Note: Nothing special to report...next update on the 18th unless I get at least one new reviewer...for the record, there is only one chapter and an epilogue after this...:)

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Interlude: The Letter

Dr. Xavier,

I assume that Miss Rex has found this letter within a few hours of my giving her the Weapon X file. If not her, then Mr. Logan will have discovered it during his perusal of the aforementioned documents. Either way, I am confident that this missive will reach you in due course.

I feel that further explanation is in order as to my own story and how I came to be in the position I am in. In 1777, the Continental Army was camped at Valley Forge during the coldest winter we had seen in years. I was a mere lad of fourteen at the time, one of the youngest recruits in the American Revolution. Back then, they couldn't spare any able-bodied young men willing to fight for our freedom. It was during this time that my mutation manifested for the first time. I watched as my fellow soldiers froze to death one by one, yet no matter how cold I got, I simply never succumbed to it. Some months later, at the Battle of Monmouth, I was shot at close range in the chest and again did not succumb to my injuries. This would happen several times before the end of the war and I was deeply fearful that I would be looked upon as something of a monster. It never occurred to me that only one person ever noticed that no matter how severely I was injured, I survived. That one person was General Washington.

In 1789, after that great man was sworn in as the first President of the United States, he invited me into his office. I was understandably nervous, since I had served under him for so many years during our struggle for independence. He bade me to make myself comfortable and offered me refreshments before sitting across from me. "Do you know why I have asked you to come?" he asked me and I shook my head. "Terrence, you fought with bravery and honor during our War of Independence. Many times you were offered a promotion and each time you denied the offer, stating that you are not a leader of men. However, it did not escape my notice that you should have been dead on more than one occasion."

To say that I was frightened by his observations is an understatement. I had hoped that no one had seen my injuries, that no one knew I harbored a terrible secret. Naturally, I tried to play it off. "You are mistaken, sir. I was injured, that is true, but never so badly that death would consider courting me because of it."

He merely smiled at me. "Terrence, you misunderstand me. I did not invite you here to call you to task for this. I believe that you have been touched by God for a purpose so great that He has deemed it necessary for you to survive at all costs. I do not claim to know what His purpose for you may be, for I am but a man and would not presume to know what He has planned for any of us. However, I also have a purpose that I would like to entrust to you, if you would be so kind as to accept." It was then that he told me about the Bureau of Constitutional Integrity, which Congress had sanctioned that very day. He explained that his greatest fear was that there would come a day when the man elected to lead this great country would believe himself and his own agenda to be more important than the Constitution guaranteeing the rights we had so recently struggled to obtain for our country. He feared that the sacrifice so many men had made would ultimately be in vain and that was something he simply could not allow to happen.

I am sure that you can imagine my surprise when he made this offer to me. I had never been more than a simple soldier, first a boy fresh off the farm, fighting for independence, later a man full of fear at the thing he had somehow become. Yet he told me he could think of no man more suited to be the director of this Bureau. Who better than someone who could not die to ensure that the Constitution be upheld against all enemies at any cost? Most importantly, one who had borne witness to the conflict that gave birth to the selfsame document? He also explained that this was an office I would hold for as long as I lived, however long that may be. When put in those terms, there was no way that I could, in good conscience, refuse the offer.

As I stood to leave his office, President Washington placed a firm hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. "Terrence, I do not know if there is word for what it is you are. I am certain that someday, someone will give a name to it. I also believe that you are not the only one of your kind. Understand this; whoever or whatever you are, the Constitution is meant for every person who lives in this country, regardless of who or what they are. You fought bravely for our independence from British rule. You are now charged to continue that fight for any citizens who feel their country is not serving them. I know that you will make me proud." He then shook my hand and I took my leave, and my first steps into a purpose much greater than myself.

It wouldn't be until a century and a half later that the word "mutant" would be used to describe people with powers or abilities that were not explainable by simple science. By then, the BCI had grown from just myself to a staff of several dozen people, all of which were people I recruited personally and trusted implicitly. Unlike other agencies, the BCI has never had a security leak of any sort, has never had an agent turn against it and is the only agency to have access to absolutely every scrap of information gathered by any other government agency. As I told you before, Dr. Xavier, it is my job to know. So, as soon as the word "mutant" cropped up in relation to humans with extra abilities, I made it my job to know all about them. It soon became apparent that this was what President Washington had told me all those years ago when he said that someone would put a name to what I was.

