A/N: I kill someone in this, as a head's up okay? it's one of Magneto's crew

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING

Part - one: Ashes – to – Ashes

Chapter Five: Purpose and Deliverance Prevail

The jet touched down, about three kilometers from the supposed underground facility of Magneto's. Logan got out first, and Kurt teleported ahead as Ororo took to the air. The three covered the distance quickly.

Kurt was first to arrive though, and he quickly found the entrance. It was a steel wall, molded into the mountain side and expertly hidden by shrubs, grasses, and rocks. He only found it when it opened, letting a very disgruntle d looking Toad hop out, followed by another, Sabertooth. Kurt held his breath as the cat-man's head jerked towards his place in the tree. Kurt froze, praying that he was hidden behind enough foliage.

God was very gracious, because Toad and Sabertooth split, one going east while the other went west. Kurt let out the breath he had been holding, and looking around he sighed. Jumping from his perch, he landed, and walked over to the door to inspect it. He scratched at the rock, found it to be real, and pulled at the shrubbery. That was the faux to the disguise, and Kurt smirked inwardly. He looked around it, finding the edges to the door. It was easily teen feet tall and seven feet wide, like that of a garage. But it was what was inside them mountain that brought the most curiosity. Kurt closed his eyes, crossed his arms, said a prayer and teleported, leaving a small puff of smoke behind.

- - -

He came back on the other side of the wall. Kurt opened his eyes, and looked around in awe. The main hallway he came into was shiny and silver, metal all the way through, he could tell. Kurt turned to the door, agreeing that it had been the door to a large garage at some point before being converted to its current state. Kurt saw a keypad to the left side, and went over to it. After seeing the buttons, he pulled out his communicator.

"Storm, Volverine," he said hastily into it, looking around anxiously as he braced himself against the wall; "I have found eet!"

"Wonderful, Nightcrawler!" came Ororo's enthusiastic reply; "Where?"

"T'ree kilometers east exactly from dee jet," he replied, but he paused as he heard a relative tapping coming from one of the halls off of the entrance hall he was in. It was of footsteps, regulated and even.

"Kurt?"

"Shh," Kurt said before turning the communicator off. He froze as he saw whoever it was round the corner.

It was John.

Kurt eyed the young man before sighing; "Eet is only you," he said nonchalantly, pocketing the communicator.

Though the skin tone wasn't the same, John recognized the accent and facial feature. "What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped apprehensively; "And what are you doing here, anyway?"

"Looking for some-body," Kurt said, idly straightening the cuffs to his jacket. He eyed John; "Vould you mind helping, or am I going to vahnder avound alone?"

"You should just go," John said, "Before Magneto or Mystique comes around and finds you here."

"I am here to see eef a mutant needs help!" Kurt said, "And I vill fulfill my duties." He looked around, eyeing the walls; "I could make eet," he mused, then he looked at John; "good seeing you!" he said, smiling as he waved and teleported.

John watched as the smoke evaporated, then shrugged and continued going. It was none of his concern, and if the guy took Audri, good.

- - -

Kurt teleported in and out of the halls, often times clinging to the light fixtures for reassurance. He checked every room he came across, finding each on either empty or so full of items he couldn't breathe. Some were completely empty and stark, save for double-sided mirrors. Kurt didn't want to think about what they were used for, and he continued on.

Kurt teleported into a hall, one where only three lights were working, casting shadows everywhere the light did not fall and giving the hallway some eerie, of-the-ether feeling. Kurt gulped, beginning to walk down the hallway. He froze as he heard banging, as if someone was pounding against something. His keen ears picked the sound out, and he found himself going over to a specific door. Kurt pressed his ear against it, hearing a faint "someone please hear me" from within. Kurt looked down, and saw that the door was lock three times over by bolts. Sighing, he closed his eyes, said a prayer, and Bamph, he was gone.

Kurt came into the room, and turning he saw Audri leaning against the door, slumped on the ground and her hand against the steel gateway. She had her eyes closed, and was trying not to cry. Her wings were splayed against her and the floor, the feathers still tinged with red at the tips. Some bandages on her arms were loosening, revealing the cuts from the glass. The narrow line over her left eye, another wound, was bleeding at the end, slightly, just enough to cause concern in the German Mutant. She opened her eyes and looked at Kurt. Kurt met those sad, angered blue orbs, matching them with his gaze.

"Adrianna," he said quietly, walking over to her.

Audri drew her legs up, bracing herself against the door. She was still weak from the electrocutions, and her wings were numb. She would have flown at Kurt, but she couldn't feel them at all. This is what caused her distress. If she couldn't fly, she was doomed.

