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CHAPTER 41

Scott couldn't get off the feeling that Logan's sudden return and the happiness it caused the couple angered Jean somehow. He had already noticed a few weeks prior that Jean's demeanour towards the young mother became hostile and he thought that it might be his girlfriend's biological clock ticking louder since they had an infant living next door. But when he had confronted her with his theory that she might be jealous on Rogue for being a mum and that she would want a baby, too, the redhead had looked quite shocked and assured him that a baby was the last thing she wanted at the moment - they could save the baby talk for the next few years.

It wasn't that he wanted to become a father, but it disturbed Scott that his girlfriend hadn't even asked of his opinion on the matter – she'd simply decided for both of them and closed the topic.

Shaking his head, the fearless X-Men leader rapped at Logan's door waiting for an answer for once that never came. He opened the door quietly and entered the room. On the nightstand were two used plates stacked and three empty beer bottles kept them company. The TV was running but this didn't seem to disturb the three occupants of the bed. Scott smiled involuntarily at the picture of Rogue and Becca using the feral mutant's chest as their pillow. The baby was drooling slightly onto her father's wife beater while each of her parents had a hand resting on the sides of her small back. Logan's other hand laid on the teenager's hip quite possessively.

It was this very moment that made Scott realize that the mighty Wolverine indeed loved the young woman - and not in a sick, perverted way. He seemed content and even peaceful with his family close to him and everyone could tell that the gruff loner was a completely different person with his girls around. Scott decided to let them sleep and was about to turn the TV off when a sleepy voice startled him.

"Whatchaya grinnin', Cyke?"

The younger man whirled around and his gaze met the dark eyes of a grouchy Logan staring up at him. "Umm, I didn't want to wake you."

The Canadian growled and shifted somewhat. Suddenly Marie lifted her hand from her daughter and began to rub her eyes. "Whaaat?" she yawned barely noticing her teacher's presence.

Logan faced the brunette, his voice still gruff but it had a gentler touch. "We fell asleep."

"Again? I'll never see more than the first ten minutes of that damn movie." Marie sat up and her tired eyes centered on the flickering TV screen. "Huh? There's Hugh Jackman! Van Helsing isn't over yet!"

Scott frowned and looked at the TV, in front which a suddenly very awake Rogue sat - drooling. "Van Helsing is in color?"

"Didn't know that either, Cyke." Logan hitched his brows and gazed at the screen. "That movie is more boring than any chick flick."

This caught Scott's attention and he stared at the other man in disbelief. "You watch chick flicks?"

"Hell no!" Logan shot him an 'are-you-nuts-I'm-no pansy-like-you-glare', but somehow he didn't feel the need to defend his male pride. "I watched 'Kate and Leopold' with Rogue, cuz she's head over heels for that stupid actor."

It seemed like Marie was too wrapped up in the movie to listen to the two men, but suddenly she turned her head and looked rather pissed at her mate. "Hugh Jackman isn't stupid!" Then, her features softened in the next second. "And Ah just like him. Ya're the one Ah'm head over heels in love with."

"Yeah, yeah, my ass." Logan rolled his eyes and lifted Becca carefully from his chest, wiping her mouth with the hem of his wife beater.

"Shut up now, Logan. Ah wanna watch the movie!" Marie slapped his leg next to her, earning a snarl, which she simply ignored and returned her attention to the movie.

Returning to the door, Scott watched Logan place the baby lovingly onto the mattress next to him – tugging the blanket about her tiny body. "Night." He only heard a growl that sounded somewhat like a 'Night' and saw the other man roll onto his stomach and bury his face in his pillow next to his sleeping daughter.

X X X X X

The next morning, Logan woke to the connecting door open slowly. Grunting he scented the air. "Something up, Ro?"

Storm considered slipping from the room and leaving the man to get some more zzz's, but then she saw Becca stir and she closed the door behind her. She placed her steaming cup of tea on the nightstand and reached for the handle of the small fridge. "Sorry, Logan. I thought you were already awake, since Becca wasn't in her crib."

