(Seven)

Remy walked down into the Professor's office and shut the door. "You wanted ta see me, boss?"

The Professor was sitting behind his desk and regarded him with a small smile. "Yes. How are you feeling?"

"Better now. I made up my report on Jael."

Charles looked at the fading bruises on Remy's face but figured if the thief said he was okay then he must be. "Yes, thank you. But that's not why I called you here. It's about Kimble."

Remy crossed his arms and slouched arrogantly, already getting mad. "You seen I was right, ey? I tol' you dat boy wasn't gonna be quiet for you. Let me take 'im out."

"No. In fact I think you shouldn't be spending so much time with him."

"Uh, uh. No way you keepin' me away. 'E ain't got nobody else. De only time he's good is when I'm around."

"That's just it. He's depending too much on you. Fallen is as well. He belongs to her and she should be looking after him, not you."

"Dat's de problem. She ain't doin' squat wit 'im!" Remy complained, finally giving vent to his frustration. It sickened him how she had so rudely shoved Kimble aside in pursuit of Seth's freedom.

"I've already spoken to her about it. That's why I want you to leave him alone. Let him go to her and get what he needs. She won't be using you as a crutch any longer. He's been outfitted with a phase proof tracker bracelet and confined to the lower levels. He won't be able to phase out of the facility and should be quiet there for a while."

"Non," Remy said in a bold refusal. "I won' leave 'im."

"Yes, you will. This is a direct order." The Professor tossed him a card. "Now, do me a favor. I need you to go into the city and pick this lady up. Please bring her here."

Remy picked up the card and scowled. Not this again. "Karen Richards? Je suis de'sole, patron. Gambit ain't no taxi service," he said angrily, throwing the card back at him.

"You will do this, Remy. If you really care for this pilot you will do as I ask."

"Gambit cares, 'e jus' t'inkin' you full of shit, is all. Dis ain't de right way."

"He's had a few days of your way and it hasn't worked out. Time for something new."

"Gambit's way ain't workin' 'cause you won't let me do right for de boy! Let me take him out!"

"No. It's too dangerous. He's too dangerous. Now, take this and pick Miss Richards up, please," Charles insisted, holding up the card once more.

Gambit realized he was getting nowhere here. Fine. There were other ways. He blanked out his mind and smiled, taking the card. "Whatever you say, boss," he tossed out, making a show of giving up. He walked out without waiting to be dismissed and slammed the door.

Once freed, Remy ran up the stairs to his room and pawed through his drawers. He found a tracking bracelet and a tracker box. He was never one to be unprepared and had lots of junk devices hanging around for special occasions like this. He jammed the items into his pockets, a sly smile on his face and hopped cheerfully down the stairs on his way out. He was going to show these fools, oh yes. He walked out to his Jeep and drove off, never looking back.

He spent the day in New York City, not bothering to pick up Karen Richards as he had been directed. She could go stuff herself for all he cared. He knew his disobeying the order to pick her up wouldn't be considered out of the ordinary. It was typical of him to blow the Professor off and disappear whenever he was upset. This would look like one of those times. He wouldn't be missed, not so soon.

He kept a small apartment in the Bronx no one knew about and went there for some privacy. He had thief's work to do and didn't want to be disturbed. He sat at the tiny dinner table and spread out his tools and lock picks. He lay down the bracelet he had taken and worked the lock, teaching himself how to pick it. He had to be careful not to break the tiny filament connecting the sensors for the alarm. It didn't take him long to figure it out. Satisfied, he put it back in his pocket and waited for dusk.

As the sun set, he drove back to the Mansion, taking the access road in the back. It led to the waterfall where the launch door was for the hanger. He parked the Jeep off to one side where it wouldn't be easily seen and made his way to the waterfall. There was a hidden staircase that led down to the security door there. He picked the lock on that and slipped through, reaching the alarm panel in time to trip the cut off for the alarm. He had entered undetected.

He had lots of experience getting in and out of this place, finding it a constant challenge. He tracked the hanger cameras with his eyes and paced them as they rotated, walking past them easily without being seen. He stepped into the shadows of the tramway and turned on the tracker box. Kimble's bracelet was the only one in service and easy enough for him locate. Just his luck, Kimble was in the gym and not too far.