But he knew her name; this handsome stranger was even smiling at her. It was a true smile, one of warmth and safety and reassurance. Audri wanted to be embraced by him; he seemed to be capable of healing her hurts. She didn't know why she thought this, but she did. Perhaps it was the fact that she could not remember true compassion that spurred such feelings. But after what had happened to her in the past few hours, no one could be trusted. She couldn't go with her gut instinct, or her intuition. No, no one could be trusted.

"Get away from me," she ground out through a shaky breath, glaring dangerously at Kurt.

"I vant to help you," Kurt said gently, hurt that she did not trust him; "I am not wit' Magneto."

Audri buried her face in her arm, stiffening as she felt the air in the room move with Kurt's walking towards her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, her breath shallow and almost inaudible.

"Audri, I can be your friend," Kurt said; "Please, let me help you."

She was shaking now, he could visibly see it. Whether it was anger, fatigue, anxiety, or all of the above, Kurt did not know. Audri's eyes softened and she hung her head as she sighed. Her body went slack, her hand slid down the door and fall to her leg, and she closed her eyes. She had passed out, succumbing to the darkness of her subconscious.

Kurt sighed, and bent down. Lifting her up in his arms, he realized how heavy her wings made her body. If she did not have them, she would probably be no more that one hundred and twenty pounds, at the most. Her wings added an extra fifty pounds at least, and with their size, Kurt had a hard time positioning Audri in his arms. He succeeded though, carrying her bridal style. With a sigh and final glance down at the angel, he then 'ported out.

- - -

Logan growled as he swung his clawed fist out at Sabertooth. How in the hell was he still alive? Logan wondered, but he didn't have time to think when Sabertooth landed a kick to his chest and sent the wolverine flying into a tree. Logan refused to moan in agony as he knew his back would be fractured or broken, and slowly rose instead. With a battle cry, he charged his adversary, plowing into him like defense in a football game would to offense. The wind temporarily knocked out of him, Sabertooth had no choice but to fall to the ground.

And with that, Logan pinned him down with one hand, and drove his claws into the mutant below him with the other. Sabertooth howled in pain, then his eyes hooded as his breathing became ragged and blood bubbled at the corner of his mouth. He looked up at Logan.

"Damn... you," was all that was uttered, before the Sabertooth died.

"One down," Logan grunted as he pulled his claws free, grimacing at the scent of blood. He got up, and as he backed away, he cleaned his claws on his shirt, absentmindedly. He then looked around and sniffed the air, a faint trace of sulfur catching his attention. Kurt must be at the jet. Problem was... Logan still had no idea where Ororo was. /She's probably at the jet/ he assured himself as he began to run for it. He ran through the trees, and in his haste nearly ran into one. But he made it to the jet, and he ran up the ramp, into the hull.

Logan breathed deeply as he sat down on the nearest bench, but automatically jumped back up when he could smell blood. He looked around, and finally saw Kurt, kneeling over what appeared to be a fallen angel, lying unconscious on the floor.

Logan stared in awe; he hadn't expected this at all. "Kurt," he said, barely a whisper; "This... is her?"

Kurt nodded, not looking up at him; "I re-bandaged her arms," he said quietly; "It vas like she vent t'rough a grater..." he added morosely, eyes shining with sympathy and anger; "Who could ever do dis...?" he wondered, looking up at Logan questioningly.

"Magneto," Logan replied simply, kneeling on the other side of the angel; "So, was she passed out when you found her?"

Kurt shook his head; "She passed out when I got to her," he replied, then he sighed; "Somet'ing happened, Logan, somet'ing bad... she vas so scared, so angry, you could see it in her eyes..."

"And, let me take a wild guess on this, angel's aren't supposed to be upset?"

Kurt shook his head; "Dey aren't mean000t to touch de ground," he said solemnly, "Look," he said suddenly, his hand going to her left wing and to the metal clasp; "Vat is it?" Kurt thought aloud, about to touch it.

"No, don't!" Logan growled, snatching Kurt's hand away; "Don't touch that thing, it could trigger something!" he said, "We'll leave it until we get to the mansion, where Hank and Charles can check it out, okay?"

"Okay, fine!" Kurt growled back, glaring at Logan; "I am just worried, okay? You cannot blame me for that!"

Before Logan replied, Ororo came bounding in, breathing heavily from exertion; "Hurry, Magneto knows!" was all she said as she went to the pilot seat.

