(Four)

Kimble lay still and quiet on the floor of his holding cell, his faithful blanket still wrapped around him. It had been a couple of days since the repair and his telekinetic powers had fizzled out as soon as the full strength of the plasma charge Neal had given him wore off. The situation now wasn't what it had been before, he wasn't injured so badly that his body would continue to siphon off power like it had when his feet had been damaged. Once it was known that he required a full charge to maintain his telekinesis, it had been discussed and agreed upon between Henry, the Professor and Gambit that he would not be allowed to fully charge again. Not until he had gotten his mental state under some kind of control, 'Shay was much too dangerous and her threats of bodily harm to others was all too real.

During the couple of days that passed, it was often 'Shay who answered anyone's calls for conversation. She was nasty and cruel, making no bones about her continued hatred of everyone and maintaining her threats even though she never actually got close to anyone to hurt them. As she weakened, she slept more and soon grew quiet altogether. She was cold again and shivering without a full charge, but she no longer cared. At least her feet didn't hurt any more. It made it easier to daydream and drift off into pleasant memories of such lovely beatings and the remembered glow of a steady plasma high.

Yesterday, Henry had forced Kimble to go through some tests in an effort to discover just what had occurred with the healing transfer of plasma. He wanted to get to know Kimble's functions inside and out, just as he would any other mutant. 'Shay put up a fuss, but nothing he wasn't able to work around, and got some surprising results. He was able to determine that the plasma charge from Neal had done more than just simply repair Kimble's external appearance, his inner core temperature had stabilized, at least for now. It had brought another puzzling change. With his inner core stable, his conditions had in a sense reversed. The pilot would now need to cover up to keep his skin warm, just as he done before he had been injured. He was normal again even though it didn't make sense. It seemed logical that as the full charge wore off his inner core would destabilize again and freeze him from the inside out, but that didn't happen. All they had really learned was that Kimble could not be left severely damaged, as when his feet had been mangled, without repair. As long as he was uninjured, he could probably be stable on low power for some time. At least it was convenient, Kimble was essentially powerless and under their complete control without them worrying if he was dying.

Henry had no explanation for this and was giving the pilot a breather before running him through more tests. For now, the pilot was content to cover up and sleep his times away in the holding cell. So far only 'Shay had spoken. She seemed to be in charge of the body for now.

At the moment, she was fast asleep and dreaming, never hearing it when someone came in and sat beside her. 'Shay's little nap was rudely interrupted when she felt a warm hand touch her face and brush her lips. She licked involuntarily and was surprised to taste chocolate. She shuddered and groaned a little as she came more awake. She opened her eyes and saw a slice of chocolate cake in front of her on a plate. Someone had placed it there and smeared frosting on her lips to get her attention.

She looked up and saw Remy seated beside her.

He's mine! Kimble challenged possessively and shoved her back. He had been thinking all this time and had something to say, he wasn't going to let the Quitter stand in his way. She resisted and they fought.

Remy sat quiet as the pilot's battle was waged. He was watching from the corner of his eye, but didn't interfere. He could see Kimble's face and hands twitching as the two struggled for control. He wanted to see who was going to come out on top. He was hoping the chocolate had been a good enough incentive to lure the Lover out. Kimble continued to twitch and grunt softly for a few minutes before he managed to wrest control and finally came out, blinking up at the one who loved him.

Gambit was no longer looking at him, but was seated comfortably cross legged on the floor and laying out some cards in front of him. He was playing solitaire and waiting patiently for Kimble as he roused from his inner battle.

Kimble grumbled and sat up, an ache in every movement. Lakotashay had kept them so still for so long his body, such as it was, had stiffened up on him. He rubbed his eyes and blinked, still groggy from being so low on power.

Remy glanced at him, but said nothing as he scooped up the cards he had just placed. He wasn't quite sure who he was looking at. The blanket had been left aside, so he knew it wasn't Lin, but it could have been any one of the others. At least 'Shay wasn't shouting insults, the Siskan was oddly quiet. Remy wouldn't know who was at the helm until the pilot was ready to show him. Without speaking, Gambit shuffled the cards and dealt them each a hand.

Kimble numbly picked up his cards and started to play, but his eyes kept straying back to the cake. He hadn't eaten anything in so long and it was a real temptation, so dark and yummy. Remy had also brought him some water. This he did take, drinking quickly in his ususal gulping way, not realizing just how thirsty he had been.

