------Hey hey hey, beats back writers block with a stick

Sorry about Storm. I know she's a little out of character, but I dunno, I loved comic Storm. Movie Storm, well, she seemed like she'd be a …. insert expletive here . I could see her holding a grudge. Grrr…

Anyways…uhm…enjoy some more? Please? Thank you

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They broke ground on the third day.

Wolverine went first, sniffing the area for Sentinels or martial forces. It was a heavily wooded area, providing good cover, and he motioned down for everyone to come up. One by one they trailed out into the sunlight squinting their eyes.

Jean sat on a fallen log, nursing swollen feet, and resigning herself to never wear heels again. She watched as Cyclops pulled everyone out, keeping an eye on the sky for any aircraft that might be doing sweeps. When Toad came up, she picked herself off the log and went to him.

"You need medical attention."

He shrugged. Those amphibious eyes always unreadable.

"Where will you go?"

He shrugged again, glancing into the bright sky and moving under some shade. Jean tried one last time.

"Stay with us."

He looked surprised, and cocked his head at her in confusion.

"Why?"

"Because we're not out of the woods yet, because we have a better chance for survival if we stick together, because I owe you my life and I'd like to have the chance to repay that."

He stood still watching her for a long time, thinking. The breeze blew soft and cool around them, taking away some of the stench of confinement. The sun provided welcome warmth from the stifling cold of the tunnels.

"Please."

He seemed pulled out of his reverie by her word, and looked up to meet her gaze.

"And the weather-witch?"

"I'll speak to her. She's just…angry still, about Liberty Island."

"So am I."

Jean nodded. She could understand that. She could understand both their perspectives, the curse of being a telepath.

"We can start fresh. We need you Toad."

He sighed, still squinting at her with that unreadable gaze.

"Alright. For awhile."

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He couldn't believe he'd agreed to stay. Sitting by the opening of the tunnel, an eight-foot wide hole covered by a fake tree that was now sitting sideways on the ground, he watched the others. He didn't belong here. A quiet uneasiness drifted over him as he contemplated his decision to stay.

They didn't like him. Why should they? He was ugly, He was mean, and he was on the other bloody team. Or, he used to be. So why would they want him here? Guilt?

She didn't seem like it was pity. She seemed like she was afraid. Did she think with him around she'd be safer? He rubbed his face with one hand, tired and sore. Why did he say he'd stay?

Ever since he'd joined them in the tunnels he'd been itching to leave. Jean's irritating 'caring about everyone', Storm's ridiculous suspicion of him, everyone freaking camaraderie, it was disgusting. 'And I'm thinking about them by their first names now', he realized. He shook his head.

But she was right. He needed medical attention, and where would he get it besides them? It would be safer to stick together; he could no longer suppose to hide unnoticed in seedy bars and seedier motels. Not when the entire world was out looking for them. She was logical and she was right, and he was annoyed.

He watched Blondie stride toward him from the group of older mutants. Now, SHE, was a mystery. As soon as he'd gotten there she'd attached herself to him, without provocation or reasoning. And as soon as he'd gotten himself comfortably situated away from the others, here she came.

"Hey Toad, your buds are on TV."

He gave her a confused look.

"One of the kids brought his portable TV, it just started working when we got out of the tunnels, and the Brotherhood is on it."

He stood up and moved around her, toward where he could now make out the faint sound of television. They were all crowded around it: Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Wolverine, but he pushed his way in to see.

"What's happening?"

Cyclops answered him by pointing the set his way.

'…the mutant recently escaped from a federal prison, and had been at large until today. Here you see him with part of his 'so-called' brotherhood attacking a sentinel in Times Square…'

It was the Blonde reporter he'd been watching the day when Jean had broken through. He decided he really didn't like her, and if given the opportunity, she'd be ground beneath his boots. He smiled.

"Yeh, if anyone could take down a Sentinel, that'd be Mags," he spoke fondly, trying to forget how angry he still was with the man.

"This means the city is crawling with Feds," growled Wolverine, "that means, we have to get out of New York."