Part One

Logan nearly choked on his coffee. "Excuse me?" he sputtered, once he could breathe again. He tried to keep the incredulity from his voice, but it was hard. "Did I hear you right just now?"

The young woman sitting across the table from him gave him a tolerant look, but he saw a wicked sparkle in her intense violet eyes. Sunglasses, Logan thought bemusedly. Definitely a must for her traveling disguise next time. She wore makeup to disguise her unusual coloring, that was smart, but those eyes, those incredible eyes of hers--they ought to be registered as lethal weapons. His feelings for her might be strictly platonic, even paternal, but even he wasn't entirely immune to what she could do with one eloquent look.

"You heard me." She arched an eyebrow. "Unless you're going deaf in your old age--" He growled at her and she fell silent, her sly smile growing. She'd always known how to push his buttons. Got damned irritating at times.

Needing a moment to regain his composure, Logan glanced around the small airport cafe, making sure that no one was showing any signs of unusual interest in their conversation. She did the same, just as casually, and then turned back to him, her expression serene. He gave her his best stern look. As usual, it only seemed to amuse her.

"Are you out of your mind, Neena?" he demanded, more harshly than he'd intended. Her smile vanished abruptly.

"Domino," she corrected him, quietly but firmly. "I told you to call me Domino. For now, at least."

He groaned. "Fine!" he said in exasperation. She rolled her eyes at him, and he sighed. "I know, I know. I was the one who suggested you find yourself a nom de guerre, kid--"

"And I found one that suited me, old man," she said mockingly, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "Don't you like it?" He didn't deign to respond, and she grinned at him. "Think, Logan. If I'm going to go by 'Domino', I have to get used to hearing people call me by it. But don't worry, I'll always be 'Neena' to you." She chuckled. "Not that 'Neena' is all that accurate, either."

Logan shook his head, muttering a few choice curses under his breath. Aliases were a neccessary thing in their line of work, but he sometimes thought she carried the 'name game' to extremes. And she certainly got an indecent amount of amusement out of it. "How can you even be considering this?" he asked, trying to keep his voice level. "What happened? You get bored and decide 'Hey, let's see if I can goad the old man into a stroke'?"

She gave him a dark look. "Logan, you're always letting your prejudices run away with you." Her eyes narrowed. "Weren't you the one who told me I'd gone as far as I could, solo?"

"Yeah, so?" he grumbled defensively. "I also remember saying I'd help you find a place that suited you!" And he had. A good, reliable mercenary he'd known for years was putting together a new group, right here on the West Coast. He'd taken her out to dinner last week and 'happened' to mention Neena in the course of conversation. Like always, Simone had played it cool, but Logan knew her well enough to see she'd been interested.

"Yeah, so?" Neena mimicked him, looking annoyed. "I don't want you to 'find a place' for me, Logan. I'm a big girl, I can make my own decisions!"

He sighed and took another swallow of his coffee. Should've known something was up. She'd called him this morning, telling him she'd arranged a short-term job for herself and asking for a ride to the airport. He'd been more than agreeable--they hadn't seen each other much during the last couple of months. Conflicting schedules and all that. And he missed her. But she'd been much too quiet in the car on the way over. Logan had figured she had something to tell him, something she didn't think he'd like. But this?

"I'm too old for this," he muttered. She snorted, and he gave her a reproving look. He needed to make it clear to her that he wasn't challenging her independence. Only her judgement, his conscience pointed out with a snort. He ignored it. "I'm not disputing your right to choose what you want to do, darlin'," he said carefully. "You've handled yourself well this last year. Made me proud. But you don't know what you're getting yourself into--"

"Don't I?" she asked, her eyes flashing. "Give me some credit, Logan. I've done my research, just like you taught me. And everything I've dug up says their reputation is solid. The Wild Pack is reliable, efficient, professional, and in demand. I like that combination, even if you don't," she concluded almost defiantly. "I fit the profile, Logan. I'm what they're looking for, even if they don't know it yet." Her expression grew almost defensive for a moment. "What, you don't think I'm up to working with a team?"

Logan groaned. "I didn't say that. Quit jumping to conclusions." He took a deep breath, and went on calmly. "You're as qualified as the next person, darlin'. I know that--I trained you, remember? But your abilities aren't the issue here--"

"Oh, right." She leaned back in her chair, scowling. "It's not me, it's Cable. I swear, Logan, even if this don't work out, it'll be worth it just to meet the man, after all your horror stories." She shook her head, folding her arms across her chest and giving him a stubborn look. "What is this beef you have with him, anyways?"

Logan winced. "I wouldn't call it a beef, darlin'." Actually, how would he describe it? Besides getting out of hand, that is. Fleeting pangs of conscience aside, he wouldn't trust Cable with his pet goldfish, if he had any. Let alone with someone as precious to him as the young woman glaring at him now.

"I don't care what you call it," Neena was saying in that brittle voice that meant she was just about at the end of her patience. "I arranged a meeting. What happens, happens. But it's not the sort of opportunity that drops into your lap every day, Logan. I'll be damned if I give it up because you've got some kind of personal problem with an ex-SHIELD agent I've never met!"

Logan took another sip of coffee, to cover his surprise. "You did do your homework," he muttered, impressed despite himself. Very few people outside SHIELD had known Cable and Bridge in their officer days. Most of those were dead, and the files on Fury's one-time 'troubleshooters' were buried as deeply as Nick had been capable of burying them. He gave Neena a thoughtful look, wondering how much she knew. But all he saw in her expression was resolve, and Logan sighed, recognizing his options.

He could keep kicking up a fuss. She'd get pissed and probably stop speaking to him for the next six months. Or he could grin and bear it. The idea didn't appeal to him, but it was the best way. For now.

"Do what you want," he growled, trying to make it sound grudging. If he gave up too easily, she'd smell a rat. "You would anyways. Like I always say, you've got a stubborn streak as--"

"Wide as the Grand Canyon," she concluded in a good impression of his exasperated tone. "I know." In the distance, a pleasant female voice announced over the P.A. that 'American Airlines Flight 147, bound for Toronto' was now boarding. Neena rose, giving him an irrepressible grin. "You know me too well, old man. Wish me luck?" It was an old joke between them.

He got up, enfolding her in a fierce embrace. "As if you needed it, girl," he scoffed. "Take care."

She vanished into the crowd, without a glance back. Typical. Neena never did anything she didn't intend to do with her whole heart. But Logan couldn't make himself feel good about this. All his instincts were telling him this was the wrong choice, that it would only lead to trouble in the end.

So he had to make sure that didn't happen. Leaving the money for their coffees and a healthy tip, he wandered from the cafe over to the American Airlines desk. There, he asked the attendant about the next flight to Toronto.

"I'm sorry to say we don't have another flight to Toronto until tommorow morning, sir," she said apologetically.

"That'll do," he growled, and paid for the ticket. Neena's meeting with Cable and Bridge was tommorow night. She hadn't said where, but he had a pretty good idea. In any case, he'd have plenty of time.

***

Cable raised an eyebrow as Bridge ordered another drink. "G.W.," he said bluntly, "don't you think you've had enough? I'm not carrying you back to the hotel."

"Lighten up, Nate," Bridge scoffed, his words slightly slurred. "We finished our contract, we're alive, what's not to celebrate?" He gestured around at the bar. "We're in the best watering hole in the great Dominion of Canada, and still you can't relax. You are too uptight, pal."

Cable studied their surroundings moodily, wondering why G.W. liked the Gatehouse so much. From a practical standpoint, he approved of this place. Catering to people in their link of work, it was swept for bugs daily, and the staff didn't ask questions. Even the clientele tended to keep to themselves. In many ways, the Gatehouse was neutral territory.

But the bar was crowded tonight, and he was tired. Tired enough that he was picking up more background noise, telepathically speaking, than usual. It was making him edgy. And sitting here watching his usually inhibited partner get thoroughly drunk wasn't helping. He knew Bridge was, like he'd said, just celebrating being alive after his brush with death during their last job.

