**End and Beginning**

~1986~

Dani found herself standing on a snow covered hill looking down at a large government facility.  Behind it was a dam, and she knew it immediately.  Her body shivered involuntarily at the memories of her time at Alkali Lake. 

"Remember this place?" Q asked.

"Why here?" Dani asked nervously.  "I was here later, but…"

"Where do you think you were created?  There's a DNA lab inside where you and several other hybrids were first created.  Just get inside and destroy the lab.  If you happen to kill a few scientists, I promise I won't notice," Q said.  "Go on, you have a lab to destroy."

Dani orbed herself inside and quietly navigated the passageway.  There were a number of laboratories here, and she had to be sure she got the right one.  Around the first corner she heard someone approaching, so she slipped through a doorway to wait until they passed.  The room was dark, and there was a strange noise coming from the opposite wall.  As her eyes adjusted, she could see it was a holding cell with a lab subject crouched in the corner.  She stepped over to the bars and looked closer.  Suddenly the subject stood and growled angrily.  Dani froze when she realized who he was.  It was Logan, and he was completely feral.  He started sniffing the air and moved closer.  His eyes bored into her with a strange intensity and he stopped at the edge of the cage and reached a hand out for her.

"Logan?" she said softly as she took his hand.

He growled softly and pulled her up against the bars and started sniffing her.  He obviously relied heavily on his heightened senses, and he was identifying her by scent. She tried to relax, knowing his behavior was non-threatening at the moment.  He snorted and grabbed a handful of her hair.  He continued looking her over closely and then, surprisingly gently, he nuzzled her cheek.  His examination was unnerving so she tried to step back but he held her firmly.

"Let go now," she said calmly.  "You are not an animal, Logan, you are a man.  Behave like one."

Logan growled in protest, but loosened his grip on her hand and released her hair.  She stepped back and he stared at her like a wounded puppy.  It broke her heart and she suddenly realized the opportunity she had to help him.  She was about to release him when Q appeared.

"Don't do it," Q said.  "If you really love him, you'll leave now.  Letting him out now will destroy everything he will become.  It may seem cruel, but this is who he is.  The lab you want is that way."  Q pointed back the way she came and Dani just sighed and backed away from the cage. 

As she turned to go, Logan threw himself against the bars and reached for her.  She could hear him whimpering, but she never looked back.  She ran out of the room and headed for her objective.  Logan was howling but she couldn't turn back.  There was an incredible ache in her chest and it was hard to breathe.  Logan, think of Logan's future if she failed.  This would save Logan and all the others!

Q turned back to the cage and Logan growled at him angrily.  Q just smiled, "You like the woman, don't you?  Just remember that smell, you'll meet her again."

Around the next corner she could see the door.  She waited and watched for a moment and then strode over to it.  When the door opened, she thought she was going to be ill.  There, in the center of the lab was Gabriel, Odium, Rufus and some other guy she didn't recognize.  She quickly got over her shock and started throwing energy around at everything in sight.  Within seconds, computer panels blew up left and right, and vials of god knows what were shattering.  Fires started throughout the room, and the four men dove for cover.  But then she was hit with return fire from Gabriel.  She was thrown back, but quickly recovered.  She orbed herself behind him and attacked again, but suddenly everything stopped.  The room seemed frozen in time like a still photo in 3D.  The fourth man walked over to her and spoke.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Q appeared right between Dani and the other man.  "Well, hello Q," Q said to the man.

"I thought you were Q," Dani said in utter confusion.

"I am Q, and he is Q," Q said.  "It is a title, not a name."

"So, you came to take me back?" the renegade Q asked.

"Yes."

"It's too late you know," the renegade Q said.  "The implants have been done.  There's no way to stop it."

"Wait a minute, if Logan is here, I was already born… Why are we here now?" Dani asked.

Q just ignored her comment and made Gabriel, Odium and Rufus vanish.  The lab was suddenly clean and unmarred, but sterile and empty.  Dani stared at the two Qs before her and waited. 

The renegade Q just smiled and gave a wink and Dani vanished.  "There," he said.  "You destroyed the bad guys, but you forgot one.  The timeline won't reset with her in it.  You can't have it both ways."

"She wasn't the problem," Q said in annoyance.

"Oh, no?" Renegade Q asked with a cocked brow.  "Her progeny would have destroyed us.  It was only a matter of time."

"The other members of the Continuum did not share your opinion or your paranoia…" Q said bitterly as he snapped his fingers and the pair disappeared.

The timeline had been reset and the renegade Q was returned to the Continuum to face judgment.  But Q wasn't entirely satisfied with the outcome.  The mutants would live out their lives as they were meant to, but he felt a tinge of regret over one casualty. 

~1979~

"I'm nervous," Andromeda said as she fidgeted in the passenger seat of the canary yellow Chevette.

"I'm nervous too, Andi, but just think of how wonderful it will be to have a baby," Daniel said as they turned into the parking lot of the clinic.  He parked the car and turned to his wife.  "Well, Mrs. Mason, are you ready for this?"

Andromeda sighed and then smiled.  "Yes," she said.  "I'm ready.  And hopefully, in nine months, we'll be parents."

After what seemed like an eternal wait in the clinic waiting room, the couple was ushered into the office of the head physician, Dr. Quinn.  They sat in front of the desk and waited.  When he entered, he gave them a warm smile.

"Sorry for the long wait, it's considered a requirement to keep patients waiting," he said humorously as he took his seat behind the desk.  "I'm Dr. Quinn, but everyone just calls me Dr. Q."

Andromeda looked at the doctor suspiciously for a moment.  There was something odd about him.  She mentally shook herself and forced herself to relax.  It was just nerves.  She gave him a warm smile.

"Well. Dr. Q, what do we do now?" Andromeda asked.

"There's just one simple procedure and then you will return for regular OB appointments like any other expectant mother," Dr. Q said.

Daniel reached for his wife's hand and gave it a squeeze.  "And the donor?"

"Completely healthy and completely anonymous," Dr. Q said.  "The procedure is simple and quick.  So, Mrs. Mason, if you'll just go through that door, you'll find a gown on the table, and the nurse will help you get ready."

Andromeda left, and Daniel eyed the doctor with interest.  "So, what happened to Dr. Visciera, our first consulting physician?"

"He just disappeared, leaving quite a patient load," Dr. Q said.  "But don't worry; everything is going to be just fine."  Dr. Q gave Mr. Mason a reassuring smile.  Everything was going to be perfect.

~2003~

Logan was exiting the elevator after a rigorous training session in the danger room.  He wiped his face with the towel he had draped over his shoulders and headed for his room when he ran into Jean.  It had been nearly six months since she was finally back to her normal self after dying at Alkali Lake and then returning as a bitchy half alien.

"Hey, Logan," Jean said.  "Any plans for your weekend?"

Logan frowned.  She knew he didn't have any plans.  He didn't have a steady girlfriend, nor did he date very much.  He'd probably just go down to the pool hall and get drunk or find a good poker game.  She didn't have to flaunt her social life in front of him, it wasn't nice.

"Shut up Red," he grunted as he brushed past her.

"Wait, Logan," she said quickly.  "I wasn't trying to rub it in.  The professor has a mission and it sounds like something you'd be perfect for."

Logan stopped, sighed and glanced over his shoulder.  "What is it?"

"There's a mutant that has caught his attention and he fears the attention of others as well.  He needs someone to make contact."

"Jean, I don't like chasing down teenage runaways," Logan said in annoyance.  "Why can't Ro do it?"

"Just go talk to the professor," Jean said.  "He wanted you to handle this one."

Logan gave a snort and headed for his room.  It would figure he'd get stuck with a dull mission on a weekend.  What if he did have plans?  Maybe he should come up with some.  He showered and dressed, throwing on jeans and a black t-shirt.  He grabbed his leather jacket and headed down to Xavier's office.  He was about to knock when he heard the familiar greeting.

"Come on in, Logan," Xavier said.

Logan frowned in annoyance and strode in.  He plopped down on the big leather couch and glared at the professor.  "I have plans, get someone else."

"What plans?" Xavier asked.

