The X-Men: New Additions - Part 3

Author:  Stacy Ricco

 
    Storm and Alex had spent three days in the city and still no sign of Gambit. They really didn't know where to look. Storm figured that Gambit knew that one her favorite places was Central Park. Alex and Storm spent most of their time walking along the numerous paths in the park. All the time that they spent together allowed the two women time to get to know each other. Storm also gave Alex a new insight in to Logan.
It was their fourth day in the city when they finally received a word from Gambit. It was late in the evening and they were returning to their hotel. They noticed a small child sitting in the lobby of the hotel as they walked in. Storm went to the desk and asked the clerk there if there were any messages for Ororo Monroe. The clerk handed her an envelope and Storm thanked him. She walked over to where Alex was standing and tore open the envelope.
   
Stormy,
        Old habits die-hard. You and the black-haired woman should follow the child. He will bring you to me.
                    Gambit

    Storm showed the letter to Alex and looked at the child sitting in one of the couches. The child nodded and got up and walked out the front door.
Storm and Alex followed the child for what seemed an eternity. They walked for blocks and blocks and wondered if they were ever going to see the Cajun. After leading them through a maze of streets and alleys the child stopped in front of a hotel building that had seen its better days decades past. Storm gave the young child a little bit of money and asked what room number they should go to. The child answered her, took the money and ran down the street.
Storm cautiously opened the front door and started to go in.
"Storm. I know you want to see him, but please let me go first."
"Alex I appreciate the offer, but…"
Alex didn't let her finish. "No buts Storm. I can better deal with anything that might come up."
Storm saw the wisdom in Alex's words and stepped aside so Alex could lead the way. Alex stepped into the lobby of what was once a hotel. It was probably a nice hotel back in the day, but now it was rundown. Paint was peeling off the walls and ceiling, half the light fixtures were gone, and the ones that remained contained mostly burnt out light bulbs. The carpet was threadbare and worn, and the original color had mostly disappeared under dirt and grime. There was a bald and sleazy looking fellow standing behind the desk. Alex approached the desk and could feel the man's eyes all over her and Storm.
"Could you please tell us where room 202 is?" Alex asked the seedy looking fellow.
"What's it to you," he replied in a rough voice.
"Perhaps you should ask what's in it for yourself?"
"What do you mean?" he asked looking eagerly at the two women.
"Meaning…" Alex began as she reached over the counter and grabbed the man by the collar, "that if you don't give me an answer, you're going to find yourself in a lot of pain."
The man turned as white as a sheet and promptly told the two women where they could find room 202. The proceeded to follow the man's instructions and stopped before the door they were searching for. Storm knocked.
"Come in," came a weak voice from within the room.
Storm opened the door and was horrified at what she saw. Gambit laid on a shabby bed wrapped in blankets. His skin was pale and dark circles were under his eyes. His face was much thinner than the last time Storm had seen it. She had never seen her friend look worse in his life.
"Stormy," he said and was overtaken by a fit of coughing. The coughing spell for two or three minutes and ended with him coughing up blood.
"Gambit. How long have you been like this?" Storm asked walking over to where her friend lay.
"I dunno. Since Gambit been left by her in Antarctica," he said and another coughing spell had begun.
"Gambit. We are taking you back to the mansion to let Hank take care of you."
"Non Stormy," he said between coughs.
"Gambit you are coming back with us. What's ever between you and Rogue or you and the rest of the X-men will be dealt with after you get better."
Gambit tried to object, but his coughing became severe enough that he couldn't speak. Storm knew that if they didn't get him back to the mansion tonight, he wouldn't last long. Alex walked over to Gambit and put her hands on his chest. Warmth spread through out his chest from her hands. He looked at the woman. He felt a little better and breathing was a little easier.
"Remy. This is Alex. She joined the X-men about a month ago." Remy just nodded at the woman.
"He should be okay for a little while. I gave him quite a bit and he should be okay until we get back. I'll carry him," she said and bent over and picked up the weakened Cajun.
"Merci Stormy."
They made their way down to the lobby. Storm paid the bill for Gambit's room and the stepped out into the street.
"Storm do you think you can take all three of us back?"
"I can't Alex. We'll have to find a cab."
They walked for a few blocks when Alex noticed that they were being followed.
"Storm. We're being followed."
"Marauders."
"Gambit knew dey would catch up to him sooner or later."
They ducked into a dead-end alley.
"Storm. Can you get him back?"
"Yes Alex, but…"
"Listen Storm. You can get him back faster than I can so you do it. I will deal with these guys until you or the X-men can come back for me," Alex said handing the Cajun to Storm. "NOW MOVE!"
"Bossy ain't she?" Alex heard Gambit say as Storm lifted the two of them up in the air. Alex turned to face the opening of the alley. The gang known as the Marauders was just coming into view. She slowly took a breath and let it out. This was going to be tough. She only hoped she could hang on until help arrived.
   
