Author's note: This chapter contains my pre-written chapter 34.
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Don't forget, ya ain't alone, darlin'
After a briefing and deciding to head for New York to stop the Brotherhood's attack, Logan left the changing stall and was occupied with pulling the black leather gloves on while he walked down the corridor towards the hangar. He was pissed, pissed was even the biggest understatement that could be made about his current mood. It had a reason that his (Spind) hat three long gashes on it now. He had seen it coming. He'd known that he would open the door to his old room just to see his wife kissing her ex. Of course he should have seen this coming. What had made him believe that she would stay with an animal like him if she could have a decent man like her beloved Scooterboy? Why has he even tried to fit into a normal family, to be a good father and husband if she ran back to her ex as soon as she had the chance to anyway? He knew why he never wanted to fit in, why he never had long lasting relationships. He only got hurt in the end anyway. "Logan!" he heard her calling from somewhere behind him but didn't even think about stopping. "Please wait!" she tried again and fell into his step but he just ignored her. Ignored the look in her eyes that told him how sorry she was, ignored that her hand had grabbed his upper arm and tried to make him stop…just ignored the fact that she even existed. "I'm sorry!" Jean said once more. "It's a misunderstanding!"
Snorting, he cocked an eyebrow but didn't look at her. Instead he pulled the zipper on both arms up in a way as if he wanted to tear them off. "Is it?" he grunted arrogantly and pulled the arm she had her hand on roughly away.
Making two more steps than he did she suddenly stood in front of him to stop him. "Listen to me…," she pleaded but he shoved her aside. "Logan, please!"
When Scott left the changing stall he heard her and stopped at the corner. Leaning against the wall with one shoulder he looked around it and watched how Jean obviously used her powers by now to stop Logan. He didn't need to have heightened senses to hear the low growl that escaped his teammate's throat or see the cold look in this one's eyes. It was more than obvious that he was about to snap and throw a tantrum.
"I didn't mean this to happen," Jean tried to explain herself and gave her husband a pleading look. She, too, noticed the cold look that Logan gave her. "Logan, please…," she added and reached out to touch his hand but he backed off, crossed his arms and glared at her.
"I told ya if ya wanna go back to him then go!" he hissed.
"I don't want to go back to Scott!" she said and shook her head.
"Oh really?!" Logan asked cynically and smirked darkly, but it vanished soon and was replaced by a look that scared her. "Don't play games with me, Red. I warn ya!" With that he walked past her without looking at her one more time. "And get outta the uniform," he added coldly. "Ya stay here with the kids and that's an order!"
Watching him walking down the corridor Jean didn't notice how her view became more and more blurred with tears. She had screwed up, she knew that. There was no way she could possibly explain what had happened in his old room; she couldn't even understand it herself. Covering her face with one hand she sobbed and leant back against the wall where she glided down until she sat on the ground. Thinking about the consequences her actions would probably have Jean began to sob bitterly and pulled her legs close. If she lost him, and she knew she would since if he hated something then it was adultery, than she didn't know what to do. She had been happy with him, more than that. He had helped her so much and that was the way she thanked him: allowing her ex to kiss her. Why hadn't she noticed that Logan had been standing in the door? Why hadn't she picked up on him? He must have been boiling from within when he'd seen it… No, he hasn't, she reminded herself. He'd looked hurt. More than hurt… "Please go away," Jean sniffed without looking up and turned her head away.
"I'll talk to him," Scott said and got up after kneeling down next to her. "I know it's my fault. I'm sorry…" He met her eyes when she looked up but before he could say something else Jean got up, wiped her tears carelessly away with the back of her hand and headed down the corridor where she nearly bumped into Storm and Rogue.
"What happened?" the latter asked but the redhead was already gone. "Do you know what…," Rogue began and saw how Ororo glared daggers at Scott. Exchanging a look with Bobby, Peter and Kitty, she received shrugs and questioning looks only.
"Congrats, Scott," Ororo snapped in a cold voice. "I hope you are happy now!"
