Kitku sat up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. "Wolverine?"

When there was no reply, Kitku climbed out of bed, got dressed and headed cautiously downstairs, bat at the ready. She vaguely remembered meeting a woman and Wolvie putting her to bed, but she had been so tired and her mind was still foggy with sleep.

She walked through the living room and into the kitchen. A short woman was cooking on a pot-bellied gas stove. Kitku's stomach growled.

"Hi, hon, hungry?" the woman asked not bothering to turn around.

"Where's Wol...my Dad?" She knew nothing about this woman and was not about to drop the facade that she and Wolvie had created.

"Oh, Logan? He went to town to get some supplies." The woman finally turned around, coffee cup in one hand and a hot skillet of scrambled eggs mixed with onions, peppers and cheese in the other. "So, are you hungry, Kitku?"

She walked past Kitku, ignoring the bat held in an offensive manner by the girl and set the skillet on the table.

"OJ okay with you or do you prefer apple juice or milk." She went to the refrigerator and opened it. "Hope it's not milk, because I don't have any. Well, what's your poison?"

Kitku observed the woman with wide-eyed amazement. The coffee cup was never out of her hand and she drank the hot liquid as she spoke. Kitku could almost see the intense energy flow from this woman.

"Apple juice, mam," she said as she dissipated the bat.

"One aj coming up. Sit yourself down and dig in. Oh, I'm Jasmine by the way. You were pretty out of it last night when Logan brought you in and he put you right up to bed so I figured you wouldn't remember meeting me."

Kitku stopped in mid bite. The woman never took a breath. "Is that decaf?"

"What? Oh, this, no." Jasmine looked at her coffee cup. "Why? You want some?"

"Maybe you should try decaf." Kitku gave her a meaningful glance.

Jasmine looked puzzled for a moment and then laughed. "Wouldn't make a difference. I was born with this energy. My Mother said I practically came out dancing and talking when I was born."

"I don't doubt that, mam."

"Just call me Jasmine or Jas, okay?" Jasmine sat at the table with her and helped herself to some breakfast.

"Okay," Kitku smiled at her. "This ain't half bad grub, Jas."

Jasmine laughed. "Thanks."

Wolverine walked through the grocery store, picking up supplies for their journey and for Jasmine. He figured they'd be safe for a day or so at her place. Scratch that, he hoped they would be safe for a day or two.

He finished, paid for the groceries and loaded up her truck. He pulled out and headed back to her house.

As he drove, he watched the familiar landscape outside his window. It had been a long time. He had not realized how much time had passed until last night when Jasmine held his hand and he had poured out his story to her. They had been lovers and best friends.

He also didn't realize how much he had missed her. She was a lady with a wild side to match his wildness. They had been good together. He wondered what had caused them to loose track of each other. Was there an argument? Was there someone else?

He shook his head. His memory was still a jumble. Well, whatever the reason it don't matter now.

Wolverine smiled as he thought about Jasmine. She was gorgeous and very well built. With Jasmine there were no suprises. She was honest, he'd give her that and made no bones about what was on her mind. Well, at least I always know where I stand and stood with ya, Jas.

Maybe, she and he should give themselves another chance. He shook his head.

"Ain't got time for that, bub," he said out loud, "ya gotta get yerself and Kit outa this mess first and then, maybe then, ya can think about that."

He pulled onto the cut off to Jasmine's house.

Out of well-honed reflexes, both men reacted before their minds fully comprehended who stood before them. Cyclops touched his hand to his visor as Nightcrawler teleported to an advantageous position. Just before they attacked, they stopped.

"Professor!" Cyclops exclaimed.

The bald, regal gentleman mentally urged his hoover chair into the room. "Scott, it's good to see you again, lad."

The Professor smiled at his first XMan and shook hands. Nightcrawler teleported to the back of the hoover chair and shook hands with the Professor.

"It iz good to have you home, Herr Professor."

"It is good to be home." He smiled at Nightcrawler and then turned his attention to Jean. "Unfortunately, I wish it were under better circumstances. You were right to contact me, Kurt."

"Pardon?" Kurt asked, confused.

"You were so distressed that I picked up on your mental projection to me through my rapport with you. But, of course, I was already enroute after Jean had been so seriously wounded. I felt all of your distress and returned as soon as possible," he explained as he checked Jean's vitals. "I left the others to finish our mission and returned home."

Storm, Beast and Archangel had gone with the Professor to check out a mutant disturbance in South America. Scott had thought of contacting them but their exact whereabouts were unknown and he had not had the chance to locate them. He had failed to considered all his options.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Scott," Professor Xavier gently chided. "You knew what we were doing was important and extremely covert. You were right and were you not going to contact Dr. McTaggert?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, then, I do not see where you could have failed." His chair whispered across the room to the monitor. "But right now, our concern, naturally, is for Jean's health. Scott, if you'll excuse us?"

Cyclops nodded, with a final kiss to Jean's lips, he left the medical facility. He glanced back as the two men made preparations to remove the sliver of metal that was killing his lover.