"Storm to Beast"
"Beast here."
"Hank please meet me in the medlab. Storm out."
"Roger."
Storm moved as fast as she could. It still took a great deal of time for her to get back to the mansion and get down to the medlab. Beast was waiting for her in the medlab as well as Logan.
"Where's Alex?" Logan asked. He had come down to the lab with Hank because he thought Storm was bringing in an injured Alex.
"I had to leave her Logan. The Marauders were following us and I couldn't bring all three of us back. She ordered me to bring Gambit back while she stayed to deal with them." Ororo could see the pain in Logan's eyes as she told him what happened.
"Let's go 'Ro. Take me to her."
Storm nodded and looked at Beast.
"I will do my best with Gambit."
Logan looked at the half conscious Cajun lying on the bed. "If she gets hurt Swamp-rat, I'm going to make you wish you were dead."
   
Storm and Wolverine arrived at the spot where Storm had left Alex. They started to look around.
"Storm."
Storm walked over to where Wolverine was standing.
"Blood and lots of it. Can't tell who's it is though."
"Wolverine, we will find her and she will be all right."
"Her scent goes out of the alley," he said as he began to follow it.
They followed it for about two blocks. A trail of blood also followed the same path. Then suddenly the scent was gone. Wolverine backtracked his steps and when he got to the same place it just stopped. The trail of blood had also stopped at the same place. Wolverine swore.
"Let's get back and get some help."
"You go Storm. I'm staying."

