Chapter 3
A few days later Alexandre was again summoned to the LeBeau household to give Remy his usual check-up, knowing how the boy hated hospitals from his last experience, Alexandre gave Remy a warm smile as he kneeled in front of the boy, taking his pulse and checking his joints, as well as his wounds. "Alright now here comes the annoying part..." Alexandre huffed as he took out a stethoscope and grinned at Remy's reaction.
Remy leaned back, "What so annoyin' bout listening to my heart?" he asked curiously as he looked at Jean-Luc for reassurance as he sat beside him.
"It's annoying cause no matter how much ya breathe on the end ta warm it up...it always stays cold..." he chuckled as he asked Remy to lift his shirt, Remy hesitantly lifted it as Alexandre listened to his heart telling the boy to breathe deeply. Alex growled a bit as he glanced over at the scars that adorned the six-year-old's chest, sides and back. Jean-Luc had told him of what the boy must have gone through while living on the streets. Alexandre looked to Jean-Luc who turned Remy to him.
"Alright come 'ere Remy..." Jean-Luc coaxed Remy to sit on his lap, "Now ya listen carefully alright, Alex needs ta take a little blood from ya...ta make sure you're alright..." Remy looked up, horror could be seen in his eyes as he shook his head, no. "Ey...it not gonna hurt if ya don' look at it…" Jean-Luc assured as he gently grasped Remy's head locking eyes with the boy and started to tell him a story or something, anything to keep his mind from the needle that would soon be sticking him. "Ey ya evah hear da story of da witch and da clever thief?" he asked, Remy quickly shook his head. Since Remy was now occupied Alex took the opportunity to lift Remy's sleeve and clean the boy's arm, as he inserted the needle Remy winced as he suddenly looked down, Jean-Luc pulled the boy to him rocking him gently as he kissed his forehead, "Ya alright Remy...Alex almost done..." he whispered.
When everything was over and done with Jean-Luc stood and held Remy in his arms walking in the kitchen. Remy kept his face hidden in Jean-Luc's shirt, though Remy didn't cry out, a few tears had managed to slip through.
The five-year-old definitely deserved a treat. While looking through the cabinets Jean-Luc grinned when he found what he was looking for, microwave, a few graham wafers, Hershey bars and marshmallows...yum. Setting the found treats on the counter Jean-Luc gently rubbed Remy's back, "Shhshhshhshh..." he tried to comfort his soon to be son, when Remy seemed to calm a bit, Jean-Luc sat him on the counter. Remy had his hands on his lap and looked at his feet, Jean-Luc smirked as he started to unwrapped the chocolate bars. Remy looked at what the man was doing with a hint of curiosity, now totally forgetting that he had just been stuck with a needle.
Alex leaned against the doorframe a smile on his face as he slowly entered the kitchen and bent down to get Remy to look at him, "So am I forgiven?" he asked feeling bad that he had to get a blood sample from the kid. Remy quirked an eye at the man then shrugged while Jean-Luc chuckled as he handed Remy the treat whom took it with a smile. "Careful it's a bit hot…" Jean-Luc warned and smirked when Remy blew on the treat.
XxXxX
A few days later Henri had arrived home early and after building a fort and playing for awhile he and Remy sat on the couch watching cartoons. Henri chuckled as he looked at his new brother he was so into the cartoon he hardly blinked, hearing the laugh Remy turned to the sound, "What?"
"Oh nothin' jus nevah seen anyone's eyes glued to da tv like dat befo'" he smirked as he started tickling the boy, Remy giggled and swatted at his hands stopping when Remy was breathing deeply, "Ya wanna snack?" he asked Remy hid a yawn and nodded. When Henri arrived back Remy was fast asleep on the couch. Setting the food down on the coffee table seeing how late it was Henri gently picked Remy up leaning him against his shoulder. Rubbing his back when the boy started to fuss from being moved Henri made his way upstairs and tucked Remy in his bed.
An hour later Jean-Luc entered his home, putting his things away he glanced into the living room, "Where's Remy?" he asked.
"Fast asleep..." Henri chuckled.
Jean-Luc grinned, "He behavin' himself?"
"Aheh describe da word behave?" Henri smirked.
Jean-Luc sighed, "Nevah mind..." he chuckled as he headed for his office.
