"Such words, dear girl." Sinister's white teeth sneered, covering any concern he may have for the two. Robin opened her mouth to yell some more, but Sinister's hand flew up to motion for her silence. She said nothing, but her eyes spoke volumes of their own. His metallic boots echoed against the empty walls that surrounded them as we walked over to her and the cell. Logan and Xavier were silent, they wanted to know what was going on and if Sinister would agree to do it. He came to the entrance and stopped, letting her know that she must move back for him to come in. She didn't budge.

"If you would like assistance with your brother, I suggest you move from your certain location and take a few steps back." He let out a sigh of impatience. Two, three, four minutes passed before she did as he had advised. Her steps were light and her new position and posture were ones in which she could move on a second's notice.

"Glad to see we have an agreement."

The force-field dropped and he stepped in, it closing swiftly behind him with a electronic hum. Robin's eyes were cold as ice and just as dangerous as she watched the influential man move over her brother. He looked over the laying form from his towering height for a moment then knelt next to him almost in a human movement. His hands focused around Remy's face, he examined him as a normal doctor would when treating a concussion. But before he started he knew what was wrong... that weak part in Remy's mind snapped again, he just didn't want to admit it. He knew it was up to Remy to do it himself, it wasn't really life threatening, it was a fight over the soul not the same mental stress that had tried to take him done only a few days ago. He could go in, but he knew it would only cause more damage. He ran his hands though Remy's hair as every father does to his child once in his life. It didn't go unnoticed by Robin, but as she took a step close and Essex moved the blanket over Remy's body and stood, turning to her.

"There is nothing we can do. He has to do this on his own." He turned once more, this time toward the entryway.

"What do you mean on his own?!" Robin grabbed his massive arm and pulled him back to face her. He looked at her, his own gaze just as heartless as hers. He pulled his hand back and she flew to the floor from the motion's strength. He hadn't meant to throw her to the floor but he did, memories of a monster he killed for such things hit him full force. His eyes lit up as she looked at Robin's form laying, half sitting on the floor in a self defense position, a look that tore into him. He then reached out to help her up, surprising himself. She backed away. Was this how she had felt? No, her pain ran deep. Or did Robin actually fear him and not just the similarity of the situation. To Essex at that moment he could see his love, defending herself and their children, he himself helpless to do anything. Damn it, it hurt to think, so he stopped, he became Sinister. And that's exactly what he was going to do now.

"There is nothing I can do." He growled and left the cell calmly.

****

At the moment there was three separate teams getting suit up. One would be going to Louisiana and into the Baton Rouge, another outside of Seattle, Washington, and lastly a little place just out San Francisco, California. Everyone of them anxious, not to get into a fight but to save the people they loved and cared for. Hank, Betsy, Bishop, and Angel would be heading for the Baton Rouge. Scott, Rogue, Joe, and Bobby would be heading for Seattle just after the first team. Storm, Jubilee, and Jean were headed for the San Francisco. Though Quicksilver had wanted to go, but someone had to say behind, to watch the house and of course his daughter. He figured that he'd finally get some time to spend with her as well.

"Jean?" Scott asked his wife.

"Huh?" She whipped up her head from pulling on her boots.

"Do you think they are okay?" He watched her intensely.

"I couldn't tell you, Scott. Can tell you that I'm worried. You know pig-head and tough-guy and you can just tell that Robin is the same way. I think there is more to this then a simple getting up and going after something. Remy maybe pigheaded but he's not stupid, there is something going on now, something that he knew couldn't wait to be dealt with. So I'm worried for them and us."

"Wish he would have just told us." Scott encircled Jean in his arms of comfort. "Damn it," his soft curse was powerful, "why didn't Logan at least let us know."

"Pride." Jean whispered, to herself more then anyone else. It had suddenly dawned on her. Remy must have tried to do this himself and Logan and Robin had caught him. They would understand Remy's need to do something by himself, but knew they couldn't let him go like that, so they forced themselves on him and Remy gave in by either threat or knowing that he needed the help. He had tried to do it himself to prove or maybe hide something for the others, but what she had no clue to what truth would drive him away. But there was always the pride and honor that he tried so hard to find when it was already in his face. This wasn't to show that he could do it alone, no this ran deeper inside, farther back. God, how she wished she could have learned something in his mind the other day that would help.

