Another Authors´note: Yes, I am again deeply sorry that it took me so long to update this story. I had a hard time writing it - it did not fit the way I had intended to end this story when I started writing. So I have rewritten it several times. On the bright side, I still have one chapter to go. So please stay with me for that!

Disclaimer: The characters and concepts of X-Men are owned by 20th Century Fox, creator Stan Lee and Marvel comics. I own nothing and this is just for fun!


- Chapter 12 -

It had been days since John had last seen the minister. And still he was sitting in this little cell of his.

So not even his last request to be put into a normal prison had been approved of. Maybe they thought that somebody could try to set him free. Or it was simply too complicated because they would have to put him before a real judge and give him a trail.

Without anything else to do, he gazed up at the ceiling, his thoughts wandering back to places where he had been happy.

He remembered fighting in the danger room, winning and then laughing with Bobby. And then his thoughts went to Kitty and her invitation to go to the university together after finishing school. She had smiled then, before he had pushed her away.

He thought of Logan, who had said that they would meet again someday. And they had, even if John could not remember much of it. But John doubted that that was the way Logan hat meant the meeting to go.

When the door opened, he did not realise it at once. As he heard a cough he was taken by surprise and shot up from his cot.

He could not believe what he was seeing.

A friendly locking, smiling Magneto. And behind him stood a young woman with red hair.

"Hello Pyro. It is good to see you."

With that he stood back and gestured John to move out of the room.

"I think we should be going. Before the gentlemen realise that something is not right with this prison of theirs."

John still stood in shock, for a moment thinking he was dreaming. But after a moment he realised that the old man wanted him to go. He did not want to join the brotherhood, but this was his chance to escape this hell. The humans would never let him go again. Of that he was sure now.

And the old man was obviously back to at least part of his powers. He would not take it lightly if he was refused. So finally he set his feet into motion. While he followed Magneto he heard him say conversationally.

"Pyro my dear. I heard some really funny things concerning you. That you fought against Mystique and for the humans. Hm, you know, she will not take this well."

Still there was no one except Magneto, the woman and himself around as they reached some stairs. After they went down a flight or two, they came into an entry hall. Magneto waved his hand and the door opened.

"Yes, my powers have returned. Still a little rusty, but growing."

And then there was a car and as they entered, the woman sat down at the steering wheel.

"By the way, Pyro this is the Scarlet Witch. She agreed to help me out a little, have you not, my dear?"

"Yes."

"Not one to talk, are you?" Magneto smiled. Then he turned to John again.

"I have heard that you had a little trouble, going different ways from the Brotherhood. And so I came to help you out a little. See what I could do for an old friend."

John got weary. Watching the moves of the old man. He had just a little metal in his clothes so maybe, he could get out of the car, he could safe himself if things turned bad.

"Why did you not stay at the mansion?"

What was it the old man wanted to hear?

"I just wanted to leave, as soon as I could. I did not fit in."

"Ah, but as I heard you would maybe decide otherwise, now."

"Where would you have heard that?"

This was dangerous territory with Magneto.

"Oh, Xavier was not the only telepath around. I have asked a friend of mine to help me out a little there."

"And why have you gotten me out then?"

The old man smiled.

"Call me a little sentimental in my old days."

Then he turned to the woman.

"My dear, could you bring us to the apartment, please?"

Then he turned around to face John once more. Still with this fatherly smile in his face. But there was a hint of danger, too.

"You know, Pyro, I don´t think I should show you my new headquarters. Too much problems with that. Too many people there who would like to have a word with you. "

They drove into the parking garage of one of the houses.

"Come on, Pyro, I want to show you your new home."

From one prison to the next, John thought but restrained himself from saying so. Nothing good would come out of that.

They drove with an elevator about ten stories up, then it opened to a small hallway with a few doors. Magneto gave him a key.

"Just open is up."

It was a nice apartment, not overly fancy, but it would suite him well. And it had windows, through which he could see the surroundings.

"I took the liberty of stocking the refrigerator up and there should be enough foot here to last you for a week or two. By then they will have moved the search for you from the city."

