(Four)

Gambit got his crutches and made his way to door number three, one of the holding cells that Henry kept in the Lab. Kimble was inside. Remy scanned his hand and went in. These cells were padded and had no furniture. Only a small toilet sat in one corner, the one thing Kimble didn't need. The man himself was sitting in the center of the small room, facing away from the door. He had drawn his knees up to his chest, his arms hugged around his legs to keep them up close. He looked small and very, very tired. He had been washed and given fresh clothes. Kimble was calm now, just sitting quiet with his head down.

"You okay now, cher?" Remy asked tentatively.

Kimble nodded, but stayed as he was, his back to the thief.

Gambit shuffled in, making a point of moving into Kimble's view. He nudged Kimble's foot with the boot of his crutch. "Talk to me, fils."

Kimble wouldn't raise his head, but said clearly in a flat toneless voice, "Sorry bouts yer leg. I didn't ever means ta hurts ya."

"Je sais. You never do, I always know dat."

Kimble was quiet in a very Aiden like stance and after a minute of continued silence Remy realized that just like that, the conversation seemed to be over. That may have been Kimble's intention, but it wasn't his own. "What 'appen 'ere? What make you go wit Set' today?"

Kimble raised his head then and looked into Remy's face with a kind of placid, dead anger. "I already explained alla that with yous. He wuz sick. I made it better. Why do ya always asks me the same fuckin' questions over an' over again when I already answered ya?"

Remy blinked, startled by the rudeness of the question. Kimble's shine was still dull and less than it had been before he had left with Seth. It was also a static blank, something he should have noticed earlier but hadn't until now. Something was very wrong here, it was too much like Babette's had been. "Je suis de'sole, cher. Just making sure you said all dere was to say."

The Siskan nodded. "Well, I said all there is ta say."

Remy sighed. "Well, you know de folks here are all upset 'bout what went on. Dey don' understand." Gambit's eyes flicked up to Karen who stood in the doorway. "P'etetre you can explain it so dey know what you was t'inkin'."

"They already gots it all figgered out," Kimble replied sharply. He was aware that Karen was there, but quite frankly, no longer gave a shit about her or anything else. His voice was a tight snarl as he mimicked in a childish sneer, "Kim's gone an' molested someone again. Raped his own brother, the sick fuck. Now we knows we done the right thing, takin' his Angel aways. Best not be givin' her back – not now, not never again. Let's just puts him on the sex offender list with alla the other perverts and fuck ups. Keeps him locked up ferever!"

Remy scowled. "No one sayin' dat, cher. No one's lockin' you up."

Kimble's eyes followed where Remy's had gone, looking right at Karen. "Uh, huh. Shure. Heard Logan sayin' it already out there in the hallway with that other guy what has wings, seen it in their shines. There ain't gonna be no understandin' where there ain't never been."

Remy raised his voice, drawing Kimble's attention back to him and away from Karen. "It ain't all up to Karen or Logan alone. You been in a jam b'fore, we worked it out. Course, dis time you really got me workin' overtime, buddy. It don't mean I can't work sumptin' out."

Kimble snorted rudely, a perfect imitation of Aiden's most popular sound. "Don' bother."

Remy looked at him sharply, squinting his eyes. "What does dat mean?"

Kimble regarded him with that same blank fury. "It means I'm all done talkin' ta yous or anabody else. This is it, I'm done. Y'all win. I'm quittin'."

Remy raised an eyebrow, confused by the change in tack. "Quittin' what?"

"All I ever wanted ta do wuz makes people happy. It wuz all I wuz made fer, an' I always thought I wuz good at it, y'know? All I ever wanted ta be wuz be good. A good person, a good lover, a good brother, a good father."

Gambit was reeling, not sure what Kimble was getting at. Where was all this coming from and where was it going? "You done a great job makin' folks happy, Kim. You a good father, le meilleur, de best, cher. Angel couldn't have no better."

Kimble's face didn't change at the compliment. "If that wuz true, they wouldn't have tooks her from me. Now what do I haves ta be good at? Everathin' I tried, I jus' fucked up. I ain't gots nuthin' left inside 'a me ta gives, kin ya even understand that? It wuz all just a lie, the idear that I could do anathin' right, that I could be a good Courtesan, the way Quishnalay mades me."