During World War II, President Roosevelt officially made the BCI a division of the Armed Forces Security Agency. He also officially buried the BCI, making it the only government agency that truly does not exist. When he took this action, he told me his reasons behind it. "Terrence, you have performed admirably for decades in this capacity. However, it is time for you and your people to move under the radar of the rest of the government. Our world is changing much faster than anyone could have predicted and I believe there will come a day when you will have to exercise the full rights of your office. From this day forward, no one will know of the existence of your Bureau with the sole exception of the director of AFSA. That person will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, binding him to never speak of your office to anyone. To do so will be considered an act of treason. The work you do is too important to let anyone else know about it, even my successors. From this day forward, the BCI will exist in complete secrecy. I will never call on you again."

He was as good as his word. He never did call on us again personally, although we continued to feed him intelligence that was gathered on the war and certain key figures. When Hitler was finally taken out, that was us. Every single war criminal that has been found in the ensuing years from that particular conflict, was found by us. Years later, when the hysteria surrounding Communism was suddenly and inexplicably brought to an end, that was us. It would take a much longer letter than this to enumerate the many things the BCI has done to ensure the Constitution remains upheld the way it was written so long ago.

In the 1950's, the AFSA evolved into the National Security Agency and the BCI evolved with it. By then, the scientific community had begun releasing information on the new class of people called mutants. It was no surprise to me that the general public all over the world met this news with fear and suspicion. After all, why would these people with superhuman strength or the power to read minds all of a sudden crop up? There had to be a reason, some way to explain these things. Some people blamed it on the testing of the atomic bomb that had ultimately been dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Others blamed it on x-rays. Very few people, even in the scientific community, accepted mutation as a natural leap in evolution. It was because of this growing suspicion that I was called into the office of Lieutenant General Ralph J. Canine, the first director of the NSA.

It had not escaped his notice that I had served as the head of the BCI since its inception. He confronted me with this information and attempted to demand my resignation on the grounds that a mutant should not be in charge of any agency intended to protect the American people. I had anticipated this and thus brought with me the original document that I had signed next to George Washington ensuring my position for life and told him he should feel free to have it authenticated if he so desired. He agreed, but only if I would agree to remain in a holding cell until such time that the authentication was complete. Three days later, I was released, the document returned to me and I was escorted again to the General's office. He understood that a Presidential order, no matter how old it is, could not be countermanded except by the President himself. However, since he'd been required to sign the non-disclosure agreement, he was bound by his own hand to never tell anyone about my agency and that included the President. Realizing that my agency was the real power behind his own, he reluctantly let me go. That was the only time in my very long life that my authority has ever been questioned.

I shall not bore you with all the details of the past fifty or so years, as you are probably as aware of the things that have happened as I am. Civil rights, Watergate, the end of Apartheid, so many things have been taken care of because of the work of my office. And now, the present day and the conflict that we are now facing. Dr. Xavier, I do not wish to see my country torn apart by another civil war. But with the actions of Mr. Lensherr and the actions of our own President, I fear that civil war is inevitable unless you and your team of heroes are willing to help me and my Bureau put an end to things before they can truly begin. I am not trying to manipulate you and yours into doing anything you do not wish to do. I am simply doing what I have always done and that is to find that which will help me to perform my duties to the best of my ability. I am offering you and your X-Men the opportunity to show the United States and the world that not all mutants are simply terrorists waiting to happen. Just like there are good and bad normal humans, there are good and bad mutants. Who better to defend the American people against mutants than other mutants? And who better to make the chosen defenders than the X-Men?

Dr. Xavier, I will ask that you show this letter to anyone you feel needs to see it, then I implore you to destroy it. You are the only person to whom I have ever revealed this much about who I am and what my office does, simply because we are the same. We are mutants. But the information in this letter is too sensitive to allow it to remain intact. If I may suggest that you allow Mr. Levison to read it, I believe you would no longer require the hard copy anyway. Please, consider my offer and accept my assurances that there are no hidden plans, no secret agendas and that your X-Men will never be called upon to do anything that is counter to your own personal mission. If we work together, I believe that we can make this a world where mutants and humans can co-exist in peace.

