**Road Trip**
The pillow that Dani gave him must have come from her room, because it was covered in her scent. He sniffed it and tried to place it somewhere in his broken memory. He frowned in frustration and just gave a snort, covered up and closed his eyes. Logan found the couch to be more comfortable than he'd thought and quickly fell asleep. Often in sleep he was tormented by nightmares of Alkali Lake, but he'd long since come to terms with his lost past. After facing Stryker and seeing a final end to that horrifying lab, Logan had thrown himself into his work with the Xmen. Charles had him teaching Phys Ed at the school, including hand to hand combat. The kids had eventually gotten over their fear of him, except perhaps at exam time. He was a hard teacher, but the students all knew that he cared. It was rare for him to have dreams of the lab any more, but tonight he must have been overdue…
The cage was dark. It was always dark, as though he didn't rate high enough to burn a few watts of electricity to see the stale bread he'd been given to eat. He was cold, only wearing a thin pair of cotton pajama bottoms. He sat crouched in the corner on the cold cement floor. It was the safest place, away from the bars and in view of the door. The hallway was quiet, but then someone was coming. It wasn't the man in the white coat, or the soldiers, he knew their gait. The steps were quiet and measured. Then he saw a figure in the door, a small figure. He sniffed the air and caught their scent …a female. She stepped over to the bars, and he just had to get a closer look at her. He straightened up and growled at her. This was his space and she was intruding. He moved to the center of the cage, never taking his eyes off the woman. Her scent was stronger now and he sniffed the air again as he stepped closer to her. Her scent was pleasing and her appearance desirable. This female was an acceptable mate. He reached a hand out and was surprised when she trustingly took it.
"Logan?" she said in a soft melodic voice.
That was his name, and it pleased him to hear her say it. He growled softly and pulled her up against the bars and started sniffing her. Clean and fresh, like the forest. He stroked her hair, long and soft. He leaned close and nuzzled her cheek with his nose, but it wasn't enough. Damn these bars for keeping him from her. She squirmed and tried to pull away, but he didn't want her to leave.
"Let go now," she said calmly. "You are not an animal, Logan, you are a man. Behave like one."
Logan growled in protest, but loosened his grip on her hand and released her hair. She stepped back he could see an overwhelming sadness in her beautiful eyes...
Logan woke suddenly, covered in sweat and shaking. What he saw in the dream was impossible. The same woman could not have been there, that was nearly twenty years ago. He got up, unable to calm his racing heart to go back to sleep. He went into the kitchen and prayed these women had beer. He opened the fridge and was disappointed. No liqueur. Damn. He closed the fridge and went outside on the porch. The night air was cool and fresh, and it was quiet. Logan frowned and looked around. It was too quiet. He sniffed the air and then suddenly froze. Damn, trouble. He calmly went inside, but quickly barred the door and headed down the hall to the bedrooms. He followed his nose to Dani's room first. He silently opened the door and went to her bed. She was peacefully oblivious to the danger that was quickly approaching. He carefully covered her mouth to keep her from screaming and woke her.
"Hey, Dani, wake up," he said softly.
Her body jerked suddenly and her eyes flew open. He could see he'd better explain quickly, she was already getting the wrong impression. He let go of her and backed away.
"You got company outside," he said quickly. "I recognize the scent, they're with Magneto."
"I'll just send them back to the highway," she said. "They'll get the idea."
Logan raised a hand to stop her and started sniffing the air. Damn, smoke.
"Too late for that now, we need to get out of here, the place is on fire," Logan said as he yanked her out of bed. He didn't have time to argue with a half dressed, uncooperative mutant. He glanced down at her skin tight white cotton tank top and her bikini underwear. She was barely dressed, and it was damned appealing. "Get dressed; I'll get your mom."
"Careful there, she probably won't remember you," Dani warned.
Logan frowned as he headed across the hall. A mule and a basket case, what a great combination.
Dani threw on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt. She was just beginning to smell smoke and realized how bad this situation might get. She slipped on her boots, grabbed her jacket and ran into the hall where she ran into a huge hairy man. He tried to grab her, but she quickly transported herself to her mother's room. Logan was still trying to wake her.
"Hey, Xman, outside, you got a friend…" Dani started to say, but Logan already knew. By the time he turned to the door, Sabertooth had busted the door down.
"Hey there, runt!" Sabertooth said.
Logan launched himself at him and knocked him back into the hallway. By now the fire was completely out of control. Logan and Sabertooth fought with all the hatred they carried for each other.
Dani shook her mother, but there was no response. She felt her forehead, and she was cold.
"Mom?" Dani asked as she checked for a pulse. Nothing. She could tell she wasn't breathing, and probably hadn't been for a while. She knew her mother had been ill, mentally, but had no idea what could have happened to her during the night. Perhaps a stroke or heart attack. The fire sure didn't kill her.
Suddenly Logan burst in, "Time to go, and you'll have to do it, the fire has us blocked in!" he said. "I'll carry your mother."
Dani stood and faced him with a flat dismal expression, "Don't bother, she's dead."
Logan stared at her in shock, but all he saw was a light, and they were standing in front of his motorcycle by the highway. He didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Damn you… and damn them! What the hell did I ever do to anybody?" she demanded angrily.
"You were born different," Logan said.
"What am I going to do now?" she asked dejectedly as she turned back to the forest. "This is my home, but it will never be the same again. It obviously isn't the safe haven my father built anymore."
"Come with me to New York to see the professor," Logan said. "You don't have to join up, there's no obligation at all. But it'll give you a chance to rest in a safe place and decide what you want."
Dani hung her head. "God! I can't believe I just left her there," she said.
