6
She returned with the other four mutants. They all sprung into action. AJ ripped up some spare bed sheets using her teeth as quickly as she could. She cursed at her shaking hands.
Rogue held a medical kit that Kitty insisted on bringing everywhere. Now she knew why.
Logan took it from her, ripping it open and digging through its contents, drowning one of the scraps of sheet in rubbing alcohol.
Bobby froze up some cups of water as Kitty quickly wrapped them in pillow cases. He had a fever that had to be broken as soon as possible.
Gambit put his hand on AJ's as she continued to try to tear sheets.
"Relax chère." He whispered, helping her tear the sheet in two. "Y'safe now."
She nodded reluctantly.
Kitty took the pillow case full of ice and stomped on it to crush its contents. She banged it up against the wall a few times before tying up the end and holding it against his head.
Gambit cut Pyro's shirt up the middle, AJ carefully pulling it off, wincing at the wound located on the right side of his chest.
Logan dabbed the sheet doused in alcohol on the wound, causing Pyro's limp body to tense up. He grabbed AJ's arm and squeezed his eyes shut. AJ soothed him lightly, running her hand through his hair as she reassured him that everything was going to be alright.
After Logan had dressed Pyro's wound, the young man had passed out. He'd finally stopped bleeding once Kitty picked the bullet out with a pair of tweezers.
Now they were just trying to make him comfortable while he recovered.
AJ sat in the dimly lit room, watching Pyro sleep, carefully. She felt responsible. There was no way around it. She should have acted faster. She should have shouted something or pulled him down out of the way. AJ shook her head bitterly, sitting back in the chair she'd pulled up next to his bed.
"Don't beat yourself up kid."
She looked up at Logan who was stretched out on the loveseat across from her. She suddenly felt awkward. She'd managed to sneak out the other day before Logan woke up, hoping she wouldn't run into him again for another year. But no such luck.
She scratched her head and shrugged. "Beat myself up about what?"
He gave her a knowing look.
She pressed her lips together forming a small frown "Thank you. For… helping us. I know you don't-"
"Hey. What was I gunna do, slam the door in yer face?" He lay on his back, propping his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
"The thing is… the cops were there. Logan, they might be looking for us."
"Might be?" He scoffed.
"Look…" She shook her head "As soon as the sun rises… we're outta here."
"Yer not goin' anywhere." He shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling. "With him in this condition… we're better off taking him to the institute."
"No!" AJ frowned "Are you kidding me! They're looking for us… if they catch the others… you don't think they'll give us up? And where's the first place they'd look?"
He pressed his lips together. She was right.
"I promise… as soon as he's well, we'll be out of your hair."
"Look kid, you must have taken a blow to the head if you really think I'm lettin' you try t'run alone." He turned his head to look at her "You're our responsibility now."
The next morning, Logan had convinced AJ that she should still go to work that day, until they figured out a definite plan; just incase they were onto her.
She reluctantly agreed. Gambit volunteered to go along with her as a quick escape; just incase they came to get her.
Logan nodded "Half the day. They may catch on if yer there all the time…"
Gambit rubbed his chin, looking at Rogue with a smile "Yeah… an' all dem belle femmes have trouble keepin' dey hands off Remy."
AJ knelt by Pyro's bed, giving him a small smile as his head rolled towards her to look at her.
"Hey. These girls are gunna stay here t'take care of you. Alright?"
He smiled, his eyes drifting over to Kitty and Rogue "Fine by me doll. Just don't hold Pyro responsible… leavin' me alone with two lovely ladies…"
"I'm sure you can restrain yourself." She winked, standing to her feet as she followed the two men out.
Gambit sauntered out of the restaurant, giving Logan a smirk. "Yo' turn mon amie." He said as they passed one another.
He took a seat at the bar, ordering himself a drink. If he was going to be there, he might as well have a drink.
He lit up a cigar and took a puff, as he turned around on his bar stool. A bunch of people had gathered around the stage at the centre of the restaurant.
AJ set a beer down on a coaster next to him with a smile, leaning on the bar.
