Chapter Three
When Sheila awoke, her first sight was her father's face. Fear ran through her at first, then confusion. She remembered him beating on her, then him protecting her. Suddenly, she remembered that the other one, the one who'd attacked her, had been a hologram. That meant that the one protecting her had been her real, flesh and blood father. The one leaning over her right now, her hand clasped tightly in his own and worry written all over his gruff features.
" Ow." She gasped, weakly.
" Sheila, it's a mistake, that wasn't-you weren't supposed to fight me." Explained Logan.
In her weak and hallucinatory state, Sheila's mentality was changing from her own to that of a six year old every other minute.
" Daddy, I have a booboo could you kiss it better?" She asked.
" Ummm.....Sheila?" He asked, puzzled.
" Don' jus' sit dere." Came Gambit's voice from the corner.
" What am I supposed to do?" Asked Logan.
" Kiss her booboo betta'." Stated the Cajun, matter-of-factly.
" She's got a lot a booboos in a lot o' different places."
" Kiss de one on her face, den."
" Which of the six?" Asked Logan, frantically, glancing at his daughter's bruised face.
" De biggest one." Suggested Gambit.
Logan leaned forward and hesitantly kissed the giant purple bruise on Sheila's cheek.
" Thank you, Daddy." Mumbled Sheila, before losing concsiousness again.
Logan remained by her side for the long hours and was fighting sleep when Gambit came up with two Burger King meals.
" I was wonderin' where you'd disappeared to, Cajun." Commented Logan, while accepting the Burger King bag Gambit offered him and shaking his head to clear it of oncoming sleep.
" How's de petite doin'?" Asked Gambit, opening his bag.
Logan sighed.
" Nothin's changed."
A silence fell between them as they both munched their whoppers.
" You wanna' get up and stretch yer legs fer a few minutes while I watch her?" Gambit offered, after a few minutes.
Logan shook his head.
" I'm gonna' stay here 'til she wakes up again. Nice of ya' t' offer though."
Gambit shrugged and finished his burger.
The two men waited in the room for another two hours before Sheila stirred once more. She didn't wake up fully but was calling to someone.
" Remy! Where's Remy? Remy!"
Logan's face fell and he silently got up from his chair to let Gambit take it so that he could be by her.
" You sure, mon ami?" Gambit asked, hesitantly.
" Go ahead, it's you she's callin' for." Replied Logan, miserably.
Gambit shot his friend a pained looking before sitting down in the chair and gently taking Sheila's hand.
" I'm here. petite. Don' worry, I'm here."
Gambit spoke softly and Logan faded farther back into the corner.
In a few seconds, Sheila's eyes opened. Her bruised face lit up when she saw Gambit.
" Remy..." She said, obviously grateful he was there.
Gambit smiled at her.
" Yer gon' be fine, petite, don' worry."
Sheila nodded and it was only then she noticed Logan, standing forgotten in the shadowy corner. Her features visibly hardened.
" What are you doing here?" She asked, accusingly.
" Waitin' fer' you to get better." Replied Logan, quietly.
" Yeah, right, that's why Remy's in the chair beside me. I know he's the only one who really cares about me."
" Now wait a minute, petite, dat ain't fair. Logan was in dis chair 'til seconds ago when I only took his place cuz ya' were callin' fer me." Protested Gambit.
" You don't have to cover for him, Remy, I know he probably just showed up now." Sheila's eyes were cold and focused on her father as she spoke.
" Now, petite-" Started Gambit, but Logan interjected.
" S'alright, Cajun, you don't have to defend me. She's gonna' think what she wants even if it isn't the truth."
Logan spoke softly but the pain was still evident in his gruff voice.
" I know the truth. The truth is you don't give a damn about me and Devon and you never have." Shot Sheila.
" Sheila, you know-" This time it was Logan who was cut off, by Sheila.
" Just leave, Logan, I don't need you here." Sheila's voice was hard, displaying no emotion but utter hatred.
Logan regarded his daughter for one long moment and Gambit, who was watching him, thought he could see the Wolverine's heart breaking in that look.
Then, slowly, silently, Logan sauntered out of the room.