Wolverine set the last of the groceries on the counter. Jasmine began putting them away and Kitku sat at the kitchen table, listening intently to a sports talk show. It was all comfortable. Wolverine shook his head. Who am I kiddin'? I can't even take care of myself under normal circumstances, how am I supposed to take care of some kid?

"She's quite a girl, isn't she, Logan?" Jasmine asked quietly.

"Yeah," he replied. He turned his attention back to the groceries and noticed Jasmine's thoughtful gaze. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. I was noticing how you were watching her. What is it, Logan, you don't think you'd make a good father?"

Wolverine did not reply as he put away the canned goods.

"Why not?" Jasmine leaned on the counter, her eyes intently on him. "Do you think that kids come with a manual? What makes you think you'd be a worse father than someone else?"

"Ain't my style."

"Oh, there's a macho answer." She opened the refrigerator and put the milk away.

"I'm not...I just can't take care of her, Jas." Wolverine lowered his head. "I'm not exactly what you'd refer to as an upstanding citizen."

"True, but you got morals and honor and a lot of other things to offer her." She put her hands on his arms and waited until he raised his eyes to look at her. "You've got a sense of responsibility that is enormous. Logan, you would never leave her, abuse her or anything like that. She needs someone she can count on and you, my friend, are the one she has chosen."

"I...Jas, what I can offer her ain't enough." Wolverine turned from her and leaned on the kitchen sink, staring out the window.

"You've got so much to give. And I'll tell you something, it's more than most, Logan, more than most."

Kitku listened to the radio, occasionally glancing at Wolverine and Jasmine as they put away the groceries. She was about to offer to help but the expressions on the adults faces change and their voices fell to whispers. Grown up talk. Ick.

She had decided that she like this woman, Jasmine Daniels and that she and Wolverine would make a good couple. Like parents, maybe for a little, orphan girl? Hey, who knows?

For a moment, Kitku envisioned what would happen after all of this. She and Wolverine would go off, live in a house, and be father and daughter. Jasmine would come live with them and they would be one happy family. Maybe even, stay here at Jasmine's house. Of course, they would have to add another room and...

Don't kid yourself, Kitku, he ain't going to go for it, she thought to herself. He won't want to be strapped down with a kid. After this is over, he'll dump you off at some orphanage or something like that. Yeah, he double promised we were partners, but that's because we need each other right now. Right now, we only got each other, but later, when he's with his friends, thanks, Kit, it's been fun. Glad ya didn't die. Later.

She turned her face away from Jas and Wolverine, not wanting them to see her tears.

Never should have gotten this close to him. The Daddy thing was just a cover, not for real, she reminded herself. I guess pretend and real life can run together.

She turned her eyes back to the radio, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Wolverine had better things to do other than taking care of her. She thought briefly of taking off but she had double promised herself that she would stay with Wolverine until this whole thing blew over. Besides, she would not be able to make it on her own and she knew without him, she was as good as dead.

"Kitku."

Kitku shook her head and looked over at Wolverine.

"Where's your head at, girl?" He eyed her. She had a far, away look to her eyes.

"Obviously, else where, Logan," Jas chimed in. "There's a movie theatre in town, interested?"

"Yeah!" Kitku jumped up and clapped her hands together.

In that moment, Wolverine was reminded just how young this girl was. A child of no more than ten and looking more like eight. She had been resilient throughout this whole ordeal, like Kitty had been when he first met her. Kitku had been through so much. Alone on the streets for five years and never lost her innocence. And at this moment, more than any other, she was innocence. Eager to go to a movie, giggling with excitement, the harshness of the past few days forgotten in a moment and she was really smiling for the first time since they met.

"Please? Pleeeaaaasssseeee." Kitku had hold of his arm and was tugging at it, flashing her big, green eyes at him.

"I s'ppose," he said, a grin spread across his face. Her eyes were shining with excitement. He knew they were taking a hell've a risk but, life was a risk. "Go and get your jacket."

"Why don't you fill me in on what has taken place since I've been gone?"

"Well, sir, it seems Omega Red attacked Wolverine in New York and, well, that's where it gets complicated," Scott started and gave a detailed account of what had happened though out the week.

Professor Xavier nodded and listened, occasionally interrupting and asking questions. During the report, Professor Xavier sat behind his desk, staring intently at Cyclops.

"I see," he stated when the X-Men leader had concluded his report. Professor Xavier came out from behind the desk and headed for the door. "I believe, I shall contact Wolverine and inform him of what has been happening since Jean's injury. I'm sure he is wondering what happened to his contact."

"Do you think that is wise to let him know Jean's condition." Cyclops followed his mentor down the hallway to the war room. "After all, Jean did say that he was not quite...together."

Cyclops tapped his temple for emphasis.

Professor nodded in agreement. "Of course, I shall endeavor to take a look at how he is handling his emotions before I inform him of anything. After all, Jean is a close friend of Wolverine's and her condition could quite possibly set him off."

Cyclops followed in silence, not responding to the professor's comment about his fiancée and fellow team member being close friends. He knew how Wolverine felt about Jean and he was well aware of the reactions he could get out of Jean. He pretended to not notice and let people think he was dense, but he did know and it hurt.

