Coming Up: Professor Xavier goes into Logan's mind again, and with Ororo's help, he has a major breakthrough.

Chapter Twenty-One

"Charles?" Ororo questioned in confusion as she opened the loft door to find the professor waiting out in the hall. She quickly invited him in, glancing back at the open balcony where Logan was perched on the railing, surveying the grounds.

"I thought we could do Logan's session here this time, somewhere he's more comfortable. It might prove beneficial while I'm entering his mind."

Ororo nodded in agreement and called Logan in. She'd already warned him ahead of time that they were going to be seeing Charles for another session today. She smiled as he hopped down from the balcony railing and came inside without dropping to all fours. He padded barefoot to her side and gave a grunt and slight nod to the professor in greeting. "Where would you like him, Charles?"

"Lying down would be fine."

Gesturing to the bed, Ororo walked over with Logan and climbed onto the mattress with him. He laid down nearest to the edge as the professor maneuvered his chair over, and she adjusted the pillows so she could sit up beside him comfortably and hold onto his hand. She was glad to note that Logan was not nearly as uneasy as he'd been the first time they did this.

"Just like last time, Logan, remember?" Charles instructed softly, placing one hand to his temple and reaching out for Logan's forehead. "I need you to open your mind for me."

He gave a soft grunt and Ororo squeezed his hand in encouragement.

Ororo watched Logan's eyes close, he and the professor going into a sort of trance, Charles' brow furrowing in deep concentration. She continued to hold her husband's hand, hoping to be a sort of anchor for him if he needed her to be. Her heart fluttered anxiously, a little nervous about what the professor would see this time around, and hoping that Logan's psyche was closer to mending.

"Ororo."

Charles' voice startled her and she gasped softly, looking over at him. Half an hour had gone by, and she was a little worried since he was out of Logan's mind so quickly.

"Charles, is he—"

The Professor shook his head. "We're not quite finished, but I think I could use your help for this next part." Xavier smiled comfortingly at her. "I need to bring you into his mind, Ororo."

"Alright." She nodded slowly, willing to do anything she could to help Logan. "What do you need me to do, Charles?"

"Just stay calm. Clear your thoughts and open your mind."

Ororo nodded and closed her eyes, bringing Logan's hand up to rest on her belly.

.

She opened her eyes to a forest; not just any forest, however, but the one that surrounded the mansion. Charles was beside her, standing, and Ororo couldn't help but stare in astonishment.

"Here, in my astral form, I am not hindered by my physical limitations," he informed her with a gentle smile.

Ororo looked around, seeing nothing but thick woods. "Where's Logan?"

"This way." Professor Xavier gestured for her to follow him, and began walking down a well-worn path.

Ororo walked along behind him, noticing that her body was still pregnant here, though she didn't feel the heaviness and lethargy that accompanied carrying the extra weight in the real world. It was very strange.

"The last time I was here there were others," Charles said softly as they walked, "Different aspects of Logan's personality that were needed to protect him. I see their absence as a good sign."

They continued through the forest until they reached the mouth of a cave that was very familiar to Ororo. It was the same cave that her feral husband had first been sleeping in when he returned to the mansion, the one he'd tried taking her to. She'd refused to go in then, due to her claustrophobia, but felt the need to go in now if it meant getting Logan back completely. "I know this place," she murmured softly. "He's taken me here before."

"This cave must be Logan's place of healing in his mind because it's somewhere he feels safe," Charles offered. "Ororo?" he asked after a moment, pausing at the cave entrance and glancing back at her. "Are you ready?"

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she nodded.

Inside the cave was Logan, sitting on the floor in a meditative pose, a wolverine curled up on the floor beside him. The animal wasn't asleep, just simply watching Ororo and Charles peacefully with dark, alert eyes as they entered the cave. Logan was wearing his tattered X-Men uniform with the hood pulled back, and his eyes were closed, expression calm. She looked to the professor for a clue as to what she should do, and he simply smiled encouragingly and motioned toward Logan.

