My thanks to those who have reviewed so far. Things are about to heat up in other ways. IT wouldn't be a reuinion without Mac, the Vindicator, so keep reading… I've found everyone's suggestions helpful! Thanks and enjoy!


Chapter 8

"Mac wants to talk to you, Logan," Heather Hudson said.

"Where's he being kept? At home or here?" he asked.

"At home for now. They won't let him on the base because he's still undergoing extensive therapy…"

"I need to see him face to face… now," Logan said. "Not just on the flamin video… but man to man…"

"But your qualification with…"

"That can wait," Wolverine said curtly as he pulled off his mask, and picked up his leather jacket. "I'm guessing you pulled the 'scoot outta the snowbank?"

"I'll drive you myself," said Heather.

"Okay, but are ya sure you wanna leave the team here?" Logan asked.

"I see your point," Heather said softly. "I'll stay here. You know the way…"

"Uh huh," Logan nodded as he zipped his leather jacket, and grabbed up the helmet he'd purchased for his cycle.

"Wait," Heather said as she moved to catch up with him on the way to the vehicle storage facility. Cold air sliced through and around the buildings as they walked from the Main complex to the Garage. Her insulated Vindicator uniform kept her warm enough without a coat, but she shivered from more than just the quickening Canadian winter.

"Yeah Red?" he asked, turning his head for a moment.

"You could have saved all this trouble if you'd…"

"Do me a favor n' don't flamin' remind me, Red," said Logan. "The kid's gonna get grief from me for this…"

"Maybe you should go to her…"

"You know that's against the damn rules," Wolverine snapped. "I'll be seein' ya Red…"

"Don't leave like this… I can see you're angry…"

"I'm fightin' a member o' my own family! How do ya expect me to feel, Red?" he asked angrily as he entered the large Quonset hut that housed various Alpha Flight vehicles. He swung his leg over the 'scoot and fired up its engine with a downward press of one of his boots. Heather's protests were drowned out with the loud roar. She didn't bother to chase after him because she knew him too well.


Mac Hudson's chair moved with the slight motion of one arm that still had limited mobility. A respirator attached to his neck, and he glanced at he videoscreen with his wife's concerned features gracing it. "He's on his way to see you… alone…"

"Been a long time… it'll be good to see him…" Mac said. "He was in good spirits, right?"

"Till he found out that he had to face his own student in the third qualifier," said Heather. "He's in a mood…"

"That's one thing that's never changed… I still can't believe what you've told me… after all this time… he wants to do something he swore he'd never do…" Mac shook his head, as much as it could turn.

There was a chime of the doorbells, and Mac glanced anxiously. "Go on honey I'll see you later… I hope it goes well…"

"So do I," Mac muttered. He shifted the control stick and his jazzy moved forwards with a fine electronic motor. Unlike Professor X's chair, he had the standard veteran issue model. Not everyone could get one of those hoverchairs that were based on some futuristic technology.

With a press of the button on his console, the door clicked open, revealing Wolverine with his helmet under his arm, blue eyes fixing into his for the first time in years. "Mac, ya wanted to see me?"

"Logan, it's been ages… I thought you'd never come back here in person… even after those emails…" he said quietly.

"Damn, what happened to ya, pal?" Logan asked as he walked into the foyer, and closed the door behind him. His face creased in worry and anger as he took in the view of his old friend and comrade at arms. Eerily he could be a young Professor X.

"Motorcycle accident," Mac chuckled. "Won't you step inside? You can help yourself to something to drink… I have some Labatt's in the fridge…"

"Mac, I didn't realize," Wolverine started, and then stopped, realizing he had to be careful. This was a matter of pride, and he walked after the motorized chair.

"Place is pretty much the same, considering the years that have gone by, but we're doing well," said Mac.

"Any chances you'll be getting outta that fancy chair anytime soon?" Wolverine asked as he unzipped his jacket and hung it on the rack by the door before walking towards the kitchen. The chair whirred as Mac guided it after him towards the small economy sized kitchen.

"Well, they've been working on my hands. Heather's got some eggheads trying to rig my Vindicator suit so I can control it with EM mind impulses…"

"Maybe Professor X could help ya out… get ya a better chair… one of those hover doohickeys like he got from the Shi'ar," Wolverine said as he opened the fridge and pulled out a frosty bottle of Labatts. The sound of metal on metal of one claw unsheathing was followed by the escaping hiss of the bottlecap popping off.

