(Much of this is summarises the events of Wolverine: The Origin comic, so if you're familiar with that you can largely skim over the itallic parts. The only thing to note is that I only cover those bits James/Logan was present at, since Logan wouldn't have any memories of things he wasn't present at, and given Origin is often told from Rose's perspective, as well as having other scenes where James/Logan isn't present, means some things aren't covered here. If you haven't read it I'd recommend it personally, and also in Origin the identity of who exactly Logan is in the early part of the story is a bit of mystery which necessarily here it isn't.
Two other things to note, I'm taking the view here that Rose does look very like Jean, at the time Origin came out it seemed clearly implied in how Origin depicted her, and essentially confirmed in vol. 1 Wolverine #176 where Logan meets her in a near death experience. For most of it, he thinks she's Jean until she tells him at the end she's not, so I take it that she and Jean do look near identical and on that assumption will explore why in this story. This might have been walked back a bit more recently, but that's where I'm taking this. Also in that issue she calls Logan her love, so I'm also taking the view Rose was and is in love with Logan.
Finally, Dog Logan was brought back in Wolverine and the X-Men run, where he found time crystals and became a time traveller, using futuristic weaponry to attack Logan. He disappeared into Seige Perilous and hasn't been seen since, probably won't be for quite a while. Personally I always thought despite it being the obvious move they should just have had him become Sabretooth (I thought X-Men Origins: Wolverine actually made the right move there) as his personality is more or less identical and Creed will always be more of a personal enemy to Wolvie. But they didn't, however I didn't really like the time travel thing as it seemed to make too many plot holes, since Dog Logan can move about in time at will, why doesn't he try to kill Logan just after the events of Origin, or say just after Magneto ripped out his adamantium when his healing factor was near burnt out, he'd have been much easier to kill, or any time when he's more vunerable? I know Dog wasn't invented them, but still his ability to time travel at will just makes too many plot holes. So that hasn't happened here either, I don't think it will change much in overall X-Men continuity so it shouldn't be a problem. Dog may well be putting in an apparence but if so, it'll be via a slightly different way. Anyway with that on with the story.)
Chapter 3
Suddenly with a shimmer of colours which merged and formed into a memory, they were with a little boy, small, weakened by constant illness, who they knew to be James Howlett, young Logan. The psi-link uniting them to Logan's mind granted them all his understanding of what they were seeing. They were in the late nineteenth century, and before was the Howlett mansion, above a village in Alberta, Canada, of only a few decades old, built by his grandfather who'd made his fortune on the copper mines, and managed by Logan's father John Howlett. His grandfather and father fought constantly over how the younger Howlett ran the estate and business, and his care and lenience towards his staff and workers, and for staying in the mansion. The young James was isolated, his mother, Elizabeth Howlett, had long shunned him, she'd lost his older brother, her first son under strange circumstances, circumstances that created rumours the mansion was cursed. Following that she'd spent time in an asylum, and had never really recovered, and wouldn't see her son. His father cared but with busy, and his grandfather felt his father made the boy soft. Because of this a companion and care for him had been hired from the village. Looking up the young James saw his father coming with a girl of twelve, she had shock of long red hair and emerald green eyes, his father stopped and introduced him to her. 'James, this is Rose, she's going to be keeping you company son,' his father smiled gently at him.
Young James responded shyly, 'please to meet you, Ms Rose' to which the young girl flashed him a pretty smile and replied, 'thank you Master James, I know we'll both have a lovely time together.'
Logan could feel the shock and sympathy of his team-mates and friends to some of what they were seeing, but they knew him well enough not to say anything, though he could feel Jean and Ororo wanting to reach out to him. Though for Jean he sensed those feelings combined with wonder as she said, 'she really does look just like I did at that age.'
The image blurs and then forms into a series of scenes, James, Rose and another boy in rougher, threadbare clothes known as Dog, son of the estate gardener Thomas Logan, playing and enjoying themselves. It seemed a happy memory but they felt Logan's sadness and his rage directed towards Dog. The scene shifts again, James, who'd always been to sick to swim with the other two children, alone with Dog teasing each other, then James falls into the pond, struggling to swim as Dog jumps in after him, and manages to pull him out. Soon they are inside the mansion, both boys in blankets, before the elder Howletts, Rose apologising for the incident. James father comforts her and saying there is nothing to apologise over, 'boys will be boys' he says, and every is safe, James grandfather objects, 'I my day, the boy would have been flogged, as would his father.' 'This isn't your day, Papa. Thomas I want you to take your boy home and take care of him. Understood.'
'Oh, I will sir,' the gardener responds, and Logan feels everyone shock at seeming him, feeling his mental self tensing with anger. 'Yeah,' Logan says bitterly, 'he looks like me. He aught to, the evil bastard's my real father.' Those gathered can feel how he hates these personal details being known and wisely say nothing. And through the link they already know now that Logan's mother had an affair with the gardener.
