Title: Logan's Return
Series: Acceptance #2
Author: Rogue
Email: Rogue12797@aol.comRating: R., Language, Violence, and Suicidal Tendencies
Summary: Rogue receives her new powers. Her mind can't handle it. Will Logan return, if so, will it be in time to save her?
Disclaimer: Not mine, bummer.
Archive: Just ask ye shall receive.
Feedback: I would love to hear from anyone. All I ask is that please don't flame me. This is my first R/L series.
Comments: This is the second in my Acceptance series. This part is also a bit angsty but hopefully there will be a happy ending. Also, I know that this is not how Rogue gets her powers, but let's just pretend, okay.
2 Months after Rogue's First Mission
"Professor, she's not responding to the treatment!" Jean said through the microphone to the others standing, watching her struggle with a kicking, a screaming, a truly mad Rogue, from the safety of another room. Finally deciding to give up the fruitless struggle, Jean levitated a syringe filled with a clear blue substance over into her hand. She then promptly injected the liquid into Rogue's neck before she could escape the third set of restraints over the past two days. Over the last two months since the 'absorption,' as it was now referred to, Rogue's strength had tripled that of ten grown men. She gained the ability to fly. She had been found on more than one occasion floating above her cot in the infirmary. When she emerged from her self-induced catatonic state she was extremely suicidal. Only the sedation and the catatonic state have truly kept her from achieving her goal.
The Professor and Jean had tried many a time to enter her mind to quiet the masses, but to their great surprise, she was now able to block their probing minds. Though they couldn't enter her mind, even in her catatonic state, it didn't prevent them from feeling the girl's anguish flowing from every cell of her body. Her eyes, deep dark liquid pools of sadness and horror never closed, not even in sleep. They and the other members of the X-Men feared that the girl had finally lost the battle with her mind and had given into the madness that had threatened to overtake her mind for the past three years.
Though in rare moments it seemed as though Rogue would gain her lucidity only to be sucked back into the dark void that was her mind by one of the other four voices in her head. Jean walked through the doorway leaving her locked and sedated, staring off to God knows what in a specially designed medlab created by Hank and herself for special situations such as this. She needed to speak with the Professor, Scott, and Ororo. Something had to be done soon otherwise Rogue, the girl they had all come to love, would be lost to them forever. Scott, Jean believed, would be the hardest to convince of the next course of action, seeing that he and Rogue had grown as close as brother and sister, but it is the only way to get her back. Jean heaved a long, tired sigh before entering the room that housed the worried people that she believed were her family.
"Professor, I think it's time. If we wait any longer to contact him, I'm afraid to even think what may happen to Rogue. We have to contact him... Now."
"Jean, do you really think that that's such a good idea?" Scott asked her before the Professor could voice his answer, "I mean his personality is one of the four that has inhabited her mind. Do you really think that he is the one to get through to her? What makes you so sure that he could succeed where you and the Professor haven't?"
"Because Scott, she loves him. She trusts him. His voice has been the loudest in her mind besides her own. His voice is welcomed within her mind. He has always been with her even though physically he hasn't been around. She needs him as much as he needs her, though he may never admit it, stubborn man that he is. He needs her to be here waiting for him to return. He needs her to understand that she is his and his alone. He needs her to survive, just as she needs him to survive. She knows this, believed this, for the last three years. She believed this when we all told her that it was just a crush that she had on him, she knew it wasn't. She believed this when we all thought that she was just another normal mutant teenager, she knew that she wasn't. She is mentally older than all of use together. She may have the body of a twenty-one year old but she is much too wise and too mature to actually be one. She needs him; he needs her. It's as simple as that. You may not want to accept this but for her sake, you must come to terms with it. She believes this with her heart and soul, and her mind, as chaotic as it is at the moment believes it. He's the only thing that is keeping her sane enough to fight, to hang on. Just the thought of him. Imagine what his actual presence would accomplish."
