Wherever the Tree Falls

by digeridoo

Summary:

The Team depart for a recovery mission when a flash flood sweeps through a confidential town. Rescuing scientists and their families from devastation? Another Tuesday. But when a misunderstanding spirals out of control, suddenly the mission wasn't going to be as cut and dry as Logan thought.

Chapter 1: Response

 

“ Hold on tight. “ Ororo called from the cockpit as the Blackbird came to a bumpy stop. Logan grimaced as the wheels bounced and skidded, jostling them in their seats. He waited long after the whining engines subsided to unbuckle his seatbelt. The flight had been rocky and nearly made him sick with turbulence, despite the path that Ororo cleared for them. 

Jean flipped a few switches. “ Alright, we know our directive. There’s no time to waste. “

He waited a moment to let Summers pass. “ That thing have windshield wipers? “

“ Do we worry about you rusting? “ Scott fired back as he stepped off the plane.

Logan exhaled out of his nose, shooting a look at the boys. Bobby was in the midst of talking animatedly, he bumped fists with a sullen John and bounced them up and down. “ It’s the temperature difference. All the warm air ascending while the cool air descends. “

John glanced at him, “ It’s turbulence from the storm blowing up outside. “

“ Still. Stems from temperature. “ Bobby shrugged as he got to his feet.

“ Topography. The mountains surrounding this place are massive. “ John argued with a rub of his chin. “ Plus the windshear as we landed. “

“ Know-it-all. “ Bobby snipped at him as he passed.

The kid was hot on his trail. “ Half-wit. “

Logan snorted and stood to walk with Ororo. “ No wonder the kid found his way back– sure Magneto wasn’t thrilled to debate about hot air. “

“ Shush. “ She swatted the back of his head.

He rubbed his neck indignantly, “ What? “ He found John gazing back at them, brows knitted together.

The boy opened his mouth to speak but clamped shut when Bobby called out for him from outside.

“ Kid, I didn’t mean… “ Logan trailed off as the boy turned away. He turned back with a frown when she hurried down the ramp without him. “ I really didn’t. “

“ I know. “ Her voice was drowned out by the wind.

He pawed a hand through his hair. The kid knew he was joking. Right? The downpour outside eased to a hush.

“ You should apologize. “ Jean muttered as she brushed past him. Logan sighed and plodded after her.

“ It’s not like I don’t understand what the kid’s going through. “ Logan took one step out of the plane before his heel slipped in the mud. He floundered and planted his feet.

 

Entire buildings were submerged beneath the relentless deluge of roiling waters. If it wasn’t for the map they examined earlier, he wouldn’t have been able to guess the number of buildings drowned beneath the surface. It slowly disappeared as a thick wall of ice formed a barrier against the swelling banks.

Up ahead, the team was already knee deep and helping people to shore. A mess of red caught his eye amidst the dirtied lab coats- an older woman clung to Scott’s arm, wobbling onto land on her good leg. A long, malformed metal bar stuck through her calf. A little girl hovered nearby, eyes wide and smeared with mud.

“ Everything was fine. “ The woman groaned as he drew closer. “ Then this man showed up, asking for patient files and medicines. “

“ Did you give it to him? “ Scott settled her softly to the ground.

“ No, I sent him away. It wouldn’t be the first time an anti-mutant protestor found their way to our gates- but it's the first time they did something. “ The scientist glanced around at them. “ You don’t look like standard Response and Recovery. “

Jean crouched down beside her, “ Charles got your messages, Dr. Duncan. He sends his regards. “

“ Charles. “ She breathed out, tightening into a choked noise when Jean examined the wound. 

“ Logan, we need you over here. “ Scott called out as he helped pull people from Ororo’s arms.

“ One minute. “ Logan stepped forward, kneeling beside her. “ Can I? “

Jean blinked once, wetting her lip before nodding. “ Freema, I’m afraid this will hurt. “

Duncan grunted in affirmation, lips pressed pale. Logan unsheathed his claws and angled them against the rebar. He took stock of her pinched expression before swiping through. The offending metal gave away into small pieces that smacked into the mud.

