While Beast connected the heart stimulator, Rogue helped Wolverine to his feet. She steered him to a chair. Jubilee still hovered anxiously. Professor Xavier moved his chair next to Wolverine. Storm took the air bulb from Gambit when Beast switched the machine on. Beast reached for the respirator.
"What happened, Chuck?" Wolverine asked. "She was doing fine, an' then..."
"When Henry warned us that she was becoming overloaded, I put my shields back up, but she tore through them like tissue paper." He shook his head, "Logan, I have never met a telepath as powerful as this child has become."
"Neither have I." Jean said suddenly, from the bed where Cyclops had placed her. "Not even you, Charles."
"Are you two all right?"
"Yes, Hank."
"Fine, now, Henry. How is Star?"
"That's what I need you to tell me. I have her on full life support. She is simply not responding." Xavier moved his chair closer to the bed where Star's body lay. He placed one hand on her forehead.
"I'm not sensing anything."
"I was afraid of that." Beast said dejectedly.
"No, you don't understand. Even when someone dies, there are residual traces of their personality, their memories. With Star, there is nothing. Nothing at all. Its almost like ..." he looked up and his eyes met Beast's. "Like I'm being blocked."
"Of course, of course!" Beast said. "Gambit, the dampener in Star's room, it was on. Shut it off, quickly!" Gambit hesitated for just an instant, then bolted from the room. The dampener was on the night stand next to Star's bed. It looked for all the world like a table top radio. The knobs wouldn't turn, so Gambit snatched the cord from the outlet in the wall. The light on the unit went out. Carrying the unit with him, he returned to the med lab. Star's body was convulsing.
"I've got brain waves, now. Rogue, hold her!" Rogue and Storm struggled to hold Star as her muscles contracted uncontrollably. Beast injected a sedative into the girl's arm. It had no effect.
"I don't understand. It worked the last time I used it."
"Try somethin' ya ain't used on her before," Wolverine suggested. "Ya said she shakes off a sedative fast as I do. Mebbe its somethin' more. Mebbe she makes herself immune to it." Beast hurriedly opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed a vial. He prepared another syringe and injected Star. Her body began to relax at last, shuddering to stillness. Beast turned off the heart stimulator, her heart was beating on its own. He removed the respirator. Her vital signs were all lower than normal, but she was functioning on her own. Her eyelids flickered, then opened. Beast recognized her expression as despair.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why did you stop me? It was the only way."
"The only way to what, child?"
"To protect you. My friends." Her eyes closed as the sedative completely took hold. She fought it. Beast, suddenly realizing their danger, quickly adjusted the controls on the lab dampener to surround her with the field. "I won't hurt anyone again. Not ... ever." She lost her battle with the medication. She slept.
"I'm takin' her outta here tomorrow, Chuck."
"Logan..."
"I'll take her ta my place in the mountains. She'll be okay there." Wolverine pushed himself to his feet, and moved to stand by the sleeping girl, tears staining her face once more.
"She wasn't ready. She tried ta tell me, but I talked her inta tryin' it anyhow." He turned to face Xavier. "We pushed her too hard. When she's ready, I'll bring her back, but not before then."
"Perhaps that would be best. At least we determined she can control her power, as long as she isn't overtaxed."
"Jubilee," Wolverine said, putting his arm around the youngest X-Man. "Would ya pack a bag fer Star, darlin'? You've been up there, ya know what kinda duds she'll need."
"Uh, sure, Wolvie." Jubilee frowned, "Do you think you'll be gone long?"
"No longer than it takes, darlin'."
The next morning Wolverine put several suitcases in the back of his jeep, then went back into the mansion to see if Star was ready. He entered the med lab but Star's bed was empty.
"Ah, Logan. Jean and Jubilee are helping Star get ready for your trip. She's still a bit groggy from the sedatives." Beast took his glasses off. "Incidentally, you were correct about her reaction to medications. Any given sedative only works once, twice at the most, and the second usage has much less effect."
"How'd she do last night?"
"Not very well, I'm afraid. It was necessary to sedate her."
"How 'bout this mornin'?"
"She is very withdrawn. She does what she is told, but doesn't initiate anything."
"We let 'er down, Hank. Its gonna be a while before she trusts us again." Beast didn't reply. Wolverine spotted the smaller psi-dampener on the work bench.
"Ya need that thing?"
"Hmm? Oh. No, I can't say that I do. It doesn't seem to have any other applications. Doesn't work on any other mutant powers that I have tested it against. I must say Rogue was very disappointed."
"Yeah, I bet she was. Mind if I take it with me?"
"Not at all." Beast paused, "Do you think it will be necessary? Your cabin is very isolated."
"Wasn't plannin' on usin' it. I'm gonna have the kid smash it."
"Ah. Should be therapeutic. There's an empty box that should just hold it. I'll get it for you." They packed the dampener.
Jean brought Star into the front room, the girl's face was expressionless.
"Ya ready, darlin'?" Wolverine asked. Star just looked at him. He glanced at Jean, who shrugged slightly.
"Maybe after the sedatives wear off, she'll ..."
"Yeah." Professor Xavier came into the room to see them off. He took Star's hand.
"Take care, child. Come back to us soon."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Jubilee's shout echoed through the mansion. She dashed up a moment later. "Ya almost forgot your bracelet, Star! Ya never go anywhere without it." Star watched impassively as Jubilee fastened the string of silver bells around her wrist. She looked from the bracelet to Jubilee's hopeful face and smiled tremulously.
"Thank you, Jubilee."
"No problemo, Star. See ya 'round."
"Good-bye." Jubilee dashed off. She felt it was beneath her dignity to let anyone see that she was worried for both her friends.
"C'mon, kid. We got a long drive ahead of us." Star joined Wolverine at the door, her movements graceful and silent as always. She turned and looked back at the X-Men standing in the front room, then, without a word, went through the door. Wolverine helped her into the jeep. Beast turned to Gambit,
"Remy?"
"I see it, mon amie. De bracelet, it don' ring when she move. 'Les she want it to." He shook his head, "De petite, she make a good t'ief, non?"
Wolverine started the jeep. Jubilee watched from an upstairs window as they drove away .
"Good luck," she whispered.
They arrived at the cabin late that afternoon. They hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words the entire trip. Wolverine left Star alone. He figured when she was ready, she'd start talking again.
"Your room's through there, darlin'," he told her. "If ya wanna get settled in, we'll go inta town fer supper later. The place's been empty fer a while, now. We'll get supplies tomorrow." She carried the bags Jubilee had packed for her into the room Wolverine had indicated and quietly closed the door behind her. He put his kit in his room, then began to turn on the utilities to the cabin. He was adjusting the temperature on the water heater when he heard Star call him.
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"What is that?" she pointed out the window. He looked where she indicated.
"Its a raccoon."
"I read about raccoons, but there weren't any pictures." She looked up at him, "Could I go look at it?"
