Night Butterflies - Part Two

by Khaki and Loki


"We'll have to keep a eye on her. She and Jubilee share a room. Jubilee will be able to monitor her," the professor answered.

"Logan can be very... tenacious," Jean added. "Jubilee might not be enough."

"Speaking of which, what is Logan's condition?" the professor asked.

"Very bad," Jean answered. "Right now he's on a respirator. He has severe burns around his skeletal structure from the electrical heart stimulation. I had to increase the voltage because too much of the electricity was being diverted away from his heart to do any good. He's unconscious now, and given his prior experience with Rogue, probably in a coma, although I haven't had a chance to assess that yet."

"Will he wake up?"

"Probably, although I can't be sure. It will definitely take longer than the few days it took last time. If he had held on a few seconds more, I don't think he'd be alive."

"Jean, just get him better. That's all I ask," Scott said. "Get him healed and out of the med bay. Then I'll kill him."

"And I'll help," Storm added.

**********

Rogue sat rocking on her bed, hugging her pillow to her chest and staring across the room at nothing.

'Why did you do it, Logan?' she thought to herself. 'Why did you touch me?'

A tidal wave of memories flooded her mind. Bodies, death, stench, blood, guilt, pain, hate, the scenes kept changing every second, getting more and more graphic and horrifying.

She fell back on the bed, clutching her head and screaming, "NOOOO!!! Stop!" at the top of her lungs. Just as quickly as they appeared the images stopped and she was back in her room.

'Sorry, darlin'.' apologized Logan's voice in her head. 'Can't control the memories.'

"Rogue, are you ok?" Jubilee asked.

Rogue could smell the fear and concern wafting from her friend, and she couldn't tell if it was her or Logan who answered, "That's a stupid question."

"Yeah, uh... sorry. Why did he do it, touch you?"

Rogue shuddered as the memories tried to break through. "Don't ask me right now, Jubes. Ok?"

"Ok. Should I go get Remy? He really wants to..."

"No! I won't have no pansy-assed, French-speaking geek around my girl!"

"Uh... Rogue?"

Rogue rubbed her head, trying to regain control. How could Logan think she was his girl after he'd left her for three years without so much as a phone call?

'Because you are, darlin',' he mentally replied.

'No, Logan,' she corrected. 'You may have saved my life, but a lot has changed while you've been gone.'

"No!" Logan/Rogue screamed. Rogue jumped from her bed and started pacing the room, clearly agitated. Her knuckles itched terribly, and he/she just wanted to beat someone up.

"Well, if not Remy, maybe we could get the professor. You seem a very upset," Jubilee said in a slow voice, trying to calm her friend.

Logan was furious. He just wanted to be left alone with Rogue. The professor might be able to do something to mess this up. Using her body, he jumped Jubilee. Holding up a fist, he replied, "You've never seen me very upset, little girl." Then, he released his claws.

The pain in her right hand brought Rogue's personality back into control of her body. She looked at it in shock. Three nine-inch bone claws were protruding from between her knuckles.

Looking into the shocked face of her friend, she said, "Ow."

**********

Not sure of how, Rogue heard the even paces in the corridor long before she normally should have. Not only did she absorb Logan's memories and claws potential, she had his keen senses as well. She hastily sat back on her bed, but the claws would not respond to her wishes and sheath.

A knock came from the door. Jubilee stood, eyeing Rogue's dilemna with the claws.

"They aren't metallic?" asked a puzzled Rogue, staring at the bone claws, not a bit impressed by the blood on her hand.

Reacting on instinct, Jubilee grabbed a pillow and threw it at Rogue. "Use that," she ordered.

A voice came from behind the door. "Rogue? Jubilee?"

"Just a sec, Dr. Summers," shouted Jubilee.

Rogue laid down on her bed, hiding her right hand under the pillow.

When Rogue was all set, Jubilee opened the door just enough for Jean Summers to peek inside.

"I just wanted to make sure you both are ok," announced Jean.

"We're just fine. Thanks for dropping by," answered Jubilee, motioning to her to close the door.

"Yeah, Red. Don't have anythin' more interestin' to do than bug us?" came from Rogue's bed.

"I beg your pardon?" asked Jean, shocked.

"She's tired, y'know, Dr. Summers. We should sleep now," cut in Jubes before the Logan in Rogue's head could answer.

Jean nodded, not convinced. "All right. I'll see you in the morning."

"Now get back to yer husband...." mumbled Rogue.

"Night!" shouted Jubilee as she pratically shut the door in Jean's face. She turned to face Rogue. "Now, you. Can it."

"Ah'm sorry, Jubes... I..."

"It's ok, Rogue," she soothed. "Got them in?" she asked, motioning to Rogue's hand under the pillow.

"Yeah... I think so..." To make sure, Rogue checked. "They're in," she announced.

"You'll have to tell them, y'know."

"The hell I will. I'll shove 'em...."

"Down boy! Hey, I'm talkin' to Rogue, here! Gee, I've had enough Exorcist for one night! Now, we go to bed and sleep... All of us! I dunno about you, but I sure am wasted." With that rant, Jubilee effectively went to bed. One minute later the lights were turned off.

Jubilee finally started to relax. Not that having Rogue possessed by Logan sleeping nearby was that relaxing. What had she gotten herself into, hiding important facts from Dr. Summers? The fact that Rogue had claws should be dealt with. Why had she covered for her friend? Trusting her instincts, Jubilee decided that she had probably acted for the best.

"T'wasn't a half-bad movie," came from Rogue's bed.

"Yeah. I knew you'd like it."

"I never saw that movie," commented Rogue.

"Look, it's gettin' hard to follow you, guys. Let's sleep, 'k?" replied Jubilee.

"Night, Jubes."

"Night, Rogue."

"Night, kid."

**********

Jubilee woke with a start. Something was wrong in there, very wrong. Her instincts were screaming at her. There was no sound in the room. The alarm clock was glowing a red 3:30am. Jubilee stood still in her bed, trying to assess the situation.

No sound. No light. What was that smell? It wasn't really stinking, but that smell was definitely odd. Stretching, Jubilee turned on the lights.

The scene which unfolded before her was worse than a nightmare. Sitting on the floor by the window, Rogue was staring at the blood slowly dropping from her left arm. Bone claws were unsheathed from her right hand. There was no sign of hurt, or pain, or anything but a sickining look of fascination on Rogue's face as she stared at the blood.

Jubilee grabbed the nearest piece of cloth she found and ran to Rogue, who didn't react.

"What d'you think you're doing?!!" shouted Jubilee as she managed to apply the makeshift bandage on Rogue's arm.

"What does it look like I'm doin?" came from Rogue, still staring at the now bandaged arm.

"Ok, I want to talk to Logan, NOW," ordered Jubilee. Gee, that crazy guy in Rogue's head was going to hurt Marie.

"He's here," replied Rogue, now shaking.

Jubilee shook her head. "Ok, so you listen to me, buddy! I dunno what's yer damn problem is, but you are hurting Rogue... Marie here! If you want so bad to get us rid of yourself, wait for Dr. Summers to fix you up and do it to your own body!!!"

Jubilee helped Rogue to her legs, making sure to not touch her skin in the process.

"We'll get Dr. Summers, Rogue. Everything's gonna be fine," said Jubilee as she helped her friend out of the room. Unsure why, maybe the Exorcist flashbacks, Jubilee only wanted to get out of this room and now.

"I'm scared," whispered Rogue.

'I'm sorry, darlin'.' said Logan in her head.


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