Regards,

Terrence Bennington

Director, BCI

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter 21

(Angela)

Three days later, everyone who had been present at the meeting with Mr. Bennington met again in mine and Logan's room, so that I didn't have to get up and we could still talk in relative privacy. It was a little crowded, but it was important to Charles that we all have a say in this decision. He began by showing us the letter that Bennington had left in the Weapon X file. After we'd all had a chance to read it, Charles told us his decision.

"I've decided to accept Mr. Bennington's offer." He said. "I did not delve too deeply into his mind, but what I did see leads me to believe that he only has our best interests in mind."

"How can you be so sure?" Logan asked, clearly still skeptical about the whole thing. "He's with a government agency that's buried so deep, only one person who doesn't work with 'em directly even knows they exist."

"I understand your reluctance, Logan. However, it is a fact that our jobs will be made much easier if we no longer have to concern ourselves with complete secrecy."

"I'm sorry Charles, but I don't think I'm ready to come forward and tell everyone who I am." I said. "I've spent way too much time keeping that hidden."

"I'm not asking anyone to reveal their true identities to anyone outside of this school." He replied. "Those who wish to may do so and with my blessing. But there is a reason we have always used code names and it's not just to be clever. There has always been the possibility of outside forces intercepting our radio signals and the use of code names protects our identities. But if we were able to move openly, even just to land the jet, it would make our jobs much easier."

I slid out the claw on my thumb and chewed on it thoughtfully. I could see his point, but secrecy was deeply ingrained in me for as long as I could remember. For the first time since I was put on bed rest, I felt a slight twinge in my stomach and I winced. "Fine. I can respect that. But we've been able to operate without government sanction for this long. Surely we don't need it now?"

"On the contrary," Hank spoke up, "I think now is exactly when we need it most. The President has grown extremely paranoid since Magneto's declaration. It is only a matter of time before he changes his mandate from 'suspected mutant terrorists' to 'suspected mutants' to simply 'mutants'. Perhaps if he could see a group of mutants willing to protect him and the American people from threats within their own ranks, he would be less inclined to escalate."

"Yeah and I'm the friggin' Pope." Logan growled and the Professor glared at him. "What? I'm just sayin'."

"I know, Logan. But we are being given the perfect opportunity to make a real difference, not just for mutants but for all people. It would be foolhardy of us not to take advantage of it."

"Do you think he'd agree to some conditions?" Rogue asked.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Well, if this guy is as powerful as he says he is, can't he just make sure we're kept secret? Keep us off the news and out of the papers?"

"I don't think that would be an unreasonable request. I'll be sure to mention it to him. Is there anything else?"

"Yeah, there is." I said and pulled my laptop out. "This guy says it's his job to know. Well, now it's our job to know too. I want to make sure that we get every scrap of information on any current threats, human or mutant. If we're gonna help him protect the Constitution and the country, then I want to protect it from everything, not just our own kind."

"Angela, I think you may be overreacting…"

"No, I'm not!" I cut him off sharply. "A terrorist is a terrorist, no matter what his or her origins. I'm not saying we should hunt down every murderer, rapist and child molester on the planet, but if there's some crazy motherfucker with a bomb threatening to blow up a hotel or some asshole holed up in a bell tower with a rifle, who better to send than people who can't be killed?" I looked at Logan and Kyro, who nodded in agreement. "Or people who are bulletproof in the first place? Yeah, this is an opportunity to show the world that we're not all bad. But they also need to remember that their own kind aren't always so great either."

"Very well. If there's nothing else?" We all shook our heads and he pulled Bennington's card out of his pocket. "I believe I have a call to make." He wheeled over to the nightstand, picked up the external line and dialed the number. After a slight pause, he spoke. "Yes, Mr. Bennington, Charles Xavier here…yes, we've talked it over at great length…we have decided to accept your offer…we do have a few conditions of our own…I would prefer to discuss them in person, if you please." He made a motion indicating he needed a pen and paper, which I handed him. "Yes, of course…three pilots? Very well, that won't be an issue…Thank you, Mr. Bennington." He hung up the phone and tore the paper off the pad. "He seemed most enthusiastic at our response." He said with a smile.

"What's that about needing three pilots?" Sam asked.

"It appears that he's managed to procure two more aircraft for us. Sam, I will need you, Scott and Storm to come with me. Logan, Rogue, Kyro if you would be so kind as to accompany us as well."

