The fact that Jean had been outsmarted by a three year old was priceless. She walked around like the Queen of All and Braeden had showed her up with a simple comment. The only problem was putting Braeden’s brilliant plan into action.
Kitty and Kurt were on a second honeymoon before the birth of their first child in a few weeks and no one knew where to find them. They hadn’t even told the Professor where they were going because they didn’t want to be interrupted. Since she had become pregnant over eight months before, Kurt had become very protective of Kitty and didn’t want to risk anything happening to her or their child. The pair wouldn’t be back for a week and there was no telling what could happen in that time.
“We’re still going on that vacation when this is all over,” Logan mumbled against Marie’s hair.
Once again they were in the “Logan’s been an idiot and needs to be put back together again” room and the pair were sprawled out on the bed. It was much better than the cold floor of the Danger Room. Especially since he knew that he hadn’t killed Marie. The thought that he had killed Marie had practically destroyed him. Logan knew that he wouldn’t have been able to cope if he had killed his Marie. She was everything to him and living his endless life without her would have been impossible.
“And just where are we gonna go?” Marie asked softly, running her hand over his exposed stomach. “Are we gonna go somewhere romantic or somewhere the kids can wreak some havoc?”
“As long as I get some quiet time with you at some point that’s all I care about,” Logan informed her, turning his body so that he was pressing as much of himself against her as possible.
Marie pressed a kiss to the centre of his chest. “We’re alone right now, sugah.”
“Yeah, until Jeanie pokes her head back in here,” Logan grumbled. “Sometimes I wonder just how she managed to get her degree ‘cause her bedside manner sucks.”
“Well it’s better than when we first came here all those years ago and she’d feel ya up every time you got knocked out,” Marie reminded him. “But, I got a plan to keep her out for a while.”
Amidst much protesting from Logan, Marie slid out of his arms and the bed. “I’ll be back quick as possible,” Marie promised him, leaning over to brush a kiss against his lips. “You just sit tight for a few moments.”
Logan watched her go then pushed himself into a seated position. His head was throbbing. Hank had discovered that the only times the chips seemed to function were when he was completely relaxed. Because of this, Hank had given him something that would keep his mind alert. It left Logan positively stir crazy and unable to relax completely.
Before reentering the room, Logan watched Marie tape a piece of paper to its glass window. She then slipped inside and began shutting the blinds on both the door and the observation window that looked into the room.
“What’s on the piece of paper?” Logan asked as he pulled Marie into his arms.
“A note to Jeanie,” Marie told him, snuggling close to him.
“And just what is on this note?”
Marie lifted her head from its place on Logan’s shoulder and grinned down at him. “It says, ‘Jeanie, I’m makin’ Logan feel better so don’t come in unless ya want the life sucked outta ya.’ Hopefully that’ll keep her away.”
Logan chucked quietly, his fingers lightly running over Marie’s hip. “At least you didn’t put anything about me being naked. That woulda had Jeanie in here in a minute.”
“I was severely tempted, sugah. But then I thought the exact same thing and got a new piece of paper,” Marie told him, the grin evident in her voice as she lowered her head back onto his shoulder.
After everything that had happened, Logan was content to simply hold Marie in his arms. He could spent eternity in her arms and be forever content. Had his mind not been in such a disarray, Logan knew that he would have drifted off to sleep in Marie’s arms. As it was, the only peace Logan could find was from Marie’s hands as her gentle touch soothed him and distracted him from everything that was going on around them.
~*~*~*~*~
“I must say that I am surprised to see you waiting so long to turn Creed loose with your plaything,” Alayna said as she raised her tea cup to her lips. “I would have thought this to be over long ago.”
Erik smiled at her, leaning back into his chair. “Very soon, my dear. I just wanted to give them a sense of calm after what happened with the Rogue. Once they believe that they are safe I shall strike.”
Alayna smiled demurely and delicately crossed her legs. “And just who will be your first victim?”
~*~*~*~*~
“Can I just state for the record that I am severely against this?”
Kitty rolled her eyes and placed a light kiss on Kurt’s cheek. “Oppose all you want, elf boy, but you’re not changing my mind.”
“I’m afraid I’ve gotta side with the blue man,” Logan spoke up, his fingers tapping absently on the table in front of them. “I’m not risking Kitty and the little munchkin just to get this thing outta my head.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m the one doing the risking here and my vote is yes,” Kitty reminded them, waving a hand in the air. “And I get why you’re all worried, but it’s okay. I’m far enough along so that nothing will happen to the baby. Just strap Logan down to the table and I’ll do my voodoo.”
“I don’t know about this, Kit Kat,” Marie murmured, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. ”We don’t really know anythin’ about those things in Logan’s head and anythin’ could happen when you take them out. You and the baby can get hurt.”
“How many times has Logan saved my life over the years?” Kitty demanded, glaring at each of them in turn. “How many times has he risked his life to save me? How many times has he nearly gotten himself severely mangled trying to save me? And how many times has he risked not coming home to Kristyn and Braeden so that I could come home to Kurt? Give me a definite number and then we’ll talk about me not helping him.”
