Hope Returns

Chapter Seven

By: Lily Handle

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Author's Note: Did I leave you hanging long enough? I hope I did, because I want you biting you nails for this one. This chapter is completely told from Logan's point of view, if I deviate from his personality, please don't kill me. I tried my best to keep him in character. Thanks for you reviews, and for your loyalty. Please, read and review.

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Logan leaned back in his chair, rubbed his hands over his face and sighed, "That's the fifth tape, same as all the others."

"Whoever did this was smart," Fury said from beside him where he sat in another chair, "They take out the news vans first, then get inside somehow with all those damn guns and explosives, blow the doors and take out the news cameras. We get right up to the door blow on every camera, then shots are fired and they go down. Who the hell are these people?"

"Someone very organized, none of the anti-mutant groups we've talked with have even come close to this level of organization," Logan muttered, "How many of these things do we have left?"

"Two." Fury ejected the tape and popped in another one. Logan leaned forward to watch the play back on a little television screen. Fury went through the opening, a little bit with a reporter on the outside, then some pompous opening then to when the Doc started to speak. Once there he let it play. Though the tape quality was good, the television only played in black and white and was a little on the grainy side. Making out faces took a good eye, but Logan easily recognized everyone after watching tape after tape. Logan watched this tape intently, just like all the others, his eyes picking up everything that he could, in the hopes he'd find something new on this tape. One more clue to what happened and who did it might be on this tape that wasn't on the others.

"Look," Logan pointed to the screen, "You can see the attack start, two masked men are replacing the suits at every exit."

"This is a different angle from all the others, where was this camera?" Fury asked himself, picking up the box the tape was in. "Above, shot from the original gallery seats. Witnesses say the attackers didn't get up there until the lower level was secure."

"Right," Logan frowned as the shot jiggled, "That's the door blowing. Jesus, how'd she get up from that?" Logan asked when he saw the Doc pitch forward over the podium and land hard on her side.

"She's pretty stoic, look at her holding her side, you think she might have broken some ribs?" Fury asked, pointing at the screen and the Doc as she struggled to get up, her hand pressed to her side.

"There's Charles getting hit," Logan muttered, watching a part of the metal frame work of the door hit the back of Charles's wheel chair and send him sprawling to the floor. Seconds later Ororo clutched her side, and went down. The camera went back to where Hope was being held by her hair, another man had a gun to the side of Hank's head, "Rewind, did it show Hank getting shot?" Fury rewound the tape, and this time Logan focused on Hank.

"Yeah, look," Fury paused the screen midway through Hank being shot, "Bullet came from this guy, the same one who later walked up and pressed the gun to his head."

"He's in custody, correct?"

"Locked up with his bubby, the one that's got Dr. Chandler."

"Alright, start it." Logan watched as the Doc swung her hand over her shoulder and wrapped it around the man who was holding hers cheek, "Nice shot, Doc." He smiled when he saw the bolts dance between her hand and the man's cheek.

"She fought back," Fury murmured, "And look, she took out the one with the gun to your friend, uh, McCoy's head. What is she doing to them?" Fury asked, looking away from the screen and to Logan's profile.

"We're not sure what the Doc's powers do," He said, shrugging his shoulders, "Wonder what she's saying?" He could see the Doc exchanged some words with another one of the masked men they had in custody, and then blast him. "She tried to take out the guards, there, pause it!" Logan pointed to the screen, "Trask, through the door used by the senators, someone's working with him."

"Are you thinking a United State's senator let a group of terrorist into the Capitol building?"

"Maybe," Logan shrugged, this was one suspicion he was keeping to himself, and "Maybe it was a guard."

"We'll look into the surviving guards," Fury said, "Play it?" Logan nodded and the tape started again. Logan kept his anger in check as he watched Trask pistol-whip the Doc, sending her sprawling to the floor and then point the gun at her.

"He didn't shoot her," Fury sighed, "It looks like he's motioning to someone off camera, just a few more minutes and we'll see who takes her….shit." The tape cut out, static ruled the screen and Logan growled. "Alright, so you were right, Trask is involved."

"How much digging did you get done?"

"Not much, we figured out the social security number didn't exist before Trask got it right before going to business school, his wife is legit though, and we still haven't located her or the son."

