"We need a plan." Logan said as he came back to the apartment. Ororo nodded as she watched him put down the lunch he selected from a nearby diner. While he was gone she took it upon herself to clean up a bit. It wasn't overly messy, just absently cluttered, and it kept her from just lying on the floor, crying. He smiled as he looked around. "The place looks great. Thanks, but you didn't have to go through the trouble."

"It wasn't trouble, and there wasn't anything for me to do around here. You don't have a television and I didn't like any of your books." She thought for a moment. "I know of someone who could help us, someone I should have went to a long time ago."

"Who? And are you sure they can be trusted?"

"Yes. They taught me a little elementary hacking, but they work wonders when it comes to anything electronic." Logan shrugged.

"Sure, why not. We'll need all the help we can get." Ororo smiled.

"Then after we eat, lets go."

*

"Where does he live?" Frost asked as she sipped on her latte. Charles took a swing with his golf club and watched the ball sail towards the green.

"He gave us two addresses, but they both seem to be fake. No activity whatsoever."

"So what are your options?"

"We don't have very many at this point. That's why you were brought in." He dismissed his caddy and took a seat beside her.

"No, I was brought in because Scott couldn't handle the position. Wonderful job by the way. Very smooth, and his body was half chewed when they found it." Charles smiled.

"I figured it would. Piotr has been put on the case."

"I've been told he is the best."

"He is."

"The leader isn't pleased that this deal hasn't been wrapped up by now. You know as well as I do the plans we have after this little…"

"Unfortunate development?" Charles supplied.

"Something like that. It will be your head on the chopping block if this does not fall through. With the advent of the Euro, the time hasn't been this ripe in centuries for what we are planning."

"I am well aware of the risks and what is expected of me. Don't confuse me with Summers." She smiled and went back to her drink.

"I doubt anyone could confuse you with him. So at this point we sit and wait for Piotr."

"He's searching through her friends as we speak."

*

He smiled as he watched them get into the car and drive away. Piotr found the apartment only ten minutes ago, and they were already gone. The man intrigued him like no other. He wasn't like other prey, he could never seem to get him in his rifle sight. He always knew…somehow he always knew if he or someone else were in danger.

Starting up the car, he waited two seconds before driving after them. The blue convertible stood out on the street filled with other slightly less than new cars. Stupid. A smile quirked at his lips again as he watched them turn a corner. Pressing the gas he pushed forward, and almost slammed into an ice packing truck backing out of a parking lot. He honked his horn desperately, his quarry getting away from him, but it was no use, and he would not bring attention to himself.

The driver leaned over and reamed him out in Italian as he continued on his way, slowly backing out and disrupting the traffic on the street. Piotr looked calm, but his large hands were gripping the steering wheel hard, almost to the point of breaking it. He would not be denied, and he would not blemish his perfect record.

*

"Are you sure they're gone?" Ororo asked as she looked behind them as they drove.

"Yeah, I'm sure. That truck couldn't have come out at a better time." Logan shook his head and cursed himself. He didn't notice the car when they came out of the apartment, but the tail was clear once they started on the road. Keeping his cool, he forced himself not to speed away, and it paid off. His heart was pounding hard, but it wasn't for fear of his own life.

He knew he was too close to this witness, but he couldn't help it. Just being near her made him content. He couldn't afford to make mistakes. Not with her…

"Bedford."

"That's where he is?"

"Yep. He'll be able to hide us too. He knows I'm in trouble." She looked out the window of the convertible, wishing she could just enjoy the ride with Logan. Attraction made it hard to just sit and be around him without touching him, but now was not the time.

They reached their destination relatively quickly, an immaculate brownstone with no outward signs of individuality. They pulled up and Ororo peered at a window. A blue shade was pulled down and then brought back up and she smiled.

"What does that mean?" Logan asked as she told him to drive to the parking lot two blocks over.

"That means its safe, but we have to ditch the car." The walk back was quick and they were ushered in through the back door. Logan closed it behind them and took a look around. "Bishop! How are you?" Ororo exclaimed as she hugged him.

