Chapter 2

(S.H.I.E.L.D Prison)

Jean Grey sat restlessly in her prison cell still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Charles Xavier, the man she saw not only as a mentor but a father figure, had sacrificed her freedom to placate the government. What made it worse was the fact that her ex-husband had agreed to it. She had expected more from Scott, but it seems like far more had changed since their divorce than she had once believed. She was angry not only at them, but also at the Hellfire club for once again trying to gain control of the Phoenix which she was the host of. She wanted revenge for them putting her in this situation in the first place and that was unusual for her. She had not been blind to the fact that Logan had been absent when she had woken up and been arrested, more than likely the Professor had either sent him on a fake mission or put him to sleep so he would not interfere which they both knew he would had he been there.

Logan would have stood by her side no matter what, she knew he was in love with her and had been for years. It was one of things that defined him, ever since they had met, there had been an attraction between them and she had felt it no matter what she had said at the time. A connection had formed between them, one she had done everything to hide and ignore. However there were times when she almost crossed the line when she and Logan got close. Those moments were always hard to pull away from, especially as she knew how much it hurt Logan when she did pull away. She had done everything in her power to stay loyal to Scott, which made the fact he cheated on her with Emma Frost all the more painful. After all the years she had fought to remain faithful, all the pain she had caused Logan in resisting to have Scott betray her had shattered her and broken her heart in two. It was only now a year later that she was beginning to get over it all. Logan had given her all the time in the world to recover from the shock of finding out about the affair and then the divorce that followed. Most of their fellow X-Men had expected Logan to push her into a relationship once the divorce was finalized, they didn't know that was just not his style. While they trusted and liked Logan as a team mate, they all had doubts about him due to his attitude and mostly unknown past.

Most of them only saw what was on the surface where Logan was concerned, only a few had seen beyond it or even bothered to look for more. Strangely enough it was mostly the younger X Men who knew the real Logan. He had formed strong familiar bonds with Kitty, Jubilee and Kurt. He treated them as his own kids most times, and they viewed him as a father figure or an uncle at the least. She had always known there was more to the man who most saw as brutish, he'd never hidden his true self from her. Right now she wished he was here with her, she could use his shoulder to learn on. She suddenly looked up as Nick Fury stormed into the cell room, he looked rather annoyed and managing a quick surface scan she saw why.

So she was not the only one they wanted to imprison, they wanted Spiderman as well. She wished she had access to her full power, but the power dampener collar they put around her neck prevented her from doing anything. She had also sensed they had taken Black Cat prisoner, she doubted anything had been concluded with their imprisonment.

"Fury, this will solve nothing," she stated as he came to stand in front of her cell.

"Maybe not Jean Grey," Fury responded with a shake of his head knowing in his heart she was more right than she knew. "But I do all I can to stop from things getting worse. Having you and other known dangers behind bars is the best I can do at the moment," he added with a sigh.

"You know some people will not be receptive to our imprisonment," Jean stated coldly.

"If you are talking about Logan and those like him then we are already preparing for any action they could take," Fury shot back as he ran a hand through his hair. "Believe me I know this is just a stop gap measure, but it's the best we can do and you better hope Logan and Spiderman and those like them don't make this any worse," he warned with a glare. "Our world is now on a very slippery slope, one more big push could have mutants and other empowered people in specially designed prisons before you could blink," he added. "That is how bad things are," he stated coldly.

Jean narrowed her eyes at the man and managed to get another brief surface scan, she took note of how tired Fury was and how uneasy he was with the situation at hand. But he was willing to do whatever it took to keep things in order, no matter the cost. The collar quickly shut her powers back down as she tried to get more, she winced at the abrupt cut off from her powers.

"But it is not all our fault Colonel. Normal people have pushed us all to the brink, giving mutants like Magneto and Sinister as well as super powered villains like Doom all the ammo they need to wage war," Jean argued. "Yet you don't see those normal people in power being oppressed, or pushed beyond their limits of endurance even as you fight to keep the world safe," she spat, allowing her anger to spike for a minute before she regained control.

