(Eight)

Gambit crouched down next to Kyle's shattered body. He was shaking with rage, once more he had been so close and failed to bring Kimble home.

He had seen Zander lying there draped over Creed's shoulder like a piece of sacrificial meat. He thought for a moment that he had seen a flicker in the pilot's eyes, perhaps of recognition and then there was a flash of light as the teleporter took them away. Creed had selected a 'porter of the highest quality, no touch was needed, only a matching badge on each of the passengers. Even Kurt couldn't jaunt like that. There had been a small explosion as Remy's cards detonated on empty air and then it was over. At least his little card trick had snuffed out the worst of the flames, a quick icing from Bobby took care of the rest. The house was still standing.

Remy couldn't stop the tears of frustration from stinging his eyes. What was he supposed to tell Seth now?

Gambit could hear the whistling death rattle as Kyle breathed and shuddered, knowing what was going to come next. Kyle was going to die right here at his feet and nothing was going to stop that. Creed's bullets had cut Kyle almost in half, it was amazing that he was even still alive at all. He had used the last of his strength to create a small shield that held his guts in place and contained most of his bleeding. It wouldn't last.

Gambit wiped his cheeks on his sleeve, trying to recover both his dignity and his composure. He had to go to work. He gently touched Kyle's face. "You still wit me, man?"

Kyle's eyes fluttered open and he grabbed at Remy's hands weakly. "Kimble...safe?"

Remy shook his head. "Non. You gonna make it?"

"No...not sure...I want to..." Kyle coughed and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. "You have to find him...Kimble...he..he's in trouble... 'Shay...she's...gonna kill...him."

"Gambit gonna take care of dat, but you gotta 'elp me, homme. Where would dey go?"

"Jael...they took him to Jael. Must've been...You have to find Kimble before he finds the LaRoo...his angel... Joshua said it's a weapon...some kind of power... 's why Cam wanted it... said Kim was a Channeler...th-that thing he did with the sword... Channeler...angel...Can't let Jael have it...He'll kill everybody, understand?"

"LaRoo, dis is Kimble's angel. I understand. You just rest easy, non?"

Kyle squeezed Remy's hand. "When you find him...Kimble...tell him I did the best I could. I'm sorry...I'm sorry about everything."

Remy smiled sadly down at the dying man. "I'll do dat, don' worry. You still gotta 'elp me some, mon ami, if you can. Logan struck a deal wit dem SHIELD guys. Cameron fo' Kimble, comprenez vous? Can you give me Cameron?"

"Give? Oh, heh..." Kyle laughed softly. "He- he was like a father to me..."

"So sorry, 'bout dat. C'est la vie. Dey say you can't chose yo' family, eh?" Gambit teased with a short laugh, it was in his nature to try and use humor to get what he wanted an dit had come automatically to him, even now. "Useta 'ave a brother like dat. More trouble dan 'e was wort'."

Kyle coughed and laughed a little more. "Safety deposit box...box sixty one...Federal Savings... key's in my pocket...For Kimble..."

Kyle hadn't been a fool nor as bad off as the X-men had suspected he was when he seemed ready to crack before the bank heist. Yes, he had been upset, but he had also had an inkling that his fallout with Cameron might be permanent. Without being sure of the reason but yet knowing it was the right thing to do, Kyle had complied some evidence against his boss. Something he could hold in reserve in case Cameron hadn't been so willing to let him go so easily. It looked as though his little pile of blackmail documents might still serve some purpose after all.

Remy fished for in Kyle's bloody pocket and pulled out a ring heavy with keys. "Good 'nough. Now you rest easy, 'kay?"

Kyle closed his eyes and wheezed. "You know how beautiful he is...?"

"Who? Kim? Oui, Gambit knows."

"He needs to be told every day. I wish I had...been...there for him...Logan wouldn't've shattered him so easily...He's so fragile, so..easily broken. I would watch him...you know? When he was in the Club...with Gail... He's so beautiful when he's loving them... Never should've let Cam take him...broke his heart...when Gail was killed...fuckin' Saby..."

"Non. 'Is 'eart been breakin' ever since 'is father died. It wasn't you or anyone else," Remy said, knowing it was the truth and trying to make Kyle feel better. "Don' be t'inkin' dat. I'm gonna find 'im and tell him what you want. Just lay easy now."

