Retro, Cheshire, Canuckle ... you guys are my review board. If I don't hear from you, I know I did something wrong. So much appreciated : )

Retro - not sure if that's a compliment but ... let's go with yes. Case the wife is reading ; )

Canuckle - Thanks for Jubilee tip, I'll definitely be working that in (greer thanks you too). And hey, someone taught me that angry feral couples are sometimes the best feral couples. Or at least a blast to read. And yes ... plenty more 'cameos' to come.

Cheshire - I'm just gonna have to be a bit mean and tell you to keep reading : p


"That's it ... this is the last time. I'm not going to keep doing this."

Greer wasn't in the forest now, instead pacing down in the Danger Room where she had tried working out some of her frustrations ... and anxiety.

Over the course of the month Apex had gone out with X-Force two other times ... this making it his fourth mission in a little over five weeks. He hadn't come back with more than a few scratches but Greer suspected he was doing his best to heal up and hide the worst from her ... and explained why they kept getting back so damn late.

After the second mission he moved stiffly and seemed agitated with seemingly everyone but her, Kitty even going so far as to come to her and ask if something was wrong. She tried getting Colton to slow down ... rest ... lighten his schedule. But he had simply rumbled something about, 'being fine.'

Greer growled at the memory before calling out for another simulation and tearing into it with a new vengeance. Colton was her boyfriend, he didn't need to hide things from her. She may not always like what she heard but it still didn't mean he should hide stuff. It just made her feel like … It made her feel like he didn't trust her enough. As if he thought she couldn't handle it.

Greer snarled as she shredded with her claws. She didn't hide anything from Colton so why was it so damn hard for him? Also, why was it harder for him to just see she was ready? Greer smoothly moved to her sidearm to take out the next wave. Overprotecting wasn't what being in a relationship was about. Hell, Scott might have be overprotective over Jean in the field but he didn't outright ban her from going out there.

The simulation ended just as Greer finished putting her clip through a bio-soldier and she let out a tired sigh. This was ridiculous. And why did she even need his permission anyway ... huh?

She pushed herself to the limits on everything she did. She was driven to - to prove Colton wrong ... force him to see her as an equal. Getting there was just a little ... harder than she had expected and Jean was going so far as to actually tell Greer that maybe she should slow down with all the training she was doing, but all that got her was a snarl from the irritable tigress. The two had been sitting together at the other day lunch when Jean had mentioned that she was a bit worried about her ... and wondering why it was she was pushing herself so hard. The last thing she wanted was for her best friend to be giving her a hard time. First Colton ... then Logan ... now Jean ...

Greer had stabbed at her salad a little harder than usual, sending an olive flying across the table before she just dropped the fork and threw her hands up for a moment.

"Just trying to get back into shape - that's all. Is that a crime all of a sudden?" Jean had given the tigress a look of obvious disbelief but had wisely let the matter drop.

Greer was certain her plan would work, but somehow, no matter how much stronger or faster she got ... she made no progress with Colton. She brought up X-Force nearly constantly; each time she hit a new mark or beat a new target. And each time he shut her down. She was getting so frustrated by it that she started to wonder that maybe if she just killed someone ... the next person that told her to take it easy for example ... he'd give in.

But after the third mission that Colton had denied her, Greer had gotten tired of it. She just felt so ... pent up and under appreciated.

Apex picked up that things were different as Greer's attitude changed. She didn't joke during training or seek him out like she used to. And she trained constantly ... if not with him then with Logan or Scott or even Storm ... anyone who had free time was sparring with her. She wasn't as light hearted either. She'd just show up at her classes and get through them, the smiles and humor gone entirely. Other than that, he could count on the fact that she'd be ready and waiting for her training sessions with him ... and after she'd simply go about her day. He wouldn't have guessed that anything was necessarily wrong until the night she growled as he had reached out to pull her close.

"What's wrong?" In her new fashion, Greer pointedly kept her back to him as she scrunched her shoulders up, her tail tucked around her ankles.