Rolling his eyes this one turned and walked towards the hangar. "Is something wrong?" Kitty asked concerned.
"No, come on, Logan's waiting," the weather goddess replied and led the way towards the hangar where she could already hear how Logan threw a tantrum. "Great…"
"Jeez, what has happened?" Bobby asked her. "I haven't heard Logan being that mad in years…"
"Well, Scott is back what else do you expect?" Kitty shrugged and received a look from her teacher for that remark. "It's true, isn't it?" she defended herself. "It was me who nearly got hit by the door Logan decided to smash to pieces, remember?"
"Shut your mouths, all of you!" Ororo demanded and ascended the stairs to the hatch of the Blackbird. She had barely set one food into the jet as Scott hit the wall next to her.
"I told ya to shut up!" Logan barked and heaved very deep breaths to contain his inner beast.
"I said I'm sorry!" Scott gave back. "I can't do more than that, can I?"
"I don't give a shit on it!" his opposite replied as the man got up from the ground. "Sit down and shut up!" Turning around Logan walked over to his seat at the front and glared at the panel in front of him.
Ororo, who gave the others a sign to sit down, joined him and started the engines of the jet. Within seconds the Blackbird rose into the air and they headed for New York in silence.
"Do you see something?" Storm whispered and waited for Logan to give a sign. She knew, even if he was some meters away, that he had heard her. Nevertheless he didn't give her any reply. "Logan?" she added a bit louder and furrowed her brows. If he was too pissed off to care about them or his position as the leader, then they'd be in for trouble.
"What is he doing now?" Iceman asked her and watched how Logan moved over to the opposite side of the street, constantly hiding behind parked cars, just to climb up a fire escape and disappear.
"Great…," Cyclops said and nodded his cynical appreciation. "Who's next in command since our leader chose to leave?"
Suddenly they heard a loud yell and saw something flying off the roof. This thing hit the ground and didn't move anymore, when another shadow jumped of it and was accompanied by a second one. They saw a mutant running towards them and already prepared for an attack as it was tackled from behind and hit the ground hard. The X-Men watched how Logan pulled the whimpering mutant into the ally and slammed him against the wall. "Where's Magneto?" he growled.
"Don't know…," the mutant called Morph stuttered and let out another whimper when Logan extracted his claws.
"Where…is Magneto?" the X-Men demanded to know once more and stopped his sharp claws only inches from the mutant's face. "Tell me or yer face loses its eyes next, bub!"
Staring at the shiny knives and quivering in fear, Morph swallowed and looked at his comrade who still lay on the ground. "D…down the street…," he said in a whiny voice. "Please don't kill me…"
"Piss off, kid!" Logan grunted and threw him down the ally. "And better hope I won't see ya again." He watched how Morph got quickly up and ran down the small corridor between both houses. He still picked up on the mutant's fear even if this one was long gong. "So he already lets kid's fight for him, eh?" he said disgustedly and looked around the corner. "I hear Mystique down the street. Probably on the right of it…"
"Can you smell someone else?" Cyclops asked and risked a look, too.
"Yeah," Logan replied cynically. "About 100 inhabitants of this street… Approximately 63 males, the rest are females. Wanna know the animals, too?"
"Funny, Logan!" Scott snapped as Ororo stepped between the two of them.
"What do you suggest?" she asked with a look at Logan.
"We split into two teams," this one replied. "Where's the Furball? I thought he wanted to meet us here?!"
"I don't know. He said he would come…," she shrugged.
"Tinman and Kitty go with ya, Rogue and Popsickle with me," he said and began to walk.
"What about me?" Cyclops asked and received a look that spoke volumes only. Watching how both groups split he decided to follow Storm. After Logan's sudden attack in the jet he thought it was better to stay out of the man's way. Together they walked down the street, hidden in the shadows of the night and avoiding any light at all costs. It didn't take long and they could hear Magneto speaking to his group. "Mystique's not with them," Scott whispered after checking the scene.