    Alex woke to find herself naked and tied spread eagle to a table. Her right eye was swollen shut and it hurt when she tried to open it. Her whole body hurt. There wasn't an inch of her body that didn't cry out in pain. She should have been healing herself by now with this many injuries, but somehow here powers were being suppressed. She mentally shut out the pain and took a look around. The table was tilted at an angle, so it gave her a pretty good view of the place. It was some sort of lab and there were various pieces of equipment along the far wall. The humming of a machine filled the room and she couldn't determine where it was coming from. Tables lined with test tubes and surgical equipment was on either side of the table she was tied to.
She was still looking around when movement in the shadows caught her eye.
"Good. I'm glad that you are awake my dear. I was afraid that the Marauders had seriously damaged you," said a voice from the shadows. "And by what name should we call you?"
Alex kept silent. She had been tortured before and could withstand this.
"So you don't want to speak. Well that will change in time," the voice continued on. "You may call me Mr. Sinister," and a figure stepped out of the shadows.
Alex recognized him from the X-men's files.
"You weren't the one I sent the Marauders after, but you will do. I am always in need of fresh mutant DNA. So let's get down to business. I've never seen you with the X-men before today, so you must be new. Would you be so kind to fill me in about your powers?"
Alex withdrew into herself.
"The silent type. Well we will have to do a little experimenting then," he said picking up a few surgical instruments and pressing a button on his belt. The humming of a machine suddenly stopped.
Alex could feel her body starting to mend itself. She made a mental note of the machine that was turned off. That had to be the one that suppressed her powers.
"Healing yourself. Very good. I like to have my specimens in top shape before I like to work on them. I thought we would be here a while before being able to work on you."
Alex ignored him and urged her body to move faster. She now was able to see out of both her eyes and she didn't have to block the pain anymore. She felt her body getting stronger, but at the same time getting weaker. She was using up a lot of energy in healing and would be as weak as a newborn kitten for a while. She could bide her time though.
"What other powers do you have?"
No answer.
"Well let's see," Sinister said as he tried to take a scalpel and make a cut on her abdomen.
Alex's skin became as hard as steel in the place where he tried to cut. The scalpel didn't make a scratch on her.
"Interesting."
The tests went on for what seemed to be hours for Alex. In actually it was only an hour. Sinister ran a battery of tests and wrote down results on a clipboard that lay beside the bed. She was glad when he stopped. The machine that suppressed powers went on as soon as he stopped.
"We cannot have you escaping on us. Not with your remarkable powers. You will make a great donor for my projects."
Alex just stared at him.
"Well my dear. We don't want to exhaust you on your first day with us. Someone will be along to clean you up a bit and feed you."
She watched him leave the room. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. She brought up an image of Logan in her mind and managed to fall asleep.
She awoke to find that she had been cleaned off. The dried blood and dirt that covered her body was gone. A plain looking woman holding a bowl of food sat next to the table. She stood up when she saw that Alex was awake. She brought the food up to Alex's mouth and Alex eagerly ate it. The bowl was empty in a short time and Alex's stomach rumbled for more. The woman wiped Alex's mouth and disappeared.
Alex was starting to doze when Sinister walked back in.
"I'm glad you are awake my dear. I thought you would have been up earlier."
Alex just stared at him.
"Very well. I don't need you to talk to take what I need. I'm sorry my dear, but this may hurt a little," he said as he began to select a few instruments from the other tables.
Alex was glad when he was finished. To her credit she didn't cry out or scream when he was cutting into her body. She lay there now trying to go to sleep. The pain was coursing through her body and it took all of her discipline to block the pain. Sinister did not allow her to heal herself after his ministrations. She was just starting to go to sleep when Sinister walked back in.
"Well my dear. Seems like all the pain that I caused you was for naught. Seems
like your ovaries do not contain any eggs. Were they removed by someone?"
Alex just looked at him. Government doctors removed them a few years ago, but Alex didn't want to think about that subject.
"Well at least I was still able to collect some cell samples and will be able to extract your DNA from them. However the process is rather complicated and I will need more samples," he said preparing for another round of collecting samples from the woman.
Alex wanted to scream when he started to cut into her again, but she dared not. She knew that it would only give him pleasure if she did. Instead she lay there thinking about the two things that brought her pleasure, Logan and Meph.  She was barely conscious when he was finished. It seemed like it lasted an eternity. She wondered why he bothered to stitch her up when he was finished. Healing and blood loss had left her as weak as a newborn babe.
"Well my dear. You've held up pretty well. Most people would have caved in by now. Any ways, I am finished with you. The only question that remains is what should we do with you?"
Alex lay there and didn't even bother to look at him. His voice was barely registering in her brain.
"Perhaps I will let my associates play with you for awhile and then dispose of you when they are finished."
Alex glanced over to where five males and one female were standing. They were part of the group that attacked her in the alley. Two were missing. A male and a female were missing. Maybe Alex had been able to take the two of them out before they took her. She knew this wasn't going to be pleasant.
She didn't know how many days had passed. She lost consciousness many times between, during and after the beatings and the rapes. She just prayed that they would tire of her quickly. She couldn't even bring up the images of Logan, Meph or any of the X-men. She was exhausted in mind, body and soul.

    She was barely conscious when they dumped her in what she thought was an alley. She couldn't see all that well due to her eyes being swollen almost all the way shut. She could feel the warmth of blood coming out of the cuts and gashes that covered her body. She tried to call for help but wasn't able to speak. Her jaw was probably broken. She felt around and found a wall. She tried to stand using the wall as leverage, but fell flat on her face when she got more than half way up. She wanted to give up and die right there in the alley. A part of her mind screamed and refused to give in. A faint breeze blew and rustled some old newspapers. She sniffed. Logan. It was his scent.
<LOGAN! HELP ME!> her mind screamed.

