It had seemed such a good idea at the time, to shadow Logan, to find out where and what he did at the beck and call of Xavier. Now she was here she really didn't think she could or should go through with it.
Just how she'd managed to keep below his senses she had no idea but she knew part of his own training was playing it's part. Cues in her head had urged her to change vehicle frequently, to make sure she had every tank gassed full; to pick cars that blended in with the crowd. No trucks, no bright colours, blue or burgundy were best, the eye slid off them and she'd noted that he'd picked a battered Ford with at least ten years on the clock. Dusty but cared for by the looks of it. If she hadn't known who had been inside it she'd never have looked twice.

The man Logan had in the trunk of the car obviously was someone important, although no one could look impressive when they had a pair of boxer shorts on and a ripped wife beater.
She'd shadowed him since the house where he'd picked the guy up from; there had been toys in the front yard, a trike and a football set. Logan had just walked upto the house, his face scanning the surrounding area as he moved swift and quiet. All focus on the thing he was doing, his purpose at the front of his mind and she'd felt the first tremors of fear about her course of action right there. The look in his face and eyes had been one she hadn't recognised, even on missions she'd never seen him like this. This was a part of him he'd kept from her and her instincts were telling her there had been a reason for it.

Logan had pulled the man out of the house and bundled him into the boot in just less than fifteen seconds. The dazed man was quiet compliant and the large bruise on the side of his head was testament to the metal that covered Logan's hands. That he'd managed it so fast had her looking around for someone to actually notice the act of terrorism that was occuring across from her vantage point. That he could enter a surburban area, scope out and kidnap someone in less than an hour and for no one to even see or hear him. She'd had difficulty even keeping him in sight when he'd driven out of the area. When she'd lost him her senses and memories gave her hints and clues. She'd ended up going down to the East Side docks, catching the sound of the engine and the flash of blue losing itself in the rest of the cars entering for work.
She'd entered too, keeping her head down and her mind focussed on the car and where it went in the maze of old buildings and abandoned warehouses.

Logan would pick somewhere quiet, near the river but close enough to the roads to make a clean getaway. She'd found him quickly, the car half hidden among other wrecks, the dusky blue blending in perfectly with the other sunbleached hulks. Smiling at her own intelligence and smarts for getting this far she'd squashed the voice at the back of her head telling her that she should go home now. Turn the car around and just get the hell out of Dodge, but there was something inside that needed to see what he did. Why he left the mansion so often on these missions for Xavier and why he never mentioned them.

So here she was crouched against a concrete wall steadying her heartbeat and levelling out her breath. Controlling her body so she wouldn't stand out against the background, she was a part of the docks, part of the wall, part of the building Logan was in. Bringing her head level with the loading bay she looked up, making sure her head was covered by some piece of detritus so her outline didn't stand out.
Logan was dragging the guy by his arms through to another room, he was still out, heels making furrows in the accumulated crap on the floor. She stayed still for what seemed to be ages before she even thought about coming out. She'd been about to move when Logan had come back out, his shirts were open and there was a bloodstain on the cloth of his undershirt. The red was speckled over the fabric, so it wasn't his and the fabric was still intact. She could see him trying to calm down, his hands clenching and unclenching, knuckles bloody, a screwed up anger churning in his face needing release. She watched as he shredded a crate, knowing that it was the man inside he was killing but there was something he needed from him or he'd have killed him by now.

It was that piece of information that just dropped itself into her head like a neutron bomb. That had come from the piece of Logan she still had in her head, suddenly the cool calm exterior she'd seen over the years shattered. Logan wasn't what he showed them at the school, he was this, this was his 'true' face, Wolverine was his true personality. All the times he'd admonished her for putting her life at risk for others came back to her. The times he'd chewed her out for taking a risk he'd think nothing of. Knowing now that he was angry at her for doing what he did, what he was 'allowed' to do by Xavier. Sometimes the harshness and cruelty he showed on the battlefield made her wonder about him but he'd always hugged her afterward and told her that what was on the battlefield stayed there. When he was with her he was 'different', seeing him tear into the crates here made that lie seem like lead in her chest.

Finally when he left her tears had dried and her face was a mask of concentration. If she wanted the truth she'd have to find it for herself; moving in a crouch she used what cover Logan had left. The sounds of someone suffering were getting louder as was the soft laughter of someone she'd cared about.
It was the sound she'd often associated with her sitting next to him as they watched old movies in the rec room. He'd missed out on a bunch of stuff and she'd made it a tradition that when he was at the mansion they'd spend one night a week watching a movie he'd missed. They'd had fun, explored their relationship a little further than 'Brother/Sister' and turned it into a deeper friendship. One where she thought he'd trusted her a little more with parts of himself. Things no one else knew or he wasn't comfortable showing to others. But now she'd associate it with something and someone else entirely.

The panes of glass were broken in the half walled office, the man was pinned to the back wall by plastic straps. His skin bruised and torn by blows but there were no cuts on him, the sense of Logan's choice entered her head. If he used his blades the cuts could be recognised, there were plenty of other ways to make a man suffer. Logan approached the man and just pressed two large fingers on a point near the man's groin. Holding the mans body as he did it, the smile on his face cold and distant. Watching as the man began to struggle as blood pooled below his waist. Seeing the trussed man's penis begin to swell, watching as Logan nodded to himself when it had reached capacity. His eyes snapped to her own, making her jump in her skin and freezing her solid. The voice one she'd never associated with him before, cold, cruel, indifferent and all Wolverine. "Get your ass out here before I kill you; an believe me girly I will if you don't move." He didn't shout, he didn't look away from her as her body struggled with the fear that was crippling her mind. Finally shifting when he bared his teeth and shouted loud enough to rattle the remaining glass. "MOVE!"

She moved, bringing herself out of the cover she'd hidden herself in, unsteady suddenly, all of her training feeling useless faced with this face of Logan. Keeping his gaze at her own Logan pulled the mans head up to look in her direction. The fear in the man's eyes reached out to her, as she came closer she could see the compound fractures in his arms. The wrenched muscles, the torn knee, whatever Logan did he did well. The man was in severe pain but he was still conscious, still able to give answers.
Logan's voice rang out again as he gripped the mans face in his hand, the fingers leaving small bruises on his already swelling face. "Looks harmless don't she?" Logan moved his megawatt stare to look at the man he was torturing, the pleasure in his hazel gaze turning her stomach. "If you're lucky I'll let her kill ya, see she can kill ya with just a touch on your skin. Light as a butterflies kiss or you can do things *my* way." Logan pressed his fingers into a bunch of nerves just next to the mans ear an the scream that erupted out of his raw throat had Logan clamping his free hand over the mans open mouth.
"Shhhh, shhhhh, quiet now or I'll cripple your back and leave you hanging for a week before I tell folks where you are."

The man still screamed as the tears flowed over his face, the disgust she was feeling tripled when Logan licked the salt from the mans skin and laughed at his suffering. His smile fixed and rictus turned the face she'd loved into something like Sabretooth. Moving swiftly he dragged her over to him, so she could see him up close and personal. The eyes of the man strapped to the wall were begging her, asking her to release him or to get help. She found herself beginning to plan a way out for the man, to somehow drop Logan and get the man away from here. Logan's nose picked up on her distress and his grip moved to her waist controlling her movements, "Tell her, tell her Micheal or I'll break your other knee." The voice was honey sweet but the tone held a darkness she'd never experienced before.

The man swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing as his gaze flickered between the two of them. Logan's hand flicked the small recorder he had in his hand on and held it in front of her face between the two of them.
At first when he spoke she thought it was something like a study, an exercise in feasibility. It was only when Logan began to growl under his breath did her breathing begin to falter. He pulled her close to him, her ears hearing the words he whispered to her as she listened to the meat sack that passed for a human being. That there had been children taken, experimented on, given drugs that needed trialing for conditions they didn't suffer from. That the company he worked for found it easy to use mutants, their families didn't want them or really didn't ask questions when effects were bad on their children putting it down to the childs own abilities.
Logan's whispered words weren't any better, he told her about the raids he'd been on recently, the documents that she herself had collected, discs filled with names, data experimentational regimes. Everything she'd been handing over were the nightmares of every child at the school and it was happening every single day right under her nose.
He told her about the kids he'd seen, skin sloughing away because they'd been given the wrong drug. Blood transfusions and collecting bone marrow when they were awake, children, toddlers caged like animals, no names just numbers. Old eyed and signs of sexual abuse obvious, shaved heads, chains, whip marks and burns on sensitive skin. Skin that should have only seen a loving touch, scarred with lines of stitches. Logan's words drowned out the words of the man in front of her, she didn't see him as human anymore. When her anger was huge he just whispered into her ear, "He was the one who bought em Marie, he bought babies from scared women at the hospital. Took em young and brought em up to be 'things'."

Suddenly the thought of the toys in the front yard came back to her, the children he obviously had back home. She looked at Logan her eyes filled with hatred but her heart was still human. "He has family Logan." The smile on Logan's face lit a dark fire inside him as he answered her.
"Not for long darlin'."
Then she knew he'd killed them all inside the house, every single person that knew this man was dead already. That's why he'd taken so long to come back out, he'd been killing them all, a small voice at the back of her head was talking to her. When the bodies were found it'd be put down to a serial killer, Logan would hide his trail well. But the company this man worked for would think twice about it's experimental policy when they got word about where their employee was and what had happened to him.

She was frozen in hatred, the urge to kill the man in front of her was raging but she couldn't do it. Logan shifted his grip on her, letting her loose a little. His hands pulled the cotton boxers down the man's legs, her eyes dropped down and the dark colour of the skin made her eyes snap to Logan's face. "He's dyin' not got long so if there's anything worth gettin from him you'd better do it now." She looked at the man his mouth was slack, his sluggish voice now slurring,he was being killed by his own body. The pressure point Logan had used was killing him without doing anything else to him. Letting go of her entirely he lifted the mans head with his hand. "Learned that one from an old woman in China, she'd run a brothel in the second world war, used it on the men who'd abused her girls. They got just far enough away from her establishment before they died in agony." Logan's gaze dropped to her hands, to the gloves that covered them and flicked back to her face, "Your choice Marie, you wanted to know, now you know. What ya gonna do now?"

She'd been led here, Xavier had known and warned Logan, she'd been used, set up but it was her choice whether or not to touch the man that was dying in front of her. To take everything of use from his head and bring down what they'd been doing to people like her or to let him die and lose everything."
The glove slid off and she looked at the nearly black penis, swollen with blood. A smile that never reached her eyes went across her face as she gripped the swollen length. The flow was silent, no pain on her part, just information, she kept the personality at bay. Seeing the man's memories try to force their way into her mind, the mixture a horrific kaledoscope of images. Playing with his own children while he bought and sold mutant children to be experimented on. As the last images faded from his empty body into her mind she let go of him, her hand feeling filthy she looked for a place to wash her hand. Logan gave her an alcohol laden wipe which she took eagerly, watching as he wiped down the body, removing his own forensic trace from the skin. He didn't say a damn word to her as he set the place up to burn, knowing when to keep out of the way she waited for him where she'd first been hidden.

When the smoke came out of the doorway in rolling waves he finally walked through the concrete bay to where she was stood. He levelled a look at her that went through her, his eyes wary, his body tense as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to the car he'd been using. Shoving her inside the passenger side roughly and slamming the door. When he climbed in he didn't start the car straight away, his hands clenched and unclenched at the wheel, she knew he wanted to pop his claws, to release the pressure building up in his blood.
Unsure she reached out to him, the snarl and rush towad her had her backed up against the door her breath heaving. "NOW YOU KNOW! I'm NOT a FUCKIN' HERO Marie, I never WAS!" His blades had fired in the small space and she found herself pinned by them. Their sharp surfaces threatening her for the first time ever, seeign the confusion and sorrow in his eyes as he struggled with the words that were forcing themselves out of him.
"I'm a killer, a murderer, I'm the best at what I do and what I *DO* is kill. Wonder why Chuck keeps sending me out? Because he can't send people like *YOU*, you can't do what I do, you won't do what I do, you don't fight against doing this every day like I do."
He didn't let up, he was crowding her still and she could feel his warmth now as he moved even closer. "Ever wondered why I picked you out of all the brats there? Ever given it any thought at all cos' I have," the look in his face suddenly went sad and lonely, as if all light had been snuffed out in him. "Because one day your going to have to put me down permanently an' before that happens I wanted you to have a few good memories of me before you found out the truth about me. About what I really am underneath all this.... humanity."

The light came on in her head, all the missions, the way Xavier encouraged her friendship with him, siding with her in arguements about her and Logan. It was a safety net for him and the school, she could kill him if he went mad. He'd trust her to get close enough to touch him and after that it'd be academic really.

But that wasn't how she saw it, it wasn't how she felt, how she needed him. Seeing the truth of what he did didn't make her hate him, it made her love him. He did what needed to be done but the price was one that Logan didn't need to pay alone. Her gloved hand reached up through his bladed embrace to touch his skin. Her eyes not leaving his own as her voice reached out across the distance. "Teach me, train me to come with you." The look he gave her went from incredulous to thoughtful as he looked at her, smelling her feelings and reactions. It was what she wanted, she wanted to do this with him; to share it with him the burden of killing and remembering.

His first reaction was no, but the calm gaze she held was something he'd seen when she first went on a mission. Calm, resolute, focussed and all there in the moment. She could do it, she'd just done it back in the warehouse without a murmur of complaint.

Moving back into his seat he put on his seat belt and looked at her as she did her own. They were on the way to the crusher when he spoke to her, "I kill, you drain em when they're near death. We both clean up." Marie nodded she knew where they were headed, the car would be sold and crushed, soon to be recycled and all evidence would be lost. She'd gone to find out the truth and she'd gotten more than she'd bargained for but it was just another part of Logan. One she'd either have to accept or she'd have to leave him and leaving him wasn't an option. He'd never left her yet, not when she'd needed him and believe it or not he needed her. He wouldn't say it but he needed her, needed her to keep him human, to remind him what he was doing it all for.

Her gloved hand gripped his own over the steering wheel and she caught the smile that tweaked the side of his mouth. She'd passed this test, she just hoped she'd pass the next one, because that one was the last one and it led to the heart of him. She'd do it for him, he'd died for her more than once she owed him but love didn't keep count,she just hoped he realised it before she got too old. Squeezing his hand she focussed on the road ahead, the darkness closing around them as they went into the night.

The journey home was done in silence, after the cars had been crushed (she'd returned to dispose of her own) they'd taken public transport back.
The mile or so walk to the mansion gave them both time to come to terms with what they'd both done. Logan had just trusted her with the truth, the reality of being with the X-Men. The nasty dirty things that went on behind the scenes, the things only ever eluded about in half whispered conversations in dim corridors when everyone else was asleep.

She watched him move, the change was gradual, he seemed to stiffen up as they got closer, less fluid, more...her mind recoiled from the word at first but it was the one that fitted the best; Human. He'd noticed her looks, her way of calculating and watching; she was always the first to spot anything wrong in him. Moving his cigar into his hand he spoke to the world which at the moment happened to include her. "I make people nervous if I stay myself, when I first came here Xavier kept me below for weeks. I wasn't in control of myself." He took a long draw on the cigar and his eyes flickered toward hers seeing her doubts building in her mind. "Sometimes I'm still not in control of myself." It was in the way he moved his shoulders that made her breath hitch, she knew *exactly* what he was saying. The younger members always seemed to like to tease Logan about his private life, the way he seemed to live like a monk at the mansion. All those fit bodies parading around, sometimes without a stitch on made even the most pious man get ideas. But as yet Logan had never brought anyone home, he went out but he never brought someone back.

An incident came to mind, it was when they'd had an attack from Magneto, they'd been caught unawares and Logan had had some of his bones pulled around making his body work overtime to repair the damage. For the first time in years Logan had had to have bed rest and it had driven everyone crazy. He'd sent everyone away from him even her, only Hank had been to see to him. At her last visit he'd seemed odd, strange to her as if he was needing something from her, something he couldn't or shouldn't ask her for. She'd been about to touch his skin with a gloved hand when Hank had pulled her away fast. The snarl from Logan had startled her, shocked her even, the words from his mouth only half heard came back to her as they walked along. "Get your filthy fuckin' paws off what's mine!" She'd never asked him about it, he'd joked about the women he'd spent time with but it was something they'd never explored together.

Sure she'd bitched and moaned about the boys that had grabbed her attention for a while but he'd been the mainstay of her friendships. Wherever he was, she was it was how it seemed to be and now looking at it as an adult the cold realisation of just exactly what she'd let herself in for came clear. The woods were turning to the right while the house went to the left, she needed more time to talk before they went inside. She stopped dead, taking a deep breath she just said what was on her mind. "Since when did ah become your property?"

She had to hand it to him, he switched from the shell he was to the vital man she'd seen torturing that suit earlier in a blink. He was up against her just as fast, his hands wrapped around her keeping her under his control. An almost sneer on his face marring the beauty of him, "Since I saved your life, since I poured myself into you." He pulled her hips to his groin and let her feel him hard and insistant against her own body. "It's not the only thing I'd like to put in you," the tone was sleazy almost but her blood responded anyway, it was Logan.

Logan who'd always been there, who'd seen her naked more times than she really wanted to remember (he kept others at a distance while she showered after missions), the man who'd been in her none existant sex life since she first found out what her hands were for. She thought it had been all her, she was only twenty, still a teenager in many respects but him, he was so old he could give Xavier a run for his money. "Darlin' you were *given* to me; an I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially one as good as you." His eyes changed then, a distance entered them and he released her as if she were scalding him. Turning his back on her he walked toward the forest, the cigar was on the road the glow from it a point of light on the dark of the surface. She didn't follow him this time, she knew the consequences of her doing so would be something they'd both regret.

Turning her feet homeward she followed the road back home knowing that he was watching her, when the gates opened to receive her she caught the sight of him stood naked. Just inside the forest edge, his skin dark blending into the woodland around him. The sight of him something important, he was telling her something here, something she needed to understand before she could accept her place at his side when he went out alone. She'd made her pledge and Logan would expect her to keep it, words were important to him.
He only ever said what he meant, every word considered before he gave it free reign, one of his favourite sayings to the kids he trained was 'You can't 'unsay' something; so mean what you say, even in threats.' That had made a few go pale when they realised that when he'd threatened to gut them he'd meant it. His classes afterward had been more attentive since then and in silence too.
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Everyone was waiting for her when she got in, Scott was tapping his foot, Jean was nearly lost in the rage she was feeling about her recklessness, Ororo was just disappointed, Jubilee was sulking as were other members of the younger team but it was the calm look Xavier had on his face that unnerved her the most. That he could be so calm, so together after what he'd sent Logan to do, so she'd listened as Scott had admonished her, Ororo had told her that she could have been killed and her friends told her that she shouldn't have dumped them. She took it all while she just looked calmly at Xavier, her body language unrepentant, just calmly waiting.

Afterward only Scott remained as Xavier finally spoke to her, his cultured tones now causing her nerves to spike when before she'd found them calming. "Did you find him?" She nodded in reply, her voice couldn't be trusted right now. Xavier just steepled his hands, leaning toward her as he did so, "Did you find out what you wanted to know?" This was the question she'd been dreading and again she just nodded, Xavier pulled back and the look in his eyes changed from calm to alert. He raised a hand and Scott froze in time, giving all his attention to her Xavier spoke again. "So you know what he did?" Licking her dry lips she opened her mouth to answer.
"Yeah. Ah saw him kill someone," the soft parental look was building in his face and she knew he was going to try and take it all away from her. "Ah drained him, the buyer, ah know what he knew, times, dates, names, prices....everything."
Xavier suddenly sat up his body showing some of it's old strength as he pierced her through with his gaze and she felt his mind probing through her own. "Ya could ask you know, ah was goin to give ya everything anyway. Ah'm goin with him next time, he needs me there."

The shark smile that crossed Xaviers face was something she'd never seen before and she'd rather face Magneto alone than sit in front of this. "Rogue, there are things we *have* to do, people we have to remove, things will only ever change if these voices of dissent are quelled before they become the norm." He gestured to the mansion around them, "My own family regarded me with suspicion, they weren't exactly loving and welcoming to my powers or me when they manifested. I resolved that when I could I'd build a place others like me could find a home, a peaceful home. And unfortunately that takes effort, something Logan is very good at, he was used by the Canadian military for years doing what he is doing for us here. But the difference is he has a home here, he's welcome to be who is here, what he is too."

The lie was small but it was hidden in the retoric she'd been fed ever since she'd landed here. Logan himself had told her that Xavier had kept him locked up until he could 'control' himself. Until he had him 'tamed', a wolf made into a guard dog, only allowed to be a wolf when it suited Xavier. People underestimated her constantly, just because she had a southern accent didn't mean she was a hick. She saw it as it was, the Logan in her head was telling her she was right but it was dangerous to say it out loud here and now. He could rip her mind to pieces and it wouldn't matter to him, she'd be passed off as being taken over by the personalities in her head. Everyone would believe him because he was the saviour wasn't he? It was Magneto who was the devil, but at least the devil was more honest about his methods, whereas Xavier did things behind closed doors and secret missions.

She nodded to him as she listened to him explaining that if she decided to join Logan on his expeditions then it might be worthwhile to stay outside the mansion's grounds. It would make others more calm and they wouldn't have to explain their constant movements with those around them. He'd arrange something later but for now she should just keep her own council and make sure of her choices. Just before he waved Scott back into time he smiled and welcomed her to the team.

When she finally left the office Logan was in the foyer, she took in the look he had in his eyes and she just nodded to him. She'd catch up with him later and tell him what had happened, but now she'd just had the reality of the world given to her and it made her stomach uneasy. She needed rest and the sooner this information was out of her head the better. Heading for her room she hoped that things would get clearer somehow but what she'd just seen didn't give her much hope.

The scream that met her ears pierced the dream she was in, it had been a nice dream, one where she'd been in control of her head for once. She'd been visiting her aunt in the cool green expanse of the midwest, where the sky went on forever.

When she was awake enough to work out what the scream was and who it was, it sounded like Kitty, flinging on her robe she tore open the door to see a very naked Logan pawing Kitty. The girl was out of her mind, she'd phased half through a wall before leaving Logan grabbing thin air, his hands scrabbling at the surface of the wooden wall. When he turned round she could see that Logan wasn't home, he was still asleep. Only when Scott appeared with Peter dressed in clothes and Peter all metalled up did she realise exactly what Xavier had meant when he said 'He'd arrange things'. Grabbing Logan quickly she hauled him inside her room, slamming the door on the two men who were now trying to get inside.

"Fuck!" Logan was only just beginning to come round, his face was an absolute picture when he realised where he was. Dragging the sheet off her bed he wrapped it around himself, pushing her aside he just wrenched the lock open.
"Logan just what the hell do you think..." Scott never got to finish as the punch landed square throwing him back into Peter. Logan's hand sprouted claws and he shoved them up into Peter's face, the big man didn't even twitch. Logan was drawing his hand back when Marie just pushed between them both.
"Peter, let him go, please." The gentle giant looked down at her and she could see the man trying to work out just what had happened. Kitty was his sweetheart, he loved her he really did and if Logan had done anything to her then it'd take more than she had to stop him. Eventually he moved aside and Logan stalked past, he was barely holding himself together. Marie watched him stomp away, someone would pay for this treatment of him, she knew from her own memories that he sometimes woke up in the wrong places. Frightened that he'd gone beserk and killed someone he cared about, he'd found himself in her room, naked and he had no idea what he was doing there. He'd be quiet for a while until she could convince him that she'd found him *outside* her door.

Scott was coming round, Peter picked him up as his head cleared, crossing her arms she just watched as the man whod been her teacher turned his anger onto her. "Rogue, what do you think you're doing, you can't have Logan in your room! I mean a relationship between a student and a teacher isn't acceptable Rogue, he's old enough to be your damn *father*!"
So that was what this was about, she just looked at the two of them, her eyes cold and flinty.
"Who ah have in *MY* room Scott doesn't concern you or anyone else for that matter. If ah want to fuck the entire New York Islanders or the Devils for that matter it's no concern of yours or anyone elses." Her voice raised even higher, if this was the effect Xavier was going for then she'd give it to him in spades. "An if you think your *so* righteous ah'd look to that wife of yours and the amount of time she spends caring for the beta team members." Her eyes flicked to Peter who for his part did his best not to suddenly shrink away from the stare she was levelling at him. "Ask Bobby about it, she seems to have a thing for *ice-cream*."

With that she slammed the door on them both. Furious with Xavier she started packing, Logan would run she knew that as much as she knew her own mind and if she wanted to keep her own mind she knew she had to keep her thoughts angry and her emotions high. Time she thought about herself and her partner, Logan.
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He couldn't understand it, one minute he was in the bathroom about to get under the shower, the next he was in Marie's room. It took a few moments for him to recognise the taint of Xavier in his mind. The scent he had on his body wasn't Marie (thank god, whichever one was looking after him today), it was Kitty. He didn't want to see the fallout from this one, he knew for a fact that if Xavier had done this then there was an ulterior motive. One he wouldn't share with him, fuck no, he'd just fuck up any relationship he'd had with the people here to get what he wanted from him.
Well fine, he could leave now, he had Marie with him, she come with him he knew that. All he had to do was tell her when and she'd be there, dropping the sheet he pulled out his packs. Adding to the already packed contents, when they were full he finally got the shower he needed. There wouldn't be stuff like this where he was going, well not for a while.

He'd get sorted first, sound out a place they both would be safe, then he'd come get her. Xavier had fucked around with his head once too often, the next time he'd let Wolverine sort things out for him. The depth of darkness in there sometimes scared him and Chuck hadn't even seen the surface of it yet. He would if he carried on and when he came back nothing would be left standing, no child, no teacher, nothing, he'd burn it to the ground and piss on the ashes. Cracking his neck and rotating the joints as the heat went through him he caught the reflection of his face, the image one he'd seen a lot before he'd found civilisation. A seriousness filled his movements as he prepared to leave the only home he'd ever known, driven out by the one man who'd told him he'd always have a place here. Thing was he didn't think he could cope with the cost anymore, not on Xaviers terms anyway.
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The summons had come via a very irate Jean, the very air around her prickled with hatred and if she was reading her scent properly, jealousy? Then it clicked into place, Xavier had built the illusion in everyone's heads, that she'd bedded Logan or he'd bedded her. As they walked through the corridors she caught the whispers around her, the tale becoming more complete as they got closer to the office. Logan had gone to her room, stayed there all night, Kitty had surprised him when he'd been coming out and he'd made a grab for her too. That he was unstable, unpredictable that he'd managed to survive touching her seemed to be something that was overlooked.

When she went inside Logan was already there, looking blank, smoking a cigar as if it was a normal briefing. Ororo was sat with Jean, both of them giving Logan the medusa glare, when they looked at her Ororo had a soft almost pained look on her face. Jean on the other hand was filled with anger fuelled by jealousy, Scott was sat with Hank and Peter. Both of them holding an arm each keeping Scott seated, Xavier behind his wall of mahogany as usual. He looked at Marie with a twinkle in his eye and his mind reached out to hers 'Told you I'd find a way'.
The smile that she gave him didn't reach her eyes and she walked over to where Logan was sat. The satisfied look he gave her as she sat with him almost made her heart leap with joy. As she was lowering herself into the seat Jean's voice cut through the silence. "Charles surely you can't let her...." He raised a hand and she fell into silence, he turned to look at her and then turned his gaze on everyone present.
"It's her choice Jean, she's of legal age and we all know the risks involved. No one better than Logan himself, he has touched her before." The intake of air around her made Marie's skin tingle, Logan's hand touched her thigh and her own voice rang out in the panelled room.
"Ah asked him to." The incredulous looks she got from everyone around her made her faulter but the grip that increased on her thigh gave her the strength to finish what she'd started. "Logan's the only one brave enough to even bother with me, sure you trained me, saw me as a teammate, but Ah still scare you stupid." She turned to see the hidden smile in Logan's gaze just for her. "He's mine, Ah'm not interested in anyone or anything else." The darkness she'd seen in that warehouse returned for a second and retreated again. Xaviers voice cut through the air, the coldness suddenly between the two groups vast.
"Well then I hope you'll take the little help I can give you Rogue. Just in case you ever change your mind there'll always be a place for you here." She turned to see the others barely holding onto their restraint, using Logan's leg to push herself upward she nodded to Xavier.
"Sure, Ah'd be stupid not to. Ah'll be down in a few minutes with my bags," she looked at Logan. "You packed sugar?" He slowly unfolded himself and stretched, making sure everyone saw the flash of claw that he let escape for a second.
"Sure, I'll bring the truck round front."

It was that easy, her entire life smashed in a few moments and an implanted memory in the heads of those around her. It had been so easy for everyone to believe it, that Logan had hurt her and she was going with him as a willing victim. They'd never known her, not one of them. She was better off as far away as possible.

When Logan came round with the truck Xavier pressed a bundle into her hands, "You'll find everything you need in there Rogue. Good Luck." The smile that covered his face was one of completion of winning but to her the game wasn't even in full swing yet. He'd regret this day, she'd make sure of it, smiling her thanks she walked over to where Logan was waiting.
"You ready?"
"Yeah Sugar, as sure as the sun comes up in the morning." His quirky smile made her look askance at him, "What?" He let her get settled before he set off his repply being drowned out to the ears that were listening by the engine.
"Because where we're headed, sunlight don't appear for three months." Shivering slightly she let herself relax into the seat, there were a lot of miles between here and the artic. There'd be time to talk, to train and to plan but her mind didn't let go of the way Xavier had used them both. She'd get even for both of them.

The first three weeks were the worst, learning the routine that Logan followed when he was out on his own.
They'd change motel rooms sometimes in the middle of the night, drive for miles only to go back over their tracks. It seemed like madness to her and more than once she'd earned a growl that had told her she was pushing her luck with his already stretched patience.

He wasn't used to having her around and he even forgot about her once, it had been the night he'd been out returning at dawn to collapse on *his* bed. Not remembering that it was also her bed too, he'd stunk of a smoky bar and cheap perfume. When she'd heard the door opening she'd woken, hands at the ready, when he'd stumbled into the room and cursed loudly as he'd slammed the door. She'd relaxed a little, it had been a surprise to him to find her in the bed. For a few moments she'd seen something in his face that had told of other nights he'd wished her to be there with him. It had passed through him quickly and he'd just curled up on the end of the bed. Pulling the blankets that smelled of her around him, funnily enough he didn't have any nightmares that time.

The next morning had been a little difficult, she'd gone out for food and when she'd gotten back he'd been almost in a panic. Eyes wild and hair stuck up like a windstorm, he'd even drawn his claws on her until she'd spoken to him. The only explanation he'd given her was that he'd had a nightmare and he'd left it at that. Although for a couple of days afterward he'd kept her within sight at all times and it had been *at all times*. Peeing with the door open was becoming a habit now, if he could hear and see her he wasn't as jumpy or as aggressive.

She'd kept her silence upto now but it was getting on her nerves and she needed to know what the hell was going on with him. They'd been wandering aimlessly, for nearly a week now and it looked like he was waiting for something to happen to them both. She'd had enough of being told what to do by him, when he talked to her it was in barking commands. Everything else was grunts and looks, her head ached from trying to work out what he meant when he looked at her a certain way. Often she'd only get it half right and he'd admonish her with another look and finish the job he'd wanted her to accomplish.

She'd just finished filling the tank when he'd come round and taken it from her, making her blood boil. She let him put it back in the pump, watching as he fished out the cash he had in his pocket. The look on his face dark and brooding, he'd been quiet now for nearly two days. Even the usual grunts and looks were being locked off from her, his mind obviously occupied with something else. Just what it was she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Waiting in the cab behind the wheel, she waited for the explosion. He approached the door and did a double take as he saw her sat there, her hand open for the keys. Silently he fished them out of his pocket and handed them over, a light in his eyes flashing at her telling her she'd done the right thing for once. When he'd climbed into the warm cab she started the engine pulling out of the gas station. Her eyes glued to the road ahead she could feel him finally relaxing next to her, when she did risk a look at him he was napping. A small smirk at the side of his mouth a realisation settling in her stomach. He'd been testing her, seeing how far he could push her before she snapped and took control. She fought to supress a laugh but it came out as a chuckle anyway, "Goddamn you Logan." The little chuff of reply she got from him was enough to tell her she was right in her suspicions. But he wasn't going to get away with it, oh no, she'd been worried about his state of mind and besides she needed to get some things clear between them. When they stopped for the night tonight she'd pick the place and she'd go out for food, he'd wait for her this time. Setting her eyes on the snowy horizon she settled in for a days driving.
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"Right talk to me you son of a bitch, 'cos if Ah have to put up with another midnight move Ah *will* kill you where you goddamn stand!" She'd driven all day, pumped gas twice, gotten pain in her lower back that was now radiating down her thighs in a needle spiking flow. Annoyed, pissed off and at the end of her rope, Logan hadn't said a damn word to her at all. Not even when she'd signed the register as a couple with a name she knew wasn't from her memories.

He'd just finished the burger and fries she'd been across town to collect. Logan'd nearly turned his nose up at it at first but her scent and frustration had changed that action.
He looked at her, she was blazing, her back was aching he knew that by the way she was standing. Her feet spread apart, the weight on one foot more than the other. Settled on the bed he patted the place next to him watching her eyes narrow as she moved over to the side of the bed. She stood there arms crossed looking down defiantly at him making his good mood begin to burn away like dawn mist. Grabbing her arm he pulled her down to the bed, "Sit the fuck DOWN."
She looked a little ruffled but not upset and he tried to get the words in order, he had one chance at this and he wasn't going to fuck it up.

"Marie...this isn't easy for me. You know what I am,what I'm capable of." His fingers were stroking her arm, running up and down the fabric that covered her weaponised skin. His gaze was dark when he gripped her arm tightly, "While we're out here I have to be sure you'll do as I tell you. First time Marie, not second, our lives depend on it. Until we're safe and your trained you'll have to take orders; like it or not." She was about to open her mouth when he tightened his grip on her again, her breath hissing as it began to hurt. "I'm not *safe* either Marie, so when I say get out I mean *GET OUT*. Do you understand me?"

His face was filled with the darkness she'd seen in the warehouse; he was struggling with Wolverine it was as if she could sense him trying to break free. Nodding as he released her arm, the blood flowing freely again into her fingers. Watching as his head dropped against the headboard of the bed, exposing his throat to her. Shifting her weight on the bed she moved further away from him, his eye opened and pierced her through. "Scared of me?" Smiling she balanced on her arm as she tried to keep her heart calm.
"Of you Logan? Never. Wolverine on the other hand..." she left the words hanging in the air, watching as Logan nodded to himself.
"Good answer, I'm not exactly fond of what I am either. He's a part of me Marie, doesn't mean I have to like it. Sometimes I lose the fight Marie and it's those times when I say *RUN*, you run as far as you can as fast as you can. Don't worry about me finding you again, I'll find you soon enough. Just if I ever corner you, put me down first then get gone. You don't want to see me like that, I don't want you to see me like that, not unless you have to."
She was about to say she'd already seen that part of him inside her own head when he looked through her. The coldness in his eyes made the words die in her mouth. "Seeing and knowing are two different things Marie, that guy I killed had *family*. I killed *everyone* there Marie, including the owners of the toys out front. That's the truth and that's what you're going to have to live with out here with me. So when I say jump you jump, got me?"
Nodding she stroked the glove of her right hand, the pins and needles finally fading away. Roving her gaze over him she could see the tension in his frame, nudging him he looked at her again.
"Why don't you get a bath, soak for a bit." His eyebrow lifted into it's usual quirk, and she smiled at him. "Come on, it'll do you some good. Ah'll go get some salt and you'll feel better afterward, my momma always had a salt bath when she was feelin' edgy and tired. Never failed." It must have been her optimism that made him agree to the bath, she left him running water as she went to the small mini-mart attached to the motel.

When she got back he wasn't in the room, checking the bathroom the water was there but there was no sign of Logan. Going back to the room she checked the bags under the bed, they were both there and the truck was still parked up. Checking outside once more deciding that he must have gone out for a while, maybe to get more food or to walk off some of the tension before he came back. Well it was his loss, if he wasn't going to use the water she would. Stripping quickly and pouring in half the packet of salt, turning the water into warm brine she settled her body down into the warmth. Knowing the door was locked and the only person who had a key was Logan. Anyone else who tried anything would be a vegetable before they realised what had hit them. Life on the road wasn't what she thought it would be but then what had she expected? Fruit and flowers every day? Snorting at her own innocence as she floated in the warmth unaware that tonight everything would change.
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Blowing out smoke Logan approached the bar, the sickly neon light flickering in the cracked window. The summons had come just as he was pulling his shit together, the tickle in the back of his head. The signal from Xavier to go to a phone and call home, so he'd done just that. Leaving the room empty as he'd gone to find out what couldn't wait.
The booth stank of piss, several blood stains were on the reciever making him push hard down into his own mind, keeping Wolverine on a tight leash. Plucking the number from his mind he stabbed the numbers viciously. Four rings later and the voice he'd come to despise spoke quickly and clinically. "Bar on fifth and sixty-third, man's name is Murray."
"First or last?"
"Last."
"Anything else?" The voice was quiet as if thinking about the extra weight he was carrying.
"Disposal as usual Wolverine, man has a withered look, don't let him fool you he's stronger than he looks." Nodding to himself Logan felt the shackles loosen in his mind, bringing Wolverine to the surface of his skin.
"Witnesses?" The voice was as cold as the sky above him when it answered.
"None. No witnesses Wolverine." He grunted as he replaced the reciever, heading toward the address given; a sick smile wrapping itself over his face.

The bar was a mixture of all the crap from several other bars that had gone out of business. The tables were pink formica, chairs were fifties in style, soft but ripped in several places, the bar stools themselves were all different. He picked one next to the back door, he never knew how long he'd be waiting for his mark.
The rest of the clientle just looked at him and read him as he was, instantly labelling him 'bad news' and keeping a good distance. Ordering whiskey from the barman and getting something that passed for it he waited, watching and listening for the name he'd been sent to dispose of.

He was halfway down the bottle by the time the man walked in, he was a shabby looking thing. Rodent like eyes glittering as he scanned the bar, searching for someone or something. Finding nothing out of the ordinary he took a table in the middle of the drinking crowd, his body looking thin but the scent that was coming from him wasn't weak. He was confident, expectant, her ordered direct from the table and the waiter brought over his drink. Wolverine's gaze locked onto the hand that appeared with the money, the skin paper thin and the muscle wasted. He'd made his target, now all he had to do was wait, the noise of the bar intensified for a while as the locals piled inside. The ones who came here were looking for oblivion, not respite, they'd cause him no trouble, they weren't the type. One man did give him the once over but the propositition he was after wasn't what Wolverine was there for. Staring through the gruff older man until he turned his back and looked for easier prey.

When the little man called Murray finally got up he wasn't entirely stable. He wove through tables toward the back, waving his goodbyes to everyone and paying his tab. Wolverine was up and out of his seat before he'd finished paying, waiting in the darkness at the back door. He'd probably use the can then come out the back, the group at the front had been giving Murray heated looks and he wasn't in any state to handle them. Hearing his target get closer he let the darkness flood through him, he'd kept him at bay for weeks now. He needed this release, this kill and he wouldn't be stopped now.

As soon as the man's head came out he grabbed the throat in one clawed hand, crushing the windpipe shut. He never even knew what happened, one moment he was walking out of the bar, heading for home the next he was gasping for air through a crushed layrinx.
Hoisting the now unconcious man into the darkness, Wolverine jogged through the alleyways and derelict buildings. He knew what he was looking for, a building with a drain beneath it, his eyes catching the faded painted sign on a wall, 'Slater's Meat Packing'. That'd do nicely, he was doing some butchery of his own tonight.

An hour in all, the man was now in several thousand pieces, every single one being dispursed by the sewer system. The rats would have a field day with him, the belongings he burned including the jewellry until it was nothing but a solid mass of silver mixed with gold and ash. The money he kept, over three thousand in US and at least another six Canadian. Whatever this guy had been into it had been profitable for a while, rolling his shoulders and neck he couldn't shake the need that was itching under his skin. It hadn't been enough, he'd needed a fight and he hadn't gotten one from Murray. The fight circuit was miles away from here, but right now he'd have gone fifteen rounds with Colossus. His clothes were piled up and his body was covered in blood, grabbing them he knew where there was a bath filled with warm water. All he had to do was get back to it without being seen, the moonless sky was all the clothing he'd need. Setting off back to where he knew home was for the moment, his concious mind skimming over the fact that he wasn't alone out here. Wolverine on the other hand had plans.

The bath was wonderful, she'd drifted in and out of sleep, the salt making her bouyant so her breasts floated above the water. Sinking herself under as the water covered her skin, she'd missed this if she was honest. Just taking the time to soak, to stop worrying about what or where they were going, to just 'be'. When the water was cold to her skin she'd gotten up, thinking Logan would be back. She hadn't heard him return but then he was known for sneaking around, it was what Xavier had used him for.

As she dried off her mind went back to what he'd said about the house, that he'd killed everyone in there. The children of the house as well as the mother, he'd just walked into their home and destroyed everything they were with no guilt or compassion. They were targets to destroy and he'd done it at Xavier's orders, the information she'd given over had made her ill. When she'd opened the thing in her mind she felt revulsion at the things this man had done. Yet she couldn't see where killing his family would bring back those he'd tortured, sold and destroyed. Logan's voice in her head had answered that question, 'They'll think twice before they do it again, no one wants to lose everything they have.' Thing was what had Logan lost in doing it?

Shaking her head she wrapped her long robe around her and stepped out of the bathroom. Straight into Logan's chest, she was about to apologise when she saw the blood all over him. Spatter pattern, close up too by the looks of it, her eyes looked up into darkness, seeing exactly who was in front of her and it wasn't Logan.
"Shit!"

Before she even had chance to move he was on her, forcing her to the floor. Using her robe to shield himself against her skin, he kept her legs together; using his own thighs to keep hers shut. Holding her arms above her head one handed, the other hand at her throat, fingers wrapped around her tight. She felt him begin to move over her, her mind screaming out that this wasn't happening, he wasn't trying to rape her. Yet when his teeth bit her on her breast just above the edge of her robe she knew that's exactly what was going to happen.

He'd warned her, he'd told her often enough on this trip to run if he grabbed her. Yet here she was under him and he had her pinned down, her skin covered by her long towelling robe. Feeling him shift his naked bulk over her, hips already moving against the towelling of her robe. The heat from him was enormous she'd loved to have shifted, to have her hands free so she could have touched him. He was even keeping her face locked down, using the straining fabric as a noose. Tears began to form in her eyes as she realised she was going to have to go through this. There was no way out, even her voice had caught in her throat, she didn't want this, didn't want her memories of the man she'd loved reduced to this.

Something inside her snapped, no; she'd rather die than have this happen to her. Shifting her back against the cold floor she arched herself into him, trying to make her robe open, anything so her skin could floor him. All it did was make his movements harsher, his growls deeper as she bucked into his hips. Her body shifted under him, suddenly his erection was sliding against her own sex through the robe. The itchy fabric wetting quickly as her body responded to the actions Wolverine was putting her through. She could react even though she didn't want to.

The tears finally broke as Wolverine gripped her tighter, her wrists would be bruised after this, as would her throat. He'd marked her as his from the moment he'd touched her on the statue, but this mark was one she knew Logan would hate himself for. This is what he'd been showing her that day he'd been stood naked at the forest edge, he was an animal. Animals take what's theirs and she was *his*, relaxing her body she let go of her mind. Just letting herself float in the darkness inside her head, Logan was there, his hands clenching and unclenching. She turned her consciousness toward him but he turned away from her fading into the depths of her mind. Leaving her to deal with the pain alone, she could feel here. She felt every touch, every bite on her body as Wolverine shook and strained above her clothed skin.

Screaming out in her head, hoping someone would hear her, some telepath so they could see what they'd reduced him to. Hate's fire kindled inside her heart, but exactly who it was for she didn't know yet. All she wanted to do was survive this intact, she'd deal with everything else later.

It didn't take long, the slide of his body against her own covered her robe in blood and sweat. Then the scent of his release the wetness that soaked through to her belly. His grip softening on her, his teeth biting her softly as he purred, still rubbing himself along her. The ache in her own sex still there but her mind was just willing him to get up, to leave her so she could scrub her skin raw.

His head raised itself and he pulled her head so she could see him properly. He hadn't said a coherant word at all, not through the entire thing, an then the first word out of his mouth had been her name. "Marie?" The darkness was gone and instead was a pain so full and fertile it spread out across the room filling it end to end. He shifted so fast she'd have thought super speed was one of his mutations. He was on the floor across from her watching as she pulled herself off the cold tile floor.

She didn't say a word as she just turned on the shower, the water was cold but it didn't matter. Just getting under the water where she could feel clean, the tears had stopped. She'd prioritised, she needed to be clean first, then she could collapse, shedding the now soaking robe she stood under the water bare to his gaze.

He could see the bruises forming, the ones on her wrists, the finger marks at her throat, even the chafing at her sex. He knew exactly what had happened and he was wondering why she hadn't put him down. Shifted herself so she could've touched him, but then he remembered the position he'd been in. She couldn't move, Wolverine knew how to pin her, how to keep her down. He had to know if he'd hurt her any more than he already had. Getting up he reached behind her picking up the soaked robe and wringing out the blood and semen that covered it. Using it he turned her around so he could see all of her, the blow to his self esteem was bad enough. It was the cold look in her eyes that told him of the true damage he'd done to her. He'd killed her, in some way he'd killed her, whatever she gave him now she'd keep part of herself away from him and that hurt him the most of all.
He'd warned her, told her what he was, who he was and now she'd been on the receiving end of him. Assessing the damage on her he looked at her sex and her thighs, there were no bruises blooming on the sensitive skin. "Did I enter you?"

She didn't actually catch what he'd said at first, it took him three attempts before she finally got it. "Marie did I enter you?!" Blinking at him she just shook her head, seeing relief fill his face as he let her shoulders go. "Thank god for small mercy's." The words cracked open her anger and she swung for him, the cry that came from her was primal. He'd been ready for her and he caught her up in the robe, pulling her out of the cold water he moved her out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Dropping her naked onto the bed, quickly wrapping her in blankets when she began to shudder. Rubbing her as the tears flowed down her face, blinking them away she saw he was struggling to keep his own at bay. His voice hissing through clenched teeth, as he rubbed her skin. "I *TOLD* you Marie. I told you how dangerous he is, *I* am. You have to *RUN* Marie, you have to do whatever it takes to get away. Shoot me, cut me, burn me, whatever you can but you don't *STAY*, you don't let me near you when I'm like that, not ever." His grip began to tighten on her again and his voice began to stain, shaking her as he spoke to her. "Understand! Tell me you understand! Marie, TELL ME!"

It took a moment but her throat cleared enough for her to answer him, "Ah understand, whatever Ah have to, just get away." He pulled her toward his grip tucking her head under his chin, rocking her backward and forward in his grip.
"Yeah kid, just that. You get away, I'll find you afterward but you just get away from me. As far and as fast as you can." She felt the moisture on her skin, tasting the salt in it as it fell onto her lips, they weren't hers, they were Logan's. Numb she fell asleep wrapped up in his arms, knowing that he'd kill himself before he hurt her again. Not knowing how close to the truth she was....

She woke first, the weight around her made her feel crushed. Then like the slow drip drip of coffee, last nights terror seeped through her skin, lodging into her mind and soul. Wolverine had 'raped' her, marked her with his scent and power. He hadn't physically entered her but he'd done enough to her for the knowledge of who she 'belonged' to to sit in her chest making it hard to breathe.

Pushing out of Logan's grip shifting away and heading to the bathroom feeling the chafing of the blanket wrapped around her skin. Finally letting it fall in front of the pock-marked steel mirror, her skin showing the patterning bruises. The dark browny blue shining through her pale skin, she'd been hurt in training before so the pain wasn't the thing that kept her from her routine. It was the way she'd gotten them, even being in the room made her panic, that he could just get up and force himself on her again. About to move out of the bathroom and back into the small motel room, her breath coming quick and fast, her skin waxing green as the sickness of the memory forced its way through her body.

Eye's locked onto Logan's own, he was sitting up fully dressed in the bed, he saw her distress, saw the bruises on her naked skin, saw the fear in her. The fear he'd put there, the cost of his actions there for him to see, for the world to see. Neither of them spoke, the air turned into amber, solidifying the emotions already choking the air between them. Love, hate, loss, regret, passion, need, forgiveness everything flowing around them like a maelstrom. It was Logan who moved first, he grabbed his duffel from under the bed turned to look at her once more and made for the door.

When she realised what he was doing he was almost to the door, her body weight slamming against the plywood catching his arm in the gap. "NO! You don't get to leave me!" He wouldn't look at her, couldn't look at her, but he didn't have gloves on so he couldn't touch her safely to move her out of his way. So he relied on growling to intimidate her, flashing her a piece of the Wolverine, hoping to scare her away from him. All it did was make her stomach shiver and her nerves resolve, if he was running he wouldn't hurt her. "NO Logan, you're gonna talk to me goddamn it! Ah've done everythin' you've asked me to, Ah'm here with you cos there's nowhere Ah'd rather be! Do you think Ah like knowin' that everyone thinks you fucked me back home?"

She caught her own remark and studied it, the school hadn't felt like home for a while, even her room hadn't been home. The touches that had been left by previous residents told her of her own transience there. Logan's movements brought her back to the present, he was trying to force his way through the door. Something snapped and she touched him, her hand gripping tight around his throat. Fingers digging into his skin, the light of surprise being drowned in relief as his thoughts began to filter into her head. He thought she was going to kill him, her cold laugh suffused the room.
"Aww no Wolvie, no easy way out for you or me," she dragged his now weakened body back into the room. Throwing him onto the bed with his borrowed strength, her senses alive as she snapped the lock shut behind her naked body. "We're gonna talk about *this*," she waved at her bruises, suddenly she could scent and sense the tension that lay in the stifling air of the room. Angry she looked at the bathroom, she knew damn well she couldn't use that room again. Not like this, she'd smell him everywhere in there and she wasn't ready to fall apart yet. "Fuck! How do you stand it, ah can't be *here* like this!"

Logan threw her her clothes, she looked at them with new eyes and senses as she pulled on her coverings. Everything had new sensations, new depth to it and she turned to see Logan with his hand in the depths of his duffel. The sudden smell of steel had her eyes locked to his, her body shifting to an attack posture. "Don't even think it Wolvie, I'll knock your ass down even before it's out of the bag." Tired eyes looked at her own, he'd aged about thirty years from her touch and he just relaxed his hand, pulling it out empty. His voice was equally as old when he answered her, "Logan, *my* names Logan. *Not* Wolverine." He drove home the point with his eyes, his hand closed over his arm rubbing the skin there.

Seeing him finally settling back down Marie could let herself deal with what she'd taken from him in those few moments. There was a lot of grief, anger, pain, refusal to admit he was anything but wrong for her, he was damaged and if she carried on with him down this road he'd kill her. Kill everything he loved about her, the way she smiled at him, the lightness she had about her when she moved through life. That would die, be jaded, her innocence destroyed by his lessons, his thoughts, his way of working. He'd turn her into him and he'd rather die than do that.

When she turned her head back to him he was staring into space, eyes glittering in the gloom. She *knew* what was going on in his head, pushing away from the door she flung herself at him. Gloved fists flying she attacked him, grabbing his shirts she pulled his face to hers, noting that he didn't look at her. Anger fuelled her strength as she shook him into response, "LOGAN! YOU FUCKER LOOK AT ME! AH'M NO CHILD, AH NEVER WAS!!" He avoided her for a few seconds more then he met her anger head on. The null void that was in his expression sucked all the anger from her, all the pain straight out of her sails. Rallying she searched for a flicker of life in him, some sense of love or care. "Logan?"
"Kid, I...I can't do this." He tried to push her away from him, tried to move her off him, still weakened by her touch he tried anyway.

Inside her world seemed to shatter, the thin shards of her belief, of her love spinning outward as if taken up by the hand of God. Creating a world of sharp edges where no thought could survive without being shredded, a blood soaked plain where nothing but desperation could survive.
Her throat filled with her heart, an emptiness hollowed out her stomach, even as her fingers curled tighter around his shirts. Clearing her throat she poured it out of her, this pain, this sickness, if he wanted to hurt her she'd share it with him, this last act of bonding. They'd be apart but this would always tie them together, this sharp pain drenched in hatred.

"Okay. What can't you do?" Her eyes were so close to his own, she could scent him as well as he could her. Lies would be pointless, but then she'd never heard him lie to her before so why should he now?
She dropped her head to one side watching the movement of his thoughts through his eyes, his hands slowly moved to her waist. Resting against her, their weight comforting even as she was coming apart at the seams.
"What can't you do, can't teach me, won't teach me how to kill?" She saw his gaze flare at her words, "Too late sugar, Ah already know that one. Learned that the night Ah walked into that room when you were sleepin'." It had been something between them that night, it had been the time Logan had really noticed her presence. As if he'd realised she was the only one who *could* kill him and he could think of worse ways to die than being held to her soft pale skin.
"Logan, Ah *WANT* you to teach me, Ah *NEED* you to be here with me. Goin back ain't an option for me, there's nothin left for me there. Don't ya see!" Her accent was thickening it always did when her emotions filled her mind like a tornado. "Ah'm a killer Logan, a weapon. Do ya honestly think Xavier was keepin' me out of the goodness of his heart? Ah've been thinkin ever since Ah followed ya, if he can do that to ya, then why is he so concerned about the rest of us?" A slow warmth seemed to seep upward into his eyes as the words reached his mind making him think, forcing him to consider exactly what she was saying. When she saw him reach the same conclusion she had she gave it voice for the two of them. "It was always about the two of us sugar, he made it that way, two weapons are better than one. Ah mean he only keeps the one's he can use in his war Logan, everyone there is a soldier. They just don't see it, they think they're loved, appreciated, cared for but it's a stockade Logan. Ah don't want to die there an your mah *only* chance Logan, Ah need you, all of you." Her vision was blurring shakign her head to clear the tears as the emotion rode itself out of her. There was one thing she'd never used, never said to him in every fight she'd kept it back. But she was going to use it now if she was going to lose him. Pulling him closer so her breath was brushing his lips, she felt him grip her tighter at the waist. "You *PROMISED* Logan, you promised me ya'd *never* leave me if Ah needed ya. That Ah could count on ya when everyone else was gone, well guess what Logan, everyone else *has* gone! So if you're thinkin about eating that gun in there then you'd better do me first!"

He didn't say anything for a while, just listening to her breathe, seeing her desperation, her rawness covering him, he'd taken so much from her but she needed so much more from him. He'd hurt her more this morning than he had last night, pulling his head down he dropped himself into her shoulder. Letting his pain wash through her body as his large hands cradled her back, her own hands wrapping around his head and holding him tight to her. Rocking backwards and forwards like she would to a child, it wasn't perfect but it was all they had.

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It was night when they stopped for dinner, the diner was an old one made out of a rail carriage, the decor stained and faded. Just like the staff that were now awaiting their order, Logan hadn't spoken to her since they'd checked out of the motel room. He'd seemed normal even when she'd plucked the keys from him and asked him where they were headed. He'd just said "North." leaving it at that, so that's what she'd done, just driven all day northward. They didn't stop at the gas stations, they just carried on, as if putting as many miles between the motel and them would purge the memories. The border wasn't far away and she was wondering where they'd be going next.

The waitress hadn't even looked at them really, she'd been staring out of the fogged glass, as if she'd been trying to find a purpose for her life in its frosted pattern. When they'd ordered she wandered away with the promise of hot food, returning quickly with two mugs of coffee dark and sweet smelling.
Marie picked hers up, the warmth leeching through her gloves, Logan's voice rumbled across the silence between them. "Take em off." Lifting her eyes she caught the look on his face, he was observing her watching for a sign of her questioning his words. When she quirked an eyebrow he just whispered to her, "Ya'll have to learn to be like other people, to fight without em', to kill with em and that means learning control."
The words seared across her mind, what was he taking about 'control'? She couldn't control it as far as she knew she'd been told that she was a prisoner in her skin. It was as if he'd been listening to her internal dialogue, lifting his own cup to his lips hiding what he was saying to everyone else but not to her still sharp hearing. "Just 'cos he *told* you it wasn't possible don't mean it ain't." The look in Logan's eyes right then was something she'd never forget, it was then that he'd made up his mind about her fully. It was then they'd become partners, that moment when he realised that she'd meant everything she'd said to him earlier. It was time for him to tell her about himself, everything he could bear to share with her and it was a night beither of them would forget for a very long time.

Dinner was steak, peas, carrots, mashed and roasted potato, thick gravy, treacle pudding and custard. Washed down with coffee so dark and rich it soothed every last nerve they'd both rubbed raw earlier that day. Finally when they'd finished they paid the check and walked out into the cold air. Winter was on it's way up here, the first frosts had already patterned the windscreen of the truck. Taking a cloth Logan rubbed something on it then cleared the windscreen, lifting the bonnet he checked the engine. Seeming pleased he returned to the back of the truck, pulling out the reserve fuel he filled the tank. Holding out his hand for the keys Marie just handed them over to him, climbing in on the passenger side and locking herself in. If he wanted to drive he had things to say; words we're easier when you were moving, you left them behind you as you went. They didn't stay with you they became part of the journey instead, mapped out on a road you could return to if you wanted.

Half an hour into travelling he began, the words flowing slowly at first. "I remember more than everyone thinks I do." She didn't interrupt him, she just kept her gaze nuetral as she looked out of the windscreen, it was her naked hand that crept to his thigh that told him she was listening. "I've been alive longer than that bastard in New York, no exact dates but I've seen the first telegraph wires go up." Marie's mind searched for the date in her head, if he meant eastern Canada that'd be the 1870's, later if it was further in.
"There's a big blank afterward but I remember fighting in the trenches, that was something I wish I could forget. Seein' so many men die so uselessly, then the influenza came. Whole platoon died, I didn't, I just got lost for a while, killin', doing what I did best. Didn't come back to America until the early thirties, got another blank there until the lab. Until they made me into this," he flexed his hand and the blades slid free to shine in the light of the cab. "What I used before these I don't really remember but it feels natural to use them no matter what they're made of. So who knows?" Her hand gripped his thigh and squeezed gently, telling him it was okay to talk to her, to pour this out of himself.

"You know all the time I was out there I never heard the word 'Mutant', even in the trenches it was as if I was a blessing, a token from God telling them that if someone survived then what they'd done there would never be forgotten. Their names would live on in someone's memory, their sacrifice would be remembered." He risked a look at her but only saw her staring out at the road ahead, her eyes seeing the middle distance, not the road ahead of them. Putting the claws away he took the steering wheel in both hands, what he had to say next would be the test for them.
"Xavier sent me out, he sent me to kill those who would harm the human/mutant relations he had going. It wasn't always human's Marie, sometimes it was mutants, kids who'd just manifested. Kids whose powers were too extreme to contain, or couldn't be controlled." He saw her head turn to look at him her face a mask of hate and his heart dropped through the floor. Her voice cutting into the cold that had surrounded him.
"Fucker! That bastard, how could he?" He sensed her body ratching up her anger, her skin flushing in anger and rage. She met his gaze and he slowed the truck, gently stopping it as if he expected her to let go of him and just walk away from him. Marie's eyes were filled with anger but her hand was gripping his leg tight. "How many?" He cocked his head to one side trying to understand her question, "How many kids and what ages?" He had to look away, he didn't want to see her eyes deaden as the words entered her mind.
"Too many, over the last year, six; none older than fifteen." She forced him to look at her by grabbing his collar, seeing the pain he'd hidden from her, the things he'd done at the will of Xavier.

"Why?" He looked puzzled at her, was she asking him why he'd done it or why Xavier had sent him out after the kids. Seeing his confusion she clarified her question, "Why did he send you to them? What were their powers, what made them so dangerous?" He tried to remember what their powers were, but he couldn't remember all of them. What he did remember he told her and he watched her mind quickly put the information together.

Something was filling her mind, something she hoped she was wrong about, the places he'd been sent to had been where the Brotherhood had been active. She saw the reports, one of her jobs had been to map their progress across state borders. Logan had been sent out to kill potential recruits, children who wouldn't buy into Xaviers way of thinking. Children who wouldn't be controlled, one of them had sounded a lot like her, a boy who could drain life force but he did it as he breathed. He took from everything around him, creating desolation, crumbling and aging things as he passed. If Erik or Mystique had gotten hold of him...suddenly her stomach felt too full. Breathing through her mouth she removed her hand from Logan's thigh, sensing the change in scent she snapped her head round to see him closing down on her. "Logan Ah'm not mad at you, or Wolverine. Ah just think we've been playing in a chess game, one between Erik and Xavier, usin' us an' anyone else they get their hands on as pawns."

Sitting there in the cooling truck she outlined her thoughts to him, put dates and information together for him. Things *he* didn't know, Xavier had kept him busy and what time he did spend at the school he'd spent with her. Giving him some respite from his 'jobs', giving her to him, a reward for being a good lap dog. When they'd finished Logan was finally clued in, they had ideas, they could be paranoid, they could be way off base but he doubted it. It didn't help him to think about the innocent lives he'd taken in the name of the game, they were playing in. But one thing was for certain, the rules had just changed.
Looking at Marie's pale face her bare hands tucked between her legs he knew that he should take her directly to the place he was heading for instead of wandering. Time was important now, and she needed to learn and learn fast. Turning the key in the ignition he pointed the truck south and they headed out. Marie turned to look at him, her face ash grey, "We're not goin' back are we?!" He gave her a reassuring smile, a real one from his soul, shaking his head as he spoke to her.
"Nah, we're goin' home. My home, somewhere 'Wheels' don't know. It's hard goin and winter ain't far off so you'll have to suck it up for a while." Relief flooded her body and she uncurled a little, putting her bare hand back on his thigh. "Get some rest, I'll need you to take over soon enough." Nodding she rested her head on his shoulder taking in the warm scent of him. Things weren't right yet but they had a chance now, Logan knew more than he thought he did. It would take a while to get all the information together but it would be worthwhile, afterward they'd be armed to what Xavier wanted from them both. Letting sleep take her she drifted off again, this time happy to be in the warmth with the solid bulk of Logan. Tomorrow would have enough to deal with.

The place when they finally got to it wasn't what she was expecting, 'home' looked like a hole in the ground. Surrounded by hemlocks and pine trees the slight depression led to a small camp at the back of a small cave. They'd gotten there after a three hour hike through woodland that had left her gasping and dying for something to drink. Logan had thrown her a water skin, "Sip don't gulp, glacier water reacts differently to everyone, so be careful." He went to the back of the cave and began digging, bringing up several large bags and packages. Opening them in front of her she could see the survival equipment, as well as two sleeping bags, well they looked like sleeping bags. She nudged them with her foot.
"What are these?" Seeing her inquiry he flicked the rolled up thing open, the inside rippled like dark water as the stitched pelts flowed over the cold ground.
"Black bear, the other one is Grizzly, I'll have to go and find us some more, those are for one person. I'll go after the fires sorted and the rest of the camp is set up. Come on you're gonna learn how to do this."

It took them until the sun was high to get everything done to his satisfaction, the long fire pit was ready to be lit, there were containers made of birch bark and wood, pine boughs were on the floor keeping them off the cold ground. A fern matress was down to sleep on and supplies had been reburied, those that weren't being used later. He'd taken a look at her face and he'd seen the disappointment in it, she'd countered it honestly. "Now Ah know why you didn't want any of us to know where it was. It's not exactly the Ritz is it?" The hurt showed on his face for a second and she quickly continued, "Anyhow Ah'd rather be here with ya'll than in a mansion with that bastard back there. This is honest an it'll do me some good to get back to what's important."

She tried to soothe him but she knew her words had hurt him, that she'd been unfeeling about just how much trust he was giving her here. This place was well used, the carbon on the small overhang had an age to it, the floor was well used, even the notched trees around showed evidence of long use. He'd been coming here a long time, alone usually; she was a guest and her southern manners finally kicked in. "Anythin' you want me to do while your out huntin'?"
He knew she was trying, it had to be a shock to her but it was home to him and he'd never needed any more than this. She'd adapt soon enough but he needed to get more furs and that meant killing and processing the hide. He motioned to the pile of long poles in the back of the cave.
"Yeah see if any of those are still strong, we'll need them later for the hides. We've got a lot of work ahead of us if we want to survive the winter up here." Her head almost spun round at that remark, eyes wide she rounded on it.
"We're staying *here* for winter?!" He fixed her with a stare, they had about four weeks if they were lucky, plenty of time before the main rush of autumn overtook their little piece of real estate. As he left her still working out what they were going to do to survive this he shouted over his shoulder to her.
"Remember, sips not gulps." She watched him blend into the forest until he just disappeared, sipping the waterskin and savouring the clean taste on her tongue. Just how she was going to cope up here for a few months she had no idea, but she doubted that Xavier would leave them alone that long. Putting the waterskin down she went to check the poles and cord, they had work ahead of them and thats all she concentrated on for now.

Logan returned with something huge on his shoulders, the fur was a darkish brown and it dragged partly behind him. When he dropped the carcass she could see it as it was in it's entirity. A bear, a grizzly, big and fat, Logan's clothes were trashed, the shirt was in tatters. Jeans stiff with blood he took his time getting his wind back before turning to the carcass. She watched in horror as Logan took some of their bed, laying it under the carcass. He then began to skin it, the pale fat layer under the fur making the carcass look like a man who'd just taken off his coat.

Curious she went closer, the 'face' of the bear when it was skinned looked pretty weird. The almost flat muzzle in comparison to the head made it look more human and Logan caught her shudder, his eyes sparkled a little as he spoke to her.
"Now you know why the native people call him Grandfather Bear," trimming the edges of the pelt he moved toward the poles she'd set out. Her gaze was still attached to the large body resting on the ferns, looking at it's wounds, the three perfect puncture marks in the chest. Turning she caught sight of Logan stringing the raw skin across a frame, understanding she went to help. Moving over so she could pull the bottom of the raw skin to a pole, securing it with the string.

It didn't take long but the size surprised her, raising the frame they positioned it where the sun would help dry it out. Logan handed her a blunted knife, "Get the fat off the skin, scrape downward, start in one corner and spread out across the skin, try to get it all in one piece." Leaving her to the job he turned his back on her and she heard the sound of his blades firing, then the soft sound of tissue tearing. If the smell was anything to go by she was glad he'd given her this job. Turning to the skin the veins were still visable on the whitish layer on the hide. Bringing the knife across the still pliant skin made her stomach churn. Breathing through her mouth only made the fatty cells she was releasing into the air stick to the inside of her mouth. Swallowing her revulsion down she got on with it, at least she wasn't upto her armpits in a bear's stomach. When she saw it that way her hands moved faster across the skin, removing the excess tissue.

When the sun had set the bear was roasting, several tripods were drying the rest of the meat, the bones were cracked open and the marrow was being added to the stew of internal organs. The skull was in the shrubs somewhere, Logan had taken out the brains earlier, mixing them with a little water he'd handed them to her. The fat layer gone the skin shone in the late light and he just told her to rub the pink porridge into it until it had all gone. He'd been tired by then, his face, showing the strain of being here with someone. Usually he'd have just hunted, eaten and slept on the bare ground, he was making an effort for her. To make this more 'human', so she dipped her hand into the cold pink porridge and tried to forget it was brains. There was just enough to cover the entire thing with a thin layer of pink porridge. After she'd rinsed her hands Logan came to inspect her work, he'd nodded and rubbed the porridge in a little deeper. His grunt of approval seemed to tell her that she'd done okay, but as the sun was setting her stomach began to growl and her body was making it's other needs known.

"Logan, do we have a latrine?" The look that passed his eyes seemed to confuse her for a moment, then she recognised it, embarassment. He just stood up and motioned to a stand of pine with some sheltered bushes beneath. She did think about asking him if there was anything to clean herself up with and then thought better of it. Leaves would do, they'd have to but when her period came that would be another matter entirely. Sighing she went to relieve herself, her stomach reminding her that it hadn't eaten nearly all day. When she returned Logan was nowhere to be seen, the darkness was encroaching and she settled herself next to the fire. Two bowls were by the side of the bubbling pot on the embers, helping herself she just let hunger guide her. Managing three bowls full before she felt full, resting on the fern bed she let herself relax after the long day. Not knowing that her night was far from over.
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The land was still fertile here,the seeds he'd spread around the leeward side of the small ridge he called home were now well established plants. The food on them would come in handy over the next few weeks, they'd have to dry what they couldn't store. Turning away from the night scented plants he caught the flicker of the camp fire, the dry wood burning high. He'd have to teach her how to keep that to a minimum, to get as much heat as she needed without giving away their position to whoever might be out here.

When he'd been out for bear earlier he'd noticed mens footprints, hunters probably but he'd been away for nearly two years. Enough time for the tales of a 'wild man' to get lost and forgotten. Maybe it was time to re-educate some of the visitors, locals remembered his lands and kept clear. It was only fool tourists who ignored their warnings about him that were spread from the hunting lodges around the area.

He'd bought the land in the early 1940's according to the paperwork he'd found. He'd recoginised his handwriting on it, he'd even seen the deed for it, he owned the entire parcel of land. The area was about fifteen square miles in all, most of it wild and unreachable by road or rail. It's steepness making farming impossible and it's price cheap, that's how he'd first come across the place. He'd seen the remains of a cabin on the site but it had opened up a dark part of his soul. A place where the rage and hatred ha poured through him like a spring tide, making him tear what was left to the ground. Scattering the lumber far and wide, smashing everything he'd touched, destroying everything until there was nothing left but the depression of it's footings.

He even kept clear of the place now, the ground making him ache as his feet touched it, the pain still physical for him. He knew that this was where they'd caught him, taken him into slavery after the Second World War. He was too valuable to release to his life, so they came for him. Took him away from what was left of his life, honed him further, turned him into the creature they could use. The one Xavier had been using but that was about to change, what he'd discussed with Marie had made his mind explore the possibilities of what had been going on under his nose. He'd been blind to it, wanted to ignore the reasons and just do the orders, clutching at the small pieces he had of his humanity to his chest. Marie being one of them, she was something he needed and Xavier *had* given her to him. His payment for being a good little lap dog, what he hadn't counted on was the strength of the woman he'd given to him. She looked like a delicate flower but she was tenacious, strong, deadly and she had her teeth still. She'd reminded him that he still had his own; all he had to do was take off the muzzle and he was. The longer he stayed out here the harder it would be to put it back on, a winter out here in the deep snow would make or break them. He'd walk out of here alone if need be and never go near Xavier again, or they'd walk out of here together and meter out some payback of their own.

Relaxing into the cooling darkness Logan let himself hunt, he'd go back when his belly was full. He could smell the stew up there but his body wanted something still kicking as he ate it. He knew his drives and that would be easier to deal with if he let it get what it needed before he went back to see her. Fading into the darkness he became a shadow, lost in the many layered forest.

The bed was comfortable she had to give him that, the ferns were springy and smelt like new cut grass to her nose. Pulling the larger fur onto the mat she bedded down, remembering to keep her body parallel to the fire as Logan had told her. A full stomach and a tired body quickly sent her to sleep, pulling the fur around her wrapping herself inside it. The musty smell not unpleasant to her as she faded into the darkness, lost to the world around her. Only her subconcious remembering that Logan had yet to come home as she fell into dreams embrace.

Sensation, a soft tickling then the slide of material making her ears prick up bringing her conciousness roaring to the surface. Eyes opening to see Logan's broad naked back only inches away from her bare face, he kept his body near her own. Daring a quick look down while keeping her clothed body relaxed, she could see his naked hips. Dropping her gaze lower in the fur bed, catching a glimpse of ass and naked thighs. She kept herself still as he shifted closer to her, her breath now on his skin. If she moved an inch she'd kill him but he didn't seem to care as he shifted his thick legs to wrap around hers. A hand came into the bed and she tried to keep her head while he pulled her hips into his own. The contact between them making her own blood begin to shift and pool. He kept his hand on her hip as he shifted into her rising onto his shoulder a little. She shifted and she knew he felt her movement; he didn't stop moving but if she kept quiet the illusion might still work.

Resting on one shoulder she could see his body revealed to the fire, the fur thrown back the pelt glistening in the red ember light. It painted his skin too, and she almost spoke when his hand shifted from her hip to her own hand resting on her stomach. He shifted around, careful not to touch her bare skin, making a pillow of fur for her head to rest on. Pulling her over so she rested on his chest, the warmth from him making her body react. He was naked, gloriously naked under her and she could see the effect she had on him even through her narrowed eyes. "You might as well open them I know your awake."

Busted.

Blinking she looked into the gaze that was considering her own, she'd been wondering about this, how she'd handle being so close to him after what had happened in the motel room. She was a little afraid of him, of Wolverine if the truth was told but she still trusted him. He'd been warning her about him ever since they'd left Xaviers and if truth be known she'd thought he tried to make a move on her before he did. She had him in her head after all, her own fantasies had included him and that part of him had been more than willing to share some of his own with her.

He looked calm, sated but the heat in his gaze told her he needed something from her, so when he shifted her hand down to his groin she knew what he was asking. He needed to know if she trusted him still, he wanted her but he wasn't going to take her. If they did this it had to be mutual.
He pulled her hand closer to him, the blood already pooling in his groin making his skin swell and his penis twitch. A low rumble passed from him into her, keeping her eyes locked on his she pulled her hand out from under his. The gloved fingers skating over the delicate skin, the nylon of the glove feeling rough to her balanced by the heat that was pulsing into her fingers through it.

When she grasped him properly his hips lifted off the bed, his own hand keeping hers locked around him. Her choice had been made there was no going back now, his body heating as he slid her hand up his shaft. Her clothes no barrier to the heat from him or the fire, laying her leg over his. Trying to pin him down with her weight a little, her own drive manoeuvring her hips so his own movements ground against her sex. Her voice shaky as she felt his hand change as he laid flat, the shoulder now free he pulled her to him. Crushing her to his skin as he moved her hand on him, his voice dark as he hissed her name through his teeth. The changes in him visible moment by moment, the way he moved into her as her fingers brushed the sensitive skin of his balls; making it creep as they tightened.

He was laid out under her, the rise of his body with each pull on his erection telling her everything. *She* was in control here he was giving her the power over him, she could touch him and knock him out in a heartbeat if she needed to. Her own sex was aching now, the way he shifted into her not enough to give her the release she needed. Crushing it down she concentrated on Logan, seeing him watch her, the way he took in everything about her in the near darkness. When his grip on her tightened she looked at him, she'd never seen him look so wild, his entire body was straining, even his fingers were vibrating with the effort of keeping himself in check.
"Logan," her voice soft, filled with understanding mingled with lust for him was his undoing. He pulled her hand along him tightly, as he erupted over his skin, she kept her eyes riveted to his face though. The look in him was all for her, the strength, the vulnerability, the weakness, the love, everything he was was revealed in that moment between them. He was shuddering still as he shifted her now numb hand along him, milking him of everything.

It had been quick, fast and unexpected but it had been *real*, he'd let her touch him, see him fall apart like no other woman had. She'd seen his usual fucks, he usually took them from behind so they couldn't see him at his weakest. When he needed something from them that they couldn't give him, wouldn't let them give him, tenderness, love, caring. She could see the shine in his eyes, the moisture there, the rawness of him and she had to look away. He'd given her too much already she couldn't take more from him.
"Marie?" His voice sounded hurt and that was what raised her gaze again, the hurt was visable and the implication hit home to her.
"Ah'm fine Sugar, you didn't hurt me..." she paused before seeing the naked need in his gaze, he needed her to say it, to tell him how she felt about him. "Ah know you'd never hurt me, Ah love you, always have."
The crushing embrace that followed her words told her of the rightness of her decision, catching the deep sigh and choke of his throat as he held her to him. Her own hands reaching over him, clutching him to her smaller frame, the voice in her head chiming with her own feelings, 'Mine'.

She smiled when he released her from his grip, the look on his face suddenly serious worried her a little. "You trust me?" She nodded and he twisted a piece of her hair in his fingers before meeting her gaze again. "Strip." She just sat for a moment, then seeing no hunger or danger from him she began to undress. Keeping her skin away from his own she undressed, shuffling the clothes off her skin and shivering at the cool air around her. Taking her clothes he folded them and put them next to the fire pit, keeping them warm.

Shifting himself he went under the large bear skin so he was laying on the ferns beneath, pulling her onto his body again, the hide covering every piece of skin she could reach. When he placed the second smaller skin on top of her she thought she'd gone to heaven. The touch of the fur running over her already sensitive skin enough to make her blood burn. Resting on his chest and using her arms to prop herself up a little she watched as the smile covered Logan's face.

Dropping his hips she fell into the cradle he made for her, feeling the heat and hardness of him under the pelt. Her sex instantly pressured by him against her, the smooth warm fur rubbing against her already slick folds. A moan coming from her throat as her breasts rubbed against the hard furry chest she was resting on. But it was when he gripped her hips with his hands through the second pelt that her mind went into overdrive. Pulling and pushing against her sex, fucking her through the pelts.

Her body being assaulted by sensation, her entire skin on fire as she shifted on him. Letting him take the lead on the pressure and pace until she'd had enough of slow. Forcing her legs over his making him put his together, her legs wider now as she cradled his hips in her own. Sweat running down her body as she fought to pin down the sensations to one point in her body, feeling one hand shift from her ass to her breast. Making her breath still as Logan purred under her, hips bucking into her own as she ground along him. When his hand moved the soft pelt to her sex, running it along her swollen sex, making her whimper with it. Her eyes blazing as she gripped the pelt under her tightly, teeth grinding as her voice growled out his name. "Logan, please!"

No sooner had her voice stilled than the sensation of something long smooth and hard entered her quivering sex. He'd cut a slit and was in her, the fur protecting him from the rest of her skin. Protected from harm she pushed upward off his chest and he slid upto his balls in her. Both hands now under the pelt holding her still as his back arched under her. Both of them now growling, panting as she gripped his hips with her thighs, hands lost in the deep fur under her covering his body. But his face was clear and it was that that told her how much she'd earned from him and he from her.
The entire situation that Xavier had set up from the beginning was being consummated, but it was on their terms, in their way, free from others opinions and ideas.