"Quishnalay didn't do nuthin fo' you, fils. It was all Sheyman and you done a good job for him, too. He was never 'appier, dat's de truth."

"Sheyman's dead," Kimble replied in his deadpan voice. "I couldn't saves him. I couldn't saves Seth or Angel."

Remy cocked his head. "Save dem from what?"

"From me! That's why I gots ta quit. I cain't be whole, I cain't be broke. I cain't be no father, no brother, no lover proper. Cain't be Siskan, cain't be human. Cain't be some freak in b'tween. Nuthin' I do is never right by nobody, sos ya know what? Y'all win, okay? I quit, this time fer good. I'm done. It's over!"

"Sounds ta me like you spent a good long time on dat speech. Made real good use of de time spent waitin' on me to come along an' 'ear it," Remy replied, his voice tight with his own anger. He was furious that for the umpteenth time he was having this conversation with Kimble. The Siskan gave up so easily all the time, it was so much easier than actually facing a problem and taking it head on. Kimble was stronger than this, the pilot just didn't know it. Gambit didn't have the will to control his sarcasm as he continued. "It was real special. Too bad life don't work like that, cher."

Kimble's response was an ugly sneer, a look that Remy associated with Zander, an expression that had never looked right on that beautiful face. "Really?" the pilot said with a bitter laugh. "Since when do you gits ta make up alla the rules, huh? This time I'm makin' up some of m' own."

"What you mean?" Remy questioned and started forward, but was forced to halt when Kimble suddenly raised both hands and conjured up his sword. The blade was always a shock coming up out of nowhere like that. It gleamed in the half light, crystalline and wickedly sharp. Gambit stood up straight, giving the pilot his full attention, he had no clue what Kimble intended to do. "Whoa, dere, Kim. Dere ain't no need fo' dat."

Kimble flicked his wrist and orange flames came to life and raced up the edge of the blade.

Karen cried out softly, but Remy held up a hand, asking for patience. It didn't stop him from taking a step back, yes indeedy. Never had this weapon been raised against him and frankly, seeing it like that scared the living piss out of him. Too many times he had seen Kimble use this weapon to kill, each time burned forever into his memory. Still, he couldn't imagine Kimble, his Siskan, ever using this sword against him, not like this. "Espe're, Kim. Wait jus' a minute."

Apparently, it was the retreat Kimble desired. When Remy had stepped far enough back, Kimble doused the flames quickly and then used his telekinetic power to spread the material of the blade he had made. He flattened it, expanding it with more and more material, turning it into something else. He created more and more of the shield it was constructed of until it formed a large clear bubble, one he had wrapped around himself, forming a small room around his body.

Gambit couldn't help but be slightly awed and mesmerized by the sight. He knew Kimble could make barriers and the spikes, but this was much larger than most things Kimble had made. His execution of the bubble was perfect, another sign that Kimble was so much more than he seemed. So much talent wasted, so much more the Siskan could have been if only he wasn't brought down by his overblown feelings and excessive childish reactions to normal everyday stress.

Kimble was silent as he formed his bubble, but just before it sealed itself completely around his body, he looked up at Remy and said in a childlike whisper, in a voice that Remy thought he would never hear again, "Times fer us ta goes now," said tiny Lin, grabbing control for the first time since Kimble had supposedly been repaired. He had spoken in Siskan, a true trademark of this small and fragile personality. The Confessor cared nothing about the look of shocked horror on their former Master's face, he simply continued on, "We gots a small space now, a place ta keeps it all safe and quiet. Kim knew this had ta happen, that it just wuzn't safe fer nobodys no more, not from us. He couldn't be trusted not to hurts no one no more so it's up ta me now ta takes care of us and keeps you all safe. Tells Aiden none of this wuz his fault. He knows, but sometimes he just has ta hears it. We's sorry, Remy. Sorry fer everathin's. G'bye." And with that, Lin closed his eyes and sealed the bubble, shutting himself away from a world that had only ever caused him pain.

"Kimble!" Remy shouted, the spell broken, stunned and disbelieving what he had just seen happen. First Zander and now Lin? This wasn't possible! So much for what the Games Master had done. He wanted a refund on that repair! This couldn't be happening, not now, not after everything they had been through together.

