(Four)

Gambit walked up to the cell and lingered outside the door. He had stayed away while the others fussed over Kimble, spending most of that time getting some much needed sleep, but he could soon tell by Fallen's distress that things weren't going well. It was early afternoon now, Kimble had been home for a little over twenty four hours, most of that time was spent either in misery or in a drugged out stupor.

The pilot leaned now with one shoulder against the wall as he sat, his mangled feet dangling over the edge of the bed. He was buried under a thick comforter with his back to Remy and the door. Lin was the last one out and had hidden them away in his makeshift shroud. Gambit couldn't tell if he was sleeping or not.

Remy scanned his hand to deactivate the security screen and went inside. The pilot didn't respond to the beep of the scan or give any sign he knew he had a visitor. The room was stifling, Henry had jacked up the heat in response to Kimble's constant shivering. The cell was small, it had only a bunk and a small metal table attached to the wall with two wooden stools. A small restroom area was off to the back, a tiny sink with a metal mirror and a toilet were in the furthest corner from the door. Overly warm now, Gambit slid off his coat and tossed it over one of the stools. He came around his friend and sat down in front of him in his line of sight. Kimble was awake, just staring sightlessly off in a dream. A small sliver of drool hung down from his chin.

"Aw, man," Gambit complained. "Dis is so not good, little brother," he teased.

He saw a towel folded neatly on the table and used it to wipe the pilot's chin. Kimble didn't move or even acknowledge that he had been touched, not a good sign. Gambit waved a hand in front of Kimble's eyes and snapped his fingers. Nothing. He took out one of his playing cards and charged it.

The pilot immediately focused on it, wakened from his stupor by the sizzle and red glow of it. He raised a heavy hand and took the card from Remy. He absorbed its energy, but was disappointed by the lack of heat. It didn't warm him. He looked into Remy's eyes with such sadness and loss, Remy almost burst into tears from it.

"I'm so cold..." Kimble whispered in a voice raspy from disuse. He had barely to spoken to anyone since yesterday.

"You want another blanket?" Gambit replied, unable to think of anything else. Even with his coat off, he was uncomfortably warm.

"Won' be good enough."

Kimble lowered his eyes and returned to his dream.

Gambit lit another card.

Kimble woke and took it. He licked his lips like he was thirsty. "M-my feets hurt all th' time."

"What 'appened?"

"Truck hit me."

Gambit shuddered, thinking of how much that must have hurt. "Dey ain't gettin' no better?"

Kimble shook his head. "Not real fast. Not like b'fore with Fallen."

"Fallen can't fix dat?"

Kimble shook his head with a whimper and looked away again. A tear dribbled down his cheek.

"Gots ta give us a charge," Zander said, his gravelly voice cracked and tired. He was the weakest now with their power so low. He barely had the strength to speak. It didn't hide his worry. "Gots ta fix us..."

Gambit lit another card. The pilot took it, but the power went into him much more slowly. He was getting full. He had taken very little from him and yet couldn't take any more. With that, Remy realized that Kimble couldn't take enough to heal himself. "It ain't workin'. You in trouble, little brother."

Kimble nodded with a small sob, taking Zander's place. He wiped at his tears impatiently. " 'S hurtin' me so bad...Don' tell Fallen 'n Seth. It'll jus' makes 'em worry."

Remy smiled at that, he couldn't help it. So typical of Kimble, never wanting to be a bother. Too bad he wasn't about to let the Siskan get away with it, it was the root cause of all this trouble. "I can't do dat, cher. Dey need ta know so dey can 'elp you, d'accorde? Mebbe dey can find a way to charge you up, fix you."

Kimble sniffed and his voice changed sharply as he was displaced. "No one kin help us. Kills us please, sos the hurtin' will stop."

Remy shook his head at the sound of Lakotashay's voice. He had been courting this foolish hope that she was gone forever. Oh, well. "Dere ain't gonna be no killin', little sister. Dere's too many super brains in dis house to say dat. We still got lots of hope for you. But dey can't 'elp you if you don't talk to dem."

"They cain't help us. The others are scared, 'specially Zander. He's afraid that without the plasma we'll jus' fade away," the Quitter whispered and another tear fell. "Not me, I hopes we die. I wants ta be dead."

