Bedside Manners
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters June 4, 1999 6 AM
Logan leaned back in the chair next to Buffy's bed and stretched. She would not be happy when she heard that the internal saboteur was John. She would be hurt, and no doubt embarrassed that she didn't discover that Magneto had gotten to him years before.
He never did like that little jerk.
Of course, Xavier was right. It would be wrong of him to go around snooping in other people's heads without an invitation. Still, it was damned inconvenient this time.
Looking at her, he smiled to himself. Xander had said that when she heard that someone else had killed the vampire mutant with a crossbow arrow, she would be pissed.
She was a feisty little thing, the Slayer.
She didn't look like someone called the Slayer. That sounded like... well... someone who looked like him, he thought.
Under his breath he said, "Come on, Buffy. It's time to wake up."
At noon, Buffy's eyes finally fluttered open, but by then Logan had gone to bed.
On every available surface, flower arrangements, cards and stuffed animals vied for the Slayer's attention. Some of these must be for someone else, she thought at first, but then realized that she wasn't in a hospital room.
At the foot of the bed, Scott and Willow seemed to be deeply immersed in trying to out-maneuver each other on a chessboard. And there were other items nearby that her friends had obviously forgotten, like Willow's favorite pillow, a pair of Marie's hoop earrings, some of Oz's guitar picks, and a Xander soda can. Nothing of Logan's though, maybe he hadn't been there often.
"Does Professor Xavier know that you guys junked up his infirmary?" Buffy murmured.
"Buffy, you're awake!" Scott exclaimed, as he moved forward to hug her.
"Easy. I'm still a little bruised," she complained against his shoulder.
"Buffy, we were so worried! You were sick so long this time. It's never taken this long for you to wake up before, not even when..." said Willow.
Scott didn't appear to notice Willow's slip. He simply kissed Buffy's forehead and stepped back, moving excitedly toward the door. "I'll go tell everyone..."
"Wait, Scott, please don't. Tell Xander... He'll be hurt if he's not the first person told. And Professor Xavier, you can tell him." Willow looked at Buffy pointedly. "I'm just not ready for a stampede yet. And buy me a few more minutes with Willow, will you?"
"Sure, sweetie," Scott nodded, but just before he walked through the door, Buffy stopped him again.
"Wait... Scott... Professor Xavier already knows."
As soon as the door closed, Buffy pouted. "You almost told about the Angel blood drainage!"
Willow grinned. "Like that's why you're making the cranky Buffy face... Ok Buffy, how much did you hear?"
Surprise flittered across Buffy's face. "How did you know?"
"Buffy, how many times have I sat by your hospital bed while you recover from some near death experience? I know what you look like when you're sick and unconscious. And hello, caught you peeking. Besides, why else would you want to talk to me alone if it's not about cute boys?"
Buffy laughed. "I only heard a little. Apparently, I'm a baby. And not really peeking, I was just hot. I wanted to kick off the covers."
"Yeah, you did have a pretty bad fever for a while," Willow admitted, then scolded, "And...and what did we learn about eavesdropping?"
Buffy tried her best to pout again. "Logan is a meanie."
"Buffy!"
"Do you really think he likes me?"
Willow smiled. "A lot."
"A little a lot, or a lot a lot?"
"Do you really want the answer to that question?"
"Yes! No. I'd don't know."
Willow gestured for Buffy to move over, and she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Think about it. You're fresh from the Angel break-up which equals hurt - big hurt, maybe rebounding, and you live in Sunnydale – long distance relationship, nice to meet you! So when he said 'baby', he probably meant not ready. Do you think you're ready?"
Buffy shrugged.