Shifting her hips as he moved under her, making sure her clit brushed against the soaked fur with every movement. Watching the blush of her blood cover her skin as she climbed higher, taking him with her. Knowing the sounds he'd heard from her room were the same sounds he was hearing now, but then she'd been alone with only the dream of him. Here she was *with* him in every sense of the word, every reaction she gave was real, nothing fake or forced. She was *here*, all of her, every part of her and it was *him* she'd given herself to. When she clamped her thighs around his hips he knew, her breath unsteady, her movements became jarring as she lost control of her body. So close he could see it, his own nearing as hee tight virgin channel squeezed him as he moved through her. Shifting a hand to her sex he lifted the fur just a little, brushing his hard finger against her clit.

The power of her muscles made him wince as she clamped down on him, her voice screaming out over the forest. Pulling her head down into his chest trying to muffle the sound a little as her body spasmed. Hands gripping the fur beneath her as if she could tear through it like paper. The pain of her internal grip lessening he shifted deeper, nearing his own climax as she still fluttered around him. Shifting his hand to her ass he moved her over him, listening to her whimper as the sensations went through her. Lifting her head by the hair seeing her glazed expression as he felt his balls tighten, gritting his own teeth as the wave went through him. Her name falling from his lips and wishing that he could kiss her, lose himself in her swollen lips as well as the ones wrapped around him right now. Shaking her into awareness and seeing her eyes light up with the feeling of him emptying himself inside her. Purring as he did it, letting her head drop to his chest, they were bonded, now and forever. Wolverine may come and go but even he knew that she was *his* now, he'd marked her womb with his scent and he'd be the only one to do it.

When they'd finally come down he gently slid out of her, wrapping her up tight in the furs and keeping her on top of his warmth. His arms wrapped safely around her form, the fire nearly out for the night knowing he'd have to remake it in the morning but it didn't matter. He'd have been warm in the middle of an iceburg, as Marie fell into sleep a smile lodged deep into her face. She had him as much as he had her, after this any wound they dealt each other would kill. So much had been revealed and shared between them it would be the only way to end it properly. They'd fight together, for each other and that was what they'd be concentrating on tomorrow, training and he'd be teaching her *everything* he knew.
Smiling he pulled her closer, snuggling her under the fur a small smile resting on his face as sleep took him, leaving his dreams undisturbed for once.

The morning was silver, rain was falling in great sheets obscuring the hills around them. Marie had been woken by the movement beneath her, Logan was still under her, his hip was wedged into her and every move he made sent ripples of pleasure burning through her mind.
"Logan," she tried shaking him gently but it didn't do anything, the air had a bite of cold to it and she needed to move or he did. She was about to shift when he grabbed her ass with a large hand and pulled her flush against him. The smile that covered his face almost matched her own when he ground himself against her.
"You need to piss?" She shook her head as his other hand got into the game by rubbing her inner thigh with the warm fur. "Good."

Flipping her back into position on top of him she felt his erection against her just before it slid home inside her. This time felt different, he was being careful, she propped herself up with her forearms on his chest and shifted her hips. The tip of him grazed against her g-spot when she did that sending quakes through her nerves and her hands clenched into the fur covering his chest. "Fuck, Logan!"
"Exactly darlin'."
Sliding her upward the hardness filled completely her eyes locking with his own, the seriousness she found there at odds with the smile on his lips. Moving her hips on his own with quickening pace, fingers gripping her small frame tightly. "How many before me?"
It took a couple of heartbeats for her to understand the question and form an answer.
"In reality?" He nodded, her answer coming quicker than he thought it would've. "No one apart from you, well a rubber version of you." The sensations his hands were playing on her skin hidden safely under the fur were driving her nuts.
"A *rubber* version of me?" Her face flushed as she was forced to reveal her inner most secret, the one thing she'd hoped never to reveal to anyone including him.
"Remember when you had that full body scan?" Gripping her tightly as she shifted over him, her hands lodging on his shoulders gaining more traction as she ground down into his now deeper thrusts. "Ah...copied....your size. Made....a...replica, did it in shop class while....Oh God Logan!" He'd just brushed her clit with a fur covered finger, making her flinch out of the range of it, her over sensitised flesh aching.

He flicked her over, furs and all until he was on top of her, the furs still laying over her skin protecting him. But now he was gripping the ground over her head, letting his hips and lower back do all the work. His gaze was locked onto her own, and it had darkened, Wolverine was here with her. Even his teeth seemed sharper as he growled above her body, relaxing into the power that he was pushing into her hips. Her hands hiding under the fur, trying to grip his skin through it as he fucked her. The fur under began to ruck up, the cool ground under her feeling damp to her feet as the first spikes of her climax ran through her.

He'd been fine up until she'd told him about her making a copy of his dick, she'd picked him out of all those around her. Made a damn dildo out of him when all she'd had to do was ask him to fuck her and he'd have been there naked and ready. Thing was she didn't want just an emotionless fuck, she wanted *him* and she'd done the best she could've when she'd thought she couldn't have the real thing. Just listening to her say what she'd done, that she'd gone to all that trouble to ease her own urges. Hell she could've bought one online but no she'd wanted *his* dick inside her, even though it wasn't the same size as it was now. It still gave him a glow of pride to know that it had been his dick that had broken her maidenhead, even if it had been made of rubber.
Thats when he'd lost all control, that's when Wolverine had come out to play and he was taking his turn with her. It was never long with him, the urge to fill a female usually made for quick escapes and a recovering woman who came round while he was already five miles away and accelerating. He came back to himself when Marie screamed again, her body arcing up to meet his chest, hands lost around his neck wrapped in fur.
Every nerve in his groin was burning when he released himself into her, as if he was turning himself inside out for her. Tired he rested himself inside her, her body still shifting against his skin only when he felt the softness of the fur did he realise she'd turned part of it over. She was rubbing his body with the scented fur, it smelled of her, of her pleasure, her arousal and release, her joy at being here under him. It made him purr as he relaxed into her hands, slowly sliding out of her body and resting on her small form.

They stayed like that for about a minute, then her voice tired and a little shaky wound out into his ears. "Logan, know when you asked me if I needed to piss?"
He lifted a groggy head looking directly into her sparkling eyes, "Uh?"
"Well Ah need to pee.....now." He rolled over taking the warmed fur with him, leaving her naked to the cold world. Shuddering a little she got up, her body showing the marks of his attentions from last night and today. Shivering a little she walked naked to the entrance and peered out, the rain was still coming down in sheets and she braced herself for the shock.

When it came it was unexpected, the rain was warm, it was like a tepid shower on her skin, refreshing and cleansing all at once. Letting her body relax she went to the latrine behind the bushes Logan had pointed her to yesterday. Relieved she came back to the entrance and found Logan naked to the air, washing his skin in the rain. For a moment she just watched him, the soft ground under his feet beginning to liquify a little. She watched the play of the rain on his skin, seeing him relaxed for the first time in years. He'd never been this relaxed in the mansion showers, not even after missions, here he was himself, free to be what he was, a man who understood his nature. Shaking his hair of rain the effect reminding her of a dog he turned to see her smiling at him, wet through from the rain. He held out a hand to her, the meaning not lost on her but it caused a spike of pain to go over her face. She couldn't touch him, not like this, not bare, she'd kill him and she didn't want to hurt him anymore.

A little sad she went back inside out of the rain, her shoulders drooping as she picked up the smaller fur and wrapped herself in it. Before she had the chance to dry her face Logan grabbed her skin, kissing her lightly with drenched lips. The shock of his touch on her made her freeze, it was only when he released her that she realised she hadn't hurt him. Smiling to himself he walked over to the other fur and rubbed it over his skin, she looked at him in shock, her mouth opening and closing before she got her words in order. "How did you know..."
He pierced her through with a stare that froze the words in her throat.
"I didn't, took a chance, figured it would be enough of a barrier. It is. Looks like we'll be going fishin regular from now on." He turned his back on her and the words were about to flow out of her mouth when what he'd said actually reached her brain.
Fishing = water, deep rivers = space to submerge, skin to skin contact without the down side. Her grin nearly split her face in two when she looked up into his own.

"Yeah, Ah think so too, Ah miss fishing, my daddy used to take me. Ah don't know what we'll catch up here but Ah'm willin' to give it a go." They both knew that food wasn't the only thing that would be experimented on up here. Coming over to her while she was still wrapped up in the fur his hand touching her damp hair.
"Good, get the fire going and get that skin in here to dry, it'll rot if it stays wet." He turned away and dropped the fur to the floor, revealing his naked body to her gaze again. The deep sigh that left her mouth had him turning back round to see what the problem was.
"Logan get dressed and then Ah'll get the fire goin', you naked is something that's goin to take some gettin' used to for me. Especially now." He just grinned as he picked up his jeans, turning around so she could see his reaction to her words. Making himself more comfortable he left her to get on with the fire while he went to do other little jobs in the still heavy rain.

The skin was salvaged by the afternoon, the weather had turned again and the late sun was blazing against the soft ground outside the entrance. Logan was missing again and she found herself reheating the stew for dinner after eating dried rations for breakfast and lunch. She'd been busy looking through the stores they had and trying to identify them. She'd found dried beans but of what kind she had no idea when Logan had come in and dumped a mint smelling plant on her lap. "Hang it up to dry somewhere near the fire," she'd looked at it and it seemed familiar but not the flowers.
"What is it?" He didn't turn from his task of searching for cord when he answered her.
"Something you'll need if we're still sleeping together." Her silent enquiry enough of a spur to get him to elaborate, "Back at the mansion you were on a hormone pill yeah? Regulating your period? Well here there's no medic or pharmacy so you'll drink that every morning. It's pennyroyal, a part of the mint family, bit hard to find but you'll need to dry it before you use it."
The sense of it hit her, she hadn't brought enough pills to get her through a winter here so it was good sense. If it kept pregnancy at bay she'd be grateful, she only hoped it kept the hormone rushes back too.
"Logan?" He turned with a section of cord in his hands, bringing it over to her to tie the pennyroyal up with.
"Yeah?"
"When do you start training me?"
He levelled his stare at her hands before getting up and walking to the front entrance. His voice echoing into the space they lived in, "Ever since you followed me to that warehouse, I've been training you every moment since then. Only now it gets harder because you'll be learning everything to survive out here as well as defending yourself against all comers; including me." He rounded on her then the light making him seem all shadow to her eyes. "I'm not pulling punches Marie we don't have time to do this half assed, you do what I tell you and we do it until it's second nature to you. I want you prepared before we head back to civilsation, I want you stripped bare here with me. Then I'll know what we have to work on, better here than in a soft gym with temperature controlled air and no danger. If you get hurt badly you can touch me and heal it up, so be prepared for a broken bone or two because it *will* happen Marie."

Her eyes widened at the words that were spilling from him, that he'd been training her since that day she'd followed him. He saw her shock and he came inside the shelter his features visable again, "Marie you're too important for me to lose. I'll do everything I can to keep you alive and that means teaching you every dirty trick there is. There's no one else here to train with so we'll be at each others throats occassionally but we will sleep together every night at the end of it all. We *never* take it to bed, you have a problem you tell me when it happens not later. Understood?"

The slight hint of fear in his eyes made her agree, he needed her to understand that this was more than just training, this was life. He was showing her how to survive, in case things went pear shaped with Xavier, she could lose herself in the wilderness and he'd never find her. He was showing her life on his terms and it didn't frighten her, in fact she felt relieved. He'd told her what was coming and she'd have to tell him when he annoyed her, pushed her too far for her to cope with. Communication was paramount, they needed to be honest with each other, totally honest. Nodding she went toward him, dropping the plant on the now dry furs. Wrapping herself around him, her clothed skin protecting him from her gift.
"Ah understand Logan, Ah understand." His sigh as he held her told her she'd reached him, the journey would be hard but it would be worth every step and every bruise. When he let her go he pulled her outside into the late sunshine.
"Come on you've got some plants to collect." Following him down the mountain side they went and did some training. Just because it was survival didn't mean it couldn't be fun, her laughter was heard over the hills until the sun finally passed over the ridge and the darkness turned the sky a rich purple.
Life wasn't easy but it'd show many more riches to them both before the road was ended.

Six weeks, it had taken six weeks of training before her first broken bone and it had been a big one. They'd been chasing all over the damn mountain all day, using every piece of ground and cover to their advantage. Now the trees were becoming bare it was harder to move silently, she'd been harried by him across several ridges and gullies. Yet it had been the scree slpoe that had finally been her undoing, they were above the shelter, she'd thought to get across it quickly and then hide in the thicker parts of the underbrush to the left of the shelter. What she hadn't expected was Logan to move out ahead of her claws drawn and a face devoid of all emotion.

She'd run, forgetting the golden rule he'd told her about unstable surfaces, that you go *across* the face not *down*. When her feet went out from under her she knew she was in trouble, raising her hands to save her sight she went over. Tumbling over and over did nothing to keep the dried bear meat in her stomach but it was the thump she did against the stones above their shelter that did her in. The rattle of the scree covering her pain wracked body drowning her body making it hard to breathe as the shale settled around her. Blue black images were floating around her vision when Logan got to her, his voice sounded so far away as her chest was giving her signals that it wasn't getting enough oxygen into her blood.
Even her arms were limp as Logan dragged her uncermoniously out of the shale, the sharp edges cutting into her skin as he hauled her dead weight out.

As she saw the dark encroaching she heard the laboured breath of Logan next to her ear, his voice a little unsteady as he talked to her. "Marie, honey; your legs busted. I have to move it back before you touch me, it'll be bad." Never one to sugar coat details she felt his hands shift down to the icicle warm pain that covered her lower body. It spiked and her voice sounded out her bodies complaint, adrenaline kicked in clearing her eyes for a moment. Logan was in her field of vision, his face streaked with mud and stone chips, the look in his eyes part pride and part fear.

"Ready kid?" Marie felt herself stiffen up, he'd called her 'kid' it must be bad. She nodded, letting Logan's now uncovered hand touch her skin, he wore gloves when they trained, not her. The pull was slow but it was there, she'd been learning control, to focus on the breath, the feeling of her own skin. She had it down to a half of what it usually was, Logan could touch her without dropping dead but it still hurt like a bastard for both of them.

Sensation flooded her skin, as well as Logans thoughts, his concern for her, his pride at her as he'd seen her reaction to him. That she'd seen the slope as the lesser evil and took it, although that had faded into fear when he'd watched her feet go out from under her. She watched the accident from his point of view, seeing her tossed down the slope like a rag doll, her head just missing a boulder. She'd kept her form though up until the last roll, thats when she'd broken her leg. Logan's ears had picked up the sickening crunch as the stone beneath her had snapped her femur. Her mind still focussed on the memory as Logan's healing went to work sorting out the damage she'd aquired.

When Logan let go she could still feel his presence in her mind, his image being impressed harder into her mind. Taking up a permanence she never wanted him to quit, she'd had to touch him before,just fleeting glances to heal bruising and cuts. They'd only added small pieces of him to her, things that faded away in days, but this was more. Sorting through the images and impressions she caught Wolverine in there too, he was pleased with her. She was a strong mate, capable, independant, a survivor and he liked that in her.

A gloved hand on her chin made her eyes focus on Logan, he was searching her eyes, shading one then the other and watching her reaction to the fading light. The cold wind biting through them both now, grumbling under his breath he just plucked her up from the icy ground. She was about to protest when her leg gave a very nasty twinge, she'd done more damage than she'd thought and Logan wasn't going to let her walk just yet. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder she let him take her back down the tiny path to the shelter. Clouds gathering in the west, telling of the snow that had been promising for a week or more.

When he put her down he left her to get on with the fire making while he sorted out fresh water, the routine was the same every night. They'd train all day, discuss what had been learned and what she needed to work on and then they'd eat. Just listening to the world and sharing the wildnerness with each other, she'd found it quite easy to live here in reality. It wasn't that bad, although when her period had arrived she'd been a little worse for wear. But the fur strips she'd managed to use were okay, tying them to her they soaked up as much as a normal pad did as long as she remembered to fill them with deer moss. Yeah life wasn't as slick as the mansion but out here she'd put on muscle, honed her vision and hearing and getting the occassional booster from Logan didn't hurt either.

Yeah life was pretty good here and she could see why Logan came here to get away from everyone. It was those thoughts that made her face change, the realisation that one day Xavier was going to come looking for them both. Logan returned with the water soon after and saw her staring into the small fire she'd made, knowing where her thoughts were usually when she'd had a set back like today. He sat next to her, his arm resting comfortably on her shoulder, his gaze locked onto the small point of light in front of them both. "We'll make it Marie, he won't know what hit him when we go back. If we pull it down, we pull *all* of it down, Xavier, Jean, Cyc, Storm, the kids, everyone. We show them everything, all the games, all the deals he made with their lives. It take time to learn Marie, we have the winter but the rest you'll learn as we go." He paused for a moment, letting her take in what he'd told her, his breath even and deep. "We'll win Marie, no matter what we'll come out alive, even if we have to pick em off one at a time. I'm not gonna lose you to that bastard or his ideals."
Marie snuggled down into his warmth as the first flakes of snow began to fall in the encroaching darkness. She knew they'd come for them eventually, she only hoped they were ready for the two of them, they'd be getting two Wolverines not one. Flexing her arm toward the fire she watched as her muscle shifted under her skin, every time she touched Logan it happened, little twitches and her arms felt heavier, her whole frame did. But she still had winter ahead of her and all that it entailed. Holding onto Logan she was just glad to have stayed alive today.

He knew she was nearing her threshold of conversation, they'd been inside for what felt like months. The first snows had been harsh, piling up outisde the shelter's door like nothing else on earth. At first they'd both dug a little snow ledge out of the drift, so they at least had some free flowing air for the fire. It had been hard to keep a fire going in the frigid air, Marie was sat huddled in a fur looking at the small meagre fire they had. Her eyes telling of her discomfort and he felt a twinge of guilt for dragging her out here. She needed somewhere warm, somewhere where they had plumbing, somewhere she would be safe away from him and his temper.

"Logan just sit down an talk to me, the snow'll stop eventually and we'll be able to get out and get a bit of space. Ya not the only one needing a bit of freedom ya know." He almost smiled as she let out a tiny growl that sounded so like his own he forgot the frustration that was eating at his nerves.

Wiping his hands he came over and sat across from her, the fire between them, putting some more brushwood on the small flames he saw her hands dart out to seek the warmth being given out. Her finger ends were blotchy, the redness in them almost solid, anger quickly replaced his calm and he reached over the fire pit. Her skin sucking instantly as he touched her bare skin, her arm pulled out of the fur he could see the cool skin and the thread marks of frostbite on her. He held on long enough for her to heal, his anger keeping him conscious, biting out his words to her over the buzzing in his ears. "Are you an idiot or just suicidal?"
Snatching her hand back Marie rubbed her skin as the blood returned to her body, she felt as if she'd been put inside a heater. Her colour finally coming back to her, shuddering she pulled the larger fur around her body, her teeth beginning to clatter as the heat forced itself through her veins. "Why are you bein' so pissy Logan? Ah kept the fire low, ah ate a cold dinner like ya asked, hell ah even did the damn weaving you showed me! What have ah done to piss you off now?"

He just looked at her, shock showing on his features, he'd *never* told her, he hadn't told her anything about the *cold*. She'd been brought up in the south, where the coldest she probably ever got was a good breezy day in New York. His anger quickly shifted into shame, he'd almost killed her by his desire to train her in the wilderness without telling her about the subtle dangers all around her. Moving over to her side he pulled her covered form into his own warmth, piling more wood onto the fire he began. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you." He played with her now pink fingers, bringing them upto his lips he kissed them quickly before her skin got to react. "Frostbite's a killer Marie, so's the cold. Shivering is good, it's when you stop feelin the cold an the shivers stop is when your dyin." He pulled her around so she could see his face and the remorse he had in his gaze as he continued; "You stopped shiverin an hour ago."

The reality hit her, hard. She'd been dying of cold, the slow creeping fug that she'd thought was sleep wasn't, it had been her body shutting down capillaries withdrawing blood to her vital organs. Sacrificing fingers and toes so she could survive longer, letting herself snuggle deeper into Logan's side as she listened to the snow howl outside the shelter. She'd survive, she knew that, Logan would bring her back from the dead if he had to but she had to be aware of everything he'd told her. It was then she realised that they'd been concentrating on her fighting that the lessons about survival had been lost. It had been this that had almost killed her and she could feel the tension in Logan's body because of it. Moving so she could see his face she pinched him, making him wince and look down into her eyes.
"Talk to me, tell me what to look for, teach me."

Logan had been lost in his own world of thoughts and recriminations until her pinch brought him out of it. Listening to her and looking out at the snow pile outside the shelter it was the best thing he could do right now. So he talked to her, told her how to survive in winter, how to find food, water, how to make fire with wet wood, how to follow predators to kills. How to construct a snow shelter, which meat to eat first in a carcass, the way fat tasted and what she could eat raw, how to strip bark to gain access to sugars and medicine. As he talked the information he was giving her unfolded in her mind, as the words entered she could see his hands doing the actions inside her skull. It was when he told her about a fish trap he'd made and was trying to use a piece of pine as a hook that she interrupted him. "Ya didn't use pine, ya used a gorse thorn last time."
He just looked through her then the light shone in his smile and face, understanding flowing through his features.
"My memories?" She just nodded giving herself over to another bout of shivering, a possibility coming to the front of his mind. If she could recall his memories then could she recall the way to do it as well? Taking a piece of string he threw it to her, "Tie a sheep-shank."

Marie looked at him as if he was speaking dutch but her fingers worked anyway. Her hands were working without her knowledge and as she waved the piece of string under his nose about to tell him she had no clue how to even start, her eyes caught the sight of the knot in front of her.
Both of them looked at the small piece of string, a smile breaking out over Logan's face leaving Marie playing catch up for once.
"Don't you see, you've got *my* memories in there," he tapped her skull quickly. "All we need to do is bring them out and hone them so your body knows the movements by heart, muscle memory."

For the first time in a long time Marie was thankful for her mutation, everything she'd ever need to know was already downloaded into her mind. All Logan had to do was put her through the paces of it so she'd remember it and adapt it to suit her way of fighting. Thing was there was also Wolverine in her head, he was the one that had made her ansty and angry about being cooped up in here with the snow outside. She'd wanted to go out into it but she didn't really have that many layers to keep warm, well not yet anyway. The bear hide had been added to, there were at least another four tanning in the cold, all that was needed was to make them into something. As she thought a pattern made itself known in her mind, even the cutting impliment made from flint, as well as the needle made from a salmon bone, using sinew to sew with.

Smiling she concentrated on her skin, feeling the hum in it turn to a small tingle, reaching out to his smiling face next to her. Kissing the soft mouth that would never lose any attraction for her, letting herself linger as her skin resisted taking any more from Logan. He hadn't moved away, didn't shift as her hand stroked the skin of his face. The textures something she'd never tire of, the sleekness of his hair and the wiry touch of his sideburns on her finger ends. Making sure she had his full attention she pulled away from him slightly, her eyes glowing with pride and love for the man who'd just given her everything he was.
"No matter what Logan, ah love you, ah always did, always will. You kept your promise sugar, you did even when you didn't know you were doin it."

His hand slid down her hand, tracing her forearm, Marie noticed something was wrong when he didn't move his hand away from her forearm. His face was confused as he touched her muscle there, his fingers reading the shift of her anatomy. Tearing his eyes away from her face he looked at her arm, seeing the muscles bunch as her hand flexed. She wanted to ask him why he looked so serious but he beat her to it, "Feel's like it isn't just memories I've given to you," his fingers traced over her elbow until there was a sharp stabbing pain in her knuckles.
"Shit Logan!" She tore her arm out of his grip her skin flaring to life with her anger, but it was her bleeding knuckles that made her eyes go wide. In between her delicate fingers were three bone points, she could trace the form of them through her stretched skin over the back of her hand. Finally tearing her eyes away from them when she felt Logan shift closer to her, seeing the regret in his eyes, the darkness that seemed to ooze out of him, eating his soul alive. He'd turned her into him and that was something he could never forgive himself for, but all she could do was stare at the three bone points and wonder what else was in store for her out her with him.

The snow storm faded out after the third day, when they'd punched their way out of the build up around the shelter the entire world was white. Not the white of christmas cards but artic white, even the air was silent, no birds were singing. The cold air sucked the moisture straight out of their lungs, leaving them gasping for breath.

They had priorities, the fire being the first, in a few moments they had a huge blaze going, Logan had dragged a fallen pine into the shelter and was burning one end. The still green branches on the other end were steaming as the moisture was driven off by the heat of it's burning end. Food was next, grabbing the pot Logan shoved a decent handful of pure ice inside it, rummaging through their supplies he pulled out a jar of bear fat, emptying half into the pot with the now rapidly melting ice. Bear meat, deer meat, juniper berries, grass seeds, reed root, blackberries, rosehips went in as well. The mess looked awful to Marie's eyes but she'd grown to trust Logan's cooking.

She was over in the strong light that was being reflected from the surfaces all around her, her hands were wrapped up in the fur pelts when a yellow plastic bottle hit her in the thigh. Looking down at it she saw the writing on it, "Sunscreen? Logan ah don't know if ya've noticed sugar but it's a bit cold for sun bathin'." Looking up from the fire he smiled his 'your being a smartass' smile and answered her comment.
"If you do a little bit of diggin in that empty space you call a brain you'll understand why." With that he got up, leaving her to work out why he'd given her it.

Searching through his memories she finally hit on it, a small man, dark skinned and smiling. He was using something that looked like bear fat mixed with something else, the voice that accompanied it was old and distinct. "Grandfather sun, his power is felt even here in the great cold. The Sea Mother won't let him into her land so she sends it back up to him. The People still feel his touch and it burns even though it's cold enough to keep Shako in his bed, you have pale skin now but it will brown, turn to the colour of liver and you'll be able to walk naked under Grandfather's gaze little Kavic."

The memory was old, one that told her more than she wanted to know, the images had been held tightly to, they were one of the caches in her mind filled with information. He hadn't stayed long there, a few weeks at the most but he'd been accepted there, an equal, a man with a strong 'medicine' that made him move on.

There was so much more to him than she'd ever realised, looking at his back she picked up the sunscreen and plastered what skin was on show. When they were more comfortable and settled she'd go through the stuff he'd put in her mind. She didn't feel that different, as if his personality was mingling with her own subconscious quite easily, it wasn't an invading presence, he supported her. Shoring up the places where she was weak, giving her depth where she was empty, filling her worth with the truth of herself. It felt good to have him inside her, a piece of him that no one could remove, not even her. Her hands dropped the plastic bottle; losing themselves in her next task, making some decent warm clothing from the hides they had. Looking about for a decent knife her eyes saw it in Logans hand, the blade being used to cut the meat for food into thin strips so it cooked faster. Why he didnt use the ones he already had she didn't know....the thought stopped dead and she looked at her own heavy arms. Could she?

The sound of skin ripping made him turn from his task, Marie was kneeling on a fur, it's skin side facing her and her hand was tracing a pattern over the surface. Looking closer he saw her knuckle deep in the fur and he wondered what she was doing, until his mind reminded him what 'extras' she'd picked up from his touches. "Marie?" She stopped her work and looked up smiling at him, an inch of claw poking out of her hand. The tip sharp and her skin red but not bloody, pulling the fur up she showed him the perfect cut in the hide. "Looks like ah'll never be short of a knife from now on sugar." She dropped the fur back down and began to cut again, "Ah never said thank you for these Logan, so...thanks!"

He had to sit there for a minute as the words went in, she was *thanking* him for giving her another mutation, one that would mark her as an even more extreme mutant than she already was. Watching her cut the hide with the bone blade, the delicate twist and curve of her wrist as she shifted over the fur. Only when she'd finished cutting did she wince when the blade went back in, looking up to see his eyes watching her, the thin smile on her lips meeting the warmth in her gaze. "That'll take some gettin used to but ah'll manage." At that moment he felt a surge of pride go through him she wasn't just surviving anymore, she was *living*. A new sense of balance entered his mind as Wolverine purred around in his subconscious, he had his mate and she was armed just like him. Now all he had to do was train her how to use them, looking out on the snowy wilderness he knew how many animals would've been taken by surprise by the savagery of it. Meat is meat and they needed every piece they could get, as soon as those wraps were done they'd be heading out to get it. Natures deep freeze wouldn't stay clear forever and wolves would be out there too filling bellies. Smling he stirred the pot as he heard the sound of sinew being pulled through fur, it may not be home for everyone but it was theirs.

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Below the bluff was the elk, it's carcass was huge, the rump stiff and frozen sticking out of a drift. It had wandered over the edge in the blizzard, a broken neck and now it was laying there to be collected. They were at least ten miles out from the shelter but still on Logan's own turf, climbing down the snow filled bluff wasn't easy in her new furs but she definitely felt the benefit of their warmth. Logan was dressed in his shirts and jacket, the colour standing out against the pale snow. Digging out the carcass took effort, using the elk's own weight against it by digging underneath the animal letting it slide free toward them.
The smell was something Marie would have to get used to, the stink of the hide and the stomach were things that she didn't enjoy and her face spoke for her. "You'll get used to the smell Marie, death never smells good, once we clean her out we'll get what meat we can from her. Leave something for the wolves and foxes." He turned her over, blade snapping free when he paused. His eyes looking at the carcass closely, when he lifted his head back up his face was screwed up and his eyes were flashing dangerously. Moving over Marie noticed the thing that had made Logan's mood shift so quickly, the elk hadn't fallen she been shot. The entire left shoulder had been shot away, the bullet had made a mess of her shoulder and chest. Logan pulled her over to him, his hands digging in painfully to her upper arm, breathing through his teeth he motioned toward the carcass. "Get her skinned and jointed, we'll bury her in the drift to keep fresh but we're goin huntin'. I *want* to know who's up here, this was recent." Marie could see him struggling to keep Wolverine down, from leaving her there and just going after the interloper on his land.

Dropping to the carcass she slid her claws free on her left hand while she held the frozen body up, the first slice was the worst as the frozen guts slid out of the cut. Moving them aside she began her job in earnest breathing through her mouth to avoid the smell. Logan was guarding her, his hands opening and closing as she worked. She did think about telling him to help her but Wolverine was in control now and she knew better than to annoy him any further. All she had to do was follow orders, trust the man behind the animal and she'd get through this. SHe only hoped the man who'd killed the elk had left already. If not she didn't know what she'd do but she knew the answer in her own mind, Wolverine would kill him, she just hoped it didn't come to that.

Deer meat was stacked up against the snow bank, Wolverine helped her pile stone on it, packing the snow tight around it so it'd freeze into an ice layer keeping the smell sealed in.
It was nearing dark when she'd finally finished, tired arms bloody and her furs sweaty from the inside. Her claws were sharp but not as sharp as metal, she'd done her best and she'd seen Wolverine assessing her strength as she'd butchered the meat. The learning curve was nearly vertical now and she knew that he expected her to follow him on this other hunt. He *needed* her to come with him, she'd promised herself to him, she had to defend this place too.

So when he just stood up, turning his head into the vast darkness all around them and walked away without a word she followed, tonight would be long, arduous and cold. Stamping some life back into her feet she followed in his footsteps, noting he walked steadily and softly. She'd have no problem keeping up if he kept this pace, she jus hoped when they got to wherever they were going they'd find the place empty.

He'd caught the scent on the wind, a fire, burning fir, seasoned wood, old spicy and sweet, the direction to the south. The land levelled out there for a while, making his mind reveal a scrap of memory. Hunting alone out here, nearly naked in the summer heat, coming across remains before and putting them down to wolves. Now he knew better, wolves didn't leave shells behind, didn't need guns to bring down elk. Men did this, men who didn't belong here, men who had to be taught whose land this was, the storm had taken away their scent but the wind had brought him their fire and that was enough. Tonight they'd learn the error of their ways, Wolverine defended his territory and they'd pay the price for coming into it uninvited.

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Windows spilling yellow light met her gaze, the wood was so new it still sparkled in the frost, Marie was running on instinct now. Her fear had jacked her higher than anything she'd ever experienced, inside her mind Wolverine was pacing, angry, ready for her to release him on their enemy. Her knuckles itched, the feeling odd and she understood Logan's reactions now, her mind putting all the times she saw him rubbing his knuckles into perspective. Scott really had been a very lucky boy if this feeling was anything to go by, supressing her own growl she hid under the eaves of the small cabin.

Wolverine snuck around the structure checking for other entrances or exits and finding none, there was only one room here, a hunting lodge if the smell of blood was anything to go by. It seemed to be everywhere here, if the men inside were stupid enough to store meat in there with them raw they deserved everything they got.
What he did bring around was the frozen corpses of at least three wolves, they'd been skinned and gutted. Taking them in hand he just slammed the door open to the cabin, throwing in the forzen corpses before plunging in himself. The sounds of frightened voices, three at least distinctive sounds, three men who'd been here killing their food, taking from his larder.

Gunfire ripped through the silence and she heard a body fall, iinstict over rode her fear, training kicked in, she rolled in the soft snow and came up inside the doorway, arms down, claws drawn, teeth bared. Wolverine was down, a shotgun blast to his throat had almost decapitated him.
Suddenly all bets were off as her mind slid past all the gears, two men were trying to reload guns, rifles in the confined space. Snarling she launched herself toward them, Wolverine screaming in her mind, rage blurring her vision.

Hitting them square on, one hand diving into soft flesh, the tear of the skin as she opened him up like a fish. The slippery slide of intestine making her own stomach flip as the acid smell of bile reached her nose, knowing she'd punctured his stomach with a claw. Twisting her wrist to shred more of the vital organs she had in her grasp, pulling her hand free and seeing the ropes of blue twist as they fell from the hole she'd torn into him. The words of his friend becoming clear to her as she turned her hate filled gaze toward him. Seeing the fear in his eyes turn his bowels to water as Wolverine stood up again, his claws slicing through the mans face in front of her. Seeing his face part under the blades, bone and sinew covered in blood and brain as the parts seperated. The mush that been a face still twitching as she watched the man die, turning her attention finally to the one she'd gutted; still breathing trying to keep his insides in, hands stuck to his own twitching flesh.

Wolverine growled at her, nugding her to finish him, to kill him properly, she hesistated and he growled at her this time baring his teeth. Her own throat whimpering as the man beneath her began to pray, it was his words that brought her mind to the front of her brain. "Holy Father, accept this sinner into your arms, forgive my sins and see fit ot include me in your host." Shoving her aside Wolverine took his throat in one hand and squeezed, the words choked and died. Her eyes blurred as the weight of what she'd done hit her, she'd killed a man, not with a gun, not with her skin, with her claws. Suddenly the food she'd kept down fought its way back up, throwing herself outside in the now freezing world she threw up everything into a drift.

She stayed there for a while, her mind mercifully blank as the taste of bile filled her world. Inside her head Wolverine was still growling, his sound almost silencing Logan who was trying to tell her to get up, to move. She couldn't stay like this in the cold, she *had* to move, slowly, almost painfully she rose, holding her cramping stomach together as she walked back to the lit cabin. The snow outside was stained red, the colours of bile and stomach contents spilled all over the pristine white.

Inside Marie noticed that Wolverine had packed gear up into a bundle, pushing past her he hauled it outside and onto a small sled he pulled from inside the door. The bodies were there, eyes staring blankly to the ceiling, the lamp light giving them shadowy movement that made her want to run. She'd seen dead bodies before but she'd never killed personally, not like this, not so close, not so personal. Her breathing was unsteady as she felt hands turn her round, the look in his eyes was one she'd seen before. When he'd left her on the road back when she'd first followed him out on a mission, but this time she couldn't run. He'd just killed three men for invading his territory, for taking what was his, and the information burned across her brain as she realised what he'd need to make this go away. He wanted her *here*, right now and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Her choices had brought her here, to this blood soaked cabin, to this poachers hut on land owned by the man she trusted more than she trusted herself. Letting her eyes go soft she relaxed in his grip, throwing her head back to reveal her throat. Listening to his approval as he bit her, grinding himself against her, already hard, already needing to be inside her. Letting herself be turned by him, so her face was against the rough wall, his large frame shielding her from the dead bodies at her feet. At least one of them due to her own actions, splaying her hands on the wall to support herself. Letting him undress her, concentrating on keeping her skin low, the buzz in the background of her mind deadening to a hum.

Feeling him lift her bodily as he slid inside her, tight and dry she winced at the width of him. Concentrating on the sensation she felt her body slick as he moved into her, gripping her tight as he fucked her against the wall. This had nothing to do with love and everything to do with ownership, of the land, of the cabin, of her. Silent tears rolled down her face as she felt Wolverine slam into her rear repeatedly, Logan was love, this was ownership. She'd never be the equal to Wolverine, not until she threatened him and could go through with the threat.

It didn't take long, Wolverine never did, it was Logan that spent hours on her skin, spent hours touching her, loving her. Wolverine just took what he wanted from her, when he wanted it. Panting he rested against her smaller body for a while, only when he shifted did she dare move her clothing back. As soon as she was dressed he turned her to him, the eyes were Logan's as were the tears that were running down his face. She'd seen him, the real him, the killer,the rapist, the thing he never wanted her to see never mind *feel*. But it was a package deal, if she stayed with him she had to deal with Wolverine too. He wrapped her up in his embrace, just holding her in the light of the cabin. When he let her free his face had hardened a little, "Go wait by the sled, I've got a few things to do." Nodding she shifted out of his grip, her body stiff and her movements feeling odd, seeing the sled painted in colour against the white world she let the emotions free inside her body, she could cry now for herself. She knew the toll this would take on Logan, what he'd think about what he'd given her, what he'd made her but it *HAD* been her choice and no matter what she didn't regret it, not for a moment.

As she heard the whump of a fire eating up wood she turned to see flames licking at the window. He needed to burn everything, she'd killed a man in there, her forensic trace was everywhere and she didn't leave traces behind. She was a killer like him now, she had to be careful, learning her skill as she went and that meant destroying what others had built. Logan joined her to watch the cabin burn, the heating oil had been enough to set the wood afire, the men would be logged as missing. The locals wouldn't search out here, they'd just nod and say that it was the mountain that killed them. Poaching in winter was a fools game, there'd be nothing to find come spring, nothing but bone and wolf shit.

It was dawn when the fire had died down enough to be ashes, the bodies burned to bone and crumbled ash, the winter would break the bones further, seedlings would take over the spot soon enough. Logan took the reins of the sled and pulled it back toward home, Marie gave it a final look. The memory of the place where she changed, the pivot point in her path where she became more than a mutant, the point where she became an assassin, a killer of men. Turning her back on the dark spot on the snow covered ground, she followed Logan into the lightening day.

Sunlight was blinding her, the ice crystals on the powder snow making everything glow and shimmer around her. Squeezing her eyes shut to narrow slits helped but it didn't help her following Logan. The sled was heaped with clothing, food, contraband, guns, even pelts, he'd taken everything he could. There'd be no trace left of the men they'd killed.

As soon as the thought went through her mind she'd felt a stab of fear run through her, she'd *killed* someone. The man had been reloading a gun, he hadn't been pointing it at her, he hadn't done anything to her. Logan's presence in her mind just added 'Yet' to the thought, as they'd made their way home she'd seen the stuff Logan had packed up. There were pelts of wolf, bear, lynx, beaver, even a close dark fur she didn't recognise, whoever they'd been they'd been hunting here for a while.

Bringing her mind back to the reason she'd killed the man in the cabin, her training had nothing to do with the way she'd reacted. She'd seen Logan down on the floor; she paused there correcting herself, no it had been Wolverine on the floor. Seeing him injured so badly had snapped something inside her, letting the force she'd seen running through Logan as he'd killed the interlopers on his land have free reign over her. She'd *used* him to kill, used his weaponry, used his anger, used his darkness to destroy. Inside she felt the stain of him on her mind, the door now opened would never be fully shut, she couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed it. The sense of pure purpose, of will; to destroy that which would've killed her if it'd had the chance. Wolverine hadn't given them it, she wasn't the same person she was three months ago, she was some*thing* else now, someone else. And it was this that was troubling her as they trugded through the cold snow fields back home.

They took a detour to get the elk carcass, there had been wolf tracks around the pile but the ice hadn't been broken open. Logan did look at her as he smashed open the pile of frozen rocks and snow; his gaze was calculating, reading her face and her silence as he dug for the meat. Handing over the chunks of flesh for her to wrap in the cold furs, when it was all done he wiped his hands on the furs and reached for her own. "Pop em'," she knew what he was asking, moving her hands out of his own she felt her tendons move in her forearms, forcing the bone blades out of her hands. The pain sharpened her mind as the blood flowed out of her ripped hands, it was the first time she'd let them out fully. As long as her forearms the blades were tapered, rounded almost, but the undersides were deadly, ridged and serrated, cutting, slashing implements. Her own blood mingled with that of the man she'd killed, the fresh blood staining the snow, steaming gently in the frigid air.

Logan ran his bare hand over hers, her skin humming gently as he did it, she didn't take anything from him, not a thought, not a memory but her blood did stop flowing. Lifting her hand he looked at the blades and studied them closely, his eyes were locked onto them, as if he was trying to remember something for himself, about himself. She nearly flinched when he ran his finger down the inner edge, his blood ran fast and hot to the already stained snow. The narrowing of his eyes showed the pain it gave him but he stayed silent as the wound healed slowly.

Dropping her hand he stepped back; his gaze was blank but his body hummed with unspoken questions. He wanted to know *how* this had happened, why she'd manifested these weapons, how he could touch her and she only took his healing from him, nothing else. She beat him to it, her voice shuddering in her throat as the words spilled from her into the frozen land around them. "Ah don't know Logan, honestly ah don't. Maybe ah'm meant to be like this, maybe that's why Xavier always let me stay around ya. Maybe he knew more about me than ah knew mahself." Her accent had thickened as her emotions got the better of her, the face of the man she'd murdered rose into her minds eye tormenting her. "Jesus Logan! Ah *KILLED* a man back there! Ah did it with these!" She lifted her hands to show him the blades that stood stark agains the sky.

She needed him to understand her, that she was scared of what she was becoming, she needed him to show her that what she was feeling was a normal part of what she was going through. That she should feel fear of herself, that she was dangerous, that she had an animal inside her that wouldn't let itself be hurt or him for that matter. "Logan...Ah need you to talk to me dammit! Tell me ah'm not goin' to be like you, never trustin' mahself around people just in case. Tell me ah'm not goin' to end up stabbin' you one night when you piss me off too much and leave you in a ditch with wounds so bad it takes you a month to heal em!"

Tears were flooding her vision as the creature inside her mind began showing her the uses for the weapons she had on display. Lifting her hands to her head she screamed out to the world, a cry of anguish and frustration, a memory opening like a lotus in her mind. Logan standing in snow naked, bloody, a scream so much like hers echoing out of his mouth, body healing self inflicted damage, blood everywhere on the perfect surface all around him like petals on water. The spatter patterns recognisable, as were the cuts that were healing up on his body, trying to ease the hunger, the rage, the knawing emptiness in his mind. Pain and blood were all he knew, all he could know at that moment and her own mind struggled with the strength of it as it flowed through her. Dropping to her knees in the snow she howled into the wind as Logan watched her come to terms with the choice she'd made. His own face hardened to the sight in front of him, but it didn't stop his heart from breaking knowing it was him that had turned her from his saviour into a damned soul like himself.

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Back at the shelter the meat was stored in ice, the rest cooked in the pans and crocks Logan had brought back with them. It was nearly dark when Marie found her emotions stable enough to communicate again. "Logan?" He turned toward her, understanding in his gaze and his movements slow.
"Yeah kid?" Again the old title, she must have worried him.
"Hold me."
He put the pot back on the fire, coming direct to her and plucking her into his lap, wrapping himself around her. She still felt cold, distant, lost, even in the warmth that surrounded her, she knew why, she'd lost herself. Marie was lost somewhere inside her own mind, the core of herself was there but everything that had happened to her over the past weeks had finally broken over her. She needed to know she was still in there, still in charge of her mind.
"Why?"
"Why what?" She snuggled into his breathing chest, trying to hide from the answer he'd give her, the one she hoped he wouldn't.
"When you woke up you tried to kill yourself for hours, why?" She kept her eyes on the pattern of the plaid shirt he was wearing, she didn't want to see his face as it went through the emotions she knew were churning him.
"I didn't want to live with them, didn't want the pain, didn't, couldn't face what I was, what they'd 'made' me into." She nodded as her fears were confirmed, she could taste his sorrow on the breath that went through her hair.
"You think I'm going to try don't you?" He stilled, even his heartbeat slowed for a second as the thoughts went into words in his throat.
"I'm not sure, are you?"

She was sure, she was in there, she knew it, she could feel herself fighting to survive, but she needed time, time to pull herself together. Training was nothing to the reality, to feel someones blood roll over her hands, to taste the copper on her tongue as they aspirated blood over your face. She had to assimilate the darkness that had been unleashed in her, come to terms with it. It wasn't fear of it that disturbed her but her own willingness to kill, all the hate she had held inside, all the pain just waiting to be used and turned on others. That her *own* darkness had found a willing partner in Wolverine, he'd show her how to use it, how to hone it, how to kill without remorse or feeling. *That* was what scared her, that she was capable of such savagery and that Xavier had *known* it too.

That he'd groomed her for this, put things into motion for this to happen for her darkness to be used as a weapon. It had been her choice to go with Logan yes, but if she hadn't what would he have done since she knew about where Logan went on those 'seperate' missions. Would he have turned her mind into jelly, made her go to Logan, tricked Logan into killing her?
A sense of steel filled her blood, she'd get through this, put herself back together, make herself stronger, live as she was meant to, honestly, all of herself nto just what was 'polite' or 'acceptable'. Then she'd go see Xavier and turn this darkness on him, let him see it's depth and see if he could survive it.

Her dreams were quite normal to start with, then the darkness crept into them. Her usual relaxing dream of summers long gone would be filled with grinning idiots calling her a 'freak' and 'skunk head'. Driving her toward the pit of bitterness and anger that was seething under her skin. They usually ended the same, her sinking her claws into their bodies, tearing them apart as she listened to their screams. Her mind enjoying the feeling, the power that came from the destruction of anothers life, to really *feel* alive when she was killing someone else.

She woke twitchy on those days, her hands ached with tension, her moods waspish and snappy. Logan seemed to enjoy those days, he'd torment her on purpose, pushing her until she snapped and walked away from him. Her silence eating her up inside, the inner frustration tearing her apart. She wanted to hurt him, make him pay for the inuslts, the cold shoulders, the looks of condescension sitting on her skin making her feel less than what she was.

He'd been mollicoddling her for a week, letting her get away with things he hadn't before, the snow outside was being added to daily and that didn't help her frustration either. She wanted to go out in it, lose herself in the emptiness, let the huge blankness fill her skin until there was nothing else.

She snapped when he'd been about to feed her, he didn't let her cook anymore or let her near the wood pile. His gaze was filled with care and understanding but it just drove her insane, she *had* to get out and if it meant going through him she'd do it.

"Here kid, get this down you, the weathers beginning to break. Maybe we'll get a clear spot for the new year, what do you think?" Her hands were clenched by her sides, the bone blades already straining at the skin under her knuckles. When the significance of the words hit her she just felt all the anger drip away, lost to the hollowness of depression. Logan noticed her face, the sudden loss of life in her eye and he put the food down next to her and crouched in front of her. "Kid, you okay?" His hands on her shoulders felt real, but she didn't know what was real or not anymore.

A stifled giggle erupted out of her, "Ah missed Christmas, it went past an ah never even noticed." Her head dropped as she felt her world shift, she'd been reduced to an animal, just existing from day to day. Inside her mind she felt Logan's presence bristle at her words, she *was* an animal, she'd *always* been an animal.

He threw up images of them together, the sex primal, needy, the hunger in her was obvious to him. Her drives and needs pulling her along, taking her back to who she *was* not what she'd been *made*. No matter how bad their days had been she'd always reached out to him first, her need for his touch on her skin was too great to be denied. She took what she needed from him and he gave it willingly, even when he became feral with her she was safe under him. She mirrored him, her own animal was being brought to the surface and it was that she was fighting against. Her true nature, the truth of herself, that she wasn't a helpless girl, needing rescue. She could fight for her life if she had to, she was capable of *killing* all she had to do was accept it.

As if the sun had broken through a bank of cloud she found the truth staring at her. All the choices she'd made, all the things she'd regretted, had been thought about, she'd *reasoned* them, she'd put others before herself. Put her own needs last, doing what was best for her family, her friends, those around her were more important in her mind than herself. Even her choice to join the X-Men had been something she'd reasoned, that they needed her and she *owed* Xavier for his help when she'd needed a place to live.

Logan held her close to him, his head resting on her hair, hands keeping her warmth next to his, a soft rumbling purr going through them both. Comfort, comfort in sound and touch, in being close to someone who'd never push her away. Never hurt her purposely, never crush her spirit with words or ideas of what she *should* be, Logan accepted her as she 'was'. Even like this, a basket case with no hope left in her.

Marie squashed that feeling even before it took root, no she wasn't going to sit here and let everyone take her apart. She had to fight for her life, the one she wanted, Xavier may have let them leave but he hadn't let them go. He still wanted his soldiers, he still needed those who were 'problematic' to disappear quietly and as long as he was alive and doing this to them they'd be running forever. Always looking behind them, never sure of themselves, never free.

Free.

The word seemed to lift her soul, the Logan in her head warmed to the word, he knew what it meant, what it truly meant. To be what you were, to make no apologies for it, to embrace it, to *live* with it and never give it over for someone or something else. Logan had given her the chance to do this, to be what she was, out from the images others gave her everyday.

The dutiful pupil, the soldier fighting against the tide of hatred, the friend who listened to stories of love and loss that would never touch her own life because they were too scared to even approach her. All of this was in her head, in her soul and she had to shed it all, even her parents ambitions for her. To be married in white, a good husband with a decent job, all of those dreams had been shattered the day her mutation had manifested. They'd tried to comfort her but she'd seen the shame in their eyes, that it was her fault their dreams had been destroyed. Not that they could've built new ones with her in mind, no they'd just turned their back on her until she'd had no choice but to leave or die.

She'd left, even then she'd been putting others desires above her own, if they'd loved her she'd have been worth the fight. But in the end they hadn't been thinking about her, they'd been thinking about themselves, about what others would think about them if she stayed. So they pulled away slowly from her, a look here, a word there, a table place missing at dinner. It didn't take much to move her out of their life and she'd made it so easy for them by taking the blame for something she'd inherited *from* them.

Her blood cooled as the realisation went through her, she'd been *born* this way, there was nothing to apologise for. She'd been a pariah because of her genetics something she could do nothing about, just like Logan couldn't change his metal skeleton. He'd been given it, taken by men who wanted to use him, turn him into a killer. But he'd survived, taken the thing they'd made him into and turned it against those who would control him. Even Xavier was in that catagory now, along with his plans and plots against the human world. The biggest mistake he could've ever make was giving her to him, now Logan had someone to link him to the world. Someone to anchor him, to give him hope, he had something to lose now and he'd fight tooth and nail to keep her alive; just as she would him.

Moving her head so Logan had to look at her she noticed the concern in him, the softness he had when she was so close to his skin. "Logan, do you know me, the real me?" He didn't answer her straight away, his gaze softened further and he shifted her in his grip so she across his lap; her head resting on his shoulder. Her nose taking in his scent, learning to read him by it's nuances.

"Yeah kid I do, ever since I saw you in the hallway at Xaviers place. I saw you, the real you under everything you were struggling under. How much you wanted to fit in there, how much you needed to belong." He sighed and she caught a whiff of sadness as he continued, "When things went south and we had to get you back, I didn't know what to make of you then. You fought so hard against them but when we came you gave up, as if you had to stop, as if you had to be weak, someone worthy of rescue." The words stung her,he was right, when Sabertooth had snagged her from the grounds she'd had to fight. She'd struggled, fought, bit and punched, only when she'd heard the sound of others coming did she give in. Letting herself be taken away, when Scott and Jean had stopped Mystique from helping Sabertooth, Logan had been fighting for her. She'd closed her eyes to the sound of claws sinking into flesh but she'd still been pushing out anger. Not knowing Logan would've been scenting her, knowing from her scent that she'd been fighting to be free but when they'd gotten to her she'd been still.

She'd played the victim, she'd been what they'd expected her to be, only Logan and Xavier had known what she was inside. What she hid and kept under wraps,the fight she had in her, the darkness that shifted under her dark brown eyes. Deep enough to drown a man in, dark enough to shade the world, bitter enough to salt the sea a thousand times over.

At Xaviers she wasn't being helped, she was being trained, given the right responses, the right feedback she did everything expected of her. Xavier had given her to Logan already, he'd planned it, made her feel less than welcome. Telling her how careful she had to be, that her skin wasn't controllable, that she would *never* have what everyone else had. A bitterness filled her mouth at that, that Xavier wanted her to suffer alone, to never know the touch of a man. A bitter weapon, able to destroy anyone or anything he pointed her at, to drain them dry, to take everything she could the only way she could. Hate burned warm in her chest, she'd get the bastard back for this. She'd peel him with her claws, take his perfect world apart, reveal his deceit to those who loved him without thought. To show them his control over them, to bare it to their gaze, yet she knew some would never believe her, never trust what they could see for themselves. She didn't at first, it had been Logan who'd opened her eyes to his methods, that he sacrificed her life at the mansion so he could use her as a weapon. Using Logan's love for her against them, planting the image of her the innocent victim again in their minds.

As if he could see into her mind he whispered into her hair a his hands soothed her twitching muscles, "We'll get him Marie, we'll kill him, take everything he loves apart. You'll have to trust me Marie, because we need to take the rest of them down first, kill, detain, whatever it takes to make them see the truth. But we start with Jean, his little golden girl, she's the weak point, she's the one that'll make the difference. We get her doubting, she'll project that to everyone else, make the boy scout doubt her commitment to the whole thing. Your old crew," she looked up into his eyes, seeing the light of confidence in them, he trusted her to be able to do this herself. "They're yours, you do what you think's best. You know em better than I do, always kept myself out of that lot." She nodded into his shoulder, he had kept a distance between them and him, only her he'd let in to his presence. Only with her had he been apporachable and now she knew why, he'd found himself in her, a mirror reflection. Together they made a whole, and they'd bring down the lies that had built the house of Xavier.

Snuggling into his chest Marie let herself settle on the decisions she was making, to be what she was, to be honest about herself, to live as she *was*. To accept it was easier than fighting to be what everyone else wanted her to be, all it would take was a little time. Smiling to herself she looked out at the cold world, the fire nearby heating her and Logan wrapped up in each other. So what if she'd missed Christmas, she'd gotten herself back, along with Logan that was the best present she could ever have wished for. "Merry Christmas Logan, ah love ya, ya know, all of ya." She felt his grin as his heart sped up a little in his chest and his scent deepened.
"Yeah I know, Marie I know. You'll get through this, *we'll* get through this." He kissed the top of her head and she felt the warmth spread through her as the sensation faded on her head. "I've always loved you, since the day I saw you in the hallway. You were mine whether Xavier gave you to me or not, I wanted you the moment I saw you." He smelled her tears but it didn't worry him, they weren't from sorrow, they were from joy. Smiling he raised his head to see the first star shine out over the snow field, they'd make it, she'd got this far, the rest would be a learning curve, slow but steep.

Spring couldn't come fast enough.

That winter was cruel, many animals died from the cold, others from a lack of food, but Logan and Marie survived. Using the skills she'd gotten from Logan they'd resumed their training throughout the coldest part of the winter. He'd hunted her over the snow, over the hills and valleys, treating her as prey. She'd managed to turn the tables twice, setting an ambush where she'd had the advantage on his senses.

Once was next to a freezing river, the sound of the rapids hid her movements and breath, the ice at the edges wouldn't hold his greater weight. She'd dunked him, dropped a boulder on his chest and waited for the cold to nearly kill him, he'd hated drowning of all the things that happened to him. The water reminding him of the lab and she'd used that against him, it had been Wolverine's survival skills that had forced Logan to get free of the freezing water. All he'd done was stagger to the edge and cough up water, Marie had watched the colour return to his skin.

Made a fire under a pine tree, used pine knots filled with pitch to dry the ground before hauling his carcass over to the warmth. His skeleton leeched out the heat of his blood, making his system work overtime, he wasn't shivering and she knew she'd nearly succeeded in her task. To put Wolverine down. They'd spent the night there, under the pines, next to the water, she'd been guarded around him but he hadn't retaliated. He'd just spent time getting warm all the way down to his bones as she'd dried off his clothing the best they could.

The next time she'd used a dead-fall trap to get him, planted her tracks through an area filled with old wood. She'd been trailing him following her tracks, she'd rigged herself up some snow shoes made from alder and crack willow. They wouldn't last but they'd do for a day, she'd let the animal out of her, allowed it to hunt him, to 'feel' his movements. She had him in her head, and from her vantage point downwind she could read his every step. Her tracks went over some wolf trails, she'd been sure to make her prints deep there to show she'd passed after them. He'd stopped and sniffed the trees around there, taking in the local packs scent, gauging if she'd disturbed them. Finding nothing unusual he'd moved on and she'd gone to wait for him to spring her trap.

The fall made a huge sound, the old question 'does a tree make a sound in forest if no one is there to hear it' was running through her mind and her darkness chuckled as she realised Logan had heard it for definate. She found him on his side, the large deadfall hemlock resting on his ribcage. He'd turned in time to keep his breath, seeing the steam leaving his mouth and condensing in the cold air. Slowly she trudged toward him, he'd scented her and he was beginning to struggle through the pain of the wood resting on his already heavy frame. She watched in calm cool detached pleasure as he struggled, the animal in her showing her where to cut, where to stab, where to make the death she offered quick. When he saw her draw her claws he stilled, his eyes meeting hers, there was no offer of mercy in them, no offer of love, just acceptance. She'd proved she could care for herself, she could disable him for a while, although while she was watching him he'd been cutting his way free through the dead wood.
Jumping her, pushing her down into the now melting snow his fist under her chin, breath still scenting of blood. She'd reacted with her instinct, letting him cover her completely, wrapping her legs around his waist and thrusting her hips into his groin. Teeth bared she'd pulled him into her, biting him hard drawing blood; they'd been thrashing around in the cold for an hour before they'd both been satisfied.

Sex, death, survival, hunting, being at one with the environment around her, it made sense. Now all she had to do was transfer the skills over to the world awaiting them in the world of humans. To control her urges, to learn when to act and when to keep still, that would come with practice. Hunting humans was different from animals, humans were cunning but stupid in other ways, they stuck to rules, to ways you *should* behave. Logan was teaching her how to forget those rules, to just *act*, to trust her instincts and regret mistakes when she was safe. Learn from them and not repeat them, that was the key, the forensics she'd have to learn on the job.

They discussed tactics, fighting style, the ones the X-Men used and how they were easy to kill if you picked off Storm. They relied too heavily on her ability to control the air, Scott was a good hand to hand fighter but he lacked the balls to go for the throat, to finish off an opponent. Jean on the other hand often had to restrain herself from following through, he'd often smelt her need to kill. To crush the people she was holding in her minds grip, it flared briefly like her attraction to him. Only moments but they were there, the other members of the team they'd have to observe closely. Weak points were there all they had to do was exploit them, Logan had questioned her resolve. Could she kill someone who'd been her friend, the answer she'd given him had chilled her as much as him. "Friends touch you Logan, friends give a damn if your hurtin', ah've got no friends there. They all chose to believe something that if they'd known me would've been impossible to believe. They're soldiers, played by a man who sent you out to kill children he couldn't control." She'd realised exactly what she'd meant by her words and it had chilled her normally open heart. "Ah can't help but wonder who he's been sendin' instead of you." Logan's own gaze had hardened, his eyes turning dark filled with menace; voice low and dripping venom.
"Who do *you* think he could trust enough Marie? Scott, Storm, Hank?"

The name was obvious from his omission and what he'd told her about Jean suddenly became clear. "Does she know?" Logan shook his head, his hair becoming long in the months they'd been up here, the strands catching the light from their fire.
"No, but I've run into people that have seen her," Marie almost asked what he did to them. Her inner Logan just growled and she knew, he'd cleaned up her messes too, you couldn't leave witnesses, especially with Jean's high profile as a mutant leader and liaison between humans and mutants.
The thought of Jean killing someone, of being there up close and personal made her heart lurch, her pale face must have prompted Logan into speech. "She doesn't remember; he wipes her mind he has to otherwise she'd kill him for it." Marie's eyes spoke her question, "She's a doctor Marie, she saves life, it's her purpose. She even holds back when she fights, she won't kill if she can possibly help it. But she's not right up here anymore." He tapped the side of his head, his eyes had become bright in the darkness as the firelight reflected off them. "When she meets you again, push all my memories to the surface, all the pain, all the hurt. We don't want her reading you."

Marie nodded, the interplay she thought she'd had down at the school was gone; if Xavier would use Jean to kill then there was nothing he'd do. He'd already sent Logan out to kill those Xavier had thought would have been turned to Magneto's cause. What else had he been upto? She'd slept badly that night, a nightmare of Jean following her down a corridor, her hands reaching out her, trying to grasp her skin. Desperate for Marie to touch her, a mad shine to her eye as she ploughed through every obsticle she put in her way. Only satisfied when she'd caught her, her once beautiful face twisted into a harriden's visage. Her voice scratching and reedy, "Hungry...so hungry. Please Rogue let me touch you, it won't hurt you, I promise." She'd woken just as her hands had touched her skin, the jolt of it snapping her out of sleep into the arms of Logan. It took her a week to regain the confidence that dream had taken away.

When the trees around them began to smell fresh again and the snow was beginning to retreat she was ready, as ready as she was going to get. They were setting back down the mountain to the road, then to 'home' wherever that might be. Logan wa a little pensive but they packed everything away, dug a longer pit at the back of the shelter, wrapped up everything they could and stored it in the still cool earth. It'd last a year liek this before it decayed and she knew they'd be back before the trees began to lose leaves.

Using the sled they took the rest of the dried stores with them, they'd be needed on the road. The truck was where they'd left it last year, wrapped up in a tarp, weighted down and oiled up. It took a few hours to change a few things over, time to turn over the engine and let it run in before they demanded anything from it. The sight and smell of the truck was something she'd missed, the days they'd spent travelling in it seemed a world away. But stroking the chipped paint of it made her feel warm, safe, comfortable. Smiling she put her body against it as the weak spring sun shone down on them, the movement of her body enough to make Logan flick his gaze to her form.
She'd changed, a winter away had taken all the doubt from her, she moved with purpose now, no apologies for her steps or looks. Her body had honed too, the 'extra's' he'd given her were a bonus, the claws and her senses. They weren't as good as his but with time she'd master all of them just as well as he could. Her skin would take a little more time though, she'd made huge steps up here, he could sleep with her naked and she'd get nothing from him but someone else she might and that needed experimentation. He knew she wouldn't like it but he didn't care, they needed to know how much control she had of it. She was without gloves now, for all intent and purposes now she looked just like any other human being. A perfect assassin with cupid bow lips and a softness that seemed to flow with her; no one would beleive her capable of killing and that would be her greatest defence and tactic.
Grumbling he got the engine to turn over and heat up, running it in a while as they just quietly prepared for their return to the world. If it had been upto him he'd have just left them to get on with it but he knew Xavier wouldn't wait forever. He'd have sent people out to find him and finding him they'd find Marie and that wasn't acceptable. No, it was time to go home and take everything away from the old bastard just like he did the kids he was 'helping'.


They managed to get halfway home before Logan got the 'itch' in his skull, the tickle that told him he was 'needed'. Growling under his breath Marie caught the tension that had suddenly filled his frame, the anger he was keeping in check. Her voice helped to still Wolverine for a while, enough for him to pull over so she could drive. Leaving him to concentrate on keeping the man out of his head, when they reached a decent sized town Logan got her to pull over at a pay phone. Throwing open the truck door he slammed the pay phone open and punched the numbers that were burning in his brain. Watching him from her position she kept the engine running, listening to his clipped sentences. The way his large shoulders bulked out in the small space, hunching as if he wanted to tear the phone apart. She didn't catch much, just a few 'Yeah's' and a 'You *know* I will' when he slammed the reciever back down she was sure he'd broken it.

When he shoved himself into the truck he made her shuffle over into the passenger seat, he was driving. He took off like a demon was on their tail; she didn't ask what was bothering him and he didn't talk to her until they were fifty miles away from where they'd been. "We've got a job, a kid, fourteen, name of Simmons, being held at a clinic. He's an energy shifter, we're to kill him and dispose of the clinic staff too."
The silence that met her ears after the words were enough to deafen her, even the road was blurred as she put the thoughts in order.
Xavier was sending them to kill a child, one he couldn't control, the place he was in must have been human run otherwise why send Logan to deal with it? Her mind went into overdrive, maybe there was a way they could do this without killing the kid but it'd be risky and she didn't know if Logan would go for it. The one in her head saw what she was planning and he was already giving her several negative scenarios. She'd have to see what happened when they got there; speaking of which she had no idea where they were going.
"Logan where we headin' to?" He didn't look to answer her his face set as he made plans to follow Xaviers summons.
"Kendall, just past the border of West Virginia, the kids there. We do a clean sweep of the place, destroy what we can, leave nothing of us behind, kill everyone there." The dead tone he used made her flesh creep, she knew he was angry, she could feel it, just that he wasn't allowing it out of himself. He was keeping it inside, using it on those he'd been sent to kill, innocents who'd been caught in the game of chess between two madmen.

"Logan what if we get the kid out and 'lose' him?" His eyes flicked to the side, seeing her face concentracting on his reactions. He could see where she was going with this, it was dangerous and if Xaiver found out it'd throw their entire plan wide open to him.
"Where would he go Marie? We'd need places to send kids like him away from both of those fuckers. It takes time to set stuff like that up, it's a good idea but we don't have that option yet. Maybe sometime soon, but not now. We do what we're told to, we do jobs, we keep low and we live. When he thinks he's got us where he wants us, thats when we start pulling him apart." A little tension slipped out of his frame and his breath fogged in the cold. "Ah'm sorry Marie but it's gotta be this way for a while, you need to learn these skills and this is the only way I can show you right now." He turned his face back to the road ahead of them, "We've got a job to do and we'll do it. But his name'll be the one I carve on his skull when we kill him, *that* I PROMISE you."

Her bare hand touched his own, she caught a small piece of his thoughts, the warmth of the death ahead of him the knowledge that the man who did this would pay for it in the end. It'd have to do but she'd cry for the both of them after it was over, one for the boy and for Logan because no matter how much he kept inside it still hurt him. The further they went the calmer she got, she was going to do something that should have filled her with fear but she didn't feel it. She felt alive and that worried her a little, there wasn't time to think right now, she'd do it later when it was all over. She just hoped there was something left of herself to think with when it was.

She'd been expecting a bigger place, not this small community of only thirty buildings strung out along a forested roadway. There wasn't even a motel here, they were sleeping outdoors, the truck hidden they'd been watching the small townsfolk doing their usual business for two days now. It was a quiet place, no one looked odd, no one looked out of place, it was peaceful, calm, no picket fences but the porches at night glowed with a light that seemed to burn to her bones when it hit her skin.

The only clinic here was a small surgery, it's doctor doing general practice, Logan had shadowed him home while she'd been watching the practice after hours for movement. They'd found nothing, absolutely nothing, not even a trace of mutant activity. She'd wanted to leave when it was evident that they'd been given false intel but Logan was adamant they stay. His twitchy nerves had had her own reacting to his annoyance and paranoia, she'd kept herself to herself these last two nights.

Frustration beginning to make her own anger peak at the orders Logan put her through, she'd been watching the medical centre. Laid out on the warm ground; spring growth hiding her shape on the rise above the building when she caught a vision she'd thought she'd never see.

Emma Frost.

Emma Frost, a rival to Xavier, having her own school somewhere in the mid-west, her head tried to remember what she'd read about her in her research of other mutant factions moving in the underground. All she knew was that she was a powerful telepath and telekine, dropping her form even further into the ground she kept her eyes locked onto the new player in the game. Emma was dressed down, her jeans still looked expensive, as were her boots, but her demeanor from the looks of it was friendly. Something about her being there disturbed her somehow, the man she was holding by the arm was the doctor of the place. He was smiling and pointing toward the small church that lay only half a mile away. Emma let go of his arm her eyes scanning the horizon, Marie kept her mind blank as the gaze swept over her hidden form. When she was sure Emma wouldn't find her she shifted back from the edge her mind a tumble of questions as she went to inform Logan.

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Wolverine had found the boy, the scent of him had been hard to track down but it had been worth the effort. The kid was scrawny, soft shoulder length hair dropping down narrow shoulders that had yet to fill out. He was stood in the small quiet area that was at the back of the church. His hands filled with a shovel and gloves, the evidence of his work there in the midday sun. A dark hole gaping in the warm sunlight, the earth deep and rich sending a smell of decay to him in his hidden place. Just behind a stand of maple kneeling to the damp ground, hands wrapped around the strudy trunks next to him. Biding his time, watching the boy dig the grave he'd soon be occupying. Tensing himself he waited, the day would be over soon,once the boy turned his back it'd be over. He'd make it look like an animal attack, brutal and vicious, dragging the kid out into the forest before finishing him.

Eyes narrowing further as the boy stopped working, his head snapping up as someone called his name out. A low growl filling his chest as the priest came around the corner of the church with someone else in tow. They both approached the boy, the priest with his black raven clothing the woman by his side shining out against his drab coverings. Her hair a near white blonde, her gaze going over the boy quickly before her gaze snapped to where he was hiding. A sudden intrusion in his head making his blades fire into the tree and soil. He was about to move when he smelt Marie approaching, growling still he heard the woman talk to the priest, asking if they could continue inside. Watching silently as they all moved inside the church, the boy smiling as the beauty who'd offered her arm to him shifted him away from the death he'd had planned for him. Turning to see Marie's face pale and her scent confused he pulled them back into the forest further. They'd watch and wait, the job was still on, they *had* to complete it otherwise Xavier would suspect them both. They needed time to get the team first before they went after him. Things had become a little harder that's all and he'd never said it would be easy.

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Logan was quiet when they got back to their camp but she knew he was seething inside, making plans, reassessing the job they had to do. If need be he'd kill the entire place to hide what he was being asked to do but to her they'd been given a chance.
Emma Frost was a mutant like them, all intents and purposes against Xavier and his 'theories' about human and mutant relations. She was obviously here for the kid too, but Emma's alliances weren't known to her for that she'd have to meet her. And if things went sour she'd have to kill not just the boy but Emma as well. Turning to Logan who'd been unpacking some food for them she gave her thoughts some air.
"Logan, ah know who she is, the woman who came for the kid." His eyes lifted up from the food and met hers with an open curiosity, his hands offered her the driedmeat as she continued. "Her names Emma Frost, she runs another school for mutants somewhere in the mid-west. Xavier has a file on her, she runs guerrilla groups as far as the information goes. How much of it is true ah'm not sure, but her people have met up with the X-Men before, kicked their asses as ah remember." Logan raised an eyebrow as if to say 'as if it were difficult to beat that lot'. Marie felt herself wanting to defend them but quickly squashed the feeling. "Ah know, they're not that hard to beat if you know their weak spots. Emma keeps her profile low in the mutant community, Xavier thinks she's working for Magneto but ah've never found any evidence of it. After all ah was his little ferret for intel on Ol'Buckethead." Logan's face almost broke into a smile and she felt her skin flush with heat as she realised it was what her inner Logan called Magneto. Clearing her throat she broached the question she'd been dreading the answer to.
"What we gonna do Logan? Are we gonna do it or are we gonna find what she's doing here and what she wants with the kid?"

He kept silent as he chewed on the dried meat, his teeth glinting in the sunlight as it dappled the ground around them. Thinking he stood up, turning to the church below them, nodding at the large structure, voice low and thoughts still thundering through his mind.
"She won't leave just yet, it's not safe. She sensed me watching the kid, she'll wait for back up if she's as smart as you say she is." When he turned back round to face her his face was split into a wide grin, the mirth never reaching the cold darkness in his eyes. Pushing the last of the dried meat into his mouth he motioned to the church, "Lets go pray for our souls and pay her a visit before the cavalry arrive." Butterflies twitching in her stomach Marie nodded and follwed him back down toward the town one way or another they were doing 'business' today.

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"I'm only saying this as a warning minister, the man who's out there has no qualms about killing you or the child your sheltering. He's a lapdog, a killer for hire and he's been sent out after Thomas, there are some people, some mutants who see his power as a burden. An uncontrollable force that can't be directed by anyone but the boy himself and it's that thing alone that this man wants to kill Thomas for. Not what he'd done but what he *could* do, that's why I'm here. I'm offering a safe place, a place where he can grow up the way he wants to without being told to behave carefully or squash what God made him into."
They'd picked the locks at the back of the church, pitiful really when she'd looked at them, they wouldn't keep anyone out but here she guessed no one ever thought of robbing the church. Moving quietly through the empty pews and apse they'd gone toward the only source of light in the place. Behind the altar, a small door leading to the priests chambers and it was this they were listening behind.
Emma had been talking quietly, trying to convince the priest of the danger surrounding the boy and the community around them by keeping him here any longer. When she heard Logan described as a lapdog she bristled, her fists forming on instinct alone but Logan was calm, poised, composed. Standing up he took the door handle in his grip and turned it slowly, it was locked but it didn't last long against his strength.

The view that met their eyes was one they were unprepared for, the priest was sitting on a small bed with the boy. His pale young face turned to the floor as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Emma was drawing a gun as they entered, pointing it directly at Logan's skull, her features pinched but she was staying firm. The priest was the first to speak, his tone one of apeasement, "Please, this is a house of God! There's no need for this in here!" Emma kept her gun raised but looked at Marie who's hands were now down by her sides clenching and unclenching. Not daring to move in the small space unless Emma put a bullet through Logan's eye. She had no doubt he'd heal but the pain and time it would take to heal would cost them both dear.

Marie put her hand on Logan's arm, "Logan?" Backing up a little making sure he was between Marie and the gun still in Emma's grip. Emma lowered the weapon to her hip, the barrel still pointing in his direction.
"So, this is 'The Wolverine' I've been hearing about, you're a hard man to track down for a lapdog of Xavier's." The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"He's no one's 'lapdog' Miss Emma Frost!" The look of surprise passed her face quickly replaced by a quirky smile.
"It looks like we all know who we're dealing with then doesn't it?" Her cool gaze dropped onto her own and she felt Emma's probing of her mind. Snarling she threw up everything Logan had told her to if she met Xavier, the pain, the torture, the loneliness, the ache of suffering that still echoed through nerves. All of this she dumped into Emma's probing mind, the confusion was enough for Logan to act. He tore the gun out of her hand, the other wrapping around her throat as he pushed her to the wall. The priest covered the young boy with his own body to shelter him just in case the gun was fired by mistake.

Marie put herself with the priest and the boy, defending them from the other side as Logan secured Emma. The gun gone across the floor into the church properly Logan turned to talk to the woman he had by the neck. Looking back at her he noticed her skin was translucent as was the rest of her face, it was as if he was holding warm ice. The petite smile on her lips was one that infuriated him and his claws sang out, bringing them upto her neck he pushed one close to her pulse. "Nice trick, won't stop you dyin' though."
Emma tried to laugh but his grip stopped the sound. "Diamond skin, your claws wouldn't even get through it. I'm invulnerable like this you *can't* hurt me." Logan could scent her confidence even as he pressed his claws under her chin, felt the resistance of her skin against the sharpness of his claws.
Rumbling out to Emma, "Adamantium beats diamond darlin'; diamond chips, this just cuts through anything in the way."
Emma's face became still, her eyes focussed on Logan's face before switching to the group on the small bed. Unwrapping themselves now that the threat of gunfire was gone, the boy finally having the strength to speak.

"Let her go." Marie looked at the boy's face, he was thin, not emaciated but skinny, his eyes were ringed with dark circles. He'd been out on the road a while, his hands raw with blisters and callouses, just by the way he held himself she knew he'd been on the wrong end of a few fights. "I'll go with you if you'll let her go. I don't care anymore, if it means you won't hurt her I'll do what you want." Marie could see the muscle of Logan's back shift, he'd won, the way he moved, the way he smelled, everything about him told her that if he took him outside he'd kill him. Quick and clean but he'd be dead as sure as the sun would rise tomorrow. Grabbing the boys hand she took in his thoughts, his powers to an extent and saw what he was giving up.

Life on the road, too many stops, too many people, too much to cope with, so much energy filling his body he sparked, grounding it where he could, desperate for help but finding nothing but hatred. Pain, hunger, betrayal, his gift out of control as he killed a field of animals, lightning from his skin arcing into the world destruction so great it could destroy a city. Needing to be free, to be alone, to be *safe* where he couldn't harm anyone, knowing he had someone or something to rely on if he needed it. Family faces turned from love to hate as they learned his truth, the pain of seperation the hurt of the miles as he'd walked across three states. Dodging police, gangs of roving men, drunks and weirdo's, just trying to find somewhere, anywhere. Then here, the priest being kind, offering help, offering a hand, showing care, showing love, the doctor testing him, learning about his power, how it affects him. How his emotions power it, his body a battery storing energy to release it when he needed to. But he was too disturbed to control it, too many things inside his head to cope with it all, too much pain, too much isolation and now this, he'd brought all this here, he'd disturbed the peace, shattered it with him being here, depression so great it filled her heart until she felt it begin to slow, the beat of it echoing in her ears until she heard it stop. Light fading in her sight as she faded from the world, the howl of Wolverine in her mind vying with Logan in her mind as she drifted off into the welcoming darkness. There was no pain, no hurt, no anything, only weightlessness.

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He didn't hear her drop, but he did feel the loss of her presence immediately, her skin beginning to pallor along with the boy next to her. The priest trying to shake them both awake but the scent of death was all over the boy. Dropping Emma he was over to Marie like a shot, pulling her away and onto the floor. Dropping onto her, touching her skin with his own, feeling the tingling draw from her mutation as the colour returned to her skin. When her eyes opened she just gripped onto him like death, he'd been shaken, she'd wanted to go, she'd wanted to die and she'd been touching the boy.
Looking over he saw Emma and the priest trying to revive him, everything they did for him made his stomach shift. They were still trying when Marie forced her head out of Logan's arm, "Stop, let him go. He doesn't want to be here anymore, for god's sake let him go!" She let the tears flow from her, the pain of his life being emptied from her with each one. Logan wrapped around her protectively guarding her against the other two in the room.