"You don't have ta ask permission, darlin', but I don't think it'll stick around. Critters up here ain't used ta people." She looked longingly out the window. He shook his head. "Go on, kid. Just move slow an' quiet, an' don't startle it. 'Coon's've got nasty teeth an' claws." She smiled up at him then quickly moved out of the room. He heard the front door of the cabin open, then close. He glanced around the room, and saw her suitcases, open and empty, on top of the dresser. He went to his room to unpack his own gear.
He put his now empty bag on the top shelf of the closet, and glanced out the window. Star was sitting in the leaves, playing with the raccoon. The animal was being as gentle with her as if she had been one of its kits.
When the raccoon waddled off into the woods surrounding the cabin Star looked up and saw Wolverine watching her. She smiled at him and moved toward the back door. She entered the cabin quietly.
"Get washed up, darlin', an' we'll head inta town."
"All right." A few minutes later they were in the jeep, driving toward the small town of Andrewsville.
"Logan! Where've you been keepin' yerself?" the waitress asked as they entered the small diner on the edge of town.
"Hey, Maudie. Don't get up here as often as I like, business, ya know." He turned to Star. "Maudie, I'd like ya meet a friend o' mine. Star, this is Maudie. She an' Harry own this place."
"Pleased ta meet ya, Star," Maudie said, smiling. "That's an unusual name, but I must say it fits you. 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star'. Bet yer folks were hippies, weren't they?" Maudie rushed on, never noticing the carefully schooled expression Star wore to cover her confusion. "What can I get for you folks?"
"Harry still makin' the best chili this side o' the Mississippi?"
"You bet! Let me get you a couple of bowls. You'll want a brew, of course."
"'Course."
"What about you, honey? What can I get for ya?"
"Some water, please," Star answered hesitantly.
"Sure thing. Have a seat an' I'll be back with ya in a second." It was still early, but there were a few customers in the diner. Several greeted Wolverine as he and Star took a booth toward the back. Star watched everyone carefully. She hadn't been around anyone other than X-Men since her disastrous court appearance.
"Its okay, darlin'," Wolverine smiled at Star. "These are good folks." Maudie brought their meal.
"How long ya staying this time?"
"'Til its time ta go."
"Well, I hope you an' yer lady will stop in again before ya take off."
"Count on it, Maudie." Business at the diner was picking up as the evening progressed and Maudie left the two of them alone. They finished their meal and, after Wolverine paid the tab, returned to the cabin.
"Get some sleep, kid."
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"Don' mention it, darlin'. Now hit the sack." Star went to her room and quietly closed the door behind her. Wolverine completed the chores that needed to be done, and turned in himself.
He was awakened by the smell of coffee brewing. He got up and went into the kitchen. It was empty. The doors to Star's room and the bathroom were both open. Star was gone. He'd told her she could come and go as she pleased and she had taken him at his word. He decided to take a shower. When he was finished, she had returned.
They shared the coffee, speaking very little. He didn't ask where she had been, and she didn't volunteer the information. After rinsing their cups, they went into town for breakfast and supplies.
They spent some time purchasing canned goods, as well as perishables, with which to restock the cabin. Wolverine also purchased boots and a heavy coat for Star. It was growing late in the year, and they could expect cold weather soon. He showed her around the town, pointing out the library as well as a small local museum. She grew more comfortable with the friendly population as the day progressed. After a while, they returned to the cabin.
Their supplies safely put away, they went for a walk. The woods were filled with the sounds of nature, birds singing, insects buzzing, and, once, the call of a bull moose. Star absorbed the new sights and sounds as Wolverine answered her endless questions. It was nearly dark when they returned to the cabin once more. They prepared dinner in a companionable silence.
The days passed uneventfully. Star explored the land around the cabin both with Wolverine and on her own. They went into town every few days, more to keep Star accustomed to unfamiliar minds than for any need for supplies. Occasionally, they received a chatty letter from Jubilee. Star always answered the letters at once, writing to her friend at a booth in the diner. Maudie always found time to talk to Star for a few minutes and she gradually began to respond to the older woman's genuine friendliness. Wolverine began leaving Star at the diner for an hour or so each time they went to town. Both women seemed to enjoy their time together.
One afternoon, after leaving Star at the diner, Wolverine was enjoying the quiet of the small town. He noticed the dress shop at the far end of the main street and, recalling Star's almost wistful expression as she had gazed at the dresses in the window, he went in.
"Hello Logan," the proprietress said happily, looking up from her sewing machine.
"Hi, Mary. How's business?"
"Booming. The New Year's Ball is only a couple of weeks away and all the local ladies need new dresses." She smiled at him. "What can I do for you, today?"
"I was hopin'," he began uncomfortably, "that you'd have time..."
"To make a dress for your lady?" She laughed. "As soon as I realized that the two of you were in town for a while, I knew you'd be by. You never could resist giving a lady something pretty. Hang on a second." Wolverine grinned as Mary went into the back room. She returned a moment later with a sketch book.
"I'd almost given up on you, you know," she said, opening the book. "Here, what do you think of this one?" She showed him a sketch of a black and silver gown, off one shoulder, while long sleeved on the other side. The bodice was fitted, the skirt full and ruffled, sloping from one hip to the floor on the other side, opposite the long sleeve.
"I started this sketch several weeks ago. What took you so long?" Wolverine shrugged.
"Just didn't think about 'til now. I don't even know what size she wears."
"That's all right. I've been watching her. I know what size to make the dress."
"How long?"
"I'll have it ready before Christmas. I'll get her some shoes to go with it."
"Thanks, Mary. I knew I could count on you."
"Any time. And, Logan?" he turned back. "Go see Dave about a tux. You can't take a girl wearing one of MY dresses to a dance wearing jeans, you know." He smiled and nodded.
He shook his head as he left the dress shop. Mary knew him very well indeed. He crossed the street and was about to enter the men's clothing store when he heard Star call him.
"Logan." Her voice was quiet, and entirely inside his head. She hadn't used her telepathic abilities since they had left Xavier's mansion. Something was wrong.
"Three men just came into the diner. They have guns."
"I'm on my way, darlin'"
"Don't come in. They'll hurt someone. I'll...send them out to you." He ran toward the diner, cursing himself for having left her there.
Star sat quietly in the booth at the back of the diner, watching the three men as they ordered Maudie to empty the cash register. If they took the money and left it wouldn't be necessary to do anything until they were outside, where it was less likely that innocents would be hurt. A child in the first booth began to cry and his father quickly stood, placing himself between the gunman and the frightened child.
"Shut that kid up if you know what's good for you." The youngster slid under the table and into the arms of his mother. She held him tightly, shushing him. The gunman continued to point his weapon at the father while the other two urged Maudie to hurry. The child continued to cry. The man stepped forward angrily, pushing the barrel of his weapon into the father's chest. Star carefully, and noisily, dropped her pen onto the table. All three of the men swung toward her, noticing her for the first time. The father slid into the booth next to his wife, protecting her and the child with his body.
