Chapter 5: The Chase
The lights got brighter as the jet flew closer, hovering above the clearing, its dark colors and jagged edges, creating a menacing prescence as it moved in the air.
The target, seemingly paralysed by the large machine's appearance, crouched low to the ground, cringing from the lights as they spotted him.
Logan stood a few feet behind him, watching as the target began to panic, chest heaving as his imminent capture came closer. The older man saw the smaller male's reaction, his mind bringing forth images of green eyes wide as the boy's in front of him now, screaming, crying, laughing but always the same wide green eyes. On they came, pounding behind his skull, gunfire and blood drenched fields, fields of wheat and bubbling streams, small, snow white feet hanging down from apple trees. Sweet and horrible memories thudding into his mind as he watched those terrified eyes before him. He barely registered when the wide green eyes left his view and disappeared into the dark forest as old thoughts and feelings rushed through his mind.
"LOGAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Screamed Jean, from the partially open ramp as the jet came even lower to the ground. She jumped to the ground, running over to where Logan stood, bypassing her student's body completely.
"Come on we're going to lose him, if we don't hurry." Said Jean tugging on the taller man's hand as she began running in the direction, their target disappeared to.
It wasn't long before the Canadian came back to himself, the unknown images pushed to the back of his mind as he moved, pulling his arm from the red head's and running ahead of her. The scent of apple blossoms and heat, tinged heavily with fatigue and cold lust, leading the larger man straight to where the smaller male was.
The two X-Men ran along side the mutant, Jean throwing large stones in his path, causing him to leap over or around the obstacles as he moved, Logan gaining ground behind as he slowed to manuover passed the rocks. They ran for a long time, till Jean fell behind and disappeared in the mist Storm was providing for cover.
It wasn't until the mist grew so thick that Logan could barely see through it that the target tripped on a stone and rolled down the hill that was before him. Logan followed a moment afterward, running down the hill to where the small mutant had come to rest.
As he came upon the prone form, the boy's chest heaving with exertion from the long run. He tried to move whimpering pathetically as he lifted his ankle a little only to feel a twinge. "Owwww."
Logan watched him for a moment, confident that he wouldn't be moving anytime soon, creeping closer as the other mutant, rolled from his back onto his chest.
"Leave me alone!" He growled, the words sounding more like a purr from a kitten, than something threatening. The small mutant climbed to his knees, attempting to crawl away from the large man, waiting for the perfect moment to act.
That came as Jean came running down the hill, a small medical bag looped around her shoulder. Logan turned toward her as she called to him, when he sensed the form beside him stand. He turned spotting the small male lunged toward the forest in an dive for cover, only to be wrapped up in Logan's arms and lifted from the ground.
"Le' me go!" The small body thrashed, fighting against the stronghold of Logan's arms as Jean stepped forward, a needle of sedative in her hand.
"Hey! Calm down, we're not going to hurt you." Said Jean trying to be soothing as she neared, steadying the syringe in one hand while gesturing for Logan to expose his captive's neck.
"Stop it! Leave me alone! I haven't dun anythin' wrong!"
Logan shifted, repositioning the small body to rest against him so he could use one hand to move aside the collar of the youth's jacket and shirt, pressing his hand on the thin neck to allow Jean to inject the sedative. The boy soon slouching into sleep as it took affect.
"That was quick. Usually it takes atleast ten minutes for the sedative to work." said Jean, putting the now empty syringe back into her medical bag, her eyes trailing over the small form in Logan's arms.
"He's probably worn out from all the running." Stated Logan as he spotted the jet above the clearing they were in. The lights of the vehicle landing on the trio as it landed, the ramp lowered to the ground soon after.
Logan strode onto the plane, his arms slightly weighted by the smaller male, Jean trailing behind him as he walked. Ororo met them in the holding area, Bobby buckled to a cot nearby, his eyes half open as he watched the proceedings, a goofy smile plastered onto his face.
"He's rather proud of himself." Said Ororo, her eyes laughing as she set up another cot for the unconscious mutant, helping Jean remove the too large, heavy overcoat he wore.
"Gee, I wonder why. He didn't do anything that exciting tonight." Said Logan, placing the black haired trouble maker into his cot, his eyes drifting over to the self-satisfied teen across the way. "I wouldn't look so content, bub, you have some explainin' to do to the Professor and Rogue."
Logan chuckled to himself as Bobby's smile was wiped off his face with the idea of facing both his mentor and girlfriend.
"Speaking of the Professor, I'd better give him a call." Said Jean her, grinning as she walked toward the cockpit, pulling her cellphone from her pocket as left the hold.
"Jean's right we'd better head back to the school. Scott's probably already worried sick." Sighed Ororo clasping her white hair from around her neck and placing it onto her shoulder.
"Who's gonna watch the lovebirds?" Asked Logan, observing the way Bobby eyed his current roommate dreamily.
"Dr. Grey will. Since she administered a sedative, we have to keep an eye to make sure nothing bad happens." Said Ororo, grinning as Jean walked back into the hold, her thick sweater replaced with a white lab coat.
"Sounds good to me, I'm beat from all that running." Logan yawned, stretching his back until he felt vertebrae pop, groaning in satisfaction.
"The great Wolverine, tired from a little stroll in the woods after a deer? I don't believe it." Laughed Ororo, looking over at the sleeping boy, watching him curl up as though searching for warmth.
"No, it's true, this kid is fast. We could barely keep up with him." Said Jean, going over to the supply cabinet, retrieving an extra blanket for the small mutant.
"Wow, you guys are getting out of shape, then. But no matter, once we get home Scott can put you both through your paces in the Danger Room." Replied Ororo, spinning on her heel to head back to the cockpit, motioning for Logan to follow into the passenger section of the jet.
"I don't care what you think, I just want to get home so I can be around people who've gotten past the third grade reading level." Stated Jean, as she sat in one of the extra chairs for the back of the jet, preparing herself for the long ride home.