Chapter 2

(Xavier's School for the gifted, Westchester New York)

Logan ran a tired hand down his face as he looked over the comatose form of his mentor and friend Professor Xavier. It had been four weeks since they had managed to stop the destruction of the world leading to the bleak future Charles was currently stuck in. They had managed to stop the Phoenix force within Jean laying waste to everything. The interference from the Hellfire Club had almost been disastrous for them all. It hadn't helped that Magneto had also started his damn war with Senator Kelly. Still thanks to Emma Frost's almost sacrifice they had pulled off a win. Sadly, according to Charles, while one bleak future had been adverted another had been created. To be honest the whole thing left him feeling kind of wary. Had it not been for that last minute warning about trusting Frost the whole thing might have ended as it had in Chuck's future. Scratching at his beard he wondered just what the next step was? Things had been quiet since then at least, except for personal issues. First there was the trouble brewing between Scott, Emma and Jean. Before all this started Scott and Jean were a couple, then Jean vanished when the mansion exploded as the Hellfire Club tried to capture Jean. During the battle to change the future Scott had formed a strong bond to Emma, and even though Jean had been returned to them that bond still existed and seemed to be even stronger after she almost died helping stop Phoenix.

Jean hadn't been happy to find that the blond telepath had seemed to replace her as Scott's main focus and possibly even love. There were cracks in their relationship and he had done his best to try and stay out of it considering he had been the cause of any previous trouble between the two. While his feelings for Jean hadn't faded while she had been missing he didn't want to cause her anymore trouble with Scott. So for now he had tried to stay neutral in the matter especially as he was the leader of the X-Men. Then there was the fact Kurt had returned to Genosha at the request of Wanda Maximoff, the daughter of Magneto, and her sister Lorna had exiled their father from the island state after his attempt at war almost destroyed the island and caused much death and injury. It seems the growing bond between Kurt and Wanda remained strong even after what had gone down during his capture by Mojo. He didn't exactly worry, the kid was in much danger as Wanda and Lorna were vastly different than their father and brother who had gone into exile with their father. Still Kitty hadn't been happy with Kurt's choice to leave without even thinking about it just because Wanda asked for his help. If he was honest with himself he felt that Kitty was reacting out of deeper feelings for Kurt than she realized she had.

His friendship with Rogue was still slightly rocky even with her finally re-joining the team full time and helping in their last couple of missions before the big showdown to stop Phoenix. He knew his often absences had hurt her in the past, but she knew that sometimes he just had to answer the call in his soul to wander around. Staying in one place for any length of time was hard for him. Her comparison just that she was just like him just before everything had gone to hell was slightly accurate, but she didn't have a primal spirit lurking in her soul urging her to hunt, kill or mate. It was a constant struggle to keep the beast contained, and that she didn't and could never truly understand no matter how much she argued that she could. Still having her back in the team eased the stress he had been under since this all began. The question now was just how they dealt with all this crap before the shit hit the fan again.

"It is worrying isn't it? That so many personal issues still need tending to, hopefully before we get thrown back into the fire," Jean's calm and soothing voice shook him from his thoughts. Turning he watched as the red headed telepath walked into the room and came to a stop beside him, she looked tired and worried.
"Worrying doesn't even scratch the surface darling. Scott's been so out of control until we finally tracked you down I kept thinking he was either gonna get himself killed or one of the others," Logan replied. "He got reckless, yet even then he seemed to bond with Frost in a way that is beyond me and even now that he has you back he isn't exactly treating you as the love of his life as he did before, because he's almost always with her," he added with a shake of his head just plain confused at the man's actions of late.

