Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men but damn I whish I did!
Revealing Madness
Accidents do happen, even to Gambit. Now the X-Men find them selves gaining greater insight on the mystery that is Remy LeBeau. Set during his first year on the team and complete with dyslexic spelling. Enjoy!
CH. 1
Being a Hero ain't all it's cracked up to be!
Running down the blindingly bright corridor of the strange, (alien?) base, the X-man known as Gambit relied more on his other senses then sight. He could hear foremost his own heart beating fallowed by the heavy breathing and loud footsteps of a frightened Jubilee. The girl was anything but stealth, however she was young and had time for improvement especially with all that training from the wolf man. As they reached the end of the hall Gambit promptly came to a halt, back to the wall, right hand holding three glowing cards and the left covering the teen's mouth and forcing her into the same position before she had a chance to speak. He felt her huff and he smirked but listened carefully to the distant shouts and explosions trying to determine where the rest of the team was and perhaps, more importantly, where the "bad guys" where.
He lowered his hand from the juvenile's mouth once he decided there was no one right around the corner.
"Gambit!...We have to find the rest of the team!" She hissed as if he was to blame for their current situation.
"Ya t'ink?!" He responded in a slightly annoyed voice as he rounded the corner with a brisk pace, the short fire cracker stumbling on his heels.
"Don't be all smart ass with me mister!" She reprimanded sounding way too much like a female Cyclops. "You where the one who snuck off behind Cyke's back while he was making a plane. What where you doing any way?" She jogged to keep up with his long gate, trench coat swishing as he turned yet another corner squinting in the harsh light and cursing the broken shades he threw at the green blob thing that had almost swallowed the chattering mini x-man only a few minutes earlier. "Gambit!" She wined at his silent treatment.
He sighed muttering under his breath, "lord give me patience," before addressing his companion with a glance over his shoulder maintaining his pace. "I had my own agenda, me. Special orders from mon Proff hisself……….Gambit operate betta on his own when it come to Intel collecting time." He spoke in half distraction as he suddenly felt a shift in energies coming from the hall behind them. "Put a hop in you step petite, we got company!" He once again began to run with Jubilee close behind. "An' mo' portantly, why where you fallowing me?" He asked in rebuttal to her own question, his accent thicker in times of stress
"BECAUSE………X-men cover each other's back and you went off on your own in a top secret base over run with………whatever the hell those green things are!..........you should be thanking me!" She huffed again feeling unappreciated. He laughed at her expression as he once again pressed them both against the wall before rounding the corner and heading down a flight of stairs.
"Watch you step petite." He cautioned as they made their way down the green slim covered steps. "An' you right Jubes, Tan'k you for following me instead of minding you own and for bringin' de attention of dem over grown slug peoples on me while I was discreetly hacking into de computer system's data base……..Dat was tres helpful!" He responded with the utmost sarcasm but too preoccupied with their immediate danger to go on any longer. At the bottom of the stair case was a pile of corpses in white trench coats stained dark red from their blood that coated the floor.
The scene was shocking and caused Remy to pause momentarily. Instinctively, he grabbed Jubilee in an effort to shield her young eyes. She gasped at the carnage before hiding her face in his trench coat squeezing her eyes tight as if she could shut out the images, but it was too late. "Shhh petite,……….put it out you head, no'ting to be done for 'em now." He whispered crossing himself and muttering a Creole prayer. "Come on an' climb on Gambit's back, he gonna carry you over de blood." He spoke softly, lifting her chin and using his thumb to wipe a tear from her cheek. She bit her lip and nodded, glancing sideways at the heap of bodies a few feet away. "Don' look at dat……Just climb on,….it gonna be okay chil'." He soothed again as he helped her up on to his back, her arms loose around his neck. She was too young for this, despite her own protests, he would make his sentiment known to Cyke once they where back at the Mansion.
Carefully he stepped over and around the meaty flesh and torn lab coats of a dozen or so former egg heads. His jaw clenched to keep back the bile that rose in his throat from disgust as he felt the squishy people mush sticking to his boots and the snapping of bones from the weight of his balanced steps. This was way to familiar to some very hunting memories of his and he could tell that tonight would take more then a few drinks to get his head in any shape for sleep, although the dreams would still be sure to come as no amount of liquid sunshine could banish the demons in his mind, only drowned them out for a spell.