"Of course Professor." Rogue said and the six of them exited the room, leaving Logan and I alone.

I looked at him and sighed. "Now you get to go have all the fun again." I said and he smirked at me.

"Nah, I'm sure it'll be a borin' trip. Besides, you only have one more week of bed rest, then you can run around like a madwoman all you want."

"Sure, for about day before I finally get to have this baby." I rubbed my stomach absently and Little Wolvie kicked in response. "I can hardly wait."

"Mm, me either tiger." He kissed me and held me close for a moment. "I love you darlin'. Be back before you have time to miss me."

"Not possible." I said and he smiled and winked before leaving the room. I settled back on the bed and kept rubbing my stomach. "You hear that? Your daddy's gone off on another adventure. At least this one's easy enough, just going to get some airplanes for us." The baby kicked again and I smiled. "Yeah, I know. I hate flying too. But for all I know, flying is something you can do without a plane. Angel and Chasca would love that, so would Sofia for that matter." He kicked me again and I felt him settle into a new position. "Getting ready for a nap? Sounds like a plan. I think I'll join you." I rolled onto my left side and closed my eyes. So many things had happened so fast over the past couple of months. Maybe this Bennington was right after all and he could make our job easier. And maybe, just maybe, we could make the world safe for my baby.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I awoke a couple hours later to the sound of several jets coming in to land. I yawned and stretched, then slightly disobeyed doctor's orders and shuffled to the window. Sitting on the lawn next to the basketball court were a couple Lockheed-Martin jets that made our Blackbird look like a Cessna. They were about half again larger and I could just make out missile launchers under the wings. As much as I hate to fly, I was still itching to go out there and crawl all over them, just to see what they could do. I watched as Logan and Sam exited one of them, both of them making sweeping gestures and grinning. I slowly moved away from the window and laid back down to wait for my lover to come back to the room.

He arrived a few minutes later and I could tell that he was thrumming with excitement. "Darlin', you might just change your mind about flyin'."

"I seriously doubt that." I replied. "See, it's the whole being up in the air in something not connected to the ground that I hate."

"You shoulda seen Scooter's face when he saw those things. Man, I thought he was gonna have raptures for hours! An' I got my way on the missiles." He settled in next to me and I snuggled up to his side. "There's EMP missiles, bunker busters, sidewinders an' a couple experimental ones with no metal in 'em."

"What'd he have to say about our conditions?" I asked, breathing in his scent.

"Agreed to 'em right away. Said keepin' us off the radar is no problem at all. So your secret will be safe forever."

"He does know that you, me and Kyro are probably gonna be around about that long, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he does. In fact, the Professor told him that as long as one of us was with the team, our agreement will stand as is." He looked at me and smirked. "I think that he's plannin' on us always bein' around."

"I doubt that." I replied. "Eventually, mutants will be accepted and we won't have to hide anymore." Logan snorted and I looked up at him. "Yeah, I don't believe it either. Besides, Scott will eventually be in charge of the school and I can't see you staying here any longer than we have to one that happens."

"Ya know, if Chuck was smart, he'd turn the place over to you someday."

"Never happen. If not Scott, he'll give it over to Storm."

"Sure, I know that. But they ain't gonna be around forever. We are, or at least close enough that it don't matter. An' by the time it becomes a factor, we'll have gotten rid of the Weapon X project once an' for all." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. "If we can't do that in the next thirty years, then we ain't nearly as good at what we do as we think we are."

"Oh, thirty years should be more than enough time, lover." Little Wolvie kicked just then, hard enough that Logan felt it too, which made him jump in surprise. "Yeah, he's been really active today. I think he wants to get out of bed too."

"Ya know, we can't keep callin' him 'Little Wolvie'. We'll need a real name soon."

I nodded. "I know. I've thought about it, but I didn't want to make any decisions without you."

"Well, what've you come up with?" He asked as we settled in.

"First off, it's not easy coming up with a name that someone else around here doesn't already have." I said. "So I already threw out anything like Jesse, Julian, Kyle or Robert."

"Between me an' you, I don't like any of those names anyway." He thought for a moment before speaking again. "What do you think of Ian?"

"Ian? No, I don't like it. It doesn't feel right. Hmmm. What about Stefan?"

"Uh-uh. Sounds too girly to me." I slapped him playfully and he chuckled. "What about Connor?"

