The Boogie Man

Sequel to Kittens Have Claws, Too. Victor, Katherine, Tayla and Mystique discover the secret to helping keep female ferals alive…But will nightmares be the setback for an old friend, or will her personal Boogie Man be the one to save her soul.

I DON'T own them…at this point I wish I did…I would put them all out to pasture and go on with my LIFE…SOMEONE get Victor Creed OUT of my head. Wait, never mind. (Victor muse purring in the background as he throws back the covers on the bed…) I am going to pet the kitty while you guys enjoy the story.

Chapter 1

"We don't have a choice." Katherine said, glaring at the tall blonde feral next to her.

"You know how I feel about this, Kitten. He's an ass, and I don't WANT him anywhere near Tayla." A frown creased his brow. Victor looked over at the blue shape shifter. "Myst, help me out here."

"I can't, Snaggletooth. We have run the tests over and over. He's the ONLY match. Believe me, I would rather gut him than let him anywhere near TayTay, but if we don't we'll lose her." He was surprised by the concern in her voice.

This project was too important, and Tayla was too important to it, to let her die, but he was the last person – the absolute last person Victor would allow near one of his girls. He looked over at her, the signs already strong, her dark skin was flushed, eyes beginning to dilate, he could smell her need, and it was growing stronger and more insistent by the moment.

"We don't have a choice, there is too much at stake. I will do whatever has to be done, just – I don't want to talk to him, I don't want to SEE him unless I absolutely have to." He watched her body shudder, and smelled the fear rolling off of her.

"Tay, if I could protect you from this, you know I would." He said softly.

"We don't have time to discuss it, she has less than six hours. Victor get your ass out there and bring him in – ALIVE!" Katherine said, as she walked up to the tall feral, wrapping her hands in the leather of his shirt, and giving him a shake on the last word.

"Kitten…alive I will promise…unhurt? It's the fucking Runt. I ain't gonna promise not ta play with him."

"Victor, how many times have I told you not to play with your food?"

"But, baby, you like it when I play with my food…" He leaned down, kissing her hungrily. "Besides…we still have that Cub issue of our own to discuss, later."

"There is no discussion, Victor Creed."

"Like hell there's not Katherine Creed." He snarled back, pulling her in for another kiss.

The helicopter was ready, Micah, their pilot knew exactly where to drop him, and where to pick them up. They had been planning this for weeks, as soon as Tay started showing signs of her impending cycle. They had tried it her way, calling, asking, begging the damned Runt to come and help. Myst had even gone in person to try talking to him, to no avail. Now it was time to draw him out – tie him up in a big red bow – and hope Logan was smart enough to let his instincts take over.

He jumped out, a couple miles from the institute. Micah would pick him up, hopefully with the Runt all wrapped up, in an hour. He sat on top of the wall, willing the Runt to pick up his scent.

"Come on ya metal coated badger…get your ass in gear." He muttered to himself as he waited. Suddenly a bolt of lightning streaked toward him. If it hadn't been for the smell he might have missed it out of the clear sky, but he had been expecting something like that. He jumped down from the wall. Shit! Runt was bringing backup. This wasn't in the plan.

He waited until he was sure they were coming after him, and took off. Micah would just have to make sure they could keep up. The sound of the jet taking off nearly deafened him, but he knew they would have to follow…there had been too many attempts to get Logan's attention. They knew he was wanted for something, and damn them for being so damned suspicious, they even knew WHAT he was needed for…they just didn't want to believe it.

He grabbed the skid of the chopper as Micah rose in the air. They both looked back and saw the form of the Blackbird following them. At least the damned weather witch wasn't throwing any more lightning bolts. He and Micah would survive, but the chopper was another matter, and he didn't want to have to explain to Kitten why they had crashed a third one this year. There were some days it just wasn't worth it to be married.

"Myst…I am coming in hot. Have at least two - say again - two X-Men on my ass. Be prepared for company."

"Can't you do ANYTHING right…Snaggles?"

"Don't give me that shit…I ain't married ta you."

"If you crash that chopper, I won't stop Kitten from gutting you this time."

"FUCK!"

He looked over at the feral in the seat next to him. Micah was a wolf, good in a fight, good kid all the way around. The two of them could probably take Storm and Logan, but he wasn't sure that they were the only two in the jet.

"Myst I am going to need a team on the ground. I can't guarantee it's just two in that damned plane of theirs. They ain't shootin anything at us yet, but ya never know…so tell my wife, if this thing crashes, to bill the X-Men for it 'cuz it ain't my fault."

