Title: By My Side (4/?)

Pairing: Erik/Charles

Rating: PG13 – R

Category: Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Warnings: Some language, Injured Charles, Sexual tension (but not explicit).

Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing connected with X Men other than a deep affection for the movie and characters.

Thank you Snoopy and Lucas for story help!

Summary: Erik returns for Charles.

"I want you by my side." (Erik to Charles, on the beach)

Part Four

The next days continued on an already set pattern, and Charles found himself relieved for the consistency. So much had been taken from him in just a few moments – his sister, his best friend, and his legs- that without fully realizing it, he had begun to hate any changes. After the initial shock and anger of being kidnapped had dissipated, he welcomed predictable patterns.

Even if - and perhaps especially if - Erik was involved.

He had time to read the newspapers and a few articles over breakfast, and then the rest of the mornings and early afternoon were for physical therapy. To Charles' chagrin, he was unfortunately always exhausted enough to need a nap after lunch, but it was made more bearable knowing that Raven would call when he was up again. Letters from the boys were also delivered in the afternoon, and Charles worked on his replies to them. As a special treat, there was the promised phone call from the boys one afternoon after he had talked with Raven, and he was amused at their excited babbling and arguing between the three of them over who whose turn it was with the phone. Hank seemed to be winning, and he assured Charles that they were well. They were even planning to return to the mansion, and Charles worried, but knew they were old enough to make the necessary plans.

The idea that had first come to him in the hospital- of opening a school for mutant children- seemed to be a real possibility. Hank was enthusiastic, and Alex and Sean were also on board for the idea, provided of course, that they didn't have to get teaching degrees right away. Both boys seemed horrified of the idea of taking college classes, and Charles knew he would have to work on that with them.

Even Erik had responded favorably to the idea as they talked, and Charles was glad of that. He most certainly did not need Erik's approval, and had made that quite clear during one argument, but it was making some conversations easier.

After the phone calls and catching up on his correspondence, Charles would freshen up – more and more on his own, with no need for Nurse Troll to be hovering, thank you very much, and get dressed for dinner. He missed his familiar tweeds and jackets, but even he admitted that they were not exactly suited to the tropical climate.

Evenings were spent with Erik, dinner, and chess, and arguing/discussion. Then the schedule would continue the next day, and all was well, until one day when Erik arrived at morning therapy and made himself quite at home. Physical Therapist Troll had been only too happy to let Erik help with Charles' workouts, despite the fact that the subject of said rehab was downright snippy about it. He let them know it often, and quite vocally, and was pretty much ignored. Erik was a monster. No doubt about it. Perhaps it was payback for Charles taking charge of training everyone at the mansion, and the professor acknowledged that he had been terribly bossy. But Erik plus the trolls was just, well to put it plainly, mean.

In retaliation, Charles discovered he had one physical trick up his sleeve; running over Erik's feet whenever possible. The first few times, Erik hadn't said anything, but by the third day of his feet being clear targets, he had started to growl a bit. Still, he never said anything directly to Charles about it, and Charles continued to watch for opportunities. Erik never once used his powers to stop it, and deep down, Charles appreciated that, even as he plotted new excuses.

There was reason to hope that things could yet work out. And there was reason to hope that Erik would lose some of his anger.

Unfortunately, Charles kept loosing his temper. He was not always very good at setting an example in being civilized.

It was the sit-ups that caused the real breakdown.

Charles was gasping, struggling, and not so quietly furious. Still, he was willing to apologize where it was necessary, and perhaps it would give him a few exceptions from the workout torture. It was worth a try. "I'm really sorry—"

"Nineteen," Erik continued calmly, counting as Charles struggled through the exercise.

"—that I made you move—" Charles was gasping between reps, but he really felt he had to say this.

"Twenty."

"—the satellite dish." Charles collapsed back on he floor, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Lord, he hated this exercise. He disliked all exercise, truly, but this was just miserable. He had read that sit-ups supposedly used the abdomen and chest muscles as opposed to legs, but right now just thinking about them made every muscle he had left ache. Thank goodness it was over.

"Apology accepted," Erik said mildly. He readjusted his grip in Charles's legs, making sure the younger mans feet were strapped into the brace securely and he had a steady hold on Charles's knees, holding his legs in proper position. "Do five more."

Charles dragged himself up on his elbows. "What?" He likely would have shrieked, but right now he lacked the lung capacity for more speech volume.

"Five," Erik repeated, far too cheerfully.

Oh, no, he was not going to let Erik dictate this. "No," he said stubbornly.

"Come on."

"Go away and leave me alone." Charles was ready to settle into a very good sulk.

Erik leaned forward, his eyes amused, but also determined. "You don't get to talk to Raven until you do five more."

"Why you….how dare you threaten me!" Charles was rather outraged. He had been kidnapped, really, and being held basically against his will, but still, threatening from Erik was a whole new low.