"Connor?" I tried the name in my head, rolling it around a few times. "I like it. Connor James."

"James?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, after his daddy. Connor James Logan." He looked at me, his expression almost soft. "What, you didn't think I'd give him my last name, did you? And I didn't think you'd want to use 'Howlett'."

"Just when I think I got you figured out, you go an' surprise me." He kissed me softly, then smiled. "All right, Connor James Logan it is."

"So, what about a girl's name?" I asked and he stared. "Look, we never asked what sex the baby was and it's still possible for it to be a girl. So we better have one ready just in case."

He sighed. "I just really want a boy, you know."

"All men do. But we have to be prepared for anything."

"Fine. How about Mary?"

"Ick, too boring. I want something special but not trendy. How about Samantha?"

He shuddered. "I think we have enough Sams runnin' around here, don't you?" I giggled and he smiled. "What about Veronica?"

"I am not naming this baby after a comic book character." I said and he laughed. "How about Genevieve? We could call her Evie for short."

"Now that I like!" He said. "What about a middle name?"

"Well, that's an easy one. Marie." I replied. "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather honor than our Rogue."

"Genevieve Marie. Yeah, it fits."

"So we've decided then. Connor James Logan if it's a boy, Genevieve Marie Logan if it's a girl."

We smiled at each other and he kissed me again. "I love you, tiger." He said. "You've made me happier than I ever thought I could be."

"If anyone deserves it, it's you." I replied, cupping his face with my hand. "With everything that's happened to both of us, it surprises me sometimes that we're still able to love."

"I know, darlin'. An' I ain't gonna say it's been easy for me. But you're mine, my mate for life. I couldn't have asked for anyone better."

"Better stop that or you'll make me cry." I said and he gathered me into his chest. I sighed in contentment, a feeling I hadn't had in a very long time. Of course, it didn't last. With lives like ours, it never does.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Four days later, Buzz received a coded message on our secure server. The reason it stands out is because it wasn't from any of the safe houses, but from Bennington's agency. It was very short and to the point.

My office just intercepted a message from Magneto outlining plans to hit the DC Metro during the ceremony that officially opens the new Silver Line. The President will be the first passenger of the line and except for Secret Service agents, will be the only person on the train. The tracks between Dulles and Metro Center will be closed to all traffic except this train. We believe he intends to hit the train somewhere between its starting point and Metro Center, but exactly where was not included in the message. Good luck and Godspeed.

Logan rushed into our room and filled me in on the situation. I looked up at him with a touch of anxiety. "You're not going, are you?"

"Darlin', I have to." He replied. "If it was just Mags, Mystique and Pyro, then I wouldn't go. But we got no idea what other mutants are gonna be there and we need to be ready for anythin'."

"Who else is going?"

"Storm, Cyclops, Inferno, Colossus, Bedlam and Shadowcat in Blackbird One. Atlas, Echo, Totem, Nightcrawler and Gambit in Blackbird Two. Besides me."

"Lover, I don't want you to go." I pleaded. I'd been feeling off for a couple hours, little cramps and twinges in my back and stomach, but I hadn't said anything because they didn't feel much different from the pains and twinges I'd been having for a couple days.

"I have to. I have a responsibility…"

"…to use your gifts to help people." I finished for him. "Damn it, why do you have to throw my own words back at me?"

"Because you know I'm right. And you know you would insist on goin' if you could." I nodded and he kissed me. "Don't worry, Rogue wanted to go, but I'm makin' her stay here with you. Jubilee too. An' Hank's gonna be here if you need anythin', not to mention Xavier."

He kissed me again and I grabbed him and held him close for a long moment. "I love you, Logan. Come back to me."

"I will, tiger. Hell itself, remember?" I nodded and he gave me a tight squeeze before rushing out of our room.

A few minutes later, I heard the sound of the jets taking off and sent a quick plea to the gods to keep them all safe. At the speeds those jets could go, they should be there in under half an hour. I tried like hell to keep myself busy, first by perusing the Weapon X files, then reading a mystery book. After forty-five minutes, as I was still trying to read the same page for the tenth time, I growled and threw the book across the room in frustration. I did the math in my head and today was my last day on bed rest anyway. Screw what Hank had to say, I was going to the security office to monitor the situation.