"Don't you give me that Victor Creed. Do you know how expensive those helicopters are? The medical equipment alone in them is worth more than a year of you working FULL FUCKING TIME. And if you thing you are leaving me for a fucking year to pay for one..."

"Kitten, it ain't like I am plannin on it, SHIT!" From the tone in her voice, maybe he SHOULD have Micah crash the damned thing, anger sex was always great. Save Tay first…then worry about fucking your wife. He thought to himself. Save the chopper if they could.

Micah put them down in the courtyard of the compound. The jet wasn't far behind. There were seven pairs of ferals waiting, mated pairs ready to fight, to defend their home.

"Just remember…." Mystique was saying to them. "They are our guests…don't KILL anyone…especially not the Wolverine."

The wind quickly picked up, as Storm gathered her power. They all flinched at the sound of metal on the compound gate. Either the X-Men had brought a battering ram, or Colossus. The gate fell in, and the four X-Men were exposed to the waiting group of ferals…four against fifteen, this would be an easy fight.

"REMEMBER!" Victor roared. "Wolverine has ta live…the rest…well, have fun." He gave them a huge grin and turned to face the coming battle.

They had brought the girl with the skin…and she was easy to take out. Storm took a little more work, but with three teams on her, they were able to bring her down from the sky and pin her to the ground, unconscious. Colossus was easy as well, between Mystique and the two teams on him, they had him pinned down pretty quickly. Victor snarled at Logan as they faced off.

"You scared ta take me one on one." Wolverine snarled back at him.

"Yeah…I need ya alive. They are here ta make sure I don't kill ya."

The fight was actually short. Logan hadn't been up against trained ferals before, not like this, working as a team. He was quickly bound in the special restraints…adamantium shackles and chains.

Victor looked around the courtyard. The kids did well…all four subdued, no injuries to his teams - not that any of these Geeks could hurt his kids - and minimal injuries to the enemy.

"Good job." He said, loud enough for them to hear.

A few nodded to acknowledge him but the rest concentrated on the tasks at hand, getting the three extras bound and put someplace for safe keeping, and getting Wolverine where they would be able to control him.

He was dragging Logan by the adamantium chain wrapped around his neck when Kitten came running out of the main building.

"Hurry it up…her heart rate is starting to flutter." She glared at the unconscious chained man behind him. "Doesn't look like much does he?"

"Why the hell do you think I call him Runt?" They laughed as he dragged him up the steps and into the entry way of the building.

"Well at least the chopper made it home in one piece."

"Damn it woman, I nearly got fried by a lightning bolt and you are worried about the damned chopper."

"You'll heal…it won't"

"FUCK!" Well there was the downside of a wife who knew his strengths, no sympathy at all.

"Don't make me dig out the shock collar and chains…" She glared at him.

"Maybe later." He grinned back.

They dragged him into the conference room. Kitten left to go check Tayla's condition. Victor sat there until he heard a moan.

"Time ta wake up."

"What the fuck do you want?"

"What we want…is you." Mystique said from the door.

"What?"

"We need you; metal for brains, or rather your mate needs you. You will be stripped, washed, and taken to her. You will do exactly what your instincts tell you to do…mate her, mark her, and fuck her. Trust me, your body WILL take over, no matter how reluctant you are, I have seen it happen many times. You will do it and you will do it NOW, or your little friends…DIE!" Victor grinned…Myst had such a way with words.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

She had been in and out for the last hour. At one point she thought she heard the chopper land, but wasn't sure. She moaned into the empty room. She didn't want this, she knew it was hypocritical, to encourage so many to accept the inevitable, and fight it so hard herself, but she couldn't help it.

The sounds of the fight drifted in to her room, she didn't think even he could cause that much noise, so there must have been more than just him. That worried her, when she could think clearly. She didn't want anyone to be hurt over her, especially innocent people who were just trying to help their friend. She knew Kitten wouldn't let anything happen to them…but sometimes Mystique did things without asking.

She blacked out again…the sound of the door bringing her back almost to consciousness. All she was aware of were shadows moving in the room, a cool hand on her forehead, whispers of encouragement, and then the door slamming open again. She closed her eyes, his scent barraging her nostrils…anger, pain, and the beginnings of lust surging from him, invading her room, her space. She allowed herself to slip away, it was her body that was needed for this – and she didn't have to be awake.

She laid there, her body forcing her to consciousness. She could feel him, inside her, still not at his climax. She didn't know how he got there, or why, but he was talking to her. She opened her eyes and a shock of terror flowed through her. It was the Wolverine…her worst nightmare; she was being raped by the Wolverine. He was saying something…but her mind just wouldn't comprehend what it was. She popped one set of the bone claws from her hand and thrust it into his side, trying to push him away. He moaned…and she felt his body explode inside hers, and somehow he dragged her into that abyss with him.

