XXX

There, standing in a blue terrycloth robe in Hank's office, obliviously sifting through his mini-fridge was none other than Rogue herself.

Hank and the others did a double take from Rogue's empty hospital bed to the girl and back again before someone finally found their voice.

"ROGUE?!" Kitty practically screamed as realization and relief washed over the group.

The sudden sound startled the Southerner, who bumped her head on a shelf and cursed.

"Seriously, Kitty, what is with you scarin' me half t' death today!?" The girl stood up straight, her hand on the back of her head, and turned toward the group.

"Uh..." she paused when she saw the large group of X-Men staring at her in shock. She self-consciously pulled her robe tighter around herself. "Hi?"

As they all continued to gawk at her wordlessly, she grimaced. "Ah wasn't out for a day, was ah...?" she questioned lightly.

"Oh zhank gott en heimel!" Kurt finally overcame his shock and rushed to his sister's side, throwing his arms around her in a huge, relieved hug.

With her arms trapped under her brother's, Rogue couldn't move without risk of touching him. "Kurt, what in the...?" She looked up at the others for some sort of explanation, but when she saw tears in their eyes, she swallowed nervously. "How uh, how long was ah out, exactly?"

"Over a week, child," Ororo spoke up kindly. "You had us all very worried."

"We were like, practically planning your freakin' funeral you jerk!" Kitty stalked forward and slugged her friend on the shoulder before joining the group hug.

"What?!" Rogue pushed the two other teens off, alarmed. "What d' ya mean 'plannin mah funeral?' Ah was dyin'?"

"No," Beast explained, quickly gathering his medical equipment and ushering Rogue to sit down on his office chair. "However, you were completely unresponsive for over a week, and we began to fear that you would not wake up." Beast quickly checked Rogue's eyes with a light and made her track his finger as he spoke.

"We were upstairs just now discussing long term care arrangements, which should hopefully explain the rather unsettling welcome you just received."

Beast began checking the girl's reflexes as Kitty and Kurt each kept a hand on Rogue's shoulders - trying to assure themselves that she was truly made of flesh and blood and sitting, fully conscious, beside them.

"What, uh, what kind of arrangements?" Rogue looked at the Professor and Logan.

"Well," Beast spoke up as made Rogue open her mouth. "Sometimes when a person..."

"Oh fer the love of..." Wolverine interrupted the blue doctor. "We were gonna put tubes in ya t' keep y' alive."

"Oh," Rogue uttered as Hank took the tongue depressor out of her mouth. "Sorry."

"We are just happy to have you back with us, child." Storm spoke again as Beast stepped back. The weather witch also came forward with a relieved embrace, and this time Rogue was able to stand and somewhat return the gesture. After all, giving everyone a little pat on the back was probably the least she could do after she'd put them through such an ordeal. Even if she didn't remember doing so.

"Yes," Xavier agreed, "But I wonder how. There was absolutely no change in your brain waves all day and suddenly you are awake and back among the living, so to speak."

The Professor came forward and motioned for Rogue to sit once more. "Would you mind if I took a look?"

"Mah head's killin' me, but if it'll make ya'll feel better, sure." Rogue grimaced at the idea of introducing more pain to her already pounding head, but the guilt she felt about making everyone worry overshadowed her own concerns.

The Professor placed his hands next to Rogue's head and closed his eyes as she reluctantly closed hers.

After a few seconds of probing, Rogue suddenly whimpered in pain and bit her lip sharply. Her head lolled forward slightly and everyone gasped, afraid she would slip back into a coma again.

"Charles, that's enough," Logan warned as Rogue's face scrunched up in agony. When she gasped and a strangled cry escaped her lips, Wolverine rushed forward, yanking the Professor away from the girl. "I said, that's ENOUGH!"

Professor Xavier shook his head, momentarily confused before he looked up to see Rogue slumping over in the chair. Logan was quick to catch her, however, and whisked her back to her hospital bed.

"Don't you DARE go back to sleep on me, Stripes." The gruff Canadian ordered as he gently laid her down on the bed. "You ain't puttin' us through that crap again, you hear?"

Rogue's eyes slowly fluttered open again and she mouthed something that only Logan could understand.

He quickly turned to Hank McCoy, "She wants a painkiller and a shot of adrenaline or somthin' t' keep her awake for a bit."

As the doctor stood stammering for a moment, Logan growled, "NOW, Hank!" He was careful not to yell, however, because he didn't want to make her pain worse.

As Kurt and Kitty reached Rogue's bedside with some water and a blanket, Logan stormed back out of the room and marched up to the Professor.

"Just what in the hell did you think you were doin' Professor!?" he demanded angrily, folding his arms in an attempt to keep himself (and his claws) in check.

The Professor was still rubbing his temples as he stared through the glass at Rogue, confused.

