I Gotcha Now

Chapter 10a

By Trynia Merin

Notes: This is a short addy to chapter 10, I hope it keeps you satisfied till I write chapter 11! Kudos and thanks to all who are reading this and reviewing it! Stay tuned, because it's going to keep getting more interesting!


Wolverine curled around warmth, and murmured into softness. Surrounded by warmth and protecting warmth he felt snug in the artificial den. Although he'd slept in caves and cabins, the scent of all around him was home. Only the whistling of snow outside, and the sounds of people's footsteps awoke him now. All around him he sensed the openness of the place that contained this zone of comfort. Distant voices of people laughing, and the rumblings of vehicles were the same sort of din he remembered from.

He knew immediately he wasn't in West Chester. However for that split second the continuity of his experience was broken. Suspended between sleep and the sensate world he imagined that he had always been here. Then the sensations gelled into the reality that he knew was Alpha Base. It superceded the realities of other dens remembered. Only the now was important to him just waking up. The rumbling in his stomach that indicated the need for food, and the other appetite that involved what or rather who he surrounded.

His arms encircled her, his nose only inches from the nape of her neck. The bumps of her spine pressed into his chest, while the rest of her was curled into a tight ball to which his body conformed. For a moment he was glad he had such excellent control over his body when he came to his higher processes above instincts. His left arm tingled under the slight weight of her body, but he didn't mind the numbness.

"Six a.m." he told himself, knowing the time of the day from his internal clock. "An hour till that all fired important meeting…"

A rumbling clank just outside the window sounded and he clenched his teeth. Also, the whistling that increased and then receded didn't help. He mumbled and lay his head down on the pillow, tightening his body around the ball of warmth he protected. Burying his nose in the back of her neck, he lay to regain all sensations of his environment before moving again.

She moaned softly in her throat, and he released his grip to let her body shift. Shoulders twisted around and her chest faced up one second, then her knees touched his. Her fingers reached out, groping for him, and he saw a momentary frown on her sleeping face. Wolverine lifted his arm and repositioned it so it lay across her body lightly, and turned slightly on his back. Settling her cheek against his chest her body again relaxed. She tucked her knees together so she curled like an unborn baby in the womb. He pushed her head gently to pillow on his left biceps, and slid his knees under her calves. Lightly he draped his right arm over her side, and massaged the back of her scalp.

Only now did he awaken from a deep sleep since the last time he heard her protests and squirming. Wolverine smiled and warmth flowed over him. She had slept through the entire night at last without screaming him awake. The balled fists tucked between him and her chest had remained no warmer than his and her body heat. There was no smell of burning cotton or flannel. No nocturnal fireworks. At least of the Jubilee variety.

Tensing muscles against his alerted him. She blinked and untucked her knees, sliding them her legs downward from her chest where they'd been tightly pressed. Wolverine lay motionless for a minute. Then Jubilee leaned in towards him and he felt warm softness contact the corner of his lips. Her warm breath fanning his face and a blast of her scent flowing through his nostrils followed it.

"This feels darn good," he thought to himself.

Light feathery presses rained gently on his cheeks. Fingers slid into his sideburns and tugged his face gently towards hers. He angled his cheek slightly to receive her lips. She unclenched his hair and roped her arms around his neck as he fastened his around her body. Her taste he already knew from before. The progression of their bonding was natural not forced or accelerated like some might imagine an instinct driven mutant would act.

Growing closer together from the mentor student into the protector and protected. If it were the wild, it wouldn't be so odd to have an older male claim a younger female for a mate. History was riddled with marriages between older mature men and younger women. The instinct for a healthy and seasoned male was to seek the most fertile and vigorous female. So far his instincts concerning this felt comfortable, felt right. His instincts never lied. Humans were the ones that failed to tell the truth. Now his instincts were telling him to simply touch, taste and hold, not grab and rut. Man and animal were balanced in this moment.

"Good mornin' darlin," he purred against her mouth.

"Good morning yourself," she whispered. "Do we HAVE to get up?"

