AN: Back again. :) I just have to throw out there for the "haters" that I was looking up stuff before I started writing this chapter and I have to make a comment on the "age difference" many people bitch about. Anna Paquin (the actress who played Rogue) is currently dating someone who is only one year younger than Hugh Jackman (actor of Wolverine) And let's be honest, it's the chemistry between the actors that really get you hooked on this pairing, and the age difference of the actors that bothers people.
Anyway, just had to point that out, I thought it was amusing.
This is not a happy chapter. Sorry!
On with the show.
O o o o o o o o o o O
In the mansion, everyone was on high alert. Rogue's power coming back spread even faster than the news of her and Logan's relationship. Everyone was concerned about the possible return of Magneto and Mystique and other mutants that were affected by the cure.
In Professor X's office, Storm, Kitty, Iceman, Colossus, Jubilee and Beast were having an emergency meeting regarding this turn of events. Xavier held his hands up for silence. "I think it is safe to assume if Marie is reverting, everyone else will as well. She had no particular healing or regenerative powers that would lead me to think that she was an isolated case."
"But we've not heard anything, that's a good sign, right?" Kitty asked nervously.
Storm answered that question, "It could be they are regrouping and taking advantage of everyone thinking they are powerless."
"We also don't know exactly how long Rogue's power has been coming back." Beast's calm voice broke in, slipping back to using her code name again with her return of mutation. "It isn't fully back and was only apparent on Wolverine's return." Bobby snorted and Jubilee and Kitty giggled softly, but quickly stopped with a look from the professor and remembering what Marie was now going through. "It is not very strong right now," he said thoughtfully, calculating things in his head, "I would anticipate another month perhaps before the reversion is complete."
Charles nodded, "Alright, I am going to go to Cerebro and see who I can find in the way of other mutants. Bobby and Kitty, start looking on the web for news on anything unusual. It is very likely that the mutants who wanted to be cured might be trying to hide the return of their powers to maintain normalcy. Things are bound to slip though.
"Jubilee, will you assist Hank with his work in the medlab studying this?" He knew Jubilee had a strong mind for science, despite her ditzy exterior and this was a good opportunity to get her to try out medicine.
"Storm, you and Colossus should do a more manual search in some of Erik's old haunts. Also try contacting Warren to see if he wishes to join us with this mission."
Storm nodded and Colossus looked around, "Where is Cyclops?" He was surprised that Scott was not in the meeting.
Beast and Charles looked at each other and Storm spoke up. "He attempted to forcibly question Logan about Marie." She really tried to not smile, because Scott was seriously hurt, but he should have known better than to bother Logan when he was worried about Marie. "He needs some time to recover though. He can assist Bobby and Kitty when he's ready."
"Alright, you have your assignments." Charles spoke with an air of authority. "Be on high alert for problems." They all left the room to do what they needed.
O o o o o o o o o O
"Darlin', you're really scaring me here." Logan paced around their room, his eyes never leaving her face.
Marie's voice was deadened. "There's nothing to talk about or deal with." She didn't meet his eyes.
"The hell there isn't. You just told me I needed to move out! I am not moving anywhere. I like our room." And damn it, he did. She had taken some of the girly things out and she had painted the walls while he was gone. And he was used to sleeping next to her. "I get a say in this too."
"I'll kill you." It wasn't a threat, but a frightened whisper. Tears started running down her face. She didn't want him to leave and he was right, it was their room, not her room anymore. But the sooner she got the pain of this over with, the better off they would both be.
Logan moved towards her, suppressing the growl that wanted to form when she flinched from him. "I want to sleep next to you, it's worth the risk," he repeated the words she had said to him their first night together.
He reached out and grabbed her arm with a gloved hand, holding her tightly while he used his teeth to remove the other glove, making sure she couldn't try and get away. "What are you doing, Logan?" she asked with fear.
"Shut up and let me kiss you." She struggled against him, but of course he was too strong to make those struggles effective. He had his ungloved hand on the back of her neck and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. After a few moments, her protests stopped and she returned the kiss, no pull coming from him.
"God Logan, I don't want this to end." She was crying harder now, finally pulling away and resting her forehead on his.
The growl couldn't be suppressed this time, "Then it won't. Don't be stupid." He ran his ungloved hand down her bare arm. "We'll figure something out."
"But I'm going to go back to what I was!"
"Loved you then too," he grunted. "It doesn't matter to me whether you're a mutant or a human, you're my Marie and nothing's gonna change that." She allowed him to take her into his arms, still crying. His face was set in anger. He hated seeing Marie hurt like this and it wasn't a problem he could solve through brute force, his specialty.
Eventually, her tears slowed. He laid her down on the bed with him, feeling his skin start to tingle just slightly where it was touching her skin. Hoping to stop it before she noticed, he released her, kissed her again, speaking softly, "Rest a little. I gotta go check in with Chuck."
She nodded and watched him leave out the door, the tears starting back up again. She had felt the start of the pull, just as much as he had.
O o o o o o o o o o O
Logan really did need to speak with Charles, but first he wanted to run by the medlab. He had smelled blood as he walked away from Scott. Marie would be pissed if he really was hurt, no matter how well deserved that punch was.
