This is the next chapter. I don't know how earlier I can get another chapter up. I have a lot of stuff to do. Mostly studing for my drivers test and getting better at my spanish vocabulary and another History that's going to be really fun. Well, enjoy. Thank you. Don't be afraid to review and tell of what you would like to see.

Chapter nine

The journey was diffently not as hard as it was. Brian was now on his way to the school's medical center to recieve care to get better and Gambit was now equipped with a cell phone that believe it or not, worked.

Again the harsh winter climate of Oregon made the walk worse than it should be. Night was still laying across the empty skies. They could literally see everything freeze with their very eyes during their walk. Forst crept across the road like reapers stalking their prey. Traveling slowly but spreading throughout the entire land. Their breath was once even, but now came out in raspy, fog-filled gasps.

This night was by far the coldest since they started. Alex could feel her bones freeze beneath her skin, while her fingers froze. Her body felt nothing and her mind thought nothing. Movement fly through her eyes in slow motion. She felt like she was moving so fast that nothing could catch up.

Gambit had evenutally gotten Alex to wear his jacket. He, himself was cold, but something was wrong with Alex. Her eyes were glazed over, and when he talked to her she seemed only half there. He needed to get her some place warm and soon.

Alex spent her time gazing upon the land as they walked on past. So engrossed in her observation, she hadn't even heard Gambit call an information number to get an idea of where there was a place to stay nearby.

"Alex." called Gambit trying to pull Alex out of her trance. Successfully Alex heard him and tried to pay as much attention as she could to him.

"There's a small town up ahead. Apparently it has motel. That's where we're going." Gambit slowly pronunced his sentences, so as to not confuse her. She was losing it, the cold was finally getting to her.

Alex nodded slowly to show Gambit that she heard and understood. Crossing her arms once again across her chest, she continued to stare ahead looking forward to a good night's sleep and a hot bath, for once. She was so numb from head to toe that she didn't even feel Gambit wrap his arm across her shoulders, pulling her closer to keep her warm.

The town loomed ahead sooner than they thought it would. It was complete with a small gas station and a few convenience stores, and the motel they had been told about. All lights had been turned off, except for the small lamp posts lining the side of the main street. Alex felt so out of place here. It was almost like a ghost town, only the buildings looming over the street provided the only occupants noticable.

Luckly the owner of the motel was sitting wide awake behind the counter. This man,Alex decided was a lot better than the last one. He was an elderly fellow, who had kind eyes and a youthful smile, even though his youthful years were over. He was able to give them a very reasonable price and a room with two beds.

Upon reaching the room Gambit had literally pushed Alex inside the bathroom. She had to admit that the sound of a hot bath was quite inviting to her. Stepping out of her clothing proved to be more difficult than she thought. She was exhausted and cold, and she ended up peeling off her clothing one piece at a time. She slowly gazed upon herself in the mirror. She was so pale, she looked dead, her hair was shining and flat against her head and her eyes were not her own. They didn't even look like they belonged to her, they were glazed over, half open and dark lines formed under them. Diffently a sign for rest.

The sheer rush of hot water replenishing her body was pure bliss. She set her head on the slope of the tub and closed her eyes. For the past horrific days of her life, she'd been kidnapped, broke free from that disgusting officer, and successfully gotten both of her companions injured and her brother kidnapped as well. Things weren't looking so good back then, but now Brian was safe and Gambit was here with her to help her look for her brother.

Silence filled the bathroom, seeping through the crack of the door and into her ears. She was at peace now, and if she concentrated hard enough she could hear voices of her parents. Past memories that had washed up effidently with the water. "Alex" a voice whispered. Opening her eyes she looked around the bathroom to see if Gambit wanted to play a practical joke on her. "Gambit, did you say something?" silence reached her ears. "Please come and rescue me."the voice whispered again. Now Alex was completely wigged out. Gambit's voice was too deep to sound like that. "We all need help. Please somebody rescue us all." It was weird to Alex, the voice sounded childlike. Alex gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, tears immediately fell free from the dam. It was Gabe talking. She had somehow managed to into his thoughts. No, not his thought's, but his prayers.

Alex must have spent at least two hours soaking in her warm refuge. Her feet and hands were past the raisin stage and working on something that could give a pug a run for it's money. Slowly Alex rose from the tub, gripping onto the side so as to not lose balance. The sudden change from cold to warm had caused Alex to feel very dizzy and feverish.Wrapping herself in the terry robe provided from the motel hanging on the door rack, she left the bathroom with a trail of steam following close behind.

Gambit had made the room quite comfortable since she'd been gone. He'd set out to wash her dirty clothes, while he laid out some clean ones on a table nearby for use tomorrow. The room temperature had been adjusted so she wouldn't have to cool down from getting out of the bathroom.

