Home ComingsChapter One Home ComingsChapter One


Her escape was turning out to be far harder than it had seemed when she had first planned it. She was trapped in wolf form, and this was making travelling hard. She was averaging about 20 km per day, which was good, but a lot of people were afraid of wolves, and a lot of people had shotguns. This was bad, very very bad. She was lucky that she had some minor healing abilities, most of her wounds had healed with in a day, but until they healed, she had limped, and moved very slowly.
As she moved farther from the physcotic bastard who had held her captive all of her life, the strange collar he had placed around her throat tightened and burned. She wasn't far from the center now; she could smell the mutants that lived there. But she also knew that she was being followed, and if she could scent the mutants, then the man following her, could certainly smell her, and them. She picked up the pace, cursing as her paws throbbed. Soon she came to a long curving road. She ran along the road, not caring that her paws hurt more and more each time they hit the pavement. Up ahead, she saw a large security gate, closed tightly. There were cameras, but she couldn't change and explain what she was doing there, so they would be no help to her. She sniffed at the gates helplessly, her captor would be here within five minutes, and if she didn't get past these gates, she would be dead. A muffled sound reached her ears, and she turned around. There was a motorcycle speeding towards the gates. She moved to the side of the road knowing that she could slip in after the bike. The rider wore no helmet, and he stopped before the gates, he stared up into the cameras, saying nothing. After a moment the gates opened, and he sped through. She ran through after him, and the gates closed behind her with a large, secure sounding snap. She didn't slow down, but sped up, changing from a clumsy run into an easy lope. Soon she could see some of the people who lived here; there were about forty teen's spread out, all busy with different tasks. She ignored them, at them moment they would be of no help, simply because she didn't know if any of them were telepathic or not. She raced up the drive, a sixth sense telling her that he was close behind. Finally she reached the front steps of the mansion.
The man from the bike was entering, and she raced in behind him, the door swinging shut on her tail. She yelped, and the man turned around. She pulled; trying to free her tail from the door, but succeeded only in making it hurt more. She whimpered and whined, frantically trying to pull herself free. She looked up at him, and recognized him. Logan stood staring, his mouth was wide open and he looked stunned. He moved, but it wasn't towards her. He stepped back, sniffing the air. He looked puzzled now, and his head tilted to one side.
"Jean!" He shouted after a moment. "Professor! We got a situation here!" Someone opened the door and she ran a last few trembling steps to collapse at Logan's feet. The collar was a red-hot pain around her throat now, and she lifted a trembling paw to scratch at it. She whimpered when it burned her paw. She could hear a soothing voice, both in her ears, and in her mind. She mustered her remaining strength and used it to rally her small telepathic gift.
'The collar. Please some one take it off.' She sent, then she passed out. Logan stared at the large white wolf that lay unconscious at his feet. At least, it looked like a wolf; it smelled like a girl. It smelled strangely familiar, but he couldn't remember why. He could hear a faint voice in his head. It asked someone to take off the collar. The voice erased all doubts; it had to be a mutant. He released one of his claws and knelt over the wolfs body. He ran his had around its neck and found a collar made of metal and cloth, it burned his hand. He swore and pulled his hand away. He gingerly pulled the collar away from the wolf's neck, and then he sliced it in half with his claw. Logan pulled it away, wincing as it burned his hand. He threw it away from the wolf, and stood back.
As he pulled the claw back into his hand he was aware that the wolfs body was moving. It stretched but didn't stop, the hind legs lengthened, turning into long shapely feminine legs, the head became the head of a beautiful woman, with long silver curly hair. The transformation had taken place in less than a minute, and where there had been a white wolf, there was now a beautiful naked woman. Her back was covered in a fine network of silver scars. There was a livid red welt around her neck, open in a few places. Logan growled, you didn't get those types of scars from accidents. He ripped off his leather jacket and lay it over the woman's body. She whimpered at the weight but did not move. The foyer was full of students, all of whom were staring at the newcomer. Jean pushed her way through the crowd and began to examine the girl. It took her only a few minutes to give her diagnoses.
"She's exhausted. And this wound looks bad." As she spoke, the wound on the woman's neck, flared bright blue, and began to heal. "Or it looked bad a minute ago." Scott sent the students away, and soon the only ones in the foyer with the woman were Logan, Scott, Jean, Ororo, and Professor Xavier. They were silent, looking at the woman. Finally, Jean stood, and faced Logan. "Welcome back. Can you carry her to the infirmary?" She asked him, "Ororo, can you run to your rooms and get something for her to wear? She looks about your size."
Ororo nodded and left. Logan bent and gathered the girl into his arms gently. She whimpered and pushed at him, slowly coming to consciousness. She opened her eyes, and found herself looking squarely into the face of a man from her past. He blinked when her eyes met his, and she found herself wondering why he didn't say her name. He smiled, and opened his mouth to speak. He was interrupted when the doorbell rang. The sound made her jump and she knew exactly who was behind the door. She pushed at Logan's chest, and he let her down. She quickly shrugged his jacket on, and snapped three of the fastenings up. The jacket fell well past her hips, and covered the important parts for modesties sake. Someone opened the door, and she moved to the side, hoping he wouldn't see her in the shadows.
Logan watched as the woman quickly put his coat on, her movements short and frantic. She moved to the side, her eyes locked on the door. She was trembling, and he realized that she must have been followed. Scott opened the door and a tall man stepped into the foyer. The woman went stiff, and a soft whimper escaped her lips. The mans head whipped towards the sound. He smiled, his lips curling back in a way that seemed disgusting and evil to Logan. The man looked at the people who all stared at him silently. His gaze stopped on Logan's face, and his smile grew wider. Logan found himself growling softly, and his claws extended. Logan stepped in front of the woman, and crossed his arms. He could smell the mans delight in the air, thick and oily, it almost over powered the scent of fear and hatred that came from the woman behind him. No one spoke.