"Nothing." He had no idea how close she was to asking Jean if there was another open room in the teacher's wing.

Looking at the sullen tigress, he thought seriously before his ears perked up with an idea. Greer's eyes popped in surprise when she suddenly felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around her and before she could argue, she felt Colton's muzzle on her neck before it traveled down her back.

"Colton ... no ..." but her growl went unanswered and she kept her arms crossed as he slowly repeated the move and the tigress' back arched despite herself ... her tail loosening.

"Feel better?" Colton rumbled and Greer felt her anger dissipate… slightly.

The panther continued.

"I know how hard you've been working. I can see it." Apex felt slightly more at ease when the tigress suddenly turned back around, although he was concerned by how ... focused she looked.

"Colton."

"Yes?" he rumbled as he started tracing his claws through the fur on her back.

"When's your next mission?" and Apex chuffed a little in frustration, all his conversations with Greer now seemed to constitute of her asking when his next mission was, how long it wouldd take and when 'they' were leaving.

"Two days."

"Oh…" and Greer seemed to pause again. None of his previous X-Force missions had been more than a night ... ten or twelve hours tops.

"You really think I've improved?" she suddenly asked, that familiar teasing tone coming back and Apex quickly did all in his power to try and maintain it.

"Yes." Greer didn't fight it this time as he drew her closer.

"So does that mean I can go with you this time?" and Apex felt the growl escape his throat before he processed it.

"No." and Greer immediately pushed herself from his arms.

"Why the hell not?" Greer's hackles were raised but Apex was tired of this circle.

"You're not ready." Apex said almost instinctively and that's when Greer sat herself up, anger very evident in her emerald eyes.

"I'm not ready? Colton I have been driving myself to the grave trying to show you I am ready and you still think I'm not?"

"Greer…" He tried cutting her off but it was too late. She was already rolling.

"I train at least five hours every single day. Oh ... and when I'm not training? I'm at the gym working on my strength, my endurance, everything you tell me I need to. And speaking of that, I've reached every single deadline and goal you set for me and even Piotor is coming to me and telling me I'm overdoing it. Heck everyone is telling me I'm overdoing it. Everyone except you. WHY?" and Apex found himself just staring at the seething tigress, her green eyes reflecting in the dark.

But he wasn't going to tell her what Marie had asked him. He wasn't going to tell her about the things they had found out over these last missions. About just how dark and twisted Weapon X really was. He was going to protect her from that. He was -

"WHY?" Greer let loose a real growl and Apex matched it with a low rumble of his own.

"I didn't ask you to overwork yourself. I made my decision on X-Force clear. You just never listen to me." Greer scoffed in disbelief.

"Oh so this is my fault? You think I like putting myself through hell?" and Apex narrowed his eyes at Greer's tone. He had thought her distance had simply been her focus on her training. Not some ... indirect way of pushing away from him. But now he could see it clearly.

"Then why are you doing it?" he finally rumbled and that got the tigress to stare at him for a full minute before suddenly storming out of the bed and to the door.

"Where are you going?" Apex was watching her carefully.

"To my old room." Greer snarled back tossing on one of her own shirts as she grabbed a pair of shorts.

"Why?" he was already halfway out of the bed but the tigress reacted by baring her teeth at him to keep his distance.

"I don't know, to give myself hell since you think I enjoy it so much…" she hissed and without waiting for an answer she threw open the door and she stalked down the hall towards Jean's. Apex meanwhile sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments and shook his head, silently counting until he heard a whispered curse in the hall ... a few moments of deep breathing ... and the unmistakable sound of Greer headed back.

"Jean and Scott -"

"Share a room. Yes I know." Greer had just made it around the corner when she had realized. Stupid know it all panther.

Greer shucked off her shorts before standing on her side of the bed, barely contained anger clear on her face as Apex kept his a frustrating neutral as usual. Stupid muzzle faced panther.

