"Dammit Logan," Chapman swore. "Ya get my kin hurt again; even yer healin' factor ain't gonna save ya."
Logan ignored him. "Jubilee!" he hollered. "We got trouble."
Jubilee abandoned her book under the tree and ran toward Logan, David hard on her heals.
"Find Tessa and get her ta the cellar." Chapman told David. "Stay there till I tell ya ta come out." David nodded and ran off to toward the near corral.
"Stick with Tessa and David," Logan told Jubilee. "Ya should be safe with them."
"I can take care of myself," she told him angrily."
"Do what I say, Jubes. I can't concentrate if ya ain't safe."
"Fine," she huffed, "but you and I are gonna have words after this is over."
"I'll be glad ta argue with ya later but right now, I need ya ta get in the house."
From her posture as she stomped toward the house, he could tell she was angry.
"Jubes," he yelled. She turned back and looked at him with fire in her eyes. "Protect Tessa and David." She nodded sharply and ran into the house.
"Can she protect them?" Chapman asked.
"Yeah," Logan told him. "She won't let anyone hurt them."
Another rider came from the other side of the house. "'Nother bunch from the south east. Seven gunmen. Collin says a group comin' in from the north. This is lookin' kinda hairy."
"Ya got guns in the house?" Logan asked.
Chapman rolled his eyes."Please!"
"Tessa says she knows guns. I don't think we can afford ta have them hide. We need all the guns we can get."
"For a dozen or so guys?" Chapman asked, surprised. "Ya can handle a dozen on yer own. Why do ya need ta call out the kids?"
"If I could be sure it's only a dozen, I wouldn't." Logan told him. "These guys 'r sneaky. They're seasoned soldiers. They won't have all their men visible. I'm willin' ta bet there's another dozen or two hidden."
"How much longer before yer friends get here?" Chapman asked, worried about his family.
"Maybe two hours," Logan told him. "Depends on how much Cyke wants ta yell at me fer gettin' Jubilee in a fix."
Chapman gave a bark of laughter. "Let's get 'em outta the cellar and arm 'em."
"Jubes won't need no gun," Logan told him. "I ain't sure she even knows how ta shoot one."
He followed the big man into the house. "Jubilee," he yelled from the top of the cellar stairs. "Bring everyone up. We're gonna need more hands."
He heard loud tromping as the three ran up the stairs.
"What's up?" Jubilee asked her mentor.
"Army comin'," he told them. "Yer all gonna hafta grab a weapon and fight. Jubes, you stick with me. Ya think ya can fall back inta yer fighting role?"
"Sure," she shrugged. "I never really stopped.
Tessa and David were grabbing rifles and ammo from the gun safes. They quickly loaded the guns and picked up as many boxes of bullets as they could carry. Chapman positioned them carefully. He knew his home and he knew which areas were weak. Logan went out to look for a good place for an ambush while Jubilee called the mansion and asked Hank to tell the team to speed it up. When she hung up the phone, David was behind her.
"Are you really going out there to fight with Uncle Logan?" he asked.
"That's what I do," she told him. "I've been protecting his back for a long time. I'll be fine."
He looked at her, doubtfully. She was 5'0" and very fine boned. She looked as if a good blow would break every bone in her body. He knew she was strong, mentally but he couldn't believe that this tiny girl could hold her own against an army, even with Logan's bulk there to shield her.
She read the emotions flashing across his face. "Don't worry, David," she told him, her hand going to his cheek, "Me and Wolvie have been partners fer a long time. He won't let me get hurt."
He wouldn't be able to explain later why he did it. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. When he lifted his head, her eyes were glittering.
"That was nice," she whispered. She pulled him back down for another. Her encouragement made him bold. He brushed his tongue against her lips, begging for more. She parted her lips and deepened the kiss.
Tessa watched them as they explored each others mouths and shook her head. Oh, to be that young and innocent again.
The sound of gunfire made them jump apart. Jubilee smiled at him and ran out of the door.
"She's gonna get herself killed," he mumbled.
"She's a mutant with an offensive power," Tessa told him. "She needs to be out there. He won't let her get hurt. You, however, may get hurt when he finds out that you kissed her."
"He won't know if you don't tell him," David insisted.
Tessa snorted. "Get ready," she warned. "Here they come."
"Ya ready, Jubes?" Wolverine asked as she ran up to him.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she told him. "Where are they?"
He sniffed the air deeply. "All around us." he told her. "I'm headin' fer the trees. Keep 'em away from the house."
"I'll be on the roof," she told him, running for the house.
"Jubilee!" he called after her. She turned and looked at him. "Be careful."
"I will," she promised.
He watched as she slipped into the house and was gone. He ran for the trees and into his natural environment. Jubilee emerged from a top window and flipped up to the roof. He had seen her do that at the mansion many times but he always had to swallow his heart every time she did it.
She'll be fine, he told himself as he went into action. Time to hunt the prey. He quickly found two snipers setting up in the trees around the house and took them out. He debated not killing them and turning them over to the police but he just couldn't take the chance that one could get free and hurt any of his charges.
