A/N: You're not seeing things. The new chapter is here! (grins) And we're inching veeery close to the story's end.

THANK YOU, so much, for your reviews and support! You've brought this story through the impossible, to a point where it's almost completed. So thank you!

Awkay, before I get all mushy… Let's rock! I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride.

Give Me a Chance

When Hank answered the hideout's phone, the number of which no one was supposed to know in the first place, alarm bells went off in his head. Especially once he learned that the caller was Erik. The dread intensified when the audibly agitated metal bender gave him an address and, without giving the slightest chance for objections, demanded him to come alone. The phone call was disconnected without any further explanations.

Hank's heart hammered furiously while he picked up all possible equipment he could think of. His hands were shaking so badly that it was a miracle he didn't drop anything. Constantly a hurricane of dark guesses went through his head.

Had something gone wrong, or rather how wrong had something gone? Was Erik injured or dying? Was Charles?

Fortunately the others were too distracted by their own thoughts to be alerted when he announced that he'd pop out for a little bit. There was some suspicion in Raven's eyes while she observed him. He would've deserved an Oscar for the smile he managed to create for her.

Outside the apartment's door Hank stopped for a while, trying to calm down with very little success. The trembling that'd by then taken over his entire body wasn't getting any better, either. Eventually he closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and pushed himself firmly to motion.

As he went he could only hope that the nightmare hadn't ended for a blink just to continue as something far worse.

For Erik time dragged by unbearably slowly. In another, much less comfortable hideout he paced restlessly, his eyes never leaving Charles for longer than a few seconds at a time. That, despite the fact that there hadn't been any change since the telepath collapsed.

Or well, at least the nosebleed had stopped. But the smaller man hadn't shown even the slightest sign of waking up. Erik's admittedly desperate mental calls hadn't received any response. It was like the telepath had slipped away from his reach and even the thought was unbearable. Unthinkable.

Surely Charles knew better than to just leave him like this, after everything…

It felt like forever had passed from his phone call until Hank finally appeared, out of breath and a wild look in his eyes. If such was possible the furred mutant blanched at the sight of the professor. "What happened?"

"I don't know", Erik growled. Of course it was unfair and useless to project his frustration on the younger mutant but there was very little else he could do. "He… persuaded Stryker. Then told me that he remembered everything and passed out." He didn't feel like mentioning the kiss. That was something for Charles and him alone. Then, as an afterthought, he continued. "He had a headache since he woke up in the morning. A bad one." He didn't have to tell about the nosebleed. There were some faint traces left that he hadn't managed to wash away on the telepath's face.

Hank nodded, appearing far too grim to Erik's liking. The young mutant took out a small flashlight, inched Charles' eyelids and shone the light into the unconscious man's eyes. Then, after a small growl that revealed infuriatingly little, took Charles' pulse and blood pressure. In the end those fierce, terror filled eyes clashed with his. "Why didn't you take him to a hospital?"

Erik scoffed, more than a little hurt coursing through him. Did Hank honestly think that he hadn't done anything he could think of and more to help? "He just spent months under the eyes of so called health care professionals and this…" He motioned heatedly towards the unconscious, visibly exhausted and worryingly thin form of his love. " … is how much good they were! So NO, I'm not letting a doctor lay a hand on him. I needed someone I could trust." It was the highest possible compliment he could give. Despite the emotional turmoil that'd taken over a part of him wished that Hank knew to take it as such.

Hank nodded slowly, some surprise visible for a moment, then focused on his patient once more. A tormented sigh left the furred young man while the broad shoulders slumped with helpless fury. "I… I honestly don't know how much I can do for him. I don't even know what to do. I'm no medical doctor." There was a loud gulp. "What Charles is going through… It's all in his head. In his brain. And I… I don't know how much damage has been done or how to start fixing it."

Whatever little breath there'd been in Erik disappeared right there. Perhaps he even gasped. In full honesty he didn't care. At the moment there was no room for foolish pride in his head. "Then what are we supposed to do?" he snarked.

The grim expression on Hank's face gave him very little comfort. Even without telepathy the young man's panic was palpable. "There isn't a lot we can do. We… We'll try to make him feel comfortable. And we'll wait."

Charles' eyes opened and for a while all he could see was dark. Then, very slowly, the outlines of trees began to take shape in front of him. He blinked with confusion.

What… was he doing in a forest? How did he get into one? The last thing he remembered…

Yes, what was it?

