DECEPTION

Disclaimer: As much as I wuld have liked the characters belong to Marvel. I’m just borrowing them for a little fun without gaining anything from them(except some serious criticism!)

“Jean I…Oh Goddess!” Ororo Munroe stared wide-eyed at the taboo before her. She wished she were anywhere but at the open doorway of the med lab at the Xavier school for the gifted. Then she wouldn’t be watching the sight of her best friend Jean Summers with her head thrown back, her lips parted slightly and her long legs wrapped around Ororo’s boyfriend’s jean clad buttocks. What was worst his head was buried between her exposed breasts suckling greedily! A look of unconcealed sexual arousal written on her pretty face right before she opened her eyes in a state of confusion then surprised horror as Jean turned her head to where she was still rooted.
Ororo’s beautiful blue eyes glazed over with white-hot power. Energy surrounded her in a murderous haze. The goddess would punish those that had betrayed her! A bolt of terrifying lightening crashed close to where Jean and Logan still froze. It ripped a gaping whole right through the hard metal of the wall.
“Oh God, ‘Ro!” shrieked Jean as she tried to shove Logan away. Hearing the fright from that once trusted voice pulled her back. Ororo felt herself ripped apart at the combined guilty weight of their eyes boring into her. The woman she had called sister and the man she loved wrapped in each other’s arms! Doing things that she had dreamed of doing with him!
No! No!
As sudden as the powerful rage of the storm appeared it was gone. She would not add to her pain with the burden of their blood on her hands. She would deal with this as she had all other matters that threaten her sanity.
“Shit! Ro wait!” Logan growled trying hard to pull his jeans up in order to get to her. But Ororo had already bolted from the door.
Logan and Jean! Lovers! The images she had witness wrapped themselves around her mind. How long! Goddess how long had they been deceiving them all? She had been such a fool to think he had finally given up on her. It had only been six months since she and Logan had started dating. He had told her over and over that he was over lusting after Jean. And fool that she was, had believed him. Believed him enough to start to see a future between herself and him. After all Jean had married Scott now and……. Goddess Scott! This would kill him! His wife of only two months and the man he barely tolerated! She had to leave the mansion until she could get her thoughts together or before she came across him!
“Ororo I need to talk to you.” yelled a voice coming from behind her. Ororo froze in her blind rush down the hall. She gazed longingly towards the double doors of the mansion.
So close. Goddess help her deal with this.
Pushing the increasing pain away she placed her impenetrable “untouchable goddess” look on her beautiful face and turned to face Scott Summers.
“Yes Scott “ she managed to say, slightly surprised her voice was so calm. Then again she had her unapproachable goddess disguise well rehearsed. Until Logan had managed to pull down her walls. He had given her hope that maybe she could be more then unattainable. She could feel like a desirable woman too. But now she knew it all had been lies. Perhaps lies to gain what he had sort since coming back to the mansion, Jean.
“Have you seen Jean? I’ve been looking all over for her.” he asked when he was close enough to her. Ororo felt as if she would crumble right in front of him. Goddess be damned! This new pain was too new! Of all the questions he could have asked her! Dear Goddess, would this ever end?
“Ro? Are you alright?” asked Scott in a voice full of concern, which was almost her undoing. “Has Logan done something?”
“I..No! Scott I…..” her words weakly trailed off. Just as she spied rapidly approaching red hair in the corner of her eyes.
“Scott! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you.” Slightly breathless, but composed Jean raced to her husband. Followed slowly by a silent Logan. Both pairs of eyes glanced anxiously at Ororo. But only Jean’s held fear. You should be afraid sister dear! Thought Ro viciously. But I won’t be the one to destroy Scott’s illusions. You’ll do that all on your own!
“So was I. Where were you?” Scott inquired as he drew her in his arms. He spared Logan a brief nod. To think Scott thought he and Logan had finally made peace of they’re past antagonism towards each other! If only he had Wolverine’s heighten senses! Then he could smell Logan all over his precious wife and her on him. Then he would know the truth.
No. Scott did not deserve such pain and betrayal. No one did.
“In the Med Lab talking with Logan”
How easily the lie flowed from her lips! Thought Ororo. A loud bolt of lightening thundered over the mansion. Three pairs of eyes turned to her. She felt them. Especially his but she dared not look at him or she would loss all her barely contained control. Instead she concentrated on keeping the coming storm at bay.
“Ro?” Scott asked. He gave her a mildly suspicious look “You going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing, Scott” she whispered. Liar!
“You’re upset. Don’t you think you should talk ……..”
No, no way was she going to be made part of their sordid affair! She would not hurt Scott nor would she lie to him. “Scott I’m sorry. I must go” Without another word she ran for the door. She could hear steps behind her but she kept going until she yanked open the door and summoned a wind to race her up to the open sky. Logan gazed longing up at the quickly disappearing form. The rapidly darkening sky let him know exactly how badly she had been hurt. Damn!

Three hours later she hadn’t return and he was getting worried. Maybe he should just go look for her. So what if she fried his ass with a bolt of lightening, he’ll heal. He just didn’t think she would. Logan would never forget that look on her face as long as he lived. That mixture of anguish and resignation. And he had put it there. In one selfish moment he had destroyed the beginning of the best thing that ever happened to him. It had taken them a long time to get together. Months of chasing her and being given the ‘Goddess’ treatment. She had believed he wasn’t over Jean and wanted to make sure before having anything to do with him. A choice she was probably thanking her lucky stars she’d made. Then the day came when she had let her guard down at the lake. He had ran with it. Cornered her until she gave in. One kiss, a hell of a kiss was all it took.
If only he hadn’t followed Jean to the med lab. If only she hadn’t started to flirt with him again. If only she hadn’t tripped and fallen in his arms. If only she hadn’t raised her smoldering green gaze to stare up at him. If only he hadn’t smelled her scent. The scent of an aroused woman. There was a million “if onlys” but none would change what happened. He’d royally fucked up!
*My X-men you’re needed*
He growled. He hated when the professor did that! Why couldn’t he just send someone to get him instead of fucking with his damn head!
*Sorry Logan. But this is an emergency and this is the quickest way to get to all of you.
Logan growled again. Isn’t it always!

By the time Logan reached the professors office, Scott, Jean, Rogue, Beast, and Psylock were already there.
“This better be good Chuck!” he murmured. He glanced around to confirm what his nose had already told him. Storm wasn’t there. Damn! He was wasting time not going to look for her.
“Come in Logan. We have a matter that has arisen that we need to handle immediately.”
“What is it professor?” asked Scott.
“Ororo will be leaving us for a time.” Xavier waited for what he said to sink in.
“What!” intoned Scott and Logan at the same time.
“Where she goin, professor?” whispered Rogue. Somethin wasn’t right with her friend and she suspected ‘Ms Goody two shoo’ knew what!
“I don’t know Rogue. She came to me only moments before, requesting an indefinite leave. Ororo has never asked for time off before. I could not deny her. But in her absence Jubilee will come here from the Massasschutes School.” He intoned, hiding his own worry behind a look of nonchalance. Xavier watched with interest at the varying degrees of emotion coming from his team. But it was Logan’s darken expression that worried him most. He saw the barely held anger bouncing from him towards……Jean? And strangely he also sensed an equally strong amount of guilt coming from her and something else. Which ran deeper and seemed darker. Xavier watched silently as she avoided Logan’s eyes. To think about it Jean was the only one that hadn’t reacted to his news. At first it had crossed his mind that Ororo may have confided in her but now he wasn’t so sure. He had a very bad feeling that had stayed with him since Ororo came to see him but now it had increased. All was not well with his Xmen.
“Why is she leaving?” Anger and Suspicion warred with Scott as he asked the question. “Was it because of him” he waved a fisted hand in the direction of the door. It wasn’t necessary to see his eyes hidden behind wide, red visors to know that he was glaring at Wolverine.
“Bite me asshole!”
“If you hurted her so help me………”
~snickt~
“You’ll what!”
“Logan! Scott!” Both men stilled at the evident command in the professors voice. “This will not help matters!”
Xavier cleared the remains of his disturbing thoughts from his mind before anyone else picked up on them. “She did not say, Scott and I didn’t push her. Preferring to respect her privacy.” While he talked Logan had turned towards the door and before Xavier even finished talking he had yanked the door open and stalk off.
“Logan!” Xavier called. “We’re not done here.”
“I am” came the deep growl. Xavier signed. He didn’t like this.
“Ah get him, professor.”
“No Rogue. We will continue without him. Even with the addition of Jubilee I will still need some of you to take over a couple of Ororo’s classes.” He said warily.
“No problem. Anything to help Ro” For the first time since Logan walked in and out, Jean raised her head and stared at the professor.
“When is she leaving?”
“In the morning.” It wasn’t long after that before Xavier dismissed them to stare into the flames of his fireplace. His earlier thoughts clouding his mind.

