Logan crept into the kitchen, using the skills of stealth that he had developed over years of training. He moved silently across the tiled floor, holding his breath to prevent her from hearing even the faintest sound. She gave no indication of seeing or hearing him as he stood behind her. She was humming some love song from the eighties quietly as she peeled carrots for the salad she was preparing.
Just as he was about to shout and grab her from behind, scaring her witless, he saw the vegetable peeler under his nose.
"Don't even think about it." Storm warned her husband.
Logan exhaled, seeing that the gig was up. Instead he wrapped his arms around Ro's waist and buried his face in her soft, feminine neck.
"How did you know I was there?"
"Logan, I've been married to you for about twenty years and in that time, I've picked up a few things." Ororo answered simply, continuing to peel the vegetables.
"You know," Logan said deeply, pressing himself closer to Ororo. "Leah took Ben out for a walk in the woods. They probably won't be back for at least an hour."
"Oh?" Ororo replied absently.
Logan began to rub his wife's shoulders. "Yup. We have the apartment to ourselves. Just you and me here. Alone."
"Logan, I have to get dinner ready."
"Nah, we can just eat with the rest of the school in the dining hall later." Logan reasoned. He spun his 'Ro around playfully to face him. "Come on, live on the wild side."
Storm seemed to think for a moment then smiled. "You know, I think I will."
Logan beamed and moved to kiss her neck but was stopped as Storm pressed her peeler into his hand and draped her apron over his head. She laughed at the disgruntled, disappointed look on her husband's face.
"You finish diner, I think I'll take a nap." She said as she headed off to the bedroom alone.
"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind 'Ro." Logan said.
"I know."
"You're a cruel woman."
Storm turned to look at him from the bedroom and smiled. "I know."
xXx
I was on a date with Remy. We were in a fancy restaurant, surrounded by well dressed people. For some reason Remy was wearing a Mountie uniform. People were staring at his bright red jacket and stiff hat. And then he stood up and started singing a song I didn't recognize. And my parents were at the table next to us, having dinner with my grade six teacher.
Oh Lord this is a stupid dream, I thought absentmindedly. Why are my dreams so weird? Is everyone's dreams as strange as mine?
Deciding that this dream was too weird to continue, I tried to wake up. The only problem was, I didn't seem to be able to. I tried to open my eyes, but it felt as though they were sewn shut. I couldn't move either. I was pulled from my dumb dream, but I was still asleep. I was now just in a dark place. I was conscious, but unable to wake.
It was like one of those stories where a person is conscious during surgery but unable to do anything because they're drugged.
Oh, this is probably really bad.
Distantly, I felt a strange pressure in my arm. Even though it was dulled, I had been in the hospital enough to know the feeling of an IV. The only difference was, instead of the warm feeling which often came from having fluid put in, I felt cold. As if something was being taken out.
I felt a panic as I realized, someone is stealing my blood!
But what can I do? They must have drugged me with something to keep me under. And it's the middle of the night, no one is up. But I can't let them take my blood! It's too dangerous!
An idea came to me, and I desperately hoped it would work.
I lived in a place with one of the most powerful telepaths in the world. I had no idea if he'd be able to sense me in my dream, but I had to try.
Professor, professor! I yelled from within my head. I continued to yell but there was no response.
I had never been this vulnerable before. I've always been able to fight, even when the odds were against me, at least I could fight. But there was nothing I could do but let this happen. The worst part was, I knew what my blood could do and in the wrong hands, even good, well meaning hands, it could cause trouble for others.
I felt something warm and wet slide down my cheeks and realized I was crying.
xXx
It was seven thirty AM when Logan rapt on Leah's door. It was time for her training session with Cap, who was waiting in the living room. Actually, she was half an hour late to her session. She was due to meet Cap down in the Danger Room at seven. When she hadn't shown up, Cap had come up to the apartment to see what was keeping her.
"Leah, it's time to get up. You're late and you're keeping Cap waiting." Logan called through the door, keeping his voice low so he wouldn't wake 'Ro or Ben who were still asleep. When he didn't hear her stir, he opened her door. "Alright sleeping beauty, up and at'em."
Still Leah didn't move. Logan frowned with concern. While Leah did like her sleep, she was very responsible about forcing herself to get up in the mornings to train. She was also a very light sleeper. His noise should have woken her.
