Storm was saying that for herself or for her. Perhaps both though, because they both cared for Remy.

"I'm so glad." Rogue whispered.

Storm's hand tightened on her shoulder for a moment. "I am as well."

They stayed a long time before Storm departed for bed and Rogue fell asleep in the chair next to Remy.

Before she went Storm looked down at the other woman and apriciated the love that she had for her brother. Remy had had a hard life and he didn't always make the best decisions but he had found a home here among the X-Men and he had found a love too.

She tucked a blanket over the other woman and took a last look at her brother who was sleeping deeply, no doubt aided by some merciful drug and then at long last she headed up to her own bed, trusting Rogue to handle things and Hank to be near by.

This was why the X-Men existed.

To help.

Thanks so much for reading!