Logan glanced down at his lap. He hated putting Kitty at risk like that, especially with the baby due so soon. She and Kurt had been trying for years to have a baby and Logan wouldn’t be able to stand it if something happened to the little tyke while Kitty was taking the things out of his head.
“Kitty....”
Kitty gave Logan a stern look and held a finger up. “No. I don’t wanna hear it, Logan. I am taking those things outta you’re head and you don’t get a say in it.”
“Thank you, Kitty,” Logan said softly, smiling at his long time friend and godmother of his little girl.
Kitty smiled broadly. “Good. Now that that’s settled, Logan, go get yourself tied to the bed and I’ll be there in a minute to rock your world.”
“Hey! That’s my husband you’re hittin’ on!” Marie cried good naturedly.
For the moment, the tension was lessened somewhat. However, as soon as they entered the “Logan’s been an idiot and needs to be put back together again” room it was a different story. Even though he wouldn’t admit to it under extreme torture, especially not with Scott there, Logan was seriously scared half to death by what was going on. For all he knew his head would explode when Kitty took the chips out.
“All right, Logan, if you would lie down on the bed we can begin,” Hank said as he came into the room with an oversized needle filled with sedative. It was the only way to ensure that Logan would remain unconscious for longer than five minutes.
Logan let out a loud breath then hopped up onto the bed. Pulling off his flannel shirt, Logan held his arm out towards Hank. Thankfully it was Hank giving him the shot. The last time Jean had given him one she had insisted on giving it in the ass. However, the needle was so damn big that wherever it went in it hurt like hell so Logan couldn’t help but wince when Hank stuck it into his bicep.
“I’ll see you when ya wake up,” Marie said softly as she helped him to lie down. “Everythin’ will be all right then.”
Logan kept his eyes trained on Marie’s face. “I love you.”
Leaning over, Marie pressed a kiss to his forehead then lowered her head so that her lips were even with his. “I love you too, Logan. Now just relax and let Kit Kat do her job.”
The thick metallic cuffs appeared out of the mattress and locked Logan’s limbs in place. Marie cupped his face and brushed a light kiss against his lips before standing back and giving Kitty room. Marie didn’t go far, though. Even when she was out of his line of sight, Logan could feel her link her fingers through his and run her other hand along his arm.
Almost immediately things began to get hazy. That was the annoying things about the sedative mickey that Hank had concocted especially for him. One moment he was fine and the next he was completely out of it.
The last thing Logan saw was Kitty dramatically pulling on a pair of surgical gloves and grinning down at him.
Game.
“Scott, you know those drugs only last for so long,” Marie giggled from somewhere off to Logan’s right. “Logan will be awake in a few minutes....”
Scott snorted and suddenly the bed depressed on his right side. “Oh please! Logan’s chained to the bed. Even if he does wake up nothing will happen.”
“But he’s my husband and we have two children together,” Marie protested, not sounding very convinced.
“And you’re sleeping with me on the side. What’s your point?”
Set.
“NOOOO!!” Logan shouted, fighting against the manacles.
He strained and fought as hard as he could until he felt as though all of his muscles were about to break in half, but he refused to give up. There was no way that Scott was going to lay a hand on his Marie. She was his and he wasn’t going to give her up. Not ever.
It took several minutes-- several minutes during which Scott and Marie seemed to be ignoring him completely --but Logan finally managed to get himself free.
“Die you fucking bastard!” Logan roared, launching himself at Scott.
All of Logan’s caution was gone and he released his claws.
Directly into Scott’s midsection.
Match.
In an instant, Logan felt his entire reality switch. The world around him suddenly came alive with noise and Scott’s face changed.
Into Jean’s.
As Logan watched in horror, Jean’s heartbeat slowed and then suddenly stopped. She had died right before his eyes and, unlike Marie, she wouldn’t be coming back.
With a strangled cry, Logan resheathed the claws and scrambled off the bed.
He had to get away.
Far away.
Before he killed anyone else.
Pumping his legs, Logan sprinted down the deserted corridors as fast as he could. No one was there to stop him and there was only one place he could go to keep the other’s safe from him.
Logan bolted into the Blackbird’s hanger and continued on towards the armoured wall that shielded it from the waterfall which raged beyond. The metal was strong, but not strong enough to withstand the laser honed adamantium blades which were housed in his forearms.
Gasping and in a panic, Logan stopped in front of the door and released his claws. They were barely out before he was attacking the door, cutting himself a way out.
“Logan, no!”
“I have to, darlin’! It’s the only way!” Logan shouted back as she shoved away the door he had made for himself. As soon as the door fell away, Logan could feel the spray from the waterfall as it rushed only a few feet in front of him.
“Logan, please.... I need you....”
Turning his head back towards Marie, Logan gave her a sad smile. “And I could kill you.”
She took a few tentative steps in his direction and Logan jumped. He launched himself over the edge of the hanger and into the abyss.
Over the roar of the water, Logan could still hear Marie screaming his name.