'Gambit?.........Come in Gambit,…..where the devil are yah?' A southern draw brimming with frustration and worry sounded from his com badge, attached to his waist.
"Not now!" He muttered taking a final step out of the carnage and into the hall, blood staining the tails of his coat and metal boots. He set down Jubilee who had a pensive look across her usually carefree face as her eyes stared hard at the bloody foot steps of her team mate. Gambit once again reached out and gently lifted her chin to face him. "Might be de first but in dis line of work petite,……it won' be de last……Ya gotta let it go Chere, or it'll eat you alive!" He smiled sympathetically and kissed her forehead before enveloping her in a hug. "Trust me,……I know." He spoke in a voice she had rarely ever heard him use, one that communicated the pain of his personal experience with a sad and bitter undertone. She could hear his teeth grind and felt his muscles tighten. Then he released her and offered an out of place smile, strangely playful. Taking Jubilee's hand, he winked and gestured with his head. "Come on, lets see if we can beat de o'thers back to de plane, eh?" With that they where once more running but this tme hand in hand.
'GAMBIT!.............WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?.............JUBELEE IS MISSING!' A very pissed Cyclops shouted over the static of Gambit's com badge. In the back ground was shooting and what sounded like multiple people running.
"Yuh just figurin' dat one out Mon Captin?" Remy smirked as he held down the glowing red X on the com. "She's fine! We heading back to de bird. Be seeing you real soon, send my love!" He grinned raising an eyebrow at Jubilee over his shoulder who giggled as they darted around yet another corner.
"Do you know where we are?" She asked half concerned but still giggling.
"Non……Mais I know where we goin' an' dats what matter ,eh?" He smirked and shrugged as she rolled her eyes, shaking her head with an exaggerated sigh.
"GAMBIT!....DO YOU MEAN THAT JUBELEE IS WITH YOU?" Once again loud shouting over static as if Cyclops was more pissed that the teen mutant was with Gambit then missing in action.
"Oui! Dats what I said Cyke!.........Mon Duie, ain't you hitched to a telepath s'pose to keep you in de know how?" Gambit responded in annoyance.
'Just get her back to the plane in one piece. We will talk about it later!" Scott snapped over the link, sounding like a displeased father.
"See de trouble you done got me into!............Den again, always somet'ing wit him!....Was past due for a lecture I spose'." Remy shook his head and blew his bangs out of his face as Jubilee just stifled a laugh. He smiled to him self, better to keep her spirits up then let that mess back there sink in. It would soon enough.
Another corner, another length of ungodly bright hall way but this time three large green……thingies, where headed strait for them and one of them had a gun in it's massive, goo hand. Gambit stopped short cocking his head quizzically at the sight, surprised that the green blobs could form appendages. He was snapped back to flight mode as Jubilee crashed into him unable to stop her forward momentum. Pivoting gracefully he lead Jubilee back around the corner in a full tilt run practically giving her whiplash from the sheer force of his redirection.
"Gambit! It has a gun!" She yelped tripping over her own feet.
"Again,…….no'ting gets past you eh Jubes?" He teased, but kept his focus on finding a way out, back tracking to where he had seen a closed door, the security panel on the outside fried to keep the door from being opened manually. Gambit ran to the door still holding Jubilee's hand. He glanced over the structure then over his shoulder to his young team mate. "Can you blow it open?" He asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Well yhea, but can't you just…" He cut her off with a wave of his hand and a courteous bow gesturing toward the door. She sighed and looked at the task unsure. "Okay,…..here goes nothing!" She focused her energy on the door as Gambit ran back to the corner just in time to intercept the "Slug People" as he liked to think of them, only a few feet away. Instantly he threw two handfuls of glowing cards that sent chunks of the green sludge splattering across the walls.
The Cajun knew by now from experience that these creatures had the uncanny ability to regenerate their goo, or as the good doctor Hank McCoy would probably call it, "cellular structure." This meant he would have to spend a whole deck on these bad boys before they where obliterated into small enough pieces that one could reasonably call them dead or at least not an active threat. It was times like these that Gambit liked to get a little more creative. Throwing another fistful of cards he ducked back around the corner over to where Jubilee had managed to blow a hole threw the thick metal door and was now peering inside.
