We find a camp ground and break in so I can use the shower, which is one thing I would like to do without worry about Victor poking his head in, but thankfully there's other women washing up too. It's not exactly the cleanest place on earth, but it's better than an ice cold stream or river.

"Hey, Marie."

"Uh, yea Vic?"

"Make sure to take a good long shower, okay?"

"Uh… Okay?" I know he can now tell how weird he sounds but I can tell this is something I don't want to ask a question about.

"See ya, be out in twenty minutes."

I step out and scamper off to the showers to get what's left of Victor's drool the fuck off of me. I step into one of the shower booths and pull back the little plastic curtain and place my change of clothes on a small bench outside the shower area before stripping down to nothing and grabbing the soap, hotel shampoo and conditioner, and a shaving razor I stole from the dead woman.

The dead woman.

Gawd I hope this won't make me smell like her; 'cuz if Vic picks up on it, like he probably will, it might put images of killing me in his head. Then again these are the hotel stuff, so I should be pretty safe.

Hopefully.

I don't want to end up like her.

I try and focus my thoughts on Logan, just so I can get the lady from the hotel out of my head.

I miss Logan.

There's a missing spot in my chest that I used to think was because my powers were gone, but now that my powers are back, I know it's because Logan's gone. I remember the first time he left, when he ran off to find out who he was, so lost and looking for anyone who might've known him. That was different; he's told me he'd be back and gave me his dog tags as a way for him to always find me. But this time he just left and didn't give me any sigh that he'd be back, where last time he even brought his stuff with him this time he just left it.

He just left me.

Maybe I should be trying to get over it or something; the saying 'if you love something let it go' floats up to my mind but I push it away because he was never mine to love in the first place. I'm so beyond pathetic. It's just… I don't know. I really, truly, honestly, have no idea. I remember that one time when Logan came back and everything was all good and better and normal. Or as close as I've ever been to normal. And then he was gone. Everyone was gone. Cyclops, Xavier, Jean, Logan. But it had turned out that Xavier had been alive and had somehow kept alive all the people Jean had killed with the power of his mind and Cyclops was back. Jean was still dead though, but it was easier to mourn for her with the help of Xavier, and Cyclops needed the most help right then dealing with being used by his wife before she tried to kill him. But Logan was so far gone he had the chance of never to return.

And now Victor's my only way to get him back and I intend to.

I just want Logan back.

That's all I want.

And with new determination I step out of my shower and change into my 'clean' clothes and head back to the dirty pick up where I left Victor waiting.

I get in and something feels different.

Victor's shirtless with his hands behind his head and a cigarette in his mouth, watching me with little interest and seems pleased with himself. Now that I'm in the car he kills the cigarette and twists the keys in the ignition and backs out of the parking lot, and he's acting like he was before he fell asleep. Not all lusty and turned on.

Yea, I'm thankful. 'Cuz I know that if he really wanted to he could do whatever the hell he wanted to me and I would have little chance of defending myself against him.

Then suddenly it hits me why he's so much more relaxed.

"Did you just have sex?"

"Yep. How'd you know? You see the fresh blood on the sheets or something?" Fresh blood? I look back at the sheets and sure enough there's the blood staining the hello kitty blanket.

"Uh, no. Man, does everyone you have sex with have to die?"

"What do you mean 'everyone I have sex with dies'? For all you know she's the only person I've had sex with and killed."

"Well what about the girl at the hotel?"

"What makes you think I had sex with her?"

"Well, did you?"

"Point taken.

Hey pup?"

"Yea?"

"I got some bad news."

"Uh oh. What is it?"

"Okay, so just bare with me for moment and listen; I have this feral animal inside of me. And let's just say me and him are just about constantly fighting each off for dominance; now, usually I love to let him take the reins and see who ends up dead, but with you around I've been trying to remind him who's boss, because I don't want you to end up dead or worse. Remember how I was acting a little weird earlier?"

"Yea, all turned on and stuff?"

"Exactly, that's the thing. My animal really likes you. And that's not a good thing."

"Well, what do I do?"

"You? You don't do anything; I'm just trying to explain some of my past actions."

"Like the thing with Owen?"

"Yea, I'm territorial, like time when you wanted to drive and I wouldn't let you."

"Okay… So can should I not do around you?"

"Uhh, I don't really know. I guess you could remind me or something corny like that."

"Yea, I'll try…

"Victor?"

"Yea pup?"

"Umm, why does your animal like me? Just wondering."

"Okay, so basically my animal lives to sin. And truthfully I don't really have a problem with that. But right now you're just driving him crazy 'cuz I'm holding him back, and he doesn't like to be controlled, and usually, I don't have a problem with that.

But right now you're starting to look like a perfect meal."

"So he wants me, because he can't have me. Any ideas of what would happen if he did get me?" Why does that come out so wrong? Victor looks at me with his eye brows raised high in slight surprise.

"Well. I ain't exactly the one to answer that."

"Uh, great." I look out ahead into the waning darkness as the sky begins to blush before its fatal sunrise that will keep the night at bay for the many hours until it comes back. Without Victor to keep me warm and since my hair is still wet I've started shivering and try to keep warm as I pull my knees up to my chest and pull my jacket close.

"Pup?" I look over at him and his arm is held up resting on the car seat, his side left open for me to come and sit by him and steal some of his warmth. My eyes meet his and I try and tell him thanks without my mouth as I slide over on the giant one cushion seat and lean against him with my feet up on the seat where I once was and I snuggle close.

"Thanks Vic. Good night." His arm comes and wraps itself loosely around me and his hand rubs my stomach gently as I close my eyes.

"Good night Marie."

And the sun is alive.