Rogue landed gently on the front lawn of the mansion and walked up the steps and in through the door. She went straight to the med lab.
"Hi, sugah. How's the little gal?" she greeted Beast.
"Rogue, did you find him?"
"Yeah. He'll be here any second." Rogue was taken aback by Beast's abruptness. "Ah didn't think a bike could move that fast." She looked around for Star and was relieved to see her still in the hospital type bed they kept in the med lab. "What's wrong?" Beast started to answer, but was interrupted by Wolverine's entrance. He went immediately to Star's side. Beast and Rogue joined him.
"Wolverine, I must speak with you for a moment." Beast said as Wolverine touched Star's cheek as if to reassure himself that she really was there. He gestured at the odd looking device which was placed across Star's forehead.
"What's that contraption?" he asked.
"A neural inhibitor. Now will you please listen." Wolverine turned reluctantly from Star and faced Beast.
"You got my attention, Hank. What's going on?"
"Were you aware that Star was pregnant?"
"You think I'd o' taken off if I'd known that?"
"Her own accelerated growth rate was a genetically engineered trait which she passed on to the...the embryo. Complete gestation took under four days." Beast looked away for a moment before continuing. "She went into labor several hours ago, but the...it was much too large for a natural delivery. Forge sent over the neural inhibitor earlier today at my request. It worked well, even though Star fought us." He paused to clear his throat as Wolverine watched him expectantly. "I performed a cesarean section, and succeeded in delivering the...the..."
"You got somethin' against the word 'baby'?"
"No, Logan. Except that it wasn't, exactly, a baby."
"What do ya mean, it wasn't a baby?"
"The genetically accelerated growth rate caused the embryo to...well, it wasn't human. Not even remotely. It didn't survive."
"What about Star?"
"She'll be all right if the extended period of high fever didn't cause brain damage. I haven't been able to evaluate her." He paused. "Wolverine, her temperature spiked to one hundred twelve degrees." Wolverine looked down at Star.
"This thing keepin' her out?"
"Yes."
"Can ya wake her up without lettin' her hurt?"
"I believe that should be possible. However, it would be wise to check the restraints first. She was somewhat combative when we initiated the inhibitor." He carefully checked the straps which kept the unconscious girl immobilized. Only when he was satisfied that Star would be unable to injure herself did he move to the controls for the inhibitor. He slowly adjusted them until Star began to stir.
"Star?" Wolverine said softly. "Darlin'? Can ya hear me?"
"Hmm?" He cupped her chin with one hand, his fingers caressing her cheek. She turned toward him and slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at him, but there was no recognition in her eyes. Beast adjusted the controls further, but she still showed no sign of complete awareness. When she began to moan with pain, he turned the dials back until she was completely unconscious.
"Perhaps later, we will have better results." Wolverine nodded, but continued to watch Star with worried eyes. Beast was worried also. She should have shown much greater cognizance of her surroundings. He chose not to say anything to Wolverine, at least until he had been able to run some comprehensive tests.
The days passed and the X-Men buried the pathetic little body of the thing that should have been a child. Star's body healed, but it quickly became evident that she had sustained lasting damage from the extended period of high body temperature she had endured. Wolverine stayed with her almost constantly, even after it became obvious that she did not recognize him. She could not speak, and responded only to the simplest of commands. Wolverine was heartbroken, but he refused to give up on her. He worked with her tirelessly, but she showed no signs of improvement. Finally, Professor Xavier called Wolverine into his study.
"Logan, we need to discuss Star's future." Wolverine just looked at him, his gaze openly hostile. The Professor sighed. "We are not capable of giving Star the care she needs."
"I ain't gonna just dump the kid, Chuck."
"I am not suggesting that we 'dump' her, Logan. However, there are several facilities which are more...suitable...for Star's condition." Wolverine didn't answer. The Professor watched him for a moment, then tore a sheet of paper from a notepad on his desk. He held it out to Wolverine, who reluctantly accepted it. "These are the facilities I have investigated. Cost, of course, is not an issue. The X-Men take care of their own and Star was, however briefly, an X-Man. Logan, this is difficult for all of us, but please keep in mind what is best for Star."
