(Eight)

An hour later, Remy stood in the doorway of the holding cell, his arms on either side of the locked cell opening. He was watching Kimble intently, not understanding what he was seeing. He had been here since he brought his Siskan down from the Med Bay and couldn't comprehend the effects of Kimble's plasma high. It reminded him of the heroin addicts he had seen while he had been living on the streets - Kimble's body was in the cell, but his mind was a million miles away.

No one was sure how Kimble would react when he woke, so this time he had been placed in a special cell, one with a padded floor and walls. It had no furniture of any kind, the Xavier version of a psychiatric padded cell. Kimble lay on his back, on the floor in the middle of the room. He was quite high on Neal's lovely plasma and giggling softly as he slid his hands over his naked body, getting off on his heightened sense of touch. All of his injuries were gone and he felt no pain, none at all. He had taken off the boxer shorts Henry had given him and they lay to one side, rumpled and forgotten along with a blanket he had been brought in with. He was also fiercely aroused, he was hard to the point of aching and oblivious to everything around him. He slowly took his fingers and dug his nails into his skin before raking them viciously across his belly. Large red welts rose up on his skin, but he only laughed and called out to his Kristalay who was no more to come and play. He was so full of plasma, the welts faded almost immediately and he clawed himself again.

Remy didn't like it. He passed his hand over the scanner ID for the door and entered. He walked to where Kimble lay and crouched down to touch him. "Kimble? What you doin', cher?"

Kimble felt his loving concern, he rolled his head in Remy's direction and smiled up at him. His pupils were huge and glassy, his eyes not even focused. "Sheyman?"

"Non. Dis Gambit, little brother."

Kimble reached up and pawed up in the air until Remy caught his hand. His hand was hot and dry like he had a fever, not so cold and lifeless as it had been before. Kimble shivered and whimpered softly, "Father...I miss ya so much. Kin I come home now? Don' wanna plays out here no more..."

Gambit sighed and slowly sat down, folding his legs under him comfortably. He brought the hand that held Kimble's to his own face and gently rubbed Kimble's fingers against his lips like a kiss. "Y' are home now. Open yo' eyes, see me."

Kimble could not obey, he was much too high. Instead he laughed. "I loves ya so much. I'm glad ya come back ta me."

Remy smiled in spite of himself and moved Kimble's hand to his cheek, letting the pilot feel him. "Gambit loves you, too. Why don' you sleep? You look so tired."

"Come lay with me."

"Nice try, cher. You too high, man. You don' even know where you at," Remy said sadly. He wished Kimble was really awake and seeing him, the one before him now was a ghost. "P'etetre, when you come down...we see what we see."

Kimble laughed again and gave in to his arousal, reaching down between his legs with his free hand. He twitched and grunted with happiness, more than happy to do this himself if his visitor was so unwilling. "You 'member when ya brung me ta see the snow?" Kimble asked as he playfully roused himself.

"Sure, buddy," Remy said, playing the game. If Kimble wanted Sheyman, Sheyman he would be. He had serious doubts Kimble would even remember this when he woke up.

"Ya took me up on the mountain an' we sawr evrathin'...We wuz up so high..." Kimble gently pulled his other hand away from Gambit and lay it across his belly, digging in with his nails again. "I said...all luvin' is good luvin', right? The boys with the boys, the girls with the girls...all of us tumblin' down inta piles...just nuthin' but red... red... luvin'."

"Yeah?"

"But...but, it ain't true...Some luvin' just ain't no good...The luvin' that comes with the hate. I knows it's bad...but it's all I'm good for now," Kimble whispered, scraping himself even deeper.

"Don' hafta be dat way."

"Kristalay!" Kimble wheezed and bucked a little when his skin tore and his grey gel blood seeped out from the wound. "Uhhnn...hit me!"

"Non. Gambit don' play dat way."

Remy was horrified. He knew he shouldn't be watching this, he should just get up and leave, but couldn't tear his eyes away. Kimble was a study in duality. One hand was oh so gentle, stroking himself tenderly, while the other ripped and tore. It was as if he was at war with himself - two halves, the good and the evil. The harder Kimble scratched, the faster he stroked himself, the more he was getting off on it. The scratches were so deep now, they no longer closed up as the others had. They remained, dark and ugly across his belly, twisting like snakes as his abdominal muscles flexed and twitched from him being so aroused.

"C'est assez. Stop dis," Remy said, halting the hand that tore while letting the other do its work. "Feel dat, eh? Feel me. Dat's what de luvin' 'spose' ta be. No pain. Dis what Gambit want for you. You gonna fool around while Gambit's sittin' 'ere, you play dis way like a good boy, neh?"