"I'm going upstate for a few days," Logan said.

"If you were headed to the cabin, you should have said so sooner.  Jean and Scott are already packing their car to leave," Xavier said.

"Oh, come on Chuck," Logan protested.  "I need a vacation too."

"Then you shall have one," Xavier said brightly, "A working vacation."

"All right, let's hear it," Logan said in defeat.

"There has been a great deal of unexplained activity in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I did a little investigation and discovered that a very powerful mutant is responsible.  I want you to locate this person before someone else does," Charles said.  "It will be a pleasant location."

Logan frowned.  "You want me to take the jet?"

"Storm will drop you and your motorcycle off near the coordinates.  After that, you're on your own."

"Why alone?" Logan asked in surprise.

"My observations have led me to believe that more than one would be deemed as a threat," Xavier said.

"Just what activity are we talking about?" Logan asked suspiciously.

"Some of the hikers and hunters in the area have reported encounters with a ghost," Xavier said.  "Other than that, not much else has been confirmed."

"Perfect," Logan said as he stood.

"Why don't you pack, and I'll have Storm get the jet ready."

*****

"We're coming up on your drop off point," Storm said.  "This area is rather remote so I'll put down on the highway."

"Fine," Logan said as he headed to the back to unstrap his ride.  He checked his gear to be sure it was securely attached and waited for Storm to lower the ramp.

"All right, Logan, I'll come and get you when you call.  Hopefully you can convince this new mutant to come with you."

"Sure," Logan said.  "Just find a ghost and bring it back.  Whatever." 

He walked his bike down the ramp and away from the jet.  Storm gave him a smile from the cockpit and then took off.  Logan looked around.  It was beautiful, high up in the mountains surrounded by thick forest.  He sat on his motorcycle, heaved a sigh and then headed north.  He glanced down at the little satellite readout.  He was going to have to leave the road soon.  He found a good place to stash his bike out of sight, shouldered his pack and headed unto the dense forest. 

It had been a while since he'd tracked in the wilderness and he found himself enjoying this mission.  The smell of cedar and pine filled his nostrils and he sighed.  A few miles into his hike, he found a game trail and he followed it.  It wasn't long before his ears picked up the sound of a stream.  He emerged from the woods into a small clearing.  Just ahead was a stream with a small foot bridge.  Logan felt a knot in his stomach.  This area was not supposed to be occupied, it was a national forest.  He cautiously followed the trail, keeping his eyes open.  The moment he crossed the bridge, the forest went silent.  Logan froze.  No birds, nothing, only the faint sound of water.  He held his breath a moment, and took another step.  Suddenly he was surrounded by white light, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself standing in front of his motorcycle by the road.

"Damn!" Logan said in annoyance.  He glanced back at the trail and gave a snort.  "So, the ghost wants to play."  Logan suddenly smiled.  This might be an interesting mission after all.

Logan got on his motorcycle and headed back south a couple of miles.  He hiked back into the forest from the other direction.  It was nearly nightfall when he finally got near the area he'd been kicked out of.  He found a thickly wooded area with lots of underbrush and sat down to wait.  Several hours later, as the moon started to rise, he got up and silently followed a well worn game trail.  The sounds of the forest at night were strangely familiar and exciting.  As he approached a turn in the trail, he came face to face with a ten point buck.  Just beyond were several females and a couple of fauns.  Logan calmly backed away and waited for them to pass.  He smiled as they disappeared into the wood.  Just as he was about to continue, he heard a voice.

"What the hell are you doing in my forest?" a bitter sounding feminine voice asked.

"I think I'm looking for you," Logan said boldly.  "Just to talk."  The voice was coming from somewhere above him, but he couldn't see anyone.  There was a long pause, and then she answered.

"Go back the way you came, and don't come back," she said.

"I just want to talk to you," he said.  "I promise, if you don't like what I have to say, I'll leave."

Pause.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"My name is Logan, and I mean you no harm," he said.

"Fine, what do you want?"

"Are you the uh, ghost?" Logan asked.

"Oh, god! You're a reporter!" she said in annoyance.  "Get out!"