"You ... Don't talk to me. Don't even think about touching me. Got it?" Greer's hackles didn't settle as Apex just raised his hands and calmly rolled over, staying close to the edge. Greer stood there for a few more moments watching him as if making sure he'd keep his distance before laying back down with a huff, her back to him.

In the end neither feline got much sleep that night. As soon as it was light out, Apex slipped out of bed and turning back just once ... jumped out into the morning fog. By the time he got back, Greer was gone.


The first thing Greer did after making sure to grab a quick breakfast to go was hunt down Logan. If Colton was a dead end ... well there was more than one member of X-Force in this place. And if the Wolverine put her on the team, there wouldn't be much fuzzface could do about it.

Logan was walking up from the garage, in a fairly good mood. He had just had his morning coffee out in the garage, cleaned his bike. No class until that afternoon. Nothing could go wrong today…

"Logan! We need to talk."

Oh yeah ... This could be a problem…

"What ya want Tigger?" he mumbled grumpily as she made her way towards him, strategically cornering him in a hallway.

"It's about X force, and I want in…" Greer said it confidently, her arms defiantly crossed across her chest.

Logan snorted as he shook his head.

"Forget it kid, you're not ready yet." Greer growled as Logan easily maneuvered around her and continued down the hall.

"No, three months ago, when I hadn't even the slightest clue how to work a gun or infiltrate a military grade facility ... That's when I wasn't ready. NOW I'm ready." Logan turned to glower at the tigress before looking around and pulling her into an empty classroom.

"So you're suddenly ready to be a killer now? You takin' assassination classes that I don't know about? Or did you forget just what it is you're fightin' so hard to sign up for?" Logan countered quickly, turning to face her, which got Greer to pause and then look down, her confidence suddenly hollowed, which got her mentor to shake his head.

"I can't be worryin' about you not pullin' the trigger. You're not X-Force material ... and that ain't such a bad thing." he grumbled before stalking towards the door.

"Logan wait!" the shorter feral looked up with his face set, clearly unamused as Greer blocked the door.

"What do I have to do to prove to you I'm ready?" Greer hated how she sounded ... exactly like the whining teenage girl she was trying so hard to prove to she wasn't. But Logan seemed to pause and suddenly, without warning popped a claw and made a mad swing at her, leaving three shallow marks on the door. Everything moved so fast, Greer barely registered what happened but when the shock of Logan suddenly attacking her past, she found him pinned against the blackboard. Greer blinked, she hadn't expect her instinct to kick in that fast but hell ... she wasn't going to question it. Seemed all that training had paid off.

"So … Still think I'm not ready?" she asked Logan with a confident smile, to which he gave a smirk of his own and tipped his head to the side, his eyes downcast. Greer scrunched her brow until suddenly she noticed his other fist jammed to her side. Greer growled a little and released him, clearly disappointed. Great ... she'd failed. Again.

"Look Tigger," Logan took a moment to inspect the holes in his flannel, "If you're lettin' your boyfriend stop you, I can't do anything about it. You can fight. You can defend yourself. But you still need to be able to kill. Outside of that ..."

"But he doesn't believe me! And he's being ridiculous about not letting me back onto the field. What if you -" Logan shook his head.

"I'm not gettin in the middle of your little lovers quarrel. If you're so desperate for action, rejoin the X-Men. I know Jean's been buggin' you about it for weeks. Hell, Scooter needs someone to lead one of the junior teams. Maybe you could arrange something with him." and with that, Logan made his escape, grumbling something about kids always making such a big deal out of nothing…

Greer just watched him leave, completely deflated. Logan had been her last play. And what was she really left with ... Lead the x babies? NO ONE wanted that job. They were, uncoordinated, uncooperative ... all their missions out on the field led to some form of disaster. That would hardly impress Colton and it's wasn't like he would even approve. Probably just give him a panic attack.

And that's when a small smile formed on Greer's lips as she thoughtfully tapped her chin, her long tail pondering back and forth.