She decided to watch some television before she decided to go to bed. Gambit had left sometime during her bath and he still wasn't back. Making herself comfortable on the bed, she crossed her legs and began to channel surf. Finally she just left it on a cops show after finding nothing else better on at this hour.

Another hour passed and still Gambit hadn't returned. Alex was beginning to get a little worried. Sure he was a big boy and able to take care of himself, but he hadn't mentioned at all to her where he went. Thoughts of Gambit's whereabouts swirled in her head, and eventually lulled her to sleep. Exhausted she collasped onto the bed,dressed in nothing but a robe and with the t.v and lights still on.

Gambit slowly crept up the stairs leading up to their room. He was able to get information from the owner that a small but excellent burger joint was located about a ten minute drive from here. Hoping to surprise Alex with food, he headed out after he got some clothes for her and setting their room so it would be warm by the time she got out. If he was lucky she would still be inside the bath so he could surprise her, but he highly doubted it.

The walk to the restuarant took a good half hour to accomplish, and another 15 minutes for the place to get his orders. Finally he was able to leave the restuarant with a order steaming hot order of burgers and fries inside foam containers to keep warm. Again the trip back was a half hour walk. Upon his return, he decided to creep back to thier room as quietly as possible, knowing that she was probably sound asleep.

Opening the door to the room Gambit found everything still on including the televison and Alex laying on the bed, asleep. Quietly setting the bag of food onto the table in the corner, he made his way towards the bed. He hated to wake her up, but she needed something to eat and she'd probably beat him in the morning if he didn't tell her.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Gambit placed his hand on her shoulder and slowly began to shake her. "Alex." he whispered into her ear. "Come on, sleepy head. Wake up."

Alex was already awake and listening to what Gambit was saying, but she thought it'd be fun if she played with him a little bit. He had already whispered in her ear and shook her softly, but she was curious as to what he was going to do now.

Gambit sighed and rubbed his forehead. He had already tried to talk to her and shake her to wake her up. What else could he do? Finally an idea came to him that let him smile devilishly, knowing he could mess with her. Quickly he whispered in her ears one last time. "Alex, wake up" He had to admit to himself that he even sounded seductive. Smiling, knowing that she wouldn't wake up from that attempt, he lowered his lips onto hers.

Alex was not expecting that. She thought that maybe that he'd stop and she could scare him, but he decided to kiss her. Well, if he wanted to play this way, she could go along too. As soon as she thought he was going to stop, she started to kiss him back.

Gambit became alarmed from Alex's reaction. He meant it to be a small kiss on the lips to wake her, but as soon as he started to pull away she began to kiss him back. He had to admit he was a little startled at first, but he to was going along with it.

Alex rose on the bed so she was sitting and could get in closer contact with Gambit. She snaked one hand around his head to his neck to hang on to him, while her other hand propped herself up on the mattress.

Gambit's hand sought out for Alex's hand on the bed. Finally finding it, he grasped it and held on, pulling Alex even closer. Again his other hand was gripping her waist to keep her upright.

The kiss continued on for several more seconds. Even more explosive than the first, if possible. Gambit had never had a kiss like this before. Sure, he'd kissed a few girls before, like Rogue. But there relationship was just a fling. She soon found Bobby and he went on with his life. He had thought she was a good kisser, but Alex was a amazing. Her lips and skin were so soft, and her kisses weren't demanding either. She went ever so slowly, tasting and enjoying every bit of the kiss, filling it with more love than the last.

Both unwillingly pulled apart to gasp for air. "Guess what?" whispered Gambit.

"What?" smiled Alex.

"I got food."

"Really?!" shrieked Alex.

"Yeah." laughed Gambit.

"Score!!" shouted Alex, as she leapt off the bed and proceeded to run to the table providing the food. Gambit had never seen anyone eat food so fast. Half the time he was afraid she'd choke.

The moment both finished eating, Alex left yet again to fall asleep while Gambit exited towards the bathroom. Certainly his small little journey earned him a shower, but he was a little on edge. The moment he had entered the room, he had felt an uncomfortable atmosphere and he was pretty sure something had happened to Alex. He knew that she wasn't going to go out and just tell him what happened.

Stepping from his warm coccoon, he proceded to dry himself and dress for sleep. Not equipped with a set of pajamas, he was just going to wear his boxers to bed. Thank goodness he wasn't sharing a bed with Alex. With her wearing a robe and him just boxers, sleep could make you do weird things. Including imagining things that didn't happen. If you know what I mean? All he needed was for Alex to wake up and get the wrong idea. She was feed, clean and fully loaded with female hormones.

Walking out of the bathroom, he slowly went around and shut off all the lights and made sure everything was locked down. He crawled under his covers eventually and before he knew it he fell into a dreamless sleep. For all of us know, they both deserved it.

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