They played in silence while Kimble lost the first two hands quite badly. He snickered softly at himself, at being bested so easily, bringing a smile to Gambit's face. Now that Remy was sure it was Kimble, the Lover, he was happy. Gambit had been really concerned that 'Shay's threat was all too real and the Lover would never be released. He had just been given a sign that that wasn't the case and he was relieved.

Both times Remy had dealt, he charged a card and slipped it into Kimble's hand, feeding him. Kimble took it readily enough, but like before, the Siskan still didn't absorb much power before he was too full to take any more. The large red scars across his belly were still there and not fading. At least those injuries were minor compared to what his feet had been. They weren't going to slowly kill him.

When Kimble lost the next two rounds as well, he broke down and picked up the cake. He ate it slowly, savoring every bite, and Remy sat waiting patiently. He said nothing and that was just fine with Kimble, he didn't feel much like talking, not just yet. When he was finished eating, he set the plate down and rubbed his belly contentedly. He had forgotten how good chocolate cake was. "Wuz good. Thanks," he mumbled softly.

Remy was happy that Kimble was here, but couldn't help but notice he was still guarded and wary. This was not the playful, happy Kimble that had been so stoned on plasma. He was down now and back to square one. No pain in his feet, but plenty in his heart. Remy tried to cheer him. "No problem, Kim. You comin' outta 'ere today? Let me take you out. We could go dancin' in de Danger Room. Ain't no one gonna stop us."

Kimble looked up at the door and slowly shook his head. "It ain't safe."

"We done the baddest things," Lin said, slipping in and out. "We's hurted and killded people."

"No one's gonna die from you. Dat's one lie you don' 'ave to believe, little brother."

Kimble put his head down. "Not today."

"All right," Remy said, happy to at least get the one concession. He was pleasantly surprised that Kimble took the cake, he hadn't been sure if he would go for it. Kimble hadn't eaten once since his return. The pilot had been dozing off and on, not moving for the last three days. Gambit had waited, not wanting to be too pushy, but had lost his patience this morning. He knew Jean had just made this cake and couldn't resist using the perfect lure. "I'll be waitin' for you when you're ready."

They fell silent and it was a full minute before Kimble finally said, " 'Shay's real mad from what ya done."

"An' you?"

Kimble tossed his head and shrugged, trying to look like he didn't care. "Like I tol' Seth. If ya ain't gots a Master, there just ain't much point in even bein' alive."

"Gambit tell you he yo' Master now."

"Ya didn't means it."

"Yes I did."

"Lay down with me," Kimble demanded, a snide little challenge to prove Remy wrong. His voice lacked conviction, the only sign of strength in him was the hard, probing look he was giving Gambit now. He still couldn't believe.

Remy didn't reply immediately, just locked him with his glittering red eyes, unwilling to back down. It was a refusal, but not for the reasons Kimble was thinking. "Gambit's not quite ready fo' dat. Karen say mebbe you ain't ready either. Gotta get yo' head all straightened out. When you clear, Gambit's gonna take care of you, je promets."

Kimble looked at him oddly, a small malicious gleam in his eye. Since Gambit hadn't said yes directly, he felt he had just been proven correct and so was willing to jab right back. His voice was dripping with sarcasm and derision as he asked, "You gonna do the honors yerself?"

Gambit saw it and felt the vibration of angry resentment that came with it. He knew Kimble didn't believe him about being his Master in any capacity. He felt he was being toyed with. Kimble was proving to be as stubborn as 'Shay in this matter, Remy didn't think he could change Kimble's mind without disrobing and doing it right here on the padded floor. It hurt, being taunted so harshly from this Siskan he loved so deeply, but he had warned himself this would happen. Kimble wasn't well and so wasn't himself. Remy was just going to have to let that roll off and so he offered this instead, "Gambit took you out once. He'll do it again. When you all better."

"Cain't go out noplace!" Lin said, coming out to protest in his tiny little voice. The thought of leaving this place and putting others at risk terrified him enough to come out of hiding. "Gots ta stay in the small places! We hurts people! We keeps doin' the baddest things! Cain't go noplace. We gots ta stay in here where it's safe!"

"See?" Lakotashay sneered. "If yer gonna do us, boy, gots ta do it yerself. Brave enough to suck our c-ck, little Cajun?"

Remy squirmed. He was seriously tempted to take Kimble for a tumble, Aiden had seen to that, but he realized Karen was right. To do it now with Kimble so broken and trashed would probably be a mistake. His friend was four people and it was just too crowded in there right now. "Mebbe Gambit bring someone in. Got lots of friends. Raul ain't de only one gay."