The scene shifts, Dog isn't seen in James and Rose company again, only glimpses, with the young boys face sporting cuts and bruises, he'd clearly been beaten.
'Our father's work,' Logan said sarcastically, 'Dog became a monster, but Thomas Logan made him that way.'
Once again the scene whirls and shifts, it's years later, and an older, crueller and meaner Dog is accosting Rose. James interrupts him, calls for help, while later James father goes to see Thomas Logan about dealing with his son. The scene shifts to later that day, James is by his older brother's grave, his beloved small dog Callie with him, when Dog ambushes him, they scuffle, James calls for help, and his dog attempts to help, biting Dog on his heel. Dog cries out, then in anger the boy picks up the small animal by the scruff of it's neck, and pulls out a knife. 'Hhh… Ehh… you stole from me, little Master James. Even though you got everythin' in the world…' and with a quick slash Dog cuts Callie's throat in front of James. Grinning wickedly at James, Dog adds, 'well, now you don't, anymore.'
Scene shifts, James knows that Dog and his father Thomas have been thrown off the estate. He hears commotion down stairs, James moves downstairs, opening the door, saying 'Papa? Is that you? I heard a noise,' to see Thomas and Dog Logan, shotguns in hand, his mother at Thomas side, and Dog holding Rose, his father is knelling, his face bleeding at Thomas' feet, with Thomas holding a shotgun to his face. The next moment a loud bag resounds, as Thomas blows James' father's brains out.
James screams, and runs to his father's side crying 'Papa, It's me! It's James! Oh, Papa...', Rose is screaming in the background, Thomas is shouting, 'Make her shut up! And the boy, too!'
Dog says, 'someone shut that idiot up! I swear Rose – I ain't never been more serious in my life! I can't think straight! I said shut up, James!' he continues, putting his shotgun at James head.
Something is happening with James, as Rose jumps at Dog, calling, 'James look out!' as she pushes Dog's shotgun aside as it goes off. With a cry of anger, James hits Dog, he falls to the fall cradling his face, it's bleeding. James rushes at Thomas Logan, growling out, 'you killed my Papa! You killed my Papa! I'll kill you back! I'll kill you back!' His mother is pleading with Thomas not kill her son as James slams both fists into Thomas' chest.
'Get offa me, you little runt!' Thomas smacks James with the butt of his shotgun, throwing him back, and points his shotgun at him. 'You soft little turd! You think there ain't another barrel full where that came from? I'll have your bloody guts fer garters! I'm gonna – gonna ' Thomas voice grows weaker, and the shotgun slips from his fingers, and he looks in astonishment at the blood pouring down his chest, from six holes in his shirt. He clutches his chest, trying to futilely to try and keep in the blood gushing from his chest. 'What did you… Dear Lord,' Thomas faintly finishes, collapsing on the floor, dead.
'First man I ever killed was my own biological father,' Logan said grimly. 'Not that ol' bastard didn't deserve it. Meet him in hell once, just as evil there too.' No one could say anything as they watched grim scene play out.
'Oh sweet mother of God. James – ' Rose whispered in terror, as James let forth a scream that was more like a howl, his hands held out before him, out of which had burst six bone claws, smaller than they were now, but with which all those watching were familiar with.
'And so James died, an' I was born,' Logan muttered.
'My hands,' James screamed, looking at the claws that had ripped through them, his blood dripping from the wounds.
'Oh James… oh please… not you… ' James mother said.
'Mama, I… I can't feel my hands! Rose? What's happened to my hands?' James cried.
'James… oh, Lord have mercy, what are you?' Rose whispered, holding her hands to her mouth.
'ohh… not again. Not you James…' James' mother continued.
They could sense James was now confused, he no longer seemed to know fully where he was, or what had happened, the memory seemed to be clouding over him his mind. 'Mama… who are these people? Where's Papa?' he asked desperately, as he moved towards his mother.
With a sharp slap to his face, his mother yelled, 'Get away from me!'
'No Mama… I've not been bad… I promise,' James cried, 'I love you, Mama.. '. They could sense Logan mentally stiffen, they knew this wasn't something he'd ever wanted any seeing, something so personal he'd until now let no one know or see.
'Your not my son! You're a monster… an animal!' James' mother cried at him, picking and throwing a candle stick holder at him, shattering a mirror behind him.
'Mama please… ' James begged.
'Get out of this house, you damned abortion!' his mother mother hissed at him.
With that James broke and ran, he heard Rose crying out for him as he dashed down the stairs and outside, his mind confused with whirling and distorted images.
Rushing out James dropped onto the ground and curled into a foetal position. His body felt as if it were burning up, he could feel things changing, his senses seemed to expand. The confused shadows of his thoughts seemed to suggest to James that he'd killed his father, and he retreated from that terror.
'Oh Logan,' Jean said, mentally trying to reach out to the young version of him.
