Enduring Zeal
Rift in Time
Logan held onto the girls tiny form. He wasn't sure who he was looking at, but her scent he recognized it but had never smelled it in his life. He watched as bruises healed themselves up; scrapes replaced by perfectly clear skin, and cuts knitting themselves together. What Logan did notice was how slow the process was. If she had a healing factor small scars should have healed faster and at that point did he tune his ears hearing the weak rhythm of the young woman heart.
Lifting her up and cradling her in his arms he looked over at Storm. She was confused he could sense it and see it in her eyes, but upon realizing the severity of their situation she immediately took charge her voice strong and determined.
"We must take her to the infirmary Logan. Jean will take good care of her."
The two moved quick he took large steps hurrying himself as he almost jogged back to the school. Storm was gliding by his side at some point she had taken the girls hands in her own an overwhelming feeling to protect the child had overcome her and she had no idea why.
'Maybe it's because she looks so much like you'
Students and faculty members alike lined the halls watching from the stairwell from the ceiling Kurt Wagner poofed beside them.
"Lemme take 'er. Jean and Hank are down zer vaitin."
The voice of their German friend was gentle; he watched the girl with curious eyes. Logan had come to a halt but it was clear he didn't want to let go of the girl.
"Take her Kurt we will be there shortly."
Storms voice broke him out of his thoughts and he handed the young woman over to their friend. In a puff of smoke their friend was gone and Logan's pace increased weaving in and out of students who were talking frantically amongst each other. He could pick up bits and pieces of their conversation, but his mind was fixed on making his way to the infirmary not paying attention to the chatter of students; he was so focused his mind barely registered Storm by his side.
They came to a halt outside the infirmary Kurt leaning against the opposite wall. Logan didn't ask if he could go in he just did Storm on the other hand gave their teleporting friend an apologetic smile which he returned with a short chuckle.
"She vill be fine Ororo."
Nodding she stepped inside; Jean's eyes were closed her hand on either side of the resting girls head deep in concentration. Hank had hooked up the woman to multiple monitors his brows furrowed as he studied blood results on a computer screen.
"Hank what's going on?"
Logan's voice was harsh and loud making Jean flinch, but never breaking her concentration on the girls mind. Storm had never seen their friend so focused brows furrowed and jaw tightly clenched.
"She will be quite alright Logan her mutation allows her to heal faster than most."
"She wasn' healing fast enough."
"Well she has a few broken bones ribs, femur, tibia, but she will be fine the young girl needs to rest Jean will figure out who she is or at least where she's from in due time."
"Who she is? She called me dad!"
His gruff voice was angry and irritated Storm was aware that he wanted answers and patience was not one of his virtues. Storm had been looking at the screen she hadn't realized that the program was matching the young girls blood with that of those in the school; it had already found matches. The girls blood found similarities to Ororo's and Logan's, the genetic match was 98%. Then it must have been true; they were her parents- unless.
"This cannot be right Hank. Perhaps someone is cloning us."
Hank turned to Storm and shook his head pointing to the lines lines making up the genetic structure of their bloods.
"See I thought so at first, but the way her gene's are composed is naturally occuring. A clone would have been 100% compatible with you two a perfect copy nothing original nor indicating her ancestry. This child she is unique her own person with her own genetic structure borrowed from a mother and father."
Storm knew Hank knew what he was speaking of even if she was not as knowledgeable as he was; she could see that what he spoke was true.
"So she's our kid?"
"Yes Logan she is."
The room went silent Ororo couldn't bring herself to look into Logan's eyes the whole situation was confusing, but his voice broke through the room trying to lighten the situation. Storm knew that Logan had been through a tough break in his life. The blood of his children stained his own hands; this was an opportunity for redemption.
"But we nev..."
"If I was pregnant with a child I would have remembered Logan. And yes we never conceived a child."
Another silence. Logan could hear the sound of hushed whispers outside he estimated most of the original X-Men members were outside, but one voice stood out the most. Jubilee was frantic he could tell by the tone of her voice that she was worried, but the others were comforting her letting her know everything was fine.
"If only the professor was here; her mental defences are fairly strong. I'm going to assume her control of electrical forces could be the reason, but I'm afraid if I pry too hard I might cause her more emotional trauma."
"What have you learned Jeannie?"
Storm had stepped away from the screen inches from the bed the daughter she never knew laid. Jean Grey watched her oldest friend with sympathetic eyes. When this young woman woke up Jean knew it wasn't going to be easy for the both of them to handle, but she had faith in their friends.
"I believe she has most of your powers, both of you, minus adamantium and possibly your claws. She was fighting off sentinels with her team, and they were losing. I see confusion, a yearning for her parents. Perhaps... perhaps she's from another time-line? We're all aware that it is possible for one to cross the dimensional barriers."
Storm nodded it was the only logical explanation they could come to, but they were all left with more questions.
