Title: Dependent

Author: Bazzer

Rating: PG-13 (For now)

Parings: Marie/Bobby, Marie/John, Scott/Jean, one-sided Jean/Logan

Story Summary: Rogue may be the only on able to find Jean, but what happens when she goes missing, and John's the only person who knows how to find her.

Chapter Summary: Rogue and the Professor talk, Scott needs to be consoled, and Rogue needs Bobby.

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Xavier sighed as he pushed himself into the elevator, Jean's memorial service would not be over for another hour and he really did need to be at his 'appointment.' Most every one there would blame it on the grief and say he could not handle the thought of losing one of his X-men. They'd were already surprised that he had gone out before Scott and hardly thought that it would phase him.

There was a low whirling noise as the door slid open revealing his office, on one side sat his next appointment, the only other person that was not at the service, lightly gloved fingers picked up a black bishop, nimbly taking a white rook.

"You're late," she stated tucking a piece of white hair behind her ear. Closing her eyes she reached out and moved a white pawn and removed a black knight.

"I had a place to be," he wheeled himself behind his eloquent desk, "You should have been there," he told her.

She raised an eyebrow, but did not look at him, moving the black queen she smiled. Circling the white spot before she gently lay down the piece, sighing she easily knocked down the white king. Smirking she raised her eyes to her professor, "He's not a very good loser is he?" she questioned tapping her temple.

Shifting his body he realized she was avoiding his accusation, "Erik?" he asked, "No, not really." She began to reset the pieces and he sensed that she would not be the one to begin the conversation. Why should she, he thought, I'm the one who asked her here.

"I wasn't aware you were still speaking with him," she stopped cleaning up and pressed her palms flat against the surface of the small table.

She lowered her head, consequently breaking eye contact, "They don't go away, Xavier," she whispered huskily, "It's been a year and I can still talk to David." She gripped her fingers into balled fists and clenched her teeth, "He still hates me," she continued tightly.

He steepled his fingers and peered intently, willing her to look up, which she did. "How's John?"

Sighing again she visibly relaxed, "He and Bobby were arguing earlier, but other than that he's pretty quiet."

She finished putting the pawns away and stood taking a seat across from the older man. She raised her chin to look him in the eyes, he caught sight of the restlessness that seemed always present in her eyes.

"You should have been there," he reiterated.

She shook her head stiffly, "Too many people, to much a risk," she sniffed.

"You could have stood in the back, next the Multiple," he suggested.

"I'd rather not," it was nearly over, Rogue couldn't understand why he was bringing it up, "Is this an appointment or an interrogation?"

He nodded, understanding her apprehension, "I have a question to ask you. And I'd like you to think about it before you flat out deny me." She nodded and repositioned herself to a more serious position. "I'd like you to begin training as an X-man. That is beginning Danger Room sessions, combat training, and learning to fly the jet, properly."

She folded her hands across her lap and closed her eyes, "I'm not going to replace Jean," she told him, not asked, but told.

"Of course not," he knew what she was thinking. She didn't want Scott or Ororo or Logan to think she was attempting to steal her mentor's spot. "You show incredible potential to be an X-man, I have been considering this course long before," he paused, "for a long time."

She shook her head and Xavier feared that was he response, "What about Bobby?"

He breathed a silent sigh of relief, "What about him?"

"He's been here a lot longer, and trained so hard for you, and I'd know if you already asked him."

Charles took in a deep breath, he'd not expected to be questioned, "It's true Mr. Drake may have as much potential as you, but he seemed to be hesitate to use it. I know about your happening on the night of the attack. From Rhane I've learned of you helping the girls in you dormitory out of the mansion, from Robert himself I learned of your dedication to Logan, refusing to leave him alone. I was there when you used the jet to save us."

Rogue shifted uncomfortable, she didn't do those thing because she thought she'd get praise for them, she did them because they were the right things to do.

"Bobby uses his powers, always, to the defensive, and although that is important X-men need to be prepared to go to the offensive." He tilted his head to one side, "you proved you could do both that day at Bobby's house."

"He was going to kill them!" she wasn't sure why she was defending herself against a compliment.

"And you did what was necessary to stop him and save them," he looked into her eyes.

