Alright well…not sure if anyone even has read this yet but here's the next addition. As I forgot the disclaimer on the first chapter I shall do it here; Stan Lee and Marvel own everything you recognize. We aren't making a single shiny penny on this. The only thing we own are our own character creations Huntress and Renegade. Here's to hoping someone reads this and enjoys it even a fraction as much as we enjoy writing it!

Co-written by Sky Sholtz who does not have an account on Fanfiction…

Darkness Gathers

Part one of the Darkness Trilogy

Chapter Two

Renegade woke slowly into strange surroundings, her mind taking a few extra seconds to catch up on what had happened earlier and where she'd ended up. Subtle beeps of a heart monitor reached her ears nearby. She realized an IV was hooked into her arm as she slowly sat up. The room was different and yet all too familiar at the same time and an all too familiar panic settled in her chest as memories of a past she was all too happy to escape came flooding back. Her hands shook as she began separating herself from the machines attached to her. The blue furred Dr. Hank McCoy or Beast as he was affectionately known around the mansion appeared in the doorway at the endless whine of the now disconnected heart monitor.

"You're awake," he stated sounding surprised before it turned to genuine concern in his next comments. "Is everything alright? You appear to be alarmed."

This concern threw Renegade for a curve; she was used to a lot of things from people but receiving sympathy or concern was not generally among them, "I'm fine." She finally offered. "This just wasn't the wakeup call I was expecting is all. How long was I out?"

"Two days though I was unable to find any physical reason for your unconscious state. Might I add, however, your physiology is actually quite unique?"

"How much do you know about it?" Renegade demanded.

"Only enough to know that I have never seen anything like it in all my experience as both a doctor and in working with the X-Men; how much do you know about it?"

"A little though I still have more questions than I do answers."

"That seems to be a running issue with people in the mansion," Beast chuckled. "I may be able to help you a little though if you would permit me to study this further."

Renegade stared at him, trying to remind herself that he was not responsible for her past and he was not the bad guy here, "I'm not saying no but you don't know what you're asking me to agree to. So I am saying 'not yet'. Besides you should at least buy a girl dinner before you go wanting to pop the hood and see how she runs."

Beast chuckled again and shook his head at her, "Fair enough, I'm sure I can keep myself busy with…other research."

Renegade quirked a brow but didn't ask about that, "Might be a good idea."

"However would you at least allow me to do a quick check of your vitals? After all you were unconscious for two days with no medical reason for the condition."

"Sure," she finally relented, sitting back as Beast began his check.

"How do you feel?"

"Alright but starving; I've been living on IV fluids for two days after all."

Beast laughed and glanced up from his task, "I promise we will get you something to eat as soon as I'm done here."

"Okay," she replied finally noticing that her current attire was nothing more than a thin hospital gown. "And I should probably change right? I mean this dress is just too much don't you agree?"

"Actually I think it's quite fetching," Beast disagreed with a smile, "but since everything's checking out here, I suppose you could do so. You're clothes are in the closet over there. I will wait for you in the hallway while you change and then we will see what we can find for you to eat on the main level of the mansion."

With that he turned and left the room. As Renegade changed she couldn't help wondering if she had stepped into the Twilight Zone. The people here seemed unlike any others she had ever come across but at the same time how could they ever accept her as one of their own. What hope does my mission have when they find out what I am? They'll hand me my walking papers in a heartbeat. Then I guess I'll just find another way she thought to herself before heading out the door and joining Beast in the hall. She followed him to the elevator and once on the main floor she followed him to the kitchen, noting that the mansion was fairly quiet.

"You know," Beast finally started, "I still don't know your name."

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," she replied cryptically.

"You are ever an enigma! So what am I to call you then?"

"Well Renegade is my codename or you can call me whatever you wish. For reasons I can't explain the skeleton in my closet is me and I can't risk letting me out."

"Well Renegade, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Dr. Hank McCoy or Beast if you prefer."

After an almost awkward pause Renegade laughed a little and shook his outstretched hand as they headed into the kitchen finally, "Dr. McCoy, the pleasure is all mine."

"My apologies," Beast continued, "but seeing as how late the hour is I'm afraid I don't have anything hot that I can offer you."

