Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 5
Chapter 4: What Kind of Trouble
Rogue and Kurt Wagner climbed out of Rogue's car in the garage, "who's have thought a car part could be so expensive," Kurt complained, he followed Rogue into the hallway of the mansion.
"Everything is expensive these days," Rogue smirked, "these days even a latte at Starbucks is enough to wipe out my entire savings," she followed the hallway until it led directly into the foyer of the mansion. The stiletto heels of Rogue's expensive Italian boots making a loud sound against the marble floors, the noise echoed across the hall. "So, Kurt, it's a week until Valentines day, you got plans?" she asked casually, she grabbed an apple from a large fruit bowl on the table in the foyer, and took a loud bite.
Kurt was counting money in a vague way as he followed her, "to be honest, I am not sure," he admitted, "I every Valentines day I take Kitty for dinner, but this might not be a good idea to ask her this year…"
"True," Rogue nodded, understanding, it would seem insensitive to ask Kitty out for a romantic valentines day dinner when her parents had just died. "Y'know, you could always forget about Valentines day and make it up to her later when she's had some time to grieve and stuff…"
Kurt gave a vague nod, "that's a good idea," he nodded, "so how about yourself? Any plans?" he asked curiously.
"Probably a drink at McDuggins on my lonesome unless Logan decides to join me for a game of pool," Rogue gave a nonchalant shrug, but seemed quite upbeat about this, despite her thoughts were drifting towards many valentines days ago when Remy had taken her out. Despite she didn't want to be back together with Remy, she found herself wondering what it'd be like going out with him now, if he'd hold her any different, and if he'd matured in any way.
"Something wrong?" Kurt made note of the fact she'd become very quiet.
"No," Rogue shrugged, "I wonder if the others are back from Illinois, yet?" she pondered – changing the subject. She glanced at her watch, she noted it had been a considerable amount of time since they'd gone.
"There you go again," Kurt chided, "will you please stop thinking about Remy, you're driving me – and everyone else – crazy."
Rogue grinned nervously, "I wasn't thinking of Remy," she said, "I was just wondering if the others are back is all."
"With Remy," Kurt added, "But to me since he made a getaway from the police seems like he doesn't want to be found – by us or anything."
"If anyone can find him, they can," Rogue stated calmly, she tucked her hair behind her ears, and kept walking.
"Why are you letting yourself fall for him again?" Kurt asked, "you've been miserable since the day he left seven years ago – you finally got OVER it and you're setting yourself for it to happen all over again."
"Kurt, you just don't get it," Rogue sighed, "Remy and me were in love, alright, so maybe I don't love him now, but…you just don't forget your first true love…its that simple."
Kurt's silvery eyes found hers, "you'll make yourself miserable thinking about it," he stated.
"I'll deal with it in my own way…besides, I'm working on forgetting, its called distancing –Bobby thought of it."
"I wouldn't try anything Bobby thought of," Kurt rolled his eyes, but gave a vague smile.
Rogue smiled too, "No, this time he has the right idea."
Kitty stepped into the X-Men's war room, Hank was at the communications panel, wearing a headset. "Hey, Hank," she said wearily, she walked over and stood at his back.
Hank glanced over his shoulder at her, "the others should be coming in for a landing soon," he said, his tone very neutral, Kitty couldn't tell if he were upset that Remy was wounded or if he were glad that the others were almost back.
Kitty picked a piece of lint off of Hank's oversized sweatshirt, "He's still alive then?" she asked, her voice tiny.
"Only just," Hank admitted, "Jean and the Professor are doing all they can," he looked at her through his great indigo eyes, "the sooner they get here the sooner I can see what the damage is."
"He'll need a blood transfusion, won't he?" Kitty sat down in the chair next to Hank, but spun it around so she could face him.
"Undoubtedly," Hank gave a firm nod, never losing eye contact with her, "But I would not concern yourself with this, of all the people living in this mansion, one of us will have the same blood type as Remy."
"What if his blood type is rare?" Kitty pointed out concernedly, her eyes becoming wider, her heart thudding faster now. She hadn't even thought about it until it came out of her mouth, what if Remy's bloodtype happened to be AB? Did anyone in the mansion possess that bloodtype? It certainly was more rare than the others.
Hank clasped a large hand on her shoulder, "please do not concern yourself, Kitty, I've already thought of this…" he explained, "of everyone in this mansion I know every bloodtype, I assure you."
"You don't know Remy's?" Kitty chewed her lip.
"I'm afraid not, but it will be easy for me to find out, new technology of my own design can let me find out in minutes," he explained.