    Logan had wandered the streets and alleys that surrounded the alley where Storm had said she left Alex. A week had passed since Alex had disappeared and he must have checked every building and alley. He only slept about an hour a day and rarely took time to eat. Logan was getting more and more agitated as the hours and days passed.
<LOGAN! HELP ME!>
He stopped in his tracks. Alex. Alex had called him.
<LOGAN! HURRY!>
Logan wished he could respond and reassure her. He was near the alley where Storm had left her. Could she be there? It was a long shot, but he didn't care. He had to find her. He walked into the alley. He couldn't believe his eyes. Her body was covered with bruises and large gashes were bleeding quite profusely. He couldn't believe that she was still alive. He knelt next to her and cradled her in his arms.
"Alex I'm here darlin'."
She tried to answer him, but her jaw wouldn't cooperate.
Logan saw her trying to respond. "Shh darlin'. Don't speak. Help is on the way. Wolverine to Cyclops."
"Cyclops here."
"I found her. The alley."
"Acknowledged. We're on our way."
"Cyke hurry. Please hurry."
Logan tried to stop the bleeding as best as he could. It didn't help much. It seemed like it took Scott, Storm, Rogue and Hank an eternity to arrive. As soon as Rogue landed, Logan handed Alex to Rogue. He watched Rogue fly up to the Blackbird with Alex. A minute later Rogue came back down to pick him up. Hank already had her on a cot in the back of the jet. He was inserting an IV when Logan arrived at the side of the cot. He took Alex's hand and reassured her that it was going to be all right.
"What's it look like Hank?"
"Not good. Broken jaw, possible fractured skull and eye sockets, broken arm, possibly some broken ribs and possible rape. Maybe some other injuries."
Anger welled up inside of Logan.
"Hank why isn't she healing herself? Her injuries when she came to us were less severe and she healed those."
"I do now know Logan."
Hank continued to examine her. Logan just sat and held her hand and laid a hand on her forehead. He saw a single tear escape her left eye. He took a finger and gently wiped it away.
The trip back to the mansion took very little time. Once they landed, it only took a minute or two to get Alex down to the medlab. Hank got her hooked up to the monitoring machines while Cecilia stitched up the huge cuts that were scattered over her body.
"Logan."
"What Rogue?"
"Sugah why don't you come up stairs with me, get cleaned up and we'll get some food in you?"
"I'm not leavin' her Rogue."
"Logan, Hank and Cecilia can take care of her. They will let us know if there's a change in her condition."
"I'm not leavin' her."
"Logan this is the last time Ah'm asking. After that Ah'm going to throw you over mah shoulder and carry you upstairs."
Logan turned to look at her. He knew she would do it if he didn't listen to her. He nodded and then followed her out of the medlab.
"So when are you going to go see the Cajun?"
"That's none of your business Logan."
"Rogue I'm your friend. You need to talk to him. For your sake and the sake of your child."
"Ah guess you're right Logan. Ah just don't know what to say."
"Start simple darlin'. Or don't say anything to begin with. Just be there."
   
    Logan had to admit Rogue was right. He felt a hundred percent better after a shower and a hot meal. He went back down to the lab and Alex's condition hadn't improved. Hank and Cecilia were still working on her and they had her hooked up to a myriad of different machines. It pained him to see her body covered in dark bruises and large cuts. He sat in the chair next to the bed and took one of her hands. He sat there motionless for a long time. He just sat there watching her breathing. Her chest didn't rise and fall as much as it should and it was slower then it should be. Logan didn't keep track of the time that passed. Rogue and the rest of the X-men brought food down for Hank, Cecilia and Logan. Logan slept as much as he dared and Hank and Cecilia took shifts watching over Alex and Gambit.
The two doctors were relieved that their other patient was recovering. Gambit was breathing a lot better and his coughing had subsided. He was awake for most of the time and just sat there watching Logan. Gambit knew that Logan blamed him for what happened to Alex. Storm had filled Gambit in on how Alex had come to the X-men and the intimacy that had developed between Logan and the new woman. Gambit was surprised that someone had softened the rough X-man. Gambit had seen Rogue come into the medlab quite a few times, but she didn't glance in his direction once.
Gambit was sleeping when she must have come in. She was sitting next to his bed when he awoke. Her eyes met his. No matter how he felt about Rogue, her beauty always managed to steal his breath and make his heart beat a little faster. She looked away and turned her attention to Logan. She came back later that day after taking Logan upstairs for a bit. She returned after Logan and sat next to his bed. He turned over so that his back was to her. She sat there for about an hour before leaving. He went to sleep and woke to find her sitting there again. This time he just looked at her. He saw pain and worry in her eyes, but it didn't detract from her beauty. He had never found her so beautiful. There was something different about her, but he couldn't put a finger on it. She seemed to have a glow about her. They didn't say a word to each other.

