[ Translations ]

~telepathic dialogue~

' thoughts '

Disclaimers: Re: Splash

Sorrow After Sins:

Part 5

Are You Even Aware That I Am Here?

A darkened cold room with blinking red and yellow lights, filled with hums and noises many thought filled the NASA Space Command Center. But this is not NASA, or is even in the USA. This could be any room filled with various computers, but this room is not. This room belongs to a private organization somewhere in the Taurus mountains. An Organization with goals of capturing mutants and destroying the ones too powerful to contain.

"Sir, the robots are not responding." A non English voice chirped in the darkness.

"What happened?" A cold voice snapped in the same language.

"I don't know. They just fizzed out and no one has been able to find them." The first voice once again pierced the darkness with uncertainty.

"That's the fourth set, Jensen." The cold voice growled.

"Yes sir." Jensen said, his voice high and crisp, as though it could shatter glass.

"Commander sir, It will take another six months for two more robots to be built." A third voice added to the mix.

"No, they are no longer worth our time. The only two that ever did any good was the Magneto and Mystique robots. The rest of the robots all got destroyed before they could even could be put to use." The commander casually stated. "Cancel the assembly orders Meg. Genosha can keep their darn engineers."

"Yes sir." Meg replied.

The Commander grumbled as he poured himself another scotch.

"Get those plans out for phase two. I want to take a look at them." The commander ordered.

"Yes sir, right away." Jensen said about to take off, he paused as something else came to his mind. "Sir?"

A cold, slow, drawn out "Yes" came from the commander as he waited impatiently for Jensen to speak.

"Maybe we should seek funds from Friends Of Humanity, Genosha, and the Iraq Government." Jensen suggested.

"Contact the Friends Of Humanity. Genosha as well, they both would enjoy a chance to be named along with us." The commander agreed.

"Sir, what about Iraq?" Meg's voice asked from the darkness.

"No, not them. I gave up a small island to those nut cases and lost two robots. They aren't anything but greedy idiots. Forget them." The commander reasoned.

"Yes sir." Jensen said as the dark room once again became filled with the electronic buzz from the various equipment.

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

Kurt Wagner stood at the door of his new friend, and assignment. Using his tail, Kurt knocked on the door while balancing a tray of cold cut meats with a bottle of orange juice. Kurt strained to hear any type of noise behind the door. He grew more worried as the silence continued.

Kurt had been worrying about Creed all day. It'd been three days since the blond man opened his door to accept lunch or dinner offers. After what seemed like endless seconds, a voice boomed.

"IT'S OPEN!"

Kurt used his tail as a third hand to open the door. Entering the room, Kurt smiled as he saw Creed on the treadmill, reading.

"Guten tag." Kurt greeted walking past Creed to the dresser.

"Hey fuzzy." Creed replied.

Kurt felt Creed's eyes on him as he put the lunch tray on the dresser then walked in front of the treadmill. Leaning on the handles, Kurt studied Creeds new look.

The glasses fit on Creed's face, made him somewhat ruggedly handsome, in a fiendish sort of way, yet that wasn't all that had changed. Creed had shaved, his square jaw and high cheek bones were now without the 50's refugee style side burns and beard. Also Creed had his hair cut again. Long blond bangs dangled down to his shoulders while the rest was cut short creeping up exposing the back of his neck, like a rounded V shape. Similar to the hair cut he had down in the infirmary.

"New look.." Kurt pointed out.

"You like?" Creed chuckled. "Never realized how dangerous things were without a healing factor."

"Ja, like." Kurt paused. "What things?" Kurt asked as he relaxed in the dim lighted room.

"Brushes, deadly brushes!" Creed grinned as he hung the red tassel in the center of his book, then slid off the treadmill.

"Brushes?" Kurt looked strangely at Creed. "You lost it."

"Never had it." Creed muttered taking the towel off his shoulder. "What ya here for any ways?" Creed asked as he wiped perspiration off his forehead and back of his neck while standing in a corner, by the bed and dresser.

Kurt walked in front of Creed. Nervous of what Jean had asked him to talk about. "Got to ask you...,something...,the others won't talk about with you..."

"Huh?" Creed stood there looking at the blue furry X-Man.

Kurt with his dull golden eyes looked into Creed's questioning blacks. He shifted slightly, then blurted it out all too bluntly. "Sex."

A smile crept slowly across Creed's shaven face, his fangs puncturing his smile. "Lonely, Wagner?" Creed chuckled.

"Yes, but that is besides the point." Kurt waved a three fingered hand. "It's about you,"

Creed raised an eyebrow, he didn't want to go through it, not again. "Fuzzy, I'm gonna say this once, and only once. Ya get yer ass out o' my room, or I'm gonna kick it out!" Creed growled furiously.

"Sorry, mein friend." Kurt muttered as he quickly left.

Kurt walked down the hall wondering just what he had said wrong, and hoping this wouldn't stop his assignment.

Creed stood silently in his room. He took off his glasses and stared at the blurry bathroom mirror through the open door.

"It ain't that obvious is it?" He asked his own reflection, his chest tightened with worry.

Slut, No good mutant slut. You can't please anyone! No one is ever going to fuck you now, Bitch!

The voices in his head continued to repeat the insults from the Genosha guards.

"RRAAHHH!!!" Creed roared as he slammed his fist against the door frame.

