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Chapter Twelve
Late the next morning found Buffy outside walking with Wesley. She was still avoiding Logan. When she had come down to breakfast that morning, he was sitting with Rogue and Bobby, which left her free to sit with Kurt. She had to admit that she had missed the elf the day before because of her avoidance of Logan, for she had also eaten dinner the night before with the professor. Buffy was amazed at how easily the X-men had accepted the truth about the hellmouth. She hated that she was the cause of more danger in their lives. The mutants had enough problems of their own without her adding hers on top. However, she also knew that it was necessary for them to be aware of the added dangers in their town. She could tell by the way Wesley had his face scrunched up that he was trying to find the best way to approach an unpleasant subject. In the month following the closing of the hellmouth, Buffy had grown close to both Wesley and Fred. She had been pleasantly surprised to learn that Wesley had changed from the stiff, formal idiot into a warm, compassionate friend. Fred had befriended her first. It was impossible not to like the Texan. She was so open and caring that Buffy had been drawn to her without realizing it. The slayer had told Fred how much Spike had meant to her and she was sure that the brunette had told Wesley, her boyfriend. For after that, Wesley always had a friendly and gentle word or smile for her. While they weren’t filled with pity, they shone with sympathy. It hadn’t taken her long to become fairly close to the couple, so it wasn’t hard for her to read the former watcher. “Out with it Wesley,” she said after several long moments. He regarded her before saying, “Buffy, I’m afraid you’re not going to like what I have to say.” She rolled her eyes. “I can tell that already. Why don’t you just say whatever it is and I’ll try to stay calm.” Wesley sighed. “I have some concerns about the hellmouth.” “Like what?” She asked curiously. “It’s not that I don’t think you can’t handle the demon slaying.” He ignored Buffy’s snort. “But there are other dangers that the hellmouth presents that you may not be able to handle on your own.” “Ok, umm, not really following you here, Wesley.” “Magic.” “Magic?” “Yes. Buffy you know from previous experience that sometimes magic is needed to aid in the prevention of an apocalypse.” “Alright, I’ll learn magic,” she said with a shrug. “Buffy, it’s not that simple. While some slayers can perform rudimentary spells, most are unable to any magic whatsoever. It has something to do with how the original watchers made the first slayer.” “So what are you saying?” “And it’s not just the magic, Buffy. You’ve never really been strong in the research area.” Buffy glared at him. “I can read you know.” “I’m not implying that you aren’t intelligent. It’s just that before, you had a team to back you up.” The slayer was definitely not liking where the conversation was heading. “Wesley, slayers for generations before me,” she said in an even tone, “seemed to do just fine on their own. I don’t need a team.” “But Buffy, even they had their watchers. You no longer have that option.” “Then what are you suggesting?” “I’m suggesting that you allow me to call in some people to help you out. I have several friends who are proficient in magic and research.” “No,” Buffy said firmly. “I don’t want to bring any more people into this than are necessary.” “Buffy, you wouldn’t be bringing them into it, they’re already involved. Many of them I’ve known since my days as a watcher.” She shook her head. “And look where that got the Watcher’s Council. No Wesley, I got my last team killed and they were my best friends in the whole world. I don’t want to jeopardize anymore people.” “Buffy...” “NO! That’s final!” Then she stalked back into the mansion. ******** Logan stood uncertainly outside of the professor’s door. He had been standing there for several minutes trying to decide if he really wanted to go in. He had finished reading all of the information contained in the envelope and found he needed to talk to someone. He had ruled Rogue out because despite what she had been through, she was still just a kid. Plus, he didn’t want to burden her with his past. He had hoped to talk to Buffy, but she was still mad at him. The only other person left that he felt comfortable enough to talk to was Charles. He sighed softly and raised his hand to knock on the door. But before he hit it, Xavier’s voice could be heard through the door. “Come it, Logan.” Logan growled as he opened the door. “Wish you wouldn’t do that. It’s creepy.” “I apologize, Logan. Please come in, have a seat.” He gently closed the door behind him and took a seat. “What seems to be the trouble?” The gruff mutant didn’t say anything for a minute. “Buffy had her friends do some investigating for me.” “Did she really?” Xavier asked in surprise. Logan nodded. “It’s amazing how much they found out. I’m just wondering if it is true or not. I was hoping we could compare the bits you saw in my head to the info they found.” Xavier smiled at him and said, “That shouldn’t be a