Yes yes... laugh it up Yessica... the only thing I'm gunna be laughin' at is when I put my FIST through your FACE! lol

And this one won't be all dramatic and angsty... if that is a real word... cuz the one I was telling you that I started writing isn't this one. it's the fifth one. so :P

5

Magneto had it all mapped out. Their next mission. This time, he'd take the lead himself. AJ drove at high speed, zigzagging through traffic, pulling to a stop at their destination.

The guys all got out, heading off to their tasks. Magneto gave them instructions as they walked.

AJ watched from the car. She didn't mind being reduced to getaway duty. She knew Magneto had told her it was because the media was getting too close to her, but she knew the truth. He was losing faith in her. She'd gone soft.

Never-the-less, she preferred it this way. It was easier. She watched the building from the car, making out the silhouettes of the men on her team. Her eyes stopped on one window as she watched the man in the room. Something was wrong… he wasn't one of them. She got out of the car, closing the door quietly behind her.

Pyro looked out the window at her, giving her a wave. She tried to silently warn him, but he just made some silly little animal out of fire for her with a grin.

She rolled her eyes.

When he'd left, she noticed the man in the window was on the phone.

"Shit." She muttered to herself. She'd have to go in.

She climbed the wall of the building, smashing a window and climbing in. The dark state of the building made it difficult for her to navigate through the winding hallways. Eventually, she found Avalanche, sifting through the files in the filing cabinet, taking the ones that pertained to mutant research.

"Lance!" She was out of breath. "We have to go. Now."

He frowned as she grabbed his arm. "I'm not done yet!"

"There's someone else here." She whispered.

"Take care of him then!"

"I think he may have called the cops." She pulled him along with her. "We have to go."

Lance nodded reluctantly, following her.

Sabertooth let out a roar, grabbing her neck and slamming her against the wall. "You called the cops, didn't you." He snarled.

She tried to talk, but she couldn't breathe. She clawed at his hand, trying to free herself when Lance pushed him away.

"Someone's here! Didn't you search the place? You were supposed to search the place before we came in!"

"No time for the blame game right now." Magneto walked past them. "Abort the mission."

AJ gasped for breath when Sabertooth finally let go.

"Abort!" She shook her head, rubbing her neck "It's a little late for abort!"

"Where's everyone goin'!" Pyro shouted, moving towards them.

AJ's eyes widened. "Get down!"

The guard stood at the end of the hall, shouting something into his walkie talkie. A gun aimed directly at them.

"Freeze!" He demanded.

Pyro spun around to look at the man before they all made a beeline for the window.

A shot rang out. Pyro went down like a sack of potatoes.

"Shit!" AJ looked at the others. Sabertooth stomped past them; the man fired two more shots at him to no avail. He grabbed the guard, snapping his neck and tossing him to the side. AJ looked at his limp body. He was dead.

"Let's go." Magneto demanded, turning around and climbing out the window.

Sabertooth stomped back over to the window they'd snuck in and jumped out.

"Hurry! Come on!" Lance shouted, halfway out the window. "They're coming!"

"Help me!" AJ looked at Pyro. They couldn't just leave him here. She moved over to his limp body, turning him over. He groaned.

"Come on John. You have to help me out here… I'm not strong enough to carry you." She whispered, putting his arm around her neck. When she finally made it to her feet, Lance was gone.

She helped him walk, rushing downstairs and kicking the back door open. The alarm went off.

The car was gone.

She cursed at the top of her lungs.

Pyro groaned. He'd been shot pretty bad in the chest. Without medical care, he'd bleed to death for sure.

"Come on John… walk." She whispered. She continued talking to him, trying to keep him alert.

The cops were there by now, so they had to hurry. She found a motorcycle in a parking lot nearby and managed to hotwire it.

"Hang on to me Pyro." She wrapped his arms around her waist, letting him lean on her. He was looking rather pale. "John… say something."

He let out a small moan. "This what it takes t'get my arms wrapped around you Sheila?"

She laughed, pushing the bike forward and revving the engine. At least he was still coherent.

He was silent the entire ride. AJ zoned in on the road ahead of her. She had to get him help. She weaved through traffic, carefully speeding her way through the city.

She pulled to a stop, helping him off. "Stay with me Pyro. We're almost there."

She'd stopped about five minuets away from their destination, ditching the bike. They'd just think some kid took it for a joy ride and left it. It wouldn't be the first time.

AJ propped him up against the wall of the building, peeking into the large windows next to him. She had to get him in without sending up any red flags. AJ undid her black leather top a bit, her bright pink bra peeking out. She then pulled John's bloody leather jacket off, slinging it over his shoulder to cover the wound.

"Alright Pyro… where's that goofy smile?" She said as she worked.

She hung his arm around her neck, helping him in through the doors. With a laugh, AJ stumbled, shushing herself with a giggle when the bellhops gave her quizzical looks. She looked at Pyro who's head was down with a silly grin on his face. At least he was still coherent enough to act drunk. She pushed the elevator button, leaning against the doors as they waited. AJ let him lean against her, his head resting against her neck.

"There's that goofy smile handsome." She whispered, urging him to stay awake.

"Y'know why?" He whispered back "I can see right down y'top."

The doors opened and she helped him in with a laugh. "You lookin' down my top?"

He raised his eyebrows and let his head fall back against the faux wooden walls of the elevator as the doors closed. "Have t'have somethin' t'live for."

She pressed her lips together, taking into note how pale he was looking. They didn't have much longer.

When the elevator came to a stop, she helped him out, walking him down the hall as quickly as she could. She propped him up against the wall as she banged on the door.

Her hands were shaking.

Logan pulled the door open.

"I'm sorry… I didn't know where to go… everyone left." She blathered "He's been shot and I couldn't take him to the hospital… the cops are after… and I didn't kn-"

He took Pyro's arm, helping him over to the bed.

"Go get the others. Next door." He jabbed his thumb towards the girls' room. AJ nodded and followed his instructions.

AJ smacked the door with her palm, running her hand through her hair as she waited, trying to sooth her trembling nerves.

Kitty swung the door open, a frown gracing her pretty features. "AJ?"

Rogue moved up behind her with a worried look.

"Where are the guys?" AJ asked, looking down the hall.

"Over there…" Rogue pointed.

Kitty gasped "AJ! You're bleeding!"

AJ's eyes met Kitty's. "It's not my blood."