Chapter Sixteen
The Council's Court Room
Kurt had not reached Kitty and Rachel when Emma had been called. He had paused where he was at and listened intently, waiting for the opportunity to stand up for his best friend's, Sean's, wife. He and Sean had become very close in the short time they had known each other. Kurt had been planning to stand up for Sean but suddenly felt compelled to stand up for Emma instead. Her list of sins was great, and he thought she might stand a better chance of succeeding if a Priest stood up for her.
He walked up to stand beside Sean and gripped his friend's shoulder. Then he moved up to stand beside Emma. He hoped that she would not mind that a blue male had stood up for her. She had not panicked when he had met her the night before, and he was proud of the way she was standing there, taking the charges. "I stand for her, Your Honor." He looked at Drell expectantly.
Emma's head snapped up at the unexpected voice. She turned and was surprised to see both Sean and a stranger standing next to her. She spoke just as Drell burst out with laughter. "Who are you? Are you quite certain you wish to stand for me? Why would you do such a thing?"
Kurt looked at her intently. What was wrong with her? Had he not made any kind of an impression on her the night before? He waved his hand slowly in front of her eyes to make sure she had not been blinded by the light. "It's me, Emma, Kurt."
Emma's heart pounded in her chest, and she took a faltering step backwards as she eyed the strange being in front of her. His voice sounded masculine but was also odd, though nowhere near as unusual as his blue fur, three-fingered hands, and yellow eyes. She did not realize that, as she backed up, her body instinctively angled closer to Sean. This being was so strange to her, but yet who was she to think that his appearance might not be normal? After all, she'd barely glimpsed the others in the room except for Sean and the Council. Perhaps it was they whose appearances were abnormal. "K-Kurt?" she stammered out his name. "I-I do not remember a Kurt." She did not speak aloud that she merely recalled her own name because she had been told it.
Meanwhile, Drell's laughter seemed to be spreading like a contagious disease through the Council. "YOU MEAN TO SAY," Drell roared, "THAT A PRIEST STANDS FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST WHORES EVER!"
Emma glanced up at them, her face burning and turning red with heat. "What is a Priest?" she questioned, not daring to ask about the term that the fat man used to describe her.
Kurt did not know what was wrong with Emma, but he knew something had to have damaged her mind. Kurt turned to look upward at Drell again, and in a loud, clear voice, he said so that all could hear, "Mein Lord did just zat, and it is an honor for me to do ze same." He looked back at Emma and smiled reassuringly.
Emma tried to smile, but her lips quivered. In addition to the heat she had felt flare within her own body at the fat man's words and the Council's laughter, she could also have sworn she'd felt heat raising off of Sean but did not know how that could be possible except through a trick of her mind. She tried to ignore the man who claimed to be her husband and instead returned Kurt's look. "Are you certain this is what you want?" she questioned him. He had spoken of his Lord. Was he a slave, and where was this Lord he spoke of? He couldn't be a slave, though, she remembered, for they had called him a Priest and she didn't think the two had anything to do with each other. She could be wrong, though.
Sean reached forward and placed his hand gently on Emma's left shoulder. He gave it a gentle squeeze. He would always be thankful to Kurt for standing for his beloved Em, but he had no way of telling Kurt what was wrong with Emma at the time. Drell's laughter had made Sean want to place his hands around Drell's neck and squeeze him until his eyes bugged out and his head popped off. When Kurt made his statement about his Lord having stood for one of the biggest whores, Sean remembered that bit of lore.
How strange circumstances are! he thought. They're identical except Kurt thinks o' himself as a Demon an' Jesus stood fer Mary Magdalene! He would have to talk to Kurt about it later. Why had Kurt stopped serving Jesus and started serving Aphrodite? He was a bit confused over that just as he had been confused about his own religious state. He was glad that he was again one of Aphrodite's followers now.
Kurt waited patiently for Drell even though his anger grew the more the laughter cut through the air. How dare this man hold himself as a Judge when he could not control his own self! It was a mockery of a court, but there was no way they could get all of their people out safely! He closed his eyes and prayed that the laughter would go away. He had heard too much in his own time and did not want the dolt laughing at Emma but felt himself powerless to stop him.