"Let us leave her to rest; myself and Hank will check on her hourly- Logan?"
"I'll be sitting outside I ain't leavin."
He walked past them only briefly stopping beside Ororo to give her a quick look; she wasn't sure if it was concern or if he was having similar thoughts she had.
"We shall speak tomorrow."
He nodded to her wordlessly leaving the room only to be ambushed by questions he wasn't ready to answer. Jubilee, Rogue, Kitty, even Scott had been standing outside; there were others down the hall watching listening. It came as no surprise that all the students wanted to satiate their curiosity.
"Ask her."
He pointed to Ororo as she walked outside eyes watching the both of them they could both see the pressing questions they all had.
"Not tonight; Logan and myself have much to think about. Jean and Hank will brief you on everything you need to know."
Not long ago she was a queen of her own country with a husband and the prospect of a family in her future. It had been a month since then and now she was divorced, mother to a teenage daughter with a man she had never seen as anything other than a close friend.
Storm moved past the team she was mentally exhausted and needed time to process her thoughts. Pushing the door to her room open she was met with the sound of a buzzing. The large screen hanging over a desk indicated a call from Wakanda. She was in no mood to speak to him, but knew he would be persistent.
Sitting herself down on the chair across the screen she pressed a button. The handsome face of T'Challa looked back at her. As upset as she was with how things ended she was still somewhat enamoured with him, but reminded herself that their marriage was political and the annulment necessary. She felt a deep sense of bittness as she pressed a button answering the call.
"My queen you look beautiful..."
"I am not your queen anymore; or have you forgotten T'Challa."
"Maybe not by title, but in my heart you are."
She leaned back in her chair blue eyes met with his light brown ones and for a second she almost forgot the days events- almost.
"You wanted me to choose between giving up my best friend or giving up our marriage."
"We were not going to kill her. Her relationship with the force it frightens our people and the rest of the world."
"No, but I would choose death over a lifetime of imprisonment T'Challa."
They sat there quietly reflecting on the marriage that barely lasted. Despite the content of their conversation neither raised nor held bitterness in their voices. Both were rational adults who preferred to speak with logic and honesty rather than passion and blind rage. Perhaps it was why she felt like their marriage while compatible lacked... passion. It was bland.
"Ororo my love she can be a danger to our people."
"No; you fear her because she is not under your control. These are my people and this is my family."
"Ororo..."
"Pleas listen to me. We come from different worlds your powers are revered amongst your people and us mutants only know hate and fear. These children need guidance and people who will love and care for them with no judgement. They need me; you gave me the option to choose and I chose."
She didn't want to continue the conversation anymore to her there was nothing more to say, and they both could see that there would be no compromise not this time.
"I pray for the both of our sakes your friend can keep in control or..."
"If you're threatening us you know I will no hesitate to attack you T'Challa; no matter how I feel."
"I understand."
"It is best I return to my students."
"And I to my people. I do love you Ororo."
"Love alone is not enough, but I feel it too."
She couldn't lie to herself; despite it all she did have a place in her heart for the man, but their relationship had run its course and it was evident they were never going to live the life she had once envisioned.
"Goodbye Ororo."
"Goodbye T'Challa."
His face disappeared and was replaced by a blank screen; sitting there for a moment she gathered her thoughts. She could feel it, it could quite possibly be the last goodbye- he had any sense. It felt as if they would not be having another one of their screen conversations which was perfectly fine by her; at the moment she had other things to worry about.
There was a knock on her door and she wanted nothing more than to be alone, but with her position as headmistress she could not turn anyone away. Standing up she made her way to the door unlocking it and allowing it to open. Steel grey eyes met her blue ones and it dawned on her that Logan did not want to wait till tomorrow.
"Jeannie's with her; she's stable."
"That's good news. Please come in."
Ororo pushed the door allowing him entrance into her room; she should have guessed it wasn't a student they usually visited her in her office in the main building of the school. Storm offered him a seat on one of the plush winged armchair opposite her bed; he settled in as she sat on the edge of her own bed facing him.
"She is exactly how I imagined my daughter would look. I am afraid that I will fail her knowing nothing of her experience with me. To be a mother-"
"I've had some practice with daughters."
Storm smiled at the irony of their situation. It had just been yesterday had she'd been musing his special father-daughter relationship with some of the students in the school.
"To think in some other time-line you and I are..."
"I don' think its odd."
She paused white brows furrowed never expecting this to come from him.
"You're a beautiful woman and I've got a weakness for nice looking ladies."
The wolfish smile on his face threw her off and she wondered if he was flirting or teasing.
"I wonder how she got here; why she came?"
His arms were crossed and eyes stared intently at her his mind going to a grim place he wondered if they were even alive in that time-line.
"Can't know till she wakes up Roro; hell judging her state she's was in a tough situation before she got here."
"Jean said we can visit her whenever, but it's best we not press her too hard. We have no clue how she got from her world to this one."
