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Repairing what's lost
"Let go of me!" Jean yelled after Richard's hand had let go of her mouth and began to struggle against him.
"Oh, where does that suddenly come from, hm?" he hissed and chocked her with his arm to muffle her cries. "Ya come with me, bitch. I told ya I'd get ya."
When he pulled her around the corner of the car she could see how Logan was in the middle of a brawl against the four men, who tried to bring him down but failed to do so. She wanted to call his name, to get his attention but Richard grip made it impossible for her to talk. She watched, while she was dragged deeper into the bushes, how one of the men jumped at Logan with a baseball bat in his hand from behind, unseen of her friend. Mentally she cried out when the impact sent Logan to the ground and she struggled harder again. "Told ya so," Richard hissed into her ear and threw her over a bush so that she landed hard on the ground.
Jean watched him with widened eyes and began to back off on the icy ground that made it even harder for her to get away from him. "What do you want from me?!" she cried and thought her heart would stop beating when she saw the gun in his hand.
"I told ya no woman leaves me, bitch!" Richard hissed and pointed the weapon at her. "Especially not a worthless slut like ya."
"I'm not worthless," she hissed back and felt fury rising within her when she was forced to remember how he's treated her. "The only one who's worthless is you, not me!"
He chuckled amused. "Is that what he's told ya? That ya ain't worthless? So yer spreadin' yer legs for this fucker now?" he asked angrily and through clenched teeth. "I doubt he treats ya as good as I did."
"Good?!" Jean laughed while crying. "The time with you was the most horrible one in my whole life!"
"Shut up, slut!" he yelled and raised the weapon which made her raise one arm to cover her head; knowing that if he really fired that weapon, it was useless. "Ya never had it as good as with me!"
"And she's the last one ya ever had, ya son of a bitch!" Logan suddenly growled behind the man and made Richard turn around rather clumsily in his drunken state. With his senses blurry as they were, he only saw a crouched shadow next to the bushes in the dark and thought it was a growling animal with sparkling eyes that reflected the moonlight.
"Go away, animal!" he said and pointed his weapon at Logan, while Wolverine felt threatened and extracted his claws, just to bare his teeth next.
Seeing it, Jean only gasped and was unable to move an inch in shock. She let out a terrified shriek when Richard suddenly fired his weapon that made his opposite whimper when the bullet hit him, but snarl dangerously next. The attack had been enough to set Wolverine off completely and he leapt at him with an angry roar. "No!" the redhead cried and covered her eyes when three more shots echoed through the night and something dropped to the ground. Minutes later, after nothing could be heard for minutes, she dared to open her eyes and gasped in shock. Both men lay motionless on the ground, Richard with a puddle of blood around him that became steadily bigger but still breathing, while Logan was face down in the snow and didn't move at all. She began to shake even heavier when her mind realized what had just happened and felt like throwing up. Nevertheless, she forced herself to move over to him, ignoring Richard's death rattles and reached out to touch Logan's back just to withdraw her hand again quickly. She knew the wetness on it wasn't caused by the snow. "No…," she whimpered and began to shake the man crying. "Logan, please wake up," she begged over and over again but the man just refused to move.
"Hello?" a familiar voice behind her called and Jean's head jerked aside.
"Scott?" she called back and heard how someone fought his way through the bushes. It didn't take long and the man appeared in front of her; his red glasses shining in the dark.
"Jean?" he asked in shock and stopped dead in the tracks. "God, what happened here?!"
"He's not moving…," she sniffed and it was then that he noticed that she cradled his former teammate's head in her arms.
"What happened?!" he asked once more and knelt down next to her to check on Logan's pulse. For her, he was glad that he found a very weak one.
"They attacked us," Jean told him sobbing and gave the now still Richard a hated look. "He…he wanted to kill me…"
"Why?" Scott asked and began to turn Logan around to see where the man was injured. "Just like that? Did they want money?"
