Chapter 17: "Hudson Attack"

"So, we've got everything worked out and legal, and if they try to come after you, that's SHIELD's jurisdiction now," Peter Parker said to Mac as the two of them finished up. Mac had been filling him in on everything that he knew about the program and the rest of the crap that had been going down, and for his part, Peter was enjoying the chance to dabble in some relocation and a tiny bit of witness protection, too, even if it wasn't the full go-undercover-change-your-name kind of thing. "So if you have any problem, there's about a zillion things I'm authorized to do to these creeps.

Mac let out a breath, though it was clear that the reassurance wasn't lifting the burden as much as he'd hoped it would. "I appreciate it," Mac said. "I just never thought I'd have to do anything like this, so I'm not real … thanks."

Peter nodded slowly at that. "Yeah… I don't really envy you," he admitted. "Heather and Oliver okay?"

"Yeah, they've been making the most out of their time at Xaviers," Mac said with a little smirk. "Might as well, right?"

"Sounds horrible," Peter said with a smirk. "What an awful punishment."

"I know, it's a real torture fest," Mac replied, laughing lightly. "You'd think Mrs. Summers likes guests or something the way she's been going."

"I swear, I think I gain five pounds every Hanukkah?" Peter laughed.

Mac stood up and clapped a hand on Peter's shoulder. "It's a horrible welcome to retirement."

Peter's smile dropped a bit as he nodded seriously. "Yeah, well, better benefits package than some people got," he said. "But listen, I was serious: you need anything, you let me know."

"Sure thing," Mac said with a little wave as he headed out, obviously ready to get away from all of the official nonsense and back to his family. But he didn't get too far out of the doors before he was all but surrounded by reporters looking for a comment.

"Mr. Hudson, what can you tell us about the legal ramifications of your team being the cause of these international incidents?" one reporter asked.

"And how long do you think it will be before it becomes a criminal case against you?" another chimed in.

Mac clearly wasn't prepared for one reporter, let alone a whole pack of them, and the questions were definitely not what he'd been expecting. But a simple 'no comment' wouldn't do him any good. "I'm afraid I'm not a lawyer," Mac said. "So I really don't have an answer to either of those, guys."

"Then can you at least tell us if SHIELD will be pressing charges? Or the Canadian federal courts?"

"I… really don't know that either," Mac said, coming to a stop. "I haven't been notified by either."

"Well is there anything you can tell us?" the first reporter asked.

Mac shrugged openly and gestured with both hands. "Just that I'm out of the biz, guys. That's it for me."

Though that kind of announcement really only prompted another frenzy of questions as the reporters started a whole new round. "Was this a voluntary decision?"

"It was something that I was planning for a while," Mac said, one hand up in front of him. "It has nothing to do with the most recent revelations with the school or the weapons group or anything like that."

"But the timing can't be a coincidence."

"I can't help the timing," Mac said. "I was hoping to get a replacement to continue the team, but I just don't think that's anything that anyone wants."

"The official word is that Alpha Flight has been completely disavowed. Do you think that will affect the legacy your team leaves?"

Mac frowned at that. "I wasn't aware that the government was breaking ties," Mac said. "But considering everything that's happened, I'm not too worried about any kind of a legacy for the team."

"We've got Wolverine on record — and this is the quote — saying that Alpha Flight was your baby. You can't expect anyone to believe that you're not going to see the fallout from everything that your team did to kids and civilians."

Mac's gaze hardened as he looked toward the reporter that had asked that one. "Yes, in the beginning, Alpha Flight was mine. I started the team, I pushed to do as much good as we could … but that doesn't mean that I was in control of how everything ended up. The team was not involved with the school like it seems. We were trying to do something clearly beyond our grasp, but Alpha Flight never did anything to kids or civilians but try to help." He took a breath and tried to rein in his temper. "The truth was: we tried to be too big, too fast — and we were operating under the control of the government. And considering everything I knew about how they treated certain individuals over the years, it shouldn't have been attached at all in anything like an official capacity."