Kitty looked down to the floor, "y'know…I don't get it Hank, Remy had a shitload of stolen equipment in his apartment, and so much evidence of other thefts…how could he be so careless?"
"Good question," Hank nodded, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "it certainly isn't like Remy to be so careless as to leave evidence of his crime related activities just lying around where people can find it…he's a professional – as he reminded all of us several years ago – he was trained to know how to avoid leaving evidence anywhere…" Hank was chewing a pen thoughtfully as he typed something up on the keyboard in front of him.
Kitty paused for thought, finally – fighting herself on the subject – she decided it might be wise to tell Hank about Remy's depression. After all, there was talk of it in all the newspapers, "Hank…Remy is…a manic depressive."
Hank turned to her, the pen dropping from his mouth to his lap, "a manic depressive?" he spluttered, "Remy LeBeau?"
Kitty gave a brisk nod, and drew her breath, "I wasn't supposed to say, but its all over the papers…" she explained.
"Well…if he is suffering from bi-polar disorder that would certainly explain his sloppiness in leaving evidence around," Hank admitted, he picked the pen up, "How long have you known this?"
"Not long," Kitty said, "A few nights before my parents died, he told me," she added, her expression becoming all the more melancholy, "the papers were right, there was all sorts of prescription medications in his bathroom…all for various kinds of depression, looks like it had been going on a while – though he really didn't tell me how long it had been going on for – or what started it," she added, she got up, "I want to help him, Hank, I know I can…"
"Kitty, it seems to me you're trying to ignore your own grief by dealing with Remy's for him…" Hank stood too, he reached over and brushed a stray lock of her hair out of her eyes, "you are trying to hard to pretend everything is alright, and it isn't…please let us worry about Remy…"
Kitty looked away, "look, this is gonna sound stupid but it's all I have right now…and I can deal with it. Its helping…it really is…"
Hank scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly, "alright, alright, I'll let it drop, for now, but I really advise you take a few counselling sessions with the Professor once everything has settled, alright?"
Kitty hugged him back, "thanks, Hank," she moved away as there was a loud beep from the communications panel.
"Hank, we're about to touch down, stand by," Came the voice of Jean Grey.
Kitty and Hank could hear the light rattle as the blackbird was beginning to touch down in the hanger nearby, Kitty took off in the direction of the hanger, Hank on her heels, the blackbird had barely landed as the hatch came down, Ororo, Logan and Jean were carrying Remy on a makeshift stretcher – using blankets – and hurrying at top speed.
"He's stopped breathing," Jean was panting, "we've tried to resuscitate but he's not giving any response…"
Kitty gasped, "Remy!"
The run to the hospital wing seemed like a whirlwind of chaos, as they approached the hospital wing and rushed through the doors, and Kitty tried to follow, this was when Logan stopped her, "We can't go in there," he said, Kitty turned to see Ororo had not entered either, now Jean, Hank and Professor Xavier were in there with Remy's unconscious – possibly dead – body while they were stuck in the hallway.
Kitty looked at Logan, "it's my fault, I have to be in there!"
"No!" Logan grabbed both her arms and hauled her back, "you can't go in there," he warned, his voice husky, yet loud.
Kitty burst into tears, "it was my fault! If I'd gone—"
Suddenly, Both Ororo and Logan realised Kitty wasn't talking about Remy anymore – it was her parents she was lamenting about. "It wasn't your fault, darlin'," Logan sighed, he hugged the petite girl close to him, rubbing her back, "these things happen…and there isn't nothin' we can do to control them…"
"What's…going on?"
Logan glanced over Kitty's head to see Rogue standing aside Kurt, Rogue looking curious, Kurt looking concerned for Kitty's welfare.
"Kurt, take Kitty away from here…" he looked towards Rogue, he could tell by the look on her face she didn't have a clue what was going on.
Kurt moved towards Kitty, "come on," he said softly, as he put his arm around her and pulled her to him in a half hug, trying to lead her down the hall at the same time.
"We heard all this noise when we were in the Garage…what's going on?" she asked, "Is Kitty alright?" she watched Kurt and Kitty depart from the rest of the group. Rogue approached, hands in the pocket of her short denim skirt.
"Rogue," Ororo began softly, "Remy has been found."
"He has? What kind of trouble is he in now?" Rogue rolled her eyes, "police still after him?" she queried curiously, but tried not to seem too interested.
Logan looked right at Rogue with his steely eyes, "He's in a lot of trouble, Rogue, if they can't get him breathin' again."