Disclaimer –I don't own or make any profit from writing about the X-Men who belong to Marvel Comics. I wish I did, that would be so much fun.

Note: Words that are smaller and that are in italics are what the people are thinking

Chapter 4: Wolverine's back

"Jean how long can he last like this?" questioned Scott as he knelt by Jean's side and helped to hold wolverine down.

"I don't know Scott, his healing powers should never have let this happen. I don't know how long it would take for him to…" Jean burst out into tears.

"Don't talk like that Jean! Wolverine will be fine, calm down. You're scaring the kids." Scott said as he pulled Jean into a short embrace before going back to hold the still shaking Wolverine.

"Your right, like always. Now's not the time to loose my head… think Jean think… maybe I should try to figure out what's wrong with him first." Jean said as she slowly repositioned herself so that wolverines head was directly in front of her knees. She then placed her hands on either side of his head, and concentrated. "I've got it!"

"Got what?" Scott asked.

"He went into shock because of the cold and that nice little hit on the head, he received. That's all… But why hasn't his healing powers dealt with the wound…?" Jean replied as she took her hands away from wolverines head.

"His body just needs to right itself before dealing with physical injures. Wolverine has just walked through his worst nightmare, and has had many memories rush back to him. His mind needs sometime to organize its self. Then it will deal with the head wound." The professor said as he opened his eyes and looked over to Jean knowingly. "Don't worry; his powers won't let him die. Now, how is our newest member?" Professor X asked as he turned to look at the still unconscious boy that was sitting buckled up in a seat.

Jean walked over to the boy, pick up one of his hands and checked for a pulse. "His heart is beating, slowly, but its beating. And his chest is moving, a sign that he's breathing. Professor, who do you think he is?"

"I truly can't answer that question; his mind is blocked from telepathic reading. In short, I can't see into his head." The professor responded. "I can tell you this thought, he was used as one of Stryker's experiments. Look around his neck, there's a metal collar. Does it say anything on it?"

"Draghen, and then a number 9964, that's all." Scott replied as he checked the collar.

"Could you imagine living your life as an experiment, with a collar?" shuttered Kitty, "Just thinking about it gives me the creeps."

"And to think Wolverine was also an experiment that makes two of our members now. I just feel bad about having to leave all the others mutants that were still in the base. So many lives, gone with the breaking of one dam. Many of those people never got to actually live their lives." Professor Xavior replied.

"At least one will." Storm replied as she slowly started to lower the plane, into the opened up basketball court at the mansion.

"I suppose your right." Professor Xavior sighed. "well lets get to work and see, what kind of damage is done to the school."

"Okay!" all the mutants said in union.

"Professor, would you like some help?" Kurt asked, as he turned away from the ramp.

"Yes, thank you Kurt." The professor said as Kurt came over and wrapped his arms around him. A second later, they both disappeared in a cloud of navy-black smoke.

"Jean, how are you feeling? Do you think you could lift Wolverine, if one of the kids helped you to walk? We would be able to move both him and Dragen quicker that way." Storm asked. "Rouge, Kitty can you take the kids upstairs and start to look for damages."

"Sure," said both Kitty and Rouge. They turn and started to walk out of the jet with Bobby and John bringing up the rear.

"John, Bobby I'll need your help, so stay here." Scott said as he turned from them to Jean. "I'll take the boys and start looking for some of the kids that got away. Will you and Storm be okay?"

"Don't worry about us Scott. Just try to find some of the kids." Storm said as she slowly dragged Dragen off his seat and down the ramp.

"Okay, see you later. Bobby, John lets go." Scott said after he quickly gave Jean a kiss. John was the first out of the three to get off the jet followed by Bobby and then lastly Scott. They then entered one of the many tunnels, and started walking. After quite a while, they came to a split in the tunnels that lead off into four different directions. "Bobby you take the far left tunnel, John you'll take the far right tunnel and I'll take the right one, we'll meet back here in two hours. Okay?"

"What ever," John grumbled.

"Um, Scott? What happens if we run into trouble?" Bobby asked.

