Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Marvel Universe, nor any of the characters contained herein. Written neither for profit nor gain.


Chapter 7: Awakenings

Twelve days later

Beep. Beep. Beep.
Jean's heart monitor beeped rhythmically, but Logan barely noticed it anymore.
He'd spent more hours than he could count in the cold, sterile med-lab the last few weeks.
He was grateful that he didn't have to spend his time in the room ignoring Scott.
But he also dreaded the implications of Scott's absence.
Today was the fifth day in a row Emma had come to see him. She was nothing if not persistent. And she had the audacity to, literally, try to lure him away from his wife's sickbed.
With each passing day, Logan noticed the man's resolve waning. He found it hard to fault the guy, though. Emma was quite a force to be reckoned with.
But, today, he'd actually left with her. Likely to, again, ask her to leave… perhaps to try and escort her out. But that had been three hours ago.
The room didn't need windows for him to imagine what the two might be doing. Out in the courtyard… walking… laughing… kissing. Or worse, back in Scott's room…
It was all the same. Just the two of them being together cried out, "look, over here!" Making it abundantly clear that neither one of them had any regard for anyone else's feelings.
He rose, determined to find them, and tell Scott… he wasn't sure, what, exactly, but he felt the sudden need to tell them both just how improper their actions were.
He opened the door, not noticing at first that the rhythmic beeps had suddenly become faster.

Jean sat up, incredibly disoriented, and confused. Her vision rather blurred.
She heard a gasp at her sudden movement, and the door closed softly.
"Scott?" she asked. She was in the med-lab. She couldn't remember why.
"Mornin' Red," she heard the familiar voice. But only one man called her "Red," and it was not Scott.
"…Logan? What are you… well, you came back," she said, groggily. She could barely make him out, now, but everything looked… fuzzy.
The last thing she remembered, she was in the danger room…
"Of course I did, darlin'. Especially once I heard you were hurt."
"Where's Scott?" she asked.She could see him a little more clearly now. Enough to see him look away from her when she asked.
She'd remembered the danger room, and the fight with Scott beforehand…
"He's… not here?" she prodded.
Logan shook his head, still not looking directly at her.
Realization quickly set in. She suddenly remembered everything that had happened.
"He's… with her. Isn't he," she said, not really a question.
"I'm sorry, Jeanie." She could see him clearly now, and his expression was pained, sympathy deep in his eyes.
They sat there in silence a few minutes. Neither one moving.
Jean quickly unplugged all the wires that were attached to her, still not moving. She sat there. Still, and disturbingly calm.
She stood, only faltering slightly. He moved to catch her, but she put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"I'm fine," she said. "Get me out of here."
"What?"
"Get me out of here. I don't care where we go. But I need to get out of here."
"Are you sure? You sure you don't want to—"
"Yes. Just get me out of here."