**Truth and Trust**

Riding through the wooded countryside of New York was relaxing, but all too soon the mansion came into sight.  Logan pulled up to the gate and punched his code into the keypad.  Dani read the bronze plaque that was mounted on the ivy covered wall.

"The Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters…" she said quietly.

"This is home," he said.  As the gate opened, he headed inside.  He could feel her heartbeat quicken and smelled her nerves.  As they reached the garage, Scott was waiting for them.  Logan frowned in annoyance when he saw him.

"Welcome," Scott said to Dani with a bright smile.  He glanced at Logan and just nodded, "Logan."

"Scooter," Logan said dryly, returning the curt nod.

Dani didn't miss the play between the pair.  They obviously didn't like each other, but they were civil… interesting.  She got off the bike and the man with the shades offered his hand.  In the interest of being polite, Dani shook his hand, but quickly withdrew it.

"My name is Scott Summers," he said, and waited expectantly for her introduction.

Logan stepped between them and wrapped an arm around Dani protectively.  Scott didn't misunderstand the meaning behind that gesture at all.  Wolverine had blatantly staked a claim, and made sure he knew it.

"This is Danielle," Logan said.

"You're probably tired and hungry from your trip, Danielle," Scott said.

"Push off, One-eye," Logan said as he led Dani into the house.  "I can show her around."

"Just make sure Xavier's office is the first stop on your tour," Scott said with a hint of annoyance.  Logan would never change. 

*****

Logan was glad to see that class was still in session.  That meant the halls would be clear for a while.  He brought Dani to the kitchen first so they could get something to eat.  He offered her a seat at the table and then started rummaging through the fridge.

"So, you and that Scott guy don't get a long?" she asked him as she took her seat.

Logan frowned at the boring choices in the fridge and just grabbed a couple bottles of Dr. Pepper.  "We get along all right," he said as he handed her a bottle.  "We just don't like each other very much."

"Two roosters in one hen house," Dani said nonchalantly, and then took a drink.

Logan cocked a brow at her but said nothing.  The look on her face was mischievous, and her perceptiveness surprised him.  He sat down across from her and ventured a delicate question.

"What happened to your father?" he asked softly.

Her eyes flew to his, but she didn't seem angry.  "Dad was a Ranger.  It was the perfect job for him.  He loved the mountains, and with my unusual abilities, it kept us away from the mainstream hatred.  Nobody knew about me, and things were going great.  But one day, up on the ridge, he had a fatal accident.  Mother never recovered from his loss."

"Sorry, Dani," Logan said. 

"Forget it," she said.  "So, where's this professor of yours I'm supposed to meet?"

"Still in class," Logan said.  "We'll go talk to him in a few minutes."

"Actually, Logan, class is concluded," Xavier said as he wheeled into the kitchen.  "Welcome, Danielle.  You arrived a little sooner than we expected."

Logan smirked, "She showed me a shortcut."

Dani bit her lip to stifle a smile.

"Indeed," Xavier said.  "I look forward to hearing about your trip when you're rested.  Perhaps after dinner this evening we can have a chat in my office?"

Dani looked at the man suspiciously a moment.  He had a kind face, but he was a very clever man.  The wheelchair would make him seem weak, or easily dismissible, but she could see in his eyes that he was formidable.  She felt uncomfortable under his perusal and shifted in her seat nervously. 

Don't be afraid, Danielle.  I assure you that you are quite safe here.  

Dani's eyes doubled in size as she realized he was talking to her inside her mind.  "You spoke?" she asked, bewildered.

"I am a telepath," Xavier said.

"Then you know what I'm thinking…" she said as a frown crossed her face.

"I make it my policy never to pry, but your thoughts are very strong.  You do not trust me," he said.  "I understand, but hope that as you get to know us here, you will change your mind."

Logan watched the exchange and waited.  Dani looked over at him and Logan gave her a smile.  "You trust me, don't you?"

Dani didn't immediately answer, and Xavier was about to say something when several students walked in.  Rogue and Jubilee stopped in front of the table with Remy on their heels.