"Owww fuck!" He snarled as he held his hand, looking at the splintered door jam. Creed walked to his bed and slumped down on the edge.

"Not a slut." He grumbled at himself.

********

Commander Zeekieal stood in front of the large window behind his desk. He looked down upon the large complex. The two office and apartment buildings, the three slave compounds and one completed dam. Zeekieal sighed.

"He's out there, Samantha. They all are." Zeekieal commented to his secretary who stood on the other side of his maple desk.

"Who is sir?" Samantha asked, her voice low and measured.

"All of them. From the workers to the prisoners, all the ones who have gotten away, and know what is going on here." Zeekieal said.

"Is that a bad thing sir?" Samantha asked as she twirled a lock of blond hair.

"Incredibly so Samantha. Once you have learned your new job, I shall give you the grand tour...personally." Zeekieal stated as he watched people, his people, move below on the streets.

"What are you afraid of sir? People come and go from this island all the time." Samantha said as she ran her long red painted nails over Zeekieal's rich wood desk.

"Yes Samantha, but not from this complex. When you desire so to relocate, you will be transferred to other government buildings, that is all." Zeekieal said.

"So what are you afraid of?" Samantha asked disregarding Zeekieal's last comment.

"They will return dear. When they do, it shall not be pretty." Zeekieal stated mournfully.

"What are you going to do?" Samantha asked, her blue eyes shifting to gold, her blond hair became streaked with red.

"Attack them first, it is the only way. Genosha's secrets must not be found out." Zeekieal said as he turned from the window.

"Too late Zeekieal. It already has been found!" Mystique who now stood where Samantha once did snarled. Her gun pointing at Zeekieal.

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

The apartments on either side of the street appeared abandoned with broken windows and boarded up doors. A light fog rolled in off the bay covering the sidewalks and alley ways in dampness, while the street itself became chilly. Noise from the city echoed throughout the street. A stray cat meowed some where and a dog barked, cars honked and traffic whooshed by on some far away freeway. A train howled as it roared down some nearby tracks, water lapping against wood could also be faintly heard.

Two figures stood on this night time street with only the glow of the city to light up their paths. Both of them knew each other, both of them knew what to do. And this time, they both promised themselves not to lose.

He's called the Wolverine, or Logan, if either of those names were his real names or not, he, nor anyone else knew. All he knew about himself was that he is more animal than not.

Wolverine growled as his yellow spandex outfit stood out in this scenario. He could smell his target, knew just where the critter was, and waited for the critter to make his move first.

He's known as Nightcrawler to millions of people who've seen the Circus in Germany, but to a select few, Nightcrawler is known as Kurt Wagner. The X-Men knew the blue short furred, three fingered, three toed, tailed man as both.

And right now, Nightcrawler's red, black and white spandex uniform wasn't as outrageous as Logan's but just as bad.

The blue furred demon hid in the shadows practically invisible to the naked eye, but to the hyper sensitive nose belonging to the yellow clad man not 50 yards away, he may as well be standing with a flash light screaming in the middle of a desert, he was that visible.

Nightcrawler made use of his mutation, the gift of teleportation. A quick sounding BAMPF and a cloud of smoke was all that remained in the shadows.

Wolverine heard the BAMPF, trade mark to the elf's teleporting. Wolverine tensed waiting for the elf to re-appear.

BAMPF, Nightcrawler appeared on a broken street light above Wolverine. Quickly, Nightcrawler used his tail as an anchor wrapped around the lamp post, and then swung down kicking Wolverine in the back, sending the bulkier man forward a few feet.

Wolverine growled as he stumbled forward. He didn't react quick enough and was caught off guard. Twisting around Wolverine grabbed the white boot of his sparring partner. Before the elf could get back to the top of the street light he yanked hard, Nightcrawler was forced down from the light.

Nightcrawler gave a small shout as his tail untwisted from its grip. His body was forced hard onto the ground. Using his tail, Nightcrawler took a hold of Wolverine's ankle and pulled.

Wolverine growled as his foot was forced out from under him. Hitting the floor hard Wolverine let go of Nightcrawlers foot, and gave a loud growl that made the hairs on Nightcrawler's head stand visibly on end.

The two danced the violent waltz with ease and in fun.

This was their practice in the Danger Room. The Danger Room where all X-Men train and keep their skills toned.

Above : In the safety of the observatory deck, Cyclops, Storm, Jean, and Professor Xavier watched the mock fight below.

"Nightcrawler certainly has came a long way." Storm observed.

"Indeed, Storm. He has proven to be an exceptional addition to the team." Xavier remarked.

"Do you think he is ready?" Cyclops asked as Nightcrawler once again came under assault of Wolverine's claws.

"Indeed I do, Cyclops." Xavier stated as the observation deck doors opened behind them.

Below : In the continuing simulation of the Danger Room.

Nightcrawler teleported from one street light to the next then back. He appeared on sides of buildings or right behind Wolverine.

With every port, Wolverine's frustration grew, til he could no longer contain it. Wolverine's roar was filled with frustration and rage.

Above :

"Logan's going berserk, should we stop the simulation?" Cyclops asked.

"Just wait, lets see if Kurt can handle him." Professor Xavier said as he watched the scene below.

Below:

Wolverine roared as his metal claws cris-crossed with a clang just missing Nightcrawler and his vanishing tail.

Nightcrawler appeared behind Wolverine, before the Canadian could turn around, Nightcrawler wrapped his tail around both of Wolverine's wrists. Nightcrawler then kicked Wolverine's feet out from under the man.

