Second Chances
Chapter 5
The team returned to the mansion and the injured warriors were escorted to the Med Lab for treatment. None of the injuries were life or career threatening, just more of a nuisance that anything else. Scott, Remy and Emma would be out of action for at least a week.
Jean and Jubilee stopped their checkers game as soon as the team began to trickle in. Jean immediately went to fuss over her wounded husband. Jubilee was frustrated that she couldn't help as Hank bustled from patient to patient, suturing and bandaging as he went. He pronounced all the injuries minor and allowed them to recover in their own rooms as long as they didn't overtax themselves. Soon, Logan and Jubilee were alone in the lab.
"We missed ya out there today," Logan told her.
"I missed me being out there, too" she said. "I wish there was a way I could help you guys without scaring the crap out of you every time I go."
"Ya scared the crap outta me every time ya went out before all this happened," he said with a lopsided grin. "I learned ta suck it in and let ya do yer job."
She grabbed her brush and sat up in the bed. "I tried not to worry you," she said waving the brush around. "I knew if I got hurt, you'd have a whole litter of kittens right there. Someone would end up dead if I didn't watch what I was doing."
He snatched the brush from her hands to keep from getting whacked in the head.
"Turn around darlin'," he told her. She presented her back to him and he began to draw the brush through her hair. "I'm not apologizin' fer being protective of ya," he told her as he pulled the brush through her silky, black hair. "I've been watchin' over ya fer too long ta change that. Ya gotta admit, though, I've been better 'bout lettin' ya fight along side the team. I ain't said once that ya had ta stay behind. Yer grown up now, Jubes. Ya got the right ta do the things ya were born ta do and that includes bein' an X-Man."
"But not anymore," she said softly, distracted. The feel of his hands in her hair was soothing and strangely erotic. Her scalp was beginning to tingle She knew he loved her hair. He'd brushed it for her many times in the past when she was younger but it never affected her like this. His touch this time was almost like foreplay. It was a soft, tantalizing caress that made her come alive in a way she wasn't used to. It was excitingly scary and wonderful. She could hear the catch in his breath as he ran his fingers through her silky strands, parting it, plaiting it into one long rope. His breath was hot on her neck as he leaned forward to breathe in her scent.
She turned in his arms to look at him. His skin was flushed and his eyes dark with desire. She knew what he wanted and she was ready to give it to him. She leaned in and nuzzled his neck, taking in his own scent. The scent of cigars, pine and aroused man filled her senses. Her head was spinning like she was drunk. Even straight whiskey wasn't this intoxicating.
"I want ya Jubes," he told her in a low rumbling growl. "But I want ya healthy first. I want yer first time ta be memorable fer pleasure, not 'cause of pain. If I take ya now, the pain from yer wounds'll ruin the experience fer ya."
She leaned back and looked into his eyes. He was firm on this, she could tell. She brushed a feathery kiss across his lips. "I'll wait," she told him, softly. "But not one second longer that I have to. I've been waiting for this for ten years and I won't wait one moment longer than necessary."
"I'll keep ya busy till then," he told her, his mouth descended over hers, plundering, taking. Her inexperience warring with his vast knowledge. His tongue thrusted slowly in and out of her mouth, a promise of things to come.
She moaned as his hand skimmed her breast, barely touching. She leaned into his hand, trying to strengthen the contact, but he withdrew.
His mouth left hers and made it's way to her ear leaving tiny kisses in it's wake. A shiver ran down her spine as his tongue swept the upper curve of her ear coming to rest on the lobe. Slowly, he drew the nubbin of skin into his mouth and began to suckle, softly. Fire shot from his mouth to the aching center of her desire making her gasp. The fire settled between her legs and throbbed. She shifted her hips trying to do... something. She wasn't sure what she needed. She wanted the ache to stop and she wanted it to go on forever as her world shrunk to Logan and his skilled hands and mouth.
Her head fell back as he kissed his way down her throat, his tongue dipping into the hollow of her neck. He stopped at the black and blue skin that marked the fracture in her collar bone. He kissed the bruise gently, taking care not to hurt her.
