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 Seven: Peanut Butter Sandwiches


Logan met Storm back in her office after he had spoken with Annica. He could not believe it. Moira McTaggert had sent word of a startling occurrence that had emerged a few months prior.

He hoped that it was not like Jean; not like her rebirth...but Moira had said that Charles had been well aware of the case before he died. They had spoken about the patient in her care and his prolonged unconscious state.

"We'll meet back here after the students curfew. No need to worry them." Storm sat behind the mahogany desk and cradled a cup of coffee in her hand, "I'm leaving Warren in charge for the weekend, since there are no classes, it shouldn't be too trying. I told him that we would be back on Sunday evening; unless we run into trouble."

Logan nodded; he was still lost in his own thoughts of Jean and what she had become. Her blood had dripped from his claws after Alcatraz, which provided for enough nightmares for a lifetime. He had loved her and he had killed her.

Storm sipped from her cup and asked politely, "How is Detective Sawyer doing? She looked a little ill at the kitchen table."

"She found out some news about her case. It wasn't very good news, but I know she can work through it."

He saw the strange look in Storm's eyes and raised his eyebrows a little indignantly, "What?"

Storm chuckled softly under her breath, "You have feelings for her."

Logan wanted to laugh in spite of himself, but kept a straight face, "It's not like that. Annica is someone I don't want to see hurt; she's a good person in a bad circumstance...I can't let her down."

"You didn't let Jean down, Logan." Storm stated firmly. Logan felt the heat rising in his chest and in his head.

"Annica is not Jean. I know that." He said in a low warning growl at her to signal the end to the discussion. With that, he turned towards the door and called over his shoulder, "I'll see you after dark."

Logan stalked down the hall and saw Marie in the common room with chatting with Kitty. Marie smiled at him and excused herself from the conversation and joined him in the hall.

"I heard that you and Storm were leaving...what's going on?" Marie lilted calmly.

Logan shook his head, "I'm not too sure yet...but I need to ask you for a favor."

Marie shrugged and nodded, "Okay."

"Visit Annica every now and then. She's pretty isolated and hasn't talked to a lot of people around here besides you, me and Warren. Everybody else seems kinda unsure about her being here...which I understand, but they'll get to know her."

Marie smiled, "Will do."

She then gave him a little wave and went back to sit with Kitty in the common room.


Annica spent the rest of the day in her room, curled up on the bed as she plowed her way through the book that she had borrowed from the library the day before. She had never read The Great Gatsby; but was thoroughly enjoying it in her newly sequestered reality.

At nearly 8:30, she heard the hard-knuckled rapt of Logan on her door; and without getting up from her place on the bed, she called out, "Come in, Logan."

He opened the door and let himself in, "How did you know it was me?"

"Oh, I just know." She dropped her book beside her and pointed to the knuckles of her bad hand.

He smirked and sat down on the edge of her bed,"So you've been in here all afternoon?"

Annica sighed, "Yeah, just hanging out with Daisy and Gatsby."

She held up the book and then dropped it again. Logan nodded and then gave her a knowing look, "You should eat something."

Annica had lost her appetite after all the events of the day. She felt so...unsettled.

"I will. I am going to finish reading, take this back to the library, choose a new book and swing by the kitchen...it's funny, but I haven't read a book since college. It's been nothing but newspapers, case files and the occasional magazine since then." She flashed him a wry smile.

"I'll be back soon. Don't stay in your room all day. Marie said that she would stop by and Warren is just down the hall..."

"I don't need a babysitter, Logan." Annica interjected playfully, but with a hint of truth. Logan smirked once again and replied.

"Yeah, but you're in a strange place, with strange people and under strange circumstances. You shouldn't be alone."

Annica shrugged, "I've been alone for five years. I'm used to the quiet. By the way, are you always this concerned about almost perfect strangers?"

With that, Logan rose to his feet and gave her a quick nod," Get something to eat...I'll see you on Sunday."

"Bye Logan. Good luck in Scotland." Annica smiled and picked up her book to continue reading.


Around 11:30, Annica finished her book with a satisfied sigh; but yearned for another book to escape into. She slipped out of bed wearing her sweats, tank top and bare feet with book in hand and down the hallway, down the stairs and to the library.

She opened the door quietly and found that the light was already on and that none other than Warren Worthington III sat in a chair sideways; his legs slung over one arm and his wings over the other. He was sitting in a pile of books, and held one open in his hands. He looked surprised to see her; but did not flinch or jump.

"Oh, hey." She smiled and tried to look nonchalant. Annica began browsing the shelves again when she heard Warren ask over her shoulder.

"Can't sleep?"

Annica turned around, "No. To be honest, I am not used to this much downtime...or being uninformed. So I think I am a little thrown off."

She placed The Great Gatsby back on the shelf and pulled out Wuthering Heights for consideration. She strolled over to the empty armchair across from his and sat down.

"So what about you? Why are you hiding away in here? I thought you're supposed to be in charge this weekend."

Warren sighed, "Yeah, I am. This may sound strange, but I am afraid something is going to happen and I'm not going to be there."

It made perfect sense to Annica. She was cloistered in a safe house, while her fellow detectives worked to solve her case. She nodded, "That's understandable."

