Chapter4 Painful Reunion
"No… no…" Jubilee groaned. She clung to his neck as he stepped out of the alleyway and into the fresh air.
"Easy kid, I got ya," Logan urged. She whimpered, burying her face in his neck. Where on earth could he go? Of all the times to leave his scoot behind. Gambit and everyone else seemed long gone, for he couldn't sense their scents anywhere. Most likely they had figured he had ditched them, and left him to fend for himself.
Sighing, Logan started the long walk, and reached the corner. He waved wildly for a taxi, and managed to climb inside. Jubilee half snored in his arms, her head and shoulders pillowed on his lap. Slowly he rubbed her forehead, anxiously glancing up at the meter and the anxious driver.
"Mister, I dunno what her trip is, but she looks pretty lit…"
"Mind yer own business, bub," Logan snapped. "How long to the park an' ride? I'm inna hurry!"
"How much is it worth to ya?"
"Fifty bucks give ya enough incentive?" Logan asked, digging a fifty out of his pocket and waving it just before the glassed barrier.
"Mister, you're talkin' my lingo," the cabby laughed, jamming down on the accelerator. Jubilee almost tumbled off his lap, but Logan's sturdy arm snaked out and grabbed her tightly.
"Lemmie go you jerk," Jubilee howled as she was carried out bodily into the fresh air.
"Don'cha recognize me? It's Wolvie… ya know… the ol' Canucklehead… are you hurt?" Wolverine asked, holding her down in his lap as the cab pulled away.
"Wolverine… heheh…. What the hell you doin' here?" she slurred, blinking up at him. Anger creased his face and she stopped just short of touching him as he held her off her feet.
"Could ask YOU the same question. God Jubes, you shouldn't be here… why…"
"Field trip… Got every RIGHT to be here… what are You doin' here?" Jubilee asked, poking his chest with an index finger. "You left… me…"
"Left ya, but damn kid… what kinda FRIENDS would let you… crap…" he shook his head. "If anything happened to you…"
"Goin' out onna town," Jubilee singsoned, the sensation of his smell inundating her. That ache tore through her and she found herself twisting his hair around her finger as he crushed her close and she struggled against his rough embrace.
"You shouldn't be here…."
"I'mma kid…" she snapped. "Right… I'm a BAAD girl… right?"
"Crap, drinking… and what else…" he rambled, as she pushed against him.
"Why are you HERE?" Jubilee shouted loudly.
"Shhh, dammit," he hissed as she laughed loudly and then sniffled as she looked at him, bleary eyed through the haze of booze and something ELSE he didn't even want to CONSIDER.
"You okay back there?" the Indian accented driver asked.
"Yeah, how far?" Logan shouted up.
"Another ten minutes!" the driver answered. Jubilee squirmed and writhed.
"So it was your so called friends you dragged you here?" Logan demanded.
"Who are you to say what's right, huh?" Jubilee demanded each word slurred and loud. "You left me alone, with Frosty an' the gang. You got NO say in my life… bub…"
"Kid this aint' funny… I'm getting you outta here… you're flamin' drunk, and I don't know what the hell else… you been takin' something…" Logan scolded. "So just sit still… we're in a cab so don't' make scenes…"
"Chad… brad… chet or whoever the asshole gave me somethin' weird…" she mumbled, rolling her head next to his.
"Slimeball," Wolverine growled in his throat. "You're comin' with me, the HELL away from here… cripes…"
"Lemmie GOO… Wolvie," she sniffled. "You shouldn't be here…"
"I had to," he whispered. Glancing out the window he saw the familiar signs, and smelled the diesel discharge of the city bus in the other lane. Fortunately it wasn't too far up the street where Rogue and Gambit had parked the Ferrari, and insisted he leave the Harley behind.
"Just ahead sir," the cabby mumbled.
"About damn time," Wolverine cursed.
"Why? You left… you don't CARE about me, I'm just inna way," she sobbed lightly.
"Nah, that ain't true, Jubes. I couldn't take care of ya… I wasn't the best at what I did… anymore…"
"You're a FRAIDY cat, you jackass," she heaved, pushing him hard. "Couldn't handle loosing your bones… could ya? Couldn't handle yer friends helping you?"