"No!" she said angrily and was angered that he didn't understand what she meant. "He'd warned me… He said he would kill me if I ever dared to leave him…"
"Leave him?!" he asked frowning and began to open Logan's shirt as it hit him. "Is that the guy who…?" he asked but didn't have to ask further. He knew it was the man, who had abused her. "So Logan protected you and got hurt?" he asked and received a weak nod. It hurt him to see what a mess she was. Her sobs had turned into uncontrollable ones and he knew he had to bring Logan back to the mansion. "Listen…," he said and touched her arm. "We have to get back to the mansion, okay? Hank needs to treat Logan and he should check on you, too."
"I'm…fine…," Jean sobbed and buried her hand in her hair.
"No, you're bleeding," he said and helped her up first before he began to pull Logan's limb body up. "You're lucky that Emma was so pissed off that she took the car. If it wasn't for a taxi, I wouldn't have walked past the mess he had made on the parking lot." He began to drag Logan over to the car that he recognized at one of Xavier's and saw how Jean stared at the four bodies on the ground. "He didn't kill them. They'll be fine, come on." After opening one of the doors, he pulled Logan onto the backseat and got the keys from the ground, while Jean had already sat down in the back, too, and was cradling her friend's head in her arms. She was too far gone to even realize that she was still shaking heavily and her tears dropped onto Logan's face. Scott only gave her a look and started the car to drive back home.
"Someone here?" he called and walked through the corridors in search for someone. "Hello?!"
"What are you doing here?" Ororo asked and came around the corner with the Professor; both wearing their PJs. "What happened? Did you have an accident?" she asked in shock when she saw that his clothes were covered with blood.
"Nope, not me," he replied and looked at the Professor.
"Hank's on his way," this one said gravely. "Is Jean alright?"
"Jean?!" Ororo asked. "What happened?! Where's she? Did something happen to her?"
"Ororo," the Professor tried to soothe her and looked back at Scott. "Do you need help with him?"
"Yeah, he's pretty heavy," the man nodded and turned around just to stop dead in the tracks.
"Don't need help," Logan grunted but supported himself on Jean. "Especially not from ya!"
"Yeah, I can see that," Scott gave back when the man stumbled and held his chest, not bothering to hide that he would love to do anything but helping him right now, too. "Stubborn idiot," he cursed and grabbed Logan's free arm so that Jean wasn't crushed under the weight.
"Would you please tell me what has happened?" Ororo demanded to know and received a short glare from Logan when he walked, or better tried to do so, past her.
"That fucker was there," he growled and was carried over to the elevator by Jean and Scott, while she and the Professor followed them.
"Richard?!" she asked shocked. "He was there?!"
"No, I tripped and was hit by a car," he grunted and rolled his eyes. "Would ya let go off me?" he snapped and tried to get rid of Scott next to him.
"Then crawl your way to the infirmary!" this one shot back and let go of him, which surprised Logan so much that he nearly fell.
"Stop it, please!" Jean begged and made them sigh in frustration. Grabbing Logan's arm again, he dragged him into the elevator.
"But how did he know you were there?" Ororo asked and looked at Jean from aside while they waited for Hank to finish his work.
"I don't think he did… It was an accident," the redhead mumbled and pulled Scott's jacket more over her shoulders.
"It's good that you've been there, too," Charles said to the man.
"Yes, because Emma's pissed off and told me that she doesn't care how I get home…," Scott said through clenched teeth and crossed his arms. "So…that guy was your ex, hm? Nice choice…"
"Scott!" Ororo warned him with a glare.
"How could you end up with such a psycho?" he went on and shook his head. "I thought you're smarter than that…"
"Scott!" the woman said again since Jean was biting her lip and looked away.
"And you know what stroke me the most?" he went on and ignored her. "That he miraculously looked a lot like Logan…" Seeing how Ororo looked away, he nodded. "And obviously I am not the only one who noticed it…"
Glaring at them, Jean threw Scott's jacket into his direction and entered the infirmary even if Hank had told them to wait on the outside. "Was that necessary?" Charles asked and showed his dislike openly. But Scott only shrugged. "And now explain what has happened, please!"
