Kojie- The rest of the kids from the Institute are still at the Institute they'll be introduced in a few chapters. Lucky439- Thanks for your loyalty and all the reviews.

Chapter 7: Pain

I tried to get on my feet but couldn't. The painkiller was wearing off and the lack of blood in my arms was practically killing me. I made another attempt to get up, but fell back down.

Rogue stood behind Pietro, unnoticed by everyone. I spotted her when she took off her right glove. I knew what she was going to do. Rogue set her bare hand on Pietro's cheek. He seized up and collapsed on the floor. He wasn't unconscious, but he was weaker. Lance latched his hands onto Jean's arms and kissed her again. Jean struggled, but Lance was stronger.

Rogue must've only received a small amount of power, because Pietro recovered within minutes. He got up and went to the door. He left for a few seconds. Then he returned with a wooden bat. Fear engulfed my senses.

Pietro heisted up the bat and walked up to Rogue. He swung the bat and made contact. I was on my feet when I heard the crack. Pietro swung the bat back over his shoulder in preparation to her hit her again. Pietro swung. I ran toward him. The bat connected with the back of my head. I blacked out before I even hit the floor. The last thing I heard was Jean yell:

"Scott!"

I woke up slowly. My eyes were glazed over and I was dizzy. Then I remembered exactly what had happened.

"Where's Alex?" I demanded, sitting bolt up right. In that move, I cleared away all of my remaining dizziness. Two strong hands immediately pushed me back down to the floor.

"Calm down, Scott," Jean said from my right. "It's okay."

"Lay down, One-Eye," Logan ordered from my left

"Rogue," I stated. "Is she okay?"

Logan nodded and Rogue walked into my view. She seemed fine, but that didn't mean much. "I'm so sorry, Scott. I was tryin' to help Jean, but you ended up getting hurt instead."

I looked at Logan. "I promised you I'd protect her." Logan nodded again.

I smiled at Jean. Are you okay?

She nodded.

"Where's Alex?" I asked again.

"Well, uh..." Jean started. She held a degree of fear in her eyes and it immediately hit me. I felt myself begin to panic. Where was my little brother? What was being done to him?

"It's like this," Rogue explained. "When you blacked out, Lance and Pietro ran. They were scared, I guess. Five minutes later, Sabretooth and Magneto came in. They dropped off Logan and got Alex. They said something about fixing his arm.

I relaxed. "Can I sit up?" I asked Logan and Jean. "Please?"

They looked at each other before letting me sit up. Dizziness threatened to return, but I fought it off. I glanced around the room. Everything was as it had been, except for one thing: a rather large spider sat on the wall by the door.

"Mystique," I called. "Are you concerned or curious?"

I caught Jean's confused look, but still continued. Logan lifted his head and smelled the air. Suddenly the spider transformed into Mystique. I smiled at Jean as Mystique came up to us.

"Back away," Mystique ordered Logan and Jean. They obeyed a bit reluctantly. "Cyclops-"

"Were you spying on us or were you actually concerned?" I demanded rather harshly.

"I was concerned," Mystique stated. "You are by far the most injured out of all of you and I wanted to see how you'd react to your brother being gone. Plus I brought you some more painkiller."

I looked her dead in the eyes. There was something really strange going on, but I wasn't sure what. "Where's Alex?"

"The same place you were this morning," Mystique replied as she pulled out a full syringe. "They're fixing his arm."

"I guess I made everyone mad. Pietro, Lance, Sabretooth, and Magneto have all hurt me in some way." I paused as the needle pierced my skin. She injected the substance and removed the needle carefully.

I winced; she spoke. "Can I take a look at your head injury?"

"What if I say no?" I asked. I noticed Logan had pushed Rogue behind him again. He really didn't trust Mystique. I didn't either. I had no reason to.

Mystique shrugged. "I'll do it anyway. I just figured I'd give you the chance to let me do it."

