Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my imaginings.

A.N.: Just for the Captain...

When John showed up at the mansion midmorning, there were many who didn't exactly welcome him with open arms. Bobby wasn't sure how he felt about it. Until that day at his parent's house they'd always been good friends. They might have been a little competitive, but most guys were. Pyro sometimes drove him nuts with the whole rebel hothead thing, but it was just part of who John was. They way he callously attacked those police officers, though. It was hard to reconcile that with the friend he thought he knew so well. He didn't know if he'd ever look at Pyro the same way again.

Everyone's emotions were mixed as they studied the prodigal who'd returned that day. The professor outlined that John would not be considered a member of the X-Men until he'd been with them for an extended period and had proven his loyalty to them again. He would be free to go anywhere within reason in the school, but should know that they would all be keeping a close watch over him. It was pretty much what John had expected when he'd made the choice to return. The professor then opened the decision to discussion by the team since he wanted everyone to feel comfortable with his choice to give John another chance to truly be a part of their 'family'. Rabid debate followed. John stoically clenched his jaw and bore the many insults and accusations hurled at him by various people. Bobby had been very quiet and Rogue hadn't said anything at all. She wasn't paying much attention to everyone's arguing; she simply studied him minutely. It was actually pretty unnerving as they were two of the few whose opinion he actually cared enough to be interested in.

Logan was surprisingly the one who wholeheartedly supported letting Pyro back in. That shocked everyone, including John. Logan was firm enough in his defense of Pyro's admittance that it subdued any protests that some team members may have made. Not until the following afternoon when the two men were the only ones working out in the gym did the opportunity to find out why present itself.

"You stuck up for me yesterday." John's voice was almost harsh as he tried to deal with feeling indebted. He'd been on the defensive from the moment he entered the gates knowing the kind of reception that awaited him inside the grounds of the Institute. "Why?"

Never pausing in his weightlifting, Logan cryptically replied. "Few reasons."

John set aside all pretense of exercising and crossed his arms, staring at the older man. One hand held the lighter he was never seen without. Logan watched him before he sighed and set the bar back in place. He sat up and grabbed a towel to start wiping at the sweat trickling down his neck.

"You really wanna know?" John's jerked nod was all Logan needed before continuing. "Fine. I know things about you that they don't. It all adds up to you getting another chance in my book."

John's brows drew together and he shifted his weight slightly. Inclining his head he demanded, "What things?"

With reluctance Logan answered. "I know why you really lit up that guy at the museum, for one thing."

John smirked. "Because he pissed me off?"

"No, dumbass. Because the idiots were looking to hit on Rogue in addition to pissing you off. I know you saw what they were really doing, even if she thought no one noticed." He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Stupid kid always thinks she handle everything herself."

John let his eyes narrow. He really didn't think anyone knew about that. Rogue didn't even know from what he could tell. He'd already been mad as hell at those idiots, but knew he could get the lighter back without revealing his power. When that guy leered down her shirt and then mumbled to the others when she looked away, something Rogue didn't catch, John knew he had to do something or things were going to go bad real fast. How did the Wolverine figure it out?

"I also know that you torched those cops because they shot me and because you knew what they'd do to her and the popsicle." Now John let his brows rise. He figured Rogue knew since she put the drain on him and all, but was surprised she and Wolverine had talked about it.

"We didn't talk about you." Okay, now he was getting freaked out. Was Wolverine a telepath now?

"And no, Sparky, I ain't like the Prof." Logan rolled his eyes. "Look, when you fight people for a living, when your purpose for existing is to kill, you learn to study people. You learn to read them, their gestures, their tells. It ain't like you're tough to read or anything, genius."

"Is that it?"

"No. The other reason is that you remind me of me. Tryin' to lock out everyone else, to not care 'cause you figure they're just gonna let you down like everybody always has in the past. She got to you, though, didn't she? She wasn't the only one, but it was mostly her. You know, she was looking for you when we left Alkali. She wanted us to go after Buckethead and get you back." He let that sink in for a minute. His lips curved with a wry twist before he added, "The Prof. had already decided to let you stay anyway and he owns the place. As long as you don't do anything stupid or put anyone at risk, who am I to try changing his mind?"

John dropped his gaze to his lighter, studying it as he flicked it open and shut, open and shut.

"Just don't screw it up again. I ain't big on second chances, but third shots are a no go. Period. I won't vouch for your ass again." Logan threw the towel towards the laundry cart by the wall and reached for the shirt he'd hung on a nearby machine, sitting down to pull it on.

"So, I heard that Rogue and Bobby aren't together any more."

"Yeah. So?"

John half shrugged. "Just found that interesting is all. We all used to be pretty tight."

Logan looked up at him while snagging some water out of the bag by his feet. "Yeah, well, they're gettin' back to being friends and all, but his dickweed attitude when she broke it off did some damage. Gonna take time."

He studied the young man before taking mercy on him. "She's glad you're back. She worried about you."

"Yeah?" John dropped the tough guy image unknowingly when the hope-filled question popped out.

Logan popped his neck. "Yeah. Don't screw that up either. The girl could use a few more real friends."

John's eyes narrowed speculatively and the badass mantle fell back over him instantly. "Yeah. Got it."

"Well, enough of this touchy, feely shit. I'm gonna hit the showers. Later, Flame-boy."

John watched him go. Wandering over to a punching back, he set it moving rhythmically as his mind worked through everything he'd heard since his return.