Chapter Twenty-One
Sleep Not My Love
Part One
In the darkest hour of night, Logan slipped into the infirmary under the cover of shadows. Beast had turned in hours before, leaving Rogue alone in her hospital bed and Logan took advantage of the opportunity. He quietly tiptoed over to her and gazed down at her frail body. Her coloring was slightly better, but she was far from a recovery. Logan planned to change that.
Gently, he placed the palm of his hand against her smooth cheek. "Do your thing, kid," he murmured. He waited a beat…then two…then three…he didn't feel the pull of her deadly power. Frantic, he cupped her other cheek, cradling her face in both his hands. "Damn it, kid, come on!"
Crazed, Logan flung her covers aside and ran his hands down her neck and arms. He clasped his fingers around her slender palms. "Don't do this, Marie. Of all times for your power to quit: this is not it!" He leaned forward and in a hopeless attempt, pressed his warm lips against her cool ones. Steal my power to heal your self, damn it!
Her mutation refused to oblige, remaining dormant somewhere deep inside her. Disheartened, Logan howled and whipped around, kicking one of the monitors. Why wasn't she absorbing him? Did this mean she'd never wake up?
"No," he roared, wanting to run up to Beast's room and demand the doctor to fix her. "Damn it, Marie!" Logan whirled back around. He'd vowed to protect this woman. What a bang up jump I've done. "I'll do anything! I'll even have children with you!"
"Lo-an," spoken so softly anyone else would have missed it, but her raspy whisper was music to his ultra-sensitive ears.
Immediately, Logan was at her side. "Rogue!" He held back from touching her. "Hey, kid," he said, trying to keep his voice from betraying him. "Nice of you to join us in the land of the living."
Rogue, her eyes struggling to open, reached her fingers up, to weak to move even her hand. "Lo-an," she murmured heartbreakingly, searching for him.
Logan swallowed hard and gingerly took her hand. "What is it, kid," he asked gently.
"Lo-gan." Tears fell from her eyes, sliding down her ashen cheeks.
"I'm right here, Rogue." I'll kill them!
Her lower lip began to tremble.
"Shh, Marie, don't cry." I'll kill them slowly.
"Logan," she sobbed.
Very slowly. "It's all right, Marie." And very, very painfully. "You're with me now. Everything's going to be ok. I won't let anyone hurt you."
She wept.
Part Two
It was Rogue's third day in the infirmary and she was beginning to show signs of immense improvement. Logan stiffly strolled into the room and couldn't help but grin when she beamed at his arrival. "Hey, kid, the doc says only another day or two and then you can start sleeping in your own bed."
Beast glanced back at him from his X-ray board and nodded. "That's right, Rogue."
"Thank God. I hate being down here alone." She winked at Logan playfully. She wasn't supposed to have anyone visiting her at night, but every night Logan crept down and stayed with her until dawn then, snuck back upstairs before Dr. McCoy got up.
Beast snorted. As if he didn't know. He'd come down to check on her and had found Logan sitting in a chair beside the bed, holding her hand. The doctor had chose to ignore it. It wasn't only Rogue who needed healing.
"Say, doc, I'm taking her out for a walk." Logan patted Rogue's head. "The poor kid needs some fresh air."
Rogue had yet to leave the infirmary. She anxiously looked over at Hank. "Please, Dr.McCoy."
"Use the wheelchair," Beast said, unable to turn the sweet girl down.
Logan pushed her around the gardens and Rogue sighed in delight. It was so nice being out of the infirmary. "Park us over there," she said, pointing to the bench by the fountain.
Logan did as she asked, placing the wheelchair directly beside the bench where he sat. Rogue glanced his way and he knew instantly what she wanted. He helped her transfer from the chair to the bench, and she nestled against his side. He draped his arm around her back. "Better?"
"Much," she answered.
Logan pulled a cigar from his jacket and lit it up. They sat like that for an hour, Logan smoking and Rogue curled against him; in comfortable silence before Rogue murmured, "I know you didn't mean it."
"Mean what," he asked around the cigar clenched between his teeth.
"That you'd have children with me."
Aw, shit. He thought briefly of denying the whole incident, chalking it up to her delirium when she first woke up. Yet, he couldn't do that to her. She deserved an honest answer. "Damn, kid." He pulled the cigar from his mouth and twirled it around in his fingers. "I did mean it."
He felt her go utterly still. "You did," she breathed. She sat up and gazed into his face, willing him to look her way. "Do you still?"
He peered into her eyes. How could he deny her the one thing she wanted most in the world? "I just figured that…maybe…if you didn't find anyone else…and if you still wanted children…and if you wouldn't mind being with me…"
"I don't want anyone else."
"Wow." Logan glanced away. "Ok." What the hell am I getting myself into?
End Chapter Twenty-One
Starshine: He had help, but I think he could've handled it on his own if he had to. I mean this is Wolverine we're talking about here! Lol.
RogCher: Since you begged so nicely…I'll see what I can do about keeping her alive. However, I won't make any promises.
Jo: Hugh Jackman is one of the sexiest men alive! And he was perfect for the part (and I'm not just saying that because he's so damn hot).
Loganlover: Thank you so much. I get motivated by compliments like that.
Vegeta: Afraid it'll end up too long? Lol. Honestly, I don't know how much longer this will be.
Bulma Briefs: R/W is the only way to go!
Snoob: Lol. But isn't angst so nice?
Kivruk: Well, you wanted to know what happened next. Was it to your satisfaction?
Galxychld: We all like that little voice. How could it be ignored?
Ella: Got it!
Chicken butt: Thank you so much!
BoredReal: Lol. Oops, sorry, I didn't mean for you to get emotional.
Tigerfanfry: I wish I could update everyday. Ah, the ideal life…