Disclaimer: Several new characters are mine, including the plot. X-Men belongs to Marvel and Fox.

Blix: Yeah, it just goes to show that even Logan gets exhausted, although it takes much longer. o.o

Omala: I can guarantee Logan/Aurora action in the next story. But it might not necessarily be positive. (Hint hint XD)

Angelica: I'm glad you liked my description! I love writing stuff like that. I saw the picture on , I thought it was perfect for the setting. Seen the Logan's path and positioning pic? It's rather lame :D

I'm back now folks! I wrote this whilst on holiday. So it's either good because I was inspired, or rubbish because I wanted to get it over and done with. o.o I hope it's not the latter =P I do indeed feel that it is distinctly different to my other chapters, as if another author has done it. I only did it looking out at the beach on a typewriter. o.o

And, yes, I did have a good holiday =P

Chapter 28

The first out of the jet was Scott who quickly jumped out upon the snow and ran out across the terrain of white. The weather had been initially calm, but now the wind speeds had gathered and snow beautifully swooped along in the misted breeze. Logan was still on his hands and knees in the snow, staring down in utter silence. The knife still lay unregarded from where Roxanne dropped it, and slowly it began to disappear under the heavy mass of falling snow. When Scott came closer, Logan faintly was brought out of his inattentive state. The soft crunch of the boots to snow came louder, and Logan slowly lifted his head to peer over to the familiar figure, "You..

he began in a hoarse tone before swallowing and completing his sentence back in his normal low tone, "..You knew where I had gone?"

Scott's initial panic had gone when Logan spoke, it proved his condition wasn't that serious if he had time to waste by sitting and conversing. In return, Scott nodded his head, "Yeah.. Charles told us about it. Roxanne has something to do with it."

"I heard.." murmured Logan bitterly.

"Do you know why she's here?" then asked Scott quietly, giving the man opposite a serious and stern look.

Becoming rather tired of using his painfully aching throat, Logan shook his head instead, currently contemplating how long it would take for that nauseas remembrance of the knife blade there to leave his mind.

At the negative reply, Scott peered over his shoulder to see the remaining team now moving on towards them. Storm was in the lead, her silver cape swirling enchantedly in the violent winds of blizzards - looking truly at peace with the ferocious weather. Her long strides soon brought her by Scott's side and she crouched down gently with only one concern, "Logan, are you alright?" she asked in a soft tone, her accent ever apparent.

Feeling rather unwell still, Logan remained quiet before raising his head and nodded with gratitude for her concern, "Yes, Ororo." His eyes then drifted over the group, first meeting Aurora, beside her Gambit. Logan immediately frowned at his actual appearance before the anger double and he pushed himself off his knees and upright with a stagger and a growl, "Hey! Why the hell is he in my uniform?"

As usual, Gambit's reply was aided by a grin, "De X-Men decided to chuck ya out Wolvie."

Storm scolded him with a ice cold glare, matching the blizzard surrounding them, "Logan, you have not been replaced. Do not think on that for a second."

"Gambit is merely borrowing you uniform, Logan," Scott then said quietly also pushing himself upright in order to join Logan and Storm's height.

Logan however appeared far from happy, "Oh, yeah? Borrowin'?" his arms folded and he made a heavy breath, but refraining any more evidence of pain being shown. Storm nodded her head gently, eyes still narrowed upon the continuously smug looking Gambit, who then made an elaborate performance of brushing at the slashes in the black leather. Saddened expression on his face as he surveyed the destruction.

"My, my..' breathed Gambit softly, shaking his head in reply to the damage, "What insults to a fine attire."

Logan's growling had deepened and he pointed a gloved finger at the Cajun, "Hey! Why don't you try being bitten and mauled by a frickin' Serpent lady. Not to mention claw wielding bitches."

"Mm," replied Gambit in a decidedly disinterested tone, "Sounds like Friday Night at da club,"

"Gambit, are you quite finished?" asked Storm bitterly, then looking back to Logan, "We have very important n—"

"It's not my fault that the uniform is ripped, Storm!" interrupted Logan, feeling rather hurt. Feeling as though it was showing a form of disrespect by not neatening his uniform.

"Logan, the past months have been very hectic and I know that, going over to England and all, all the human business and that with the virus, but you really should be able to fix your own uniform." said Scott quietly, eyeing Logan.

"I can fix it, .. somehow."

"Logan, we left England four months ago!"

"I know!"

"And your uniform was ruined almost a year ago! You should have mended it by now!"

"Scott!" interrupted Storm, "Now is not the time to talk about the state of Logan's uniform!"

"I agree," murmured a weary looking Michael, "Come on, let's just get on with this,, then the sooner we can go home."

A sigh came from Scott, but he nodded his head slowly, and fell quiet. Logan meanwhile gave everyone in turn a piercing glare before looking to Storm as she began to talk.

"When you came across Roxanne just now, she wasn't in her natural state of mind." Logan had then opened his mouth to interrupt, but he received a threatening glare instantly and he quickly decided against interrupting the white haired mutant. Storm continued without any pause to Logan's manners, "The building behind you in the base where humans are working, and they have Roxanne under their control. They were using her so she could gain access to the mansion and be able to kill all of us off, one by one." Logan's eyes had widened and brow rose in response, "She does still have her memories, that's why she recognizes you. They obviously selected her because you would accept her from distant recognition. And it seems their plan worked., up until now."

Scott had been watching them both closely, and then spoke himself, "She's not doing this of her own accord. The humans are controlling her." He shook his head as he added dryly, "It seems we're a bit of a menace to the human population at the moment."

The eyes of Logan had hardened incredibly, and his pained breaths were now quick and panicked, "They were using Roxanne against me? Against us?" he said quietly, voice in a snarl. A few heads nodded gently. "So.. she's come to the mansion., and been trying to kill me on those nights? The gun in the night.. the stabbing? All that done by her? The bombs?"

"There has obviously been a lot o' planning behind it.." commented Siren quietly, "Somethin' so big will have taken months knowing how hard you all are to trick."

"Logan.." began Michael quietly, "..don't."

"What?" said Aurora quietly, spinning her head to Michael who was looking at Logan sternly,

"Don't." he repeated.

Logan turned slightly; glaring at the door Roxanne had entered. Once more that anger was returning and taking over him. Some filthy human had been using her, manipulating her, hurting her. That's must be why she was so tearful and edgy. That day when she collapsed in tears. That's why she had been so different. Whatever she had been controlled by returned after her few seconds of relief.

That was it, Logan was ready to snap. He spun from them hurriedly; ignoring all pain he was suffering, ignoring the steady wounds of blood, ignoring all aches and bruises. He staggered a little across the growing snow, running blindly through the blizzard.

"Logan! Don't!!" cried Michael urgently.

Scott, upon suddenly realizing the situation with Logan disappearing in alone, quickly began to follow in a sprint, indicating the X-Men on before bellowing through the storm, "LOGAN!"

But it was too late; Logan was too quick for them and had thrown back the door and disappeared down a dark corridor within. "Oh God.." moaned Scott, now spinning round to glare at the X-Men, "Come on, we gotta find him." Scott started forth, opening the door, "Aurora? Can you track him?" In reply she nodded, form shrinking into that of a large white wolf, which instantly blended in with the surroundings. As she slipped on through the opened door, the coat turned slowly to black to mask herself. The X-Men followed in behind her, their footsteps quiet and expressions alert. Gambit raised a brow at the situation, took a glance around the mountaintop before he made a disdainful snort and followed them inside, running to catch up.

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