Changes Chapter 31

Lost in thought, Logan sat in the kitchen staring at the bottle of beer in front of him. He kept on thinking about the feelings which haunted him, about Jean and the children… Something was wrong, something would happen, he was sure of it…, but neither could he tell what or when. He felt frightened, deeply scared that he would lose her again…especially if he couldn't prevent it…

Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder and Logan nearly jumped.

"Where have you been, boy?", Hank asked him worriedly, since he'd spoken to him several times before. "I was talking to you…"

"Sorry", Logan grunted and noticed that Storm was standing next to Hank.

Hank still had his hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

"Couldn't sleep", his opposite only said and drank a bit of his beer, which he still held in his hand.

"Come on! You want me to believe that nothing's wrong? You never sit in the kitchen in the middle of the night drinking beer and forget about everything around you…", Hank said. "That's not you, Logan…"

"Well, I just felt like it!", Logan grunted and hoped to please him with it.

Storm immediately knew what was bothering him. "Did it happen again?" He nodded slowly.

"What happened?", Hank asked in confusion and looked to and fro between them.

She only gave him a look. "Nothing", she teased him and pushed Hank towards the door, before she sat down next to Logan. "How bad was it?", she asked calmly and looked at him.

He only shrugged. "A touch was enough…"

"So it's getting worse?"

"Dunno…", Logan had another sip of his beer. For the first time since Jean's return he felt like smoking again. He lighted a cigar and inhaled deeply, before he rested his head in his hand. Storm really felt worried. She hadn't seen him so depressed for over a year now and it hurt her that she couldn't help him.

"Logan…", Ororo said and laid a hand on his arm, which made him raise an eyebrow.

"'Ro…", he said and gave her a look.

"Sorry…", she said embarrassed and pulled her hand away again.

"Look, you and I…", he began, but she interrupted him.

"I know…", Ororo said barely audible without looking at him. "I only want to help you…" She looked up when she heard someone entering the kitchen and noticed that it was Scott, followed by Hank.

"'Ro?", the blue mutant said. "Come on, let's go back!"

"'Kay…", she said and got up. "Will you be alright here?", she asked Logan since she'd noticed the looks both men gave each other.

"Yeah…", he said and put out his cigar. He kept his gaze upon Scott who still stood in the doorway. Something about the way Scott looked at him, told Logan that he probably wouldn't be able to empty his beer tonight. He watched Ororo and Hank leave, while Scott stepped closer and opened the fridge. Logan narrowed his eyes, while they were fixed on the man. Slowly, he had another sip of his beer…

XXX

"Hank", Ororo called after him. "Hank!" She grabbed his hand and made him stop. "Are you crazy? We can't leave just now!"

"Why not? Logan promised Jean that he wouldn't start a fight…"

"Yeah, that's the point…", she said with widened eyes. "Scott didn't promise it and he hates Logan!" She turned her head towards the kitchen door. Up to now everything was calm. "And Logan said he wouldn't start a fight…" She looked at Hank again. "…but not that he wouldn't defend himself! And I know him… He'll hit Scott with everything he got if he has to!"

Hank had watched her closely. "Okay… Then we wait here…", he said and leant against the wall arms folded.

XXX

Scott had taken a seat opposite Logan and was drinking water. A deadly silence and tension was filling the room. While Logan did his best to ignore the man in front of him, Scott's eyes were fixed on him and his mouth was barely more than a line. Logan looked up, only for a very brief moment, and gave Scott a deadly look. He would love to smash the boys head, but he withstood the urge. He had promised it and he would keep it. Logan emptied his bottle and got up without taking any further notice of the other man. Just as he walked past him, Scott put down his bottle. "You know…", he said and Logan immediately narrowed his eyes, even if his opposite was looking at the bottle. "…I still have to thank you for the she-picked-you-crap you've told me back then." He frowned and Scott slowly turned around. "I know that the two of you have kissed back then!"

Logan snorted in annoyance and put his hands to his hips. "She picked you afterwards, so what's the matter?"

"Oh! You're such a bad kisser then?", Scott said sarcastically.

His opposite smirked arrogantly. "You wanna try?"