Cable scowled at the memory. They'd been caught in the middle of a very nasty firefight when G.W. had stepped on a landmine. Cable had managed to disarm it telekinetically, fighting to concentrate on the delicate mechanism while Hammer and Grizzly laid down covering fire. But it had been close, too flonqing close. His telekinesis was an unreliable tool at the best of times. Part of him hated that weakness in himself, even while the rest of him pointed out that he should learn to make do with what he had, like always--

"What're you brooding about now?" Bridge demanded loudly, but Cable saw the flicker of concern in his eyes.

"Nothing," he said stiffly. As he looked away, he heard Bridge sigh. Cable felt a momentary pang at not saying anything, even if it was only 'I'm glad you're not dead'. But everything he cared about died, and it was better, safer, not to feel anything. Not to connect.

He just wished that realization wasn't so depressing. What is, is, he told himself resolutely, and looked at his watch. "She's late," he said darkly. "Not a good sign."

"Give her a break, huh?" Bridge snorted. "Five minutes isn't a big deal."

Cable gave him a cold smile. "Timing is everything." He'd timeripped often enough over the last few years that he'd become intimately aware of how much five minutes could mean--if they were the right five minutes. Not that he thought tonight's meeting was going to be a pivotal one. Although, he told himself frankly, you never know, do you?

"Huh," Bridge said disgustedly as the waitress brought his drink over. "You and your double meanings."

"I wasn't insinuating anything," Cable lied, irritated. Bridge had developed an aggravating habit lately, pouncing on anything he said that was even remotely enigmatic. "If she can't be punctual for a simple meeting, what does that say about her?"

"That she got stuck in traffic, maybe?" Bridge pointed out, shaking his head ruefully. "You can be a judgemental son of a bitch at times, Nate, you know that?" He took a sip of his drink. "So, who arranged this?" he continued casually. "Hammer?"

"Obviously," Cable said, trying not to snarl at him. "We all agreed to let him handle recruitment. You and I are too busy, and Grizzly doesn't have the right temperament--" Theo was too easygoing. Too trusting.

"I still can't believe Ham even arranged an interview with a woman. You know his opinion on female mercenaries." Bridge sounded almost nostalgic. "Remember when he mouthed off to Ellen Byrne? Ellie threatened to castrate him with a pair of rusty garden shears, I think it was--"

Cable didn't feel like discussing Hammer's prejudices. That particular brand of discrimination had never made much sense to him. In his time, fully half of his Clan's fighters had been female. Excluding them from combat would have been both impossible and stupid. "She has the skills we need," he said in a neutral voice. "Hammer knew that if he'd dismissed her out of hand just because she was female, he and I would have had words."

"Since when have the two of you ever needed an excuse for that?" Bridge joked. Cable gave him a chilly look, and he sighed. "Quit glowering and tell me about our candidate."

Cable shrugged, feeling oddly resentful. "Not much to tell, yet," he said coldly. "Hammer says she wasn't particularly free with the personal information, but that doesn't matter. I should be able to find out whatever we need." Bravado, really. His scanning range was limited, even more so with the headache he was developing. "Hopefully she'll be forthcoming, and I won't have to do it the other way." Oath, I just want her to get here so that we can get this over with--

Looking almost sober, Bridge studied his face intently. "Only if you have to," he said warningly. "I know how tired you are, and I don't want you pushing it. The 'other way' usually leaves you half-blind with a headache for the next two days--"

"Stop mothering me, Bridge!" Cable growled, letting his irritation show. Sometimes he regretted ever letting Bridge know about his abilities. Not that he'd had much choice at the time--"I don't need or want your advice on this!"

Bridge's eyes narrowed at the rebuke. "This isn't just lack of sleep, is it? What's bugging you, Nathan?"

"Nothing! I'm fine!" Cable snapped, flinching at the real concern behind the question. But he wasn't about to try and explain to G.W. why he couldn't get the image of that burnt-out village they'd seen down in Guatamela out of his head. Or confess to the nightmares it had triggered, nightmares he thought he'd seen the last of years ago. The charred wreckage, the blackened bodies--it had been a scene straight out of his own past. It didn't matter that he had held no responsibility to the dead. It had been someone's duty to protect them, and that someone had failed. Just as he had, years ago--

"Of course you are," Bridge said with a humorless smile, sounding resigned. "Not that you'd tell me, even if you weren't." Cable, startled by the edge of hurt in his partner's voice, started to say something, but Bridge shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he said, his tone turning caustic. "I'm just being selfish, that's all. Someone's got to talk to our new employer tommorow morning, and I doubt I'll be rid of the hangover by then."

"Sure," Cable grumbled, forcing a semblance of humor into his voice. "Leave the negotiating to me. You know I hate it." Too many of the people who employed their services had minds like sewers. Even for a low-level telepath like himself, exposure could be--unsettling.

"Burden of leadership, Nathan," Bridge said with a sudden, disconcerting grin. "Bottoms up." He held up his own glass, a challenging look in his eyes. Put off balance by Bridge's sudden mood swing, Cable picked up his own untouched drink, the one G.W. had ordered for him when they'd arrived, and tossed it back without thinking.

It had looked innocuous enough, clear like water. But it was a good deal stronger than he'd expected, and burned all the way down. He coughed and sputtered for a good minute, while Bridge sat watching, looking suspiciously smug. When he could finally speak again, Cable gave his partner a baleful glare.

"That is the--absolute LAST time I let you order for me, Bridge," he wheezed. His throat felt raw. "What in the name of the Bri--what was that?" He went off into another coughing fit. By the time he'd gotten over it, Bridge was looking somewhat repentant.

"Not very nice of me, that's what," he admitted. "Especially considering you don't drink." Cable gave him a defensive look, and Bridge's grin returned. "What, you don't think I've noticed? You'll order something and then nurse it all night. Like you were doing it for form's sake, going through the motions or something."

"I've seen people get drunk, Bridge. The loss of control doesn't appeal to me." Now, how had that slipped out? Bridge looked startled, and then nodded, as if something had just been confirmed to him. Cable scowled at the empty glass. Alcohol use had been a vice limited to the highest caste in his time. He nearly laughed at the sudden, absurd image of G.W. in a milk bar. "What did you say this was?" he asked.

"Why? Want another?"

"I think one was enough," Cable said severely. "One of us has to be sober when she gets here."

Bridge snorted. "A drink or two is not going to shatter your precious focus, Nathan." That concerned look was back on his face. Cable hated it. "You've got to learn to relax, partner. Not healthy to be wound so tight all the time."

"You sound like Fury," Cable muttered resentfully. He'd heard this lecture before. "'Cut yourself some slack, Nate.' 'Don't lose your perspective, Nate.' 'Nate, take two days leave before I throw you off the Helicarrier without a parachute--'"

"Yeah, well. Nick may've been wrong about a lot of things, Nate, but he wasn't too far off-base about you. He had you pegged as a control freak from the moment he laid eyes on you." Bridge leaned towards him, a very peculiar look on his face. "You know," he said, as if confiding something, "a mercenary that doesn't drink stands out like a sore thumb."

Starting to feel a little light-headed, Cable considered Bridge's words. "Really?" he asked, staring down at the empty glass. Bridge nodded. "Guess I should work on that. It's not as easy as it looks," he concluded quietly.

"Something tells me you're not talking about drinking, my friend," Bridge murmured almost encouragingly.

"Not drinking," Cable muttered. "Adapting." No matter how carefully he watched the people around him, how much he worked on mimicking their behaviour, he always missed something. Nuances that he couldn't seem to see. The society of this era seemed, on the surface, to be so much simpler than his own. He'd been quickly disabused of that notion.

"Well, that was typically cryptic," Bridge said dryly, but there was a strange note of satisfaction in his voice as he downed the rest of his drink. Cable gave him a sharp look, realizing he'd just given something away. As if he didn't suspect enough already! Cable rebuked himself angrily, trying to think of a way to cover his unintentional lapse.

