Disclaimer: Ever wonder if the writers of Marvel go to sites like this and get their ideas from fanfics like this? Or try out their new material on the unknowing fans first? It's pretty to think so, yea? Obviously, I'm not one of them. I don't own Marvel or any of its characters. Wish I did….Don't sue…all ya'd probably get is the fern in my bed room (And ya cant have it! it's the first plant that I haven't killed--including the cactus…) I only own Shadow and future characters that ya've never heard of before (mainly cuz they've been in my head). And if, for some reason, ya wanna use Shadow, ask me first, k? k.

Enjoy. Review….flame if ya feel like it, it'll be fun.

Quote: You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right part of the country." --Mark Twain

Ch. 1

Charlie's Bar-11:00 P.M.

The man known as Logan took a long swig of his beer.

"An' That's why the jujicional shystem doesn't work in thish' country…" a very drunk man sitting on his left slurred out of the blue. He received a cold look but didn't seem to notice. The front door opened and both men looked up to the mirrors behind the counter.

A young woman came in. Her hair was a deep brown, almost black, her piercing gray eyes, which contrasted with her bronzed skin, scanned the room. More than a few in the bar turned to look, including the drunk man. From this angle they could note, those that weren't too drunk, that her body was in good physical conditions as she walked toward the bar with a graceful, confident stride. A silver cross with a black stone in the center hung from her neck.

"I think I'm seeing and angel" The drunkard breathed, not taking his eyes off the new comer.

"More like a deamon," Logan muttered and turned back to his beer.

"Shoulda' known this skuzzy lil' bar was your rat hole, Wolverine," The woman said as she sat on the stool to his right.

"What'd ya want, Bri?" he demanded, not even looking at her.

She placed her attention on the bar tender instead, "Gimme a beer. It's on him," she motioned toward Logan with a nod.

"Buy yer own," he growled back.

"Fine, but next time your guts are falling out, find your own 'mutant tolerant' hospital," the woman retorted. "And I'm here on business."

The statement made him turn toward her, "Yer business usually ain't friendly."

" 'Don't DO friendly, 'member?" she took a long drink of her beer.

The mans eyes narrowed, "Yer business had better not involve certain friends of mine, Shadow, got it?" he'd used her code name with force.

"Relax, hairball, I turned down the contract on your lil' X-Men." A quiet snink sounded from under the bar top but she didn't seem fazed as she continued, "And you're welcome for taking out the guy who was behind it."

"I find out yer lyin', girl, yer dead," the threat came out thru bared teeth.

The door behind them opened again and they both glanced up at the mirror to see an Asian American girl just inside, scanning the room. Jubilee's eyes locked on Logan.

"We have a situation," was said when close enough for the man to hear.

"I'm busy, kid." He glanced at the woman who had turned back to her drink and appeared uninterested in them.

"What trying to get laid?" the girl challenged, "you could do better than this tramp."

"Jubilee…" Wolverine warned.

"WHAT a little SWEETHEART, Wolverine." Bri said with sarcasm. "She must be yours. Who's the mom? Mariko? No…Yukio? Maybe Lady-D?" The sarcasm dropped instantly when she turned toward Jubilee and she said flatly, "She needs some manners."

"Don't you have some shadow ta' slink away to?" Wolverine cut off Jubilee before she could say something dangerous to her health.

"Contact ain't here…so…nope." Was the pert reply.

"Whatever," the teen replied with an eye roll, "Wolvie, Jean's been nabbed."

"What? When?" His full attention was obvious.

"We don't know. She just…vanished. Everyone is looking for you now. I'm the one who figured you'd be here."

He was standing now and opened his mouth to say something, closed it quickly and turned on Shadow. Grabbing the back of her shirt and pulling her off the stool, he growled "What do you know about this, Shadow?"

She moved in a blur and ended up facing him, one of the few people that Wolverine could claim height to. He kept a hold of her collar but she held a knife to his throat. "Don't," she said coolly.

"Won't kill me, darlin'."

"Won't do ya a helluva lotta good either, huh?" There was the click of a gun cocking.

Logan glanced down to see a handgun pointed at his groin. "And this," the woman hissed, "will leave ya howling."

The hold on her shirt held for a moment more then dropped. The entire room was staring at them. Some were standing (probably going to the aid of the beautiful damsel in distress until they saw the firearm), while others were edging toward the door, knowledgeable of Logan's skill at brawling.

Jubilee's gum popped loudly in the silence, "Boy lady, your either really stupid or really, really good." She was ignored.

Shadow straightened her shirt and discreetly put up her gun and knife. "Now," she started, "like I said, I killed the guy that had a contract out on your little X-men."

"Why should I believe you?"

Her steely eyes met his, "Cuz' I'm not afraid of you. If I did do it, I'd just tell you."

Wolverine stared back hard but said grudgingly, "Fine, but yer comin' back with me."

To this, Jubilee wrinkled her nose. "She's not coming back to the mansion with us is she? Scott'll freak." She paused a moment before deciding, "On second thought, can we bring her home?" Her statement was ignored.

"I'm on business. And, incase you've forgotten since your domestication, that means I don't have time to play superhero."

