Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip.

Scene 10

"Yes, I understand." The Professor was on the telephone in his office. Logan lurked in the corner, whilst the Professor's grown-up daughter Ilehana sat nearby. Storm had her arm around Blaze's shoulder. The girl stood stiffly, her arms folded across her chest as she listened to the Professor's words. "Thank you, Officer Hozack. Your help is very much appreciated." The line went dead, and the Professor placed the handset back in its cradle. He looked old and haggard as he turned his wheelchair to face his companions.

"Gambit must have sneaked out late last night without us knowing. They were caught in the act, breaking into Pizzazz! Entertainment's head office here in Bayville. The CCTV is damning. As far as Bayville Police Department is concerned, it's an open and shut case."

"Does he get a phone call?" Logan wanted to know.

"Yes," the Professor nodded. "They are letting him have that now."

Silently, Blaze unfolded her arms and took her cell phone from her pocket. Ducking out from Storm's embrace she stepped forward and placed the cell on the Professor's desk. Then she stepped back. Logan and Ilehana exchanged a glance. Was Blaze saying that she thought Gambit would call her, not the Professor? Or was she worried he might call her when she didn't know what to say to him? Maybe she didn't even want to talk to him…

It didn't matter. When it came to it Gambit knew which side his bread was buttered on and he rang the Professor's office direct. Blaze turned away as the Professor answered. Charles reached out and hit the loudspeaker button so everyone could hear what Remy had to say.

"Professor, I… I'm in some trouble. I need your help."

"I'm not sure what you expect me to do Gambit?"

"I swear, dis jus' all one big misunderstanding. Only t'ing is, de bail…"

"Bail?" The Professor raised an eyebrow. Blaze turned back to see what was happening. Storm reached out and took the redhead's warm hand, squeezing it tight.

"It's thirty thousand dollars. If you can pay it, I swear I will pay it back. Dey got the wrong man, Professor, you gotta believe me…"

"I'm sorry Gambit. I have to think of the example we'd be setting to the students. I'm sure you understand."

"Professor, please!"

"Goodbye Gambit," Xavier said. If Gambit replied it was too late, Charles had already hung up the phone.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Zack!"

Officer Hozack paused at the bottom of the steps in front of the main entrance to Bayville Police Department. He glanced round to see a solitary pedestrian holding a brown paper bag across the street. Blaze looked tired and pale but still she was impeccably turned out. Her smoky-blue jeans and black strappy top revealed a toned middle. Her make-up was flawless and her hair hung loose almost to her waist. Zack looked each way for traffic and then crossed the street to talk to her.

"Take this for me?" Blaze beseeched him, thrusting the paper bag into Zack's hands.

"What is it?"

"Thirty thou," Blaze admitted, "bail." She didn't need to say any more.

"Blaze, no, he's not worth it. He's going to jail unless Pizzazz! drop the charges, and that's not going to happen."

"Just take it, please," Blaze insisted. "I can't go in there."

"Alright," Zack finally agreed. His hand brushed Blaze's as he took the package from her. "Blaze…"

"Go," Blaze told him. "Please just go..." Zack did as he was told, crossing the street and ascending the steps to the station. Blaze watched him, absently biting her nails. She caught herself and forced her hands into her jeans pockets instead. Her gut felt rotten and she was about to turn and leave when, finally, Gambit appeared.

"Blaze!" he ran across the street, not looking at the traffic. One taxi had to swerve to avoid him but the Cajun didn't care. He darted across to his girlfriend and swept her up into a huge hug. Letting her go, he raved about how wonderful she was, "I knew you'd come t'rough for me, Chere! I jus' knew it! You de best, Cherie, I swear…"

"You rang the Professor," Blaze told him solemnly.

"What?" Gambit suddenly sensed his jubilance at being let out of jail was not shared.

"When you got busted, you rang the Professor, not me."

"I…"

"Not only that," Blaze took one step backwards from Gambit. "You didn't even think about ringing me. Or… Or anything." She took another step away. "Why did you get involved with Pyro and Shrew? They were never in a month of Sundays going to be able to break into Pizzazz!"

"I didn't Laura, I swear."

"Don't lie to me! I'm not a bleedin' judge!"

"I needed the money! To get back to you, to how you wanted t'ings to be!"

Blaze shook her head, "I didn't want this."

"Then what did you want?" Remy found he was getting angry. Who was Blaze to judge him? What did she want from him? Passing motorists were looking at the couple as they drove by. Gambit pretended not to care.

"I wanted you to be honest with me. You should have talked to me, Rem." Blaze was obviously distressed. "Do you think I don't know how hard it is? How much thieving calls to you? I miss it too, miss the buzz, the challenges, the paydays... I would have…"

"Would have what?" Remy snapped. "Would have come with me? Worked with me?"

"Yes!" Blaze exclaimed, and then changed her mind, "No! I don't know, alright? But you didn't ask, didn't even think I might understand what you were going through. How can we even have a relationship when you cut me out like that?"

"What d'you mean?" Gambit asked, but Blaze didn't answer straight away.

"The Professor won't let you come back to the mansion," she told Remy sadly. "He thinks you're a liability. I… I spoke to Wanda, she says you can stay at the Brotherhood house until you find someplace of your own. Logan is moving your stuff in the X-Van right now."

Gambit felt ill. He had never thought for a moment that his actions might jeopardise his life as an X-Man. He thought the Professor would understand. Now he was starting to realise what a fool he'd been. "Blaze, non, please…" Gambit went to take Blaze's hand, but she whipped it away from him. She couldn't meet his eyes.

"It's over Rem, I… I don't want to see you anymore."

Gambit stood shell-shocked as Blaze turned and walked slowly away. Suddenly it just all felt so pointless. He was out of jail, but for what? He'd be heading right back there as soon as the court case came around. And Blaze, had she really only paid his bail money so she could break up with him? Of course she had, Gambit told himself. She had said it herself. It was over.