Snoob:  You've guessed right!

Blix:  Thank you so much.

CaptTish:  Don't worry, by the end of the story everything will be all tidied up and explained.  Lol.  I just love the drama!

Base:  I'm glad you approve because I was a little hesitant about that chapter.

Vegeta:  Oh know!  I've made you sad again!  And things are only going to get worse before they get better!  Mmm…maybe I should be concerned about your well-being.  Lol.

X aunthentic:  Rogue and Logan could only have an adorable child.  sighs in content, thinking about what it would be like if they really DID have a child  Thanks for the review!

Chapter Nine

Return of the Wise

Part One

The morning brought with it the rest of the X-men team.  Relieved, Wolverine – Charlie secured in his arms – burst into Professor Charles Xavier's main office, intent on getting answers.  "Professor, what the hell is wrong with my son?"

"Good to see you, too, Logan."

"Damn the hellos, Charles," Logan barked.  "I want to know what the hell is wrong with my kid."

Rogue came flying in after her husband, placing a restraining hand on his arm.  "Logan, calm down."  She looked towards the man who had become a father figure to her.  "Charles, are you aware of what's been going on while you were away?"

Xavier turned reflective, his eyes taking on that faraway look as he searched through their minds.  His attention flashed towards Logan.  "I'm afraid things have certainly gotten out of control.  Logan, do you remember attacking Rogue?"

"No," he seethed, loathing himself at the thought of having hurt his precious wife.  "But what I want to know is what's wrong with Charlie?"  He handed his child over to the professor.  "Last night the kid was screaming and crying and going on and on about me being in the water, men laughing, sharp objects.  And he said that you had told him telepathically to come into your office."

"I never did such a thing," Xavier said softly, confused.  He then turned his focus on the toddler in his lap.  "Hello, Charlie."

"Hi, gwanpa," Charlie exclaimed, throwing his tiny hands around the cripple's neck.  He gave Charles a sloppy kiss on the right cheek.  "Where you go," he asked, holding his hands up, his palms to the sky.

"A meeting."  Charles smiled at the young boy tenderly.  "Charlie, do you want to tell grandpa about last night?"

"Why?"

Xavier glanced up at the nervous couple.  "Why don't you two wait outside?"

Logan stepped forward, a protest forming on his lips, but Rogue cut him off as she grabbed his hand.  "Let's go," she murmured, tugging him towards the door.

---

Wolverine paced outside the office for what seemed like an eternity.  Rogue watched from her perch on the chair against the hallway wall.  An hour slipped by before Xavier's voice told them to come back in.

"Well," Logan insisted.  "What's wrong with him?"

Xavier shook his head sadly.  "I'll explain everything once Storm gets here."

"What the hell does Storm have anything to do with this?"

"Logan, please.  I don't want to discuss this around Charlie."

Storm came through the door, snatched up Charlie, and left without a word.

The professor nodded toward his two students, indicating for them to have a seat.  "I'm afraid that Charlie has your memories, Logan.  He must've absorbed them when he was a baby, before we had known about his mutation.  This means that anyone he'd been in physical contact with while an infant could've been absorbed.  Yet, Charlie's gift is to take away pain.  Thus, he only took your painful memories.  Yet, your pain was emotional not physical.  So, he was able to share in your pain, but not heal it."

Wolverine squeezed his eyes shut, his jaw tight.  "I knew it.  I knew it, but I didn't want to believe it."  He glanced to Rogue, her tears causing his heart to ache.  Great, I've harmed my wife and my son.  "Professor, is there anything you can do?  Can you erase these memories from Charlie?"

"I don't know if I can."  Charles peered between the two faces before him.  One was gruff and angry; the other tear-stained and desperate.  "But, of course, I will try."

End Chapter Nine

I know, kind of short.  So sue me.  I don't have any money or assets anyway.  Lol.