'It's long time ago, Jeannie, literally over a lifetime ago, nothin' you or anyone can do now,' Logan replied.
'James! James!' they heard Rose shouting, her feet running, coming closer to him. 'James, where are you? I can't see a ruddy thing out here… ' she continued.
'Oh James,' Rose said, as she stumbled upon James.
Suddenly a loud bang was heard coming from the mansion. Tersely Logan replied, 'my mother. Taking her own life, 'cause I didn't find that out till later,' with so many shocks, the others watching had nothing to say.
'M-mama? Is that you? I'm so cold… ' James said, raising his head.
'It's me James. It's Rose. James I… ' Rose replied, dropping her hands from her mouth.
James coughed, 'It burns so.. my skin' he said.
Rose dropped to ground beside him, and hugged him close, cradling him in her lap.
Rose managed to take him to the nearby stables, and had put a blanket over him. She was in shock, afraid of what they were going to do, if those at the house might blame her, not even sure if any of it was real. James finally rose his had and looked at her, his mind in total dark confusion, and asked, 'Do… do I know you?'
'Hush, child, now you're seeing things? Rose replied.
'Can you smell that,' James returned. 'It smells like apple dumpings. But it… it seems so far away. I can hear someone walking by the servants' entrance… and there are three people in the Maze. Oh… I've been having the most awful dream. Uhh… there are too many noises here… It's so loud. Where's my Mama? Did something happen to us?'
'James, don't you remember? Don't you understand what's happened? It's me – Rose!' Rose cried.
'Rose… Rose… yes. I remember now. Didn't you once work for my Papa?' James asked with a slight smile. In his mind he'd retreated from the idea he'd killed his father, and now everything was falling under a confusing dark fog.
Rose took him to her aunt's house, Rose had lost her parents to influenza and had moved to stay with her aunt prior to coming take up her position at the Howlett mansion. She pleaded with her aunt, James could hear it all even though he stood far off and out of sight. Rose's aunt refused to help, telling her the police were looking for her, believing her responsible for kidnapping. She told her she wouldn't say she'd seen her but she needed to be far away by morning.
Rose came back to him, unsure what to do, and then looked to see James' claws starting to slide back into his hands. 'These things… they're going back inside you. Are you making 'em do that?' she asked.
'I don't know… I think I've been unwell again, Rose.' James replied. 'Can we go where it's warm again?'
'I don't think we have any choice.' Rose replied, leading them back towards the Howlett estate.
As they made they way through the woods of the estate, they came across James' grandfather walking out in the woods. As soon as he saw them, he challenged Rose, putting his stick at her, demanding if she was coming to finish the job. Rose pleaded she wasn't responsible, saying that Thomas Logan had forced his way in.
'Somethin' has happened to Master James. His hands… ' Rose showed them to the elder Howlett.
'Shut up, girl. And listen to me.' he hissed at her. 'IF you wish to live, you're going to do exactly what I say.'
'I warned my son no good would come of this place,' Howlett senior said as he lead them into the mansion, 'and I was right.'
He lead them to a room and picked up a long coat, 'from this moment on, girl, you and this… creature are refugees. You can thank my good nature for the fact you both remain alive,' the old man said. 'But push my patience and that can soon be remedied. I'm going to do more than I should, because this beast remains connected by blood, as much as pains me to imagine it. But I shun the revolting thing as I would shun a rabid animal.'
'I have influence in this town,' the old man continued. 'For the next ten hours, there will be no police on duty at the train station. I suggest you take the boy there…'
'Please sir,' Rose pleaded, 'have a heart. James is only a boy. He's your grandson!'
'The last of my line died yesterday. I have no grandson,' the elder Howlett growled, shoving money into Rose's hand.
He cast them from the mansion, threaten to have them shot ever they ever turned up again, and so after struggling through the snow they were on a train headed out of the village, huddled together in the back of the carriage as it hurdled out of Alberta and into British Columbia.
The scenes shifted, the two moving further and further away from main areas of civilization and further into the wilder areas, their money and resources drying up. Headed to the quarries of the Northern frontier, there Rose hoped they might be safe and anonymous. 'Don't be afraid dear. I won't let anything happen to you… I promise,' yet James could smell her fear of him, even alongside her care for him, of his body that had healed itself miraculously, even as he found it difficult to remember who he was.
They stood before the quarry foreman, named Smitty alongside the other new arrives, as he promised them food and board, only if they worked hard. They were just going by when he called out to them, and asked her name.
'Rose, sir,' she replied.
'You ain't got the right togs for this part of the world… you'll bleeding well freeze to death like that. What can you do, girl?' Smitty asked.
'If it please, sir. I can cook, an' clean, an' sow. An' I can read an' write… ' Rose replied.
'What about this one?' Smitty asked. 'What's your name lad?'
'He's my cousin sir,' Rose responded. 'He can't talk much. But he's a good, hard worker. He'll do as he's told.'
