In Fear of Three Little Words

Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate the input and the encouragement. Yes, my dears there is plenty more. About ore ore chapters worth. Hope you stick with me as I post. I'm still finishing up the last few chapters and I've read, edited, reread, rewrote....you get the picture. I felt it was time to get this puppy out there for someone to read before it drove me insane. Lots of good stuff to come. I have time to post a couple of chapters a day.


Chapter 5


Exhaustion seeped into every fiber of Jean’s being. Scott stood behind her, massaging her shoulders and back, always there with comfort. Her head pounded with the headache from hell.

Almost non-stop, only trading places with the Professor, she and he had used Cerebro trying to locate Kurt and Logan.

They had found the wrecked ruins of Logan’s Jeep and signs of an ambush, but nowhere could she nor Professor Xavier detect a trace of their missing team mates.

Everyone was edgy, tired and pumped up for a fight at the same time. Scott was nearly rabid with his sense of helplessness. The only way she knew how to help him was to find Kurt and Logan.

Taking a deep breath, Jean began again, letting her mind drift out across the countryside, reaching out further with the help of Cerebro, but the fear that they were truly gone, perhaps dead, brought tears to her eyes. A sob escaped her and Scott bent close and ran a hand down her arm in a soothing gesture.

Jean stiffened suddenly and reached out further.

“Jean, what is it?” Scott asked.

Something! Yes! Kurt teleporting. And Logan. ive ive minds, erratic, but conscious. She sensed shock and fatigue and deep, deep pain.

“Professor! I’ve found them!”

“Good work, Jean,” Professor Xavier said rolling ext ext to her.

He sent out a message all all to hear.

‘X-men, to the Blackbird. We have contact.’

A sense of purposefulness filled the mansion and Jean’s fatigue lifted with the new found hope of finding their friends alive and well.

She touched Logan’s mind and felt him flinch away, trying to hide something from her.

‘Jeannie, you don’t know how glad I am to hear from you.’

‘It’s all right, Logan. We have your coordinates and we’re on the way. Is Kurt all right?’

Hesitation. Jean sensed great shame and something more.

‘Logan?’

‘He’s...okay. We’re just both exhausted. Get here fast before we’re found. And bring us some clothes. It’s damned cold out here.’

‘We’re on the way,’ she reassured him again and ran to join the rescue team.

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

Logan stayed alert, watching over Kurt while the boy dozed curled up like a tired pup. His body still nagged at him, leaving him unsatisfied and fatigued.

What was this going to do to the kid? What was this going to do to him...to them?

Logan tried to calculate the damage done and found no way to count, no way to define the kind of horrors they had been put through. He wondered how Kurt would feel about him once there was time to rest and reflect.

He looked down on the boy and couldn’t restrain his hand reaching out to stroke soft hair or caress the boy’s shoulder. Something had opened up inside of him, something he hadn’t felt in years.

A plane flying low over head sent Logan to a crouch, his claws sliding out. Recognition came a moment later. His head dropped forward and a sense of relief washed over him.

The Blackbird settled in a clearing just beyond the trees.

Logan hoped Jean had understood about the need for clothing. He was just about fed up with this au-natural crap.

He roused Kurt gently. The boy moaned in pain, but looked up at him with a clear gaze.

“They’re here, elf.”

Kurt’s expression was hopeful yet tinged with doubt. “We’re going home?”

“You betcha, bub. And nobody’s gonna stop us.”

Kurt ducked his head and sniffed, a hand reaching up to rub his eyes.

“Hey,” Logan said with gruff gentleness, stroking dark hair back from Kurt’s face. “It’s . B. Buck up. Here they come.”

When Kurt looked up again, Logan had expected tears, but none were there. Kurt stiroucrouched though, ready to spring away as if he didn’t yet believe rescue was at hand.

A flashlight beam lit the way and there was Hank and Scott, holding clothing.

“Are you two okay?” Hank asked. “We’ve been worried sick, my friends.”

“Not as worried as us,” Logan replied straightening and taking the clothes from Scott’s hands.

“Flight suits,” Scotferefered. “The best we could do on short notice.”

“They’ll do.” He hunkered down again to Kurt. “It’s okay, elf. Here let me help.”

Logan felt Hank and Scott watching them with concerned expressions, but didn’t know what to say. He ripped a hole with his claws large enough for Kurt’s tail and helped the kid into it then dressed wondering when he’d start shutting down from this ordeal himself. Kurt had already begun the spiral.

“Can we assist in any way?” Hank asked.

Logan drew Kurt up with him. “Yeah, hold onto these.” He dropped the collars into Hank’s hand, glad to be rid of them. They still gave him the creeps, inactive as they were. “Lead the way. We want to get out of here.” He leaned in close to Hank as they walked. “The kid’s gonna need medical attention when we get back. I’ll fill you in more then.”

Hank nodded solemnly and gave Logan a scrutinizing glance.

Logan let out a sigh. “It’s gonna be ugly,” Logan added.

“I sensed that,” Hank replied.

Scott lead the way back to the jet and Jean stood just outside and Kitty, Rogue and Bobby as well. They had come to fight and that was a balm on Logan’s aching soul. These young men and women were ready to fight for them.

“We’re about to have company,” Ororo’s voice sounded from the controls. “Ground and air.”

“No!” Kurt cried out and looked about ready to teleport away.

“Kurt,” Logan said grabbing hold of the boy. If the kid “ported” Logan intended to go with him. “Listen to me. Look at me.” Kurt’s eyes were wide open and bright with terror. “It’s okay. We’re gonna lose them in the jet.”

Kurt nodded frantically.

Logan helped Kurt into the jet and settled him into a seat. “Let’s get out of here now,” he growled, just controlling his own panic response. “But make sure you got the coordinates cause I’m comin’ back for pay backs.”