I grabbed some clothes and padded carefully to the bathroom to change and brush my hair. When I came back out, lightning cracked the sky followed by a boom of thunder and the lights flickered in the mansion. Oh great, just what we needed on a night like this, a thunderstorm. And with our weather goddess nowhere to be found, we'd have to ride it out until she got back. Rain pelted the window and I could tell that this was going to be one hell of a storm. I went to the bedroom door and pressed my ear against it, but I couldn't hear anyone in the hallway. I eased the door open and peered both ways, but the hall was empty. So far, so good. I padded to the back stairs, which no one really used because they were narrow and a little dusty and carefully made my way down, pausing every time I heard the slightest sound. I might be as big as a house, but I was still the stealthiest person next to Kitty in the mansion. Once I got to the first floor, I paused again and listened for signs of activity. I could just make out the television in the lounge and the sounds of kids laughing as they played various games. I would have to be very cautious to get past them.

I slipped out of the stairwell and used the columns that lined the hallway as cover to get past the lounge. I paused whenever another bolt of lightning would flicker beyond the windows, then moved when the sound of thunder would mask any sounds that anyone may pick up, unlikely as that was. I finally made it to the stairs that would take me to the lower levels and slipped through the door undetected. I carefully made my way down these stairs, pausing twice when the lights flickered again in response to the storm that was raging outside. I made it to the door that would lead me into the hallway near the security office and pressed my ear against it. I heard nothing, so I cautiously opened the door and took a quick look around. I caught a flash of blue as Hank reentered the infirmary and I breathed a quick sigh of relief before sneaking down the hall and into the security room.

Buzz looked up as I entered and scowled at me. "Angela, you are so busted!" He cried.

"Shut the fuck up. One day won't make any difference. And I can't just sit there and wait. I promise, I won't do anything but sit here, watch and listen all right?"

"No, it's not all right!" He said. "Logan will KILL me if anything happens to you!"

"And I'll kick the crap out of you myself if you say anything to anyone." I met his eyes with an icy stare. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this. Please, I'll behave I promise."

He grumbled at me, but pulled out the most comfortable chair in the office and placed another one in front of me to rest my feet on. "Fine. But I want it noted that I am doing this under protest, got it?"

"Sure thing. So, what's going on?"

He typed some commands into the computer and the overhead display sprang to life. After typing a few more, the screen split itself into thirds and each section showed a portion of the DC Metro system. "Ok, the President is in the train here," he indicated with the mouse cursor, "and his train just left the station. By my calculations, Magneto will most likely hit it either here," he pointed to a spot where the train would be above ground near one of the stations, "or here, where it uses the same tracks as the Orange line."

I peered at the display, frowning. "My money's on the second one. The train's aboveground for a good amount of time and it's the most public place he could do this."

"Yeah, me and Logan thought so too." He zoomed in on that section and indicated an area with his cursor. "You can't see it, but Blackbird Two is right here. Logan and his team are already in position, but we still haven't spotted Magneto."

"You won't until he's ready to move." I murmured. Magneto wasn't the kind of guy to put himself in the front line until it was absolutely necessary. He'd send those he considered expendable into the fray first, only appearing at the end to deliver the final blow to the person he considered the main target: the President. "He'll be somewhere close enough to stop the train with his power, but he'll send others in to clear the way before he shows himself."

Buzz nodded and we watched the display closely. After a few more minutes, the President's train came into view. It cleared the first two stations and was almost within the third one when right on cue, sparks flew from the wheels of the train as it came to a screeching halt and I could see movement within the train as Secret Service agents covered the windows and the door at the back of the train. Less than five seconds later, figures swarmed out of the cover of the station and over the train. I heard shots ring out as they burst through the windows, the assault beginning in earnest.

I sat at the edge of my seat, wondering where the X-Men were when I saw someone grab the last car and detach it from the rest of the train. Without prompting, Buzz zoomed the image in a little more and I saw it was Atlas. A moment later, Logan's voice came over the com. "Wolverine to base, we are engaged."

"Copy that, Wolverine." Buzz replied and I smiled. He'd picked up a lot since he'd been here. "Currently looking down. Eagle One is at the front of the train, get someone there to cover and assist."

"Roger Base. The rest of Alpha is on the way."

"Roger, Wolverine. Will report when primary target is acquired. Base out."

