A New Beginning Default Chapter Title, a x-men: the movie fanfic

Disclaimer: The X-men do not belong to me

Disclaimer: The X-men do not belong to me.

Author's note: I am enjoying writing this but I would definitely like to get more reviews so please review away. Don't be shy I know you people can do it. To Melissa I know my writing style is a bit different. The problem is I don't have a beta reader and so I have to put it out just as you have seen it. This is also a story that is a little off track from the rest but I needed something to set up for what I want to do.

A New Beginning Part 4

It had been a couple of weeks since his debacle with the Brotherhood of Mutants. Christmas was nearing fast and Jarek didn't know why everyone was so happy about it. In his life he had never had a good Christmas. All he had known on Christmas was pain and suffering.

He remembered a Christmas not too long ago where he had been a prisoner. On that day he had been tortured more than at any other time in his life. That had been the Christmas gift to him. Well he had returned the favor to the man when had gotten free. He had hunted the man down and killed him on Thanksgiving of the following year. Jarek had given thanks that day for his patience.

Jarek turned his thoughts away from such dark places in his history though and thought about the upcoming Christmas dance that the school was having. He shook his head at that. A dance and not just any dance but a damn Sadie Hawkins Christmas Dance. What was up with that. The professor claimed that it would make the guys think about who they said yes to because they didn't know who they would ask. He claimed that it would be good to switch the traditional roles since the school was not a traditional school.

Jarek knew some of the couples that were already going. Jean and Scott were going and so was Jubliee and the new guy Gambit. Gambit what a name but he figured that there had to a reason for the kids to be calling him that and Jarek didn't really care. He cared about himself and that was pretty much it. Rouge and Kitty hadn't asked anyone yet but Jarek knew that they would. Man Jarek hated dances. They were nothing but a waste of time he thought.

Jarek knew that the students were getting presents from each of the X-Men and he also knew that the students were buying presents for their friends. Jarek didn't think he would buy anyone any gifts because he didn't know if he would be in the mansion for the holiday. He thought he might go hunting or something to let himself just feel the outdoors his true home.

Jarek shrugged his shoulders as he went towards the danger room. The newly fixed and completed room where a person could practice by using programs built into the computer. The computer read the program and then made holographic images of that program. If you were hit by the images you would feel it but it would not be lethal so you could learn from your mistakes.

On his way there was when it happened. The three girls giggling to themselves as they were coming towards him. He knew what they were doing and what they were going to ask him. They had asked the question of every instructor and had been turned down. They were going to ask him if he would go into the city and take them shopping for dresses for the upcoming dance. Xavier had said that the girls and no other younger student was to go into the city without one of the X-Men there to be their guide, their protector in other words.

The girls had tried to have Scott, Storm, and Jean go but they had all refused. They didn't want to ask any of the other male students who had better powers than they did because they didn't want them to know what their dresses were before the dance. Jarek really didn't want them to ask him because they knew he would probably agree. Just as he was about to head back down the hall from where he had come a voice said from behind, "Look girls I believe this is the man you have been looking for."

Damn Cyclops Jarek thought. He would get even with him but he would not let his irritation show to him or the girls. They looked up from their giggling and saw that indeed it was Jarek just the man they had been looking for. "Hey Jarek we have a question for ya," Jubliee exclaimed excitedly.

"No before you even ask me the answer is no."

"You don't even know what we are going to ask," Rogue said indignet.

"Yes I do you are going to ask me to take you shopping."

"Well yes we were how did you know. Don't tell us we would rather not know," Jubliee said.

"Jarek I think you should take the girls shopping. There is no one here who is better qualified than you to take them and make sure that they don't spend too much, they get home on time, and they are safe," Cyclops said trying to hide his smile but failing miserably.

"Fine I will go since it seems that the girls really want to go. I think this rule of Xavier's is foolish. I mean sure it is New York but do you really think that the girls would be attacked again," Jarek asked skeptically.

"To be truthful I do Jarek. That gang will be on the lookout for them and besides it is Christmas time remember. Women always have money around this time to buy gifts. It is during this time of year that more women are attacked than at any other time," Cyclops said honestly.

"I have to agree with you it is just that I hate shopping. It is not something that I do very often."

"Yeah we can tell, you still have the same cloths that you had when you first came here," Jubliee spoke up again.

"Girls get your purses or whatever it is you have and meet me in the garage," Jarek said unhappily. Man he was not going to like this. The holidays are off to a bad start already he thought.

"We are ready and so we will meet you in the garage Jarek," Kitty said as they raced down the hall.

"I'm driving," Jubliee yelled as she pulled ahead of the others.

Jarek turned to Cyclops then and asked, "Why me. You know that I am not the kind of person that enjoys the company of others. I am a loner as well as a person who is not the nicest person you will ever meet."

"Well to answer your question we as a group chose you for the simple fact that you aren't into shopping and such. You won't be helping the girls look for their dresses you will be looking for trouble. That is what we need we still feel that Magneto is after Rogue. The problem is that we can't keep her cooped up here and that is why we said they needed someone to go with them. So be on the lookout will ya," Scott answered.