As he dug through the stainless steel industrial fridge in the kitchen and started building enough sandwiches for the two of them Renegade chuckled, "I don't really care what it is as long as there is a lot of it."

When Beast set the plate on the table, Renegade fell on the pile of sandwiches as though she hadn't seen food for weeks, not just the couple of days she'd been unconscious. Beast shook his head thinking to himself that it was going to be every man for himself at meal times with two ferals and Renegade even as he set about building another pile of sandwiches which he set before her before joining her at the table along with a couple of glasses of water.

"I meant to ask you earlier," he spoke again when she appeared to be slowing down in her eating frenzy. "Do you have any idea what caused you to fall unconscious? I was unable to find any trauma to explain the problem."

Renegade stared at him with a blank look for a moment, choosing her words carefully as she swallowed a rather large bite of sandwich, "Extending my abilities to others is still new to me and very draining. The larger the trauma that I try to heal in another, the harder it hits my system. I guess I just gave more than I could spare at that moment."

"I hope I am not overstepping my bounds but you seem to be a very distrustful person so why would you make yourself vulnerable to a group of people you don't know to help a man you just met?"

"You have an inquisitive mind, Dr. McCoy. It seems strange I know but I really just didn't want to spend all night arguing with Wolverine. I took the easy way out," she grinned.

"I heard that," Wolverine growled from the doorway behind Renegade.

"You were meant to; I saw your reflection in the toaster," again her voice was deadpan calm.

"Watch it. I still don't trust you," he growled menacingly.

"I am fully aware of that and contrary to what you may think, that was not what my display was supposed to inspire from you. You were only meant to see why it might not be such a bad thing to have me along for the ride from time to time. You do at least see that now I would assume."

"If we can't trust you, what good are you?"

"Look I might not be very open emotionally or about my past but I promise you, out there on the battle field I am a force to be reckoned with. I have never left a man behind, never lost a battle and will do everything I can and let nothing stand in my way. I promise this because it's all that matters to me now. It doesn't matter if I'm standing on the side of the X-Men or if I have to carry this out alone, I will pursue it and win," she narrowed her eyes at the feral, draping an arm over the back of her chair as she finally turned to face him. "Does any of this matter to you or is it more important for you to know every little, tiny, personal detail about me right now?"

"Every detail? Right now I'd settle for one!"

"One personal detail and you'll ease up?" she questioned dismissively turning her back to him again and letting her usual bored mask cover the fear that flared through her chest at the thought of revealing even that small amount of information.

"Just for now; I may want to go for more at a later date," Logan agreed finally.

"I'm Canadian," she muttered closing her eyes briefly as she fought the fear and waited for hell to open beneath her feet…or at the very least to be unleashed on those around her. "Satisfied?"

"Mildly…for now."

"Great. So now that we're all great friends and getting along fabulously," Renegade started her usual snide tone she used to keep people at a distance sliding back into her voice to hide the fear that still lingered in her mind, "I need a favor."

Beast shook his head and grinned, pushing to his feet and padding out of the kitchen. He still had a few samples that he needed to run a few new tests on. Something he'd been putting off lately, never really sure if he wanted to know what it was that had been done to Kat or not in the years before she'd moved into the mansion.

"And so it begins," Logan sighed pausing on his way to make coffee used to the favors that usually followed that line from Jubilee or Kat. "Alright, hit me with it. And you'd better not be asking for a kidney."

Renegade laughed and shook her head even as he gaze followed Beast as he left the room in silence, "Nothing so excessive, I assure you. I just need a ride into town to pick up my wheels but if that's too inconvenient for you, I can always track down that girl that was at the bar the other night."

Logan growled his protective nature flaring up for the young feral affirming some suspicion that Renegade had about the two of them though she still wasn't sure exactly what kind of relationship they had, "I didn't say no did I? And her name is Kat."

"Right, well in that case I'll buy you breakfast and a tank of gas for your trouble," she grinned.

"Don't worry about it. Where's your ride?"

"In an underground parkade not far from the bar you drug me out of."

"You got your keys?"

"Don't need any; the car is top of the line and state of the art. Locks and ignition are run from my fingerprints."