A few days later, his decision made after Star was badly cut playing with a knife that had been on a rack in the kitchen, Wolverine packed a small bag for Star. Professor Xavier had telephoned the Maple Woods Care Facility, and they were expecting her. Wolverine helped her into the jeep, and made certain that her seat belt was fastened. Jubilee brought a small teddy bear to Star.
"This is just so you won't feel all alone," she said, smiling at Star. Star just looked at her, her face expressionless. Jubilee sighed and placed the bear in Star's lap. Star absently stroked the soft fur of the toy with her bandaged hand, her gaze wandering away from Jubilee.
"Will she be okay there, Wolvie?"
"I hope so, darlin'."
"Is she going to get better?"
"I don't know." Jubilee's heart ached at the pain she saw in Wolverine's eyes. He always kept his hurts locked inside. "We gotta get goin', Jube. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Okay. Be careful." Jubilee watched as Wolverine and Star drove away.
Wolverine stopped the jeep and looked up at the large building. There were several patients sitting on the porch, watchful attendants nearby. The patients were clean and seemed to be content. Xavier had done extensive background checks on the facility as well as the employees and other patients. It was strictly a private facility, receiving no public monies, and had a rigid policy of refusing dangerous patients. There were several highly qualified therapists on staff as well. Star would be well taken care of here. He put the jeep in park and got out. He walked around and unfastened Star's seat belt, gently urging her to get out of the jeep. She continued to hold the bear Jubilee had given her, but she showed no curiosity for her surroundings. A red haired woman in her mid thirties appeared in the door of the building.
"Mr. Logan?" Wolverine turned toward her, Star's bag in hand.
"I'm Doctor Flanigan. And you must be Star." She took Star's hand and smiled down at her. "I think you are going to enjoy your stay here, Star," she said, ignoring Star's vacant gaze. "If you will come this way, Mr. Logan, we can show Star to her room and get her settled. Then, if you would like, we can discuss possible courses of treatment."
"All right." The doctor turned and, still holding Star's hand, led them into the building. The interior reminded Wolverine strikingly of the mansion where he and the other X-Men lived.
"It don't look much like a hospital."
"No, it doesn't. It is our intention to allow our guests to feel at ease here. Something that is difficult to achieve in a hospital surrounding," she gestured, "We have private rooms for each guest, as well as common rooms for socializing. Star's room is on the ground floor, with a large exterior window."
"Here we are, dear," she said to Star as she opened a door half way down a long hall. "This is your room Star." Star crossed to the window and stood, looking out. "The window glass is unbreakable, Mr. Logan." She joined Star at the window. "Would you like to go out, dear?" she asked. Star put one hand on the glass and pushed. "No, Star. Use the door." She turned Star toward the door. "Jenny," she called.
"Yes, Dr. Flanigan?" a female voice answered from a speaker mounted on the wall near the door. Star turned toward the sound.
"Star would like to go outside for a while."
"All right, Doctor. Mary Jean is free at the moment. I'll send her down."
"Thank you." A few moments later a tall blonde woman appeared in the door.
"Hello, Mary. I'd like you to meet our new arrival, Star. Star," once more the doctor gently turned Star, who had drifted back to the window, until she faced Mary, "this is Mary. Go with Mary, Star." Mary took Star's hand and smiled at her.
"Hi, Star. C'mon, we'll go feed the squirrels." Star followed her out the door and down the hall, without so much as a backwards glance at Wolverine. He put her bag down on the dresser as the doctor watched him.
"Mr. Logan, we will do everything we can for Star."
"I didn't want ta bring her here."
"I know. Placing a loved one in the hands of strangers is difficult in the best of times, but I assure you, you have made the correct decision. We can devote the time to Star that she needs. And you are welcome to visit any time. In fact, the more often you come, the better it will be for Star. She may not be responsive to you at this time, but I assure you, somewhere deep down inside, she knows you."
"I'll have ta take yer word on that, Doc." She looked at him for a moment.
