Author's Note: More sexual tension for Sam and the OC. Some cute Tessa/Bishop 'cause I LOVE them!! Also, a nice scene with Remy and Bishop. They are… interesting together. Rogue's a main player in this chappy, the girl is fun to write. ^_^ And she forces Sam to confront his feelings. YAY!! I like them as friends. (Think XXM #33 (I think) where Sam and Rogue reminisced about their first meeting. Hehe… she dropped a tree on him.) Anyway, shopping trip fun.
Disclaimer: I own… I'll get back to you with that. But I DON'T own the X-Men. Damn.
Shout outs: Okay, thank you to ALL the reviewers. YAY!! I'm glad people don't hate it. :^D I'm just SO happy!! - Khay: Yes, Zachery is REALLY his middle name. Did I write that in?? Hmm… I don't recall. Sad, huh?? I wrote this fic a LONG time ago… I'm so glad there's a "the" in front of my name. I was just lacking without it. :^D I'm glad you weren't disappointed. YAY!! And more Bishop love!! There's more of him and Remy this chappy, I REALLY like 'em together, in a platonic way of course. Yep, Remy's past is ugly, as is Chris's present. Sam's been my favorite for a while (not that you can tell by my normal writing) and I think he's a sexy beast. Check him out shirtless in XXM. Dude. Dirty thoughts 'bout Sam. I see my work here is done. ^_~ Thanks for the cool review!! - T.: Aw, thanks. I feel bad for Remy too. Luckily the story's called "What NEVER Happened", eh?? :P You shouldn't trust Chris. She ain't trustworthy, that much is for damn sure. Glad you like it!! ^_^ Thank you for the review. - Reality Dreamer: Hey back atcha. Bathroom tension. Gotta love communal living. I know I would if I lived with Sam and Remy. *sighs like a pathetic fangirl* You're TOO kind!! Thanks!! - Ishandahalf: I see how it is. You'll explain for Khay, but not for me. *pouts* But, since I feel you on the laziness issue, I suppose I'll let it go. ^_^ Omnipotent, eh?? Star Trek reference fun!! I'm a bit of a trekkie, I'll admit it but that's beside the point. Hey, don't make fun of the name thing. *pouts some more* Her real name will be revealed in chapter 7… but that's not important right now. I agree. Shaw. Ew. Why won't he die?? WHY?? *sigh* Bastard. I figured it'd be kinda trite to use an image inducer, won't people feel the difference in the hair?? So, why not stick with the old classics, wig fun. Though, the "puzzle ring" does change her eyes and teeth slightly. What can I say?? They invented the technology, might as well use it on stuff people don't normally touch. Okay, I'm rambling. Sorry. I LOVE SAM!! So feel free to praise him as much as you like. Drunk Remy wasn't TOO angsty was it?? I tried to be good. You're UBER sweet, you super reviewer!! Thanks!! - Leishy: I just don't think Remy would be a fun drunk. People who are generally harboring a lot of angst but trying to play it off tend to be depressed drunks. Or only get drunk when they are depressed. Not that I know from experience. *17-year-old authoress whistles innocently* Sexual tension abound!! YAY!! Sammy's still a gentleman, he's just… prone to Remy-like thoughts. If he was Remy, he would have already banged her and two other chicks. *reader deadpans* You know it's the truth. Groovy review baby!! Thanks!! - Kitsu Black: Aw, shucks. You're TOO kind!! Thank ya. Well, Chris is setting them up for more than Hellfire. Black Air goodness too. :P You're UBER sweet to review, so thanks again!!
"talking" - 'thinking' - *telepathic communication* - foreign languages
What Never Happened
by, Caliente
Chapter 5 – Awkward Encounters
Chris rubbed her eyes and stretched as she entered the kitchen in the morning. She absentmindedly ran a hand through her curly mane and reached for a cup of coffee. She inhaled the rich Columbian scent and took a big gulp. She grimaced slightly at the taste, much too strong for her normal taste. 'When in Rome,' she thought to herself. She sat at the kitchen table, and stretched again. "Good morning," she yawned to the group.