In the fall, Wolverine broke free from the blue furry tail handcuffs. With his free hands he grabbed a hold of Nightcrawler's belt and pulled the trainee down on top of him, then rolled pinning Nightcrawler to the ground.

Nightcrawler fell to the floor, landing on his back. His soft yellow eyes widen as three silver foot long claws brushed the ends of his blue throat fur.

"Game's over elf." Wolverine growled as his claws retracted. Wolverine straightened up and offered his hand to the downed sparring partner.

Above:

"I thought Nightcrawler was a goner." Storm said letting out a nervous breath she had been holding.

"You are not alone in that presumption , Storm." The Beast said as he made his presence known finally.

Cyclops watched below as Nightcrawler shook hands with Wolverine, the two were now heading towards the lift to get to the observation deck.

"Perhaps both have been underestimated." Cyclops muttered under his breath.

"It is time to face facts. Wolverine is a valuable team member, Nightcrawler only adds to the dream of Humans and Mutants living in harmony." Xavier stated.

********

Creed hadn't come to his full senses. He clung tight to that protective fog of sleep, until he heard the laughter. Bolting up, his eyes wide and his body tense Creed frantically searched his cell. But it wasn't his cell. The grey textured wall paper, the oak trim, the warm air. The giggles continued although muffled now.

Creed turned taking in his cell, the treadmill, TV, and four kids sitting on the floor.

Creed took a few shaky breaths as he settled back down in his bed. Rolling on his side he looked at the kids. One he recognized as Bobby Drake, the boy with Wolverine fantasies, that thought alone sent unpleasant shudders through Creed.

"The hell?" Creed grunted narrowing his eyes at Bobby, the kids didn't even notice he had sat up.

All four heads turned slightly shocked and wide eyed in surprise.

"S..sorry Kitty. But I knocked and..." Bobby started his brown hair nicely brushed as his blue jeans and cream top seemed to scream rich snot kid.

"Pansy? How'd ya get in?" Creed asked the boy with frightening fantasies.

"Door was unlocked, and my name is Bobby." Bobby said annoyed.

"Wha'ever, who's yer friends, Pansy?" Creed asked looking them over.

"This is Jubilee." Bobby introduced a small Asian girl with short black hair and big liquid brown eyes, in a yellow top and blue shorts.

"This is John." Bobby said pointing to a bleached blond boy with a light tan.

"..and Kitty Pryde." Bobby introduced a wavy brown haired girl in a light pink top with blue jeans.

Creed looked over Kitty Pryde. "Hey ya kitten."

Kitty Pryde smiled. "Kathren Pryde." She said. "So, your like the one who took my name?" She asked surprised.

"Don't think it was on purpose." Creed grunted looking over the other two.

"I was like, expecting this totally pussy guy, or something more like Jeffy." Jubilee giggled.

"Skin and bones, he's hardly 15, let it go already Jubilee." John said.

"Just because he tried to ask you out, doesn't mean you can dis him, Jubes." Bobby said.

"What ever. Just watch the movie." Jubilee said sulkily.

"Why are ya's here?" Creed asked as he searched for the top he tossed sometime during the night.

"Logan stole the TV from the rec. room. This was the only one not crowded by younger kids." Kathren said.

"Oh." Creed grunted. "Can ya pass me dat top?" He asked them.

John reached over and gave the still clean top to the man laying down.

Once the kids all turned around to watch the movie, Creed slipped on the shirt.

Kathren kept her eye on the man sitting up putting on the button up flannel long sleeve shirt. She didn't let the scars on his side or the odd mess of scars on his back pass her. She saw them and then looked at his face, looking at her. It was flanked with sorrow and shame. Kathren smiled at the blond man with the funny gothic hair style.

Creed gave a lop sided smile back at the kitten who quickly turned back to the movie. He quickly done up his shirt, then adjusted his fleece lined pants before he flipped the covers off of him.

Creed got up and walked behind the kids. Getting a new pair of black fleece pants from a top drawer he proceeded into the bathroom and shut the door.

Kathren watched as Creed walked into the bathroom.

As soon as the door shut Jubilee glared at Kitty Pryde. " I saw that!"

"Saw what?" Kathren asked.

"You were checking him out!" Jubilee accused.

"Ya so? He's cute." Kathren snapped back.

Bobby and John both started to laugh. Either if it was because Miguel and Tulio were fighting on TV, or because Kathren just said the two words about a guy that Logan hated, Jubilee didn't know.

Creed growled as he locked the bathroom door and started up the shower. "Dang pups." He grumbled over the roar of the water.

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

Her white high heel boots clicked on the granite hallway, the soft noise of foot steps echoed down the dim empty hallways.

"Magneto." Mystique called out in a simple tone. Her yellow eyes roamed over several closed doors.

"Yes Raven?" Erik asked, his voice echoing off the room's walls.

Mystique opened a door she knew well. "Zeekieal spilled." Mystique yawned as she walked up behind Erik and glanced into the crib.

"Did you shoot him?" Magneto asked.

"Yes Erik, do you take me for an armature? I also destroyed all documents in the building and collected codes for each door, collar and security personal." Raven snapped.

"Good, and Sabretooth is?" Magneto questioned walking out of the room.

"In America, but there's no proof as to where." Mystique said following Magneto out of the room.