"Family must have gone with him, where ever he went with the Doc," Logan rubbed his chin in his hands, "Did you look…" Logan trailed off, if S.H.I.E.L.D had been digging, they'd ignored the surface of Wilson Trask, assuming it was all faked. Well, while they dug into that, he'd study the outer shell look for something there. He wouldn't tell Fury just yet though, some hunches were better left unspoken, "Nothing, of course you did."

"You got something on your mind, Logan?"

"You'll check the hospitals for a woman matching the Doc's description with injuries like the one she might have received here, right?"

"First thing," Fury frowned at Logan, "You losing your edge in your old age?"

Logan snorted, pushed away from the table and stood up, "Play that last tape, we'll see if this camera man got anything new." Logan paced behind Fury, watching the tape. It was like the others, swung towards the door when it blew open, then dropped when the cameraman was shot. "Great, just like all the others. Now that you see Trask is involved, when are we going to move in on his house?"

"I'll get a team together and get the locals to do surveillance. You want to choose the team with me?"

"Been out of S.H.I.E.L.D too long to know who's good," Logan muttered, "You choose, I'll get some body armor."

"You think you'll need it?" Fury asked, "You're a fast healer."

"I'm trying to fit in, Patch."

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"We'll go in quickly, Agent Logan will be at the lead for Team Alpha, I'll be leading Team Beta," Fury said, standing at the head of a meeting room in S.H.I.E.L.D. head quarters. "As far as we know from surveillance, Wilson Trask has not been home and the house is empty. That doesn't mean you're not on high alert, these guys have some serious firepower, they may even have armor piercing rounds. Team Alpha will go in the back door, after a helicopter drop in the backyard. Team Beta, you'll be transported in an armor van to the front door, then go to the upstairs while Team Alpha secures the lower level. If you can help it, don't shoot anyone. We want everything we can from these guys, we've got a missing person, remember that. All right, let's go." Logan noticed the odd looks the other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were shooting him but ignored them; he had to focus on the entry. The lay out of the Trask house was simple, immediately through the back door was the kitchen, about a yard in and to the left was a door to the dinning room. If you went straight through the kitchen you came to a hallway, a few feet down that was a living room to the right and a family room to the left. The family room and dinning room connected in a set of double French doors. There was no connection between the family room and kitchen. Logan would go straight when he came in, the agent behind him would break right into the living room, while he went left, meeting up with the agents who went through the dinning room. Logan waited while his team filed past him into the helicopter. From the short files he'd gotten from Fury every member of Team Alpha was made up of top-notch agents who didn't have a single blemish on their records. Everyone knew the plan, every agents was now running it through their head, trying to make sure they didn't mess up or miss anything. Logan was doing the same thing, the same serious and grim look was on his face, and the same thoughts were running through his head. Only he didn't think Trask would be home, only an idiot would still be home after attacking the Capitol. A clue would be nice though, one little hint to keep him on the right track to the Doc. It was a simple plan, Logan thought as the helicopter hovered over the back yard of the Trask House. It was always the simple plans that go wrong, fast.

"Let's go!" He yelled, hooking himself to the drop line then falling backwards out of the open side door of the helicopter. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he unhooked and brought the AK-47 that was standard issue for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents forward and moved off at a rapid walk to the back door.

"Government agents!" He yelled, then kicked the back door open, and scanned the kitchen. The first thing he saw was the pale white face of Franklin Trask, Wilson's son, lying on the kitchen floor, a puddle of blood underneath his head. He heard Team Beta crash through the front door and shook of the moment of stunned anger to do his job. As he passed the living room he saw Cristina Trask, dead, out of the corner of his eye. He stepped into the family room, no body of Wilson Trask like he'd been hoping, but there was a video playing. Wilson Trask took up the large screen television, sitting comfortably in what looked like an office.

"If this video has gone off, then you've broken into my home," Trask was saying, smiling politely, "First I'd like to congratulate S.H.I.E.L.D. on moving so quickly, kudos for you, but you didn't move fast enough. I have your Dr. Chandler, if you're wondering, which of course you are, but you won't see her again." The camera angel changed and swung to the right. Propped up in a chair sat what looked to be a drugged out Hope, bound and gagged. The camera focused on her for a second, and Logan felt something in him twist when he could clearly see the plea for help in her eyes.