"Bobby wouldn't have let them die, either."

"Had you not stepped in, I'm not sure what would have happened." She stopped, the argument lost. "Just think about it, Rogue."

"I have," she leaned back into the chair, closing her eyes it was obvious that she was consulting the people in her head for a brief moment, "When do I start?"

He smiled, "Tomorrow."

She stood and dusted off the non-existent dirt from her jeans, "If you'll excuse me, I have a place to be."

"For support?" he knew where she was going but not sure why.

She walked to the door and Xavier wasn't sure if she heard him, pausing by the door, "Maybe," she opened the door slightly and Xavier thought she was done, "She's not dead you know."

Xavier turned sharply to her, he himself was sure of the fact, he knew she was alive, just not sure where she was, she'd dropped from his radar. But how did Rogue know, was the question, he'd not told anyone for fear of raising hopes to only be dashed. That was mainly the reason he'd scheduled the meeting during the service, He was not able to watch people mourn someone who was not dead.

Narrowing her eyes at nothing she swallowed, "She reaches out to me. At night in my dreams, she warns me. She talked to a mutant who saw me, in the future," she closed her eyes and sniffed.

Xavier reached out over his desk as Rogue began to walk through the door, "Warns you of what?" he raised his voice to ensure she heard him, desperation leaking into his speech. He refused to lose another protegee.

"The men that have her," she turned to look him in the eyes, turmoil raged behind the restlessness, "They're coming after me next." With that she walked out the door and closed it behind her. Xavier sat shaking, he knew if Rogue actually knew where Jean was she tell him, that was obviously all she knew, and it seemed broken and hard to believe in itself, which is probably why she'd not mentioned the dreams before. He began to get a creeping suspicion that what was going to happen he could not control. He slammed his fists onto the desk , he might not have been able to prevent what was going to happen, but he'd damn well prepare Rogue for it.

~!~!~!~

Rogue walked into the auditorium and slowly made her way up to the lone figure standing in the front. Staring down at the enlarged photo of Jean, wreathed in white lilies. The service had been over for a good fifteen minutes, and every one else had filed out to give him some room to grieve.

"Hey," she called out, unsure if she was doing the right thing.

He turned to look at her a forced a small smile, "hey," his voice cracked.

"I'm sorry," he shook his head. "I should have been there, I just," her throat seemed weighed down, and she cleared it, "I just don't think I'd have been able to handle it."

He nodded, not trusting his voice, then running his fingers wearily through his hair he sighed and she walked closer to him. Despite the fact he was taller than her he seemed small at the moment, he collapsed to his knees and Rogue rushed to him. She stood in front of him and placed her hands gingerly on his shoulders, he pressed his face into her stomach and hugged her around the middle, resisting the urge to cry. She wrapped her arms around him, and closed her eyes. She could feel all of his emotions flow through the tears that spilled from his eyes onto her shirt.

"It's going to be ok," she began to rub small circles onto his back. A shadow fell over her and she turned to see her boyfriend standing in the door way she'd recently come through. "We're going to be alright, we're going to make it alright," she could feel him nodded into the stomach and kept her eyes on Bobby's icy ones as he came closer.

"Come on Mr. Summers, we'll walk you to your room," Bobby spoke softly.

Scott released Rogue and stood with their help, shaking his head he cleared his throat, "No, I think I can manage. Thank you though," he nodded to Bobby who did the same in return. Slowly, hesitantly, he hugged Rogue tightly, "Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

She smiled weakly, "Any time." He walked purposely to the door and walked out.

Bobby turned to his girlfriend, to his world, and opened his arms, which she readily ran into. Sh threw her arms around him and cried into his shirt, one of his hands pressed her closer to him from it's position on her lower back and the other cradled her head against his shoulder.

Rogue was not as strong as the other thought she was, and Bobby was the only one she allowed to she her weak side. He was her rock, and she was his emotion. As much as they needed one another in that moment it seemed right for a reason unseen to anyone. And as much as that need consumed them to a point of total love, that would be, in the end, their downfall.

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So what did you think, I know no John, or Logan, but thing will pick up.

Problem: More chapters.

Solution: Reviews.

I gotta know what you think.