"Thanks."
She shrugged; her eyes wandering over to the stage as she watched one of her co-workers step out with a smile. She began to sing 'Diamonds are a girls best friend' dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Logan turned back towards AJ.
"What's goin' on?"
AJ smiled "It's the weekend. They have shows here all day on the weekend."
"Shows?"
She raised her eyebrows with a nod "Shows baby."
"It's not even busy." He took another puff of his cigar and she shrugged.
"It's steady. Besides… it's good practice for the girls."
"You ever do that?"
She snorted "Not anymore. Not unless someone had a gun against my head."
He smiled as she took a sip of his beer, giving him a wink.
"Hey!" She shouted at someone behind him, pointing menacingly with an evil stare. Whoever it was and whatever it was they were doing, they'd obviously stopped because she turned her attention back to him with a smile.
The silence hung awkwardly between them. It was the first time they were alone since the 'incident' the other night. AJ had woken up before him and snuck out sheepishly. The last thing she wanted was to talk about it. She felt like an idiot.
The smile fell from her expression as she looked past him once again.
Her eyes shifted back to him. "Shit." She shook her head "Be discreet… three o'clock…"
He glanced over his shoulder. A few menacing looking men in suits spoke to the hostess in hushed tones. He recognized one of the men; the business man she'd left with.
She spun around and headed into the back. Logan took a sip of his beer as he spun around on the stool, half watching the young woman sing on the stage and half watching the menacing looking men. It was obvious they were looking for AJ. He noticed Gambit saunter through the entrance, taking a seat not far away from him. He could tell too.
The young woman finished her song, giving the crowd a dramatic curtsy.
The stage lights went down as the small crowds' cheers subsided.
The next act was about to start. Logan looked back over his shoulder. AJ wouldn't have run; would she?
"Y'had plenty money nineteen… twenty two…" The bass started plucking along to the song slowly followed by the piano as the slender young woman stepped out from behind the curtain; she wore a red sequined dress with a dangerously high slit up the left side and long purple gloves. The look seemed oddly familiar...
"Y'let other women make a fool of you. Why dontcha do right, like some other men do…" She stepped down the glassy stage slowly, her one eye covered by long red locks, the other looking seductively out at the crowd. "Get outta here… give me some money too…"
She sang to one of the burly men with a small pout. No one else would have been able to pick it up, but she looked nervous. He silently wondered to himself if it was her first time as he looked over his shoulder again. Logan sat up slightly.
It couldn't be. His eyes darted over to Gambit who was simply grinning, his hands propped up behind his head as he watched the woman slink down the steps. Then realization set in and the grin slid off his face.
"Well y'sittin' here a wondrin' what it's all about… if y'ain't got no money they may, put you out. Why dontcha do right… like some other men… do." She weaved through the crowd, stopping at Gambit's table. He wouldn't make eye contact with her. She bent over slightly and lifted his chin, singing to him with a smile. "Get outta here… give me some money too."
She stared at him, her eyes darting over to the front door, silently telling him to leave.
"Now if you had prepared twenty… years ago… y'wouldn't be a wonderin' now from… door t'door…" She sauntered over to Logan, running a hand along his leg as she walked by, her eyes bore into him before she smirked slightly. "Why dontcha do right… like some other men do."
She moved along, stepping back up onto the stage "Get outta here… give me some money too… Why dontcha do right…." She paused dramatically, leaning against the brass pole in the centre of the stage, lifting her gloved hand above her head. "Like some other men..." She pouted as she ran her gloved hand down her small frame, hugging every curve seductively, raising an eyebrow. "Dooooooo….."
She stepped back though the curtain as the crowd started cheering. He grumbled to himself as he stood up and slapped some cash down on the bar.
His eyes darted back to Gambit. He was gone.
A young woman tapped Logan on the shoulder. "She's askin' for you." Her eyes were wide. "I think it's important."
He nodded, following the young woman into the back.
"What is going on Adiah?" the young woman said as AJ came into view. "You're not supposed to be on stage! Lacy's gunna be pissed!"
