AN: This is a story I started long time ago, and it died partway through. It was originally posted on the Storm and Wolverine message group's postings, but when it was just not making itself a romance, I got frustrated and threw in the towel. I rediscovered this the other day, and am going to make a go at finishing it. It may or may not be a romance, we'll see.
"Go, Storm!"
"I am trying, Cyclops! I have her in my sight, and am closing fast."
"Watch your back, Storm, you've got a sniper on your tail!"
"On it. I could use backup, there are too many for me to deal with and keep sight of the girl."
"I'm sending Wolverine over. Get the girl!"
Right, left, up, down, through. I need more backup than…left, down. I must get the girl, I must save…
Ororo bolted to an erect position, lightning crackling from her clenched fists as sweat collected between her furrowed eyebrows. Wary, a tense moment crept by before Storm allowed herself to relax, eyes shifting back to their normal blue. She sighed, and then collapsed back on her bed, staring at the ceiling while she replayed for the hundredth time the most recent mission in her head.
In an attempt to scare the mutant community, a splinter group of the FOH had kidnapped a young girl from her home, and announced that due to her willful association with mutants, would have to be "silenced." When the Professor had gotten wind of this, he sent a group of X-Men out to save the girl, and stop the "Friends of Humanity."
Upon landing, the X-Men knew that they had just walked into an ambush. Snipers with guns positioned from every conceivable angle, and enough explosives to create a second Grand Canyon in New York. After a few minutes of the whole team simultaneously fending off the herds of FOH foot soldiers and avoiding gunfire, Storm was sent to get the girl and bring her back so they could disengage and call for backup.
Flying toward the girl, Storm realized that the FOH had planned for an airborne mutant to grab the girl, and she reached for her communicator to call for backup.
"Go, Storm!"
Before she could press the button to talk, Scott's anxious voice broke through the line.
"I am trying, Cyclops! I have her in my sight, and am closing fast."
"Watch your back, Storm, you've got a sniper on your tail!"
"On it. I could use backup, there are too many for me to deal with and keep sight of the girl."
"I'm sending Wolverine over. Get the girl!"
Mentally, she thought out her dodging patterns to keep her mind from leaving the immediate battle.
Right, left, up, down, through. I need more backup than…left, down.
Catching a full glimpse of the child, Storm's heart cried out. The girl's face was covered in scratches and marks, while her clothes were bloodied and torn from one too many soldiers manhandling her frail body.
I must get the girl, I must save…
That was all she could remember. Her next memory was of waking up in pain on the Blackbird, bloodied, bandaged, and with Jean standing over her, holding her hand. Momentarily shoving the throbbing aside, she prodded for answers. "Did we get the girl?" Jean's refusal to meet her gaze confirmed her worst suspicions. Her failure cost the girl her life. "Jean, what happened?"
"A sniper caught you in the back, Logan caught you mid-fall. Before we could do anything, that same sniper was ordered to shoot the girl. Logan got to the sniper, but not in time. The sniper shot her once in the head, and then Logan killed him. Most of the FOH by that time had scattered, so we took off. And here we are."
"Thank you, Jean."
Jean smiled wearily, and then walked over to Scott. Storm attempted to move to a comfortable position, and stared out the window. Once again, I am the weak link. One shot, and I fell. No more. I will end this.