"I will keep them safe. Even if it costs me my life," Jarek said coolly.

* * * * *

Logan was on his way back to the mansion after a three-month absence from the place he felt he could call home. The mansion held a person that he was wanting to see and so he was feeling a bit excited. Rogue. He wondered if she had changed or if she was still the shy girl he remembered.

The bike sped on and he smiled. What a surprise it would be for the team to see him back in time for the holidays. He had wanted to make it back in time to see Rogue for her first Christmas away from home.

Logan saw the mansion appear in the distance a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He was almost home and it was a good feeling. A feeling that he hadn't felt in 15 years. It was a feeling that made him feel almost whole but which could not fill the emptiness left by not knowing about his past.

He pulled into the garage and got off the bike. He walked into the mansion and went straight to the kitchen. He was hungry, after all he hadn't ate all day since he wanted to get back at a decent hour of the day. Inside the kitchen he found the whole of the X-Men sitting down eating supper.

"What's the deal that you are all eating in here instead of in the living room," Logan said from behind them.

They all turned and saw that Logan was standing there. They couldn't believe that it was him. They had expected him back for a while yet and this was indeed a very unexpected surprise. That was what Logan had been going for. He had wanted them all to be surprised by his return.

"Logan it is good to see that you have returned," Xavier said warmly.

"Yeah I thought I might try and make it back by Christmas so that I could spend it with people this time instead of with myself," Logan said his usual gruff self.

They all stood up from the table and each of them greeted him. Logan even made an exception and shook Cyclops's hand. That was almost too much for him to bear, to show comradeship with one-eye.

"How's Marie," Logan asked.

"She is doing fine and I think that she will be pleasantly surprised to see that you have returned," Storm answered.

"Where is she," Logan asked another question.

Scott answered this one for Logan and Logan thought that the man was almost enjoying what he was saying. "She is with Kitty, Jubliee, and a man named Jarek who joined us shortly after you left. He is there to make sure that they find the right dresses for the dance that is coming up."

"What dance," Logan demanded.

"Our winter dance. We give the students some time off from homework and they are allowed to have a dance," Storm told him patiently realizing that he had only been with them for a few days before he had left again.

After that the group all sat down and talked about what was going on in the school and Logan spoke about his time away. He never mentioned that he had found out nothing about his past except a name of the project. Weapon X.

That was a secret he would keep until he finally found out one day who he really was. He didn't want them to know that he was made for nothing more than to be a killing machine as the name of the project suggested. Those were his thoughts as he caught up with the only friends he had.

* * * * *

Jarek was not happy. The damn girls were in the third store of the day and looking at women trying on dresses was getting old. This store was no different from the others and Jarek just knew the girls were going to buy their dresses here because if they thought they were going to another store he had some news for them.

At the previous two stores Jarek had done his job watching the streets as well as the store for anyone that looked or smelled a bit suspicious. He had scouted the places out so that he knew the exits as well as all the entrances. Jarek hadn't had any trouble yet but that was not saying much in New York. Trouble could happen at any time and he would be ready for it when it did.

Just then he heard a voice speak up from behind him and he sighed, "Jarek what do you think of this dress," Rogue asked.

Why couldn't they leave him alone. He just wanted to stand here and not have to answer their questions. He was just a man after all, a mutant yes, yet still a man and there was only so much a man could take. "Look ladies I am not wearing the dresses. You pick what you like and do it soon. I am tired of being in this city. I don't like cities," Jarek grumbled.

"Oh stop being such a stick in the mud Jarek we are girls and so we have to try on so many dresses," Jubliee spoke up from the dressing room next to Rogue's.

"Just hurry up," Jarek replied.

After another hour of torturing Jarek, which is what the girls were doing, they finally bought their dresses. They had taken so long on purpose because they knew they wouldn't get Jarek to do this very often. Once they had their dresses they turned as one on Jarek and said, "You need a tuxedo."

Jarek stood his ground. He had never run from anything in his life except for when he ran after killing that boy so long ago. These girls would not make him run either. He had faced Sabretooth! He could surely demand that he didn't need a damn tux. "Girls I don't need a tux. I think we shall be leaving now."

"Listen Jarek if you are going to the dance then you need a tux," Kitty said. The girls crossed their arms over their chests and he knew that they were not going to move unless he carried them out which he wouldn't do to them.

"If I get a tux will you leave then."

"Yes we will leave and be quite happy," Rogue said triumphantly.

"Then let's get one," Jarek almost had to choke the words out.

Jarek had gotten a tux then though it had only taken his about 10 minutes to find one that he liked. He now had it in a box and they were heading out of the store when he saw a bunch of guys waiting by their vehicle. Jarek frowned then because he didn't know who they were and what they wanted.

They left the store and walked up to the group of guys about 10 in all. The guys turned at their approach and one of them stepped forward.

"What do you guys want," Jarek demanded of them as he took them in with a fighters trained eye.

"Well boy we would like to have a few words with you and then we want what our boys had tried to have," the leader said as he pulled a switchblade from his pocket.

