The Boogie Man

Sequel to Kittens Have Claws, Too. Victor, Katherine, Tayla and Mystique discover the secret to helping keep female ferals alive…But will nightmares be the setback for an old friend, or will her personal Boogie Man be the one to save her soul.

I DON'T own them…at this point I wish I did…I would put them all out to pasture and go on with my LIFE…SOMEONE get Victor Creed OUT of my head. Wait, never mind. (Victor muse purring in the background as he throws back the covers on the bed…) I am going to pet the kitty while you guys enjoy the story.

Chapter 8

The protest was in full swing when she woke up. She could hear the shouts – smell the hate in the air. It was stifling. She groaned and crawled out of bed. She didn't like that her healing factor was down – her body was sore, she was tired – at least morning sickness was at least a month and a half away – and by that time her mutation would be back to normal.

The dreams didn't help either. They had started sometime around midnight.

Running – she could hear the sounds behind her – smell the hate – the fear from the crowd chasing her – torches blazing. Shouts of "MUTANT BITCH" and "FREAKS SHOULD DIE" followed her as she ran. She stumbled over a root, and a hand reached down and grabbed her arm. She looked up, his face was concerned – the tufts of hair more eccentric than threatening. She started to climb to her feet, letting him help her – when the mob caught them.

His claws flashed in the torchlight as he fought to keep them at bay.

"YOU AIN'T touchin my MATE!" He shouted to the mob. He pressed her back against a tree – his body protecting her – taking the blows intended for her and their child. She closed her eyes in panic – and then silence. She opened them again – bodies covered the ground – blood dripped from his claws – covered his body – his face.

"You alright?" He asked before pulling her roughly into his arms.

She nodded – and he leaned down and captured her mouth with his.

That was when she woke up – she could still taste him – and in the dream it wasn't threatening – but comforting. She didn't want to be saved by him – didn't want to be comforted by him – or did she? This was getting all confused in her head. She hated him – feared him – didn't she?

She glared at the phone on her desk – maybe it was time to put old demons to rest. She picked up the phone and dialed an old familiar number.

"Judge Jackson's office."

"Diane – it's Tayla, is Dad in?" She said softly.

"TAYLA! Hold on a minute." She waited while the music played in the background.

"Tayla – are you alright?" Her dad sounded concerned.

"I'm fine – I just – well I wanted to call and see how you are doing." She said she didn't know how to broach this with him.

"I'm fine. Baby – I am so sorry – I never should have reacted like that. Victor has kept me informed – about you and your work. I want you to know I am damned proud of you." She could hear tears in her father's voice.

"I met him." She said. She heard her father hiss on the phone.

"He's here?"

"He left – but – it's true – he's my mate."

"Did he hurt you?"

"No – if anything I hurt him. I didn't want to face him – face what had to happen – and so I didn't, until it was almost too late. I had no idea his wife died six months ago – hell I had no idea he was married. I didn't want to know. I forced him to do something he didn't WANT to do – because I was so damned stubborn."

"He's a monster – he probably killed her." Her dad snapped.

"Dad – he's not – he even gave us access to information to save three of the girls – we lost one but we wouldn't have been able to save her anyway."

"I bet it was his fault."

"DAD – it wasn't. He had NOTHING to do with it. He's – well I didn't talk to him much – but he's - as human or at least as mutant as I am. He bleeds – he feels guilty for what he had to do – and so do I."

"You shouldn't feel guilty for anything you did to that monster – he deserved it, after what he did."

"Dad – Victor told me – what happened – why you hate him so much. It wasn't your fault – and not his either. You didn't know what was in that facility and you were just a speed bump in his way to rescue a bunch of kids."

"I don't know anything about that."

"I know you don't – Victor never told you – well he had his reasons, but between the two of you – you really messed up my head."

"I NEVER hurt you, Tayla – you are my pride and joy."

"DAD! I was terrified half of my life because you told horror stories – I forced a man to – well I'm not too proud of what I have done – but I did it because I was AFRAID of him – because of you. And NOW I have to find him – and tell him I am pregnant – and face his anger and God knows what else – and I am TERRIFIED – all because of the stories you told when I was a kid."

"PREGNANT! You are carrying that monster's BASTARD!" Her father shouted into the phone.

"I have told you, Dad – he's not a monster – but I am beginning to believe that I am." She said softly.

