Chapter 16
"Enough's enough!" Shaman said as he brought his wristsbands together. His costume flashed over his form. "I've got to get the right incantation, but you MUST separate them!"
Heather Hudson a.k.a. Guardian charged up her suit. It hummed with shimmering EM force. "I'm going to try and break them apart… so you can get a clear shot Shaman…"
"Stay back!" Logan howled. "You can't risk yourselves... I got..."
"Logan... Let her go…" Heather yelled back.
"She is light... and there are only two of us who can safely approach her..." Snowbird suddenly interrupted, her voice cutting through the confusion. "Even if you do separate them her power will burn out of control... I sense her energies are screaming..."
"You mean me?" Northstar asked. Snowbird nodded.
"Then let's do it..." Heather said.
"I'll get Jubilee, Guardian..." Northstar said quickly. "You grab Logan…"
They streaked over, and Logan felt a crackling tingle that shot over him the instant Guardian's gloved hand hit his. A massive burst of light blinded him, and he heard Jubilee's scream and Northstar's. The mutant crumpled backwards with Jubilee in his arms, the wind knocked out of him. Heather crumpled under Logan's 250-lb body.
"Cripes...she's burning…" Logan gasped. Jubilee looked at her hands in mute disbelief, as Northstar held her, and shivered. Her loud cry was ear splitting and more plasma seemed to crackle. Yet Northstar's hands closed over hers, and he gritted as he absorbed the plasma into his own body. Logan staggered to his feet and was stopped by Guardian.
"How the hell is he doing that?" Wolverine panted as he moved close.
"Northstar and Aurora can generate light. But to generate the light they absorb charged particles from the earth's atmosphere... the natural ions responsible for the Aurora Borealis. Jubilee's powers are charged plasma. Essentially that's enough of an ability to draw off her powers so we can..." Guardian explained as she held him back.
"Quickly... I can't absorb much more..." Northstar gasped. Aurora rushed over and grabbed his hand, as Jubilee's eyes flared bright white. Plasma crackled in almost every direction, only to dissapate when Northstar's hands absorbed it. Standing behind her brother, Aurora closed her eyes and siphoned off the heat the plasma was generating. Both twins began to glow from the generated lights.
"Shield your eyes!" Aurora screamed.
"Cripes, someone hope they burn their flamin bulbs before I..." Logan muttered.
"Trust them... they know what he's doing..." Guardian said. "Get ready to grab Jubilee once Shaman casts his spell..."
Meanwhile, Shaman had finally found what he needed from the medicine pouch at his hip. A quick chanted spell later, and Jubilee went limp in Logan's arms. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, while Puck and Walter raced in with their equipment.
"A little late guys," Heather commented.
"You all right, Logan?" asked Shaman. He sniffled and coughed off the dust, feeling drowsy.
"Damn what did you hit her with? That was some whammy..."
"She would have burned you… I had to stop her with a sleep powder…"
"But she looked like she was about to remember…" Logan trailed off.
"And you were about to be toast, so what is your point?" asked Shaman. "Now are you going to let us help her or NOT?"
Angrily Wolverine growled in the back of his throat, fangs showing. Tension mounted and everyone saw as he clutched Jubilee's body close to him. Challenging anyone who dared separate them.
"Logan, back off," Heather barked. "We don't need this attitude..."
Wolverine let out a snort, and then grumbled, "Ah hell… look I'm not mad at you. You did the right thing…"
"Shall we take her to the medical unit?" asked Sasquatch as he held out his massive arms.
"Yeah. Look her over and find out what in hell happened," Logan mumbled as he tugged off his mask, and ran his hands through his hair. Kissing Jubilee's lips softly he handed her to his teammate. Carefully Sasquatch carried her off down the hall.
"This is one of those episodes?" asked Shaman.
"Yeah… firsthand…"
"I'll go with them and check her out. You look like you could use some sleep yourself…"
"Will she be…" Aurora asked.
"Don't know, but they'll take care of her," Northstar said. "It reminds me of how you and I used to lose control of our powers when…"
"Proved she was on the stuff," said Shaman. "But if I act fast, I can help her…"
Logan made to follow, but Northstar and Aurora stopped him. "There's nothing more you can do, Logan…"
He growled in his throat, and if it had been ten years ago they'd be bloodied or worse. Northstar folded his arms across his chest, and Logan knew he was still shaky on his feet but posturing for Jubilee's sake. For a second Wolverine's wrists flexed, and any second he expected to be on the business end of the infamous claws.