"Leah?" Logan went over to her bed and shook her gently. Still, she didn't stir.
"Logan, is everything alright?" Captain America asked from the hall. He had come over to inspect what was keeping them, sensing correctly that something was wrong.
"I can't wake her up!" Logan exclaimed, panicked. As a man who was known to not let things faze him, this made the situation a whole lot more scary. He shook Leah more roughly. "Leah!"
"I'll call Hank and Storm." Cap hurried away.
"Come on darling, wake up!" Logan whispered, his eyes studying Leah's face. He checked her pulse and found it slightly higher than it should be when she was just lying in bed. He noticed something else. There was a small bruise with a red dot in the middle on the inside of her arm. There were also a few specks of blood on her white sheets by her arm.
Almost as though there had been a needle.
Logan swore loudly as Storm raced into the room.
"Logan, what is it? Why isn't she waking up?" Storm asked in a frightened voice as she knelt by Leah's bed and pushed her daughter's hair out of her face.
"We need the Professor."
xXx
Leah had been brought down to the MedBay immediately. She was being looked over by Hank, Jean, and the Professor. People close to Leah who had heard the news waited outside while she was examined. Cap choose to lean against the wall rather than take one of the available chairs. Logan held Storm close to him and whispered to her as she shook. Ben, who had heard the commotion despite the adults' best efforts, was curled into a tight ball in his chair. He was still wearing his pyjamas. The adults tried to convince him to stay in the apartment but he had insisted on coming down.
Hank came out of the room and all heads shot up to look at him.
"They gave her some sort of neurotoxin. We've run tests but we haven't deciphered yet what kind it is." Hank said gravely. "But we have deduced that she is in no immediate danger."
"No danger? Our daughter is in a comma!" Logan snarled. He didn't mean to snap like that at his friend, especially since he knew he was doing his best for Leah. But that's what animals do when they're scared.
Storm squeezed her husband's hand.
"What I meant to say is, her vitals are good and the toxin isn't damaging her organs. It's not poisoning." Hank tried again.
"It's not quite a comma either. Despite the fact that she seems to be asleep, there is a lot of brain activity." Jean said, crossing her arms and biting her lip (a habit she had when she faced a problem).
"Can you reach her?" Storm asked, her eyes pleading.
"I'm sorry. The drug is making it difficult to read her mind." Jean said regretfully. "The Professor is trying now, hopefully he'll find something."
Storm buried her face in Logan's shoulder.
"Why would someone wanna hurt Leah? She's nice." Benny asked. His eyes watered dangerously. "I know there are bad guys, but why Leah?"
Seeing that the boy was about to break down again, despite obviously trying to stay brave, Steve went to the boy's side.
"It's going to be alright son," Cap said, his face and voice completely honest. He put a comforting hand on the boy's small shoulder. "The doctors are going to look after Leah. And we're going to find out who did this to her."
Benny's lip quivered, but he held back his tears and nodded.
The Professor wheeled out of the room, looking tired.
"I've been able to break through to her. Its hazy because of the toxin, but I got through."
Logan and Storm stood as one. Storm quickly asked, "Is she okay?"
"She is frightened, but staying strong. She is not in any pain or too much distress." Professor Xavier answered. "But she is worried. She thinks someone stole her blood."
Logan shared a look with Storm. "There's a mark on her arm."
Hank nodded. "It looks consistent with a needle puncture."
Everyone in the room but Benny knew the horrors which could come from Leah's blood falling into the wrong hands.
"I'll wake the others and send out a team right away." Jean said, hurrying from the room. Cap followed her, having the same intentions. The sooner they found her blood, the safer they all would be.
"Does she know who did this?" Logan asked.
Professor Xavier shook his head gravely. "She has no idea. I'm sure you will want to go out with the team to look for whoever did this, but if you wish, you may go in and see her."
Logan, his arm around 'Ro's shoulders nodded and went into to the room where Leah was lying on a clean white bed, hooked up to monitors.
"She attempted to reach me. Last night while it was happening." Xavier said in a soft voice, his eyes on her parents. "She tried and tried to call me for help, but I didn't hear her. I could have helped her if only I had been listening."
Hank shook his head. "This isn't your fault Charles, you know that."
Xavier watched as Storm wiped away a tear, knowing that she tried to make sure no one saw. "Just regretting, old friend. Let's hope Captain America is right and we'll be able to find out who did this."
xXa