    Rogue had to get out of there. They sat there for an hour staring at each other and not saying a word. She went upstairs and stopped in the kitchen to get a snack before bed. She ran into Storm in the kitchen.
"Rogue. Can we talk?"
"Sure Storm. What's up?"
"I've noticed that you've been spending time down with Gambit."
"Yes Storm," Rogue said as she had an idea where this conversation was going.
"Have you told Gambit that you are pregnant?"
"Storm we haven't said one word to each other."
"Rogue, you should tell him rather soon. I'm sure that he would rather find out from you then from someone else."
"Storm ah know. Ah want to tell him. It's just hard to find the right time. Ah can't just blurt out 'Gambit Ah'm sorry Ah left you in Antarctica and by the way Ah'm pregnant with your baby'."
"Well it is a rather direct approach."
Rogue stared at Storm in disbelief.
"Rogue I am giving you a week to tell Gambit. After that I will tell him."
"You wouldn't!"
"Yes I will Rogue. You have a week," Storm said as she left the kitchen.

    Three days had passed and Alex's condition was not improving. Hank said her vital signs were getting weaker as the days passed. Logan didn't leave the chair next to her bed, even after many attempts to get him to leave by the rest of the X-men. Logan noticed the Cajun watching him.
"What ya lookin' at bub?"
"How is she doing?"
"Not good Cajun. Her vitals have been declining more and more each day."
"Gambit's sorry mon ami."
"I'm not your friend Cajun. It's your fault that she's in this condition. You're on very thin ice right now."
Rogue had walked in to the lab in the middle of the exchange.
"Logan," her voice had an ominous edge to it.
"Rogue stay out of this. It's between the Cajun and I."
"Logan Ah'm not going to let you two get into it right here in the medlab."
"Rogue I wouldn't do anything permanent to the Cajun for the baby's sake."
"Logan…." Rogue began before she was interrupted by Gambit.
"WHAT! What baby? Rogue, is he sayin' dat you be pregnant with Gambit's baby."
"Yes ah am Swamprat. And that's the only thing keeping Logan kicking your butt right now."
"Rogue when were you plannin' to tell Gambit?"
"Ah was getting around to it."
"What is all the shouting?" Cecilia asked as she walked over to them. "I don't think it's in the best interest of my patients that you all are shouting in here."
The three of them looked at Cecilia. They all mumbled apologies.
"Rogue can you sit with her? I need to go find Jean."
"Sure sugah."
Logan went as fast as he could. He had to find Jean. He found her in the Professor's office talking to Scott and Storm.
"Jean. Can I have a word with you?"
"Sure Logan. Excuse me, Scott and Ororo," she said following Logan out into the hallway.
"What is it Logan?" Jean could see the worry on his face.
"Hank and Cecilia say that Alex isn't getting better. Her vitals have been steadily decreasing in the past few days. I want to know if you could possibly see if you could reach her."
"Sure Logan. I don't know if she will let me in though. You remember what happened when I tried to do that without her letting me in."
"Would it help if you took me with you?"
"Probably. She would probably open up if she sensed your presence, but it's dangerous."
"I know darlin'. We have to try if she's going to live."
Jean just nodded and followed him down to the medlab. Rogue was sitting next to the bed and held Alex's hand in one of her gloved hands.  Logan put a hand on Rogue's shoulder. "Thanks darlin'."
"Anytime Logan."
"Logan I'm going to link your mind with mine and then we'll make the attempt."
Logan just nodded at Jean. He gradually felt the presence of Jean's mind.
Just relax. This will be difficult enough without having you fighting me too.
He felt a sudden wretch and he found himself standing next to Jean in a barren wasteland. A huge wall loomed up in front of them and extended as far as the eye could see. Jean approached the wall and laid a hand on it.
"Alex it's Jean. Please let me in."
The wall didn't change. Jean looked at Logan. Logan nodded and went up and laid a hand on the wall.
"Alex darlin'. It's me Logan."
The portion of the wall in front of Logan began to change. An archway appeared and Logan and Jean stepped through. A path stretched out before them. They started to follow it.
"Alex?" Logan called out into the nothingness. A doorway appeared in front of them.
Logan tried the handle. It opened.
