Pietro looked in the dinning room carefully, as if there were danger lurking around instead of Hank and Raven catching up on old times. They seemed calm, so Pietro said, "Okay, I think we can come in."
"Everything okay?" Charles asked Raven and Hank. They seemed a bit emotionally spent, but they gave him a nod. They were ready to talk about what needs to be done.
"Sit down, everyone," Charles said. After all of them took a seat, Charles continued, "It's absolutely crucial that we save those Morlocks. Not only we'll save them, we'll save many other mutants by not giving Gyrich an excuse for a retaliation." The group nodded in agreement.
"You said they live in a sewer system?" Charles asked Raven.
"Yes, apparently, they don't feel safe walking on the streets," she answered.
"Do you know how or what time they're going to blow it up?" Charles asked.
"No, I was lucky I was able to find out the date. They had that mutant detector on them almost all the time," she said sadly.
"You found out quite a lot anyway, Raven," he touched her hand to cheer her up, "We'll just have to get them out of there early in the morning then. If we don't know the time, it'll be too risky to look for and deactivate explosives," he said.
"How do we persuade them to leave the only place they feel safe if we can't prove they're about to die in there?" Eric made a good point.
"I can help with that," Jean said with confidence, "I'll make them think they're in danger," she said pointing at her temple.
"There'll be a lot of people in there, can you do that to all of them in time?" Raven asked.
"I don't know, hopefully. Maybe if they see a few of them leave, the rest will follow," Jean said.
"I know that sewer system. I'll help ya get in," Logan said.
"Alright, so Jean and Logan are going. Who else wants to join them? Not everyone can go, I need some people here protecting the school just in case they change plans and attack us earlier," Charles said.
"I'll go with them. The sentinels aren't made of metal, so I won't be much use against them," Eric said.
"I'll go, too," Scott said.
Charles didn't like that idea. Scott's and Logan's peace was still fresh, and this was an important mission. He didn't want their personal feelings getting in the way.
"Actually, Scott, I'd really like you to stay here with me, if you don't mind," Charles said hoping he wouldn't be upset.
"That's fine, I don't mind," Scott said even though he did. He wanted to look after Jean, but he wasn't going to argue now.
"Quicksilver, Storm, how about you?" Charles asked.
"I'm in," Ororo said.
Pietro didn't seem happy about it. "Hmmm, a pretty girl, a hot couple, and an awkward father/son duo on a mission. That sounds rather interesting," he thought. Plus Jean would probably telepathically push him into finally telling Magneto.
"If the explosion happens with someone still inside, you're the only one who can get them out of there," Charles said.
"Fair point. I'll go," Pietro decided.
"Then it's settled. Magneto, Quicksilver, Storm, Wolverine and...Phoenix," Charles winked at Jean, "will go to the sewers, the rest of them are staying here with me just in case," he added.
"How about the sentinels? We need a plan for them too," Hank said.
"Yes, I was thinking we'll meet up in the danger room tonight and practice on the ones we have," Charles said.
"Wait a minute, you have the sentinels in here?" Eric asked surprised.
"Yes, all of those that Trask sent after us. Minus the one Wolverine damaged," Charles gave Logan a look.
Logan put his hands in the air and mouthed, "Oops."
"Go get some rest. I want to see all of you in the danger room at 5 pm," Charles said.
"Hey, Nightcrawler," Logan caught up to him as they left the dinning room.
"Yes?" he asked smiling.
"I owe ya an apology."
"For what?" Kurt has already forgotten about Logan suspecting him of blabbering.
"I was kinda interrogatin' ya the other day. When Scott found out I was spendin' time with Jean in the danger room after practices."
"Oh yeah. Don't worry about it," Kurt friendly tapped Logan's shoulder.
"Still...I'm sorry."
"Who was it?" Kurt was curious.
"Jubilee," Logan rolled his eyes.
Kurt laughed. "Well, at least now there won't be any rumors about you two. It's all out there..." Kurt meaningfully raised his eyebrows.
Logan and Jean sat on the couch in the living room. They had half an hour until the sentinel practice. Jean realized there was nothing else to practice on since she "phoenixed" the hell out of the obstacle course. Perhaps she owed Kurt an apology as well.
"Why would anyone live in a sewer system?" Jean asked.
"It's actually a former bomb shelter. It was built during the Cold war. Not a typical sewer system at all. Although it still stinks," Logan said.
"And you've met the Morlocks before?" Jean was curious to learn about the old timeline.
"I did. Most of them are rejects just hidin' from other people."
"And they don't have any abilities?"
"Most of 'em don't. But some of 'em do. Their leader - Callisto, she can sense other mutants."
"It's good that you know them," Jean said, "with your knowledge and my telepathy, we'll be able to earn their trust. Maybe they'll be useful against the sentinels."
"You're a savvy schemer, Red, I like it," Logan said impressed.
"Did I like you in the old timeline?" Jean asked.
"Ya sure did. But ya never admitted it," Logan said with a touch of melancholy.
"Then how did you know I liked you?"
"Couple things," he studied her, "the way your heart pounded when I was around, your breathing become really fast," he trailed his fingertips down her chest. His voice was a perfect mixture of roughness and softness, putting Jean in a trance. Her heart was pounding just like Logan said. She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip subconsciously.
"That too," he touched her lip lightly before he kissed her.
"How do you know all that?" Jean whispered.
"Ya got your mind reading, and I got my sharp senses," he said.
They both wished they were alone, and had more time before practice. Jean took a deep breath to steady her heart-beat.
"I wonder why I never admitted it," she thought out loud.
Logan sighed, knowing very well why she didn't. Should he tell her? This wasn't something he wanted to talk about, but he didn't want to keep any secrets from her.
"What is it, Logan?" she asked.
"Nothin', it's just...I don't know if I should tell you..."
"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to," Jean reassured him.
"When...when we met, you were with someone else. I think you were happy until I got in the mix. Then ya weren't sure...I think ya felt..."
"Stuck," Jean finished for him.
"Yeah. I never stayed for long, 'cause I didn't wanna confuse you even more. And I might have thrown away any chance I had with ya," he spoke so quietly, Jean barely heard him.
"Logan, it's..."
"I should have been there for ya."
"Logan, none of it matters anymore. We're here and now. That's all I care about. I love you," Jean didn't plan on saying it, it just came out. So naturally, so easily.
"What?" Logan stopped breathing for a second. Did he hear that right?
Jean's mouth was half open, she couldn't believe she said it so instinctively. She knew she had feelings for him, but it wasn't until she said it she understood just how strong they were.
"I love you," she said it again, looking right into his eyes.
Logan was in disbelief. He finally heard her say it after waiting so long. He felt his heart melt.
He took her hands in his, "I love you Jeannie. I always will."