A/N: Phew! Today's been pretty good at running away from me. But I DID manage to update this baby of mine. (smirks)

Thank you, so very much, for all your fantastic reviews and love for this story! We're getting close to the end, now. It means a lot to me that you've all been sticking around!

Awkay, because I'd assume that you want to get on with the story… Let's rock! I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride.

On the Edge of the End

Stryker was tense and, admittedly, nervous while he watched Dr. Richard Thompson working on Charles. The telepath himself didn't seem to even notice the hands examining him or the light Dr. Thompson shone into his eyes. Didn't seem to be in the same world with them at all.

Dr. Thompson frowned, dark brown eyes growing nearly black. The man's jawline tightened for a moment, which was a sure sign of bad news. "How long has he been like this?"

Stryker didn't really want to answer but he didn't exactly have a choice. "Since yesterday evening", he announced gruffly. Charles fell to his knees with a moan about two minutes after Cerebro had been activated, sporting a mighty nosebleed. They'd been able to staunch the bleeding but they hadn't managed to coax the mutant into waking up.

Dr. Thompson ran a hand through his shortcut mahogany hair. The look of accusation spoke loudly that the doctor knew what he refused to say. "You made him use Cerebro again against my strong medical advice."

Stryker's eyebrows narrowed. Like he didn't know how bad of a idea it was by now. "It's a little too late for that speech, don't you think?" He looked towards the mutant, gazed into the surreally blue, half open eyes that stared at something he couldn't even imagine. "How do we snap him out of that?"

Dr. Thompson sighed heavily, shoulders slumping. "Look… The strain you've been putting on his mind, on his brain, has been incredible. There's no way of telling the level of damage under these circumstances."

Stryker fought the urge to curse, loudly. This telepath was wrecking his career and sanity. "He's not leaving this facility anymore. It's too dangerous."

Dr. Thompson stared at him with quite open disbelief. "Didn't you hear me? If he isn't treated properly…!"

Stryker's eyes darkened. "Then there's one mutant less in this world, is all." With those words he left the room.

Stryker imagined that he'd find some safety from his office. Instead he discovered that he had a visitor. A rather young woman with long yet neatly tied, nearly black hair and darker eyes fixed a hard look at him. "I'm Vivian Thomes, from ethic board. We need to talk."

Seeing Charles had given Erik a entirely new amount of energy. He knew what he was fighting for, now. And he knew that he had to be prepared because this fight was such that he simply couldn't afford to lose.

So he battled on. Convinced himself to eat properly once more because he knew that he needed the it. Attempted to rest although it was next to impossible. Exercised whenever he knew that he wasn't being observed, bracing his body for anything. Focused, got ready, waited, although he still wasn't entirely sure for what.

He, much to his infinite irritation, didn't have a plan. Not for this one. He was determined but he still didn't quite know how to get Charles and himself out of this mess. He just had a nasty feeling that he'd have to figure it out before he'd run out of time.

Which became confirmed when one morning Stryker entered his cell. There was a grim expression on the man's face. Erik knew instantly.

He tried to keep his face in check while his heartbeat sped out of control. The thoughts, dark guesses, coursing through his head… "What happened to Charles?"

Stryker seemed genuinely surprised for a moment until the man, apparently, decided not to care. "He's… unwell. And he's been calling out to you in his sleep. I don't like it at all but as it is we're running out of options. I'm taking you to see him."

A cold Erik couldn't understand came over him. It had to be bad if Stryker was willing to consult him, to take the risk of Charles and him meeting again. There wasn't a minute to waste.

He moved to leave the room but Stryker stopped him. "Not so fast." The agent nodded towards the helmet he'd thrown to the furthest corner of the tiny room. "You remember the deal, don't you? If you want to see him ever again… put that on. Right now."

Erik wanted to argue with all his being. Considering how willingly he put on a similar helmet once upon a time it was ironic, in a very bitter way, how much he detested the item now. But he'd matured enough to recognize a pointless battle. So he put the horrific thing on, his eyes expressing precisely how he felt about the matter, and followed Styker without another word.

Erik could've sworn that he heard a clock ticking somewhere in the back of his mind and he hated it.

Elsewhere a group of young mutants was growing increasingly irritated and anxious. It wasn't much of a surprise to them that Erik had left but it was worrying that the man hadn't returned yet. They had entirely too dark ideas of what might be happening. And there still wasn't a trace of Charles. No new pictures with him looming at the background, not attempts to reach out for them. Nothing. It was… almost like the two mutants had never even been there.

As was to be expected the tension led to a lot of arguing, especially between Raven and the boys. They blamed her a little, deep down. They still didn't know how to trust her and she had no clue how to be around them. But she also knew that she couldn't leave them until she'd made sure that Charles and Erik were safe and sound.

In the end Raven decided that she was in a desperate need for some air. So she headed for a walk, in the end finding herself from streets that she couldn't remember seeing before. It was only natural that she didn't expect someone to know her.

She was so deep in thought that it took her a long moment to register the voice calling out to her from the crowd. A little boy's voice. "Mystique?"

Stunned and more than a little suspicious Raven spun around to see a child who couldn't be older than six or seven years old. A bit long grown rebellious hair that had a silvery edge, mischevious brown eyes. "How did you know…?"

"Mom asked me to deliver a message. So here I am." He seemed so very proud of himself that it was heartwarming. Like he'd just completed the most important task of all. "She says that she still hates Magneto with venom. But she also owes him a favor for giving her a special gift." With those cryptic words came a small piece of paper.

Raven accepted the offering although suspicion still lingered deep within. There was a deep frown, along with a lot of confusion, on her face. "Who are you?"

The boy grinned. "A friend." With that the child disappeared at a speed that couldn't possibly be human, vanishing so fast that the people around them didn't even register what was happening. Leaving behind nothing but the note and his confusing words.

Raven knew that she shouldn't have just trusted like that. But if she was honest with herself they'd reached a point where it was necessary to hang on to any possible straw, no matter how weak. And so she gave the message a look.

It was written in a very neat woman's handwriting. There weren't many actual words, really. Just cordinates and what she assumed was to be a date and a time. Those and a clear order.

'Be prepared.'

Whatever Erik expected to find was no match to reality. He froze three steps away from the doorway, unable to tear his eyes away from Charles although a part of him wanted to. He barely noticed Stryker leaving.

Charles… looked frail and ill. Like someone about to slip away. The man seemed to be awake but sat on the bed with glazed over eyes, his mind clearly somewhere far away. Pale and so exhausted that it was palpable. It was enough to knock all breath from Erik's lungs.

What the hell have they done?!

"Charles?" His voice wasn't supposed to sound like that, so uncertain and broken. He didn't care. Nor did he manage to bring awareness into those eyes. "Charles", he tried again, a little more desperately. And then he decided that enough was enough.

Taking the risk of Stryker walking in again he tore off the helmet, fought the urge to just smash the entire thing. And then he did what he'd done every single day since finding out that Charles had been captured, at least before he was taken to this hellhole. He reached out.

Charles, I'm here.

The impact was almost instant. Charles blinked twice, slowly. Then turned his head at that same pace to face him. It took a couple of seconds before recognition dawned and a radiant smile appeared. "Erik? What are you doing here?"

Erik just had to smile at that. "The same thing you did, a while back. Trying to look out for you." Trying to make sure that you live through this.

Charles' eyes were soft and touched. The telepath moved, as though attempting to climb out of the bed, before changing his mind. "I'll be fine. You really don't have to…"

"Yes, I do." Erik gritted his teeth and attempted to hold himself back until he realized that there was no point. He wanted Charles to see, to understand. "Read my mind."

Charles stared at him with quite open stun. Clearly realizing despite his condition that this was something completely out of his character. "What?"

"Read my mind", Erik repeated. His voice was tight with impatience and anxiety. "You asked me who I am so let me show you. Let me show you who you are."

Charles swallowed, appearing hesitant. Then, very slowly, the telepath lifted two fingers to his forehead. Just like back then, in the days Erik missed so much that it hurt. After a one more lingering look Charles closed his eyes, focusing.

Charles tried to prepare himself for anything. But the flood of memories and feelings that overcame him… It was overwhelming.

/ Erik with his mom, so much love and affection lingering there that it made Charles gasp, fighting tears. / 'I'd already lost that memory but you… You found it again for me. I'm trying to return the favor. You always kept believing in me, no matter how many reasons I gave not to.'

/ The two of them in raging waves, a bond that formed the moment they lay their eyes on each other. "You're not alone, Erik." / 'You were wrong, by the way. THAT is the brightest spot of my memory. My favorite bit.'

All the feelings that developed came flooding over Chalres, right there. Every little thing he stirred in Erik. How much the metal bender hated it at first, tried to fight it, tried to push him away. Only to realize that the telepath had already left a lasting mark into his very soul. It was… perfection. For a while. Almost.

But thes shadow of Sebastian Shaw was always there.

He could tell how much it hurt Erik. But the tall mutant allowed another memory to flow through. Agonized, guilty, outraged and grieving.

Through Erik's eyes Charles saw himself on the sand, a wound left by a poorly directed bullet marring his head.

If I could I'd do anything to take that back. You… You need to believe that, you need to believe me. Erik's mind was begging, pleading. So were those eyes that weren't used to carrying emotions aside fear and anger. If I could…

Calm your mind, Charles asked in return. It took all his willpower not to reach out and hold the man before him. It was like watching someone who was sinking into quicksand. He offered a smile, hoping that it was enough. It was an accident, nothing more.

Erik sighed unsteadily. The man's eyes were shimmering a little. "I… I walked away from you", the metal bender admitted, spitting out the words like they were the most painful ones he'd ever uttered. "You let me leave and I did. If I hadn't…" The rest floated away, too painful, too raw, too powerful.

Charles didn't know what to say. The storm in his mind… It was crushing him. He couldn't even imagine how Erik had been able to live with it for days and days, maybe even years.

And then came a new wave of memories.