Standing up, Willow walked over to the gifts and seemed to be looking for something. Stopping to select one pale pink rose from a vase of several, she brought it back to Buffy, who brushed the petals across her cheek absently. "These are from Logan, Buff. They're called 'Eliza' and they are completely without thorns. Would he send two dozen completely perfect in every way roses to a baby? I really don't think so, but who knows? All I know for sure is that I've been here and at the hospital waiting for you to wake up every day for almost nine days. He sat here and at the hospital almost twice as long as I did. Some nights, he was here all night. Do you think you're ready for that much liking? If he's being no-pressure guy, and is willing to take it slow and give you space, that's a good thing, right?"
Buffy smiled, "Yeah, Ok," then sighed, "And yet, he smells so scrumptious all the time. And so over-abundantly blessed in the yummy to look at category, it would be oh-so easy to fall for him."
Willow pretended to be shocked. "Really?"
"Right, one-wolfboy woman, like you'd even notice."
"I have eyes. I can see... But seriously, Buffy, I think you should just... let it... unfold."
Suddenly, the door crashed open and Logan rushed to the bed. "Buffy!"
"Logan!" she teased.
"Well... uh... I think... I'll... go take a nap." Willow stammered, rushing for the door, "See you guys later."
"Ok," Buffy grinned. "Hosta later."
Logan sat down facing her, and Buffy shrugged. "She's a little strange, but it's a cute strange. And how did you know I was awake?"
"I don't know. It's weird. I was asleep. I woke up and I just had a feeling. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to see that I was right."
Slipping one hand over her hair and down to the back of her neck, Logan pulled Buffy forward until their foreheads met. "I was worried about you, kid." Sighing, he continued, "Never do that again."
Tentatively he touched his lips to hers, and Buffy closed her eyes.
Logan felt a wave of contentment flow over and through him the moment their lips met. There was a rightness to the contact. It was right. The only other time he'd felt that way was when... when he'd touched Buffy before. "Buffy..." he muttered, before deepening the kiss. His tongue slipped past her lips and tasted her. Is this what happy is like, he wondered. Is she feeling this?
"I was afraid I lost you," he said against her mouth.
Buffy withdrew slightly, and whispered, "I'm still here."
Logan looked down for a moment, and back at her. "What happened to you was completely my responsibility. We had all the intel we needed. I should have gone with your instinct to call Kurt in... before you were hurt."
Buffy gazed into his eyes, trying to determine whether or not he truly cared for her. He had never told her that he did. He hadn't admitted it to Willow. In fact, he said the exact opposite. Something told her that Logan was being affectionate as a result of days of worry and guilt. It was relief, nothing more. She was foolishly projecting a schoolgirl crush on someone who respected her as a Slayer and appreciated her friendship. She shook herself inwardly. She'd only been crushing on him for a few days, since hearing his conversation with Willow. And she had been unconscious most of the time over those two days. She must have been dreaming about him.
What was wrong with her?
He was a grown man, for God's sake. Maybe he didn't think occasionally kissing a friend was inappropriate. He seemed to have several acquaintances, but he didn't have many friendships. He didn't offer his trust to many people. She would do her best to keep both.
"I don't believe that," Buffy exhaled. "You made the same decision I would have made if we were talking about Xander or Willow. I could have just as easily gotten Kurt killed."
Logan nodded, obviously processing what she had said.
"As long as we're confessing, I need to tell you that I was listening to you, Logan."
He leaned back, confusion apparent on his face. "Listening to me?"
"I was awake, basking in the glow of fever, but awake... when you... when Willow asked if you liked me and you said that I was too young for you."
Logan stood and turned around to face the surgical equipment. "You didn't want to tell me what you heard, did you?"
"No, not at first."
"You were afraid that it would affect our... friendship."
"Yes," replied Buffy, lying back down.
Logan hesitated. She knew. She knew before he did how he felt about her. She didn't want to talk about it. Just like Jean... she didn't want this. Of course she didn't. He was a mess! He was a mess with violent nightmares, half a life's worth of memories, and claws like some beast.
She was sweetness itself. She was loved by so many people. What could he possible offer her? She'd said that she didn't want it to affect their friendship.
He turned back to her. "It doesn't have to."
