A/N: I have never loved writing a story as much as I love Echoes of the Mind. I have put a great deal of effort into the continuity and research of the times and circumstances. I hope that it has shown in each chapter. I am so grateful for the response to this story, you have truly warmed my heart in the truest of ways. Don't worry - Echoes isn't coming to an end just yet - but I wanted to thank you for enjoying the ride along with me.
Erik + Charles = Don't like it? Don't Read it. Have A Lovely Day!
The Character's belong to Marvel while the story belongs to me!
Charles had not needed to tell everyone to go to their rooms after Erik had fled. They had done so themselves, no doubt to processes the excessive and emotional information they had just heard. He had lied to those who asked about Erik's location. Charles had told them that Erik just needed some time and would be back soon. In truth, Erik was wearing his helmet - and Charles had no idea where he was or if he would return.
He had never felt so far removed from him, and he hated it.
The storm had not let up in the least . Charles was watching the storm from the window in Erik's room. He had hoped that the other would return, if only to collect his belongings. So by staying in his room, he had the best chance of catching him before he left for good.
The storm was raging. Trees were blown over and rain fell sideways in torrents. As it was nearing the middle of February the cold had caused the downpour to become a disheartening mix of sleet and rain. Despite it only being Six in the evening, the sky was as dark as night. Watching the storm, Charles' couldn't help but feel a similarity between the storm and Erik's mind when they had first met.
Angel was a strong girl. Charles knew what she risked by going out on a limb to get Erik to reveal so much. Angel had no family, and very few friends. Erik had some how managed to become a surrogate brother to her. She knew the others wouldn't respect Erik with out knowing more. She had accomplished her goal, the others knew, but had the price been to high for her? Had she lost the only family she had left?
Had he?
Charles sighed heavily before reaching out with his mind again. He could not find Erik no matter how hard he tried. Charles was certain that he had put the helmet on.
Erik was gone.
Charles had even resorted to selecting people at random to have them look around for any glimpse of Erik. It was pointless. New York was massive, and there was no proof that he had not left the city, or even the state.
Erik was the kind of man who knew how to avoid being found if he wanted to.
His mind reached the bus stop where he felt someone familiar.
Angel.
She had gone out looking for Erik despite Charles' request to stay in the house. She had not let anyone come with her. She felt guilty and completely alone, and Charles' hurt for her. She was soaked to the bone and the small overhang at the bus stop did little to shelter her from the storm.
Please come home, Angel. Charles spoke quietly to her.
Angel jumped slightly, looking around her at the mostly empty bus stop. It was only she and an old man who looked like he had lived on a drug drip for the past few months.
"Not until I know he is ok." Angel spoke out into the snow, she noticed the man moved away. She was talking to herself after all.
You are going to catch your death if you stay out in this mess any longer. Please, let me at least have Hank or Alex come and bring you home.
"I think he will try to leave, and I know he doesn't like planes. I'll catch the bus to the bus terminal and have a look around. If I can't find him - then I will come home." Angel's words shivered in the cold, despite her best efforts to hide it.
The bus doesn't stop there for another hour. Please- Charles was cut off by Angel.
"I have one question Professor. Are you going to stop looking?" When no response came she smiled into the storm.
I am sitting in a warm house, not in the middle of a winter storm. Charles' voice returned to her mind having thought of a new argument.
"True, and I will come home right now." Charles felt relieved until she finished her sentence. "If you can honestly tell me that if situations were reversed, you wouldn't be out in this storm looking for him - just like I am."
Angel. He isn't going to be found if he doesn't want to be. Even in her mind Charles sounded frustrated.
"I betrayed his trust, Professor. I have to make things right. I have to make sure that he knows why I did it. I didn't do it for everyone to see how weak he was. I want them to know how strong he is." Angel was upset, there was no denying that fact even though the rain on her face had long since mixed with the tears.
You succeeded. Now come home.
"Professor. Give me until 8pm, just two more hours. If I haven't found him by then - I'll come home." Angel shivered despite herself.
Charles knew when he was beaten and he hated that feeling.
Please, be careful. Call me if you need anything. I'm going to keep looking too.
Angel smiled, drawing her soaked coat around her tighter. "He is really lucky, isn't he?"
How do you mean?
"To have two people who love him so very much." Angel's words echoed back into Charles mind and he could help but smile.
Good luck Angel. Then he was gone, moving his attention to others in effort to catch a glimpse.
Angel glanced over at the old man a few seats away from her. She looked away. She was clearly less than thrilled by the weird way he was watching her. Of course, she had been talking to thin air.
Angel nearly came out of her seat when a heavy coat fell around her shoulders. She turned to shout at the old man only to find him leaving the bus stop at a run. She turned the other way and saw Erik, just as soaked as she was.
Even with the helmet his hair fell in a wet mess. His face was un readable while his hands were fisted into his pockets. He wore a trench coat with a hood over the helmet to hide the fact he wore it. He watched her for the longest time.
She likewise was doing the same, simply staring before something clicked and she realized he was actually there. She dropped the coat and threw her arms around his neck. He did not remove his hands from his pockets.