'Take your gloves off, boy… Now!' Smitty demanded. 'I want to see your 'ands.'
'NO!' Rose cried. 'I… mean they'll get cold, sir.'
However James was already pulling them off before Rose could stop him.
'There just as I thought,' Smitty said, pulling up James' hands, as Rose looked on astonished. James hands were completely healed, as though the terrible claws had never ripped through them. 'This 'cousin' of yours 'as never done a day's hard graft in his life,' Smitty declared.
Rose promised James would do above and beyond, if they let them stay. Smitty seemed unconvinced but allowed them to stay, but asked James name. Rose looked down, as Smitty assured her he didn't want their life story or what they were running from, just a name.
Rose thought for a moment, then replied, 'Logan, sir. His name is Logan.'
The scene shifts again, and the hidden audience sees a series if images, of the new young Logan struggling to adapt under the eyes of the foreman Smitty, becoming the target of a bully named Cookie. Rose and James struggling in a small cabin in the settlement together, a distance forming between them as young Logan grows insular, Rose tries to apologise from bringing him here but reminds him they can't make waves, they must remain unnoticed. She attempts to talk to him about what happened in Alberta but young Logan refuses, his hidden fear that he caused his own father's death driving the memories from him. He becomes more isolated even as they live together, close, dependant, yet secrets and fears on both sides also keep them apart. Rose cares for him yet Logan senses is also uncertain and at times fearful over what he is.
As time moves, young Logan grows stronger, both Rose and he are beginning to emerge into adulthood, and he spends more time in the woods, exploring his wild nature, and becoming a lethal hunter, making up for the their rations that Cookie had shortened in spite. Logan had began to notice Rose as a woman, but every time she engaged him over what happened he would always shut her down, saying he wasn't that man anymore. To him, the thought he'd killed his father continued to play in his mind, and he sought desperately to deny it, deny the man he'd thought he was and find someone new as Logan.
Logan grew strong and respected at the quarry, as woodsman and hunter, Rose and his fortunes changing, his relationship with Smitty improving. The scene shifts to an eve where the bully Cookie corners the young Logan, blocks his way and claiming Logan had attempted to steal food begins to beat him down, thrown to the floor Logan begins to rise, his hands gripping in fists, Cookie daring his to take a shot. But Logan feels the familiar and terrible stirring pain, his hidden claws awakening and in fear of what he would do drops his hands. Cookie picks the boy up, threatening to kill him when the foreman Smitty intervenes and proceeds to beat the living daylights out of the overweight bully, asking Logan why he hadn't fought back, but Logan is already running into the woods staring at his hands in horror.
'Oh God… I couldn't… I couldn't do it', young Logan says as he runs.
Stumbling into a clearing in the forested mountains, young Logan becomes aware he isn't alone and sees a large grey wolf rising to stand on a rock outcrop, after initially attempting to ward the dangerous predator back he soon becomes aware he is surrounded by a pack of wolves, and a change comes over the young man's countenance. His blue eyes narrowed, hands curled into fists and the bone claws, much longer now burst forth again from his right hand. He and the alpha wolf on the rock outcrop glared into each others eyes, growling, the air thick between them with tension the challenge, their wills struggling for supremacy. Then finally Logan yields to the alpha, the large wolf approaching and howling over him.
The scene shifts as time advances years again and finds Logan a young man, looking much like the Logan they knew now looking only a little younger, running with the wolf pack through the forest and mountains at night, hunting prey with them, letting his wild side run free, while he has become one of the best workers at the quarry by day. It also finds Rose grown into a young woman, looking just like a slightly younger Jean Grey in late 19th century period dress. Smitty has also become closer to both, bringing books for Rose the foreman's feelings for the young woman are clear, which she seems to reciprocate. Logan and Smitty have also become close, as Logan begins to work alongside him and learns how to use dynamite in the quarry. Young Logan is becoming someone respected throughout the quarry and settlement, and soon becomes known as 'little Smitty'. Things seem to be looking up for young Logan, but one day setting the dynamite Logan realises to late the fuse has been cut to short, and as the explosion shatters the rock face, the collapsing rocks falling on the works Logan jumps towards the youngest boy and covers his body to protect him from the explosion and crushing rocks. Pain tears and crushes his body, and darkness takes him. His consciousness beings to return to him, aware his body is knitting itself back together, the boy still safe in his arms, and realises they are buried in a cave in. Young Logan begins to call out for help, and eventually he hears voices and rocks moving, sighing in relief knowing aid has arrived. Soon he is uncovered, five men including the boys father have died, but at least the child has been saved he thinks, his own unnatural nature ensuring his own survival.
Later back Rose and his cabin, Smitty comes to see them, giving him a book on the Samurai of Japan that the foreman gained from Japan during his time as a sailor and passes it to Logan, praising Logan for his bravery and quietly confides he knows Logan shouldn't have survived, but that whatever or however he survived it doesn't matter to him before asking to see Rose. Logan leaves the cabin and seeks out Cookie, knowing exactly who cut the fuses, and slamming the bully's door open confronts him.
