Hi everybody! First of all, many thanks to Hukkanen and nileena for reviewing the last chapter! I really do appreciate all your comments!

Please be aware that this chapter contains some scenes which gentle folks might consider a bit gory! Also, there's a certain amount of swearing from Wolverine - although, to be honest, I'd swear if I were full of bullets too! Just thought I'd warn you, as I don't want to offend anyone!

That said, I hope everyone enjoys my latest offering! And remember, your reviews are always greatly appreciated!

First Cut is the Deepest

Kristi stared at Wolverine in horror. "You have got to be joking!"

Wolverine shook his head, slowly re-sheathing the single claw he had ejected. "Not jokin', darlin'. The bullets have ta come out. An' yer gonna have ta help me."

"What?" Kristi drew back slightly in alarm. "You're crazy! I …… no! I'm not doing it! I won't!" she added, forcefully, glaring round at Jubilee and Gina.

"Kristi ……"

"No, Wolverine, I'm not doing it! I'm not going to help you cut yourself to pieces!"

She made as if to stand and walk away, but Wolverine's hand shot out and caught her around the wrist. She struggled helplessly against his grip. Wounded or not, he was still stronger than most men. "Let go!"

"No. Not until ya see sense." He glanced quickly at Jubilee and Gina. "Give us a minute here, will ya, kids?"

"Hey …… !"

"Come on, Jubilee, let's go check out the sleeping arrangements." Gina stood and pulled the indignant Jubilee up with her, pushing her in the direction of the SUV. Wolverine waited until they were out of earshot before looking to Kristi once more. "We need ta talk, darlin' ……"

She twisted her hand in his grasp. "Let go, Wolverine. I'm not doing it and that's final!"

"Kristi. Kristi, stop that an' look at me!" His no-nonsense tone actually shocked her into doing as she was told. "Listen ta me, darlin'. Carbonadium usually only slows my healin' factor down. But it's already slowed, so the next step is obvious. Total shut down. It's happenin' already. I can feel it. No big deal in itself, but no healin' factor means no protection from adamantium poisonin'."

"Adamantium poisoning?" asked Kristi, softly, her eyes wide.

Wolverine released her hand, figuring she was not going to bolt now. "The adamantium coverin' my skeleton leaks poisons inta my blood stream. The only thing keepin' me alive is my healin' factor. Figure it out fer yerself, darlin'."

Kristi inhaled sharply, her hand flying to cover her mouth in horror. She sat like that for a couple of seconds, then abruptly she folded her arms, fixing Wolverine with a steely eyed glare. "You know, Wolverine, all we wanted was a simple escape. Get out, get picked up by the X-Men and go home. Not much to ask for, is it? And then you have to go and tangle with Sabretooth and get yourself shot. With carbonadium. A simple ordinary bullet isn't good enough for the mighty Wolverine! No! It has to be carbonadium! ……"

"I didn't load the gun, Kristi ……"

"…… Well, you know what, Wolverine? I'm sick of this whole affair! All I want to do is go home, but now I have to dig bullets out of a crazy X-Man! I give up!"

"Attagirl!" He paused a moment. "You done now?"

"Yes!"

"Good, 'cause time's wastin'. We need ta get movin' before ……"

"No, wait, Wolverine." Kristi put her hand on his chest, forcing him to look at her. "Just one question. Why me? Why not Gina, or Jubilee?"

Wolverine looked back into her chocolate brown eyes, seeing himself reflected there. "Because yer linked ta me, darlin'," he said, simply.

Kristi rocked back on her heels, momentarily stunned. It was the first time he had acknowledged the bond between them and the admission had come as something of a surprise.

"I can see through your eyes, if ya relax an' let me in," Wolverine explained, choosing to ignore her incredulous glance. "It's already happened a time or two."

"When?" asked Kristi, softly. Dear God, don't let it be any time embarrassing.

"That's not important right now. Fact is, I could get the bullets out in seconds myself, but they're in an awkward position an' if I sit up an' twist I'm puttin' a strain on my damaged side. An' if I pass out from the pain the job won't get done an' I'm back ta square one. But if ya let me see the wound through your eyes, the bullets'll be out before ya know it. I need ya ta guide me, darlin'. Simple truth."

Kristi hesitated a moment, pursing her lips as she thought everything through. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. Call the others over here and let's get this over with. But you'd better not get shot again, Wolverine, 'cause so help me, I'm not gonna do this again …."

oooOOOooo

"Okay. What do you want me to do?" Gina looked anxiously between Kristi and Wolverine, awaiting her instructions. Something seemed to have happened between the two of them while she and Jubilee had been away – Kristi seemed more confident and self-assured, and not just about the upcoming operation. It was a change in her whole demeanour, as though their own Kristi had suddenly been swapped for a whole new person. For his part, Wolverine seemed unable to tear his eyes away from the girl, as though scared she was going to be whisked away from him at any moment. Gina idly wondered if it had anything to do with the connection they shared. This was, after all, the most time they had spent together since their bond had manifested.