Then, he sensed it.

He stiffened, inwardly reeling with shock, the gentle haze that had been creeping over his awareness blown away like mist by a strong wind. Bridge called his name, his voice sharp with worry, but Cable raised a hand to silence him as the mind that had blazed into his awareness like a comet entered the crowd. He didn't need to have worried about losing track of it; even amid the background babble, it stood out effortlessly.

Beautiful, he thought helplessly, lost in a rapt fascination like nothing he'd ever experienced. He could sense no awareness of his presence in those clear, strong, oddly luminous thoughts. Whoever this was, he--no, she, Cable decided, the psi-pattern was unmistakably feminine--couldn't be telepathic, despite its peculiar radiance. He could sense pride and humor, and a sharpness that spoke of both intelligence and cunning. There were shadows, here and there, but they only served to make the light more brilliant in contrast--

Cable blinked in surprise as an attractive young woman emerged from the crowd. She was the source of the psi-pattern, he realized, amazed at how young she was. Tall and slender with long dark hair, she couldn't have been more than eighteen. She moved with a fluid, dangerous grace, a confidence that made it quite clear that she belonged here, in this crowd, despite her youth. Cable was suddenly hit by the irrational desire to get up, go over to her, and pick a fight, just to see her fighting style. Askani forms of unarmed combat created that sort of--elegance of movement, but only after years of training. His instincts told him that her grace was a natural gift, something that training had only honed.

Where the hell are they? he heard her think irritably. He was rocked by the sheer power behind that thought. Damn that cab driver, if he's blown this for me I'm going to hunt him down, I swear--

Then she spotted them, and he saw the tension on her face relax into recognition. There they are, he heard. I'm glad they didn't leave, I guess I should apologize for being late, stupid cab driver--

The stream of consciousness grew even louder as she came over to their table. Cable hastily reinforced his shields, but even that didn't block her out entirely. She stopped, sliding off her sunglasses and regarding them with brilliant, penetrating violet eyes.

"Bridge and Cable, right?" she asked. Bridge just stared at her, a very strange expression on his face. Cable frowned at him, but trying to block out the girl's thoughts was taking all his attention. He didn't have time to stop and figure out what Bridge's problem was.

"Right," Cable said, more gruffly than he'd intended. Oh shit, I offended them, the girl was thinking, clearly chagrined despite the cool expression she was wearing. Damn it, it's not my fault, I meant to be here early, what happened to my damned luck, tonight of all nights? Her frustrated thoughts flew out at him like arrows, each hitting their mark with deadly accuracy. Cable shook his head doggedly, as if the physical movement would somehow clear his mind. But it didn't, and he told himself not to glower at the girl. She couldn't know what she was doing.

"Sorry I'm late," she said quickly, giving him a slightly nervous smile. "It's good to meet you. I'm Domino."

Part Two

Sliding into the empty chair, Domino regarded the two men at the table with a mixture of apprehension and interest. The pictures in their SHIELD files hadn't done them justice, she decided. They were both tall and powerfully built, with a--presence that she envied. Confidence, she told herself. They're very good, and they know it. She wondered how many years of experience she'd need to have under her belt before her 'cockiness' became that sort of--aura.

She shifted uneasily in her chair as she saw that Bridge was staring at her. Outwardly, he seemed perfectly calm, but there was something in his eyes, a faint gleam of what might have been--surprise? Domino frowned inwardly, wondering how she'd provoked that sort of reaction. But he didn't seem inclined to act on it right at the moment, so she turned her attention to Cable. He was the one she was really curious about, after all Logan's stories.

Unlike his partner's, Cable's SHIELD file hadn't included any personal information at all. Not even a real name, which had intrigued her considering her own eccentricities in that area. Looking at him now, she couldn't even tell how old he was. His brown hair was streaked with silver, but he didn't look any older than Bridge. She'd read in his file that he was some kind of cyborg, but meeting his eyes was still rather jarring. His right eye was normal, a light blue-gray, but his left was blank gold, and glowed faintly in the dimness of the room. Some kind of implant, she told herself, and noticed that, unlike herself, Bridge and everyone else in the bar on this hot summer's night, he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

Looking mildly amused, he offered her his hand. His left hand, which would have been perfectly normal-looking if it hadn't been made of metal. Flushing slightly, she shook hands firmly. His grip was strong, but not crushing, and she caught herself wondering how much he was holding back.

"Why Domino?" Cable asked. His voice was deep and rather rough, but Domino noticed a faint, musical accent she couldn't quite place.

She stepped firmly on the impulse to ask 'Why Cable?' in return. "Because things have a habit of falling into place for me," she said, hoping she didn't sound too brazen. Cable leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a faint bemusement that made her uncomfortable, for some reason. "Thanks for agreeing to this meeting," she said, too quickly.

He blinked, as if she'd startled him. "I'll relay your thanks to Hammer," he said, his phrasing oddly stilted. "I understand you flew in from the West Coast?" She nodded, and his tone grew faintly apologetic. "I'm sorry to inconvenience you by bringing you all the way out here, then, but we're about to leave on a job that may take the next few months--"

"Not a problem," she said briskly, a little surprised by how polite he was. Not at all what she'd expected. "I'm just glad to have this chance." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could smack herself in the head. God, that sounded ridiculous. He's going to think I'm some kind of groupie or something--

Cable's mouth quirked in what might almost have been a smile. "It'll be to our benefit, if we come to an understanding." His accent seemed to grow stronger, and she shifted in her chair, irritated by her inability to place it. Even with all the traveling she'd done with Logan, she'd never heard anything quite like it. "You come with good references," Cable continued, "although I have to admit, you're a little younger than I expected--"

"A little younger?" Bridge suddenly blurted. "We'd have done better robbing the nearest cradle!"

Domino gave him a single incredulous look before she could stop herself. What the hell is this? she thought, struggling to control her expression. Good cop, bad cop?

"I don't understand the problem," she said, unable to keep the suspicious astonishment out of her voice. Bridge heard it, and laughed as he looked sideways at Cable.

"Damn, Nate. Looks like I hurt the poor girl's feelings."

Domino bit back what she really wanted to say. "Look, Bridge," she grated, telling herself to be diplomatic. She was, after all, showing a great deal of presumption in coming to them. "Your group's looking for someone with specific skills. Skills which I have. My age shouldn't matter." You chauvinist pig, she thought balefully, but didn't say.

Bridge snorted. "Give me a break, girl," he scoffed. "Skill is one thing, experience is another. We don't need some greenhorn who can't apply her know-how under pressure."

"G.W.," Cable started, looking distinctly displeased. Bridge waved at him dismissively.

"Nate, we're wasting our time here," he said brusquely, before Cable could say another word. Rising from his chair, Bridge gave her a contemptuous look. "Go home and grow up, kid. Give us a call in five years." He suddenly laughed again. "On second thought, make that ten years."

Domino got up, feeling her cheeks burn. She gave Bridge a scornful look, although every fiber in her being ached to wipe that smirk off his face. Logan had been right, damn him. Next time she'd listen to him. "Fine with me, Bridge," she said coldly, and turned to go. She'd be damned if she gave him the satisfaction of showing disappointment. His loss, she told herself fiercely.

"You know," Bridge called after her as she started for the door. "Maybe I was wrong. What do you think, Cable? Could the Pack do with a mascot?" Domino turned back towards him slowly, glaring in disbelief. He grinned maliciously at her, clearly enjoying himself to no end. Cable, on the other hand, was staring at him as if he thought his partner had taken leave of his senses. "Eye candy," Bridge continued mockingly, "to lure in potential employers. You might be good at that, kid, you've certainly got the looks for it--"

The leer he tacked on to the end of that outrageous suggestion was just too much. Seething, Domino stepped forward and decked him. Taken by surprise, Bridge went down like a sack of potatoes, with a very satisfying thud.

"What do you think of my looks now, you son of a bitch?" she snarled, and then gave a startled yelp as she was unceremoniously deposited in the chair she'd vacated only a moment before. "Hey! Hands off, pal!"

