The Blood of Lies

[Wolverine]

Logan turned off the engine to his bike. He stood up and leaned back stretching the tight muscles on his back. He was just returning from Alberta where he'd been hiding out these last few weeks, months, years, he didn't know really. he's been gone long enough. But time had been different for him these days. Well no matter Jean would clue him into the time he'd been away. Just thinking about Jean set his heart racing. Pushing down those memories he walked down the lane towards the mansion. Something was wrong. He could smell Victor, this wasn't good. The first thought that ran into his head was that Charles had let the man in. Sighing heavily he doubled his pace as anger started to thread it's way through his veins.

His blood turned cold and his eyes turned red with rage as he noticed the shattered remains of the doors. He could smell blood mingled with Victor's scent as he approached and he growled low in his throat. Only one thing mattered now. He had to find Jean. He had to know she was save. As he made his way into the mansion. The carnage around him sent his nerves on edge. He called out in a loud and anxious voice "JEAN!" His own words reverberated back to him.

This didn't bode well. The further he got the more he noticed the destruction. The further he got the worse it became. Bodies, blood and shattered remains of wood, mouldings and... the secret doors down into the hidden underground passages. The more he searched for Jean the worse it became. There was so much destruction he knew if Jean was alive she would be in serious trouble. His anger was boiling to the point of uncontrollable. Her smell was here. He just couldn't find her.

The claw marks, the needles mayhem. It all smelled of Victor. "VICTOR!" He screamed wanting to find revenge. Wanting to tear the nutter to pieces for this. His home was shattered, again, because of him. His eyes narrowed as he left the mansion. Jean wasn't here. First he'd have to find Jean. Then Victor. He'd kill Victor for this.

He made it to his bike. Turning the engine on he gunned it down the streets of New York. All the while trying to catch Jean's scent. Finally he stopped in Marvelous Plaza, parked his bike and took to the streets walking. He tried to catch Jean's scent as he made his way through the streets.

[Jean Grey]

Phoenix was still muddling over her talk with Victor. They were both shaken by what had happened to her and what had happened to Fallon. They were both trying to deal with it in their own ways. Phoenix laid in bed staring at the ceiling just thinking about everything. She thought that she had died. For the first time in a very long time she actually thought that it was possibly that she could die. That she did die. She had thought that she would never see Victor again and that she would never get to meet their daughter. But now here she was stuck in Jean Grey's body again. The body that she loathed. Her hand rand through her hair and pulled the red in front of her eyes. A look of disgust passed over her face. She needed to find a new body and fast. This wouldn't do at all. Victor wouldn't even touch her now. He was off somewhere now. He had been gone when she had woken up.

A small mind prodded at hers. Looking up she saw Fallon standing in the doorway that connected her room to theirs'. The small brunette girl held onto the door frame. Her claws were visible and her yellow eyes stared at her as she sat up in bed and smiled at her daughter. She looked so much like Victor. With the brown hair, amber eyes, and those claws. She was almost a spitting image of him but she knew that she had inherited Phoenix's powers though and she was strong. Phoenix still couldn't believe that she was finally here but it still surprised her every time she saw a girl around the age of eight. But she was still her daughter and she loved her more than anything. Getting out of bed she walked over to her and crouched down.

"How about we go get you some new clothes, Fallon?"

The small girl nodded and smiled at her. That was when Phoenix noticed the pointed canines that decorated her mouth. She got more and more like Victor the more she looked at her. It made her smile. Phoenix got ready quickly throwing on a pair of skinny jeans and a low cut t-shirt that rode up her stomach. The scars Victor had left on Jean's hip showed and Phoenix smirked at the memory. Picking up her daughter she walked out of the Brotherhood talking to her the whole way.

Once they were out of headquarters Phoenix headed towards her favorite shopping area. In and out of stores they went. Fallon walked beside her holding her hand in a new outfit that was just purchased. She carried a smaller bag while Phoenix carried the others. Phoenix was happy right now but she was keeping her eyes out for a potential new body as well. She couldn't keep living in Jean's body. That was not an option at all.

[Wolverine]

Logan wandered the streets. He didn't call out. There was no point. Blood smeared his hands and T-shirt from his dash through the mansion. He realized that because people were staring. Uncaringly he whipped the sticky substance on back of his shirt trying to get the feel of it off his skin. To no avail really. Frustrated he made his way through the winding streets all the while searching for Jean. Desperate. He could smell her, but he couldn't pin point her. And her scent was wrong. He couldn't figure it out. Altered somehow. Not quite his Jean. It was familiar. His broken memory was always a problem. He should know this. It was getting to be even more frustrating as the answers failed to come.

Almost about go give up and return to his bike he spotted her. Frozen he watched as she walked out a store with a small child in tow. A smile lite her face. His own broke into a half smile. His eyes lit up and he called her name "Jean!?" Half statement of gratitude at finding her, half question at the uncertain of was it really her.