Breathing smoothly and evenly, Ororo crouched in front of her meditating husband, instinctively supporting her belly with one hand even though she didn't really feel the weight. "Logan?"

Everything was still for a long moment, and then his eyes finally opened, though he didn't move a muscle otherwise. "You're here," he murmured softly, expression beginning to crack with a small smile.

Ororo smiled back, tears pooling in her eyes. "Of course I'm here, love. Are you ready to come home?"

Logan turned his head to glance at the wolverine beside him. The animal got up and offered a sage nod and snort of approval.

Holding her hand out to him, Ororo instantly felt Logan's strength as though his energy flowed into her while he grasped her wrist and got to his feet. She breathed a little easier once they were outside of the cave, but instead of walking right down the path they'd arrived on, Logan stopped.

"What's wrong?" Charles asked.

Logan heaved a sigh and pointed to the forest ahead. "Them."

Ororo blinked slowly in confusion, but she didn't see anyone where he was pointing. It didn't look as though Charles knew what Logan was talking about, either.

In the blink of an eye the entire landscape shifted, and Ororo swayed dizzily, grasping for Logan's arm to steady herself as she looked around. They were no longer in the forest, but some kind of large space that was half industrial emptiness and half bizarre, terrifying medical lab. "Oh no," she gasped softly, looking to the professor.

"Ororo, prepare yourself for—" Charles breathed in sharply, looking up.

Magneto materialized in the air out of nowhere, along with the creepy doctor from Weapon X. While Magneto hovered, the eerie doctor was standing below him, clipboard in hand and a disturbing smile on his face.

Logan growled beside her and unsheathed his claws while Ororo's hand flew to her mouth as tears streaked down her face. The reminder of the pain and torment those two men had caused her husband was suddenly fresh and very real, biting into the wind-rider's soul.

Ororo tried to summon her powers on instinct, but they weren't working here. "Charles!" she cried out, feeling helpless as Logan charged his two enemies.

"I'm sorry, Ororo." The professor moved to her side. "There's nothing we can do. My abilities are useless here as well. I sense this is something Logan must do on his own before he can leave here."

Strips of metal were pulled from the industrial walls as Magneto summoned them with his power, the bands clasping around Logan's wrists and ankles and lifting him into the air while he thrashed and snarled futilely.

"NO!" Ororo gasped in horror as Magneto deposited Logan into a tank filled with anesthetic fluid, the ghastly Weapon X doctor approaching a nearby control panel and swiftly tapping away at the buttons with a wicked smile.

There was an instant flash of terror on Logan's face as he screamed helplessly from within the fluid-filled tank, bubbles of air billowing toward the top.

Charles grabbed Ororo's hand and pulled her toward the tank. "Talk him through it, Ororo. He needs to know he can do this on his own!"

"Logan!" she cried desperately, fists pounding on the glass. Ororo tried to physically attack the doctor, but her hands passed right through him. She could see that Logan was losing this battle, but then something occurred to her. She knew she was grasping at straws, but it just might work. "Logan!" She pressed her hands to the glass. "Listen to me! They aren't real! They're just in your mind! They can't hurt you unless you let them! Fight Logan, please!"

"You can do this!" Professor Xavier encouraged.

As Logan released another bubble-filled, soundless roar from within the tank, the metal bands holding him suddenly disappeared the same time the figment of Magneto did.

Ororo backed away as Logan unsheathed his bones claws and smashed his way through the thick glass, shattering it and getting flushed out along with the greenish anesthetic fluid. She rushed toward him as he coughed and sputtered on hands and knees, gasping for breath.

"Just one more, Logan," Charles said steadily, pointing to the doctor. "Focus. Let Ororo's strength fuel your own. You can do it."

"Come on, love." Ororo squeezed his hand and helped him to his feet. "He can't hurt you anymore." That was true about the eerie doctor here as well as in the real world. The man had been killed when Logan's body forcefully ejected the adamantium, and Ororo was only slightly ashamed to admit that she wasn't sorry.