He cleared the woods on the east side of the house fairly quickly. From where he was, he could hear gunfire coming from the house and the screams of the soldiers as Tessa and the ranch hands found their targets. A bright blue paff flew over his head and splashed against a tree fifty yards ahead of him, knocking the gunman hiding in it to the forest floor. Wolverine quickly killed him and moved on.
For two hours, he worked. Jubilee kept her eye on him and sent paffs to cover him from time to time but for the most part, she restricted herself to the area around the house. Finally, the descending Blackbird scattered the remaining soldiers. He came out of the trees to meet the team as they hopped out of the plane.
"Thanks fer the ride," he told Cyclops as he walked down the ramp.
"What is going on, Logan?" Cyclops demanded.
"Long story," Logan said. "I'll tell ya on the way back."
"Hey, sugah," he heard Rogue call from overhead.
"Hi Rogue," he greeted her. "Do me a favor and get Jubes off of the roof fer me?"
"Sure Logan." She flew off to the house to pick up her charge.
"Ya gonna introduce us?" Chapman asked.
"Jim Chapman, this is Cyclops and up on the roof is Rogue."
"X-Men?" he asked.
"Yes," Cyclops confirmed. "What's been gong on?"
"Been fightin' a war," Chapman told him. "Kinda fun, ya know."
"Hey Cyke," Jubilee called from above. She was cradled safely in Rogue's arms, waving like mad. As soon as Rogue touched down, Jubilee grabbed her and gave her a big hug. She spun on her heals and threw herself into Cyclops' arms.
"It's so great ta see ya again," she said giving him a big hug. "I missed ya. Where's Jean and Remy? Is Bobby still shuffling numbers in Chicago? How's Emma and Sean? Is Paige with ya? Is Storm still with mummf." Logan clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her tirade.
"He can't answer yer questions if ya don't give him a chance, Jubes" Logan told her. "We need ta get Tessa and leave. I don't want ta bring anymore trouble ta Jim if I can avoid it."
"The ones that got away'll recognize the jet and stay away." Jim told him. "Most people don't want ta tussle with the X-Men."
They heard the front door bang as Tessa and David ran out of the house. Logan spotted a small cut on her cheek that was bleeding slightly but David appeared no worse for wear. Tessa was grinning broadly.
"Man, I haven't had so much target practice in years." she exclaimed as she skidded to a stop near Jubilee. "You okay, Jubilee? You stink of gunpowder."
"I'm fine," she assured the older woman. "My paffs make me smell like black powder. It'll wash out. Tessa, this is Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops. He's the leader man of the X-Men." She gave Rogue a big hug. "And this is Rogue."
Her eyes went very wide. "I am so pleased to meet you Mr. Summers," she said taking his hand n a vigorous handshake. "I'm Tessa Madison. I've followed your team for years and have been very impressed. You do a difficult job with grace and dignity."
"Thank you Ms. Madison," Scott said, surprised. "We do our best."
"Please, call me Tessa."
"If you'll call me Scott."
"Can we get on with it?" Logan interrupted, grumpily. "I'm ready ta go home and get some of my own clothes."
"I was going to ask you about the neon shirt," Scott said with a smirk. "Must have been hard to hide with that thing on."
"Oh, shut up," Logan grumbled under his breath. "Get in the plane. It's time ta go."
"Logan," Chapman said, "next time ya come, make it without the guns followin' ya."
"I'll try, Jim," Logan said as he shook the ranchers hand. "Thanks fer takin' us in." He released the big hand and strode up the ramp into the plane.
"Bye David," Jubilee said to the young man beside her. "I'll write ya and let ya know where I am when I get home." She pulled him down and kissed his cheek. "Thanks Jim. I'll make sure Wolvie calls ya every once in a while." She turned and ran up the ramp, following her mentor.
"Jim," Tessa started.
"Tessa, would you be interested in going out ta dinner with me?" Chapman interrupted.
Tessa blushed pink with pleasure. "Sure," she told him. "I live in San Antonio but I won't be back there until we get this straightened out."
"Call me when you get to Logan's home," he told her.
"I will." she promised as she walked up the ramp.
Scott and Rogue boarded the jet and closed the ramp. The ranch residents moved away from the plane and watched as it rose gracefully into the sky and shot forward.
The trip back to New York was uneventful. Logan took the time to fill Scott in on what had been happening since he left the mansion. He was concerned about how hard they were trying to capture Tessa and agreed that she needed to stay with the X-Men until they could unravel the mystery.
Tessa was impressed with Scott's skill as a pilot. She had been flying small planes since her sixteenth birthday and knew how difficult it was to land a vertical take off jet. Scott was able to land the plane in the hanger concealed in the side of a cliff without a bump. She ached to try out the plane but knew it would never happen. This was a combat jet and the X-Men guarded it closely.
