Healing

Chapter 5

"Hey Logan..."

Scott was leaning against the doorframe, a frown marring his face.

"Yes?"

"You know... umm... who's Victor? I know I remember the name from somewhere, and I'm linking it with you. Can't think why though. It goes with something else to, but you for certain."

"Victor? A man we ran into when we went out last week."

The kid was chewing on his bottom lip, apparently thinking something through. Logan pushed back in his seat, dropping the pen to his desk.

"Have I... Was that the first time we met him?"

How to answer that without him freaking out. "Not the first time I have. We used to be close."

He wasn't sure what made him say that. It seemed appropriate though. Had Scott met him before? As Victor – possibly. The professor was always interacting with mutants. He located them, Scott found them, and spoke to them. There was a definite chance that he'd tried to speak to him. If he forgot, well... Logan was struggling to remember everyone in his classes, even though he'd seen quite a lot of them. It was nothing weird.

As Sabertooth, they had definitely met, and fought. Liberty Island still felt fresh in his mind, he had relived it more than once in dreams. (Though, it was never true. People often died in those dreams... would have been nice if his mind'd quit doing that though.)

Sabertooth and Victor struck as very different people. Not just because Victor was clean shaven and well dressed. Sabertooth struck him as what Wolverine was to him- A more feral version. Based on instinct. And something about his memory? Was Sabertooth gone completely now he'd supposedly regained his memory? It was a nice idea. Everyone needed a break, and having an old problem resurface would not be nice.

"-cking hell! Logan!! Will you just... ngk!"

"What?"

He sighed. He'd been getting somewhere there. Scott was crouched down in front of him; Logan had a feeling that under those glasses his eyes were concerned. The kid's voice gave that away. It was weird how sticking around with the kid had led to ways around using the eyes to gauge his emotions.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah... Just thinking."

"Don't hurt yourself." Logan had predicted that response when the words left his mouth.

"Glad to know you care."

Scott just smirked and stood up.

"Hey... You wanna go out again?"

"Aww, Logan! You're asking me out? How can I say no?" Scott laughed as he walked out. "Catch you later."

A chuckle moved through Logan. The kid was more fun than he ever could have guessed; at least he was when he didn't cry. That made him uncomfortable. The silent tears that fells from behind those glasses... they had lessened though. He was a lot happier than he had been.

Logan couldn't help but feel warm; he knew he'd contributed to that. He was starting to fit back into his old life, and the gap Jean had left wasn't as glaringly obvious anymore. At least, it wasn't to Logan. Scott was undoubtedly closer than he had been. Logan never even knew he had a sense of humour before, and now he couldn't make it go away.

He glanced down at the lesson plan he was supposed to be working on. He was choosing the direction they went with this, no decided plan. It gave him a lot of flexibility, but it was fairly had to focus on any one thing. Self-defence classes had so many different areas for classes to cover, some linked strongly with martial arts, some completely separate. Most were somewhere in-between.

Luckily, survival classes were more structured in other schools and colleges. He'd taken 'Ro's advice to look into other school curriculums to see what worked well and where different ages groups were generally at.

Fairly interesting, when he was in the mood. The phrase 'Can't be arsed' came to mind. One he'd have to thank a younger student for. At least she wasn't properly swearing yet, he supposed with a grin.

Work was not on his mind though. Taking Cyclops out to get drunk was. The kid made him laugh.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a different outing to their last one. For a start, they were eating in a restaurant. Not Logan's original plan, but he'd found Cyke in his office at 8 o'clock trying to get something finished. The kid got drunk fairly quickly anyway, it'd be no fun taking him out on an empty stomach. The smirk plastered on his face was a little unnerving though.

"What?"

"I thought we were just going drinking."

"We will... what's so funny 'bout that?"

Scott's smirk widened. Logan could practically see him turning his response over in his head. It made him a little nervous, and very curious.

"Never realised it'd start with a romantic dinner for two."

