Dory Shotgun: Well, it's not all that original. I got the idea from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I just think it's cool. Lol, and what do you mean, "even got the angst Logan bit right," you sound surprised!

Blix: It is very exciting! Unfortunately this story is also coming to an end.

Fallen-Angel156: Thanks! If you like my writing style, I do have some other stories you may wish to check out. Recently started a Logan/Rogue one called People Ain't No Good.

Fanfiction-Fanatic: Great to hear you've been enjoying it! I've enjoyed writing it too!

Racetrack's Goil: Well, you know me. I like cliff-hangers! Well, they haven't got together, but there is tension between them. Ever since she freed him.

Moonofdespair: Hopefully the X-Men can fight them off! Let's get this story finished first though before I consider anything else!

Chapter 18

Logan's hand tightened around Lorna's and he burst into a run away from the window. Just as Lorna was pulled back from the glass, it shattered under bullet fire. Lorna cried out in alarm as the bullets shot into the wooden walls as they fired through the broken window. Logan threw Lorna in front of him as they ran, shielding her from the shower of wicked glass shards that rained upon his back. Ignoring the numerous stabs of pain, he continued running, knowing that his healing would take care of it for him.

"What are we gonna do!" bellowed Logan and he staggered to a halt besides Scott, he was still holding Lorna who had gone a horrible white and was looking terrified.

"I don't know!" cried Scott, staring frantically at the smashed window. The helicopter whirring was now so loud he had to shout to be heard.

Logan cracked his neck suddenly; stepping around Lorna to stare at Scott, "You're the leader!" came the furious retort. "We're relying on you, damnit! Are we fighting or not!"

"Could we pull it off?" asked Storm, quickly looking to Scott.

"It's only guns.." murmured Nightcrawler quietly, "We've dealt with worse."

"It's only guns?" repeated Rogue, sounding quite faint. She then suddenly cried out loudly, eyes going wide, "One shot through the head and we're done for!"

"Wait," said Logan suddenly. He had gone very still, inhaling swiftly a few short times. "We ain't got much choice.."

"Why!"

"Cos we're surrounded." Logan stepped off to the right a little, remaining quiet as he sniffed at the air. Just as silently, he spun back round, grabbing Lorna by the hand and pulling her along with him as he strode down the corridor, "C'mon," he muttered to the others as he past. The X-Men followed on after him quickly although they looked hesitant. He seemed to know something they didn't.

There was a strained air about Logan as he walked, tentatively looking down the ruined corridors as he passed. It was as if he knew there was no way out, but was somehow hoping and praying that there may be a slight chance. Every corner he braced as though his step may be his last. Then, all of a sudden, he stopped. Lorna shuffled besides him, looking all the more fainter than earlier.

"Around this next corner are some soldiers," whispered Logan, "We'll strike them before they get us. We have no choice but to fight."

"I can sense a breeze," commented Storm, "They have come through a window. Hope they won't be too shocked to see me.." Her eyes slowly glowed white as the skies above began to rumble and groan. The storm above was already active, but the heavens just groaned deluder like an escalating tantrum.

As Storm prepared, Logan turned, guiding Lorna a short way from the corner. His hands were still tightly on hers, "Don't come with us," he whispered quietly as he stared down at her, "Now, more than ever it is too dangerous for them to see you. Just stay here." He crouched slowly, and she obligingly lowered with him. "Please stay here," he repeated as he settled her besides a large cabinet against the wall. "Try and stay out of sight." His hands squeezed hers reassuringly before he sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "After the things you risked for me, it is only fair I should do it in return.

Lorna only managed to nod numbly, looking shaken and out of the depth as the mutant X-Men watched the pair from a short distance away. The situation felt too surreal. She had been wishing so much for the entire day that she would wake up safe at home out of this nightmare. That she hadn't signed her death warrant against Drayson. That she hadn't fled to supposed terrorists mutants. That she hadn't just submitted herself to a life of hiding.

Eventually, she found her voice, staring up at Logan through strained eyes. A shaking hand tried to push her glasses up her face. "What if they find me?" Her voice sounded so distant, as if it wasn't her own.

"Run," said Logan in a soft voice, "and call for me.. I will hear you." A hand rose from hers and settled gently on her shoulder. His fingers gently clasped through her hair before he lifted his forehead from hers. Pulling back briefly before he sighed shakily. He closed his eyes as he sat with her for a very short moment, holding her in a small embrace with his head against hers. Then, gently, he lifted his head, pressing an almost finalising kiss to her forehead as he stood, turning and walking stiffly away from her. As if too scared to look back.

He clenched his trembling fingers, ignoring the stares from the X-Men. Without a word, his claws erupted in a flash from his knuckles.

"Let's go," said Scott. And he walked the last few steps to the corner before spinning around it with his team. All hell broke loose. Red laser filled the corridor. Blinding. Crashes of lightening thundered through the mansion as it struck through the broken window. Bullets fired, but the X-Men perused forth, their attacks sudden and persistent. Feral roars rose amongst the din, the swipe of claws mixing in the blood bath. The soldiers had been ready for an attack, but nothing could have prepared them to face the legendary mutant team.

