Title: Ghosts of the past 5

Author: Morgana (morganalebeau@yahoo.com)

Website: http://www.oocities.org/morganalebeau/

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Ghosts of the past

By Morgana

 

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jono stared at the darkened mansion. Light only shone from a few windows and he wasn't sure he should telepathically call out into their minds, but on the other hand. . . Wolverine didn't look good at all and needed medical attention. He didn't really have a choice.
//Someone help me!// he sent and opened the car door to get Wolverine out. But the man was surprisingly heavy, had to be the adamantium!
//We're coming!//
The voice melted into his mind and he sighed relieved. Someone had heard him and help was on its way. It was a most peculiar sensation to hear an alien voice in his mind. Emma Frost was a telepath and except for her, there hadn't been that many other telepaths in his head.
//We're on our way!//
This time it was a woman's voice that touched his mind and he looked questioningly at Wolverine. One arm was dragging over the ground. The rest of Wolverine's body was still on the car seat.
A small group of people suddenly dashed outside. He remembered their names and watched in surprise as they approached the car. Storm was flying, descending down from the attic. Cyclops and Jean came running towards him and the professor was only a few feet behind him.
//What happened?// Jean asked and quickly established a mental link between all of them, so they could hear the telepathic conversation.
Jono was about to answer that question, as Beast appeared, his blue fur in complete disarray. It definitely looked as if McCoy had been asleep. Remembering Jean's question he looked at her shyly. Was it really okay to use his telepathy like that?
"Yes, Jono," the professor answered and watched Beast pull Wolverine out of the car. //Now tell us.// Angered, he noticed that Logan was collared. They all knew that without his healing factor, Logan would die from adamantium poisoning.
"I'm taking him to the med lab to remove that offensive item," McCoy decided and carried his friend into the house.
"Jono!" Scott exclaimed and tapped against his own forehead. "Where's Bobby?" He had read Jono's file as well, realizing how damn insecure Chamber was.
//We'd left the bloody airport and suddenly, Wolverine slammed onto the hood of the car. Bobby helped me put him inside and then left for the boathouse to check on. . . Gambit? I drove here as fast as I could.// Hopefully, he hadn't gotten anything wrong.
The group was following McCoy to the med lab and the professor allowed himself a moment to ponder the news. //Anything else?//
//Yes,// Jono replied, //Wolverine mentioned some names. . .Sabretooth and Sinister and that they wanted Remy?// He wish he knew what this was all about.
"What?" Scott exclaimed as McCoy and Logan disappeared into the lab. "Damn! Why did I let them stay at the boathouse! Our security system is undergoing some repairs and. . ." Privately, he cursed his own stupidity.
//Stop that, Scott,// the professor decided and concentrated on reaching out to Bobby. //Can you hear me, Robert?// He had to know if Bobby needed help and what the young man had discovered.
Bobby was checking the bedroom as Xavier's thoughts reached him. The house was a complete mess and the bedroom resembled a war zone. //Yes, I can, professor,// he sighed. //Remy's gone. I searched the entire house.//
Charles drew in a deep breath. This was bad. //Any traces of. . .//
//It was Sabretooth all right. His claw marks are all over the place. They've left.//
//Return to the mansion,// Charles instructed. //And be careful on your way back!//
//Of course,// Bobby replied dazzled. He still couldn't believe that Sinister had taken Remy, not after the tear stained confession the Cajun had made. His icy blood almost boiled at the thought that Sinister would force his teammate again. "Can't be happening!" he mumbled upset.
~~~~~~
Charles turned to Jono, Scott and Storm who were waiting for more information. "Sinister has Remy."
A deadly silence slid through the room. Scott blamed himself for not hurrying up the repairs on the security grid and Storm's face revealed a terrible worry. She knew that Sinister and Gambit had history together, but never suspected the horrible truth behind it.
//Hank? How is Logan?// Charles inquired. They'd stayed out of the med lab to give McCoy a chance to work on his new patient. If he needed help, McCoy would let them know. Otherwise they would only hamper Hank.
//I managed to get the collar off, professor. He needs time to recuperate, but you can come inside. I suspect he will regain consciousness quickly, now that his healing factor is active again.//
Charles looked up. Jono appeared confused and strangely shy. He had to change that. "Scott, walk Jono here to his room and tell him what he needs to know. Storm and I will look after Logan and await Bobby's return."
"Yes, sir," Scott said softly. Why couldn't Storm walk Jono? He was team leader. He had to know what happened in the boathouse.
//I've got my reasons, Scott,// Charles sent privately, shielding his thoughts from Jono.
Eventually, Scott nodded his head and gave in. "Come on, Jono."
Jono's glance shifted from the professor to Cyclops. This wasn't the way he had expected to arrive at the mansion! It was obvious that Scott wanted to stay here and not. . .
//We'll tell you in time,// Charles reassured him. //You're welcome here, Jono.//
Jono's eyes narrowed, as he realized just how strong Xavier was. He sometimes managed to keep Emma out if he wanted to, but Xavier was a different matter. Obediently, he followed Scott upstairs. He'd never been here and tried to memorize the place. The mansion was a lot bigger than his former 'home'. //Was the closest thing I had to a home since. . .// he thought privately.
"I put you in the room next to Bobby. Hank's room is opposite yours, but he's mostly in the med lab, so you won't see him around that much. Jean and I have our rooms at the end of the corridor." Scott opened the door and gestured Jono to step inside.
//Nice, thanks,// he said courteously. The room was big enough for him to pace during his sleepless nights.
"Hank will see you once Wolverine feels better. . ." Scott studied Chamber, who looked edgy. It was all pretence, he knew that much. Deep down Jono was hurting really bad and. . . maybe he could help. As he walked over to the window he asked, "You know, Jono. . . we actually got something in common."
Surprised, Jono turned around and looked at the older man. //And what would that be, mate?// Ever since his arrival he had wondered about the X-Men. And now, here he was, talking to the legendary Cyclops, leader of the X-Men. He'd never expected that the man would even acknowledge his presence with more than a nod of his head.
"Our powers have hurt us." Scott had thought this through. It might work. Chamber needed to know that he wasn't the only one struggling with his powers.
//What are yer saying, mate?// Jono moved away from Cyclops, feeling more uncomfortable with every passing minute. He didn't want to discuss this now!
Determinedly, Scott followed Jono through the room until he stood in front of the young man. "I can't control my optic blast and have to wear this visor all the time."
Jono tried to look away, but Scott's eyes followed his stare. //That's what we got in common, mate?// he whispered telepathically. Shaking his head in disbelief, he wondered if Scott could even start to understand his pain.
"Yes," Scott continued determinedly. "I thought of myself as a monster when I was younger. A freak that could kill people by just looking at them. . ." Scott noticed Jono's startled expression. "Without the visor my optic blast destroys everything in its path. I need it, like you need your bandages, sounds familiar?"
Jono refused to respond. No way that Scott's situation resembled his! //The visor doesn't make yer look like a monster, mate.//
"You haven't been listening," Scott sighed. "I know it hurts. I know that others don't understand what you're going through. . . I KNOW how traumatic it was when your power first manifested. It blew a whole into your body. . . But you're strong enough to overcome it!"
//You can't understand,// Jono objected. A film of tears was dancing in his eyes, but he refused to let go.
"That's a big fat lie!" Scott said through gritted teeth. "I DO know what you're going through. I still vividly remember being told that I had to wear this visor for the rest of my life. But this is the most convenient way for you to keep people at a distance! I did that too, but it doesn't work in the long run." Scott walked over to the door. He didn't want to push the boy too badly, just make him think things over.
Jono was still in denial. No one knew what he had been through. No one could know what he was STILL going through! Scott Summers was full of shit!
Scott sighed, seeing the stubborn expression in Jono's eyes. "I need to check on Logan. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk." After saying that, Scott closed the door behind him. //Let him brood on that!// he thought privately. He'd accomplished what he'd set out to do, throw Jono off balance. Now he had to wait.
~~~~~~
"Hank?" Scott entered the med lab and noticed Hank's relieved expression. Logan was lying on an exam bed, his eyes open and clear. Scott allowed himself to relax a little bit. Logan looked like shit, but would quickly recover.
"Logan needs to rest and recuperate. I want him to stay for at least one hour." Hank checked Logan's latest readings and pleased, nodded his head. "Your healing factor is counteracting the adamantium poisoning. You will be fine."
Logan looked at the professor as if trying to remember what to say. In the end, only one word escaped his lips. "Remy?" The last thing he remembered was that Creed had left him in the cave to die.
"Seems like Sinister has him," Charles said softly.
A low growl fled Logan's throat. "Was my fault. . . I went feral and forgot that Remy was the target all 'long," he said, accusing himself. "Should have known better!"
Scott leaned against the wall. "Forget about putting the blame on yourself, Logan. We should concentrate on getting him back!"
"You know why Sinister came for him," Logan whispered, "I ain't sure that Remy will fight Sinister."