"Fancy," Logan growled, turning back to the door, "what's with the rush to get your car? Planning on flying the coup already?"

"My, my, you are perceptive aren't you?" Renegade chuckled having detected the faintest hint of hope in his voice at the prospect. "As a matter of fact though, I am but just for an afternoon. Being new in town and having a chance to hit up NYC I figured it was the perfect excuse to buy a new wardrobe. You can tag along if you want and keep an eye on me if you're that worried about it. Besides your wardrobe could use an update."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I know this is only our second encounter but first it's spandex and now its flannel. Dude, the nineties called; they want their fashion sense back."

Wolverine turned back to her again and once again she was turned around in her chair, an arm draped over the back of it as she watched him, "You are the most honest, dishonest person I have ever met…and that's sayin' something."

"Well, that's because I'm not dishonest; just distrustful. I may not tell you everything in fact I may not tell you anything but I will never lie to you."

"That's good…I know a human lie detector that you really wouldn't want to piss off," Logan growled still waiting for her to get up and follow him so he could take her to get her car. "You comin' or what?"

"Right behind you," Renegade grinned pushing away from the table and making her way over to him.

She was half a step behind him as they entered the garage and he led her to his favorite ride, aside from his jeep. Without a word he passed her a helmet and out of habit from being at the school donned one himself before swinging a leg over the seat of a sleek 1965 Harley Davidson motorcycle in perfect condition aside from a couple of scuffs from its encounter with the chain link fence the previous evening.

"Nice bike; it's good to know you have good taste in something."

"Yeah, thanks," he growled. "Hang on."

As he fired the bike into life she slid on behind him forced to sit right up against his back as she wrapped her arms around his chest. Once she had her grip on him he hit the gas and sped out of the grounds, speeding towards town. Renegade reveled in the moment as Logan seemed intent of taking the bike beyond the limits of the machine and she felt a little like she was flying as they soared down the road and she couldn't help but take notice of the amount of rock hard muscle she could feel even through the leather jacket he had shrugged into before they'd left.

All too soon they'd reached their destination and she begrudgingly swung off from behind him, handing back the helmet, "That was amazing. Please tell me you'll give me a ride again sometime."

"I've given a lot of people rides on this thing but you're only the second to ask to go again," Logan muttered.

"The second? Who's as crazy as me that you took first?"

"Kat."

"Ah," she still wasn't entire sure what the girl was to Logan or even what her powers were but figured she'd find out sooner or later. "Well thanks for the lift."

"Don't mention it," he growled before he shot off again, heading for some good coffee and peace and quiet before heading back to the mansion to deal with the students.

Renegade watched him speed away before heading into the parkade and over to her midnight blue 2010 Ferrari with added features that had come in handy on more than a few of her missions. This mission would likely be no exception other than the fact that for once there was no foreseeable end to it. She doubted that normal humans would ever truly accept something they feared with power that they both envied and hated. Few had ever been able to accept her since she'd changed which was one of the reasons she believed Buddha had it right when he said 'in the sky there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe to be true' and so the great unanswerable question rolled around in her mind as she drove back to the mansion; how do I get an entire world to stop seeing what separates and start seeing what unites us? The only answer she could come up with for herself was the simple one; with one person at a time.

It's a good thing I have forever then she thought to herself as she drove through the gates of the school which had apparently already been programmed to recognize her voice at the voice box.

As she drove around the circular drive out in front of the mansion she finally noticed the stables off to the right along with what appeared to be both an indoor and outdoor riding arena. Between the stables and the mansion she could see Kat dressed in blue jeans, knee high black riding boots and black t-shirt launching at Logan and knocking him to the ground. From the distance she was at, Renegade couldn't hear what was being said but obviously something had annoyed the girl as she wrestled with Logan who was grinning.

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Kat had rolled out of bed a few minutes before her alarm would have gone off, switching it off before heading into her bathroom to get ready for the morning. She was still braiding her hair over her shoulder as she headed down the stairs and out the side door that was the fastest way to the stables. She had an order of hay that had come in the day before that needed to be stacked and figured she may as well get started as she waited for Logan to show up to give her hand like he'd told her he would.