She heard her father's soft intake of breath.

"You are no monster – and he doesn't have to know – about the baby. We can take care of it, raise it. Come home, I'll help you."

"And have you raise it hating it's father – I won't have you do that – this child is innocent in all of this – even if none of the adults involved are. I WON'T do to it what was done to me." She said quietly.

"What do you plan on doing – throwing yourself on his 'mercy'? Begging him not to kill you or the baby? He's a monster, Tayla. He would as soon kill you as look at you, he has used you – and left – and here you are carrying his child." Her father sneered at her.

"Dad – you have it all wrong. I used him. I used his own body – his own instincts against him – used a mating bond that I have always believed to be the most precious thing in the world – for everyone but ME – to FORCE him to do this – and then I FORCED him to leave – leave me – leave here, and you know what? I am really regretting it. The man has to hate me – hate what I have done – I just pray he doesn't hate this child because of it." She said fiercely.

"If you go to him – don't ever come crawling back to me – I am through with this whole mess. I don't want his demon spawn in my house." Her father slammed down the phone. She looked at the phone in her hand – the high pitched noise it made hurting her ears. She gently set it back down in its cradle, as the tears streaked down her face. Her only family – no her only BLOOD – wanted nothing to do with her or the child she was carrying. At least her REAL family wouldn't turn her away.

XXXXXXXXX

"I don't like this." Victor said as they tried to drive into the entrance of the compound. Kitten had insisted on going in to work this morning. He didn't want her anywhere near the protests – these things had a habit of turning very ugly.

"Vic – we have to get the girls matched and out of here – Tayla and I have to clear the computers, and then we have to finish cleaning the place out – make sure there are no clues where we have gone. I don't like it – but I am NEEDED here." She said softly.

"With you factor haywire – if you get hurt, I can't keep from killin somethin." He said.

"I know baby – so make sure I don't get hurt." She grinned at him. He HATED when she did that. She knew how protective he was – and knew just how to use it to her advantage. He remembered the moment she had figured out she had him completely wrapped around her fingers.

"But Vic – I WANT to go. You promised to take me on some of your trips – and I haven't left Colorado yet."

"Baby – Kitten – this isn't a trip – its work. I DON'T want you gettin involved in that."

"Victor Creed – I have never been out of this state – much less this country and YOU are taking me to Venice." She growled. "It's spring break – I don't have any papers due after the break and I WANT to go somewhere."

"I SAID NO!" He roared at her.

"And I said I'm GOING!" She roared back, before storming up the stairs and slamming the bedroom door.

He started to go after her – and then he smelled her tears. She was fucking crying – over not getting to go to Venice. FUCK! He picked up the phone and called the airline, and ordered a second ticket. If she wanted to go to Venice that bad – she was going to Venice.

He climbed the stairs and opened the door. She was lying across the bed, her shoulders wracked with sobs.

"Baby." He said as he sat on the bed reaching out to stroke her hair.

"I wish you would stop protecting me all the time – I want to LIVE my life – not be locked in a cage." She said softly. He gathered her up in his arms, her head resting against his chest.

"You are going to Venice." He said softly.

"What?"

"You are goin' now quit the waterworks already." He growled.

"REALLY!" She squealed, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. It was then he caught the glint in her eyes – and KNEW she'd played him.

"YEAH REALLY – but don't expect to leave the hotel…I plan on keepin' ya worn out." He growled, as he shredded her favorite blouse.

And of course she had left the hotel – ran all over that damned city while he tracked his mark – he found her one night on the top of St. Marks – looking at the damned horses. Nothing stopped her – when she set her mind to something – especially not him.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked as he finally made it through the press of protesters to the gates of the compound. They opened smoothly, Micah and a couple other ferals holding back the crowd as he pulled the car through.

"Venice."

"Oh…" She bit her lip – a slight blush across her cheeks. She figured out not long after that he had known she'd played him – and that he'd let her. She just grinned at him.

"Well – this isn't Venice. I am NEEDED here." She said finally.

"As long as that's it – I'm goin' along with it – but this time – I AM putting my foot down, once this is done, you are gettin someplace safe – or I AM lockin' ya in that damned cage." He growled.

"Just try it, Tom Cat." She grinned.

"Don't try me – woman – that's my cub you're carryin'" He growled back.