Inhaling deeply he blinked and looked at them. "Fine. You're right. I guess we'd all better get some rest… but there's still that damn debriefing…"
"I can take care of that," Heather said.
"No, I'll follow it through. Let's let the doctors do their magic… and give Vindicator the low down…" Logan mumbled.
"I brought you a beer," said a soft voice, and he saw Snowbird standing there with a bottle of his favorite, and in her other hand a bottle of white wine.
"Thanks," he nodded. She smiled and handed the bottle of wine to Northstar. In the crook of her arm she had carried a few glasses, and he opened the bottle to pour them each some.
Logan shook his head and followed Heather into the Briefing room. His teammates sipped their glasses of wine and followed close behind. Snowbird exchanged looks of mild surprise with Northstar and Aurora. "Did I just see Wolverine not actually pop his claws when you challenged him?" Aurora asked.
"Yes… it was strange… very strange…" said Snowbird.
"Not so strange. He's a changed man…"
"That's obvious," Aurora snorted.
"Indeed. I like the change. If only he could have done this years ago…" she trailed off, remembering Logan's sensitive hearing. Yet he gave no indication that he had heard them, even though she knew he easily had.
Blackness yielded to dim radience, and Jubilee felt her body hard and sluggish around her. Jubilee blinked and came round, seeing the bandages on her hands. Her eyes misted over, wondering why she needed them.
Over her stood the angular features of Dr. Michael Twoyoungman, wearing a labcoat and hospital scrubs. "Jubilee… do you know where you are?"
"Mmm…" she groaned.
"What's the date…"
"Gimmie a break… it's on the wall calendar…"
"President of the US?"
"Davison," she said blearily. "Look are you gonna just sit here and ask me stupid questions or tell me what the hell happened to put me here?"
"She's all right," Walter quipped. "Can you wiggle your toes…"
"I didn't hit my head did I? Cause I have a splitting headache and I'm sure a whole ton of aspirin won't help," Jubilee mumbled.
"Your power started involuntarily activating," Michael Twoyoungmen said calmly. He glanced at his electronic slate, and pressed the stylus into the groves on one side. "Your powers are triggered by stress…"
"Duh," Jubilee groaned. "Where's Wolvie… I mean Logan…"
"Probably eating dinner…"
"How long was I out…"
"For two days…" he said.
"Two days? Holy crap… what… where…"
"It's all right. Dmitry's been turned over to the US govt. for incarceration. And Heather's team has gone on ahead to scope out the smuggling routes…"
"Is she awake…" Broke in a familiar voice, and she saw Logan walk in quickly, wearing his costume with his mask clustered around his neck.
"Yes… she's just come round…"
"Wolvie… I mean Logan… did I…"
"You did, but you're safe now, darlin'," he said softly, moving over to the bed and taking her hand. He deposited a kiss on her forehead, and she felt the tingling in her hands.
"When will it stop… and WHAT are these doing on my hands?" Jubilee yelped as she saw her fingers swathed in bandages. Panic filled her and Logan's hands closed on her shoulders to hold her down to the bed.
"You burned yourself…" he explained. "Flamin' near fried the rest of us to a crisp, but Northstar and Aurora..."
"That's NEVER happened before. No WAY!" she despaired.
"Unfortunately the memory problems temporarily compromised your power to absorb your powers… and there was an energy feedback…" said Michael Twoyoungmen.
"Please this guy's WORSE than Beast! Someone explain to me in ENGLISH?" Jubilee snapped, trembling as Wolverine's hands held her gently to the bed.
"Heather's EM suit somehow charged the air… cause she grabbed me… she didn't know it would make your powers twist back on ya…" said Logan."My stupid tin plated bones conducted the energy like a circuit and zapped you back…"
"And then Northstar and Aurora absorbed the plasma you generated into their bodies... it was Snowbird who figured out they were capable... she has a rapport with the spirit of the northern lights, Hodiack..." said Dr. Twoyoungmen.
"Whatever, it sounds like he saved my life..." she trailed off. "When is this going to stop?"