"Refrain from using your powers, but if you have to, use them. But try to be discreet. If you find any other mutants in trouble try to help them and bring them back with you, bring them right back. Don't worry if the two hours aren't up. If you run into big trouble, where people are following you, don't bring them back to the school, try to loss them first. If you not back in two hours I'll come looking for you. Don't forget to leave a trail that isn't too noticeable, so that you can find your way back, or so that I can find you." Scott replied before entering the tunnel. "Remember two hours, and leave a trail. Now get going."

Both John and Bobby entered their tunnels, and started walking down them. John leaving a scorched mark every ten steps and Bobby left a small piece of ice. They were making good time.

back at the mansion on the second floor

"Why did we get stuck with babysitting duty?" Rouge asked Kitty as the searched the second floor. "The main floor is in shambles, broken windows, broken doors and tipped over furniture. What are we supposed to do about it?"

"I'm not quit sure, and I don't think Professor Jean or Professor Storm know either. They just wanted to give us something to do. I wonder what some of the parents are going to do once they find out that there children are mutants." Kitty replied whistling.

Squeeeeaaak………

"What was that?" whispered Kitty as all of the other kids came running over to her.

"I don't know, but it came from over there." Rouge replied in the same whisper, as she pointed to the left wall that was about 3 meters in front of her.

Squeeeeaaak………

The wall that Rouge had been pointing at moved slowly forward. Rouge, Kitty and the other mutants frozen in terror.

Squeeeeaaak………

The wall moved forward even more… it was now two inches from where it stood moments ago.

Squeeeeaaak………

The noise started to grow quieter, as the person or whoever it was, that pushed on it, pushed slower trying to make as little noise as possible. The wall moved steadily forward, no longer squeaking. It was now far enough away from the other wall, to see a giant shadow pushing against the other side of the wall.

The shadow froze, as it locked eyes with Rouge… minutes passed… not a sound… then slowly a small whisper made it to wear Kitty stood. "Rouge?"

The voice sounded familiar, kitty thought… her mind thought hard "where have I heard that voice before? Is it an enemy's?" she shook her head, definitely not an enemy's. But who's... then it came to her. "Colossus?"

"It is you guys!" Colossus said happily, then in a whisper, "is it safe to come back?"

"As far as we know, we just got back." Rouge replied.

"I thought I saw the jet." Colossus replied as he gave the wall another push, not caring how much noise he made. SQUEEEEAAAK…… The gap was finally wide enough for him to get out; he entered the hall, followed by seven others. "I've tried to find as many kids as possible. Twenty of them are hiding on the third floor, nine on the main, and now these ones that I just found. After the guys left they didn't come back. But I thought that we should stay hidden just in case."

Downstairs in the Hospital wing/lab

"Jean, do you want the boy in here with Wolverine, or should I put him in the other room?" Storm asked, as she poked her head into the room, to find Wolverine on the table, and Jean, on crutches, cleaning his wounds.

"Put him in the other room please. You know how Logan can be sometimes, a little unorthodox." Jean replied with a smile.

Storm laughed and continued on her way, dragging the boy behind her.

"Ouch! That hurts you know." Wolverine said as he moved his injured head out of Jean's hands. "So, how long have I been out?"

"Oh, just a couple of hours, not too long." Jean said with a smile.

"Just a couple hours, huh?" Wolverine said as he tried to sit up, unsuccessfully. "So what happened? All I remember is leading you guy to the exit, and reaching down for something. That's all."

"Stay down. Well, you did lead us to the exit, and just before we go out a chunk of the ceiling fell down a hit you on the head. We got out; Rouge, Bobby, John and Kitty brought the jet over to us. We got on, John found a boy in the snow, and then we came back here." Jean replied as she pushed him gently back down as he tried to sit up again.

"Got whacked on the head… that explains the headache." Wolverine chuckled, "so how are you?"

" Logan, not now." Jean said as she turned to walk away.

"What did I say now? Hey, where are you going?" Wolverine said.

"To check on the kid, so stay here. And stay lying down." Jean said as she walked, with the help of her crutches, over to the door. "I mean it Logan, stay here, and stay lying down until I come back. Your powers haven't healed the head injury, yet."

Sorry about not writing or posting for a long… long time. I've been extremely busy and I try to get in as much writing as possible, but as you all can see that's not a lot.

Dragen De Sanglant