Remy walked along the tramway, his mind racing. There was no way the Professor could expect him to obey the order to stay away from Kimble. Nothing was going to keep him away from his friend in need, they had bonded much too closely for that. What a bunch of stuck up fools, it was obvious Kimble's need was too great to be ignored. Remy had wasted so much time already hanging on the fence. Well no more.

He snuck down the hall without being seen and walked into the gym, but didn't see Kimble right away. He looked up and saw the pilot perched up high on the huge eye beam that spanned the length of the gym, he was way up in the corner against the wall and far away from everything, hiding out as promised. Gambit cursed. How was he supposed to get up there? That was the point of Kimble choosing that spot of course. He noted the long knotted climbing rope was still tied to the beam, just down at the far end. He walked over and started climbing the rope. His body groaning with each tug and yank, Remy hauled himself up the rope and heaved himself up onto the beam. Good thing he wasn't afraid of heights. He easily walked down the narrow beam to where Kimble lay hunched up against the wall.

Kimble had taken a blanket up here with him and was wrapped up in it, hiding himself away as much as possible. He had isolated himself away from everyone and chose this as his new hiding place since Fallen had rousted him out of the laundry room. He had slunk out of the ship without even being noticed, unable to watch Fallen's love struck eyes on his brother any more. It just made him sick with jealousy. He came up here because no one ever looked up here and he was well hidden from any casual passers by. He hoped that by staying out of the laundry room, maybe the voices would stop and he could have some peace. He didn't stir as Gambit sat down next to him.

" 'Ey, buddy. Wake up."

Kimble didn't move.

Remy slid the blanket part way back and touched Kimble's shoulder. He was shocked at how cold the pilot's skin was. Too late, he realized his mistake. There was a sharp crackle as Kimble took a large hit of power from him and Remy greyed out, barely grabbing on to the beam in time. He cursed as he felt himself get sucked out of his body in an all too familiar road trip to Wonderland. Kimble had been here so long, he had let his energy drain low enough power to drag Remy inside of his mind.

Remy found himself out of his body and in an unfamiliar place. He was falling down on his back in an empty grey sky, like a swirl of grey static on a blank television station. The descent was slow and easy and he didn't feel afraid, only confused. Kimble lay above him like a lover, his arms wrapped around him in a gentle embrace, his face asleep and dreamy.

Dis mus' be de Black Room, Remy thought to himself. Funny t'ing. It ain't so black. Least it's better dan de files.

The last time Kimble had taken a large draw from him, Remy had gotten stuck in a forced playback of Kimble's memories that had been quite traumatic for the two of them. This new place was somewhere altogether different.

He brushed a lock of Kimble's hair back as they fell, the Siskan's warm embrace reminding him all too well of what he had been missing for so long. He couldn't remember the last time he had been decently held. For a second, he had that moment of doubt where he thought he should just give in to Kimble's wishes. He had no doubt Kimble could take him to new heights of ecstacy. Kimble's love for him was so strong, he could almost taste it.

Don' be a fool, Gambit, he chided himself. Dis de only decent friend you got left. Nuthin's gonna get in de way of it.

Gambit startled when heard a strange tinny voice chime, "Unable to make connection," and then gasped as he woke suddenly back on the eye beam. Kimble was too far away from the Lucky Dragon to connect and had been timed out. The grey space they had been drifting down in was a kind of limbo in between Kimble and the Black Room, they never actually made in. As a consequence, his telepathic bond with Remy had been rudely broken, dumping his friend on the outside too quickly for him to grasp what had happened.

Remy jerked as reality crashed in on him and fell from the beam, this time unable to catch himself. He saw the floor rushing up to meet him and had enough time to say to himself, "Dis is gonna hurt!" before his descent was suddenly halted and he was hanging suspended in mid air. The blanket fluttered past him to the floor and he looked up past his feet to see Kimble reaching out to him telekinetically. He was too far away from Kimble's hands, but not his power. He cried out as Kimble raised him back up to the beam close enough for him to grasp it and pull himself back up.

Kimble snatched at him, his eyes wide with fear. "You okay?"

