(Six)

Kimble lay across the long bench seat of the limo, his head resting comfortably in his Master's lap. He knew what Logan did not - that he had suffered the vicious beating from Sabretooth's men for this. For this opportunity to be owned and used and loved as he should have been. It had been painful and horrible, but ultimately, so very worth it. Creed had one hand on his head, gently sifting his fingers through his long black hair. Kimble smiled in the darkness of the car, happier than he had ever felt before.

That ain't true, Lakotashay whispered softly. He ain't as good as father.

"He's good enough fer me..." Kimble mumbled drowsily, not aware he had spoken aloud.

The stroking of Victor's hand increased in intensity. "You awake, Kim?"

"Yes, Master."

They had been driving all day, heading up North into the deepest recesses of Maine, going almost all the way to Canada. They had stopped a couple of times to eat and stretch their legs but it was now early evening. Sabretooth hadn't wanted to stop until they reached their destination. They were very close now.

"Why you talkin' in voices?"

"Wuz I? Sometimes I cain't tell if it's all in my head or not."

"No, why you got them in the first place?"

Kimble shrugged a little. "Don' really know."

"It happens cuz people like you keeps hurtin' us!" Zander hissed, coming out just long enough to speak his piece.

Creed's gentle petting never faltered. "Who hurtcha?"

"Logan hurt us," 'Shay answered. "He said Kim wuz a child molester."

"Nuhh..." Kimble shivered and curled up. He covered his ears. "Quiet 'Shay, I don' wanna talks about this!"

"Why would Logan say that?" Victor asked, unable to hide a tone of anger in his voice. He knew Logan was rough, that he was brutally direct, a trait he himself shared.

"Cuz the Lover wuz pawin' up some girl," Lakotashay answered, proud that she had made Kimble squirm.

"Who's the Lover?"

"Kimble, silly," she replied in impatience. "Try to keep up, Master."

Victor twitched in irritation and swallowed the urge to punish. He knew this one would make Kimble suffer for it just as she had the belt. Kimble shivered in his lap and said softly, "I didn' know she wuz so young, I didn't know..."

Creed chuckled softly, he himself liked them young, the fresher the better. Nothing like tearing apart a bright new virgin, a real treat. "There ain't no crime in that, boy. Was she pretty?"

"Yeah...but it ain't no good ta break 'em so young, she wuz just a kid. Logan got all mad an' he hurt me."

"So you were broken even before you got melted?"

"Yeah... but not so bad as now. It's been worse since then. Now they all come out and things just ain't been right. They alls keep talkin' outta my mouth, makin' my head hurt. I needs the luvin', it keeps the voices away. If I don' gets the luvin'...I– I jus' wants ta die."

"We should die," Lakotashay said. "Then we'll get ta see father. He wuz the only one ta loves us fer real."

"You wanna kill yerself?" Sabretooth asked in gentle surprise, his hands still stroking Kimble's head. He wasn't sure why he was asking all these questions, he had just been filled with a desire to know this poor fractured creature better. It was true he had never inquired about Kimble's past.

"Sometimes..." Kimble answered honestly. "We done bad things. I knows 'Shay hurt somebody. I don' wants to 'member it."

We done a bad thing... came the soft Siskan voice from within. The small pilot child was still there to whisper his tiny confession to the circle of light. Kimble heard it and shivered.

Creed continued to pet his toy. "It's all right, whatcha done. Jus' ferget it kid. Whatever it is, it ain't gonna compare ta what I've done. There ain't no need fer you to be thinkin' about offin' yerself. You got a place now, here with me. What's done is done."

"I don' wants ta go nowheres, Kristalay. Keeps me here with you."

Victor smiled, liking his new name. "That's the plan, kid. We're gonna go up to the cabin fer a couple weeks. I got job ta do back in the City after that, but we can go back there when it's done."

Victor fell silent, thinking about what Kimble had said. The pilot had always seemed happy enough, but he supposed that if Kimble was broken, it didn't come from having happy times. He did hear about the security guard from the news, it was why he had headed down to Baltimore in the first place. It was just so hard for him to equate that cold killing with the fragile childlike slave that had been prowling his house now for a month or so.