Jubilee's homecoming wasn't as happy as she had hoped. She was furious. Jean was dead and no one had told her. She was glad to see Emma but was unhappy to see that she was with Scott. Bobby had returned to the mansion but was stuck in ice form. Havoc was back and acting strange. Bobby and Alex spent most of their time looking daggers at each other so the tension in the mansion was at epic proportions. Remy was gone and hadn't been seen in several months. Rogue said she was okay with the situation but Jubilee could tell she wasn't.
Professor Xavier had tried to calm her as she stomped through the mansion in a temper but she wasn't having any. Just because she wasn't living with them didn't mean that she didn't care. The X-Men were her family. She cared what happened to them. Even a call from Ororo didn't calm her down. Logan figured that he better confront the situation before she really lost her temper and started paffing people. He sat her down in his room and talked to her about what was going on.
"Darlin', ya need to get a grip on yer temper before ya hurt someone." he told her.
"Didn't anyone think I'd be interested in what was going on here?" she demanded. "This is my family, Wolvie. I have the right ta know what's happenin' here."
"I know," he said. "There was a mix up when Jean died. I thought Cyke had called ya and he thought I had. It was a real confusin' time."
"But it hasn't been that long. Why is he with Emma?"
"Their marriage was fallin' apart before she died," he sighed. "They were headin' fer a divorce."
"Was it you?" she asked, dreading the answer.
"No," he told her. "I was away most of that time."
"Would you have moved in?"
"Nah," he said. "Jeannie didn't want me and I don't think she's what I needed."
"And yer okay with it?"
"Yeah. I loved her but she wasn't fer me. I know that now. She needed someone that she could control and I ain't that man."
"And Scott was?"
"Evidently not."
"But why Frosty? That's just too weird."
"I ain't thrilled with it myself," Logan admitted. "I still don't trust her. I think it may have started before Jean died."
"Scott was having an affair with Emma?" Jubilee gasped.
"Yeah. Emma moved in a few months before Jeannie died. Every so often, I'd catch a whiff of lust from her. Most of the time, she was with Cyke when I smelled it but I never smelled her on him so I don't think they started sleepin' together until after she died."
"What about Alex and Bobby? Last I heard, Alex was dead."
"Bobby was datin' Lorna. Everyone thought Alex was dead then we got a call from a nurse in a long term care hospital. Alex was in a coma. Cyke went and brought him home and brung the nurse with him. Annie was her name. When Chuck was able ta wake him up, Alex and Lorna got back together. They were gonna get married but Lorna went nuts the day of the weddin'. Popsicle got shoved outta the way and started ta go out with Annie. After Lorna lost it and left, Alex went after Annie and took her away from Bobby."
"Poor Bobby," she moaned. "He can't get a break."
"When Lorna came back, Alex dropped Annie and went back ta her. Things have been a little tense fer awhile."
"What else has been goin' on that I don't know?"
"Cain Marco's been livin' here."
"Juggernaut?" she goggled, her eyes wide in shock.
"Yeah," Logan growled. "Chuck says he's reformed but I don't trust him."
"Where's he now?"
"He went to talk ta the mom of a kid that was killed when Black Tom attacked the mansion. He ain't been back since."
"Sheesh!" she exclaimed. "It's like a regular soap opera here."
"Now ya know why I ain't been here too often." he said with a smile. "Have ya called yer Aunt Hope?"
"'Bout an hour ago," she told him. "She wasn't home but I left a message. I'm gonna let you call the school and explain where I've been."
"Not me" he protested. "I'll have Chuck do it."
"Chicken," she teased.
"When it comes ta high school principals," he shrugged. "I ain't yer guardian so Chuck will hafta call and do some manipulation. I need ta find out why ya were taken before I send ya back,"
"Yeah," she agreed, "that was weird. They knew I was a mutant so it had ta have been someone from the old days. No one I know in LA now knows about me except Aunt Hope and Shane."
"This Shane guy," Logan said. "How well do ya know him?"
"He has powers kinda like mine. I don't think he'd turn me in. He knows I'm stronger than him and I have a temper."
"What about yer Aunt Hope?"
"Oh, Wolvie, ya can't believe Aunt Hope would have anything ta do with this."
"I don't know darlin'. Stranger things have happened. How much do ya know about her?"
"Not that much," She admitted. "She travels a lot so we really don't see each other all that often."
"What does she do?"
"I'm not really sure."
Logan said nothing. He had never met Jubilee's Aunt Hope so he couldn't make a judgment. He wanted her to be pure as the driven snow for Jubilee's sake. The girl deserved a safe place somewhere in her life. God knows, he never provided one. Even here at the mansion, she wasn't safe. When Jubilee told him that she was moving to LA to live with her aunt, he had thought that she had finally found the safety she needed. It appeared that he was wrong.
"Wolvie?" she said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Let me check it out before ya go home." he told her. "I wanna make sure yer gonna be safe."
"Alright," she agreed, "but don't take forever. I've missed too much school as it is."
"I won't, darlin'," he promised. "I just want ta find out who took ya and why."