Title: Confrontation at the Mansion
Author: Bani
Email: banime78@aol.com
Series: Cutting Loose #2
Summary: Immediately follows Part # 1. Rogue and Scott go back to the Mansion
for
their gear and the fun stuff starts.
Genre: S/R and the gang at the Mansion.
Rating: PG-15 for violence and swearing, also some adult thoughts.
Author´s Note: It was a tie so I decided to do as several smarter (than me)
people
suggested I compromised. No one can say I don´t listen to reason. (snickers)
Archive: You want it ya got it. Just tell me where.
Disclaimer: I bow to Marvel and whoever else owns ´em. I sure as heck don´t.
But I´m
borrowing them anyways. :-P´
Dedication: To everyone who voted and to my Boss who gave me the steam to get
violent. Thank´s Boss Man.

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

******************
   

    Scott smiled. He would probably do just about anything for Marie. But he
couldn´t just take off and not let anyone know where they were or what had
happened.
Especially the Professor. He owed it to Xavier to let him know what was going
on and
that they would be leaving for a while. Not to mention letting Jean know that
it was over
between them.


    Scott sighed. "Where is it you want to go? I assume you have a
destination in
mind." He asked Marie.


    Marie smiled sheepishly. "Yeh, Ah was hoping we could swing by mah
parents
house. Ah haven´t been in touch with them since Ah ran away. Ah just want to
let them
know that Ah´m o.k. and that Ah´m happy." She smiled brilliantly and blushed
slightly.
"Very happy."


    "That sounds like a plan to me, I would like to meet your parents. I
don´t think the
Professor would mind letting me have some time off so I can take you to see
your
parents." Not to mention he hadn´t had a vacation in.... Well ever. It wasn´t
such an
unreasonable thing to ask for was it? Scott thought to himself.


    "Oh Scott, Thank-ya!" Marie launched herself at him, hugging him so hard
that
he felt his ribs creak.


    "Oowf." Scott grunted. "No, thanks are needed Marie. If it would make you
happy I think I would go to the ends of the earth." Whoa boy slow down don´t
scare the
poor girl.


    Marie blushed a rather becoming shade of pink making her seem even
younger.
Scott suddenly wondered what he was going to do. He had all but committed
himself to a
relationship with a seventeen-year-old girl. Shaking his head, he pushed
those thoughts
away. She would be eighteen soon and it wasn´t like he was planning on taking
this
relationship to another level any time soon.


    No, he would go slow with Marie and give her a chance to change her mind
if she
wanted to. That thought made his chest hurt in the region of his heart. God
please don´t
let her change her mind. Because despite his doubts about their age
difference he knew
that, they had the beginnings of a great romance starting between them.


    "Scott yoo-hoo are ya in there? Ah asked ya if ya wanted to leave now. We
need
to leave now if we´re gonna make it by morning sugah." Marie was waving her
gloved
hand in front of his face frowning.


    Catching her hand in his own, he turned it over so he could place a kiss
in the
center of her palm. "As much as I would like to just take off I can´t. We
need to go back
to the Mansion first. We need clothes and money. And there are some people
that deserve
to have their questions answered Marie." He squeezed her hand as he saw her
face fall.


    "Scott if we go back there´s gonna be a fight. You know that sugah. Ah
think we
should leave it for now and wait until everyone cools down." Marie´s tone
pleaded.


    "No, I´m sorry but that would just make everything worse Marie. Think
about it.
Logan wouldn´t just cool off no matter how long we were gone. Do you really
want him
stewing for a week while we´re off visiting your parents?"


    Marie´s face lit up at the mention of a week with Scott, but fell again
when she
thought about exactly how pissed Logan would be if she didn´t go back and
tell him what
was going on. "Ah guess ya right Scott. Ah wasn´t thinking about anyone else
but
mahself."


    She sounded so forlorn that he pulled her into a hug and kissed the top
of her
head. "Hey we all feel selfish sometimes. Why do you think we´re here at the
park?
Because I wanted to get you alone and ask you some questions that´s why.
Don´t you
think that was selfish of me?" Scott pulled back so he could see her face.


    "Thanks for trying to make me feel better sugah. Ah guess we should head
back
now huh. As great as being here alone with ya is it ain´t getting anything
done." Marie let
out a big sigh. Looking as if she was girding herself for battle.


    Scott started the car up and began the drive back to the Mansion. He
wondered
briefly, what kind of reaction they would encounter. By the look on Marie´s
face, she was
expecting the worst. Being a Pessimist, himself Scott knew it would probably
be bad and
that he and Marie likely would not be leaving till the next day.


