I'm so so so so so sorry about how late this chapter is. I've had exams and college work, I've started a new job and I simply haven't had the time to write. Still, exams are over so I should get a little better.

Anyway, I don't own plots/characters. If you recognise it, I don't own it.

This chapter has no lemons, but plenty of action scenes so I hope that makes up for it.

Oh, and Victors hunting her down bit by bit. So enjoy

CFx

I felt absolutely no different. I didn't know if that's a good or a bad thing. I didn't feel the urge to gut Gambit anymore which I could only imagine was an improvement, but that might just be because her scent has worn off.

I guessed we wouldn't know if the Professor was successful until Storm returned with Rhea. Then they'd got this great plan where me and her stand really close, I'd smell her and then we'd see if I try and rape her. I swore I didn't know how I got mixed up in this crazy group. It was probably the Cajuns fault.

Talk of the devil and he shall appear I thought as Gambit rounded the corner, behind him were Rhea and Storm. I moved backwards and held my breath, even still, I knew she was a feral. My animal knew and it was raging.

I thought it hadn't worked. I didn't want her any less, the passion was still boiling up, kept at bay by the wall of my will.

Then I felt it, the one, tiny but incredibly important difference. That wall was just a little bit higher than last time, it was just high enough.

I quirked an eyebrow at the Professor,

"That's some talent you've got there." There was a collective sigh of relief around the room, Rhea was looking at me with big brown eyes. I inhaled.

"Whoa!" I backed up quickly, there was that desire again, that raging heat. I took three deep breaths, trying to ignore her scent in the air. Gambit had flung himself in front of Rhea, Wade and Cyclops stepped forward and Storms eyes clouded over.

"No. No, I'm fine. Just give me a minute." I managed to growl out. Rhea was still looking at me with worried eyes. She wasn't worried I was going to hurt her, she was worried about me.

The human side of me felt a bolt of strength upon this realisation. I forced the animal deep down and straightened up. I walked slowly over to her, trying not to startle her or the others. Gambit didn't move when I reached him and deliberately stepped into my path when I tried to walk around him.

"Gambit. Let him pass." The Professor was evidently intrigued to see where I was going with this. The Cajun stepped aside, keeping close just in case.

I stepped forward, close enough to reach down and kiss her if I wanted. I'd have to reach down pretty far, she was very small. Very fragile.

I reached out a hand and snagged an auburn curl, she shivered. I raised the lock of hair to my nose and inhaled the scent of pine trees, she was frozen still. Every nerve in her body had to be screaming at her to run. But she stood her ground. And so did I.

I ran a thumb over a delicate cheek bone and she looked up at me alarmed. At first I was surprised, I was doing so well, She hadn't been that scared before.

Then it dawned on me, I was mirroring her actions from yesterday, right before she broke my neck. She was probably scared I was out for revenge.

"So, I think we've established that it worked, can you stop standing quite so close to her now please? Not trying to be rude or anything mate but I doubt having a great hulking brute who tried to rape you within the last 24 hours invading your personal space makes for a particularly happy mood. Why don't we all get some lunch? Is it too early for lunch? Does that make it brunch? Who wants brunch? No wait, that makes me sound too British, who wants food?"

"No one wants food Wade, now shut up." Cyclops snapped at him.

"You okay Cher? Do you want to see more of the school? We can show you some of the lessons."

"Actually, I think I need to go outside for a bit, is that okay?" I was still standing very close to her, but with Cyclops arguing with Wade behind me there wasn't much room to move back.

"Why doesn't Logan show you the horses? Do you ride Rhea?" The professor cut across the others squabbling. I raised an eyebrow at his suggestion, he wanted to leave me alone with her?

"I used to, a long time ago, I'd love to ride again though."

"Well by all means, feel free to ride any of the horses in the stable, they're all calm and quiet creatures."

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Where's Rhea going and why is she going with Logan?"

"Leave it Wade, the Cher wants to see the horses, Logan is the best with the horses, it's really quite simple. Now Gambit's fairly sure you've got geography to teach the younger classes. Run along have fun with that." I smiled gratefully at the Cajun and he tipped his hat in my direction.

"Don't forget, you gotta teach shop after lunch, don't be late, I can guarantee there'll be a whole gaggle of girls waiting in the garage anxious for the lesson to start." He smiled suggestively at me and I rolled my eyes. Hormonal teenage girls were the bane of my life. They had a tendency to follow me, Gambit and Wade around giggling and staring at us. It was damn annoying.

I turned back to Rhea who was watching the conversation with an amused look on her face.

"Do you want me to show you the horses? Do you want someone to go with us?" I asked her, I wasn't at all sure about this plan. She smiled timidly at me.

"No, it's okay, I think I can handle you, you certainly came off worse for wear after our last little fight." I winced slightly in memory of the pain a broken neck could cause. Then I winced again, imagining all the stick I'd get from Gambit and Wade when this all blows over, beaten by a slip of a girl.