The sight of the purple skin and the device that immobilized her arm and shoulder brought him back to his senses. 'Not yet,' the animal told him. 'She needs ta be healthy.' He reluctantly pulled away from her and sat back on the bed. Her eyes were glazed with newly discovered passion and confused want. He couldn't satisfy that want yet, but soon. His overprotective nature had kept her ignorant of many things. It was his responsibility to teach her these things. He shivered in anticipation.
Her eyes flew open in confusion. Why did he stop?
"That was yer first lesson," he told her, his voice rough with need.
Her mouth dropped open in shock as he rose and walked out of the lab, leaving her to her misery.
The next morning found Rogue and Logan talking to a local real estate agent. Rogue's idea was for him to buy a small house in town that was close enough to the mansion for him to join the team when his special skills were needed but far enough away that Jubilee wouldn't feel abandoned when the team went out. Logan agreed that they needed separation from the X-Men but he wasn't sure if he should still be involved in their missions. She was bound to feel some resentment when he was invited to fight with them and she wasn't.
He spoke later with Gambit later about how to ease her into civilian life.
"Get her pregnant," Gambit told him.
He had unfortunately said it just as Logan took a large mouthful of beer. It sprayed out of his mouth and nose when his brain heard the statement.
"What?" he coughed.
"Get the petite pregnant," Remy explained
"What the hell are ya talkin' about, Gumbo?" he demanded.
Gambit sighed and shook his head. "When a man and a woman love each other, dey get real close..." he began, speaking as if he were talking to a child.
"I know the flamin' facts of life, dick head. Whadaya mean 'get her pregnant'?"
"Give her somthin' else ta worry 'bout," Remy told him. "A bebe'll give her responsibilities dat only she can take care of. Not like you have de equipment ta hatch and feed a bebe."
He gave the taller mutant an evil look. "I ain't getting' her pregnant just ta keep her home."
"Gambit ain't sayin' ta get her pregnant ta keep her home," Remy objected. "Jus' ta give her somthin' else ta protect. She won' wan' ta run wit de X-Men if she has a bebe ta protect."
Logan stared at him in open mouthed astonishment.
"T'ink about it, homme," he said as he snagged his trench coat and wandered out to the garage.
'Did the oily Cajun have a point?' Logan asked himself as he watched the younger man close the garage door behind him. Should he use her body's natural ability to reproduce against her like that? He knew Jubilee loved children and wanted her own but he wasn't sure if she wanted them now. It would definitely stop her from wanting to go with the team and he craved a child from her. The picture of a baby girl with Jubilee's beautiful blue eyes and glossy black hair flashed through his mind. He found himself ginning like an idiot.
"Stop it dim wit," he grumbled to himself as he smothered the grin. 'Ya can't force her ta have a baby if she ain't ready no matter how much ya want it.'
'Not yet,' the beast inside told him. 'We'll get what we want but not yet.'
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "I know."
"Logan?" Jean asked from the door. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," he snapped. "I'm goin' ta visit Jubes." He brushed past her and out the door before she could question him further.
She caught snippets of thoughts from him as he worked his way down to the Med Lab. It sounded as if the man and animal were arguing about something. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Nothing's ever easy for him." she said to the air.
She filled the tea kettle from the tap and placed it on the burner, flipping on the gas. A sleeve of crackers had been left out for her by some helpful teammate, knowing she would need them sometime during the day. 'Pregnancy would be great if it didn't come along with nausea and the constant need to pee,' she thought to herself as she knocked on the door of the bathroom off the kitchen. Thankfully, it was empty. The way this pregnancy was going, she would be intimately familiar with every bathroom in the mansion within four weeks.
"Afternoon darlin'," Logan said as he strode onto the Med Lab. "Should you be up?"
Jubilee was attempting to walk across the room by hanging onto the walls. Her face held intense concentration and pain as she deliberately placed one foot in front of the other.