It was then that Jarek realized who they were. They were members of the same gang that had tried to get Jubliee and Rogue so long ago. He frowned at them for the colors they were wearing didn't affiliate them with a gang.

"Well say your words and get out of our way," Jarek told them as he glanced at the girls from out of the corner of his eye. They were very nervous and tense. Jubilee was trembling a bit but trying her best to hide it. Rogue was nervous because she knew that they probably wanted to kill them. Kitty was very nervous moving form one foot to the other and Jarek had no idea what was going through her mind.

"We want these girls since our boys were going to have them. That is one of the things that we want, you see we are all brothers. That means we share what the others were having." The man paused here for a dramatic effect which did nothing to impress Jarek for without their knowledge he had moved into a fighting stance. "The other thing that we want is your death. You see you killed some of our brothers and for that you have to die so that they can rest easy."

The men started to fan out around Jarek as he turned to the girls, "get into the store and wait for me there."

The girls turned and ran back to the store. The men didn't try to stop them because they were getting ready to attack Jarek. They all had knives and Jarek knew he would have one shortly as the owner would be giving it to him albeit unwilling.

Jarek told the leader, "Don't be foolish if you attack I will kill you."

"I doubt that man you see the only one who will be dying is you," with those words they attacked. Jarek spun away from the first thrust at his midsection. During his movement he had dropped the box so that his hands were free. He had caught the man's wrist and twisted breaking his wrist. Jarek caught the knife before it hit the ground and turned to look at the others.

"Who is next to play our little game," Jarek taunted.

Two men charged him this time he leaped back avoiding their thrusts to his chest. As he landed he charged low under their arms and brought his knife up into the heart of one of the two. The other slashed at Jarek wildly scoring a hit on Jarek's side. Jarek spun around faster than thought and drove his knife into the throat of the man. As he fell Jarek took his knife into his left and threw it at the next one who was coming at him. The knife buried itself into the man's chest killing him as well.

The others stopped to regroup then since they had lost 3 of their boys already to this man. How could he fight like that they wondered. The leader told them to fight and so they charged as a group of 5 since the leader held back and the man with the broken wrist didn't charge.

While they were standing there Jarek picked himself up another knife and stood waiting with his half-smile on his face. When they charged Jarek was ready. He threw his two knives striking two of them. One fell with a knife in his throat the other fell with a knife in his head.

Jarek charged forward then and since he was so much bigger than they were he kicked the lead man in the knee before the man could react. The man fell forward and Jarek caught his head. Jarek gave it a violent jerk to the side breaking the man's neck. He then dropped the man as the remaining two slashed him. He took a cut on his arm and on his stomach. Jarek knelt down and waited for them like a cat waiting for its prey.

One man charged and Jarek exploded upward from his kneeling position. The man slashed at Jarek who used his arm to block the cut. The knife bit into his flesh deeply spraying blood across Jarek's face. None of that stopped his forward momentum and he punched the man in the throat. The man fell back clutching his crushed larynx. He couldn't breathe and Jarek knew he was dead as well.

The last man dropped his knife and turned to run. Jarek was in a blood frenzy though and wouldn't let him get away. He tore the knife from the throat of one of the men and threw it at the back of the man running away. The knife sailed true once again striking the man in the heart from behind.

There were now but two left and one of them was wounded. The wounded man acted like he knew martial arts and kicked at Jarek. The kick was straight out instead of a round sweeping kick like he should have used. The man kicked forward like he was kicking a football. Jarek waited until the leg went high and then he shot in down low catching the leg on his shoulder. Jarek then brought his arms down on the leg breaking it at the knee.

The man fell to the bround screaming and so Jarek silenced him by stomping on his throat. He then turned to the leader and said coldly, "Now it is just you and me."

At that time a squad car showed up and two cops jumped out yelling, "hands in the air."

They both put their hands in the air and for the first time Jarek noticed that there was quite a large crowd of people gathered around. They had been watching his fight he knew. The cops approached and patted down both of them. They took the knife away from the leader and said, "who killed all these men." Their guns were still trained on both Jarek and the gang leader.

"I did," Jarek answered simply.

A woman spoke up from the crowd and said, "He only did because he was defending himself, and some friends of his."

"Is that true," one of the cops asked.

"Yes it is. They attacked first. All I was trying to do was get to my vehicle so that I could go home," Jarek replied.

The police finally noticed who the one man was. "Hey partner look who we have here. If it isn't little old Tommy the gang boss. Seems we have you this time."

"No not really," the man replied as he drew a gun from the middle of his back. The police were too slow but Jarek wasn't. He launched himself at Tommy and tackled the man. He pried the gun from his hand and tossed it aside. To Tommy he whispered, "If they hadn't showed up you would be with your friends now."

The police pulled Jarek off of Tommy. They handcuffed Tommy and put him in the squad car. The police then turned and looked at Jarek, "It seems kid that you were fighting in self defense. Also you saved at least one of our lives and for that we thank you. In return we will let you go without making you come down to the station."

"Thanks," Jarek replied.

"No thank you kid. You captured Tommy and that is something that has not been done. The station will be very happy to get this trash off the street. You also took out his posse and so you shouldn't have to worry about anymore of them coming after you."

