Keeping Faith

Title: Keeping Faith
By: MC
Universe: X-Movie
Characters (in order screen time): Logan/Wolverine, Dr. Michaela St. Matthews/Faith (OFC), Rogue, Scott Summers/Cyclops, Dr. Jean Grey, Ororo Monroe/Storm, Professor Charles Xavier, Victor Creed/Sabretooth
Synopsis: While searching for his past, Logan meets a mutant woman.
Rating: PG-13. Language and violence.
Feedback: I live for it.
Disclaimer: Logan, Professor Xavier and all things X-Men belong to Marvel Comics. The movie was made by 20th Century Fox, so they deserve some credit to. Basically, I don't own 'em, never claimed to either.
Author's Note: Infinate thanks go out to my X-Friends, Fre and Mac. Also, many thanks to Pablo, who helped me edit and work out plots.

The stars sparkled in the deep blue sky. Night had settled on the sleep mountain town.

The silence was broken by the smooth roar of an animal. Its ferocity never waned, the dull rumble filling the air. As the noise grew closer, its manufactured origins became apparent. It was not an animal, but a sleek, black motorcycle. The owner of the motorcycle was another matter.

Coming to a screeching halt, the rider turned his head towards the flicker of civilization. On the side of the road a small strip glowed like a beacon. The neon lights hummed and flickered, bathing the oasis. The rider sniffed the air. The smell of cheap booze and even cheap women filled his nostrils. A bar. This was perfect.

The rider got off the motorcycle. His wild brown hair was tousled from the whipping winds. He brought a furry hand to his long sideburns, licking his lips and setting his jaw firmly. His brow crinkled, soulful brown eyes surveying the location.

His name was Logan. It fit him: short, simple, nothing else attached. That was who he was.

Letting his muscles relax, Logan walked to the bar. Better find some entertainment for the night.

Logan slid up to the counter. He cased the joint, eyes darting to the clientele. This place was better than most he had been in. At least he couldn't hear the cockroaches skittering across the floor.

"A beer," he barked at the bartender. His hand slipped into his jacket. He pulled out a thick, brown cigar. Placing it between his clenched teeth, he lit the end and puffed, letting aromatic smoke swirl around him.

The bartender placed a glass of amber liquid in front of him. Logan nodded, gripping the handle firmly in his hand.

Where was he? Somewhere in Canada, that's all he knew. One of those long forgotten town near the Canadian Rockies. The kind of place that no one ever left. The kind of place that didn't take kindly to strangers.

What exactly did he expect to find at this lab? His past? The answer to how he got the metal in his bones? He could have had a sweet deal in Westchester: hot women, a target for his anger, a chance for a find a future. It would have been good. He would go back to Xavier's School for the Gifted. He had promised Rogue he would. First, he had to discover splinters of his past.

Logan slugged back half of his beer. Through the smell of smoke and stale beer, a sweet scent peeked through. Logan's heightened animal sense picked up vanilla and lilacs.

"You know it," a soft voice replied. Logan turned. He let out a growl at the woman next to him.

She looked young; probably early twenties. Her reddish-gold hair was pinned up loose on her head. She wore a trenchcoat over her small body.

"Hey," she whispered. Logan was taken a bit by surprise. He turned back to his beer, grunting.

"You're looking for something." There was no question in her voice. This was cold, hard fact.

"Everyone is lookin' fer somethin', Darlin'," Logan murmured. He kicked back the rest of his beer. He stood, throwing some money onto the counter. "D'ja know where there's a motel?"

"Down the road about two minutes. Let me show you." The woman stood. Logan noticed a bulge in her coat. He hadn't noticed before, but she also had the faint scent of an exotic bird. Her more pleasant smells had overpowered it before.

He followed her. He didn't know why. It was against his better judgment. This didn't seem like the kind of woman who picked up men. He was sure he wasn't about to get laid.

They reached the motel. It was a cheap bungalow. The stench of depravity wafted from its walls.

"May I come in with you?" Michaela asked. Logan looked her up and down. She was definitely beautiful. There was no shame in trying.

Logan checked into the motel, Michaela in tow. They went to the room. Logan wrinkled his nose at the decor. Oh well, he had stayed in worse.

Logan went into immediate defense. He clenched his fists, a pair of sharp claws sliding out of his knuckles. "Who are you?"