Ororo Munroe was usually up to meet the sunrise. This day was no exception. She needed the peace and calm afforded her by nature. To commune as part of the elements and leave the turmoil’s of humanity behind for the brief moments of peace her abilities could allow her. She needed this in order to walk away from the only home and family she knew. What choice did she have? To remain and stand around watching the flirtation between Jean and Logan began again and seeing the destructive effect it would have on Scott, the team? No she must leave. As much as she would miss them she could not deal with any more torment at the hands of the ones she loved most.
She was not certain where she would go but it would be some place far. Maybe Africa, she had not seen her mother’s people for so long. Perhaps it was time to return. Or she would go back to New Orleans. No, that was not an option. The Cajun would know she was there and find her. She could not go back where another who had betrayed her would be.
No.
Wherever she went it would have to be someplace where her past couldn’t follow.
Just a little before the sun could blanket across the dawning sky, Ororo left her haven in the clouds and landed on her attic balcony. She didn’t enter the room. Instead she faced the bright silhouette of reds and oranges in the distance as if memorizing them. For no other reason then wherever she went this sunrise would be like no other. It wasn’t long before her gaze wondered towards the path that led to a place that had come to mean more to her then her greenhouse. The lake.
She knew the one person she still longed for yet didn’t want to face would already be there. Logan was the same elemental creature that she was. There need to be one with nature a vital part of them. He would be in the woods by the lake practicing a series of lethal exercises that kept him as one of the deadliest mutants on the planet. Since they had started dating it had quickly become habit for her to go find him there after her own strengthening from her goddess. The first time had been purely by accident. She had been flying over a clump of trees, not realizing her destination, when she spotted hastily discarded clothes at the bank of the lake. She had assumed it was one of the students out for a morning swim and was about to quickly fly out of sight when Logan emerged.
He was standing waist deep in the water shaking his wild mane of dark hair like his namesake. Ororo had choked back a laugh. Until it became obvious from her vantage point that he was completely naked. Goddess! He looked so. ……viral. It had been much too long since she had felt the intimate attentions of a man. The goddess in her urged her to continue on but the woman couldn’t resist a chance to put one over on him. Especially after that brutal session they’d had in the danger room the previous day.
She landed near his cloths with quiet grace and quickly scoped them up. Ever mindful to keep the wind from carrying her scent to him. She was about to return to the skies when she heard him. Or rather he had heard her. It wasn’t easy to play a trick on a mutant with heighten senses.
“What you doin there darlin?” Ororo had faced him with a mischievous smile parting her lips.
“What does it look like Logan?”
“Like you stealing my clothes” She noticed as he locked gaze with her that he started slowly walking out of the water. Cascading water snaked down his muscular frame as tantalizing inch by inch of his masculine flesh was revealed. She could have flown away before he got to close or showed too much but Ororo found she couldn’t move away. A large part of her didn’t want to miss what the teasing glint in his eyes promised. She waited with mounting anticipation.
Maybe this wasn’t a wise move. She thought as more and more of his body was exposed to her. He wanted Jean. Not her.
“What’s the matter darling? Rethinking your little game.” He challenged, eyes sparkling at her.
She hesitated. Whether it was their seclusion, or the open invitation in his eyes Ororo wanted to see where this might lead. Jean be damned. For a few seconds she could pretend he saw only her. “Do not take another step, Logan unless you want to really know why they call me Storm,” she warned.
He didn’t stop.
She didn’t think he would have.
“What you going to do, goddess. Fry me. I never took you for a scardey cat, Ro.” Ororo took several steps back. And tried to stifle a gasp of admiration. Logan was only knee deep in water. Every inch of his taut, powerful build was exposed to her vision. Entranced by drops of water that clung to the dark mat of hair on his chest, she openly ogled him. His lips turned up in a predatory smirk at the open desire on her face. He continued his concentrated and précised steps towards her. Knowing exactly the kind of havoc he was wrecking with her pulse. Excited shivers ran up and down her back. She had always been in awe at his primitive side but this. Oh goddess!
“Don’t tempt me. And I have no reason to fear you” Good. She heard none of the tremors she was feeling in her voice. Any weaknesses and he would pounce.
“Don’t you? You started this game. I’m just getting into the spirit of things.” Suddenly he stopped and made a show of sniffing the air. He chuckled “ Is that arousal I smell, goddess?” he growled. His eyes ran slowly down her tank top and shorts clad form. As she helplessly watched with feminine fascination as his penis rapidly increased in size. Goddess! It was time to end this game.
“Do not be absurd Logan” he smirked. And tapped a finger to his nose.
“I know what my nose is telling me, ‘Ro. It hasn’t lied to me yet.”
“Believe what you will. But….”
“Ro?” she stopped talking. The ferociously hungry way he was looking at her was enough to cause her knees to buckle under. She suddenly knew what it was like to be prey for this man. “You aren’t being fair in this game. You have way too much clothes on. Let me help you even the playing field.”

Three admantium claws glimmered menacingly at her. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. He wanted her! Ororo gasped. It was evident not only on his body but his eyes too. Logan wanted her! She should have been afraid.
Far from it.
It was her thundering pulse and hammering heart that had her worried. She finally admitted to herself what she had tried to hide since his arrival two years ago. She wanted him.
“You are mistaken, Logan. I was merely trying to pull one of Bobby’s pranks on you. That is all.”
“Maybe that’s how it started darling, but that’s not what your scent is saying now.” He grinned wickedly.
“Perhaps you have been out here to long.” She teased. “As have I.”
His sudden move to close the last remaining steps and grab her against him had left her feeling surprised, breathless and dazed with longing. She had faintly heard his softly spoken “to late” before he tightened his hold on her waist. It was then Ororo realized her foully, she had awaken the animal in him. Logan was no longer there. She was only dealing with Wolverine.
Even with that insight and the presences of his harden penis rubbing against her abdomen had not fully prepared her for the rawness of his need nor the naked hunger that raced her pulse. The kiss that followed had been enough for her to know that she had fallen in love with both the man and the beast that were both of what made him whole.
The weeks that followed after that single kiss had seemed almost magical to Ororo. At first they had tried to keep their new relationship a secret. Then Logan had wanted to tell Marie and she had to tell Bobby. Soon the whole school knew and not all were congratulating them. Scott had thought she was making a big mistake. Jean had insisted that Logan was using her. It all fell on deaf eyes.
She had learned there were many sides to the mysterious Logan. Who would have imaged Wolverine picking flowers? Or making a fool of himself rollerblading in Central Park? Scott would have gotten a kick out of seeing Logan seating through a video like ‘Pretty Woman’ or ‘American Sweethearts’. Those were a few layers of who he was. Parts of him she was certain only herself and perhaps Marie had seen. But there was still a bigger part of him she had only gotten glimpses of and only Jean had known.
His passionate side.
If only she had not stopped him that time at the lake. If only she had not pushed him away so many times after. Wanting to be certain that he had been over Jean. If only she had open up more. Or given him what he wanted, no needed as much as she had. So many ‘if only’s’. Yet none would have changed what happened.
A knock on her door pushed the memories aside. There would be plenty of time to wallow in regret. Ororo sent a final glance towards the hidden path that led to the lake and entered her room towards the door. She had less then an hour to finish packing and be gone before he returned.

When Ororo answered her door she wasn’t surprised to see who was on the other side. Jean Summers stood hesitantly facing her. Goddess she only had minutes to finish pack and be gone before Logan returned. She didn’t have the time to deal with Jean but like always she couldn’t turn away from her either. With a resigned sign she allowed the pretty red head to enter.

“What is it, Jean”

“I’m sorry Ororo but we need to talk before you leave.” She stared at Jean.

“ There is nothing to discuss.” She turned away from her.

“You know that’s not true. We have to talk about yesterday. Please Ro, I need to explain what happened.” She pleaded.