"So the government is saying it was you; you're saying it was them," one reporter summed up.

"Yet only one side has a history of doing this kind of thing," Mac said. "And it's not me."

The reporters were starting to pare off now that they had the quotes they needed at that, though a couple stuck around for some follow up, asking about his retirement and whether relations were still good between the now-defunct Alpha Flight and the X-Men, that sort of thing. But by that point, the interview session was more or less over, and he was just repeating what he'd said a hundred times to those questions about the teams.

A few of them were restaging to do wrapups for the news report, summarizing the highlights for the news team to edit the footage from the interviews for sound bites later, when there was a sharp sort of sound that had everyone ducking instinctively. And just like that, the whole news story changed when one of the cameraman caught the exact moment a gunman shot Mac on B-roll.

Because the recording hadn't been live, it wasn't broadcast, but that didn't mean that the people back at the institute didn't see it about five minutes later broadcast after the commercial break as breaking news — and Scott's phone was ringing off the hook from Peter calling from SHIELD.

Scott was already on his way out the door and didn't say more than just, "Logan!" on the way past him.

Logan didn't even ask what the story was before he fell into step with Scott, knowing he'd hear about it on the way to whatever. "No uniforms?"

"This isn't official business," Scott said. "Mac was shot. They caught it on camera after the reporters ambushed him on the government trying to throw him under the bus."

Logan's entire body language shifted, and he didn't say another word for the rest of the way to the city.

Once they got to the medical facility inside of SHIELD, Logan looked all the more upset. "He'd already testified."

Peter nodded. "We got the guy that did it, but he was dead when we got there. Best guess? They were mad he was hard to pin the whole thing on. Probably easier to pin it on a dead guy," he said, rubbing a hand through his hair to make it stand up a bit as he shook his head.

"Cheap shot," Logan growled out.

"And desperate," Scott said with a frown. "The whole world is watching them implode on themselves. Something like this just proves we were right."

"Have you told Heather?" Logan asked.

"I, uh, thought you guys might want to take him back with you?" Peter said. "SHIELD is good, but you've got Lifeguard and… y'know. My brainiacs say you should probably call the big blonde."

Logan pulled out his phone and stepped out of the room to get the ball rolling while Scott figured out arrangements to get Mac loaded up and back to the school, calling up Tyler to let him know he needed to come down to Westchester and that he'd be sending Kurt to get him.

Kurt didn't waste any time after he dropped Tyler off before he got to Scott and Logan, either, his eyes a bit wide as he didn't ask any questions, just got them back to Hank's lab so that Tyler could immediately set to work.

When they got to the lab, Heather was already waiting, and she barely let the smoke clear before she headed over to latch on to Logan and started to melt down. Logan was still worked up himself and wasn't saying a word more than what was absolutely necessary. "Tyler's got it covered," he told her quietly, though he didn't let her go.

It was obvious that Tyler was concerned by the fact that he was completely silent as he got down to work — but that just meant it was even more obvious when Mac was out of the woods when Tyler let his shoulders drop and sat back to relax a bit, pretty drained himself from the heavy healing.

Logan let out a breath when he saw it and waited just a moment longer before he started to steer Heather closer so Tyler could give her the good news.

And as soon as Heather was seated beside Mac and looking totally relieved, halfway melted down already, Logan was already moving to head out when Scott caught up to him. "I know what Peter said, but this isn't just about pinning everything on Mac and Alpha Flight, and you know it," he said. "If they can get their hands on you, they might be able to salvage something out of the program. It's a desperate move."

"I can't stand here and do nothing," Logan said in a low, rough tone.

"No, but you can't go in alone either," Scott said.

"I don't need to get anyone else in this if it goes south."

"Well, that's too damn bad," Scott said. "I'm coming - and I'll just bet there's a few other people who want in."

"No, you're not."

"I don't remember putting this up for a vote."

"I don't remember askin' for back up."

"You never have to," Scott said. "That's the point."

Logan stopped and turned his way. "I don't want you getting your hands dirty. If this goes bad, no one will be surprised if it's me."

