"Get your hands off of him!"

Reid wasn't necessarily surprised to see Morgan stand by the door with his gun drawn once again, clearly misinterpreting Logan´s hold on him for danger judging by his stance and expression. Still, he felt his heart clench at the awful situation he´d gotten them into. Got if only he had told Morgan earlier, if only he were less suspicious, if only…

Well, it didn't matter now. All he could do was try and fix this somehow before Logan did. He had a feeling that that would end much less pleasantly considering both men were equally hotheaded.

As if on cue, he felt Logan sigh close to him and knew what he was thinking. This kind of felt like a thriller movie to which he´d already seen the end.

He took a deep breath as he fully turned around, pulling his hand out of Logan´s but remaining between the two men. Enough to take some of the tension away maybe and show Morgan he wasn't in peril but not enough to give him a clear shot. He´d be damned if he´d go through that whole mess twice.

Logan let him even though he was obviously annoyed –if not impatient. Reid pushed down the feeling of misery in his gut at the thought that these could very well be his last minutes with Morgan. Logan hadn't demanded they leave again since he´d arrived, but getting shot again was unlikely to make him more open to conversation.

"Morgan…Derek…", he began carefully, putting his hands up in an appeasing gesture: "It´s okay, he´s not gonna-"

"Reid, get away from him, I got you covered!", Morgan interrupted, still aiming at Logan´s head: "Make one move, big guy, and I'll put so many bullets in you even you won't get up from it!"

Logan scoffed at his words but he sounded little amused. Reid felt him step forward and blindly moved one arm to signal for him to stay back. Luckily, it seemed to work.

At least it did until Morgan provoked him even further: "What, too scared to face me without a shield? Not so tough after all, huh?"

Reid wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a tactic to distract the alleged UnSub from his "hostage" or if Morgan was just venting his aggression, but he barely managed to grab hold of Logan´s arm as the man made to push past him.

Logan's hands found his upper arms, slightly squeezing in warning that he wasn't going to watch the situation get out of hand any more. Reid refused to move even an inch and luckily Logan was polite enough to pretend that he couldn't just pick him up like a rag doll if he wanted to.

"No!", he snapped at both of them equally: "Morgan, stop it! Please… just listen to me for a moment."

The whole situation as making him as frustrated as it made him nervous. Not for himself of course –like Morgan would ever shoot him. But he could see the chaotic flickers of emotion in the other agent´s eyes, the way he looked just like when they had an especially dangerous arrest to make. He really was convinced that Logan was all sorts of evil and that they were both in lethal danger.

He had to do something. If Morgan kept this up Logan was sure to lose his temper at some point and fact was if it came down to it Logan could snap him in half like a twig.

"Derek, there's no need for…!"

But his almost-boyfriend didn't even listen to him, still fixated on Logan: "Step away from him, man, I'm not gonna say it again!"

Reid assumed that Morgan was talking to Logan now because of his tone. He groaned in frustration. How the hell was he supposed to explain anything when Morgan didn't even listen? He couldn't let Logan get shot in the head each time he needed some time to talk quietly!

The grip on his upper arm tightened and he had to dig his heels into the floor to keep from being pushed to the side.

"Jonah, move.", Logan said quietly, voice tight.

He sounded as annoyed as he sounded concerned, considering Morgan was getting more and more agitated and Reid was still in the line of fire.

Reid saw Morgan tense even more at the touch, his finger tightening on the trigger, but refused to move to the side: "No! I'm not gonna let you two act like teenagers. We need to have a rational conversation about this. Morgan, calm down. You don't have to worry about Logan…he´s on our side, he´s not gonna hurt us. Just put down the gun so we can talk."

He hated how it seemed that he was talking Morgan down now like he would an UnSub, but he didn't know what else to do.

"I´m not doing anything, until you're standing next to me.", Morgan growled, inching closer slowly, gun always trained on Logan´s head.

Morgan knew he was losing control, that he shouldn't even be pointing a gun in Reid´s direction even if it was just because he was inconveniently covering Logan.

He had no idea what was going on, how Logan was here or what would possess Reid to still trust him after what he´d done. Denial probably. He must be so afraid of losing him that he´d easily believed his lies.

But he couldn't worry about that right now. And he couldn't back down like he knew he should. It was the first thing they learned about situations like these, don't aggravate the criminal or he might snap and harm whoever is closest. Which in this case was Reid.