Rachel had witnessed the surprise in Kitty's eyes when Kurt had spoken up for Emma, and she saw the fury and doubt waging war in her beautiful, brown eyes now. A quick scan of the other telepath's completely unprotected mind told Rachel why Emma was acting so differently from the night before, and as she digested what she learned, she continued to watch Kitty's eyes as Shadowcat waged a silent war inside herself. Ray knew Kitty unlike any other person and knew her exact conflict. Withdrawing from Emma's mind, the redhead decided to make short work of the matter. Kitty wanted desperately to put the Council in their place, but she feared bringing their wrath down upon them.
Ray cleared her throat loudly and started to move away from Kitty's side. The second she started moving, Kitty reached out and grasped her wrist. The women's eyes met, and Ray shook her head. "You may not be able to say it, but I can and will." She shook herself free of Kitty and walked out a pace from the gathering of Kitty's new-found family.
"Maybe she is a whore," she called out, her blazing eyes daringly defying the Council, "but she doesn't remember it. She doesn't remember anything of what she's being held accountable for, and that just goes to show what bigoted idiots you lot are. You're holding her responsible for crimes she doesn't even remember committing!"
"Rachel!" Shadowcat hissed.
Kitty, hush. I know what I'm doing.
No, you don't! You've never come up against these beings before!
Maybe not, but I still know bigoted losers when I see them. "You say she's a villain, a whore." She shrugged. "It's true, but so what? Look at how you act, squabbling amongst yourselves, half of you laughing your asses off and the rest being all embarrassed and ashamed over what's going on! So the woman sold herself to get what she needed? So what! Do you have any idea how many women sell themselves off to get what they need or even just want? Emma just happened to make money while doing it, that's all!"
"SILENCE, CHILD!" Drell commanded.
"One," Ray snapped, "I'm not a child. Two, sure, I'll shut up. As long as you bigots stop laughing your asses off and get back to the business at hand. This has got to be the stupidest trial ever, and trust me -- I should know -- I've been to plenty of stupid trials!"
"ARE YOU CALLING US STUPID!"
"Not you." Rachel felt Kitty's strong, stilling hand upon her shoulder but continued nonetheless. "Just the way you're acting. You want respect? Give us something to respect. Act like you should."
By this time, Drell's face had grown as red and round as a radish. He opened his mouth to explode, but all he could get out past his fury was high-pitched squeaks that no one could understand. "The girl has a point," Gandalf stated calmly, to which many on his side of the room nodded in agreement. "While it may be humorous to see your lot carry on this way, you set a bad example for the whole Council. This is not a time for laughter, Drell, or snide remarks. We are here to get a job done, and I expect to see it done properly."
"Hear, hear!" Merlin whole-heartedly agreed. "Now let us get back to the trial at hand, as Miss Summers has already so eloquently suggested."
Drell hated listening to others and far more despised obeying them, but even he knew better than to disobey Merlin, who was now glowering quite pointedly at him. He gulped and swallowed hard several times before turning to glower back down upon Kurt, Emma, and Sean. "VERY WELL." The clearing of his throat echoed in the nervous room. "KURT WAGNER, YOU REALIZE AND ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL GO THROUGH MANY TESTS WITH EMMA GRACE CASSIDY IN ORDER TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE?"
Emma could not believe her ears. "I thought I was Emma Frost!" she whispered, looking back at Sean with clear puzzlement in her blue eyes.
"Ye are, darlin', but ye're married tae me. Me last name's Cassidy. Ye kept yer Frost as ye thought it was a more proper name fer diin' the work ye had tae di, but yer true name is Emma Grace Cassidy."
"Ja, Your Honor, I realize zat I am to be responsible for Emma Grace Cassidy. I am glad to do it." He cast another shy smile at Em. Still, he wondered why she would not know what she had done as Rachel had brought out. What could have happened to her wonderful mind? He prayed it was not lasting.