"Alright, we should probably get going, the kids have a riding lesson before lunch and they're annoying as hell." Damn kids, I only liked about 6 of them. Not that there was anything wrong with them, they just annoyed me.

Actually, that reminded me, I still hadn't seen Rogue, I wondered how the Kid was doing, she could get depressed about her mutation.

I shook my head, I was going to need to concentrate, otherwise my control could slip and that could be disastrous.

"Lead the way, I'm still not sure how to find my way around here." She had such trust, if I'd been through what she'd been through in her life I'd be running in the opposite direction, not standing there smiling.

She really was one of a kind.

-xCFx-

I love horses. When I was younger, before me and my dad moved to Vegas I lived on a little farm in North Dakota, we kept all sorts of animals, but a large bay had been my favourite. I was delighted to have been able to ride again and the exercise had flushed my cheeks.

Logan was waiting for me when I'd finished and we went back to the Mansion to get lunch. He decided to plague me with questions the whole way there. We avoided the topic of my life since we first met but we exchanged childhood stories.

I was shocked to discover he was Victors brother. I wondered why Victor had never told me, he'd told me of his childhood in Canada but never had I heard of a brother.

"So, how'd you know the Cajun?" He asked as we sat down with pasta.

"The Cajun?"

"Gambit."

"Gambit? Oh, you mean Remy, we met in Vegas, he tried to cheat me at cards and failed. We got talking after that, I guess we exchanged a lot of secrets, we both needed someone to confide in."

"Secrets?" He asked me with a raised eyebrow, "What kind of secrets?"

"If I told you they wouldn't be secrets anymore now would they?" He laughed, Oh God I think I was actually flirting with him. I changed the subject fast.

"So, tell me about the X-Men, how did you all end up here?"

"Me an' Rogue were attacked and Cyclops and Storm brought us here for medical attention, that was almost a year ago now. I knew Wade and Gambit from the old days, Gambit I met in Vegas and I was in the Army with Wade. I think the Professor found Gambit in prison jail for fraud and Wade is a bit of a long story."

"Why?"

"Well, he used to work with me for a guy named William Stryker. We were in a special mutant team. Anyway, Stryker had Wade strapped to a table ready to do some crazy experiment on him when the X-Men burst in and stopped them. Now we're stuck with the idiot in the corner who seems to think all silences must be filled."

William Stryker, I swore the name rang a bell. I shook the thoughts from my head.

"What about the others?"

"Hank, the blue guy. He was one of the Professors first students and the others all grew up here before becoming X-Men."

"Why does everyone refer to Hank separately to the X-Men?" I asked.

"He's not always here, he's pushing mutant rights diplomatically so he's often in the city talking to big political players. Him and Senator Kelly keep having arguments."

I grinned at him over the table, Logan was easy to talk to, he was still staring at me with intense brown eyes which was a little off putting but he seemed to be holding everything in check.

"Well hello Petite, did you enjoy your ride?" Remy sat down next to us on the long metallic table. The dining hall was beginning to fill up and kids kept looking at me curiously.

"Yeah, your horses are all a little tame though, quiet and shy. They're not really my type." I grinned at him and he laughed.

"Logan's always complaining about that too. Hey, I think Jean and Storm want to take you shopping on account of your lack of possessions, that okay with you Cher?" I smiled and nodded, I really did need some clothes.

"Is that safe? I mean there's quite a few ferals out there are you sure you won't be attacked?" Logan was frowning at me a forkful of pasta hovering in the air halfway to his mouth.

"Hey, I lived in Vegas for over a decade and I only ever came across two ferals, even then I would have been fine if I hadn't decided to jump into a fight with one of them. Large populations mask my scent, that's why we moved to Vegas in the first place. I should be fine in New York."

"That's great, what sort'a pasta is it today?" Came Remy's reply as he reached over with a fork and tried to steal Logan's. Logan simply growled at him and batted him away. They were like one big, happy, if slightly dysfunctional family.

-xCFx-

I was beginning to regret offering to take the girls into the city. Sure it got me out of teaching the younger kids sex education but now I had to put up with Jean repeatedly asking.

"Scott honey, what do you think of this one?" and holding up a t-shirt in a slightly lighter shade of blue than the last one.

"It's lovely." I smiled and nodded before turning away and dropping the expression. Don't get me wrong I love my wife, but there's only so much clothes shopping a man can take. I decided to turn the conversation to more interesting topics.

"So Rhea, do you use any weapons when you fight? Or do you fight at all? We could teach you."

"I fight just fine thanks, and I like hunting knives but I can get away with just using my hands and feet as I guess you saw yesterday." Oh yeah, I remembered her repeatedly snapping Logan's neck, there's a memory I can treasure. I guess she could fight.