"But Jean, this is Logan, the Wolverine that we are talking about here. He's probably off fucking some barfly somewhere -- sorry Professor, but it's the truth. He's not a nice guy. He's not one that deserves to have a woman such as Rogue. And Rogue has endeared herself to not just me but to you Professor. Is she not like a daughter to you, more so than another student? Isn't she just a little more special than all the others? Doesn't she hold a place in your heart that is just for her alone?" Not waiting for his response, Scott pressed on to make his point, "Ororo, you two have become close, you treat her much the way an older sister would treat a younger sister, right? Doesn't she mean just a little more to you than the other students? Be honest. Haven't you connected with her in a different way than with the others? I know I have." He turned to look at Jean through his ruby visor, "Jean, do you really believe that this... man, and I use that term loosely, is good enough for my sister. Because that's what Rogue is. She is my little sister. She has taken over a place in my heart that I believed long dead-- a place for a sibling. I love her. My God, she's so tiny, so fragile. I don't want her to be more hurt than what she has already been, and he will hurt her. He might even destroy her. He knows that. That's why he's stayed away as long as he has. He's told Rogue that in his letters to her. She may still love him. No, she does still love him. She pines for him every goddamned day. She still wears those fucking tags of his, marking herself his property! You think I don't know that! You think that I don't know that she prays every night that he'll be back at the mansion by the morning! You think that I don't see the damn disappointment on her face come the morning? Because I do! I just don't understand how a he can pull her out of this... this madness. Jesus Jean! She's drowning, and you want to throw him in as her life-preserver?"
"Scott," the Professor's soft but controlled voice filled the room, "Jean is right. I... we, all understand what you are feeling at the moment..."
"Do you? Because I don't think you do."
"Scott, you were right to say that I think of Rogue as my child much as I do all of you. You are correct to assume that she holds a special place in my heart that only she can touch, much as a last child would. But Jean is right. Logan is the only recourse we have for getting her back. He has a connection with her that even I don't understand. But that is not what matters nor your dislike for him. Rogue is what matters. And anything that can help pull her from the darkness and pain that she's in, is worth all the arguments and anger in the world. Remember, it's not what you or I or anyone believes about this man, it only matters what she believes. Though she loves all of us, to her Logan isn't just a man. He is a knight in shining armor. He is her savior. He is her love, her heart. You are her brother. You love her as a brother would, I love her as a father would, Jean and Ororo love her as sisters would, but only Logan loves her as a man would. And that my boy, is all that matters at the moment. Let's get her better before we start planning her life again. He is the only course of action that we have left to save Rogue from herself. He can pull her out of the darkness, that is what I'm sure about. We have to get him here now, as Jean had said. Scott, you, Ororo, Jubilee, and Gambit will take the new Blackbird to retrieve him. Suit up. I'll give you his co-ordence once I find him."
"Professor, it's not that I really don't like him. He's arrogant, rude, crude, crass, any other name in the dictionary would apply but he's proven himself during the Liberty mission three years ago. I respect him for his abilities, his strategies, his self sacrifice. There will always be a place for him on the X-Team. What I don't like about him is his anger and his inability to control it. And mind you, angry he will be when he returns. Oh not because you called him, but because we didn't keep her safe. I just don't see how anger will help this situation. How he's the only one to help her. Aren't we putting all our hopes into one man who may not be ably to help her but maybe make things worse.?"
"Scott, he's our last hope for her. Resolve this. If you can't handle this retrieval mission I'm sure that Storm would have no problems taking over command for this one."
"No Professor, that won't be necessary. I'll command the mission."
"Fine. Suit up then. I'm off to Cerebro," the Professor said as he wheeled himself down the corridor to Cerebro.