"Guess there's no sense in telling you that was a screwtop," Mac joked.

"Force o' habit," Logan chuckled sadly, masking his anger and sorrow at seeing his friend in this way. For a moment he thought it should be him in that chair, not Mac. Then again, he almost WAS in that situation.

"I heard about your situation… loosing your adamantium," said Mac. "Looks like you got it back… I'm out of the loop… last time you emailed was a few months ago…"

"Courtesy of Apocalypse," Wolverine said as he pulled up a chair and sat down at the kitchen table opposite where Mac pulled up his chair. "No guarantees. I always wondered what happened to the adamantium ol' Maggy leeched outta my bones… and I found out that someone here had appropriated it…"

"We'd hoped to do something with it, but somehow it had gone missing," Mac confessed. "I think in some odd way it's the same that you were given back."

"Wouldn't THAT be flamin' ironic," Wolverine mumbled as he took another swig of beer.

"Speaking of the which, what are you doing back here, Logan?" Mac said. "Last time you made it crystal clear that hell would freeze over before you'd ever think of coming back… after the times we dragged you kicking and screaming... and lo and behold you're here..."

"As Jubes would say, 'what's up with that…' " Logan laughed harshly. "Well I guess it wasn't just the accident that brought me here… it was Jubes, and some other stuff I had to sort out. Ghosts from the past n' all that stuff… figuring out the real memories from the implanted ones…"

"Maverick and Silver Fox," said Mac. "I remember the email you sent me that you'd met up with them seven years ago…"

"Never heard from 'em since," said Wolverine. "Better that way… but I'm here I guess to help out an old friend… cause we left with some pretty bad blood between us…"

"I'm glad to see you again, Logan. But you don't have to do this to prove any thing to me… you don't owe us anything anymore…" said Mac.

"This isn't about that… well maybe it is a little bit… but I can't help thinkin' that should be ME in that chair instead o' you…"

"But it isn't," said Mac. "I never wanted to be the hero. That was YOUR job. And now I see you've decided to play the part… I still can't understand why, after all we've been through. But I'm glad… for my sake as well as Heather's… I'm frightened… frightened of what may happen to her…"

"So'm I…" said Wolverine. "She's not had trainin' fer this…"

"I've done what I can to help her. I tried to put my foot down to stop her, but she's a stubborn lady," Mac smiled ruefully.

"So've been seein' again," Wolverine chuckled. "I wanna make sure that yer not gonna lose someone else ya love… like she almost lost you… like you both…"

"Lost you as a friend?" said Mac. "It's over Logan. That hurt has been closed over for a while. Ever since you started corresponding with us again. It's done a world of good… but…"

"Heather asked me to come," he said quickly. "An I did. Just needed an excuse t' take off from the X-Men, and Jubilee was the best one that came along…"

"Jubilee… I've seen her dossier. She's had some issues with nightmares and her powers… and you're thinking of adding her to Alpha Flight," said Mac.

"Yep… but I didn't flamin' figure that I'd be the one she'd…"

"I was the one that instituted that rule. I was always the one that they fought… and since Heather… I'm sorry Logan… you have the power to change it… as co leader…"

"Nah, I have to stick to your rules," said Wolverine. "But the kid…"

"She's not a kid from what I've seen…"

"So I've been findin' out," Logan mumbled, flexing his wrists uncomfortably. "I guess I'm asking…"

"How would I handle it?" Mac asked with a knowing smile. "Well, if you'd like my advice, it's free for the taking. Since she's been emotionally involve with you, I'd suggest you use some of that old Department H training and flip the switch…"

"I've been working to combat all that, and it'd be so easy to do, but the kid… I never should have brought her here… I'm afraid that…"

"She'll come apart if you really have to hurt her? Logan, you KNOW that from taking me on, that the contest is only to show what a potential Alpha flight member can do… not to win… it was you that had that misperception…"

"That started the whole shebang," Wolverine finished as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Cause I had to flamin beat ya…"

"You said the Wolverine never loses, and if he does, he doesn't let anyone forget it…" said Mac.