He stood up slowly, looking around. Everywhere around him massive trees towered, sealing him into what looked deviously lot like a cage. The seemingly endless pitch black forest was certainly one he'd never been in before. Then, completely without a warning, he began to hear the echoing words.

'… the hell you think you are, you little shit? …'

'… My name is Charles Xavier. …'

'… worthless piece of filth, just like your mother …'

'… never have to steal again …'

'… are you, you freak? …'

'… not just pain and anger …'

'… LEAVE US ALONE! …'

'Killing Shaw will not bring you peace.'

'… Nothing. That's what there's in this world for a freak like you. Nothing. …'

'I love you.'

The weight of all the emotions those words stirred was nearly enough to bring Charles to his knees, even in the bizarre reality he was trapped into. He gasped, something in him falling apart and bursting into life at the same time. And then he saw a spark of light, shining in the distance.

Hours blurred together. In the end the mindless pacing wasn't enough to control Erik's fried nerves. He need Charles. And so he did the only thing he could under the circumstances.

Slowly and almost cautiously, as though afraid that he'd cause more damage, he approached the bed. When there was no sign of reaction from Charles the metal bender inhaled a deep, shuddering breath, then lay down. There was still no visible response to his motions. That, perhaps, hurt the most. Since the moment they met Charles had always responded to his presence.

Erik lay there, letting the telepath's familiar scent surround him, until he eventually decided that it wasn't enough. Hoping that he wasn't doing more harm than good he wrapped his arms around the smaller man and pulled him close. Having the unconscious man wrapped so close to him brought a faint hint of comfort. Even if the telepath felt alarmingly warm to his touch.

"Wake up, why don't you?" It took a moment before Erik realized that the somewhat tortured whisper came from him. He gritted his teeth, then went on with the steadfast bravery and determination of a soldier. One of his hands found its way to Charles' hair. He ran it through the locks over and over again, hoping that it registered to the other as something soothing. "It's over now, Charles. We're safe, all of us. So… So wake up. Because it'd be unacceptable to leave now." With each word his voice got fainter until there was next to none of it left.

Charles slept on. Appearing a touch paler than before, breathing a bit more loudly. Was the man's temperature rising?

Before sheer panic could quite take over Hank marched in. Erik cast a heated look towards the furred youth. "Where were you?" he barked.

Hank wasn't startled by his hostile greeting. The younger man sighed. "I went to get some supplies. And it's already ten o'clock in the evening. I had to check in on the others. They're starting to wonder." A nearly pleading look was cast his way. "Erik, they'd deserve to know…"

"No", the metal bender objected instantly, tightening his hold on Charles a little. "The less people we have here bombarding his mind the better. We'll let them know if the situation calls for it." If…

Hank commented nothing. The man's eyes darkened before he collected himself and made his way to his patient, ignoring Erik's glare. A frown appeared as soon as a blue hand met Charles' forehead. "When did this fever appear?"

Erik's whole frame filled with tension and something beyond. So much for trying to avoid the panic… "An hour ago." He didn't ask what it could possibly mean because he wasn't an idiot. It was blantantly obvious that 'Nothing good' was about as extensive of an answer as they had at the moment.

He was so focused on staring at Charles, as though his gaze alone would've been enough to convince the other to stay, that it took longer than it should've to sense the eyes on him. His brows furrowed when he met Hank's eyes. "What?" To his own surprise he didn't sound angry, rather tired.

Hank's eyes changed. It was impossible to tell what went through the young mutant's mind but even with his limited knowledge on social situations Erik could feel that something important just took place. "He isn't going to give up on us", the other assured him. Or perhaps tried to reassure them both. "Whatever happens next… We'll be able to take it. We'll help him through it, too." There was a touch of steel hard conviction. Optimism that the metal bender knew so well that it hurt.

Erik nodded, basking in the promise of those words, the great Magneto rendered well and throughoutly speechless by a kid who a blink ago seemed scared even of his own shadow.

There was a long period of silence while they kept an eye on their patient. That was until Hank's eyes shifted and sharpened. "We'll have to tend to that. I'll go and get the equipment."

Looking towards the signaled direction with some confusion Erik was surprised to find blood staining his shirt, right on the spot where his wound located. Well, of course. Just his luck. Apparently maneuvering Charles to this apartment, to safety, has jolted his stitches.

"I'm fine", he announced stubbornly.

Hank didn't appear impressed or conviced while returning to the room, a first aid kit of some sort along. "Yes, sure you are. Now come. We have to redress and clean that up before I have another patient in my hands."