Remy tried to ignore her. He wasn't about to support or encourage any suicidal thoughts the Siskan might have. "What 'appened to you while you was gone, Kimble?"

"We wuz bad," Lin replied in his place. "We's hurted and killded."

"Non. Gambit can't believe dat. You too good in yo' heart to be bad on purpose."

Lin said nothing else, but fell against this caring human, laying his head on Remy's shoulder and gently demanding comfort. Gambit eagerly embraced the pilot and held him, ever so grateful to actually have him back here where he could be touched and felt for real. He closed his eyes and reached out a little bit with his power, ready to listen to his new little voice. She was quick to speak, /His heart is broken, but he loves you still. Use that love to keep him alive. His injury is serious. You have to find a way to charge him and heal him./

Gambit listened to Shi'ow-ri. He gripped the pilot tightly and rocked him gently. The comforter slipped off of the pilot's shoulder and he moved to pull it back up. He was startled when he felt how cold Kimble's skin was. In spite of the thick blanket and the stifling heat, Kimble's skin was ice cold. /His body is bleeding cold from the inside,/ Shi'ow-ri continued to advise. /The blanket is keeping him cold, not warm./

Gambit paid attention. He peeled the comforter away from his friend, careful of his poor mangled feet. It pained him to see the ugly bruises on Kimble's skin, they were like accusations of neglect. Henry had dressed the pilot in loose fitting hospital pants and Remy took them off as well, not caring that the pilot was now naked. Kimble's body had been quite cold and he moaned happily as the heat from the room now came to his skin. Remy stripped off his own shirt and lay the pilot up against him, warming him up even further. Zander responded to his touch and snuggled against him, seeking Gambit's warmth and growling softly with happiness. It wasn't as good as the plasma, but it would do for now.

" 'S good now. Thanks," Zander grumbled. "Sucks ta be so cold."

"Jus' sit tight," Remy said, rubbing his hands on the Siskan's cold white skin. Kimble was warming up now and Gambit was grateful for his new inner voice. He was learning fast that this power he had now was his new best friend once he figured out how to use it properly, it was certainly helping him now and he was thankful for its advice. "You gotta stop coverin' up. It ain't no good fo' you."

"Lin does it," Zander replied, his voice not so tense and worried as before. "He's got this thing about bein' small."

Remy chuckled softly. "I noticed. Where'd he come from anyway?"

The pilot shuddered in fear and didn't answer.

/He was punished,/ Shi'ow-ri whispered. She was much louder now with Kimble's bare skin against his. /He did something bad and he was punished. Creed made him come out./

"Je suis de'sole," Remy apologized, his hands petting gently now. "Gambit won't ask again."

"I loves you," Lin whispered softly, coming out in response to Remy's regret. He said this as often as he proclaimed his terrible guilt. "We loves everybody. The bad things, we don't stops doin' them no matter how hard we gets beat. That's why ya gots ta kills us 'fore we does it again. We gots ta be punished."

"Non. We made a deal wit SHIELD. You jus' gotta stay 'ere at de house. Dey make de laws, dey said it was okay what you done 'cause it wasn't all yo' fault. We got proof you was abused, nobody's gonna kill you for it. We don't do dat fo' regular criminals, nobody's gonna do it fo' you either," Remy explained, hoping that Lin's issues with punishment were based on rules. "Karen and me, we gonna watch over you. She report to SHIELD on how you doin', when dey say it's okay, you can be free."

"What's to stops us from doin' it again?"

"You ain't got no reason to 'urt anybody. It ain't gonna happen again."

"It happens all the time!" Lin wailed, tensing up. "We does the baddest bloodiest things! 'Shay killded the small ones, Zander the Master. It jus' don' ever stop!"

"Wait, what you talkin' about? What small ones?"

"He don't mean nuthin'!" 'Shay said, pushing Lin aside.

"Non. He said it, tell me what you done, chere."

"No. You knows I done bad, that's enough. Kill us. Kill us or I'll do it again!"

"Nice try. Your t'reats don' scare me, fille. Gambit's gonna fix you. He gonna fill you up wit so much love, dat you ain't never gonna kill again."

