Chapter 4 Back home
"Henri ya get da feelin' something bad's gonna happen tonight?" Jean-Luc asked as he stared out the window.
"Non not really, jus feelin' a bit anxious is all…" Henri sighed as he looked at his father then at the car following them which carried four well trained thieves to protect their leader just in case something bad happened, they were to meet Marius and his Assassins at Marshland road near the bridge at midnight, "Père?" Henri whispered.
"Hmm?"
"What ya gonna do ta this bastard when we find im?" Henri asked cautiously.
Jean-Luc sighed as he thought for a moment, "Well aftah I slam my fist in his face a few times he'll be dragged in front of da elders and have ta face de guild…"
Henri snorted, "Dat it?"
"For now…" Jean-Luc whispered as he spotted Marius and his Assassins.
Jean-Luc's driver parked the car and stepping out he waited until the other thieves approached then opened Jean-Luc's door. Jean-Luc stood up straight and walked towards Marius.
Marius chuckled as he greeted the thief, "Ya know for a conniving little prick he got taste…he livin' da high life being pampered at classy five star hotels…Was at Paris, then the states then Europe…tryin' ta keep a low profile right…"
"Yeah we got dose locations too, Italy, Paris again then Australia…" Jean-Luc sighed.
"Right…well looks like we lucked out…da little shit is stayin at da Grand Palace on Canal Street either he forgettin we be here or he's just a plain idiot…"
"Well I'm hopin on da latter…" Jean-Luc narrowed his eyes.
"So how do ya want ta go at dis?" Marius sighed leaning against the car.
"Is he dere now or is he sight seeing?"
"I got two men dere now dey keepin' an eye on him…"
"Let's go say hello, shall we?"
"Lead on homme…" Marius smirked.
XxXxX
Arriving at the hotel the clerk at the desk frowned a bit as he spotted sixteen men enter the classy hotel, six headed for the stairs while four stayed in the hall, and six men made their way to the elevator. Shrugging the clerk continued typing away at the computer making reservations left and right.
Marius watched as Jean-Luc and Henri stayed deftly silent, while Vincent eyed the two Assassins beside him standing behind their leader. "I take it ya doing what ya can ta keep calm Jean-Luc?" Marius spoke up.
"You walk in ya house ta find ya wife bleeding ta death and not get ya vengeance for nearly four year…see how calm you can be…" Jean-Luc answered plainly not even bothering to look at the man.
"So ya gonna beat da livin' hell out of da man or jus gonna throw im out da window…see if he can fly?" Marius asked curiously.
"Depends on how I'm feelin' when I set eyes on im…" Jean-Luc smirked, "An he ain't gonna fly without a noose 'round his neck…" he answered stepping out of the elevator.
"Père…" Henri whispered pulling him back by the arm.
"I'm alright…he'll get what's due ta him…I ain't gonna do nothing rash…'xcept hit him once…dat's all I ask…" he whispered looking to his eldest son who slowly nodded, Jean-Luc then looked to Marius who gave a tiny little smile.
Marius nodded at his men who were to keep watch on Grey, they nodded back and kicked open the door to the little prick's room, Assassin's as well as Thieves entered the room, while Marius and Jean-Luc stayed in the hall hearing the man yell out in a panic while the four men whom rushed in the room surrounded him, "Ya ready?" Marius asked.
"Absolutely…" Jean-Luc narrowed his eyes as he entered the room.
The two guild leaders entered the room to find Grey surrounded and desperately looking for a way out, "Grey, where ya been?" Marius asked.
"M-Marius what are you doing here…what's goin' on?"
"Lose something homme…" Jean-Luc asked showing the man the knife.
"You know I've been looking everywhere for that…" Grey smiled nervously. "Where'd you find it?"
"Underneath ma femme's dead body…"
"So dat's where she hid it…" he snorted.
"Why'd ya do it?" Henri asked his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Grey began shuffling his feet, "Well I didn't mean to…I wanted to wait for LeBeau ovah dere but ah…she saw me and well an Assassin doesn't get seen you know…" Grey chuckled nervously.
Henri took a few steps back, "Easy Henri…" Jean-Luc warned. "Questions first, violence later…"
"Wait…Marius you betrayin' da 'ssassins now in helpin' dese thieves…how pathetic is that?"