The following high pitched scream that hit his ears made him flinch. He glanced back at the doctor, brows pressed together at her slack face. Freema did little more than slump further into unconsciousness when another squeal filled the air. He jerked his head up in time to watch John hold a small flame up to the little girl.

“ John! “ Logan managed breathlessly before the awe-struck expression on the girl’s face registered.

The boy jumped, gently clasping his hands over hers. “ Yeah? “ he let out a small grunt when the little kid embraced him.

“ Warm. “ She mumbled into his jacket. " Thank you. "

Logan maneuvered his arms beneath the doctor, easing her up. “ Nothing. “

John narrowed his eyes. “ What did you think I was..? I’d never- “

“ I said don’t worry about it, kid. “ He was grateful for the escape into the quiet of the Blackbird.

Jean took his place once he situated Duncan down. “ I have her. “  She slid a first aid from beneath the seat.

Logan lingered only for a breath before he turned on his heel without another word and bounded out to help the next round of survivors.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

The steady stream of escapees dwindled as the day stretched on. Slowly yet surely staggering scientists smeared in mud and shellshocked kids alike were escorted to temporary asylum, laying in wait for any stragglers. Logan studied the dark clouds as they inched further away from the blustering gales Ororo tossed at them. A fork of electricity pronged irritably through the sky, rumbling its displeasure at the woman. Bobby stopped mid stride ahead, falling into an even pace beside him. The boy scratched his neck, gaze ping-ponging as they walked in silence. It went on for a while– bumpy terrain crunching beneath their shoes. Logan finally relented and turned to the kid. Bobby worried his bottom lip, tracing the ground with his eyes.

Logan squinted at him, “ What’s going on with you? “

Bobby fumbled for his pockets, hands falling limp when his suit offered none. “ I’m great. “

“ Really? ‘Cus you look like you’re about to explode. “ Logan tilted his head. “ Listen, it’s none of my business, but if something happened with- “

“ Why are you being so hard on Johnny? “ Bobby asked quietly.

Logan blinked, mouth falling open to breathe an utterance of nothing. Is that how he came off? He scratched at his temple and looked to where John was lagging behind the rest of the group. The boy’s shoulders were dropped as he mindlessly toyed with a flame between his fingers.

“ Damn. “ Logan scrubbed a hand over his face. He couldn’t recall what it felt like to be a kid– all these big emotions in an infinitely larger, weirder world. Waking up as a full grown man, full blown amnesiac, and drenched in blood didn’t offer him much wiggle room in that regard.

Besides, treating the students like tiny adults had worked out so far. “ Chin up, kid. I’ll go talk to him. “

Bobby perked up, visibly brightening. “ Thank you. “

“ Don’t mention it. “ Logan clapped him on the shoulder and pulled ahead. He jogged to join the others. Jean offered a small nod as he approached.

“ Hey, kid. “ Logan wiped a fat droplet of rain from the bridge of his nose.

John kicked a rock and shoved his hands into his jacket. “ I don’t know why you guys brought me along. My mutation isn’t helpful for this sort of thing. “

“ So? “ Logan jabbed a thumb at the dam of ice separating them from the hungry tide. “ You think I’m capable of doing something like that? “

“ Which means that you’re either keeping an eye on me or you guys feel bad for me. “ The kid elaborated with a bristle, “ Or it’s both. “

“ Listen, you’re surrounded by some of the most understanding people I’ve ever met. “ Logan spoke carefully, “ What happened was a mistake. Nobody’s blamin’ you, kiddo. “

“ I know it was a mistake. “ John snapped bitterly, “ And stop calling me that. “

“ Kid- “ Logan hardly got the word out before flames fanned by his face, stopping him in his tracks.

“ I’m not your kid! “ John raised his voice. Searing heat hit the wall Logan fell against, leaving steaming pockmarks in its wake.

Bobby distinguished the next fire ball before it landed. “ John! “ A chunk of clouded ice thwacked a few inches from Logan’s face. The hard look in John’s eyes softened somewhat once Bobby placed a hand over his chest. “ Not here. Please. “

Logan lifted off the ice, rubbing the throbbing pulse in his cheek. His skin was blistered, tapering off into a coldness that stretched over his cheekbone.

