Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 39

Kurt lay on the bed, not his bed, but Logan’s...theirs...rest the last thing on his mind. Images whirled in his head, conjured by his own nightmare experiences for he knew his mother was as capable of doing as terrible of things as Bolivar Trask...or Sabertooth.

He closed his eyes only to have the images grow more vivid, of tortures and pains she might inflict on Logan.

Turning, Kurt pushed his face into the pillow, the aroma of Logan filling his senses. The feel of Logan permeated this room, from the leather bike jacket hanging on the closet doorknob to Logan’s books on the bedside table. Even the smell of their last lovemaking rose up to greet Kurt, both a comfort and an agony so strong he felt his heart about to break free from his chest. He pulled the pillow to him, wishing it was Logan he held in his arms.

“Oh Logan,” Kurt murmured. “I’m so sorry. Please be strong and we will find you.” But instead of doing something constructive, The Professor had insisted he rest.

How was he suppose to rest when Logan was in so much danger?

Reality battled with his desire to “do something,” knowing they didn’t yet know what to do, where to start looking. And Kurt knew he needed to rest, his mind fuzzy with exhaustion and his body aching from lack of sleep, but his mind simply wouldn’t allow him the comfort of a few hours rest.

A light knock came at the door and Kurt pushed up on one elbow. “Yes?”

Jean opened the door and stuck her head in. “No luck sleeping?” She came in, leaving the door partly open.

Kurt fell back on the bed with a sigh. “My body wants to sleep, but the brain won’t let it. If I’m not a basket case now, I’ll soon be one.”

Jean strolled towards him, glancing around and Kurt imagined Jean conjuring images of Kurt and Logan living in this room together, cohabiting as lovers within the walls of the Institute. Her gaze fell on him again and he knew she’d sensed his mind’s turmoil and wanted to help.

She came and tentatively sat on the bed’s edge, smoothing the bedspread with an absent stroke.

“You know, I can help you...sleep.”

Kurt looked away. “Yeah, I know. You put me out at the Brotherhood house without much effort.”

“I’m sorry, Kurt. Please don’t be angry with me.”

“I’m not,” he said, returning his gaze to hers. “I was crazy...insane crazy and I know that.”

Jean smiled. “This wouldn’t be the same. I could just give you a nudge so you can relax for a couple of hours and sleep. We’ll all be better prepared to start searching once we’ve rested and our minds are refreshed. I’m going to lie down myself for a little while.”

“Jean?” Kurt said, pushing up to his elbow again and gripping her wrist. “Why can’t you find Logan? Why can’t you reach his mind?”

A troubled expression crossed Jean’s pretty face. “Well, he could be unconscious...or Mystique has set up a barrier of some sort to block our searches.”

“But not even Cerebro can find him...right?”

She nodded with reluctance.

“He might be dead.”

“I don’t think so, Kurt. It wouldn’t be like Mystique. She’d want to hurt him before thinking of killing him. I know that doesn’t help much, but you have to believe Logan is alive. You know her well enough to know that.”

Kurt released his hold and lay back once again. “Yes, I know her too well.”

“Ororo received some news of a theft at one of the government’s technology research labs. She can’t be certain, but her informant lead her to believe the technology is intended to block detection of mutant powers. If Mystique got her hands on that, then she’s deafened us to touching Logan’s mind and blinded us to detecting his mutant signature. She wouldn’t go to that much trouble if she intended to kill Logan any time soon.”

Kurt let out a sigh and nodded. “Thanks for the comfort.”

“That’s the best I can offer. Now will you let me put you to sleep for a while? I promise we won’t do anything without you.”

“And you’ll wake me in a few hours?”

Another smile touched Jean’s mouth, but her eyes were worried and sad. She reached out and smoothed Kurt’s hair. “Yes, my friend and I promise they’ll be no bad dreams to haunt your sleep.”