The room was a solarium. It looked very similar to the one at the mansion. Sunlight poured into the room and potted plants were everywhere, but there wasn't a sign of Alex. The room suddenly shifted and Jean and Logan found themselves standing on a beach. The sun was intense and they could even smell the scent of salt in the air. The scene shifted again and they were standing in a desert. The sun beat down mercilessly on them.
"Jean?"
"I'm not doing it Logan, she is. Do you think she's trying to tell us something?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
The scene shifted again and they were standing at the edge of a lake and the sun was just rising. The sun came up over distant mountains in a blaze of glory.
"Jean."
"Yes Logan?"
"I know what it is she's trying to say to us. Let's go."
Jean took them out.
"Hank!" Logan bellowed.
"Yes?"
"Unhook her please."
"Logan?"
"Hank please just do it," Logan said trying to get all the wires and tubes out of her.
"Logan this is highly unusual."
"I know what she needs."
"Okay," the big blue furry man said as he began to disconnect the wires that were hooked up to the monitoring devices. When everything was disconnected Logan scooped her up in his arms and was almost at a run when he left the medlab.
He kicked the door to the solarium open and laid her on the floor in a bright patch of sunlight. At first nothing happened, but then her skin went from a normal flesh color to green. Alex's body started to spasm. Beast and Jean had just walked into the room when Alex had started to spasm. Beast had started to rush toward Alex.
"No Hank! Let her go. She'll be all right."
The spasms stopped after a few short moments. Hank walked over to where Alex was laying and knelt down and checked her pulse. He put a small electronic device on her neck where he checked her pulse. He took a few small samples from her skin to analyze later.
"This will allow us to monitor her vitals from the medlab. Logan I assume that you are staying here?"
"Yes Hank. I'll call if I need you."
Logan sat down on the floor next to her and watched her. He noticed the shadows shortening as noon approached. His stomach rumbled and protested the lack of food. Ten minutes later Jean came in carrying a tray with a few sandwiches and a bottle of beer.
"Thanks Jeannie."
"You're welcome. Logan you need to remember to eat. We can't have you passing out from lack of food."
"Sure darlin'."
Jean quietly left the room. Logan quietly ate the food and drank the beer. He sat quietly thinking. He wasn't aware of the time passing until Jean came back with another tray loaded with food. It was early evening and the sun had begun the last stages of its decent toward the horizon.
"Logan I thought I told you not to forget to eat."
"I know darlin'. I didn't want to leave her."
"I know Logan. How's she doing?"
"Her breathing is stronger and she looks a little better. Well besides the green skin."
"Good. I'll be back to get the trays later."
"Thanks again Jean."
The sun had almost set completely and Logan was sitting next to her and was starting to doze. Movement caught his eye and he looked up to see Alex having another spasm. A small sound escaped Alex's mouth and it grew until she was shouting.
"aaaaARRRRGGGHHH!" She arched her back and twisted back and forth from left to right.
Logan's eyes widened and he reached out for her. He watched the bruises and cuts heal in a matter of seconds.
"Alex?"
"Logan?" she said weakly and opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled weakly.
"Yes darlin'. I'm here," he said wrapping his arms around her.
"Thank you."
"Shh save your energy. You're going to need it."
He held her in his arms until they both fell asleep. Jean stopped in later to pick up the two trays and saw Logan sleeping sitting up and holding Alex in his arms. She left and came back a short time later carrying two light blankets. She covered the two motionless people, gathered the trays and quietly left the room.

Rogue sat next to Gambit's bed after Logan and Jean had returned. She watched Logan take Alex from the medlab and wondered what was going on. Rogue turned to look at Gambit. They sat there looking at each other for quite a long time.
"So what do we do about dis chere?"
"Ah don't know."
"Chere, Gambit never be proud of what he did. Gambit been tryin' to make up for dat ever since it happened."
"Gambit, Ah know. Ah think ah might have reacted too quickly and too harshly. You did try to stop them and it's not like Ah have the best past either."
"So what do you t'ink we should do?"
"Let's start by being civil to each other for the baby's sake."
"Gambit can do dat."
"All right swamprat. Ah'll see if Ah can talk Hank into letting you out of here."
"T'anks chere."