"Six fifteen now," he murmured back, burying his nose in her neck and nuzzling against it. "Depends on how fast we can get ready…"

"I left my uniform in my room…"

"Wait here…" he said. "I'll be back in a few minutes… you can have the shower first if ya want…"

"Don't be gone long!" she whispered as he kissed her lips briefly and then she felt the weight shift and heard the thump of his feet hitting the floor.

Jubilee blinked and extended her arms and legs to their absolute limit. A sharp pain erupted in her knuckles when they hit the solid wood above. Now she was fully awake, gasping and panting with pain and the realization of where she'd spent the night. Nothing was out of place, and she did not ache in any part that would indicate more than just two people sharing a bed did. Waking up next to Wolverine was far more satisfying than waking up next to Dmitry after a night of body slapping and heart pounding that led to an abrupt stop at third base.

I'd rather wake up next to him for the rest of my life, and it would be enough if we never DID… but damn… if this is how good I feel now, I can't imagine what the morning after… it would be…" she chuckled. Jubilee slid out of the warmth that she and Wolverine had generated and grabbed the red silk bathrobe. She stumbled towards the thin glow from the bathroom night-light and found her way to the shower.


She was just retying the robe around her when she opened the door, and saw the lights were still off. Tying her hair in a long towel, she stepped out and fumbled for the light switch. Footsteps sounded, and the door slid abruptly open, cold air leaking into the warmth around her.

"Yipe!" she gasped, and then felt a strong arm steady her.

"Light's over here, darlin'… figured I didn't wanna burn your vision out though… cause I know how ya hate that," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her ear. "I got yer uniform… and some coffee…"

"Only fifteen minutes, is that part of the training course?" she teased, accepting the cup from him along with the wrapped parcel of boots and her costume.

"Just about," he chuckled, retreating and setting something down on the coffee table across the room. "Go on an' get decent… I'll be only five minutes myself… then it's go time…"

"Okay," she nodded, sipping hot java, double sweet with a touch of milk. Exactly the way she liked it, she reflected. Jubilee grabbed her hairdryer and squeezed her eyes shut to turn on the light.

Exactly five minutes later she was dragging a pick through her hair while zizzing it with the dryer. She saw the motion of the bathroom door open over one shoulder, for she was glancing at her twin in his dresser mirror. Water soaked his hair as he emerged with the towel hitched around his waist; rubbing at his hair with a towel covered his head and face. The hairdryer flew out of her hand and she yelped in surprise.

"Sorry darlin, though you'd be in the threads by now… I'll just…"

"No it's okay, I just got startled," she whispered, as he handed her hairdryer back.

"Bathrooms all yours… I'll just be out here when you're done," he said, with an apologetic look staring past her.

"Don't stroke out, I'm still borrowing your robe," Jubilee joked, not looking directly at him.

"Maybe I shoulda left the lights off darlin?" he said neutrally, cocking an eyebrow.

"I don't have your night vision, remember," Jubilee chuckled, voice quavering. She grabbed her costume and disappeared into the bathroom.

"Didn't mean to scare ya Jubes," he started, but realized he was talking to a closed door. Really smart Logan… poor kid almost had a stroke only seeing him in a towel! She'd seen him in just swim trunks or boxer shorts and a robe, but something about seeing him freshly showered with just the essentials masked. He'd have to be more careful to get her accustomed to his habits if this was going to work out. Funny that just six years ago she wouldn't have batted an eye at him like this on one of their missions, and now she blushed red and retreated.

"Shaddup Gary Pucket," he mumbled when he thought of "Young Girl…' echoing through his head at the moment. "Flamin' song… I'll union HIS gap…"


"I'm okay Logan, don't be so apologetic!" Jubilee chirped when she walked up behind him and hugged him. Wolverine grunted as he pulled on his gloves, and didn't push away. Over his shoulder in the mirror, Jubilee's chin dug into it. The wrinkles in his face and sideburns sticking every which way contrasted with her smooth cheeks and slicked blueblack hair that she let hang loose to her shoulders.

