Severing Ties

Summary: Things are looking up for Peter. It had been a few months since Doctor Octavius passed away, and Peter was getting his life on track except for a few things that wouldn't let him be. That's all about to change as someone, somewhere, needs Peter, and he's going to be in for a wild ride.

Chapter 14: Sentiments and Stubbed Toes

Peter let Donna have until the next morning before he called the X-Men with news of the folder. Concocting an excuse as to why it took him so long to get it, he told Scott to come get them.

"We'll be there very soon. There's also someone here who wants to talk to you before she's sent somewhere else, again," he replied.

Peter, very confused, waited silently.

"Pete?" a familiar voice asked.

"Jackie!"

"Oh, my God, Peter! You're okay!" Jackie gushed.

"Me? You! I thought you were dead!"

"I almost was! Jeez, be careful when dealing with Magneto. He doesn't underestimate mutant powers; at least not mine, anyway. I miss you! I thought all this time that I sent you to your death and it was bothering me so much. I was annoying Inigo with all the questions about how I could leave that dump! It was so horrible and I missed you so much…" She continued on. Peter sighed in relief while he half listened to her rambling. Listening to her like that was always comforting.

"I'm glad you're all right," he cut off. He could hear the smile in Jackie's voice.

"Me too," she joked. "Hope to see you soon! Scott wants the phone back," she complained.

Peter smirked. "I will see you soon," he promised, and heard Scott tell him to be waiting outside. He hung up and related the message to Donna. Within the hour, to Peter's surprise, Scott pulled up in front of the house.

"How'd you get here so fast?" he asked.

"Jack teleported it. Let's go before she calls the car to Magneto's hiding place and we're not in it," Scott explained.

Peter, elated with the thought of seeing Jackie again, quickly got into the car. Donna was nervous. Anyone would have been able to tell. Her eyes were scared, her hands clenched in fists.

"You'll be all right," Peter assured.

Donna just nodded, guessing, but not really knowing, what lay beyond the drive.

Jackie was still in the infirmary, even though they made her help Scott with getting Peter and Donna. She resented that. She hated the infirmary. The only other time she needed it was when she first tried to control the elements. She sighed as she thought about seeing Peter soon. Scott had allowed Jackie to speak with him on the phone, and she was forever grateful. To hear his voice again gave her enough strength to get through whatever was going on.

Then Jackie remembered the next place they were stopping by. A fear gripped her heart. Donna, she thought desperately. She looked at the time. By her calculations, Donna would have been dropped off by Magneto, already. As soon as Inigo woke up, Jackie was going to ask Inigo if he'd accompany her on the rescue mission for Donna. She waited patiently for the albino to stir.

Someone else stirred before him. She was beaten pretty bad. Felicia had taken the punishment without the most silent of protests, though she took grim satisfaction when Pyro's fire took an odd turn a while ago and wouldn't be controlled by him.

She rubbed her eyes and found her muscles aching horribly. She'd been burned by Pyro, and then roughed up by Sabertooth. Magneto had her in chains that enabled her to move a bit, but she was rooted to the spot. She was glad she didn't have a mirror, for she would have been horrified by the bruises that marred her face. She wondered when they'd come with the other registered mutant. She hoped it was soon, but Felicia had learned many things in the insane asylum…one of them being patience. Every move hurt. She noticed she was being watched.

"Why are you in here?" she asked gruffly to Pyro, who was sitting in a comfortable chair, messing with a lighter. There was an end table next to him, and it held a few books and the only source of light, a large, old-fashioned lamp.

"Just making sure you don't have any tricks up your sleeve you could use to escape," he remarked casually, flicking the lighter open and working the flame.

"You don't know my power, do you?" Felicia questioned dangerously.

"I have no idea, but neither does Magneto, which is why I'm stuck babysitting," he replied coolly. He took the top book from small table. The minute he opened it, the light bulb burnt out.

"Damn lamp," he muttered. He tried turning it on and off several times.

Felicia, with her feline vision, watched on with increased interest.

Pyro tried to get up and pick up the lamp, but stubbed his toe on the table. He cursed as he dropped the lamp, which immediately shattered into a million pieces. "Could this day get any worse?" he asked himself.

Oh yes, it can, jerk, Felicia mused with a cat-like grin on her lips.

"No…no more…" Inigo muttered in his sleep. He mumbled something about leaving home, and then sat straight up in the bed, breathing heavily.

"You all right, Short?" Jackie asked.

"Sentinels. Attacking. Phoenix. Rising. Destruction…" He trailed off. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. He calmed down after a bit and looked at Jackie. "What are you looking at, Salvani?" he asked.

"A guy who just had one hell of a nightmare," she retorted.

"How do you know it was a nightmare?" Inigo spat.

"I don't think people look scared when they're having pleasant dreams."

He snorted and took an apple from his food tray. "When'd breakfast get here?" he inquired when he took a bite out of the apple.

"Actually I think that's yesterday's lunch," Jackie mentioned. Inigo spat out the apple into the napkin.

"I believe it."

"Guess who they picked to replace you at Magneto's," she challenged.

"No idea. You mean they're actually taking someone else?"

"Yeah. I heard that Magneto offered a trade. Felicia for Donna."

"WHAT?" Inigo shouted in disbelief. Fury made his eyes appear stormy. "We've got to get her out of there!" he exclaimed.

Jackie smiled an enigmatic grin. "My sentiments, exactly."