Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 40


“We’ve made a grid of a hundred mile radius,” Scott said, unrolling an area map with topographical features and landmarks marked for reference. “If we break up into teams of two we can probably cover the area in about three days.”

"Of course, we hope to pinpoint Mystique’s location and where she’s holding Logan long before that,” Jean add hastily, seeing frowns developing on Kurt’s and Rogue’s faces. “But we have to be prepared to search under every rock when it comes to Mystique. We don’t have the benefit of using Cerebro or mental contact. Mystique’s found a way to block both.”

“What about the area where you found Ms Martin?” Bobby asked. He’d arrived from home only a few hours ago, obviously having to defy his parents to come. Charles had called them to offer an explanation, but they hadn’t wanted to listen just then, upset that their son had preferred to return to school to help an instructor than to go to the beach house with them. “Any chance Mystique is using that cave system?”

“There’s a chance,” Charles said, glancing around at his students and hearing in their minds the multitude of doubts and fears, Kurt’s, at times, almost overwhelming. “I have my doubts, but we’ll be checking nonetheless.”

“What if we don’t find them within the area we’re searching?” Kurt asked, the boy looking tired in spite of the imposed rest Jean had induced. “Where do we go from there?”

“Don’t be so negative, Kurt,” Kitty offered, a hand patting the lad’s arm. “We’re going to find them real soon.”

But Kurt’s golden gaze didn’t waiver from Charles, the question still begging to be answered.

“Then we’ll expand the area of search,” Charles replied. “We mustn’t panic. We need to keep our minds clear and focused. We must not give into fear. We know how difficult this is for you, Kurt. But you must find a way to overcome your personal involvement if you are going to be of help to Logan.”

Kurt stared a moment longer then nodded and dropped his gaze to the map, finger tracing the grids, eyes scanning the terrain.

Charles caught Jean’s eye. ‘I want you with Kurt. He needs your patience. He needs your guidance.’

‘Of course, Professor. I’ll try to help Kurt in any way I can.’

‘Good. I knew I could count on you.’

“So, the card shark one of us now?” Bobby asked, throwing a glance up to where Gambit stood behind Rogue’s chair.

“No,” Scott said too quickly. Rogue shot him a scowl. “Gambit’s just helping out.”

“Oh, I get it. Earning a few points with the love interest,” Bobby replied with a smirk.

“Shut your mouth,” Rogue snapped. “Or Ah’ll shut it for ya, Iceberg boy.”

“Ooohhh, I’m scared,” Bobby shot back.

“Ya better be,” Rogue replied, shoving up out of her seat.

Gambit’s hands on her shoulders gently pushed her back down. “We all on our last nerve right now, chere,” Gambit said to Rogue in a soothing voice. “The boy just frustrated like we all be. Just let ‘im get it out so we all can do the job that need doin’.”

Rogue shook off Gambit’s touch, but settled down with her arms crossed against her chest, glaring at the map.

Charles watched the exchange without interfering. Gambit had a way of defusing Rogue’s easily sparked anger. After all this was over and Logan was safely back with them, he and Remy LeBeau were going to have a long talk that Charles hoped would be mutually beneficial.

“Okay, settle down,” Scott said, gathering everyone’s attention. “Teams. Bobby, you’re with me. Kurt, your with Jean. Kitty, you’re teaming up with Ororo. And Rogue, I guess you’re with Gambit.” Scott glanced around. “Any questions?”

None came.

“Good.” He passed out various grids. “Each of you start from the outside and work in. Don’t leave any possibility unexplored.. We all know how devious Mystique is, so don’t underestimate her. Don’t confront her unless you have to without the rest of us. Logan’s rescue is our primary goal. Capturing Mystique is secondary right now.”

“Then, once we got Logan back, we go after her,” Rogue stated with venom. “Right?”

Scott’s gaze caught Charles’ with a questioning expression.

“Let’s keep our focus on Logan right now, Rogue. There will be time enough to deal with Mystique once Logan is safely back with us. If the opportunity arises to capture her, fine, but it is not our primary goal.”

Rogue looked ready to protest, but a squeeze of her shoulder by Gambit and a whisper in her ear settled her down again.

“Well, then,” Scott said. “Let’s get suited up and ready to go.”

***********************

“Kurt, wait up,” Jean called.

Kurt let out a sigh and stopped, turning to offer Jean a calm expression as she jogged towards him down the long hall. Inside, his heart beat as if it was trying to make an escape out of his chest. His mind was a flurry of ideas, how and when and what...and still...why.

Why had Mystique done this? Really. What excuse could she honestly conjure that would justify kidnapping Logan with the sole purpose of hurting him? Everything Mystique had told him had been bogus...empty of worth for such a despicable act.

“You okay with us teaming up?” Jean asked, catching her breath. They resumed walking.

“It’s fine,” Kurt replied. “It’s what the Professor wants. Right?”

“Uh...well.”

“It’s okay, Jean. He wants you to keep an eye on me. He’s afraid I’ll lose it or something. That I’m on the verge of breaking down.”

Jean stopped in mid stride and took Kurt by the arm, stopping him with her.

“Kurt. It’s not like that.”

“Really? You know I don’t believe you.”

Jean pushed hair back behind her ears and huffed a sigh. “Okay. The Professor is concerned about you, Kurt. But if things were reversed, he’d be concerned about me if Scott had been the one kidnapped.”

Kurt thought a moment. “You would still have a clearer head, I think. You haven’t been through what I’ve been through. I know I’m not as strong as you, Jean.”