    Movement woke Logan up the following morning. Logan woke to find Alex in the middle of stretching. Logan let go of her as she sat up. She groaned.
"Something wrong darlin'?"
"It shouldn't still hurt. Something didn't heal right."
"Let's go find Hank and have him check you out," Logan said as he stood up. He saw Alex starting to get up off the floor. "No you don't. You're still too weak to walk. 'Sides Hank would skin me alive if I let you walk down to the medlab." Logan scooped her up in his arms and carried her down to the medlab.
"Hank!"
"Over here Logan."
Logan deposited Alex on the bed that she had vacated only 24 hours earlier.
"Alex healed herself, but she says something didn't heal right. She still has pain."
"Let me take a look."
Hank examined Alex and took a few x-rays. He came back a few minutes later.
"Alex. It seems like some of your broken bones didn't set right and it looks like I am going to have to re-break them so I can set them properly."
Alex just nodded. "Just do it."
"Would you like something beforehand for the pain?"
She shook her head. "Just do it please."
"Okay," he said getting ready to do the job. Alex jumped off the bed and laid her arm flat on the bed.
Logan watched the whole procedure. He had to giver her credit. She didn't even as much as blink when Hank broke her arm.
"Ready for your jaw?"
Logan winced. Alex nodded. Again Alex didn't blink or flinch when Hank broke her jaw.
"Want something for the pain?"
Alex shook her head.
Logan. I need more sunlight. I can't heal these bones without it.
Logan nodded and picked her up and carried her back to the solarium. Alex sat on the floor in the sunlight and quickly healed her broken bones. She sat there for an additional hour to gain some energy.
"Alex, I'm here if you want to talk about it."
"I know Logan. You don't want to see what I've been through. Let's go upstairs so I can get out of this dreaded hospital gown and have my skin go back to its normal color."
"Alex can I ask you about that? What happened?"
"Basically, I became a plant. Well not really, but my skin produces chlorophyll and processes sunlight like a plant does. I've only done this on a few occasions. When I can't eat and my energy levels get low, my body adapts and gets the energy it needs in a different manner."
"How long will you be like this?"
"Why don't you find me attractive anymore?"
"Of course I find you attractive," he said and to prove it he gave her a deep kiss. "It's just that when you're like this I know you're not okay."
"As soon as I started eating food again it will go away, unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?"
"It's painful when it goes away for some reason. It's an experience that I care not to repeat over and over. Now why don't you take me upstairs so I can change?" She reached out her arms for him to pick her up.
"Anything you say darlin'."
   
