"You're out of your goddamn mind."

"Logan…"

"Can it Red. What, you actually thought I would go along with
this? Fuck that. I'm not gonna let you and Scooter get her killed."

"Look, it isn't like we are going to send her out in the field
tomorrow, all we are talking about is starting her training." Scott
argued reasonably, and with a touch of exasperation. "All of the
seniors are scheduled to start basic defense training; you don't
have a problem with teaching the rest of them, what is the problem
with Rogue."

Logan stopped his pacing and pined Scooter with his best glower. He
fought the urge to pop the claws and snarled. "Ya wanna slap the
other brats in leather be my fucking guest. But you leave her the
hell out of it."

With a final glare at the professor, who had remained silent though
out the meeting, Logan turned and stomped out of the office slamming
the door behind him.

*****
Professor Xavier turned to his former pupils. "I think that went as
well as could be expected."

"Professor," Jean began, "I just don't understand what the problem
is. Why is he so against this? I know he is protective of Rogue,
but wouldn't her learning how to defend herself be a good thing?"
She reasoned.

Xavier calmly regarded her, carefully considering his reply. "It's
difficult to say Jean. I'm not sure Logan himself could even
articulate his reasons. However, we should proceed delicately. We
don't want to provoke Logan into any rash action."

"That would be a first" Scott muttered with a derisive snort. "This
is the first time I know someone kicking a student out of his class
before it has even begun. I mean, if he refuses to teach her then
what do we do?"

"I have every confidence that things will work out."

*****
Rogue was feeling tetchy and it had nothing to do with the history
of the Roman Empire that Storm was currently expounding on. She
shifted again in her seat trying vainly to focus on the lecture but
it was no use. She felt irritable, restless. Rogue gave an
impatient huff as she fought the urge to just break things, drink a
beer or ten, and maybe smoke a nice cigar.

In the months since Liberty Island these urges would come and go.
They were particularly strong in the days and weeks just after the
incident but had mostly faded until she was herself again, that is
until two weeks ago when the Wolverine had returned after a six
month absence. Apparently seeing in the flesh the ghost of the man
that lived in her head twenty-four, seven - had re-awoken all her
latent Logan instincts. She felt like a damn radio aerial tuned
into the all Logan station. She could read his mood with a single
look, know what he was thinking by the cock of a brow, and guess his
next move before he took a single step. At first she had chalked it
up to having him in her head and knowing him as intimately a she
did. But then she had started to wonder if it wasn't something else
entirely.

It was when she started staring at Jean's ass and tracking the light
scent of her perfume through the mansion was that she thought maybe
something else was going on *I've gotta go to the Prof or something
cuz this shit has got to stop* Even her thoughts were coming though
a pure Logan filter.

Just when she thought she couldn't take another minute of the
lecture Ororo thankfully set them free for the day. With a relieved
sigh she gathered up her things, and along with her roommates Kitty
and Jubilee, headed for the door.

"Chica, what the hell is up your butt? I can't concentrate anyway
never mind with you in the middle of a fidget fest next to me."

"I gotta bail Jubes – I need to see the prof. Catch you two at
dinner huh?" And with that Rogue moved down the hall towards the
professors' private office leaving her friends to look at each other
confused. Before she even had a chance to knock the professor was
inviting her in.

"Ya know, for kicks one day you might let people knock." She said
with a grin as she took a seat opposite him.

Xavier smiled at the southern belle amused as always by her brash,
fearless attitude. "What can I do for you today Rogue?"

"You need to ask" she asked rhetorically. "Logan."

"Has he talked to you already about the class?" Xavier asked
surprised.

"What class?"

"Ah, forgive me – perhaps we should leave that until later."

"What. Class." She demanded, wondering if this was the source of the
undercurrent of frustration she was feeling.

"As you may know Logan has agreed to begin teaching a few classes –
among them a self –defense class for the seniors. He has
some….reservations. "

Rogue gave a short laugh at the Professors rather diplomatic
phrasing, "Reservations, you mean me."

"To be blunt, yes. But this is a subject you should perhaps be
discussing with the man in question. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I sort of thought it was a fluke or I was imagining things but it's
getting worse and I am going crazy. I really could use some help."
She said the last in a whisper and Charles could sense the pain she
was in.

"What exactly is the problem Rogue?"

