~2259~

**Cabin Fever**

Logan was standing on the summit looking out over the valley.  He'd been out hunting for several hours now, and had passed on several opportunities.  His heart wasn't in it today.  He knew there was plenty of food in the pantry, and meat in the freezer.  He just liked having this time on the mountain to think.  He could see the smoke from his cabin's fireplace and smiled.  Dani would be busy in the garden, or working on some project.  Logan had insisted they move up to his cabin in the Canadian Rockies right after her miraculous return from Camelot.  They had needed the time to get to know each other again.  But it had been six months, and they were both getting cabin fever.  They needed a vacation from their vacation.

Logan sighed and decided to head back.  He was upwind of the cabin, and he could smell dinner cooking.  Dani was a good cook, and he suddenly wished he could just transport himself back the way she did.  He jogged down the path and headed home.  He'd only been gone a few hours, but he couldn't wait to see her.  That woman had him neatly wrapped around her little finger, and he didn't mind one damn bit. 

*****

Dani smiled as she checked on her homemade pizza.  She knew Logan would be able to smell it miles away, and it would bring him home faster.  He had a weakness for her pizza.  She turned the pan and put it back in the oven.  She started setting the table and cleaning up after her cooking. 

Logan had been taking a lot of long walks lately under the guise of hunting, but Dani knew better.  He was getting restless, and needed some action.  She had been restless for over a month, but kept that to herself.  She was glad to have this time with him, but after life as one of the X-men, cabin living was dull.  They both needed some excitement.

"Hey, baby, what's cooking?" Logan asked as he strolled in the door.

"Pizza," she said with a smile.

"Sounds good," he said as he went to the sink to wash his hands.

"Didn't feel like hunting today?" Dani asked as she snaked her hands around his waist.

"No," he said softly.  "I just needed some time to think."

"Me too," Dani agreed.  "I like it here, but I'm bored.  I'm used to fighting evil all the time.  I need some excitement."

Logan laughed.  "And here I was worried about what you were going to think when I said the same thing."  Logan dried his hands and turned to look into her eyes.  He gave her a quick kiss and sat at the table.

"So," Dani began as she took the pizza from the oven, "Where do you go for excitement in this century?"

"I thought we'd go check in on the kids tomorrow, and see how we feel after that," Logan said.

"Sounds good," Dani said and set a generous slice of pizza on his plate.  "I like the woods, but I guess I'm a die hard hero at heart.  I need something to do."

"Die hard, eh?" Logan said with a cocked brow and a smirk.  "Let's hope we don't have to test that."

"You're not worried about losing me again?" Dani asked.

"Call me overprotective," Logan said and took a bite of pizza.

"Last time I checked, there were no sentinels in this century," Dani said.

"There are differences, yes, but this century can be dangerous too," Logan growled.  "I don't like you taking chances.  You are not invincible, and neither am I."

"Which one of us is nearly four hundred years old?" Dani asked with a smirk.

Logan reached across the table and took Dani's hand.  He looked right into her eyes with a stern expression.  "Baby, I don't think I could live through losing you again," Logan said seriously.

"You aren't going to lose me," Dani said.

Logan released her hand and turned his attention back to the pizza.  "Good," he said quietly and took another bite.

*****

"Nikki," Jesse called from the base of the stairs.  "Hurry up, honey, we gotta go."

"I just need to grab Dani's jacket and we'll be right down," Nikki called.  She and Dani descended the stairs and Nikki smiled at her husband's tuxedo.  "You look really good."

"It's the suit," Jesse said with a smile. "You two look fantastic."

"Do you like my dress, Daddy?" Dani asked.

"You look great squirt," Jesse said to his blushing four year old.  He picked her up and gave her a big hug, and then leaned over and kissed his wife.  "You look good enough to eat," he whispered to Nikki.

Nikki blushed, "Maybe later."

"Is that a promise?" Jesse asked with a devilish grin.

"Oh, yeah," Nikki said with a smile. "Now let's go, it's your dad's big night."

"He'll be too busy to notice us," Jesse said.

