AN: Here we go, it's time to get the plot line up and rolling.  Oh, just so you know, a few words in the fic will be/are of my own creation, mostly for reference to various mutants' powers in techie-talk.  Lupimorph would refer to Rahne's transformation.

Chapter 11: Kids napping is nice, Kidnappings are not.

It was the day after Christmas, and all through the Institute, not a creature was stirring, except Storm.

Then Wolverine woke up, with two days worth of hangover, and all of that really not-nice place with the fire broke loose.

Within twenty minutes of him waking up, the students were up, and running a 'Storm Catcher' Scenario in the Danger Room.

After their 'morning workout' to quote Wolverine, the students found themselves in the dining room, the radio on for some obscure reason.  The students had managed to settle on one station, and were listening to the music pouring from the radio.  Suddenly, t he music ended, and a voice came over the radio.  In official sounding tones, he spoke.

"British Authorities have just released a breaking story.  The Muir Island Research Center, well noted for its research in genetics, (AN: I think that was it.) burned to the ground a week ago to this day.  No bodies have been found, and it is believed that the Center's proprietor, Moira MacTaggert, died in the blaze."

There was a clattering noise, and, as everyone watched, Rahne left the table, her face down, hidden.  Kyle's astute ears picked up sobbing noises as she passed him.  The X-Men stood, intent on following her, when Kyle raised a hand. "Don't," was all he said.

The other X-Men turned to stare at him, "We do not know the precise reason this news has disturbed her, but it has.  You may not have noticed, but she was crying when she left."  He turned to where the Professor sat, "Professor Xavier, do you know who this Moira MacTaggert is?"

The Professor looked at Kyle, and, at that point, remembered why they called him Sage.  "Moira MacTaggert, besides being a respected genetics researcher, was the only touchstone Rahne had in her old home.  She was the one who contacted me, to ask me to take her into the institute.  She was the girl's moral support, and the one who kept her from being burnt at the stake by the local Reverend, her own father."

Kyle's face hardened at the last bit of news, but, before he could even stand, Sam was on his feet, and half way to the door.  Kyle, recognizing the footsteps, relaxed back into his seat.  He may be blind to the sights of the every day world, but he was more observant then most guys in the matters of the heart, and he knew that if Sam couldn't calm the lupimorph, no one could.

When the radio began playing the news that the Muir Center had burned, Rahne had willed it all to be a bad nightmare.  However, when it continued to say that Moira, the woman who had saved her life, who had been the only thing that maintained her sanity, who had taught her how to be a woman, who had been a virtual mother to her, who had gotten her into the institute, she knew it was true.  She knew with incredible infidelity that it was true. Yet still, the childish nature in her, the part of her that was still a teenager told her that, as long as she kept running, it wasn't true. As long as she didn't stop, Moira lived.  Finally, she collapsed, her legs, all four of them, too tired to keep her up.  She then curled up and began to cry, transforming into a human as she did so.

(AN: Here comes the Mush, all dressed in Rahm.)

That was how Sam found her, lying, curled up in a fetal position, crying.  Even though he was commonly considered a little slow because of his 'good ol' boy' upbringing, Sam was no fool, or idiot, and was far from slow.  And of all the people in the institute, the person who knew that best, who knew him best, was the girl crying in front of him.  Therefore, Sam did what anyone would do when their best friend had just broken down in tears.  He kneeled down next to the crying lupimorph, gathered her in his arms, and simply sat, silently.  He sat until he could no longer feel his feet, but Rahne was still crying, so he just barely moved, to get the pressure of them.

Finally, Sam came to the conclusion that, while crying is good in certain situations, crying for three hours straight is unhealthy.  Knowing he had to snap his friend out of it, he decided to take the Tabby method.

SLAP

While Rahne focused her bleary, red eyes on Sam, he began to speak. "Nahw look, Rahne, Ah don' think she would want ya ta' sit here an' cry fo' evah.  It's already bean' thre' hours. Nahw that jus' ain't healthy.  Nahw look, we gonna get ya' back ta tha institute, get ya' cleaned up, and some food in ye bellahy." To emphasize his point, her stomach rumbled, and his sent of the second verse in the song.