"Maybe I should have had that second drink," Cable muttered, letting go of her before she could even begin to pull away. She opened her mouth, intending to tell him where he could shove it, but the words froze on her tongue.

His left eye was glowing. Not faintly, as it had before. Actually, blazing would probably be the better description. Cable gave her an unreadable look and then turned, stiffening as he surveyed the room slowly. His fists were clenched at his sides, and the look on his face was one of fierce, almost desperate concentration. Domino glanced around warily, trying to figure out what he was looking for. But no one was showing any interest in their table. Not even the bouncers--which was just plain weird, considering what she'd done. "Nothing to see--" Cable muttered.

"Cable!" she said sharply. He didn't look at her, and she scowled. Oh, this is just great! One insults me, and the other ignores me! Well, I'm NOT IMPRESSED! "Earth to Cable!" she almost shouted. He shivered, the glow vanishing from his eye, and looked down at her blankly. "Look," she snarled, too angry to be diplomatic any longer. "I don't know if this is how you treat all your applicants, or whether the two of you just had a few too many before I got here, but I didn't travel across the continent to be--"

He gave her another one of those strange almost-smiles, somehow silencing her as effectively as if he'd clasped a hand over her mouth. "Insulted. Of course you didn't," he said with a weary sigh, his shoulders sagging. Rather unsteadily, he returned to his side of the table and bent over to pull his own chair upright. Domino frowned. She didn't recall it getting knocked over. Cable stared vacantly at the opposite wall for a moment. Then, shaking himself, he peered down at Bridge. "Get off the floor, G.W.," he said, sounding irritated.

Using the table as support, Bridge pulled himself back to his feet, straightening his chair and sitting down. "I think she broke my jaw," he said, rubbing it tentatively.

"We can only hope," Cable muttered. Bridge gave him a lopsided grin that made Domino scowl, suddenly sure that this had all been an act, some kind of test. But before she could say anything, Cable winced, sinking his face into his hands. "Thanks, partner," he said, his voice muffled. "Like my headache wasn't bad enough already."

Bridge's amusement turned so swiftly into concern that Domino was startled. "I think we could all use a drink," he said, and signaled the waitress to come over. She did, smiling cheerfully, as if she hadn't seen the minor fracas that had just occurred. Domino frowned. From what she'd heard of the Gatehouse, if you acted up, you got tossed out. This sort of tolerance was very, very odd. Why wasn't anyone--"What would you like, Domino?" Bridge asked abruptly. Domino stiffened, disarmed by the sudden courtesy, and gave the waitress her order. The woman looked expectantly at Cable. "Get him another, too," Bridge said, his eyes narrowing. "Same as before." As the waitress left, Bridge leaned towards Cable, and Domino grew even more puzzled as she saw the guilt in his eyes, clear as day. "I'm sorry, Nate," he said quietly. "I should've thought--are you all right?"

Lifting his head, Cable gave him a disgusted look. "I'll live," he snapped, sounding exhausted. "But I could do with some notice next time."

Domino scowled, well aware she was missing something. I hate it when people act like I'm not in the room. "Would either of you care to explain what the hell's going on here?" she demanded. Bridge deliberately goads me--why? To see how I'd react? No one seems to notice when I hit him, and now Cable looks like he's about to pass out--I'm not following this. Maybe Logan was right, and I'm in over my head. The thought only made her angrier.

"Sorry, kid," Bridge said easily, though his eyes kept darting worriedly to Cable, who was staring down at the table, swaying slightly. "Call it a pop quiz, if you like. I wanted to see how far someone could push you before you lost it." He shrugged. "One of the most important skills in our business is keeping your head in ugly situations. And you will get into ugly situations if you join up with us, I can guarantee it. The jobs we take tend to be as high-risk as they are well-paying. In other words, we can't afford to have faulty impulse control."

There was no condemnation in his voice, but Domino flushed. So if he were me, he would have just stood there and taken that? I don't think so. "I see," she said acidly. It made sense, she supposed, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "So you're not usually this much of a bastard?" She gave Bridge a sweet smile, and his eyebrows just about hit his hairline.

"One for her side," Cable murmured almost absently, still staring at the table.

"I didn't know we were keeping score," Domino bristled. Was he mocking her now? According to Logan, Cable didn't have a sense of humor--no, wait, that wasn't what he'd said. He'd said that Cable's sense of humor was so strange, by most standards, that it might as well have been nonexistent. A distinction, and an important one.

"Score?" he said vaguely, looking in her direction but not quite focusing on her. "I suppose. Life is a game, Domino. You take it as it comes. And trust to--luck to see you through."

Domino gaped at him for a moment. Coincidence, she told herself frantically. Still, that pause had been a little too suggestive for her liking. But he couldn't know. He couldn't. She hadn't mentioned a word about it to Hammer. Hell, she'd always kept her mutant ability to herself. That had been one of the first things Logan had taught her! "Is he always like this?" she asked Bridge tartly, to cover her distress.

"When Nate's not enigmatic, you know there's something wrong," Bridge said reassuringly. "He takes some getting used to." The waitress came back with their drinks. Domino sipped at hers, still not sure what to make of all this. If they'd intended to put her off balance, they'd certainly succeeded.

Cable regarded his drink almost curiously. It looked like vodka or something, Domino couldn't be sure. "Drink it," Bridge said firmly. Cable shrugged, and tossed it back.

"Didn't taste as bad that time," he said hoarsely after a few moments, sounding almost surprised. Some of his color had returned, although he still looked exhausted. "Can we get on with business now?" he finally said, an edge of rancor in his voice that grew more pronounced as he continued. "Or would the two of you like to arm-wrestle or something first?"

"I'm game if he is," Domino muttered balefully. Bridge chuckled, and she glared at him. "I'm serious. Unless you think that you could beat me because I'm a helpless little girl or some such shit--"

Bridge rubbed his jaw ruefully. "I wouldn't dare, ma'am," he said, his face perfectly straight. "You might take exception again, and I'm not sure I could survive that."

"Oath, Bridge, would you stop amusing yourself?" Cable growled. The last traces of vagueness had faded from his expression. Now he just looked pissed. "Before I break your jaw to shut you up?"

Bridge looked startled. "Take it easy, Nate," he said almost soothingly. "I was just kidding--" Cable spat a few unintelligible words in some language Domino didn't know. Curses, by his tone. Bridge raised an eyebrow. "Well, pardon me for living," he said, his voice still level. Cable glared at him, his left eye glowing faintly again, and Bridge snorted derisively. "Oh, I see. This is all my fault, then."

Domino looked from Cable to Bridge, baffled. "Why do I feel like I'm missing half the conversation here?" she inquired.

"You're not," Bridge said quickly. "It's not hard to tell what Nate's thinking, if you know him well enough. He can be very--predictable." That was definitely a jab, Domino realized. Cable, half-rising from his chair with a growl, obviously felt the same way. Bridge reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Nate, I know you're pissed off at me," he said pleasantly, "but don't you think we owe Domino here an 'interview'?"

"Says the man with the unique 'interview' technique," Cable almost hissed. But he sat down. "And don't call me that," he added angrily. Bridge sighed, shaking his head.

"An interview sounds good," Domino said swiftly, before the two of them could have at it again. Theirs was not an entirely trouble-free partnership, she realized. Not so surprising; this business tended to be hard on relationships of all sorts. "What do you want to know?" she continued briskly.

"Why you came to us would be a start," Bridge said, quite politely. Cable didn't protest Bridge taking the lead. He merely leaned back in the chair, watching her with some of the same intensity she'd seen from him after she'd decked Bridge. It was unsettling, but she masked her reaction carefully, not wanting to give anything away.

"That's easy enough," she said, looking at Cable, not Bridge. "The Wild Pack has a good reputation, and like I said before, you were looking for someone with my--talents." There weren't any 'want-ads' in the mercenary world, but word tended to get around. "My--a friend advised me against it," she said curtly. "The way things were going up until now, I was beginning to think he was right." Take that, she thought, watching Bridge out of the corner of her eye. He merely grinned.

