X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Forty Three

Author's Word: Hi, guys! Thanks so much for the last round of reviews. This week has been busy but not stressful. In fact, I've rather enjoyed it. I've also loved having the downtime to work on this story of mine. Here's hoping you guys enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed this week. As always, feedback is love and thanks to the new people who added this to alerts.

Adorned in khaki shorts and a white polo, Charles walked along the edge of the shore. He enjoyed the feeling of the cool water patting against his bare feet. He did not resist or become moved by a thinner hand slipping into his own. Charles gave a squeeze to the appendage and continued walking, accompanied this time.

"So where are you going tonight?"

"It's Brother Night," Charles replied. "Erik and I will probably unwind at a tavern."

Emma put her sunglasses on. "With lovely women as far as the eye can see I take it."

"I wouldn't know." Charles stopped walking to cup her chin. "A powerful force has blinded my view entirely." She gave him a soft smile. "Will you be fine in my absence?"

"To pieces I plan to fall," she replied sardonically. "You should probably stay in."

"Now you sound like my eight-year-old." Charles lingered a moment before at last pulling away. "I must go."

Emma looked on as he floated off among the lights. "I'll be here when you return."

Charles opened his eyes, back in his office again. He reclined in his rolling chair, letting off an at ease breath.

IIIIIII

Coming down the stairs, Erik spotted the forlorn curly headed creature and took a moment to sit close beside her on the bottom step.

"Stop frowning that way." He pinched one of her round cheeks. "You'll have wrinkles before your time."

"Erik." She hid a smile as she tried to bat his hand away.

The metal wielder moved to squat in front of her now. "You don't want me to go out tonight?" She shook her head. "We've left before without any problems from you."

"That's when you leave me with Hank and Raven," Becky told him. "But they're gone tonight, too."

"Which is what Alex and Sean are here for," Erik pointed out. "And as acting lady of the house, I expect you to help them as much as you can."

Becky smiled at the term. "Lady of the house?"

"At eleven years old? Absolutely."

"Can I use the stove by myself?"

"Absolutely," he said again then promptly tacked on, "not." He took her hands, kissing the fingers on each. "But be patient with the boys. They may not be Hank, but they'd do anything for you."

"Yeah," Becky nodded admittedly.

"Erik." Both heads looked up at Charles' voice. "Ready to go then?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Erik started to rise then gently pulled out Becky's left wrist to get a better look at something. "Where did you get this bracelet?" He carefully touched the white emblem with the tip of his finger.

"One of my friends," Becky answered quickly. "It's a late birthday gift."

"Those little dance girls have extravagant tastes," Erik observed.

"We should be going," Charles mentioned, going towards the front entrance.

"Yes, yes." Erik stood then called out, "Alex, Sean, we're leaving!"

Alex walked up from the back of the house. "You really shouldn't yell in the house like that."

"We'll be back by ten," Erik reminded him.

"No ice cream for dinner or extended bedtimes," Charles said, getting his coat on. "Make sure you look over Joey's homework."

"Always do," Alex assured.

"Our communicators will be on if you need us in a hurry." Erik patted Alex's shoulder then bent down to kiss the very top of Becky's head. "Behave."

"And have fun," Charles added before the men finally took their leave.

IIIIIII

Sean howled out in agony as something sharply metallic penetrated his skin. He slid from underneath the BMW, clutching his hand.

Lost in the pain, he did not notice Alex approaching. "Didn't I tell you to wait until I got down here?"

"I was just checking the problem area," Sean insisted.

"You're the problem area." The blonde walked over to the garage's workbench, getting the small first-aid kit out of a drawer. "How do you own a car yet have no clue how to take care of it?"

"I know a few things," Sean said. "But we always used mechanics back home."

"There's your problem." Alex knelt near him, getting out some salve. "Let me see."

Sean held his hand out and allowed the older teen to start cleaning it. To his surprise, Alex had a fairly gentle approach. He finished off by wrapping the hand in thick bandaging.

Once the small wound was taken care of, Sean started passing Alex necessary tools. "Where'd you learn how to do all this, anyway?"
"When you jump from place to place, only thing you get for keeps are the memories," Alex answered, head buried in the hood of the car. "Pliers." Sean gave him the requested instrument. "And my dad taught me a few things."

