A/N: Arg!! I am so upset. Why? Because my dad wiped the computer my story was on so 6 hours of typing went out the window. Half this chapter gone, not to mention another one I was working on!!! Cry I was so pissed off I played Sands of Time straight through on hard, 'cause that what I do when I'm mad, beat the shit out of video game characters. And while trying to come up with a way to calm me down I started thinking how could I have mad this chapter better then it was before? Well in my experience I probably made it worse. I need a hug. Or you could write really nice reviews and I'd call it even. Come on do that one little favour for me. I'll be your best friend. (I could use a new one...or another)
Disclaimer: I don't own anythin' but the idea. But really if I did x-men evo would still be one TV on Saturday mornings. Stupid YTV. But I can say one thing; I did make up most of the locations named so you can give me a bit of the credit.
Chapter 12: Clock Tick
(Day before the wedding)
Julien's lip curled up into a vice grin as he looked over his handy work. The newly sharpened hand knife he held in his hand violently flashed from the reflection of the sun coming in through the large windows behind him. He passed the knife from hand to hand testing the weight. Satisfied he wrapped it in an old rag and tucked it away in a near by desk drawer. Julien sat back in his chair and smiled to himself.
"Julien!" Came a shrill whine from out in the hall. The heavy wooden door was thrown open and Belladonna came storming in, the usual sulking expression on her face. Julien sighed and rolled his eyes, the thought of, 'Oh god, kill me now,' running through his head.
"What is it now?" He asked, not that he gave a damn. She didn't answer right away, which knowing her temper was never a good thing.
"What's wrong?" She repeated in a forced whisper. Belle breathed in shapely through clenched teeth.
"Well, Julien," Her voice honey sweet. "Beside the fact that Remy's been moping around the past couple of days and it hurts me so deeply to see him like this, and to know that he's in love with someone else, well that I can over look 'cause hey, he's mine now nothing she can do right? …Wrong, she's all he ever thinks about, all he dreams about, all he CARES ABOUT. I'VE THROWN MY SELF AT HIM AND THEN SOME SCRAWNY LITTLE BIMBO JUST WALTZES IN AND THINKS THAT SHE CAN TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME? I know all women love my Remy and I can forgive some messing around but when that messing around interferes with my planes, then it's personal."
"And what exactly are you planning on doing about this?" Julien asked, seeing an opportunity for some of his type of fun. Belle smiled wickedly.
"Tomorrow night I my wedding to Remy, so until then I want to know where he is at all times. You know, make sure he doesn't go anywhere again, so I want New Orleans to be crawling with Assassins for the next 48 hours to make sure he stays put."
Julien rolled his eyes getting out of his set and headed for the door.
"Oh Julien dear one more thing, just in case that little bitch tries to be heroic and comes here to find Remy…" Belle paused seeing the look of 'joy' in her brother's eyes. "Kill her."
"Consider it done." He said with a sadistic smile and left. Belle stood alone for a moment, hands on her hips, smile on her face. She giggled to herself before fallowing out the door.
---
It had taken all night and a good portion of the morning for Logan to fly to two of them all the way to New Orleans in the X-Jet and by noon they sat silently on a bench at a corner bus stop. Logan sighed, leaning for ward resting his elbows on his knees.
"Logan?" Rogue said meekly. Logan looked over to her. She was hugging her legs to her body and looked as if she was on the verge of crying.
"Yeah Stripes?"
"Will we find Remy?"
Logan looked away, a part of him wished they could never find the Cajun that stole Rogue's heart from him but deep down he knew how this would end. They'd find Gambit and take him back to the institute and Rogue would finally be happy and if she were happy he'd be happy.
"Yeah...yeah we'll find him."
"Thanks." Rogue said sweetly. He looked back up at her, she was so beautiful, so strong and independent, and yet there was a fragile, soft side to her that made him want to shelter and protect her from the world. She curled her feet under her and he took in her radiance. The way her hair curling down past her shoulders, her curvy frame, the way her clothes held to her body just right, She had changed into a long sleeve dark green shirt and pin stripped pants, her dark make up hiding the sparkle of unshed tears in her eyes, she was perfect even the lightly sunburned nose seemed flawless to him. Logan forced himself to look away, shoving his thoughts to the beck of his mind.