"We must be worried about here whatever time-line that is. I can only imagine how..."
"How happy we are? How our life together is? Wouldn't be surprised if I'm driving you crazy."
They both laughed at that; she could imagine herself frustrated shooting harmless amounts of lightning through his adamantium infused skeleton. He stood up eyes turned to the screen she had used to speak to her ex-husband.
"Couldn't help hearing you two."
"I guess I can't blame you for your sense of hearing."
"He ain' botherin you is he?"
"No I do not believe he will bother me anymore."
Logan stood watching her he crossed the small distance to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. For someone who was known for how rough he was the touch was surprisingly soft.
"If ya need me to silence him for good lemme know; he didn't just threaten you and Jeannie. He threatened all of us."
She wasn't happy with the fact that he heard that part, but she wasn't going to tell him off for overhearing. At this point she would have told the team anyways; he did threaten their school whether he was being direct or not.
"Let's hope it never comes to that."
"I dunno know about you, but I kinda wanna take the bastard down for breakin your heart."
"You're a good person and a better friend Logan."
"Yea, don be telling anyone I got a reputation an' all that."
"Or what?"
"I dunno; I might have to teach you a lesson."
He turned to leave Storm watching his back her face was slightly flushed, if she didn't know any better she would have thought he was being suggestive. Shaking her head she got up and locked the door; they were both dealing with something new and unexpected and she needed meditate and clear her mind; the next few days would be tough.
He left to the infirmary being stopped by Jubilee and Kitty; he explained the situation briefly the two girls looked at each other with wide eyes, and without a seconds hesitation ran off grabbing Rogue and pulling her away from a protesting Remy. He knew for a fact that by tomorrow morning everyone would know who the mysterious newcomer was.
Logan's mind wondered to Storm; he mused the idea of a relationship with her. The goddess slightly taller than himself her long white hair, her body that she never shied away from displaying with her form fitting suits and outfit. She was beyond his reach too regal for someone so animalistic as himself. He wondered if perhaps he was a different person in this other time-line or if she was; he snorted he'd like to meet this other Logan; still if it wasn't for the fact that they were good friends he wondered what it would be like if they were lovers. Shaking his head the infirmary came into view along with Scott Summers and Jean Grey-Summers kissing her husband goodbye. As the two crossed paths there was a mutual understanding between them, but that kiss still made him wish he could rip the mans head off; he'd be lying to himself if he said it wouldn't be satisfying.
He walked past Jean into the infirmary his eyes on the gentle rise and fall of his daughter's chest. Her heart beat was stronger more stable and he could see that all cuts and bruises were healed.
"Her femur is taking a while to heal. I'd assume the cross dimension travel has been exhaustive. Her brain forced her body to shut down so she can rest."
"Thanks Jeanie."
"Anything for my friends."
They both stood silent neither one meeting the gaze of another.
"You think you and I have- you know a child or children in another time line."
"I wouldn't be surprised; I'm sure you and myself have many children with many different people in various different time-lines Logan. They are all reflections of how our lives could be."
"Do you ever think we could be together."
She let out a frustrated sigh as Logan inched closer to her his hand and body betraying him; her heart rate picked up and his hand drifted up to her cheek. He knew it was so wrong, but he needed her to know he still felt something for her.
"Logan I can't; I love Scott."
"I know..."
He wanted to inch closer; to capture her lips with his own, but the sound of a groan brought him back to reality making him step away from the red-head to be by the girls side. Jean moved fast there was a audible crack and she could tell that the girls bone had returned to itself possibly fully healed. Those with a healing factor were always unpredictable with their healing this was no different.
His eyes met with grey ones the exact same shade as his own they lit up and looked towards Jean eyes relaxed and confused she could tell something was different.
"Aunt Jean! Dad! I knew it would work!"
She jumped down from her bed pulling at the monitors attached to her body nose wrinkled up in irritation.
"Hey now I have to clear you befo..."
"Pff aunt Jean please; you're wasting your time I'm fine."
Logan smirked; she was definitely his.
"So where's mom and baby bro?"
Logan knew they'd have a lot of explaining to do, but apparently he also had a son with Storm? He was getting more eager to know about his daughter and about where she came from was it curiosity of how much more different his life was or was he wondering how his life could be if he was with the African beauty.
"About that let's find your mom first."
Jean placed a hand on the girls shoulder leading her out of the infirmary Logan following closely behind; the two forgetting the inappropriate moment they just shared and the almost kiss.
AN: Damn it. I wanted to include more, but it was getting too long and I thought mehhhh nothing wrong with dragging the chapter out. Before I get complaints about how I lied this is a LoganxJean fanfic I ask you to be patient with me. I love RoLo too much to pull such trickery. Besides... it's more entertaining this way. Once again thanks for ALLL the reviews and I would appreciate more and more. Criticism (constructive) and questions are welcomed with open arms.