Chapter 14


Wolverine inhaled a few sniffs of a familiar scent, and nudged Jubilee in front of him. "C'mon, let's go somewhere more private. Someone's gonna crash the party…"

"Wait a minute… if we're together…"

"Don't wanna give those clowns any more reason t' hassle ya then they already have. Trust me… they already know," he rolled his eyes. Jubilee sighed and clasped his hand, letting him lead the way up the back stairs to the girl's wing. Together they walked past Paige's, then Monet's room to get to their destination.

"This is really stupid," Jubilee mumbled. "I mean sneakin' around in my own place…"

"Got a whiff of yer buddy Paige. Last thing I wanted right now was to hear her flappin' mouth," he grumbled.

He stopped cold when he smelled pheromones just inside Monet's door. Jubilee staggered for a moment, then froze. "Jubes… darlin'… you okay?" Wolverine asked.

"I…" she stammered, and then dropped to her knees. Wolverine snapped his head around, frantically trying to get a whiff of what might have struck her, but he continued to smell the mounting pool of pheromones pouring from behind M's door.

A wave of pure fear slammed into him, and he staggered, landing next to Jubilee who was curled up on the floor. Inside his mouth Wolverine tasted bitterness that made his stomach squirm. The next second he licked his dry mouth at the taste of sweet honey, as his throat choked up. A second later his tongue and nose struggled to keep up with identifying the deluge of scents bombarding his brain.

Pressing hands to his head he wrestled for self-control. He heard laughter and moaning over the olfactory assault, and blinked at images drifting just before his eyes. Jubilee shivered next to him, curled tightly into a ball with her arms hugging her legs. Wolverine reached deep to push away the alien sensations and thoughts not his own. His heart pounded as anger surged through his being, mounting into sheer rage. At the last moment he grabbed hold of the Wolverine side when he realized the thoughts racing through were finally his own and nobody else's.

Fangs bared he rolled to his feet and snagged Jubilee by the waist. Effortlessly he threw her around his shoulders and rushed off down the hall. To put as much distance between her and whoever had psyblasted him. Wolverine recognized the hallmarks of such an attack because it was almost identical to when Psylocke would hammer him in the Danger Room drills. Nevertheless it was never as bad as this. Sheer raw force that ripped through his senses as carelessly as he did when in berserk mode.

Once he had carried Jubilee to his room, he laid her on the bed, and crept back to the door to listen. Laughter reached his ear, and he shook his head, trying to make sense of the sounds and images still rattling there. Nobody messed with his head, and got away with it. Especially when someone close to him was also violated.

"Yer gonna pay for that, you pipsqueaks," he snarled, rushing through the door before he could stop himself. "Nobody screws with me an' mine!"


Everett groaned as Monet kissed a path up to his neck. Her hands ran up and down his chest through his T-shirt. Her toffee colored skin glistened with a fine sheen of sweat in the room that had grown suddenly hot.

"C'mere," she whispered, tugging him to lie clumsily on top of her. Their lips merged in a sloppy kiss common among teens.

"Mmm, this is your mind?" Everett whispered, synching his aura to M's strong probes.

"C'mon in, the thoughts are fine, lover," she urged, letting down her walls. Everett's own abilities surged into Monet's mind.

Thoughts and images poured between them. Instantly the world was a series of energies crackling at multiple wavelengths. Awareness opened his third eye wide, and he could reach out and touch each consciousness. Probes unfurled and he laughed as Monet took him on a mental tour of the house.

Just outside their room he sensed animal thoughts, primal and strong. Not far away was a glimmering mind popping and crackling with sheer joy. Instant recognition rang through Monet's brain.

"Jubilee… and that… that animal," Everett muttered. "He's…"

"They don't deserve you… she threw you away… don't you see…" Monet whispered through his thoughts.

"I want to make him hurt… he's gonna hurt her… he's seducing her…"

"Let him feel what you're feeling now. Perhaps she will see what pain she's causing you…" Monet urged.


"You stupid unmitigated fools!" Emma Frost's powers rang through their minds. Monet screamed as a wall blocked off her fledgling powers.

"What in the devil are ya pullin' mate?" Jono's thoughts chimed in.

"I shall handle this. You get Banshee and the doctor at once!" Emma Frost shot at him.

Synch groaned, rolling off the bed and falling to the floor. Inside the hall a loud snarl turned into a roar. A heavy object crashed against the door repeatedly, followed by loud howling that provoked a paralyzing fear.