"No, thanks! I already get sick if I only imagine the two of you!", Scott snorted.

Logan shrugged. "Toilet's over there! Feel free to use it!", he grunted and was about to leave when Scott grabbed his arm. Logan took a very deep breath as his anger grew within him and turned his head very slowly. His nostrils flattered, while he gritted his teeth. "Take your fingers off me, bub!", he hissed threatening.

"No!", his opposite shot back. "We finish this now. Once and for all!"

Logan gave a derisive laugh and shook his head. "And what? The winner gets the first prize? She made her choice, so get over it!" Harshly, he pushed him away. His eyes warned him not to go any further.

Scott smiled. "Oh, did she tame you, Wolverine?", he asked him provocative.

Logan's hand grabbed the door-frame hard and he clenched his fist, while his eyes met Storm's frightened ones. She only shook her head, telling him to just go away…

"What are you now?", Scott asked further and folded his arms. "Not an animal, but a lapdog?"

Logan closed his eyes and took very deep breaths. He was on the edge of his patience, his claws were already cutting against his flesh, while Wolverine roared in his cage. He wanted nothing more than to bury his claws into the boy…to silence him once and for all… Logan opened his eyes again. His heart was nearly breaking his chest. He swallowed hard before he turned his head a bit. "Not my problem if you can't keep it up, boy!"

Scott narrowed his eyes as his heart began to beat in a deadly rhythm. "What!", he only asked furiously.

Logan faced him now. "You heard me!", he grunted and walked away.

"Logan!", Scott called after him.

He stopped at the doorway. "Oh and, Cyke…", he said and gave him a look. "Stay away from my girl!" With that he turned around again, just to yell in the next second.

"Logan!", Ororo shrieked as she saw him kneeling on the ground and holding his burned and heavily bleeding shoulder. Hank only stared at Scott in shock, whose eyes were shining red through his visor. Storm kneeled down next to her friend who was heavily breathing in pain and had his eyes closed firmly. "God, Logan…", she gasped and took a closer look at his shoulder. Slowly, she pulled his shirt down and saw the hole Cyclops' beam had left. "You need to go to the lab!", she said in shock. "This looks more than bad…"

Slowly, Logan got to his feet and Hank immediately knew that it didn't sound very promising as he saw how his friend pulled his shirt down and threw it furiously to the ground, before he tilted his head and cracked his neck. Hank knew him well enough by now to know, that he only did it when he was more than pissed off.

"Logan!", Ororo said aloud when she noticed the look in his eyes. "Don't!"

Logan had his eyes fixed on Scott who was staring back at him. "You need to get Chuck and tell him that if he's not here within five minutes…", he hissed through gritted teeth. "…I'll cut him into pieces!" With that he walked towards Scott, like a wolf ready to kill his prey. Storm watched him with widened eyes. "Go!", she said to Hank, fear echoing in her voice.

"What? We need to…", he protested, but she hold him back.

"No! You are faster, now go and get the Professor!", she shrieked and heard how Logan pushed a chair out of his way. The sound it made when it crashed against the wall, echoed through the corridor.

"But, 'Ro! I can't leave you here alone!", Hank said scared.

She breathed heavily, while her mind was racing. "I'll get Jean", she suddenly said and took off, followed by him.

Both men breathed hard in the kitchen. Scott slowly moved behind the counter as Logan came closer. He had his eyes fixed on his opposite, knowing how dangerous he would become if he could get his hands on him only for a second…

"So you think that you're better than me, Summers?", Logan hissed furiously. "That you're the big man?"

"I don't only think it!", Scott shot back and stopped when he reached the head of the counter, noticing that his opposite did the same on the other side. "You're just an animal!", he added scornfully.

"Right…", Logan grunted and cracked his knuckles alternately. He didn't even blinked, while he looked piercingly at his opposite. "I think it's time that the animal teaches you a few lessons…" His voice was alarming low, telling his opposite immediately that he would get hurt a lot…and that he had start something he could never end by himself again…

Scott only smirked despite his inner turmoil. "Oh, really? I doubt that!"