"You tryin' ta get yerself shot, girl?" one of the men by the register asked. "Get over here." She eased out of the booth and stood, looking at the trio. "Get over here, now!" The man who had threatened the boy's father stepped forward and grabbed her arm, dragging her closer to the register.
"Why aren't you scared?" he demanded. "I could blow your brains out right here and there isn't anything anybody can do about it." She just looked at him, her face expressionless. He slapped her, knocking her to the floor. She looked up at him, anger sparking in her silver eyes, blood running down her chin from her cut lip. He lifted his weapon, aiming it at her. Harry stepped out of the kitchen and shot the gunman with his shotgun. Maudie screamed as the two remaining thugs turned toward Harry with their weapons already firing.
"No!" Star cried, her eyes blazing as she deflected the storm of metal fragments away from everyone in the diner. She stood, breathing rapidly as Maudie, Harry, and the young family cowered away from the bullets. The two gunmen turned their weapons on her as she stepped over the body of their fallen partner. She gestured and one of the men flew backwards, shattering the glass door and tumbling to the feet of Wolverine. The third man stared from Star to his useless weapon and back again. Wolverine stepped inside, tore the gun from the man's nerveless fingers and struck him with the butt of the weapon. The gunman dropped.
The father, eyeing Wolverine uncertainly, pulled his wife to her feet, their child clutched tightly in her arms, and edged toward the door.
"Star," Wolverine said quietly. "Its over, darlin'. Come down, girl, its over." Slowly, she unclenched her fists, and the fierce blaze faded from her eyes. She looked at Wolverine for a moment, then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed. He caught her with one arm, the other hand still holding the automatic weapon he had taken from the gunman.
Maudie peered cautiously over the counter as Harry got to his feet behind her.
"Oh!" she cried when she saw Star, limp in Wolverine's grasp. She rushed around the end of the counter, Harry close on her heels. Outside could be heard the sound of sirens as the police approached. Harry took the gun from Wolverine and placed it carefully on the counter. Wolverine picked Star up.
"She's all right, Maudie," he quickly reassured her. "She's fainted, that's all."
"Are you sure? She hasn't been shot?"
"I'm sure."
"I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her because of us."
"She'll be fine, Maudie." Star sighed and stirred in his arms. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, Logan."
"Hush, girl."
"Harry, get a chair for Star," Maudie said. Harry quickly righted a chair. Wolverine gently lowered her into it and looked at her split lip while Maudie got a wet rag for him. Harry spoke with the policemen who entered the diner cautiously, stepping over the body of the gunman outside.
"I killed him, Logan," Star said quietly. "I felt his chest cave in when I pushed him."
"Sometimes there's no other way, kid."
"I thought they would leave once they had the money, but the baby started to cry and that one," she glanced at the body of the thug Harry had shot, "was getting a real kick out of scaring everyone. I couldn't let him hurt anyone. I just couldn't."
"That's why we're the good guys," he answered her, gently cleaning the blood from her face.
"Excuse me," one of the policemen said. "I need to get a statement from the young lady." Star stared up at the policeman, more frightened by him than she had been by the gunmen. Wolverine stood, glaring up at the officer.
"She didn't see nothin'." The policeman nervously moved back a step.
"I'll have to hear that from her."
"I... don't know what happened after that one hit me." Star told him quietly. "Can I go home now? Please?" The policeman closed his notebook and watched as the ambulance personnel loaded the injured gunman onto a gurney. The other two gunmen had blankets draped over their still forms.
"All right, ma'am." He turned back to Harry and Maudie.
"C'mon, darlin'. Let's get out of here." Wolverine helped her to her feet and, when she swayed, he simply picked her up and carried her to the jeep.
"I knew that poor little girl was fragile," they heard Maudie say as they left the diner. "When she first came here, she was afraid of her own shadow."
They drove back to the cabin in silence until Wolverine glanced over to find Star grinning up at him tiredly.
"Fragile?" she said. "Oh, Maudie. If you only knew." He laughed and she joined him.
When they arrived at the cabin, Star was able to walk inside on her own, but she sank gratefully to the couch as soon as she could. Wolverine built a fire in the fireplace and they watched the flames together, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest. Her skin was cold. After a while, she dozed. He stroked her hair, watching her sleep. He was aware of his growing feelings for this diminutive woman and knew she would be easy to love. He would have to be very careful.
He watched her sleep for about an hour, then gently woke her.
"Ya need ta eat somethin', girl, then get to bed." She sighed then reluctantly moved away from him. He heated some soup and brought it to her, urging her to eat. Finally, she finished and he took the empty bowl from her. She was practically asleep already. He helped her to her room and into her bed. He pulled the quilt up to her shoulder then surprised himself by leaning down and kissing her cheek.
"G'night, Logan," she whispered, her eyes closing.
"Good night, darlin'," he answered, quietly leaving her room and pulling the door almost closed behind him. He returned to the living room and stared into the fire until late in the night.
She slept until early the next afternoon. As soon as she was up, Wolverine prepared a large meal and insisted that she eat as much as she could. Her face was pale and she was thinner than he liked. When she had finished, he said,
"Darlin', I've got to go back inta town, ta let the Professor know what's happened." Her already pale face blanched further.
"You don't hafta go, but I want ya ta stay inside until I get back."
"All right," she answered. They put away the dishes then she watched from the window as he drove away. She went to her room and took the box that held the psi-dampener from her closet. Wolverine had given it to her the day after they arrived, but she had never done anything with it. She got the tools from the shelf in the kitchen and proceeded to take the unit apart, examining it minutely. She wanted to know exactly how the hated device worked, though she wasn't quite sure why.
"Wolvie!" Jubilee shouted when she saw Wolverine on the telephone screen. "When're you guys comin' home?"
"I don' know, darlin'. You takin' care o' yerself?"
"Of course. I'm not a little kid, ya know."
"I know, darlin'. Is the Professor around?"
"Yeah. Hang on a sec." The screen went dark for a moment as Jubilee transferred Wolverine's call to Professor Xavier's ready room.
"Logan, is everything all right? I read an article this morning about an attempted robbery."
"Kid's shook up, but she'll be okay. She c'n take care o' herself." He took a drag off his cigarette, then dropped it to the sidewalk, crushing it under foot. "This's set us back a mite, though. When I told her I was comin' inta town, she looked like I'd asked her ta step inta a meat grinder."
"I see. I was hoping the two of you would be returning soon. I received a ... disturbing call a few days ago." Wolverine waited for the Professor to go on. "An old colleague of mine, Curtis Richardson, called. He was quite unpleasant, insinuating that I had stolen his research and demanding that I return his lab materials. It was only after I cut him off that I realized he may have been speaking of Star. His specialty was genetic engineering."
"Was?"
"Yes. The medical board revoked his license for unauthorized experimentation with human subjects."
"Then ya think he's Star's 'Doctor'."
"The probability is high. The man has no ethics. I have been trying to locate lab facilities that he may be using, but I haven't had any luck so far."
