AUTHOR'S NOTE: You know guys, I updated Carcajou a few days ago. The corrected chapter is up. ^_^'

Chapter 36

At first he felt a searing pain behind his eyes. On the inside the bestial man roared with anger. Clawing at the cage that was his body to try and escape. For a second all went dark. All the pain and suffering fell away to reveal a bright and shining light. For an instant he caught sight of the other side. Smiling faces beaming down at him as they called out his name. Beckoning him to join them. When he reached for them, they faded away. Leaving him feeling empty as his soul back heavily back into life. Causing his chest to expand painfully with breath as his lungs filled to capacity once again.

When he opened his eyes he was blinded by a bright light. His eyes burned at he closed them again. Turning his head as far as it would go to the right he opened them again. This time with slits as he stared dimly into the dark. He thought he saw something black move in his line of sight, but then it became still.

Logan opened his mouth to moan but choked. Grabbing the edge of the table he was laying on he tried to get up. Only managing to fall off and topple to the floor. He threw up, the taste of copper heavy in his mouth. He coughed and snorted as blood clotted his nose as his head spun. Distantly he heard the sound of boots on stone approaching him. Automatically he unleashed his claws getting one arm beneath him to at least raise his head. Baring his fangs as he slashed at the black figure coming closer to him.

"Back off, you fucking vulture. Just cause I can't walk doesn't mean this dog still don't got a nasty bite to him. You ain't gettin' me while I'm down." Logan snarled his eyes blazing. The boots stopped just out of his reach. It was maddening to have the bastard so close but yet so far.

"That's right, stand there like a coward. Fucking bastard, you wait until I can stand up. Cause when I do I'm gonna shove these right up your-"

"Do you remember who you are?" A deep voice responded. For a second Logan was thrown for a loop. He blinked his mind working slowly to place the voice. As his eyes adjusted to the dark he saw the boots were much to big to be Hugo Strange. His gazed traveled upward noting the strong muscles in the leg. The view was blocked by a black cape as Logan strained his neck. Two white slits were narrowed down at him, the shadow of sharp ears apparent on the cowl.

"Thomas?" Logan said for an instant his brain wondering if he had indeed died. Maybe he had gone to hell again and his grandson had decided to pay him a visit. Then his clouded mind cleared as everything else fell into place. The eyes above him narrowed, but the black figure said nothing.

"Is that your name?" The figure asked him again. Logan snorted, turning his head and spitting a wad of blood out of his mouth. His nostrils began to clear as he took in a shaky breath. Trying to catch the other's scent.

"Depends on who you ask, but I go by Logan."

"Do you know where you are?"

"Gotham City, I'm thinkin. Or hell."

"Whose your partner?"

"A fucking swamp rat who doesn't listen to orders." Logan growled. He was beginning to become annoyed with these questions. He struggled to try and regain control of his legs, but they felt dead to the world.

"Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I got mind fucked by some crazy doctor called Strange something. Guy is fucking creepy as shit."

When he saw the thin line of the lips of his…savior? Logan burst out laughing then winced at the pain in his chest. When he tried to move his legs he felt pain shoot down one as he managed to at least move it a few inches. It seemed feeling was returning to them.

"You gonna keep standin' there staring at me or you gonna help me?"

"I'm determining whether you are in complete control of your faculties."

"I haven't been this clear headed since….I can't remember."

"Any pain? Blackouts?"

"No, I got a headache but that's going away. So, Bruce, you gonna take off the cowl or what?" Logan snapped irritated. The figure's eyes narrowed but the Canadian only grunted.

"Don't go tryin' to lie to me, neither. I held you when you were less than a day old. I'd know your scent anywhere. C'mon, kiddo, it's me. I swear." Logan said attempting to push himself up. He grit his teeth and growled as pain shot through his lower black. He slumped, hanging his head as he took deep breaths. Closing his eyes as he heard the boots echo as they walked around him. His shoulders tensed as he opened his eyes again.

"Look, I can't….if you still hate me for leavin', that's fine. Just know I didn't leave because…god dammit, Bruce! Did you just drag me down here to die or what?!"

"I was checking your vitals." The voice responded coolly. Then all of a sudden when Logan raised his head his face was only inches from Bruce's. He felt another shock as if he were staring at Thomas again. The newborn whose life he had saved had grown to look just like his father.

"Come on, Uncle Patch, I'll help you up." Bruce said tiredly. Logan blinked still completely shocked. When the young man moved to grab his arm the Canadian responded. Struggling to his feet as he leaned on Bruce for support. He was shocked by how much taller Bruce had become since he had last seen him.

"Damn, kiddo, you're taller than me now." Logan said with amazement. Bruce nodded grimly, but helped the man to a chair. Logan grunted as his legs were forced to bear his weight again. They appeared to be in some sort of cave. He could smell the guano of thousands of bats and wrinkled his nose at the scent.

Bruce helped his former guardian to a chair. With some effort he managed to get the older man in the chair where he usually sat at the batcomputer. Logan closed his eyes and shook his head like a wet dog. Then opened them again to stare dumbfounded at his descendant. As if not quite believing what he was seeing.

"I still can't believe it's you. You look just like your dad. Got your mom's smarts though, don't you?"