"You should try out the danger room when we get back, Wade showed you where it is didn't he?" I smiled at her.

"Yeah, it sounds really inter- No, there is no way I'm wearing something that restricting." I turned around to see Storm holding a full length almost skin tight denim skirt up. Rhea was shaking her head desperately, she turned to me with big scared eyes.

"Save me, please." I laughed, apparently I wasn't the only one that hated shopping.

-xCFx-

They were coming at me with the needles and the drills. I'm not stupid, I knew what they meant, they meant pain. More pain than I'd ever experienced anywhere else in my life. Stryker was standing somewhere outside my vision giving orders. I tried to wrench myself free but my movements were sluggish.

I felt something change and my eyes snapped open. In an instant I took in the figure standing over me and reacted instinctively, unsheathing my claws and driving them deep into their chest.

Rogue gasped slightly staring at the blades embedded in her flesh and like a jolt of electricity I took in what I'd done.

"No..." She was struggling to breathe. I pulled back the claws.

"Somebody help. SOMBODY HELP!" I roared. Rogue reached out her hand and in a moment I understood what she was doing. I flinched away slightly but I didn't try to stop her.

There was a flicker of light and I caught a glimpse of Cyclops and Rhea by the door before she touched me and set my body on fire. I could feel every cell in my body dying slowly, trying to heal but not repairing the damage quick enough.

I was unable to form a coherent thought through the pain and my head went blank.

"Logan." I awoke to the sound of the Professor voice. I opened my eyes slowly.

"What happened? Is she alright?"

"She'll be fine."

"What did she do to me?"

"Whenever Rogue touches anyone she takes their energy, their life force. In the case of mutants she absorbs their gifts for a while, in your case, your ability to heal." He answered calmly. I noticed the sweet scent in the room and through the dark I made out the shape of Rhea sat cross legged at the end of my bed.

"I feel like she almost killed me."

"If she'd held on any longer, she could have." He laid a hand on my arm before leaving. I turned to Rhea,

"You watching over me kid?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Kid? Why am I a Kid?" She asked in a rather angry tone.

I grinned slightly, unable to resist taunting her.

"Everyone's a kid when you're my age darlin' you me to stop calling you it you're going to have to come over here and prove you aren't one." She raised an eyebrow at me.

"And here was me thinking that the Professor fixed that particular part of your head."

"I can hold it back darlin' but I really don't want to sometimes, say when I wake up in a room covered in your scent." She blushed furiously and looked away.

"I'm not going to take you by force, but that doesn't mean I'm above seducing you."

"You have a very high opinion of yourself, what makes you think I'd ever let that happen." She was teasing a little now and I couldn't help retaliating.

"Well, if I remember correctly, you didn't seem so opposed to it yesterday." She blushed again and scowled at me, I chuckled lightly at her reaction. Her arousal had been hard to miss yesterday what with her being so close.

"That's not fair, I can't help the way I smell."

"It's alright Kid, I liked it."

"I'll bet you did." She muttered and my grin widened.

"Best go find Rogue and apologise, she's probably furious with me. Can you toss me my shirt?"

She plucked it off a chair and threw it to me before walking quickly out the door with a wave goodbye. I watched her hips sway as she left and stared appreciatively. Damn.

-xCFx-

"Good news Mr Creed, there was a satellite in the area that caught a glimpse of what happened, would you like to see the footage?" I nodded impatiently as the hacker I'd employed brought it up on the main screen.

A jet. A jet had landed and taken her away. The chances of her being kidnapped were dramatically increasing. It wasn't close up enough to see people so he couldn't be sure but it wasn't like she could have contacted anyone.

"We managed to track the jet for the majority of the journey, it was heading for New York, however as entered NY airspace it would appear to disappear. It had probably entered stealth mode."

"Why would it do that? Could they know we could track them? This could be a decoy." I growled out. I had no time for delays.

"Actually, it was probably to avoid being shot out of the air. It's a specialised jet that would have the army in defence mode quicker than you could blink. They're unlikely to have had clearance for a flight or a registered flight plan." I nodded, that made sense. This hacker was better than the ones I usually ended up with.

"Okay, so my package landed somewhere in New York? How can we be sure?" I asked. The hacker answered quickly.

"Well the trajectory is wrong for them to be heading anywhere else, as to where they landed I couldn't be sure. Perhaps you'd be better following this up in the City, you may, catch some scents so to speak." There was no fear in the man's voice and no insult he was fully aware that I was a mutant and he couldn't care less. I liked him, he was quick, efficient and didn't ask too many questions.

"What's your name boy?" He raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Why do you ask?" He wasn't naive either, didn't trust people easily, the kind of thing that'd keep him alive.

"If I ever have another job I'm coming to you, for that I'll need your name." He nodded his head slowly.

"Alexander Lewis. But you can call me Technopath, everyone else does."

"You're a mutant?" He laughed.

