A/N: For those who want to know: more FOH, more Remy, more Marie, more drama, drama, drama. Pretty short chapter though. Fun stuff next time: see the extent of Rem's new powers. Plus Jasper makes a friend. And more 'Ro.
They failed. He didn't even see that red-headed bitch. Jasper couldn't even stand it. He watched his FOH section leader mingle with the folks, looking as if he didn't care that they didn't get a single kill. The day still confused him, though no one else seemed to worry. He remembered seeing that rich house over the hill; he remembered the excitement of hearing the pandemonium inside. Then there was nothing and he woke up inside his own house with a killer headache. Talking to the others, no one was sure what happened, but they were pretty sure they did some damage. But the papers showed no news about the school. There was nothing to record their deed. He went back to the house, and there it stood. There were kids playing outside without a care in the world. That was when his world fell apart. No one wanted to believe him. He felt the rage build up inside until he couldn't hear anything except the pounding of the blood through his body. If nobody was going to help him, he would do it himself. Jasper stared, glazed, as the night's guest speaker began. He needed to plan. Nothing would make him happy until he saw the blood begin to run, hear the screams echo in the night.
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Marie was having nightmares. She woke up for the past three nights shaking under her covers. They were the strangest dreams and she was afraid of what they meant. Still, she knew that they may be important. She dragged her feet.
"Scott, can I talk to you?" Jean raised her eyebrow questioningly, but Marie shook her head. The last image was vivid in her mind, and she wanted to talk to Scott before it faded. Scott followed her, looking back at Jean questioningly. Marie shut the door behind them as they entered the vacant dining room.
"I've been having these dreams," she began. "I think I can see into Remy's mind."
Scott tried to keep from smiling. She missed the boy; that was the reason for the dreams. His voice was soothing as he tried to placate her. "Marie, Remy can't project this far away. He'll be back soon."
"I don't think you understand. I can see through his eyes and hear what he's thinking." She struggled for the words that would make him understand. "It's not just a dream!"
"Can you tell me what he's thinking now?" He still didn't believe her.
"No. But I can tall you what your father looks like. And what your room looks like at home," Marie said, clearly frustrated. "And Remy told me that your father likes to change your powers. Maybe he made Remy stronger."
Scott was getting irritated. "Marie, what do you want? I don't have time for this."
"Your father has white skin, so pale it looks like costume make-up. His eyes glow red like Remy's and there's a diamond on his forehead. You share a room with Remy even though your house must have ten bedrooms. There's nothing in there except two beds, two dressers, and a desk. The walls are stark white, your blankets are grey. There's a huge man there with Remy. He has long blondish hair and grey eyes. I want you to help because I think Remy needs help." She stood as if she were ready to physically detain him until he believed her.
Scott stared at her. He noticed that she looked ready both to fight him and start crying. He sighed, finally admitting to himself that she could actually be right. "Okay, tell me what you think is happening…"
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Kitty was on the prowl. It had been a week since her last swimming lesson, three days since she'd played with Jean's hair, eight days since Remy watched Beauty and the Beast with her and she was upset over the lack of attention paid to her. Kitty did what any slightly spoiled (okay, very spoiled), emotionally secure four-year-old would do - she screamed. That brought five people running into the hall.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you okay?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Kitty, what's wrong?"
"Stop that!" Scott yelled, storming into the hall.
Kitty stopped in sheer surprise. Scott yelled at her. Scott never yelled. She pouted with her hands on her hips. "You yelled at me."
Scott kneeled down to her height. "You were screaming for no reason."
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Na uh." She stuck out her lower lip. People began to drift away, leaving them alone.
Scott was aware that he was trying to argue with a highly illogical female. He took a different track. "Then why were you screaming?"
"'Cause nobody would play with me," Kitty explained as if talking to someone highly stupid.
Scott felt as if he were losing his mind. First, Marie getting visions in her sleep, and now this. "Kitty, that is no reason to scream. If you want attention you say, 'Excuse me, Scott, but I would like to play now.' Then I would say, 'Yes, Kitty, let us play.' Do you see how that works?"
She thought about it. "Scott, I wanna go swimming."
"I can't right now."
Kitty looked confused. "But you just said that you'd play with me."
Scott was sure of it. He was officially crazy. "That was an example. I can't say yes all the time."
"Why?"
"Because I need to talk to Marie right now."
"Talk to her later. Play with me."
"But, Kitty…" Her eyes began to tear.
"Don't you like me any more?" He felt like shit.
"You know you're my favorite girl." He sighed as he realized she wasn't listening. He picked her up and carried her to the kitchen. He was happy to see Ororo there, studying the contents of the refrigerator.
"Why don't you make cookies with Ororo?" he said, silently pleading with her. Ororo must have caught his urgency.
"I was thinking chocolate chip, what do you like, Kitty?" She held out a hand to the girl while shooting a look at Scott. The little girl sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
"I like chocolate chip."
'Thanks 'Ro,' Scott mouthed at her as she began to pull ingredients out of the cupboards.
'You owe me,' she mouthed back, a good natured smile on her face. Kitty loved to bake, but she sure was messy.
Jean had drifted back to her study group and watched Scott run up the stairs towards his room. She twisted her head around to look for her sister. Marie was curled up in the den, her history book opened in front of her.
"What's up, Marie?" Jean said, frowning over the way her sister jumped.
"Nothing," Marie said feebly. She moved over to let Jean sit and then laid against her. "I want to get out of here."
"I know. Just give it a little more time. You're getting better with your powers, right?"
"Yeah, I guess. Do you really think we'll get away? It's obvious dad knows where we are." Marie was playing with a loose thread in the blanket.
"I plan on learning enough to take care of him. No more running, just living on our terms," Jean narrowed her eyes. "What did you tell Scott?"
Marie shook her head. "Do you always gotta know everything? Maybe that is none of your business."
"Maybe," Jean allowed. She didn't ask again.
Marie sighed. "I think I imprinted Remy. I've been having nightmares."
"What's imprinting?"
"When Remy touched me, I think I kept some of his memories. Scott thinks I'm remembering them because I miss him or something. I think he's wrong. I can feel him, I swear."
"What are you going to do?" Jean asked, knowing her sister all too well.
Marie smiled grimly. "I'm going to help him, of course."
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Remy was finally getting his head straight again. The room no longer swooped and swirled in front of him. He had been having the strangest dreams. Marie kept on calling out to him, but he couldn't talk. Weird.
"Good, you are awake." His father's voice sliced through his thoughts. Remy kept his anger under control while turning towards him. "I want to run some tests."
Always with the testing. At least he'd get out of the damn lab. Plus, he was pretty curious about what had happened. His body and the room were both humming with energy. He felt he could take on the world.
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