That night at a little after one in the morning Jean-Luc was in his bedroom preparing for bed, putting the book he was reading beside his bed, he stood to close the open window in his room, when he turned he heard a little whimper in the hall and went to his door, slowly opening it he saw Remy leaning against the railing wrapped in his blanket his eyes wide in fear, Jean-Luc knelt beside him. "Ya okay Remy?" he whispered. Remy looked around shivering, and flinched when Jean-Luc rested his hand on the boy's cheek, "Had another nightmare?" he asked. Remy nodded his head, as Jean-Luc picked him up and headed for the boy's room, Remy cried out as he looked in his room. Jean-Luc turned on the light, Remy hid his face in the man's shoulder, and started crying. "What's da matter?"
"There be monsters in dat room..." Remy whispered.
"Well I highly doubt dat...let's go take a look alright?" Jean-Luc slowly entered the room, with Remy still in his arms he checked the closet and under the bed, "See nothin' there petite..." he assured the boy who was clutching his robe, walking over to the desk he turned on the lamp, then turned off the light and sat in the rocking chair, covering up the boy completely with the blanket Jean-Luc ran his hand up and down his back in trying to calm him.
XxXxX
A few months had passed and finally the splint was off his wrist. Remy was chasing a frog in the back yard, "Get back here…" he growled.
"Remy…can ya come in here?" Tante called out.
Remy sighed as he watched the frog disappear through a hole in the fence, "I'll get you next time…" he vowed then turned to enter the house.
"Can ya do me a big favor?" Tante smiled leaning down her hands on her knees, looking at Remy's eyes. "Can ya go and bring this basket to Mrs.Blake next door, for me?" Remy smiled and nodded his head, grasping the basket filled with jams and jellies.
As Remy walked up the driveway after making his little delivery, Tante gave him a wave as she spotted him through the kitchen window, Remy grinned as he started playing around his father's car, hearing Tante call out to him again from the kitchen window to get ready for supper he rested his hand on the car to help him stand for some weird reason the car suddenly started to glow, looking at it now extremely confused Remy wondered what had happened, having a bad feeling Remy slowly backed away his hands at his chest and ran into the house hearing a huge boom that rocked the house, Remy froze on the steps that led upstairs, Tante rushed out in the hall and nearly ripped the door off it's hinges as she looked outside the car was in flames, "REMY..." she yelled out taking a few steps outside.
Remy just stared out at what was left of the car, which wasn't much, "I'm..." Remy whimpered knowing he was going to be in trouble, hearing the small voice behind her.
Tante turned breathing a sigh of relief and ran to the boy crushing his body into a hug, muttering nonsense as she eyed him over for any injuries. "Oh thank da lord..." she whispered hugging him again, then stood and went to the phone to call the fire department.
Remy rushed upstairs and into his room. "Papa's gonna be mad I know it..." Remy thought as he climbed out of the window, not noticing the dark clouds floating above the house he carefully made his way to ground level and winced when he heard sirens approach Remy ran through the backyard climbed a tree and jumped down into the neighbors yard.
Mattie fearing an attack from the Assassins called Jean-Luc and told him about the car. Jean-Luc as well as six Guild members rushed over to the LeBeau residence, "Ya alright Tante?" he asked grabbing the woman by the shoulders. "Where's Remy?"
"Yes...he's upstairs...I don't know what happened Remy was just playing outside, then I heard an explosion, thankfully Remy had entered da house before dat car went off..." Jean-Luc gave the woman a hug, thankful that she hadn't been hurt then quickly made his way upstairs, the guild members were busy checking around the house and yard for any Assassins, Mattie frowned when she could hear Jean-Luc rushing from one room to another, "Jean?" she called out holding onto the banister.
"Remy's not up here..." he bolted down the stairs and headed to the back-yard, looking around as it started to drizzle rain, "REMY..." he called out but received no response, entering the house again he met with two of his men.
"There's no one else in or out of the house...except for the firemen and a few cops..."
"My son's missing I want him found..." he ground out as he left the room.
Mattie described Remy to the men who nodded and took to the streets in search of the boy.