Scott nodded his head and then said, "Storm, would you please leave us for a moment?"
Storm objected, but a mental request from the professor made her give in and she left the med lab. Whatever they wanted to discuss, she wasn't privy to that information and had to accept that. She would wait for Bobby to return and try to find out more by questioning him.
Logan exploded the moment Storm left the room. "Sinister better keep his dirty hands off him! I. . ." Suddenly, his voice died.
"I fear for him too," Charles said and gestured Logan to remain lying down. "You need to rest first. You can't fight Sinister when you're not fit."
"We're going after him. . ." Scott muttered. His tone wavered between a question and a statement. "But how do we find him?"
"Can you still feel him?" Hank asked the professor.
"No, but maybe that Cerebro can locate him." Charles noticed the hopeful expression in Logan's eyes. "You've got to believe in Remy. Logan, you've got to believe that Remy will fight Sinister."
Logan shook his head. "Ya don't know how much the bastard scares the kid."
"Your love will give Remy the strength he needs," Hank interrupted and rested a soothing hand on Logan's shoulder. "Now rest. I am certain that the professor will succeed in locating our Cajun friend."
Logan leaned back into the pillows. He hated himself for lying here idly while his lover was in danger. But Hank and the professor were right. They needed Sinister's location first.
~~~~~~
Bobby was sliding back to the mansion, travelling at maximum speed. His thoughts circled around Remy who was back at Sinister's mercy. Every cell in his body urged him to seek out Sinister and return Gambit to the mansion. He could barely imagine the terror Remy had to be in, now that his past had become reality again.
The night was dark and only the beams of the moon illuminated the sky. The mansion bathed in light and he increased his speed. He needed to know that Logan was fine.
Suddenly, a form slid through the moonbeams and he stopped in his tracks. He knew that outline only too well. What the hell was Rogue doing here? Hadn't she already done enough damage?
Quickly, he changed direction and followed her. "Why is she heading for the mansion?" he wondered softly.

Rogue landed and walked up to the door. She'd discussed this privately for hours and had finally reached a decision. As she slipped inside, she realized that someone was following her. Turning about, she looked into Bobby's eyes.
"What do you want, Rogue? We've got enough problems without you adding to them." Hearing the anger in his own voice surprised him. Was he this angry with her?
"Ah want ta help," Rogue whispered softly.
"Help?" Bobby repeated stunned. "You can't assume that I'm gonna believe that. You left the mansion because you couldn't stand Remy moving back in here. What's the real reason you're back?" He was still in his ice form, not giving her an opening to overpower him. Hopefully, she wouldn't attain his powers and memories when she touched him in this form. //No way I want her to know what Sinny did to Remy!//
"Ah wanna talk ta the professor," she demanded and passed him by. She wasn't wasting her time on trying to convince Drake.
"I'm here, Rogue. What do you want?" Charles and Scott appeared at the end of the corridor, leaving his study.
"Make it quick," Scott added. He couldn't help but dislike Rogue. The conversation they had had before she had left the mansion had shown her part of her that he disliked. She had lied, had tried to justify leaving Remy in Antarctica, but she hadn't convinced him. She didn't care about Gambit, didn't care about the team and he wondered if the professor still considered her part of the X-Men. He certainly didn't.
Rogue hesitated. She'd come here because she regretted ever trusting Magneto. She regretted handing Remy over to Sinister in Antarctica and wanted to make up for her mistakes. The X-Men wouldn't want her back on the team and she understood that. But she had to do this or her conscience would torment her for the rest of her life.
"Ah know where Sinister took Gambit," she revealed eventually and handed Scott a disk. "It has the location of his base and its defenses."
Scott accepted the disk and looked at the professor.
"Go and check the information," Charles instructed. //Bobby can help me if Rogue tries anything.//
Scott only wavered for one second, then ran off to the control room. He wanted Remy back ASAP.
Bobby had closely observed Rogue and had now reached a conclusion. "Whom are you working for Rogue? You betrayed us, didn't you?"
Rogue licked her lips. "Can't tell yuh that, Ice cube. Yuh know where ta find the swamp rat. Ah'm outta here."
"Rogue," Charles said determinedly. "It's not too late to reconsider your actions."
"It is," Rogue stated. "Ah made a decision and Ah'm gonna stick ta it. But Gambit. . . Ah never wanted him ta get hurt that badly. Yuh gonna get him out?"
"We will," Charles confirmed.
She left the corridor, but before taking to the sky she looked at them both. "Ah'm sorry. Ah really am, but he promised me what I always wanted. Ah can't live like this. Need ta touch, need ta. . ."
"Don't trust Erik," Charles advised her, guessing the truth. "Erik always has a secret agenda."
Bobby's eyes widened at that statement. "You're working for Magneto?"
Rogue didn't deny or confirm it. "Get swamp rat outta there. . . Yuh might wanna hurry." After saying those words she flew away from the mansion. She didn't want them to see the tear that slid down her cheek.
"Professor?" Bobby stuttered perplexed.
"I had suspicions for some time now," Charles admitted. "We will deal with this later, Robert. Getting Gambit back is our prime objective." He reached out and found Scott's mind. //Is the information accurate?//
//Yes, sir, looks that way. I'm already plotting a course. We can leave in one hour. . . Logan will want to come too,// he explained.
//Good,// Charles mentally sighed and then directed his glance at Bobby. "You will stay here and keep an eye on Jono. Emotionally, he is very vulnerable, Bobby. I need you here."
Bobby knew better than to object to this order and nodded his head. "I will look after Jono."

 

Chapter Twenty-Five

Remy held his breath, as footfalls announced Sinister's return. He had no idea how much time had passed by. There was no clock in the bedroom, but he reckoned it had been hours. During those hours he had lost himself in daydreams about Logan. At times, he had almost been able to feel Logan's strong arms holding him. Logan had seemed so close.
And then there was the peculiar warmth that had wrapped itself around his thoughts, delicately twining deeply into his mind. It almost convinced him that he was safe and that Sinister couldn't hurt him. . . almost. His heart knew the bitter truth.
Sinister's mind was dark and sharp edged, determined and confident. Remy sighed and pulled the robe closer to his shivering body. Since he'd settled down into the corner he hadn't moved.
This time he wouldn't get away with projecting his hatred into Sinister's mind. The scientist would surely try to collar him and he didn't know how long he could fight Sinister off.
He shivered, also picking up feelings of rage and arrogance, which told him that Sinister wasn't alone. Sabretooth was accompanying him. //Still remember Creed's mind from de boathouse.//
His fear returned. Had Creed really succeeded in killing Logan? Too afraid to even think of it, his mind backed away from the matter. //Logan's 'live. Has to be 'live. . . please, mon Dieu!//
As the door opened he cringed, but forced himself to get to his feet. Sitting down on the floor, he had no real means of defense. His fear became real as Sinister and Sabretooth entered. Creed was carrying a collar and Sinister's demonic grin revealed confidence. "Don' come closer. . ." he whispered nervously.
Sinister pretended to be offended and mocked his prisoner. "My pet thinks it has permission to speak," he exchanged a glance with Creed. "He needs to be disciplined."
Remy flinched. His fingernails buried themselves deeply in the velvet of his robe. Creed and Sinister were only a few feet away and closing in quickly. "Stay 'way from me!" Sinister's anger hit him hard and he shook his head in a futile attempt to rid himself of the feeling. The warmth had retreated, leaving him cold and confused.
Creed was stealing closer to his right and Sinister was creeping up to him on his left. There was no way out for him, but he had to try. Once he wore that collar he was completely helpless. At least now he could still fight, use his powers.
Sinister nodded his head and Creed leapt forward, extending his clawed hands to take LeBeau down with him.
"Non!" Remy yelped and concentrated on the pain and hate he felt for both men. Creed seemed to halt in mid air and clawed at his own face, as if trying to tear away the alien emotions. "Stay 'way!" Remy repeated and grew hopeful as Creed crawled backwards on all fours.
But he had forgotten about Sinister. Essex used the opportunity to grab Gambit's shoulder and jerk him onto the floor.
"Non!" Remy yelped infuriated, as he realized Sinister's plan. He couldn't fight off both of them. The moment he focused on one, the other would attack. Eventually, he would lose.
Concentrating on Sinister, he projected every ounce of pain he had felt after the rapes into the maniac's mind. It worked. . . briefly. Sinister rolled off him, clutching his head, but at the same moment Creed advanced on him again. This time, he reacted too late and Sabretooth grabbed his wrists, pinning his back against the wall.
Remy shivered. Casting these feelings into their minds had taken a lot out of him. It had drained him more than he'd expected and he lacked the energy to regroup.
"Sinister! Now!" Creed hissed and stopped Gambit's body from struggling. Holding his prisoner's wrists tightly, he pushed his knee between LeBeau's thighs, forcing them open. "Wouldn't mind a piece of this pretty boy myself," he whispered and bit deeply into Gambit's neck. "Love the taste of your blood."