Over the next hour she let them all hear his life, his pain, the things he'd done, the memories she'd taken from him. The eventual slide into darkness, his switching off of his life until there was nothing left but calmness and weightlessness. The priest laid the boy out on the bed beginning his liturgy for a fallen soul, Emma looked on with a hidden steel in her gaze as the priest finished his words. They all left the room; the priest locking it back up as they walked into the church proper. He left them alone in the stone and clapboard building, Emma still lost in her thoughts and Logan still holding onto her tightly as they walked down the centre of the pews. Just before they left Emma spoke to them both, "Next time you come between me and someone Wolverine I'll shoot first and ask questions later. He could've been safe with me, had a life, but you and your 'mate' had to kill him didn't you?"

Logan was about to answer when Marie beat him to it, "You really think that don't ya? That ah wanted to hurt him, well ah didn't ah wanted to protect him just as much as you did. Not everyone who works for that bastard likes what they have to do." Emma turned round completely and this time when she probed her mind Marie let her see what had happened to her, what had driven her to the arms of Logan, what they meant to each other and what it meant for Xavier. A small smile was on her face when she turned back, her voice carrying over the silence that filled the now darkening church.
"God go with you Rogue, you'll need it if you do what your planning. I might keep an eye on you both, just in case." With that she turned back round and let them leave unmolested.

Within the hour they were on the road and away, heading for 'home', Logan was silent all the way to the small motel six they stopped at to sleep. When she'd showered she found him waiting in bed for her, arms open and a needy look in his gaze. He'd nearly lost her today and he needed to touch her as much as she needed to touch him. The mission was over but they still had to talk about this, they had someone who knew about their plans. Someone who could be a bonus or a risk to them both, they had to find out as much as possible about Emma Frost and her school. That meant going home and using the research there, something neither of them wanted to do but it made sense to both of them.
They'd been given a way to help the kids Logan was sent to kill but she still had to find out why he'd agreed to do it in the first place. This was one conversation that would wait until they were on the road, difficult ones always went better when they were driving. Snuggling down she let herself drift off, recapturing for a moment the utter nothing of the boys experience given to her earlier. It gave her respite from the dreams that sometimes haunted her mind, letting her rest after the painful day.

The night had passed slowly, their touches on each other had been planned, slowly mapped out in each others minds before skin met skin. Each one a sensory memory, complete in all form and sense, nothing about them would ever be forgotten from this time, this night where he'd lost her and she'd lost sight of him.

She memorised the way his skin tasted, the way it creased near his shoulder, the tufts of hair that knitted together on his thighs and the way she seemed to fill all of his hard places with softness. The planes of her own muscled body matching his own, but rounded, gentler than his own strength but not weaker in any way. That night love was shared, rebonded, remade as the memories of the boy were lost in her shadow filled void of a mind.

Next morning she was up before him, a rarity these days but the look on his face when she'd walked in had told her enough. He was disappointed in her, there was some line she'd crossed, something he'd never expected her to do.

Like talk to an enemy, give them information about their plans, show them their weakness and the way to harm them.

He didn't chastise her, he didn't need to she felt it in her bones, in her blood that she'd crossed a line, made herself less in his eyes. He didn't look at her as she gave him breakfast from the diner on the corner. Steak and eggs, black coffee, two sweet rolls and an orange. They'd both eaten in complete silence, she'd finished first plucking the keys from the table she'd just gone to the truck and started it up. She needed to talk to him, to get him to open up and this way was best, if she was driving she couldn't kill him if he annoyed her. Being in control of the vehicle also meant he couldn't just stop the truck and avoid her questions.
Throwing their things into the truck he settled back and let her drive them off into the morning light.

They had seven hours to talk before they got home, seven hours to get this thrashed out before they came into range of the worlds most powerful psychic. She hoped she had the stamina to keep him talking that long.
******************************************************

HOUR ONE
********
Music filled the cab, something rocky, she knew the faces of the band but just couldn't seem to place them, she did know the lyrics though; Thomas had liked them. Singing along seemed to make the miles go by that was until Logan's hand had snapped the radio off, his silence so far had made her skin itch. She *knew* he wanted to chew her out for being stupid, for risking everything they'd been planning so carefully. But he was hesitating and that *could* get them both killed.
"Logan if ya don't talk to me soon ah swear ah'll never touch you again." His eyes slid over to hers, crossing his arms he made his point by bunching himself up, showing her exactly what she would be missing. Even now her hands were tightening on the steering wheel, her fingers needing to touch, to feel the firm flesh of his arm, the blood beneath the skin.

Shaking herself back to her resolve she just concentrated on the road ahead of her, keeping her animal drives locked down. She was just as stubborn as he was, they needed to clear the air before they got home and if she had to start things rolling then she would.

"Ah knew what ah was doin' ya know. Emma Frost isn't someone who'd go blabbin' to Xaiver or one of his cronies. Besides all she got from me was what Xavier did to *me*, ya'll didn't even get a look in. All she saw was my personal hatred of the old bastard, the whole 'Ah'll look after you' spiel pity he didn't tell me the rest of it. How ah'd have to turn into a weapon for him, close off everything and everyone just so he can be the so called 'saviour' in mah life!" Her accent was thickening, she was losing her control over her emotions as Wolverine began pacing in her head. The more she thought about what Xavier had convinced her, that she was untouchable, unlovable, unobtainable even to Logan. The more Wolverine began moving in her mind, all the times she'd been told to be careful, all the times she'd been excluded from activities because 'she had to be more careful' had to be 'more responsible' that the burden of her gift was on *her*. Grinding her teeth together as she lost herself in the road and the people on it, avoiding heavy trucks, making sure she kept to the speed limit. Anything to block out the anger she had running around her body.

Finally when she felt she'd explode Logan touched her hand, the feeling of his fingers running up her bare skin giving her something to focus on apart from her rage. Daring a look at him she saw his face, lined and looking old, as if he'd aged twenty years in a second. He looked away into the countryside passing them by, as if looking for the way to start into the huge maelstrom churning inside his head. Sighing he began, "You were always mine, I told you already. He promised you to me."
Marie tried to concentrate on the semi that was overtaking her keeping herself calm as the backwash shifted the rear end out a little.
"How?"
The silence lasted no less than a minute a record in their stakes of comunication.
"After my first multiple, I wanted to leave, wanted to get the hell out of there, go back to my life. What life I had, thats when he brought you there. He promised me someone, someone I could *have* but I had to be patient, be a good little solider and I'd get my 'reward'." He looked at her then, his eyes blazing, the heat in them were surprising to her. The scent of them both filling the confines of the truck, confusing scents, anger, upset, lust, frustration, Marie cracked a window letting in the still cold air of spring lessening the odours they were both picking up on.

Silence reigned again for about six miles when Logan ended it again, his hand now hanging out of his window. The wind running through his long hair, making it swirl in the eddies that filled the cab. "When Sabertooth grabbed you, why do you think he sent me after you?" Keeping her eyes forward she let him continue, seeing her tighten her grip on the wheel he just finished the thought. "Xavier knew what you were, what you were hiding inside, what you were capable of. Why else would Buckethead want you? You'd have made a wonderful warrior for him don't you think? Someone with your gifts learning control from Mystique, using your talents to kill as and when?"

He let the words settle on her skin, the weight of them forcing her to blink her eyes free of tears. Even when he'd offered her a home he'd been planning this, planning to use her as a weapon. One that even Magneto couldn't resist, so he'd sent his team to get her, and she'd fought, fought back right up until the team had come to get her. Then she'd given in, let herself be rescued, being weak so they could see she needed their help. If she'd fought a hand free she could've killed Sabertooth, touched and drained him dry in moments. What state her mind would've been in was another matter entirely but she could've done it. Just as she killed the man back on the mountain.

"Why you?" He turned to look at her fully, the wind making his hair obscure part of his face, the only part of him she could see clearly were his hands as they flexed. Knuckles taut and skin red as he rubbed them with his palms.
"Who else would've bothered? I mean you couldn't kill me, not unless you made a real effort and before I trained you I could've killed you in less than a second." The complete dead pan tone was something she hadn't expected, the total lack of feeling was something she'd never have thought him capable of with her. But he wasn't finished; not yet.
"Xavier made sure I was on the team to go after you, you have me in your blood Marie, once I'd seen you in that furball's grip do you honestly think I'd've given you up to anyone? Even Xavier? I stabbed that bastard through the skull to get you away from him, I didn't finish him like I wanted to. I took you away *first*, Scott had to restrain him while I saw to *you*. You were *mine*, the only thing that fucker ever gave me that made me want to stay. *You* were there, it was the only reason I came back. I couldn't leave you behind and I couldn't take you with me, not until you were old enough." A wry smile filled his lips giving him some life back to his gaze as he watched the miles go by.
"You did that yourself, got fed up of wondering what I did all those days away from you. Personally I thought you'd have done it sooner but what did I know. You were being trained and cowed as much as I'd been, only when I was allowed to be free was I really myself. The day you saw me kill that suit, I knew I was free, either way, with or without you I was free. Xavier had no hold on me anymore."

It made a terrible sense to her, that she'd been waiting for him to make a move, to show her she was ready to know what he was doing. Only when she'd taken the first step herself had things changed, like now, she was getting into all the dirty laundry. Airing it out, getting him to tell her what he knew, how he knew. Slowing down she parked up on the verge for a moment, Logan turned his empty eyed gaze toward her questioning one.
"How did you know ah'd come?"
His hand reached out to her hair tracing the snow white that was in it, her eyes following the fingers as they traced through the hairs.
"How did you know I'd save you?"
She hadn't but he had, he'd given everything to her, everything he'd been, everything he'd had he'd given over for her life and she knew he'd do it again if she asked him. Tears were blurring her vision again as his presence in her mind shifted to comfort her.
"Why?"
"Because you're mine, an the only good thing I had left in the world. It was a win win situation for me, even if you never followed me you'd still have put me down if I'd asked you to."
Shaking she let go of the wheel and gripped his shirt to her face, pulling him over to her in the process. Speaking into his chest she felt his hands running through her hair, "Ah love you Logan, no one's *ever* gonna take you from me or me from you again. Ah'll kill him, let me kill him, let me see him suffer Logan ah *need* to see it."
That he'd given up all hope of being human again, that Xaiver had taken his choice and hung it on her. That it lay in her hands if he was saved, and she didn't know it. All the time she'd wasted, all the moments she could've been living instead of fearing.

It took her ten minutes to calm down before she could pull back into traffic, tear tracks on her skin, saltyness making it taught and red. Like war paint she knew they'd be worn into her skin by the end of this day. Sneaking a look over at Logan she saw his own tears silent and hot running down his skin, the price of his salvation had been her own damnation but he didn't know she'd have paid it several times over to be here with him. She'd tell him afterward, there were more questions to ask, more answers to get before they went home and she was determined to get them.

Hour Two
*********
She was still driving; the words he'd given her laid heavy like a sick blanket over her skin, their meanings worming into the flesh of her brain. Truth was never so brutal than this, this nerve shredding experience she was undertaking.
Logan was suffering as much as she was, the nerves that were making him twitch and heave as he constantly shifted in his seat. Usually as still as the mountains they'd left he was nothing but now. She could see the tension filling every piece of him, spilling out from his finger ends and filling the space between them with unexpressed violence. He wanted to make Xavier suffer for creating her, for making her what she was, though it *had* been her choices that had brought her here.

"Logan," she kept silent until he turned his shaggy head toward her own. When she had his attention she began again, "Ah made mah choice sugar. It's not what ah thought it would be but ah don't regret it. Ah have you, thats what matters to me." Logan seemed to awaken a little from his depression as she reached out to him. Her ungloved hand closing the distance between them until her skin ghosted over his own. Finally being held upto his lips to the heat that instantly soaked through her skin to her blood.

He didn't let her go as he spoke to her, his eyes drilling into her face as he gave his thoughts free reign. "You know I wondered how Mystique and the furball got past security, how they got past Xavier's so called 'all seeing eye'. It occured to me later that he'd wanted them to come, wanted them to take you, to challenge me for you." Marie held her breath as she tried to negotiate traffic using one hand on the steering wheel.
"What do you mean?" He let her hand go allowing her to drive safely as he shuffled over toward her.

"Xavier's place, that school of his, it never gets hit, never gets harmed by anyone. Whenever there's a bunch of idiots that think they're comin to get a bit of fun we know about it nearly an hour ahead. So how come he never saw the furball with his open sewer of a mind?" The silence didn't stop him, Logan forged on, his words like nails in her chest. "Kind of made sense to go digging, I chased after the low ranking members, found out a few things that I wished I hadn't. One of them being the day you were being grabbed, Xavier knew they were coming but he didn't warn us. He definately didn't want you doing anything different, he omitted the warning so we had to run for you. *I* had to run for you, fight for you, take on that mangy cat for *ownership*." The shudder that ran through her made her skin crawl at the thought of what she'd been set up for. If they'd been too late, if they'd failed, if she'd been knocked out instead of fighting.

Bile rushed into her mouth, pulling out of traffic and getting honked at for her rush she killed the engine and dove to the door. Barely making it as her breakfast made a reappearance, everything came up, her insides cramping as she realised exactly what her role had been. She'd been bait, a prize to be fought over, a *thing* that kept Wolverine in Xaivers employ. Her own feelings hadn't even factored into the decision he'd made for her, it had been on his suggestion that she take a walk around the grounds.

Logan was by her side, rubbing the small of her back his presence enough of a comfort for her to cry. When her stomach calmed he pulled her upright slowly, making her look at him. His gaze was driven, hard, uncompromising but it was his words that made her believe him. "I loved you, you were *never* a 'thing' to me, you were the only one I needed, wanted near me. You let me believe there was more to me than what I was, you let me believe it, even if it isn't real."

It was like a clock chiming the hour, the words he used made sense to her, he'd never believed he was human, never believed he was capable of the things he'd done with her. Walking, smiling, laughing at inane jokes and stupid stuff on tv, enjoying life with someone who thought him capable of love and of being loved. It made what Xavier had done to him even worse, to know he was an human struggling to be humane; to keep Wolverine at bay so people were safe. Then to let him kill without impunity only when he said so, like a trained dog, to be good all other times, to be rewarded with her. Her smiles, her touches, her brightness, the one thing he thought he could never do.

Using his arm to steady herself she let him pull her inward, keeping her face lifted so she could see him. He was tense all over, every muscle in him still expecting her to reject him. To deny the animal he was, to force him away from her even now after everything.
"Logan, when ah was with you back there it was because ah wanted to be. You were mah friend, mah only friend." The words were wrong, she saw his head dip and the tension mount as he tried to get out of her grip. "NO!" She held on and pulled him back to her, "You listen to me dammit! Ah *wanted* to come with ya, ah wanted you to show me the truth of what ya did when you left on those missions and ya did. You left nothing out, even how much it hurt you to do it. All for me, ya did it all so ya could have respite, a person who ya could be human *with*. Something you should have been given from the start not dangled over your head like a reward to a starving dog."

Looking through her own memories there was something odd about them, when Logan was home she was with him, that had been a given, it was the way they were but apart from her no one actually reached out to him. No one, not even the team members he fought with, even Jean only patched him up when he was too injured to move but it was the clinical detachment she kept with him even when Logan joked with gallows humour.
He'd been isolated on purpose just like she had, Xavier had kept him wrong footed, never letting him put down roots. His only link was her and she'd been under Xaviers power while he'd been out on 'missions'. He'd been able to smile with her, able to express himself when no one else was near, when they were in the rec room or in pulic he'd always been closed mouthed. Only in the gardens or in her room had he been 'Logan'; even after the mission she'd been on with him he'd kept her safe. He'd let her go as far as she'd wanted to, knowing what she was hiding underneath,that she wanted him as much as he did her.

"Marie..." His eyes were downcast, his entire frame hunched over hers, needing to feel her with him, to hear her with him. Words weren't enough, she needed to show him, her hands went to his buckle. Undoing it swiftly and reaching for his already growing penis, her skin humming low she pushed her face into his. Taking his bottom lip into her mouth before whispering to him, "Ah want this, all of this, every last drop of bitter truth it has in it. Cos ah'm the only thing you have that's *real* and same goes for me. Everything upto me leavin with you was a lie, same goes for you." Her grip tightened on his hard shaft as she moved closer her lips barely above his own. "Ya human Logan, ya always were, just like ah was always an animal inside. It just took seein' another one for me to recognise it."

She felt his need, the want in his body to just take her, to give her what she wanted and take what he needed from her here on the side of the road. Her vomit still wet in the grass next to her feet, a human wouldn't fuck her by the side of the road, that was an animal response. But she'd moved on him, showing him what she wanted from him, pushing thought away he just took what was being offered. The traffic passing by not seeing Marie on her knees or him with her legs wrapped around his waist against the truck. *They* needed the confirmation, they needed to sort out the damage words had done them, self worth needed to be repaired in each other. Where at least they both mattered to the other, not a thing, not a weapon, not a guard dog or tame wolf always waiting for his freedom to act how he pleased.

When they pulled away the sun was over half way, food was in order and Logan was driving. That meant trucker food and at the moment it was what they both needed.

HOUR THREE & FOUR
**********
The place heaved with workers, several men and women were talking about the state of the roads heading into New York. Their bodies wrapped up for the cold blasts that seemed to blow straight from the cold north. Trucks from all over America seemed to be in the parking lot, their own small truck hidden in between all the giants hauling the essentials the New Yorkers couldn't do without.

Seated inside the truck stop, neither of them were worth watching, deadlines were needing to be met and everyone was busy with their own timetables. Even the conversations around them were tuned out by each other, only the orders that needed to be heard were shouted out over the smoky air.
An elderly waitress came over, her face smiling, eyes bright and going over them quickly before settling on her pad. "What'll it be?"
Marie looked at Logan first before answering, he was still studying the menu, making his choices so she went first.
"Ah'll have the chicken salad, no dressin', peach cobbler and 'high fuel' coffee." The waitress smiled as she wrote the order down turning her body toward Logan to take his order.
"Yes hon?" Logan looked up at the older woman his face neither harsh or soft, as close to neutral as she'd ever seen him.
"I'll have the lunch special, with a side order of a 'truckers grill'. High fuel coffee, large, no cream or sugar." Her pencil blurred as she wrote the order down, her smile never fading as she spoke.
"You wantin' all the sides with the grill honey?" Logan was folding the menu as she stood poised with her pencil. He didn't answer her, he just raised his eyebrow and looked *at* her, Marie noticed her cheeks flush as she just turned away with their order. She heard her mumbling to herself as she walked away, her soft soled shoes navigating across the crowded diner.

"Was that necessary?" Logan just gave her a grin that didn't meet his eyes, which held an entirely different emotion. They didn't speak, the noise around them soothed their nerves, to hear life carrying on around them while they wrestled with the internal emotions of their own predicament. When the coffee arrived it came in large mugs, more like soup bowls than real cups. A creamer and suger bowl were left on the table as their waitress shifted away again into the whirling maelstrom of humanity just past their table.

The lunch rush was fading when their food arrived, her own plate was piled high with salad, all fresh cut, all placed with the irreverance of a person used to dealing with meat and lots of it. A fresh roasted chicken half was resting on the wilting salad, Logan's food took the waitress two trips. The lunch special was a steak with fried eggs, fries, mashed potato and green beans, biscuit and gravy. Followed by a huge piece of pie and cream. The 'Truckers Grill' looked like a road accident in a meat factory, every animal was represented as far as Marie could see and smell. The 'sides' were anything but, grits, pickles, steamed vegetables, sweet rolls and a pitcher of juice. Slapping the bill on the table the waitress made her way back into the diner as Marie just watched as Logan began to eat.

It took the best part of an hour to eat everything on their table, people came and went, shouts and laughter filled the air as trucks passed by the window they sat next to. Life went on around them as it seemed to stand still for them, her salad made her feel full, the chicken settling her already abused stomach. Peach cobbler had been to give her some emotional comfort; it had been a favourite of hers when she'd been at home. Eating it had been a memory of life when it hadn't been consumed by a power other than her own will.
Logan had just eaten slowly, biting his way through the meat, chewing properly and seeing him relax with every mouthful. The Grill had been first to go, all the meat quickly being dispatched and she knew his body would burn it as soon as it hit his stomach. Winter had been hard, the fats that covered this farm bred meat were hard to find in game and his body craved the taste after a winter without.

When he only had the pie left he broke their silence, "We need a game plan Marie, I need to know your going to follow orders. Both mine and Xaviers." That made her eyes go wide, a snarl in her throat being muffled by the coffee in her mouth. "I *know* but you've gotta do this the right way. If he suspects anything but utter compliance he'll be all over us like a rash and you know it." Dropping her mug to the table surface she knew he was talking sense, she waited for him to continue laying out his plans to her.
"We need to do this in a two pronged attack, one, we need Xavier to believe that we're still on board with his way of doing things, two, you need to get back in with your old group."
"Ah never *was* in with them in the first place Logan, how am ah gonna pull this off?" Logan smiled, his eyes taking on a glint that seemed to be fired from Wolverine and not the man in front of her.
"Because we're gonna be sharing a room back home an as sure as eggs are eggs they're gonna want to know what you've been upto while you were away with me." He reached out toward her skin touching her face as the smile covered her.

That *would* get most of the female population wanting to know what she'd been upto especailly when it came out that she didn't need her gloves anymore. Smiling she launched into her thoughts, "Yeah, it'll be great to stand there dressed with mah arms showin', hands uncovered and finally givin em all the finger." Logan stopped touching her skin and the light faded from his gaze a little. "What?"
"Ya can't show em darlin'. Ya gotta keep covered, be 'careful' again, they don't need to know an it's better if they *don't* know you can control it. We keep that secret between us." His hand grabbed her own uncovered one on the formica surface, "I'm askin' a lot of ya I know but if Xavier finds out you can control it I'm not sure what he'll do with you and I'm not going to risk losing you because of it." He smiled at her then, a real genuine smile that reached through all the blocks in his gaze to warm her from the inside. "We'll have enough time to touch when we sleep." Her blush stroked over her skin, making his blood pound through his veins, remembering her on her knees earlier. The look of ownership in her gaze, the love she had for him covering his skin with her touch on skin that had been abused for so long. She loved him and she'd expect him to carry on showing and sharing it with her even at Xaviers.
"What are we goin' to do about that? Ah mean everyone knows ah can't touch there, an if we come down from a 'session' upstairs an your lookin fine then they're gonna start askin questions."
"Already figured that one, we'll have a few stops to make before home but we'll do okay. Once that room door is locked tight no-one will know what we do." Smiling she squeezed his hand in hers, that was one obsticle gone now they had another to deal with.

Why he'd been doing the killing in the first place.

*********************************************************

The skies outside were greying over as a rain front moved in, several haulers noticed and cursed loudly, they had open bed trucks and needed covering over before the rain came down. Logan and her watched them struggle to pull the covers over as the wind tried to take the covers into the darkening sky.
"You gonna answer me?" Logan just kept his eyes out on the world outside their warm little bubble, it made it easier to talk about it. He didn't want to face her softness, didn't want to see her eyes deaden as he told her why he'd killed all those people, why he'd agreed to do it, why he'd enjoyed it.

"My life, what I remember hasn't been good, everyone I cared for has been taken away, killed, destroyed by me or just plain died on me. Xavier got me when I'd been on a rampage through a list of names, the list whether it was real or not was a purpose, a way of settling the score. I killed over twenty men and women, all of them ex-military, some Canadian, some American. All of them connected to me somehow, faces I remembered they went slow, others went in accidents, fires, car wrecks. I'm good at what I do, Xavier set me up, gave me a leaked name and I went for it like a rookie. He grabbed me then and brought me *home*, gave me the spiel about how I could work for him and get what *I* wanted. I took it, swallowed the whole thing, at first it was as he said, I finished my list and Xavier found me more names to *collect*. Thing was he expected me to do more for him, I wasn't exactly pleased when I found out that some of the names he'd given me had nothing to do with me, but everything to do with him. That's when I lost it, thats when he locked me up, kept me from freedom, from killing him and everyone in the school." His eyes dark, refelcting the leaden skies above them into her own soul and chilling her. "Thats when he offered me *you*."

He turned back to the window and the first fat drops that exploded against the window pane. "I took the offer, it was the best one I'd ever had, I was watched constantly by a telepath, monitored you could say until I had the 'right' frame of mind. That came when you arrived, the day I saw you in the corridor, I knew you were the one. You were *mine*." He stopped to trace a finger down the pane, following a track of rain water as if it were a tear down her cheek.
"Soon after you were grabbed by the furball, a set up, and when he gutted you he meant you to die. I had to protect what was mine Marie, I saw to you first leaving his golden boy to sort out the problem of his carcass. You were what was important to me, when your skin kicked in it was bad but not as bad as seein you die darlin'."

Tears were standing proud but they wouldn't fall, she knew that, his voice trembled slightly as she reached out and took his hand in hers. She didn't remember much after being found by Logan, the pain of her attack by Sabertooth was squashed by the memory of Logan touching her. The rush of his mind into her own, the feeling of his need to see her safe, the personality sliding into her own subconscious and sitting there, owning her from the inside out. She'd been so upset at seeing him downed by her gift, she'd watched him for days afterward in the med bay. Hoping for him to come round when he had she'd been the first thing he'd seen, the smile on her face was still one of his best memories. She'd been pleased to see him alive, seeing him breathing after she'd hurt him so badly.

"When I woke up you were there, just waitin for me. I asked Jean how long you'd been there, she told me every day after class, even coming back after dinner, just in case I woke up. You don't know how much that meant to me to hear that; an afterward you even let me near you, let me touch you. Every time I went out I hoped you be there, let me be human for a while an you never disappointed me. Even when you were with those little pricks who kept sniffin round you, you *always* came to see me *first*. Just knowin you gave a damn made it worth the pain, made it worth the effort Marie, that you'd be there for me when I needed you." The tension in his voice rose, watching as he swallowed something down, words that he didn't want to let out. She gripped his hand tight and touched his cheek as the first tear fell down his skin, mirroring the rain outside.
"Say it, let it out Logan. Ah'm here an ah'm not goin' anywhere, ah love you." His eyes clenched shut as he fought with his own reactions, he wanted to run, wanted to get out, away from this pain but the man needed her to know the reasons, the why and it'd hurt to reveal.

"He was going to use you as bait again, he wanted me to stay away, to leave. I found out from Scott, he was discussing a plan with Xavier, there were movements in the south and they were going to use you as bait to draw out Buckethead. He still wanted you, still does if I'm any good, that was why I took the last assignment I did, thats why I didn't let you near me. I knew you were curious, that you wanted to know what I did and where I went. All I did was use that curiousity to my advantage, Xavier wanted me to train you, to show you how to kill cleanly. But I wanted you to come to *me*, an you did. I used you to get what I wanted." The disgust in his voice made her sick, that he thought he'd used her as badly as Xaiver had. Steeling her voice she squeezed his hand until he looked at her directly.

"Did you do it protect me?" He nodded slightly. "Do you love me?" His hand in hers squeezed back and stroked her skin, the touch enough of an answer. "There wasn't much of a choice there Logan, not for me or you, you did what you thought was best. You kept me with you, showed me what you were doin' even made me face upto what the world was really like. Ah'd been livin in a fantasy land till then, you took me out of it, gave me everythin you had to give an you expect me to be mad about it? Logan honey you ain't much of a thinker are ya?" She smiled then a ray of light in a dark place, her voice whispering to him, helping him to ovecome this burden of guilt.
"Ah mean if ya hadn't where would ah be right now? Probably locked up in some cell somewhere with Mystique and ol Buckethead for company. No sugar you got me out of there, brought me where ah could be what ah was meant to be. Free, with you."

At that moment she could see that he wanted nothing more than to run with her, to lose themselves in the world. To stay away from the manipulating claws of Xavier but if they ran they'd always be running. He could do it but Marie couldn't one day she'd stand and fight, and she'd lose against all of them. He didn't want that, couldn't face that happening to her, so they'd take apart what they could from the inside. Then they'd destroy everything else, until there was nothing left of the man that had ruined so many lives in the name of 'progress' and 'integration'.

Now they had to plan how to get into heads, the first being Jeans, to unbalance her further, to send her over into madness. That was a plan that would have to wait until they were home but the seeds had already been set in her mind. Jean was a killer, an assasin like they were, all they needed to do was prod her in the right direction and she'd do the looking herself. Her subconscious knew what she was doing, deep down in her mind it knew all they needed to do was make it rise and for that they'd need intel. So when they got back they'd return to their old jobs, Logan on the team and her in the beta team as well as tracking Xaviers 'enemies'.

The rain was still hammering down from the sky when they ran to the truck, the table far behind them in the warmth of the diner. A tip left on the cluttered table along with the money to pay for the space and time it had taken to clear their souls. Along with the scent of tears and fingerprints on the glass where hopes had been made and plans given actual depth.
Taking up the money the elderly waitress smiled as they pulled away, her good wishes for the two of them following them down the highway. Love may only come once in a lifetime but when it burnt as bright as it did for those two it made the rest of the journey worthwhile, even if you were on your own.

HOUR FIVE
**********

The rain hadn't eased up any as Logan drove them toward home, lunch sat heavy in her stomach making her feel sleepy, the swish of the wipers adding to the monotony that was lulling her to sleep. It was Logan's foot that brought her out of the slumber she was slipping into.
"Hey wake up, we've got somethings to go over before we get to Chucks'."
Stretching her back against the seat, flexing her fingers together Marie waited for him to speak. Watching the rain fill the windscreen and be pushed aside to clear the path for them; only to be obliterated by the next assault of water. The road they were on was more like a river and she was glad that Logan had taken the keys to drive through this.
"So what do we need to 'go over'?" She risked a look toward him, the steel grey of the sky didn't throw much light down into the truck, so the darkness she saw in him she hoped was a mixture of the weather and him.

His hands flexed on the wheel as he pulled out a cigar, stuck it in the corner of his mouth and flicked the lighter in. When he had the thing lit he breathed out a perfumed cloud, adding to the darkness around him. His voice was deep, filled with iron, the same voice he'd used when he'd been training her. Asking her to push beyond what she 'thought' she was capable of into what she 'could' do.
"The 'mission'. As far as Xaviers concerned the kid is dead." She added mentally 'Yeah I nearly went with him' but kept it to herself. "The kid is gone that's all he needs to know, so keep your mind blank, better yet fill it with something else."

She nodded at him, seeing his eye take in her movement, telling him she understood what he needed her to do. Her own mind went into the territory they'd avoided, Xavier could look into her memories of where she'd been, where she'd learned her new skills and if he did that he'd find Logan's refuge. Steeling herself she voiced the question. "Logan what about where ah was?" His quick glance in her direction told her that he'd been thinking about that too. His voice barely changed in tone when he answered her.
"Make somewhere up, make it rural, keep it basic, no 'fluffy' touches, remember this is *my* place you're makin' not a good homes and gardens piece." Smiling at his choice of words she turned her face to the rain filled windscreen. Opening her mind to reach out to the piece of Logan she constantly carried with her. Finding him she began the task of building a home.

********************************************************

"Checks or plain colour?"
"Huh?" The cigar was almost gone and the sweet smell of the tobacco was clinging to her skin.
"Curtains Logan, plain or check?" His eyebrow raised itself as he negotiated traffic on the slick highway. Annoyance flared in her blood, she was trying to do what he'd asked her to, build a memory of first going into the 'cabin', something that would stand up to scrutiny. Pulling herself into a tight ball she tried to concentrate on the image she had already.

The soft honey colour of the wood, the way the door frame had nicks and grooves in it, the set of antlers above the doorway. Old and pockmarked with age, a shed set not attached to bone, the iron of the door handle, a little rusty, the hinges that squeaked when she first opened it. Dust motes that glittered in the cool autumn air, Logan pushing past her to get inside and sort out the small one room space.
The old pot bellied stove that was fed by the wood they both chopped, the smoke blowing back through the first time they used it. Logan having to climb up to the shingle roof to unblock the debris that had been forced down it by squirrels. They'd eaten what he'd found in there for their first meal at the cabin. Squirrel and huckleberries, the pan being taken to the small stream at the bottom of the hill.
The view she'd worked on the hardest, from the small cabin you could see the mountains, grass plain below slowly rising to a pine forest that covered the slopes. She'd gotten help from her 'inner' Logan for this one, he'd given her the memory to work with. A place in Alberta, just past the badlands, the rise of the desert plains being eroded by the water that coursed down from the north. Life beginning again, as the grasslands filled out with brush, mingling into broadleaf forest then thinning out to pine as they climbed the soft rising peaks of the mountains. It was perfect, it gave a geographical place that was as far away fromt he real place as she could find. She even took the journey he'd made and added herself in the truck, even down to the food she'd consumed.

Exaseperated she tried again, "Check or plain Logan, ah need to know or ah'll never get him convinced that it's a real place. Somewhere ah've *been*, ah notice different things to you an ah need to get it right!" He grunted and opened the window, letting the rain wash over his face, watching as the rain flushed his skin. Reminding her of the time she'd seen him naked in the rain, squashing the thought down and locking it away. It was something like that that could give her away, let the truth out about where she'd really been with him. Logan wasn't too bothered about him finding out it seemed but she *was*. It had been her birthplace, her new life started there and she didn't want him to know where it was, hence the memory implants she was doing.

Finally he rolled the window back up, his hair dripping wet and a lighter look on his face, he looked like a wet dog and she couldn't help but laugh. His eyes flicked to hers and saw her trying to stifle another chuckle, his mouth quirked up as he rubbed his wet head and thrust the cold water slicked hand at her.

"LOGAN! Arrgghh, you're gettin' me wet!" Suddenly the air in the cab went thick with tension, his hand on her skin burning hot. Everything switched over so quickly, from playful to sexual, weaving out of traffic Logan dumped the truck onto the grass verge and left it there. Engine dead, windscreen filling with rain blurring the outside world. She felt the air spark with need, purring she shifted over the seat to him, his body already waiting for her to straddle him.
He didn't wait for her to settle before bringing her into a deep kiss, smothering her with his passion. Dragging her hips down into his, hands forcing her to grip him as he raised himself, shuffling out of jeans so he could fill her. Her own preparations being stopped as he just slit her jeans open with a claw. Her head against his own as he slid her down, the growling in her throat being balanced by the one in his chest.

The feel of him stretching her, the raw passion of his mouth as it chased over her skin, hands never still on her body. Drowning in him, losing herself to the fire in her blood, listening to that alone as he began to pull her hips toward him. Finally seeing his eyes, the mixture of their colours, hazel ringed with darkness, a blend of the two personalities that filled him. Smiling as she clenched herself tighter with each pull of her hips toward his own.
Lifting his hands for a second to lift her shirt up, freeing her breasts to his mouth, the sensations he was giving her keeping her mind concentrating on the *now*. Suckling he flicked her nipples with his tongue, sliding the rough surface over the sensitive skin, taking his time with each one, thrusting into her body as a counterpoint to the sensations he was creating in her.

Gripping the back of the seat behind him she ground herself down into him, filling herself totally with all he had to give but still wanting more of him. Letting her own darkness out of her as she began to move with him, meeting his thrusts with her own. Sweat beginning to rise through her skin as she fought against his control of her. Eyes blazing as she forced his head off her breasts, taking his mouth and plundering it, biting, suckling his tongue as it entered her mouth. Hands grabbing hold of his still wet hair and keeping him still as she ground herself deeper into him.
His own movements stilling as he let her drive, letting her shift over him, feeling her body curling into the power that was coursing through nerves already sparking at the strain. The scent of their combined bodies driving her insane, fighting against her need to hurt him, to feel blood flowing under her hands. Her claws firing behind him, smashing through the tempered glass and steel giving her a firmer grip to grind down. The scent of her own blood making her go over the edge Logan had been driving her toward, snarling out his name as he gripped her tight to him. His own hips shifting as she stayed still; her core spasming around him as she felt his breath against her skin. He followed her soon after, hands locked on her hips, head buried in her breast, sweat running down his skin mingling with hers.

There had been no foreplay, nothing but the playfulness that had erupted into this *need*, this drive to mate, to seek comfort, bonding against the enemy that lay only a few hours away. Yet she'd fought him, taken her own pleasure in hand as well as his, this time she'd been an aggressor and as she slid her claws free of the metal and glass behind his head. He'd smiled at her, as they slid away back into her arms he'd taken her hands, licking the blood from her skin where they'd torn through. The sensation making her quiver again, the skin so sensitive, so thin it felt like he was licking her wounds. Heat, pleasure, so different from what she'd just experienced with him, her eyes fluttered closed as he continued to clean the skin of her hands.

When he'd finished he pulled her to his open mouth, sharing her taste with her, mingling with the cigar and the musky taste she'd always assocaited with Logan. They didn't talk, they didn't even make a sound as they both made themselves decent again. When he pulled out into the traffic again and they were making headway did he break the comfortable silence between them.
"So, you got the memory sorted out?"
Nodding she answered, "Sure, ah'll use what ah have an we'll wing the rest." Holding her shoulder to his he smiled, they needed to be natural not complete in every detail, eyes missed things and memory wasn't perfect. Xavier knew that just as much as he did.

The next thing wouldn't be as easy to ask of her but he had to. "I need you to do something when we get back." She raised her head and caught his serious look, smiling she stroked his cheek as she waited for him to ask it. "I want you to drain someone, someone at the school." She didn't pull away but her eyes went distant, looking out at the rain filled road ahead of them.
"Why?" He sighed out, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Because we need to convince them that your skin is still a problem, that you, *we* need our space, that we're dangerous to keep nearby. There's several places on the grounds we can stay in, without being in the house proper. The further away we are the better, so I need you to arrange an 'accident'."

Marie gave this some thought, it sounded okay in practice and she wouldn't have to take much of someone to drop them. Plus it would be a chance to use her control on someone else apart from Logan. But how to do it? A thought swam into her mind, she'd need to be assessed by Xavier, how much useful stuff Logan had shown her. That meant a session in the danger room, thing is how could she'd convince someone to come in with her?
"Logan," he quickly looked at her taking his gaze away from the semi that was just in front of them.
"What?"
"Could you get an alpha team member to test me?" She watched as his smile split across his face, he squeezed her to him, pride evident in his scent.
"Sure I could, damn I bet I'd even get Scott in there, along with the Ice Prick." He checked her face ans saw the steel the winter had revealed in her eyes. "Sure that's what you want?" She nodded as the rain began to finally slow down into mist, her conviction making her confident.
"Yeah it's what ah want, they think ah can't do it, wouldn't do it, time to put them straight don't ya think?" His reply was a kiss on her head, smiling she cuddled upto him, the still wet feeling in between her legs a reminder of how much she trusted him and him her.

When they got home they were in for a surprise, Rogue was no longer just a second stringer, a hanger back, she could and would kill. An someone would have that pointed out to them very soon; a smile that had nothing to do with her humanity spread across her face at the thought of the blood and pain she would inflict on those who'd chained her. Those who'd thought she was in need of pity, using her as bait for the trap, on no she had a few tricks of her own and she had no qualms about using them.

HOUR SIX
*******************
The drive into New York was an assault on her nerves, sounds she'd never picked up on before were now drilling into her skull. The low level hum of the electrcity that travelled through the wires above her seemed to dance over her skin. Scents as varied as the winds that blew them into the cab made her head spin, sickness seemed to be everywhere. Holding her nose as she wound the window back up she heard the small grunt come from her companion. "What? Ah can hardly think never mind breathe? How the hell do you do it?" He just shrugged as she faced him, his eyes concentrating on the flow of traffic they were in.
"Just got used to it, you will if you let yourself." He didn't say anything else but she opened the window again, feeling her senses dull after an hour of assault.

It was getting dark, lights were being flicked on all over the huge city in front of them. Every single place she passed seemed to be another prison to her eyes. They were all different but they kept one thing the same, the souls they kept within their walls were beholden to the place that kept them chained to the brick and mortar surrounding them.

When they stopped at a small strip mall her eyes focussed again on where they were, a part of New York she wasn't familiar with and looking at the wrecks surrounding the area it didn't have much going for it either. Logan snapped himself free from the seat and looked at her, the invitation was there for her to take and she declined it. Shaking her head and watching him leave to go inside a store with blocked up windows, whatever lay inside she'd leave to her imagination.

She'd been dozing when the truck shifted, someone was in the back, senses working overtime she could hear their breathing, the blood pounding through their veins. Anger took over, getting out of truck she missed the man to her right who'd been waiting for her to come out. The punch he gave winded her for about ten seconds, his other one that was now coming she'd readied herself for. Moving into the blow she felt it graze past her skin, lighting her mutation up like a beacon. Sensing the drug addled mind behind the attack, the need for 'fun' and her being the main producer of it. Snapping herself upright bringing her knee upward into the man's groin, the effort put into the blow making her lower leg ache. Laughter stopped abruptly as he folded up on the pavement, a coldness filled her mind as the training she'd been given took over.

There were three she could see, including the man on the pavement below her, but she could smell another two further along the street. The one from the back of the truck jumped down to face her, she didn't have anything but her hands and her wits. Logan wasn't anywhere to be found and the area she was in didn't look like it had much of a police presence. She was on her own, a dark smile touched the corner of her face for a second before melting away into the darkness filling her mind.
"What ya'll wantin' here?" A sound reminiscent of a blade being drawn came to her ears, behind her about fifteen feet away, the scent of the man using it went up a notch in expectation. Shifting her body around Marie tried to get into the light near the door she'd seen Logan go through.
She could sense they were confused by her reactions, she hadn't run, she hadn't given them what they'd wanted from her. Their friend was still recovering on the floor from his mistake and her patience was beginning to suffer. She let her face take on a hunted look, making her eyes wide and feignting to her left. Looking at her would-be attackers she saw their joy at her movements, looking like hyena's about to pounce on an unprotected fawn. She dove across the front of the truck toward the hidden man with the knife, her heels showing clean to the three who were now happy with the situation. They had her running, running in fear and that would be the last mistake they'd ever make.

The one in front of her came out from hiding, his knife levelled at her stomach area, so she'd impale herself on it as she ran into him. Twisting to the side as she heard him move presenting her ribs to him, a more difficult target for the blade to enter. The scrape of it through her clothing was enough of an impetus for her to slam him into the wall of the building next to them. Using her body weight to force his shoulder into the brick, listening to the snap of the collar bone and the cry that came from him. His friends hooting and calling as they thought it was her shout as she'd run into the blade carrier. Turning herself back round using his body as counterweight, lifting her feet to slam into the first face that presented itself.
The look on his face as she met his rushing face with her boot, the snap of his neck as he went down, her weight pushing her forward over his now twitching body. Her own face a mask of concentration as she faced the others who'd run toward the sound. Hands falling at her, her own blades snapping free as slicing through muscle,knicking bone. The two that were left standing had more wounds than they knew what to do with, her need for violence had been bubbling under all day. Ever since Logan had told her about Xavier's plans for her, to use her as bait to draw Magneto out of hiding.

Every wound she gave wasn't fatal, it would scar, heal slowly but it wouldn't kill. One was down on his knees already gripping a side wound above his kidneys, the criss cross of wounds through his shirt enough of a reminder to him. The other was trying to back away but she wasn't having any of it, the alleyway was strewn with bodies, bleeding into the gutters. Grabbing him by the lapel she brought her claws down his face, feeling the muscle part under her claw. Bringing him to her mouth as she spat her hatred through her teeth at him, "Ya'll live, Ah made *sure* of it." His wide pupilled gaze was everywhere but at her own dark gaze, he was lost somewhere in the chemical haze he was hoping would save him from her tender mercies. "When ya look in the mirror next time, remember not everyone ya see is a weak little target. They just might remember ya an come back to finish the job."
Dropping the man to the filth beneath her feet she stepped back, only then did she see the damage she'd wrought on his face. Three wavy lines of red, gouged through the skin of his face, ragged, torn open, the blood beginning to overpower the smell of the rubbish beneath her feet. A coldness seeped into her heart, *she'd* done this, she'd scarred and almost killed these men. Sure they'd had as much as that on their minds for her but for her to realise she'd done this on her *own*, without help or guidance made her blood run cold. Wiping her hands of blood as her blades snapped away she went back toward the truck that lay only feet away.

Rounding the corner again the man she'd hit first was gone, his companion laid in the alley with a permanent reminder of his mistake. About to lay her hand on the truck bed when a foot came sailing out of it and struck her just above the temple sending her out into traffic. Horns blared as she stumbled back toward the truck bed, a blonde head was pulling itself out from under the tarp on the back.

There was still no sign of Logan, but all she owned was inside that flat bed and she had no intention of giving it over to someone else. When her head had cleared somewhat she could see the woman more clearly, bleached blonde hair, fake tan, dressed in a jacket three sizes too small for her. Age had ravaged her as well as the drugs she'd obviously been using, the bitterness flowed toward Marie's nose well before she actually moved off the flat bed. "Never send a man to do a woman's job," she muttered as Marie saw her pull the handgun from her belt. It had been tucked under her flesh, hidden from view, she was about to fire when a dark blur hit her wrist. The gun dropping to the tarmac just in front of Marie. Logan was there, his face dark, stood still with a bag in one hand and an empty loose hand telling her where the blur had come from.

The woman's face creased into a smirk as she dropped off the edge of the flat bed and walked toward Logan, her hips swaying with excess fat and age. The stink of her unwashed body filling the air as she sashayed toward Logan, her face pulling on a mask of helplessness. "You gotta help me, she just attacked my boyfriend and his buddies. She took em behind the store, I don't know what happened but I crawled into your truck to hide. She was about to attack me when you came out." Logans face was impassive as he looked from her to Mariem she only nodded a small nod, an incline of her head at the most and he just walked away. The skank followed him, her smile of yellow teeth glinting in the amber light thrown down onto the dark streets. Her simpering never ceasing as she clutched onto Logan's arm as he led her behind the store to the alleyway.

Meanwhile she picked up the dropped gun, noticing it was from the cabin they'd burned together. Dropping it back into it's hiding place she tied everything back down, when she heard Logan approaching again she waited patiently near the passenger door for him. He appeared again with the woman, her face screwed up into a mask of hate. Logan though was impassive, his face never betraying his feelings, only his gaze told her what he expected of her now. Understanding his instructions she just straightened herself, as he turned to the woman, his voice even as he spoke to her. "Stay here while I call for help." With that he untangled himself from her and went back inside the store, the aged skank standing on nervous feet as she watched Marie with undisguised hatred burning in her eyes.

Logan had given her the chance she needed, checking the street up an down for witnesses she smiled at the older woman, her voice honey coated and oozing charm. "What's wrong sugar? Couldn't get em to 'rise' to the occassion huh?" Her face twisted further as she shifted her hips leaning against the trucks door, running her hand down her waist and hips. Noticing the older woman's eyes narrow as she did so, her lips thinning as she smiled at her. "Think the big guy might take me with him? Ah mean why would he want an ol tired bag like you when he could have all this?"
She was visably twitching when she let that one fly, it wouldn't take much to send her over and as she blew her a kiss laughing into the darkness the woman snapped. Her hands curled into claws, nails broken and filthy flew toward her skin. They never even made it onto her, stepping aside she let the older woman slam herself into the truck door. Dancing away from her rage filled frame, seeing her anger slow her movements, hands balled she tried to punch her as she danced out of reach again. Stepping into her stink Marie slapped her hard, the snap of her neck wrenching her head round. The vivid mark colouring the skin further, the leather of her skin showing cracks and crevices of her aged body.
"What ya waitin' for, an invitation?" Marie's voice was still honey sweet but it held an edge to it, a coldness that had never been there before. As the older woman made a rush for her head, Marie let her grab her, letting her skin take from the older woman.

*A home life, pretty normal, pretty good until the husband ran off with the younger neighbour. A slide to depression, drugs, children being taken away, abuse and worthlessness following. Yet all the time her own mind singing out to herself, "I'm not the one who's wrong, I'm not to blame for this, *HE* is, he left *me* for someone else."*

Marie watched the images flow by as the older woman began to thrash like a fish out of water, seeing what life she had left to her and wondering if it would be better to kill her than let her continue to self destruct. She let go, the weight of the body smacking the cold tarmac bringing her round from the whirlpool in her mind.

Looking down at the mess that had been a human being once, had been a mother, a loving partner, she knelt by her head watching her body twitching as it tried to recover from her touch. Torn by her humanity, by her need to see her recover from it but wanting her suffering to end as well. The scent of distress flooded the air around her, acrid urine followed by the traces of death, her skin pallid and the scent of death becoming stronger. Looking at her chest as it began to faulter, the breath shuddering to a stop, and suddenly the choice was no longer hers. Rising up she met the gaze of Logan, there was someone behind him, a larger man; his hands gloved up. Shaking her head she just looked at them both, Logan whispered something she only caught the end of, "....settle with ya end of the week." The bigger man just nodded and put his hand on Logan's back. Logan moved over toward her, pulling her into the truck, he didn't ask her anything about it. But she was bursting with it, she needed to tell him about it all, the truck, the fight, the death at her hands.

"Logan....." He stopped her with a raised hand, she kept her silence as the woman's body was scooped up from the road. Pulling out of the parking space he just set them for home, when they'd cleared the outskirts of New York and were heading for the mansion he answered her curiosity.
"I watched you from inside, Tiny has camera's everywhere out there. The group that attacked the truck have been rippin off his customers for months now, you've done him a favour an Tiny never forgets a favour. We might need it one day."
The thought of Logan watching her fight for her life made her blood run cold, but if she'd been in any danger he'd have come to help her wouldn't he?
"Would you've helped me?"
"Didn't need to. You put me in a river an almost crushed me with a deadfall, didn't think you'd need me." He looked over at her with a cool calculating air, his eyes assessing what he'd seen in a new light. "An I was right. Ya didn't need my help."
The sense of another test passed went through her, she'd survived another encounter with the school of hard knocks. The one thing she couldn't do was heal as fast as Logan could, she could heal but not instantly like him. Days instead of weeks, any damage she could've taken would still be with her for a while. Letting the information settle on her bones she just let Logan take them home.

He did interrupt her thoughts once more before they got home, his voice deepened by the emotion underlying it. "I liked your style with the cuts, maimin' is better than killin. They'll be a walkin advert for ya, it'll be a few years before Tiny has any more trouble there. People'll give him some more respect for your work tonight, you should be proud, I am."
The words did have an effect on her mood, she lightened somewhat as the scenery began to look familiar, a question bubbled up onto her tongue.
"What did ya buy from Tiny?" His hand went to the bag at his feet and threw it in her direction, the paper bag rustled as she looked through it.
Inside were several pieces of sheer fabric, multicoloured and stitched with various holes in various places, body suits, gloves, sheets. All of them sheer and very very thin, some silk, some a different material she'd never seen before. Her questioning face was met by his answer, forming a smile on his lips as he spoke.
"Tiny's a seamstress." Her incredulous look made him settle his eyes on hers and repeat himself, "Yeah, a SEAMSTRESS. The best damn one in New York, he's been workin on that lot for a few months." A flush went across his face as she realised that he'd been planning too and her skin hadn't even been in the running.
"Must have been expensive."
"You have *no* idea."
"Tell me," she held up the pale grey one she held in her hand, the feel of it wasn't silk but it had a feel like nothing else in the world. Logan's eyes lit on what she was holding and he smiled.
"If anyone knew what that was made of it'd be confiscated and cut apart to find out how it got made."
"What is it?" The grin on his face became a leer as he pulled the sheer grey fabric toward him.
"Spider silk, soft, strong, flexible and very very expensive."
"But how....?" Balling up the garment it fitted into his fist, handing it back to her to put into the bag again.
"Somethin' to do with goats he said but what came after I've no idea, just that that one peice alone cost nearly twenty thou." Suddenly the entire bag seemed to be very very heavy to her, as she felt through the entire lot and found another five garments with the same feel as the grey one. Her eyes filling with tears as she saw the mansion in the distance slowly getting closer.
"Ya really did want me didn't ya?" Logan pulled the truck to the side of the road and stopped the engine. His hand touching her skin, the draw of her mutation only taking in a little of his powers and thoughts.
"Always Marie, always. I never had anything else I'd wanted more than you." She leaned into his touch, kissing his lips sweetly before letting him go and clutching the bag to her chest.
"Come on, he'll know we're here by now lets not keep the bastard waitin'." Smiling Logan brushed her cheek once more before putting the car into gear and taking them the last few miles home. They might be heading to a prison of sorts but he'd always been there waiting with a key for her escape; she had the proof in her hands.

There wasn't anyone waiting to greet them when they finally parked the truck in the garage, her heart was steady as was Logans own as they unpacked what they needed out of the truck. Making their way through the quiet halls they didn't meet anything unusual, not even a rugrat running through the halls.

Logan took them direct to Xaviers ofice, knocking on the door he opened it without waiting for an answer. The desk was empty but a familiar tickle at the back of his mind directed him to the lower levels. Shrugging they left their bags at the stairs and Marie followed Logan downstairs to the lower levels. He didn't take the lift if he didn't need to, a metal box in a metal shaft wasn't his idea of pleasant comfort. When they got to the level they required they both just went down toward the room they knew Xavier would be in. The operations room was simple in design, it showed several screens linked up to vital sign monitors. The team were out on a mission, there were eight screens showing team members, Scott, Storm, Jean, Peiter, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty and Kurt, all of them were showing signs of stress. Com traffic was showing up by the red lights on the recorders but there was nothing playing in the room they were in. Xavier was seated behind his usual control panel, Logan's face was utterly neutral as he turned his aged gaze toward Logan's own.
"Nice to have you home at last Logan," the scent they were both picking up on was stressed, something wasn't going well with the mission and he was trying not to let it show. He turned his gaze to Marie, his eyes roving over the new shape she'd aquired over the winter away. It was all she could do to keep her stomach still as she smelled his satisfaction. "I hope your time away from us hasn't been too painful for you Rogue. I'm sorry about the way I had to get you both away but it was the easiest way at the time. The team is doing some clean up work at the moment," his hand waved at the screens. "A safe house for mutants has been attacked by a militant group, we beleive it's linked to the Friends Of Humanity but we can't be sure." Marie smiled in the right places but even she sensed the lie in the information he was giving them.
He wanted them out of there quickly and he turned his attention back to the screens, "If you'll excuse me I do have to monitor progress...."
"Sure Chuck, look we'll be takin the cabin by the lake. We still have trainin to do and both of us aren't exactly 'safe' at the moment." That got Xaivers attention and he turned to face them both fully, his eyes suddenly full of curiousity.

A tingle filled her mind and she filled it with the fight from earlier, her killing a man with her feet, the rage she felt as she did it, the anger and hatred that filled her being as she enjoyed the feeling of killing. The pain of torture at the hands of men, the dreams she'd endured, the pain she'd taken from Logan as he'd trained her hard.
Everything she pushed into the front of her mind and she saw Xaviers eyes widen as he took it all in. She even added a picture of her killing Jean for looking at Logan, for her smiling at him as she bandaged him up. Taking her perfect throat in her hands and squeezing her life away, a smile entering her face as she let the thought go through her. Xavier backed himself away from her slightly and coughed lightly to cover his fear.

"I see what you mean, yes of course I'll advise students to leave you alone out there but I insist you come into the house for main meals. There are people here who need to know Rogue is safe and cared for." Logan didn't smile but his stance had changed, more relaxed and confident.
"Sure Chuck, not a problem. We had a bit of a run in on the way in but it's been dealt with." Xavier looked at Logan and saw the truth staring out at him, it had been dealt with and Marie had finished it.
"Now if you don't mind I'd like to get back to the team."
"Sure Chuck, I'm sure she'll be fine in about a week, just enough for my influence to wear out of her. Can't have her killin' willy nilly can we?" He left the words hanging out in the air, telling Xavier that she was under his control, but it was tenious at the moment. She was the only one who could put him down permanently and she was a little 'disturbed' at the moment. Hence not safe to be around children who may 'annoy' her in the wrong way making her act without thinking.
Xavier let them leave and they both high tailed it out of the main house, taking the truck out to the small lake house.

When they'd pulled up to the house Marie let herself feel the things she'd been squashing, her anger at the man who had not only her life in his hands but those of the children who lived under his roof. He'd been inside her head without her permission, he'd scanned her lightly and found her ready for him. She's shown him what she was capable of and the fear he'd shown of her had made up for the intrusion. She was something he *feared*, he'd made her into what he'd wanted, a weapon but one that Logan seemed to control and now it had to be seen how much control he had over Logan. Looking over at him she could see him thinking his eyes on the upstairs windows, knowing he was thinking how easily he could gain entrance and kill their mutual problem.
"He'd feel you comin' sugar." Logan grunted and moved their things into the house, the lights spilling onto the surface of the lake. Logan might be planning it but she had the dream of how to do it slowly, piece by piece, taking everything he ever loved away from him. Destroying him from the inside until there was nothing left but the bitterness he'd put there in her heart.

A shadow came out of the darkness, a blending of the night with the skin of the Blackbird, the light from the engines the only give away. Her eyes followed the craft as it sank into the basketball court, knowing the people on board would have seen the lights on the lake. They'd have visitors tomorrow and she had to be ready for them, following Logan inside she made her peace with the night around them. She had a safe place for the night, Xavier wouldn't let them be disturbed right now, no matter how much they wanted to find out about them both. After what he'd seen in her head he had to be sure she was safe to be around. It gave them time to get their feet under them, to sound out the ground before they started their own work of dismantling everything Xavier held dear.

Going inside she went directly to Logan's arms, letting his bulk soothe her against the people outside their door. Tomorrow would be the first test of their resolve, how and who would they use to get the results they needed. And who could be told about the truth safely, if anyone at all? Tomorrow could wait, they'd had a rough day as it was and she doubted she'd be getting any decent sleep here as it was.

The room was blank, there was only Scott in here with her, dressed in his uniform, shades strapped to his flesh, hands clenching and unclenching as he shifted around her. Tyring to make her move first, trying to gauge her weaknesses, making feignts she could smell from him. The leather of his uniform filled with the adrenalised sweat that carried his distinctive tone to her nose. It clued her in to when he would move, the tell tale twitch at his eyeline that wouldn't be noticable if he didn't wear his glasses. When he lunged she dropped to the floor, straight down, letting her muscle become like jelly. Flowing away from him, twisting and using the slick floor as a slide, pushing her own body weight away from the team leader.

A snort from his mouth told her enough, she'd surprised him, hand to hand was dangerous here, she wasn't wearing anything and her skin was *ON*. Logan had told her that he expected her to keep it on while they were in the presence of everyone else. Last night he'd touched and stroked her all over, like a cat, just so she could get some rest. Stroking the skin of her body as he'd just laid himself next to her, like a huge warm radiator, his scent filling her mind, letting her relax and settle into a hazy sleep while he stayed awake all night. She woke with his hands on her thighs already shifting them apart, gently positioning himself over her. As she opened her eyes he kissed her warmly, softly, tenderly, letting her wake up and feel him on her. They made love for an hour, never hurried, never losing touch of his skin for a moment, he worshipped her and she'd needed his touch as much as he'd needed her. It had been the best morning of her life at the mansion, something she hoped they'd get to repeat while they were here.

Scott took a dive at her waist, his hand wrapping tight around her midriff, trying to force her over so she landed safely under him. Instead she twisted in his grasp, the bruising she'd have from the move would heal before she got home. It hurt sure but she wasn't going to let Scott pin her, turning the move into her advantage she let Scott carry forward into the move. Taking the wrist that had been on her side she wrenched it backward, pulling the ligaments beyond their tolerance. She heard the tear of muscle, the twinge that shot through his entire frame as she let go of the arm. Scott landed heavily and rolled back up, his arm hanging loose and pain filled. His forearm was useless as a strength muscle now, it would stretch sure but it'd take no pressure. She waved him toward her, bare hands showing, Scott's face went hard and she knew from now on it'd be harder. She couldn't keep the smile from her face as she felt Wolverine riding high in her mind. This was what she'd been waiting for and he was going to get it, all of it.

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They'd been walking to the mansion for breakfast when the figure had been spotted walking over to them both. Scott in his pressed Chino's and jumper crossed over his shoulders, he reminded Marie of the catalogues her mother had ordered clothes out of. The pale imitations of men that stood with their plastic smiles and perfect features, tightening her arm wrapped around Logan's side she straightened herself.

Scott took them both in and she could see the tension running through the man in front of them both, his voice clipped and angry when he spoke to them. "Good morning, Charles told me you were back." He left a gap for them to fill and he seemed confused when they didn't fill it for him. Coughing he started again, "Well, the Danger Room has been booked for 11am, you should be ready for then Logan. We'll go through the various scenarios and we'll see how you intergrate with the team...." Logan interrupted him with a raised hand and a raised eyebrow.
"It ain't me who's goin in there 'boy'," Logan's eyes flashed dangerously as he smiled at the man in front of him. He hugged Marie to his side and she smiled as she shifted into Scott's view, "Ol' Chuck wants to assess Rogue here since our little jaunt north. She's been learnin' with *me*."

He put the strain on the last word and they both saw the blood vessel on his neck pulse faster as he tried to keep his blood pressure in check.
"Really? He didn't tell me that." Logan shifted them both around the solid form of Scott who was still waiting for an explanation from either of them. Logan threw the comment behind them as they walked back into the mansion, "Then you'd better go ask your 'masser'." The southern word making Marie laugh as they entered the shadowed halls of the mansion, it had helped to allievaite the chill she'd felt as they'd entered. It still felt like she'd entered a bear trap but at least she could laugh at it with the image of Scott as a slave for the 'Ol' White Masser'. The image suddenly taking all the humour away from it, Logan had hit the nail on the head whether he knew it or not. They were slaves here, slaves to his will, to his dream but not everyone was an idiot here and soon she'd have some allies. Smiling at Logan she went with him into breakfast.

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Scott was playing 'dirty', his feints were planned and she fell for at least one of them. Cursing she nursed her arm as the blood returned from where Scott had had her in a tense grip until she'd stamped on his instep. She'd even given him a mule kick as well, right up between his legs as he'd held her in front of him. The shock of it had made him loosen his grip and she'd spun away, he was gloved up now and he thought he was safe. He wasn't safe from her or her skin and she let her stance fall lower, she could feel Logan's gaze on her from above in the control room. She didn't need to look to know he was smiling, she had him in her head, telling her to go low this time. To take out his hip joint as she went under and between his legs, to punch the bunch of nerves just inside the crease of his thigh.

She made herself stumble, her steps seeming clumsy, making Scott compensate for her lowered gait. He'd try to grab her and pin her again, dropping her into a submission posture so she could be 'neutralised' by whoever else was in the team. Thing was Logan had taught her *not* to be a team player, so she dropped further and dragged Scott into her own trap. A snarl made its way out of her mouth as she led him into her, dropping and letting herself slide across the slick floor again. Her fingers tensed and ready to deal the blow as she passed under him, at the last second she stood straight up.

Slamming the heel of her hand into his chin, Scott went almost vertical before falling backward. The anger flushing her blood was singing through her, the itch of her knuckles driving her crazy, Wolverine in her head was screaming at her to kill him, to rend him into pieces. Shaking she stepped toward the prone body on the floor, he was still coming round when the doors opened and Logan was there. He stood over Scott, claws drawn, a growl in his chest that was reverberating through the danger room.

He meant the threat, if she took a step closer he'd cut her, her anger faded as fast as it had risen. Turning her back on them both she walked to the blank walls around her and rested her head against the tiles there.

Listening to the sound of Xavier's wheelchair humming as it came into the room, Logan's footsteps as he moved off the prone body of the team leader. The dry tomb like voice of Xavier as it rang around the room, "I see what you mean about it being a little premature to test her skills. I'll do as you recommend, Thursday will give her more time to lose your 'influence'. It'll be a better test of her true abilities."

Scott was groaning and she heard his shaky voice carry over to where she was standing. "What the....." Listening to the sounds of leather creaking as Scott stood up, feeling the tension of Logan and Scott being so close together. Mounting until Xavier called Scott to go to the infirmary, he needed to be looked at. Hearing the outlet breath of the man she clenched her fists as she wished Logan would've let her finish him but she couldn't not yet. Squashing the desire down she heard Logan's footsteps approach her over the sound of Scott and Xaviers departure.

When he touched her skin she flinched a little as his surface thoughts went through her, pride, love and desire, watching her put Scott through his paces and beating him at every turn. Turning his moves into opportunities for her to attack him, surrounding her with his own bulk against the wall of the room, he purred into her skin. Pressing himself against her; pushing her into his own body, letting her feel her effect on him, of seeing her fight her so called 'equal'. Smiling she let him touch her with gloved hands, letting them run under her shirt and over her goosing skin.

They did come out of the room later, but she needed new trousers and underwear before she could be thought of being 'decent'. They didn't wipe the tape of their 'training' in the danger room, it'd serve to keep everyone on the wrong footing. She was dangerous and at the moment the only one who could control her was Logan and that was only when she let him.

Logan knew Scott would be watching the tape later to learn from his mistakes and he wanted him to see exactly what they'd been doing in there after he'd been patched up. The more he saw of Marie, the easier it would be for her to use it against him. Smiling they went to get some lunch but Marie needed to change first, somehow he didn't think they'd approve of crotchless trousers in the dinner hall.

Noise dropped as they entered the dining room, it seemed like every eye was suddenly upon them, Marie just straightened her back and went forward into the main hall. Knives were laid down, forks halted mid way to mouth's open in shock. A rippling undercurrent of sound went through the entire place.

At the far end of the room were the small tables reserved for guests, they took one, near to the windows. The empty seats at the teachers table spoke volumes for everyone, they weren't a permanent feature here, they were passing through. Xavier's face betrayed nothing of his thoughts but Ororo and Jean had their faces set at Logan, as if he was the main culprit in Marie's situation. Seating themselves they waited for the children on duty to serve them their dinner.

It didn't take long before someone took it on themselves to come over, unusually it was Kitty, her hair swept up from her face she walked a little straighter than she'd remembered and it came back to her that she must have taken her place on the rosta for the pick up missions. Plastering a friendly face on her already shattered nerves she faced the first assault. Logan wasn't even watching, he was more interested in the food.

"Yes Kitty?" The girl/woman seemed to stumble for a second before suddenly straightening, her resolve found again she spoke in a clear even tone to them both.
"I'm glad you've come home," her eyes darted to Logan and quickly back to Marie's, "both of you." Logan didn't even acknowledge her comment, he just kept chewing. Marie didn't have the option of ignoring her so she tried her best.
"Thanks, ah didn't know if ah'd be welcome, especailly with what happened." Kitty glanced behind her at the table where her now fiancee was seated with the rest of the second team. When she was sure everyone was okay she pulled a chair over and sat in it, her face filled with a light she'd never seen before. Eating her dinner slowly she let Kitty's scent fill her nose, there was something wrong with it. Something off, something not right, it was when she reached out to snatch a piece of dry bread from the table that she recognised it. Her scent bloomed up under her nose, Logan's own face twitched as she reached over and she knew.

Kitty was pregnant.

No one knew yet of that she was sure, if they had been she wouldn't have been around the 'dangerous' pair. Kitty's voice was shallow in the dinner noise making Marie strain to hear her but she knew Logan was catching every word she was saying. She raised her voice a little higher so everyone else could catch her last remarks to them both. "Well I'll catch you later maybe, I've taken your old spot on the team but the archive is still needing attention..." the invite was right there and she smiled as she grasped it like the prodigal returning should do.
"Thanks ah've been wondering how safe ah was out there, especially not knowin' where Ol Buckethead is..." she smiled at her deliberate mistake as Kitty's eyes became confused. "Sorry, it's what 'he' calls him," she pointed to her skull and Kitty just nodded as she understood what Marie was trying to communicate to her.
"Oh...well I'll call ahead before I come up if that's okay with you?" Kitty got back up, the scent of her pregnancy being lost to her senses as people shifted around her.
"Sure, we'll be there. Got nowhere else to be Kit-Kat." Smiling she let her eyes follow the young woman away, dragging her eyes to Xavier before she looked at Logan. Xavier was smiling a dead man's smile, wide and fixed, he thought he had them and her hackles rose. Before she could act on her instincts Logan's hand shot out and took hold of her own on her cutlery.
"Not here, not now, " his whisper was an *order*; she knew the tone well after a winter of following them. Barely nodding she just put the smile back on and got back to her food.

They left to the same stares as they went in, Scott and Jean were talking as they passed and her name was mentioned. Jean almost looked at her but Scott's hand brought her face back to his, a restraining grip on her chin. Logan speaking through a growl to the table as they passed, "Thursday Boy Scout, you'd better be ready." It reminded her that she'd taken his measure and she could hurt him, she could get under his radar and make him lose focus. Logan had told her about his habit of replaying tapes, he had a shock in store for him when he did.

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The cabin on the lake looked peaceful when they finally got back to it but all she wanted to do was scream, she'd been a thing to look at in the dining room and her pride was taking a beating. She wanted to show them that she had *control* over her skin, she wanted to push her superiority into their faces. Show them what they pushed away, what Xavier was doing to her, what he was doing to them *all*. It made her blood sing and she went toward the water, it's surface mirroring the sky. She was about to turn back to the cabin when the towel hit her in the face.
"Calm down, relax; *then* get your ass back in here. You've got an hour." Smiling at his back as Logan left her to it she stripped her clothing, knowing he'd keep a watch for idiots. Naked she went into the cold embrace of the lake her mind filled with the mixture of her own needs and those of the personalities who were inside her head.

Swimming took her mind away from the stimulus around her, it took her away from her body so she could think clearly. She couldn't show them what she was, not yet, not until they were safe, not until they were advanced in their own plans. Logan knew she was frustrated at playing these games, she wanted to bring everything down *now*! But the voice in her head was telling her that it would take time, they needed to be sure about who and what they were dealing with. How far Xaviers fingers went, who and what he was working with and why, what he had planned for the people under his roof, including the children. The Logan in her head bristled at the thought of the children suffering because of him.
Wolverine had a bigger sway over her right now, her hormone levels were rising, she knew that her next few days would be difficult especailly if she had to interact with the rest of the household. Swimming would help but it wouldn't solve the itching in her knuckles.

An hour later she was out and wrapped up in front of the fire, Logan was brushing her hair out with gloves on. The door bell rang and Logan just hollered through, "Come in, it's open." Kitty and Peiter walked through the entrance to the lounge, Peiter guarding Kitty as she moved. Logan's eyes meeting the bigger mans as they stood in front of them both.
Moving out from under her Logan just looked through the bigger man and nodded at him to follow him. Peiter went with Logan through the back door as Kitty sat down across from Marie.

Kitty's eyes locked onto the fire her face a little older and a few lines were beginning at her eyes and mouth, prematurely ageing her. Silence reigned for a while as they both expected to hear fighting coming from the back. When the silence dragged on Marie opened her mouth to ask why she was there when Kitty just started to tell her.
"I remember the day you left, it's something I can't ever forget. I was just coming to get you up for some reason, I *had* to get you up, that was the reason I was in that hallway. That was the reason Logan grabbed hold of me, you see *I* didn't remember going into the hallway, all I remembered was having a *need* to get you up. Then when I felt someone touching me I panicked, I began to scream, when I saw it was Logan I just phased out."

Kitty's face turned to look at her own, the look in there was something she'd never seen in Kitty before, a anger in her eyes, a steel in her blood. Marie kept silent, her eyes taking in everything that she was seeing, her senses telling her that Kitty was furious, that there was something else on her mind she wanted to share with her but was unsure whether she should.
Marie wrapped her hand up in the huge robe she was wearing and reached out to Kitty's arm, she didn't flinch or back away from her and it did surprise her when Kitty smiled at her when she touched her.
"It is nice to see you back, you look well. Both of you but I don't think you should stay here, it's not safe for you, either of you." Marie's face watched as her team mate struggled to find the words she needed.
"I can't prove it, but I *know* I didn't go to that hallway under my own steam Rogue, I didn't mean to hurt him or disturb you both. I mean I knew you cared for him but I didn't think you were both like that, so when everyone was talking about it all. About how he'd been coming out of your room when he bumped into me....." She looked away into the fire before she finished the sentence. "I remembered."
"I remembered everything a month afterward, I was going to your room and Logan was coming from the other direction. He *hadn't* been coming out of your room, he'd been going there like *I* had. It was a lie, everything was a lie wasn't it?" Kitty was searching for the truth in her eyes, the desperation she was showing made her scent hike, sending her blood pressure rocketing.
"Yeah, it was. Logan didn't do it." Kitty closed her eyes and hugged herself, rocking slightly as she did it. Her whispers reaching her sensitive ears and making her wonder what else had been going on here while she'd been away.

"Kitty?" Her face lifted and Marie saw the tear tracks running down her face, Kitty shuffled herself forward onto the edge of the sofa.
"Would you hold me? I'll be careful I promise...." the naked need was something that she'd thought she'd never see from someone here. That she was reaching out to her, a relative stranger but Logan inside her head was urging her to let her in, to let her touch.
"Sure...But why Kitty?" As she let her inside the circle of her white terry towelling arms she felt the young woman shudder as she whispered her secret into her ear.
"I'm pregnant, thing is I don't remember having sex with Peiter, I mean we fool around sure but neither of us *remember* anything concrete." Kitty shifted so she could see into Marie's face her voice dropping even lower as if she thought the walls would hear her words. "I mean if he'd do what he did to you and Logan...." Kitty knew who the 'he' was, she just couldn't say the name. The one she'd trusted with her safety, her well being, her soul.
"What do you remember?" Kitty moved a little closer and lifted her head off her shoulder leaning her hair against Marie's own.
"Coming back from a mission, both of us in the rec room after hours, snuggled up. Next thing I remember I'm waking up next to Peiter and I'm *sore*, we've both kind of accepted it but it's been so hard to talk to anyone. No one even wants to admit that we're an item, never mind sleeping together. I only joined the team so I could be near him, doing recon and small pick ups." Kitty's arms locked around her shoulders as her voice broke up, her solidity crashing around her and firing Marie's blood even further.

She held her for a while as she cried it out, she didn't say anything to her, she didn't need to. Kitty would work it out for herself, they both would, but it was the thought of someone *using* her and Peiter's relationship that hurt her the most. Wolverine was being cynical, it was a trap to snare her, to make her feel sorry for them, to not take her revenge. But looking at the once proud victim in her grip made her re-assess what she thought she knew. She had to be careful here, especially if Xaiver was doing a little social engineering of his own. A mutant baby from two powerful mutants....her mind suddenly filled with scenario's straight from Logan's own paranoia.

When Logan and Peiter came back inside from their walk she had a plan in her head, fully formed and ready to work. Kitty was alseep on her shoulder and when Logan saw her eyes he just nodded and took Kitty's small form from her. Handing her back over to Peiter who just looked like he'd been handed the worlds wealth in one hand. Pulling her tight to him they left as quietly as they came. Logan wrapped himself around her, nuzzling her throat as she settled herself in his grip.
"You okay?" She shook her head, making him pull her around so he could see her face, "Talk."
"Ah won't be until ah find out what that bastard's upto." Logan smiled and kissed her quickly, letting her settle back into his warmth.
"We will darlin', we will. I promise ya."
She let herself keep that piece of comfort, Logan kept his word and he'd keep this one. If she needed to know what he'd talked to Peiter about he'd tell her, if not he'd never mention it. It had something to do with Kitty of that she knew without being told, Peiter had always kept his own council and for him to talk without prompting was something important.

Oh yeah she'd go digging and she'd unearth everything she could, every last dollar and cent, every finger in every pie, she'd find it all. Her eyes went to the fire and the ashes beneath it, aftershe'd finished here there wouldn't even be ashes for Logan to piss on.

Wednesday was the best day so far, they'd gotten there on Monday morning, Tuesday had been a training day for her and Logan. He'd put her through her paces, run her through the grounds, hunted her, stalked her and finally she'd turned the tables on him when they'd been in the final moments of their 'workout'. She'd turned her skin on to 'full', she'd dropped him in seconds, as if her anger and rage had honed her skin's appetite. Scared when she didn't feel him move away she shut her skin down, holding his shuddering form to her. His breathing steadying out soon after and his growl making her tears flow and her voice whispering her hurried apologies into his skin.

He hadn't reprimanded her, he hadn't gotten angry, he'd just thrown himself away from her, pulling his naked skin away from hers. Leaving her alone in the forest, naked, resting on the ground wondering why the hell she'd done it. While inside she could feel Wolverine calming down, that she'd still proved that she could hurt him while he was controlling her reactions. She didn't like to be controlled, neither did Logan but at the moment they had to work as a team and she'd been angry and struck out at him.

She'd been resting in front of the fire when he'd walked in smelling of whiskey, good whiskey at that. Unconsciously she'd searched his scent for another female but found nothing but alcohol oozing from his skin. She'd wrapped herself back up in the robe she'd used that morning after her shower. She didn't apologise for her behaviour there wasn't any point, she'd meant it, she'd wanted to show him she didn't like being told what to do, treated less than she *was*. Logan sat on the floor across from her, resting his head on the seat of the sofa, he looked as if he'd been torn in two. She didn't move toward him she just let him stew.
Finally he looked at her, wiping his hand down his face he sighed, "Look this isn't easy....I'm expecting a lot out of ya without too much information I know. It's just that...." He looked at the end of his rope and Marie had to shift toward him a little and his eyes caught her movement. When he looked back at her his eyes were sparkling, the wetness something she hadn't expected to see. "Look ever since Pete came here....Jesus this isn't easy....." he pulled out a small bottle from his pocket, lifting it and draining all the liquid from it before continuing. "You wanna know what we were talkin about?" Marie nodded, her mind throwing all sorts of scenario's up into her view. Logan opened his arm to her and she got off the chair seating herself so he could hold her to him while he spoke.

"He came with Kitty because he wanted me to see proof of what he'd been thinkin. I smelled her in the dinin' room.... Jesus Marie I don't know what to think anymore, what to do? At the moment the best I think we could do is just get the hell out of here, deal with what he sends after us when it gets to us." She felt his breath hitch as he struggled to talk and not let his emotions overwhelm him. "I *NEED* you *safe* and this place isn't SAFE!" His hands tightened on her an it was then she realised just how much he'd been quashing himself to appear calm, to appear 'normal'. He'd been blocking everything and everyone out because he'd *had* to, so when Kitty had approached them....

She gripped his head and pulled herself into him, kneeling up so he could rest himself against her. The bottle was still in his hand, pressing against her back, the weakness he was showing her, the doubt something he'd never have let her see before. She'd shown him she didn't need him anymore, she could kill, survive on her own and he was wondering why she was still there with him. Why she was still letting him near her, when he was ordering her around and telling her what she can and can't do.