Half a minute later, the jet we now called Blackbird One came into view, landing just behind the now detached back car. Atlas was engaged in a fight with two other mutants, one of which moved so fast that she was all but impossible to track visually. Echo was darting in and out from above, slicing at enemies with both her sword and the claws on her feet, turning suddenly when another flyer came up behind her. The two of them locked in an aerial combat, which she quickly turned to her advantage by viciously locking her teeth into his shoulder and carrying him aloft at an amazing speed. Gambit was tossing his trademark playing cards into groups of mutants who were trying to overwhelm the Secret Service agents inside the train, blowing them off their feet. Nightcrawler was bamfing into the train, grabbing enemies and bamfing back out with them, finishing them off with quick but precise blows. Totem was fending off four mutants, one of which had spikes protruding from his body and was tossing them out like a porcupine. Another could elongate her limbs and was attempting to entangle his feet. However, Totem was in his feral form and his agility was such that he managed to avoid her attacks while making quick work of the others.

I didn't see Logan anywhere until movement on top of the train near the front caught my eye. He was engaged in a pretty serious looking fight with a mutant who was damn hard to see, until a flash of light from the ground illuminated her and I saw it was Mystique. I knew he had kind of a grudge against her and he wasn't holding back on her in the slightest. She was relying on her awesome agility to keep her out of reach of his claws, but he surprised her by waiting for her to perform one of her more acrobatic dodges, grabbed her right out of the air and slammed her to the roof and pinning her there with his claws. Her eyes registered shock as he stabbed her two more times before kicking her over the edge. Still, that was no guarantee that she was dead. After all, she'd survived his claws once before.

He crouched down and sliced the top of the train open, creating a hatch for himself to get in and dropping down. His voice came over the com again. "Mr. President, I'm here to protect you." He said.

The com was sensitive enough to pick up the reply. "You're a mutant!" He cried. "Get away from me!"

"Sorry, can't do that. Got a job to do an' I'm gonna do it."

"I don't need your help, freak! I have my own protection!"

"With all due respect, they ain't gonna be worth dick once Magneto shows up." I wished I could see the President's face, but I would have to wait until Logan got home to find out exactly what happened there. I leaned forward to watch the rest of the action when a pain shot through my stomach. Oh hell no. I took a deep breath and did my best to ignore it. After a little more argument, the com fell silent again.

The rest of the team had arrived by then and they'd made quick work of the mutants that remained outside. Some of them got away, melting into the shadows or using other powers to avoid detection. Some were restrained and still others lay on the ground, unmoving. I couldn't tell if they were knocked out or dead, but it didn't matter to me. Only two people hadn't shown their faces yet and I waited for them to appear. It wasn't until I saw Echo's sword fly from her hands and Kyro plastered to the side of the train that I knew Magneto had finally arrived. A moment later, a huge gout of flame enveloped the train. Pyro was with him.

Magneto set himself down on top of the train and stood there imperiously. I wished I could hear what he said, but that just wasn't possible. Pyro made sure the fire never got close to Lensherr as he made his way towards the front where the President and Logan were. I held my breath, knowing that Magneto would not hold back from hurting my lover as much as he could. Another pain shot through me and I gasped.

"Angela, you all right?" Buzz asked.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." I snapped and he turned back to the computer. I looked back at the display just in time to see Inferno come out and the fire that surrounded the train weakened and finally died. Pyro whipped his head around and shouted something before lobbing another volley of flame. I looked closely and it appeared that he'd done away with the lighter I'd heard so much about from Bobby and now had some kind of igniter built into his gloves. Inferno just laughed and walked into it, shouting something back. Since neither one of them could be harmed by fire, this was a duel that would take forever if it came down to it. Still, Pyro continued to lob huge balls of fire towards the train in an attempt to burn out any Secret Service agents still inside and Inferno absorbed them just as quickly. Finally, Iceman appeared behind Pyro and as he prepared to toss another gout of flame, Inferno absorbed it as Iceman shot a stream of ice, encasing Pyro in a pillar that left only his head free. The two X-Men exchanged high fives as Pyro struggled within his frozen bounds, shouting something to the both of them. They turned to him, I assume to say something back when a flash of movement to the side caught my eye and I watched in horror as Echo's katana flew through the air, seemingly of its own accord, and impaled Inferno right through the chest with enough force to throw him into the side of the train, pinning him there. His eyes were wide and Storm flew down from the sky to assist him, but there was nothing she could do. A huge gout of blood erupted from his mouth and his head fell forward. I knew he was dead.