"I do a convincing impression of a jackass, don't I?"

"Impression?" Cable asked with a laugh. It was a rusty sort of laugh, as if he didn't do it very often, Domino thought. Bridge snorted and Cable shrugged, still looking amused. "So, Lady Luck," he went on, a definite challenge in his voice. Domino nearly jumped out of her skin at the nickname. "You really want the job? Keeping in mind that if you take it, you'll have to put up with Hammer, who wrote the book on 'chauvinist pigs'--"

Domino nearly choked to hear her own description for Bridge thrown back in her face. Was I that obvious? she thought in distress. But Cable continued, not waiting to see her reaction.

"Grizzly, who's basically an overgrown, taciturn teddy bear with an attitude--G.W. here, who's usually Mr. 'By- the-Book'--and me, the worst of the lot. As I'm sure your 'friend' told you--in detail." His gaze was level, but the challenge was still there.

She stared at him, speechless, for a full minute. He knew. Somehow, he knew about Logan. Maybe I'm not the only one who did my homework, she thought, reassuring herself with the likelihood that he, or maybe Hammer, had simply done the same sort of research on her that she had on them. Still, she took a sizeable gulp of her drink, suddenly needing a little fortification. One thing's for sure, she thought, glancing at Bridge, who was watching Cable curiously. Life with these two would never be dull.

"I've got my own eccentricities, Cable," she said, somehow sure that it was him who'd make the decision, in the end. The dynamic between him and Bridge was odd, but she thought she had that part of it figured out, at least. "I'm sure I could learn to fit in." He gave another grating laugh, and she scowled at him, not entirely sure she wasn't being made fun of. "What's so funny?"

"Not you," he said, regaining his composure instantly. "An inside joke, that's all." He glanced over at Bridge, who stared back at him for a moment, almost measuringly, and then nodded. "How about a trial period?" Cable asked, turning back to her. Domino was about to protest, but he gave her a quelling look. "I'm not questioning your abilities," he said evenly. "But you may get to know us and decide your talents would be better used elsewhere."

Domino stared at him. Giving me an out? Why? "Suits me," she said, the first response that popped into her head. Cable nodded, and stared down into his empty glass, his expression strangely haunted. Bridge, on the other hand, gave her a friendly smile.

"I still think you're too damned young," he said, straight-faced. Domino told herself it was going to take awhile to get used to his sense of humor, that was all.

"I had a good teacher," she shot back. "And with my life, I've had to grow up fast." Hell, she'd never really had a childhood, between the upheaval of her early years and her life with Logan. Not that she was complaining. Some experiences, she could have skipped without much regret, but all in all, she was happy with the choices she'd made. She had no desire at all for an 'ordinary' life. The one she had was far too much fun.

Bridge nodded, apparently accepting her words at face value. He seemed about to ask her something else when he was interrupted.

"Bridge! Cable! I've got a bone to pick with you two!" someone snarled from the vicinity of the door. Domino's heart turned to ice at the familiar voice.

Not him-- she thought, paralyzed. Not him. Not here--

A tall, blonde man, bearded and menacing, stalked up to the table, followed by three unsavory-looking types whom Domino immediately labeled as 'thugs'. But she didn't spare them a second look. Her attention was riveted on their leader.

She knew this man very well. She'd met him several times before, and each time, she'd prayed quite fervently that she'd never have to see him again.

Bridge rose from his chair, his expression cold. "Consider me quaking in my boots," he said icily, staring the newcomer down. Cable seemed oddly disinterested, as if the confrontation wasn't worth his notice.

"You and the Tin Woodsman there cheated me and my boys out of a job, Bridge! I should rip your throats out as an object lesson!" The man stopped in mid-rant, and turned slowly, looking down at her with something very close to amazement. Which turned instantly to a pleasure that made her feel twelve years old again. "I'll be damned," Victor Creed almost purred. "Fancy meeting you here, Neena."

***

Domino's--Neena's? Cable wondered--sudden fear nearly knocked him out of his chair. She was thinking in basic, primal emotions that hit him even harder than her 'vocalized' thoughts.

And there were images, too. Terrible images. Cable rose from his chair, swaying a little under the assault. A young girl, a knife clutched in her shaking hands, backed into a corner by a tall, laughing figure--the same girl, but older, her arms pinned by two other men as Creed came towards her--several different images of Logan and Creed fighting--

"Back off, Creed!" he said harshly, clearing his mind by an act of will. He had nightmares of his own. He didn't need to be sharing anyone else's. Creed turned away from Domino, still grinning.

"What? You the frail's protector now, Nate? Kinda ironic, don't you think?"

"I don't need a protector, Creed," Domino snarled, and Cable was swamped by a sudden, red-tinged tide of absolute, unadulterated hatred. His head was already swimming from that ill-advised second drink, and she wasn't helping. Oath, she'd be easy prey for an enemy telepath, he thought, dazed. Any psi of decent strength would hear her coming a hundred kilometers away.

"Really?" Creed asked, leering at her. Domino stared up at him, not moving, but Creed misread the tension that gripped her body for fear. Cable knew better, sensed how close she was to going for his throat. "You certainly grew up pretty, girl. The runt'd have a fit if he knew who you were drinking with, you know."

"You'd be surprised, Creed," she grated.

"Ha! I don't think so, kid. Maybe he knows, but I doubt he approves. His precious little student, running around with the Wild Pack?" Creed's eyes narrowed. "Y'know, Neena," he said suggestively, "if you just got tired of hanging around with the low-rent model--"

"I'd sooner rot in hell," she spat. Creed laughed.

Cable wished he dared used his telepathy on Creed. But he'd tried that once before, and nearly gotten gutted for his pains. Creed's mind was so fragmented, it would take a telepath much stronger than him to have any effect. But he had to do something, stop this somehow--

But Domino surprised him. Moving her chair back slightly, she got up, standing almost nose-to-nose with Creed and not giving an inch. "Go away," she said, her voice seething with hatred. "Or I'm going to take a dull knife and hack off a few choice pieces. Then we'll see how well your healing factor works."

Creed roared with laughter. Cable sensed Bridge debate going for his gun, but hesitate. "Hell, Neena, I almost bought that," Creed said almost pleasantly, and Domino's eyes blazed with fury. Creed's expression changed in a way Cable did not like at all. "Yeah," he mused, reaching towards her. "Very pretty--"

A heartbeat later, she had her gun pointed at Creed's face. Cable had sensed her make the decision to draw it, but he doubted anyone else had seen her move, she'd been that fast. "Or," Domino continued savagely, "I could just blow your head off and see how long it takes you to grow a new one."

Creed looked unruffled. "Don't I remember knocking a gun out of your hand once, Neena?" he said, baring his teeth at her. She flushed, but regained her composure almost instantly at the amusement in Creed's eyes. "You should've learned your lesson that time. Can't say I'm sorry, though. It'll be so much fun to teach it to you again."

What he was implying was unmistakable, and it took all of Cable's self-control to harness the rage that swelled up inside him and channel it into cold, purposeful wrath. He barely managed it. Though Creed was clearly referring to something in the past, Domino looked about the same age now that Jen had been when--Cable swallowed hard, walling away the memory with practiced speed. What is, is. And this was just one more reason to hate Creed.

"I've gotten faster since then, you bastard," Domino snarled. "You got lucky once, Creed. Once!"

Creed laughed again, clearly enjoying himself. "One way to find out, girl--"

Cable's patience snapped, and he pulled his own gun. "Care to go for double or nothing?" he invited, and Creed stiffened warily. Cable gave him a cold smile. Misjudging Domino was one thing, but Creed knew he'd shoot him without a second thought. He had before, after all. More than once.

Domino looked like she wanted to turn her gun on him. "I can handle this myself, Cable!" she hissed, and he was taken aback by the outrage she was emanating.

