Evening all! this was a record time chapter! I'm plannign on two thigns, one, double posting on wednesday! and two I'm planning a new story called "insert a good title her" but I want to do some original character stuff. please submit original characters to me at docindahousehotmail.com all other reviews and stuff can be submitted by pushing the 'go'button!

speaking of reviewers:

DemonRogue13: wheeeeee, new chapter for you to read and review! can't wait to see what you think!

Shinigamiphoenix: again I get great reviews from you! can't wait to hear from you about his chapter. would write more but got to run!

The trouble with Fire,

"So she's smart?" Remy rolled his eyes. If Cathryn had heard Logan boil her years of study and hard work down to half a sentence she probably would have hurt someone.

"Non, she a genius, dats more dan smart Claws. Dats phenomenal." Hank nodded,

"I agree with our Cajun friend. Dr Tear has an amazing grasp f genetic knowledge. I had the pleasure of working with her in her younger years and am saddened to say that my knowledge of genetics was a tiny portion of the knowledge she possesses." Logan leaned back in the chair he was occupying.

"Like is said, the kids smart. We came up with that half an hour ago gumbo. You better start talking soon." Remy shifted uncomfortably in his chair, all of them were seated in Professor Xavier's office. The professor was behind his desk, listening with great interest to the argument that had unfolded between Remy and Logan. Remy, from his lounging position in the chair opposite professor Xavier, had mentioned MENSA. Hank, hanging comfortably from the ceiling, had confirmed Remy's claim. Logan had simplified what the latter had said. An argument had broken out and they had just gotten back to point A, questioning Remy about Cathryn Tear. Trying to bring them all back on track professor Xavier fixed Remy with a look and thought of a question.

"If you've known where she was since she left the institute, why it is you haven't mentioned it to any of us?" Remy grinned at the professor,

"She did'n want to be found, Remy ain't gonna tell where she is. She like his little sister. Dey grew up together."

"I seriously doubt that you will ever grow up Gambit. However professor, I must certify his story, Dr Tear did mention she spent part of her life growing up in New Orleans." Hank placed his hands behind his head, content that he had contributed something to the group.

"See, even blue boy here knows more about her than we do professor." Logan growled. Charles Xavier rubbed his temples, he was getting a headache.

"Remy, Hank, perhaps we would benefit more if you told us what each of you know about Dr Tear, starting with how you know her. Since it seems you met her first Remy, I'd be thankful if you began." Remy sighed, they had trapped him, they had figured out a way to make him talk that he couldn't get out of. He sighed again and began,

"well as you already guessed, Remy met Chal when he was still in New Orleans. Her Father was going on his second world tour but he couldn't leave her at home alone so he call in a favor from his ol' friend. Remy's pap Jean-Luc. T'ree days later Remy sitting at da airport, waiting for Jean-Lucs flight to get in. When it does Jean-Luc introduce Remy and his brothers to dis tiny little girl who act like an adult. We teach her to pick locks. Dats about it." Having offered all the information he wanted too, Remy leant back in his chair and relaxed.

"That's not enough Cajun, what did you do specifically? How long was she there with you?"

"Why in the hell do y'all even care about me?" all four men in the room jumped, standing in the doorway was the topic of their discussion.

"Ah mean, if y'all want to know something, ask me, don't rely on this swamp rat for your information. He's sworn to secrecy. He don't tell 'bout me and ah don't tell 'bout him. So why you wanna know things 'bout me anyway?" she shot a look at Professor Xavier who met her gaze steadily,

"we were planning on offering you a place to stay at the institution. To make sure that you were kept safe. We merely wanted to find out about your past so that we could decide the best way to approach you."

"The answer is no."

"What?" all four occupants of the room intoned,

"Ah'm safe at the club. Besides, if ah leave how the hell am ah supposed to help people?"

"They could come here for help, in fact...." Charles started to launch into a speech but Cathryn cut him off.

