Jean and Scott arrived back at the mansion and were immediately accosted by Marie's friends.
"Did you see her? How is she? Why hasn't she called?" They asked.
"No one was home," Scott replied. "We'll go back over next week."
As if on cue the phone sang and Kurt picked it up. "Xavier's School."
"Hello, this is Lois Lane Kane. Could I speak with Jean?" she asked.
"Hold on," Kurt said, and called Jean to the phone.
"Hello, Lois," Jean answered.
"Jean, I'm…I've got some news about Marie. We're at Westchester County Hospital ICU unit," Lois said.
"ICU? Why what happened?" Jean asked motioning for Scott.
"Superman found her. Clark told him he was worried and well he found her beaten up pretty badly and locked in her bedroom. He said she was nearly starved to death," Lois explained not mentioning her husband's alter ego. They kept that a secret even from close friends like the Parkers and the Sommers.
"Oh my God!" Jean exclaimed. "We'll be within the hour."
"What is it, Jean?" Scott asked as his wife concentrated on placing mental call to the Professor.
"Scott, the Professor wants us in his office now. I'll explain there," Jean replied. She then put out a mental meeting call to the other members of the team that were close with Marie, including Ororo, Kurt, Kitty, Jubilee, and Bobby. She tried to contact Logan, but she didn't expect him to show up. He rarely showed up for meetings on a good day, so someone would have to be elected to tell find him and tell him in person.
Ten minutes later all the members of the X-team who Jean summoned were gathered in the Professor's office. Jean had filled him in telepathically on the situation so that the "expert" on running these briefings could tell the rest of the team.
"All right," Professor X began. "I know you're all wondering what occurred on the phone just before we called this meeting, so I'll get directly.
"That call we received was from Jean's close friend and famous, Daily Planet and Daily Times reporter Lois Lane Kent. Lois is well know for her coverage on mutant rights, as well as on the activities of Spiderman and of course, Superman. She is also good friends with Rogue. That was why she called.
"Many of you were wondering about Rogue. Why she resigned. Why she hasn't called or been in contact with us in the past months. It seems that Rogue as well as the rest of us made a drastic error. We failed to see her new husband for what he truly is. It seems she was kept prisoner in her home for the past three months." The Professor paused to let them absorb this news.
"Superman found her this morning, she had been beaten up and apparently she was being starved while Cliff kept her in solitude. I don't know for how long precisely." The Professor shook his head sadly.
"Professor," Ororo spoke. "We don't know for sure it was Cliff."
"It was," Jean confirmed. "No one else could have done it. If so, why only Marie? Why not Cliff too? And he lied about being out of town and he ordered Marie to resign her spot here."
Ororo looked deeply upset. "He seemed like such a nice man. I was so wrong about him."
"We all were for a time," Scott comforted. "Except Logan, and later the Professor and Jean suspected."
"I should have said something, but I didn't want to interfere," the Professor sighed. "Nevertheless, we don't have time now for should haves. Jean, Storm and I have to get to the hospital. Scott you have to find Logan, tell him what happened. He'll want to know."
Scott nodded. The Professor, Storm, and Jean headed for the hospital after that meeting and Scott headed out to find Logan. When he left the mansion nowadays he only went one place, so it shouldn't be hard to find him. It would only be hard to convince him to go to Marie's side.
Or maybe not.
Scott was in a hurry to get to the hospital, so he carelessly left the keys in the ignition of his bike. He parked it in the parking lot of tavern Logan frequents, the Rusty Anchor and went inside.
"I'm not going back for supper and I'm not going to see Marie," Logan said before Scott even spoke.
"You may change your mind after I say my piece," Scott replied.
"I doubt it," Logan grumbled into his beer.
"Jean got an interesting call from Lois Kent today," Scott began. "It was about Marie?"
"I don't care about Marie," Logan countered sliding off the stool.
"You know that's not true," Scott argued. "You know you still love her."
Logan stopped and turned to Scott, anger rising. "Why should I still love her? Why should I care about her? She obviously didn't give a damn about me or any of you for that matter."
Scott took a long deep breath. "She's in the hospital Logan. They have her in the intensive care unit."
Logan froze and let Scott's words sink in. The hospital. The intensive care unit. Marie? His Marie?
"I'm…I'm going," Logan declared and headed for the door. Scott followed him and called "We'll take my…"
The was all he managed to say before Logan took off for the hospital on Scott's bike, leaving Scott in the dust.
Cliff had arrived at the hospital around the same time Professor, Storm, and Jean did. Clark Kent and Peter Parker were still guarding were still guarding Marie's door. Lois was giving Cliff what for.
"You are lucky the police aren't here all ready!" Lois ranted. "There are laws against slavery and spousal abuse."
"Abuse? Is that what she's claiming now?" Cliff sounded annoyed but not surprised. "She's been having trouble since her parents were killed. I thought our wedding would make it easier on her, but if anything it made it worse. I truly prayed the rest would help her."
"Help her? Is that what you call starving her?" Mary Jane accused. "No one deserves that kind of help." She made quotes in the air with her fingers when she said "help."