"How is he?" Jean asked and approached the bed where Hank was still occupied in getting his hands on the last bullet.
"Fine," Logan grunted and hissed when the doctor hit a nerve. "Careful, Furball!" he warned but his eyes softened when Jean touched his dirty cheek. "Ya hurt…," he noticed with a look at the cut above her eye and reached out to stroke over it.
"It's okay…," she waved off and took hold of his hand. "I'm more concerned about you."
"He'll be fine," Hank mumbled and smiled when he finally managed to get a hold onto the last bullet. In an instant the skin began to heal. "Just like new. Nothing a long shower can't repair." Smiling at them he got up to look at Jean's wound. "The bleeding stopped and the cut isn't too deep. I will clean it in a second."
"Come'ere," Logan grunted and made room for her on the bed on which he sat. Protectively, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "Ya alright?" he mumbled into her damp her and felt her nodding. "Sure?"
"Yeah…," she whispered and looked up when Hank came back. Silently, she let him treat the wound and helped Logan to get up afterwards. Together with the blue doctor they left the room and joined the others again.
"How are the two of you doing?" the Professor demanded to know and looked to and fro between them.
"Fine," Logan grunted and pulled Jean over to the elevator. "Need a shower…"
"You can stay in your old room for the night, Scott," the Professor offered and received a thankful smile from the man.
"That hooker kicked ya out?" Logan chuckled and leant back against the wall while Scott began to glare at him.
"Emma's not a hooker."
"Yeah…. I've seen that," he smirked and looked away.
Upstairs they parted and went to their own rooms. Ororo had told them that Julian was asleep in her room and it wouldn't be a problem for her if he spent the night there. While Scott disappeared into his old room and took his time to look around the things he once loved, Jean and Logan retreated to their room and switched on the light. "Let's clean up," he suggested and dropped his wet clothes that he had carried the whole time through to the ground. "You'll get sick," he added with a nod at her wet clothes. "Ya should take a hot bath…"
"You, too…," Jean said after stopping at the bathroom door. "Your skin was freezing cold…"
Logan chuckled and shook his head. "I can't get sick, darlin'. Go ahead and take a hot bath."
She bit her lip insecurely before he walked over to him and took his hand. "But it'll make you feel better…," she replied and noticed that he cocked an eyebrow at her. "We can take a bath together…"
Surprised about her offer, Logan shook his head and reached out to touch her cheek. "No…"
"Why not?" Jean asked frowning. "I'm fine with it…"
"Jean…," he sighed and shook his head once more, but she began to pull him with her.
"Please, I… I just need to feel that you're close by," she said and closed the bathroom door behind them.
"Then take a bath and I sit down in front of the tub. But I don't think it's such a good idea t'take one together," he disagreed and knew he was right. If he already reacted so much to her at night, he didn't want to startle her now after her shock from before.
"Please…," she begged and gave him a pleading look that made it hard for him to withstand her.
"Fine…," he sighed and ran a hand through his face. "But I warned ya… I don't think it's a good idea." While the water was running and the room became hotter and was filled with the scent of it, Logan, who was getting rid of his still soaked jeans, watched out of the corner of his eye how Jean undressed herself. He was still convinced that it was a bad idea. It was too easy for him to pick up on her nervousness and all he wanted was too run. Nevertheless, he couldn't stop himself from scanning her curves and think how beautiful she was. He smirked when she climbed into the now full bathtub with her long legs and became serious again. He began to ask himself how Scott could leave and Richard abuse such a beautiful and gentle soul like Jean.
"What are you waiting for?" Jean asked and he awoke from his daydream. Seeing her frown, he smirked and walked over while getting rid of his boxers. While he intended to sit down on the opposite side of the tub, she moved into the middle so that he had enough space behind her. Swallowing once, he did what she wanted him to do and couldn't help but hold his breath when she leant back against him. Her nervousness became even stronger and overwhelmed him, while he concentrated hard on the toilet. "I thought he'd kill me…," she mumbled after a while and stared at the water.