"Gina, I want ya ta sit down there an' hold my legs still while I work. Lay across 'em if ya have to, but don't let 'em move. Not the simplest o' tasks, I know, but if I move my hand may slip an' cut something vital."

"Geez!"

Wolverine glowered at the firecracker. "Get over here, Jubilee, an' keep an eye on me. If I pass out, or if the healin' coma takes over, we may have a problem."

"Only one? Wonders never cease!"

Wolverine chose to ignore his young partner, figuring she was nervous, turning instead to his bondmate. "Kristi, my claws retract automatically when I'm unconscious. If that happens, ya'll need ta apply pressure ta my arm here ……" He indicated a spot just behind his wrist. "That'll make the muscle spasm an' prevent the claw from retractin'."

"And what do we do if we want the claw to retract?" asked Kristi, quietly.

"Jus' massage the same area, an' my hand behind the knuckles," Wolverine informed her. "The muscles will relax an' allow the claw to sheath itself. Jus' make sure yer damn well finished though, 'cause once the claw's re-sheathed ya won't get it out again till I'm conscious."

"'kay."

Wolverine took a breath. "So. Ready?"

"Not in the slightest, but I really don't have a choice, do I?"

Before he could reply, a shudder passed through his body. He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes squeezing shut, his hands tightening into fists as his sides – the only visible evidence of what he must be feeling. Kristi felt an answering burning in her veins, as though her blood had turned to acid. Oh Lord, was the poisoning starting already?

She clutched anxiously at Wolverine's hand. "Wolverine? Are you okay?"

Wolverine cracked open an eye. "M'okay," he confirmed, somewhat breathlessly. "We'd better get movin'. I'm runnin' outta time." He took another deep breath, mentally preparing himself. "I'm goin' ta lower my shields, Kristi. I'll seal off as much o' the pain as I can, but some'll leak through."

Kristi nodded, biting her lip nervously. "'kay. Go ahead."

Despite being prepared for it, Kristi knew the instant his shields came down. She gasped as her mind was all but flooded with a tidal wave of impressions and feelings, all tumbling over one another like leaves caught in a sudden breeze. A wash of dizziness passed over her and she flung out a hand, only distantly recognising that someone had taken it and was hanging on tightly. Was this what it was like for Wolverine? With not knowing how to erect shields, was she constantly bombarding him with her emotions?

An answering pulse of affirmation shocked her, and she looked down to ground herself in her bondmate's steely blue gaze. "S'okay," he whispered, softly. "My mind's not the tidiest o' places at the best o' times. I'm used to it."

She was just about to reply when the pain hit her, almost knocking her off her knees. Kristi gritted her teeth and fought the pain down to a more manageable level, wondering how on earth Wolverine could suffer this constantly and yet still talk coherently. If it was her, Kristi was sure she would have been senseless and unconscious hours ago.

When she looked once more to Wolverine, he grimaced apologetically. "Sorry. Some got through."

"Some?" Geez!

Wolverine unsheathed a claw, watching in grim fascination as a drop of blood rolled slowly down the blade and dripped off the end. "Okay. Now fer the hard part. Open yer mind and let me in, darlin'."

"How do I do that?"

"Just relax an' I'll do the rest. That's it." Wolverine grunted as Kristi simultaneously saw a confusing image of a chrysanthemum bloom lying in the palm of a blue gloved hand. "Relax, darlin', yer startin' ta pull from me, That's it, ya've got it now."

Trusting in Wolverine's far superior experience in dealing with all things of a psychic nature, Kristi emptied her mind and tried to breathe slow and evenly, allowing her bondmate to make the connection he so desperately needed. It wasn't long before she heard him grunt in satisfaction.

"Okay, ya got me. How d'ya feel?"

Kristi looked up and around. Jubilee grinned encouragingly from her vantage point on Wolverine's opposite side. Apart from the added 'weight' of Wolverine's emotions in her head she felt no different and said so. "Should I do?" she asked, worriedly.

Wolverine shook his head. "Probably not, from your point o' view, but this is all new ta me. Gotta take it step by step." He brought up his hand with the single claw extended, slicing effortlessly through bandage and jeans alike to give access to the bullet wounds, both of which were still oozing blood. "Take my hand an' point it in the right direction, Kristi, jus' don't get yer fingers under the blades or ya'll slice 'em off."

