Roxie adored Grandfather just as much as he adored her. We stayed at the estate for another week, trying to find the woman who took my daughter. Victor told me as much as he could (or wanted to tell me) but while I could trust him, I couldn't trust him completely. Phoenix's alter ego was Jean Gray, the woman that James was in love with. So far, all I knew was that he infected Roxie with the virus that Phoenix had used to infect soldiers. Why she wanted to infect the soldiers Victor didn't know—or wouldn't tell me. Roxie told me that she could hear her 'friends' and wanted to know if she could talk to them.
"No, sweetheart." I smoothed her hair away from her face and smiled at her, concealing my concern for what that bitch did to my daughter. "You can go play in the gardens with Papa, if you'd like."
She grinned widely and jumped up from her coloring to run to find Grandfather. Lynx was snarling at me to find and kill the woman who harmed our baby and manipulated our mate. I took a deep breath and sat cross legged on the floor, trying to meditate and let Lynx take over. She was better at finding lies and following trails than I was. But if I lost control of her for one second, it could be fatal for anyone around. On the other hand, I needed backup and short of my family (who would be taking care of Roxie) there was only one other person I trusted right now: Rogue. If it came down to taking Lynx out, she could use her skin and at the very least, disable me until she could get away. Christien had taken a shine to Rogue, however, and I had a feeling that he would be less than enthused about her going with me. I was proved right when he barged in as I was trying to focus on controlling Lynx.
"You cannot take her with you." Christien snapped at me, the first and only time he's ever done so.
"I need backup and I cannot trust Victor."
"Take me with you but leave Rogue here."
I shook my head. "I would, brother, but you are not a fighter."
"I won't let you put her in harm's way." Christien raked a hand through his hair and took several deep breaths.
I didn't understand how I had missed it. I knew that they had been spending time together and Rogue was smitten but Christien's distress alerted Lynx and myself to the fact that he wanted to claim her. He wanted to mate her but didn't know how to vocalize it in a way without scaring Rogue away. I took his shoulders in my hands and made him look me in the eye. "You can come with us, but you must stay out of our way. I will allow you to protect Rogue but she is my friend. I will not let any harm come to her. Even if that harm were to come from you breaking her heart."
Christien nodded in understanding and went with me to retrieve Rogue. She smiled at me but her face lit up when she saw Christien. "Are you comin' with us?"
"Oui." Christien said then transitioned to English quickly and awkwardly. "Charlotte has agreed to let me protect you."
Rogue smiled wider and took Christien's hand, squeezing it gently then releasing it. I gave them a few minutes to get their things then went to say goodbye to Roxie. She was chasing a butterfly while Grandfather watched, chuckling as the butterfly eluded her each time she got close. "Ah, Charlotte, have you come to assist with the butterfly chase?"
"I can't." I smiled at my daughter as she ran. "I came to say goodbye then I'm afraid I have to leave. You will keep an eye on Victor, won't you?"
"Of course, my dear." Grandfather called Roxie to us and she bolted over, nearly knocking me down as she launched herself into my arms.
"Help me catch the butterfly, Mommy." Roxie's cheeks were flushed and she was panting.
"I will when I come back, dear heart." I kissed her forehead. "I've got to go have a talk with Nixie but when I come back, we'll chase as many butterflies as we can."
"Are you going to come back?" Roxie asked meekly.
"Of course I will." I assured her, smoothing an unruly curled lock behind her ear. "I'll always come back home to you."
"What if you don't? What if something happens to you?"
"Are you afraid of Nixie?" I asked, searching her eyes for the truth. With Lynx, it was easy. Roxie was scared but not of Nixie.
"I'm scared for you, Mommy. Nixie will be angry if you try to hurt her."
I put her down so I could unknot the leather bracelet on my left wrist and fastened it securely around Roxie's wrist. "Keep this safe for me and when I come home, I'll take it back."
"Promise?" Roxie asked.
"I promise."
-0-
The car ride was quiet but not uncomfortably so. Rogue sat in the passenger seat and Christien was driving, which put me in the back seat. Lynx hated to sit in the back, to not be in control, but I quieted her and Christien drove us to the address where Victor reported they had been staying. The apartment building had the general apartment noise but I sent Christien to search the grounds to make sure this wasn't a trap. He glared but he went and Rogue and I went upstairs. She pulled off her gloves and stuffed them in the pocket of her jacket, which she also took off and tied around her waist. She was protected.
The door to the apartment was unlocked and we entered the apartment. It smelled like fresh air and flowers. Clearly Jean Grey didn't like a messy house. The residence was spotless and I followed Roxie's lingering scent in the apartment, leading me to the room that she had occupied. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and as I entered Roxie's room, it hit me why. Jean Grey was perched on the double bed, a gun in her hand and pointed at me. "Hello, Charlie."
"Grey." I snarled.
"Charlie, I don't think anybody's here." Rogue's voice stopped next to me as she saw the gun pointed at me. "Dr. Grey, what are you doin'?"