"I can't promise you any miracles, but I will promise you that Star will recover as much as she is able." She lead him to her office, another non-standard room, with several comfortable easy chairs, and a small desk, with a computer on it, in the corner.
Several hours later, reassured that he had, indeed, made the correct choice in bringing Star here, Wolverine told her good-bye. She smiled up at him, the first time he'd seen her smile since her illness. He gathered her gently in his arms, kissed her on the forehead, and released her. He climbed into the jeep and drove away, leaving her with Mary and Dr. Flanigan.
"Mary, help her put her things away, and then get her ready for dinner, please. We'll begin her therapy tomorrow."
As the sun went down, Wolverine pulled the jeep to the side of the road and got out. He had taken the back road so there was very little traffic. He sat on the hood of the jeep and lit his cigar. He watched as the sun sank from sight, remembering.
He'd been startled the first time Star had exhibited a sense of humor. He didn't remember exactly what it was she'd said, but she'd delivered the punch line with such a straight face that he hadn't been sure it was meant as a joke. Until he'd seen her eyes. They'd sparkled with suppressed merriment. He'd nearly choked and she had finally grinned at him. That was the first time he'd ever heard her laugh, really laugh. Now she barely recognized her own name. Ruthlessly, he suppressed that thought, turning to pleasanter memories.
He stayed there until dawn, remembering. He just couldn't accept that Star might be lost to him forever. He put his cigar, long cold, back in his pocket. He got back in the jeep and started the long, lonely drive home.
The next week was uneventful. He returned to Maple Woods in the early afternoon. He parked his jeep in a space marked 'visitors' and walked slowly toward the building. He was greeted at the door by a friendly, but wary, attendant.
"Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you?"
"I came ta see Star."
"Of course. And who are you, please?" Before Wolverine could answer, Dr. Flanigan came out of her office.
"Its all right, David. I will vouch for Mr. Logan." The attendant nodded and moved back to his desk beside the door. "As you can see, we do not allow just anyone access to our guests."
"That's one o' the reasons I brought Star here, Doc. She's important ta me, an' I don't want her hurt."
"She is quite a remarkable young woman. She has already made some progress. I believe she is outside now." They walked to the nurse's station, at the back of the building.
"Jenny, do you know where Star and Rachel are?"
"Yes, ma'am. They're down at the lake."
"Thank you. This way, Mr. Logan." The Doctor took Wolverine out the back door and down a curving path toward a small lake.
"You said she'd made some progress?"
"Yes, indeed. She is more aware of her surroundings than she was a week ago." She sighed, "You must understand, Mr. Logan, that even such a small thing is to be considered great progress in a patient with damage as severe as Star's. We have hopes that she'll be able to speak again, someday, though that is far in the future. With many patients, we are able to teach them to use different pathways in their brains, working around the injuries. With Star, well, she sustained so much tissue damage, that there just aren't that many pathways left." Wolverine stopped, staring at the doctor.
"Yer tellin' me there's no hope."
"There is always hope, Mr. Logan. But I don't want you to be disappointed when you see Star." They continued down the path in silence. Finally, Wolverine saw Star. She was sitting on the bank of the lake, tearing bread into small pieces and throwing it into the water for the waiting ducks, who greedily snatched it up.
"Rachel," Doctor Flanigan called and a young woman, sitting with her back to a tree, turned from watching Star to greet them.
"Hello, Doctor." She got up from the grass and came toward them.
"This is Mr. Logan. He is a friend of Star's. Would you call her, please?"
"Certainly." Rachel went to the water's edge and spoke quietly to Star, who reluctantly put the bread down and turned away from the greedy ducks. Rachel led her over to where Wolverine and Doctor Flanigan waited. Star looked at Wolverine and a puzzled frown creased her forehead. She stepped forward and reached up to touch his face.
"Hello, Star," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. Doctor Flanigan gestured and she and Rachel withdrew, leaving Star and Wolverine alone. Wolverine scarcely noticed when they left. Star took his hand and led him down the path and into the trees. She took him to a large tree in a clearing which overlooked the lake. It was beautiful, and reminded him of the mountain lake not far from his cabin. She sat down next to the tree and pulled him down next to her. He put his arm around her and she snuggled up against him. They stayed that way for a long time, neither moving.
