Hey, guys.....

Sorry this has been SOOOOO long in coming, but my PC crashed back in June, and I just got a new one a few weeks ago...also, I've been busy, as it was my big 3-0 about a week ago, so my family's been taking me places and celebrating...it's been fun! ANYwho....here are the next few chapters of the story. Enjoy as always, and please review!

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Chapter 11

Raven hurried on through the blinding snow, feeling the wind blowing against her body, chilling her skin until it became painful to the touch, but she didn't care. Since Logan had sent her away, she'd found herself wishing a dozen times that she could just give in to the cold, to simply lie down in a snow drift and fall asleep. It's not like he'd care, she thought to herself.

Raven had no family to speak of, no one who would miss her. Her father had left her and her mother when Raven was a toddler, refusing to act his part and be a responsible parent. Her mother had died by her own hand, after a long bout with severe depression. As a result, Raven went to live with family friends, and was quite happy for the entire time she lived there. At 17, Raven left her home for college, intending to enter the medical field. She soon found, however, that she had a strong aversion to blood, so she settled for psychology instead.

One day, when she went home for a visit, she found that her "family" was gone. They'd sold the house – and everything inside – and moved away. No one in town knew they'd even gone, much less where they'd moved to. So, alone once more, she soon met up with a small group of people who seemed to understand how she felt. Most of them seemed perfectly normal, and they were so friendly to her that she eventually found herself hanging out with them at every free moment. When she discovered that they were all mutants, she didn't even bat an eye; in fact, it only deepened her affection and respect for them. Many nights, she wished that being a mutant was like being a vampire, that they could "turn" her into one of them. At least then, she'd know how it was to feel accepted, to feel like she belonged somewhere.

Raven climbed into the jet that had brought her and Logan to this desolate place. It was warm inside, and she was grateful for it, though her skin stung even more in the warmth than it had outside in the bitter wind.

"Better not have frostbite," Raven muttered, blowing on her fingers.

The sudden crackle of the radio made her jump.

"Logan? Raven? Come in," Storm's voice surrounded Raven, seeming to envelop her in Storm's warm embrace.

Raven sat down and slid on the earpiece, then pressed a button on the jet's console.

"I'm here, Storm. Go ahead."

"Where's Logan?"

Raven rolled her eyes heavenward and inhaled slowly before replying, "He'll be here soon. I guess he had something to take care of."

"Of course he does," Storm scoffed. Then, she continued, "You'd better start getting back. There's a huge blizzard heading your way."

"Yeah, it's already started here," Raven grumbled, rubbing her fingers. At least they were still pink, and not blue – or even worse, white. She frowned at the console, unsure whether to ask the question Storm's tone had raised within her. Finally, she gave in to her curiosity.

"What's wrong?"

Storm was silent, and for a moment, Raven worried that the blizzard had interrupted the connection. Then, Storm spoke in a hushed tone.

"Bobby and some of the other children. They're…causing trouble."

Raven shrugged, and instantly felt silly for it since Storm couldn't see her. "Well, they are becoming young adults, right?"

"That's not quite it," Storm replied. "I've never seen them act this way before. Rogue said that she and Bobby got into an argument, that he actually hit her."

Raven's heart dropped into her stomach at that. Though she barely knew Storm and the kids at the school, she was fully aware of Bobby's gentle nature. Not to mention the fact that he adored Rogue; he'd rather cut off his own arm than harm her. When she'd regained her composure, she replied, "Okay, Storm. As soon as Logan gets back, we'll get back to NY and try to figure out what's going on."

"Thanks, Raven. Be careful."

Raven chuckled. "Too bad you're not here. The skies are awfully gray and heavy."

Storm managed a laugh in reply. "Bye, Raven."

"Bye, Storm. Raven out."

A voice behind her startled her, and she jumped to her feet, ready to attack.

"What's going on?"

Logan stood in the doorway, barely recognizable under an inch-thick coating of snow. Melting snow dripped from his leather jacket and black boots; his dark hair, which had curled ever so slightly from getting wet, sent rivulets of water down his face and neck.

