16

Jean gave AJ a smile as her eyes opened. "How are you feeling?" she asked, pulling the sheets up and smoothing them out for her.

AJ groaned.

"You've been out for quite a while." Jean pressed her lips together. "You have some visitors."

AJ shook her head slowly with a frown "No… please. I don't want anyone here."

Jean nodded with a frown. "Alright. You need your sleep anyways."

Logan sat in the chair next to her bed. It was his fault she'd been shot; but there was no way he'd let her stay there with that creep. Over his dead body. Besides, she was a fighter, she'd be fine.

Her eyes opened slowly, she groaned when she saw him. "Go away."

"Good t'see you too."

She smiled softly, her eyebrows knit tightly "Why are you here?"

"Just checkin' up on ya. I do feel responsible after all."

"Good. You should." Her head rolled over to one side to get a better look at him.

"Nice t'see that humor wasn't shot outta you."

She let out a laugh before grimacing. "Don't. It hurts."

"Sorry kid."

She nodded.

"No." He took her hand. "About everything."

She looked him in the eye before looking away "Rogue told you, didn't she?"

"Told me what?"

"About Skyler. Who he was. What he did?"

"No." he kissed her bruised hand "Get some sleep okay?"

She stared at him. Truth was; Rogue probably didn't have to tell him. He was pretty perceptive. AJ looked away shamefully, a tear rolled down her cheek

He carefully turned her chin to look her in the eye. "Don't do that."

She sniffed. It felt like she was a little girl again. "He killed my mom you know."

Logan pressed his lips together, clearing his throat. "Get some sleep kid."

"Yeah. Alright." She wiped her eyes with a frown. "Go away would ya?"

He smiled, giving her a kiss on the forehead as he stood up to leave.

Rogue crossed her arms, watching Logan as he closed the medical bay door behind him.

"How come you get t'visit her an ah don't?" She asked with a mischievous smile.

"Not a visit, just checkin' up." He grunted, moving past him.

"Now that ah think of it y'know… the signs were all there. She was actin' weird an' you suddenly didn't want t'be around her after makin' it very obvious she was y'favorite."

He shook his head "Everyone knows yer my favorite."

She laughed. "Ah know Wolvie. You can stop the charade." She grinned. "It's so romantic-"

He growled. "Knock it off."

"A wise man once said 'A woman is as old as she looks to a man that likes to look at her.'" She giggled, "You like t'look at her."

"I said, knock it off."

"Don't worry. Ah won't tell anyone." She held up her hand "Promise."

"Did she tell you?" He looked at her with a knit brow.

"Gambit. Ah sort of… punched him without mah gloves." She smiled. "An' the only way he knew was by his own instinct." She pressed her lips together. "You saw them together the other night."

He looked at her.

"Why don't you care?"

"Because I know her better then that." He shook his head, walking away.

AJ sat up in her bed. She knew what she had to do. It'd been a week and she was beginning to feel stronger. Earlier that day she'd met with Professor Xavier explaining her situation. She didn't want to, but she had to. He understood. He didn't agree, but he understood. They'd planned it out, deciding he'd tell everyone tomorrow and set it up for whenever she was feeling better.

She was feeling better now, and she hated sloppy goodbyes.

After writing out her note that she left for everyone, explaining her situation, she snuck back to her room, packing up her things.

She zipped up her bag, heading over to the balcony with it slung over her shoulder. It was fun while it lasted. She pulled out a cigarette, stopping for one last smoke. She lay on her back, staring at the stars as she let out a puff of smoke, her hand propped behind her head.

She sat up, grounding out the cigarette on the stone wall she sat on, looking over her shoulder.

"Hey."

He frowned.

"Don't start Logan." She shook her head, lowering herself off the wall.

He crossed his arms.

She picked up her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "I have to. He's alive and now he knows where I am? I'm putting everyone in danger every minuet I stay."

"You don't think we'll protect you?"

"No, I know you will. But you shouldn't have to. This is my battle." She moved closer to him.

"You don't have t'do this." He shook his head.

"I'm sorry."

They stared at each other for a moment.

He cleared his throat, taking her face in his hand. "I um…I-"

She put her hand on his with a small smile "I know. Me too."

Dropping her bag, she moved in, giving him a slow kiss. She'd never kissed him like that before. It wasn't passionate or hurried. It was deep and sincere.

"Take care, tiger." She kissed his nose, picking her bag up again and slinging it over her shoulder, walking away.

She was gone.