"Shh Jubilee, it's gonna be all right. Doc here figured it out. They won't rest till they find out what's going on... not that I flamin helped much..."
"Not your fault Logan," Jubilee smiled weakly. "I just wish… I had your healing factor…"
"Shh, just relax… how long's she gonna be cooped up in here?" Logan asked.
"I see no reason why you can't take her back and put her to bed in the quarters…" Shaman said. "Her burns are healing. Luckily they were only second degree. I was able to stop the damage… with the synthetic skin grafts… but she needs plenty of fluids…"
Jubileegrumbled, "This is a major drag to my love life…"
"Yeah, any prognosis doc?" Wolverine asked, still smoothing her bandaged hands between his gloved ones.
"I injected you with an enzyme to absorb any last traces of the supernova from your body. But your mind will have to heal on its own, with some therapy from my own regimen, which involves…"
"Wolvie told me…" she muttered.
Wolverine registered the use of the childhood nickname and frowned. Coughing he folded his arms and looked down at her. When the heck did THIS happen? Typical of Jubilee to shut him out when things got awkward. Yet he hoped that what he had planned would remedy this setback.
"Spirit quest?"
"If you chose not to participate I can recommend someone else…"
"If Wolvie trusts it, I do," Jubilee said quickly. He lightly stroked her bandaged hand and her cheek with his other gloved hand.
"C'mon, let's get you outta here…" said Logan. He slid down the rails with the help of Shaman.
"We won't start the treatments till you're ready. A good night's sleep and plenty of Snowbird's herbal tea is what I'm recommending. Make her take it easy, Logan…"
"You can bet on that," Logan said meaningfully as he slid his arms under her knees and back, lifting her easily out of bed. Jubilee slid her hand behind his neck, and let him carry her out of the ward.
"Afraid that's partly my fault, darlin," Wolverine mumbled. "My flamin' bones…"
"Don't go there, Wol… Logan.. or else I'll paff you…" she trailed off. "On second thought I guess I'd better not be doing THAT… this is so weird!"
"Just relax and enjoy the ride, darlin…" he murmured, carrying her down the hall to their quarters. Jubilee saw him hit the panel with one elbow, and turn sideways so she wouldn't smack her head or feet on the doorframe as he entered.
Pale golden radiance set the room in tan and amber pools of light. Like a bright star, she saw the flame of a candle, and more that moved into sight as he moved into the living area. A smile crossed her lips when she saw the candles on the coffee table, and the entertainment center. Through the partly open door to the bedroom she glimpsed more flickering lights, and saw their source as he maneuvered her inside.
"An oil lamp? Dude where did you get THAT? Or on second thought should I ask? Like duh, you have all sorts of old junk lying around I bet…"
Wolverine chuckled, realizing she sounded much more like the old Jubilee he knew so well. The covers were folded back, and she smelled cinnamon and apples. Fragrant oil burned nearby, and she saw the china incense burner was slowly smoking with the scent. "Isn't this gonna kill your nose?" she joked.
"Well not close up," he joked as he lay her on the left side, and pulled the covers around her.
She held up her bandaged hands, to try and touch him, and whined with a frustrated snort. He sat down on the edge next to her, and leaned down to kiss her forehead, and both cheeks. She moaned at the touch of his lips alone that touched off a cascade of desire. He wrapped both her arms around his neck and leaned alongside her to embrace her and touch his lips to hers.
"This part of what the doctor ordered?" she murmured, eyes half shut when he released her to breathe.
"Nah, some good old fashioned remedy for what ails ya… he told me to make sure ya relaxed…" he said meaningfully. Jubilee shivered, goose pimples erupting on her skin when she saw his eyes deepen to a smoldering steel blue.
She protested when he removed her arms from his neck and leaned over. Two thumps told her he was taking off his boots, and he got up and she saw the gleam of his eyes and heard the rumbling growl that signaled what might well come. "You want to… I mean you actually…"
"Let's take it slow… you've had a pretty tough week there, darlin'," he rumbled. "Don't go away. I'll be right back…"
"Gonna slip into something more comfortable, huh?" she joked.
"You know it," he winked, and she felt the shivers of desire arc through her. He dissapeared into the bathroom, and closed the door.