Logan jumped up and closed the ramp, then went back over to Kurt and Audri; "What will we do with her!?" he asked anxiously.

"Here, to the bench!" Kurt said, lifting Audri up.

Logan helped him move her to the widest bench, and they strapped the seatbelt across her waist. Kurt sat down beside her, holding he up and laying her head and shoulder in his lap. Logan went to the co-pilot chair, and Ororo jetted them off.

- - -

Xavier sighed, as did Hank. Kurt and Logan had brought Audri to the med-lab, and her wounds had been cleansed and bandaged. She had remained completely unconscious, unknowing of the world around her, and her rescuers. They had finished their tests, found that Audri was healthy, and now, they waited for her to wait.

"Do you think she's in a self-induced coma?" Hank mused, staring at an x-ray of Audri's shoulder blades and wings.

"Possibly," Xavier said, doing the same; "This procedure was done perfectly, Hank, I doubt it could be done any better."

"Stryker's just smart and sick enough to do it," Hank said; "My question is: how did he get material to make actual bones for the wings?"

"Cell research, no doubt," Xavier mumbled, wheeling around and going over to Audri.

He sighed as he saw the angel, the long cut on the side of her face. It would scar; she'd always have a memory now. It angered him how Magneto would go to such links; he had an idea about what had happened to her.

"Do you know what I came across, Hank?" Xavier suddenly asked, quietly, almost morbidly.

"What?" Hank asked, looking at the disabled man with uncertainty. He had been lost in his thoughts until then.

"Adrianna... her father, the one who passed away," Xavier said; "He was killed while on duty for a secret investigation of the UN."

"So?"

"He was killed in action in Rome, attempting to stop an assassination," Xavier wheeled around; "Don't you see? Not only did Stryker choose to kidnap Adrianna for her abilities, but also because she might have known something about the organization her father worked for!"

Hank was silent as he took this information in; "So," he said; "Stryker would gain governmental information on other countries, based on the fact that Adrianna and her mother traveled with him, and he would have a mutant... But why make her an angel?"

"Because it hasn't been done," Xavier finished simply, with a hint of bitterness; "We will need to be careful when she wakes..."

"Why?" Hank inquired.

"Imagine waking up, after being tortured, and only having the most recent, painful memories to tell you what is going on."

"Maybe I should leave," Hank said; "My appearance might scare her."

"Somehow I don't think she will be in the least bit concerned, Hank," Xavier assured, "That will be the least of her worries."

"Why don't you try and bring her out?" Hank asked.

Sighing wearily, Xavier shook his head; "No," he said, "I run the risk of possibly harming her psyche. She is too delicate at the moment..."

"She can sure take a punch," Hank commented; "But I know that's not what you're getting at."

Xavier nodded; "I believe that Ororo—"

He didn't finish, for the heart monitor had begun to pick up speed, dramatically. Hank shouted in surprise, both scientists stepping back, away from the angel.

"She's waking up!" he said, and then, the world seemed to slow at what happened next.

Audri's eyes snapped open, and she looked around. Suddenly afraid for her life, she flew from the bed, halting and turning before hitting the wall, knocking things over as she did. She saw a large blue creature resembling an ape man hold his hands out to her. He said something, but Audri was going too fast and was too afraid to care.

She screeched as she bowled into him, the two falling to the floor. The blue man shouted in pain as he was slammed against a wall, and as Audri rose she saw an old man in a wheelchair staring at her. An odd feeling swept over her mind, but again she ignored it as she flew for what looked like the door. They opened for her, and she flew out.

Audri landed in the middle of the hallway. She was back at the first base, the one below ground, the one that had flooded, the one that she'd... no, not again. Audri clenched her fist and screamed out in angry dismay, before taking flight and flying as close to the ceiling as she could. She distantly heard someone calling her name, her full name. But that didn't matter, it was probably Stryker. As Audri flew, she knew she'd be shot down, just like last time.

Flying around a corner she misjudged it and hit the wall, sliding down to the cold hard floor. Her nails raked against it as she brought them into fists, and she got onto her hands and knees, head bowed as she breathed heavily. Cuts were bleeding freely beneath the bandages, now red from the crimson life. Audri lifted her head, seeing past the strands of hair as she heard voices and footsteps coming at her. It echoed, coming from every direction. She gritted her teeth as it threatened to overwhelm her... just like last time... Audri closed her eyes and bowed her head, trying to bury the memories in her subconscious.

"She went this way, look at the blood trail..."

"Come on, she looks hurt!"

"Someone go get Kurt!"