"How do ya know who-- WHAT-- I am?" His muscles stayed tight, waiting to pounce on her.

Michaela pulled her coat back. Logan let out an awed breath as two white wings unfurled. "I recognized the behavior."

"What do ya want from me?" Logan let his muscles relax slightly. He kept his sense tuned, and his claws out.

Michaela picked up her trenchcoat. She sauntered to the door and placed her hand on the frame, preventing Logan from closing it.

"You're confused. Angry. You don't know who you're suppose to be angry at. You're also afraid. You're not afraid of those who took your memories. You're afraid you'll find out you were a horrible person before."

Logan grabbed her shoulder. He spun Michaela around to face him. "Yer a psychic?"

Michaela took his hand, stroking his palm. Logan's claws slid back into his hands. "I feel your pain, Logan. The pain in your past. The pain of not knowing who you are."

He nodded. "I got a tip from a friend that these guys had a lab up here. I figured it¹s at least worth checking out."

"Psychotherapist, but shrink works." Michaela smiled broadly. Logan was already getting attached to her sparkling grin.

"So what am I t'ya? Why d'ya wanna help me, Dr. Mika? D'ya feel my scarred psyche?" He crawled onto the bed, pinning her down. Michaela was trembling, her deep blues eyes filled with horror. He could smell her fear. He wanted to scare her off, send her running into the night. Logan didn't need another person trying to save his soul. He ran a hand down her neck, caressing the crucifix nestled between her breasts. "Am I a wounded puppy? Or is it just a challenge to get into my gruff exterior?"

Logan growled. "What are ya gonna do, Darlin'? Yer just an angel; a morsel fer ol' Wolverine t'eat."

Michaela brought her knee up between Logan's legs, striking him in the crotch. Both let out a yell of pain. Logan jumped off of Michaela, letting out a roar.

"You think it hurt YOU?!?!" Logan's healing ability did nothing for the excruciating pain. Hitting a man in the jewels; this kitten had claws.

She laid back on the bed. "We should get some rest. You'll probably want an early start on finding your past."

"Do you really think I'd let an interesting case like this alone?" She grinned. "Besides, I like the challenge."

The light streamed through the grimy windows of the motel room. Logan groaned as the dawn light hit his ultra-sensitive eyes. He rolled over, resting his head on a soft breast.

Breast? Whenever he had a female visitor, they never stayed the night. Dr. Mika. She had stayed. Logan had been sure she would have taken off. Was she serious about joining her on this trip?

Right now, he didn't care. Weariness was still heavy. Dr. Mika was also warm and soft. Logan rarely felt such wonderfully soft skin. He nuzzled closer, listening to her breathe.

He felt her body tense, and a squeal escape her lips. Logan let out a chuckle. "Was it good fer ya?"

Michaela rolled off the bed, hitting the floor with a dull thud. "We didn't.... I WOULDN'T! I just met you!"

"Relax, Darlin'." Logan sat up, rubbing the last bit of sleep from his eyes. "I didn't touch ya."

She let out a long, relieved sigh. Logan raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know ya found me so repulsive."

"You're not repulsive," Michaela whispered. "You're very.... Pleasantly shaped. It's just.... I just met you."

Logan threw his flannel shirt and jean jacket on. "Well, come on, Darlin'. You comin' with me or what?"

She stood in the middle of the floor, confusion marring her features. "You want to leave already?"

He nodded, picking his room key off the nightstand. "Ya just made it real clear we got no reason t' stay. Ya also said ya didn't want t' miss the opportunity to examine my head. So move yer tail out the door and get on my bike."

Michaela shrugged, putting her purse over her shoulder. She walked ahead of Logan, heading out the door. Logan crossed his arms when he noticed the size. This was not a purse. It was a duffel bag. "Who are ya runnin' from, Darlin'?"

She turned back, a small smile on her lips. "I'm not running from someone. I was waiting for someone."

Logan let out a primal grunt. He gripped the handlebars of the motorcycle tighter. Michaela's arms were wrapped around his waist, her cheeks pressed against his back. This felt good, natural. The wind whipped around him, a beautiful woman was pressed to him. This is what his life should be like.

One thing gnawed at him. What did Michaela mean she was waiting for him? She was empathic. Could she feel he needed her? No, she couldn't have. Logan didn't need her. She was a judgmental, annoying little gnat.

He'd keep her around for a while. She genuinely seemed to care about his welfare. She would fit in well with the X-Men.

The motorcycle came to a halt. Michaela moved her arms from around his waist. "Is something wrong?"

He didn't let go of the handlebar. He kept a firm scowl on his face. "I want to know why you were waiting for me."

"I thought it was pretty obvious." Michaela took a deep, trembling breath. "You radiate pain, Logan. I felt it coming a mile away. I knew that whoever that pain belonged to.... It was my mission to help them."

She took his hand. "I'm still going to give it to you, Logan. Tell me, do you have a nightmare every night? Dreaming of the pain that went through your body?"

"I have the power not only to read emotions.... But the power to heal them too." She gripped his hand tight. "Please. Let me come with you. What exactly do you have to lose?"

Logan had seen the "Dead End" sign two miles before reaching it. He let out a curse, stopping in front of it. He got off the bike, securing his bag on his shoulder. He sighed, shrugging at Michaela. "It's on foot from here, Dr. Mika."

Michaela fluttered into the air, landing softly next to him. "Don't call me that anymore."

"The Professor said the installation is about five miles.... That way." He stretched his arm out, pointing in the distance.

"I don't need shoes," Michaela said. She lifted herself a foot off the ground, her snow white wings fluttering.

Michaela went back to the ground, following behind the determined Logan. She struggled to catch up with him. Her delicate body was not made for a mountain trek. "So who is this Professor of yours?"

"Professor Xavier. He runs a mutant school in New York. We helped each other out a few weeks ago. I'm plannin' to head back there should I survive this. You interested in joinin' me? He could probably help ya."

"I've been dealing with it for twelve years." Michaela said coldly. "I don't need any help."

"Because trenchcoats are all the rage," he muttered. "Come on, Mika. You need my help as much as you think I need yours."

Logan touched her face. He stroked her cheek with a callused finger. "Yer eyes, Darlin'. They're lonely. Ya need someone... A lover? A friend? Hell, ya just need someone t' be with ya. Ya think that in helpin' me... Ya'll get someone t' care fer ya."

She pushed his hand away. "I have people that care for me. They're called my family." She started walking again.

He roughly grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "If ya have a family that cares fer ya, why aren't ya with them?"

"I can't be with them." Michaela murmured. She shuffled her feet, staring at the ground. "It would ruin my father."

"He's in politics." she bit her lip. "He's been an important man.... forever.... He was an aide to John F. Kennedy when he was younger. Do you know what would happen to his career if it came out he had a mutant for a daughter?"

They started to walk along through the dense mountain range. "I haven't seen them since my wings came in. I haven't had a friend since I was fifteen. No one close...."

She blushed deeply, staring at her feet. He shook his head. He wouldn't have guessed it by looking at her. Michaela was a beautiful woman. Who would have guessed she was a virgin?

"It's hard to get close. I always had to hide. My wings, my empathy. I could feel everyone's emotions. So I could never get to know someone without every aspect of their life penetrating me."

Rogue sat on the couch in the rec room of Professor Xavier's School for the Gifted. She gently ran her fingers over the smooth, silver dogtags in her gloved hand. Logan had only been gone a week and a half. She missed him terribly. She wondered what he was doing-- HOW he was doing.

She wished she had been able to go with him. She knew deep down, Logan needed to do this by himself. He hadn't even asked her to come. Still, part of her wanted to be at Logan's side.

Rogue gently touched the white streak in her hair. Logan had teased her about it. The memento from her run-in with Magneto. She felt it was her right of passage. The mark of her descent into adulthood.

Rogue lifted her head to see the beautiful, redheaded Jean Grey walking toward her. She jumped up. "Jean.... Has there been any word from Logan?"

Jean shook her head. "I'm afraid we shouldn't expect much from him. He'll be back eventually."

"Ah'm worried." Rogue tried to swallow the insistent lump in her throat. Logan always got himself into trouble. What if he couldn't get out?

Jean place a hand on Rogue's shoulder. "Logan is a survivor. He'll be all right."

Rogue looked down. She tried to put on her best 'innocent kid' look. Jean sighed deeply. "Would you like me to have the Professor use Cerebro to check on him?"

Jean and Rogue followed on either side of Professor Charles Xavier's steel wheelchair. Rogue was smiling broadly. "Thank you for doing this, Professor!"