After that little adventure the girls came out of the shop. They had their dresses and were a little shaken up but otherwise they were fine Jarek noted. "You will all be fine once you get the image of all this death out of your mind."

"That is not it. It is just that you keep saving us like you are our guardian angel or something. Thank you," Jubliee told him.

"It is no problem. Now let's head home so that you can show your dresses off to Jean and Storm like I know you want to," Jarek replied to them.

With that they all climbed into the vehicle and drove home. The whole drive was pure hell for Jarek because he was covered in his own blood and for once the girls were silent. That was something that he almost couldn't take.

* * * * *

Magneto was pacing back and forth in his room. He was not a happy man for his Brotherhood had failed to kill Jarek. That mutant that knew about Mystique. Jarek it seemed to Magneto was also a very resourceful opponet and he didn't want a foe who he could not beat. He wanted Jarek dead and he knew how. He was working on it right now.

Many would ask him why he wanted Jarek killed so bad and he would tell them that it was because Jarek knew too much about Mystique. That was not the real reason though. The real reason was because Jarek seemed to have the affections of Mystique which was something that only Magneto had commanded for a good long time. That was the reason he wanted him dead.

He would never willingly kill one of his brothers and yet here he was plotting to do just that. He did not like what he was doing but he really didn't want Jarek alive. Especially since he had killed one of the Brotherhood and held his own against Sabretooth.

The TV broke him out of his reverie. On it was a reporter telling that the president of the United States was on his way to New York three days before Christmas. He was going to talk to the governer of New York about the Mutant Registration Act. The president it seemed was thinking about the Act and if he had the supporters then he would try to pass it.

Magneto smiled. Foolish homo-sapiens and their laws. Their laws meant nothing to Magneto and his Brotherhood. He thought that he might pay the president a little visit when he came to New York. Magneto smiled as he thought of what he could do when he had the president at his mercy. There would be no law for the Registration of Mutants. When he was through the president may even see that mutants deserve to live and if he didn't see that then he may find himself leaving the presidency vacant.

* * * * *

The group of shoppers pulled into the garage. The girls jumped out of the vehicle their earlier silence all forgotten. They were talking quietly to each other and decided that they had to go show their dresses to Jean and Storm who would understand what it was like to have new dresses for a dance.

They turned and looked and Jarek and smiled, "We are going to go show our dresses to Dr. Grey and Ms. Munroe." Jubliee said from the other side of the vehicle.

"Do I look like I care. Go show them but I have to go change shirts and get something to eat," Jarek replied to them.

The girls smiled widely at their gruff companion. They turned and ran from the garage. The girls had no idea where the two women would be so they had to run down the halls until they found them. The girls checked out both of the women's rooms but no one was in either of them.

They ran to the kitchen and saw that no one was there either. The girls were wondering where they all were when they were nearing the living room and they heard voices. It sounded to them like the X-Men and so they ran into the room and stopped dead in their tracks when they saw who was there. Logan sat in a chair talking to Xavier with the others sitting there listening.

Rogue dropped her box that held her dress and ran to Logan. She leaped into his arms and knocked over the chair that he was sitting in and him as well. "I' so glad you're back!" She exclaimed as she stood up a bit sheepishly. She had embaressed herself when she had flung herself at him.

She saw out of the corner of her eye Logan stand up and try to hide a smile. "Hey kid I see that you are alright," he told her as he sat the chair back up and took a seat in it.

"Yeah I am Logan. I didn't expect you back for some time yet," she said.

"Well I decided to surprise the whole lot o' ya by coming back early," Logan replied.

He looked at her then and noticed that she had changed since he had left. She was just like a teenager should be he thought. She had friends and was happy. She was not quite so thin as she was since that was due to not having enough to eat. She seemed to be very happy here and he had a question he just had to ask to see what her reaction would be, "Hey kid I hear that you went out and bought a special dress for an upcoming dance."

Rogue blushed slightly and turned her head away from Logan so he couldn't see. She then said to him, "I did not buy a special dress. I bought a superb dress as did my friends. We will have the pick of the guys to dance with at the dance."

"Is that right Marie," Logan inquired.

"Yeah it is Logan," She replied back at him.

That was when she had a sly smile cross her face. Her friends knew what she was going to do as did everyone there except for Logan himself. He was about to be ambushed and he had no idea. "Logan," Rogue nearly purred, "I don't have a date for the dance and since it is a Sadie Hawkins dance I want you to go with me."

Logan couldn't believe what he had just heard! Marie was asking him to a dance and he had just gotten back. What was the world coming to when kids just asked anyone. Of course he knew she was beautiful and had found out from the professor and the others that she hadn't asked anyone yet. It seemed she had been waiting for him. Logan didn't like dances but he couldn't deny Marie this. Not since he had just returned and it seemed like it would make her happy. "I tell you what. You three model your dresses for the group of us Marie and I will go with you to that dance."