    They didn´t speak during the short ride. Both of them thinking of all the
possible
ways things could go down. If they had shared their thoughts with each other,
they would
have found that they were thinking basically the same thoughts. Each of them
were
thinking that Jean was going to pitch a fit and that Logan was going to try
to gut Scott.
Such thoughts were depressing to both and so they each focused on the
Mansion, which
they were closing in on.


    Scott pulled into the long driveway and up to the front door. Much to
their
surprise, no one came out and demanded to know where they had been. Marie
opened the
front door and they walked in to the front hall. Everything was quite. Eerily
so. There
didn´t seem to be anyone about.


    Going through the Mansion, they couldn´t find anyone. There was no note
left to
explain were everyone had went off to. Going into the Garage, they found that
there
wasn´t a single car or bike left. Where had everyone gone? They turned to
look at each
other and were both about to speak when screeching tires sounded from outside.


    They both headed outside and found everyone milling about the Lexus.
Logan
was the first to sense their presence and turned to glare at them. A primal
growl issued
forth from Logan a sound that no human throat should be able to produce.


    "Wha...." it was all Scott was able to say before Logan pounced on him.
Scott
suddenly found three nine-inch adamantium claws pricking his throat. O.K.
this was not
one of the things he had imagined happening. He must have hit his head when
Logan
tackled him because there was a ringing in his ears. He wanted to shake his
head to dispel
the ringing but dared not. He didn´t want to help Logan cut his throat.


    Logan was screaming something at him spewing spittle on Scott´s face. But
he
couldn´t hear him. Scott moved his eyes around assessing the situation. Marie
seemed to
be screaming at Logan and crying. Everyone else seemed too shocked to do
anything. His
attention was pulled back to Logan when the man suddenly started shaking him.
Logan
had retracted the claws somewhere along the way for which Scott was grateful.


    Logan shook Scott so hard that his skull cracked against the pavement.
Pain
exploded through his head and his ears popped with a loud whoosh of sound.
And he
could suddenly hear again. He wasn´t quite sure that was such a good thing
though. He
couldn´t understand half of the things that Logan was screaming and hearing
the fear in
Marie´s voice as she begged Logan not to kill him was doing nothing for his
self-
confidence.


    It was a wonder that his glasses had stayed on the way Logan was shaking
him.
He wondered if he would be blamed for the other mans death if his glasses
accidentally
fell off. Logan stopped shaking him as suddenly as he had started. He was
breathing hard
and his feted breath was puffing onto Scott´s face. Whoa, boy ever heard of a
breath
mint. Scott thought wrinkling his nose.


    "If you would let me go I´m sure we could talk this over like reasonable
adults
Logan." Scott said trying to stay calm. Not an easy thing to do when you are
underneath a
man who could rip your head off without even breaking a sweat.


    "Reasonable adults. I´ll show ya reasonable you fuckin´ bastard." Logan´s
claws
popped out again and he drew back his fist. Everyone started to scream and
yell at the
same time then and Marie launched herself forward wrapping her arms around
Logan´s
arm. The Professor´s voice sounded in Scott´s head and he knew the older man
was
projecting to everyone.


    *All of you calm down. Logan restrain yourself this is not the way to get
answers.
Besides the fact that if you kill Scott I do not think that answers will be
forthcoming. Let
him up now.* It was a command and Logan suddenly dropped Scott causing his
head to
impact with the ground yet again. He was going to need a couple of aspirin
later Scott
thought wincing as he felt the back of his head pulling his hand away smeared
with
blood.


    *Everyone into the Mansion now. We will discuss this there.* The
Professor then
proceeded to wheel himself up the ramp and into the Mansion. Everybody else
followed
him slowly glancing back frequently to see if Logan was going to finish Scott
off.



    "Come on Marie." Logan grabbed Marie and tried to pull her after him. But
she
dug her heels in and jerked her arm away.

    "What is wrong with ya Logan? Have ya lost yah mind? Ah ain´t going
anywhere
with ya. Ah´ll wait for Scott. Ya can go in and cool off. Ah ain´t to happy
with ya right
now and Ah think it would be better if ya just go in by yaself." She had her
fists planted
on her hips and looked ready to defend Scott if he needed her to.


    The fact that she was standing up to Logan of all people just blew
Scott´s mind.
He knew how much the Wild Man meant to her. Yet, she was choosing him over
Logan.
His heart seemed to swell in his chest causing a lump to form in his throat.
Swallowing
with some difficulty he rose and put his arm around Marie´s shoulders. Logan
growled
again but subsided when Marie glared at him. Turning on his heel, Logan
stormed into
the Mansion.


    Marie turned around and ran her silk covered hands over his throat, "Are
ya
alright sugah? He didn´t hurt ya to bad did he?" She asked voice shaking as
reaction
finally settled in.