"Just don't' want ya to be uncomfortable around me," he grunted, fastening the bandoleer strap around his shoulders. A gray and black hood hung behind his neck, a copy of his yellow and blue ensemble. Jubilee slid her hands around his chest over the blue black and yellow piping of his sleeveless top.

"What's with the new threads?" she asked.

"Why not?" he said simply.

"You look amazingly gorgeous in black you know," she teased. "Is this payback cause I have a new uniform?"

"Could be," he winked as his hands slid up and clasped the ones rubbing over his abdomen. She saw the tips of his fingers exposed, and her belly pressed into the bumps of the compartmentalized utility belt girded around his waist. He turned around and tugged on the ends of her jacket.

"I AM wearing this, promise," she whispered. "You said the other uniform was too tight…"

"Good, cause I don't want anyone getting any ideas… anyone but me, that is," he said, sliding his arms around her waist to pull her chest to his momentarily.

"Well, what about you?" she joked. "This costume has the dark guardian thing going on… all you need is a long cape and a butler… and a secret hideaway cave…"

"Cute darlin'," he rolled his eyes.

"You already have a sidekick," she teased, as his hands stroked up and down her back.

"More than just a sidekick," he said gravely, his blue eyes staring directly into hers. Jubilee leaned up, and didn't even have to move forwards because his already covered her lips in a second. He drew back, and pushed a piece of hair behind one ear.

"Do you get a jacket like mine?" she teased.

"Actually," he said, picking up a leather jacket from the bed, which was a replica of the one in the photograph. Jubilee flinched momentarily as he slid it on. "C'mon, let's go for roll call…"

The door slid open, and Wolverine turned, holding his hand out to her. Jubilee stared at him, all muscles in her body tensing, and those on her throat and jaw clenching the most. He turned his hand palm up and beckoned her with his fingers. Jubilee inhaled deeply and stepped towards him, her hand extending. Wolverine's fingers closed around hers and she exited the room.

Holding her hand he guided her down the hallway of the sleeping quarters. Other security personal passed them in the hallway, their namecard badges glistening in the fluorescent lights. Into a stairway and then a connecting hallway they finally emerged into the open area of the main building. Wolverine still held her hand when they walked into the conference room and saw Heather there with Mac.

"Where's everyone…" she trailed off, but stopped when Wolverine's fingers squeezed her. He led her to a chair at the head of the table, and nodded that she should sit to his left. The other door opened, admitting Jeanne Marie with her arm around Walter's hips. Puck and Northstar walking closely together followed by Shaman, and Snowbird.

Each took a chair around the rest of the table, and sat down. Heather sat at Wolverine's right, her hood down around her neck and her glasses on her face. Wolverine glanced in surprise as Mac guided his jazzy chair to a screen halfway around the table.

"Good to see you all here…" Mac said.

"I thought you said he was…" Jubilee whispered. Wolverine's hand slid around hers and she saw his lips purse into a 'shushing' expression.

"So did I," Wolverine whispered as he leaned close. "Just sit back and relax Jubilee…"

"I know it comes as a surprise to see me here… but my therapy has reached the level where I am sufficiently able to operate on the Alpha base without too much assistance," Mac said as he glanced down the lines of faces.

"I thought that Wolverine…"

"All will become clear," Heather said. "I know this is a shock, but something has come up that warrants all of your attention. So listen closely…"

A murmur came from the team, and Jubilee saw Wolverine lean back in his chair, crossing his legs. "So Mac, what's the all fired important development?"

"Good that you asked," he said. "As you know, Wolverine has graciously offered his services as co leader. He will continue in that capacity as you have all agreed."

"Only till Heather's able to function," said Wolverine.

"Indeed. As that will be difficult to determine the length of time, I will request if you would be willing to stay on indefinitely till…"

"We'll talk about that later, Mac," said Heather. "Tell them what has developed…"

"Huh?" Jubilee asked.

