Because You Loved Me
Chapter 7: For All Those Rimes You Stood By Me
by
QMan
Hank and Jubilee came out of the Med Lab when Bishop's last words rang out into the hallway. Hank sat next to Cecilia, leaned over and whispered something to her. She got up and went to the observation room of the Med Lab. Jubilee sat next to Ororo, tear streaks on her face. Ororo patted Jubilee's hand. Xavier smiled encouragingly at her as he said,
"Another telling example of Logan's character was the way he always tried to keep his word. I was especially touched by one show of honor."
It had been right after Logan joined the X-Men. Xavier had read his file and had seen the way he'd dealt with his superiors. He was a gruff loner, a good fighter, and a mutant. Xavier thought that being around other mutants would calm him down a bit. It hadn't.
First there was Jean, who Logan was instantly attracted to. Jean was attracted back, probably due to his animalistic appeal, but not really interested because of her relationship with Scott. Which brought Xavier to his second point, Scott. He'd been dating Jean for quite some time now. He may have to wear ruby-lensed glasses, but he wasn't blind. He saw the mutual attraction and grew to dislike Logan immediately. Added to this was Warren Worthington, the Angel, who was very protective of his friends. This led to Warren's constant interference with Logan and his regular use of verbal assaults against the Canadian. There was a growing amount of pressure on the team, which was going to tear it apart. Xavier meant to address this issue and save the team. If he had to send Logan away to do it, so be it.
"Logan I'm afraid I might have made a mistake about bringing you here."
"Why's that Chuck?" The short Canadian asked.
"It's just that the team dynamic is being hurt by your presence." Xavier explained. To hell with tact, at least with this man anyway, "We face a tremendous amount of pressure and we need to be cohesive."
"We are cohesive in battle." Logan pointed out, "When we fight the bad guys we are a team. I don't see a problem."
"The problem isn't about your ability to function with the team during battle, it's when we're not fighting that I'm concerned about. It's your interaction with the others here during off time I'm worried about."
"What's worryin' ya?"
"There's no easy way to put this. You're tearing the team apart."
"This is about Jeannie, ain't it?" When Xavier looked down Logan had his answer. He sighed.
"Look Chuck, I ain't exactly a team player. The only thing team means ta me is someone makin' ya do somethin' ya don't wanna, then blamin' it on ya when it goes south."
"I can understand that--"
"But I was willin' ta be a team player fer ya. Ya asked me ta join ya an' fight fer yer cause. Ya treated me with respect when no one in my entire life has. If I'm causin' problems, give me a chance ta tone down a bit."
"Logan, just saying you'll 'tone down' may not be enough."
"Chuck, I'm attracted ta Jeannie. There's nothin' I can do about it." He held up his hand to forestall the bald man, "But I can help the way I act on it. I ain't an animal. I know Jeannie's with Scott. And while that bugs the shit out of me, unless she comes ta me I ain't gonna take her. That would be wrong. There's no chance of me goin' after her. I won't deny her if'n she comes ta me, but I won't actively pursue her. Good enough?"
Xavier smiled warmly, "I think so."
"Like I said Chuck, I ain't here fer the team. I also ain't here fer the dream. I'm here fer ya. Ya gave me somethin' no one else has. Ya gave me respect an' a chance. I wanna do that opportunity proud. If'n I have ta make some adjustments with the people here, I can do that."
"Logan I'm touched, really. But if you're here to prove something to me, you're here for the wrong reason."
"I don't wanna prove anythin' ta ya." Logan said, "I wanna make this chance work. Fer ya givin' it ta me."
"Alright then." Xavier said, "Just try to be a little more docile, okay?"
***
"After that Logan became a team player." When the others gave him incredulous looks he amended, "For him, that is. And he did what he said he was going to do. After that I never questioned his motives nor his actions when it came to interacting with other teammates."
The door to the Med Lab opened and Kitty came out, emotionally drained. She plunked down in a chair across from Jubilee as the latter got up and entered the room with Logan in it.
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