"I ain't betrayin no one, we be in a truce…an by da way, a true 'ssassin don kill unless dere be a good reason for it, an killin' a woman in her own home is not a good reason…"
Grey snorted at Marius' answer, he then looked to Jean-Luc whom slowly approached, "Ya know dat woman of yours had a fire in her…the way she fought back, she hurt me too when she took da knife from me but not before I slit her throat…And yo reaction was priceless…'Annie non…'" he repeated trying to imitate Jean-Luc's voice. "…and da way…"
Jean-Luc's eyes were in a word filled with rage as he reared back and slammed his fist in the man's face successfully shutting him up as he flew off his feet to land hard on the floor. Vincent grabbed his leader holding him back, "No more…" Jean-Luc growled taking slow deep breaths in trying to calm down.
Henri was breathing heavily as he tried to control himself as well. As Grey stood up massaging his jaw protesting a bit he looked to Jean-Luc, "Ya know ya be pathetic LeBeau…" he chuckled, "I mean come on she been dead for what four years now, get ovah it…" Henri's eyes narrowed as he spun kicked hitting Grey in the head sending him crashing in a coffee table.
Grey lifted his head and looked at everyone in the room, "Ya do know you will pay fo what you did right?" Marius spoke up as he kneeled down locking eyes with the man.
"Ya gonna have ta catch me first…" Grey hissed.
"Hn no where you go we can't find ya…" Vincent warned.
"Dat a fact?" Grey asked getting to his knees the slowly stood and backed up against the windows.
"Face it Grey you be caught…" Marius narrowed his eyes and told his men to grab him.
Grey chuckled, "Not today…" he answered and crashed through the windows falling down from the 42nd floor, Jean-Luc and Marius rushed to the window only to see Grey disappear in a puff of smoke then reappear on the street.
"Son of a bitch…" Marius hissed.
"He be a mutant…" Jean-Luc growled, as he watched the man run across the street to get into a cab.
XxXxX
Now suddenly fearing death from both guilds as he knew they would hunt him down Grey tried to figure out what to do, since he always became extremely tired after using his powers he knew he wouldn't have much of a chance to disappear, he needed leverage, looking out the window he chuckled as an evil thought made its way into his head.
Telling the cab driver to turn around Grey took slow deep breaths as he tried to figure out how to go through with this little ploy in his head wanting to get through this without getting stabbed.
"Alright here's good stop…" Grey told the driver, "Wait here…This won't take long…"
The driver quirked an eye as he watched the man sneak towards the house, "Now what da hell he doin'?"
After watching for several minutes the cab driver spotted the man rush out of the house with a screaming little girl, the man was then tackled to the ground.
Grey figured he'd try breaking into Marius' house grabbing the man's four year old daughter he yanked her to his chest and as he rushed out of the house he didn't expect the little girl's brother to be in the house, Julien's eyes narrowed as he ran after Grey, tackling him to the ground trying to get him to release his death grip on his sister, Grey fought back as he stood up, "Ya not takin' ma petite soeur ya pervert…" he hissed as he
rammed his elbow in the man's side. Grey dropped Bella and ran off in the night, Julien picked her up and held her tightly in his arms as he watched the man run towards a parked cab.
Seeing this the cab driver most definitely did not want to be part of a kidnapping and took off, leaving Grey without a mode of transportation.
Julien ran into the house and locked the door heading to the phone he dialed a number, Bella still crying in his arms.
XxXxX
Grey seeing that he had no other choice decided to try his luck at the Lebeau household he didn't want to die, not tonight anyway. After running for like ten minutes he climbed up the gate and quickly made his way to the front door kicking it open he hurried inside the LeBeau household, seeing Mattie on the stairs her eyes widened s she turned around Grey reached forward and pulled her down to fall several steps, he then rushed upstairs and searched the rooms. Opening a door an evil smirk crossed his lips as he quickly entered and since he was pressed for time he wrapped a blanket around the sleeping Remy and quickly left the house in a puff of smoke he successfully kidnapped the newest LeBeau in hopes to use the child as protection, and disappeared in the night.
"Non…oh non…" Tante cried as she crawled to the phone and called for help.
XxXxX
The thieves and Assassins were leaving the hotel at that moment Jean-Luc looked around trying to figure out what to do next his thoughts were broken when Marius answered his phone, "WHAT?" he yelled, "She alright?" he asked, "Non…take her to da safe house…wh…I DON' CARE JULIEN…JUS' DO IT…" he growled hanging up and looked to Jean-Luc. "Ya have a little one at home right?"
