The next morning found Logan in a very good mood. The sun was shinning brightly, songbirds whistled happy tunes, even the air seemed positively charged. Logan was starting to wonder if someone had slipped something into his beer the night before.

He had dressed in his trademark worn blue jeans and a plain, snuggly fitting t-shirt. He couldn't help it if the Hanes company didn't make 'Wolverine' sized t-shirts. Plus, he rather enjoyed the attention he got from the women when they laid eyes on his chiseled torso. Feeling desirable was a good thing.

Logan drifted through the kitchen at an unknown time. He never really cared what time it was and that was one attribute that pissed Scott off. Time sorta loses some of it's importance when you know you're gonna be around until the end of it. After snagging a bowl of cold cereal, he made his way to the garage. The boxes of supplies remained in the two piles he had left them in; the 'take' pile and the 'why-the-hell-would-we-ever-need-this' pile. Logan sighed. If only he had had these luxuries with him while he had been in Canada. He might still be there, and enjoying it.

He caught a whiff of sweet southern air and turned, his mouth full of crunchy, processed grains. He nodded towards Marie before he could swallow.

"Hey," she said softly, but she always sounded soft to him.

"Hey," he replied. He watched her move across the concrete floor and touch a rejected box with a gloved hand. When he decided that 'hey' was enough for now, he shoveled another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

Marie bent forward slightly and studied the contents of the box. "Logan," she started, then took a breath. Or was it a sigh? Logan watched her pick up one of the rejected Swiss Army knives. She turned to face him with a half-smile tugging on one corner of her mouth. "Just cuz you have these built in don't mean the rest of us do."

Logan swallowed and smiled, more out of reflex than because he understood what she was saying. "You don't find those just layin' around the forest. And don't expect your opponent to care so much as to hand them out before leaving you for dead."

Marie stayed quiet at that, but the smile still lit her face as she dropped the knife back into the box. It landed with a muted clink. "You're not goin' to make this easy, are ya?"

"Surviving is never easy."

Now the smile fell and Logan was disappointed to see it go. But Marie simply nodded as if she understood, then began silently nosing through the other boxes. Logan opened his mouth to say something appeasing, but just then he recognized the too-proud footfalls of Scott and a surge of testosterone broke his placid state of being. To busy his mouth with something, he settled for another bite of cereal and watched with resentment as Scott waltzed into the large garage.

"Good morning Rogue," he said in a sickeningly cheerful manner that made Logan cringe.

"Mornin'," she replied without looking up and Logan guessed that maybe it was just a courteous reflex.

Scott said nothing to Logan, and Logan couldn't remember a time when Scott had voluntarily said anything pleasant to him. Just as well, Logan thought, because he was sure that his reflex wouldn't be a pleasant as Marie's.

"Logan, this doesn't look like much supplies," Scott started, averting his gaze.

Logan huffed. It had begun. "Looks can be deceiving, I'm sure you know that."

Scott turned his ruby lenses in the direction of Logan's form. Logan assumed the X-men leader was glaring at him. "Yes. Well," Scott stammered, obviously trying to think of something more witty to say.

Logan wondered at that moment if one hand would fit around Scott's entire head. Marie looked as if she knew what he was imagining. "It's enough," he mumbled to Scott, because Marie had told him a while ago that not answering people was rude. Logan wasn't rude. Anymore. Then, out of spite he added, "Trust me."

When the soft sound of rubber against concrete filtered through Logan's sensitive hearing, he knew it must be approaching departure time. Professor Xavier entered the garage with a gentle smile. In fact, Logan rarely ever saw the professor without that smile. "I see you're looking forward to this Logan?"

'Looking forward to' may not have been the right words, but Logan agreed based on proximity. "Scott was just telling me that he thinks he's more suited to be the head honcho." Take that, smart-ass.

The professor looked to Scott, who shifted his weight backwards. "I was just observing his lack of provisions." Logan watched Scott glance between the professor and himself with amusement.

Marie caught Logan's gaze as she smiled knowingly. The professor said, "Logan understands his responsibilities here Scott. You are not to interfere with his lessons. This may prove to be a valuable experience to everyone involved."

"Understood," Scott said firmly. With his chin held high, he added, "I'm going to get my gear," then promptly left the garage. Logan felt selfishly proud at his accomplishment.

"Logan, please realize that Scott is still the leader of the X-men." The professor stopped at that, and Logan didn't need further explanation. It meant, 'Scott will be in charge when you return so don't do anything stupid'.

Logan nodded and mocked, "Understood."