"And her personality apparently, or so I've been told." Bruce answered his voice strained. There were heavy bags under his eyes from staying up all night and throughout the day. When he had checked on Gambit several hours later he had found the thief had been completely dead to the world. He had told Alfred to let the Cajun sleep and to give him plenty of water and aspirin when he awoke. If the man should awaken he told Alfred to simply tell Remy the master of the household had gone off to work not wanting to wake him up.

"Yeah, you always kinda did act like Martha. Always giving people a hard time but charming any damn woman who came your way. Gotta feel sorry for 'em. How many hearts have you broken now?" Logan asked making a sorry attempt at a grin. When Bruce only stared at him the Canadian gave it up. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head wearily. Then another thought occurred to him.

"Hey, where's the-"

"Remy is upstairs sleeping. He doesn't know yet." Bruce cut him off. Logan nodded his head still completely dumbfounded. Reaching up he squeezed the bridge of his nose and took several deep breaths. A wave of pain washed over him, but it began to fade. Allowing him to focus as his healing factor kicked in to wipe it away.

"Uncle Patch, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, Bruce, I'm fine. Just the damn headache, that's all. It'll go away in a little bit. You got a cigar on you?" Logan asked opening his eyes again. Bruce gave him a cool look and then silently reached down. The Canadian caught sight of the utility belt as the CEO opened a small compartment. Drawing out a stogie and handing it over to the older man carefully. Along with a lighter with a silver wolf emblazoned on it.

"Thanks. You came prepared, huh?" Logan asked as he chomped off a the end of the cigar. He spat it to the side into the dark and lit up. After he took a few puffs he raised an eyebrow at the billionaire.

"Real Cuban, huh? Ain't these illegal?"

"I may have confiscated them from another criminal. Where he was going they would hardly be of any use to him. The GCPD won't need them either. I thought you could put them to better use."

"Ain't this my lighter?"

"I found it on the dining room table after you left."

Logan winced at he remembered where they had left off. That was right. Now he remembered as the rest came back to him. He sighed taking another deep draw on his cigar. Trying to buy time as his mind got used to being in control again. After being under for so long it felt alien to know his mind was his own again. Not to mention finding out the person who had saved him was someone he had always seen as a baby standing in front of him now a full grown man.

"Look, I'm….I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice at the time."

"Everyone has a choice."

"Well, forgive me if I didn't want to see a third gravestone." Logan said darkly. Bruce's eyes flickered as he gazed at the man. The Canadian silently cursed himself in his head at what he had said. Why the hell did he have to open his mouth? The kid had just saved his sorry ass and here he was dredging up bad memories.

"Let me rephrase that. Not everyone is a tactical genius like the infamous Batman. So forgive me if I didn't see the other options at the time." Logan stated. To his relief Bruce raised an eyebrow at him but then broke out into a tired smile.

"I suppose you can be forgiven for that fault." Bruce replied. Logan grunted as the tension between the two eased. He gazed at the young man in open fascination still not believing it was truly him. How many years had it been since he had last seen Bruce? Fifteen?

"Wrong time for it, but I really am glad to see ya."

"I find it a bit strange, actually."

"Why you say that?"

"The perspective now. As a child you always seemed bigger than life. I always imagined being able to look you in the eye. Now that I'm an adult…." Bruce paused not knowing what to say. The last few months had been hectic and stressful at best. At their worst he had stumbled upon not only one, but two surviving members of his family. He had managed to save one while the other was being held hostage. Upstairs slept Uncle Patch's lover who probably knew more about the mutant in front of him then he ever could.

On top of which Bruce had no doubt in his mind Gambit would put two and two together. He had gone to far in coming close to the thief. Patch had already figured it out just by his scent alone. Gazing again at his uncle he still could hardly believe he was sitting right there in his chair. Now that he got a good look at him he could see how they were related. They both had the same cheekbones, the strong chin, and even those blue eyes all the men in the family seemed to share.

"Alfred will be glad to see you." Bruce stated coolly. Already he could see how fast Patch had recovered. It had only been a few hours since his "surgery", but there was no damage what so ever. Other than the drying blood on his shirt Logan looked as if he was ready to take on the world ten times over.

"Hey, kiddo, I ah…got somethin' to say to ya." Logan said stiffly. He put his cigar out and stood up looking at the younger man awkwardly. It annoyed him he had to look up when it came to this man he had watched as a child. The corner of Bruce's mouth twitched in annoyance.

"I'm hardly a child anymore, Uncle Patch." Bruce stated. Logan grunted rubbing the back of his neck suddenly feeling embarrassed. Then he laughed as he dropped his hand only then realizing he was still in his uniform. His mask had been pulled back from his face.

"Yeah, yeah, guess you are, huh? Doubt Alfred will be happy. You don't remember I think, but he used to follow me around the house with that damn feather duster of his. And when I did something he didn't like he swatted me with it."

"I remember that. You're the only person Alfred doesn't seem to like. He describes having you in the house is like having a useless, dirty dog. But he can't get rid of you because you're so lovable."

"Gee, thanks, that makes me feel a ton better. Knowing Alfred considers me a bitch." Logan growled. Bruce chuckled, to tired to truly argue. He should have gone to bed a long time ago. After a few seconds Logan stepped forward and threw his arms around the younger man. Bruce began to pull back, surprised by the gesture but the older man only held on to him. Forcing the billionaire to hesitantly hug him back.

"Missed ya, kiddo."