"I'm only requesting that Wolverine remain till Guardian completes her training. I in the meantime will be directing a new round of training, implemented by our co leaders for an important and vital mission that has been passed to us from the Department. I would also like to introduce you to our newest team member of Alpha flight, agent Firecracker…"

"That's Jubilee," she started. Wolverine held up a hand.

"I am assuming that your request to stay means that you intend to serve alongside Wolverine as a full member?" Mac asked.

"Yes but what's all THIS about…"

"She'll be staying as long as I will," wolverine said quickly. "But perhaps you could explain to her just why you tagged her with a new moniker…"

"It has become necessary for security reasons. Our latest mission requires this, because any former association revealed with the X-Men or Generation X might compromise the integrity of this mission…"

"What does that mean…" Jubilee whispered.

"It's all right," Wolverine said. "So, you care to explain more of what you expect me to do? As co leader?"

"You and Heather will lead two separate teams. This latest mission involves illegal transfer of contraband across the Canadian boarder…"

"Babysitting boarder patrol because of smugglers?" Northstar exclaimed. "We're not wet nurses…"

"If you'll pipe down he'll tell us," Wolverine barked.

"These smugglers are mutants. Who have been genetically enhanced to the point where their powers are specialized for such a task…"

"Big deal, that's just like the time that…" started Northstar.

"Genetically enhanced by who or what?" Wolverine asked.

"That's just it. Department H's been checking into that very problem. It seems that from intelligence reports, they are ex members of the Hellfire Club, the Genoshan freedom force, and the Brotherhood…"

"Magneto," gasped Jubilee.

"Not Magneto, but former associates," said Mac. "Each one has been an enemy of the X-men specifically for the past twenty years. Which is why that your associations with the X-men must be kept secret. Both you and Wolverine are valuable assets because you can provide us specific information and devise a training pattern for Alpha Flight to counteract these smugglers…"

"Why not get the X men?" Jubilee asked.

"Because they'll be expecting the X men," said Heather softly.

"So it's a pride thing?" Wolverine chuckled. "Heaven forbid Alpha Flight's gonna challenge anybody?"

"You got a problem with that?" asked Shaman slowly.

"Hell no," Wolverine chuckled. "Sounds like an interesting caper t' me. I'll do it, providin' a few things are made clear…"

"We will be asking the team to specifically respond to your drill instruction," said Heather.

"Sounds jake to me. But the other things are a bit more tough…"

"Shoot," said Mac.

"First, any other surprises yer gonna spring on Jubilee here, clear it with the whole team first. Second, everyone minds their own flamin' business about people's private lives, and third…"

"We've always been discrete," Mac said. "Nothing has changed… what you do outside of costume is irrelevant… provided it doesn't compromise Alpha Flight…"

"And Third," Wolverine said, uninterrupted. "That when I finally DO choose to leave, there will be NO questions asked."

"You volunteered for this, Logan, you can come and go as you wish. Hopefully not in the middle of a mission…" said Mac carefully.

"Fourth, that I have say over how the teams are divided if separate squads are allocated, and nobody's gonna get in my face about it…"

"And…" Heather asked.

"That nobody gets in my face about how I chose t' train people…"

"You're the best at what you do," said Mac. "It's your game."

"Then I want full profiles on all the goons we're up against… an I want to know what trainin' you've all had…" Wolverine started.

"I'll be happy to assist you with that, myself," said Mac.

"One more thing…" Wolverine said.

"Which is…?" asked Mac.

"That we remain clear on who does WHAT around here," Wolverine said.

"What are you asking Logan?" asked Heather.

"Heather and I are co leaders. What's YOUR job?" asked Wolverine carefully.

"I function as your contact between Department H, and the government. In an advisory capacity, with executive powers," said Mac.

"In other words, he's our patron and our chief," said Shaman. "He gives us the missions…"

"So, yer our contact, the guy who's showing up on the video screen given the go call," chuckled Logan. "Figures."

"Now, are we clear?" asked Heather.

"Yep, crystal," said Wolverine. "Now, what's the story from day one…"