Logan laughed. He'd not thought of that, but it explained the barely concealed laughter.

"Aww, anythin' for you, my darlin'."

It wasn't concealed anymore. They were getting a variety of looks off people, from amused to irritated; Logan couldn't quite stop laughing though. It felt good and it was really something to watch the carefully built wall of 'Cyclops' fall away to show the man underneath. He really sounded like a kid when he laughed though. It was really odd.

They quickly finished their dinner, thanked the young waitress and left. Scott informed Logan he was driving and they set off.

The man stared out the window. He couldn't help feeling the difference (again) to when he used to come here alone. He'd felt content then... It was strange that he felt so much more now. He was happy. The irritation of his lost memory was still there, but it only really bothered him at night, when he had dreams that could be memories, and he had no way of telling. He couldn't help envy Scott, who fell asleep in front of the TV with Logan, and barely stirred after that.

"Logan? Is there something wrong with this one?"

It was the same bar they had gone to last time, the one he always went to. He didn't reply, just undid his belt and got out. The kid followed, shoving the keys into his pocket.

With a drink ordered, they sat and chatted quietly. Scott told him about his classes, and Logan followed suit. Though, that was mainly to avoid having to state he had no interest in maths. At all.

"Where do you know him from then?"

"What?" Logan quickly back tracked, trying to fit this statement into their conversation.

"Victor... where do you know him from?"

He was silent for a moment. "... I don't really remember. I mean, I have dreams, and I know he's there. I recognise his scent. Don't pull a face. I don't remember his scent when I wake up, but I definitely recognise it asleep. It's ... annoying. But I don't know if I remember things, or just imagine them."

"I'm not an expert or anything, but I'd guess they have a base in truth."

"Maybe, but I wish I could remember. It stops me going back to sleep... I hate that..."

"Hmm... I find that it helps to take your mind off it before trying to go back to sleep."

"You don't sleep well?" He'd never got that idea...

"I have a lot of nightmares. I told you before, remember?" He could, but it hadn't been at the front of his mind; the conversation with Scott Summers in the kitchen. It was probably the first actual conversation they'd had that hadn't ended badly.

"They aren't as bad as they used to be though."

"Oh."

He ordered them both another beer and they sat quietly for a while.

"What do you remember? In your dreams..."

"I remember a kid, quite a young one. He called me his brother. I think I was young then too. I think he used my name, but every time I wake up, I'm too focused on the fact that we were related to remember anything else. It's so fucking annoying!"

"Oh... you think this one's real?"

"I dunno... I suppose. There's nothing amazingly different about it from other dreams, but I feel like it is a memory."

"...That's good..."

Logan frowned. That kid had had a similar scent in his dreams, but it was another one he couldn't remember when he woke up. Some part of him hoped it was Victor; the man who seemed to know who he was. Logan did realise he could be inventing the link though, his hope of discovering something significant blinding him.

He wondered if Scott would agree, if the kid would even understand where he was coming from with this. Probably not, he decided as he looked at him. The kid had his head in his arms and looked as though he was dozing off. Not really the best place to have a nap though...

"Jimmy, Pup. How you doing?"

Victor sat beside Scott, the only free place near them. It was a fairly busy night.

"Victor..."

Despite his hopes connected with Victor, he couldn't help but growl.

"Calm down. Just here for a drink, thought I'd join my brother."

He said it with a smirk on his face, but Logan felt his go blank. Were they brothers? Was that dream right...

"What've you done to tire out Pup here?"

"My Pup?" Then something clicked about that statement. "I've done nothing." He growled. "He forgets to stop working."

"Oh? Shame... and yes, Pup. He's a pup and you act like he's yours so...."

There were many responses that entered his mind, but he pushed them all away, choosing not to focus on that.

"Brother? Are we ... brothers?"

"Hey, just a phrase?"

"Hmm... You sure?"

Victor didn't answer, just downed his drink, and ordered another one.

"... You remember?"

"I don't know. Sort of? Dunno if it's real. How old were we when we met?"