"Somethin' like that… but never mind… I'm still that psycho ya dragged outta the forest, but that part of me stays locked up now… thanks to Professor X's mind treatments. Only when I need him do I let him out… but against Jubilee…"

"You fought her in the danger room, didn't you?"

"I almost flamin' killed her when I was Death," said Wolverine in a low voice.

"You don't have much faith in her or you, if you believe that you could hurt or kill her," said Mac sharply. "That's not the Wolverine I remember…"

"Mac…" he trailed off. "Are ya tryin ta piss me off? Cause it ain't funny…"

"Look at yourself… you're doing the noble thing, aren't ya? Well mister, you've got a job to do, and since you accepted the mission, are you going to bail on your team when they need you the most?" Mac barked. "

"Nice try, Mac," Wolverine said as he let a low growl escape.

"She's not just that…" Logan trailed off.

"No excuses. You want to help lead this team, you decide so, or else cut out… and the wolverine I know, doesn't walk away from his problems… or a fight!" Mac shouted. Logan turned away, his back to his friend as his muscles heaved in and out. He reached up and pulled the mask on over his face, his arms dropping to his sides as he twisted his wrists. But there was no characteristic 'snickt' sound that Mac expected, nor three skewers at his neck.

"Ten years ago that'd made me slit yer throat. Now it just makes me realize how much things have changed…"

"It's simple to me," Mac barked.

"Pal, you don't' know what yer talking about, I ain't the psycho you can rile up with words…" Wolverine inhaled deeply, knowing what Mac was doing, and hating himself for the responses that broiled up.

"Jubilee's a soldier, you're her commanding officer… that's what this is…"

"Maybe and maybe not… she's more than that…"

"That's no excuse. She needs you, and so does Heather. I need you. Since you came to the trouble of coming here, are you going to see it through? What would Professor X think…"

"Professor X isn't flamin here," Wolverine growled in his throat. Mac saw the light gleam off claws unsheathing, the body moving over as the blur of yellow and blue crossed the room, and a hand seizing his collar as the other positioned his claws inches from Mac's face.

"And you bub, aren't him," Wolverine snarled as he thrust his nose into Mac's face, his breath hitting the respirator on the man's neck.

"Now that's the Weapon X I remember… the one I figured could take this job in the first place…" said Mac with a smirk.

With a 'snackt' the claws slipped back into their sheaths, and Wolverine stepped back. He released Mac's shirt and folded his arms across his chest. "If you say so, Mac… trust ya to know the right thing to say to push my buttons even after all this time…"

"Use that to do your job," said Mac. "That's the best advice I can give you…"

Wolverine turned away from him and then stopped. "I should thank you… shouldn't I?"

"It's your life, your decision," said Mac.

"Thanks pal," Wolverine said quietly. "I guess I needed that."

"Get on out of here and give that test, Wolverine, they're waiting for you," Mac said. "And by the way, it was good to see you again… don't be a stranger…"

"I don't intend t' be Mac," Wolverine said as he glanced back at his friend. He strode out into the foyer, and out the front door. Left alone in the room, Mac smiled. Half-sad, and half-happy, he knew he'd done what needed to be done. Things had come full circle, and he hoped that it would work out to everyone's favor.

Depressing a button on his console, he said, "Heather, are you there?"

"Yes Hon," she said as her image flashed on the small screen to the left of his face. "Logan's there… how did it…"

"He was just leaving," said Mac.

"What…"

"I think he's going to be fine," said Mac with a smile. "Although I can't say much for his mood…"

"What did you say to him?" Heather demanded, her brow furrowing.

"Only what I'd have told you when you put on my suit," he said. "Guardian…"

"I'll see you later… Vindicator," she said softly. Her image clicked off, and Mac closed his eyes with exertion. He hoped Heather would have good news later on, and that Wolverine and his young friend would emerge emotionally intact.


"How does the uniform fit?" Aurora asked as she sat on Jubilee's armchair in the small guest quarters she'd been assigned.

"Are you kidding? Why do I even NEED another uniform?" Jubilee called back.