"Oui, sure. Dis always 'appen, you know? Gambit reach out an touch, get knocked off 'is feet. No big deal," Remy teased, trying to calm his racing heart. That had been too close for comfort.

Kimble pulled him close, not ready to let him go. "What're you doin' up here?"

Gambit squirmed and pushed Kimble gently back. "Gambit gonna ask you de same t'ing. What you doin' all up an' away like dis?"

Kimble sat back, his relief at Gambit's rescue replaced with a sadness Gambit was becoming all too familiar with. "It's what makes 'em all happy. Nobody wants me around."

"That ain't true."

Kimble put his head down. "Yes it is. All they do is yells at me."

Remy looked at the tracking bracelet on Kimble's wrist. "Not like you don' give dem any reason. What you doin' lettin' your power run so low?"

Kimble wouldn't raise his eyes. "I hates it here. Don' wanna be awake no more."

Remy sighed and rubbed his hands together in a show of irritation. "How may times Gambit gotta say dis not a bad place. Why you always makin' dis 'arder for you dan it need to be?"

Kimble pulled away even farther and scrunched back up against the wall. He turned his head to the wall and closed his eyes.

"Kimble."

"Go away. Jus' leave me alone."

Remy sat on the beam, his legs dangling. Kimble was a child and Remy did well with children. Good thing. He slid a hand into his coat pocket and took out the bar of chocolate he had there. He opened it slowly, letting the smell of it drift Kimble's way.

Kimble opened one eye and glanced at his friend. He sniffed, smelling the chocolate. "What's that?"

"Come 'ere an' find out, cher. Gambit don't bite."

Kimble slowly eased away from the corner and came closer, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Gambit broke off a small piece of the bar and held it out.

Kimble took it and as he did, Remy let him have a vibration of his affection. He knew Kimble better than anyone now and realized the pilot was sensitive to the moods of others, it was why he was suffering so badly now. He figured if he concentrated hard enough, he could make Kimble feel what was going on inside of him, that he loved Kimble in his way and wanted him only to be happy. He need not have worried, Kimble smiled at the comforting vibration and ate the chocolate, unable to hide his pleasure from the taste.

"See? Dat's all it takes, neh? A little patience. Gambit could 'ave jus' let you stay up 'ere all alone, but he come sit wit you, give you some Hershey's an' make you feel a little better. You got to do de same. Dere's a give an' take to everyt'ing, little brother. You 'ave to try. I mean really try."

Kimble nodded, his eyes still sad. Gambit gave him another piece of the bar, taking a bite for himself. "You understandin' Gambit, now?"

"Yes," Kimble said softly.

Remy touched his face. "Don' be hidin' y'self away. Dat's not 'elpin' you. Come wit me."

"Where?"

"Someplace fun. Time to play fo' real."

Kimble's face lit up, his eyes eager and hopeful that Remy had meant what he thought he did. Gambit stood up awkwardly on the beam and started to walk back the way he had come but Kimble tugged on his coat. Gambit allowed Kimble to put an arm around his waist and relaxed as Kimble closed his eyes and fell backwards, using his power to steady their descent to the floor. Remy had a flashback of the aborted telepathic trip he had just made and once more felt a strong affection for Kimble and his thoughtfulness. This was faster than going down the rope again and his body was grateful. He was still sore from Jael's thugs.

When they landed, Kimble released him immediately, returning his space and putting Remy at ease. He was happy Gambit wasn't mad at him and didn't want to ruin that by being pushy.

"Where we goin'?"

"It's a surprise, but we got some business first." He dragged Kimble off to one side and crouched down. He took out a small bundle wrapped in a cloth roll tied off with a small rope. He unrolled his tools and picked the lock on Kimble's bracelet swiftly, never noticing how the pilot's eyes tracked his every movement. The bracelet was loosened enough for Kimble to slip it off without setting off the alarms. Remy tossed it rudely into one of the locker room showers and they slipped out, Remy coaching Kimble on how to time their movements to the watchful hanger cameras. Again, Remy worked the rear alarm panel and they crept out the security door undetected.

Once outside, Gambit was so exhilarated, he gave Kimble a huge squeeze and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "We're free, buddy! We gonna make dis one count, you can bet on it!"