Annica skimmed the first few pages of the book and decided to give it a go. She stood up briskly and motioned towards the door.

"I'm going to snag some food in the kitchen. Why don't you put up those books and come with?"

Warren looked slightly flabbergasted, but nodded in agreement, "Sure."


After he placed the books back on the shelf, Warren followed Annica to the kitchen and observed her bare feet, sturdy shoulders and bandaged arm. She cradled the copy of Wuthering Heights in the crook of her good arm and she padded down the floors of the mansion as quiet as a cat.

When they hit the kitchen, Annica dropped the book gently on the table and began to open cabinets until she found a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. Warren ran a finger over the spine of the book and asked her curiously, "Have you ever read this before?"

Annica looked over her shoulder and shook her head, "No, but I figured I'd stick with the classics and play catch up with all the books I should've read. What about you?"

"I read it in high school. It wasn't really my speed."

"Oh, I see; you're saying its chick lit...where's the silverware?"

Warren laughed with her mock (yet fairly accurate) assessment and pointed to a drawer on the left side near the refrigerator, "That first drawer on the left."

Annica turned around to face him and began to construct a no-frills peanut butter sandwich and met his eyes, "Do you want one, too?"

Warren nodded, "Yeah, sure."

"Crusts on or off?" Annica grinned with the question and he felt a smile pull at his lips. It was a question asked to a first grader; but somehow very comforting.

"On."

"Yeah, me too."

She retrieved two glasses and the carton of milk that she found in the refrigerator. Annica served the sandwiches on two paper towels because "there was no need to dirty any plates." Warren imagined Annica had many meals that were similar while in college or in her tiny apartment.

Warren smiled, "Thanks."

"Is it always this quiet around here?" Annica asked between bites.

"Curfew was at eleven."

She smirked, "Ah, curfew. Are we breaking it?"

"It really only applies to those under eighteen." He answered slyly.

"My curfew was at ten. My father didn't want me in trouble and he was especially weary of teenage boys, given his line of work."

"He was a cop, too?" Warren watched as she nodded and he spied a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah, a Narcotics detective. He was a good father. He did everything by himself...a little on the strict side, but I always wanted to be like him. He died five years ago."

Warren swallowed a bit of his sandwich hard, his own father wanted him to follow in his footsteps and carry on the Worthington name and business like his father before him. Warren had rejected the cure. The one his father had sought so hard to develop. He wanted it to put an end to his son's mutation, and ensure the future that his father had so long envisioned.

He found himself envious of Annica's idolized account of the relationship with her father. She wanted to be like him; not for the fame or the money...but because of something much deeper. He loved his father; but just wanted love an acceptance from him.

Annica pulled him from his thoughts, "You okay, Warren?"

"Yeah," he nodded and decided to change the topic, "How's your arm?"

She finished off her sandwich and walked around the counter to the stool where he sat. She took the stool beside him, "Okay. A little bit of an inconvenience, but okay. I've been keeping it clean, but unfortunately, the anti-inflammatory and pain pills I was prescribed are back in my apartment."

Warren cocked his head with the final statement she had made, "Why didn't you bring them with you?"

Annica visibly grimaced, "Eh...we had to leave in a hurry."

"Why?"

She looked him dead in the eyes and unflinchingly told him, "The same people who shot me attacked me in my bed the next night. Logan stopped him, he came in from the living room. But I shot and killed him before Logan could use his advantage...it's a crime scene now."

Warren's eyes traveled to her neck, where he noticed the purple-tinged contusions once more. He realized that she had shot the man so Logan would not incriminate himself. He looked at his hands and asked furtively, "So you and Logan are...?"

"Nothing of the sort." She cut him off, "He's gruff and infuriating and I am a pain in his ass. He's told me so. We're friends...I guess." Annica shrugged, "but I trust him."

She slid off the stool and took both of their glasses and put them in the dishwasher.

"I guess I'd better turn in." Annica said as she picked up her book from the counter.

Warren nodded and then stood himself, "Yeah, me too."

With Annica in the lead, they walked from the kitchen and up the stairs to the second floor. She stopped at her door and turned with her hand on the doorknob, "Goodnight, Warren."

He smiled and nodded, "Goodnight. Thanks for the sandwich."

She smiled and opened the door, "You're welcome."


A/N: Sorry it has been such a long time since I updated. I've been writing long hand and time has gotten away from me. This chapter is actually part of a really long chapter I finished, and decided to type it up as two separate chapters. Coming up; more Annica and Warren, a situation arises with some of the students on Warren's watch, Logan and Storm return and Annica learns information about her case that she doesn't really want to hear.


To Time and Fate: Yeah, the line breaks show up as a format option button once you upload a chapter. I hope they are working now! They are super handy!

To HyperSquishy: The scare comes next chapter, but I hope you enjoy this one all the same! Thanks!

To Padme4000: Here's the next chappie! Sorry it has been so long!

To Joegood2003: Yeah, Warren is in a daze, I suppose. You know that feeling when you are adjusting to a new life, or a change, and you feel neither here nor there? That is how I think he feels, but he is coming out of it...Thanks for the support!

To RhiannonUK: Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks!

To A Fan: Thanks for the correction, you are so right, it kinda slipped me! Cheers!