Meanwhile, Kitty was shaking her head at Rachel, but she was also grinning. Do you have any idea how big a fit your father would have just had if he could have been here to see you in action, Ray!
Rachel grinned. Let him.
Thank you.
Rachel nodded and hugged Kitty. Then she stepped back, a familiar pain welling in her heart. She knew Kitty's next words before she ever thought them.
I have to go to him. Maybe he is crazy. Maybe he did call poor 'Heed a flying rat. But we can get all that worked out later and he needs me right now.
Rachel nodded again, glad that she didn't have to speak aloud, and let Kitty walk past her and on toward Kurt. She turned and walked back to stand silently beside Wolverine, her heart hurting the whole while. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked down to see a short but pretty brunette.
"Are you all right?" At the redhead's insistence that she was fine, Phoebe dropped her hand, but she knew better. She couldn't quite place it, but she knew that something was definitely bothering the other woman.
Admiration shone from Wolverine's eyes. He was proud of Ray for telling the Council what was what. He would tell her that later. He was extremely relieved that she was nothing at all like her milk-sop of a father.
Jack looked at Wolverine, and it was almost as though he could read his father's thoughts. He had to agree: Ray was one Hell of a woman and as crazy as Faith! He was proud she had stood up to the Council. He had been thinking about it but thought that he'd better save it for later as things might would get more dire and he knew Drell was already conjuring up a fireball with his name on it.
Drell continued to sneer down upon Kurt as Shadowcat snuck up behind the small group, her lithe, silent movements not going unnoticed. "YOU REALIZE AND ACCEPT THAT THE SAME FINAL SENTENCE THAT IS CAST UPON THE WHITE QUEEN WILL ALSO BE CAST UPON YOU?"
"Ja, I do," Kurt bravely told him. "I am ready for it! Bring it on!" His pointed tail swished, cutting through the air like a sword. "Mein Lord vill see us victorious!"
Drell's top lip curled back in distaste, and he looked with even more disgust and hatred down upon the blue Demon. "YOUR LORD HAS NO POWER HERE."
"Mein Lord has power everywhere!" Kurt told him, staring him dead in the eye. "He's been here from ze beginning!"
A crisp laugh barked forward from Drell. "THINK WHAT YOU WISH, DEMON."
"He's not a Demon." The words came from directly behind Kurt. "He's a mutant. Same as I."
Kurt did not twitch even though he recognized his beloved's voice. Had she forgiven him? Was she going to stand beside him now? He hoped so. He glanced to the side then, and out the corner of his eye, he saw Kitty in all her fiery glory and knew he'd better put a hand out and stop her at once before Drell exploded her. "Mein Lebchien?" he whispered and reached his hand back to her.
Kitty took Kurt's hand without hesitation, and her five fingers entwined with his three. She glanced at him out of the corner of one eye but kept the rest of her gaze firmly fixated on the Council, especially Drell. She smiled at Kurt and gently squeezed his hand.
"They are mutants," another voice spoke up, "and are of my people. I will not tolerate you calling him a Demon, Drell."
"YOU HAVE NO SAY IN THIS, XAVIER. YOU DO NOT EVEN GET TO VOTE. YOU KNOW YOU LOST THAT CHANCE WHEN YOU BEDDED MAGNETO."
Jack looked around quickly for the Wizard. So no wonder Xavier had not condemned him for they were both of the same persuasion! He wondered how much else they might have in common and filed it in his memory to broach the subject with him later. Maybe he would have some tips that he could use to surprise and excite Will? He was always up for more learning!
Wolverine turned to look at Xavier. How would the Wizard take to what Drell had just pronounced? Would he take it quietly, or would he throw some of his own fireballs back at Drell? Did he know something on Drell that he could use against him? He hoped so.
"Well, I'll be damned!" Donkey said with a grin. "This is getting curiouser and curiouser! I wonder," he said to himself, "how many of these guys are after guys! It's not as though there aren't a lot of women around, but just how many are of that persuasion?" He hoped it was not catching.
"Donkey, sh!" Will whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "Remember your manners! You know, your name, Eddie, was the first real man I met with true manners."