"Whatcha see?" He asked pulling a small leather pouch from one of his secret jacket pockets, standing next to her.
"A huge room with tons of glass tanks that are broken……..I think there is another door at the other side." She spat in hast well aware of the impending situation.
"It'll do. Go an' blast threw it. Me, I'll be dere in half a sec'." He said in hast pouring a few dozen BB pellets into his right hand. She nodded then jumped threw the hole and raced across the room. Gambit turned to face the remnants of the green slug people who had begun to merge as one to compensate for the amount of genetic material lost during the previous attack. Remy smiled at the translucent blob creature that was now pointing a gun at his head and making odd noises that sounded vaguely like human laughter or perhaps crying. "Bon Svoir mon amie!..........Got some'ting for you,……enjoy!" He grinned throwing a hand full of intensely charged BB's at the creature before diving threw the hole in the door as projectiles from the gun sailed inches past his fleeing back side.
The slug exploded into green jelly that coated the walls as Gambit ducked and rolled onto his feet and took off running to where Jubilee had just blasted the second door. She looked back and saw him coming, yelling at her to go through. She didn't need to be told twice. Jumping through the door she laughed out loud as she practically crashed into Wolverine. Who let out a growl grabbing her by the collar of her yellow jacket.
"Where the heck have you been?!?........I've been tracking you through this whole God damn facility!" He growled with protectiveness.
"Den I t'ink you know precisely where she been homme!" Gambit offered with a humorous smirk as he dove backwards through the hole in the door onto his hands and landing on his feet from a back hand spring with feline grace. The beauty of the landing was ruined however when a short, angry canock slammed him against the wall with an intensity that would startle even Sinister.
"What do you think yer doing dragging a kid through this mess with no back up?!?...........She ain't use to this kinda shit!.......You tryin' to make her a fucking head case like you!?!" Wolverine growled low, his temper on edge, gripping the Cajun's jacket white knuckled. Their eyes locked, steal blue and hell fire red in a fierce stare that instantly communicated the contempt they held for one another. "You smell like blood Cajun!......... What the fuck have you done?!" Logan's whispered growl was punctuated with a snarl and narrowed eyes analyzing his so called team mate.
"Wolvie,…..back off!.....It wasn't his fault. I followed him cause I wanted to watch his back and prove I was a good team mate. But instead I just got in the way and almost screwed up everything……I'm sorry." The teen spoke with genuine and contrite feelings, hanging her head in shame. Logan glanced at her then back to the Cajun who just cocked his eyebrow and shrugged.
"What about the stench of blood?!..........Yeh smell like a god damn slaughter house!" Wolverine growled glancing down at the Cajun's boots.
"Dere was……But Gambit had no part in it. Just had to walk through de aftermath wit de petite on my back…….Didn't wan' her getting dem pretty lill' yellow boots all mucked up." Remy's words where harsh and accented thickly, his eyes blazing with something more then anger at being falsely accused. Some kind of silent rage and grief and guilt that Wolverine had seen and smelled on him before at times when his loyalty was called into question. Logan could tell the man was telling the truth but his scent was confusing which was partially why even after a year on the team, he still didn't trust the Cajun, at least not completely.
Almost reluctantly Wolverine released his death like grip on the collar of Gambit's trench coat and walked over to Jubilee resting both hands on her shoulders.
"I know you wanna prove yerself darling, but going off loan wolf is no way to prove yerself as a trust worthy team mate." He heard a snicker from the Cajun but ignored it. "Next time you see this reckless idiot braking rank and going off with out a word to anyone, DON"T FOLLOW HIM! Yer likely to get killed! Tell me instead." He glanced back as he heard a cough from Gambit that sounded amazingly like the word 'hypocrite.'
"You got somethin' to say thief?" Logan growled unleashing his claws for emphasis.
Gambit was leaning lazily against the wall, legs and arms crossed. He smirked at the empty threat and straitened himself walking casually toward the two. He stopped when he stood right next to the most intimidating of X-Men ignoring the glare and choosing to face strait ahead.
"Dat threats getting mighty old Monsieur Wolverine……..Gonna half to do better den date if'n u wanna see dis Cajun get spooked." He turned and smiled sweetly down at the shorter man. "An try followin' your own advice fore' you go trash talking, eh?" He suggested, continuing down the hall with a smile growing on his face as he savored Wolverine's anger. "You done wit de kiddie coaching cuze I got some drinking to do tonight and time spent in dis place is betta off spent sipping my bourbon." He sauntered away from the pair leaving Jubilee with a smile on her face and Wolverine a grimacing scowl of disdain.
