CHAPTER 20
Second update in two days! Wow, this story is definitely no longer on hitus!
A few minutes later Jean was relieved as the sliding doors parted behind her, to emit Hank and Professor Xavier into the medical lab. Logan's breathing continued to remain leighboured, taking rapid, deep breaths in and easier, more controlled ones out, still writhing slightly and groaning in discomfort, as it became evident that every movement, no matter how small, caused him pain. Despite all of this however his stats had slowly began to stabilise, although Jean had still been reluctant to remove his oxygen mask, as it became clear that the raged breaths he was taking required more effort than she was happy to accept was normal, and the pain that he was evidently currently in was making the whole process of breathing difficult. Her own anxiety growing over the quickly spreading patch of blood on Logan's bandages.
Hank hadn't even had to ask what had happened as he made his way over, the scarlet stain had been evident even from their small distance, and the Professor sighed gravely with this, as Jean and Hank exchanged a silent glance between them.
"He's torn his stitches!" Hank observed urgently at this. "Logan, I need you to remain as still as possible!" He instructed him, before setting to work gathering new medical supplies from the nearby cupboards, fresh reels of stitches, sterile gauze dressings and bandages as Jean went to work gently removing the now bloodstained ones swathed around his abdomen.
The Professor made his way over with this, sensing Logan's distress. Quietly positioning himself just behind Logan's head, hands placed either side of his skull, and bending over slightly.
"Just try to relax Logan." He reassured him, and as Logan tilted his head back slightly to catch a glimpse of the Professor behind him he realised that the voice was coming from the inside of his own head. "Just focus on my voice Logan." He spoke to him. "Listen to me… everything's going to be alright."
The Professor was refocusing him, taking his mind off what was going on around him. In some small corner at the back of his mind Logan was aware of what was happening to him, as Hank, now at his side, began to cut away at the bloody gauze and bandage, but he couldn't quite bring himself to focus on his situation. No matter how hard he tried, he could feel the Professor routing around inside his mind, creating a series of mental barriers between himself and whatever it was which was causing him the most fear, reducing his anxiety.
Logan realised what it must be taking out of the Professor to do this for him, and he was grateful. But he couldn't allow him to keep putting himself on the line like this, and so, instinctively, he tried to fight against him. Tried to break down the mental barriers created, by focusing harder on what was going on around him, and the situation in hand… not realising that the more he fought the more exhausted the Professor became.
"Don't fight it Logan." He heard the Professor speak with this. "Let me help you."
"No… Professor please." Logan protested however, clenching his teeth tightly together with the effort it was taking him to resist the Professor's efforts. "You can't!"
"You can be a stubborn, frustrating weight on my mind sometimes Logan." The Professor chucked with this. "But if you want to turn this into a competition between the two of us, you can't win!" And with this Logan, realising that he was beaten, closed his eyes resignedly, and let the Professors calming influence wash over him. He realised that he couldn't match Xavier's telepathic strength, and didn't want to fight him. He just took comfort in the fact now, that at least he had such good friends.
"Thank you." He sighed, in gratitude to his good friend and menor.
"Don't mention it." Professor Xavier smiled.
Suddenly however the frantic commotion going on around him ceased as Hank stripped away the last layer of bandage and revealed the bare and seeping raw flesh of Logan's abdomen beneath. The Professor was evidently distracted by what he saw, as his line of communication with Logan was instantly disrupted, and, now able to focus more clearly on what was going on around him Logan turned to see Jean smiling as he observed Hank return the gesture.
"No." The slender young red head responded, with some relief, at this. "He's rejected them!"