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 Eleven
Tammy

"Thanks a lot folks, we'll be back in thirty," Austin said and the stage went dark again. The band put their instruments down and went back stage.

"Ya did great kid," Joe said as he set down his mandolin.

"T'anks," Remy smiled while putting his violin back in it's case.

"Hey Cajun," Austin called taking off his hat, "there's someone in the audience who'd like ta meet ya"

"Who?" Remy asked.

"Come on out an' see," he said waiting for him.

*****

"Hey, here they come," Tammy whispered to her table partner.

"Remy, I'd like ya ta meet someone very close ta me," Austin began as the man with Tammy got to his feet. "This is Montana, my baby brother."

"Good ta meet ya," Montana said extending his hand and smiling.

"Same here," Remy said, a bit awed by the country super-star standing in front of him.

"Well, have a seat an' I'll try ta get a waitress over here," Montana smiled and sat again. "So you thinkin' 'bout gettin' that song you just did published?"

Tammy could see Remy's eyes widen in shock behind his sunglasses. She smiled, knowing that this was the confidence boost he needed to really get back on his feet and back to his old self.

"Y' jokin' right?" Remy asked shocked.

"Nope, I'm serious. I can have a demo session set up tomorrow morning by 9 am and a publisher screamin' for it by noon," he smiled. "Only question is, you got the balls enough ta go for it?"

Remy turned an accusing look at Austin. "You set me up," he said and took off his sunglasses.

"No, I didn't. Hell, I ain't even talked to him for over a week," the big Texan replied.

"Den you set me up," he said turning to Tammy.

"Hey, if I was gonna set you up it would've involved actual, physical work, not sittin' on your butt in front of a piano and drinkin' beer," she shot back at him. "And if I remember correctly, and I do, we had to practically drag you over here kicking and screaming."

"I was not screamin'," he replied.

"But ya kicked me," Austin added.

"But...."

"No but's Remy LeBeau, I haven't finished with you yet. And now that someone is sincerely interested in a song that you started to write waaaay back in the Big Easy, you think that we set you up to watch you fall. Dammit Remy, you know me better than that."

"Trust me Cajun," Austin continued for her, "if Montana says the song will get recorded, it'll get recorded. He knows music, if he didn't he wouldn't be doing what he's doing. Now you got a choice ta make. You can sit back and hide from the world like you been doin'. Or you can take a chance like the guy that Tammy told me so much about. Now what's it gonna be kid? You gonna face the unknown or run and hide from it?" Austin asked after laying the preverbal cards on the table.

Remy looked from Austin to Tammy and back to Austin again. His eyes plainly showed the conflict within him. Would he take the chance offered him or back down and stay hidden from the world.

"Well?" Austin pressed.

"Awright, you got a deal," Remy said looking Montana right in the eyes.

"You won't be sorry," the singer smiled.

"Now what would ya'll like ta drink?" the waitress asked.

*****

"Thanks a lot folks, we'll see ya'll at Rodeo Fest next weekend," Austin said after the last song of the night. Then the stage went dark for the last time and the band went to the dressing room.

"So what's dis Rodeo Fest?" Remy asked as he put his violin away for the night.

"Big, free concert after the championships at the rodeo next week," Chris explained. "Speakin' o' which, hey Austin, you gonna enter this year?"

"After what happened the last time I rode a bull? Not in this lifetime," he replied.

"Come on Tex, ya know what they say. When ya fall off that horse or bull in your case, ya gotta get right back on again," Chris coaxed.

"No," Austin flatly replied.

"Are ya chicken?" he asked and then clucked like a chicken.

"Knock it off," Austin said, his eyes turning a colder shade of blue.

"Okay, okay, I get the message," Chris said backing down.

*****

"So what was dat 'bout backstage?" Remy asked as he and Austin hauled their instruments out to Austin's waiting truck.

"What was what 'bout?" he asked.

"Dat dirty look you gave Chris. Darn good t'ing f'r him dat looks alone can't kill," Remy said lighting a Marlboro.

"Never mind," Austin frowned. "It's none of your business."

"Awright, but if dis 'business' ever hurts Tammy you gonna wish my firs' wife wasn' an Assassin," he said as his eyes flared dangerously bright in the dark.

"It won', it's strictly personal," he said and got into the truck.

*****

Remy trudged upstairs to his room, he hadn't realized how tiring performing with a band could be. He opened his door and dropped his hat on the dresser. He unbuttoned his shirt as he went toward the bed. After dropping the shirt on the floor, he sat down on the bed to take off his boots. When he finished with that, he stood again and put out the big overhead light.

Yawning and stretching, he went back to the bed where he stripped out of his jeans. Remy fell onto the bed and slid beneath the covers. He was about to roll over when he saw Ice looking at him expectantly. "'kay girl," he mumbled, "c'mon up." The dog jumped up as soon as Remy finished speaking and curled up next to him on the bed. The Cajun yawned once more and closed his eyes in sleep.

*****

"So, where's Montana?" Tammy asked after Austin joined her in bed.

"Where do ya think?" he smiled stretching out beside her.

"Perkins," she replied rolling her eyes. "What's he doing there besides eating? He didn't perform."

"Ya know how he gets when he's excited," Austin grumbled. "Right away he's gotta eat."

"And what about you?" she smiled sliding her hand beneath the blankets.

"What about me?"

"How do you get when you're excited?" she smiled slyly.

"Mmmm, lemme show ya," he grinned rolling onto his side and pulling her into his arms.