"There was… someone else in her mind. Someone trying to draw me in - like a moth to a flame. It was as if he, or she, were tempting me with promises of discovering his identity." Xavier tried to explain his actions, but the guilt was prominent on his face.

"Thank you for intervening, my friend," the Professor acknowledged, turning his eyes to Logan. "I fear if you had not broken our connection, I could have caused irreparable damage to Rogue's mind. I hate to admit it, but I cannot in good conscience enter her mind again for fear of being drawn in once more."

"But Professor Xavier," Jean spoke up from the back of the room where she was standing with Scott. "If we don't figure out who or what is causing this, how will we make sure she doesn't lapse again?"

"I do not know," Xavier admitted, staring at Rogue once more as the gravity of the situation sunk in.

XXXXX

A few minutes later, the others joined Kitty and Kurt next to Rogue's bedside as Beast finished replacing her IV's and injected some medications into the line.

"Rogue," the Professor apologized as he wheeled next to her, placing a hand on her covered arm. "I sincerely apologize for causing you such pain. It appears that someone has invaded your mind, but whether it comes from internal or external forces, I cannot be sure. Is there anything you can tell me about the day you lost consciousness?"

Rogue bit her lip and laid back against the pillows, closing her eyes in concentration. "I don't, I don't remember much. Ah know I was sittin' in the dining room doin' homework when Kitty startled me, but that's about it."

"Do you remember getting that package?" Kitty asked quietly as she stood at the foot of her friend's bed.

Rogue regarded her pensively for a moment. Her memories of the day were extremely fuzzy, yet wrought with emotional turmoil.

"Ah remember ya startled me, and somethin' happened between us, but ah..." She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to wrench the memory from her throbbing head.

"It was you and Tabitha and the other gals, but there... there was someone else. Someone talkin' t' me - in... in mah head, ah think?" Rogue's breathing was getting labored as she kept her eyes screwed shut, forcing the images to the forefront of her mind's eye.

"Someone, someone was tellin' me things. Tellin' meh t' - that I would..." She grunted and covered her ears, her breaths coming in quick, short gasps.

"Rogue, that's enough, please," Xavier commanded, pulling her hand from her head and forcing the girl to look at him. "You've been through enough for one day. There's no need to cause any further agony."

The young woman nodded and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. Ororo quickly gathered another blanket and draped it around Rogue's shoulders, for which the girl smiled.

"We will figure this out Rogue, in time," Xavier consoled, placing his hand upon her shoulder. "For now though, you must rest. Try to ..." Xavier smiled slightly. "Try to get some sleep."

Rogue gave a grim snort, but nodded, falling back against the pillows again with a sigh. The Professor patted her arm again then turned to leave, ushering the others along with him.

"Wait!" Rogue called quietly as she sat up again. "I'm famished - I could eat absolutely anything, even Kitty's cooking."

The others chuckled as Kitty pouted dejectedly and Kurt nodded, "I'll be right back!" he answered cheerfully.

Moments later he returned with a steaming hot pepperoni pizza – the Professor wisely decided NOT to ask where it had come from…

Rogue grinned widely as Kurt placed the box on her lap. "Anyone else hungry?" she smiled at her friends and the remaining three students pulled up chairs around Rogue's bedside and dove in.

Surprisingly, no one noticed the fresh bouquet of flowers sitting next to them on the nightstand.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Rogue awoke to the beeping of medical equipment and the presence of another person at her bedside.

She couldn't remember falling asleep last night, only that she'd eaten nearly half of the pizza herself and had been enjoying the conversation immensely.

Rogue turned her gaze toward where she knew her visitor was seated and smiled at Logan as he read a small card in his hand.

"Hi there, stranger," Rogue greeted her friend with a small smile.

Logan grunted and met her eyes. "Bout time, kid. You had us worried."

Rogue frowned. "How long was ah out this time?!"

"Just a little over 24 hours. You weren't unresponsive this time, thank god." Logan assured her as she adjusted the bed to sit upright. "Thought the others were going to have a cow when Hank told 'em you were still sleepin' this afternoon."

The Southerner smiled apologetically before noticing the card Logan still held in his hand.

"What's that?" she asked casually, trying to change the subject away from her current state.

"Note for you. Came with the flowers." Logan handed over the well-read card with a bemused, yet irritated scowl. "Kitty went nuts when she realized you'd been visited by your 'secret admirer' again. She's already ticked enough about him takin' yer backpack." Logan growled as Rogue gave him a funny look.

"Damn kid searched every corner of this house tryin' t' find that school bag of yours. Swear she cleaned out every dirty magazine in the place. I had t' threaten t' cut off a few fingers if she went through any of my drawers."

Rogue chuckled and finally read the note to herself.