Begrudgingly Wolverine followed suit dragging Jubilee behind him. As they neared the area where the team was gathered Wolverine released his grip of the teen and shoved past Gambit to where Cyclops stood with the others. Beast was scooping up green goo into test tubes as the others accessed their injuries or fussing over Jubilee to see if she was alright. Gambit watched with a wary eye as Wolverine whispered to Cyclops who fixed Gambit with a frown and presumably disapproving stare but with the visor who could tell. The team leader looked from Gambit to Jubilee then nodded as if he understood sighing slightly.
"Alright people, lets move out. We already placed a call to the authorities so this place will be over run pretty soon." The team ambled forward not paying the Cajun a second glace, except Stormy who looked disconcerted and Rouge who looked frustrated. Talk about a thankless job! Buncha uptight, stick in the mud, brainwashed……..Gambit's thoughts where consumed with bitter narration as he followed the team toward the elevator to the hanger where the bird was parked. Jubilee sulking, walked behind him, feeling as through she had blown her chance of proving herself. The Elevator door opened and the heard of X-men filtered in.
As Gambit approached the doorway he stopped and whirled around at the same time that Wolverine, already in the elevator jerked his head up in an alarmed growl. From seemingly nowhere a green creature emerged, different from the others, this one was shaped like a human and seemed to have a face and a skeletal structure with muscles and organs all in various stages of translucent existence. It aimed a gun at the moping Jubilee who had barley looked up to see the alarm on her team mate's faces when Gambit grabbed her, throwing her into the elevator as he let a fistful of cards fly toward the green demon. Remy jumped into the air flipping backwards toward the open elevator. As he landed and stepped back threw the entrance a dart from the gun landed in the side of his neck at the same time that the cards made contact with the creature sending it threw the wall.
The doors shut and the elevator began it's descent as Gambit turned toward his team mates pulling the dart from his neck. He looked at it with a cocked eyebrow, examining the thin metal point where a drop of crimson dangled. There was a shared silence of contemplation before Gambit blinked his eyes, feeling suddenly dizzy and weak. He looked up at those facing him, his vision swimming as if he where drunk, his mouth dry and a strange ringing in his ears like after a load explosion. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes and shaking his head as he began to sway on his feet, hands out to steady himself. The other's looked at him with a deepening sense of worry and concern. Night crawler reached forward to help Gambit balance as the disoriented X-man stumbled toward him.
"Remy?" Rouge asked softly. He looked up at her with eyes half opened, breath wheezing and face pale, covered in sweat. His eyes grew slightly as he felt him self loosing control over his own body.
"Uh-oh" He rasped between gasps of air, his expression half amused half disconcerted.
"Goddess!" Storm gasped as Remy fell forward with a groan into the arms of Wolverine and Archangel, the dart dropping from his hand to the floor.
Remy!" Rouge reached forward but was shoved back as Beast took the Cajun from his startled team members, holding him up with his right arm as he used his left hand to open up the Cajun's rolling eyes and examine the pin prick hole in his neck. Gambit gasped as a heat wave starting at his neck spread threw his body making it harder to breath. Nausea gripped his stomach and his vision blurred in and out as he tried to focus on the fury blue face in front of him.
"Gambit!....Gambit what are you feeling?" Beast asked with hast recognizing signs that his teammate would soon loose consciousness. Gambit swallowed hard again, his mouth so dry that his tongue felt like sand paper and his throat constricted. His knees gave out as the heat spread through out his body becoming a numb, suffocating pain.
"Hot,………..sick,……like Vertigo in ere'.'" He sputtered between gasping breaths. "numb….pain…..can' breath……ennghhh…….Mon Duie!" His eyes shut tight as his breaths became fast and forced threw his noise, jaw locked, fists clenched as he began to shake.
