Logan felt Ruhko stir in the battered backpack as the green New England
countryside flashed by and thought of the night before. He'd ended up just
pulling the bike off the road and into the trees, then convinced Ruhko to
stay with Steph while he went hunting. It hadn't actually been that hard,
once he'd tried using wolf body language on her. At his stare and growl
she'd cocked her head and whimpered, then sighed and toddled back to where
Steph sat doodling on her slate.
The hunt had been a welcome release. It had been so long since he just cut loose and run free. Steph hadn't been very impressed when he came back to the camp bloody and with dead Bambi over his shoulder, but she'd eaten like a wolf herself once he had a fire going and grilled some of the meat over it. She'd made pointed notes about her thoughts on his and Ruhko's meal, since he hadn't bothered to cook their portion of the venison, but he'd just grinned at her and offered her some, knowing that he'd catch %#$# for it later.
Ruhko stirred again and he snapped back to the present, wondering if she was going to start complaining, it hadn't been that long since she'd eaten....
Something caught his attention in the ditch and he pulled a u-turn and passed it again, then drove on a ways and stopped the bike.
He put the center stand down, then took off the backpack and handed it to Steph. "Stay here. If anything happens to me run like #$%. The mansion's not that far off."
She looked at him, greenish brown eyes slightly frightened, but held Ruhko close and nodded.
Logan gave her shoulder a squeeze, then turned and walked back to the still form sprawled on its face in the ditch. He approached cautiously, senses at the alert, but all he smelled was blood. It was a little hard to get it turned over, but when he did he saw that it still breathed, faintly.
Frowning in puzzlement, he pulled the filthy duster and shirt away from the gaping wound in the chest. What ever had caused it had hit an artery, and it was still weakly pumping blood. His hand went to the body's neck to test the pulse and felt something hard.
"Freaking Genoshan slave collar." He stuck out one claw and sliced through it, ignoring the tiny shower of sparks, then threw it as far away into the long grass and black eyed susans as he could.
"Alright now, Sabertooth, get yer act tagether." He stood and checked on the girls, then crouched again and watched as the wound began to close up in the larger man's chest.
There was a gasp, and he jumped aside as the former Brotherhood member sat up flailing one arm in a clumsy haymaker.
"Watch it, bub." He crouched again, ready to fight.
Sabertooth rubbed his neck, gasping painfully, then opened his eyes and looked at him wearily. "Runt."
"#$%&," responded Logan evenly.
Sabertooth managed to get his legs under him and sat there staring at him. "You saved my life."
"Blond moment," said Logan, his eyes going toward the girls involuntarily.
Sabertooth raised his head and looked that way too, just as Ruhko made some sort of sound. When he turned back he had a strange smile on his face. "Sure, runt. Blond moment. I owe you one." Then he bounded to his feet and raced away into the trees.
Logan watched him go in surprise, then jumped up himself and ran back to the bike, grabbing Ruhko's backpack and cramming her into his jacket. "Get on, Steph."
She did so and he started the bike and burned a half donut on the asphalt, making 90 toward the mansion.
-Slow down, Logan,- said Charles. -He isn't following you.-
-You know he was there?- He slowed slightly, wincing as Steph dug her fingers into his ribs. If she ever found out he was ticklish he'd be in major trouble.
-Yes, I had been about to send Storm and the team to investigate.-
Logan nodded and took one hand off the handlebars to pat Ruhko soothingly. She was howling pretty loudly, he hoped he hadn't hurt her when he packed her in his jacket.
After awhile her wails changed to whimpers and then to hiccups that he felt against his chest and belly, the sensation waking more of those strange feelings that had started back in the diner when that idiot had grabbed Steph.
'Let go of my daughter,' he'd said, and meant it. He didn't know what Chuck would have to say about it, but in his heart Steph and Ruhko were his. If anyone didn't like it he'd just take them, and Marie, if she wanted to come, and go live somewhere else. He didn't know if he'd ever had kids before Striker had experimented on him. He remembered Mariko, back in Japan, and pushed the memory away as his eyes burned. That was the last time someone would ever get away with taking away someone he loved.
The thought nearly made him pop his claws, but he restrained himself, gritting his teeth and growling deep in his chest instead.
=========================================
He was under control- barely- as he pulled the bike to a stop in the garage and got off, sniffing the air to make sure everything was alright.
Steph took off the helmet, shaking out her wild poof of hair, eyes watchful as she reached for her brush.
Logan let her collect herself, pulling Ruhko out of her hiding place and throwing the backpack (it was really finished this time) into a corner.
Ruhko turned her head to look around, nostrils flaring as she read the air, then snarled and climbed up him till she was hanging off his back with her arms around his neck.
"You comfortable?" He tried to turn his head and see her.
She rested her chin on his shoulder and growled softly, nose wrinkled and eyes watchful.
"Nobody's gonna hurt ya, kid." He put a hand under her feet to support her, then unconsciously put the other arm around Steph's shoulders and gently lead her forward and through the door.