Remy shuddered violently and remained motionless. He considered charging Creed's clothes, but Sinister moved more quickly and slapped the collar around his neck. He closed his eyes. His situation was hopeless. The collar took away his last means of defense.
"Get out, Creed!" Sinister ordered, and started to pull Sabretooth away from Gambit. "He's mine, don't forget that!"
"Pity," Creed whispered, and dragged his tongue over Gambit's face before turning away from the Cajun. "I don't mind leftovers. . ." he quipped, and then left the room.
His legs gave out on him and Remy slid down the wall, dropping to his knees. The collar was heavy and seemed to strangle him. Cut off from his powers, he immediately noticed the emptiness in his own mind. Even the memory of Logan's love had vanished.
"Look at me, child," Sinister commanded, but his prisoner didn't react. Angered, Sinister sat on his heels and grabbed a handful of auburn hair.
Remy no longer had a choice, and he stared into Sinister's red eyes. He didn't know what to say or do. Sinister would never let him go.
"I told you before that you're mine. You need to stop defying me. Now, get onto the bed!" Sinister jerked him forward and relished the frightened expression on Gambit's face.
Mechanically, Remy stumbled over to the bed and sank down onto it. All thoughts of resistance and hope had fled. He'd been a fool, trying to fight off Sinister. Lying on his back he stared at the ceiling. The mirrors were still there. How he hated them!
"Ah, no longer defying me, my pet?" Sinister mumbled pleased. His hands pushed aside the velvet robe, revealing Gambit's lean body. Suddenly, it angered him that Wolverine had possessed the Cajun. LeBeau was his.
"Tell me, Gambit," Sinister whispered as he slid onto the bed. Slowly, he crept closer until he eventually straddled LeBeau's hips. "Tell me," he repeated, "Did you give yourself freely to Wolverine? Why not do the same thing for me?" He had decided on this strategy before returning to his bedroom.
Remy trembled, as Sinister's voice penetrated his mind. "Don' mention him!" he spat suddenly. "Logan is. . ." Sinister backhanded him and Remy bit his lip until it bled. He wasn't going to show his pain. //My lover, somet'in' you'll never be!//
"He's dead. Forget about him!" Sinister ordered and let his hands wander over the Cajun's flawless body. It frustrated him that Gambit's nipples didn't grow hard. He wanted the Cajun to become aroused. Wanted to feel that arousal when taking the collar off, so he could reach his climax.
Remy's lips remained closed. The feel of Sinister's cold hands moving over his body made him shake violently.
Sinister took hold of Gambit's arms and pinned them above his head. With one hand, he kept them in place. "You love him, don't you?"
"Oui," the whisper escaped his lips involuntarily. Gathering his courage, he stared into Sinister's eyes, unyielding. "You don' know what love is, Sinister. You only want to hurt me."
"Doesn't have to be that way," Sinister whispered in return. His free hand moved down Gambit's abdomen. "Just obey me, my pet." His fingers curled in Gambit's pubic hair before moving further down and wrapping themselves around the Cajun's limp cock.
A desperate yelp fled Remy's lips, as Sinister continued to explore his body. "Don' want dis! Let me go!" he screamed in remembered fear. Sinister's face now hovered above him and the grin changed into a grimace.
"No, never."
Slowly, Sinister executed his plan. First, his face started to change . The rest of his body followed quickly. Satisfied, he registered the shock in Gambit's eyes. "You will obey!"
In complete shock, Remy stared at Logan's face. Sinister had taken on Wolverine's form, his eyes, his muscular body. . . but the crude voice reminded him that this wasn't his lover. This was Sinister. "Hate you, hate you, hate you!" he yelled in utter loathing.
Sinister was growing impatient. He'd been willing to humor his pet a little, making it easier on Gambit because he craved the lust and passion that the Cajun had locked away inside his soul. "You deny me?" he whispered angered.
Remy couldn't untangle himself from those blue eyes, so much like Logan's. "You ain' Logan. . ." he mumbled, beyond fear. Sinister would take what he wanted, with or without his cooperation, but if he gave into this illusion he could never again face Logan. "Hate you. . ." he whispered desperately, using the words as his mantra.
"Then have it your way, LeBeau. I don't take rejection well, you should know that from the last time I disciplined you!"
Remy turned his face away from Sinister. He didn't want to look at those blue eyes any longer. Unexpectedly, the enchanting warmth washed through his mind. It demanded his complete attention and drew his thoughts away from his tormentor.
Sinister's evil presence was gone and he found himself in a golden mindscape, the warmth hugging him and not letting go.
Enraged at being denied, Sinister buried himself inside Gambit's motionless body in one smooth thrust. Panting hard, he continued to thrust, over and over again, desperately craving LeBeau's lust and arousal. It was the one thing that would lead him to his climax.
Remy's mind never registered the violation. The warmth had lured him out of his body and wrapped itself around his thoughts. A golden glow caressed his mind and he surrendered to the incredible sensation.
"Damn you to hell!" Sinister exclaimed. He needed Gambit's empathy to push him over the edge, to climax, but the Cajun had gone rigid. "LeBeau!" Not getting a reaction, he considered removing the collar. No, that was too dangerous. Gambit could be trying to trick him.
Frustrated, he slipped out of the Cajun's body and got to his feet. Like a rag doll, he threw Gambit into the blankets and wrapped them around the accursed empath. This plan had also failed. He needed Gambit awake and lucid. Aroused and willing to pleasure him. Now, how could he accomplish that?
Marching out of the room he slammed the door shut.
Slowly, the warmth retreated from his mind, and Remy blinked his eyes. What had just happened? The last thing he remembered was Sinister looming over him and then this incredible warmth had lured his mind away from his body.
Sitting upright, he looked about. The room was empty. Apparently, Sinister had left him alone after all. Warm blankets tangled his body and they pulled him back down into the comfort of the bed. He felt too drained to crawl into the corner again and besides. . . the bed was warm and comfortable. As long as Sinister wasn't close he could cope.
A small part of the warmth still moved through his mind, although the intensity had greatly diminished. Briefly, he got the impression that it was standing guard, ready to flare into the radiant fire he had experienced only moments ago.
//I ain' 'lone. . . Don' know what it is, mais it's friendly. . .// As he closed his eyes, he shuddered, remembering the way Sinister's face had transformed into Logan's. //Cher. . . are you comin' for me or did Creed kill you?// Wavering between hope and despair, he clung to the remnant of that soothing warmth. His body shut down, and slowly, he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
~~~~~~
Logan curled his fingers tightly around the katana. "Takin' this with me," he decided, and returned to Scott, who was standing in the doorway. Scott had urged him to hurry up, but Logan had been determined to pick up his old weapon first.
"Logan, the Black Bird is waiting for us," Scott reminded him. He'd never seen Logan this lost and, at the same time, so damn determined. "We'll get Remy out of there and take him home."
As the two men fell into step, Logan raised his eyes and glanced at Scott. "I wanna kill Sinister personally."
Scott sighed. "We already discussed this, Logan. You need to concentrate on Remy before even thinking of revenge."
"But what if the bastard. . . //raped Remy!//. . . hurt Remy?" Logan bared his teeth. "I promised to protect the kid and. . ."
Scott placed a hand on Logan's shoulder and for once, he didn't know the answer. "Come on, the others are waiting for us."
Logan nodded his head and slid the katana into the protective casing on his back. His subconscious told him that he had used the katana many times in the past, but the memory implants kept him from remembering the truth. "I'm gonna kill the bastard anyway," he hissed infuriated.
~~~~~~
The Blackbird fired up her engines, and Scott took her out. Logan sat to his right, Jean, Storm and Hank in the back. Scott had asked them to keep an eye on Logan.
"How did ya get this information anyway?" Logan asked, flaunting his claws. In doing so, he sent them a message; don't get in my way when I get to Sinister!
"Rogue told us," Scott replied, opting for the truth.
"Rogue?" Hank's surprised voice overshadowed Logan's. "I wasn't aware of her return to the mansion."
"She only passed on the information and then left again," Scott informed them. Now, he had to tell them the rest as well. "Rogue's working for Magneto."
Logan's growl startled them all. "Are ya tellin' me that the kid betrayed us?"
"Yes." Scott looked over his shoulder and into Logan's eyes. "The Professor thinks that she and Magneto made a deal. That he would find a way for her to control her powers and in return. . ."
"She left Remy in Antarctica to die. . ." Storm mumbled upset.
"Almost correct," Hank interrupted her. "She left him there for Sinister."
Scott nodded his head. "We think that Sinister and Magneto made a pact to get what they both wanted."
Logan's rage increased. "She left him there, knowing Sinister wanted him?"
"Logan," Jean said softly, trying to calm him down. "Rogue didn't know about. . ."
"Don't matter!" Logan sneered. //Don't matter if she knew about Sinister's obsession or the rapes!//
"How much longer before we arrive at our destination?" Hank inquired, trying to change the subject. The last thing he wanted was Logan going primal.
"Three hours. . ." Scott looked at the controls. "Let's hope Sinister didn't move him to another base."