"Let me know when ya find it. I wanna be in on this one."
"I will, Logan. Rest assured."
"Tell Jubilee I'll be seein' her soon."
"I will." Wolverine cut the connection and walked across the street to the diner where Maudie and Harry were cleaning up the wreckage. Maudie dropped her broom to embrace him as soon as he entered the building.
"Is Star all right?"
"She's just fine, Maudie. Just didn't feel up ta a trip ta town today."
"Well, let me fix something for you to take back to her. The kitchen wasn't damaged at all." Maudie disappeared through the swinging door to the kitchen before Wolverine could answer her.
"How you two doin', Harry?"
"We'll manage. 'S not as bad as it looks, really. Replace the glass an' patch the holes in the walls an' you'd never know the place'd been shot up." He paused and leaned on his broom. "Ya know, we came up here ta get away from the violence of the big cities, but I guess ya can't run away from human nature." He swept up a pile of broken glass, then said,
"I'm glad your girl's okay, Logan. I was afraid that goon 'd hurt her."
"She'll be fine, Harry."
"I know she will. She's a tough little gal, 'spite of what Maudie thinks. No slouch in the guts department, either. She deliberately distracted those guys. If she hadn't, they'd a started shooting before they did. As it is, its a miracle nobody got hurt." He grinned, "Nobody that counted, anyhow." Maudie bustled in with a large bag and a small box filled with food.
"Good lord, Maudie. That's enough ta feed an army."
"Nonsense. Its just a few sandwiches and one o' Harry's apple pies. You know how much that girl likes his pies. Anyhow, it'd just go to waste here. It'll be a couple of days before we open back up. Take that long to get the glass in."
"All right, Maudie. Thanks."
"Any time, Logan." Wolverine took the food from Maudie, then said,
"Listen, if you folks need any help gettin' the place fixed up again, just let me know."
"Shouldn't be any problem. The insurance will cover most of the damage, and the place needed a new coat of paint anyhow. Now you get on back to that little gal of yours. Don't want that pie to cool off too much." Wolverine smiled. Harry had probably spent most of the morning making that pie for Star. The talk about it 'going to waste' had been pure bull.
Star was sitting at the table in the kitchen, the electronics of the psi-dampener neatly placed around the nearly dismantled unit. She was examining a circuit board when Wolverine walked in with Maudie's packages. She put the circuit board down and took the box from him, placing it on the counter.
"I thought you got rid o' that thing." She shook her head.
"No. I needed to understand how it works, but hadn't been able to bring myself to touch it."
"Ya finished now?"
"Yeah," she smiled and swept the pieces into the case, placing the whole thing in the closet with the tools.
The next few days were quiet. They went to town on the day Harry and Maudie reopened their diner. Star asked Harry to show her how to make an apple pie and he happily invited her into his kitchen.
"Now I know you've got some things to pick up, Logan. Star'll be fine here. Harry'll keep her busy for a while. Besides," Maudie said, "Harry reloaded the shotgun."
"All right, Maudie. I'll be right back." Wolverine walked down the street to Mary's dress shop.
"Hi, Logan. Hang on a second." Mary disappeared into the back room of her shop. She came back a moment later with two brightly wrapped packages, one much larger than the other. She wrapped them together in brown paper.
"I want you to see this the same time she does. I think you'll both like it. Oh, by the way, I talked to Dave the other day. He still had your measurements on file. You tux should be ready in time for the dance."
"Thanks, Mary. I forgot all about it."
"I know."
"Where'd I be without you?" Mary just smiled at him. He put the packages in the back of the jeep and went into the diner. Later that afternoon, with the still hot apple pie in the back with the packages and supplies, they drove back to the cabin. He put the packages in his room. She didn't ask about them.
The next day was Christmas Eve. He started to explain the celebration to her, only to discover that Maudie and Jubilee, through her letters, had already done so. He brought the two packages out and placed them next to the fireplace, well away from the fire itself. The next time he noticed, there were three packages.
It had been a very dry autumn in the mountains and, while the weather had steadily grown colder, there had been no snow. That night it snowed. The silence of a snow blanketed world awakened him and he got up to look outside. He was immediately aware of a cold breeze blowing through his partially open door. He hurried to the door and opened it all the way. The living room was freezing, the front door standing open. He checked the other bedroom and the kitchen, but Star was not in the cabin. The snow was several inches deep outside but no tracks were visible. How long had she been gone? He dressed quickly. Even he could only tolerate the cold for so long. As he reached for his coat, he noticed hers hanging on the back of the coat rack near the door. He shrugged into his coat and grabbed hers. It couldn't be more than ten degrees outside. And without her coat, she wouldn't last long. He had to find her quickly, but the snow had completely covered her tracks and she was damned hard to scent in the best of circumstances. He closed the door behind him so the cabin would be warmer when he returned with Star.
Why would she have gone out? It had to be the snow. She'd undoubtedly never seen it before. Which way, he thought, which way would she have gone? He moved toward the back of the cabin, where she'd played with the raccoon. He saw a faint indentation in the snow, nearly invisible, but there none the less. A footprint. He hurried through the trees, looking for other signs of her passage. He found more prints, not quite so obscure. It began to snow more heavily, but the tracks were becoming fresher. He was gaining on her.
He finally found her in a clearing well behind the cabin, kneeling in the snow, her arms out and her head thrown back in a position of supplication. Or wonderment. Her eyes were closed. She was dressed only in a thin night shirt, her feet and legs completely bare.
"Star," he called. She didn't respond. He moved closer and touched one outstretched hand. Her skin was cold, and she didn't respond to him. He wrapped her coat around her, pulling her to her feet. She didn't resist him, but she didn't help either. He picked her up, and carried her back through the woods.
The cabin had warmed up considerably, but was still cool. He took her directly to the shower and, holding her with one arm, turned the water on. He let her coat fall away from her body, then supported her while the warm water streamed over her. She had finally started to warm, though she was still cooler than he liked, when the hot water ran out. He shut it off and peeled her wet clothing from her. He wrapped her in a heavy towel and carried her to the living room. He put her down on the couch and quickly built up the fire in the fire place. He rubbed her arms and hands then turned his attention to her legs and feet. She was still very cold. She wasn't unconscious, but she didn't seem to be aware, either. He grasped her arms and shook her gently.
"Star, c'mon girl, wake up." Nothing. He shook her harder, but she still didn't respond. He stripped his wet shirt off and pulled her into his arms, turning with her toward the blazing fire, hoping she would come back as her body warmed.
Finally, she stirred in his arms. He looked down at her and she smiled.
"Oh, Logan. Its so beautiful."
"What is, girl? What 'r you talkin' about?"
"There are no words," she said, her voice soft in his head as she linked their minds and showed him. He was stunned by the complexity of her awareness of the world. Every snowflake that fell was a geometric sculpture, beautiful beyond words. He felt every animal, sleeping or stirring, each a bright light. He felt the trees, the plants, slumbering through the cold. He could feel the life in the earth itself, old beyond measure, slow and steady but immensely powerful. There was too much to assimilate all at once. He blacked out.