"Everett!" Monet gasped, shaking Emma's telepathic sting out of her mind. "Miss Frost… help us… we weren't…"

"I should leave him to teach you both a lesson…" Frost' replied scathingly.

"I know yer in there! You've got FIVE seconds to explain yerself!" Wolverine howled from just outside. "How dare ya pull a stunt like that?"

"Go away, we've done nothing, you old man!" Everett yelled. He unsynched from Monet's psychic abilities as she held her head.

"Get away from the door, I'll take care of him," Monet sniffed, coming to her senses as she buttoned up her blouse. "I've been aching to bash that beast's face from here to…"

"That's ENOUGH!" Frost's thoughts burst into her mind. "You will do NOTHING!"

Another punch and the door flew wide open. Standing right in the threshold with his shoulders hunched, Wolverine snarled at Everett who had rushed to block his way. "You're gonna pay for that…"

"Don't even…" Everett started, before Wolverine's fist shot out and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Monet leapt up quickly, but staggered when Everett flew past her and landed with a thump on the bed.

"Get out of here! This is my room!" Monet yelled, levitating just inside. She threw a punch, only to slam her fist into the far wall as Wolverine jumped out of the way.

"You leave Jubes ALONE, you hear? Or else! You got NO right messin' with her head, little girl! Got it?" Wolverine yelled at her as she flew towards him.

"Stay AWAY From her!" Everett yelled from the bed. He reached out to synch his power to Wolverine's.

"That's quite enough mate!" Jono's voice interceded. Something slammed into Monet, crackling with psychic force as it pinned her to the wall. Standing between her and Wolverine, Chamber surged his powers into another blast as Monet shook her head. Everett rushed towards Wolverine, but tripped when something stretched around his ankles.

"Stop it hombre, right now!" Skin said, wrapping Everett in loose coils of grey flesh. "That goes for you, ol' hoser…"

"Back off mate… slow like…" Chamber said telepathically.

"I will, but if they dare hurt Jubes again I'll…" Wolverine said. He breathed deep breaths, struggling to contain the berserk rage building inside him. His wrists flexed but there were no sign of the bone claws.

"Now what's this all about?" asked Chamber. "I felt a big psy burst. Don't you know that's not allowed M?"

"Shut up. This animal burst into MY room…" Monet started.

"Dry up, princess," Jono interrupted. "I felt it plain as day. You two letting off with that bloody psy bomb. Thanks to you, Jubilee's mind is reeling… so you'd BETTER hope that you have a good story t' tell frost…"

"Everyone, back off," Emma Frost telepathed, her astral image gleaming threateningly. "Wolverine, go back to your room. I've seen to stabilizing Jubilation. Chamber, stay with Monet till I come. Monet, you're to stay RIGHT where you are. Skin, escort Synch to his room, and make sure he stays there…"

"Whatever ya say, lady… but Jubes better not be…" Wolverine said, in a threatening tone.

"She's stable. But I'll need your help moving her to the infirmary. Mr. Cassidy will talk to you, young man. And for your sake you'd better back down now…"

"Yes, Miss Frost. But I did NOTHING wrong!" Everett protested.

"Save it, hombre," Angelo said, unwrapping himself from his teammate. "You just blew it big time hurtin' Jubicita…"

"She didn't…" said Everett, stammering.

"Not another word, any of you," Jono warned. "Now go…"

"I'll take it from here," said Banshee as he hurried up the hallway. "Young man, you come with me right now. Angelo, you can go back to your room now lad. And thank ye…"

"Monet, what did you do?" Paige cried as she rushed up the hallway. She stopped when she saw Jono holding up his hand to separate her from where he stood jsut outside the door. Logan was to his immediate left, flattened to the wall and heaving great breaths. Sweat beaded on his forhead, plastering his messy hair in wet spikes. That feral gleam in his eyes shivered Paige to the core.

"Easy, luv, just stay back," Jono warned. "She just got a bit excited is all…"

"Shut up, you have no business…" Monet stammered, pushed back by the force of Chamber's mind.

"I quite agree. Paige, stay with Monet till I come," said Emma's astral image. Skin took ahold of Synch's shoulder and marched him down the hallway to the stairs leading down. Carefully Jono released the pressure on Monet's body exerted by his mind. She made her way to the bed, glaring at him angrily.