Angel was speaking while shivering. "I'm sorry. Really, I didn't mean to hurt you. I just-"
Slowly, his hands came out of his pockets and he returned the hug. He wasn't speaking, but it was a start.
The heavy coat she had tossed to the ground was more or less dry with a fur lining. The heavy brass buttons lifted and brought the coat to his hand. He again draped it over her shoulders. "We need to get you out of this storm."
Angel let him lead her to a very nice 1950's Oldsmobile Rocket 88. He opened the passenger side door for her before shutting it and going around to the drivers side. The heat was going at full blast and Angel was more than grateful for the warmth.
Erik was already back on the road before it occurred to her that she had never seen the car before. Nor had she seen the heavy coat she was now wearing.
"Erik, did you-" She started.
"Yes." He responded shortly, his eyes on the road. The ice had already begun to form on the road.
"Oook." She wasn't going to push him about stealing a car, not when it was warm and dry. She looked over at his face, or the little she could see with the helmet.
"You hate me?" She asked softly.
"Course not." Erik responded just as briskly as before.
"Where are we going?" She looked out the window.
"I'm taking you back to the manor." He replied.
"Good, I was worried you would leave." The relief was impossible to miss.
"I am leaving." Erik answered shortly.
Her heart could not decide if it wanted to race or stop all together. "Erik, please."
He didn't respond.
"I only wanted to-" She started but was cut off by Erik.
"I know what you were trying to do. I heard your one sided conversation with at the bus stop." Erik eased onto the break coming around a corner and barely kept the car from fishtailing.
Angel grabbed Erik's forearm as the car arched slightly before he got it back onto the road. "Where will you go?" Her voice seemed small.
"I don't know. France most likely, regroup with my team." Erik answered evenly.
"So then you never had any intention of staying and helping at the school." She didn't release his arm but her eyes had returned to the window.
"Of course I did. It is just not feasible now." Erik answered quietly.
"Why not?" Angel asked.
When Erik gave her a look with out responding.
"Because of what I said?" She asked some of that strength slipped back into her voice.
"Because of what they know." He corrected.
"They know what? That you dealt with some intense shit in your life and because of that you are guarded?" Angel's voice was louder than before.
Erik ignored her.
"That you were a child stuck in hell and you want to keep another child from going through what you did?" Her voice rose higher.
Erik's jaw was tightened but he did not respond.
"Explain this to me then. How are you more of a man by running away, then by staying here and working with us to make sure that is does not happen again." Angel was shouting now, trying to provoke a response.
His gripped tightened on the wheel. "Let it go." He warned.
"I am not Anya, Erik." Her tone was deathly quiet and he slammed on the breaks. The car slid and turned sideways before stopping in the middle of the main road just outside of the long drive of the manor. His eyes in that one moment reminded her of Shaw and she flinched back.
Leaning back on the car door she watched him wide eyed. Slowly, she licked her lips and although clearly afraid she finished her sentence.
"I am not Anya… but if you leave now … then I may end up just like her…" She felt small under the dangerous gaze of Erik Lensherr. Had she forgotten what he was capable of?
"You can't stop this alone…but neither can the Professor." Her voice was nearly lost over the rumble of the car engine.
She had not released the grip on his forearm and now carefully slid her hand down to take his hand. She was crying for fear of loosing the man who she felt for as a brother, for fear of what was to come and for fear that she might be on the receiving end of that anger which was currently swirling in Erik's eyes. "I can walk from here." She whispered.
She fumbled for door handle behind her and managed to get it open. As the door swung open she slipped out and landed with a thud in the snow. The small tumble from the seat to the snow had broken the grip she had on his hand.
She stood and dusted herself off drawing the coat Erik had given her around her tightly. She stooped down to look at him through the open the door. "I really hope you change your mind."
She forced a smile and a small wave before trudging into the snow toward the manor which sat 20 yards away.
Erik sat in silence watching her shape loose it's form amid the swirling sleet and snow. Then she was gone. He laid his head on the steering wheel in silent frustration. He knocked his head on the wheel twice before pulling the car back on the road and driving away.
Angel had walked slowly hoping that Erik would change his mind. She had heard the car drive away and now the growing storm around her drowned out any outside noise.
She barely had time to register the crack from above as another tree coming down before she was knocked hard to one side. The snow and ice was thrown up as a large oak slammed into the earth where she had been standing.
She was left to stare stupidly at the mammoth downed tree before a thought occurred to her: What knocked her to the side? On cue something hoisted her to her feet like she weighed nothing.
"There are more subtle ways to get my attention" His voice was uneven, giving the impression he had just finished a long run.
"Erik!" She threw her arms around his neck. "Your staying?"
He picked up the now equally soaked coat and draped it back over her shoulders. His arm lingered there and she seemed content to walk under his wing.
"Come on, kid. We have a lot of work to do."
See? This time I was nice - no cliff hanger.
Check back on Thursday to see how Erik's return effects the household. Likewise, as Erik's team returns with information…what will we learn?
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