-Chapter Five-

Storm had gone up to her room after locating the Professor and decided she’d take a nap, she hadn’t been feeling very well since her little nightmare. That had shaken her up enough to keep her from sleeping most of the night. Just as she had lain down on her bed, and covered her eyes with her arm, there was a knock on her door. With a sigh she sat up and walked across her rather large room to the door, opening it she found Alison standing there a happy smile across her face.
 

“Alison” Storm stated, not really a hello, but more informing herself that was who was at the door.
 

“Hi, I’m not disturbing you am I?”
 

“Well actually yes, I was trying to take a nap.”
 

“Oh I’m so sorry, I’ll come back later” Alison turned and began walking down the hall. Ororo began to feel bad for turning the girl away. “Alison, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?” The girl turned around.
 

“Well actually I was just wondering if I could borrow your Coldplay CD, I’m kind of experimenting with different types of music to see just what kinds of light I can produce with the different styles.” Was what she rambled off in one long sentence that ended with a sort of silly smile. “I’ll bring it back to you tomorrow”
 

Ororo smiled at the girl and nodded “Of course you can borrow it Alison” Storm turned around and walked across the expanse of her room towards her CD tower.

Alison stood in the doorway and looked around her room.
 

“I keep forgetting just how big your room is compared to the others”
 

“And I am still grateful for Charles’ graciousness. He was very accommodating to my claustrophobia.” She spoke as she handed the girl the CD.
 

“Thanks, ‘Yellow’ is one of my favorite songs. I’ll get this back to you soon.” She smiled at her and turned and headed back down the hallway. Ororo closed the door with a sigh of weariness and lay back down on her bed closing her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.
 

Ororo heard a knock on the door once again. Groaning with irritation, she got up still feeling tired and opened her door. There stood Bobby and worried look on his face.
 

“Bobby, what is wrong?”
 

“I… I… I don’t know how to say this…”
 

“Bobby, what is it?” Ororo’s voice began to show the concern growing in her.
 

“It’s Hank… he… he didn’t make it.” With that tears began to fall down the man’s cheeks.
 

“What do you mean he didn’t make it? Bobby what are you talking about?” A confused look began to form across her face. “I don’t understand what you are talking about.”
 

“Don’t you though? I would have figured you to know… “
 

“Know what?” Ororo reached out and began to shake him, hoping he’d begin to make sense.
 

“Ow… that hurts!”
 

“What has happened Bobby?” She couldn’t stop herself from shaking him, and she saw him begin to wince as her grip on his arms tightened.
 

“’Ro you’re hurting me!” He yelled at her.

That’s when she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t tell exactly what it was, it seemed to be made out of the shadows and moved quicker than anything she’d ever seen.

*Crack*

The sound brought her attention back to Bobby just in time to see his face go white.

Ororo screamed as she sat up in her bed and looked around. She had been asleep; it had been a dream, just another dream. It took her a few moments to finally calm herself enough to think clearly. She had been asleep for two hours, the day was still beautiful, which was odd due to the fact that it normally rained and stormed when she had a nightmare. She shook off the horrible feeling and that’s when she remembered the shadows. Something had moved in the shadows in her dream, something she hadn’t seen before. She knew she would have to discuss with someone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jean stood there with her hands holding her sides, her eyes closed and waited for the pain to subside as it always did. When she looked back at Logan she could see it in his eyes that he knew something had happened. She saw him sniff at the air and then look at her sternly.

 

“What happened to you?”
 

“I’m fine Logan, it’s just a cramp”
 

“No it aint, I can smell the blood Jean… What happened to you?”
 

“You if you must know.”
 

Logan seemed a bit confused by that one. He furrowed his brow and then looked at her with his left eyebrow raised.
 

“What are you talking about?”
 

“That dream you had the other night…” She caught Logan’s worried glance as it surfaced and vanished just as quickly. “Yes I know about it.” Jean lifted up the bottom of her shirt to expose the now red gauze on each of her sides to him, and pulling on the tape slowly showed him the three claw sized puncture wounds.

