Rise or Fall

by Heiress Mellie

First Class: Charles and Erik have accepted their roles as guardians and headmasters over the young mutants but there is still work to be done for the greater than typical family. This is a familial and discipline, including spanking, centered fiction.

245. Chapter 245 Cats and Mice

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Two Hundred Forty-Five

Author's Word: Two things, fam. One, algebra is stupid. Two- sorry if this shocks your systems- I really, really love writing. Please enjoy and review!

Even prior to entry inside the century old establishment made up of marble and platinum walls, the keen nostrils detected waves of tobacco, countless variations of overpriced liquor, and certain other pleasures not necessarily of the legal variety. The housekeeper- Hispanic, wide at the hips, long brown hair pinned up, accent heavy- escorted them from the welcome area and into the parlor. Victor hid his growing disdain as the scents all but exploded throughout that part of the building. They entered the designated party room that consisted of a poker game at one table, a circle of men guffawing at the anecdotes they traded over glasses of scotch, and many a wolf whistle at the big-busted waitresses in articles of clothing that left next to nothing to the imagination.

"Victor Creed to see you, sir," the housekeeper piped up over the noise, catching the attention of a gentleman in all white attire. "And his guest…"

"Bambi," the woman attached to his arm in cropped dark hair and black cocktail dress supplied.

The host in white stepped forward to take her hand in greeting. "Reginald Phelps." His dark blue eyes searched her face. "Pardon me, young lady, but I could swear I've seen you somewhere before."

"Oh I'm sure." Fluffing out one section of her hair, she said provocatively, "I do get around quite a bit."

Casting a condescending gaze on her, Victor reproached, "I didn't bring you out to run your miserable mouth." Bambi immediately folded her lips together and Victor looked to the other man. "Dames can never stay in their place."

"I understand," Reginald sympathized. "There's a reason I like to vacation separately from my wife."

With a snap of his fingers and tilt of his head, Victor ordered, "Get back to the car. I'm sick of lookin' at ya already."

Readjusting her brown fur jacket, Bambi followed the housekeeper out of the room.

"Mr. Creed, please," Reginald led the way over to the circular table, "join us for a game."

Another man across the way held up a bottle. "What's your pleasure, Creed?"

"I don't drink over poker," Victor informed. "Good way to lose your shirt."

"Wise," Reginald smirked. After they were all situated at the table with the new game started, he said, "I was very pleased when you contacted us for membership, Mr. Creed. You sound most promising. Though, as I already mentioned, our dues are quite hefty…"

Reaching inside his jacket, Victor retrieved a stack of green bills to drop onto the center of the table. "This good to start?"

Amongst all the other dangling jaws, Reginald managed to collect himself. "And finish I'll say."

"Good." As they began with the cards, Victor noticed the dart board in one corner. It had multiple pictures of different children attached to it. "What's that about?"

Glancing back, Reginald smiled fondly. "Another one of our little games."

One of the men at the table further explained, "Highest points for getting a monkey in the head or, better yet, a zebra in the chest."

"Ah, so I am in the right place," Victor determined. "Get a load of this." Removing something else from his jacket, he flashed the photograph at them. "White and Indian."

"A little feather duster," one of them remarked. "Guess he's lucky. Not nearly as ugly as those things shot out of darky dick."

"Where did you get this?" another asked of the photograph. "A little trophy before sinking him into a swamp?"

"Funny thing actually," Victor calmly raised the picture to hold beside his face as he spoke, "See, this little feather duster…" The smile he wore faded and his white pupils morphed into black, causing all present to recoil. "Is my nephew. See, he's got my eyes." With an ear-piercing roar, he flipped over the card table.

As soon as Reginald snatched his automatic from its holster, Victor leapt for the chandelier. The resulting bullet instead connected with one guest's lower upper abdomen, sending him straight to the floor. While a couple others gathered around him, a now stiff Reginald yelled out in anguish his error. Victor landed on top of him, seizing the weapon for himself. At the men who attempted to retreat, the leonine mutant rushed to get the double doors shut. He left one partly open to allow the waitresses to exit.

Gun aimed at the remaining and paling individuals, Victor formed a smirk. "Hey, come on, boys. What's the big hurry? Now, help me out here. I know it's head and chest. So, question. How many points for this?" He redirected the automatic Reginald's way with barrel pointed low.

II

Shining the exterior of her pistol to fight off boredom, the brunette woman promptly aimed the gun at the hastily approaching footsteps.

At the familiar face, she quickly unlocked the car door. "Took you long enough."

"What?" Getting into the passenger's side, Victor worked to stuff the collected cash into his various pockets. "Worried about me, honey duck?"

"Must you flatter yourself?" Removing the black wig so as to allow her red strands to spill out freely, Adrienne revved up the vehicle and hurried off under the night sky.

IIIIIII

The pounding head so afflicted by throbbing could not react positively to the carefree giggling and additional weight on the mattress. The older boy made a hardly passable effort at batting away the younger one.

"Max," came the moan.

"Get up, sleepy head." Max aimed a head-butt at his cheek. "Move it."

Collin blindly tapped at his bottom. "What are you doing up so early? It's Sunday."

"Early?" Max smirked in humor. "Check the clock, dopey. It's a quarter after eleven."

"Huh?" Sitting up a bit, the time device on his night stand gave Collin confirmation. "Oh man."

Winding arms around his neck, Max hung on. "Come on. Let's go eat cereal or something."

When a barking Jack trotted in next, Collin released a groan. "Okay, okay. Don't gang up on me. You mutts go on. I'll be right there."

"Make it snappy," Max ordered, hopping down to leave with his dog.

Collin started to roll his eyes at the childish command then had to clutch his forehead as a surge of discomfort passed over the spot.

IIIIIII

Hands kneading the thin shoulders belonging to the younger raven-haired male, Leon waited for their breathing pace to synchronize. Once their intakes and exhales matched up evenly, he started their routine with arms posed in curved positions. From the corner of his eye, he observed the child in black track pants and light gray X t-shirt imitate the slow paced movements with fairly accurate precision. It was not until the physical exertion grew into an accelerated rate did the small one step out of sync.

"Hey, this isn't a race." From behind, Leon placed semi-firm pressure on the boy's upper arms. "Don't tire yourself out this early. At your size, you won't wear out as fast as most of your opponents, but you don't want to waste energy needlessly, either."

Cody bobbed his head. "Right."

Charging forward next, Leon used his right leg to initiate a spin-kick. Cody leapt next.

At the execution, Leon directed, "Two more." He watched the youth assault the air around them twice with his feet. "Alright, this is trickier. Hands down," Leon pressed his palms to the matt and twirled his legs forcefully, "multiple opponents out." He jumped to an upright position again. "You try it."

