YOU'RE LOSING ME ✦ WOLVERINE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD — 2007

LOGAN LET HIMSELF into Clara's apartment two days later, wanting to see if she was done cleaning yet or not.

Clara poked her head out of the guest bedroom, and called, "Shit. Jamie, is that you?"

"Nope, just me, Clare. I wanted to see what you were up to. I made sure the closed sign was up, too." Logan replied, shutting her apartment door behind him, locking it. He came into the hallway, and stopped short.

She was wearing her hair back in a ponytail, headband on to keep her bangs out of her face. She was wearing a gray tanktop, and black workout shorts. She was holding a broom, and was barefoot, and Logan hurried back to the entryway to take his boots off. In his socks, he went back into the hallway, and asked, "Do you need any help?"

"Well, since you're asking," Clara said, "you can either finish sweeping the floor or make the bed."

"I'll sweep the floor," He rushed to reply, making Clara laugh. She handed him the broom, and went out into the hallway to grab fresh sheets and blankets.

The two of them worked in silence for about an hour, until Clara said, "Alright. I think we're all done here."

She went back out into the hallway, and grabbed a candle from the cupboard, setting it up on the guest dresser. "You're not gonna light it?" Logan asked, and she shrugged, replying, "No, Jamie can light it if he wants."

"Oh, yeah. That's right," He responded, feeling silly for forgetting Jamie's mutation. Clara laughed, and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, a lot of people forget, too. But he's so handy to have around when the power goes out, and I want to use the stove." Clara said, and Logan laughed that time, and then went on alert as he heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

They started going out into the hallway, and they heard the door unlock. Logan came out of the hallway first, only to come face-to-face with a hand.

Logan stopped, and looked past the hand, to see a young man exhale. "Mom," He said, relaxing as he brought down his hand. "Sorry. Is this your friend?"

This, Logan realized, was Jamie. Clara stepped around him, and said, "Yes it is! Don't worry baby. You were being protective. Although I'm not sure how much I appreciate you debating nearly burning my apartment down."

A young girl laughed from behind Jamie, and she stepped into the apartment, backpack slung on her back. Her skin was a warm brown, and her hair was black, streaked through with blue. "Katie!" Clara exclaimed, raising her arms for a hug. "Your hair looks gorgeous!"

"Thank you, auntie," Katie responded, hugging Clara. Logan shook his head slightly, surprised for a moment that Katie was English, and then remembered that's where Clara had met Kiera and Katie.

Jamie was staring at Logan, studying him. The way he was watching Clara and Katie was...Interesting. Curiosity, and...Affection? The only man he'd ever seen his mother with besides Bucky, was this...Logan, guy.

Logan looked back over at Jamie, and said, "Sorry about startling you, kid. Uh, the name's Logan." He stuck out his hand, and Jamie took it, shaking it. Logan tilted his head, and continued, "I hope you don't mind me asking...Could I...-?"

"You can look," Jamie said, nodding. "Don't worry. Even though everyone I touch asks the same thing, you're not annoying me. You're one of the few who asked first."

Logan brought the kid's hand up, and inspected it. "Huh," He quietly said, then let Jamie's hand go. "That's an interesting mutation."

"Oh," Jamie awkwardly replied. "Thanks."