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CHAPTER 37: The aftermath

Lola had only spoken once after being rescued, talking in a robotic tone to tell all that had happened. After she was done, the girl fell silent and nestled closer to Victor. Blood had dried on her face from when her assailant had been shot and the girl was covered in bruises and filth. She was limping from the wound to her leg and had two fractured ribs from being kicked when in her kitten form. Hank had tended to the wounds on the plane, flushing out possible infection and getting tape out for her rib cage but was stopped when Victor took both the tape and Lola back to his seat.

As soon as they touched down he was up and heading for his rooms, Lola cradled in his arms. When they got in, he carried her straight to the bathroom and set her on the toilet. She remained quiet while he ran a bath which made her sudden screaming all the more startling.

"NO! NO I DON'T WANT TO NO GET OFF!"

"Lola- Lola it's me! It's me babygirl. Just me."

"Vic- Victor?"

He nodded and purred when she flung her arms around him crying.

"I was so- they tried to kill- I had to shoot and then there was the blood and Marie and- and he was screaming- and-" She sobbed and he rocked her until her tears faded to sniffling.

"I know. You're safe now. Let's get you cleaned up."

Still sniffling she raised her arms over her head and let him undress her, a piece of clothing at a time and hugging herself tightly while Victor stripped to his boxers and sat them both in the tub.

"Victor the- the man, he- you killed him. You KILLED him."

He paused in soaping a towel and sighed.

"Yes, I did. Because he hurt you. Because of what he was trying to do."

"I never meant for anybody to die because of me-"

"He's not worth feeling guilt over Cat."

She hesitated and then bit her lip hard.

"I wanted you to kill him. I wanted him to suffer. Is.. is that bad?"

Victor resumed soaping the washcloth.

"There's a lot of grey areas in life. I think this was one of them. But I'm sorry you had to see me like that."

"Victor.. I was scared. But i'm going to be in your life as long as you'll let me. And so don't worry about those things."

There was no lie in her scent. Her hazel eyes watched him with nothing but understanding and when he kissed her, he had the sudden thought that she would be the love of his life. Victor found the thought simultaneously terrifying and wonderous.

Every inch of her body was beautiful to him and shockingly he had no interest in sex, even with her completely bare before him. There was only the need to care for her, to make her clean and whole once more. He scrubbed and washed and scrubbed some more until the blood and sweat of the ordeal were no more than dirty water going down the drain of the tub.

Lola however was not content to sit and watch. Whether it was from gratitude or instinct, she soon followed suit and began to clean the older feral. Her small hands traced the marks of healing, she washed his hair till Victor was purring almost continuously. The girl found immense comfort in the ordinary, cleanliness a luxury and being this intimate with Victor took away the worst of her fear.

Once both were ready, Victor dried her off and put her in one of his shirts, taping up her ribs and tucking her into his bed. She knew there would nightmares, and she knew this was something that would stay with her until the day she died. But as Victor climbed in beside her, wrapping her up in his embrace and purring in her ear Lola thought that maybe Victor would stay with her as well. And if that was the case, she would be just fine.

While Victor cared for his mate, Logan wasn't sure if he still had one. Hank had tried to stabilize her and stop the bleeding but was still unsure if they'd gotten there in time. A transfusion was out of the question, there was no telling what her mutation might take in from it. He'd wrapped it, using gauze and tape to staunch the blood flow and as soon as they touched down Marie was taken into surgery.

After that, Logan was constantly moving. He paced the floors of the medical bay for three hours while Hank and his team worked to remove the bullet and fragments. Storm tried to offer support, coffee, something. But Logan would not be comforted. To have been so close and then have that chance taken away..

"Logan?"
He looked up at Hank who stood in the doorway.

"Marie."

"She's.. stable. For now. If she makes it through the night then we're in the clear but it's going to be touch and go."

"What can I do to help?" Logan asked anxiously.

"Talk to her."

"What? That's it? Isn't there like some fancy heal all shit I can go find?"

Hank smiled wearily.

"I'm afraid not my friend. But research has shown those who are talked to know they have something to hang on to. She can hear you. And you might just be the thing she fights hardest for."

Great. Marie's life was hanging in the balance and he had to talk. Something he probably couldn't do well even if he had all his memories and then some. Still, if Hank said that's what she needed..

He damn well wasn't gonna let her down.

The machines and tubes beeping around Marie scared him worse than just about anything. He was used to his girl being fire and warmth and sunshine. Not lying pale and wane in a hospital bed. Already she looked ethereal, dark hair striking against the ghostly pallor of her skin. He sat beside the bed, taking her small hand into his and pressing a kiss to her palm. He had to talk. And so he would.

"Hey Darlin. I.. shit I'm no good at this. But you know that. If you could talk back you'd probably start scolding me like you do. Makin me feel good. Taking care of me. You're always taking care of me Marie. Ever since I found you. Or more like you found me.." He watched her face, trying hard to pretend they were out on their porch, like this was a normal evening for them.

"Kid.. as long as I've known you, you've taken care of me. And I don't think I ever thanked you for that. You've been my home, my heart for years. I used to.." He smiled slightly, imagining how her eyes would widen if she were awake.

"I used to let myself dream about you. Just.. just on the really bad nights. Wasn't sex or nothin' just.. just you and me. Your little feet would be in my lap while you read to us and I'd be rubbin em while I listened. Or sometimes I'd see us with a baby.. and they'd have your eyes and laugh. I didn't want to wake up.. because real life wouldn't be good enough if I didn't have you in it."

Her monitor beeped steadily and somehow the continuous beeping soothed his broken edges.

"Marie. I- Marie I love you. I love you and- and I'm trying really hard to make sure you know that. I want more chances to let you know that darlin'. So you gotta fight. I know you're tired baby. I know, especially when it comes to us, it would be so easy to give up. But please Marie. Don't-" His voice broke and he found himself with his head on her chest, tears streaming and a low keening noise coming from deep within.

"Don't leave me here alone."