A slight growl escaping his lips out of reflex, Cody winced and squinted when his own hands made strong contact with the matt.

Leon saw what troubled him and knelt to inspect the twin knuckles with each set of bone claws protruding through slightly. "Easy." He massaged one hand then the other. "Just relax."

Cody breathed in through his nose until the penetrating bones retracted. "Makes me sick the way they go off like that."

"It's instinctive," Leon pronounced. "With your sharp senses and lack of experience with these claws, they're likely to do that if it seems like you're in a fight. It happens to real animals, too. Haven't you seen the way Midnight's show if he so much as stretches?"

"Yeah, definitely wouldn't want to mess with him when he's stressed." The boy's expression became disgruntled at his next thought. "You're so good with this stuff. Nothin' ever makes you lose control."

Leon regarded him with a cryptic smirk. "Nice to know I can make you think that." His countenance eased again. "You don't want to trade everything you have inside you for the hollowness I have in me. Believe me," he stood to full height again, "there's nothing wrong with you, Cody."

Promptly honing in on the adult presence, Cody shifted his gaze to the doorway. "Daddy's here."

"Daddy's here," Logan mimicked his son with a humorous sneer. "So, what's the word? You makin' trouble down here, Cat?"

"Every chance I get," Cody stated matter-of-factly.

Leon looked to the instructor. "You need the gym?"

"In a while," Logan replied, getting his boxing gloves situated. "Meetin' the glowworm in a few."

"Come on, trouble," Leon spoke to the child again, "let's go for a run."

Cody pumped his fists. "Woot!"

Logan called after his son, "Break somethin' and it'll be Chuck you have to outrun next!"

II

Keen blue eyes as diligently sharp as ever, the tall figure in crimson and plum stayed wordless. His attendance remained known to the four adolescents present by the various metallic implements he summoned to hurl their way. Banshee's mutated bellow forced anything that came near him to retreat opposite of his path Angel dodged them by flying or spitting out her venom to dissolve them where she could. Making a weapon of her entire body, Glimmer moved with a ballet dancer's style and an X-Man's vehemence. She allowed the objects to connect with her golden body and crumple right back to earth the moment they did so.

Only one caused Magneto's deep masculine voice to ring out across the wintry environment. "Miss Patterson," he descended from where he hovered a few feet above, "come see me."

Though he only summoned the one, the other youths seemed to exchange guilty expressions almost like the elder sought to chastise them as well.

Always able to pick up on even the slightest hint of authoritative disapproval, Maya made tracks to stand before the man. "Yes, Magneto?"

"I'll remind you that this is the training field, not the classroom. Therefore," seizing her by the wrists, he brought her arms upward, "you have no reason to raise these." He let go of her. "What have I told you about using your hands as a constant security blanket to focus your telekinesis?" Maya observed as his helmet leapt up and found a resting spot under Magneto's left arm all while the metal wielder hardly blinked to acknowledge the act. "And I can only control metal. You should be able to do so much more."

"I know," sighing deeply, she ran one set of fingers through her ponytail. "And I've been working on it. But it's still such a reflex."

"And if this were a nail biting habit- that still wouldn't suffice as a decent excuse." Ordering over a stray fragment of metal, Magneto twisted it out to become straight and horizontal. "If you cannot control it yourself, I'm afraid you're in need of stricter discipline."

At the object he reshaped, Angel mumbled to the other two, "Tell me he is not about to whip her with that thing."

Though he opted to give the mutant elder the benefit of the doubt, Banshee still replied, "He better not."

Magneto's raised eyes caused their lips to lock. "Turn around and stick out your hands." A confused Maya faced the other way to follow directions. Magneto bent the small poker to cuff her wrists together. "This way." He led her over to a nearby tree. "Sit down." She worked her way into a cross-legged position with her back to the trunk. "Glimmer, Angel," he waved the other two girls over, "stand on either side here." Angel took the left portion of the tree and Glimmer the right. Magneto addressed Maya again. "You're going to have to defend yourself without relying on your hands." To the other young women, he said, "If she can't deflect in time, it is up to you to defend her."

"Right," Glimmer nodded and Angel replied, "We got her."

"Banshee," Magneto turned to the redhead now, "as a seasoned X-Man, I'd like you to observe with me. Note whatever I may miss."

Initially doubting such a thing could happen where it concerned the Poland native, Banshee still said, "Yes, sir," and came to stand at his side.

Facing his female students, Magneto sent the stray pieces of metallic shards forward.

Jerking her head around, Maya only managed to rebound two. Glimmer moved faster to keep the rest from connecting with her.

"Maya," Magneto hissed, causing the jagged objects to circle around the tree, "concentrate."

"I am!" she insisted with a grunt, wriggling her bound wrists.

Magneto narrowed his eyes reproachfully. "I truly hope that isn't true. Because if this is your best effort, it's clear Tricie chose an unworthy vessel to host her gift."

While the other teenagers looked at the man with disbelief over his pointed words, Maya lost any and all awareness of the chilled atmosphere.

"Shut up!" Inner core heated enough to ignite every part of her, Maya telekinetically sent every metal object chucking in multiple directions. When Magneto also toppled back as a result of her force, the girl returned to reality with a brutal awareness. "Oh no…" Making it to her feet, she hurried to him. "I'm sorry. I don't know- I didn't mean to, I swear."

The nonchalant mutant adult merely accepted Banshee's offered hand to rise, keeping eyes on the frantic novice. "That's my brilliant girl."

When he went to affectionately cup her chin, Maya felt her restraints uncoil and drop to the ground.

II

Innermost selves combined, the man in green uniform, woman in solid white, and child in pink and purple explored the happenings within their home from an entirely unique angle. Though they could only intangibly materialize for a few seconds at a time, they took in multiple sights. They saw Beast directing things with Cyclops in the flight simulator, Leon having to make an effort to keep up with the ever spirited Cody, and Magneto strengthening his current set of pupils through exertion. Though he could not see her, euphoria still elevated within Becky just to see her father at work. The smile she wore faded straightaway at feeling the Triad yanked back collectively into their mind space.

"It's alright, Princess," Professor X soothed at her gasp. "This is merely our psyche's way of preserving our energy."

Emma flashed worried but admiring eyes on him, knowing there was far more to it than that. However, her husband's objective consisted of keeping things relaxed for their young protégé.

"Charles!" the lady in white cried out urgently.

The Professor received no time to brace himself as a mangled black hand shot out to capture him by the leg.

"Uncle Charles!" Becky shrieked when it began to drag him towards the materializing doorway.