“ Enough. “ Scott was on him before he had a chance to retort. He tipped Logan’s head to the side with a frown, voice quieting as he glanced back at the kid. “ What’s going on? “

“ Just a misunderstanding. “ Logan jerked his chin away, “ We’re good. “

“ I would’ve been fine if– “ John’s voice trembled, watery gaze locked to the ground.

A gust of wind carried droplets that dotted the earth. It fell quiet except for the quiet words Bobby uttered to the other boy.

“ Whatever it is can wait. “ Ororo’s voice cut through the wind, “ These people don’t have the time to spare. “

Silent agreement washed over the group and they pulled away one by one. Summers hovered, if not for a moment, before he turned away too. Logan rubbed soot from his tender skin as it healed over.

“ Logan, “ John folded his arms over his stomach, “ I’m sorry. “

“ Ki- John, “ He shook his head, “ It’s alright. “

“ I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I just wish… It’s a lot. “ The boy fervently shook his head in return, “ Fuck, I’m sorry. “

Logan let out a low sigh, “ John, “ The next words on his tongue tapered away beneath the chest rattling crack that imploded behind him. There was a split second of timeless levity– pushing forward and shoving John as hard as he could into Jean’s open arms– then a roar as tonnes of dark water surged forward to overwhelm him with its weltering currents.

 

Chapter 2: Recovery

 

Mud rushed between his teeth as currents flipped him into complete darkness. Up and down and over into somersaults that flung him deeper. Seconds bled into minutes. It had only taken a few turns to lose his sense of direction. Logan floundered for something– anything– to anchor onto in the storm-driven flood.

His fingers latched onto rough bark, jerking him still. The current tugged against him desperately as he broke the surface with a sputtering gasp. He pulled his leadened body up the side of a fallen tree, hacking back the urge to vomit. Its roots, covered in grass and mud, were flared out enough to take the brunt of the tide.

Logan? Storm’s voice slid into his mind.

He rolled onto his back with a groan. Ororo.

Are you alright? The clouds overhead pulled back, revealing a lighter pasture of gray beneath.

Amazing. He fumbled to peel a glove off. Don’t know where I am.

It was quiet for a moment, making the persistent roar of the river coursing around him stand out. Logan held his glove close to his chest and shut his eyes in an attempt to calm his breathing. Water sloshed in his boots as he curled his shivering body tight.

Tell me if you see this. Ororo said.

The sky remained still. Gray against gray. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Logan blinked away water and propped himself up as another rumble sounded nearby. Finally a spear of lightning breached from the clouds. It's pink flash reflected off the turbulent waters. 

Saw that. He sagged back against the bark.

Scott’s steady voice tapped in, Near you?

Logan stuck his glove between his teeth and inched further down the log, away from where the water lapped up the sides.

No shit. He squeezed his eyes shut to take a breath, Yes. On a tree.

Got it. Hang tight, Lo. Summers responded without missing a beat.

Logan came to a stop at the tree’s skirt. Tight as I can.

He tightened his grip as the tree bobbed. Logan sat upright as it threatened to roll, splashing his left boot into the water. The water prickled with the promise of numbing his foot, but the log balanced back out. He exhaled the tightness from his stomach through chattering teeth.

Can you give us a wave? That was Jean.

How many people were looking for him? Logan peered out across the ruined city, chest tight as a pitch black bird split the air. It let out a handful of urgent squawks and landed on a nearby tree top. It angled its head to get a good look at him.

“ I’m not dead. “ He waved his arm with a soured mutter. The bird bobbed its head.

Ororo made a pleased noise, relief washing through her voice. I see you.

Logan lifted his head to the sky and scanned the horizon. The distant silhouette of Ororo’s figure was a breath of air. All fluttering hair and flowing capes– the whole nine yards. He held his hand up in relief.

Logan. Ororo’s thoughts whipped back through the link. A strong gale peppered his face with droplets. He cocked his head with a squint. Her usual grace was tinged with anticipation. He peered out at the surging river, watching its ever-swelling flow rush by.

What? He prodded.