XxXxX
Remy was walking in the city his arms wrapped around his frame in trying to keep warm his clothes were damp and he had a headache. Hearing sirens he bolted into an alley and hid beside a few garbage bins, he suddenly started to cry he was so scared he didn't know what was going on he didn't know why the car had blown up but he knew that he was going to be blamed for it, wiping away his tears he looked at his surroundings and recognized where he was, slowly standing he crawled through a hole in the wall and entered the nearest abandoned building which used to be his old home.
Even though Jean-Luc didn't show it he was in a panic, Henri and a group of ten were looking in the swamps that were behind the house while three dozen guild members were searching in the city, four hours had passed, and the rain was now pouring down, not being able to take anymore Jean-Luc stood and taking Henri's car left for the city. "Come on Remy tell me where you at..." he whispered as he stopped the car at a red light, glancing out the window he smirked when he noticed that this was the place where he had found the boy, a thought suddenly popped in his head, quickly finding a spot to park he rushed into the alley and looked around, going on a hunch he climbed on top of the wall and looked at the condemned building and rushed into it.
Looking around he held his breath as he listened and searched the rooms, wincing as the steps creaked and seemed to move beneath his feet, slowly making his way to the third floor, he entered a room and released the breath he still held. "Remy..." Jean-Luc had tears in his eyes as he quickly made his way to his little boy, he was so glad that he was safe.
Lying on his side on an old mattress, Remy's head shot up when he heard his name, "Papa?" he whispered.
"Ah…why did ya run off like that you have any idea how worried we were when we couldn't find ya..." he breathed. Remy sat up and hugged his knees to his chest hiding his face in his arms and started to cry softly. Jean-Luc slowly sat down beside him he wrapped his arm around his shoulder coaxing the boy to him, "Remy I'm not mad at you...come 'ere..." he whispered pulling him to sit in his lap resting his chin on top of his head, "Why did you run away?" he asked calmly.
"I kn-ew ya we-re gon-na be mad...I didn't m-ean ta ma-ke the ca-r cat-ch fire..." he cried softly.
Jean-Luc frowned, "What do ya mean?" he gently grasped his son's head and made Remy look up.
"I don't kn-ow what happ-ened I was ju-st playi-ng and wh-en I sto-od up the car was glo-win' so I wen-t inta da house and it bl-ew up..."
Jean-Luc was a bit speechless and thought to try and calm his son first before asking his questions on how on earth that could happen, "Remy I don't care about da car...I was so scared when you disappeared like that, thought someone had taken you..." he whispered hugging him tightly and kissing the top of his head. Pulling him back to look him over "Are you all right?" he asked.
Remy slowly nodded but refused to look in his father's eyes, "Come 'ere..." Jean-Luc hugged him again, "Please...don't evah run off like that again..." feeling his damp clothes Jean-Luc kneeled sitting Remy on the mattress and took off his coat wrapping it around his son, zipping it closed he kissed Remy on the forehead and gave a small smile, "Come on let's go home hun...Tante gonna start yellin' if we don' get home..." he smirked and stood holding out his hand. Remy smiled and nodded his head, wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of the jacket and grasped his father's hand following him as he slowly led him out of the room, as they were about to go through the door, the floor collapsed from beneath them and both father and son fell two stories down, as they started to fall Jean-Luc yanked Remy to his chest, then everything went black.
Jean-Luc lazily opened his eyes and groaned at the headache he had, "Oh what happened?" he mumbled as he slowly rolled to his side and winced his left arm was definitely broken, blood trickled down his forehead, he was covered in cuts, and bruises, finally realizing where he was Jean-Luc gasped, "Oh non...Remy..." he quickly looked around, "REMY..." he called out, coughing and spitting out blood Jean-Luc slowly got on his knees, then heard a small whimper behind him. "...Remy..." he whispered and crawled to the boy's side looking him over. Remy was in pretty bad shape, he had a chunk of metal pipe sticking out of his right shoulder, he was covered in sweat, and had a hard time breathing. Jean-Luc had tears in his eyes, "Don' ya worry petite..." he whispered as he reached for his cell phone within his jacket pocket careful not to move Remy too much and shackingly dialed 911.
After about ten minutes, Jean-Luc was running his hand through Remy's hair to try and keep him calm, Remy had opened his eyes a few times, but quickly closed them at the sudden pain he felt all over his body. "Shhh ya gonna be all right petite just try and stay awake okay?" Remy moaned and coughed out a little Jean-Luc held his breath when he suddenly heard someone calling out to them.