Before he could react, Logan had jumped over the counter and had grabbed his collar. Slowly, he pulled him close, his eyes sparkled threatening. "As you said…", he hissed barely audible. "…we'll finish this…once and for all…"

Scott smirked despite his growing fear. "Go ahead! Stab me!"

Logan snorted scornful. "I don't have to use them to finish you!" A hollow sound echoed through the kitchen as Logan's head hit Scott's…

XXX

Hank breathlessly stopped in front of Xavier's door. Without knocking, he entered and was surprised to find the Professor awake and in the middle of a conversation with Moira. "You have to come down immediately!"

Moira frowned and looked towards Charles who had already turned his wheelchair. "What's wrong?"

"Scott attacked Logan…", Hank only said, but the Professor had already moved past him after he'd said the first two words. Moira gave Hank a short look, before they followed him...

XXX

The air left Scott's lungs at once when he crashed against the fridge. He saw how Logan took a swing and kicked him quickly into the abdomen, before he placed several strong punches into the face of his opposite. Scott bit his lip and breathed hard as the pain rushed through his arms. For a brief moment he had totally forgotten about the adamantium. Logan growled and hit him way harder than Scotthad donebefore. He watched his opposite wipe away the blood from his mouth, before he attacked him again. Easily, Logan evaded the punches and kicks and landed two hits by himself. Scott raised his head heavily breathing, ignoring the stars in front of his eyes. With an angry scream, he threw himself at Logan…

XXX

Storm grabbed Jean's shoulder, feeling completely exhausted from her run. "Jean!", she said aloud. "Jean! You have to wake up!" She shook her slightly.

"What!", the red haired woman mumbled and blinked against the bright light, while she felt a sharp stitch in her abdomen. "What's wrong?", she asked after she'd eased the pain.

"They are killing each other!", Storm said hysterically.

Jean could only frown. She felt dizzy and drunk, as if her brain was still sleeping. "Who?"

"Logan and Scott!", she heard Storm say. "They're killing each other in the kitchen!"

"What!", Jean said in disbelief and her eyes widened.

XXX

Hank headed down the corridor right behind the Professor, while Moira followed right behind him. Suddenly, Charles slowed down. "It's too late…", the blue mutant immediately thought and didn't dare to look.

"Good for you, Chuck…", he heard Logan say and turned his head slowly. "One minute later and there would have been three of him!"

Hank's eyes widened in disbelief. On the floor right in front of them laid Scott, pinned to the ground by one of the bar stools from the kitchen, which made it impossible for him to move. Except he wanted to strangle himself, since the last horizontal wooden stick, which kept the stool together, rested directly on his throat. On the stool was Logan, sitting astride on it, while his arms rested on the back of it. Hank let out a relieving sigh. He could have sworn that one of them would have been either dead or seriously injured…

"What happened here?", Charles demanded to know angrily.

Logan only shrugged. "He attacked me, I defended myself, I won, end of story…"

"The hell you…", Scott tried to say, but had to cough.

Moira noticed the half healed wound on Logan's shoulder. "He shot a beam at you?", she asked in disbelief and walked up to him.

"Is that true, Scott?", Charles asked harshly, showing his anger openly. Logan jumped off the chair and Scott pushed it away angrily, while he covered his throat with his hand. "Scott!", the Professor asked again, while Moira examined Logan's wound.

Logan looked up when Jean approached, closely followed by Storm. "Thank God, they're still alive…", he heard Ororo say.

The Professor was still looking at his former student, who still shot deadly looks at Logan. "Is that what I've taught you over the years?", he asked him harshly. "I can't tell you how disappointed I am…"

Scott snorted. His face and body hurt like hell. He looked first at Charles, before he switched to Jean. "And what about him?", he asked angrily and nodded towards Logan. "Is he the saint again?"

"I told them I wouldn't start a fight! I kept it! But I also said that you would face the consequences if you ever dared to attack me, bub. You did, so be happy that you're still able to breathe!", the other mutant grunted.

Scott clenched his fists and was about to grab Logan's collar, when this one extracted his claws and made him stop. "Don't even think about it, bub!", he growled. "Or I'll change my mind!" With a last warning look,he grabbed his shirt from the ground and headed down the corridor. "And besides!", he said and stopped. "You're out of the team!" With that he was gone, leaving the others in confusion.