Logan remained quiet. He was brooding and terribly enraged by Rogue's actions. Because of her, Remy was at Sinister's mercy. The katana was a comfortable weight on his back, and he planned on burying it deeply inside Sinister's body.
~~~~~~
Restlessly, Sinister moved through his private lab. In the centre of the room stood a tank, designed to hold one human body. He used tanks like this one to grow his clones in, but this tank held a precious load; a mutant. And right now, he was severely tempted to kill her.
"You're doing this. . . I know you are. . ." Sinister stared at the closed eyes. The drugs he had fed her kept her in a twilight state, never reaching full consciousness, but also not completely out of it. "You found a way to protect him, didn't you?"
The young woman inside the tank didn't answer him, and he cursed loudly. "I WILL kill you to get to him!" The threat remained unanswered and, frustrated, he stormed out of the room.
Now that he was gone, she slowly opened her eyes. A small smile crept across her face. Her strategy was working. . . would work until the X-Men had freed Remy LeBeau.
As she closed her eyes, she extended the range of her thoughts and sent another wave of warmth into Gambit's mind.

 

Chapter Twenty-Six

Fed up, Jono descended the stairs in search of company. The mansion was strangely quiet and he wondered where everyone was. He'd planned on asking Scott some questions earlier, but Cyclops had confused him by addressing the trauma they had both suffered and his curiosity had slipped onto the background.
As he walked through the corridor, he realized why the rooms were this empty; no one was home! //Wonder why Emma sent me here!// Emma had insisted that he needed a change of scenery, but he doubted she'd had this in mind when putting him on her plane.
After searching several rooms, he ended up in the kitchen. Relieved, he listened to Bobby's whistling, glad to have found another living soul. //Where are the others, mate?// he asked hesitantly. Although the X-Men had assured him that using his telepathy was perfectly acceptable, he still felt a little uncomfortable.
Bobby looked up and nodded his head. "Yeah, I should fill you in on everything that's happening around here. Scott told me that he didn't get the chance to do that, being in a hurry and all."
Bobby finished preparing his peanut butter sandwich and gestured for Jono to take a seat at the kitchen table. "You don't need to eat, do you?"
Jono accepted the invitation and sat down opposite Drake. // Yes, that's right.// Feeling melancholy, he watched Bobby dig his teeth into the bread. //Miss it sometimes. . . miss the taste, the flavours. I still remember them, but. . .// Suddenly he grew quiet, realizing he was opening up to Bobby. //Just forget about it.//
Bobby placed the sandwich back on his plate. "Must be hard on you. . . learning how to deal with your powers."
Jono didn't know where to look, as his eyes drifted away from Drake. He didn't really want to talk about this. //I don't want yer pity.//
Bobby chuckled. "No pity, Jono. Just plain old curiosity. You don't sleep either, so what do you do all night long?" He felt a little grateful that Scott had ordered him to read Jono's file. At least now he knew what Jono was trying to deal with.
//Pace me room,// Jono said reluctantly. If it wasn't pity on Bobby's part he was tempted to continue the conversation. Not many people realized what he was going through and Bobby seemed genuinely interested.
"And your room is next to mine!" Bobby exclaimed in mock annoyance. "Am I going to hear you pace all night long?"
To his own surprise, Jono smiled. Bobby returned to eating his sandwich and he wondered about Drake and Scott. //Yer blokes seem so. . . interested in me... why?//
Bobby shrugged his shoulders. "It's a long story."
//I'm not going anywhere,// Jono replied and couldn't help checking if his bandages were still in order.
"Right now, the team is on its way to bring back Gambit." Bobby sipped from his coffee and wondered how to phrase the rest and how much to tell Jono. He didn't want to burden the young man with their problems. "Ever heard of Sinister and Sabretooth?"
//Yes, Emma and Sean had us study all enemies in case we ever ran into them. Sabretooth and Wolverine are old enemies, if I remember correctly, and Sinister is the mad scientist from hell?// Jono shifted on the chair. Finally, he would get his answers.
"Yeah," Bobby confirmed. "Sinny is obsessed with Gambit and kidnapped him, using Sabretooth to distract Logan."
Jono's eyes widened a little. //And Logan and Gambit live at the boathouse? Alone? Why not in the mansion?//
"Questions, questions, questions," Bobby exclaimed. "Let's just say that the love birds wanted some privacy," and gave Jono a wink.
//Love birds?// Sean and Emma had never mentioned Wolverine and Gambit being an item. Wasn't his business anyway.
Bobby's smile grew warmer. "Surprised me too. Well, Remy's always been very private about his affairs and Logan. . . but they make a cute couple." Bobby licked his lips. "Or don't you think that two guys can be happy like that?" The answer meant a lot to him. He really hoped that Jono wasn't prejudiced, as he wanted to befriend Chamber.
Jono's eyes wrinkled and he wished he could show off his grin. //I'm sure they're a cute couple, mate. //
"But?" Bobby pushed on. Jono didn't seem annoyed, but. . .
//Before this happened,// Jono gestured at the bandages, // I was in a band. You know, rock 'n roll, living on the wild side and. . .// Jono suddenly realized what he was doing, telling Bobby his most private thoughts. Not even Angelo had made him open up this quickly when he'd first arrived at the Academy.
Bobby grinned and leaned in closer. "Did you ever have sex with a man?" He no longer cared about diplomacy. His curiosity had taken over and his directness shocked even himself. Had he really said that?
//Not really, mate,// Jono replied eventually, realizing it was too late to back away from the subject. Bobby's sudden blush slightly amused him. //Messed around with one bloke on the band, but we stopped before. . . we could do the deed. Cold feet.//
Relieved, Bobby sighed. "So you don't. . . hate. . . gay people?"
//Why would I?// Jono asked questioningly, trying to make sense of Bobby's confused expression. //I'm bi and don't have a problem with it.// His problems were about living with a hole in his chest and missing part of his face. Suddenly, he nodded his head. //Are yer gay, Bobby?// it was the only explanation he'd come up with to explain the flabbergasted expression in Drake's eyes.
Bobby stared at Jono, uncertain what to say. He wanted to lie, deny it, but at the same time he couldn't live a lie any longer. "Yeah, but still hiding in the closet."
//Why?// Jono questioned. He'd grown up without prejudice. Learning that their son liked both girls and blokes hadn't fazed his parents. But seeing energy leak out of his body had. His parents had cut off all contact after learning that he was a mutant. It still hurt.
"Kinda shy about it and my dad. . ." Bobby looked up apologetically. "My dad had a hard time accepting that I'm a mutant. Telling him that his son is gay would be pushing the envelope. Don't want him to know. It's better this way."
Jono's fingers moved closer to Bobby's hand. He stopped himself just before placing them on top of Bobby's. What the hell was he doing? //Yer should live yer own life, Bobby. It doesn't matter what yer dad thinks. Yer have got to live with yerself.//
"Easy said, Jono," Bobby whispered. Jono jerked back his hand and Bobby raised an eyebrow. "What do you look like underneath those bandages?"
Jono shivered, never expecting that question. //I'm a freak,// he whispered in an unguarded moment. //I'm hideous.//
Bobby exploded. "Bullshit!"
Jono pushed back the chair he was straddling and got ready to leave the room in a hurry. Bobby's eyes shot fire and the beams were directed at him. //It's the truth, mate.//
Bobby leaned forward, roughly grabbed Jono's right wrist to keep him from leaving and said, "Let me tell you one thing, Jonothan. Beauty comes from the inside and the outside don't matter much! I don't know you that well, but you're certainly not a freak or a monster! People like Sinister are monsters!"
Jono couldn't do much except stare at Bobby. He'd told Angelo he felt like a monster and Angelo had also berated him, but Bobby's voice carried a lot more determination. //Yer don't know what's it like to live like this. . .//
"Jono, we've all got problems. You've got to shape up and if necessary I will kick your ass. You're not a monster!" Surprised at his own vehemence, Bobby forced himself to calm down. "Sorry, I was outta line there."
//No, yer weren't,// Jono admitted shyly. //But it's hard to believe.//
"What? That you're not a monster?" Bobby sighed. "Jono, your mutant powers kicked in and you couldn't handle it. That doesn't make you a monster!" Bobby realized Jono needed more convincing, but he wasn't sure if he was the right person to do that. "I thought of myself as a monster, you know."
Jono looked at Bobby's hands, still squeezing his. The touch felt nice. . . //Because yer gay?//
"Yeah," Bobby admitted. "But Hank kicked my butt, made me believe in myself again, and when I was confident enough I made a terrible fool outta myself."
Very hesitantly, Jono returned the squeeze. How long had it been since he'd comforted someone -- really comforted someone, touching the person in the process? Ever since his accident he'd become weary of touch.
"I told Hank I was in love with him and. . . although he let me down gently, it still hurts." Bobby had never planned on discussing such private matters with a stranger. He'd known Jono less than 24 hours and here he was, baring his soul.
