Disclaimer:

See Chapter 1.

Dedicated to Lia. You died too soon. Miss you.

Chapter 13: Whatshername

Emma sat at her desk, glasses perched on her nose to aide her in usually mind numbing task of reading status reports. Usually, because from what she could tell, things were heating up in the wider world -and for once, super villains weren't to blame. Storm's report, clear and concise as it was, outlined the increasing trend in natural disasters that had been occurring during her time spent in Jez's mind to the present moment, as well as the frightening devastating effect of these events. Causalities were mounting and the most recent earthquake had hit Kobe…and had rated 8 on the Richter scale. Thankfully, the city hadn't been totally destroyed, thanks to the defensive measures taken after the 1995 earthquake. It was one of the lucky ones. Storm stated all the signs pointed towards things only getting a lot worse. A team was on a constant alert, ready to leave if a situation occurred in which they could actually make a difference. Even so, they couldn't be everywhere at once. Emma deeply regretted that even with their powers, they were next to useless against nature's fury. So many people were injured or dying and there was nothing she could do to stop it, although she and Warren were discreetly feeding large amounts of aid into charity organisations dealing with the crisis.

The thing that really bothered her about all this was even stranger was the erratic and random nature of the disasters; volcanic eruptions -even happening in supposedly extinct volcanoes-, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes. These were appearing anywhere and everywhere without any indication of a pattern. Even Storm, usually in tune with the planet's natural pulse, couldn't predict or decipher one. She said that there was a discordant, chaotic sense running through everything. It was as if the earth had suddenly decided to rebel against its long-time oppressors.

And all the magnificent X-men, saviours of the human race, could do was be prepared for when the next one would occur. Emma wondered if something more sinister was at work than 'freak weather'.

Had some new mutant manifested?

Or was in the process of manifesting?

Why hadn't Cerebro alerted them?

Emma suspected the Brotherhood's hand in this; after all, they'd been suspiciously quiet for a long time. But if it was them, surely they'd have made demands by now? Or at least stepped forward to claim the 'glory'.

To make matters worse, she still had to grade those damn psychology papers…Emma grimaced wryly. It was her own fault for setting them in the first place.

"What joy…" She murmured sardonically to herself. In an effort to distract herself, she turned her thoughts over to their new arrival. Since lapsing back into unconsciousness, Jez had neither stirred nor taken Emma back into her dreams/memories, despite her own active efforts otherwise. Emma couldn't decide whether she was relieved or disappointed by this. Scott had remained icily aloof, refusing to stay in the same room or even talk to her. It was an exceptional example of his utter self-centred idiocy (the fact he'd neglected to even inquire about her whereabouts stung deeply). She was surprisingly (or maybe not so) thankful for this, although it did mean that many of the X-men were shooting her dirty looks when they thought she wasn't looking. Or sometimes when they knew she was.

Sighing, Emma slipped off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. With everything that was going on, she was feeling more and more worn out as each day passed.

'I really need to get away for a while…' She mused silently, taking a break from her marking and wandering over to the window. It was a beautiful day. Emma slid the window open and closed her eyes, allowing a breeze to sooth her stuffy head and ease the loose blonde strands away from her face.

Her moment of respite was broken by a loud mental commotion coming from below. Blue eyes flew open and she leant fully out the window to see what was going on. 'Jubilation probably got bored again...' She thought somewhat resignedly, but this was quickly cut short by utter shock as she took in the scene. Logan and X-23 were racing across the football field, a crowd of students watching in complete bemusement. However, this wasn't the cause of her consternation. Fleeing swiftly from them was, unmistakable to her even at this distance, Jezebel.

Emma's stomach lurched strangely. "She's awake..." She murmured aloud, and then frowned. Why hadn't she been informed? And why was Jezrunning around outside? Surely Logan knew Jez was in no condition for any sort of rigorous exertion yet…Then her eyes widened and she cursed loudly in realisation.

"Damn it!" It would take too long to race down the stairs and outside or to take the lift…And Kurt was out shopping with some students…

Emma stared down at the drop, her white-knuckled fingers gripping the outside of the window frame.

She was only on the first floor…

A wicked grin curled the corners of her lips.

Jez's breathing was painfully harsh and shallow, barely enough to keep up with her body's demands. She was no longer thinking clearly, but operating on a primal instinct that told -no, shrieked at- her to flee. In contrast to her silent pursuers, she was making about the same level of noise as a herd of charging elephants, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her feet were scratched and sore from various rocks she'd tripped over and left a faint trail on the bright green grass. Jez's muscles felt as if they'd turned to water, colours seeming to swirl incessantly before her eyes, confusing and bright.