Donkey cast an eyeball around, hunting for Jack, and just as quickly told Will, "Jack ain't got none! I don't hear you getting on to him! Wolverine don't got none! Why should I have any?"
"As I told you, Eddie," Will suggested heavily in a low voice, "your namesake was a man of fine manners. Now, if you do not approve of your namesake, I can always attempt to think of another name . . . "
"No, I like my name! I'm just saying ain't nobody else got any manners! Why should I be the only one with manners!"
It was then that Donkey felt a gentle hand on his neck. Elizabeth had left Autolycus' side when she'd overheard Donkey carrying on about those like Will, Jack, and, evidently, Xavier, and she knew exactly what was bothering Will. She knelt down beside Donkey, cupped her hands around one of his long ears, and whispered to him, "Do you not understand, Eddie? You're embarrassing Will! You know he's not comfortable with his sexuality yet!"
"Neither am I," Donkey whispered back. "What can I do with Elvira? I thought about it. I was going to ask Will, but you can tell me. Can't you?" he questioned, ignoring the heat rising in Elizabeth's cheeks. He cocked one of his big eyes right on Elizabeth. "And I'm not trying to upset Will. I'm just trying to figure out if it's catching. I'm very comfortable with it. In fact, I'm proud my boy got with the Captain finally. But I can't do nothing with mine!"
Elizabeth stroked Donkey's neck. "Tell you what, Eddie," she told him, "when we get out of this mess, I'll fix you up with some one who should be able to answer all your questions about that."
"You will?" he asked, bug-eyed. "Who's that smart? Lex?"
"Toly."
"Toly knows about that? Hmm!" Donkey grew deep in thought and very, very quiet.
"He definitely does," Elizabeth told him, "and I'll make sure he answers all of your questions once we get out of here, but for now, try to settle down and be quiet, okay?"
Donkey did not answer her as his mind began to go around and around. Toly knew something besides stealing! This should be interesting! He couldn't wait to see what Toly came up with!
Elizabeth continued to pet Donkey's neck. "And it's not contagious, Eddie. Only diseases are contagious, and it's not a disease, so you have nothing to worry about. Now," she pressed a finger to her nose and looked at him with urgency, "sh!" Then she looked at Will, who looked perhaps more embarrassed than she'd ever seen him before, and winked.
"Thank you," Will mouthed at the realization that she had succeeded in calming Donkey's mouth. Elizabeth nodded and smiled reassuringly at the man she'd come to call "brother".
With Donkey silenced, Will looked back at Jack and again slid closer to his love. He knew he was planning on standing up for one of Salem's people; he just hoped he could figure out which one and shout out that he would stand for him or her before Jack did.
Charles knew he had to take the blow that Drell dealt him by revealing his secret life for all to know. He remained silent where he stood in the shadows that he had come to take more and more solace in ever since Magnus had first been cursed. He wished that he could stand up for Magnus, or at the very least, their relationship but knew that he must hold his tongue. He was barely managing to contain himself when he felt a change in the air. Ororo, you must not!
But, Charles -- !
No! I know your intentions are good, my child, but it will only make matters worse. Please, for me, contain yourself. Let them ridicule me if they must, but do not add to the dispute. His answer came in Ororo's silence.
"WHAT IS IT, CHARLES?" Drell grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "YOU'RE BALD WITH NOTHING TO SAY?" The Spellmens bubbled over with laughter. Peter crowed, doubled over with laughter, and grabbed his toes through his pointed boots. Lionel guffawed quickly and quietly, and Jafar snickered behind his cape. Then two protests came at once -- Aslan's roar bounced off all four walls, the floor, and the invisible roof, and thunder rumbled through the room.
Charles closed his eyes at the sound of thunder, and for once, his eloquency failed him. Ororo, I asked you --
It was not me, Charles! Ororo was about to speak further when she was interrupted by a loud, cavernous, and thoroughly pissed voice. "ENOUGH! WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE, DRELL, AND UNLESS YOU WISH THIS TRIAL TO BE HALTED AND A NEW MEETING TO BE HELD TO REPLACE THE JUDGE, YOU WILL APOLOGIZE TO XAVIER AND HENCEFORTH CEASE ALL NAME-CALLING AND FOOLISHERY."