The road sped by and as it finally grew dark, they arrived at their destination. Sabretooth's cabin wasn't completely isolated but far enough alone to guarantee them privacy. He had a woman hired on to maintain the place while he was away and there was electricity and running water. He had phoned the woman so there would be fresh food and beer waiting for them. Mary guided the big limo up the small dirt road and parked.

Kimble got out, curious to see this new place. He couldn't help but smile. They were far up North and the ground was covered in snow. It was cold but he didn't care. He could look up into the sky and see a billion twinkling stars looking down at him. "Kristalay..." he breathed, trembling. The outdoors, he would never get enough of it.

Victor just smiled and ruffed his head a bit. "C'mon, Kim. Let's go get a fire started."

They walked into the cabin and again, Kimble was delighted. It was a rustic place and furnished to fit. Everything was wood framed and there were furs all around. Creed had some stuffed animal heads on the walls, but they were not his kills, most of the animals he took down were savaged much too badly to be mounted. There was a lovely large fireplace with a stone mantle. It had pictures of Sabretooth with some of his men, sometimes they came here to get away and hunt.

The cabin was good sized and had three bedrooms. Mary claimed the smaller one for herself and gave no argument when Kimble just naturally followed Creed into the Master bedroom. There would be no dog bed this time, Kimble was bunking with his Master. Creed unpacked while Kimble spread out on the large bed and stretched, arching his back seductively and giving his Master the eyes. Victor was of course distracted and didn't quite finish the job of putting his clothes away.

Mary sighed softly and started the fire, trying to ignore the sounds of the two men as Creed gave up on his clothes and chose to play with his servant instead. This was going to be hard for her, she knew it. In the penthouse, she could always get away so she didn't have to hear. The cabin was generous for what it was, but nowhere near as private as the penthouse could be. She was quite jealous, wanting Kimble for herself. She would never understand why Kimble put up with Sabretooth's abuse. He deserved better. She was concerned about Kimble's treatment, but also about her own. She had no real idea of how long they would be staying here and she wasn't happy about being the only other team member here. If the boss wanted company, she was it and she had fears he would try and make a move on her. She hadn't enjoyed his attention before and didn't want to have to experience again the nightmare that was Sabretooth in bed.

The door to Creed's room was still open, he didn't have the dignity to close it, and Mary couldn't help but peek out of the corner of one eye while she worked. She could see that Kimble was on his belly, his Master on top of him, humping away. It wasn't much different than when she had been forced except that Victor was gentler here and there was no mistaking the sounds of Kimble's approval.

She turned away, scowling. She hoped they wouldn't be here long, she wasn't up to listening to the two of them doing this for days on end. She finished the fire and tried to look casual when Sabretooth joined her in the kitchen afterwards. Kimble followed him, his eyes glassy from being used and from being tired. He sat at Creed's feet when his Master came to the table and lay his head in the big man's lap to be petted.

"So how long are we staying, boss?" Mary asked just to make conversation.

"We got the Brinks kidnappin' in a coupla weeks. We go back fer that an' come back here. I want the quiet."

She nodded without saying more. Her eyes strayed to Kimble's face. He had closed his eyes now and his expression was one of total rapture. His Master's large paw was caressing him gently, smoothing his hair back in long careful strokes. She wouldn't keep her eyes there, she didn't want to give away how jealous she was, Victor would be sure to use it against her.

The man himself didn't seem to notice. He was tired now and was only having a drink before bed. He finished his beer and went to bed, taking Kimble with him.

Mary cleaned up after and went to her own bed, feeling oddly lonely. She read for a while, but just wasn't that tired. She finally shut her light off and lay in the gloom. She had just made the decision to try pleasuring herself in an attempt to relax when she heard familiar soft footfalls and then Kimble was there for her, seeking both her company and her plasma. She laughed quietly in relief from her loneliness and let him tumble into bed with her, pulling him close. He made love to her, high now, and then held her as she drifted off to sleep, a contented smile on her face.

The pilot himself had no desire to sleep. Even now he didn't require long hours of sleep. He had catnapped with his Master and had come here to make Mary feel better. He'd been reading her loneliness in her shine though he gave no sign. He hadn't wanted to cause any friction between his two Masters, besides, he knew just who he belonged to and Creed took priority. His eyes moved to the window and looked out on a clear night sky. He wondered what Remy was doing and if he had understood the message he had been trying to send. He hoped so, this was where he wanted to be, right or wrong.