Dear Rogue, I know it may be a while before you get to enjoy the flowers (if you even LIKE flowers) but hopefully you'll feel better soon. Get well and don't worry about the school stuff - it's taken care of.

Rogue bit her lip as she pondered the note and its sender. Her head wasn't throbbing as much as it had been the other day, but the pain was enough that she didn't want to dwell on her own thoughts for long.

As she placed the card back on the nightstand and gazed at the flowers, however, she suddenly brought her fingers up to her lips. Her brows furrowed in concentration and concern as she turned quickly to her friend.

"Do you know who the flowers are from – honestly, Logan?"

The burly man shook his head no. "Can't say that I do – and it's getting MIGHTY obnoxious. Whoever this secret admirer of yours is, he's been real careful at covering his tracks. Sprays everything down with alcohol and perfume t' cover his scent."

He noticed her pensive expression and raised an eyebrow at her. "Why, Stripes? What aren't ya tellin' me?"

Rogue licked her lips as she gazed at the flowers once more. "Ah just got a flash – a memory – of him puttin' those flowers on the stand there. It's really fuzzy, and ah can't see his face or anything, but then… Ah think - Ah think he kissed meh."

Rogue refused to meet Logan's gaze as the man snarled angrily.

"Logan," she whispered, finally meeting his eyes. "Ah think… ah think that kiss is the reason ah woke up in the first place."

The Canadian narrowed his eyes at the girl. She couldn't be serious.

Rogue cast her eyes down again and fiddled with her hands. "Right before ah woke up, ah remember feeling someone… different… brush against mah mind, just for a minute. I think… I think it jolted me enough, even from so far inside mah mind, that I kinda came back to myself." She shook her head and snorted. "Probably sounds crazy."

Logan's look of suspicion had changed to one of interest. "Nah. I think y' should run that by Charles though. It might help him figure out what's goin' on in yer head. He's been so preoccupied with how you woke up all of a sudden that he can't focus on anything else."

He ran his hand through his unruly black hair and sat back in the seat. "What I don't get Stripes, is why did a … a KISS… from this kid wake you up when I touched you myself and got nothin'."

Rogue looked up at him suddenly, a moment of clarity ringing in her eyes. "Ya did, didn't you? You… you touched mah cheek. Just for a second, right? Ah, ah remember it." Rogue's breathing became more labored and nervous as she bit her lip and screwed her eyes shut against an unseen danger.

"He – the voice – whoever it is... He went nuts when your psyche entered mah mind. It made him crazy. He, he ATTACKED you - the you in mah head, anyhow. It was like he knew one of the X-Men would try to touch me, t' help me. Seemed like it went on f'rever, until…" She paused, trying to wrench the images from her brain without the aid of a telepath.

"Until that kiss…"

As Rogue struggled to recall the details of her internal battles, Logan struggled against the rage building inside. Someone was hurting her – from within her own head – and using their interventions of touch and telepathy against her.

The worst of it? It was becoming very apparent that they couldn't do anything to help her.

"Is," Logan coughed to clear the rawness from his voice, "is he still hurtin' ya? Still talkin' to ya and such?"

Rogue closed her eyes for a moment, but shook her head. "No. Ah mean, ah don't think so. Mah head was hurtin' so bad yesterday that ah could barely remember mah own name, but it's like he's gone now – at least temporarily. Like he exhausted himself fightin' against it all."

Taking a deep breath, Rogue laid back against the pillows more completely as she looked around at the monitoring equipment and IV line dripping fluids into her arm. She gnawed on her lip as she tried to find the words to tell him the truth.

"That day," she began with another deep breath, "when I passed out? I was thinkin' about this secret admirer thing. 'Bout who it could be and … and why now. That's when ah HEARD the voice f'r the first time, but… ah think it's been there f'r a while now."

Rogue couldn't meet Wolverine's gaze for fear of the disappointment and anger she would see on his face. Regardless, she bit her lip and pushed on.

"Ah think… ah think it's been there, influencin' me somehow, f'r a long time actually." She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear nervously. "Like every time ah start t' feel happy or good about mahself, it reminds me of all the bad stuff; of what might happen. I've always thought it was just me, but right before ah passed out, ah remember…"

The Southerner bit her lip hard, trying not to let it quake under her onslaught of emotions. If she didn't come clean now there could be a real chance that someday – someday soon – that voice in her head would take control without her even knowing it. And then…

God help them all.

With a shaky breath, Rogue finally went on in a whisper.

"Ah remember WANTING t' hurt Kitty and the others. It felt like it was really ME that wanted to suck out their souls, not this… THING in mah head."