"Oh my stares and Garters!" Beast whispered as they all looked down at Gambit with alarm. The elevator doors opened and Beast was first out, scooping up his incapacitated team mate and yelling over his shoulder for someone to grab the dart. Wolverine snatched it up and took off behind his team mates toward the Black Bird shaking his head in frustration that it wasn't him last in with Jubilee the way it should have been. The poison in the dart would have easily passed threw his system in the time that it took the elevator to arrive at the hanger. Now instead he had to sit in the plane feeling guilty for giving the Cajun a heard time, and guilt wasn't something he did well. Like most emotion it usually ended with anger and hostility. Looks like he and the danger room where going to spend some quality time together. He snorted, it was kind of like the Cajun hitting the bottle, everyone had their way of dealing with their feelings.
Once inside the plane, the mood was mainly anxious as the X-men where either occupied with getting the plane up and out or with the well being of their injured team mate. Beast laid Gambit down on a stretcher in the back, instantly stripping the poisoned man down to his briefs and sticking him with IV's and an oxygen mask. Beast frown down at the thermometer measuring Remy's temperature, 104 and rising yet the semi conscious man was visibly shivering, his teeth chattering, fists clenched as he arched his back in response to the muscle spasms that seemed to strike repeatedly. Reacting on instinct Beast summoned Iceman to the back.
"What's up Hankster?" Bobby asked glancing over to Gambit with concern.
"Bobby, I need you to crystallize Gambit's perspiration, his temperature is dangerously high and we must reduce his fever immediately!" Beast spoke with busy hands taping the IV fluids to Gambit's arms and injecting him with a shot of adrenalin to open up his air ways. Bobby looked over Remy unsure if freezing the beads of sweat covering his team mate's body would do him any favors.
"I don't know Hank, he looks like he's already really cold." Iceman mentioned knowing better then to question Beast's medical advice. He was answered by a flustered look and annoyed sigh but before the good doctor could offer a long winded explanation Iceman threw up his arms in surrender then cracked his knuckles he lay his hands upon Remy's bare chest , creating a thin layer of ice over the distressed man.
Remy felt like his blood was boiling through a body made of ice. The pain was rushing through him in constant waves, filling each muscle with acid that caused his entire body to stiffen and lock up. His head was swimming with fragmented thoughts and fever induced confusion while his stomach cramped up with a nauseas pain that would be crippling if he had any control over his body what so ever. The ringing in his ears had become so load he could hear nothing else except the beating of his own heart that was hammering so fast and hard inside his chest he thought it might explode. His attention was divided between trying not to throw up and breathing which seemed to be at odds with each other. He was gonna die, Mon Duie this time he was sure of it.
Psylock exchange a sudden shocked glance with Jean, her expression mildly disconcerted while the red head was in a state of alarm. Jean jumped to her feet and rushed past the others who watched her with confusion. She hurried to Gambit's side, placing a hand on his head and one to her temple, eyes closed in concentration as her brow crumpled sensing his immense pain.
"Hank!" she gasped feeling Remy's panic overwhelm her. "Beast he's going to die…….His body is going through too many processes, his mind can't keep up!" She spat in exasperation trying to help her teammate gain control over his body. Usually it was impossible to infiltrate Remy's mind, but at the moment his shields where completely down as every ounce of his consciousness was being directed to maintaining his basic body functions.
*Remy,….I am here to help you!........Calm down and try to breath……….I will use my Telekinesis to assist you!*
Gambit recognized the voice but it scared him none the less. He was not fond of letting other's in his head, but at the moment he needed all the help he could get so he put up no resistance. He focused on his breathing like Jean said but despite the pain and confusion dominating every aspect of his being he couldn't help but notice something very strange happening within his mind. He couldn't figure out what was going on, but he knew that he was loosing himself, as if his memories where being poured into a blender and his consciousness was being sucked into a black hole. He fought against it, grasping at who he was and what he knew, but the harder he clung to his self awareness the less attention he paid to breathing and as a result he was succumbing to unconsciousness.
Jean could sense what was happening but couldn't hold on to Remy's mind as it jerked her violently toward the suffocating despair and confusion of oblivion. She pulled hard, managing to free herself, opening her eyes as she fell against the wall of the Black Bird and gasped for air.
"No,…..Oh God!" She gasped rushing back to Gambit's side as his body seizure, blood streaming from his noise, ears and eyes. "Bishop!........His powers!!!...........Nightcrawler grab a Genoshian collar from the lock box!" She yelled as Gambit's body began to glow from yellow to a hot pinkish white, so bright it was almost blinding. Bishop entered the room and moved to the end of the stretcher holding on to Remy's legs and absorbing as much energy as he could, gritting his teeth as he felt the fire rushing through him. Nightcrawler bamfed onto the scene with the collar in his hand, struggling to place it around Remy's neck as the unconscious man's body rioted, the power singing the hair on all those within a few feet of him.
