Rogue, can you hear me?

Rogue?

Professor? Is that you? What's going on? I can't move.

You collapsed after you were found. I think the battling psyches inside your head were too much for your mind to handle just then and it shut itself down temporarily to gain control. You can't move because Jean had to strap you to the bed.

Why?

Well, the mutation you absorbed seems to be lingering far longer than the others. You kept floating up to the ceiling while asleep.

What does that mean? Is it permanent? Her voice sounded panicky inside her head.

There was a pause before he responded. I think it might be. I think when you absorbed all of him his powers were transferred to you permanently.

You mean when I killed him, she responded bitterly. I tried to warn him but I wasn't fast enough. We were in the air and I had to touch him or risk killing us both.

You don't need to explain yourself to me, Rogue. He was probably going to kill you… or worse. You got to him first. This is not your fault. If anything… it's my fault.

Your fault? she echoed.

He sighed. I should have told you immediately that Victor was here instead of letting you find out that way. I only wanted to be sure of what I was doing before I said anything.

I was partially afraid that one of the psyches would take over and do something, professor. That's why I ran away. Their rage was too much.

Rage?

Well, Magneto was put out that Sabretooth would betray him and Logan was furious that he was even here. It was too much, she repeated wearily. Logan was all for me touching you right then, she laughed, remembering his words.

A chuckle resounded throughout her head. That sounds like Logan, he agreed. Thank you for not agreeing.

She left out the part where she had agreed and continued on to what she really wanted to know. What is he doing here? she asked abruptly. He tried to kill me and everyone else that was there that night and then I find you guys standing around chatting like old friends. He's dangerous, she insisted.

Rogue, please trust me.

Her silence allowed him to continue. Just before the authorities arrived that night, I had Jean lift Sabretooth out from the water where he was unconscious. We brought him here and monitored him during his recovery. While he was asleep I looked into his mind and saw many revealing things.

What kind of things? she interrupted.

He hesitated. I can tell you only what pertains to you. When he was carrying you up to the machine, he accidentally touched your face. I didn't perceive that he even was aware of it. It was more than just a few seconds too, he added. I think that he might have some measure of resistance to your mutation if not more.

What!? she screeched inwardly.

I promise you that when you wake up I'll tell you everything, Rogue. Right now just please focus on coming back to us. There is much to begin.

And then there was nothing but silence in her head.

XXXXX

Rogue opened her eyes a day later and found Jean Grey standing over her, smiling her trademark warm and inviting smile down at her.

"Hey, kiddo. How are you feeling?"

Rogue winced and struggled to sit up slowly. "Fine. How long have I been out?"

Jean moved to check something on a clipboard while answering. "Not long. Only a couple days."

"How long do I have to stay here?" she asked, catching Jean's brief smile.

"Kids," she said shaking her head fondly, "you guys never want to just rest. I think that if you're able to walk you could leave as soon as you get dressed. There's clothes waiting for you."

Rogue looked down. Yep, she was naked under the sheet. "Who picked them out?" She could just imagine Scott or the professor rifling through her underwear drawer. Jean let out a bark of laughter and Rogue smiled sheepishly, forgetting that Jean was also a telepath.

"Don't worry. I picked the clothes out. They're sitting right over there," she pointed over to the chair by her bed. "When you're done, I think the professor wants to see you," she added, looking pointedly at her.

Rogue felt an unwilling jolt of anxiety as she remembered the conversation that she had had while unconscious. What did the professor have in store for her?

"Just remember, Rogue," Jean added gently, "Be nice. And give him a chance."

She sighed and crawled out of the bed. Jean was right. The professor had saved her. He deserved the benefit of the doubt.

She dressed quickly, feeling much better now that the voices weren't trying to pull her apart, but she was still angry. She loathed Sabretooth with ever fiber of her being and now he was here. She had thought him to be dead.

She caught the elevator to the main level and headed straight for the kitchen for some food. Then she steadied herself and took a deep breath and went to the Professor's office. She wondered if there was a class in session right now.

She took a bite of the sandwich she had made and knocked lightly on the door.

Come in, Rogue. Remember… be nice.

That was really annoying sometimes. Why did everyone automatically think she was going to be mean? She was as respectful of her elders as the next girl. She pushed open the door and saw what Xavier had actually meant.

Sabretooth was sitting facing the professor with his body angled toward the door only slightly. She was going to wring Jean's neck when she saw her again. She should have warned her that this asshole was in here.

"Rogue," the professor admonished slightly, evidently hearing her silent threat.

"I wasn't serious," she mumbled, shooting Sabretooth a loathsome glare and walking over to the desk.

Sabretooth's smile made her falter for a moment. He had a habit of talking with his upper lip somewhat covering his canines, bit with this smile he let it all show, razor sharp canines and all. It was quite chilling, but she gave him another look anyway.