"I have to admit, I am rather curious to see what Logan is up to myself," Xavier replied. He smiled at Rogue's youthful enthusiasm.

They went to the cold, metal doors of Cerebro. A blue light passed over his eyes. "Retinal Scan complete. Welcome Professor." the doors slid open, revealing a large room. "Wait out here, Ladies. I will be back in a moment."

The Professor rolled himself into the room. He took a moment to look at the monument he and Erik had built so many years ago. He took hold of his helmet, placing it on his head. He felt his psychic powers increase tenfold. Stretching out his mind, he tried to pick Logan out of the millions he felt.

Reaching farther, he finally settled on the image. Logan was standing in front of the military installation in the Rockies. By his side was a young woman. She was a strawberry blonde with a pair of white wings on her back. He had found another mutant. Xavier jolted when he felt another presence. It was feral, menacing. It watched Logan and his companion.

Xavier disconnected with Cerebro. The doors slid open again. Rogue was already running to meet him. She was smiling broadly. "How is it?"

Logan stared at the installation; the lab. He smelled the air. It was cold, sterile, ominous.

This is where they had experimented on him. Logan could feel it deep within his metal bones. This is the place that held his memories.

Michaela jumped back from Logan as his claws sprang out. "Get in the air, Mika."

A wild dog jumped from the trees, leaping onto Logan. Michaela shrieked, flying up in the air. The animal was huge. She wanted to help Logan. But what could she do? this creature was huge! She bit her lip, finally realizing the creature was a mutant.

Logan growled, slashing his claws. The feral part of his soul took control of his actions. "Didn't I already kill ya?"

Michaela flew down, leaping on the manbeast's back. Logan's eyes widened. "No! Mika!"

The beast slashed back, claws biting into her shirt. She flew back, feeling hot blood. He had just nicked her across the belly.

During the beast's distraction, Logan slashed across his neck. He roared in pain as his throat opened. Logan got up, panting.

She nodded, flying a foot away from Sabretooth. "I think we should get..." she groaned, pitching forward. Logan knelt down by her. A dart stuck out of the back of her neck. He pulled it out and sniffed: tranquilizer.

He looked around for the assailant. He snarled, spotting the masked man in the tree. Logan heard another behind him. He whirled around.

Logan roared as he felt a dart embedded in his neck. He felt the tranquilizers command his body. He fell to his knees.

Screaming pierced Logan's ears. It was high, supersonic, almost bursting his ultra-sensitive eardrums. Someone was being tortured.

Logan's eyes snapped open. He tried to get up, but it was no use. His arms and legs were locked down. He was in his underwear, strapped to a metal table. His body ached as it fought to heal. What had they done to him?

"Logan," a voice called out happily. Logan turned his head. It was one of the masked men, he could smell it. The mask had been removed. It revealed the face of a wrinkled, old man. "It's so good to see you again. It had been nearly fifteen years, hasn't it?"

"Professor said this place was abandoned," he murmured. He struggled with the bonds.

"It was," the man said, "We have been tracking you since you escaped. You've been doing some interesting things, Logan. We were waiting for your return."

The man leaned over. He looked Logan in the eyes. "We needed to make sure your skeleton served you well. We have tried to repeat the experiment, without much success."

The man nodded. "We concluded that was the reason for your survival. So we have found several mutant subjects to undergo the procedure."

"Yes, Mr. Creed will be undergoing the procedure. First, we have decided to experiment with an aerial attack." He held up a silver crucifix.

"So that's her name? We were not able to extract it from her yet. She keeps on screaming. We have been calling her Faith."

Logan's claws came out. His chest heaved. A beserker rage would do no good right now. He couldn't possibly break out. He would only keep on getting madder.

"You're angry at me." The doctor smiled. "Is she your lover? She lets you in her bed despite the fact she's an angel and you're a monster?"

Logan channeled all of his energy to his right wrist. With a feral roar, he tore upwards. The table gave under the pressure and broke. Logan cut himself free with his claw. He jumped on the man, his eyes burning. "You just made a huge mistake, Bub." Wolverine was totally in control. Logan was now buried deep.

He brought the claws down through his neck. The man sputtered up blood, his eyes going glassy. He hooked the silver cross on one claw.

Wolverine pulled his claws out. He rumbled, searching the air for vanilla and lilacs. He would not leave without Michaela. She did not deserve to feel the pain he had. Hell, she wouldn't SURVIVE the pain.