"Pyro is over there," Collossus said and pointed over to Magneto's right. "And Juggernaut is with them again, too."
"We have to be careful…," Ororo said and gave Scott a look who only nodded. He remembered too well the attack that had nearly cost him his life. "Logan just told me he has spotted Mystique. Obviously she is patrolling the alleys with some others."
"Can he take her out?" Kitty asked.
"Do you really have to ask?" Peter asked her with a look.
"Guys, be ready. We wait here until Logan gives us a sign to attack," Ororo said. "No one moves until he says so."
On the other side of the street, hidden in an alley, Logan of course had heard not only what Ororo and Magneto said, his main focus laid on Mystique. He knew the woman was approaching and that two others were with her. Right now they talked about the upcoming attack and that they needed to take care of the hostage. "Stay calm and don't act until I say so," he told Iceman and Rogue in a whisper. He waited for their nod before he turned his attention back onto the ally again. Slowly, as not to make a noise, Logan extracted one pair of claws and held them ready. They now turned around a corner. They were only few steps away…
"They will show up sooner or later…," Mystique said and led the group through the dark alley. "As soon as they get to know that we have this furry beast…they will squeeze into those stupid uniforms and come. It has always been like that."
"Storm," Logan said through his headset and pressed himself against the wall, giving his two teammates a sign to do the same. "They've Hank. Do you see him?" Waiting for her reply that told him they had just spotted him, he let go of the headset and prepared himself for an attack. "Bobby, ya attack the second after I took out Mystique, then you'll help Rogue with the third…"
"Got it," Iceman nodded and, even if he felt tensed like never before, he tried to concentrate on his work.
"Come on, as if you mind seeing the Wolverine dressed up in it," a female voice laughed. "Everyone knows you have a crush on him, Raven." There was a noise that told them Mystique had obviously landed a punch. "What? It's true, bitch. Everyone knows about it anyway."
"And if you go on like that it's one less person that knows!" Mystique said angrily. "So shut up!"
"Well, since the Wolverine is a daddy he seems to have become pretty soft anyway," a third, male, voice said scornfully. "He's a dog that can't bite. Isn't that so, Raven?"
"So we've been told," Mystique said and had reached the corner to the next alley.
"Then you've been told wrong, bitch!" Logan growled and before Mystique could act he had landed a hard punch into her face that sent her backwards against the wall.
"Attack!" the second of the Brotherhood mutants said as Iceman had sent a beam at him. About to act, he was frozen to the bones and the two X-Men attacked the third mutant, a woman, who was quicker and sent them to the ground. Since she was outnumbered, she turned and ran down the corridor, not reckoning with Logan talking her from behind. Panting, he let go of her and made sure that Bobby and Rogue were fine.
"Kid, are you alright?" he asked and received a nod. Still Iceman rubbed the back of his head with a hiss. "C'mon get up and move!" he ordered and led them down the alley until he knew they were right next to the Brotherhood. He watched how Magneto stood on top of some kind of metallic throne. Snorting about so much arrogance, Logan nodded at Storm, who had waved at him from the opposite of the street. From his position he had a good overview on the scene. Right next to Magneto were Pyro, who played with the device that allowed him to create fire, and Juggernaut. Both seemed to be more than bored. He quickly did a headcount on each of them. They were outnumbered but they could make it with a good plan. Thinking about it, Logan heard how Cyclops told them through the headset that they had spotted Hank on the right, guarded by a group of five. It didn't take long and he had spotted them. If he was lucky, Magneto wouldn't pick up on his adamantium for another five minutes. If not that he could reckon with a long flight through the city that would end painful for him. Logan knew they had to take the leader out first. Without him they wouldn't get confused and this gave them enough time to attack, distract and free Hank. "I want Cyke to shoot at Mag's helmet," Logan told the second group. "He need to make sure that he's taken out at once. We can't risk that he has the upper hand here."
"I have a good shot from here," Cyclops replied and worked on his visor. "Want me to take it now?"