Moira pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and wanted to wipe off the blood from Scott's face, as he pulled away from her harshly. "Leave me alone!", he hissed and took off furiously into the opposite direction.

Charles sighed and ran a hand through his face, while he turned around. Jean looked down, she still couldn't believe it… "You can be proud of Logan after all…", he suddenly said and made her look up.

"What?"

"He managed to control the Wolverine…", Charles said calmly, still feeling disappointed that his X-Men had accepted to Scott's provocations. "…otherwise, I doubt that Scott would still be alive…"

"And I think he only hit Scott if he was hit first…", Moira added, since she had paid attention to the wounds. "He would have looked much worse otherwise…"

"Yes, you could be right…", Charles nodded. "I doubt Scott would've even been able to walk, if Logan had really attacked him… Nevertheless, I can't tolerate this behavior…"

"It wasn't Logan's fault!", Storm said angrily. "Scott wanted him to freak out and he attacked him! You've seen his shoulder! And you should have heard the things Scott has said…"

"I know…", he said soothing. "…and I knew this would happen sooner or later… The tension and hate between them was too obvious and unbearable…"

Hank sighed. "We've to go and look for them before they'll run into each other again…" The Professor nodded in agreement.

"I'll go and talk to Logan…", Jean said barely audible and turned around.

Storm watched her lost in thought. Finally, she followed her down the corridor. "Jean, I…"

"'Ro,…I know you're sorry and I don't blame you anymore!", Jean interrupted her tiredly. "I had some time to think and even if I'm still disappointed and can't understand why you did it, since you knew about the pregnancy,…I also know how hard it is to resist him, if you have feelings for Logan. I've once fallen for the same trick, so I can't blame you. Okay?", she asked her.

Ororo frowned and raised an eyebrow. "Okay…", she said surprised. "But actually…I wanted to ask you if you're okay?"

"Yeah…", Jean said confused. "Why shouldn't I?"

"You would tell us if something was wrong, right?", she asked cautiously, remembering Logan's words.

"Sure…", her opposite said calmly. "Why are you asking?"

Storm waved off. "Forget it!" She smiled shortly. "So,…we're okay again?"

Jean sighed. "Yeah…" She looked up at her smiling vaguely. "You've forgiven me back then…and Logan forgave you, too, so…", she broke off. "And we also still need a godmother for our kids, right?"

Touched and more than surprised, Ororo hugged her. "Thanks!", she whispered happily and had to swallow hard since tears were gathering in her eyes. "And don't be too harsh on him! It really wasn't his fault!"

"I won't…", Jean assured her and they separated.

XXX

She found Logan on the balcony. He leant with his back to her against the border and his arms rested on it, while he looked into the night. Slowly, Jean came closer, knowing that he was already aware of her presence.

"Get inside again… It's too cold for ya…", he grunted without looking at her.

"Well, you could take me into your arms…", she said calmly and he turned around with an eyebrow raised.

"What?", he asked in surprise. "You're not yelling at me? Telling me how stupid I am?"

Jean shook her head. "You didn't start…so you kept your promise…and since you already know how stupid you are…", she answered and wrapped her arms around her body. "But still I'm disappointed…"

He shrugged. "I've warned you…"

"Yeah, I know…and I don't blame you… But I never thought Scott would…" She shook her head and looked at him. "How's your shoulder?"

"Fine…"

Jean slowly came closer and wrapped her arms around him. "You scared me to death…"

Logan pulled her close. "Sorry…" Immediately, his senses cracked again. Gently, he pushed her away.

"What's wrong?", she asked in confusion.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong with you or the cubs, right?", he asked her cautiously straight ahead.

"Sure…"

He had his head lowered a bit, but was still looking into her eyes. "Then why do I keep on feeling that something's wrong?", he said and she looked down. "Jean?"

"It's nothing wrong, Logan…", she finally said calmly. "Moira only said that…"

"That?"

"That I might give birth a bit earlier than planned…", she said truthfully. "That's all…"

Logan looked at her closely, trying to find out if that was the whole truth. "Really?"