Pyro turned around to the old man, who still stood in the doorway.

Then Magneto walked through the door and closed it behind him. The young woman was not in sight. He walked to a seat in the small living room. There he put his coat and his head away.

"Take a seat, John. I want to talk to you."

John drew one eyebrow up. The old man nearly never called him by his given name. For him only the "real" names mattered. But he did as he was told.

"You know that my fighting days are over, don´t you? I am old and the cure, while failing, took much from me. I don´t think that I could lead the Brotherhood, as it should be let ... That means that Mystique will take over, when she reaches the new headquarters."

Magneto looked out through one of the windows.

"It was a mistake, making her your enemy. And I will not protect you, it would hinder the cause if we fought among ourselves for personal reasons."

"Then why did you get me out of there?"

Magneto smiled.

"Ah John, my dear. Call me an old fool, but I thought I owed it to you. After all you are one of my people. And I never would let them get their hands on one of mine."

As if in an afterthought he continued.

"You know that I was a X-Men myself quite some time ago? When I still thought that Charles and I were having the same goals for the mutants?"

John wondered where this would lead. "No."

"Yes it is not widely known."

Magneto seemed to think for some time. Then he continued. "They may not always do what we would do, but at times like that, maybe it would be wise if you would really go back to them. Lay low for some time and maybe, when I need you again, I call for you."

"Magneto, I..."

Magneto held up a hand.

"Don´t answer now. I know that you wanted to go back for some time now. Think. If you stay out there on the streets you would be hunted by all sides, even them after some time. But if you put yourself at their mercy... I don´t think they will turn you down."

Magneto stood, putting on his coat, taking his head. Then he went to the table and put down an envelope.

"Here is some money, use it wisely. And a card to an account that is registered in Europe. If you need to use it, they will not find you too fast. And I will know that you are in trouble."

At first John did not know to respond, but then he uttered a "Thank you."

Magneto walked to the door, smiling.

"You know, Pyro. I got you into this and kind of stole your future. It is only fair that I am trying to show you a road out. And who knows, if I get control again, you can come back. But until then... do something useful with your life."

Just before the door closed, John could hear a "And happy new year to you."

John still stared at the door after it had shut for some time. What was the matter with Magneto? Why was he behaving this way? John knew that he had always had a special connection with the old man. Something that others hadn´t had. Since he had decided to go with him at Alcali Lake. Was he really showing him a way out? Was he really caring about what would happen to him? Or was this some kind of trap?

He sat still for quite some time, not moving, just thinking. Then he looked out of the windows. Outside it had become dark. He got up. It was time to inspect his new home.

It had a bedroom with a bed and also an exercise machine, a living-room that was connected to a small kitchen. He found a television, a stereo, a laptop and a desk. On it lay some candles with a new lighter beside them. In the drawers were even more candles. And a notebook for him to write in. Some paper to draw. John smiled. The old man had remembered.

But first he got to the kitchen, opened the fridge and got a soda out of it. In one of the cupboards he found some chips. Not really health food, but it had been a long time since he got his hands on something like that. Then he sat at the television. It would not be a bad idea to catch up with what was happening out there. It hat been weeks since he had the opportunity to do so.

And he watched what was going on, mostly human politics, but there were reports about mutants, too. Some recent attacks. But nothing serious. And some activists demanding more rights for mutants. Some humans voicing their demand for the mutant registration.

He stood up, shut the television of and grabbed his lighter, opened it. Then he lit some of the candles, looking into the fire, feeling it. It was like always. He could lose himself forever, just watching it. Doing nothing more.

But finally he snuffed it with a gesture of his hand and went to bed.


The next morning he woke up, made his breakfast and watched the morning news. Again nothing really important had happened. No news about him, but he had not thought he would hear something. To the media he was a reformed terrorist, still with the X-Men. That he was on his own again, having some trouble with the law would not be too widely known. Just in certain circles.

Then he used the exercise machine in his bedroom. He had to get in shape again after all the time just sitting around. And since he could not get out, it was the only way to do anything. As always the old man had thought about everything.