"Wait!" Logan replied. "I want the Tinmen to change and attack him right afterwards. Knock him out, Iceman will deal with Pyro. I want the rest, except Storm to head for the Furball," he went on. "Storm ya know what to do."
"What does that mean?" Cyclops asked her.
"You'll see," she replied. "Ready, Logan…"
"Good," this one replied. "On three. One…two…"
He had barely said "three" as all hell broke lose. As soon as there was a red flash, Logan and the other began to run. From the corner of his eye he saw Magneto falling while Collossus attacked him and Storm flying in the air towards him. The Brotherhood was confused, Logan could see that. They didn't know what to do and who of them to attack first. Running straight towards Juggernaut, Logan jumped at his back and rammed one pair of claws at it. Crying out in fury and pain, the huge mutant underneath him tried to get a hold onto the X-Men. "Not a chance, bub," Logan said through clenched teeth. "Storm!"
Throwing a lightning bolt at her teammate's claws the woman watched how both got an electronic shock and felt to the ground. The impact Juggernaut's fall had to the street made the ground shake. From above them Ororo watched how Kitty phased through the ground with Hank and reappeared in the alley, while Iceman fought with Pyro and the rest took care of the other mutants. Their luck was on their side, she thought, since most of their adversaries were too young and got scared of the experience of real combat. From the corner of her eye Storm saw how Cyclops had knelt down next to Logan after dragging him away from mutants. This one shook his head, obviously to get rid of the stars he saw. "Logan watch out!" she yelled and both man turned their heads to see that a second Juggernaut suddenly appeared out of the alley in which Logan had knocked out Mystique.
Before both men could react the ground vibrated strongly and began to open quickly due to shockwaves that were sent by another mutant. Due to the impact the ground gave way and everything Logan could notice was that he was falling. His claws extracted in alarm and he desperately tried to catch his fast fall but there was nothing he could ram his claws into. Suddenly water splashed around him and he couldn't breathe. Soon he figured that he must have landed in some kind of underground lake or something similar to it and instantly began to swim to the surface. Reaching it, he filled his lungs with fresh air, or at least he'd hoped so. He could practically feel how his stomach began to make turns and wanted to get rid off the last meal he'd eaten, as his nose picked up on the horrible smell of his surroundings. As lucky as he was, he had to land in the sewer… And since fate was a bitch when it came to him, Scott had to be there, too. "Are you alright?" Cyclops asked aloud; making Logan think that the man was either deaf or dumb since he was right next to him and there was no reason at all to scream that loud. "Logan, are you alright?!" Scott asked even louder than before.
"No…," the addressed grunted and rolled his eyes while watching his teammate holding onto an edge.
"Why? What's wrong?" Cyclops asked concerned.
"You're here," Logan said cynically and swam over to him.
"Funny!" the other man snapped. "Where are you?"
"What are ya blind?!" he snapped and climbed onto the platform that was usually used by workers.
"Honestly said," Scott began and tried to get a better grip on the edge. "…yes, I am. I lost my visor…"
Logan turned his head to look at the man more closely and saw that this one had indeed lost the device that kept his powers at bay. "Pity," was all he had to say and looked for a way out. Again he was lucky: there was no way he could reach the surface. The attack had done its job…
"Logan?" Scott asked and sounded almost scared.
"What?!" this one snapped.
"Are you still there?"
"No, I'm sittin' in the mansion's garden…"
"Would you stop this?" Scott asked, sounding angered this time. "Would you mind helping me out of the water?"
Rolling his eyes, Logan crossed his arms. "Yeah, I would. But I don't wanna get my hands dirty…" Nevertheless, he went over, grabbed the back of the man's uniform and pulled him up, which earned him a yell that almost sounded painful. "What now?" Logan grunted and let him fall to the ground. "Did ya lose a hair?"
"No, I only think that I've broken my leg," Scott snapped and pushed himself up and into a sitting position. Gritting his teeth when a sharp pain jolted through his leg, he hissed. "Are we in the sewer?"