Thing was he was keeping her alive here, there were things in play that she didn't know about and until she did she couldn't act, *they* couldn't act. His breath was hot on her skin and his whiskers rasped against her reminding her that he was human, frail, weak, just because he healed didn't mean he didn't *feel*.
They were back where he'd been treated and used like an animal and he was still trying to get out of the mindset Xavier had trained into him. They were both fighting for control here, her over her own mind and him over his own life.

"Logan, Logan, look at me..." she pulled his face away from her skin his eyes red-rimmed and glassy his lips forming words that she knew would form 'I'm sorry'. She stopped the words with her bare finger, "Ah'm not, we came back so we could finish this Logan, you said it wouldn't be easy an it ain't but it's worth doin sugar. We'll be free, both of us an maybe some others too." Stroking his hair she saw the doubt fade in him and the usual steel refill his eyes, the grip he had on her changing from fearful to possessive. "So tell me what did Pete say?"

Wiping his face again with her robe this time he sighed, his voice rumbling over her skin as he played with the ends of the robe in front of his face. "He told me about the day we left, how Kitty told him she didn't know how she ended up there on the corridor. She thinks that Xavier made her go there." He found her gaze matching his own, they both knew he did but for someone else to come to that conclusion was good too.
"An when they woke up together naked he kind of freaked. Didn't beleive it at first but when Kitty told him she was carryin' he just accepted it. He knows Kitty ain't the sort to go wanderin; besides she spends all her time with him, when she ain't out collecting more brats." Logan's face became strained then as he tried to find the right words to describe what he was thinking, how to make it sound plausable and not a paranoid fantasy.

"Pete told me he's been out nearly every day, takin the truck an pickin up stray's. Some o' kids he's picked up stay here for a while then just go, he asked Scott about it and he just told him that they'd gone to the West Coast. That there's a second school out there, or startin to be...An that's the thing as far as I'm aware there never was a school out there. He tried lookin but he's not sure if he's bein stupid."
"So you think Xaiver's doing what? Sellin' em? Keepin em somewhere off the radar what?" Logan looked frustrated, angry almost as he held her.
"Marie, I've been to the places out there on the West Coast, been *sent* there to 'clean house'. Xavier has houses out there sure, but if they're his they sure ain't schools, they're test beds, trainin' places."

Marie's mind was racing, trying to remember the maps in the archive, she knew there was a line between the two factions, a sort of Mason/Dixie line that was crossed constantly by both sides. But she was out of the loop, what she remembered at the moment wasn't enough, looking to Logan she went to him for the names of the places he'd been to. "Where did you last visit?"
"Barstock, southern end of California, found a 'house', cleaned it and reported in." He sounded detached from the thing as if he was reading it from a sheet like a newsreader.
"How many were there?"
"Adults?"
"In total?"
"Fifteen, several adults, ten kids; teenagers really, a cook, that was all. Burnt the place to the ground afterward, I got in through the roof and hid in the crawlspace till everyone was asleep. There were some empty beds there but it didn't look like a school, there were weapons stored there." Marie's face must have asked for her because he filled her in, "Guns, knives, mainly handguns, a few mines, bags and webbin', a couple of shotguns. Stuff you could train a kid to use without a problem."
Marie looked at him, her eyes searching the face of the man she loved, his memory might not be great but he had good direction sense.
"Think you could direct me there using landmarks?" He looked through her for a second then he nodded.
"Why?"
"Because tomorrow I'm going to go diggin in the archive and we'll see just where Xavier sent you and how he knew what would be there."
"You think he...." he never finished the thought but if he was correct then Xavier had more in common with his so called enemy than he did with anyone else.

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So thats how she'd ended up back in the archive with one of the secretary's watching her every move. She'd started on the reports about Magneto, about his exploits since she'd been off team and away. There were several incursions that they could have done with Logan's expertise but he'd been training her.

Magneto seemed to be pulling his resources south, going toward the borders of Mexico, his attacks had been centred on the south. The worst at a facility at Portalis New Mexico, a place where several hundred mutants had been rescued but over a hundred workers and military were killed. The place was a research centre, according to the file, it was looking at the genome that caused mutation. The head of research there was a mutant himself if the picture was anything to go by, the blue face wasn't human and neither was the fur that covered it. She took note of the name and the place he was last listed as living, if the X-Men had done him a favour he might be more open to sharing information with one of the people working for them, mainly her. Doctor Hank McCoy would be getting a request through the post soon and she hoped it wouldn't be ignored.

Digging through the stacks of reports she did notice the file on Emma, it was thicker than she remembered it to be. Pulling it out she opened the file under the gaze of the secretary, smiling at her she spoke to her icy gaze. "Gotta keep up if ah'm gonna be any use to anyone, mind if ah take a few bits back home with me? It was never a problem before as long as ah returned them to their right places?" The woman seemed to mull it over for a moment then answered her.
"As long as you return them to where you find them I'm sure it won't matter. You'll be taking the archiving over of these reports anyway won't you? So feel free to take as many as you like, I've enough to do already without people under my feet all day." The tone she used grated on her nerves and made her knuckles itch, the self centred smugness of it made her insides crawl and she forced a smile on her face as she collected the pile of documentation in front of her. It showed everything that Magneto had been upto, Emma Frost and several other factions in the mutant world.
Taking her booty she left the sour faced woman behind, not realising the woman who'd just let her leave shifted her skin for a second. Turning from a middle aged woman into a younger woman with dark hair and violet eyes, a tiny smile on her face as she watched the door where she'd gone out. Her voice dripping with laughter as she let herself out of the window, "Good luck, your gonna need it." With that she shifted again, a large black bird beating it's wings together as it climbed for height, home was miles away and she had a report to give. Emma would want news and what she'd left out for her would move things along nicely.....

When she'd gotten home, Logan was missing, a note on the kitchen table told her that he'd gone for food. They weren't going back to the house for their meals tonight, Logan food meant steak or some large meat product. Smiling she took over a corner of the table and spread out the files she'd brought back.

She was still there when the lights suddenly switched on above her head, flooding the dim page with light. Logan was stood with a bag filled with something that smelled wonderful. "You'll ruin your eyesight readin' in the dark, just because you can doesn't mean you should." Blinking and wiping her eyes she looked out of the windows, the dark had fallen outside but to her she'd been sat in dim light. Her train of thought stopped by Logan's intrusion and the scent of food making her stomach rumble. "Hungry?"
"Yeah, starvin'." Laughing at her as her eyes locked onto the bag he was bringing over to her. Depositing it next to her files, his gaze scanning the stuff she'd just been looking at.

Her own hands were devling inside the bag pulling out a huge sandwich, hot pastrami falling out of the nearly foot long sub. Logan was reaching toward the files when she slapped the food into his hand and pulled his head back up to look at him. "Food, now, hungry woman makes for snappy sex later." Smiling he took the food and dropped the paper from his hand. Her own hands plunging back into the bag for the chicken she could smell at the bottom. Plucking out the container of fried chicken her smile broke over the table making Logan chuckle as her stomach echoed the growl she'd unknowingly released. Slapping him playfully she sat across from him with the bucket of chicken in her lap.

Being able to relax and just 'be' made up for the tensions they'd been feeling over the last couple of days. Logan had relaxed a little when he'd realised that Xavier wasn't going to move on them yet, they had time to plan and time to get things sorted out. Xavier had other problems to deal with that had nothing to do with them.

They spent the evening eating, there wasn't much to say between them, the pages of the files slowly creeping over the surface of the table as the food dwindled down. The files contents were digested along with the last of the chicken, Logan pouring over the X-Men mission reports; an occassional snort coming from his mouth as he read something that amused him. Marie on the other hand was reading about Emma Frost and her 'organisation'; the words on the paper made her out to be a lacky of Magneto. Yet the evidence was pretty thin on the ground if you looked from a balanced standpoint, there was even a leaflet inside the file. A coloured booklet a lot like the ones Xaiver gave to the families who left their kids here on purpose and paid for the priviledge. Looking it over she could see the defensive positions on the photograph and it suddenly came clear why they had this information. Her hands flew to the file Logan was looking at, pulling through the pages until she found what she was looking for. A recon report done by Ororo and Kurt, Ororo had gone as a prospective mother looking for a place for her child and Kurt had done some 'searching' of his own with his particular skills. Their findings weren't anything special, a school, a few dormitories of kids (both mutant and human), a list of teachers and the school boards license showing their list of subjects covered.

Kurt found nothing unusual in his search, just a school and children playing happily, learning in an environment where everyone was seen as a valid human being mutant or no. There was a postscript added by Xaiver, reading that they should keep an eye on the school, just in case they had anyone infiltrating their ranks. Also for cases of child abuse or bullying of mutant children, they were to make regular contact and keep Xaiver updated about when Miss Emma Frost actually came back to the school grounds and if she did while they were there they should do they're best to follow her and find out about their 'other' operations. A file number followed and her hands were searching the pile she'd brought out with her hoping that it was here. Not finding it on the table she opened up every file that was there in the hope that it had been pushed into one by mistake. She was through her third fiel when she caught the number on the edge of the small grey file. Brandishing it up to the light she whooped "YEAH! Got it!"

Logan was watching her over the papers he was reading, her scramble through the files to find the thing she needed to get hold of. A questioning eyebrow was raised in her direction and she gave him a snake smile as she spoke, "Emma Frost, personal file." Dropping back down into her seat she couldn't defend the rest of the chicken and read at the same time, Logan took advantage ans snagged the now cold chicken from her. "HEY! That was mine!" She gave him an incredulous look of hurt and he just mumbled through a mouth full of stolen chicken that he'd make up for it later. She added, "You'd better bub!" Making him wink at her as he devoured the rest of the bucket and the pages in front of him.
Pulling her attention to the file she held in her hands she began reading the 'closed' file on Emma Frost.

An hour later in front of the fire laid in Logan's arms she was mulling over what she'd read, the rest of the files spread out on the floor. Emma's history was something that read like a trashy novel, a good family, rich, classic schooling until her powers had shown themselves where she'd been taken under the wing of Xavier and Magneto when they were working together on the school. Her personality profile was there too, a psyche evalution and her mutant classification. Picking up the next piece of her life to read it, her fingers noticed the change of texture. Giving the paper a rub she picked up a different piece from a different file, the paper felt different. Dropping it she took another piece from a different file and did the same. Again, different feel from the one with Emma's details on it.

Something was niggling her mind and she began sifting through the pages on the floor, pulling aside every piece that felt different. Logan watched her work, soon she had a different file in her hand, a file that had nothing to do with the archive but everything to do with Xaiver. She'd felt the paper before, it was high quality, not the usual stuff they did the reports on, this was from Xaivers office. She'd typed up letters on this expensive stuff, lifting the thin sheet up to the light bulb she could even see the watermark of Xaviers family on the sheets. Dropping her hand she looked over at Logan, his face was calm but his gaze looked confused as to why she'd just ripped through twelve files and made a mess of them all.
"Someone's tryin' to tell me somethin' Logan," she lifted the thin expensive pages in her hand, at least twenty if her mind was working correctly. "Not everyone here is against us by the looks of things Logan, seems like we're not the only ones tryin' to bring him down a peg or two."

Logan reached over and took the pages from her grasp and began to read them as she went through the files she'd rummaged through. There was nothing missing from their actual content, it was as if someone had put them in there on purpose. Even altering the codex at the file front to hide the new page inside, Logan was quiet, still as he read even his breathing had slowed. Moving her eyes toward his still form she could feel the air thickening as she did it. The scent of blood met her nose as his claws slid out slowly, his jaw tightened, eyes coming off the page as they stared past her and out of the window. He just pushed the pages at her, his breath even but the need for violence palpable in every breath he took.

Taking the pages from him she read the first few lines, her eyes scanning the print hoping not to find what was there in black and white was true.
'Subject Wolverine: Found following last implanted orders, intergration into new operation seems easily achievable, reward program already running, long term plans for Wolverine breeding program looking promising with new mutant female (see additional file). Contacts within military still confused to actual whereabouts of codename Wolverine, continuing programming through stimulus denial and reward for 'correct' mission behaviours as set by original parameter testing.'

It was one paragraph on one page, there were twenty here in her hand, shaking her eyes went down the page. Ororo's name stopped her roving eye next, it listed her fear of enclosed spaces, the mistreatment of her at the hands of an Egyptian thief master. Her role as second in command was also here, that her psychological weakness made her unsuitable for leadership. Plus her 'Goddess Complex' made her difficult to control at times, it listed times and places where she'd gone beyond her abilities to save people, where she'd killed those she thought deserved it. At least twelve different file numbers were listed, one she recognised, the team had been sent out to aid a small country after a devastating earthquake. As she remembered Ororo hadn't gone with them that time, she'd been off somewhere else. Now she knew why.

Looking at the bottom of the page she saw the file name printed there, it was the yearly report from last year. All of the dirt, all of the things Xavier didn't want anyone else to see or know about was here in her hand. Hidden in the other files she'd taken away with her, and the face of the secretary flew back to her. She'd done it, the vinegar faced woman she'd thought about gutting had given her everything she'd needed to start work. Logan was still staring out into space, blades still shining brightly under the light. Looking at his face she sat on his lap, wrapping herself around him. Seeing him finally look at her with a shark eyed gaze, dead, black and unforgiving.
"Hey, we knew he was using you, we just didn't know how much he knew about you before you came here. Now we do."

He just nodded, a blankness had caught him and she was worried about what he'd do to Xavier. Logan had been kept tabs on, watched, monitored; he knew that but it looked like Xaiver had known about him from before then. Before they'd grabbed him and turned his mind and body inside out, Xavier could have helped him, saved him from the pain and torment of it all. Then he realised, how could he have given him the names of the people he'd killed if he hadn't known already? He felt stupid, a jackass, a wolf being used like a trained dog who finally remembered that they weren't meant to wear a collar. Growling he made to get up but Marie stopped him, her smaller hands resting on his chest. Using her weight she was pushing him down, the paper in her hand resting on his body.
"NO! We use this!" She punched his chest with her palm, making the paper rustle, "We leak it, send it out to those who don't trust the old bastard, we hurt him where he can't solve it. We destroy his trustworthy image, tomorrow we destroy the team, you work on Jean, I'll do the Boy Scout." She could see she was reaching him but he wouldn't be satisfied before he had a set of blades in Xaiver's head.
"Okay, but no killin'." She pouted and stuck her lip out at him, the plump pink of it making his groin twitch as she shifted over him. "NO Marie, maimin' sure but no killin'. Not yet." Sitting down on Logan's hardening lap she made sure he stuck to his promise about making up for stealing her chicken.

They'd read the rest of the file in the morning, when they'd had chance to burn off some anger in a positive way.
Xaviers ivy clad walls were about to come tumbling down from beneath and they'd be the ones removing the keystones.

Her mind was focussed, her body humming with the *need* to release what she'd been taught. Standing in front of her was the beta team, Peiter, Bobby, Kitty and Jubilee; Scott was dressed in his uniform also but he was standing to one side as was Logan. The room was blank, there would be no program here, this was an evalution, a test of her abilities. Hence the beta team, they'd be fighting against her one by one, Ororo and Xavier were watching from the observation room. She was wired up like everyone else in front of her, her heartbeat steady and her body coiled ready.

A small nod from Scott and the first attack came from Bobby, a blast of artic air meant to freeze her where she stood. Thing was she wasn't there when it hit the space where she'd been, she was already closing the distance between them. Her fist bunched, pulled back and ready to smash down into the face of Bobby, catching her form through the cold air current he shifted his head. Her blow grazing against a temple, the force behind it still rocking him back on his heels.
She didn't stop her attack, her leg shot out and kicked his balls hard, the armoured cup saving his children but the plastic crack sounded loud in the round room. Shock made him clumsy as her foot shifted to the side of his hip, smashing her bare foot against the joint. The look of pain flashing in his eyes enough to make her shift out of his way as Bobby dropped down to his knees. His own training kicking in as she shifted around him, snagging her leg and pulling her over. A snarl of annoyance left her mouth as she felt Bobby trying to put her in a wrestling move, pinning her down. Relaxing her back and thighs she felt his grip slide on her suddenly liquid muscles. Twisting out from under his weight she turned her own body on his, wrapping her arm under his throat and pressing her knees against his back. Locking herself in place as she pulled back, the choke hold wasn't taught here, it could kill if done too long and Scott had his mouth open when Logan's voice boomed out. "ENOUGH!"

Marie let him go, her arms slamming his head forward into the floor, the red splash of blood colouring the grey tile beneath her bare feet. Standing over the now blood covered face she sneered at the boy beneath her, she could've snapped his neck before he'd even fought back. Logan had been right Scott's training was worthless in a real fight, when it was life an death nothing was outside the rules, because there we'ren't any. She shifted back away from the recovering form of Bobby, she'd hurt him, she could smell the pain on him and the scent of regret. That brought her up as she watched him go back to the team he was part of, the look that passed through them all was something that made her blood cool a little. They'd looked at Logan like that once, like an animal that was only just tamed, as if they expected it to attack them at any moment. Smiling she tried to allay their fear of her, shifting her body and smoothing out the anger she felt running through her body.

"Who's next?" Scott motioned to Kitty and Marie's face fell, what should she do? The air was thickened with fear from both Kitty and Peiter, she had a plan and she voiced it. "Why not give me a challenge One-Eye? Kitty's not much of a fighter, she can kick sure but I've been out with *Logan*." The words hit their target and Scott raised his hand stilling Kitty, Scott turned to smile at her and Logan in turn.
"If that's what you want, Pete arm up, you and me, no quarter."

As Kitty stepped back to go into the arms of Jubilee she could see the fear in Kitty's eyes fade, she wouldn't have to risk her baby. Jubilee's face was watching everything and Marie caught the slight nod in her direction as she led Kitty to the bench that sat near the entrance.
A low snarl got her attention as Logan shifted his stance, from relaxed to tense, she read the message in his movements. No quarter meant she could injure, she could *hurt* them because they were meaning to hurt her. That meant using *everything* she had, every dirty trick, every nasty move, every pressure point she'd learned and finally if she needed to; her claws. Nodding at him she moved into the centre of the room, her bare feet nad hands relaxed, her face smiling as they both approached her. The sound of Peiter shifting was the last thing she consciously remembered, everything that came next was instinct mixed with darkness. Her pupils widening as she realised that this was something she'd been waiting for.

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Jean was taking a rest, her body needed it especially when she was trying to keep out the minds around her. She'd been finding it more difficult lately to keep them out, every hike in emotion seemed to run through her first, as if she were the conduit for the school. Sighing she put her feet up on the counterpane of their bed, relaxing and letting her mind go blank. Going through her usual routine of blocks, strengthening them with repetition. Feeling for the link between her and Scott she let it open, flooding her mind with what he was going through at the moment.

**Blood red, everything was blood red, (she knew she'd never get used to seeing through his eyes like this, her presence wouldn't disturb him or put him off. She wanted to know what was going on downstairs, how the evaluation was going) Rogue was kicking the hell out of Peiter, her skin was the same colour as Peiter's. Her hands were a blur as they found spots on the bigger mans skin and pushed hard. Rogue's face was a mask of anger, of rage, teeth bared, eyes dark, hair loose and flying everywhere. Watching as she used her weight to vault over the bigger man, the bare steel feet rushing toward Scott's face. Her view dropping as Scott ducked her first attack but the blow that sent him onto the floor came from behind. Scott turned quickly, her view again filling with Rogue and Peiter. Peiter had her in his arms, trying to crush her when she dropped her head to his and kissed him. The kiss didn't seem to do much, from Scott's point of view but the memory that flashed up into his minds eye obscuring the view from his eyes made her come up short from the bed.
(Rogue wrapped around Logan, her hips against his, his teeth lodged in her shoulder as he fucked her against the wall of the danger room.) The feeling of arousal that accompanied it made her pride burn as the view returned to Peiter now stumbling away from Rogue holding his crotch. She'd used her body against him and won, turning to Scott she winked at him and licked her lips, a shine to her eyes that made the memory of what Scott had seen rise again unbidden in his mind but this time it was Scott fucking her against the wall not Logan.**

Anger suffused her skin as she flung herself off the bed, her mind already opening the door, slamming it against the wall. Her face a mask of rage as she went to confront her 'faithful' partner. She could only wonder if this was the reason he'd asked her not to link so deeply with him, she could access his surface thoughts but not the deeper realms. She'd agreed with him that everyone needed some privacy inside their own head but if he was keeping things from her....She marched down the hall not seeing the chandeliers above her beginning to swing as she passed beneath them. A gentle wake of destruction followed her path, flowers died, vases cracked, wood aged and crumbled into dust, all she was concerned about was Scott and what he was keeping from her. She didn't notice the death she was bringing with her.

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Scott was having a hard time keeping his mind clear, she was dancing just out of his reach, back flipping away from him. Her body lithe and wrapped in sinful leather, eyes flashing at him, her chest heaving with breath, skin shining with sweat. Peiter was sat on his knees getting his breath back, she'd drained him, taken his mutation and then used her knees to crush his genitals. The only way he'd still be using them *was* because of his mutation, the savage laugh she'd given the air when she'd dropped him made a dark fire leap in his chest.

She was a female version of Logan but deadlier, honed, crafty, dark and he felt himself drawn to her darkness. He wanted to feel her hips against his own, her teeth in his shoulder as he slammed her against the wall. To be the man who'd made her scream his name into the sealed air, he wanted to *tame* her. Even now she was waving her hands at him to come and get her, to dare him closer. Her skin lost the metal hue to it, showing the pink of her own deadly mutation. Steeling his resolve Scott began to run over to her, expectation riding high in his chest as he mapped out the move in his head. Going in low, he'd scoop her up, taking a leg and wrist in gloved hand, shoving her against the danger room wall.

She let him touch her, let him think he had her, felt the exhalation of air and the small smile he let show before she hurt him. Knowing his scent had heightened the longer the fight had gone on, he *wanted* her, wanted to plant her against the wall like Logan had. Needed to feel her writhe against him again, wanted to hear her say his name in his ear. As he picked her up she knew what was coming, she let him plant her against the wall, felt his erection tight and hot against her as he tried to drive the air out of her lungs. Shifting herself she let him drop into her hips and everyone saw the reflex push of his own into hers.

Inside her mind she reminded herself that this was the man who was going to give her to Magneto, use her as *bait* to catch an enemy not caring if she lived or died. This was the man who thought her worthless as a human being but fine as bait to draw out others, never training her because of the 'difficulty' of her mutation. Giving her the tasks no one else wanted or would do, she was a second stringer, a back up, a robot solider programmed to do as was asked but no more. She wasn't Kitty, she couldn't slip into places, her mutation drove her mad for a while before she'd learned to assimmilate the minds or like now, keep them out altogether. She could scent his triumph, his body still trying to keep her still as his body fought for dominance over her own.

She let her mind slip down the gears, let the darkness rise in her soul, slipping her legs around his waist, locking them behind him. Her hips meeting his own as he desperately tried to keep her hands away from his face, with each breath he released she tightened her grip. Every breath out she squeezed tighter, narrowing the amount of air he could get, but each time she did it she brought him closer to her sex. Scott stopped struggling with her hands as he realised what error he'd made, then he tried to get her legs off him. Sitting high on his hips she gripped his hair and pulled hard, tearing at his visor. The peices of it smashing on the floor, he was blind and she laughed harshly.

Inside his mind he screamed out for help, oxygen was becoming hard to get into him and she didn't seem to let up. Rogue's laughter ringing in his ears as she let him pull them away from the wall. He'd gotten what he'd wanted, instead of a nubile young woman he'd gotten a harriden with thighs of iron. He tried throwing her to the floor, his own vision becoming black as she continued to squeeze her voice whispering to him as she did it. "Ah know what ya had planned for me ya bastard....bait for buckethead!" Suddenly her grip loosened and he felt her shifting away, oxygen filled his crushed body, a pair of goggles thrust into his searching hands. Logan's voice gruff and cold as he handed them over.
"Here, we don't want this an unfair fight do we?"
Snapping the goggles on he opened his eyes to see Rogue still heaving with effort and Logan looking at her with obvious pride. She looked over toward Kitty and Jubilee a smile on her lips but a look he didn't recognise in her eyes. When she turned her face back to his the darkness was back, a smile on her plump lips reddened by the exercise. She was deadly but she was attractive too and he felt his body twitch as she looked him over before moving back into the centre of the room.

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Jean opened the door to the veiwing room, there was Ororo and Charles watching the display below them. Taking her place at the side of Charles she didn't notice her mentor turn to look at her with a look of open fear on his face as her mind expanded and took in the entire room below. Eyes narrowed as she saw Rogue in the middle of the room her young body heaving with effort and the dishevelled look of the beta team. Keeping her voice neutral she spoke, "How's it going?" Ororo didn't look away from the room below but she did answer her friend.
"Very well, Rogue is a very good fighter, she's already put Peiter down once, now Scott's giving it a go. He's holding back from hurting her too badly, this is only a test of her abilties after all. But what we've seen Logan's training of her has been very complete." She folded her arms and kept her eyes on Scott, while her mentor at her side hurriedly began building blocks in her mind surruptiously.

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Scott was hurting, she could smell it, when Logan had tapped her shoulder telling her to let him go she'd understood. She hadn't wanted to let go but she had, she couldn't kill him, not yet. The pride she's smelt from Logan had been enough to make her smile though.

Now stood back in the centre of the room she waited for his attack, knowing it would be harder this time but powered by anger and anger made you sloppy. She dropped her height and saw his move just before he hit her, the blow snapped her head back and she growled at her own stupidity. Ducking the next blow she smashed her fist into his diaphram, her knuckles straining to keep her claws sheathed. Moving her fingers swiftly she pressed several pressure points on his body, cutting off blood to his vital organs. He stumbled around her trying to figure out why his chest suddenly felt heavy when his feet felt light.

The door slammed open and Jean was there, everyone looked over at her but Logan and Marie. Scott collapsed and she was over at him with Peiter following her, picking up his leader they ran toward the medbay. Logan didn't run he just went over to Marie and *looked* at her. She replied to his unspoken query, "Ah didn't kill him Logan, you told me trainin' only. Ah know the *rules*, they don't!" With that she left them all, not seeing Logan's smile touch her back as she left the mansion.

Logan looked up at the faces that were still watching from above, locking gazes with Xavier he just stared at him; hard. Before just leaving the room where Marie had just taken apart a team in under thirty minutes. Pleased with himself he went to find Jean.

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The bruising was already colouring in his midsection when Logan walked into the medbay, Peiter passed him in the hallway outside and a nod had passed between the two of them. Enough information in it to tell of the meeting they would have later.

Scott was laid out on the gurney, his face pale and his breathing shallow, Jean turned on him as he walked in. "Just what the hell did you teach her Logan?" The little bleeps and sounds weren't good and he looked at the colour of the man laid out in front of him. Taking hold of his arm Logan pressed a few points, then worked on his bare midsection. The last one emitting a cry from Scott. "WHAT DID YOU DO?" He ignored her scream and just showed her the monitor, the thready pulses were now strong again. His eyes met hers and she shifted back a little from the gaze that was in meeting her own.
"Savin' a life that you should be doin more for. Although with your history I'd doubt you'd give a shit about anyone."

Jean didn't understand what he was talking about, Logan leaned on the edge of the gurney Scott was on and she was about to touch Logan's arm when he just pushed away from her. "I'm not gonna clean up yor messes anymore Jean, you've left too many people behind you sometimes. I'm not a gravedigger for your mistakes." Logan turned his back on her, adding before he left completely, "If you wanna know what I'm talkin about have a dig round in the Boy Scout's head. He knows what you've been doin' where you've been, what you've done. Just know this I'm not cleanin up after you anymore, you'll have to do it yourself."
He left her looking at the man she thought she knew laid out on the gurney, her hands already heading toward his skull.

He heard the cry as he was just leaving the stairs, Jean knew what her lover had been hiding from her, what Charles had been hiding from her. Where she went when she thought she'd been going on 'errands', he did feel a little guilty but he had other concerns now. Like how they were going to ride out this storm he'd just opened up for them. Setting off he ran across the grounds to the cabin by the lake, they had about an hour if they were lucky. By the end of it he wanted them either off the grounds or prepared to kill whoever came close. Survival mattered and whoever wanted to come with them would, the rest.....well that was another story altogether.

The images were tiny lights, single moments, little echoes of the truth. Her hand on someone's dick, touching tattooed skin with her tongue, tasting salt from cheeks that weren't Scotts.

As she touched one it opened like a flower in her skull, the information downloading into her consciousness. A crack in the wall between her subconscious and conscious self widening.

*She'd been following him all night, dressed in her heels and dark suit. She was sin dressed as a woman, her mind had been sending him images of her naked body all night. Her hair slicked back, the red curls dyed black but her eyes shone out to the man who'd been her target. Knowing she could get him to follow her now, his eye had been on her body since she'd walked in. Dressed from head to foot in a titty bar, all grace and power, her sense of self overpowering the deformed stick women who were dancing for cash onstage. She had every man's gaze on her as she walked out of the bar, she gave her target a small smile as she left. Turning her head away and lifting her chin up as she did it, knowing his proclivities he'd be following her as fast as his feet could take him.*

Jean fought to keep her lunch down as the image revolved around her mind, the suit, the dark silk suit was something Scott had bought her in Paris. She'd missed it for a few weeks and he'd told her he'd sent it for cleaning. But why had it needed cleaning in the first place? She steeled herself to finish the view in her head, hands at her sides as she looked at the recovering man on the gurney. It looked like Scott but had she really known him?

*A room, a hotel, light streaming in from a window, her stood in front of a mirror, naked. Skin red, hair messed up and a body on the bed, from the blank stare in it's gaze she knew the mind that moved the body was gone. Watching herself move across the room, wiping down everything she'd touched, cleaning the man's skin with alcohol. Herself taking a small white pill (one she'd handed out too many times not to know what it was), a smile on her lips as she drank bottled water. Rifling through the mans belongings, seeing what she was looking for, a disc, a bright blue disc. Flicking it between her fingers as she dressed herself again in the dark silk, a half smile on her face as she checked the room once more. Using the sleeve of it to wipe her trace from the handle, walking outside with her booty, the nearly dead man left in his bed. Standing on the street corner hailing a taxi, her face unconcerned about those who saw her leaving. The roar of a bike filling the air as a cab pulled up,lifting her face to see Logan pulling to the kerb. A dark look in him as she gave the destination to her driver, knowing that the man would be dead by morning and it was all her fault. Smiling she let herself remember the ride she'd had, fucking the body as well as the mind, taking everything she'd been told to as well as her own pleasure.*

She only just made it to the sink, her lunch was all over the cool steel, she'd seen herself *fucking* a man she didn't know. She'd then raped his mind as she'd been doing it, tearing through his brain and plundering his thoughts. Yet she couldn't remember when it had happened, was it a dream, was it her subconcious playing tricks on her like Charles had said it would? He'd been helping her shore up her defences against her own Id, her dark side that every psychic had to control and defend against. A thought wormed through from the back of her mind, was that what Charles had been doing? Or had he been editing her memories?

She shook her head, no he wouldn't do that to her.....would he? Her view went back to Scott, Scott had been there with her when Charles had been helping her get control of her Id. Giving Scott a view into her mind, a safety valve if she needed it, he'd understand her if the worst came to the worst and her Id broke free. Her palms itched; he'd forgive her for looking deep into his mind but she needed to know. Had Logan been right, were the memory flashes real or were they parts of her sick mind?
Her palms lowered and touched her lovers head, and the world opened upto her powers.

*She was sat with Charles, a smile on her face, her hand in Scotts, Charles telling her to relax. Watching as she shifted into her deep meditation, her hypnosis state, the working state Charles helped her in. When she was there Scott let go of her hand and she felt the air in between the two men tighten. "She came back with a trophy Charles! She came back with a personal effect of the mark, she wasn't supposed to do that." Charles looked concerned at Scott his eyes flashing dangerously as he looked her gently sleeping form over.
"What was it?"
"A signet ring," Charles nodded, to himself a course of action becoming clear in his mind.
"Does it fit you?" The look she caught from Xavier was one she'd seen in Magneto's eyes more than once. Scott cleared his throat before answering.
"I..I don't know."
"Do you have it with you?" Scott nodded and pulled out the small signet ring, studded with diamond and emerald. He pushed it onto his index finger, where it settled nicely, the gold warm against his skin. "Well it looks like all I have to do is build a memory of her buying you it for Christmas." The smile that passed between them cut her heart in two, her consciousness heard the conversation turning to the information, the contract that had been stopped by her actions. It had been a businessman, a man wanting to patent an idea, one that Charles had been working on himself. He'd used her to kill the competition, there was no reason to use her like they had. It wasn't a mission to save life, it was about *money*, it had been about business.

Scott's voice pulled her back to them both, "Will she remember?" Scott looked almost pained as he fiddled with the ring, pulling it off his finger. Xavier smiled at him, his voice oily as he answered him.
"Only that she went to Toronto, went shopping for that ring, dropped off some documentation and came home to her loving family."
Scott nodded in agreement, his voice becoming strained as he spoke again, "It's just as she was giving me the low down on the mission that she saw Logan, he went to the same place she was coming from." She watched as Charles nodded at him, his smile widening as he sat back in his chair.
"You've nothing to worry about there Scott, he was sent to clean up properly. Jean is good at inflitration and information gathering but she's not good at hiding her tracks. It's as if she wants to be caught, I beleive it's her subconscious trying to tell her what she's been doing. I'm re-enforcing the blocks in her mind but she's getting through them, as if her powers are increasing. We'll have to keep an eye on her, keep her from using her gifts so much, the less she uses them the better off we'll be." He moved out from behind the desk and she saw her mentor wheel toward her vulnerable form, his hands reaching out to her skin. A scream lodged in her throat as she watched him edit her memories, her thoughts, her *self*. Seeing her own face come back round after the 'treatment' and the smile in her eyes thinking that she'd been helped by those who loved her.*

Now she knew better, now she knew and the first thing she'd be doing would be trearing down the blocks Charles had put in her head. All of them.

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Logan was pacing and Marie had had enough of it, "WILL YA SIT DOWN!" Her voice was strained too, she knew what Logan had done and his need to run but she'd vetoed that idea. She wasn't running, no way, not now, they were so close to breaking it up, destroying the X-Men, stopping their crusade.
Logan spun on his heel anger making him spit the words out across the room to her.
"We should be outta here Marie! As soon as that fucker realises what we've done he'll be up here all guns blazin'. I don't have a much of a mind left and I want to keep it!"

She understood his fear, his need to run, hell she nearly agreed with him but they weren't taking Jean into account. She'd been betrayed too, used, damaged by those who 'loved' her, surely she'd be on their side. But there was Kitty to consider, she surely wanted out of there but how? And it had been the files stacked on the table that had given her the clue. The Secretary! She'd done this, so maybe there was more she could do but first she needed to know who she worked for and that meant going back to the house in the morning. Staff worked normal hours 9-5 and she'd be there bright an early to get hold of her. So at the moment they were in limbo and Logan was never any good when he didn't know what was happening.

"Logan go over there and sound out what's goin' on, if you think we're better off runnin then ah'll follow your lead but if things are fallin apart over there; we need to be here." He stopped pacing and his stance was all purpose again.
"You sure?"
She knew what he wasn't asking, if things were bad he'd just kill who he could and they'd run. If things were in their favour then things would be different, but they would *have* to stay. They were under control as far as Xavier was concerned, it was Jean who was the weak link and had been for a while. If she'd broken then everything was up for grabs and they were about to take everything they could.
Logan left her watching him running across the ground using the shrubs as cover, heading for the house. Holding her arms to her own body she looked over the files again and picked up the phone. Dialling out for an outside line she dialled the number for Emma's school.

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The house looked fine but the scents and smells he was picking up weren't, children scared and afraid. Listening to Ororo soothing nerves and drying eyes, the sound of an engine roaring away from the front gates. Spying a tree he shinned up quickly, the red of Scotts car losing itself down the road, swerving and making a mess of the traffic. Whoever was driving wasn't used to it, either that or they were drunk. Dropping silently down he snuck around the house to the back of the kitchen, peering in he saw the beta team white faced and snapping at each other.
"What if what she said was right? What if all this is a lie?" Kitty was stood against the counter-top her face pinched tight. Peiter was nearby his body in touch distance, her eyes were looking around the people around her. She looked at Peiter straight on before she spoke again and he saw the small nod pass between them.
"I'm pregnant."

The words stopped all conversation, everyone looked at Kitty, her eyes filling with tears as she spoke to the people who were her team mates. "Thing is we don't remember it, we don't remember a thing about it. Either of us, we knew we were in the rec room relaxing the next thing we're waking up next to each other." She looked around the pale faces and saw their shock settling into their bones. "The last thing we both remember clearly was seeing Xavier pass the Rec room doorway on his way to bed." The implication was there, she'd laid it out for them all to see, Peiter came and wrapped himself around her. Tears were dripping from her wide eyes as she snuggled into his bulk, her voice cracking the silence around the suddenly old team members.
"If he could do that to Jean then what else could he do to us? To me! To Rogue and Logan? To anyone? I believe her, she said we'd be better off on the road and I believe her. I'd rather raise my child in prison than here, at least in prison you get a release date."

Logan left them to their thoughts and conversation, Peiter was coming to see him later, they had plans of their own to sort out. This had just moved things forward a little, he just hoped Xavier was distracted enough with Jean and Scott to allow him the freedom he needed to pull it off.

When Logan got home Marie was deep in thought, her hand resting on the files that were scattered around the room. Hearing Logan's breath her eyes turned to pierce him with a strong glare. "So?"
Logan dropped bonelessly into the sofa, his body reminding her of a big cat just relaxing after a hunt,his head dropped back toward the ceiling opening his throat.
"They're all frightened, looks like Jean took off takin' ol Boy Scout with her. She said a few choice pieces though by the looks of it, but that's your job to find out what she said tomorrow."
"We stayin' then?" Logan's face dropped back down from where he'd been studying the ceiling above him, his features suddenly lupine.
"Darlin' I wouldn't miss this for all the information in the *world*." His smile was cold but the look in his gaze was easily read, he needed her and she shifted over toward him. Standing in front of him, her hands uncovered she let her touch graze over his bare skin. His head following her every move over his skin, seeing how much he needed her touch, her presence, her love. Stilling her hands on his face she caught his eyes and the fire inside them.
"Can we do this?" A doubt crept into his eye and she nodded as it fell over his face, she nodded in reply. "Ah know, that's why ah contacted Emma." Logan froze up; his grip on her increased as his eyes widened mouth about to open when she shushed him. "We both know what she is, an if these," she motioned to the files that were scattered around the room. "Came from someone who's been on the inside here, then we use them too. We have an option here Logan, we're not alone and maybe we'll have somewhere to run after all this is over."

His mind was whirling, she'd contacted an enemy *again*, when Emma had been in that flyspeck town she'd been seething with hatred for them both. He'd sensed her rage, her barely controlled hatred of them both, but if Marie could convince Emma that they weren't a threat to her....The idea had merit, he had to give her that much but how much could they trust someone who thought they were the enemy as much as Xavier?
"This secretary, she back tomorrow?" Marie nodded as she rubbed his forearms, easing the tension he was carrying in his arms making his fingers relax on her skin. "Okay, tomorrow mornin' you go and get that secretary. If I know Chuck he'll be havin' kittens about Jean, I doubt he'll be showin his face for a couple of days. He'll be tryin' to get her back here."

Marie nodded to herself, she knew that Xavier would never give up on someone as powerful as Jean. He'd never let her go, not without a fight and exactly how two telepaths fought she had no idea. But while he was distracted they had free reign, now that Scott wasn't there along with Jean that would mean that things would be stretched tight. Giving them the perfect opportunity to 'help out', after all they were part of the 'team' weren't they? She gave Logan a cheshire cat smile an slid her hands back up his forearms, shifting her hips as she did it. Smiling when he caught her mood and followed it with his own building excitement.

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Three hours later Marie was asleep and Logan was outside resting on the porch, his cigar burning brightly in the deep darkness. Lifting his head to the wind he caught the scent of warm metal, smiling as he turned into the darkness to see a form solidifying out of the darkness.
Peiter's face shone in the starlight, a man made of metal, a statue come to life and for a moment Logan could almost believe in fairy tales. When he got to the porch Logan dropped off it and motioned to the lake, they'd talk there. He didn't want Marie disturbed by their plans, if she knew she'd probably want in on them as well. This needed a kind of secrecy that men like Logan and Peiter knew how to hide, Marie couldn't hide anything very well where as Peiter could.

When they reached the waters edge Peiter's red eyed gaze seemed to calm a little, his breath was even but the man's stance was filled with tension. He began quite slowly, "We discussed what you suggested, she won't do it. I have to agree with her, what was done *is* done all we can influence is how we manage the after effects. A child is a child Logan, no matter how it came into being." Logan nodded, he'd known what the answer would be, even before Peiter had left the last time. Kitty looked fragile but she wasn't, not when her mind was made up. Peiter started again, his voice a deep rumble in the starlit darkness.

"Jean said some things, she said she'd been tricked, used." He turned to the smaller man who was stood looking out over the water like him, searching for answers to the statements that had been given by Jean.
"She had, Xavier used her to kill, used her talents to destroy people he wanted out of the way." Peiter's stillness was something he'd expected, as if he'd expected what he'd been told to be true. Logan turned his eyes to the bigger man and met his red gaze, "Just like he used me."

There was no show of emotion, no outward sign of movement but he knew Peiter had taken a step back from him somehow. Moving his gaze out toward the water Logan continued, "Xavier used me, my gifts, my *talents*. Ever since I've been here I've been doin his dirty work, things no one else is ever supposed to know about, never mind mention." He took a drag from his cigar, the nicotine making him buzz slightly from its potency. He almost smiled when he looked at the big man who was now thinking. "Think he'd had any plans that way for you?" Peiter just snapped his gaze to Logan, too fast for him not to have hit the nail on the head. "Thought so." Peiter shifted his gaze away and looked out on the dark water, hoping it could expunge the stains on his heart and soul.
"See Pete, the bastard doesn't care about the kids here, he's trainin' you all to kill for him. Go here, rescue that kid but not that one, go to this lab but not that one. Ever wonder why? Ever wonder what happened to the kids that never stayed here, those who's powers were so much less than he thought they would be?" Logan made sure to catch the man's eyes, bringing his hand up into view and the light that glinted off the small amount of claw that poked through his skin. "They didn't suffer, hell I'm not Creed, quick, clean an quiet. See once you've been offered things an you say 'no', thats where I came in. Just be thankful you've been useful to him, both of you, otherwise I'd have been visiting you a few hours afterward." He moved closer to the larger man, his hand reaching out to his clothed skin, feeling the metal under his hand flex as he touched him. "I know it's hard to hear this but Pete, you've got a family now. You gotta put them *first*. So tell me, what else did Jean say?"

Peiter struggled at first but at last the large man relaxed enough to change his skin back to normal. "She told us she'd killed people, that Xavier had been messing in her mind, that he'd edited her memories. She said Scott had known, that he'd been helping Xaiver to use her."
"What happened to them? I saw someone leavin'." Peiter nodded to him as the first pieces of light crept into the world turning everything to dusky grey.
"Yes, she came into the Rec room, Scott was following her, trying to talk to her but she wasn't listening to him. We watched as she argued with him, shouted at him that he'd never loved her, he'd been using her, keeping her like a pet for his *master*. The way she spoke Logan.....it was horrible, as if she'd never cared for him. Thats when everything went wrong."

Logan waited in the growing dawn for the big man to continue, the light picking out the tired lines on his young features. "The vase was first, it just cracked then crumbled as they argued, every piece just hanging there in space. A chair went next, crushed as if someone huge had sat in it, it just kept compacting till there was nothing but a flat depression in the floor. I think that's when Scott noticed what was happening to her, he grabbed her, tried to get her to concentrate on him. He looked scared Logan, Scott was *afraid* of her, then she just looked at him. We were all in the opposite end of the room, we'd backed off given them enough room to argue but enough to listen as well.
He'd stopped moving when she'd looked at him, the fear on his face was still there but he hadn't moved a muscle when he turned with Jean to face us all. She'd moved him, thats when she'd told us to get out of here, to leave before he turned us all into zombies. To leave and take to the streets, it was safer there than it was here. She'd left then, taken Scott with her, using her power to keep his feet just off the ground. She walked him backward out of the room and that was the last we saw of them. It scared everyone, no one wanted to move but it was Kitty who went over to where they'd been arguing. She found the hole in the floor and the destruction that followed Jean's wake. All the way to the garage, the floor was almost bleached white, every board, every place she'd passed. She'd left a trail as wide as her body, you can still see it, we don't know what to do about it. The kids when they get up tomorrow will see it, their teachers aren't here, Xavier is locked in Cerebro and Storm is up in her rooms. I don't know what to do Logan." The big man sat down on the dew moistened grass at the waters edge, his experience had aged him in years over the last few hours. Logan sat next to him, the dampness making his bones ache a little as it soaked through to his skin.
"Not much you can do Pete, all you can do is make sure you've got a bag packed an ready." Peiter looked over at Logan in the growing light, his face confused. Logan helped to clarify what he was thinking to the larger man, "Because if the people Xaiver was fuckin with find out he's weak right now, what do you think will happen?" Logan watched the cold thought run across the larger mans face, his body tensed as he made to get up; Logan's hand stopped him dead. "No. Not now, don't go runnin in there like the worlds about to end. Just go to every team member, tell em what you think may happen. Get every kid packed and ready to go at a seconds notice, be prepared Pete because when this place goes south you want to be ready." Peiter nodded and shifted his bulky form up from the ground, turning to leave he stopped short and looked at Logan.
"Why Logan, why did you do it?"
"Why did I do what he asked?" Peiter nodded, Logan found his gaze drifting toward the cabin before coming back to meet Peiter's gaze. Understanding was there in his large face when Logan met his gaze again.
"I understand." Logan's look solidified and he tensed up as the first rays of the sun came over the horizon.
"No you don't Pete, sometimes neither do I. It was just a better option ya know, to have something I'd never had before, someone who gave a damn about me. Not what I could do for em, just for me. An that was what I was doin it for, not for a sick mind in a wheelchair, for that an only that."
Peiter knew there was more to it than that but he wasn't going to push it now, he'd seen them together before all this. He knew how much Rogue had smiled when he'd been home, how much she'd worried about him when he went out alone. Now she was back and she was different, but inside she was still Rogue and she loved Logan and nothing would stop her. Not even Xavier. Taking his leave of Logan Peiter made his way up the paths back to his own woman, her body making their child, it might not have been the best start but it'd get the best from now on. Raising his head to the sunrise Peiter left everything in better hands than his. He'd help but Logan had a plan of that he was sure, he just had to make sure Kitty and the baby survived it.

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The mansion was quiet when Marie went looking for the secretary, no classes were being done, every room looked empty. She went to the biology lab and there the message was clearly written on the board, Field Trip - New York Natural History Museum. Smiling she went direct to the office, she'd hopefully find the secretary there. Wakling down to the office she noticed the pale stripe that marked the floor and walls. As if someone had bleached out all the colour from the world at head height. She heard the tapping of keys from the office, putting on her best smile she shifted the folders in her hand and walked straight in.

There at her desk was the sour faced secretary, her quick eyes following Marie's every move as she approached the desk. Keeping her fingers moving on the keyboard as she waited for Marie to speak to her. "Ah've brought back the files, thanks for letting me take em home last night. Ah've managed to catch up on everything ah needed to...." Here was where she took the risk, "Ah found somethin else too, a file ah think you didn't want anyone else to find. Ah'd put it somewhere safe if ah were you, ya never know who might come lookin'." Her eyes dragged to the interconnecting door between the office and Xavier's private room. When they got back the secretaty just got up from her desk and opened the door to the room, Marie's heart was in her mouth as the woman waved her over. Slowly she apporached the door, had she got it wrong, was this woman really working for Emma? She hadn't confirmed that she was, but she'd hinted that she had someone keeping tabs on Xavier.
As she got there Marie saw the empty room, its state of disarray, the papers that were all over the floor, the whirlwind that had been through the place. Smashed items, blackened glass and cracked wood, her eyes widening as she took in all the damage. "Now that's some temper tantrum, just because his little favourite left." The sour faced woman smiled and shut the door again, her smile resting on her skin easily as she went back behind her desk. Her voice clipped and professional as she spoke to Marie.
"She never was one for clearing up after herself that one."
Marie's face almost split in two her smile was that wide, "You mean that was...."
"Jean, yes."
"Damn, I never thought she had it in her."
"Oh she has lots more than that my dear and if you don't mind I have work to do. Just because the entire place is falling apart doesn't mean I don't have reports to type up." Her right eye winked at Marie and suddenly she knew phoning Emma had been the right thing to do, they weren't on their own anymore.
Logan had told her that Xavier was down in Cerebro and he was going to be down there for a while. She'd play her part in this little masquerade, play the dutiful team member right up until the end. Smiling to herself she traced the pale line down the halls taking in the damage Jean had wrought. Oh this was going to be fun, and her smile darkened the world around her as she went.

"Are you sure?" Seconds dripped by before the man answered, the dial of the french ormolu clock showed it's progress. Time was after all, all they had to use and maybe their time had arrived at last. The man who'd been summoned here stood with his eyes locked three feet above his masters head. To look down would bring the nightmares of those old hands on his flesh again and the scars hadn't faded from the last time. Clearing his throat he found enough saliva in his dry desert mouth to answer the living corpse that sat across from him.

"Yes sir, Jean Grey has been spotted with Scott Summers, obviously out of the control of Xavier." The rattle of air that passed for breath left the sallow lips of his superior.
"I see." Seconds passed, each one sounding like a death knell to the man who stood in front of the desk. Finally he spoke again, a mocking tone entering the dry wheeze of his breath. "We'll have to pay Charles a visit, now his little pet has flown the coop."
"Do you want us to pick her up?" The near corpse straightened up, picking off imaginary lint off it's suit.
"No. Don't go anywhere near Jean Grey, she's liable to turn you inside out while your still a mile away. No we'll deal with Miss Grey later, I want you to concentrate on our investments at Xaviers school. Go collect them, you'll find the files down in research, bring them 'home'."
The man saluted and left the man sitting behind the desk alone with his clocks, just as he was closing the door the dry voice echoed again making his skin crawl. "Be sure to get 'everyone' Addams, and I do mean 'everyone'."

His eyes flicked to the pale fleshed face, the drawn skin, the thin slash of a mouth, white flesh hung over a prominent skull, threads of white hair tufting on a pate scarred with age. The rhuemy eyes suddenly sharp as they caught the soldiers gaze, his wince visable as it did so making the near corpse grin to show it's cavernous mouth.
"After all it is goods bought and paid for." A deep pink tongue ran over the edge of his mouth, the lips too thin to be noticed and the solider couldn't help but shudder as he saw the delight fire in his superiors eyes.

Pulling himself out of there and shutting the door behind him, never more thankful for the metal and wood that seperated him from the man behind it. He always felt like a fly talking to a spider when he went into there, as he walked down to where his men were awaiting his briefing the secretary passed by carrying his superiors dinner. The deep red could be confused for claret, he had once and it had been the scent of copper rising from the unstoppered bottle that had clued in him in to exactly what was inside it.

Shaking himself from that train of thought he got his mind in order; they had a raid to plan. Pushing open the door to his men they were already seated and waiting, smiling he nodded to the projectionist who'd been waiting for his arrival. The lights went out and a picture flicked up, walking over to it he gestured to the mansion that now covered the screen. "Gentlemen, here's our target. A simple clean and sweep, we're to collect as many viable specimens as possible, level 3 to 5 only. Anything below that, clean." A nod passed through the assembly, "You have your packs, get them read and start your training. We have a week before we head out, so learn your targets and you'll get home. Sloppy work on this one will mean you splattered all across New England."
An interior diagram flew up onto the screen, showing a floorplan and description of rooms. "Get acquainted with this plan, there are tunnels but we don't have the plans to those. So you'll have a window of three minutes tops to get your targets aquired and secured." His face scanned the men gathered around him, the smiles had faded and they now had the faces he'd seen so often, the ones that had succeeded so often where others had failed. Smiling at the gathered host he left them to get on with their planning, while he went to shower the touch of his superiors gaze off his skin.

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Marie sat in the garage, all around her metal had been heated, warped and discoloured, as if someone had been touching the cars with a blow torch. Xaviers Rolls had a blistering scar all down one side, the paint blistered and cracking. Her gloved fingers feeling around the edges, seeing the paint crumble as she touched it. Suddenly feeling as if the entire building she was in could crumble just as easily, backing away from the car she made her way back home. She'd met the secretary, seen the damage Jean had wrought on the school, making her glad that the woman was still travelling away from here. She only hoped she had enough sense of self left after being used so badly.

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Scott was still conscious, he just couldn't move on his own, she was controlling everything he did. Even as he signed the resgister to the hotel, smiling to the clerk he wanted to scream at the man to save him, to help him. But as he met Jean's smiling face handing her the pen; he knew that was an impossibility, what he'd done was finally coming to roost on his shoulders. Every step he took was agony as Jean controlled his body, letting him open the door and offer it to her first. Seeing her walk inside the smile that had been on her face suddenly fading and her anger rising. Eyes darkening with it and her hair rising as her powers increased. He was pulled physically from the door wrenching his wrist, the wood slamming into the hole and sealing itself. No one was getting in here until she was ready to let them in, he was stuck with her.

The drive had been murder, she'd driven using her powers, all the hatred and pain forced through the engine. It sat in the car park, it's racing engine destroyed by her wrath, leaking oil all over the asphalt; black blood from the one thing he'd cared about more than her.
She turned on him now, her face schooled into what he liked to call her 'schoolmarm' face, cool, calm, collected but underneath she was seething. She'd used the same face on Bobby when he'd frozen the med bay up as a joke. She'd made him clean bedpans for a month, by hand.

"Scott," her tone was even but the twitching under her skin told him she was close to letting everything go. "You're going to tell me *everything* you know about these little missions I've been going on. I *want* you to tell me or I'll rip it out of your head and leave you a vegetable for the cleaning crew to sort out tomorrow. It's your choice Scott, more than I had by the looks of things." She manoeuvred him so he was standing by the window, the morning light on his face. He felt her grip loosen on his mind, just enough so he could think and speak but he couldn't move. Licking his lips he broke his silence, trying to reach the woman who he'd once loved, cherished more than anything else in the world. And he had to wonder exactly when ideals had become more important than his love for her.

"I love you...." her eyes flashed dangerously as she moved toward him. A sneer on her perfect face sending her usually beauty into Medusa realms, it was then he knew he'd be lucky to get out of here alive.
"Love? Love? You wouldn't know that if it came and hit you in the fucking groin! YOU USED ME! You KNEW what I was doing, you LET him do this to ME! You were supposed to be HELPING me, helping me get control not use me like a weapon." She paced in front of him her hair fluttering in the created winds around her head. Tears were falling now down her skin and Scott wanted to dry them, needed to touch her, to repair the damage he'd caused her. She was the unsure girl again, the one who'd needed his security, his strength, his leadership. The one who'd hidden in his arms when the voices and emotions of those around her became too much for her to cope with. Her wet eyes found his, her body coming closer to his own. She held him still as her hands went for his shades, "You want to know what love is? Love is doing what you can for those you care about, giving everything even when you shouldn't. I loved you Scott, I still do somewhere so I'm going to do this for you. Even when I shouldn't."

Her hands took the shades away, his eyes were wide open as she moved them away. He couldn't close them and he expected to kill her when her hands moved away, what happened instead made his heart leap for joy. She was there, in colour, seeing everything in the subtle tones and highlights he'd been denied for so long. Her hand touched his skin stroking the stubble on his face, a wet smile on her lips. "I've taken it Scott, it's gone, you'll never be able to use it again. I've locked it away, deep inside your mind, burned the circuit in your brain. Your free of him Scott, he can't use you anymore, your free."

Scott was lost in the sight and sensation he was pulling in from his eyes, from the world he'd lost when he'd been eleven to register exactly what she was saying to him. Her next words hit home though and made his bowels turn to water. "Scott, I'm going to be in your mind, all you have to do is show me how this started, why it happened, show me. If you love me, show me."
Her fingers wreathed themselves in his hair, their pads grazing his scalp and he knew if he tried to keep her out or lied to her she'd burn him in an instant. Nodding to her he acquiesced; letting her into the deepest parts of his memory, showing her the truth of it all, of everything he'd hidden from her, every secret, every lie. As he did so for the first time in nearly twenty five years, tears rolled from his freed eyes painting the air with salt as Jean closed her own to read what he was revealing to her. All he could hope was that she still had enough love for him to let him live past today.

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Marie walked into the kitchen at the school, she thought about snagging a few things for their own lunch back home when Storm entered the kitchen. Her face was pinched, taut and her normally clear eyes ringed with red. Storm started a little when she saw Marie in the fridge, she was about to leave again when Marie popped her head up. "Hi, Ro' want some tea?" Marie read her scent, she was confused, hurt, tired, a wan smile found it's way onto the goddesses face.
"Yes I would, thank you Rogue." Smiling at her Marie switched on the kettle on the hob, the silver reflecting the sight of Storm sitting at the large wooden table.
"You okay? Everyone's out ah see, gone to the museum huh?" Storm nodded as she looked out of the window, when her eyes turned back to look at Marie a seriousness had filled them.
"Rogue would you please sit with me?"
"Sure, that is if ah don't scare you bein' so close an all." Storm smiled at her, touching her arm with a bare hand.
"Rogue, you've never scared me. You've always been approachable to me, just because I'm not a touchy person doesn't mean I don't care." The kettle whistled and Marie got up to fill the pot on the counter, Storm's eyes following her movements.

"Jean's gone Rogue. She's taken Scott with her and I don't think their coming back. Charles is searching for her now but he said she's had a breakdown, she's dangerous. We need to find her and bring her home as soon as possible, there's no telling what she could do to Scott or to anyone for that matter."

The words entered her head but Marie knew that Jean was finally realising what she'd been used for and for Jean it had been a terrible wrench to know her fiance had been one of those controlling and using her. Turning back to Storm she schooled her face into the appropriate concerned look, sitting down next to Storm with mugs and the teapot.
"So what's gonna happen to the school? Ah mean we've just lost two of the senior staff, ah can help out a little but ah don't have any experience of teachin."

Storm nodded as she poured her tea into her cup, "Yes we'll have to send out for replacements but it's not just that Rogue. If Jean is so unstable then we'll have to be ready if she attacks the mansion, she said some awful things Rogue. I'm glad you weren't here to hear her, I find it so hard to believe that she could ever believe such things, never mind say them."
"So your sayin we might have to take her down?" Storms eyes didn't meet hers for a moment but when they did the pain inside their depths was obvious.
"If what I saw of you in the Danger Room was a taste of what you've been learning with Logan, you two might be the only chance we have if she comes back."
So that was it, Xavier knew he couldn't control her anymore so he'd find her and send them out to kill her. She knew too much about what she'd been doing and if she got more information from Scott.....Marie nodded to Storm, her hands wrapped safely around the mug she held in her grip.
"Ro' you know Logan would never let the kids here get hurt you know that, if it came to it he'd carry every single one of em out on his back. Me included." Storm reached out and touched her hand, gripping it and squeezing it tight.
"Your right, he's always put the children first, he always went to find you first when he got home. Just to check you were okay, yes I think we should get some plans made, just in case."

Marie smiled at Storm and squeezed her hand back, Logan had filled her in about the things he'd spoken about with Peiter. Two plans were better than one, they'd get the kids safe no matter what happened, as soon as they were away from the school Logan's plan would come into effect. Hers was to get them out of the grounds, over the table they drew up a plan, it was late afternoon when the buses brought the kids back loaded with toys and sugar. But the plan was made, all they had to do was implement it when the time came. Smiling to herself Marie left the school to get back home, she had things to discuss with Logan before the day was out.

Hunger can be kept at bay, so can thirst but despair? It creeps through the strongest minds, seeks cracks in defences like winter ice, expands allowing the crack to widen. Revealing itself in all it's glory, efforts wasted, people lost, opportunities for redemption snubbed, the mind suddenly aware of how fragile everything *was*.

Cerebro was a perfect piece of machinery, of technology far beyond it's time, it was a pity he began treating those that came here like the machinery he relied on. How could he have known when he'd first used the machine what cost it would have on him. Nothing comes without a price and that price had been control over his own darker urges.
His Id, the one who used and controlled all those around him, the one who'd convinced him to use Jean, that he'd never be found out. She'd never leave him, she *needed* him, it was a lie, a betrayal he could still feel if he tried hard enough.

When he remembered the first time she'd come back from a mission and had sought his advice afterward, she'd felt the urge to kill. To destroy their enemies, to use her mind to crush the personality, to rip their bodies apart. Instead of helping her solve the problem he'd used her urges, kept them alive in her mind. Fed her darkness, used it to keep his plans going, even as his own powers had begun to falter. His mind increasingly torn in two, his subconscious fighting all the way up from the bottom of his soul. Having to use more and more time to control it, to use Jean's powers as a bridge to his own.

All that had led to this, where he was searching for Jean, desperate to find her, needing to bring her home. Her comforting presence bolstering his own mental walls, without her to shore up his defences against the darkness that lay inside his soul. He doubted he'd be same man in a year if he couldn't get her to return, he'd be like Erik, worse even.

*But* the sibilant voice echoed in his mind, *You already ARE.* Charles took a moment to steel his mind before continuing his search for Jean, squashing the voice down, closing off the darkness in his mind. Locking the door of his mind, before he shut it the images of Kitty and Pete floated through, along with Rogue's face bloodstained and pale. The sibilant whisper fading in his mind as he controlled his thoughts again, *You GAVE her to an animal, a MONSTER you helped to create Charles. He *KNOWS* Charles, he *KNOWS*.
The whisper locked away, shut down, destroyed for now but it was ever present, ever waiting for the right moment to speak like the original serpent.

Clearing his head he swept the central states, passing so many unfound children, feeling his mental touch for a second and shuddering internally. Never stopping until he was tired of looking through memories of fields and farmers. Of children who could morph, change the winds, had green hair and yellow skin, anger at their parents and families who didn't understand them.

He was about to pull away, rest for a while when he caught the mental scent of Scott, a cry so low he almost missed it. Swooping in like a hawk he dove for the tiny thread of thought, blurring his form until there was no sensation but speed. About to stop when he fell into light, light so bright, so penetrating he felt his soul shrivel under it. A word was the only thing he felt before being thrown mentally out of range, *NO!*. The power of it burning through his synapses, seeing it's destructive power echo through his mind. Bringing the past back to life for him, Erik with arms held wide, a young face and promises of care. The school opening it's doors for the first time, seeing a young Jean and Scott, Emma with her English manners, Ororo her face so scared about what she'd been persuaded to do here.

Everything was laid out scattered for the mental winds, all of his carefully guarded secrets laid open. All the hurts remade and felt afresh, Erik arguing with him over policy. Leaving him when the accident occured, trying to convince him that the only way was one of tolerance, of understanding. Erik had shaken his head and called him 'deluded', that he would turn to his way of thinking eventually.
The deals he'd made in Washington, the things he'd promised to keep his school safe, organisations that would crush his dream if he didn't co-operate. All the faces of those he'd knowingly sent to their deaths, of Logan's own troubled mind and the knowledge of his hand in Wolverine's creation.

It had left nothing closed, opened every door, destroyed the mental blocks he'd been so careful to seal. Every pain every hurt opened up for him to feel again, the core of him knew who had done this. Jean, Jean had found her power, her true power, the destroying angel, the Pheonix. He'd been a fool to think he could have controlled her for so long, but he'd needed her as much as she'd loved him.

Deep down, well beneath the litter of memories and pain remembered the door crumbled and fell away, flowing through the lower levels of his mind. A freedom finally being given to the thoughts and nightmares of a man holding onto his sanity by justification. By collateral damage, by friendly fire, by acceptable losses, death by mistake and bad information. The darkness spreading thin over everything, adding a little grey to a memory, spite and childish jealousy adding spice to events. It was out, free, there were no blocks anymore, nothing to keep his desires from being fulfilled. He had the power to create his Utopia so why shouldn't he? Why shouldn't he bend those who couldn't think for themselves? Make them understand that mutants were just like them, human beings needing understanding and care. They were human weren't they? A different race yes, but not a different species? Erik wasn't right about that, he'd had human parents, just like the children here but what about the baby Kitty was carrying? Would that be classed as human or Homo Superior?

The machinations of his mind reached out through the connections he had in Cerebro, people whom he had no contact with before suddenly knew his name. Members of powerful groups felt his influence, men who killed on command dropped like flies, blood coming from their eyes and noses. His mind flayed across the globe like a loosed bansaw in a woodmill, destroying randomly, people stopped hating mutants in their neighbourhood and concentrated on one, Erik Lenscherr - Magneto. Before the night was over Erik would be dead at the instruction of the one man who'd ever truely loved him.

When Marie had left to go to meet the secretary he'd slipped out the back of the place and lost himself in the grounds. He'd spent plenty of time in them, exploring, hunting, camping out in them when the mansion had been too much to cope with. There had been one weekend he remembered very well....

Every woman in the place had cycled together, they were all in sync and he'd walked into the entire bunch of suffocating hormones. They were all at that point just before they started bleedin', snappy, irritable, cranky and horny all at the same time. He'd just taken his ass out to the woods an let every other male deal with em. Marie had found him a couple of days later, perfectly comfortable outside while she'd had a hard time sitting down that day.

Now he'd have welcomed the sight of all that female power in residence but there wasn't any cohesive leadership here. Not with the old bastard locked up below stairs and Ro' tryin to cope alone. No their greatest chance lay in the Beta team and the contacts outside the mansion. It still riled him that Marie had done something like that without talking to him first. But she had him in her head didn't she? He shook himself from that train of thought as he continued his appraisal of the grounds, he was looking for the best place for an insurgence group to come in over ground. Something with geographical superiority over the rest of the terrain, somewhere you could hide a decent amount of men without being seen or setting off alarms.

He *knew* they were coming, whoever *they* were, Xavier didn't play in little league, he played on the world stage and he could expect a world response when things went south. There were too many kids here who's powers were useful to governments around the world for people to ignore them. Even Ro' she'd been a goddess once, a bringer of rain to the desert, a bringer of hope to the hopeless. But now she was a soldier who killed on command for a man who'd chained her spirit making her fearful. He'd kept his wild safe within him and it was that very thing that was going to keep Marie and the kids here safe.

Lunchtime came and went an he was still walking the grounds, he felt his hunger but there were more important things to do. He'd found a spot, good distance from the main house, a shelved hill the back edge levelled off to a plateau that looked over the forested grounds. Having no wall to run around the property had been a mistake but in one way it left them room to run if it came to it.

Peiter had been a welcome ally, the big man knew about the world, how it worked and how you had to be on guard all the time. He'd seen Peiter's eyes when he'd told him to get Kitty to agree to an abortion, he'd looked at him with hatred for just a moment before the sense of it had worked through. He knew it was the safest option for both of them but he'd hated it being pointed out to him, just as he would've done if it had been Marie. Thing is they no longer had a true medic now, they had nurses yeah but no doctor. That needed remedying as soon as possible, there would be injuries, things that a hospital visit would be needed for. An if they were runnin from the forces he thought were comin' then they'd have no chance of stopping any time soon to help the injured.

He climbed over the layered hill and from here he had a perfect view into New Salem and Westchester beyond that. The glow further south was New York and part of him knew that he could just melt away in a huge place like that but the kids? They'd be picked off and that wasn't an option. He'd made a vow to himself, when he'd come back with Marie, he'd made a vow to pull this down, to destroy it all. But to keep as many innocents out of the crossfire as he could, he'd killed too many on the orders of the madman who was still trying to reclaim Jean.
Turning back to the view of the Mansion it seemed to glow in the afternoon sunlight, the kids were back he could hear their voices from here. Dropping from the top he made his way back home, he had some news to share with Ro' and what was left of the Beta team. Time for some truth, he only hoped they weren't stupid enough to think that Xavier would save them.

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When he reached the kitchen just as Marie was leaving it, her face was calm but her eye's betrayed her thoughts and her emotions. She'd been talking and planning, he could see Ro' inside she was helping kids with their things and dealing with children on sugar. The Beta team were there too and he just kissed Marie telling her he'd speak to her soon. Marie looked at him, seeing the calmness he'd always shown her but there was something to his edge of calm. A readiness to act, as if he were winding up and she stopped her movement, he'd need her. She wound her arm through his and walked back into the crowd of kids and young adults.

Ro' was doing her best but the day had been one of freedom for the kids and they weren't ready to let go of it yet. Seeing it falling into a jumbled mess Logan just bellowed, "ENOUGH!" The silence that followed it was complete, he gave them all a long stare, several kids hid behind their friends but all eyes were on him.
"GO to your rooms, play, draw, watch tv or whatever else you brats do but we need to talk down here so keep it quiet." The assmbled children looked to Ororo first then to Kurt, then to Peiter, finally back at Logan who's patience was wearing thin.
Marie came to the rescue; "Everyone, outside, go burn off some sugar, Ah'm sure you never got to run round the museum." Several faces brightened and the flood just started, the room haemorrhaging kids into the afternoon sunshine. Balls and frisbee's appeared as if created by thought alone, which knowng this lot, were a possibility.

Now all they had left were the members of the Beta team and few older students. Logan foolded his arms and leaned against the doorframe blocking the exit. His gaze met Ro's and she visbly twitched as she met it, she didn't feel safe with him that was obvious but then hardly anyone did.
"Right, what the hell are we going to do now? Wheels has locked himself away from everyone an we all know what happened to Jean wasn't a breakdown. She'd just had enough of bein' used." He didn't add, 'Just like I have' but it hung there in the air between people.

Kurt broke the silence first, "So you're saying that what she said was true?" Ororo's face came to life as she turned on them both, her voice sharp.
"No it isn't Charles would never..." She didn't get to finish her statement, the sound of Logan's claws firing in the kitchen stilled her voice.
"I'm gonna say this *ONCE* so listen good; I *know* she was tellin the truth about doin' stuff for Xavier cos' I've been there after her an cleaned up what she couldn't."
Kitty was the next to speak, "So it's true? All of it?" Her gaze never left Logan's own, the steel he'd always seen in her now coming forward.
"Yeah, it is." She nodded as if considering the entirity of the information being shared.
Jubilee was next, her voice bright and full of life as she looked around the people gathered in the kitchen.
"But what about the other kids? The ones on the West Coast? I mean surely they'll be okay, we don't know that Jean's going to go in that direction do we?"

It was Ro' who spoke to her next, "What kids on the West Coast?" Jubilee looked over at Peiter who was trying not to squirm under her gaze, Ro' caught the look and folowed through. "Peiter? What kids on the West Coast?" Peiter saw Logan nod ever so slightly and the big man cleared his throat while he kept his arms wrapped around Kitty.
"Scott told me about the children that left here, the ones who didn't want to stay here at the mansion to learn under Xavier. They went to the West Coast according to him, thing was when I went looking for their names on the computer there was nothing there. So I did some digging, there were no places out west, but talking to Logan about it I did find something out." He looked at Logan who gave him a barely perceptable nod, he could carry on, he could tell them what they'd talked about.

Peiter straightened up, pulling Kitty with him and his gaze went around everyone here, the older teens and the rest of the Beta team. "What I'm going to say doesn't leave here, *they* can't know or we'll never get them to safety."
"Peiter I don't understand what your saying..." Ro' interrupted the large man who was trying to break the information easily to them all. Marie stepped in again.

"Ro' you remember why I left?"
"Yes, Logan took advantage of you, a student." Marie shook her head and she saw the older woman struggle with the admission.
"No Ro' he didn't. Xavier set us up to leave, he wanted Logan to train me away from everyone here, make me into a killer like he did Logan. Ah mean did you ever *see* Logan act inappropriate with me before that day?" Marie watched the woman struggle to find the evidence in her own memories.
Kitty butted in, adding her own truth to the pile of evidence. "He manipulated me Ororo, I went to Rogues room, not because I wanted to, but because he needed a witness to back up the story." Ororo's face was becoming frozen and the skies outside were darkening a little.
"But how..."
"He forgot about my mutation, my brain reorders itself every time I 'phase' through something. It took a month but I remembered seeing Logan approaching Rogues door from the opposite end, he *hadn't* been in the room with her. Xavier set them up, using me to vouch for his presence sneaking out that early in the morning. Then he implanted the memories of Rogue and Logan being over-friendly the night before. He got what he wanted, Rogue forced to choose and Logan sent out again into the world with only Xavier as the one person who knew the truth. Lucky for them both I remembered what had happened, thing was he manipulated me as well." She looked at Peiter for support and when he smiled she had it and she turned back to face her once proud tutor and friend. "I'm pregnant, thing is I don't remember having sex with Pete here. We remember being in the Rec room after the last pick-up but after that nothing. We woke up together in the same bed and there was no doubt, we'd had sex but neither of us remembered it. The last thing we *do* remember was seeing Xavier wheel by the Rec room doorway, after that; nothing."

The implication was there, it was seen on every face in the room, Marie was moving toward Ororo, trying to support her. Outside the wind picked up a little, making the trees on the other side of the open grass swing. She levelled her gaze at the people who were trying to tell her that the man who'd been like a father to her had manipulated peoples minds and emotions.
"So what you're telling me is that Jean and what looks like nearly everyone here has been used and or tricked by Charles?" Marie nodded and Ro's brittle shell cracked. "I don't believe you! I won't, he's been helping everyone since they got here, how can you say that? Where's your proof?"

Logans voice cut through the air like a knife it was so cold, "Because I'm the one he sent out to kill the kids he didn't want." The silence that followed the statement seemed to crack the world, even the breeze that had been building dropped away leaving the kids outside to play in the now returning sun. Logan pushed himself away from the doorframe and walked over to Ro'. He put himself in front of her, letting her feel his presence, his physical force. Meeting her gaze he let his own rest in hers, not threatening her, not trying to dominate her, just showing her the truth.
"I killed the ones he didn't want, including the little kid you gave your silver chain to Ro'. The one we pulled out of the lab that had the breeding programme, you remember her? The kid that looked so much like you when you were her age?" Ro's eyes filled with tears that hovered on the edges of her eyelid. "I killed her Ro', quiet an quick in her sleep, somewhere outside Denver I think. She's been buried under a pine tree, the necklace is in the branches on the south side, where the sun will hit it everyday." The sorrow that filled the room had everyone choked up but it was the silent tears that fell from Ro's eyes that had everyone still and silent.

Logan reached out and held onto Ro' his hands gripping into her skin, his eyes searching her face as he read her emotions through her scent. "Xavier made a deal with me Ro', he told me I could have Rogue if I did his dirty work for him. After all it was what I'd been built for," Logan's gaze grew dark at those words, becoming flinty as he continued. "An he should know, he had a hand in it." Ro' shook as the words entered her head, people were talking amongst themselves now, sharing things, fears they'd only thought had been paranoia until now. Soon everyone had a tale, an incident or a 'deal'. Ororo heard the words but she still couldn't let herself believe it.

It was when Marie told her about the earthquake that she understood finally, Charles had let it go away, he'd wiped memories of her being there, of her mistake. He'd asked her for nothing in return but she'd felt the power he'd held over her with the information. That she'd caused an earthquake that had killed several hundred people just because she'd lost her calm. She'd let herself destroy because she'd felt like it, and Charles had helped her hadn't he? If he'd sent help there that would have been a better help instead of wiping memories and altering geological reports. He'd covered it up, hidden it, kept her off missions until she was calm again. He'd been using her fear to keep her under his control, she'd acquiesed to his demands on her since then. Just in case.
"Ro' he's been using Jean, me and god knows who else out there. Thing is we've got the kids to think about, the ones he kept, the one's he could find ways to *use*." She looked confused at him and Logan felt his resolve shift a little, she'd been used too but they had bigger things to sort out now.
"RO!" Her gaze cleared and he saw her staring back at him with barely disguised hatred. "Ro' the bastards not in control *here* anymore, Jean the most powerful of the mutants here is gone. We have no idea about who he's been dealing with, what he's promised to people and we all know what happens when deliveries start getting stopped. People come lookin' for the reasons *why*."
"But the children...."
"He doesn't give a damn about them Ro', why else would he cherry pick the ones he wanted and send me out to kill what he didn't want? If he can't have them then their not going to go to Erik, at least with Erik they'd have had a choice. An the West coast? It was a training ground for what looked like assault teams, when one went rogue he sent me to sort it out. To kill everyone there, destroy everything and leave nothing behind, no trace of life or links to *him*."
Logan's grip on her arms was strong, his fingers would be leaving bruises on her but he had to make her see, *had* to make her understand. "You want to know *WHY* I did it, why I did all those terrible things? Killed children who'd had nothing wrong with them apart from not being what he wanted? Rogue, thats all, Rogue."

His own gaze was blurring now as the truth flowed out of him, he was too lost in the personal to worry about who was hearing him. He'd carried it too long, taken the brunt of the hate and pain for everyone else, he needed to let it out. Marie rested her hand on his back as he stood and shook with each breath.
"He *promised* her to me, didn't give her a choice, told me she was *mine* to do with what I wanted when she was old enough to choose for herself. She chose *me* eventually but he still wanted her, still wanted her to be an assassin like me." He breathed in, tasting the pain from Ro' and the shock in the room, Marie's hand on his back keeping him together. "She was the *only* thing I came back for, if I could've I'd have killed that old fuck and burned this place to the ground well before now. But he had her under his roof, in his *grip* Ro', he could've killed her any time he wanted to, sent her on a mission and gotten her killed. But if he'd done that I'd have come back an' destroyed everyone in my path to him and he *knows* that. Your defending a man who sold a fourteen year old girl to an animal your all afraid of. All it was was time, he was waiting his time, now he has two assassins not one, thing is I'm not doin' his dirty work anymore and you have to ask yourself the same questions I did."

He let go of her arms as the tears began to fall from her dark brown gaze, his own tears blinked back he moved out of the kitchen. He needed space, he'd given them the truth, now it was upto them to do something with it.

Piles of snow white paper fell into disarray when his hands searched for the object of his desire, the incessant ringing causing his ears to hum with harmonics that he'd never considered when he'd taken the thing.
A large pawed hand closed around the object finally, the small communicator had been silent upto now and the only reason he'd kept the thing was that it had been very intriguing to his mind. The little metal object had circuitry of that he had no doubt but to how it worked and kept itself powered he had no idea.
Flicking the small buttons on the side made the thing snap open and he brought the small object to the side of his large skull. "Hello?" His deep baritone rumbled out into it, expecting nothing but static he was pleasently surprised to hear a southern female accent come through into his ear.
"Am ah talkin' to Dr Hank McCoy?"
"Yes but whom am I communicating with?" He knew the leader of the X-Men had a wife but she had a Boston accent.
"Mah name is Rogue, I'm the secretary of Charles Xavier. Ah've been asked to contact you about an offer, we have need of your skills here at the School. We'd like to offer you a position, as a medical doctor, seeing to the needs of the children here."