Jono couldn't tear his gaze away from their joined hands. It felt like he'd connected to Bobby and he wanted to comfort Drake, but how? It wasn't like him to hug people, especially not since the accident, but. . . //Make yer a deal, mate. I'll stop referring to meself as a monster, if yer stop doing the same.// Hey, where had that come from? Jono shook his head in confusion.
Bobby smiled brightly. "You've got yourself a deal, Jono."
~~~~~~
Bobby excused himself after their conversation. He wanted to take a quick shower and change his clothes, as he needed to clear his head. Jono had said some things which he needed to think about.
Jono used the time to wander the mansion, trying to grow familiar with the place. As he walked into the living area, his eyes were drawn towards the computer. //Should I send a message? Tell him that I'm doing fine?//
In the end, he decided against it. He didn't want to whine about his problems. Instead, he settled down onto the couch and switched on the TV. But he couldn't forget about the computer. //No, what if he replies, telling me that he's worried? Would make me want to go back and. . . I like it here. . .// The confession was hard to make. //I like Bobby's company.//
He was still trying to understand why Bobby would think himself a monster for being gay. Lots of his friends were gay and, being bi himself, he didn't make a problem of someone's sexual preference. But for Bobby things were different.
"Hey, I wanna watch cartoons!" Bobby yelped in despair, realizing that Jono was watching MTV. Sliding onto the couch, he grabbed the remote and switched channels until Coyote was chasing Road Runner. "Now this, is classic entertainment," he quipped, hiding his confusion behind the mask he was so used to wearing. Bobby prayed that Jono wouldn't bring up sexual preferences again.
But Jono had no intention of letting this rest. //So yer dad is giving yer a hard time about being gay?//
Bobby cringed. "Do we have to talk about this now?"
//Yes,// Jono stated and pried the remote from Bobby's fingers, switching back to MTV.
Sighing, Bobby peeked at Jono. "What about your parents?"
//They freaked when they found out that I'm a mutant. . . Got one card from them since I left Britain.// Jono admitted in a soft whisper.
Bobby's eyes softened. "They didn't help you deal with this?"
//Had to do that on me own, yes,// Jono admitted shyly. //When I woke after the blast they were there, but after learning what had happened to me, they left. . . and didn't come back. Me dad sent me a letter, telling me to hang in there, but that they couldn't deal with having a mutant for a son!//
Bobby read the impending emotional explosion on Jono's face. "Go on."
//How hard it was on THEM! Did they ever wonder how hard it was on me?// Jono tried getting up from the couch, but Bobby had resorted to his previous tactic and grabbed his hand. //When I look into the mirror I loathe the sight of me. When I take off the bandages I. . .// his mind voice trailed off. //Even Paige doesn't understand, or maybe she doesn't want to understand, but. . .//
"You need someone who does understand. Someone you can talk to. . . I'm here, Jono," Bobby offered in a gentle tone. "We're already baring our souls. . ."
Jono leaned back into the comfort of the couch and locked eyes with Bobby. //Yer don't think I'm a monster?//
"No, I don't." Bobby smiled. "But you already know that. You need to let go, Jono and accept your powers."
Jono's shoulders slumped forward. //I don't want to be alone for the rest of me life,// he revealed eventually. //I'm 18 and I doubt I'll ever find someone who can love me the way I am. I don't want to be alone.//
A deep sigh echoed through the room as Bobby let the words sink in. Acting on impulse, he wrapped his arms around the hurting young man and pulled him into a hug. "Of course you'll find someone!"
Startled, Jono tried to escape the embrace, but the fact that Bobby was reaching out to him like this touched something deep inside his soul. //Yer do understand.// Slowly, he rested his head against Bobby's shoulder, allowing himself to savor the embrace. It had been a while since someone had held him like this. //Yer really think so?//
"Yeah," Bobby whispered and barely resisted the urge to caress Jono's soft hair. Suddenly, he realized the truth. He was falling in love with Chamber. //This can't be happening! How pathetic am I? Falling for the first gay man that needs some comfort!
//Only days ago I confessed my love for Hank and now I'm already interested in someone else? Am I that desperate and maybe even an opportunist for taking advantage of Jono's vulnerability?//
That moment he started to hate himself for feeling the way he did. Confiding in Jono had been a mistake. His father was probably right all along and he should fight these feelings, not embrace them! His breath caught and he released Jono as if burned.
//What's wrong?// Jono asked startled, as Bobby unexpectedly ended the embrace.
Bobby noticed the shocked expression in Jono's eyes and quickly reassured the young man. "It has nothing to do with you, Jono. . . This is about me. . . I need to . . . get started on the repairs for the security system," he lied and quickly got to his feet. Jono was too close and the last thing he wanted was to endanger their fresh friendship.
He had to keep this a secret. Jono might think that he was trying to take advantage of him. After all, Chamber was emotionally vulnerable, as the professor had pointed out to him. He simply had to shut out these feelings and continue living the lie. This wasn't right. This shouldn't be happening. It was way too soon to think about another man in that way. //I am NOT feeling this!//
"See you later," Bobby whispered and fled the room.
Dumbfounded, Jono stayed behind, trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. Why had Bobby panicked all of a sudden? After Bobby's vehement response to calling himself a freak, he knew with certainly that Drake didn't consider him a monster. Had to be something else. Something, that had nothing to do with his appearance.
While staring at the screen and listening to U2, he thought about everything they had said. Bobby had told him that he was gay and still hiding in the closet because he feared his father's reaction. He had also told Drake a lot of personal stuff. Things had gone 'wrong' when he had accepted the embrace.
Was that it? Had the embrace made Bobby feel uncomfortable? //Why? He offered to hug me. . . or. . .// his thoughts raced until he finally reached his conclusion. //Can it be that he has feelings for me? No, that's impossible!. . .//
No, something else was troubling Bobby. Maybe it WAS the repairs, which he had forgotten about. //No one can fall in love with me, not the way I look!// Setting his previous conclusion aside, he chalked it up to the emotional tension, which still hung in the room.

 

Chapter Twenty-Seven

~~~ Sinister's base of operations ~~~
Cold. It was always cold inside this tank. She didn't know how long she'd been afloat inside this tube, but she'd eventually accepted the inevitable. Sinister ignored her most of the time, certainly cursing his own unwillingness to terminate her existence. //Just in case he might want to use me for one of his experiments,// she thought, depressed.
But then, HE had returned. She had felt his presence the moment Sinister had carried him inside, unconscious but still in control of his powers. Establishing a mental connection had been easy and she had quickly picked up on his panic and fear.
And then his hate had surfaced. Oh, she understood him so well! She also hated Sinister with a vengeance, but both of them had no means of fighting Sinister and they certainly couldn't destroy him.
Remy LeBeau had put up a remarkable fight, resisting Sabretooth and Sinister at the same time, but had lost his battle in the end. She had done the little that lay within her power and had shielded his mind from Sinister's brutality.
It had been inevitable that Sinister would resort to such crude measures to attain the lust he craved. She only hoped that wrapping Remy's mind in warmth had been enough to keep him safe. Hopefully his mind hadn't registered the attempted rape.
It was the only thing she could do for him. Even after Sinister collared him, she was still strong enough to touch his mind, but his thoughts had turned into gibberish.
How much longer before his friends arrived? She had never before heard of these X-Men. The little she knew she had learned from reading his mind. His thoughts mostly circled around one person. Someone called Logan -- the man he loved. Remy LeBeau was madly afraid that his lover had been killed. She hoped for Remy's sake that Logan was still alive.
Although she had never met this Logan, she felt strangely close to him. The love Remy LeBeau radiated also affected her while she was in his mind and she found herself joining him in his short prayers for his lover's well being.
//Your friends need to hurry,// she thought privately. //I don't know how much longer I can protect you. Sinister isn't bluffing. He will kill me to get to you and when he does, you will be all alone, cut off from all help.//
Closing her eyes, she tried fighting the drugs Sinister was feeding her through the IV, which disappeared into her left arm. After she had tried to rip it out, Sinister had resorted to shackling her hands to one side of the tube. //Just a little longer. . . I've got to hold on a little longer. . . for his sake.//
~~~~~~
Remy woke two hours later and slowly opened his eyes. Briefly, he was under the impression that he was still in the boathouse and that Logan had only left their bed to fix breakfast. Then, the ugly truth set in.
This was Sinister's bed and the mirrors on the ceiling reflected his dazed eyes. Unsteady, he freed his arms and pushed down the blankets, which had kept him warm. His throat was awfully dry and he needed a drink. Water would do, but then he would have to walk to the bathroom. He wasn't sure he could cover the distance, feeling light headed and dizzy as he was.
And warm. His mind was incredibly warm in contrast to his body. He shivered and pulled the robe closer to his body. Hesitantly, he placed his feet on the floor and looked at his wrists. Sinister's hold had left marks on his arms. He could clearly see Sinister's fingerprints where they had bruised his skin.
