Author: Elizabeth Wilde
Title: Later
Distribution: Anyone who already has my stories,anyone
who asks,
http://www.geocities.com/aloysiusj/xfic.html
Disclaimer: I don't own nuthin'. Just borrowing them,
I swear! And I'll give 'em back. ::sigh:: Though
I'd really kinda like to keep Logan.
'Ship: none
Rating: PG
Spoilers: movie
Feedback: Yes! Absolutely! Please? wilde_moon@y...
Notes: Check out
http://www.geocities.com/aloysiusj/later.html if you
want to see the graphic I made to go with this.
"Later"
Jean smiled to herself. She had always believed that
everyone looked more innocent when they slept.
Watching Logan's light breathing and relaxed face, she
knew it to be true, for even he seemed lighter, the
scars and losses so clearly visible in his eyes hidden
and forgotten. As the seconds ticked past, she could
feel him returning to himself. His consciousness
drifted close to the surface now.
"That tickles."
A smile slipped onto Jean's face immediately. How
could she not smile at the playful note in his voice?
"Welcome back. How are you feeling?" She already
knew the answer, knew that even if he felt like he was
about to die and was in intense pain, Logan would
never let on.
"Fantastic."
"That was a really brave thing you did."
He took the compliment without acknowledging it. Jean
knew he could care less about flattery. All he cared
about was whether or not Rogue was okay. "Did it
work?"
"Yeah, she's fine." Another smile found it's way to
her lips. "She took on some of your more charming
personality traits for awhile, but we lived through
it." A very kind of way saying that Rogue spent a
great deal of time cursing and ogling Jean. "You
know, I think she's a little taken with you." Jean
shook off a strange pang of something close to
jealousy, an emotion certainly not appropriate or
logical.
"You can tell her my heart belongs to someone else."
Despite the sudden increase in her heartbeat, an
annoying sign she knew Logan would notice, she began,
"You and I-"
"How's the professor?"Rejection scared Logan more than
Magneto or any other
physical threat ever could. He was used to physical
pain. He knew how to handle it. Emotional scars were
different. They weren't something his advanced
healing ability could care for. Jean sighed, hoping
for a chance to explain at another time. "He's fine."
He kissed the back of her hand gently, the slight
contact sending a shock through her body. Unable to
react, knowing he didn't want to hear her
explanations, Jean smiled softly, a bit sadly. "Do
you need anything?"
A slight head shake and then, "No. I'll go talk to
the professor." With Jean's help, he removed the
monitor's and bandages, standing a few minutes later,
clothes in hand. "We'll talk later."
"Right." She knew there was no chance of it
happening. He would leave. Professor Xavier had told
her already about the installation in Canada. Logan
would leave immediately after talking to the
professor, and Jean knew he wouldn't stop to say
good-bye. "Later." Without another word, he turned
and stalked from the room. As the doors slid shut,
Jean whispered, "Bye, Logan," and tried to pretend
there weren't tears standing in her eyes.
THE END