    Scott pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Not wanting to let
her go
ever. She had picked him over Logan and that just proved to him how much she
cared for
him. He finally let her go reluctantly a couple of minutes later when the
Professor
reminded them that everyone was waiting for them.


    Scott laced his fingers through Marie´s and they walked beside each other
into the
Mansion. They found the Professor, Jean, Logan, Hank, Jubes, Kitty, St.John,
Bobby,
Remy and Kitty in the Rec.Room. Everyone else had been asked to leave
apparently.
Scott was unsure why the six teenagers had been allowed to stay. Unless it
was for
Marie´s sake.


    "I am glad you finally decided to join us. Now would you be so kind as to
explain
why you left this morning without leaving a note to let anyone know where you
were. Or
to even let us know that you had left together." The Professor´s tone was
bland.


    Before Scott could say anything Logan butted in. "We thought Marie had
run
away again. So we all went looking fer her. But apparently, that´s not the
case. I can
smell her all over ya and ya on her. Ya don´t get someone´s scent on ya like
that unless
ya get real chummy. Was Jeannie not enough fer ya Summers? Ya have to go
after a little
girl ta get yer rocks off." Scott was suddenly on his feet in front of Logan
his fist
connecting with the other mans jaw. He didn´t even remember moving he was
just
suddenly there.


    Logan swung back at him and suddenly they were on the ground again
rolling
over and over. Knocking into furniture and snarling at each other. Punches
were thrown
but neither of them could get enough leverage for the impact to hurt much.
Scott found
himself suddenly immobile and knew that Jean had both Logan and him in a
Telekinetic
field. Large furry blue arms hauled Logan off of Scott. Bobby and St.John
then lifted
Scott up. Both men were set in chairs at opposite ends of the room.


    "If you are both through acting like children I suggest we continue. I
think maybe
it would be better if Rogue were to answer the questions seeing as how you
Scott are not
behaving reasonably." The Professor looked at Marie then quirking an eyebrow.


    Marie squirmed in her chair and looked at Scott. Scott just nodded mutely
at her
assuring her that it was o.k. for her to answer. She then raised her chin;
sitting up straight
shoulders back and looked right into the Professors eyes as she spoke. "We
didn´t leave a
note because we wanted to be left alone. And it really didn´t occur to me to
leave one in
the first place. Ah don´t think Scott thought of it either. We were both
upset and just
needed to get away so we could calm down and talk." Her chin raised up
another inch.


    "What a load of crap!" Jean shouted leaning forward and glaring at Marie.
"You´re trying to seduce Scott away from me because of what I said last night
aren´t you.
Well you can just forget it you little conniving Bitch. Scott loves me and
you cannot have
him. So take your skanky ass and peddle it somewhere else." There was a
shocked
silence as no one had ever heard Jean speak like that before.


    Then Marie screeched and launched herself at Jean taking the other woman
by
surprise. They were both locked together slapping and pulling hair. Jean
scratched
Marie´s check causing the younger woman to howl in anger. Then Marie stopped
fighting
like a girl and punched Jean right in the nose. There was a loud crunching
sound and Jean
screamed in pain as blood spewed forth from her newly broken nose.


    Marie was suddenly flying threw the air and if it were not for Remy´s cat
like
reflexes she would have flown through the window. Everyone was on his or her
feet as
the shock finally wore off. More screaming ensued and if not for Jubes quick
thinking
(she sicked Hank and the boys on Scott and Logan). Scott and Logan would have
been at
each other´s throats again.


    "It seems none of you can act in a reasonable manner so I will have to
make you
stay in your chairs." The Professor was true to his word as each of the four
combatants
found themselves paralyzed in their respective chairs. "Now I would like to
know exactly
why you four seem to want to maim each other. I want the truth!" He finished
his tone
loud and angry. Everyone knew he meant business then because the Professor
never
raised his voice.


    They all started to speak at once causing the Professor to paralyze their
vocal
chords as well. "One at a time please. I think first I would like to know why
you Jean are
acting so out of character." Everyone turned to look at the woman.



    "I am not acting out of character Charles´s. I am however tired of this
girl." Jean
paused to point at Marie. "She has been nothing but trouble since she came
here. Now
she has the gall to try and come between Scott and me. I´d like to know were
she got the
idea Scott would even be interested in her." The her in question was glaring
in mute
anger at Jean. While Jean was mopping up the blood from her broken nose.


    "Scott perhaps you are calmed down enough to answer Jeans question." The
Professor said.

    "She isn´t trying to steal me from you Jean. She can´t steal me from
you." Jean
looked pleased at that and Scott almost regretted what he said next. "I don´t
belong to
you Jean that is why she can´t steal me from you. I think that we should
break up. Our
relationship has been on the rocks for a while now you know that. I think
that Marie and
me have something special forming between us. Something that I would like to
explore.
When you calm down you will see that I am right in dissolving this
relationship. You can
be with Logan now. Please don´t say you don´t want to be because I know you
do. Just
let it go Jean. If you really love me let me be happy." Scott winced when he
saw the hurt
and anger plain on her face.