" 'ello, anyone here?" Yelling out Jean-Luc quickly got their attention. Six firemen leading two paramedics, quickly but carefully made their way to the two. "What happened?" a firemen asked as he cleared a path.
"My boy ran off...We fell straight through...He's badly hurt..." Jean-Luc breathed out.
Arriving at the hospital Remy was immediately rushed into the emergency room Jean-Luc had called Henri telling his son to meet him at the hospital and to get Alexandre there now, wanting him to care for Remy. Tante was now desperately trying to stay calm in the waiting room, Henri had called off the search for Remy and was now by his father's side, Jean-Luc only had a broken left arm and a few bruised ribs, "Where da hell is Alexandre?" he growled as he sat up from his bed a pillow underneath his broken arm.
Mattie huffed as she entered the room, "It's been ovah an hour...ya tink they'd send out someone ta tell us about da chile..." she hissed as she started to pace the room.
At that moment Alex rushed in the room. "What happened ya alright?"
"Da hell with me go find out 'bout Remy..." Jean-Luc ordered, Alex nodded and rushed up to the emergency room, Jean-Luc then leaned back in his bed taking a deep breath in trying to calm himself. Trying very hard to be hopeful, he didn't know what he'd do if he'd lose Remy...he'd probably go insane...
A doctor entered the room to set Jean-Luc's arm in a cast, "Alright Mr.LeBeau this shouldn't take too long…" the doctor answered as he gently lifted the man's arm, Jean-Luc was hardly paying attention he just kept looking at the door for Alex to arrive with news.
XxXxX
Alex fully dressed in surgical scrubs was brought into Remy's room by a nurse as a surgeon operated on the boy, one of the nurses informed him of the minor complications that Remy had went through, "So he should be alright?" he asked as he slowly walked to the bed, making sure he stayed out of the way. The surgeon looked up and assured Alex that the boy would live. Breathing a sigh of relief Alex thanked the staff and left the room to inform Jean-Luc.
Half an hour had passed after Alex had left the room, Jean-Luc nearly bolted out of bed when Alex entered the room, "He'll be alright Jean-Luc…he lost a lot of blood but he's stable…now I suggest ya try and get a little sleep…ya look like hell…he should be out of surgery within the next hour."
Jean-Luc plopped back down on the bed, extremely relieved, "Told ya he's a tough one père…" Henri smiled as he leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair, he could hardly wait to see his little brother.
Two hours had passed and Remy was slowly starting to come around, frowning in his sleep he slowly turned his head, opening his eyes not recognizing where he was he started to whimper as he felt pain in his shoulder. "Papa…" he whispered, looking around spotting a nurse in the room.
"It's okay honey you're alright…" she gave a warm smile and laid a gentle hand on his arm. Remy shook his head and started crying softly. "Shhshhhshhh…don't cry sweetie…"
"Papa…" Remy looked around again. The nurse looked at Remy's chart noticing the little scribble next to Remy's name informing anyone looking at the chart that Remy's father was to be notified the moment his son had woken up, picking up a phone on the wall the nurse called the desk.
After hearing the call on the intercom Alex, who was in the cafeteria with Henri rushed into Remy's room, when he opened the door Remy was struggling against the nurse and screaming, "Hey, hey, hey petit frère calm down?" Alex and Henri rushed to his side.
"Pa-pa…I want pa-pa…" Remy cried.
"Alright, alright…" Henri sat beside Remy and hugged him close, Alex dragged the nurse out the door with him, "Alex gonna go get him just calm down okay?" Henri whispered.
"K…" Remy whimpered as Henri gently started rocking him.
"Sir I need ta stay with that boy…" the nurse protested.
"Wait five minutes until I get his père, dat boy's afraid of nurses and doctors…" the nurse quirked an eyebrow not believing the man, "I'm not kidding…five minutes please…" sighing the nurse nodded her head and waited by the door. The nurse gave a smile several minutes later when Alex arrived pushing a bruised up man in a wheel chair followed by a woman. The nurse held the door open for them then entered the room.
Seeing his father with the cast Remy immediately started crying thinking that this was all his fault. Seeing this Alex quickly parked the chair and helped Jean-Luc stand Henri moved off the bed a hand still on his brother as his father a hand across his ribs sat beside Remy and carefully wrapped his arms around his youngest son, leaning back on the bed on his right side with Remy in his arms, Jean-Luc kissed his forehead then rested his chin on top of the boy's head, "Shhshshshh don't cry petite…I'm here don't cry…" he whispered in the boy's ear rubbing his back.