"This one's insulated. The other one looks pretty, but this one's more durable, and warmer…" said Aurora. "All of Alpha Flight wears this model… even Wolverine's costume was originally like that…"

"I dunno…" said Jubilee as she stepped out of the bathroom. The red and white suit conformed to her body as tightly, but was one piece. Half was red, the other half white, like Guardian and Vindicator's costumes.

Instead of a belt, she had a small utility belt around one thigh. A small maple leaf design cut across the chest, between the boundaries of white and red, while a white star like Aurora's was on her left hip. The hood had a hole that let her hair free about her face, and the mask had a visor that was almost identical to the one she wore with her Gen X costume.

"It looks great," said Aurora. "I think that's your biggest weapon against him… he's going to go into shock seeing you in that!"

"Not funny," Jubilee fumed. "I look like Captain Hoser! Or miss Maple Leaf 2000!"

"It's a standard issue Alpha Flight trainee uniform… we all got them till we were awarded our regular individual costumes. It was either that or the black one, and it DOES come with a matching jacket…" Aurora said as she tossed a waist length parka jacket that was black with yellow piping on the sleeves.

"Now THIS I like," Jubilee said as she slipped it on. The small red maple leaf flanked by two bars was patterned on the back, and she noticed the pockets in the jackets were for the same things she'd store in her X-men or Gen-x belt.

"Looking good, Jubes," said Aurora.

"Thanks J. Marie," she chuckled. Her face still betrayed the rising resentment present, and Aurora caught the slight wrinkling of her cheeks and nose.

"It will all be over sooner than you think, and then you can come back here and get a warm shower, and go to bed…" Aurora said. "It was just as bad when I had to fight Vindicator…"

"But he wasn't your best friend!" Jubilee snapped.

"He was at one time… even though he was married, I did have a crush on him," said aurora softly as she sat on the bed where Jubilee had flopped down.

"I know, damn it… it's just…"

"He must have his reasons for it… I mean he did tell you he wanted you to join along with him, didn't he?" asked Aurora gently as she rested her hand on Jubilee's shoulder.

"Yes I guess," Jubilee sighed. "It's just that…"

"You're falling for him," Aurora said. Jubilee fell silent, her eyes wide and her lips opening to protest. Aurora patted her shoulder and said, "It's all right, I'm your friend… you can tell me… it seemed pretty obvious…"

"It's been a long time since I had a gal pal," sighed Jubilee. "My best friend Paige…"

"I'm sorry," said Aurora as Jubilee closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "She was like a sister, no?"

"Yeah," said Jubilee. "Damn, I even miss her whining about me hogging her share of the shelf space… I used to get really po'd when we roomed together at the Massachusetts Academy… it's hard to believe that she's… gone…"

"When Jean Paul and I were in Genosha, I thought we'd never see the rest of Alpha Flight again… I was so sure I'd never see Walter again… but then we were rescued… you don't remember but I remember you… you were the girl who convinced my hard headed brother to join a little revolt…"

"Oh jeez no way!" Jubilee groaned. "I was such a dork then!"

"You were a brave 'dork'," said Jeanne Marie. Jubilee glanced at her, and Aurora reached out her arms. She let her new friend give her a sisterly hug that was so reminiscent of Paige, it hurt.

"Ohh, here I go again," jubilee sniffled.

"It's all right, Mon ami," said Aurora as she stroked Jubilee's back and let her cry on her shoulder. "I won't tell if you don't…"

"What makes it worse is that I… I've always had a Jones for him, and now it's a major league…" Jubilee sniffled into Jeanne Marie's shoulder.

"I know, Cheri, I know," said Aurora as she continued to comfort Jubilee. "But remember, he's still the same person under that mask that you know. And so are you… but when you put on the uniform, you can also take it off…"

"I had to spar with him before, but this is for real…"

"You only have to hold your own against him," said Aurora. "Neither of you has to actually win… just match his powers with your skills. Use everything you know to put up a good fight… and you don't' have to end up hating him if either of you defeats the other… we'll be watching you from the observation area…"

"Who's judging this WWE thing?" Jubilee asked as she drew back, and took the tissue Aurora handed her.

"Heather. And Mac…"

"Her husband?" asked Jubilee slowly.