"Easy, just sit down on the bed," Paige urged. She reached out to take Jono's hand and stood at the threshold of the door.

"They always take her side," Monet grumbled, hugging her knees. Jono reached out to take Paige's hand and draw her into the room. Monet huddled on the bed angrily while Paige sat down next to her. The door slid shut with the force of Jono's mind.


Inside the guest room, the atmosphere grew tenser by the minute. Jubilee leaned her head and shoulders on Wolverine's crossed legs. He sat at the head of his guest bed while he tensely watched Jubilee moaning softly. Brushing her hair out of her face, he glared pensively at Frost. Wearing his jeans and wifebeather shirt, Wolverine huddled over Jubilee with his hands rubbing her cheeks and shoulders. Within his throat he choked at the thought of possibly losing her. She smelled dull and sour like someone who had narrowly avoided a coma.

The White Queen touched her gloved hand to Jubilee's temple and cheek. Blue eyes stared into the astral dimension while she sent gentle telepathic brushes to the maelstrom going on just beyond her reach.

"Well?" Wolverine demanded, struggling to keep a lid on his anger.

"If you'd stop projecting such strong emotions you'd make this EASIER," Emma grunted. "I know you're angry but you're not helping me…"

"She's had enough people playin' with her head…" Wolverine said. "Maybe you'd just better leave her alone!"

"Don't tell me how to do my job," Emma snapped. "I'm only trying to bolster her natural latent powers to block out the thoughts… Thanks to Everett synching to Monet's own telepathic abilities they've torn away the barriers on her mind…"

"She's hurting with a half dozen emotions cause of yer pet students," Wolverine said. "Don't need psychic powers t' tell what she's goin' through…"

"I'm well aware of your ability to sense and smell emotions, Wolverine. But she's my student…" Frost said. Her blue eyes narrowed at him.

"I ain't gonna argue. Just help Jubes… if she…" he said, choking. Angrily he brushed tears out of his eyes as they threatened to form with one large finger. Releasing Jubilee he shifted forwards, then carfully started to lift her head and shoulders up so he could move out from under her. His craggy features were twisted into grief rather than anger, and the effect was not lost on the normally aloof White Queen.

More base emotions became tangible to the telepath, judging from the verge on which her own psy probes teetered. Logan's sorrow opened up a huge chasm that threatened to draw her in. Just as his anger had blocked her, now the depression loomed ahead. She sighed. "Stay where you are. If you wish to help, you're going to put yourself to use and calm your OWN emotions…"

"Don't need yer help for that…" he mumbled, shifting back into place at the head of the king sized bed. He reached to rub Jubilee's temples. Closing his eyes he inhaled a deep rasping breath right from his navel. In and out he breathed, emptying his mind of the anger and rage. With each inhalation he reached for that calm that was so elusive, while ejecting the racing thoughts with each exhalation.

Frost let go of the breath she was holding. Base emotions that Wolverine generated were making it close to impossible to break through, since he was so close to Jubilee. How she hated ferals, because they were almost unstoppable with those animal urges covering rational thought. She sensed Wolverine's animal brain surging into a rational higher set of processes with the onset of Logan's meditative state. How he partitioned man from animal still earned her grudging respect after all this time.

"That's much better. Now… just stay where you are, and hold her. I want you to act as an anchor and stabilizer while I go in and fix what Monet and Everett stirred up. I'm not going to mess with her mind as you so bluntly put it, merely steady her so she can rest and recover…" Emma frost spoke aloud. She knew Wolverine hated psychic voices in his mind, other than Jean Grey's or Professor X's.

"Perhaps you should leave her be," came a more powerful voice, bolstered by an electronic consciousness.

"Damn Cerebro," Emma half cursed before pushing back from Jubilee's mind. "I suppose you already know what has transpired, Professor…"

"I could hardly miss it, considering the scans I've been making as of late. You realize how powerful that burst was? Even without Cerebro I felt it hit hard in West Chester. What prompted such brash outpourings?"

"Later Chuck… two dimwits were playin' around an' psyblasted Jubilee," Wolverine's own psycast interrupted. Years of being a student with Xavier, plus personal lessons from Psylocke and Jean Grey had given him the ability to clearly project his thoughts in telepathic directions. At least make them loud and powerful enough so any telepath could not miss them.

"Back off, Logan. I understand your anger. Just focus on being there emotionally for Jubilation while I speak to Frost. I'm sending Jean Grey up to help steady Jubilee's condition…"

"But I am capable of…" said Frost both aloud and in the psy conference. Wolverine could hear the anger echoing plainly through his mind.