"Us? We grew up together."

"I don't... we aren't brothers... or are we? I feel kind of like we are, but then I feel like we aren't. I sometimes have dreams of a man I call 'Father' and I don't have any thoughts of another child..."

Logan took a drink, he felt strange; nervous and hopeful and irritated all at once. He was unsure of what to ask, and he had to focus on not flooding the man with questions. Trying not to talk... not something he was used to doing. He focused on Scott; his slack features... the kid must have been tired. It was easy not to think staring at him. Especially useful as the other still hasn't answered.

"... We are... half brothers... My father was your father. Biologically. But you had a decent father really. I remember getting so annoyed at you. He was caring and kind. He sat with you when you were sick, and played with you when you were well. He cheered you up when you were sad.... so fucking annoying to think he wasn't your father... just married to your mother."

Logan kept staring at Scott's face, unable to look up. To have this confirmed... he didn't want it to be a dream. He stood up and grabbed Victor's arm, pulling him up to. They moved back slightly from the bar. He didn't want people listening in.

"How long ago was it?"

"...Before the World Wars... Before the American Civil War... it was a long time ago. I don't remember everything perfect yet." He wasn't smirking anymore. It was clear this bothered him. "Most things have ... settled. But there are a few bits floating around though. It's mostly dates that get me though. I know what order things happen in, but I don't know when they happen."

"Mustn't have been one for worrying 'bout those things then."

Victor's smirk returned. "Maybe I always had someone else to do that for me?" the look he had said that he wasn't looking for an answer. "Oh, shit."

He moved, and Logan spun around. Scott was in someone's grip, pushed against the bar. His features were still mostly slack, and he wasn't holding himself up strongly, so Logan figured he was still half asleep.

"Hey" Victor was pulling the man off him. "Don't touch what isn't yours."

His fingernails extended and he wrapped a hand around his neck. Logan moved to pick Scott up. The young man was staring at Victor's claws, his face white.

"Victor! No..."

"Jimmy. He was trying to get your Pup."

"Let's go."

He turned and walked out, pulling Scott along with him. Once outside, he looked at him. His face was still a bad colour and he was swaying slightly.

"You okay?"

"That man..."

"Which one? Victor or the drunk?"

"He... got rid of him. Shouldn't have fallen asleep... but, those claws. That man, he was..."

Logan slipped his hand into Scott's pocket and retrieved the keys. He could hear Victor arguing inside still, but right now the kid needed some water. He hoped there was still a bottle in the door pocket.

He sat Scott on the seat, and made him take slow sips. He hadn't really made much sense and he didn't get what was bothering him so much. It didn't even seem to be the man who had practically been on top of him, more Victor...

"He's my brother, you know. I sort of remember him. Lost his memory for a while too. Family trait, huh?"

Scott managed a weak smile.

"He was... the man who took me... from my school..."

"He's also man who just got you out of a sticky situation, and he's helping me. Maybe he isn't a bad person... now."

Scott took a deep breath, nodded his head and fastened the cap on his water.

"Your brother? We waiting for him to come out?"

"Unless you wanna go back now?"

"I can wait."

They were waiting long. Victor practically swaggered out the bar, and Logan saw the man he'd argued with scurry out a few seconds later and hurry off in the other direction.

Victor came over to them.

"You ok? Good." Scoot had nodded, but wasn't really looking at him. He was frowning, and clearly thinking something through.

"You'd better not've been fighting."

"You'd be proud," he laughed, "I just told the bar keeper what happened. I was being rational. Someone got banned from the bar, and it wasn't me. Wasn't you, or Pup either."

Logan smirked, and lit a cigar.

"Not in my car."

His smirk widened, sometimes it was too easy.

"I'll see you Jimmy, Pup."

The man turned and left.

"Pup?"

"Don't ask me. I don't get it..."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All done until next week. Please review... it's such a pretty button... How can you resist pushing it? I like to know how people feel. =)