"What why?"
"Cause Grey jus tried ta take my Bella…" he hissed nearly breaking the phone in his hand.
Jean-Luc's eyes widened as he shook his head and quickly made his way to the cars, his fellow thieves and the Assassins followed the man, Marius sat beside Jean-Luc and frowned when the man's phone rang. Jean-Luc answered and his face immediately paled, "Calm down Tante…" Jean-Luc breathed then leaned forward getting the driver's attention, "Get me home now…" he hissed listening to the woman on the other line crying out in a panic.
"No way dis ain't happenin'…" Marius breathed as he could clearly hear the frantic woman on the other line.
Eight minutes later the cars screeched to a halt at the LeBeau residence, and Jean-Luc bolted out of the third car, Henri was the first inside.
When Jean-Luc entered his eyes widened when he spotted Mattie breathing heavily on the steps trying to get upstairs. "Upstairs…Da baby…" she cried, Jean-Luc rushed up the steps searching all the rooms, breaking nearly every piece of furniture in trying to find his son.
"Non, non, non, non…" he yelled.
Marius' eyes narrowed turning to his men, "Search da whole city if ya have to…find dat bastard…an LeBeau's son no harm comes ta him…GO NOW…" The Assassin ordered, this was ridiculous, one untrained idiot managed to harm an Assassin's daughter and kidnap a Master Thief's son. "Da rest of ya search the surroundings…find any clue as to where da bastard is heading…" Marius turned to Henri whom was helping Mattie to stand. "…and you, bettah see to ya père…"
Henri rushed upstairs to see his father standing next to Remy's bed the boy's favorite teddy bear in his hand apparently deep in thought, "Window's locked shut…Mattie didn't see him leave dis room…how'd he get out?" Henri asked.
"He's a mutant…" Jean-Luc answered bowing his head.
"Père ya gotta try and keep calm…we'll find im…" Henri whispered laying a hand on his arm.
"He already hurt Bella…god knows what he'll do ta Remy…" he whispered taking slow deep breaths in trying to calm himself.
"We'll find 'im…" Henri assured a tear rolling down his cheek.
XxXxX
After days of searching, Jean-Luc was beginning to lose it, before they knew it several months had passed Jean-Luc hardly left the house anymore he just sat on Remy's bed staring at nothing clutching the teddy bear in his hands, first the man took his wife away from him and now his son, Jean-Luc now always got lost in his thoughts he felt dead inside, Mattie tried to go on with her days although she would often sit at the table and cry, Henri tried to keep a brave face but usually failed miserably Mercy would often cradle him to her as he cried softly and Jean-Luc had to step down from being Guild leader…Fact is he didn't care anymore.
XxXxX
Two years had passed and still no Remy, Jean-Luc hadn't smiled since and he mostly kept to himself not talking to anyone, one day he suddenly had a craving for some coffee, without thinking about it he just stood up and started walking down the street he entered a Café and waited to be served at his usual table he just stared at the table until the waitress lightly touched his shoulder he looked up and ordered a black coffee with two sugars, Jean-Luc sat there for over an hour not even touching his coffee, the waitress was about to go to him to ask if something was wrong but François the owner of the Café quickly stopped her, explaining that he had lost his son two years ago and had taken it very hard. François sighed as he looked back to the man and told the waitress that whenever he came in here to just let him be.
Jean-Luc slowly snapped out of his reverie, looking around he looked at the cold cup of coffee and placed a few bills on the table and left the Café taking a few steps he stopped and took a several deep breaths, the antidepressant he was on was starting to wear off, Jean-Luc continued to walk down the street amongst the crowd, his eyes narrowed as he felt a hand where it shouldn't be turning he quickly grasped the little pickpocket's hand and frowned as the little boy he held yelled out for him to let him go.
Jean-Luc nearly dragged the little boy beside the nearest building, "Let me go…" he growled.