There was a clatter of feet and Rogue skidded to a stop, her wide smile changing to confusion when she saw how he was standing with Steph.
"Rogue, this's Steph," he said. "She liked those gumdrops ya sent her. The two she got ta eat, anyhow."
Rogue looked at the younger and taller girl thoughtfully, then smiled. "Hi. Ah'll show yah yoh room if yah want. Yah'll be sharin' wit' Theresa."
Steph looked at Logan and he nodded, but then put his hand out to pull Rogue in and hug her.
She hugged back, shoulders slumping slightly in relief, then looked cross- eyed at Ruhko as the baby wriggled and sniffed noses with her. "Friendly little thang."
"Not really," he said, low-voiced. "But she kin see yer part a' th' pack. Don't give Steph a hard time, she can't talk back ta ya."
Rogue blinked, then nodded. "Gotcha."
He grinned and let her go, then turned to Steph, who had watched the whole exchange uncertainly. "Go on. I'll come and check on ya in a few minutes."
She narrowed her eyes at him, but then went, slinging her pack over her other shoulder so that it didn't knock into Rogue.
"Logan."
He turned toward Storm's voice. "Hey, 'Ro."
She was looking at Ruhko. "Who's this?" She smiled, blue eyes shining.
"I named her Ruhko." He put up a warning hand. "But ya better keep yer distance, she don't take ta strangers."
"She had no problem with Rogue." Ororo frowned at him and took a step forward, causing Ruhko to scramble over Logan's shoulder and into his arms.
"'Ro...." Logan lowered his head warningly, but her hand touched Ruhko's back.
All #%% seemed to break loose, and Storm stepped back in shock as the baby screamed and snarled and spat like the Tasmanian Devil, her claws causing Logan considerable damage as she tried to get into the safety of his jacket.
She finally crawled in head first, and Logan was left bleeding heavily and looking at Ororo reproachfully.
"I'm sorry," whispered Storm, hand over her mouth.
Logan shook his head and clenched his jaw, then glanced up to where Steph hung over the banister, eyes watchful.
"Can...can I get her a bottle?" offered Ororo.
Logan's expression changed from reproach to guilt as Steph sniggered soundlessly from her perch. Sheepishly, he pulled the beer bottle out of his jacket pocket.
Ororo looked at it puzzled, then looked at him questioningly.
He quirked one eyebrow at her and she suddenly understood.
"You were feeding a baby from a beer bottle?!"
"Well, I didn't exactly have time fer much shoppin' darlin'"
She just gave him a scathing look and turned on her heel to walk to the kitchen.
-It's so freaking good to be home.-
The hunt had been a welcome release. It had been so long since he just cut loose and run free. Steph hadn't been very impressed when he came back to the camp bloody and with dead Bambi over his shoulder, but she'd eaten like a wolf herself once he had a fire going and grilled some of the meat over it. She'd made pointed notes about her thoughts on his and Ruhko's meal, since he hadn't bothered to cook their portion of the venison, but he'd just grinned at her and offered her some, knowing that he'd catch %#$# for it later.
Ruhko stirred again and he snapped back to the present, wondering if she was going to start complaining, it hadn't been that long since she'd eaten....
Something caught his attention in the ditch and he pulled a u-turn and passed it again, then drove on a ways and stopped the bike.
He put the center stand down, then took off the backpack and handed it to Steph. "Stay here. If anything happens to me run like #$%. The mansion's not that far off."
She looked at him, greenish brown eyes slightly frightened, but held Ruhko close and nodded.
Logan gave her shoulder a squeeze, then turned and walked back to the still form sprawled on its face in the ditch. He approached cautiously, senses at the alert, but all he smelled was blood. It was a little hard to get it turned over, but when he did he saw that it still breathed, faintly.
Frowning in puzzlement, he pulled the filthy duster and shirt away from the gaping wound in the chest. What ever had caused it had hit an artery, and it was still weakly pumping blood. His hand went to the body's neck to test the pulse and felt something hard.
"Freaking Genoshan slave collar." He stuck out one claw and sliced through it, ignoring the tiny shower of sparks, then threw it as far away into the long grass and black eyed susans as he could.
"Alright now, Sabertooth, get yer act tagether." He stood and checked on the girls, then crouched again and watched as the wound began to close up in the larger man's chest.
There was a gasp, and he jumped aside as the former Brotherhood member sat up flailing one arm in a clumsy haymaker.
"Watch it, bub." He crouched again, ready to fight.
Sabertooth rubbed his neck, gasping painfully, then opened his eyes and looked at him wearily. "Runt."
"#$%&," responded Logan evenly.
Sabertooth managed to get his legs under him and sat there staring at him. "You saved my life."
"Blond moment," said Logan, his eyes going toward the girls involuntarily.
