Author's note: Another chapter! Enjoy! ^-^ ~ 1LiLRoGuE / KaTe~
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"Let's stop here. I gotta pick up some stuff t' fix him up with."
Rogue made no reply, too busy stroking the canine's filth-matted head.
"Rogue, d'yah hear me, darlin'?"
She glanced at him.
"Oh—yeah. Sorrahy. Ooooh yeees we're so sorrahy, ain't we poochy poo?" She said in a singsong voice, making the bedraggled pet's tail thump methodically.
Logan rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the uncomfortable urge that this playful tone aroused in his more feral sides---the urge to lay his head in her lap and submit for petting.
"'K. I'm goin' then. Stay right here."
He opened the cab door and jumped nimbly out of the truck, his brain compiling a mental raiding list of supplies they needed for their new friend and for themselves.
That leg's pretty bad. Could start out with a first aid kit---that'd have bandages and antibacterial stuff.
He opened the door of the deserted shopping market.
Need t' make a splint----that takes wood, gauze…some rope…stretch band-aids…blankets…then the none-surgical pet stuff…
He recalled the shopping trip Jean had convinced him to go on many years ago, when they had been getting supplies for the mansion's newest none-mutant, none-human member, a small curly-haired cairn terrier named Duffers.
Endless items had gone into her cart---leashes, collars, dog food, bowls, toys, brushes, a small basket for him to sleep in, etc.
Least this time there won't be no big shoppin' bill.
Logan grinned to himself as he swept along the aisles, taking whatever was necessary.
Okay, looks like I got everythin' covered…wait. Rogue's stuff----she needs----
He blushed red as he realized what time of the month it was for his southern companion.
Fuckin' hell.
He gulped as he stared down the aisle, watching it grow before his eyes until it was more than a mile long and ten miles high.
Don't be a fuckin' yellow belly. 'S jus'---jus'---well it's jus'. Jus' take 'em an leave.
He took a package in his hands.
'S she light, regular, or super? Fuck!
He tried to reason with logic.
Couldn't go wrong with super, right? Takes more…stuff…than th' other… kinds.
He grabbed a pack, then on second thought took another with the same label, knowing it was better to be in excess than to be stingy.
Rogue better appreciate this, He thought with a snarl.
Rogue.
He suddenly remembered she was still waiting in the car with their injured pet, which stirred him out of his trance enough to finish the 'raiding' and exit the store.
"Rogue," He called, tapping on the truck's window.
"Yeah, shugah?" Came the somewhat muffled response.
"Y' okay, darlin'?"
He heard a muffled 'yes'.
"D'yah think y' could pop th' trunk fer me? There's a good girl."
Logan saw her scramble to touch the button on the dash, followed by the faint 'spoing' from the back of the former school's truck.
He unloaded their new goods into the space, shoving in Rogue's things last before slamming the door of the truck back in place.
For some unknown reason, perhaps habit, he found himself returning the cart into the reciprocal.
Soon, he was back inside the truck, starting the engine as he prepared to resume driving on the empty road once more.
"How is he?"
Rogue glanced up at him with a smile.
"He's fine. Ah couple ahv minutes ago he fell ahsleep, an ah got ahwl worried that he had passed out or somethin', but miraculously he was jus' ahsleep."
Logan grinned.
"Mebbe the wound ain't so bad then. Animals don't usually sleep if they're in incredible pain---like a bone broke 'r somethin'."
She smiled back at him.
"Ah sure hope so. Now what's his name gonna be?"
Logan frowned in thought.
"He didn't have a collar?"
She shook her head.
"Nopes. A strahy. Jus' laike us."
He chuckled.
"This's gonna be a hard one. Lotsa possibilities."
Rogue nodded slowly, lost in thought.
"How about 'Shugah'?"
He shrugged.
"So-so. But then he won't know whether yer callin' him or me."
She giggled and slapped him lightly on the arm.
"He had himself in a tough spot back there. If we hadn't come along t' save his ass, what would he've done? I propose we call him Scooter, in honor of our fearless leader One-Eye."
Rogue doubled up in a fit of laughter.
"Logan!" She finally wheezed. "D'yah know jus' what Scott would'a said if he evah heard that?"
The said Logan grinned.
"He should be awful grateful---me namin' my hapless mutt after him n all."
Rogue sobered.
"Our mutt, Logan. He's ours. An he's not hapless! He's a dear."
Logan chuckled.
"But ah laike th' name," Rogue continued, ignoring Logan's behavior effectively. "So ah sahy we name him 'Scootah'."
She shot a look at the semi-feral man beside her.
"An no bashin' this Scootah! If yah do, yah'll hafta answah t' me."
"Deal," Logan said, still grinning.
Rogue leaned back in her seat and massaged Scooter's ear gently.
"Well, Scootah, welcome home."
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