"You know how I was, right after Logan healed me – the growling, the
scoo-er Scott baiting, the nightmares." She looked up at him for
confirmation before continuing. "It mostly went away – or at least
it died down. But when Logan came back so did a lot of, well,
instincts. I don't know how to explain it but then I cut my leg
shaving last night and it healed right up. And I don't know what is
going on earlier but when I was sitting in Ms. Monroe's class just
now I basically wanted to start breaking things, or maybe hitting
someone." As an after thought she added, "And roman history usually
doesn't leave me feeling homicidal."

Charles leaned forward, clearly fascinated by what she was
relating, "And you think this is related to your mutation and the
transfers you have shared with Logan?"

Rogue shrugged, "I don't know what else it could be professor, I
haven't got a good night sleep since he has been back." Even as she
said the last part she seemed to catch herself, "I mean…"

"It is quite alright Rogue. If you will permit I will speak with
Logan and if he is willing would like to see you both tomorrow to
discuss this."

"I'll ask him, I was gonna go talk to him next." She rose to
go. "Thank you Charles" She said gratefully.

"You are quite welcome my dear, I hope we can get to the bottom of
this. Have a good evening."

End part 1

"Would it really be that bad?"

"What?" Logan barked, amazed that anyone, even Marie, would have the
audacity to barge into the danger room while he was running a sim.
In the few short weeks he had been back Logan had become infamous
for programming his own impossible programs and leaving the safety
protocols off.

Looking at her now he supposed that `barge' was perhaps not the
right word as Marie was lounging idly against a wall as he stood
panting in the middle of the imaginary carnage he had wrought.

"You not having to rescue me every other mission. Would it really
be that bad?"

"Kid, what the hell are you talking about?"

"It just seems like half the missions you've gone on with the team
have been to save my sorry ass. I figure teaching me to fight might
reduce the frequency of your getting killed is all," Marie reasoned,
as she threw him a towel.

"End Program," Logan called. As the industrial complex faded around
him he wiped the sweat from his face and ran an irritated hand
through his damp hair. He crossed the room to sit on a low bench
near where Rogue was leaning all the while determinedly avoiding
looking at her, even as she took a seat next to him. "Look kid, you
don't need this shit in your life. Leave the geeks to save the
world…"

"No Logan," Rogue interrupted sharply, a steely edge of
determination in her voice. "When Magneto had me strapped in that
machine I learned in an instant what you learned 15 years ago in
that damn lab - that my own mutation could be used against me. The
one thing I figured would always keep me safe, keep me
untouchable. " She looked at Logan steadily until he met her eyes
before continuing on. "I don't ever want to be helpless like that
again Logan. I don't want my body used and my mind raped because
some asshole thinks I would make a good battery."

Logan fought the urge to just pop his claws and go kill Magneto
right then and there at Marie's blunt description of her experience
at Liberty Island. It was too close to his own experiences and he
fucking hated *Hated* that Marie should have had such horrors in her
past too. He struggled to form a reply but Rogue wasn't finished.

"Have you ever really stopped to think about what is possible with
my powers Logan? I have, and it scares the hell out of me. I can
kill with a touch. I can absorb memories, information, powers.
Think about that. What if there was a way to make the absorption
permanent? What do you think the government, or Magneto, or anyone
would do if they figured that out?" She stood up in agitation and
began pacing the room. "This isn't about joining the X-Men, it
isn't about fighting the forces of `evil.' It's about survival,
plain and simple."

Logan looked at her with pride and a little bit of awe. She was
like a prize fighter in the ring dancing around him. Each word she
spoke a body blow, fiercely delivered, and she was unrelenting. She
knew exactly where to punch and what would hurt him the most. And
she wasn't finished.
.
"If you won't train me Logan then I'll find someone who will, cuz
I'm not safe. You won't always be there to save me. I don't want
to *need* saving," she stressed. "I just want a chance Logan. I
need this." She continued on in a softer tone, "You know, you made
me the wrong promise that day on the train. You shouldn't have said
you'd take care of me. You should have said you'd teach me to take
care of myself." And with that she stopped, standing poised in the
middle of the danger room, waiting now for his reply.

Logan's expression was unreadable. A cold knot of dread formed in
the pit of his stomach as for the first time the full weight of the
power she carried, her potential, and how vulnerable she really was,
hit home. And the bitch of it was he knew she was right, knew Chuck
was right, and that undoubtedly these same thought had occurred to
the telepath as well.