"How can ya tell?" Logan asked cynically. "I thought you'd feel at home here…"
"Fuck you, Logan!" he received as a reply for that remark and watch smirking how Scott tried to find a solid wall which would help him to get up on both feet.
"No, thanks. Ain't doin' men," he shot back. "Or better said…not jerks like you!"
Scott gave a snort and finally his hand touched a solid wall. "Was this an admission just now?" he asked and shifted his weight so that he hadn't had to move his broken leg.
"Fuck ya, Scooter!" Logan snapped and turned around to walk away alone.
"Hey! What about me?" he heard his teammate calling.
"Crawl your way outta here, I don't give a shit," he shot back. "Or if ya wanna do me a favor then drown yourself!"
"God, what does she see in an arrogant bastard like you?!" Scott barked back. "If I had thrown a tantrum like that every time I'd caught you flirting with her, I would have had a lot to do, don't you think? Grow up!" Cursing under his breath as his leg hurt again, he noticed that he couldn't hear Logan anymore. "Logan?" he asked and turned his head in search for his teammate with closed eyes. He wouldn't really leave him here all alone and incapable of seeing anything, would he? he thought, but couldn't stop his heart from beginning to race in fear. Being blind and vulnerable like this reminded him too much of the time before Xavier's when he had lived on the street and hadn't opened his eyes in months; too afraid of others to see what he really was and scared that he would hurt anyone else like he'd accidentally done before. He'd sworn after the Professor had saved him that he wouldn't live in the dark for another day in his life. And now here he was, stuck in a sewer with a broken leg and unable to open his eyes. And the only one who could save him now hated his guts and would rather see him dead than helping him. "Shit!" Scott cursed as he slipped and landed on the ground with a yell. Groaning in pain he'd stopped breathing for a moment. Just as the pain had faded he felt how something moved over his leg. "WAH!" he shrieked and, despite the pain, backed off against a wall, thinking that it was a rat.
"Would ya stop actin' like a girl?" Logan snapped and tried once more to steady the other man's wounded leg with two sticks he had found. "Yer worse than a…"
"You could have said something!" Scott complained. "I thought you were gone."
"Well, I'll be if you don't shut up!" his opposite replied and bound the sticks roughly together; earning another hiss from his teammate by doing so.
"Watch it!" this one said with an angry undertone and was pulled as roughly up as Logan acted the whole time through. "Do you also treat your children like this?!"
"Well, if they looked like you I sure as hell would throw them into the next river," Logan snapped and put Scott's arm around his neck and his around this one's waist to help him walk.
"Asshole!" was all Scott said.
"Prick!" Logan grunted in return.
Moving along the tunnel, both fuming like a volcano ready to explode, they remained silent. Scott, who had clearly trouble to keep up with Logan on one leg only, dug his fingers into this one's uniform and clenched his teeth. "Not so fast!"
"Hop faster!"
Having enough, Scott stopped and forced Logan to do the same with it. "I know you're pissed because I kissed Jean, Logan. I said I was sorry, so would you stop acting all assholish and be the team leader who is responsible for his comrades? If you can't then let someone else handle the job. I don't know what has gotten into the others anyway to chose you as my successor," he said and released the frustration that had built constantly within him in the past hours.
"Well, probably because of the same reasons Jean picked me," Logan gave back and began to walk again.
"God, is there anyone else on this planet who is as full of himself as you?" Cyclops asked him and began to hop once more, trying to keep up with him.
"Yes, you!" he heard Logan saying.
"What is that supposed to mean?" his teammate demanded to know. "I don't think I'm the best in anything I do."
"No?" Logan asked and chuckled. "Then think again."
"Enlighten me."
"Well it's you who think he's the perfect leader, the perfect husband and father," he said and turned around the corner. His nose has picked up on fresh air close by and he could already hear noises far above them. "You only see in people what ya wanna see in them and even if they prove otherwise, ya don't care. So, yeah, Summers…if I'm an arrogant bastard, you're, too!"