"Jubes you ain't yerself… I know yer pissed at me… but now ISN'T the time for this…" he mumbled.
"We're here," the cabby said. Struggling to hold onto a fighting Jubilee, he tossed the fifty through the front.
"Open the door, an' make it quick bub!" he snarled. Not arguing the man disengaged the locks. He was glad to see that strange duo exit, even if the girl was half being dragged out by the short hairy man. It wasn't his business to question why, he figured as he pocketed the generous fare.
When she next came round, she was leaning against his chest and humming. "Jubes, you with me?"
"Wolviee… I'm sorry I yelled… I didn't mean it…" she mumbled, and reached her arms out. He had set her down on a park bench, and turned to unlock the padlocks on his scoot, which had been left in a public commuter lot. Now he reached down and picked her up. She gave him a clumsy hug and pressed a kiss to his sandpapery cheek.
"Jubes, thank god," he mumbled, setting her down on the seat. "Now can ya do somethin' for me?"
"Suree…anything for you," she cooed. "I'm always here for you…"
"Sit up, an' hold on. Just hold onta me an' don't let go," he grunted, climbing on the scoot and she slid her arms around him. Her hands clumsily traced up and down his shirt as he fired up the engine, and roared out of the lot. Her head pressed to his as her arms hugged achingly tight and would have ground a lesser man's ribs to powder.
He sighed with relief as she sang softly to him, and mumbled his name. Half hour or so later, running speed limits he pulled up to Greymalkin lane. He smelled nobody as he parked the scoot, and carefully picked Jubilee up in his arms. Another soft sopping wet kiss was plastered on his cheek and he sighed with sadness as he carried her inside.
Just the thump of his boots and the jarring motion of his body were what she saw and heard. Smelling his musk, tobacco and leather that were a welcome friend. That strange dream that she never wanted to end, and she was terrified to wake as she clutched him close. Stairs curled around and he carried her into the dim darkness of something familiar.
Temporarily she shifted sideways and then was draped in pitch darkness. Something soft blew up from under and she realized he was putting her on a flat surface. He leaned down and she felt her shoes being taken off and set aside. She bounced her heels off the side of the bed as Wolverine said, "Hang on darlin… just gotta get the door…"
"Yeah, whatever you say, Wolvie…" she cooed, watching him as he scribbled with pen and paper on something. Snorting he turned and she saw his hair wildly sticking out in that manner she had memorized.
"Gonna get this off ya… ya smell like beer. Don't get the wrong idea… but I ain't lettin' 'em come home an' smell the booze and beer on ya…" he mumbled as he tried to find the fastenings. Jubilee whooped and crossed her arms, pulling her shirt off and tossing it to him. She lay back and heard his frustrated groan.
"Jeez Wolvie all ya had ta do was ask me," she laughed as he reached down to unfasten her belt and drag her jeans off. He tossed them in a heap with her shirt, and pulled her up against him. Jubilee wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Easy, Jubes… hold on… gotta put ya into something to sleep in," he mumbled, pushing her away and tugging a T-shirt over her head. It didn't quite work, so he resorted to tugging one of his spare flannel shirts around her body and buttoning it. She reached around and clumsily undid her bra, tugging it out and tossing it onto the pile to his astonished glance.
"Jubes, don't do that, this ain't what it looks like…"
"Wolvie, c'mere… you…" she murmured and moved towards him. He had sat down on the bed near her, tugging the covers back when she clasped him about the neck and planted a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek.
"Don't do this… hey…knock it off," he snorted but she kept plastering soppy kisses till she hit his mouth. She pushed him back hard, harder than she planned and it was partly cause he lost his balance that he fell backwards with her on top of him.
"Mmm," she murmured, and then he felt her lips come down on his, and her tongue thrusting clumsily into his mouth as she shifted on him.
A loud growl escaped his throat as he grasped her neck, and she straddled him. Half of him wanted to continue the kiss, while the rest knew this was the LAST thing he should be doing to a half drunk kid. He tasted the ecstasy on her tongue and frowned, realizing why she was so amorous and intoxicated.