Fury looked at Jean for a few minutes as he took Jean's words in. He had to admit she had a point. But sadly no matter how true those words were, the mutants and other super powered individuals were not in charge and had no power to make laws. He doubted it would be any different if they did have any power to do make such laws, one side would always hate and fear the other. It was the lesson of history. People always feared what they didn't understand.

"I know that Miss Grey, but this is the world we live in and fair or not you are a danger to the world and need to be controlled," Fury finally said. "Magneto and Doom and all those others will be brought in eventually and contained as well," he continued. "Hopefully once we have them, this approaching backlash against your kind will die down, but only if we S.H.I.E.L.D can show itself to be able to deal with you," he stated.

"And yet you will use Logan and those like him for your own purposes before turning on them and claiming them to be too dangerous to be on the outside," Jean shot back.

"As I said that is the world we live in, just pray Logan doesn't do anything stupid like try and rescue you," Fury responded with a sigh. "Because all it will do is make things worse," he added as he turned and walked out, having forgotten why he came down to visit her in the first place.

+WOTG+

(West Chester, X Mansion)

Logan descended on the Professor with cold fury etched on his face. Everyone could tell he was seconds away from popping his claws. Xavier stared at the man as he stalked forwards, unable to repress a shiver of fear running down his spine at the sight. Cyclops quickly took up a position that would allow him to attack Wolverine should he become violent, which when he considered the situation was guaranteed.

"I asked you a god damn question Chuck and I want an answer now," Logan growled out as he came to a stop before them.

Xavier wasn't blind to how the other X-Men turned to watched the confrontation, he could sense their thoughts on it and if he didn't handle this right it would degenerate into a free for all between them all.

"I did what was necessary to protect my students and prevent a charged atmosphere from becoming worse," Xavier responded as calmly as he could.

"You fucking handed Jean over to Fury of all people," Logan growled out in anger as Cyclops prepared for a fight to defend his mentor should Logan lose his temper. "You talk of loyalty and being a family and yet you hand one of us over when a tough situation comes up. Well screw you Chuck, because I'm going after her and I'm going bring her home," he spat.

"No, you are not Wolverine," Xavier shot back, ignoring the lack of respect as he had seen it coming a mile away. "Events are at a critical level, any more trouble from us will tip it over the edge and our lives will never be the same," he stated. "That is why I allowed them to take Jean. The government is on the verge on putting dangerous and highly restrictive laws into place," he went on. "Maybe even start arresting us for no reason but having powers. I will not have you push this," he told him.

"Try and stop me," Logan shot back before he turned to leave.

"Stop right where you are Wolverine," Cyclops ordered as he moved to do as the Professor had ordered telepathically. "You are not going anywhere," he told him.

The noise of his claws popping out made everyone freeze, it was followed by a second set of claws been popped and everyone turned to see Laura codenamed X-23 step forward ready for a fight. Laura was a female clone of Wolverine who had been created by the same people who had given Logan his Adamantium skeleton. She was intended to be the next stage of the Weapon X program. Logan had rescued her from the base she was based at after getting word of her from an old friend. Logan had done his best to teach the girl she wasn't a weapon and slowly she had made a few friends and was less prone to violence. They had a father daughter relationship, one that she shared with Kitty Pryde and Jubilation Lee only this one was bound by blood. Kitty, Rogue and Jubilee all stepped up to her side, Gambit seeing this did likewise. If it was one thing he understood it was being willing to do anything and everything for the woman you loved and Wolverine loved Jean and had done so for years.

Storm looked tense as she watched the X-Men begin to split on who supported Logan and who didn't. She didn't like the fact that the Professor had turned Jean over so easily, but she understood his reason for not being willing to push things, which did not make it any easier to take a side. Logan was one of her best friends, but Xavier was her mentor and father figure. Who did she support? It was the same for many of the other X-Men watching the events unfold. Some of them however knew where they stood and took up positions.

"Do not do this Logan, we can get Jean back through official channels," Xavier said, trying to stop this from going any further and from escalating into a fight that might break the X family apart."

"It's already done Chuck," Logan shot back. "It's Jean, and that says it all," he added as he tensed ready for the attack from Scott.

Scott didn't wait for anymore talk and opened fire with his visor. The red beam almost took Logan off his feet. But he had been ready for the attack and easily sidestepped the attack and charged Cyclops. Before he could lunge forward he was intercepted by Beast also known as Hank McCoy, his powerful kick sent him flying backwards. Cyclops however did not have time to fire another blast as Laura collided with him with her own kick. He was flung backwards as Gambit moved to engage Beast. Xavier could only watch in horror as the X-Men waged war on one another, his choice to allow Jean to be taken was already coming back to bite him in the ass.

"No stop this," he tried to shout, but it was too late, old grudges and other bad feelings had already infected his followers.

Storm watched as the entire group of X-Men fell upon themselves, she wondered briefly what Jean would think of all this. What her imprisonment had inspired, would she be happy about Logan's desire to free her no matter the cost or be horrified by his lack of care. Watching as Beast was flung away into a nearby wall by one a couple of Gambits exploding cards, she began to grow annoyed as the fighting got worse. Logan and Cyclops were going at it in spades, all of their old anger and hatred obviously coming back to the forefront. She had to stop this before the group was permanently split down the middle, and before someone got seriously hurt and it was clear the Professor was currently unable to do anything in his shock at how things had decayed. Launching herself into the air just as Logan nailed Cyclops with a wicked head-butt which she would not be surprised to see break Scotts nose, she also noted Rogue and Kitty bringing down Rahne and Bobby in rather forceful style. Calling on her power, her eyes turned white as the sky turned dark and thunder began to roll. The fighting X-Men paid little attention as Besty Braddock actually brought down Warren, her one time boyfriend. Storm amped up her power and launched two lightning bolts in between the group, this time they all backed off, even Logan. They could see the weather goddess wasn't pleased, the wind howled around them as lightning and thunder continued to wage in the sky for a few minutes before going silent.

"ENOUGH," Storm commanded. "I will not see our family torn asunder over this. If Logan wishes to go after Jean then that is his choice and one we should accept," she stated coldly. "This isn't a prison Professor, it is a home, but one we all have a choice of leaving when we wish to," she added. "You have always respected our choices and you should respect Logan's, because you know how important she is to him," she went on only for Scott to cut her off.

"Even if as the Professor fears this will lead to harsher laws being put into effect against us and others like us?" he shouted at her. "You heard the Professor, we are at a crossroads and we need to do everything we can to stop worse things from happening which is why the X-Men exists in the first place," he added.

"But not at the expense of our own people you damn fool," Besty spat, speaking up for the first time since the whole thing had begun. "Xavier gave Jean up without a god damn choice, and without even giving her a chance to be told what was going on," she continued venting her own anger at what she had seen as a betrayal. "She woke up just as he arrived with those damn S.H.I.E.L.D soldiers to arrest her. She was still asking for help as well as a damn explanation as they dragged her out the damn door," she reminded them all. "That is not something I ever expected Xavier to do to any of us and Jean least of all considering how close they are," she finished with her glare fixed straight on the Professor. "And that you would allow it even if she is your ex-wife makes it even worse," she spoke up again as Xavier went to respond before falling silent as he noted the ill will in a lot of his students at his choice. "Did it occur to you that Jean might have volunteered to be arrested if you had asked?" she inquired as a parting shot.

Silence roamed over the now silent watching group, a lot of them agreed with what Besty had just stated, but still some believed the Professor had done the right thing to stop anything worse from happening. Xavier tried to find the right words to say in response to Betsy's tirade, but he for once in his life could think of nothing to say that would achieve his goal of making them understand his choice as well as keep Logan from going after her.

"I'm going after her and that is final Chuck," Logan stated into the silence. "Once we come back, then we will deal with your betrayal of her," he spat before he turned and began to walk away.

