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 Seven
Tammy

"You ready?" Austin asked standing in Remy's open door.

"Yeah, I guess," Remy said picking up his violin case.

"We're goin' ta Pete's, his wife an' kids are at her mother's for the weekend," Austin said as they walked out to his truck. "And don't feel so nervous, there's no need ta."

"I'm not nervous," Remy replied as he climbed up into the pickup.

"An' I'm not from Texas," Austin teased.

"You mean dat accent o' yours is jus' fake?" Remy said in mock shock.

"Yep, I'm really from China," he laughed.

"So what does ev'ryone play?" Remy asked returning to normal conversation.

"Well, Pete plays steel guitar, I play accoustic guitar and piano, Joe plays madolin, Frank plays guitar and harmonica, Chris plays stand-up base, and you play the fiddle," Austin explained.

"What, no accordian or washboard?" Remy asked.

"This is not the Hee Haw Junk Yard Band," he frowned.

"Hehn, in de Big Easy, no ban' complete wit'out dem," he shrugged.

*****

"All right, now that we're all here, I should prob'ly introduce ya'll ta Remy," Austin said after they all had their instruments out.

"Remy, what's yer last name boy?" Joe, the oldest of the group asked.

"LeBeau, I lived here till 'bout a year ago," Remy replied.

"LeBeau huh? Yer not that French teacher that was fired are ya?" Joe continued.

"Yeah, dat's me," the Cajun sadly replied.

"Damn shame the way that school board railroaded you," Frank said shaking his head.

"Ya had my daughter in yer senior French class and she thought ya were the greatest thing since sliced bread," Joe said.

"Tell her t'anks," Remy smiled as he started to feel comfortable with these men.

"Well, let's get down ta what we got t'gether ta do," Chris said as he finished tuning his bull fiddle.

"Yeah, Austin ya got any new songs for us?" Pete asked.

"Just one, I made some copies at the Prime Directive in town," he answered passing out the sheet music.

*****

"Hey Cajun, why don't you pick the last song t'night," Chris suggested.

"You know 'Hat's Off'?" Remy asked.

"You could say that," Frank grinned.

"I hope so, I wrote it," Austin smiled.

"You don' mind?" Remy asked.

"Not at all, like ta hear someone else sing it for a change," he replied. "When ever your ready."

"The stage is set tonight down in Nashville,
It's been a long, hard ride into town.
And thanks to some cowboys and heroes,
My chance to sing has finally come around.

"The first song I ever sang was Haggard,
Mama sang to me 'I Saw the Light'.
I turned my radio up louder,
To hear Johnny Cash walk the line.

"Ol' Waylon sang a song about Texas.
Willie's blue eyes cried in the rain.
Bocephus sang a song about Dixie,
And Lefty taught us all how to sing," Remy sang.

"Hats off to hard riding cowboys,
Riding somewhere tonight.
Hats off to hard ridin' cowboys,
Wanted dead or alive," he sang, joined by the others.

"Well, Charlie ran the devil out of Georgia.
Skynard sang of sweet home Alabam.
The Allman Brothers taught us how to ramble,
And the Tucker boys showed us how to jam," he sang solo again.

"Hats off to hard riding cowboys,
Riding somewhere tonight.
Hats off to hard riding cowboys,
Wanted dead or alive," the group sang.

"Well the stage is set tonight up in heaven,
And Reba's band is there with Patsy Cline.
And all around there's cowboys and cowgirls,
And thanks to them the music's still alive," he continued alone.

"Hats off to hard ridin' cowboys,
Flying somewhere tonight.
Hats off to hard flying cowboys,
Wanted dead or alive," they finished.

Remy ended by picking up his violin and playing the refrain. The others stopped and just listened to him play each chorus softer and softer till he stopped. He opened his eyes and was greeted with a round of applause from the other muscians. Austin smiled and winked at him.

"Hey, you wanna sing with us at my niece's wedding three weeks from now?" Pete asked. "That is if you don't mind Austin."

"Nope, not me," the Texan smiled. "I was gettin' tired of bein' the only one here who c'n sing."

"Well Remy? Would you do it?" Pete asked again.

"I . . . I ah, sure," he smiled, surprised at how easily he'd been accepted into the group.

"Well fellas, I gotta work tomorrow mornin'," Chris said opening the case for his base.

"Yeah, I gotta get goin' too. Don't want the wife ta come lookin' fer me," Frank said taking the capo off his guitar.

"I guess we should get goin'," Austin sighed.

"Why? You 'fraid Tam's gonna be asleep b'fore ya get home?" Joe teased.

"Nope, she'll be workin' on her computer yet."

"An' prob'ly has been all night," Remy added.

"Gotta see iffin' she's takin' root ta her chair," Austin joked.

"Well, see ya Austin. Come by again Remy," Frank said as he left.

"I'll give you a call on what we're doin' fer the weddin'," Pete said as Austin and Remy went to the door.

"We should be able ta get together an' practice a couple more times so Remy can git used ta us," Austin said. "An' I'll see you on Sunday at the range."

"An' I'll whip yoah butt again," Pete grinned from the door.

*****

Note: 'Hats Off' was really written by Alabama (Alabama also performs it, not Montana Blake). And as I said earlier I'm not making any money from their use, so please don't sue me.