“It wasn’t my shoulders that you made contact with… I thought I’d had your hands far enough away from me when I went to wake you, but I was wrong.”
 

“You mean to tell me, that dream was real?”
 

“No Logan, THAT dream was not real…” with a soft sigh, Jean lowered her shirt again and began to explain. “I had heard your nightmare about Weapon X in my head and went to wake you up, and that’s when I caught the flashes of the other dream you’d been having, and just before I realized what was going to happen, I tried to move away.”

Logan stood quiet for a moment “So I did attack you”
 

“In a sense yes” She began to try to search his mind for what he was thinking, but came up with nothing in the few seconds she’d tried.

* * * * * * * * * * *


“Scott I do wish you would try to relax” the professor stated plainly.
 

“I’m sorry, it’s just…”
 

“Been a long day?” The professor smirked as he picked up on the tail end of that thought. “When is it not a long day around here?”

Scott let out a sigh and looked down at the floor as he tried to let his thoughts clear. The elevator doors began to slide open and they made their way down the hall towards the med-lab. As they walked through the doors they could see that Rogue was still in a coma on the bed and Remy was staring down at her like it was the last time he’d ever see her. Hank turned from the paper he was looking over as the men entered the room and the look on his face sent a new shiver of concern through Scott.

“I’m glad your hear Charles” Hank said as he sat down on the stool next to the bed. “There are some charts I’d like you to take a look at”
 

“What seems to be the problem?” Scott looked a bit lost on the whole situation.
 

“These readings… I don’t think they’re correct, but the machine is running perfectly.”
 

The professor wheeled his chair over next to Hank and took the papers offered to him. The look that crossed his face was somewhere between confusion and bewilderment. He studied them a few moments and then looked back up at Hank.
 

“I don’t think I’m reading these correctly, but if I am it looks as though… but that’s not possible.”
 

“That’s why I called you down here, I wanted your opinion on this. I was also hoping you’d agree to try reading her mind, I think it might help.”

Remy had been standing there watching the others talk about papers and readings and finally had taken enough to suit him.
 

“Okay mes amis Remy has taken jus’ ‘bout enough of dis, what you findin’ dat you not lettin’ Remy in on? When’s da chere gonna wake up?”

Charles looked up from the papers and over in Remy’s direction. “That’s what we are trying to figure out.” He handed the papers back to Hank and wheeled around to the end of the bed where Rogue’s head lay. “Let’s just hope I can shed a little light on the situation” he said as closed his eyes and began to concentrate on Rogue’s mind. While the others just stood by watching and waiting to know what was going on inside her head, the professor was taken on a trip he hadn’t packed for. Her mind wasn’t hard to get into; it was finding his way around that was hard. He found himself back in the med lab, but she wasn’t lying on the table, she was across the room screaming after having drained the life out of Logan and Remy. Once her scream subsided, he called out her name and watched her turn towards him confusion and sorrow splattered across her face. Then he saw the shadowed figure as it moved down the hallway into the darkness. He hadn’t had time enough to determine what it was, only that it moved faster than anything he’d ever seen before in his life. Just then, as Rogue was walking towards him with tears streaming down her face he felt the psionic pull that brought him so suddenly out of her mind it startled him. As his mind freed itself from hers, he shook his head to bring back reality and felt a small throb in his temples for a brief moment before Scott’s voice broke in.

“Professor? Are you alright?”
 

“Y-yes, I am, and I think she should be waking up very soon” He said with a very tiny smile playing at his mouth.

The second after he said those words, Rogue began to stir on the bed and Remy held his breath until he saw her eyes slowly begin to flutter open. He gripped her hand and held it so tightly that she began to wince and he let out a large sigh as she registered the pain.

“Re-Remy?” Her eyes blinked open as she saw him standing over her.
 

“Oui cherie, Remy is here.”