'Find anythin' you like, bub?' Logan growls, seeing Cookie rifling through the dead men's possessions.
'You're a monster, Cookie. Five men are dead, an' while everyone's down at the funerals, you're diggin' through their possessions fer scraps,' Logan continues.
'Just breathe a word of this, knucklehead, an' you'll be the next funeral. There ain't no one gonna believe your word over mine. I'll shut your mouth fer good,' Cookie yells swinging a wild punch at Logan, which the young man easily ducks and smashes his own fist into Cookie's left leg with a sickening crunch, the large man crying out in pain. Logan immediately follows this with a swift upper cut that slams into Cookie's face, teeth and blood flying, before hammering home a final blow to his fat stomach, causing the bully's eyes to wide with pain as the breath is knocked out him, and he collapses to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
'Ehh… Okay, okay… I give! I'll fess up… I promise!' Cookie begs from the ground.
'You're finished here, you fat tub o' dirt. You mark me well, 'cause I've never been so serious… I see your ugly face in mine ever again, you're a dead man!' Logan growls, before heading back home.
Eager to talk to Rose about all that just happened, he calls for her before passing their cabin window, to see Rose and Smitty caught in an embrace and a tender kiss, Logan looks on in shock, his prior elation vanished as he feels all the air go out of him, sharp jealously and depression grip him and unable to see anymore Logan runs into the woods under the moonlight.
Staggering against a tree Logan groans out, 'Oh, Rose… oh Jesus… No!' as a rage takes possession of him and his claws rip free and he tears into the nearby trees, hewing and cutting. A low timber growl sounds again, the pack alpha approaching, it's hackles up, sensing a challenge once more. Once more Logan glares and grows in return and this time he doesn't back down, with a roar they two launch at each other, Logan slamming the alpha into the ground. The alpha jaws rip into Logan's arm whilst Logan's claws flash and slice through it's flank, the wolf letting lose a whimpering yip of pain, throwing the alpha back. Getting up and crouching over the alpha, still on it's back, his claws hovering over it, Logan glares down at the wolf as it whines in submission. Logan gets up and leaves the old alpha as the pack move in to greet their new pack leader as the wounded former alpha retreats to lick his wounds.
The current Logan grits his teeth feeling some of emotions of his mental companions, no doubt noticing the similarity between these events and more recent ones concerning the current redhead psychic and her husband of their acquaintance, but thankfully they all have the good sense to let sleeping dogs lie, including Scott and Jean.
Logan of then begins to avoid Rose, until finally as he's chopping wood she confronts him.
'Logan!' Rose yells, coming towards him. 'Logan, this business has gone on long enough. Aren't you going to tell me what's bothering you?'
With a cry of anger, Logan embeds the axe into a nearby tree, turns to Rose, his face growing softer and says, 'I always thought we'd be together, Rose… I mean, I hoped. Won't you stay with me?'
Looking down, Rose closes her eyes and replies, 'I… I can't.'
'Logan… Smitty and I are going to be married. But that doesn't mean you and I can't ever see each other again,' Rose said, as Logan turns away from her.
'You trying to persuade me… or yourself, Rose?' Logan responds bitterly.
'Smitty's had an offer to go back and work for Bill Dawson down at the shipyards. If we're going to start a life together, we have to do it away from this place. You of all people should understand why,' Rose returned. 'The train's leaving out of the Coalville tonight. Smitty's there right now trying to buy passage,' Rose continued reaching out, holding Logan by his shoulder. 'Why don't you think about it? You could come with us…'
Logan violently pulled his shoulder free of her hold shouting, 'With you? Are you crazy? I trusted you Rose. But I guess Smitty was right after all. The only way to make it in this dump is to look out for yourself,' Logan finished as he stalked off into the settlement, Rose falling to her knees weeping, her head in her hands.
Logan stalks into the local bar, and sees Smitty standing before him.
'Logan, my boy,' Smitty calls out in a warm tone. 'Yer cousin Rose told me if I saw you, you were to come by the cabin before we left for Vancouver,' but Logan ignores him and walks past as Smitty calls out, 'Logan?'
For a moment Logan notices in the corner of his eye a large man covered in fires, something about his scent causes Logan's hackles to rise, but not knowing who the man is and seeing nothing more suspicious that is usual for the place he continues on to a table of quarry workers.
'Hey lads, it's 'little Smitty',' one calls out smiling.
With a cold smile Logan replies, 'No, it ain't. An' don't ever call me that again.'
'You gonna sign up for the cage fights? They're giving out a cash prize,' another asks.
Looking at the cage that dominates the centre, Logan responds, 'I dunno… ' and then sees Smitty signing up, and smiles.