(end chapter)
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters June 4, 1999 6 AM
Logan leaned back in the chair next to Buffy's bed and stretched. She would not be happy when she heard that the internal saboteur was John. She would be hurt, and no doubt embarrassed that she didn't discover that Magneto had gotten to him years before.
He never did like that little jerk.
Of course, Xavier was right. It would be wrong of him to go around snooping in other people's heads without an invitation. Still, it was damned inconvenient this time.
Looking at her, he smiled to himself. Xander had said that when she heard that someone else had killed the vampire mutant with a crossbow arrow, she would be pissed.
She was a feisty little thing, the Slayer.
She didn't look like someone called the Slayer. That sounded like... well... someone who looked like him, he thought.
Under his breath he said, "Come on, Buffy. It's time to wake up."
At noon, Buffy's eyes finally fluttered open, but by then Logan had gone to bed.
On every available surface, flower arrangements, cards and stuffed animals vied for the Slayer's attention. Some of these must be for someone else, she thought at first, but then realized that she wasn't in a hospital room.
At the foot of the bed, Scott and Willow seemed to be deeply immersed in trying to out-maneuver each other on a chessboard. And there were other items nearby that her friends had obviously forgotten, like Willow's favorite pillow, a pair of Marie's hoop earrings, some of Oz's guitar picks, and a Xander soda can. Nothing of Logan's though, maybe he hadn't been there often.
"Does Professor Xavier know that you guys junked up his infirmary?" Buffy murmured.
"Buffy, you're awake!" Scott exclaimed, as he moved forward to hug her.
"Easy. I'm still a little bruised," she complained against his shoulder.
"Buffy, we were so worried! You were sick so long this time. It's never taken this long for you to wake up before, not even when..." said Willow.
Scott didn't appear to notice Willow's slip. He simply kissed Buffy's forehead and stepped back, moving excitedly toward the door. "I'll go tell everyone..."
"Wait, Scott, please don't. Tell Xander... He'll be hurt if he's not the first person told. And Professor Xavier, you can tell him." Willow looked at Buffy pointedly. "I'm just not ready for a stampede yet. And buy me a few more minutes with Willow, will you?"
"Sure, sweetie," Scott nodded, but just before he walked through the door, Buffy stopped him again.
"Wait... Scott... Professor Xavier already knows."
As soon as the door closed, Buffy pouted. "You almost told about the Angel blood drainage!"
Willow grinned. "Like that's why you're making the cranky Buffy face... Ok Buffy, how much did you hear?"
Surprise flittered across Buffy's face. "How did you know?"
"Buffy, how many times have I sat by your hospital bed while you recover from some near death experience? I know what you look like when you're sick and unconscious. And hello, caught you peeking. Besides, why else would you want to talk to me alone if it's not about cute boys?"
Buffy laughed. "I only heard a little. Apparently, I'm a baby. And not really peeking, I was just hot. I wanted to kick off the covers."
"Yeah, you did have a pretty bad fever for a while," Willow admitted, then scolded, "And...and what did we learn about eavesdropping?"
Buffy tried her best to pout again. "Logan is a meanie."
"Buffy!"
"Do you really think he likes me?"
Willow smiled. "A lot."
"A little a lot, or a lot a lot?"
"Do you really want the answer to that question?"
"Yes! No. I'd don't know."
Willow gestured for Buffy to move over, and she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Think about it. You're fresh from the Angel break-up which equals hurt - big hurt, maybe rebounding, and you live in Sunnydale – long distance relationship, nice to meet you! So when he said 'baby', he probably meant not ready. Do you think you're ready?"
Buffy shrugged.