Around her neck she felt the warm metal of the dog tag, and memories spun just out of reach. The past week was a blur, and she felt a chill creep over her that dissipated. That gray haze was lifting, and she began to shiver.
Spontaneously a hard lump formed in her throat, and she lay on her side, heaving deep breaths. It seemed impossible to breathe, drowning in the onslaught of memories breaking free of their barriers. Her eyes squeezed shut, and she was transported along with it.
The taste of blood in her mouth as Creed slammed her against the wall. A smell of charred hair and flesh as she slammed him aside with a huge paff. The sting of his hand and the dragging scrape of his claws down her body, marking her forever with ribbons of blood.
Then the inhuman howl as he suddenly burst into flames, grabbing her arms and digging in with his claws. Kitty Pryde's shouts as she phased through him, and phased her free of his grasp. Dmitry's shouts and yells as Sabretooth and he faced off, and pain became her reality.
Seconds later she was elsewhere, her hands bandaged. Her body swathed in a cast that contained five broken ribs, a punctured lung, and lacerated tendons. The soft murmur and ding of hospital bells, and the shouts from Dmitry and the others. A blonde woman smiled, reaching to touch her temples and the pain subsided.
"Jubilee, this is Bridy… she's going to help you with your nightmares…" Dmitry said smoothly.
"I don't think…"
"You can't sleep properly. She's going to help you, Malishka… and then you won't remember a thing about those horrible times…"
"What…"
"Do you want that bastard to ruin your life?" Dmitry tisked. "It's only temporary… if you don't sleep you won't heal… and I want you home so badly…"
"All right…" she stammered. A warm tingling glow spread over her entire body when Bridy touched her fingers to Jubilee's forehead. The warm radiance drowned out all pain, and she fell fast asleep.
Memories reunited and shifted, and she was in the large bed, Dmitry standing over her with a frown on his face. "You should be able to control it… those are Expensive sheets…" he chided.
"Look dude, calm down! Take a chill pill, I didn't MEAN to…"
"You'll have to learn to control it… I was looking forwards to a long romantic night…" he trailed off.
"Dmitry, chill out"
"I suggest you take the guest bed while I have the maid change the sheets… since you obviously don't seem in the mood…" he trailed off, voice filled with a cold iciness that made her feel less than desirable. "I thought you learned how to control your mutant abilities around your last boyfriend…"
"But Everett…"
"It's not my fault dammit! I tried… I just can't be perfect you asshole!" Jubilee yelled.
Wolverine emerged from the bathroom, wearing black silk boxers and Mariko's silk robe open. Although he figured this was the best way to approach her, the anguish jarred through the romantic mood he was trying to create.He dropped the two glasses of champagne when he saw Jubilee huddling on the bed and cursing. Broken glass shattered on the floor, in a puddle of fizzling liquid. Two leaps took Wolverine to her side, and he was clutching her close as she shook.
"Jubes… you okay?" he asked as he saw and smelled the change in her mood instantly.
"Oh god, oh god," she moaned as she hugged herself with bandaged hands.
"Jubilation… you're safe, it's Logan… you're safe darlin'…" he whispered, spooning into her from behind and wrapping his body around her. He took her wrists in his hands and she whimpered as tears spilled down her face.
"Bastard," she whispered. "Why didn't I stop him... why didn't I like know what he was doing... he used me... he played me like a freakin guitar..."
"I'm so sorry darlin I wasn't there…" he trailed off, and then she squeezed her eyes shut.
Jubilee flinched and stiffened in his embrace. "Wolvie… don't… I don't want to hurt you…"
"Darlin, its Logan to my friends and loved ones… call me that again and I'll hurt ya…" he growled playfully, hoping to tease her into laughing.
"This isn't gonna work, is it?" she said bitterly. "Joke's on me. I finally get the guy I've wanted all my damn life and I can't be with him without flipping out…"
"Jubes… darlin'…" he said but she pushed him away.
"Don't, just leave me alone… I messed it up…" she whispered.
Wolverine growled in the negative and turned her over on her back. Before she could protest he swung his knee over her hips and trapped her there loosely as he straddled her. Any further objections muffled against his demanding lips. She relaxed into his ministrations, feeling the weight of his body that he propped up on one arm, almost afraid to crush her.