Her eyes began to well with tears as she realized it had been a dream. “Ah thought ah’d lost ya.” She raised her other hand to his cheek as a tear rolled down her own. “Let’s never fight again…”
 

“Oui chere” were the only words Gambit could get out of his mouth before he had to fight back the tears that threatened to overflow his eyes.

Hank stood there in amazement as Rogue woke up. Once again the professor had done the task that he couldn’t manage. Bringing someone’s mind back to reality. He knew that Charles would require time to sort through the images he’d seen while searching her mind and would discuss them with him later. For now, he was just happy to see her awake. They all were.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jubilee screamed as she suddenly hit the surface of the water, which in turn woke Kurt up from his nap in the sun. Kitty and Piotr just chuckled as she surfaced, wet hair hanging in her eyes and a look that screamed murder on her face as she saw Bobby kick back on her raft and smile at her in his usually cocky way.

“Oh sorry Jubes, didn’t see you.”
 

“So not cool Bobby…” she muttered as she made her way towards the stairs of the pool and stepped up onto the deck, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself. As she walked past Kitty and Piotr, heard them chuckle at her she just glared at them. Kitty couldn’t handle it anymore and burst out laughing.

“Oh man… the look… on your face… priceless!” she managed to get out in scattered breaths. Jubilee just grumbled and leaned back in her chair giving Bobby a look of utter hatred. As Kitty reached over to poke Piotr’s side he stood up causing her to fall over onto his chair. “Umf… what the-?” Now it was Jubilee’s turn to laugh as Kitty fell face first into the chair and struggled to get up which only caused the gap between the lounges to increase sending her to the ground in a heap.
 

“Hey… now that wasn’t very nice.” Kitty stated in a small pout as she looked up at Piotr.
 

“Okay, now that was funny!” Jubilee said as her sudden bad mood seemed to pass as Kitty fell. Piotr bent over and helped Kitty up, feeling completely responsible, but instead of putting her on her feet like a gentlemen, he smirked at her, and with as much gentleness as possible, turned and tossed her into the pool. This only caused Jubilee to laugh harder, Kurt to start laughing and Bobby to be knocked off the raft as Kitty hit the surface right next to where he was floating. Kitty surfaced with a shocked look on her face and swam to the side where Piotr was standing and pulled herself out, then stood up and looked at him with a blank expression. Then turned, grabbed her towel and walked into the house.

 

"Boy, she’s pissed” Bobby commented as he wiped the water from his eyes again.
 

“Is she myad at me?” Piotr asked, worry apparent in his voice
 

“I would think so Pete, you’re the one who tossed her in.” Bobby said before he dunked himself back into the water then jumped back onto the raft.
 

“Perhaps I vill go tell her dat I’m sorry” was the trail of words that lingered behind him as he walked back into the house.

Kurt, finding nothing else to keep his attention, drifted back off to sleep while Jubilee still sat staring bloody murder at Bobby who was still lounging on her raft and still smiling like the cocky little shit he could be. Just as she was about to get up to go steal it back, she saw Alison Blaire walk through the door of the mansion wearing her bikini top and a pair of shorts and carrying a boom box. As she plugged it in, Bobby’s attention was drawn to her and she smiled as she pressed play and turned around, unbuttoned her shorts and shimmied out of them. Bobby’s jaw dropped once again as she walked to the steps and then into the water. He didn’t even notice her grab the raft and pull it out from under him. He took notice as he found himself once again under the water. Alison smiled and looked at Jubilee.
 

“This yours kiddo?”
 

“Yeah thanks.” She plastered a phony smile on her face. “I don’t really need it right now if you’d like to use it.”
 

“Thanks” She was about to jump onto it when she felt Bobby’s hands grab around her waist and pull her under.

“That’s it I’m done with the sun.” Jubilee said as she stood up, grabbed her towel and walked over to Kurt. “Hey Kurt, you may want to go inside, I mean I don’t know if blue people can get sun burnt, but you don’t wanna sleep out here all day.” Kurt looked up at her and nodded in his sleepy daze and followed her inside. As Bobby surfaced with Alison they looked around.

