The Best LAID Plans

Kurt rolled down the window in the jeep and let the cool breeze ruffle his hair. Just being outside the mansion was helping immensely. He was a little tired, but a cup of coffee steamed in the cup holder. Just being away from a house filled with hormonally charged women was starting to get to him. He didn't have senses as keen as Logan's, and he couldn't fathom how the big Canadian was able to survive. His head was starting to clear. He focused on the road and turned on the radio.
"Bring on the wilderness." He said, sighing happily.

Kitty woke early, hoping to slip out of the house without running into Logan or any other people. She dressed in Jeans and a t-shirt, adding a hooded sweatshirt for warmth against the spring chill that still clung to the air. She slipped into her sneakers and went down to the garage. The jeep was gone. Her heart fluttered nervously. She hadn't thought that Kurt would leave this early. It wasn't even six in the morning. She ran back into the kitchen and grabbed a banana and bottle of water. She jumped into the van and drove off the mansion grounds. She glanced at the map and pointed the van toward the mountains.

Jean woke when a knock sounded at her door. She pushed back her covers and yawned, walking to her door.

"Kitty." She mumbled. "I didn't realize you were going to be leaving at the-" She opened her door and stopped. Facing her was not Kitty Pryde. Logan, looking disheveled and irritated, glared at her.

"You were saying?" He prompted.

"Oh, nothing, Logan. What can I do for you?" She smiled sweetly.

"Any idea where Kitty is?" He watched her closely and she screwed up her eyebrows, as if trying to remember something.

"She didn't stop by this morning. I don't know where she is right now. Can I help with anything?" She gave him a big smile.

“Nah, I’ll find her.” He said, scratchins hes head. When he left, Jean frowned. Logan would have to be handled carefully. She could just avoid him and hope he didn’t pin her down with too direct a question. He could smell a lie, even on her. She threw on some clothes and snuck into the professor’s office and used his phone to call Bayville High. She cleared her throat and tried to sound as old as possible.

“Good morning, Bayville High.” The secretary’s voice was warm and friendly. Jean could picture him in her head. She felt a small twinge of guilt for her deception.

“Good morning. I’m calling in regards to my daughter, Katherine Pryde.” She paused. “I’m afraid we’ve had a family emergency and she won’t be in for a few days. I appologize for such short notice, but I’d appreciate it if someone could write down her assignments for her.”

“Certainly Mrs. Pryde.” He replied. “I certainly hope everything turns out alright for you.”

Jean hung up the phone and turned toward the door and stopped cold. Logan stood there, leaning against the doorway, watching her.

“Well, Red, looks like you’ve got some explaining to do.” Jean knew she was busted so she went on the offensive.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind a few explanations from you as well.” She said, planting her hands on her hips. “Like why you sent Kurt off on his own when he’s obviously ill.”

“Jeannie.” Logan said, walking into the office, his posture was predatory. “Please tell me that Kitty’s sudden ‘family emergency’ has nothing to do with the Elf. His expression was dark and threatening.

“Uh, what’s wrong with Kurt?”

“Where’s Kitty?”

“On her way to the woods to keep an eye on him.” Jean flinched when Logan lunged forward. He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her face close to his.

“When did she leave?”

“I don’t know.” Jean was starting to panic. “She was going to leave this morning. But she didn’t tell me when.” He squeezed her arms painfully. “Logan what’s the matter? Is Kitty in danger?”

“She might be, but most likely from herself.”

“What in Hell is going on?” Jean demanded. So Logan told her.

Kitty got out of the van and stretched. She’d been driving for more than two hours and her back was stiff and sore. She walked into a small produce market by the side of the road. She bought a couple of bottles of water and some supplies. She paid for her purchases and consulted her map while eating a granola bar. She decided to turn off before she reached the campsite where McCoy had taken them camping, and take a short cut to Logan’s cabin. She got back in the van and pointed it, she hoped, toward her best friend.

Logan started the car and Jean was beside him in the passenger seat.

“Get out, Red.” He growled. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Hey, it’s my fault she’s out there with a raving sex maniac.” Jean said, fastening her seatbelt. “If I get close enough I can disable Kurt without hurting him.”