On an impulse, he slid Kimble's thumb into his mouth and smiled when his friend shuddered and moaned with happiness from the sexual nature of the contact. He felt Kimble's mind reach out to him and then he had a taste of his Siskan's arousal. The Kundatesh, so real and alive. It was coming off of Kimble in waves and finding him, loving him. Kimble was jacked up from the plasma and now Remy had given him a body to go with it.

Remy blinked when the full impact of the Kundatesh clicked on and he saw Kimble's shine shimmering all around him. It held no danger for him, only a bright kindling love. The duality clicked on as well and he grunted softly as he was blasted with Kimble's lust. He became as Kimble was - he was the one on the floor, buzzed on plasma and flying higher than a kite. He felt Kimble's hand on himself pleasing himself and yet Kimble's thumb in his own mouth, hot and wet. Impossible what he was feeling - so wonderful, so powerful, so out of control. The plasma enhanced everything Kimble was feeling and so it was for him.

Not for the first time, he wondered what it would be like to actually lay with Kimble, not just go through the motions like this. Mercy, what a rush it would be, possibly more than he could handle if just this one sip was any indication. He remembered what Aiden had said and thought maybe he was right. If he could bring himself to do what Aiden had suggested, maybe Kimble would get better. It would be something not easily forgotten, of that Gambit was sure. If it was anything like being with Aiden, it would be a trip and half, an exquisite journey into the realm of pleasures only Kimble could provide.

"It's better like dis, non? No pain," he whispered, putting his musings aside and trying to get back into control of where he was right here, right now. He wouldn't allow himself to get blown away.

Kimble's eyes turned up at him and for that moment, Remy thought his friend actually saw him. "Uhhnn...all I ever wanna t' do wuz make ya happy. Makes ya feel good jus' like this..." Kimble arched his back and gasped sharply as he finished.

Gambit felt it through Kimble's backwash and the vibration of Kimble's love that followed was just as difficult to ignore. He didn't climax himself and didn't black out even though he was in physical contact with this Siskan, but things did get a little fuzzy. The Siskan's power smacked him like a cold wet blanket on hot skin, a pleasure of its own. The Kundatesh was telling him in Shi'ow-ri's soft voice that he was loved and wanted here as it licked around the corners of his mind. /He still wants you as his Master no matter what he said before. You are loved, accepted, desired by him just as you are, it has always been this way. His love for you will never die./

His body absorbed the message as readily as it did the energy and craved it even more. So dangerous, this, but he was unafraid. Kimble's love for him was powerful and would never hurt him. It was better than the vibrations that he had felt from Rogue because there was no distrust here. Kimble loved him just as he was, and would always love him, no questions asked. He could feel a difference inside of himself as well. He could feel that his love for Kimble was bright and not the playful, lustful enchantment that Babette or Aiden had drawn out of him. Kimble's love was a solid real thing, something that was vital to his own survival and something he would never give up. He would keep Kimble with him always.

Remy smiled sadly, the thought of Rogue still hurting him just a little, and brushed his hand over Kimble's face, turning his head to face him. He felt oddly calm and quiet inside, no longer put off by what his friend had just done. He loved this one deeply now and wanted him to be happy again like it was before. Kimble was supposed to be a happy creature like Trishnar's Siskans, he had been created for fun and the pleasure of others. All that good had been tainted and ruined at the hands of madmen. Gambit wanted nothing more than to set that to rights, to make his friend well again.

/Do you feel his peace, his love?/Shi'ow-ri asked, already knowing the answer. /It's for you./

Absolument, chere. Gambit feels everyt'ing.

Remy rubbed Kimble's still captive hand against his cheek, mimicking his own hand on Kimble's face. The pilot felt it and he shuddered again. Remy's touch was gentle and came with its own strong vibration of love and good intentions.

"You feelin' better now?" Gambit asked softly.

Kimble felt the vibrations and shivered from the pleasure of them." 'S all I ever wanted... just ta see yer eyes shimmerin'...so happy lookin' at me."

Remy chuckled. "Don' need no sex' fo' dat. Gambit's eyes always 'appy, lookin' at you. Sleep now. Dream of me."

Kimble closed his eyes and shuddered again. "Touch me... touch me an' I will. I loves ya so much..."

"Je t'aime aussi, mon cher. Fo' all time," Gambit replied softly, a tear spilling down one cheek. He wouldn't wipe it away. He had been changed by the Siskans in his life and no longer feared the emotions he felt. He palmed Kimble's cheek and left his hand there as Kimble's breathing calmed and gradually smoothed out. The pilot rolled over towards him, no longer awake, and lay his head in Remy's lap, curling his body around Remy's folded legs and grabbing onto his shirt tightly, not allowing him to escape.

