Magneto flew away, and Logan finally managed to retract his claws, allowing Verena's wounds to heal over, though they both remained pinned to the wall. Frustrated but determined, Logan did the only thing he could think of—he stabbed himself with his claws. The metallic force holding him in place released instantly, sending him tumbling face-first onto the floor. He lay still, catching his breath.

"Logan?" Verena's voice echoed, but he didn't respond, too focused on what was coming next.

Suddenly, Sabertooth appeared, lifting Logan's limp body effortlessly. But Logan had only been playing possum. With a growl, he sprang up, driving his claws deep into Sabertooth's chest. Sabertooth roared, tossing Logan aside like a rag doll. Logan crashed outside onto Lady Liberty's crown, the sound of metal clanging echoing back into the chamber.

From inside, Verena could hear the fight—the unmistakable sounds of claws slashing, fists colliding, and Logan being thrown around. Rogue's scream cut through the noise, followed by the sound of Logan's claws tearing through the metal of the statue, dangerously close to Jean.

The team was still trapped, immobilized by the metal. Desperate, Verena took a page out of Logan's book and stabbed herself, cutting through the restraints. The sharp pain made her gasp, but she dropped silently to her feet, determined.

Sabertooth had leapt down, stalking towards Storm with a predatory grin. "I think you owe me a scream," he taunted, voice dripping with malice.

Logan came crashing back into the pit, landing beside Verena just in time. Her eyes narrowed at Sabertooth as she spat, "Why don't you scream instead, stronzo."

Jean's voice cut through the tension, steady and calm, "Scott, when I tell you to, open your eyes."

Logan held up Scott's visor, smirking at Sabertooth, "You drop somethin', Bub?"

Logan released the visor, and it began to float toward Scott, slowly aligning. The second it was perfectly angled, Jean shouted, "Scott, now!"

Scott opened his eyes, unleashing a powerful beam of red energy that blasted through the visor, hitting Sabertooth square in the chest. The force sent him flying backward, crashing through the metal, and hurtling off the side of Liberty Island, landing with a loud thud in a boat docked near the shore.

With Sabertooth dealt with, Logan and Verena quickly started slicing through the metal restraints trapping the rest of the X-Men. Once everyone was free, their focus turned immediately to saving Rogue.

"We gotta get her out of there. Cyclops, can you hit it?" Logan asked, his voice tense.

"The rings are moving too fast," Scott replied, frustration lacing his words.

"Just shoot it!" Logan snapped, his impatience flaring.

"I'll kill her!" Scott countered. "Storm, could you get me up there?"

"It doesn't work like that," Storm said, shaking her head.

"Then we'll go," Verena interjected, her tone resolute. "If we don't make it, then at least you can blast the damn thing."

Scott looked to her, his jaw tight, but nodded. "Alright, do it. Jean, use your power to try and steady them."

Storm moved into position as Jean concentrated, preparing for the next step.

"Hang on to something," Storm warned. Her eyes turned white, and a powerful gust of wind whipped around them. Verena's hair lashed across her face as the wind intensified, the force preparing to carry her and Logan up toward Rogue.

When the wind became strong enough, Verena and Logan began to rise, floating toward the torch where Magneto's machine stood revealed. They caught hold of the support beams, steadying themselves before the gusts could sweep them away. The beams of the machine pulsed around them, poised to turn all the humans below into mutants.

Logan and Verena wasted no time—they leapt directly into the beam, claws unsheathed, each poised to strike the metal poles imprisoning Rogue. Their claws gleamed as they drew back to slice through the restraints, but just as they were about to strike, an invisible force stopped them cold. Verena almost groaned in frustration.

Turning their heads, they saw Magneto, holding them back with a mere gesture, his expression as cold as steel.

"C'mon, old man," Verena growled, her voice dripping with contempt. "She's a kid, for god's sake."

But Magneto wasn't swayed. He pulled Logan and Verena away from Rogue, their claws bending under his control with a painful, metallic screech. As Magneto twisted Verena's claws further, she felt them graze against one of the spinning bars that powered the machine.

Suddenly, the force pinning them vanished—Scott's optic beam had hit Magneto, knocking him off balance. With the pressure gone, Verena's claws sliced clean through the bar, cutting it in half and powering down the machine instantly.

The glowing light of the machine dimmed, and the deadly pulse of energy faded away, leaving only the eerie silence in its wake.

The two clawed mutants worked in sync, slicing Rogue free from her metal binds. Strands of white hair now framed her pale face, a haunting change from before. Logan gently shook her, trying to get her to wake up, but Rogue remained unconscious, her body limp. Frustration growing, Verena pushed him aside, her own urgency taking over. She tugged off the gloves of her suit, hands trembling as she pressed them against Rogue's face. But... nothing.

Verena's heart sank, her breath catching in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes, the cold realization hitting her like a blow—Rogue might not wake up. "No, no, no," she whispered, voice cracking as the tears fell freely. Logan pulled her and Rogue into a tight embrace, the weight of their failure sinking in. They stood there, motionless, wrapped in grief.

But then, Verena felt something. A strange pull, a creeping sensation snaking up her spine. She gasped in shock, eyes widening as she realized what was happening—it was Rogue. She was still alive. But Verena was still touching her, skin to skin, and now Rogue was taking everything.

Verena's body jerked, pain lancing through her like fire as tendrils of energy pulled at her life force. She tried to pull away, but it was too late. Her breath hitched as fresh wounds tore open across her abdomen, the very places where Logan's claws had pierced her earlier. She could feel her blood soaking through the suit, staining it dark. Her chest constricted, choking on her own breath.

"V-Verena!" Logan shouted, his voice frantic as he realized what was happening. Rogue gasped, her eyes fluttering open in horror, and she quickly let go, but the damage was done. Verena crumpled onto the platform, her body trembling from the blood loss.

Logan was at her side in an instant, his hands desperately pressing down on her wounds. "No, no, no!" he growled, his voice raw with panic. Blood covered his hands, slick and warm, as it poured from her body. Her eyes were fluttering shut, her strength fading fast.

"Vee, stay with me," Logan begged, his voice breaking. He shook her head gently, trying to keep her conscious, but her eyes kept rolling back, fluttering closed with every passing second.

"Logan..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath. "It... it hurts. Tutto fa male"

"I know, sweetheart, I know," he rasped, choking on his own emotions. "But you gotta stay with me, okay? Just stay awake, alright?"

Verena's breathing grew shallow, each breath a struggle. "Lo'... can I... can I just close my eyes for a minute? Sono così stanco."

"No, don't you dare!" Logan snapped, shaking his head, his tone desperate. "You don't get to close your eyes, not yet. You understand? You stay with me, Vee. Stay with me!"

But Verena's eyes kept slipping shut, her face pale and bloodless. Rogue stood just behind them, her body shaking violently as the horror of what she'd done settled in. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Verena, her mind reeling. The woman she saw as a sister, the one who had always been there for her, was lying on the cold steel floor, broken, bleeding, because of her.

The rest of the X-Men arrived just in time, rushing to help as Logan scooped Verena into his arms. Her body was limp, blood still trickling from her wounds as he held her close. He carried her bridal-style, his grip fierce, as if holding on tight enough could keep her alive.

On the jet ride back to the mansion, Logan didn't let go. Not for a second. His arms cradled her, her head resting against his chest, blood still staining his shirt. His face was drawn tight with fear and guilt, his heart pounding in his chest, each beat begging her to stay alive.

But Verena was barely holding on, her breaths shallow, her pulse faint. Logan pressed his forehead against hers, whispering words only she could hear. Words of hope, of love, of guilt. Words that promised he'd never let her slip away.

And yet, in the back of his mind, fear gnawed at him—fear that this time, he might not be able to save her.

When they arrived back at the mansion, Logan didn't waste a second. He was the first one off the jet, his heart pounding in his chest as he bolted toward the med lab, Verena still limp in his arms. Her breathing was shallow, skin pale, and his fear was choking him. He had never run this fast, not even in battle. He could hear the rest of the X-Men rushing behind him, but their voices were distant—his entire focus was on her.

Bursting into the lab, Logan gently laid Verena down on the table, his hands still trembling. "Jean!" he barked, his voice cracking as he looked toward her.

"I'm here," Jean said, pushing through the others. She moved swiftly, grabbing supplies—bandages, gauze, an I.V. drip, anything she could get her hands on. "Logan, you need to step back."

"I'm not leaving her," he growled, standing firm, his eyes locked on Verena's unconscious form. Blood still oozed from her reopened wounds, staining the med bed beneath her. Jean didn't argue, knowing there was no convincing him otherwise.

"Fine, just—just don't get in the way." Jean's hands moved quickly as she worked to stabilize Verena. She hooked her up to an oxygen mask, wrapping it around her ears and slipping the tube into her nose. "Logan, help me keep pressure here," she said, pointing to Verena's side where the blood seemed to be flowing the heaviest.

Logan pressed his hands down over the wound, his palms slick with her blood. "She's not healing fast enough," he muttered, panic lacing his voice. "Why isn't she healing, Jean? She's supposed to heal!"

"She's lost a lot of blood, Rogue temporarily stopped her healing factor. I don't know if she'll get it back," Jean said, trying to keep her tone calm and focused as she tied the bandages tight around Verena's abdomen. "Her body is fighting to catch up. We need to stop the bleeding first."