"I trust ya darlin'. An' if ya do let loose with yer paffs it won't hurt me permanently… remember my healin' factor…" he growled softly, licking along her collarbone and depositing soft kisses and licks to her clavicle. Along her bare skin his own dogtag chain dragged, till he moved it around to hang down his back.
Jubilee's mouth opened but she could not form the words. Rather her tongue wrapped around insensate babbles that came through as low moans. "Ohhh so very… verry… awesome…" she managed to squeak out as he pulled the blankets down, and nuzzled his cheek against her chest.
Lifting her arms she draped the bandaged hands around his neck and tugged gently down. Logan thrust his tongue into her mouth, letting his purr vibrate through both of them. Tears leaked out of shut eyes as Jubilee wrapped herself around him, and Logan let out a soft groan against her mouth.
"You can stop me any time darlin'… just say the word an' I'll stop…"
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart an' hope to die…" he said.
"Stick a claw in your eye?" she smirked.
"Zip it you little," he snickered, and then they both started to laugh.
"Little WHAT?" Jubilee asked, snorting through a teary laugh as she felt his hands.
"Squirt," he teased, and ran his hands along her side so she yelped and almost kicked him in the shins.
"So NOT fair!" she yelped back. "Hey!"
"Jubilee…" he purred as he buried kisses in the hollow of her throat, and then pulled the sheets back to reveal her hospital gowned body.
"Yikes…" she gasped, and then twisted her body as his lips and tongue tasted her skin and then traveled back up to kiss down her arms to the periphery of her bandages.
"These damn things don't leave a whole lot to the flamin' imagination do they?" he teased as he surfaced and his blue eyes gleamed with a wildness that reminded her of the wolves that she'd seen in their many travels. Or the feral spark that arose in combat. A very low purring growl came through clenched teeth, and she closed her eyes, relaxing back as she lost herself in his warmth.
Wolverine sensed she was relaxing because he was simply being himself. Dmitry was as opposite in nature from Logan as was possible. A rugged wild mutant versus a cultured snob. Yet the latter was capable of much uglier violence than the former.
"Logan… I want you so badly," she panted.
"So do I darlin," he whispered back. "You want this? Because I know you've had your share of rotten luck, and I want ya to know how good it can really be…"
She opened her blue eyes, moist with tears and he saw the smile that lit up her face as effectively as any pyrotechnics she could generate. So young and fresh like a flower, and he arched over her like an ancient oak tree, gnarled and creased with centuries of experience. His knuckle slid down her cheek, and he kissed the hollow of her throat and nipped her ears. She bit her lips; frustrated she couldn't touch him with her bandaged hands.
"Do you know how incredibly hot you look in silk?" she whispered. The robe slipped down from him as he shrugged it off and she sharply gasped at his body revealed save the silk shorts.
"I've been told now an' again," he rumbled back, lips near her ear. The whisper of adamantium sliding out of its sheath was a welcome sound.
She saw the blur of her features reflected in the surface of the single claw he'd extended. With delicacy, he slid it along the front of the gown, not breaking the skin and removed the rather obnoxious hospital gown. Jubilee gave a mock growl to be playful, and his response was another series of strokes that revealed her bathed in candlelight. His hot breath hit her skin, chilling it, followed by the nips and kisses. She snarled in frustration.
"So not fair… you're gonna GET it for this…" she gritted, twisting in ecstacy at delicate strokes of a sandpapery tongue.
"So, you DO blush all over…" he muttered with a saucy grin as he moved up, and she reached up for him.
"C'mere you… so are you gonna loose the shorts or what?" Jubilee panted impatiently.
"What'll you do for it, darlin?" he teased; though the snarl was more of a challenge, and her blue eyes widened with anticipation. Her whole body trembled at the caress of rough hands that had bled thousands of times from repeated engagements.
"Anything for you…" she murmured. "Always been yours… always wanted it to be…"
"Shh, just relax… and let yourself go…" he purred, and she watched black silk whisper to the floor next to the shreds of her gown.
He sensed her surprise and admiration, and the tension of impending completion. Nine years of longing to be culminated in one night. Her eyes were shut, almost dreamlike, and he loved the look of sheer bliss moving into her features, while she waited impatiently with a lump in her throat. Especially when large hands gripped her bodyand she gasped at the force in his finger. Although he would leave bruises, she knew he meant no harm, and smiled up at him.