She smiled to herself as she slipped down the alley between the two lines of box stalls. Only about a quarter of them were being used since there weren't that many of the students that were interested in riding but at least the Professor had never had an issue with her keeping her own riding skills sharp and she had three top bred jumping horses for her own training. Jubilee was already in the barn, which surprised Kat a little though she didn't show it as she bid the girl good morning when she passed the stall that Jubilee was cleaning out. The teenager had already turned out the horses in their paddocks and Kat grinned.

She'd never been really sure about how seriously Jubilee would take the riding and horsemanship lessons when she'd asked Kat if she could pick up her class but the girl had been working her butt off and Kat had to admire her determination to pick up the skills needed. Shaking the thought from her head the feral stepped into the hay shed and cringed at the pile of square hay bales that needed to be stacked. Grabbing a pair of gloves she got to work, assuming that Logan would be out to give her a hand in a couple of minutes.

After stacking forty or fifty of the bales Kat was getting annoyed. Jubilee had asked if she needed a hand but Kat had sent her off to the mansion so she had time to change before her regular classes. It ended up being Scott who had come out and helped her finish stacking the months' worth of bales in the shed. As much as she appreciated the help there were times that she really didn't enjoy Scott's company. He had a tendency to be even more of a perfectionist than she was and could never seem to ease up on Wolverine.

Scott had headed in for breakfast only a few minutes before Kat but it was enough that he hadn't run into Logan. As soon as Kat stepped out of the shed and saw Logan making his way towards her she growled under her breath, picking up speed as she headed towards him until she launched at him, catching him around the waist and dragging him to the ground.

"What the hell?! Logan, you promised you'd help me stack that damn hay this morning but instead you leave me to deal with Scott?"

Logan flinched having forgotten about his agreement to help her out until he'd been on his way for coffee after dropping Renegade at her car, "Sorry about that, Kid."

"Sorry?" Kat growled baring her teeth as she reared back knowing he was only letting her pin him but not caring at the moment as she slammed a fist into the middle of his chest satisfied with his grunt at the connection.

"Yeah, Kid. And I'm counting that as you're free shot," he warned.

Kat only growled at him again before shifting to drive her knee into his kidney. As soon as she'd connected she found herself flat on her back and pinned under Logan's considerable weight. While he had the weight and strength advantage she was more agile and flexible and he'd been the one to teach her to use that against her opponents. Before he could get a good grip on her and gain the upper hand, Kat twisted under him, flipping him off her hips and using a backward shoulder roll to get out of his reach while at the same time striking out with her foot, aiming for his jaw. Logan knocked her foot away and grinned to himself deciding to turn this into a bit of a sparring session since she seemed so intent on trying to beat on him anyway.

For the next twenty minutes Logan attempted to gain the upper hand forcing her to train more than actually fight him. As always he was careful with what he did always aware that while he would be healed up from damn near anything by the next morning, Kat wasn't so lucky and the few times he had accidently hurt her he'd wanted to beat his head against a wall. Finally he decided she'd had enough and used his extensive experience to get her pinned to the ground beneath him, her hand trapped above her head at the wrist.

"Feel better, Darlin'?"

Kat panted and glared at him, "If you ever leave me to do physical labor with him again…"

Logan chuckled and shook his head, "You could have said you didn't need help."

"Have you ever tried to convince him of that? It's a lost cause. Now let me up so I can go get something to eat."

Logan grinned up got off her, pulling her to her feet even as he stood up himself. As they headed into the mansion, he dropped an arm around her shoulders and shoved her into the kitchen ahead of him. He watched as she headed for the fresh coffee not missing how she searched the room for someone of the Cajun persuasion before she dropped into a chair with a resigned sigh. Logan rolled his eyes and joined her, his own coffee finally in hand.

"He's not worth it, Kid," he muttered so quietly even the other feral had a hard time hearing him and she only shrugged at him; it wasn't like she was finding much of a choice in the way her heart and mind led her.

He'd barely finished speaking before Renegade wandered in behind them and Logan tried his damnedest to ignore the other woman while he tugged a few stay pieces of grass and hay from Kat's braided hair for her. Renegade paused briefly in the doorway taking in the fact that a few more of the mansion's occupants had trickled into the kitchen in her absence.

