Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from X-Men or the Marvel Universe. Stan Lee does. I only own Annica Sawyer.


Lonesome Days

By Leah Pensotti

Chapter Five: New Surroundings


"I just wanted to talk to you about getting in contact with Detective Chambers. I have a few ideas...I don't want to give away the location in case the bad guys are tech savvy..."

Annica saw Logan throw her a peculiar look and she stopped speaking and asked, "What?"

"Don't you want to save that for tomorrow? You haven't even gotten five hours of sleep or a shower. Lay low for the day. You told him you were going some place safe. Calling your superior right now will not change the fact that you directly disobeyed an order."

She put her hands on her hips, clearly disgruntled, "But what if he has news? Information? Anything?"

"Then he'll have more to tell you tomorrow morning. Go take a shower, tour the grounds or just relax. All your nervous energy is annoying. It's been a rough two days. Give yourself a break. Better yet, give me a break. We're in a safe place now." Though his words seemed gruff and ill-tempered, he spoke in an even, if not, gentle tone.

Though Annica was not happy with his answer, Annica could understand it. It had been a long two days. She had not showered or slept and she was ashamed of herself that it never occurred to her about how Logan might be feeling.

"Fine. I'll talk to you later." She nodded to him and turned to leave, but spun on her heel once more, filled with curiosity, "Who's Charles?"

Logan sighed thickly, he should've known the ambiguous comment he had made to Storm that ultimately swayed her decision would come back to him in the form of Annica's incessant questioning. He crossed his arms over his chest and answered, "Charles Xavier. This is his mansion. His school."

"Then why...?" Before Annica could finish, Logan answered her question.

"He died. A few months ago."

Annica looked at her feet, "I'm sorry. He sounded really important to you when you were talking in the office."

"He was."

Annica gave a small wave, and knew that it was time to leave Logan be, "I guess I'll go clean up."

Logan nodded as she walked over the threshold, and wanted to grumble when she popped her head back in.

"Oh, and Logan?"

"What?" He said rather impatiently.

"Thanks. For everything. I am indebted to you." He saw the earnest look in her eyes and his expression softened.

"Yeah, well, you're not out of the clear yet."

Annica felt a smile pull at her lips. He was not one to tell her what she wanted to hear or sugarcoat the grim facts. Strangely enough, she appreciated that.


After showering and washing her hair, Annica retreated to her room wearing a comfortable pair of old jeans, a white tank and a navy blue hoodie. Her arm, while still having a near gaping whole through it, was feeling better. She went through what little belongings she had thrown together. She pulled out her purse, placed the picture of her father on her bedside table, and unpacked the clothes she had brought into the drawers of the armoire.

She left the gun that she had brought in her bag, and secured the lock on it that she used when she went to the gym. The last thing that needed to happen is that some kid got a hold of her weapon. Annica stashed the bag under the armoire and then went through the contents of her purse.

In her wallet, she found exactly thirty-three dollars and fifty-nine cents and her credit cards, which she was afraid to use. There was a pack of gum, powder, lip gloss, mascara, her mp3 player and her hair brush.

Nothing of great importance. But she was happy to find her hair brush.

She pulled her damp, shoulder-length chestnut hair into a low ponytail and pulled on her running shoes. Annica decided it was time to explore her new surroundings.

It was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, and Annica ventured downstairs to the hall in which she had first entered the mansion. She held her injured arm close to her stomach and bent at a ninety-degree angle as she passed the kitchen and found herself near the front door. She stood there for a moment before she heard someone call her name.

"Annica!"

She spun on her heel to find Marie sitting with a group of teenagers in some sort of common room with books spread in front of them. Annica smiled in return as Marie waved at her to come in.

Annica stepped into the room quietly and felt Marie's counterparts turn their heads curiously to greet her. Marie rose to meet her and introduce her to her friends.

"This is Detective Annica Sawyer. She came with Logan this morning."

Marie pointed to the three teenagers on the couch and introduced them to her, "This is Kitty, Pitor, and Bobby."

The way Marie's southern lilt trilled over Bobby's name, indicated to Annica that they were more than just friends. Annica gave them all an awkward wave with her right hand and she said, "It's nice to meet you all."

Marie motioned to an empty, comfortable, stuffed chair and beckoned for Annica to sit down. Bobby smiled warmly at her and questioned lightly, "So are we in some kind of trouble, Detective?"

Annica shook her head and chuckled, "Oh, no. Actually, it is quite the opposite."

"What do you mean?" Kitty spoke up inquisitively.

"I am the one who needs the help. Logan came to my aid and brought me here."

Annica did not want to delve to deeply into the case. She had already told Marie too much as it was, and she did not want to trouble them any more than she had to. All three of them merely nodded as if it all made sense. They seemed a little wary of her. They knew that she was not like them and her being a cop probably made them all a little uncomfortable.

Marie stood up once more and took Annica by her good arm, "I'm gonna show her around the grounds. I will catch up with you all later."