He took a step closer and froze. Something wasn't right. He could tell. It wasn't the way he expected to find her. She was with a child. A child that looked like Victor. So much like him that Logan's lips curled in a snarl. That was new. He watched Jean for a moment and wondered what she was doing with Victor's child. Or at least that's what he figured it had to be.

[Jean Grey]

Phoenix walked with Fallon as she looked for another store to get more things. She loved shopping and it seemed like Fallon was having fun as well. Phoenix was loving this and she was happy to have her daughter with her. She partly missed that she couldn't raise her from a baby like she had though. That she would never get to use the crib that Victor had made and carved for her. But that all went away as she looked down at Fallon again. The way her amber eyes lit up as she held onto the bag in her hand.

"Having fun, Peanut?"

The small brunette girl nodded and smiled showing off those canines again. She hoped that Victor was back when they go back. he hadn't even talked to Fallon since he had brought them home last night. As they walked Phoenix picked up the scent of blood. She knew that scent all too well. She pulled Fallon closer to her and her ears picked up Jean's name being called. She knew that voice. Looking up she saw Logan across the street. His shirt was stained with blood. That was where she smelled it from. her eyes narrowed and flashed with the Phoenix fire as she looked at him. Her lip curled up in a snarl as she saw him snarl at Fallon. She pushed Fallon behind her a little bit as she looked at Logan again. Her power crackled around her.

"I'm not you're little Red, Logan. Better look someplace else. Oh I forgot! She scratching the wall I put her behind."

[Wolverine]

Logan watched the interchanged, it seemed to much like a doting mother with her child. He just couldn't place it. It couldn't be. The child looked nothing like Jean. Jean wouldn't have a child with Victor. It just couldn't be. He stared again. Knowing something was different. Wrong even. That's when he heard it. The voice. It sounded like Jean, but it was different. The note, the annunciation, the pronunciation. This wasn't Jean.

Just as Jean finished speaking to him he growled "Phoenix". He watched her a moment longer. Jean was in there. That was what he had to focus on. "I thought you were dead!?" Or so he had been told that is. Phoenix was suppose to be gone. Well so much for believing what you hear. His glower turned to a frown again. Anger was building inside of him. So Phoenix was the mother of the Victor look alike. Great. Now he had that to contend with. That explained why Jean was with the kid. and why it appeared to be a motherly scene.

Exasperated and angry he didn't make a threatening move however, she was more powerful and like a mother wolf likely to attack at the first sign of agression. He couldn't hurt Jean, after all he'd been worried sick about her, demanding retribution on Victor if he had so much as hurt a hair on her head. Well at least Jean was alive. If being trapped in her own body was alive at all.

[Jean Grey]

Phoenix could feel Fallon clinging to her leg. She glanced down to see her peeking her head out and staring at Logan with wide uncertain eyes. Phoenix out her hand on the top of her head to comfort her a bit. Phoenix would take care of this. Logan was no match for her. She looked back at Logan and smiled as she saw him recognize her. It was hard to forget a woman like her that was for sure. It was nice to know that people still knew who she was. But Logan was the one who had silenced her before by killing Jean. Phoenix had brought her back, yes, but this was different. She had Fallon to worry about now and the young girl was still vulnerable.

"Of course its me. Who else would it be? You can't kill a Phoenix, Logan. We're just reborn."

Phoenix rolled her shoulders as she felt her powers increasing in strength. Today was not the day to antagonize her. Not with everything she had gone through and was still going through. If he kept pushing her then he would see what she really could do. She would protect her daughter until she died, if she even could die.

[Wolverine]

"I'm beginning to see that!" He said in na undertone uncertain if she had heard him. He didn't care of course if she had, but he wasn't going to make it easy for her none the less. "I can do it again you know!" He replied to her statement figuring he had to elaborate on that a bit since she might not know what he was referring to. "I can kill you again! I'm sure you remember how it was the first time."

He frowned. He barely remembered that memory. Like so may they were fractures. His claws slicing into Jean's flesh. Feeling her go limp in his arms. It had felt like a part of him had died that day with her. Only to have her come back. She was of course the Phoenix after that, but he had been glad that she had come back none the less. The truth was it was one fo the few times he'd cried in his adult life, when he'd held Jean's dying body in his arms. The memory stirred an ache within him. However, he hid that emotion away. Pushing it back. Only allowing Phoenix to see his anger and his growing desire to hurt her for taking over Jean again. While he was at it. He would take out the brat of Creed too. A bonus that.

[Jean Grey]

Fallon hid behind her mother's legs more holding onto her and trying to hide from Logan. Phoenix tried to reassure her with her mind but she knew the child was scared. But she would protect her. That was what a mother did. They protected their children and no one was going to lay a hand on Fallon. If they did they were going to be missing a hand and maybe a life. Phoenix would not have it at all and she knew Victor wouldn't either. If he was here he would be taking care of Logan right now. She knew how much Victor wanted to kill him and she would be only too happy to sit back and watch him go at it. She knew she was going to tell Victor that Logan was back. That would get his mood up she knew that. She looked down at Fallon and smiled.