They sat in silence for a moment, Rogue too ashamed to meet Logan's eyes and Logan too shocked to respond. Finally, the Canadian placed a heavy, reassuring hand on Rogue's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Listen t' me Rogue, and listen good," With his other gloved hand, he gently pinched Rogue's chin between his gloved fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"You are a GOOD person. I know that you would never, NEVER hurt anyone intentionally." He snorted and smiled, "Well, unless they deserved it."

His attempt at humor made Rogue chuckle lightly. "But revenge - murder – it just ain't in yer blood. That crap with pushin' Mystique's little statue over the cliff was about as close t' true hatred as I've ever seen ya get and it nearly killed you. I saw the guilt and remorse on your face. I could smell it on you everywhere you went. We both know that you don't ever wanna go back there and, personally, I don't think you could."

Logan's gaze was unwavering as he spoke gently and calmly to his favorite student, trying to reassure her in a way that she could not do for herself.

"This thing, whatever it is, may come back, but so long as you know who you are and where you stand, it ain't gonna get the better of ya again. You are NOT going to hurt your friends, Rogue. No matter who's in control of your head, as long as you're in there you'll find a way t' stop 'em."

With a soft smile, Logan stood and put a hand on Rogue's head, letting it slide down to her neck before bending to kiss her hair.

"It's gonna be fine, kid. You'll see."

He was pleased to see her smile widely and relax as he left the room. He only wished that he could convince himself (and the others) as easily as her.

XXX

After yet another physical evaluation, Rogue was finally released to go back to her own room again. She had already relayed her conversation with Logan to the Professor, who was just as distressed and reassuring as the other man had been.

Even with the possibility that the voice – whomever it was – was dormant in Rogue's mind, the Professor refused to subject the girl to any more mental probes. It was becoming too dangerous to keep pushing her and he didn't want to cause any permanent brain damage.

Kitty and Kurt had escorted their friend back to her room and Kitty had even offered to sit with her until she fell asleep. Rogue managed not to roll her eyes again - barely- and instead graciously declined her friend's offer.

Despite all the sleep she'd gotten over the last few days Rogue found herself curled under the covers once more, exhaustion pulling at her eyelids. As she rolled to her side and tucked a hand under her pillow, however, she was jolted awake again when she touched something hard.

Rogue sat up and pulled the object from its hiding place. She was surprised to find the white post office box – her gift – that she had angrily hurled at the wall last week. Recalling the internal torment the little package had triggered, Rogue licked her lips nervously. For a brief moment she considered calling on the Professor, afraid that the voice would reemerge now that she held the gift in her hands once more.

With bated breath she waited for the voice to come again, but she was met with only silence as she stared at the white box. After a few minutes with no reaction, Rogue sighed in relief and afforded herself a little smile – after all, she really did want to know what it was.

Rogue sat up and crossed her legs beneath her as she pulled the easy open tab, thankful that she wouldn't have to go searching for something sharp to cut the tape. Once the box was open, she tipped it upside-down to let the contents fall onto her comforter.

A small, blue square box about three inches wide greeted her and Rogue quickly tossed the shipping box aside as she gently picked up the newest surprise. It was tied with a simple silver ribbon and bow and she was almost sad to ruin the beautiful packaging.

She reverently removed the ribbon and lifted the lid off the box, revealing a beautiful emerald necklace and earring set. Rogue had to suppress a gasp as she took in the deep, sparkling gemstones and ever so carefully lifted the necklace to examine it more closely.

The tear drop shaped emerald stone was nearly the size of her fingernail and a delicate line of silver made up the chain. There were no other adornments, but it was exquisite in its simplicity. The dangling earrings hung from a short, silver weave before ending in a smaller, nearly identical setting.

The Southerner bit her lip, torn between conflicting emotions of admiration and self-consciousness. The gift was nice – too nice, in fact. She was stunned by the beauty of the jewelry and likewise guilt-stricken over just how expensive it must have been. She could only hope that the emeralds were simple glass look-alikes and not genuine.

With a sigh, she began to place the necklace carefully back in its box before changing her mind. She afforded herself a little smile of guilty pleasure as she undid the clasp and placed the necklace around her throat.

Despite her haggard appearance and lack of makeup, Rogue turned toward the mirror to admire the necklace. Thankfully the dresser mirror was close enough that she was able to sit in bed and didn't have to get up to check it out.

It was stunning.

The color of the emerald brought out the green in her eyes and looked so elegant lying quietly against the apex of her chest. It sat a few inches below the dip of her throat, but not so far down as to be indecent. She could practically wear it as an everyday accessory if she wanted and it would go marvelously with that new outfit…

Placing the box with the earrings on her dresser, Rogue reclined in bed as she fingered the beautiful necklace. Soon she was lost in thought over the gifts, the sender and her own feelings. Before long, however, her breathing evened out and she fell asleep, her hand still on the necklace and a small smile on her face.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX