Testing Hope

Summary: When an accident leaves Remy gravely injured secrets are revealed and decisions must be made.

The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest was accompanied by a hiss of a ventilator that made Logan cringe. Perpetual tears reddened his eyes as he sat in a hard metal chair beside the bed, his fingers barely grazed Remy's as they lay pale and unmoving atop a white knit blanket. The noise of the IV drip filled the air in the brief moments that the ventilator did not. Yet another monitor helped to assure him that Remy's heart still beat rhythmically.

The door opened and Logan turned to watch a startled Hank enter the room. "Logan, I was not aware that you had returned." Logan looked away from the door and Hank turned the lights up before walking to the other side of Remy's bed.

Logan watched as Hank performed several tests on Remy and checked the monitors and machines that he was hooked up to methodically.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Logan finally asked while staring at the sterile white wall above Remy's bed.

Hank paused for a moment before looking over at Logan in an attempt to catch his eyes. When he was unable to make eye contact he softly admitted, "I'm doing everything I can."

"But will he be okay?" Logan demanded as a tear trailed down his cheek.

Hank turned back to him and this time took in Logan's distraught appearance. His features softened and he pulled the only other chair in the room over beside Logan before speaking. "He was deprived of oxygen for several minutes," Hank admitted gently, "right now he isn't breathing on his own and I fear there may be brain damage that resulted from the lack of oxygen."

Logan looked away from Hank and brought his attention to Remy's face as he asked, "what happened?" Logan had been away the last week and had just returned to the mansion to find Remy unconscious in the medlab. He hadn't been offered any details in the few hours that he had been home.

Hank hesitated before speaking but Logan didn't rush him. "There was an accident on the mission a few days ago," he began. "There was confusion in the air and Remy was unfortunately dropped into the water from a considerable height."

"By who?" Logan demanded.

"Logan," Hank tried to calm him. "It was an accident; it was believed that he would be out of harm's way in the water."

"Who?"

"Logan I don't believe it's productive. . ."

"I need to know who tried to kill him," Logan growled.

"Logan no one tried to harm him," Hank defended. "When he didn't resurface, Scott dove in to find him. It was chaotic Logan, we were ambushed."

"When'll his father get here?"

"No one knew how to reach him," Hank admitted.

Logan growled but didn't respond.

"I am doing everything that I can."

"I need a phone."

"Of course," Hank agreed before getting up from his seat.

Logan allowed his fingers to wrap around Remy's as he heard the door to the room close. "I'm here now babe," he whispered sadly to the boy, "and I'll get your Papa here soon too. You just hang in there okay." His voice broke and tears slipped down his cheeks but he pulled his hand away to wipe them as he heard Hank begin to re-enter the room.

"Is he in pain?" Logan asked.

"I can't be sure," Hank replied regretfully.

Logan nodded. "Are you giving him anything?"

Hank looked down at his patient and took a deep breath. "His reaction to medication is very unpredictable, I must be careful with possible interactions..."

"So no?" Logan interrupted with a sigh.

Hank turned to Logan and shook his head, "he's on a very low dose."

"So he's probably hurtin," Logan stated more for himself then Hank.

"Most likely," Hank agreed as he squeezed the phone between his hands.

"I need that before you break it," Logan stated with a nod at the phone.

"My apologies," Hank stuttered before handing the phone to Logan. "I am relieved that you know how to contact his family. We were uncertain of Remy's wishes."

"His wishes?"

Hank sat down once again, "Right now the life support is the only thing keeping Remy alive. His family will have to decide how to proceed."

"You don't think he's gonna wake up?" Logan asked quietly.

"I don't know," Hank admitted. "I will unfortunately have to discuss the possibility with his family."

Logan swallowed back emotion that fought to be revealed. "I gotta call them," his voice involuntarily quivered.

"Would you prefer me to call?" Hank asked. "I simply need the number."

"No," Logan denied.

"I know he is a good friend of yours Logan, but perhaps the news should be broken by his physician?" he offered.

