A/N: Hello to all of my patient readers. Sorry it took so long to send out the next chapter, but it's been a bad week for me.

I see a couple wonderful Guest reviews. Thank you so much for your kind support and I'm so happy to know that you're enjoying the story. To all of my wonderful readers out there...thank you for staying with this adventure and your awesome support.

I did a little research on the melting point of metal, and the average was around 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit, with tungsten coming in at over 6,000! WOW! I figure adamantium is much stronger than tungsten, but feel that 6,000 degrees is a bit extreme for the application purposes that we intend to use it for, so I went with the lower, more average melting temperature, but still extremely hot when you consider how the metal was introduced into Logan's body.

Well, enough yapping from me. Let's see what happens next.

~ooOoo~

Chapter 6

Logan was pacing the room that Charles had provided to him and Marie. He ran a hand through his hair a few times, blowing out hard breaths as he shook his head. "I don't know, sweetheart. It makes sense that I do this to get our boy back, but at the same time, I would be insane to allow someone to graph metal onto my bones."

Marie sat on the bed watching Logan pace. "This seems very dangerous. It could kill you."

"It will kill me...at least that's what Vic and this Dr. Hank says. They said that they would have to stop my heart for a few moments while this junk is being injected into me. Vic also said that it would be the most painful thing I've ever endured in my life. This metal has to be heated to over 2,800 degrees to make it liquid, they would have to inject it into me at various points on my body...all at once. I will have needles bore into my tissue and muscles, millimeters from bone, after that is when they'll stop my heart, before they push this hot liquid in. It will begin to cool as it coats the bone, but will still take a few minutes to harden. Once it hardens, they'll get my heart going again...if they can."

"I don't understand. Why do they need to stop your heart?"

Logan shrugged. "I don't know honey, I really don't understand all this stuff. Something about preventing the adamantium from getting into my bloodstream and going into my organs."

Marie spoke quietly, not wanting to voice her fears. "But they don't know if they'll be able to get your heart started again? What about your healing? Won't that bring you back?"

Logan sat on the bed next to his Marie, cupping her face into his hands, speaking softly. "Honey...everything, everyone dies eventually...including me. Vic says that according to the research this Stryker guy did, the chances are good that someone with a healing factor and the right DNA marker will survive this process. I have the healing, and this marker they were looking for...but it's still not a guarantee. There are risks, the possibility something could go wrong and I won't heal or wake up."

She couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes. "Then don't do it! Let them find another way."

He shook his head. "We've gone through every scenario, going in though the main doors is the best way to get our boy back. You were there, you heard what they said, the only way to get through that door is with adamantium. Vic and this Professor worked up several mock simulations and showed me that with my claws and this adamantium...I will be able to take out those doors in one swipe. After that...the team goes in full blast, kick ass and get the children out. Including our baby."

Marie crossed her arms over her chest. "You're not a soldier, Logan, why not just leave this to Victor and the rest who are trained for this kind of stuff."

He smirked at her. "I used to be a soldier...I'm sure all that training and drills will come back when I get into the mix. If all else fails...I'll just pretend that I'm in the cage and this time I won't need to keep the beast chained."

Marie still wasn't convinced as she shook her head. "I don't know. I mean...going over these simulation tactics, talking things through with all the 'what ifs and maybes' is all fine and dandy, but actually being face-to-face with the situation is something completely different."

Logan chuckled. "Honey, we already were face-to-face with the situation. That's what I've been doing for the last few hours...practicing." When he saw the look of confusion on her, he continued. "Charles has this really...I mean really cool room. I've never seen anything like it before and thought it was something Hollywood made up for movies and tv, but baby, this room...he can make it like actually being there! Hell...I got shot a couple times in there! It was fake bullets, didn't do any damage, but it still hurt like a son of a bitch."

"In one of the simulations, Vic thought it would be a good idea to toss a grenade towards the door to take out the guards. When we passed by the trees on fire...I could actually feel the heat and smell the burning wood. Honey, I'm telling you, we tried all kinds of ways to get into that place without me going though this procedure and it's virtually impossible without risking most or all of the children being killed. I don't know about you, but I find that even one child being harmed is unacceptable. This is the only way to do it without risking them."