"I want Toad to watch Xavier's, Lance to keep an eye on the cabin, Scarlet Witch to watch Vancouver, and you Mystique, you keep tabs on all the bars and dives that Sabretooth has been in at one time or another." Magneto said as he strolled down the hallway.

"Erik, Genosha has been planning on attacking, should we not worry about that?" Mystique asked knowing her spy routes already.

"Nonsense, whatever Genosha planned will surely be aborted now that Zeekieal is dead." Magneto said. "Just worry about finding that nuisance of a psychopath." Magneto paused as Mystique stopped following him. "We are the future, not Genosha." Magneto called over his shoulder not knowing that his future and Genosha intertwined later on in life.

********

The privacy of the lower level infirmary was just the place Scott Summers needed as he discussed a certain nuisance with Hank McCoy. The glass office and its two occupants over looked the empty medical room.

"He's starting to walk the halls." Scott stated in disgust as he sat on the edge of Jean's desk.

"I am aware of that. I have tried my best to discourage it." Hank said as he sat behind his desk writing on a pad of paper.

"You have been keeping the wounds open right?" Scott asked, his hidden eyes watched the pen move.

"Indeed that I have. But his body is determined to heal." Hank said firmly as he made a solid 'thunk' with the pen.

"Healing Factor kicking back in?" Scott inquired as he looked from the pen to Hank's face.

"No, it's just the normal human immune system." Hank said writing some more.

"Human?" Scott asked.

"Human, Homo Sapiens, suppressed X-Gene. Shall I go on in simple terms for you to understand?" Hank sneered as he scratched out his last line.

"I know what a human is Hank. Is it from the collar?" Scott snapped.

"I believe so. If not, it could be from the..." Hank stopped himself before he let anything slip.

"The what?" Scott inquired as he leaned towards Hank.

"I am unable to tell you anything due to the Doctor-Patient Privileged." Hank said.

"Oh. If I ask can you just nod yes or no?" Scott quizzed.

"Scott." Hank said in a dangerous tone.

"Just asking," Scott said as he got off the desk. "There has to be a faster way to get him out of here."

"Kill him?" Hank inputted.

"Jean would save him. No matter what we do." Scott said in a dire tone.

"Point." Henry McCoy said as he flipped the page.

*******

Down the hallway, Sean Cassidy sat on a cold metallic table with his leg stretched out in front of him. The blood finally stopped flowing but the gap in his skin still had risks of infection.

Jean stood beside Ororo in the small recovery room that once held Sabretooth, now held Banshee.

"See Ororo, all you need to do is take a needle from this drawer, unwrap it from the plastic, thread the needle like so, and there." Jean said to Ororo as she taught the inexperienced woman to stitch.

"Lasses, ye do know what ye are doing now?" Sean asked nervously.

"Relax Banshee, Everything will be fine." Jean reassured her patient.

"Are you alright?" Ororo asked Sean with a gentle tone.

"Aye Lass, but I shalln't be crashing into any more land marks, guaranteed that." Sean muttered as he watched Jean and Ororo warily.

"Take the skin like this and poke threw with the needle." Jean instructed Ororo.

"OH GODDESS THAT'S DISGUSTING!" Ororo screeched.

"Come on Ororo, its just a little blood." Jean smiled as she continued to stitch Sean.

"AND A NEEDLE!" Ororo screamed.

"It's just like sewing. But with flesh rather than material." Jean encouraged finishing up.

Sean watched the young lady with flowing white hair pale, giving her creamy brown skin a lighter color.

"'Ro?" Jean asked not turning from her work.

Thunk.

"Darn." Jean said as Ororo fainted.

********

In the medical center, Hank McCoy had three pages written now as Scott perched himself back on the corner of Hank's desk casting a light shadow over Hank's work. The two had been silent for sometime now, as they attempted to come up with ways of to get rid of Sabretooth, quickly.

"Why not get Logan to keep him down?" Scott Summers suggested.

"Logan?" Hank asked as he looked up almost startled from his work, so used to the long silence in the room.

"Yes, Logan." Scott stated simply.

"How do you plan to use Logan to get Sabretooth out faster?" Hank inquired as he looked back at his work.

"It's Sabretooth. How do we NOT keep Logan from mauling Sabretooth?" Scott stated.

"How would Logan keep him down? Sabretooth would most likely forfeit by hiding, then fighting." Hank reasoned as he sat his pen down, unable to write now that his concentration was completely broken.

"I was thinking on more of the ways they did." Scott said.

"But..." Hank tried to start.

"You know more about what happened then anything I get from Jean." Scott said not waiting for the 'but' to be finished.

"But.." Hank tried to start again unsure how to say what the guards did to Sabretooth without giving away anything.

"You can convince Logan." Scott reasoned as he got off Hanks desk.

"But.." Hank muttered again, he picked up his pen absently.

"Hank, it's for the good of the Mansion. We can't have HIM running lose with kids around and... secrets." Scott said as he smiled at his comrade.

"But..."

"I know you can do it." With that Scott left, the glass doors and the infirmary altogether.

Hank watched the door swing shut. "But..."

******

Steam had fogged up all the mirrors and heavy condensation set in over the porcelain. The toilet looked liked it was over flowing and broken with various pinhole cracks. Creed opened the bathroom door after his long hot shower. Thick hot steam gushed out letting the cooler room air into the bathroom. Wetness dripped off the short blond locks and onto the flannel top. The kids didn't seem to notice the large, still damp, man snuggle back under the comforter.