"You have two students to discipline. Jubilation Lee as of now is my responsibility," said Professor X crisply in their minds. "And I will hear no opposition to this…"

"She's a member of Generation X…" said Frost.

"It seems to me that such flagrant misuse of psychic powers only indicates it is not the correct place for Jubilation's recovery. I must insist that you turn her over to me… to the X men immediately…"

"Professor…" came Frost's reply.

"I couldn't agree with Chuck more, lady," said Wolverine aloud. "Back off an' butt out."

"As you wish, Professor. But this discussion is NOT over," Frost said as she removed her hands from Jubilee's temples. She glanced sharply up at the astral image of Professor Xavier shimmering just inside the room.

"Thank God ya heard us, Chuck," Wolverine mumbled. "Damn this is just…"

"Relax, Logan. If you'll excuse us…" Xavier said politely.

"Don't let ME interrupt you," Frost said. "Be assured I will discipline them soundly…"

"See to it that you do…" Xavier answered just as politely, but firmly.

"For an ivy league high class lady, she can sure be a dimwit," Wolverine mumbled.

"I share your anger. I must apologize for allowing this to continue… I should have…" Xavier said with a sigh as his thoughts floated into Wolverine's.

"Just help her… she's not doin' well at all…"

"I've sent Beast and Jean in the Blackbird to fetch you both. I sense that your plan to return to the X men would be the most prudent."

"You won't have any issues I hope," Wolverine asked.

"None at all. Considering this latest development, we are in perfect agreement that she would best recover in our care…"

"Kid needs her family, an' we're the closest thing to it, Chuck," Wolverine agreed. He moved Jubilee's head and shoulders off his lap, replacing it with a pillow. Around her body he tugged the comforter after removing her shoes.

"Indeed. We shall also have much to discuss…"

"Later, Chuck if ya please. One damn thing at a time," Logan mumbled.

"As you wish. But please don't hesitate to speak to me… regarding recent developments…"

"You'll be the first an' only one I trust with it, Professor. But ya gotta understand that there's no changin' my mind… ya gotta live with it…"

"We shall have little choice, I sense," Xavier sighed as he reached out to stabilize Jubilee's thoughts with the aid of Cerebro.


Despite Frost's further protestations, Hank and Jean had insisted on taking Jubilee back to the Mansion immediately via the Blackbird. All the events of the next few moments became a grey blur to Logan, who numbly packed up what he could of Jubilee's things. Jean Grey had telekinetically placed Jubilee in a stretcher bed so they could transfer her easily.

Next came the agonizing flight home. Wolverine said litte during that time except his mumbled thanks. In the infirmary they finally placed Jubilee, attaching her to various machinery to measure her vial signs.

Now Logan sat in a chair by her bedside, while Jean sat on the edge of Jubilee's bed.

"She's basically stable. Pulling out of shock," Hank McCoy announced as he pressed his stethoscope to Jubilee's chest. Wolverine sighed and rose from his chair.

"Thank God for small favors," Wolverine mumbled as he paced the room, arms folded. Nearby, Jean Grey had her fingers close to Jubilee's temples. Her green eyes narrowed as she simply listened to the state of thoughts moving sluggishly.

"Relax, Logan, she's going to be fine…" Hank urged. "Do you wish to take up where I left off, Jean?"

"Yes, if you wouldn't mind. Logan, you might want to stay for this part…"

"What do your scans indicate?" Beast asked, pressing buttons on the IV control.

Jean Grey sighed, and glanced up at him. She said, "Thankfully her own psy shields took the brunt of that blast. Xavier managed to boost her own abilities, and I'm simply keeping her calm so she can sleep. But she'll need a lot of work healing the damage…"

"What's wrong with her, Jeannie?" Wolverine asked.

"You know the best, don't you?" she answered as she rested her hand on his. He stood there uncomfortably as she gazed at him.

"Excuse me, I shall just be filling out the necessary paperwork in my office," Hank said, giving a discrete cough. Drawing the curtain around her hospital bed, he crept away to leave them alone.


Logan felt blood pounding through his cheeks as they grew hot with each passing moment. He turned away from Jean's questioning gaze, and huddled back into the chair he'd occupied. Finally he grumbled, "It's not what ya think."