"It's good to see that you're up and around again. You gave us quite a scare," the Professor greeted her warmly as he sipped at his tea. "I believe you've met most of those here at least briefly. Kat was at the bar when you first arrived here. Scott and Jean you met during your…interview. This leaves Storm."

The dark woman with brilliant white hair smiled warmly to Renegade, "I have heard a great deal about you in the short amount of time you've been here. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Good morning," Scott greeted her as well as she made her way to the coffee.

"How are you feeling?" Jean chimed in smiling to Renegade and then laughing a little as Kat slapped Logan's hand away from her hair where he was continuing to pretend to pull hay from it in amusement.

"Thank you…good morning…and I feel very…rested," Renegade finally replied as she doctored her mug of coffee feeling more than a little overwhelmed at their greetings not used to attracting so much attention.

"Like a little coffee with your sugar?" Logan questioned, leaning back in his chair and finally leaving Kat alone at least for the moment.

"Don't worry, you get used to their greetings every morning after a couple of years," Kat muttered before sipping at her own coffee.

"I'm just not sweet enough yet…but I'm working on it," Renegade responded to Logan even as she wondered exactly how Kat knew how much the greetings had shocked her. "I suppose I should let you know, Professor, that I'm day tripping into the city after breakfast as long that's allowed. No one's really laid down the rules for this place yet."

"Are you certain it has to be today?"

"Well, I only have the clothes on my back at the moment and eventually they're going to start to smell pretty ripe."

"I see," the Professor replied turning thoughtful as he leaned back in his chair, "although you really shouldn't go alone."

"In case you missed it, I'm pretty much invincible and I can handle myself. I am not, however, opposed to having some company," her gaze shifted over the occupants of the kitchen. "Okay, my car can fit 4 passengers if you squeeze. So who wants in? I have a limitless credit card that says I'm buying."

"I'm in if I can have half an hour for a shower and a change of clothes," Kat responded quickly, craving a day away from the mansion and figuring she could use some new clothes as well.

"You're in for what?" Jubilee questioned as she strolled into the kitchen in a fresh set of clothes her usual yellow trench coat over clean jean shorts and t-shirt with sunglasses on top of her head.

"Day trip to NYC; I need some new duds," Renegade replied and Jubilee quirked a brow having not met the newest member of the mansion though like everyone else she'd heard about her.

A second later the idea of hitting the city landed on Jubilee and her eyes widened as a grin split her face, "New York City? Can I come? Can I? Please!"

"I have no objections if the Professor doesn't," Renegade replied with a shrug, "and on the condition that I'm buying."

Jubilee practically squealed with excitement causing Kat to cringe at the high pitched noise that emanated from the teenager behind her, "Please, Professor?"

"Alright, alright," the Professor smiled to Jubilee before turning to Kat and Renegade. "You two look after her."

"No man left behind; I promise I'll bring her back safely," Renegade responded seriously.

"You don't know Jubes," Kat teased the teen good naturedly; it was common knowledge that Jubilee found trouble no matter where she ended up going or even who she was with.

"You kids better behave because I'm coming along to babysit," Logan announced with a slight growl not willing to trust his two girls to Renegade alone.

"Great so if there are no more takers…if someone could point me to a shower now that would be great because I am not going anywhere without one."

"I will," Jean told her, pushing to her feet and leading Renegade from the kitchen assuring her she could take her cup of coffee with her. "So you're a healer? You're power is to heal others?"

Renegade followed Jean up the stairs and considered her response before deciding that this was information that could be shared without risk of giving away more than she wanted, "Kind of. I can heal myself as well."

"I've never known of a mutant that could heal others before now," Jean responded quietly before smiling to Renegade and stopping in front of a bedroom door. "You can just take this room. There should be towels and everything you need in the bathroom and the closet but if you need anything just let us know. The Professor and I are both telepaths so we can usually pick up if someone is looking for us."

"Thanks," Renegade responded heading into the room while Jean headed back downstairs for the kitchen.

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Well there you have it people. Chapter two is finished and I hope readable. Considering I'm running on caffeine and three hours sleep I cannot guarantee that. Regardless please leave us reviews as we do thrive on them and they keep the creative coming. Next chapter should hopefully be up in a couple days if not sooner!