Suddenly the injustice of it all broke through Wolverine's steely facade and he found himself clutching a handful of grass with his free hand, his knuckles white. His teeth were clenched against the rage he felt, his breath grew ragged. Star turned in his arm and looked up at him. Her eyes were sad as she reached up and stroked his cheek. The gentle gesture was too much for him. He gathered her into his arms and held her tightly as he cried. She crooned wordlessly, caressing him, trying to comfort him, though she truly didn't understand. Finally, his grief lessened somewhat, he released his near crushing grip. She stayed in his arms and smiled up at him.
"Darlin', I miss you so much. The mansion is just so empty without you." She watched him intently as he spoke to her. He told her of everything that had happened since she had been gone. Told her of Jubilee's difficulties with her math text, and of how the other X-Men were doing. He talked to her for hours, until he realized that it was growing dark. He got up slowly, helping Star to her feet, and they started back toward the hospital. She held his hand all the way back. Rachel greeted them at the door.
"Hello Mr. Logan. Star, did you enjoy your outing?" Star smiled at Rachel. "Come on, honey. We need to get you ready for dinner. Mr. Logan, there is a guest room at the end of the hall if you'd like to clean up and join us for dinner."
"Thanks." He watched as Rachel took Star to her room, then turned to the guest room. He washed his face and hands, and ran a comb through his hair, for all the good it did. His locks were as unruly as ever. He'd just finished when he heard a tapping at the door. He opened it to see Doctor Flanigan waiting for him. She smiled at him and he smiled back. The first time he'd felt like smiling since Star had become ill.
"Well, your visit seems to have done you as much good as Star." She peered at him for a moment. "We do have a counseling service for the families of our patients, Mr. Logan."
"Thanks, Doc. But this is somethin' I'm gonna hafta work out for myself."
"As you wish. The dining room is this way. I believe that Rachel has already taken Star there." He followed her to a large room. It was set up with several large tables, somehow suggesting more a family dining room than an institution. She pointed out Star's table, where an extra place had been set for him.
After dinner, and he had to admit that the food was quite good, he helped Star clear the table.
"Each patient has certain chores to do, Mr. Logan. Doctor Flanigan feels that it helps in their recovery," Rachel explained. When the dishes had been returned to the kitchen, Rachel turned to him again.
"Its nearly time for Star to go to bed, Mr. Logan, if you'd care for a few minutes to say good-bye?"
"Please." He took Star's hand and led her out onto the porch. He just stood looking at her for a long moment. Finally, he reached out and smoothed her hair and, bending slightly, he kissed her gently on the lips. "G'bye, darlin'. I'll be back, I promise." She held to his hand for a moment longer, then he turned her and sent her back into the building, where Rachel was waiting to put her to bed. She looked back at him once, then followed Rachel deeper into the building. Somehow, the trip back to the mansion didn't seem to take as long.
Wolverine visited Star every week, and the two of them fed the ducks, or walked through the woods. Star was still unable to speak, but she seemed to be gaining ground. She smiled more often, and she always listened attentively when he spoke to her.
"Star is truly a joy, Mr. Logan," the doctor had told him. "She always puts out the maximum effort during her therapy sessions. In fact, the other patients seem to do better when she is around." It grew no easier to leave her at the end of each visit, but it cheered him immeasurably to see that she recognized him when he returned.
He pulled into the drive of the Xavier Institute for gifted children late one night, after visiting Star, and was surprised to see the light on in Charles' study. He entered the mansion quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone.
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah, Chuck. Its me."
"Could I see you for a moment?"
"Sure." He stepped into the study. Charles Xavier's expression was grim. "What's the matter?"
"The groundskeeper approached me today. After the heavy rains we have had, he was checking for erosion at the cemetery," Wolverine watched him, a feeling of unease growing in his soul. "The area around Star's baby's grave had completely collapsed. Cyclops and Beast went up to look at the damage."
"And?" Wolverine prompted him when he paused.
"The coffin is missing. From the appearance of the site, it was removed shortly after the interment."