She laughed, a watery, weak laugh, but a laugh. "It be lookin' laeke I'm not bein the only one who be neaden tae' eat."

Sam nodded embarrassedly, placing his hand behind his head.  The two of them laughed again, and headed towards the institute.

*Mystique's base*

Moira MacTaggert woke up to feel cold stone against her back.  As she shook her head, she caught a glimpse of metal around her wrists. Looking closer, she found herself held against a wall by metal restraints.  Across the room from her was another person, a girl with brown skin, shoulder-length dark hair, and brown eyes.

As she was about to speak, a voice came from the door.  "Ah… you're awake."

Moira turned her head, trying to find the speaker with her eyes.  A man came into view, with brown hair that laid back to his head, and piercing green eyes. She recognized him from when he flattened the Center's defenses.

However, he appeared to be carrying something over one shoulder.  He was a boy of about 19, stocky build, with skin the color of stained wood.  His hair and eyes were brown, and he sported a baseball cap worn backwards, and baggy clothes.  The boy carried him over to something Moira hadn't registered before.  He placed the unconscious boy's hands in what looked like a pair of massive cans, hanging from the roof by a thick cable each.  She then snapped what looked like a thick metal belt around his waist.  Two more cables suspended the belt, and when it closed, what sounded like a dozen locks clicked into place.

"What do ye' be wantin with us, we haeven' done anyt'ing tae ye'."

The boy turned to look at Moira. "Nay, Mystique be usin ye' for bait, an' hostages, iffen she need."  With that, he left.

The girl on the far side of the room had woken up, and was staring at the boy. "Forge," she whispered.

Moira looked at her, "What was tha, lass."

The girl looked at her, "OH. I'm sorry, I'm Amanda Sefton.  The boy over there is Forge."

Moira looked at her, "do ye' know who' Mystique cauld be usin' us as baet for, lass."

Amanda looked at Moira, her eyes full of realization. "The X-Men, My boyfriend is one of them, and Forge is one of their best friends. But what about you."

Moira sighed, "I'm an old friend of Xavier, and of Rahne Sinclair."

*A Pacific Island*

While this was occuring, Mystique was closing on her next target.  Now, all she had to do was execute her plan, then get home with her prize.

No easy task.

Mystique had the good fortune to find him surfing, and had an idea of how to execute her plan in private.  Morphing into one of his friends, he told him that his parents wanted to talk to him.  A little suspicious, her target followed her.  When she led him down an alley, he began to question her.  Acting fast, she hit the boy with knockout gas.  As she carried him onto her jet, she smirked, just two more, and she would have all she needed for her master plan.

*The institute, 11:40 pm.*

Even though it was late, Scott Summers could not sleep.  His mind was too busy tying itself into knots over the only thing that could break his firm self-control.

Jean Grey.

However, him being awake was what alerted him to the hissing noise coming from the vents.  Acting quickly, he grabbed a handkerchief, wet it, and pressed it over his mouth and nose.  A few minutes later, there was another hissing noise, and the fine, yellow mist that had been dispersed, vanished into the ventilation system. 

Moving cautiously, Scott began scouting the mansion, wary of attack.  He found nothing amiss in the dorm wing. 

Scott had come to a realization after he found Sensei, slumped over in the dojo.  The gas was a knockout gas, and he was now the only conscious person in the building.  As he stood up from where he had kneeled by Sensei, however, the man burst into motion.  Before Scott could react, the massive man grabbed his ruby quartz glasses, and crushed them in his hand. While Scott staggered, Sensei slammed him with a roundhouse kick.  While he gaped at the sudden attack, Sensei's body morphed into that of another…

Mystique.

She began to speak, "Still conscious I see.  Well, no mater, I guess I'll put you under the hard way."  She then rushed towards him, and kicked him across the side of the head.