'...run…' She thought with great difficultly as strands of short hair stuck to her forehead, slick with sweat.

Every time she tried to make a jagged change of direction, one or other of her followers would cut her off and force her slightly more off her original path. Although the deadly game of cat-and-mouse (and it did feel as if they were playing with her) seemed to last for hours, it wasn't actually more than a minute or two at most. Unfortunately, Jez didn't have any time to ponder this, as she was quickly and cleanly tackled to the ground. Growling and struggling frantically, she tried to buck off the weight upon her back, but her captor had pinned her expertly and were proving impossible to dislodge. Frantically arching her back, she tried to throw them again, but was met only with hard, compact muscles which refused to budge. A warning (?) growl vibrated in her ear as the body pressed more firmly against her, forcing -demanding- her submission. A choked sob escaped her throat.

" 'She hurt?" A voice behind her gruffly asked. There was no reply from her captor and she swallowed helpless tears of frustration and fear. Why did he give a toss either way? This was it. She was going to be locked away, under surveillance for every minute of every day, in this, this place and kept drugged up to her eyeballs until she died of old age...or killed herself.

This couldn't be happening…she'd been so careful…

Jez heard the soft thud of footsteps and then a pair of leather boots abruptly appeared in her line of vision.

"Why'd ya run?" The voice was a rumble in her ears, while his breath was hot upon her neck. Jez's struggle increased in urgency and she snapped her head back, trying to catch an unwary nose. "Whoa, slow down there. Yer gonna hurt yerself, kid."

Jez refused to listen despite a nagging voice in the back of her mind telling her he was familiar. She didn't know any security guards. Certainly not any American ones, either. The mass shifted slightly as the person on her back leant forward. Then there was an odd sensation of air puffing against her neck.

'They'resniffing me?!? What kind of sick f-!?!'

With an unintelligible snarl she wrenched her shoulders desperately and felt a dull grinding sound, then something screamed in agony. The fight drained from her muscles as they gave up their wire-tight tension and became about as taut as an overcooked noodle. Jez slowly slumped against the hard ground, finally admitting defeat in the face of the terrible pain and the implacable grip of her captor. Her eyes closed as she pressed her face into the cool earth, trying not to cry in helpless frustration. Another strange sensation vibrated through her body from the person pinning her. It sounded like…was that purring…?

'No escape,' she thought bitterly, disgust and fear making her throat thick. 'Caught by a bunch of sick freaks…I never get a damned break. Why can't they just kill me quick now.'

Another voice broke into her thoughts, making her eyes shoot open and her heart pound faster.

"Logan! Release her, this instant!" It was an angry, cultured snap, and it was female. No doubt about it. Jez tried to lift her heavy neck, to no avail. If only she could look up… "She is not our prisoner!"

There was a derisive grunt from behind her in response to the woman's comment. "Tell that to her, darlin'."

'What the hell-?'

"Let her go X-23. Now."

For a second, Jez thought 'X-23' (what the hell kind of name was that anyway?) wasn't going to obey, as their hold tightened and an almost inaudible growl vibrated through her thin frame again, this time sounding more...angry. Then the hands gripping her slowly relaxed and the weight lifted off her back. Hesitantly, Jez attempted to push herself up using her elbows, but couldn't summon the strength...or ignore the screaming protests from her abused body to do so.

It added insult to injury to only be capable of flopping around like a landed fish in front of these people. There was a rustle of clothing as someone crouched in front of her.

The next few seconds seemed to happen in clichéd slow motion.

Careful hands delicately gripped her sides and gently rolled her over onto a soft lap. Flinching at the contact, Jez's eyes darted upwards as she gingerly raised her head. She froze.

'What the-?!'

She couldn't believe it.

Blue eyes met hers, ensnaring her and drawing her deep into their icy calm depths. The world tilted dangerously and all her breath collapsed from her lungs like she'd just been sucker-punched. Jez felt her heart give several unsteady, irregular thumps and she licked her suddenly dry lips, swallowing nervously. Something stirred in the back of her brain, memories fighting to free themselves from the mass of pain confusion surrounding her thoughts, like bubbles struggling to rise to the surface of a deep pool.

Blue eyes staring at her in concern…a promise made...