Marie sat for a moment thinking. "Of course we can't risk the children being hurt, or worse. Are you sure? Are you sure this is the only way?"

Logan nodded. "We tried every way any of us could think of. It's the only way, baby."

She slowly nodded. "Ok then. When do you do this? I want to be with you when they do it."

He shook his head. "No honey, I don't want you to be there, I don't want you to see it. If something should go wrong...sweetheart, I don't want that to be the last memory you have of me."

She shook her head. "But-"

Logan's eyes flashed at her. "Don't push, mate. I'm agreeing with Logan here. Neither of us want you to see us like that. I'll do my best to keep the kid alive for you, but he's right, if something should go wrong...that shouldn't be your last memory of us. This should be your last memory if it doesn't work."

Wolverine leaned in and gave her a deep, passionate kiss. He pressed his forehead against hers, eyes closed as he whispered out. "I love you, mate. I love you with all my soul. You are my world, my universe and giving me Luke, you've made me complete. I will do everything in my power, and then some, to get our cub back."

Marie choked back a sob. "I love you too my mate. I love both of you more than words can describe. Keep Logan safe and bring our baby, our cub home."

~ooOoo~

Logan looked around the room, concerned with all the instruments and the large tank of water in the center as Hank and Victor explained what would happen during the procedure, most of it going over Logan's head.

"So...why do I need to drown myself in that tank again?" Logan asked, still a little confused by what he was being told.

Victor shook his head. "You're not drowning yourself, dummy. You'll have an oxygen tank, like scuba divers, so you can still breathe. The water is to keep your body temperature cooled down while the molten adamantium is being injected."

"And that's important because...?" Logan questioned.

Hank sighed. "Because the adamantium is heated to a temperature that would cook your organs, including your brain, if we don't keep your body temperature down." He turned to Victor. "I thought you said your brother was somewhat intelligent."

Vic shrugged. "Guess I was mistaken. Fooled me."

Logan scowled at the two. "Ok, so I don't understand all this science shit, but I'm not a complete idiot. Who taught you how to fight, hunt and forage for food when we were kids, Vic? Oh! And as I recall, I got the better marks in school too."

"Not in science and chemistry class." Victor chuckled. "In fact, I recall you mixing the wrong chemicals and caused a small explosion that closed the school for a month! Professor LaHaventon wanted you expelled for the rest of the year."

"Yeah, well. He failed me and I was held back from graduation for another year because of it. Shut up!" Logan grumbled as Hank laughed loudly at the banter between the brothers.

Logan was ready. The cardio monitors attached to his chest, the blood pressure cuff on his bicep, the O2 sensor clipped to his finger and the mouthpiece firmly in place to keep him breathing. He shivered a little as he lowered himself into the cold water.

Victor noted the elevated heart rate as Logan watched the needles slowly coming towards him. "Relax, Jimmy. It won't hurt as much if you stay relaxed." Logan heard his brother's voice saying through the speakers in the tank.

He tried to relax as instructed, but as the multiple needles punctured the skin, boring deep into his muscles, he couldn't help but to tense. He heard Victor's voice again, singing a song in a quiet voice. A song that Logan instantly recognized as an old Gaelic nursery rhyme that his mother sang to him when he was a small child. He closed his eyes and for a moment, he could feel his mother stroking a hand through his hair.

"That's good, Jimmy. Relax. It's time now." Victor said softly and calmly as he watched Hank pushing the buttons that would release the chemicals into the IV tube that would enter his bloodstream and stop Logan's heart.

Once Logan's heart stopped beating, Hank and Victor worked quickly to inject the adamantium. Vic grew concerned when he saw the readouts of Logan's body temperature rising to unexpected levels.

Hank checked the readings. "Still within the acceptable guidelines. Keep an eye on it though, another 10 degrees and we'll have to shut it down."

"What happens if we abort before the process is complete?" Vic asked worried about his brother.