She then left the dojo.  Scott chased after her as best he could, his thoughts racing, that gas, could it have been poison?  When he finally re-entered the institute, Mystique dropped on him from above, knocking him down.  She jumped away as Scott tried to counter.  When Scott got back to his feet, Mystique jumped at him from on top of a table, grabbing him by the shoulders, and flipping him through the air, straight through a door. A closed door.

As Scott staggered to his feet, his clothing torn, Mystique shoved past him, and entered the Sub-Basements.

Scott, thinking quickly, pushed a button on the crown molding.  A small panel opened up, and he grabbed something out of it.  Placing them on his face, he opened his eyes, his visor in place over them

He followed Mystique into the Sub-Basements, hoping to find out what she was after.  Finally, he found her, just as she was, in a feat of strength that astounded Scott, dragging the Beast to another elevator.  She smirked, a triumphant, knowing smirk.  Scott wouldn't fire while she had Beast, and she knew it.  She took him up the elevator, and, when it returned, Scott followed.

Mystique hadn't managed to drag Beast very far, but she knew that to get him out of there, she had to loose Cyclops.  Therefore, the beating began once more.

As Scott came around a corner, to find Beast lying there, he, in a moment of thoughtlessness, rushed towards Beast.  Mystique dropped down on Cyclops from a tree, kicking him in the side of the head, and knocking his Visor from his head.

Blinded once more, Scott could do little against his highly skilled opponent. Mystique knocked him a kick to the head, then brought her foot back, treating him to a second kick to the other side of his head.  As Scott fell to his knees, Mystique brought her other foot around for a sharp kick to the side of his head.  Scott, however, opened his eyes, ever so slightly, blasting her in the chest. She flew back, then, figuring to leave Cyclops as down for the moment, began to carry Beast to her get-away vehicle.  She had just gotten the blue furred mutant into the vehicle when another optic blast caught her in the back.

Turning, she saw Cyclops, his visor back in place, although he had to hold up one side with his hand.  She came in on the wounded X-Man, and swept his legs out from under him, forcing his hand away from the visor, which fell to the ground, where Mystique crushed it with pleasure.

The once again sightless X-Man stood up, trying to get his bearings.  He heard a whistling, which he quickly ducked, as Mystique's foot whistled over his head.  Scott stood up, and launched a punch at Mystique.   However, the metamorphic mutant simply grabbed his hand, and drove his elbow into his kidney.  As Mystique raised her hand to slam Scott a crushing blow to the wind pipe, there was the noise of shattering glass.

Spinning to it's source, she saw a sight that she would remember for as long as she lived.  For, against all probability, Jean Grey was floating out of her window, and quickly bearing down on Mystique.  When the metamorph was in range, Jean lifted her into the air, and slammed her into a tree.

When Mystique stood up, she watched Jean carefully, "How are you awake? You shouldn't wake up for another hour."

Jean simply glared at her as her response.  She then telekinetically lifted Mystique, and used her for a human pinball for ten minutes straight.

Scott found that, no matter how he tried to tell her, Jean just didn't seem to hear him, she didn't hear her warning when she slammed Mystique through the door to her jet.  Mystique, taking advantage of that, fired it up, and took off.

When Jean landed, explained to her the entire situation.  She watched him, shocked, and then carried him back into the Institute.

An hour later, Jean sent off the telepathic equivalent to a foghorn in everyone's ears.  When the outraged student body bore down on her, she let loose with a slightly quieter one to shut them up.  The Professor came to the fore, and, after a very quick telepathic conversation, took a quick head count.  He came up two short.

"She not only took Beast, but appears to have taken Jacob as well.  She has gone to far this time.  Next time we face her, she must be stopped." Said Professor Xavier.  Normally he would not purpose something that drastic, but then, normally Mystique didn't kidnap anyone, especially not non-mutants.

Once everyone had returned to their rooms, knowing they weren't going to get any sleep that night, Scott and Jean curled up on the couch.  Scott turned to her, his spare glasses in place, and asked, "How did you wake up?"

