Combusting Hearts

Chapter 14

When Gambit finally found her, he was taken back a bit by finding her in Scott's arms crying. He hadn't expected that, especially, since they didn't really like each other that much. Then again, sometimes Scott can actually act like a person, normally he was just in a bad mood.

T

I just sat there crying as the winter wind blew against me, causing me to shake and shiver. The cold was starting to take its toll on me as I sat there in the snow. I continued to sit there with my knees against my chest till I heard someone call my name.

"Elaine!" they called.

I lifted my head to find Scott running toward me. I was completely shocked that he had come after me. Scott…Scott of all people.

I sighed quietly as I stared at him, my eyes welling up again.

"Scott…" I choked, throwing my arms around him as he knelt down in front of me.

I felt him stiffen for a moment, before he slowly wrapped his arms around me, trying to sooth me as I cried. I just couldn't help it anymore, and I didn't care if it was Scott or not that witnessed it.

Surprisingly enough, he actually sat there with me as I cried, embracing me. He held on to me as I cried on his shoulder, shaking from the cold and my emotions. Moments later, I heard a small gasp, turning my eyes to find Gambit standing there.

"R-Remy…" I whispered, sniffling as I looked at him.

"Cheri," he breathed, hurrying over to us with his coat in hand. "Cheri!" he exclaimed, falling to his knees beside us.

He was panting and looked frantic. He took my hand as I reached out to him, pulling me to him as he hugged me. He quickly wrapped his coat are me in an attempt to warm from the cold. I think that I was already starting to develop frostbite, especially since I couldn't feel my face or fingers.

"Cheri…your lips are blue," he frowned, gently brushing his thumb over my lips.

I winced faintly when he did this.

"Oh, cheri," he whispered, pulling me up with him.

I cried out when he did this, my legs not wanting to bend properly. It hurt trying to stand, which only caused me to cling to him and cry again.

"We have to get her inside," Scott said, getting up and running toward the mansion.

Gambit did the same thing as he picked me up in his arms, holding me against his chest as he ran with me bundled up. When he got to the doors, Scott held them open, ushering him inside and into the living area close to the fire. A few of the kids that were still up moved out of the way to make room.

"Peter, help me move this couch," Scott said to a large boy that was in the room.

They quickly moved the couch closer to the fire place, were Gambit then set me down.

"Quickly, we need blankets," Scott said flipping out a bit.

I had never seen him like this, so concerned for me when he never really even seemed to care at all. It was then that I started to fall asleep, unable to stay awake any longer. I could hear the frantic running of footsteps and the desperate talk around me as people hurried to help. Before I knew it, my clothes had been removed and I was covered with thick blankets. That was the last thing that I remembered before I finally fell into unconsciousness, falling into darkness.

T

Everyone just stood there watching her as she fell asleep. Her face was still pale from the cold, her lips blue, and her fingertips faintly black. They had to fix that and fast. Frostbite was never a good thing, but they could reverse it, since it hadn't had a chance to fully develop.

They had brought Hank in to take care of it, since they didn't want anyone sitting around just staring at her the entire time.

Gambit seemed to be bent up the most about it. Scott had watched him the moment that they came in, he had never left her side, not once. Scott could tell that there was something there, but he'd rather not think about it. Not having Jean around anymore was already hard enough.

"Gambit, maybe you should go to bed. I'll watch her," Scott said, trying to get him to stop worrying as much.

Although, Scott already knew what he was going to say to that.

"Non, je ne partirai pas," (1)he muttered, holding Elaine's cold hand in his own, trying to warm it up as Hank took care of her other appendages.

It was definitely a change for everyone. This was the first time that they had seen something like this, and experienced it. Scott had never been that fond of her, but he had his reasons. In all honesty, in a way, she reminded him of Jean. It hurt to see her like that, it really did. She was strong like Jean was, her powers monstrous, and yet she tried her best to control them and help if she could. Although, she was still scared most of the time, and that was one thing that Scott did notice above all else.

"She be alright, Hank?" Gambit asked, letting his eyes shift over to the fury blue man beside him.

"Yes, she'll be fine Remy. Although, I'm afraid that she'll be sick for a while. By listening to her chest, I believe that she might have developed a mild case of pneumonia, but I can't be sure yet," he told him, glancing back down Elaine as he washed her hands with hot water to get the circulation back into her hands.

As they sat there taking care of her, a few students watched. Some of them were curious, others were worried, and some were scared for her.

Meaanwhile, Logan was talking with the Professor about some things. He was fairly upset with himself and needed to sort things out properly. He knew that he had over reacted, but he couldn't help it, there had been such a great need to protect her. He didn't understand why he felt this way, he just did. His instincts told him that he needed to protect her, like part of her was his, but he knew for a fact that it wasn't. He was so confused.

"Logan, you really must calm down," the Professor told him, carefully wheeling his chair beside him.

He hadn't seen Logan this stressed in quite some time. Although, he could partially tell why he was like this, and it actually made him smile.

"I can tell, that you care a great deal for Elaine, Logan. She is like family, am I right?" he inquired, already knowing the answer before Logan would speak it.

Logan finally came to a conclusion upon hearing the Professor's words.

"She's like my kid…" he said quietly, making the Professor smile.

"She's a little girl in your eyes Logan, one that you never had," he said, watching Logan closely. "If you're worried about her Logan, you can always go check on her. I do believe that she's laying in the living area in front of the fireplace at this very moment," the Professor informed him, allowing him to walk out of the room, and down the hall.

When he finally got into the living area, he saw that the Professor was right. Elaine was laying on the couch, pulled right in front of the fireplace, blankets covering her. He also saw that Gambit was nearly asleep with her hand in his. Hank and Scott were standing nearby talking with one another about everything. It was even worse when Scott caught sight of him, making his way over to him the moment that he was in view.

"Logan," Scott started, but Logan only moved away from him.

"Please, no lectures? I already feel bad enough," Logan admitted, trying to move away from Scott.

"I already know that, that's why I'm not gonna be a pain in the ass," he hissed faintly, before walking into another room.

That hit Logan deep, making his fingers curl painfully. Why had he gone and done that? Why did he have to say that?

He wanted to growl and yell, but he didn't want to walk Elaine up. Or Gambit… He sighed heavily as he stepped over to them, glancing down at the two. Elaine, she laid there on the couch with blanket cover her no doubt nearly naked body, while Gambit sat there with her. He sat there holding her hand, his head resting on the couch quietly with his eyes closed. Logan could tell where he had hit him, for his eye was now swollen shut just about, and his cheek held a nasty bruise upon it. He also noticed that once again, he had nothing on his front. Although, he didn't blame him, given the fact that he was so close to the fire.

Logan came up behind the couch, grabbing the top of it with his hands. He looked down at Elaine's sleeping face, guilt washing over him as he did so. He wished that he could take it back, to have gone and not frightened her as he had done, but alas, he could not. So, he decided to leave her there with the Cajun, silently knowing that he would take care of her. And that was exactly what Gambit did, him and Hank, and Scott. The three of them watching out for her so that nothing would happen to her.

There's chapter 14. I'm sorry that it's a little bit shorter than usual, but that's where I had to cut it off this time. I hope everyone can forgive me for that. Remember to REVIEW and let me know what you thought about this chapter. I'm working on chapter 15 right now. It might be done later tonight, but I doubt it since I'm fighting to keep my eyes open right now. Anyway, happy Easter everyone! :) -keeps eyes pealed for Bite's rabid hamster, tiptoeing back to my room and closing the door- XD