“What is there to explain? You’ve always wanted to be the center of attention and now you have it. “

“That’s not true Ro! I knew Logan was only using you to get to me. I had to prove it in order to protect you.” Ororo whirled around. She could not believe what she was hearing.

“I find you with the man that I love in the most intimate act between a man and woman and you dare to say you were protecting me! Goddess Jean I expected many excuses from you but none so blatantly false.”

“It’s the truth Ro. You are like a sister to me. I did not want to see you hurt.” She insisted. Ororo laughed humorlessly. Did Jean really take her for such a fool as to believe that?

“You failed. Where did Scott fit in with your concern?” she sneered.

“This has nothing to do with Scott”

“You are wrong Jean. What do you think would happen if he found out about what you did to “protect” me?” Ororo asked sardonically. Jean paled. She was visible shaken now. Her eyes flashed angrily at Ro.

“I came here to make things right with us but don’t think you can threaten me Ro.”

“Threaten you?” Ro laughed harshly. It was time they put their cards on the table. “No Jeannie that was not a threat but a premonition. Scott will find out but it won’t be my doing.”

Pushing aside her false pretense at making up with Ro, Jean stared daggers at her. For years she had to compete with her for attention. No more! She had finally wiped that smug superior look from her face and intended to keep it that way. She knew how Ororo felt about Logan. Better then Ro herself but Jean also wanted Logan. She loved Scott but what she felt for the Wolverine was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Even for her husband. She wouldn’t hurt him nor would she give Logan up. Who said a woman couldn’t have her cake and eat too! Especially if it was half as rewarding as its been so far.

Seeing Ro and her Logan together for the past couple of months had been a living hell for her. He had wanted her first! So she had set out to get him back. This time for good. As for Ro and Scott she was sure they would never find out about them. They would have been pretty discreet with their affair. Who choice did they have? Though she would not let Scott go either. Especially to the “goddess”. Jean had always known that Scott had preferred Ororo to her. He had only chosen her because he’d thought Ororo had not wanted him. How wrong had he been! For years Jean had watched the longing looks she gave him. The excuses to be near him. Ororo had actually thought no one noticed! Jean had learned long ago there was one way she could always come out on top. To use her sexuality. Something the wind bitch didn’t have a clue on how to do. No, somehow she would hold on to husband and her lover.

“That won’t happen. The three of us are the only ones who know and I know Logan wouldn’t tell him so that leaves only you.” She said tightly.

“What about you? Have you forgotten your mind link with him? Of course you have not. But how long can you keep him from seeing what you did? A few days, weeks?” A dark expression Ororo had only seen when Jean had first acquired the Phoenix clouded her expression. All façade of pleasantries were gone from both women. Only the long-suffering goddess and vengeful phoenix remained.

“Bitch!” snarled Jean. Surprised at the telepath, Ororo laughed. Who would have guessed such words would ever pass through the ‘perfect’ Mrs. Summers?

“If you want Logan, Jean you are welcomed to him. But know if you hurt Scott in your selfish pursuits then you will have me to deal with.” She promised. Her tone dripping with acid.

Bitter laughter escaped Jeans lips. “What’s the matter Ro? Can’t deal with the fact that they both want me and not you?” If she had slapped Ororo it would have achieved the same result. There was no hiding from what she said. Before Jean joined the school it had been her Scott was interested in. The moment he had laid eyes on the stunning new member of their school, Ororo had ceased to exist. And now the one man that had seen behind the goddess had also chosen her. She warred with herself to push down her rising anger as remembrance of all the years of letting Jean be the center of attention. The one to win. Instead preferring to take the role of dependable mother hen.

Only one man had not been fooled by the insecure trappings that Jean laid out. Forge had seen only the invisible goddess. He had desired her, wanted only her. Enough to want to marry her. Yet in the end he had chosen another. She later learned it was because of a conversation he had with Jean. She had told him that Ororo would never leave the Xmen. Given a choice she would always choose Xavier’s dream of mutants and humans coexisting. Shortly after that, Forge’s proposal of marriage had been retracted and he had left the mansion with Raven Darkhorme. She would never have abandoned the dream or her family but had she been given a choice she would have found a way to have both. It had taken Ororo years to get over Forge.

“Jealous?” Ororo slowly nodded. “ At one point when Logan first came to us, I was. I wanted to be the one he flirted with. The one his eyes followed across a room. It did not happen and I accepted it. You enjoyed being the object of his attention even though Scott waited in the wings.”

“What woman wouldn’t, Ororo? Logan is unlike any other man we’ve ever encountered. And to be the focus of his attentions was exhilarating!”

“Yes it is. I ask again where does Scott fit in all of this? You recently made a vow to him! To forsake all others. A vow you have broken Goddess knows how many times already!” Thunder roared outside the windows. The wind had picked up as dark clouds schrowed over the sun. Blocking it from view. Still Ororo maintained enough control over the weather.

“It was only once!”

“Is that what you tell yourself when you look at Scott? If you wanted Logan so much why marry him? Why wait until Logan chose me?” Then a thought hit Ororo like a ton of bricks. “You want them both!” she murmured incredulously. Understanding finally allowing her to see Jean for what she was. A weak, pathetic woman who thrived on acting helpless to gain attention. Why had she not seen it before. All the years of Jean clinging to all the male members of the mansion. Her air of vulnerability around them. It was all an act! And in many ways Ororo had contributed to this.

“Don’t you dare throw around false accusations Ororo Munroe! I know what you’re thinking. And you’re wrong! I love them both.” Shouted Jean.

“Love!” raged Ororo. “Do you even know the meaning of the word? Its not slowly tearing down the man you pledge your devotion to! How can you stand there and tell me you love them! For years Scott has been completely devoted to you but all you cared about was your own needs. Did you ever consider what your flirtation was doing to him? And to Logan? Do you even care?”

“My relationship with Scott and anyone else is none of your business!”

Ororo nodded. “You are right, it should not be. When you put us all in the middle then it becomes mine and every member of this households business. You risk the team when our leader is so focused on a potential rival then he is on the mission! When the tension is so thick we fear what will happen next!”

“You’re lying!” she said harshly.

“Am I Jean? For a telepath you have been rather dense. Open your eyes and really see for once. See the hidden pain etched on your husbands face. The growing animosity between him and Logan. Two men that are so alike that under different circumstances they would have been friends! When you’ve done that gaze on the worry lines on Xavier’s face, on the students. Because I’ve seen them.”

“Always the regal goddess! How does it feel to be perched alone on your throne? Are you that angry that Logan wants me? Has always wanted me. He once told me after an exhausting bout of great sex, he could never be interested in you because you were nothing but a cold fish. You know Ororo, he was right!” She pulled the door open in froze. “Scott!”

At Jean’s surprised shout Ororo pushed aside the horrible, piercing hole widening her heart and rushed to the open door in time to see the pain covering Scotts face before he pushed through the stilled forms of Marie, Bobby and Jubilee. They had all heard everything. Sending her a look of loathing Jean chased after him. Oh goddess! Three pairs of eyes stared at her.

“Ms Munroe?” asked Marie.

“Yes child”

“I’m sorry.” Unshed tears glistering in her eyes, Ororo reached for her. The hug was brief but it was enough.

“Thank you child. Now you all go get dress. Classes will begin soon.” They hesitated for a brief moment. Worry scribbled across their faces. Ororo forced a smile to her lips. It must have reassured them enough for they slowly walked down the hall to their rooms. Ororo turned back to hers and closed the door.

Scott. She whispered, painfully. The tears, like the heavy raindrops outside her balcony went unheeded. Only one thought kept repeating itself in her mind over and over again.

What had she done?