" Logan?"
"Uhm?"
"You ok?"
"Just fine." He stood up and looked into her helpless eyes. "Come one lets go."
Rogue got up and fallowed Logan down the street.
"Any idea where we're going to look?" She asked.
"I don't have a damn clue."
"Great."
---
The sun was high, the air hot and muggy, dark clouds gathered off in the distance. Remy sat perched on top of the porch railing, the warm breeze blowing his shaggy uncombed hair back off his face. He played with an unlit cigarette between his thumb and middle finger. The world appeared blank. He sat staring out at nothing; he was like a vacant shell missing a soul. This whole thing seemed unreal some how, fictional, like one big bad dream you can't wake up from. Remy hated his whole predicament. It was like god was punishing him for some past sin. Just getting up and leaving was out of the question. It hadn't stopped him last time but this was different. Stay and be miserable but alive, or leave and be hunted and alone. Options, there was always an escape; he just needed to find one. Remy shock his head. 'It's hopeless.' He told himself. 'Just sit back and let it all play out as it's meant too.'
Remy was so distracted with his own thoughts he hadn't heard the front door open behind him or the foot steps coming up on his left. He was brought back to reality by a slap on the back. His brother Henri leaned on the railing next to him and raised an eyebrow. Remy looked about out at the sky and sighed deeply.
"What?" Remy asked rather rudely but he couldn't care less.
"Watch duty." He answered not taking particular notice at Remy's mood.
"Watch duty?"
"Yeah, I have to 'watch' you." Remy rolled his eyes and looked down at his brother from his perch.
"I don't need to be guarded."
"Guarded? Ha! Until that damn wedding I'm your fucking babysitter." Henri exclaimed in annoyance.
"And why is that?"
"Apparently people think your going to run again."
"I have no need to run."
"Maybe but you still want to."
"No shit!"
Henri looked out at the sky, "Looks like rain." Remy didn't respond. He sat staring out over the yard quietly.
"You know, I am sorry Remy."
"What for?"
Henri crossed his arms. "Well for start I was the one to drag you back, I was the one that ratted you out in the first place and I should be the one telling you to run now."
"I'm not going to run any more. If this is what my life has to be like, fine."
"You don't mean that."
"No, I don't. I love the family and this place but…I don't love Belle and I don't want to go through with this."
"Who would?" The question lingered between the two for a few minutes.
"So Remy you have a choice, you can stay, or leave."
"I told you already, I'm staying."
Henri nodded and turned to go back inside. He paused at the door. "Remy, the old man wanted me to tell you that you're confined to the grounds." 'Not that you've ever listened to him before.' The door closed and Remy was once again alone. He sighed and jumped down off the railing, his boots making a solid clunk on the wood. Taking one last look out at the horizon and his apparent last look of freedom he turned to go inside.
---
It was going on six and they've had no luck so far. Rogue slumped down in her chair and fiddled with her water glass. They had stopped off at ever bar and store Remy might ever step foot in to ask about there missing friend, nothing. Here was no different. They had asked the bartender but it was always the same story, 'haven't seen him in a good couple years.' Story was he had always come around, then just stopped, probably around the same time he had run away.
Logan sat across from Rogue and drained his beer.
"This is hopeless." Rogue stated sullenly.
"It's only been a couple hours, he'll turn up at some point."
"Maybe I was wrong, maybe he didn't come back here, or maybe he's far away and doesn't want to be found."
"Aw are you looking for someone darlin'?" Rogue looked to see a fairly pretty woman standing next to her. Tall, thin, shoulder length brown hair and big brown eyes. "I know almost ever one in these parts maybe I could help ya out."
"If ya could that would be great." Rogue smiled up at her. "I was looking for a…friend of mine and I'm not sure where he lives. His name is Remy LeBe-"
"LEBEAU?"