"Rogue, please, if you will sit down we can begin."

She grudgingly took a seat, taking another angry bite of her sandwich. This had better be good.

You have to be one of the whiniest brats I have ever met, Magneto said witheringly.

Great. He was back.

How would you like to have twelve inches of steel shoved up your nasal cavity, Asshole? Logan countered.

She wondered if that was even possible to do while inside her mind. Would it hurt her?

I don't know, Logan said, grudgingly. I won't risk it.

"Rogue? Are you okay?"

She abruptly stopped rubbing her temples and straightened up, looking around her. Something inside her snapped suddenly and she slammed her fist onto the arm of the chair.

"No I am not okay," she spat, not really angry at him, but angry at the situation, "I'm going crazy. I can't sleep anymore. I'm having post-traumatic stress from freaking World War One. Among other wars." She glowered at him, forgetting for the moment that Sabretooth was in the room. "WWI! That's about sixty-five years before I was born. Does Logan even know that he's ancient by the way?"

"And then I have three- no, four- people living in my head, three of whom are extremely aggressive and are constantly fighting with each other, one of whom is pissed off that I killed him. And to top it all off, your friend Magneto thinks it's funny to actually take over my body. I am the complete opposite of okay, Professor," she finished, finally out of breath from yelling.

She sat back willing the tears not to come and for once the voices were not talking jumbled up in her head. The Professor did not seem offended by her outburst. He just looked sympathetic.

"Why didn't you tell me about the nightmares?"

She shrugged embarrassed. "I don't know. It's not like they're mine. I didn't want to embarrass him or anything," she mumbled, "I heard guys don't like that. Besides, he would have just felt guilty like usual."

He nodded, taking in what she had said. "And what is this about Eric taking over your body? What did he do?"

She made a face and was suddenly conscious of the other person in the room. She couldn't believe she had just spilled her guts like that in front him. Not like he seemed to care one way or another. Sabretooth just looked extremely annoyed. All the time.

She kept her eyes on Xavier and answered. "It wasn't that big of a deal. He just took control while I was brushing my teeth and instead of spitting in the sink, he spat at the mirror, at my reflection. To be a jerk," she added, willing the psyches back into the recesses of her brain. She didn't add that she was scared that Magneto was practicing to take over her body for real.

"You are in a dangerous position, Rogue. If Eric should eventually take control of your body he could wreak havoc on the world again. He could use you to free himself from prison. We still don't know if there is way to tap into the mutations that you have already absorbed. That is why I've asked you here today. First let us begin with introductions," Xavier said, gesturing over to a very bored looking Sabretooth.

She gave him a withering glance while Xavier was speaking. "Rogue, I would like you to meet Victor Creed, also known as Sabretooth."

"We've met," she snapped and the professor sighed.

"Rogue, if I am going to teach you to control your mutation it is necessary that you display some respect while in this room. I know that you are not fond of Mr. Creed, but he may very well end up being important to you."

God forbid, she shuddered, not caring if Xavier heard her or not. If he did he ignored her and continued.

"I have obtained Mr. Creed's permission for this as well, so-," he was cut off abruptly by Rogue who turned to face Victor for the first time since entering the room.

"Why?"

He looked over at her grumpily, but didn't say anything. He wasn't really a man of many words. In fact she had yet to actually hear him speak since finding out he was here.

"Rogue-," Xavier started, but was cut off again.

"No, professor. If I'm going to do this, I want to know why he's helping me of his own free will. What do you get out of it?"

Sabretooth stared at her and then shrugged. When he spoke his voice was low and gravelly at first as if he hadn't bothered to speak in a long time. He looked like shit too, she noticed, her eyes traveling up and down his body taking in his appearance. Scott's lasers must have packed quite a punch. That and almost drowning. But, there was something more behind his eyes that she couldn't yet place.

"I let you use me as a guinea pig and I can stay here as long as it takes me."

"Takes you to do what exactly?" she challenged, this time more curiously.

"None of your business."

"Rogue, it is imperative that we at least try this. Especially after this last… incident," Xavier reminded her quietly and tears filled her eyes.

Incident? Try murder, Airborne snorted.

It was true. If she had had some control she could have switched it off and a man wouldn't be dead right now. She wouldn't be going crazy.

She nodded and didn't look at either one of them. "Fine. When do we start?"

"I think your body still needs to rest before we put more stress on it so soon. I will give it three more days and then we will meet, the three of us, back here to begin. Until then," he wheeled his chair around and they both stood up to leave, "I suggest you find out if your newly acquired power is permanent or not. Airborne's powers actually go further than merely the ability of flight. He appears to be flying when actually he is manipulating the air molecules around him to lift himself up into the air. I assume that he could do this to anything."

She didn't say anything as he spoke, just kept feeling more and more guilty. How could she practice using a dead man's mutation? So what if he was an asshole who was trying to kill her? It still felt wrong.