They all stared at Logan like he had lost his mind. They hadn't thought that he would say yes but then again they hadn't expected him to return yet either. He was just full of surprises they were finding out. He was not as hard and gruff as he had been before he had left. They thought that the change was due to Marie and Logan's time away from her.

The girls ran off then to put their dresses on at the pleading look from Rogue. They had to help their friend land this man she so liked. Besides they were only showing the dresses to the instructors. They had wanted to show Jean and Storm anyway so this was fine by them.

* * * * *

Jarek was on his way to his room to get a different shirt and was thinking about what he had seen in the garage. He had noticed a motorcycle there that had not been there since he had been at the school. He figured that if there was no one running around telling people that there was a manic on the lose then the person was welcome at the school. He hadn't told the girls because he didn't want them to know. He was supposed to protect them and so he would.

He made it to his room and pulled out one of his shirts that he had bought after he had decided to stay at the school. He put it on after he washed the blood from his arm and face. His wounds were healed since none of them were all that bad. Man he hated New York. Everytime he had been in the city he had ended up killing someone and it was getting old. That city needed to clean up it's streets he thought as he headed out the door and down to the kitchen.

Once there he made himself a sandwich and then headed down the hall back to his room knowing full well that the girls had found Jean and Storm. He had the sandwich ate in no time and was walking by the living room when he smelled a new scent. He put his back to the wall and slowly inched his way up to the doorway. Jarek peered around the corner and saw the X-Men and the professor talking to a man who was well built. The man was also one of the most hairy men Jarek had ever seen.

About that time Logan picked up a scent that he had never smelled before in the mansion. It was the smell of a person, and it was coming from the doorway to the living room where they were. Logan stood up and out came his claws skint.

"What is it Logan," Xavier asked the man who had his claws out.

"There is someone by the door over there. I don't know who it is I have never smelled his scent before," Logan nearly growled as he started towards the doorway where Jarek was.

Jarek thought about it and decided that he might as well go in and introduce himself to this Logan. After all he had heard enough about him from Rogue that he had wanted to meet him. Jarek stepped into the room then and before anyone could say anything Logan charged Jarek and slashed.

Jarek was not taken by surprise like many would have. He had almost expected it since the man seemed like one who was very protective of the people he called friends. It didn't take him by surprise but it did make Jarek mad. Jarek leaped back from the slashes but Logan did cut him slightly.

Jarek created his blazing swords of light and gazed at Logan. "If you attack I will defend myself Logan."

Logan charged again and this time Jarek ducked the slashes and drew his blades across Logan's stomach. The wounds healed almost instantly but Jarek was not trying to kill him. Logan cut down and laced a cut across Jarek's back fairly deep and blood ran. Jarek stood up and looked at Jean, and said simply, "If you want to stop him now would be the time."

Jean used her telekinetic power and stopped Logan in his tracks. "What the hell you do that for," he growled.

"Because he is not your enemy Logan. He is the man who has been helping us out in your absence. He has helped the girls out and is a part of this school now," Xavier explained.

The X-Men hadn't known what to think when Logan charged and attacked Jarek. It had taken them by surprise and if Jarek hadn't been as good of a fighter as he was he would now be dead they knew. It was something that they couldn't believe had happened. It was as if Logan knew Jarek and didn't like him but they knew that wasn't it. It was just that he was someone Logan hadn't known and so Logan had thought he was an enemy that had infiltrated the school. They didn't fault Logan for his actions but from the look of Jarek did.

Jarek looked down at his chest and felt the three claw cuts. They were bleeding as were the cuts on his back. He then dissapated his swords and looked back up at Logan. Jean had released Logan who was standing there with his claws retracted. Logan looked at Jarek and said, "Sorry kid I thought that you were one of Magneto's boys."

Jarek frowned at Logan then and said coldly, "Let me give you a little advice Logan. Don't ever attack me again. If you do I will kill you. I will tear your heart out and not even your mutation will be able to keep you alive then." As Jarek finished his eyes started to glow and Jarek knew it was time for he left or he would do something he would regret. He turned and walked from the room with all the X-Men staring at his back.

* * * * *

The X-men were stunned by what Jarek had said especially since Logan had apologized and that was rare in itself. They knew Jarek was cold and distant but they had thought in his time at the mansion he had started to change and then they had seen what had happened.

Logan couldn't believe that the kid had spit his apology right back at him. Logan needed to find out about the kid and so he asked the professor, "Who is the kid professor besides what you told me after I had made a mistake of attacking him."

The professor looked relieved to have something to do. He looked at Logan and told him, "His name is Jarek. That is all he has ever told us of his name. He joined the school after he helped Rogue and Jubliee out of a jam. They girls had been attacked by a gang and Jarek happened to be there and he helped them out."

"So he is on our side. It looks like I really need to make amends with the kid," Logan said.

About then the girls came back into the room with their dresses on. Dresses that had cost about $400. The girls started to walk up and down the living room one at a time oblivious to the fact that the X-Men were silent. After Rogue who was the last one they turned to the gathered members and said, "Well what do you think of our dresses."

"They are lovely girls," Scott said with a smile forgetting about Jarek for a while.

"Yes they truly are beautiful," Jean mimed Scott.