"You could have been done by now. Get started." Erik showed absolutely no sign of remorse or leniency.

Charles's eyes narrowed. His hands went behind his head, and he slowly moved.

"One….good. Two…" Erik counted.

On the third count, Charles came up swinging. His right fist connected firmly with Erik's jaw, and his left got Erik straight in the eye. He was pleased to see Erik actually fall back, caught totally off guard and off balance. Charles slumped back down as well, but he had a lot of satisfaction in seeing the shocked look on the older man's face as he finally sat back up. By in large, Charles abhorred physical violence, but this one-time expression pretty much summed up his current emotions.

Erik cleared his throat, self-consciously feeling the soon-to-be bruised spot on his jaw. "Four…and five," he conceded.

Charles smirked, looking up at the ceiling. "Audacial, bardus," he began to recite, ticking off words on his fingers.

Erik's eyebrows rose. "Latin now?" he questioned.

"-canis…"

"Did you just call me a dog?"

"-diabolus."

Erik sighed, and politely listened to the rest of the 23 alphabet rant, taking the lashing. When Charles was finally done, he helped the younger man back into the wheelchair.

"I am not a dog," he grumbled under his breath.

Charles just smiled. He was certain he had gotten a few words in there that even Erik didn't know.

His smirking was sadly short lived, as Erik got his revenge the next day.

Charles had finished lunch and was getting ready for afternoon exercises when Erik strode into the room and tossed a small bundle at him.

"Get undressed," he said.

Charles nearly chocked on his tea. "I beg your pardon?"

Erik snorted. "Swimsuit, Charles. Your trolls have approved some pool time for us this afternoon."

"Swimming?" Charles hesitated. "I don't know…" He had liked swimming before, was even a bit good at it, but was it even possible now?

The older man smiled at him, something of a fond look in his eyes. "It will be alright," he said. "Come on. I'll give you 10 minutes to change, and then we go downstairs." Charles sighed, and then nodded in agreement.

Charles's resolve faltered a bit once they were down at the pool. He had never noticed it before, but the water did look awfully deep. He toyed with the belt on the robe he had put on over the swim trunks. "Really, Erik, is this a good idea?"

"It is," Erik said. "Water therapy has been used for centuries." He hadn't bothered with a robe, and was eyeing the fluffy white terrycloth that Charles had himself swathed in with amusement.

"Hasn't it also been used for torture?" Charles pointed out.

"Torture? Really, Charles, your imagination is far too vivid for your own good." Erik reached down to scoop up a handful of water and trickled it over Charles's hand. "The water is warm," he pointed out.

The water still looked too deep. "Perhaps a lifejacket would be in order?"

"I'm not leaving your side." Charles wasn't sure if he should take that as a promise, or a threat.

"I sunburn."

"Charles, stop stalling and trying excuses. Now."

Charles bit his lip, but slowly started to pull off his robe.

It wasn't fair, it simply wasn't. Erik was like a Greek God come to life, and Charles hadn't wanted to compare himself to the older man even before the shooting. Now, the last thing he wanted was to be in front of Erik in only a swimsuit, with his already thin legs showing. Charles had insisted on wearing sweatpants during his exercise sessions before, and right now he wanted nothing more than his grey tracksuit from the mansion. Maybe two or three of them.

Erik waited patiently, which for him was a whole half a minute, before he raised an eyebrow. "It's going in the water with us in about 10 seconds," he said, pointing at the robe.

"It's part silk" Charles protested in horror.

"Then we don't want it to get wet, do we?"

Charles scowled, but finally pulled the garment off as best he could. Erik bent down, one arm behind Charles back, and the other under his knees. He waited a beat till Charles nodded, and then carefully picked up the telepath. Charles found himself clinging rather desperately to Erik's shoulders as the older man easily carried him into the water.

"It's alright," Erik said softly, his lips dangerously close to Charles's ear. He went down the steps, and then turned, settling Charles on one of the steps so he could sit in the water at a chest deep depth. Charles floundered for a moment, getting his balance, but soon steadied himself. The water was indeed warm, and after a few minutes, he could feel himself relaxing. Erik sat beside him, a strong hand on Charles' back to support him.

"I'm good," Charles finally said, nervously. He was far too aware of that hand on his back. He scooted back on the step, leaning against it for extra balance.

Erik nodded and moved down to Charles's legs. Charles watched a bit suspiciously as Erik took hold of one foot and began carefully, slowly, moving it around, flexing the foot. Charles couldn't feel anything, and it was disconcerting to his mind. All of the therapy on his legs was unsettling. He should feel it. He should feel those hands - Erik's hands - on him. He wanted to feel…..

Charles hastily broke off that train of thought.

After working one foot, Erik went onto the other, and then carefully went through the stretching exercises for Charles' legs. Charles was starting to acknowledge that this was rather nice when Erik stood up and leaned over him. Before Charles could protest, he was picked up, gently turned around, and pressed up against Erik's chest.