"You don't need my permission to care for someone, Logan," she said, extending her hand just inches from touching her shoulder.

"Jeannie I don't mean… aw heck…" he said.

Jean leaned over to caress his shoulder. She said, "First and foremost you're one of my best friends. You can't hate yourself for how you feel about her, any more than how you feel about me…"

"Jeannie…" Logan said. His voice cracked with decades old pathos that she knew all too well.

"Her pain mirrors your own, Logan. It's that pain which drew you together this way. Guilt won't help Jubilee get over the wound I'm seeing. Here… let me bridge the gap in your thoughts so you can see…" Jean offered.

"Don't like pokin' in anyone's mind, but I trust ya Jeannie," Logan said. He exhaled, and dragged his chair closer.

"It's better if you sit next to her on the bed," Jean said. Telekinetic energies wreathed Jubilee's body and she floated twelve inches off the bed. Logan pushed the pillow aside and crawled to sit Indian style behind her. Then he shoved the pillow into his lap, while Jean lowered Jubilee back to the bed.

She reached out and grasped Logan's hand in her own, while still keeping her hand on Jubilee's temple. Blue energies glowed in the sapphire jewel of her headpiece. Few knew this, but the Shi'ar invention incorporated a rare sapphire from Metabilis 3. They were the most perfect crystals to amplify psychic powers in the Acteon Galaxy.


"Now… I've made a bridge for you. We can stand here on the other side and see what's happened," Jean Grey's astral form said to his. Her fingers were in his hand psychically, and he felt the reassurance of a mind he trusted the most out of any.

The bright radiance had dulled, and it hurt Logan to see a jagged rip snaking across the surface of dark clouds. It stunned him because in many ways it resembled his own thoughts. Jean urged him to follow her onto the bridge, and walk across it. Rather then walk; they drifted forwards, their link represented by held hands.

"She's hurtin' bad… I can feel it…"

"As well as your own pain. It's the guilt that you carry that's weighing her down, Logan," said Jean softly.

"It's so damn dark… not like I'd expect… cripes…"

"You said once she was your lifeline. Now her mind is collapsing from a nervous breakdown. She reached out to you physically, and yet you hold back…"

"I can't be everything to her… you know that, Jean…"

"She's not expecting you to. Love isn't something you possess. I never asked you to fall in love with me, and yet you still gave your heart to me. It's not always a choice."

"I can't let go of you…"

"That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking you to make room for her, in your heart. As I've made room for you in mine… despite the fact that I've given it to Scott…" she urged gently. "Scott has my heart and soul, but there is still a piece that is yours and yours alone, Logan. Take comfort that the pieces of our soul that we exchanged are still part of one another's being…"

"I'd almost forgotten," Logan mumbled, tumbling back to those memories of his old apartment so many years ago.

"So much pain she has. She'll need all the X men and her friends to help. But she needs you first and foremost. Like you never asked to love me, she never asked to love you, Logan. But you have a choice… let go and move on. Let our relationship change and give those pieces that let you care again…"

"I can't just give it up… Jeannie…"

"You can try, Logan," Jean said firmly. "Get over it. I'm still a part of your life in some way. But you're being selfish holding onto me so tightly, it's keeping you from what might be a far greater and more precious thing. It's almost equal to the love you shared for your beloved…"

"Can't stop lovin' you or Mariko…"

"But you can start trying to love Jubilee, in a different way. Love isn't the same thing. It changes and grows over time. I'm not asking you to stop loving, just change the way in which you love, Logan… don't be selfish and give it to those that no longer need that sort of relationship…" said Jean. She reached back into his mind, and smashed the pedestal there. Images crashed down and Logan blinked with sheer physical pain.

"What did you…?"

"Helped you get over the pedestal you put me on. The one I never should have been placed on. I'm far from the perfect woman you see me as…"

"I'm scared Jeannie. An' if ya tell anyone…"

"Who wouldn't be scared, Logan?" Jean asked gently. "Just let her love you, and see if you feel the same. If you don't it's far better than never knowing…"

Her radiance retreated from his mind, leaving Logan alone with his thoughts. Weary, he felt himself land crosswise on the bed. Jean reached out with her telekinesis to reposition him next to Jubilee. Another quick brush with her mind and she maneuvered the covers around them both.

"Just love her, Logan. Love her, that's all I ask," said Jean quietly as she blew him a kiss and retreated. The door shut under her power, and left them alone in the infirmary.