Disclaimer:  My eternal thanks goes out to the people at Marvel for creating these 
characters so that I can now use them for my enjoyment.  Get that? *Enjoyment*. 
 As in ‘no profit being made here’.  Thanks.

Revelations: Part 9
Chris Votulle: July 1997

Ororo Munroe drove down the streets of New Salem on her way back to the 
X-Mansion.  Spending a week at the beach was most enjoyable, but she was glad 
to be heading home.  She glanced over at the man in the passenger seat and sighed 
as she realized that her friend did not share her feelings.  

“Remy, what’s wrong?  You’ve been very quiet ever since we left the shore.”

Remy continued to stare at his feet.  “Dere’s not’ing wrong, Stormy.  Leave 
Gambit alone, eh?”

Ororo was about to chide Remy for calling her Stormy, but decided against it.  She 
knew that he referred to himself in the third person only when he was either 
extremely sure of himself or seized by a wave of self-pity.

“Remy, I’m only asking you out of concern.  I care about you very much and hate 
to see you hurting like this.  You can’t keep your pain locked inside forever.”

“An’ why not?  If I let it out den I’m bound to hurt other people.  If I leave it 
alone den Gambit be de only one who gets hurt.  Everyone’s happier dat way.”

“Except you.”

“Chere, I gave up any chance at happiness long ago.  I should be used to it by 
now.”

“But you’re not, are you?”

“So what if I’m not.  Does it make any diff’rence?”

“Yes it does.  I don’t know what you’re punishing yourself for, but you have to let 
it go my friend.  I know you and I know that deep down you’re a very loving and 
caring person.  I believe that you’ve more than atoned for any sins you may have 
committed.  None of us are without fault, Remy.  Unfortunately, one of your 
greatest faults is that you refuse to believe in yourself.”

“Why are ye preachin’ te me Stormy?  What did I do te deserve dis?”

“I’m just trying to show you that you’re not alone.”

“I always seem te end up that way,” Remy muttered.

“That’s because you constantly push others away.”  Storm’s tone became firm at 
this.  “There are many people who care for you Remy, but you never give them a 
chance to get near you.”

“I gave Rogue plenty of chances.”

“Did you?”

“What’s dat supposed te mean?”

“Just think about it.”  Ororo became quiet as she approached the gates to the 
mansion.  She pulled her car up to the garage and got out quickly, but not without 
making sure that Remy followed her.  She didn’t want him to wander off by 
himself.  She was positive that the best thing for him right now was to be with 
other people -- whether he wanted it or not.

She started up the steps to the entrance when she heard Remy emit a soft groan.  
She turned around to see that his skin had turned completely white and that he was 
clutching his head.  His teeth were clenched and his eyes were shut tight.

“Remy, what is it?”

He didn’t answer.  He just fell to his knees and gasped.  Ororo rushed to his side.

“Remy?  Remy, can you hear me?”

“Oui,” he whispered, his expression contorted with pain.  

“What’s going on here?”

Ororo turned around to see Bishop standing behind her with a concerned look on 
his face.

“It’s Remy.  I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but we have to get him inside 
to see Hank.”

“Don’ listen to her, pup. I’m fine.  Jus’ give me a minute.”

Bishop took one look at Remy’s face and could tell immediately that he was far 
from being ‘fine’.  “I don’t think so,” Bishop said grimly as he gently lifted Remy 
to his feet, allowing him to lean on his large frame.  Storm stood on his other side 
and they both escorted him into the main hall of the mansion.

* * * * *

Rogue was in the rec room watching television when she heard a piercing, agonizing 
scream that made her blood run cold.  Such a scream would have disturbed anyone, 
as it was obviously wracked with pain, but it struck home with her because she 
recognized who it belonged to.  As much as she liked to deny it, both to herself and 
others, she still had strong feelings for Remy.

She quickly flew towards the source of the noise and was shocked to see an 
extremely pale Cajun grasping at the doors of the mansion while Bishop did his 
best to hold him back.

“Let me go, pup.  I got te get out of here.”  Remy’s face was damp with sweat as 
he struggled to get free. 

“I have no intention of letting you go.  You need immediate medical attention.”

“Fine, den take me anywhere else.  Jus’ let me t’rough dose doors.”

Storm placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder.  “Remy, we’re your friends.  No one 
is going to hurt you here.  Please, let us help you.”

Remy was struggling to speak though the pain.  “Stormy, ye don’ understan’.  I 
didn’t start hurtin’ till I got here.  Somet’ing here is causing dis.  It’s interfering 
wit’...”  he grabbed his head.

“With what, Remy?”

“Wit’ my mental shields.”  He sank to the floor as he cried out in pain once more.

Rogue flew down the stairs and took Remy in her arms.  “Will y’all quit ya 
jabberin’?  He needs help and the way Ah see it, he doesn’t have a choice in the 
mattah,” she said matter-of-factly.  “Ah’m taking him down ta see Hank.  Bish, 
you go get Jean or Betsy -- or *both*.  Ororo, come with me.”

“Rogue?”  Remy looked up at her face in surprise and then fell unconscious.

 she thought.  

* * * * *

Everything was a blur of colors.  Thoughts, feelings, heartache, joy -- everything 
was combined into one and the only thing that prevailed was a keen sense of pain.  
Not an overpowering pain, but a dull throbbing pain that refused to be ignored.  A 
pain that was trying to come to the surface, yet was consistently being denied.