"If you think you're confused Logan just imagine how I feel," Jean said with a brittle smile. "I thought everything would be fine once I was rescued and my memory fully returned. Granted there are things that still had to be sorted out from just before everything went to hell, but now it is like he is an entirely different person," she explained. "His attention has been more on Frost than me and sometimes I can't help but feel that he is trying to get payback for me and you and our connection," she stated before pausing as Logan suddenly stiffened as she brought up their rather complicated feelings towards one another. "I know Logan things between us aren't easy. I know how you feel about me and I can't say I don't have feelings for you either, though I've never confessed that before it's the truth," she admitted.

"But you're with one eye," Logan said as calmly as he could, even though his heart sped up at Jean's admission. "He was your choice," he added softly as he tried to ignore the pain that very fact caused him.

Jean had made her choice just before the mansion had been destroyed and Jean and Charles had vanished, this had come just after the huge fight between him and Scott although he had never returned any of the hits Scott had landed on him due to his promise to Jean not to. That fact had never faded from his mind in the year that had passed since that moment, even as they searched for Jean and fought to change the future Charles had found himself stuck in. Jean closed her eyes as she felt the pain Logan was currently feeling as he thought about the past and her choice at that time. She had made the best choice she could at the time. She and Scott had been together as a couple for two years and had been friends for a lot longer before Logan had roared into their lives on his bike. She recalled her first glance at the wild man as he glanced at her in the window causing her to blush at the look in his eyes.

She had never met anyone like him, so primal and uncontained and a man who never followed the rules. He hadn't cared she'd been in a relationship as he began to pursue her for the next two years until disaster had struck them all, and while she had stayed loyal to Scott she couldn't deny she had been so very tempted by Logan. Opening her eyes, she glanced at Logan and noted he had closed his eyes as his head leaned against the wall. She hadn't wanted to hurt him, but after the fight between Scott and Logan she had decided a choice needed to be made and while she did have feelings for Logan she decided she loved Scott more or at least that is what she had told herself at the time she had begun to realize now that maybe she had been lying to herself to ensure she didn't hurt Scott who she had known longer.

"I made what I hoped was the choice that would hurt less. I've known Scott so long and I didn't want to hurt him by leaving him so I chose to stay with him," Jean admitted finally, causing Logan to turn to look at her even though she continued to stare straight ahead. "I told myself I loved him more, but I've had time to reflect, especially since Scott has been ignoring me in favor of Frost and I've found I was lying to myself so I could avoid hurting someone I had known longer," she continued. "I didn't intend to hurt you Logan, but sadly that is what happened, and then everything erupted when the Hellfire Club tried to capture me setting off the chain of events leading us here," she finished.

"I doubt they intended for Frost to fall for Summers or he for her did they?" Logan mused with a snort, trying his hardest not to see too much into what Jean had just admitted even though he desperately wanted to.

"No that wasn't in their plans and while it did help us save the world and change the future it has done nothing but cause me a headache and the longer it continues the harder it is for me to keep my temper when I see them together," Jean shot back.

"Then let your temper out Jeannie, he has no right to do this to you, especially after all he did trying to find you while you were missing, making us all think he was still nuts about you when clearly that isn't the case anymore," Logan advised. "He needs to make a choice just like he tried to make you make a choice before all this shit happened," he paused as he gently reached out and cupped her cheek and turned her so she was looking at him. Her eyes instantly locked onto his. "I love you Jeannie, I always have and no matter how hard I try I can't stop it," he admitted, causing her to hold her breath. "I will always be here for you no matter what you and Scott finally decide, all I can hope is one day we will get our chance and if not then I will just be glad you are my friend," he added hoping like hell he hadn't just fucked up by confessing his true feelings even if she already knew.

Jean finally let out the breath she had been holding as Logan straight up confessed what she had already known just from the look in his eyes. He loved her and yet even if she decided to stay with Scott he had basically admitted he would content himself with just being her friend even if seeing her and Scott together hurt him every damn day. Unable to help herself or stop her own feelings for Logan getting the better of her she leaned forward and softly pressed her lips against his in a slow sensual kiss. Logan hesitated for a brief second before pulling her closer and turning the kiss more passionate and heated as he knew Jean would regain control of herself which she did a few seconds later when she pulled away but she didn't leave. She continued to stare at him looking slightly lost, but clearly temped to kiss him again. He felt the primal beast within urge him to press her, but he resisted its silent whispers.

