Instead of heading to the danger room as was his original plan when he arrived, he decided to take Hank's advice and get some sleep. Knowing that Jubilee was on the mend was a huge relief to him. But as he felt relief, he also felt incredibly conflicted. The source for his inner turmoil was evident. Ororo. Seeing her was a shock to his system. Although he was intent on avoiding her, he was sensible enough to know that avoiding her was only going to last so long. During his brief encounter with her, his beast was surging, begging to be released in order to get the wind rider to submit to him once and for all. Logan knew that would have been a big mistake because even he was smart enough to know that the weather Goddess would never submit. Submission was not a part of that woman's genetic makeup.
He sighed as he opened his room door and flipped the light switch. He tossed the duffel bag to the corner of the room before turning to close the door. A subtle whiff and footsteps told him that Ororo was on her way up to her sanctuary. Christ! What the hell was it about her that always had him out of sorts? Rudely walking out on her after her attempt to be civil was the right thing to do, given that he was a breath away from giving into his beast. On his journey back from Canada, he had come to a realization that there had to be some sort of resolution to their situation. He simply couldn't go on like he was, pining and hoping for something that would more than likely never see the light of day. He had to move on from his unrequited love for her. There was just no other way.
Stripping off his clothes, he took a quick shower, hoping the heat of the water would clear his head. No such luck. Ambling to the bed, he flopped down on it, allowing the luxury of the soft cotton to caress his naked skin. He flipped onto his back, stacking his hands beneath his head and staring up at the ceiling. When he had left this place, he was angry at her and himself. Because the pain was so sudden and bewildering to say the least, Logan had channel it back into anger. The rage was better to deal with as it was all too familiar. But now, he wasn't angry at her anymore. The anger had melted away only to leave melancholy in its wake. But he'll be damn before he showed anyone his sadness.
He blew out air through the side of his mouth. Such was the story of his life…pain, anger and unhappiness. But he was the Wolverine. He'll survive as only he know how. He closed his eyes and a few minutes later, succumb to a somewhat restless sleep.
He was pacing the medlab corridor when Hank rounded the corner with a book tucked under his arm and two steaming cups of coffee. Not surprised to see Logan, Hank extended one of the cups to him. Logan took the cup with an arch of his brow and a rough grumble of thanks.
"My stars and garters, it's a beautiful morning, my friend," Hank exclaimed.
"Mornin'," Logan replied, taking a hearty swallow of the hot black liquid. He grimaced. "Ya make a strong coffee, Blue."
Hank grinned, inputting the security code to gain access to the room Jubilee was in. "I've summoned Jean to help us move Jubilee. She should be here in…"
"I'm here Doc. Good morning," the redhead interrupted. She turned to Logan, offering him a soft 'good morning'.
Logan acknowledged her with a slight nod.
Hank and Jean immediately got to work. Their work was made easy with Jean's mutant abilities. Gently, she brought Jubilee out of the chamber, laying her on her stomach on the hospital bed. After draining her lungs, Hank and Logan briefly left the room to give Jean a chance to dry her off and cover her before waking her.
Jubilee awakened to Logan holding her hand and his surprisingly gentle voice. She yawned and stretched her lithe frame, immediately noticing that she wasn't in any pain. Her eyes immediately flew open. "Shouldn't I be in pain?" She asked, confusion marring her pretty face.
"Your injuries have healed significantly, Jubilation," Hank answered.
"How?" She asked, wanting to turn and sit up. Logan stilled her.
"You have Logan to thank for that, my dear. Logan's plasma kick started the tissue regeneration process."
Jubilee glanced at the man who was more like a father to her than a great friend. She succumbed to tears. "Oh Wolvie..."
"No need fer the waterworks, Jubes," Logan replied, stroking the back of her head lovingly. "Ya know I'll do anythin' fer ya."
Jean observed the tender moment silently. This side of Logan didn't shock her in the least. She knew he was more than capable of it. Now, only if Ororo wasn't so damn stubborn, she too can experience this side of the complex man.
For the next twenty minutes, Hank droned on with his medical jargon. He spoke about the many possibilities Logan's plasma possessed and the time frame for Jubilee's recovery. For the most part, his two adult companions tuned him out, only caring about Jubilee at that moment. He answered all questions they tossed at him, feeling overtly giddy with the success of the treatment he had administered.
"I'm not going to put you back in right away. You can take a few days off before we do that," Hank concluded.
"Does that mean I can get outta here, Doc?" Jubilee asked.
"You sure can, but please, take it easy. You still have a way to go with your recovery and we don't need you doing anything that may result in a relapse."
"Aye, aye, Doc. Wolvie here would make sure I follow doctor's orders," she said laughingly. They all laughed along with her, knowing that she was going to be alright both mentally and physically.
After almost a month in the medlab, Jubilee was thoroughly enjoying her freedom. She was greeted at breakfast that morning as she shuffled in with Logan's assistance with thunderous applause and a huge bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal. Through all the well wishes and applause, she didn't miss the tension between Logan and Ororo. She also didn't miss the longing looks Ororo had tossed Logan's way when she thought no one was paying any attention. Jubilee had quickly looked at Logan and noticed that he had softened some when sneaking looks of his own at Ororo. Good, his time away hadn't dampen his feelings towards Miss Munroe. Jubilee had to admit that she was worried about her "father" after his breakdown on Thanksgiving and his disappearance. Though she was happy that he was back, she was still going to give him hell for up and leaving without so much as a goodbye to her and his lack of communication while he was away. After that was out the way, she was going to do everything in her power to keep him around and bring him and Miss Munroe together. She figured she owed him that much for helping her recover from the attack. Soaking up all the attention she was getting, she resolved to put her plans in place as soon as possible.
