(Four)
Sometime in the night, Wolverine jerked suddenly awake. He'd heard a strangled cry from the lower level, something that brought him from a deep sleep to full attention. He sat up and listened, seeing that no one else around him was awakened by the noise. It was dark in the ship but he could see well in the dark, enough to notice the trap door was still open. He rose, sleek and quiet in the dark. This was his element and he could move about easily without being noticed.
Soft voices rose from below. Kimble and Fallen were whispering together but it wasn't enough to keep Wolverine from hearing that she was crying. Logan moved silently to the trapdoor and down the stairs. He slid down the hall and paused at the opening for the workshop. He wasn't ready to make his presence known just yet, he wanted to see what was going on first. There were no lights on in the room but with his enhanced senses, he could clearly see the edge of the bed from where he had stopped. She wasn't alone, the Kimble hologram was talking to her gently from a crouched position on the floor.
"S'okay, now, baby doll, I'm right here."
"Seth!" she called, her voice hoarse.
"He ain't come back yet. He's all nervous with the extra folks around. I'm here fer ya now."
Fallen was crying. She'd obviously had a nightmare, something Logan was all too familiar with himself. "Don't let them catch me!" Her voice had an edge of panic.
"Ain't nuthin here 'cept me," he soothed, leaning up onto the bed so he could touch her. "S'all quiet now. Jus' relax."
"No, they're always here, always..."
"Who? Who're you 'fraid of? Why won'tcha ever tells me?"
Kimble's voice had a familiar ring of frustration to it, informing Logan that she must have had this dream before. She didn't answer him but continued to sob. Fallen kept her secrets.
Kimble held her, kissing her and tenderly stroking her face. Taking advantage of her distress, his kisses grew more slow and intimate until he was making out with her full on the mouth.
She allowed it for a moment then gently pushed him away. "Stop that," she whispered.
"Why?" he asked her just as quietly. He wasn't pushing himself on her, he was simply upset at her refusal to let him help her. "I kin helps ya. I kin takes yer pain away if you would only let me. It's what I wuz made ta do, you knows that."
"It's not you I want."
"Seth ain't never gonna do fer you like I can, baby doll."
"Ability has nothing to do with it. We love each other, that's all that matters."
"I loves you, too!" he protested with an almost childish whine.
"I know you do," she replied, holding his chin. "I can hear it in your voice and taste it from your lips. You have a kind and loving heart, but you will never love me like he does."
"Let me takes yer pain, girl," he insisted. "All ya needs is fer someone ta touch ya right. Show ya that ya don' need Vally's pain ta feel alive. Seth cain't do that, Fallen, but I can. I loves ya enough to wanna helps ya. I hates ta see ya like this."
"I know you care," she said, looking into his eyes. "But even you can't take all the pain away. It hurts me all the time now."
"That's cuz ya don' keep Vally offa ya. You gittin' pregnant and rippin' yer body all ta shit with them horrible potions ta git rid of it ain't helpin'," Kimble complained with real concern.
Logan winced inwardly at the thought of what she'd done to herself. There was much they didn't know about this pilot and her strange holographic men. He had no idea what drove her, what kept her going - or what kept her sane. Wolverine just prayed she could hang on a little longer, just long enough to help them... and from the sound of things, herself as well.
"I didn't get pregnant this time," Fallen was arguing to her companion.
"No. But you ain't been right since the last time. Yer too thin. Usin' too much. I knows yer havin' trouble keepin' food down. You worry me, girl. Ya really do."
"I'm fine," she insisted sadly, rubbing his cheeks. "Thanks for caring, though." She sat up on the bed and rested her head back against the wall, sighing heavily. "I need a drink."
Kimble responded immediately, he rose and went to the shop bench, lighting two large double wick candles there. He grabbed a whiskey bottle from the bench, stuck it under his arm, and carried the works back over to the bed. His movements were quick and practiced, the sign of a good and conscientious servant.
Logan crouched down as Kimble passed near the doorway, fearful that the light might reveal him watching there. In spite of the extra illumination, the hologram didn't appear to notice him. Kimble set the candles on the floor and handed Fallen the bottle. He fussed over her, taking a blanket and seeing that she was covered, draping it over her shoulders.
"Thanks," she said, using a claw to open the bottle.
"Shure thing, kid. Anathin' fer you." Kimble sat down on the floor, his back against the bed.
Fallen took a large hit from the bottle and sighed in relief as the warmth of the liquor spread through her. She reached out and pulled Kimble's long ponytail onto the bed with one hand and toyed with it, running it through her fingers. He put his head back, loving the attention.
"You're the best friend a girl could have," Fallen whispered wistfully.
"Why's that? Cuz I let ya git drunk an' pet me?" Kimble teased, laughing a little at his joke.
"Actually yes. I enjoy this simple pleasure very much. But mostly it's because you're always here when I need you. I'm glad you wanted me to work on restoring the hologram. It's better talking with you like this instead of on the screen."
"Better fer me, too. You gonna sleeps down here all the time now? All I kin do is talks to ya when yer up top."
"I'll think about it." She sounded like a woman who didn't like to commit to anything.
"You seen Vally today," Kimble said, changing the subject. It wasn't a question.
"Yes. This morning."
"He give you any shit? That why you dreamin'?"
"No. He was too busy. Tomorrow will be a busy day for us all."
"You talk with Cerebus? He gonna make Vally leave you alone?"
"He said, 'Stop resisting him and he won't beat you'."
"That's cuz ya don't tells him what he does. Jus' like you won't tells me why ya let him hurts ya like ya do," Kimble complained, turning to look back at her. "If ya won' tell me, you should tells Seth. I knows yer more personal with him than me."