Rogue looked in the direction of the voice. Sitting at the bar was a heavily built man in his thirties. His greasy blond hair lay around his large shoulders giving the allusion that he had no neck. He got up from his seat and walked over to them. The man was a lot taller when standing.
Rogue was the first to speak. "How do you know him?"
The man looked down at Rogue a smiled curtly. "Played cards with him once, never forget it to. The bastard cheated me out of all my money."
"Have you seen him since then?" Logan asked.
"Yeah I've seen him. Briefly though. Heard he been hanging around town the past day for two with some bitch or another."
Rogue scowled looking away momentary. She looked back up and asked, "Do you know where he's staying?"
The bulky man grinned trying to look charming but the attempted mad him look even more repulsive.
"Maybe I do." He said cocking his head to one side, eyeing Rogue wickedly. She felt her stomach turn. "I might tell you for a small price." He finished leaning over Rogue and flipped a strand of hair between his index finger and thumb.
A loud crash caught the attention of every one in the bar. Logan had jumped out of his seat, grabbed the man by his shirt collar and thrown his towards the closest wall. The man didn't stay down for long. He had gotten up in no time and made his way back over to Logan hands balled into fists. He was able to swing a punch at Logan's face but Logan dogged it easily.
This was a waist of time, Logan gripped the man's shirt and pushed him back onto the table, claws fully extended and pointed at his opponent's throat. Rogue backed up behind Logan, looking around at all the faces staring at them.
Logan lent down close to the man and asked in a low harsh tone, "Where is Remy LeBeau?"
The man gulped back air looking at the metal claws inching closer to his skin. "Scarlet Bog, 'bout half an hour out of town, past the train yard." He said quickly.
"You sure he's there? 100 percent?" Logan asked making sure he wasn't being fed any lies.
"Yeah, the LeBeau's have lived there for years."
Logan glanced to his left and nodded to Rogue.
---
The two ran out of the bar, and headed for a car parked a minute or two up the road. They had to rent a small car. Outside the bar a man, completely unknown by either Rogue or Logan watched then leave. Once they got into the car he took out a cell phone from his brown leather coat pocket and hit a couple numbers. Not very far off, maybe half an hour away another cell phone went off. It was answered before the end of the first ring and a low male voice replied,
"Yes?"
"Julien, I think I found the two your looking for."
Julien paused for a moment before asking, "What did they look like?"
"There was a girl about eighteen maybe younger, quite good-looking, and she had odd white stripes in her hair. She was with an older man, about forty in appearance. Strong looking, dark hair."
"Perfect. Where are you?"
"Greg Kat's bar."
"Fallow them! Contact ever one in your area, find out where they're going, I'm on my way."
"Yes sir."
---
With Logan driving they were actually making good time, even with him driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit and almost hitting one pedestrian and a few lampposts. He stopped at a red light a sighed deeply.
"Logan…I wanted to…to thank you for coming with me."
Logan couldn't help but smile. "Well, I wasn't about to let you run off alone."
"Oh so you don't think I can handle myself?" She asked, meaning for it to be a joke.
"That aint what I said."
"Still though, thank you."
"No need, I'd always help you stripes."
Rogue smiled again. Logan looked her over and saw the tenseness in her one arm. Rogue noticed this and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothin'…Rogue do you remember when that smile Julien shot you?"
Rogue looked a bit puzzled for a second before answering with a simple, "Yes."
"Did Hank ever tell you how you held so fast?"
Rogue's slight puzzlement was now full out confusion. She watched the light change and Logan started driving again thinking back on it. "No, not really. Why?" She said after a minute.
Logan shook his head. "No, no reason." 'I might have lent you my healing powers so you'd get better faster.' He said in his head. Not really hard to say for some, but for him it was as bad as admitting that he loved her.
Logan looked in the rear-view mirror again; Rogue had noticed he'd been doing that for a couple of blocks.
"What is it?" She asked.
"I think we're being fallowed."
