Chapter 10
"So give it to me straight Summers, you don't like what's going on lately, do ya?" Wolverine asked as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall of the War Room, down the hall from the medlab.
"No, frankly I don't, Logan," Scott said, pushing his ruby quartz sunglasses onto his nose. "I'm concerned that Jubilee isn't having enough exposure to female roll models…"
"So she's a tomboy. Big flamin' deal. So was Kitty," said Wolverine. "She spends time with Storm, Rogue, an Jeannie…"
"Yes, but I think that probably she would benefit from having some time with a female mentor…"
"So, yer breaking us up, is that what yer trying t' say, Slim?" asked Wolverine curtly. "Cause the kid ain't gonna go for it."
"She will have to go with it, because the Professor agrees…"
"What if she don't?" Wolverine asked. "Don'tcha care what SHE thinks? She's 15 years old. She's used to Gambit an' me bein' there for her… take that away and she'll hate you for it."
"You weren't thrilled at first about…"
"That's bunk an you know it, bub," Wolverine said angrily. "Face it, Scott. She gets along with you, but she wont' let anyone else near her. Especially now that she's…"
"That's it. If you hadn't put her in danger…"
"Who's yanking your chain, Slim? Betsy? You getting all gaga over the Brit… cause if yer gonna hurt Jeannie…"
"This has NOTHING to do with that," Scott snapped. "You know it doesn't! Don't change the subject, mister!"
"You an' Betts have been spendin' an awful lot of time on missions lately," Wolverine said angrily. "Don't think I didn't notice how ya smelled the last few times ya came in…"
"That's enough!"
"She's sweet on Warren, but she wants you," said Wolverine. "And she's been looking at Jubilee like Sabretooth looks at a steak… and I don't like it!"
"Logan, you're so out of line you aren't even funny," Scott yelled. "And as for my relationship with Jean, you don't' have to worry about THAT. It's none of your business… you're just trying to make excuses for how careless…"
"Care to rephrase that, bub?" Wolverine growled low in his throat. The sound of claws unsheathing told Cyclops he needed to back off a bit.
"She shouldn't have been exposed to such danger," said Scott slowly.
"She's flamin' 15 years old, Cyke," said Wolverine. "She's been on her own for most of that time till she came here. You take her away from what she knows an…"
"I'm not. She's an X man, but…"
"But what? Bobby Drake was 16 and busted up far worse… you sayin' I can't take care of her?" Wolverine asked. "Is THAT what this is about?"
"I admit Jubilee feels safest around you. And because of how you saved her from Sabretooth those years ago, the Professor felt it best to entrust her to your care. And since she trusts Gambit, the same holds true for that. But she's a young woman. She needs positive female roll models…"
"So who ya got in mind, huh? Storm, maybe? Or Jeannie?"
"Both would be good choices, but Storm's a deputy leader and…"
"If you tell me it's Betsy I'll shove these claws down your throat so fast you'll be gasping before you can say uncle!" Wolverine snarled as he crossed them before his face. He knew he had to control his temper enough so that Scott wouldn't have any more reasons to doubt him.
"Actually we haven't decided."
"If anyone's gonna work with her it's gonna be JEANNIE, or Storm, or Rogue. And if the other two aren't gonna do it, it's Jeannie or no sale, Slim," said Wolverine angrily. "I don't' trust nobody else except her."
"Fine. It's Jean. You happy now?" Scott asked angrily.
"Promise me, bub, or else…"
"I promise I won't team her up with Betsy. But frankly your attitude disturbs me Wolverine.. What have you got against her?"
"You want me to make a list?" Wolverine snorted. "She ain't kosher. Neither is flyboy…"
"I can't work on assumptions…"
"You know my instincts aren't wrong. Hardly," Wolverine said. "Jeannie trusts me…"
"If you keep going in that direction buster…"
"I hear ya, Cyke, loud and clear," said Wolverine angrily. "But I'm telling you now yer making a big mistake Summers. If you do this, you'll be sorry. Kid trusts me…"
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, just a friendly warning," said Wolverine as he sheathed his claws. "So who's gonna break it to the kid?"
"Actually one of us will…"
"I don't like any of this Summers. I think that it's uncalled for…"
"Maybe you need a break with that attitude mister…"
"Maybe I do," said Wolverine. "Before I get the urge to hurt something, starting with YOU…"
"You'd better shape up… or else…"
"I don't have to stand here and listen to this, Cyke," said Wolverine angrily. "You can't just expect her to accept me not being around…"
"With your attitude maybe you could stand some time off… an enforced vacation before you say anything more," Cyclops said angrily.
