Mistake

I am the best there is
Until all there is
Is hot air
Unfulfilled I take it out on you
Because you care
And because I love you
I expect you to be there
-Addict

Inside

"Okay," Pete said happy that the others had wondered off. Kitty, Doug, and Rahne had gone back to the computer lab, Rogue had gone upstairs to write a letter to Irene, Kurt and Amanda has retreated to their bedroom, and Moira was doing research in her lab. "What's really goin' on?"

"It's pretty bad," Logan said. "The assassins, they're after you."

"When's the attack?"

"I haven't been able to find that out," Logan said.

"Y' don't sound too surprised," Remy said.

"Someone's always tryin' t' kill me," Pete shrugged. "Sometimes, I wonder..."

"If yer bringin' Kitty into a life that's dangerous?"

"Yeah."

"You are," Logan said. "But Kitty has a mind of her own, she don't take too well to people tryin' to coddle her."

"True," Pete said with the hint of a smile touching his lips as he thought about her reaction at the way he had acted when they first met.

"Besides, mon brave, y'r de last person we'd expect ta be actin' all noble," Remy pointed out. "It'd be way out of character."

"Thanks, LeBeau," Pete said flatly.

"Anytime," Remy said. "So, what's de plan?"

"Counterstrike," Pete said. "We go after them first."

"Why is that a counterstrike?" Logan asked. "What'd they do?"

"First there was that thing with Scratch on the street," Pete said. "Then there was the incident with Meggan and Lockheed. But they went way over the line when they hurt my girl."

"What?" this was spoken softly but the others could see the coiled fury in Logan.

"Moira didn't tell you?" Pete asked.

"Hank mentioned an accident, but he didn't go into detail."

"She was shot. It had to be them."

"When do you want to do this?"

"The better question is: how can I take care of this without Kitty finding out."

"Y'r goin' ta lie ta her?" Remy asked

"No... just withhold a little information."

"Pete," Remy sighed.

"Wot?"

"Dat be a lie by omission. She will find out. And den, she'll kill ya."

"Look, this is pretty simple: Kitty is already in danger. If she comes with me they'll go after her with everything they have." Pete sighed. "They're gonna see her as me weakness. And they're right. But I won't let them hurt her again."

"Wisdom," Logan said crossing his arms. "I've always treated Kitty like the daughter that I've never had, let me let you in on a little secret. She hates being coddled, and lying is next to betrayal in her eyes. Do yourself a favor and tell her the truth. At least give her a choice or at least something to do while you're off risking your life. Otherwise, this will be the end of you two. And ya know what I'll do if you make her cry."

"De chat ain't gonna sit at home," Remy acknowledged. "But so what? She's pretty damn useful in battle, and this ain't a shot comin' from the dark. She'll be ready for this."

A couple minutes earlier

"Doug," Kitty called.

"Yeah?" he asked standing.

"Can you read this? It's encoded. I found it in the Black Air website."

"Hmm..." Doug studied the screen for a couple seconds. "Oh, no."

"What is it?" Rahne asked approaching.

"They have a hit out on Pete. As far as I can tell that's the only one. They want him eliminated by the fifteenth."

"Oh, boy," Kitty whispered.

"Do you think Logan knows?"

"I'll go see," Kitty said. She walked up the stairs, out of the computer lab just in time to here the argument about telling her. She stayed in the hall listening as Pete spouted off all the reasons that he didn't want her to know.

"Guys," Pete said. "I trust her, and I know she can take care of herself. But this ain't like the fights you guys have had. These people are out for blood. I ain't takin' the chance of more of hers getting spilled. This is for the best."

"Fine," Logan said. "We warned you." Kitty walked up the stairs and into the room she and Pete shared. She sat down on the bed staring at the wall.

Downstairs

"Pete," Logan said scenting the air.

"Wot?"

"She was just out in the hall. I think she overheard."

"Oh, bleedin' hell," Pete groaned.

"Time to grovel," Remy said jovially. Pete stood and walked up the stairs. Kitty was sitting on their bed watching him.

"So, how much did you overhear?" he asked gently.

"Enough."

"Gonna give me a chance to explain?"

She stood. "No."

"Kitty, please sit down."

"I don't want to listen to a man who obviously doesn't value me enough to tell me the truth."

"C'mon, that ain't fair."

"Neither is what you did. I thought I was important to you."

"Of course you are. I just don't want you to get hurt."

She marched up to him glaring into his eyes. "If you knew anything at all about me you'd know that I don't care about that."

"I do. I've lost too many people in this life. I can't lose you too."

"You won't."

"You can't guarantee that."

"No, but neither can you." She shoved at him lightly. "And you can't suddenly decide what important things for the two of us. We're supposed to be a team!"

"This is my fight!"

"There are days when I would so like to wring your neck! I love you, you big, stupid, British... stupid head!" This was greeted with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not going to let you go off to battle without me!"

"This ain't yer choice, it's mine. You're stayin' where its safe."

"Who says that I'll even listen to you? I never have, why would I start now. I can take care of myself!"

"I know that! But you need to trust me, grasshopper. I'm only trying to protect you."

"You want me to trust you? Like you trusted me enough to tell me the truth?"

"Kitty-"

She turned away from him. "Just don't talk to me." She phased through the floor.

"Damn it," Pete whispered. He sat down on the bed.

Kitty phased through the floor and directly onto Logan's lap. "Oops." Logan's arms closed around her waist lifting her up to her feet.

"Somehow I don't think yer guy would appreciate this," Logan said.

"That... idiot!"

"I take it that you two are fighting."

"He's so... so... stupid!"

"... Okay..."

"Why doesn't he trust me?"

"Sit down, half-pint."

"Why does everyone keep telling me to do that!?"

"Because we're talking and I don't want to have to keep looking up at you."

"Oh, sorry," Kitty blushed before sitting down next to Logan.

"Pete can be a little dense. But he's doin' what he thinks is best."

"I just always thought that my opinion meant something to him. If he has that low of a regard for my feelings..."

"Let me ask you question, kid. Do you love him?"

"More than anything."

"And does he love you?"

"I thought so... he told me he did... but-"

"Pete wouldn't lie about that. He's always brutally honest."

A reluctant smile touched her face. "That's true." She sighed leaned back on the chair. "He just makes me so mad!"

"Ororo and I fight like that all the time. Are you going to let this one fight ruin your relationship?"

"No," Kitty said looking horrified.

"Then go talk to him."

"Why do you have to go and use logic?"

"Go on."

"Okay, okay." She air walked up through the ceiling.

"Come to rub some salt into the wounds?" Pete asked.

"We should talk."

"'S funny. I was tryin' t' do that." He was laying dressed in just a pair of Garfield boxers on their bed.

"I blew up at you, and I'm sorry," Kitty said chewing on her bottom lip. "... I'm just so angry at you! You weren't even going to tell me!"

"Luv," Pete said gently. "I was just trying to protect you... but I was wrong to do that. You deserved to know."

"So we were both a little out of line."

"We were," Pete nodded.

She smiled. "Guess what."

"Wot?"

"Our first real fight."

Pete grinned. "And we didn't kill each other." Her smile grew as she got back onto the bed with him. "I 'ate fightin' with you, grasshopper."

"Yeah, it totally sucks." Kitty stretched languidly, well aware of the sudden heat in Pete's eyes as he watched her. "But it's all right, we're okay now." He reached out and pulled her firmly onto his lap. He kissed her long and hard. She pulled away. "Hey, and what exactly do you think you're doing?"

He grinned up at her. "Makin' up."