"I'll take care of it," Logan growled.

"Of course," Hank conceded before standing up and leaving the room.

The hiss of the machine once again drew his attention and he watched Remy's chest rise and fall as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple gold ring. He reached out and grasped Remy's hand as he slipped the ring onto his own finger. "I'll find yours," he whispered before kissing the boys empty ring finger.

After a long moment he sat back up and tried to compose himself enough to call Jean-Luc. His fingers trembled as he forced himself to dial the familiar number. He almost hung up when a female voice answered, "LeBeau residence."

Instead he forced himself to say, "Hello Miss Mattie."

"Logan dear," she exclaimed worried, "what is wrong with my baby?"

Logan couldn't stop a sob from escaping. "You should hurry," he whispered into the phone.

"We will be there soon," Mattie assured.

"Okay."

"Stay strong for him dear," Mattie replied.

"I'm tryin," Logan admitted.

"I know dear," Mattie replied, "I must go inform Jean-Luc."

He hung up the phone a moment later and laid his head in his hands and let his tears fall. This couldn't be the end. He wiped his face and sat up straighter as he moved the chair even closer to Remy's bed. "I know you're hurtin but Mattie and Jean-Luc are on their way darlin so you just gotta hang on a little bit longer, okay." His voice was a raspy whisper that ended in a loud cough.

Hank entered the room worried, but Logan waved him off. "Were you able to contact them?" Hank asked from the doorway.

Logan nodded, "they'll be here soon."

Hank offered a sad smile. "I'm very thankful that you knew their number."

An alarm went off on one of the machines and Hank rushed to Remy's side. "What's wrong?" Logan demanded as he watched Hank inject a syringe into Remy's IV, "what is that?" The alarm quieted and Hank stepped back and took a shaky breathe before looking at Logan.

"I just gave him a stronger dose of pain medication. We must now watch carefully for any adverse reaction to it." Hank spoke slowly without the usual doctor jargon and Logan tensed at the seriousness.

"He usually takes aspirin," Logan offered.

"I am aware of that," Hank agreed, "unfortunately that isn't an option at the moment."

"He really might not wake up," Logan whispered sadly.

Hank paused a moment before carefully answering, "Gambit has always been full of surprises."

"Remy," Logan demanded as he forced back a growl, "his name is Remy."

"Logan I meant no disrespect," Hank assured.

"None of you ever do," Logan grumbled.

"You should get some rest," Hank suggest to the temperamental feral.

"I ain't leavin."

Hank nodded, "I am just outside in my office should I be needed."

"Thanks."

The hours ticked by slowly as he waited for the LeBeaus to arrive. He watched Remy carefully for any sign of alertness that never came. He ran out of words to whisper and bribes to offer the young man. He would give just about anything to watch Remy's eyes open.

He stood against the far wall of the room when he could no longer stand to sit in the hard metal chair beside the bed. His hands pointed down towards the ground as he allowed his claws to slide in and out several times causing familiar pain. After repeating he exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

Hank found him that way as he entered the room to once again examine his patient. He spoke as he checked the various monitors surrounding Remy, "he appears to be tolerating the pain medication so I will keep him at the higher dose to minimize his discomfort."

Logan nodded as he looked over at the doctor. "Logan please go eat something," Hank suggested, "You haven't left the room for hours."

Logan stayed silent for a moment and Hank turned back to Remy and took his temperature. "He doesn't like to be alone," Logan accidently admitted as he watched the doctor gently check on Remy.

"Logan I assure you he has had many visitors the last few days," Hank explained as he turned to Logan once again.

"Of course he has," Logan grumbled.

"Logan, several of the X-Men are away on a mission at the moment. I'm sure they will come down as soon as they return."

Logan sighed, "can you stay with him?"

"Of course," Hank replied, "I will gladly visit with our young friend."

Logan nodded and walked towards the door before briefly pausing to say, "thanks."