"Don tink so petite…" Jean-Luc sighed holding onto him with a firm grip, the boy froze now scared out of his mind, "Well apparently ya picked da wrong pocket ta try an steal from eh…" Jean-Luc snorted as he pinched the bridge of his nose, hearing the boy try his best to not cry, Jean-Luc frowned a bit suddenly realizing where he was this alley was the one where he had found Remy as a baby, looking down as he felt a jerk he sighed, "I ain't gonna hurt ya petite…" he whispered, "Ya hungry?" he asked seeming not to care for the boy's answer.
The boy began to tremble even more, sighing Jean-Luc knelt down and looked at the child his eyes widened as he saw those familiar red on black eyes stare back at him in fear, "Remy…" he whispered lifting a shaky hand to rest against the boy's cheek.
Remy flinched as he stared back at those familiar brown eyes, and wondered how this man knew his name, he couldn't think about that right now he had to get away before the pervert decided he wanted a piece of him. Seeing his chance Remy broke free from the man's grasp only to be dragged back towards him, no way in hell Jean-Luc was going to let him go now. Remy began to scream and fight back, Jean-Luc held him tightly the boy's back to his father's chest, "NON…LET GO…" Remy cried not wanting to be taken by this man.
"I'm not letting ya go petite, I lost ya once I ain't losing you again…don't ya remember I be yo père…" Jean-Luc breathed in the boy's ear, as he sat them on the floor. "Don' ya remember Tante an Henri?" he asked Remy only struggled even more crying out Jean-Luc could feel the tears roll down the boy's cheek to land on his own seeing that the boy didn't believe him he quickly took out his wallet and showed the struggling boy the picture of him, "LOOK…" Jean-Luc pleaded. Remy gasped as he stopped struggling and stared at the picture, it looked well worn as Jean-Luc always took it out to look at it.
"Dat's me…" the boy whispered staring at the picture he was actually smiling in it and was being held in the air by the man that held him right now.
"Some sick bastard took ya from me two years ago…" Jean-Luc explained trying very hard to not start crying, but failing miserably. "You're my son…you're my son…" he whispered holding onto him for dear life, "Please don' run away from me Remy, I can't keep living without ya in my life…" he whispered.
Remy tore his eyes away from the picture and looked up at the man holding him, he could feel how sad and happy he was, "Nevah stopped lookin' fo ya…" he breathed as he turned the boy in his embrace, "What happen to ya where you been?" Jean-Luc couldn't help it as the tears started to fall freely from his eyes.
Remy stared at the face of the man before him and frowned a bit as he began to remember this man, he slowly lifted his hand to his face and laid it on his father's cheek, "Papa?" he whispered.
Jean-Luc pulled him forward as he hugged him tightly, Remy did the same as a flood of memories came to mind. "Mon Dieu…" Jean-Luc whispered having a hard time believing that his son was in his arms again, Jean-Luc stood up with the boy in his arms and took a deep breath leaning his head back he looked at Remy, "Ya really here I ain't dreamin?" He asked a flow of tears ran down his cheeks.
Remy sniffled and pinched him in the arm, Jean-Luc chuckled as he pulled Remy back to him in a crushing hug happy at the pain he felt on his arm at the moment, "Let's get ya home…" he whispered walking out of the alley.
Remy looked behind his father noticing a woman smiling at him giving him a small wave, she seemed awfully familiar with those blue eyes of hers and golden brown hair, she seemed to be floating on air Remy blinked a few times and whispered a single word, "Maman?" which made his father stop.
"What ya say petite?" Jean-Luc asked looking at Remy again.
Remy looked at his father then back at the woman whom had disappeared, then rubbed at his eyes, Jean-Luc frowned a bit and turned around looking in the alley seeing nothing he took a breath and walked into the street hailing a cab he refused to release his son even after arriving home.
The next day Remy slowly opened his eyes finding out that he was in a big comfy bed blinking a few times he remembered that this was his father's room, he turned to his right to find Tante sitting at the top of the bed running her fingers through his hair, leaning down she kissed the top of his head and hugged him tightly feeling something shaking his foot he looked down at the foot of the bed to see Henri lying on his stomach a huge smile on his lips, turning to his left he found his father sleeping soundly beside him holding onto his hand, "Even in sleep he wouldn't let ya go mon ange…" Mattie whispered kissing him again.
XxXxX
Several weeks later Alex arrives to give the youngest LeBeau his usual check up, walking up to Jean-Luc whom was watching Remy play with Henri and Lapin outside, he sighed, "How's he doin'?" Alex asked sitting beside him on one of the deck chairs.