She knew when it was time to go it would be difficult. She would miss him. Despite what happened Logan was still a part of her. A part that helped her coupe with the emotional tidal waves in her life. He had become her release of sort because Logan never held anything back. He loved fiercely and he hated just as abundantly. Only his love was never hers to begin with. She should have been prepared for this. No one stayed in her life for very long; it was a simple statement of fact. It didn’t matter that he lasted longer then the others. Nor that she thought she’d finally gotten it right. Deep down she had always known her time with him was limited.
Ororo shuddered inwardly. She must put aside her suffering until she had left. Instead she had to find Scott and try to repair the damage she had wrought. Why could she not have reframed from confronting Jean? Goddess! What if she had inadvertently destroyed the only person she could now call friend? She must find him and make things right for him. Then she would leave……Logan.
His name echoed unbidden in her mind. A lone tear slid slowly down her face. She should be used to being passed over for another but this unending ach was more then she had ever dealt with. And still she wanted him, loved him.
“Ororo……we need to talk.”
Her back stiffened at the sound of his voice. She signed. Not now! She did not want or need this…..reminder of what was lost to her.
“I am exhausted, Logan. This must wait.”
“It can’t darling….?” She wiped around. Her eyes full of anger and pain.
“Do not call me that!” she spat out angrily. “You no longer have a right to do so.”
“Ro let me explain.”
Ororo lost her last shreds of patience with a biting laugh. “Explain? What is there to explain, you’ve been obsessing over Jean since the moment you arrived. Now you no longer have too. Congratulations, you won! You finally have what you’ve wanted.”
“That’s not true. What you walked in on was a mistake. I was frustrated and she…”
Her hands clenched and her voice dropped, quivering with outrage. “ How dare you stand here to my face and try to talk away what I saw with my own eyes! And to imply I am the reason! Tell me, Logan did it not occur to you that I was afraid of taking the final step in our relationship? I held back because part of me always feared this moment. I denied your feeling for her for so long I was beginning to believe they did not exist anymore. But you’ve proven me wrong! You’ve gotten what you wanted regardless of the consequences. Was it worth it?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She turned to stalk away but he grabbed her arm in a vice grip.
“I was a fool! I made a horrible mistake, but I won’t loss you because of it!”
“I was nothing but a convenient distraction, an itch you had to scratch, and we both know it! So do not pretend it was more then that!” she glared at him with scorn marring her beautiful face. Then she forcefully pulled her arm from him.
His voice hoarse with regrets, Logan held her gaze and did not flinch at what he saw there. “Deep down, you know that isn’t true. You are a part of me just as much as I am of you.”
“Really? Answer this, Logan. How long were you going to toy with me? How long were you intending to play with the both of us?”
He was silent; she knew she would not receive any answers. It was that knowledge that was like a knife in her heart slicing away the last rays of hope.
Ororo’s eyes bored into his. She made her voice as cold as she could. “This is over!”
Logan shook his head, unconvinced he would loss her over this.
“No, Ro. It will never be over between us.”
She stared incredulously at him, and then shook her features into a calm expression. It would not do to send a bolt of lightening into him. When she finally spoke again her voice was flat and frozen, a barren wasteland.
“We would have had to have something in order for it to end.”
Logan’s jaw clinched. His hands descended on her shoulders like giant clamps. Ororo tried to twist free, but she might as well have tried to extricate herself from concrete.
“Deny it all you want Goddess but we both know the truth!”
“Why won’t you let this go? Jeanie does not have time for you?” he growled threw his teeth.
“I can’t, I won’t let you go. I don’t want her!” unconsciously his grip tightened. “We belong together.”
She stared at his chest, conscious of its strength and solidarity. She was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to press her cheek against its broad expense and pretended nothing else mattered. But that’s what she had been doing for the last six months. Besides even if they could go back, they had lost something precious and they both knew it.
“Logan”
“No, Ro don’t say it. Give me another chance. Better yet give us another chance. You know we can make it work.” Wavering near defeat, she closed her eyes against the barrage of tears and images threatening to bombard her. Painfully she whispered, “You have become my best friend, confidante, teammate and lover and my hope when I saw none. In you I began to believe in a fantasy that has been longed denied me. But as it is often does in our lives, realty has set in and we must face it.”
Eyes shinning with pain and regret, Ororo gazed into his eyes. “With you I’ve known true happiness. I’ve felt what it is to be loved and cherished. Wherever I am. I will always hold that close to my heart. But I am done playing the fool.” He opened his mouth to protest but she silently shook her head.
“She is who you want, nothing can change that. Nothing stands between you now,”
Logan tried to deny her words but nothing came out. How could he refute her words? His action had spoken louder then any words he could use to convince her of the truth. The fight drained out of him as he locked his gaze with hers. He lessened his hold of her and stepped back. She mistakenly assumed that he was finally accepting the truth of her words.
“ I am sorry Ro. I never meant to hurt you.” He said softly. “I love you.”
“I know in your own way you did.” She whispered behind a clogged voice. The hurt so obvious in her words it caused him to wince. He signed heavily, a defeated sound. He would not hurt her any more then he already had. For now his only choice was to let her go until he figured out a way to get her back.
With an iron will that she’d utilized countless times, she wrapped her destroyed spirit about her and leaned in to capture his lips in a soft, gentle kiss. It was short and when it ended it held a resounding ring of finality. Quickly she moved out of the circle of his arms and took flight before she allowed a small amount of relief and burst into tears.
Logan stared after the retreating figure of the woman who held his heart and vowed, “I’m not giving up, darling. You’re what I want and if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll prove it to ya!”
A second later a red beam of focused light blasted right through his back leaving a gaping hole where his chest had been. As he hit the ground all he heard was Jean’s horrified screams and his last conscious thought was of the woman he refused to loss.

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, they belong to Marvel. I am using them not for gain but for joy.

Title: Deception: prt4 Home

Rating: none

Author’s Notes: Ororo returns, but what she finds leaves her devastated! Sorry took so long to update but I hope this makes up for it.





The wind in her long white tresses, sun kissing her exposed brown skin from a red halter-top, the earth and its elements in harmony once again with her soul, Ororo Munroe sped through the iron gates of the Xavier Institute with only one thought in mind.

Home.

She was finally back where she belonged. Goddess help her but she had missed it all. The mansion, the students and…… No! She would not go there. He was no longer a part of her life only a teammate, nothing more. Anxiety poked at her stomach nonetheless. Not only because of Logan but also at the kind of reception she would receive from the others. Since her hasty departure she had not called or kept in touch unable to listen to any more of the persuasive or sympathic words from those she loved. She did not want their pity, just there congratulations at the changes in her life. A soft smile crossed her lips. So many things to tell them.

She pulled her new red Lexus convertible into the garage and got out. First thing she spotted was Logan’s bike. He was still here. Part of her had hoped that he had left again. That way she did not have to face him so soon. Certain now he knew she was back, Ororo took a deep breath and headed inside.

“Ms. Munroe! Ya back!” Ororo turned in the main hall in time to have the wind knocked out of her by white streaked brown hair. “I’m so glad ya back!”

She smiled indulgently over the top of the girls’ head. “So I see.”

Rogue pulled back from her and looked up. Sadness marring the happy glint. “So much gone on, Ms. Munroe. Ya not gonna believe it.”

Ororo frowned “What is it, child”

“I..I shouldn’t be da one ta tell ya.”

“Nonsense. What has happened?”

“It’s Lo…..”

“Rogue, there you are! We got to get to Chemistry. Oh, hi Ms. Munroe! Welcome back.” Robert Drake hurried to his girlfriend’s side, hoping she had not said anything to Ms. Munroe. The professor needed to be the one to fill her in. he signed with relief when he saw the beautiful teacher still smiling.

“Thank you Robert. It’s good to be home.”

Bobby and Rogue exchanged glances. Ororo saw the exchange between them and her brows deepened into grooves. She wanted to question them further but Robert was already backing away, pulling Rogue with him.

“We gotta get going, I’ll catcha later, bye!”

“Wait Ro…….” The two students quickly disappeared into a classroom several doors down.

Ororo shrugged and started for Professor Xavier’s office. She stood before the double doors about to knock.

~ Come in Ororo. ~

She pushed opened the door and smiled warmly as the professor moved from around his desk and held his hands out in greeting. She walked forward and allowed him to clasp her fingers as she leaned down and kissed his temple.

“Welcome home. You’ve been sorely missed.”

“Thank you, Professor. I have also missed home.”

“Why have you stayed away so long?”

He let her hands go and she sat in a comfortable chair next to him. “I need the extra time to forget and move on.”

“Did it help.”

She slowly nodded. “In many ways it did. What about the school, any trouble?”

“Nothing we could not handle.”

The door suddenly burst opened and Jubilation Lee rushed towards Ororo. “Thank god you are finally back, Ms Munroe. You have to do something about Wolvie. Just because his now in…….”

“Jubilee!” Xavier said sharply. The startled dark haired girls eyes rounded at the tone in the professor’s voice. Ororo too stared at him. She had never known him to raise his voice with any of them.