"I've had enough, Cyke. Maybe I WILL take your advice and take some time to cool off… cause right now the first thing I wanna do is shove ya into that wall… fer starters," Wolverine growled. "But know this… if anything happens to the kid cause of this…"
"You made yourself loud and clear Wolverine…"
"Can I say goodbye to her?" Wolverine asked.
"I don't think in your present state of mind that would be a good idea," said Scott angrily. "Unless you can control that temper. Consider yourself officially on leave starting now."
"Fine, then you don't mind if I do this," Wolverine said as he grabbed Scott and shoved him against a wall, roughly. "I'll be close by… and any news of the kid getting hurt…"
He let Scott slide down, and stormed out. Cyclops felt his neck, and shook his head as Betsy and Warren walked in. Wolverine shoved past Warren rudely.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Outta my way before I pluck your wings," Wolverine snarled.
"What's HIS problem?" asked Warren.
"Well, he's going on an enforced vacation," said Scott.
"Are you all right?" asked Betsy.
"Fine…" he said slowly. "I'm sorry about this…"
"Don't worry, it will be fine," said Betsy. "Trust us…"
"Excuse me," Scott said. "I need to speak to Jubilee… alone…"
He walked away, leaving Warren and Betsy looking at one another. "So, I think things are progressing nicely, don't you. With that psycho gone, things will be a lot more quiet around here…" said Warren.
"Perhaps. But Scott still doubts this is the right action… and Rogue…"
"With any luck he'll chose either Rogue or you as her new mentor," said Warren.
"He might not chose me," Betsy said. "Jean might have that honor…"
"Even so, she can be called away on a mission. And if it's Rogue… that would suit our purposes… because I can persuade Rogue…"
"She doesn't trust you completely since…"
"She understands me. After all, a piece of me is inside her," said Warren. "Now, let's go support Scott in his time of crisis… dealing with that child he'll need all the help he can get…"
Jean Grey walked into the mansion, a frown on her face. As she approached, she saw Logan walking down the stairs with his backpack strapped on. He zipped up his jacket and stopped to look at her. "Thank God yer here, Jeannie," he said.
"Logan… I'm sorry I didn't come sooner… Scott's reassigning Jubilee…"
"You gotta talk some sense into him, Red… I don't trust what's going on…"
"Let me talk to him, Logan…" Jean said as she rested her hand on his shoulder. "Maybe I can reach him."
"He's listening more and more to Betsy an flyboy… and you know how I feel about them two," Logan said urgently as he walked towards the door. "They don't smell right… an Cyke's got his head up his butt! Jubilee's spooked out of her mind…"
"I sensed her fear when I walked in," Jean said softly. "And I know you're worried sick… your anger is so tangible…"
"He wants Jubilee to have 'female roll models'," Wolverine rolled his eyes. "And he thinks I'm a bad influence on the kid. Me an' Gambit…"
"He's acting out of what he thinks is best… I wish the Professor was here, but unfortunately he is on Muir island helping Excalibur install their version of Cerebro…"
"What does Chuck think?"
"He's convinced Scott is correct in reassigning Jubilee a new mentor… a female one," Jean sighed.
"Great, that's flamin' perfect…" Wolverine growled. "Of all the lame brained…"
"Easy Logan, I promise you I will protect her," Jean said.
"I trust ya with my own life Jeannie, you know that," Logan said softly. "An ya gotta promise me…"
"I'll make sure she is assigned to me," Jean said. "You know you can count on me… Logan…"
"She's like a scared rabbit Jeannie, I don't like it," Wolverine rumbled, his voice deep with anger and frustration. "An this mutant Misty can travel anywhere invisibly…"
"That's why she should be with a telepath," Jean said. "I can make sure that nothing bad happens…"
"So could I," Wolverine said. "I can smell 'er a mile away… but Scott don't think…"
"Scott's as stubborn and bull headed as you are," Jeannie smiled gently. "But he'll see reason. You know I have him wrapped around my finger…"
"Yeah," Wolverine muttered. "He ain't the only one…"
"Logan, please don't bring that up again," Jean sighed, her green eyes imploring. Logan shook his head.
"Ferget I said anything, Red," he said as he put his cowboy had on his head and walked past her. "You know where to find me if ya need me, right?"
"Yes…"
"And maybe if Jubes does…" he trailed off. Jean bit her lip, and nodded.
"I understand Logan," she said softly. Wolverine exchanged a meaningful glance with her. Jean moved over and kissed his cheek. He felt her arms close around him in a hug.
"I won't be far away, Red. You'd better make sure the kid's safe…"
"Just make sure you're safe, Logan… it's not the same without you… the last time you left…"
"I won't be gone ferever," he said as he hugged her back. "You can trust on that…"
He gently pushed her away as he walked out the front doors and down the stairs to where his jeep was parked. That smell of her he just had to get away from or he'd go crazy. Why did he have to be stuck on that red head? She was nothing but trouble.