“Where’d everyone go?” Bobby asked. Alison just smiled and reached up, put her hand on his head and pushed him under. “Don’t know Bobby”.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jean sighed as she walked across the room and sat down in one of the chairs near Charles’ desk. As she sat down she winced slightly, went rigid holding her breath and then relaxed as the shockwave of pain went away. She looked back at Logan who was still just standing there looking at her.

 

“You look pale darlin’, you really should be lyin down.”
 

“I should, but that would raise concerns with the others” She retorted.
 

“You mean no one knows?”
 

“I thought I’d let you decide on whether or not anyone but you, me and the Professor should know what happened.”
 

“So ol’ one-eye didn’t put you up to sneakin into my room…” he half muttered to himself.
 

“No Logan, Scott did not put me up to it, like I said, I could hear your dream in my head, it was right after my nightm-” She cut herself off at that one hoping to everything he wouldn’t ask about it.
 

“What nightmare? I thought you worked on those with Chuck.”
 

“I did, but they came back” she sighed.
 

She stood up then and walked towards the bookshelf half looking for something half trying to avoid Logan’s eyes. Logan walked slowly over to her and stood next to her the smell of blood was a bit stronger which meant that the wounds weren’t healing properly. He took her shoulder and turned her around to face him. He reached for the hem of her shirt and lifted it to reaveal the gauze with growing bloodspots in them. He looked her in the eyes and wrapped his arms around her in a light hug. “I’m sorry darlin’. You really should go rest, or they’ll never heal properly.” There was a knock on the door then and Jean reflexively pulled away from him. She took a step back just as the door opened to reveal a slightly disheveled looking Storm.

“Where is the professor?”
 

“Down in the med lab tending to Rogue? Why, what’s wrong?” Jean asked as she approached her friend.
 

“I am alright Jean, I was just wondering where he had gone too, we never did get to finish our conversation.”

Jean took a moment to read into her friend’s mind and soon discovered the nightmare she’d had a few moments ago but was stopped by a thought that ran through the woman’s mind. ~Please don’t~ Jean pulled back and just looked at the woman with concern. “Ororo, are you sure you’re all right?”
 

“Yes, it was just a bad dream. I am going to go try to sleep again, I still feel tired.”
 

“I think you should take her advice” Logan suddenly chimed in to Jean from the back of the room.
 

With a sigh Jean realized that he was right, she was tired and did need to rest. “All right, I’ll follow you upstairs Ro.” Jean looked over her shoulder at Logan and saw him nod at her to go and then she turned and followed her friend out of the room and down the hall. Logan took a deep breath and could still smell Jean in the air and on his shirt. He decided that another round in the Danger Room might be worthwhile, and almost therapeutic. That’s where he spent most of his time anyways, but first he’d stop in and check on Rogue’s progress.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Piotr had followed Kitty inside and saw that she wasn’t in the rec room but heard someone opening the fridge in the kitchen and decided to see if she was there. As he walked into the room he saw Kitty standing in front of the open fridge drinking out of the orange juice jug. She hadn’t seen him walk in.
 

“So you’re da von who’s been drinking from de jug.” He purred a little louder than normal in an attempt to startle her. His attempt worked as Kitty nearly spit orange juice all over the inside of the fridge as she lowered the jug from her lips. After coughing slightly a few times she put the lid back on the jug, placed it in the fridge and closed the door calmly. As she turned to face Piotr, her look was stern but not really upset.
 

“Are you just trying to give me a heart attack today? That’s the second time you’ve SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME!” She yelled at him with a playful smirk prying at her lips. She watched as he leaned against the doorway and just smiled at her. She leaned back against the fridge and looked at him smiling at her.
 

“What?”
 

“Nothing.”
 

