A/N: What does JOTT mean? Anyways, sorry for the delay. Bad case of writer's block, among other things. I try to cover a bunch of things, so forgive me if it's a bit disjointed. Thanks to Nessa for help with the Kitty story!
Remy was gone. Scott had dutifully seen his brother off, bore his father's lectures, and then walked back into the mansion, bewildered. Now what?
"It feels so strange," he told Jean. "I don't even really like the brat sometimes, but always knowing that he was there was…comforting."
Jean rolled her eyes. "He'll be back in a week. It's not like you'll lost your brother or anything."
"That shows how much you know. When Remy comes back, it is just possible that he is totally different. One time after my father got his hands on Remy, the kid came back speaking French!"
"But he's still going to be your brother. The core is going to be the same. Stop worrying." Jean wrapped an arm around his waist and gave him a quick squeeze for reassurance.
Scott grimaced. "I sure hope so." He allowed her to pull him into the school and away from the view of the car heading around the corner.
"It's been a while, punk," Victor said, pulling Remy along by his ponytail.
"Y' miss me?"
"Not even a little bit. Your father is waiting for you in your bedroom. And he's still a little pissed at you for your little disappearing act." Victor growled at the memory. Mostly at his being yelled at.
"Are y' mad at me?" Remy didn't sound concerned at all. He was used to Victor's threats, even though he was pretty sure that they were not all just for show.
"Yup. When you're ready for retraining, I'll get back at you."
Remy shook his head. Scott didn't know that Victor really didn't hate them. He didn't know that he was being controlled the same way they were by their father. Of course, that probably wouldn't mean anything. And Victor was a sadistic bastard on his own.
"I'll blast y' across the world." He looked up at the giant of a man. "So what am I getting this time? Beams like Scotty? TK?"
"Dunno. Stop talking so much and get out of here." Remy dragged his feet toward his bedroom. The sooner they started, the sooner it would be over. That thought didn't make him move any faster, though.
"What's your sister doing with the new kid?" Scott demanded, watching Marie laugh at something Sam said. "Remy's been gone for all of ten minutes!"
"It looks like she's laughing," Jean said, following his gaze. "Scott, it's your turn for a story." She was trying to turn his attention.
"What?"
"About Kitty, remember? You said you'd tell me how she got messed up with you guys."
"Ah yes. The one you were so unethically trying to pry from the poor little girl's lips." He smiled at the memory.
"Which your brother had sealed so well, the little brat," Jean grumbled.
"All right, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Including your sister."
Jean nodded solemnly.
Scott sighed, not trusting her word for a second.
Remy shut his eyes. The glimpse of the needle his father held was enough to make him want to swoon, a definite unmanly sort of action. Better not to watch.
Dr. Essex smiled slightly as he administered the drug. His son hadn't changed a bit. He untangled his hand from Remy's as the boy slipped quickly into unconsciousness. He didn't really cause the boy pain just for the sake of causing pain, after all. Only when there was no other way to do what needed to be done. Still, it wasn't such a bad thing to have the boys a little wary of him. He patted Remy's shoulder before turning away to set up the program to monitor him.
Remy was prepped for the experiment. Dr. Essex couldn't wait to see if the melding would work. He had plans for this boy. He mustn't fail now.
---
Scott began, "Remy has a certain empathy that draws him to people who are hurt or upset. It's something that he's lived with for quite a while now. We were visiting Chicago with our father and we were allowed to wander on our own for a while. Remy kept moving through the residential area, but he had no idea where he was going. I, of course, was under strict instructions to watch over him, so I was dragged along. He stopped in front of this huge colonial style house and was staring at it with such intensity, I thought he'd flipped." Scott remembered the overcast sky and the threat of rain as he nervously watched his brother scan the area…
---Flashback---
"What are you doing? Let's get out of here!" Scott hissed, trying to pull Remy away. He knew they were going to be late in meeting their father. He didn't really want to sit through another lecture about responsibility.
"There's a girl in there," Remy said quietly. He pointed to the front door, then frowned. He moved his hand down. "In the basement."
"So? Let's go."
"She's crying." Remy put a hand to his head.
Scott frowned. "That's too bad for her. You can't save the world, you know. Let's get away from here and then you won't be able to feel her."
Remy turned to look at him, but didn't say a word. Scott could feel the disappointment that Remy felt in him. He shifted slightly, trying to hold his own against that look. The glare was slowly breaking down Scott's defenses. He sighed.
"Well, what do you want to do?"
"Make her feel better," Remy said, moving toward the house. He simply opened the front door and walked in. Scott, left standing on the sidewalk, was at a loss. Not having anything better in mind, he chased after Remy.
"Hold on! You can't just walk in there!"
Remy was down in the basement. A single light bulb glowed softly in the damp basement. It smelled of rot and decay. Scott pulled his jacket closer. It was also freezing. Remy's eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, but Scott was having a harder time. His glasses didn't help compensate for the lack of light.