The scene shifts to the cage fighting matches, and sees Logan, Smitty and Cookie powering their way through the various fights, again Logan notices the man in a cloak of furs, but focuses back on the fight. Soon it hits the semi-finals and he enters waiting for Cookie, and notices a brief exchange between the man in furs and the fat cook. In the next moment Cookie and he, bar-chested are facing off against each other, and Cookie punches Logan in the face with a knuckleduster on his fist, thrown to the floor Cookie yells, 'consider that payback for humiliating me, you little piece of cow dug. You want some more of ol' Cookie?'
'Uhh… nice shot, Cookie, you fat ape,' Logan returns, rising. 'Let's see if you can do it twice,' and lunges, slamming the heavy man into the cage wall, and hammers him with a powerful right hook.
Cookie slams Logan's leg with the knuckleduster and when Logan drops to his knee launches himself onto Logan in a body slam, elbow first, smacking into the floor.
'You like this do ya, boy? I'm a heavy sort, ain't I?' Cookie taunts Logan. 'Least that's what your cousin Rose said when I pinned her down behind th' canteen last week… '
With a growl of 'Bastard!' Logan lifted the heavy straight up and threw him of, following up with a punch smashing the cook in the face sending him flying back, fear beginning to appear in the bully's eyes, 'H-hey I was just foolin'…' Cookie began, but Logan continued pound him with series of hammer blows, a red mist descending over his eyes, yelling, 'I'll kill you, you bucket of lard!'
Cookie was on the floor, his face blackened, bruised and bleeding, and Logan could feel the claws on his right first straining to rip free, Logan fighting the urge to kill the horrible man.
'Don't kill me… ' Cookie weakly begged.
Finally pulling himself back, Logan replied, 'maybe I won't Cookie… don't make me change my mind,' and let Cookie get taken out the ring.
Finally Logan found himself face to face with his old friend and mentor Smitty, as the finale of the match arrived.
'Let's here it for the final match, lads… Logan versus Smitty! Winner gets the money, loser buys the drinks!' the referee announced to the cheering crowd.
'You stole my cousin from me, Smitty.' Logan growled. 'And I'm gonna make you pay for it.'
'She ain't yours, Logan. Rose does as she see fit,' Smitty replied. 'And I know she's not your cousin. Enough of these games.'
The bell was rang, and Smitty continued, 'C'mon Logan, let's pack this mess in right now. I don't want to fight you, boy.'
'Well, that's just to bad,' Logan cried, striking Smitty with a powerful right hook sending him staggering back, and jumps, grappling the older foreman, slamming him into the cage. Smitty throws a punch in return that Logan ducks under, smashing his elbow into Smitty's knee and with a cry of pain, the foreman drops to his knees on the floor, and Logan catches by the neck and begins squeeze.
'I want you to never forget that you took her from me,' Logan growled at him. 'I loved her, and you stole her away from me.'
Smitty Grips Logan's arms that are like steel bands, futilely attempting to pull them off of him, Smitty gasped, ' hkk… if you really loved her… you would've done what is right… '
Logan's hands relented at his throat, as Logan leaned in and whispered to the older man, 'hit me.'
'W-what… ' Smitty asked confused.
'Just hit me, you idiot,' Logan whispered in reply. 'And make it look good.'
Logan leaving himself open, Smitty struck him with a powerful uppercut, sending him flying to hit the ground, and Logan lay there unmoving.
'An' winnah by knockout… Smitty!' the referee yelled, holding Smitty's hand high.
Murmuring ran through the crowd, Logan picking up some of the voices, '… I can't believe Smtty did that… I was sure he had 'im down… like he took a dive or somethin'… '
Soon Logan was outside, sitting on a crate, as Smitty walks out and approaches him, 'you okay, bub' Smitty asked.
'I'll always love her Smitty. I want you to know that,' Logan replied, getting up. 'If you ever hurt her in anyway, I'll come lookin' for you.'
'Logan, I need a favour,' Smitty asked. 'I've recommended to the bosses that you take over as foreman. The mine an' all the boys are yours now… make sure you treat them well, okay?' Smitty continued, holding out his hand.
Logan took his hand and shook it, with a small smile replying, 'just get out of here before I change my mind. An' take care of my Rose, you hear?'
A brief look of understanding passing between the men, before Smitty headed saying, 'sure thing kid. You look after yourself.'
'You too, bub,' Logan whispered, watching him walk away. Logan caught the scent of the man in the furs again behind him.
'Hey! Howlett!' the man called. 'James Howlett! You stole my name!' The man jump at Logan, slamming a powerful blow into his back, pain radiating from his side as Logan was sent flying into the wall of a nearby cabin.
'Who are you?' Logan gasped as the large, powerful man grabbed him and threw him against the wall of another cabin, the wood timbers snapping under the force, and Logan felt a sharp pain as he felt two of his ribs snap.