“That’s not a nothing look Piotr.” She replied as a slight blush crossed her face when she remembered that she was still only in her bikini and knew that he had a crush on her.
 

“I vas yust noticing how much I like dat svimsuit on you Kitty. It is very flattering.” He smirked at her again.
Kitty blushed a bit and began searching for her towel only to realize she’d hung it over the door next to where he was standing. She took the few steps across the kitchen to retrieve her towel and then wrapped it around herself.
 

“Thank you Pete, that was very… flattering, and slightly embarrassing.”
 

“I’m sorry, I did nyet mean to insult.”
 

“No it was quite the opposite.” She mumbled to herself as she blushed once again. “Didn’t you say you wanted to borrow a CD? I could go get it for you…” Her voice faded away as she suddenly realized just how close to him she was and how much taller than her he was.
 

“I already borrowed it, but you could come wit me to gyet it out of my room.” He told her not realizing just how that sounded. It did dawn on him when Kitty took a step closer to him.
 

“Or we could just go up to my room…”
 

“But my room is bigger. After all I am a big guy!” He smiled as he stood up straight again and smiled at her like a little boy.
 

“Just how big are you?” Her words fell out of her mouth before she had a chance to think about what she was saying and how it would sound. Kitty now feeling very embarrassed looked down at the ground just in time to miss him blush a deep red.
 

“Look Pete, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to say-” Her words were cut off as he leaned down and kissed her. The look of shocked surprise was still lingering on her face when he broke the kiss. “Well now I am glad I said that”
 

“Ew! Get a room!” Jubilee’s voice cut into the conversation as Kitty saw her standing in the other room with a disgusted look on her face.
 

“We plan too” Kitty replied with a blushing smile as she took Piotr’s hand and lead him out of the kitchen.
 

“I think I’m gonna be sick…” Jubilee muttered as the two left the room. She turned to Kurt who had just walked into the mansion. “Did you see them?” Kurt nodded a no and looked at her a bit confused. “You’re lucky then.” She shook her head and walked away towards the stairs and her room to go change.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It had been a long day for Scott and he was showing the signs of the weariness that plagued him. He had listened to Hank try to argue with Rogue about staying in the lab overnight and decided he needed to go sleep for a while. He took a moment to gather his thoughts and then jumped into the argument.
 

“I think it would be best for all of us to get some rest. It’s been a long day.”
 

“Ah agree, but ah do not want to sleep down here tonight. Ah want to sleep in mah own bed!” Rogue was now sitting up on the bed sternly stating her opinion to

Hank who was still insisting it was best for her to stay in here, just in case. Hank was just about to respond to Rogue’s argument when the doors to the lab slid open and Logan strode in. If looks could kill Rogue’s expression would have left him a bloody mess on the floor, but hers was topped by the one Remy sported. Logan stopped in his tracks when he saw the looks they were giving him, and for once honestly felt the guilt of having attacked her. It took all the strength Rogue had in her at the moment not to jump off that bed and rip him apart. Remy on the other hand… didn’t have the restraint that she did. He began to walk towards Logan with a look of furry across his face. He would have reached him if Scott hadn’t been standing where he was. Remy had pulled a card out and was charging it up just as he passed Scott who grabbed Remy’s arm and held him back.
 

“Let me go mon ami…” He said as he glared at Scott.
 

“No Remy, I wont. I don’t think a fight is what we need right now.”
 

“I aint’ here to fight anyone, I just wanted to know how she was.” Logan grumbled
 

“Get out!” Rogue seemed to break the tension everyone was feeling. “Just get out of here Logan, ah don’t feel like looking at ya right now.”

Logan looked around at all their faces and with a look of defeat rarely seen on his face he turned and left feeling the pang of guilt inside grow to encompass his whole being. He had no idea just how bad he’d hurt her, but he knew it must have been pretty bad. He could hear their voices as he walked down the hall still arguing over where she’d stay the night and as Hank finally caved into her demands he smirked. She still had her spunk that was for sure.