"It's okay, petite," Remy said soothingly. He was rocking a slip of a girl in his arms. A mess of brown hair cascaded around her head. Remy looked up as he heard Scott come down the stairs. A playing card that was charged and ready to fly was in his hand.
"Is she hurt?" Scott asked, crouching down next to them, ignoring the threat. He could see his breath misting in the air.
Remy nodded, and then shook his head. "She's hurt more inside than out," he whispered. "She can't stay here."
"Jesus, Remy! We can't just take the girl like she's a stray puppy or something!" Scott ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
"I know that!" Remy froze as dust wafted from the ceiling. "Let's go." Was all Remy said. He handed the girl to Scott, who held her gently against his shoulder. The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck trustingly. He groaned as he realized that he couldn't leave her there.
"We can take her to a police station or something."
When the got the top of the stairs, Remy stopped suddenly in front of Scott. Get her out of here! Make an exit!
Scott immediately turned around and blasted a hole in the wall. He stumbled out among the dust and rubble. It wasn't until he heard the second blast that he realized Remy wasn't behind him.
"Shit! Remy!" Scott tried to put the girl down, but she clung stubbornly to his neck. "Get out here!" He finally gave up and was going to run back inside the front door with the girl around his neck when Remy came running out. He saw Scott and slowed to a walk. He didn't look any worse for the wear.
"What the hell happened?" Remy kept walking at a fast pace. He didn't look behind him. "Remy!"
"Not now!" Scott stared at his brother. The tone of his voice brooked no opposition. He shifted the girl on his hip. She tugged on his shirt.
"What is it, sweetie?" he said absently. He had a feeling of what happened in that room.
"Is mommy coming back?" She sounded worried at the possibility. Tears clouded her brown eyes. Scott was pretty sure he didn't want to know.
"No," Remy answered. He pushed the wet strands of hair away from her face. "Is that okay?"
She nodded slowly. "Mommy was mean to me." She stuck her thumb into her mouth.
"I know."
------End Flashback----
Jean stared at Scott. "And then what happened? Nobody came looking for her? What did Remy do? Is that why you're in trouble?"
"Then Kitty came with us. Our father was livid, but agreed that she could stay as long as she lived here. Nobody came for her and if Remy wants you to know what he did, he'll tell you. Jeez, you're nosy."
Jean smacked his arm. "How many other people have you helped?"
Scott grit his teeth. "A few. Remy is hard to say no to. Especially when he wants to help someone. How do you tell him that he has to let someone suffer?"
She smiled at him. "Well aren't you a sweetheart?"
"No, I'm not. I just look to find ways to complicate my life. Remy, the brat, is just all too eager to help."
"Like I said – sweet."
---
"What'd y' do t' me?" Remy slurred, coming out of the drug-induced sleep. He could make out his father's form above him.
"Just changed your powers a bit. You are closer to your original strength. I trust that the extra practice will make it easier to work with now that you've begun to level out since the last power surge." Dr. Essex checked the vital signs. Everything seemed to be going as planned.
"Now I have to start all over again," Remy mumbled. The bright lights were hurting his eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous. You learned it once, you can do it again. I upped you kinetic charge, your empathy and your telepathy. I also added extra agility."
"Why?" He asked the question that had been swimming around his head for years. He had refrained from asking it only because he feared the answer. The drugs didn't let his better judgment rule his mouth.
"Why? Why do you think, Remy? Soon there will be no more humans on this earth. Survival goes to the strong. I will make you strong enough to carry on my work, my life into the new era." That clinched it. His father was mad.
"What about me? I don't want to have all this power." He heard the sullenness in his voice.
"What about you? You are nothing in the scheme of things. You exist because of me. You will do what I tell you to do. You think in years, I think in millennia." There was no question that the conversation was over as his father swept from the room. Remy lay back on the bed, his hands clenched into fists. Across the room, a screw lying on the table disintegrated with a small bang.
---
Marie was laughing at one of Bobby's jokes. She felt a twinge of guilt at having so much fun while Remy was most likely miserable. Then Sam would touch her hand or Jubilee would tug on her arm, and all thoughts of Remy would fly away. They were touching her. It had been years of craving human contact that made Marie delirious with delight. They didn't shrink away or hesitate.
"Marie?"
"Yes?" She noted the worried look on Bobby's face.
"Are you okay? You seem kinda distant."
"Bobby, I'm perfectly fine." She gave him a dazzling smile and wrestled with Tabitha for the remote.
A/N2: I had intended to make it a double long chapter, but in the interest of getting something out, you're getting only a slightly longer chapter. Please tell me what you think. I need a little direction. I know how it ends, but I'm not real sure how to get there. Also, I'm working on Convergence, but I'm having real problems there. Hopefully some inspiration will come quickly. Review!!!!!! Please!!!!!