Someone Else’s Song - Chapter 6

    "We came as soon as we could," the beautiful Jean Grey-Summers stepped through the front door of the cabin. Her radiant red hair hung freely around her face and shoulders and her green eyes were etched with concern and fear," How is he, Warren?"

    "He's still alive," Warren answered bleakly, "That's something."

    Cyclops, Storm, and the Professor entered the cabin behind Jean.

    "Gambit!" Storm gasped quietly upon seeing her dear friend laid out on the couch wounded so gravely.

    Kurt and Beast had gotten most of his blood soaked clothes off of him and Beast had finally slowed the bleeding some. Kneeling beside the couch, Storm brushed back the hair from his dirty, bruised face, "My god, Henry! He's burning up!" she turned her wet, blue eyes to the doctor.

    "I know," he answered grimly, "Did you bring all that I requested, Charles?"

    "Of course," the Professor nodded.

    "I should probably treat him in the jet that you came in. It is undoubtedly more sterile than the cabin or the Blackbird. Jean?"

    "Yes, Hank?"

    "I need you to move Gambit. I am wary of move him myself anymore than necessary. Your telepathy would be much gentler on him."

    With a nod, Jean concentrated all her strength on lifting Gambit as gently as possible. Slowly, the wounded X-Man floated from his place on the couch and towards the door. Cyclops watched Jean's face the entire time. He wasn't sure if she was aware of it but he honestly didn't care. Her powers had a nasty habit of taking a bad toll on her and he wanted to be aware of her strength and stress levels. He watched, ready to be at her side should she need him.

    Jean wasn't aware of her husband's eyes on her. All her attention was focused on moving Gambit's body safely to the jet. The Professor, however, did notice and spoke to him telepathically.

*Scott.*

*Yes sir?*

*I am monitoring Jean. Trust me when I say she is fine. You need to have more faith in Jean and her abilities.*

    "But Professor---" he said out loud. Everyone turned to look at him, except his wife.

*Quiet, Scott. You'll break her concentration*

*Sorry.*

 *You and Warren take Kurt into the kitchen and try to reassure him of Rogue's safety. He's broadcasting his sorrow and fear very strongly, he could use his friends right now. Ororo, Jean and I will help Hank with the surgery."

    With a final look at his wife, Scott motioned for Warren and Kurt to follow him.

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    "There's Rogue," Logan spoke quietly to his teammates. He pointed out the small form lying helpless on the ground. They had only moments before caught up with Rogue and her captors.

    "She alive, Wolverine?" Bobby whispered.

    "Yea. But she's hurt and scared ta death."

    "I can imagine," Psylocke replied, " What's the plan old man?"

    "I start rippin' 'em apart and you and Frosty get Rogue outta here."

    "Not a chance, Logan. These men tore Rogue and Gambit apart. They'd kill you."

    "I doubt that, Betts. I'm the best---"

    " 'At what you do and what you do ain't pretty,' " Psylocke finished for him with a disgusted look, "Newsflash darling, so are Rogue and Gambit. And those guys took them out like they were nothing. You saw Gambit. You smell Rogue's blood. You know I'm right Logan. We can't just march in there without knowing what we're up against---"

    "Shhhh." Logan held up a hand to silence her, "I hear somethin'." With his keen animal-like hearing, Logan picked up on the conversation being had in the nearby tent.

    "What is it?" Bobby asked.

    "Connect our minds, Betts,"  Using her telepathic powers, Elizabeth connected Bobby's mind and her own to Logan's so that they could hear what he was hearing.

    "We're at the rendezvous point...Yes, we have her.. Not too much trouble...Had to take out her boyfriend, though. He was trying to play hero...Yea, he's dead by now...Alright...We'll be waitin'...alright. Bye."

    Inside the tent, the leader of the men turned off his communicator. Placing it on his belt, he walked outside and stood over the prone form of his prisoner.

    The X-Men watched and listened intently from their hiding place as the man nudged Rogue with the toe of his boot.

    "Wake up, mutie. Your ride will be here any minute. Cooper, Spauldingson...Come help our guest to her feet. Pick-up's on the way. The rest of you, pack-up. Mission's over. Time ta get paid."

    A few cheers could be heard as the two men walked toward Rogue. She cried out as the roughly pulled her to her feet and forced her to put weight on her injured leg. That was Logan's breaking point.

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    "What is the plan, Scott?"