Tree. She sounded out of breath, even in his mind.

Logan blinked. Yeah.

No, Logan. Ororo’s pale expression became clear as she approached. Tree!

He didn’t have time to process her words before the trunk he clung to suddenly jerked. He white-knuckled the bark as his world shook. The oak vibrated as it angled against the current. Another hearty mass of roots overtook his vision as a larger beast of a tree rammed him again. He narrowly managed to tuck his legs up before it slammed their trunks together. Logan’s stomach clenched as the barky life raft dipped. And then it rolled.

He scrambled for any sort of purchase as both trees capsized. Ice gushed over his head and he fumbled blindly. His knuckles grazed the rough surface and he popped his claws– too late. They cut through the length of the soggy wood like butter. He choked in a small breath as the riptide pushed him down.

…wrong? Summer’s concerned tone came, drowned out by the rush, as Logan fought to keep his head above the surface.

Ororo’s alarmed response was lost in its entirety when his back slammed into something. It was jagged and sharp– tearing at his spine and he gasped. Stars exploded behind his eyes.

For a moment all that existed was noise and blurred colors. Murk sucked him further down. The rushing in his ears gradually registered as a roar and he briefly found himself upright again. His head popped up and white rapids pulled him back downward, submerging him before he had the time to fill his lungs. Copper tinged his tongue and distantly he recognized the fact that he was losing the fight to stay conscious. How long would he be lost, suffocating and frozen? 

His spine pressed against something solid. He lamely traced his palm up the same clawed up tree trunk before his face broke free of the tide. Grey skies, mud brown rivers, and a mix of abject horror and a sense of irony as the tree tipped upright and they rushed over the edge of a waterfall.

 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

 

Logan woke up to his body pounding. He cracked his eyes open, peeking through his lashes at the familiar off-white of his bedroom. The mattress was cold and gritty, pressing discomfort into the soft of his back. His tongue clicked against the dryness in his mouth as he tried to recall what happened the prior night. Anything to explain the taste of earth and grit stuck between his teeth. He furrowed his brows when the ceiling came into focus. Crumbling cement blocked out what little of the dark sky was visible. He swallowed, squinting against the throbbing ache behind his eyes. Where was he?

Debris littered his surroundings: rubble, smashed furniture, bits of plastic and sprinkles of glass. A long, dirtied sheet of plastic wrap clung to a pole outside. Rubble dangled from twisted rebar, anointed with smears of sediment from the tree that lay sullen nearby.

The growing pressure in Logan’s chest finally dawned and he sat up to avoid vomiting on himself. A confused gurgle left his throat when his body jerked back down. Thick water forced its way out. Algae. Mud. Dirt and stagnated grime. Metal.

Logan supposed, rather detached, that he should’ve known he was missing something obvious long before he looked at his lap. Steel bars poked through his abdomen and chest. Dark blood dribbled free from as he gripped the ends. His dominant arm stopped short with the awful grinding of metal on metal. It vibrated up his spine and pulsed into his fingers. Black spots burst in his vision and he dropped his arm, banging his head against the floor.

Logan stared up at the teetering concrete that loomed overhead, balanced by the rebar that poked through his ribcage.

He choked back a groan as his nerves finally got up to speed. God damnit.

Logan. Jean cut softly into his muddled mind. We’ve been trying to reach you.

Logan squeezed his eyes shut and slammed a fist down. Water splashed up, sprinkling across his mud crusted face. He stared at his feet and pictured her stricken face before he was swept away. How long?

Nearly half an hour. She prodded further in before retracting abruptly. You’re hurting.

The sheet of icy water lapped at his nape, sending a shiver up his spine. Stuck.

Where? Ororo implored.

Some building. Logan blinked at the ruined structure around him. The oak tree stuck against a crumbling wall. Small trickles pushed through the slivers of open space where the barks hung and fell away. A fall.

A waterfall? Jean elaborated.

He audibly hummed his affirmative. The shivering hadn’t stopped. In fact, it was impossible to suppress the chattering of his teeth.

Scott piped in, There’s a doom town not too far from this site. The flood must be dropping off there.