Hanks mind was doing calculations, the newspaper he'd bought yesterday had a few odd occurances in it that if someone looked at them the right way could either be co-incidence or a very bad thing had happened somewhere. Either way it looked like any mutant would soon need protection somewhere and they *had* offered him a spot when they first found him after the attack by Magneto. Looking at the small television he had tuned to the news channel, the sound muted so he could work, he saw the human carnage that had been caused when for no reason people from all over the southwest had suddenly decided to attack Magneto's compound. By the end of the day it would be over and the world would be looking for a new target. He stood out by his very shape and colour, maybe a trip north would be in order.

"Hello? Yes I beleive I'll take you up on the offer, how fast would you like me to get there? I can make it in a couple of days, I'm better if I travel at night. I disturb less people and pass through them easier." The voice on the other end laughed pleasantly.
"No need Doc, we're sending them to you, in fact it looks like they're nearly with you already. Just keep the line open and they'll find you, should be a young Asian woman called Jubilee and a blonde haired man called Bobby. They'll help you with anythin' you want to bring with ya. Hope to see ya soon Doc, there's a few people that need ya here." With that the voice cut away but the little green light on the communicator was still lit, showing it to be still transmitting.

He was still looking at it when the knocks to his door roused him out of his fugue. Checking the spyhole he saw two young adults stood there, one looking up and down the small corridor the other cracking gum and winking at the spyhole. Her face looked just like a pixie would if it had been Eurasian, but he pegged her for northern Japanese mixed with a Polynesian grandparent in her family. She took after her mother's side in her face, but her father in body shape. Opening the door to the two visitors her face broke into a smile as she pushed past him into his rooms.
"Hi Doc, we're your movers. What needs to go with you?" The younger man was moving into the room but his voice was silent as were his movements, he obviously took this more seriously than the girl. Turning to see her flicking through a notebook he let his mind freewheel for a moment.
"You're from Xavier's?" The girls smile faultered only a little but she recovered well.
"Yup we're here to help you move whatever stuff you need so we can use your expertise back home." Her forced cheerfulness gave Hank cause to pause in his thoughts.
"Why?" She snapped her head up to look at the young man near the door, giving him a sharp glance. "I mean why now, after nearly six months, why contact me now?" It was Bobby who answered his query, his Iowa roots showing in his broad shoulders and Anglosaxon hair.
"Because at the moment we really need a doctor and you were first on the list. So are we helping you move or do we go to number two?"

The way the young man just laid it out made Hanks ears prick up, there was something he wasn't saying but by his tension being held in his shoulders and arms it was enough to make him curious. He'd been saved by the X-Men and now he was being given an opportunity to pay back the debt. Also he had an opportunity to find out what was going on in the rest of the country instead of sweating it out down here. Switching off the communicator Hank stood up to his full height, his head brushing the top of the ceiling...just. "There's no need, I'm coming."

Hank turned to look at the young woman but her eyes were glued to the news channel, her face pinched and pale as she turned back to the two of them.
"They've killed him, Bobby; they've killed him!" Her voice sounded shocked, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. On screen a compound was burning, mutants of every shade and colour were being allowed to run away but a body dressed in red and black was being hoisted upward. The news chopper above got an image, of Magneto, stabbed, crushed, skin torn open in parts, a piece of bloodied meat dropped into the human crowd beneath who continued to beat on the corpse. All of it done in silence, the violence of the act numbed by the lack of sound.

Bobby's voice cut through the quiet. "Is there anything here you can't replace?" Hank looked around quickly, grabbed his notebooks and felt the young mans gloved hand push him toward the doorway. "Jube's come on, we're leaving NOW!" She turned back to them both, her eyes blurred with tears, her earings rattling as she nodded to them both. She left the television on, it's picture showing the prison photograph of Magneto, the smile one of superiority on his now destroyed face. Turning her back on it she left with their prize between them, life had just become even more dangerous. She knew The Brotherhood would take revenge as soon as they got themselves organised and they needed to be home before it happened.

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Marie was hip deep in files, she'd woken that morning to find most of the human staff gone, even the sour faced secretary was missing. Xavier's office was still a mess and she thought a bit more mess wouldn't be noticed. She'd used her claws to rip open the desk, searching for things she had no idea of what or where. Looking for evidence she'd been asked to provide, Ro' had retired to her rooms upstairs after the kids had been fed and corralled. She had yet to come down, Kitty was up on the same floor keeping an eye on her. Jones was down the hall watching the lift, Logan had wanted to disable it and she'd been hard pressed not to let him. It had been Peiter that had asked him not to, just in case they needed to get someone down into surgery fast. She knew he was thinking about Kitty but somehow she knew they wouldn't be living here when Kitty had her baby.

Desk drawers were open but they'd revealed nothing to her, she needed to find the stuff Xaiver had been hiding. Sitting in the chair in front of the desk she noticed the tilt of the desk in front of her. It tilted back toward where Xavier would sit, giving him a fatherly look. She moved around the desk, her feet going over the place where his chair would sit. Slowly her eyes dropped to the floor, the wooden floor under her gaze looked 'wrong' somehow. Hunching down behind the desk she used her fingers to trace the boards, several were raised from their neighbours. A pattern emerged when she traced them, smiling to herself she let her claws fire in her left hand. Using a claw she dug the tip into the plank and twisted it; it splintered, broke and popped up. Underneath was a metal surface, smiling she snapped the claw away wincing still at the pain of it and the itching of the slow healing wound. Grabbing the wood in her hands she tore the false floor out, when it had been revealed she went to get some help in getting the small safe open.

She hoped what they all needed lay inside it's locked insides.

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Peiter watched as the tree fell, a few shoves from him after Logan had cut the roots and the massive tree was falling. Most of the younger men were out here with them, to them it was a class on defensive tactics, in reality it was defence against whomever was coming to visit.

Pit traps, Malayan swings, barbs, ambushes with sharpened sticks dipped in manure, head level garotte's, trip wires, nooses made of wire left hanging in bushes where a person could crawl through. They'd made a ring of them around the mansion, about a half mile inside the forest, it wouldn't keep them from coming in but it would give them a few minutes warning. Several flash grenades and a couple of rigged rifles strapped to trees would sound off if someone tripped the wires.

Logan had made some 'adjustments' to some fireworks that had been in the storehouse for the 4th of July, now they had what seemed to be mortars. Half dug into the ground they'd make whoever crossed their path's think twice about coming any closer. Besides the power they had would probably smash the windows on the ground floor anyway.

Several of the younger kids had made a 'bog' further down, by laying out hoses on a patch of marshy ground they'd let it run into the soil. Filling the space under the leaf layer with water, in wet years it was a natural bog. Small and only a few feet deep at best naturally, it had been deepened by Hannah, a child whose natural gift was for vibration. She sent vibrations through the already liquid soil turning it even deeper, so now when someone dropped into it they were in twelve feet of liquid earth. Logan had been proud of them, they worked together, as a team, when he'd told them the purpose of it they'd all loved it. An animal habitat, a place for them to come and learn about swamp creatures, over the summer they'd be brought out to study what had colonised it. A few bodies were always what a swamp needed to get started, pity they couldn't grab a gator to put in there as well. He didn't lie to the kids, if they came back they would use the place to study, but now it had a better purpose, as a trap.

The tree's him and Peiter had been felling were used to bank up on ridges, set to fall when someone tripped a wire. Even he'd have trouble with some of the traps they'd set up, crush damage is hard to get over, especially when it happened to legs. Hence why a lot of the traps were aimed at groin or chest level, if you can't breathe you can't move, same with broken bones.

It was late afternoon when they finished, everyone going back inside to eat and get washed, he found Ro' down in the kitchen. Peiter left them to it, finding Kitty for himself. Going over to the coffee pit he poured himself a huge mug, tipping the sugar bowl up dumping half the contents inside the mug. Using two fingers to swirl the dark mess around he just drank the entire mess down in one. Hands covered in splinters and dirt he opened the fridge up to his scrutiny, finding what he needed he just pulled it out onto the table and began tearing into the meat. Ro' just kept her silence as he ate his way through the turkey on the plate. When he looked like he was finally slowing down she raised her face to look at his own.
"Logan...." he stopped with a leg halfway to his mouth, still chewing the last bite he'd taken he let his gaze rest on Ro's still pallid face.
"What?" She raised her eyes to meet his and he saw her trying to keep his gaze with her own.
"I'm sorry." Logan quirked an eyebrow at her as she struggled to finish the words that were crowding her throat. "I'm sorry for everything, for treating you less than I should, every time I could have helped you, every time I could have supported you instead of beleiving what I'd been told." Her gaze became quite firm again and some strength returned to her face.

She meant it, she was being truthful but for him it was too little too late, she was just as much to blame for what had gone on here as everyone else. She'd been one of those who'd wanted him 'removed' from the school, she hadn't liked him working with her on missions. Comparing him to a 'dog' or a 'barely controlled beast', he'd heard her enough times whispering her thoughts to everyone else when she thought he was out of earshot. She'd wasted any forgiveness he could've given her on those moments, even when he'd bled for her, taken bullets meant for her she'd still sneered at him. No, she'd had her chance and it was time she paid for her treatment of him.

"No."
She looked confused until he opened his mouth again, "No, I don't want your sorrow, your pity. You made your mind up the day you saw me in the Med Bay when your master called you down. When you saw him tearing my mind to peices to get me 'under control', want to know why he wanted me 'under control'? " His eyes glittered dangerously as he put the turkey leg back down onto the plate. "Because I'd worked out something, that the only way he could've been giving me names of lab techs where they did this to me," hsi claws fired in the small space between them and he watched Ro's eyes widen in fear. "Was if the bastard knew where I'd been and who'd had me. Fuck he even has the report on my 'conditioning' and he used that to keep me in line till he gave me Rogue.
I don't care if you live or die in this fight Ro' to be honest, you've called me a pig to a dog ever since you've known me and now because you're finally finding out that you've been played just as much as I've been I should suddenly 'like' you?" He snorted through his nose clearing Ro's scent of fear out of his lungs. "I *KNOW* you hate me, you can't stand me but I'm the only chance you *have*. Jean left you behind didn't she? Scott is probably some vegetable by the side of the road and your all alone with *me*. Well I'll let you into a little secret Ro' I'm not the only one round here with *claws*." His eyes switched to the doorway where Marie was stood her senses already telling her what had gone on in here. Ro's head turned to see Marie behind her, her face blank and her eyes boring into the back of her head. The look in them one she recognised, the purpose in her face something she'd seen in the Danger Room. Ro' knew if she got out of this unscathed and free she'd be lucky but after this there'd be no free pass.
"Rogue....I never....." Ro' watched the younger woman clench her fists by her sides seeing the muscle twitch along her forearms.
"Save it, we've things to do. When Bobby and Jubes get here with the Doc, tell him what we need him to do. Not why, just tell him we have a problem with Xaiver."
She left with Logan following her, his hand on her back splayed protectively over her.

Ro' stayed seated until she heard the engines of the Blackbird above her, the plan was finally coming together. If it went well they should have complete control of the mansion in an hour and Xavier should be safely tucked up in Med Bay. She only hoped it would be quick and without incident but she doubted it.

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Several trucks had tried to ram her on the way here, only when she'd clouded her progress did it stop. Scott was out, resting in a light coma she'd induced, he'd remember nothing but the journey away. Who he was was safe, who he'd been had gone, she was still there but she'd edited burned out and destroyed any reference to Xavier. He'd have gaps, big ones but then so did Logan and he still managed to live a decent life. Besides when this was all over she'd tell him everything, he deserved it but right now she needed help to bring them into safety and to save the kids she'd left behind her.

It was her biggest regret, that she'd had to leave them in his hands, all the things he'd done, all the things he'd sent her out to do. Everything was there in her mind, every deed, every kill, every soul she'd snuffed out of existance. It pained her to even think about it, she was a *doctor*, she'd picked that profession to save life, she wasn't a killer, she hated death. But he'd used her, moulded her subconscious into the thing he wanted, she'd never forgotten any of it, only blocked it from her view. Now there were no blocks, she could see it all and what she saw sickened her. She was as bad as Erik, and she had to do her best to change what she'd been part of. Jean knew about Emma's school, she was sure she'd be able to get help there. Ro' had told her about the place and it sounded a better place for the kids to be, all of them.

She drove up the large drive only to find several buses filling up with quiet pale faced children carrying everything they owned onto the buses. Leaving Scott slumbering she ran toward them all, several adults took on fighting stances but it was the near white blonde that stopped them from attacking her.

//What do you want here?// Emma sent out her thoughts to Jean who was approaching slowly.
/I need your help!/

The woman let her get closer but her hands were at her pockets just in case. When she was close enough to be heard Jean spoke to Emma.
"I need your help." Emma's face was impassive as ever.
"Why? You look like your doing alright on your own; even with the extra baggage." She nodded at a sleeping Scott.
Jean steeled herself before answering her jibe.
"I'm not here for *me*, it's Charles." At her mention of her ex-tutor Emma's face went serious.
"What about him?"
"He's lost control over me and Scott, he's been trying to find me ever since I left and took Scott with me. I won't be used by him anymore, but it's the children. I want you to get the children away from him."

Emma didn't answer her, she just scanned her mind, inside her mind she was seething trying to keep her nager in check while fighting her new released powers and keeping herself beneath the radar. Narrowing her eyes she gave the once proud X-Men a calculating look, as if weighing up her options.
"Is he still using Cerebro?" Jean concentrated for a second, wincing as she searched for him. Finding him she nodded and closed her mind down again before he could find her. Emma moved quickly and pulled Jean into the main building.
"I need you to brief everyone now, tunnel systems, defences, everything you can." She deposited her in a room filled with different mutants, a face she recognised in amongst them. Xavier's secretary, she smiled a snake grin and shifted her form. Displaying her true shape to the woman she'd given love advice to ever since she'd been there. Shocked Jean let herself be seated as she began to be questioned, the plans had already been made all she was doing was adding details. One's that might save a few more lives if she was accurate.

Emma left her to it and turned her attention to Scott, entering his mind she gleaned everything she could from the pieces Jean had left in there. A cold look in her eye as she looked to the skies that were darkening in the north-east. The storm was nearly on them and they had to move fast, pity she hadn't brought the jet they could've used it.

His room was blank, a grey canvas that nothing cluttered apart from the bed that sat in the dead centre. No sheets adorned it's buttoned surface, dark stains littered the surface like cherry blossom scattered for a lover.
He'd allowed himself a 'treat' last night, something 'fresh' instead of the bottled food he survived on. There was so many pleasant vessels he could choose from but he'd picked a low level mechanic working in the motor pool. Reaching out into the man's mind had been easy, he'd been so concerned with everything else in life he'd not even noticed the stray thoughts entering his mind.
Pushing, prodding, manoeuvring him toward his rooms, the guards on duty outside his room were dismissed, they knew not to disturb him when he had a 'visitor'. It always took him a little while to calm down afterward, he didn't want to feed off those he couldn't replace. Mechanics were two a penny but soldiers like the ones he had, priceless.

A hand more skeletal than flesh ran over the cold marble of the mans torso, he'd been fun in an odd way. The things he'd said as he'd finally let him see what was actually happening to him. Brandishing that small trinket in his face and hoping against all that was holy that it would keep him at bay. He hadn't had such a reaction for years, it acutally made his heart swell into a little life. For if they had religion again, then the world really was ready for change, they'd lost hope in themselves and were looking for a greater power to help them. And *HE* could be that help, his fingers grazed over the man's groin and lingered in the twin tears in his skin. The femoral artery was so sweet, it pushed so much food into him, it made him remember why he'd become what he had. Instead of being used, broken and scared.

Mutants weren't new, they'd never been new, they'd just hidden better, made laws between themselves, hiding entire bloodlines. His own had been there at the beginning, preying on the weak, they could pass for human if they stayed out of the sun. Their skin was too sensitive to expose it for even a moment, but even that was being changed. His mind went to his family, his soldiers, his sons that were a force like no other. They could walk in the sun, they could do what he could, but they had no thirst, no hunger, their minds were linked with his making a hive mind.
So when Charles Xavier had begun to change the world had he really thought he was the only one with plans? He laughed at the presence that was skating over his own shielded mind, oh no little man, you'll not feel me until it's too late.

Reaching out with his own dextrous thoughts prising into the searching mind without being felt or known. Seeing the darkness rising with each act, the strain of domination; of acting for the greater good telling on the mind. Watching it tear and rend mind after mind, sloppily repairing the damage it does, before going after the next one. A gourmand compared to a gourmet of which he was the latter; Xavier had a lot to learn and maybe when the blame was fully dropped at Xavier's feet and the judegements over, he might show him.

Mind you he hadn't survived nearly two hundred years by being sentimental, he pushed the marble corpse off his bed, now so much meat for the dogs. Well, they were called 'dogs' by the men but he knew what they were, dealing with treaties always meant you had to have a few of the other families in with you. And out of the rest of them, the House of Hadric wasn't too picky about how they got fed. As long as it was plentiful.

Pressing a bell he summoned the guards, they'd drag what was left away while he went to inform his little band that the timetable had been changed. They were going tomorrow, things were moving too fast for anyone to control fully. He wanted what had been promised to him and it looked like he'd have to tear it from the twisted grabbing hands of the man himself.
The door opened, sending a blast of cool air over his skin, waving at the body on the floor he heard them pull what was left out of the room. Halting at the doorway for their orders he turned around to face them, seeing their eyes drop away to the floor as he did so. "The compound, just throw him in, they'll deal with him." The men nodded and moved again, the drained corpses eyes wide and staring at the grey ceiling above; his flesh sliding down the corridor. His ears picking up the sound of howling as the scent of fresh meat drifted down to the pens. Smiling he followed the body down, turning left to his office.

Seating himself behind the large desk he pushed the intercom button that was connected to the training room.
"You go tomorrow, I expect you to be ready. All of you. Bring them back *alive*, bruised or injured but alive. If you lose one you'll lose one of your team, do you understand me soldier?" A voice replied, filled with dread and dark understanding.
"Yes sir, we all understand."
"Good, now get ready to make me proud." He flicked the button off and let his mind soak up the now raised tension in the lower levels. He'd given them a job to do, now he'd see if they could do it.

His hand switched the button off, the men around him were listening to the howls of the dog pens. They knew what they held, half-breeds, things that shouldn't exist but they did. Creatures that were *needed*, used and brought out to hunt, he'd seen one change, a mixture of human and animal, but it wasn't the classic image. This still had the head of a dog, it's muzzle snapping as the semi-human hands had gripped the prisoner; stilling him. The prisoners screams had just made the attack more frenzied, he had to shoot the prisoner in the head just to sleep that night.

Looking around his men he saw their resolve harden, they knew the price of failure it lay upstairs and ended in a shit pile. His eyes focussing on the men he barked orders, got them ready to move in hours instead of the days they'd been promised. Men folded maps, checked ammunition, others began their close combat training, concentrating on non lethal holds and submission moves.
Twenty men against a school, that should be enough, it wasn't as if he knew they were coming. No they'd be successful at any cost, get in, get what they wanted and out in under thirty minutes. He knew they were capable but why did he feel that somehow they wouldn't all be coming home? He tried to shake the feeling into the next few hours but it stayed with him, eventually he just let it ride.
Concentrating on his own target, a female, early twenties, name of Marie D'Acanto, powers - life draining skin. Her little picture smiled at him, she looked fragile this one, he'd take her personally, she needed good handling. Maybe he'd get to keep her afterward, he'd been lonely here, no one lasted too long down here. Hopefully she would, if he could keep the rest of the men from her.

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Marie showed Logan the safe, he just plunged his clawed fist into the metal and pulled. The hinges complained for a few moments then popped open, using his other hand he cut the metal block that was holding the door on. Shaking it free the inside was finally laid bare, there were three books, a filp file of dvd's and cd's and a diary. Marie took the lot, she left Logan behind her to rummage through whatever was left in there. This was proof and she wasn't about to let it hide anymore, she went direct to the computer suite. As soon as she had this lot running she'd go and find out if the Doc would co-operate with them. As a plan it had it's faults but it was the best they had at the moment.

Jubilee was watching the large furred doctor as they walked toward the kitchen, even though they had so many different meeting rooms they always seemed to end up in the kitchen. Maybe it was the idea of comfort, of support, besides where else would you go for a caffeine hit? When she got there the rest of the gang were already there, Logan was stood with a sheaf of papers stuck out of his back pocket. Kitty was there with Peiter, Ro' was seated with her face down turned, Kurt was there perched on the back of a chair. She let Bobby introduce the large man between them, watched as he shook hands with everyone there, even Logan.

Jubilee watched him scan the rest of the room as if he was looking for someone and she understood at last who he was looking for. She nudged Bobby's arm and whispered 'Jean and Scott'. Bobby cleared his throat and was about to start when Logan interrupted.
"We've got a problem and the thing is we need a Doc to solve it." The large blue head of McCoy turned back to look at Logan, his amber eyes glittering with curiosity.
"Really? What's the problem you need me to solve?" Logan shifted his bulk from the wall and made eye contact with the large doctor.
"Xavier's locked himself in Cerebro, he's been there for nearly three days straight. We can't open it from the outside and if we do it could kill him. We want you to go inside and give him something that'll knock him out completely. No higher brain function, just out."
Hank looked at the small man in front of him, weighing up the actual information.
"You say he's been in there for three days?" Logan nodded. "Without a break?"
"Not even to piss."
"May I ask why?"

This time it was Ororo who answered the large man, he remembered her from the fight where he'd been rescued from Magneto's forces. "We believe he's had some sort of mental breakdown, the thing is we can't open the door to Cerebro without killing him and anyone else he's linked with. And at the moment we don't even know who or what that is."
Hank took in the information, weighed it up as he looked around the people gathered in the kitchen, as he was about to speak a young woman with auburn hair and white streaks walked in. Her eyes were blazing and she made straight for Logan, his arms had been folded but they opened for her immediately. She whispered something into his ear seeing Logan nod and murmur something in reply before turning her to face Hank. She gave him a smile and introduced herself, "Hi, ah'm Rogue. You talked to me over the radio, think ya'll could help us out?"

It seemed plausable but how could he get inside to treat Xavier if the door would cause him pain and distress? "Yes I could, but if you can't get me inside to be near enough to inject him I don't see how I can help." Logan looked over to where Kurt was sat perched on his chair.
"I wouldn't worry about that, we've got that covered. Come on we'll take you down to Med Bay." The walk toward the medical centre was filled with silence, the odd colouring of the floor and walls were noticed by him. A bleached out section of wood on the handrail going down had the shape of a slim hand. One that for some reason made Hank shudder as he saw it, following the group downstairs.

When they arrived at the clean hallway, Jubilee, Kurt, Bobby, Logan and Marie led the way to the Medical Bay. What he found there was enough to make him do a double take, the suppiles alone would have made his own lab prosperious in the extreme. Jubilee went over to a wall and pressed a few buttons on a keypad, the wall slid away to reveal the pharmacy. Her smile didn't reach her eyes when she spoke to him, "Here you are Doc, knock yourself out." He did think about answering with a witty remark but the looks on the people's faces around him he thought better of it.
Going over to the pharmacy his eyes scanned the many drugs here for use, he discounted anything too toxic but he could use an alkaloid base to knock out higher function for a few hours. An induced coma would be the best option but with that lay many unresolved problems for a body that was already trying to cope with a toxic burden. Of which if what they had told him was true, the man locked in that room was suffering with.

His hands plucked the right bottles from the refridgerated shelves, setting them down on the counter, he looked over at Jubilee, her arms folded and ready to help him. "Get a saline/gulcose drip ready, also a double catheter kit, we'll need a heated blanket too, what I'll be giving him will make the need for us to maintain his body heat." Hank was making calculations in his head swiftly as he measured out the doses in one syringe. "What was his last weight?" The silence around him didn't give him much faith but it was Logan who suppiled an answer.
"I'd say around 120 to 130lbs, he's been losing weight recently."
"Thank you," he turned back and put a cap on the sharp end. Seeing the bay nearly ready for the patient when he got him out of there. "Right I'm ready, how are you going to get me in there?" He watched as the small form of Kurt moved forward, his German accented voice filling the sterile air with it's rich sound.
"Now that's vhere I come in," Kurt bamfed away to one side of the room leaving a sulpherous stench behind him, before bamfing back to where he'd been. "I'll take you in and after you inject him we'll both carry him out."

Hank had just seen something outside his own world of experience but he still couldn't help his own mind wondering just how he managed to do it. A nervous smile covered his featrues as they walked out of the med bay, followed by everyone else. The door at the end of the corridor was the one that led to Xavier, it's round door looking slightly threatening. Kurt held onto the large man's arms and winked at him before the enitre world just disappeared.

There had been a slight feeling of nausea but it had soon passed, they were only a few feet away from the man who'd saved his life. Pulling the cover off the needle, Hank went to plunge the thing into his bare neck. As the needle entered he felt such a stabbing pain in his skull, as if his head was trying to split open. The plunger depressed as he fought against the pain, the ache in his head fading as the man faded out into unconsciousness. Shaking his head clear, he took a look at the man who'd locked himself in here. Dark rings under his eyes, skin pallid, breathing shallow, a smell of urea rising from the chair he was seated in. Looking around to see Kurt just getting back on his feet and pressing a button on the inside of the great round wall. The door opening and fresh air flooding inside, taking off the helmet that had been on his head Hank could see the pressure marks it had left.

Picking up the body Hank walked straight out of the prison he'd locked himself in and went straight to med bay. Going past Logan he heard the man growl at the weak body in his arms, Rogue held his arm back, as if restraining him from doing Xavier an injury while he couldn't defend himself. Jubilee was waiting and ready with scissors, gloves and gown. They stripped the body quickly, the erractic breathing finally levelling out, Hank going to the pharmacy again. Pulling a full syringe of a pale gold liquid he injected it straight into a vein, "Vitamin mix, he's been under great strain and his body is about to shut down. We need to support it until he can do it for himself, so if you don't mind I don't think he'd want an audience while I strip him."

Everyone filed out except Logan and Jubilee, Jubilee was helping out, Logan was just staring. Finally after an hour of work Xavier was stablising, both catheters were working and he was taking on fluids. Hank looked happy but there was more to come and when Logan motioned for Jubilee to leave he knew it was coming.

Logan walked over to the large doctor, he knew by the look of him that he could probably take him apart if he really wanted to but he needed him to see exactly what he'd gotten himself into. He pulled the documents out of his pocket, straightening them he held them out to the Doc. "I think you should know who your dealin' with here," Hank took hold of the document in his gloved hands. Logan continued, "I know we've dropped you in at the deep end but you were the only one we could reach in time." His head nodded at the pieces of paper he was holding, "Make your own mind up, an if ya want to leave after you've read it, just let us know an we'll drop you anywhere continental U.S. Just thought ya should know what we're trying to sort out here." With that Logan left him alone with the elderly man, looking down at the pages Hank turned the first one over. There was the insignia of his old lab on the top page, his eyes flicked from the page to the old man who was still stabilising. Pulling himself a chair he sat down to read the information he'd been given.

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Hours later, the kids all asleep, Ro' still in the kitchen her hands doing dishes, anything to stop her thoughts from overwhelming her self control. Hank walked into the kitchen, looking haggard, he pulled a seat on the table and looked out at the night shaded garden. Ro' turned to see the new addition to their team fingering the papers on the surface. His baritone had an edge to it when he spoke, "Did any of you know? Before you came to 'rescue' us? Did you know of his involvement in our research? Where the samples had come from?" Hank's face was livid and Ro' felt herself shrink away from the large doctor as he rose out of his chair. Papers in hand as he shook them at her face, "Donor tissue, *donor* implies given with *consent*, consent I now understand that was *NEVER* given, *NEVER* received either!" He threw the document at her, "I understand the need for secrecy in my business, but madam I never thought to be working to save a man who sold his own people as 'Experimental Subjects'." He looked at the shock on Ro's face and he seemed to calm a little, he turned to look at the room he was stood in as if seeing it for the first time. "Now if you don't mind I'd like to have a word with Logan, do you know where I can find him?" Ro' wiped her hands clean of the suds before picking up the papers, her eyes scanning the print on their pages. Hank gave her a few minutes to read the print before asking again. "Logan?"

When her face looked up at him, a defeated air resting on her skin and a hollowness in her gaze. "He's in the cabin by the lake, phone first, they don't like surprises." Hank moved over to the phone on the wall and waited for more instruction, Ro' noticed after a minute of him waiting. "Erm... pick up and dial 4, it'll ring the cabin." Hank did as he was instructed and she heard him talking to Logan on the other end.
"Your offer, I believe I'll be taking you up on it in the morning, you'll have to find another doctor to care for him." Ro's eyes scanned the pages but also kept an eye on Hank just in case.
"Yes I can come up, but why are you...." Hank stood stock still as he listened to the words being told to him. After a prelonged silence Hank spoke again, "Well if you want to discuss this then I'd better come up in person. I don't feel comfortable discussing this on the phone, you never know who's listening." His remark was pointed enough to make Ro' squirm in her seat but she didn't move. What she held in her hand was enough to make her limbs feel like lead. As Hank went out of the kitchen and out into the garden she felt the crushing loneliness fall onto her shoulders. She was the final member of the Aplha team and as such she had to carry the blame for what was on the document. Her eyes went over the information again, hoping to expunge the type from the page, to make it not true.
The members of The Brotherhood they'd captured and turned over to the authorities hadn't gone to police or prison. They'd gone to the labs, no wonder The Brotherhood had attacked the lab, they were trying to free prisoners, their family members just like they would've if it had been them. It was the monetary amounts that shocked her, for each viable *donor* Charles got ten thousand dollars, well the school got ten thousand. The amount here went into the high hundreds, it was all she could do to sit there. No wonder Scott had always been so keen to hand over every member of The Brotherhood they caught. Xavier had been selling the enemy to the labs to be dissected, probed and explored until their gifts had been decoded, stamped with a copyright and sold to the highest bidder. Rogue had given her the evidence she'd wanted, it was there in her hand and more was waiting for her. Rogue had spent the afternoon with Kitty going through disc after disc. There was no point denying it anymore, the man who'd saved her from the streets had done no such thing. He'd just plucked her from one dead end and put her in another. He had to pay for this, for all of it but there was no court on the planet that would do it. Tears rolled down her cheeks as the dry lighting flashed outside, torn apart by the truth, hate for the man she'd once loved began to grow in her heart.

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Marie watched the two men talk outside, she was still seething with hatred, she wasn't safe to be around right now. Not after seeing who Xavier *really* dealt with, the things he'd promised, the acceptable losses he was willing to allow if they left his little dream alone.
Kid's to be fostered out into military applications, experimentation, breeding programmes (Kitty had gone quiet when this had been on the screen, her hands gone to protect her unborn child).

It read like a sick list, but it stretched back years, even when Erik was here until the double dealing looked like it had even soured Eriks sensibilities. Jubilee had told her about Erik's death at the hands of the mob, the way they'd torn him apart. She knew who was to blame and it was laid out in a coma right now. She wanted to kill him, fuck she had to restrain herself from just going down there and slitting his fucking throat when she'd gotten to the payment system.

For every new mutation that had a 'offensive' purpose and could be researched into a real time physical application for warfare he got a hundred grand. No wonder Jean always did the bloodwork every month, now she was wondering exactly where her blood had ended up. Logan's voice in her mind hadn't been too helpful about good places it could've gone, only the bad places. An there'd been an awful lot of maybe's in there she had to admit. There was even a reference to Logan himself, 'Project Wolverine' was it's name but most of the info had been wiped away. What was left was only the paragraph that had been in the report.

At the end of the session both Kitty and her needed some support, everything they'd taken from Xavier had come at someone elses pain. Someone like them, locked up in a lab somewhere, having to deal with experimentation day in, day out. Kitty had sought out Peiter but she hadn't said why she was upset, this would be between them and Ro'. They'd keep the information close to them, no one else would need to know. Only that things had been done, things that Xavier needed to pay for, now she knew why The Brotherhood hated them all so much. She couldn't help but agree with them, the sooner they were out of here the better. She only hoped that Emma was moving fast, because if what Jubilee had told her was true about the rest of The Brotherhood escaping she knew exactly where they would be heading for....here.

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;" W.B. Yeats

Hank had been talking with Logan nearly all night, the man had some decent arguements but his paranoia wasn't something he'd agree with. Yes what Xavier had done was unforgivable but surely the destruction that he expected to arrive was nothing more than a fantasy from the disturbed mind in front of him. Thing was Rogue seemed to agree with him, she'd been more than forceful in her own arguements about her friend Kitty. She was adamant that someone should be looking after her, someone who knew the problems a fully mutant child could have.
He had to admit his curiosity had been peaked by the information, he'd seen both of them in the kitchen and looking at the two young adults (and finding out about their mutations from Rogue) it did pose a few questions for him.

Inside he was torn from getting as far away from here as possible and seeing this out to the bitter end. If what he'd read was true then he too was tainted by the things Xavier had done. His research was off the back of 'donated' samples, which were nothing of the kind, samples of organs he'd dissected were now evidence of torture and mutilation. Which as a doctor had made his mind reel away from the evidence, it went against everything he felt about his profession. He was a man to aid life, not destroy it, not to excise what was different or strange. Life was life, whether it was scaled or smooth, pink or blue skinned, tall or short. His business was saving it and his answer had come to him when he'd been wrestling with that one; he'd stay.
As vile as Xavier was the men who'd used him to gain power were worse; if he could save one life from the mess that would come down from this nightmare then he'd do it. Besides where else would he find such people and the resources to do what he could here? Decision made he'd finally closed his eyes just after 3.30 am, laid out on a sofa in the cabin he'd been invited to. The occassional squeak above him told of the night-time revolvings of the occupants upstairs. Closing his eyes Hank settled down for a rest, a few hours sleep would do him good, at least here he wouldn't have an intern disturbing him about a culture that had done something 'odd'.


Winds shifted and moved around the group that was a mere solidification of the darkness around them, they'd been dropped by a helicopter nearly five miles north of the target area. His men instantly dove for cover, several using the large trees around them, laying flat against the largest branches. Their shapes lost in the leafy darkness, he sensed them all, their minds were clear, sharp, focussed. When they were hunting they always had an extra 'edge', it was the gift from their commander. He called them his 'children' or his 'sons', when in reality they were augmented soldiers. Men who were considered 'too
dangerous' psyhcologically by the rest of the army, he'd recruited them to his project. He expected complete loyalty, those who didn't disappeared and the rumours of the dog pens had been born. He'd seen them in action and he believed everything he heard now, the twenty men under his command followed the rules to the letter. He hadn't lost anyone yet and he wouldn't here, signalling with his hands his men flowed toward his position.

Even as they approached he could see their eye shine, their eyes looking like wolves coming together for a hunt. As soon as they were seated, tension riding through their frames, some twitching with eagerness to be off. He gave the signals to his men, telling them that the target lay five miles south, that they would do a two pronged attack just before dawn. One at the front and one through the roof, he signalled for weapons check, several guns were suddenly on show. Knives were the rest, they were here to collect *live* subjects so gunfire should be kept at a minimum. Any level two's or ones would be put to sleep using body strength, they were children after all and shouldn't cause too much trouble. The group broke up into it's respective components, they all had targets to aquire and by 7.30am they should be awaiting pick up six miles west from these co-ordinates with their cargo.

Raising himself off the lush ground he gave the signal to commence their attack, a smile on his face that had more to do with death than humour.

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Jubes was awake, her mind was still reeling with the information she'd overheard between the new doc and Ro'. So she'd done a little snooping of her own, Kitty's laptop wasn't very secure at the best of times and this time was no different. She'd scrolled through the usual bumf of her journal until she'd hit the most recent and the files that were with it. 'Password protected' it had said but then Kitty's passwords were usually something in Russian. And being the resourceful woman she was she's begun to keep a Russian to English dictionary in her side table drawer. Pulling it out she'd tried all the usual mushy things, 'lover', 'darling', 'big', 'muscular', it had been after an hour of frustrating effort that she'd hit on the word. 'Betrayal', it had been the password and the information had opened up to her eyes.

All the dates, names, files, money, times and places where deals had been made. It made her head swim, that something like this had been going on behind closed doors. That Xavier had been selling those he couldn't manipulate or use for experimentation; others he'd just dumped back into the world even more lost and alone. There was no reason for this surely, but then her mind went back to the things she'd heard from the kids that had stayed for a while before running. That there were things she'd never understand, that she was blind, she was a sheep in wolves clothing.

Now she was beginning to understand, she'd locked onto the files that covered Logans own trips out. Each one was logged on here, a file number linked to a picture, there were hundreds. It made her situation seem like a fairy tale, there had been a Blue Beard in their midst. A child killer but one who'd been working on the orders of an Ogre, one who just happened to look like a fragile old man. She'd been there when Logan had emptied his soul to them all, telling them why he'd done it. He'd done it to keep Rogue safe and she'd been safe up until Xavier hadn't wanted her safe, he'd wanted her to choose and she had.

When Rogue had gone with Logan, everyone had expected to hear of her death by Logan's hand, even her. But knowing that most of the impressions she had of Logan had been 'implanted' made her blood boil. Since Xavier had been knocked out by the cocktail of drugs Hank had given him her mind had been clearer than it ever had been. Now she had something to compare to she'd realised her mind hadn't been her own for nearly three years. Oh she'd been happy, of that she was sure but she hadn't really questioned *anything*, she'd just accepted it. Now she was free from the invading influence her mind was making up for lost time.
She'd searched for her own file on the database but it hadn't been there, that was a small mercy at least. But Rogue's had been on there as well as Logan's, there were projections of offspring from the two of them. It had been sickening reading, to see the manipulation that had been awaiting the pair.

When she'd had enough she'd switched off the computer and her mind had begun to whirl, all the things she'd taken for granted were gone. Her mind had begun to piece together the things she'd seen but never thought much about. The way Jean had always been there, at a cost to her relationship with Scott, the way Scott had always been a kind of brother figure for everyone. Being the responsible adult figure, the one all the boys wanted to be, Jean the perfect model for the girls. Any who didn't fit the model were expelled, her mind instantly jumped to John.

John the firestarter, the kid with the deep eyes that had spoken of so much grief and pain. He'd tried to fit in, tried to be 'good' but he'd been needy, wanted something more than the people here were willing to give him. So he'd run, taken some jewellery and split, she'd seen him with The Brotherhood soon after. She'd tried to speak to him but Scott had stopped her dead, he was 'the enemy' now. At the time she hadn't questioned it, he'd turned his back on them and stolen things that had meant something to someone.
But now she was looking from the outside in and suddenly the image of a Stepford Wife popped up in her mind. They were being turned into cookie cutter people, everyone the same, everyone saying the same things, everyone justifying their standpoint by using the chaos of the rest of the world around them. The chaos they *helped* to cause, the Beta team made up of the brightest and best of the elder students. Those who were deemed *safe* to go out and spread the message of tolerance between mutants and humans, as long as you behaved in the right way. Somehow the line between Magneto and Xavier was no longer there, they'd been the same just the opposing faces of the same entity.

Pushing herself up off her bed her eyes caught the clock blinking its bright red digits to the darkness.
4.00am, wiping her face with her hands she rubbed some life back into her skin. She'd get ready for the day, this one she was sure she'd get through herself, with her mind clear for the first time in an age. Heading for the shower as the first pieces of light filtered through the darkness, turning the lawns a deep grey against the dark of the tree line.


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Their approach had been silent, a wide arc and they'd managed to get within a half mile of the mansion when the first trap had been sprung. A swing made of a sapling tied back with a set of three sharpened stakes on it, the man who'd triggered it had been watching his step. Yet it hadn't saved him the pain of having the points ram through his body. One was lodged in his thigh, the other two were in his abdomen, the points just poking through the skin at the back. In his defence the solider hadn't made a sound, just the thwack of the wood righting itself and the soft sound of rupturing flesh. When he'd gone over to see him, death was already chasing around the man's eyes. He'd snapped his neck for him, ending the suffering for him, but anger was beginning to form in his muscle. The sounds of other traps springing all along the front edge of their attack drew his attention, the sounds of falling bodies and the crash of a large object falling made him run the entire length of the line. He'd lost three men to the traps, one nearly decapitated by a wire noose. It had been strung through a vine, forcing the man to walk through it and catching under his chin. The bent sapling springing and taking the knot that tightened the noose high up while the man's feet were ensnared by a second loop. Stringing him like a bow, the flesh around his neck severed through, only the bone of his spine keeping him from losing his head completely.
Whoever had set these knew what they were doing and that changed *everything*, the rest of his men were gathered up, some had cuts and torn uniforms where they'd just avoided the traps left for them. He signalled for a group assault, they'd go in as a force, the first plan was shot, if these had been left then someone was expecting them. He'd already lost men and he wasn't going to lose any more, his face was a grimace of anger as they moved slowly toward the edge of the forest. The school ahead of them, it's rooms still dark on this side, the dawn was coming and he wanted to be in before light really showed itself. Someone would pay for his men's death, the rest of the men were eager to get there but they had to test every piece of ground from where they were to the edge of the forest. He signalled to everyone to get on with it, they had a job to do and they'd not failed yet, losses would be dealt with. As they began a light went on over to the east of the mansion, the lake cabin's outside light flicked on before being switched off again.

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Logan wasn't sleeping, he was 'resting' a state of mind where he just closed his eyes and his brain went into a kind of alert slumber. Sleeping was something else entirely, he dreamed then, this was what he used to keep alert when he was on huntng missions. After talking to McCoy downstairs he'd come to bed to find Marie wrapped up in the covers and hogging the bed. Slipping himself around her he'd closed his eyes but not shed clothing, there was something 'wrong' and he wouldn't let himself relax until the kids were out of here tomorrow. As soon as they were ready they were heading out, away from here and hopefully to Emma's place. Marie had told him what Jubilee had said about Magneto and The Brotherhood, the kids couldn't cope with firepower like that, so they needed to be out of here as soon as.

His mind was just going over the possibilities of using the trucks when he picked up the sound of one of the logs going over. He'd stacked dry wood under the drop, the snap would carry over still air for at least a mile, something he'd be able to pick up on. Alert he let the sound come over the still air to his ears, filtering out Marie's breathing and the sounds of the house. Opening his eyes he went to the open window, leaned out and listened to the world waking up. It was times like this that he loved his nature, the way's he'd listen to the world around him. So he could distinguish normal from odd, the birds weren't singing in the stand where he'd laid the deadfall trap. His eyes searched the treeline, looking beyond it into the greyness that was now changing into the multicolored greens of the forest. Where there had been an opening of light before there was shadow today, lifitng his nose to the still air he breathed in. Faint on the winds that flowed from the forest to the lake, was the copper tang of blood. Whatever it belonged to had been injured by the traps the kids had set, a group of shadow shifted as the light got better and Logan saw what he'd been dreading appear. A human head, covered in deep grey material, no helmet but obviously a soldier.

Turning to Marie he woke her silently, a hand on her mouth to quell her voice. As her eyes cleared he just nodded to her and pointed outside, she mouthed 'Now?' he just nodded to her and let her get up. He watched as she dressed in deep colours, tied her hair back and put on her boots. When she was ready to go they both went downstairs, Logan left Marie to wake their guest while he went outside to go and check what he'd seen was real.

Marie moved quickly to the large furred man on her sofa, he looked like a bear to her eyes sleeping through the winter. So when she began to shake him awake his mouth was the first thing to open, "What is it no...." She pushed her gloved fingers over his mouth and saw his eyes shoot open as she did it. She put her own finger upto her mouth and mimed 'shhh', Logan returned to the room his face dark with anger. Marie waved at Hank to get up and he did so without too much trouble, Logan looked at the two of them and pointed to the mansion. He wanted them there, he'd try to take out as many as possible but there might be others already working toward the other side of the building. Nodding she pulled Hank with her as they went toward the back door, seeing a light switch Hank did what he usually did, he flicked it on. Hissing in annoyance Marie snapped it back off, Logan just growled at him, snapping his blades free he slunk outside. Hoping to God that no one had seen the light go on and off, he went to do a little hunting.

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Jubilee got down to the kitchen, only to find Ro' asleep on the kitchen table, her skin red and puffy around the eyes. She'd obviously fallen asleep down here after dinner, snapping off the main light Jubilee just used the minor under cabinet lighting. If she woke her up by using the kitchen it'd be less of a shock to her eyes, she couldn't help but hate the woman a little. Yet she'd been a victim just as much as they had, it hadn't softened her view though. Ro' had been here longer than she had, she'd given her advice about living here, how to 'fit in'. Now it seemed as if the woman in front of her had never even belonged in the first place. Snorting through her nose Jubilee made coffee, her eyes noticing the clock above the fridge, the hands reading 5.15am. Yawning she put the water in and set to making her breakfast, she always had a good breakfast, besides the kids would be up in about an hour. She wanted them to have at least one person around them that knew what was going on. Outside the edge of the trees got a new shadow, men lining up waiting for a signal to run across the open ground toward the windows of the ground floor. Unseen by Jubilee as she watched the coffee drip through the filter into the pot, wishing she knew how to use the expresso machine so she wouldn't have to wait so long. Stifling a yawn she kept her gaze at the pot as the front door opened and shut, the sound only just being registered by her sluggish mind.

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Marie led Hank over the ground quickly, keeping low they both ran for the front door, Marie's senses working overtime as she searched for foreign scents. Ears straining to hear voices or movement that weren't theirs, they made it to the main doors and she twisted the large doorknob. It opened in her hand, swinging open she shoved Hank inside and followed him through. Snapping the lock home she sent him upstairs to rouse everyone, her voice harsh, cruel almost. "Get em up 'n' movin! We don't have time to argue, just get everyone out!"

She left the big man to his own devices as she bolted to the other wing, her eyes taking in the light of the kitchen. Slowing down for a second to see the figure of Jubilee talking to Ro' as they shared coffee at the table, the picture window behind them showing at least ten men dressed in dark grey running toward the house. Barking out, "Behind ya!" to them both as the men came closer, she didn't stop to help she had others to warn and get out. They were both team members, they'd have to look after themselves for a while, she had to get the rest of the house up. Silence was no longer a premium and she screamed out to the Rec Room, "JONES, get your ass movin' we're under attack! Go wake everyone you can, get goin or I'll be on your ass!!"

She saw his tousled head poke out of the Rec Room door and shoot toward the stairs opposite, Jones was a good kid, and she was glad he didn't sleep. She powered her way to the last set of stairs, legs pumping as she heard glass shatter and the scream of fear that suddenly turned into a scream of rage. She hoped whoever that was was still alive because as soon as these kids were up and movin' she was goin back down there and she wanted some payback of her own.

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Logan crept along where the traps had been set, there were three dead, one with a stake trap, one with a garotte wire an the last had been the deadfall that had woken him. The man under the deadfall was still kickin', the breath was shuddering as his body tried to keep goin. Pressure was keeping the man alive, his legs were crushed and Logan just put his boot on the exposed neck. The crunch wasn't that loud to be noticable, the man's eyes faded out, his chest stopped rising and Logan went for the tag around the now crushed throat. As his hand went down the mouth opened, looking into the raw mouth he saw something he'd hoped he'd never see again. Canine's that were dropping down into the mouth, sharp, and wet, he'd seen this before.

Bloodsport, the vampiric assassin, he'd tangled with him in the Far East, where his mutation gave him a better edge on the frightened superstitious minds there. Taking hold of the man's head he severed the neck completely, no point taking chances. He threw the head away into the bushes and went back to do the other two. Bloodsport had a very handy mutation, he could regenerate from injuries, slower than him but he still regenerated. Someone had been messing with their biology set by the looks of things. An if Xavier had been dealing with the people that employed someone like Bloodsport, then the gloves were off. Following their trail he headed after them body low to the ground, a grim look settling on his features.

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Jubilee just heard Rogue shout "Behind ya," when the glass of the window exploded inward, Ro' had just turned to look behind her when the window had shattered covering her with glass. Her scream of suprise had morphed into something else by the time Jubilee turned her gaze back to the window. Men dressed in deep grey fatigues were pouring into the room, Ro' was being held by two men, three were heading toward her. She dropped the mug in her hands and let them have it, red hot coffee going everywhere. The burst was concentrated, powerful and totally unexpected, it dissolved one man's face and severely burned the one to his right, the third was temporarily blinded. Five shadows ran out of the kitchen into the house proper, Jubilee went to go after them but the third soldier grabbed her by the throat.

Behind her Ro' was being restrained, they'd gotten her to the floor and were covering her, keeping her down and locked up. They needed her alive but they were crowding her, she had no air, no way of escape and her mind now free from Xaviers control began to panic. Trapped, now as she felt the straps going over her hands and feet she screamed out in rage. She would *NOT* be caught, trapped and penned, not now, not ever AGAIN! Her eyes went white as she looked over at the under counter light, pulling energy from the sockets she fried the men holding her. Watching as the power surged through her, turning her entire body into a conductor, they jumped and smoked as their hair burned under their clothing.

Jubilee passed her veiw, her face pained as she struggled with the man who was choking the life out of her. Seeing her hands search for something and seeing her reach out for the coffee pot. Ro' blew the item closer to her hand seeing her grip it and bring the nearly full pot against the man's head, the glass shards entering the man's throat, slicing into flesh. Blood arced out over the kitchen, spattering the surfaces, colouring the glass, the grip around her throat finally loosening Jubilee kicked the dying man away. She drove the rest of the coffee pot back into his head and leapt away, about to help Ro' when she shouted to her. "NO! The children, Jubilee, get them away!"

She didn't need telling twice, coughing and her body pounding on adrenalin she went into the corridor and punched the fire alarm. Whoever hadn't been woken up by the racket of the fight would be now, she ran up the stairs Jones had gone up moments earlier. She could hear kids moving silently above her, feet pounding, bags being hefted. She caught sight of Jones moving a group of kids into the elevator and shouted to him, "Any left on this floor?" Jones shook his head as he pushed the last few kids inside, "Get downstairs to the lowest level, do not go out using the tunnels, understand!" Jones punched the button and Jubilee stayed as the doors slid shut, the frightened eyes of the kids staying with her. When they'd gone for definate she went higher, hoping that Kitty and Peiter were on the ball as the fire alarm rang in her ears.

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Marie held her ear in pain, who the hell had pressed the alarm? It had been a good idea but she was suffering because of it, Peiter was at this end, directing kids to the stairs and the lift. They were dressed in pyjama's and slippers but they were carrying bags, thank god they'd been told to pack last night. A body dressed in grey appeared, just behind Peiter. It raised a gun toward the back of Peiters head and she just lost all control, snarling she threw herself at the man behind Peiter. Peiter ducked as she went over him, her claws snapping free as she vaulted over the large man she considered a friend.
Watching as the man's eyes widened as her hands sank into his chest, punching through the kevlar vest he was wearing and out of his back. Her weight sent him over, the gun clattering to the ground as the second man came up the corridor. She saw him and the other one who was trying to find a way upstairs to the second floor. Tearing her hands free of the dying body beneath her she went for the next soldier, her mind free of everyting but hate. The gun raised to her body and the shot hitting her in the gut but she still went forward, bringing her hands through and around the man. Tearing into his armoured body as if he were wearing paper, blood flew across the walls, covering her with it, dripping from her hands as she tore him apart.

She wasn't even aware of the other soldier running toward her knife raised above her head to strike down into her brain. It had been the sound of the blade snapping that brought her back out of her frenzy; she looked up to see Peiter grabbing hold of the soldier by the neck. The calmness of his movements an exact opposite to her own, her teeth bared as she saw Peiter push him into the wall and squeeze until blood flowed across his fingers. When the body stopped twitching he let it go, the kids had gone down, her own blood was singing and Peiter knew that a calm mind was better around the kids and he just took off toward the lift. Leaving Marie to carry on her hunt, a sound above her told her that someone had found a way up to the top. A snarl on her lips she went after themm her hands dripping gore she went after her prey, the scent of earth and death following her.

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Logan spied the rest of the team, they were creeping around to the front of the school, the dawn light painting their shadows against the honey coloured stone and green ivy. He had to do this well, make sure every head was off, dismember the corpses and burn what was left. Only way to be sure, his mind replayed a scene from a movie he'd watched with Marie once. A science fiction one where a guy talked about nuking a planet from orbit,'the only way to be sure'. He felt like that now, just as they entered the building he had to be sure that every single one of them never came back out. This was a small insurgence group, a quick recovery group, there would be more if these guys got away, even one of them.

Shadowing them he let them enter the foyer, these were seasoned men, their heartbeats were calm, focussed even. He snapped the locks on the door, shutting them in and he clawed the security lock, nothing was getting out this way. The sound made the man on 'six' duty turn, there were seven of them in all and soon there would be six.

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He'd felt the death of his men already, the way's they'd died were horrible, two had been burned alive by electricity, two had been blasted by what could only be described as a plasma cutter. One had been crushed to death, the other had his throat opened for him, yet another had been sliced apart by a woman, another had been ripped open by something the man had feared, the final one was upstairs was hunting for his target, a drug filled dart gun in his hand.

Adrenalin was pumping hard through them all when they entered, so they heard the slice behind them, they all turned to see their man on 'six' twitching as something pushed three blades through the body and tear it into two. A face that looked like it had come out of a nightmare greeted them all, blood smeared and teeth grinning like death itself, sharp canines flashing and a low growl building as he shifted toward them all.

Suddenly an order filled his head, 'RETREAT! PULL OUT, NOW!' that came from his commander who kept a link with him at all times, the men were attacking the smaller man in front of them but no matter what they did it didn't seem to make a difference. Bullets were used, knives, bare hand manoeuvres that snapped fingers, these were the best they had. They'd never been stopped but he'd killed four already, the blades in his hands were flashing as the body tore through the grey coated flesh. Fear crept up his mind as he saw the smile that covered the man's face and a word erupted unbidden into his mind, 'Wolverine'. Each blow from his men had been blocked and savagely turned against them, he had wounds that were healing in front of his eyes and the voice in his head said 'RUN!' It went against his training, his entire life had been spent confrinting odds greater than he could cope with, this was no different. He felt another death and mentally he added up the deaths, there was no one left but him and one other.

He grabbed the solider and pulled him with him deeper into the school, all of his instincts screaming at him to fight, to stand his ground. Yet the voice of his master wouldn't allow him to waste his life. They'd made a mistake, they hadn't known he was there, if Xavier had been using Wolverine then they were in deeper trouble than even his master had imagined. All he'd been after was the merchandise promised to him, if Wolverine was there then there were bigger fish than they in the pond.

**********************************************************

Logan let himself go, the first man attacked him high and he just gutted him, using the blades to sever him into two pieces, the bodily fluids making his nose itch as the acid fell to the floor along with the rest of the organs of his torso. These were soldiers, trained men who knew the risks of their profession. The foyer was becoming like a slaughter house as the next two tried to stab and shoot him at the same time. He let the attack fuel his anger and hatred, letting Wolverine loose on those that would kill every person in here if he let them go free. He killed two by using their attacks on him against the other solider. The blade that went through his arm he pushed into the man opposite him, so the blade connected to the man's head. The gun shot that only passed through him blew the others stomach away, that was the thing with guns, if you knew how they worked you could use their force against your enemy, especially if you healed as fast as he did. The leader of the group watched as he killed two more of his men before taking off and dragging the last of his men with him.

Logan took his time taking the heads off those in the foyer, then he went after the rest. Licking the blood from his claws he tasted the power he'd been holding in check for too long. After this there would be no more 'hiding', they'd either accept him or they wouldn't either way he'd had it with being a lap dog. Once the kids were safe, he was out of here an Marie as well. Howling he went after the strays, sensing their fear as he followed the wide scent trail.

**********************************************************

Hank was huddled with the rest of the kids below, the security camera's had been put on by Kitty and she was watching the fighting, Ro' was in her way down, her face stoic and calm for the first time in days.
Her hands switched channels and there on the lawn was something they all thought was a dream, Magneto levitating over the lawn, a huge group behind him, walking toward the mansion, all coming from the road. It looked like the entire Brotherhood had come calling. Kitty's voice started screaming orders, kids were suddenly pouring out of the rooms and she caught Hanks eye.
"Get Xavier, get him ready to move, do it NOW!" Hank did as he was asked but the thought in the back of his mind came forward, should he leave him here? Let him pay for his crime toward the man who was somehow on the lawn outside? He'd read the reports, seen the things he'd profited from, Hank left the children and went alone to Med Bay.

**********************************************************

Marie found the man, searching through the rooms upstairs, frantically looking for someone, someone who was now safe downstairs. Locked away from these killers. She didn't wait for him to see her, she used her boot to snap his knee from the side, happy to hear the crunch of the cartilage as it popped out. A muffled scream and he was down, taking his head in her hands she snapped his neck back to wring it but he shifted down and away. Rolling over he avoided her grip but not her claws, she pinned him by the thigh, slicing him open as she shifted up his frame. Blood coloured her world again and she laughed as it took her enemy, she tore him pieces, letting her anger flow through her. Only when she was covered with his blood like Kali did she stop her attack, the need to destroy gone with her enemy. Pulling back from the mess that had been a human only minutes before she finally 'saw' what she'd become. Her blades snapped away as her stomach fought to keep food down, running away from the carnage she'd created Marie heard the one sound she'd never thought to hear, Wolverine howling for the hunt.

A grim expression on her face as she went to try and save a little of Logan's humanity, whatever he had left.

'Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming!' W.B.Yeats

**********************************************************
The voice never ceased, even as they ran through the long wooden corridor's of the mansion. It barked, prodded, told him to *RUN*, to hide away from the creature that was after their blood.
He threw a glance behind them, the face of his last man three feet behind his own fleeing body but it was the sight of the man chasing them down that made his blood turn to ice.
There was no humanity there, nothing but the hunger to kill, to feel their deaths at his hands. He'd seen men lose it on the battlefield, hell he'd had to prise men off each other after the battle had finished too quickly. But this, this was something else entirely, a different league. The way he flowed over the ground, his head locked onto their bodies, never moving as the rest of his body worked to get to them.

He daren't take the time to pull a weapon to fire, there was no option left to him but to run. He watched as his man stumbled, saw it in slow motion as he fell forward. Brought down by a cable that powered a lamp on a side table, the crash loud but it was the way Wolverine seemed to spur himself to the falling body. The way his rictus grin solidfied into a maw of diamond hard shards, no sound as he sank his clawed fist into the mans back. Pulling himself along the fallen man, using him as a spring to pounce on his own running form. The final thing he saw of his last man was the way his eyes had locked onto his own in puzzlement. They'd been trained to be the best, killed many others like these here, but they'd died, all of them. The last thing he saw in his eyes had been 'How?', turning his head away he pushed as hard as he could toward the corner of the hallway. The map said it was a dead end but it had a picture window, it was preferable to what was behind him.

The scent of heated blood met her nose as she came out of the lift, seeing the grey of fatigues appearing around the corner she let herself drop low. Whoever was coming around the corner wouldn't see her until she was on him. His head had just turned back to see where he was going when she smashed her fist into his face, pole-axing him. Logan followed soon after, claws drawn, bloodied, panting and itching to kill, looking into the darkness that was riding high in his gaze she edited her view of the man in front of her. No not Logan, Wolverine.

He wanted her to move, his hand reached toward her to get her to move but she shifted in front of the bladed fist. Dropping her stance she challenged him, her own blades firing as she stood over the prone soldier, at the moment Wolverine would just kill him. They needed to know *who* had sent them and that meant he couldn't kill him yet, they needed to know if there were more coming. She was calm, Wolverine wasn't, she saw the blood on him, the peices of flesh that weren't beef hanging from his hands. His breath was heaving as he struggled to speak to her, to make noises that made some sense to humans. "MOVE!"
Marie shook her head and dropped lower, she couldn't let him do this, he'd regret it later and they needed as much intel as possible right now.
"NO, we need him alive Logan! He knows who sent him and why, first rule you taught me, get the information *THEN* kill, anyway possible, remember?"

Marie watched as he began to calm down, his eyes lost the dark edge to them, they looked hazel again but there was still a hint of aggression in them. "Move!"
"Not if your gonna kill him," she braced herself for an attack from him as his claws slid away, his eyes were on the prone man as the first stirs of consciousness were filtering back for him.
"I won't, just fuckin move Marie!" Finally happy with what he'd told her she shifted to the side, allowing him access to the prone soldier.

His hands went direct to the mans mouth, feeling on the teeth he just grunted and smashed the man in the mouth again. The weight of his punch taking out the front teeth, he wiggled the right canine out and held it out to her. The long point shone in the red tissue that had once surrounded it, long, curved and channelled on the backside. Reminding her of a snake tooth, but he was no snake, Logan picked the man up and put him over his shoulder. Pressing the lift button he went in with his cargo, Marie followed her claws sliding away as she watched Logan's mind. He was struggling with the small area but he was doing it for speed, there was no way he could keep this guy quiet for the amount of time it would take to get him secure.

By the time the doors opened he was calm again, well to the outside world who couldn't pick up on what she was scenting. He was barely with her, he wanted to kill, to rend his way through the entire house but he was keeping the lid on it. When they saw the streams of kids coming their way led by Peiter and Kitty she just stopped dead while Logan moved through them like they weren't there. Kids didn't look at Logan at all, they had sense, they knew that to look at him was to encure the wrath of something they never wanted to experience.

The soldier though was another matter entirely, several reached out and touched the body, some even used their powers on the prone man. A little touch here, a shock there, nothing that could kill him but Xaviers dream was being destroyed by the very sight of the ones who were making them run. They'd never trust humans again, not a human in a uniform, the looks on their faces were a mixture of fear and anger. They were being driven from their home and they'd never forget it, a hundred Magneto's had been made in that moment and Marie felt herself shudder at the prospect.

Kitty broke into her silence, "We have to get out of here, The Brotherhood is attacking the main building." Kitty could see her friend taking in the news, then she added the killer blow, "Rogue, Magneto's with them." She saw her do a double take and her gaze followed Logan down the corridor. "We need to get as many out as possible, Jubilee,Storm,Bobby and the rest of the older students are doing what they can. We need him upstairs Rogue, you'll give us the time we need to get away. We're taking the south tunnel...." Kitty saw her friend drift off somewhere as she listened to a voice inside her head.
"ROGUE!" Shaking her until she was back with her, "We're leaving, Hank has gone for Xavier, he's getting him stable then he'll be coming with us. We'll leave the tunnel open for you but only for an hour." Kitty went back to the kids who were now filing down the hatch that led to the lower tunnels. "South tunnel Rogue, we're setting the charges on the rest."

Marie watched Kitty herd the rest of the kids down the entrance, finally following them, her face pinched and pale by the carnage that was occuring around them. Squaring herself up she went to find Logan, they were needed back upstairs.

**********************************************************

Hank stood by the bed that held Xavier, the man he'd seen killed outside his own compound was somehow outside the school with the rest of his army. The frail body on the gurney looked no threat to the world, but Hank knew that the man here had caused the death of hundreds, some by his own experimental needs. The screen had showed the face of Magneto his words easy to understand, he wanted Xavier. He wanted him brought out, handed over, a part of Hank wanted to do it, to give him over and let him pay for his crimes. But what would it achieve? Would it give closure to those he'd abused and mistreated?

No.

It wouldn't, it never would, he had to survive to see the world he'd made collapse around him. Hank went over to the pharmacy, pulling bottles out he didn't have much time to do what he wanted to do. But what he could do was give everyone a chance here to get the closure they needed. Pulling the various ingredients together he filled the syringe and plunged it into Xaviers drip. Picking the bottles up he grabbed a medi-kit cool bag, stuffing them inside he'd make a more concentrated dose later. Wrapping it around his large frame, Hank plucked the body straight off the gurney, drips, catheters and all. Picking up a body bag as he left the room Hank made his way back to where the kids were going to leave from. His decision had been made he just hoped everyone could live with the course of action he'd just put into motion.

**********************************************************

A sea, it was like a sea, the battle as it raged below her, Bobby's ice walls had funneled The Brotherhood down a small channel, one they could defend. People were dying all around her and on her level hung Magneto his arms spread wide, his arms mimicking the crucifixion. His voice carrying over the multitudes of mutants trying to gain entrance into the school. "I am risen, one death I have conquered, inside lies the serpent that killed our brethren, took children from the bosoms of their mothers, turned them into numbers. Numbers that were thrown away when they were no longer wanted, no longer useful." The litany he spouted didn't stop, it seemed to urge the mutants below into further frenzy. Ro' pulled the clouds around her, feeling the charge building in her blood as she aimed her first bolt at the figure that was suddenly buffetted by the winds she was calling to her aid.

Jubilee was firing wildly into the mass of pressing bodies, the plasma bursts coloured by her rage and fear. Bobby by her side sending sub-zero temperatures at the crowd jammed together by their rush to attack. Fire and ice side by side, burnt flesh and frozen bodies littered the lawn. Spectar a student with a mutation like Kitty moved through the mass just in front of the open gap, her fingers reaching inside bodies and pulling on nerves and blood vessels. Squeezing hearts, fingering brains into porridge, she danced through the throng. Blows passing through her, she stood in front of several who used guns, seeing it pass through her and kill their own side.

The charge had built, Ro' fired the bolt, she expected it to be bent away like it had been before, hitting the men below him. But it didn't she hit true, the energy went through his body, skin blistered as it burned it's way across his face. As the light faded Ro' saw the figure fall, landing on those below, the crowd swelled once and sucked the body from view. Unleashing her power on the clouds she'd gathered above her, rain, hail, driving straight down with the force of Niagra. The lawns once so carefully tended and cared for were mud, feet tried to gain traction in liquid. Falling over themselves to go forward Ro' shouted to Bobby, "NOW! DO IT NOW!"

His blonde head nodded as he pushed his powers into the liquid soil, suddenly feet and hands were locked down into something as hard as concrete, Jubilee took advantage as did Spectar, the bodies were piling up when Ro' almost screamed. The body she'd thought she'd killed rose once again, his voice slurring but it was the same voice she'd fought against so many times before. "How many more times Ororo until you understand what I've been telling you all along? You *can't* kill me, it's too late for that." She was distracted, confused, thats why she never saw the shape falling out of the sky at her, wings pulled back hard, Warren Worthington (alias Archangel) swooped down at her, hands extended and face grim.

**********************************************************

He was coming round, Logan slapped him *hard* and watched the pain bring him back from unconsciousness. He was strapped down to a table, a needle in one arm taking blood out of him. A slow drip but he could feel the sensation of bleeding, there were several hypo marks on his chest and Logan answered him before he spoke the question. "Anti-coagulants, you pull that out you'll bleed to death." Logan stood by the side of the table, looking straight into his eyes. "He in there with ya?" The tone was enough to get him to answer truthfully,
"Yes."
"Talking through your blood isn't he?" He didn't answer him, the scar at his neck was answer enough. The voice was silent in his head right now but he could feel the presence of his commander in there with him, listening to every word.
"Well listen up you fucker, after I finish here I'm comin for ya Bloodsport. *An* this time there won't be anyone to watch ya back, see I learned from you. Controllin' em through your blood, pretty disgustin' I thought but then it occured to me. What if I drained off enough, just enough so you could hear what was happenin' but not enough to control the poor bastard I've got here." Logan looked down at the filling bag, "Think about a pint might do it, maybe pint an a half. Mind you he won't be needing it after I find out where you are, an as you know *I* will find out where you are."

Back in his bunker Bloodsport shuddered, there were men here, enough to keep him safe but for how long. Wolverine had a long memory, almost as long as his but as the last man's presence faded from his mind as he lost blood he knew whatever plans he made they had to be made now.

He was nearly out when Marie got there, blood loss was a bastard way to die, four bags were on the counter when she arrived. He had the information about where Bloodsport was and what little secrets he'd held in the dog pens. Logan watched Marie's gaze take in the dying man, his face pallid and head moving sluggishly. "Think he deserved better?" She straightened and walked toward the dying man, his eyes not really seeing her there. She turned to look at Logan, his body twitching from anger, he wanted to kill, to pull everything to peices. She stripped a glove and slapped her hand over his bare arm, the veins on his skin pulling upward as she drained him of everything he had been. When there was nothing left to drain she put her glove back on, eyes focussed on Logans own she walked toward him. Her gait measured and sound.
"We're needed up top, Magneto's here. With an army."

You'd have thought she'd told him that anyone who was over a hundred just got a free pass into the Molson factory with an 'All you can drink for free' policy. Marie put her hand on his cheek as the smile went over his skin, "Come on we've got some scores to settle, but we don't kill everyone, only the ones who attack us first." His smile lost some of it's potency but he answered her.
"Okay, but if the furball is back, he's mine." Marie quelled a shudder at the mention of Sabertooth, he still held a power over her, he'd taken her when she was weak. If he *was* there she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't join in the fight.
"Okay, lets go." They left the soldier on the table, if they came back they'd deal with him, if not he'd be in the worlds biggest tomb along with about five hundred others.

Linking hands they ran back toward the lift, seeing the large bulk of Hank just dropping into the tunnels, Marie shouted "South tunnel Hank!" his hand waved just before it disappeared entirely taking Xavier with him. Marie let her mind slip a few gears as they went inside, kissing Logan for luck she hoped there would be someone left by the time they got out there.

**********************************************************

Emma was confused by the directions she'd been given by Jean, was the woman being obtuse on purpose? They'd been combing the bloody area for the entrance for nearly an hour when a stump shifted position and a steel head popped up. Before the man could extracate himself Emma froze him in place and spoke, "I'm not here to hurt you, Jean sent me, I'm Emma Frost, we're here to help you." The large man had sprouted another head, a young woman with dark brown hair and large eyes.
"Emma? Emma Frost?"
"Yes, we're here to help you, I've got people searching for the other tunnel entrances Jean told us we could find you if things went bad in one of them."
"Jean told you? Did she tell you about the counter-measures too?" How much more would it take to convince them, they didn't have much time to get out of the area.
"YES! Jean told me!" Emma pushed an image of her and Jean talking at a table discussing the plans to the mansion and the bombs that were on the rest of the entrances.
It seemed to be enough and her head popped back down through the larger man's torso.

Emma released the metal skinned man and she held her hand out to him, "You must be Peiter Rasputin," his huge hand covered her own but shook it gently. Children were pouring out of the entrance, nearly a hundred in all, when they'd gone with Kitty and Peiter she turned to her own team. "Stop looking at the other entrances, get them here as soon as possible, we've got an army to fight." Emma had been hoping to see Rogue among those who'd gotten out but just as they were about to set off Hank appeared with his cargo. He froze with the body bag over his shoulder, standing upright with it he looked at the collection of people in front of him. He was ready to fight but the look of the people here weren't ready to fight him, they had other things in mind.
"Who are you?" Emma questioned the large furred mutant, her eyes locked on the body bag, it had air holes punched into it.
"Dr Hank McCoy." Emma's eyes never left the body bag but she spoke to Hank.
"If you're looking for the rest of them they went to the south, we have vehicles there, ready and waiting to take you all to safety. It's about four miles but they're not that far ahead of you." Hank softened his posture and hefted the body bag again, repositioning it so it wouldn't fall as he walked.
"Thank you," as he passed her Emma sent a thought into his head, *If that's who I think it is, be careful, there's people down there that have grudges they don't forget easily.* Hank stopped dead and looked back at her, sending his thanks and wishing her luck.

Emma watched him walk away carrying his burden, she only hoped he got away with the rest of them because if what she'd seen happened then none of them would ever be safe again.

**********************************************************

It was Kurt who saw the small dot begin to drop down out of the sky like heavens wrath. He bampfed over to Ro' plucked her from the air and brought her back behind the line of fighting. From where they'd been came a screech that split the air, it's similarity to a falcon cheated of prey eerie in the extreme. They watched as Archangel turned on the body that was hanging in the air, his hands tearing into the flesh of Magneto. But was worse was the laughter that came from Magneto as he did it, as if he was daring him to kill him, to take the life from him, to rip it from his breast and give him peace.

From their vantage point Kurt watched in horror as a second force appeared behind The Brotherhood, men dressed in green fatigues, men armed with guns, humans!

They were about to shout out to their own fighters when Logan vaulted the ice wall that Bobby had put up, quickly followed by Marie. Both of them had claws drawn, faces locked onto the men behind The Brotherhood, even as mutants began to fall to gunfire both of them worked their way through the fleeing crowds of mutants toward the line of green. Ro' called out to those below her and Kurt, "Get out there! They'll kill every one of us, Brotherhood or not! Fight!"

**********************************************************

Somewhere were the desert winds scoured the land clean of life, the images of a green garden turned into a bloodbath were as clear as day. Helmet camera's were useful items, they watched the progress of the clean and sweep proceedure. All without emotion, all without upset, when the press got hold of it it would all be a mistake, an attack on a school by The Brotherhood of Mutants that had unfortunately gone too far. They'd had to step in to defend the rest of the community, it wasn't until they got the school register that they found out that some of the dead were staff and students.
The press release was already on his desk, all they'd have to do was add the names of the desceased. After all Xavier had been useful in his own way but now things were becoming a little too risky. He hadn't gotten to where he was now without knowing when to cut his losses.

Watching the screen he saw a flash of something go by, it repeated itself again to the left and he willed the soldier to look that way. He did and what he saw made the cool smile on his elderly face fix in place, then he knew why Xavier had never let him visit. If he had he'd have seen *him*, watching the soldier fall to the man, to the pure look of animal hatred on his face made his heart glow. After twenty years....it would be so nice to see his creation come home, and as the camera feed switched to another soldier he saw a female with him, clawed like he was. Had Xavier found another like him? He pressed record on his personal recorder and kept the picutres going. Oh yes, tying up a loose end had been unfortunate but God never shuts one door without opening another.

Shouting, colours blurring past, scents filled with fear and terror, noise that was coming from what seemed like a thousand echoing hells. Bodies were falling around her, like the leaves from the trees in winter, yet it didn't reach her.

A face flew apart in slow motion as a bullet passed through, taking the nose with it, the thing slowed down so she could watch as the skin stretched and split. Pressure cutting through the tender meat of the face, the terror locked into the remaining eye as she watched the other tear open. Clear fluid running down skin already torn by the bullets path, it held her gaze even as she felt the bullet pass her own deadly skin. Covered in the blood of another, the flesh flapping in the wind it's passing created. A perfect hole where the back of a head had been, blood vessels still working to feed a brain that was no longer there.

Inside she was calm, even as she saw another mutant fall to the stacatto rhythm around her, this time the bullet flew through from the back. Pieces of kidney exited the front of the shirt the man had been wearing, instantly blossoming with red as the next one entered his shoulder turning it into so much ground human. The pain etched on his face was nothing for her to concern herself with, she still pushed forward, chasing Logan, his path wide as he fought to get to the front line. Behind her she could feel the cold rising, realising that Bobby had used his powers to form some kind of shield. Above her head she could still hear Magneto's voice singing out over the fleeing crowd, trying to rally the fleeing mutants. His voice sounding so weak, so full of pain, that she hardly recognised it. Whatever was left of the man she'd helped to track and fight against had gone, what was happening now was a massacre. They'd come from nowhere having surprise on their side but it wouldn't last long. Over the din of screams and gunfire she could hear the rumble of thunder and she felt herself smile as she remembered the power of a storm. Especially one who'd been used by her once favoured tutor.


Blood, he wanted blood, he wanted to bathe in it, fresh from the artery, all copper an iron. Targets ran past him, an he slashed at them as they went by, feeling the coil of intestine loop out over his claws before he snatched them away again. Mutant and human alike were dropping in his wake, a path cleared for him to run toward the green line of men that his eyes were locked onto. Three noticed him, turned their rifles toward him and fired, then everything slowed down. Wolverine was gaining ground inside his mind, his rage seething through Logan's blood until he had to let go. Releasing him finally with a roar that shook the ground around him, he was *free*, free to be what he was made for, free to kill everything in his sight. Inside his mind he rejoiced, he might not survive the day but he'd take as many as he could with him.

The first bullet went straight through his chest, taking part of his lung with it, blood sweet and coppery filled his mouth, his body clearing the damage even as he reached the men who were now trying to concentrate their fire on the thing that had been running toward them. Too little too late, as he dove into the threesome, hands weaving he tore through the thin armour. A gunshot ricocheted off his skull, others around the man thinking that he'd dealt with the problem, not realising he was still fighting. Only when he rose up pulling a solider with him did it become clear, taking hold of the man and pulling his claws through the body. Tearing a hole through the midsection, letting the slippery moist coils of his intestines fall onto his comrades.

The dying soliders screams loud in their ears as they ceased firing to watch the embodiment of Shiva come into their midst. Even as the dying soldier was dropping to the now blood soaked ground he was reaching out to the man to his left. Silence flooded around the area as men began to realise what was happening, guns were being turned to the devil in their midst. Yet they never fired, for his consort was on the field of battle, from behind she came, a dervish covered in blood and mud. Never staying still, dancing through their forms, plunging her hands into bodies, taking hold of organs with fingers and tearing them free. Eyes glittering with a savage beauty she danced through the rank and file. Injuries on her skin suddenly closing as she moved between the men, her hands bare her touch as deadly as her weaponry.

He watched her kill, the grace in her form, the half smile that covered her face as she drained another life with her touch. A twitching sickness that seemed to spread out from where she'd been weaving through the green lines of men. Dancing through them, never slow, never stopping, a slash to pare to the bone, a blur of red and brown then a red curtain covering the eyes of a man she'd scalped. Free to kill, to use all he'd given her, all the darkness that had been squashed and denied. Behind him the roar of noise was becoming louder, men who'd been running away were returning, their eyes filled with a hatred that burned past the divide in species and was wholly mammallian. Soldiers didn't move as the tide of bodies smashed over their positions, and Wolverine looked for his mate. He caught a glimse of her face over the crowded battle field before the world turned white as lightning struck the ground close to him. The sensation of the world being blanked out for a moment as he flew back toward the house and the cry of Marie as she saw him go by.
"NO!!!"