"At this point, we're talking about an organization that's crossed so many lines of humans rights abuses on a very public stage, there's not much that we could do that we'd take a hit to our image for," Scott pointed out. "These guys are going down one way or another, and the whole world knows it."

"Scott." Logan shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Scott said. "No one would be surprised if I was there either."

Logan let out all of his breath. "I'm going to find out if James knows who ordered this yet."

"I'll put a team together," Scott said. "You and me, Kurt, I know Noh wanted to get involved."

Logan shook his head and started to walk away, frustrated with the whole thing - and not really able to pull it together enough to explain why that was not going to work for him. He headed up and found James as Scott did what he did best — which was to take charge of the whole operation seamlessly and efficiently as he pulled together his A-list to avenge what had happened to Mac while Logan explained what he knew to James.

The kid took just a few seconds to think about it before he started digging, and Logan sat back and let him get to it — not in the mood to fight with anyone on the details and fully planning to just take the coordinates and the name and head out before anyone could catch up to him. Which had James making a face, since he clearly knew what his father was up to. But he wasn't going to go against his dad. "I can text it to you," James said very quietly — not intending it to be for anyone but Logan.

"So, where are we going?" Noh asked from the doorway, his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorway.

Both James and Logan glanced up at him at the same time - in the same manner - then went right back to the screen. "Don't know yet," James said.

"Well, we're all ready to leave," Noh said.

"Go ahead," James said quietly. "Just start slow. I'll text it."

Noh gestured for Logan to lead the way. "It's been a while since I went to war," he said with a smirk.

Logan looked flat out irritated but headed toward the hangar all the same as James shook his head at the both of them. "It's not a war; it's a massacre," James corrected, but he didn't know if Noh had stuck around to hear it, since he was pushing hard to get some coordinates together.

The group of X-Men were in the jet, and Logan had yet to say a word to anyone, frustrated beyond even attempting to communicate as he sat near the hatch with his arms crossed. And when his phone went off with the text from James, Kurt was quick to snatch it and relay the information to Scott.

With that set, the four of them headed off to the coordinates that James had sent — though to their surprise, when they arrived, there wasn't anything to be found. At all.

And once the four of them were well away from the blackbird, all of the tech on the jet flickered and then turned itself off a moment before James sent them a second text — though that went to all four of them. Cool off. No one needs to go in right now. They think Mac is dead. Let them think it while I figure out what they were really hoping for out of this.

Scott pinched the bridge of his nose when he read it, though Noh almost smirked. "And thus," he said quietly, "the lack of a visit from Wiccan."

"That's not helping, Noh," Scott said.

"He's not wrong, though," Kurt admitted.

"No," Scott said, sitting back, smirking to himself.

Logan looked that much more irritated and did the only thing he could think of doing — and that was to simply head off into the woods walking due east.

Kurt let out a breath and teleported to catch up to Logan. "We can go after them together — when we know more."

"He's not going to give us jack," Logan growled out. "And it's gonna take Scott and Noh at least an hour to reboot the bird."

"So where exactly do you think you're going?" Kurt asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know." He gestured straight ahead of himself. "That way."

"To do what?"

"What is this, Elf? Twenty questions?"

"If it is, I'll have to come up with more than that," Kurt said with a small smirk. "I'm just trying to see what it is I'm helping with."

"You're trying to slow me down, but the boy's got it covered."

"I'm trying to help," Kurt said, shaking his head. "So, where is it we're going?"

Logan didn't answer him, though, doubling down on his foul mood and picking up the pace a little as he got into the heavier brush.

When Chance poked his head into the medical bay, he was glad to see that Mac was up, and he grinned and waved with one hand. The other had the food his mom had sent him with.

"Healing the fast way takes it out of you," he said. "Mom sends fuel."

"You're not kidding," Mac said quietly. "Still better than the alternative, I'm told."

"Yeah, I think we'd all appreciate it if you didn't die on us," Chance agreed as he set the food down between Mac and Heather and grinned self-consciously. "Long time no see."