Professor Xavier moved his chair beneath cerybro's helmet and pulled it down onto his head. He had no doubt in his mind that Wolverine would be fine. The XMan had more heart and courage than anyone Professor Xavier knew and the most stubborn. He smiled to himself, although he and Wolverine had butted heads more than once, he still had a fondness for the Canadian.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, searching for his wayward X-Man.

Wolverine slumped in the theatre seat and stared at the screen. Some guy named Jason was taking a chainsaw to some stupid woman who had been walking around half dressed checking out strange noises. He shrugged, if she was dumb enough to go checking without knowing what she was doing, she deserved to get hacked up.

He glanced at Kitku and Jasmine. They were sharing a huge bucket of extra butter flavored popcorn, Milk Duds, licorice, and two huge sodas. He shook his head, later they'd complain about how much they weighed and would wonder why.

Kitku jumped and grabbed Wolverine's arm. He caught Jasmine out of the corner of his eye, on the other side of Kitku, grabbing Kitku's arm. He looked back at the screen. Apparently, Jason reached through a wall, grabbed some unsuspecting, teen boy, and was proceeding to hack at the kid with an axe or something. He sighed as the blood flowed.

He was not so sure now that this was a good idea for Kitku to be seeing this kind of movie. He would have preferred her to watch the comedy on the other screen, but she begged and pleaded. Jasmine was no help, begging right along with the kid. He stood his ground outside the theatre, the two ladies hanging on each of his arms, flashing him with their big, green eyes and sweet, innocent smiles. He caved in two minutes flat.

Wolverine watched Jason chasing another half-naked coed into the woods and shook his head. How many more kids were there for this maniac to slaughter? The film made no sense.

"Wolverine?"

Wolverine jumped. Kitku looked up at him with concern. There wasn't anything on screen to make him jump. He smiled down at her and winked.

"Terribly sorry for the start, Wolverine," the male voice continued. "I was trying to be as quiet as possible. Oh, my."

The images of the film were fresh in Wolverine's mind.

"Do you think that this was an appropriate choice of entertainment for the child, Wolverine?" the voice asked sternly.

"Who the hell are you?" Wolverine asked mentally. The voice was familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"After all, Wolverine, she is only a child and should not be subjected to such violence," the voice continued to reprimand Wolverine.

"Yeah? If ya don't let me know who ya are, there's gonna be some real violence," Wolverine mentally snapped. He glanced around the theatre trying to see who would be speaking to him like Jean Gray had done.

"Yes, well, we will discuss this situation at a later time. My name is Professor Charles Xavier. I'm also known to you as Prof...."

"Chuck!" Wolverine mentally smirked.

"Professor Xavier," the voice finished, in a sterner manner.

"Yeah, well, Jean mentioned ya. I kinda 'memeber ya, but...."

"Of course, lack of trust. I understand after your ordeal." He materialized mentally for Wolverine to place a face with his voice. He was a tall man, lithe build, and bald with strong facial features.

"Wolverine," Professor Xavier began, "the reason, Jean has not contacted you lately is because she was injured. Now, she's all right and is resting comfortably. So, there's no cause for alarm."

Wolverine narrowed his eyes and studied Professor Xavier. The man was telling the truth, or as much as he dared. "So?"

"Now, I am your contact with the X-Men." The Professor returned Wolverine's steady gaze.

Finally, Wolverine nodded. "I'm a little bit confused with who's who, lately, Charley."

Professor was about to object but caught the soft overtone of Wolverine's voice.

"I gotta trust ya, Charley, ain't got much of a choice." He looked up at the Professor's image.

"I promise you, Logan, that you will be all right. We will get you home safely."

"Ain't me I'm worrin' about. It's Kit."

"I understand, Logan. We will do our best."

Wolverine nodded. They looked at each other, both men knew that Wolverine and Kitku's chances were slim but they would both die trying to protect the girl. "So, lets cut this crap. Where do we stand, now?"

"Cyclops, Nightcrawler and myself are going to fly into the nearest city. We should be able to redevous with you sometime tomorrow or the next day," Professor said. "We believe that we should be able to get you back to New York with little to no problem. Then we can deal with this Viper."

"Have ya got a lock on 'im?"

"Unfortunately, no. I contacted you first. Now, I will be trying to find him."

"Well, Charley, he ain't far behind us. He should be an easy target."

"If I were familiar with his mind, it would be. It will take time."

"Time is somethin' we ain't got," Wolverine reminded him.

"I well aware of that, Wolverine, however, there is not much else we can do."

"Yeah, I know," Wolverine conceded.

Part of Wolverine's mind registered that the film was over and the credits were rolling.

"I shall let you get back to Kitku and Jasmine. I'll let you know when I have Viper." Professor's figure started to fade.

"Yeah." Wolverine paused and then added, "Hey, Charley."

"Yes?"

"Make sure none of ya get hurt out there, 'kay?"

Professor Xavier smiled, nodded and vanished.