"It isn't real, my darling," the male telepath emphasized, keeping his calm about him while still attempting to jerk free. "It's a manifestation of stress and fatigue, nothing more."

"Leave him alone!" Becky ordered of the faceless creature, running to get the door shut.

"Rebecca!" Emma leapt after her.

Moaning from the strain, Becky managed to slam it shut. However, the hand only slowed while keeping a lock on Professor X.

Encasing herself in her diamond form, Emma used her now razor sharp fingers to slice the monstrosity's arm off. The second she did so, it along with their surroundings vanished. The three found themselves in the physical realm, lined up on the sofa in Charles' study.

Situated between them, Becky touched the man's shoulder and studied his face. "Are you okay?"

A smile that came off as a mixture of relief as well as proud delight crossed his lips. "Certainly I am, Princess." Taking her small hand, the Professor used the other to stroke Emma's hair. "Thank you."

Emma whispered a warm, "Sugar," into his palm, pressing her lips there.

"I believe that's quite enough for one day." Professor X tickled Becky's nose. "Why don't you see if Raven and Kayla need help with the little ones?"

Becky pecked his cheek before she left to seek out the other females.

Emma eyed her husband with a sheen in her eyes. "You have so much of your own pain. I hate seeing you forced to carry that of others'."

"Any pain I have is minute in the grand scheme of things," he claimed.

Naturally, the words did nothing to alleviate Emma. "In this past year alone, you've had to help the children through their nightmares, navigate through headaches, prevent those politicians from furthering their anti-mutant agenda, battle the Shadow King right after making it out of a coma."

"Sean and Frank took down the Shadow King," the Professor countered. "I only provided them access to the battlefield."

"Charles," the seriousness in Emma's tone increased, "you were a breath away from death before you could even see your own newborn child. Do not sit there and try to convince me that all of this doesn't weigh in on you."

"Of course it does." He took her hand and squeezed it. "However, one luxury I am not allowed is dwelling. Brian, our beautiful baby, is right here with us. Our family is safe. We're able to continue the fight for mutant rights. Don't you see, darling? That's all that matters."

Emma did not respond verbally as she drew him into a solid hug.

II

At yet another lackluster swing on the city native's part, Logan growled, "Get serious, glowworm. You're not packin' enough of a punch to take out a fly."

"Sorry, I…" Blinking, Frank shook his head. "Listen, can we pick this up later?"

"What is with you, boy?" Removing his gloves, Logan next asked, "When did you become such a lightweight?"

"I'm just tired. Erik had me out on an early AM run and I had a session with Havok."

"And?" Logan dismissed. "That's normally kid stuff for you." He then honed in on the sound that penetrated the air around them. "There it goes again." He touched two fingers to the boy's chest. "Your heart's goin' a mile a minute."

"I've been training," Frank reiterated. "And school just started up again. Look, I'm wiped, but it's not like I'm in Alex's BP club."

Crossing his arms, Logan drilled into the brown eyes with his blue. "Is there somethin' you want to tell me, kid? Anything at all? Whatever it is, I'm all ears."

Frank came back with, "That Cadillac you put together would've looked better in silver."

Logan remained unamused. "Don't play around with me, boy. Now answer my question."

"Look," Frank sighed, "my parents are on my mind and… don't make me talk about this. I'll do better, okay?"

After a few seconds of silence, Logan determined, "I'm takin' your word on that. Hit the showers." A grateful Frank started to walk out by him. "And glowworm," the young teen stopped to look back, "your word better be as good as a billion in cash. Otherwise, you and me? Problems."

Frank bobbed his head, "Yes, sir," then continued out and picked up his pace the moment he made it to the hall.

IIIIIII

Speaking while working his pencil, Trav enunciated, "Lily used to live in a…"

"Rural," Raven supplied. "That's the countryside. Ru-ral. Go ahead, take your time."

"R-U," Trav continued writing as he went along, "R-A-L. Lily used to live in rural state."

"Great job, Pooh," Raven praised. She smirked at the next word on the list. "Okay, you have to know this one. Magnet."

"Ooh, ooh!" Trav reacted. "That's Uncle Erik without the O at the end. M-A-G-N-E-T." He thought for a second before starting on a new sentence. "I gave my Uncle Erik a big box of magnets."

Raven declared, "Bonus points for plural." She looked up at the groggy teenager who entered the kitchen in jeans and a red sweatshirt. "Hey, sleepy love bug."

"Frankie, do you know how to spell magnet?" Trav asked importantly.

Frank automatically replied, "I'd better or that's just sad."

Raven smiled and indicated the tot in her lap. "Someone is trying to get into the second grade reading class. He's already memorized most of this list."

"Oh wow," Frank nodded. "That's really cool, buddy." He went to the nearest refrigerator for a coke. "Where'd everybody go, anyway?"

Raven recalled, "Erik and Charles went to show Emma the facility so they likely won't be back until way later this evening. Hank's updating the flight simulator. And apparently their session with Erik was so rough that Sean, Maya, Angel, and Cordy had to make a mad dash to replenish their cheese fry levels. Alex, Leon, and Scott went with them- out of sympathy pains of course. They wanted Sam to go, but she's basically book buried."

"Okay, she seriously needs to get out of here," Frank determined. And me, too. "Hey, Rae, can we head over to Collin's place?"

"If you're going to miss dinner, make sure you glide back in here by ten," Raven conditioned. "You have books and teachers' sassy looks in the morning."

"Thanks, Rae." Drink in hand, Frank departed to go inform Samantha of their liberation.

Raven and Trav resumed the spelling lesson until Becky hurried in next.

"Raven, Brian won't stop crying and he woke Kiki out of her nap."

"Oh boy." Raven slid Trav off her lap as she stood.

Her son regarded her imploringly. "Aw, Mommy…"

"I'll be back as quick as I can, Pooh Bear," the blue woman promised. "Becky, please go over the spelling words with him."

Trav proved at least partly placated when the curly haired girl came to join him at the table.

IIIIIII

When the two X-Men made it to their destination, the Acolyte Manor seemed even quieter than their own home. Between Estevan taking the younger children to a Disney matinee, Jimmy and Melissa each off in unknown parts, and Fabian at a luxury auto expedition with Marco, Collin remained the sole inhabitant for the present. Though he knew Collin did enjoy being alone at times, Frank still sympathized with the standard middle child state of affairs.

After finding nothing of particular interest on television, Collin put forth, "Forget this. Let's go into the city for a while."

Frank glanced at him skeptically. "You plan on serving my grounding sentence when I break curfew on a school night?"

"Just a couple hours," Collin reasoned. "We'll be back in plenty of time. Don't you want to blow this town for a while?"

"Yeah, to pieces." Frank then nodded his agreement. "Okay, let's go."

