Disclaimer: A whole host of new characters are mine. Please don't use them. Of course, the X-Men and other such characters involved in the comic, books and the movie belong to Marvel, and new ones are mine. Also the plot is my own.

Throughout story:

" " = Speech

' ' = Thoughts

^ ^ = Telepath

Chapter 32

            Logan stared as he entered through the large wooden door.. he had never been in a bar like this before.. The inner was dim.. light coming from several places inside. The floor was carpeted by a rich ruby shade, a wooden bar set along one wall. Tables and chairs of a dark wood were scattered, and their tops glistened cheerfully. The stone-bricked walls were riddled with several old fashion objects, a large old looking spade, a farmer's pitchfork, a old painting of a countryside. And so on.. scattered across these walls.

He stepped on through quietly, the sound of light chatter hitting his ears and the crackling of a fire. As his head turned he saw a pair of elderly gentlemen sat together at a small round wooden table beside a large open fire. A rug sat beneath their table, stretching out in front of the glorious fire. The men were sat playing dominoes, chewing on their pipes and sipping on their beer whilst trusty sheepdogs lay at their feet, watching Logan interestedly.

Logan stepped over to the bar where a large man greeted him jovially. His face was red, his cheeks rosy. His spotless shirt was fastened over his chest tightly, a mild belly over his trouser top. He was wiping a glass dry as Logan stepped up. He nodded to Logan, his bald head glinting in the fire light, "Afternoon there m'lad. What y' after? A pint?"

Logan stared at the man, a blank expression upon his face, "Eh?" He grunted slowly, "A pint? What the hell?"

The man in response chuckled and dropped his drying cloth on the unmarked bar top, "Eh! We got an American? In this neck o' the woods?"

Logan nodded slowly, "Uh.. yeah.. " He said distractedly, whilst trying to view what drinks the place sold.

"What ale y'after?" Asked the man, continuing his ritual wiping of the next glass.

Logan shrugged his shoulders gently, "Do I look like I have a clue?" He admitted with a grunt, "I mean.. 'Theakstons '? What the hell is that? God.."

The bartender then gave an almightily laugh, throwing down his cloth and cupping an arm merrily round Logan's shoulders and shook him, "Wahey! I love this bloke me! His attitude, innit great?"

Logan stumbled slightly as the man shook him vigorously, giving him a friendly pat on the back, "What a sound bloke you are mate."

Logan stared. He had absolutely no idea what was going on here. He completely missed what the man had said.. he may as well have gone to Sweden and asked for a beer for as far as understanding went.

Logan stood upright, straightening his shirt, "Can I have a drink?" He said softly, watching the man grin at him.

The man nodded jauntily, "Aye lad! What y' want, an ale?"

"An ale?"

"Yeah, a pint o' bitter?"

"Huh?"

"Beer?"

"Yeah! Beer!" Said Logan joyfully, finally glad they had reached an understanding.

The man winked knowingly, "I'll gi' the best to our visitor I shall.. here you go.." The man stood back and pulled on one of the taps, filling up a pint sized glass with a dark liquid, settling neatly on top a smooth creamy froth. He placed it down in front of Logan, now grinning, "On the house!"

Logan smirked, "Right.. thanks then."

The bartender nodded, "Don't mention owt.." He said quietly, "Don't want the boss canning my arse." He tapped his nose craftily and nodded.

Logan smirked and nodded once before lifting his beer, "Agreed."

"Good man!" Announced the bartender, throwing his cloth over a shoulder as he stepped out of the bar and paraded across the carpeted floor to collect empty glasses.

Logan watched the man travel back interestedly. As the man stepped back round the bar, Logan lifted his beer.. and downed it in one. He dropped it down noisily on the bar, giving a satisfied sigh, "Oh yeah.. that's good stuff. They don't make it like that where I come from."

The barman stared, "Bleedin' hell! In one go!" He picked up the glass and placed it with his collection of used glasses, "What a thirst."

Logan smirked awkwardly at the man, shrugging his shoulders, "What?"

"Y' can 'andle your drink, eh?" He asked slyly.

Logan nodded, "Oh yeah.. unlike the poor dicks I send flying in the old nightly brawls." He made a swift punch with his fist, smacking at the thin air.

The man stared before raising his arms mightily and bustling behind the bar and into the room behind with a hearty yell of, "God! I love this guy!!"