Jack grinned. He had been just about to invoke Drell's anger again over the comment that he had shot at Xavier. He had taken it personally as a dart against any whose sexual persuasions were different from others. Donkey's mild questions had not bothered him, but Drell, on the other hand . . . His mouth had been open, but before the words had come out, thunder had filled the room, and he looked at his mother questioningly. Then, before she could tell him it wasn't her, Merlin's voice had boomed out. Jack had not been surprised at Merlin's persuasion as he had once seen him in a tavern with several handsome young males and thought his intentions might lay that way. He closed his mouth just as quickly and waited to see what would happen next.
All eyes were upon Drell and Merlin when Gandalf added his two cents in, "I second that motion." His eyes darted over Charles and each of those in the crowd who he knew shared his good friend's sexuality. Then, as Aslan voiced his agreement, Gandalf stared Drell in the eye, conjured a red rose out of thin air, and tossed the rose to Merlin's dai. Merlin picked up the rose, sniffed it, and then smiled and winked at Gandalf.
Xena had not missed a thing but had not opened her mouth to protest as of yet. She was extremely surprised to see a red rose suddenly appear out of nowhere, fly straight through the air, and end up on Merlin's dai. So another of our kind? she thought. Xena's smile only increased when Merlin kissed the rose, his eyes still gazing into Gandalf's.
Cole had heard rumors in the past of Gandalf and his persuasions. He was not surprised to see that Merlin had, some time in the past, been his beloved. Could they be together now? He looked at Piper shyly, wondering if she had seen the exchange, and knew from her deep blush that she had.
Autolycus had shaken his head but had not said anything as he'd heard Elizabeth assuring Donkey that he would have the answers. Toly had very few answers and was extremely full of questions, but the sight before his startled eyes did not need any answers. He only wondered if, when Wizards came, they increased the power because there was two of them.
"I, too, agree," Cinderella spoke firmly. "I may be married to Charming, but that is not to say that I have not wondered about other paths before. After all," she yawned pointedly and loudly, "he is quite the bore. Nonetheless, sexual orientation has nothing to do with the actual person, and your comments tonight, Drell, regarding Charles, Wagner, and several others are completely out-of-place and tasteless to boot."
Wolf had to hide his smile behind his hand. He knew Queen Cindy would put them in place! He had heard how boring King Charming was on several separate occasions, and Queen Cindy was not the only one who denounced him. Although he had also heard that the man was quite the looker, perhaps he was not of the persuasion that would make Cindy happy in the bedroom? That would explain so much! He wondered if the thought might have occurred to the Queen.
Shock was growing with each new voice that added their comments against Drell, but no greater shock could Drell have received than when his own allies began to speak out. "I believe they may well have a point on this one," Dracula commented. "After all, I've enjoyed the blood and bodies of both sexes."
Ursula grinned. "And I always enjoy playing with a mermaid."
Maleficent drailed her long, sharp fingernails across her dai in thought. "And I did have other reasons for toying with that Princess." Her eyes flashed. "How dare her mother marry a man when I wanted her!"
The crowd was once more raising to a myriad of angry voices that sounded like the loud buzzing of bees. Severus looked down from his dai at Albus, and he knew that he was a lost. He had to take control. He lifted his head and cleared his throat loudly but got no reaction. Not even Albus looked at him for he was far too distracted with Minerva, who hovered against his side like a frightened mouse. A wry grin toyed with Severus' mouth as he silently mused that it was too bad he couldn't holler "boo" at her and scare her permanently away from Albus.
Remembering that he had to calm the heated argument that was quickly boiling into a fight, Severus shouted out in an enchanted voice that boomed as loudly as Aslan's roar. "ENOUGH!"
He heard Zelda and Hilda Spellman whispering together. "Not The Voice!" They'd always hated it when the men in their own family had used that voice, and it still made them quake in their shoes.
"You dare speak up, Severus?" Lionel questioned, looking at Snape as though he were a bug underneath his all-important scrutiny. "Tell us. Are you with the rest of these fools?"