"I don't want to start this with you again."
"Sorry. It's only cuz I cares 'boutcha, is all," he said, giving in. He was quiet a moment and then ventured to ask, "We gonna split or what?"
"What do you mean?"
"Yer almost done with yer service. We gonna split or hang around with these losers?" he asked, meaning the Clan.
"I haven't thought about it."
"Liar. You just don' wants ta tell me. We're stayin', right?" he asked, his disappointment obvious.
"Where are we going to go?" she countered in exasperation.
"To the X-men's place. I heard that Henry guy talkin' to ya."
Logan's ears pricked up with interest. This he definitely wanted to hear and he dared to come one step closer to the edge of the doorway.
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, my Momma used to say," Fallen replied to Kimble's question.
"You wuz pickin' on Seth fer havin' no sense of adventure. Now look at you, chicken." He clucked in an exaggerated imitation of the bird.
She laughed and tugged on his hair. "You're such a pest! Besides, I don't know if I can jump."
"You kin jumps easy. Yer levels are higher than all them other pilots."
"Yes, but we always jumped in pairs with the Dognan. You want me to do it alone."
"So? I knows ya kin do it. I'll helps ya. Lucky's a fine ship, gots the best engines. Won't take as much fer you ta jump us."
"Valentin won't let us go."
"No, you won' let Vally go, there's a difference," he said, serious again.
"Are you jealous?"
"Only cuz ya gives him yer body. Ya say yes ta him, but no ta me. Huh. That's sumpthin' I ain't never gonna understand. I wouldn't ever do ya like that, baby doll. No fuckin' way. Ya say yer waitin' fer Seth, but ya spend th' meanwhile with that asshole. That - that - that -Ughh! Fergets it," he grumbled irritably and put his head down, turning away from what he clearly didn't understand.
"You don't understand because it's not about sex, Kimble."
"Then what is it about, huh? Tells me!" he demanded.
"I can't. It's complicated."
"Oh? I'm too fuckin' stupid ta understand, is that it?" he said sharply. "You'd be surprised what I knows, lady!"
"I'm sure. I realize there's more to you than you tell me. We both have our secrets. As such, this is a private matter between me and Valentin. You'll just have to respect that."
"An' Seth? Alla this is hurtin' him bad. He ain't so tough as me."
Logan had to suppress a snort at that, the idea that Kimble thought he was tough about anything at all. Logan still didn't know what to make of this hologram that stubbornly refused to see its own limitations.
Fallen was answering, "As you're so fond of saying, 'we'll deal with it.' Right now Seth is too afraid to come out all the time, so there's no point in changing things. Perhaps when he's braver, it will get better for all of us."
"So, you gonna dump my files when he comes out fer good?" he asked, a tone of insecurity making him quiet.
"Not a chance, mister," she said, yanking on his ponytail with affection. "You're my best friend, Kimble. I wouldn't do that to you. Besides, I wouldn't want to be anywhere without you. No one makes me laugh like you do. No one pisses me off like you do," she joked, laughing. "I always know I'm safe with you watching my back. No one knows this ship like you do. It took you a long time to learn, but no one flies like you do with me. We're a team. You're my Second. You always will be. I would do it, but I wouldn't enjoy flying as much if you were gone."
"You knows I wuzn't ever meant ta fly no ship like this."
"Yes. I know. But you're a survivor like me. We adapt to whatever comes our way. We do what we have to, to stay alive." She stretched and yawned, growing tired again.
"You should sleeps now," he said gently.
She leaned forward and set the bottle down. "C'mere," she said, pulling Kimble onto the bed with her so he lay behind her. She took his big arms and wrapped them around her tiny body like a nice warm blanket. "I'm so tired, Kimble. Tired inside and out."
"Sleep then. Fayed rowth, my Fallen. M' Mistress," he whispered, confirming Logan's guess of the hologram's status. Kimble was owned like property, saw that as his place and served the woman he held with complete devotion. Logan had the idea then that Kimble may not be in love with her, but he would do his best to protect her, to honor his station. He could see the way Kimble touched her, he was so gentle. He held her close and kissed the back of her head. "I'll watch over yous. Ain't nuthin' gonna happens to ya with me here."
"I'm glad you came tonight..." she whispered, settling down. Kimble stared off into space, rubbing her arm with his thumb, thinking. He smiled when he heard her breathing change and she snored a little.
Kimble startled Wolverine in his hiding place when he spoke softly. "You kin leaves now, Logan. She's sleepin'."
Logan snickered softly, busted. "Right, then." He stood to go.
"She won' go. Won' leave Vally. I'll keep tryin' fer yous guys, though." Kimble's voice was sad and tired.
"I'm sure you will," he replied and left as quietly as he came. He went up the stairs and lay back down on his bed. He was tired but couldn't sleep now, he had too much to think about. He was surprised that Kimble had detected him. With all of his military training, Wolverine was not an easy man to catch by anyone's standards. The room had been almost completely black, lit only by the two large candles. He casually wondered if Kimble, as a hologram, possessed some kind of extra sensory perception that no one knew about. He certainly wasn't human so it would be foolish to judge his capabilities as one. He would have to keep an eye on him and be cautious whenever Kimble was out in the hologram.
On the other hand, he had no doubt that Kimble would honor his promise. Getting the X-men home served his Mistress as well and Kimble desperately wanted Fallen out of the mess she was in. Their goals appeared to be the same.
Logan yawned and settled down himself, ready now for some sleep. They were going to have a busy day tomorrow.