The rumbling vibrated through both of them, and she felt the answering in her own throat, laying herself vulnerable with bandaged hands outstretched. Another sharp gasp as his lips claimed hers, and she felt the heat of his body burning against her skin. The tingling hunger that was bottomless ached for the completion.
Burning up she felt the crushing pressure of lips devouring her, and his fingers grasping her hips. She locked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and bemoaning her hands that were denied the pleasure of touching him. The tip of her tongue traced along the contours of sharp incisors and canines that were trying not to slash her delicate mouth to ribbons. Wolverine snorted through his nostrils for breath, so he did not have to tear his lips from hers. Jubilee reveled in the contact she had dreamed of for so long.
So when she bit into his tongue, he chuckled against her mouth and released it. Her apology was canceled at the amused glint in his eyes. Bracing both hands on either side of her, and he inhaled her scent then as if preserving a memory for all time. A lump came to his throat at the devotion and the longing that surged over him from her scent. Although she seemed a small delicate thing, only half his weight, she was strong enough for this.
His mouth swallowed her squeal of joy, and she heard his chuckle against her lips. Torturously slow movement and she was completely at his mercy. He drew back to watch her with predatory eyes, and her own blue gaze answered his. Eyelids closed, and she moaned at the moment passing that she had ached for. It was the end of a a cycle that was inevitable, and logical. Before the urge became frantic and she felt what years of experience could achieve.
"Geez Louise… man that was…" she gasped, heart pounding in her ears like a drum. Every muscle in her body twitched spasmodically, and she lost any sense of coherent speech.
"So very what?" he teased, licking his lips and kissing back up to rub his rough unshaved cheek to hers. It was much later, judging by the comfort level that surged between them, and the ease with which they simply lay there in the dimness of the morning light.
"So very… totally awesome…" she babbled, and then saw his eyes watching her intently. Nostrils flaring indicated he was becoming intoxicated with her taste and scent, and she wished not for the first time she could get a sense of just what he was able to feel through senses highly more adapted than hers. That low purring in her throat told him she was savoring the glow that was slowly fading into the candlelight around them. She lay with her head on his chest, rubbing her cheek against the thick hair.
"Mm hm," he grunted in the affirmative.
Turning over, he grabbed an ashtray from the bedside table and set it on the bed to one side. He fished an Excalibur out of the small tin to his left where he had dumped his watch and wallet. For a long moment he clenched it between his lips as Jubilee rested alongside him.
"So, got a light?" he asked.
"Do I dare try?" she looked doubtfully at her finger.
"Let's get those damn bandages off of you… and find out," he murmured, and she glanced up at him.
"But Shaman said…"
"Screw what he says. The blazes with it," he growled impatiently, and she shivered in arousal at the rasp of claws unsheathing. Bandages dropped to the bed, and she squeezed her eyes shut, expecting incredible pain.
"Ouch…" she gasped, and her skin tingled. She squeezed one eye partly open and blinked in shock at what she saw.
"Better?" he asked, kissing along her tender flesh, and Jubilee shook her head in disbelief.
"That is so not possible…" she muttered as the skin was still sensitive, but all traces of blisters were fading. The telltale jump of a spark was enough and the smoke curled upwards toward the ceiling.
"Thanks," he murmured and lay there, sliding his arms down to pull her towards him. She turned on her side, tracing her hands up and down, and grinning foolishly. A small smile twitched the corners of his lips as he leaned back and enjoyed the drags from his smoke. She played with the chain of his dogtag necklace that resembled her own, and closed her eyes to impress the scents of this moment.
"I should be thanking you," she chuckled.
"What for darlin?" he asked, placing his cigar in the ashtray temporarily, and turning over to look at her with his head rested on a folded elbow. Jubilee shifted so her front was pressed to his, Logan moved the cigar in its ashtray safely to the bedside table.. As he pulled her to him, she kissed him and tasted the bitterness of the cigar smoke residual present.
"I dunno, I'll think of SOMETHING," she whispered.
"I already thought of one thing... Jubilation," he whispered back,and he pulled the sheets up and over them both. With a squeal of delight and a laugh she pushed herself up and tackled him. Logan devoured her kisses.
Soon it was round two...