"Yes… and Shaman. He's the resident physician… as Walter is, but he's more responsible for monitoring your mutant powers and your bodies responses. The other reason you have an Alpha Flight uniform is because it contains the sensors necessary for him to take your body readings…"

"So my suit's wired, great," Jubilee rolled her eyes.

"So is Wolverines," said Jeanne Marie. "Each suit lets the others know where they are… by the implants… and there is a built in communicator as well in the mask…"

"But he's using his old X-man uniform."

"Au contraire, Jean Paul said that he overheard Heather saying she was issuing Wolverine a new version of his old uniform…"

"I figured he had other threads, cause I saw the picture of him… he wore this way cool black jacket and…"

"That was the uniform for when he was Weapon X… he chose the Wolverine codename and costume himself when he started getting antsy about what we were doing…"

"Just before he joined the X-men," asked Jubilee.

"Oui," nodded Jeanne Marie.


Mac's hands moved over the buttons on his console. An image of Wolverine walking out to the beginning of the training area flickered next to another image of Heather and Michael Twoyoungman, better known as Shaman. Yet another image flickered on the large screen in his office of the rest of Alpha Flight gathering in the Observation Area.

"Are we ready?" asked Mac.

"Vindicator, they've reached the commencement point," said Northstar from beside Wolverine, on the display screen.

"All systems ready?" asked Mac.

"All functioning normally," came the voice of Heather.

"Is the trainee ready?" asked Mac.

"She's on her way now," Aurora answered.

"good," Mac Hudson nodded. "Shall we commence with the testing exercise? Have the combatants been briefed?"

"Yes sir," said Heather. "Both of them are in the starting position at opposite ends of the Zone now…"

"Excellent… commence phase 1…"

"Phase one… referees and combatants are the only ones that should remain on the field… Northstar, Aurora you will keep in light contact then join the others in the observation area till called… make ready to drop your agents…" said Heather Hudson. He pressed another button with his good hand, and called up the image of Wolverine being carried under the armpits by Northstar.

"Well this is it," said Northstar.

"Can you go any flamin' faster, I wanna get this over with, pal," Wolverine mumbled as they streaked across the mile or so towards the red end of the training field.

"So do I… but I don't think the others agree… they're taking wagers already…"

"Perfect…" Wolverine grumbled. "They have a sick sense o' humor…"

"What can I say? You're a popular event lately…"

"Just cut the jabber n' drop me off already, Northie," Wolverine growled at him.

"As you wish, Monsieur," said Northstar with a smirk. "Best of luck to you…"

"Hah flamin' hah," Wolverine answered as Northstar released him. He chuckled as he heard the surprised "HEYYY!" as Wolverine plummeted earthwards.

He flipped into a small ball and caught the tree branch nearby to twirl around and flip to the next one before dropping onto his blue boots. They crunched into the new fallen snow as he hit. Breath misted around his mouth and in front of his face as he sniffed the air for his quarry.

A smell of ozone and light receded, and the streaking hiss of air vanished as Northstar streaked back to the observation dome. He was alone in the Red Zone, glancing back and forth and opening all senses to the task at hand. Memories surfaced of the last time he'd done this… back when he'd joined Alpha Flight.

Ahead of him were the winding paths receding into tall trees. Snow lightly touched his bare arms, and he ran lightly along the snow, making little more noise than a deer. Stealthily he crept from the cover of one tree to another, tracing that distant feminine scent he knew only too well.

"All right Jubes, this is it… hope ya forgive me darlin' cause this ain't gonna be a Danger room workout…"


It had been Heather Hudson's idea to have Aurora take her to the White end of the Zone. Jean Paul and Jean Marie had chuckled to themselves as they released hands and drifted off. Jean Paul winked at Puck, who also nodded. The unlikely couple seemed just as unlikely as Sasquatch and Jean Marie, while Snowbird and Shamen had equal, but more casual interests in one another.

"Ready?" asked Aurora as she streaked towards the White Area, and Jubilee swallowed hard.

"Do you just… drop me?" she gasped.

"Yes… but I'll try to find someplace soft…"

"I'll manage," said Jubilee. "After all, flying's one thing, landing's another…"

"All right…" said Aurora. "Good luck to you!"

Jubilee felt Aurora's hands let go, and she spread wide her arms. Twin streams of sparkling plasma cascaded from her fingertips onto the fast approaching ground. She jarred a bit as they held her up, and she slowly reabsorbed them as she broke her fall.