"Oh, right," 'Shay snorted. "That'll go over really big with yer stuck up, asshole friends. They ain't gonna letcha bring no little boy hookers in here and ya knows it. C'mon, Remy. Jus' do it. Show us how yer a better Master than Kristalay wuz, he wouldn't suck us off neither. Passed us up fer Mary, fer some stupid girl, just like yer gonna do."

Remy's anger at 'Shay spiked sharply at her words until the last. / She's waiting to be rejected. She'll use it as excuse to push you away and kill them. She'll use it to smash Kimble down and the others won't stand in her way, Shi'ow-ri spoke to him. / Be so very careful. Say what you have to and don't even think about lying. She'll know. /

"I said I would take care of you and I meant it. It don't seem like it now, but Gambit's got a plan, it's just gonna take some time, comprenez? Coupla weeks at least. I just can't do anyt'ing wit you until den," Remy said, being honest. "You just gotta trust me, s'il vous plait."

'Shay turned away. "You ain't our Master."

"All of you t'inkin' dat?" Remy spat out defensively, taking a poll. Just how fucked was he?

"We's too bad fer no Master," Lin said. "We's a sickness, we killded them all."

"Zandy?" Remy challenged.

The Punisher just laughed and teased lightheartedly in his deep gravelly voice, "Maybe I'll decide after ya suck us off. If ya stink then fergit it!"

"Oh, t'anks, Zandy. You ever so helpful," Remy replied with a laugh. That hadn't been the response he expected from the violent, sword wielding Punisher. Guess the guy had a real sense of humor and wasn't such a total hardcase after all. This Gambit could use.

Zander had more to say. He continued to snuffle with coarse, gravelly laughter as he said, "It's Kimble's favorite, ya know. It ain't all that hard. Jus' gotta open up and slide it on in. Use a little tongue. Don't worry, Kimble ain't all that big -"

Gambit held his hands up in playful surrender, silencing his friend. He could tell from the joking that the Punisher was on his side, he was just playing around, having a laugh at his expense. "Merci, Zandy, merci. Dat's more dan Gambit wanted to know!"

'Shay wasn't done with her painful criticism. "You won't do it. Yer too chicken. You ain't no Master. Not for real. You just run off now, find some pussy an' stick yer face in it. Leave us alone an' let me do my job!"

Gambit's good humor brought on by the Punisher faded quickly, wilting under the harsh mouth of the Quitter. "You ain't doin' no job, 'Shay. Yo' Master forbid it!"

"You ain't our Master!" Kimble snarled, breaking his silence and moving away. He was upset and crying, not the least bit happy about this conversation anymore. "Yer sayin' the words butcha just don't means it. Yer just sayin' it sos 'Shay won't hurt us!"

Remy snatched at him, not letting him get away. "If dat ain't love dan tell me what is! Gambit don't want you to be 'urt cause he does love you, you fuckin' pain in my ass! Bein' yo' Master's got nuthin' to do wit it! Gambit would try to save you if you belong to 'im or not, comprenez!"

Kimble sobbed and turned his head away, wilting into tears under the pressure. "Don' yell at us no more, jus' let us go, please! It's better this way. Just let 'Shay finish us. It'll stop all the pain an' the voices. I jus' cain't takes it no more!"

Gambit pulled Kimble close and spilled him into his arms. "Si bien, cher. Gambit's gonna take care of de pain an' de voices, too. Mebbe he ain't so brave as ta suck ya off, but he ain't too scared ta hold onto you tight, keep you warm. He'll hold you all night, stop your tears."

Kimble didn't resist but grabbed at him with his hands. He let himself be squeezed and cried softly, tired down to the core of all this. He just couldn't believe Remy's words, they would never be fixed, they would never stop hurting people and spreading misery wherever they went.

Zander was happy, though. Gambit hadn't backed down, 'Shay didn't have a total victory. He twisted Gambit's words around to joke some more. "Damn, an' I wanted the blow job, too. Don' know if I kin wait no two weeks!"

Remy chuckled softly, encouraged by the good humor. Zander was trying to make him feel better. Humor being one of his strong points, Remy was willing to play along. "P'etetre, after Gambit do it so awful, you gonna be glad you 'ad to wait so long."

"Doubt it. Like I said, you just gots ta open up an' swallow. You kin swallow, right?"