Not only had he raped her, but her own traitorous body had enjoyed it. She relaxed, the three bone claws slipping back between her knuckles. He looked down at where they slid out of his body, and watched as the wounds closed creating three perfect parallel scars. Her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and she blacked out.

When she woke up again she was lying in her bed, her body aching and sore. She thought it had been just a dream, another nightmare, until she found the two sets of matching scars on her legs, three small cuts - one and a half inches long, perfectly parallel…and she knew. It hadn't been a dream. It hadn't been a nightmare, but the rest of her life would be. She was his MATE…marked and scarred…mated to WOLVERINE…Victor's sworn enemy, the man who had nearly killed her father…the one that they always told her…be good or the Wolverine will get you, and you won't like it if he gets you.

Now he had her…and they were right…she didn't like it…didn't like it one bit.

XXXXXXXX

He watched the blue woman pacing back and forth across the floor. Sabretooth was standing, leaning against a wall, and his pet cat was sitting in a chair next to him. He still didn't buy all this mate shit, but even he couldn't deny the horrible urge, the uncontrollable need he had felt when they pushed him into that room with that girl. He HATED what he had done…no what WOLVERINE had done. He remembered watching her legs scar, as he pulled his blades from them, her body arching up to meet him, her eyes closed, moaning her need as she met him thrust for thrust. Her eyes had snapped open, raw terror in them. He had told her to mark him, growled at her, begged her to mark him, and she had, with three claws just like his own, except they were bone. He ran his hand along the scars on his side.

"Why the hell was she afraid? You told me she understood this mating shit."

"She does, on an intellectual level. The problem was, you were LATE getting here, she was so far gone in her heat, and she didn't even KNOW you were there. When she saw you, well it brought back all the childhood terrors."

"What childhood terrors?"

"You can't tell me they don't use the 'boogieman' as a threat at the school, I've been there. 'Behave or Sabretooth will get you…' well, for her, it was Wolverine."

"Why?"

"You nearly killed her father…he hated you." Creed said from the wall.

"I have nearly killed LOTS of people…how the fuck was I supposed to know."

"Not the point…She was fed stories of how evil the Wolverine was…how he'd cut her up…and as she got older… rape her…if she got out of line."

"FUCK…you mean – I just made her live out her worst nightmare…" He was feeling bad enough about what had happened…but this.

"And you are going to have to for the next four to five days…until her cycle is over." Mystique said. "If you had come when we asked, weeks ago, given her time to get used to you, to the idea, so that it wouldn't be so psychologically damaging to her…but no, you had to think it was a trap."

"Wasn't it. You used Furrface over there ta lure us here. You are holding Rogue and Peter and Storm prisoner if I don't do what you want…sounds like a fucking trap to me."

"YOU didn't give us the choice…didn't give HER the choice. I explained all of it to Storm when we asked her to send you. I KNOW she explained it all to you…I was there. YOU are the one who refused. YOU are the one who said 'Let the kid die, it's not my problem.' YOU are the one who put us in this position."

"I ain't doin this anymore."

"Then she'll die. YOUR mate will DIE – Wolverine…unless YOU save her. Her body needs you…no other male feral will do – not now – not with the marks in place."

"What marks?" Why was he asking for answers he already had, his hands ran over the scars on his side one more time.

"Don't be an IDIOT. You marked her…I saw them when I went to check on her, the scars on her leg. I KNOW she marked you…she'd be DEAD if she hadn't." The brown haired girl finally spoke up. He had been wondering if Creed had cut out her tongue.

"Kitten…he ain't like me – he don't understand."

What the fuck - not like HIM!

"No, you're right Vic…he's an ASSHOLE." Logan was starting to feel like he had stepped into an alternate dimension or something…CREED wasn't an asshole?

"Maybe she's right, Victor…Maybe we should leave this to the Kitten to handle." Mystique walked to the office door. Creed ran a claw gently down the woman's cheek, then leaned down and kissed her. Logan thought he was going insane. CREED being gentle?

"Be careful, Kitten. If he hurts ya, I'll kill him."

"He'll have to get through me for you to kill him, lover…and who taught me?"

"Katherine Creed…your cycles start soon…don't make me…" She pushed him out the door, a chuckle on her lips.

"Katherine Creed…you his kid?"

"No - his wife."

Logan was really feeling like the world had turned on end. Victor Creed, married…and to a real looker too…Mystique and Creed working together to help mutant kids…and of course the whole mate idea…a mate that HATED him.