The man sat up – cracking his neck from side to side – and picked up his waking daughter, cradling her against his chest. "Nah, we fell asleep here last night." He looked around. "Rogue must have crawled back into her bed when that fuckin' movie was finally over."

"I could take her down to feed her bottle." Storm suggested and placed the small bottle into the heater. On Logan's arched brow, the weather witch clarified. "I took the 6 o'clock shift while you were gone." Her eyes centered on the gargling baby. "She's so cute."

Chuckling about his fellow X-Men, Logan shook his head and held his daughter up for Storm to take the child.

"Good morning, sweetie," cooed the woman into the infant's face.

Logan got to his feet and staggered over to his bathroom, switching the TV on on his way there. When he opened the door again a few minutes later, he leaned lazily against the doorframe and watched with a grin on his features how Storm sat in his leather armchair feeding his small daughter. "Thanks for helpin' my girls, Ro."

The woman looked up and was slightly surprised about the gentleness on the feral's usually grim features and the sincerity shimmering in his eyes. "You're welcome."

X X X X X

An hour and the morning news later, Logan thought it time for his Marie to wake up and get ready for her classes. Carrying the baby Storm followed the other mutant into the adjoined room, where they found Rogue shift from her side to lay flat on her stomach.

His mate looked paler than normal and Logan could smell her blood in the air. "Marie? What's wrong?" asked the Canadian concerned and approached her.

"Mah stomach hurts," groaned Marie while turning around and slowly sitting up in bed. "Oh fuck," muttered the brunette as she saw blood on her bed sheet.

"You're bleeding, Kid!" Logan sounded quite shocked and worried.

"No shit, Sherlock!" Marie snapped and crawled out of her bed with an annoyed expression. "It's mah period, genius!"

Following her over to her bathroom – a frown on his features – he observed the blood covered spot on her pj's pants. "Kid, you sure it's just your period?"

The teenager whirled around, anger and rage gleamed in her chocolate eyes. "What? Can't Ah go to the toilet without your surveillance?"

"No!" They were almost face to face now. "Last time you went to the toilet with cramps and the excuse of it being your time of the month, you gave birth to Becca!"

Storm was amazed about the fearless demeanor of the girl, who held the feral's heated glare. The baby started to cry about the loud shouts of her parents and the weather witch began to rock her, approaching the couple. "Logan, I think she's fine. Just take Becca and give Rogue some air," said the woman in her calm motherly voice. "I'll stay here and make sure she's alright."

Logan's gaze traveled over to her and contemplated the offer – Marie used this moment to vanish in the bathroom. After deciding that a woman might handle the situation a little differently than he would and that he wasn't looking forward to his head being bitten off by his mate, he lifted his distressed daughter into his embrace before leaving the room with a curt nod.

X X X X X

School was about to start for the day and Logan was working on Scott's bike while Becca played with her rattle; her baby seat perched up next to him. The rightful owner of the motorcycle stood a few feet away – choosing tools from a box for his mechanic class later that day. The two men hadn't exchanged more than a 'Morning' and were doing their stuff in comfortable silence until an angry "There ya are!" rang from the doorway.

Logan looked up from the bike and saw his mate stomp over to him. "Where else should I be?"

"Ah don't mean you!" She bent down and stroked her daughter's cheek. "Ah was looking for Becca EVERYWHERE!" Now she locked eyes with the father of her child. "Ya were supposed to be in the kitchen, Logan!"

The feral frowned quite startled, a growl on his lips. "I fuckin' was! But you said half an hour ago that you don't feel like breakfast, so I simply fetched a sandwich for myself and came down here!"

"But why the hell did ya take Becca with ya?"

"Why the fuck not?" Logan barked back and leaped to his feet. "Until now you've never complaint about me takin' the baby to the garage. What's gotten into you now?"

"Ya big monkey ask?" Marie was only half aware of her teacher's presence, but didn't really care at the moment. "Mah Spanish class starts any minute!"

"Then get goin', Kid!" Both of them reached for the baby seat, but Logan beat her to it. "But Becca stays here." He saw her eyes widen in disbelief. "Think up another red-herring."

"What?" Her anger reached another notch and she took a step closer to her mate. "Ah'm already late and Ah'm not in the mood to discuss this crap with you now!"