"Glad to see you, though," Mac said. "How are you doing? You gettin' mistreated already?"

"Oh yeah," Chance said with a smirk. "Elin's already sparring with me to get me back on track. Real hardship."

"That's what I heard," Mac said with a grin.

"I'm so lucky," Chance said honestly.

"What took you so long?" Mac asked.

Chance shrugged openly. "Oh. You know. Hydra."

"Oh, like that's much of a road block," Mac chuckled. "You let Hydra slow you down from getting the girl? Come on."

Chance gave Mac a dry look and then shook his head. "Okay, but you were just shot, so this should really be a 'how are you' thing here."

"Yeah, but I got my girl before then," Mac said. "Just saying."

"I got my girl," Chance defended.

Mac grinned a little wider. "Your girl, huh? How's Dad taking that?"

"I'm alive, aren't I?"

Mac was nodding slowly but giving Chance the most obnoxious smile. "I suppose so."

Chance shook his head. "Anyway, I wanted to stop by, say thanks," he said. "For, you know, sticking up for me."

"For … Chance, come on. Like I'm gonna let them drag you through the dirt."

Chance gestured at the hospital bed. "Not like it's without its dangers."

"This?" Mac said, glancing down at himself. "Part of the job."

"Yeah, well, thanks anyway," he said, backing away so Mac could be with Heather to eat together.

"You're inviting us to the wedding, right?" Mac said just as Chance got to the door.

Chance stopped outright and turned around. "Wow. Okay, first of all…anyone who says Heather's the emotional ambush one out of the pair of you is wrong."

"So you're not that interested," Heather said, outright looking down.

"I'm eighteen, Heather!" Chance said.

The two of them shared a look, shook their heads slowly, and Mac sighed while Heather tutted before they both, in unison, said, "Not interested."

Chance let out a frustrated sound and pulled his hand over his face. "How — how can you think that waiting to think about that until, you know, we're both adults… how is that not interested?"

"So you're just waiting for her eighteenth?" Mac said, the troublemaking grin coming back in force.

Chance stopped again and then couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Yeah, I guess I am."

Heather was beaming, and Mac wasn't far behind her at all. "Okay. Good. Go," Heather said, shooing him with both hands. "Kiss your girl."

"You're going to get me in trouble somehow, I just know it," Chance warned, pointing a finger at her.

"I'm not worried," Heather said with a sniff.

Chance shook his head at that and then broke into a little laugh. "See you guys around," he said as he headed off — to go find Elin.

Logan was a good stretch ahead of Kurt when Kurt got the text from Scott that said they were ready to head back, and it was only a moment after that before he teleported over to Logan and brought them both back to the jet in a blink. Not that it did much for Logan's mood in the least.

"Mac wants to talk to you before you go murdering anyone," Scott said flatly. "And James said he'll only give coordinates in person."

"Gonna have to drag his sorry little ass into the Danger Room," Logan grumbled.

"He's probably expecting it," Scott said with a small smirk — since it was hard to hide the fact that he was proud of his godson's quick thinking.

Logan growled his way and went to the furthest back spot in the jet he could as Scott simply took them back, where James was waiting for them.

"It's not a capture bait," James said, hands up. "Watch the news. I didn't even need to look that hard. It was supposed to be a smear."

"That's a desperate move for a smear," Scott said slowly

"It is," James said. "But … the guy that ordered the hit was waiting for Dad. Cameras in place … I know because I looped his feed with cartoons. He was hoping to get the show in living color and then have the feds release it."

Scott nodded slowly. "And now?"

"Now … they're just … saying the same crap they always have. Next best thing to animals ... that kind of unimaginative garage. Even without the fresh video."

Logan let out a little huff at that. "Nothing new, nothing that's not established as far as most are concerned."

"Then they're running out of ideas." Scott nodded once and then put a hand on Logan's shoulder. "Alright. If Mac's up, let's go see him."