Remy shivered in revulsion, he couldn't help it. "Don' push yo' luck, buddy."

"He ain't gonna do it, Zander. Too proud," 'Shay sneered, not wanting the Punisher to get too high on his horse. The Lover had calmed, warmed by these strong arms holding him.

"Gambit ain't too proud," Remy protested, his long slender fingers petting black tresses. "Just got my brain all wired wrong fo' dat kind of t'ing."

"Ya don't hafta do nuthin'," Kimble mumbled, sleepy now. "You ain't our Master, no matter whatcha say. 'Sides we're the ones what gots ta serve, not you. Most of the clients never done it ta us, why should you?"

" 'Cause Gambit loves you enough, he jus' ain't got no courage," Remy replied honestly again. "If Gambit thought it would fix you fo' good, he'd do it and dat ain't no lie, it ain't. But Gambit knows better. 'E got a better way. Promise me you'll wait fo' me, promise!"

Kimble whimpered, pained by Remy's anguish and yet inspired by his conviction. "All right."

"I'll see that he does," Zander promised.

" 'Shay? Lin?"

"Yer full of shit," Lakotashay said, not giving an inch. "Kimble will wait, shure. I'll puts him ta sleep, keep him outta trouble. I'll keeps him down 'til ya do whatever stupid fucked up thing ya gots in mind. We'll do a trade, fucker, huh? Tit fer tat. I kin do it, too. Lin'll help me, won'tcha?"

"Gots ta keep it safe. I'll keeps us in the small spaces. Cain't hurts nobody in there."

"Lin, Gambit's gotta have better dan dat. 'Shay can't be killin' my Kimble."

"No killding, don't wants no killding. That's a bad thing."

"Den 'elp me, petite."

"No killding Kimble. No killding nobodys. I'll keeps it safe 'til ya comes fixin' us."

"It's the best yer gonna git," Zander said with a sigh. "Just hope yer plan is worth it. You gots a ransom fer yer Lover?"

Remy just smiled, hiding his doubt and burying it deep where Kimble's fractured selves would never see it. "Got better dan dat. You'll see. Gambit's de best t'ief dere is. 'E gonna ransom 'is Kimble, just you wait an' see."

"Hope yer right, Cajun. I really do."

"Shut up, y'all!" 'Shay snapped. "Yer all down! I'm in charge now! Me and our Master (snort!) have a deal!"

"No, 'Shay. I'm gonna keeps watch," Lin said, small but very strong. "Gots ta keep it fair."

"Dat's fine wit me," Remy said, accepting the truce. Lin was shy and hid the body away, but he wasn't suicidal. As much as he called for the final punishment, he never once said he would perform the act himself. "What you say?"

"Theys all gone now," Lin said, his tiny voice so soft. He gripped Gambit tightly, wanting to be rocked and kept small. "It's just us in this great big scary place."

"Gambit will watch over you," he promised, trying to hide his disappointment that things had worked out this way. Remy reached for the blanket, pulling it around Lin. The Confessor was just going to reach for it anyway and Gambit wanted him to be comfortable. "Gambit ain't gonna let you outta his sight."

"How you gonna fix us?" Lin asked, his voice soft and drowsy now. It was so nice to be held like this, so warm and safe. All the vibrations from this one who claimed to be their Master but really wasn't were so nice, so loving and protective.

"Gambit got a line on a guy dat fixes 'grams. In a coupla weeks, Gambit's gonna leave an' check 'im out. If 'e's legit, Gambit gonna bring 'im 'here, gonna ransom 'is Kimble."

"Yer gonna leave us?" Lin couldn't hide a tone of panic and Remy was quick to reassure.

"Not fo' good. It ain't safe to bring you wit me. It's safe 'ere at de house, Jael can't come in here an' take you. If I bring you wit me, I can't guarantee yo' safety. You much too precious fo' me to risk, you can feel dat, eh?"

"Yeah. You loves us. You are the Master, ain'tcha? You loves us most of all."

"Oui, cher. Most of all."

Lin closed his eyes and relaxed, releasing his deathgrip on Remy's arms. Gambit didn't let him go. He rocked his damaged Siskan in his arms until his ass and both his legs were numb from sitting on the floor like that. Lin had long since slipped away into a quiet sleep and Remy lay him down, keeping him comfortable. He grabbed the now empty plate and walked out, his eyes terribly sad and worried. He prayed the Games Master was as good as Trishnar said. What was he going to do if he failed?