Remy dropped his crutches as he stumbled forward in fear. He caught himself on the large bubble, shocked to discover just how hard and crystalized it was. This was the same dense substance that Kimble's spikes were made of and not easily damaged. Lin had wanted to isolate Kimble away from the world and had done it with startling ease, leaving Remy alone on the outside. Lin used to cower under blankets and under the bed, looked like he had now found himself something better. A second later, the shield frosted up and hardened, concealing the pilot within and leaving only a strange Kimble sized globe on the floor. Remy freaked at that, shouting all the louder, "Don' you do dis! Kimble!"

Karen had watched the whole thing with a kind of detached horror. It had happened too quickly and was over before she had any thought to interfere. "Remy, please. Calm down," she said, more out of habit of calming the distressed than having a solution. "Just think this out."

"Kimble, listen to me, s'il vous plait," Remy tried, calming down as ordered. He continued to plead to the solid wall of Kimble's globe, stroking it as if he thought Kimble could feel it. "What 'appen, it wasn't yo' fault, nobody say you done nuthin' wrong. 'Enry, 'e got scans sayin' what you done was helpin' Set'. Yo' brother, 'e strong now, strong like 'e need to be. If anyone done sumptin' wrong it was me, not seein' dat Set' was in trouble so badly. I had m' mind on other t'ings and 'e got left behind. But it don' matter, d'accorde? Set', 'e's okay. So come on out, cher. Stop dis!"

There was no reply from within, no movement.

"Remy, let him go. Maybe he just needs time," Karen offered. "Maybe... maybe it's time to just let him go."

Remy glared at her, scandalized by her words, his face flushing instantly. "Quoi? Get out!" he snarled, happy to take his frustration out on someone else.

She crossed her arms. "Just take it easy. This is no big deal. Let him be quiet for a while."

Gambit shook his head, feeling a kind of panic rise. His mind was working fast, worrying over a great many things, but most of all, recalling the strange static grey of Kimble's shine when he came in here. He realized now that this event was just the finale in a long series of breaks, something that had begun from the moment Kimble thought Angel lost to him forever.

Kimble had known just what he was going to do this time, he had waited for Remy to come in so he could say goodbye. Whatever Karen was thinking, this was not an ordinary time out, not by far. His other selves had made an appearance, why not Lakotashay next? The one who had been so terribly destructive. She could be in control there right now, bleeding out the body like Babette had done. By the time they got this off of Kimble it would be too late. Remy ignored the woman in the doorway and slapped the hard surface of the bubble, sending out a large vibration of frustration. "Kimble, you come out of dere dis instant!" he howled with fatherly outrage. "I'll get Cyke in 'ere to blast dis shit offa you, I swear! Come out!"

There was no response from within.

/ Remy, calm down, Shi'ow-ri whispered. / Take it easy. Breathe. If he was killing himself in there you would feel it. /

Gambit was furious with panic, overheating now. He removed his coat, tossing it aside with a frustrated curse. He closed his eyes and reached out with his hands again, sliding them over the surface of the sphere. It was harder to read his Siskan with the barrier, but he could still feel Kimble in there. He was sitting as he had been, deathly still and quiet. Sleeping or something like it. Didn't mean Remy was happy with it.

"Zandy? Mon ami? You in dere? Give a boy a hand will ya? Come on!" he tried next, pleading to the Punisher, a former ally in the past. But again, nothing happened.

"Fine den," Remy snarled and gave the shield a charge, hoping to break a hole in it. Oddly enough, it simply absorbed his energy without actually charging. It just sucked it up and laughed at him by being unaffected at all. "Aw, come on!" Gambit complained irritably, losing the small amount of control he had regained. "Kimble!"

"What's wrong? Is that Kimble?"

Remy looked up to see Fallen standing in the doorway next to Karen now, her face crinkled in confusion. "Oui, Kim's in dere. 'E just bein' stubborn," he replied, his face now quite red with anger. He was looking at her so unpleasantly, the unspoken message clearly conveyed without the need for vibrations. Are you happy now? Remy so wanted to ask, to accuse. It crossed his face in an ugly band of rage, but the words never crossed his lips.