'What's the matter, Jamey-boy? Forget where you came from?' the man said, casting aside his fur cloak, revealing a tall, heavily muscled figure with a wild face, three vicious parallel scars across it. 'Guess that means you forgot your old pal, Dog. Well, I sure as hell remember you.'
Grabbing a nearby pitchfork, Dog stalked towards the fallen Logan, crouching before him saying, 'Whassamatter, Jamey-boy? You surprised to see me here? I'll bet you thought you got away, huh? Well, you didn't.'
'Uhh… you must have me mistaken with someone else, bub,; Logan replied. 'I don't know no James.'
'Stop your lying,' Dog shouted, slamming the pitchfork handle into Logan's jaw, smashing him back into the ground. Dazed, Logan could dimly sense Rose, her scent and heartbeat coming to him, hear her feet rushing towards the crowd that was forming to watch the fight. Why is she here, Logan thought distantly, she should be getting the train with Smitty right about now. The gathered crowd had began to cheer the fight on.
Logan got up and attempted to move out of the large way, but he smacked him again with the pitchfork handle, as Dog continued,'let's see if I can jog your memory then, 'Logan'. I seem to remember you had a dog you were fond of. What was its name now? Oh yeah… Callie. I remember the way you screamed like a little girl when I slit it's throat in front of you.'
Standing over him, Dog laughed, 'you seem tired from all that cage fightin', huh? That's too bad. You always were a scrawy little tosser.'
Lifting Logan up in his left hand Dog continued, 'I never knew why your mother fawned over you so much, especially since you're the one who drove her nuts.'
'My Mom,' Logan muttered, 'but I don't… I mean… Oh Lord,' Logan replied as a dark veil that had claimed those old painful memories for so long began to lift, and he began to remember James Howlett.
'All comin' back to you, eh?' Dog sneered as he threw him face first into a wooden cabin walkway, Logan's face crunching on the timbers. ''Course, you weren't there when she blew her brains out – right in front of everyone. You were to busy running away with that Irish whore. I told that little strumpet that she shoulda stayed with me,' Dog continued leering down at Logan.
'Logan! No!' Rose cried out from the crowd.
'Hello, Rose,' Dog grinned viciously back at her.
'Oh my God… Dog,' Rose gasped in terror and shock.
Kicking Logan in the face Dog replied, 'I'll catch up with you soon, girl. First I gotta see if little James remembers how I was the one that killed his Poppa! And you two got th' blame… '
'No,' Logan replied his bright eyes shooting open, then narrowing as the red mist descended, his memories, and his terrible rage, coming back. As Dog reached back to plunge the pitchfork points into the apparently beaten man before him, Logan, with an almost animal howl, surged up in a blinding movement, slamming a thunderous blow into Dog's stomach, the larger man gasped, the pitchfork flying from his hand, as it lifted him off his feet and sent him flying back, the wind knocked up of him, feeling as if he'd been hit by a mallet.
Logan got to his feet, all prior evidence of weariness and hurt gone, his face frightening, like that of a great predator, as he growled in a terrible low tone to Dog, 'you bastard, I remember you. You think I was ever gonna forget. You and that drunk weasel of a father of yours?' And he struck Dog again, a hammer blow to Dog's face as the larger man struggled, wheezing to get up, and sent him flying, crashing into the ground, his head cracking, and Dog lay crumpled and unconscious as Logan stood over him, his face fierce, hatred twisting his features.
'You killed my father, you monster,' Logan growled out over the downed Dog. 'All these years, I thought it was me.'
'Logan! Wait!' Rose called desperately, and distantly he was aware she was struggling to reach him, and sensed that Smitty had come after her, at the back of the crowd, calling her name. But caught in the red tunnel vision of his rage, Logan ignored her.
All the silent observers to his memory could feel intense guilt, remorse and regret pouring out of the present Logan right now, and could feel him struggling to stay in the memory and not flee. There could sense something terrible was about to happen, but unable to do anything, ash-faced they could just keep watching as the tragedy unfolded before them.
His animal rage taking him, Logan's claws tore through the knuckles of right hand, he heard the crowd gasp but didn't care as he grabbed Dog with the left hand, lifting him up as he pulled his clawed fist back, ready to end him, as Rose struggled through the crowd desperately attempting to reach him.
Suddenly just as she was getting through, Rose tripped over the two men she had been attempting to push past, and fell forward.
With a sickening and wet thud, she hit Logan's outreached clawed hand, gasping as his claws impaled her right through her chest. Logan head twisted back in horror, snapped out of rage in an instant, dropping Dog.
He watched frozen as Rose slide off his claws and dropped to her knees on the floor, he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. She shouldn't be here, she should be safe, but somehow he'd hurt her. He just stared as she looked at him, emotion shimmering in her eyes, regret, affection, forgiveness, love, he couldn't understand anything his mind blank.
'James,' Rose whispered, 'I should have told you… '
'Rose… I … ' Logan whispered, but it was too late, too late for anything. Rose slumped to the ground in front of him, blood pooling around her, dead.
