Place: mutant manor

Time: unknown

Date: 21st may 2002

El' signed as the boiling water cascaded down her back, she would never get used to being able to have a hot shower, she could stay her all day but the gang were waiting for her down stairs. They were going to watch a movie as it was Friday and training was over.

They had decided on 'lord of the rings the fellowship of the ring' they had been horrified to realise I had not watch it or it's sequel 'the twin towers'.

With great regret she stepped out of the shower dressed in a tank top and jeans before wrapping myself in a nightgown and heading down stairs. I still hated revealing my scares to the rest of them even after a month of getting to know them.

I was on of the first to arrive from cleaning up from my first practice so I took the large armchair near off,, from the main sofa and still in good view to the large flat screen TV.

Before long everyone had arrived and settled to watch the movie. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it but I could not get into it never having really watch TV when I was younger.

As the movie wound on I got bored so stood from my chair and left with out letting the others know what I was doing I headed out to the roof, it had a flat spot that looked out across the manor grounds and look great out night, it had become my hiding spot.

My back to the chimney breast, I stared out over the ground to the forest were the night life began to wake. It was times like this that I felt so isolated, I wonder whether or not I should of left, would that have been easier?

...no, I would still feel alone. Signing I just sat there my mind blank. Turning my hand palm up I conjured a small ball of fame and began shifting it between colours, forming shapes.

I had woken a few nights back, terrified and in my fear had summoned the fire and had been testing this new power along side my others, since.

I don't know how long I sat their just staring at the flames before I had company.

"You're getting good at that Elf." Logan committed taking a seat In front of me.

"Thanks, have the others gone to bed then?"

Logan nodded "you had 'um worried, but chuck' sent 'um to bed, and me looking for yah"

I just nodded and brought the fame up between the two of use. I had noticed these last few days I had been liking a lot of my past, and that worried me because if I was practicing, or heaven forbid fighting, I was pulled into a memory I don't know what I would do.

Their was once a... Fr.. acquaintance who would say " speaking to something, even a plant, will help the mind better then hiding from it."

Against me conscious decision the games began to tell a story, my story. Logan watched on, drawing into their words.

They ruse up forming the figure of a girl, hair free and flying around, duking, diving. Fighting her figure surrounded, out numbered yet she did not run no she stood and. Took and gave hit after hit protecting a smaller, scared figure of a boy.

Then it shifted, more fighting sense, all around the girl protecting the boy obvious and not. The it changes, she was stood in a tree looking out over a castle grounds as a group of people celebrated, never noticing their observer. Then she turned around and they were at a bank. The girl stepped of a plane and on the streets.

Once again it changed but this time the girl was older, maybe a few years but a figure had come up behind her gripped her, then she was on a bed, a chair, cooking all the while being changed. The mystery man was touching her, covering her thin frame, hurting her. Always their watching.

Finally the man is shoving her toward men in suits...

With a disparate cry El' broke the connection with the fame, but it was too late Logan had seen. He knew. El' was blinded by tears but she still felt the secure, safe arms wrap around her waist pulling her to them.

"Breath Elf, I ain't gonna hurt you" Logan it was Logan, god he knew. he's going to leave. Hate me, tell the others. Can't be left. Not again. Please not again. They always do.

Then why is he still here. Talking? Holding me? That can't be right...

"You're safe here. Breath. Just trust me."

I sat curled in Logan's arms just trying to control me self. When my tears finally stopped I pulled back, head bowed. No one. I mean no one had every held me as I broke. It was always them leaning on me but I can't always be the strong one. Not after everything.

Logan reached out figures gently lifting her chin to they were face to face, then he ran a thumb alone her cheek catching any stray tears.

"Sometimes we all need to brake down don't be ashamed of that elf" Logan told her softly. "You have been through much, the fire conforms that. Honestly we didn't expect you to last this long. Let us...me help you"

His eyes shone, wanting me to accept this help. Signing I curled back into Wolfy's arms and nodded into his chest"

"Okay, just don't leave, they always leave." I whispered before giving into sleep. For the first time in years I slept peacefully curled up in his arms, on the manors roof top.

Logan remained on the roof top till the early morning with El' curled in his arms. Her skin was glowing a soft pale in the moonlight, her sleeve slipped, revealing smooth and scared skin on her shoulder. Despite being angered by the scares and the knowledge that there are more; he could not help but be fascinated by them. Like him, El' had accelerated healing, so should not have nearly as many as there first medical scan showed. Yes, he did have scares from the more horrific and wide spread injures but not for small incisions. Yet as her bare skin proves there were many interlocking scares in her skin.

He had not wanted to wake her by moving nor could he bring himself to let her go. He knew that he should feel ashamed, that this was wrong but when had he ever really cared

for what others thought. For once in his life it felt right just to be with her. He was opening up and relaxing. He had something to live for instead of just surviving. Yes chuck' had brought about a peace in his life he had not had before but even then he was only surviving, being. Now with her relying on him, fighting, learning from him. He felt whole.

El', his little elf was damaged, hurt in so many ways, but he was determined to help her.

They may have rescued her, now it was time to save her. He did not care whether she saw him as a mentor, brother, or potential lover, he would be there. His wolf demanded it and he demanded it of himself. El' had been leaning on herself to much, for far to long, so he would offer to be her crutch.

Twintigerlover