“Professor?” she questioned.

“You haven’t told her!” Jubilee asked in shock. “ She needs to know, professor.”

“Know what?”

Xavier signed, and looked at Ororo. There was no gentle way to cushion what he had to say. “There’s been an accident.”

“It’s Wolvie, his hurt.”

“Where is he?” she asked past a lump in her throat. She had known something was wrong but had ignored the feeling.

“His room.” Xavier said almost in a whisper. She was out of the seat and the door before he could say another word. Xavier turned towards the nervous girl and arched his brow.

Her heart racing with dread, Ororo summoned a gust of wind and raced up the long oak staircase and landed smoothly at the top. She hurried down one corridor and turned left at another that led to the teachers rooms, including the stairs to her own attic haven. Something was different. All the wall scorns were missing allowing the only light to come from the large window at the end of the hall. Feeling uneasy, Ororo reached Logan’s room and stared down at the doorknob as if it would bite her. Flashes of their last conversation together crossed her mind. How bad was he hurt? What had happened during the seven months of her absence? Would he care that she had returned? Did he hate her for leaving? Did it matter?

No.

Reaching up she confidently knocked several times with no answer. He was purposely ignoring her. She knew it, could sense it. Determinedly, Ororo reached for and turned the knob and pushed the door opened. A small amount of light filtered a long stream into the even darker room but it was not enough to see with. She groped a hand along the wall to try and find the light switch and flicked it back in forth. Nothing happened. What was going on? Did not anyone realize the power was out on this floor? Why had not Scott done something? She knew he was a stickler for the mansion being safe under any circumstance. Maybe he was still dealing with other matters. She stepped into the large room and was instantly slapped by a sickening smell of rotten food, dirty clothes, urine and strong body odor.

Goddess!!!!

The offensive smells weaved up to her nose almost causing her to stagger back. Summoning up a cleansing gust, she drove the smells back and glanced around making out an over turned chair, scattered objects almost covering the carpeted floor, boxes and the disheveled bed.

“Logan.”

A shuffling but no answer. Only motionless shadows. Her unease was quickly turning to fear. Logan was not the neatest person but this! Something was seriously wrong. Why would he not answer her? Every instinct told her he was here. A ripple of panic gripped her by the shoulders and raced up and down her spine to the roots of her hair. Ororo walked further in stubbing over broken pieces of furniture and clothes. She listened for any type of sounds or movement from the dark corners.

“Logan.” She called out again “I know you are here. Answer me!” several silent minutes ticked by and still no answer. Perhaps Charles was wrong. Logan would have answered by now. Ororo decided to go back downstairs and hear what Xavier had to say. She had questions and wanted answers. Turning to leave, she suddenly stopped. A shuffling noise sounded to her far left in the darkest corner of the unlit room.

Enough was enough! What kind of game was Logan playing with her? Well she would no longer play! Ororo held up fisted hands up, her eyes glazed over white and summoned up enough power to cause her hands to glow in a bright electrically charged brilliant white light. That revealed a filthy and almost completely destroyed room She strode to the far corner and gasped in shock horror.

“Goddess!”

Raising any arm to shield his eyes from the sudden illumination, Logan cowered away from her. His black, thick hair was a bunch of tangled and wild strands. It appeared to badly need a wash and comb. His rugged face was covered in long strands of sprouting hair that resembled wirily threads of a brillo pad. Nails uncharacteristically long were blackened with dirt. The rumpled tee shirt and sweats with the schools logo were tattered and gapping with holes. He lowered his arm and glared hatefully at her. Brown eyes narrowing further when he saw the repulsion echoing in her whited eyes.

“Ya done gawking, now get the fuck out!” Ororo reeled from the angry words. Logan has never spoken to her like that before, no matter how angry he got.

“What has happened to you.” She asked rushing towards him.

“Don’t fuckin come near me!” he yelled. She stopped.

“Tell me.” She pleaded, eyes suddenly lighting on the metal wheelchair he sat on. “No! That’s not possible.”

He suddenly exploded. “GET DA FUCK OUT!”

Ororo numbly shook her head. “No. Not until you tell me who did this. What happened?”

“Ya happened!” he snapped. “Cyke put two and two together and came afta me. The fuckin coward never even gave me a chance ta defend myself. So ya see darlin, he did ya dirty work for ya.”

Ignoring his accusation, she questioned. “Scott? He would never hurt…….”

“Yea. These say different darlin.” He sneered yanking at his lifeless legs. “Ya boycott finally got his pound of flesh!” Her eyes followed his actions and emotions unlike anything she had ever faced before ripped at her. Goddess, this was some kind of nightmare or sick joke. Logan watched and almost enjoyed the pain, guilt and regret he smelled leaping of her. “What’s da matter, Ro? Ya don’t like what ya see?”

“Your healing factor. Why did it not heal you?” she asked. Her voice quivered as she tried to make sense of what he was telling her and what her eyes was seeing.

“Guess havin a whole da size of a bowlin ball blasted into ya, kinda fucks that up!” his face glowered menacingly at her.

Disbelievingly, her eyes scan his injured body and noted no obvious changes except he was glued to a wheelchair. He watched her eyes run over his leg again and again as if willing them to move. His anger started building uncontrollably. Why the fuck did she come back, now? For months after the ‘accident’ he’d laid strapped to beeping machines with tubes running into holes in his head, arms and every other conceivable place unable to stop jean and that fucking beast from poking at him with their damned tests! His only source for retaining his sanity was the image of her. Of the hope that he’d heal sooner or later and go find her. To make things right again.

But now he knew there was no chance that would ever happen. He was stuck in this metal contraption for the rest of his life. Making her far outta his reach. All because he’d made the biggest mistake of both their lives.

“There must be something……..” she started to say helplessly as black tunnel clouds darken outside.

“There’s nothing! I’m fucking stuck in this crap for the rest of my life! And it’s all because of ya and that fuckin asshole! This da last time I’m telling ya ta get the fuck out!”

Lightening crashed through a tree on the grounds and split it in half. They did not even notice. Both there eyes glued to the sorrow written on each other. Logan almost cried out at the look in her eyes as his words sunk in. Sorry Ro, this the only way I know how ta let ya go and keep ya safe.

Pain grabbed at Ororo. She deserved it all. The open rage and hate pulsing from Logan’s eyes was less then she deserved. It was true, she had done this. Her words had pushed Scott into trying to kill Logan. She had escaped without preventing what she knew her words had started. Guilt whipped at her as she accepted the weight. Part of her had wanted Scott to find Logan. Perhaps to hurt him as much as he had hurt them. But Goddess, help her, not like this. What had she done! A soft moan escaped her lips as she tried to rein in the uncontrolled blasts of power ravishing outside while keeping her eyes from meeting his.

“Logan I am………”

“I don’t need ya pity, goddess! I don’t need anything from ya .” he said full of loathing, his eyes as hard as stone. She glanced at him and did cry out.

“GET OUT! GET OUT! I never wanna see ya damned face again.”

Shocked, mind blinded by pain, she turned tripping over objects in her hast to the door.

“I don’t wanna ever see ya face gain!”

She closed it with trembling fingers, tears finally allowed to run down her face like the rain beating on the windows. Closing her eyes against his image just as glass slammed behind the closed door and shattered. Ororo crumbled to her knees, clutching at her stomach.

“Goddess, what have I done.” She moaned wretchedly.

For long minutes the dark hall became a haven of solitude for her grief as the weather worsen outside. A sudden thought forced its way into her mind. Scott. Where was he? What must he be going through with the realization he nearly killed a teammate?

“You bitch! How dare you come back here, after what you’ve done!”

Ororo’s head snapped up and she stared into the vengeful, bright red light of the rapidly moving dark Phoenix. She could tell Jean was no longer in control as her red hair floated out like live tendrils, her eyes small pits of raging flame, even the green costume she wore was that of the dark demon.

“Jean! What has….”

“You are responsible for destroying our lives! You, with your jealousy couldn’t wait to tell Scott! Because of you, Scott is gone and Logan no longer wants me! I’ve lost both of them and now you will pay!” as she levitated several feet from the ground.

Ororo stood up and faced her. She knew the only way to stop the demon was to try and get Jean to take control again. A task that would not be easy.

“I accept my part of what has happened but I am not the only one to blame. You and Logan started this!”