"You're an animal, Weapon X," the doctor taunted with a disturbing grin adorning his gaunt face. "And animals are meant to be controlled."

"NO!" Logan snarled, fiercely shaking his head. "I'm not an animal! And I won't be controlled; not ever AGAIN!"

Ororo breathed sharply in relief as the doctor disappeared, then knelt at Logan's side as he sank to his knees. She wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"I believe it is time now, my friend," Charles said wisely from behind them.

"Let's go home, darlin'." Heaving a soft sigh, Logan stood with Ororo and gently held her face between his hands, giving her a tender kiss. "I been gone way too long."

.

Ororo opened her eyes, feeling a slight ache at her temples, a lingering fuzziness in her head. She saw Charles lean back in his chair, lightly kneading his forehead. Her attention instantly shifted to Logan, and she squeezed at the hand that was still held over her belly as his eyelids fluttered. "Logan?"

His brown orbs opened sluggishly, and he made a low noise in his throat, his fingers twitching against Ororo's hand briefly before going limp. Logan's eyes drifted shut again, his head falling to one side as he passed out. "Charles?" she asked desperately. "Did it work?"

"I'm not sure." He grimaced slightly, still gently kneading his forehead. "We'll have to wait and see once he's conscious again." Charles reached for Logan's nearest wrist, checking his pulse. "He'll be alright, though, physically. He's just exhausted from the strain of his mental battle."

Ororo nodded slowly. "I'm feeling a little worn out myself, Charles. I think I'll just lie here with Logan for a while."

The professor offered a small smile, tilting his head in understanding. He wheeled his chair back from the bed. "I'll have Hank come up to be sure our session didn't put any undue stress on either you or the baby."

She sighed with mild exasperation. "I'm fi—"

"I won't take no for an answer, Ororo," he said with a hint of amusement to his rich voice as he moved to the door. "Please let me know when Logan wakes."

"I will, Charles. Thank you. For everything."

.

"Hnnh…"

Ororo sat up at Logan's soft groan, a faint twitching around his eyes and the corners of his mouth, forehead crinkling. He was finally waking up. She'd been lying beside him for the last hour and a half, resting and watching him, but not sleeping. Ororo had been too anxious to find out how he was, thinking about what she'd seen in his mind.

Sitting up slowly as his eyes opened, Logan turned to look at her groggily, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Hey, darlin'."

Her eyes widened and she flung her arms around his neck, sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaking down her cheeks, unbidden. Logan had never called her darlin' or spoken with such ease since he'd regressed. And by the look in those brown eyes, Ororo could tell—he was back.

"Shh….shh. It's alright now, 'Ro. It's a'right," he hushed her gently, rubbing a soothing hand along her back in circles. "M'sorry it took me so long."

Ororo pulled back slowly, wanting to see his face and feeling foolish for bawling on him like a child. She reached out and stroked her husband's cheek. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Logan. Nothing at all."

He put a hand on her belly reverently and smiled faintly when the baby moved a little.

"Do you feel alright?" Ororo covered his hand with her own.

Logan grunted softly and rubbed at his head. "Yeah. Everything's still kinda strange…up here…" He grimaced a little and tapped at his temple.

She eyed him with concern. "Strange how, love?"

He sighed softly, wincing. "Wild thoughts… Feelin'…restless…" Logan shrugged uneasily and shook his head. "I dunno."

"It's alright." Ororo rubbed his shoulder consolingly. "You were in a full feral state for nearly a year, Logan. I don't expect everything will just go back to the way it was in an instant."

Heaving a sigh, Logan met her gaze again. "Yeah. At least I got the worst of it sorted out in my head though, right?" He shrugged.

Ororo leaned over and pressed a loving kiss to his lips before climbing off the bed. "Do you remember everything?"