Very proud, he warned himself. Proud and touchy. "Of course you can," he said levelly. "But the Wild Pack takes care of its own, Domino." Her eyes widened slightly at his words. Creed's jaw dropped, and Cable gave him a wolfish smile. "Especially against trash like this."

"Trash, huh?" Creed growled, a feral light in his eyes. "You're going to beg me to forget you said that, Cable."

"Maybe," Cable said with a half-shrug. "But not today, Creed." He jerked his head towards the door. "You leave through there. Unless you'd prefer head-first through the wall. I'd be only too happy to arrange that, if you'd like." He sensed, rather than saw, Domino's sudden grin.

"Funny man," Creed said coldly, backing away slowly. Domino lowered her gun, but Cable kept his sighted on Creed until he was sure the other man was planning to leave. "See you later, Neena," Creed said nastily, with another leer, and then motioned for his companions to fall in behind him.

"Well." Domino's voice was sardonic, but he sensed her relief. "You two certainly know how to show a girl a good time."

Cable lowered his gun, seeing the bouncers on the way over, wearing very displeased expressions. He didn't dare try another mindwipe, not so soon. He didn't have the strength left, and even an attempt would probably incapacitate him for the next two days--and leave him with a number of uncomfortable questions to answer, he suspected as he glanced over at Domino. "I think we'd better leave," he said bluntly. "We have most certainly broken the peace tonight."

"Why are they bothering now? They didn't seem to care when I hit Bridge," Domino said, giving him a keen look.

Proud and touchy. And too damned sharp for her good good, Cable thought wearily. Bridge jumped in to rescue him. Covering for him, yet again. She can't have much experience with telepaths, Cable realized. Otherwise, she would have recognized his mindwipe for what it was. It wasn't as if he'd been particularly subtle about it. He sighed. She may not have understood, but she was puzzling over it. He could hear her.

"They'll tolerate a little brawling," G.W. was saying in a conversational tone, "but pulling weapons is a no-no, by Gatehouse rules." He raised a defensive hand when Domino bristled. "Simmer down, kid, I don't disagree with what you did. God knows, I've wanted to shoot Creed for years now."

"Yeah, he's not a very popular guy, is he?" she said with a brittle laugh, a bleak light in her beautiful eyes. Bridge looked troubled, but said nothing.

By mutual consent, the three of them headed for the door. Domino even waved cheerfully at the bouncers. "So, where are we going?" she asked, when they'd stepped out into the night.

"For a walk," Cable said. The fresh air was making him feel light-headed.

"Where?" she persisted, and he bit back a sharp comment. Bridge was peering around warily, as if checking for Creed and his boys. Cable could have told him they were gone. But Bridge liked to worry, and who was he to deprive him of that pleasure?

"There," Cable said brusquely, gesturing at Lake Ontario, shining in the moonlight. He fought back a sudden surge of longing. Looking out over water always made him feel vaguely homesick, he wasn't sure why.

"Don't tell me you walk on water, too?" Domino bantered.

"You're terribly funny, you know that?" he said, growing aggravated by her smart comments. He was too flonqing tired to deal with this right now. Between the mindwipe, the alcohol he'd so stupidly consumed, and the stress of being around someone who was still shouting out her thoughts as if she wanted the whole world to hear them, he was almost ready to call it a night. But he needed to relax first, or he'd never sleep. Insomnia or nightmares, he thought resentfully. Take your pick, Nathan. "The beach, Domino. I meant the beach. You know, sand, moonlight, water lapping--some flonqing PEACE AND QUIET!"

He stalked on ahead, but he could hear Bridge and Domino's conversation as they followed him.

"Is he always this cranky?" the girl asked.

"No, actually he's rather mellow, tonight," Bridge cracked.

"Remind me to stay on his good side, then."

"Words to live by, Domino."

"Would the two of you kindly SHUT UP!"

Part Three

Spotting something in the sand, Domino knelt down to look. It was a shovel, she realized. A kid's plastic sand shovel, probably forgotten during the day. Beside it were three small, symmetrical piles of sand. A castle, she thought with a smile.

"What are you doing?" Bridge called.

"Admiring sand castles," she shot back. Following a sudden impulse, she used the tip of the shovel to add the outlines of windows to the castle. She thought she remembered doing this before, a long time ago. Wishful thinking, a voice in her mind said derisively. She had so few clear memories of those years. But this seemed so familiar, there had to be some substance behind it--

Bridge, who'd been meticulously picking up litter and depositing it in the trash cans, came over and smiled as he saw the castle. "Looks like someone's a budding architect," he said with a chuckle.

"Either that or the kid just liked getting dirty," Domino said, knowing she sounded a little shrewish but unable to help herself. Something had been taking shape in her mind, a memory, maybe, but when he'd interrupted her, she'd lost it.

The combination of the moonlight and the glow of the light in the nearby parking lot didn't provide much illumination, but Domino still saw the curious look Bridge gave her. "Probably both, knowing kids," he said easily.

Domino told herself to stop scowling at him. He'd actually been rather pleasant since they'd left the bar, she reflected. He was a little unsteady on his feet, making her think he'd probably had a fair bit to drink before her arrival, but he seemed perfectly clear-headed.

Frankly, she'd thought this 'walk' was just an excuse for him or Cable to pry more personal information out of her. Especially after Creed had all but revealed her connection to Logan back in the bar. But neither of them acted real surprised, she reminded herself. They must have known already, like I thought. Still, it seemed strange that it didn't matter to them, and more than a little suspicious that they'd agreed to take her into the Wild Pack so quickly. But the expected questions had never materialized. Bridge had just made small talk since they'd gotten here, and Cable--well, as far as she could tell, Cable had forgotten her existence entirely.

Domino looked down the beach to where he stood, right at the water's edge, absolutely motionless as he stared out at the lake. From here, she couldn't even tell if he was breathing.

"What's he doing?" she asked Bridge, unable to restrain her curiosity any longer. He shrugged.

"Communing with Lake Ontario, for all I know." She scowled at him, and he smiled, raising a defensive hand. "That wasn't a joke, Domino. Like I said before, he takes some getting used to."

"And are you 'used' to him yet?" Domino asked, more sharply than she'd intended. But she'd caught an odd undertone in Bridge's amiable words, a hint of long-suppressed frustration.

Bridge's expression hardened, but his reply, when it came, was surprisingly mild. "Hell, no. But I try." Before she could say anything, he looked past her and grimaced. "One of these days I'm going to borrow that oversized gun of Nate's and go hunting for litterbugs," he muttered darkly, and walked on without another word.

She peered at the patch of sand he was bearing down on, but couldn't see anything. Nothing he'd been picking up had been all that noticeable; candy wrappers, cigarette butts, the odd aluminum can. By most standards, this beach was pretty tidy. This was Toronto, after all. She'd heard that filmmakers using it as a double for American cities had to bring in garbage to make the street scenes look realistic.

Bridge seemed a little on the fastidious side. What did Cable call him? 'Mr. By-the-Book', wasn't it? That'd had the sound of a nickname, the way Cable had said it. Domino reminded herself to jaywalk in front of him at the first opportunity. Then we'll see how far HE can be pushed.

Grinning, she left him to his refuse hunt and strode down the beach towards Cable. As she approached him, she felt curiously apprehensive, as if she were about to intrude on something very private. But her curiosity, insatiable as always, drew her onwards.

He kept staring out at the lake, not acknowledging her presence as she came up beside him. Domino studied his expressionless face thoughtfully, and for a moment, just a heartbeat, really, thought that she had never seen anyone quite so lonely in her life.

Cable blinked and then looked down at her, his left eye glowing briefly. "Lose interest in the sand castle?" he asked politely.

She managed a shrug. But it infuriated her, that she couldn't read this man. Most people were as transparent as glass, if you knew how to look, but not Cable. Opaque didn't even cover it. "Beautiful night, isn't it," she remarked, lacking anything better to say. "Toronto's a nice-looking city," she continued. "I've never been here before."