"Then I guess I'll give you my permission," I told her. I looked at Jean. She was watching me closely, but I couldn't say that I blamed her.

Mystique tipped my head down and ran her blue fingers along the back of it. The feeling was very uncomfortable, but I said nothing. She found my injury quickly. I winced as she touched it. She either didn't notice or ignored it.

I decided to communicate with Jean. What did Lance do to you?

Just a few kisses. It was nothing, Scott, but he probably would've done more if you hadn't blacked out. That scared him away.

So I saved you. I pointed out trying to lighten the subject.

Jean smiled at me. I saw Mystique stand up. Then I looked at Jean. She watched Mystique move toward the door. Suddenly Logan popped his claws out of both of his hands.

Without even turning around, Mystique spoke, "Don't do anything stupid, Wolverine. I'll bring Alex back soon." With that, she left us alone. I immediately embraced Jean. I held her close and kissed her a couple of times. Finally Jean pulled away.

I sat still after that. I didn't move and didn't say anything. I was too worried about Alex to do anything. Food was delivered along with two blankets. Logan wrapped one blanket around Rogue, because she was cold. The other one sat by the door. Jean had one her and my shirt. I had my jacket on over the bandages. The three of them ate, but I wouldn't. I couldn't.

"Jean," I called when I realized she still had the clamps on. "The release to those are up inside. You can't reach them with a finger, but maybe a long, metal claw..."I let the sentence hang. Logan popped his claws out of his right hand. After some careful maneuvering, he managed to release the clamps on her.

I sat silently. The emotional pain was building up. What were they doing to him? Was he okay? Jean had said that she couldn't reach him with telepathy. I couldn't remember being this scared since... well, since the plane crash. There was no way of knowing what was going on.

A sudden pain shot through my body. I unwillingly cried out as it climaxed. Then it passed. I looked up at Jean's beautiful face. Concern was all over it. I shot her a fake smile of reassurance.

"Are you okay?" Jean asked me.

I nodded, "I'm fine, Jean. Really." Logan snorted a laugh; I glared at him.

With Jean's prompting look, Logan explained, "It's like this. I can smell your fear and practically see the pain oozing out of you." I gave a meek smile.

Jean scowled at me, "Don't you lie to me, Scott Summers."

I dropped my head in fake shame. I was really only trying to avoid her gaze, because I knew that if I did, I would never quit laughing.

Then the door opened again. I tried to conceal my hope as I heard the hinges squeak. I looked up and saw Magneto standing in the doorway. Confusion and disappointment ran through my entire body. Magneto had a look that could only be read as complete business.

"I want Jean," he stated simply, "now."

No, I wanted to yell. I would go insane if both she and Alex were gone. I couldn't let her leave me. I couldn't let her go with him. She'd be in major danger if she went. No, I wouldn't let her.

"Please," I found myself begging. "Take me instead if her."

Magneto looked around the room and shrugged, " All right. Come along, Cyclops."

I rose to my feet and walked to the door. Magneto said nothing. I thought of trying to escape but threw out the idea. It would just get us in deeper. When I reached the door, Magneto pulled out one of those plastic ripcords. I put my wrists together and held them out to him. Magneto put the plastic under them and threaded one end through the loop in the other. He yanked the end roughly. The cord pulled tightly against my wrists and latched. Then he led me away from them.

I love you, Jean.

You know that I love you, Scott.

The path we took seemed familiar. Then I realized where we were going: to his office. Magneto led me along quietly. I stayed silent as well. As I'd known all ready, Magneto herded me into his office.

"Sit," he ordered, bluntly. I slowly eased myself into one of the chairs facing his desk. I expected him to sit at his desk, but he didn't. Magneto left the office and locked the door behind him. I was confused.

Another sharp pain tore through my body. I relaxed and let it pass. Questions filled my head. What was going on? Was everyone okay? When would the professor get caught in Magneto's trap? Was Alex with the others yet?

"I guess I'll have to wait and see," I muttered to myself.

TBC