At first she thought it was an apparition. A giant smurf or real life Wookie. Whatever it was, it was huge. As big as Creed. No, bigger. Birdy squinted her eyes to refocus, ignoring the painful, mutant sized headache behind them. She opened her eyes to reconsider the form before her. It was still there. A broad tank of a man. Close to six feet of muscle. Covered in blue fur from head to toe. In a white lab coat no less.
Surprisingly, she felt at ease.
Dr. Hank McCoy sensed his patients alertness. He turned to face her, his genial expression belying his intimidating physique. He approached her slowly, his voice reassuring.
"I hope you are not alarmed young lady, I am a physician."
Birdy was sitting up on her palms, the effort to stay upright causing her arms to tremble. She lay back on the raised bed, folding her hands on her stomach.
"I have a sense about these things" she smiled slightly. " I can tell you're an ok guy."
McCoy returned her smile.
"I was referring to my appearance. It frightens people sometimes."
Birdy considered him for a moment, then turned her head away from him.
'It's ok Doc.", she reassured him in a light yet sad tone. " I have a thing for hairy men."
McCoy touched her chin softly, turning her face towards him. He pulled a penlight from his pocket and shone it in both her eyes.
"So it would seem" he confirmed as he examined her. "Do you know your name?", "Where you are?"
She laughed, wincing at the extra discomfort the movement caused her. "Yeah. My name is..is Birdy" she said with certainty. "And I'm in the "boy-have-I-screwed-up nurses office of Mutant High."
McCoy chuckled softly. "Something like that. Do you remember what happened to you?"
Birdy touched the swollen and bruised side of her face.
"Yeah" she added with irony. "I didn't hit the sonofabitch hard enough."
"Throw the alley cat out Chuck."
Logan was leaning against the doorframe of Xavier's office. His team leaders were seated around the professors desk. Logan generally attended meetings standing up, as if he was always ready to leave at any moment. He was annoyed when the meeting started. Now he was just plain pissed.
'We certainly understand your feelings Logan" Xavier said in a patient tone that bordered on condescension. "But I believe you would admit that your position is not without bias."
Scott added his unsolicited opinion. "With your history with Creed, it's understandable that you wouldn't want to welcome her here."
Logan glared at him. "Thanks for the translation Cyke."
Scott continued, enjoying the cage-rattling. "We know from independent sources that this girl was Creed's prisoner. To offer her a chance at rehabilitation...."
Logan was standing over Scott's chair.
"Get off yer noble high horse Scott! This girl was..IS Creed's chief squeeze. I don't care what freak datin' service got 'em together. She ain't a brain-washed innocent. Girls like her like the life."
Ororo spoke diplomatically, "I do not think we can assume any good intentions from her at this point." She glanced at both men. " However, we can always take precautions to insure our safety if our efforts prove fruitless."
Xavier agreed. "Well said Storm." He turned to the men across his desk. "There is not a person here who has not done things they regret. If this young woman wants an opportunity to see how the other half lives, we owe her the chance to experience it."
Scott sat back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile.
Logan leaned on Xavier's desk, looking at his mentor intensely. "Your wrong about this one Chuck" he said softly. "You can't trust the girl. Even Creed said that."
Xavier was quiet for a moment, resting his chin on his clasped hands in thought. Then he nodded to himself.
"You're absolutely right Logan" he assured Wolverine. "We would be foolish to trust her at this time."
Logan stood upright, the tension visibly leaving his body. Charles continued.
"My decision is made. She will remain under our care. But we will do what's necessary to insure our security."
Logan sighed in frustration. "Ya better be damn ready to watch her every minute."
Xavier nodded. "Hank and I have taken measures already to disarm her. I am glad that you agree she should be guarded closely."
Logan narrowed his eyes.
Charles gestured towards him. 'That is why I am assigning you the task of watching over her."
Logan shook his head angrily. 'I ain't a guard dog or a babysitter professor!"
Scott could barely contain his satisfaction, but wisely said nothing. No matter, Logan could read one-eye's delight in seeing the Wolverine sputter in frustration.
Xavier spoke calmly to Logan, as if they were the only people in the room. 'I understand your position. It has merit. But if there is a chance to redeem this misguided young woman, who better suited to offer the venue than the X-Men? That does not mean we are naive or foolish. I ask you as a friend to utilize your innate skepticism to balance my innate optimism. What is the expression? "Watch my back?"
Logan took a moment. Then he nodded slowly. Xavier was right. He and his kind would take in any stray, always with the saccharin optimism that redemption was possible. Logan knew better.
Some people were just not worth a damn.
Logan glanced at Ororo, her open expression an affirmation of Xavier's plan. He looked at Scott, whose barely suppressed smile was an affirmation that Logan's mistrust was appropriate.
Logan reminded himself to schedule a Danger Room session in the near future with his fearless leader. A little pain would wipe that smug look off his face. Logan smiled at the thought.
"You agree then?" Charles asked, discerning that Logan's thoughts were currently of a darker nature.
'Yeah" Logan growled. 'But if it turns out she can't be housebroken, I take her to the pound myself. Fair enough?"
'I have absolute faith in your judgement..and instinct." the professor concluded, and ended the meeting.
She felt floaty. Giddy. Her shoulder still hurt like hell. As well as her whole left side. The side of her lovely face was swollen and bruised, but she didn't care a bit. Her instinct was right. Dr. Blue and Furry had given her a pain killer that had made everything all better. Pangs of guilt and foolishness drifted away from her like a receding tide.