Another massive pain wracked my body and I gasped again, breathing hard. This time, I made a note of the time so I could pay attention to what was happening to me. I was almost thirty-eight weeks pregnant by this time, so even if I did go into labor, it wasn't that big of a deal. I just didn't want things to progress too far before Logan got home. He'd be pissed enough that I'd snuck out of bed; if he missed the birth of our child because of that, he'd never forgive me. The pain passed and I looked again to the screen.

Totem was still pinned to the side of the train, struggling weakly to fight his way towards Magneto and Logan at the front of the train. Suddenly, the com crackled to life again. "Storm to Shadowcat. Take Gambit and get into that train! I don't know what he's doing to Wolverine but it doesn't sound pretty!" I gasped and covered my mouth, tears springing to my eyes. I knew how powerful Magneto was and I knew that he could probably force the metal off of our bones with about as much effort as I would use to swat a fly. I watched as Shadowcat grabbed Gambit and the two of them phased through the side of the train. Still cursing the fact that I couldn't see inside, I could only wait and see who would emerge victorious. A couple breaths later, Shadowcat emerged from the train with the President in hand just as an explosion rocked the train. Magneto was thrown through the side of the train, his helmet flying off as he rocketed through the air. Bedlam was there in a flash and grabbed Magneto's hand, shorting out his central nervous system. He convulsed once, twice and was still.

I looked anxiously to the front of the train and saw Gambit emerge supporting Logan. He looked like hell, his uniform slashed so badly there was precious little leather intact as though Magneto had forced him to attack himself. Knowing him, that's just what he'd done. In a matter of minutes, DC police, FBI and the Metro police showed up on the scene to take away those mutants who had been involved in the assault. The remaining Secret Service agents spirited the President away, I assumed to a waiting car to get him off the scene as quickly as possible. Storm and Cyclops spoke for a moment to a man whose clothing and appearance screamed "FBI" before returning to their respective jets. Atlas pulled the katana out of Inferno's chest and gently gathered him into his arms, carrying the body reverently to Blackbird Two. Gambit was still helping Logan when the FBI guy stopped them. They spoke quickly, Logan shaking his head and pointing to the jet before motioning to the man to clear away. He did so and Logan stepped up the ramp.

The com sprang to life again. "Wolverine to base. Mission accomplished. We lost Inferno."

"Affirmative Wolverine. Return to base…"

I grabbed the com from him. "Are you fucking crazy?" I shouted.

"Hellcat? What in bloody hell are you doin' in the office?"

"Don't give me that right now! What were you thinking, going in there knowing what Magneto can do to us?"

"I was doin' my damn job, that's what!"

"You didn't have to be the one to go in there with the President! You had to know that Magneto would want the honor of killing him for himself! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"You shoulda been in bed all this time an' you woulda never known the difference!"

"Oh, so I got up twelve hours early. Sue me. You still should have let someone else handle that! Shadowcat would have been perfect for the job!"

"I was the team leader. It was my responsibility to take the hard job. You know how it is on an op, so don't give me this shit!"

"Logan, I swear to the fucking gods, when you get back here I'm…" I gasped suddenly as another major pain swept through me, followed by an unmistakable gush. "Oh fuck. Lover, get home fast."

"What happened? Are you all right?"

"Fine, just fine. But my water just broke."

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AN: A cliffie of a different color...:) So what do you think? Is it a boy or a girl? And for those of you who already know, don't tell:) Special thanks to Zac and Turiel Tincdaniel for being the best beta readers ever...Extra Special thanks to DBk(tm) for being so supportive and so annoying at the same time...Super Special thanks to me readers for sticking with me for the entire ride...and Super Swanky Special thanks to my reviewers, who were theNightEnchantress, sela103 and reeltreble1031...sela: you might be crazy, but your reviews are always a pleasure to see...:) reeltreble: glad you liked it (and Bennington)...won't be seeing much of him, he's a peripheral character at best, even in future stories (yes, the next one is being written even as i'm typing this!) theNightEnchantress: thanks for the review!

Now is your chance to get the next chapter up early! All you have to do is click the "review" button and leave me some feedback...your reviews are not only welcome, but necessary for me to know what you think of the story!