Erik's eyes narrowed hazardously. A very intense wave of protectiveness shuddered him. "I'm not leaving him."

Hank sighed irritably but appeared understanding. "Fine, alright. Here it is, then. Take off your shirt." Seeing his moment of hesitation the other scoffed. "And here I'm considered the kid of us two…"

Erik darted a murderous glare at the other but left it at that. Charles would've been proud. His hand didn't leave the telepath's for even a second.

It was like a star that'd fallen right into the forest. The light was so tempting, so inviting, that Charles found himself unable to resist. He walked on although his feet hurt almost more than he could bear and barely supported his weight.

He followed the odd light to a forest opening where it stopped so unexpectedly that he stumbled. It spun around, taking a breathtakingly beautiful color of silver. He kept staring at it even thought it hurt his eyes, wondering what exactly was happening and if it was all real or simply a trick of his imagination.

And then the light exploded.

At first the unexpected assault of radiant white hurt him and he groaned, shielding his eyes. Then, very slowly, he was able to distinguish the outline of a person. He squinted his eyes, desperate to see more clearly.

Was there… someone with him in the forest? But how? And who…?

"Is there someone out there?" he called at last.

It took ages before he received any sort of a response and when he did it all seemed to be in his head. At first there was a touch of warmth that he couldn't explain. Although it hurt his head it was also so familiar, so comforting, that he just had to try and reach out for it.

'I'm here, Charles', a voice that sounded distinctly familiar promised, so suddenly that it startled him for a moment. 'I'm right here.'

Charles shivered although the call was so alluring that it took his breath away. He licked his lips. "Who are you?" It was right there, on the tip of his memory…

'I'm here', the voice convinced him once more. There was a incredible amount of meaning behind the declaration. 'Please, Charles… Let me take you home.'

The light still kept Charles from seeing his strange companion clearly. But right after those words there was movement. And a hand was held out for him.

'I've… been lost for too long. But I'm here now, Charles. Because you showed me the way. Now let me guide you home for once.'

The night crawled on. During the impossibly long hours Charles' fever first spiked up to a terrible extend, then lowered to a still worrying but more tolerable number and stayed there. The telepath wouldn't wake up but, as far as Erik and Hank could tell, the man's condition seemed more stable. Erik himself was in pain, tired and fully ready to tear something to pieces. But at least he wasn't bleeding anymore and the painkillers Hank gave him took away some of the edge.

In the end Hank fell asleep, stress and sheer exhaustion taking over. Erik was glad. He really wanted and needed a moment alone with Charles.

Erik swallowed, shifting on the bed where he still lay right next to the smaller man. He snuggled a little closer without even realizing it. "I'm… not sure if you can hear me, so I'm trying words instead." 'Trying' being the key words. Surely Charles knew that words weren't his strongest area?

He took a deep breath, focusing on his beloved's slowly rising and falling chest. The movements seemed a bit easier and steadier. It gave him a brush of confidence. "I'm… I know that I've made… mistakes." Well, that was certainly one way to call them. "And… I realize that we don't see the world the same way. That we probably never will. There's… a chance that this'll all end in a disaster. Or in a war, depending on the humans' next move. We may never manage to make it really work." He placed his hand on the other's chest, feeling shivers of pleasure at finding the strong beat. "But… I want to give us a chance. And I need you to give us a chance. You've always believed in me. I can't even imagine why but you have. So… Don't give up on me now, do you hear?" I need you to not give on me.

There, with those words out of his system, Erik felt incredibly liberated and exposed at the same time. Handing over his very heart was quite certainly the hardest thing that he'd ever done but now that he had it felt easier to breathe somehow. He also felt completely, utterly drained. He leaned his forehead against the telepath's too warm body and closed his eyes. "Don't give up", he repeated in a whisper that conveyed every little secret that'd been buried into his steel covered heart. "Because… As much as I've tried to run away from you… There isn't a place where I wouldn't follow you."

Erik must've been even more tired than he'd thought. Because he'd drifted off to a point where he didn't feel the twitch in the hand held securely inside his. But he certainly felt the warmth that brushed lightly, tentatively, against his mind.

In an instant his head rose and his eyes snapped open to meet Charles' half open, bleary ones looking back at him.

"Charles?"

TBC

A/N: He's awake! (BEAMS) Buuuut, does he remember anymore? And what happens next?

PLEASE, do leave a word or two to let me know your thoughts.

Guess what? There's only an epilogue left. (pouts and wipes eyes) I REALLY hope that you'll all join in for the final bit of this story!

Take care!