The camera then moved back to Trask, "I'm sending a message, S.H.I.E.L.D., a message my father believed in and taught me to believe in. Mutants are a scourge about this earth, a pox on the human population. The government is going to protect them; going to look out for them and the public, the public likes them. Mutants aren't heroes, they aren't revolutionary thinkers like the doctor there, they're monsters. Like my father I intend to protect the human race from them. Dr. Chandler will be used to send a message to every mutant out there, if you, S.H.I.E.L.D agents and Nick Fury, don't find her within the week, that message will be loud and clear. Good luck." The video stopped, then the whine of a VCR started, a few minutes later the tape started again.

"Shut it off," Logan ordered to the other stunned agents, "I said, shut it off!"

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Logan sat in the same meeting room, only this time he was alone with Fury. So far they'd been in here fifteen minutes without saying one word. There wasn't much to say, when Logan thought about it. A beautiful woman and an innocent child had been killed for some political statement. Another beautiful woman was going to be killed within a week if S.H.I.E.L.D didn't find her. The doctor was somewhere, in the hands of a mad man, and Logan didn't like that at all. That loss, if he screwed up and they ran out of time, Logan would feel a little more personally than all the others.

"We found the gun," Fury said suddenly, breaking the silence, "The gun used on the son and wife. Trask's prints aren't on it."

"Whose prints are?" Logan asked, half-heartedly focused on what Fury was saying.

"A security guard who worked at the Capitol building, found his prints in the Defense system, when he applied for the job."

"Is he in custody?"

"No, got away."

"How about the tape? Your experts get anything from it?"

"So far, no, not a single clue from it."

"And the technicians, anything in the house worth our time?" Fury just shook his head, and Logan's frown deepened. "We've still got the men in custody, and Mystique."

"Only they're not talking."

"They haven't asked for a lawyer yet, we've still got a chance to get them to talk."

Logan sighed and got to his feet, "I'm going to see Charles, then I'm off the clock."

"And if I need you?" Fury asked, looking up at him.

"Not tonight, Patch, I'm done for today." Fury watched Logan leave, he wanted to call him back, but he wasn't suppose to be his friend, at least not this time. He needed Logan alert, on edge, not looking for a shoulder to lean on for a bit. Fury sighed, he hated this case already, and he hadn't even talked with the men they had in custody yet but he could tell this was going to drag on. Fury rose from the table, he'd do that now, get to them before Logan did and maybe save them a few bruises and broken bones.

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Logan stood in the doorway to Charles's hospital room. Already inside Ororo and Hank sat by Charles's bed, like two sentinels watching over. Charles lay there, pale and little gaunt looking but he was breathing on his own and steadily. It had been a grim scene when the students, every one of them silent, had filed into the room where Charles and Ororo were recovering. Ororo recovered quickly; she could manage to get herself into a wheel chair, where she now sat next to Charles's bed. Hank had also healed quickly, and could already move around. The students were packed away in a hotel, with around the clock S.H.I.E.L.D. agents watching over them. There were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents around the doors of the hospital and at the entrance to Charles's room also. They were as safe as they would ever be, until the men who did this were caught. The Institute was in lock down, the younger students locked inside safe from attack. Logan or Scott called every morning and every night to check on them, just to make sure. He wanted to send Scott and the other students back, but they insisted they stay with Charles and close to the investigation. Logan couldn't send them away, so he used them instead to listen in on the gossip flowing between the agents. The gossip was almost as helpful as the information he got from Fury as Weapon X.

"Hasn't woken up yet?" Logan asked when he took a step inside.

"No," Ororo said, looking up, "Apparently a large piece of the door splintered inward and hit him. The doctors are unsure of how long it will take him to wake up." The scene from the tape flashed in Logan's mind, but he pushed it away, he'd seen that tape enough and didn't want it playing in his head.

"Any news?" Hank asked. His right arm was supported in a sling; Logan knew he was taking powerful painkillers every morning and that the doctors would be surprised if he ever regained full movement of the shoulder. S.H.I.E.L.D. had all the medical reports from all the doctors on all the victims of the attack. Logan himself had read all of them last night, looking to see if there had been any one target, but to him it didn't seem like they were after anyone in particular. Hank didn't leave Charles's bedside until the nurses kicked him out, so said the agents, and then waited by the phone to hear from Logan. He didn't like the idea of people waiting to hear from him, he wanted to keep all of his thoughts to himself, but he had duty to answer to, once again.

"Nothing. I'm going to a meeting with Fury after I'm done here," Logan lied, he hadn't decided where he'd go after this, "They've finished clearing the scene and are shifting through the bullets and anything else they believe could be evidence."