Logan eyed the shifting trunk. The veins had swelled into eager streams of pouring sediment.

Jean needs more hands. There’s more survivors at the end of the falls. Ororo reported.

Jean and the boys have them. Summers advised. Are there any landmarks around you, Lo?

Logan swallowed as the waters crept over his ankles. Tree. Fallen. Hard to miss.

There was a beat– his friends hovering just an arms length away. He could feel their concern swathing in his direction. Logan pressed his scalp to the floor and tried to quell the swarm of butterflies in his stomach.

Be right there. Scott reassured and Logan could imagine the man’s face– features soft and painfully open.

Logan shook his head and counted to five before exhaling. Take your time.

A small spark of amusement pulsed from Scott’s end and was promptly smothered by the reality of their situation. Maybe John was right about being brought along to be babysat. It’s not like he had a good track record of being left alone at the mansion either. There wasn’t much he had done aside from getting himself trapped. Besides, it wasn’t like Logan was going to die. He ignored the alarm bells in his mind as mud gushed into his ears, muffling everything outside of his head.

He inhaled through his nose and flexed his free arm to find leverage. The back of his hand smacked a rock. It skipped through the muck and out of sight. The sound of it ricocheting was deafening. He froze when the pipe lodged through his shoulder jerked. Concrete shifted– maybe the rock disturbed some rebar or maybe he exhaled too fast– and dust rained from the teetering slab above.

Time slowed down between the skipping of his heart. Logan swallowed dryly as he considered his options. None of them were great. He drew his claws out. Either his friends got there in time or he bit the bullet– water lapped up his cheekbones, adamantium clicking against the rebar’s ridges when a shudder tore up his spine– in one way the other.

 

In the end Logan decided against bringing the building down on top of himself. He figured it’d be a whole lot easier for his team to recover him from a metric-ton of water than a metric-ton of water and thousands of pounds of debris. It didn’t make the outcome any better: water pooling into his eyes as he strained to keep his nose angled out of the muck. The cold water left his toes numb and wounds throbbing as it repeatedly tried to and failed to close up.

A particularly sharp pain took his breath away. His vision went spotty and briefly it felt like he left his body. Distantly he heard the low chatter of men talking. The scent of disinfectant and saline lingered on his tongue as he forcefully breathed through his nose. He wasn’t there. Logically. But it did little to quell the feeling of freefalling inside himself. And it certainly didn’t ease the fear building as the surgeons paced around him like he was a chunk of meat.

I’m not there. Logan fervently blinked. It was still happening. Another thought voiced its truth. He balled his fist. Everyday there was still a piece of himself left in that tank. He tried to sit up– away from the ice oozing under his flesh.

Logan stiffened when a hand settled over his shoulder. Fear and rage battled for dominance as his mind raced for clarity.

“ Stop. “ His own desperation echoed back in his head– every choked gasp and wet noise that graced his throat.

The hand disappeared before fire shot through his hip. Needles bore throughout his body. It seeped molten through his limbs and stole the air from his lungs as it grafted to his bones. His next breath was cut short by a gush of icy water.

Logan. He started up at the distorted surface bobbing overhead. The clink of champagne glasses clattered in his ears. It was clear as day, the same sound that resonated long after a sleepless night. Fingers squeezed his. Everything’s alright. We’re getting you out.

It was difficult to make out anything other than the apparent grunge he was sinking into, but he knew that voice.

 

“If you knew the type of person you used to be, the work we did together. “ Stryker whispered somewhere, everywhere.

Spent bubbles burst from his lips and he choked on the water that was just a few inches too tall.

He unsheathed his claws and squeezed back. Please.

 

“ People don’t change, Wolverine. You were an animal then and you’re an animal now. I just gave you claws. “

The ground reverberated as his upper body was jerked forward. Awful suction pulled at his insides as the rebar was yanked out. Pain shot down the top of his spine as he lurched upright. A torrent spilled from his mouth. His chest stuttered as he gasped and sputtered. It was a beat until he registered the fingers rubbing gentle circles into the meat of his palm.

“ There’s one more. “ A quiet voice muttered. Even blurred, John’s rounded eyes never left his.

