Snuff-Chapter 7

Authors Note and Summary: I apologize for the time span between chapters. My college classes and my children keep me busy. I'm already in the process of the next chapter. This one is short, kind of sweet and kind of fluffy and gentle. Enjoy!

Logan couldn't remember what woke him from his dead sleep other than the fact he knew something was wrong. It was that particular sinking feeling that that tied knots with his stomach, making him uneasy. Just as he was centering his senses to get a better grasp, the inter-phone system that linked every room, both student and teachers alike, jolted him back to reality. It was Storm. Before she could even mutter her first word, Logan already knew Marie's rapist had taken another victim. This time, it was outside of a nearby bar, outside of the city. Logan was familiar with the place as he ventured there on occasion when he got cravings of the alcoholic nature. Upon meeting Storm she discussed that the attack was similar, knocking his victim completely unconscious and using the same bonding cuffs to tie the girls ankles and wrist. It wasn't long before the local television news broadcasted the attack and Logan knew it was only a matter of time before Marie heard about it.

Shit. He had to find her.

Logan first checked her room, and then tried honing on her scent when she wasn't there. He picked up faint lavender tinge that got stronger as he trailed it to the shared living room. Marie sat on a large lounger, flipping through several different news channels, arms wrapped around her slender legs. She didn't need to turn around to notice him

"It happened again." She said in a monotone voice, as an uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.

Logan nodded, almost unable to look at her. He had to find some way to assure she was still safe. He could sense her body chemistry changing from feeling barely normal, back to frightful. He leaned into the doorframe, not wanting to move, but also had the undeniable instinct to protect her.

"I'm fine. You don't have to babysit me."

"The hell you're fine." He retorted, taking note of her puffy checks and her failed attempted to hide that she had been crying. He had seen that distant look before. The look as if she was looking beyond reality and into some other place a time. Fuck.. Logan could recognize the signs of flashbacks miles away and not to mention the way Marie's scent would fluctuate. He approached her, slowly but reassuringly, as he kneeled down in front of her. She seemed to look past him and off in some far away remote coldness. Her eyes looked as if there was nothing there but a blank void. He didn't know if she even realized he was speaking.

"Hey…come back to me." He whispered while taming strands of white hair behind her ear.

"He's here…" Marie's voice was barely audible.

"There's nobody here but us, Marie. I promise you that."

"He's in my mind, too. Did you know that? Just like all the others. Just like you." Logan knew the history behind her mutation and how she absorbed several other folks, taking temporary hold of their powers, but permanently pieces of their minds.

"If I'm in there, use me to fight him off."

"It doesn't work that way." She whimpered as visions flooded her memory, colliding and crashing her thoughts. She wasn't aware she was shaking until Logan took her by the arms. Just when she thought she had enough, she damn near collapsed forward against Logan. "Take it easy." He whispered, pulling her tight into an embrace. Marie leaned into his warmth; her soft place to fall. She seemed to bury herself farther and tighter into his arms as to hide from something Logan wished he could fight. "I'm right here." He soothed.

"I wish I could heal as quickly as you did."

That caught Logan off guard. Then he remembered something about how Charles Xavier once told him that the mind had to discovery things for itself. Marie didn't mean that in a demeaning way. He knew about the personal hell she was confronting… and sometimes avoiding. For the first time in what seemed like ages, the big badass Wolverine felt helpless.