Hank was hurrying around adjusting every button on every machine as they all began to beep and ring in alarm, some short circuiting as Gambit's power sparked through the IV's. The curtain to the back was thrown open as the other X-Men stared at the scene before them, Iceman and Nightcrawler joining them to get out of the way. Beast was franticly moving to get a suction device as Gambit began to choke on his own blood. Jean was crying, holding both hands on Remy's head that was shaking back and forth, blood splattering her face and uniform. Wolverine rushed forward trying to help Jean by holding down Remy's flaying body as Hank grabbed Gambit's jaw, forcing it open and sticking the suction device deep into his throat.
From the entrance to the emergency medical area Storm pressed her hands together holding them to her lips as she repeated ' Goddess' over and over, blue eyes wet as she rocked. Rouge stood next to her, emerald eyes wide with fear, gloved hands over her open mouth. Jubilee was right behind them, crying as she shook her head, feeling completely responsible for Remy's situation. The rest of the team stood by with a mixture of alarm and disbelief.
"What's going on back there?!" Cyclops shouted from the pilot seat as Arc Angle ran back from the co-pilot seat to assess the situation. He returned to the leader of the X-Men with an expression of shock. "Angel?!......Warren?"
"It doesn't look good Scott…..I think……I think……He's dyeing." Warren sat down in the chair but kept his focus toward the back, his eyes soft with the realization that a man might die. A man he hadn't particularly liked but who was a team mate none the less. Cyclops watched his friend's expression, then turned his attention back to steering the plane, accelerating the speed toward the X-mansion, jaw locked and gut tight. He would be damned if he lost an X-Man, not today, not ever again. It was a promise he had made to himself despite it's foolishness, especially in their dangerous lives. The guilt of letting a man die under his command was more then he could take and a responsibility he never felt comfortable with.
Beast grabbed a syringe full of sedative, looking back and forth from the needle to his patient unsure if the serum would do the trick or cause more harm. Gambit's eyes where rolled back, his mouth open and gasping as blood bubbled out in spurts, fists clenched and body arched unnaturally. Jean was trying her best to make contact but with every plunge into his mind she felt more and more lost in the confusing rush of images mixed with emotions. Wolverine looked up at Beast while using his body weight to hold down the seizuring form of his team mate.
"Common Hank,………We got to do something or he's gonna blow, collar or not!" Gambit's body was beginning to glow again even with the collar locked in place. Bishop let out a cry and jumped back his body trembling with the amount of power absorbed, he had to let it out and soon. Beast hesitated only a moment longer before plunging the needle into Remy's arm which began to glow instantly. Rouge jumped forward and took the glowing syringe the moment the solution was empty and held it tight as it exploded, obliterating her glove and leaving her super strong skin red and blistered.
Gambit's body slowed it's jerks and contortions, the flares of pink and white sparks fizzled out and his gasps for air became less frequent. There was a collective sigh from all as Beast once again used the suction tube to remove the blood spilling out of Remy's mouth. Jean stepped back looking completely frazzled, her hair wet with sweat and her face and hands speckled with blood.
"Here Darlin." Wolverine spoke in a soft tone he only used with the women he loved, handing Jean a wet wash cloth. She looked at the offering with eyes that did not see and a mind still trying to recover from the turmoil she had almost been sucked into within Gambit's poisoned mind. Logan studied the red head for a moment realizing she was not in a functional state of mind and instead gently began to wipe her face as her eyes shifted from a vacant spot to meet his steal blue ones.
Rouge stood next to Remy, holding her injured hand pressed to her chest and using the gloved one to stroke his wet bangs out of his face. She had never seen him in such a way, with a mixture of blood, sweat and tears all streaked down his handsome face, clotting in his constant stubble. Beast had removed the suction tube and was about to check his vitals. He handed Storm a cloth to clean the X-man she looked upon as her thief brother, a kindred spirit, the man she sponsored to join their family but who still after a year on the team kept his secrets and maintained his distance.