Kristi did as she was told, feeling the heat of his hand beneath the coolness of her own nervous fingers. The fever was obviously still raging through his body and, with no healing factor to counter it, it was free to ravage his system unchecked.

Once upon a time, touching Wolverine's hand would have sent her heart-rate soaring. She still felt that familiar pulse of desire, but now, however, all she could focus on was the fact that if they didn't get the bullets out, he would die. It was a simple as that. His life depended on her now and she would not fail him.

She brought the tip of his claw to rest at the very edge of the first bullet hole. Wolverine nodded at the placing. "Good. Now steady my hand while I push."

Before Kristi could react, he plunged the claw deep, digging around for the bullet. Kristi blanched as fresh blood began to flow freely from the wound. "Oh, God, I think I'm gonna be sick!"

"Stay with me, girl." Wolverine forced the words past teeth gritted in determination. "An' don't close yer eyes! I can't 'see' if ya do."

Kristi glanced sideways at Gina as Wolverine pushed further. The girl looked a little green faced, and obviously wasn't enjoying this any more than Kristi was.

A metallic scrape attracted Kristi's attention back to the task at hand. Wolverine's hand tensed beneath her fingers. "I've got it," he rasped. "Jus' need ta…… lever it out."

His hand tilted as he tried to get the tip of his claw beneath the bullet. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead and his breath came in raspy gasps. Jubilee looked up in alarm, but Kristi shook her head at her, motioning her to stay seated.

"It's comin'." Wolverine gritted his teeth and pushed further, prompting a disgusted squeak from Jubilee. "It's …… comin'. Got it!"

With an obscene slurping sound, the bullet popped free of the wound and dropped into the hay by his side. Kristi picked it up and flung it to the back of the barn, wiping her bloodied hand down her jeans.

Wolverine removed his claw from the wound. Kristi tried not to look at the blood that dripped from it. "Okay." He took a breath, using his free hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Bullet number two."

Kristi re-positioned his hand and once again he pushed down into the wound, seeking the bullet. Gina looked away, breathing shallow as a wave of nausea washed over her. "Oh, God ……"

Looking away wasn't an option for Kristi. As Wolverine dug deeper for the bullet which was proving more elusive than the previous one, she tried to distract her mind from all the blood, picturing herself driving along a sunny country road, the top down on her car, the wind in her hair ……

"Kristi! I'm seein' Mustangs, fer Christ's sakes!"

"Sorry!" Kristi blushed brilliant red. "I didn't realise I could do that!"

"Well, evidently ya can, so quit it till we're finished here. I've …… nearly got it."

Once again, a metallic scraping sound announced the fact that Wolverine's claw was making contact with the bullet. Bit by bit, he began to ease it out, grunting at the effort. "Nearly …… nearly …… Urghh! …… Christ, it's a stubborn sonofabitch!"

Gina gulped audibly. "Somebody tell me when it's all over, 'cause I think I'm gonna faint ……"

"Dammit!" Wolverine spat out a curse. "I can't get the leverage. Kristi, can ya see it?"

Kristi steeled herself and forced herself to look into the wound. A silvery glint amongst the blood and gore of Wolverine's leg revealed the bullet's position. "Yes, I can see it! It's nearly out, but I think it's caught under something. What is that?" she added to Gina, pointing.

Gina leaned over for a look, going even greener, if that was possible, at the sight of all the blood. "God knows! An artery? A muscle? I'm not a doctor, I've no idea."

"Kristi, yer gonna …… gonna have ta get yer fingers in there. Pull it out."

"What? No!"

"You have ta, Kristi. Yer fingers can do what my claw can't. Get in there an' get the bugger out. I don't think …… I'm gonna …… last much longer."

Kristi looked into the wound, fighting down a wave of revulsion. Her free hand hovered just above the bullet hole, fingers poised …… and then she balked.

"I …… I can't!"

"Yes, ya can, Kristi. Jus' …… jus' ferget what yer doin' an' …… an' get in there."

It was the fact that Wolverine's voice sounded so strained that finally made Kristi's mind up for her. That, and the fact that his pain was beginning to leak down the bond once more, evidence that he was starting to lose control.

Steeling herself and taking a deep calming breath, she pushed thumb and forefinger into the bullet wound and began to feel for the bullet. "Oh …… oh dear God."

Wolverine grunted and shuddered at her touch and she could feel his leg tremble beneath her hand. The pain must be indescribable, yet he was forcing himself to bear it, biting down on his lip so hard that blood actually began to flow. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, knowing that there was nothing she could do to ease that pain for him.