/ Erik, prepared to walk away for the first time, less than a day after they first met. Charles standing there, letting him. / 'You're the first one who ever gave me a choice, even though you had every opportunity to persuade me otherwise. I fell in love with you right there.' There was nothing but pure honesty there. This man Stryker introduced to him as a monster… This realization had him dizzy.

A million little things followed. Charles wearing Cerebro for the fist time, with the older mutant watching closely. The two of them playing chess and teaching a group of painfully young mutants. Traveling together. Fighting together, side by side. And then, at last, a memory of a kiss, so strong that it nearly dropped Charles to his knees.

'Please, Charles.' It was a plea, but also so loud that it seemed to fill all of him. 'Come back to me. I want you by my side.'

Charles took a deep breath. He felt exhausted but also surreally light. 'What if my memories never return?'

Erik smiled, just a little bit. There was a great deal of sadness behind it. 'Then we'll make new ones to replace them.'

Completely out of the blue Erik leaned forward and pressed a small, tender kiss to his forehead. There were no prying eyes. No need to pretend. This… It was just for him.

"I need you to keep fighting, Charles", Erik whispered, so quietly that he could've easily missed it. "I'll get us out of here, I promise. We have friends out there, willing to help. But you have to keep fighting. Okay?"

Charles couldn't understand what was happening. Just a blink ago he thought that he was in the only place in the world where he could belong anymore. But now… He couldn't imagine saying 'No' to this bizarre, so many times wounded being before him. And so he nodded, barely visibly but still.

There was a visible change in Erik, right there. The metal bender's shoulders relaxed and a part of the shadows hiding on the man's face disappeared. "Good. Now rest. There's no point in fighting sleep if you're feeling unwell."

Less than thirty seconds after Erik's words Charles was already fast asleep. Breathing slow and even, a calm look on the resting face. Neither noticed that at some point they'd taken each other's hands and never remembered to let go.

Erik, on the other hand, found it hard to breathe while putting on the obnoxious helmet once more. Having Charles right there in front of him… It was intoxicating. In the perfect world he would've been allowed to stay until Charles would've regained his consciousness. Or longer. But as Erik had brutally discovered so many times the world was hardly a perfect place.

Stryker walked into the room. There was a unreadable look on the man's face while the agent took in the sight before him. "I see that you managed to convince him to rest. Good." A pair of sharp eyes met his. "Now, your time's up."

Erik gave Stryker a filthy look but bit his tongue, for Charles' sake. As much as he hated the thought the love of his life receiving proper treatment was in the agent's hands. He'd have to wait patiently, just a little bit longer.

Letting go of Charles' hand was far more painful than Erik would've ever known to expect. Turning his back on the telepath was even worse. For the sake of his sanity he pretended that he didn't hear the small, pained sound Charles emitted when he left the room. He didn't want to shed some unwanted tears in front of Stryker.

After what felt like a decade they'd reached the elevator. There was a touch too much pleasure on Stryker's face when the agent glanced towards. "Quite clever of you. To lull him into sleep with a touch of fool's hope."

Rage flared inside Erik, entirely too familiar and strong enough to catch his breath. If he hadn't known what'd happen to Charles if he acted on his desires… His eyes narrowed while he focused them on the elevator's door, desperate to focus on anything else but how tempting it would've been to tear that monster to pieces with his own bare hands. "It wasn't fool's hope", he noted, stunned by how calm he sounded, if not a little deadly. "One day you'll pay for what you've done. And on that day you'll burn."

He heard, even though he didn't see, Stryker's arched eyebrow. "Is that a threat, Magneto?"

Erik shook his head. It didn't do a thing to ease the maddening tingle underneath his skin. "No. It's stating a fact."

There was a flash of rage on Stryker that he felt but the man kept his silence.

Quite soon Erik was in his entirely too familiar cell once more. Locked up. Imprisoned.

It wasn't until there, safely away from all unwanted eyes, he dared to let his internal turmoil boil over. He punched the wall, so hard that he saw stars for a moment, then repeated the action. Over and over again until he succeeded in drawing blood. A wounded scream slipped past his lips before he managed to control himself.

He promised Charles freedom. He promised Charles hope. But how the hell was he going to grant either one of those things?!

Erik must've raged himself to sleep because all of a sudden he woke up from the floor to a bizarre sound. He turned his head to see a tray full of food. A shudder of revulsion crossed him.

Were they honestly expecting him to eat now?!

He was about to turn his back once more until he finally noticed something. A small note, slipped in so that it was barely visible. His curiosity was piqued despite all the warnings his head attempted to scream and he approached. Erik's eyes widened the tiniest fraction when the note's message finally registered. His heart leapt to a mad dash.

'Keep holding on. Both of you. We're almost there.

Tomorrow at the eleven o'clock guard swap. Cover your ears. The ground will shake.'

And there, drawn to the bottom of the piece of paper, was a tiny raven.

TBC

A/N: Soooo, the final big confrontation is at hand. Will everyone involved make it through alive? Will our mutant couple get their well deserved ending?

Soooo… Any good, at all? PLEASE, do leave a note to let me know.

I've really gotta get going now. I really hope that you'll all join in for the next time.

Take care!