Beast ideally wondered if such a brush with death might change Gambit's attitude toward the team and persuade him to drop his defensive guard. Then again, Remy's attitude toward them was a reflection of their own mistrust and criticism of him and so the vicious cycle seemed never ending. Hank had always regretted not reaching out more to their Arcadian team mate, suspecting that he was far more intellectually inclined then he let on. Beast had seen him more then once in the mansion library reading through books only he and the Professor had ever picked up. Once he had dared to enter the room and engage Remy about the novel he had selected but to his dismay the Cajun instantly put it away and made a comment about how useless it was to use so many words to describe a thing and that he'd rather live life then read about it. However, when Beast returned later that day he found the book missing and surmised that Remy had taken it to his room to avoid being found out.
Hank snapped back to reality as he heard Cyclops inform the plane full of X-Men of their approaching landing. He looked down at Gambit who had finally stilled, breaths shallow and body trembling but calm for the moment. Beast then took stock of his emergency medical equipment, most of which had been fried beyond repair. He sighed, looks like another call to Forge for repairs.
"Rouge my dear, allow me to dress your injury before I am otherwise engaged in the health of our distressed team mate." He said retrieving ointment and bandages. The southern bell glanced down at her hand, surprised at the realization of her pain, so accustomed to invulnerability.
"My,…….the ol' boy sure knows how to leave a girl hot an' bothered!" She smiled, trying to use humor to sidetrack her from the worry she felt.
"So it would seem." Storm agreed looking over her friend's scorched palm. Beast began to wrap the bandage as the Blackbird settled into the Hanger. The first one out of the plane was Bishop, running for the opening. He let out a pent up cry of relief as he fired the excess energy into the sky, falling to his knees in exhaustion. A moment later Cyclops was at his side, concern etched into his features.
"Bishop!? Are you alright?" He set a hand on the large man's shoulder, who responded with a curt nod and heavy breaths slowing his hammering heart.
"I had not realized the immense quantity of potential energy LeBeau posses…….It is truly terrifying what that man may be capable of." He whispered between heavy breaths, rising to his feet and once again firing into the sky one powerful blast after another, feeling the power drain from him slowly, allowing feeling to return to his aching limbs and sore muscles.
Cyclops turned back toward the Black bird as he watched Beast and Wolverine carry out the stretcher with Gambit's unnaturally pale form upon it. The other's stood by and watched with tense and worried expressions. He walked toward his team mates, pausing to exchange looks with Jean who was embracing a rather distraught Jubilee, soothing her with reassurances that Gambit would be all right and that what happened wasn't her fault.
*Team meeting in 15 mins?* Scott projected towards Jean, seeking in private the advice of his wife and partner. He often confided in both she and Charles that with out her, he would be unable to lead the team and preserve the unity needed to keep the X-men in check. When moral was at a low he was ultimately at a loss for how to deal with the complex and often turbulent personalities that resided with in the walls of the Xavier institute. Having been raised in an orphanage for a long span of his childhood, Scott had learned to keep his feelings inside and maintain a distance from the emotions that would other wise threaten to overwhelm him. It was for this reason he was often agitated and frustrated with Wolverine's outbursts and hotheadedness. With out Jean around to mediate the on going tensions and minor grievances harbored among the X-Men, Scott would have no team at all.
Jean's sea green eyes flittered up toward her Husband, a look of contemplation crossed her brow, before being replaced by a considerate and soothing smile.
*Better make it 30 honey,………Some are more shaken up then others and Hank may have more he can tell us by then………Plus I need a shower!*
He nodded once in agreement with out braking his stride and refocused his attention on matter's at hand.
"Alright people,……..Debriefing in the War room in 30 minutes." He paused glancing toward Storm who kept her gaze fixed strait ahead, jaw locked and blue eyes unblinking in an effort to keep her tears at bay. Few understood how close she and their newest recruit truly where, but it didn't take a telepath to see that she was fighting for control over her emotions. Perhaps tonight Westchester would be hammered by an unforeseen storm that would leave the local meteorologist from the news baffled once again.
"Maybe Hank will know something more." He offered with a tired sigh. There was a moment of silence fallowed by an unsure hesitation. Then one by one the X-Men walked toward the hanger door, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Cyclops was the last to fallow, rubbing his temples as he let the gravity of the situation sink in. Time to talk with Charles.