"Any ransom notes, calls?" Ororo asked.

"Nothing, but this isn't about ransom," Logan said, "There was a tape, this is part of some terrorist ring, they were trying to kill as many of the people inside the building as possible. They're making a statement."

"Then why take Hope?" Hank asked angrily, glaring hard at Logan.

Logan thought of the video and Trask so calm and cool as he delivered the time limit, "An important public figure on mutants? They might use her for a ransom, or an exchange. They give us the Doc if we give them Jason Trask. But they'll most likely... kill her." The idea ripped at Logan, but he had to face the reality of the situation.

"It was Trask!" Hank yelled, getting to his feet, "I saw him, he took her!"

"Yeah, but we can't find him. We're looking though," Logan felt for Hank, everything in him was telling him that Trask had the Doc some where, maybe even close by, but Fury was keeping a tight leash on him until they had evidence of that he wasn't going anywhere. As soon as there was proof, Logan would be gone on his own, tracking Trask.

"Can't you don something! Damn it Logan you're suppose to help find her!" Hank slammed his fist against Charles's bed, "I saw Trask holding a gun on Hope, she's in danger, do something."

Logan growled right back, "Shut up and listen. S.H.I.E.L.D. won't let me do anything, anything until they think they know more than I do. Then they're going to let me go, and think they can find her before me."

"With every second you wait for S.H.I.E.L.D. Trask is getting farther away," Hank hissed, "Do something."

"Hank," Ororo reached out a hand and laid it on Hank's arm, "Logan's doing everything he can."

"It's not enough." Logan kept silent at the accusation in Hank's eyes. He felt like it wasn't enough, he knew Trask was slipping through his fingers, but he couldn't do anything until S.H.I.E.L.D. was done with the tapes, the house and the debris. Instead of explaining anything he turned on his heel and marched out of the room, nothing was going to get through to Hank by the look of things anyway.

"Taking out your guilt on him isn't the answer, Hank," Ororo said softly, "He wants Hope back as much as you do."

"He doesn't," Hank snapped, "He can't possibly want her back as much as I do." Ororo's eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open, she couldn't believe it.

"Hank, you're in love with her?" Ororo asked carefully, watching Hank's face intently. Hank looked away, unsure or unable to answer, "How long?"

"Seems like forever," He finally answered, eyes closed and head falling back, "She's missing and there's nothing I can do. Even if I rushed in and played the hero she still wouldn't return my feelings. I'm her brother as much as Michael is."

"Michael is her real brother?" Hank nodded, "She can't be totally unaware of your feelings, can she?"

"Ororo, it's nothing for you to worry about," Hank covered her hand with his, "I've dealt with this by myself for a while."

"You shouldn't have to," Ororo said, linking her fingers with his.

"Thank you."

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Logan decided to play pool. It felt like the only thing he could do right at this point. The Doc, he couldn't seem to get her off his mind. If he screwed up and time ran out, what would he lose if he lost her? Her laugh, he decided as he took aim on another shot, that bright, brilliant sound. Or maybe he'd miss her smile the most, it was so easily given to the students and anyone who did make her angry, like he did. Logan took the shot and watched the ball roll right into the pocket. He didn't try to make her angry though, it just seemed to happen. He was trying to watch out for her, protect her, and all he ended up doing was ticking her off. And losing her, he thought, watching as he missed his shot. Shake it off, he ordered himself suddenly, moping around wouldn't do the Doc any good. But he wanted a moment, just a moment to miss her, just a moment. Tonight though, it seemed like he wouldn't get that chance. He phone was going off in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the number.

"What?" He growled, it was one of the kids calling him.

"I heard her," Jean said, "Dr. Chandler, she was calling to me."

"You heard her? Telepathically?" Logan asked, tucking his phone against his shoulder so he could pick up the helmet for the bike he'd been lent.

"Yes, yes, but she's not talking anymore, she's not answering when I call her."

"All right, Jean, I'll be there in a minute, just hang on." He quickly hung up, and went racing for the door of the pool hall. Hang on, he thought again, hang on Doc.

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Author's Note: No Hope at all in the chapter. Isn't it driving you mad that you don't know what's happened to her? Well, in the next chapter I won't tell you if you'll find out about Hope, but I will tell you that you'll hear from Mystique, more from Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D and we'll see how everyone is do, emotionally. Please read and review.

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