Glancing around she saw the dark shapes of trees and rocky terrain, which blocked all but a small patch of sky. A white streak shooting across like a comet indicated Aurora was on her way back to watch. Inhaling deeply, Jubilee took one step forward, followed by another. There was no sound except for trickling water, and the whistle of the wind. Each step crunched the snow, and she was sure that Wolverine wherever he was could pick it up.

For a time she moved towards the west, hoping that the receding sun was indicating the direction of the Red Zone where she'd expect him to come towards her. The rules were simple: whoever could make it closest to their opponent's zone first, or fight their opponent to a stalemate was considered successful. If there was any blood drawn, that was a penalty.

Despite this, she steeled herself to expect Wolverine to come crashing out of the trees with a snarl any minute. It would be far better than flinching at ever crack of branches, or every stray rustle of leaves. Jubilee tired of the next half hour of wandering the trees aimlessly, and decided to show him once and for all just WHERE she was. Raising her hand, she shot up a flare of gold that hissed upwards. It exploded into a starburst of purple, gold and silver. For a brief moment the clearing was washed in blinding light and she saw a dark shape moving.

"Gotcha," she grinned to herself, moving towards it.


"Cripes," Logan thought to himself when the blinding light seared his eyes. Pretty much what he was expecting, he thought ruefully. Not a bad start, considering she just gave away her position to draw him out. But he wasn't buying it. He could hear the inhalation and the hiss of her fireworks, and smell the smoky plasma mingled with Jubilee's scent.

What the flaming heck was she wearing, anyway, he wondered as he tracked back to the mental image he had before the Fourth of July blinded him temporarily. Red, white, and black, which didn't conform to what he recalled her uniform resembling. Then he scolded himself for forgetting they would have given her a trainee uniform in these conditions.

"You think I'm coming out to get ya darlin… you know me better than that…" Wolverine said to himself as he scrambled up into a tree, and then waited for her scent to approach. A few twigs snapped, and he grinned to himself. She'd fallen for it.

"Come out and get me already!" Jubilee's voice hollered over the wind. "C'mon already.. .it's COLD!"

Her voice echoed on the rocks, and Logan had to admit it was bold as brass of her to expose herself so soon. She could have done any number of things to get him now, and she was walking right into his trap. Hadn't he taught her anything?

A searing blast of white and red exploded against the tree, and he leapt out of it as the one next to him caught fire. He ducked out of the way, as the blaze was siphoned off with a huge burst of snow. So jubilee had learned how to use her power to propel missiles to a limited extent. Nice trick. Probably made her plasma tangible and cold enough to cup the snowball and shoot it towards him like Gambit tossed cards.

Shaking snow off him, he crept around the trees, hearing the crunch of her feet in the snow, and the inhalation and exhalation. Her scent was tangible, almost on top of him when his sight slowly returned in a gray blur. Healing factor worked well, and soon he was able to see her red and white uniformed shape hurling snowballs left, right and center. Another exploded against the tree ten yards away, and he chuckled.

It was now or never, as her back was turned. So obvious, but he knew he had to do something sooner rather than later. He let himself drop, not bothering to unsheathe his claws and give himself away. There was not a sound as he landed behind her, and pounced.

Jubilee barely whirled in time when she heard the thump, and a shot of plasma hit Wolverine square in the chest, knocking him over. It stung, but there was not much heat behind it, except enough to get his attention. He let escape a snarl as he rolled over to face her.

"There you are," said Jubilee. "Took you long enough already!"

"Where do ya think yer going, Jubes?" he asked, his voice low and gutturally. She seemed unfazed, a small smile on her face as she drew back her hand, and tensed. However he waited, his fangs bared a bit as he waited for her.

A shower of pyro sizzled, and he had left the ground while Jubilee flipped over on her hands. Wolverine missed her, but turned to see her send off another round of plasma in his direction, fanning out from her hand like an arc.

"Nowhere now," she laughed, her pink visor hiding those blue eyes as effectively as his mask obscured his. She flipped again, and then gained enough momentum to scramble up the side of a tree, and grab the nearest branch. Beast must have taught her that, for he saw the smoking holes left by heated fingers that sizzled into the trunk.

