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~ PART FIVE ~

Mickey sat on the bed, which had been put back in the single bedroom in the cabin, with Logan. He lay half propped up against her chest, where he'd fallen asleep. Her mutant abilities had broken down his walls and allowed him to let go. Having been able to just let it all go, he cried out all of his own pain, and he let her be there to hold him. Her eyes were still moist as she thought about his pain. Everything he'd been through. Having held him as he cried, she absorbed and saw everything he'd been through. She could see the man he'd once been and the man he was now, there was such a difference in him. She could understand why he'd been so insistent on finding out about his past, but thank God he'd forgotten it.
She looked down at the man in her arms. He had so much to offer, and so much to figure out. She reached up and brushed the hair off his forehead. "I wish . . ."

"What do you wish, Darlin'?"

Mickey jumped; she hadn't realized that he was awake. She watched closely as he opened his hazel eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Peachy keen, Jelly Bean."

She smiled as he'd stolen her favorite phrase. "I'm glad."

He made no effort to move as he stretched a little. "What time is it?"

"Late, early; depends on how you look at it." Logan smiled. It was the first smile she'd seen from him, and her smile grew brighter. "You were very still in your sleep; does that mean that you have some peace over your past?"

His smile faded at the mentioning of his past. After last night it was no longer a major issue that he needed to work out. "I don't wanna talk about that anymore."

She nodded. "All right."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

He leaned back against her. "Being so comfortable."

She arched a brow and his smile returned as he sat up. "It's dawn. Should we go looking again?"

He turned to look at her. "You're determined to find her; aren't you?"

"I thought that was already made clear."

"Yeah." He stood. "I need some coffee first. Would you mind if I got a shower?"

"No."

~

When Logan had finished with his shower, Mickey had coffee ready and was sitting on a stool waiting for him. She was completely ready to go. He sighed, and took a swig of the hot liquid. "I'm not sure where to start."

"Where we left her, I assume."

"Let's go."

"Aren't you going to finish your coffee first?"

He lifted the mug to his lips and drank down the remainder of the java. "Let's go."

~ ~ ~

Rogue looked at Scott, knowing that Bobby was busy talking to Colossus and couldn't stop her. "Scott, I know where they went."

He looked at her, startled. "Who? Mickey and Logan?"

"Yeah."

"Rogue, you promised," was Bobby's protest, as he came toward them. He'd given Logan his word and he didn't want to break it.

"I can't wait anymore. What if something happened to them?" She turned back to Scott. "They went to Alkali Lake to look for Jean's body. Mickey thinks she can bring her back if her body's been preserved."

Scott turned then and ran for the Blackbird. He couldn't think straight right now, he just knew he had to get to Canada and find them. As he finished dressing in his uniform, he found Storm, Xavier, Rogue, Bobby and Kurt waiting by the plane all but Xavier and Kurt in uniforms.

"We're coming with you, Scott," Xavier said.

"Then let's go. I'm not gonna wait around any longer."

"We're ready," Storm said.

~ ~ ~

Jean sat beneath the wing of the plane, her tears having stopped. She could remember pieces of her past, but only glimpses. She recited every memory as if to store it in her mind forever this time. As she forced these memories to replay, a new memory would pop in every so often giving her a little more of her life to piece together. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, so hard to figure out.

"New York! I belong in Westchester New York!"

She stood then as she was filled with a new reason to keep going. As she was flooded with adrenaline because of her memories, the Phoenix woke from her slumber. Struggling for control, Jean excited the Phoenix further, as she grew stronger the more Jean fought for control. Due to lack of nutrients and rest, Jean wasn't strong enough to fight this creature off for long and quickly lost control.

"This body! It's so young and viable! So much can I experience through this body!"

She began to fly, emotions running through her as never before, but the one she focused on was the urge to breed. There was a strange movement of some kind in this body's abdomen and she could think of nothing but mating. Her mind filled with thoughts of one man and what kind of breeding abilities he had. The man was the one she'd lost when he went over the cliff. Logan, she'd called him. She had to find him! No matter who he was with or how long it took, she had to find him!

To her own surprised she didn't have to look for long. Flying high into the air she could see the movement on the ground. There he was walking with that woman! They were searching for something. A desire like nothing she'd ever felt over came her, and she flew at the ground in an effort to get to them.

~

Logan paused to listen, and then sniff the air. He shook his head not sure he was smelling what he thought he was. He sniffed the air again. "She's close."

Mickey smiled. "That's an amazing gift you've got there, Logan."

He looked at her. "And she's not happy. She uh-"

"What? Wants me dead? We've already established that much."

"That wasn't what I was thinking." He gave her one of his classic say all looks.

She stared at him. "Oh . . . Oh. That's where your gifts get weird."

He cracked a half grin. "Leave it to you to make jokes at a time like this."

The Phoenix made herself known then as she screamed. The two turned and came face to face with the fiery bird that engulfed Jean. "You don't die easily, do you?"

"No," Mickey said in response to the question. Her mutation telling her more about Jean Grey than she'd expected. "You're killing that body, Phoenix!"

She cocked her head. "She's young, she'll heal quickly."