Fallen saw it and nervously stepped back.

"Oh, non you don'," Remy snarled, pointing at her. "You come right over 'ere an' you tell 'im you fo'give 'im! You do it right now!"

She nodded and came forward, sitting with an awkward stiffness. She lay her hands on the bubble, startled by how hard and solid it was. This was awkward and strange, but she leaned forward and said in a stiff halting manner, "I'm sorry, Kimble. I - I was upset and didn't think. I-I forgive you. Come on out. Seth- Seth needs you." She had obeyed, but the truth be told, it hadn't been sincere. It was too soon, she was still too upset to really mean it.

It didn't matter, if Kimble had heard her, he gave no sign. The sphere stayed as it was.

Remy put his head down, running out of options. He felt Karen's hand on his shoulder. "It's over, Remy. Let him go. He's just had enough, and you know what? This was bound to happen sooner or later. You did all you could."

"Did I?" he tossed back at her, angry. He glared at Fallen as he wiped at his face. "You stay 'ere. Sit wit 'im. I'm goin' to get Aiden. Maybe 'e can help me bring him out."

(break)

Gambit stood in the doorway of Aiden's cell and cursed softly in frustration. He took out his gum and slid a piece into his mouth. This was going to be ugly, he could see it already.

Aiden sat in a corner of his padded cell, his clothes tossed off in a "fuck you" to the prudish humans around him. His damaged arm had been bandaged to make him more comfortable, if it was bothering him, he gave no sign. Both of his hands lay in his lap, quiet. He was awake, Gambit could see his eyes moving to track him as he came to the door. Other than that, he was completely still, a mournful frown the only evidence that he was aware of the great trouble he was in.

What the thief hadn't been aware of, of course, was that frown was the result of a savage chewing out the Dreamer had just received from Father only moments before.

Father had been livid at how badly this day had gone. He had paced and stomped his feet, smacking his fist into his hand as he vented on poor Aiden.

How could you have been so stupid, Dreamer? How many times have I told you that this love affair with Kimble was so dangerous to our plan? I warned you that the distraction was too great! Not content with that, you interfere between Seth and his Mistress as well! How could you have not foreseen that it would only end in disaster!

Broken and dejected, Aiden had no response. Father was right of course, as he always was, and now things were a complete mess.

The ghostly man continued to pace. Love is foolish and unnecessary. It only leads to trouble and who knows this better than you? If not for Krishnak's foolish addiction to that pathetic creature Tillamay, we would never have ended up in Meckland's lab! It was her death that broke the hold Krishnak had on the body. Kain killed Greedock and then we were sentenced to a torture worse than any Muzla fighting ring had ever provided!

"Zat waszn't my fault," Aiden whispered softly in the Muzla tongue. "We are creaturesz made for love. 'Ow can we not be szusceptible to it'sz lure? It isz our nature. Krishnak needed Tillamay, she remind 'im what it wasz like to be alive, not ze walking dead wit not'ing inside. No one could forszee Greedock'sz diszpleasure. Meckland wasz not my fault."

Father scowled, not wanting to hear these truths. They didn't help his cause and so were discarded. It doesn't matter, the end result was the same - disaster in the name of love and passion. It all leads to ruin. Now Kimble has collapsed and we have no way of getting close to Angel. We cannot protect her from Jael if we are never allowed to be where she is.

"I will try to fix disz, me," the Dreamer replied, but there was no strength in this statement. Things had never looked so hopeless as they were now. Now more than ever he longed for Asher and his wisdom.

Please! Father snorted. You're always looking for rescue. Time to grow up, Dreamer. We have to resolve this ourselves. Time to put childish matters aside and do what needs to be done.

"An' what isz dat?" Aiden asked, unable to keep the anger and insult from his voice.

Time to kiss ass and start following their rules. It's the only way to succeed.

"An' what of Keemble?"

He will be fine on his own. You know he is in no danger even now. Fix this Dreamer. Fix this now! The thief is at your door, it's now or never. Get with the program or give it all up. Fight or fuck, Dreamer. Which is it going to be?