Kathren however did. She sat up and leaned back against the bed frame.

Creed rolled on his side to watch the ending of 'Road To El Dorado' over the kids heads. He glanced down at the girl staring up at him.

"What Kitten?" Creed grunted.

"You look familiar." Kathren replied.

"Yeah? Like an insane psycho killer who slaughtered thousands of people and lives for the thrill of the kill?" Creed asked in a near serious tone.

"No, I was trying to place where Logan would of met you." Kathren replied.

Creed looked down at her. 'Guess it does show' he thought to himself.

"Some government program." Creed replied looking back at the TV, dropping the subject.

"Oh." Kathren said also looking back at the movie.

*********

Wolverine growled as he and Nightcrawler headed back to their rooms.

"Ya got ta be shittin' me Elf. HIM?" Wolverine snarled.

"Ja. That's what they're saying." Nightcrawler replied casually.

"They ought ta be crazy. What next? Sending machines ta kill Mutants?" Wolverine snarled sarcastically while heading down the hall to his room.

"Who knows mein Freund." Nightcrawler said as he unlocked his own door.

Wolverine entered his own room, shutting the door behind him, he pulled back his uniform mask then snorted after getting a whiff of Creed's scent.

"Damn I wished they'd of moved that bastard someplace else."

Logan moved around his room, he shed his Golden, blue and black uniform as he attempted to find a clean pair of jeans and a top on the floor of his room.

After finding something acceptably clean and getting them on his hairy butt, Logan popped his head out the door as the kids giggled racing down the stairs.

"IF Ya's don't keep it down. I ain't gonna let ya's go with 'Ro n' The others tomorrow." He growled.

"Sorry." The four muttered as they silently crept down the stairway.

**********

Ororo kneeled at Kitty's head dearly wishing that one of the students could of done this, or she had left an hour earlier. She hummed softly while brushing the mans short hair who was laying stiffly on his back in the bathroom. The cool bathroom tile floor provided some relief from the heat outside.

Some light piano orchestra music flowed from the hallway over the fans noise in the other room.

Creed looked up at the woman who tended to him. "Sorry I made ya miss that." Creed finally grunted.

"Its alright, Kitty. You pulling your stitches is far more important than any orchestra." Ororo reasoned more to herself than him.

"Can I make it up ta ya?" Creed asked his black eyes pleading to the goddess above him.

"No, really Kitty it's alright." Ororo smiled.

Creed sighed as he shifted his head slightly. "Thanks."

"You needed help, that's what I provided. There is no need to thank me." Ororo stated.

"Kinda, meant thanks for using the local." Creed muttered.

Ororo paused. "Kitty, didn't Jean or Hank use anaesthetics on you?"

"Red did, used to get me so doped up I kept seeing things, and weird things." Creed snarled.

"What type of things?" Ororo asked.

"Logan in a pink dress, Raven nursing a kitten, ....people lined up ...." Creed's voice trailed off.

"What about Hank?" Ororo asked.

"He hates me." Creed grumbled.

"I am sure he doesn't hate you, Kitty." Ororo said.

"Ya? Then why does he keeps opening my cuts and not using anything to dull the pain?" Creed said as he tried not to whine.

"I.. don't know." Ororo said unsure if Kitty could tell the truth or not.

Creed nodded looking away from her.

"You know, I was worried with the rest of the mansion about you staying here." Ororo started, as she changed the subject.

"Really?" Creed asked.

"Mmmhmm, Everyone has been waiting for you to take Wolverine out, or rip Jean's head off. We all never expected you to stay like this." Ororo said softly as she ran her hand over Kitty's wavy short golden hair.

"Ya well, there ain't much for me ta do any ways." Creed groaned.

"How do you mean?" Ororo asked, her chocolate eyes peered curiously down at him.

"I gotta take 10 pills each morning, I can't hardly run any, the life I once knew I ain't gonna be able to continue. And the Brotherhood is gone, any ways." Creed muttered.

"Can't do what any more?" Ororo asked stroking the side of Creed's face.

"Can't hunt. Jean and Hank both say I won't ever get my ... healing factor back. I even asked them if Wolverine's blood would of helped... All five units I received when I first got here... was Wolverine's." Creed sighed as he leaned his cheek into Ororo's hand.

"Then there's the fact that I can't pull contracts 'cause I can't hunt. I have my own stash that will let me live comfortably." Creed added as an after thought.

Ororo ran her thumb over Kitty's chin. "Are you sorry you ever did any of that?"

"Nope. Only thing I regret is not being able to save Raven. I wish I did, n' I wish I coulda, now any ways." Creed admitted.

"Why is that?" Ororo pried.

"She had da last kid I'm ever gonna have." Creed sheepishly admitted.

"And that bothers you?" Ororo asked as she lightly ran her fingers up and down Creed's throat.

"Then, no. Now it does." Creed hummed liking the sensation of such a light touch.

"Why is that now?" Ororo smiled at Creed.

Creed looked up at the lady who used him as a lightning pole once.

"It's alright Kitty. We all change, I am only curious." Ororo admitted.

Creed shrugged. "What the hell. Not like I haven't died already."

Creed didn't look at her when he spoke.

