What is to Come
Chapter Four
It had been two weeks since Jean had spotted Gambit crumpled on the sidewalk and he was still in a coma. Everyday Piotr and Rogue went to sit with him for a while, and everyday Logan came in to check on him.
"He is not a bad man you know." Piotr said as Logan leaned on the doorway. "I know you were all thinking badly of him, and all of us. He was not bad though. No. He wasn't a cruel man. He wasn't an angry man either."
"Why was he there? You told us why you were there, but none of the others." Logan said, as he entered the room and pulled up a chair.
"It was not my story to tell...it still isn't"
"If you're gonna vouch for him, do it, otherwise leave it and let him prove himself when he wakes."
"He's is going to be angry enough I gave you his name, I'll give you no more without his knowledge. You want more? Ask Rogue, she knows too, from absorbing him."
"She has no real control over what she gets, there's no way to know if she knows anything."
"She does, we've spoken of it waiting here together." Piotr said, gesturing around the room as he stood to leave. "I cannot say she will tell you what you want to know though."
"I knew why he joined Magneto. I saw it the day I absorbed him in New Orleans. Only everything else was so fresh and garbled it wasn't until later I really saw it all. We need to ask him to stay Logan." Rogue said from the doorway. "He won't ask us if he can stay but he wants to be here, I'm sure of it."
"He was on his way here." Logan said. "A few months ago he called Charles and asked if he would be welcome if he arrived and Charles said he would be. That was the day after we got you back Stripes. He never arrived, we assumed he changed his mind."
"So how do you know he was coming here then?" Rogue said as she sat beside Logan.
"Because we found in the pocket of his coat the driving directions to the mansion, and it was scorched like it had been slightly burned. Hank noticed the fresh burn scars on his back and arms too. Charles thinks he had an accident with his powers. Says they're stronger than last time he encountered Gambit. He thinks that's what happened, but we won't know for sure until he wakes up and tells us."
They all watched the man in the bed, wondering if he would ever be able to answer their questions, and hoping he would. Hank arrived a few minutes later, to announce it was time to go so he could check over the patient.
~0~o~0~
Jean regretted her terrible reaction to Scott's proposal. She hadn't wanted to marry him, at least not right now, but she could have turned him down differently. She had reacted terribly, and was suffering for it. Scott was not a cruel person; he wasn't being mean to her at all. In fact, after that night he seemed to have decided to act like it had never happened at all.
Except the wall was still there. She didn't think it was there intentionally. She realized she had helped build it with her words and actions that night, and feared that they may never be able to tear it down.
Scott, for his part, was trying to forgive her. It wasn't turning him down that had left him so hurt, it was what she had said afterward. He felt he was being unfair to her, but he couldn't bring the block down himself. He had tried. He knew why his mind had put it up, and that the tidal wave of negative emotions and thoughts were a gut reaction from Jean, but he couldn't bring himself to lower his defenses, because he didn't think he could handle another dose of that level of hatred coming through their link.
It wasn't helping them either, that Kitty had wasted no time showing off her own ring. Everyone, including Jean and Scott were happy for the couple, but Scott couldn't help feeling a bit jealous. Not only was Kitty younger than them, they had been dating far less time than Jean had been with him. How had Piotr managed to pull it off?
Jean ironically was also jealous. Jealous that Kitty was so certain that it was the right path to take, when Jean wasn't sure what she wanted. Jealous too that the younger girl was likely going to marry before her. She knew it didn't make any sense, after all Scott had wanted to marry her and she had turned him down, but she was jealous of the other girl just the same.
She was worried she was going crazy, but didn't know what to do. If she went to the Professor and it really was happening again, then what? Jean didn't know how the others would react then. Would they be afraid of her? Would Scott want anything to do with her? Would they be able to make it go away again? She'd been afraid for the last few weeks this 'Phoenix' was returning, it was the real reason she told Scott no. Jean felt it wasn't fair to promise him a future when she wasn't certain she had one.
~0~o~0~
Spyke was irritated. Jade had been busy all day, all week in fact and they had barely spoken to each other. Calypso was being intentionally stubborn about everything, both being at the mansion and about him and his wife. He couldn't help but feel that some if not most of her rejection of the X-men was in anger against him.
She reluctantly continued to stay within these walls, but any offer of friendship or kindness beyond their basic needs was rejected. Just a few minutes ago Ororo and Kitty had offered to take the children out to the gardens to let them play for a while in the fresh air. Calypso had refused, had refused to even ask their mothers if it was alright or to come with them.