    Logan carried her up to his room and set her down on the bed.
"I thought you would be taking me to my room."
"I brought you here so I can keep an eye on you. I know your type. You would be pushing yourself too hard too soon if you didn't have someone keeping a close eye on you."
"Guilty," she said. "I make the worst patient, although don't tell Hank I said that."
Mephistopheles, who had been sleeping in a chair next to the bed, saw his mistress and jumped onto the bed and climbed up on Alex's shoulder. He began to purr and nuzzle her cheek.
"I missed you too," she said petting the little black kitten.
"I'll be right back," he said and he left the room.
Logan returned a few minutes later carrying a few articles of clothing. "Sweats okay?"
"Perfect. Although I could really use a hot soak in the tub."
Logan thought for a minute. He couldn't simply walk into the women's bathroom and start drawing a bath for Alex. "Hold on. I'll be right back."
Ten minutes later Logan came back holding a robe. "Ready?"
"You didn't! You didn't go into the women's bathroom and draw a bath. Did you?"
"And have every woman in the mansion chasing me? No way. I had Rogue draw it for you. Now, I'll take you to the door so you can have your bath."
She smiled warmly at him and snuggled up close when he picked her up. Rogue was waiting at the door of the women's bath. Although, each room had a small bath attached to it, complete with toilet, sink and shower, the only tubs were located in the main bathrooms.
Logan was going to hand her to Rogue, but she stopped him.
"No Logan. I can walk to the tub. I'm not THAT weak."
He just looked at her and eventually acquiesced and put her down on her feet. Alex was a little wobbly, but eventually steadied herself. She didn't want to have Logan see her wobbling. She didn't feel like having her actions curtailed any longer than necessary. She took a deep breath and walked slowly and calmly in to the bathroom. Rogue shadowed Alex's movements incase Alex lost her balance.
Alex removed the flimsy hospital gown and slowly walked down the steps and entered the tub. She immersed herself up to her neck and carefully leaned back against the side of the tub. The hot water felt great and she started to feel her body relaxing. She sank beneath the water for a few seconds and then came back up.
"Mmmm this feels good."
"Ah bet it does. Will feel even better in a second."
Alex looked questioningly at Rogue. Rogue winked and pressed a button next to the tub. Alex felt strong streams of water emanating from nozzles all around the tub.
"Oh you're right. It feels a whole lot better."
"What happened? Ah understand if ya don't want to talk, but all the rest of us got were a few brief descriptions."
"I made Storm take Gambit and leave and I stayed there to delay or stop the Marauders. Then Logan found me in the alley. You really don't want to know what happened in the middle."
"Sugah, Ah'll always be here if ya want to talk."
"Thanks. So what's been going on in my absence?"
"Not much. Bobby's usual antics."
"And Gambit?"
"Ah don't know. We're at least being civil to each other. Where it goes from there we have no idea."
"Do you want to get back together with him?"
"Ah don't know. There's so much that has happened and it's hard to forget. Ah guess Ah still love him."
"Rogue is it because of what he did?"
"Ah guess. It's hard to forgive something like that. Ah thought Ah knew him."
"Rogue, what does it matter? That was years ago, not now and not since you've known him."
"But it was so horrible!"
"Rogue would you judge me for the things that I did?"
"No."
"Then why are you judging Gambit?"
"But it was so horrible!"
"Rogue. Come here," she said motioning for Rogue to come closer.
"Why?"
"I want to show you something."
Rogue leaned over to allow Alex to place her hands on Rogue's temples.
"This maybe a little uncomfortable," Alex warned as she began to concentrate. Alex slowly projected some images into Rogue's mind.
"Oh mah!" Rogue exclaimed as she drew back from Alex's touch after a minute of seeing the images that Alex projected. Rogue's eyes were wide in amazement and disbelief.
"I have ten times the blood on my hands than Gambit has on his. I could make him look like a saint. Would you judge me for what I have done?"
"No."
"Then Rogue, don't judge Gambit. The past is the past. It's happened and there's nothing you can do to change it. All anyone can do about the past is learn from it. Gambit, I believe, has learned from his mistake, at least according to what you say."
"Ah guess," Rogue said looking down at nothing in particular.
"Rogue, if you truly love him, then accept him for who he is now. If you can't do that then there isn't a future in it for the two of you because this will always come back to come between the two of you."
Rogue and Alex spent the remainder of the time in silence. Alex rested back against the tub and closed her eyes. Projecting the images to Rogue took energy out of her that she couldn't afford to lose. Her stomach protested and rumbled quite noisily. Rogue sat next to the tub and replayed Alex's words and images over and over in her mind. The silence was interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on the door.
"You two going to spend eternity in there?" Logan called from behind the closed door.
"We're coming," Alex answered starting to stand up. She was almost completely standing before she started to fall over.
"Ah gotcha. Hold on," Rogue said as she caught Alex and began to help her out of the tub.
"Thanks. That took more out of me than I thought."
Rogue gasped when she realized what Alex was saying. Alex was in a weakened state already and Rogue didn't help her by making her use energy to show her those images.
"Sugah, Ah'm sorry. Ah made you do that. Logan's going to kill me."
"Then we just won't say anything. Now will we?"
Rogue smiled at Alex and helped Alex put her robe on.
"He really has a thing for you, you know. We've never seen him like this before."
"Really?"
"Ah've known Logan for sometime and Jean has known him even longer and neither one of us has ever seen him so taken with a woman."
Alex blushed a little.
"Use me for support until we get to the door," Rogue said as she offered an arm.
Alex nodded and the two women slowly made their way to the door. When Rogue opened it they saw Logan standing there leaning against the wall.
" 'Bout time," he muttered and picked up and cradled Alex in his arms.
"Alex," Rogue called after them as Logan carried her down the hall.
"Yes, Rogue?"
"Thanks sugah."
"Anytime Rogue."
Logan looked at Alex.
"Girl stuff," she said hoping to end where the questioning was going.
"Oh," he said as they made their way back to his room.