"Raven was obviously Magneto's blue whore. Some things ya learn the hard way. Raven wanted a child, Erik is as impotent as a piece of paper. Raven asked me if I could." Creed chuckled. "Stud." Trying to keep a straight face he attempted to continue. "Yeah, so I did. Wasn't a good night either. I was forced to be careful, ppfft. Damn bitch. She was pregnant, I got ... a vacation." Creed smirked.

"Didn't it bother you, that you weren't going to be raising it?" Ororo asked.

"Raise it? Hell frail. I don't wanna raise no damn kid.., I didn't want anything to do with it. Once it was born, I was gonna deny I had anything to do with it. They could all play house without me."

"And you didn't mind?" Ororo continued to quiz.

"It wasn't like I could do a better job than them. I'd probably kill the thing once it stared to cry. Kid was gonna have parents. A blue one and an old one, both slightly driven mad with world domination and what not, but still parents."

"You trusted them?" Ororo asked surprised.

"I didn't trust myself, Ororo." Creed grunted as he looked back at the dark-skinned, white haired woman above him.

"Why you?" Ororo asked her hands rubbing Creed's shoulders.

"Well her choices were limited. She didn't like Toad THAT much, and Lance is still too impressionable, or was. Since she knew me, eh, guess it's the lesser of two evils. Or more apt. The worst of all evils."

"Why change your mind now?" Ororo asked.

"I can't have kids, hell I'm gonna die in 30 years if I'm lucky to live that long."

"Kitty...," Ororo started as she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "It's not the end of the world."

"It is for me. Once I get better and all, I gotta leave here. I know where I'll be heading. But I gotta move so no one will find me. Once they all know I ain't what I used ta be... " Creed let his sentence trail off, he didn't want to ponder on the notion too long.

"It won't be like that Kitty." Ororo tried to sooth.

" I ain't gonna get better. I'll just be able to run and walk.. maybe fight or... whatever." Creed muttered as he became well aware of Ororo's hands rubbing his chest.

"Kitty. You won't be kicked out because you are better. You can stay here for as long as you like." Ororo stated.

"Ya, I'll believe it when I see it." Creed muttered, starting to get uncomfortable with the lady's touching. "Can I get up now?"

"Yes, of course." Ororo smiled as she slipped her arms under Creed's shoulders.

With a little trouble, Ororo managed to get Creed to his feet.

"I'm fine. Thanks." Creed muttered as his legs slowly moved towards his bed.

Ororo stayed by the bathroom door and waited till Creed laid down in his bed. She smiled once he cuddled under the blankets, then she shut the lights off on her way out of the room.

Creed heard the click of his room's door before he fell asleep.

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

Ororo Munroe sat across a lavish cherry finished desk. She sipped her herbal tea from a small frilly cup, setting the cup upon its saucer and coaster, she looked to her mentor.

"Kitty is more concerned at us kicking him out than Wolverine killing him during the night." She said.

"Yes. I have been picking up waves of content from Sabretooth." Charles Xavier said casually as he sipped Earl Gray from the coffee mug in his right hand.

"Have you picked up anything on the Brotherhood?" Ororo asked as she brushed a long white lock of hair out of her chocolate eyes.

"Indeed I have. Sabretooth honestly believes that the Brotherhood has disbanded and that Magneto along with Mystique are dead." Charles said as he placed his mug upon a round, wooden coaster.

"Shouldn't he be informed with the truth?" Ororo asked as she picked her cup up once more.

"Not at this time, Ororo. It may do more damage than not." Charles paused before continuing. "How is Logan handling the move?"

"Not lightly, but he has been incredibly understanding with the whole situation." Ororo commented.

"I was hoping he would be."

"As were a lot of us." Ororo agreed.

"Perhaps it's time to reverse out teachings. " Charles commented as he picked up his mug.

"For Kitty?"

"Yes. Help him learn to accept and function without his mutations." Charles said as he took a sip of his tea.

"Charles, as much as I respect you. I seriously don't think he can deal with it. He's been alive possibly as long as Logan has, with his mutations, how can he just live without them." Ororo said more in a statement than a question.

"I am not sure he will like it 'Ro. But if we do not try, he will never understand his full potential." Charles said.

"True. He still believes everything he was told for the last two years. Much as we all are trying to help him, it is hard to undo that type of brain washing." Ororo said with a sigh.

"He is fragile, 'Ro. You can be assured that he will not be kicked out of here. Nor will we let him leave unprepared." Charles said setting his cup back on a coaster.

"Excuse me, But I have a few matters to attend to." Ororo said as she stood up.

"Of course 'Ro. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Charles." With that Ororo left the lavish office, her dirty dishes in hand.

********

The dark room in the middle of the Taurus Mountains, the Turkish voices spoke.

"Sir?" The man known as Jensen peeked his head into his commanders office.

"I know Jensen, Zeekieal is dead." The commander said in the darkness, the bright red end of his cigar illuminating very little of his face.

"Yes sir." Jensen said then paused. "May I continue?"

"Go ahead." The Commander said waving his hand in the darkness.

"There may be trouble sir, Iraq is starting to shut off all the doors to everyone." Jensen said shifting.

"I know Jensen. Is Genosha continuing it's alliance with them?" The Commander asked.

"No sir. Genosha and Iraq have been on shaky grounds, it finally crumbled." Jensen reported.

"Good. What of the FOH?" The Commander asked.

"They have continued their operations with Genosha, but they are keeping a low profile now." Jensen said.