Remy slowly started to calm down and began breathing normally, the nurse noticed how much the child grasped desperately at his father. Resting his head against his father's chest Remy slowly started to nod off, Mattie smiled as she covered the two with a blanket and kissed Remy on the cheek. "Mwa…" she smiled "Ya okay Remy?" she whispered, giving him another kiss.
"Mhmm…" Remy yawned and rubbed at his eyes, trying to get comfortable, the nurse quirked an eyebrow at Alex.
"He's calm alright, relax jeez…"
A few days later the same nurse entered Remy's room and smiled at the sight Jean-Luc was sitting on the bed, Remy beside him reading aloud from an old book.
XxXxX
A week had passed and the LeBeau's were resting comfortably at home, Remy slowly made his way upstairs into his father's room, opening the door he peeked inside, Jean-Luc was still in bed reading a newspaper, lifting his head he gave a small smile. As Remy slowly walked to the foot of the bed and looked at his father "Causing mischief again petite?" he asked with a chuckle and gestured him to come around the side of the bed. "Come 'ere…" he smirked, Remy slowly did as his father asked and awkwardly climbed on the bed crawling to his side.
Jean-Luc covered him with the blanket, "Feelin' better today?" he asked with a smirk as he ran his fingers through Remy's hair and hugged him close.
"Oui…" Remy answered drowsily.
"At least one of us is…" Jean-Luc chuckled as he rubbed his rib again, then looked down at his son who was slowly closing his eyes, he'd been with them for almost three months and already they were extremely protective of the six-year-old, one little scare because of his mutant powers and they had nearly lost him. Jean-Luc frowned a bit as he gently shook the boy. "Remy…now I want ya ta listen ta me fo a minute alright?" Remy looked up, "I got ya attention now?" Remy bit his bottom lip and nodded, "I want ya ta promise me…dat you'll nevah run off like dat again…if something goes wrong or if something happens ya come ta me, Tante or Henri ya understand me?" Remy looked down for a moment unsure of what to say, Jean-Luc tilted his head up, "Ey…I'm ya père now…ain't gonna throw you out in da street an I ain't gonna stop lovin ya…now promise me dat you won't run off evah again…"
"I promise…" Remy whispered.
Jean-Luc smirked as he leaned down and kissed his son on top of his head, "Good now I can quit worryin'…" he quipped and made himself comfortable as he hugged Remy close.
XxXxX
A full year later Jean-Luc sighed as he spotted his little one up a tree, releasing a tiny sigh of relief he took out his cell and called Henri his eldest son, "Henri…call everyone off, I found 'im…" he sighed, "Oui he be alright…aheh we be in da middle of da swamps… alright…be home shortly…" he answered hanging up. "Mon dieu I be getting' too old for dis…" he chuckled as he climbed the tree, that Remy was apparently sitting in settling himself beside his little boy, "Remy ya made me a promise remember…what ya doin' up here?" he asked.
Remy being the shy little thief only shrugged as he swung his legs back and forth his eyes looking down at nothing in particular.
Jean-Luc sighed, "Ya know da swamps be dangerous non…a little boy like you can very easily get hurt out here…" he continued, Jean-Luc quirked an eye as Remy refused to speak up, "What's da matter petite somethin' happen at school?"
Remy shook his head no, "Get in a fight wit Lapin?" again Remy shook his head no, "Someone try ta hurt you?"
Remy again shook his head no, Jean-Luc sighed as he undid his ponytail and ran his fingers through his shoulder length hair and retied it, "Remy ya have ta tell ya père somethin' he runnin' out of ideas…" he smirked when Remy gave a small smile, "What's da matter?"
Remy looked up, "Nothin' I was just sittin' up here thinkin'."
"You were…" Jean-Luc sputtered closing his eyes for a moment, "Remy mon dieu ya have any idea how worried we were dat we couldn't find ya…we been lookin' for ya for over an hour…" Remy just looked at him with those usual innocent eyes, "What ya can't think at home?"