Jade had tried to talk to Calypso about allowing the X-men to help them as they wanted to, but she was just as stubborn as when Spyke tried, if not more so. The argument between them had gotten so loud that Logan had come in and said. "Keep it down would ya?! The man who saved your collective asses is right below your feet trying hard not to die! Have some respect for others."
Jade said. "I'm sorry sir we didn't-"
"Don't apologize to him! We owe them nothing, we didn't ask for their help, they forced it on us. If we are in their way, we can leave."
"We aren't going anywhere, Mother, they offered their help, they aren't our enemies."
"Foolish girl, running to the first person who shows you kindness without questioning what it is they want in return."
"Not everyone is out to get you lady." Logan interrupted. "But I will be happy to let you run through the Danger room if you keep up this noise. Just shut up."
Spyke then stepped in as Logan left in an attempt to calm them all down. In the end he ended up taking a walk with both his wife and his leader angry with him as well. He knew it was only a matter of time before she decided the Morlocks were leaving. The question, Spyke realized was if he wanted to go with them, and if Jade would stay behind if he did.
~0~o~0~
"Have you seen this?" Jubilee said shaking her head in disgust as she pointed toward the television. She was one of the younger members of the team, and spent most of her time in training, not on the field, but still had more than her fair share of prejudice to deal with daily at school.
Kitty and Rogue shook their heads and joined their younger teammates on the couch as their former principle, Robert Kelly said. "SO in conclusion, if I am elected, I will ensure these creatures are kept in check so that you and your children will be safe. Thank you, good evening."
"Creatures?!" Kitty said as she glared at the screen, already guessing who he was talking about. She had spent all off last year singled out on Kelly's command as had her fellow mutants. "What does he think he's playing at? We're people just like everyone else!"
"He was using the footage of the Battle to 'prove' we're dangerous." Jubilee said shaking her head. "I'm going to go make sure the teachers saw this."
As she left the room the reporter returned to the screen to recap the announcement of Kelly's bid for senate and Rogue watched with resignation while Kitty paced back and forth so quickly that her ponytail bounced back and forth while she ranted about Kelly's bigotry. The other kids were glaring at the scene, talking loudly to each other, or in Jamie's case sitting numbly looking at nothing.
Amara and Sam sat on the love seat together, while Roberto, Bobby and Rhane sat on the second couch, and Jamie sat on the floor. They had been watching a movie together when the news came on.
Jubilee returned a few minutes later with Ororo, Charles, Calypso, Piotr, Scott, and Logan. Logan placed a reassuring hand briefly on Kitty's tiny shoulder before they turned their attention to the tv.
"After they watched what happened last summer, that many people won't agree with him right?" Jubilee said, frowning. "I mean most people saw you saved the day, not were causing trouble like he's saying?"
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple Jubilation. They are seeing it both sides. Yes, mutants saved the day, as you said, but it was also mutants they were fighting." Ororo said.
"So that's it then?" The young Asian girl replied. "It doesn't matter to them what good we can do because a few bad ones can do what they did?"
"Sadly, that is the case in some minds." Charles said. "However, that is why we are here. That is why all of you are here, to change their minds. I believe we can create a world where humans and mutants can live together in peace, neither having to hide what they are. We will help them see the good in all of us."
Calypso snorted before she said. "Topsiders will never accept us. That is why we do not belong here. Thank you, for helping us Xavier, but my people need to be where it is safe, and the surface isn't that place. I will begin preparing my people to leave."
"Wherever will you go?" Ororo asked.
"Not to where we were, no that place is no longer safe. Somewhere new, and unknown to anyone, even you Storm. It is the only way."
Let's please wait at least until we know you are no longer hunted, we still have no idea who was after you to begin with an-" Ororo began, but was interrupted by Kurt appearing in a cloud of smoke.
"Dr. McCoy sent me" he said in an excited tone. "To say he's waking up."
Rogue and Piotr were out of the room before Kurt finished talking, with the three adults on their heels. Kurt collapsed into the nearest chair and asked what was going on. Jubilee quickly filled him in as Kitty decided to follow the others.
~0~o~0~
Gambit first became aware of the steady beeping of the monitors, and the heavy smell of antiseptic. For a moment he was certain that he had been recaptured, the bright lights were making their way through his closed lids and as he shifted slightly he felt the pain radiating throughout his body.
Then he heard the soft murmurs of others in the room with him, and realized he must be elsewhere. He took mental stock of what he remembered, and hoped the X-men were nearby, because he didn't think he could make it out of a crowded hospital in his current condition when they saw his eyes.