The first thing out of Sean's mouth was, "You have a dad?" He immediately regretted the blunt question. "I mean- I know you have— you, uh, came from somewhere. I just never exactly…" He held up another tool. "Why do they call it a monkey wrench?"

Alex looked over. "Okay first, that's a socket wrench. Second, yeah, I had a dad. He was a pilot, but he knew pretty much everything about any machine you could name." He noticed how uncomfortable the other boy appeared next. "It's okay to ask what happened."

"Always thought you'd kick my butt if I dared," Sean admitted, sitting up against the front tire of his car.

Lowering beside him, Alex said, "I know I haven't been an open book."

Sean shrugged with a small smirk. "Typical Erik kid."

Alex laughed softly before his eyes turned serious. "We were in a plane crash. For reasons that make no sense, I was the only one who made it."

Absorbing the story, Sean responded, "If that ever happened to me, they'd have to mop me up off the floor. You're really strong, dude."

"Bull," Alex denied. "Just lucky— good or bad, haven't figured it out yet." He hopped up, returning to the car.

"Hey," Sean spoke up after lingering for a moment. "For whatever it's worth, it's been good luck for me."

Something shown on Alex's face before he shook his head. "Next time you try to play with this car without me, I'm gonna beat you with the socket wrench."

Sean turned away before Alex could see the wide smile that he formed next.

IIIIIII

With spectator eyes locked, Erik sent out another dart. Once again, the miniature metallic arrow made dead center contact with the board.

"He never loses," one man remarked, getting the agreed upon ten dollars out of his pocket.

Charles half-watched the game out of the corner of his eye, stirring his small glass of scotch.

A thin honey haired woman slipped away from the small crowd and took up a bar stool beside Charles. "He is incredible."

"He is my brother," the Professor said in turn.

"Awfully lousy of him to leave you over here like this," she smiled. "Want me to keep you company for a while?'

Charles declined with a simple, "I'm fine, thank you."

The dejected woman walked off as Erik came over, taking his seat. He laid a wad of bills on the counter before Charles.

The younger man shook his head. "Why did you take those gents' money?"

"Because they're gullible and drunk enough that if I don't take it, it'll surely fall into cleavage before the night's over." Erik gathered the money in his hands again picking his beer back up. "That must have been the fourth bird I've seen you shoot down since we got here. Little distracted tonight, Lab Rat?"

"I'm afraid my interest in this particular scene is not what it once was," Charles told him.

Erik offered, "Play you a game of darts?"

Charles gave him a knowing stare. "Erik, you're a miserable cheater."

Smirking, the metal wielder countered, "It's not cheating when one possesses the natural ability."

IIIIIII

Ivory teddy bear in hold, Becky entered the living room. At the sounds coming from the television, she quickly noticed Joey. The glowing eyed tot lay across the carpet in front of the moving picture box.

"Uncle Charles is gonna get you about being on the floor," Becky brought up.

Joey's bare feet dangled in the air. "I know, but it's easier to see this way. Don't tell, okay?"

"Don't worry. I won't." Becky sat nearby on the couch to play with Sweetie Imp.

A minute later, Frank came through and flicked the dial to a fencing tournament.

"Hey!" Joey sat up with a scowl. "I was watchin' that."

Frank flopped down on the couch. "Well, now we're watchin' this." When Joey made a move to change it, the older boy threatened, "Do it and I'll slug you one."

"Cut it out," Becky chimed up. "You know Joey was watching first."

"Well, I want to catch the tournament," Frank stated importantly. "Besides, sword fighting is way more far out than Tom and Jerry."

Feeling his anger unusually building, Joey poured his concentration into shutting off the TV.

"Quit it!" Frank erupted. "Turn that back on, now."

Not speaking, Joey folded his arms in defiance.

Getting to his feet, Frank sent his arms out. He shoved Joey down onto his back.

Becky's mouth formed a circle at the display. "I'm telling." She pressed the button on her wrist communicator. "Alex, Sean!"

"Fink!" Frank accused.

"I don't care," Becky shot back at him, going to see about Joey.

Finished with the BMW, Alex and Sean had moved on to the kitchen for sodas. At the call to their communicators, the pair took off for the living room.