Remy only shrugged, "I just went for a walk papa…"
"A walk…alright den, I wanna see ya climb down dis here tree and walk all da way back home…" he ordered gently grasping his chin, "…and you are not to run off like dis again ya hear me?"
"But papa…"
"No buts…ya scared da hell out of me…"
Remy looked at his father a bit confused, "Why were ya scared papa?"
Jean-Luc chuckled softly, "Why…cause I come home ta find ya missin…no idea where ya are, could be lost, taken god forbid hurt…you not livin on dose cursed streets no more Remy…ya have a family carin' for ya now…" Remy frowned as he looked away, "It'd break my heart if anyting were ta evah happen to ya…" he breathed running his hand through Remy's short hair and brought him close kissing his forehead, "Come on let's go get da screamin ovah wit…"
Remy quickly looked up, "What screamin'?"
Jean-Luc smirked, "Ya know Tante ain't gonna be happy dat ya left and made her worry…" he whispered.
Hearing this Remy's eyes widened, "Ooohh…can't we stay here 'til she calm down?" he asked hopefully.
Jean-Luc chuckled softly and shook his head no, "It'd only make her worry more it's bettah ta let her fuss ovah ya 'til she knows you safe and sound den calm down on her own." Remy sighed as he began to squirm, Jean-Luc grinned trying to hold back his laughter as he started to climb down, "Come on it's bettah it happen now rather den later…"
"But you not da one dat gonna get yelled at…Remy don't like getting yelled at…" he whined as he followed his father down the tree with a tiny frown.
"Well dis teach you a lesson non…nevah leave home without telling us…besides I been yelled at by Tante plenty times petite…ya got da advantage trust me…"
"'vantage…what 'vantage?"
Jean-Luc smirked as he grasped Remy around the waist and set him down on the ground, "Advantage…" he corrected, "Cause ya cute like a bug's ear and ya her little angel…she can't stay mad at ya for long." he chuckled nudging him forward, "Ey what were ya tinking 'bout up dere anyway?"
"Stuff…" Remy sighed.
"Stuff…what kind of stuff?"
"Why's Henri leavin'?" he asked looking up.
Jean-Luc chuckled softly, "Is dat what's bothering ya…Remy, Henri be getting married he only movin' down a few blocks…he loves ya as much as I do he always gonna be ya big brother…" he explained holding out his hand.
Remy sighed as he grasped it and followed his father home.
XxXxX
A few weeks later,
"Quit fidgeting…" Henri smirked as he adjusted the tie on the seven year olds neck.
"Why I gotta wear dis stupid thing it itches…" the boy complained.
"Ya wear it so ya can charm da little girls that's why…" Henri chuckled.
Remy looked at him oddly then grinned as he started playing with his brother's tie, Henri looked down, "What is it crooked?"
"Non…but ya head is…" Remy grinned.
"Why you…come ere…" Henri grabbed his little brother and threw him over his shoulder as he squealed.
"You two fighting again?" they heard a familiar voice.
Henri grinned as he heard Remy laugh, "Ello papa…"
Jean-Luc smirked at the sight, "What he do now?"
"Said I had a crooked head…" he grinned.
Jean-Luc chuckled, "Come on time ta go everyone's ready…" he drawled, "Ya nervous?" he asked his eldest as he took Remy off his hands and sat his boy on his hip.
"Me…nervous nah…I be terrified…" he snorted.
"What ya scared about, ya just stand dere and say I do…" Henri couldn't help but laugh.
"Come ere…" Jean-Luc chuckled as he hugged his son with his right arm, "I love ya and ya make me proud…" he smiled kissing Henri's cheek.
"And I'm being squished…" Remy pouted squirming in his father's arms, Jean-Luc smiled as he put him down, grasping his hand he then led him into the church to sit next to Tante.
At the reception Remy ran around with the other kids, Mercy had an evil grin on her lips as she rushed over to the boys and snatching Remy in her arms, "Hello Remy…" she laughed.
Remy grinned as he squirmed in her embrace, " 'ello Mercy…"
"Ya wanna dance wit ya sister in law?" she asked.
"Non…" Remy smirked.
"Non?" Mercy laughed, "Alright den if not a dance den how bout a kiss…" she asked.
"Nuh-uh…" Remy tried to get free but alas it was too late as Mercy leaned down and placed a tiny kiss to the boy's cheek and hugged him tightly.