He nodded to Hank as he walked in, the blue furry doctor looking at him in sympathy, "How is she doing?"
Logan grunted in a negative fashion. "Shitty. But I've got questions and I wanted to see if One-Eye was ok."
Hank frowned, he was very concerned about Rogue and her state of mind, but there wasn't more he could do right now. He motioned over to the lab. "Jubilee and I are working on getting answers. It will take some time." He took a deep breath. "As for Scott, he's over there." He nodded towards a pulled curtain. "I don't think I'm going to have to do surgery, but he's in a lot of pain."
Wolverine was shocked. "What in the hell? I didn't use my claws!"
"Scott's grafted skin is not able to take much before ripping and getting severely damaged," Hank said quietly. He knew Logan hadn't meant to hurt Scott that badly, but he needed to understand how serious it was. "He's going to be out of commission for a while, until the wounds heal. His skin doesn't want to hold staples or sutures."
"Shit." Logan really had not intended this result and stalked over to the curtained area, pulling it back and seeing the man with bandages covering his abdomen, blood stains already leaking through. "I hope they're at least giving you the good drugs, Slim."
"Logan." The word was said as a curse. "Thanks a lot."
Wolverine gritted his teeth, "You shouldn't have said I hurt Marie." He was firm in this justification, but conceded, "I should have pulled my punch."
"Is she ok?" Even drugged up and in pain, he was still concerned about Marie. Logan couldn't be totally pissed off at anyone who cared for her that much. "What happened?" He said the last question carefully, keeping the accusation out of his tone. He really didn't want to be punched again.
"Her mutation is coming back," he said simply.
Scott closed his eyes, a wave of grief falling over him on Marie's behalf. He now understood just why he had heard her scream and what Logan was so upset about. "She's not taking it well."
Logan glared, "Of course she's not taking it well," he snapped. "I have to go. Need to talk to Chuck, then get back to her." He paused before leaving, speaking over his shoulder. "Sorry about your gut."
O o o o o o o o O
Charles was waiting for Logan after he left the medlab. "She's sleeping now," he reassured the burly man in front of him. Logan seemed like a terrifying creature to many, but Charles knew his mind, knew just how much he loved the woman who was in her own personal hell right now.
"You've got to fix this, Chuck. She's trying to push me out, and that's not good." Logan paced unhappily in front of the leader of the X-Men.
Charles's face was also set in a frown. He had looked inside Marie's mind, worried about what she was projecting. She was considering suicide, and though he wasn't comfortable sharing that with Logan yet, if she became more serious about it, he would. "No, it's not. I'm not sure what can be done though at this point. The cure has been destroyed," he began.
"We still got the kid they made the cure from," Logan growled.
"I don't think Marie would appreciate us experimenting on Jimmy, even if it would help her," he spoke firmly, not wanting Logan to get any ideas.
Logan grumbled, "Damn it, there has to be something." He sat down, his head in his hands. "I can't lose her, Chuck. Not her." His voice broke painfully, his gruff exterior falling to pieces.
Xavier laid a hand reassuringly on Logan's shoulder. "We'll figure something out." He paused, listening to something only he could hear. "She's stirring." Logan left without another word.
O o o o o o o o O
He was back in bed with his arms around her before she fully woke up. For a moment, there was a calm and happy look on her face as she saw Logan next to her, then the reality of what had happened came crashing down on her and he could see the light die in her eyes in front of him.
"Hey now, my mug isn't that bad to wake up to." He tried to get her to smile, anything to get her to connect with him.
She reached out and touched his face, her expression still solemn. They both waited, breathless, for the telltale tingle that would precede the pull of her mutation. She kept her hand there for several minutes without reaction, then let it drop, her eyes seeking his in confusion. "Hank said it would be sporadic now."
She sighed and dropped her eyes. Resignation and depression rolled off her in waves. "I don't know if I can go through with it again."
"'Course you can. You're not doing it alone." He stroked her hair lovingly, but paused after a moment. "I do have to tell you something." He paused and grumbled, "Scooter might appreciate a visit from you in medlab." She looked at him in alarm. "I may have punched him," he muttered. "He deserved it!"
She glared at him, sitting up, "I doubt that. I'll be back." She stood and stalked out of the room to visit Scott.
Logan was slightly pleased, he would rather she be pissed off at him than see the despair in her eyes.
O o o o o o o o o O
"Oh my God!" Marie exclaimed when she saw Scott. "I'm going to kill him!" she fumed.
Scott laughed, though it ended in a painful wince. "I may have deserved it." She looked at him suspiciously, waiting for him to continue. "He may have been following you down here, and I may have suggested he hurt you," he mumbled.
"Scott!" she gasped. "You're lucky he didn't do worse." She grinned, forgetting for a few wonderful moments what was going on. "You going to be ok?"
"Yeah," he said. "Logan actually apologized too." Marie looked at him in surprise. "It's true. I think he may have meant it too."
"Well, good." She smiled, then it faded and the sadness settled around her like a cloak.
Scott shook his head, "Hey now. It's going to be ok. I know it." He reached out for her hand, but she pulled it away.