Storm looked at the girls and smiled, "You all look beautiful. The dresses are each you. Showing who each of you are."

The girls beamed at the attention and at the remarks from their friends. Rogue looked at Logan then and said, "Well what about you. Don't you have anything to say about my dress and about the dance hmm."

"You look very good Marie, and true to my word now I will take you to the dance," Logan said to her.

After that they all started talking about what had been happening and the girls filled Logan in on the new guy Jarek. They soon forgot all about the altercation between Logan and Jarek and that was not good since Jarek himself didn't ever forget anything. Not when it came to him and battle. Logan caught up with the girls and found out what they had been doing and about what had happened at the dress shop. Logan was grateful to Jarek yet again and knew he would have to do something to make it up to the kid.

* * * * *

Jarek went to his room and took his shirt off. He tossed it into one of the corners and went to get another shirt but decided against it. He was not having any luck with shirts today. Jarek looked around his room and decided that he didn't need anything from it except for a small necklace that none of them knew that he had. He pocketed the necklace and left the mansion making sure none of the students saw him leave.

He was not happy. He had thought that he was a member of the school but what he had found out was that he was a substitute for this Logan, a chaperone for the girls, until he had returned. Well he was back now and they no longer needed him. He had found out how important he was to them.

He was expendable if one of the team decided they didn't like him it seemed. Logan had attacked him and none of the X-Men had attempted to help him. He didn't need their help oh no he didn't. What he was hoping for was them showing that he was important to them by attempting to explain who he was to Logan. They had done nothing until Jarek himself had told them to. If they hadn't Rogue would have never forgave Jarek for he would have killed Logan without a second's thought.

When Jarek was away from the mansion he went out into the surrounding woods. The outdoors were the only true home he had known in the past seven years and it seemed that they would stay that way. Jarek didn't mind for he liked it outdoors. He loved the smell of trees and animals. He was home in the forest and the forest welcomed him back without saying a word.

* * * * *

Magneto had been gathering other mutants to his cause after Jarek had killed Bomber. Since that day he had gathered fifteen other mutants. A mixture of human looking mutants and those whose mutation was so severe that they could not pass as humans. They would be his strike force. They would be the ones to help him capture the president and if necessary kill Jarek if his other plan didn't work.

One of the mutants was standing in the room with Magneto now. The mutant was not big standing only five and a half feet tall but she was extremely beautiful. She had a very interesting mutant power. She could make a person's nightmare's come alive. The nightmare brought to life was real in every aspect and if it's person was killed then so was it. It was a truly interesting and powerful mutation. The woman was also unique looking having dark blue eyes and platinum hair. The woman also had another gift she was partly telepathic.

Magneto smiled as he thought of what he could do with his gathering army of mutants. They would claim the United States as their own if they must but only if they had to. Magneto just wanted to be seen as an equal with humans not as a object to be feared and killed. Of course there were always exceptions and Jarek was one. Magneto wanted him dead and he would have his way.

Mystique wished that she could tell Jarek about Magneto's plan but she couldn't go against Magneto. He had saved her and helped her see that mutants needed to make a place for themselves in the world. She would not go against Magneto not even for Jarek though she wished that she could.

She held two knives in her hands. The knives were pulled from the chest of Bomber and they were the same knives that she had given Jarek nearly four years ago. Now that she had them she knew that he had forsaken their relationship. She was no longer his sister she thought. He would always be her little brother though. She would never forget him.

Mystique feared for Jarek because there was no way he could overcome the odds that would be sent against him. His only hope was to flee and she knew that he would never do that. He was a warrior born, as she put it. That meant that if there was a battle to be had he would not run from it he would run to it and battle until he was dead. It was the way he was but she also knew that it was what was going to kill him.

* * * * *

It had been two days since the altercation with Logan and the girls still did not know about it. They were talking about the dance and then Jubliee brought up that Kitty still didn't have a date. "Hey how come you don't have a date Kitty," Jubliee asked.

"Because everyone I have asked already has a date," Kitty answered right back.

"Well we have our dates so we can help you look for one," Rogue said cheerily.

"How about Bobby," Jubliee spoke up with a smile.

"I don't think so. He is too cocky and besides every time we get a new female student he is trying to impress her," Kitty replied looking at Rogue who smiled and blushed a little.

"How about John," Jubliee said next on her list.

"Yeah Kitty he could keep you warm at night with that power of his," Rogue said with a smile and wink at Kitty whose turn it was to blush.

"Nah he ain't for you Kitty," Jubliee answered her own question. Then her eyes widened and she smiled widely. "How about Jarek. As far as I know no one has asked him and he is quite handsome don't you think."

Kitty thought about it. Yes Jarek was available it seemed and he was good looking. In fact she had a crush on him but didn't want her friends to know since they would never let her live it down. "Yes I think that I will ask him. He is indeed very handsome and quite the mystery man."

"All right then let's go ask him shall we," Jubliee said jumping up from the bed and heading out the door. Kitty and Rogue following behind. They went to Jarek's room and knocked. There was no answer. They knocked again and when no one answered they opened the door and went inside. What they found shocked them.

