Chapter 9

The mist hung low, kissing the ground as it swirled about our ankles like a cocoon, enveloping us in its cool embrace as we picked our way down the mountainside. The dew-moistened grass was slick as we started our decent, Logan in the lead. It's beautiful here. Funny, I didn't think so last night. But that was before, this is now. Things looked much different by the light of day. I breathed in the crisp mountain air, fresh and clean. Birds were chirping merrily as the sun continued its rise up and over the mountain. The lush green pines rose straight and tall almost touching the clear blue sky, as the sun peeked through their branches, making ink-blot patterns on the ground. I smiled to myself. I seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

We walked back to camp in companionable silence, I watched Logan as he led the way. So much had happened in the past twelve hours, I could scarcely believe it. I must be crazy. I sized him up from head to toe as we worked our way towards the trail. What was it about this guy that made me lose my mind? Was it his sardonic smile, the way his one eyebrow quirked up when he was amused, or the way his eyes silently spoke with depths of emotion whenever he looked at me? I didn't know. I'd never let my feelings overrule good commonsense before. He confused me like no other: made me forget who I was and what I wanted. When I am with him, I'm not Jean Grey the scientist; I am Jean Grey the woman, a woman with feelings, a woman of passion, a woman in love. I wasn't sure I liked this 'new me'. I had no control over my thoughts or emotions when I was with him; it was frightening yet exhilarating at the same time. It was easy to lose control with Logan; I had come to find out. When we're together I don't care about anything else but him; to be with him, hold him, love him.

I got goose bumps just looking at him. That man certainly knew how to fill out a pair of jeans. I watched as he walked ahead of me and smiled to myself. I remembered when I walked back into the cabin, there was Logan, standing at the stove with a frying pan in his hand, flipping flapjacks like a pro, his jeans molded to his thighs showing the rock hard muscles beneath. His skin stretched taut along his back, exposing the rippling muscles in his shoulders and biceps. I could have jumped on him right then and there. This is so unlike me. He turned when he heard me approach, "Hungry?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said as I grinned at him, "famished."

He got that little smirk on his face that said he didn't think I was talking about the pancakes. "I meant for food."

"I know what you meant." I smiled. I couldn't keep the excitement out of my voice or my heart from beating in a wild rhythm.

"We'll take care of that after we eat."

I could feel the blush as it heated my cheeks. We did eat; quickly. We had a mission to complete and had to get on with it. Before too long, the team would search for us.

I began to feel a little apprehensive the closer we got to camp. What would I say to Scott? What would he say to me? He'd know I spent the night with Logan; and I really didn't want to face him. Not now, not ever. I didn't even realize I'd stopped walking until I heard Logan calling my name. I looked up to see him standing there, his brow furrowed with worry. "Is everything alright?"

"I don't know if I'm ready to face Scott."

Logan sauntered back to me. "You have to face him sometime, and we have to get back." He put his arms around me, pulling me towards him. I put my palms on his shoulders, resting my fingers along the fabric of his worn leather jacket, working it rhythmically as I gazed up at him.

"I know," I said as I reached up and brushed the wayward lock of hair out of his eyes. I mussed up his hair a little. "That's better. I like it this way."

Logan smiled, "You do, do you?"

"Yes, I do," I whispered.

"Well, I'll need some kind of incentive to keep it this way." The playfulness was back in his voice. I loved it. He knew how to draw my attention.

"You want me to bribe you?" I asked in feigned disbelief.

"Your words, not mine. I said incentive."

"Oh, and the difference is?" I prompted.

"A bribe infers money. And I don't want your money." He said huskily.

"Oh no?"

"No," he answered.

"Well then, what do you want?" I asked.

"This," he growled against me as his lips captured mine. I pulled away suddenly raising my hand to my head. The world spun uncontrollably, the voices clouded my brain as they overcame me. Jumbled and disjointed the screeching continued. They echoed randomly, intermingling with each other, becoming a cacophony of sounds. I pressed my hand against my temple. Focus, Jean.

"Has anyone seen them?"

"No."

"I saw Scott last night as he headed out into the woods, but I didn't see him come back."

"Where could they be? Maybe something happened."

"They're looking for us," I said.

"Who?"

"The team. We'd better hurry back."

Most of the crew were gathered at the plane, readying it for the mission. Rogue spun around as she heard us approach. "Logan!" she shouted as she rushed to greet him, "We were worried about you." He smiled as she drew near.

I widened the distance between us as I walked towards the plane.

"Everything all right?" Storm asked as I walked by her.

"Yeah, fine." I looked back over my shoulder to see Rogue reaching up to smooth Logan's hair. The tender look that passed between them made my blood boil with sudden jealousy.

I heard her say, "Where were you guys?"

Logan's reply was muffled when they came again, the images, the flashes of memory ripping through me, paralyzing me with their intensity. In color this time, beautiful vibrant color. Logan and Rogue together – click - in the middle of the night – click - holding each other – click - touching tenderly – click - in his bed - click. No!

"Jean? Are you all right?" Storm asked insistently as she patted my face. I shook my head and looked about. Something was wrong, I thought as I struggled to sit up.

"What happened?" I asked bewildered.

"I don't know, one minute you were walking and the next you were passed out on the ground."

I could already feel the knot starting to swell in the back of my head. Logan rushed up, "Jean, you ok?" I touched the back of my skull gingerly, wincing at the contact.

"Yeah," I said shakily not able to look Logan in the eye. I could see the images replaying in a continuous loop over and over in my mind. I stood up jerkily and brushed the dirt from myself. "I'm fine. Really." But I wasn't fine; I was shaking all over thinking of Logan and Rogue together.

"Where's Scott?" Rogue asked.

Logan looked about him, "He's not here?"

"No, we thought maybe you all were together."

"No. We weren't," Logan said as he looked pointedly at me. I returned the look and silently urged him not to say more.

"We'll set up a search party for him."

"He's not here," I realized as my skin prickled with apprehension. "He's at Alkali Lake."