SheCat fainted on the way back to the mansion. Refusing to admit the
pain to her friends was one thing, refusing to admit it to herself was an
agony in itself. Blood loss and exhaustion took their toll, and she lost
her consciousness halfway there.
Kurt was piloting, being the only one besides Rogue not shaking or spazzing. He was probably breaking several rules of the Blackbird's safety with cloaking, but he knew the truth. He had to fly fast or Liebchen would die, and then it would not be some X-Jet to bring her home. It would be a coffin.
Strobe returned to her habit of checking the batteries and fuel tank constantly, while Shadowcat co-piloted. Julie and Paige tried to make themselves useful by stemming SheCat's blood, but resulted in only a series of bloody bandages before realizing she would be better off without their treatment.
Remy held her hand the entire way. She held his in turn, tighter than he thought possible for such a small person, like a child would squeeze a toy when getting a vaccine.
"It hurt, chere?" Her eyes were slightly unfocused, and he knew she was trying desperately to see him straight. He wondered if her hearing was the same.
"No, it doesn't hurt. I'm fine." It was a lie, and they both knew it.
Rogue, positioned uselessly in the back of the jet, eyed the pair cautiously. She'd always assumed chere was Gambit's name for her, and her only. Though she knew that he had used it before, thrown it around to women before her, it had always been her mental title.
A sweeping wave of jealousy swept over her. She knew she was being immature, yet she couldn't help it. She had seen him kiss SheCat, and she knew it was equal to anything he would have given her had her powers not gotten in the way.
Maybe he was just a good kisser. Maybe love didn't matter in kisses.
"Stop looking so worried, I'm not gonna die any second now." SheCat's grip lessened. Her eyes lost all remnant of focus, then closed. She was awake still, but struggling just to remain so.
Remy ran his hand over her forehead, sweeping an untamable forelock of hair out of her eyes, feeling the raised scar over her eye. She smiled a little. He checked her pulse for the umpteenth time.
They arrived a few minutes later, where Doctors McCoy and Grey were waiting. SheCat was in safe hands now, and for the first time since her capture, Remy breathed a sigh of relief.
Kurt was piloting, being the only one besides Rogue not shaking or spazzing. He was probably breaking several rules of the Blackbird's safety with cloaking, but he knew the truth. He had to fly fast or Liebchen would die, and then it would not be some X-Jet to bring her home. It would be a coffin.
Strobe returned to her habit of checking the batteries and fuel tank constantly, while Shadowcat co-piloted. Julie and Paige tried to make themselves useful by stemming SheCat's blood, but resulted in only a series of bloody bandages before realizing she would be better off without their treatment.
Remy held her hand the entire way. She held his in turn, tighter than he thought possible for such a small person, like a child would squeeze a toy when getting a vaccine.
"It hurt, chere?" Her eyes were slightly unfocused, and he knew she was trying desperately to see him straight. He wondered if her hearing was the same.
"No, it doesn't hurt. I'm fine." It was a lie, and they both knew it.
Rogue, positioned uselessly in the back of the jet, eyed the pair cautiously. She'd always assumed chere was Gambit's name for her, and her only. Though she knew that he had used it before, thrown it around to women before her, it had always been her mental title.
A sweeping wave of jealousy swept over her. She knew she was being immature, yet she couldn't help it. She had seen him kiss SheCat, and she knew it was equal to anything he would have given her had her powers not gotten in the way.
Maybe he was just a good kisser. Maybe love didn't matter in kisses.
"Stop looking so worried, I'm not gonna die any second now." SheCat's grip lessened. Her eyes lost all remnant of focus, then closed. She was awake still, but struggling just to remain so.
Remy ran his hand over her forehead, sweeping an untamable forelock of hair out of her eyes, feeling the raised scar over her eye. She smiled a little. He checked her pulse for the umpteenth time.
They arrived a few minutes later, where Doctors McCoy and Grey were waiting. SheCat was in safe hands now, and for the first time since her capture, Remy breathed a sigh of relief.