"Son of a bitch," he thought as she thrust her hips to his and locked her arms tightly around his neck. While he struggled to think straight, her tongue slid past his and he felt his body desperately wanting to respond though it was wrong. To smell her, taste her and be near her.
Finally he pushed her gently away as he rolled her over on the bed, and she gasped for breath. "I love you Wolvie…" she murmured, caressing his cheek desperately.
"I know, I love ya too, but not THAT way," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "But this ain't right. You're drunk, an' high on something, and I got NO business bein' anywhere near ya in this state…"
"Please, don't leave me alone…" she whispered. "Just stay… just sit… lemmie know you're there?"
"I won't be leaving ya. This is my room yer in," he chuckled sadly. "Just lay down an' I'll be RIGHT over here…"
She smiled goofy and lay with her arms stretched out. Weight shifted as he rose and disappeared, and she felt the room spinning orbits in a fast pirouette. Then the world itself was rotating with her along for the ride before she heard the rustling of cloth and the soft sigh of him putting something on. The bathroom light clicked off, and she saw his dark shape eclipsing the streetlight beaming through the shades.
"Wolvie…" she murmured, reaching up to him.
"You're damn cold," he mumbled, and she felt him lift the covers and tuck them around her. He sat down on a chair by her bed, and pulled it close enough so he was right next to her.
"Mmm," she murmured, and nestled her head on his shoulder. Her arms clutched him tightly, and Wolverine squeezed her close for a moment. He grunted and shifted so he was lying on his back and she could rest her head on his chest.
"Try an' get some rest, ok?" he murmured, kissing her forehead.
"All right, whatever you say," she murmured happily, curling up. He lay his hand down so she could clasp it as she slept there. He sighed in mingled pleasure and pain at the scent of her body so close. Yet when he felt her shift and then give his hand a kiss, he groaned.
"Jubes, knock it off…" he sighed. "OR else I'll havta leave ya…"
"No, please…" she begged. "I'm sorry I can't help it…"
"I know, I know…" he murmured, and patted her hand. She sniffled and hugged him as he shifted on his side and she turned towards him. For a moment he inhaled her desire through the dark. Swooning she mumbled against his lips and then fell limp.
All he heard was the soft inhalation and the beating of her heart in the silence. He sighed once more, and then lowered himself to lay on the floor. Jubilee turned over, so she was facing away, and he settled down. There would be hell to pay next morning, but at least now he could keep her safe for a short time.
"Do you have any NOTION of how much TROUBLE you're in?" Emma Frost telepathed fiercely.
"Yes…" said Monet slowly.
"It was HER idea," Paige retorted.
"What were you THINKING?" Frost demanded. "Or WERE you? If it were up to me I'd lock you all in your rooms for the next FIVE years… and I must just DO that when you get BACK here…"
"We're sorry," Everett murmured. They all sat in the police station waiting room. Jono spread the telepathic rebuke with his powers as Chamber amongst them all as they sat there with looks ranging from shame to outrage.
"I don't even HAVE to tell you how inconvenient it is for me to be drawn out of BED at this ungodly hour and have to have Mr. Cassidy schlep me back here with the van!" Emma Frost snorted.
"We know," said Jono. "But we have a problem…"
"I know that I don't sense Jubilee. You'd better have a good explanation of WHERE she is…"
"She's back at the X mansion," said Jono.
"Thank God someone has some sense."
"But we have to get her back…" Page started.
"No, you won't! You will STAY PUT till we come pick you up and I get you OUT of this. If you weren't minors I'd leave you there for the weekend to teach you a lesson," Emma's rebuke echoed in their minds.
"But that hombre Wolverine carried her off," said Angelo.
"I WAS right, he did drag her away," said Monet with a triumphant smirk.
"Don't even go there," said Everett fiercely. "It was YOUR fault we got…"
"Impairment starts with the first drink," Emma's icy telepathic voice chimed. "And that is all I will say to this matter. Do not even consider pointing the finger in anyone else's direction, young man. Thanks to you, Miss St. Croix, none of you are going ANYWHERE for the next break but detention hall. And when you get back, all of you will apply your talents to cleaning the entire school till it shines…"
"Like the Chrysler building?" ventured Jono. Everyone glared evilly at him. He shrugged and took the visual assault of four pairs of eyes in his usual stoic stride.
