disclaimer: All recognizable characters are owned by Marvel, except Jenny who is MINE. (Though I have been known to share if you ask nicely.)

Good Deeds
by Dizi

He walked into Harry's Bar late in the night, tired and wanting nothing more than a beer.

The waitress gave him a big smile when she asked for his order, which threw him off because usually the only time a woman smiled at him like that was if he was making a real effort - which didn't happen often - or he was giving her money. Maybe she expected a big tip.

After that was when he heard the runt's voice, Wolverine. Even when he wasn't looking for trouble it found him. All he wanted was a damn beer.

"Kick him out, Jenny."

"Who?" It was the waitress. He guessed that was her name.

"The big blond rug over there. Kick him out."

"No." Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, blinked at that. The woman obviously knew the runt and she didn't just do what he said? This could be interesting.

"Why the hell not? Don't ya know who he is?"

"I really don't care. Harry's has a policy, as long as he does no permanent damage to customers, doesn't mess with the staff - meaning me - and can pay his tab and any damage he does, he can stay. If that wasn't the case, you wouldn't be allowed in."

"Yer makin' a mistake, Jenny. Ya don't know what he's like."

"Until he shows me and everyone else by breaking the rules, he stays, Logan. Leave me alone, I'm working and the man's waiting for his beer."

When she brought him the beer, he looked her straight in the eyes and warned her, "You shoulda listened to him. I ain't the kind to play nice."

"Well, I don't play at all. As long as you respect that and can pay your way, you're welcome at Harry's. Those're the rules. They don't change for anyone."

Raising a brow, he asked, "How you going to enforce it?"

"Does it matter? You seem to be just like everyone else who comes in here. You want a few minutes away and to drink a beer. You can have that here." Jenny added dryly. "That's why it's a bar. Look around. Most of these guys wouldn't be allowed in anywhere else. Including Logan."

As she walked away, he considered her words and thought she had a point, but she was too trusting. Someday someone would fix that, but it wouldn't be him and it wouldn't be today. She was right. He was like everyone else here and just wanted a beer.

While he drank beer after beer, he watched her and was impressed by how she subtly calmed tempers here and there, and all around the room with just a word or smile. He'd heard about this place before, it was why he'd come, and he hadn't expected it to have changed. The clientelle was the same, rough and rowdy, but it was like she gave them something they needed, just like she had him, and they respected her wishes by reigning themselves in. It probably didn't work all the time but she was good.

Turned out he was right about it not always working, but he was wrong about her being trusting. He also learned why she always had that tray in her hands. It seemed it wasn't just to serve drinks anymore.

He didn't hear what started it, but he heard the quickly indrawn breaths around the room and Wolverine's growl when the stupid person grabbed Jenny's shirt and shoved her against the wall. The guy must have been drunk or completely stupid because he didn't even attempt to protect his privates. Of course, the first thing Jenny did was kick back straight into his crotch - she looked like she had practice at that - then the tray swung around and smashed into his head. The guy was down and the runt grunted in approval.

The waitress, Jenny, was smart. She didn't stay in reach in case the guy came to, she stepped back several paces before lifting her voice, "Someone want to give a girl a hand and take out the trash?"

She seemed to be popular because there were several guys who came running to do her bidding. Then she went back to work like nothing had happened. Nope, she wasn't trusting and she just might not have to worry because she seemed to be smart enough. Cautious, but she didn't just let someone else take care of things but didn't let herself get pushed around either. She was a pip.

Maybe he'd try her out. He liked her smile, might be fun.

"Here's another one for you." Jenny said cheerfully, as she put another beer down and took his empty. "Charlene's taking over, so I hope you have a good night."

"I'm about to leave anyway." Then he said before he could stop himself. "You should be more careful, people like me ain't one's to make nice to."

"Sometimes it pays to live dangerously," she replied, "because I'm not going to treat you or anyone else different unless you give me a reason. That's why me and Harry get along so well. He doesn't care as long as you can pay, and I don't care as long as I don't get bothered. Good night."

His eyes followed her to the bar where that old brawler of a bartender handed her a drink which she took with her to a back office. She didn't like to be bothered, huh? Well, she couldn't get clearer than that.

He might even have let it go, but Wolverine decided to say his piece, growling at him, "Ya better not bother Jenny, 'Tooth. Every X-Man who ever lived will be after ya. We don't like Jenny gettin' upset."

"Tryin' to get yourself thrown out, runt? How'd they know there weren't no 'permanent' damage?" Creed taunted with a sneer. "Don't matter none to me, I was leavin' anyway."

He sauntered out to wait in the parking lot. Jenny would be out sooner or later and he'd get to have some fun and the runt would get ticked at the same time. His definition of a good night. She was the one who wished it for him.

It didn't take long. He was surprised when the runt didn't follow her out. He was more surprised when she started walking down the street instead of getting into a car. Meant he had to stash his because he was waiting to follow a car not stalk her down the road. It would be just a little too obvious.

By the time he got rid of the car and started following her trail, he realized he wasn't the only one following her. There were two scents, hers and someone else.

As he got close enough to see the other person, he snarled when he recognized the stupid drunk from the bar that she'd taken down. His regard for the other barcrawlers went down drastically. When they'd 'taken out the trash' they should have beat the crap out of him. Teach him a lesson to keep him from doing what he was about to do now.

Looked like he was going to get some entertainment tonight, just not what he'd thought it would be when he left the bar. That was alright though, he wouldn't have started after her if he hadn't gotten mad at the runt. He'd still get to have some fun.

He slammed the guy against a wall and growled in his terrified face, before setting about teaching him the lesson he should have been taught earlier...

Leaving the jerk covered in blood and barely breathing, he started back towards his car while sincerely hoping no one found out about this. It wouldn't be kosher for anyone to find out Sabretooth had done something that might be considered nice for someone just because a waitress smiled at him and treated him like everyone else.

He had a reputation to maintain and good deeds just weren't part of it.

note:
Jinxeh- Thank you! Sorry, but 'Human and the Demon' will not be posted until after I finish posting 'No Place Like Home', but Jenny will be (very briefly) mentioned in it. And yes, you were quite horrible to Jenny's sweet, eye-candy, shoulder-to-cry-on Remy! But he was nice to your Jenny too. Maybe you can find a way to bring him back in a later story (hint hint hint).
B Oots- Sorry, but not gonna post what Jubes and Wolvie talked about. It wasn't any of Jenny's business, but if you're reading Jaenelle Angelline's story you'll have a good idea.
GothikStrawberry- Thank you for the insight on Jenny. It helped that she has been healing for longer than Jubes (remember 'Therapy' was towards the beginning of her stay at the mansion) and she's had more time to deal with her problems.
Elizabeth Robbins- You may have forgot but you made it before the wire! Just in time for me to post this one. I really can't take full credit for the story as the idea came from one of my betas andO:ZT is Jaenelle's and Marvel's, but the rest is mine.

This story is kinda in honor of 'No Place Like Home' as I have had Sabretooth on my mind from writing that one. And I kinda made a mention of him meeting her at Harry's in the past sooo... (think it was ch9 or 10, sorry can't remember right now).

Next chapter is pure FUN and nothing but FUN as I get ready to end this one and move on to writing the sequel. Yippee! Though if inspiration strikes I'll add another chapter. My mind isn't closed to the idea, just ready to write the next story. Ideas abound!

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi