Title: Seeing the sites and Getting into fights
Author: Bani
Email: banime78@aol.com  
Series: Cutting Loose # 5
Rating: PG-15 for some violence
Summary: Scott and Rogue check out the sites in
Georgia and Florida, then run into a situation were
Scott can't help but intervene.
Pairing: S/R
A/N: I wasn't even going to write this part. I had
already finished the rest of the series. But then this
part came to me and I had to write it and then I had to
go back and re-do the rest of the series so that this
part fit in. (sigh) The trouble my muse gets me into.
Archive: If you want it give me your site addy and I'll
say yes.
Dedication: To Nadja because I was thinking of how
much she loves Hero Scott while I was writing this
and got my inspiration from that.
Feedback: Is always welcome and replied to.
***********************************************************

The previous night had been so much fun
Rogue couldn't believe it had been real. Scott had
been so relaxed and at ease. She wished he could be
that way all the time. She was tempted to suggest they
go dancing again, but she wanted him all to herself.

So, she had asked him if he would like to
drive around and see the sights. And that was what
they were doing. They had stopped at some of the
local tourist attractions and had a laugh. There wasn't
much in the area to hold their interest so they drove
on.

They stopped here and there whenever one of
them saw something of interest. All in all, it was just
a lazy morning drive. They were in no particular
hurry to get anywhere. In fact, they had no destination
at all in mind for this trip. Relaxing and being alone
together were their only goals.

They stopped for lunch at a cafe in Pensacola,
Florida. It was a rustic little place. The tables were
actually slices of log with the bark still on the outside.
While they were waiting for their orders to arrive,
they amused themselves by counting the trees inner
rings to see how old it had been.

They ate in a comfortable silence looking out
the window at the scenery. That is, when they weren't
gazing into each other's eyes. Rogue couldn't believe
she was doing something so dopey. Next thing you
know girl you'll be giving each other pet names.

Rogue made a face at that thought and Scott
asked. "What put that look on your face honey." Oh
no she thought. It's already begun and I didn't even
realize it.

She laughed so hard then that the other diners
in the cafe looked over at their table. Scott's look of
confusion didn't help her to calm down any either.
She finally got herself under control and whipped
away the tears of laughter.

Scott was now frowning at her and she had to
suppress a grin. "It's nothing sugah really. Ah just
was feeling silly. Ah guess Ah didn't get enough
sleep last night."

Scott smiled at her. "I didn't thank you
properly for last night did I?"

"Know that ya mention it Ah don't think ya
did." Rogue said grinning wickedly.

"Well then why don't I just remedy that now."
Scott leaned forward and pulled her scarf up to give
her a kiss.

Rogue closed her eyes and savored the warm
feel of his lips through the silk. It was frustrating to
have any kind of barrier between them even when it
was such a thin one. The kiss ended to soon for her
taste. However, they were in public after all and Scott
was not one for big shows of PDA*.

She admired Scott for his principles but she
would pay good money to know why he thought he
had to keep such a tight rein on his actions. She had
thought that it was being with Jean that had made him
so uptight but now she knew that was not true.

It would have been so much easier if it had
been Jean's influence on him. Being away from Jean
would have taken care of the problem. And she
wouldn't have to work so hard to get him to loosen
up. She was just going to have to get him to tell her
the reason for his self-restraint.

She was thinking on a strategy when a child
cried out in pain from across the cafe. Scott was out
of the booth and headed toward the table where the
child was before she could even blink an eye. She
hurriedly scooted out of the booth and followed him.

Scott stopped at a table where a man was
leaning over a huddled child. Milk ran off the top of
the table to splatter in a puddle on the ground. The
man was breathing hard and trembling. Rogue
couldn't for the life of her figure out what was going
on.

But apparently, Scott knew. He tapped the
man on the shoulder and asked. "What seems to be
the problem sir?" The man whirled around and glared
at Scott.

"Mind yer own God Damn business." He
grabbed the kid by the arm then and made as if to
leave. But Scott stood in his way.

"I think maybe I'll just make it my business if
you don't mind." Scott said.

"Yu'll move outta the way if'n ya know
what's good fer ya boy." The man growled. He
towered over Scott. Not an easy feat since Scott is
six-foot-four.

Rogue grabbed Scott's arm. "He's right Scott
it ain't none of our business. Just let it go." She tried
to tug Scott away but he wouldn't budge.

"Better listen ta yer girlfriend pretty boy and
let it go. 'Cause it ain't none'a yer business." The
man said

At that, Scott pulled away from Rogue and
said. "I'm not going to let you walk out of here and
hit that kid again. There is no way in hell I'm gonna
let that happen." His voice was like cold steel.

The man's face got beet red and he must have
squeezed the kid's arm because the kid whimpered.
Scott got right in the man's face and said. "Outside
now. Just you and me. We'll settle this like men. If
you want to hurt someone you can hurt me and not
your kid."