"Go where?" Samantha made her way back from the bathroom.

Collin explained, "To hit up the city."

"What?" Samantha looked to Frank. "We can't go there by ourselves, can we? What will Erik and Charles say?"

"Hey, Rae's the one in charge," Frank reminded. "All she said was that we need to be home by ten."

"Oh," the blonde shrugged, "okay then."

Spotting the round sphere in one corner, Frank went to retrieve the basketball.

Collin watched him. "You're bringing that along?"

Frank peered back with a smirk. "For some real fun."

IIIIIII

Even before formal introduction to the magnificent feminine creature cloaked entirely in white attire, Darryl Henson performed a double-take. With zero need for telepathic capability, Erik knew exactly what the broader male thought of the other half of the Xavier couple. A brief shared look with his brother told him Charles understood the same.

"Quite a few lovely ladies in your family, Professor," Darryl noted. "Which reminds me, how is your pretty little sister?"

Matching expressions with him, Charles replied, "Preoccupied with her own load at the moment."

"We'll be sure to let her know her presence was missed," Erik added brazenly.

"Make certain you keep up with us, Mrs. Xavier," Darryl started their line-up off, "We don't need any incidents. We have quite enough trouble holding onto an insurance carrier as it is."

Emma stated dryly, "I'll fight off the overwhelming desire to venture off and stick my fingers in an outlet."

They continued on in welcomed silence after that.

The tour mainly consisted of what Charles and Erik had already seen. The familiarity immediately ended once they made it to the third floor. A slim teenage girl clothed in beige hospital garments charged at them like a rabid bull. Two orderlies, clad in heavy jumpsuits, attempted to go after her. The moment she reached the new faces, her own melted straight off. Giving off an earth-shattering-scream, she stood before them the picture of bones and decaying flesh. Charles regarded her with disbelief and partial fascination, Emma's entire form remained even, and a stone-faced Erik stepped forward in an attempt to keep the two of them shielded.

Hand reacting almost too quickly for the naked eye to witness, Darryl retrieved a small handgun from his weapons belt. The others looked on with shock when he jabbed it at her chest and pulled the trigger. The girl's shouting came to a prompt end. As soon as she sunk to the floor with eyes shut, her body regrew its regular features.

"Alice Davies." Holstering the gun again, Darryl explained offhandedly, "Unconventional shapeshifter."

"That's apparent," stated Emma.

Squatting, Charles attempted to reach for Alice's forehead in comfort.

Darryl dipped to keep the younger man's arm in place. "It's best you don't disturb her. On the off-chance she awakens too soon, she won't be able to use her powers for some time, but she can start screaming again. To the point of complete oxygen deprivation." He waved his orderlies over, who already prepared a gurney.

Charles turned pleasant eyes on him. "I only wish to speak with her; council her."

"There will be time for that," Darryl said vaguely.

The orderlies lowered the gurney to load the teenager onto it. Emma reacted to her suddenly quivering arm.

Darryl stretched out a hand to block her pace. "Mrs. Xavier, allow my professionals—"

"We," Emma batted his arm away in ladylike fashion, "are the professionals." She gently gripped Alice's wrists and folded them over the girl's chest for her. "Careful, gentlemen." Emma adjusted her pillow as well. "She's a child, not a rag doll for you to fling about."

The orderlies observed the woman's technique. When Emma finished, they rolled Alice on towards her quarters.

Clearing his throat into his fist, Darryl put forth, "I take it you do volunteer work at one of those crisis centers."

"No, but outside of teaching, I have another bit of experience you won't find on my resume." Emma faced him with a smile. "I, too, was once a raging teenage girl. Now, may we please press on? We clearly have a great deal to see and I would like to return home before our own children have to leave for school."

Darryl bobbed his head, "Yes, ma'am," resumed walking ahead of them.

At his brother's hand on his shoulder, Charles offered him an expression of reassurance. Erik also looked to Emma, who gave off the same guarantee of wellness. The metal wielder let them move ahead while he kept eyes alert.

IIIIIII

At the third jump shot completed in a row, no sound resulted as the various boys stood absolutely star-struck. They could only gawk at the glowing being with golden blonde hair, attired in a sweater, slacks, and ankle-length boots none of their own sisters could afford in a lifetime.

"I don't believe it."

"Never seen a girl dunk like that in my life."

"I can't believe this white girl's wiping us out."

Frank grinned arrogantly. "That's game, fellas. Pay up."

With multiple grumblings, the other boys still removed the dollar bills from their pockets.

One of the high school aged boys stepped forward. "You and me, one and one, loser buys the sodas. Unless you want your little girlfriend to take me because you can't hang."

Squaring off with him, Frank replied, "Make my soda grape."

While they got into the game, Frank looked over every so often. He saw Samantha stepping rhythmically with a group of girls. A tall chocolate-skinned boy provided the music for them via his makeshift drum set consisting of a pair of upside down plastic pails. They easily passed for the genuine articles every time he skillfully banged on them with the thick wooden sticks. He gave the widest grin he could when Samantha pause long enough to deposit three dollar bills into his gratuity jar.

At an unexpected and sharp loss of breath, Frank dropped the ball to clutch his knees.

Samantha instantly reacted and hastened to his side. "Frank?"

One of the other players scoffed. "No wonder you had a girl playing for you."

Samantha scowled their way. "Leave him alone."

"Look, let's just make it a draw, okay?" Frank removed a portion of his earnings from his pants pocket. "Go get your stupid sodas. I'm done with this." He walked off with Samantha so they could collect their outerwear from where they'd left it on the fence earlier. Frank noticed one coat missing and looked around the court. "Where'd Collin go?"

Samantha noticed his absence and attempted to think. "I'm not sure. Maybe he went to the store?"

"Hey," Frank called over to the drummer, getting his attention, "you see where our friend went?"

"Skinny little carrot top dude?" He gestured one end with his head. "Saw him slink off that way about ten minutes ago."

Considering the redhead had apparently done so without so much as a word, suspicion bubbled within Frank. "Sam, think you can track him?"

"I'll try." Uncertainty gripped the girl somewhat over the remarkable size and sights of the city.

II

Arms folded and legs slightly crossed with back pushed against a stack of crates, he attempted to keep himself occupied by throwing tiny pieces of stray rubbish at passing rats. He reacted to the arrival of the much older male in black suede jacket; bald with trimmed beard.

"Finally," Collin sneered. "Get lost over the rainbow or something?"

"That's cute- coming from a preschooler."

"Ha-ha. Trash Can, right?"

"It's Trash Man, garbage boy." When he moved to reach into his jacket, his hand immediately stilled at the boy revealing the carving knife in his possession. "What the hell, kid?"