"What happened, Chuck?" Wolverine asked. "She was doing fine, an' then..."
"When Henry warned us that she was becoming overloaded, I put my shields back up, but she tore through them like tissue paper." He shook his head, "Logan, I have never met a telepath as powerful as this child has become."
"Neither have I." Jean said suddenly, from the bed where Cyclops had placed her. "Not even you, Charles."
"Are you two all right?"
"Yes, Hank."
"Fine, now, Henry. How is Star?"
"That's what I need you to tell me. I have her on full life support. She is simply not responding." Xavier moved his chair closer to the bed where Star's body lay. He placed one hand on her forehead.
"I'm not sensing anything."
"I was afraid of that." Beast said dejectedly.
"No, you don't understand. Even when someone dies, there are residual traces of their personality, their memories. With Star, there is nothing. Nothing at all. Its almost like ..." he looked up and his eyes met Beast's. "Like I'm being blocked."
"Of course, of course!" Beast said. "Gambit, the dampener in Star's room, it was on. Shut it off, quickly!" Gambit hesitated for just an instant, then bolted from the room. The dampener was on the night stand next to Star's bed. It looked for all the world like a table top radio. The knobs wouldn't turn, so Gambit snatched the cord from the outlet in the wall. The light on the unit went out. Carrying the unit with him, he returned to the med lab. Star's body was convulsing.
"I've got brain waves, now. Rogue, hold her!" Rogue and Storm struggled to hold Star as her muscles contracted uncontrollably. Beast injected a sedative into the girl's arm. It had no effect.
"I don't understand. It worked the last time I used it."
"Try somethin' ya ain't used on her before," Wolverine suggested. "Ya said she shakes off a sedative fast as I do. Mebbe its somethin' more. Mebbe she makes herself immune to it." Beast hurriedly opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed a vial. He prepared another syringe and injected Star. Her body began to relax at last, shuddering to stillness. Beast turned off the heart stimulator, her heart was beating on its own. He removed the respirator. Her vital signs were all lower than normal, but she was functioning on her own. Her eyelids flickered, then opened. Beast recognized her expression as despair.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why did you stop me? It was the only way."
"The only way to what, child?"
"To protect you. My friends." Her eyes closed as the sedative completely took hold. She fought it. Beast, suddenly realizing their danger, quickly adjusted the controls on the lab dampener to surround her with the field. "I won't hurt anyone again. Not ... ever." She lost her battle with the medication. She slept.
"I'm takin' her outta here tomorrow, Chuck."
"Logan..."
"I'll take her ta my place in the mountains. She'll be okay there." Wolverine pushed himself to his feet, and moved to stand by the sleeping girl, tears staining her face once more.
"She wasn't ready. She tried ta tell me, but I talked her inta tryin' it anyhow." He turned to face Xavier. "We pushed her too hard. When she's ready, I'll bring her back, but not before then."
"Perhaps that would be best. At least we determined she can control her power, as long as she isn't overtaxed."
"Jubilee," Wolverine said, putting his arm around the youngest X-Man. "Would ya pack a bag fer Star, darlin'? You've been up there, ya know what kinda duds she'll need."
"Uh, sure, Wolvie." Jubilee frowned, "Do you think you'll be gone long?"
"No longer than it takes, darlin'."
The next morning Wolverine put several suitcases in the back of his jeep, then went back into the mansion to see if Star was ready. He entered the med lab but Star's bed was empty.
"Ah, Logan. Jean and Jubilee are helping Star get ready for your trip. She's still a bit groggy from the sedatives." Beast took his glasses off. "Incidentally, you were correct about her reaction to medications. Any given sedative only works once, twice at the most, and the second usage has much less effect."
"How'd she do last night?"
"Not very well, I'm afraid. It was necessary to sedate her."
"How 'bout this mornin'?"
"She is very withdrawn. She does what she is told, but doesn't initiate anything."
"We let 'er down, Hank. Its gonna be a while before she trusts us again." Beast didn't reply. Wolverine spotted the smaller psi-dampener on the work bench.
"Ya need that thing?"
"Hmm? Oh. No, I can't say that I do. It doesn't seem to have any other applications. Doesn't work on any other mutant powers that I have tested it against. I must say Rogue was very disappointed."
"Yeah, I bet she was. Mind if I take it with me?"
"Not at all." Beast paused, "Do you think it will be necessary? Your cabin is very isolated."
"Wasn't plannin' on usin' it. I'm gonna have the kid smash it."
"Ah. Should be therapeutic. There's an empty box that should just hold it. I'll get it for you." They packed the dampener.
Jean brought Star into the front room, the girl's face was expressionless.
"Ya ready, darlin'?" Wolverine asked. Star just looked at him. He glanced at Jean, who shrugged slightly.
"Maybe after the sedatives wear off, she'll ..."
"Yeah." Professor Xavier came into the room to see them off. He took Star's hand.
"Take care, child. Come back to us soon."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Jubilee's shout echoed through the mansion. She dashed up a moment later. "Ya almost forgot your bracelet, Star! Ya never go anywhere without it." Star watched impassively as Jubilee fastened the string of silver bells around her wrist. She looked from the bracelet to Jubilee's hopeful face and smiled tremulously.
"Thank you, Jubilee."
"No problemo, Star. See ya 'round."
"Good-bye." Jubilee dashed off. She felt it was beneath her dignity to let anyone see that she was worried for both her friends.
"C'mon, kid. We got a long drive ahead of us." Star joined Wolverine at the door, her movements graceful and silent as always. She turned and looked back at the X-Men standing in the front room, then, without a word, went through the door. Wolverine helped her into the jeep. Beast turned to Gambit,
"Remy?"
"I see it, mon amie. De bracelet, it don' ring when she move. 'Les she want it to." He shook his head, "De petite, she make a good t'ief, non?"
Wolverine started the jeep. Jubilee watched from an upstairs window as they drove away .
"Good luck," she whispered.
They arrived at the cabin late that afternoon. They hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words the entire trip. Wolverine left Star alone. He figured when she was ready, she'd start talking again.
"Your room's through there, darlin'," he told her. "If ya wanna get settled in, we'll go inta town fer supper later. The place's been empty fer a while, now. We'll get supplies tomorrow." She carried the bags Jubilee had packed for her into the room Wolverine had indicated and quietly closed the door behind her. He put his kit in his room, then began to turn on the utilities to the cabin. He was adjusting the temperature on the water heater when he heard Star call him.
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"What is that?" she pointed out the window. He looked where she indicated.
"Its a raccoon."
"I read about raccoons, but there weren't any pictures." She looked up at him, "Could I go look at it?"