Logan watched Jean work, his breath shallow, heart racing in his chest. Verena's face was too pale, her breaths shallow and ragged. The sight of her like this—so fragile—was driving him to the edge. He kept replaying everything over and over, wishing he had done something differently. Wishing he could've protected her.

"I can't lose her, Jean. Not like this," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Jean didn't look up, her hands steady as she hooked up the I.V., getting fluids into Verena's system. "You're not going to lose her, Logan," she said firmly. "But I need you to stay calm. She's strong, okay? We just need to buy her time."

Logan's grip tightened on the edge of the table, knuckles white. He was used to fighting battles with his claws, but this—this was something he couldn't control, something he couldn't fight, and it was tearing him apart. His eyes stayed glued to Verena, watching her chest rise and fall in weak, shallow breaths. Every second felt like a lifetime.

Jean finally pulled back, having done everything she could for the moment. "The worst of the bleeding is under control," she said softly, wiping the blood from her hands. "Now, we wait."

Logan didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on Verena. He gently brushed a lock of hair from her face, his fingers trembling. "Stay with me, Reena," he whispered, voice barely audible. "Please... just stay with me."

Jean placed a hand on Logan's shoulder, her expression soft but determined. "She's going to need you when she wakes up, Logan. Don't let her hear you give up, alright?"

Logan swallowed hard, nodding, though fear still gnawed at him. He would never give up on her. He just prayed that she wouldn't give up either.

It had been four long days. Four days of restless pacing outside the lab, heart heavy with the weight of what he couldn't control. Four days since Verena had slipped away into unconsciousness, her healing factor struggling to keep up with the damage done. Logan had barely left the hallway outside, standing vigil for hours on end, unable to sleep, afraid that if he left for even a second, she might slip away from him.

On the fourth day, something changed.

Jean checked the bandages like she had every day before, but this time, when she peeled them back, the wounds were gone. Completely sealed. Not a scar in sight. It was like they had never existed. Her heart gave a relieved thud, and she immediately stepped out into the hallway, her voice calm but urgent. "Logan, come in. I think you'll want to see this."

The second Logan heard her, his pulse skyrocketed. He bolted into the lab, barely giving Jean a chance to step aside before he was at Verena's bedside. His heart pounded in his chest, his hand trembling as he reached out to check the spot where his claws had torn into her stomach. His breath hitched when he saw it—smooth, unblemished skin. She had healed completely.

Jean gave him a reassuring smile and quietly excused herself, giving them privacy. "Call me if anything changes," she said softly before leaving the room.

Logan barely registered her words, too focused on Verena. His fingers brushed against her side where the wound had been, almost in disbelief that she was whole again. He wanted her to wake up so badly, to open those eyes he had been longing to see.

And then she stirred. Her fingers twitched before her hand slowly reached up, grabbing his. "Mm, that tickles," she murmured, her voice still groggy, eyes fluttering open.

Logan felt a wave of relief crash over him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, Reena," he said softly, his voice rough from days of barely speaking.

Verena's lazy smile mirrored his. "Hey," she whispered, still drowsy, but there was that familiar spark in her eyes.

"How ya feelin', bub?"

"Like a million bucks." Her words were weak, but the sarcasm was still there, and it made him chuckle.

"That was a brave thing you did, Vee. Stupid, but brave."

Her eyes flickered to his, and she gave a soft, hoarse laugh. "You would've done the same thing, Lo'. Did it work? Is she okay?"

Logan nodded, a grin creeping up on his face. "Yeah, she's fine. Took on your attitude for a while though."

Verena coughed a little, her body still adjusting after the strain of healing. "I don't have an attitude," she said weakly, trying to sound offended but failing miserably.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "She might be a little taken with you."

Verena's gaze softened, that lazy smile returning as her fingers curled around his hand. Her voice was rough and tired, but there was warmth behind her words. "Well, you can tell her my heart belongs to someone else."

Logan's chest tightened, and for the first time in days, his world felt steady. He smiled, his expression softening as he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "Yeah, I know."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Logan felt the tension leave his body. Verena was safe. She was awake. And for now, that was enough.

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©️Fanofadifishman

Word count: 2621

Translations:

Stronzo - Asshole
Tutu fa male - Everything hurts
Sono così stanco - I'm so tired

A/n: Teehee, I hope you guys like this chapter. Angsty for realisies.

Chapter 18 will be the last chapter for X-Men (2000) and then we'll be on to X2: X-men United, muwahahahaahahha. I'm thinking that with the length of each movie, there will be about 8-10 chapters per movie. If I write for "The Wolverine" that's 72 chapters, gawddamn.

OH WELL. I'm so ready to start writing so it's all good. As always, don't be ghost readers, some of Yalls comments make my day. Comment, Vote, and Share.

Love Y'all,

Allegra 💙