He snarled at two fully-suited men. They were running towards him, armed with tranquilizer guns. He leapt, claws poses. The suits split, along with their necks. They were dead before they hit the ground.

Wolverine continued down the corridor. He could smell her, hear her scream. He gnashed his teeth.

He sniffed the cold black door. Mika. He slashed with his claws, the door buckling. He burst in, searching for the female.

Three men hunched over her body. Wolverine snarled. One of the doctors turned to him. Wolverine plunged his claws into the man's heart. He lifted him up, throwing the body on top of the other two. He then leapt on them. He sliced, reveling in the smell of blood.

"Logan...." Michaela murmured. Wolverine looked over her body. She was almost naked, her pale form shaking in terror. She was bleeding deeply in several places. Metal attachments lay beside her. Whatever they had planned, it would have been brutal. He lifted Michaela carefully. As soon as he touched her, he let out a yell.

Her pains, her pleasures.... Every emotion Michaela felt spread through Logan. Logan.... Wolverine returned to the dark spot in his soul. He was a man again. "Are you all right?" he whispered.

She nodded. Logan cradled her to his chest. He ran a hand over her arm. It was sliced open wide. Several metal implants were attached to her bones.

His ears prickled at the sound of footsteps. Logan turned, seeing four more of the masked doctors. He place Michaela back down on the table, baring his claws. He was about to pounce. Suddenly, they pitched over with a yelp.

Logan snarled, advancing towards the door. He watched as a black clad man revealed himself. His eyes were covered by a red visor. He was young, but strong.

Cyclops looked from the naked Logan, to the woman on the table. He cleared his throat. "We need to get out of here. Jean is waiting on the Blackbird."

Logan picked up Michaela, then placed her in Cyclops' arms. "Get her out of here, kid. Now."

"You need to come to." Cyclops couldn't bring himself to look down at the woman.

Michaela struggled in Cyclops arms. "Let me go," she shrieked. Pain wracked her body with every movement she made. "Logan needs my help!"

"Hey," Cyclops hissed, "You're really hurt. And Logan can take care of himself!"

He was about to reply. Give a reason for his presence. He ran faster, heading out of the lab. He raced towards the sleek black jet nestled between the trees.

Jean leapt out of the Blackbird. She met the pair halfway. Cyclops hefted Michaela over to Jean. She looked at the nearly unconscious woman with wide eyes. Cyclops turned, running back into the installation. "I'm going after Logan."

The beautiful dark-skinned, white-haired Ororo Monroe ran from the back of the building. She was panting, racing to Jean. "I couldn't find Logan.... Who's this?"

Jean shifted her weight, feeling like she was just about to topple over with the winged woman in her arms. "I need to take care of her. Stay out here. Make sure Logan and Scott get out."

Logan grumbled, racing through the laboratory. He knew the information he sought was somewhere in here. He just need to find it.

Dead doctors and guards were left in his wake, their throats slashes. It had been almost too easy. He destroyed them without a second thought. They had destroyed him.

He had become an animal. Only Michaela's touch pulled him back from that dark place.

Logan approached a computer terminal. He was not technology friendly. His claws retracted as he touched the keyboard. He shut his eyes, trying to remember what his dogtag said.

He sighed as the screen filled with green characters. Most were just gibberish. The top two lines were clear:

Logan growled. He didn't know anything about decrypting files! He wanted to destroy the screen. He knew that if he did, the information would be lost forever.

"Scott...." he murmured, sensing the man behind him. "Help me." His voice was desperate.

Logan turned towards him, his eyes filled with helplessness. "My life is in this computer, Scott! Now help me or get the hell out!"

Cyclops nodded. He went to the computer. He pulled a circular disk from the desk, slipping it into the computer. "Keep them off me while I copy the files."

Logan brought his claws back out, going to the door. Cyclops bent over the screen, typing furiously. Computer was not his strong suit. He knew a little bit, but he couldn't decrypt the file. He could copy it, thought. Hopefully someone at the school could decrypt it.

He heard Logan behind him, yelling and slashing his claws. A window popped up on the screen. A bar appeared, slowly filling in. Scott held his breath. "Come on..."

Logan stormed over to the computer. He watched as the white bar slowly turned black. 25%..... 30%..... 40%..... 50%.....