Cerebro
The metal doors closed with a loud clang behind the Professor as he placed the Cerbero helmet on his head. Slowly, he concentrated on the subject. Logan, the Wolverine, was easier than he thought to find. He was located in Vermont. Just along the Canadian boarder. He seemed excited and agitated. And it wasn't until the Professor had finally penetrated the man's mind fully that he understood. Logan was in the midst of a brawl of some sorts, raising funds for his return home. That must mean that he was returning to the school soon anyway. He was surrounded by metal fencing with a large red haired man circling him. Eyeing him. The Professor was unsure as to interrupt Logan's concentration now or wait until the match was over. He needed to alert him to the fact that the others were on their way to bring him back to the mansion and why. The Professor took in a deep breath hoping that his breach in Logan's mind wouldn't cause him to sustain serious injury from the fight. Though knowing Logan, he would heal anyway. So the Professor released the calming breath he just took and decided that sooner was better.
Logan, she needs you. The Professor winced as he watched through Logan's eyes as the blow to his head brought the mighty Wolverine to his knees. "Ouch. That had to hurt." He spoke aloud to himself.
Logan in the cage fight
Logan was on his sixth opponent in the ring. As the announcer was looking for the next victim, he took a drag from his expensive Cuban cigar. His watchful eyes scanned the area surrounding the metal cage. Though, his heightened senses didn't detected anything unusual, apprehension filled his soul.
As the announcer announced his next opponent Big Red, Wolverine turned slowly to stare him down and to study his jerky movements. Big Red was a large bulky man. He was tall, probably 6'3" or taller. He was neither all muscle nor was he all fat but somewhere in between. He had his top two front teeth missing, probably from a previous bout in the ring. Wolverine knew, without a doubt, that he could take the giant down. Though he figured that he'd have a little fun with this rather large mouse first. He'd give the audience a show before and maybe work out some of the apprehention that he had been feeling over the past couple of weeks that seemed to be growing within.
Wolverine watched his opponent warily. They circled one another cautiously, gageing the other with experienced eyes. It was at that moment, the moment before Wolverine was about to strike out at Big Red that he felt it...a familiar tickle in the back of his mind that told him that some powerful telepath was trying to enter. Logan knew of only one powerful enough to break through his concentration, especially during a fight. Professor Xaiver.
Logan growled, the rumble came from deep in his chest vibrating its way up through his body. He hoped that it would buy him a second or two before Big Red swung his first punch. But things almost never work out for you the way you plan them. This was one of those times for the Wolverine. Out loud as Big Red's fist connected with Logan's adanamantium skull driving Logan to his knees, he spoke to the Professor.
"Now's not a good time, Chuck. I'm a little busy here at the moment." Xaiver's only reply was, " Logan. She needs you." That stopped Logan cold, mid-swing actually. He knew that the Professor wouldn't contact him unless something happened to Marie.
"When's the team comin'?" He spoke out loud again gaining curious stares from Big Red and the audience. All wondered what had halted the motion of the undefeated Wolverine.
"They're on their way as we speak. Go back to your motel room. Pack and stay there. They'll be there in less than an hour."
"On my way." Logan put his arm down at his side, turned, and stalked out of the cage, never glancing back at the slightly puzzled Big Red. Logan stalked over to the bar. Retrieved his shirt and shoes. Waited for his winnings. Then left.
Unbeknownst to him, Big Red trailed him out to the parking lot. His was preoccupied with thought of Marie and what must have happened for the X-geeks to contact him and make him return. Unfortunately for Big Red, he attacked Logan with a broken glass beer bottle.
"No one walks away from a fight with Big Red, ya freak!" He called to Logan.
"Not now, shit for brains, can't ya see, I'm in a hurry." That only further incised the man causing him to slash out at Logan with the sharp broken bottle.
"Jesus Christ, how fuckin' dense are you, Redneck!" He asked the man right before he hit him and knocked him out with a quick upper cut to the jaw. He looked down at the now unconscious man not caring if he ever woke again.
"I don't envy you, when you wake up, dickhead. You're gunna have one hell of a headache and maybe even a broken jaw if that crackin' noise that I heard came from you and not my knuckles. I told you that I was in a hurry." He turned on his heel leaving the unconscious man laying there on the cold ground. His anger dissolved as quickly it had flared, leaving panic in its wake. The panic made him push the speed of his 'borrowed' bike all the way back to his motel room.