She just glared at him and he grinned. It wasn't just her anymore – and he had to think about both of them. He pulled the car up to the front of the main building. She glared and then opened the door and climbed out. He followed her into the doors.

"Don't think this cub changes anything, Tom Cat. I am NOT quitting." She glared.

"Ain't askin ya to, just askin ya ta be careful."

"Fine." She growled at him. He grinned. He loved it when he got her to growl – she was so – well – cute when she was angry."

"Love ya, Kitten." He said as he took off looking for Myst.

"Love you too, ya big jerk." She said back. He couldn't wipe the proud grin off of his face as he roamed the halls.

XXXXXXXX

He stood outside the bar. Wonder if Charlie is still runnin the place? He thought. He hitched his bag up on his shoulder and headed inside. The cage should be opening up soon – if they didn't remember him – and even if they did – he was spoiling for a fight.

He knew as soon as he walked in that the place had changed – it wasn't even a bar anymore, but an actual restaurant. The cage was still there, but it had tables inside, with little red checkered tablecloths.

"Welcome to Luigi's, how many in your party?" Said the perky young girl at the door, her white shirt and bowtie making this all the more disgusting – well he was hungry.

"One." He said

"Right this way." She led him to the area where the bar had been – his table was almost exactly where Marie had been sitting the night he picked her up. For a second – he thought he caught a trace of her scent. He glanced over the menu – Italian food wasn't his favorite, but he was hungry.

"I'm Tom, I'll be your waiter – can I get you anything to drink?"

"Molson – cold." He said.

"Coming right up – do you want a glass?"

"Sure." Molson in a glass – this would be different. He glanced over the menu again, while he waited for his beer.

He felt a buzzing in his pocket – the damned sat phone. He pulled it out.

"Hello."

"Logan – how's things?" It was Marie.

"Fine – you'll never GUESS where I am."

"Laughlin City."

"Does this thing have a damned tracer on it?" He growled.

"No silly…just the way ya said it. How's Charlie's?"

"It's Luigi's now – Italian place, they even have tables in the cage." He grinned.

"DAMN! I guess all that tourism crap they were doin paid off." She said.

"Looks like it." The waiter set his beer and a frosted glass on the table – and then poured the beer for him. He was going to have to get out of here – this was someplace SCOOTER would like – he winced. He would never admit it to anyone but he actually missed the kid.

"I'll have the combo special." He told Tom.

"Have it right out for you." The boy left.

"What's on the combo?" Marie asked in his ear.

"Lasagna, Spaghetti, and Stuffed Manacotti – why the hell do you care?"

"I was thinking about orderin it myself."

"What?" He looked around the room. She was sitting in a booth on the other side. She hung up the phone and walked over.

"What the hell are you doin' here, kid?"

"Actually – Ah'm here ta meet a mutant about comin ta the school. Imagine my surprise when you walked in, Sugar."

"Just hittin old stompin grounds – cages are gettin hard ta find." He grumbled.

"So ya made a beeline for Laughlin – huh?"

"I figured if they remembered me – I'd at least get a good fight." They both laughed. Tom came back and took her order.

"Ah hear they have a cage three towns over – if you are lookin." She said.

"I may check into it." Their dinner arrived and she started filling him in on what had been going on at the school the last week.

"Kid – no offense – but my head just can't get around all that right now." He said softly.

"Sorry – just makin conversation. How are you doin?"

"Not good." He couldn't lie to Marie – she knew him too well.

"Wolverine actin up?"

"Somethin' fierce. I can't seem ta get him settled down for very long, and he keeps tryin ta send me back to Colorado." He growled. "I was drivin the bike down the highway – and ended up halfway ta the border before I realized it."

"She's your mate – his mate." She said simply.

"I know it – but she don't want me." He said simply.

"Logan – give it time."

"No – she hates me – fears me, and I won't force her ta deal with it." He could feel himself choking.

"Have you gotten any sleep – at all?" She asked

"Some – not much, fightin nightmares all night – fought a cage last night – but it didn't help much. Need ta find a way to wear myself out." He wiped his hand over his face and then took a swig of his beer.

"What nightmares? Weapon X?"

"No – something Tayla said – and it's gettin worse. At first it was just her voice, tellin me I was a monster – now I'm attackin her – hurtin her – and she's…" He stopped. He wasn't sure he could face the rest of it – even with Marie sitting across the table.