"Nah, mutants aren't the only group in society that get nicknames, us computer nerds get them too."

I nodded,

"How much do I owe you."

"For a standard search and locate it's five grand but considering I didn't actually find your package let's call it three." I dropped ten thousand dollars on the desk in a few neat bundles.

"Keep the change." I shot at him before turning to leave.

New York wouldn't know what hit it.

-xCFx-

"What's going on?" I found Logan having what seemed like a heated argument with the other X-Men.

"Rogue's taken off and these lot won't let me out to go find her." He growled. I looked around confused.

"Why not?"

"Magneto is after Logan, we can't risk giving him the opportunity to abduct him this close to the UN summit." Argued Cyclops.

"Magneto's after Logan? Why?" I was getting more and more confused.

"We don't know, but Cyclops is right, we can't risk it. Storm, Cyclops why don't you take Rhea and head over to the station." Answered the Professor.

"Why's Rhea going?" Cut in Wade.

"Because we might as well show her how it's done." Answered Cyclops grinning at me. I smiled back happy with this plan. Logan scowled and wandered off.

I was just climbing in the car after Storm when Cyclops looked around confused,

"Where's my bike? Hell, Logan's taken it again hasn't he! When's he going to start acting responsibly?"

"You don't like Logan." I noted.

"We don't see eye to eye." Was the only response I got.

There was an awkward silence after that.

"Right, me and Rhea will take a look around, Storm you go and check with the ticket agent." I looked around the train station curiously.

I'd only seen Rogue once and then I hadn't really been concentrating on her so I wasn't all too sure who I was looking for. Fortunately I did remember her scent so I was casting around for that instead. That was sort of the point I got scared half to death.

A feral male. I could smell a feral male. Seriously? I lived in a huge city for over a decade and I didn't see a single feral male until Victor came along. I'd been out in New York less than half an hour and here one was.

Adrenaline pumped into my veins and I wheeled around looking for Scott. The sight that greeted me was not a happy one. A huge man with a mane of blond-ginger hair was looming over me, he had claws like Victor and eyes that were just black pools.

He jumped towards me and I dodged running fast towards a pillar in the centre of the hall. I could hear him chasing me down but this time I was calm and collected. Victors lessons ran fast through my head and I quickly formed a plan.

I reached the pillar and ran straight up it with my inhuman grace. Below me the brute collided hard with the stone and I flipped over his head, landing behind him. People were screaming around me as I whirled around kicking him hard into the pillar he'd just pushed himself off.

The rest of my plan was interrupted by a huge blast of red light that caused the ceiling to explode. Momentarily distracted I lost track of the monster pursuing me. He took the opportunity and jumped at me again causing me to summersault backwards in order to evade his grasp.

The last thing I saw was him leaping at me again before a large piece of rubble connected hard with my head and all I saw was black.

-xCFx-

"You said he was after me!" I shouted furiously. Not only had the Professor lost Rogue but he'd put Rhea in danger too. How could he not have considered that Sabretooth was a feral mutant. If he had, maybe Rhea wouldn't be in the medical room right now being checked over by Jean.

"I made a terrible mistake. His helmet is somehow designed to block my telepathy. I couldn't see what he was after until it was too late." I shook my head at him and grabbed my jacket.

"Where are you going?" Storm was following me.

"To find her."

"How?" I scowled at the Professor.

"The traditional way; look." I left angrily but I could hear Storm following me.

"Logan, you can't do this alone."

"Yeah well I'm sick of waiting around for the rest of you to do something. Where are Gambit and Wade Storm? Where were they when Rhea was attacked? Sat on their arses back here that's where! You've all been going on for months about Magneto and the UN summit but now it's here you aren't doing anything! I can't sit around and do nothing. I'm going to find Rogue and I'm going to stop that thing coming after Rhea."

I flung the door open and was about to step through it when I realised there was something in my way. A man was leaning heavily on the door frame sweating considerably. I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm looking for Dr Jean Grey." He forced out before collapsing against me.

Great.

-xCFx-

I was just about shaking myself awake when Scott and Wade came charging into the room holding the Professor between them. He wasn't conscious and I could tell by his scent that something was really wrong.

"What happened?" I asked blearily but they were too busy with the Professor to notice I was awake.

"Get Jean, NOW!" Scott roared at Wade and as he exited Remy slipped past him and dashed up to the Professors side.

"What's wrong with him? How'd this happen?" He asked desperately, supporting the Professors head as he helped Scott get him on to the bed.

"I found him collapsed by Cerebro, something must have gone wrong."

"Aw Hell, he was looking for Magneto right? Brilliant." He was scowling when he looked over to me and surprise flickered across his face.

"Rhea, you okay Cher? It's good to see you awake but you missed all the excitement. Senator Kelly wandered over and died from some crazy machine Magneto turned on him, the Professors collapsed and we've discovered that Magneto's going to use Rogue to power his machine. All the while you've been sleepin' down here."