Rogue smiled half heartedly as Hank caved into her protests and stood up to gather herself and thank him. He did have a good argument, but she had been determined. After all he had examined her and found nothing wrong, so why couldn’t she sleep in her own bed? Hank still looked concerned for her as she took Remy’s hand in her own and the two of them walked out the lab.
 

“I don’t like this Charles, I would feel much better if I could monitor her overnight, I’d like to get more readings on the dreams she was having.”
 

“I’m afraid that Rogue wouldn’t have it any other way. She went through quite a bit today.” The professor replied.
 

“I think we all did…” Scott said wearily.
 

“Scott, you look horrible. Have you been sleeping?” Hank’s professional manner began to take over as he looked him over and began to search for the records he was reading.
 

“Not as much as I should be. Jean’s having nightmares again.”
 

Hank looked up quickly at that one. “She is? That’s odd…”
 

“I know and it’s keeping me awake at night too.”
 

Charles broke in then, he could see that the day was drawing to a close and the time for everyone to turn in was taking vast approach. “I suggest that we all get some rest. Hank I’d like to discuss some things with you tomorrow.”
 

Hank nodded “I’ve got just a bit more work to do down here so why don’t you two join the others upstairs, and I’ll be up there later.”
 

Scott nodded and turned happily to leave the lab, he wanted to go see Jean, and to try to get a good night’s sleep, but that was only if she didn’t have another nightmare.

* * * * * *

Jean followed Ororo down the hall but instead of following her upstairs she stopped at the bottom step and looked up at her friend. With one last fleeting effort of hope to help her she stopped her too. “Storm?” She called after the woman.
 

“Yes Jean?” She asked back as she turned around on the stairs to look at her friend.
 

“What’s wrong…you seem, not your self”
 

“I do not wish to talk about it.”
 

“Not even with me?” Jean almost pleaded with the woman and then saw her resolve begin to crumble.
 

“I had a very upsetting dream just a while ago” Storm avoided her friend’s eyes.
 

“What kind of dream?” Jean’s voice began to carry a tone of worry.
 

“I dreamt that Hank had died and then I… I… killed Bobby.” Her voice began to break as a tear rolled down her cheek and she sat down on the stair she was standing on. Jean moved up the two steps to sit down next to her.
 

“It was just a dream Ro, don’t let it upset you so much.” She put her arm around her shoulders and gave her a small hug. “I’ve been having bad dreams too…” She admitted to her. “I dreamt that I killed Scott.” Her voice had dropped in volume to almost a whisper. She dropped her hands into her lap letting her elbow cover the spot of blood beginning to seep through her shirt. She winced a bit a shot of pain ran from her sides reminding her that she needed to change the bandages.

“Come on, I’ll walk you up to your room.” The two girls gathered themselves and began heading upstairs, when they reached Storm’s room, she stopped and turned towards Jean.
 

“You said you have been having nightmares as well?”
 

“Yes, I had one last night, why?”
 

“I was just wondering” She sighed and then turned and walked into her room she smiled at Jean as she turned around and slowly pushing the door closed “goodnight Jean”
 

“Goodnight Ro” Jean slowly turned and made her way towards the elevator not really sure if she would make it to the med lab otherwise.

As Jean stepped out of the elevator she saw Scott and the Professor approaching. She took a deep breath that caught in her throat as a wave of pain swept her sides.
 

“Jean” Scott said surprise rising in his voice.
 

“Scott, what are you doing down here still?”
 

“That would be my fault Jean” the Professor chimed in. ~I wanted to give you time to discuss things with Logan~ He sent her way on a telepathic note.
 

“Actually I was going to ask you what you were doing down here.” Scott asked.
 

“I was just going to finish up some of the paperwork I was working on this morning.”
 

“Alright, but try not to be down here to long, you need your rest Jean, we all do.” Scott yawned at the last of his words; it was the first time all day he’d let his exhaustion be seen.
 