53 minutes, 12 seconds later
Cyclops knocked on his motel room door and Logan walked out with out a word to the fearless leader and made his way to the black jet that loomed in the open field behind the motel. He noticed the slight changes in the jet. He mentally filed the questions away in his head for a later date.
63 minutes, 23 seconds later
After an abnormally silent ride back to the mansion, Logan quickly departed the jet and it's other inhabitants in a flash. He rushed to the medlab, the X-team not far behind. He was met at the entrance to the lab by Jean and the Professor.
"Logan..." a sullen Jean began.
"Where is she? I want to see her. What happened?" Logan questioned anxiously.
"Logan, she's sedated for now but I really think we need to talk a minute before you see her. You need to prepare yourself." Well, that was just the wrong thing to say to the already panicked, played a million different scenarios in his mind since the Professor's 'mind call,' Wolverine.
"I'm seeing her NOW. Outta my way, Jean or I'll go through you. You too Chuck. Tell me what happened after I see her. I need to see her."
"Logan... I really..."
"Jean, let him see her." The Professor said.
"But Profess..."
"NOW!" Logan growled.
He truly wasn't prepared for what he saw. Rogue. She laid on the hard metal exam table restrained by the wrists and ankles, her head was held to the table by another leather strap, there was a thicker leather strap covering her waist holding her pinned to the table. She looked fine other than the bandages the surrounded each restrained wrist. But the fact that she was in restraints at all was making the anger rise with in Logan and the Wolverine was itching to get out along with the nine inch metal blades in his hands. Her eyes were another story. Her eyes were opened and fixed on the spot on the ceiling. If she noticed that he had just entered the room, she gave no indication. As he got closer he knew that something was definitely wrong, horribly wrong with her. The panic started to build again.
"Marie?" No response, he moved closer to her, "Why is she in restraints!" He demanded.
"She tried to hurt herself, Logan. She's not the child that you left here three years ago. There was an accident." Jean tried to explain, as she, the Professor, Scott, and Storm stood off to the side.
"An accident?" He repeated to himself. "Marie? It's Logan, darlin'. I'm back." He didn't even get her to blink at him. "What's the matter with her?" He turned his head to look directly at Jean and the Professor, then turned his head back and looked at Rogue. His eyes began to well up with tears. He had never, in all the years that he could remember, cried over anything. But here he was now, the big bad ass Wolverine tearing up over a slip of a girl who had captured his heart on a cold horrible day on an isolated Canadian road, who would have ever thought. "Aww, baby, what happened to you?" His voiced cracked. And if all in the room didn't know Logan better then they all would have assumed that he was on the verge of tears. But this was Logan that they were thinking about. Of course had they taken a closer look at the man that they believed would never shed a tear, even over the woman that he loved, they would have know for certain that their first assumption had been correct. He quickly closed the rest of the distance between Rogue and him. He watched her lifeless form on the table through blurry eyes. The only indication to let him know that she was still alive was the rhythmic beeping of the monitor hocked up to her heart and the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in deeply as though she were sleeping.
He sat his tired body into a vacant seat by the table and reached for her hand. 'Even restrained they have you gloved, baby,' he thought to himself. Once he grasped her hand and got comfortable in the seat and got his emotions in check, without turning around to face them he commanded, "Explain." in a no nonsense voice as though he were a ruler speaking to his subjects.
"Two months ago..." Jean began to explain as she crossed the room to speak to Logan, "there was a mission."
"A mission? This happened to her on a mission? Two months ago? You just contacted me today about this? What the FUCK was she doin' on a MISSION?" He turned to stare at the Professor, clearly expecting the elder X-Men to explain and explain quickly before he lost his temper. Anger was boiling just below the surface and everyone in the room felt the heat rise a degree.