Jean looked at him, "I had a nightmare about you being beaten around by Mystique," she admitted.  "I think we've formed some sort of bond. How I don't know, but…" She was cut off when Scott kissed her on the lips.

We were strangers, starting out on a journey,

Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through,

Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing,

At the beginning with you

Jean's forward brain shut down at the touch of his lips, and whatever she had been about to say, died at birth.  Discussing their bond could wait, thoughts of what she'd like to do to Mystique, and of whether Sensei and Dr. McCoy were alright, vanished.

No one told me, I was going to find you,

Unexpected, what you did to my heart,

When I had lost hope,

You were there to remind me,

This is the start

When Jean pressed back into Scott's kiss, the last, residual feelings of doubt vanished.  For that moment, the quote 'all is chaos under heaven, and the situation is wonderful' was certainly true.

And life is a road and I wanna keep goin'

Love is a river I wanna keep flowin'

Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through,

In the end, I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

The two of them drew apart finally, not wanting to suffocate just yet.  Scott smiled at Jean, as he said, "So, what do you think?"

We were strangers, on a crazy adventure

Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true

She smiled back, "I think we need to do a retest on that experiment."

Now here we stand, unafraid of the future

At the beginning with you

Scott smile became a grin. "You read my mind."

Knew there was somebody somewhere,

I need love in the dark,

The two kissed again, as the Professor watched from the door, and smiled.  It is about time those two got their acts together.

Now I know my dream will live on,

I've been waiting so long,

The two were oblivious to the world, even Bobby's camera flashes did not startle them.

Nothing's going to tear us apart.

The two X-men knew they would have to come up for air eventually, but they didn't plan on it any time soon.

And life is a road and I wanna keep goin'

Love is a river I wanna keep flowin'

Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through,

In the end, I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

Eventually, they were forced to draw apart again, and they suddenly realized they had gained an audience.

Life is a road and I wanna keep goin'

Love is a river I wanna keep flowin' on

Starting out on a journey.

Jean glared around at their audience.  Kyle simply shook his head, "Let's leave the love birds alone, even I can see they don't want to be disturbed." As the group dispersed, he said to the two, "Just don't forget that you have to return to reality eventually."

And life is a road and I wanna keep goin'

Love is a river I wanna keep flowin'

Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning,

I'll be there when the storm is through,

In the end, I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

Jean and Scott nodded, and re-established their lip-lock.  Kyle shook his head again, at the noises, their relationship now no longer in-the-shadows, where it had been illuminated by spotlights, but out in the open, still lit by spotlights.

In the end I want to be standing

At the beginning,

With you.

*Mystique's hideout*

Moira, Amanda, and Forge were shocked when Mystique walked in, accompanied by the man from before.  They were between them carrying a large man with red hair, whom they placed in restraints similar to their own.

They left, then carried in a blue furred creature, whom Amanda and Forge identified as Beast, whom they locked up like they had Forge, except with an extra set of cans around his feet.

Then the man from before brought in a third young man, with blond hair, a lean physique, and strong features.  They hooked him up just like forge, with a much thicker pair of cans.

Soon after the man left, the Beast woke up.  He looked around the room for a few minutes, his eyes savage. Finally, he snapped out of it, and looked at his cell mates.

"Amanda? Forge? What's going on here?"

"We're Mystique's prisoners. She's going to use us as bait for the X-Men. I've been here for three days, Mystique's been posing as me." Explained Amanda.

Beast nodded, and turned to Moira, "Might I ask who you are?"

"Moira MacTaggert,"

Beast's eyes widened, "You're believed to have died when the Muir Island Center burned to the ground."

Moira's eyes widened at this news. Then, Beast finally saw the other two occupants of the cell.

"Alex and Jacob? She has this well planned." At the questioning looks, he elaborated.

"Alex Masters, the blond haired youth, is Scott's younger brother. Jacob Trevais is the Martial Arts instructor at the institute, and a sort of father figure/dispenser of advice.  If she plans to use us as bait, or hostages, she couldn't have picked better targets."

R&R