"Yeah…that's all…" Jean nodded. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you even more… You're already nervous enough…" She had to smirk a bit, since she knew that he had tried to hide it from her.

"'Kay…", he said calmly. "I'm sorry…"

"For what?", she asked him.

"That I lost it… I'm sorry that I disappointed you…"

Jean waved off and laid a hand on his cheek, which made him look up. "Forget it. You kept your promise, that's all that counts…" Gently, he kissed her and led her back inside.

XXX

In the meanwhile, Storm and Hank had caught Scott in his room. "What are you doing?", she asked him in shock and watched him packing his stuff.

"What do you think?", Scott asked harshly.

"Come on, Scott! Calm down and sleep one night over it…" Hank tried to calm him and stepped closer. "We need you here…"

"Yeah, sure…", his opposite snorted.

"Scott…", Storm said and stopped him. "Magneto is about to attack us…we need everyone here!"

He smirked. "You've got a strong leader!", he said sarcastically. "Let him handle it!"

XXX

Logan and Jean were walking down the corridor on their way to the staircase. He hadn't taken his eyes from her the whole way down the corridor. His heart was beating triple rhythms and he felt scared. "What's wrong?", he asked her worriedly as she suddenly grimaced in pain and took her hand. "Jeannie?"

She took a deep breath and fought against an upcoming sickness. "I don't know…", she said barely audible. "I'm not feeling so well since 'Ro woke me…"

"Contractions?", he asked her and supported her weight as she trembled.

"No…", she shook her head weakly. "I feel dizzy…like drunk…as if…I've got to vomit…" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, since the whole surroundings were moving in front of her eyes.

Logan looked around. They were close to the elevator. "I'll take ya to the lab. Come on…" He wrapped his arms around her and helped her towards it. After he was sure that she leant safely against the wall, he let go of her to push the button on the other side. Suddenly, he frowned. Logan sniffed. He smelled blood… Confused, he looked down on him. His wounds we're healed,…it wasn't him. Immediately, he turned his head, suddenly having a very bad feeling and his eyes widened… "Jean…", he said while he was staring at her.

Jean looked up at him, barley able to see anything. She breathed heavily and in slow motion, Logan had to watch her collapsing to the ground. "No!", he yelled and caught her fall. He sank down to his knees, looking down on her feebly body in his arms. "Jean!", he said scared to death and tried to wake her again, but she didn't react. His heart rate kicked into high gear as his fear took over. He looked down and saw the blood which already covered the floor. "No..", he gasped with widened eyes and looked down the corridor to both sides, searching for help… But he was alone, no one could help him. He needed help…, he needed someone to get Moira or Hank… He couldn't leave her alone… Breathing irregularly now, he pulled her close and closed his eyes. There was only one thing he could do…

XXX

"Scott, think about it...", Hank tried again. "Logan was angry because you provoked him! I still can't even understand how you could use your powers against him!" Scott shook his head. He had made his decision. He couldn't stay here anymore…

Suddenly, they winced as a heart-rending "Somebody help!" echoed through the mansion. "Who was that?", Hank asked and turned towards Storm who had walked to the door immediately. She heard the scream again, which sounded even more desperate and frightened than before. Shocked, she recognized the voice. "Logan… It's Logan…", she said with widened eyes.

All of a sudden, Scott dropped his bag and ran past them. "Jean…", he only said and ran down the corridor, following Logan's screams…

I bet you thought something else when you read the summary, right. ; ) Nah, that will never happen!

Thanks for the reviews again! It took me a bit longer to type this time. I hadn't written any further since the last chapter. So I started this chapter on Sunday evening and wrote it till 4:15 a.m. ; ) Yesterday, I started the next chapter and think I should have finished it soon. ; )

This cliffie was supposed to be the ending of Chapter 30, but since I needed Jean and Scott to talk, I had to put it in here. Yeah, I know, I'm evil. ; ) Please review and don't kill me! ; ) I promise to update soon!

Wow, great, the whole time while typing I waited for a thunderstorm to come up and now there it is. But well, I was faster. ; ) Hope the weather is better by you, guys! See ya! And tanks again for your support!