"Fine," Logan rumbled, letting Scott set the pace as he was used to doing when he needed a crutch. They barely got into the medbay, though, before Heather was on her feet and made her way over to wrap up both of them in hugs. As soon as she'd let Logan go, she got a hold of Scott and seemed to make a point out of squeezing the stuffing out of him.

Logan side stepped closer to Mac, and when he was close enough, Mac yanked him over to lean over his shoulder. "They're not worth it. I'm fine. Let them melt down on their own unless something comes up. Please."

"They're draggin' you through the mud and sayin' you had a hand in screwing up those kids," Logan pointed out, still sounding irked. "I'm not gonna stand by for that."

"Well … it'll come out. Wait until they talk to the kids — and they will. It'll come out." Before Logan could argue, Mac threw his arm over his shoulder and pulled him closer. "Then — after they've screwed themselves — you can go after them if you still want to."

"Takin' all the joy out of this, Hudson," Logan growled out.

"Please. As if there was any joy in it to begin with," Mac said.

"Soup's on!" Annie announced as she slipped downstairs to where Heather was still sitting with Mac; Hank wanted to give him a little more time to recover before he would okay his release.

Heather smiled when she saw the big spread. "You really went all out, didn't you?"

"I may have way too much experience cooking for people who have nearly died. Including my own kids." Annie gave her a tight smile. "Are y'all okay?"

"Surprisingly so," Heather promised. "But I don't think even after all that healing we can eat all this." She gestured at the over-full plates. "You didn't have to put yourself out."

Annie smiled lightly. "I have a lot of excess energy, sorry. My anniversary is coming up, but with everything going on…"

Heather's whole expression fell. "You're not thinking of postponing?"

"I…"

"Annie," Heather said, reaching out to grab her hand, "we're fine. And if anyone comes after him again, they'll have me to answer to."

Annie couldn't help but smirk. "Nice to have you around."

"Someone has to help K keep track of these unruly boys."

"True enough," Annie said, leaving to give the Hudsons some privacy.

She wasn't convinced everything wouldn't fall apart without her and Scott, but it was nice to have Heather around to restore some of her hope.

"Shut up, get out. Be happy," K said, physically pushing Annie out of the kitchen.

Annie looked totally floored as she tried to duck away from K. "But everything is so hectic right now, and we really can reschedule—"

"It's always hectic; it'll be fine. We've got it, and I have a nuclear option to keep Logan here if I need to. I've got it. Go. Celebrate."

Annie stared at K for a moment. "It's just that…"

"Annie." K let out all of her breath. "Please. Go and enjoy those gorgeous brown eyes."

Annie let out a breath, though K knew when she started to smile that she had her. "Scott won't have his phone or his comm, so if it's an emergency…"

"I know," K said. "We will have no such emergency, I am willing it into not happening."

Annie couldn't help but laugh and then squeezed K in a quick hug. "I love you too," she said with a smile.

"I've got it, I promise. You need to get lost — both of you," K said before she gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Get the hell out."

Annie laughed again, and she headed out to snag Scott and inform him that they had been more or less ordered to take their planned anniversary trip — though she was a little surprised that he didn't take as much convincing as she'd thought he would.

"K said that she was willing things to be quiet for us," Annie teased.

"We could probably use all the help we can get," Scott said with a smirk before he simply swept her up and started to carry her out to the small jet that they were taking out to Savannah.

Annie laughed as she resettled herself with her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "You sure you're going to be alright being so far from the family?"

"They'll be fine," Scott said with a smile and kissed her back. "The kids can handle things."

"Oh, I see how it is," Annie said.

"Hey," he said. "I think we did a pretty good job with them, don't you?"

"We must have, if you trust them to run things while we're gone."

Scott just smirked as he set her down and kissed her again. "Well, I blame you, personally."

"I'll take credit for that," she said, laughing at him as he got the jet ready to go. "Happy anniversary, Scott."

He grinned at her and then kissed her cheek. "And here's to many more."

A/N: This is the last chapter of this volume! Keep your eyes peeled for the next one, "Approval," on Canucklehead Cowgirl's profile very soon!