The X-Men: New Additions - Part 19

Author:  Stacy Ricco

 
    Two more weeks had passed and Logan noticed that Alex was gone for most of the day, everyday. He couldn't figure out where she was going or doing. He had a few suspicions, but didn't think they could actually be what he thought they were. He didn't want to go as far as following her, but she would evade the question every time he asked her about her daily disappearance. He asked the other residents of the mansion, but no one had any idea about what Alex was up to. Logan didn't have long to ponder the mystery before a mission took him away from the mansion.
   
Alex had just got back from Tessa's and was heading to the library to relax a little when Rogue stopped her in the hall.
"Hey sugah!"
"Rogue. What's up?"
"We're all headin' to Harry's tonight. Want to come along?"
"Sure. I could use a night out."
Rogue winced.
"What's wrong?"
"This little one is doing somersaults and hitting every organ I have."
Alex just chuckled. "What time are all of you leaving?"
"Probably around nine. I bettah go start dinner."
Alex watched Rogue head down the hallway in the direction of the kitchen. Alex decided against the library and headed upstairs for a quick nap.

    Three hours later they were all sitting in Harry's. Well not all. Rogue, Alex, Hank, and Jean comprised the group that sat at the table, while the rest of the X-Men were off on a mission. Hank had stayed behind in an effort to catch up on some paperwork. In Hank's defense he honestly did try to catch up on his paperwork. He was actually making progress until Rogue and Jean had ambushed him and talked him into going out with them. Alex sipped her Sprite and winced. She really wanted to down a few shots of Tequila or perhaps a few beers, but knew she couldn't. Perhaps knowing that she wasn't allowed to imbibe alcohol made her want it even more. She was in what everyone called a mood. General rule of thumb around the mansion was that when someone was in a mood, they were either left alone or taken out to get drunk.
Alex knew she shouldn't have come along tonight, but she couldn't face one more night of staying cooped up in the mansion. Cabin fever was hitting her and it was only the end of February. There was still about another month to go before the weather would be decent enough to go outside for any extended period of time. There was also the fact that Jean, Rogue and Hank didn't know she was in a mood. Alex had always been good at keeping her emotions in check and never let anyone else really see what she was feeling. Empaths were the only people who really ever had a clue to what she was feeling. Perhaps what was bothering her was things had been going too well lately. Logan and her were getting along okay. Life had settled down into a nice routine and Alex was content. Alex figured it was the proverbial calm before the storm. She hoped that the storm would break soon and get over with. She was tense and was wound a little tighter each day that passed. Maybe it was the rampaging hormones that were coursing through her body. She didn't know what was causing it, but she was ready to snap. She looked at the stage and at the person who was attempting to sing and scowled. Someone should put that guy out of his misery. Perhaps it was coincidence that they were here on karaoke night again, but Alex had a nagging suspicion that Rogue enjoyed coming on karaoke night, despite all her protests.
Alex came out of her reverie and looked at her empty glass. "Anyone want anything?"
Jean, Rogue and Hank all shook their heads. Alex stood up and started to make her way to the bar for another Sprite. She was unaware of the faces that she passed until she saw a familiar face.
"Hey beautiful," Paul said as she walked by.
Alex stopped and looked at him.
"How bout a song?"
"Sorry. I really don't feel like it tonight." She started walking toward the bar once more. Paul stepped in her path and she stopped.
"You still owe me a private show," he said with a sly smile on his face. A few guys, probably friends of his, standing close by all chuckled and cheered him on.
"No thank you."
"I insist." Alex could smell the fumes of alcohol emanating from him. He was drunk and probably beyond being reasoned with. Alex could feel her body tensing up. "Come on darlin'. Your runt of a boyfriend isn't here to get in our way," he said with a broad grin.
Maybe it was the tension that had been building up in her all week. Maybe it was the raging hormones from the pregnancy, or maybe it was the insult to Logan that acted as the spark. Alex wasn't sure and she didn't stop to think about it. Her fist landed with his nose and she heard a sharp crack. Blood started to pour from his nose and he stared at her in disbelief for a second and then a mask of rage covered his face. His friends went silent. The bar had gone silent right after Alex's fist landed on Paul's nose. Paul looked at her and then swung a fist. She ducked out of the way, barely. The additional weight and bulkiness of her stomach slowed her down some, but not enough to allow his punch to hit. He swung again and Alex easily dodged the blow. Adrenaline was pumping through her body and it felt like an intoxicating drug. She relished the feeling and the high. Alex moved with cat-like grace and went into a defensive stance. She made a tentative lunge at the man. He flinched a little and Alex then followed up with a solid blow to his jaw. She immediately brought a knee up to his groin and he doubled over in pain.
"Are we done here?" she asked, looking at the man doubled over in pain.
"YOU BITCH!" he yelled as he tried to stand up. He tried to land a punch in her stomach. Alex moved out of the way instinctually. She knew that was her weakness and the area that needed the most protection. She wasn't thrilled about the pregnancy, but that didn't mean she wanted to see the babies get hurt. She brought up a knee and connected under his chin. He straightened out and she landed a fist to the side of his face. He collapsed unconscious in a heap on the floor. Alex glared at his friends and deep down was hoping one of them wanted to start something. They put up their hands and backed off. She looked at them for a minute longer, turned around and headed for the door. She yanked open the door only to find Logan standing in the doorway. If she wasn't as angry as she was, she might have noticed the slight smile on his face and in his eyes when he saw her.
They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Alex pushed past him and walked out into the night. Logan turned to go after her.
*Logan no! Let her walk it off * he heard Jean say inside of his head. He watched her disappear into the darkness. He grabbed a beer at the bar and then went to sit with the others.
"What's with Alex?"
"See that guy over there?" Jean said nodding in the direction of the unconscious man.
Logan's eyes narrowed and nodded slowly.
"Alex and him got into a fight. She even broke his nose."
Logan growled and started to get up.
"Logan no! She took care of him."
Logan stared at Jean for a few seconds before taking his seat again.
"What did he do to her?"
"We don't know. We couldn't hear the conversation. They talked for a minute or two and then Alex punched him and broke his nose. It got ugly for him very quickly after that."
"Did she get hit?"
"He didn't land anything on her. She was way too skilled for him."
Logan scowled and then turned to watch two men pick up the unconscious body and carry it out of the bar. Logan downed his beer rather quickly and stood up.
"Do you think it's wise to go after her this soon?" Hank asked, partly concerned for Logan's health.
"Nope, but when has that ever stopped me?"

Logan eventually caught up to her. She didn't say anything when he appeared by her side. She kept walking trying to come down off of the adrenaline high she was on.
"Want t' talk 'bout it Ace?"
"No."
"Don' ya think it's a little cold out 'ere to be walkin' without a jacket?"
"No."
"Alex…"
"No Logan I don't think it's cold and no I don't want to talk about it," she snapped. She stopped and stared at him.
"Dammit Alex. I want to know why yer startin' fights! 'Specially with you being pregnant!"
"Logan, I said I don't want to talk about it."
"I do and we're goin' to."
"Logan you can talk all you want about it. I'm not going to."
"Alex…" he began and stopped when he saw a fist come flying at his face. He easily grabbed her fist when it was inches from his face. "Alex," he growled.
She swung the other fist at him. He caught that one too. She tried to break free of his grip, but his grip was too strong. Alex gave up struggling and stood there glaring at him.
"Now can we talk?"
She didn't respond.
"Alex?"
She just continued to glare at him.
"Yer as stubborn as a mule!"
"What do you want to hear Logan? That I started that fight because of hormones?" She didn't want to admit to him that she started the fight because of the insult directed at him.
"That's a start. I really don' like ya endangerin' those two babies yer carrin' by startin' fights."
"Since when did you become my keeper?"
"Since the day ya started sharin' my bed and especially since yer carrin' my babies!"
"Well then perhaps I shouldn't share a bed with you!" She broke free of his grip, turned around and started walking again.
Logan let her go. No sense in continuing the argument. He didn't want to say things he might come to regret. He thought that Alex probably felt the same way. They both needed the night to cool down and maybe tomorrow they could talk about it rationally.