"Non, Cher, Remy didn't even notice dat petit in the bikini, honest," Remy said earnestly, but broke off when he saw the kitchen full of people. 

Rogue rolled her eyes at his apology and turned her attention to Dani.  "You must be new," Rogue said brightly.  "I'm Rogue, this is Jubilee, and that pathetic man behind us is Remy."

Dani smiled and introduced herself, "I'm Danielle."

"Well, Danielle," Jubilee said, "Let's get you settled in."

"Excellent idea, Jubilee," Xavier said, "show Miss Mason up to the guest room."

Rogue grabbed Dani's hand and the trio headed out of the kitchen.  Logan was itching to follow, but Xavier stopped him.

Logan, we need to talk.  He said.

Remy watched Xavier and Logan staring each other down and quietly backed out of the kitchen.  The last thing he wanted to do was get into the middle of that.

Xavier wheeled over to the table and studied Logan for a moment before speaking.  Finally he sighed and began, "I understand your concerns about her familiarity," Xavier said carefully.

"Why Chuck?  Please read my mind and tell me why." Logan said.

"It is not that simple," Xavier said.  "Whatever memories of her you may have buried in you head, she has none of you."

Logan scowled.  That was simply not possible.  Somewhere in his past he'd met her, and judging from the emotions his dreams stirred up, marked her as his.  He couldn't explain it, but he knew it was true.

"Listen to me carefully Logan," Xavier said seriously.  "Keep your relationship friendly.  The woman is untrusting and very fragile.  One misstep and we will lose her."

"I ain't making any promises," Logan said roughly as he stood.  "But I'll be careful."  With that, Logan left.

Xavier sighed.  That was all he could expect from Logan on the subject.  He'd gotten a glimpse of Logan's memory of Danielle and was intrigued.

Logan's thoughts were wild, feral… 

Woman pretty, woman smell good.

Xavier watched the meeting, obviously the first and the last. She wore an Xmen uniform, and was much older than she appeared now.  She knew him, obviously well enough to not be afraid of his behavior. 

Logan indeed viewed her as a mate, and even now with his humanity restored, that was a strong bond.  But the appearance of the strange man worried him. 

"You like the woman, don't you?  Just remember that smell, you'll meet her again."

Xavier frowned.  The meeting had been set up.  Why and by whom?  And when did it happen?  For Logan it was in the past, but for Danielle it must have been in the future…

Xavier didn't like it.  From his brief scan of Danielle he found no reason to mistrust her.  She was exactly as she appeared, just another lost mutant.  Her first memory of Logan was when he found her in the mountains.  But there was something baffling at work here.  Xavier hoped he could sort it all out before someone got hurt.  Logan was fragile too.

*****

"So you rode cross country with Logan," Jubilee said with a wicked smile.  "What was it like riding with the Wolvie-meister?"

Dani looked at the teenager with a confused expression so Rogue explained.  "His code name is Wolverine.  Jubes here makes up nicknames all the time.  If you stick around a while, she'll come up with one for you, like it or not."

"Hmmm, why Wolverine?" Dani asked.

"That name was his from before he came here.  Near as we can tell, it's because of his temper and his mutation.  He's a little wild, and has a hair trigger temper," Rogue said.  "Don't misunderstand me now; the temper is reserved for enemies, not family."

"He has a family?" Dani asked.

"Everyone in the house," Jubes said.  "We're all family."

"Well, here's your room," Rogue said as she opened the door.  "There are a few clothes in the closet that should fit you, but tomorrow we can drive into town and pick up whatever you need.  Most of the new arrivals show up with little more than the clothes on their back.  That's pretty much how I showed up and Logan too."

"I hadn't exactly planned for this trip, it just sort of happened," Dani said as she looked in the closet.  "How'd they know my size?"

"The professor is good at guesstimating," Jubes said.  "He likes to have a few comforts ready when people arrive."

"Yes, he seems like the thoughtful type," Dani said with a frown.

"Creeps you out, doesn't it?" Rogue asked.

Dani turned to look at her, "What?"

"Telepathy," Rogue said.  "I was nervous too, but the professor means it when he says he doesn't pry.  He won't poke around without permission."