I looked up at him confused.

"Senator Kelly?" He laughed at me lightly.

"You'll catch up eventually Petite." Then He turned back to look at the Professor his face etched with worry. Jean ran into the room with Wade hot on her heels and shot over to the Professor and began taking his pulse and some other readings wasn't all too sure on.

"Come on Rhea, I think we can only crowd them in here." He slipped his arm around my waist and helped me from the room, Wade followed us out and collapsed next to the wall just outside the door, for once he had no smart comments.

Remy was just helping me to the wall when a guttural growl emanated from down the corridor. I whipped my head around to see Logan glaring at Remy's arm around my waist. He stormed down the corridor and wrenched me away from Remy with a warning look in his eyes.

Keeping one arm around me he slid down one of the walls and sat down opposite Wade. Gambit shook his head and sat down next to Wade.

His grip on me was still tight but not painfully so. I was confused and tired so I snuggled into his warmth and slid back to sleep with the comforting sound of his heartbeat in my ears.

"Jean? JEAN!" I blinked my eyes lazily as I watched Scott run past shouting her name. Wade and Remy had gone but Logan was still next to me.

"What's the problem? She's just fixing it." He called out to an overly anxious Scott.

The doors to Cerebro were closing though and from here I could sense something wasn't right. I could smell Jeans panic and I straightened up to go help.

As fast as they closed the doors were open again but I could see Jean kneeling on the floor. I ran full pelt down the corridor and I just reached the room when I heard Jean tell Scott,

"I know where Magneto is going."

After that everything happened pretty fast. We all ended up gathered in a room I hadn't seen before with what appeared to be a giant bowl of liquid metal. Apparently it wasn't though because when Scott started talking it moved to create 3d images of cities and islands.

"Magneto is here, Liberty Island. Now presumably his objective is to mutate the world leaders at the UN Summit on Ellis Island." Storm cut in,

"He doesn't know his machine kills, and judging from what the Professor saw, if Magneto gave Rogue enough power..."

"He could wipe out everyone in New York city." Finished Jean.

"No pressure then." Came the reply from Wade who seemed to have got his humour back. Scott just rolled his eyes at him.

"Right, we can insert here at the George Washington Bridge, come around the bank, just off Manhattan, we land on the far side of Liberty Island, here." A spot appeared on the 3d display.

"Right, you get the Jet ready, we'll go suit up, Storm can you find something for Rhea to wear." Logan asked, still chewing on his cigar.

"Wait up. The Cher isn't coming with us, we can't put her in that sort of danger." Objected Remy. I turned to him scowling, immediately infuriated at the suggestion I couldn't handle it but Logan beat me to it.

"Listen here Cajun. She can handle herself in a fight, believe me and even if she couldn't, I ain't leaving her here. Now, I don't think Sabretooth knew she was with us, but if he did then he'll be coming here for her so there is no way in hell I'm leaving her here undefended. You got that?"

I had to hand it to Remy, he properly considered Logan's argument before declaring

"You're right, but I don't think we've got a suit that'd fit, the Cher's a fair amount smaller than Storm 'n Jean."

"Hey, I'm here you know!" I objected to being talked about like I wasn't there.

"Sorry Petite."

"Besides, I don't need a suit, why would I? I need something none restricting which your suits really don't look and what's the worst that could happen? I get shot or stabbed? Heaven forbid I'd have to heal myself." I rolled my eyes.

"Believe me boys I'll find something."

'Something' ended up being a long sleeved black top, my denim shorts and footless tights, I wasn't even wearing shoes, they'd just slow me down.

Wade, Remy and Logan all protested at my choice of outfit but Scott shouted them down.

"It's fine, now Rhea come here I've got a couple of things to add."

His 'couple of things' turned out to be knives. Hunting knives specifically, he must have remembered our conversation yesterday. Leather straps circled my waist and upper thighs as well as one looping around my shoulders.

I was carrying seven knives in various places within easy reach. I grinned at him. This was going to be fun.

-xCFx-

New York, this place was filthy and crude, just like it's people. My kind of place. I'd been in the city for over a day now and no one had seen my girl. I growled lightly into the night air.

I was contemplating finding a motel to bed down in when a niggling feeling entered my head. Never one to ignore my instincts I turned my head towards the harbour and began casting for scents.

I found nothing but I didn't disregard the feeling, my instincts had never been wrong. Launching myself up the side of an apartment block I began racing across the roof tops in the direction of the harbour, casting for scents as I went.

I reached the water's edge and looked across it dejectedly. I really didn't want to have to swim through that for nothing. I began casting for scents again.

Nothing. I growled deeply. Any scents there might have been were masked by that God awful jet exhaust, where was that even coming from anyway?