    "You´re leaving me for her. She is just a girl Scott. You cannot even
touch her for
Christ´s sake. What kind of relationship can you have with her?" Jean was
livid.


    "What do ya mean ya want to explore your relationship with Marie ya
fuckin´
bastard. Jeanie is right she´s just a girl. There ain´t gonna be a
relationship Summers not
if I have anythin´ to say about it." Logan butted in growling.


    "It ain´t none of ya concern Logan. Ah know my own mind and Ah want to be
with Scott. There ain´t nothing ya can do about it anyway ya not my daddy to
be saying
what Ah can and can´t do." Marie exclaimed in anger. "Scott is gonna take me
down ta
visit mah parents and they can say if´n Ah can see him or not. And then it´s
just until Ah
turn Eighteen in two months. Then Ah do what Ah want to." Her eyes widened
when she
realized she had just told the whole room her and Scott´s plan.



    "What do ya mean you and Summers is goin´ to yer parents? Ain´t no way
Xavier
there is gonna allow that darlin´." Logan looked smug. Jean was also smirking.


    But then they both got a shock when Xavier said. "I think that is a
wonderful idea
Marie. I have been hoping that you would make contact with your parents. The
both of
you going on this trip would allow for everyone concerned to calm down and
think
rationally. You have my permission to take a one-week vacation Scott. Maybe
by then we
can all sit down and talk about this like reasonably sane individuals." He
turned then and
wheeled himself out leaving everyone slack jawed in shock.


    Jean got up and stormed out holding her injured nose followed closely by
Logan.
Hank tipped an imaginary hat at Scott and ambled out. Marie was engulfed in a
group
hug by six over exuberant teenagers and Scott suddenly realized that his hand
hurt like
Hell. Looking down he saw that he had split the knuckles and he groaned.
That´s what
you get when you punch a guy with an adamantium laced skeleton. Well at least
he could
have Hank treat him and not Jean. She would be to busy setting her nose to
help him.


    He signaled to Marie that he was going to get his hand fixed. She winced
in
sympathy and mouthed ´ouch´. He nodded and then headed after the Big furry
blue
doctor. "Hey Hank wait up can you take a look at my head and hand for me."


    Hank turned around. "Most definitely my friend." He led the way to the
med lab
and motioned Scott to sit on an examining table. Then he slipped his glasses
on and took
Scott´s hand in his much larger one. "I do believe this will take a couple of
stitches to aid
in it´s healing." He pulled Scott´s head down next moving the hair out of the
way. "This
also could use a stitch or two." Grabbing his little light he shined it in
Scott´s eyes
causing him to wince. Even through his glasses, it hurt. "For me to ascertain
you have not
sustained a concussion I must insist that you stay still my friend."


    Hank hmmed and then took the light away from Scott´s poor abused eyes. "
It is
rather hard to tell through your glasses but it does not appear that you have
any
substantial head trauma other than the obvious laceration." He grabbed a
syringe to numb
the abused areas and proceeded to stitch Scott up.


    Scott knew that Hank must have a thousand questions to ask. The man had
barely
been back for a week and wasn´t really caught up on everything that had
happened in his
absence. And yet, he was silent. It reminded Scott of why they were such good
friends.
He thanked Hank and then went in search of Marie.


    Finding her in her room being assaulted with questions from her own
freinds, he
retreated. Coward who him? He went to his own room and packed what he felt he
would
need for the next week. Then he went back to Marie´s room and found her alone.


    "How´d you manage to get rid of the gossip factory?" He asked causing her
to
jump.


    She whirled around clutching her hand to her heart. Which caused his
thoughts to
take a turn to the lecherous. He wondered suddenly what she would taste like
and if her
skin was as soft as it looked. He would have liked to lick his way down her
body from
head to toe to find out. He snapped out of it when Marie cleared her throat.
He looked at
her face and realized she must have figured out where his thoughts had been
because she
was blushing a brilliant red.


    He wondered if he had time to take a cold shower before they left. He had
the
mother of all hard-ons at the moment and didn´t think he could sit down
comfortably let
alone drive for half a day and night. Oh well.

   
    "You ready to go Marie?" He asked.

    "Yeh Scott Ah´m ready." She sounded embarrassed and he wondered if she
was
aware of Mr.Hard-on. As if sensing his thoughts it gave a twitch causing him
to grit his
teeth. Picking up Marie´s suitcase he led the way down to the car and put it
in the trunk.


    Then he helped her into the car and in no time, they were off. Both
caught up in
their own thoughts.