This was Logan's life. What these bastards had done to him. All in binary code. Being downloaded onto one, fragile disk.

Finally, the copy was complete. Cyclops pulled the disk from the drive. He handed it to Logan. He held it like it was a lost relic. The key to his past.

"I suggest we get moving, Logan," Cyclops said. Logan nodded, still staring at the disk.

Cyclops pulled on Logan's arm. "Worry about the disk later. Let's just get out of here before we've got a hundred angry doctors on our back."

Storm waited with bated breath for the two missing X-Men. Five more minutes and she was going in after him. These people were dangerous. Professor Xavier had sensed it.

She let out a relieved sigh as Logan and Cyclops ran out of the installation. Logan was cradling a disk. His eyes were burning with anger. "Mind taking care of this place, Storm?"

Storm didn't mind at all. These people had experiment on Logan. Who knows how many other mutants they had tortured? Anger welled inside her. Just seeing the condition Logan's winged friend was in was enough to make someone sick. They hadn't even had her a day.

Her eyes turned pure white. She levitated into the air. Lightning streaked through the formerly clear sky. It struck the roof of the building. It rumbled and shook under the aggravated assaulted.

Logan and Cyclops heeded her warning. They raced to the plane, not looking back.

Storm raised higher off the ground. The lightning grew brighter, thunder roaring in her ears. She focused the energy, sending it down to the lab.

A bolt crashed down onto the metal generator. A metallic shriek escaped the box as it overloaded. She watched with satisfaction as the building was engulfed in flames.

Storm floated back to the ground. Her brown pupils returned. She turned her back to the burning building.

"Nice fireworks, Storm," Logan muttered. He was next to the injured winged woman and Jean. Cyclops started the take-off procedures.

Xavier and Rogue felt relief wash over them as the Blackbird landed. Xavier could sense all four of his X-Men inside the jet. He also sensed Logan's female companion.

Storm and Cyclops got out. Cyclops leaned back in the jet, gently picking up the injured Michaela. Logan and Jean followed them.

"Logan!" Rogue yelled. She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. She was very careful of all the exposed skin he had.

He patted her on the back lightly. "Hey kid. Told you I would be back. I'm guessing it was you who initiate the rescue?"

Jean shrugged helpless. "I need to get her to the infirmary now. Come on, Scott."

Michaela felt like shit. She groaned, trying to sit up. Pain shot through every bone in her body. Thinking better of it, she laid back down. A beautiful woman approached her, leaning over. "Good morning, Doctor. How are you feeling?"

"Like the Coyote after he fails to catch the Road Runner," she groaned. "Who are you?"

"Logan." she sat up. Jean watched as her mouth opened. No sound came out. The doors to the infirmary opened. Logan ran in.

"She's awake. I thought I heard her." Logan knelt by her side. "How you doin', Doc?"

She wrapped her fingers around the cross. "Thank you. I thought I had lost this."

Jean stopped her as Michaela tried to get off the table. "Don't move, Doctor. You're still fairly injured."

"Yes. Xavier's School for the Gifted," was the reply. It did not come from Logan. She turned, seeing the elder, but handsome, wheel-chair-bound man enter. "I am Charles Xavier. It's nice to meet you, Dr. St. Matthews."

Jean and Logan nodded. Logan rubbed Michaela's head. "Take care, Doc." they left the infirmary.

She nodded. "In legend, if a faerie spoke your first name, it gave them power over you. It is an actual truth. When I speak your first name, you trust me more."

Xavier rolled over to the side of the bed. "You are an interesting woman, Dr. St. Matthews. I would like you to remain here at the school."

He nodded. "I am not asking you to attend my school, Michaela. The students here are very emotionally distraught. They are still trying to cope with their powers. Jean and I help them whenever we can. However, we are not qualified counselors. You, on the other hand, are a licensed psychotherapist. You also have empathic powers to aid you. I would like you to council my students."

Michaela licked her lips. "You would give me a place to live.... I wouldn't have to hide my wings.... In exchange for giving therapy to the students?"

Rogue took in a deep breath. She stood in front of Logan's door, staring at the solid oak. She raised her hand to knock, hesitating.

Rogue grasped the handle, opening it. Logan growled, pushing the computer monitor off his desk. It cracked and sparked.

She slipped the chain off of her neck. She handed the silver dogtags back to Logan. "I promised to give these back."