Sam was sitting at the table, eating some cereal while Rogue leaned against a counter drinking some coffee. Bishop and Tessa were both reading the paper as they munched on their breakfasts. Sam heard bare feet approach before he saw her. He knew it had to be Chris because Remy's footfalls were always silent. He glanced up from his cereal just in time to see her stretch. He watched her cropped white shirt ride up to an almost indecent place, and her shorts did the same. Shorts that barely covered her to begin with. And it was painfully obvious to him that she wasn't wearing any undergarments. He watched her wander absentmindedly over to the coffee when Rogue caught his eyes. She was giving him a look. The 'you want her don't you?' look. Sam just sighed slightly, and returned to his cereal. He looked up again when she plopped down in the chair across from him, blushing slightly at his thoughts and the night before. Then she stretched again. Sam stared. He couldn't help it; it was like a car accident. He wanted to look away but he couldn't. He heard her mumble a greeting as she yawned. He heard Rogue clear her throat and pried his eyes away from the brunette. "Mornin'," Sam replied.
"Yeah, mornin' sugah," Rogue agreed. Bishop and Tessa both nodded at Chris before returning to their respective papers. Chris turned in her seat to look at Rogue, and Sam watched how her shirt stretch over her chest. 'Stop it!' he scolded himself. 'You don't want to take another cold shower.' Rogue continued, "So, Ah was thinkin' we could hit a few shops taday. Get ya some clothes."
Chris nodded. "Sounds great," she agreed with a grin. "I just need to eat something and change."
"That's fine," Rogue assured her with a smile. "Now we just need ta wrangle a guy ta help us out an' then we'll be set."
Bishop and Sam both looked at Rogue with this statement, then each other, then they gulped. Tessa came to Bishop's rescue. "Bishop and I had planned to follow a lead on Bogan today," she informed Rogue. "I could really use his detective skills."
Bishop had never felt more relieved in his life, and his expression showed it. *You lied to Rogue* Bishop projected at the human computer. *I can't believe you lied for me.*
*Well, Sam's growing a crush on the visitor so he actually doesn't mind helping out* the telepath replied. *Besides, I find you more compatible than Sam.*
'Compatible?' Bishop wondered, shielding his thoughts. 'I wonder if I missed something. Damnit, I'm going to have to ask that stupid Cajun for help. After all, what's the use of having a womanizing player around if he doesn't give you advice?' *Thanks, I think* Bishop projected.
*Your welcome* Tessa stated absentmindedly as she continued to read.
"Well, we can't ask Remy," Rogue added, unaware of the telepathic conversation she was missing. "He's not one of yer," she looked at Chris, "favorite people an' he's sleepin' off a massive hangover. Probly won't be up 'til two." '"Not one of my favorite people." Ha. Understatement of the year,' Chris commented silently. Rogue continued, "So that leaves Sammy boy"
Both women turned and looking at Sam. The Southern boy knew it was coming so he just sighed and said, "Do Ah hafta?"
"But now that Ah don't have my super strength, Ah'm so much weaker," Rogue pouted. "Please Sammy." She winked at him. "Plus Ah think we'll need a male's opinion one the clothes."
"Alright," Sam sighed again, resigning himself to his fate. "Ah'll be ready when y'all wanna go."
"Thanks sugah," Rogue stated, pushing herself from the counter. She pinched his cheek as she exited the room.
Chris stifled a laugh as she watched Rogue convince Sam to help them. She put her cup in the sink and grabbed a piece of toast as she too exited the room. "Gracias Sam," she called over her shoulder.
Bishop looked at the smaller man and laughed. "Do you know how screwed you are?" he asked.
Sam attempted an angry glare. "Shut up," he groaned as he finished eating. Then he realized something. 'I'm gonna get to see her try stuff on… with Rogue. We all know what Rogue's style is. Less is more.' Suddenly things were looking up.