    Alex eventually walked back to the mansion. She didn't go up to the room she shared with Logan, instead she went to the library and curled up on one of the couches and went to sleep.

    Alex woke at ten-thirty and ran to her room to get dressed. She ran down the stairs and didn't even notice she had a shadow. She jumped in the jeep and went speeding down the driveway. Logan was looking for her so that they could talk about what happened last night at Harry's. He saw he come out of her room and go running down the stairs. He followed her at a distance. He got on his Harley as soon as he saw her drive down the driveway. At first he wanted to talk to her, but now his curiosity about what she did every day had got the better of him. He followed her to a side street in Salem Center. He watched her park the jeep in front of a small two-story house with a white picket fence. She climbed out of the jeep and went up to the door. A rather handsome young man answered the door and let her in. Anger and rage boiled up inside of him. How could she do this? How many times did she assure him that he was the only one she was sleeping with? She was pregnant with his children and she had the nerve to sleep with someone else! Logan got off of the bike and proceeded to walk toward the house.

"Well Tessa what about…" Alex stopped suddenly. There was a mutant very close by and Alex's stomach sank. The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it Nonna," Antonio called from the living room.
"Antonio no!" Alex yelled.
She was too late. Antonio started to open the door. He had it open only an inch when it burst open. Logan came storming in and pinned Antonio up against a nearby wall. One hand was clamped around the young man's throat and the other, with claws extended, was held at his eye level. Antonio was staring down the adamantium claws into Logan's eyes.
"Logan NO!"
"Stay out of this Alex. I'll deal with ya after I take care o' ya playmate 'ere," Logan growled.
"It's not what you think!"
Logan turned and growled at her. Alex took a hesitant step back.
"Logan please. Please listen to me."
He ignored her and drew his hand back, getting ready to attack Antonio.
"Logan…" Alex said in an ominous tone.
Another growl passed his lips.
Alex gathered her resolve and prayed to the Great Mother that she would have the energy and willpower to do this. She just hoped her body would react the way she needed it to. Alex felt her body respond and she telekinetically grabbed Logan. His grip on Antonio's throat loosened for a second and Alex flung him back out the open front door. Logan got back on his feet and came charging back in the front door. Alex stepped between the charging Logan and Antonio. Logan tried to pull up, but he couldn't stop his momentum and adamantium claws sunk deep into Alex's right shoulder and collarbone. Logan's eyes widened in horror when he realized what he had just done. Her eyes widened in surprise at the flash of pain that went coursing through her shoulder. Pain ripped through her as she felt metal scraping bone. She looked down in amazement at the adamantium claws that were imbedded in her body. She stared at them for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. She looked up from her shoulder and looked Logan straight in the eye. Somewhere inside of her a fount of anger welled up and she could feel the energy coursing through her body waiting to be release. She took a deep breath and released the energy. A bolt of energy was released and went crawling down the adamantium claws into Logan's body. He didn't move at first, but eventually started to spasm after a great deal of energy poured into his body. Alex took the opportunity to push him back so his claws came out of her shoulder. He landed on the floor with his body still going through spasms. Alex could feel warm blood starting to flow down her chest and back and she staggered a bit at from massive amount of energy loss.
"Get out of here Logan! Get out of here before I do something I'm going to regret. You and I will settle this back at the mansion!"
Logan got up off of the floor and stood there staring at the blood on his claws. Her blood. He couldn't believe that he had just attacked and wounded the woman who was carrying his two children. It brought him out of his beserker rage and the foul feeling of regret washed over him. He looked at her for a few more seconds and then without a word, turned and walked out the door.
Alex looked at Antonio. "Are you okay?"
He nodded. Alex looked at Tessa. The old woman looked like she was ready to go into cardiac arrest.
"Tessa. Are you okay?"
The old woman just looked at Alex.
"Tessa!"
"Yes child I am fine. Who was that?"
"That I'm afraid was Logan. He's the father of these two babies."
"Oh dear."
"I must go Tessa. I have to talk to him and get this straightened out. I'm sorry this happened."
"Go child and you make things better with your man."
Alex ran out the door and rushed back to the mansion.