Blood and flesh squelched between her fingers and Jubilee let out a muffled groan. "Eww, that is just so gross ……"

"Tell me about it," hissed Kristi, through clamped teeth. "It's not your fingers in here."

Wolverine abruptly let out a rough groan, startling her momentarily. She looked up to see his eyelids fluttering closed.

Jubilee lunged forward. "We're losing him! Kristi, quick!"

"Oh , geez …… !" Kristi made a grab for his arm, just as Wolverine's shields slammed into place once more, cutting her off from the worst of his emotions and pain. Even losing consciousness, he'd had the foresight to protect his mate.

Gripping his wrist like her life depended on it, Kristi was relieved to see that his claw stayed in place. Biting her lip, she looked up at Jubilee and then sideways at the green faced Gina. "You're on your own now, Kristi," she said, softly. "Only you can save him."

"I know." Kristi looked back at Wolverine's sweat soaked face, peaceful and unworried now in sleep, and her heart leapt at the sight of him. Even under intense stress and pain he'd done everything he could to protect her from the worst of everything he was going through, and she loved him for that. He was her man, her mate, and she'd be damned if she was going to let him die of adamantium poisoning now, after all they'd been through. Come hell or high water, the final bullet was coming out! Now!

"Gina, bring that lamp over here and angle it so that I can see." Kristi quickly assumed control of the situation. "Jubilee, hold him down so that he doesn't move. I'm going to dig deep. I know he's unconscious, but if he twitches I may slip and do some worse damage. I don't want that."

Jubilee did as she was told as Gina trotted over with the lamp, holding it over Kristi's shoulder. "Will this do?"

"That's great, Gina." She took a breath. "Okay. Here we go."

One hand holding Wolverine's claw in place so that the bullet couldn't slip back any further, Kristi once again delved deep into the wound with her thumb and forefinger, reaching for the tiny piece of metal that was causing so much trouble. Wolverine stirred restlessly beneath her, groaning and flinging out his free hand to clutch helplessly at the hay around him. Jubilee all but flung herself over him to keep him still, looking up in alarm as a deep growl rumbled through his chest.

"Hurry up, Kristi! He's a lot stronger than he looks!"

"I'm trying!" Kristi's brow furrowed with the effort of trying to reach the elusive bullet. "It …… keeps …… slipping!"

Spitting out a colourful curse that made Gina blink in surprise, she pushed deeper, feeling her finger slide across the bullet's uppermost surface. Almost there …… Almost …… there …… And then she had it! Thumb and forefinger closed firmly around the offending object and she pulled. With a sickening sucking sound, the bullet came free and she stared at it in fascination. This tiny little thing had caused so much trouble … ?

Jubilee eased herself off Wolverine, as he gave a final shudder and lay still. She put a hand to his chest, looking up at Kristi with a tired smile. "S'okay. He's still breathing."

"Is it over?" Gina looked over Kristi's shoulder at the bullet clenched between her fingers. "God, that was awful! I never want to see anything like that ever again, if I live to be one hundred million!"

"Ditto." Kristi gave the bullet a final glare and flung it to the back of the barn to join its companion. Her hands, when she spread them before her, were covered in blood. "Oh ….." She looked around her for something to wipe them on.

"There's a bottle of water in the car," Gina informed her. "Hang on a sec."

She put down the lamp and scampered off, returning seconds later with a large bottle of water. Kristi used half of it to wash the bullet wounds out, thoroughly soaking a large area of Wolverine's jeans as she did so, but she figured that was the least of his problems. The remaining half she used to wash her hands with and to clean the blood off Wolverine's claw. There was just a tiny measure left in the bottle when she recapped it and handed it back to Gina. "Sorry. I've used it all."

"Don't worry. I brought two."

Kristi next turned her attention to re-sheathing Wolverine's claw. Cradling his arm, she gently massaged his forearm and the back of his hand, being careful not to get her fingers anywhere near the business end of his blade. She watched in fascination as the claw slid slowly back into its housing with the soft rasp of metal on metal.

Only then did she allow herself to collapse on her back in the hay beside Wolverine, as fatigue rolled over her like a tidal wave. "God, I'm so beat," she puffed out.

"Rest. You've earned it." Gina moved to arrange the blanket over the sleeping X-Man, but Kristi struggled to one elbow. "I've got to redress the wound."

Gina pushed her back down. "You've done enough. I'll do it. Jubilee, hand me those bandages."

Jubilee passed them across and then crouched down beside her friend, grinning widely. "That was really something, Kristi, in a squelchy, icky sorta way. But, you know, if something wasn't so totally obvious before, it certainly is now."

"What?" asked Kristi, tiredly.

"You are just so into Wolverine!"

"Grrrr!"

NEXT: The return of Hudson and Coffey!