Laura could barely register what was happening. Her father was here. For once she had scented him on the air and it actually been him.

Yet the reunion was not what she expected.

Albert still stood on the territory line, claws out, a snarl curved at his mouth. Both him and her father were braced, Laura had no doubt in her mind that they would lash out at each other at any moment. And what would happen then?

She could only imagine. And it wasn't pretty.

Jean looked like she wanted to call out, and Laura quickly placed a hand on her, praying the red-head would not speak. For it would only be the flame igniting the dynamite.

The young girl's mind whirled quickly, but before either ferals could spring at each other's throats, a flock of birds burst from the trees.

Laura whipped around, and both Logan and Albert lifted their heads, briefly distracted with scenting the air. Listening.

Jean could hear nothing, and it frightened her. Because the three killing machines with her were alert to what was invisible to her in the forest.

Sticks cracking under foot. Branches rustling.

"Men." Albert's voice was a husky whisper, neither of the girls turned to look at him, they didn't dare.

"Bad men."

Jean bolted for the motorbike and Laura was after her in a flash. "Don't!" the dark-haired girl grabbed her just as the grenade hit the ground and blew the bike sky high. Laura didn't give Jean time to think about what could have happened, she shoved her in the opposite direction. "Run!" Then without waiting to see if Jean would listen, Laura spun to face the men she knew were coming, anger rising in her chest. For she knew these men. She knew them very well.

The men in black burst from the trees with cruel weapons. Laura lunged for them fearlessly. Blood splattered onto the tree trunks and spilled to the forest floor. Some of it was the attackers, and some belonged to her. If she noticed at all, she gave no inclination. Her anger, the memories of fighting side by side with Logan taking over her small frame.

'Logan.'

She swiped her deadly claws over the face of the man to her left, sending him collapsing to the ground. In the heat of the battle, she had momentarily forgotten…

She turned. Spotting Albert fighting behind her, dragging himself free of the spear they'd thrust into his skin and lunging with a fierce cry toward the men who'd shot him. They were scrambling, but it was too late. Claws slashed and blood sprayed and their cries were cut off.

But where was Logan?

Jean could barely breathe. She was running, weaving in between trees, running blind. Blind with panic.

When Laura had told her to run, she hadn't hesitated. Silently, she was yelling at herself for being such a coward. She should be out front with Laura, using her powers, helping! Not running away. She was better than this. Yet she knew the idea of fighting was useless, she was still too weak. They had…done something to her. Something wasn't right. Inside her. And it frightened her.

If Logan had been there she would have talked to him about it, told him her fears. He always knew what to say, knew what to do….At least, he had been. The Logan Jean knew was like that.

She panted, throwing a glance over her shoulder, trying to see if anyone was lurking in the shadows. Silence. She couldn't hear Laura or Albert. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

Jean stopped, her lungs feeling like they would burst as she tried to catch her breath. She needed to calm down and *think*. She needed a plan…

A growl from the trees behind her snapped Jean's attention and she glanced up with fear in her eyes.

A shadow moved, claws glinting in the light. Logan was bathed in blood, blood that Jean knew wasn't his own. His eyes were still sparking with darkness.

She started to back up. Where was Laura and Albert?!

Logan paused briefly, his nose twitching, scenting the air.

Jean swallowed, forcing words from her mouth in a soft, singsong voice. "It's me, Logan. Jean? You remember me…It's just me. I'm not gonna hurt you…"

Another growl rumbled deep in his throat and Jean gave up on her nice, kind words. She ran for her life, supressing the tears that filled her eyes and wanted to blind her.

What had they done to him?!

This wasn't the Logan she knew; out of control like this…

She gasped for air and pushed herself forward hearing that he was catching up. Yet she could go no further in her condition. She could hear his hot breath behind her. Was this how it was going to end? After all he'd done for her?

She closed her eyes and shuddered, collapsing to the ground.

Logan raced past her, and angry cry bursting from his mouth.

Jean opened her eyes and glanced up with shock as she caught him lunging with claws extended as gunfire sounded.

For a moment she lay frozen, watching as the bullets hit his chest with a sickening thud. Yet one by one the men were slain, no matter what they threw toward him. Then she snapped herself from her stupor and quickly darted over to hide in the undergrowth.

One of the men threw some sort of canister and Jean quickly covered her face with her arms as the nasty gas polluted the air and more gunshots were fired.

Silence.

Jean slowly glanced up, her body trembling as she didn't dare move as the gas cleared. Logan got up off the ground, a furious snarl curving his mouth as he darted straight for the man who had thrown the supposedly killing item. His claws dug deep into the man's chest before his body was tossed into the air like a ragdoll. Jean looked away before it hit the ground.

Logan hadn't been chasing her. He'd scented those men…he knew they were there. And she should have known too! But she was too frightened, in too much panic to be sensible! They must have been faster her…they'd have known Laura had sent her in this direction. Why had she been so stupid?!

A man's cry got cut off and Jean trembled, only hoping and praying that Logan had truly snapped out of the beast inside him. That everything would be alright…because god knew she couldn't hide from him here.

It was quiet again, Jean heard his footsteps. She didn't look up, she held her breath, partly from the stench of blood bathing the forest and partly because…

"You okay, Jeanie?"

She jumped, turning quickly to spot him standing behind her, head cocked curiously. He seemed unscathed, though his chest heaved slightly. His claws retracted.

Jean met his gaze. It was as clear as the sky, and glistened with warmth.

"Logan!" she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, still trembling from the shock of it all. Because she was so positive he was going to kill her back there…

"You know I'd never hurt you." He murmured, holding her tight for a long moment.

Jean did know. She believed it now more than ever. And words couldn't express how glad she was he was back. Back to them, back to himself. Yet she held her tongue, knowing there were more important matters.

Logan also knew, for he pulled away and scented the air. "Laura needs some backup."

His claws popped and he threw her a glance. "You comin'?"