"You don't have ta ask permission, darlin', but I don't think it'll stick around. Critters up here ain't used ta people." She looked longingly out the window. He shook his head. "Go on, kid. Just move slow an' quiet, an' don't startle it. 'Coon's've got nasty teeth an' claws." She smiled up at him then quickly moved out of the room. He heard the front door of the cabin open, then close. He glanced around the room, and saw her suitcases, open and empty, on top of the dresser. He went to his room to unpack his own gear.
He put his now empty bag on the top shelf of the closet, and glanced out the window. Star was sitting in the leaves, playing with the raccoon. The animal was being as gentle with her as if she had been one of its kits.
When the raccoon waddled off into the woods surrounding the cabin Star looked up and saw Wolverine watching her. She smiled at him and moved toward the back door. She entered the cabin quietly.
"Get washed up, darlin', an' we'll head inta town."
"All right." A few minutes later they were in the jeep, driving toward the small town of Andrewsville.
"Logan! Where've you been keepin' yerself?" the waitress asked as they entered the small diner on the edge of town.
"Hey, Maudie. Don't get up here as often as I like, business, ya know." He turned to Star. "Maudie, I'd like ya meet a friend o' mine. Star, this is Maudie. She an' Harry own this place."
"Pleased ta meet ya, Star," Maudie said, smiling. "That's an unusual name, but I must say it fits you. 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star'. Bet yer folks were hippies, weren't they?" Maudie rushed on, never noticing the carefully schooled expression Star wore to cover her confusion. "What can I get for you folks?"
"Harry still makin' the best chili this side o' the Mississippi?"
"You bet! Let me get you a couple of bowls. You'll want a brew, of course."
"'Course."
"What about you, honey? What can I get for ya?"
"Some water, please," Star answered hesitantly.
"Sure thing. Have a seat an' I'll be back with ya in a second." It was still early, but there were a few customers in the diner. Several greeted Wolverine as he and Star took a booth toward the back. Star watched everyone carefully. She hadn't been around anyone other than X-Men since her disastrous court appearance.
"Its okay, darlin'," Wolverine smiled at Star. "These are good folks." Maudie brought their meal.
"How long ya staying this time?"
"'Til its time ta go."
"Well, I hope you an' yer lady will stop in again before ya take off."
"Count on it, Maudie." Business at the diner was picking up as the evening progressed and Maudie left the two of them alone. They finished their meal and, after Wolverine paid the tab, returned to the cabin.
"Get some sleep, kid."
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"Don' mention it, darlin'. Now hit the sack." Star went to her room and quietly closed the door behind her. Wolverine completed the chores that needed to be done, and turned in himself.
He was awakened by the smell of coffee brewing. He got up and went into the kitchen. It was empty. The doors to Star's room and the bathroom were both open. Star was gone. He'd told her she could come and go as she pleased and she had taken him at his word. He decided to take a shower. When he was finished, she had returned.
They shared the coffee, speaking very little. He didn't ask where she had been, and she didn't volunteer the information. After rinsing their cups, they went into town for breakfast and supplies.
They spent some time purchasing canned goods, as well as perishables, with which to restock the cabin. Wolverine also purchased boots and a heavy coat for Star. It was growing late in the year, and they could expect cold weather soon. He showed her around the town, pointing out the library as well as a small local museum. She grew more comfortable with the friendly population as the day progressed. After a while, they returned to the cabin.
Their supplies safely put away, they went for a walk. The woods were filled with the sounds of nature, birds singing, insects buzzing, and, once, the call of a bull moose. Star absorbed the new sights and sounds as Wolverine answered her endless questions. It was nearly dark when they returned to the cabin once more. They prepared dinner in a companionable silence.
The days passed uneventfully. Star explored the land around the cabin both with Wolverine and on her own. They went into town every few days, more to keep Star accustomed to unfamiliar minds than for any need for supplies. Occasionally, they received a chatty letter from Jubilee. Star always answered the letters at once, writing to her friend at a booth in the diner. Maudie always found time to talk to Star for a few minutes and she gradually began to respond to the older woman's genuine friendliness. Wolverine began leaving Star at the diner for an hour or so each time they went to town. Both women seemed to enjoy their time together.
One afternoon, after leaving Star at the diner, Wolverine was enjoying the quiet of the small town. He noticed the dress shop at the far end of the main street and, recalling Star's almost wistful expression as she had gazed at the dresses in the window, he went in.
"Hello Logan," the proprietress said happily, looking up from her sewing machine.
"Hi, Mary. How's business?"
"Booming. The New Year's Ball is only a couple of weeks away and all the local ladies need new dresses." She smiled at him. "What can I do for you, today?"
"I was hopin'," he began uncomfortably, "that you'd have time..."
"To make a dress for your lady?" She laughed. "As soon as I realized that the two of you were in town for a while, I knew you'd be by. You never could resist giving a lady something pretty. Hang on a second." Wolverine grinned as Mary went into the back room. She returned a moment later with a sketch book.
"I'd almost given up on you, you know," she said, opening the book. "Here, what do you think of this one?" She showed him a sketch of a black and silver gown, off one shoulder, while long sleeved on the other side. The bodice was fitted, the skirt full and ruffled, sloping from one hip to the floor on the other side, opposite the long sleeve.
"I started this sketch several weeks ago. What took you so long?" Wolverine shrugged.
"Just didn't think about 'til now. I don't even know what size she wears."
"That's all right. I've been watching her. I know what size to make the dress."
"How long?"
"I'll have it ready before Christmas. I'll get her some shoes to go with it."
"Thanks, Mary. I knew I could count on you."
"Any time. And, Logan?" he turned back. "Go see Dave about a tux. You can't take a girl wearing one of MY dresses to a dance wearing jeans, you know." He smiled and nodded.
He shook his head as he left the dress shop. Mary knew him very well indeed. He crossed the street and was about to enter the men's clothing store when he heard Star call him.
"Logan." Her voice was quiet, and entirely inside his head. She hadn't used her telepathic abilities since they had left Xavier's mansion. Something was wrong.
"Three men just came into the diner. They have guns."
"I'm on my way, darlin'"
"Don't come in. They'll hurt someone. I'll...send them out to you." He ran toward the diner, cursing himself for having left her there.
Star sat quietly in the booth at the back of the diner, watching the three men as they ordered Maudie to empty the cash register. If they took the money and left it wouldn't be necessary to do anything until they were outside, where it was less likely that innocents would be hurt. A child in the first booth began to cry and his father quickly stood, placing himself between the gunman and the frightened child.
"Shut that kid up if you know what's good for you." The youngster slid under the table and into the arms of his mother. She held him tightly, shushing him. The gunman continued to point his weapon at the father while the other two urged Maudie to hurry. The child continued to cry. The man stepped forward angrily, pushing the barrel of his weapon into the father's chest. Star carefully, and noisily, dropped her pen onto the table. All three of the men swung toward her, noticing her for the first time. The father slid into the booth next to his wife, protecting her and the child with his body.
"You tryin' ta get yerself shot, girl?" one of the men by the register asked. "Get over here." She eased out of the booth and stood, looking at the trio. "Get over here, now!" The man who had threatened the boy's father stepped forward and grabbed her arm, dragging her closer to the register.