'Shay snorted. "How ya gonna do that?"

"Cause I'm yo' Master now."

The pilot's body gave a big shiver and Remy looked down into the big, startled eyes of the Lover. "What didja say?"

"You heard me. Gambit's yo' Master now. It's done, all down on SHIELD paper an' everyt'ing. You belong to me now."

"Oh, no..." Kimble shuddered and his eyes filled up with tears.

"You cain't be the Master! We's gonna be killding you!" Lin wailed, bawling now and sending out a wave of distress that sent a bright lance of pain right through Remy's chest.

"Shh, shh. Paisible mainenant, all of you. Listen up. It's gonna be okay. You where you belong now, here wit me like it should have been b'fore you left. You can't 'urt me, it just ain't gonna happen."

"We gots a sickness!"

"Only in yo' mind. Me and Karen gonna fix dat."

"You kin do that? You kin fix it sos we don' hurts no one?" Lin asked, his tiny voice filled with wonder and something Remy desperately wanted to hear — hope.

"Dere ain't no one gonna try 'arder dan me," Remy said, emphatically planting a kiss on Lin's forehead. "Dat's a promise."

"Thanks fer savin' us," Zander said, coming out to speak his approval. He was still very tired, but there was no mistaking his relief. "I wuz workin' so hard ta gits us back here. I knew if I got us back you would help us. You kin be the Master of me anatime."

"Merci," Remy said with a smile. He recalled all too well the Punisher's harsh words to Creed. "You ain't never gonna be the Master of me." He had just been paid a huge compliment. He also had an idea that Zander's help in their recovery would be critical.

"You lie!"

Remy's smile faltered at the sound of the Quitter's voice.

"You got them all wrapped up with yer lies, but you ain't never gonna fool me. You ain't our Master!"

"Oui, chere. I am yo' Master whether you like it or not."

"Ha! Fuck me!"

"Don't 'ave to fuck to be the Master of you. Fallen ain't never laid wit you."

"Yeah, an' look at how well that turned out. Yer sayin' the words, but you don't means it fer real!" she spat out, her eyes mean and hard.

"Bein' a Master ain't about fuckin', it's about lovin'. I love you," Remy said, the words out of his mouth before he realized it. It dawned on him that he had spoken the absolute truth and he had nothing to fear from it.

"No you don't!" the Quitter said with a snort.

Remy rose to the challenge, her taunt required it. "Non? You still don' believe me after all dis time? Well, here goes." He tipped her head back and kissed her full on the mouth, doing his best to think of all the love he had in his heart.

His kiss was received and returned in kind. When Remy opened his eyes, he was looking once more into the eyes of the Lover, the one he was doing this for. The one he was trying most to save. " 'Ow was dat, eh? You seein' me now, little brother?"

"I sees ya," Kimble whispered, a bit blown away from the love vibration that had come into him so powerful and bright. He felt it, but also saw the truth of what was in Gambit's heart. It hurt more deeply than he could ever have imagined. "I sees ya just fine. You wants ta be the Master of us, but you don't know what it really means. You won't lay with us an' use us proper."

Remy scowled, hearing only defeat in Kimble's voice, something he didn't quite like.

Kimble laughed bitterly, his pale blue eyes tired and sad. He had seen what Remy desired most and then flashes of other faces — Seth, Mary. The ones who had kept a Master's heart from being totally his and his alone. He felt a surge of pain and resentment towards them as his heart continued to break. He was never good enough and never would be. He wasn't as real as them. He was ugly and in the way. He couldn't hide the anger in his voice when he spoke next. "Ya wants yer wife an' kids. Gonna pass us up fer a girl, fer the one ya really love. That's okay, I understand. It ain't yer fault that we came up on ya and fucked up yer life. Shit happens. I know cuz it keeps happnin' ta me. Gitten' passed over, I mean."

"Kimble -"

The Lover raised a weary hand and pressed his slender white fingers to Remy's lips, silencing him. "You wants ta owns us. Fine. We ain't goin' nowheres. You wants ta fix us, that's cool, too. I kin see ya needs ta believe it kin be done. Fine. Whatever. You do whatever ya hafta, jus' leaves us alone."