Jet exhaust. I froze. JET EXHAUST. The smell was slightly familiar, just like the lingering scent back at the house in Canada. Roaring in triumph I plunged into the water, following the scent trail.

Better keep running Kitten, I'm coming for you.

-xCFx-

I whipped around at the sound of an alarm and was shocked to see Logan walking through the metal detector. I mean come on, even I wasn't that stupid. He sliced through it before sheathing two of his claws keeping one pointed at Scott. I stifled a giggle.

Wade shot me a smile and vaulted over an exhibition just like I had.

Logan stopped suddenly and began sniffing. I did the same.

"There's someone here." We said simultaneously.

"More than one" I added and he nodded.

"Where?" Scott asked and Logan rolled his eyes.

"I don't know, keep your eye open." He smirked before walking further ahead.

"Logan, play nice." Remy frowned at him, I glanced around quickly and realising it was useless I switched to my hearing instead. One, no, two were on the balcony and a third was apparently hanging in the rafters. I could hear their hearts beat.

"Two up there, one over there." I pointed and the others looked a little shocked but glanced around where I told them. Logan returned at this point.

"I know there's someone here, I just can't see them." Something was off about him, he didn't smell right. I watched his claws come out.

"Scott!" I screamed as Logan lunged at him. Suddenly a second Logan appeared from nowhere and tackled him sending them both rolling into an adjacent room. With a satisfied smirk one of them sliced a rope causing the door to slide closed. Cursing Scott turned around.

"Where are they?" He asked me quickly. I pointed again. The one on the rafters moved, fast. Swinging down he hit Scott hard and dragged another door closed, cutting us off. His green face was a triumphant smirk. Two of our biggest fighters gone within seconds. I squared my shoulders keeping close tabs on the two on the balcony.

One minute one was there, the next it was standing right in front of me. It was a tall woman with Dark hair scraped back in a bun, my quick reactions were the only thing that stopped her from landing her fist in my face.

I danced around her before kicking her towards Wade and Gambit. They should probably have taken the hint and attacked but they hung back, waiting for an order that wasn't coming. The Professor was out of play and Scott could hardly give orders from behind the concrete door.

"You two, take the teleporter!" I shouted as I blocked a punch from the green creature and darted back towards Jean and Storm.

"Jetstream!" The toad shouted and a noise I'd never heard before echoed above our heads. A figure swooped down and collided hard with Storm, propelled by what seemed like a none existent jet engine.

That left Jean and I against the green person. I gritted my teeth and as he jumped forwards we skittered back. He laughed and began dancing happily before leaping at us. My arms went up to defend my face and I coloured slightly in embarrassment as I realised that Jean had caught him with her telekinesis.

He looked curiously at his suspended body before locking eyes with Jean and spitting slime at her that coated her face, preventing her from breathing.

"Jean!" I grabbed at the slime but I felt something strong grasp onto my ankle and throw me up to the balcony. The toad jumped after me cackling madly. I glanced quickly at Jean, but I'd never get close enough with the toad following me around. Finish it quickly then.

He ran at me and I back flipped over his head, using his shoulders as leverage. I pulled out two hunting knives and whirled around to face him. He looked at me curiously before lashing out.

I dodged his tongue but my attempt a sliding a knife through his ribs was hindered by his foot connecting hard with my stomach. I fell backwards, gasping for breath and used the railing to pull myself upright.

"My, my, where are your manners, we haven't even been introduced. You're not one of the X-Men, you don't even have a uniform."

My bruised stomach healed but I remained doubled over, all the better if he believed me incapacitated. He licked his lips and I shuddered.

"Come on Sweetie, Gimme a kiss." I dropped to the floor and swiped his legs from beneath him before burying a knife in his thigh. He screamed out in pain and I allowed myself a grim smile before I leapt up and twisted the second knife towards his heart.

His tongue caught my arm, twisting it sideways so I had to drop the knife which he caught expertly before thrusting into my chest.

It hurt. A lot. But in a sick, twisted way it was worth to see his look of shock when I calmly pulled the knife out and the wound healed. I grinned at him.

"Having fun?" I asked in an overly sweet voice before punching him with my free hand. I vaulted on to the railing pulling a third knife out from my person. I had to finish this soon before I ran out of knives. The railing was thin but my mutation easily compensated for it.

The toad jumped up too, now a little more wary of me. His tongue lashed out and in a calculated movement I flipped backwards, releasing the knives in mid air so that they embedded into the wall behind me, I continued doing flips and somersaults along the railing until I too reached the wall.

The toad was hot on my heels and so when I reached the wall and grasped the two knives it was ridiculously easy for me to pull them out of the plasterboard and shove one into his chest.

He looked down in surprise at the hilt protruding from his chest.

"Well, at least I'm having fun." I told him before dragging the second knife across his throat.