Standing up, Willow walked over to the gifts and seemed to be looking for something. Stopping to select one pale pink rose from a vase of several, she brought it back to Buffy, who brushed the petals across her cheek absently. "These are from Logan, Buff. They're called 'Eliza' and they are completely without thorns. Would he send two dozen completely perfect in every way roses to a baby? I really don't think so, but who knows? All I know for sure is that I've been here and at the hospital waiting for you to wake up every day for almost nine days. He sat here and at the hospital almost twice as long as I did. Some nights, he was here all night. Do you think you're ready for that much liking? If he's being no-pressure guy, and is willing to take it slow and give you space, that's a good thing, right?"
Buffy smiled, "Yeah, Ok," then sighed, "And yet, he smells so scrumptious all the time. And so over-abundantly blessed in the yummy to look at category, it would be oh-so easy to fall for him."
Willow pretended to be shocked. "Really?"
"Right, one-wolfboy woman, like you'd even notice."
"I have eyes. I can see... But seriously, Buffy, I think you should just... let it... unfold."
Suddenly, the door crashed open and Logan rushed to the bed. "Buffy!"
"Logan!" she teased.
"Well... uh... I think... I'll... go take a nap." Willow stammered, rushing for the door, "See you guys later."
"Ok," Buffy grinned. "Hosta later."
Logan sat down facing her, and Buffy shrugged. "She's a little strange, but it's a cute strange. And how did you know I was awake?"
"I don't know. It's weird. I was asleep. I woke up and I just had a feeling. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to see that I was right."
Slipping one hand over her hair and down to the back of her neck, Logan pulled Buffy forward until their foreheads met. "I was worried about you, kid." Sighing, he continued, "Never do that again."
Tentatively he touched his lips to hers, and Buffy closed her eyes.
Logan felt a wave of contentment flow over and through him the moment their lips met. There was a rightness to the contact. It was right. The only other time he'd felt that way was when... when he'd touched Buffy before. "Buffy..." he muttered, before deepening the kiss. His tongue slipped past her lips and tasted her. Is this what happy is like, he wondered. Is she feeling this?
"I was afraid I lost you," he said against her mouth.
Buffy withdrew slightly, and whispered, "I'm still here."
Logan looked down for a moment, and back at her. "What happened to you was completely my responsibility. We had all the intel we needed. I should have gone with your instinct to call Kurt in... before you were hurt."
Buffy gazed into his eyes, trying to determine whether or not he truly cared for her. He had never told her that he did. He hadn't admitted it to Willow. In fact, he said the exact opposite. Something told her that Logan was being affectionate as a result of days of worry and guilt. It was relief, nothing more. She was foolishly projecting a schoolgirl crush on someone who respected her as a Slayer and appreciated her friendship. She shook herself inwardly. She'd only been crushing on him for a few days, since hearing his conversation with Willow. And she had been unconscious most of the time over those two days. She must have been dreaming about him.
What was wrong with her?
He was a grown man, for God's sake. Maybe he didn't think occasionally kissing a friend was inappropriate. He seemed to have several acquaintances, but he didn't have many friendships. He didn't offer his trust to many people. She would do her best to keep both.
"I don't believe that," Buffy exhaled. "You made the same decision I would have made if we were talking about Xander or Willow. I could have just as easily gotten Kurt killed."
Logan nodded, obviously processing what she had said.
"As long as we're confessing, I need to tell you that I was listening to you, Logan."
He leaned back, confusion apparent on his face. "Listening to me?"
"I was awake, basking in the glow of fever, but awake... when you... when Willow asked if you liked me and you said that I was too young for you."
Logan stood and turned around to face the surgical equipment. "You didn't want to tell me what you heard, did you?"
"No, not at first."
"You were afraid that it would affect our... friendship."
"Yes," replied Buffy, lying back down.
Logan hesitated. She knew. She knew before he did how he felt about her. She didn't want to talk about it. Just like Jean... she didn't want this. Of course she didn't. He was a mess! He was a mess with violent nightmares, half a life's worth of memories, and claws like some beast.
She was sweetness itself. She was loved by so many people. What could he possible offer her? She'd said that she didn't want it to affect their friendship.
He turned back to her. "It doesn't have to."
(end chapter)