"I gave you a chance, Logan!" Scott snapped. "I offered you my hand when we first met and you just ignored it, so who thinks he's better?!"
"So we go on playin' Potter'n Malfoy, or what? It ain't me who ain't able to please his woman, pal, so shut your mouth!" Logan grunted and felt how his teammate wanted to stop, but he forced him to walk further.
"What is that supposed to mean now?" he demanded to know.
"That you're a tight assed prick to whom control matters only and who forgets about his girl's needs over it," Logan said and narrowed his eyes. "Too afraid to let go just for a second because he would have to give up control. Why did I go looking for sticks anyway? I could have used the one that ya carry around in your ass. Even a mayfly is more experienced than you."
Scott gave a scornful snort. "Says the man who probably has a kid in every city, hm?"
"Well at least I have kids," Logan shot back.
"Shut up!" Scott felt how they suddenly stopped. The curse Logan uttered told him that it couldn't mean anything good. "What now? What's wrong?"
"The only way out is blocked. It has a big hole in it but we can't reach it," Logan explained.
"So?"
Letting go of the man, Logan sat down on the ground and leant back against the wall. "So we have t'wait until they find us…"
"Great…," Scott cursed and turned his head. He could tell that Logan had sat down somewhere on his left. Reaching out he touched a wall and used it to steady himself before he sat down, too.
"Why do ya have to sit here?" Logan instantly snapped and moved away to bring enough space between them.
"Sorry, but I didn't see you," Cyclops apologized after nearly sitting down on the other man's lap. Crossing his arms he leant his head back against the wall and sighed. He only hoped the others would hurry…
When the jet's engines could finally be heard Logan raised his head with a dismal expression. Not only had it taken longer than he'd thought for the others to find them, meaning a few hours, it had also cooled down a lot and he was freezing and most importantly, he had also given up on pushing Scott's head off his shoulder. The man next to him had fallen asleep after a while and had obviously decided that Logan's left shoulder was the best place to sleep on. Now he was totally pissed, if his previous already bad mood could have become even worse, and had decided to strangle the first person that would cross his way. Growling when Scott moved and wrapped one arm half around him in his sleep, he thought about his idea to just drown his teammate in the sewer. It would be worth it…
"Logan?" Ororo's voice called from above.
"Down here!" he called back and looked up.
"Hold on, you'll be up here in a second."
"Yeah, and then you'll be dead," he grunted and looked aside. "Get up!" Logan snapped and just stood up; not caring that Scott hit the ground.
"What's wrong?" this one asked drowsily and groaned as a skull breaking headache kicked in.
"The others are here," came the grunted reply and he looked up, forgetting about the fact that he couldn't see anything anyway. "What is it now, sissy?" he asked and crossed his arms while he watched how Scott held his head lowered.
"I think I'm sick…," this one replied and leant back against the wall.
"If you'd said you're a stupid asshole then I'd have said yeah you are," Logan grunted but noticed the sweat on his teammate's face. Pulling off a glove he went over and knelt down in front of him. "You're feverish," he said after touching the man's cheek. "You're the biggest drama queen alive, do ya know that, Summers? Always have to be the center of attention…"
"Shut up, Logan!" Scott replied and wrapped both arms around himself as chills set in. "You have a healing factor, I don't."
"Yeah, but it doesn't save me from you, does it?" Logan asked nonchalantly and heard how the jet was hovering above the hole. It didn't take long and he could see that something was approaching in the dark. A few minutes later he held Scott in a secure grip and was pulled to the jet, where the others were already waiting.
Jeez that chapter was really hard to write. I had the sewer scene written first and the beginning until the fight in the jet was pre-written before I started with the whole story, but I couldn't come up with anything for the middle part. Suddenly it worked. LOL Thanks to all reviewers! I think it will be one or two more chapters since I want to finish this story before I fly to the States for two months. Please review!!! See ya!