"What?" Remy was instantly angry and confused.

"You stays away from us. Yer the Master onna piece of fuckin' paper, you make the decisions 'bout what happens ta us 'til we die. Fine. Butcha stays away from us. We don' wants ta sees ya no more."

"Wait!" Zander shouted. "Don't listen ta him! He's just crazy!"

"I ain't crazy. I'm just all broke up and tired. Tired of every fuckin' thing. Tired of pain, of livin'. We ain't no good fer nuthin' 'cept fer bein' beat up, shit on and killin' folks. Just ask 'Shay."

"C'est assez! Don't you pull dis shit on me!" Remy snarled, hoping a little anger might spark some of the strong Kimble spirit he knew must still be there. "Don't you give up! Don' do all of 'Shay's work for her!"

Kimble was unmoved. "I ain't gonna do nuthin' 'cept lay here quiet. Gonna shut my eyes, gonna dreams 'bout father an' castles of snow. Gonna dream 'bout his hands on me, his mouth on me. He wuz the only one what ever loved me fer real... an' he's the only one who ever will."

"Yes, Kimble," 'Shay whispered, happy now. "Jus' close yer eyes an' sleep. I'll takes care of everything. We'll see Father again, I promise."

Kimble laughed softly and closed his eyes. "Fine with me, 'Shay. Anatime yer ready, I won't fightcha. G'bye, Remy."

"Non! What about yo' angel?"

The Lover responded without opening his eyes. "There ain't gonna be no angels fer a killin' machine like us. Sheyman wuz a fool ta ever make us think so. We cain't protect nobody, cain't really care fer nobody without killin' 'em slowly, one breath at a time. Hell, we cain't even fuck right no more. 'S no good without the pain. We's ruined. No good fer nuthin' now. Just as well ya don't wants ta fuck us, don' want yer hands on me nohow. Go find yer suckass little wife and fuck the stupid fat ugly cow! Make lots of horrible mutant brats with bright ugly shines! Go away! Jus' go away!"

Remy was instantly furious. Cruelty he had expected from 'Shay, but not this one. This was not exactly how he had expected to be received for his gesture of ownership. Their reunion was supposed to be a happy one. Kimble was supposed to shiver with happiness at his kiss, not send him away. He certainly never expected to be spurned as a lover.

Remy about to say something ugly he was sure to regret, fueled by Kimble's self loathing and refusal of him. He was stopped by his inner voice. /Don't be fooled. He loves you deeply but he thinks he doesn't deserve you and he's trying to make you leave him. He thinks it will help you forget about him and all the bad things he's done. Give him space. When he sees you won't leave, you'll win him back. He's badly damaged inside and out. Fix him. Fix him and worry about the rest later. It's time to leave./

Gambit got up, trying to control his anger and hurt. He lay the limp body of his Siskan down, but took the comforter. He pressed the button for the door screen and roughly tossed the blanket out, venting his anger. He began to strip the bed down, not being very gentle about it. He was going to gather anything the pilot could use to cover up with and get rid of it.

"You want Gambit to go? Fine, he goes. But if you t'ink 'e gonna walk outta 'ere an' let you die, you one very mistaken Siskan, eh? Gambit will fix you. Gonna get yo' ass all straightened out, je promets. Y'know what? He gonna make sure you find dat angel, too, if 'e got to grab de bitch an' toss de fille in 'ere kickin' an' screamin'. You 'earin' me? Comprenez-vous!" Remy snarled right in Kimble's face.

Kimble whimpered, withering under Gambit's wrath. He covered his face with his hands and sobbed weakly into the mattress.

"You know why, eh? Gambit's gonna do dis 'cause he love you. 'Cause he de Master now an' when ya own sumptin', you got an obligation to take care of it good. Dis might be a little strange to you, 'avin' a Master dat actually give a flyin' fuck about yo' pathetic little ass, but 'ere it is. Deal wit it!"

Kimble cried out as if he had been struck and bawled that much harder. He curled up on the stripped down bed, naked and horribly exposed as he drew his poor battered feet in close.

Remy stood over him, still bristling with pain and anger. So much anger, pain and sadness in this room, it was like a sickness infecting them both. He grabbed his shirt and coat and stomped out.