Rogue could understand his wanting to protect
the kid but he was probably only making things worse
by getting in a fight with the man. But Scott didn't
seem to be thinking of the consequences of his
actions. And that was confusing to her. He never went
head long into any situation. This wasn't like the
Scott she knew.

The man snorted his contempt. "Ya want ta
fight. Fine ain't no sweat of my nose." He shoved the
kid toward the door and told him to wait in the car.
Then he followed the boy outside.

"Scott please don't do this. It won't help the
situation any. He'll probably just take the kid home
and beat him more if ya fight with him. Let's just
leave before we make it worse." Rogue pleaded with
him.

Scott turned to look at her. His mouth was set
at a determined angle. She recognized it as the look
he got when he was getting ready for a mission. "I
can't let this go Marie. You don't understand. I have
to do something. I can't just do nothing. Don't ask me
to." The stark anguish in his voice belied the calm
determination on his face.

If anything Rogue was even more confused
than before. "Explain it ta me then Scott. Help me ta
understand." She said.

"I can't, not right now. Just stay in here where
you'll be safe." He said before striding outside.

Well there was no way she was going to stay
inside while he was outside getting pounded. She
went outside and was just in time to see the man
throw the first punch. Scott ducked it and rammed his
own fist into the man's side. The man grunted and
shoved Scott away from him.

"Lucky punch asshole. Ya ain't gonna be so
lucky next time." The man said before lunging at
Scott. Scott didn't move out of the way in time and
they fell to the ground in a heap.

For a brief second Rogue experienced deja vu
as she remembered Logan and Scott rolling around on
the ground only days before. She winced as she
remembered all the varied injuries Scott had from that
fight and from the incident at her house. No doubt he
would be one big walking bruise after this.

The two men rolled on the ground kicking up
a dust cloud. Scott broke away and sprang to his feet.
The other man was slower getting up. Rogue thought
it was because he was hurt but was proved wrong as
he swung his leg out and swept Scott's feet out from
under him. The man got up and kicked Scott before
he could get back up.

Rogue wanted to help Scott but was afraid of
what might happen if the man were to accidentally
touch her skin. So, she watched in horror as the man
raised his foot up and brought it down, aiming for
Scott's face.

Scott raised his hands and grabbed the man's
foot twisting it so that the man fell to the ground
beside him. Scott held a hand to his side as he got up
again. He backed away from the other man. The man
rolled over until he was on all fours and raised his
face to look at Scott.

Rogue could see the rage plain in his eyes. It
was a murderous look and she was suddenly really
scared for Scott. The man reached into his boot and
Scott raised his hand to his glasses. "I wouldn't do
that if I were you." Scott said calmly.

"Oh yeah. What ya gonna do pretty boy throw
yer glasses at me." The man pulled out a bowie knife
and held it in an under handgrip as he rose from the
ground.

Seeing that it was a bowie knife and not fit to
throw Scott relaxed. Rogue did not. The knife was
wicked looking and she could tell that the man knew
how to use it. He advanced on Scott and the two men
began circling each other slowly.

Scott faked to the right and then went left as
the man lunged forward. Scott brought his arm up
straight aiming for the man's neck but the man
whirled away and swiped at Scott with the knife.

Scott was able to move out of the way in time
but the knife had sliced through his shirt. "Come on
boy. Come at me again. Ah'm gonna put ya in a
world'a pain." He dove at Scott again. But wasn't
quick enough.

Rogue could hear the murmur of voices
behind her but couldn't tear her eyes away from the
scene before her. Someone put their hand on her
shoulder and she almost jumped out of her skin. She
turned to see the waitress who had served them
behind her. The woman's face was kind as she said.
"Ah called the police child. They should be here any
moment. Yah man is a good fighter he'll be okay."
The woman patted her shoulder and then shooed the
other people back into the cafe.

There was a cry of pain behind her and Rogue
turned back around to see Scott clutching at his face.
She was by his side before she had even made a
conscious decision to move. She stood in front of him
and glared at the man trying to conceal her fright.

"That's enough. Ya have an unfair advantage.
Just leave now. This fight is over." She tried to put as
much steel into her voice as she could. But by the
man's smirk she knew it hadn't been enough.

"Oh no girly. Ah'm just getting started." He
came forward and Scott shoved her out of the way.

"He kicked me in the face and my glasses flew
off. Find them Marie quick." Scott said. And she
realized then that he had probably been covering his
face more to stop from blowing a hole in the guy than
from pain.

Rogue scrambled around on the ground until
she saw the glasses under a car. She reached under the
car but she couldn't get to them. She felt someone
beside her and looked up into the scared face of the
little boy.

"Can you help me get Scott's glasses please?
Your daddy is gonna hurt him if Ah can't get Scott's
glasses so he can see." Marie explained trying to stay
calm even as she heard Scott gasp in pain.

The little boy looked toward his father then
dropped to the ground and shinnied under the car. He
came out on the other side and hurried around to hand
the glasses to Rogue. "Thank-ya. Yah a brave boy."
She squeezed his shoulder.