"So, Wolvie… what was it like?" Jubes interrupted.

"Fast bike," Dani said with a smile.  "Annoying man, though," she added smugly.  "Since I met him, my mother died, my house burned down, and I'm on the run."

Jubes smiled wickedly, "You like him."

Dani suddenly blushed and she quickly turned back to the closet.  "That's ridiculous."

There was silence behind her, and Dani had a bad feeling.  She slowly turned and the girls were gone, replaced by a smug looking Logan.  He smirked at her and just said, "Ridiculous, eh?"

"I'd have to be certifiable," she said firmly.  "Now, this is my room, so you can just amble on out of here the way you came."

Logan crossed his arms and looked down at her.  She was huffing and puffing, but he wasn't buying it.  She liked him all right.  He thought it was time they talked.

"There's an hour until dinner, I thought you'd like a walk in the grove," he said.

"I thought you'd be glad to be rid of me when we got here," Dani said. 

Logan ignored the comment and just grabbed her hand.  "Come on."  He led her back out into the hall and down the stairs.  He quickly brushed past the students who regarded Danielle with interest, but was brought up short when he ran right into Scott and Jean.

"You must be Danielle," Jean said with a smile.  "I'm Jean, resident Doctor."

Scott frowned at Logan's possessive hold on Danielle's hand.  "Where you going?" Scott asked Logan.

"Logan was going to show me the grounds," Dani offered with a smile.  Back off, shades, I think I can see why he doesn't like you, thought to herself.

Jean smirked when she picked up on Dani's thoughts.  "See you at dinner," she said with a smile and warned Scott to be quiet and let them pass.

When they'd left, Scott just scowled, "Why'd you let him get away with that?"

"Lighten up Scott," she said.  "He didn't do anything."

*****

Out in the garden, Logan relaxed a little.  Cyclops really got on his nerves, but Dani was quick to defend him.  He liked that.  He led her beyond the formal, groomed garden to the back lawn.  Just beyond was a well wooded area that was simply called the grove.  It was really a small forest that stretched for acres.  They followed the path down a small hill and strolled under the canopy in silence.  Finally Dani invaded his thoughts and spoke.

"All right, you got me out here, so what's going on?" she asked.

Logan was surprised by her bluntness.  He thought she'd be less forward.  He decided to just come out with it and tell her the truth.  He hoped that after knowing, she'd still trust him.

"You always lived in the mountains, Dani?" he asked.

"Since I was a baby," she said.  "I really never left, except for a few family vacations."

"Ever go to Canada?" he asked.

"No… but we went to Niagara Falls one year.  We never went to the Canadian side, though."

Logan frowned and sighed.

"Why the Spanish Inquisition?"

"Look, I don't know how to say this so it doesn't sound creepy, but I'm certain I know you from somewhere."

"That's not creepy, it's a bad pick-up line," she said with a giggle.  "You're already holding my hand, so you can stop with the bar speak."

Logan instantly released her hand and stopped.  "No, you don't understand.  When we met, I recognized you right away, from your… scent."

"Okay, that's creepy," Dani admitted.  "Why don't you explain and I'll try not to be judgmental."

Logan closed his eyes a moment to collect himself.  He sat down by a tree and offered her a seat beside him.  Dani chose to sit across from him with a good three yards between them.  He couldn't blame her after what he'd just said.

"All right, you asked me once about my mutation, and I couldn't show you then.  Now, don't be alarmed," he warned.  He held up both hands and Dani watched in fascination as he *snikt!* *snikt!* popped out his claws for her to see.  He closed his eyes and waited for the scream, but it never came.  Then he felt her tiny fingers on his hand and his eyes flew open.  She was on her knees before him, gently examining his knuckles.

"Careful, they're sharp," he warned her.

"It must hurt," she whispered.  "Put them away."

*Snikt!*

They stared at each other for a moment, and Dani sat back and waited.  He couldn't believe she hadn't been scared of him after that.

"So, you were going to explain," she said.