He cracked one eye carefully as he tried to look around without being noticed, and the first thing he saw was a white paneled ceiling. Before he could shift his head slightly, a blue furry face appeared near his own, the smell of aftershave nearly overwhelming. He forced himself not to react as he wondered why Beast would use aftershave.
"Is he okay?" came a female voice from just of of his sight and he realized it was Rogue.
"As I had Mr. Drake tell you, he is waking up. How much he will remember and how confused he will be will depend heavily on how much damage was done." Beast said as he pulled Remy's eye open to shine a light into it.
"Owe, stop that." Remy croaked as he turned his head.
"Remy." said Piotr, appearing next to him. "It is good to see you awake."
"Wish it was good to be awake Pete. What happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us. Jean and Scott found you passed out right outside our gate." Rogue said, not unkindly.
"Had to warn you. Going to attack those people in the sewers. Have to stop them." Remy replied.
"It's okay. You already did, we got them out, they're safe and sound. "Rogue said in what she hoped was a comforting tone.
"No. I mean I know. I remember. They realized someone had warned them." Remy continued. "They realized it was me. I tried to escape, but they caught me."
"Where'd they keep ya kid?" Logan asked, intent on shutting the place down.
"I'll draw ya a map, it won't matter none though, they were packing up shop that's how I slipped away." Remy said, wishing for a drink of water.
As if she'd heard him, Rogue offered him a straw, holding the cup for him to sip. He smiled gratefully at her and she shrugged. "I remember being really thirsty when I woke from my coma and I wasn't asleep nearly as long, or hurt as bad either."
"Coma? How long?!" Remy said, as he tried to sit up. Hank obliged him and raised the bed.
"Two weeks." Charles said from his corner. "Do you feel up to talking with me Gambit?"
"Merde! I may be too late! Kelly, he's going to run for office he-"
"He announced it just a few minutes ago." said Rogue. "How did you know?"
"Essex...Sinister, he's Kelly campaign backer. On'y Kelly don' know Sinister's a mutant, and he plans to ...I'm not sure, I don't remember."
"Okay everyone, let's clear the room. Gambit here needs his rest to recover." said Hank, as he started shooing people toward the door. Gambit had not yet let go of Rogue's hand which he had grabbed as he sat up, and Charles remained silent in the corner. Everyone else left, including Hank who had given Charles a mental warning about pushing the patient to hard.
"It's okay, you'll remember. The important thing is to get you better." Rogue said, as he gripped her hand harder, making her fingers go numb. The rough material of her glove doing little to buffer the trembling of his own hand.
"How did you come by the information about the Morlocks Gambit?" Charles said.
"I was on my way here, after I called you, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere I lost control. My whole bike was shining like a Christmas star and I couldn't pull it in. I pulled over to the nearest rest stop and ran for it, but I was swept up in the blast." Remy began, ignoring the look of horror on Rogue's face at the idea of such a blast." When I came to, Essex was there with me. He said I was lucky and that no one had been hurt, but that I was outta control. He offered to help me,. I thought of here, of all the kids that would have been hurt or worse if that happened here, or while I was out somewhere and I agreed."
"You could have still come." Rogue said with a smile. Trying to let him know he was welcome, but that she wasn't criticizing him. She'd spent two weeks thinking about this and she fully intended to try and be his friend. She hoped he would stay here where it was safe if he had friends here.
"I didn't want to hurt anyone, Cherie." Remy said before returning his attention to Charles. " He did...he did several surgeries to fix me. He's a sadist, no medication at all, ever. But I regained control. Then he said that we needed to talk price. I was willing to pay him whatever he wanted in cash, but what he wanted was for me to work for him and to kill all those people. I agreed to his terms and he gave me the file, which I made a copy of and gave to Rogue so that you could get to them, then they found me and brought me back because I was a prisoner and not allowed to leave. They realized right away what I had done when the tunnels were empty, and it took me a long time to find another way out. He kept doing things like breaking my bones and injecting me with sleeping medications to keep me in check."
"And then Kelly was involved somehow?" Charles prompted.
"Noo. I mean yes they are working together, but no not over this stuff. I'm positive of that but I can not remember..."
"It's alright, son. Get some rest, we will talk again when you feel up to it. Meanwhile, you are still welcome here as long as you want." Charles said as he wheeled out of the room.
Remy was shocked they were still inviting him after he worked for Magneto and now Sinister, however he pushed aside his concerns when Rogue smiled brightly with a 'Welcome to the X-men."