"Don't bullshit me," Collin glared, tight grip on the weapon. "You a cop?"

"Oh." Forming a knowing grin, Trash Man answered, "No, but I keep 'em on the payroll. They're about five cents for the dozen in this neighborhood. Now, you want to do business or what? Come on, I got other clients."

Collin slowly lowered the knife but still held it. "Show me what you got. Better be good."

"Demanding little shit, aren't you?" He presented him with the clear baggy containing vials. "Standard stuff?" He next dangled a separate container with tablets inside. "Or you looking at an upgrade?"

"Do I look like I have a cough and fever to you?" Collin rolled his eyes. "I'm not into pills."

"You look like you got something," Trash Man observed. "Pale, shaky, can't hardly keep your eyes open."

Collin tried to control his excessive blinking. "I'm not looking for a diagnoses. Now, what's so great about the pills?"

"See for yourself." Trash Man removed one by shaking it out onto its cap. "This stuff will carry you over longer than three gas doses combined. And they're prescription- if you're going blind, anyway."

Taking the pill from the cap, Collin managed to swallow it dry but made a face. "Ugh…"

"Little chalk," Trash Man shrugged. "You'll get used to it. Might even start to get off on it."

A slow smile grew on Collin's face. "Oh, wow… don't tell me they work this fast."

"Told you, upgrade. So's the price."

"I could only get seventy bucks together. Just give me half and I'll check back with you by Saturday."

"Seventy?" Trash Man echoed in amused disdain. "That's what you call a down payment? Grow up, kid. This ain't basic grass we're talking about here."

"I said it's all I—" Collin stopped speaking and put a hand to his stomach.

Letting off a snigger, Trash Man encroached on him. "See, that's not all you have. Between these little doe eyes," he grabbed Collin's other wrist, "and slim lady hands, you got a hell of a lot more street value."

Collin tried to snatch away from him. "Forget it! I'm not into that shit!"

"Don't worry." Giving him an abrupt shove back, Trash Man sent Collin to the concrete floor. "You won't even feel it."

Horror overtook the young teen as numbness spread throughout his body and his limbs became limp. "What the hell did you put in me?"

"Me?" Getting down to one knee, Trash Man peered into his face. "You're the one who swallowed a pill without even trying to read the label." He smirked. "What a dumb little fuck." Raising a hand, he waved with his fingers. "Hey, guys, get it while it's hot, young, and supple."

Managing to move his head, Collin felt his heartbeat intensify at the five approaching adult men. "N- no!" He tried with great force to jerk away but movement proved next to impossible.

Trash Man forced his arms down. "Be good and they're the end of it. Keep doing what you're doing and I'll make a late night, all access buffet out of you. Keep trying me, kid."

"Coll!" Frank sprinted into the warehouse. Before he could make it to his friend, he found himself seized by two of the other men, tall with iron grips. "Get off me!" An attempt to send a blinding ray into their eyes came up fruitless and Frank's heart dropped. "My powers…"

"Two?" Trash Man stood with a grin. "Price just went up, guys."

"Frank?" The blonde head peeked inside cautiously.

"Sam, get out of here!" Frank yelled.

"Run!" a strained Collin got out.

Samantha only came in closer. "What are you doing to my friends?"

"Whoa, sweetheart," big smile in place, Trash Man strolled towards the unexpected female. "Easy, easy. Just completing a business transaction here."

A shorter, slim male in the group piped up, "Hey, Trash, I want the girl."

At the others who seconded that motion, Frank struggled roughly. "No! Don't touch her!"

One of the men who had him bound slapped him across the face with his backhand.

"No!" Samantha shrieked, eyes widening with fright. "Please…" She turned pleading expression on the one coming her way. "Please, please don't hurt my friends. They can do whatever they want to me."

Collin's voice raised into a shout. "Sam, no!"

Trash Man reached out to fondle a section of her hair. "Aww, sweetness, I can't let them pass your pretty self around like that. But I'm sure you and me can come to an arrangement. After all, you want to help your friends, right?"

She nodded, slipping out of her gloves. "Mmhmm."

"You're too good. And too gorgeous for "Sam". Your real name Samantha?" She gave him another nod. "Mm, Sweet Samantha. Bet you're a good girl, too. You a virgin, Miss Lady?"

"Yes," came the faint reply.

Despite how softly she said it, an uproar resulted the moment the answer left her lips.

"Shut up!" barked Trash Man before placing a wide smile on the coveted target again. "Hm," bringing up her arm, he admired the bracelet she wore, "got good taste, too."

Samantha clapped a protective hand over that wrist. "It goes with my sister's."

"Sister?" Trash Man echoed with clear intrigue. "She half as pretty as you?"

The brown-eyed girl stated matter-of-factly, "She's the prettiest."

"And I do believe you. Now," he inched in to touch her shoulder, "what do you say we- aaaah!" Red flashed before his face at the razor like cuts delivered by her fingertips.

Samantha used a discarded board to bash across his head before sending a kick into his side, making him go down. "Frank!"

When she charged, three members of the cliental attempted to go at her as a herd. Jumping up, Samantha made a vine out of a dangling overhead chain. She swung forward, using both boots to kick the middle one in his face. Dropping to her feet, her brown eyes reddened as her fangs grew out from her teeth to go with her still bared claws. The blood-curdling feline snarl she unleashed next stunned them all.

Released from restraint by the two who held him, Frank served them each an elbow to the belly. He dashed as fast as he could to snag Samantha's hand then go to Collin.

Through his currently limited vision, Trash Man made out the fleeing duo who carried the flaccid redhead between them. Clutching his slowly bleeding face, he still managed to orient himself enough to reach into his jacket for his 9mm.

IIIIIII

"Wolverine!"

At the rampaging figure in blue storming into their quarters, the Howlett couple promptly secured their smallest children to the safety of their cribs.

"What's goin' on?" Logan's eyes expanded at her pawing through their dresser tops. "You lost your mind, Mystique?"

"Where are everybody's keys?" Raven demanded. "We have to move."

Entering next, the partially calmer Hank explained, "Sam called us from a payphone. We need to get to Queens."

Raven picked it up with, "She said Frank went into some creepy building after Collin. It looked like a gang was in there."

"What?" Kayla reacted.

"I need keys! Damn kids have the X-Van!" Raven growled. "We have to get to the jet."

Revealing the dangling objects in question, Logan said, "I'm driving." He only took time enough to kiss his wife. "Stay with the kids."

Despite still being entirely taken aback by the whirlwind of events, Kayla managed a nod as the other three X-Men took swift leave.

