Title: A Secret

Date: Wednesday, two weeks after funeral/third week of class

Time: 6:00 AM

Xavier's school for Gifted Youngsters - Kitchen

For whatever reason, Hank McCoy had awaken earlier than his alarm. He'd stumbled to the shower, his thoughts rumbling with each other as he cleansed himself, then ventured to the kitchen for coffee.

Charles had been mysterious, that was certain. The man had kept more secrets from him and the others than Hank had thought. He'd kept an entire mutant hidden away in his computer's database. He'd kept a very, VERY large piece of a complicated puzzle to himself.

"Moira?" He was surprised to find another being up at this ungodly hour. "What are you doing up? Is everything alright?"

Her eyes held bags beneath them. The smile she gave him reflected exhaustion. "Hello. I'm fine, thank you. I couldn't sleep."

"Yes," Beast knodded. "Neither had I." He helped himself to the coffee Moira had made and sat across from her at the breakfast table. They didn't speak. An eelephant of tension and worry filled the room as Hank and Moira avoided each others eyes. They both had had only one thing on their minds. And the one thing was now printed and lying on the table between them.

Profile: FOX.

"Hank, we have to tell him," Moira broke the silence. "He has a right to know."

Hank shook his head. "I'm not sure if he should know."

"Hank!" Moira gasped. "We're talking about a man's child!"

Hank held up a hand in defense, "Yes. But, Moira, do remember who that man is. I'm not completely certain on how he would react. He could very well take the news very harshly. He is rather sensitive at times."

Moira sighed, "I just feel so rotten over this. What Charles has kept from all of for so long could possibly ruin a life."

"We'll wait, my dear. We have no choice. When the time is right, we can tell Lo-"

Vvvvvvvvrrrrrrroooooooom. A few minutes after the noise, Wolverine swaggered into the kitchen. Dried blood and dirt covered his face, though thanks to his quick healing abilities, no injuries were visible.

"Logan?" Moira stood to get him a towel. She held it under running water ihen the sink and rung the washcloth out before handing it to him. "Are you just getting in, dear?"

He cleared his throat and looked at her with a punch-drunk sloppy knod. "Uh, yeah."

"It's six o'clock in the morning..." Hank added, watching with curious eyes from the table.

"Yeah, I," -cleared his throat one more time- "know. I was...busy."

Moira narrowed her eyes, "What kind of 'busy'?"

Logan felt a little uneasy with Moira darting accusingly curious glares directly at him. This woman, he swiftly realized, would know instantly if he dared to lie to her. Much like Charles, she was able to read him well. "Well," Logan tossed the now dirty rag in the sink and opened the refridgerator behind him. Pulling out a beer, he leaned against the counter.

Moira snatched the alcohol from the grown man, "Wait until noon at least, Logan."

He let out an I'm-annoyed-but-I-respect-you breath. "I was busy at a bar."

Moira frowned, "And now you feel that you need another beer for breakfast?"

"Look," he went back to the fridge, pulling out another beer. "I deserve one of these."

Moira crossed her arms, "And why is that?"

He grinned, "Cuz I found out who sent the threat to 'Ro."

Hank stood instantly, "Really? Logan, that is fantastic!" He was truly thrilled.

His brows pulling together, Logan stared at the blue, burly man across from him. "I'd say lucky. Took a coupla beatin's 'for I could even get a name outta anybody."

"Who was it?" Moira pressed. "Magneto?"

Logan shook his head, "Nah. Furball got Metalhead with 'The Cure'. He doesn't have any authority anymore." He took a long drink from his beverage. "Some pyscho named Lawrence."

Hank frowned, "That doesn't give us much to work with."

Logan shrugged, "It's a start." He brought the bottle to his lips again when something caught his eye. "What's that?" He pointed to the table.

Alarm shot through both Moira and Hank. They glanced at each other before looking to Logan, who's suspicion now grew. Casually - or at least pretending to be casual - Hank grabbed the file, making sure the title faced away from Logan. "Blue prints and plans for Cerebro," He answered. "Moira and I were just discussing them before you came."

Logan narrowed his eyes, but rather than questioning the pair, took another long drink from his beer. "Thought Cerebro was fixed," he said cooly. Two can play at this game.

Hank shrugged, keeping the printings firmly in his grasp. "A few upgrades couldn't hurt."

"Huh," Logan finished his beer and set it down on the counter. He started to leave, "Never thought you to be a liar, Fuzzy."

Moira bit her bottom lip as Logan left. "Hank..."

"No, Moira," He answered sternly, clearly hurt by the accusation. "We can't. More than ever. We just can't."

***Note: Another difficult chapter. I apologize for the shortness. But I kid you not, great, full chapters are coming