They found that Jarek was not there and it looked as if his bed hadn't been slept in. They looked around the room and saw that there was a bloody shirt in one of the corners. There were slashes in the front and back of the shirt and it was stained in blood. They didn't know when that could have happened since it wasn't the shirt he had been wearing when he had taken them shopping.

They took the shirt and went to see the professor after they talked to some of the students to see if they had seen Jarek anywhere. None of them had so they went straight to the professor. Once there they showed him the shirt and Kitty asked, "What is this shirt doing in Jarek's room and how come no one has seen him in a while."

"What do you mean no one has seen him in a while," Xavier asked concerned at what that meant.

"Well no one has seen him since the day Logan came back," Rogue answered. She then looked at the shirt and back to the professor and the expression on his face.

"We found this shirt in his room in a corner. It has cuts in it that are perfectly spaced," Rogue said as it started to dawn on her. "Did Jarek and Logan get into a fight that day?"

Xavier saw no reason to lie to the girls since they had forgot to tell them. "Yes they did. It was a misunderstanding on Logan's part but Jarek was not happy. I didn't think that he would leave the mansion though. I didn't think that it was so bad as that. I must go and see if I can find him with Cerebro."

"What do you mean they fought professor," Jubliee asked not following the conversation all that well.

"Jarek walked into the living room after you girls left to put on your dresses. Logan thought that he was one of Magneto's Brotherhood and so he attacked. Jarek defended himself but not to the degree that Logan had attacked. It wasn't until Jean pulled Logan off of Jarek that we explained to Logan what the deal was. After that Jarek left and apparently no one has seen him since," Xavier gave them the lowdown on what had happened.

"Why didn't you tell us this when we arrived," Rogue asked quietly.

"To be honest it is because we had forgotten in the excitement of Logan's return and your dresses being modeled by you girls," Xavier replied.

With that he turned and left the room and went to Cerebro. Once there he heard the girls approaching from behind. Xavier had alerted the X-Men that he was using Cerebro and that they should meet him there when he came out of the room. He then entered the room.

When he emerged he saw the X-Men with the girls all standing there with their uniforms on thinking that they were needed for a mission. He didn't need them for a mission though so he said, "It seems that after his altercation with Logan Jarek decided to leave the grounds of the mansion."

Logan looked around at them and knew that he would have to go find him. "Where did he go professor it is I who made him leave and so I should go and get him."

"He is in the woods surrounding the mansion. I don't know if you should go though I sensed that he wanted to kill you and I think that he could," the professor said.

"It was my fault the kid left and it is my duty to get him to come back so I am going," Logan demanded.

Logan then turned on his heel and walked away from them. He went outisde the mansion and into the woods using his sense of smell to track Jarek down. He knew he would find the kid but the problem would be to make the kid see that Logan had made a mistake.

"Professor do you think that Jarek will try and hurt Logan after what happened," Rogue asked worriedly.

"I don't know Marie I just don't know."

* * * * *

Jarek knew that Logan was in the woods with him. He could smell him. Jarek also knew that Logan was tracking him by his smell and so Jarek thought that he would play with Logan and see how good he was.

Jarek used all of his skills and doubled back on his trail, he crossed creek beds, and climbed trees jumping from one tree to the next. All the while Logan stayed on his trail like a dog or like his namesake a Wolverine. Jarek smiled to himself at that thought. They all had their code names and each code name fit that person.

Jarek sat in a tree above Logan as Logan came into a small clearing. It was a place Jarek had picked out for their little confrontation. Jarek watched Logan and waited knowing that Logan would eventually get the hint and look up.

* * * * *

Logan had been tracking the kid now for over two hours. He had finally guessed that the kid was playing with him. Logan had to admit that Jarek was good. Not many people or mutants for that matter could do what Jarek was doing and that was keeping ahead of Logan.

Logan followed his trail over creeks and up trees to other trees. Jarek was definitely good. He would have to commend the kid when he finally found him. Logan came up to a small clearing then and figured that Jarek had chosen this place for their meeting. Logan looked around and used his senses but couldn't find him.

Then it dawned on Logan to look up and there sat Jarek. He was thirty feet in the air on a thick tree branch above Logan who began to get a little anxious to get their meeting over with so that they could go back to the mansion.

* * * * *

Jarek jumped down from the tree once Logan looked up at him. He caught himself using a cushion of air just before he hit the ground. Jarek then stood up and looked at Logan. "What do you want," Jarek demanded.

"I came out here to get you to come back to the mansion. What happened between you and me was a misunderstanding on my part," Logan replied.

"It seems to me Logan that you don't need me to come back. You see it took them two days to notice that I was gone. That is how important I am to them. I was a nothing," Jarek bitterly said.

"That is not the way it sounded to me. Xavier and one-eye said that you saved the girls. I am glad since I wasn't here to do that. I owe you for that," Logan said.

"You owe me nothing. I helped the girls out because I can't stand rapists. I would kill them all given the choice," Jarek spat out.