"Doing great. We found out what happened, and the plan went into place. Took you long enough to get here." The large black man said as he led them through the spacious kitchen to the living room.

"I know, and that mistake cost Erik his life." Bishop started, and sighed.

"Damn. I'm sorry Ororo. I know he was a good guy." He raised his eyebrow and looked at Logan. "Who is he?"

"He's the only reason I'm alive right now. This is Logan, he works with the witness protection agency."

"What is this place?" Logan asked, looking around. It looked like a normal home, but the feel of the place was purely artificial.

"I'm security, and until we check you out, I can't answer that. Come this way." Bishop led them to what seemed to be a study. Closing the door behind them he walked to a bookshelf and pulled a book. Logan almost groaned when he read the title. A.I. Oh yeah, he was dealing with a geek.

The shelf sank into the wall and pulled back, revealing a short flight of stairs, well lit and metallic. Descending, he pulled his gun out of its holster and looked around warily. When he turned back he was faced with the barrel of a gun, held by a large black hand, connected to the well muscled arm of an angry Bishop.

"Bishop!" Ororo said as she leaned against the wall in irritation. "Is that really necessary?"

"The only reason why you're not dead is because you're Ororo's friend." Bishop said slowly.

"Look, you know exactly what I am going through. I don't know you or this place. Why should I trust you?" Logan pointed out.

"She came to us, that's reason enough. You can keep you gun." He said grudgingly. "But don't even touch it or I won't hesitate to kill you." Respect blinked itself in Logan's eyes for a moment as he holstered his gun, and Bishop put his away as well.

"Are you both finished?"

"Certainly. Come on. You know where he is." She rolled her eyes.

"If you didn't insist he eat he wouldn't." The ground leveled out and revealed a large laboratory, everywhere were computer and computer parts, and a tall man moving around in quiet concentration as he worked.

Logan sized him up. Definitely Native American, long, shoulder length black hair and slim build. He worked deftly as he welded small filaments together with a tiny instrument. He looked intense and focused, but smiled as he caught sight of Ororo. "Cloud Lady, there you are. What happened?"

"I panicked." She beamed as he hugged her. "I went to Erik out of habit."

"Nice guy. We went by and picked up everything when you downloaded and erased everything in your company's database. It's in a room."

"Wonderful. I can't thank you enough Forge."

"Hey, what are friends for?" He looked past her to see Logan. "Who's he?"

"A friend, don't worry."

"I'm going to check him out anyway."

"Could you do something for me?" She asked as she sat down beside Forge, who placed himself in front of a computer.

"What?"

"I have a nagging suspicion. I have a person I want you to check out." He nodded and started typing at an almost blinding speed.

"What does he mean, check me out?" Logan asked Bishop as they took a seat.

"He built a program that can cross-reference any name in the world and bring up all available information on the person. We use the data files of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and the Mossad." He looked surprised.

"How did he get authorization? Does he work for the government?" Bishop laughed slightly.

"Far from it. We have a healthy disdain for the government and its mostly corrupt officials. He hacked in and got what he needed, he's third best in the world."

"Third? We have a hacker ourselves. Her name is-"

"Katherine Pryde. Yes, we know about her. She's almost the laughing stock of the hacking world. A hypocrite who went to the other side."

"But she's good at what she does." Logan defended her. Bishop chuckled.

"To a certain point. She has this thing about never asking for help. At times she'll get way over her head. That's a liability on a project. I worked with her once. Very arrogant."

"That's Kitty. What did you work on with her?"

"I'm fifth in the world." Logan raised an eyebrow.

"What, you thought we all were geeks who had pocket protectors and plastered Star Trek posters on our walls and wore our pants to our arm pits? Stereotypical." Logan shook his head.

"No, it's not that…never mind." Forge turned around and smiled.

"Congratulations, you passed."

"I told you he would." Ororo smiled and stood. "Do you think I could go upstairs and take a bath? I'm tired of these jeans."

"You look good in jeans." Bishop commented as she started up the stairs. She didn't look back and he chuckled. "What a woman."