“Jean, Kurt’s the one who’s going to be in trouble. Kitty won’t be able to stay away from him and he won’t be strong enough to run away.”

“So Kitty will be the raving sex maniac?” She covered her face with her hands and sighed. “God I’ve made such a mess of this.”

“Yeah, you have.” Logan agreed, starting the engine to the other Jeep. “And you may make things worse if you get too close to Kurt yourself.”

"I’ll be fine if I know what I’m up against.” She said. “At least I won’t be going into it blindly like Kitty.”

“Anything happens to her, Red.” Logan said, picking up the car’s phone. “Kurt won’t forgive himself. And he won’t forgive either of us.” He dialed the number for the van’s phone but a recording came on telling him that it was out of range. “She must be in a valley somewhere.” He said, slamming the phone down in disgust.

“We’ll get to them.” Jean said, firmly.

Kurt felt relieved to be out in the wilderness. He pushed back the blankets on the small cot that lay against the back wall of the cabin. The fire he’d started was burning low, but the sturdy walls retained heat from the previous night. He used the bathroom for his most pressing needs and pulled on a pair of shorts and a shirt. He tossed some kindling onto the embers that still glowed and coaxed a merry fire to life. He added a couple of larger logs and swept the floor in front of the fireplace before replacing the spark screen and grabbing Logan’s axe. He figured he would replenish some of the firewood supply and burn off a little energy in the process. He left with the fire burning and went out into the woods to do a little manly work.

Kitty spotted Xavier’s jeep and put the van into reverse. She backed up and turned around, heading to where she’d seen a small clearing. She parked there and walked about a half a mile to the cabin. She left her pack in the van, planning to sleep there. The sun was starting to get warm, and it was nearly nine in the morning. She walked quietly to the cabin and knocked softly on the door. There was no answer so she phased her head inside. The cabin was empty but Kurt had obviously been there recently. Kitty walked around inside and over to the cot where he'd been sleeping. She sat down and debated waiting for him to come back. She picked up his pillow and hugged it, absently stroking the cotton. She inhaled Kurt's scent, musky and not unpleasant; then her eyes snapped open and she dropped it. What was she doing fondling Kurt's pillow?

Kitty felt a sudden urge to go looking for Kurt, though she couldn't figure out why the need to see him was so strong. She told herself it was because she needed to assure herself that he wasn't injured. She got up and left the cabin, heading out into the forest to find him.

Kurt chopped wood for a good hour. He checked his watch; it was a little after nine and he had already worked up a good sweat. He walked down to the stream that ran through this part of the woods. It was quite narrow and shallow here, the better fishing spots were farther down. He removed his t-shirt and dipped it into the stream, wringing it out and wiping off hweatweaty face. The cold water felt refreshing. He'd been sporting a semi-erection since he woke, but he'd been trying to ignore it. The exercise had helped, but now that his body was no longer in motion, his shorts became a bit snug. He sighed heavily to himself. He'd put it off long enough, but once he relieved the strain on his body, he might be able to relax.

Kurt glanced around and sat on the bank of the stream with his back against a tree. He unfastened his shorts and reached inside. As if it knew it was going to get some action, his penis became rock hard so quickly that he felt a little light-headed. He had to pace himself, he thought as he worked his hand up and down his length. If he didn't, he would jerk himself sore before he was out of season. The thought brought a grimace of disgust to his face. Why did he have these problems? He doubted that McCoy or Logan had to resort to taking a week to go jerk-off in the woods in order to stay sane and safe. It didn't take long, and while his body eagerly came to its climax, Kurt's thoughts drifted to a face with big brown eyes framed by silky hair. He slipped down the bank and lay in the water, letting the cold brook wash away the evidence of his weakness.

Kitty heard the sound of water running and hurried her step. Logan's cabin was supposed to be for fishing, so she hoped that Kurt would be doing just that. She didn't see him at first when she approached the stream. He was good at hiding in shadows. Then she caught sight of a blue foot sticking up above the bank. She hurried forward and looked over the side. Kurt's eyes were closed and he lay in the stream, only his hips were actually submerged, and she didn't see any blood, but she jumped down beside him without hesitation.