Constantly placing one foot carefully in front of the other, he finally reached the bathroom. Still wobbly, he succeeded in splashing some icy cold water onto his face. //Bien. . . a lot better,// he mused absentmindedly. He felt strangely drugged, like he was moving in slow motion, and the bathroom began to spin.
"Merde. . ." What the hell was happening? In a heap, he crumbled onto the floor and rested his back against the wall. His head lolled from left to right and he finally closed his eyes, fighting the nausea. Why was he feeling this. . . sick? He didn't feel physically ill.
Something had upset him and he was subconsciously reacting to it. //Sinister. . .// the name sliced through his mind. An unsettling thought made him gulp. Had he passed out and Sinister taken advantage of that? Had Sinister. . .?
No, surely he would remember such a violation. Tired, he pushed himself back onto his feet and stumbled back to the bed, where he rolled himself into the blankets.
//Mon Dieu, please help me. . .// he prayed. He'd never been religious, but maybe someone. . . something was listening and would take pity on him.
He had stopped believing in God when he'd been living on the streets. People could be incredibly cruel to a homeless, mutant kid and he had faced beatings almost daily. His speed had saved his ass too many times to count.
//Mon Dieu,// he started again. Tante, with her strange mix of religious practices had taught him a prayer or two, but now that he wanted to recite them, he'd forgotten them.
//Don' really matter,// he thought, depressed. //No one listenin' to me anyway.//
He managed to focus on the warmth that seemed to refuse to leave his mind. It felt strangely familiar, like receiving his own feelings of sympathy back after sending them to Logan. Was he creating this warmth himself without knowing it?
The thought actually saddened him. It meant that he had been fooling himself and that there wasn't anyone looking over him. That had been such a comforting thought.
As he closed his eyes, memories of Sinister morphing into Logan haunted him. Cold and wretched, he wrapped his arms around his waist and curled into a fetal position, praying that Sinister would leave him alone.
~~~~~~
Sinister was pacing his private bedroom. Thus far, all attempts to make LeBeau comply had failed. His last option was to totally break the man, so that Gambit would obey his every command. But that would take a lot of time and he wasn't sure Gambit would ever break, no matter how much pressure or punishment he applied.
The Cajun had locked him out, concentrating on his damned lover, Wolverine, and no matter how hard Sinister tried, he would never batter that defense down. Remy LeBeau would never be his. The man would never submit.
"Damn!" he cursed. And SHE had started to meddle in this affair as well! He should have taken Gambit to another base, far away from her, but he hadn't been thinking rationally. This base had been closest and best equipped. These surroundings would also remind LeBeau of the fact that he had given in to Sinister's demands before. "She has to go. . ." he decided.
He would tell his Marauders to move her tank to another location so she couldn't influence Gambit any longer. Yes, that would be his first step. She was too valuable to kill, and he wasn't even sure he could end her life that easily.
"Sabretooth!" he yelled, and waited for Creed's arrival. He didn't have to wait long. "You need to do something for me," he said, and beckoned Creed closer. "And there might even be a sweet reward in it for you!"

~~~ The Black Bird ~~~
"How much longer, Cyke?" Logan growled impatiently. They'd been travelling for three hours now and according to his estimates, they should have reached the target by now.
"I'm taking her in," Scott mumbled, irritated that Logan had disturbed his concentration. "According to Rogue's information, Sinister is holding Remy in quarters near to a landing platform." Scott flew the Black Bird into a myriad of tunnels, barely large enough to manoeuvre the plane in.
"Do we have a plan?" Hank inquired as he collected his emergency medical kit. He was taking it with him just in case Gambit needed medical attention.
"Yes," Jean replied, realizing that Scott needed his concentration to keep the Black Bird from crashing into the metal walls. She looked at Logan and explained, "Hank and you will secure Remy and escort him back to the Black Bird. Ororo, Scott and I will provide a distraction and hopefully Sinister won't notice Remy's disappearance until it's too late."
"Don't ya think he already picked up on the bird?" Logan said through gritted teeth. His claws shot out of his knuckles and he wished he could bury them inside Sinister's chest. Abducting his lover had made this personal and he planned on making Sinister pay.
"Actually no," Scott hissed and pulled back just in time to prevent the right wing from touching the ceiling. "Rogue also gave me the frequencies Sinister uses to scan for intruders. Jean has been scrambling them for the last few minutes." He sighed as a landing platform appeared in the center of the labyrinth. "This is where we get off."
Eager to start his search, Logan jumped to his feet and was the first to leap onto the platform after the plane had touched down. Impatiently, he waited for the others to join him. Why didn't they hurry up?
"I gave Hank a map of this base." Sternly, Scott looked at Logan. "Just concentrate on getting Remy back and leave Sinister to us!"
Logan wanted to protest. This was a blood debt and Sinister had to bleed, but. . . damn! Scott was right! Gesturing for Hank to follow him, Logan sniffed the air.
"Can you pick up on Remy's scent?" Hank asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I can. . . let's get movin'!" he whispered, and led the way into the tunnels which would finally lead him to his lover. Remy's scent was weak, but strong enough to guide him through one corridor after another.
~~~~~~
"We should get moving too," Scott decided and nodded his head. "Storm, would you provide us with air cover?"
"Of course," Storm stated and summoned the winds that lifted her from the floor.
Together, the three of them advanced through the tunnels. Jean had finished perfecting their telepathic link and asked, //Where are we going, Scott?// making sure that Storm also heard her question. In the back of her mind she sensed that Logan and Hank were moving away from them. She would pay the toll for this abuse of her powers later.
//I bet that Sinister is in the control room, like a spider in his web,,// Scott replied, and watched Storm take the lead, scouting ahead. //We only need to distract him, Storm,// he reminded her. //And Jean? Let me know the instant Logan finds Remy!//
//Understood.//Jean drew in a deep breath. //Remy's scent is growing stronger and Logan's homing in on it. . ..//
~~~~~~
"It's fuckin' cold in here. . ." Logan hissed and bared his teeth. "Ya know what I mean, buddy?"
Hank nodded his head. This place radiated a mental cold that made even him shiver. The lights were bright and the corridors surgically white. "Yes, my friend, I do know what you mean," he sighed uncomfortably.
"We're 'most there," Logan assured him and turned around the corner. A familiar scent suddenly attacked his senses. "Creed's close. . ."
"That's a most unfortunate development," Hank commented and prepared himself for a possible attack. "Is our Cajun friend close?"
"Yeah," Logan confirmed and his eyes locked onto the last door to his right. "He's close. . ." Logan briefly closed his eyes to focus his senses. "And he's 'live, Blue."
~~~~~~
Remy stirred in his deep, tormented sleep. In his nightmares Sinister had been hovering over him, touching his body most intimately. His eyes flashed open and he was barely able to choke back a terrified scream. When had his nightmares become so real?
He still felt Sinister's hands on his groin and buttocks and yet, he was alone in the room. Sinister wasn't here. He was safe. . . for now.
Suddenly, he registered the footfalls in the corridor, coming closer. . . until they stopped in front of the door. //Must be Sinister and Creed,// he thought, startled and his eyes frantically searched the room. Was there anything he could use as a weapon? //Non, not'ing. . .//
The door slid open and he pushed himself into a sitting position. His body felt paralysed and he wasn't sure he could actually stand on his feet unaided. His fingers buried themselves in the blankets and his eyes never left the door, which was now swinging fully open.
His heart missed several beats, recognizing the figure standing in the doorway. //Sinister's back and still playin' his games!// he realized, stunned. He still vividly remembered Logan's blue eyes staring down at him as Sinister had kept him down. "Leave me 'lone!" he yelled and searched for something that he could throw at the door.
Logan stared into Remy's diluted eyes and smelled the terror in the room. Remy was clutching some blankets and wore a red robe. His hair was a mess and his left cheek still bore the marks of dried blood. But it was seeing the collar around his lover's neck that truly infuriated him.
"Stay 'awa from me, Sinister!" Remy screamed and froze in horror.
Logan took a step closer to the bed, cocking his head, as Remy's words dug through his hazed mind. Why was Remy calling him Sinister?
"I know it's you." His voice changed into a whisper, realizing that this time he wouldn't escape the fate Sinister had in mind for him. "I know it's you, Sinister! Leave Logan out of dis!"
Confused, Logan tried to make sense of Remy's words. Unexpectedly, Jean's voice drifted into his mind. He'd sensed her presence all along and wondered why she was now breaking the silence.
//Sinister's a metamorph, Logan. He's a shape shifter. Maybe Sinister took on your appearance to. . . 'persuade' Remy to cooperate?//
The thought made him shudder violently. "Hank, give me a sec."
Hank nodded his head and watched the unfolding scene, already assessing the damage done to Gambit's body.
Logan steadied himself inwardly before taking another step closer to the bed. Remy looked like he would bolt if Logan got any closer. Logan summoned his love and courage and said firmly, "Remy, it's me. I ain't Sinister. Ya gotto trust me, darlin'."