"What happened?" Sean asked while Alex went to see about Joey.

"He pushed Joey," Becky said while Frank replied, "He was using his powers to keep the TV off."

Alex commented on the second part. "What? Joe," he held the child up, "you know you can't do that. It's dangerous."

Joey tried to explain, "He wouldn't let me watch my show and I was here first."

"That doesn't matter right now," Alex said grimly. He stood him up. "I think you need to go to your room for a while."

The eight-year-old's blue eyes seemed to shatter at that. He wordlessly ran out.

Alex yanked Frank over by the wrist. "You had no business putting your hands on him. He's younger and smaller than you. I should lay into you."

"I'll tell Erik," Frank sneered.

Getting into his face, Alex countered, "If Erik was here right now you'd be howling to the moon. I can't believe you'd just pick on a little kid like Joey like that."

"Sure, take his side!"

Sean grabbed Frank's hand. "Okay, time-out. We're going for a ride in the car."

"I don't want to go for a ride," Frank huffed.

When they got out into the hall, Sean swatted Frank firmly for resisting so much. "Knock it off. It's just me. We're going. Get your coat on."

Frank kept frowning but complied.

After both boys had proper winter apparel on, they headed down to the garage. Sean loaded them into his BMW. He did not drive too far off; just a mile or so out into the woods. They moved to the backseat for more space.

"Tell me what that was all about, buddy." Sean took off his gloves.

Frank shrugged. "He got on my nerves. He always gets what he wants, anyway."

"That's not excuse enough for you to push around someone smaller than you," Sean reasoned. "Especially if Joey didn't hit you first."

"Now you're with him, too?"

Sean stated, "I'm not against you and I never could be. But I love Joey, too and you were wrong, pal. Alex was right. If Erik had seen that, you would've been dead meat. Not to mention what Charles would have said."

"I know," Frank sighed and he certainly did. "I wasn't trying to hurt him, man."

"Oh, I know that," Sean assured. "You're a good guy, Frank-O. Even if you lost it a little tonight." He made a twisting motion with his pointer finger. "Turn around and hold onto the headrest."

Looking confused, Frank followed along with the random directions. Sean scooted over closer to him then connected another swat with his behind with an additional quickly following.

"Ow!" Frank tried to move. "What're you doing?"

"BBS," Sean reminded him. "I warned you." He pressed a hand to his back. "Quit fidgeting or I'll hold you down."

"Ow, Seanie!" Frank wiggled his feet to compensate for the no fidgeting.

Sean maintained a firm grip as he gave him eight more swats over his jeans.

He then used his arms to pull Frank over and clutch tightly. "Mad at me?"

"Yeah," came the childish response. He cuddled into the teen's coat. "You're not 'sposed to do that to me."

"Oh, you wish," Sean smirked. "You're my buddy and all around cool guy, but I don't want you to be a bully. I can't stand bullies."

Frank nodded his agreement. He did not really feel anger towards him. Something he knew for certain was Sean always being there for him, even when Frank fell short of himself.

"Ready to go home?" Sean asked after a moment.

"Uh uh." Frank shifted slightly but did not move otherwise.

Sean smiled, enjoying the feeling of being so personally wanted.

IIIIIII

After a quick knock, Alex stepped inside Becky's room. "Is Joey in here with you?"

Becky did not turn attention from her tea party as she answered, "No."

Alex grew immediately suspicious. "You know where he is, don't you?"

"I know a lot of things," she said evenly but meaningfully."

He groaned in exasperation. "Becky, I am not in the mood for this. Joey's not in his room and I can't find him anywhere. Now, tell me where he is."

"No," the girl refused. "I wouldn't tell him on like he wouldn't tell on me. Little kids have to stick together."

Kneeling, Alex got in front of her small tea table to look at her closer. "Becky, I'm all for keeping my word. But I'm about you guys being safe ten times more. Please, babe. I'm really worried here. Just tell me where he is."

Becky locked eyes with him for a few seconds before finally confessing, "The wine cellar."

Without a moment's delay, Alex shot up and hurried downstairs. He opened the large thick door to the cellar and journeyed down the few steps. There he found the missing person sitting on the stone floor between two shelves of liquor.

