Canadian Whiskey

The ride back to the mansion didn't take long, but it seemed like forever. Jubilee was still aroused and the more she thought about his hands on her, touching her, the more aroused she got. She and Logan had held hands the entire trip back to the mansion. They pulled into the drive way of the mansion and, hitting the button on the door opener; he pulled into the garage and parked the jeep.

Getting out of the jeep, he walked to the passenger side and lifted her out, setting her on her feet. They walked to the door leading to the corridor to the inner part of the house. As they made their way to the Professor's office they ran into Hank McCoy. He stopped, but didn't say anything. "I still got nothin' to say to ya, furball." Hank opened his mouth to speak, but saw the half smile on Logan's face and closed his mouth with a snap.

He looked towards Jubilee and said, "Jubilee, how," but he let the question die.

Jubilee smiled at him and answered, "Everything is okay, Beast."

He looked relieved, but didn't say anything further. As they continued to the Professor's office they didn't come across anyone else.

Knocking on the office door, they heard the Professor say, "Come in."

Logan opened the door and allowed Jubilee to precede him. Closing the door behind him, he scanned the office and saw several of the other X-Men sitting in various places. Jean and Scott sat on the couch; Storm perched on the edge of the wingback chair adjacent to them. Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Iceman, leaned on the edge of the Professor's desk while Gambit and Rogue were in front of the window behind the Professor. The Professor sat at the desk. Everyone had a disapproving look on their faces except for Gambit and Bobby. If Logan could read their thoughts, he knew they would be thinking it’s about time.

Jean and Scott seemed to be arguing amongst themselves, but Logan was too pre-occupied with everything else to pay much attention.

"Logan, Jubilee, please have a seat," the Professor said. Jubilee joined Scott and Jean on the couch.

Logan took up a defensive stance and said, "I think I'll stand, Chuck. The hostility in this room is thick enough for me to cut through." He released the claws on his right hand and retracted them back. No one laughed, but everyone still retained their look of disappointment. Charles moved his hover-chair from behind the desk over to the coffee table, stopping by Storm.

He addressed Jubilee. "I have a mission for you, Jubilee." Logan watched as a smile and excitement spread across her face. He was happy for her. She had always wanted Charles to have faith in her abilities and trust her enough to join them on some of the missions. "It's not a very dangerous mission, but one I think that you are right for." Slight disappointment passed across her face, but disappeared as quickly as it began. "I have been searching with Cerebro and have found a young mutant, about fourteen years of age, that I want to bring to the mansion."

"C'mon, Professor," Jubilee moaned. "You know I would love to have my own mission, but babysitting a new mutant ain't for me."

"Now, Jubilee," Storm began. "You will be in charge of this mission. We figure you are ready for a tiny bit of leadership."

Jubilee wasn't falling for this. "What gives? I have wanted my own mission since, forever, and now all of a sudden, I have one." She looked at each X-Man in turn and asked, "This wouldn't have anything to do with this morning would it?" Everyone began to fidget.

"Now, Jubilee, this morning is something to be saved for later discussion. Can I count on you for this," Charles asked her.

She looked to Logan and he shook his head Yes, and let all his faith in her show on his face. She looked back at the Professor and reluctantly said, "When do we leave?"

"In a few hours; Storm, Scott and Jean will accompany you." The Professor accompanied them to the door of his office. Jubilee walked by Logan, letting her hand rub against his knee in goodbye. She knew their new relationship status would be something he would want to take slow and reveal to the others in his own time.

After they had left, the Professor returned to his desk and Rogue and Gambit moved to the couch. Bobby sat in the chair Storm just vacated and there was a knock on the door. Charles acknowledged them and Beast stepped inside the office. Logan moved to the window behind the desk to look out on the back lawn of the mansion's vast estate. He was itching to take a run through the woods that ran the perimeter of the estate. He had a lot of pinned up energy from that morning that needed to be burned off. Charles moved back to the coffee table, facing Logan as Beast occupied the other wingback chair. He didn't turn to face the others.

Silence went on for long moments and Logan finally said, "She's okay, isn't she?" Still no one spoke.

Charles finally spoke up. "I am disappointed in you, Logan," he began. Logan spun to face him, his anger evident on his face. "I thought I could count on you to be able to resist her. She is more than half your age. Don't you think that she is a bit young?"

"She's just a few weeks from turning 19, Chuck. Is this why you wanted us back here? To separate us," Logan asked as he interrupted Charles. "What are they here for? Your morale police?"

"Believe it or not, Logan, we are not here to gang up on you." Logan snorted and turned back to the window. He thought he caught a glimpse of movement in the tree line, but shrugged it off when he didn't see anything. "Your team mates are here for an objective perspective." Logan turned and looked at the four X-Men sitting with Charles. He turned back to the window.

"So we are going to have a debate," Logan said, sarcastically.

"Logan, I am not against Jubilee having a relationship," Charles said.

"Just not with me," was Logan's retort.

"Logan, you are taking this the wrong way," Beast spoke up.

"This is none of your business, Hank. Frankly, this is none of anyone's damn business. This is between me and Jubilee," he yelled at everyone.

"Listen, sugah, don't get your panties in a twist. We are just trying to watch out for the both o'ya," Rogue said, Gambit nodding his head in agreement.

"Believe me, Mon ami, I be all for you and petite, but not everybody will be," Gambit said.

Logan turned back to everyone in the room and asked, "Who is against it? We are all she has; all the family she has," his anger took over and releasing the claws of one hand, he swiped at the corner of Charles desk closest to him, cutting it off.

"Now calm down, Logan."

"Calm down my ass . . ."

"Logan, man, c'mon. I agree with you a hundred percent."

"Bobby, sit down," Charles told him. "Everyone leave; prepare for the mission. I'll bring Logan up to date." Everyone got up and filed out of the office. "Logan, please have a seat."

"I prefer to stand, Chuck," he replied hatefully.

The Professor took a deep breath and then began. "Logan, I know you are not happy with our reaction to this new situation with Jubilee. I'm not trying to tell you what to do. You are a grown man and have been making your own decisions for many years." Logan walked over to the chair facing Charles and, sitting down; he slumped down, hanging one leg over the arm. "Jubilee is young and like all young women, has a short attention span when it comes to men."

"Jubes has been after me since she came to live at the mansion," Logan said.

"That may be true, but I sincerely suspect it to be more hero worship than anything more. I watched you suffer over Jean." Logan flashed angry eyes at him. "We all watched you suffer when it was believed she was dead. You almost lost your mind, Logan."

Logan sat up and leaned forward. "Jean made her choice and made it clear; she didn't, she doesn't want me. I have strong feelings for Jubilee. Feelin's I thought were fatherly, but I'm findin' out I've been wrong about a lot of things where Jubilee is concerned." Logan leaned forward, elbows on knees. "Yes, I almost lost my mind, but Jubilee was the one thing I could count on to be there for me."

"I understand, Logan, but I will not tolerate a relationship between the two of you under my roof. It is a disaster waiting to happen and I will not sit idly by and wait for it to happen." Charles picked up a file folder off the coffee table and thrust it toward Logan. "All I'm asking, Logan, is give it a little time. Spend some time apart. Go on this mission and when you return see where it goes from there."

Logan stared at him for a few moments, not saying anything, and then replied, "What has happened?"

"There have been several reports of attacks in Canada. Several women tortured, raped and mutilated." Logan sat up taking the folder, his face ashen.

Opening the folder, Logan skimmed over the papers and said, "Prince Edward Island?"

Charles nodded his head in acknowledgement and said, "It has Sabertooth's signature all over it," Charles finished.