"Good." AJ shook her head as she pulled her gloves off "Carry-Anne listen t'me. There's some men out there lookin' for me. Stall them."
She shook her head firmly with a frown "What is-"
"Please!" AJ took her by the shoulders, her long red wig still covering half her face. "I can't explain… just… please trust me."
Carry-Anne looked at Logan, squaring her jaw before nodding. "Alright."
"Thank you." AJ gave her a hug. "Take care. I don't think I'll be back."
She nodded with a frown before AJ took Logan's hand and pulled him along with her, her normal clothes held under her arm as she tried to walk as fast as possible in the tight red sequined dress.
"But the costume! It belongs to-"
"Take it out of my paychek!" She shouted over her shoulder.
AJ pulledLogan out the back door. Gambit had the van waiting.
When they climbed in, AJ shouted for him to go.
Logan looked out the back window giving his head a shake "I knew it wasn't a good idea for you t'come…"
She rolled her eyes, pulling the red wig off and running her hand through her hair. "I wasn't expecting to be pursued by someone other then the police.
"What did you expect? You were blowin' up their buildings!"
She pulled her jeans on up underneath her dress before unzipping the back and pulling it off over her head with little difficulty despite the cramped space.
"Y'look like y'done dat before chère." Gambit grinned, looking at her through the rearview mirror, raising his eyebrows at her bright pink bra. AJ gasped and pointed at the street.
A horn blasted through the air. Gambits eyes darted back to the street in front of him, jerking the wheel back to the left just in time to avoid head on collision with an on coming car.
Logan smacked the back of his head "Pay attention."
AJ shook her head as she held up her shirt, flipping it right side out. "What are we gunna do?"
Logan frowned "Get the others. We'll figure it out then." He glanced at her as she pulled her shirt back on.
She mussed up her hair and sat back, doing up her seat belt as she looked at him.
"I'm sorry I got you guys into this…"
"No time for that kid." Logan grunted.
She opened her mouth to say something else before her head snapped forward. "Left!" She shouted.
Gambit slammed on the breaks, jerking the wheel to the left, narrowly missing a black SUV that tore out in front of them. Its break lights shone suddenly causing Gambit to slam the breaks again.
Logan held AJ back so she didn't hit the seat in front of her. A frown formed on his face.
"You need to lose them Gumbo."
"Dat's easy fo'you t'say… you ain' drivin' a mini van." He squared his jaw, slamming on the gas to pass the SUV.
AJ cursed. The driver was the business man from the other night. She cursed again as she unbuckled her seatbelt, climbing into the front.
"Alright… listen. I'm gunna switch with you."
"What!" Gambit looked at her, trying to keep his eyes on the road. "Y'want me t'pull over… right now."
"No. We don't have to stop."
Logan shook his head, about to say something when AJ held up her hand.
"I'm a good driver. I can do it."
"Famous last words from une femme."
AJ cuffed him upside the head.
"Would you two stop doin' dat!" He whined.
"Okay, keep the wheel straight… keep your foot on the gas." She said as she crawled onto his lap "Keep your foot on the gas!"
"Ah am!" He shouted back.
He slid upwards, managing to pull away from her without disturbing her driving.
"Damn. Remy done a lot o'things in a car… never done dat." He said as he flopped down in the seat next to her.
She focused intensely on the road, ignoring his comment. She threaded her way through traffic, slamming on the breaks as she took a hard right, onto the freeway.
The SUV slammed on its breaks but it was too late, they'd missed the exit. A sickening crunch blasted through the air as the car behind the black SUV crashed into them.
Gambit smacked the dashboard with a smile. "Dat's m'girl!"
She smiled, relaxing a little as they drove on the freeway, rounding their way off and heading towards the hotel.
Hahaha... I just have to point this out... no one else by Jess will get it so bear with me for a moment. The part when Remy whines "Would you two stop doing that?" Totally reminded me of "Omega green..." ? LOL! I could so see him saything that... "C'mon guys! Knock it offfffuh!" lol