"Don't kid yourself, he's looking forward to sharing this with you," Nikki said.

"All right, let's go," Jesse conceded and they headed for the garage.  They loaded into his Mercury, and headed out. He hit the button on his keychain to set the alarm on the mansion, and sighed. The XMU Sports Awards Dinner was being held at the Hyatt Regency, downtown.  It would take twenty minutes to get there, and Jesse was hoping for good parking.

 "Jett must be very proud of the team this year," Nikki said as she watched the scenery.

"Their record was excellent," Jesse agreed.  "Pop will be grinning like an idiot all night, I guarantee it."

"Well, Professor Stanley, I'll wager you will too," Nikki said with a sly smile.

"Maybe," Jesse chuckled.

"Is grandpa getting an award?" Dani asked.

"Yep, Squirt, grandpa is getting an award," Nikki said.

"Yay for grandpa!" Dani exclaimed.

Jesse laughed. Yay for grandpa.

*****

Logan was having a hard time sleeping.  It was going to rain tonight, and he normally liked rain, but he had a bad feeling in the pit if his stomach.  He snuggled a little closer to Dani, and she sighed and leaned back into his arms.  He smiled and hugged her close.  She was still sleeping, and he didn't want to wake her, but holding her was comforting.  He gently kissed the top of her head, and she whispered, "I love you, Logan," as she turned to look up at him.

"Go back to sleep, Dani," Logan said quietly.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said.  "I just can't sleep."

Dani was about to say something, when their cell phone went off.  Logan nearly jumped straight up, but managed to keep from popping his claws out at the sudden noise.  He got up and crossed the room quickly to grab the phone.

"This is Logan," he said in a very business like tone.

Dani watched his expression turn dark and angry as he listened.  He glanced at her, and she could tell something was very wrong.  Logan let out an angry growl and just said, "Where are you?"

He listened again for a moment, and then said, "We'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up the line and looked at Dani.  "That was Jett.  The kids are missing," Logan said as he grabbed his clothes off the floor and quickly dressed.  "They were kidnapped tonight, right out of the mansion."

Dani, who had started dressing as well, stopped and looked at him in shock. "But the security," she said.  "How is that possible?  Who would do that?"

"I don't know," Logan growled.  "But I'm going to find out, and then I'm going to rip them to shreds."

Dani finished dressing and Logan grabbed their coats.  He grabbed the phone and his keys and looked expectantly at his wife.  "Ready?"

"Where to, the mansion?" Dani asked.

"Yeah, the garage."

Dani nodded, gave her husband a hug, and orbed them home.

*****

Jett was pacing anxiously as he waited for the old man to get there.  There were several policeman and campus security looking over the red Mercury for evidence.  Jett watched them dusting for prints and checking for signs of forced entry.  He knew they would be able to do nothing.  This was obviously the work of mutants, and only mutants could handle this.

"Coach Stanley," one of the security men said as he walked over.  "Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt the Professor or his family?"

"No, my son had no enemies," Jett said firmly.

"What about you?" he continued.  "Would someone use them to get to you?"

"No," Jett said angrily.

The security guard was about to ask another question, when Logan and Dani appeared a few yards away.  The guard just sighed, shook his head and pointed.  "I don't suppose someone would do this to get back at him?"

Logan growled at the guard and walked over to Jett.  "You alright?"

"Yes," Jett said.  "But these buffoons are useless."

"Let's go check the surveillance tapes," Logan said quietly.

"Jett just smiled, and the pair slipped out of the room.  Dani sighed and waited.  She needed to stay and keep the police from getting too interested in the rest of the house.

Downstairs in the control room, Logan and Jett studied the tapes.  They found the right time frame and started watching.

"There's Jesse pulling into the garage," Jett said.  "They're getting out, and…dear God!"

It looked like Jesse and Nikki had been shot by some sort of laser, and little Dani climbed out of the car screaming.  Then a strange looking man with a large bald head with giant ears came into view.  He smiled down at Dani with sharp crooked teeth, and shot her with some sort of small laser.  Then he and the kids were covered in light and instantly disappeared.