"I don't care," she snarled. "I am not using a bedpan ever again. Help me to the goddamn bathroom."
He suppressed his laughter as he swept her up into his arms and took her to the bathroom.
"I can walk," she protested.
"Ya can walk back," he told her with a small chuckle. "I think gettin' there is a little more urgent than gettin' back. 'Sides, I like the way ya feel in my arms."
"Can you hold the romance until later? I really have to pee."
"Sure darlin'," He placed her gently on the floor in front of the toilet and leaned back against the sink, his arms folded across his chest.
"Um, Wolvie?" she said "You can leave now."
"Most accidents at home happen in the bathroom," he informed her. "I ain't takin' any chances."
"Get out, smart ass," she growled.
She could hear him laughing as he closed the door behind him to give her privacy. She tried to sit on the toilet by bending both knees but the incision in her left leg refused to allow it. She stood again, hissing in pain.
"Ya alright in there," Logan called.
"Fine," she yelled. She was mortified to find her voice shaky. She tried again, this time keeping her left leg straight. She flopped inelegantly onto the toilet, but she made it. She sighed with relief as she emptied her over extended bladder.
He could hear the tell tale tinkle that indicated she was doing her business and smiled. Beast may not be too happy with her but he was proud. She wasn't going to let herself get too out of shape even if she wasn't going to be allowed to fight with the team. She was going to come back from this unable to fight but stronger.
"Um, Wolvie?" she called from the bathroom.
"Ya done?" he asked.
"Is Jean or Rogue around?"
"Rogue's in town gettin' groceries and Jean's pukin' her guts out," he told her. "Whadaya need?"
"I'll wait here until Rogue gets home," she squeaked.
"Come on Jubes," he said. "Ya can't stay in there all day. Just tell me what ya need."
"Ya won't get it for me."
"Try me."
"Okay," she sighed. "I need ya to get me a tampon."
She could hear him, outside of the door, swearing softly.
"Wolvie?"
"I'll get it fer ya but if ya tell anyone, I'll kill ya."
"My lips are sealed," she assured him. She had expected him to refuse.
"Where are they?"
"I'm out," she called. "Can you ask Jean or Rogue for one?"
"Yer out?" her asked incredulously. "Damn Jubes. Ya want me ta ask every woman in the mansion fer a tampon?"
"I can't see any other way," she said in a testy voice. "It's not like I planned this. Come on Wolvie. They'll understand. We borrow from each other all the time."
"Yeah but I've never asked them,"
"Just tell them it's for me," she told him. "Can you hurry? I'm starting to feel a little woozy and my leg hurts."
"Put yer head down and take deep breaths," he instructed. "I'll be right back."
He found Jean in the kitchen looking very pale, eating crackers and drinking tea. He could smell her nausea and the results of her breakfast binge. If he wasn't in the middle of an embarrassed panic he would have felt sorry for her.
"Oh Logan," Jean moaned. "Is there a pressure point for nausea?"
"Gimme yer hands," he sighed. He grabbed both palms in his hands and found the points in each hand that would decrease her nausea. Using his thumbs, he applied a gentle pressure. The difference was dramatic. The pallor receded and her eyes cleared.
"Oh, that's wonderful," she cried.
"Ya gotta pay me," he told her as he released her hands.
"Done," she said. "What do you need?"
"Promise ya won't laugh?"
"I promise," she swore.
"I need a tampon fer Jubes," he mumbled.
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Suddenly, the kitchen was filled with peals of laughter.
"Dammit, Red," he growled. "Ya promised."
"I'm sorry," she gasped through her laughter. The sight of his red cheeks was enough to send her off again, laughing so hard she nearly fell off of the stool she was sitting on.
"C'mon Jean," he begged. "Jubes is trapped in the bathroom."
"I'm sorry," she took great gulping breaths, trying to calm herself. "I gave all mine to Rogue when I found out I was pregnant."
"Can ya get one from her and take it to Jubilee?" he asked hopefully.
"She's still out at the store," she smiled. "Ask Remy if you can get one from her bathroom."