Dropped guns skidded across the polished wooden floor as soldiers collapsed under the attacks. Amongst the blur of numerous motions, a cloud of blue smoke poofed gently, into which Scott's falling body collapsed into. But he rolled right back up and retaliated with a blast of laser. Eventually, with one left standing, the attack was an open choice. Out of the decreasing fray, Rogue leapt, landing elegantly upside down on her gloved hands as her legs swung down to dually smash upon the soldier's neck. As he sunk onto his knees with a groan, Rogue sprung back to her feet, finalising her attack with a well-aimed kick to his chest that sent him tumbling out of the broken window.

"There'll be more," said Storm as she glanced over her shoulder, watching the corridor end. A smash sounded from the floor above.

"Come on. Upstairs X-Men!" cried Scott, moving on.

But Logan ran forth, quickly pulling Scott back, "Wait, ain't there kids asleep upstairs?"

Scott shook his head, "No, they're in the underground levels, safe with the Professor."

Logan nodded his head once in understanding before he ran with the X-Men towards one of the staircases. As he exited the corridor, he looked round to see Lorna still sat on the floor. Her hands were over her ears and he noticed she was silently crying. She looked over slowly as she saw the X-Men head away from her. But Logan had paused. "You ok?"

Her tearful eyes stared over the man's bloodied form. His shirt and jeans were ripped, and his denim jacket had been discarded completely. A gash was healing across his forehead, causing blood to trickle down his face. In response, she managed a weak nod.

"Stay there. If you need to run, shout me, ok?" As she nodded once more Logan smiled weakly before he turned and followed after the retreating X-Men to the staircase leading up to the next floor.

Before the X-Men could even reach the top of the large staircase, bullet fire had begun and a grenade flew on towards them. But before it made impact, it was blown to smithereens with a zap of red laser. Dodging past the flaming pieces, Storm leap up and over the banister with a gust of wind, launching herself at a soldier with an angry cry. A snarl sound as one soldier was suddenly thrown through the air and slammed against the wall with a sickening crack. The body slumped down to hit the floor, leaving the wooden panelled wall smeared in shining crimson.

A soldier ran past his comrades as he raised his gun to bring it across the back of Rogue's head but before the gun struck, the soldier was blast to the other side of the corridor with a stream of laser. Meanwhile, Logan had a soldier pinned to the wall by his neck. Logan had drawn back his fists, ready to plummet the three long blades into the man when a horrified scream sounded from the floor below. Distracted, Logan span his head, staring down the staircase, "Lorna.." His pause made the soldier pull back his fist to strike and he sunk his fist into Logan's gut. Logan doubled over with a surprised gasp. The guard raised his gun to shoot into Logan's bowed head but was suddenly vanished inside a cloud of blue smoke. His screams disappeared before sounding outside as he fell down through the air. Nightcrawler reappeared in front of Logan.

"Are you ok, Wolverine?"

"I'm fine," snarled Logan as he straightened, "But Lorna ain't."

And as if on cue, her screams were followed by a desperate cry, "Logan!"

Logan quickly sniffed the air, "The last group. They're downstairs. They've found her!"

"Come on!" Scott cried as he pushed a slumping soldier off him, "We'll go down and get them. You help her!" He leapt over the banister and onto the staircase, which he ran on down, quickly, followed by Logan and the other X-Men. Logan ran faster than the others, with natural agility and strength pushing him forth, as well as the desperation to track the cries of Lorna. They ran by the spot Logan had left her to sit in. The wall was marked by bullet holes.

In the distance, Logan could hear the footsteps of Lorna and the soldiers. His sensitive hearing heard every panicked gasp that she breathed as she scrambled in her desperate run. Just as the X-Men rounded a corner, the soldiers were disappearing from view further along. Scott quickly fired a laser blast that struck the soldier at the back. With a muffled yell he was thrown against the floor.

Storm led the way as she leapt forth from the group, her eyes turning shocking white as she ran. Arriving at the first diversion hurtled around the corner the soldiers had just vanished round. Before she even came into their clear view, lightening rocketed from her palms and numerous screams could be heard as the soldiers were thrown up in the air, as they were shocked. Amidst the crash, shouts were heard followed by a rapid gunfire. It ensued a high agonised scream.

The X-Men were close behind, and stumbled over to see a scene of destruction. The electricity had charred the walls and the soldiers lay in a slump over each other on the floor in the centre of the corridor. Smoking rose from their forms as a disgusting stench of burnt skin and electricity filled the air. A few crackles of lightening harmlessly flickered around Storm as Logan stepped through the grouped X-Men, whom he joined in staring through the cloudy debris to see a figure slumped against the window seat at the end of the short corridor. Logan then began to push through the group, his actions becoming more frantic as his eyes stared at the body.

"Lorna? Lorna..?" His voice became more panicked and his actions more frenzied as he forced his way forward, "Lorna!" He scrambled over the fallen bodies of the soldiers, ignoring them. The tall window above the cushioned window seat had a few smashed glass panes and several bullet holes. The upholstery of the seat also seemed to have some markings. Of bullets, and of blood, that had splattered on the cream coverings. For laid upon the floor, with her arms and head sprawled on the above seat, was Lorna. Silent. Unmoving.

Shot.

She is dead? How bad is the damage! How do you find out! You read the next chapter! (New chapters are direct productions of reviews. Give me reviews, I'll get you a chapter!)