IIIIIII

Feet moving at such a velocity that they seemed to blur, Samantha and Frank both choked on a breath at Collin collapsing forward into the snow.

"Man, come on!" Frank urged, attempting to pull him up again. "Our powers are fried. We've got to keep going."

Hardly able to so much as rise to his knees, Collin shook his head hard. "Go… get Sam out of here…"

Before the girl in question could object, her senses made her tense. "They're coming." Taking Collin's other arm, Frank helped her drag him around another corner of the crowded industrial area.

Leading his vehement horde, Trash Man kept his glock at the ready. "Where are you, blonde bitch? You think I don't know what you are?" He knocked over a row of trash cans in his way. "I know all about you fucking freaks. I'll score a cool five figures off you. And your boyfriends? Yeah, they'll really get around in Mexico."

Though their encroachers remained a significant distance behind them, Samantha's ears picked up every word. Chest pounding, she silently made a decision.

Frank panicked when she stood from their crouched position. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Shhhh!" Samantha hissed before stabbing her claws into the wall behind them. She scaled the two-story structure as rapidly as she could then leapt across to one with three levels. Profound eyes zeroed in on the half dozen scoundrels headed their way. "Hey!" Hopping up and down, she waved her arms. She caught their attention enough to make them halt. "If you want a virgin so bad, come and get me!" She darted off with that.

"She's mine!" Trash Man raced after her.

Mindlessly jumping from building to building, Samantha stopped at one point to cry down to him again. "I'm a freak?" She formed a smirk, flopping down to her stomach and out of sight. "Good. Better than being too slow to catch a few kids."

"I'm gonna make sure they rip you up one piece at a time." Trash Man completely seethed now and pointed his gun. "I'll be returning that bracelet to your sister's doorstep- with your arm still attached." Before he could make out the sliver that launched at him from the roof, he experienced a piercing pain in one shoulder. "Ugh!" Though his jacket and sweater prevented deep penetration, he recognized it as the blade previously in Collin's possession.

"If you do anything to me, my sister will rip your wee-wee into little pieces." Samantha attempted to move and hurry off again, but accidentally slipped on an unseen patch of ice and fell from the duplex.

Wicked grin forming, Trash Man declared, "Now I got you," and hurried to get around. He caught her struggling to get up from a mound of garbage bags. "All that shit you were talking…" He walked upon her, barrel aimed right for her forehead. "Get up." With a moan, she only gazed back at him feebly. "I said get up, retarded bitch!" He moved to yank her, but his hand stilled in fright when her clothing and height changed with skin morphing to blue.

With a swift kick to the gap between his legs, Raven forced him to the pavement. "You like picking on little girls?" She sauntered up and mounted him forebodingly. "How 'bout big girls?" Her knuckles proceeded to collide with his face until he passed out.

Stepping out from the shadows, Hank carried the fallen, but conscious girl in his close grasp.

Raven got to her feet. "Is she okay?"

Hank nodded, cradling her. "Just shaken."

Burrowed against Hank's coat front and attempting to catch her breath, Samantha's head raised suddenly. "The boys!"

II

After removing his own coat to blanket the sprawled out Collin, Frank searched the area frantically. "Sam? Sam!" He jumped at movement from behind and had to drop to his stomach to get out of the way of the pair of hurled bodies that flung by him.

Crawling around, he recognized them from the warehouse. He received no time for elation as heavy footsteps loomed. Snatching up a nearby metallic shard, the teenager braced himself.

"At ease, glowworm."

Frank's face lit up. "Wolverine!"

"Hold it!" Veering around, the Veteran kept his claws exposed. "There's more of 'em."

From the other direction sounded, "Frank!"

At the familiar voice, he uttered, "Rae," then went motionless as his entire form enveloped in a bubble of light.

Catching the astonishing sight, Logan could not find words to speak.

Rising into the air, Frank's beams targeted the remaining three assailants. With excruciating screams, they all plopped to their knees while shielding their burning pupils.

With Hank and Samantha in tow, Raven walked forward. She waited for his powers to dissipate. The second he returned to ground level, she seized him in an impenetrable embrace.

IIIIIII

Fingers gingerly combing through the golden hair, the shapeshifter held the younger female closely. "I wish you would have waited on us."

Samantha shined eyes up at her. "The boys- those men were going to…"

"I know." Raven touched the side of her face tenderly. "Don't think about that anymore. To be honest, I'd have probably charged in without thinking to phone ahead. Parents take advantage of hypocrisy privilege that way. But let me tell you right now- I'm really proud of you, Gorge."

Samantha's first smile in several hours appeared at that. "Thank you, Raven."

"I'm going to get some soup going for you guys. Why don't you get a hot bath in to get rid of the rest of those aches? I know Angel's going to mad rush you as soon as they get back. If Midnight lets her."

"Okay, Raven." Rubbing one sore arm, the blonde stood to return to the main portion of the house.

Passing her on his way into the medical wing, Logan left a kiss on top of her head.

Raven got up from the bench. "Kay and the kids okay?"

"Yeah, they're finishin' up dinner." the grizzly man reported. "Seems it's the big ones we need to stick in playpens."

"No kidding," Raven concurred with some small bit of humor.

Hands in the pockets of his white lab coat, Hank departed the infirmary.

Immediately sensing something off in her husband's expression, Raven wanted to know, "Did something happen to Collin?"

"I'd say something's been happening to him for a while." Hank came to stand directly before the other two adults. "In addition to what he ingested tonight, his blood shows signs of frequent substance abuse."

"Doesn't surprise me," Logan said straightaway.

Raven shook her head. "So he conned Frank into going to the city for another hit."

Hank had to exhale for a moment. "Raven," his wife faced him, "I took a sample of Frank's blood before he went to his room."

Yellow eyes filled with alarm. "No… no, no- you've got to be kidding me."

Logan did not so much as blink. "Right in the eye. Kid looked me right in the eye and lied."

"Raven, you know this explains too much," Hank reasoned. "His poor performance at training, the lethargy. You and I both know that nothing short of an elephant stampede can slow Frank Tolbert down." He grunted with frustration. "How did I not piece it together?"

"It's Frank," Logan stated plainly. "The wool went over all our eyes on this one. I'll check in with you two later." He started rolling up his sleeves as he turned to go.

Raven maneuvered to block his path. "Oh no you don't."

"Look, Blue, I told this kid what would happen if he wasn't straight with me. If you think you're about to talk me out—"

"I think you're about to wait in line," Raven informed. "My Frank. My foot. His butt."

Logan stepped back. "Yes, ma'am. You just make sure he knows I'll be right behind you."

"Honey, don't you think you should calm down a little first?" Hank pointed out.

Raven's movements did not slow a pace as she replied, "Nope."