"No, she won't. Jean Grey isn't going to heal from the damage you're doing to her. You're draining her life force every time you take control of her. Let her be!"

Jean's body walked toward her. "Let her be, let her go! Why do you care about this body? I can see why he wants it!" She indicated Logan.

"Because I do."

"Your answer is not acceptable."

"Nor is your behavior, Guardian of man kind. The legends they tell about you say you're supposed to protect people not destroy them."

The Phoenix waved her arm and Mickey flew backward. "You are no match for me. Why do you fight for this body?"

Logan came at her then his claws drawn. "Because she ain't yours! She belongs with the X-Men!"

The Phoenix laughed. As she started to move, Jean dropped to her knees. The Phoenix stared. "What have you done to me?"

"Nothing," Mickey said as she come closer, holding her side, where she'd hit. "Let go and we can help her."

"I don't believe you!"

The rumble of a large Jet surrounded them. The wind blew fiercely around them as they watched the Blackbird land. The passengers came running off, and Scott went immediately to Jean's side. "Jean!"

"It's not Jean," Logan said.

The Phoenix stood, her eyes glowing red. Jean's body was just the shell she occupied. Scott stared. "Let her go!"

Xavier turned to his most trusted weapon, his mental abilities, but they proved useless against this magnificent creature. He could only stare as his X-Men now fought against this creature to win back their beloved Jean Grey.

In the midst of the battle, Jean fell to the ground and the Phoenix stood stunned. A fiery bird was all she was now. Scott went to Jean's side, trying to talk to her but it proved useless. She was gone. "No, no! Jean, don't."

Mickey was at his side. She glanced at Logan. "Thank you," she mouthed and touched Jean. She closed her eyes and began to pull death itself from the woman.

A loud thunderous pop caused everyone to tremble, as they watched in wonder as Jean took a breath and her eyes fluttered open. Scott hugged her and kissed her face. "I love you, Jean. I'm so sorry!"

She returned his hug. "I love you too, Scott!"

It was then that the Phoenix tried to enter Jean again, but was unable to. She screamed at Mickey. "You've done this!"

"Let's get out of here," Logan said.

Scott lifted Jean in the air and carried her onto the Blackbird.

"What did you do," Bobby asked Mickey as she walked past him.

"The Phoenix can no longer enter Jean Grey's body," she said softly and climbed the steps.

As the Blackbird was flown by Storm and Rogue, Scott sat in the back of the plane holding Jean in his arms, telling her over and over again how much he loved her. Bobby and Kurt sat in the seats behind them. Mickey sat near Logan, but by herself.

Xavier watched everyone. He wheeled closer to her. "You saved her life."

She looked at him. "Phoenix saved her from the flood, and I took the death from her that the Phoenix caused."

He watched her unsure why she was correcting him. He started to focus on her mind to read her thoughts, but Logan grabbed him attention when he touched her shoulder. "Scott wants you."

Mickey stood and walked back to where Jean and Scott sat.

Scott's smile was wide. "Mickey, this is Jean Grey, my fiancée. Jean, this is Mickey. She's the girl Alex and I grew up with and always thought of as a sister."

Jean extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Michelle."

Mickey glanced at her hand. "If you don't mind, I'd rather not shake hands right now, I'm a little shaky."

"She saved your life," Scott said.

Jean looked at him, then at Mickey. "I guess I owe you my life then."

Mickey looked at her and shook her head. "You don't owe me anything, Miss Grey. Seeing Scott so happy makes it all worth it."

Jean couldn't help the sudden jealousy that ran through her. ("Scott's my man. You keep your distance.")

Mickey almost laughed at the telepathic message, but began coughing instead. She crouched low to the floor holding her stomach. Her face was growing red, as she coughed.

"Cough it up, Kid," Logan encouraged her as he was at her side.

She glanced up at him as it slowed. She stood when she was done coughing. "Life is a precious gift, Scott. I want the only person left in my life to be happy."

Scott stood. "I don't know what to say." He wrapped his arms around her.

"You don't have to say anything . . . Bro." She pulled away and returned to her seat.

Scott returned to his seat beside Jean and kissed her temple. "I'm so glad you're here! If I had known you were still alive I would have been here looking for you from day one. I wish I'd known. I love you so much!"

Jean returned his hug. "You're here now. We're together again, that's all that matters."

Across the isle and up a seat, Logan slipped his arm around Mickey's shoulders, as they listened to Jean and Scott's exchange. "I know, Kid."

She glanced at him. "I'm not a kid anymore, Old Man."

He shrugged. "I don't feel like an Old Man, either."

She closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat. "Stay with me, Logan. Don't let me die alone."

"You ain't gonna die." He watched as the tears slipped down her face. "I won't leave ya."

"Thank you." She opened her eyes and stared out the tiny window. She could feel death eating away at her. It wouldn't be long now.
P.S. My thanks go out to one fan who reviews every chapter with questions and comments. I wish you'd send me your email address so I can answer your questions, with more in depth answers on how I see what's taking place. Thanks just the same for the inspirations you all provide when you review! Firebrand_Vixen