POV: Jean

As I explored the possibilities in my mind, I dismissed the idea. Ethically, I couldn't ask Rogue to do that. Of course, ethically, how could I not ask her to do it if it would save my patient's life? As a doctor, I swore to do no harm, but Rogue probably wouldn't be permanently injured by the surgery given her healing abilities.

If I asked, I knew she would agree without question, but it might have serious consequences to her health. I don't fully know how Logan's healing factor works. Maybe I could perform only the procedure that wouldn't actually deprive Rogue of anything. The other aspects could be duplicated artificially, if only I knew the right mixture.

That was the real question. Logan's current lab tests are being manipulated by the metal wreaking havoc on his body chemistry, and I couldn't use his previous lab tests. They had the right mixture, but there was no way of knowing whether Rogue has drained all of his regenerative abilities or just taken a few aspects of them. That would throw the mixture off.

Wait. I could observe her body's reaction to the extraction surgery and then I would know the exact mixture despite either possibility. Of course, that was a whole other ethical dilemma. Could a doctor justify cutting into healthy flesh just to see how the body reacts? She'd be sedated of course, and it would be part of a surgery with another purpose, but it was still invasive.

Also, what would Logan's wishes be? He is the person I'm trying to save. Would he want me to do it, even if there was only a slight risk to Rogue? No, he'd adamantly refuse. She's always come first to him.

I'd just decided not to do it when I heard Scott say, "Jean, help me out here."

When I looked up, I realized that I'd been lost in my own thoughts while Rogue was falling apart. I could see slashes in some of the more vulnerable pieces of equipment throughout the lab and slashes even through her own clothing. Scott was laying on top of her on the floor, grasping her wrists above her head and securing her legs with his own, but she was raging like a rabid animal, snapping her teeth just inches away from his face in an effort to bite him and get free.

I immediately used my telekinesis to freeze her so Scott could escape. As he got to his feet, I gave him an assessing glance, but I didn't see any injuries.

"It's about time," he said. "She's going crazy."

I didn't spare a second to talk to Scott. Instead, I turned to my medical cabinet to get Rogue a sedative, still concentrating on keeping her in place. When I turned back, she'd stop fighting against my hold. Instead, she was sobbing where she lay, tears flooding down her face.

"My fault... my fault..." she was muttering under her breath.

Releasing my shields to do a surface scan, I was overwhelmed by the despair flowing through her. It was like a part of her was dying, not just a person she'd known for a few weeks.

I changed my decision. It wasn't just Logan's life on the line. Rogue's was also hanging in the balance. The bone marrow transplant would return at least part of Logan's healing factor. The platelet-derived growth factor in the blood would increase his healing ability. I wouldn't do the kidney transplant, though. It would give Logan a new adrenal gland, but that wasn't absolutely necessary. I could provide the adrenaline artificially to induce healing. In fact, I could probably induce the whole hormone cocktail artificially once I studied Rogue's reaction to the bone marrow extraction surgery. Her hormone levels during the healing process would let me know exactly the right amount to give Logan. It could work. It would work.

"Rogue," I said, sending a calming feeling to her mind. "I have an idea that just might save Logan."

"This is a bad idea," Scott said as I prepared my surgical field.

"If you don't want to help, Ororo's offered," I answered, not turning away from my work.

Rogue was lying on the surgical table, already sedated. I'd intubated her and set the monitors attached to her body to notify me of any problems. I could even oversee her brain waves. The thing that scared me most about this surgery was that her healing factor would overcome the sedative and she'd wake up in the middle. This way, if her level of consciousness changed in any way, I'd be able to take action.

Ororo was in the main lab watching over Logan, just in case his condition changed while I was otherwise occupied. It would be easy for her to switch places with Scott.

"No," he said. "I'll stay. But I think this is wrong."

"You saw how badly she was affected by Logan's condition. If Logan dies, she'll break."