"Can't you do it?"
"She's your responsibility," she told him, enjoying his discomfort. "If you're planning to make a go at a relationship with her, you need to get used to her period. Don't be embarrassed Logan. It's a natural function of the female body."
"I've lived a hundred years without dealin' with it. Why do I gotta start now?"
"Because you love her," Jean told him simply.
He thought about it for a while. "Gumbo huh," he said.
"He knows where she keeps them."
"Thanks Jean," he sighed. He wasn't going to get away with keeping his search a secret.
He found Remy in the den watching a boxing match on the large plasma TV.
"Wolverine," he cried. "Great fight. Sit down and watch."
"Can't right now," Logan said. "I need somethin' from Rogue and if ya blab, I'll gut ya."
"Oh?" his eyebrows rose.
"Jubilee's trapped in the bathroom and needs a tampon," he whispered. "Jean says ya know where Rogue keeps hers."
An evil grin spread across Gambit's face. "Sure Wolverine," he said loudly. "I can get ya one of Rogue's tampons."
"Shoulda just broke inta her room and got it fer myself," he mumbled miserably.
"Let's go get ya a tampon," Remy crowed, grabbing Logan's arm and dragging him out of the den.
"If ya want ta live Gumbo, you'll keep yer voice down," Logan threatened.
"Can' resist, mon ami," Remy laughed. "Never t'ought I'd see da day when the great Wolverine'd be helpin' a woman wit' her period. De t'ings we do fer love."
Neither noticed Scott and Bobby standing in the first floor hall, smothering their laughter with both hands.
He made his way back to the Med Lab with the tampon tucked into his pocket and growling at anyone he met on the way, daring them to say anything. He knew his strange request would make it through the school before he got back to Jubilee.
"Jubes?" he called as he knocked lightly on the bathroom door. She didn't answer.
"Jubilee?" he called louder. "Open the door darlin'." He could smell the blood but it smelled like menstrual blood, not wound blood.
He cracked open the door and peeked in. She was slumped on the toilet, unconscious.
"Shit," he swore. Slipping an arm under her knees and the other around her back, he lifted her and took her back to her bed.
"Jubilee?" he called her as he slapped her cheek lightly. "Wake up darlin'."
She was so pale, she was almost transparent. He could hear her rapid heartbeat and her quick, shallow breathing. He hooked her back up to the monitor and took a quick reading. Her blood pressure was way too low. He adjusted the bed so her head was lower than her heart and waited. A minute later, her eyes fluttered open.
"Wolvie?" she asked weakly.
'Ya passed out on the pot," he told her. "How ya feelin' now?"
"Terrible," she admitted. "My leg is throbbing and my head aches. Did you get me a tampon?"
"Jubes, I found ya unconscious in the bathroom. I ain't worried about yer period right now."
"Well I am," she said testily. "You think I want to lie here and bleed all over the sheets? Give me the damn thing and turn around."
He handed her the little package and turned his back to her. He heard the crackle of plastic, then nothing. The scent of tears filled the air.
"I can''t do it," she whimpered.
"What's the mater?" he asked.
"I've always used my left hand to do this," she sniffed. "I can't get the right angle with my right hand. Can you ask Hank to come in here?"
"Like hell," he growled. "I ain't lettin' Hank touch you there."
"He's a doctor, Logan."
"He's a man too," he said stubbornly. "He ain't touchin' ya there."
"What?" she laughed. "You gonna do it?"
"Better me than him," he told her. "Yer mine. I ain't lettin' another man touch ya."
Which was how he ended up between her legs, but inserting a tampon. It was shear torture for both of them. She was incredibly embarrassed, he was incredibly aroused. He quickly placed the tampon and jumped up from the bed.
"I gotta go," he said, panicking.
"Wolvie?" she asked as she covered herself.
"Yer scent is drivin' me crazy," he explained as he crossed the room to the door. "Ya ain't well enough yet."
She watched him flee. The humor of the situation finally hit her and she spent the next five minutes laughing.