Annica followed Marie out the door and smiled at the other teens. Once in the hallway, she sighed, "I don't think they liked me very much."

"'Course they did." Marie stated firmly. Had it been Logan, Annica knew that she would have heard the truth.

"I'm not a spy, Marie." Annica spoke quietly. "I am not going to rat anyone out."

Marie looked at her sympathetically, as only a stranger in a strange land could do, and urged her on with a tug on her right sleeve, "Come on, we'll start with the gardens."

Annica could not believe how massive the mansion and its surrounding land was. There were gardens, fountains, a basketball court, a garage and a curious set of three headstones beside the building. Marie did not walk in that direction, and Annica felt sure that it was something that she would have to seek out on her own. She would take a walk in the morning and visit the memorial by herself.

Marie led her back into the mansion and took her into the kitchen, the common rooms, the classrooms, past offices and finally into the library. It had been a long time since Annica had read anything not required of her, most of the materials she read belonged in case files, ballistics reports and other dossiers in her chosen field. She breathed in the smell of leather bindings and much loved pages and felt an itch to stay there forever.

Marie fell into a chair and watched as Annica read the titles on the spines of the books nearest to her, "This may sound rude, but how old are you?"

Annica looked over her shoulder and chuckled, "Nearly twenty-eight. How about you?"

"Eighteen."

"I remember being eighteen. It was fun, for the most part."

"Did you go to college?"

"Yep. Got my degree and then headed off to the Police Academy."

"I am not sure if I want to go to college."

Annica pulled herself away from the books and turned her attention to Marie, "Well, you've got about six months before applications are due. You don't have to make a decision now."

"Things have been a little weird recently..." Marie trailed off as the door opened and the man that Annica had met earlier entered, and seemed surprised to find them there. Annica was once again taken by the sight of his wings, which she noticed nearly touched the floor, but this time, she was determined not to stare.

Marie sprung to her feet and smiled, "Hey Warren. Have you met Annica?"


"Not formally." Warren responded. He was curious about her and all the students had been talking about her entrance with Logan early that morning.

Marie put her hand gently on Annica's shoulder, "This is Detective Annica Sawyer. Annica, this is Warren Worthington III."

Annica smiled, "Worthington? You're not...?"

Before she could finish, Warren cut her off gently, "Yeah. He's my father."

He noticed the way that she held her left arm against her and the purplish bruises that were strung about her throat like a necklace; she had been roughed up pretty badly. Warren extended his hand to her, "It's nice to meet you, Detective."

Annica shook his hand with her own without hesitation, "And I you. Please, it's just Annica."

Marie's brown eyes traveled from Warren to Annica and she spoke up suddenly, "I should probably go find Bobby. I'm behind on my assignments. I'll see you later, Annica. Bye, Warren."

"Thanks for the tour, Marie." Annica called as the girl left the library and turned to read the spines of the books on the next shelf, her index finger traced the embossed letters of each one. Warren watched her for a moment, and then remembered what he came into the library for.

As he walked over to the shelf on the opposite side of the room, Annica apologized over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to bother you."

Warren smiled to himself, "You didn't."

"I just haven't gotten my bearings yet...So do you teach here?"

"Not officially. I am just helping out where I can." He turned around with three books in his hands and saw that Annica was sitting in a chair, scanning the first page of a burgundy, leather bound book. She looked up from the book and he saw that she was still holding her arm carefully against her stomach.

"I don't mean to pry, but what happened to you arm?" Annica looked up at him and shrugged non-chalantly.

"It got shot." A wry smile crossed her face and she watched him with intense curiosity. She had been more roughed up than he had first thought. She shut the book on her lap and stood up, "Lucky for me, Logan showed up and stopped them from killing me. He brought me here to hide."

"From who?" Warren questioned and knew that he looked puzzled. To this, Annica sighed in a frustrated way and shrugged.

"I don't know yet." She sauntered past him and held up the book she had in her hand, "Is it alright if I take this to my room?"

"Just as long as you bring it back."

Annica smiled again and nodded. She placed her hand on the doorknob and looked at him over her shoulder and spoke in her slightly husky voice, "Thanks, Warren. I guess I'll see you around."


A/N: Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Up next: Annica finds out just what she is up against and continues to get used to the confines of the school. Logan grieves for Jean and Warren lets his guard down slowly.

To epewthers: Perhaps it will be Annica and Warren. Perhaps it will be Annica and Logan. Or maybe neither. I am unsure at the moment, but I believe in letting the story flow naturally and then see what happens. At this point in time, all signs seem to be in Warren's favor...but we will see where the story will lead us! Thanks for the lovely review! I hope to hear from you soon!

To Time and Fate: Thanks for the review and all the lovely compliments! I hope it continues to thrill you! Let me know how I am doing!

To RhiannonUK:Here's the next chappie. Thanks for catching the "small slip," I corrected it! I hope this story continues to keep your attention and that I keep receiving your wonderful feedback! Thanks and Love!