"Don' worry, little brother. I'm not goin' anywhere. Gambit ain't leavin' you alone again." Remy petted him gently and stayed with him awhile, just loving this moment. It felt good to touch and feel Kimble's warm breath against his skin. Kimble was alive and for the most part, back to being functional. Now more than ever, Gambit was resolved to restore him back to what he should be.

Looking down on Kimble's sleeping face, Remy was forced to wonder just when it was he had fallen in love with this strange creature. It had happened, he knew that for certain now - in its slow, seductive, 'hit you over the head with a sledgehammer' way. Maybe it had happened back on Cerise when they danced together and laughed like merry children. When they had gone through the files? When they had played pool? Or was it in the alley, when he had seen Creed bent over Kimble's broken rag doll body and his only thought was to punish the man who had made him that way? All of the above? He didn't really know, only that Kimble was in his heart now and there to stay.

Maybe it had been there all along and Aiden had done his work, pointing it out with his own bullheaded directness. He could almost hear Aiden saying, /You know disz to be true, now what are you gonna do about it, you?/

"I'm gonna love 'im," Remy mumbled in a soft spoken answer. "Fo' all my days."

When Gambit startled to lose feeling in his legs, it was time to go. He carefully extricated himself and grabbed the blanket, tucking it around Kimble. The pilot didn't really need it, his skin was so warm from the plasma now, it made the frigid way he felt before that much more disturbing. Remy reset the containment shield and walked out of the holding area and the guard station, keeping his eyes down, unsure of what might be said as he passed. Whoever was on duty could see the inside of the cell on the monitor, they would have seen everything. Fortunately, Jean was on guard duty and only smiled at him, giving him a small wave.

"It's a funny thing about these cameras," she said before he walked out.

"Eh? What's dat?"

"This one...it seemed to have suffered some kind of malfunction...Yes, that's what it was. A malfunction. It hasn't recorded a thing in the last half hour. Funny how that can happen."

Gambit smiled, accepting her friendly offer.

"Is it all better now, chere?"

"Oh, yes. What ever it was...just mysteriously fixed itself."

"Well, dat's good to know."

"Is he better?" she asked, still smiling as she changed the subject.

"Oui. He sleepin' now."

"It's good that he's happy. It's good that you're happy. I don't know the last time I saw you smile. You should do it more often. It looks good on you."

He paused, uncertain how to reply. "Dis been a 'ard year for de Cajun. Mebbe better luck de nex' one."

"Maybe better luck for us all," she said rising. She surprised him by giving him a hug. For all their being teammates, folks around here just didn't hug the Cajun much. He couldn't say he minded the change of heart. She felt wonderful against him, in a very sisterly sort of way. She went on to say, "I'm sorry about your father. If you need anything, I'll be around. It's time we all took better care of each other, don't you think?"

His guard down by her sudden show affection, he caught sight of something he might have overlooked any other time. He sniffed at her playfully and smiled. /I know a secret,/ Shi'ow-ri giggled to him now. /I know a secret and now you know it, too. Look at her. See it./His hands tingled and Jean's shine was so bright in his eyes and he knew, he knew then. Kimble's empathy, the gift that keeps on giving. "You pregnant, chere? Heh, it look good on you, too. Congratulations."

"How did you know?" she asked in surprise. She hadn't told anyone, not even Scott. It was early yet, and she had been waiting until she knew for certain. Looked like she just got a confirmation from an unlikely source.

That source now grinned at her mischievously, his demonic red on black eyes glittering merrily. "Gambit's jus' too clever, y'all."

"No one knows yet."

"Yo' secret safe wit me, Red," he said, winking at her. "You let Gambit know when de Kimble wake up? 'Shay ain't gonna be too 'appy wit me. Best to get de fightin' done early."

"All right," she said, not really understanding. "Get some rest."

"Gonna crash in de lab. Don' wanna be too far away."

She gave him a kiss. "Take care."

He smiled and walked out, feeling suddenly victorious or triumphant like he had won some sort of big battle. Actually he had. He had let go of everything and reorganized his priorities. The death of his father made him determined to live each day to the fullest and not hold back. No more regrets for him, he would be free. He was going to have his wife and kids if he had to claw every mile for them. And as for Kimble...well, maybe he was going to make sure there were no regrets there, either. Somehow, at that moment, there was no incongruities with those two thoughts, and he never stopped to wonder why. He would see to it Kimble was repaired and once Kimble was straight, the two of them were going to have a nice long talk.

To be continued in The War Within