"Rogue, how lovely to see you again." Phoenix took in her uncovered skin. "Learned to control your powers?"
Rogue just nodded while I glared at the woman.
"Wonderful." Phoenix smiled at her then said, with a sickeningly sweet tone, "Why don't you run along before I shoot you in the head as well?"
"Don't you dare harm her." I growled.
"Then she can leave."
"Go on, Rogue." I said sharply.
"I can't leave you here—"
"Marie!" I hissed, glancing at her quickly then back to Phoenix. "Get your ass downstairs now."
She paled at the sudden dangerous gleam in my eye and was shaking slightly as she turned away. Phoenix waited a few seconds after the door closed to speak again. "My plan was going to so well until your man backed out. He's next on my list but I've got to deal with you first."
"Stay away from my family." It was a threat and not a warning.
Phoenix smirked and stood, the gun still aimed at me and suddenly, I couldn't move. Lynx howled internally, clawing to get free of the invisible bonds that was holding us. The gun was pressed against my chest, nestled against the skin and bone that guarded my heart. Her voice was cold as she continued. "Roxie will never come with me as long as her mother is alive. Victor can be persuaded as long as there is money and whores involved but you." She chuckled. "You have to be the righteous bitch who ruined everything."
"You can shove it up your ass." I replied, unafraid.
"Your bravado can only last so long." Phoenix said. "Do you know what's in this gun?"
"A bullet?" My reply was sarcastic.
"Surely Victor explained them to you. They will kill you."
"He said he had them all."
"All except one." Phoenix moved her finger on the trigger. "And this one has your name on it."
The gunshot was deafening and then I dropped. Phoenix kicked my body as she walked out. I could feel the tumors growing, cutting off the blood supply to my heart. Pressing, squeezing, waiting for it to give out and stop.
Then it did.
-0-
Christien had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he waited for Charlie and Rogue to reappear. A gunshot and then hearing Rogue's scream sent him running faster than a human could've to the apartment. The metallic scent of blood invaded his nose as he entered and the sound of crying and stammering preceded the scene that horrified and infuriated him. Rogue had Charlie's upper torso in her lap, her arms wrapped around Charlie's shoulders, rocking the dead woman gently.
Wait a minute. She can't be dead.
Rogue was trembling as she rocked Charlie's body, sobbing as she looked at Christien. "I just found her. She won't—she won't wake up."
Christien nuzzled Rogue's neck, a sound that resembled purring resonating in his chest. Rogue found that it soothed her and she was able to calm down a little. Christien gently took his sister's body from her. "Go in the other room, sweetheart. You don't need to see this."
Rogue shook her head haltingly and shaking. "I don't wanna leave her."
He found a sheet and gently wrapped his sister in it, then carried her downstairs and laid her in the backseat of the car. Christien went back to retrieve Rogue, his arm around her waist and holding her close. Even after they were on their way back to the estate, Christien didn't stop touching Rogue's skin, settling for her hand. The drive was too short and too soon they were in front of the pack manor.
"Rogue, could you retrieve my Alpha and his mate, along with Grandfather?" Christien kept his voice steady but Rogue heard the minute crack as he spoke. He cleared the lump in his throat and blinked back tears. "Keep Roxie in the garden or in the ballroom but do not let her see-"
"I won't." Rogue promised then exited the car to do as Christien asked.
Christien felt his heart breaking as he lifted his baby sister from the car, cradling her in his arms as he carried her inside to his lab. He placed her on the empty gurney, unwrapped her, and wiped as much blood as he could from her body. Draping the sheet over the bullet wound, she looked as though she was merely asleep.
"Mon Dieu," Pierre gasped as he entered the lab, followed closely by Adelaide and Francois. "My dear Charlotte."
"What happened, Dr. Dubois?" Francois was all business and one wouldn't know that it was his daughter laid out with a bullet in her heart.
"I do not know. I was checking the perimeter. I can safely assume that it was Phoenix that killed her." Christien replied.
"My dearest diamond," Pierre smoothed Charlotte's hair and a tear fell onto her cold cheek. He wiped his tear away from her skin and, for the first time in the memory of the pack, Pierre Dubois sobbed. Francois and Christien finished their clipped conversation and then the Alpha and his mate left the lab. Rogue was waiting in the doorway and timidly, waiting for permission to enter.
"You may enter, Rogue." Pierre's voice was soft.
"I don't want to interude." Rogue's Southern drawl was a comfort to the two ferals.
"You are not intruding. I believe Christien is thankful for your presence and you were a kind friend to my Lottie."
They were quiet for a few more minutes before Rogue spoke. "How can a man not care about his daughter? His heart must be made of ice."
"Francois was not her father," Pierre said through his tears. "I am."
A/N: I apologize for my absence but my computer went the way of dear old Charlotte and I had to get access to one. Leave a review, please? I love them and they do let me know what you think.