(Fourteen)
Logan was sitting at the breakfast table when he heard the door bell ring. He ignored it until it rang four times then got up with a growled complaint. He quieted when he remembered that they were short handed now because of Jael's little prank.
"Stupid fuckin' Jael, fuckin' asshole..." He was still complaining when he opened the door, but stopped in surprise when he saw a pretty redhead waiting on the steps.
She blushed uncertainly when she caught the last half of his sentence. "Oh, excuse me!"
"Sorry, ma'am. That wasn't meant fer you." He grinned at her and she smiled back, something unexpected. Most female strangers were wary of him, their instincts to flee hard to overcome. She was very pretty. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. My name is Karen Richards. I'm looking for Charles Xavier. I'm here for Molly."
Wolverine blinked in surprise. He didn't know who he had expected, but this striking young woman wasn't it. Most shrinks he had been subjected to were wrinkled and old, clinically bored wastes of time. This young woman was fresh and pretty, obviously a student and not the full fledged doctor he'd believed her to be. She was casually dressed and carried a worn out leather satchel. She smiled at him uncertainly, given pause by his staring at her.
Logan smiled at her quickly, embarrassed that he had been looking at her like that. "Molly? Don'tcha mean Carver?"
"Molly is Carver's real name. May I come in?"
"Sure." Logan backed up and let her in. He breathed her in, instantly loving the smell of her. She was wearing Charlie, a scent he favored. She was a city girl and not from Salem Center. She didn't smoke or drink and she had eaten at a donut shop for breakfast. She was young and healthy. He shook his head slightly to clear his thinking. Sometimes his nose ran away with itself. He didn't want to frighten her.
She noticed him sniffing at her even though he had done it very subtly. It was something Molly did. It didn't bother her, but told her something about him. She worked with mutants as part of her schooling and wasn't afraid of them. She had always regarded them as people with gifts. She believed Molly could be tamed and this man only confirmed that. He was obviously a feral creature much like Molly was. It was in the animalistic way he had assessed her.
"Is the Professor in?"
"Yeah, Charlie's around." He sniffed again, searching. "This way." He led her down a hallway and into an office.
"Oh hello, Karen," the Professor greeted, rolling over to shake her hand.
"Charles." She bent and kissed him.
"Logan, this is Karen Richards. We met last year while I was giving a speech at the University. She's quite bright, very inquisitive."
"That's a polite way of saying I'm into everybody's business," she said with a laugh and a carefree toss of her head. "I'm very direct."
"Then that's something you and Logan here have in common," Charles replied with a chuckle. The Professor had noticed Logan lingering in the doorway and smiled inwardly. He could see Logan was interested in their guest. "It's been too long since I saw you last. Logan, why don't you bring Karen down to see...Molly, is it?"
"Yes. That's her name. The SHIELD guys called her Carver because she slashed up everything. It's not her true name and I'm sure she resents it."
"She don't talk much," Logan growled.
Karen smiled at him indulgently. "That's because she can't. The injury to her throat was too severe. She can make noises, grunts, but can't articulate clearly. She can sign. Hadn't you noticed?"
Logan groaned inwardly. Oops. Guess she wasn't just some feeb after all, wringing her hands.
"Regrettably, no," the Professor said, letting Logan off the hook. "We were amazed by her mental defenses. None of our telepaths could really reach her. That's very unusual."
"Yes, she is very strong. It's what has helped to keep her alive."
Logan looked at the Professor. "Is Karen clear ta go to the lower level?"
"Yes, Logan. It will be all right."
Logan smiled again and graciously swept his arm out into the hallway. "This way."
Logan walked Karen through the house and to the lower levels, his eyes straying to her face, to her soft white hands. She walked with a confidence that matched his own and her eyes saw everything. She would catch him looking at her and smiled at him, finding it funny. He had never been a subtle man.
Logan scanned his hand and led Karen down to the holding cells. He kept smelling her, trying not to be too obvious about it. He couldn't help but be attracted to her with her red hair and kindly smile. She had certainly brightened his day. His step was light and jaunty as he strode into the holding area. He nodded a greeting at Iceman on guard.
"Bobby, this is Karen Richards. She's gonna be helpin' us out with our new guest."
Bobby smiled at her. "I hope you can read minds, doc. She hasn't said a peep."
"She can't speak. She's had an injury to her throat."
"Uh, oh. All right," he replied, rolling his eyes in a playful, 'Gee, aren't we stupid' gesture and she laughed.
Wolverine looked in on Joseph as he passed by. Joe was sitting up, staring off into space, a small line of drool hanging from his chin. His eyes were glassy and his mind elsewhere. It was time to get the Clansman out of here and he would speak to Henry about it first thing. He waited for Karen to comment on the zoned out Clansman, but she kept quiet and made her way to Molly's room. Logan cocked his head in surprise when he heard Carver bark at Karen. It was a low throaty bark, almost like a male lion calling out to its mate.
"Good morning, Molly," Karen said with a wide smile. "How are you?"
Molly signed rapidly with her hands, grunting here and there for emphasis.
"Better now that you've seen me, yes. I'm glad to see you too. How about we get you out of here?" She turned and smiled at Logan, willing him to obey her request.
Logan walked to the security desk and clicked a button. He spoke with the Professor and got permission to let Molly out as long as she stayed with Karen down in the lower levels. They could visit Henry in the Lab and have an early lunch. Logan grinned, happy to have the excuse to stay near their new guest and gleefully let Molly out. As soon as she was freed, Molly flew into Karen's arms and gave her a huge hug.
Karen laughed and squeezed her back. "Easy, girl. Don't get too excited. How about we take a look around? When we come back I'll help you clean up a little. Look at you, you're a mess," she complained, tugging on Molly's tangled hair. She laughed and they headed off to the Lab.