Snape's voice carried through the room. "THEY ARE NOT FOOLS, LUTHOR. DRELL AND YOURSELF ARE THE FOOLS HERE." Lex grinned from ear to ear. "THIS IS NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE PLACE TO CONDUCT A DEBATE OVER SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS AND PREJUDICES. WE ARE HERE TO HOLD A TRIAL OVER SOME OF THE GREATEST CRIMINALS OF ALL TIME. OF ALL TIMES, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD ACT OUR BEST, YET WHAT ARE WE DOING BUT SHOWING THE MORTALS, THE CRIMINALS, AND THE REST WHAT FOOLS RESIDE AMONGST US AND HOW GREATLY WE SQUABBLE AMONGST OURSELVES? WE MUST SHOW A UNITED FRONT, NOT DIVIDED, IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO APPEAR AS WE SHOULD AND RECEIVE THE RESPECT WE DEMAND."
His gaze moved from Drell and Lionel to look at those whose voices had risen in protest of Drell. "I NO MORE LIKE THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD DRELL SPOUT THIS NIGHT THAN THE REST OF YOU, BUT IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE WITH TRIAL, SHOW AN UNITED FRONT, AND NOT ALLOW THEM THE CHANCE OF ESCAPE OR OF MAKING A MOCKERY OF US -- NOT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THAT OURSELVES --, WE MUST ALLOW HIM TO REMAIN THE JUDGE FOR NOW. I SUGGEST THAT WE ALLOW HIM TO ESCAPE, FOR THE TIME BEING ALONE, WITH A MERE APOLOGY. WE FINISH THIS TRIAL, AND THEN . . . THEN, MY ESTEEMED FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HOLD DRELL IN CONSIDERATION AND CONTEMPT FOR ALL THAT HIS JADED TONGUE HAS SPOKE TONIGHT. WE DO NOT NEED ONE OF HIS PREJUDICED STANDING SERVING AS THE JUDGE, BUT WE MUST NOT CONTINUE TO BE WITNESSED FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES."
When a murmuring of agreement had passed through the Council, Snape turned his gaze back to Drell. "Drell, do you not have something to say, particularly to Charles?"
Drell glared at him until Merlin, Gandalf, Aslan, and Cinderella all began loudly clearing their voices. "Ah, yes, well, I suppose I do . . . " He glanced at Charles out of the corner of his left eye. "I'msorry."
"What was that?" Cinderella prompted.
"I'm sorry."
"I do not believe he heard you," Gandalf commented.
"Louder," came Merlin's demand.
"I AM SORRY. NEXT QUESTION. IF THE WHITE QUEEN IS FORCED TO BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS LOST ALL THOSE SHE LOVES AND IS PERMANENTLY separateD FROM THEM, YOU, KURT WAGNER, REALIZE AND ACCEPT THAT YOU, TOO, WILL BE CONDEMNDED TO BELIEVING THAT YOU HAVE LOST ALL THOSE YOU LOVE TO DEATH AND WILL BE PERMANENTLY separateD FROM THEM, AS WELL?"
Up until this point, Kitty had not taken Emma's punishment into full consideration, but now she realized that Kurt's standing for Emma might cause them to lose each other. She looked away from Kurt, finding herself gazing at Sean with tears in her eyes. How had he stood this? How had he been able to stand losing Emma? She had lost two husbands already and had been terrified of her feelings for Kurt because she feared losing him, too. Now that fear might well become a reality before the next sunrise. Her heart felt dead inside, but she knew it had to be done . . .
Rachel, standing between Wolverine and Phoebe, felt Kitty's pain. "Damn! Not that!" she whispered. She wanted Kitty to be happy even if it meant that she would never love her and would always love a man instead and that that lowly, undeserving man would receive all the kisses, hugs, and other affection that she longed for so desperately.