It is wrong you murderous bitch, Airborne answered snidely. She ignored his comment.

Logan didn't. Listen up, new-guy, he said roughly, unless you want to die twice I suggest you keep your trap shut.

Airborne snorted in response and she decided to take advantage of the professor for the moment.

"Professor," she asked suddenly, "is it possible for one of the psyches to kill or harm another?"

"I don't know, Rogue," he answered, but he looked deeply disturbed as if he wouldn't like to know the consequences if it was. "It would be like killing off a part of yourself. Ripping a psyche out could send you into a coma, much like what happened when you fully acquired Airborne the other night."

None of the psyches liked that thought. They were just as trapped as she was in a coma.

She felt like a walking time bomb.

XXXXX

Rogue woke up sweating and gasping for air that night. She threw off her covers and walked outside her bedroom to the kitchen again. Her hands were shaking as she filled a glass of water. Tears filled her eyes as she drank it down, remembering her latest nightmare. It was awful, knowing parts about Logan that he didn't know himself.

She felt restless inside the four walls and she decided to take some of the professor's advice. She needed to get a handle on all of her powers and she might as well start with the one she could tonight.

The grass was dewy and cold beneath her bare feet as she trudged onto the grounds and let the peaceful night air relax her. This time she stayed within shouting distance of the mansion… just in case.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, feeling herself lift upwards, the swirl of air around her caressing her body and cushioning it at the same time. Her arms rose to stretch out on either side of her body and she opened her eyes. She was about twenty feet in the air and it felt amazing. So free, like she was born for this.

For the first time in a long time she laughed and flew lower to the ground, skimming the grass with her hands and feeling the cushion of air between her and everything else. She turned over onto her back and simply hovered, staring at the starry night sky and feeling as if something great had just been given to her. For once she didn't let herself feel guilty.

"I should have been born this way," she murmured, wondering what her life would have been like had she not been cursed with her other mutation.

"And I should have been born with fingernails instead of claws," a low threatening voice said from beside her. She turned toward it and saw it was Sabretooth… and promptly crashed onto the grass.

She groaned and looked up at him warily. He was the sort of mutant one didn't want to make any sudden moves around. "I've never gotten the impression that your mutation was much of a burden, Sabretooth. At least not for you," she retorted, slowly rising her feet the good old fashioned way and promptly taking a step back.

"You've only seen me when I was helping to kill you," he shrugged, and then sent an evil smile in her direction. "But, you're right. It isn't a burden. I like being what I am. It comes in very," he paused and let his gaze travel up and down her body, "handy."

She was angry at his insinuation. "And sometimes my very lethal skin comes in very handy," she threatened walking around him to go back into the house. Too late. He snatched one of her gloved arms with one powerful hand and stopped her. His claws came out slowly curving into the leather.

"Let go of me," she commanded fearfully. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged and let her go. "Nothing that concerns you."

He wasn't a big talker, she noted in frustration. "Whatever," she shrugged carelessly. "It's not like anyone here actually cares about anything to do with you anyway." She started walking away but he stopped her with his voice.

"And it's not like the Wolverine cares anything about you." His voice held an annoying smirk to it and she turned to face him.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she tossed back.

"I know what he really is," he answered darkly, the ever present hate and anger showing through in his eyes. "People like us don't care about people like you."

"You're wrong. He saved my life," she answered defensively. "Why would he do that if he didn't care?"

He snorted and lowered his head as if in thought. The moonlight was at his back, further shadowing his face from her. All she could see in great detail was his powerful shoulders outlined against the stark pearly whiteness. She swallowed and remembered exactly what he was capable of.

What was she doing exchanging banter with this animal as if he couldn't just rip her throat out? She was almost positive that even with her mutation he was probably fast enough to still kill her before passing out.

"We're animals," he said, "The rules of the world don't apply to us."

"He isn't an animal," she protested vehemently, "You are but he's not. He's nothing like you," she scorned. "You're nothing but a killer, a mindless animal only doing the bidding of your master. Logan fights to protect people now."

Thanks kid, Logan said gruffly in her head. Don't go getting all mushy on me though.

Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, she retorted saucily, trying really hard to conceal a grin from Sabretooth.

Victor started laughing and stepped forward menacingly. "You're defense of him is pathetic. A stupid dream based on idiotic feelings that he'll never return. Why would he? You're not really good for anything, are you?" He let his eyes travel down her body again and without really wanting them too, his claws slowly slid out.

Her face was burning in embarrassment and she clenched her fists and started taking off her gloves. She tossed them to the side and then she ripped her robe and tossed that too. The only part of her body that was covered was the old tank top that she wore and a pair of shorts to sleep in. If he touched her he was dead.