    "Hell if I know," Scott said in frustration. It came out a bit harsher than he meant, " Sorry Kurt. Didn't mean to snap. I know you're worried about your sister."

    "It's alright," Kurt said quietly.

    Warren put a comforting hand on his shoulder, " Does the Prof have any idea about who did this?"

    "No. He and I both looked through all the files we have on our enemies on the way here and nothing really stood out."

    "So we can do nothing then?" Kurt asked quietly, "We don't know who they are or where they have taken Rogue."

    Neither Scott nor Warren had any words to comfort their friend. Kurt let out a breath.

    "Scott, Warren...will you pray with me?"

    They looked at him for a moment  perplexed. Neither of them were terribly religious, especially Warren. Finally, Scott answered him.

    "Sure, Kurt. I think that'd help us all feel a little better."

    Kurt nodded and offered his blue hands to his friends. Scott took one and slowly and uncertainly, Warren took the other. With a small squeeze and weak smile at his friends, Kurt closed his eyes and began praying, "Vater Unser, der Du bist im Himmel. Geheiligt werde Dein Name. Dein Reich Komme, Dein Wille geschehe, wie im Himmel, also auch auf Erden. Unser taglich Brot gib uns heute. Und vergeben unsere Schuld, als wir vergeben unseren Schuldigen. Und fuhre uns nicht in Versuchung. Sondern erlose uns von dem Ubel. Denn Dein ist das Reich und die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. Amen." *

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    With a feral roar, Logan launched himself  out of his hiding place. The two men holding Rogue didn't have time to do anything but look to him in fear and surprise before they fell to his claws.

    "Bloody hell!" Psylocke cursed Logan's temper, "Ice up, Bobby! Time to go."

    The ninja-trained Psylocke leapt towards Logan and Rogue, prepared to cover Logan as he escaped with their wounded friend. It took the soldiers a few seconds to realize what was happening. After their confusion passed, they reached for their weapons.

    Wolverine caught Rogue just before she hit the ground, as the two men that held her fell.

    "You alright, darlin'?"

    "Wolvie? What are ya doin' here?"

    "Came to save your ass, Rogue. You know these guys?"

    She shook her head, "Logan, is Gambit...okay?"

    Before he could answer, Psylocke yelled for him to go as she and Bobby began battling with the men to cover his escape.

    Logan rushed toward the woods, carrying Rogue. He almost made it.

    The leader, hearing the commotion, came out of his tent, gun drawn. He saw the man running away with his captive. Aiming carefully so as to not hit the girl, he fired.

    Logan felt the blazing pain begin in the middle of his back. Before it could register that he had been shot, he and Rogue tumbled to the ground.

    Rogue cried out as her already constant pain was intensified.

    "Wolvie?" she whimpered, " You okay, Sugar?"

    When he didn't respond, she slowly crawled over to his face-down body, "Logan? Please be okay..." She nudged him with her bound hands, but to no avail. He was unconscious. Rogue noticed, with a gasp, the bullet wound in his back," Thank the Lord he's got a healin' factor...But our escape is gonna be a lot harder until he heals up...Bobby! Psylocke! Logan's hurt."

    "No offense, Mississippi, but we're kinda busy!" Bobby called, as he used his powers to freeze several of his opponents hands so that they couldn't use their guns.

    Rogue watched in horror as the leader turned his gun on Bobby, shooting him in the side. Crying out, Bobby fell to his knees, clutching his side and reverting to his human form. Blood oozed through his fingers, flowing freely from the wound.

    Betsy whirled toward the sound of Bobby's cry just in time to catch a bullet in the stomach from the same gun.

    Rogue screamed.

    Betsy looked over to her as she fell to her knees.

    "No...no..." Rogue whispered, shaking her head as Psylocke's eyes locked on hers.

    Bobby looked over to Betsy and watched silently as she fell to the ground. A solider hit Bobby across the back of the head with his gun, sending him sprawling to the ground next to his fallen teammate.

    "God, no....this ain't happenin'...we're tha X-Men...." Rogue stared at her three fallen teammates in utter shock. She didn't even notice the wind picking up or the sound of the approaching helicopter.

    "Get the prisoner! Take only your weapons, we don't have time to finish packing. We're leaving before anymore of her friends show up."

    "What about the injured, sir?" one of the men referred to three of his comrades who had fallen during the fight with Iceman and Psylocke.

    "Leave them."