Kyle sighed heavily and relaxed, letting go of all his pain. "When you find him...and I know you will...keep that asshole Logan away from him... Kimble actually cares what Logan thinks...Stupid...What he wants...what he needs...Logan will never give him. Do you know what I'm talking about, son...?"

"Acceptance," Remy said quietly.

"Right. Kimble's respect is more than that hairy asshole deserves..."

Remy laughed a little. "Logan is slow, but 'e's catchin' up."

"Is he? Ask Kimble about the flare some time. Don't think Kimble found it all that funny..." Kyle coughed, and whimpered from the pain. He shuddered and let out his last breath in a ragged gasp.

Remy sighed and sat back. He hated death and dying, but it always seemed to find him anyway. He felt like some kind of rogue priest, having listened to Kyle's last confession. He could almost see Kyle's shine flicker and wink out but did his best not to look that hard, the man's vibrations of pain and suffering had been bad enough to rip through whatever passed for his mental shields these days, shields that were all but useless. He felt like he wanted to bawl, but he wouldn't, not here, not in public. He had to maintain control. He couldn't let the team think he was close to losing it.

He looked up as Storm came to the door. "Hey."

"You okay?" she asked, regarding him carefully with her pale blue eyes. She was looking out for him, keeping the SHIELD guys in the next room off his back. She was rumpled and dirty from the fighting, her long white hair sooty and windblown, but she had never looked so beautiful as she did now, protecting him from danger.

"Gambit always is, chere," he said as he rose stiffly to his feet. The day was wearing on him now and his body was one huge ache from head to foot. He took a few steps, turning away to look out the window. The streets were filling up with cops and SHIELD agents and he could see Fury coming up the steps now.

Storm came over and stood next to him , turning him just a little so she could give him a kiss on the forehead. She could see the tears still shimmering in the corner of his eyes and knew he was in pain. Kimble was gone and he blamed himself. Kyle had died right at his feet, a difficult thing for anyone to watch. So much damage done to the team and himself and he had nothing to show for it. She had watched as their friendship grew, the thief and the pilot, and was glad for it. She knew how badly Gambit had needed a friend since the whole Antarctica thing. Now that stability was gone. She was more than aware that Gambit wasn't himself lately, he was stressed out to the max and two steps away from a breakdown. She pulled him into her arms and gave him a squeeze.

"Merci, mon chere, merci..." he whispered and lay his chin on her shoulder, needing this.

"It will be all right. It's over for now, but not forever," she promised.

Remy nodded, happy with that. He could feel her love for him seep into him from the contact and it soothed him more than she could have known. It was a good kind of love, brother and sister love, the kind that lasts forever. It was enough to pull him together and what good timing, they were no longer alone.

"Well, isn't this cute," Fury snapped, walking in through the hole. It was much larger than the door and an easier entry from the street. He had arrived only a minute ago and was held at bay before the last of Creed's men winked out. Now all there was left to do was survey the damage, same as the bank. He stomped over and toed Kyle's carcass with a boot. "I don't suppose he said anything."

Remy pulled himself away from Storm and straightened up tall, putting on his usual masks of arrogant distrust. It worked well, Gambit wasn't a pretty sight. He was covered in blood and gore from at least three different people and stank of fire and smoke. "Non, he say nuthin'."

Of course Kyle had, but Remy wanted to check out what Kyle had on Cameron first. There were a lot of keys on this ring, lots of opportunities he wanted first crack at.

Fury squinted at him, not quite trusting him. He knew something of Gambit, enough to be suspicious. He would be sure to question Logan about all this, if and when the poor shmuck recovered. Lord knows there hadn't been too much left. "All right," Nick replied, letting it go for now. "Got a call from yer old man in the chair. He sent the jet up to get Logan. He's gonna set down in the park, you and yer friends had best be on it. I'll be givin' you folks a call later when you've breathed a bit. This thing ain't near over."

"Thank you, Nick," Storm said respectfully, stepping forward and taking charge. "We're all looking forward to seeing you again."

Nick just snorted. "Right. Well, you folks better pack up."

"Yes, thank you," she replied and gave Remy a tug towards the exit.