Sabertooth raised his head and looked that way too, just as Ruhko made some sort of sound. When he turned back he had a strange smile on his face. "Sure, runt. Blond moment. I owe you one." Then he bounded to his feet and raced away into the trees.
Logan watched him go in surprise, then jumped up himself and ran back to the bike, grabbing Ruhko's backpack and cramming her into his jacket. "Get on, Steph."
She did so and he started the bike and burned a half donut on the asphalt, making 90 toward the mansion.
-Slow down, Logan,- said Charles. -He isn't following you.-
-You know he was there?- He slowed slightly, wincing as Steph dug her fingers into his ribs. If she ever found out he was ticklish he'd be in major trouble.
-Yes, I had been about to send Storm and the team to investigate.-
Logan nodded and took one hand off the handlebars to pat Ruhko soothingly. She was howling pretty loudly, he hoped he hadn't hurt her when he packed her in his jacket.
After awhile her wails changed to whimpers and then to hiccups that he felt against his chest and belly, the sensation waking more of those strange feelings that had started back in the diner when that idiot had grabbed Steph.
'Let go of my daughter,' he'd said, and meant it. He didn't know what Chuck would have to say about it, but in his heart Steph and Ruhko were his. If anyone didn't like it he'd just take them, and Marie, if she wanted to come, and go live somewhere else. He didn't know if he'd ever had kids before Striker had experimented on him. He remembered Mariko, back in Japan, and pushed the memory away as his eyes burned. That was the last time someone would ever get away with taking away someone he loved.
The thought nearly made him pop his claws, but he restrained himself, gritting his teeth and growling deep in his chest instead.
=========================================
He was under control- barely- as he pulled the bike to a stop in the garage and got off, sniffing the air to make sure everything was alright.
Steph took off the helmet, shaking out her wild poof of hair, eyes watchful as she reached for her brush.
Logan let her collect herself, pulling Ruhko out of her hiding place and throwing the backpack (it was really finished this time) into a corner.
Ruhko turned her head to look around, nostrils flaring as she read the air, then snarled and climbed up him till she was hanging off his back with her arms around his neck.
"You comfortable?" He tried to turn his head and see her.
She rested her chin on his shoulder and growled softly, nose wrinkled and eyes watchful.
"Nobody's gonna hurt ya, kid." He put a hand under her feet to support her, then unconsciously put the other arm around Steph's shoulders and gently lead her forward and through the door.
There was a clatter of feet and Rogue skidded to a stop, her wide smile changing to confusion when she saw how he was standing with Steph.
"Rogue, this's Steph," he said. "She liked those gumdrops ya sent her. The two she got ta eat, anyhow."
Rogue looked at the younger and taller girl thoughtfully, then smiled. "Hi. Ah'll show yah yoh room if yah want. Yah'll be sharin' wit' Theresa."
Steph looked at Logan and he nodded, but then put his hand out to pull Rogue in and hug her.
She hugged back, shoulders slumping slightly in relief, then looked cross- eyed at Ruhko as the baby wriggled and sniffed noses with her. "Friendly little thang."
"Not really," he said, low-voiced. "But she kin see yer part a' th' pack. Don't give Steph a hard time, she can't talk back ta ya."
Rogue blinked, then nodded. "Gotcha."
He grinned and let her go, then turned to Steph, who had watched the whole exchange uncertainly. "Go on. I'll come and check on ya in a few minutes."
She narrowed her eyes at him, but then went, slinging her pack over her other shoulder so that it didn't knock into Rogue.
"Logan."
He turned toward Storm's voice. "Hey, 'Ro."
She was looking at Ruhko. "Who's this?" She smiled, blue eyes shining.
"I named her Ruhko." He put up a warning hand. "But ya better keep yer distance, she don't take ta strangers."
"She had no problem with Rogue." Ororo frowned at him and took a step forward, causing Ruhko to scramble over Logan's shoulder and into his arms.
"'Ro...." Logan lowered his head warningly, but her hand touched Ruhko's back.
All #%% seemed to break loose, and Storm stepped back in shock as the baby screamed and snarled and spat like the Tasmanian Devil, her claws causing Logan considerable damage as she tried to get into the safety of his jacket.
She finally crawled in head first, and Logan was left bleeding heavily and looking at Ororo reproachfully.
"I'm sorry," whispered Storm, hand over her mouth.
Logan shook his head and clenched his jaw, then glanced up to where Steph hung over the banister, eyes watchful.
"Can...can I get her a bottle?" offered Ororo.
Logan's expression changed from reproach to guilt as Steph sniggered soundlessly from her perch. Sheepishly, he pulled the beer bottle out of his jacket pocket.
Ororo looked at it puzzled, then looked at him questioningly.
He quirked one eyebrow at her and she suddenly understood.
"You were feeding a baby from a beer bottle?!"
"Well, I didn't exactly have time fer much shoppin' darlin'"
She just gave him a scathing look and turned on her heel to walk to the kitchen.
-It's so freaking good to be home.-