He studied her with a critical eye, seeing clearly the girl she was
and the woman she could become. The last vestiges of baby fat clung
that clung to her face and limbs even now sliding away. Her gangly
limbs and girlish curves would become toned and dangerous in time.
Big brown eyes – once so scared but now only looked determined, wide
cheekbones, those quirky lips of hers, that ridiculous gap in her
front teeth. He loved it all, had loved it since she sat in the
front seat of his truck, eating his food and insulting his camper.
But suddenly the stakes were higher. She was asking was a
commitment – something he had spent his remembered life avoiding.
This wasn't a ride to the next town, maybe it never had been. His
choice was made the second he stopped for her in the middle of a
snowy, Canadian highway.

Even as acceptance settled over him Logan felt the wolverine in the
back of his mind sit up and purr in recognition of a mate, one with the
potential to be as strong as he was, in the girl before him. An
imperceptible shudder curled up his spine at the possibilities now
before him and a slow, feral smile curled his lips as he rose
fluidly to his feet.

"We'll start tomorrow," was all he said before turning his back and
disappearing into the locker room.

Rogue sailed into the dining hall that evening. Humming quietly to
herself she loaded up a dinner tray before heading over to where the
X-Men were sitting, including a distracted Logan.

"Hey Logan, I forgot to tell you earlier but the professor asked to
see us both in his office tomorrow after breakfast."

"Sure kid," he grunted. He gestured with his fork at the seat
opposite him. "Sit?"

Completely surprised by the invitation she stuttered, "Oh, um…my
friends are saving me a spot."

With that she turned and walked to join a table of teens at the
opposite side of the room. He watched the easy camaraderie she had
with her fellow students and an irrational spark of jealously
flashed though him which he quickly quashed. It was still strange
for him to see her like this. Strange to reconcile the kid who sat
at a shit hole bar in the middle of the Canadian Rockies looking
lost and alone with the vibrant young woman sitting in a mansion
eating dinner and chatting with her friends.

"Where did you disappear to all afternoon Chica?"

"Nowhere, I just had to ask the professor something and then talk to
Logan about his self-defense class we're all starting next week."

"What!" The entire table was now looking at her with varying
degrees of excitement and trepidation.

"Yeah, the Professor told me about it, apparently the class is for
all the seniors."

The table instantly erupted in a cacophony of comments and questions.

"*Wolverine* is teaching it?"

"We are so screwed."

"I thought that Cyclops handled the self-defense classes."

"Oh come on. Wolverine could kick Cyclops' ass any day of the week."

"I'd pay good money to see that."

"God he is so freaking hot."

"You're all cracked," Rogue stated with a decisive grin.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________

The following morning Rogue approached the rich mahagony door of the
professor's office and stopped stupidly on the threshold nonplussed
at not having received a mental welcome to enter. She looked down
the hall at the grandfather clock, wondering if she was early.
Seeing that she was right on time she raised her hand and knocked.

"Come in," the Professor called in his cultured tones.

Rogue smiled when she entered the room and saw Logan leaning against
a bookcase on the far side of the room while the professor was
behind his desk, eyes twinkling. Suddenly remembering her wry
suggestion from the day before she asked fondly, "Kicks right?"

"Indeed," he agreed with a smile. "Please have a seat. I'm glad
you both could make it. Rogue, have you shared with Logan with you
discussed with me yesterday?"

"Not exactly Professor," wide brown eyes flicked briefly over to
Logan before settling back on her hands in her lap. "I don't even
know for sure what's goin' on."

`Why don't we start at the beginning, you believe you have retained
some of Logan's powers."

"It's just been…little things over the last two weeks. Like I can
hear *everything* all of a sudden and I had to beg Jubes to stop
wearing so much freaking perfume. Then two days ago I got a cut on
my leg that healed right up. I haven't really been injured in the
last few months so I don't know if I have been healing all along or
if it is just since he got back," She looked over at Logan. "It's
the same with the senses. I thought they had faded in the weeks
after Liberty Island. But maybe I just got used to them and seeing
ya sort of, reminded me of the possibilities. "

"Interesting, but let me ask you this, do you still retain the
powers of anyone else you have touched? Magneto for instance."

"Ah don't know."

"Would you try now for us please?" the Professor asked as he reached
into a desk drawer and pulled out a single paper clip that he set on
the desk in front of him.