"You talk a lot of shit, Sabretooth," she said furiously, watching his eyes darken as he took in her newly revealed flesh. Not a lot of people got to see her this way, but she was pissed off and feeling like a fight. It must be the Logan in her.

Kid, what the hell are you doing? Logan shouted, causing her wince and put a fingertip to her temple.

"Logan, no offense but shut up," she muttered, shoving everything to the back of her mind.

Victor smirked as he realized that the Logan inside her head was probably trying to be the hero again and save her from the big bad cat. Shit, what was wrong with his little brother? His claws were aching to sink themselves into this little body in front of him. Well, more than just his claws were aching right now, but that could wait until later. He was wondering there was a way to have her without hurting himself.

"Nothing I can't back up," he responded, tensing and leering at her. "Let's see if I'm the mindless animal you think I am."

"You said you were the animal," she reminded him, planting her feet firmly on the ground.

"I am, just not mindless." And with that he crouched down quickly on all fours and lunged, all thoughts of his promise to Xavier going out of his head.

She was caught off guard by his surprising speed and dexterity, but not for long. Where his claw went swipe at her was nothing but air as she shot high above and came back down behind him, kicking him square in the stomach.

He spun around with a growl and she aimed another kick to his face, earning her four long stripes down her thigh. She hissed in pain and went higher to gain control before plummeting back down to the earth. It was surprisingly refreshing to be able to touch someone just for a second without anything happening. Even though she was punching and kicking to do it.

She laughed as he swiped again and missed. He gritted his teeth and decided to stay still while she flew around him. Soon she would present a weakness and then he would go for it. The blood was pounding in his head and his hands were itching to feel her bones break beneath them.

He wondered for one long sick moment if her mutation worked if she was dead. Was it really wrong to relieve himself with her while her body was still warm? He was uneasy about that thought. It was one thing to kill a woman while fucking her, but it was another to do it afterwards. He wasn't that sick.

Shaking his head, he looked up at her and tensed to spring. She had grown cocky with her new talents and wasn't paying attention to the signs of attack he was giving off.

"Rogue! Victor! What the hell is going on?"

A second later she would have been dead.

They both stopped and looked over at the voice. The blood and anger was still pounding his head, mingled with the lust and frustration, and he wasn't ready to stop yet. He hissed at the woman called Storm and barely stopped himself from leaping at her.

"Storm," Rogue said in surprise and looked down in chagrin.

"What are you doing out here, Rogue?" The older woman was not happy and it showed in her tone. She glared at Victor and his snarling face, preparing to shove a lightening bolt up his ass if he so much as moved wrong.

The girl hung her head I guilt. "I came out here earlier to clear my head and try to practice the new mutation. And then he started goading me and before I knew it, we were fighting," she finished lamely.

"He attacked you?" Storm asked with a triumphant tone in her voice. This would be just the evidence she needed to get this scum thrown out of the school.

Rogue hesitated, wondering why she didn't just lie and get him out of her life. She didn't exactly know why she told Storm the truth, but she did. "Well, I sort of started it. I took my gloves off and kicked him first."

Storm looked shocked. "You started the fight? What has gotten into you, Rogue? This is the most foolish thing you have ever done."

Rogue hung her head in shame and drifted slowly to the grass, burying a toe into the dirt slightly.

"You could have been killed. You're bleeding," she exclaimed, pointing at her thigh that was dripping crimson. "That's going to need stitches. Go to the infirmary immediately and wait for Jean," she commanded, in a tone that brooked no argument. Her eyes were just one shade away from turning completely white, Rogue guessed.

Storm needs to take the stick out of her ass, Logan grumbled, having made a return to the forefront of her brain.

Rogue let a smile escape her lips which she quickly smothered under Storm's angry glare. She grabbed her gloves and robe and decided to be lazy. She flew off toward the house, without a backwards glance, feeling the soft invisible fingers holding her up.

I wouldn't have let anything happen to you, Logan said. I would have taken over if it had come to that.

She was annoyed that everyone seemed to think she was going to lose to Sabretooth.

I was winning, she insisted to him. Didn't you see how many blows I got in? He couldn't have caught me in the air.

Logan chuckled without mirth. Sabretooth is more animal than human. I don't think you know how close you came to dying.

She shivered slightly under the weight of his words and pushed the door the open. Before she went in, she turned her head to glance in back of her. Storm had left, but Victor was still there in the moonlight, staring at her. He still looked powerful and dangerous even while just standing there doing nothing.

She took in his still tense stance and grudgingly admitted that maybe Logan had been right. It had been foolish of her to think that she could win against him. But, the scary part for her was, even though she might have been about to die, it had still been exhilarating fighting against him. Thrilling, blood-pumping, and every other descriptive word she could think of.

As she stared at him with these thoughts racing through her head, he turned and walked back into the woods. All she heard as she shut the door quietly was the echoing frustrated snarl bouncing through the trees.