"Why aren't you scared?" he demanded. "I could blow your brains out right here and there isn't anything anybody can do about it." She just looked at him, her face expressionless. He slapped her, knocking her to the floor. She looked up at him, anger sparking in her silver eyes, blood running down her chin from her cut lip. He lifted his weapon, aiming it at her. Harry stepped out of the kitchen and shot the gunman with his shotgun. Maudie screamed as the two remaining thugs turned toward Harry with their weapons already firing.
"No!" Star cried, her eyes blazing as she deflected the storm of metal fragments away from everyone in the diner. She stood, breathing rapidly as Maudie, Harry, and the young family cowered away from the bullets. The two gunmen turned their weapons on her as she stepped over the body of their fallen partner. She gestured and one of the men flew backwards, shattering the glass door and tumbling to the feet of Wolverine. The third man stared from Star to his useless weapon and back again. Wolverine stepped inside, tore the gun from the man's nerveless fingers and struck him with the butt of the weapon. The gunman dropped.
The father, eyeing Wolverine uncertainly, pulled his wife to her feet, their child clutched tightly in her arms, and edged toward the door.
"Star," Wolverine said quietly. "Its over, darlin'. Come down, girl, its over." Slowly, she unclenched her fists, and the fierce blaze faded from her eyes. She looked at Wolverine for a moment, then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed. He caught her with one arm, the other hand still holding the automatic weapon he had taken from the gunman.
Maudie peered cautiously over the counter as Harry got to his feet behind her.
"Oh!" she cried when she saw Star, limp in Wolverine's grasp. She rushed around the end of the counter, Harry close on her heels. Outside could be heard the sound of sirens as the police approached. Harry took the gun from Wolverine and placed it carefully on the counter. Wolverine picked Star up.
"She's all right, Maudie," he quickly reassured her. "She's fainted, that's all."
"Are you sure? She hasn't been shot?"
"I'm sure."
"I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her because of us."
"She'll be fine, Maudie." Star sighed and stirred in his arms. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, Logan."
"Hush, girl."
"Harry, get a chair for Star," Maudie said. Harry quickly righted a chair. Wolverine gently lowered her into it and looked at her split lip while Maudie got a wet rag for him. Harry spoke with the policemen who entered the diner cautiously, stepping over the body of the gunman outside.
"I killed him, Logan," Star said quietly. "I felt his chest cave in when I pushed him."
"Sometimes there's no other way, kid."
"I thought they would leave once they had the money, but the baby started to cry and that one," she glanced at the body of the thug Harry had shot, "was getting a real kick out of scaring everyone. I couldn't let him hurt anyone. I just couldn't."
"That's why we're the good guys," he answered her, gently cleaning the blood from her face.
"Excuse me," one of the policemen said. "I need to get a statement from the young lady." Star stared up at the policeman, more frightened by him than she had been by the gunmen. Wolverine stood, glaring up at the officer.
"She didn't see nothin'." The policeman nervously moved back a step.
"I'll have to hear that from her."
"I... don't know what happened after that one hit me." Star told him quietly. "Can I go home now? Please?" The policeman closed his notebook and watched as the ambulance personnel loaded the injured gunman onto a gurney. The other two gunmen had blankets draped over their still forms.
"All right, ma'am." He turned back to Harry and Maudie.
"C'mon, darlin'. Let's get out of here." Wolverine helped her to her feet and, when she swayed, he simply picked her up and carried her to the jeep.
"I knew that poor little girl was fragile," they heard Maudie say as they left the diner. "When she first came here, she was afraid of her own shadow."
They drove back to the cabin in silence until Wolverine glanced over to find Star grinning up at him tiredly.
"Fragile?" she said. "Oh, Maudie. If you only knew." He laughed and she joined him.
When they arrived at the cabin, Star was able to walk inside on her own, but she sank gratefully to the couch as soon as she could. Wolverine built a fire in the fireplace and they watched the flames together, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest. Her skin was cold. After a while, she dozed. He stroked her hair, watching her sleep. He was aware of his growing feelings for this diminutive woman and knew she would be easy to love. He would have to be very careful.
He watched her sleep for about an hour, then gently woke her.
"Ya need ta eat somethin', girl, then get to bed." She sighed then reluctantly moved away from him. He heated some soup and brought it to her, urging her to eat. Finally, she finished and he took the empty bowl from her. She was practically asleep already. He helped her to her room and into her bed. He pulled the quilt up to her shoulder then surprised himself by leaning down and kissing her cheek.
"G'night, Logan," she whispered, her eyes closing.
"Good night, darlin'," he answered, quietly leaving her room and pulling the door almost closed behind him. He returned to the living room and stared into the fire until late in the night.
She slept until early the next afternoon. As soon as she was up, Wolverine prepared a large meal and insisted that she eat as much as she could. Her face was pale and she was thinner than he liked. When she had finished, he said,
"Darlin', I've got to go back inta town, ta let the Professor know what's happened." Her already pale face blanched further.
"You don't hafta go, but I want ya ta stay inside until I get back."
"All right," she answered. They put away the dishes then she watched from the window as he drove away. She went to her room and took the box that held the psi-dampener from her closet. Wolverine had given it to her the day after they arrived, but she had never done anything with it. She got the tools from the shelf in the kitchen and proceeded to take the unit apart, examining it minutely. She wanted to know exactly how the hated device worked, though she wasn't quite sure why.
"Wolvie!" Jubilee shouted when she saw Wolverine on the telephone screen. "When're you guys comin' home?"
"I don' know, darlin'. You takin' care o' yerself?"
"Of course. I'm not a little kid, ya know."
"I know, darlin'. Is the Professor around?"
"Yeah. Hang on a sec." The screen went dark for a moment as Jubilee transferred Wolverine's call to Professor Xavier's ready room.
"Logan, is everything all right? I read an article this morning about an attempted robbery."
"Kid's shook up, but she'll be okay. She c'n take care o' herself." He took a drag off his cigarette, then dropped it to the sidewalk, crushing it under foot. "This's set us back a mite, though. When I told her I was comin' inta town, she looked like I'd asked her ta step inta a meat grinder."
"I see. I was hoping the two of you would be returning soon. I received a ... disturbing call a few days ago." Wolverine waited for the Professor to go on. "An old colleague of mine, Curtis Richardson, called. He was quite unpleasant, insinuating that I had stolen his research and demanding that I return his lab materials. It was only after I cut him off that I realized he may have been speaking of Star. His specialty was genetic engineering."
"Was?"
"Yes. The medical board revoked his license for unauthorized experimentation with human subjects."
"Then ya think he's Star's 'Doctor'."
"The probability is high. The man has no ethics. I have been trying to locate lab facilities that he may be using, but I haven't had any luck so far."
"Let me know when ya find it. I wanna be in on this one."
"I will, Logan. Rest assured."
"Tell Jubilee I'll be seein' her soon."