After some showering he went back to the living-room, looking at the notebook that lay there. He opened it up, wandering his hands though the empty pages. Then he took one of the pencils and began to write. Just some stuff that came to his mind, following the flow. Nothing about his real life, just how it could be for some of the other mutant, living in a relatively normal world without the constant fighting.

After some hours he finally got up. This was far from finished but he was too tired to go on. So he stretched a bit and went to the kitchen to cook something. After eating he went to the sofa, lying down again. Flicking his lighter, watching television.

And the next days he felt into the same routine. Waiting his time until he could leave this flat without too much trouble from the police or the agencies.

That was until the day there was a knock on the door.

He got up from his writing, where the candles still burned and went cautiously to the door.

Who was there? Could it be Magneto?

What he saw through the door viewer stopped him cold. But after a moment of getting it together he opened up the door.

"What can I do for you, agent?"

There was standing nobody else but his personal bloodhound, agent Peerson.

"Hello Mr. Allerdyce. May I come in?"

John snorted. As if he could say no. But then he nodded.

So the man just walked in, watching everything around him.

"You are armed, kid?"

John looked at him in surprise. Armed? But then he realised he had left the candles burning. Should he fight now? Agent Peerson would not stand a chance. But the agent just stood there, looking calm into his eyes. So he switched on the light and snuffed the candles with a gesture.

"So you found me."

He sat down at the sofa, while the agent wandered around. John just felt desperation. He would go back to his personal hell. The small room with no windows and no fire. When was the moment the agent would get out another set of cuffs and click them on his hands?

Finally the man sat down, too.

"Yes, you have been hidden well. But you see, I do have my connections. I hear things others don´t. I don´t think the others will find you."

"No?"

The agent watched him closely, looking for something.

"After you were gone I started to investigate, trying to find out why you had disappeared without a trace. That was really irregular. And after some time I finally found out where you were."

He smiled a little.

"But by then you were already gone and nobody knew how."

There was silence again, just the quiet music from the speakers did fill it.

"I don´t ask you who helped you get out. I have a hunch who did it, but I don´t want you to tell me. I just have one question. Why did you run? Why after you had all the possibilities in the hospital?"

John looked out of the window. He contemplated his answer for a while.

"I was going crazy in that small room. No one to talk to, now windows, nothing to do, no way out. And they would not even consider getting me into a normal prison." Then he tried for a smile. "Or more crazy then most people think I already am."

"Hm."

After that there was silence again. Finally the agent stood, wandering through the apartment. John followed him with his eyes as he stood at the desk, opening the notebook, beginning to read.

"This is good. Yours?"

John wondered where this was leading, but nodded. "Yes. Just a little piece to distract myself from being locked in this rooms."

The agent closed the book with a half smile. "You should think about doing this professionally instead of fighting in this war of yours... Can I keep it?"

John wondered what for. Maybe a personal trophy? Because in it was nothing secret. It was just works of fiction. But then he just shrugged. Why not?

"Do with it what you want."

"Oh, I will, thank you."

The agent put the notebook in one of his pockets. Then he went to the window, staring out onto the light of the city.

"You know, kid. This job of watching you has changed my views on mutants. I had to learn more about your kind then I thought I had to."

Where was this going?

"I hope this is good, after all, I am not one of the peaceful or nice ones."

"Hm."

Then the agent turned around, staring him straight into his eyes.

"You should leave tomorrow, if you still want to go to the mansion. They have not thought to look there, but they will think about it soon, believe me."

He held Johns gaze for a moment, then he nodded and went to the door.

"And thank you for the book, John."

And then the door closed behind him and John was alone again.

John blinked and looked around. Had he dreamed this up?

Then he stood up, looking around. The little apartment had become a home, a hole to crawl in and lick his wounds.

But now it was time to leave.

Both Magneto and agent Peerson had told him to go to the mansion again. Why he was not too sure.

But he would.

Even if it would not be easy, after he was a wanted man again. They would not want him there. But since when had something like this mattered to him? Fighting for what he wanted was something he knew.

He would leave tomorrow at dawn.