'I...Iknow you...'

That much she was certain of.

The moment stretched as the woman's eyes continued to bore into her, seeming to search for the answer to a question Jez wasn't sure she understood. Then, thankfully, she was released as the entrancing orbs blinked, then flicked to a point behind Jez, narrowing in anger. She began to berate someone and Jez quickly took the opportunity to draw a ragged breath, not having realised that she'd even been holding it. Jez dazedly tried to focus on taking in the rest of her (apparent) saviour. She felt no fear for this woman, only an irritating sense of familiarity.

Long platinum blonde hair, full, kissable red lips, delicately curving lashes, framing amazing crystal blue eyes and a perfectly curved figure. Jez just (it was a really close call though) managed to suppress a blush at how low the blonde's snow white blouse was unbuttoned. Obviously she wasn't that injured if she was managing to ogle the first hot blonde who crossed her path...

Jez frowned.

'Wait a minute…' She scrutinised the blonde again.

Blonde hair?

Blue eyes?

White shirt, slacks and boots?

Something clicked into place in her mind, a rusty mental door creaking open in response to the visual cues. 'Did she just call him Logan?!' Her eyes widened in confused shock. The world seemed to tilt and blur -as if all the blood was rushing to her head- making her feel incredibly nauseous, as a flood of memories exploded in her brain, driving all air from her lungs.

-Tears free falling down her cheeks...Shuddering breaths as she fought for control...Sorrow threatening to break her heart in a million pieces...The bitter after-taste of the pills lingering on the back of her tongue-

-Darkened bars; the thick scent of sweat, smoke and sex permeating them-

-The pain momentarily numbing under the blissful influence of alcohol...the heartfelt concern on her friends faces as she lost herself-

-A flash of short blonde hair and teasing blue eyes accompanied by girlish laughter-

-Hot, needy, bodies pressed together, hips grinding to the pulsating beat of the dance floor, while burning lips met desperately, trying to erase the pain-

-Sadness and a faltering resolve filling her as she watched a crackling bonfire of paper, no, pages, burn before her in a rusty oil drum...then, hesitation and frustration, followed by helpless tenderness...a single page saved from its fate...The picture of a blonde with the most amazing pair of icy blue eyes stared up at her...It was...-

The images faded from her mind's eye, leaving her scrabbling desperately after them like a shipwrecked sailor groping for a lifeline. Her body began to choke and gasp for air as she hyperventilated.

'No, it couldn't be…but the lab...the school...Logan...her…' Jez's mind whirled frantically as the woman abruptly stopped her rant and turned, seemingly concerned, towards her.

The same blue eyes burned into Jez.

"Are y-" The woman began, but Jez cut her off. Her mind rebelled desperately. It couldn't be! It just wasn't possible.

But she couldn't deny the spark of wild hope suddenly igniting in her chest.

"Emma…?" She rasped disbelievingly.

Thought I ran into you down on the street,
Then it turned out to only be a dream,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face,
But I can't recall the name,

Now I wonder how whatshername has been.

Seems that she disappeared without a trace,
Did she every marry old what's-his-face,
I made a point to burn all of the photographs,
She went away and then I took a different path,
I remember the face,
But I can't recall the name,

Now I wonder how whatshername has been.

The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
I must confess,
The regrets are useless,
In my mind,
She's in my head,
From so long ago

And in the darkest night,
If my memory serves me right,
I'll never turn back time,

Forgetting you, but not the time.

Whatshername, Green Day

Author's Note:

At last, they've met! Dun dun DUN! (what will happen next?!)

I know I made X-23 is more animalistic...but I was thinking of deprivation and all that 'fun' stuff. It doesn't mean she's stupid (she can talk perfectly well, but doesn't a lot of the time) or anything though, just...different (smiles)

More importantly:

My exams (and school) are finished for the summer! Yes, that means more time for writing (I got some Heroes inspiration hitting me hard at the moment)! Thanks to everyone who has and still is reading and reviewing! Your support is priceless and keep me motivated. Something I'd like to mention is that I WILL finish this story, (even if it kills me) so while the delays -I realise and empathise- must be as irritating as hell, remember that it won't be left unfinished even if something like 6 months goes by again (hopefully won't happen). I'll also mention what's going on in my profile (i.e. slow update), so keep an eye on that if you're curious.

By the way, is anyone else having a bitch of a time with uploading, editing or even reading stuff on fanfiction at the moment?