“I’ll try not to be” she couldn’t help but smile at him. She took a few steps forward and gave him a soft kiss before walking on down the hallway and turning to see Scott and Charles vanish inside the closing elevator. She sighed and looked down at her powder blue shirt that now had two large red spots beginning to grow larger on the sides. She turned around and headed towards the sliding doors that were the entrance to the med lab. As the doors began to open she lifted the edge of her shirt and went to grab the edge of the bandage when a voice broke the silence.
 

“Jean? What are you-” Hank’s voice started but when he saw the blood-soaked bandage she was reaching for he stopped short and stared at her.
 

“Hank… what are you doing still here?”
 

“I was going over a few of Rogue’s files… what happened to you?”
 

“I… had a bad dream?” She questioningly stated hoping he’d believe her.
 

“I heard about that, but I want to know what has happened to your sides.” Hank stood arms crossed over his massive chest and just stared at her knowing he’d break her eventually.
 

“I’d rather not discuss that Hank, least Logan get in even more trou-” She cut herself short and the horrified look on her face told Hank that she hadn’t meant to say that.
 

“Logan?”
 

She sighed and figured she’d better tell him. “Logan was having a nightmare, I could hear it in my head and tried to get him awake, but his nightmare changed and I saw it to late and this is what happens when your telepathy is belated.” She rambled out as she lifted her shirt and pulled off the two bandages to reveal the deep puncture wounds in her sides.
 

“Oh my stars and garters Jean, why didn’t you say anything?”
 

“Because I didn’t Hank”
 

“Why Jean? I could have-”
 

“What would you have done that I didn’t?” She made her way across the med lab and began fishing around for the supplies she needed to re-bandage herself.

“The Professor knows, Logan knows, and I took care of the wounds.”
 

“Does Scott know?”
 

“No, and I’d like to keep it that way as long as I can.”
 

“He’ll find out eventually”
 

“I know, but I don’t want him to know just yet. Scott and Logan already have enough conflicts between them, I don’t want to be more of a conflict than I already am.”
 

“What do you mean by that?”
 

“There was more reason why I went into Logan’s room then just to wake him up Hank” She muttered under her breath.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The sun had fallen behind the horizon outside and shifted the shadows in the house as Kurt watched Jubilee walk away. He still felt just a bit confused as to what she had been talking about but shrugged it off. He shook his head and was just about to teleport himself back up to his own room to change when he heard Remy’s voice drifting down the hall and growing steadily closer with each word.
 

“Chere Remy didn’t mean to offend you”
 

“Ah know ya didn’t Remy, but yer not going to fight him”
 

“Now chere, what kind of man would Remy be if he let da Wolverine attack you and not fight back?”
 

“Remy, Ah’ve stated mah piece. Now ah’m going ta bed and if you care to join me, you’ll be makin a promise not ta fight him.” She crossed her arms as best she could with crutches under them and just looked at him sternly. She looked kind of funny trying to be serious with crutches and a cast on her foot, but she still came off as serious as ever. “Well? What do you say Remy LeBeau?”
 

“Oui Chere, Remy promise he wont fight…” He defeatedly stated.

As Rogue smirked and turned making her way up the stairs, Remy sighed and began to head through the rec room towards the pool, he needed some air. Kurt hadn’t realized that a shadow had befallen him as he stood listening to their conversation. He didn’t realize it until he decided to speak.

 

“Vhy do you let her talk to you like dat Remy?” He asked softly from the dark of the shadows. Remy went stiff and began to look around like a deer in headlights. Kurt then took a few steps closer to him wondering what his problem was. “Are you alright?
 

“Merde Kurt, don’ do dat mon ami. Remy thought he was hearin voices…” He breathed out letting the tension drain from him as he searched his trench coat pockets for his pack of cigarettes. “Now what was dat you asked me?”
 

“Vhy do you let her talk to you like dat?”
 