Logan's voice was dangerously calm, his eyes trained on her. "Marie, I don't care if you faint or fake your own death but Becca stays with me."

The little spitfire glared at the man in front of her before whirling around and stomping off. "Asshole!"

When the door leading to the mansion slammed shut loudly Logan sighed and placed the carrier back onto the floor. He crouched down and eyed his sweet little daughter. "Just don't get your period, kiddo."

Scott had watched the fight and was now staring at the closed door the enraged young mother had just use to vent her anger. "What's wrong with Rogue?"

"Three letters, Summers. P-M-S."

"Oh." It was like a light bulb was just switched on in his brain and he slowly averted his gaze from the door. After a moment he narrowed his eyes on the other man. "Did I get this straight? Rogue uses Becca to flee from classes?"

Logan returned his attention to the bike, but answered nonchalantly. "Only Storm's Spanish class and Algebra." Then he looked up with fake realization on his features. "Oh, that's your class, Cyke." The tightening jaw of Scott didn't go unnoticed by the feral and he inwardly cheered. "Don't feel too bad 'bout it. She also tried it in my P.E. class… once." When the last word had finally left his lips Logan couldn't suppress the smug grin from forming on his features.

X X X X X

It was in the late afternoon when Xavier had summoned his X-Men in the war room and informed them about rumors concerning an illegal lab a few miles beyond the Canadian border, harboring data from other facilities, which perform tests on mutants. It didn't take them long to come up with a plan – after all breaking in and retrieving files before leveling the place was a routine mission for the X-Men.

Now, Logan sat in his seat on the Blackbird – his hands gripping the armrests like a lifeline – while Storm landed the jet and he cursed not for the first time the invention of planes. He didn't miss the smirk of the other man as a growl had slipped past his lips when the plane had touched the safe ground.

Immediately Scott switched into leader mode and jumped to his feet. "We'll do it just as planed. No unnecessary confrontations with the guards." His gaze rested on the feral.

Logan eventually nodded with a snarl and opened the ramp. "I heard you the first ten times, One-Eye." He stepped out and headed towards the facility that was about a mile away from their landing place. "I gotta take the basement."

"No, Storm will accompany you." He saw the Canadian roll his eyes in annoyance. "We work as a team. When will you finally get it into your thick metal head, Wolverine?"

Logan ignored the lecture as he watched Jean take out the sensors at the fence and waited for her clearance to cut the three inch thick metal barrier with his claws. They stealthily approached the lab and entered the building through an emergency exit. When they crept down a long corridor, Logan suddenly stopped in his movement as his sensitive ears caught onto people coming their way. He motioned for his team mates to get into one of the rooms while he readied himself for the fight.

Jean and her boyfriend worked on a keypad – him disabling the alarm whereas she tried to lift the massive door from its hinges. Sweat covered her forehead, but she eventually succeeded in opening the lock and let the door fall back into its hinges.

Storm grasped Logan's arm and pulled him into the room, before Scott shut the door fast but quietly. The four held their breaths as Wolverine listened to a woman and a man – he guessed scientists by their conversation – pass by the room and turn into another hallway.

When the immediate danger was over they began to take in their hiding place. The room was plain and almost empty except for a fridge with a thick glass door and a stone in another glass-box – like the ones they have in a museum. Both were secured by a keypad with additional card reader.

Logan and Jean neared the fridge. They cast a look onto the many vials it contained and the feral was about to leave the blood-samples and tissues for the doctor to inspect when a long number caught his eyes and interest. Half absently he fished for his dog-tags around his neck and held the metal plates in front of his face, when he recognized the inscription 'James Logan Howlett'. He cursed under his breath and remembered that he no longer wore his 'Wolverine-tags'. On the other hand it didn't really matter; he knew the numbers engraved on this sole link to his past by heart.

Frowning Jean observed the gruff features of the feral mutant next to her. "Logan?"

With a snarl he tore his gaze away from the samples. "It's me those mother-fuckers are testing on."

Storm and Scott whirled around. "What?"

Logan crouched down in front of the fridge and inspected the lower shelves. "Some of the blood-samples wear my ID number. The one form my dog-tags."