"Kurt!" She cried, landing in a heap beside him. She reached out for his bare shoulder but as soon as she touched him she found herself on her back, soaked in icy water. A few rocks dug painfully into her back and she winced. "What are you doing?" Kurt was crouched over her, his expression savage.

"Katzchen." He said, tightly. "You should not be here." His breath came in ragged gulps. He stood and pulled her up. She placed her hands on his bare chest to steady herself. "Nein, don't touch me." He pushed her away from him and backed off.

"Kurt, what's going on?" Kitty asked, climbing up the stream bank after her friend's retreating back. "I drove all the way here to help you through this and the greeting I get it a tackle into icy water and a 'don't touch me'?" She was freezing cold and found herself feeling a little less of the need to be with him, but plenty of anger. Her temper flared and she caught up to him, giving his shoulder a hard shove. "Damn it, Kurt, stop running away." They were both running and made it to the cabin shortly. Kitty was uncomfortable in her wet jeans. Kurt looked around him for her transportation.

"How did you get here?" He demanded. Sitting in the cold stream had helped his own urges, but he was still giving off Pheromones and he had no idea how long Kitty could hold out. He'd instinctively tossed her into the water to cool her off. It had helped in all but the most amorous of his pursuers back in Germany.

"The van." Kitty answered, walking around him to look him in the eye. "It's parked by the clearing about a half-mile back." She said. He disappeared in a puff of sulphurous smoke. Kitty swore loudly and tramped up to the cabin, kicking off her wet shoes once she got to the porch and shoving the door open. She stripped off her sweatshirt and held it over the porch and wrung it out. Then she stalked over to the fireplace. She pulled up a wooden rocking chair and draped her sweatshirt over it. She tugged the elastic band from her hair and shook it out. It was sopping wet and plastered uncomfortably to her neck. She was so furious with Kurt's behavior that she couldn't stop the string of curses she placed on his name. She unbuttoned her jeans and was inching the wet fabric over her hips when he appeared in the doorway. She sent him a blistering look over her shoulder.

"Here is your stuff." He said, tossing her pack at her. "Get changed and get lost." He paused for a moment and his eyes strayed over her wet form. His gaze wasn't exactly flattering. More condescending yet nevertheless lustful. He turned to walk away and Kitty's temper got the better of her. She pulled her tank top off and threw it at his head.

"Fine." She snapped. She felt a pang of satisfaction when the fabric hit him with a loud SMACK. It draped around his neck and he froze in the doorway.

"See if I ever hunt you down again to try and help you with a problem." She opened up her pack and began rummaging around in it, mumbling to herself about ungrateful friends. She managed to get one leg out of her jeans and was tugging on the other one when Kurt slowly turned around and faced her. She braced her fists on her hips and took a wide, defensive stance. Her hair was a bedraggled mess around her shoulders and she stood in soggy undergarments with her jeans in a pool around one foot. "Got anything else to say, you ungrateful wretch?" She couldn't see his expression in the shadow cast by the doorway, but she felt his eyes on her.

"I'd never want to seem ungrateful." Kurt said. His voice was low and soft. "By all means, I'll accept your help with my…problem."

***

"So do you have any idea what Kurt is going through?" Jean asked. She and Logan had been on the road for over an hour and he'd said very little to her. "You being a feral kind of guy." She added with an edge of sarcasm.

"Sure, Red." He replied, dryly. "All feral guys have to maintain strict control over our wilder natures in order to keep from ravishing the unfortunate young women who cross our paths." His tone held a tiny edge of hurt.

"I didn't mean it like that, Logan."

"Yeah you did." He said. "You're nervous because you've screwed up big time and no you're trying to start another argument."

"Well, answer the question."

"Yeah, when you've got a better sense of smell than everyone around you, ya tend to have a better idea of what's goin' on in a woman's body. Since I can't take a peek inside their minds, I can read scents like fear, or anger or hormones."

"How good are Kurt's senses?"

"Not as good, but good enough that he'd respond quicker to it than any other guy his age."

"How bad is it for him?"

"Don't know. He doesn't talk about his more primitive side."

"How bad is it for you?"

"Don't go there, Red."