Hearing that word -darling-, made Remy swallow hard. Mon Dieu! It sounded so sincere. Logan used to whisper it like that into his ear. Then he would blush, still trying to get used to the love that vibrated in that two-syllable word. //Non! Sinister found out 'bout dat! Dis ain't Logan!//
Logan read the disbelief in Remy's eyes. "Darlin'," he said, repeating the word on purpose. "Lemme cut that collar off yer neck so ya can feel my mind. Ya'll know the truth then."
"Cut 'way de collar?" Remy whispered stunned. "Is it really you, cher?"
"Yeah, Remy and now trust me. . . " Logan held his breath, as he finally reached the bed. Remy shyly moved away from him, but didn't crawl off the bed. Slowly, Logan extended one claw. "See? I even brought 'long my katana. . . promised to teach 'bout the spirit of Bushi, didn't I?"
A strangled sob left Remy's throat. "Cher? Creed didn' kill you?" He was still afraid to believe his luck. "Why come after me?" he asked suspiciously.
Slowly, Logan raised his hand and slid his claw underneath his lover's collar. "'Cause I love ya, kid."
Remy shivered as the cold metal of Logan's claw touched his skin. Sinister was really going to lengths to convince him! "You won' cut me free," he whispered with certainty. Sinister would reveal himself any moment now.
"I will, darlin'." Logan's adamantium claw sliced through the collar like a hot knife through butter and the two metal pieces dropped hard onto the floor. "Just contol that empathy of yers," he pleaded as his claw disappeared. "Ya don't wanna hurt me or Hank, do ya?" He beckoned to McCoy to step inside.
In total disbelief, Remy stared at McCoy. A second shape shifter? Wearily, he reached out and touched their minds. He almost doubled over sensing Logan's familiar love for him and then there was also Henri's concern. "Mon Dieu," he stuttered, "You're real!"
Logan smiled weakly. "Ya didn't think I would leave ya here, did ya? I want ya with me. . . Need someone to make me breakfast!" he quipped lightly, hoping to fully reach Remy.
"Logan?" Remy raised his left hand and cautiously rested it on his lover's chest. "I can' believe dat you came for me!"
"We can discuss this later," Hank interrupted the couple. "We should return to the Black Bird so I can closely examine you, Gambit."
"Oui, dat's Henri 'right," Remy sighed. Incredibly relieved, he briefly squeezed Logan's fingers. "Can' believe dis."
"It's okay to let go, darlin'," Logan said reassuringly, recognizing the tears lurking in his lover's eyes. "Ya shouldn't be hurtin' like this, Remy."
But Remy shook his head. "I'm fine. . . now. . ." and on impulse, he clutched Logan's face in his hands and showered his lover's face with gentle kisses.
Logan let him, aware that Remy needed this outlet. "Love ya too, kid," he mumbled eventually. "Want me to carry ya 'gain?" he asked, as Remy finally calmed down. "We need to get outta here." The feelings Remy was sending him were ecstatic.
"I can walk, cher," Remy objected, "Just help me to my feet." Logan and Hank had come to his rescue! Finally, it sunk in how much they cared for him, how much Logan loved him. "Merci," he whispered, taken aback.
Logan steadied Remy as he swayed on his feet. A million questions swirled in Logan's mind, but there was one he was really afraid of. //Did the bastard rape ya?// He would ask that question later, once they were safely back home.
All thoughts of killing Sinister had fled Logan's mind as concern for his lover pushed back his anger. "I'm gonna look after ya, Remy."
That promise lured a smile onto Remy's face. Clinging to Logan's body, he struggled not to trip over his robe. He wished he could dispose of it, rip it into shreds, but he didn't have any spare clothes. . .
Hank walked behind them, making sure that no one was following. He wanted Remy safely in the Black Bird, hooked up to some fluids and nutrients. Remy's draped eyes worried him, and the sluggishness with which the Cajun moved indicated that he might have been drugged.
They were almost half way to the ship when Logan issued a low grunt. "Hank," Logan whispered. He lifted Remy in his arms and handed the man to McCoy.
Remy remained motionless and didn't protest the action, knowing his lover had a reason for acting like this. "Creed's here," he mumbled nervously.
"Yeah, and I'm gonna make sure that he ain't stoppin' us," Logan promised, hoping he wouldn't go feral this time. After dealing with Creed he would make a run for the plane, eager to be reunited with his lover.
Hank didn't wait for Creed to step into the corridor before starting to run, cradling a barely conscious Cajun to his chest.
"Let's settle this, Creed," Logan hissed, and turned around. "I'm gonna hunt ya down and gut ya for what ya did to my lover!" An evil smirk crossed his face. //Yer never gonna get close to Remy 'gain!//

 

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Why me?" Bobby sighed disencouraged. Two hours ago, he had retreated to the control room, trying to hurry up the repairs so the mansion and the boathouse were under constant surveillance again.
Wasn't working though. Thus far he had managed to drive the sharp end of a screw driver into the palm of his hand, had dropped a box onto his big toe and banged his head against the console while lying underneath it.
//And all that because I can't stop thinking about Jono and Hank!// Bobby took a break and sank onto a chair. After resting his feet on the control panel, he stared at the blank screen.
He felt terribly guilty for being attracted to Jono. Falling in love again that shortly after confessing his attraction to Hank was not done!
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Jono's mind voice out of his head. At the airport he had told Jono that his thoughts sounded different from Charles and Jean's. Soft, he had labelled them, but it had been a white lie. //Jono has such a sensual voice? // Whenever it vibrated through his mind, it sent tiny shivers up and down his spine.
//Can't be about love? despair is more like it! Why would Jono be interested in me? I screw up everything I do. Can't even fix the control panel!// he thought depressed.
Hopefully, his sudden retreat hadn't hurt Jono's feelings. The young man appeared extremely insecure and vulnerable. Something he certainly understood. Had to be tough to spend the rest of your life partly buried underneath bandages.
But appearance mattered so little! That was one thing he had learned during his time with the X-Men. //Hank's looks are most deceiving! If you don't know him, you'd probably assume the worst.// And yet, Hank was one of the gentlest souls he had ever met.
//Bobby? Is something wrong?// Charles, who had been handling communications focused on his student. //The Black Bird has landed inside Sinister's base. I am confident that they will retrieve Gambit. What's bothering you?//
Bobby swallowed hard. He'd forgotten that the professor was in the next room and could easily pick up on his unease. //Just worried about Remy,// he lied, hoping Xavier wouldn't peek inside his mind without his consent. //Not making any progress here though.//
//Why don't you take a break and check on our guest then? I'm certain Scott can deal with the repairs once he gets back.// Charles sensed Bobby's growing nervousness. //Robert, you didn't do anything to? upset our guest?//
Bobby got to his feet and released a deep sigh. //No, I didn't. I'm on my way, professor.// As the distance between them increased, he relaxed a little. //If only Hank were here! I could talk to him about this? attraction.//
Feeling lost, Bobby climbed the stairs and wondered what the hell to say when he stood eye in eye with Jono.

Another sleepless night. There had been too many to count in his short life. After his power manifested, he no longer needed sleep and the eternal torment had started. While everyone else was asleep, he paced his room. At times, he found solace in listening to music or playing his guitar.
Then, he had discovered the Internet and he had become a net junkie. It was safe to chat with people while sitting behind the screen.
Whenever people on the net started to ask him for pictures, he would tell them that he was a burn victim and that he didn't have any recent pictures to scan. They usually stopped asking questions after that.
He was sitting behind the comp in the living room and stayed away from the personal messages waiting to be read by several team members. Yeah, he had learned to hack computer files, but he would always respect people's privacy. The only time he had violated his rule had been when he had accessed the file Emma was keeping on him. He'd wanted to know the truth.
Reading about his depression and self-chosen isolation hadn't surprised him. After the accident he'd spent time in the hospital, trying to come to terms with what had happened. During that time he had gained insight in his own tortured soul.
Tonight however, he wanted to talk to Angelo. He had put this off the entire evening, but after Bobby had fled his presence, he had become lonely and even more depressed.
No matter for how short a while, Bobby had driven away the darkness that loomed in the back of his soul. The jokes, the light-hearted tone had made him feel alive again. He still remembered the vehemence in Bobby's words when Drake had denied the fact that he was a freak. That determination had almost convinced him? but then Bobby had run out of the room, obviously desperate to get away from him.
He wasn't even sure Angelo was in, but he fervently prayed that for once, he was lucky.
<Hello Ange. It's me, the walking bandaid.>
It was the strangest thing. When it came down to Angelo, he could accept the truth. Angelo never pitied him and even when Skin called him ugly, he only laughed at the comment. //Damn, miss him!//
Yer think the academy is mayhem? Try the X-Mansion! Ran into a collared Wolverine and had to get him to the med lab on me own! Except for Bobby Drake they're now off on some bloody rescue mission and I'm stuck here on me own. Kinda lonesome here. Are yer online, mate?
Didn't he sound too desperate? But Angelo was the only one who really understood him. After a moment's hesitation, he sent the message.