"Joe." Alex practically fell over, going to him. "There you are. Man, kid." He lifted him into his arms. "If I wasn't so glad to see you, I'd choke you."

Joey rubbed one of Alex's shoulders. "I didn't think you'd even look for me."

Alex stared at him disbelievingly then knocked lightly on his head. "Is this thing on? Of course I came looking for you. I would've torn this entire state apart to find you." He started carrying him up, putting a hand to the child's toes. "Look at you. It's freezing down here and you don't even have socks on. You could've caught your death down here."

"You sound like Daddy," Joey noted with a smile. At the look Alex gave him next, his lips narrowed into a straight line.

The two stayed quiet until Alex brought them up to Joey's room. He sat in the middle of the bed with the younger blonde in his lap.

"Why did you disobey my order?" Alex wrapped a blanket around the electrified mutant to warm him. "I told you to come in here, not the wine cellar. You know not to go down there, anyway."

"Because you took his side instead of mine," Joey told him. "You made me feel bad."

"I didn't take his side," Alex said. "I sent you to your room because I wanted to talk to you after I chewed Frank's ears off."

"What did I do to make you so mad?" the little boy wanted to know.

"Joe," Alex started carefully, "you can never use your powers on an electronic like that. With powers like ours, you shouldn't be using them at the drop of a hat, anyway. We could hurt somebody, really bad."

Joey's breathing hitched a little with that. "I don't want to hurt anybody." His voice carried a lace of fear.

Alex gave him a hug. "I know you don't, not intentionally. That's why you need to be careful." He intertwined hands with him. "Do you know why I smack your hand sometimes?"

"To make me stop being bad," Joey answered in his own words.

"True, but I go after your hands for a reason." Alex squeezed the appendage in question. "You remember the first time we met?"

"Yeah." Joey smiled at the recollection. "I fell on my butt."

Alex gave off a smile of his own. "Do you remember what we agreed to do that day?" He held up their joined hands for emphasis. "I'll hang onto you and you'll hang onto me."

"That way neither one of us gets lost," Joey completed.

"Right," Alex nodded. "If you take off from me like that, Joe, then I can't hang onto you." He rubbed the back of Joey's hand. "And if I can't hang onto you, I could lose you. If that ever happened, baby, I couldn't do anything anymore."

Joey took his hand back and used both to hug him around the neck. "I'm sorry, Alex. I'll never let you go again."

"Dam- You bet you won't," Alex said with venom as he hugged him back in an iron grip. "Lay over my lap."

Joey almost jumped at the new command. He felt his little heartbeat intensify along with his eyes welling up but did not dare defy another order from his older brother. He stretched out across the teenager's legs with his bottom facing upward.

Adjusting the child as if he were an item made of the most precious porcelain, Alex started to raise his hand but paused it mid-air. After all, he had snapped at Joey earlier, which made him run off to begin with. Not to mention the fact that Joey was such a sweet little kid who stuck with Alex like glue. How could he beat the baby? Maybe a good slap on the hand would be better.

Then the images came into Alex's mind like a relentless film. He smelled the smoke, saw the fire, and felt the small body slip away from his own before everything went to a cold blackness. No, he decided. Not again. This was his second chance. He would not lose Joey, too.

Shaking his head to clear it, Alex at last brought his hand down over the tiny behind.

Joey cried as he received his spanking, mostly upset that he had angered Alex so badly. His heart had hurt horribly when he thought Alex chose Frank's side over his but this whole thing felt even worse.

Hearing the cries, Alex stopped at ten strikes. He had Joey up and safe in his arms again faster than an eye's blink. Alex kissed each of his watery cheeks as he tried to console the younger mutant with everything he had to offer.

"It's done, baby," Alex soothed into his ear. "Al's all done, okay? Okay?"

Joey picked up on the voice break on the last word and peered up, stunned to see traces of water leaving Alex's eyes.

"Don't cry, Al." He sat up on his knees to wipe the older boy's tears. "I won't be bad with my powers or leave you anymore. I promise."

"It's not that." Alex used his sleeves to rub his eyes clean, mad that he had been wimp enough to cry in front of Joey. "I hurt you…"

Joey took his face with his hands. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm sorry. I deserved a spanking. I was so bad."

