"You're worryin' about something, Jeannie," a gruff voice commented,  sounding too loud in the peaceful silence of the lab, causing Jean to start  nearly spilling her cup of coffee across the various x-rays spread across the table. An instinctual burst of telekinesis was the only thing that saved  the documents.

"Logan!" she exclaimed, swallowing heavily as she mentally righted the  coffee cup and began straightening the table. "We, uh, didn't expect you  back so soon." He stepped into the lab, boot heels clicking on the tile  floor.

"The base was deserted, smelled salt in the earth," he stated, shrugging as  he came to a stop in front of her small table.

"They salted the earth?" she asked, her voice soft as she mulled over that  knowledge. "Why salt the earth?"

"So nothin' would grow," Logan stated. Jean looked up in surprise. "Rome did  it t'Carthage," he chuckled. "Surprised, Jeannie? A knowledge of history not  in the profile of the wild animal your little group jus' assumed?" He  smirked, leaning forward and placing his hands on the table. "I went  t'school." He narrowed his eyes. "I think I did."

"It's not that, Logan," she appeased, sliding her chair back and rising to  her feet. She turned away from him and busied herself cleaning up the rest  of the lab. "I just--"

"You're afraid," he stated, still leaning on the table, looking up at her  through dark lashes.

"What?" she asked half-distracted.

"You're terrified," he replied, rising from his position and stalking  towards her. He stopped mere inches from her, but she screwed her eyes  tightly shut and refused to turn around.

"I saw what happened to you, what they did to you. I felt it...in my head."  She sighed, leaning forward against the nearest wall. "If you could remember  it, wouldn't you be afraid?" she whispered.

"Good enough reason," Logan stated, stepping back from her. "Pity it's a  lie." Jean whirled around at that, her green eyes flashing in anger. Logan  snorted in laughter. "What ya saw in my head, Jeannie, didn't bother ya  then, why is it now?" She opened her mouth to reply, but he didn't give her  the chance. "I bother ya." He cocked his head, his eyes studying her. "Not  what ya see in my head, but what I make ya feel."

"You're insane. More so than Scott thought," she said, trying to push past  him. She didn't get far, as Logan's hand lashed out, clamping onto her  wrist. Her skin prickled at his touch, and her breath came out in shallow  gasps.

"Jeannie--" he began.

"Don't," she stated forcefully, pulling her wrist out of his grasp. "Do not  call me that." She swallowed heavily, half-thankful to be out of his grasp,  half-wishing she wasn't. "Only Scott calls me that."

"What do ya see in him?" Logan wondered aloud.

"Do you honestly want an answer?" Jean stated, and when he didn't respond,  she took that as affirmation. "He's smart, dependable, brave, gorgeous, and  most importantly," she glanced up, her green eyes meeting his hazel ones.  "Not you." Logan chuckled at that and took a step forward.

"True, I'm nothin' like the One-Eyed Wonder," he whispered, stepping up to  her, leaving only an inch of air between them. He leaned forward, his mouth  next to her ear. "An' maybe, just maybe, that's what ya like 'bout me." She  was silent for several seconds, studying his face, guiltily enjoying the  heat from his body.

"I doubt it," she whispered with a small grin, pulling away from him. She  walked over to the door to the lab and pressed the button to open it. "If  you'll excuse me, I've got work to do." He smiled slightly and headed for  the door. "And Logan?" Jean asked, before he could exit. "You did bring  Scott's bike back in one piece?"

"'Course," he grinned. "Wouldn't dream of hurtin' anything that's his." She  nodded in return as he headed out of the door. As she listened to the sound  of his boot heels clicking down the metal hallway, she sighed.

"Too late." With that, she hit the button, closing the door, and headed back  to her research.

*FIN*

Feedback is appreciated!

And a sequel is forthcoming as soon as I have the time.

Samantha McCullah
http://www.tbns.net/saintangelus/index.html