He closed his fist around the tags, shutting his eyes. Rogue sat on the bed. "You haven't decrypted the disk yet?"

"I'm no good at this hackin' shit." He took the disk out. "It's all here, Rogue. I just can't get t' it."

"Maybe someone else should try decrypting," she said gently. "Kitty Pryde is good at this computer stuff."

Rogue smiled. "It'll be okay, Logan. You'll get the information about your past."

Logan watched the hooded figure leave the mansion. The entire body was cloaked by a cape. He smiled. She couldn't escape him. He followed behind her.

She was on foot. There was not much around here. Where in the world did she think she was going?

She shed her cloak about five minutes outside of mansion. Her wings unfurled. Logan watched as she lifted up in the air, starting to fly. Was she running away? Without a word?

Logan sped up to keep up with her fast flying. His keen animal senses would not fail him. He was a skilled hunter. No one-- Not even a woman-- Could escape him.

They got to town. Michaela hovered above a building. Logan stared at it. It was old, ornate. A large cross rested on top of it. It was St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.

Michaela sat on perched on the ledge. She put her cape back on. Leaping down, she used her wings to cushion her fall. Logan ducked into the alley, so she would not see him.

Michaela sat down in the confessional. She lowered her head. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been a week since my last confession."

She clutched the cross in her hand. Spots of blood still marred its shine. "I am an abomination in the eyes of God."

She shut her eyes, fighting back tears. "I am.... A mutant. I can feel emotions. I.... I look like an angel. I have wings. A human should not look like an angel."

"My child, God chose your form. He chose to make you a human angel. You must make it your mission to serve humanity. There is a school about a mile away--"

"--Professor Xavier's. I know of the school. I am staying there. I should remain there?"

Michaela bit her lip. "I met a man a few days ago. He is like me; a mutant. I have had lustful thoughts about him."

She turned to the grate in surprise. No priest had ever asked her such a question before. She thought she would just get a reprimanding. "I- I don't know. Maybe. I've never been in love before."

She stepped out of the confessional. When she turned, the priest was standing next to her. He was a young man, with dark hair and eyes.

He put his hands on the clasp of her cape, undoing it. It fell to the floor, revealing her wings. He took in a deep breath.

She started to walk up the aisle, her soul finally at ease. Her wings also felt so much better free from the cape.

She jumped as Logan stood up from one of the pews. She stared at him, her mouth open. "You followed me!"

He looked around. "Can't get anythin' past you, Doc. Never been in a church before."

He followed her to the altar. She lit a candle, then knelt down. Logan watched her. She clasped her hands around her crucifix, then bowed her head.

She nodded. "It helps me. Faith is very important, Logan. It doesn't matter what the religion.... Just as long as you have faith in something."

Jean led Michaela through the corridor of the school dorm rooms. "Have you decided if you are staying yet, Doctor?"

Michaela shook her head. "No. I'm just not sure about staying in one place. I haven't in such a long time. And you can call me Kaela, Jean."

Jean nodded. "It would be a great help if you did, Kaela." She stopped in front of a door, opening it. The room was clean, uninhabited. "You can stay in here." She open the closet. "There's some clothes you can wear in her, and the drawers."

Jean turned, closing the door behind her. Michaela sighed, taking a pillow from the bed. She sat down, hugging it close.

The door opened and Logan came in. He shut it behind him, leaning against it. "You stayin'?"

"You want to belong as much as I do." Michaela smiled. "I don't think you have any desire to be a wanderer. You're like me, Logan."

"We're alike, Darlin'?" he grabbed her arms gently, pulling her up to him. "Then how come ya don't know if ya wanna stay?"

"I've been wandering for so long. I don't think I would know what to do in one place."

"I'll make you a deal," Michaela whispered. She sat back down. "I'll stay as long as you do."

"Come on, Logan..." Michaela took the cross off her neck. "I know you want to stay here. It's like I told you before. You need to have faith." she placed the cross in his hand. "You have faith in yourself. Now have faith in the X-Men. Believe that they can give you what you need."

He clutched the crucifix. The image of Christ dying for humanity. That's what would probably happen to the X-Men. "It's deal. I'll hang around as long as you do."

A groan escaped from a pile of destruction. A hand reached out of it. It was burnt, but healing. Claws dug at the wreckage.