"Lois, Mary Jane I understand you're upset, but Marie in her delirium wouldn't even let me in to give her food or water. Poor thing nearly starved herself," Cliff frowned and shook his head.
"Then who beat her?" Clark asked. "What or who caused all the bruising, the fractured ribs, the concussion? How did that happen?"
"Marie was often violent when I'd try to…Listen, I don't have to justify this to you or anyone else," Cliff grated out. "We're friends, Clark. You know I wouldn't hurt Marie."
Clark closed the space between him and Cliff. "I thought I knew that," he said in a hushed whisper. "I was wrong."
It was that scene that Professor Xavier walked in on. Jean sprinted towards Lois. "How is she? What's he doing here?"
"Leaving," Clark replied taking Cliff's other arm. "Is Logan here?" Mary Jane asked. "That's the only coherent thing she's said since we've been here."
"Scott went to find him. He'll be here soon I hope," Jean sighed.
All eyes fell to the Professor who obliged by closing his eyes. "Scott's made contact. Logan is on his way."
Lois smiled. "Go on in. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."
Jean and Ororo went inside, but the Professor chose to wait outside and wait for Scott and Logan to arrive. He didn't tell Jean that Logan had left Scott behind, there was no reason to tell her that.
When Jean got inside the room, she immediately went into doctor mode. She studied her friend in the bed, and looked over her chart. Ororo was shocked at what she saw when she went into Marie's room. Marie was pale except for the bruised and cuts on her face and she appeared extremely gaunt and thin.
"My God!" Ororo exclaimed. "How could we have let this happen? I should have…"
"Don't blame yourself. The Professor and I knew something was wrong and we did nothing either. What matters now is that we help her get well," Jean consoled.
Gently, Oror touched Marie's face. "Marie, Sweetie. It's me."
Marie stirred opened her eyes and croaked, "Logan."
Logan used the turbo feature on Scott's bike and made the forty mile drive to Westchester County Hospital in record time. Part of him felt guilty for leaving Scott at the bar, but the part that insisted he reach Marie as quickly as he could told that part to shut up.
Logan ran into the hospital after parking the bike and looked on the sign for the ICU. He saw it was on the second floor and decided he didn't want to waste time waiting for the elevator. He took the stairs, climbing them two at a time.
As soon as he left the stair well, he heard a familiar voice, Jean's explaining Marie's condition to the friends assembled in the hallway.
"Her electrolytes are severly imbalanced and her system is weak," Jean said. "She's also running fever, which should go down when her system stabilized. Other than that and her other injuries, I don't see why with time, rest, and of course a proper diet, she should be fine."
"Should? What do you mean should?" Logan growled as Jean finished giving Marie's prognosis.
"Logan," she breathed her face lighting up when she saw him. "I'm so glad you're here. She's been asking for you."
"Is she alone?" Logan asked.
"Storm's with her," the Professor answered. "Please don't make it difficult for her. She feels bad enough."
"It ain't Storm's fault, or anyone, 'cept mine. Mine and that no good piece of sh…"
"Logan!" Jean hurried to catch him before he swore. "Go on in."
"How bad is she?" he asked.
'She's pretty severely beaten, cuts and bruises on her face, arms, most of her body. She's dehydrated and malnourished, but with rest she'll be all right."
Logan nodded and slowly opened the door.
Marie's eyes were closed, but she opened them when she heard the door open. Her eyes held Ororo's a moment then moved to the doorway.
"Hey, Kid," Logan greeted gently.
"Logan," Marie slurred and reached a thin, weak hand out for him.
"I'll leave you two alone," Storm said letting herself out.
Logan took Marie's hand and held it to his chest. "I'm sorry, Logan" she whispered.
"No reason to be sorry, Baby. I'm the one who should be sorry" he whispered.
"You tried to tell me…"
"Ssh. I gave up trying, Baby. I never should have. I gave up talking to you. I never should have," Logan explained. "I wish I could fix it, stop him from hurting you. I want to make it up to you, Marie. Please say I can."
Logan was quiet while he waited for Marie's answer. He wanted to start over, renew the promise he made to her on the train and live his life with her as he dreamed of doing these last five months.
"You can do one thing," Marie finally replied.
"Anything, Baby. Anything at all," Logan responded.
"Make sure…" She trailed off and licked her lips. Make sure he can never hurt me again," she whispered, then closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Gently, Logan caressed Marie's forehead and uttered a solemn promise. "He'll never hurt you again, Baby. He won't be able to."
With a final small kiss on Marie's chapped lips Logan exited the room allowing his fear to turn to fury. His face was dark with rage when he left Marie's room. He said nothing as he pushed through the crowd around the door.
"Logan, where are you going?" Ororo called after him.
He turned and replied, "I've got some business to do." He started walking faster.
"Logan," Jean called. "Don't do anything in haste."
"Haste!" he growled. "I'm not going to do anything in haste. I'm going to take all the time in the world while I beat Clifford Welmont within an inch of his life!"
With that he was gone.
