A/N: Still don't own anything except Lupa and the plot. Here's a Jimmy chapter, a long one too! Hope everyone likes it! :-]

Chapter 14

Walking and Thinking and Hoping

Walking back to his room with Dukes, Logan wasn't sure he could name all the different emotions that were currently swirling around in his gut. But if he had to take a guess, he'd say he felt mostly sad. Sad cause he knew Lupa wasn't his mate. She was Victor's. That made him 'mostly sad' for several reasons. One was because even though he had told himself not to get his hopes up, he had gotten his hopes up and hoped by some miracle that Dukes' mystery feral turned out to be his mate. He'd known as soon as they opened the door that she wasn't. Her scent was alluring and sweet and his animal had recognized her as being kindred, but Logan felt no jolt in his heart or instant connection like that damn other feral told him about years ago.

The second reason was his fear over losing his brother, the only constant thing in his life during the past century and more. Victor had never spoken to him in that killer voice like he had in that cell. In the past the person who it was directed at had always died soon after hearing it. And Victor had never stayed on high alert with claws and teeth bared the way he had even after seeing it was his brother in the doorway. Like he had stayed until she said his name.

The way he'd blocked our view of the female, guardin' her, loomin' over her cage like the stuff outta nightmares. Ready an' willin' to protect her from whoever walked through that door. Guarding some 'frail' he'd just met. Victor doesn't DO that! Logan practically sputtered internally.

The little brother in Logan felt confused , a little abandoned and slightly jealous. The man felt a bone deep loneliness knowing that no matter what happened next, his relationship with his brother, his partner, was irrecoverably changed. Victor was changed somehow. Protecting her proved that. Standing down for her proved that perhaps even more.

The third reason Logan was sad because he was afraid he'd have to take Lupa away from Victor, help her escape him someday. He couldn't be sure this change would last. Victor couldn't be trusted with a female, not even a feral, maybe especially a feral. Frankly, he was shocked that Victor hadn't ripped open the cage the second he found her and either A, rape her, B, take off with her killing anyone and everyone in his path, or C, all of the above.

He didn't though, Logan grudgingly admitted. But can he keep protectin' her from himself? Eventually he'll lose control and hurt her, maybe kill her.

Jimmy's brother wasn't like any of the others like them he'd met during their decades traveling, soldiering, and they'd run into a few (they'd even come across a reptilian feral whose skin could change colors like a chameleon). But he'd never met another like them who gave in to the animal as much as Victor did. Who was so uncontrollable in the midst of blood lust. So...wild.

Lupa's body could probably heal most anything Creed would throw at her, but would her mind? Her spirit? And yet...the way he'd calmed down when she'd said his name. He'd almost looked...serene for a second.

No one had ever gotten Victor to back down before. Ever. Yet she had, just by speaking his name in a hoarse quiet little voice. Logan had barely gotten a glimpse of the girl, Lupa, because of how fast his damn brother had ushered them out after the introductions.

'Jimmy Runt,' my ass. He had a good laugh at that one. Which is weird. He switched from an almost blood rage to mocking amusement so goddamn quick.

Dukes and him were rounding the final corner to the brothers' room, neither had spoken since the Blob warned Sabertooth about the 3 AM guard check. They stopped outside a wooden door and Logan spoke before the taller mutant could. "Go to bed. I'll talk to ya tomorrow. Me and Victor have to talk and it'll be best you're not around. Got it bub?"

Jimmy opened his door and shut it as Dukes nodded then turned and walked away without a word, a blank expression on his face. He sat on his bed which was parallel to Victor's own. A sparse room that really wasn't much different in construction from 'The Wolf Girl's' cell. Just better decorated. Heated too.

How had she gotten Victor to calm down like that? Was it a 'mate thing'? Logan wondered. Would he always react to her voice like that? Could maybe Lupa be the exception to the rule that was Victor Creed? She's already got him doing things he's never done before and got 'em acting as protective as he was I when was a sickly little brat.

Jimmy told himself not to be hope, but hope is like light creeping into a dark room from underneath the crack of a closed door, it cannot be reasoned with, it simply is. Logan sat on the bed waiting for his older brother to return from his mate.

oOo

A/N: Thank you to:

Kathalla- You're a doll! Thanks for another wonderful review.

Gothicpub- Thanks for the compliment! Love love love your writing!

Kerributterfly17- Here's your update, sorry it wasn't that speedy! ;-]

Certh- Glad you like the plot! I'm happy you think it 'flows,' thank you! :-D

Nessie-Fan- Here's a longer chapter just for you! ;-]

Tulip Tea- I hereby present you with the Most Faithful Review Award. Thank you for your inspiring comments!

Mandya1313- Hope you keep liking it!

Benezuela- Thanks for the review! :-D

Obscure Stranger- So happy you're enjoying the story, thanks for the compliment! :-)

And thanks to Trekkie907, Fyrefly (HUGE fan of yours!), Ms-Lady-Phoenix, IrishxEyes, Dynasty Artemis and Clear Skye for putting this on their alerts/favorites! All of you guys are cooler than the other side of the pillow.