"He didn't…," Logan replied and had begun to stroke over her arm unconsciously. "What did I do?"
"What do you mean?" Jean asked frowning.
"I can't remember what I do when… Well, when he takes over…"
"Scott said the others were still alive," she told him and felt him nodding behind her. "But I think you've killed him…"
"Ya didn't check?!" he asked and his eyes had widened a bit.
"I doubt he's still alive, Logan," she sighed and closed her eyes. "He bled too heavily and had stopped breathing when Scott had arrived…"
"Ya can never be sure," he warned her and suddenly frowned. "What happened t'ya shoulder?" Stroking over the dark blue and large spot, he felt her wincing and couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed it so far. Or that he hadn't seen it…
"I must have landed on it when he'd thrown me…," Jean said and touched her shoulder.
"That must hurt like shit," he commented her injury and stroked over it again, but more careful this time.
"Actually, it's okay," she waved off and leant back against him again, just to frown when he hissed this time. "What?" she asked in a concerned voice.
"Nothin'…," he grunted but rubbed his chest where the last three bullets had hit him. "Still sore that's all…"
"Let me see," Jean said and turned around. She touched the spots where his skin had healed and stroked over it. "Does it hurt?" she asked and met his gaze while her head was lowered, but he shook his head. "You scared me…," she whispered and kept on stroking over his chest, her eyes watching what she was doing while Logan was staring at her.
"Sorry," he grunted and was unable to tear his eyes off her even if he knew he should. What he and she were doing right now was too dangerous for his taste. Especially if he'd asked him to be patient with her. "Jean…," Logan began when she leant in and kissed him.
"Thank you," she whispered against his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He stared at her, tried to figure out what to do… He couldn't do what he wanted so desperately. He would hate himself for it… "Jean," Logan therefore tried it again. "Ya asked me t'be patient…"
"I know…," Jean breathed against his lips and he stopped her before she could kiss him again.
"No!" he said and shook his head for emphasis. "You're in shock. And I ain't gonna take advantage of your state now. I don't want ya t'hate me in the mornin', so…no!" He gave her a gentle push that brought a distance between them and noticed her confused look.
"I thought you…," she began and he nodded.
"I do… Ya can't realize how badly I want ya," he replied and ran a hand through his face. "But not when you're still in some kind of shock…"
The redhead bit her lip and heaved a deep breath. "But I won't hate you in the morning…"
"But I would," he said and turned to grab the towel from the pile. While he rubbed himself dry, he could tell that she was staring at him. One look at her told him that she was disappointed and confused. "Jean…," Logan sighed and knelt down in front of the tub after he had wrapped the towel around his hip. "Ya might not realize it, but you're in shock. Ya don't think about what you're sayin'…" With a sympathetic look he reached out to stroke over her cheek. "Ya ain't ready for this…" After holding her sad look for a while, he got up to grab a larger towel and gave her a sign to get out of the tub. He wrapped the towel carefully around her and began to towel her dry, before he led her over to the bedroom. "C'mon, let's go to bed…," Logan suggested after he had changed into sweatpants and she was wearing one of his larger pants and shirts, too. "Healin' always makes me tired."
"Okay…," Jean shrugged and went under the sheets when he held them up for her.
"Ya ain't mad with me now, are ya?" he asked in a concerned voice.
"No…," she sighed and pulled the pillow closer but had her back to him.
After heaving a deep breath he moved over and placed a kiss onto her shoulder and neck. "You'll realize that I'm right, darlin'… You'll regret it. And I don't want ya t'regret it…," Logan said and wrapped his arms around her before he spooned her from behind. "Night…"
"Night…," she replied and soon heard him breathing evenly behind her…
Tow chapters on one day… I hope that's what some of you guys meant with Update soon. ; ) I know you want to read another Changes chapter and with college beginning today (since it's Monday 1:30 a.m. here now), I hope I can update during the week. I'll do my best. Thanks a lot to all reviewers!!! Please take your time to review this one here, too! See ya!