"Its alright, Peanut. Momma's going to take care of this. Then we can finish shopping."

Her eyes flew back up to glare at Logan as he mentioned he could kill her again. It only made her laugh. She knew he couldn't do it again. She remembered the look on his face when he had stabbed Jean the first time. He couldn't and wouldn't do it again. He loved Jean Grey.

"You won't do it. You're too afraid of loosing your precious Jeanie. Come up with a new threat, dearie. I could always call Victor. he so wants to see you again."

[Wolverine]

Logan cursed under his breath. She was right. Damit if she wasn't. Worst was he couldn't fake her out. She could just read his mind. Not that that didn't come with a price for her. Since his mind was scrambled so bad and they had of course done that nifty thing that made even Charles get a headache when he breached Logan's mind. Well it would serve her right.

The memory of Jean flew through his mind again and he cursed slightly louder this time. That's all he need to see her die again. Like he hadn't been there the first time. This was just not the reunion he had planned with Jean. So great. Now Jean was Phoenix again, he'd probably have to kill her, again. And worse Victor and Phoenix had a kid. How much worse could this day get? Oh never mind it always gets worse.

His face broke into a grin Victor. Just the man he wanted to tear the crap out of. Now there's an idea! Give me Victor to beat on while you and your little brat there wander around and have a merry time of it. Or are you just afraid I'll kill you again Phoenix. Is that why your going to run to Victor like a scared little girl?" Oh yah he'd love to fight Victor all right. If he had his way. He'd fight Phoenix and then kill her and then murder the child and then go after Victor. Payback was overdue with that guys.

[Jean Grey]

Her hand went to lay on Fallon's head as she stood in front of her protectively. She would not let Logan anywhere near her. She had lost Fallon once but she was not going to lose her again. Especially not by another X-Man. She hated them more than anything and wanted them all dead. Especially the one she possessed right now. If she could kill Jean she would in a heart beat. There was no doubt about that and right now she would make Logan watch. She would make him watch his precious Jeanie die a slow and painful death.

Her eyes watched him as they flashed with the Phoenix Fire. It was one of the most powerful if not the most powerful thing in existence and she knew how to use it. She was a force not to be reckoned with and she was going to teach Fallon all about that. Victor and her would teach Fallon everything she needed to know about power and killing the humans and the love of it all. They would raise her to be the humans greatest fear. Humans and mutants alike. If they didn't stand with them then they would just kill them.

"You have no power here, Logan. Jean is locked tight away with no way out now. Not until I want out which I will get out. I just know how badly Victor wants to rip your head off. He deserves that much after what we just went through."

[Wolverine]

Logan smiled cruelly at her. Oh she had gone all Phoenix on him. Well fine. If a fight was what she wanted a fight was what she would get. If he got to fight with Victor too he'd be thrilled right now he wanted nothing more than fighting someone and either one of these too would do.

"If you want out, then get out!" He said. If she would leave Jean he'd be willing to pull back, if it meant he could have Jean back he'd even be willing to let Victor's brat go. He wouldn't fight Phoenix if she released Jean. Surely the woman had to know that much. Or she wouldn't have told him that Jean was in there at all. Jean was in there, and she was safe. He would get her back.

Love as he might to get his hands on Victor, now was not the time to think about his well deserved revenge. No now was the time to get Jean back. That's why he'd gone after Jean and not Victor. "Victor knows where I am, if he want's me he can come and get me! I'd love a chance to kick his ass again!" Logan said darkly. He wanted to fight Victor. It was a driving force in their strange relationship. Neither could kill the other, but they sure as hell could kick each other around a bit. It was a good way to diffuse tension. And right now Logan had quite a lot of tension.

[Jean Grey]

Phoenix smirked watching how angry he was getting. Oh this was rich. She loved watching him squirm just from the fact that she was taking over his precious Jean's body. Well if she really wanted to she could make him squirm even more by cutting up her body but she wasn't going to scare Fallon right now. Her daughter was scared already she wasn't going to add to it. Her hand caressed her daughter's hair trying to calm her down more. She tried to reassure her with her mind that Momma would take care of this. She sent a mental message to Victor though just in case letting him know what was happening. He would be here to kill Logan and protect Fallon.

"I need a new body to get out of this hell hole you idiot. Jeez, I thought the x-men were supposed to be smart?"

She crossed her her arms over her chest watching him. Doesn't he think that she would get out if she could right now? She hated being in this body more than anything but she needed to find a new body before she could get out of this hell hole. Fallon hid behind her leg more. Phoenix could feel her claws scratching her skin through her jeans slightly. She was more like Victor than she could even imagine. There was no denying that this was his daughter.

"the only ass that would be getting kicked would be yours, Logan. You're no match for him. Especially now that he has something to protect. Now run along. Don't want to scratch your claws."