"This is just going to get messier, isn't it?" Jean asked with a shake of her head.

"More than likely darling, you do what you need to and find out where you stand I'm not going anywhere I swear," Logan answered.

Jean nodded before she reached out and touched his face briefly before she turned around and went looking for Scott. It was time she and him had a long overdue talk. Yet even as she walked away her mind replayed the brief heated kiss she had just exchanged with Logan and she couldn't deny the desire that swam inside her just thinking about it. Yes, things were going to get messier no matter what was decided between her and Scott. She just hoped whatever happened they could all remain friends and more importantly teammates. Logan watched her go and couldn't help but to sigh sadly. Did he really think he had a chance of Jean leaving Scott for him? He somewhat doubted it, but he always held onto hope.

"Yes hope is the greatest gift man was ever given, you lose that hope and all is lost," Charles's voice suddenly echoed in his mind and when he turned to face the bed where the Professor was he suddenly found himself in the astral plane facing his friend's mental projection through time.

"Hey Chuck, didn't know you were listening in," Logan greeted him.

"I didn't mean to, but I sensed you and Jean near my body and thus sought to contact you. However, I'm glad I did because I can see that while things have settled for the team somewhat since the Phoenix was defeated not all things have been settled," Xavier said in response. "I don't mean to pry Logan, but you must tread carefully here. I know you and Jean have feelings for one another but you already know what getting in the middle of her and Scott can do to you and the team," he cautioned him.

"I know Chuck believe me I know, but it isn't just me this time," Logan replied, suddenly feeling tired. "Scooter's fallen for Frost and has been ignoring Jean since all this shit ended. He spends more time with the blond than he does with his girlfriend. I'm not trying to split them up I just advised her to confront him on where they stand before anymore shit hit us," he explained.

"I see, this is slightly troubling and yet I suppose whatever happens it is Jean's and Scott's choices that matter here," Xavier mused, looking disturbed. "I trust in the end the best choices will be made in the end for everyone's sake. In the mean time I did seek you out for a reason Logan," he added moving things to another topic.

"What's up?" Logan asked suddenly alert just in case their short period of calm was over.

"I've been doing what information gathering I can from the sources we can find where we are, it seems this new future we are now in has a lot to do with Sinister even though he is not the main adversary we face," Xavier informed him. "But clearly he is behind the rise of the Mutant alpha known as Apocalypse, information on him is sadly harder to come by but it seems he is unlike any foe we have fought before. However, what I did find seems to suggest he has been around a lot longer than seems possible going as far back as ancient Egypt," he explained his eye darkening with concern at just how hard a task they now faced. "In your time he seems to be in some form of Hibernation in his tomb. If I'm reading what little I have right he pops up every thousand years or so and then vanishes again when he is defeated," he added.

"So we stop Sinister we stop this Apocalypse then?" Logan inquired.

"I do not believe it will be that simple and going after Sinister now might just be what sets him on the path to finding Apocalypse in the first place. No, for now I just want you to find him and observe him anyway you can," Xavier said with a dismissive wave of his hand at Logan's suggestion. "Find out who his allies are, where he conducts his research and more importantly just what his research is at this moment in time," he advised.

"And if he is looking into this Apocalypse guy?" Logan inquired.

"Then do all you can to stop him from locating Apocalypse's tomb and raising him. If we can do that we may alter the future once more and this time make it truly for the better of us all," Xavier answered hopefully, to which Logan nodded even as the mental contact ended and he found himself once more looking at Xavier's comatose body.

"Don't worry Chuck the X-Men are on it," Logan promised as he turned and exited the room to locate the others and inform them of what Charles had told him.