Of God and Man

Disclaimers: See chapter 1. Once again, I have to thank Stan the Man for the use of his creations. You're an awesome guy with a brain so creative that I want to lick your lobes.

A/N: Thanks to my reviewers and especially to dizi for her encouragement.

I guess I should do a bit of a recap. Here's what has happened so far: Carolyn Gibson is an alpha level empath and former nun who arrived at the X mansion after causing two riots and an orgy near the convent she was based at. The Mother Superior tossed her out on her ear when she confessed her involvement in the chaos around the church. Logan came home to find the mansion in the middle of an emotional meltdown that she was causing and had to contain Kitty and Jubilee before they started killing. He was able to help Carolyn contain her raw emotions and with the help of Charles and Ororo, she was able to shield and direct her powers. Kitty still holds a grudge for causing her to loose face in front of Logan. Rogue has come home and realizes that she still loves Remy but can't do anything about it because of her powers. Rogue, incidentally, isn't affected by Carolyn's powers but they aren't sure why. Scott (the prude) has problems with Carolyn acting like a normal woman and being assigned to teach sex ed. Jean is highly amused about about the whole situation.

Feedback: Boy, I love that word. Almost as much as I love getting it. Feedback is almost as good as sex and way better than chocolate. Go ahead. Make my day.

Chapter 6: Prayers and Possibilities

Kitty and Kurt left the next day. Logan had wanted to send Ororo with her since she was going to XSE and Storm is the leader of that team but Charles insisted the regal weather witch was needed to help train Carolyn. Carolyn felt very uncomfortable with that decision. Jubilee had told her that Ororo was the closest thing to a mother Kitty had left and she knew what it was like to loose a mother both to death and rejection. With Logan rejecting her advances in such a public way, Kitty needed a woman's shoulder to cry on. Kurt, being a man, would never understand. Something about the production of testosterone will forever prevent him from understanding a woman's feelings. Carolyn felt sorry for her.

She waited until after Kitty and Kurt left to talk to Charles. Before going into his office, she projected a general feeling of hope on Kitty's behalf. Charles, of course, caught her and told her she was still too heavy handed with her manipulations. He did compliment her on her choice of emotions to project but asked her not to manipulate the residents of the mansion again unless he asked her to. She quickly apologized to him and told him she would tell the others what she did after they talked.

The meeting was something of a revelation to her. He admitted to her that he knew she might continue to mutate. He wasn't sure if she would power up as she got older but he hadn't wanted to increase her anxiety. He had planned to help her build stronger shields in the next few years but she wasn't ready to as of yet. She had enough problems with the one she already had.

She learned a lot while talking to Charles. Her biggest fear was that she would begin to show a physical mutation. He dispelled that notion immediately. Mutations were physical or psionic. Most physical mutations were present at birth. Psionic mutations developed at puberty. As for power up and secondary mutations, physical mutations begat physical secondary mutations and psionic mutations begat further psionic mutations. Her chances of developing a physical mutation at nearly twenty-four was slim. A psionic mutation was different. A psionic power up, as it was called, usually occurred between twenty-five and thirty, give or take two years. If it were to happen, it would be quick, almost overnight. She was a high level alpha mutant. Any power up at all would immediately classify her as omega.

There was no guarantee that she would even have one. Scott Summers was classed at alpha as soon as his powers manifested and it never changed. Jean Summers was a special case. Her powers manifested too early and were blocked until she was older. Only one aspect of her powers were involved in her sudden increase in power and Charles didn't know if it was natural or caused by the Phoenix force. She was classified as an alpha level telepath and omega level telekinetic. Bobby Drake came to the X-Men a beta level mutant and quickly increased his power to alpha. He had recently undergone a secondary mutation and was now stuck in ice form. Kitty and Jubilee were both still classified as beta level. Kitty most likely will never reach alpha but Jubilee could be one now if she would put more effort into her training. Kurt's physical mutation was very obvious at birth but his teleportation ability wasn't manifested until he was fourteen. He was classified as beta with exceptional training.

Logan's mutation had them both thinking for a long time. He had no memories of his life as a child or teen so he didn't know how or when he had manifested. Charles informed her that his claws were actually bone underneath the adamantium. He had no idea if they were a primary or secondary mutation. They couldn't check any records because he didn't know where or when he was born and grew up. There were so few feral mutants that Charles couldn't estimate using the development of a similar mutation and Logan had such a severe paranoia of labs that he literally couldn't cooperate with any research. Logan was so unique and so tampered with that he could only be classified as omega.

She left his office feeling both better and worse. She was reassured that she probably wouldn't develop a physical mutation but dismayed that she most likely would become an omega level mutant and the target of everyone, including the Shi'ar. It didn't give her warm fuzzy feelings.