He just couldn´t stop thinking of those claws sliding into the men's chest like they were out of butter, the way he had stabbed them without a second of hesitation or remorse. And Reid was so damn close to those deadly weapons, not even watching his back.

How could he protect him if Reid didn't realize he needed protection? It was killing him to be so stuck, so helpless…

"There's no point, Jonah.", Logan then said, and actually pushed him to the side with little to no effort.

Morgan didn't wait to see what he was planning: he took the first opening he saw, aimed for the mutant´s heart and pulled the trigger.

He barely saw Logan's expression change to one of anger before the man´s shape moved so quickly that it practically blurred before his eyes.

The bullet hit the opposite wall, he heard Reid yell something and the next thing he knew he was hit in the chest by what felt like a small station wagon, knocking the air out of him and making him see stars in pain. His back hit the wall that had been five feet away just a second ago, and he found himself pinned with a muscled forearm across his collarbones.

He blinked past the pain and the blood rushing n his ears as he stared into the mutant's eyes, ready to feel a stabbing pain that meant his likely death. It didn't come though, Logan just kept him pinned to the wall with no room to move. Was he dragging it out?

Morgan had no idea and no way to fight him off. He´d lost his gun and as much as he pushed against the man´s grip he couldn't make him move. Logan held him in place easily, augmenting the pressure to his throat slightly when he kicked at his legs.

He heard Reid yell again as he closed in and he wished he could tell him to stay away, but there was barely enough air to breathe in his lungs. Logan didn't turn around though, his attention solely focused on Morgan as he glared down at him:

"Now, you listen to me, boy. I'm done playing your games, I don't care about your opinions about me but I'm tired of dealing with you when I have bigger worries. So here´s the short version of what Jonah´s been trying to say over your yelling: I have no interest in killing you -if I did I could have done that three times by now. I killed those men in the parking lot to protect Jonah and that's all I'm here for, ok?"

"Like hell…", Morgan panted as disdainfully as he could manage. In response the pressure on his collarbone increased painfully and he gasped.

"I don't care if you believe me."; Logan told him: "Fact is, you have nothing on me and even if you shoot me a hundred times, all it gets you is about five minutes to try and make a run for it. I get that you're worried about Jonah and that you want him to stay with you. Now, I have no right to meddle with his private life -but I will if it endangers his life. And right now it does. Your thick headedness does."

He glared down at the agent, trying to reign in his anger. A little calmer, he said: "So here is how it´s gonna go: you´re not gonna sabotage my actions anymore and I´ll go back to ignoring just how much you annoy me. Then maybe we can cooperate. But Jonah is going where I´m going so I can protect him. So if you want us to stay, quit with the bullshit! The second you endanger him by trying to run off again, I´m done and we´re gone. Are we clear?"

There were a lot of things Morgan wanted to say to that but even in his state he saw the logic in Logan´s speech. It didn't even matter if he trusted the mutant. He had no choice but to do as he said unless he wanted to risk losing Reid, or getting one of them killed fighting. For now he had to comply…and hope that Logan was the sort of crazy murderer who cared about his family aka Reid. Yeah, right, because those were rampant…

"Yes.", he ground out despite his doubts, knowing that him being dead wouldn't help Reid either. Best to play along for now.

Logan nodded in grim satisfaction. He let him go and Morgan slid down the wall, coughing and grasping his neck.

Reid was by his side the second Logan backed off, shaky hands ghosting over his throat to inspect the damage: "Damnit, Logan…Derek, are you-?"

He yelped in surprise when Morgan grabbed him, ignoring his pain and pulled him to his side. He ignored Logan´s annoyed frown and held the young man close by instinct, the only way he could shield him at all now.

"Don't worry."; he whispered against Reid´s hair so Logan wouldn't notice: "I´ll get us away from this maniac -no matter what."

Reid shook his head immediately and his hands fell heavily on his shoulders, and Morgan had a hard time determining for which of the many reasons he looked troubled. In some twisted way, he still seemed equally worried about Morgan and Logan but not about the fact that he was still sitting with his back turned and weaponless to the latter.

"Morgan, no."; he replied, urgently: "Don't do anything. He´s right, you couldn't outrun him. No matter how often you shoot him…we have so little time as it is. Don't let it end this way."