"Somebody stole the kid's body?" Wolverine was outraged. Even in death, they couldn't find peace. "Who'd do somethin' like that?"
"I don't know. Someone took great pains to hide the removal. I felt you should know, Logan."
"Yeah. Thanks." His voice was expressionless. Without another word, he turned and left the study. Instead of going to his room, he turned to the Danger Room, the only outlet he'd had for his feelings in the weeks since he'd taken Star to Maple Woods. It had begun to feel like all the bad guys had gone into hibernation. It was dawn before he left the Danger Room.
The following day, news reached the X-Men that Lady Deathstrike was in the United States. She had entered the country in New York, then had dropped from sight.
"No one seems to know what she is doing in this country, Wolverine. There is some indication that she was not traveling alone." Professor Xavier said.
"Prob'ly got some o' those damn Reavers with her. I'll check with my sources, see if anybody's heard anythin'." Wolverine used the phone for several hours, without success.
"Gonna take a more personal touch ta get anythin', Chuck," he said as he grabbed his hat and headed for the door. "I'll be back in a couple o' days."
"Be careful, Wolverine."
"Ain't I always?" The door closed behind him.
"Rarely, my friend," Xavier said to himself.
Wolverine wasn't having any better luck getting a line on Lady Deathstrike in person than he'd had on the phone. It seemed as if she had disappeared from the face of the planet. Finally, he got lucky. In a seamy bar on the lower east side, he ran into an old pal named Maverick. They weren't always on the best of terms, and they both approached the meeting cautiously.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Logan. Where've you been keeping yourself lately?"
"Here an' there. You know how it is."
"Yeah." Maverick paused to take a sip of his beer. "I hear the Lady's gunnin' for you."
"So what else is new? She's always gunnin' fer me."
"I heard she's called in backup this time. That she's looking to take you down, soon."
"Ya hear where she's workin' from?"
"Someplace in Massachusetts."
"Figures. I got people there."
"You need any help? Deathstrike's a bad customer."
"No, thanks. I got backup."
"Take care of yourself, Logan. The world's a scary place."
"Tell me somethin' I don't know." The two men finished their drinks and parted company.
Wolverine stayed close to the mansion for the next several weeks, expecting Deathstrike to show up at any time. He knew that it wouldn't matter to her if he was there or not, she would do as much damage as possible, so he might as well make it easy on her. He stayed away from Star. If Deathstrike didn't already know about the girl, there was no point in giving her the information. He called regularly and spoke to Star who smiled at him even if she couldn't respond. After one call, Doctor Flanigan asked to speak with him.
"Sure, Doc. How's she doin'?"
"Truthfully, Mr. Logan, since you stopped coming to visit her regularly, she has begun to deteriorate." The doctor glared at him from the view screen. "She still needs you, even if you don't need her."
"I'm just tryin' ta protect her, Doc. I got some folks mad at me that wouldn't hesitate ta use Star against me."
"I see. And how long is this going to continue?"
"'Til I find them. Or they find me."
"I hope you resolve this quickly. Star is a very sweet girl, but she needs your support more than you can possibly know."
"I'll come as soon's its safe for her."
"Fine," the doctor said coldly and disconnected.
Another month passed with no sign of Deathstrike or her Reavers. Wolverine received another call from Doctor Flanigan.
"What's the matter, Doc? Is Star all right?"
"No, she is not. She has completely withdrawn. She refuses to cooperate in her therapy sessions, and she has begun to refuse food. She won't even go outside anymore."
"I didn't realize..."
"I tried to tell you before. This girl is very fragile."
"I'll be there as quick as I can."
"I hope you're not already too late." She hung up.
Wolverine knocked on the door to Xavier's study.
"Come in."
"Chuck, that was Doc Flanigan. Star ain't doin' so good. I gotta go to her."
"I thought you believed it to be too dangerous to visit her."
"The good outweighs the bad. I've gotta take the chance." Professor Xavier looked at him for a moment.
"Do you want anyone to accompany you?"
"No. Figure I can slip in by myself a lot easier."
"Be careful, Wolverine."