Storm hung in mid air, her body filled with the power of the skies, bullets were fired at her but the winds she'd controlled around her spun them away back into the men who'd fired them. Many dropped to the sodden ground as Bobby and Jubilee got what was left of The Brotherhood to turn and fight the soldiers. They meant to kill everyone here, everyone who wasn't human would be dead by the time this was over. The war had begun and it had been Xaiver who'd begun it years ago with his double dealing and profiteering at the expense of those he didn't deem worthy of salvation.
Next to her was the remnants of Magneto, the corpse was still hanging there in mid air, somehow held up by the force of will that inhabited the now shredded shell of her once enemy. His face was torn apart, an eye lolled on his cheek but the other though milky turned to watch her shifting through the sky. His whisper caught by her ears as if he were right next to her, "Kill them all, make them remember why they fear us, why we should be left alone. Kill them for me Ororo, make my death something to remember, set me free...." the whisper died as she suddenly realised what she was looking at. Xavier had turned Erik into a revenant, a corpse that wouldn't let go of the spirit that had housed it. Xavier had told her he'd done it once before to a man who'd kept a harem of mutant women to abuse. The man had died of an embolism but he'd forced the spirit back into the body to suffer as it rotted away. Finally freeing it to the world to haunt for the rest of it's immortal life.

Sorrow filled her as she saw the body of her once enemy hanging there in space, Charles had done this to the one man he'd loved. Gathering her strength toward her she pulled all the electrical energy she could into her until her hair was standing proud from her head like a corona. Using her fingers she pointed to the corpse hanging over the battle, letting everything she had flow through her. She had to destroy it utterly in one attempt, to rend it completely, into the atoms that made up the body. Only that way would he be free, her gaze watched as the power hit him. It arced through the dead nerves, ran riot across his form, burning with the power of the sun. He lasted for a few seonds, the almost smile she saw covering his face before it disintergrated in front of her gave her some respite. When it had exploded into ash the power arced over the field, finding area's to ground and Ro' felt the draw of Logan's skeleton from where she was. Flicking her hand she guided it to the left of him, just enough to see the man fly into the air after the blast of it hit the ground. Repelled by the force she watched as Logan flew across the field landing in a heap near the now shattered ice wall. Rogue was fighting her way to him, tearing her way through the men who surrounded her to get to him. A grim fierceness on her face, teeth bared to the world covered in blood and pieces of flesh. Turning her own gaze back to the edge of the forest and the road behind it, black shapes were moving down the road. Shapes with barrels at the end, they'd brought artillery, only three, but three were enough to win the battle here. More men were coming down the road, just as many as were already here and Ro' knew then that if they wanted to see out the day they had to get out of here before the tanks arrived.

Searching the battlefield filled with mutants dying and using their powers on soldiers who were now regrouping into knots of firepower. Catching sight of Jubilee and Bobby hiding behind a cluster of dead bodies, their faces pinched and eyes hollow. Drifting down to their position she screamed out above the noise of death and bullets, "GET AS MANY AS YOU CAN BACK TO THE MANSION! WE HAVE TANKS COMING!" Jubilee hung her head as Bobby just nodded, scenario's in the danger room were never as bad as this. The smell wasn't the same, as was the texture of cooling flesh, Bobby dragged Jubilee back to the mansion, using the piles of dead to cover their progress. Ro turned her voice to the wind, screaming out her needs to those who could still hear her. Looking below she saw Archangel laying in the mud, his chest blown wide open, eyes open and staring straight up into the now swirling clouds. Rage filled her veins, trembling with it Ro' felt her control slipping again, seeing the tanks coming down the road she'd driven on so many warm days. Holding out her clawed fingers as she felt the earth beneath their vast weight shift and move. She'd tear them apart with her own hands if need be, but even now she was tiring, the strain on her too much to bear for much longer. She'd buy them all time but she didn't expect to survive this, if she did manage to survive she'd be spending the rest of her life in a lab drugged into oblivion.


He'd flown so far back, the crack of the lightning had surprised her forcing her to her knees but it had been seeing Logan fly away from her with such force that made her calm shatter.
Afterward she'd attacked anyone in her way, all that mattered was him, she had to know he was safe, that he was alive. All around her mutants were dropping back, returning to the mansion, and she was in the way of the stream. Soliders who'd survived the storm and the lightning were now running toward the building and into her path.
A part of her mind watched in horror as she made merry work of the men in green who tried to stop her using bayonets and bullets. One stuck her in the side,twisting the blade in her, ripping it out to smile at her as she grasped his tunic. Her bare skin a fraction away from his own, as she gasped he took hold of her hand to prise it off. It was his last mistake, she let his mind flood her own, inside her mind was Wolverine, waiting for the interloper. He entered, giving over all the knowledge he had and she left the image of the man to Wolverine. She watched internally as he shredded the man, tore his soul to pieces, ripped him apart peice by piece until there was nothing left at all. Coming back to herself as she felt the internal injury repair her eyes meeting that of hte soldier. There was nothing left in him, he was an empty vessel, plucking the gun from hsi unresisting fingers she turned it on him before dropping it into the muddy soup at her feet. The once green lawn now resembling Passendale, the memory flowing out of Logan into her mind. The mud, the death, the stink of bodies rotting in mud and the cries of those unfortunate enough to be stranded in no-mans-land.

The next one that shot her got a quick death, she cut his throat open as she fell forward, resting in the mud as her body struggled to keep healing. She still had wounds from the first part of the battle, she would heal, but if the wounds overwhelmed her system she'd be so much meat for the black baggers. Gritting her teeth she forced herself back up, the man who'd shot her was still struggling with life. She ended it quickly by shoving her claws through an eye socket and used his skull to push up from the ground. The stickyness that covered her hand reminding her of the first death she'd seen that day. Now they were all just meat waiting to die, no longer human, only 'things' in her way.

She found him, rolled onto his front by the force of the blast, pulling his face out of the mud she wiped it clean. Seeing his skin a little blistered and pink where he'd healed the damage caused by the bolt. "Logan! LOGAN! Don't you leave me to deal with this on my own!" Shaking him into life, feeling his breath deepen as she let her head drop into his chest. She'd seen too much death already, dealt too much of it too, she needed him with her. To explain it to her, to make her understand 'why'.

Suddenly there were explosions behind her, a shell crashed into the mansion, covering the once clear grounds with debris. A tank was rounding the corner, with it were fresh troops, these weren't holding back they just fired on anyone that moved, soldier or mutant. Logan's eyes snapped open as the next shell went over their heads and exploded in the teachers wing. His grip on her increased as he shifted in the mud, seeing a gap he pulled her with him. Out to the woods, driving them both away from the battlefield, now was not the time for a suicide mission. They had to survive, they had to use what they had and that was what was left of The Brotherhood to keep them busy while they made their escape. The last thing they saw was Ororo falling to the ground, her arms trying desperately to keep her balance as her powers faded. The skies clearing above as her power drained away, Logan just pulled her with him as they headed south. Hopefully they'd run into someone they knew, if not they'd deal with whatever they found as they went.

**********************************************************

The tunnel entrance came up in the underground section of the mansion, using the maps drawn up Emma sent her force upstairs, they had to get as many out as possible. The army was here to 'clean-up', that meant destroying everything in their path, for them there were no sides, only enemies. As they climbed higher they heard the cries of people running helter skelter through the mansion, searching for a way out without being mown down by the soldiers.
When she got up top Emma saw the devastation, the entire house would come down soon. Grabbing the wandering mutants she shoved them toward the lower levels, telling them with pictures where to go and which tunnel to take. It was like salmon, all of them suddenly flowed toward the exit, forcing Emma and her fighters to struggle against the flow of injured and frightened mutants. Eventually she got outside, her eyes taking in the armour in front of her, sending her skin into diamond she walked out onto the battlefield her fighters already making their presence felt.

Shadow, a mutant who could turn the light against himself, cloaking himself in full view, turned his power outward. Soldiers went blind, they was suddenly nothing to see and they began firing blindly.
Echo was next, his power affected the inner ear, noises from around them were filtered into the brain, turned up as loud as he could, every movement was a pain to the ear and mind.
Finally Shade, she drifted through the men already debilitated by Shadow and Echo, her touch sent the men's bodies into shock, her very skin poisonous, they'd die in minutes from her. Her name had been Belladonna once, an assassin for the Mafia, used as a toy to kill. Emma had rescued her family freeing her from their demands, she'd killed fifty before she'd thought it enough. Now as she passed through the ranks of men she brought them down as fast as she could. Smiling as she went a dark flower with a scent that men would always remember as the last thing they ever sensed.

Emma concentrated on the tanks, her mind entering the things so easily, putting her claws out into their minds and shredding what she found. Men who's training suddenly went, all knowledge about what they were in and what they were doing went. She scathed through the men in one tank, sending information that each person they saw in the tank with them was a mutant. One who wanted to kill them, the gunfire that erupted from the second tank was enough of a confirmation of her success. Emma looked up to see Storm falling to the ground, raising her hand she guided her to the floor. Racing over she plucked the exhausted woman from the mud, Shadow hid them as she ran back with her prize. Things were as bad as they could be, Storm was nearly unconscious and her own fighters were now getting resistance from further up the road.
"PULL BACK! PULL BACK, PLAN DELTA. GO, NOW!" Everyone knew what that meant and they melted away into the grounds. Emma heaved Storm back through the crumbling mansion, down the stairs and through to the tunnel, mud and blood were caked everywhere. On the tunnel entrance was a key pad, Emma searched for the code in Storms mind. Finding it she punched it in, hoping she'd gotten it correct and not punched in her ATM number. The red beep told her the explosives were set, all she had to do was get to the other end in six minutes. Following the trail of blood and bodies that hadn't made it that far after succuming to their injuries. The house that Xavier had built was coming down, she just wondered if the mind that was left in the body even knew.

**********************************************************

Logan pulled Marie into a hole, dropping his form over hers and staying still, there were men ahead, camouflaged, hidden and they'd nearly run into them. These guys were the mop-up crew, just in case someone got away, they'd headed for the south but the road went that way, so they'd banked to the east hoping for a clear run after a while but no. They'd been working back toward the south and come across these guys.

Marie was so tired, tired of killing, of running, of being a target. All she wanted to do was hide but she couldn't that way lay death, she could mourn and get angry later. Now she had to survive and if that meant going through another set of soldier she'd do it. Logan had killed for her safety more times than she could count, she *owed* him. Taking a few deep breaths she felt Logan shift over her, his rumbling breath calming her a little as he shifted out letting her move. When she saw his eyes he knew she was close to coming undone, teaching her and doing it were two different skills. She'd had her baptism, it was streaked in her hair and her skin, tiger striping her in brown and black. Logan waved her to the left and he motioned to the right, they couldn't leave anyone alive. The Logan in her head was telling her to use her skin, drop them and stab at the heart. Easy, quiet an simple, she had to agree to the plan she only hoped that the soldiers would accomadate her.

She was close to coming apart, she needed to rest, her eyes were filled with death and he knew that part of her had been killed on the battlefield. She'd never killed like that before, lost her mind to the passion of it, to the purpose of it. But she needed to finish the job now, they weren't out of danger yet and he needed her to do what she did best. Kill. Nodding to her he moved off to take out the men to their right, slinking off he knew she'd do it, she'd kill them but what state she'd be in afterward was another story.

The men were easily found, strung out on a cordon, each man in contact with his left and right, best way was to start in the middle. Crouching low he shifted through the undergrowth his mind retreating until there was nothing but Wolverine slavering for blood.
Erupting out directly in front of the solider he caught the surprised scent of the man before beheading him in one stroke. Not staying still he went left, taking the next man out with a stab to the throat, ripping windpipe and vocal chords to shreds. Still there was no sound from him or the men he'd killed, moving along the line he found the last man, his head alredy turning toward him as he plunged the fist full of claws straight through his skull. Checking ahead for another and finding nothing he returned to the last man and began to strip him of clothing and supplies. They'd need whatever they could get, going near civilisation was out, they had to keep a low profile for a while if they didn't meet up with the rest of the kids. They'd find them but first they had an appointment to keep with Bloodsport.

She'd been sneaking up behind one when he'd shifted and half turned, freezing to the spot she held her position thinking he hadn't seen her. It was when she'd moved again that a gun was aimed at her head and she was ordered to stand up. Three guns were on her, rifles and they were all trained on her head. One man used a radio, listening to the man try to contact a superior and have nothing but silence meet his request. Waved up she moved, going slow as she raised her hands above and behind her head. Two soliders came out to secure her, inside her head Wolverine showed her what to do, a small half smile on her face as she did as she was instructed.

Just as one got to her she dropped to one knee, her hands were just at the right height and she fired her claws into both men's stomachs. Using her momentum she flipped herself backward as the third soldier opened fire, all he did was kill his companions faster. They dropped like stones as she rolled away and down, hiding in the leaf litter listening to the man chatter away on a radio that was suddenly devoid of contact. Moving around him she went into the fox hole to his right, finding a gun she hefted the thing and aimed it right between his shoulder blades. Breathing out as she squeezed the trigger, the report of the gun sounded out and she smelled the cordite bloom in the air. Watched as the bullets path went through the soldiers chest, at this distance a bullet proof vest wasn't any good. It would still go in but it wouldn't come out, it'd bounce around inside the body creating more damage. He half turned toward her before his lips fountained with blood and he fell forward, resting for a moment she closed her eyes.

Opening them again when she smelled Logan approaching, he was carrying gear, dressed in army greens. Nodding to her she understood and took the stuff from him, she needed to change clothing. Her own were covered in blood and death, even these were better than those gore covered items. As she changed she saw Logan's face soften for a moment, watching as something flashed through his eyes. Pride, joy, happiness? She wasn't sure but it was something to do with what she'd done today, shaking now she finally finished getting dressed. Tiredness and cold beginning to soak into her skin, Logan held out a bare hand and looked at her. Asking her to take from him again, she did it reluctantly but it made sense. They wouldn't be stopping to eat or to drink, Logan had better stamina and she coudl share it this way. After he'd recovered they both set out to find the rest of the kids, that is if there *was* anyone left to find.

It was the rumble of thunder in a clear sky that made Hank wonder about the mansion, then he saw the plume of dark smoke rising over the trees.

Fire.

Whatever had happened had destroyed the mansion, the people around him were nervous as it was, several vehicles had left earlier with children. Their faces pinched and drawn, Peiter was still here with him guarding the body bag that held Xaiver. Kitty had gone on ahead with a bus full of quiet kids, she'd told the big man she loved him and if the worst happened she'd raise their baby well. The moment was so full of love he'd had to turn away from it, that something so full of hope had been born out of so much death.

He wasn't stupid, he knew what forces would have come to the mansion and it wouldn't just be The Brotherhood. They don't have artillery and he heard artillery pieces firing. Something had changed in the grand scheme of things and now being different was a matter of life and death. If you were different, you died.

When the first lot of injured came through he almost went to help but they scattered, flying, transporting, running or just hobbling away as fast as possible. There were no attempts made to stop them by those waiting for Emma; faces that were shell-shocked and stunned passed by silently. They made no noise but the movement of their passage, wounds glared at him as they passed but if he'd attempted to stopthem he'd have been in danger. They didn't trust anyone, not even him, everyone was coming to terms with how the world had changed for them in just a few hours.

Peiter touched his arm and motioned to the bag, it was time to check the fluids. Making sure the larger man was in front of the bag Hank opened the zipper, the face of their destroyer laid there for all to see if they passed close enough. Lifting the sugar/saline mix Hank noticed the level had dropped significantly, there was plumpness back to his skin. Looking over at the large man he nodded to him and put the bag back, touching the warm body Hank felt a brush over his mind. A dreamlike touch, but definitely from the man below him, quickly Hank drew an amount of drugs out and pushed it direct into the body. Checking the pupils as they dilated, finally happy he drew the zipper closed again, the last thing they needed was Xavier waking up.

It was Peiter who spoke first as the last few came through the forest, Jubilee, Bobby, Kurt, Spectar, Emma and Ororo. "Storm!"
Every single one of them looked like they'd been through hell and it was still chasing them, Emma barked out orders to those who were still waiting for her. "Get the vehicles going, we're going to have to ride hard out of here. Get your shields up and make sure everyone in your group knows where they're meeting up with everyone else. We don't know if they have a telepath with them and if they'll be following us." People moved quietly, quickly and Hank was surprised how fast everything was done, he was ensconced within a truck with his precious cargo. Jubilee was with him, her happiness long gone making her look the complete opposite of the person he'd seen yesterday. A song rose unbidden in his mind 'What a difference a day makes' but this was no happy lovers ending. It was the beginning of hostilities and after today it would only get worse.

Emma's face plunged into their vehicle, her face was serious and her words clipped "Your heading up to Speculator, Hamilton County, mountain country, theres not much up there so you'll be hard to track. It'll be a couple of days before we can come and get you, is there anything you need for 'it'." Emma's eyes dropped to the bag laid out at their feet. Hank pulled his frame toward Emma and she backed off a little as the bulk of Hank's angry frame filled her space.
"Yes, fluids. I can't keep him stable without them." Emma looked at their driver, a man with dreadlocks that shifted without a breeze.
"Get them what they need Howard, do it quiet but get it." The man nodded his assent and Emma just patted Jubilee on the arm, "You'll be okay, Howard is one of my best, we'll be meeting up in about four days. Just enough time to get everyone safe and across the border, we're going to have to cross illegally and that'll be risky. They'll be expecting it, that’s why the kids have already left." She looked at her watch before continuing, "We've got papers for kids going on fieldtrips so they should be safe, it's just the adults I have to worry about. Keep yourselves hidden if possible," her gaze went to Hank who just smiled without a piece of humour in it.
"Of course."
"Good luck and safe journey. See you on Tuesday!" Emma slammed the door shut on them and watched as they drove out of the forest. She only hoped that they'd be something to find when they went to get them but something was telling her that it wasn't over yet.

**********************************************************

Men were doing their best picking up bodies of mutants, piling them high on the destroyed lawn. Their own dead were wrapped in black body bags, flashing lights were coming down the mangled road. The fire that had consumed the large mansion was now seriously out of control, the sparks of ash were spiralling high and floating out over the forest. A danger of forest fire and as such had to be dealt with immediately, the fire trucks were let through but they had an armed escort that kept the fire-fighters at their job and not straying into things that didn't concern them. When it was out the bodies of the soldiers were gone, as were the rest of the artillery that had caused the destruction of the once proud school.

All that was left was the pile of mutant terrorists, stacked high like a pyre, sightless eyes all looking into the sun that had just past it's zenith. Armed men surrounded the pyre, just as the police and swat teams arrived. A man dressed in deep green fatigues saluted the officer in charge and passed something over, it took only moments to read but the message was clear.
He waved his men to the pyre; they changed places and the soldiers melted away as if they'd never been there. Not even a shell casing was left behind, they were never there, this never happened. It was a battle between mutant terrorists against a school filled with children. That was the message the police would give over when the newscrews turned up, there never was a military presence here. It was pointed out perfectly in black and white, to think any differently would end up with things going badly wrong for someone above and as the officer knew, shit always rolls *down* the chain of command.

As the last man in green drove away, the commander looked at his men, their faces were drawn and their skin pallid. The whole thing was a massacre; his fingers went to the small golden chain around his neck and the small symbol that hung on it. A six pointed star, given to him by a fraternal uncle when he'd been recognised as a 'man'. He'd always liked his uncle, he'd been strange to many other kids in the family but he'd understood. He'd seen the marks on his skin, the scars on his back, the ink on his arm the five-digit number that he'd cover every time someone's eyes dropped to it.
Remembering the words of the Rabbi when he'd been a young angry man, his words of wisdom only reaching him now when he too had grandchildren to lose. "My son, there are many mistakes a man can make but the biggest of all is not to remember how such things started. It started out of fear of the different, when a man fears the different he fears God. And a man who fears God but destroys his creations is a man to watch." His fingers dropped the golden Shield of David around his neck and he barked out an order to the police standing around the pyre.
"Get those bodies laid out, for God's sake they're humans not animals!"
He knew he'd pay for this later but his own conscience wouldn't allow him to leave them like this. They were human no matter what others thought; they'd thought his own people were animals once. Over five million had died and he looked at the pile of bodies in front of him, for those in power this was a good start but he'd be damned if he'd help turn them into animals.

It was late afternoon when the newscrews came, by then they had enough dead to lay over the once fertile garden with cooling flesh. A garden of broken flowers that had once been breathing smiling people, when the newscrews took pictures he didn't stop them talking to his men. Covered in blood and mud from handling the corpses, seeing the damage done to them and their questions about how it had happened.
All he'd seen was one of his men go down to a small figure, no more than a child really and plunge his fingers inside her body. His eyes filled with tears; red-faced he dropped a bullet into the reporter’s hand. Pulled his own weapon free and slid a bullet into her hand and asked her if they matched. The silence that filled the entire field was enough to make the heavens roar with it. He was making it clear that they didn't do this, they hadn't been here and killed so many as if they were pests to be destroyed.
The newscaster had just held up the bullets, one obviously a rifle round the other a revolver. Her eyes drifting to the field of dead that stretched away into the distance. Behind her the scene of policemen trying to identify the bodies, pulling fingerprints, searching for wallets. Hardened men crying openly as they went through the lines of bodies, a field of the dead, laid out for the camera's to record. Even after the sun had fallen the newscrews were here from around the world, taking picture after picture of the faces. And as the news spread out across the world so did the hunt for the perpetrators of this massacre.

Yet sat watching in his car the chief knew the truth would never come out, all that would be seen was the death of a thousand or so mutants and the destruction of a school for mutants. Flicking his radio to life in his car he asked to be put through to his home. He told his wife to get their granddaughter out of the city, to go visit his uncle in England. To take everyone they could and go, she didn't question him the only sign of her distress was a small quaver in her voice. But she did as he asked and they flew out before he'd even made it home. He'd done the best he could for his family now he had to deal with the flack about his men and those he was going up against had more power than he had but he'd do his best for every single one of them. They weren't perfect, he knew that but there were many like him with family members who were 'different'. He'd given a small speech to each group under his command and several had sloped off for a few hours to sort out 'things'. When they'd returned they'd all checked in with him and he could see that he had their loyalty. In times like this he needed every piece of luck and loyalty he could get. Things would only get worse from here.

**********************************************************

Logan was tired, they'd been going south for a couple of hours now, and they were dangerously near New York. Approaching the highway they slunk along the edge as the sun began to heat up the air. Keeping to the edges they watched traffic go by, hoping for a gap so they could get across and into the mess of storage on the other side. Just over the edge of the road lay a goldmine for them, a truckers rest stop, they could jump aboard a truck and go somewhere away from here. Looking for Canadian plates would be best; they'd hopefully find a truck on its way back and jump aboard.

Marie was numb, hair strung back with cord she was about to snap, skin cracking with dirt and blood she needed to get clean, soon. Resting her hand on Logan's shoulder she motioned to the small block that sat at the far edge of the park. There were always rest places here, a place a trucker could get a shower, eat, and rest up before taking the long journey back home. Twenty-four hours a day they were open and at the moment it looked like heaven, there even looked to be a small motel too. "Logan...." she whispered to him her voice close to breaking. "Ah need to get clean...please...." her tears ran hot and fierce as he turned his grim face to look into her red eyed gaze. She watched his anger fading as her realised her state of mind.

They'd been travelling fast, covering ground so quickly; he'd dragged her along, not caring if she was hurt. They had to get away, had to survive, it was all he'd been concentrating on. Now they looked as if they'd made it, he just wanted to get out of the US and back into Canada. He had friends there; places they could hide in while this blew over, if it ever did. He nodded to her, "Okay, a couple of hours no more." Her eyes lightened a little as he gripped her hand, "Come on, we'll get us a ride."

Covering the ground quickly they got over the road, dodging traffic to lose themselves in the vast mixture of trucks and containers. Using his sense of smell Logan found a container they might need, slashing through the seals he opened a door. Clothing wrapped in plastic and tagged lined the rails inside. Moving quickly he snatched two large down jackets, three pairs of trousers, some shirts, jumpers and t-shirts. Giving them for Marie to hold as he shut the door again, she was already unwrapping them and throwing the plastic behind the container. Shedding her military greens fast and bundling them into a ball, using a plastic bag to carry them in. Soon she looked as if she's just dropped in from the woods, her figure hidden by the large sizes but it looked better than a named tunic.

Logan did the same, carrying his own down jacket in hand they walked toward the small motel. Plucking out the cash he'd liberated from the dead soldiers he motioned Marie to the one on the far end, the small little red door beckoning her. He went direct to the office, paid for the room for six hours, got the key, pushed it into her shaking hand. "Get washed, sleep and I'll be back soon. Lock the door behind you, I'll make my own way in." She understood what he was saying; he'd pick the lock to get in later. Checking the area for unusual things and finding it clear he kissed her quickly, then he was gone.

Shaking she opened the door, leaning on it when she snapped the lock home. Taking the sturdy wooden chair she braced it against the doorknob, if anyone tried to get in while she was in the shower she'd hear it. Shaking she caught her reflection, blood was caked in her hair, it streaked down her skin. She looked like a crash survivor, thing is the only thing she'd seen had been the death she'd dealt herself. Her stomach flipped at the memory and she fought the urge to throw up hot bile, holding her stomach for what seemed like an age while she breathed in the stale air of the room.
Taking a good look around she didn't see a tv only a radio chained to the wall. Snapping it on she let the music fill the space around her as she undid the large coat. Dropping it onto the bed she went into the tiny bathroom, it was cramped, stained and leaky but at the moment it looked like heaven.

Stripping her new clothing stepping into the tub as she turned on the water, letting it run through her matted hair. Turning her back to the water as it flowed over her, pink water ran down, suddenly turning brown as she dislodged a chunk of dried blood. Bits of leaf litter fell out of her curls, turning herself to clean the skin of her face. As the water ran across her skin she felt it light up, her memory suddenly filled with the faces of the men she'd killed. Every one of them there with her, trapped in the moment of their deaths. Under the water she herded them together inside her mind, burning them up, destroying what they were until there was nothing left of them but the small residuals they always left her with. She had a feeling she could strip an M-4 in her sleep and she knew how a M-107 felt when it kicked like a mule into your shoulder. Pieces of knowledge were stuck to her soul like the blood in her hair, picking up the worn soap next to the tiny sink she scrubbed her hair.

As it cleaned away the blood from her body she felt the presence of these men fade but it didn't do anything for her. She'd killed, her vengeance on Xavier and Scott paled into insignificance now, she'd killed *soldiers*, men trained to kill, she'd enjoyed it, loved the feeling of their fear, the sharp tang of it around their bodies as they'd died. What was she? Stood under the warm rain of the shower she looked at her reflection in the metal mirror over the sink. Warped and puckered out of proportion she looked like a harpy, an image of a demon filled her mind. Something from Asia, a woman dark skinned with a tongue poking out of her mouth, blood and bodies everywhere she went. Something one of the men she'd killed had seen, something he'd compared her to when she'd killed him. Kali, that was the name, Kali. Looking at her reflection she turned away and cleaned the rest of the death from her body, her mind was another matter entirely and she knew no matter how much Logan held her she'd be feeling cold for a long time to come.


Logan went to the trucks, walking around the place he fitted in a man hunched over, minding his own business as his eyes scanned for a Canadian truck. A group of men were clustered around a small television ahead of him and the commentary caught his hearing. "Attack on a school, at this moment we aren't sure what prompted the attack but as you can see the fire is under control now and the crews are pulling out now that damping down has been finished." Logan moved up with a couple of others, their bodies unwashed and filling his nose with the scent of tobacco and sweat. His eyes though were locked onto the screen, what it showed was what was left of the mansion. A burned out piece of rubble, but it was the bodies laid out along the lawn that had the men around him shaking their heads. They didn't comment about what was on screen they just listened to the commentator, who seemed to repeat the same things over and over. "We have no comments at all from the police chief, his men are starting to take steps to identify the dead, at the moment the body count is around 400 individuals, mainly adults. Of the students that were registered here there is no sign and as yet no one had been able to contact Mr Xavier or knows of his whereabouts. Whatever occurred here has been a shock for local residents who saw the smoke rising and called the fire department." The screen showed the fire trucks beginning to move away, the faces of the men streaked with ash and soot. Yet there was something else in their gaze that Logan recognised, anger. They were angry, normal men were being told what they could and could not say and that meant only one thing to Logan.... Government. The pictures settled on a small body just being zipped up into a black bag, the camera man being jostled out of the way by two policemen, their faces saying what their voices couldn't. All the bodies were mutants, all the dead soldiers had been removed already, there was no sign of them anywhere. All that there was was a driveway that looked like it had been ploughed, tank tracks will do that if the road surface can't take the weight.

Looking around the men he was stood with he felt the change in the air as the woman reporter came back on screen her face suddenly full of life. "We've just been told by our head office that a group has claimed responsibility for the massacre here at Xaivers School for the Gifted. A group calling themselves The Brotherhood of Mutants has just released a video online, their spokesperson a mutant known by the name of Mystique has just released a statement.....We’re just lining it up now so please stay with us....." Logan put his hand on the man in front of him and pushed him aside. Eyes locked onto the screen he waited like the rest of them for the announcement.

A backdrop with the symbol of The Brotherhood was there behind a desk with a seated Mystique, her eyes blazing out at the viewers, in front of her was empty space. But her skin was covered by a suit; her blue face was incongruous with the white of the blouse she was wearing. Her sneer though was usual; he listened as she spoke her litany of hate toward Xavier and his tolerance of humankind. That if she had her way there would be no other kind but hers, that today they'd struck a blow for mutantkind everywhere. That now there were no more places for tolerance, that there was only the fight. Logan caught her eyes as they narrowed slightly, seeing her twitch a little as something stopped her flow of words. He'd fought this bitch more than once and she never stopped talking unless she was finished, plus she was so damn proud of her skin she'd shown her ass to the president more than once. So why the hell was she dressed up now? Her hand jumped on the table and he knew why she was dressed, why she was stressing words like 'fight', 'freedom', 'tolerance'and 'humankind'. She was being shocked; pads on her sensitive skin were being shocked while she delivered her speech of hatred to the world. Mystique ended her tirade with the usual; 'We will fight until there is no one left to stand against us' speech. He'd heard it from Magneto often enough to know that it was from rote. They had her and the video was a plant, all to stir up trouble, all to make life more difficult and to give the assholes out there a reason to kill mutants.

The men around him began to talk, some were on the side of the government but there were some like him that smelled a rodent. The group quickly split into two groups and anger was colouring the air thickly, moving himself away from the centre of it he continued his search for a truck.
Three rows down he spotted one, a huge sky blue Kenworth, it looked a little road soiled but it's plates read Manitoba Province. It'd hauled a long way in a short time and Logan hoped that this was its home voyage. As he approached a man dressed in warm clothing even though the sun was shining down on the large tarmaced area walked from the back of the Kenworth. Seeing Logan he stopped dead and straightened his shoulders, he knew trouble when he saw it and looked Logan dead centre as he approached him.

Silence reigned for a while as both men sized the other up, they were a near match for weight but Logan could sense the trepidation coming off the man in front of him. "I need passage north, you headin' back?" The driver looked Logan over, seeing the new clothes, the mess of his hair and just nodded. Logan continued while looking over the truck, "Me and my girl, we need to get to Poplar River? You know it?" Finally the driver spoke his voice old and gravel rich, his eyes flashing at the man who was brave enough to ask for help from him.
"Yeah I know it," the accent was one he hadn't heard for a while and it soothed his nerves a little. "I ain't going anywhere near it though, I'm due at Swan River, other side of the Province." He squared up to Logan, folding his arms to prove the point he wasn't going to be budged about his destination.
"What time you leavin?" The man was taken aback a little when Logan still pressed the question to him.
"Not till this evenin' got another three hours to kill before I'm back out on the road."
"You willin to take payin' guests?" The trucker narrowed his eyes.
"You got passports?" When Logan didn't answer him the trucker just winced and whistled to himself, turning his head down he looked at Logan through his eyelashes. Shaking his head he looked at Logan, making his mind up he put his hand out to him "Mason Grabner."
Logan took the hand and felt the mans grip nearly matched his own, "Patch."
"Just Patch huh?" Logan nodded and Mason let go of his hand, "Well 'Patch' it'll cost ya three hundred US for both of ya. You'll be in the back of my rig, theres a place I store food in you can squeeze into but it'll only be for three miles. Hope your woman ain’t any bigger than you."
"No she's smallish, anything else you need from us?" Logan was looking into the man as he began to turn away from him. Seeing and sensing nothing apart from honesty.
"Nope, just be here before the sun goes down that's all. When that ball sets we're gone." Logan watched the man walk back to his truck; he had to get three hundred dollars from the fifty he had on him right now. Food came next for Marie, then it looked like he'd be doing a little bare knuckle bettin'. Nothing like truckers after a hard day at the wheel, they always needed someone to let their frustrations out on. Smiling he went to get some food then he'd be getting the money for their trip north. Bloodsport would wait; it wasn't as if he didn't have the time to find him later. He survived it was what he did best.

**********************************************************

Ro' woke to the feeling of a towel on her skin, shaking off the feeling of being enclosed she opened her eyes. She was laid on a back seat; Emma was with her leaning over from the front passenger seat. "How you feeling?"
Ro' pushed herself up from the seat and looked through the windscreen; they were in a queue for a tollgate. Emma quickly looked forward and back at Ro' before talking to her. "We're on the border, I need you to keep quiet and drop back down on the seat. You can keep your eyes open just don't speak, I'm having a hard time keeping everyone together as it is."
Ro' knew about Emma, she was supposed to be in league with Magneto, well that was what Scott had told her in the weekly briefings. But when she'd gone to her school she'd been allowed to wander around with impunity and it looked as if she'd known who she was from the start. If she'd been part of Magneto's Brotherhood why did she allow her to do that? Answering her question Emma spoke to the car as the line moved forward. "Because I wouldn't play ball with Charles, I preferred my students to have a choice about who they consorted with, human or mutant. I didn't make that choice for them; I never made either set of students better than the other. And as for me being on the side of Erik, the only side he was ever on was his own. The death camps taught him that." Emma was still looking out of the window when she just told her to lay down. Ro' did it; her mind still filled with the images of death and disaster all around her. Closing her eyes she drifted off into a dreamless sleep, her body recovering from the strain she'd put on it earlier.

As Emma felt Ro's mind drift off she let her mental hold slip over the woman, the last thing they needed was for her to let her own mental guard down. Concentrating on the border guards she let their minds fill her own, she'd let them look inside her truck but they wouldn't find Ro' or the others in the back. All they'd see would be luggage; clear plastic boxes all labelled up for ease of movement later. There were three other trucks filled with her people, they had documents covering the others with them, even so she was stretched to her limits. She wasn't as powerful as Xavier but she had enough to fool a border guard or three. Seeing one of theirs pass through she smiled as it powered away, they wouldn't have long to wait and she couldn't help but wonder how Rogue and Wolverine had gotten on. She'd seen him just before Ro' had fallen, running with Rogue. She hoped they made it, if not she didn't think about the prospect of rescuing them. If the military had them they had no chance, she only hoped they'd gotten away in time. Pulling her thoughts to her own car she set the illusion and put a disinterested smile on her face. It was just another field trip, the kids were waiting for her ahead and she had a few moments peace. When she finally got to the guard she loosed her mind on his, never letting it go until all of them were ten miles away.

**********************************************************

Logan came back to find Marie sleeping in the bed, the radio on the wall was playing music but it was the news bulletins that kept his attention. Bruises were fading on his face but he had a decent amount now, nearly two thousand. They'd be okay as long as he guarded what they spent, He'd give the US money to the trucker, and he’d change it as he went, keeping the Canadian for their journey. The bag in his hand held food, high fat, high protein, high sugar, she'd be starving when she woke after healing all that damage. How she'd managed to get this far with him was a mark in her favour, before he'd taken her out into the wilds she'd have collapsed before now. Shaking her shoulder she came round with a start, pushing the cheese into her hand with an "Eat." She just wiped her face with the back of her hand and began in on the lump he'd given her. It didn't last long; her hand went back into the bag and came out with a lump just as big. It didn't make it any longer than the last one, next was jerky, two whole packets to herself while he ate the last of the cheese. "Slow down, you'll regret it when it hits." She finally noticed that the light was almost gone from the day, the final fingers of the light were weaving over room as Logan shifted around checking things and wiping stuff down. Taking a bottle from the bag he poured bleach down the sink, the toilet and the shower, every place she'd been he bleached. As they were cleaning up, the radio crackled into life, a voice harsh and hurried was running along with a reporter, obviously a tv newscast that was also going out via radio.
"We're here in Crotona Park, where a rally has suddenly started," voices were raised shouting out the commentary. The voice came back suddenly, "Their talking about the announcement made by the leader of The Brotherhood of Mutants, there's at least three thousand people here, all of them angry, all of them scared and frustrated at the governors approach to the massacre that occurred today at the grounds of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. The message here seems to be one of 'strike first ask questions later', never has the mood of the public been so rabid, so violent toward the mutant community. Reports of city-wide violence toward mutants and families with mutant children. It seems as if things have been suddenly escalated..." The commentary broke off there as something crashed into the middle distance. "JESUS CHRIST! MARCUS, Marcus get IN here!" Silence reigned as the sound of a door shutting and the noise of an engine rumbled through the small speaker as the images of the sounds ran through their minds.
Bricks, bottles hit the van, smashing glass and swerving tyres, then the shaky voice of the announcer came back. "I'm not sure how much of that actually got to you all but if you didn't let me describe it to, my camera man was filming the crowd when someone noticed him. A shout went up, something like 'mutie-lover'," the voice of the cameraman came in shakily confirming that was the word. "And they attacked him, I had to pull him out of range of the mob and ladies and gentlemen let me tell you what we have here in New York is a mob. Out for blood, out for vengeance or whatever but this reporter wonders if they actually thought about what they were saying or doing, seeing as the massacre today mainly affected the very people they're trying to hurt. As far as been reported out of the five hundred and forty deaths there has been no human casualty found. Although by the end of tonight there be many more before the night is over."

Logan looked at the radio and flicked it off, seeing the standing tears in Marie’s eyes and knowing she was blaming herself for some of those deaths. They'd been attacked and they'd survived, it was obvious she'd feel guilt but him? He'd been surviving so long it no longer bothered him but seeing Marie's tears he realised it should have. She didn't let him go as they left the small room and returned the key, he pulled her toward the blue Kenwood and the man who was patiently waiting outside his truck for his passengers. The night was coming and they had to be sharp, it wasn't over not by a long chalk.

They made the border just as night fell, Mason their driver took time to get them into the storage compartment before making for the truckers lane.

It was the longest sixteen minutes Logan had ever endured, Marie was locked around him, her nerves making her tremble. As soon as they were over, Mason whistled and spoke to the seemingly empty cab, "We're over, about two miles out so you should be okay." Clambering back into the large back area Logan settled Marie in the bed part while he took the front passenger seat.

Mason was still checking his rearview, his scent telling Logan that something was off, something had gone wrong somewhere. "What happened?" Mason kept one eye behind them as he powered away from the border, his voice even when he finally answered Logan.
"Somehow I think I won't be doing this trip again anytime soon," his eyes flicking to the final bend before the view was finally gone.
Logan took the mans tension as a warning of something just avoided, Mason freed a hand from the wheel gesturing to the radio above his head. "Switch that on for me will ya Patch? Turn it to channel twelve, that's the local frequency."

Logan did as Mason asked him, the radio was suddenly throwing information out at them as fast as they could take it in. The US border had been closed, armed men were stopping each and every truck leaving the US, voices that were usually mellow sounded thick with fear. Anger soon rose and there was a staccato sound, one that Logan and Marie recognised, gunfire.

"HOLY FUCKIN' SHIT!" The silence that came from the radio was soon broken by a voice that seemed to have all warmth drained from it.
"This is the United States Army, you will unload every cargo you have, we *will* search every vehicle, strip *every* compartment you have and drain *every* fuel tank. We are searching for mutant terrorists, if you resist a lawful search you will be shot. Do I make myself clear, please bring your vehicles over to the truck lane and disembark, your truck and it's contents will be guarded until your cleared to cross the border. Anyone with suspect cargo or papers will be detained for further questioning."

The voice snapped off and Mason's face was pale but his lips were drawn thin. Snapping the radio to a different channel he snatched the mike and began spreading the news north. His voice wa strained and Logan could scent the ange and rage he felt at being treated like an animal by the military, hell he'd had enough experience himself.

Mason finally finished sending news and began to recieve the answers he'd been after, there'd been riots in New York. Mutants had gone on a rampage through the city, killing, torching building's smashing everything they could get their hands on. The violence was spreading across the states, Chicago had had some sporadic violence but they expected more. Mason did his best to keep calm, keeping them all under the speed limit, out of the eyes of the police. "Fucking American's!" He looked over to Logan who was watching the man struggle to keep his mind on the road. "No offence meant Patch but they're as crazy as a bed bug."
"None taken, I'm a Canuck, she's a yank." He pointed into the back where Marie was fast asleep, Mason gave a little look on the mirror over his head. Seeing her tired form curled up into a ball he quirked a smile to Logan.
"She really yours?" Logan cracked his knuckles and shifted so he was half turned toward her and half to Mason.
"Yeah, she is. Not sure if I wanted her in the first place but she's mine now." The stressed words weren't lost on Mason.
"You've got nothin' to worry about from me Patch; I've had my fill of women, two divorces and three kids have left me kinda wishing for a quieter life." Logan reached out and stroked Marie's face, moving some hair out of the way of her mouth. "May an' September huh?" Logan looked back at Mason, his face was open, his comment not meant to injure or disturb.
"Yeah you could say that, she kind of fell into my lap you could say and I fell into hers." Mason nodded and smiled as they drove into the night, his lights shining against the tarmac, the only sound for miles was the roar of the road under the wheels.

Signposted ahead was a truck stop, Mason gave the clock a glance, he'd made good time on this leg. Nearly an hour early, he shook the man called Patch into wakefulness, he'd been napping, eyes half open but he still knew the signs of sleep when he saw them. The girl hadn't even woken once, whatever sleep she needed she was gonna get no matter what.
"Hey Patch, you up for a rest? I'm scheduled to stop for an hour, there's a decent restraurant here, good steak." At the mention of food Logan woke up, his stomach growling at the very mention of it. He was about to shake Marie awake when Mason just stopped him by touching his arm. "We can get take out for her, won't take long if I know Hannah." As the truck turned into the truck stop Logan noticed the signs of a good solid customer base, nearly full at this time of night he could see the customers watching a television inside. This close to the border they'd still get american tv as well as CBC, following Mason inside he suddenly heard the commotion and his stomach nearly fell through the floor.

On the screen was a man that rang bells in his head, the way he spoke, the way he held himself, he *knew* this man. Underneath his hawklike head was a thin body that twisted and turned as it tried to answer the questions being fired at him. The title under the man emblazoned across the screen read 'Military Rule in New York'.

Everyone around the television seemed to have an opinion and even Mason was sucked in for a while until Hannah came past him taking out an order. Grabbing her his voice suddenly hurried and sharp, "Three red cow's with everything to go Hannah, rush order." Hannah nodded to the regular face and went on by, Logan suddenly looked deeper than the surface of the man that was taking them into Canada. His face was pinched and grey, eyes locked onto the rest of the truckers who were now arguing amongst themselves about how best to get through the now difficult border.

Before anyone saw him Mason pulled Logan to the side of the busy diner, when he was seated in a small booth Mason went direct to the phone on the wall opposite. Pushing in coins Logan tried to listen but all he caught was something about 'going to Abe's'. When Mason returned some colour had returned to his face too, flicking a look to the kitchen he could see Hannah getting their order ready. Pulling out the three hundred Logan had given him he counted out the right amount and slapped it on the counter. Grabbing the steaming bags from Hannah he motioned to Logan to follow him, when they were back in the truck Mason kept his silence until they were at least a mile away.

When he did speak he took a quick look at Marie laid out on the small bed first, "Ah recognised you first 'Patch', you see having a kid who tends to stand out kind of makes you look for others." Mason motioned to the sunvisor above his head, Logan flipped it down, there stood between two girls was a young boy, his skin was zebra striped, even his hair was a multitude of hues. Seeing Logan's nonchalance at his son's appearance he smiled a broad grin, "See I *knew* you were one of them, see I was up doin' the Saint John's run. My truck got stuck behind a huge queue of traffic, so I went to see what the hell was goin' on when this huge plane just appeared on the tarmac an three people dressed in black came runnin' out carryin someone else in their arms."

Logan remembered that mission, it had been bad intelligence over a bad idea, he'd ended up being shot to shit. The place they were supposed to be breaking into had nothing of use for them, all it had been was storage. Thing was the guard dogs of the damn place still defended it like it was some hot shit, shooting him full of holes. Storm had soon sorted them out but he'd been out for the rest of the mission, much to his annoyance. Mason got back to his story, "I saw you bleedin all over the place and I offered to help but a man with the oddest shades in the world told me to back off."

Logan grunted as he thought about Scott's anal habits, that'd be just like him. Trust no one that doesn't speak Ivy League English. Mason kept on, "I did it but I remembered you just in case, the week after I saw you again, this time on a bike coming down the same road the plane had been on. You looked like nothing had even happened to ya' that's when I kinda figured you were like my son, Gary." He nodded to the picture again as his eyes became flinty and hard.

"Been hard on the little guy but he's doin okay now he's bein' home schooled, there's even a kid a couple of streets away that he plays with. Kids can be cruel to what's different."
Logan cleared his throat and added, "Just like adults can." Mason's eyes quickly went to Logan's and saw the threat hanging in them.
"Hey, I'm not doin' shit to you or your woman, I figure if the American's want to shoot the shit out their mutants then fine. But when it comes to my family, they'll be doin' it over my corpse." Logan seemed to calm down then, just as he was about to speak again, Marie woke to the smell of meat.
"Food?"
Logan turned to her, a smile on his face as he dropped the full bag at her feet.
"Sure is," letting her wake up before he touched her fully. Tearing into the bag she doled out the food onto the plastic plates that were stored over her head. Mason pulled the truck over and they ate in the silence of the world just before midnight. Logan snapped the picture of Mason's family down and showed it Marie, her eyes widening as she saw the beautiful zebra patterning on his son.
"He's beautiful, what's his name?" Mason looked surprised at the young woman who just seemed to accept the strange and different that appeared to her. More than his own blood kin had and he felt a shame deepen in his heart.
"Gary, he'll be eleven now, he started getting the stripes when he was eight, thing is he can move them when he thinks about it. He hid from us for nearly a day, doing that, his mom went absolutely crazy tryin' to find him. He wanted to show off to me," the sadness that filled his voice made Marie reach out to him and she held his clothed arm.
"It's okay, not everyone is comfortable with what God gave em'", her eyes went direct to Logan, she hadn't been pleased about her own mutation at first but now....she wouldn't change it for the world.

They spent a good hour talking and eating Marie and Mason with Logan listening to every word, they'd struck lucky with Mason, he only hoped their luck would hold.

***************************************************************************************

Hank hid under the pines waiting for Howard to return, he'd given him a list with Jubilee and they really couldn't go any further without the supplies he needed. He'd been general with his requests, he still had the bottles from the school but they'd run out eventually. Hank watched nervously as they both came running out of the small doctors office, Jubilee had her hands filled with two bags chock-full of something. When she got under cover she handed the bags to Hank. There were the fluids he'd requested, Howard was carrying something a lot smaller but a lot more use. A doctors valise, he gave the entire thing over to Hank and they all made for the truck. Getting in Hank checked the i.v and changed it quickly as Jubilee pointed to the road they needed to get out of the small hamlet they were in.

Behind them Hank loaded a syringe from the bottles he'd brought with him and pushed the entire lot into the saline bag attached to Xavier. Checking his pupils after insertion Hank relaxed a little, their trip had been uneventful so far. Howard was as good as Emma had said he was, always one step ahead of whoever was on the road he asked Hank to duck several times. Jubilee asked him how he knew and they'd both found out that Howard was a Pre-Cog, when he concentrated enough he could get a full hour ahead of when he needed to act. Thing was time never stopped when you were concetrating so he had some difficulty in pinning it down exactly but some warning was worth it's weight in gold sometimes.

They drove hard into the evening light, the gradual darkening of the world coming upon them as they wove toward their goal. Overhead planes went supersonic, causing the air to rip apart and Howard flicked on the radio. The same message was being repeated over and over, New York State was under military control, everyone was to stay in their homes until the situation had been resolved. Mutant terrorists had caused major damage in New York and several outlying areas had already undergone attack. Any suspicious behaviour was to be reported to the police and National Guard patrols. Howard swore and turned the car around, Jubilee was suddenly thrown forward her hands smacking on dashboard.
"What the...."
"No time! Three minutes in *that* direction we get stopped by a patrol and they *aren't* in the best of moods!" He gunned the engine, taking the first turn off he came to, throwing the map to Jubilee he asked her to read as best she could with the fading light. She did her best as they bounced down loggers tracks and soon they were well and truely lost.

Well until they wanted to be found again.

Hank got out and stretched his legs, pacing around the small area they'd chosen as a stop over for the night. He was about to go and check on Xavier when he saw the plant, it's flowers shining out in the near dark. Tall, green spiky leaves, round spiky fruit, Hank's eyes almost came out of his skull he was that pleased. Datura Stramonium, better known as Thorn Apple, the plant had several alkaloids he might be able to use to keep Xavier under. Although he had to be careful not to overdose him, it would be easy with an unregulated plant.....
He stopped himself right there as the thought unwound in his head, there was the answer, right there a plant that could keep the world safe or keep him for trial later. If there ever *was* a trial, at this rate they'd be caught and shot even before they had the chance to say anything to anyone. Hank pulled several seed pods off the plant, he kept his options open but if the worst came to the worst he'd put Xavier into a coma not even he could come out of.

He went back to his companions listening to the news as it spewed out of the radio, every piece worse than the last. When the announcement came about the border closing Howard's face fell, he turned to them both his features set and pale. "Well folks, from now on we're on our own, trapped in a country that's hunting mutants down and doing god knows what to them when they find them. There's no way on this earth Emma will risk the rest of the kids for us. We have to get across the border ourselves somehow and that is going to be nearly impossible with our 'luggage'." He looked at Hank and the air seemed to crystalize as Jubilee realised what was being discussed.
"You want Hank to just...." she couldn't say it but she knew that it was being thrown around, even after all that they'd been through she still couldn't beleive they were considering it.
"No-one is saying we're going to do it Jubilee, just that it's an option, it's going to be hard enough as it is. But if it does come to it, he won't feel a thing beleive me." Jubilee opened and closed her mouth in horror, the decision had *already* been made, all they were arguing about was the timing. Suddenly it hit her, that she was all alone in woods with two mutants she hardly knew, the only person she did know they were planning on killing some time in the future. Hugging herself Jubilee tucked herself into a ball and hoped tomorrow would be a better one than today had been.

'Sweet blows the wind that brings summer on fragile wings,
too soon does winter come.
All knives and cruel sport in clouded mist,
too many fallen to his silvered blade.'
********************************************

Kitty was watching the kids play, they seemed to bounce back pretty quick after the attack, their first night out of doors had been like it had never happened. That their home hadn't been destroyed, that they hadn't had to leave everything secure behind them.
Even now as they played it was team games, every single one of them included in the play. They'd become a family, one that still had it's problems but they were doing okay. Emma had arrived later, along with Ororo, they were talking now about the news that had been coming out of the radio and the small television they had.

Peiter was on patrol he'd taken some of the older kids and he was putting Logan's lessons to good use. Emma told them all they'd be staying here for at least a week before moving on. Holding her stomach Kitty knew that things had changed, her dreams of having a normal pregnancy and treatment went out the window when the first solider came through the grounds. Now it was a battle between the government and them, after all the arguements and missions Magneto had been right. It had become a war, only now the comabt was in front of the media.
A scream took her from her thoughts, getting up she ran over to where the kids were playing near a burrow, kids were scattering to all directions as she came over. There was something coming out of the burrow, dark fur stiped with a cream band around the rear end. Suddenly aware Kitty shouted to all the kids to get clear, several adults were now coming over, including Emma. When the kids were finally clear they all watched the creature come out of the burrow back-end first, they heard the deep throated growling even from their standpoint.

Short stocky legs powered into the ground as the animal pulled against something hidden in the burrow. Kitty's eyes widened as she realised exactly what it was, a wolverine, it's shoulders were free now and they could see the head of the creature swinging from side to side pulling something through the earth. Every kid was quiet, they were watching something they recognised, the power of it, the anger, the pure pugnaciousness of the thing as it pulled it's meal out of the hole. Finally free of the constricting tunnel it turned to see the crowd around it, eyes glittering it made a step toward them all, hair raised on it's back. Claws digging into the ground as it braced itself for the attack, Emma's voice was suddenly in everyones head. 'Drop your eyes everyone and back away, slowly.' They did it but Kitty kept her eyes on the creatures feet as she moved, the body it was dragging out was a wolf carcass. A youngster that had been killed recently, Kitty raised her eyes and met the gaze of the little killer. She recognised the look it gave her as the same one Logan had given the solider he'd taken into med bay. The wolverine licked it's wet jaws and pulled his prize away with him into the wilderness until all there was left was a bloodpool and drag marks.

It hit her then, that they'd stayed here all night while the battle for life and death had been going on beneath them. The children could have been injured by a half starved wolf, lucky for them Logan's namesake had been on it's trail. It might be smaller than the wolf but he'd made mincemeat of it, several kids had been watching it as well. Kitty turned her head to smile at them all, the kids were soon playing again but one walked upto her, mind trying to remember the childs name before she spoke to her. "It killed it didn't it?" Kitty's mind gave her a break, the childs name was Jenny and she could warp natural materials.
"Yeah he did, he must have been under there all night." Jenny nodded as she held out her hand to Kitty.
"Maybe," her small face looked out over the scrubland they were camping in, toward the large city to the south. "Do you think everyone got out safely?" Kitty didn't know what to say, should she lie or should she tell her the truth? They weren't stupid these kids, they knew that being different made them a target. Hell they'd seen the attack on their home and Kitty went for honesty.
"I don't know Jenny, maybe. We can hope they did, I know the news we've been getting isn't good but there's always a chance." Jenny nodded as she pulled hard on Kitty's hand making her look down into her face.
"Mr Logan will have, him and Miss Rogue will have," she looked to where the wolverine had gone into the wilds. "They're like him, they don't give up. Just like we won't."
Kitty smiled at that, that she'd put into words what she was feeling right now. Inside she knew Logan and Rogue were alive somewhere, she only hoped they'd catch up with them eventually. Turning them around she watched as Emma and Ororo gathered the children together for lunch, looking down at Jenny she saw her small face still looking out at the city.
"We'll be okay out here, we've got enough to last us for a while." When Jenny didn't answer her Kitty dropped to her knees so she could see her properly. "Jenny?"

Her face stopped looking at the city and she brought her gaze over to Kitty's, tears were standing proud in her eyes but she wasn't letting them fall. "What is it?" Jenny breathed in a hitching sob, before she could stop it a tear slipped free and rolled down her face.
"My mummy, she's still out there, back home. She doesn't know where I am, I haven't called her today or yesterday." The usual was suddenly gone, the routine that some children needed to cling to was gone, the phonecall to a parent that still cared was gone. The link to friends and family had been destroyed forever and they couldn't show themselves yet. Hugging Jenny to her Kitty found her own throat constricting, "It's okay Jenny, she'll know your okay, she trusted Xavier with you didn't she? She knew you'd be kept safe from everyone, thats why you came to us wasn't it?" Jenny nodded but her voice spoke again, echoing thoughts that she'd heard other children airing.
"But he wasn't a nice man was he?"
"Who? Xavier?" Jenny nodded, try as she might Kitty couldn't defend the man. She couldn't placate Jenny's fears with a lie. "No, he wasn't but we didn't know at first did we?" Jenny shook her head as the tears began to fall in earnest. Holding her to her Kitty felt her own begin to fall, her voice shaking as she spoke to the frightened child she held. "We got away, we got out and we're safe here, for a while at least. He can't hurt us anymore Jenny, he was a bad person but he thought he was doing things for the best of everyone." She brought Jenny's face round to see her own tears falling now. "But he was *wrong* Jenny, he was *wrong*." It was Jenny's turn to now hold out comfort for her, to realise that the man she'd once trusted with her life had done so much harm to her. She could let it go now, she could collapse, she could release all the pain, all the frustration she felt inside.

It was only when she felt the ground move out from under her that she noticed Peiter was carrying her, Jenny was holding her hand as it dangled from Peiters grip. The sun was shining, the world was still carrying on but for herself the world felt as if it had ended. Emma threw her a weak smile as she passed by with Peiter, Jenny let her go and rejoined her friends. Peiter took her into their tent and held her till the worst of her crying was over, finally when she'd finished he just wiped her eyes and kissed her sore lids. "Come on Katya, lets get you both some food." Nodding she let herself be led out again into the sunshine and the sound of happy children.


Emma had watched the interaction between Kitty and a child from Xaviers, they'd have more probelms soon when they met up with her own students. Seeing the wolverine had reminded her about the 'other' Wolverine they'd left behind them. Now that the border was closed she doubted anyone could get across it without incident. She'd been listening but as yet she hadn't heard about any mutant attacking the border yet. What was happening was that many were heading south, pouring into Mexico, the Mexican government had opened it's arms to the mutants. They'd be a welcome resource to their economy that had been struggling since the US had tightened restrictions on what they could and could not export.

Ororo was another questionmark, where did her loyalties lie? Would she expect to lead her group, or would she work in partnership? She'd scanned her mind lightly but as yet she hadn't come across anything that suggested she'd be a problem. But with her powers she could be a goddess and expect worship, killing anyone who didn't give her the proper respect she beleived she deserved. No she'd keep an eye on Ororo Munroe until she was sure she could be fully trusted with the future of the children they'd gotten out of the disaster that had been Xaivers.

Emma was still in thought when Shadow was at her side, "We might have a *problem*." Emma followed him to the tent where the radio and small television were playing. It was the television screen that was alive and showing the faces of children, all in photographs, lined up against a wall. Pulling back the words on a banner above read 'The Martyrs of Xavier's School for the Gifted', the faces of children that were now playing outside in the sunshine were plastered all over the news. The announcer was trying to compose themselves as they gave their opinion on the outpouring of grief happening around them. "Here at the small town of New Salem, we're seeing something that can only be described as a memorial wall. People from all over the state are coming here to pay condolences about the deaths at the hands of what is now being touted as a 'military operation' that went horribly wrong. An army spokesman earlier this morning had to answer to the arguements given by the media who had spoken to police officers who'd been there on the scene of the massacre." A picture flashed up on screen of the footage from yesterday and a policeman holding up a rifle round and a police issue bullet. The difference easy to see and the look in the policeman's eyes was one of sorrow and contempt surrounded by so mcuh death.

The announcer began again, "We have reports that the action was taken against direct orders to contain and subdue the mutant force known as 'The Brotherhood of Mutants'. The school was destroyed in the attack as were the residents of the school, as yet several families are still being reached about their children's deaths. This out pouring of grief is something that no-one expected to go as wide as it has." The screen flicked to show several other candle lit area's with people praying and laying flowers. "There's now a bill being discussed in the senate under emergency powers, the Mutant Registration Bill is being touted as a cure to the ills that caused this tragedy. If the mutants who caused this *had* been registered and known the deaths of so many innocents could have been avoided. We can only hope that the American public make their voices heard over the next few hours. Loud enough so the men inside the White House understand that it's time we stopped fearing the mutants among us and we finally pass the Bill that will afford everyone some freedom to be what they are. This is Justin Rumi for ABC News." The picture faded but the image of the banner was still on screen, Emma turned to look at Shadow who wore the same expression she did.

"Get all the adults in here now, grab the teenagers too, over 14 get em in here! GO!" Shadow left and began passing the message out, Emma collapsed into a chair. Things had just gotten worse, the children were being held up as martyrs. Those who had died in a horrible error, a mistake, but what would happen if it came out that they were still *alive*? She had some very good idea's, after all you could do anything to someone who was already dead couldn't you?
An army of mutant soliders all yours to do with what you pleased, there would be no out cry for someone who was already dead would there? Shaking she saw the first few walk in, wiping her face with her hands she let out a huge sigh.
The tent was full, around twenty adults and teenagers, a mixture of her own people and Xaviers. She looked over the expectant faces and wondered how the hell she was going to start.
"Things have just taken a turn for the worse, the media have it in their heads that no one survived the attack at Xaivers." She saw the disbelief run around the faces, the voices that quickly began to speak but were quietened by Ororo.
"We're legally dead?" The words stopped every other conversation and they all looked toward Emma, steeling herself for the mental backlash of emotion that would come from this she answered.
"Yes, to all intents and purposes you are all dead. Everyone from Xaciers school has been listed as killed by the actions of a over zealous commander who was sent to aid the residents of the school. The deaths of The Brotherhood are being lauded as a response to the danger they posed to *you*. You've been turned into martyrs and as we know a live martyr is no use to anyone."
Emma watched as Ororo, Peiter and Kitty paled as it sank in, they were dead, everything they had was gone, anyone they once knew was now out of limits. If they contacted them they'd be putting them and themselves in danger, they'd been used, just as Xaiver had used them. Turnabout is fairplay in this business and it wasn't an easy game to play in.

Emma cleared her throat as she scanned the shocked minds around her, "We have to get out plans ready, there's too many of us here and we'll be noticed if we don't split up soon enough."
Ororo interrupted, "There's not that many of us here."
"There will be soon, my own school has plans to meet up with us here in three days. When they do we'll be over two hundred, my kids can go back we have papers and a safe travel route. But you...that's another matter entirely." Emma tried to put a positive spin on it but Ororo could see that she was trying to make Ororo stand up for her people.
"What do you expect us to do Emma? We have nothing but the clothes on our backs and a few possessions the children brought with them?" Emma nodded, Ororo was getting the idea and it was about time, they couldn't wait for her to grow a spine.
"Did Xavier have any land up here? Anything at all?" Ororo was about to answer when Kitty piped up, "Yes, he did." Ororo looked through the younger woman as if seeing her for the first time, Emma smiled internally, it looked like Ororo would be challenged for her position some day soon. Emma regarded the younger woman and waited for her to continue.
"There's a parcel of land somewhere in British Columbia, he bought it soon after Logan had rescued Rogue from Sabertooth. It was in the files I lifted from his machine, the deed numbers should be on there." She moved to her backpack that was on the floor near the television. Taking out the laptop and discs she'd brought with her, she handed them over to Emma. "Everything is on there." Emma held them for a moment and she passed them back to her, a smile on her lips.
"Cypher, give her a hand, I want the deeds registered under my name and the land deed waiting for us somewhere before we get there." She smiled to Kitty who went with Cypher, Emma's own hacker. Ororo watched the pair leave the tent to get working, her gaze sparking as she looked at Emma.
"I suggest we try to find a route to British Columbia that keeps you off the radar and close enough to the wildnerness just in case." Ororo's gaze softened a little as she realised how much this was costing the woman in front of her. She was endangering her own people in an attempt to help hers, Emma didn't hold grudges she dealt with the problem before it *became* a grudge and she was someone you wanted on your side.
"Thank you." The words echoed through the silence in the tent, rippling around the children who were here to listen and understand the plans that would be outlaid here.

Emma watched the emotion run through Ororo, she really meant that one, she really was thankful of the help. "Sure, you'd have done the same if it had been me needing your help wouldn't you?" Emma's smile didn't reach her eyes and Ororo noticed, the children didn't see the way Ororo flinched at the words. Telling Emma the truth, that if Xaiver hadn't been exposed, that if things hadn't happened the way they had, Ororo would've let the military take everything they were away. Leaving only the photographs of her and her children to be mourned by people who wanted to know the truth, only to disappear like their loved ones in the dark night. If the tables had been turned Emma would have been on her own and Ororo knew it to be truth.

Shaking herself Ororo let the past go, she had to look after the children they had, and there were still others out there that wanted to harm them. She had to get her mind in order, the past was the past and she had to look at now, then tomorrow. Moving closer to Emma Ororo took hold of one of the maps and handed it to her children, "Find a route, one we can travel on, make it a game. Tell them we're doing a sort of 'travelling Hide and Seek', we'll need three routes all near water and outside large urban areas." The teenagers were pale faced but they took more maps and went outside into the sunshine, Emma smiled at her, maybe she'd be a decent leader after all.

Howard was out for the count, the dark purple bruise on his skull was nothing compared to the fracture of his wrist. Hank had asked to help the man but he'd been denied any sort of medical attention, Hank still couldn't reconsile what had happened to them as normal human behaviour.

Jubilee had been sitting in the front seat with Howard, they'd known about the roadblock ahead but they really didn't have much choice of going through it if they wanted to get across the damn border. Jubilee had smiled, her face had been calm while he'd been hidden in the back with Xavier. That had been when the trouble had started, they'd wanted to search the vehicle for mutants. Now both Howard and Jubilee had no such indicators to point them out as being mutants but *he* did.

They couldn't refuse, not with one man of the three having a loaded rifle pointed at the vehicle. So they'd let him search, Howard had done his best, Jubilee had fired her plasma burst at one man killing him outright. Howard on the other hand had come off worst for wear at the butt end of the rifle. Jubilee had run into the forest and was nowhere to be seen, he however had been unearthed along with Xavier. By now every small ofrce had at least a description of Xaiver and they were now suspects number one for the terrorist attack on the mansion.
Howard had come off worst but he'd seen the violence seething just beneath the surface of their human guards as they waited for back-up. True there were only two of them and if he thought about it he could put one of them down before the other one shot him.

Yet what was worse was that Xavier wasn't getting his fluids or medication to keep him *under* and at the moment the last thing anyone needed was an unstable telepath. Hank watched the men shift their rifles again as Howard shifted and began to move, looking over he saw the man open his swollen eyes. Hank dared a look into Howards face and what he saw didn't give him much confidence. His pupils were unequal and there was blood trickling from his ear, this was *not* good news.

Hank was sitting on his hands, strapped up with ties that if he really wanted to he could snap. Howard was beginning to roll over onto his back, his breathing wasn't good and the sound and scent of blood flowing wasn't healthy. He'd decided to act and damn the consequences.

It all went rather quickly, he snapped the ties, reached out to Howard, pulled him back over to his side allowing the blood that was flowing into the back of his throat to spill out from his bruised lips. The guards were a little shocked but not as shocked as they soon were, Jubilee was back. A short spear was sticking out of one chest, one made from a sapling but it did it's job well enough. The second guard had been distracted by the flight of the spear so his gaze was no longer on Hank.

He took advantage, it was so easy to snap the man's neck, just a twist and pull, nothing more, nothing less. Soon Jubilee was helping to sedate Xavier again, while he saw to Howard. Untreated concussion was a killer and they needed Howard alive. When they'd removed everything of use from the bodies they disposed of them by the side of the road. Burying them deep in a flooded ditch, Hank had slit their sides and filled the cavities with stones. Even if they did bloat it would be a while before they surfaced, taking their things out of the truck they'd been reported in and putting them in the National Guard vehicle.

Jubilee's face was set hard her movements clipped and economic, she'd even thrown a nasty glance at the bag that held Xavier as she'd helped load him into the back of the large vehicle. When Howard was laid comfortably in the back next to the black body bag that contained Xaiver, Hank spoke to Jubilee.
"Can you drive this thing?" She looked at the monster vehicle and her days of running around the track with the schools little Ford came back to her.
"Not sure about that one but I'll do my best, as long as it's got a gear stick I'm sure we'll do okay. Automatics tend to make me think I'm indestructable." She tried to flash Hank a smile that would make him trust her, all it did do was make her look younger than she was.

Her hands flew to the front where she'd be climbing in through the canvas hatch to drive, "Hey at least we know where the rest of the forces are, we can avoid the worst if we're lucky but we have to get going now." Her eyes dropped to the now stable form of Howard and his strapped up arm. "Will he be okay?" Her concern was something that made Hank smile, earlier she'd killed two men but now she was worried for one of her own. Hank smiled thinly as he reached out to the small woman.
"Yesm he'll be fine as long as we get moving." Jubilee suddenly went into action and Hank found himself staring at her rear as it went through the canvas hole to the cab. Seeing her settle herself down as he pulled the flap shut on the back he braced himself for the journey ahead. Overland wasn't the best way to go but they'd find a way through even if they had to swim it.

The engine roared into life and Jubilee took control of the monster truck, her arms held stiffly out at ten and two. Head forward she began whistling a tune that he should know, the familiarity something that tickled at the back of his mind. It was only a few miles down the road that he remembered what it was, 'The Great Escape'. He let himself chuckle as they sped down the highway, the noon sun burning the tarmac beneath the huge wheels. They were heading for a gap in the line just near Rooseveltown, a small little place that hopefully wouldn't miss them as they crossed over the border at night.

Hank concentrated on his charges, Howard looked a little better and his pupils were now reacting to light, he was still unconcious but that wasn't unusual after a blow to the skull. It was Xaiver he was worried about, the man had been aware for a few minutes and he was wondering how much he'd actually heard or understood. Hanks hand closed on the now puckered remains of the jimson weed, deciding to do his home-made alchemy now he set to making the final dose Xavier would ever need.

**********************************************************

Mason finally stopped at three am, on the side of the road the lights of Ottawa were bright in the night but here at the rest stop there was quiet. Logan stepped down from the truck with him, his gaze taking in every possible threat and seeing nothing but the road weary all around him.

Mason was quiet for a while then he broached the subject they'd both been avoiding, "You're not headin' for Poplar Lake are ya?" Mason was just standing there taking in the quiet of the night, his gaze locked onto the skies above them. Logan shifted his weight to his other foot and sighed.
"No, it's best if you don't know where we're headin'," he made sure to catch Mason's eye. "Just in case." The sentiment was there and Mason caught it's edge.
"Thought as much, I'll take you as far as I can but I've got to get home too. I'll not be stoppin' much so we'd better load up and I guess you'll not be wantin' to stop much either. When I sleep in the back could you drive?" Logan was taken aback by this, a trucker who was willingly letting someone else drive his rig? Where was the catch? Logan's eyes narrowed looking for the trap and Mason explained.
"We'll both get home faster, you can just melt away before anyone even knows ya gone and me.....I'll be back with the people that need me. Even friends can be stupd sometimes...."
It was then Logan saw through the facade Mason had been putting up, the man was shaken, tired and desperate. What had happened at the border had just cut the world into two, there wasn't much sign of it here *yet* but it wouldn't be long in coming. An by the time it got here Mason wanted to be half a world away.

"Sure, that's if you don't mind an uninsured driver behind the wheel." Mason walked toward Logan, his body looking all too frail in the early morning light.
"Somehow I think that's the least of your worries right now Patch." He slapped a warm heavy hand on Logans' shoulder and he climbed back into his cab, pulling himself into the passenger seat he settled down just as Marie was beginning to stir in the bed behind him.

Walking up he shut the passenger door, finding everything he'd need on the drivers seat, map, id, cash for fuel and the stops listed. Mason drifted off into sleep as Logan sat behind the wheel of the huge rig, it didn't take long for him to get a feel of the thing. And as the miles rolled by as the sun rose the familair feeling of heading somewhere out of trouble settled on his bones. To make it complete Marie woke at around seven am and wove her bare hands over his chest from behind. Her scent filled him with information, she was hungry and not for food, flicking a glance her way he smiled. "Later, I promise." Marie replied with a smile that he read as 'You'd better bub or they'll be trouble!' She shifted over and shook Mason gently, he woke with a start and seeing the bed empty he just shifted straight into it. Pulling the still warm covers over his head, his settled breathing filling the cab as they powered down the highway.

Passing Ottowa Logan powered onward not knowing that by the end of the day things would be a whole lot more complicated than he ever imagined.

**********************************************************

Jubilee had stopped the truck, the border lay just over a bridge, thing was there were at least three police cars on the bridge and one RCMP car on the other side. Hank was up front with her now and they'd just been through their options and none of them sounded any better than the other ones.

They could go downstream and try to cross the river that way, they could ditch the truck and ford across in the dark or they could just drive up there as bold as brass and power their way through. Hank was in favour of the sneaky option but Jubilee wanted to be out of America as soon as possible.

Hank watched the thoughts run through the small woman next to him, a few days ago he'd been in his tiny apartment wondering what else in his life could go wrong when this little firecracker of life had just dropped into his life. She hadn't freaked out at his appearance as some mutants did, she just accepted him, huge teeth, blue fur and all. Maybe she saw him as a *real* version of Jim Henson's creations, perhaps that was it. When she turned to ask his opinion once again she noticed him staring at her.
"What? Do I have something coming out of my nose?" She raised her hand to clean it when Hank just grabbed it and held it for a second in his own large paw. Jubilee began to flush with colour as he held her fingers within his own huge hand. Misreading her signals Hank quickly dropped her hand and began to look out of the windscreen. Jubilee just grabbed his hairy chin and forced him to look at her smiling face.
"Hey, thanks for doing this with me, I don't think I could've got this far without you. Sometimes I need a 'voice of reason', ask anyone who knows me." Her eyes were sparkling as she said it, her skin flushed as she tried to find the words that were evading her.

Impulsive as ever she pulled Hank toward her and kissed him as best she could, sliding her smiling lips over Hanks own. Licking his mouth for him before putting the truck into gear and pushing the bullet proof jackets up agianst the windshield before flooring it. "Lets do it!" Hank braced himself the best he could while he felt the large mass of the truck speed up. If they made it through intact he'd be happy to explore the possibilities that kiss had just opened up in his mind. If not he'd die knowing someone still thought he was worth kissing. A grim smile on his features Hank braced for the worst border crossing of his life.

As the bullets began to hit the windscreen he hoped for all he was worth that Jubilee made it, everything slowed down as they passed through the first blockade of police cars. The RCMP car on the other side had two men stood watching but they didn't have their sidearms drawn; as the screech of metal sounded out Hank realised that the back would come under fire soon. Pulling Jubilee down toward the steering wheel as the bullets flew inside from behind, several just passing over their heads. Jubilee swerved violently to pass the RCMP car, it's men just getting out of the way for them, the angry shouts of the American police on the other side were enough to smile about.

The accented voice of a Canadian could be heard by Hank telling the American's to come over and chase them if they wanted to but they had other more important things to do. The American cop had screamed 'Like what for fucks sake?!' to which the Canadian had replied, 'Keepin' gun-toting idiots like you away from *decent* people.' Hank caught the emphasis on *people* and his heart swelled, he'd been obvious as a mutant but over a thin line drawn on a map had suddenly been the difference between being a 'thing' and a human being.

The Canadian's had always been a quiet nation their people similar to their American cousins but they had a rugged practicality that made them so different in so many ways. And it was *that* difference that made him act the way he did when Jubilee finally stopped five miles down the road. She'd stopped so he could check on their passengers but he'd dragged Jubilee into his grip, landing a huge kiss on her small mouth. It had taken her a second to respond to him but she did eagerly and he had to tear her fingers from his fur. Eyes sparking she winked at him and told him to get his priorities straight, she'd wait till later. Hank suddenly filled with hope dove into the back, his body tearing the canvas hole wider as he checked on both patients.

Howard was sleeping normally, Xaiver was still sedated and his fluids would need changing in an hour. But they were over the border, they were in Canada in a US Army truck. Hank swung out, looking for the tags he tore them off, throwing mud at the white lettering on the side. He did the same to the other side and climbed back in to sit next to Jubilee.
"We okay back there?" Her face was a little pale but apart from that she looked fine, the three bullet holes in the windsheild weren't that noticeable unless you looked for them. Pulling the armoured vests down from the windows Hank answered her.
"Yes they're fine, Howard is sleeping well and Xavier's fine for another four hours. Then we really have to find him something to eat, I can do a stomach tube with the right equipment." Jubilee smiled at him, turning her head to a map she looked down at it.
"Think there's a decent mall in Ottowa?" Hank looked a little confused until she waggled her eyebrows and fingers. "Five finger discount Hankster, how do you think I survived in L.A before Xavier picked me up? Shouldn't be hard to do, I've never lost the knack although I think we'll have to ditch the truck soon. Get something smaller...." Her eyes took on a mischievous glint as she looked over at Hank, "Not that I've got anything against *big* things." Her words were making impressions on Hank that was sending blood somewhere south of his waist as he caught the scent of her arousal in the cab.
Laughing as she saw him shift under her scrutiny, "No I think we need a change of car and for that we need the Mall." She handed him the map and let him direct her, she'd made it over the border, Xaiver was alive (just) as was their guide to the big meet up. She only hoped everyone else was having as good a time as she was.

**********************************************************

The scene investigators had just finished their reports, the first attack was down on here, the fire had done some significant damage but the body in the lower levels hadn't been touched all that much by the fire. When they'd seen the set up down there, the files had been loaded and copied for evidence. The body had been removed, identified and then the really weird shit had begun to happen.

Men in dark suits had arrived and interviewed every scene investigation officer, the body they'd found had been taken from them. The evidence had been taken en-masse, pieces of paper had been forced under noses and been signed by everyone. A gagging order, an internal security form, the Homeland Security officer had lectured them on speaking to the press about their findings. Whatever findings they had left to process would be given over to the NSA when they'd finished and no copies would be made.

The calm faces had agreed, they'd complied, they'd done all that had been required of them. But it still hadn't stopped them from talking amongst themselves as they'd pieced it all together. There had been three waves of attack on the school, and the body that had been taken from them had been part of the first wave. A canula had been left behind for them to process, and what had come out of that had made them all wonder just what the hell had been going on. To admit such things existed was going against their training, it wasn't until a fingerprint came back from the window that it made sense to them. The man had been registered dead, a common thing in the secret forces and it made sense that they'd come to collect the body. Now the facts were straight in their minds the team that had worked the case knew what was next.

Taking their vacations, going as a group (they'd been advised to take holiday time after the case by the NSA), the entire team disappeared off the map. Lost in the world they finally re-appeared a week later in Turkey and published the entire report on the internet. Everything they'd known was now in the worlds hands, the three waves of attack, the governments culpability in the deaths of innocent children. All of it, and over the weeks that followed they all faded into the hubbub they'd caused and lost themselves even deeper. As their team leader had told them as he'd trained them, 'We aren't concerned with 'truth', we only follow 'evidence', no matter where it leads us.' It was comfort enough, the truth was out and nothing would stop the backlash now the world knew, America now had enemies that knew how far it would go to control it's own population of mutants. And maybe the country that had once lauded itself as the 'protector of the world', would finally step up to the title.