"Still won' talk about what he's been through…"
"Well he was abused Jean…might be painful ta tink about it non?"
That said Jean-Luc groaned and closed his eyes trying to take slow deep breaths, the thought of some bastard touching Remy in that way, he quickly shook his head when Alex laid a hand on his shoulder, "He's home, he's safe…and he's healthy…" he assured.
"All he needs from all of ya is ya love and comfort…He'll talk when he's ready…" Alex explained, "So how you holdin' up?" he asked with a small smile.
"Drinkin' less…sleepin' a little more…" he whispered. "HEY HENRI CAREFUL WIT REMY EH…"
"I am being careful…" Henri yelled back and huffed as Remy pounced on him.
Alex couldn't help but chuckle, "Relax Jean, he jus got a small break on his arm, it'll heal alright…" Alex sighed, "Ya stopped takin' da antidepressants?"
"Remy's back home…nothin ta be depressed about…I just hope…" he smirked, "One day I find dat Grey bastard and give him all dat pain he gave to my boy…" he drawled.
"It's not our way Jean-Luc…" Alex reminded.
"He just six years old…" Jean-Luc seemed to be dazed for a moment, then blinked and smirked looking to Alex, "I know it's not our way to kill anyone…I'd nevah do something like dat, I'd just lock 'im up somewhere…forget about 'im…and let nature take it's course…heh but dat's only me talking crazy forget about it, mon dieu I be tired…" he groaned then chuckled as Lapin and Remy tackled Henri to the ground yet again.
That night Jean-Luc led a sleepy Remy up to his room, at the moment the little six year old refused to sleep in his old bed and would always run into his father's room at night, a result from the numerous nightmares he always had. Jean-Luc had given up in trying to put his little boy to sleep in his own room and so allowed his son to sleep in the same bed as him. Helping him get dressed in his pajamas Jean-Luc frowned at the small cuts and old wounds on his little boy's back, chest and arms. Jean-Luc took a breath and headed for the bed pulling back the covers while Remy went to brush his teeth. Entering his room again and looking at the bed Remy frowned a bit, then looked around the room, "Papa?" Remy whispered holding his hands to his chest.
Jean-Luc turned from the bed with a tiny smile, "What's da matter petite?" Remy said nothing as he ran to his father and hugged his leg, "Remy?" Jean-Luc picked him up in his arms feeling him shaking, "Remy?" he asked again fearing for his son.
"Don' wanna be alone…" the six year old whispered clutching to his father.
Jean-Luc closed his eyes as this happened every single night, taking a deep breath Jean-Luc held his son tightly, grabbing a blanket he sat on the rocking chair, and covered them both. "Shshshshshsh…" Jean-Luc whispered as he heard Remy begin to whimper. "It's alright Remy I have ya an I ain't letting ya go…" he breathed rubbing the boy's back and kissing the top of his head as he began humming a tune and rocked his son to sleep, silently cursing out Grey.
Not knowing that Grey was at the moment trapped in a lab being experimented on by one Nathaniel Essex, after kidnapping Remy and finding out that the boy was a mutant he tried to sell the kid with no such luck and was stuck with the boy, it was extremely hard laying low with a four year old brat whom continuously cried for his family. One day as the little boy wouldn't keep quiet Grey backhanded him and locked him in the roach infested motel they were staying at, grabbing his belongings he left and never came back. When Remy awoke he was so scared that he hid under the bed and fell asleep.
After that Remy usually blocked out his memories as he had been found by an evil looking man whom touched the little boy whenever he wanted and forced him to do what he wanted like steal from tourists and such, if Remy didn't do as he was told he wouldn't be fed or he'd be beaten.
Jean-Luc still didn't know these facts but would take his time and not rush Remy to answer those horrid questions he had in his mind, instead he would comfort his little one.
They'd have a long talk later but not now, right now Jean-Luc LeBeau rocked his son assuring him that he was now safe from all harm as he did every night. Right now father tried to help his son deal with the pain he felt mentally as well as physically every time he closed his eyes.
Right now father told his son that he loved him and always would, and with those whispered words Remy LeBeau slowly closed his eyes and slept soundly with no nightmares to haunt him, as he knew his father's arms would be wrapped around him protectively and that he would stand guard and chase those awful memories away Remy knew he would be there when he woke up.
The End…