Gabrielle's breath caught sharply. Like her lover, the bard had been glad to see the exchange between Merlin and Gandalf and the rest of the Council standing up for those who, like Xena and herself, loved members of their own gender, but the thought of what Kurt and Kitty now faced filled her heart with sadness for the couple. They had to be able to do something to help them, but what? She looked to Xena for advice, hoping that she would have a plan as she almost always did, but knowing, in her heart of hearts, that she did not.
"¡Eso no es justo!" Roxanne hissed. At Theodora's questioning look, she explained, "¡Se aman, y separate ellos por siempre como castigo!"
"¡Cómo pueden hacer tal cosa!"
Roxanne shook her head. "Yo no saber."
"¿Qué podemos hacer para ayudar?" Theodora asked, but Roxanne did not have that answer either. Sasha reached out to Yasmine and lovingly licked her partner; she would allow no power from Heaven, Earth, or Hell to separate them!
Kurt turned to look at Kitty before he answered but found her looking away and realized that her hand had gone limp inside of his. She was the only memory that he would care if he lost, but he felt that he had already lost her. He turned back to Drell. "I understand zat. I do not have too many memories I vant to hold on to any way." He thought that maybe Kitty would be better off with Ray. Ray does love her, too. He waited for Drell's next words. A sadness filled his soul at the thought of losing Kitty. Would that sadness leave, or would it stay and would he not know why it was there?
The moment Kurt spoke, accepting the possible punishment and continuing to stand for Emma, Kitty released a strangled gasp that sounded like a breaking heart, and her teary gaze snapped back to Kurt. She saw his sad face through her tear-filled gaze and slowly nodded. This had to be done. She knew that. If Sean and Emma were to stand any chance of happiness, they would have to risk losing theirs. She pressed her lips together, silencing the protests that shouted within her heart and forcing herself to listen to her Captain's brain instead, and squeezed Kurt's hand.
Emma gasped as memories flooded her mind. She had tried so many times to . . . to what! Then she saw it. She saw Sean dying over and over again in her mind and nearly fell to her knees. Strong arms quickly caught her, and she clung unknowingly to Sean's chest. He was her husband or, at the very least, he was one she had cared very, very, very deeply for! When she had lost him, she had tried to take her own life . . . too many times to count, . . . and all . . . all had been completely unsuccessful. Tears ran down her face, and Dumbledore, where he stood next to Minerva, slowly and sadly nodded as he opened his eyes and saw Emma in her current position. Forgive me, he thought, but you had to know.
She will be all right, Albus, Charles' voice assured him, if only we can win this trial.
"No," the whisper passed unbidden from Ray's lips. Damn you, you blue bastard! Don't stand for her! If Kitty wants some one to stand for her, let me do it! Then she can be happy with you! But it was too late for Kurt had already spoken.
Piper turned her face into Cole's chest and shakingly breathed in the delicious scent of his skin. She could not do what Kurt was doing now. She never would have been able to bare risking losing Cole to save an almost complete stranger, and she wondered if she could have even done it to save her sisters. A tear ran down her cheek and splashed onto Cole's bare skin, and she kissed the moisture where it landed before forcing herself to look back upon the proceedings.
Cole held Piper tenderly yet firmly. He didn't think he could do what Kurt was doing. He didn't know how Kurt was doing it, because he knew how Kurt felt about Kitty. He leaned down and kissed Piper on the head and prayed to the Goddess, Have pity upon them, Oh Blessed Lady. Give them strength to endure and not forget. Cole did not even realize he had tears running down his face.
This latest turn of events was too much for Will. He had to have Jack in his arms, even if this wasn't the place or the time, as he'd heard various ones that night continually mentioning. He stepped up behind Jack and took him into his arms even as Elizabeth pressed her face against Donkey's neck and Phoebe sought Joxer's arms. Paige wrapped her arms around Carl, and Ororo ached for a chance to speak to Logan and tell him how much she loved him. She, too, prayed for Kurt and Kitty.
Through the room, two men dared to touch the slender shoulders of the women they loved. Brendan moved up behind Prue without a sound and gently touched her shoulder while Carlos dared to touch Trina's. Throughout the room, lovers moved together, and prayers winged their way upward for the couple who were risking losing so much to try to help their friends.