It didn't help anything of course, but Morgan found a sort of strange comfort in those words. At least they sounded like Reid recognized the danger that was Logan. And that he´d rather stay with Morgan.

There was something more in those hazel eyes though, a sadness that overshadowed anything else.

Morgan took a sharp breath as realization hit him: "You knew he wasn't dead."

He didn't have to see Reid lower his head to know the answer was yes.

"I knew about the claws, too."; he said quietly, sounding guilty: "He´s had them for as long as I know him. He´s only ever hurt anyone in defense, please believe me…I should have told you, but I knew you would have reacted…well, like this."

He looked at Morgan pleadingly and the black agent had to wave goodbye to the hope that Reid had at last grown wary of Logan.

He didn't get Reid´s motivation anymore, hadn't since the first time he´d interacted with Logan –but this was beyond confusing. He wasn't scared of him and yet he ran away? He knew he was a killer and yet he was prepared to go with the mutant? He´d run from him and had yet let him in the apartment?

"Reid, he murdered those men.", he said lowly, testing where they stood carefully. He was getting the feeling that Logan could hear them even with their voices lowered but he seemed to at least stick to his promise to leave them be as long as Morgan stopped fighting him.

"To protect us.", Reid corrected immediately: "We've shot UnSub´s in self-defense too. It's the same thing. He´s not the enemy."

Morgan shook his head in angry desperation: "If you´re not scared of him then why did you leave him there and ran away?"

Reid sighed, sitting back on his heels so he could look at Morgan's face: "I'm not scared to go with Logan. I just don't want to lose this…you. I'm sorry, I should have explained, it would have made this whole mess unnecessary. But I…I just wanted some time to…"

He broke off, his voice getting thinner and he swallowed harshly, looking down. Morgan felt his heart clench when more and more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. He had known Reid was acting oddly back in the kitchen!

"To what? Say goodbye?"

Reid nodded teary-eyed, still not looking at him. Morgan stared at him, shocked and incredulous, not sure if he should get mad or cry as well:

"You knew all this time he was gonna come here…that´s why you suddenly kissed me…"

Reid could hear the devastation in Morgan's voice and winced when it stung; he wasn't sure f it was because he felt betrayed or just because the whole situation as sort of tragic but he didn't dare to ask.

He squared his shoulders as best as he could and looked at the man with his jaw set, contrasting his burning eyes: "I´m not gonna apologize for that. It´s better than nothing."

Morgan just stared at him for a long moment, processing Reid´s train of thought, then his face crunched up and he pulled him close, not mad but deeply troubled. He didn't care if Reid wasn't reliable when it came to Logan, if he couldn't take care of himself he would do it for him. Somehow.

"That won't be our last kiss.", he whispered fervently: "I'm not gonna let you go. When this is over…"

Logan cleared his throat loudly, interrupting him. At first Morgan thought it was because of the words, because they sounded like he wouldn't keep his promise but Logan just said:

"If you want any chance at that, maybe you should quit with the dramatics already and help work on a plan. Your team is about to arrive."

Both Reid and Morgan sat up straighter at those words, listen intently. Indeed there were steps by the door then someone pounded on it: "Reid? Open up, it´s Hotch!"

Logan moved a little to the side, not keen on getting shot again and motioned for the other two to stay down against the wall.

"Hotch, it´s okay! Were fine.", Reid called through the door, he attempted to get up and open but Morgan pulled him back down.

"Don't. They're ready to fire. I told them about what happened on the phone."

And really, seconds later Hotch kicked in the door.

The team quickly assessed the room and the situation, reacting alarmed at seeing Logan's still visible claws. Three guns were trained on him in seconds.

Logan sighed, seemingly exasperated. He caught Reid´s pleading look and didn't fool around this time. Without a noise, he let the claws retreat into his hand, holding both of them up in mock surrender.

"There. Harmless again.", he smirked.

Hotch moved in closer, covered by Emily: "Keep your distance. Turn around, hands over your head."

Logan shook his head, looking little impressed. He lowered his hand, crossing them over his chest: "I don´t think so."

"Hotch, he was protecting us.", Reid tried again: "It was self-defense. Morgan just overreacted."

He wasn't surprised when he received no answer.

"You're under arrest.", Hotch repeated darkly, dangerously as he unlocked his gun: "Put your hands over your head…"

"Or what?", Logan taunted with a raised eyebrow: "You're gonna shoot me too? And then again? I´ve caught more bullets in my lifetime than everyone at your headquarters combined."