She sat in a funk at lunch, pushing her food around her plate. The sight of mystery meat made her queasy. She jumped as a tray was dropped beside her and Rogue flopped into the chair.

"What is this stuff?" the southern beauty asked as she poked the lump cautiously with her fork.

"Don't know," Carolyn said. "As you can see, I've dissected it but I still have no clue as to what it was originally. I'm not even sure it was animal."

"Anything missin' from your lab?" Rogue asked as she took a bite of her vegetables.

"Now that you mention it," she said thoughtfully, "several fetal pigs are not in their containers." She stopped, a look of horror on her face. "They wouldn't, would they?"

"Ah'm never surprised at what goes on here," remarked Rogue with a wry grin. "So, what did Charles say?"

Carolyn gave her a quick recap of her discussion with the founder of the X-Men. Rogue told her that her powers couldn't be classified because the ones she uses the most, aren't even hers. She had absorbed them from Carol Danvers many years ago. Her own powers were so dangerous to others that they had never really been tested. It never bothered her that she hadn't been classified. Danvers had been alpha level so she considered herself the same.

Carolyn told her that Charles believed that she would become omega level sometime in the future and that she really, really, really didn't want that to happen. She had enough problems. She didn't need to add to them. Rogue could sympathize with her. Omega mutants were targets for everyone from corporate America and the FOH to Apocalypse and the Shi'ar. She had no hope of avoiding their attention. The question was, who would get to her first?

"Danger Room at two," Logan interrupted with a grunt. Carolyn dropped her head on the table with a moan.

"She's had a real bad morning Logan," Rogue told him. "Can't ya cancel fer today?" He set his tray down next to Carolyn, a steak swimming in it's own juices stood out. "Hey! How come you got steak?"

"Paid fer it myself," he told her. "And no, I won't cancel. She missed yesterday, sunbathin' with Jubilee."

Carolyn's head popped up. "I missed yesterday because you had to go to the city, not because I was sunbathing," she protested.

"Ya coulda worked out on yer own instead of drivin' Cyke nuts with yer suit," he told her smugly.

"Scott didn't like my suit?" she asked. Logan shook his head as he bit into his steak. "But I was wearing more than Jean or Jubilee."

"Don't matter," he said through a mouthful of steak. "He still thinks yer a nun."

She sighed in disgust. No matter how many times she talked to him, the leader of the X-Men never accepted that she wasn't in the convent any more. She was getting a little annoyed with him and was learning just how conservative he was. She could see why Logan had trouble at times dealing with him. Scott Summers had a stick up his butt.

"What is this?" Rogue demanded as she shoved her plate under his nose.

"Pork," he answered.

"Eeew," Carolyn said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"I ain't hungry no more," Rogue gulped.

They dumped their trays and left a confused Wolverine to his lunch.

Her afternoon went about as well as she expected. She spent a glorious hour getting her ass kicked around the Danger Room by Logan. She did better this time. It was eight seconds before her butt hit the floor for the first time. She had to admit, she was learning something from him. She was learning to fall without breaking any bones.

After getting her bumps and bruises treated in the med lab, she went and taught her advanced biology class. Her fetal pig specimens mysteriously reappeared by the end of class. She had several suspects who could have been responsible for their movements around the mansion but she couldn't pin the deed on any one person and no one was confessing. She let it slide this time but informed the class that if anything else decided to take a constitutional around the mansion, the entire class would have a weeks detention in the oh so gentle care of Wolverine. From the moans and groans that flitted through the room, she didn't have to worry about her specimens anymore.

Dinner was chicken this time. Since she didn't have any poultry specimens, she had no problems eating. It was at dinner that she realized that her prayer partner was gone. She preferred to pray the rosary with the company of others. She looked around the dinning room, trying to find someone who would join her. She knew Remy was Catholic but he was still avoiding her. Logan wasn't Christian so he was out unless she wanted to attempt to convert him. It would be easier to get Remy to join her. The solution came to her when Rogue passed her on her way out of the room.

"Rogue, she called as she ran to catch up. "I need a favor."

"Whatcha need Sugah," she asked.

"With Kurt gone, I don't have a partner in the Rosary. I was wondering..."

"I'd love ta join ya," Rogue interrupted. "I don't know how ta do it so you'll hafta teach me."

"Thanks Rogue," she breathed. "Eight o'clock in my room. I have everything you'll need, just bring yourself."

"The Rosary allows us to contemplate the mysteries of our salvation by Jesus Christ," Carolyn explained that night. "There are four groups of mysteries, Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious. Each group has five mysteries. They are prayed every day in succession. The Virgin Mother has promised that those who pray the Rosary faithfully will have their prayers answered."

