AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the prequel to Healing being relisted because I'm hoping to become active again and finish my other stories.

QUICK NOTES: This is AU. Angel has his feathered wings. Psylocke did not go through the Crimson Dawn story arc and does not have shadow powers or tk. I have not read Generation X so, though Jubilee was at the Academy, it is not going to be mentioned much here. Sorry.

WARNINGS: This story will contain violence, cursing, and smut. Please be mature and don't read it if you will be offended. My aim is to create something enjoyable not to offend.

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: I own absolutely nothing here. If I did, the X-men comics would be quite different including the first thing would be Jean's death, permanent this time.

Chapter One

Sensing an intruder, Betsy barely had time to open her eyes before pain exploded along her jaw and the side of her head. Her last second of awareness was filled with long blonde hair and a fanged smile.

When she next awoke, her head throbbed and she lay on a large bed between silk sheets. Opening her eyes slightly, she could not suppress a small moan of pain but she persevered and tried to focus on her surroundings to find out where she was. The walls showed that she was in some kind of log cabin and furs covered the ground and furniture. There seemed to be only one room with a kitchen in one corner and a stone fireplace on the opposite wall. There was only one door and it opened to show that she was not alone.

Sabretooth stalked toward her in all his seven foot glory. Her reaction was instantaneous, rising into a crouch then leaping from the bed, sending a kick towards his head. Instead of dodging, his large hand grabbed her leg and used it as leverage to slam her down onto the floor. Following her down, he used his greater weight to pin her as he wrapped his hand around her neck.

"Good try, Psylocke, but you still hurt too much to try me. Now, behave or I'll have to mark up this pretty little neck of yours." His voice was a low rumble in her ear.

Betsy realized she had no choice but to comply. Her head still throbbed too painfully to try any of her psionics and she was not fast enough to escape the claws that lay against her throat. She would have to wait for a better opportunity to make a break for it so she gave a small nod of her head, forcing her muscles to lose their tension.

Feeling her relax, Sabretooth stood, his great strength making it easy to pull her up with him, his claws never leaving her throat. Wrapping his other arm around her waist, he lifted and easily carried her to the marble kitchen counter. She was surprised to see a bottle of aspirin and a full glass of water waiting.

His breath brushed her ear as he rumbled, "I left the bottle closed so ya'd know it was real meds. Now take a couple. I want that headache of yours gone." His claws were a silent threat against her neck and abdomen so she, again, had no obvious choice but to comply.

Picking up the bottle, she saw it was a night time version and the plastic safety seals were still intact. Of course, there were many ways to tamper with a bottle and leave the seals intact, but her head hurt too much to worry about it. The quick movements and harsh meeting with the floor had increased her pain ten fold so she quickly opened the bottle and poured out several tablets. Betsy could feel Sabretooth purr approvingly as she swallowed the medicines, chasing them down with the provided water and he lightly nuzzled at her neck as she drank the cold, pure tasting water. His sharp teeth grazed her ear as he murmured, "Good girl," before carrying her back to the bed, his claws still at her neck. Seeing the large fur and silk covered expanse, Betsy involuntarily cringed, feeling very vulnerable in the long silk gown she'd been wearing at the mansion where she had fallen asleep waiting for Warren. The thought of what would surely happen next terrified her but she resolved not to show it to the man holding her so closely.

The large blonde man felt her tense and gave a low chuckle. "If I'd been plannin' on raping you, I'd have done it already. Relax." His words were rough but oddly comforting as the medicine worked its way through her system. She began to relax as he maneuvered her onto the bed. Through the process, he was careful to remain in control of the situation until she was lying back and he securely tucked the blankets around her shivering form. Her mind was foggy from confusion, pain, and the drugs so she did not resist as his lips covered hers in a soft kiss before moving to nuzzle at the hollow of her neck. Relaxation continued to fill her until she slipped back into sleep.

Later, she woke to a large body spooned against her back as a warm mouth moved over her ear and shoulder. Hard, muscled arms held her firmly as strong fingers stroked her stomach. Moving her head to give Warren better access to her neck, Betsy smiled at his enthusiasm and aggressiveness. He was usually so mild and reserved but not right now. His hungry mouth was surely going to leave several marks on her skin and her body responded with a growing heat. Betsy pressed back, enjoying the feel of the hard hair- covered chest behind her.

Betsy tensed. Hairy chest? Warren's chest was hairless and nowhere near as broad as the one pressing against her right now. The fangs lightly nipping at her neck brought her fully awake. She was in bed with Sabretooth!

Her body responded immediately. A well placed elbow in his stomach temporarily knocked the breath out of her captor causing him to loosen his grip, allowing her to roll out of the bed and make a run for the door. Her hand was on the latch when she felt an arm wrap around her and literally throw her away from the portal. Twisting in mid-air, she landed in a three-point crouch, her psychic knife extending from her right fist. Her blonde opponent crouched between her and freedom. He was smiling; however he usually smiled during a fight, well known for playing games with opponents. Her voice was steady as she demanded, "Release me, Sabretooth. You can not hold me here."

"Nope."

She circled to the right trying to lure him from his place in front of the door but he only pivoted in place, remaining between her and freedom. "Who hired you?" The question was meant to distract him and she did not truly expect an answer.

"No one."

"So, I am to be bait? That was rather stupid of you. Both Warren and Logan will track you here, making it three against one." Instead of becoming angry at her taunts, the large blonde man smiled wider.

"They're not comin'. I covered our tracks too good for the runt to follow and that wimp, Warren, ain't got the brains to find us."

His statement made her more nervous and confused. The only times he did something like this was to provoke Logan into a fight. Mentally shaking her head, she decided that answers could wait until after she had escaped. Feinting left, she brought her real attack against the side of his knee, breaking it and causing him to fall. Following up on her brief advantage, she plunged her psychic knife into his skull, overloading the synapses. The feral man roared in pain and instinctively knocked his attacker away from him and, to her good fortune, against the very door he'd been guarding.

Seizing the opportunity, she threw herself into the next room, a small one with two more doors, one to her right and one straight ahead. Not pausing in her stride, she fled straight ahead into the surrounding snow covered forest, a roar of fury chasing her into the darkness. Ignoring the rocks, ice, and branches that tore at her as she ran, she sent out a telepathic distress call repeatedly.

Eventually, her adrenaline ran out and she tripped, falling to the ground in despair. She had received no answer to her calls and her body was beginning to fail from pain and cold. Stubbornness caused her to lurch back to her feet and keep moving but her abused body betrayed her. She fell to the ground unable to hold onto consciousness any longer. Therefore, she was not aware of the strong arms that gently lifted her from the snow nor the pleased smile on her rescuer's face.