If You Pardon, I Will Mend pt 2


Dr. Henry McCoy stared at the test tube intently. "Fascinating," he murmured as he swirled the contents gently.

The door to his lab creaked open and in stepped Storm. She was…upside down.

Storm put her hands on her knees and turned her head to look at Hank right side up.

"Oh, dear, do excuse me, please," Hank apologized as he flipped down from where he was hanging, making sure not to spill the contents of the test tube.

Storm smiled at the furry blue man. Dr. Henry McCoy was an old friend of Xavier's who had recently joined the institute to assist the Professor in his genetic research. Beast, as he was known to his friends, had also taken up the position of resident doctor. The local hospital was a little less than eager to attend to Xavier's students, ever since the incident a few weeks ago when the kids went to get their flu shots.

It was the first time Nurse Gimmel had ever given a shot. Scott took his calmly, a good example to his fellow students. When the nurse gave Evan his shot, the boy had immediately released thousands of tiny spikes, turning himself into a human pincushion. Luckily, nobody was hurt. Kitty refused to have a shot. When she was finally forced into the seat, the nurse found it impossible for the needle kept slipping through the girl's arm. Kitty merely shrugged innocently. The professor had not been pleased. Rouge was next and she demanded that the shot be given through her shirt. The nurse explained to her that this was definitely not possible. She had shrugged and mumbled, "It's your funeral." The professor had allowed Rouge to forgo her shot—which Kitty claimed to be unfair. Kurt took his shot relatively calmly, but the nurse couldn't help thinking that he felt extremely hairy for such a young boy. Finally Jean sat down to take her shot.

At the sight of the needle, two green lounge chairs rose into the air and smashed through a huge plate glass window. The nurse stood in terror, surrounded by shards of broken glass. Jean turned wide-eyed to the Professor and just kept saying, "sorry, I didn't mean to." Logan had laughed and applauded. The hospital staff had not been pleased. The hospital was then ruled off limits to Xavier's students. The kids got a long lecture on the importance of projecting a positive image for mutants and the institute got a new doctor.

"You wanted to see me, Hank?" Storm asked.

"Yes, thank you so much for coming. I'm sure the Professor has updated you on our recent investigation into pheromones. We've gotten samples from each of the students, which we have been studying. I was wondering if you would be kind enough to assist us in our research by donating a sample?"

"A blood sample?"

"Oh, heavens no," Beast chuckled, "I've learned not to put the students within ten feet of a needle. Just a skin sample."

"Certainly, anything to help you," Storm smiled pleasantly and offered her arm.

"Well thank you, my lady," Beast bowed graciously and scraped off a sample of skin cells.

"How is the study progressing?" Storm asked as she watched Hank store the DNA.

"Very well, actually. We have isolated separate MHC proteins in each of the samples. The saying, `love at first sight' might actually be more appropriately said as `love at first smell.' Of course pheromones are hardly the defining factor of physical attraction, but I have been doing some manipulations and enhancements which I believe to be quite intriguing. To effectively be able to control whom a person falls in love with. Exciting but possible very dangerous."

"Indeed," agreed Storm. Playing cupid, she mused as she imagined the ramifications of such an ability.

"Our dear friend Logan is unique in his heightened olfactory ability and is thus an excellent candidate to assist me in my research. I was wondering, have you seen him this afternoon?"

"Actually, it is Logan's turn to pick up the children from school," Storm informed the doctor.

"Oh heavens."


"Get in the van," he growled in a low voice.

Rouge matched his glare and didn't budge. "I ain't ready to go home yet."

"Are you coming quietly or do I have to persuade you," Logan's fists tightened and his eye began to twitch nervously.

"Y'all going to kidnap me now?" Rouge challenged, never breaking eye contact.

"Rouge, please," Scott interrupted calmly, "let's not make a scene. We just want to help you, you know that." He gestured towards the van and smiled wanly.

"Ah know," Rouge sighed as she broke eye contact with Wolverine and moved toward the van. She sneered at Logan one last time before moving to the very back of the black minivan.

Logan mumbled something indiscernible and clapped Scott on the back. "Thanks, Slim. You always know how to treat a lady."

Scott blushed and grinned.

***BAMF***

"Elf!" shouted Logan as he leapt in surprise. He turned to glare at the boy sitting in the shotgun seat.

Kurt smiled hopefully but knew that he was in big trouble.

"No teleporting at school. That's the Prof.'s rule, not mine. But you had better listen to the guy," Logan warned with a somewhat concerned look."

"Sorry, mein freund," Kurt apologized.

"And Elf," Logan added as he jerked his thumb toward the back of the van, "get outta that seat."

***BAMF***

"ELF!"

Scott couldn't help but laugh, he even noticed that Logan had let a small chuckle slip through. Kurt could always make people smile.

Scott began to search the busy parking lot intently.

Logan moved beside him and looked around as well, "So where's half- pint and Red?"

"Jeez, Logan," laughed Scott as he shook his head, "Do you have a nickname for everybody?"

"I `spose I do, Slim."

Evan came skateboarding towards them. "'Sup guys?" he gave Scott a high five as he flipped his board up. "Just stopped by to tell you that I got practice today so I'll get a ride home from one of the guys later."

Logan was a little pissed that Evan seemed to be talking more to Scott than to him. Leader boy, thought Logan with a small sneer. Scott was a good kid, maybe a little too good in Logan's opinion.

"Fine by me, porcupine," Logan nodded as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and continued to search the parking lot.

"Later, guys!" Evan shouted as he skated off.

"Porcupine?"

Logan let out a hearty laugh, "Ok, ya got me. Maybe this nickname thing is a little outta hand."

Scott glanced at his watch.

"Don't worry, bub, here she comes," Logan said.

Scott looked around, "I don't see anything, how do you know?"

Logan pointed to his nose, "The nose knows. Trust me, I could smell `er from a mile away."

Scott just nodded at the man and waited patiently.

From somewhere in the crowd, Kitty and Jean came walking toward them.

"What happened?" Asked Scott, "I thought you guys were right behind me."

"Chill, Scott. I just had to give Chris the Chemistry assignment and Kitty had to stop by the office."

Kitty flashed a pink slip and entered the van, shoulders slumped. "It's, like, my first detention slip. There goes my perfect record!" whined Kitty.

"Your first one?!" Rouge asked incredulously. She started laughing.

"Well I'm glad I, like, made your day!" Kitty pouted.

Logan sighed and walked toward the other side of the van. "Let's get the fuck outta here."

"Logan!" Jean shouted.

"Sorry, Jeannie," Logan mumbled as he slipped into the driver's seat.

"Whipsh," voiced Rouge as she gestured a whip crack.

Logan shook his head and started up the car, "Why do I put up with this?"

Scott moved into the shotgun seat and Jean sat next to Kitty.

"So what's up for this afternoon?" Kurt called from the back.

"A physics lesson with Mr. Big Blue Science?" Rouge asked as she pretended to gag.

Logan grinned and shook his head.

"Tai Chi with Ms. Monroe?" Kitty asked hopefully.

"Nope," replied Logan.

"A day of relaxation by the pool?" Jean suggested.

Logan chuckled, "Not even close, Red."

"What, then?" asked Kitty.

"Combat training with yours truly."

The entire bus collectively groaned.

"Oh yeah," said Logan as he grinned, "I'm gunna enjoy this."