Chapter 13 (!)

Logan layed back on the bed in his dorm. So this, this, was the truth. It was a mix of different emotions to know it. Of course there was a fierce fear and protectiveness for Adrian. But mostly it was anger. He knew there was one more thing, one tiny detail, Xavier was holding back. He'd been told of Striker, Adamantium, and Alkali Lake. He had been told of the past both he and Adrian shared, almost making her more of his because of their same origin. But there was something else, he was sure of it.

It was bad enough knowing this, but having Magneto staying at the mansion's hospital unit, forever talking and planning with Xavier, (about what he had no clue), was almost too much to handle. The only consolation was the fact that he and his cronies were injured. He almost smiled at the thought of it. They had noidea what Adrian had done, but whatever it was had beat up them pretty badly. She'd really done a number on them. Magneto was barely talking, Mystique was still out cold, and they hadn't even found Creed yet.

A slight knock on the door brought him back to his senses. He got up and stretched before opening it.

Storm stood, a worried expression on her face. She breathed in deeply before looking up at him.

"Xavier and...Magneto want everyone in the medical unit. They...want to talk. About what we'll do." She seemed a bit shaky, but Logan realized it was probably caused less by the touchy subject of Adrian, and more by disgust for Magneto.

They walked together to the med lab were Jean, Cyclops, and Xavier were circled around one bed were Magneto was laying. Their eyes rose to meet Logan, but Magneto's were the most intrigued. It was like Magneto was examining Logan, right down to the core of his soul, if he still had one after the 'operation', that is.

They stood in silence for a minute before Logan looked up, his jaw set.

"So what's the plan?"

I stretched as I got off the soft grass. Some sleep, a little food I'd payed for with the little money in my wallet, plus the satisfaction I'd gotten from crushing Magneto had re-energized me. I felt like I could run five marathons and not break a sweat. I breathed in the forest air. It was snowing lightly, adding a nice sort of chill to the air.

I kept on walking, debating with myself over "borrowing" a bike. Maybe Xavier's School had knocked some morals into me. Before I'd been through this whole mess, I could have stolen a bike no problem. I kept on going, just enjoying myself. It wasn't really that bad being gone, if you put aside those two parts in my mind that eternally tortured me with thoughts of Logan; the one part that wanted to be with him in soul, and the other part that wanted to be with himin bed. Or the clearing back at the school, that would have worked out nicely.

I walked for about five hours before deciding to lay down again. I was really starting to beat myself up over leaving my bag of stuff back at where I'd pretty much killed those two. Maybe three if Creed had still been there when I'd done...whatever it was that I'd done.

I layed there a little bit. Before I started to notice the scent. It smelled like sterilizing alcohol and tobacco. Maybe rubber glove too. It was far away, and mingled with other scents, so I didn't really notice it too much. But it just seemed so familiar. Maybe it was because of the constant tug it put on my mind that I stupidly blocked it out.

Which was why I never noticed it getting too close for comfort. And why I never saw it coming when I was suddenly shot with a tranqulizer.

I'd only opened my eyes long enough to register two things. One was a large van, the scent of a hospital eminating from it, along with dozens of men getting out of it. The other was a portly man with blondish hair and a southern accent, that I only recognized because of the four words he said.

"We've got her back."