Staring at the screen he counted the minutes that passed without receiving an answer. Only then, his eyes drifted off to look at the clock. 03.00 hours. Angelo was probably asleep.
"Hey, you like to surf the net?" Bobby walked into the room, trying hard to mask his insecurity.
Jono looked up and wished he still had a mouth to show of his smile. He needed Bobby's company right now. The nights alone were killing him. //There's nothing else to do at night, mate.//
Bobby pulled up a chair and straddled it. He made sure there was enough distance between them so he didn't feel uncomfortable. Jono's mind voice echoed through his head and he couldn't deny the tremors shaking his hands. Quickly, he buried them in his pockets. "Know any cool sites?"
Jono shrugged his shoulders. //I'm usually in the chat rooms.//
Nodding his head, Bobby managed to shake off the sensual tremors and moved closer to the keyboard. "Ever seen this one?" he inquired and typed in, http://www.hampsterdance2.com/hampsterdance.html
//What are yer doing, mate?// Jono exclaimed, as a terribly happy tune sprang out of the computer. Dancing hamsters filled the screen and in shock, he stared at Bobby, who was softly humming the melody. //Don't do this to me,// he whispered in mock shock.
But Bobby grinned and tapped his fingers to the music. "Wanna see more?"
//NO!// Jono replied and shook his head.
"C'mon, admit it," Bobby quipped and turned up the volume. "You love it! How can you not love it! How can you sit still hearing that!" and now his feet moved to the tune as well.
//Yer killing me, mate!// Jono quipped in return. Bobby had only been in the room for five minutes and he'd already forgotten about the gloomy state he had been in. To his eternal shame, he even had to admit that he liked the page. //They should keep yer away from computers! Yer a sanity hazard!//
Bobby smiled, pleased that the broody expression had lifted from Jono's eyes. He hated seeing that dark look on the other man's face. "Wanna surf some more? I know a few interesting sites," and he wriggled an eyebrow.
//Sure, mate, go ahead.// Jono had thought the words, before realizing what he had consented to. //This will be a LONG night?// he thought amused.
"Yeah," Bobby confirmed. "Wanna see some dancing fish?"
~~~ Sinister's base of operations ~~~
//Sinister knows we're here,// Jean told them and tried fortifying her mental walls.
Scott gave her a weary look. //Logan and Remy?//
Jean focused on Logan. His thoughts flamed into her mind and she gulped for breath. The warmth? the love? their pain. //Logan's got Remy!//
//Excellent,// Scott replied and looked up at Storm. //We'll cover their retreat.// As they sneaked into the control room, he was the first to register Sinister's form. The scientist stood with his back towards them and Scott wondered about Sinister's game plan. //Going to try and take him by surprise.//
Scott's optic blast cut through the room, but Sinister had already moved out of its path. Storm summoned lighting and released her power, trying to pierce Sinister's back. It failed.
"You!" Sinister bellowed. He'd noticed their presence only moments ago and he'd cursed, realizing they'd been inside his base for the last few minutes. "I will destroy you! Marauders!"
"Give it your best shot!" Scott exclaimed and took out another Scalphunter clone, as his optic blast cut the Marauder in two.
Angered by what Sinister had done to her friend, Storm gathered her power and created a small tornado, which carried off Arclight and Vertigo. "You won't get another chance to hurt my friends!"
Jean looked about. //Scott, change of plans. Logan's going after Creed and Hank's carrying Remy to the Black Bird. We need to get to Logan before?//
"That stupid, incorrigible? " Scott cursed and realized Jean had made a valid point. //Jean, go after Logan and talk some sense into him. Storm and I will lead the Marauders and Sinister away from the Black Bird.// Scott exchanged a look with Storm and she nodded her head.
//Are you sure, darling?// Jean asked, but moved to the doorway nonetheless.
//Tell Hank to fly the Black Bird to the spot marked on his map. Storm and I will be waiting there.//
Jean nodded her head and didn't look back as she ran into the corridor. Telepathically, she homed in on Logan's thoughts and couldn't repress a shudder, feeling his unbridled rage.
"Henri, where are we goin'?" Slowly, he managed to open his eyes. McCoy was running through the corridors and the speed with which they moved was making him dizzy.
"Don't concern yourself with that, my friend," Hank replied and briefly checked his map. "We will reach the Black Bird in a few minutes, Gambit. Until then, save your breath and try to rest."
Remy smiled. "I ain' no baby," he whispered slightly embarrassed. " I can walk."
"Unfortunately, you would only slow us down, Gambit," Hank pointed out to him.
Remy wanted to protest that remark when two figures stepped forward from the shadows. "Dat ain' bien," he mumbled and tugged at McCoy's arms to let him down.
"I must concur?" Hank whispered displeased. "Stay back, Gambit. I will take care of this."
"No way, mon ami," Remy stated and reached for his cards. "Merde!" he cursed, realizing he was wearing that accursed robe. He didn't have any cards!
"You're coming with us," Blockbuster announced.
"I must disagree," Hank stated and swung to the ceiling, trying to knock Blockbuster off his feet. With dazzling speed, he aimed his next kick at Riptide, but the mutant quickly dashed away from him.
Remy ripped off a few shreds of velvet and charged them, throwing the missiles at the Marauders.
McCoy was doing his best to incapacitate Blockbuster, but suddenly Prism appeared out of nowhere and blinded him.
"Merde," Remy whimpered, as Riptide spun closer. Those shurikens could kill him if he didn't move away. But the imprisonment had weakened him and Blockbuster had no trouble pinning him against the wall.
Hank struggled back to his feet, blinking his eyes to shake off the blinding light. As he managed to focus again, his breath caught. Blockbuster's fingers were tightly wrapped around Remy's throat.
"Try something and Sinister's pet dies," Blockbuster sneered, cursing the fact that Sinister wanted LeBeau alive and unharmed.
"Don' listen to him, Henri!" Remy yelped. He couldn't bear the thought of McCoy being Sinister's prisoner as well. "Get out!"
"No," Hank stated. "I won't leave you." He'd promised Logan to protect Gambit and he wouldn't break that vow.
Remy cringed. //Please, mon ami! Don' do dis! I ain' word de pain!// But McCoy's eyes only revealed resolve. Henri wouldn't desert him and he closed his eyes, hoping that he could 'persuade' Sinister to let McCoy go. //Will just have to give de bastard what he wants!// and shuddered in fearful apprehension.
Creed cocked his head to study the delightful creature inside the tank. Sinister had ordered him to move the tube to another base, but? he'd heard the unspoken command as well. //Kill her if you can.//
As he circled the tube he wondered how Sinister had gotten his hands on her. Maybe he could play a little with her. Cut her skin apart, taste her blood and then? it had been a while since he had been with a woman.
A familiar scent suddenly attacked his senses and growling, he turned around. "Good to see you? wanted to finish this all along."
Logan's eyes narrowed, hearing the greeting. "Gonna kill ya."
"That will be hard," Creed replied, flaunting his own claws. "I will heal? you know that."
"I'll make sure ya no longer have a body to heal." Logan extended his claws and assumed a fighting stance.
"Empty words!" Sabretooth snorted and grinned. First, he was going to secure his psychological advantage. Infuriated, Logan would react carelessly. "You're greedy, wanting that sweet piece of ass for yourself. Pity, Sinister didn't want to share the Cajun either?"
Logan howled his fury. "Ya'll never get close to him 'gain!"
Laughing, Creed circled his opponent. "Oh yeah, I will. I will tear your pretty boy apart when I get to him!"
Logan's fury exploded and he leaped at Sabretooth, fully extending his claws and aiming them at his enemy's heart.
Surprised at the speed with which Logan had moved, Creed reacted too late and one claw dug into his shoulder. "You'll pay for that!"
"Come and get me!" Logan snarled and kicked Creed in the groin. "Ya got that comin' for a long time!" Moving away from Creed he focused his thoughts. //Can't go into berserker rage now!// Creed was luring him into losing control and he had to resist his feral instincts.
As they fought, they moved closer to the tank and Logan slammed Creed head first into the wall. Dizzy eyes stared back at him and quickly, he buried his claws inside Creed's chest. Bastard would heal within minutes, but that was all the time he needed to finish the job.
Realizing he was in dire straits, Creed decided to retreat now that he was still breathing. Logan had never before moved this purposefully and it was obvious that Wolverine was out for blood. As soon as his healing factor kicked in, he jumped to his feet, rolled out of Logan's way and dashed into the corridor.
Only barely controlling his rage, Logan cursed loudly. He turned to resume the hunt, but froze in front of the tank. He hadn't really noticed the tube before, as he had been too intent on killing Sabretooth, but now his breath caught.
The transparent water allowed him a clear view of the young woman afloat inside it. His eyes widened at the sight of the auburn hair. Long locks cascaded down her back and her chiselled features emphasized her beauty. Suddenly, her eyes flashed open.
"DAMN?" Shocked, he hissed the word. Her eyes revealed awfully familiar colors, red and black.

 

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