"Good. Thank you, Jensen." The Commander nodded.

"Sir, may I speak freely?" Jensen asked.

"Go ahead, Jensen." The Commander said with a small sigh.

"Genosha had been planning a small strike force, it has now been aborted.." Jensen started.

"Yes I have been aware of this, the small target on the mutant summer camp on the shores of Florida." The Commander said, it was nothing he wasn't aware of.

"Well sir..., there is rumors of someone else picking up the plans..." Jensen started.

"Jensen? What are you trying to say?" The Commander asked. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Jensen.

"I think it best if we took the FOH strategy and go into hiding." Jensen said.

"I see, and there is a reason for this?" The Commander asked.

"Yes sir." Jensen said.

"Jensen, I am going to assume you have heard this from a mole and not first hand." The Commander said wondering how deep his corporal was in.

"Sir, I guarantee you it is just through the grape vine." Jensen reassured.

"Good. You have done good Jensen. I shall take your suggestion about laying low. But first, run this to the FOH would you?" The Commander asked, a white envelope passed past the flame of the cigar.

"Yes sir." Jensen said taking the envelope and putting it in his coat pocket.

"Plan tickets are inside, Arrive at Logan transfer at Boston." The Commander instructed.

"Thank you, sir." Jensen said turning to leave.

"Hurry back, Jensen." The Commander called as a goodbye.

"I will, sir." Jensen said leaving.

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

Ororo Munroe also known as Storm sat in the kitchen across from Jean Grey. Both had a light salad and orange juice in front of them.

"Did you enjoy the show, Jean?" Ororo asked her friend over lunch.

"Very much, Ororo. I am sorry you had to miss it." Jean replied.

"As am I." Ororo said her voice mournful.

"How is Kitty?" Jean asked as she sank her fork into the crisp greens of her salad.

"Alright, he's a little worried over few insignificant things." Ororo said before she took a drink of her juice.

"What are they?" Jean pried without using her powers.

"Getting kicked out, and Hank." Ororo admitted as she set her glass down.

"Hank?" Jean asked, her puzzlement obvious.

"Jean. Kitty told me that Hank didn't use anything to dull the pain, while re-opening the lower wounds and re-stitching them." Ororo said.

"What? That's ridiculous. Kitty only needs stitches when he pulls them. Like last night, when he fell." Jean stated.

"Why would he say something like that? You don't think he is starting to cause trouble do you?" Ororo asked.

"I.. don't know." Jean paused. "I haven't seen Kitty for a few weeks, I'll go check on him after class." Jean said her commitment as a doctor made.

"That would be appreciative." Ororo said her salad finished.

"If he told you, you have a right to know the answer." Jean concluded as she finally got her piece of lettuce into her mouth.

"I only pray to the goddess that it isn't true." Storm sighed pouring herself another drink.

"As do I." Jean said with a mouthful of greens.

********

Creed woke up to silence and darkness. A smile crept over Creed's face as he recognizable where he was and remembered how he had gotten there. His smile was quickly replaced by a frown.

"Aww fuck not again!" Creed growled in disgust, suddenly thankful that his room was empty and dark.

Getting up Creed stripped out of his wet clothing and changed into dry clean ones. He stripped his bedding and managed to keep the rest of himself dry, as he shoved the blankets and sheets down the laundry shoot in the bathroom.

Taking fresh linen off the closet shelf, Creed flipped the mattress and remade his bed.

*******

Logan pounded his fists continuously into the punching bag. Creed's presence upstairs made him furious, as well as talk about Sabretooth actually JOINING the X-Men team. Sabretooth! Out of all villains, Sabretooth!

"RRRRRRRRRAH!" Logan roared as his claws pierced the punching bag clean through.

'How dare Chuck for even attempting to THINK about that! Creed isn't some docile team player, he's a murder! A savage,' Logan's mind roared to itself. 'Everything that I try not to be...'

Scott opened the gym door. "Logan?"

"Wha'?" Logan snarled.

"Need to talk to you, about Sabretooth." Scott said as Logan stopped the punching bag and let his claws slide back under his skin.

*****

Creed woke up only six hours later to an empty dark bedroom and a wet bed.

"RRRAAAHHH!" Creed roared as he headed for the shower, yet again.

"Mmm Jean, YES oh JEAN! Mmmm"

Creed growled as the voices echoed over the roar of the falling water.

"SCOTT! Harder Scott! Harder!"

"WILL YA TWO SHUT UP!" Creed snarled at the bathroom door, wondering why the hell they couldn't use their own room.

"Jean! oh.. OH!"

Creed rolled his eyes. How could anyone put up with such sappy love making. Turning off the water, Creed toweled off and got dressed as the moans and grunts continued. Creed growled as he rammed the bathroom door opened and snarled "I DON"T wanna..hear that?" To a very dark and empty room. Looking around Creed wondered where they went.

"OH GOD YES SCOTT YES!"

Creed opened his room door and followed the noise.

"UGH! I Love you Jean!"

Creed snickered, who would have thought both of them were such screamers. As the two both started to moan and gasp Creed thought about kicking open their door. Then remember why he was *still* in the mansion.

Creed shouldered the door throwing the wood off of its hinges, as the door crashed on the other side Creed growled looking at the bare, rutting couple in the center of the room.

"If ya two's don't SHUT UP! I'm gonna toss both 'o you out that window!" Creed roared as he turned his back to them and headed for his room, snickering.