"By who?" Rogue turned in her seat, looking behind them. He was right; five black motorcycles were fallowing behind them and catching up fast.
"Don't know but they're not going to be fallowing for long."
---
Not far off, Remy sat in his window. He lent back against the wood frame, closed his eyes and exhaled smoke from his cigarette. A sharp knock at the door brought him back to reality.
"Come in." He groaned. The door opened and Jean-Luc came in with a large smile on his face. "Happy about something or have ya finally snapped?"
"I am happy, happy you're finally doing what your told." He came up and smacked Remy of the back. Remy looked away. Jean-Luc ground his teeth and looked down, "Remy even though I've told you over and over again that you have to do this I can't help but felling like you shouldn't be here."
"What?" Remy asked shocked.
"You don't love Belladonna and I shouldn't be forcing you into this."
Remy couldn't believe what he was hearing; 'it took the idiot this long to figure this out?'
Remy shrugged, "Doesn't matter now."
"No, not really."
---
"Logan!" Rogue cried as they turned sharply at a corner. A few more miles and they'd be at the train yard. The tires screeched as the car lurched forward going faster. Rogue grabbed onto the dashboard in fear of going through a window on the next turn. Logan turned again, this time a bit to soon. The left front and back wheel hit the curb and Rogue almost though the car was going to flip but Logan just hit the gas harder.
---
"Do I need to ask if you'll leave again?" Jean-Luc asked curiously.
"No."
"That was fast. Why the change of mind."
"I lost the only one important to me. Why not stay and live out the rest of my live as the guild's expendable puppet?"
"You know why you're doing this. You know what will happen if you leave again."
---
Around corners and bends, up and down streets, side roads and allies they drove. Logan with his death grip on the steering wheel and Rogue in a panic, they almost lost their pursuers more then once but they knew the area better and always cut them off. Another sharp corner and they were heading down a long road towards the train yard.
---
"You'll kill me?" Remy asked faking a happy tone of voice.
"Oh, not me. Marius. Slowly and painfully." Jean-Luc informed him sternly.
"And that's suppose to be bad?" Remy questioned.
"Remy if you want to die make it by your own hand not his, not Julien's and sure as hell don't make it by mine."
---
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" Rogue yelled looking wide eyed ahead of them. Logan had driven the car directly into the train yard. They had found themselves by a harbour; a single rail bridge crossed it. Logan turned onto the railway and started across the bridge.
"Just calm down." He told Rogue. Rogue clenched her teeth and watched the ground give away to black water below barely visible do to the thick grey clouds over head blocking out the moonlight. The car bounced violently on the wood panels under the wheels. Quickly looking back over her shoulder Rogue watched the motorcycles still fallowing them. Rogue watched intently until aloud horn made her flip around in her seat. Logan took no notice to the train staring across the other side of the bridge.
---
"I know."
"Remy I am sorry about what happened."
"It's ok."
Jean-Luc once again patted Remy on the back and headed for the door. "You know what you have to do."
"Leave the dignity at the door." Remy murmured. "Don't worry, I know and I'm going through with it this time."
---
Rogue stared like deer in headlights at the train coming towards them. "Train." She said calmly.
"I see it." Logan answered slowing down a bit.
"TRAIN!" Rogue yelled turning her head towards him.
"I SEE IT!" Logan roared back and turned the wheel hard right. The car left the rail and went into a free fall towards the water below.
---
BWAHAHAHAHAHa! I was right. It did end up badly! No duh. I wrote it. Review and I'll love you forever!!! Smiles sweetly BTW did any one pick up the 4 lines from Justice League: Double Date? If not go watch that episode, s'one of my favourites. And there's another line I'm using in my last chapter but you'll have to find it to, 'cause I'm not saying what it is…. I guess I'll have to add that to the disclaimer. MWAHAHAHAHA! teehee. ;D
And Crayon read it first before I posted it so you'll have to blame her for anything weird. And Jill if you read this, shut up I 'cause I fixed.
BTW again, love the ending don't ya?