Jean sat on her bed a few days later looking through pictures of her and Scott. They used to be so happy together. Jean picked up a picture of Scott and her sitting outside in the garden. Ro had taken that picture, she and Scott had been sitting together on one of the benches and Scott had been laughing and smiling and Ro had managed to snap the picture at just the right time, capturing that beautiful smile and those wonderful dimples. Jean ran her hand across Scott's face. How could he allow her to believe that he was dead for over a year? Why…Jeans thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. Laying the pictures on the bed she rises and answers the door to see Marie.
"Rogue."
"Hi Dr. Grey, I'm sorry for disturbing you but, Cyclops and Storm have called a team meeting in thirty minutes." Rogue waited until Jean nodded her affirmation and then she turned and walked away.
A team meeting. She had been trying to speak with Scott for days. But he had always been too busy either getting settled or meeting with the Professor or Ro and Hank before he had been called back to Washington. Now they were having a team meeting. It seemed he had time to meet with everyone but her.
Jean sat back on her bed. This was not going to go on any longer. He had said that they would talk and she was tired of waiting. After this meeting she would not be put off any longer.
Logan exited the observation room not quite able to believe what he had just seen. Someone had some explaining to do. Logan quickly made his way to Storm's office and barged in without knocking.
"What the hell is going on around here?" Storm glared at Logan's entry and growled out question.
"Good afternoon to you to Logan. Please come in and make yourself comfortable. Can I help you with anything?" Logan stalked over to Storm's desk.
"Can the sarcasm Ro and answer the question. What the hell is going on around here?
"Since I do not know to what you are referring, I am unable to answer you question." Logan slammed his hands down on Storms desk and leaned forward until they were face to face.
"I am referring to the Phoenix simulation that I just ran in the Danger Room."
"Oh."
"Yeah…oh. What the hell is that Storm?" Storm took a breath and indicated for Logan to take a seat as she stood and went to close her office door. Coming back she sat back down across from Logan.
"It is exactly what it appears to be Logan. A simulation to take down the Phoenix …should she rise again." Logan looked at Storm in disbelief.
"I can't believe this, you're supposed to be her friend and you're creating simulations on how to take her out?" Storm looked Logan in the eye and straightened up in her seat.
"Jean is my friend, the Phoenix…should she arise again…is an enemy that must be defeated."
"The Phoenix is gone! Jean has her under control! That…that simulation is completely unnecessary!"
"Can you guarantee that Logan? Can you guarantee that Jean will remain in control and that the Phoenix will never make an appearance again? Can you Logan? Can you tell me that I have nothing to worry about, that I am being overly pessimistic? Because I would love to believe that as well. But I can't…as a team leader…I cannot allow myself to bury my head in the sand and forget the damage that the Phoenix did while she was free and if she makes another appearance…we must be prepared to take her out."
"Damn it Storm! Would you listen to yourself? You are talking about taking out Jean, a woman you just sat here and called your friend! What in…" Logan broke off as the door was opened and then slammed shut behind him.
"What the hell is going on in here? I could hear you yelling as I came down the hall!" Logan stood and whirled to face Scott.
"I'll tell you what the hell is going on! The Goddess over here is creating simulations on how to take out Jeannie!" Scott looked at Storm who shrugged her shoulders and simply says.
"The Phoenix program." Logan looks between them in disbelief.
"You know about this program, Cyke?" Scott turns his gaze back to Logan.
"I should, I created it." Snick. Logan's claws came out.
"You created it? Is this another part of your make Jean suffer plan?" Scott looks at Logan in confusion. "You know first you pretend to be dead for a year, and make Jeannie carry the guilt of your death on her conscious and then you return and basically ignore her existence and then you isolate yourself from everyone except for Storm and the Professor. What else are you going to do? What else do you plan on doing to make her suffer?" Scott shakes his head at Logan.
"Believe it or not Logan, not that it's any of your business, but nothing I have done has been done with the intent to hurt Jean." Logan snorts at Scott.
"Yeah right. You ain't punishing her for flirting with me when I first got here and you ain't punishing her for trying to kill you while the Phoenix was in control and you're definitely not trying to punish her for being in a relationship with me while you were gone." Logan could see Scott's jaw tightening as he spoke.
"No, Logan I'm not. Jean flirting with you is in the past and best left there, as for her trying to kill me while she was the Phoenix? She was the one who saved me from the Phoenix. So no I'm not trying to punish her for that, I thank her everyday for gaining control long enough to spare my life. As for her relationship with you…her memories of being with you are punishment enough." Logan growled at Scott but before he could say anything else Jean interrupted.
"I saved your life?"