"As cities go, it's better than most," Cable said in a detached voice. "Quieter, at least."

"You don't like cities?" She sensed, somehow, that this was an important bit of information, that it revealed something--but she'd be damned if she knew what.

"No," he said brusquely, and changed the subject. "G.W. and I have to go and meet with our new employer in the morning," he told her. "We'll be leaving for Europe tommorow night--did you bring your gear with you?" When she nodded, he looked mildly pleased. "Good, that will save time. Once we're there, we'll have a few days, maybe even a week of intelligence-gathering before we actually move on our target. I'd prefer to give you more time to settle in, learn our procedures--"

"The best training for something is doing it," Domino said, quoting one of Logan's favorite sayings. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. Cable glared down at her, looking seriously irritated. Has he heard that from Logan before? she wondered uneasily. Crap, I think I'm pushing my luck here--they might be putting my history with him aside, but that might change if I shove it in their faces like this!

"Interesting attitude," he said in a chilly voice. "So it's full speed ahead and damn the tornadoes?"

"The WHAT?" she blurted without thinking. "Don't you mean torpedoes?" He gave her such an evil look that she almost took a step backwards. Mental note, she told herself. Does not take kindly to being corrected.

"Whatever," he growled, sounding exasperated. "My point was, charging headlong into things without preparation is a sure way to get yourself killed."

"I'm not saying training isn't important," Domino said carefully, trying to placate him. Oops. Looks like I just pushed a button by accident. "I'm not stupid, Cable. But pretending you can prepare for every contingency is just--"

"If you're not stupid, you're doing a pretty good impression of it," he said harshly. Before she could object, he went on. "Of course you can't prepare for everything. Not even if you know--or think you know--the future." There was a strange, bitter amusement in his voice that she didn't understand.

"Cryptic much?" she said stiffly. For some reason, the rebuke, mild as it was, stung as much as Bridge's insults had earlier.

"Don't change the subject," he said, glowering at her. "Training is important, yes. But physical training, however neccessary it is for people in our line of work, is only one side of the equation. When you pulled your gun on Creed back there, you were fast. I was impressed, and I don't impress easily." Before she could even react to the compliment, he went on, his voice growing even harsher. "But you have to learn to think even faster than you can move, Domino. Someday, you'll find yourself with no time to consider alternatives, no time to do anything but act. You might end up choosing the wrong path, but if you don't choose, if you can't make the decision before it's too late--chances are you won't be the only one who suffers for it."

He didn't raise his voice, but it took all of Domino's self-control to hold her ground against the terrible intensity of his words. He's speaking from personal experience, a wiser, calmer voice told her. He's trying to tell you something. Pay attention to him.

"Are you--" She cleared her throat and continued. "You're talking about instinct?" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bridge watching them.

Cable's shoulders slumped, as if an enormous weight had suddenly descended on him. "I hope you live long enough to be able to tell the difference," he said bleakly, and turned back to the lake. "Tell Bridge where you're staying. We'll stop and pick you up after the meeting tommorow."

Domino stared at him for a moment, wondering what had just happened. Was this another test--one she'd failed? When the silence dragged on, she gathered her composure and gave him a brisk nod.

"I'll see you in the morning, then." It seemed like such an inadequate thing to say. She felt like she was copping out, walking away from a challenge because she didn't understand how to respond to it. This was stupid! she thought savagely. She'd gotten what she wanted tonight, a place in the Wild Pack, but it didn't feel like a victory. She got the sense that Cable, for all that he'd made the offer himself, would've preferred it if that cab driver had gotten her so lost that she'd missed the meeting entirely. Why the hell did you say yes, if you don't want me here? she wanted to shout at him.

"Domino," Cable said suddenly as she started to turn away. He looked over at her, and she was surprised at the real strain on his face. "How long have you been in the business?" he asked.

"About a year as a freelancer," she said uncertainly, not sure where this was going. "Why?"

"A year," he said softly. "A lifetime, at your age." She stiffened, sure he was being condescending, but he shook his head. "I didn't mean it that way. Just--be sure, Domino. Be very sure this is what you want." He turned back towards the lake, and shadows obscured his face. "You can't know what you're getting into, so I won't even tell you to try. But make up your mind, before tommorow night, if you really want this life."

Domino stared at him, taken aback. So he had been giving her an out earlier, when he'd suggested a trial period. And here he was, trying to do it again. Did he really not think she was capable, or was it something else?

"I made my decision a long time ago, Cable," she said finally. There was no other answer she could have given him. "What about you?" she asked a little waspishly, though there was genuine curiosity behind the question as well. Maybe this was self-doubt at work here, his own regrets. "Is this the life you want?"

"There's a difference," he said in an expressionless voice. "I never had a choice." He looked at her for a moment, measuringly, and then back at the lake for a long moment, as if etching the image into his memory. "Sleep well." He started down the beach in the other direction.

Domino watched him go. After a moment, Bridge appeared at her side. "Well," he said quietly. "Remind me not to try and get him drunk again." He looked down at her measuringly. "Then again, there is that old saying about 'truth in the wine'--"

Domino scowled, but she wasn't about to let Bridge see how unsettling she'd found the whole conversation. "I'm fairly sure I'm never going to understand him," she said sardonically. "Not if I end up staying with the Wild Pack for the next fifty years."

"Join the club," Bridge said with a faint smile. "Want a ride back to wherever you're staying?"

Domino blinked. "Sure. I don't think I could trust myself around any more cab drivers tonight. But what about him?" She gestured at the figure growing more distant by the moment.

"Nate'll be fine. Don't worry."

"You do, though," Domino said, to see his reaction. But Bridge merely shook his head.

"True, but where does it get me?" He stared after Cable for a moment, and then shook his head ruefully. "On second thought, I've done a little too much celebrating tonight. We could go and find the nearest subway station?"

"Walking me home, huh?" she said banteringly. He chuckled, offering her his arm in an exaggerated parody of good manners. She shook her head at him warningly, but followed him quite willingly off the beach. This gave her the perfect chance to ask some questions of her own.

***

The watcher in the shadows waited until Domino and Bridge were well out of sight. Bridge could be trusted to see her safely back to her hotel, he decided. In any case, he had some unfinished business to take care of here. Carefully, he began to creep down the beach after Cable.

But as soon as he caught up to him, Cable stopped, turning to stare out at the water again. The watcher bit back a curse. Damn, don't tell me he's--

"Seen enough, Logan?" Cable called.

This time, the curse slipped out. "And you're supposed to be a low-level telepath?" Logan said sourly, stepping out of the shadows into view. Well, he'd given it a try. He would have preferred to keep control of the situation, but being off-balance wasn't a new experience for him. Not when it was Cable he was facing.

"Low-level, alpha-class--not much difference on an empty beach," Cable murmured. He kept his back to Logan, an unmistakable challenge. Logan didn't take it up, this time. He wasn't there to fight, after all. "And anger makes most people think more loudly than usual. For all the trouble I have reading you, you're no exception to the rule." Logan went down to join him at the waterline, keeping a careful distance. Cable glanced sideways at him with an ironic smile. "I'm shocked. I don't even rate the claws tonight?"

"I haven't decided yet," Logan growled. Part of him was tempted, just because of Creed. He knew it wasn't Cable's fault. It was just a particularly nasty coincidence, that was all. And Neena had handled it well. But the way that animal had looked at her--Logan had been hard-pressed to stay concealed. He'd wanted to gouge Creed's eyes out. "How long have you known I was there?"

"Not long," Cable admitted. "Only since Domino left. Can't hear much of anything else, with her around. All the sneakiness you undoubtedly passed on to her doesn't do much good when she broadcasts her thoughts so loudly. She'll have to work on that--it's a liability." Cable gave him a measuring look. "I'm assuming you've been around for a while--in the crowd at the Gatehouse, maybe? I thought I sensed someone who wasn't affected by my mindwipe." Logan didn't answer, and Cable's voice turned cold. "My turn to ask a question. Why the hell didn't you talk her out of this?"