His body collapsed to the ground below and I followed it, trying to find Jean. Scott had already found her and released her from the sticky green stuff but from the sounds coming from the far side of the balcony, Storm wasn't doing so well. Wade and Remy were being played with by the teleporter who had them running in circles.

Scott took in the scene with calculating eyes.

"Go help the boys." He told me before starting to climb the balcony with Jean.

I ran forwards but had to dodge a glowing purple playing card aimed in my direction.

"Sorry!" Came the muffled shout from Remy as Wade crashed into him and the two went flying. They stood up looking around in annoyance.

"Having trouble boys?" I grinned at them. The knife in my hand was still slick from the toads blood and I must have looked pretty scary because they both nodded meekly.

My senses stirred and I realised what I was feeling. I could sense her moving the air particles from where she wanted to be. I narrowed my eyes, flipped the blade over in my hand before throwing it hard at Remy.

The look of fear and betrayal in his eyes was heart breaking. But luckily the teleporter appeared just where I expected her to be and the knife landed firmly in her back. Remy's face appeared around the frozen teleporter displaying shock and understanding.

"Oh." He murmured. Wade stepped forward and finished her off with a flick of a Katana.

Logan jogged up and looked us all over. Wade aimed a Katana at him and Remy pulled out a glowing playing card.

"Guys, it's fine, it's him." I told them but they didn't lower their guard.

"How'd you know Cher?" I wrinkled up my nose.

"I can smell him." They all chuckled at that and we went to regroup.

"What happened to the other guy?" I asked Storm as we climbed the stairs.

"He got struck by lightning." She said with a straight face.

"Tragedy." I told her and she laughed.

I almost walked into the back of Logan when he stopped at the top of the stairs. He was standing completely still looking out of the giant hole that had been blown in the Statue of Liberties head.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Get out, everyone get out now."

"Why?"

"I can't move." I jumped back lightly as he was flung by an invisible force against one of the walls. The distraction prevented me from noticing the strips of metal until it was too late and I was flung against the wall with the rest of the team.

Magneto, or at least that's who I presumed it was descended through the hole in the ceiling. He glanced around before speaking.

"Ah, my brothers. Welcome, and you." He turned to Logan with a cold stare that made me shudder.

"Let's point those claws of yours in a safer direction." He reached out his hand bringing his fist together and my eyes grew wide with horror as I watched Logan's arms be forced to his chest, a metal strip binding them there.

I froze as the great hulking mass of Sabretooth dropped through the roof.

"You better close your eyes." Magneto told Scott as Sabretooth pulled his visor away. So far the feral hadn't noticed my presence but that wasn't going to last long.

"Storm, fry them." He ordered, now even I could see that was a stupid idea.

"Oh yes, a bolt of lightning into a huge copper conductor. I thought you lived at a school." Magneto mocked him, I couldn't help myself.

"I agree, lightning is a bad idea, but here's a fun thought, we're all tied to the walls so a tornado would be mighty handy right now." Magneto looked a little shocked and Storms eyes began to cloud over.

But Magneto just lifted a hand and a piece of metal wrapped around Wade's throat.

"Try it and he dies." Storms eyes returned to normal. Magneto began to fiddle with his communicator and Sabretooth had gone to hover by the big hole, something I was pretty happy with as the fresh air would keep my scent at bay for a little while.

"Mystique. Mystique. Astra?" He called into his communicator.

"I've seen Senator Kelly." Jean called.

"So, the good Senator survived his fall, and the swim to shore. He's become even more powerful than I could have imagined."

"He's dead." Interrupted Jean.

"It's true, I saw him die. Like those people down there will die." Spoke up Storm. Magneto leaned close to her,

"Are you sure you saw what you saw?"

"Why do none of you understand what I'm trying to do? Those people down there, they control our fate, and the fate of every other mutant. Well soon our fate will be theirs."

Rogues screaming could be heard above us and I hissed in anger.

"You're so full of shit." Logan growled at him. "If you were really so righteous it'd be you in that thing." Magneto just stared at him.

"Wade's right, if we ever go to war with the humans, my moneys on you to have been the cause." I spat at him.

He turned to me.

"I don't think we've been introduced my dear." I glared harshly at him before lowering my head in a mock bow.

"Rhea Nightingale at your service."

"It's been a delight." He told me before leaving.

Suddenly Logan roared in pain and I switched my attention back to him. He'd fallen to the floor in a pained heap.

"Logan!" I screamed, struggling against my restraints. Sabretooth wandered over to inspect his body carelessly. He grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and was hauling him up when Logan unleashed his claws and drove them into the larger man's body.

Sabretooth roared in pain before throwing Logan out of the hole. I sobbed quietly and suddenly the man's entire body stiffened. He turned to me, eyes boring into me as he realised who I was, a long claw, similar to Victors trailed across my cheek.

"Scream for me." He growled and I shrunk back away from him. Logan jumped quickly back through the hole, locking eyes with me he took in my tears and just how close the hulking mass was and I could smell his anger boil up further.