"She's what?"

"Pregnant."

"Logan?" He could see the sympathy in her eyes.

"I don't think she is – I would have smelled it, I think." He said softly. "But she will be – someday – unless she, hell Marie – she could choose not ta tell me next time and just die. She almost did this time."

She slipped her gloved hand into his on the table.

"Well we all know better – Darlin' – you are the furthest thing from a monster – and someday she'll see it."

"Go find your mutant, Kid. I'm gonna try ta hit that cage tonight – maybe actually wear myself out and get some sleep." He smiled at her as he stood up from the table; he left the money for his dinner and tip with her, picked up his bag and walked out the door.

XXXXXXXX

Tayla was sitting at her desk. If Kat wasn't a mutant – couldn't smell the salt from the tears she wouldn't even know she'd been crying.

"Okay – spill." She said as she sat in the chair next to the desk.

"What?"

"I can smell it – the baby and the tears." She said

"I called Dad."

"TAYLA!"

"I needed to talk to him – to try to get through to him. I told him about the baby."

"What'd he say?"

"He didn't want any of that demon's spawn in his house."

"Tayla." Kat wanted to strangle Al.

"I expected it. I hoped – somehow time had made him less angry – less bitter. It hasn't. I did figure something out – I really fucked up."

"What do you mean?"

"With Logan."

"Whoa – WHAT?!"

"He has to hate me for what I did – I don't want him to hate the baby." The tears fell again.

"Tay." Kat pulled her into a rough embrace. "Vic and I are here. Myst will wring your neck if you don't let her help – you won't need him."

"Part of me does. I HURT, Kat. Deep in my gut, like something's been cut out." She said softly.

"You mean deep hurt – grinding ache that won't go away?"

"Yeah – how'd you know?" Tayla pulled away and back into her chair.

"I get it when Vic's gone more than a few days." She said.

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"Is it part of the mating – part of the ferity?" She asked, pulling out her notes, suddenly all researcher.

"TAYLA! Put that away. You are not working this away." Kat said.

"I have to do something – if it's something in the mating – in the parings – we need to know, is it a genetic cause or something else?" She flipped through her notes – interviews with the mated pairs. "I don't have any mention of it."

"Maybe because its – well no that wouldn't work." Kat was suddenly right there with her.

"Just what?"

"I was going to say missing the man you love."

"I need to get to the other facilities – talk to the girls – the mated ones – see if this is a common occurrence."

"Tayla – it will wait until the end of the week." Kat said. The frenetic activity was frightening.

"I NEED to know – you said you have this – every time Vic is gone for a few days. How long after he's gone does it start and how long does it last?" Tayla had a pen and paper out.

"Tayla?"

"This is something NEW, Kat – something we haven't found before."

"And YOU need to deal with it, not hide from it in your work."

"How do you?"

"I miss him – I think about him – I cry – and then I clean house, organize my closet, curl up on the bed with that damned stuffed tiger he bought me, binge on chocolate, and come to work."

"Binge on chocolate?" Tayla laughed.

"Hey – you deal with heartache your way – alright."

"Heartache? Is that it? Or is it something else?"

"Tayla – you are feeling guilty over what you did, what you said to the man. You are afraid of him – not because of anything he has done – but because of what your father said to you as a child – and NOW you have a reason to fear – because you have hurt him. I tried to tell you to give it a chance – to try to allow this thing to work the way it's supposed to. YOU need to work through this – decide what you are going to do about it, not try to explain it away as part of the research. You are PREGNANT with his child – and he has a right to know."

"I know!! God I know! The dreams aren't helping either – used to he was the one hurting me – attacking me – now I am dreaming about him rescuing me – helping me – saving me. I HATE him – but what's worse, I am starting to hate myself."

XXXXXXXX

SLAM! KICK! Keep the claws in, this is just for fun. The cheers and jeers of the crowd just made him fight harder.

Where was she? He wanted his mate. These idiots kept coming at him, he wasn't even enjoying this – he just wanted to find her – make sure she and the baby were alright. How the fuck was he supposed to protect her?

Logan was getting tired – very tired. The dreams – they hurt – hell they were even hurting him, she couldn't hate him that much – she just couldn't. She was his mate – carrying his child – she couldn't hate him – could she?