What the Future Holds
Part Five
By Crimson

Inside the med. lab tensions were running high. All the wounded from around America's capital were being brought there to get treatment for the injuries they received from the battle with Sinister's ogres.

Wolverine sat by the door to the infirmary with Cyclops, Storm and Rogue. It had been a long time since he had seen these people and he had so much he wanted to tell them, but he couldn't find his voice. It was supposed to be Remy's job to tell them what was going on, but right now they weren't even sure if he was going to make it. After him, next in command was Wolverine, then Magnus, Bobby, Doc and Betsy. Magnus had left earlier to help England fortify their shields. Bobby was sitting in with Cecilia, who was resting quietly in the room next to them, and Betsy was . . . She hadn't made it through.

Logan looked up to see Blind Side walk in holding Torin's hand. *Poor kid,* Logan thought to himself, *Essex and Creed've taken his entire family from him. If Remy dies . . . * He shook himself trying not to think about that possibility. *The Cajun's a fighter,* He told himself, as the two came up to him.

Torin looked at him with such a saddened expression that Logan thought his heart would burst. He half smiled at the kid and put out his arms to him. Torin didn't waste a second in taking up his offer, and ran into his hold. Picking him up, and being careful not hurt his back any more, Logan looked at the man who had brought him expectantly.

"The other Free Zones?"He asked.

He just shook his head and Logan held Torin even tighter.

"How many this time?"

"South Africa's gone. That was the biggest loss. Madagascar went down hard, but Magnus is working on getting that back up. We lost Frost in England, but the Gutherie's are doing what they can to fix that."

Logan sighed at that, and looked up expecting more. "You're not telling me everything,"He said knowingly.

Blind Side looked at Torin and shook his head." Not now," he told him quietly, then changed the conversation." How's Guardian?"

"No change. I don't know if Hank is informed enough of his condition to handle it alone. We need to get T'oarkla in to work on him."

Blind Side just nodded and stared blankly at the wall.

Logan looked up at him worriedly. Remy had been the closest thing to a friend the kid had ever had. They'd always spent a lot of time together because of the nature of his powers; powers that could have prevented this if he'd been there.

"Go see what you can do to help with the wounded Alex. There's nothing more you can do here."

Blind Side seemed to take notice, and did what he was told, but he didn't really look like he was going to come out of his funk any time soon.

Cyclops had noticed the exchange, and looked at Wolverine." Logan . . . "He started, "I- I don't mean to intrude . . . "

Logan's head snapped up at him, and his eyebrows rose high." You have every right to intrude," he exclaimed in a surprised voice, but didn't elaborate.

Cyclops just looked at him with his mouth still ajar, until Storm finished what he started.

"Logan,"she cooed, putting a hand to his arm, "I believe what Scott is trying to say is: We have seen much since we arrived, and to say the least, we are somewhat baffled."

Logan smiled at her elegance." You want answers,"he sighed, nodding." I know. I understand,"Then he smiled, apparently hearing something." Yer gonna get 'em."

Torin was squirming in his arms. As he jumped down of his lap, he looked up at them, jade eyes flashing. "Daddy's awake! "He squealed running for the door.

Logan grabbed him up around the waist, laughing, "Hold it right there kiddo," He pulled him around to look at him." Give him time to get a grip on what's going on."

"But Logan . . . "

"No buts,"He replied silencing him, then replaced him in his own vacated seat." Sit. Stay. Good T'rin."

Torin giggled at that and then supplied an "Arf,"to add to Logan's amusement.

Logan looked at the others, "Rogue, stay here with him. Make sure he stays HERE. Storm, Cyclops, come with me. It's time to get you some of those answers."

As soon as they were all gone, Logan put his hand to Remy's good shoulder." You scared the shit out of us all Remy," he exclaimed in good cheer. It was obvious though, that he was absolutely serious.

Remy chuckled." Serve ya right, old man! Y'own damn fault,"He spoke in jest, but he too was completely serious." Who y' got wit' ya?" he asked.

"Cyke and Storm." Logan stepped back to let them through.

As they came up to him, Cyclops noticed an odd change in his comrade. Beneath the bandages that covered the wounds inflicted by Sabretooth, around his eyes, were a complex work of cybernetics. His eyebrows rose in surprise.

Storm too seemed to notice, but paid less attention. She took up his hand in hers, and put the other to his cheek. Silent tears of joy for his well being began to fall down her face." I never got a chance, to thank you,"she whispered." When Sauron . . . You saved our lives."

He smiled and turned his face into her caress." Any time Chere. 'S good t' hear your voice again. I missed y'."

"I have missed you as well Gambit."

He winced back from her touch." Don' call me dat any more, 'K Chere?"

"Then what -- ?"

"Guardian,"Hank piped up." As far as I can tell, with the exception of Logan and his family, everyone here calls him Guardian."

"Didn' even know y' were still here Mon Ami,"Remy told Hank.

Cyclops was yet again surprised, "He's been standing there all along. How could you not know -- "

"He's been blind for the past thirteen years,"Logan explained, anger shining coloring his voice.

"You know very' well dat -- "

"I know, I know 'Dey did de right t'ing' doesn't change how I feel about it."

Remy didn't know whether to laugh or sigh, so instead he decided to cough.

"I'll have to suggest that you all leave. We could all use a little rest," Hank said.

Logan crossed his arms." I ain't leavin'. Not again. Not like this."

Hank sighed looking to the others for help." Go stay wit' T'rin," Remy supplied." He needs somebody right now. I'm in here, an' . . . "He trailed off." He doesn' have an'body else."

Logan sighed." If you were anybody else, I'd have wrote that one off as a cheap shot."

Remy coughed again and Hank started shooing them out. He held onto Storm's hand a moment longer." I'll give y' dem answers tomorrow. Right now I'm just . . . " he was interrupted from continuing by a coughing fit.

"Rest old friend. We shall talk in the morning,"She kissed his forehead and turned to the door, which was being held open by the one Logan had called Alex.

With that he drifted into a troubled sleep. Blind Side kept a watchful eye over his mentor, determined not to let anything more happen to him this day.