problem.” ****** After spending two hours talking with the professor, Logan headed up to his bedroom to wash up for dinner. He could hear Buffy moving in her room and decided to chance it. He knocked softly on her door. He heard her stop and smelled her tension. “I don’t want to talk, Buffy. I just wanted to say thank you.” There was silence for a few seconds and then her door cracked open to reveal one eye peering out. “For what?” “The envelope.” “Did it help?” “Yes. More than you could ever imagine.” “You’re welcome.” Then she shut the door softly. Well, he thought, it’s an improvement. At least she spoke to me. ******** That night, Wesley called another meeting between the X-men and Angel Investigations. Once everyone had gathered in the professor’s office, Angel spoke up, “Gunn, Lorne and I will be leaving in a few hours to return to L.A. We did what we came here to do and we’re needed back home.” Logan couldn’t help but feel elated at the news of the vampire’s departure. Buffy just nodded her head in the acceptance of Angel’s decision. The vampire had given her space for the past two days and she was thankful for it. While she wasn’t sure if her and Angel could ever be close friends again, she hoped that one day they would at least be friends. The professor turned to Wesley and Fred, “What do the two of you have planned?” Wesley said, “Fred and I would like to stay and do a little more investigating. There are several more things I want to check out while we’re already here. We would like to stay in the mansion if that is all right with you.” Xavier nodded. “That is fine. You are more than welcome to stay as long as you need. The same for you Buffy.” He paused before saying, “Actually, since you will already be staying in town for a while, I would like to offer you a job.” Buffy looked startled for a moment. “Excuse me?” “I would like for you and Logan to stay at the school and teach self-defense to the students. I believe it would benefit them in the event that they come into contact with any demons or vampires.” Logan shrugged, “Sure, I guess I could teach a bunch of munchkins.” Buffy fought to suppress a smirk at Logan’s comment as she thought the prospect over. Originally she had planned on buying a small house in town to stay at, but staying at the school seemed a better alternative. They already had equipment for her to workout with and not to mention giving the kids a chance to learn to defend themselves so that hopefully they wouldn’t face the same problems that her fellow classmates had in Sunnydale. After another moment she said, “Sure, why not.” Logan felt a tremor of excitement in his stomach at the prospect of working with the beautiful slayer everyday. He had been so worried that she would leave them - to leave him, that it almost felt like relief to know she was staying at the mansion. The meeting broke shortly after that so Angel, Gunn and Lorne could finish their packing. After mulling it over, Buffy decided to talk to Angel. She rapped on his door and then entered without waiting for a response. Angel looked up from his suitcase in surprise. “Yes?” She stood there shifting her weight from foot to foot. “I don’t want you to leave thinking that I hate you.” “I don’t think that you...” “Yes, you do,” she interrupted. “Ok. Maybe I thought it a little,” he admitted. “It’s just,” she began. “It’s just that... that you just... and then you always... You know?” He nodded in understanding. “Yeah, I get it now.” “It’s just going to take me a while to completely forgive you. It’s just that so many things have piled up between us that I’m not sure if I can ever fully forgive you.” Angel nodded sadly. “I’m not even sure if I can forgive myself.” “Because of Connor?” He smiled grimly. “Yeah. I still love him even though he doesn’t know that I exist.” “It’s a burden you’re gonna have to carry for the rest of your life, you know.” “I know.” He just hung his head in silence. “Well... Safe trip and all.” “Thanks. Take care of yourself, Buffy.” Angel said, looking up. “I will,” she said. “It’s not like I have much of a choice around here anyway.” The vampire sighed. “This Logan guy... I’m not sure he’s right for you.” “Angel,” she said warningly. “I don’t mean that as an order. I just... worry. I’m not going to interfere.” “Good. ‘Cause Logan is my business and we’re nothing more than friends anyway.” He stared at her in disbelief, then he slightly shrugged. Buffy’s face softened. “I really hope Cordelia wakes up soon.” “Me too.” Then Buffy turned and left the room. ******* It was quite late when Buffy returned from patrolling that night. She realized she had a serious craving for some ice cream so she headed to the kitchen before going to bed. She opened the freezer and was surprised by the many different flavors contained inside. The slayer was so busy in her search of the perfect flavor that she didn’t sense Logan walk into the room. “Buffy,” he said softly. The tiny blonde jumped and turned to face him, putting her hand over her heart. “Jesus, you scared me!” He looked slightly surprised. “Didn’t think it was possible to sneak up on the slayer.” She shrugged. “It’s easy enough when she’s