Jubilee sat under the huge chestnut tree on the north side of the mansion, relishing being outdoors and alive. She sighed. She definitely had a new lease on life now. From what was conveyed to her, she was knocking on death's door and if it wasn't for Logan returning when he did and Hank's tenacity, she more than likely would have gained entrance to the other side of the door. From what Dr. McCoy told her, Logan was the one that stayed with her nonstop, comforting her, talking to her and donating the plasma that was the catalyst for her healing. The horror of the attack was still fresh in her mind, but she knew she'll overcome that with the counseling sessions scheduled with the Professor and the knowledge that Logan will be staying at the mansion indefinitely.
She smelled the stench of Logan's cigars before the man himself emerged from the woods. Her face twisted distastefully. "Dude, you still smoke those things?"
Logan smirked, blowing a plume of smoke in the air. "Yep."
She waved her hands in front of her face. "You don't think it's time you quit?"
"Nope." Extinguishing the offending cigar, he sat next to her. "How ya feelin', darlin'?"
"I'm ok. Just thinking."
"'bout?"
She sighed. "Life, death…the usual."
Logan patted her knee. "Why the grim thoughts, Jubes?"
She looked at Logan before scooting closer to him and laying her head on his shoulder. Though she gave him grief about his smoking, she found comfort in the scent of tobacco he carried. "They said I was in horrible shape after the attack that they didn't think I was going to make it." She sighed. "Prof said that it was desperation that made him reach out to you."
"Yeah. When he told me, I was back on the first thing smokin'. I was gonna do what I can ta save ya."
She lifted her head and gave him teary smile. "Thanks for coming back for me, Wolvie. You know I was going to chew your hairy ass out for leaving me in the first place, but I don't think that matters anymore. What matters is you were here when I needed you."
Logan took her hand in his, much like he had done while she was in the medlab fighting for her life. He sighed. "No thanks necessary, darlin'. I told ya from the beginnin' that I'll do anythin' fer ya. I'm just glad I was of some use ta ya."
"You always were, Logan. Don't forget that." She paused and on a deep breath, rushed out, "You're the closest thing to a dad I've got."
Logan could only look at her in stunned silence. He felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside. "Well, darlin'…" he began, attempting to gather his thoughts to convey them properly to her. "When I first brought ya here, I couldn't shake ya off my tail. I learned ta care fer ya. I figured ya meant more ta me than anythin' when I attacked the Popsicle fer hurtin' ya that first time ya ever trained wid the X-Men. When Chuck contacted me and told me ya was on life support, I hoped like hell I didn't miss my chance ta let ya know how I feel 'bout ya." He looked her dead in the eyes and Jubilee was stunned to see his watery eyes. "I love ya, Jubes. Yer always there fer me, even when I don't want ya ta be."
"I love you too, Wolvie." Logan was ambushed by a hysterical crying Jubilee. For a small girl, she sure had a grip on her. He shushed her and patted her back as she got all her emotions out. About five minutes later, she released him, wiping her eyes. "So no more running away?"
He sighed. He had been seriously reevaluating his future with the X-Men.
"You've already committed to sticking with me buddy, so don't even think about backing out now," she whispered harshly.
He frowned. "I'm not leavin' ya." He sighed again. "Been thinkin' a lot 'bout it. Especially after ya came out the woods." He turned to her, his countenance the most serious she had ever seen it. "If I'm gonna be stickin' 'round, I'll need a place ta live."
"What's wrong with the mansion?"
The look he gave her spoke volumes. "Right. So where are you thinking of living? The city?"
Her excitement of him possibly living in the city didn't go unnoticed. Logan shook his head. "Was thinkin' ta buy the old boathouse down by the lake from Chuck."
Jubilee's eyes widened. "That's good, Wolvie. Can you afford it?"
"I can," he replied confidently. "Ain't been cage fightin' all these years fer nothin'."
"So, you'll be living on the grounds, just not at the mansion."
"Yep. That's pretty much it, darlin'."
Jubilee was excited though a little disappointed about not having an excuse to go to the city whenever she wanted. But him wanting to stick around meant that he wanted to put down roots. "I'm glad. You know I need you."
Logan smiled in response. They were silent for a few minutes, Logan mulling over the big decision he had made and Jubilee wondering if now was as good a time as any to bring up the next topic of conversation she needed to have with him.
Logan was about to stand when she totally came out swinging from left field. "What about you and Miss Munroe?"
Totally blindsided, Logan can only give her a sharp look. "Ain't no Miss Munroe and me," he growled.
"There could be," Jubilee replied, not the least bit afraid. "If you take your head out your ass, you'll see that."
He growled. Jubilee remained unfazed. "I know the feelings you have for her didn't just disappear like you did. If you love her, why not go to her and talk like adults instead of acting like children."
"Can it, kid." Logan stood and moved away from her and the honesty of her words.
"Aren't you the one that taught me that life isn't guaranteed and we have to live it to the fullest? Huh?" she demanded loudly. "This attack sure as hell made me see that more than anything else. So if you love her, and I know you do, why not do something about it and grab your happiness?"
"Look, Jubes…ya don't understand."
"Why are you hell bent on being alone? Don't you want to be happy? Don't you want a family of your own?" She was quite fed up with Logan and his self-defeating attitude.
Logan dragged his hands down his face. "Who says I wanna be alone?"
"You did," Jubilee shouted, gingerly getting to her feet. She went to stand by him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Look, we didn't get this far for you to end up alone. And for the record, I think she has feelings for you too. So do something about it." Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek before walking away, leaving him to think about the harsh truth of her words.