Logan blinked his vision clear just in time to watch Storm pull out a melted chunk of metal. John clutched his warm hand around his. “ We gotta go. “

“ Trying. “ Logan gurgled over the mess in his throat. He grabbed Ororo’s other hand and splashed upright. He gritted his teeth as he swayed.

She wrapped his arm over her shoulder with a firm voice, “ We have minutes until this building is underwater. “

The water crept up his thighs as they trudged forward. The imagery of his team being washed away set a fire beneath him. Logan shook fluid from his ear and urged John between them.

John kept his chin up, a hard line between his brows. The subtle tremors that ran through limbs became obvious when he pressed close, “ They can’t land in this. “

“ They’ll make it. “ Ororo insisted with a press of her lips. She pointed ahead to what used to be a playground perched atop a rolling slope– now nothing more than a shrinking molehill. The flood was rolling in fast, each step more resistant than the last as it submerged his waist.

They nearly managed their way to the top when the quiet whine of the jet pierced the air. It landed fast, without any of the decadence that Jean usually operated with. The ramp lowered with a squelch into the mud. Bobby was out first, urging them on.

Logan pushed Ororo and John forward, the former of which gripped tight and dragged him forward.

“ Jean says we gotta go! “ Scott splashed into the grass.

Logan planted his feet in the shifting dirt and tightened his embrace around John when a current threatened to knock the boy clean off of his feet. Water splattered onto his face as he reached up the ramp and clutched a strap.

Hands pulled them in, fighting against the hungry rapids yanking them the other way. Dread knotted his gut when John’s wet hand slipped.

The kid locked eyes with him, face ashen as their skin slid together.

“ He’s slipping. “ Logan dropped the handle and clamped down on John’s wrist. The water crept up and for one terrifying moment he was certain of the kid’s fate. Slowly but surely the tides were winning.

The feeling of weightlessness froze him in place.

“ Come on! “ Jean shouted over his shoulder. Electricity made his hair stand on end as she leaned over and grabbed John. The current sizzled against his skin as the winds changed. She pulled them both in, boots slapping wetly against the floor as they fell back. More hands helped haul him to his feet just as the ramp clicked shut, spewing one last mist of mud through the cracks.

Logan stumbled forward as the blackbird took flight, squeezing his eyes shut. The cabin shook violently and he leaned against an open chair.

He tasted mud on his lips, shaking his head with a breath before he got moving. John didn't complain as he guided them to sit down.

“ You okay? “ Logan breathlessly slicked the boy’s hair out of his shell shocked face. A mess of sediment smeared down his forehead. John’s shoulders eased somewhat and he wiped his nose with a nod.

“ Good. “ Logan slumped, scanning the kid. “ Put your seatbelt on. “

Looking around, the jet was full of survivors– huddled together around ravaged medicine kits and scattered supplies. A baby cooed happily. Somebody was sobbing.

He recognized Freema lying amongst the worst of the casualties, shivering relentlessly.

Logan was pulled from his thoughts when John rested his head against his shoulder.

“ I’m sorry. “ The boy croaked.

Logan lowered his chin. “ Me too. “

“ I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. “ John’s voice was thick, “ You were just trying to help. “

“ You got a good heart, kid. Everyone gets lost. “ Logan dropped his voice, “ I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m an asshole. “

John fell silent. Logan looked down to find the boy toeing off his water-logged shoes with a deep sigh. “ Thanks, Logan. “

“ ‘Course, hot head. “ He caught John’s eye– bloodshot and drooping, but infinitely lighter than before. The kid hid the ghost of a smirk behind his hand and turned his gaze out the window.

The view of dark chaos outside had transformed into greenery. Tree tops and the increasing veins of black asphalt, dotted with shiny cars. He turned back to catch Scott and Bobby pretending like they hadn’t been listening in.

Ororo propped her chin over her knee with a soft smile and gave him a subtle nod. She pulled her headset back over her head, whispering something into the microphone that made Jean’s lips quirk up.

Logan rejoined John in getting lost out of the window, setting his head against the headrest to watch a flock of ducks as they passed by.

 

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of Howlett Chronicles