"Colton would never approve…"


The rest of the day Apex and Greer did a masterful job of avoiding the other. He went to his classes and supervised in the gym. Greer did a circuit around the grounds and ate lunch with Ororo before making herself available for tutoring in the library. Jean must have picked up something was wrong with her friend though, aside from the near constant growls, and after dinner she had herself, Greer, Rogue and Betsy well into their second bottle of wine.

"So ... what seems ta be the problem between you an' big, dark, and furry?" Rogue helped Greer out with her outstreched glass, the tigress currently laid out on her stomach across the couch while Jean joined Rogue on the carpet and Betsy was tucked into a leather chair in Betsy's office. Greer opened her mouth to reply before just letting out something between a growl and a sigh.

"He's just being ... difficult." All three women had a good laugh at the look on Greer's face as she just rolled her eyes and took another drink.

"Har har ... everyone laugh at the tiger." Betsy shook her head as the other girls kept giggling and took another drink herself.

"No Greer ... don't be so dramatic. Trust me, we've all been there."

"Somehow I kinda doubt it ..." Greer grumbled as she stared at her swirling glass.

"Oh please ... or did you somehow miss all of last month when me and Scott were going at it." Jean asked in mock surprise.

"Oh don' worry Jeannie. Pretty sure we all felt that fight." Rogue said sagely. It was true, for a few minutes a few rooms in the Mansion had seemingly forgotten gravity. Another night half the Mansion woke up when the building shook. Jean didn't get angry that often but when she did ...

"Well yea but -"

"Don' even get me started on Remy. I've kicked that Norawlins' thief out of ma bed more times than I can count. Can't even remember what he did this time. What is it that Logan always call him?"

"Swamp rat?" Betsy provided and all four girls shared laughs this time.

"OK ... that's all fine but Colton he's ... gahh he's driving me insane. He won't let me ... do anything. He treats me like I'm made of porcelain, he refuses to let me try new simulations ... I mean, I was handling myself just fine before he showed up. Doesn't he know I'm not some damsel in distress?" Greer turned onto her back with a bit of a growl as the girls took in her complaint.

"I dunno ... I wouldn' mind if Remy showed a bit more care when it came to me and my well bein'." Rogue said thoughtfully. Betsy quickly agreed that someone wanting to protect you wasn't a bad thing ... hell it was admirable. Greer just slowly turned her head to take in the southern belle and pointedly ignored Betsy's comment and knowing look.

"Trust me ... this goes a bit past 'care.' More like total domination. And now he's goin off without me to -" Greer caught herself and let out an internal groan as two faces turned to her in surprise and interest while the other looked on carefully.

"Where? Where is Colton going off to?" Jean fought the urge to just pull the thought out of her friend. Greer meanwhile was mentally going through the exercises Logan had taught her to keep calm. Last thing she needed was her tail giving her away.

"Nowhere. Just some hunting trip ... said he needed to get away for a bit. Forest time or some crap." Greer considered that not a total lie. Jean let out a little snort and turned back to her drink.

"Sounds an awful lot like the other feral I know. Logan packed up his bike just the other day ... has Scott covering for him. Claimed he needed a minute to 'clear his head.'" Greer choose to ignore the 'feral' comment and just accept the group moving on to other topics, though in the end it just circled back to the men in their lives. After all ... it was what had gotten the foursome drinking in the first place.

"Oh come on Greer ... you can't be that mad at your boyfriend just cause he wants to protect you. It's sweet." Jean had a bit of a slur to her words as the tigress just lolled on her stomach and watched her tail on the floor.

"Doesn't feel sweet." She grumbled.

"OK ... so what are you gonna do about it?" Betsy was a bit tired of the girl being so down about this. Colton was just trying to protect her from the worst. But if she wasn't going to accept it ... well do something. Greer meanwhile finally had a conspiratorial smile.

"Wellll ... I was thinking about taking up Scott's offer to lead the junior team." That of course got the girls into a new torrent, each one giving their two cents while commenting on who'd be the best for the team. But it as more time passed Greer kept glancing at the clock on the wall more and more.