Turning back around to the fight she saw that
Scott had managed to evade the man's knife even
though he could not see. She moved toward them
carefully. "Ah found yah glasses Scott." Scott moved
backward towards her but didn't turn around.

"Why don't ya open yer eyes boy? Ya afraid
of the sight of me? Do Ah terrify ya?" The man
snickered as if he had just said something witty.

Scott ignored him and kept backing up. Rogue
moved forward and slipped his glasses on him just as
the man ran forward. There was a loud cracking
sound and a bullet hit the ground mere inches from
the other man.

"That's enough Burt. Ah think ya've caused
enough grief for one day." They all turned toward the
sound of the voice to see a little old man holding a
gun pointed at the man named Burt.

"Mel ya just stay outta this. This is between
me and the pretty boy." Burt said.

"No, Ah ain't gonna stay outta this. That boy
did what Ah've been wanting to do for years. He
stepped in ta stop ya from hurting Junior. Now yer
gonna stay put here and wait fer the sheriff and then
yer gonna get put in jail where ya belong. Then
maybe Cheryl and Junior kin be free of ya." The little
old man grinned.

The sound of a police siren wailed in the
distance and Scott said. "I'd put that knife up before
they get here if I were you. I heard southern police
shot first and ask questions later." Burt growled and
lunged at Scott.

The knife sliced threw the air. There was
another gun shot but it missed it's target.  Scott dove
at Burt's waist. They both went down and Scott
pulled back his fist and slammed it hard into Burt's
jaw. Rogue heard the crunch as bone met bone
through the thin layers of flesh and muscle.

Scott got up and came to her wrapping her up
in his arms. She snuggled against him and they waited
for the police to come. Mel had some of the men in
the cafe tie Burt up and then he stood over him with
the gun pointed straight at Burt's groin.

When the police arrived, Scott told them what
had happened and everyone at the cafe corroborated
his story. The Sheriff handcuffed Burt who was still
unconscious. And as they left, the Sheriff and his
deputies tipped their hats to Scott. Scott nodded his
thanks and they drove off.

Junior was being held by the waitress who had
called the police and as Scott and Rogue made their
way towards him the crowd from the cafe cheered.
Scott smiled but Rogue could tell it was forced. He
was worried about the boy who looked as if he was
trying to burrow into the waitress.

"Hey there Junior. I don't think we've been
properly introduced. My name's Scott." He held his
hand out to the boy and Junior stared at it a minute
before putting his own hand in Scott's. "I want to
thank-you for getting my glasses for me when Marie
couldn't. That was a very brave thing for you to do."
He shook Junior's hand firmly before letting go.

Rogue could see some nameless emotion pass
over Scott's face as Junior's eyes filled with tears.
She wished she knew what this whole incident had
been about. However, she knew Scott wouldn't tell
her just yet. So, she would have to be patient. That
was one thing she had never been very good at.

They hung around until Junior's mother
showed up.  Scott talked to her about programs for
battered women and their children. Rogue was
amazed by how much he knew on the subject. She
wondered if he had any personal experience with such
things. That would explain his fierce need to help the
boy.

However, she realized that her questions
would have to wait for later. She took Scott to the
local hospital and they patched him up. He had added
five more stitches and a slight concussion to his list of
previous injuries.

The doctor told her not to let Scott fall asleep
for eight hours and then he was to be woken up ever
two hours after that for the next eight hours. So, when
they pulled into a local motel that night she only got
one room.

Scott was in no mood to argue in fact he had
not said more than six words to her since the hospital.
She wasn't worried about him being mad at her; she
could see that he was far away from her caught up in
his own head.

She watched him and talked to him. And when
it was okay for him to go to sleep, she curled up next
to him on the edge of the bed and watched his face as
he slept. He looked so much younger without his
glasses on. His face was relaxed and boyish.

She set her watch to wake her up in two hours
so she could check on Scott then she fell asleep. She
was woken up later not by her watch but by Scott as
he whimpered in his sleep. He was moving restlessly
around on the bed and it reminded her vaguely of the
time she had tried to wake Logan from one of his
dreams.

She winced at the memory. Not the best thing
to remember at a time like this. Besides Scott didn't
have nine-inch adamantium claws she told herself.
She reached over to wake him up before she realized
that he may not have claws but he did have
uncontrollable optic blasts.

She settled for rubbing his back with her silk-
gloved hands. After awhile her arms got tired and she
ended up wrapping them around his waist. Scott
grabbed her arms and held them tightly to his body.
She was extremely grateful that she had wrapped
herself up so thoroughly before climbing into bed
with him.

Scott snuggled himself back against her and
she soon found herself comfortably spooned behind
him. She would much rather have been in front but
this was good too. Besides he had calmed down
finally and there was no way she was gonna wake
him up.

Rogue fell back to sleep wondering if now
that she was sleeping in the same bed with Scott did
that make this a real relationship.