Eyes wide, terrible grief, guilt and pain tearing through him, Logan murmured, 'Rose, no… no.. ' and as he started at her, his mind began to cloud over, the pain too overwhelming, everything receded, and he fled into the woods. His humanity and rationality faded from him and he moved further and further into the woods. A part of him was vaguely aware of Smitty trying to come after him, calling for him to come back, but soon Logan was beyond understanding and knew only to run, to leave that place far behind, and rejoined his wolf pack forsaking the man in him.
Everyone was just stunned silent as the memory faded and the psi-link faded and they all found themselves back in their bodies in the Healing Gardens. No one knowing what to say seeing the normally stoic Logan with powerful emotions written clearly on his face as intense guilt griped him.
'Logan,' Ororo began reaching out to him, 'I'm so sorry my friend, for all of it.'
'It's my fault, 'Ro,' Logan snapped angry, rejecting her comfort. 'I killed her, in my rage she died.' Before sighing, 'sorry 'Ro, you didn't deserve that. But even for all the years I didn't remember her I still felt it, and I deserve that pain an' more. Why'd she come back, she could have been happy with Smitty, but came back for a twisted beast like me, an' look where it got her, killed after everything she did for me.'
'She cared for you Logan, she loved you, and she forgave you,' Ororo said carefully. 'She understood it was an accident, my friend.'
'Guess we'll find out, but she should hate me,' Logan whispered.
The rest didn't know what to say, seeing the Wolverine in this state, and wisely left him to his grief for a moment, allowing him to collect himself.
'After that, I lived in the wild for a time,' Logan continued after a long while. 'When some rationality and thought returned I tried to kill myself, in all sorts of ways, throwing myself off mountain cliffs, burning myself, casting myself onto sharp rocks and spikes, stabbing and cuttin' myself with my claws. Nothin' worked, I always healed, and so I retreated completely into my wild side and lived with the wolf pack. Eventually returned to civilization, no longer clearly remembering what happened.'
Looking at the everyone, Logan continued, 'so that's who Rose is, but I have no idea why you and she are so much alike Jean. As I said, it never was that pressin' issue when I got my memories back, given she was long dead, but when Sage said where the Phoenix energy was detected, I knew what it might mean, so I went.'
'Very curious indeed,' Hank mused, 'if there is a connection between this Rose and you Jean, perhaps the Phoenix took her after you broke with it? But you say you cannot sense it's presence?'
'Not at the moment, Hank,' Jean said softly, her heart still tight with everything she'd just witnessed, and all that had happened to Logan and this woman who looked so like her.
'That being the case,' Ororo interjected, 'I think,' glancing at Logan taut face, tense with pain, guilt and hope, with sympathy, 'we can relax a little bit, and try not the frighten the girl when she comes around.'
'I don't know, Ororo,' Scott said frowning. 'Anything where the Phoenix is involved can mean serious trouble, and we don't know why it raised her, her link to Jean if any, and why it drew and reacted to Logan, and what dangers that represents.'
Sensing Logan struggling to keep his temper, his desire to protect Rose obvious even to the non-telepaths in the room, Jean touched Scott's arm, 'where not saying not to be cautious. But this is Krakoa, she'll be under observation, Logan and Healer will be with her, and we'll have people on standby that can be here in an instant should an incident happen.' Please Scott, give Logan some time with her, look at him, Jean added mentally.
Scott sighed, 'I'm sorry Logan, I know this is hard on you, and now we all know how hard. I'm sorry you had reveal all that to us.'
'Not your fault, Scott,' Logan replied. 'You're just doing your job, probably be saying the same thing if I were… '
Logan's reply was cut short, as the woman in question began moaning in her sleep calling, 'James,' she called, 'James, where are you? James?'
Logan rushed to her side, beginning to reach out his hand, then stopped, it hovering, shaking over her, remembering his claws running her through. Storm was behind Logan and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, 'it's okay, Logan. She needs you, you're not going to hurt her again, you're not that confused, hurt boy anymore Logan, trust me old friend.'
Logan sighed, and steeling himself, reached down again and took Rose's hand and sat down beside her, 'I'm… I'm here, Rose darlin'. I've got you, you're okay now Rose, rest.'
Everyone withdrew giving Logan some privacy alone with Rose as she settled down again, and for a while Logan just sat looking wonderingly at her, holding her hand. At one point he had got up to get her a blanket to put over her, and resumed his vigil at her side.
In a little while Rose stirred, turned her head towards him, her eyes fluttered open and once again Rose's eyes meet his, and once more an image of her face gasping impaled on his claws ran through Logan's mind Frowning Rose reached up and cradled his check, 'enough of that James, I never held it against you, it was accident. I'm here with you again, as I've always been. Hello, at last, my love,' Rose continued, smiling tiredly at him.
Logan thoughts came to a screeching halt as only two things went through them, one, she can read my mind?! and second, my love?