"I will." Wolverine cut the connection and walked across the street to the diner where Maudie and Harry were cleaning up the wreckage. Maudie dropped her broom to embrace him as soon as he entered the building.
"Is Star all right?"
"She's just fine, Maudie. Just didn't feel up ta a trip ta town today."
"Well, let me fix something for you to take back to her. The kitchen wasn't damaged at all." Maudie disappeared through the swinging door to the kitchen before Wolverine could answer her.
"How you two doin', Harry?"
"We'll manage. 'S not as bad as it looks, really. Replace the glass an' patch the holes in the walls an' you'd never know the place'd been shot up." He paused and leaned on his broom. "Ya know, we came up here ta get away from the violence of the big cities, but I guess ya can't run away from human nature." He swept up a pile of broken glass, then said,
"I'm glad your girl's okay, Logan. I was afraid that goon 'd hurt her."
"She'll be fine, Harry."
"I know she will. She's a tough little gal, 'spite of what Maudie thinks. No slouch in the guts department, either. She deliberately distracted those guys. If she hadn't, they'd a started shooting before they did. As it is, its a miracle nobody got hurt." He grinned, "Nobody that counted, anyhow." Maudie bustled in with a large bag and a small box filled with food.
"Good lord, Maudie. That's enough ta feed an army."
"Nonsense. Its just a few sandwiches and one o' Harry's apple pies. You know how much that girl likes his pies. Anyhow, it'd just go to waste here. It'll be a couple of days before we open back up. Take that long to get the glass in."
"All right, Maudie. Thanks."
"Any time, Logan." Wolverine took the food from Maudie, then said,
"Listen, if you folks need any help gettin' the place fixed up again, just let me know."
"Shouldn't be any problem. The insurance will cover most of the damage, and the place needed a new coat of paint anyhow. Now you get on back to that little gal of yours. Don't want that pie to cool off too much." Wolverine smiled. Harry had probably spent most of the morning making that pie for Star. The talk about it 'going to waste' had been pure bull.
Star was sitting at the table in the kitchen, the electronics of the psi-dampener neatly placed around the nearly dismantled unit. She was examining a circuit board when Wolverine walked in with Maudie's packages. She put the circuit board down and took the box from him, placing it on the counter.
"I thought you got rid o' that thing." She shook her head.
"No. I needed to understand how it works, but hadn't been able to bring myself to touch it."
"Ya finished now?"
"Yeah," she smiled and swept the pieces into the case, placing the whole thing in the closet with the tools.
The next few days were quiet. They went to town on the day Harry and Maudie reopened their diner. Star asked Harry to show her how to make an apple pie and he happily invited her into his kitchen.
"Now I know you've got some things to pick up, Logan. Star'll be fine here. Harry'll keep her busy for a while. Besides," Maudie said, "Harry reloaded the shotgun."
"All right, Maudie. I'll be right back." Wolverine walked down the street to Mary's dress shop.
"Hi, Logan. Hang on a second." Mary disappeared into the back room of her shop. She came back a moment later with two brightly wrapped packages, one much larger than the other. She wrapped them together in brown paper.
"I want you to see this the same time she does. I think you'll both like it. Oh, by the way, I talked to Dave the other day. He still had your measurements on file. You tux should be ready in time for the dance."
"Thanks, Mary. I forgot all about it."
"I know."
"Where'd I be without you?" Mary just smiled at him. He put the packages in the back of the jeep and went into the diner. Later that afternoon, with the still hot apple pie in the back with the packages and supplies, they drove back to the cabin. He put the packages in his room. She didn't ask about them.
The next day was Christmas Eve. He started to explain the celebration to her, only to discover that Maudie and Jubilee, through her letters, had already done so. He brought the two packages out and placed them next to the fireplace, well away from the fire itself. The next time he noticed, there were three packages.
It had been a very dry autumn in the mountains and, while the weather had steadily grown colder, there had been no snow. That night it snowed. The silence of a snow blanketed world awakened him and he got up to look outside. He was immediately aware of a cold breeze blowing through his partially open door. He hurried to the door and opened it all the way. The living room was freezing, the front door standing open. He checked the other bedroom and the kitchen, but Star was not in the cabin. The snow was several inches deep outside but no tracks were visible. How long had she been gone? He dressed quickly. Even he could only tolerate the cold for so long. As he reached for his coat, he noticed hers hanging on the back of the coat rack near the door. He shrugged into his coat and grabbed hers. It couldn't be more than ten degrees outside. And without her coat, she wouldn't last long. He had to find her quickly, but the snow had completely covered her tracks and she was damned hard to scent in the best of circumstances. He closed the door behind him so the cabin would be warmer when he returned with Star.
Why would she have gone out? It had to be the snow. She'd undoubtedly never seen it before. Which way, he thought, which way would she have gone? He moved toward the back of the cabin, where she'd played with the raccoon. He saw a faint indentation in the snow, nearly invisible, but there none the less. A footprint. He hurried through the trees, looking for other signs of her passage. He found more prints, not quite so obscure. It began to snow more heavily, but the tracks were becoming fresher. He was gaining on her.
He finally found her in a clearing well behind the cabin, kneeling in the snow, her arms out and her head thrown back in a position of supplication. Or wonderment. Her eyes were closed. She was dressed only in a thin night shirt, her feet and legs completely bare.
"Star," he called. She didn't respond. He moved closer and touched one outstretched hand. Her skin was cold, and she didn't respond to him. He wrapped her coat around her, pulling her to her feet. She didn't resist him, but she didn't help either. He picked her up, and carried her back through the woods.
The cabin had warmed up considerably, but was still cool. He took her directly to the shower and, holding her with one arm, turned the water on. He let her coat fall away from her body, then supported her while the warm water streamed over her. She had finally started to warm, though she was still cooler than he liked, when the hot water ran out. He shut it off and peeled her wet clothing from her. He wrapped her in a heavy towel and carried her to the living room. He put her down on the couch and quickly built up the fire in the fire place. He rubbed her arms and hands then turned his attention to her legs and feet. She was still very cold. She wasn't unconscious, but she didn't seem to be aware, either. He grasped her arms and shook her gently.
"Star, c'mon girl, wake up." Nothing. He shook her harder, but she still didn't respond. He stripped his wet shirt off and pulled her into his arms, turning with her toward the blazing fire, hoping she would come back as her body warmed.
Finally, she stirred in his arms. He looked down at her and she smiled.
"Oh, Logan. Its so beautiful."
"What is, girl? What 'r you talkin' about?"
"There are no words," she said, her voice soft in his head as she linked their minds and showed him. He was stunned by the complexity of her awareness of the world. Every snowflake that fell was a geometric sculpture, beautiful beyond words. He felt every animal, sleeping or stirring, each a bright light. He felt the trees, the plants, slumbering through the cold. He could feel the life in the earth itself, old beyond measure, slow and steady but immensely powerful. There was too much to assimilate all at once. He blacked out.