"You goin ta explain this shit…or leave me hangin?"

"You have about three hours until her next cycle starts…so sit down, shut up, and open your ears so I can get through to that adamantium cased brain of yours." Ok…maybe the world wasn't turned on its ear…he could see this woman and Creed together, and it wasn't pretty.

He gave her his undivided attention.

"About nine and a half years ago or so, I was seventeen…I was born feral, born mutant, but my parents never had to worry, Victor was always there, they knew I would be okay. When my first estrus hit, Vic was there, claimed me, marked me, and then married me. He's taken care of me since. Tayla was a friend of mine…from High School. Her mutation hadn't activated yet, so we didn't know she was feral. Her mutation didn't activate until right before we graduated."

"What's this got ta do with me?"

"The first time those claws came out…Victor knew who her mate was. He's been trying to get her to let us bring you here for years. She's been too afraid…She wanted to die. She would rather have died than let you do that to her…but I convinced her we needed her - needed her breathing and alive to help the others. SHE told us to get you here…to save her. SHE chose to face her fear…and YOU are going to do whatever you have to do to keep her alive or believe me you won't know what PAIN is. She is my best friend, my partner, she is the one that comforts these girls at night, tells them it will be ok, they won't die, we'll find them someone to love and care for them…and the entire time she has KNOWN it was YOU - you sick twisted demented piece of shit - that she was going to have to deal with the rest of her life.

"WAIT a damned minute…I am the sick twisted demented piece of shit…YOU are married to fucking SABRETOOTH and I AM sick and twisted. YOU need ta get some facts straight, girlie."

"And you need to remember your friends. I KNOW what my husband does and CAN do…wouldn't want him getting a hold of that pretty weather witch…or the girl with the streaks…I hold his leash…don't you EVER forget that."

"YOU have that THING on a leash…now I AM scared." He watched as she paced the room with the grace of a cat. He had to admit, Creed certainly got the pick of the litter with her. Nice hips, nice breasts, smooth, toned skin, her slightly feline features just making her seem delicate. He noticed something strange in that moment. He was admiring Creed's woman…and didn't feel a thing, no arousal, no interest, just aesthetic enjoyment.

"Is this normal."

"What…don't find me attractive…?"

"Exactly."

"Yes its normal. You have a MATE what do you need with another female. Victor was more than a little pissed when he figured that part out…had to change some of his killing styles."

"Come ta think of it…I haven't heard about him rapin anyone in a while."

"Blame me…or rather blame our biology. We are MATES…we take care of each other, in every way."

"Wait a fuckin minute…ENFORCED monogamy…enforced by biology."

"Yep…no more tom catting 'round for you - or is that badgering 'round - Trust me…Tayla wouldn't care…but your BODY will."

"How often does this cycle shit happen and for how long…?"

"Approximately every ten years, and the cycles last three to five days, she will go into estrus cycle approximately every six to eight hours. If you don't mate with her during THOSE cycles she will die. Oh, it's also the only time every ten years that a female feral can get pregnant."

"Creed said your cycles will start soon…?"

"Yea…we are arguing about a cub. He wants one; I want to wait another cycle."

"I can't see Creed as a father."

"That's okay, we can't see you as one either…but it is a definite possibility…"

"WHAT!"

"There wasn't a condom in that room and birth control doesn't work on female ferals…The good news is that if she IS…her cycles will end sooner…if not, you'll be here the full five days.

"FUCK!"

"That's precisely what we need you to do…" She glared at him, her brown eyes fading to the feral black in anger.

"You have five days to save my friend's life. You and your friends will be taken care of while you are here. If SHE dies…they die. If she lives…you all walk out. Tayla doesn't want to see you, after her cycle. IF she needs to find you she will, but she doesn't want you looking for her."

"Why isn't she telling me this…?"

"Because she has requested that we not let you in with her, until it becomes absolutely necessary…she doesn't want to talk to you…doesn't really want to SEE you, and certainly doesn't WANT you, she is doing this for these kids…to be here to help them, and the sooner you are gone, the sooner she can get over this and get on with her life."

"How do you people know all this shit? Mystique is smart, I'll give her that, but Creed…well, he ain't a genetic scientist."

"No, Tayla and I are." She handed him a thick stack of papers. "That's our thesis work on ferity and estrus…Doctoral Thesis; we both just were awarded our PhD's. You might want to read it…if your metal coated brain can comprehend it."

She turned and walked out the door. Victor was standing right outside, she slipped under his arm, and they walked away, together. Logan just stared at the paper in his hands. Dr. Tayla Jackson and Dr. Katherine Creed; he flipped the first page and began to read.