"Tell me about it." Forge sat back and swung around in his chair. "So Logan, taking care of Ororo?"

"She's alive isn't she?" Logan asked. " What's this plan I keep hearing about?"

"Ororo told us that she thought there might be some illegal shit going on where she worked, but she couldn't be sure. So Forge and I taught her a few things so she could investigate. Their botany computer is self contained, no need for contact with the outside digital world. She had to go in alone.

Well, she hit the jackpot and she got scared. They had her stuff and they were going to use it for bad things. She was going to get evidence and go to the police. We knew how a person could disappear with evidence on them so we told her once she gets the goods, we'd go to her house and get stuff she needed, all of her clothes, anything electronic that had her digital fingerprints and hidden credit cards and money." Bishop said as he rubbed his temples.

"We heard about Jean on the news, and that's when we went to her house to start. Her Rolodex was already gone, and we knew she couldn't come back so we took everything we were supposed to. We expected her sooner, but I think the shock of everything made her forget her original plan." Forge said, taping absently on the keyboard.

"She saw Jean's body." Forge whistled as Bishop shook his head. "She seems…so much higher than this. I wouldn't think she would get mixed up in some sleazy company."

"It's not her fault."

"I know." Forge narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"You're attracted to her." Logan coughed.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"What about it?"

"Does she know?"

"Of course." Bishop laughed.

"What's so funny."

"Did she tell you she's a virgin?" Logan's mouth opened in shock.

"What?"

"You heard me." He turned to Forge.

"Is he serious?"

"You heard the man!" He crowed as he spun around in glee. "I know it's hard to believe, I mean, with her mind wrapped up in that beautifully tight little package…but it is true."

"But what about Erik?"

"What about Erik?" All three men turned as Ororo came downstairs. Everyone looked uncomfortable when they saw the look on her face. "I dated him, that was all. Why shouldn't a woman date without having sex? Is that so unusual? Can't imagine how well your mind works when you're not preoccupied with sex." Everyone had found another place to fix their gaze as she talked.

Ororo's jaw tightened and she sighed. "Where are my things?"

"Um…third floor, the one with the big bath." Forge said quietly, looking up as she walked away. The room exhaled and Logan felt like shit. Bishop groaned and rubbed the back of his neck.

"That was smart."

"Don't remind me, we should get back to business. Logan."

"Hmm?" He snapped out of the daydream. He only saw her disappointed look, and for some reason, it felt worse than a slap. What was this woman doing to him?

"When was the last time you checked in?"

"It's a long story, but I do need to. Where's a payphone that's a reasonable distance away? I don't want it traced back here."

"You don't need to go anywhere. No one can trace us. We've got our echo rerouted around the world. You could stay on the phone for an hour and they would only get to the 50th location we've got relayed. Hackers who work together-"

"Stay together." Forge laughed quietly as he finished. "We had some friends rig it for us." He handed Logan a phone with two wires extending from the back. Punching in a special number, it connected him directly to the director's office, on the emergency line.

*

"Logan! Where have you been? Is LeBeau with you?" Xavier asked with mock fury, playing his role well.

"I have run into some problems with this particular witness sir. LeBeau left our position to check in but came back a traitor, and we had to go into hiding."

"Damn. LeBeau was one of my finest men, but I haven't spoken with him since he disappeared with Ms. Lee. You should bring her by here, we can set you up with a safe house." He motioned for the trace to be initiated. Piotr pushed a few buttons and sat back, listening in on his headphones.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Too much open area between us and you. We could get dead."

"How about I send someone who can pick the both of you up? Then you'll be safer."

"Are you saying you have no faith in my abilities?"

"Logan you are the one who said it wasn't safe." Charles reminded him carefully.

"If it isn't safe with me, it isn't safe with anyone." Logan growled.

"Look, LeBeau and I talked about this before he died, you both should be in federal protection. No one can get through us." Logan frowned.

"We'll call back later sir. Just wanted you to know we'll be ready for the trial."

"Logan-" The conversation was disconnected.