Gambit scanned his hand and quietly entered the cell, watching those pale green eyes track him though the body slumped so dejectedly in the corner did not move. Gambit hobbled to the opposite corner from where Aiden lay, into the Siskan's field of sight just as he had with Kimble. Remy was anxious and nervous about Kimble, but had the patience to know Aiden had to be handled carefully. He began by asking, "You all right, fils?"

Aiden was silent, but the frown was slowly replaced by his trademark arrogant half made smile, his mask of indifference to this world and everyone in it.

Remy wasn't the least bit fooled by it. "You an' me, we 'ave dis discussion b'fore, hien? Bein' all quiet ain't gonna 'elp you. Kimble needs you, but I can't let you outta 'ere 'til you talk to me."

No response.

Gambit slid the note from Babette out of his pocket. "You know about Babette?"

For the first time, Aiden really moved. He blinked and said in a hoarse whisper, "She'sz dead. Aiden szee 'er facze in ze deszert, me. Ze Kundatesh never lie."

"She leave you dis."

Gambit started to walk over, but collided painfully with an invisible barrier. Aiden had surrounded himself with a transparent shield, something Remy hadn't been aware that Aiden could do. Just because a telekinetic could make spikes didn't mean he could make barriers as well. Aiden was showing his hidden talent with the firm notion that he wasn't going to let anyone close to him. The holding cells could contain a mutant, but it wouldn't stop them from using their powers within. Normally, restraining collars were used as a secondary precaution. Thing was, the collars didn't work on Siskans. This is why it was always so dangerous in here like this, especially when confronting the ones who knew how to throw spikes. Gambit sighed with impatience and dropped the note on the edge of the barrier where the Siskan could reach it.

Aiden made no move to retrieve it, but said, "She ze only one in disz worl' who never 'urt me."

"Je suis de'sole. She was a beautiful person," Remy agreed sadly. "Gambit's gonna miss her." Aiden had nothing more to say.

Remy didn't have the will or the patience to play any more games so he simply blurted out, "Kimble in a terrible jam, cher. Lin come out an' shut de boy down. 'E need you."

Aiden turned his head away, a bright black spike of resentment swirling through his shine. He knew this already of course, the wall he leaned against was one Kimble shared. He had been close enough to hear the previous conversation. Kimble had broken down, closed himself off, a state Aiden had been in once before when things had just gotten too bad, when he had been overloaded. Aiden knew that Kimble was probably just fine in the little bubble, he could come out if he elected to, it would be a matter of choice. He would come out when he was ready. For the moment, Aiden wasn't too worried. Given enough time he felt he could lure Kimble out if he didn't come out on his own. It seemed the thief here was less than patient.

"You 'ear me?"

"You break 'im, you fix 'im," Aiden snorted without facing him.

"I t'ought you loved him," Remy threw out, trembling with anger. This was going from bad to worse. He was certain he needed Aiden's cooperation to bring Kimble around. Looked like he wasn't going to get it for free. What a surprise.

Aiden made another derisive sound, still turned away to the corner. His voice dripped with hate and malice as he said, "You t'ink you all szo fucking szmart. All you Chuckfet ze szame. You want usz when you want usz and zen after dat... Heh, it'sz all about your rulesz, your way of life. Never - not a one of you ever t'ink about what it'sz like to be one of usz. You never let a Sziszkan be a Sziszkan, den you wonder we all szo broken. Fuck you!"

Remy just gave him an irritated smile, doing his best to hide just how much that had hurt. He had an idea where some of that misplaced anger was coming from. "Y' know, Gambit spend a lot of time t'inkin' 'bout you. Used to wonder why it was dat when we was at Trishnar's, you never speak de Siskan so Gambit an' Trishnar could understand you. Lookin' back on it, it so obvious I gotta wonder if Trishnar 'imself know de reason."

Aiden was looking at him now, his lips creased into a thin white line. He was filled with crazy angry emotion and trying miserably to hide it.

Remy wasn't about to be intimidated. He continued, "You know many languages, n'est ce pas? Babette tell me you speak Siskan to 'er, in private, when you t'ought it was safe. Yet you speak some other language all de other times, sumptin' no one else could understand. You done dat on purpose. I didn't understand it den, but I sure as heck do now. I figured it out, comprenez? You didn' speak de Siskan or de Dognan to anyone 'cept Babette 'cause if you did, you'd be callin' Trishnar Master every time you saw 'im, eh? Just bein' polite an' all in conversation."