Scott moved his hand to his visor but a rather harsh look from Storm made him reconsider his move. He was stunned when he noted Betsy turn and begin to follow Logan as did Laura, Kitty, Jubilee, Rogue and Kurt. Logan paused as he also caught wind of this, a part of him wanted to tell them to stay as he knew this was going to lead to trouble with S.H.I.E.L.D. But he knew he would need all the help he could to get to Jean and release her from whatever prison S.H.I.E.L.D had her in. Betsy watched as Logan nodded his head and resumed walking, she knew like her he usually preferred to work alone but he also knew when he needed help and this was one of those times. Glancing at the kids she noted the smiles they swapped as Logan gave his assent to their going with him, smiling herself she just hoped they were all willing to pay the price this choice might bring down on them all.

Xavier watched them go and glanced at Storm who was continuing to ensure no one else tried to stop them leaving, this had been a point which could have destroyed the X-Men and all he had ever worked for in his life had the infighting continued. He rubbed his forehead as he realized he had failed his students, and Jean most of all. Scott watched as the remaining students broke up and went back to whatever they had been doing before. He wanted to go after Logan and the others, but he knew Storm would stop him. He shared a concerned look with Hank before turning and leaving the Professor to his thoughts.

+WOTG+

(Stark Tower, New York)

Peter carefully set down on the top of Tony Starks home, he knew the man would have tons of alarms in place, but he was certain he could circumvent them all. The alarms were one of the reasons he had left Mary-Jane on the building next door, having both of them here would have made things more difficult. Turning and diving over the side he quickly fixed himself to the windows and began to look for an open one, that proved easy and slowly he entered the building. Having been in the tower quite a few times when teaming with the Avengers he knew where the main computer was, he headed straight for it but kept himself on the ceiling. Hopefully no one was actually in that part of the building, especially not Tony himself.

It was only as he entered the room used for Avenger meetings that he remembered New York was still mostly deserted, due to the Symbiote invasion. Stark himself had not been in New York, or he would have been one of the few heroes who had helped fight it off. That made things that much simpler for him to get the information he needed. Stark was connected to S.H.I.E.L.D in many ways and thus he had to have been updated about the invasion and Black Cats arrest and where she was being held. This was his only hope of finding where they had taken Felicia, and time was of the essence in getting to that information and then getting to Felicia. Dropping to the ground in front of the computer, he began to hack his way into the system. He knew he'd probably show up on camera, but by the time Tony saw it, he'd hopefully already be at the jail and on his way to freeing Felicia.

Finding the news update feed from S.H.I.E.L.D, he read carefully and noted in surprise that Jean Grey off the X-Men had also been arrested for an incident near the X-mansion. He guessed Logan would not be too happy about that, nearly everyone on both sides of the line knew how he felt about that particular red head. He wouldn't be surprised if he ran into Logan if Jean was being held at the same place as Felicia which he noted they were, smiling as he got the location he quickly headed back to the window he had come in from.

"Hold on Felicia, I'm on my way," he stated as he jumped out of the window and began to swing back to where he had left MJ.

"Did you find her?" Mary Jane inquired as he landed in front of her.

"Yep and I found out a few other things that might prove useful," Peter told her as she got back onto his back and he began to swing away from the building. "Things from here on out will not be easy," he admitted.

"But we are doing the right thing, Felicia is our friend and she is in trouble for something beyond her power to control," Mary Jane pointed out. She'd do the same for you I'm sure," she added.

"Yeah I think she would," Peter nodded in agreement.

+WOTG+

(S.H.I.E.L.D Prison)

Felicia Hardy lay on her bunk in boredom, she was also afraid on what Fury and his cronies wanted with her. It hadn't been her fault she'd been taken over by one of those damn Symbiotes. She couldn't be blamed for what had happened, but she guessed they had to blame someone and she was the obvious choice if they couldn't get a hold of Peter or Brock. She hoped and prayed Peter would come and get her, because she was certain whatever Fury wanted with her it wouldn't be good for her.