A knock on the door jolted him out of a sound sleep. "Logan, are you IN there?"
"If I was, would ya STOP the damn knocking… cripes you'd wake the DEAD!" he snorted, pushing himself up off the floor.
"Where WERE you, we were worried sick…" came Ororo's voice.
Logan shot back, "Who flamin' cares! I got a sick kid that needed me, so don't even go into ANYTHING About MY lack of a love life…"
"You low life son of a bitch! After AHLL that trouble ah went through to get you a DATE you up an' bolt!"
"Rogue, don't EVEN start. I happened to find Jubilee and her friends rip roarin' DRUNK out of their minds, an' I had to do something… so shut up!" Logan bellowed.
"What?" Rogue got out. "Gambit had left you behind, because they were sure that you had gone somewhere with your date… and then she called from someone else's house…"
"Get her away before I go NUTS!" Logan yelled. "I don't even WANNA talk about that… so help me…"
"Rogue, excuse me," said Storm. "Wolverine… what IS the meaning of this…"
"I'll talk to you, 'Ro… if ya send her away… cause I ain't too keen on her or anyone else right now…"
"Logan, what the hell…" Rogue got out before a whisper from Ororo turned into a shout.
"Rogue is gone. Now would you please explain what you said…? I think I heard the word Jubilee if I wasn't mistaken. Now will you kindly open this door so we can talk properly…"
"Just a minute," Logan mumbled. He leaned over and listened to Jubilee. She was fast asleep, snoring lightly. Carefully he climbed to his feet and picked his way to the door. Unlocking it he opened it a crack and stuck his head out.
"Finally… may I come in?"
"No 'Roro… I don't think I'm ready to have anyone come in here just yet. Trust me… whatever we talk about has to be here, or outta my room…"
"Logan…"
"Please Princess… trust me on this one," Wolverine said as he closed the door and stepped into the hall.
"Logan, I'm sure you have a good explanation…"
"Jubilee was at that bar," said Logan. "An' before you say anything, let me finish…"
"Go on…" Storm said, struggling to keep from loosing her temper.
"I didn't believe it at first. But I'd gone over to get some privacy when I saw some asshole kid dragging and pawing at Jubes… I was in shock… what the HELL Was she doin' HERE when she was supposed to be in Massachusetts…"
"She was at the BAR?" Storm frowned.
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I smelled her little buddies from Gen X right there. An' they were getting' too drunk off their asses to bother keeping tabs on her. So's I stepped in, an the guy's slapping Jubes around… an' I can't help myself an' he's onna floor an' the cops are all round…."
"Goddess... Logan, what insanity provoked this…"
"She was drunk off her ass, an' high as a kite on ecstasy, 'Ro," said Logan. "So I had to get her the HELL outta here…"
"Bright Lady," Ororo sighed. "I had no idea… why didn't Miss Frost…"
"That's what I'd like t' know. She's asleep now in my bed… an' I ain't gonna let her leave my sight till I get an answer…"
"You aren't her most favorite person, Logan," said Ororo bluntly.
"She needed me an' I ran away. I'll be DAMNED if I'm gonna bolt on her now…" Logan said angrily. "So that's why I don't want anyone pokin' their noses in here… she's sleepin' it off… but I know Chuck an' the others wanna story…"
"What will you tell them… she should go back…"
"Not drunk an' high, Ororo," said Logan angrily. "I'm gonna have a good long talk with Frosty an' Chuck. I figured she'd be SAFE here, an' I come home to find she's pissed at me, the whole goddamn world, an' runnin' around like a party animal…"
"You made the right choice at the time, Logan. Nobody is disagreeing because you did what you had to do. But surely keeping her locked in your room isn't the answer…"
"I don't' think she should go BACK with Frosty just yet. Till I talk to Jubes an' get a straight answer. An' settle this once an' for all…" said Wolverine. "Now if ya don't mind, I need to get some rest…"
"Her old room…"
"She's not in the shape to be trusted to be alone. I've gotta sit with her. An' I ain't leavin' her side till Hank takes a look at her in the medlab. I don't wanna bother her… so if you could send him up here first thing tomorrow… an' tell Chuck what's going on…"
"He's coming back tomorrow afternoon from a conference," said Ororo. "And I'll explain to the others…"
"You do that. An' tell Rogue I'm sorry I lost my head…"
"She will understand. Logan, I'm truly sorry…"
"So'm I," Logan sighed as he backed into his room. "Now if ya don't mind…"
"Good night, Logan," Ororo nodded. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "It's good to have you back with us again…"
"Good to be back. Looks like I came back just in the nick of time," Logan snorted as he closed the door.