Mind you if the team had known how much it would have changed policy maybe they'd have stopped and thought a while. As we all know, politicians lie, and the Registration Act was soon followed by other acts meant to give those who were different more right's but the trick was in the wording and soon, a new Fourth Reich was being built in the heart of the world's largest democracy.

Jubilee had outlined her plan to Hank more than once, the huge Mall they were on the outskirts of was still shining brightly in the darkness. They'd gotten over the border in the early evening and they'd made good time in the stolen army truck.

Convincing him to stay put with both injured men was sense and Hank had seen it himself but he still felt uneasy at the sight of Jubilee walking over to the large shopping area. She'd put on her most winsome smile and taken the american dollars they'd stolen from the soldiers. "Trust me Hank....I'm on a promise and *thats* something to come back to." She hadn't expected it but he'd kissed her then, pulling her into his vast grip and holding her tight to him, his gaze filled with worry.
"Take care Jubilee....." she'd put her fingers on his lips then, her own eyes threatening to spill tears over the edges of her lids. She'd left at a swift jog, her legs powering her toward the centre of heaven, a mall complete with shoppers, money, food and transport. All she had to do was get them and out of there before security found her. She hadn't been the Queen of Beverly Hills for nothing, a dark smile on her lips as she entered the first set of toilets she found.

Ten minutes later she was out and cruising the mall's highways and by-ways, spotting the security was easy, they were still using 'eye-in-the-sky'. Easy to confuse when you were asian featured, she took a casual glance up to the camera watching the 'street' she was on. Yup, looked like a series three, Monika brand, that meant she had at least a three hundred foot radius to work in. The strip malls outside of her home had used these, they were useful if you wanted a general description of the person who'd robbed you but not if you wanted to catch them. An as of yet there hadn't been *one* security guard she couldn't outrun.

Smiling she went on her mission and let her hands drift as she passed through the crowds. Testing her dipping skills without lifting anything she worked her way toward the food court. The vast area was always a place to pick bags up, returning goods was a sure fire way to gain currency. She had to look for the chain store bags, boutiques were too small and would remember the person who bought from them.
It didn't take long, a Target bag, filled with boxes, and an asiatic family to boot! Thanking the gods who were looking after mutant theives tonight, she easily swiped the bag and made off with it. She even waved at the child who'd seen her take the bag making it look like she was part of the family.

When she was away from the food court Jubilee checked for the reciept, it was there at the bottom and her eyes scanned for the method of payment. Her luck was holding...they'd paid in hard cash, american cash at that. Seeing the time stamp on the reciept and noticing it was only an hour previously she made off for Target her body language taking on the harried stance of a seasoned shopper. She blended into the stream of people, just another shopper trying to get her bargains, no one even gave her a second glance.

The line for returns was long, something was telling her to go and come back later but the family wouldn't take long to notice that their bag was missing and they'd soon be back here. So she decided to push forward, putting her best 'American in a hurry' voice on she barged her way through the polite line of waiting Canadian customers.
"Excuse *me*," Jubilee pushed her way to the front desk and dropped the entire bag of boxes on the desk. The woman who's turn it had been was patiently waiting behind her, her anger making the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
The clerk looked at her obviously unused to such rudeness she just stood there looking at her. Jubilee entered full 'Beverly Hills Bitch' mode, "I don't know how you *people* manage to even run a *store* here in this god-forsaken country but what I do know is that I *need* these returning *now*. I don't have time to wait, we have to be back home before the morning rush and I *don't* expect to spend whatever time I have left waiting in a queue with the rest of *humanity*."

Maybe it was the way she'd been so brazen or maybe the way the rest of the queue had gone silent on her. Jubilee felt she'd made a huge error and was about to run for it when the clerk began ringing back her stolen purchases. She handed over the reciept from her pocket and waited for the cash to be given over, when it was she dropped a twenty in the clerks hand. Only to have the woman slap it back into her hand saying, "I get paid to be *here* an' if givin you this will get your bony assed carcass out of here I'd pay you *myself*!" Jubilee looked affronted at her and the queue of now simmering Canadians behind her, they were angry with her but to them she was just another rude American.

Jubilee left the store with just under a thousand dollars, tucking it into her pocket she went after the second target of her mission....supplies.

**********************************************************

Logan had been driving for an hour when he'd noticed the dark blue suv, a family vehicle, obviously well cared for but it looked out of place here on the dark roads after midnight. It was about three cars back and seemed to be following every move they made, ahead was a truck stop a planned stop on the route. Fifteen miles ahead lay the stop, Mason was still out for the count and Marie was napping. Keeping his thoughts open as the sky Logan kept the speed under the limit, his eye flicking back toward the car that was still on their rear. If it was trouble he was in the mood to finish whatever they started, cracking his knuckles Logan gripped the large steering wheel and waited. They'd make their move; then he'd make his, inside Wolverine was smiling, he needed some exercise and they'd be perfect.

**********************************************************

Picking a small pharmacy Jubilee shopped for the items Hank had told her he needed, canula or plastic tubing, scalpel blades and handle (she bought a stitch cutter the blade was small but sharp enough), liquid food (Jubilee had seen enough diet programmes to know that Slim-Fast was as good as any meal; plus it had a binding effect on the colon so no messy on the other end), bandages, first aid kit, water sterilisation tablets, painkillers, sanitary wear for her (just in case), a fresh set of underwear in plain cotton and some condoms (extra large if Hank was as big as the rest of his body). Taking her haul to the counter she watched the teller put her purchases through the scanner.

Her eyes drifted to the small television that was playing to amuse customers, ti was showing the riots in the major cities of America. People were dying at the hands of the military, human and mutant alike were dying. Her mind went back to the day she'd picked up Hank with Bobby, when the whole thing had collapsed around her. She suddenly felt so alone as she passed over the money, the woman who had served her caught her eyeline and commented on what she was watching. "Sad isn't it? All because someone couldn't remember what God had told us," when Jubilee didn't answer her she elucidated. "Judge not, lest you too be judged by my hand." The womans sentiment cut through all the bullshit and suddenly Jubilee felt like a leper. Grabbing her bag she went out of the store, her breathing a little erratic and her face flushed. Shoving her way through crowded streets she just went into the crowd not seeing or feeling, just moving against the flow of humanity that threatened to drown her within it.

She almost screamed when the hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a seat, she looked up bemused at a kind face under a security hat. His eyes were soft and kind but he had hard lines along his nose and mouth, this was a face that had heard everything and he'd never found it amusing in the first place. He looked through her and Jubilee tried to get her 'face' back in order but she was failing under his scrutiny.
"Are you alright miss?" His hand was still on her arm and she felt her skin burn as she thought about the things she'd just done in here. "Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need assistance?" His hand was straying to his radio when Jubilee finally opened her mouth, her fingers lighting on his own. Blinking back her tears she shook her head.
"No, no I'm fine. I just took a fright that's all, I really shouldn't come into large spaces with lots of people..." The security guard nodded as he steered her away from the stream of people and into the lee of a store window.

Just being out of the stream made her nerves settle and she looked around for a clock, her mind suddenly on the time and how soon she'd have to get out of here before they went searching for an asiatic thief answering her description. She tried to move her arm out of the guards grip but found herself held tight, her eyes widened as she looked at the man holding her.
His eyes were dark brown, hair thick and stuck under a hat that was obviously trying to come off his head. Even his body was built solidly and Jubilee had one name on her lips as he moved her over to the store window to get a good look at her.....Logan.

He looked like Logan!

The name badge was missing on his uniform but he thumbed his radio, tuning out the squawking that was coming through it. He let her get her breath and when she seemed settled he let her go, his hand smoothing down her shirt. Noticing the pharmacy bag he motioned to it, "Everything all right with you?" His eyes held Jubilee's for a moment and she saw the resemblance in the movements of Logan in this man. Although he was older, he had salt and pepper in his dark hair, what showed through from his ill fitting hat.
"Yes, I'm shopping for a friend, he's sick and I need to get back now." The guard stood in her way and Jubilee felt her powers course down her hands tinging the air with ozone. The guards nostrils twitched as he moved back and allowed her room to move, his eyes still on her as she moved away back into the stream of people.
"You sure your okay? You don't need an escort to your car?" The man's face showed concern, something that smoothed out all the lines on his face and lit the warmth in his dark eyes. For a second she was looking at Logan, that was until another guard caught up with them, the hand slapping on Logan's double making him break the contact with her. She heard the conversation and decided to get out while she could.

"Come on Logan, we're needed, there's a fight over at the food court. An asian family is accusing a group of kids of stealing from them." Jubilee watched as Logan's double and the other security guard left her at a jog, even though he was older than 'their' Logan he still moved like their version. Low slung to the ground with a dark smile hinting at his mouth, fists clenched as he wove in between the shoppers. Looking for all the world like a wolf running through the standing pines, hoping to escape the hunt Jubilee left the first exit she came across. Now all she had to do was boost a car, one big enough to hide Hank in. Striding out across the carpark she headed direct for the furthest pieces, going for the now shaded parts of the place. Her eyes glued on the sizes and shapes of the vehicles until she found something that could fill their needs.

The shadows did their job but her fingers weren't as nimble as they used to be and she'd ended up popping the trunk. Climbing into the car by the back seat, she pushed her way through the belts of the family suv, finally in the front seat she noticed it wasn't a gear shift. Cursing her luck she slammed her hands on the steering wheel, a slight jingle met her ears and she did it again. Definately a jingle and her ears triangulated where it was coming from, under the dashboard, just along the column. Her fingers found the depression and the keys that were taped inside, smiling and thanking the gods that had looked after her so far Jubilee looked at the keys.
A small silver moose was on them, it's antlers were encrusted with diamonte as were it's hooves. Snapping off the moose and taking a box from her supplies Jubilee dropped the silver charm along with two hundred dollars into the box and left it where the car she was stealing had been. At least she was leaving them some money to get home on, she'd done her best and soon they'd all be travelling better and away from the lights of Ottowa. The outisde lights that illuminated the signs leading into the mall were put out. Time to leave.

As she pulled out of the huge carpark she caught sight of her security guard, he was holding a man twice the size of himself in a headlock. He looked as happy as a pig in shit, eyes blazing and a smile locked onto his face. Her eyes caught his for a second and she felt his stare go right through her. She had a few questions for Logan when she saw him next....Jubilee edited her thoughts to *if* she saw him again. At the moment they were still running and they were too close to the border for relaxing. Gunning the engine she drove over to where she hoped Hank was hiding with the army truck. She'd need some down time after this her nerves were shot and she didn't want to fry the engine just because she'd gotten tired.

When she finally saw Hank stood with Howard a smile broke over her face, the lights from the suv lighting up the wan face of their guide. When she finally handed everything over she just clambered into the back of the suv and left the rest to the two men. She'd been through the wringer and she needed a rest, her dreams were filled with the security guard. His eyes, his face as he'd pulled her out of the stream of people, only this time he'd been wearing a different uniform. No longer a security guard, he wore the green of a soldier, his eyes had widened as she'd found the wooden haft of a spear in her hands. The accusing look in his eyes as he'd fallen into a bloody heap, the words on his lips snapping her out of a thin sleep. "I only wanted to help you.....", Hank noticed her shake herself awake, his head raising from the map across his lap, Howard was driving slowly down the road.

Taking his time and making sure they kept below the speed limit, he put them between a semi and a tractor-trailer. Hank turned to her fully, noticing her tired face, the aged look in her eyes and the sorrow that seemed to bleed from her. Howard was concentrating on driving when he announced that a truck stop was ahead did they think it was worth a stop? Hank looked at Jubilee, her face was pinched and peaky, she hadn't eaten much at all over the last few hours. He hadn't either and there seemed to be a sense in taking what they could when they could. Agreeing to the course of action Hank turned back to the road seeing the semi ahead of them turning into the truck stop also. They'd wait until the driver went inside before risking themselves outside, he'd have to stay with Xaiver and get the liquid food into him. Jubilee had done well today, she was holding up okay but he didn't know how long she could go on without some hope. Reaching out to her Hank stroked her face and found her fingers gripping his hand to her skin. She didn't let go easily and Howard left them to it, Jubilee cradled in Hanks arms. Wrapped up in his embrace as he went to get them something warm and filling not seeing the pair of eyes that was watching his progress from the side of the semi.

**********************************************************

The damn thing had even followed him into the truckstop, whoever they were they didn't know jack about surveillance. Logan watched as the driver went into the truckstop, Marie was already walking over to the lit diner area, he'd told her about his fears and he wanted her to keep an eye on him as he went to have a look at the vehicle.

Even now he could see Marie talking to the man, her eyes taking in everything about him, her body language telling him that she was confident, capable of taking him down if need be. Logan pushed away from the semi and made his way over to the now quiet suv, every sense blazing as his claws slid free. He was ready for trouble, he only hoped whoever was inside the suv were.

**********************************************************

Jubilee had fallen asleep on him, holding her close to his chest Hank had felt something he thought he'd never have, peace. She fitted so well into his arms, she was so fragile this little firecracker, she looked so tough but in reality she was as brittle as frost under the sun. Smiling he brought her closer to him so he could scent her as she slept, behind him Xavier was being fed via a stomach tube. A slow drip feed that would take an hour to complete, it would give them time to get organised and maybe find somewhere to hole up for the day before setting off to the rendezous. Howard had pointed it out to him on the map, just in case they got split up later. It'd take a couple of days of travelling but they were relatively safe for now and he was going to take advantage of everything he could while he could. The battle back at the school had taught him that much, he was about to shift over when a shadow reflected in the rear-view mirror made him freeze. Adrenalin flooded his system, there was someone out there and he had Jubilee asleep on his lap curled around him. If they tried to get in she'd be in the firing line, keeping his breathing steady Hank moved forward with his precious cargo. Keeping her down and laid over the drivers seat he raised himself up and over her form, protecting her from any hurt that might come through the drivers door. Hanks hand was stretching out to lock it when it was torn open and a hand filled with deadly claws stopped just shy of his skull. A voice he recognised whispered..."Hank?"

Hank looked up into the face of Logan, the face creased with anger and confusion. Jubilee woke and seeing the face of someone she thought she recognised spoke up. "I didn't take everything officer, only one bag, honestly I wouldn't have if I hadn't needed....." Logan looked at Hank as Jubilee fell back to sleep her face calm and her scent troubled by guilt. Hank shrugged as he pulled her into his grip allowing Logan to climb into the suv. Pulling his claws in he threw a look into the back and Hank had to restrain his arm when he saw Xavier laid out behind him.
"Not here, not now." The words were enough, there'd be a reckoning soon enough but not right now. It was too public, Hank looked up to see Rogue walking over behind Howard, he looked unconcerned as if he knew who was behind him. Which for Howard he already did more than likely, when Rogue reached them she just looked inside the suv. Seeing Jubilee curled around the big doctor she smiled at him and went round to Logan's side. She whispered to him and he nodded, leaving her with them he went back over to the semi, his back hunched to the pre-dawn cold.

**********************************************************

Mason was dreaming about home, the way the sun came in through the windows and through the little suncatcher his wife had made in her art class. It's glass face always made him smile, the bright colours never failed to lift his spirits even in the darkest days of winter. He could feel her hand shaking him now, telling him it was time to get out of bed and get back on the road. Mumbling he slowly fought his way out of sleep and back into the cold pre-dawn light.

Opening his eyes he saw Patch sat at his steering wheel, the man's gaze was outside the windshield and he knew without a doubt they'd be parting ways here. "So...you're.."
"Yup...."
"Got every...." Patch looked at him and there was no need to say anything more, he held out his hand to him. Mason took Patch's hand feeling the warmth of the grip, the solidity of it. These hands had seen more hardship than happiness, his skin seemed to scream it at his own. He'd shaken hands with enough men to know the difference between hands worn with life and those that were made. Patch's were riddled with life and suddenly it felt as if he should've made a better effort to know the man he'd smuggled over the border.

Propping himself up on an elbow Mason did something he'd never done before, he took down a number from his small flip down board and pressed it into Patch's open palm. "Just in case......friends are hard to come across, for people like us."

Logan looked through Mason, he was being honest, he offered friendship, a link beyond his past, beyond what Xaiver had done to him, into something else. If Marie could see him for something else, maybe others could too? He looked at the small number, it was a name and number code, Mason cleared his throat and spoke in the small space. "It's my families getaway, we'll be headin' up there soon. If you need somewhere or someone...." Logan dropped his head, he didn't know what he was offering and he was about to refuse when he saw the look in Mason's face. He meant it, he was willing to hold out a hand to them, to help without price, to defend someone who he thought was worth helping.

Feeling his throat constrict Logan shifted and tucked the number into his pocket, picking up their stuff he made to leave. Mason getting up and moving into his driving seat, yawning and stretching as Logan handed back the keys and the maps. Before he climbed down he looked over to where Marie was sitting eating breakfast with Jubilee. Mason looked over and saw Hank's form shift out into the dawn light. Wiping his eyes he nodded to the large man, "Better get him some overalls, that way no-one'll look twice, make em blue and he'll be taken for a mechanic. Everyone expects mechanics to be big guys."
Logan gave the suggestion some thought and it might work if they could get him a cap too, as if reading his thoughts Mason threw his own at Logan. "Here, he'll need it."

Logan couldn't let the man leave without being honest with him, after all he'd done for them, even though he'd paid him to get them across he didn't have to help them. Didn't have to be nice to him or Marie, didn't have to trust him enough to let him drive the rig and have Marie in the cab with him.
"Mason?"
Mason looked at Logan, his eyes now aware and awake, face a little rumpled but alive with intelligence.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks.....for everything." Mason just smiled and waved at the windscreen, as if to say 'it was nothin'. Just before he let himself down for the last time Logan met Mason's eyes and let him see everything he was. The way his eyes widened and softened as the pain in them flowed from their depths.
"Be seein ya Patch....can't say it hasn't been fun." Smiling Logan nodded, his voice quiet in the morning air as he dropped down to the gravel his head just above the seat.
"Yeah...it has hasn't it?" Mason smiled and made to turn away when Logan spoke again, "Names Logan, Mason....Logan and Marie." Mason smiled as Logan finally turned and walked away toward the group of people waiting for him.

It was something he'd always remember, the way the faces of the people had smiled at him as he'd driven away that day. The hope on their faces, the light in their eyes as if they'd been hanging on to hope until they'd met up again. Throughout the troubles that had followed he'd hoped that they'd found what they'd been looking for. But he'd been busy enough with his own family at the end of things but he'd always kept an eye out for them, just in case. He'd had a thought that maybe one day he'd see them again this time in better circumstances and he'd always kept a room empty for them. Hope for a better future had burned in him and it was something his son remembered to the people he'd hoped to see again one day.

'Where have you gone sweet love?
The winter winds are blowing.
Our dancing days are over,
Now that our shade is raining in scarlet waves...'

********************************************************

Kitty was nauseous, holding her mouth as she struggled out of the tent they had together, running over the still sleeping bodies of children around her. Bile hot and scalding was filling her mouth, she powered to the small row of bushes that served as a modesty screen for the younger children.
Finally there she emptied the burning contents of her mouth, the retching shaking her body as each wave passed through her. Her bladder full pinched as she shifted herself closer to the ground, the sense of wetness between her legs growing as she struggled to keep her body under her own control.
After thirty seconds of struggle she had her trousers down, her underwear already soaked with urine and she was *still* throwing up. An early rising child popped around the edge of the bushes, seeing her crouched over both ends emitting foulness it ran screaming to the nearest adult. Lucky for her it was Bobby, his calm voice reached her ears as she finally finished voiding her bowels and stomach. Strong hands cleaned her up, picked her up and re-dressed her; the cold sting of her underwear making her wince. When she felt better she'd be changing them immediately.

Lifted up she saw the world spin for a moment then she was back under canvas. Voices were talking about her and something was injected into her arm, she saw Peiter's concerned face hover over her own for a moment before she faded out into the welcome relief of sleep. Her stomach calmed for now she slid into the welcome dark.


Peiter watched as Kitty slept, her body wasn't reacting the way he'd thought it would. He'd seen his cousins and sisters carry children but they'd never been as bad as this. He was worried and he looked to the medic Emma had brought with them. The small woman was a marvel, she could touch and diagnose what was wrong with the patient. Francis her name was, and he was about to ask her what was wrong when she just reached out to him and pulled him to sit by Kitty's bed. Standing above the pair of them she smiled at him, her voice calm but clear in the now noisy morning.
"I know you're worried Pete, but she's okay; really she's fine. Pregnancy is different for everyone and she's just got a little rougher road than usual that's all." Francis pulled a small camp chair over and sat in front of him, her face open and her demeanor calm. "There's things you'll need to know Peiter, especially if you stay out here for any length of time. She'll need to be checked over by a doctor at her third month, then her sixth and finally at her eighth. Do you have a doctor at here with you? I mean on Xaviers staff?"
"We did but she left, she ran before the soldiers attacked us. So no, we don't have a doctor." Peiter felt useless, for all his strength he couldn't help the woman he loved when it mattered. She was carrying his child and she was suffering because of it, Francis saw his face drop and she patted his hand.
"Not to worry she looks a strong woman, besides women have been giving birth long before there were *any* doctors around to help. I'll write some things down for you both, and we'll get her on some suppliments I've brought for the kids. You'll cope," a smile lit her features a twinkle settling in her eyes as she patted his large hand. "Besides, she loves you, and that'll get you through the worst of it." With that she left him alone with Kitty, her mind working on the medicare package she'd have to put together for her.

Kitty still had eight months of pregnancy to go through and she might be sick throughout all of it. Peiter ran his hand through her hair and stroked her clammy skin, she was so strong inside but she was so fragile when she was ill. When she'd caught the flu she'd been the one who'd taken twice as long as anyone else to recover. Jean had said it was because she'd lived in a different area and she hadn't come across the strains of virus that were attacking her. She had to build immunity to everything and as such she'd suffer worse than everyone until she had some resistance to the diseases that ran through the school. He'd been with her when she'd been ill, making her smile, making her laugh, just sitting with her quietly as she worked her way to recovery.
Now he sat with her until she came round, stroking her skin with his hands, they found their way to her stomach and rested there protecting their child as her eyes finally focussed on his features.

"Hey," she heard the roughness of her own voice and winced at the sound of it. "Could you get me some water?" Peiter left her side for a second as she shifted in the bed, pulling herself upright. Bringing the water over to her parched lips, holding it away as she reached out to it.
"Sip it, don't gulp," his voice filled with concern for her, her eyes met his and saw his fear for her refelcted back at her. She did as he asked her, sipping the cool water and feeling much better for the slightly lemon taste to it. There were things that needed to be said and now seemed to the perfect time to do it, they were alone, there was no-one else asking them to do anything.
"Kitty....about the baby...." Kitty watched as he tried to find the words that were evading him, she didn't try to find them for him; he knew what he wanted to say to her.

How should he tell her? That he thought Logan's plan was the best thing they should do, that they should leave here as soon as possible. They'd been discussing it together the night Kitty had told Rogue about her pregnancy. Logan wanted him to leave as soon as possible, they had nothing left to look after but each other. Kitty was *his* responsibilty and he *had* to care for her now not everyone else. But he knew that she'd never leave the children around her, he'd seen the set up that Emma had. They could take the kids or as many as wanted to go with her, but he really didn't want to be dragging around a rag tag bunch of kids with him. That way they'd get caught, an the way things were heading it wasn't an option for his child.
He'd started his words about their baby and Kitty was waiting for him to finish his words, she never tried to tell him what he was saying. She *always* let him find the words for himself and he loved her for that.
"Kitty, I want us to leave. I want us to leave when the rest of Emma's people get here." She smiled and was about to answer when he put his large hand up and she stilled her voice. His eyes grew solid and stony as he spoke to her, "I mean just *us*, no children, no-one else." Kitty blinked at him as she let the words settle on her mind before answering, he could see the confusion cover her as she worked it out.
"But Pete we *need* others around us, we can't watch our backs alone. Besides the children have no-one else, where would they go?"
Peiter was prepared for this arguement, "Emma will take them, she has a huge network out there Kitty, if we stay in a large group we'll be a bigger target. Now the children are listed as dead...." he let his silence speak for him. The sense of it finally hit her and she visably paled again.
"I see..." she wrapped her fingers over her own stomach, "Everyone believes we're dead don't they?" She looked up at the father of her child as she realised her mother and father would never see their grandchild. They'd never even know she'd survived the attack, to the rest of the world she'd died three days ago. To be caught by anyone who'd been dealing with Xavier was a death sentence.
"Okay, but we wait to see who gets here, Rogue and Logan are still out there, same as Jubilee and Hank. At least Hank and Jubes had one of Emma's people with them, Rogue and Logan could be anywhere. They might even have been captured..." She really didn't want to think about that, it made her stomach flip and her colour drained making Peiter hug her to him.
"I'm sure they'll be alright, after all it was Logan's idea that we leave as soon as possible." Kitty's head snapped up and looked Peiter deep in the eye.
"What?"
"Logan it was his idea for us to leave as soon as possible, he told me if you wouldn't..." he paused and she knew which conversation he was replaying in his mind and she stroked his hand to comfort him. "Anyway he told we should get out from under Xavier as soon as possible. He even had a distraction planned for us both, something about the next mission we went out on together. He never did give me all the details." Kitty sat there shocked, her emotions ran through the gamut of expression, finally resting on sorrow. When she did look at Peiter her eyes were clouded with tears and she reached out to the comforting shape of Peiter.
"We left them behind, oh God Peiter we left them to fight behind us!" Peiter didn't know what to say to her to stem the tears, she'd seen the news footage, she'd seen the devastation that had been the mansion. Could they have survived that? Ororo had seen them before she'd run, she'd told them that they'd headed into the woods but they could've been caught. Kitty's life and her childs could have been at the cost of Rogue's and Logan's own and if they had fallen she had a duty to survive and thrive. When her tears had dried she faced the world, feeling a little stronger, a little more together.

She knew what Xavier had done to them all, the deals he'd made, the people that even now would be searching for them. They *had* to leave as soon as possible, they'd wait for the rest of Emma's group to get here then they'd split up. The children would be mixed in with Emma's own, given safe passage to safety somewhere in the world. But for them they'd be running for a while, their faces were known and as such they had to stay away from the children.
"You're right we can't stay; we have to go when Emma's people get here." Her eyes strayed to the open tent flaps and the others she'd have to talk to and convince. "Come on, we have work to do." All around them children were gathering for breakfast and lessons, the sound of laughter one that would bolster them both over the coming days.

**********************************************************

Jean watched Scott eat, he was doing better now, his motor function wasn't perfect yet but he was doing well. The small house she'd gotten them in Yamika was easy to control, she'd given everyone the impression that Scott was partially sighted. That they'd been here for at least six years in the summer months and had finally decided to move here permanantly. She even had the mail man calling her by her first name, warping reality around her was something she found increasingly easy and it was this that she felt uneasy about.

Scott for his part played the dutiful husband, the ring she wore had been someone elses, she'd forced a couple to hand over their wedding rings. She'd even gotten a preacher to marry them, several strangers had been roped in to be witnesses. The ink was still wet when they'd rolled into the property they were currently occupying. Her gaze went around the room and even though it wasn't to her tastes Jean found herself almost relaxing in this place. It could be *home* and for that she was grateful, Emma knew where she'd been heading for and as far as she was concerned she was free of everything. Jean didn't want to even hear the name of the X-Men or it's creator. She was dead to him as was Scott, maybe one day they'd come back but not now. She had some work to do on herself and Scott before they could even think about facing upto what they'd done to each other.

As he forked another lot of scrambled egg into his mouth she smiled at him, he was coming along fine. His memory would always be gappy but she knew the man he was under all the lies and deceit he'd told himself. Xavier had a lot to answer for and Emma had told her one way or another she'd find out what happened to the man who'd made her into a killer.
Flicking through the small towns papers Jean noticed the amount of stress and trouble that was building around her home. She could influence only so much and not be noticed, her eyes went to the black glasses that Scott wore. His eyes were under *her* control and as such they would pass for human, she'd defend her territory and her lover. She loved him, needed him and Logan had made her face upto the truth of herself and one day she'd repay the compliment.

But for now she had enough to do, taking a napkin she wiped the little crumbs of egg from Scotts chin and listened to his mumble of thanks. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it, they had a life one that would be difficult but they'd survive the worst the world had to offer mutants. She'd make sure of that.

**********************************************************

When Mason pulled out of the truck stop everyone waved at the man who'd brought a pair of wanderers back to the fold. Hank introduced Howard and he instantly liked the man who was looking around the truck stop as if he wanted to be out of there as soon as possible.
Jubilee and Marie went to get food, coming back with several foil containers filled with hot food. Logan sat in the driving seat and put Mason's cap on Hanks head, covering his ears and blue hair. "Looks good on ya Hank, all we need now is some overall's and you'd pass for a human in the dark." The smile that was on Logans face wasn't one that was poking fun at the large man but it had genuine warmth to it. Hank pulled the visor down a little more and settled back into the passenger seat, the map on his large lap and the route planned out in his head.

Howard was getting some rest along with Xavier, who'd had his meds again an was out for the foreseeable future, Logan would've preferred it if he was 'out' permanantly but Hank was right they had to get him to the meet-up first. Then everyone had a part in the decision, it *had* to be done this way, it was the only way it was fair. Something that Xavier had preached about but never done himself.
The days travel went quickly, talking about plans and if everyone got away, when Howard woke and ate he told everyone about the large organisation Emma was part of. The kids would be scattered across the globe, sent to various schools and academy's. There was an underground that was working without the knowledge of Xaiver or The Brotherhood, but it was tenious and if it fell now they'd all suffer.

When Howard was told who Logan was he did pale a little and told Logan how close he'd been to destroying the system himself. Why Emma had been so scared of meeting him and the reason why she'd bargained with him instead of killing him straight off. She'd known about the kids he'd gone after and a little about his past; when she'd been working on her sheilding as a student of Xaviers she'd caught something about him. Information about a mutant he desperately wanted to get his hands on, when he had him he could make his dream a reality. Howard told Logan that all of her operatives knew of 'Wolverine' and had standing orders not to approach or hinder him in *any* way.

Logan had driven the route that Howard and Hank had pointed out to him, it was leading them to Grass River Park. They'd be meeting up along the way with others but by the end of the day they should be within reach of everyone. The route they were on would get them to the campsite by tomorrow morning if they went straight through the night.
They stopped only to empty bladders and refuel, the money they had was enough to fill the tank and several spare canisters. Jubilee showed him the supplies she'd bought and he had to say he'd been impressed at her sense. Marie was even happy enough to go to the small store at the last filling station to stock up herself. She knew that they wouldn't be back in civilisation for a while and she got several things Jubes had missed, toothpaste for one.

It was when Jubes was driving that he caught the conversation bewteen the two of them, as if Jubilee had waited for him to drop to sleep before talking to her about it. Marie knew he wasn't fully asleep, only napping, still alert for danger but it was her turn to navigate. Hank, Howard and him were behind them, Jubilee was snacking on somthing sugar coated and the smell was keeping him awake.

"Rogue...did you go through Ottowa?" Marie watched her friend as she tried to find an easy way to tackle the thing she wanted to tell her. Her scent was filled with ozone, showing she was stressed about it.
"Jubes...just tell me. What happened to you both? Did you have any trouble?" Logan listened to Jubilee's heartbeat increase as she tried to clear her throat, her scent hiked and both Logan and Marie caught the undertone of fear in it. "What is it Jubes? Just spit it out."
Jubilee took a look in the rear-view and saw Logan sprawled out with Hank by his side, his chest rising and falling easily as they ate the miles up. She should be safe to say what she'd been thinking all the way from Ottowa.
"I saw Logan in Ottowa." Marie just looked at her, it was the truth, what she'd said was the honest truth, her eyes flicked over nervously to see Marie looking straight through her silently. Her eyes were flinty and were boring into her skin.
Choosing her words carefully Marie answered her friend.
"What do you mean you *saw* Logan in Ottowa?" Jubilee settled herself into the seat a little more as she changed gears and powered past a truck.

"When I went to the mall just outside Ottowa, huge place, biggest thing I've seen outside of L.A. Anyway I went to get some cash and supplies...." Marie knew of Jubilee's history and what that might have entailed.
"You got caught?" Jubilee's head snapped round and Marie actually heard her tendons wrench as she did it.
"Hell No! Well almost....that's what I wanted to tell you but I had to wait until 'tall dark and hairy' was asleep."
"Go on."
"Well I got grabbed by a security guard, I kind of freaked out after seeing a news report on the tv in the pharmacy. I just ran out of there feeling the worlds biggest leper, an this guy caught me." Marie waved her hand as if to say 'and?', Jubilee continued. "Well he took me to one side an asked if I was okay, thing was he 'looked' like Logan. I mean he *really* looked like Logan, he even ran like him."

Marie could sense the curiosity from Logan behind her and her own was peaked by the information. "Jubes, do you trust me?" Jubilee gave a little smile and her fear dropped a little.
"Course, you've been nothing but helpful since you got back to us babe. I mean without you opening our eyes up to what Xavier was doing to us we'd have been sheep for the slaughter back there. So yeah I trust you." Marie stripped her glove off and flexed her hand over Jubilee's own. She lightly touched the back of her hand and Jubilee felt a slight drain, a swift lightheadedness that faded quickly. But what Marie had gotten from her was playing inside her skull, the security guard, the look of him, the image of an older Logan. It shook her and she nudged the possum Logan.
"Hey wake up back there, there's somethin ya'll should see." Logan's eyes snapped open and he grasped Marie's bare hand, she pushed the image of him dressed in a security guard uniform through to his mind. It looked like him but older, grey already salting the unruly hair, the same dark eyes as his own. But the chin was different, his was much more square, this versions narrowed in the wrong place but it was obviously his son. Marie and Logan locked eyes and Jubilee could feel the air begin to turn dense around them.

"So is he a relation? Did I see something for real or was it my stressed out mind playin' tricks on me?" Marie turned to her friend and her mouth smiled a painful grin to her.
"Yeah it's a relation Jubes, one that ah think we'll be catchin up with somewhere along the line." Logan tightened his hand on hers, his past was still out there, he'd been all over the damn place and he was bound to have some children out living in the world. Logan sent her his love through his skin, that he loved *her*, that she was the most important thing to him right *now*. Smiling a pained smile she let him hold onto her skin as they drove onward into the night.
Jubes saw the skin on skin action and smiled at them both, "So when were you goin' to share this little miracle with us all?" Marie brought her bare hand up to the light that was flooding in through the windscreen. Her face showing a mixture of relief and sorrow to her friend.
"Never Jubes, it was mine to show to whoever ah wanted to. Xavier told me ah'd never control it, thing is he did that to keep me under *his* control. Logan taught me how to do it, taught me a lot of other things too...." Her smile grew predatory and Jubilee whistled under her breath.
"Let's leave that till we get somewhere safe," she took the turning that would lead them to the meet-up. "You're not the only one with something to look forward to you know." Marie smiled as she worked it out, her mouth about to congratulate her on snagging Howard when Logan beat her to the punch.
"Make sure he keeps his gloves on, claws marks take time to heal up. Trust me." With that he squeezed Marie's hand once more and let it drop back to her lap. Marie quickly did a double take and saw the huge form of Hank seated next to Logan. The rounded claws on his finger ends would make a mess of her skin if he lost control of himself. Doing the math of his size she quirked an eyebrow at Jubes, "You sure you'll cope with him?"
Jubes's smile was as wide as the windscreen in front of her. "Oh Yeah! You never did see my 'toy' did you? I just hope he comes with the same 'buzz' function." Her smile had Marie in stitches, the laughter woke up both Howard and Hank. They spent the last few hours of the drive filling the air with jokes and tales of late night assignations. Even Howard joined in, telling them how he'd used his powers to pick a woman who'd give him the best ride of his life. Thing was he hadn't looked far enough, her husband had walked in on them and he'd run for the hills. From then on he'd kept himself to himself, that was unless someone approached him. He flicked his gaze to Marie but the growl from Logan soon made it shift away. She laughed and soothed the younger man's shattered calm, "It's okay Howard, he won't kill ya today, ah know who ah belong to, just like he does." The look that passed between them spoke of intimacy that went beyond the physical, into the soul of the person they loved. It generated a warmth that filled the cab as the sun rose over the horizon.

The last few miles flew by, the camp was visable from the roadway and someone morphed out of the ground to meet them. When Howard showed his face the grimness of the greeter faded and they were allowed to pass unmolested down into the campsite. They had news to share and to hear but at the moment they needed to rest. It had been a long journey but it wasn't over by a long stretch.

'At last the robber found,
Reveale'd in his blackest hour,
A desperate shallow husk,
Mimicking the greatness of those he degraded by his touch.'

**************************************

When they reached the camp the whole place erupted in joy, kids were flying around the car, every single one of them wanted to see Hank, as if he were their touchstone. His gentleness as they swamped his larger form was something to behold but Logan had other things on his mind.

He took Marie with him as they went across the camp ground, his feet digging into the earth and feeling the coolness of the ground. This was home, this land he knew and he knew that a group this size wouldn't be alone for long. Heading for the main tent he'd instructed Hank to take Xavier out of the van and get him hidden, if there was a reckoning to be done he no doubt would have to pass it through Ro'.

Pushing through the tent flaps, he was met by the sight of Ro', Emma, Peiter and Kitty. They were all pouring over maps of the area, it was Peiter who noticed them first. "Tovarisch!" He moved quickly around the table to hold Logan in a firm hug, making everyone there notice Marie. She hung back a little as people welcomed them to the camp but Emma had a thin line drawn over her face as she went out to see who had come in with them. When she saw Jubilee she turned back and asked some of the younger members to leave the tent. When they'd left she turned to Logan who was still getting hugs from Kitty, her face red and streaked with tears.

"So you made it then? How did you get away?" Logan let Kitty go back into the arms of her boyfriend but she didn't stay there long. She went to embrace Marie in a huge cuddle, mindful of her skin she held onto the parts of her she could and cried openly. Her whispering voice cutting through the still air as she asked the same question of Marie.

Logan watched as Marie gently let herself be led into a small corner where there were chairs. She dropped into one with Kitty still holding her arm as if she wasn't really there. When he turned back to see Emma she looked tired, worn, frightened and relieved.
"Anyone would think you were glad to see me." His tone wasn't lost on Emma and her smile told him she welcomed his input to their situation.
"We need all the help we can get 'Logan'," she used his name as if she wasn't used to giving a human name to him. It made his knuckles itch and his temper was frayed as it was. A warning growl came out of him and Ro' interceded.
"Logan, is Xavier still alive?"
"Yeah, for now." He wiped a tired hand down his face and looked over at where Marie was watching his every move with the rest of them. They'd kept Xavier alive so far but now they were semi-safe something had to be done about him. He would be easy to track if they had a telepath on the army's side.

Peiter appeared at Logan's side with a bucket of coffee, the smell alone would've stripped paint but he took it gratefully. His arm went out for Marie and she quickly filled the gap he'd made for her. This was respite, a break from running but it wouldn't last and they knew it. Time to re-enforce some boundaries and Logan turned his gaze to Ro'.

"How many kids made it out here?"
"All of them Logan, we didn't leave any behind." Logan nodded and looked at Peiter, raising his mug to Pete and congratulating him. Turning back to Ro' he stared through her, his voice deep but the ice in it enough to stop Ro's blood.
"So, your tellin' me you've got nearly a hundred and fifty kids, all of em who are listed as dead to the rest of the world, an you don't think someones gonna come lookin' for em?" Logan moved his gaze to Emma who was ready for his attack. "You think this is a safe place?"

Emma shifted off her seat and walked toward Logan and Marie her hand giving him a piece of paper which Marie took from her. On it they both read the different ports where the kids would be leaving from for different countries. There had been changes and the kids from Xaviers had been added to the list.
"You've no worries 'Logan', the kids are going to be moved safely through the country. Dropped off in several different states then moved later, theres enough of a underground to get twice the amount we have here out. But that's not our first piece on the agenda." Putting the paper down he felt Marie's hand tighten in his and her voice ring out across the empty space. The words dropping like lead weights in a church, loud and disturbing to all who heard it.
"Xavier." Every eye went to Marie and she gripped Logan's body to her own, "He's gotta pay for this, it's his fault, he brought this on us all."

Ro' was about to speak when Logan just growled at her, the weather witch quickly dropped her eyes to the floor and took a back seat. Emma answered instead, "You're right, he's going to have to answer for this situation but how do we do it? We don't have the facility to question him safely, and what do we do afterwards? Who's going to make the judgement call on him? Are we really going to kill him?"
Hank chose that moment to enter with Jubilee, their faces tired and their bodies showing the stress that was finally able to fall from their tired bones.
"There is a way."

Everyone turned to see Hank holding up Jubilee next to his side, her arm locked around his middle. "We hold a senate, an old court, we keep him lucid enough to answer the charges against him. Afterward I'm sure there won't be any problems about who will be executioner." Hank's eyes were locked onto Logan's own and Logan just inclined his head a little, agreeing with Hanks own suggestion.
Emma noticed the air as it grew thick with untold anger and violence. This needed to be done as soon as possible, otherwise it would tear the entire place apart.

"Okay, you have it, there's a clearing two miles south, we'll use that. There's enough older kids here to look after the rest, I want every other adult over 18 to be there. I won't have it said we killed him in the dark or in private, if death is what everyone votes on, then he dies. Simple as that, we can't leave him alive, he'll only fall into the hands that have been using him for years. Whatever the outcome of the vote, he'll be dead before the end of tomorrow."

The sense of relief that washed over Emma from those words almost made her sob, the emotions from Kitty were strong but from Marie they were almsot off the scale. She wanted him dead, not for herself, but for Logan. That Xavier had known about him, about his mutation before the military had gotten to him. Had *allowed* it to happen to Logan, to take away everything he'd been, everything he'd had. It spoke of a monster, not a man, someone who believed mutants were tools to be used, just like she'd been. A new tool to use and she'd broken free, thing was she'd brought everything down with her. It'd be over with Xaviers death, one part of it anyway, and it was this anticpation Emma was feeling from everyone.
"Six o'clock everyone." Emma looked to Hank and waved to a smallish woman by the tent flaps.
"Francis here can help you get his dosing right, we want him lucid but not mentally useful." Hank nodded to the smaller woman and they left the tent together leaving Jubilee looking lost and alone. Marie held out a hand to her friend who quickly took the bare skin in her grip and let herself be held.

Kitty was about to speak when Peiter shushed her, whispering 'Not now Katya' in her ear. As the rest of the plans were outlined that afternoon, Logan realised that the rest of them had some choices to make, him and Marie could live out here indefinately if they needed to. But the rest of them? He doubted if they'd last the winter alone, looking at Marie who was comforting her friend. Jubilee who'd seemed so together, was now falling apart.

As soon as the plans were laid out, he sent the two of them away to get some rest. They needed to be clear for the evening, Xavier was going to be on trial and he needed them to be clear about what they were doing. Because when he finished the job there wouldn't be anything left of Xavier to put back together. It'd be public, it'd be messy and he wanted everyone to *see* it, no black bags here, no rooms where they were seperated from the death. They'd see, smell and hear the death they wanted, to remember it for all time, to tell it to the kids who were being hunted that the man who'd sent them after them was dead. He'd paid for his crime and it wasn't an easy death, it had been hard, painful and messy. It was what they deserved, all of them.

'It is not in the judgements we make,
It is not in the actions we undertake,
It is in our thoughts where evil resides,
An it is there and only there we can control
it's hold on our hearts.'

**********************************************************

Evening came around quickly, Logan himself got a few hours of sleep after he'd heard the plans and the parcel of land that was waiting for them all. British Columbia, out of the way but somewhere they could see for miles. If they didn't move soon they'd not get through the autumn storms.

The kids had been avoiding him, they let him move along the camp but they kept out of his way, dodging his footsteps as he walked through their ranks. He knew something had been said, a rumour was running riot through them all and if they were leaving for parts unknown it was somehow important for them to know why they were running. Emma had asked for the adults only to be at the judgement, but Logan knew that some would follow them and want to see what was going on.

So as he walked around he mumbled the location out as he went, the difficulties they might have keeping prying eyes away. The various people he spoke to, the nearly adult members of the school hadn't wanted to look at him but his very closeness had forced them to recognise him. The smaller kids around them had heard every word, an no doubt there'd be a more than a few younger kids watching what happened to Xavier later.

They had to know what had been in store for them, for their own safety, not to trust men who offered the world without price. When the end result was usually the very heart of the thing they were offering to protect. And so as Logan walked through the camp, looking at the faces that had last seen him carrying a soldier away. He saw their judgement of him laying on his skin like an invisible cloth. He'd saved them, he'd been the one to help them when it had mattered and even now they hung back from him. Knowing that he was only a passing force, an untamable thing, he couldn't be held down, forced to be a leader when all he cared for was wrapped up in one skin.

One kid, Jones he thought it was, the kid that never slept walked with him for a while, mirroring his footsteps. He did it in silence, echoing his movements, not close but not too far away to be a brat just being a dick. He was learning from him, as he moved back toward the tents Jones went with him, Logan gave Jones a look. Usually the kids paled and ran when he looked at them, but not this time. Jones met his gaze head on, he let it settle in him and he even smiled at Logan, a true honest smile. One that Logan never thought would ever be directed at him from one of Xaviers little 'clones', Jones whispered as he turned away knowing he'd catch the words spoken. "Thanks Logan, we know what you did but we don't care. You helped us, that's all that matters to us now."

As the sun reached the far ridge of mountains, Logan knew the time had come to get the show on the road. Steeling his body he went into the tents, by the end of tonight he'd be free from one nightmare. He could only pray that the next one wouldn't be as painful.

***************************************

Marie, Jubilee and Kitty were going over the plans that had been thrashed out over the last few hours. Tomorrow the kids would be leaving in groups, ten at a time with an escort of Emma's own people. They'd fade out, get lost, mingle into the rest of the world and be safe. Get new names, some even new countries and families, but they'd be safely away from here.

The television and radio hadn't been quiet, the whole country seemed to be a powder keg just waiting for the final spark to go up. Marie went over the maps the routes that the kids had come up with for their journey's, overall they weren't too bad. She'd changed a few routes but apart from a few rest stops they should all get away okay.

Jubilee was showing a talent for thinking like the police, her radar sense of where they'd be expecting a large group of travellers was backed up by several others. The route to the land parcel they had was going to be a little circuituos but it'd get them there safely. Kitty showed them the description of the land parcel and brought it up on Google Earth.

The whole place was enough to lose several mansions in but Marie knew it would only support around fifty people if they were living off the land. Inside her head she was already doing the calculations for the rationing of supplies, the ground looked good but the altitude worried her. There wouldn't be much but pine forest up there and as pretty as it looked it wouldn't feed you through a winter. She voiced her worries and was told that they'd be pulling supplies together as they went toward the place.

It sounded like a good plan but the question was evident in the unspoken air, would the rest of the world even let them get there in the first place? Logan interrupted her thoughts by walking in, his bulk seemed to make the rest of the tent seem unreal to Marie. That he was the only solid thing around and in a way he was, he'd already proved his worth to her many times over. Everyone else hadn't, not even Jubilee yet, Kitty had her own concerns.

Emma and Storm were working hand in hand at the moment but Marie knew that Storm was being watched. It was in the way Emma always had someone near the goddess, someone she could trust. Marie caught Emma's calculating stare hit her and she straightened her back, putting her fists at her sides and let her mind growl out her threat. She wouldn't be threatened by her, she was a telepath and as such Marie would never trust her completely. She made her nervous and Marie knew the thought was mutual.

"Is everyone ready?" Logan's voice cut through the chatter and the quiet that followed it was heavy with expectation. Emma just nodded and she waved a man near the tent flaps to leave, he did so and they knew that the 'court' would be gathered soon. Marie wound herself around to his side, letting her hand slip into the back of his jeans. He needed her presence, she felt him calm a little as she stroked the skin of his lower back. Emma quickly got everything together, the laptop from Kitty, the paper evidence she'd been gathering. Facing Logan she met their combined looks, there was no going back after this. When this was over the alliance between Emma and Logan would be finished, Storm could trust her if she wanted to but she was a telepath and Logan would never trust one again.

"Come on, lets get this over with," Marie's voice reached him as she pulled him toward the flaps of the main tent. Going out into the red light of the world, colouring the entire ground with a hue that looked so much like blood. There'd been so much death, so much to be coped with that the sight of it made her eyes water. Logan felt her stutter in her steps and he just pulled her closer to him and purred nder his breath. She knew it would end soon but she hoped the things she'd learned from her digging would be heard. The truth needed to be told, even if it ripped apart those who thought they knew better. Her gaze locked onto Storm and Marie caught the edge of the old Storm, the one who'd done her masters bidding. She was a Goddess walking among the mortals and Marie knew that after tonight she'd be as mortal as the rest of them.

**********************************************

Hank had had help to get Xavier ready, the drugs in his system were enough to keep him lucid but the cocktail that he'd been given would keep his powers low. He could still use his powers but not to overwhelm those around him. He was at a level where he could communicate but not hurt, he'd given them both a taste of his views when him and Francis had been setting him up in a chair.

Calling them 'Ugly bastards who should know better than to touch him,' Hank got the brunt of his mental tirade. The litany of abuse was varied and colourful, yet it was the pictures that he put into Hanks mind that upset him the most. The pictures of him strapped to a table, being examined, shaved of his hair, skin samples taken, blood taken from various points in his body. Yet the image was so complete, so perfect in detail that he had to wonder how Xavier knew to use a number three canula for the thorassic artery. This was something Xaiver had *seen*, somewhere in his past Xavier had seen this in action, even to the way the phantoms in his mind moved around him laid out on the bed.

This Xavier was filled with hate and spite, as if the old version had been ripped away by this new one. Destroyed in favour of this one, when they finally got him seated in the small clearing the sun was beginning to colour the world red. Hank could hear the approach of the rest of the refugees, Hank took his place next to the seated Xavier. He'd be looking after the man who'd once opened his hand in welcome to Hank, only to find the offer had been one of slavery and death. He looked at the seemingly calm face of Xavier, "They're coming now Charles, I hope they have the sense to do what is right." A small smile lit his features, ghosting over his paper thin skin and for a second a glimpse of hope rode over his face. As if he were tired of fighting, tired of the world. And as the form of Logan came into sight for them both Charles whispered to the wind he thought would take his words away from ears that were sensitive to them.
"It's all I could ever hope for."

Hank saw the rest of the camp following and he took a step back from the man he'd kept alive, only to hand him over to his death now. For that was what this was, it was a death sentence, not a judgement, evidence would be heard yes but the outcome was always settled. Between Logan and himself, they'd known how this would end, one way or another Charles would die today.

***************************************************

It didn't take long for everyone to get settled, sitting on the grass, leaning against trees, standing in groups but they made a circle around the man who'd sold them out.

Emma spoke first, walking a few paces forward she faced the man who'd once been her tutor, her mentor. In her hand she held a file, walking slowly around the circle she made eye contact with every single person there. Her voice ringing clear out over the scrubland, "We're here to pass judgement on someone who once sold himself as 'the saviour of mutant kind'. And beleive it or not he was once, but that has changed, over the years, over the decades his views have shifted." Emma took a moment to look at the crumpled form of Charles, her mind opened fully into his own. She could see the defences he had, the way they were barely holding his own madness at bay. His Id threatening to overpower him, the darkness he'd been unwittingly allowing to influence him until it had poisoned everything he'd once been proud of.

Taking the initative Emma projected the things she'd seen in his mind into the brains of those who were there. Even the kids who were hiding to the left of the pines, she knew they were there and it was a fitting thing that they would find out the truth. They needed to know for themselves and this way they'd be able to understand just exactly what they were killing. It was like a dog that had contracted rabies, you killed it because it was suffering, not because you wanted to. Thats what they had here, a mental rabies case, he infected those he came into contact with and those he couldn't he destroyed.

"We're here to hear the things that have been kept from you all, those of you that have been living under Xavier's protection and those of you who managed to evade his influence." Her hand raised the documents to show them all, "While I read this you'll all be able to see it, I'll be projecting what I see directly to you *all*. What lays in here is graphic, disturbing and sadistic, everything Xavier was supposed to be protecting you from." Emma turned to see the man whom she'd once trusted sit in silence, his head resting still on his neck, gaze locked to the middle distance. She could've been talking about the weather for all he was concerned.

"Lets begin shall we?" There was a slight murmur as the group steeled themselves for the information. Kitty was being held by Pieter, Jubilee was stood next to Marie and Logan her eyes resting firmly on Hank's broad shouldered form. Kurt was perched above Storm, his tail touching her shoulder letting her know she wasn't alone out here. The rest of the older kids were clustered in their friend groups, mingled between them all were Emma's own 'family'. When this was over they'd seperate, go their own ways, try to find a life in a world that would be forever changed by this action.

Emma opened her mind as she let her eyes run across the page. It listed a statement of account, sums of money were on the right hand side, the left had names, peoples names and codenames next to them. Dates of aquisition were listed as were the fund transfer, they were in the early 1970's the first few, then they increased in amount, Emma turned the page over, revealing the back. They dated upto six months ago on this side, names were now initials and there were several on each line. When everyone had the information Emma turned to Xaiver, her voice cold and her mind honed sharp like a razor.

"What happened to the people Xavier? Where did they go?" The head of the prisoner didn't move he just smiled softly and turned his gaze to Hank. The voice that they'd once loved to hear made their skin creep as he answered the first charge.
"Perhaps you should ask the good doctor here, he's been working with the remnants for a few months."
Hank bristled and tore his gaze away from the man he was guarding and came face to face with Emma.
"Hank? Perhaps you could elucidate?"

Clearing his throat Hank began, "I was doing research into the mutagenic chromosone, so I had to have samples from every organ that had been 'mutated'. I was told that the samples had come from 'donation', willing donation, not prisoners or medical experimentation. As soon as I found out what had happened to my research....it's enough to say that some of the samples I recieved couldn't be taken while the subject was alive. I recieved whole livers, kidneys, hearts, colon's, digestive systems, I beleived they were from morgues who'd been cleared by the lab. It was only later that I found that the subjects had been 'sold' to the other experimental labs and that the research I'd been conducting was off the bodies of those still imprisoned or killed by the labs. I'm not proud of what I've been part of, it was on Xavier's orders that some of these people 'disappeared'. *My* research caused suffering that for as long as I live I'll never be able to forget or make up for. Several of the names and intials I recognise from the paper in Emma's hand, what I know of the labs....." Hank stopped talking his voice clouded with tears and emotion, "I wouldn't hold out any hope for the ones that went there. I'm sure there are better people than me to tell you about them." His eyes went to Storm, Pieter, Kurt and Logan, keeping his gaze locked onto Logan's own, Hank continued.
"You have my word that if I'd known....if I'd even suspected....." The tears he'd been holding back began to flow over his furred skin, the softness that he encountered in Logan's own eyes told him enough. He didn't hold him responsible, he hadn't known and when he had he'd been angry, disguted and sick to his bones.

Emma could feel the pity for Hank fill the air, she turned to him and gave him the folder. "There's more than one page in there everyone, theres at least twenty. Twenty pages of names, numbers and pictures, property to be bought and sold." Emma's gaze then went round the entire group, her eyes landing on Logan and she saw him stand a little straighter as he realised he as up next.
"But that isn't all he did, there was something else, something much worse. Logan if you would?" Looking at him move forward, his steps slow and Marie's hands falling away from his body, leaving her alone to grasp onto Jubilee.

The entire place was itching with tension and it filled every sense he had, they needed to know all of it, every dirty deed he'd done and had done to him. After this there would be no more secrets and everyone here would know the darkness he held inside himself. Many would run from him, others would judge him again and find him wanting, yet there would be a few who would understand and it was those he was hoping for. If they understood why, maybe he would too eventually. Seeing everyone waiting he cleared his throat and spoke.

'To hear the truth,
To see it held out in scarred hands,
To feel the pain in each stuttered word,
*That* is suffering,
*There* is acceptance.
It lies nowhere else.'

**********************************************************

"When I was out on the road I'd heard rumours, seen people disappear, watched the news, I knew I was 'wrong'I was 'different'. Hell I knew it the day I was fuckin' born." Logan's gaze stripped through the rest of the faces there, seeing those that supposedly knew him blanch a little.

"Oh yeah, I remember more than you think, shit I even remember seein' the first fuckin telegraph wires goin up. Do the math!" His hands clenched and unclenched as he walked around the small dirt clearing, muscles bunched and relaxed as he went around the gathered eyes.
"There's things about me you don't wanna know but I'll tell ya how I got stuck with *that* bastard sat there." His thumb jerked toward the man sat on the only chair, his legs hanging uselessy below him and his rheumy eyed stare watching him pace around.

"He picked me up just when I'd been out lookin for the guys who'd given me these," the claws poked out of his clenched fists. "I'd tracked some of the fuckers down but I'd reached a dead end, thats when I got a phonecall from him." Logan nodded in Xaviers direction, "Ya see what you don't know is that the man sat there in front of you all looking like he wouldn't hurt a fly had a hand in doin' this to me." Logan's gaze went flint hard and he stalked toward the seated figure on the chair, dropping down so his face was level with Xaviers. The smile on Xaiver's face wavering a little as Logan looked through him.

"See, even now he thinks I haven't put it together. I *know* Xaiver, I KNOW it was you who sent them to the cabin. I know you told them where I was, where to find me. You knew who you were sending me after because you were part of the damn thing!" The air around the clearing had gone thick, everyone was waiting for the denial, the choking words of refusal to come from Xaviers lips but nothing came out. He just sat there while Logan paced around him reminding everyone of a shark circling prey in the water.

When Logan looked back at the small man his eyes were dark and a smile that had nothing to do with humour was on his face. Claws drawn Logan approached Xaiver, only when he put them under Xavier's chin did the man's mask of calm slip. "I should just fuckin' slit your throat now and let you bleed out. You did this to me you fuck! Shit I'd never have put the fuckin' clues together if it hadn't been for her. My *reward*, remember the deal Xavier? Remember what you promised me in return for doin' your dirty work?" The silence that ripped through the air was enough to spur Logan into a rush of words. "Fine! Then I'll tell em shall I?"

He pushed himself away from the cripple that was too easy to kill right now, he wanted to get all of this out before he lost it and just killed the fucker.
"He kept me locked up, doped me, *tamed* me," he spat the last words out at the feet of the now pale man seated across from him. "When I found out the names he'd been givin me weren't all mine, they didn't have anythin' to do with the things had been done to me. That I'd been removin' his enemies for him, removin' people who didn't vote the right way or do business with him. That he was using *me*, I went to tell him to stuff it, to take everythin and shove it so far the sun would never hit it. Thing is I never figured on him bein the bastard he is."

Logan settled himself on his haunches across from Xavier, his eyes beginning to glow in the evening light. "He kept me below the school, broke me, tore my mind apart, lookin for the things he needed while keepin me confused. Wolverine didn't like it an he kept me sane, made me want to kill the fucker that had trapped me there. But the thing is I'm a simple fuckin' animal, give me food, a bed, a *mate* an I'd roll over. He used my loneliness against me, used it to play me, to get me to work for him. So I agreed, after bein without food, water, hope you'd break too, especially if you knew what conditioning I'd been given when the military had me." The spark in his gaze had grown to a fire as he stood up and faced the rest of the crowd, seeing their hard lined faces soften as they looked toward Rogue.

His own eyes locked onto her own and he rumbled a low growl out to the world, "She was *given* to me, when Xavier took her in she was fourteen, he gave her to me as soon as she walked in that goddamn door. He counted on Wolverine just taking her, making her his, when I didn't when I acted more human than he thought I would be he acted instead." Logan turned to look at the now shivering form of Xavier in the growing cold.

"He sent word to The Brotherhood, told them about a Mutant with deadly skin, knowing that he'd never resist such a prize. They came and she fought, she fought until we were nearby, knowin that we'd come for her. Thats when that hairy fucker ripped her open, if Mag's couldn't have her no one could. Earned him a messed up brain for a while," Logan raised his clawed fist remembering the feel of Sabertooths skull splitting under his fist. The soft rumble running through him like pleasure and colouring the air with it's sound.
"Found her, nearly dead and that's when I made the decision, that's when I touched her. Gave her everything I was, everything I could be, all I wanted was for her to live. Nothin was as important as that, when she started breathin again I passed out, didn't know if it had saved her. Just knew I'd had to try, thing was I never knew how much of me she'd taken in. Now I do an I'm thankful for it, another manipulation that actually went my way cos she *knows* me. Understands me, shares what I know, what I feel, all of it."

His gaze burning across the groups that were now holding each other in the growing dark. Emma looked across at a young girl who just raised her hands, several small incandescent lights formed and floated above the clearing. Lighting the darkness and throwing harsh shadows across the faces that were listening to his life. Seeing them understand the choices he'd made, the ones he'd had left to make under the yoke of Xavier.

"Ya see, while she was young, while she was under his roof I *had* to tow the line, I had to do what the fucker wanted. Had to go kill the kids he didn't want anyone else to get hold of, remove the problems he wanted removing. Solve his dilemma's by wading waist deep in someone elses blood, I've lost count of all the kids I've killed, been all over the goddamn continent killin'." Logan wiped a hand down his face as the memory of the faces bubbled up through him, the emotions, the regret but also the fear of what would happen if he didn't. Emma refocussed her attention on him, sharing the discomfort of his situation with all who were there. The fear he had of coming back and seeing Rogue hurt, destroyed, taken from him, broken.

Each decent memory he had of her, just smiling at him, holding his arm as they walked through the grounds, her hug as she met him as he got back. The way she grew from a bony kid into the woman she was, how he needed her touch every time he got home. That she valued him, she saw something worth fighting for, worth loving, worth caring about. And for that he'd kill anyone, do anything, as long as she was safe.

Logan's eyes raised to the sky to pick out the first few stars, his voice running rich and deep when he spoke again. "My nightmare came true though, it wasn't Xavier that did it though, she did it herself. She came after me, went to follow me, to see what I did when I went away from her alone. She saw me kill a man, torture him to death, thing was she helped me in the end." His eyes dropped to the forest as he spoke the words out loud, even and measured. "She did it willingly, I didn't force her, she made a choice and she chose *me*. What I am, who I am, she chose to make herself like me an I wondered for a while if it wasn't my touch that had made her like that." He found Marie's gaze, seeing her tears standing proud but she didn't let them fall.

"I love her, I've never loved anything more than her, never even wanted anythin but her. She chose to follow me, Xavier didn't make her do it, hell he was about to sell her out to The Brotherhood again. Seein' as how I hadn't taken her he thought he could use her again and force my hand. Ya see he wanted another assassin like me, one who'd kill without a thought, someone who'd look innocent and perfect. Someone who could kill with a touch, with just a graze of her hand."
Logan walked toward Marie, his body aching to feel her, to be held, the pain riding on his bones evident for everyone to see. That he'd had so much and nearly lost it all, he'd nearly lost her and that would've killed him, broken him completely. Yet here he was, strong, able and aware; she had given him his soul back, she'd kept it for him locked up in her own skin. When they'd finally been together it had been on their terms, bonded completely, because they wanted to be.

His hand brushed away the tears on her eyelids and she held his bare hand to her face, the looks of shock running around the crowd as she did it. They knew her story, the girl who could kill with a touch, yet he was touching her skin and not dying.
When he'd finished wiping them away Logan turned back to the centre of the clearing, his voice filled with knives each word barbed and cruel.
"Xavier told her she couldn't touch, told her she was dangerous, convinced her that she'd never control it, that it was out of her control. He lied."

"Why? Because he knew she'd shut herself off from everyone, become bitter, twisted, hating everyone else who could love and hold someone. He'd use that hatred, turn her into an assassin, a beautiful one, untouchable, a killer as bitter as her skin. He never counted on me though, that I'd want to touch her, die for her, over and over until she gave up tryin to kill me an realised that I was part of her. Didn't take too long did it?" Logan looked over to Marie, her face was flushed as she remembered the way's he'd convinced her skin that he wasn't a threat. Her smile was enough to convince everyone of the risk he'd taken, the suffering he'd endured to be able to touch her.

"No only a winter Logan, not too long at all."
Smiling he answered her the emotion flooding everyone with a warmth that kept the chill in the air away.
"I'd do it again, if it'd took a year of doin it I'd have done it for you." Marie didn't answer she just wiped her eyes, everyone knew he would've he'd would've continued until he'd collapsed. They belonged to each other, no matter that it had been Xavier who'd sold her to him for blood and deals made in back rooms.

Turning back to the man who'd brought him to this place Logan stalked back to the cripple. Resting his claws on the dead thighs of the man, his grey eyed gaze calm but his scent betraying his fear and Wolverine couldn't help but chuckle about that.
"See when he gave me Rogue, he made a mistake, he underestimated her, thought she was just like Jean his little favourite pet. The one he used when I wasn't around, oh yeah I forgot that bit. He took his favourite student and wiped her mind clean everytime she went out to kill someone. He'd send her out to kill or mind fuck people I couldn't get close to, when she got back he'd debrief her. Take what info he wanted then wipe it out of her head, thing was she remembered inside. I knew she did, hell when we went out on missions she had a hard time restraining herself sometimes and I knew why. She didn't but I put her straight, told her to go lookin in the mind of her so called 'fearless leader' Scooter. That bastard was a perfect little nazi wasn't he? Get the kids to be 'perfect' reject those that didn't fit, send them to the West Coast?"

Logan stood up and looked towards Emma his voice ringing out across the cool air, "You had trouble with small mutant terror cells in the West?"
Emma nodded, "Yeah we have, they've raided several safe houses."
Logan nodded to himself and gestured to Xavier, "You got him to thank for it, he's the one that's been funding them. I got sent out to 'clean house' of one that went rogue. Started doin stuff for other factions, Xavier wanted them 'removed' and the house 'cleaned', did the job an came back home." Emma's face was set like stone, her gaze had become cold and her skin shifted into diamond as she moved across the small area to be behind Xavier.

"No! Logan you can't let her do this, you don't understand...." Fear, for the first time Logan heard real fear colour Xavier's voice and Wolverine in him lapped it up. He wanted to bathe in it along with the thin blood that ran through his veins, he wanted to make him suffer, to hurt him, to destroy him utterly and he'd let Emma do everything she wanted to him. Logan watched as Emma touched his skin, the touch making Xavier jolt backward in his seat. A terror rising in Xaviers grey eyes as Emma went through his head, tearing it open, ripping the walls down he'd constructed to keep his darkness at bay.

All of his actions were there for Xavier to see, for *everyone* to see, his first influence being benign but soon the thirst for power had overcome his own convictions. Finding reasons for every action, to help, to guide, to develop mutations, everything had a logical reason but the costs were too great. The pain he caused too much to bear so he closed it off, used others instead of his own hands. Taking a hand in Logan's suffering, knowing it would drive the man insane, break him into two. Shattering who he'd been into an animal and human, no longer a whole person but all in the cause of progress.

The pleasure he got from seeing his mutants win, from seeing them fight, from seeing them die. That as each one fell they built a foundation of his dream, making the crusade worthwhile. That he was the *only* answer, the *only* way forward, pushing his ideals and dreams into politicians heads. Manipulating events to go his way, using Logan to kill those who opposed him, accidents, crashes, poisoning's. The list was long, and it was too much for some to endure. There were quiet sobs and angry murmurings as Emma braodcast the truth to them all.

The deaths at his hands, the kids who'd been sold into labs, the enemies that had been handed over to the military for money and resources. Everything of him had been revealed, even the conditioning of his favourites, Scott and Jean. Jean her mind in two, seperated so he could control her, keep her under his influence. His own powers suffering because of Cerebro, using her to keep his own mental shields up. Now they knew why he'd been so desperate to get Jean back, he needed her more than anything in the world. The enemies he'd made had been formidable and if they'd known he was so weak...the end had come because of his dealings with the shadow hand of government. They'd finally known how weak he really was and had decided to take what they could and scrap the rest.
Scott, his emotional reliance on the tenets of a code that no one could ever live upto in reality. Doing what was needed to keep the dream alive, a dream with no root in reality. Used, abused, given to Jean to keep his emotional outbursts in check, the damaged child he was still there, still hurting and angry at the world that wouldn't accept him.

Finally under all the layers, all the deceit, all the hate was Xavier, the thing he was, the person that hid underneath the soft smiles and fatherly persona. The image of him was withered, diseased, old, ripped apart by barbs that were inside and under his skin. He looked like a doll that had been stuffed full of thorns, parchment skin stretched taut over his thin frame. Emma's voice rang through everyone's mind, "See him, judge him as *this*, know that if he could he'd carry on doing what you've seen, felt, heard. Make your judgement on *this* alone, that he'd do it again if he could, to you , to the ones you love and call it 'progress'."

Emma removed her hands from his head and broke the link that had been with everyone, they had to choose for themselves and it was Hank who moved first. He just turned his back on Xavier, not seeing him, not acknowledging his presence anymore. Seeing the larger man make his decision others began to turn their backs to Xaiver. As the wave of backs went around the circle of people Xavier began to laugh, the sound filled with fear and shock. When it ran around the entire group leaving only Marie and Logan looking at him he stuttered a little. Seeing the hate riding on their faces, in their movements, they wanted him dead and nothing else would suffice. Logan's voice rang out across the clearing, the quiet hush even going into the wildlife as if they knew the judgement had been given.

"Looks like they've made their mind up old man, they don't need *you* anymore. I *know* I don't!" Xavier didn't stop laughing but his eyes were flowing with tears, laughter turned to sobs as they approached him. Claws drawn they moved forward, Hank turned back to view the pair of them waiting patiently. Everyone turned back to face the centre, knowing that what was to happen would be witnessed by everyone.

Hank moved back his body quivering with rage mixed with expectation, his own animal nature showing itself. He itched to hurt the man who'd brought his own world down in so much shame and betrayal. The first flash of claw came from Rogue, she grazed his cheek with it, scarring the thin flesh. A red line drawn in blood, the richness of it filling the air around her. Her eyes finding Logan's own and she nodded slightly to him, letting him have his way now.

It was like seeing an animal savage a toy, Logan just tore into the thin frame, dealing injuries that were shallow, playing with him, while Emma reached out to Xaiver with her mind. Keeping him still while justice was meted out to the man who'd caused Logan so much pain. Soon Xaviers clothes were shredded, hanging off him like his flesh in dripping strips. Logan wasn't home, this was Wolverine, taking his revenge for being held, for being used, for being *tamed*, for taking his life and smashing it in two. The roar that echoed out across the mountain was heard miles away, the silent scream that filled the psychic world flew to every mind that could hear it.

And in a house so far away Jean woke, her hands gripping the warm body next to her. Wrapping herself around Scott as she cried into the night, her father had died, her mentor had been killed, her tormentor was finally dead. Now she could think about living, now she could heal, now she could face what she'd done, now he was no longer here to remind her of what she'd been too foolish to see. They were free.

The body was in so many pieces, the flesh hung in wet strips, he'd flayed him, carved him from the bone and he'd been aware of all of it. Nothing of him had ever suffered so much than this, even as his mind was fading away and his bodily remains were being put on the ground, he felt and scented an acrid odour. His last thoughts were ones of sorrow as he recognised the fluid that was covering his cooling skin. Logan always was a man of his word, he hadn't pissed on the ashes of his school but he sure could on the figurehead of it.

And as the final traces of the worlds greatest telepath faded away into the ether a pyre was being built, Xaiver could see the world fading away from him, the last remnants of his consciousness seeing Logan's eyes. The darkness in them and he knew then that Logan had been merciful to him, he'd killed him fast, and as his spirit faded away into the universe Xavier was thankful for it. The look that Logan had given him as his spirit had turned away had spoken of a hate that would never die, not in this life or the next. There was still a reckoning to come and it was that that caused Xaiver's spirit to fade away from this realm. He had nothing more to do, to give, to use, he had lost and he wondered if he'd known that when he'd taken interest in Logan all those years ago. Before his accident, before his greed had forced him to choose between life and death. Whatever truth he found he kept to himself, waiting for Logan to catch him up someday.

'When the worst is over my love,
When the cooling touch has passed,
There will be nothing but us,
In the midnight garden.
Where all lovers seek to be.'
**********************************************************

The pyre burned well, brushwood ate the remains quickly until their was nothing left but ashes. One of the adults went back for the kids, they saw the pyre burning, to know the man that had caused this pain for them was finally dead. Gone, where he could no longer use them in his games of power.

Logan for his sins had been seen by every child, their eyes logging who had been the executioner in this tale. Who had been the axeman who'd saved their skins from the Big Bad Wolf, he met every single look unrepentant. And in a way it soothed him to know that they had seen the truth, he knew that they'd hear of the things he'd said. The reasons why he'd acted the way he had and they'd keep a distance between themselves and him.

The adults though, they were a different matter, Ororo looked small, as if her life had been extinguished along with Xavier. It was only the looks of others that were keeping her upright. She was broken. Emma took her away when the emotion became too much for her, when the children began throwing sticks to the fire to feed it further. The symbol of the bogeyman now fixed in their minds as a man in a wheelchair with a sweet smile.

Hank and Jubilee disappeared soon after, Hank guiding the small frame of Jubilee away back to the camp. The air of care and growing love around them easy to see, Pete just picked up Kitty, his skin shining in the firelight's embrace. Making him seem a statue of some ancient god come down to earth, plucking his maiden from the world and carrying her home.

But it was Marie he was looking at most, her back straight, eyes locked onto the flames as if daring them to finish without destroying every last morsel of the figure she'd become to despise so much. She'd changed, grown, developed into something even he wasn't so sure of anymore. The girl he'd known was long gone, she wasn't the small terrified thing he'd had to care for; she was his *mate*, his equal. He'd seen the need for death in her gaze as they'd both stood in front of Xaiver, her need to feel his blood over her hands. And they both were speckled with it, his shirts, his hands, his jeans showing the aterial splashes. Even Marie's white streaks were showing red in places where the blood had hit her, but she hadn't wavered her gaze from the death he'd metered out. No one had. Everyone had watched the death, seen Xavier suffer, knowing that the death he'd had was nothing to the suffering he'd caused. It was over, for now.

When the ashes dropped low and embers burned bright, two teenagers came up with water, putting the steel containers in the ashes to heat. Yet another brought towels and soap handing them off to Marie, the girl who carried them just saying 'Thank you.' to Logan before she left. The air had cleared, the threat had receeded for a while and they had space to sit in. How long was another matter entirely but for now they had the night and it would have to be long enough.

************************************

Hank and Jubilee moved through the camp, listening to the quiet sobs and tears. Grief was a natural reaction to the news but it was in the snatched pieces of conversation that showed the difference.
Children were grieving for their families, the news of their deaths had reached them, family members would know that they were gone. The school had been turned into a martyrs shrine, they could *never* go home, never contact those that had loved them. Teenagers were comforting those they could, others were explaining what options they had now. To leave to go somewhere else, to start a new life, with a new family. Some were hopeful, others sad but most were numb, it'd take something from a leader they knew to explain it all to them. To point out the danger that they were still in but Hank knew they would scatter across the globe. A ragtag bunch of mutants who would forever be tainted by the knowledge that their so called 'saviour' had put a price on each and every head he'd had under his roof.

Trust would be a hard commodity to earn from these survivors and Hank could see the hardness in several gazes as him and Jubilee walked by. No one asked about Xavier, they all knew he was gone,the way it had happened had gotten back too. Yet it wasn't the usual way kids described death, they did it quickly, no detail, just 'Logan cut him to ribbons and burned what was left.' The reality of it would come clear one day but for now they were alone, free and lost at the same time. Hank could sense the confusion around him making his head spin and it wasn't until Jubilee pulled on his hand that he noticed her again.

"Hey, you okay up there?" Her smile was small, just at the edge of her mouth, her eyes a little distant themselves. Hank found himself really looking at her, the woman who'd brought him across the border. A small fragile creature, her face like a porcelain doll, even smudged with dirt she looked wonderful to him. As his grip on her hand increased she opened up that smile so it covered her features. Seeing his distress she pulled him toward their allocated space, "Come on we've got a promise to keep."

Speechless for a moment Hank allowed himself to be led across the cool ground, the look on her face determined and happy. Hank's stomach flipped as he realised this may not be what he thought it was and he brought Jubilee to a halt.
"We don't have to do this Jubilee." She turned on him, her smile losing some of it's brightness.
"What?"
"I said we don't have to...I don't want you to do this unless you want to, today has been rather fraught and I don't want to confuse it any further."

Jubilee just looked at him, her eyes scanning the frown that was covering his features. Her own smile dropping away to be replaced by a seriousness and a whispering voice. "Look, I *know* today hasn't been the best day of my life, shit I've just watched the only man I thought I could trust get shredded by my best friends hubby. Right now what I *need* is a little *comfort*, something I *thought* we were agreed on back in the truck. But if you think it's a bad move then fine, I'll leave you alone and go do what I need to do but life goes on Hank. An after what I've seen today I deserve to live every god damn minute of it. So it's your choice, I'm offering, I'm healthy and you 'don't' scare me, nothing about you frightens me. Not the teeth, not the size and definately not the *fur*."

Just the way she said 'fur' made Hank's blood go south, whatever he'd done to deserve such a prize he had no idea but it had been a long time since anyone had even held his hand never mind offered him what Jubilee was offering now.
"So what's it going to be Hank? Life or death?"

It took a heartbeat before she got her answer, he just pulled her to their tent, tonight was about 'life', about surviving. After all that had been thrown at them they were still alive and it needed celebrating, Hank only hoped Jubilee could cope with him. If not he didn't know what he'd do, probably mug a moose more than likely. Turning to see Jubilee's face and the smile that was lodged on it, her whisper reaching his ears and making his blood pound. "About damn time too!"

********************************************

Riding high in Pete's arms Kitty felt like a queen, his gentle nature showing through at the oddest of times. Like now, his shape and skin made him easy to recognise and several kids had come up to them both. Asking if what had happened was truely what had happened, that Xavier was dead and he couldn't come back to hurt them. He'd just answered them as gently as possible, telling them that yes, Xavier was dead, gone. That he was no longer there to hurt anyone and that they were free now to make a new life somewhere else. Just the way he said it made Kitty's heart ache, he'd make a wonderful father and her heart gave a little twitch.

They'd been made a toy of Xavier and they were still dodging around the question themselves, there'd been so much to do that it had been lost in everything. They'd slept in the same tent but not together, as if there was a barrier between them and it was the conversation that was unspoken that was laying there keeping them apart.