            A short while later the man returned and grinned to Logan, "Alright lad?" He said, producing Logan a second beer before giving the bar a wipe over, "On my break now." He then dropped his cloth under the bar and looked to Logan, "Name's Michael."

Logan nodded, accepting his beer gladly, "Logan."

"So.. where are you stayin'?"

Logan took a sip before replying, "Up at Xavier Manor."

Michael let out a long and slow whistle, "Ooh.. that Manor? Wouldn't catch me goin' up there."

Logan now frowned, lowering his beer, "Why not?"

"It's haunted mate.. I swear."

"Haunted?" Scoffed Logan quietly.

Michael nodded, a very serious expression on his face, "Aye.. there's a ghost that walks round the grounds.. even in the day time. She's always unhappy.. I heard she hates the living and kills anyone who enters.. and the family within are cursed and can never leave the manor or escape her."

Logan smirked at the man, "Don't be so daft.. I slept there last night, nothin' wrong. The family is great." Of course.. he knew what Michael was talking about. He was talking about Ghost. She looked like a ghost, acted like a ghost. It was no surprise the village mistook her.

Michael shrugged gently, his folded arms now supporting him on the bar, "If y' say Logan.. but watch out when you're up there. Some pretty scary stuff has been witnessed."

Logan now nodded slowly, taking another mouthful of beer.

"Say.. you interested in stayin' a lil' longer?"

Logan lowered his beer gently, his head canting at the man, "Maybe."

Michael grinned, "Free drinks for y' mate. Some o' the lads will be in later.. they're gonna love you. American in Heathstead.. blimey. Normally in London wi' all the posh nobs aincha?"

Logan just shrugged gently, "Um.. London? No.. never been.. but I'm headin' down there tomorrow." Wait.. he shouldn't have said that..

Michael however nodded knowingly, "Oooh yes, you'll like it down there, a city man like yourself."

Logan smirked, releasing his legs fro their stance as he dropped upon a stool, "City man? I ain't no city man. Come from the snowy hills o' Canada me."

Michael grinned, "Bleedin' hell.. that's a great place. Wi' all them snowy landscapes. Heathstead gets it o' course.. but Canada sure is prettier."

"Of course it's prettier, I come from there." Logan chuckled with a mild wink at the man.

Michael guffawed, slapping Logan across the back, "You're a great guy!" He then stopped and looked to the door as it opened, "Another customer, gimme a minute Logan."

            Bobby blindly made his way back to Rogue's room, his eyes stinging with furious tears. He didn't hear or see Rian as he walked past, calling to Bobby, puzzled by his state. Bobby was shaking his head, muttering softly.. He hadn't murdered Pyro.. he can't have. He'd never murdered anyone. He staggered in through their door slamming it accidentally on Rian's face .. Rogue still peacefully asleep. He sat down gently on a chair beside the window.. and cupped his lowered head in his palms.. From behind the door.. Rian quietly left him be..

            A few hours later, a knock came upon the door.. Bobby threw his head up, glaring at the woodwork. He had been sat in silence in the dark room, the sun lowering on the horizon. The wooden door pushed open slowly, the person behind travelling on in. All of a sudden, Storm's head peered gently round the door, "Hello Bobby.. How is – "

Storm had suddenly stopped. She hurried in and shut the door behind her, "Bobby! Are you alright?"

Bobby nodded glumly, looking out of the window with a sigh. Storm frowned and sat down on the bed, facing the young mutant, "I can tell something is wrong Bobby.."

Bobby shook his head, "It doesn't matter." He muttered, "Just.. with all this stuff that's happening, getting to me." He continued, lying blatantly.

Storm frowned and turn from Bobby to glance to the girl in the bed, "How's Rogue doing?" She then asked.

Bobby nodded slowly, "She's just been sleeping.."

Storm nodded, "Right.." She then stood and moved over to her lightly touching at Rogue's forehead with the back of her hand. A faint surge of her powers came upon her skin and Storm pulled her hand away, "Her powers have settled.. she's just exhausted now."

Bobby nodded slowly, glancing to Rogue tenderly, "Do you think this virus is going to kill someone?"

Storm looked to him suddenly, a little surprised, "Bobby.. I .." She faded away.. there was no point in being gentle. He was an X-Man now, and like Logan had said.. there was no time for pussyfooting around. Her face tightened, eyes closing sombrely, "Yes Bobby.. there's not much hope for us.. something's going to happen.."

***

Hope you liked the chapter! I love the interaction between Logan and Michael. XD It's great.

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