"She was already gone," Logan said softly. "She would have wanted you to save yourself. Now, come on, let's go before they come looking for us."
Logan pulled the brush off his motorcycle and sat on it. He was still barefoot, and left his pack and favorite jacket in that house. He was beyond pissed at Sabertooth and Pyro for that, but Dani just lost everything, including her mother. He'd have to try to be sensitive, not his strongest quality.
Dani looked at him, and he could see she was holding back the tears. "If I go with you now, I can leave whenever I want."
"Yes," Logan said.
"No strings?"
"None."
Dani studied him a moment, and Logan got the feeling he was being judged. She didn't seem to be very trusting, a feeling he understood. He met her gaze unwaveringly and waited. Finally she gave him half a frown and climbed on the bike behind him. Logan smiled in triumph as he started the bike.
"Let's get the hell outta here!" he said and they headed down the road.
*****
Logan headed north, finding the ride to be relaxing despite the lack of footwear. Dani's arms wrapped around his waste had a warming affect that made the loss of his jacket less painful. She leaned her cheek against his back and drifted off to sleep. Logan smiled and kept riding. He wanted to find a town where he could stop for a meal and call the mansion.
It was an hour after dawn when they pulled up to a mom and pop diner in a small mountain town. It was like an old west town with wooden sidewalks and old style buildings. Dani woke when he turned off the motorcycle.
"Feel better?" Logan asked.
Dani climbed off and stretched. "A little."
"Good, let's get something to eat," Logan said.
Dani noticed his feet, just dirty tube socks. "We better get you some shoes first."
"It's early," he said.
"Not too early for the general store," Dani said with a smile. "If Earl isn't open, we'll wake him."
Dani headed down the board walk to the store and Logan just sighed and followed. He stepped carefully, not wanting to pick up any splinters in the bottom of his feet. Healing factor or not, that would be damned uncomfortable. They got to the store, and it was open. Dani heaved a sigh and walked in.
"Well, long time no see!" an older man said brightly. "What brings you to town so early?"
"Morning, Earl. I ran into a hiker who got run off by a bear without his gear, his coat or his shoes. Got anything for him?"
Logan frowned at having to play the inept hiker again. Didn't she have another story?
Earl stepped out from behind the counter and looked Logan over. He didn't seem to be phased by the bogus story, but he obviously didn't like the look of Logan.
"So, hiking alone, eh?" Earl said suspiciously.
"Just passing through," Logan said.
Earl gave a curt nod and looked at his feet. "Size?"
"Ten," Logan said.
Earl disappeared in the back of the store and Logan turned to Dani. "He gonna ask you any uncomfortable questions?"
"Definitely, but I can handle it. You have money for the shoes?" Dani asked.
"I got it covered," Logan said.
Earl returned with four shoe boxes and nodded toward a bench. Logan sat and Earl showed him his choices. Boots, boots, boots, and hiking boots. Logan smirked and grabbed the tan riding boots. They weren't designed for bikes, but the others just looked like rodeo boots. He tried them on, and they fit.
"These will do," he said.
Dani went to the shelf and picked up a package of socks and started looking at the jackets. Logan joined her.
"These aren't my style," he said. "I'm not into cowboy fringe."
Earl gave a smirk and told them to wait. He returned from the back room with several more contemporary coats. There were several western styles, a bomber jacket, and a black leather Harley jacket.
Logan cocked a brow at the Harley jacket and tried it on. It fit perfect.
"You need anything, darlin?" he asked Dani quietly.
Dani just shook her head, so he took his purchases up to the counter and paid cash for them. He had Chuck's plastic, but didn't want to leave an electronic trail so close to her home.
Earl was watching him suspiciously and glanced back at Dani. "So, your hiker friend here was moving on?"
"After breakfast," Logan said. "I promised to buy the lady a good breakfast at that café before I go."
Earl nodded and Dani headed for the door. Logan was on her heels, but Earl called after her. "Danielle, say hello to your lovely mother for me."
Dani visibly cringed, but nodded as she slipped outside. She walked back to the café in silence. Logan just opened the door and led her to a table. The waitress didn't know Dani, so she could relax. They ate a hearty breakfast in silence.
When the waitress brought the check, Dani quietly said, "Thanks, Logan."
*****
After gassing up the bike, while Dani was taking a powder, Logan called the mansion.
"Logan, where are you?" Xavier asked.
"Some little rinky-dink town," Logan said. "Her place is gone, and her mother. Sabertooth and Pyro were there. I'm bringing her in, but she doesn't trust us."
"I understand," Xavier said.
"How soon can someone come and get us?"
"I'm sorry Logan, but the Jet is occupied with another mission," Xavier said. "Perhaps a road trip would give her a chance to get to know you. It could build her trust in at least one member of the team."
"Yeah, that's nice Chuck, but we got the Brotherhood on our trail. This woman is very powerful judging from what little I've seen. They aren't going to give up."
"I'm sure you can handle things. I'll send the jet for you as soon as the team gets back from their mission. Good Luck, Logan."
Logan folded up his telephone just as Dani got back from the Ladies room. He didn't have a problem with her company; he just didn't like being hung out to dry.
"Well?" she asked.
"No dice on the ride. Looks like we're going on a road trip," Logan said. "Sorry, but looks like you're stuck with me, Dani."
"Whatever," Dani said. "Let's just get going."
They headed out of town and out of the mountains. It was a long ride east, across lots of open country. It would be a little like the year he rode to Sturgis just for the hell of it. But that trip didn't include a woman. Logan glanced down at the small hands that were holding his waist. He thought back to his dream. He had no doubt that it was a lost memory, but he just couldn't put it into context. He needed to talk to Chuck about it.