Kurt... Audri opened her eyes and looked up, just in time to see people gather at the end of the hall. They rushed to her, and Audri noticed the big blue man as she slipped to fall on her side and prop herself on her elbows. She tried to stand, rising to her knees again. But her wings were heavy, and pained her greatly for the wounds, and she found herself falling to the floor all together, her arms around her head to shield her face.

"Audri!" Ororo called as she, Hank, and Scott reached her. Audri did not move, nor give recognition. Slowly, Ororo bent down beside her. Reaching out, her intent was to touch Audri's bare shoulder, but Audri visibly stiffened before her hand came near. Ororo held back, rising.

"Vere is she?!?!?" came a loud, urgent German voice.

"Kurt, this way!" Came Rogue's reply; "Down the hall!"

Bamph!!!!!

Kurt was at the hallway's end then, running full-tilt, void of his inducer and not caring. He'd asked to be called the moment the angel woke, because he'd seen the pain in her eyes, the mistrust and the betrayal. He didn't want anyone getting hurt by her instincts to be free and unharmed. But yet he saw her, almost as bloody as before. It just wasn't right.

"Back away!" he said as he skidded to a halt, kneeling before Audri. The X-Men respected the request, moving a safe distance away. As Rogue came, she gasped, but kept it as quiet as she could by covering her mouth.

Kurt instantly noticed that Audri was practically nude, the hospital gown not full on for her wings. Closing his eyes, he pulled the sleeves up and tied the strings behind her neck, all the while knowing that she was watching him. He could feel her gaze and an odd chill in the back of his mind. But like that it was gone, and when Kurt opened his eyes again, Audri was staring at them. But her eyes were not filled with so much pain, they were rimmed with relief.

"Where am I?" she said quietly, wrapping her arms around herself and looking around. She shivered.

"You're at de institute," Kurt replied calmly, smiling slightly; "Are you alright?"

Audri didn't move to reply; "I'm scared," she admitted, shivering again; "And cold..." her eyes glanced back at the others who watched on, and sighing she bowed her head and covered her face with her arms.

Kurt looked back at them, nodding. Xavier was the first to respond, nodding slightly as he turned and wheeled away. Hank signed that he'd prepare a room, and followed. Rogue looked at Kurt worriedly, then left quickly to go tell Bobby about the newest mutant, and soon, it was only Kurt and Audri. Kurt looked at Audri, to see that she was watching him.

"What?" he asked good-naturedly, smiling.

Audri blinked slowly, reaching out with a pale, artistic hand. Her fingers ghosted over Kurt's right cheek, and the touch caused the mutant to shudder. Audri automatically recoiled.

"Sorry," she whispered, looking away.

"Eet is fine, you are just cold," Kurt said quickly; "Here, let me help you..."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, Kurt pulled her into an embrace, and rose with her. Audri leaned against him, her feet planted on the floor and her knees shaking from the weight of her wings. She silently began to cry, and Kurt felt her tears through his black T.

"Audri?" he asked, looking at her worriedly.

"I can't feel my wings," she whispered, burying her face into his chest.

"You vill," Kurt said quietly, and with one arm he scooped up Audri's legs and held her close as he teleported out.

- - -

The came to a bedroom, and Audri opened her eyes. Her fists were tightly clenched in Kurt's shirt, and she looked around. It was cozy and decorated as if a girl had stayed here before. Kurt walked over and sat Audri down on it. As he stepped back she held her hands pressed against the mattress for support, but both knew she was too weak so Kurt went back to her, and helped her up to the many pillows and onto her side. Her wings took up most of the large bed, at least the side she was on, and the longer feathers trailed over the edge. Kurt opened the closet and retrieved a blanket, throwing it over the fallen angel.

"Thanks," Audri whispered, and Kurt smiled.

"It's de least I could do," Kurt said, sitting down beside her on the bed; "Audri, you are not frightened by me... my appearance..."

"It's not the walls of the house that make it a home, it's what within it," Audri whispered, idly playing with the fringe of the blanket.

Kurt smiled; "A voman I knew vonce told me dat," he said.

"It's common, I remember someone saying that to me too," Audri mused quietly, leaving the fringe alone to hold her hands beneath her chin as she stared off distantly.

"Audri, vat is de matter?" Kurt asked quietly, and Audri looked up at him, as if confused; "I feel drawn to you, like I am supposed to try to help you," Kurt insisted; "I cannot explain dis divine feeling."