Remy's voice changed, dripping with saccharine sweetness as he imitated Aiden with near accuracy. " 'Ow you doin', Maszter? Dere anyt'ing Aiden can do fo' you, Maszter? You want ano'der blow job, Maszter? Need yo' toilet cleaned? Yo' aszz kisszed?", dat sorta t'ing, eh? T'ing is, you never wanted to call nobody Master. Dat's what it is. Nobody ever de Master of you."

Aiden's face cracked into an arrogant sneer, his mask of contempt only confirming Remy's guess. Still he said nothing.

Gambit chuckled wryly, claiming victory. "You still playin' yo' stupid games. You doin' dat while Kim's in there all shattered. Mebbe de one who should fuck off is you."

"Wit'out true freedom, it don't matter what Keem feelsz, what 'isz sztate of mind isz!"

Remy blinked in surprise, not understanding Aiden's strange take on things. "Quoi? Kim 'as freedom."

Another snort of disgust as the Dreamer turned away once more. "Disz converszation isz over."

Gambit sighed with impatience, leaning against the wall. He shook his head as he said, "Y' know Kimble was de same as you when he first come to live wit us. So angry, so hurt all de time. He 'ave a 'ard time wit de rules. Took 'im a long time to fall in wit us, get it all worked out. He take de long way when de short way was easy enough.

"Let me 'elp you. Let me educate you. Siska is gone, Aiden. Yo' time wit de Muzla is done. Whatever happen dere, dose rules, dose ways of livin' are gone, comprenez? Dis stupid war you got goin' - dis 'us an' dem', 'Siskan 'gainst de Chuckfet' t'ing - it ain't gonna fly round 'ere, it ain't gonna accomplish what you want. It ain't gonna make you 'appy. It ain't gonna bring Kimble back from de 'ole 'e just dropped 'imself into."

Aiden shivered and closed his eyes, fighting this. He had heard similar words before, spoken from a Siskan blessed with true wisdom. Asher had been a good friend, but he was gone now. Him and Babette. Words couldn't help him now.

Remy saw he wasn't getting anywhere. "What is it you want, Aiden? Tell me!"

Aiden turned to look at him. "Aiden wantsz to be free."

"You want peace? You wanna stay 'ere an' not be livin' in a box? D'accorde, cher, but it go like dis, hein? It real simple, so simple even a tete dure like you can understand. Don't hit, don't be fightin' when some words outta yo' mouth be good enough. Dat an' don't be screwin' around wit de ones who don' belong to you. Ever!

"Set' tryin' ta make 'is way as one of us, not a Siskan. What you are is not always who y'are. It's cool you wanna 'elp 'im, but now it up to someone else. You speak yo' mind when you got an idea 'bout sumptin, not workin' 'round de back of us. You sent Kim to 'elp Set' when it should'ave been 'Enry or someone else an' look at what you got out of dat. What de 'ell were you t'inkin? Set' a child, he too fragile. A lot of pain didn' 'ave to 'appen 'ere today."

"Aiden tell you szomet'ing wasz wrong wit' Szet'. You did not liszten!"

"Really?" Gambit challenged sharply. "Tell me when exactly you say to me Set' was in Shemusk and dat 'e need a Kundatesh boost to get 'im out of it? 'Eh? What's dat, fils? Oh dat's right. You didn't!"

Aiden shivered and looked away early, not wanting to hear it. He knew Remy was right in his way, he hadn't been direct in saying Seth was sick, but any idiot could have seen what was going on with Seth as far as he was concerned. This was just more Chuckfet bullshit from a Kundatesh blessed human too weak to understand. It didn't stop the hurt, a tear leaked out of one eye before he could stop it. Another sign of weakness.

Remy saw it, felt something break inside. It was so hard to talk to these strange children. They were hopelessly stubborn and their idea of rules and conduct was so skewed. What were the human Siskans thinking when they made these 'grams? How dare they screw around with artificial intelligence like this when their own logic was so terribly flawed?