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Bishop stared hard at the door. There had to be another way. Some other option he was missing. Something, anything, else he could do. He came up with nothing… and so here he was. Preparing to ask Remy LeBeau, the low-life thief, for help. Swallowing the last of his pride, Bishop knocked gently on the door, half-hoping he wouldn't disturb him and half-hoping he would.
"Quoi?" Remy barked from behind the door.
"Gambit, I appreciate a word," Bishop stated politely, cracking the door open.
"Bishop, m'tired an' I have a headache de size o' y'gun. Can' we do dis later?" he croaked. "Or better yet, not at all."
"LeBeau, you know I would not come to you unless it was the most dire of circumstances," Bishop tried, unsuccessfully, to appeal to him.
"Gee Bish, t'ink y'could be a bit more brash?" he asked, rolling out of bed and stumbling to the door. He opened it and gestured for the larger mutant to come inside. "But since y'helped me las' night, I t'ink, I'll help you wit' whatever it is a low-life t'ief like me can help you wit'."
Bishop nodded and stepped inside. He sat on a chair that was dwarfed by his large frame but attempted to get comfortable just the same. Gambit ambled back to the bed and plopped down. "So what does de almighty detective Lucas Bishop need from me?"
Bishop reached up to run his hand through his hair… only to remember that he had recently shaved his head. Carefully placing his hand back into his lap, and let out a small sigh. "I need your advice," he admitted hesitantly.
Gambit had to work to keep his jaw from dropping. Bishop was… asking for his advice? Whoa. So this was what an out of body experience was like. Smirking, the handsome Cajun decided to milk this for all it was worth. "Y'need my advice? De almighty Bishop is ac'ually asking f'r my help. Never t'ought I'd see de day." Bishop let out a Wolverine-like growl causing Remy to laugh. "Now, what could y'need my advice f'r…" Suddenly everything seemed to click. "Wait a minute. Hold de phones. De only t'ing I…" he trailed off, his smirk growing. "So y'finally decided t'make a move on her, huh? Sure you don' wan' t'wait f'r a couple days? I bet on Thursday."
"Wha–" Bishop suddenly tensed, eyes widening, and Gambit silently began the count down, 'Three… two… one…' "You BET on ME?!" Bishop exploded. 'Blast off,' the Acadian announced to his imaginary audience. "How–? Why–?"
Gambit let out a hearty laugh at Bishop's stuttering response. "Mon ami, we start a pool ev'ry week. We each pick a day, dis week we consists o' Stormy, Vange, Sammy, Skids, Bobby, ma chere, an' myself, an' de winner wins de pot. An' ev'ry week we add five dollars t'de pot. We're up to 525 dollars… an' I'd love t'win it cher."
"I can't believe it," Bishop muttered, rubbing his temples in an attempt to massage out the headache he was getting. The headache he always seemed to get when he was dealing with Remy LeBeau. "Actually, since it's you, I can." Remy laughed again, a noise that, to Bishop at least, seemed to get more annoying each time he heard it. "And, don't call me cher," he added as an afterthought.
"Whatever y'say cher," Remy replied impishly. Giving the annoying Cajun a scathing glare, Bishop growled for effect. Gambit lifted his hands in mock-surrender. "All right, all right. "
"Look LeBeau, I just want to know…" He paused and grimaced, how he loathed that Cajun, and himself, at that moment. "…what should I do?"
"Simple," Remy drawled slowly. "Y'two are gonna be alone," he smirked and winked, "in de bi-i-i-ig city. What do you t'ink y'should do?" Bishop reddened slightly and glared harder at the smaller man. "I jus' meant, y'should invite her t'dinner. Sorta like a practice date. Dat way, you won' be as nervous an' y'can see if y'hit it off outside de whole X-Men t'ing. Geez. An' dey say I have a dirty mind."
Bishop was so surprised that Gambit actually gave him some useful advice that he could hardly fathom a response. "Oh…" Pulling himself together, he rose. "Uh, thanks. Sorry for waking you."
"No problem," the Acadian brushed it off, silently remembering every moment for future teasing. "Don' mention it. It was so wort' it." Somehow, that didn't make Bishop feel any better.