Reid let his head fall against the wall with an exhausted sigh.

He didn't have the energy to try and talk to Hotch, too, now. He was confident enough that his boss would see reason where Morgan hadn't -even if Logan´s argumentation lacked in finesse. He was right though. Even if they did shoot him again –it would only lead to them realizing it was pointless.

Maybe it was foolish to expect his friends to trust Logan –but how else could they work together?

Logan seemed confident as he shrugged, giving Hotch a choice: "So, I´ll tell you what I just told Agent Morgan. I´m no danger to you; you´re Jonah´s friends and we all want to make sure he stays safe. Of course, you don´t have to trust me: But you won´t keep me from him. So you can either accept that I'm on your side and we can start being productive, or we´ll leave."

Reid saw Hotch hesitate, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Even he didn't trust Logan, it was true that they didn't have much of a choice. And he hadn't killed them yet, so that spoke for him.

"It´s okay, guys.", Reid repeated softly, nudging them to give in already: "We´re fine. It was all just a misunderstanding. Logan didn't do anything."

Hotch shot a questioning look in their direction: "Morgan?"

Morgan hesitated but then nodded after one pointed look by Logan, realizing that trying to have Logan arrested would be of no use and result in him taking Reid away: "Yeah, man. We´re okay."

"I can't let you leave with Reid.", Hotch told Logan warningly, but he started lowering his gun. Logan shrugged, unimpressed: "Then convince me that he´s safer here."

"So what have you found out?"

It was minutes later and they had all somewhat relaxed.

They all sat around Reid´s table, opposite of Logan who ignored the constant wary glances he still got. Hotch had decided to trust Reid and accept Logan´s help instead of trying to arrest him. That didn't mean his hand didn't constantly hover over his belt though.

Morgan had sat down, too, grudgingly and looking like he just wanted to grab Reid and make a run for it. As it was he just stayed close to the young doctor, like that would shield them somehow.

Reid took his hand again, like he had in the conference room before, squeezing it slightly for comfort. He didn't know why Logan had changed his mind and decided to give this team work thing a shot –it wasn't like anyone could have really stopped him from just taking him away. He liked to think it was because he had realized how much losing Morgan would devastate Reid.

He sighed; he didn't know how all this was going to end or if Logan wouldn't change his mind if there was another attack so he would have much rather been alone with Morgan now, but if they had a plan at least there was a chance that they could solve this problem and he could stay after all.

So he tried to focus and listen to Hotch´s report.

"The girl abducted was a mutant as well, college age. Witnesses say they saw a man around thirty with brown hair and a long, dark coat drag her away. They reported him having claws."

All eyes were on Logan again as if on command and the mutant frowned at the incessant mistrust: "Hey, I was dead at the time, don´t look at me."

"He´s right, you know."; Reid threw in, trying to help: "Plus, remember the keratin found in the wounds. Logan's claws are made of metal."

Prentiss nodded: "So we just have to look for another mutant with longs nails and without morals who is an experienced killer."

He couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic, or if she actually knew any statistic on the number of mutants in the US with traits similar to Logan's. He decided not to speak up on the topic though, feeling it wasn't the time for trivia.

"We´re gonna need photofit.", he said.

Rossi shook his head: "No need. They have a surveillance video of the abductor. They gave it to us at the crime scene."

He went through his pockets and produced a piece of paper which he unfolded in the middle of the table.

Reid looked at it and his breath caught in shock. His head snapped up to meet Logan's eyes and he found that the other mutant looked just as shocked and pained as he.

"Victor.", he growled.

Sorry the updating took pretty long again. But I have work and school, plus I'm writing on two crossovers at once and try to give them both equal time.

I´ve thought about putting one on hiatus till the others is finished but that seemed unfair to you guys.

So I´ve decided to try something that seems fair to me: I´ve updated a chapter to both of my stories tonight and from now on I will always update the one that got the most feedback on the last update next. That should solve my trouble: If the majority likes this story every week, I´ll fishing it first and vice versa. If it varies from week to week I will keep going like now.

Speaking of feedback, I´m happy for every review and alert but I would be even happier if more of them actually contained some constructive thoughts, corrections or ideas. Please, I´m happy you like my story but please tell me what or why, or where you´d like to see it go so I have something to work with. Thank you so much!