"My senses are much more sensitive than most people's.  Right now, I know you're nervous, even borderline scared, because your heart is beating faster and your breathing is irregular."  He sniffed the air a moment and then said, "And your palms are sweating."

Dani gulped nervously and just said, "Go on."

"I know people by their scent, like a bloodhound," he said.  "It's an advantage, knowing someone is close before I see them."

"Like at the cabin," she said thoughtfully.

"Exactly," Logan said, relieved that she understood.

"So, the creepy part?"

"Yes, the feeling that I should know you," Logan said.  "I can't explain it."

"Maybe I just smell like someone you met once," she said.  "Same shampoo or something."

"No," he said firmly.  "It doesn't work like that.  Faces can be altered, fingerprinting isn't fool proof either, but you can't change your scent."

"So why is it bothering you, if you can't remember, maybe you're mistaken."

"Damn it woman, you don't understand…" he said in frustration.

"Oh, my god, just how familiar do you think I am?" she asked as she stood and backed away.

"I can't explain it, but I have feelings for you.  Strong ones, not infatuation, not lust, nothing trivial like that.  It's damn near ripping me up inside trying to figure out where it's coming from.  It ain't easy being this close to you."

"It could be my charming personality," Dani said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

Logan stifled a growl, she wasn't taking this seriously.

"What do you want from me?" she asked seriously.

"I wanted you to have answers, but you don't," Logan said in frustration as he got to his feet.  "Come on, I'll walk you back to the mansion."

Dani watched him as he walked toward her, and he seemed lost.  He didn't try to take her hand, or touch her again.  She didn't know why, but she felt he was telling her the truth.  She reached out and took his hand, and when he stopped to look at her, she kissed him on the cheek, well, the sideburn.

"What'd ya do that for?" he asked softly.

"You saved my life," she said.  "And I don't think you're creepy.  I thought you'd like to know that."

Logan searched her eyes a moment and then reached his other hand around her waist and pulled her body against his.  She didn't pull away, so he took that as permission to continue.  He reached his other hand up to her neck and plunged his fingers into her hair as he gently lifted her head and bent down for a kiss.  Her response was a timid one, as if unsure of what to do.  Logan's tongue teased her lips until they parted giving him access to her sweet mouth.  Logan was in heaven.  Everything about Dani was intoxicating.  His hands roamed over her body possessively and Dani whimpered softly.

Logan suddenly returned to his senses and pulled away, breaking their kiss.  Dani's eyes were still closed, her cheeks were flushed and her lips were red and swollen from his attentions. She was beyond desirable as she stood there in his arms.  His nostrils caught the subtle changes in her scent that marked her arousal.  He had to have another taste.  He captured her lips again, but this time it was she who teased him with her tongue.  God the woman learned fast.  With both hands on her sumptuous derriere he lifted her into his arms.  Her own arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers were raking through his hair.  He gently leaned her against a tree and slipped his hands under her shirt.  As they cupped her soft full breasts, she broke the kiss.

Logan could see the hesitation in her eyes, and he backed away.  It had been a wonderful moment, but it obviously passed.  She wasn't ready for this.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"No, I started it," she said.  "I didn't mean to…"

Logan just took her hand and led her back up the path to the mansion.  "Forget it," he said.  "It's about time for dinner."  Why the hell had he told her?  She'd probably never want to get close to him again.

They walked back in silence with Dani lost in thought.  Logan's story had sounded creepy at first, but Dani had to admit, there was something familiar about him too.  It wasn't like she thought she'd met him or anything like that.  It was this incredibly strong feeling of Deja vous when he'd kissed her.  She knew for a fact that they'd never met, and the kiss was like no one else's, because it had truly been her first. As they passed through the garden and reached the back door, Dani stopped and Logan looked back to see why she hesitated.

"Logan," she said.  She knew he was upset over their conversation, and she wanted him to know it was okay.

"Yes, Dani," he prompted nervously.

"I still trust you," she said.  It was the only thing she could think of to say.  It must have been what he needed to hear, because he smiled at her.

"Come on, it smells like Lasagna," he said and led her inside.  She wasn't going to hold it against him.  What a goddamn relief.