"Listen professor Charles Xavier. First and for most, what I do is offer help, not education, not a chance for revenge, not training. Just help. In all your righteous bullshit you forgot one very important thing. Not all mutants want to come to some guy just because he runs a place where they can learn to control their powers, fly around in a jet and teach others that mutants aren't bad. Magneto offers the other extreme; he offers revenge against baseline humans. A chance to hurt them, to prove that mutants are the next step in the evolutionary chain. What ah do is offer people the chance to exist. Not try and push their powers, but give them a way to set themselves up. Between you and Bucket-head there's me. So the answer is and always will be No. Not because I don't think what y'all doing is wrong. I agree mutants need to defend themselves. But I don't think that mutants who are happy to remain totally anonymous should be forced to come to a known institute for mutants. Just for help." Beast applauded in an amused fashion and Charles looked shocked. Growling Logan addressed Cathryn.

"Real pretty kid, that all you got to say?" "Apart from, next week is All Hallows Eve and Ah'm having a costume party at the club. Wanted to invite the whole institute down. It's a non alcohol event so people of any age are invited." Charles nodded,

"we would be delighted to attend. I'm quite sure the children will be looking for something fun after their training session with Logan." Cathryn smiled at Charles warmly,

"Excellent. Ah'll see you around six pm then. Unless you want to send a few people over early to help with decorations and stuff."

"Of course. Remy, gather a group of students and let them know that instead of the training session they were expecting they will be helping Dr Tear."

"Great. Send them over to the club around 10:45 that gives me some time to get everything organized. Ah'll catch you all next week." Offering the four men a smile Cathryn turned on her heel and disappeared from the room.

"Well that went better than I expected. I think I will accompany young Mr. LeBeau next week, sometimes those children can be rowdy." With that Hank exited the office, walking along the ceiling.

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RING

"Hello?"

"Hey Cheri, dis be Remy."

"Oh Ah couldn't tell."

"Thought you like to know dat Remy and Hank are commin' to help with eight kids from the institute."

"How'd you manage to get so many to come?"

"It was dis or a session wit' Logan Cheri."

"Oh. Well Ah'll see you at 10:45 tomorrow morning then."

"Great, goodnight Cheri."

"Night Cajun!"

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"Cathryn... open your eyes" From the second Chal opened her eyes she knew there was going to be trouble. Firstly she had taken her contacts out the night before and the mutated signature standing over her was John's.

"John? What the hell?"

"Shhh. don't struggle." the second thing that tipped her off that her day was not going to be good was the fact that she was tied to her bed.

"What are you doing?"

"What Sebastian told me too?" He had changed a lot. His accent more cockney than Australian.

"What time is it?"

"Its umm... ten thirty in the morning"

"Okay" Cathryn relaxed. Letting her eyes close and dropping her head back onto her pillow.

"You just relaxed why?"

"A group of X-men are coming to see me at ten forty five." She smirked at him, opening her eyes to watch his reaction.

"They are?"

"What's the matter John? You've gone pale."

"I'm not afraid of them," the tone of his voice was childish, she knew he was scared.

"Right."

"Cathryn, do you still love me?" This question came from left field and she sat up, as far as the rope would let her.

"What? No!"

"Why not?"

"Because you betrayed me."

"I did it to save you."

"You did it because its what Sebastian wanted you to do."

"I did it because I love you. I still do."

"So what do you want then?"

"Two things. One, take me back"

"No way."

"And two, the hell fire club is having a masquerade tonight."

"You want me to be your date?"

"No. We're going to have it here. In your upstairs ballroom."

"You can't tonight is the all hallows eve dance down stairs."

"We know. Everyone will be here at around seven for drinks. Dinner at oh, say eight?"

"You bastard."

"That's what I like to think, get it done Tear. If you're not ready tonight there will be trouble." He sneered at her, an ugly look on a once beautiful face.

"From you? I don't think so."

"Sebastian is coming."

"Shit" for the first time Cathryn realized just how much trouble she was in.

"And I think you can be my date tonight, wear something skimpy."