Raven recovered herself and sat back down at the controls. She was still angry at him for abandoning her, but she decided to play it cool for now.

"Some of the kids back at the school are acting strangely. Storm needs our help."

Logan brushed himself off, an unconcerned look in his eyes. He pulled the jet's hatch shut and made sure it locked, then meandered back toward the front of the plane. Raven watched him, exasperated that he refused to quicken his pace, but she wisely kept silent.

"Well," he finally replied, "maybe it's just hormones."

Raven shook her head, sending a few water droplets out in a spray. Logan felt one hit his cheek, but he didn't move to wipe it away.

"That's what I suggested. But she says that Bobby actually hit Rogue."

Logan's eyes widened, then suddenly narrowed. His jaw clenched so tightly that she could hear his teeth grind together, and she could almost feel his anger in the air around them, crackling, like the radio had earlier.

"Start the jet. We've gotta get back," he snapped, buckling his seatbelt and leaning back in his seat, his eyes closed.

Raven reached for the correct switches to start the engines, then stopped herself and sat back, crossing her arms over her chest. It took Logan quite a few moments to realize that they weren't moving, but when he did, he turned his blazing gaze on her.

"What the hell're you doing? Start the damned plane!"

"No," she replied calmly.

"Why. Not?" Logan asked, his temper already beginning to rise within him.

Raven shrugged. "I don't appreciate being commanded to do something. Especially by you."

Logan sighed deeply. "Fine. Will you please start the jet and fly us home?"

"No."

That single word was all it took to send Logan's temper over the edge. He tried to lunge at her, forgetting the seatbelt that held him in his chair. He sliced through the restraints with the claws on one hand, and grabbed her throat with his unclawed one.

"What game are you playing here, woman? Tryin' to see how far you can push me?"

Raven didn't reply, so he shook her once. "I can't keep my control forever, Raven. Sooner or later, I kill whatever, or whoever, is in my way."

"Good! Then do it Logan, and save us both the trouble."

He stared into her eyes, trying to comprehend what she'd said, then released her throat. His claws retreated quickly, as if they themselves were ashamed.

Logan started the engines and managed to get the jet into the air, then set it on auto-pilot. All the while, Raven sat motionless, her eyes closed tightly. Her hands were folded in her lap, but they were trembling, and her skin was paler than usual. When he was sure the plane wouldn't crash into the ocean, Logan sat in his chair, ignoring the ripped seatbelt, and swiveled so that he was facing her. Tentatively, he reached out and placed his hand over both of hers.

"Raven? What's wrong?" He asked as softly as his gruff voice allowed. She opened her eyes, prompted by his gentle tone. When she finally lifted her gaze to his, he saw such sadness, so much confusion. He leaned forward and asked, "Why did you say that?"

"Because," she explained, "I'd rather be dead by you than be rejected by you."

He shook his head once, as if to clear it. "I never rejected you, Raven. I told you how much I…care…about you."

"Then why did you make me come back here alone?"

Grinning slightly, more in embarrassment than amusement, Logan replied, "Because I started to feel strange, like I did the other night. I knew if I didn't get you away from me quickly, I would've done something to you. Something I couldn't undo."

"But I didn't let you hurt me then. What makes you think this time would be different?"

"It was more intense this time. I didn't remember what happened the other night, but I know what I did today. And I know what I would've done if you'd been there."

Raven just sat there, feeling horribly selfish and immature. There were a million things that she wanted to say, but she barely felt worthy enough to be looking at him; her tongue felt suddenly heavy, as if her shame had turned it to stone.

Finally, she managed, "I'm sorry."

Logan gave her his lopsided grin, then leaned forward and gently kissed her lips.

"It's okay. I can see how you thought what you did. I haven't always been generous with my affection. Or very able to show that I have any, for that matter."

Raven smiled. "You got a point there." She glanced down at the map then, and said, "We're almost there."

"Good," Logan replied with a nod, and reclined once more, preparing for a quick catnap.

"So," she suddenly asked, "what exactly did you do out there?"

Logan opened one eye, and simply grinned.