Oh they knew that they loved each other, that they really cared for each other but the physical part of their relationship had been soured by Xavier's meddling. While he'd been alive Kitty couldn't trust herself, wouldn't trust herself, it could have been conditioning, influence whatever. Just when it entered her head she fought against it, a reaction to her being used the first time round. Yet Pieter had been nothing but calm with her, holding her, comforting her, telling her that it was okay, that he could wait until she was ready. He had his own doubts about himself too she knew that and it was time to air them. Now Xaiver was dead they could move on, say what needed to be said, they had a child to raise between them and it mattered that their relationship was as strong as it could be.

When they entered their small quarters Pieter put Kitty down on the chair, his face looking calm but his body tense. His hands resting on the arms of the small camp chair he looked broken, as if the weight of what had happened to them all was just settling on him. Kitty just reached out to him, her fingers weaving through his dark hair as his skin returned to normal.
"Hey, it's okay Pete, we're okay." The big man rested his head in her lap, kneeling in front of her, shudders ran through his broad shoulders and Kitty felt his breath on her as it heaved in and out.

Silence reigned for a while just the breathing of Pieter in her lap and the sound of kids outside getting into sleeping bags.
After a few minutes of stroking his hair she felt him slump, relaxing everything he'd been holding tight. His face resting at the apex of her thighs and he surprised her by nuzzling her there. His arms kept her in the chair, just his physical presence as he nuzzled her sex through her clothing. Hearing his voice rumble through her as he called to her, "Katya....please....".

It was like lightning, the freedom of movement, the energy to act flowing through her veins. Kitty pushed up off the chair, sliding her jeans off with her underwear. Pieter taking them down her legs just as quickly, getting them over her sneakers. Then attacking his own clothing as she shed her tops, soon they were naked just panting and looking at each other. Unsure about whether to touch and where to touch, they'd made a new life together but neither of them could remember it. *This* would be the defining time, the moment they'd tell their son or daughter how they were made and why.

Both of them had been used, abused, mentally raped and sullied by the man who'd told them that he had their best interests at heart. Yet they'd both listened to Logan, both of them had had their suspicions before they'd been used. It had been 'real', now the living came next and it was this that was frightening them into inaction.

Pieter reached out first, pulling her off the chair and into his lap, her knees falling to either side of his thighs. No words, nothing but his touch on her skin, the warmth of him, the solidity of his frame and the love she could feel coming from his heart. Pieter *loved* her no matter what had happened to them, he was willing to do whatever it took to make her happy. Just as much as she was for him, settling herself on his lap Kitty let her moist sex touch his stiffening length beneath her. Moving her hips slowly along him, the soft rasp of her hair and skin on him making Pieter grip her hips tightly.

Lifting herself slightly presenting her chest to him to suckle, which he did with an aching tenderness that filled her entire body with fire. So wrapped up in his ministrations that she missed him sliding into her heated centre until he shifted her back down. The sense of fullness something she could never describe well enough, just the feeling of being complete. Eye's locked on each other, each watching the reaction of their partner, the flush of heat, the hiss of pleasure/pain. Slowly, they worked together, his hands on her hips guiding her along his length, one thumb locked onto her clit as she moved. Each deep pass making her insides quake, the shivering muscle under her gaining tension as she saw Pieter sweat. The heat in his gaze that had only been for her finally loosed on her naked skin, his breath bellowing out of him as she writhed on the solid member inside her quivering walls.

A brush of her nipples was all it took to take her over the edge, her cry muffled by his mouth, his tongue writhing with her own as he thrust hard underneath her. One hand on her back the other at her hip keeping her on him as she rode out her orgasm, the sides of her sex flexing against his hardening heat. Soon after his grip dug into her, his hand at her back resting on her neck as he pulled her down hard into his hips. The grunt of air that left his mouth telling her she'd won, she'd finally loved him, taken him willingly. Even as she felt him pulse deep inside her channel Kitty gripped him tight, moving on him still grinding her hips down in an effort to squeeze every last peice of pleasure from him.

Finally moving his mouth from hers, Kitty saw the barrier fall, saw the ghost between them leave. Nothing was left but the love they had, resting on his neck she let herself be held. Wrapped up in his embrace as her own body still wrapped around him, her knees raised so her feet were on the floor. Sat in his lap, naked, fucked, pregnant and happy, things might have started off badly but it was a good place for a new one.

***********************************

Ororo watched the rest of the camp get ready for bed, Kitty and Pieter passed her by, not seeing her, having only eyes for each other. It was then that the loneliness hit her, she'd always been aloof, the goddess, the calm one. Yet no one really knew the truth to her soul, that she craved the same as anyone else, needed the same as anyone else. When Xavier had been killed she'd been appalled, the way Logan had left him to suffer for so long before he'd died. Then seeing him take out his penis and piss on the remains of the once great man had turned her stomach. She'd left then, turned her back on them all and gone to her tent.

Yet beneath all the civilised notions she had she knew why Logan had done what he'd done. He'd been making a point, showing the world what it meant to get in his way, to take what had been his. On one level she could forgive him but on another she would never look at him the same way again. He'd proved her right in her estimation of him, he was an 'animal' and he'd taken Rogue down with him.

Shaking her head Ororo tried to get the plans straight in her head, Kurt was coming with her group. Their goal was Africa, she'd take all the children of colour with her, those who didn't want to go back to the reservations. There were several who did yet Ororo couldn't see Emma allowing that to happen, Emma was a great co-ordinator. Her skills in moving and guessing what was coming next was almost frightening, when Xavier was being killed Emma's face had been set solid. No emotion had played across it, she'd just taken everything in, Emma knew something about Xaiver that she hadn't. Only now was it coming clear what that something had been, the day she'd been sent to spy on her school came back to haunt her. The words she'd used to her, telling her she was welcome to return anytime she wanted to. She had been welcome, because she'd known that Ororo had been living with the devil himself.

It could've been so different, worked out in a different way but no, she'd lost everything she'd ever had all because of a mans warped dreams.

The knock on her flap when it came was soft and Ororo turned up the lantern so she could see who was there. A blue face came into her space and Ororo smiled, Kurt. He was always there when you needed someone, he moved slowly, cautiously and perched on the end of her bed.
"How are you feeling?" Just like Kurt to go for the truth, Ororo felt her eyes sting with bitter tears. How could she explain the pain, the hatred she felt, the betrayal of all she'd been working for over the last ten years. That all the time she'd been working for peace, the very man who'd sent her out was working for himself.

As the first tear fell from her eye Kurt just gripped her and pulled her into his arms. Everything was sorted, the children would be leaving tomorrow, split up and scattered across the world. She'd be going back to Africa, her gifts to be used in the places where they were needed the most. She just let herself collapse, he skies darkening outside the tent as her emotions ran free. A rainless storm raging overhead, her own tears providing the rain that was now soaking into the shoulder of Kurt as he rocked her back and forth. A prayer whispered into her ears as she let her pain flow out of her, for all the things she could have done if she'd taken off the blinkers that had been put on her.

She was as guilty as the rest of them, she'd known in her way, suspected things but she'd shrugged them off. Xavier would never do that but the things that Kitty had revealed to her eyes on the discs Xavier had kept hidden spoke for him. It had been there in black and white and now she knew why Magneto had opposed them at every turn. It's hard to realise that it wasn't you that was saving the world but your enemy. An for a while she'd lean on whoever was willing to help her, as soon as the land beneath her feet was the soil Xavier had plucked her from, she would cope. But not now, it was too raw, too painful to admit her mistakes, so she would hide in the words of a mutant priest who really looked like the devil himself.

***********************************************

The ash was cool now, the embers long past heating the water that steamed gently in the cool night air. The first bite of autumn was in the breeze as the dark clouds gathered overhead. With the first flash of lightning Logan looked up, his naked skin lit by the fire above them. They both knew who was bringing it but they didn't begrudge her the sorrow.

Logan's clothes were folded by the towels resting on the chair that had been Xavier's throne. Washed down first after his corpse had been laid on the pyre. Taking the soap in hand Marie dunked it into the hot water, bringing it out and making a lather between her hands. Walking toward Logan with the soft bubbles fragrancing the air. He didn't expect this, but she wanted to do this, smoothing the soap over his skin, taking a cup and dipping it into the container at his side and wetting him down. The soap sliding over his skin, cleaning off the blood, dirt and emotion that was still on him. Her face concentrating on cleaning him, of taking the past away, flushing him clean of everything.

Moving around him she dipped water over him before adding the soap, rubbing the stubborn stains away, massaging his shoulders for him. Listening to his purr as she slid her hands over his back, nails dragging across his skin and loosening the dirt there. Covering him in suds, doing the backs of his thighs, his backside, calves and feet. Moving round to wash his groin, seeing him swell at her touch as she cleaned every nook and cranny of him. When he was covered in soap she took the cup and let the warm water run down him. Seeing it take all the dirt and blood away, watching as it ran into the ashes, mixing with it. The hairs of his body trapping some so she had to run her hand down him to get it to flush away. Marie covered every part fo him, washing the soap away until he was as clean as the day in the rain. He looked brand new, remade, reborn even, man as he should be and her breath halted in her chest when he took the soap from her grip.

Still erect he moved around her, taking off her clothing, folding it neatly on top of his own until she too was naked under the flashing sky. Eyes dark he took the water cup and drenched her over, letting her stand in his footprints. The imprint of his feet dwarfing her own and yet it made her feel safe, as the soap passed over her skin she kept feeling his heartbeat throbbing out at her. Slicked up with soap as his touch on her skin slicked her sex just as quickly. Taking the cup in hand he washed her down, just as reverently, taking care of her, showing her his love. Rinsing the suds from her skin, leaving the wind to touch her, wrap her in arms of coolness that made her skin pebble after being doused in warm water.

Picking her up from the ass Marie moved her legs around his waist, feeling him nudging at her sex from below as she sought his mouth. Walking a little way forward Logan let her drop down onto him, sliding into her sex and muffling her squeak with his tongue. His feet were in the cool ashes, the death bed of Xavier while he was sheathed in Marie. Both of them hungry for the other, movements became frenzied as she climbed on him, his hands locked to her ass as he spread her weight while letting her drive. It wouldn't be long, they both knew that but they had the rest of the night ahead of them. This was only the first of many.
Marie bit his shoulder as came, her sex squeezing him tight inside her, his throat rumbling as he spilled his seed into her hungry sex. Knowing she would be ready again in minutes, locked together for a moment their gaze lost in each other. They'd survived this far, they would tomorrow and the day after and the one after that.

They were alive, they had each other and they were *free*, free of one enemy but they both knew of others. Dressed in army green, they would never forget them but they would make taking them a very nasty prospect. Yet for now they had peace, space and the night and it would be enough.

'Come my love,
Let us leave this place of death.
There is life awaiting us,
O'er the next hill,
Where we can live *free*.'

**********************************************************

Noise was rising when Ororo woke, Kurt was still here, wrapped around her body, his blue skinned face looking so peacefilled that she really didn't want to move him. Yet the urging of her bladder told she had to move *now*, disentangling herself from his embrace Ororo smoothed down her rumpled clothing and went outside into the noise.

There were more trucks, more people and the kids were moving into their waiting maws, people were arriving and leaving. Emma was there, hair tied back; a clip board dangling in one hand and she didn't notice Ororo watching for a while. Ro' looked at the people who were taking kids, they left in groups of five, two teenagers and three younger members. The adults looked a little rough for her liking but who was she to judge? Her own skills at knowing who to trust were faulty, putting her head down she moved toward the latrine not seeing Emma's face turn to follow her footsteps with a small frown covering her face.

Ro' reached the latrines, used the facilities and was coming out when she saw Rogue approaching, she felt torn between avoiding her and confronting her. In the end she stood still as Marie came ever nearer, when she was close enough to talk to without being overheard Ro' spoke.
"Why Rogue, why did he have to do it that way?"

Marie's gaze pierced Ro' through, her eyes were blazing as she stood up straight, pulling her arms across her ample chest. Her voice measured and calm as she answered the accusation, "How else would ya've liked it Ro'?" The tone of her voice was even and Ro' felt her own temper flare as her ex-student faced her down.
"With some semblance of DIGNITY!" Ro's voice carried over the open ground and several groups looked over for a moment. Marie for her part just cocked her head to the side and took a good breath, sensing the anger and rage that was spilling from the woman in front of her.
"Really? That what ya wanted Ro? Dignity for a man that's been keepin' ya in the dark fer so long that ya hair turned white."

The slur on her appearance had Ro' moving back a step as Marie geared herself up, opening her arms as she felt the weight of the blades in her body increase. "Ah did what was *necessary* Ro', Ah was *forced* to choose between being a puppet or a person. All that Ah was given from Xavier was lies," Marie opened her bare hands toward Ro' and saw her back off. "See Ro' there's things ya don't know about me, things that only Xavier knew about me an he didn't tell me." Quick as a snake Marie grabbed Ro's cheek with her bare hand and Ro' froze expecting to be drained in an instant. When it didn't happen her eyes went to the pale skinned hand and arm that was still holding her cheek. Mouth opening to speak when Marie beat her to it, "See Ro' he KNEW Ah could control it, that Ah'd work it out eventually, that all it took was someone who'd be willin to help meh. But what did he evah do to help meh?" Her voice thickening as her emotions began to rise in her throat.

"That fucker deserved nothin'! He kept me apart, tol' me Ah'd never be able to touch, never be able to love, never be able to have *kids*, that Ah was a *RISK* to everyone and everythin' at the school." Her eyes glittered dangerously as she pulled herself closer to Ro', letting her skin soak in the thoughts of the woman she'd once called 'friend'. Seeing her thoughts about her, her wildness, the way she'd been sullied by Logan's influence and her unwillingness to see the truth or even admit her part in it all.

Snorting Marie let Ro' go, her fingerprints still visable on her skin, looking at the woman in front of her and realising that she was just as lost as one of the kids. "See Ro' Ah CAN control it, Ah'm not a child anymore, never was if the truth be known. Evah since Logan saved me that day, when Sabertooth took me to be a new *toy*. Ah've been different, been seperate, I was bein forced to choose between Logan and suicide Ro', who the fuck are ya'll to judge me for choosin' life?!" Marie began to force herself closer and closer to Ro' her voice dropping into a rumble as her knuckles itched for release. Finally when she couldn't take it anymore she fired the bone blades into the still air between them seeing Ro's face ashen as she raised them up between them.

"Ah can see what ya think of me Ro' an to honest Ah don't give a fuck, Ah stopped thinking about what ya'll thought the day Ah went after Logan. Ya remember that? The day he went out to *kill* an enemy of Xaviers? All the other times he went out an ya knew where he was goin, come on Ro' admit it, ya knew what he was doin an fer who. Come on Ro' admit it, say it or Ah'll MAKE YA!" Marie raised a claw filled hand toward her, a snarl on her lips. For Ro' everything slowed down as she tried to pull energy toward her but found there wasn't enough after the storm of last night. Helpless Ro' moved backwards, seeing the angry form of Marie plunging a claw filled hand toward her body. It halted millimetres from her skin, piercing the cloth of her clothing but just scraping the darkness of her skin.

Marie's eyes were burning into her own and she could see them burning into her own mind, making her see all the things she'd seen. All the times she'd told Rogue to be careful, all the times she segregated her from everyone else. Every comment about her clothing, about her friendship with Logan, about her lack of care for others around her. Tears rose unbidden in her dark eyes as Marie pulled the claws away, Marie's voice tight and cold as she unwound herself.
"See Ro' Ah'm NOT an animal, neither is Logan. Sabertooth was an animal, he just did what he did for fun, Logan he did all those things for that bastard to keep me alive. Because ya don't think for one second that Xavier wouldn't have given me over to that furry fuck if it'd gotten him what he wanted do ya? Shit Ro' ya were there with Kitty an me! YA SAW IT FER YERSELF!" That shout had everyone looking over at the pair of them, Ro' on her back foot hand at her mouth.

It was the final straw, there was nowhere left to hide from the truth, Xavier had been a manipulator, a killer, a secret tyrant working to build a world where he was in charge, a beneficent leader, a totalitarian who would brook no dissent to his 'order'. Bile hot and bitter filled Ro's mouth, clutching her stomach Ro' pushed past Marie. Her body reacting to the shock of the truth after all her denials were lost, after Marie had made her face what she *knew* to be the truth. That she as well as Jean and Scott had been helping a murderer, Marie didn't smile in her triumph she just stared out at the assembled faces. Her stance telling everyone that she didn't want or need their interference. This wasn't over and she didn't need an audience.

*******************************************

Emma turned back to her clipboard, seeing Marie stood there, her anger burning away like the morning mist. Ro' would have some hard words to understand today but maybe it'd make her a better leader.
Seeing the checklist filling up with kids being helped onto different cars, trucks and vans. They'd be gone by the mid morning, lost on the vast roads out here. She figured they'd have a two day start before the military got into gear. Moving over to the main tent she saw Pieter and Kitty hunched over her laptop, when she entered fully Pieter waved her over. Kitty's head popped up and her eyes were shining brightly, fear showing as she flicked the screen round so Emma could read the news that covered the screen.

'Massacre at Xavier's School for the Gifted a military campaign, evidence tampered with and destroyed. Several New York Crime Scene Investigators missing, evidence being flooded to the internet, photographs, physical human evidence destroyed. See attached link for further details.'
Emma scanned the page then flicked onto the link, a picture of a dark haired man sat in a chair loaded up. Behind him was a sea, the waves slack but the colour was muted, in a calm even tone he gave a report about his findings. What he'd been *told* to omit, that his people had been threatened by the National Security Agency. That even now they would be trying to deny their findings, that there had been three attacks on the School. One was a private force of which there had been one casualty that had been left in the underground section of the school.

The second had been The Brotherhood, then finally the US military, several bullet casings were raised to the screen. The man who was speaking told that there were more than these out there, his people had scattered to the world. That the truth had to come out, that they were no longer comfortable covering up military actions on mutants.

The man put the shells down on his knee, he told the screen that he knew the consequences of his actions, all of his team did. Emma watched as the man smoothed down his shirt and faced the screen head on, his voice filled with fear as he gave his name to finish the report.
"I, Detective Mac Taylor give this report to the world to use and recognise as the evidence that it is. Several pieces of evidence are being sent to foreign labs to be checked and rechecked. My own personal safety isn't important, what is important is that you the world have been lied to. There is a military campaign going on in the United States of America, one that is insidious and terror fuelled. If you choose not to beleive me or my colleagues that is *your* decision and your conscience. The truth is here in black and white it's upto you to see it." The image froze at the end, keeping a picture of Taylor on screen. His face lined and his eyes boring a hole through the screen, whatever he'd found out about the truth it had scarred him.

Emma turned to her people who'd stopped to hear the news, the radio was filled with the report and the others like it that were appearing on the internet. Someone had let the cat out of the bag and now they had to scramble to shut it again.
"GO! MOVE! Get yourselves going, grab what you can, leave what we don't need for the journey!" Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, the fucking humans screwed it up again. Seeing her people running Emma knew she had to change her plans, Logan and his lot would have to go it alone. She couldn't risk revealing her network to the military might that would follow this revelation. Gritting her teeth Emma went to find him.

*****************************************************

Marie waited for Ro' to recover, when she looked half decent again she grabbed Ro's arm and dragged her to the tent she was using. Kurt was just making the bed when they both entered, he was about to leave when Marie stopped him. "Don't, Ah need someone here." Kurt nodded and perched on the end of the bed again as Ro sat down, her face a little peaky and her body shuddering.

Silence reigned for a while, the atmosphere slowly building until Ro' lifted her head to look at Marie, seeing her as she really was. A girl who'd been weaponised, turned into a 'thing' not a human being and she'd been helping it happen. Every time she'd treated her differently she'd added to her misery, every time she'd made her cover up even the smallest piece of skin. Dressed head to foot she'd still made sure that Rogue had been on the outside of the groups she'd led just in case.

In case of what? That her skin could suddenly work through cloth? That she might for some reason bare her skin and purposefully drain someone when she didn't want to hurt herself and those around her. It had been too easy to mark Rogue as the 'bad apple', to see her as too much of a responsibility. It had been easy to let Logan take her friendship, to allow someone who was in himself dangerous look after her.

Only now when her mind was clear, that she was no longer seeing her as the 'thing' Xavier had wanted her to did she see Rogue. The survivor, the woman filled with hope, with love, a person who knew what they were capable 'of' and was comfortable with it. Looking at the woman stood in front of her she saw the similiarities she shared with Logan, her eyes, so full of purpose, clean and clear. Her body honed by hard work not by weights in a plush gym, she looked like she'd survive anything. While she had forgotten more about her own survival than she could remember. When she'd been small she'd seen the women of her village, they had the same look in their eyes that Rogue had now. She'd seen death, even handed it out herself but it was hope she was handing now, hope that Ro' could see past her own faults and get off her knees.

Marie could see a clarity coming into Ro's eyes, as if she'd suddenly found strength from somewhere. Not knowing that Ro' was remembering her mother, the way she'd stood between her and the elders who'd wanted to drive her out of the village. Her mother had stood her ground, taken the blows that had been meant for her, defended her even from her father. Only when she'd been dropped by a blow to her temple had she fallen, her voice telling her to run to the river. To get away, to take a boat, any boat but not to come home, not where she was in danger.

Seeing the same strength in Rogue's gaze Ro' realised what decisions the girl who'd been the pariah had made to change into the warrior that was in front of her. She'd had a hand in her creation, been on the side of those that had left her to die in isolation. Standing up Ro' held out her hand to Rogue, her voice shallow but her words heartfelt. "Thank you," tears were beginning to swim at the edges of her eyes, as they fell Marie gripped the hand she'd been offered. Letting her powers drain the surface of her mind, seeing a woman with dark hair, ebony skinned, white toothed and smiling. The feeling of love filling her as the image flooded her mind, Ro's mother, the strength she showed defending her from those who would hurt her. Cutting the flow of images Marie focussed on the woman who was in front of her, not the X-Man, not the teacher who'd scolded her for baring an arm.

"He deserved worse Ro' an ya know it too." Ororo nodded, the truth finally laying at her doorway and making her choose to stand or fall. She was her mothers daughter and she'd stand, there were others who needed her attention and now they had no governing angel to get them what he wanted, when he wanted it.
Ro' opened her mouth and Marie just put her fingers to her lips, stopping the words. "NO, don't ya dare say it. Maybe when ya've been away fer a while but not now." Marie could see the woman in front of her understand why she'd stopped her saying the two words that would mean nothing right now. Only when Ro'd been living free for a while would she understand how much she'd imprisoned her soul.

Kurt had been silently watching but he turned when Kitty came through the tent flaps. "Ororo, your transports here, the kids are ready to go. We've got to hussle, things have taken a turn for the worse." Every eye was on Kitty as she led the way out to the transport, her voice telling them of the news that was now filling the airwaves.

*************************************************

"WHAT?!" Logan was steaming, his blood pressure had just skyrocketed when Emma told him the news. Some do-gooder twit had just signed their death warrants, the evidence was out now, people knew that they'd survived. Now they'd search for them all, money would grease tongues and keep eyes sharp.

Logan had been packing their stuff up, taking what he thought they'd need, just him and Marie but now Emma was telling him she couldn't risk taking the rest of the adults with her. Ororo was already on her transport heading out of there with Kurt, they'd be going north, then across the ice sheet to Greenland, from there to Iceland and finally Eire before Africa. That left him with Pete, Kitty, Hank, Jubilee and Marie, Emma handed over a piece of printout, an address in Little Fort British Columbia.
"There's a land deed waiting for pick up there, under the name of Fowler. Shouldn't be hard to get a peice of id showing that name for you Logan. The land is in the north of the state somewhere near Fort Nelson, middle of nowhere Logan, perfect to hide in if you can stand the cold."

Emma was expecting him to shout at her, to go into a rage but secretly he was pleased, he didn't want the responsibility of the kids. They were too many for him to deal with, a small group of adults on the other hand...they might make it if they stayed off the radar. A set of keys were thrown at him and he caught them, looking at the design it was one he knew. Emma was smiling at him as she walked away and Logan knew it'd probably be the last time he ever saw her alive again.
"Hey." Emma stopped dead and turned back to look at him, her face half covered by her hair that was blowing in the wind. It had been a risk allowing him and Marie here, she knew what he was capale of and yet she'd not refused him help. Emma narrowed her eyes to the glare of the sun as she looked into the sky.
"Better get your ass in gear Logan, suns almost at midday, your gonna need all the headstart you can get." Her smile lit the air for a moment before she turned away leaving him wishing he'd had the chance to tell her how much he appreciated her help. As his hands felt the keys in his hand a voice of silk wove through his thoughts, gentle and caressing. "I already know Logan, now get your wife out of here before they find us."

Smiling he picked up their stuff and walked back to where Marie had gone to sort out her own world. They'd be moving fast and he hoped the rest of them were packed because as soon as the key in his hand went into that trucks ignition they were gone.

*****************************************************

Marie waved Ro' off, the kids with her already silent as if they knew what lay ahead, a long journey that they might not even make to the end. But they'd try their best and if need be Kurt would do it by transporting them on his back.

Hands wrapped themselves around her middle and squeezed, making her body purr and her face smile, a heavy head dropped against her neck and whispered into her skin. "Ready?"
"Uh-huh sugar, Ah'm always ready." Pushing her rear back into his groin, Emma waved to them from the tent that was now coming down. They'd been here six days, too long for Logan's liking but they'd had no choice. Now they were free to go, Jubes and Hank were laready loading the truck with supplies when Pieter and Kitty arrived. Kitty was lugging a large black case that had been in the tent, Logan took one look and was about to veto it when Kitty spoke.
"Don't bother Logan, this is a necessity, we're going to need power and this will give us it." Her hand slapped the top of it and her face had a look that he'd never seen on it before. "*This* is a portable powerstation, trickle fed solar panels that will work in *any* amount of light ambient or starlight. So unless you fancy me having my baby by firelight I suggest you help me find a spot for this."
Suitably told Logan lifted the weight easily and put it at the bottom of the truck and Pieter loaded food and fuel on top of it. Looking at the big man he whispered to him, "You'd better watch that one, seems like she'd be a little too much trouble to have around." Pieter just snorted and smiled, his satisfied scent filling the air around him. It looked like Pieter would put up with a lot of nagging for what he was getting in return.

Marie was strapping things down also when she caught his eye, her hair was tied up in a plait as she worked and Logan looked at the three women that were now going over the route map with Hank. Hank had his overalls and he did look human if you didn't see his ears, their voices had a lightness to them now. As if movement was all on their minds, the distance between them and the place where Xavier had died wasn't enough for anyone. As soon as the loading was finished Logan got in the driving seat, Marie next to him and Pieter on her other side. Hank was stuck between Jubilee and Kitty, both women were discussing how they'd manage the new baby. And Logan couldn't help but notice the sharp look of jealousy that crept into Marie's face as they set out. She might have killed one enemy but there were still things she had to deal with, same as him.

Turning the truck onto the road they didn't see Emma's hand raise but they did catch her thoughts wishing them luck.

Soon the land was empty, nothing was left behind, only a few wrappers and burnt edges of ground. When everyone had long gone the original residents returned, snuffling through the empty places and flattened ground. Seeing the burrow clear of interference again the wolverine began digging it out. It made a good trap for unwary prey, lost cubs and lonely wolves, he'd even sit in it and ambush what came by if need be. This had been his home before the humans had been here and it's be his long after they'd gone. Digging his sharp claws into the earth he made his home deeper, able to take a family if need be. Females were wandering now and he was going to be sure he snagged at least three this year. Turning his sharp little head to the wind his sensitive nose brought the smell of more humans, their scent mixed with metal and oil. Growling to himself he hid deep in the earth and waited, he had patience, he could wait until they left and if they came too close....well it was in his nature to defend what was his.

'Tomorrow?
I'm still looking at Today.
There's things unfinished here,
An we've a long way to go to sunset.'

**********************************************************

The drive up toward Cochrane wasn't too bad, they made it in just over two hours, the traffic wasn't too bad and they blended right in with the usual flow. The truck was at least eight years old, had a few dents and bangs on it. The back windows were tinted a little so it'd be hard for someone to look in as they passed them. Plus the raised back and chassis told that the truck was a offroader as well as a road car.

The radio was on as the afternoon sun glinted off the rest of the road users alongside them. They didn't speak to each other at first, the journey enough to make them realise exactly what they were leaving behind.
Ro' and Kurt were gone, Jean and Scott were god knows where, the kids were seperated and hopefully on their way to new lives and better futures.

Logan just concentrated on the road, his eyes watching for large vehicles and number plates that were secquential. Something Marie helped with, Pieter held the map and directed, even though Logan had already worked out where they were heading for the evening.
Lunch was a few snacks that were held over from the kids, Jubilee doled out the sweet treats and as she licked her fingers of the stickyness a low rumble came from Hank. Blushing Jubilee elbowed the large man making Logan smirk in front, Marie however thought it was cute and turned to look at the now figeting doctor.

"So Doc, did she get ya?" The question floored Hank and he sat there with his mouth hanging open for a moment as Jubilee just slapped Marie's arm.
"CHICA! Do I ask you about tall and growly over there?"
Marie gave her friend a stare that was all warmth, "Yeah ya do an ya want 'details'." Logans hand tensed up on the wheel and Marie let him off the hook by adding, "Which ya never get. So spill, did ya finally get what ya've been harping on about last time we were on the road?" Kitty was napping next to Hank and he suddenly had a great interest in taking Kitty's pulse. Seeing her new amore get flustered Jubes narrowed her eyes and gave Marie a thin lipped smile.
"Might have been the last, but *yes* for your information I did!" Marie smiled and patted her friends arm and pulled out a packet of pills from her jacket pocket.
"Here, you'll need these then, Ah wasn't sure if ya had any so Ah raided the medical supplies." The birth control pills sat in Jubilees hands, her fingers playing with the packaging.

Jubilee dropped her eyes to the small packets and realised that Marie had been looking out for her, her smile was back and Hank seemed to have regained some of his earlier composure. "Thanks Rogue, but won't you need any?" Jubilee's gaze went through Marie and Jubilee caught the edge of something in Marie's gaze.
"Nope, Logan can scent when Ah'm ovulatin', we just avoid stuff then." The look she shared with Jubilee spoke of many many days of restraint which were suddenly finished when her scent returned to normal. Giving a glance to Hank to see him staring resolutely forward she dug Hank in the ribs, getting him to look at her.
"Can you do that?"
Hank turned his great head toward Jubilee and met the deep gaze of the small woman who at the moment held his heart in her hands.
"Do what Jubilee?"
"Smell me? When I'm ovulating?" Hank looked nervously at the mirror and saw Logan's eyes meet his own. If Logan could sense Rogue's own body chemistry *that* well, then he'd know if he lied. Swallowing his nerves Hank pulled Jubilee's hands into his own and went out on a limb, trusting the closeness they'd shared last night.
"Yes, yes I can." His hands gripped hers; his face open and awaiting the reaction of disgust dropping his eyes as he answered her question.
"Cool!" Jubilee squeezed his furred fingers with her own and handed the pills back to Marie. Seeing her reaction Hank drew his head back up in disbelief, his eyes wide and seeing Jubilee's smile he saw Marie wink at him as she turned back to her own lover. Pecking him on the cheek as she righted herself, Hank glanced at the eyes in the mirror, they too were warm and Hank realised how lucky he'd been. Snuggling upto his overall covered side Jubilee settled herself against him and made to sleep. Her voice sounding out in the cab just before she dropped off, "Never did like taking the damn thing anyway." A small gruff chuckle came from Logan as he concentrated on getting them to Geraldton.

****************************************

In Geraldton, Pieter took over driving duty while Jubilee and Marie went to get something hot to eat. The rest stop was useful for everyone, Hank just barged into a stall and Logan quickly stopped all questions by saying, "Bad chilli, Martha's outskirts of Timmins."
A man who'd been at a urinal just nodded his agreement, as he left he added, "Ya'll want to stay clear of The Red House then, other side of Hearst, cook there don't know what a grease trap is never mind how to clean it."
Logan nodded his assent back, truckers were always handing out advice about where to eat and what routes were good for the various home comforts they needed.

Soon they were loaded up for a nights driving, the spare tanks were checked, a new one added filled to the brim. Pieter took the now reloaded truck back out onto the road, Logan in the back with Hank and Kitty, Jubilee and Marie together with the food. Sandwiches that were more meat than Hank had seen before were handed over, still hot from the griddle. Steak, red and rare was stuffed between what looked like a loaf of bread along with a full salad bowl. Logan just tore into his, Kitty's eyes wide as she accepted her boxed salmon salad. Marie and Jubilee went for a folded pizza each, Pieter took bites from what looked like a kebab made from spiced chicken. His too was huge and Hank had to ask where they got it from, Marie her mouth filled with food just tapped the side of her head and turned back round. Looking at everyone for an answer he found it when Logan swallowed his mouthful.
"Mary's Diner, two blocks from where we stopped. Best food in the city limits." Seeing Marie and Jubilee put a thumbs up from the front seat Hank just took a bite. The meat broke into tiny pieces as he chewed, perfect, soft buttery flesh just this side of cooked. Held counterpoint with the fresh salad that was stuffed with it, Hank was about to comment when he saw Logan's own. No salad was present, just meat, most of it looking raw and barely seared. A dribble of blood ran down Logan's hand and he chased it with his tongue, his eyes glinting amber for a second before Hank tore his gaze away. Food was food but to some it was more than that, to some it was hunting as well.

*********************************************

They went North along the smaller roads until there was no longer tarmac under the wheels just dirt. Checking the map constantly Jubilee guided them toward Landsdown House, the small community out in the wilderness of Ontario. Even then they had more miles to cover that night, overland in the dark, travelling over ground that might be fenced and patrolled by someone.

The tiny lights of Landsdown House came and went, Kitty was shifted forward her face resting against her lovers neck. Marie and Jubilee were discussing something in whispers that Logan could hear but was shutting out for now. If it was important he'd know sooner or later, a few moments later Pieter put the truck into nuetral as he popped the door to refill the tank. They'd made a good distance today but they were still too close to the large centers of civilisation for either Marie or Logan's tastes.

Marie followed Pieter out of the truck and stretched her body, Jubes followed suit and soon everyone was out of the truck. Moving muscles that had been inert all day, getting rid of kinks in backs and knees. The sky was clear up here, the starlight beautiful the dark blue of the night matching the fur of Hank. Jubes went over and hugged his large shape to her, Hank still unused to the touch of someone had to remember to hold her. Marie just leaned against Logan's shoulder as Kitty and Pieter filled the tank. Seeing Logan relax a little more every mile they put between them and the US border Marie nudged his shoulder, getting his dark gaze to land on her.
"Think we'll make it?" Pulling his hands out of his pockets Logan dragged Marie over to his grip, making her stand inbetween his legs. Gripping her ass with both hands and pulling her into his groin, the more remote they got the happier Logan seemed to be. Seeing his face take in her joy at being so close and being so loved he whispered into her ear. "We'll do okay, if we can get to Fort McMurray in Alberta without gettin a tail or into trouble we'll be fine. Some of the way is goin to be hard, overland an we'll have to go slow as well. A couple of days of sleepin in the truck an two people awake, one drivin' one watchin for wildlife."
"Wildlife?"
"Wildlife, moose and bison don't stand still ya know, this far north we've gotta be aware of caribou as well. The truck'll take one or two hits but we don't want to throw a wheel out here." Marie saw the sense of his words and pulled herself closer grinding her hips down into Logan's grip on her.
"Think they'll miss us for a few minutes?" Logan quickly looked around at their companions, Jubes was already making headway with Hank and of Pieter and Kitty there was no sign but the sounds coming from the back of the truck were enough of a hint.
"Nope, seems like it's a favourite idea," smiling Logan picked Marie up and walked out into the darkness a light laughter coming from Marie all that told of their direction.

**************************************************

Big Trout Lake was breathtakiing at dawn, Hank had just finished his shift of driving, his eyesight a godsend along with Logan's senses. They'd avoided a few elk, made a few new gaps in fences that were rusted and old but their path so far had been without incident. The girls were awake now and Logan made his demands for a decent breakfast were soon seconded by Pieter. Kitty just stood there hands on hips and looked daggers at Pieter, her voice cutting as she gave them both short shrift.
"What, just because we're women you expect us to cook?" Logan just carried on getting himself comfortable in the back seat along with Pieter, when she didn't move he opened one eye and struck her with a narrowed slitted gaze.
"When ya can see fifty feet in the pitch black, smell a bear half a mile away an keep this jallopy from stallin in a river, ya can swap places with me. Till then you're on breakfast duty." Marie stifled a laugh but Jubilee just let hers rip colouring the air of the Lakeside. Hank clambered in next to Logan and soon both were fast asleep, Kitty was still bitching when she doled out the food. Jubes finally took her hand and pulled her to the track they'd come down to the lake. Making her walk back up the small ridge to the top, when they got there she just showed her what they'd brought them through in the night.

There was no road, only their tracks through the long grass plain, the width of the wheel base showing in the cool wind that was blowing over the land. Their tracks were in the distance running over the landscape, several ravines and closed canyons were there. Jubes just turned to Kitty her face still smiling but the message in her eyes enough to shame Kitty into silence. "They did *this* in the *dark* Kit-Kat, pitch dark an I should know I woke up for the last hour of it. You should be thankful we've even go *this* far."

It was as if someone had finally told her what they'd been running from and her hands went to her baby, cradling it as she turned back to see everyone else eating apart from Logan. He was just watching them both, ever vigilant, ever caring, his body ready to run over if they needed him. Not settled again until they were back in range, finally sitting on the ground and feeding his hunger.

When they set off again, Kitty put a blanket under both Hank's and Logan's heads as she sat between them both. Her hands touching both men as they protected her in their sleep. Jubilee was driving now, her face solid and her features set, Marie was on map duty as they went across the border to Gilliam, Manitoba. The landscape changed again to old growth forest and they caught another dirt road to Thompson.

The small town had nothing to offer them and they went through at a decent pace, never giving the police need to stop them, even though the news was filled with the ruckus that had been caused by the report on the internet. It had been joined by three others, all from the same New York CSI team, they all had stories to tell and by the sounds of it they'd been covering things for months. Marie woke Logan to eat lunch which was a quick greasy burger from a Wendy's. Throwing the food down his neck Logan took over the driving, he didn't take risks but his movements were abrupt as they flew through Manitoba, passing Lynn Lake before running out of highway again, fifteen miles outside it.

Yet this time there was an obsticle between them and the new path they needed to get onto, a wire fence, twenty feet high with a warning marker posted every hundred feet. Department of Agriculuture it said but everyone knew in their bones it was anything but. They had a choice to make, they either went through and risked it or they went south and risked being captured by someone who'd gone for the bounty being offered for US mutants. Logan looked at the fence, checking for wires, vibrational sensors, anything that would alert someone watching the fence. An elk on the other side snorted at him and took off, his strong stride leading him further north and Logan seeing him run played to a hunch.

They were at least fifty miles out of their way but Logan's hunch had paid dividends, there was an animal gate. Migrations passed through here and as such they needed an escape route, hence the gap. Problem was that the gap was only wide enough for two elk to pass side by side, if they wanted to get through they'd have to wreck the fence. There was a way but he'd have to ask Kitty to risk everything to do it. Looking at the concerned faces around him he saw Hank work out the same thing he had and the large doctor didn't look happy about the prospect.

"NO!" Pieter was angry, livid, his skin coloured bright red by the blood that was coursing through his skin. "You heard Dr McCoy, she could lose the baby! NO! I FORBID IT!" Kitty was restraining him as best she could, Logan had just laid out the options to them all, Marie and Jubilee knew the risks but the outcome wasn't set solid. Kitty herself was trying to reach her lover, her small hands being gripped by Pieters larger ones. Hank's voice finally made it through to the larger man as he scanned the faces of those around him, those willing to risk his unborn childs life.
"It's not just your decision Pieter." Those simple words took all the wind out of his sails and he looked at the face of his childs mother. The baby might have been concieved in the worst possible way but he loved it just as if it had been a perfect union.
"Katya? Please..." his eyes begged her not to risk their child but her mind was made up. Logan, Storm, Jubilee, Marie, Bobby and Hank had risked their lives so they could run with the kids. They'd held the line so they could get away, hundreds had died and they'd run, this was her choice, her little gift she could use to get them through the fence and clear. Her voice was shaky but she wiped her tears away and stood in front of her lover, resolute in her decision.
"I *have* to Pieter, it's the only way." When he saw her mind had been set he let her hands go, she turned to look at Logan who was waiting next to the truck. Shaking slightly her hand resting on her stomach she took a couple of steps toward him. "Okay, what do you want me to do?"

'Who's to say who the real heroes are?
Those who struggle with the world,
Or those who continue day after day
Even when they know the world will kill them eventually?'

**********************************************************

The plan was stupidly simple, now unloaded the truck was easily pushed by everyone, Kitty was sat in the driving seat her hands on the wheel. Pieter was waiting on the other side of the fence to stop the truck in it's tracks as soon as she got it through the fence.

Kitty had her hands on her stomach as the rest of them went behind the truck, her mind going back to the face of Bobby as he'd said goodbye yesterday. He was joining Emma's organisation, he could pass as human and his skills wouldn't be out of place in the north. He'd be an asset for her and he'd wished Kitty and Pieter well, but he'd been distant ever since they'd gotten to the camp site. As if he'd been pulling away since he'd killed soliders on the lawn of Xaviers, he couldn't pretend to be human to her anymore. He was Iceman and his eyes had been as cold as his name.

Shuddering Kitty gripped the wheel and nodded into the mirror, as the truck began to move her voice sounded in the space. Her voice saying a Yiddish prayer she'd heard as a child, to keep the young safe and for the Angel of Death to keep flying away. Closing her eyes for a moment as she concentrated on the mass she was trying to shift.

As the truck gained momentum Logan saw Kitty nodding, pulling his hands away was the signal for everyone else to drop their touch. The truck went toward the fence ever faster, Pieter was braced on the other side his feet spread wide and a look of utter betrayal on his face. Logan caught Jubilee's whispered words as she approached the fence, "Come on Kitty, concentrate, concentrate." Logan watched expecting the truck to smash into the solid barrier but the entire thing sailed through the barrier as if it were smoke.

Logan, Jubilee, Hank and Marie set off running through the gaps that were solid to them, Pieter still had to catch her. Hank put on a burst of speed his voice carrying over the trucks bumpy ride, "Catch her! I'll be there in a second!" Hank lept over the truck, his muscles bunching before he sprung out and over the length of the truck to land a few feet ahead of it. Turning his shoulder to the oncoming truck, bracing with Pieter who's face was set soild in stone.

They caught the truck, guiding it to a juddering stop, Marie was with Jubilee as they ran to see if Kitty was okay, Logan stood back. His face locked onto the cab as his senses picked up what the others would soon find out.

Pieter was first, his strained voice crying out as he tried to pull Kitty from the truck. Hank was trying to restrain him but eventually Marie put him down, her face turning to see Logan watching them all. Shadows filling his face as he turned to get the stuff they needed to fill the back of the truck.

*************************************************

Stable.

It was the word they all clung to, Pieter was in the flat bed at the back, his massive form being looked over by Logan. Kitty was laid in the back with Hank while Marie drove, Hank listened to her heartbeat, tested her blood pressure and checked on the small lump of flesh that was growing inside her. Hank was tight lipped but the forest road they were using was clear of anything that might be considered difficult. They stopped twice, once to refuel, the other to eat and do what they had to. Logan took nothing for himself and Marie had to force him to eat something.

Pieter woke just as night was falling, he woke to see Logan looking at him, eyes dark and body tense. Logan didn't sugar coat it, he just told him how it was.
"She's stable, babies fine, she's exhausted accordin' to Hank. It just took a lot out of her, she should be fine as long as she gets rest."
The dark forest around them was deepening in shadows and Logan caught the scent of anger rising in the air between the two of them. Dropping closer to Pieter Logan let him see who he was talking to, the darkness shining out of his gaze the deeper they went into the forest. Still weak after his encounter with Marie Logan put his hand on the still recumberant Pieter, meeting his anger fuelled gaze and showing him what he'd be dealing with. Low and hardly moving his lips Logan hissed through his teeth to the man under him.
"You wanna see your kid alive, get over it. I'm the last person ya wanna piss off right now, understand?"

Pieter looked deep into the gaze that was burning into his own, the darkness that had been there when he'd killed Xavier was there in Logan's face. When Pieter looked through the window he saw Hanks face smile thinly at him as well as Marie's concerned gaze. Shuffling up Pieter let his strength return to him slowly after being knocked unconcious.

As the light faded out of the world Logan took on a more animal appearance, his face darkened, his movements became more fluid. His breathing deeper as if he were taking in the whole forest with each breath. He stood quickly just before they went round the bend to the lake, hands spread out on the roof. A slight smile on his lips as it lay out before them, what was left of the light being reflected from the mirror surface of the water.

Marie felt Logan's movement, she could hear his blood pounding in her ears. She slowed the truck on the road and Logan dived off the back, his boots being tossed onto the road as well as his clothing. In the headlights Jubilee, Hank and Marie watched as he ran headlong into the forest naked, the eyeshine that had caught the headlights telling them all that Logan was no longer the man they thought he was. Jubilee turned to Marie who's eyes hadn't left the patch of woodland he'd run into, she could hear his progress still over the ticking engine. Popping the door she went out and picked up his stuff, shaking the dirt from them she climbed back in and drove them to the waters edge. Jubilee's face filled with questions she just said, "Not now Jubes, please, not now." There were unanswered questions, unwanted thoughts and several strange ideas that needed clarification. They'd get them but Marie knew she'd have to go into the forest later, Wolverine needed space, there was only so much he could take before he snapped and now he was free of Xavier.....

****************************************

Freedom.....

Cool air on heated skin....

Tracking deer, their scent only a few hours old, several young, females and two bucks, one not yet old enough to challenge for mating. Racing into the dark Wolverine kept silent, his nose picking up the information all around him. Even the scent of distant lake water where a fire was burning in the darkness, turning his back on the wind Wolverine went after fresh meat.

*****************************************

"Why did he do that?" Hank was the first to broach the questions when Pieter was finally with a sluggish but aware Kitty. Marie looked up at the huge doctor, his face showing curiosity not scorn, sighing Marie kept her emotions in check as she looked past the small fire and out to the wilderness all around them.
"Because we took him too far, we pushed him where he didn't want to go."

It was Jubes turn to interrogate her now, "What?"
Marie turned her gaze to look at her friend, seeing her as she was, a woman out of her element, needing answers to keep her sanity.
"Logan didn't want Kitty to do it but there was no other way, did you think he wanted her to risk everything? To lose the baby? We're not on Dept of Agriculuture land Jubes, we're on a military place here, who would you prefer him to be right now? Logan or Wolverine?"

It sank into her mind what he was doing, Wolverine was hunting for signs of other humans, living humans who smelled of gun oil and metal. Eyes a little wider she huddled closer to Hank who put his large arm around her giving her the comfort she sought.
"Will he be alright?" Marie looked at Jubilee her face showing concern for Logan, Marie for her own mind kept silent. It wasn't Logan she was worried about, it was them, if he ran across someone he'd handle it but they found them all here....

She made herself take first watch as Hank and Jubilee clambered back inside the truck, keeping the fire small Marie kept her back to the water. If an attack came it'd come from the treeline or the road they'd used to get down here. Marie waited for Logan to return, when he did she'd be talking to him before anyone else even approached him. Her own arms feeling heavy she crossed them over he chest and waited for him to return.

***************************************************

There were several feeding stations out here, grain had been poured in a circular area, deer were feeding here settled and calm. There were scents of humans, men mainly, trucks and grease, but his eye was locked onto a young deer. She was this years young, just enough to feed the group he had waiting back at the lake, moving slowly he crept around the herd. Breathing steady, his feet silent on the ground, finding their way by touch and it was that that alerted him to the strangeness. Risking a glance down his foot was feeling metal under the leaf litter. Moving his foot side to side he uncovered the base plate of something, turning slow his eyes looked for the anamoly. Finding it ten feet away, a mast with a very odd looking top to it, wracking his brain to figure out what it was when the deer froze. Everything was still, the night held it's breath as something passed overhead. Heat, sudden and unwanted flashed through the air, the trees around him groaning as moisture was forced out of the fibres. There were several thuds as the deer hit the ground, his own skin blistered for a moment before healing again. As soon as the sensation had come it passed again, as soon as it was safe to move he did so, going over to the place where the deer had been feeding.

Two of them were still alive, being caught glancing blows by whatever had been flying overhead. The rest were dried out, as if they'd been put into a freeze dryer, perfect except for their coats. Stuck up and brittle, his fingers touch on their once glossy coats shattering the now brittle fibres. The bleating of the young drew his attention to them, turning his back on the carnage Logan gave them the peace they deserved. Stripped and ready to leave he set off back to the water, the sooner they were out of here the better.

******************************************************

Marie was dozing, feeding the small fire enough to keep it going but not overly visable if you didn't come round the truck. Logan's appearance made her sit up quickly, throwing the meat at her feet he went direct to the water. Blood covered his skin but there was something else that was making him move so quickly. As she jointed the meat using her claws, taking the meat from the small carcasses Logan walked back his skin glistening with lake water.
"Any meat that looks dried out burn it." Marie looked up from her work to see Logan's face, there was a hurried hunted look to his face as he dressed again. Quick Marie looked through the meat, there were only a few pieces that looked 'odd' and she did as she was told and burnt them. Taking the rest of the red meat she emptied it into a container that had held food earlier. They'd cook it later that day and stew the rest, Logan took her arm and pulled her up.
His voice was quick and quiet, body tense and almost frightened, "Get behind the wheel, get us out of here, go along the lake shore for a mile then go right onto the road we came off. Hopefully we'll reach the other side soon enough." Before he let her go Marie reached up to touch his skin, brushing her fingers over the darkened skin she saw the things he'd encountered. The feel of heat, the blowback of engines and the death of the deer. It was enough to get her moving, Logan took the back while she squeezed in to drive. Kicking the fire out before they left the only sign they'd been there were a few half cooked pieces of meat that by morning would be gone.

*********************************************************

Hank woke to see Marie driving them through open tundra, water and sedge were all around, she was avoiding the water by going in a zig-zag pattern. Small lakes dotted the area by the looks of things and Hank looked over at Marie. Her eyes were red raw and her hands were stuck at ten to two, feet movig by themselves as she navigated through the waterworld around them. Picking up the map from the dashboard Hank saw their course and began helping. When his bladder began to ache he asked if they could stop, Marie only shook her head and passed him an empty water bottle. Taking it in hand he quickly used it by turning his back to her, the sound waking Jubilee who was resting against the other door.

"EWWWWWW!!! HANK!" Shocked she woke up to see Marie driving, Logan stood in the back of the truck and Kitty curled around a still sleeping Pieter. Hank quickly sealed the water bottle and put it on the floor of the cab. Jubilee stretched and unkinked her spine, seeing the vast open spaces filled with water all around made her own bladder remember that it was full and her hand reached for the door handle. She was about to open it when Hank dragged it shut again.
"Not now Jubilee." Hank looked serious and she felt a little hard done to, last night it had been Rogue who'd told her to shut up and now it was Hank as well.
"Why not, I *need* to pee!" Marie spoke as they covered the ground around the water filled area.
"Because we're not safe here Jubes, Logan found something bad and we need to keep goin'. Trust me ya don't wanna know what he found, just be glad you're not a prune."
It shut her up but when Pieter and Kitty woke up they both needed to stop soon, Marie waved out of the window and Logan crawled over the roof to poke his head through the window.

"We need ta stop for a few minutes, toilet break." Logan grunted in approval and Marie just slowed the engine to a gentle stop. Doors opened and Logan got down off the back, pulling Marie out from the driving seat he held her. Letting her feel that he was with her again, that last night had been needed but he was back with her again. Soon everyone was back, Hank was given driving duty with Jubes and Pieter. Marie and Logan curled up next to Kitty, Logan's head resting in Kitty's lap. Marie's head resting on Logan's shoulder, they slept while they drove through the morning. By the afternoon they were out of the fenced area and by evening they had left Saskatchewan.

****************************************************

Fort McMurray was a bustling town, a huge oil refinery was dominating the skyline as they drove into town, Hank was hiding under a blanket as they passed through. The place was filled with a mixture of humans and mutants, yet they still didn't feel safe enough to even think about stopping.

Only when they were outside the city limits did they stop and then it was only for a quickly cooked meal of deer meat and bread. The journey was taking its toll on Kitty as well as Jubilee, they were beginning to look more than a little dishevelled. And it was Marie who spoke what everyone had been wishing for, "Logan do ya think it'd be safe if we took a night's rest at a cabin on the highway?" Logan let them finish eating before answering, his eyes taking in their tired forms and bodies. They all needed a decent sleep in a bed, only Marie seemed to be coping but then she'd spent an entire winter getting used to roughing it. Weighing up the risks Logan let his eyes travel over their faces, seeing Kitty's worn face did it though. Not that he'd admit it to anyone but she'd scared him, the way she'd just flopped in the cab after she'd gotten them through the fence. He owed her a night in a bed for that.
"Okay but I'll pick the place and you do as I say okay?" Everyone nodded suddenly spirits that had been flagging were raised again, Logan let Pieter drive again this time with Kitty and Jubes up front. Hank, Logan and Marie were in the back making plans and sorting through the maps. Logan had an idea about making their journey easier but it'd be a risk for those who took the journey he was proposing but it'd get them to the goal faster.

*******************************************************

High Level lay five miles away and the roadside motel was pretty comfortable by the looks of it, the small cabins looked homely and Kitty went with Marie to get one. Giving over false driving licenses and addresses, they quickly grabbed the key and drove the truck over to where the rest were waiting in the darkness. Quickly getting on board they drove to the largish cabin and let themselves in.

Bare stripped floors, a decent fireplace already stacked with wood waited for a match. Two sofa's with plump cushions, two bedrooms, a small kitchen diner and a wooden vaulted roof. One door in and out, back windows were double glazed and looked out onto forest. Logan looked satisfied and just went back outside for a moment, everyone else was busy doing something. Hank was making coffee, Pieter was lighting the fire while Kitty turned down the beds and Jubes went straight for the bathroom. Marie on the other hand went to see what was wrong with Logan.

Wrapping her hands around his middle she felt him relax as she held him from behind, a cigar from his stash clutched in his fingers. Unlit he chewed on the end of it, his breathing telling Marie how much he needed a break too. At least for a couple of hours they could feel 'normal' again, after everything they'd been through they needed this time off the road.
"Ah know ya think ya don't need this Logan but ya do, we both do." He turned her in his grip so she was now facing him, his hand taking the cigar out of his mouth and dropping to kiss her lips.

She melted into his arms, her fingers losing themselves in the tight muscle she found under her pads. When he backed her against the door it just slammed open almost taking them to the floor. Logan didn't care, he just picked her up with both hands while Marie kept her grip on his mouth. They took a bedroom leaving Hank and Pieter looking at each other, knowing that sleep would be hard in coming if Logan and Rogue were taking a bed. Although that in itself wasn't such a bad thing, it meant that they too had a chance with their loved ones. The noises that would be coming from Logan and Rogue were often enough to make the rest of them a little 'frisky'.

It was Pieter who moved first, getting up from the fireplace he just walked casually toward the bedroom Kitty was in and closed the door. Leaving Hank with the large room and two soft sofas, when Jubilee finally made it out of the bathroom Hank had the main lights down and the sofa's pushed together to make a sort of sleigh bed. He was waiting for her, resting naked in the firelight, turning to see her he smiled as she blushed stood in a towel. Holding out a paw he let her walk over to him before scooping her into the bed he'd made for them both.

The comfort wouldn't last forever but while they had it they'd enjoy it all. And if the noises coming from Logan and Rogue were anything to go by they wouldn't be the only ones.

'Are you sure this is the way?
The metal tracks that glitter in frost,
Are you sure this is the way home?
I'm so lost I cannot even see my feet.'

**********************************************************

Next morning found the truck already waiting and purring for them when Marie and Logan surfaced at ten am, breakfast was already being cleared away in the small kitchen. Sweet rolls, bacon, eggs, strong coffee and hot chocolate was quickly shoved into their hands on warmed plates. The smell of roasting deer meat filled the rest of the kitchen as Hank seared the what was left of it. His large face smiling as he saw their gaze drop to his hands that were quickly arranging the meat into layers on crusty rolls.
"Picnic food, pressed cold deer and salad," it smelled good already and Logan had to restrain himself from just plucking his snadwich from the pile.

Everyone looked so much better, even Kitty looked like she had some colour in her face now. Jubilee was handing her a packet of ginger cookies which Kitty ripped into and began sucking on the sweet treat. Chirpy wasn't in it when she slapped Logan on the back making him spill some of his coffee onto his now empty plate.
"Come on slow pokes, I'm driving this shift we should reach Rainbow Lake in a few hours if we get going now." Marie made for the bathroom and used it, coming out with the towels and soap that had been in the bathroom. Jubilee looked at her as if she were doing something wrong, it was only when Marie put them in her bag did she answer the look she was getting from everyone but Logan.
"Trace evidence, leave nothing ya don't want your fingerprints on."

There was a sudden flurry of movement as everyone suddenly began to clean, Kitty returned with bleach and swabbed every surface she could get to and poured a good amount in the bath and dumped everyones sheets into the bath, leaving when they were thoroughly soaked through. Wiping her hands on her jeans Kitty hugged Pieter and the big man smiled warmly as he took the bleach bottle from her.

Soon High Level was a memory and before they hit the tiny town of Rainbow Lake he set out his plan to them all. Not everyone was happy about it but it did make sense not to risk everything on a risky situation. They waited until lunch before they discussed the plan, each of them letting the news got through them. It would mean seperating them, breaking up their group and it was a risk parts of them didn't want to attempt but if it worked.....

*****************************************************

"Right, I want Pieter to take the rest of you to Fort Nelson by rail, me and Hank here'll go after the deeds." He took a huge bite out of his food and chewed with obvious pleasure, the words he used were sparse but there was another reason for him taking Hank with him. Hank was an obvious mutant and as such he caused the biggest danger to the group. Marie was quiet until she nudged Logan and saw his gaze drop onto Kitty, Marie raised her head to look at Kitty who was munching quietly on her own salad filled sandwich.
"Make sure she eats better Marie, she needs the meat." Seeing Logan's concern riding high in his gaze he looked deep into her eyes his fingers brushing her skin as he whispered to her so that she was the only one who heard him. "Keep them *safe* Marie, hide if need be. Don't risk anything." The slight movement of her head told him she understood him, she could survive and she would make sure that the rest of them did as well. She'd do as she was told, they'd get themselves up to Fort Nelson when they reached Clearwater. Taking a route that no-one who had a car would ever take in late summer, they'd look like tourists, just out for a jaunt along the line before flying home.

"You'll need money." Logan looked around the rest of them and knew their funds were nearly gone as were his own. What they'd had had been used up getting this far, Marie looked through him and she shook her head at him as she wiped her hands clean of crumbs.
"No, you're not goin' out to get beaten to a pulp. We'll do it on our own." Logan was about to argue when he caught the flash of his own anger seething under the surface of her gaze. Smirking he pulled her into a kiss and everyone had the sense to look away for a moment.
"K' you win."

When they set off again, Kitty was in the front seat, chewing on a ginger biscuit with Jubilee and Marie next to her. They were discussing plans to get money, Kitty was trying to convince them not to rob anywhere and get themselves noticed. It was Kitty herself who actually came up with the suggestion that she could just steal the tickets if someone distracted the ticket office staff. A few minutes later they had a workable plan and Logan knew they'd make it okay to Fort Neslon. Turning his own attention to Hank and Pieter Logan began making his own plans.

************************************************

Rainbow Lake was a memory of a small town that passed in less than thrity seconds, on their way to Clearwater they passed into British Columbia. The ground changed again into old growth forest and the terrain took on a mountainous feel again. Clearwater had a rail station and a decent amount of what looked like tourists passing through, pulling up as evening was beginning to fall. Logan got the women ready to leave, pulling their packs off the truck he handed them out, Jubilee was saying her own goodbye to Hank in the back seat of the truck. Kitty looked at Logan and she suddenly rushed at him, gripping him tight to her. Salt suddenly filling his nose as she sniffled into his shirt, Pieter was stood next to Marie as he gently put his arm around Kitty. Letting himself breathe as she let him go, she didn't look up at him she just went into the station. Marie didn't even look as Jubilee stepped out of the truck looking a little dishevelled. Jubes just took Peiters arm and their packs and walked without looking back.

This hurt, knowing he was making her leave, making her take care of Kitty when she wanted to be with *him*. Whimpers left her throat and he caught them, moving fast he caught her as she leapt at him. Wrapping her legs around his waist she didn't care if someone saw them right now. She needed this from him as much as he needed her to do it. Whispering into his skin and his lips before kissing him long and deep, "Ya better come to me Logan, cos before this years out Ah want t' be like Kitty bck there." Her words made his heart swell and he pulled her into his groin, grinding her against him, making his body fill with her scent of want and need.

It was only Hank opening the window that made him release her, they had to get going, they had documents to get. Once they had them, they were free and clear, the land would be theirs and then life would be better. Marie walked backward until she had to turn, her eyes had been locked onto his and he hadn't blinked or looked away once. He didn't want it to go this way either but they had no choice, Hank was a danger to them all until they were out in the wilderness. Taking him along with him he'd be better equipped to deal with things, seeing Marie go inside the station he finally turned and got back into the truck. Turning the engine over he pulled out of the station and set their goal for Fort Nelson, if they kept going they'd be there by lunchtime.

Marie watched the pair of them drive away as Jubilee began her distraction and Kitty slid into the ticket office. Re-appearing a few moments later with a handful of money, quickly counting it they had about fifteen thousand. Marie bought four singles to Fort Nelson on the evening train, they'd be leaving in thrity minutes to arrive in Fort Nelson at six in the evening. It was only going to be a night away from each other but she had a bad feeling about it. One she hoped she'd be able to shake the nearer they got to their goal.

****************************************************

Hank moved to the front to take over as Logan got some rest, they'd driven all night while he'd been sleeping in the back. Nothing had interrupted their route, the way had been clear so far as he'd been aware but now they were coming up on the outskirts Hank pulled over and woke Logan.
"Logan, Logan we're nearly here. Do you still want me to drive or would you prefer if I hid in the back?" Logans eyes widened as the light narrowed his pupils back to normal. They were a disturbing shade of amber this morning and Hank felt his own rumble leave his throat as he caught the undercurrent in Logan's scent. They were two alpha males, both powerful and strong, obviously they'd be the undercurrent of powerstruggles between them. Hank moved away first and slid out of the passenger side door and into the vacated back seat. Wrapping the still warm balnket around his shoulders and hunkering down Hank let Logan drive them to the place they needed to be.

Emma had given him the impression of the place he needed, a post office box within a group of others. There was usually a person who oversaw the boxes but if he waited they'red be others who used the place. He had his own set of 'keys' and he'd have to spring the lock but it wasn't something he hadn't done before. Hank was watching he roadway from his blanket covered seat in the back, as soon as the place got busy Logan left the truck.

Jubilee was stretching out her body, the luggage was sat on the platform along with Pieter and Kitty, Marie was stood watching a group of men up from them. Her body tense and her hands bunched into fists, Jubilee went over to touch her shoulder and came face to face with a harpy like gaze.
"Geez woman, pms much!" The light tone made her lose a little agitation but not much, Marie kept one eye on the group as she turned to pick up her stuff. Speaking out of the corner of her mouth she met Jubilee's quick eyes.
"Yeah maybe, but they stink of blood Jubes, an Ah don't mean deer." Jubilee snapped her eyes to the men and looked at their shoes, her breath snorting through her pursed lips.
"G.I Joe's, look at the footwear." Marie did as she was asked, their shoes shone like stars in the night and she looked back at Jubes, her friends face quirking as she smiled as she hefted her bags. "They just don't get it do they, the mall cops undercover never knew how I knew who they were either." Plastering a fake smile on her face she dragged Marie away from the soldiers who were there for a reason, one she hoped wouldn't involve them anytime soon.

**************************************************

Logan stepped up to the box, his hand on the opposite side of the lock to hide what he about to do. A small amount of claw surfaced and he shredded the lock, pulling it out of the housing. Opening the now broken box he grabbed the documents that were waiting for him, slamming the thing shut he hoped the lock would look okay until someone tried to open it tomorrow. Keeping his back to the rest of the room he just shouldered through the doorway got into the truck and turned the key. Documents in hand he threw them into the back seat where Hank sat up and opened the envelope. A map, set of keys and deed title dropped into his large grip. Handing the map over to Logan Hank pocketed the keys and replaced the deed in it's envelope.

Weaving across the traffic Logan got his bearings and looked for the railtracks, seeing them he followed them into the centre of town. The small station already disgorging travellers into the honey coloured light that was falling as the sun began to dip below the mountains.

Peiter was the first thing he saw, his head above everyone elses, then Marie and Kitty finally Jubilee who was arguing with her bags. Seeing them all Logan breathed a sigh of relief, but the look in Marie's eyes told him to stay still. His hands gripped the wheel of the truck and he soon saw the reason why, seven soldiers walked out of the station. Straight into the arms of their waiting families, words about Afghanistan and Iraq filled the air around them. As soon as they walked away Marie approached the truck, her face showing her relief. Throwing their things into the back everyone got in again, Marie taking the seat next to Logan. Her voice trembling a little as she spoke to him, "Ah thought for a moment...." Hanks hand came over the back fo the seat and held her shoulder as she leant into Logan. The deep rich timbre of his voice settling her a little.
"Not everyone knows about us Rogue, theres other conflicts happening in the world, things that have nothing to do with us." Marie knew he was telling the truth but she still didn't feel safe here in a urban setting.

As if reading her mind Logan fired the engine and threw the map at Jubilee to read. "Get us home firework." Jubilee grinned at him her voice filled with happiness as her eyes scanned the paper in her hands.
"Sure thing Wolvster!"

He let it slide, she'd gotten Marie back to him safely, he owed her a little slack here an there. Logan pulled back out of the station following Jubilees instructions, passing the post office where a confused employee was wondering how someone had vandelised one of the boxes while he was there.

'Is it over?
Are we home?
Yes my love we are home,
But there are still battles to fight....'

**********************************************************

Fort Nelson soon receeded into the evening light as they made their way north. Jubilee read the map Logan had given her by the dashboard light, Marie was still hugging Logans shoulder. When night fell Logan stopped the truck, there was no point in going any further in the darkness, the trees were still with them and would be for a few more miles yet.

Pulling off road Logan put the truck under a large pine, it's branches rubbing on the roof and covering the back of the truck. Jubilee popped her door open and soon everyone was outside, Marie got to work with Jubilee and Kitty. Hank, Pieter and Logan covered their tracks, brushing out any sign of their stopping. The truck was hidden from sight soon enough and the small need fire Marie had made was enough to cook with and keep the autumn chill out of their bones.

The air of their final camp seemed relaxed as if they'd done the worst part already, Hank was relaxed with Jubilee on his lap. Peiter was sat with Kitty resting on his shoulder, Marie was stirring something in the pot while Logan lounged as if he'd made his home here. It was Hank who broke the easy silence, his bass rumbling through their thoughts as he put the practicalities in front of them all.

"Do we know exactly what is up there at the end of this tarmac rainbow?" Jubilee smiled and shook her head at Hank who turned his gaze toward her as she chewed a piece of dried apple.
"The road runs out about ten miles ahead of us, then it's all trial from there, looks pretty inaccessable an we'll have to carry supplies." Hank fished the keys from his pocket and let the small amount of firelight hit their surfaces.
"Well we have keys, so that means a door of some kind attached to a building. So we might have a place to stay while we figure out exactly what else we're going to need up here." Hank looked over at Logan who's gaze was locked on the flames, his hand stroking Marie's back as she doled out what was left of the stew from yesterday.

Marie answered that query herself as she passed the bowls around, her voice steady but filled with humour. "Well Ah know one thing, you're gonna have to get used to an out door toilet for one." Kitty didn't seem phased at all, Jubes was the one who looked upset at the thought of it. Seeing their faces Marie carried on as she tucked into her own food.
"That's not all, girls have any of you brought sanitary wear?" The look that passed between the two of them was priceless and even Hank smirked a little as it finally dawned on them both.
"I..I'm not going to need any but Jubes, you will surely?" Suddenly the prospect of being out here in the wilderness wasn't an attractive option anymore. Jubes was silent as she spooned the stew into her growling stomach.

Peiter spoke up next, "What about the supplies we have? What's in the packs?" Logan answered the large man who would soon become a father.
"Tools, survival gear, warm clothing, rations to get us through the winter, medical kit. No room for girly crap in the truck."
Jubes responded with a withering glare and put her eyes on Marie, "'Girly Crap', so you think female *essentials* are 'Crap!'." Logan turned a dark eye toward her and Jubilee shrank back into Hanks warm grip on her body.
The look he gave her he spread around the camp fire to the rest of their small group, his words quiet but weighty.
"Look, it's not gonna be easy, we'll be surviving only this winter. Marie an me have done this before but here we're further north an we need shelter first, then fire, then food. So like it or not the rest of the summer and autumn your gonna be collectin and hunting, preservin food for winter. We're gonna hope for woodland because if we're on tundra I don't rate our chances of survival more than a few weeks. The map looks like the place is in a decent valley system, got it's own water, deep pools and a river. We're all gonna be learnin from each other and Hank ya gonna need to train all of us in basic first aid and whatever else ya can just in case."

Hank nodded and agreed with the plans he heard, that they'd be working on shelter as soon as they reached it and that they'd be on short rations for a while until the food sources had been scouted out properly. Kitty looked a little pale but her strength was returning, the ginger seemed to do her good and she wasn't as sick as she had been. Marie herself looked calmer, stronger, more alive out here just as Logan looked more comfortable too. Peiter for his sins looked like he'd be helping Logan and him to do most of the donkey work for a while, but it didn't look as if it troubled the young father. Hank let the warm food fill him as he let the night pass overhead, a clear night filled the air with a deep chill he barely felt with his thick fur. And as Jubilee snuggled down into his body his eye took in Logan's own pleased gaze as Marie wrapped herself around him. Her head resting on his chest, Logan's back to the forest as if he feared them more than what was behind him. Sleep came easily out here, after a huge run across the country they seemed to finally be getting somewhere. Feeling Jubilee slide into sleep Hank's final view of the camp was Logan stroking Marie's cheek before kissing her forehead and showing a gentle smile.

***************************************************

The road had petered out just where it was supposed to, the track wasn't a trail, it was barely visable through the forest. Hank and Logan went ahead of the truck with Peiter driving, clearing the young saplings that had taken to the path. Soon they were obscured from everything, the entire world of humans had stopped and they were somewhere entirely different now. It took them most of the afternoon to get down the track to where the map ended.

The place that was marked on the map should be just over the next ridge, next to a stand of granite. Logan loaded everyone up, taking a couple of saplings he quickly made a travois with Marie and they both loaded what was left onto the springy sled. They'd done this in the middle of winter so doing it now was easy, Marie showed Kitty how to tighten the straps and she helped Peiter into the harness of the travois. Everyone ready they set out across the forest, the air filled with the sounds of nature. Undisturbed land and creatures who hadn't seen a human never mind a mutant.

It wasn't much to look at, the small cabin, a good thirty feet long, twelve feet high, and twenty wide. The lock on the cabin was rusted shut and a slice from the new owners had the keys now an ornament. Pushing the door open the stink of dust and rot filled the air, Logan sneezed and shook his head angry at the state of the place. Kitty was about to walk in when he just stopped her dead, "No, mould. Ya don't wanna go in there little mama, that stuff'll kill ya." He turned to Hank and Peiter who'd just taken off the travios, "We gotta start from scratch, help me clear some of the wood around it, we're gonna have to burn it down and use the foundations." Marie nodded and she organised the rest of their group into sorting the supplies into cover.

That night the sky was lit by fire, a beacon rising high on the mountain side, there was a light in the darkness, a hope of new life where there'd been none before. Water was all around the place just in case the fire decided to spread. Spruce and hemlocks were already waiting to be pushed into the ground tomorrow morning, life would begin again, a new start, a new hope. One they would build together, a world that included what they wanted in it, not what they were told they 'needed'.

**************************************************

Two Months Later
*****************

The cabin was ready, the old structure had revealed a secret cellar when it had burned down, a natural hollow in the granite. A perfect storage place for food, Kitty was showing at last, her fingers quick to learn the skills that would keep them alive over winter. She went out with woven baskets and came back with fruit that needed drying. Hank hunted, brought back small game which was skinned and tanned with the effiecency of an old hand. Jubilee had squicked at first but when she'd snuggled under a skin for the first time she'd been hooked as long as they ate what they killed. And of that there was no arguement.

Logan had worked steadily, doing as much as he possibly could each day, the foundations they'd built were strong, solid and deep. Nothing but the mountain falling on them would shift the thing, as the first leaves began to turn the roof was put on. When it topped out Marie and Kitty handed a wreath to Logan to put on the top, it's deep green colour constrasting with the dark wood.

Things were moved inside, jobs that were once outdoor, were now inner. The fireplace got it's first fire, the slabs of rock were held in place by clay and dung, strapped with twisted wood and tied into place to the walls. Furniture was next, low beds, soft sofa's filled with boughs of pine and fern. The seats from the truck were used as well, everything that could be used was stripped from it. They wouldn't be coming down again, not for a couple of years anyway. Soon the empty space had become a home, one that had water coming in by wooden pipe, a loo that provided compost and warmth that came from knowing that they'd survived.

Marie saw the birds as they went south, the winter was coming and they had enough stored to get them through. There was even electricity too, Kitty went through the files on her computer, looked for the information she'd copied and took a little silver dish from her pack. Pointing it outside she waited for the satellite to go over and she was online, the solar battery filled their needs and she kept them all informed with the news about the world.

It seemed so far away, so distant but the tales they heard were ones of suffering and torment. The US wasn't a place of hope anymore but there were tales of daring escapes and rescues. They even heard of a woman who'd ended a thrity year drought in Central Africa, bringing life to the lifeless and Marie sent a silent prayer to Ororo. Life had been broken apart but they'd survived, continued to live and fought for every piece of what they had.

Turning to see everyone resting on the soft fur covered sofa's she walked over to her husband, settling herself with him. Hearing his contented purr rumble through the room as Kitty laughed as Peiter felt his child move under his hand. Even Jubilee looked happy, talking in whispers with her lover, peace didn't come easy and it never lasted. Sensing her thoughts Logan nudged her head making her look at him, "Happy?" She thought about it for a second and snuggled up before answering him.
"Here?"
"Yeah here."
"It's not as cosy as our first place," her eyes telling him that she remembered her first winter with him and how much she loved to remember it. "But it'll do." A huge smile on her lips as she let herself drift into his grip. A rumbling laugh going through him as she let the night pass by.

There were battles ahead, they both knew that but for now they had respite, a place to live, a place to *be*. Soon there'd be a child and maybe another not long after if Logan's nose was anything to go by. Holding Marie close Logan looked at the walls he'd built, they'd keep the world at bay for a while and while they might not age the others would. One day they'd be leaving here, still young while the graves of those who helped to build this place ran the edges of this world. Lost in his thoughts Logan turned his gaze to the fire.

**************************************************

EPILOGUE
********

The going had been hard but it had been worthwhile, the long trek across the hinterland had taken him most of the summer. Yet here he was at last, radio contact had been broken twice and he hoped they still expected him. Wiping a hand down his face he looked behind him at the group he was leading. They were in a bad way, they needed food, shelter, a home.

"Come on we're nearly there!" A chorus of 'You said that miles ago' and 'You sure?' echoed in his ears. Laughing to himself he turned to see the small village below, the houses were solid, small and compact. They didn't need much to live here, the land was fertile and it had enough for everyone. The deeds that kept this safe had been added to over time, more land, more resources, but always quiet.

Gary moved the group forward ahead of him, his skin showing his mutation, black and white zebra striping that moved when he concentrated on it. He looked for the head man and found him next to the small meeting house, his body relaxed under the large hemlock that served as the meeting place. Now that his group had seen civilsation they were happy to get a move on, he went straight to the head man leading them all. When he got there the snoring was enough to cut the tree behind him, grey had touched his temples from the last time he'd been here. Scanning around he tried to get someone's eye and found a familiar face. Smiling he waved at the auburn haired beauty that was weaving her way toward them.
"Marie!"

She walked over, several younger adults with her and she whispered to them and they went off to their various duties. The family resemblances were easy to see in their young faces, she turned her embrace to the man in front of her noticing that he'd aged more and his own body was beginning to look like his fathers. "Gary, how's Mason? Still gun running?" Laughing Gary hugged the woman to him, she'd been an inspiration to his father and family.
"No, he leaves the difficult stuff to me now. Talking of which I've brought some more refugees." He turned to show the people who were looking around as if the world was about to drop on their head at any moment. Marie just smiled at them and told them to go to the large house across the way. They could get fed, get a wash and rest, everything else would be sorted out later.

When they'd left Gary turned to look at the man under the tree, his gaze softening as he looked him over. "How longs he been taking naps in the afternoon?" Marie smiled as they walked over toward him, the afternoon sun warming the soles of his feet.
"Ever since he took charge, says it recharges his batteries. Mind you he has enough to cope with, his wife is driving him nuts about the grandkids." Gary looked over the large man who was resting under the tree, his face one of solidity. Peiter had made a great leader, always easy going, capable, strong, even handed and patient to a fault.

A whistle had Gary turning round to see someone coming down the other approach to the village. Logan. He was carrying a deer over his shoulders and the wolf at his heels was bouncing like a puppy trying to trip him every step. Handing the meat off to someone at the large hall, Logan came and kissed his wife before acknowledging the visitor.
"Logan! Gary's here!" Logan's eyes twinkled and he saw Marie's laughing eyes and Gary's warmth directed at them both. He was his fathers son and if it weren't for his skin he'd be his double.
"I can see that, how's life Gary?" Smiling he took Logan's hand and shook it hard.
"Fine, fine. Do you mind if I stay the winter? I doubt I'll get back before the snows come down anyway."
"No, no problem with me but you'll have to clear it with the headman there," he nodded toward a dozing Peiter. Smiling Gary nodded as well, but they both knew that Logan had the last word on who stayed and who didn't.
Marie hugged them both and pulled them back toward her own home.
"Come on there's news to spread and a decent coffee to make." Gary let himself be taken into the warmth of the world around him, there would always be a home for him here. Thanks to his father, a trucker who had the truth of love pointed out to him on a journey from death to hope.