"I'm not your little toy John."

"You will be tonight."

"Are you planning to untie me?"

"Oh, yeah." John leant forwards, kissed Cathryn very soundly on the mouth and untied her from her bed. She sat up and moved to punch him. He grabbed her fist as it flew through the air and pulled her into a chokehold. John was enjoying having her struggle against his body. It brought back old memories.

"No Cathryn, you have so many things to sort out. Punching me isn't going to help you. At all." reading the threat in his voice Cathryn left her bedroom.

Leaving John standing there feeling empowered,

"tonight" he said to the empty room, "she will be mine."

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By the time Remy and Hank showed up at the club for their 10:45am appointment Cathryn was sitting in her office making one of a million phone calls. Remy grinned; her hair was a mess, pulled off her face into a messy bun with a pencil stuck through it. She was also still in her pyjamas.

"Hey Cheri!" se looked up from the phone and waved at him. Still continuing the conversation on the phone.

"Yeah, James. Ah'm so glad your there. I need you guys to come and play tonight. In the upstairs ball room." Remy sat on the edge of Chals desk and picked up the list of things she had scribbled down.

Serving Staff

Drinks Staff

Ice Sculptures

Other decorations

String Quartet

Catering

Seating Arrangements

Dress

Hair

Mask

Cutlery

Other Staff

Looking up from the list Remy eyeballed cathryn and mouthed

"Hellfire" she nodded and continued with the phone conversation.

"Ah'll need you here about six. You can, you are a star James you really are. Yeah Ah got a million things to do before tonight, have a good one, yeah Ah'll see you at six. Bye" She hung up the phone. Remy put the pad back on the table,

"When did you find out Cheri"

"This morning. John woke me up." She sounded tired and upset. Remy knew how much work she was going to need to put in.

"How long you got?"

"Ah want everything ready by six. Ah got maybe eighteen phone calls to make."

"John as in Pyro sprung this on you?" Remy raised his voice protectively.

"Yep."

"How'd he get close to you?" Remy was angry, he thought cathryn understood how dangerous Pyro was.

"Ah woke up tied to mah bed Cajun. Ah didn't have a choice in this either." She swallowed; Remy caught the glisten of a tear in her eye and moved around the desk to her.

"Stand up cathryn." She stood; he opened his arms and pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Your okay Cheri. He didn't hurt you did he?"

"No, he scared me, and Ah'm his date for tonight. Ah have to get a dress, and get all made up and, Cajun how am Ah gonna get through all this?" Remy stroked her hair.

"You'll get through dis Cheri, Remy gonna make sure of it. Remy guessing you got the instructions for what needs to be done downstairs all printed out with each individual assigned a fair number of tasks right?" she nodded, Remy knew her too well. "Den you give Remy de instructions and he will go downstairs and give dem to Hank. Hank can get everybody downstairs to get all dat set up for you." She extracted herself from his arms as the phone began to ring again.

"And what are you gonna do Cajun?"

"Remy gonna help you."

"Thanks." Lifting the receiver to her mouth cathryn answered the phone

"hello? Miles? Oh you are a legend. Ah'm gonna need at least forty people. You can? Excellent, send them round as soon as you can. Yep you and Jerry are gonna have to share the kitchen. It shouldn't be too much hassle. I'll have the number of people by the time you get here! Thank you! Bye Miles!"

"Caterers?" Remy picked up the pen and ticked the box next to the word caterers as Cathryn nodded. She pulled open the top drawer of her desk and handed Remy a sheaf of papers.

"Give these to Hank." Remy ran his finger down the list one last time.

"You got any idea where you gonna get ice sculptures?"

"None at all, but it was on the request list."

"Remy send up Bobby Drake later. He be able to help you wit dem."

"What would I do without you?"

"Probably go mad and get yourself committed."

"Been there, done that. Get moving Cajun." Remy saluted her with the hand the papers were in, the turned heel and wandered down the stairs. It was going to be a long day.

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