After she had dozed off, Logan rose from the bed and crossed over to kneel before his Shinto shrine. The image of Lady Mariko and himself clutching hands smiled serenely, opposite a picture of Amiko, and another of Carol Danvers. Both swords were no longer in t heir place, since he had given them back to Kenuchio Harada in exchange for caring for Amiko. Dammit, he would have to spend some personal time with the girl. He couldn't keep avoiding her. Yet Jubilee needed him. Nevertheless Yukio was willing to tutor the girl for the time being.
Jubilee needed his full attention now. In and out he breathed, folding his legs into the full lotus and letting his hands lay before him, fingers in that strange position to generate the serenity he craved. Then he felt the telepathic brush that he had anticipated all night.
Professor Xavier's voice in his mind was gentle, but authoritative, Logan, I must speak to you
"About flamin' time Chuck… you wanna have me think you the situation, or tell ya?" Logan spoke aloud. Although he didn't need to, this was easier to hold a proper conversation.
If you are willing, you may transmit your thoughts to me directly, Xavier's telepathic reply chimed. I know that Jubilee is here, and that she's suffering great psychic and emotional trauma…
You won't ship her back to Gen X will ya?
Not at the present time. You did the right thing bringing her here for us to care for. Now if you don't' mind… Xavier politely but firmly requested.
Okay, get ready," Logan mumbled, closing his eyes. He settled down on the mat to center his thoughts and roll them into a coherent but steady chronology of the events of last night. Then he tossed it towards Xavier's mental probes. AS the Professor absorbed and sorted the images, he too felt Logan's anger at seeing Jubilee without such guidance, then his self guilt at failing to provide a better role model.
First of all, Logan, you must not blame yourself. Rather celebrate that you have returned to us, and that your intervention was timely. We should not dwell on what was past, but rather focus on Jubilation's current needs… and your own…
Thanks Chuck, but that doesn't let me off the hook. I bailed on her when she needed me…
What would have been gained? You clearly were requiring a sabbatical to regain your sense of self. Jubilee could not have endured the stress that would have taken. By having her remain, she was safe. At least you thought so. What you must realize is that she must now learn to make her own mistakes, and you must be willing to be there to correct her. You cannot prevent everything from going wrong. She is just as responsible as you, and will need to be disciplined for her actions. You have suffered enough…
Chuck, what am I gonna DO with her? Logan queried plaintively. I can't be with her every moment… an' Gen X…
I think that having Jubilee spend the rest of her spring break here, would be acceptable. We are her home… and she hasn't spent much time with us… and the other X men… perhaps it would benefit her to remain with us for a time, and regain her strength before returning…
Does she have to go back? I mean I've gotten my head sorted, Chuck. I ain't all screwy anymore as I was. Whatever happened knocked the sense back into me. I can handle not havin' tin plated bones… but I ain't gonna be the invincible badass Wolverine…
We will have to speak to Miss Frost. But right now, I'm sending Ororo up to your room with some breakfast. You may remain in solitude till I arrange a meeting, and speak with Jean and Scott. I shall send Hank McCoy upstairs after she eats and wakes to examine her for any residual effects of the drugs and alcohol…
Sounds like a plan, Chuck. An' thanks for not going all ape with me havin' her stay here…
I will discuss that situation with you later. Now, you should rest as well… Then Professor Xavier's voice left his mind. Logan sighed; knowing the conversation had come to a close. He slowly uncoiled his legs and stood up. Jubilee was angry that was sure, but now that the anger had abated…