Jean grabbed a blanket off her shared bed, wrapping it around her, she ran after Creed.

Scott hollered after his lover. "WHAT ABOUT ME?"

~Deal with it!~ Jean shot back mentally to Scott.

Jean knocked on Creed's door. Creed opened the door and looked at her bemused. "I can hear again." he grunted.

Jean smiled. "I can tell, just how well can you hear?"

"You mean how much did I?" Creed asked smirking as he caught the sound of heavy footfalls coming up the stairs.

Jean blushed. "Yes."

"All of it." Creed smirked as he looked at Logan standing at the top of the staircase. "Maybe we should bring this back inside." Creed smirked winking at Jean.

Logan stood dumbfounded as *HIS* Jean walked into Creed's room with only a sheet around her. Logan looked at Jean and Scott's door.. that wasn't there and Scott sulking naked in the middle of the floor.

"HE took her!" Scott yelled.

Logan stared at Scott then shook his head walking into his room.

"CREED!" Jean hollered from the room.

Logan and Scott both turned to look at Creed's door.

"Creed! No so hard!" Jean snapped before falling into fits of giggles.

Logan slammed his door shut as Scott broke down crying. Logan knew he had to keep Creed down, even if it meant cleaning out the liquor cabinet and satisfying Scott.

*****

Creed frowned as he laid back on his bed. After tickling the red head till she screamed for him to stop, she had demanded to see the progress of his healing wounds. The look she had on her face and the light sympathetic touches along his shoulder told Creed all he needed to know.

"Red? I gonna be ok?" Creed asked.

"Yes you will be, but first we need to get these cuts cleaned up." Jean said her voice heavy with worry.

"Red?" Creed questioned his head tilting to the side.

"Their infected Creed. Very infected. " Jean said heading for the door.

Creed went to grab his clothing beside him. He watched as Jean paused at the door and turned back to him.

"Victor, In twenty I'm coming back. We're taking a trip down to the lab." She stated opening the door.

Creeds lip rose in a silent snarl of displeasure.

*****

Down in the lab, Jean and Creed looked at each other as she went over the results.

"I'm sorry I never checked up on you Victor." She said mournfully. This wasn't something she ever wanted to tell anyone.

"Red? How bad is it?...I...I ain't.." Creed stumbled over words.

Jean sat down beside Creed on the medical bed. "Your thigh wounds are the most compromised. I have removed all the infected skin, however it's going to set you back on recovery for another six weeks."

Creed frowned. "What about.."

"That is a delicate matter Vic." Jean paused as she took out a diagram. Creed rolled his eyes. "If you want, I could just eliminate the complete problem by removing the section here." Jean pointed out.

Creed suppressed a yelp at the mere thought.

"I didn't think you would be willing. What I can do Victor, is remove the skin here. " She pointed out to the un circumcised flap of skin. "And skin graft around here." She pointed out to another part just under the penis. "Either way Victor, you going to be losing feeling in the general area."

Creed hung his head. "The others are gonna know ain't they?"

"That depends. You wish to tell them?" Jean smiled.

Creed smiled back. "Hank don't gotta know?"

"Nor Scott." Jean assured.

"Get it over with then red." Creed muttered.

"Three weeks." Jean nodded.

********

Scott and Logan looked at each other over drinks at a near by Grill and Tap.

"Creed's back in the infirmary." Logan grunted.

"Ya, Jean hasn't said why and Hank doesn't know." Scott replied taking a sip of his beer.

"Chuck still wants him to be an X-Men?" Logan asked dryly even though the bottle of whiskey was halfway gone.

"Yup. But it won't be for a few months yet." Scott sneered taking another swing.

"Wasn't too pleased 'bout what chya asked. When Chuck mentions the hairball joining again I gonna keep him down for good." Logan grumbled.

"Just don't kill him." Scott said distaste thick in his voice.

"Yeah I know, Jeannie be mad at us." Logan chuckled. Scott joined in. Soon the two laughed hardily till they couldn't remember why they had been laughing.

**********

Creed, Kurt and Jean all stood in the rooms hallway.

"Creed, you need to walk." Kurt implied.

Creed sighed as he took a tentative step. Slowly making his way towards the fuzz ball, Creed took hold of the walls only briefly.

"Red" Creed paused.

"Yes Victor?" Jean called watching Creed's progress.

"Red, ya got some sort o' perfume on?" Creed asked pausing at the stair case.

"No. I hardly wear perfume. Why?" Jean smiled faintly.

"Ya kinda startin' ta smell like cinnamon roses." Creed grunted.

"Logan says the same thing, Victor. But it's not perfume." Jean smiled almost giddy as Creed made it to Kurt.

"Fuzzy" Creed whispered to the blue elf. "Use a better after shave, wet dog doesn't suit you." Creed smirked turning around and carefully limping back to his room.

Nightcrawler and Jean both smiled proudly as Creed made it back to his room.

**********

"How long do you believe it will take for Sabretooth to recover this time?" Charles Xavier asked as he rolled down the hallway towards the class rooms. Jean Grey escorting him.

"I wouldn't put it before at least six months Charles. That is if he doesn't have any more complications." Jean replied smiling as she passed a youngster.

"Very well Jean. Please keep me posted." Charles smiled as he steered his wheel chair into a class room. Jean continued walking to the garage.

*********

End part 5

TBC in part 6

Whipblade 2002