Chapter Two

Something Amiss

Logan was slouched on the couch in front of the TV with Charlie nestled against his side.  He peered down at his son, angered that the little child had to wear protective layers.  Yet, Charlie had inherited a mixture of his parents' genes.  Logan could only hope that one day Charles Scott would be able to control his power like Rogue had learned to do with hers.

A twelve-year-old girl wondered into the room and upon seeing Charlie, smiled brightly.  "Hey, Tonic, you want to play, too?"

Logan flashed his naturally suspicious to the girl.  "What are you playing?"

"Hide-and-seek."

Charlie sat up, enthralled with the idea.  He was a little too young to understand the rules of the game, but he knew the concept of hiding.  He was known for disappearing – leaving his parents to search the entire school for him.  Logan patted his son's leg.  "Go ahead.  But only for a few rounds."

Charlie hopped off the sofa and eagerly trailed the older child out of the room, leaving Logan alone in the recreation room.  Wolverine flipped through the channels, landing on a hockey match.  He tossed the remote onto the coffee table and settled in.

By the second half, Logan had drifted off to sleep.

He was running.  Running.  Running.  Running to or from he didn't know what, but he just knew he had to run.  Faster.  Faster.  Damn it, couldn't he go faster!

He stumbled over a root, crashing to the wet ground, mud spraying up to coat his face.  He scrambled to his feet, slipping in the mud, but fighting to stay upright.  He had to escape.  He had to get away from him.  He would kill him.

He pushed himself harder, his leg muscles screaming in protest.  Tears stung his eyes, but he pressed forward. 

I have to get away!  I have to…

A hand fell on his shoulder and he shrieked.

Logan sprang up, his eyes wild and his breathing labored.  He focused on the face swimming in front of him and he swallowed hard.  "Scott?"  The X-men leader looked concerned.  "What is it?  Did something happen to Charlie?"

Scott "Cyclops" Summers' expression was grim.  "No.  He's fine.  What the hell was that, Logan?"

"What was what?"

Cyclops sighed heavily.  "Your dream, Logan.  What was it about?"

Logan paused, recalling the urgency of his nightmare.  "I don't know," he fluently lied.  "I don't remember."  He climbed off the couch, glancing around.  Had anyone else heard his thrashing about?  Hopefully it didn't get back to Rogue.  She was like a tiger protecting her young when he had his nightmares.

"Sure," Cyclops replied, unconvinced.  "Listen, I have to take a trip with a couple of the others to D.C.  We'll be back in a day or two.  You'll have to hold down the fort while we're away."

"Wait a minute.  Who is a 'couple of the others'?"

Scott sighed.  "Me, Jean, Storm, Xavier, Kurt and Beast."

"Whoa," Logan refused, waving his hands.  "You can't leave me and Rogue in charge for a couple days."

Scott pressed his lips together, annoyed.  "And why not?  You're two fully capable adults.  At least I would hope so considering you have a baby."

Logan growled.  "Charlie is one toddler.  You're talking about a school full of kids."  Logan eyed Scott coolly.  "Why aren't I or Rogue going?  It sounds important if the rest of you are."

"We can't all go, Logan."

Logan nodded stiffly.  "Sure.  Right.  Have you seen Charlie?"

"He's in the game room."

Logan marched off.

End Chapter Two