A look of intense concentration crossed Rogues face as she struggled
to draw the paper clip toward her. After several fruitless minutes
she released a defeated sigh and slumped back in her chair in defeat.

The Professor simply nodded thoughtfully, "perhaps it is a result of
your having absorbed Logan twice that allows you to retain some of
his powers."

"I don't know, I just…" she trailed off and a sick look flashed
across her face before her expression shut down
entirely. "Professor, could you ask Dr. Grey to come in here."

"What is it kid?" Logan had been silent to this point but Rogue had
gone white as a sheet and he was instantly on guard.

"I need to ask her something."

"Are ya ok?"

She gave a brief, humorless laugh before answering quietly, "I'm
fine."

There was a quick knock at the door even as the handle turned and
Jean entered the office. She took in the strange scene before her
with equanimity and simply asked Rogue, "What can I do for you?"

Rogue had been looking fixedly at her hands clasped tightly in her
lap but she gathered her resolve and looked Jean straight in the eye
and said, "What was Logan's medical status when you got him on the
jet at Liberty Island?"

Not at all the question she was expecting Jean's eyes flicked
quickly over the Professor and Logan wondering what had prompted
this. Seeing that both men were equally surprised she
hedged, "Critical."

Rogue simply stared hard at her. It was unnerving so Jean expanded
slightly, "Extremely critical condition."

At this Logan finally caught on as to what the kid was thinking with
these questions and he silently willed Jean not to confirm what he
knew now to be true. He wouldn't put it past his healing factor to
bring him back from a few minutes of dead; it wouldn't be the first
time. But Marie sure as hell didn't need to hear that. Rogue
however was not satisfied with Jeans vague response and insisted
quietly, "It's important."

Jean pursed her lips in reluctance before giving a decisive
nod. "When we got Logan on the Blackbird my initial exam revealed
no pulse or respiratory activity, I immediately began CPR and in
less than two minutes his vital signs were back and stabilized
though he remained unconscious. "

Horror and regret warred across Rogue's face; she looked at Logan
and whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Not able to face him
she stood up and stammered, "I have to go." With that she grabbed
her book bag and practically sprinted for the door before anyone
could move to stop her.

Logan let her go. As much as he wanted to go after her he needed to
make something crystal fucking clear to Chuck and Jean first.

Jean just looked bewildered, "What was that all about?"

"It appears that Rogue has permanently absorbed Logan's mutation,
and not just his memories. I believe that she theorized that this
permanence resulted from having drained him to the point of death.
It is probable that a similar absorption will occur any time her
touch results in death."

Logan had enough. "This doesn't leave this room," his harsh tone
left no room for discussion. "I'm fucking serious. No one else
needs to know this do you understand? Not Cyke, not Ro, no one.
It's already dangerous for her with her mutation, if this gets
out…" he couldn't even finish the thought. Her conversation with
him the day before slammed front and center in his mind and he knew
that her situation had just got even more precarious. If this got
out he wouldn't be able to let her out of his sight. His instincts
were already screaming at him to just grab her and go. Hide her
where no one would ever find her. He ran a frustrated hand over his
face and muttered a curse. With a final hard look at the Professor
and Jean he gave a curt nod and stalked out of the office in search
of Marie.

____________ _________ _________ _______

"Hey kid," he had tracked her down to the boathouse where she was
wrapped tightly in the shadows. She sat on the floor of the deck,
knees drawn up to her chest and back firmly against the wall. She
appeared to be trying to make herself as small as possible. Logan
was having none of that. He slid down the wall next to her,
shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip. When she clearly intended to
shift away from the contact he secured her firmly to his side with
an arm around her shoulders. She remained stiff and guarded in his
arms with her gaze fixed resolutely out over the sparkling expanse
of the lake. With his free hand he dug into his jacket pocket to
produce the battered stub of a cigar. He lit up and took a slow
pull before he spoke again.

"It was my choice kid and I would do it again in a second." Maries
stare remained resolutely fixed out over the water. He closed his
eyes and tilted his head back to rest against the wall behind him as
weight of memories from that night came crashing down on him. The
first heart wrenching sounds of her screams. The even worse sound
of silence when her screams ended. Fighting desperately to her
side. Cutting her out of that damn machine. Holding her limp body
in his arms. The horrible seconds when instead of feeling the sweet
agony of her mutation he instead felt only the soft smooth skin of
her face under his hand. Finally his joy as her mutation grabbed a
last chance at life. His jaw clenched at the remembered anguish he
felt when he thought that he had lost her. Maybe she didn't know
how bad it was. She was about to.