Logan could see a faint glow surround him so he quickly answered her accusation.  "I ain't no damned reporter, I'm one of the Xmen," he said quickly.

The glow disappeared and he heard a rustle in the branches above him.  He stood still and waited, and a moment later, a figure jumped down twenty feet ahead of him.  She stood up, and he could see she was rather petite.  She stood with her arms crossed and sighed.

"You got sixty seconds before I send you back to the highway," she said.

"What the hell are you doin here?" Logan asked.

"I live here," she said.  "Fifty seconds…"

"Why are you bothering the hunters?" Logan asked.

"They're poachers," she said. "Forty seconds…"

"What did you do to me?"

"Just transported you, no harm done," she said lightly.  "Thirty seconds…"

Logan caught a whiff of her scent, and his body went rigid.  It was familiar, but he couldn't remember from where.  He had to think of a way to get her to trust him and fast.

"Your games with the locals have gotten you noticed.  Not just by the Xmen, but others," he said.

"So?" she said nonchalantly.

"I'm polite, they won't be," he said.  "Is there somewhere we can go to talk?  I promise to behave."

"Why should I trust you?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because I'm one of the good guys," he said with a charming smile.  "What's your name?"

She uncrossed her arms and turned away, heading down the trail.  "Danielle," she said.  "Follow me, you're probably hungry."

Logan smiled in triumph, and followed.  He couldn't wait to get a better look at her.  As he followed her, her scent filled his nostrils.  It was familiar, very familiar.  She tore down the trail on light feet, obviously comfortable with her surroundings.  He easily caught up to her, but she picked up her pace, until she was at least twenty feet ahead of him.  Logan smiled.  She didn't trust him enough to let him get too close.  He decided to hang back so she'd feel comfortable. 

It was a ten minute hike to their destination, a cabin.  She took the steps two at a time and halted on the porch.  Logan stopped at the foot of the steps and waited for her to make the next move.  The light was on, and as she turned, Logan finally got a good look at her.  She had really long curly hair, light brown, at least in this light.  Her complexion was light, even pale.  He'd been right about her being petite. Her figure was pleasingly put together, but she was short and slight.  Logan brazenly looked her over, pausing to take in the full curve of her breasts, and then he looked at her eyes.  Oh, god, what eyes!  Even in the dim light of the porch he found them striking.  They must be a dark blue… no, not blue…

"Xmen, eh?" she asked.

"That's right," Logan said.

"What do the Xmen want in the Sierra Nevada's?" she asked as she reached for the door.

Logan climbed the steps and stopped right behind her.  "You."

Danielle spun around so fast Logan barely had time to react.  She gave him a punch in the chest, and his body was abruptly wrapped in electricity as he fell back on his ass.  She backed away, keeping her hands raised defensively.  Logan's skin stung, and so did his pride, but he tried to stay calm.  He looked up at her and her eyes were glowing bright violet.

"I didn't mean it like that," he said gruffly as he got on his feet.  "Don't you know anything about the Xmen?"

"Mercenaries," she said, taking another step back.

"Peace keepers," Logan said.

The air on the porch was tense as they stared at each other, but the tension broke when someone called from inside.

"Dani?  What's going on out there?  Dinner's ready," a woman called.

"Yeah, in a minute ma," Danielle shouted toward the door.

Logan smirked and straightened up, crossing his arms across his chest.  "I am hungry," he said.

Danielle bit her lip and lowered her hands.  Her glowing eyes returned to normal and she frowned at him.  "I ought to kill you right now," she said quietly. 

"You're not a killer," he said.  "I know the look, and you don't have it."

"Behave yourself at dinner, mother doesn't know," she said as she opened the front door.  She paused and turned.  "You'll be invited to stay the night, you get the couch.  You'll be leaving in the morning."

"Fair enough," Logan said, "Dani."

She visibly bristled at his use of her nickname, but she didn't say anything.  She just went inside and greeted her mother.

"Hey, ma!  I found a lost hiker and took pity.  Set another plate," she said with a bright smile.

Her mother came into view as Logan was closing the door.  She looked like an older version of Dani, also short and thin.  She seemed a bit strange, but Logan wasn't sure why.