Something was tearing down Remy’s carefully built walls and he was struggling 
desperately to keep them up.  He added layer after layer to the structure, but they 
came tumbling down much faster than he could ever hope to rebuild them.  He 
became frantic as he realized that soon he would be horribly exposed.  An 
overwhelming sense of panic began to rise from within him which, unfortunately, 
only aided in the destruction of his mental shields.  Why were his defenses 
weakening?  What memories or thoughts were struggling to break free from behind 
the walls?  He searched around for answers, but was not able to find any.  All of 
his secrets were secure -- all his treasures, safe.  That’s when he came to the 
conclusion that if nothing was trying to break out then, naturally, something was 
trying to break in.

Defeat.  It came.  He accepted it.  There was nothing to do now but wait.  Wait for 
the torrent of misery to arrive.  Wait to be assaulted by fear and pain and hate.  
Those emotions always came much more fiercely than those of acceptance, 
comfort, and love.  Was it because such things no longer existed in his life?  Was it 
because he was already being damned for his sins?  Was this hell?  It might be, if 
not for the fact that the torture had not yet begun.  But then again, maybe the 
torture was in the waiting.  Maybe he would be forced to wait for the pain only to 
have it hit him when he least expected it.  Yes, that would be the best way.

But, what was this?  Assurance?  Strength?  Where was it coming from?  Concern? 
 He recognized these things, but he could not pinpoint their source.  He could sense 
his walls being fortified.  He didn’t know how it was done, nor did he care.  He was 
just relieved.

*PAIN*

He felt a jolt through his body as he was pulled back into consciousness.  He 
opened his eyes, slowly, but instantly regretted it and shut them tight again.  The 
light was too intense for his photosensitive eyes.  He could hear some faint 
mumbling about his sunglasses and then felt them being placed on his face.  He 
decided to risk opening his eyes again and found himself looking at Hank, Ororo, 
Rogue and Jean.  He then looked past them and noticed that he was in Hank’s lab.

 he thought as he leapt to his feet.  
He realized right away that this wasn’t a particularly smart move due to the violent 
headache that seemed to assail every nerve in his system the moment he moved.  
He began to feel faint and staggered towards the door, but he didn’t make it very 
far before he was confronted by a human barrier.

“And where do you think you’re going, Mr. LeBeau?”

“Out,” was his curt reply.

“Well, let me be the first to assure you that you are in no condition to be venturing 
‘out’.”  Hank’s expression was extremely firm.  “Will you please allow me to 
escort you back to the accommodations that I have so graciously set up for you?”

Remy looked back at the bed that he had just gotten out of, then looked at the door 
leading out of the med-lab.  He started to move towards the door again, but Hank 
grabbed him by the shoulders and steered him to the bed.  He could feel the panic 
start to rise.  He was not only in a medical facility, but he was being kept in one 
against his will.  

“Remy, you’ve experienced a serious mental trauma and I would be most 
appreciative if you would allow me the opportunity to examine you for lasting 
effects and a possible cause.  Before you answer me I want you to understand that 
this is in your best interest.”

“Not interested.”

Hank was doing his best to control his temper, but it seemed that uncooperative 
patients were destined to be his downfall.  “Remy, this is not a request,  I’m 
concerned about your welfare and I mean to ascertain a method of maintaining your 
well-being.”

Remy sat on his hands so that no one else in the room would notice them shaking 
as he put on his best poker face.  “You threatening me, Beast?”

#Hank,# Jean sent towards him.  #He’s not showing it, but Remy is terrified.  I can 
sense what he’s feeling through the link I established to rectify his mental shields.  
Don’t push him or he may snap.#

#Nonsnese, Jean.  He needs medical attention.  Can’t you see that?#

#Of course I can see that, but it just doesn’t seem to be a possibility right now.  I 
can keep tabs on him and if anything happens I’ll be sure to let you know.#

Hank exhaled sharply.  “No one is threatening you, Remy.  I only wish that you 
would trust me just for this once.  Really, you should know by now that I’d never 
cause you any harm.”

“You’re not goin’ to examin’ me den?”  The relief in his voice was obvious.

“No.  You are free to go, but I suggest that you proceed directly to room to acquire 
some repose.  Your body needs to recuperate.  Also, you may want to thank Jean 
for repairing the damage done to your mind.  I believe that she’s the reason you are 
able to talk, or rather *argue*, with me right now.”

“Merci beaucoup, chere.”  Remy looked apprehensive.  No doubt he was 
wondering just how deep Jean had to plunge into his mind in order to repair it.  He 
made a mental note to talk to her about it when they were alone.  “An’ don’ worry 
none, Hank.  I be goin’ straight te bed.”

He walked out the door and towards his room when he sensed Rogue following 
him.  

“A-are ya sure you’re all raht, Remy?”  She tried not to look as worried as she felt. 
 “Ya gave us all quite a scare down there.  I mean, Ah can handle mahself when it 
comes ta beatin’ the pulp outta some oversized robot or the like, but seeing you 
hurtin’ so much and not being able ta see what was hurtin’ ya...”

It’s all right, chere.  I’m fine now.  You don’ have te worry none.”

She was about to say more when Remy turned his back on her and continued down 
the hallway.  She thought about going after him again, but what would that 
accomplish?  Hurting him even more?  Letting him hurt her again?  Admitting to 
feelings that she wasn’t even sure of?  No, she wouldn’t do that.  So, instead, she 
ran.  She didn’t know what she was running from, or to, but she ran as if her life 
depended on it.



***********************

*Gasp*, Kali’s not in this chapter at all!  How does this figure into the story at 
large?  What’s causing Remy’s mysterious headaches?  Will Rogue finally confront 
her feelings?  Does anyone out there even care?  Tune in next time to find out...... 
same X time, same X channel!!

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