And he loved trouble. Even if there was no chance in Hades of them getting together, he'd stand by her. And always make sure she was protected. Her and Jubilee. He only hoped Jean got his hint clearly enough. Knowing her, she would.
Be safe, Logan… came her telepathic plea.
You know it Red… see ya… Wolverine's answer came before his thoughts closed off to her.
"What do you MEAN he's gone?" Jubilee exclaimed as she saw Jean Grey walk into the room.
"I'm sorry Jubilee. He left. He needed some time away…" Scott said patiently.
"You said something didn't' you…"
"Easy child," said Hank. "This doesn't' help our predicament…"
"Scott…" Jean said slowly.
"Darling, I'm glad you're here," Scott said with relief as Jean came over and stood near him. He leaned up and she hugged him, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"Jean, please tell me he didn't go…" said Jubilee, wiping away a tear.
"He'll be back," said Jean. "He just needs to cool down before he ends up skewering someone or something…"
At this she looked pointedly at Scott. Jubilee bit her lip, and looked angrily at both of them. Mainly at Scott. "What's going on here, Scott!"
"The Professor and I have been thinking you need a female roll model… and well…"
"That's baloney!" Jubilee protested. "I'm not sufferin' for female attention! I wear makeup n' all that stuff! Why Storm and I go out lots of times to the mall!"
"That's not what I mean… I mean…"
"Dear, please be clearer," Jean sighed exasperatedly.
"What I mean is, that you're becoming a young woman. You're not a child anymore," Scott said gently. "And we think… the professor, Storm and I believe that you'd benefit from having a female X-Man taking over your training till Wolverine returns…"
"It's cause I got injured! It wasn't Wolvie's fault… or Gambits… it was mine!" Jubilee protested. "Please Scott, don't do this!"
"It's only temporary," Scott said. "Wolverine… he…"
"He wouldn't have left unless he had a good reason, right?"
"No of course not. He was angry at Scott for his decision and that's why he left," Jean interrupted.
"How could you DO this to me! Don't you CARE?"
"Jubilee, please try to see this as an opportunity," Scott said gently.
"I don't care! You're only saying that because you know I'm gonna hate it!" Jubilee protested, her eyes welling with tears. "How COULD you? Wolverine and Gambit are my friends… you can't do this!"
"Unfortunately the decision has been made," Scott said. "Please Jubilee… it's for the best…"
"It isn't and you know it!" Jubilee yelled. "You can't expect me to just do what you say! I'm old enough to decide for myself what's good!"
"You're only 15," said Scott. "And you've been having increasing bouts of trauma. What happened to you in DC is proof that you need additional training. This encounter with Misty has made you increasingly more nervous… and you'd benefit from having a woman's shoulder and training…"
"That's so not true!"
"Jubilee, you need a telepath to be with you…"
"Please don't put me with Betsy!" Jubilee blurted out.
"Jubilee… please…" Hank urged.
"Leave me alone! I don't want to hear this!" Jubilee came close to screaming. "I hate this! I won't put up with this…"
"Perhaps this discussion can wait for another time," said Beast as he took Scott's arm.
"How could you! I thought you were my friends!" Jubilee continued to yell. "Get out of here… leave me ALONE!"
"Scott…" Jean sighed as Jubilee turned over and buried her face in her pillow.
"Just GO AWAY!" Jubilee sobbed. "I wanna be alone!"
"Perhaps you should heed her," Hank said firmly. Scott sighed and shook his head.
"I'll stay with her," Jean sighed. "You both need to leave us alone to have a woman to woman talk…"
Leaving Jean to sit by Jubilee's bed, Hank and Scott left the medlab. Scott pressed his lips together, his jaw clenching as he saw Hank's dark look. "Couldn't you have been more tactful, Scott?" Beast asked angrily.
"Hank, I didn't like to be the one to tell her, but this has to be…"
"May I enquire your reasoning? It would seem to me that it is flawed…" Hank said.
"Maybe, but you have to admit…"
"Your course of action is unwise… think of the trauma it is causing Jubilee… being absent from her primary roll models is…"
"She trusts you," said Scott. "You and Jean will stay with her… till we get this straightened out… how long will se have to remain in the medlab?"
"For a week at least," said Beast. "Till her injuries heal…"
"Try and keep her occupied. Both you and Jean… I'll be assigning Jean as her primary trainer and mentor. I only hope Jubilee sees in time that this is for the best…"
"I urge you strongly to reconsider," said Hank. "Although I will attempt my utmost to rectify the situation for the positive, and provide appropriate guidance…"
"Thank you Hank," Scott said as he walked away, shaking his head. Hank snorted and returned to the Medlab.