Audri rolled her eyes; "where was God when I woke up in some green tube, in a room filling with water?" she asked, looking up at him critically; "Where was God when I woke up to these wings? Where was God when I finally escaped death, and had to robe a clothes line so I wouldn't be flying around like some Greek Statue? There is no God as far as I'm concerned," she finished bitterly.

Kurt took pity on her, but didn't know what to say. Audri looked away, sighing; "I know there dead," she whispered; "My parents. They have to be... otherwise I would have been found by now. Some God huh, to take away my memories and then give me a heaping dose of pain..."

Kurt bowed his head, lifting it and nodding as Audri continued; "I remember though... when I first got to Buffalo... all the people who wanted to jump... I wanted to help... I did..." she paused; "A few didn't believe me, a few were calling me an angel... some messenger of God;" she snorted; "To think some of them went to church the next day because 'the angel of mercy' spoke to them..."

"Have you ever considered the good side of your pain?" Kurt asked clearly, and Audri looked up at him again; "Dere is no knowing of pleasure wit'out pain, nor is dere wisdom without mistake. One must coincide with the other, or there is no balance of life. Eet is through pain dat we learn to enjoy de good. You cannot tell me you felt warmth, a peace, when de people you helped became better;" he finished quietly.

Audri looked down; "I did," she admitted quietly; "it felt like... when they were okay, I was. It was like, if I could solve one person's problem, then I could forget one of mine. Forget the damn barcode the had on my neck, forget the scars or the losses, as long as people were okay..." she looked up at Kurt; "Oh God..." she gasped, covering her mouth.

Kurt crawled over and wrapped his arms around her as Audri cried, realization hitting her like a brick wall. He wrapped his arms around her wings to where his right hand held her left shoulder and his other arm was wrapped around her waist. Audri clung to him as if for dear life as she sobbed, her tears eventually running dry and her sounds down to sniffles.

"Everyt'ing has eet's purpose," Kurt whispered to her as she settled into his embrace; "Down to de last ant in its home. Your purpose is grand, Audri, I know dat..."

Audri nodded in his chest, looking up at him. Her eyes were red from crying, red from her weariness, but they seemed to smile along with her lips. But her smile faded, along with the glint, as she looked into Kurt's eyes.

"Kurt," she said, "The tattoos all over you... what are they for?" she asked as she ghosted a hand over his arm.

"Dey are for each sin I have ever committed," he replied solemnly; "I vas very confused years ago... I still have some to place..." he added quietly, barely a whisper.

"You don't have to harm yourself," Audri said desperately.

"I do," Kurt chided gently; "Eet is my belief, Audri. Eet is how I pay debt for my sins, for myself," he was silent then. He had never before told anyone that much about his tattoos, their symbolic meaning.

Audri was quiet as she nodded; "I respect that, Kurt," she whispered; "You've done so much already, and my minds so open anyway... it's taboo, but then, what's normal;" the simplistic, pure and innoncent honesty had Kurt smiling slightly.

"Vielen Dank," Kurt said, "Thank-you."

"What was Germany like?" Audri asked suddenly, a sign she was done with the subject of religion.

"Ah, Wunderbar," Kurt replied; "Beautiful castles, and so many old cities. The second war still has a mark on de country, but eet es still as eet always vas. Vhy do you ask?"

Audri shrugged; "Because I absolutely love your accent and I was just making sure," she joked good-naturedly; "No, I was just curious..."

"You know, you are so young," Kurt suddenly observed; "Your personality es..."

"Like a teen in their first year of college," Audri finished, one eyebrow raised.

Kurt laughed quietly as he sat up; "not in dose words, but yes, you act like a teenager," he said, smiling kindly; "I steel say you are a blessing from God."

"So a lot of people," Audri whispered distantly; "Except one."

"Who?" Kurt asked instantly, worried.

"The man who made me like this," Audri whispered, then she yawned; "I'm tired..."

"You should rest, Audri," Kurt said; "I kept you long enough."

"Wait," Audri said as Kurt rose to leave. He turned and looked at her questioningly, looking at her.

"Ja?" he asked.

"Merci," she whispered, and Kurt smiled.

"Not a problem, angel," he replied, then, with a final glance back, he exited the room.

Kurt whispered a simple tune as he closed the door, but as soon as he turned around, his eyes met ruby red shades.

"Kurt, why did you just leave... her room?" Scott asked, struggling with the replacement noun.

"Scott, I vas told eet vas okay," Kurt said quickly, fearing the glare he knew lay behind the shades.

"Talk. NOW."

A/N: there ya go. More soon. Thanks for reviewing if you do!