“No! We loved each other you would not let him go. Now you will face my wrath!” Jean screamed barreling a telekinetic fist into an unsuspecting Ororo. She went flying backwards and slammed into the hard wood of the walls. Blood splattered from her lips as pain rushed throughout her body but she recovered quickly. Her eyes whited over just as Jean kicked her square in the jaw, sending her a few feet of balance. Ororo shook her head to clear it as she tried to regain her balance. The phoenix roared with rage and blindly sent a blast of burning, yellow and red flames towards her. She tried to sprang out of the way only to have the wind knocked out of her from a brutal kick to the chin. Jean landed and used her psychokinetic powers to elevate her struggling body up then slammed from wall to wall like a ragged doll. Helplessly Ororo was lifted and brought down hard. Extreme, numbing waves from cracked ribs; fractured arm and several gaping bloody cuts enveloped her in a cloud of
darkness. In a last ditched effort, she tried to lift her hands in defense but a well-aimed chair spiraled hard against her dangling arm and breaking even more bones.

“Jean!” Logan growled savagely from the carpet. The lower part of his door had been smashed and clawed into swigs. “Leave her alone!” he shouted, eyes taking in Ororo crumbled, unmoving form and hating his condition even more.

She rounded on his clawing, heaving form trying to drag himself with his hands in an attempt to shield Ro. In a manic wail, Jean lifted him upright and held up in the air like a stringed puppet.

“The scheming whore has turned you into a useless cripple and still you try to save her!” her eyes blazed with jealous anger. “Then watch her die!”

She pined him against the wall and went to snatch a semi conscious Ororo by the hair and pull her moaning close to him. Logan struggled, howled and growled but the unseen field holding him up only pushed against his chest harder. Ro’s blue eyes briefly opened and stared into his as she tried to gulp shallow breaths into her lungs. Her eyes silently begged for him to stay out of it. The Phoenix could easily kill him as she was attempting to do to her.

“Take a good look, darlin, this is the last you will see of your precious Ro!” the red head sneered before raising Ro up then slamming her down again. Ororo’s body went rigid with pain. Her mind completely fogged over before darkness finally claimed her.

“Ya demented bitch! I swear ta ya if she dies I’ll find a way ta make ya life hell!” raged Logan trying in vain to jab the blades at her. Laughing venomously, she side stepped him and prepared to teach him a lesson.

“Jean!” yelled a thunderous voice from behind them. “Enough!”

Phoenix whirled around and stared scornfully at Charles Xavier.

“I will determine when it is over! Not you or him.”

“No, no more! I will not allow you to harm her anymore.”

She screamed. “ Again you side with her! But you’re to late!”

Ororo’s still form levitated from the floor and was about to be thrown out the window but Xavier effectively stopped her.

~You cannot fight me. My power has always been greater. Let her go. ~

~You are not dealing with that paltry excuse of a scapegoat, Xavier. I am the Phoenix! Destroyer of galaxies and planets. If you do not wish to end up like the goddess you will get out of my way! ~

Xavier concentrated his entire power to enter Jean’s deranged mind in hopes of stopping her murderous rampage before anyone else was injured. Jean suddenly let out a blood-curling scream as a strong pulse like a slicing knife ripped through her consciousness. She clutched her hands to the sides of her head. “You can not deny me, Charles.”

She flew towards the window in a burst of flames and smashed through. Glass was sent flying in all directions. She quickly flew from sight.

With her gone, the telekinetic field holding Logan was gone and he collapsed heavily to the floor. Charles in an attempt to contact Ororo and follow Jean with his mind links, rushed to him apologetically. “Logan, are you hurt?”

“How’s Ro?” he asked urgently, pulling at the carpet to drag over to her.

“Alive, barely. I’ve isolated enough of her brain patterns to ease the pain but she needs to be in the med lab. I’ve sent a message out to Hank. His on his way.” Xavier turned his gaze on Logan and frowned. “Are you certain you are not hurt?”

Logan nodded as he reached Ro. “I’ll survive.”

Yes, but for how long? Xavier questioned silently. Worry crammed his mind at the brief glance he’d accidentally seen of Logan’s mind.
Logan reached a hand out to touch her blooded face and saw his long nails and dirt caked fingers. He yanked it away in disgust and leaned down to whisper the only words he had not said to her. “I’m sorry, darlin.” pters.

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, they belong to Marvel. I am using them not for gain but for joy.
Title: Deception: prt5 Revelations
Rating: NC-17
Author’s Notes: Is Logan really paralyzed? What secrets is Ororo keeping from them? And who the heck is that new gorgeous man in her life????
Dedications: I wanted to send this long over due chapter out to Xmenloganfan, toughspirit, Sandra, Ororo and all the rest of you who make this fic worth writing. Reviews will be greatly appreciated, good and bad. Only way I’ll grow! Thanks.