The men exchanged a look that clearly articulated their shared understanding that Armageddon would be upon them shortly.

II

Knees to his chest, the absolutely stiff vessel of youth remained in unmoving position. His eyes stayed fixated on the blackness of night beyond his window. He nearly tore free from his own skin at the abrupt storm into his quarters.

Though she did not carry the warm and inviting expression he so normally associated with the female, Frank acknowledged her entry with a friendly, "Rae?"

She slammed the door shut as she made a purposeful path his way. "Have you been doing drugs?"

Frank slowly stood from his bed. "Rae, listen."

"No, you listen," she countered strictly. "Answer me, right now. Have you been doing drugs with Collin? Have you?"

Throat dry and stomach sour, he got out, "… Yeah."

Yellow eyes almost reshaping into daggers, Raven marched towards his drawers. "Where are they? Where are they, Frank?"

"In here." Going into the closet, he stepped out with the mask and empty canisters. "They're really prescriptions. It's only been going on a couple months."

"A couple…" A hand went to Raven's mouth as she attempted to get some kind of handle over things. She snatched the components from him. "What the hell is all this?"

"You inhale it," he tapped the mask, "with this. I knew Coll was doing it and he offered me some. I only tried it at first to test it out- make sure it wasn't harmful."

"Harmful?" Raven nearly scoffed incredulously. "You've been huffing garbage into your system and you're talking about… Frank, it was slowing you down, messing with your mutation- how could you… how could you not stop when you saw what it was doing?"

"I- I don't know, Rae." He choked back a sob. "It was making me feel better. Every time I thought about my mom, how far away my parents are… I just wanted to feel good."

Raven stared at him as if taking in a stranger. "How could you not come to me? Is this my fault? Have I been too distracted with Kiki and Trav, Hank, school?"

"No," Frank insisted. "Rae, it had nothing to do with you. I couldn't tell you. You're the last one-" He turned away. "The way you're looking at me…"

"Uh uh." Gripping his shoulder, she made him face forward again. "You hate the look on my face? Try to imagine the one I'd be wearing if you'd been killed tonight. I cannot believe you used me to sneak into the city so you could get a fix."

"It wasn't like that! We were going to play basketball- that's it! But Collin took off on us. That's how we ended up in all this. Raven, I… I am so sorry."

A watery, ironic smile came to her face. "If you'd come to me with all of this, sorry really would have been enough. But," she dropped the substance containers for now, "this is where we are." She used her now free hand to yank and tuck him under her left arm.

Frank experienced utter confusion at the new position until he felt the intense whack at the seat of his pants. "Ah!"

Raven wielded the thick, heavy mask over and over. "I won't let this keep happening. I already had to walk in on one of my guys harming himself."

At those pointed words, moisture built in Frank's eyes and he released tears that had very little to do with his punishment.

Though it took quite a great deal of resolve on her own part, Raven pushed back her own desire to cry in that moment. Before she finished, she inched Frank's sleep pants down enough to spank him with her hand.

Frank cried harder, feeling shame and embarrassment billowing up from his neck to his cheeks.

"I know how much you miss your mom and believe me when I say I understand." Raven brought him to stand and cupped his face between her hands to eye him closely. "I don't care how selfish this sounds right now, but what about me, Frank? I don't just love you, I need you. I'm married to Hank, but you will always be one of the greatest guys in my life. Please- you can't do these things to yourself."

Too overcome with tears to respond to her, Frank fell forward into her arms and sobbed wretchedly. "I'm sorry, Rae!"

With the teen growing as ever, Raven had to bring them to the floor on their knees to stay somewhat upright. Her arms never left him as she added kisses around his hairline and ran her hand down his back.

After fifteen minutes of remaining that way, she gathered the mask and vials. "This is everything?"

Frank nodded hard. "All of it, I swear. I'm never touching any of it again, Rae. For a second tonight, I thought I really had lost my powers." He established eye contact with her. "Until I heard you."

Raven moved hair out of his face and pecked his forehead. "I believe you." She left their noses touching. "But you know you're nowhere near off the hook, right? Logan's coming in after me."

Frank exhaled. "I kinda figured." With the knowledge that Erik as well as Charles would be home at some point, he knew well that his chastisement had only begun.

"I'll tell him I want you to eat first."

"That's okay. My stomach… I just want it over with."

Raven nodded in understanding. "I still want you to have some broth and something to drink later, okay?"

"Kay," he whispered.

Raven gave him another strong hug. "You kill and heal my heart at the same time, love bug."

It took a great deal for Frank to finally detach from her. Returning to his bed after she left, he stretched out on his stomach with his face planted into one pillow. He soon felt the soreness in his rear and the excess moisture in his eyes fade away some. Naturally, as soon as he experienced that, he picked up on the heavy boots headed for him next. Groaning inwardly, Frank rushed to his feet.

When the seasoned soldier walked in, he immediately picked up on the attentive stance. Normally, he would let the boy's show of militaristic discipline weigh in his favor, but the man proved far from easily impressed right then.

"Wol—"

"-You better shut your mouth until I tell you to speak, got it?" Logan cut in with a smooth acuity.

"Yes, sir," came the quiet response.

"You know, I've been around a while," Logan paced a bit as he spoke, "so I'm not going to pretend that I expect kids to be on the up and up about everything. I sure as hell wasn't when I was young. Even now, there's things I keep on a need-to-know basis. See, it's not lyin' that bugs me." He stopped moving, completely facing the nervous teenager now. "It's blatant, dumb-shit lies I don't stand for. What was it? Just around the end of this morning that I gave you a chance to come clean with me? That sound about right to you?"

Frank repeated, "Yes, sir."

"Now, refresh the old man's memory," Logan prompted. "What did I say would happen if you broke your word?"

"You said," Frank attempted to phrase it correctly, "that we'd have problems, you and me."

Logan bobbed his head. "And you broke your word. Didn't ya?"

"Yes, sir." Frank closed his eyes in an extended blink. "I'm sorry."

"If my own boy did this- hell, half of this- I'd whip him to high noon." Logan burrowed eyes into him steadier. "Guess that's what you have comin', too, huh?"
Frank's eyes immediately glossed over. "Y-yes, sir."

"Guess we better get to it." Hands going to his buckle, Logan paused upon hearing something. "Hm, there goes that jackhammer again." He reached to tap the boy's chest. "You got somethin' you want to say? You got three seconds, kid."

The plea spilled out helplessly from the younger male. "Please don't whip me, Wolves…"

Logan crossed his arms. "You got a problem with belts?" The child nodded. "Why?"