Gambit sighed and tried reaching out again. "Look, it's okay. You make a mistake. It all over now. Set' not de only one 'urtin', Gambit ain't dat blind. You gotta stop hidin' your pain, you can't be shuttin' us all out like dis. Babette yo sister, yo' family. I know de pain terrible for you. Let me 'elp you. Gambit's never hurt you and he ain't goin' to. It just ain't in m' heart, you know dis. You gettin' me?"

Aiden said nothing, refusing to let Remy's supplication sway him. It was lies, all of it. Had been from day one. Remy was just like them, the Chuckfet. He was the enemy. Aiden looked him full in the eye, blasting him with his hurt and anger. Zander's eyes. He was enraged but perfectly still and quiet. A bomb just waiting for a place to go off.

"Help me, Aiden," Remy said, trying to swallow all that anger down like a sick jagged pill, the empathy making this nearly excruciating. "Kimble a mess. 'Elp me 'elp 'im, sil vous plait!"

Before Aiden could respond, there was a ripple in the air, a distraction only he could see. It's now or never, Dreamer, Father said, ghosting into view. I know this wasn't your fault, it's theirs, but we can use this to help both us and Kimble. Turn this mess to your advantage.

The Dreamer nodded and said softly, "Aiden will 'elp you, me, but wit conditions."

Remy stood still. He had seen the movement of Aiden's eyes, the slight nod to no one, and recognized it for it was. Despite any of his comments to the contrary, Aiden was still broken. "Who you talkin' to, cher? Is it Father, dis chile Talalanay? Non, cher. Dis between you an' me."

"You want my 'elp or not?" Aiden challenged, refusing to answer.

"Oui, Gambit needs yo' 'elp. What you want?"

"Aiden wantsz out. Aiden wantsz Keemble out. We bot' get out. No more disz szeparation of Keemble an' 'isz child. We all of usz go living at Keemble'sz plazce. Bot' of usz and Anjel. We can take care of ourszlevesz and 'er. We are not chil'ren, we are men. We will szee 'er szafe better zan any of you Chuckfet!"

"I can't give you dat, cher. And you know it."

Aiden turned away with a snarl. "Den it mattersz not what Keemble do. 'E closze 'isz eyesz forever, ze Game isz done. Jael already won. Go. Go away an' never return. Aiden will not szpeak wit you again."

Gambit felt his rage surge. "Dat's not fair. 'Elp me!"

Aiden didn't move, his eyes were turned away, sightless, much as Kimble had done. His shine was still active, though. He was waiting. They were still negotiating.

Remy growled, hating manipulation as much as anything else. Aiden's demands were impossible, they would never be granted. He would just have to find another way. "What you want, it ain't never gonna 'appen. Deal wit it. I know you want to 'elp Kimble. When you ready t' talk, you let Gambit know. 'Till den, you gotta stay in 'ere. See you 'round."

He left, but as he walked out, he heard a soft cry behind him. Now outside the cell, Gambit turned back and saw that Aiden wasn't responding to what he had said. Aiden had shut Remy out of his mind, dismissing the thief before he'd even made it to the door. No, what Aiden had reacted to was the note. As Remy had walked out, Aiden had picked up the note Babette had written and now was reading it. As his eyes traveled over her words of farewell, Aiden broke down into painful, wracking sobs, the great big gasping kind that only true loss brings. He slumped to one side, curling up into a ball with the note squashed to his chest as he bawled out his misery into the floor.

"Aiden!" Remy called out, his heart breaking to hear Aiden break down. This was no ploy to garner attention or sympathy from him over Kimble. The Dreamer was deeply wounded by Babette's suicide, he felt responsible for her and so blamed himself, it was all there in his shine for Remy to see. He hadn't been able to save David. He hadn't been able to save Trishnar and now Babette was gone. What was there left for him? Aiden was strong, had always come off that way, now it was horrible to watch him collapse like that. Remy tried to re-enter the cell, but Aiden still blocked him. "Aiden, let me 'elp you! Dammit!"

No good. He wasn't going to let anyone in. Gambit dropped his head down and growled. He was exhausted and in pain, he didn't have the patience for this. Karen put a hand on his shoulder. "Get some rest and try again later."

Remy snarled something incomprehensible and turned away from her, from his Siskans. He kept moving, turning his back to her and went down the hall, hobbling as fast as his damaged leg would allow, his head down and his shoulders slumped in fury.