"Get back over here bub, I'm not done with you yet." The monster turned back to him and charged at him, knocking him back out of the whole as they scrambled for purchase outside. A few roars later there was a worrying sliding noise and Logan's claws appeared a few inches from Jean's face.

Sabretooth jumped back down towards me and ripped the metal strips away, hauling me towards him, his claws digging deep into my forearms, I struggled desperately but he was far stronger than me and my efforts made little difference.

He was suddenly blasted off me by a flash of purple light. I turned around to see Remy grinning at me. He must have managed to get a card out of his pocket. Before I could really register what was going on Sabretooth was back on his feet and dragging me towards the hole in the roof.

Once outside underneath the night sky I could hear Rogues screams clearly as the torch exploded around her. Sabretooth continued dragging me across the statue when Logan appeared before us. He shook his head at Sabretooth.

"Don't touch my girl."

With that he kicked him, hard. The force sent him spinning off the edge of the statue. He would have taken me with him if Logan hadn't grabbed my arm and hauled me roughly against him, burying his head in my neck and wrapping his arms around my slim frame.

"Erm, Rogue?" I prompted and he quickly snapped out of it.

"Right, Rogue, yes." Together we climbed back into the hole.

-xCFx-

I shook the water from my coat as I padded onto the small island, I'd found the damn jet parked in the water. Good news, it'd been coated in the Kittens scent. Bad news, she wasn't there. I growled angrily to myself, I knew who owned the fucking jet too, it was covered in damn X's it was pretty obvious.

The X-Men had swooped in and taken my Kitten and they were going to rue the day they so much as spoke her name. I was following her scent trail when a much fresher source of her scent appeared within my range. Deciding I could afford a quick detour I followed my nose.

A feral mutant. A male feral mutant was slowly lifting himself off the ground. He was coated in his own blood and the majority of his bones appeared to be broken. My eyes widened slightly as I realised he must have fallen.

Her scent was still coming from him despite the amount of blood which meant that he must have held her pretty close. I was not happy. Understatement. I was fucking furious. I hauled him roughly to his feet and shook my head at him."

"Don't touch my girl." I told him before promptly ripping his head from his shoulders.

'Coming to get you Kitten.' I thought to myself savagely.

-xCFx-

"Cyclops can you hit it?" Logan asked, we were all gathered around the hole in the roof now.

"The rings are moving too fast." Answered Cyclops who'd been reunited with his visor.

"Just shoot it!"

"I'll kill her! Storm, can you get me up there?"

"I can't control it like that. You could fly right over the torch."

"Then let me go." Interrupted Logan. "If I don't make it, then at least you can still blast the damn thing."

"Whoa, no." I hissed, "That's basically suicide."

"Nothing's really suicide for us darling, you know that." I nodded slightly and he leant down and kissed me. It was possessive, but at the same time it was soft and loving, very, very loving. I gasped for breath as he pulled away. He pressed a set of dog tags into my palm and turned to face the torch.

I stared at the tags in my hand. Suddenly, Victors seemed to weigh a ton hanging around my neck. Crap.

I jolted my eyes back to his figure as he grasped the machine desperately. I sighed in relief as he managed to jump down next to Rogue.

"Magneto." I hissed as he lifted an arm to stop Logan in his tracks.

"Aw Hell." Came Wade's reply from my left. "Fuck off you Dick!" He shouted angrily.

Scott lifted a hand to his visor.

"Scott wait." Called Jean.

"I have a shot...I'm taking it." He told her and a beam of red streaked across the sky, connecting with Magneto's back.

"Good shooting!" Shouted Wade as Logan broke free and cut the machine to ribbons. I jumped up and down in triumph, grinning manically.

"We have to get out of here, I can't imagine that went unnoticed." Spoke Storm from the back of the group.

"I'll go fetch the Blackbird." Storm hopped lightly out of the hole and glided down to the water below. I returned my gaze to the torch, but I couldn't see Logan or Rogue. I hissed impatiently. He'd better be all right I thought to myself, gripping his dog tags.

-xCFx-

I raced up the steps on all fours. What the hell she was doing at the top of the Statue of Liberty I couldn't tell you, but her scent was fresh and I wasn't arguing with my nose.

I reached the top only to find it empty. I roared in fury as the scent of the jet exhaust washed over me. Gone. She was gone again. But I'd find her, you mark my words I'd find her. The X-Men huh? Well that's just fine by me, I already know where you live. I grinned manically.

Poor little Kitten, you really shouldn't have run.

-xCFx-

Alright, thanks for reading as always, I'll apologise again for how very late this chapter is.

I hope you liked the re-write of X-Men 1 I hope I made it interesting enough for you, I would hate for you to be bored.

Well, it's 04:40 in the morning and I'm going to bed, night all.

CFx