Logan was getting no where and he knew it. This kid had something deep inside of him that was killing him and Logan knew that the kid wouldn't tell anyone. He would let it eat at him until the day he died. Logan decided to try something else. "I hear that you stood toe to toe with Sabretooth."

"Yeah so what of it Logan," Jarek said coldly.

"Well as far as I know the only other person to do that was me. I have to congratulate you on that. Not many can claim they fought Sabrettoth hand to hand and lived to tell the tale. I have a question though how did you find his fighting style," Logan asked wondering if this was the right way to go about this. He had never been one for talking to people and he didn't know how to talk to Jarek.

"His fighting style is worthless. He relies on his raw power and anyone with speed could fight him and win. Sabretooth is a street fighter and not a artist in the way he fights. He leaves himself open and for someone like you he would be easy to defeat," Jarek said getting interested.

"I thought the same. Of course he almost beat me so I think you are wrong about me being able to beat him. I can hold my own though and he can't beat me. We are evenly matched. I noticed that against me he used a lot of throw moves how about against you," Logan asked again.

"Against me he didn't throw me once. He tried to use his claws and strength. Of course his size limits him in what he can do and that is an advantage that we should learn to use when we fight him. Also you could beat him if you let yourself go Logan," Jarek said.

"What do you mean let myself go," Logan wanted to know.

"I watched you in a danger room training session and I noticed that you think about your moves too much. When you react your speed is twice as fast. You should just let your body react to what is happening and it will not fail you."

"Ok kid I just might try that. Now what say you and me head back to the mansion," Logan urged.

"Fine but I see now that I was just a person who they had look after the girls. I was a substitute for you until you returned," Jarek said as they walked towards the mansion.

"Why do you say that."

"Because they didn't try to stop you from killing me. They just sat there and watched. I was expendable," Jarek coldly replied.

"That is not so. They were taken by surprise by my actions. They feel that you are valuable to them and the school since the girls look up to you and many of the younger ones too."

"If you say so," Jarek said knowing deep down that Logan was wrong. Jarek didn't belong at the school anymore. He would have to leave before too long and go back to the road. His real home.

* * * * *

The girls saw them come back into the mansion and they ran out to greet them. Gambit was with them this time since he had to be with his girlfriend Jubliee when they saw what had happened between the two.

Jarek walked in after Logan did and the girls noticed that there were no wounds on either of them which was a good sign they thought. "So what happened," Jubliee asked.

"Jarek an me came to an understanding. I told him it was my mistake and he agreed," Logan said.

"That is all," Rogue asked her eyebrows raising.

"Yes it was except we compared notes on Sabretooth. One of us will beat him next time we meet him," Jarek said.

"Okay now Kitty it seems that we have two couples present that are going to the dance. What about you and Jarek do either of you have a date," Jubliee asked slyly.

"Chere you are mean to dat one Kitty. Why not let her alone eh," Gambit spoke up in Kitty's defense.

Jubliee punched him in the arm and Gambit clutched it like it hurt and exclaimed, "Ouch chere you no need hit Gambit. Dat mean streak in you extends to boyfriends it seems."

Kitty was watching the two as Logan went over and put his arm around Rogue like a boyfriend would. It seemed that those two were becoming quite close since he had returned. Kitty looked and saw that Jarek didn't care what was going on with the others it seemed as if he just wanted to leave. It was almost as if he was uncomfortable around so much affection.

Kitty looked to Rogue who nooded her head. Kitty then looked to Gambit and Jubliee who both nodded their heads at her to go ahead. Damn Jubliee for telling Gambit. Kitty cleared her throat and just decided to ask, "Jarek would you like to go to the dance with me."

Kitty thought about holding her breath and then remembered the old saying and decided that it was best to breath. Jarek looked at her and frowned. He spoke up and said, "I don't know how to dance Kitty. Don't you want someone who knows how to dance to be your date."

"I don't care if you know how to dance I can teach you during the dance," she said hoping that he would say yes.

"Kitty how come you haven't asked anyone else. I am not the best looking guy here and not the most popular that is for sure," Jarek asked her.

"I asked you because everyone else I asked already had a date. Why aren't you answering my question don't you want to go with me," Kitty asked hurt in her voice.

Jarek couldn't stand to hear the hurt in her voice and so he told her the truth, "Kitty I have never been on a date. I have never danced. I have never done anything that a normal teenager should have done. But to answer your question since you asked me yes I will go with you to the dance."

Kitty was so happy she rushed forward and took Jarek in her arms and hugged him. She then turned to her friends who were beaming and hugged them. She couldn't believe Jarek had agreed to go with her. She was sure he was going to say no. She wondered what everyone would think when she showed up with him on her arm.

Gambit moved over to Jarek and smiled, "You got a catch dere mon ami. Dat was a good thing you did friend. Now maybe de Jubliee will leave me alone about asking you for her."

Jarek looked at Gambit and knew that this dance was going to be hell for him since he had no idea how to dance. Jarek looked at Logan who was smiling at him and that just didn't help in the least. They all knew something that Jarek didn't and that was always something that made Jarek uneasy. He just knew there was going to be no end to the amount of teasing by the X-Men when they saw him at the dance.