After ignoring the 'domestication' remark, he replied "Ya owe me," he took a cigar out of his shirt pocket, "from the time in Dallas."

"Bull," she helped herself to one of his cigars before he could put them away, receiving a scowl, "that was payback from me saving you're ass in Santo Domingo."

"Nope. Santo Domingo was after I saved you're a--"he paused and glanced at the girl next to him "--butt in Hong Kong."

Bri sneered at that but replied "Baghdad."

"Paris"

"That 'mishap' in Romania."

"The mission in Toronto."

"Damn." She thought hard now.

"Gotcha. Let's go." He grabbed his jacked triumphantly.

She held up a finger, "1942, one of your escapades gone…explosive."

"Don't count. I can't remember it."

"Not my fault." She reached back for her drink.

Wolverine snatched it out of reach before she could grasp it.

She glowered at the man as he scanned the bar, noting, "Looks like your contact stood ya up. Got nothin' better ta do. 'Sides, I wanna keep an eye on ya."

"We're wasting time!" Jubilee had stayed as quiet as long as possible for her.

"If I don't like the smell of things, I'm outta there." The woman sighed and grabbed her black trench coat.

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Logan's jeep pulled up to the mansion followed by a motorcycle. Cyclops was at the door before anyone even reached the steps. "Jubilee! You were given strict instructions Not to go off alone." he reprimanded the teen.

"Relax. I was with Wolvie." She stated so casually as she brushed past the man that it was obvious that the excuse was usually valid.

"Wolvie? How cute. I think--"Bri started before she was cut off.

"Shut up." Wolverine snapped, giving the woman enough reason to smirk.

"Who's she?" Cyclops demanded before stepping aside to allow the other man to enter.

"A friend." after a nod he made the introduction, "Cyclops--"

"Shadow." was stated firmly before Logan could go on.

"She's repayin' a favor."

"Only cuz you've go Alzheimer's." she muttered as she walked past Scott and into the mansion. A bald man in a wheel chair came toward her.

"Hello, I'm--"

"I know." Shadow cut in again. A small glint came to her eye and Logan tensed as a corner of her mouth twitched, "I was s'pose to kill you." she stated as blandly as one would the weather. She studied the mansion with a tilted head.

Wolverine's hand shot out and stopped Cyclops' from reaching the button on his visor, "She's here ta help," he stated firmly, sending a glare in her direction.

The Professor raised his eyebrows, "I…We'll appreciate any help that you may offer us Ms…?"

"This is Bri." Wolverine made the introduction for her. Something inside him had wanted to bring her here just to annoy Scott, but now he was wondering about his decision.

"Shadow." she corrected automatically.

Xavier looked at her sharply but said formally, "Logan can show you to a guest room if you plan on staying to assist. Please excuse me." and with a swoosh, his hover chair departed.

"I have to wait till morning to get this over with?" gray eyes shot accusingly at Wolverine.

"It's quarter ta one in the morning, darlin'. Most people are asleep."

"Don't call me that." she demanded automatically. "When do 'normal people' wake up then?"

"I can get them gathered by 8 A.M. if you can live off only 6 hours of sleep." After she nodded he continued, "Ya want me ta show you ta a room, or ya gonna sit out here all mornin' talkin' to the shadows?"

"You know, they actually do most of the talking." she informed him as they started up the steps.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

After he had his guest situated in a room, to which she had to point out the unnecessary elegance and all the poverty stricken people in countries including this one, he'd settled into his own. Sleep didn't come. He was worried about Jeanie. She could take care of herself, of course, but that meant little to him.

#Logan, will you please see me in my office, since you're still awake.# Xavier 's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"How long have you known this Shadow?" The Professor inquired as soon as the other man took a seat across the desk.

"As long as I can remember we've been runnin' into each other. I think she might o' been with S.H.I.E.L.D at one time, but I'm not too sure. Why?"

"So…" the older man said thoughtfully and leaned back, "She is the one from all the reports. She's an assassin?"

Logan shrugged, "Mercenary lately. What reports?"

"The code name Shadow caught my attention. She's been linked to dozens of murders or 'suicides'. Are you sure she's safe to have here?"

"She's probably got people after her like me, if that's what you mean." Xavier was quiet for a moment so he continued, "Guess that's not what ya mean. Look, she's pulled my fat outta the fire and I've returned the favor. She's got my trust, and there's not a whole lotta people that have that, really."

"She was supposed to kill me." It was as blunt as he could be.

"She was offered a contract on your life." the stocky man corrected. "She said that she off-ed the guy who'd put her up to the job. And before ya say it, she's really got no reason ta lie ta me."

"Very well, but I would prefer it if you kept an eye on her." Wolverine nodded and stood up. "And, one more question….Jubilee mentioned something about her being alive back in 1949?"

"Coulda been. She's as old as me, probably. Doesn't have an actual healing factor that I know of, but she just doesn't seem ta age."

"That would explain some of the accounts…and no doubt link her to many more," the old man thought out loud. "Good night Logan," he managed to say before the door closed.

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So…Whatd'ya think? I got the whole thing written out, but I only wanna post it a chapter at a time at see what ya all think.