He took another drag and asked a little angrily, "Did you ever think
to ask me what your `medical status' was before I touched you?"

She inhaled sharply and went even stiffer in his arms if that was
possible.

"You were dead kid. I touched you and there was no pull. Nothing.
You were dead." He took a final angry pull from the cigar before
stabbing it out viciously and throwing it away from him. "Worst ten
seconds of my fucking life."

When he felt the shudder go through her he knew he had gone too
far. He opened his eyes to look over at her and caught the anguish
clearly written in every curve of her beautiful face. She tried to
turn away to protect him even now but he just tightened his hold on
her and reached a finger out to tilt her chin up so he could look in
her eyes. She couldn't hide from him, he didn't want her to. He
saw her struggle for control and try valiantly to drop an impassive
mask over her pain. He had to close his own eyes when he saw hers
and in a move to comfort the both of them he leaned down and rested
his forehead against the top of her head.

"You're breaking my heart here kid."

With a strangled cry she fell apart in his arms. She sobbed
unrestrainedly into his chest as she hadn't allowed herself to do in
the six months that had passed. She needed to let go before she
could move on, they both did. When she tried to apologize again his
simply shushed her and held on tighter. As the tears subsided they
remained locked in each others embrace for how long neither could
say. When she finally looked up at him he said again firmly, "I
would do it again in a second."

The next day found the senior class of mutant high gathered in a close knot in the training room looking equal parts excited and nervous. The reason for their nervousness was perfectly clear - Logan leaned causally against the wall opposite the small group smoking a cigar and silently contemplating the assembled teens. The longer he spent in silent perusal the more nervous the teens became. All but one that is.

Marie recognized the tactic Logan was employing it was similar to the distain he showed opponents in the cage. In this case he was using his reputation among the students - aloof, deadly, short tempered - and letting them his silence psych them out. Undaunted Marie just smiled at him, prepared to wait him out. Finally, he spoke.

“So Xavier wants ya to now how to defend yourselves. But more than that I’m here to teach you how to *survive*. I’m here to teach you how to keep yourselves together long enough to keep you alive no matter what you are up against, be it FOH, brotherhood, government, whoever, by doing whatever it takes - powers, hand to hand, weapons, or just good, old-fashioned, running away. You’re gonna be trainin’ with me three times a week and I expect you to be here on time and ready to go.” His gaze swept the room, “Any questions?”

The group was silent after this sobering speech with none of the usual whispers or giggles. Logan gave a satisfied nod before he continued. “Today I’m gonna be fighting ya each one on one to see where you are at.”

Horrified faces met this pronouncement and Bobby practically passed out when Logan barked, “Drake - you’re first.”

It was a massacre. It was meant to be. Bobby didn’t last five seconds before Logan had him pinned to the floor and feeling absurdly grateful just to be alive. Kitty was to scared to even move, let alone phase out of the way, when Logan charged her. St. John was the first to try and bring his mutation into play but didn’t so much as get his lighter open before he was disarmed and shoved face first into the mat. Jubilee, whether from nervousness or design, actually shot a burst of her ‘sparklies’ at Logan who mearly dodged out of the way. Seeing what she had done to the feral mutant stalking toward her she gave a startled squeak and promptly surrendered.

Soon only Marie was left and she rose calmly to stand opposite Logan on the practice mats. Looking him straight in the eye she deliberately peeled off her gloves one by one baring the lethal bare skin of her hands. Her classmates sucked in a surprised breath at the sight of all that pale deadly skin and quickly looked to Logan for his reaction. To their surprise he was actually grinning at the bold move.

“Anything else ya wanna take off kid?” he asked with a smirk. Getting only a smile in return he asked, “Ready?”

Instead of getting a nod in return like all the rest had done, Marie did something else entirely, she ran.

Logan felt a spark of pride go through him as he watched Marie sprint out of the training room door. He only hesitated for a moment before stalking after her in pursuit. The rest of the class could only look at each other in disbelief before heading, almost as one, out of the room and after the pair. Jubilee succinctly summarized the feelings of the entire group when she said, “dude, this is sooooo gonna rock.”