"Bishop," Tessa called, raising her normally calm voice ever so slightly, interrupting the two men. "Are you ready to leave? We should be leaving soon if we want to make it back in time for dinner."
Bishop felt his face heat up ever so slightly but managed to remain cool. Okay, relatively cool. "I'll be right there Tessa," he shouted back. He reluctantly forced himself to address the cocky Cajun. "Thank you LeBeau."
"Anytime cher. Anytime," was his smart response. As he watched the larger man exit, he added, "Don' f'rget… if y'hold out 'til Wednesday, y'can have a piece o' de pie."
Shaking his head, Bishop made his way into the main room where Sage was waiting patiently. "Sorry about the hold up," he apologized quickly.
Tessa waved it off with an even expression. "Don't worry about it, it's fine."
"Good," Bishop stated feeling slightly relieved. Why did he feel like there was a sudden tension between them? He just wanted… what did he want? Only one way to find out, take the plunge. "Tessa, maybe after we finish the investigation, we could grab a bite to eat?" he offered casually.
The pale woman's head snapped to Bishop, inspecting him closely for a moment. Suddenly her face relaxed and she seemed to smile ever so slightly. "Sounds nice Lucas," she told him, personalizing it by using his real name.
"Good," the black man repeated, feeling his spirit rise with her acceptance. Sure, it wasn't much, but it was something. And something is better than nothing. Maybe this would work after all.
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"Anna, you don't have to do this," Chris said for what seemed like the hundredth time. "I have enough stuff." She glanced over at Sam. "And I'm not sure how much more the boy can take."
"He's strong, he'll survive," Rogue responded, waving her hand absentmindedly. "We still have stores ta hit." She led Chris to their next stop. Victoria Secret. Chris felt herself blush slightly at the risqué lingerie the models were wearing. Sam too was blushing, but not because of the lingerie. He was blushing because he was picturing Chris in the lingerie. Well, mostly Chris with a little of the mysterious Isabel. "Ya go on in," Rogue encouraged. "Get what ya need an' mebbe a few extra thin's in case ya wanna entertain." Chris blushed harder. "Just kiddin' sugah. Sam an' Ah are gonna go ta the coffee shop next door. We'll be back soon."
"Okay," Chris agreed. "And gracias again."
Rolling her eyes, Rogue smiled. "Ya don't have ta keep thankin' me. Honestly, ya act like nobody's ever been nice ta you befo'. An', it's the least Ah could do. 'Specially since the parts Ah need fo' ya bike won't be in fo' 'nother few days." Rogue led Sam and the packages into the Pete's Coffee that was adjacent to the high class lingerie store. After they had ordered and sat down Rogue gave Sam a hard look. "'kay spill."
"Spill what?" Sam mumbled into his cup. "Nothin' ta spill. 'Cept this coffee," he finished lamely.
Rogue rolled her eyes again, this time at her fellow Southerner. "Sure there ain't. Lemme ask ya somthin'. Think Ah was born yesterday? Ah'm not blind ya know. Ah can see the way ya look at her."
Sighing, Sam slumped in his seat. "Am Ah that obvious?" he asked. When Rogue nodded, he sighed again. "Ah can't explain it really. She does somethang ta meh. Ah just find myself thankin' thangs." Blush spread from his cheeks down his neck. "Not-so-innocent thangs."
"Well, it's not like she's a deformed freak o' nothin'," Rogue joked. "Makes sense that ya would be attracted ta her."
"Ah guess," Sam responded dejectedly. "It's just so confusin'." He sighed again. "Ah mean, between Chris an' Lila, Ah feel more lost than Ah ever felt befo'. An' fo' some reason Ah can't forget Isabel too."
"This ain't like ya," Rogue commented. "Yer usually so gentlemanly. Ah've never known ya ta ogle a girl. But this mornin', Ah thought ya eyes would pop outta ya head ya were starin' at Chris so hard."
"Ah know," Sam told her. "It's just somethang 'bout her. She just draws meh in."
