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Logan pulled into the parking lot of the small gas station to fuel up and get something to eat. The small store was surprisingly well stocked and he found some wrapped sandwiches. Choosing one he made his way to the register to pay. "Ten in gas too." He told the scrawny clerk, who was obviously not paying attention to him.
"Hey! Put that back!" The clerk yelled suddenly and jumped from behind the counter, chasing after someone. Logan watched with interest as he ran around the corner of the building. A sharp childlike scream caused him to quickly follow the clerk.
The young man was holding little girl by the arm. She had dirty white hair with a lavender streak running off center form the part and couldn't be older than five. She was screaming shrilly, trying to free herself but the clerk had a good grip on her arm. An apple and a package of twinkies were on the ground.
"That's the last time you steal from me you little brat." He yelled at her. She bit his hand and he cursed, dropping her arm. "You bitch! I'm gonna kill you!"
She ran from him and straight into Logan who scooped her up. The clerk turned to chase her but stopped when Logan growled at him.
"You like beating up on little girls, bub?" He asked.
"She was stealing from my store!" He protested. "And she bit me."
"She was probably hungry." Logan indicated the food on the ground, with an exposed claw. "If I were you I'd go back inside and forget all about this."
The clerk swallowed hard, unable to take his eyes from the shiny metal claw. "Uh, yeah, sure. What ever you say dude." He scooted past Logan and ran back inside.
Logan set the little girl down. "Are you all right darlin'?" She picked up the apple and bit in hungrily before nodding. "What's your name?"
In a very small voice, she said, "Ashby McKensie Angel Rivers."
He cocked an eyebrow. "That's quite a name. My name is Logan." He looked around the empty alley. "Where are your parents?" He watched as she quickly finished off the apple and went for the twinkies. He stopped her and turned her so she was facing him. "Are you hungry?" A nod. "How would you like to go to McDonald's?" She nodded again and smiled. "Ok, come on."
She slipped her hand in his and let him lead her to his jeep. He buckled her in and went around to the driver's side. He climbed in and drove off.
He went through the drive-thru and ordered Ashby a happy meal. He pulled into a parking spot and she dug into the food. Logan watched her, taking in her dirty clothes and how thin she was."Where do you live Ashby?"
She looked at him with wide purple eyes. "Mama and Daddy went away so I went to live with Mary and Phillip. We were on vacation but I got lost at the park and couldn't find them."
"Where do Mary and Phillip live?"
"151 East Maple Terrace, Middlebrook, New York." She recited with catsup on her chin.
Logan picked up a napkin and wiped off her chin. She giggled and wriggled away from him. "Who takes care of you now?" He asked her.
"I do." She replied sadly.
He took a deep breath. "How would you like to come with me darlin'?"
"Where do you live?"
"Put your seat belt on." He told her as he pulled out of the parking lot. "It's a special school. You'll be safe there."
"You go to school?"
He smiled. "Sort of."
"I go to kindergarten." She told him simply.
"How old are you Ash?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. She held up a little hand all her fingers extended. "Five?" She nodded and curled up on the seat.
Logan shrugged out of his jacket and covered Ashby with it, brushing her hair back from her face. He was alarmed at how warm her forehead was. "Ash? Are ya feelin' alright?"
She shrugged. "M' head hurts. An' m' throat." She yawned and put her thumb in her mouth
Wonderful. He thought. I not only pick up a five-year-old. I pick up a sick five-year-old. He looked back at the child to say something but she was already asleep.
The drive from northern Vermont to Salem Center took the pair nine hours. Logan had stopped once they reached New York and called the mansion. He asked Hank about what he should do for a fever, cryptically refusing to tell him why. When he got back to the jeep, he woke Ashby and made her drink some juice and take the baby aspirin Hank recommended. Otherwise, she slept for most of the trip and was still asleep when he pulled up in front of the mansion. Carefully, Logan lifted the little girl out of the jeep and carried her inside.
Jean Grey met him at the door. "Good to have you back Logan."
"Thanks Red. I picked up a little surprise on my way home though." He indicated the sleeping child.
"Who is this? Where did she come from?" She asked him as Scott Summers entered the front hall.
"Wolverine, why are you carrying a child?" He demanded and Logan bristled.
"Her name is Ashby Rivers. I found her in some town in northern Vermont. The people she lives with live in Middlebrook. Not far from here. I think they left her in Vermont on purpose." He told them. "She's sick too."
"This is what Hank was babbling about." Jean said and took her from him. "He kept saying you couldn't catch colds. I'll take her to the med lab so Hank can check her out."
"Thanks Jeannie. I'm gonna catch a shower then I'll be down."
Ashby woke up and saw Dr. Henry McCoy, otherwise known as the Beast leaning over a computer. She screamed, startling him and Jean who was on the other side of her bed.
"Sweetheart, it's ok. We're not going to hurt you." She said trying to comfort the screaming child. When it didn't work, she mentally called for Logan.
//Logan!//
He was just drying off from his shower. //Yeah, Jeannie?//
//I think you'd better get down here. The girl's awake. Hank scared her.//
//I'm on my way.// He threw on some sweats and sprinted out of his room and down to the med lab. He could hear Ashby's screams from down the hall and raced down to the lab.
Ashby saw Logan and tried to fly over to him but she was attached to an IV and got caught up in the tubing. He rushed over and pulled her to him while Jean untangled the IV tubes.
"It's alright darlin'. No one's going to hurt you." Ashby buried her head in Logan's neck. She whispered something to him. "That's Hank. He's a doctor. I promise he won't hurt you."
Hank took off his glasses and squatted next to Ashby. "Hello, little one. I am sorry if I startled you."
Ashby peeked over Logan's shoulder at him. "Hi." She whispered quietly. She reached out and touched his arm. "You're furry."
He laughed and nodded. "So I am. Would you mind if I looked at your throat while Jean takes your temperature?" She shook her head and turned so she was facing him. "Thank you. Open wide please."
Jean placed the ear thermometer in Ashby's ear, startling her but she held still. Hank checked her ears, throat and listened to her chest.
"Well, I think our young guest has a case of strep throat. I'll give her some antibiotics. We need to make sure she gets plenty of fluids and rest as well." Hank told him. Logan nodded.
"Why don't you let me take her upstairs and give her a bath?" Jean moved to pick Ashby up but she clung steadfastly to Logan.
"Never mind, Jeannie. I'll do it." He let her climb on his shoulders and carried her upstairs to run a bath for her. After the bath, he helped her dress in a soft gray T-shirt with the school logo on the front and tucked her into his bed for a nap.
"If you need me darlin' just call real loud an' I'll come runnin'. Okay?" She nodded and reached up, hugging him tightly. Awkwardly, he returned the hug. "It's gonna be alright Ash." He told her. She nodded and curled up on her side, falling back asleep.
Logan went back downstairs to find Professor Xavier. He knocked on his office door.
"Come in Logan." The professor called from the other side. Logan entered and found Hank and Jean already seated.
"Ya know about the kid?" He asked.
"Yes. Jean and Henry have been filling me in on the situation." Professor Xavier gestured to the empty chair. "I've been attempting to locate this Mary and Phillip she told you about. The address she gave you is an empty house."
"Then she was abandoned." Logan shook his head and clinched his fist.
"It appears so. I have decided we will take her in while we continue to search for them." Professor Xavier told him. "She needs clothing and other items?" At Logan's nod, the professor nodded. "Jean said she will take her shopping when Henry says she is well."
"Thanks Jeannie, Chuck." Logan got up and went to check on Ashby.
Ashby was still sleeping, one little arm thrown out, the other curled around a pillow, her thumb in her mouth. He smiled and fixed the blanket before he went back downstairs to get something to eat.