“How is she?” Charles Xavier asked. As deeply worried lines grooved their way across his forehead.
“She had three broken ribs, shattered left arm, extensive bruising on her face, chest.” Answered the furry blue doctor as he leaned over an enhance version of the microscope used for examining blood work. Hank McCoy leaned back. Temporarily forgetting Charlie’s was waiting for him to continue. He raised his thick glasses and rubbed tired fingers across the bridge of his nose, deep in thought.
Becoming impatient, Xavier moved forward until he was looking at Hank across a long metal table loaded with scientific instruments.
“And?”
Hank looked up as if he had just realized he’d been talking to someone. “She’ll be fine. I expect her to have a full recovery. The puncture to her lung and the location of the hemorrhaging had me worried but I have repaired the damage and she seems to be holding her own.”
Xavier nodded, relieved that Ororo would live. He would have expressed that joy if he did not sense that Hank had something else he was not telling him.
“What is it?”
“A peculiarity. I have been running further tests on Logan’s blood and cannot understand why his healing factor has healed all his other injuries including the new ones caused by his encounter with the door but his paralysis continues. I have also ascertained where the damaged should be, but the x-rays that were taken show no apparent trauma to the C10 vertebrae. The neurotransmitters are just not reaching the cerebra cortex.”
“Was the damaged tissues around the vertebrae healed but not the nerves?” Charles asked.
“That’s another perplexing problem. The spinal nerve, branches, surrounding tissues healed so well theres no trace of there ever had been an injury.”
“What! How is that possible? With his healing factor not functioning properly I’d assume some part of his injuries would be evident.”
“Even more puzzling is that I compared his previous scans with the ones I took the day of the accident and they are exactly the same. Minus the closing gap in his chest of course.”
Xavier sat silently for a few minutes trying to process this new information. Scientifically, what Hank was saying was not possible. He knew first hand the debilitating damage a spinal trauma could cause. His own injury similar to Logan’s had kept him tied to his chair for thirty years. Despite innovative techniques like electromagnetic stimulation to the surrounding muscles, physical therapy and S’hklar intervention. The difference though was that his nerves were permanently destroyed.
“ Perhaps some aide from our outside sources will help.”
“I have already sent a few sample to my esteemed colleague Reed Richards. Other then myself he is the only other person who has done research with genetics and mutations. He was instrumental in helping me with discovering the cure for the legacy virus and I trust him.”
“Good. It’s also important that Logan’s condition remain a secret. If any of his enemies learned of his disability, God knows what would happen.”
“ I will await Richard’s findings before I consider any other steps. It would help immensely if our feral friend would willingly consent to a few experiments I have been working on.”
Xavier almost physically cringed at the word ‘experiment’ and Logan in the same sentence. Unless they forcefully dragged him, bound in chains, Logan would not return to the Med-lab. Not that Xavier blamed him after what’s happened in the last couple months and his past. It was just difficult to help a patient not willing to summit to testing of his injuries. Then a thought came to him.
“What if the reasons for his injuries are not physical?”
Hank stared at the professor. He knew he was relatively new to the school and barely knew the man in question but he had treated his injuries. Had seen him through months of excruciatingly painful rehabilitation and had come to a similar conclusion. There was a strong possibility the X-man’s paralysis was not physical. Still, he had refrained from voicing his suspicions until he had eliminated all other avenues. He still was not ready to accept or deny this new theory.
“ What else could it be?”
Xavier tapped the side of his hairless scalp. “Psychological. The last time he had such a traumatic experience his mind shut those memories away. Even now he struggles with the resulting nightmare but can never fully capture the memories of who he was. What if the combination of the blast, the events leading to his break up with Ororo and the subsequent loss triggered a similar reaction? “
Enlightenment shone in Beasts eyes. He knew the jagged edge that could stab a heart from the lost promise of love. Including the mysterious and fascinating maze that was the human mind.
“It would explain….” Hank stopped and gazed over the professor’s shoulder.
“Charles.”
Murmured a weaken voice behind him. He turned the metallic hover chair and smiled. Ororo, using the doorframe of one of the patient cubicles, recently added to the lab, to support her slight form, tried to stand on her own.
“Ororo! I am so glad to see you have awaken but should you be on your feet so soon?”
“No” murmured Beast as he rushed towards the stunning woman and helped her to a chair. She smiled gratefully up at him. His breath caught and he discovered an unfamiliar tingle where his hands had grazed her skin through the thin gown.
Face haggard from the days of not being outside, hair lack luster and frame a few pounds lighter then before, Ororo Munroe was one of the most extraordinarily beautiful women he had ever seen. And now that he was finally looking into her eyes, Hank found himself in the awkward position of falling into the blue gaze! He was aware he stood near her longer then necessary but could not force himself to move.
“Dr. McCoy?” Beauty said as white brows rose up questioningly. The figuratively spoken question jarred him from his salivating pose of worship and he felt the rare sensation of blood rushing to his cheeks. Gracious! Thank goodness for his blue fur! Quickly he padded away from her bemused features and returned to less stimulating musings.
She focused her attention on the professor. “Charles, what has happen in my absence?”
Xavier signed but did not look away from her searching gaze. “Scott has left the school.”
“When.”
“Soon after Logan’s accident.”
Ororo wanted to ask but saw the truth on Xavier’s face. The Phoenix had told her the truth. “He did go after Logan.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes. I refuse to believe it was with the intent to kill him.” He firmly stated. His troubled features said it all.
“What is happening to Jean? Has she become the dark Phoenix again?”
“I do not know. We both know since her return, Jean has not been the same. After you left, then Scott and Logan refused to have anything to do with her she became irrational. Behaving oddly. I had not realize how lost she was until her attack on you.”
“We have to find and stop her.”
Sadly Xavier agreed.
“Shadow Cat, Iceman and Rogue are looking for her.”
“They can not handle Jean alone!” she cried incredulously almost standing up in her agitation. She moaned in pain and clutched her side. Beast again hurried around to help her and check the bandages with a stern admonishment ready on his lips. It died at her breathless gasps of pain.
“You must remain calm or I will have to send you back to bed.” Another blush colored below the surface of his cheeks.
“Thank you, Dr. McCoy.”
“I would be honored if you would call me Hank or as my students have affectionately started calling me, Beast.” He asked.
“Hank.” She said with a smile. Bewitched by an enchantress’s heavenly smile! He silently mused while returning back to his tubes and slides. Xavier noting the worried frown on her face reached out to pat her hand.
“Do not distress yourself. They are far more capable then you remembered. Angel and Banshee have done a wonder job of continuing their training. Cerebral and I are also monitoring the situation. And when they find her, Angel, Psylock and Hank will be there.”
Still she did not like the children being out there alone. Jean was too unstable. Goddess only knew what she was capable of now. The last time she was like this, they had barely made it alive. She also knew the professor would not send the younger X-men into danger if they were not ready but would feel better if she or Scott where with them.
“Where did Scott go? We have to find him and bring him back.”
Xavier’s eyes fleeted away from her for a brief moment. Her stomach muscles clinched. Whatever he was going to say was worst then she thought. He confirmed it when he turned back to her with pain etched in every part of his body.
“His joined Magneto.”
“No! Scott would never betray us that way!” she exclaimed, shocked more then she could have imagined.
“I agree. Pain and guilt have clouded his thinking. He does not believe he still has the right to wear the uniform, much less lead the team.”
“That is ridiculous!”
“I know but Scott must realize that for himself. I know he will return to us when his ready.” He tried to convince her or was it himself he was trying to convince?
She had purposely left the next question last because it was harder to ask and even harder to know the answer.
“Do you really think I am the reason Logan has remained in that chair?”
Xavier was not surprise she had overheard their earlier discussion and had no doubt she was as worried about Logan as he was.
“Maybe a contributing factor. That was only a theory, Ororo. Hank is still running tests.” She slowly nodded.
“We have never held the truth from each other, professor. Let’s not start now. Do you believe his paralysis is not physical?”
Xavier glanced up at Hank before answer. “Yes, I do believe Logan is the only thing preventing himself from walking.”
”You are both certain any further tests will only confirm this?” The two men mutely nodded. “Then it is now up to me to help him find a reason to rise from that chair!” she said. A fiercely determined light glossed over her eyes as thunderous cracks of lightening suddenly roared over their heads. For now she could not help Scott or Jean but this was in her power to do something!
“My word!” mumbled Hank. He had only briefly raised his head from the floating images in front of him and witnessed the purposeful glare in the enchantress’s face. If that had not gotten his attention the sudden clap of lightening certainly would have. Xavier had given him brief Bios of all the occupants of the mansion and he had scoffed at hers. Yes, there were mutants with extraordinary gifts but to control the weather? Never! To believe such a thing would negate most of his scientific beliefs. Now with the evidence loudly plundering his eardrums he was forced to conclude Ororo Munroe was as rare and exquisite as her appearance dictated. Suddenly feeling sorry and slight pangs of envy towards the self-secluded wolverine, he refocused on his work
Xavier stared at her and in the glint of an eye knew what she planned to do. He hoped it worked because he also glimpsed in her mind a firmly routed suspicion that had started to grow recently. It started like a slow humming vibration he had been picking up. Until it was a fully-grown dark cloud that shrouded over his mind. Now he knew for a fact from the person who knew him best. Logan was running out of time.
*Do what you must as long as you are not hurt in the process.*
*It is too late for that, Charles. But if this fails………*
*It won’t. We will not let it.*