Jean also sunk down to her knees and saw what findings made the man's anger flare and his face cover in disgust. There in larger vials were dozens of embryos in different stages of development conserved and labeled. "Oh God!"

Growling Logan got to his feet and drove his claws and fists into the glass, breaking the vials and mixing the blood samples, tissues and embryos with each other.

"No," screamed Scott and rushed over to his fellow X-Men, but he was too late to hinder him. He stood frozen for a moment, before he breathed a sigh of relief. "You idiot! You could have triggered an alarm!"

"Can it, Cyke!" hissed Wolverine and observed the rest of the room or rather the stone.

"A meteorite?" Scott asked confused as he approached the other mutant.

"That's Adamantium." Flashes of dead bodies of soldiers covering the floor and an old man grasping a stone similar to this one appeared before Logan's mind's eyes. "In its elementary form."

Cyclopes frowned. "But it looks like a meteorite."

"'Cuz it is," barked Logan and turned around towards the door. Those new fragments of his past made him uncomfortable, yet antsy to know if this place harbored other pieces of his lost past.

All of his team mates stared at Wolverine with wide eyes. "You have an alien metal in your body?"

"Apparently. Now get goin', Cyke." With those words the feral slipped out of the room stealthily and moved down the corridor towards the staircase.

X X X X X

They had finally split up and Storm followed Logan through the basement. Differently than they had anticipated the lower levels of the building didn't hold many labs or rooms containing data about the experiments. There was only one large lab that rather looked like a surgery and a few examination rooms with excellent medical equipment. To their surprise they found a small in-door swimming pool, a large gym, a rather sterile class room and a shooting range that seemed kinda unused. Every one of those rooms had a high tech observation landing attached and many cameras that weren't running at the moment.

"What are they doing here?" whispered Storm and rounded another corner. In this new long hallway three guards sat rather bored around a table paying cards and Ororo was stunned by their sight in sudden surprise, from which she recovered quickly and dove back into the other corridor.

But to her dismay one of the men must have noticed her and immediately jumped to his feet while grasping his gun. "Freeze!"

"Shit!" cursed Logan and decided to take the guards out before they could call for backup. He unsheathed his claws and sprinted forward.

One of the guards reached for his radio while the other two opened fire at the intruder. "That's Weapon X!" He exclaimed in realisation as the mutant's wounds healed quickly and made him yell into the communication device. "This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill! Weapon X has infiltrated area SL1-7! We need backup immediately!"

Sirens went off in the entire complex and one of the men ordered the other two, while slowing Wolverine down by shoots into the head and abdomen. "West, Sheppard, get her down to the bunker!"

Without hesitation the two opened the door across from their table and one of them raced in only to return seconds later with a sleepy little girl in his arms. Both started down the corridor towards the elevator just as their CO was stabbed into the chest by two sets of Adamantium claws.

"Damnit! Today of all days Kimura has to be on leave!" The one of the remaining guards not carrying the child muttered while shooting at the raging mutant. But it was no use – until the elevator's doors opened both men were laying bleeding on the floor while Wolverine cradled the girl to his chest – the sharp weapons retracted on the one hand.

Logan swiftly glanced down onto the small child that stared at him with wide green eyes and he breathed in her disturbingly familiar scent. Meanwhile, Storm had caught up and observed the buttons in the elevator. "That's a dead end! It only goes further down!"

With a curt nod Logan spun around and returned to the corridor they had come from, while the weather witch glanced into the small windows of the other rooms' doors, making sure that there weren't any more children held prison.

When they reached a fork, Wolverine saw the backup arrive and quickly leaped towards the staircase. "They must not leave with her!" he heard one man shout while a sudden sting in his back made his mind foggy. Logan reached for the sting and pulled it out when a pained scream left the girl's lips before she went limp in his arms.

"Shit!" He cursed as more sedative bullets buried themselves in his flesh and made the feral groggy. There was no way he could fight with the child in his arms without risking her to get hit once again – and that she would die at an overdose – so he pushed the small body into Storm's arms and headed with a snarl on his lips towards the firing guards.

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