Hank gave a mournful look. "We don't restart his heart. It would be better for him that way."

Victor's eyes got wide with shock. "And you didn't bother to mention this!?"

"I honestly didn't think it would come to that...still don't. Keep an eye on his temperature!" Hank barked as he continued to work.

A few moments later, the adamantium fully injected and beginning to harden, Victor let out a sigh of relief. "Body temperature dropping...down to 109 degrees. Temperature now down to 106...103...holding at 101.8. That's fever grade, but not going any lower. Did something go wrong? Is the adamantium not fully cooling to harden?"

Hank checked the readings once again. "No. The adamantium is fully cooled and hardened. I'm not sure why his temperature is higher than normal. Maybe his body is seeing this as an infection and producing extra white blood cells to fight it. Let's get his heart going again, then I can take a blood sample to find out."

Before Victor could push the adrenaline into Logan's bloodstream, there was a blip on the heart monitor. He raised a brow. Another blip, then another and another. "Uh...I don't think we have to do anything to get his heart going again."

Hank turned to look. "What do you mean? SHIT!"

Logan's body suddenly raised quickly from the water, a thunderous roar filled the room as he began ripping the electronic sensors from his body. He jumped from the tank, screaming and roaring as he looked around the room with panic, fear and confusion. "MATE! WHERE IS MY MATE?"

Victor dashed from the observation booth and into the surgical room where Logan was screaming from. "Wolverine! Calm down! Your mate is safe. Just calm down and let Logan take control now."

The claws skeeted from him as Wolverine let out a painful growl. He looked at the claws, horrified seeing the metal rather than the bone. "What have you done to me!" He demanded as he took a swipe at the tank, water gushing onto the floor.

"Jimmy! Get control, now!" Vic bellowed out.

Wolverine lunged at Victor. "What have you done?"

Victor easily side-stepped the swipe, his eyes flashing to the bright amber as his claws and fangs grew. "Wolverine! I'm not fucking around here! Get back in your cage and let Jimmy take control...NOW!"

"Fuck you!" Wolverine growled as he went for Victor again, connecting with his raised arm and leaving behind 3 deep slashes.

Sabretooth howled in pain. "Hank! Get Marie and the Professor! Hurry!"

"Do you think it is wise to allow his wife to come here and be put in danger when he is acting this way?" Hank questioned through the microphone from the safety of the booth as he watched the brothers battle one another.

"Just get her!" Sabretooth bellowed as he hoisted Wolverine, tossing him across the room, watching as his brother's body slammed into the wall.

Hank rushed down the hall to the room that Marie and the Professor were waiting to hear the news that Logan made it through the procedure unharmed.

As he burst through the door, he exclaimed excitedly. "Mrs. Howlett, you must hurry! Logan...Wolverine...he's going wild, tearing the room apart!"

Marie pushed past Hank as she rushed from the room, down the hall where she could hear the commotion and stopped in her tracks in shock as she burst through the door.

Machinery with slash marks, electrical sparks flying, screaming and cursing coming from both men, cracks and holes in the plaster walls from the fighting. She quickly moved when Victor's body came flying in her direction slamming into the heavy door.

"Wolverine! Knock it off right now, mister!" Marie yelled out.

Wolverine spun to look at her, heaving for air. "Mate? Mate...is that you? Really you?"

Marie walked slowly towards him with her arm stretched out. "Yes love, it's me."

He grasped her arm and gave quick, hard sniffs at her hand and wrist. Sniffing up her arm then to her neck. He clutched her tightly into an embrace. "Mate! Oh my dear mate. They-they took you away from me. They said I could never see you again. It was dark and cold, I couldn't breathe. They said you would never come back to me again."

Marie ran her hand through his hair, stroking to calm him. "Shhh. I'm here my love, it was just a bad dream. No one took me from you. I'm here my mate, I'm here."

She felt his body begin to relax against her. After a moment, he pulled back from her, his hazel brown eyes looking at her sorrowful. "I don't feel so good."

Logan's eyes rolled back into his head, he collapsed to the floor as Marie gasped.