"Don't you think I tried, Cable?" Logan snarled in frustration. "Do you think I WANT her running around with you?" He didn't say that his objections to Domino joining the Wild Pack would have been much less strenuous if Cable hadn't been in the picture. He didn't need to say it; Cable knew.

"Of course not," Cable said dryly. "I might corrupt her."

"Corrupt her?" Logan's claws came out, almost of their own accord, and Cable smiled again at the sound. It was a cold smile, this time, and oddly satisfied. "To tell you the truth, bub, I'm more worried about you getting her killed!"

"So little faith in how you trained her, Logan?" Cable asked challengingly. "She seems competent enough."

"I have all the faith in the world in her, pal," Logan growled, his temper flaring at the veiled amusement in Cable's eyes. "And none at all in you!"

"Ask me if I care, Logan."

The lack of any emotion in Cable's voice finally registered on Logan. Something strange here, Logan thought suspiciously, but didn't sheathe his claws. "Are you drunk?" he asked, remembering what he'd seen in the bar.

Cable shrugged. "Drunk, no. At least I don't think so." He shook his head slowly. "I thought alcohol was supposed to dull your perceptions. But everything's so clear. Too clear. I don't like it." Cable seemed to consider the problem for a moment. "Maybe I didn't have enough."

Logan sighed, sheathing his claws. "Great," he growled. "Thought you didn't drink, Nate."

"You learn something new every day," Cable said brusquely. "So are we going to fight, Logan?" He smiled again. "To quote your student--who really shouldn't have tried to keep her connection to you a secret--I'm game if you are."

"Depends," Logan said, thinking rather pointedly that Cable had less cause than most to be complaining about others keeping secrets. Someone who played fast and loose with the trust of others didn't deserve any in return.

Cable chuckled dryly, apparently 'hearing' him. "On what does it depend, Logan?" he asked almost mockingly.

"On whether you took Neena into the Wild Pack to spite me." The question had been nagging at him since he'd witnessed the meeting in the Gatehouse, and realized that Cable had figured out Neena's connection to him.

Cable snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. You're not worth the effort."

"Why, then?" Logan demanded, his confidence returning at the cold arrogance of Cable's reply. This Cable, he knew--and could handle. "There're plenty of other mercs out there with the skills you and Bridge needed. People with more experience--years more experience. So why her?"

Cable considered his question for a moment. "I could say that we needed someone as soon as possible, and she was the first qualified candidate. That would be part of the truth."

"And the rest of it?" Logan asked, trying to keep the angry suspicion out of his voice. Cable's expression grew oddly troubled.

"I could say that I--see something in her. A potential, for lack of a better word, that I'd like to see fulfilled." He sighed. "I know you won't believe me, but I do wish she'd chosen a different path in life. She's too--she deserves something better."

"So your little warning to her wasn't for my benefit, then," Logan said slowly, trying very hard to understand this concern on Cable's part for a young woman he'd known for precisely an hour.

"Hardly," Cable snapped, suddenly impatient. "I told you, I didn't even know you were there. I didn't really expect her to change her mind. I've known too many like her, I should've known better. But I hoped--I--" He shook his head almost angrily. "It was her choice, Logan. I regret it, but I also know that she has a better chance of surviving in an established group, like mine. You trained her well, I can see that, but she's still got so much more to learn--"

"From you?" Logan asked skeptically. "Sorry, Cable, but I don't really see you as the teacher type."

Cable's cold smile returned. "Amazing. We actually agree on something." He turned to go, and Logan growled warningly.

"I'm not through with you yet, bub--"

Cable whirled on him so fast that Logan unsheathed his claws again, instinctively. "Stop blustering," he said caustically. "Her choice, Logan. If you value your relationship with her, you'll respect it."

"It's because I 'value that relationship' that I'm here," Logan snarled. "I sure as hell didn't come to get lectured by you!"

A sudden, grudging look of sympathy crossed Cable's face. "Let her go, Logan. You can't cage a hawk."

"And if I don't think she's ready to fly on her own?" Logan asked sarcastically, carrying on with the metaphor.

"That's not a choice you--or any of us--get to make," Cable said coldly. "Deal with it, or don't. I don't really care." Giving Logan a dismissive look, he turned and started down the beach again.

Logan didn't follow. "If anything happens to her, Cable--" he stared warningly. Cable stopped, but didn't turn around.

"Don't delude yourself," he said bitterly. "'Things' will happen to her, Logan. It's inevitable. Oath, I'm even willing to admit that you're right, and I'll probably be responsible for some of them."

"Big of you."

"Shut up. Either trust her to handle the consequences on her own, or try to protect her. I wouldn't reccommend the latter--from what I've seen, she wouldn't take kindly to that. But whatever you choose, leave me alone."

And Logan, getting the impression that he'd somehow lost this round, asked a question. A question he would look back on after one fateful night in the stronghold of Apocalyse, years later, and curse himself for asking.

"What about you, Nate?" he growled. "You practice what you preach?" Cable didn't answer, and Logan continued, a little more maliciously than he'd intended. "Have you ever had to 'let anyone go' before? Were YOU ready when the time came?"

Cable stiffened. "Yes, yes, and no."

"And did they learn how to fly?" Logan asked sarcastically.

"To fly?" Cable said softly, no trace of amusement in his voice at having his own metaphor turned back on him. "No."

The grief in his voice, just beneath the surface, was sobering. Logan fell silent, aware he'd hit home somehow, cut more deeply than he'd intended. Cable nodded wearily, conceding the point. And walked away.

***

Someone knocked firmly on her hotel room door. Domino finished shoving the last of her things into her bag, and slung it over her shoulder. "Coming!" she called loudly as she strode across the room and opened the door.

"Good morning," Cable said dryly. "Ready to go?"

"You bet," she replied cheerfully. "The meeting go well?"

"Fine," he said with a wince. Even though he was wearing sunglasses, he was squinting, as if the lighting in the hall was too bright. "Could you not talk so loudly?"

"Hangover?" she asked with a bright smile. Bridge had not been particularly forthcoming last night, but she'd managed to get him to explain his comment about getting Cable drunk. It had amused her that, for whatever reason, one of the foremost mercenaries in the world was next door to a temperance worker. Hmm--we'll have to work on that. Might be the best--hell, the only way to get him to open up.

"I really didn't have that much to drink," Cable pointed out without a trace of a smile. "But I suppose you could call it a hangover, in a manner of speaking."

"So mysterious," she said with a mock scowl. "I'm definitely seeing a pattern here." Suddenly eager to get on with this new phase of her life, she stepped out into the hall, pulling the door shut behind her.

He didn't move out of the way quite fast enough, and she collided with him. He reached out to steady her, and as he did, she felt something odd. Almost like a mild electric shock. Staring up at him, she saw a momentary look of puzzlement in his eyes, as if he'd felt it too, and didn't know quite what to make of it.

Then he let go of her. "We're not in any hurry, Domino," he said sardonically. "Enthusiasm is all well and good. But try not to fall down the stairs and break your neck on the way out of the hotel."

"I will attempt to restrain my enthusiasm," she said primly. And batted her eyelashes at him.

His face stayed perfectly straight. "That's good. I suppose we don't need that leash after all."

"Leash?" she exclaimed. He started down the hall, and she followed him. "Excuse me?" she asked indignantly. "I hope to hell that was a joke, pal!"

"It was a joke, Domino," he assured her.

"So you have a sense of humor after all?" she asked challengingly. He stopped, looking back over his shoulder at her.

"I always did," he said with a perfectly straight face. "I just haven't used it in a while." He glanced down at his watch. "We're running late."

"I thought you said we weren't in a hurry," she said, and was delighted at the irritated look he gave her.

"I--never mind," he grumbled. "Let's get going, shall we?" She grinned at him. "Or haven't you finished trying to provoke me yet?"

"Cable, I haven't even started."

"I was afraid you were going to say that."

Walking past him, head held high, she never saw him smile.

fin