"What was that?" Logan growled angrily.  "That was the ugliest mutant I've ever seen!"

"I've never heard of a mutation that looked like that," Jett said.  "He must have been a transporter."

Just then, Dani appeared by Logan.  "The police want to talk to you," she said to them.

"Not now," Logan said.  "Stall them."

"What?" Dani said angrily. "You stall them!  I want to know what happened to the kids.  What did you find on the tapes?"

At that moment, Logan and Dani suddenly found themselves in a bright white room.  There were no walls, or ceiling, it was just a vast white room.  Logan took a few steps, and turned to look at Dani.

"Baby, did you do this?" Logan asked.

There was a bright flash of light, and a man was standing in front of them.  He looked about forty.  His brown hair was retreating from his forehead, and he was wearing a black leather Xmen uniform.  Logan disliked him immediately, and his claws shot out from between his knuckles. *snikt!*

"I brought you here," he said.  "I decided to take pity on your predicament and help you find your family."

"Who the hell are you?" Logan growled and took a step closer to the man.

"My name is Q," he said smugly as if that should explain everything. 

"Where are the kids?" Dani asked, trying to remain calm.

"They were taken by a Ferenghi slave trader named Jervis," Q said.  "I was feeling bored so I thought I'd drop you off with an old friend who can help you look for them."

"Just tell the lady where this Jervis is, and we'll handle it," Logan said confidently.

Q laughed at his outburst.  "You have no idea where you are," Q said with a bored sigh.  "I won't waste my time explaining to a mutant cave man." 

Logan growled and lunged for the rude stranger, but Q simply waved his hand, and they found themselves standing in a room full of people with funny black uniforms on.   

"Q! What is the meaning of this intrusion?" A very annoyed looking older man said.  He appeared to be in charge, and Logan glanced around the room. 

Behind him was a large screen with an orbital view of some purplish looking planet.  The room was laid out with computer stations that seemed to all face the screen, and three chairs in the middle of the room.  It looked like the bridge of a ship, a space ship, and Logan didn't like this one bit.  Somehow, his claws had retracted in transport, and his knuckles itched to release them again.

"Captain Picard," Q said to the man in charge.  "I thought you'd be glad to see me.  This time my visit is humanitarian in nature."

"Who are these people?" the Captain demanded.

"Introduce yourselves," Q said to Logan and Dani.  "Oh, wait.  You're out of uniform," he added as he waved his hand.  Logan and Dani found themselves wearing their black leather Xmen uniforms, and Dani decided she'd had enough.

"Stop these damned games, Mr.Q, and tell me where our family is!" Dani said as she started glowing white and her eyes glowed violet.  She reached a hand out and it started dripping with violet sparks.  "I'm in no mood to be toyed with."

"You better answer my wife quickly," Logan said as he *snikt!* popped his claws out and the pair stepped closer to the annoying Q.

A very large man with long hair and some sort of weird bumpy looking forehead growled, produced some sort of weapon and spoke up, "Captain…!"

"Enough!" Captain Picard shouted, gaining everyone's attention.  "Everyone lower your …" he looked at Logan's claws and Dani's glowing hand and cocked an eyebrow as he said, "weapons?"

Dani lowered her hand and her glow faded, but Logan hesitated.  Dani glanced at her husband and reassured him telepathically, These people, whoever they are, are not the enemy.

Logan gave a snort and retracted his claws.

"Mr. Worf," Picard said firmly, reminding him to put his weapon away.

The large man growled, but grudgingly holstered his weapon.

"Very good," Q said brightly.  "Let's be friends, shall we?"

"Shut up Q!" Captain Picard said angrily and then turned to Dani and Logan.  His demeanor changed to a calmer one and he addressed them formally.  "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise."

"My name is Logan, and this is my wife Dani," Logan said. "Our grandchildren were kidnapped by someone named Jervis, and this 'Q' character said he would help us find them, but he keeps jerking us around."

"What?" Q asked innocently as he shrugged at Picard.  "I'm a Q, that's what I do." Q said humorously and promptly disappeared in a flash of light.

"Damn!" Logan growled.