Note : There are some new POVs in that chapter, I think it was necessary… I have to be honest, I have no idea how this is going to end… I guess I'll find a way for it to end happily, but I would like to bring out some tears, still thinking what I could write to do so… *evil smile*. Muahahhhaha. WOW! I feel good! Thanks to all the reviewers… I have to name you guys, you're the best : T., Kaitland, homegirl2, Haeniliel (Salut compatriote! Je me sens moins seule!), ishandahalf, Becki, Tammy, Tia, Warmer Than Fire, Yasei Raiden, Jean1, luvdabecki, LinkinPark4ever, sora kinomoto, Hikari, crazytook, cerebro, dagger, Rogue Worrior Spirit, Elcy Name and ann… I already feel bad for those I forgot if I did, and also thanks those who read the story but are afraid to say if they loved it or not, for some reson I won't ask :-) Please, oh please, do continue reviewing! And, oh my, I'm on some favorite authors lists? Oh my God! Oh my God! Mon Dieu, vous êtes émouvants! J'en perds mon anglais! Lol. Oh, and Gabrielle is mine, but all of the others belong to 20th Century Fox (now THEY have to change their company name, it just doesn't sound really actual anymore… oh well). Yup.

Enjoy.

Chapter 23

Voyage into a dark mind

He couldn't explain it. He sneezed and looked at the faces turned towards him. The Professor, Gabrielle, Jean, Scott… my God, even Scott looked worried. Storm, Logan and… Rogue. Her wet deep green eyes were too much to bear for him. Hank looked back at the lab bed where Remy laid, not moving, but even the cat's stare was hard to stand. The dumb animal kept climbing on the bed, no matter how many times he had chased the thing, and was now sitting between Remy's knees, staring at Hank with something you could call cat hope in the shinny yellow eyes. He sneezed again, sighted, and turned back to the humans.

"I don't understand" he simply said.

"What do you mean?" said Ororo with a shaking voice.

"I… well. His vital signs are excellent. No illness, no virus, no wounds… His heartbeat is very slow, though, but that's not alarming, considering his state. His brain activity is a little down, but far from brain-dead, don't worry… In fact, Remy isn't only unconscious, he's in some kind of coma." Air was vaccumed out of the laboratory as the other X-Men held their breaths, trying to make the connection in their heads.

Remy?

Coma?

But… "Why? I don't know." He sighted again, deeply. "That's what I'm trying to understand. And how to get him out of it. His life doesn't seem to be in danger, but… well." Hank was totally in a lost of words, which didn't happen often. He repressed another sneeze. "I'm still looking for clues, but it seems all we can do for now is wait. And I would really like someone to get me rid of that cat, I'm allergic."

***************

Jean had gone to sleep thinking about Remy and a way to get him out of the coma. She knew she would dream about it; she always dreamed about what she thought about while drifting to sleep.

And there she was.

Everything was black around her and she tried to get her sense of orientation on line. There was a small light coming from over her, enlighting the ground beneath her feet. Then she felt him. His presence. Around her.

"Remy? Gambit, I can feel you… where are you?"

"Jean?" said a scared voice. She turned on her heels. He was standing behind her, wearing his x-men suit under his long dark trench coat, combat boots, black gloves and all. He was like the usual Gambit she knew. He looked scared to death, though, but very glad to see her. "Jean, help me."

"How, Remy? We don't even know what's going on…"

"I'm stuck, Jean."

"What?"

"I'm stuck here, I can't get out." She stared at him, slowly understanding. Stuck… in his head? "I need help. Please. Quick."

She felt the black world twirling around her, as she slowly came back to consciousness.

She sat up in her bed, panting.

Maybe there was something they could do.

***************

I held on to Remy's hand like dear life as Jean was discussing with Henry. Could it be possible? Could she save him, from the inside? What if his shields were up against a mind entering? What if… there was something in there? What if it made things worse? I looked at Remy pale face, his full lips pressed together, dark lashes resting on his cheeks, never coming up to reveal bright crimson eyes… I wiped a tear away before it could slide on my cheek. It couldn't get worse. Hank looked down at me.

"Rogue, Jean is going to try entering Remy's mind. He still has high brain-activity, so there are chances that his mind is still awakened and that he… might be stuck in his body, unable to wake up. Now this might not bring him back, but it could give us answers, and some clue on how to wake him up from his coma."

I nodded. That seemed like the best plan right now. No… it was the only one. I relunctantly let go of Remy hand, letting it fall on the thin mattress, and moved away so Jean could take my place. She sat on the high chair and put her hands on Remy's temples. She closed her eyes. I saw her body tremor as communication settle, and I held my breath.

***************

She was in. She took a deep breath, feeling weird. Remy had never permit any intruders in his mind, closing all doors to his mind and thoughts. She felt like she was unwelcomed, and didn't really want to know about Gambit's past. He hid them from his friends for a reason only he knew. She knew enough about his past, she didn't want to know more. She concentrated on her mission. She had to find him.

It was dark as night without a moon. She could feel the floor was made of cement: her shoes made a small clicking sound as she slowly made her was in the vast empty space around her. Empty? Concentrating, she could make out forms around her, ghosts of Remy's past, faces she did not see, others she did not recognized. Then she looked further away, and saw him.

He was sitting on an invisible chair, head down as if he was sleeping. His wrists were drawned together, as were his ankles, as it they were tied up, but she could see nothing binding them. He looked like he was sitting into space, hovering in the air. She shivered.

"Remy?" she called softly. "Oh Remy, please wake up." He slowly lifted his head and opened his eyes to look at her. He looked startled to see her.

"Jean? What are'y doin'here? Get out!"

"Remy, we want to help you, but we don't know what to do…"

He looked at her, and she could see permanent fear in his eyes. What was going on in this head?

"I can't move, Jean." He tried to get up, but invisible irons kept him bind up to the invisible chair. She heard the clinging sound of chains as he sat down abruptly with a small noise, half a groan, half a sob. "You have to go, Jean." He closed his eyes. "Leave, before it's too late."

She felt something grab her arms and she turned on her heels, meeting another pair of red eyes, glowing with fury. She gasped. "Sinister!"

"LEAVE!" he roared at her face, and she flinched, scared like hell. "He's mine!" She heard an exclamation from Remy behind her, and felt sucked away as he slowly closed his mind to further explorations.

"Please, Remy, don't do that…"

"Good bye, Jean. Nobody must come in'here. Way too dangerous."

To be continued!

Just give me a few days…