Marie navigated the lower levels at a dead run using the precious few seconds of her head start to the fullest. Forgoing the elevator she practically flew up the stairs in an effort to escape the close confines of the lower levels. She had the vague idea of heading towards the garage in the hope of reaching a vehicle to escape before Logan caught up to her. She knew in a prolonged chase she could never outrun the Wolverine, his stamina and tracking skills would always win in the end.

Finally reaching the main level she could hear Logan on the stairs behind her and took off down the corridor and around the nearest corner. An idea struck her as recognition of her location finally registered. Making a snap decision she turned down a hallway, now racing away from the garage and towards one of the classrooms.

Breathing hard and with a stitch in her side she hit the door full force and burst into the room. The startled faces of a dozen freshman geometry students, and one surprised X-Man, greeted her entrance. Scotts hand had immediately gone toward his visor only to realize he wasn’t wearing one. His shock turned to puzzlement to see Rogue panting before him.

Before he could so much as open his mouth to ask her what was going on Rogue darted forward putting his body between her and the door. A scant moment later the door burst open again, this time revealing a feral looking Wolverine.

“You’re just delaying the inevitable kid. Ya really think that Cyke could protect ya?”

For her part Marie was panting hard and trying not to pass out. She finally huffed, “In a real fight yeah, I think that Mr. Summers would protect me.” At this point the rest of the seniors had caught up to the duo and crowded into the already full classroom. Scott, completely at a loss, finally asked, “What the hell is going on and why are you all interrupting my class?”

Logan tisked, “Language Scooter, you wouldn’t want to corrupt all these impressionable youths.” Logan flicked his gaze over to Scott before explaining curtly, “First day of training.”

Scott looked irritated and confused, “And you need to do that in my classroom?”

Logan narrowed his eyes at the younger man and instead nodded towards Marie. “Well that would really be a question for the kid here.”

The moment that Scott shifted his gaze to the young woman standing behind him Logan took advantage of the distraction and leapt forward. Easily sidestepping Summers, he moved toward Marie but she had already took off again, this time out the sunroom doors and across the great lawn. The seniors all moved quickly to follow and were soon joined by the students of Scotts’ geometry class who had been avidly watching the action.

With a muttered, “Dammit Logan,” Scott had no choice but to leave his empty classroom and chase the growing throng.

Knowing she had to get out of the open as quickly as possible Rogue ran as hard as she could toward the relative safety of the woods behind the school. Despite her speed she was nowhere near fast enough to outrun a determined Wolverine. Fifty yards shy of her goal she felt a strong arm latch around her waist and send her tumbling to the soft grass below.

While Rogue was still stunned from the fall, Logan quickly moved to pin her down and finish the lesson. Not quite ready to give in Rogue continued to struggle under Logan’s larger frame. Twisting in his grasp she tried to get away until Logan, still mindful of her bare arms, was forced to use his knees to pin her arms to the ground leaving his crotch pretty much in Rogues face. Rogue blushed beet red at their position and immediately stopped squirming. “Are we done now kid?”

~Oh god~, Marie thought as she noticed all of her classmates come to a halt beside them. Jubilee caught her eye and gave her a lascivious wink and a ‘thumbs up.’ Realizing that Logan was still waiting for an answer she gave an exhausted, “Yeah.”

Logan levered himself back onto his feet and gave the assembled students a clipped, “class dismissed.” He gave Scooter a brief nod as the younger man rounded up his excited students and ushered them back into their classroom.

“Rogue, hold back a sec,” Logan called out as the crowd headed toward the mansion. He looked the kid over as she lay sprawled on the ground where he had tackled her. Her cheeks were flushed, lips parted, and eyes were closed, she looked gorgeous. He gave himself a mental slap upside the head and dug out a cigar. Lighting the tip and taking a long drag he got serious and started talking.

“We need to set up some ground rules kid. You are going to hate my fucking guts at the end of this. And it won’t just be me. You need to be ready for anything. That means attacks in the middle of the night, on your way to class, at breakfast, anywhere. And anyone. If this was just about technique I’d say fuck it and let Scooter teach ya. But it’s more than fighting, it’s about instincts. We’ll start off slow but it isn’t going to be easy. Chuck set up the class with the other brats to meet every other day, but you’re going to need more than that. Every afternoon in the gym or in the Danger Room or out here. Every damn day kid. If you can’t promise me that, can’t promise to be here and give it one hundred percent, then walk away right now.”