"My dad-my uncle… they used to make me lie down on the floor. My dad especially- he came off like this wild animal until it was over. He'd apologize sometimes or bring home a pack of baseball cards. Yeah, I know I do crummy stuff, but I don't know how I always set him off like that."

Logan listened in full then stretched out a heavy hand to run through the child's brown hair. "I know you're too young to understand this, but it's not you. I'll bet it's never been about you. Army, marines… even the ones who make it home in one piece- they don't always come back right."

Frank regarded him with puzzled innocence. "But you're okay, Wolves."

A small wry smile crossed the man's face. "Believe it or not, that might be even more messed up." He lowered his hand to gingerly squeeze the teen between his shoulder and neck. "But in any case, we can improvise." Spotting the wooden ruler on the desk, Logan took hold of it and also wheeled out the chair to sit in. "Pants down, glowworm."

Though Frank's nerves remained intense, the use of the nickname spread some form of comfort over him. He tugged down his pajama pants and moved to lay over the man's lap without instruction.

While Logan had swatted the boy multiple times in the past, usually for misconduct during training, skipping out on a chore, or catching him in some post-bedtime escapade with Scott, this situation caused for a whole new level of seriousness. He knew Frank, being older and much bigger, could withstand more pain that Cody, but he also lacked a healing factor. Also knowing Erik, his behind would likely be in intensive care for quite a while. Logan took that all into some form of consideration as he lowered Frank's briefs.

The first strike with the ruler caused Frank to release something between a gasp and a harsh cough. Whatever Raven had given him previously reignited supremely and he began to cry before he even realized it. He inwardly kicked himself for doing so in the older mutant's presence.

Always able to tell when a boy sought to play the part of a man, Logan made the whacks harder but faster to hurry things along for him. He delivered fourteen around his rear and sit spots with the rule and finished with a final eight by his own hand.

Frank blinked hard with every one of the eight, as the man's hand packed a particular wallop. He hung his head, hardly noticing it as Logan redressed him.

Standing the child, he kept a hold of him by his shoulders. "You plan on keepin' your word with me from here on out?"

"Yes, sir," Frank responded with a serious nod.

"And the next time you want to mess up your insides, you better stick to chocolate and potato chips like the rest of the kids." Logan made out the tiniest resemblance of a smile on the tear streaked face. He pushed back and stood from the chair. "Wash your face."

Clearly expecting more, Frank looked on in deflated surprise when the man merely walked out of the room without another word. Face crumbling, he fell onto his bed and cried into the comforter. Though he knew what he had coming to him next, he quietly wished for Erik.

IIIIIII

After checking in on his two slumbering children, Hank returned to the infirmary. The moment he made it back, all senses seemed to blare at once at the bedded individual who attempted to remove the taped needle from his arm.

"Stop that," Hank ordered, coming over to bat away his hands. "You're still too dehydrated. You need these fluids."

Eyes distant and coherency far form intact, Collin tried to rise. "I need to get out of here."

Hank kept his calm as he nudged him down. "You're hurt and delirious. You have to be still." When the boy began to grunt and struggle, the scientist's inner creature reacted and growled. He tilted the child to his side just enough to land swats to his bottom with every word he used next. "Do. Not. Move."

When he looked up in surprise over the strikes, Collin very much resembled infancy. "I- I have to go. My brother—"

"Prefers you alive," Hank interjected matter-of-factly. "A lot of damage was done to you tonight, Collin, in addition to what you've already done to yourself. I don't care what team you wish to associate with; you're under my care right now. And if you try to take out this IV or get up without permission so much as one more time, I will spank you until your backside requires a transplant. Am I clear?"

Finding himself daunted by the large and unusually fuming male, Collin nodded frailly. "Y-yeah, Doc McCoy."

"Good." Hank gently recovered him with the linens. "I don't want you to worry about anything except resting and healing. You don't want Max to see you hurting, do you?" Collin quickly shook his head. "Neither do I." Hank sat on the side of the bed and massaged the teen near his hairline. "You're going to be alright, Collin. I'll be right here to see to that."

To his own shock, Collin found some form of comfort in the touch. He closed his eyes as he experienced another spell of fatigue.

IIIIIII

Startled straight out of his sleep, the fourteen-year-old sprang up in bed with terror gripping his features.

The nightstand lamp revealed the redhead's face. "Shhhh," he leaned in, "it's only me Frank-O. We just got back."

"Sean," Frank panted, darting eyes around his room. "Where's Erik?"

"They're not home yet. That's a long drive for them back and forth." Sean indicated the hardly touched soup. "You want to eat a little more?" Frank shook his head and Sean did not press on it. He instead picked up the fresh glass of ice water. "Then drink some of this for me, okay?" When he brought it close enough, Frank took an extended sip through the straw. Sean smiled in satisfaction. "There we go." He placed the glass to the side and joined the younger boy under the covers, arms going right around him. "You okay?"

Frank dipped his head. "I don't think I'm gonna be. Not ever again."

"Don't say that." Sean intertwined fingers with him. "I acted up pretty bad a few months back, too. This teenager thing makes us whacky. Yeah, you're gonna catch a spankin' and all, but Charles and Erik won't totally annihilate you."

"Third time's the charge I guess."

Sean guessed, "Hank and Wolverine both got you?"

"Rae and Wolverine," Frank corrected.

"Raven?" Sean's blue eyes swelled. "Wow, she must've gone big sis-super mom cyclone." His tone then grew heavy with concern. "Did Wolverine whip you?"

"No," Frank replied straightaway. "It was bad, but it was just the ruler. That's not the worst part, though. He's still real mad at me."

Sean frowned in bewilderment. "Wolves? How do you know that?"

Frank explained, "After he was done, he just told me to clean my face and walked out. You, Erik, Alex, and Charles always hug me."

"I know how you feel." Sean kissed his forehead. "Whenever I get spanked with anything but a hand, I always feel royally lousy. It's worse when they make me bend over a desk or something. That's when it feels like I was so bad they don't want to be anywhere near me. But to be honest, Frank-O, I think that might just be Wolverine's way. He's pretty gruff with Cody. And in the old days, boys didn't really get hugs after spankings. My grandpa told me some guys would even get extra licks for crying too much."

Frank snuggled closer to him. "That's really harsh."

"Sure is," Sean concurred completely. "If I ever have a son, I'm only spanking him with my hand. And I'll hug the gooiness out of him every time."

A small but genuine laugh built up and out of Frank at that, but it quickly faded as he buried his face in the older teen's shirt front. "I'm so glad you're home, Seanie…"

Becoming most serious himself, Sean kept secure arms around him. "I'm glad you're safe and sound. Right here with me."

To help him in returning to sleep, Sean sent a soft Irish lullaby into Frank's ear.