"Mostly…I think," he answered slowly. Sighing again, Logan got up with her, his gaze drifting toward the balcony as though on autopilot. He dragged a hand through his hair and frowned. "Some stuff's kinda fuzzy I guess."

Nodding understandingly, Ororo picked up the phone that was on the dresser. She could tell the subject of his feral behavior was kind of uncomfortable for him right now. It was too fresh, too recent. She didn't want to push him, simply happy that Logan was already acting more like her husband than he had in a while. "I told Charles I'd let him know when you woke up."

"Hn." Grunting with a slight tilt of his chin, Logan began padding around the loft as though he were trying to figure something out, and Ororo kept an eye on him while she dialed for the professor's study.

.

Logan didn't magically go back to his old behavior just because he'd had a major breakthrough in dealing with the psychological trauma he'd suffered, and no one expected him to. For the most part things were relatively normal—well, as normal as things got at the institute—and the students were encouraged not to make a big deal out of the change their mentor had gone through. Ororo noticed that some things would still trigger feral responses in him, and he was often eager to step outside the confining walls of the mansion for hours at a time. Sometimes he would even slip into old habits like dropping into a crouch when standing still, or suddenly being very non-verbal and responding only in grunts and soft growls.

Ororo wasn't concerned though. She knew she had her husband back, and was encouraged that the birth of their baby girl would help give him an emotional boost and push away some of the painful memories caused by Magneto and the doctor from Weapon X. Now that she was a week from her due date—even less if Hank was right—Ororo felt that everything was really falling into place with their lives.

Among all the students, Rogue appeared to be having the hardest time dealing with Logan's breakthrough and figuring out how she should behave toward him. Now that he really didn't need to be kept calm when he was restless indoors, there was no longer a reason to continue their danger room sessions together. Ororo could tell that Rogue missed that, and hoped that Logan would see that the girl still needed him now as much as he'd needed her then.

Waddling across the loft with both hands supporting her belly, Ororo stopped beside Logan where he stood at the baby's crib, his large hands gripping the light wood and staring down at the empty mattress. She leaned against him and smiled when he put an arm around her and grinned, meeting her eyes and then glancing down at her enormous stomach.

"Can I ask you something?" Ororo questioned softly, sliding one arm around his waist.

Logan rose an eyebrow at her. "Sure, darlin'."

"All those times you just took off into the woods on your own… What were you up to?"

Blowing out air through his nose, Logan rubbed at the back of his neck and glanced toward the balcony doors for a moment. "Uh, mostly just runnin' around, workin' off excess energy an' makin' sure there wasn't anythin' or anyone dangerous that could hurt you or the others." He shrugged, his gaze drifting back toward her face. "Sometimes…sometimes I was just angry an' tore shit up." Logan's jaw clenched and he looked away in shame.

Pursing her lips, Ororo squeezed his side affectionately and pressed a tender kiss to his shoulder. "I didn't know you felt that way."

He heaved a sigh and pulled away from her slightly, shoulders slumping as he turned his back to her. "I…I think I kept away from you when it happened 'cuz I was afraid of hurtin' you an' the baby." Logan cleared his throat roughly and dragged a hand over his face, padding toward the balcony doors. "It felt like…when I go berserk…but even less rational, if that makes any sense. The anger'd just hit me outta nowhere."

"I don't believe it was out of nowhere, Logan." Ororo moved up behind him again, placing her hand flat against his tense back. "You were in pain, emotionally and physically, and you were dealing with it the only way you knew how, by lashing out and turning the hurt to anger."

"Hn." Logan gave a soft grunt, reaching toward the balcony doors like he wanted to go outside, then pivoting instead and moving over to the bed.

Ororo could tell he'd reached his limit for the night. He didn't want to talk anymore. She wanted to discover more about his trips into the woods, sure that he was still leaving something out, but that could wait. Both she and the professor had been pushing him a lot this week, and she was aware that it was time to back off a little. Logan had a lot of things he still needed to process on his own, and she would let him do that.

.