"Would you just go?" Jean finally teased, getting Greer to look back at her in surprise.

"What? Go - I -"

"You've been thinking about Colton so hard it's like you're yelling at us." Betsy said it with a smile as Rogue caught on with the telepaths and gave the tigress a smirk of her own.

"No I haven't. He's a jerk and overprotective and -"

"And cares about you?" Jean offered.

"And your boyfriend?" Rogue said it sweetly.

Greer opened her mouth a few times to respond but Betsy spoke first.

"Go say goodbye Greer." Her and the purple haired ninja finally shared a prolonged look before Greer finally let out a sigh of defeat.

"Alright ... alright. I'm going. Jeeze ..." and as Greer bounced from the couch and almost clear to the door all three women shared a knowing smile and shook their heads as they could clearly hear Greer go from slowly walking to running down the hall

...

Apex had taken a bit longer getting his things together than usual. He wouldn't admit it but his focus wasn't on what he was doing, it was on the scents coming from the hallway outside.

Scott ... Piotr ... Katherine ... Calvin ... Kurt ...

Eventually the panther closed his eyes and let out a low rumble. It was getting late. He picked up his tablet, checking the security one more time before putting it in his pack and checked the room, his eyes lingering on the door, before once again slipping out the window.

He was just to the tree line when the wind changed direction and he slowed, coming to a complete stop and turned just as Greer appeared behind him. Her look of relief was brief before she squared her shoulders and approached him at a much slower pace. Apex withheld a growl. He didn't want to fight with her right before a mission like this.

Neither one said anything as Greer finally came up to stand right in front of him, looking up briefly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hey." Greer's attempt at sounding casual sounded bad even to her ears as she crossed her arms and hunched her shoulders up a bit. In typical Colton fashion, he didn't answer beyond continuing to stare at her. How could one guy have that many stares?

"So you were just gonna ... what ... leave? Not say anything?" Greer tried tapping into her anger from before, aiming a claw at the panther's chest but still ... just a stare. Somehow she was finding it hard to be angry.

"I just - I wanted to tell you to be safe," Greer looked up again, tail draped around her, "alright?" There was a moment when she wasn't sure what Colton was going to do. Yell ... roar ... leave ... talk ...

And just like that she was suddenly wrapped in dark fur, the shock leaving her tensed up before she took a deep breath and almost grudgingly wrapped her own arms around his waist. Stupid fuzzface ... always getting her. Eventually Apex pulled back to see Greer not exactly smiling up at him, her arms lax at her sides.

"I was just respecting your space. Isn't that what you wanted?" Greer fought to keep the frown on her face as the rumble traveled from his chest through her.

"No." Apex smirked a little at her own imitation of a rumble.

"Does this mean you're not angry anymore?" Now Greer pulled back with a little growl.

"You're damn right I'm still angry at you. And don't think I've given up on X-Force! So just ... just get back here in one piece so I can keep staying mad at you." Apex shook his head a little and pressed his forehead to hers, the two taking the moment to remember the others scent.

"Stay safe." Greer muttered it again and the two pulled away, though Apex had a serious look of his own.

"You too." Greer pouted a little at the comment.

"Like I have a choice." Leaning in quickly for another nuzzle, one that Greer did begrudgingly return. Apex broke into a run and was quickly lost from sight. Greer hugged herself again as she stood watching the forest as night fell.

In her mind, she was running through what was probably happening even now as she turned back toward the mansion. He was probably just getting to the shack. Logan had probably already started debriefing before they loaded up with Domino trying to hang on him. Fantomex was likely loading down with extra magazines loaded and ready to go. Proudstar on the jet checking their final destination … and where was she? Alone on the edge of the woods. Like some god awful hollywood bimbo pining after the hero as he went off to fight. She was supposed to be out there fighting ...

The injustice of it made her growl and by the time she'd gotten back to the house she was ready for a fight.