Birdy's current situation was not what she had expected to transpire. She had been desperate, an extremely rare state for her, when she had discovered that Creed was imprisoned at the Westchester mansion. It was almost as if the numerous forays into Creed's mind had changed her, enveloped her with his thoughts, his primal needs. In truth, Creed was apparently handling his captivity better than Birdy. She should have guessed that he would. After all, wasn't Vic always less impulsive, less out of control, less wild than most of his enemies assumed? Wasn't that primary contradiction his single greatest advantage in his line of work? But brave Birdy had begun the rescue effort with a half -baked plan And as a result, catastrophe had followed. Creed was still a prisoner, she was banged up, and who knew what the X-Men might have in store for her?
She wouldn't consider that now. She felt good and her body needed time to mend, so why not just lay here and enjoy the induced euphoria that was sooo soothing? She closed her eyes, letting the mild narcotic flow through her. She felt much needed sleep overtaking her.
"You seem to be feeling better."
Birdy reluctantly returned to consciousness, the telepathic voice too loud to ignore. She opened her eyes with effort, the lids feeling heavy. A well-dressed, bald man in a wheelchair observed her. He was very striking, having strong cheekbones and a finely defined jawline. Intelligent eyes and a straight nose as fine as any patricians. He seemed to have a kind expression. Birdy struggled to raise herself. She cocked her drugged head at him quizzically.
"You have a beautiful head" she mumbled before dropping back to the bed.
Xavier laughed heartily, a rare event for him. "Thank you Birdy. That's a compliment I've not heard before."
Birdy knew who he was. His personality permeated the very walls. In his own way, Birdy thought absently, Xavier was not unlike Vic. Powerful, dominating personalities that always dictated the mood of any room they entered. Vic just tended to do it with less...subtlety.
Xavier was cordial, but direct.
" I will make this brief, as I am aware you are recuperating."
Birdy willed herself to an attentive state.
"Our mission at this school is to always provide mutant humans a place to experience their uniqueness among like peers and friends." he began. His voice grew softer..paternal. "I know that your relationship with Victor Creed was not entirely of a volunteer nature......We are offering you an opportunity to live among your own kind Birdy, free from intimidation and abuse."
"And if I say no?" she ventured softly.
"Then you will be transported wherever you wish to go."...There is no coercion here."
His tone changed slightly, his gaze became harsher.
"Of course, we have taken precautions in the event that you choose to reside with us. We will monitor your alpha patterns on a constant basis. Should activity occur beyond normal levels, I will assume that you are using your powers in an...unconstructive way. Also. Until we feel comfortable, you will be considered restricted."
"You'll lock me up?!" she questioned bitterly.
"Not at all" Xavier soothed her. 'But you will require an escort."
Birdy sighed. Great she thought. One of those tight -ass X bitches dogging my heels.
'I want to stay" she said suddenly.
Xavier smiled. "Very good. I'm pleased." He backed his chair away from her bedside.
Her eyes followed him as he moved towards the door.
"I believe you've met your escort." he said formally as if introducing a debutante.
She saw a shadow slide across the medlab floor, then an all too familiar form followed.
Logan.
She started to say something, but Xavier was already through the door.
Birdy was suddenly fully alert. Logan leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms folded across his broad chest, saying nothing, just watching her.
"I see Xavier has a sense of humor." she opined dryly.
"Nah" Logan answered as he walked towards her. "He just ain't stupid."
Logan sat on the bed's edge, indifferent to the nearly suppressed moan the motion drew from her.
Birdy didn't flinch or show concern. She wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction. Logan cupped her chin in his hand, turning her face from side to side.
His voice was surprisingly soft. "I don't make a habit outta smackin' girls around."
Birdy pulled back from him. "You're pretty skilled at it as far as I can tell."
Logan chuckled. He leaned towards her. His words were harsh, the tone a seductive whisper.
"Listen little girl. I know what yer about. I've been with a hundred like you. Xavier comes from better stock. He always believes people can be better than their nature. It never occurs to him that some people like rolling around in the mud. He'll give ya a chance. Fine. I'm here to cover the bet when the odds play out."
Birdy pushed her hands against his too close chest. Arrogant prick, she thought. Logan grabbed her wrist in his strong hand.
'Behave yerself wildcat, and I'll play nice. You try to hurt anyone here and I'll personally kick your pretty ass all the way back to Seattle." He raised her palm and kissed it lightly, a mock gesture of a gentleman. " Or mebbe" he added, "I'll just let yer old boyfriend have at ya for a couple o' hours."
Birdy met his intense gaze and...smiled sweetly.
"You got it boss."
Logann smiled, recognizing the reference. He rose from the bed. "G'night darlin'. You get some rest. I'll be sure and check on ya.."
Birdy watched him leave, wishing the whole while she could give him a good blast. After he left she exhaled a loud sigh as she lay back on the bed.
Why was this so hard? Would she ever be able to fix her life?
Birdy suddenly felt small...vulnerable. She grabbed the covers and pulled them completely over her head It had worked when she was five hadn't it? If you couldn't see the monsters they couldn't see you, right? She pulled her pillow to her face and hugged it hard, willing herself to sleep, knowing full well that the adrenaline rushing through her would keep her awake for hours.