Prue felt the tender touch of Brendan and almost jumped out of her skin. Was there hope after all? Did she dare hope that he loved her even a little? She wanted to turn and grab his hand, but knew to do so would make him run. Instead, her hand slowly slipped up and touched his, and when he did not yank it away, she grasped his tenderly, expecting him to run at any moment.
Kurt knew that Ray was a telepath and could easily read his mind. He thought to get a message to her before he got mind-swiped, figuring that was the next thing Drell would do to him. I know your love for Katzchen is strong. You'll be good for her. Zake care of her for me.
The emotions in the room were hot and heavy, and Jack did not think he could stand one more moment of the tension. He felt himself ready to explode, and then he felt Will's hand. He leaned back against his love, enjoying his embrace. He didn't care if it was a court room or not. He needed that brief touch of his beloved to reassure him of Will's love. He could not bare the thought of not being able to remember Will. How could Kurt do it? And then he realized that only Kurt could do it. He knew only a small part of what Kurt had been through, and he also knew that the only bright spot in his life had been Kitty. He prayed to Ditey, Don't let them take his memories! Help him to overcome any obstacle and win through for his love!
Joxer was startled at the intensity of the hug that Phoebe was bestowing upon him. His love for her knew no bounds, and yet he did not know how to show her how much he loved her. He knew he was a clumsy oaf and that not many women would put up with him. He was thankful that his Phoebe did love him. Thank Gods it is not my memories in danger here, but please help them not to lose theirs! He could imagine nothing more awful than not being able to remember his family, his friends, but most especially the woman he was now clinging desperately to. He held her just as tightly as she was holding him and nuzzled her neck.
Logan looked at 'Ro. He had not known her very long, but he had fallen for her like a flaming star. He was thankful that he was not going to lose his memories of her. Though they had been brief, they had been the most wonderful things that had ever happened to him. He hoped that Kurt could endure and hoped that he would have some strong power that would keep his memories in tact. He wished that he could leap across the small space that surrounded them and hold Ororo tightly, but he felt as though there was some kind of barrier between the two of them and so he just looked at her and tried to convey his love through his eyes.
Something about this scene seemed familiar to Xena. She could not remember why. Things had happened quickly the night before and that day, as well, and something was tickling at the back of her mind, but she couldn't lay a finger on it. It had something to do with memories, and though she strained, she could not find what was troubling her soul. She reached out and pulled Gabrielle close to her, hugging her to her heart and praying to Ditey to help Kurt not lose his memories.
Gabrielle tightly hugged Xena in return as her prayers joined the rest of the ones winging their way upward. As the couples in the room sought solace in each other, only one man's touch did not receive the response he ached for. "Andrew," Trina breathed, recalling the previous night's events through the tears in her eyes and heart. "Andrew . . . I . . . I . . . " Her body was weak, but Trent stood beside her, holding her up and making her strong.
"We know, sis," he whispered to her even as Carlos withdrew his hand with a look of pain.
Cordelia barely heard the others for her own thoughts as she cuddled with Angel. Her hazel eyes glanced at the new Pirates, and she knew that whoever Andrew was, he must have meant a great deal to Trina. She also saw the hurt on Carlos' face, and her heart hurt for him, as well, but nowhere near as much as it did for Kurt and Kitty.
Some memories Angel could do without. It seemed he had been alive forever, but there were definitely some memories he did not want to give up. His memories of loving Cordelia were the most important memories to him. How could Kurt hold up to it? Maybe that's why he's a Priest and I'm not? Angel thought. He smelled Cordelia's hair more deeply as he held his beloved close. He prayed for strength for Kurt, because he knew he'd need it. The others he had not paid too much attention to. He knew that the trials were some thing that could be overcome, but to lose one's memory could never be overcome. It would leave one a shell of a person, not caring whether they lived or died. He held Cordelia tenderly.
Lorne clung to his memories of Crys and vowed that they would make a million more. He gathered the young ones closer and held them tenderly, knowing that their memories of their mother were just as important as his were. "Soon," he promised them, "we'll get her back."
To Be Continued . . .