Out of sheer frustration she ignored the calls of Jean, Rogue and Betsy and headed straight down to the danger room, not bothering to change and just pulled off her shirt and kicked off her heels, leaving her in her undershirt and jeans, and started up a simulation of Sabertooth. It was one of the few simulations Colton refused to let her do alone and she spent the next three hours getting her ass kicked ... but for some reason that felt good. To rely on herself ... to protect herself.

"Shit!" Greer snarled as Creed's claws sliced across her back as he slammed her, the tigress rolling out of the way and using her tail to trip up her larger attacker. She had been so close to beating him ... or at least holding him off. But Greer finally felt satisfied and ordered the simulation to a stop.

She ignored the stares she got as she headed upstairs close to midnight, sure it wasn't the amount of fur she was showing that had gotten people's attention. More likely the amount of blood covering her shredded outfit. She hadn't even bothered to try and hide it or shower in the lockers. Colton was going to find out about it anyway and honestly? Greer wanted him to.

In spite of her unscheduled workout and the healing it required, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned for hours. All she could think about all night was where he was … if he was safe … and why he clearly didn't trust her to make use of the training that he'd originally insisted she have. Did he honestly think she wasn't good enough ... was she good enough?

Greer rolled over with a small snarl, clearly conflicted. If he didn't want her as a partner ... as someone to fight with ... then what was she to him? Just someone to come home to ... was that what she was? A post mission booty call ... Greer blinked as she recalled all the times she'd allowed herself to be that post-mission booty call. Greer gave her whole body a shake and sat up to punch her pillow a few times before laying back down with a grunt. That last one might have been stupid ... but she couldn't help it. Her mind going over every move, counter-move, growl ... everything Colton had said and done since all this 'protection' crap started. Why did his opinion matter so much to her anyway? He wasn't the boss of her ...

All of it just getting the tigress to toss more.

"Ok, that's it."

She didn't need to let him know if she was going to lead the junior x men team. Why not just do it? She could prove to hi- She could prove to herself she was a more than qualified to be out on the field. And if he still didn't like it, well at least she'd still have a job doing something.

Wherever Colton was ... he was going to get some hell when he got back.


"Anything?" Apex could clearly hear Logan's voice in his ear. Everything around him was darkness so it wasn't like he was going to miss it.

"Negative." Fantomex's reply got a low growl from the Wolverine.

"Better get his ass here soon. Gettin' freakin' hot in here."

In the silence, Apex reviewed the details of the mission. The 'he' Logan was so set on was Hashimia Oyama and more importantly his research. The 'here' was someplace in the vast wetlands of Malaysia. It seemed the Oyama research on the adamantium bonding process had continued and this was where it was taking place. Logan knew Weapon X and the Oyama's had a strong connection and rumors of a new breakthrough had X-Force there to ensure neither Weapon X or any other organization got their hands on it. But that meant waiting for Hashima to make an appearance. And that was why they had scheduled the mission for two days. An earlier mission had created ... problems for the target and they were counting on him coming to his home base to settle things.

Another few hours passed before Logan's voice again crackled in the panther's ear.

"Any reason Greer ain't here for this one?" Apex tightened his fists slightly and noted Logan had opened a private channel. How considerate.

"She's where she's supposed to be."

"You really think you can keep Tigger pent up forever?" Apex swallowed the growl in his chest purely as to not give away his position. Thus far Logan been the only one to not comment on his relationship with Greer.

"I think that advice on protecting Greer from someone that makes it a habit to only ... associate with non-operatives a bit hypocritical."

There was a few moments of silence till Logan finally responded with a gruff, "Punk kids ..." but Apex had already closed the channel.

Logan had no idea what he was talking about. He'd promised to keep Greer safe. And that was exactly what he was going to do.


Sorry to just cut this one off mid-mission. But if I don't post this chapter now ... well it might be another week till I can post again (family visit, moving to new apartment, will new apartment have internet right away ... you get the picture). But stick with me, I'll be posting the conclusion to this chapter ASAP. Till then, hope you enjoyed it.