"Has that ever happened?" Rogue asked.

"Many times," she replied. "I, myself requested guidance from her before I took my final vows. Her answer was for me to devote my life to Christ."

"Will my prayers be answered?"

"Of course," Carolyn reassured her. "It may not be immediately or even the reply you were hoping for but God will answer you."

"Ah'll try anything!" Rogue told her.

"The Rosary shouldn't be prayed in desperation," Carolyn cautioned. "It should be done in devotion."

"Ah can't promise devotion but Ah'm willin' ta learn."

"That's all I ask," she said. "Now, the prayers follow a set pattern. I've written them down for you so you can follow along. It all starts with the sign of the cross and a silent prayer to God with your request."

She handed Rogue a green beaded Rosary and the women knelt beside the bed. Neither spoke as Logan enter the room. They were silent for a moment before she began to speak, Rogue joining in after the first sentence.

"I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. God from God, light from light, true God from true God. Begotten, not made. one in being with the Father. Through Him, all things were made. For our sins and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake, he was crucified under Pontius Pilot. He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, He rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the would to come. Amen. (1)

They began the circle of prayers that made up the Rosary. Logan watched, fascinated. The further along they went, the less tension he could smell in the room. He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't smelled it for himself. At the end of the prayers, Rogue was more relaxed than he had ever seen her. Maybe Carolyn had something there.

"You're welcome to join us tomorrow, Logan," Carolyn said without turning. She had been aware of him when he entered the room. When she prayed, her senses extended out and she could feel the presence of everyone in the hallway.

"I'm not ready fer that darlin'," he said uncomfortably.

"When you're ready, let me know. I have tons of Rosary's."

"Ah feel great," Rogue remarked. "Even if Ah don't get my way, this is a great way ta calm down. Ah'll see ya tomorrow Carolyn."

"Does she really belief that this'll control her powers?" he asked after Rogue left the room.

"Nothing else has worked," she said as she put away her Rosary. "I don't know if God will grant her prayer but it can't hurt to ask."

They spent an hour discussing theology. Logan took his beliefs from many religions, most predominantly, Shinto. Carolyn had to admit that she wasn't familiar with the religious beliefs of the Asian part of the world. Logan was happy to enlighten her. Reincarnation played a big roll in some of them. Some of his beliefs meshed well with her own. Some of them were so alien that she had difficulty relating to them.

"What's the difference in praying ta yer ancestors and praying ta saints," he demanded.

"A saint has been proven to bring miracles," she told him. "We don't pray to the saint anyway. We pray to God using the saint as an intermediary. We never pray directly to the saint."

"What about the 'Hail Mary'?"

"In the 'Hail Mary', we praise her as the mother of Jesus and ask that she pray for us. We don't worship her."

"That ain't the way it sounds," he said stubbornly.

"The beginning of the prayer is a passage from the Bible. It's Elizabeth's greetingto her cousin when Mary came to visit during her pregnancy with John the Baptist. The rest was added later as an acknowledgment that we are all sinners and need her to intercede with God on our behalf."

He was silent for a while, thinking. "Ya got a lotta faith," he finally said.

"I wouldn't have entered the convent if my faith was weak," she smiled. She glanced at her watch. "It's late," she told him. "I need to get some sleep if I'm going to take you on tomorrow."

"I had a good time," he said surprised. "Not many people have the nerve ta argue with me. Yer a hell of a woman Carolyn Gibson."

"Why thank-you Logan," she said. "I can say the same to you." Her lips curled into a saucy smile. He couldn't help himself. He leaned over and kissed her.

His lips were warm and sweet on hers. The kiss quickly deepened and became passionate, his tongue sweeping her mouth, hot and demanding. She returned it with all the enthusiasm a virgin can muster. He tore his mouth from hers, gasping. Shock and fear shot through her as she became aware of what she was doing. She pulled away from him trembling with arousal.

"I'm sorry," he apologized quickly.

"It's wrong," she said, scandalized at what she did. "Please leave Logan."

He nodded and turned to leave. He stopped at the door and turned, wanting to apologize again. He watched as she fell to her knees, praying for forgiveness for the sin of lust.

He shook his head and left, closing the door behind him. "Celibacy just ain't natural," he mumbled and took himself off to his solitary bed still aching with desire. It took both of them a long time to fall asleep.

A/N 2: Anyone who prays the Rosary knows the peace and tranquility it brings to your soul. And yes, it does work.

(1)This prayer is known as the Apostles Creed and is said at the beginning of every Rosary.