    Alex found Logan waiting in the foyer when she got back to the mansion. She noticed that he had calmed down a bit, however, she hadn't.
"Alex, I'm…" Logan started to say.
"What in the name of the Great Mother were you thinking!" she yelled at him, not letting him finish what he was going to say. "You had no right! No right to come storming in there like you did!"
Logan could see that she was pissed. He had never seen her so angry before and at the same time she was amazingly beautiful. He didn't know if he should say something in return, or kiss her.
"How many times do I have to tell you that you're the only person I've slept with?" She continued to yell at him and with each sentence her voice got louder. She paced back and forth the foyer while she yelled at him. "I was there for cooking lessons! Freakin' cooking lessons!" She proceeded to swear at him in quite a few different languages before she finally switched back to English. The loud yelling eventually attracted the attention of the other residents of the mansion. Heads poked out of doorways and everyone was amazed at the amount of arguing that was going on.
"How dare you think that I was sleeping with someone else? I've been loyal and faithful to you since the first night I shared your bed!"
Logan couldn't stand there any longer without saying something. "You didn't give me much reason to trust you! Sneaking off everyday for hours on end without telling anyone where you were going!" he shouted back.
"Dammit Logan! I didn't tell anyone that I was taking cooking lessons because I wanted to surprise you and everyone by making a real dinner one night! I have never once asked you where you were going or what you were doing since the first night I slept with you! Perhaps I should have!"
Logan growled.
Alex staggered a little from the amount of blood that she lost, and was still losing, and the amount of energy she spent. Logan made a move to help support her, but she turned and glared at him. "Don't touch me!" she snapped from between clenched teeth. She steadied herself with the help of a wall and then began to pace once again. Logan watched her pace. He couldn't help but to think about how beautiful she looked when she was angry. He grabbed her arm as she passed by and spun her around so that she was facing him. He kissed her passionately on the lips. Alex drew back for a second, stared at Logan and then proceeded to deliver an uppercut. Logan went flying back into the nearest wall.
"Ooooh that was a wrong move," Logan heard Bobby say in the background.
Logan ignored the comment and pushed himself up and away from the wall.
"I told you not to touch me! Don't ever touch me again! I don't ever want to see you again!" she yelled and ran up the stairs.
Logan let out a growl and stormed out the front door, slamming the door behind him. The people who had been watching the exchange stood there in shock. They didn't think things had gotten that bad between Logan and Alex, but then again none of them ever really tired to get Logan or Alex to tell them how things were going. They all looked at each other and silently retreated back to where ever they had come from.

    Alex threw a few things into a duffel bag grabbed Meph and headed to the medlab. She quickly put a bandage on each of the wounds from Logan's claws and hoped they would stop bleeding soon. She was already weak from the energy she burned fighting Logan and from all of the blood she had lost. She couldn't afford to lose any more blood. Hank just watched her quietly from his desk and didn't say anything. He wasn't present for the argument, but he did hear bits and pieces when the shouting got really loud, even down in the medlab. Alex had quite a loud voice when she really started yelling. Alex reached the garage and saw that Logan's jeep was still there. She figured he took the Harley after he stormed out of the mansion. She tossed the duffel bag in the back and put Meph down on the passenger's seat. She hopped into the driver's seat, started the engine and raced down the driveway.