14
Logan found Nightcrawler, instructing him to check on the roof for AJ.
"No such luck." The blue mutant shook his head with a frown. "I'm sure she's around here somevhere."
"I'm sure she's not." Logan growled. They all made their way into the Rec. room. Everyone was already gathered around the TV.
The news anchor was on the scene, reporting in front of a brutally charred building.
"It appears as of right now, that there were no survivors of this terrible attack. The number of deceased is still unknown at this moment; however police are now confirming the presence of the mutant hate activist, Stryker Scott. There is no doubt in this reporters mind that this is yet another mutant attack."
Scott threw the remote on the table with a frown. "Dammit!"
Storm squared her jaw and let out a breath. "This defiantly has Magneto written all over it. I'm just shocked he's actually begun claiming lives."
Kitty shook her head. "I can't believe we let Pyro live here… he did that."
Rogue closed her eyes "It gets worse…"
Logan growled and turned around. He couldn't listen to it. He didn't want to believe it.
He made his way down the hall, stopping at the first sign of the familiar scent.
He spun around and grabbed her neck, slamming her up against the wall.
"You'd better start explainin'." He whispered harshly.
She grabbed at his arm, wrapping her gloved hands around his wrist. "I… I can't breathe Logan…"
"Then you better make it quick." He growled.
"I couldn't do it." She started, causing him to loosen his grip slightly. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "I was there… I had him right there Logan… I froze."
He squared his jaw. "What happened?"
"I wanted to kill him." She said through clenched teeth. "But Pyro set me up. I couldn't go through with it."
He lowered his hand, crossing his arms. "I think he more then made up for it."
She rubbed her neck and shook her head, letting a few tears roll down her cheeks. "What do you mean?"
"AJ!" Kitty gasped, giving the girl a hug "You're back!"
She wiped the tears from her eyes with her gloved hands, sniffing quietly.
Logan shook his head at Kitty, causing the young woman to clamp her mouth shut. He put his arm around her, kissing her temple.
"Y'don't have t'worry about him anymore kid. He's gone." He whispered.
"Gone?"
"Place burned down, along with everyone in it."
She buried her face in his chest, crying silently as he rubbed her back.
"AJ?" Kitty whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You should be happy. He's gone. He'll never hurt you again." Her eyes moved up to Logan who was whispering something to her. She nodded silently, resting her head against his chest as he stroked her hair.
Kitty furrowed her brow. "Um… I'm gunna go let the others know you're alright."
Later that afternoon, Rogue knocked on the door before pushing it open.
"Hey. Ah brought you some lunch."
"Thanks." AJ nodded.
"No problem." She grinned "How y'doin?"
AJ pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Been better."
"Well… in lighter news… Ah think everyone's on t'you an' Logan." She smiled. "Between Jean bein' greeted by him wearin' his skivvies in your room an' Kitty romanticizin' your reunion… ah'd say the cat's pretty well outta the bag."
AJ groaned, running a hand through her hair.
"Ah, don't worry. By the time y'come outta here… everyone would have already bogged Logan down with all the questions to the point of him flippin' out. They won't bother askin' you purely outta fear."
AJ chuckled "I guess."
"Why are you in here anyways?" Rogue crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.
"I just… it takes a lot out of me, dancing down memory lane." She rolled her eyes. "It takes me a bit to reprogram."
She moved over to AJ, sitting next to her on the bed, tucking her feet underneath her. "Y'wanna talk?"
AJ looked at her, pressing her lips together. "I could be… the strongest, most fearless woman on the face of the planet… and that man would still strike fear into me with a mere look." She shook her head. "It's pathetic."
"It ain't pathetic. What's pathetic is that he got away with it for so long." Rogue patted AJ's hand "But y'don't have t'be afraid anymore."
"I know. Unfortunately the damage has been done." AJ cleared her throat and looked away.
"Are you alright?" Rogue squeezed her hand.
"Ah, I'll be fine." AJ stood up. "I think I just need t'get out of this room. Do something to distract myself."
Rogue grinned. "Y'wanna play pool?"
"I'd love to."
Bobby stood when the two girls walked in the Rec. room. "AJ. How are you? We were just talkin' about-"
Gambit gave him a swat.
"I mean… we weren't talking about you. We have better things to-"
Logan grunted, walking in the room behind the two girls. "Sit down kid."
Bobby sat down silently.
He whispered something to AJ and she nodded with a smile.
Rogue led her over to the pool table, racking up the balls. "Now… y'gunna have t'go easy on me. Ah'm good… but ah'm not nearly as good as you."
"I don' know 'bout dat chère… Gambit taught you pretty well…" He grinned, kicking his feet up on the coffee table.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Well Ah know Ah could kick your ass Cajun."
Gambit sat up. "Oui? Care t'wager on dat?"
AJ put down her pool cue, giving Gambit a smile. "I'll step down t'watch this."
Rogue held out her hand. "Ah would love t'wager."
He stood up and shook her hand "You're on chère." He pulled her close "An' Remy'll be here t'comfort you when y'lose."
She pushed him away, slapping down a fifty. "Anyone else?"
Bobby stood up. "I'm going with Gambit… the guys an expert."
Kurt agreed, placing down his bet. Logan narrowed his eyes, looking at AJ. She simply smirked and put down her bet on Rogue.
Rogue bent over, taking aim to break. She took her shot, instantly knocking three solids into three different pockets.
With a smile, she stood up and looked at Gambit. "Oh… did ah forget t'mention that AJ let me borrow her power? Oops…"
The guys all groaned in unison, Bobby instantly trying to change his bet saying that what he really meant to do was to bet for Rogue, not against her.
AJ crossed her arms and smiled, feeling Logan's arm wrap around her shoulders.
"You alright kid?"
She nodded silently. "Yeah. I'll be fine."
He gave her a smirk. "Welcome home. Hope y'stick around this time."
She chuckled "Oh, I plan on it."
And that's that. Next one... comin' up:) By the way... warning... the next one is way... way Romy. mushy lovey dovey... :)