“You have chosen well.”
Logan froze at the softly spoken words as a debilitating scrawl appeared on his face. For a brief moment it transpired into a heart pulsing look of mindless joy, relief and ….love. He realized that voice could only belong to only one person. It was the same voice that has kept him staring into the deep dark waters of the lake for countless hours plagued by doubts. The same voice that has prevented him from doing the only thing that would bring him freedom from his fucking prison!
“Why aren’t you in the Medlab?” he demanded, gazing across at the vast denseness of the trees below them.
“Some disturbing thoughts prevented me from remaining there any longer.” She answered the back of his head.
She omitted telling him of the urgent need to locate him that has pushed her since the early hours. As a man used to movement, action, independence to come and go as he pleased, she knew it was only a matter of time before Logan took matters into his own hands in regards to his condition. The same measures she would take if she were in his place. That is why she had the professor keep close tabs on him while allowing her more time to regain her strength. Then this morning he had woken her with the dreaded message that Logan had left the mansion. It had not taken her long to realize where he would go in his limited state. The same place she would always find him, the ridge overlooking a vast and green valley. Now she had to figure out a way to stop him before it was too late.
“You need to get back there.” He said, pulling her away from her dreary thoughts.
“You are correct. I do need to go back but not without you.”
He heard the fierce tone in her voice and knew she meant what she said. She would not leave unless he followed. His heart skipped a beat at the notion that she still cared then hardens as a glimpse back into the hard months after she left him wiped away the useless feeling. Memories starting with the drilled holes to his head for retraction tests, knives cutting into his flesh, endless needles being pumped into veins screaming to be left alone and the extreme pain that followed before what was left of his healing powers kicked in assaulted him. Around the pain, only two things had stayed in his mind. Her image willing him to fight battled with the dark hope that they would finally leave him alone to die in peace.
For weeks after all that he’d lay sprawled on a narrow bed waiting for her to appear. Waiting for her to come tell him she forgave him and wanted him back. It took time but he’d finally resigned himself to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen. Now she dared stand there as arrogant as ever telling him what to do! Where the fuck had she been when he needed her most! Fucking, running away, that’s where! Well she could go back to where she came from. It was too late for her words to ever matter to him.
Rage colored his vision and he jerked the wheels around. Mindful, not to back up too closely to the edge of the mountain and it’s jagged rocks directly below. “I told you before, to leave me alone and I meant it!”
Her eyes narrowed. “As soon as you get up out of that chair and come back to the mansion with me.”
A humorless laugh exploded from his sneering lips. “Didn’t you talk to Chuck? Or the blue fur ball? Am a damned useless cripple! Theses things don’t want to move!”
He pounded on his thighs and grunted in disgust when there was no reaction. He glared up at her. “Satisfied!”
Doubt pounded in her mind at seeing the same lack of movement from his limbs. Where they wrong? No, she would not believe that! Could not believe it.
“I will not be satisfied until you are well.”
“Well that’s not going to happen and I’m not waiting around for maybes or someday!” he growled with helpless rage.
“You are nothing but a coward! Anytime things get difficult you try to find the easy way out! First its always running away on one senseless mission after another then it’s doing everything in your power to sabotage any relationships you develop! Now this! There is no returning from death, Logan. And there will not be anyone left grieving for a coward!” She cried. Knowing what she meant by that cryptic comment caused him to wince but it didn’t change his mind.
“You’re not the one who’s sitting here.” He said harshly.
“No I am not.” She painfully murmured. “Taking your own life is not the way.”
“Spending the rest of my life in this is?” he asked incredulously.
“Xavier believes you can walk. So do I.”
“Thanks for the info.” He snared in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “You can leave now!”
She was getting angry. Goddess knew she was not strong enough to challenge him. Yet he was leaving her no choice. The accident certainly had not damaged his arrogance! Nor his foolish disregard for anyone else’s needs but his own! Let’s see what it did to his instinctive ability to fight! And there was only one way to find out. Send him over the edge.
“Not without you.” She insisted, her hands starting to glow. His eyes skimmed over them then to her face.
“Why the hell did you come back?” he taunted, trying to force her to admit what they both already knew.
“This is my home.”
Logan felt his heart start to pound uncontrollably with an intensity that threatened to consume him.
“Why?” he pushed.
She knew what he was trying to do and refused to give it to him. “I could not stay away any more then you ever could!”
“Say it!” he shouted.
“From you!” she cried, angry with herself and him. “Is that what you want to hear? Despite everything, I could not forget!”
His eyes briefly filled with tenderness too painful for her to look at. “Now you know what I’ve been going though. Wanting, needing something that I could no longer have!”
He spoke of both the loss of his legs and her. She chose to concentrate only on the former.
“It is not to late for your legs.”
Astonishment at her insistent words registered across his face but was covered up by pained hopelessness. “Don’t try to stop me, Ro.”
“I won’t let you do this. I can not.”
“How are you going to stop me?” Logan snapped, lips twisting. “I don’t need legs to keep you out of my way!” His claws pushed out from between his knuckles.
“I will stop you.”
“Screw you! Screw all of you! I wont be some guinea pig for them to experiment on! This is my life and I’ll do with it whatever I want!”
“If I could do anything to change what’s happened, I would. I will do whatever it takes to help you.”
“I don’t need your help. It’s because of you am in this!” he regretted the words the moment they were out but was too angry to take them back. She visibly flinched as anger lashed out at him.
“No, you are responsible. No one else and the sooner you face the truth……..”
“The truth! I’ll give you truth! From that first time I woke up and couldn’t move my legs and they told me I wouldn’t walk again the truth was rammed down my throat! Then the weeks of being prodded, poked, cut up and having shit rammed in every hole in my body continued to punch it home! Still that wasn’t enough cause after that asshole Hank and his friends were done I was left alone in that cold room with the ‘truth’ for company! For one twisted, selfish moment I wrecked the best thing I had going. And worst yet, I fucked my life doing it! That enough truth for you, darling?” he sneered, gaze throwing sharp daggers at her.
Ororo stood speechless for several seconds as his words hit home. Her anger was momentarily forgotten as agony rooted her to the spot. Goddess! I should have been here.
“Logan……”
“Don’t! I don’t need your fucking pity!” he growled out.
Goddess, give me strength. I cannot lose him a second time. She silently pleaded. Not this way. Logan looked away from her in anguish. His mind was a jumble of warring feelings. He wanted nothing more then to reach out to her and erase the hurt, regret he saw crumpling her face at his words. To do that he’d have to be whole again and that would never happen. Better to end her pain now and with some time she would forget….
“I do not waste my emotions on useless sentiments.” She said in a harden, regal voice that held more bravado then she felt. “Or make ideal threats.”
He stiffened then glared across at her, his face contorting into a feral knot. “Don’t.” he warned again. This time his voice was deeper, guttural.
She schooled her face into a mask of cynical disgust.
“Perhaps you are right. You said it yourself, Wolverine. You are no use to anyone anymore.”
She knew her words had hit home as his hands clutched the arms of the wheelchair and a low rumble rolled from his chest baring his canines. An explosive growl. Good. It was the animal in him she wanted to deal with. The man was too hurt to fight. She remained outwardly calm as she voiced the wounding shot.
“Lets face it Logan. You do not measure up any more.”
The words hung between them for only a second before he savagely and unexpectedly leaped from the backwards-flying chair and towards her. She only had time to let out a startled cry before she was pinned beneath the full force of his crushing weight. He lowered his face until it was inches from hers. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. She throbbed all over and her head swam aimlessly.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t give you a new hair do” he grounded out as his claws fingered her fanned out mass of hair. She tried to talk but his weight was too much. Tilting her head up, her eyes white with a surge of godly power, she summoned electrical bolts from every pore of her body and slammed them through Wolverine. He was sent flying several feet away. His cry of outraged died as he hit the ground, hard. Gasping for breath, Ororo staggered to her feet and faced him in a fighting stance. She ignored the pulsing pain and rolling wetness sinking into her dark shirt from her side.
He recovered quickly, shaking dizziness, confusion and surprise from his outrageously spiked hair. Red hot, blinding rage followed. He rose up on all four and focused on her.
She gasped at the site of him. Goddess! “Logan! You can…….Stop! Noooooo!”
Her warning scream went unheard as he tackled her again, unaware until it was too late how close to the edge of the ridge she was. The momentum sent them both flying over down the eighty-foot drop in a freefall towards the deep valley and waiting rocks. Panic gripped Ororo as Logan belatedly registered what his anger had caused. Their eyes met and he tightened his arms around her. A wave of dizziness washed across her eyes and she took several breaths to focus on their situation instead of on his punishing arms. She had to try and stop their fall! A sudden swirl of whipping wind enveloped them as she concentrated on slowing their downward descent. Realizing they were not slowing fast enough, she summoned more winds until they were floating several feet from the bottom. She pried her arms from beneath his and spread them out.
“Hold on.”
Like a reversed roller coaster ride, they were lifted back up and gently set on the ledge. He kept his hold of her waist as the wind calmed and the fire died from its mistress’s eyes but missed the rippling pain etched on her face. For long minutes they stood, eyes fixed on each other as both acknowledged what could have happened.
“I’m sorry…..”
“Goddess, Logan you can walk!” she cried as remembrance of what she wanted to tell him before they went over, came to her. He stared dumbly at her for several seconds before her words fully penetrated his mind. A multitude of expressions flitted over his face. Elation, wonder and relief finally lighted his pupils.
“I can walk!” he shouted before picking her up and twirling around and around as she laughingly admonished him to set her down.
“You did it, Logan! Xavier was right, it was all in your mind!” She said as he finally set her down and kept her in the circle of his arms. She winced from the pain and turned her face from him so he would not see.
“It was you. You knew the right buttons to push.” He grinned.
“I do seem to always know the right words to piss you off.” She smiled turning to look at him. Lost in that sweet and vulnerable gesture, he almost forgot who he was. Her rare and expressive smile always had that effect on him. Always would. Dawning of how close they were, how good she felt soon superseded his happiness at being able to walk again. He raised a hand to her face and cupped her silken cheek.
“From day one you’ve always been able to push my buttons like no one else ever could.” He whispered in a tone grown hoarse. All traces of laughter were replaced by the growing heat of desire. Noticing, her laughter faded as she tried to step back without causing herself further injury.
“Logan, a lots happened that I have not……..”
“I hope am not interrupting anything.”
They both turned in the direction of the deeply spoken words. A tall, dark haired man dressed in expensive, charcoal gray suite, polished shoes stood speculatively staring at their intimate stance.
Logan pushed Ororo behind him and whipped his claws out. “How the hell did you….”
“Nathan.”
She murmured as she stepped from behind him and sedately walked towards the stranger. She clasped the outstretched hands and raised her cheek up for his kiss.