He paused to take another slow drag off his cigar, “I also need you to trust me.” Seeing that she was already opening her mouth, no doubt to protest that of course she trusted him, he continued on. “I’m dead serious Marie. But it is more than that, I need to trust you too and that is fucking hard for me to do.”

She nodded thoughtfully, “We need a safe word.”

In a less than manly moment Logan inhaled sharply, promptly choking on his cigar. A few sputtering coughs were all he could manage as he looked over at her with watering eyes.

“The shit that comes out of your mouth kid, I swear…”

Rogue’s eyes widened comically as she realized what he thought she had meant and blushed wildly. “Jeez Logan! Not that! We need a word that either of us can use and the other will just stop and walk away, no questions asked.” She quickly added, “I’m not trying to make excuses or get out of anything. But we need it in case…well, just in case,” she finished lamely.

Logan nodded slowly thinking over what she clearly didn’t want to say. That HE would need a failsafe in place. Would need an out if the wolverine got to close to the surface and he knew that with Marie it was bound to happen. As always he wondered just how much of his fractured memories were in her head. She said that she could still feel him, but she couldn’t have everything. Couldn’t have nearly everything or else she wouldn’t be sitting on the grass next to him and looking at him with friendly affection. He both wondered at and dreaded the answer. Time to find out.

“So Chuck was saying that you knew what I was feeling yesterday?”

She quickly nodded her agreement. “It happened in Ms. Monroe’s history class. You were pissed, like breaking things pissed. I think it was you anyway. Made me want to break stuff too.” Then she added under her breath, “Woulda be more fun than history at any rate.”

He gave a brief chuckle, “How far is your class from Chuck’s office?”

She thought for a moment, “Just down the hall, about 35 or 40 feet I would guess.”

Logan nodded thoughtfully, “Sounds about right.” He was silent for a few moments trying to figure out the best way to explain it to her. “If you got the healing you probably have the senses too. Distance matters for everything. Hearing – you’ll learn to tune stuff out, like white noise. If you have problems sleeping you can try earplugs. Might help a little. But yesterday, now I know this sounds fucked up, but you can smell emotions and use that to read people just as easy as any telepath. I *was* pissed at Chuck and Scooter yesterday.”

“And you’re saying I could *smell* that?” Marie gaped incredulously. “No offense Logan – but that *is* completely fucked up.” She laughed a little even as her brow creased in thought. “But why do I know what you are feeling then and not everyone else?”

Well, now was as good a time to ask as any. Logan plunged ahead, “You said that day on the train that I’m still in your head. Just how much did you get?”

She eyed him warily, “What exactly are ya asking sugar?”

He didn’t like that guarded look on her at all. “Kid…”

She stammered out, “Everything Logan. Everything.”

He stopped breathing, then he got angry. At her for still acting like they were friends, at himself for having such a fucked up head, at the circumstances that had forced her to live with him in her head. “How can you fucking sit there kid? You should be running for the damn hills.” He couldn’t believe it. Everything. Christ.

She tried to reassure him mistaking the source of his anger. “It isn’t like that. I don’t just wander through your memories. It’s more like I stuff I do will trigger something. Like Mr. Summers tried to make me take his mechanics class but I got there and kept calling him Scooter and telling him that he had the timing set wrong on the Porsche and was he really that stupid.” She paused as Logan barked out an involuntary laugh. She smiled briefly at him and continued, “I never knew anything about motors but then all of a sudden I did. I could take the bike apart and put it back together if I had to. It’s weird ya know?” Then quieter so that even he had to strain to hear her, “I would never invade your privacy like that, you know that right?”

He did. He was a bastard, “Kid I’m not mad at you.” He thought a minute about what she had said, “It’s probably the same thing with the senses, the me in your head recognizing something. It’s weird thinking that I’m in you head sensing what the actual me is feeling.”

“You’re telling me.”

He took a deep breath and tried again. “You can ask me anything Marie, we’ll figure this out as we go. But it might be worth it to look through the ‘me’ in your head or even touch me again.” He held up a hand to halt her protests, “Figure since I know how to fight that you know now too if you are willing to look for it. Just need to practice until it becomes reflex. Maybe talk with Chuck, see if he can help pull those memories up.” Seeing the thoughtful look on her face he figured they had had enough serious talk for one day and decided to change the subject entirely.

“Hungry?”

She looked up at him with her big eyes and nodded.

“Off your butt then lazy,” he teased.

She stood up slowly and dusted the grass off her jeans, “Let’s go.”