Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Sorry I've been slow posting more chapters. I'm burned out big time from work and it's hard to concentrate after a long day. Don't let anyone tell you that working for yourself is easy. You still get people nagging you about deadlines, but the pay is no better and you work longer hours.

Went to see Serenity last night!! I'm still exhausted from the action and the heartache.

Okay, enough rambling. Enjoy. More chapters to come shortly.


Chapter 29


Scott caught Kurt before he fell, slinging him over one shoulder then laying him out on the sofa.

Rogue pushed by Scott and knelt down beside her brother, gloved fingers brushing blue black hair away from his face. The stillness of his features frightened her and she looked up at Jean.

“He’s fine, Rogue,” Jean said. “There was no other way. He was about to give himself a stroke.”

“Ah know,” Rogue sighed. “Ah just wish....” She offered a shrug of helplessness and turned back to Kurt’s quiet form.

Aw, Kurt. This isn’t helpin’ any. Ya gotta be sane if we’re gonna find Logan before Mystique tries ta destroy him.

She let the back of her hand trail across his face then straightened and gave Lance a hard expression.

“Look,” Lance stated, standing again, ready to defend himself. “I already told Wagner. We had nothing to do with Mystique’s plans. We knew she was real upset about Kurt’s and Logan’s relationship, but even I’m surprised she’d go so far as to kidnap Logan. How’d she do it anyway?”

Scott glanced over at Kurt. “We don’t know yet. We just found out and Kurt lost his cool. You can understand that, can’t you?”

“Yeah,” Rogue said. “What if it was Kitty instead of Logan? Would you care then?”

“Nobody better mess with Kitty or they’ll answer to me,” Lance said. “So yeah, I guess I understand. But there’s no love lost with Logan. I had nothing to do with Mystique, but I don’t really care either.”

“Kitty’ll love hearing that,” Scott said. “She thinks of Logan as an older brother. She’ll appreciate how concerned you are about him.”

“You think you’re gonna get away with holding Kitty over my head?” Lance shot back “Well, forget it. If I knew something, I’d probably tell you, but I don’t and neither do the rest of the guys...or even Wanda...wherever she is these days.”

“At Daddy’s side,” Pietro injected, studying his fingernails, not even bothering to look up. “Don’t expect her to know anything.”

Scott looked around, obviously loath to walk away, but having no reason to stay. “Fine. But if you do hear from Mystique or anything about her, I’ll expect to hear from you, Alvers. Got that?”

“Got it, Summers. But you keep your mouth shut about me to Kitty. I don’t need your badmouthing.”

Scott and Lance held their mutual stares for a moment longer then Scott pulled Kurt up and over his shoulder again and headed for the door.

Rogue followed then turned to see Gambit still inside, his finger drilling Lance’s chest to make some point.

“Doin’ overtime tryin’ to make an impression, ain’tcha, Cajun?” Rogue murmured to herself. She cleared her throat and said. “Hey, bayou boy, ya comin’ or should I catch a ride back with Scott and Jean?”

“Comin’, mon amie,” Gambit replied, turning and heading towards her. The door slammed behind him and Gambit smiled, a chuckle rolling out. “The Brotherhood not much for late night company.”

“Ah guess not,” Rogue said. “It looked like Kurt was going to strangle Lance when we got there.”

“When ya said not ta underestimate ‘im, ya meant it, chere. That boy got passion and devotion. Like Ah said before, Logan don’t know what he got, do he?”

“Oh, he knows. But when Ah said not ta underestimate Kurt, Ah didn’t expect it ta mean...well...Ah’m just surprised at Kurt’s behavior. Ah’ve never seen him like that.”

“He’s been through a hell of a lot,” Gambit said in a sympathetic tone. “A body can take only so much ‘fore bein’ shoved over the edge.”

Rogue gave a nod. “And considerin’ everythin’ Kurt’s been through, Ah guess Ah shouldn’t be surprised he didn’t go over months ago.”