"Try talkin' it out, mebbe that'll help," Rogue suggested. "If nothin' else, it'll entertain me 'til Chris finishes with her shoppin'."
"Gee, ya too kind," Sam remarked dryly. "Ah guess it couldn't hurt." Sam paused, considering his words. "It's weird, but Chris seem ta have an effect on meh. Ah feel really attracted ta her, though Ah feel that with Isabel an' Lila too. It's more, Ah thank. Ah'm not sure. Ah just feel like Ah should protect her… help her… save her…"
"Save her? From what?" Rogue inquired seriously. "Is she in some kinda trouble? What do ya know?"
"Ah didn't mean it like that," Sam explained. "Ah just thank that somethang's off."
Rogue looked pensive for a moment before she nodded in agreement. "Ah know what ya mean. But Ah think it's 'cause she's in a new environment. Thrown off balance, ya know?"
"Maybe," Sam agreed. "Thank we should check on her?"
Rogue glanced at the clock and smiled. "Sure," she replied. "Ah'm gonna use the Southern belle's room, why don't ya go on ahead. Be there in a minute."
Sam looked slightly confused. "Ah can wait, it's no–"
"Not necessary sugah," Rogue cut in. "Ah'll just be a moment."
"O-kay," Sam conceited slowly. "See ya in a minute." Sam grabbed all of the bags and walked over to the lingerie shop. He found a seat and sat down with the packages sprawled around him.
"Hey dude. Stuck as your girlfriend's mule too?" A friendly voice inquired.
Sam turned and saw another boy, a few years his junior, surrounded by bags. He had bright blue spiked hair and wore black sunglasses. 'Ah, the punk style lives on,' he thought. Grinning at him he answered. "Ah wish. She ain't even my girlfriend."
"Bummer man, you don't even get any for your hard work," the boy responded.
Nodding with a longing look in his eyes, Sam added, "Don't Ah know it. An' she's a babe ta boot."
"Well, carrying her things might get you some action, you never know," the boy offered. "Oops. My girlfriend's hailing me. Gotta run. Nice talking with you dude."
"Yah, nice talkin' with ya 'dude'," he echoed. He became lost in thought once more. 'What the heck is taking Rogue so long?' he wondered. 'I hope she's all right…'
"Uhm, Sam?" a voice called from across the room.
The blonde Southerner shot up and immediately responded. "Yeah Chris?" He blushed slightly as he noticed her slightly askew clothing and hair, unable to stop his mind from thinking about less-than-innocent ways they could have gotten that way.
"I'm ready to pay," she informed him as she adjusted herself. "Do you know where Anna is?"
"Said she had ta use the bathroom, but that was almost ten minutes ago," Sam stated in a slightly concerned tone.
"No worries," Rogue's cheerful voice rang through the store. "Just wanted to buy Chris some coffee too."
"Oh, gracias," Chris smiled. "Smells great."
"No problem," Rogue replied with a grin. "Ah'll just pay an' then we can go."
"Gra–" Chris started again.
"An' if ya thank me one mo' time, Ah may be forced ta take ya out shoppin' again tamorrow," Rogue interrupted. "So just help Sam gather the bags so we can go."
Wordlessly, Chris nodded and pulled Sam back to where he had placed the bags, effectively pulling him out of his daydreams. "Sorry that I kept you guys waiting," Chris apologized as they gathered the multitude of shopping bags that the three had accumulated. Rogue had insisted that Chris buy a multitude of things, from leather pants to jeans to sweat pants to skirts. Chris was almost sad that she wouldn't be able to keep most of the stuff.
Sam shrugged with an easy smile. "It's no problem."
The two young twenty-somethings lifted the bags, well Sam lifted the bags while Chris offered to help, and wandered slowly out the door. They were soon joined by Rogue who was holding the Victoria Secret bag with a "cat ate the canary" grin. The two younger mutants exchanged puzzled looks but chose not to comment. Sometimes it's just better not to ask.
A nice, mellow chappy. Tell me what ya think. Review!! please. Please! PlEaSe!! PLEASE!!!