Remy paused a moment and thought on that question a bit after having found the packet he was searching for. “Remy lets de chere talk to him like dat because he loves her. Join me?” He held up a cigarette and raised an eyebrow at him but Kurt just shook his head no.
 

“I need to change and, I don’t smoke.” He smiled at Remy.

*pop*

All that remained was a few fingers of smoke and the slight smell of brimstone. Kurt had bypassed the stairs and elevator and took his own shortcut to his room. Remy shrugged and decided that outside would be nice, it was dark now and pool always made a nice area to relax around. He pulled the doors open and stepped outside not remembering to close them behind him and walked the short distance to the pool grounds. As he reached the grounds he began to hear voices and the splashing of water. The closer he got, the clearer he could see who was in the water. Bobby and Alison were splashing around and trying to dunk one another. Remy tried to stay as much into the shadows as possible but gave himself away when he lit the tip of his cigarette. Bobby turned first as the small light caught his attention.
 

“Who’s that?” Bobby asked toward the light. Alison soon noticed it as well but wasn’t nearly as concerned with it.
 

“It’s probably just Kurt, you know how well he blends into shadows.”
 

“Non, Kurt don’ smoke” Remy spoke from in the shadows and then took a few steps forward to sit on one of the lounge chairs.
 

“What’re you doing out here?” Bobby questioned as he swam to the edge of the pool and pulled himself out. Remy took a big drag on the cigarette and blew out a long stream of smoke.
 

“De chere don’ like it when Remy smoke in de bedroom.”
 

“Man are you whipped” Bobby mumbled.
 

“What do you mean by dat mon ami?”
 

“That’s just the pig headed way of saying that Rogue controls you.” Alison replied with a smirk at Bobby as she headed for the pool steps and eventually her towel. Remy chuckled, as he understood what it meant. “When you love a femme dat can trow you trough da wall an’ suck de life from you wit a touch, you give her as much control as she wants.”
 

“I guess you got a point, Rogue is kinda strong” Bobby stated with a questionable look.
 

“Kinda strong? Bobby what the hell is wrong with you… Gambit just said she throws him through walls, I know, I’ve seen it happen before!”
 

“Oui, most have. De chere can loose her temper fast, and Remy doesn’t move out of de way dat fast…” He rubbed his back where the slight bruise had begun to form from the argument that morning which ended with him hitting a wall. He then took the last drag on his spent cigarette, let out the smoke then charged it and flicked it into the distance. He couldn’t help but smirk as the butt exploded with a soft pop. “Well Remy best be getting back up to de chere, she get lonely after a while, if you know what Remy means.” Bobby smiled and let a silent laugh escape him as Remy stood up and stretched then saw the disgusted look on Alison’s face.
 

“Way too much information Gambit, way to much.”
 

Remy just smiled that charming Cajun smile of his. “Good night mon amies” Remy called as he began his stroll back towards the house.
 

“Night Gambit” Bobby and Alison called in unison after him.
 

“So what do ya wanna do now? Most of the house is probably asleep, or doing…. Other things.” Bobby blushed just a bit at that and Alison rolled her eyes at him.

“There’s supposed to be a good movie on tonight.” Bobby said quickly trying to change the subject.
 

“Really? What movie?”
 

“Spiderman. It’s on HBO.”
 

“Alright, I guess we could watch it, nothing better to do.” She sighed as she pulled her shorts on and picked up her boom box then motioned for him to go first.

“Lead the way”
 

“Why do I always have to go first?”
 

“Because I like staring at your ass Bobby” Alison smiled.
 

“Really?” Bobby’s face lit up.
 

“No, it’s cause I can’t see all that great in the dark” Alison stated as the light faded from Bobby’s face.
 

“Oh, right.” Bobby turned and started to head out but stopped and looked at her again. “You know that wasn’t funny, cruel yes, but not funny.” Then he began to lead the way again.
 

“I know Bobby, but I can’t help it, you’re just so fun to tease!” She called at him as she began to follow him back towards the house.

 

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