And Then There Were Four, Ch. 2:

The Hunt, Pt. 1

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Wolverine's eyes narrowed as he watched Scott Summers walk away. He had spent years alongside the X-Men's leader, working under – and more times than not, around him.

He'd learned to respect the man – Scott Summers deserved that. Although he hated to admit it (most of the time), Cyclops had led the ol' Canuck out of many a mess. But if one thing could tear the two men apart... if there had been one thing to separate the two heroes... it would be love.

Love for Jean Grey, Scott's recently deceased wife.

The X-Man known as Phoenix... perhaps the only woman Logan could truly remember loving.

SHE WILL RISE AGAIN.

"Just words, Jeannie?" The 'feral' X-Man said aloud to himself, finishing off his glare in Scott's direction. "I remember you, up'n the space shuttle... Magneto thought he had us, and he almost did... but you saved us.

The Phoenix saved us.

I just don't get it, girl... why did it have to happen this way?"

Logan paused.

His mind drifted to thoughts of a dying woman – stripped down, just as he, on Asteroid M heading for the sun. "Logan," she'd gasped, looking into his eyes.

Oh, her eyes.

They'd spoken volumes – the shades of green reaching straight into Wolverine's soul... the soul few others had ever taken time to ever lend an ear to.

Everything about Jean Grey had always been different... most people would tell you that. But Logan could always vouch for the fact... she'd always given him her all, even when he deserved nothing. Her touch had been comforting, her words healing, her voice soothing. She'd pulled him back from places he knew as having no return.

He loved her. And now? More than ever.

His eyes darted to what he feared most of all to be an empty promise:

SHE WILL RISE AGAIN.

They were only four words – four simple words. He'd never really put such meaning into such a thing, but he'd killed her on Asteroid M. It was one of the hardest things the man had ever knowingly done... but he'd killed her only for her to be resurrected in flame before his very eyes.

His eyes that had seen countless heroes fall – some at his hands. Eyes that had fought in World War II – that had watched the adamantium in his skeleton pouring from his bones ... that had seen the stars and faced the end of the world.

Eyes that had known so much, and yet so little. Eyes that yearned for her... just as his heart did. His eyes, his heart, told him that she would return again... that she would once more save him.

That she would rise again. She had to.

"Maybe if I think it enough, huh?"

The Phoenix would rise from the ashes... the ashes of death caused by Magneto.

His thoughts turned to those of rage. Magneto, the madman that Professor Xavier – Professor Charles Xavier, founder and forefather of all that is X, went to Genosha to pay homage to.

Logan had left him there – without a second thought.

Trying to calm himself down, Logan's thoughts returned to Cyclops. "We got into it real good the other day, front of the students and all," Wolverine grinned... and as if Jean were giving him one of her "play nice with Scottie" looks, he stopped. "I know what you'd say... I've heard it a million times. At least.

It's just... if you could see the way it is without you...Jean, I don't know if I can—"

"Logan, stop it."

The X-Man known as Wolverine froze.

"...Jean?"