He walked upstairs to his room and took a quick shower without pausing any longer then was necessary. Once he had dressed in some clean clothes he made his way down to the kitchen. Now that he paid attention he realized how quiet the mansion was. The Professor had told him about Remy when he entered the kitchen that morning, and Logan now realized that he hadn't focused on anything else that the man had said at the time. He made himself a sandwich, grabbed a beer, and went out on the deck for a smoke.

As finished up his small meal he watched a town car approach the gates. He stood and walked down the stairs to meet the car at the front entrance of the house. He turned as the front door opened to reveal Xavier who brought his hover chair down to wait beside him.

Mattie was the first out of the car, not bothering to wait for the driver to open her door. "Where is my baby?" she demanded as she walked towards Logan and embraced him in a warm hug.

"I'll take you down Miss Mattie," Logan easily agreed.

"Should you not be with him?" Jean-Luc demanded as he joined them.

"I was," Logan assured. "Just came up a few minutes ago."

Jean-Luc nodded. "Xavier," he stated the name bitterly as he obligatorily offered his hand to the owner of the house.

"Mr. LeBeau, welcome," Xavier greeted warmly. "I wish this visit was under better circumstances."

"We will speak later," Jean-Luc assured just as bitterly as before, "but now I must see my son."

"Of course," Xavier replied as the group turned and Logan helped Mattie to the door.

They made their way to the medlab without another word and Hank stepped out of Remy's room as he heard the group arrive. "He's right in there Mattie," Logan offered as she clung to his arm.

"Come Jean-Luc," she requested as she released Logan and took Jean-Luc's hand, "leave your arguments for later."

"I need to speak with his doctor," Jean-Luc protested.

"You need to see your son," Mattie scolded in Cajun French.

"Oui," Jean-Luc agreed as he allowed her to lead him into the room.

"Oh non, mon petite," Mattie whispered as she moved quickly towards his bed.

"How did this happen?" Jean-Luc asked as he took in the state of his son. When no one answered he looked towards the door of the small room to find the other men just outside it. "Logan?" he demanded an answer.

"I wasn't here," Logan replied. "I just got home this morning."

Hank cleared his throat as he entered the room. "Perhaps you can give us some privacy?" he asked the others.

"Of course," Xavier easily agreed before moving away from the door. Logan nodded and sank his hands deep into his pockets before beginning to turn around.

"Logan will do no such thing," Jean-Luc exclaimed loudly as Mattie placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"Not in here Jean-Luc," she frowned, "Da Chile does not need dis stress. You go with Logan and da doctor, I will sit wit our boy."

The two X-Men stood silently as they watched the exchange. "Come then," Jean-Luc demanded as he moved towards the door.

"My apologies," Hank expressed as he followed Jean-Luc out. "I simply thought you would want to discuss Remy's health privately. There are some difficult decisions that will need to be made by you."

"I do not understand?" Jean-Luc admitted angrily as the three men entered Hank's office. He looked towards Logan who pointedly looked away from the other two as he sat down. "I believe I relinquished the right to make his decisions a few months ago."

Hank was at a loss of words, unsure of how to respond. He opened his mouth to speak and then shut it quickly and shook his head.

Logan could feel Jean-Luc's eyes burn into the back of his head and he closed his eyes. When He felt the weight of Jean-Luc's hand upon his shoulder it startled him enough to look up at the man. Once their eyes met Jean-Luc spoke much more softly then before, "has your marriage ended and I just wasn't yet informed?"

Hank's small gasp forced Logan's attention to the doctor before he answered, "no."

"Then I must ask for some clarification here," he asked with anger in his voice yet again.

"I promised Remy I wouldn't tell the X-Men," he replied.

Jean-Luc sighed before settling into the chair beside Logan. "I apologize that my son made such a request," he offered.

Logan shrugged, "He had his reasons."

"That no longer matters," Jean-Luc stated with finality. "Doctor McCoy you are to keep my son's husband completely informed."

"Of course," Hank easily agreed.