"Give her to me, Wolverine. You can not beat me. She is mine." The man said, stepping forwards until he was face to face with Logan. He shifted his gaze to the left, so that he was looking the girl in the face. "You should have known that you could not escape me. Soon, we'll be home, and then I'll punish you for your behavior."
Logan could smell the fear in the air double. He got angrier.
"Listen bub, she isn't your property. And she ain't leaving unless she wants to go. You on the other hand, are going to get your ass kicked, and then you'll be thrown out." He growled in to the face of this man that made him angry enough to kill, but he didn't recognize. As he spoke, he noticed Scott moving to stand next to him. Scott echoed Logan's stance, arms crossed, with a large frown on his face. The man looked from face to face. And began to laugh.
"Wolverine, I created you. Don't you think that I don't know your every weakness?" After he spoke, his image clicked in Logan's mind and then he could remember. Logan let none of this show in his face. His cheek twitched once, but he remained still. The man moved to strike at Logan, but Logan moved instantly, blocking the punch and throwing the man half way across the foyer. Before the man could regain his feet, Logan was on top of him, his claws thrust into the mans chest. The man smiled, and threw Logan off of him. Logan hit the wall next to the woman who was frozen with fear and terror. The man got up and shrugged. He walked ever so casually over to Scott who hadn't moved from his position before the girl. "And you, are you going to move, or do I have to make you?" Scott said nothing, but raised a hand to his sunglasses, and blasted them man full in the face with his powers. The man flew backwards, but stood, his face covered in burns that were fading slowly. "I'll get her eventually." He said, then he was gone.
Jean was the first to move she had been standing before the elevator to the lower levels waiting for Wolverine when the man had arrived. She moved over to the woman who had collapsed, and sat leaning against the wall. The woman was in shock, and she was trembling violently. Jean helped the girl to her feet, and led her toward Professor Xaviers office. Scott, Logan and Professor Xavier followed. They passed a few students in the hallway, but Scott shooed them away. Ororo came after them, using her powers to quickly catch up with the group. Her eyes were full of curiosity but she did not speak. The woman seemed to wince every time she moved, and Logan could not tear his eyes from her. The fact that she was naked, and wearing only his leather bike jacket did nothing to help either.
When the reached the office, Jean and Ororo entered first, helping the woman into a simple sundress and sweater set that Ororo had brought for her. After she was clothed, she began to come out of her shock. By the time the professor, Logan and Scott had entered the room she had even begun to talk. She wasn't making much sense, but she was talking. Logan moved to stand before her, and knelt, so that he was at the level of her face. He reached out, and gently placed a hand over her mouth. She went completely still, and looked up at him, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"Jay, you're fine, and your going to be just fine. Do you understand me?" He paused and she nodded, still staring into his eyes. "Good, now I'm going to take you to a place where you can sleep. After you rest, you can talk to the professor about you staying here. Alright?" She nodded again, the tears sliding down her cheeks. He smiled softly, and removed his hand. She flung herself at him, sobbing and babbling through her tears.
"I thought I'd never see you again! Oh Logan after you left; I was all-alone, he said you wouldn't be able to remember any thing. I missed you so much!" She sobbed. Logan wrapped his arms around her and softly rubbed her back, he could feel her scars through the thin fabric of the dress, and he wanted to cry himself. He swallowed, and cleared his throat.
"Hush now kitten. We'll talk later alright?" He said, a bit gruffly. Jay nodded against his shoulder, and Logan stood, easily picking up the lightweight of Jay. She had always been small, but now she seemed dangerously thin. He looked around at the others, and smiled, "I'll explain once I get her settle in." Ororo stepped forwards.
"She can room in with Rouge and Jubilee." She paused. "I can have food sent to her there. I'm sure that you, ah remember the way." She said it softly, not meaning to be rude, but Logan growled any ways. Jay moved in his arms, and he forced himself to calm down.
"She can stay in my room. I doubt that it's been touched since I left." Scott opened his mouth, but Logan over ruled what ever he was going to say. " She stays with me." Logan turned and left, ending any argument that could come. Logan easily carried Jay up the stairs to his room, he found it easily, and when he opened the door, he was unsuprised to see that the only thing that had changed at all was the bedding on the bed. Logan lay Jay on the bed, and tenderly wiped the tears away. She smiled up at him and reached for his hand.
"Will you stay until I fall asleep?" She asked softly. "It's been so long, I don't want to loose you again." Logan nodded, feeling his throat tighten. "I still can't believe that you're here. That I got away." Logan hushed her, and put his finger over her lips. She looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. He smiled, unable to speak, but wanting to reassure her. She reached up and pulled him down to lie next to her. Logan took her into his arms, and lay quietly as her breathing eventually slowed and became the regular breath of sleep. Logan did not move, he felt strangely content with Jay in his arms again. Logan carefully moved from her side, making sure that she stayed asleep. He looked down at her slight form, anger and memories rising in him. He pushed the memories aside, knowing that the story would come out sooner or later.
Logan left the room and headed for the office, knowing that the professor would want an explanation. He walked slowly, savoring the now unfamiliar sights, sounds and scents of the center. Familiar scents wafted by, but with them came new scents, and new images. He ignored the students that clustered at the top of the stairs, talking excitedly to themselves. Several waved at him, but he walked by, taking the stairs two at a time.