Never Cage the Beast

A/N: Storm is more sympathetic in my version of the X-Men series, like in the last two movies! And the minds of Logan and Jean are going to get just a little confusing! Unfortunately, the Phoenix and Wolverine are much easier to understand, cause they both like destroying and killing-gulp-stuff...! ;) -winks devilishly-

Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men! The plot though is mine!

Summary: AU: What if Jean was powerful enough to capture Logan's mind and bring back a beast that has been trapped for far too long? Will the remaining X-Men be able to save them before it's too late? Or must both of them perish for the world to become a better place? X-Men: The Last Stand Spoilers! R&R!

.:.

Chapter Three – Whispers in the Dark

A house stood across the end of the street, where the long road going straight met its end. Parting in two separate paths, anyone walking through the sidewalk could choose from three, but only one would lead them to their destination. The roads were peaceful, but there was an uneasy silence that surrounded the area that made it spookier than friendly.

No one had dared to go outdoors after seeing two strangers enter the Grey's house, followed by a menacing weather. The usual atmosphere of peacefulness was disturbed. Not one of the neighbors living near the area seemed to recognize that this particular someone once lived in that very house as a small child. With her changed appearances, perhaps it was hard to see the little Jean Grey in her anymore.

Jean… a wandering voice called out inside the depths of Jean Grey's mind. It was very faint, and so it was easily overwhelmed by the roar of power by the rush of the Phoenix's shrieks. The original Jean Grey heard nothing but cold silence as she, too, called out for a savior. The voice that whispered for Jean's name belonged to Logan, who was lost in an endless world of darkness. But this man was in no control over his body. He was now one of the caged.

.:.

"Professor, I don't think you should go inside alone. It will be safer if I go with you," Storm spoke as she followed Professor Xavier towards the house of the Grey's, growing closer into view with each second. There was a sense of foreboding that hovered over the house and something inside of Storm told her they should go any closer to it.

At first sight, it almost looked as if there was nothing wrong with it. But the mutant, her best friend, was inside the house - her other half seething with fiery anger. She shook her head softly, a thin stream of tears lining inside her eyes. The memories they shared of laughter and friendship flashed by her eyes, continuing to replay inside her mind that made her feel a turmoil inside of her heart. It was hard to think that her friend was in pain. It was unbearable to know that those shared moments with the Jean she knew were being lost, consumed by fires of revenge, anger and misunderstanding. This time things may not end with a happy ending, and it frightened her. However she also knew that life was not a story that dwelled with a good endings all the time. Someone always fell, while others stood to live a better day.

This time the X-Men might not be able to save Jean.

Perhaps not even the Professor...

"Storm."

Storm was snapped back to reality by the Professor's familiar voice. Blinking back with the back of her hand, she looked down to meet the Professor's gaze. He stared back with a look of concern and a disconcerting expression. Storm thought that she saw sorrow in his eyes. She took the old man's hand, and gave it a tight grip. The Professor smiled, but it seemed somewhat forced.

"I think it best if I enter first. When I call, please come."

Storm, although reluctant to the idea, gave a slow, small nod. The Professor moved his wheelchair closer to the house. It looked so ordinary from the outside, perfectly cleansed. It would not have brought anybody's eyes to narrow in suspicion. But perhaps it was the most normal occurrences in life that are the most unusual of them all.

Jean...

Jean. Jean.

JEAN.

The Professor stopped, feeling the vibrations of a telepathic voice echoing through his mind. It was a disturbing sound.. and he knew the voice well. Logan... he was trapped within his own body and mind. And like Jean, he needed to release them. The Phoenix had to be stopped.

Storm continued to watch over the Professor's movements, with a worried frown on her lips.

When the Professor reached the house and its milky white door, a scream immediately pierced his consciousness, making him shut his eyes in agony. It was the howling of a creature that had been released and wallowing in its deserved victory. Of a bird triumphantly spreading its wings.

He took the metal doorknob and opened it. The shrieking only became louder. The Phoenix noticed his presence in the house but let the man enter the house. Quickly, the Professor followed the voice and the yell of the creature inside of Jean's head. Along the way, he saw inanimate objects floating in midair, like the world had been poured with gravity.

"Jean, I know you are here."

JEAN.

Jean...

The Professor found Jean sitting on a chair in the corner of her old room. Logan was nowhere in sight. As soon as the Professor entered the room, the objects that had been in the air fell with a crash, the books that had been neatly shelved now laying strewn on the wooden floor.

Jean Grey did not look up. Her hair hid her face, making it impossible for anyone to read her expression. Fortunately, and perhaps unluckily, for the Professor, he was able to read her thoughts... or what she let slip.

"I knew you'd come."

The Professor moved closer. "Jean, I can help you."

Jean looked up now, and this time her face could be seen. It was the vision of a wrathful beast. Her eyes burned, glowing like with searing red.

"I AM NOT JEAN! My name is the Phoenix!"

"Jean- let me in! I can help you! This is not you. Look what happened to Scott! You killed the man you loved because you could not control your powers!" The Professor shouted, hoping this will bring the real Jean to the surface. He tried to reach out to her, using his mind as a tool for her rescue. However his attempt seemed futile.

The Phoenix's lips turned into an ugly snarl, "Get. out. of. my. HEAD!"

At the same time the Phoenix yelled, however, the real voice of Jean poured out from the cracks of consciousness. The Professor heard it almost immediately and hope sparked inside of him.

Professor..

I will help you, Jean! Hold on- the Professor was cut off. The Phoenix had gotten up, her hair flying wildly in the air and her eyes a golden sun. She was ready for the kill.

"I told you to get OUT!" the Phoenix hissed. The Professor was not ready to give up nor lose faith in Jean. He needed to put back the barriers that had leashed the creature in Jean's mind. He needed to-

Jean...

The Professor heard the voice. This time, it was so close, it was right next to him.

He turned his head now, his concentration and eyes focused on Phoenix. However he thought it strange that she was not angry no more... The rage that she had previously been emanating was now abolished and replaced with amusement. He could even see the beginnings of a smile on her face.

A gasp came out of his throat, choked painfully by the sudden truth.

Logan stood at the edge of the door. Or what looked like him.

His eyes were nothing but a bare blackness, stretching like a landscape that never ended nor faded. His clothes were intact, the shirt he had previously been wearing still clinging to his skin. But this was not the man the Professor had talked to this morning. No, it was something more greater, a whole lot deadlier. It had only one name... and like the Phoenix, it was now free.

"Logan...?" the Professor spoke, close to a whisper.

Nothing but a growl answered him back. Logan did not even flinch, nor speak. This man only watched back at him with hatred. Claws extended from both fists, a streak of light bouncing off from the adamantium silver.

The Professor turned back to the Phoenix, staring straight at her. She must have known what would have happened if Logan's other consciousness was released! She knew and yet she let it happen!

"What have you done?"

The Phoenix only laughed hard.

A/N: ;D Yeah, it's a cliffie, again. I guess I'm the cliffie in the end sort of writer. I just can't stop writing them, they hit me before I try to close it without hanging end, and makes my fingers tingle. I don't have much choice but to write after that, do I? XP Besides, I think everybody had seen that coming! (; So technically, if that's the case, I'm not cliffing! XD lol! So, I hope you guys liked it! (: Please review, that'll get me fired up again!

I'm in need of a bit of inspiration though. I don't have too much of a plot going here, and if that happens (the horror!), then the whole story'd turn into a horrible recap of the third movie (which I think would be unoriginal). If any of you guys have any ideas that you might like to share with me, I'll think them over and will credit of course if I use! :D Thanks!