contemplating her choices of ice cream.” “Ah.” Buffy went back to her perusal before pulling out a carton of Edy’s Snickers ice cream. Knowing that she and Logan were going to have to have some sort of professional relationship in order to teach the children, and the fact she was no long mad at him, she turned to Logan and asked, “Want some, Wolvie?” A corner of his mouth quirked up slightly for a second at her use of her special nickname for him. “Sure,” he said as he went to a cupboard and grabbed two bowls. She looked strangely at the bowls and then giggled. “Yeah, not exactly my house. Probably shouldn’t eat directly out of the carton, huh.” He grinned. “Probably not the greatest idea.” As she scooped out the ice cream, he asked, “Busy night?” Buffy shrugged. “Not too bad, four vamps and one pathetic little demon. All in all a pretty slow night.” Logan just nodded his head absently. “How about yourself?” She asked as she put the lid back on the carton and put it back into the freezer. “Been ok these past couple of days?” “I’ve been looking through that envelope.” “And?” She asked as she sat down and started eating. “It was helpful.” “I knew that. What I meant was, are you willing to share or do you still need time to take it all in?” He explained that he had spoken to the professor earlier that day. “You actually let that man inside your head?” She asked in amazement. Logan shrugged. “I was desperate. It’s been around fifteen years since I woke up with no memory of my past.” Buffy whistled. “I didn’t realize it had been that long. I’m sorry.” “It’s ok,” he said. “Apparently I’m older than I look.” “How much older?” “I’m one hundred and twenty-four years old.” “That means you were born in...” She scrunched up her nose as she tried to do the math. “1880. August 16, 1880 to be exact.” “They found your birth certificate?” She asked excitedly. “You’re talking to Jonathan Caleb Logan from the wilds of Canada.” “Ooh, I could call you Johnny.” Then she thought it over and shook her head. “Nah, think I’ll stick with Wolvie.” “Good. Not sure I feel like a Johnny.” “So what else did you learn?” “There wasn’t much about my early years, just random faded photos and whatnot.” “Are you remembering anything?” “Some. As I read I got flashes, some of them fairly long. They just don’t have any emotion behind them. It’s kinda like watchin’ a movie.” “I’m sure there will be more,” she said encouragingly. “Let’s see. I joined the Canadian army when I was thirty-four and fought in the First World War. I received a couple of medals. Then I was an officer in the second war. There are a lot of things I remember from then, mostly battles.” “Wow, both wars.” “Then I did a short stint in Korea.” “Wait! Didn’t they question the fact that you never looked older?” “Dunno. It’s all down as me, and I remember some of it.” “Gangs on pcp,” she muttered. “What?” “People will make things up so that they stay unaware of the truth. The people in Sunnydale believed gangs on pcp instead of vampires caused all the trouble.” “It’s amazing isn’t it?” They silently ate their ice cream for a few minutes. “So then what?” Buffy finally asked. “Then I gathered intelligence for the U.S. during Vietnam. That’s where I met a guy named William Stryker. He was in a unit I was assigned to. I think we may have been friends. Anyway, I know he found out about my healing abilities.” “How?” “It wasn’t in the envelope, but I clearly remember it. I got seriously injured and we were pinned in. Help wasn’t able to reach us for hours and he thought I was going to die. But by the time the choppers reached us I was fine. I made him swear not to tell. I left the army shortly after that. “That was in ‘69. I kind of wandered for a bit after that. I got married in 1974 to Jennifer Louise Davisson. We lived in a small mining town where I worked. We had a baby girl in ‘78 and a boy in ‘81.” He grew silent. “Where are they now?” She asked. “Dead.” “What? How?” “In late ‘83, Stryker found me. I remember he wanted me to reenlist, something about a Weapon X. I told him I was a family man now and didn’t want to go back to that life. He was upset, but he left. Then shortly after New Years, while I was at work, my house burned to the ground...” “Along with your family,” Buffy finished softly. “Yeah. A few months later I reenlisted and joined the Weapon X project, never knowing that I was the weapon.” “The adelaide skeleton.” He chuckled darkly. “Yeah, the adamantium skeleton and the claws. All the research notes say they brainwashed me so I could become the perfect weapon.” Buffy put their bowls in the sink and then sat back down across from him. “At least you know now.” “I know I killed my family.” “No, you didn’t. The fire did.” “Stryker had them killed so I would reenlist,” he nearly bellowed. She reached out and grasped his hand, forcing him to look her in the eye. “That doesn’t mean you killed them. Stryker is a bastard who should be shot.” “Too late.” “Huh?” “The reports say I killed him and the doctors when I escaped.” “Then you’ve exacted your revenge.” “Doesn’t mean I feel better.” “Revenge never does.” Previous Part Looking For Tomorrow Menu Next Part |