"My baby brother is not bad," Alex said seriously, laying his hands over Joey's gently. "You're the reason my heart's still beating. What's bad about that?" He kissed his forehead.

Joey smiled and pressed his ear to Alex's chest to listen for a moment. "Hear that, Scottie?" He picked up the dog plush, putting one of the floppy ears to Alex's chest as well. "It's our favorite sound."

Getting an idea, Alex put forth, "Hey, Scottie needs a spanking, too. He's supposed to watch you for me."

"Yeah," Joey agreed, handing the dog over.

Alex took it and started slapping the stuffed bottom. "Bad Scottie. You keep better tabs on Joe from now on."

"You have to hug him now," Joey reminded him.

Complying, Alex gave the toy a strong squeeze. "There we go. That's better." He wrapped his free arm around Joey. "I think it's time for your bath. Then we'll grab Becky and get some ice cream, okay?"

"Okay," Joey grinned.

They blonde duo linked hands together tightly as they headed out for the bathroom.

IIIIIII

When Charles did not come back for nearly ten minutes, Erik made his way out to the parking lot. He saw the Professor sitting on the hood of their car, gazing upward towards the quarter moon.

Erik came over, holding out the now thicker wad of cash. "For your thoughts."

"As if I need anymore." Charles looked from the money to the man. "I was just wondering about the children. A part of me senses negativity in the night yet an overall calm."

"Sounds like our kids," Erik nodded before sitting beside him. "I've wanted to talk to you, Lab Rat. Raven's told me about your headaches and she's concerned. Then there's how far away you've seemed of late. Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

Feeling the words ready to formulate on his lips, Charles told him instead, "I'm afraid I've been neglecting sleep again, with all the vigor of the new semester."

"Charles," Erik sighed, giving him a pointed expression, "you know what I'm going to say."

"Yes, I know," Charles said. "But neither you nor Raven needs to worry. I believe the headaches have dissipated. Being out this evening helped a great deal. Thank you for that, brother."

"Spending time with you?" Erik shrugged. "No need for thanks there, brother. But if you ever need to talk, about anything, don't hesitate to pull me to the side."

"I won't." Charles reached over to give him a little hug then tried to bury the ping of guilt he felt next.

IIIIIII

Once the adults returned home, Alex did a few weights in the gym then took a quick shower.

He finished dressing for bed just as a knock came to his door. "Enter if you must."

Charles stepped in. "I just peeked in on Joey. He was asleep on his back so I take it you weren't terribly hard on him." He saw Alex's muscles tense as he got into bed. Charles walked over, touching the teenager's hair delicately. "But you're still being hard on yourself."

"I held him down until he cried, Charles," Alex spoke softly, disbelief evident in his tone. "I'm supposed to protect him. I screwed up and I took it out on him."

"Alexander." Charles took a seat so that he directly faced the young man. "Do you remember when Joey first came into our lives and I would spank him whenever he became emotionally unstable? You hated me for it at the time. Now, you hate yourself."

"I never hated you," Alex said.

"No, but you still disapproved of it," Charles brought up. "But now you understand why Erik and I take the time to punish all of you, yes?"

"Yes," he admitted.

"As an instructor, you are going to run into these situations. Discipline must be maintained in addition to affections."

Alex ran a tired hand through his hair then released a breath. "I never knew it would be this hard. Maybe I'm not cut out for this."

Charles placed a hand on his knee. "If you found it simplistic, then I would say you are not cut out for this." He gave him a one-armed hug. "You're going to soar to great heights, young man."

Managing a smile, Alex laid back. Charles placed the blanket over him and wished him a good night.

When he made it back to the master suite, the telepath knelt before his fireplace and closed his eyes.

"How was your night?"

Charles found himself back on the beach with Emma facing him. "Nothing short of… absolute boredom."

She smirked. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Liar," he accused.

"Takes one to know one, sugar," the woman countered purposely, taking hold of his arm as they began to walk.

Charles gave her an annoyed look. "And your night?"

"Pleasant enough I suppose." She flicked a pebble with her toe. "If you look past the mind that never turns off."

"We will work through this, Emma," Charles promised her. "One way or another. We'll tear down these demons."

The sun overhead radiated her smile. "Ready when you are, Professor."