"What?" Scott moved her slightly so that he could look into her face.

"Nothing." She shook her head gently, clearing it. He watched her another minute as to find the truth but broke there embrace after giving her a kiss.

"Jean, we better get going, I wish I could have you with me on this one, but you'll be better with the other team. Promise me you'll be careful." He smiled at her knowingly.

"I will." She promised with her beautiful green eyes. He kissed on her forehead and swiftly left the room with little words.

"I'm counting on you to keep that promise for me."

"I promise." She called out after her husband and quickly gets her things together.

****

"God, I'm so worried for him, Joe." Rogue drifted toward the ground.

"What if something happens to him, you know what kind of condition he's in. She turned to her 'friend' with tears building but ones she would not release. "What if he's already hurt? Dead?" Rogue's own words brought her one step closer to realizing what could happen, and as the words came from her mouth she wished she could shove them back in.

"He will be fine, my dear Rogue." Beast's voice bounced from inside the black bird.

"How can you be sure?" Rogue asked quietly.

"Because we will not allow them to be harmed." Joseph put a hand on her shoulder. "Now let us get aboard and the planes started up, the others will be here soon."

****

"Come here, boy," Remy's gentle voice called to the small frighten boy, whom seemed to after countless hours to trust the older version of himself. "Ya know Remy won't hurt ya none." The boy's large oval eyes stared at him with intensity and the want to trust. Looking for a reason why he should do as this rugged 'man' said.

"Ya are going to be scare, chile, but if you don't be doing dis den ya will never stop being afraid. If we can get though dis together, you can be happy." The child wanted this, we wanted to be safe, but was it possible. That was the question in his mind, should he trust.

A single hand reached out.

And a larger, warm and welcoming one latched onto it, pulling the small hand close to him along with the child as the small figure began to cry.

"It be okay soon, really soon. I promise." His voice was shaky and he himself let tears fall from his eyes. For all the pain he'd gone though, all the loneliness and all the wrongs, a single tear would be enough for him. A bright flash and a melting of the two into one was the definition of beauty itself. They were whole once more.

****

Remy's eyes fluttered open as the beauty was sucked away and stuffed neatly somewhere in his damaged memory. His body was numb and it took him a few minutes to fully awake himself. He did not move, he knew where he was, with Sinister, what he didn't know is where Sinister was. He opened his eyes fully and slightly shifted his head to look over the room. There was someone here, but it wasn't Sinister. It was a woman up against the wall, head in hands... and it seemed that she was in deep though or worry. His mind started working and thought the darkness he made out her shape. "Robin," he grunted as he tried to get up off the cot. His body was soar, but nothing was damaged beside the already broken ribs he'd gotten earlier. He was just stiff and not quite up to par yet.

"Remy!" Her head snapped up and almost pounced over to him as he'd seen Beast do over many times, fist propelling her. "How you feeling are you okay?"

He nodded, "I'm fine, Chèrie." He smiled as she helped him up.

"I was so worried."

"I saw," he nodded to where she had been sitting not a second ago.

"Sinister refused to help you, said only you could help yourself. He's sick Remy, sick." The thought brought a mixer of hate and horror to her eyes.

"Don't say dat." He whispered as he looked down and to the side.

"What?!"

"He couldn't help, this was my own thing."

"But that's not what you meant when you said that. What are you not telling me?"

"Nothin'." Remy got up and stretched after moving several feet from her. "Try and find a way out of here yet?"

"Ya are changing the subject."

"Too bad, we can't stay here. Now ya know where we are? Did Wolverine or Xavier get out?"

She growled at him as she got to her feet, "No. They be out there. They closed the doors for the night." She nodded to the door.

"Agh," he kicked the wall.

"Remy? Calm down all right." Her eyes showing a little fear directed toward her brother.

"Yea, sorry." He sigh. "I'm just worried."

"About what? You know you're friends won't be far behind."