"What-?" Charles flailed at the water as Erik stepped backwards, carefully pulling Charles with him.

"Shh," Erik soothed, his voice calm and soft, again too close to Charles's ear for his comfort. "I've got you. Just relax."

Charles found himself yet again clutching at Erik's arms. "What are you doing?" he hissed.

"Let yourself float," Erik urged. His arms shifted slightly, making sure Charles's shoulders and head were safely tucked up against his chest, like a lifesavers rescue hold. Erik took a few steps back till the water was at his chest level, and then stopped. "We're not going any deeper, and we're right by the wall." Charles reached out, and indeed, his hand easily found the edge of the pool. He kept one hand on Erik's arm, and the other on the wall. "It's alright," Erik continued. "This is good for you. Try to stretch out and just float. You know you're not going to sink and I won't let go of you."

"You damn well better not," Charles muttered between clenched teeth, and then flushed a little at how that may have come across. Erik just chuckled, and Charles could feel the vibrations in the other man's chest.

"I'm not going to." Ever again.

It took some time, but eventually Charles relaxed enough so he was completely floating, Erik shifting a little so he was standing beside him, one arm supporting Charles's shoulders and the other under his waist. Against his better judgment, Charles closed his eyes, tilting his head back and forcing himself to relax, to trust Erik completely. He eventually released his death grip on the wall, and Erik pulled them out into the middle of the pool, though still keeping in the shallow end. He began lazily circling around, pulling Charles through the water. Erik had used his powers to move the large poolside umbrellas near the edge of the pool, and he kept them into the shade to prevent Charles fussing about sun overexposure.

Charles tried to simply let himself go, to try and enjoy what was happening, and after he accepted that he wasn't going to sink, it was really quite nice. For the first time in over six weeks he was able to relax his entire body, to stretch out. It was so amazing to feel almost weightless, to not feel the sickening dead weight of his legs holding him down. He hadn't realized how heavy a burden was now in his body and mind. In the pool, he could pretend for a few minutes, not trapped in the wheelchair. And he could pretend that Erik's warm hands…

Good Lord, what was it with him and hands suddenly?

Beside him, Erik chuckled. "You have a most intense look on your face, Charles. What are you thinking about now?"

Lord, it just got worse and worse. "Um…." Charles thought frantically. "Of the last time we were in the water together," he said hurriedly. "It was a little bit different circumstance," he added, opening his eyes and gesturing a little to Erik's arms around him. Last time it had been Charles pulling Erik out of the water.

"Ah, yes," Erik nodded. He smiled a little. "Did I ever thank you for that?"

Charles pondered that for a moment. "I'm fairly certain you did at a later point, but at the time, I just learned a lot of profanity in several languages, and some extremely inventive insults. I really should have thanked you for expanding my vocabulary."

Erik laughed, and Charles had to join in. The older man splashed some water on Charles' chest, and Charles retaliated but then held up a warning hand before things could escalate. "I don't think I am ready for a water fight, Erik."

"Not yet, perhaps," Erik agreed. "But soon. We'll have you swimming again in no time, though there is no rush. We have all the time we need."

Something in that made Charles pause, and he cleared his throat. "Erik?"

"Yes?"

"We can't….I mean, I can't…" Charles fumbled over the words. "Stay here, I mean." Of all the times and places, Charles had never thought he would have this delicate conversation in the pool, in Erik's arms, but it seemed to be happening. Even after the past weeks, Charles didn't quite understand where he fit in Erik's grand scheme of things. He had never asked; had been too nervous to bring up the precise subject of himself. He didn't feel like a prisoner, but really, wasn't he? Or was it something else?

Erik didn't change his gentle, careful grip on Charles, but he may have stiffened a little. Then he started slowly moving toward the steps. "I think we should get out now."

"Erik."

"You likely wrinkle if left in the water too long in addition to burning up like a vampire in the sun."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Charles said tartly. It was probably a lie, but that was beside the point. He grabbed Erik's arm. "Stop now."

There was nothing physical Charles could do, and he had promised to not use his powers, but something may have crept into his tone, because Erik did stop. Charles was carefully drawn up against Erik's chest again, and he sighed. It was difficult to have a serious conversation with someone when one's head was tucked up under the other person's chin. Not to mention that both were pretty much naked. He glared down at the arms that were wrapped around his chest; he was not letting Erik distract him, he was not.

"I know you can talk anywhere, anytime," Erik finally said, "but do you really want to argue here?"

"No, not at all, actually," Charles agreed, trying to keep his voice steady. "But it does not change the fact that—"

"I know," Erik repeated. He sighed. "Tonight, I promise."

Charles considered the offer, weighing his options, and then nodded. "Alright, tonight. But you are not getting out of this."

"I know I'm not."

TBC…..

From an online Latin/English dictionary:

Audacial- audacious, bold

Bardus- stupid

Canis- dog

Diabolus- devil, Satan