“That’s not true, Kurt,” Jean said, a hand going to his shoulder and squeezing gently. “You’re far stronger than anyone I’ve ever known. You’ve been through so much this last year and yet, here you are, trying to stay calm, trying to find a way to help Logan. I don’t know what I would do if I’d experienced what you did. I think I would have shut down for a very long time.”

Kurt took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “Um, there’s something I need to do before we go. I’ll only be a minute...if you don’t mind?”

“Sure,” Jean said. “I’ll go suit up and meet you in the foyer.” Jean turned to go.

“Jean?” Kurt called after.

She turned again, silk red hair falling around her face.

“I’ll be glad to have you for a partner.”

Jean’s face lit up in a smile. “And I’m glad to have you as well.”

Kurt watched her disappear around a corner then “ported” to just outside the infirmary door. He knocked lightly then opened the door with a tentative push. “May I come in?”

Hank waved him in and Kurt came, regret and shame filling him up inside at what his mother had done to Cassie.

“Is she awake?”

“I’m...awake, Kurt,” Cassie’s voice, soft with drugs, drifted up from the bed.

Kurt settled into the chair beside the bed and looked down on his counselor’s battered face. She tried for a smile, but it came out lopsided, almost comical if not for the circumstance.

“How are you feeling this morning, Cassie?”

Her eyes closed then opened languidly. “Alive. And glad to be so.”

Anguish rolled through Kurt. “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry, Cassie. I never dreamed she’d hurt you...that she’d come to you about me.”

“Shhhh,” she said, reaching over to him with her right hand. The other lay beside her wrapped in a light cast. “It’s not...your fault...Kurt. Don’t...please don’t take on guilt...that does...not belong to you.”

“But she’s my mother. She did this because of me. She hurt you and now she’s hurting Logan...because of me.”

Cassie shook her head, grimacing with pain. “She has motivations...that have nothing...to do with you, I think. Mystique...is full of anger...and pain. She’s lashing out at Logan...and using you as her...excuse to do so. That’s...not your...fault.”

Kurt held onto Cassie’s hand. Her fingers felt cold and her palm was wrapped in bandages. He felt Hank behind him, big hands coming to rest gently on his shoulders.

“Cassandra needs to rest, Kurt,” Hank said in a deep rumble of a voice. “And you have work to do. Find Logan and I’ll take care of Cassie. All right?”

Kurt turned in his chair and glanced up into Hank’s gaze. His teacher had fallen in love with his counselor. He saw the love and care in Hank’s eyes, the same look Logan gave him and he Logan. With a nod, Kurt rose, patted Cassie’s hand and laid it back onto the blankets.

************************

“Oh Hank,” Cassie sighed once Kurt had gone. “So...much damage. She’s set...Kurt back...in his recovery. And...what of Logan? I...was making...progress...with him. What will...she do to him?”

“I don’t know, Cassandra.” Hank sat in the chair, weariness swarming over him, his mind feeling fuzzy around the edges. “Mystique is a cold, cruel woman. yet she has a fiery temper and a taste for retribution. She’s done some terrible things, but this time...I think her motivations are totally personal. Not for any gain, mind you. This is revenge, pure unadulterated revenge.”

“I’m frightened...for Logan,” Cassie said, her voice strained with her fear. “When she read... about what happened between...Kurt and Logan, she was enraged. I tried to explain...to her that Logan was...drugged. She didn’t...care...she just wanted to blame him. I tried...to dissuade her from her anger, but she wouldn’t...listen to me.” Tears trickled from Cassie’s eyes and she licked her swollen lips. “I swear to you...Hank. I tried. She...she wouldn’t...listen.”

“I know you did, sweet lady,” Hank replied, leaning over Cassie, brushing a hand over her hair in a comforting gesture. “No one dissuades Mystique. She had her mind made up. She read into your notes what she wanted to read.”

Cassie sniffed and wiped at her face with her good hand. “But...but...when she read about Sabertooth and what he did to Kurt...she was angry, but she didn’t react as strongly as I expected...and she knows him. Who is...this Victor, this Sabertooth...Hank? Why is...he called that?”

Hank glanced away and took a long deep breath, letting it out with a sigh. “Because of his savagery. Because of his appearance. Sabertooth is big, taller than myself. Not quite as broad, but very muscular. His fingers have long claws at the ends and his canines, both uppers and lowers are longer than normal and extremely sharp. He’s as strong as ten men and somewhere back in Logan’s past a grievance developed between he and Sabertooth. Logan does not know its origin, he only knows of its reality and that Sabertooth bares him great animosity.”

“And...she blames Logan for that as well,” Cassie said with dawning realization. “She blames Logan...for Sabertooth...kidnapping and raping Kurt.”

“I think you’re right, my dear. She wants to blame Logan and she does. She’s twisted the truth to fit the reality she wishes. That’s the mind of Mystique.”

“She smiled...when she broke my arm. She seemed....to enjoy my...terror.”

“She does just that,” Hank replied. “Did you know she blew up the Institute once and nearly killed many of our younger students?”

Cassie’s eyes widened. “I saw it on the television...saw when you and the others were...exposed as mutants. I didn’t realize...Mystique had done that. She tried to murder...those children.”

“Yes. Only by Scott’s quick thinking did they manage to survive.”

Cassie lay with her eyes closed and Hank thought perhaps she had slipped into a doze, succumbing to exhaustion and drugs. But then Cassie’s eyes opened and pierced Hank with eyes full of fear again, not for herself though.

“What will she do to him? What is she...doing to Logan?” Cassie asked again, circling back to the unanswerable question.

Hank reached for Cassie’s hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to her fingers. He shook his head and this time, couldn’t meet Cassie’s questioning gaze.