Disclaimer: Gambit and the X-Men are copyright and property of Marvel Comics. I am making no money from this. Besides getting money out of me would be like getting blood out of turnip, it isn't gonna happen so don't even try to sue me. Any other characters you don't recognize and the plot in this story are owned by Tammy Zuleger. Anyone wishing to use them must get permission from me first.


Recovery
Part Five
Tammy

Remy and Austin were working on the back porch again. This afternoon they were laying a brick walk way to the machine shed that had been converted into a garage. Austin was still racking his brain for a way to tell the Cajun that he was a mutant also. Suddenly the Texan heard a yelp of pain from him.

Remy had been carrying a load of bricks when one slipped off and landed on his foot. A steady stream of curses in French and English flew from the Cajuns mouth.

Without thinking, Austin went over to him and used his empathy to block the pain while he examined Remy’s wounded foot. The Cajun’s eyes widened in surprise when the pain in his foot suddenly ceased. He backed away from the Texan as fast as he was able.

“I’m not going ta hurt ya,” Austin said.

“You. . . you a mutant too,” Remy said shocked.

“Yeah, I’m an empath. Now lemme see your foot,” he said and kneeled down on the grass.

“ ’kay,” Remy said hesitantly and came closer so Austin could look at his foot.

“Now, I’m gonna keep blocking the pain while I take your shoe off,” he said unlacing Remy’s hiking shoe.

Out of habit, Remy winced when the empath pulled off his shoe and sock.

“Move your toes,” Austin instructed.

Remy did as he was told.

“I cut off my shield from ya. Does it still hurt?”

“Non, jus’ aches a little,” Remy replied.

“Let’s get you inside and I’ll put an ice pack on your foot so it doesn’t bruise too much,” Austin said standin up. Then he reached down and helped Remy get to his feet.

“Ouch! Merde,” Remy cursed when he put his weight on his injured foot.

“Bedder keep off that foot fer a while,” the Texan said. “Here, lean on me.”

Remy put his arm around Austin’s shoulders and let the big man help him into the house.


------------------------------------------------------------------------


They sat in the living room watching Star Wars, the Special Edition. Remy had his left foot wrapped in a gel pack and propped up on a pillow on the couch. Even though it was one of his favorite movies, the Cajun wasn’t really paying attention to the television. He was watching Austin and trying to remember if they’d met before. “It was you, wasn’ it,” he said suddenly.

“Me what?” Austin asked turning toward him.

“You were dere ev’ry time I puked an’ you why I fell asleep aft’ward. You de one dat keep de nightmares away,” Remy said as realization dawned on him.

“Yes that was me, I’m an empath. I also shield Tammy from your emotions when ya dream,” he explained.

“Why didn’ you tell me when I first came here?”

“Because ya were unconscious by the time I got close ta ya,” he smiled.

“But why not later?”

“Because I can feel what you’ve been through.”

Remy paled.

“I doan know what ya did or what happened ta ya, but I do know that you’re sufferin’ because of it,” Austin went on. “I fig’red that if I told ya that I’m a mutant too, ya’d run b’fore ya were well ‘nough.”

“Why didn’ Tam tell me?”

“I asked her not ta,” he said.

“T’ank you.”

“For what?”

“F’r takin’ care o’ me,” Remy said turning back to the movie.

“You’re welcome. Ya know, I can help ya set up walls ta block those dreams,” he said glancing toward the Cajun to gauge his reaction.

“I’d like dat,” Remy replied.