"Cute," he muttered. Note to self, the firework can climb

Wolverine circled the tree, and then leapt upwards towards her. The SNICKT of his claws was a welcome sound, and she knew he wasn't playing with her anymore, or was he? Jubilee leapt off the tree with a laugh. Wolverine growled, baring his fangs as she dropped. . There was no thump, and he saw she was pushing down with two streams of fireworks like she'd seen Havok do those years ago when they fought X Force.

"C'mon and get me," she teased as she made tracks in the snow. Wolverine launched himself off the tree, both sets of claws extended as he plummeted face first towards her.

She rolled out of the way, hoping she'd missed, when something stung her thigh. He'd tagged her, and she felt disbelief. He'd drawn blood. Wasn't that against the rules? She barely recovered before she heard his roar, and rolled over and over away as fast as she could.

"Shit," she cursed. It hurt and stung, and she saw the blood dripping from a small cut on the white side of her costume. Angrily she hurled a paff towards him just as he hovered above her, and managed to knock him away. She had just enough time to break into a run and duck behind a tree to catch her breath.

"You're in for it now," he growled from just a few trees away.

Jubilee thrust herself right before him, bursting a shot of light to blind him, or so she hoped. She couldn't help shout, "Let's see what you've got. You owe me a workout in the Danger room!"

Wolverine heard her laugh increase in volume and then fade. Her voice sounded less muffled, in an open space and he knew she had reached the clearing he'd scoped out.

"My kind of words," he laughed as he pounced on her with a roar. She twisted and flipped him over her head. Spitting out snow, Wolverine growled and leapt again. He was playing with her. She hurled a paff in his face, blinding him. However he smelled and heard her easily as she dodged a swipe of his fist. Something connected with his back, and he grunted with the force of her kick. Another paff bombarded his chest, and he flexed his wrists. The 'snickt' of his claws extending echoed with a metallic ring in the woods. Jubilee saw that he meant business now.

"Try n' stop me, woman," Wolverine said with a low guttural roar that startled her. Jubilee realized he was testing her. He'd hardly ever used his claws when they drilled. Except when he knew that it was life or death.

Before she knew it he was almost on top of her. She twisted out of the way as he shot past, and swept out her leg, catching him in the knees and knocking him.

He flipped and landed easily, his legs wide apart. Slashes hissed out and she backed away, her fingers crackling with her power as blasts knocked at him. They didn't stop him, and for one moment her heart pounded with fear as he again leapt at her. Gen X training kicked in from Penance, and Jubilee's fists blazed as she attacked him with a full grade paff.

Wolverine roared in anger as the energy pushed him back. He lay stunned in the snow. She walked up, unrelenting as she bombarded him. He rolled to his feet shakily and then the claws flashed, batting off her barrage. Jubilee was tiring fast as she hurled more energy at him.

"Can't keep me away like that, woman," he called in his battle voice. "I keep comin' back for more…"

"Not if I get you first," Jubilee laughed in a battle hardened shrill. She leapt up, flipping over on her hands and knees as she came at him, and her sharp kick connected with his knee. They were hand to hand, her fists crackling with her power as she hit and punched, and he blocked easily. Wolverine suddenly swept out with his leg and she went into the snow, on her back. She barely had time to bring her legs up to push him off when he moved. She backed away, her eyes gleaming white as her power increased.

A wall of fireworks stopped him, but he kept slashing away, unrelenting. Jubilee couldn't keep it up, and turned away, firing another blast as she retreated. "You can run, but ya can't hide," he said. "Big mistake!"

She felt him slam into her, tackling her waist as she crashed under his weight, and twisted in fear, her heart pounding. This was a more serious game. For a second she felt he'd really kill her if he could, relationship or not. He twisted her under him and knelt on her legs, his fist shoved under her chin. His other hand pinned her wrist.

"Now what, darlin?" he asked, his face twisted into a snarl. "I gotcha now… now do I pop these one by one, and shis-kabob your pretty brains?"

A rasping slide came as his first and third claws went SNIKT on either side of her face, almost cutting her but not quite. Steel caressed her skin, and she trembled. He was seeing her as the enemy, and she swallowed hard. What was he doing?