I could see Scott's mouth open underneath the surgical mask to protest, but he didn't say anything. He couldn't. Rogue's reaction was too fresh in his mind.

"Ok," I said, "making the first incision."

This wouldn't be a typical bone marrow transplant. One of the great things about Rogue's mutation is that when she copied Logan's healing ability, she copied his DNA. Therefore, rejection wasn't a concern because the donation was as much a part of his body as it was hers. Also, Logan's current stem cells weren't sickly, so they didn't have to be removed with massive chemotherapy. In theory, they'd just incorporate the new cells into their number.

I drew my scalpel down making a neat incision over Rogue's hip bone. That was the ideal source for the marrow. I would have preferred to do a stem cell transplant because that doesn't require surgery for the donor, but it takes time, and Logan's pretty short on that right now.

Throughout the surgery, I drew blood samples, labeling them with the time. I'd use them afterwards to determine which hormones were released when and how much flooded her system.

When the surgery was done, I was more than a little relieved. It hadn't run quite as smoothly as I'd hoped. First, it had been very difficult to keep the incision open. The skin and muscle kept trying to close around it. Scott had to hold the retractors steady while I kept cutting. In addition, Rogue almost woke up twice. I thought I'd given her a sufficient dose after that first scare, but then her body had compensated again.

After I'd extracted enough marrow, Scott removed the retractors and we both watched Rogue's flesh pull closed and heal. We moved her into a bed next to Logan's and I retreated to my lab to siphon the stem cells out of the marrow for transplant and to analyze the blood data.

I wasn't there when Rogue woke up, but I heard her.

"Why isn't he better yet?" she yelled.

"Jean's working on it, Rogue," Scott answered.

"Rogue, no. Lie back down." That was Ororo's voice. It sounded like I should get out there.

When I emerged from my lab, Rogue was shakily on her feet, still trying to throw off the last effects of the sedative.

"Jean, he looks the same. What's going on?"

"I have to process the marrow. It'll take another half hour. Trust me, Rogue. I'm doing everything as quickly as I can."

She stumbled the few steps to Logan's side. "I'll stay with him," she said, stroking his hair with a gloved hand.

I didn't bother arguing with her. She was obviously determined to remain with him despite her need for more sleep.

"Scott, could you get Rogue a chair? I'll be back when the IV's ready."

He nodded and I returned to my work.

The actual transplant procedure is pretty easy on the donee. All that's necessary is an IV feed of the stem cells. They flow into the blood stream and find their own way to the marrow.

It would take a few days for the new, stronger platelets to be produced, but I could stimulate some healing now. I had the proper hormone cocktail. I administered epinephrine, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, as well as other hormones that induced healing and cell regeneration.

It worked. Logan immediately began to respond to treatment, the levels of free adamantium in his tissues lowering dramatically. After two days, I could see the advanced platelets and white blood cells in his blood samples. After four days, he was coming out of his delirium and started making enough sense that I thought it was finally safe to remove the restraints. After six days, he was able to get out of bed and walk a few steps. After ten days, I was finally sure that it'd be safe to let him go back to his room. I wouldn't put up with the game he'd played last time, though. I'd make sure he gave me daily blood samples for the next week even if I had to restrain him telekinetically.

Upon his release, I helped Logan back up to his room. I'd expected Rogue to do it, but she hadn't been down to visit all day. I knew Logan was wondering about her, but I'm sure something must have come up and she'd visit him later. I was wrong.

We found a note on Logan's pillow when I helped him into bed. Logan picked it up and read. Then, he crinkled it up into a ball and threw it on the floor.

He was off the bed, without my help, and pulling out his duffle bag when I picked up the note and read it.

Logan,

I almost killed you. I can't risk that again. Don't come after me.

Love,
Marie

Author's Note: Thanks muchly to The Science of X-Men by Linc Yaco and Karen Haber. I don't actually own a copy *blush*, but it gave me some direction in making Jean's idea work.