"Oh," she said.  "Daniel, is that you?"

"No, ma, Dad is gone…remember?  This is Logan," Dani said a little too sweetly.

"Oh, yes, Daniel went to town yesterday," her mother said.

Dani cringed, but didn't argue.  "You can leave your bag here," she said to Logan.  "Then just have a seat at the table."

"Thanks," Logan said.  He took the offered seat and watched them closely.  The mother was mentally gone, that was obvious.  The father must be dead or something… that was also obvious.  Dani disappeared down a hallway for a few minutes, leaving Logan alone with the mother.

"So, Logan was it?" she asked.

"That's right," he said.

"Well, Logan, it's lucky for you that little Dani found you.  We've had problems with some of the local wildlife attacking the hikers up here.  They don't realize just how remote it is, or how far the nearest Ranger outpost is," she said brightly as she put a loaf of fresh bread on the table.

"Wildlife?" Logan asked.

Dani entered again and interrupted, "We had bear trouble a while back, but he was relocated."

Logan cocked a brow, "Relocated?  How'd the rangers manage that one?"

"Oh, the rangers didn't do it, Dani just led him away with a trail of berries and he never came back," Dani's mother said. 

Logan looked over at her and it was obvious that reality was but a memory for this woman.  He felt sorry for her and glanced back at Dani who just looked sick.

"All right ma, how about supper?" Dani asked.

"Oh, yes," her mother said and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Alzheimer's?" Logan asked.

"Grief," Dani said, but then abruptly amended.  "None of your business…"

The rest of dinner was full of awkward silences and feeble attempts at light conversation.  After dinner, Dani's mother went to bed and Dani started cleaning up.  Logan helped her clear the table and grabbed a dishtowel to help dry the dishes.  He was watching her, waiting for the right moment to speak.  It came when she reached into the dishwater and cut her hand on a sharp knife.

"Ouch!" she gasped as she yanked her hand from the water.

"Here, let me look at that," Logan offered, but she jerked her hand away.

"No need, get away," she said.

Logan could see the blood running down her arm as she cradled her hand against her chest protectively.  Then he watched in fascination as a spark of electricity crackled over her hand and she just washed the blood away.  The cut was gone, and there was no scar.

"And mom doesn't know?" Logan asked with a cocked brow.

"Mom doesn't want to know," Dani said.  "Dad knew, but he's gone.  Taking care of mom takes up my free time."

"If you didn't have to worry about your mom, what would you like to do?" he asked.

"I'll finish this tomorrow, goodnight Logan," she said and headed for the door, but he caught her wrist.

"You know, there are places that could help her," Logan said.  "You could have your own life."

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not like most people.  There's no place for me but here," she said sadly.  "Now let go."

Logan released her and watched her disappear down the hall.  She reemerged with a blanket and pillow and tossed them on the couch.

"Here," she said.  "The bathroom is the first door on the left."

Logan plopped down on the couch and stifled a growl as he said, "Sit."

"Why?" she asked in annoyance.

"Now's the time to talk," he said.

"I'm not interested in your Xmen," she said.

"Are you interested in Magneto?" he asked.

"What's a Magneto?" she asked him.

"Remember the Statue of Liberty incident?" Logan asked her.

"Yeah, I remember," she said.

"Magneto was the one who tried to fry all the world leaders," he said.  "The Xmen were the ones who stopped him."

"Well, I'm not interested in him, so you don't have to worry about me showing up on the other side," she said.

"With him you won't be given the choice, and he is already interested in you," Logan said.  "I didn't necessarily come here just to recruit you.  I came to protect you."

"You're a guest here tonight, but tomorrow you're gone.  If I find you in my forest again, you're my enemy," she said.  "Goodnight."

"Why didn't you just send me away again?" Logan asked.

"You let the deer go by," she said simply and then left the room.

Logan watched her go, and he heaved a sigh.  She was stubborn, but interesting.  He wished he could figure out why she smelled so familiar.  He kicked off his boots and lay back on the couch.  Perhaps in the morning she would be more receptive.