Remy was in surgery for over eight hours. They couldn't bring him to a regular hospital, not when his eyes would give him away as a mutant, so they flew him back to the institute to look after him. They flew in Dr. Cecilia Reyes to assist Hank, Jean and Mom in the surgery. I waited outside their small but well equipped OR the entire time. Others were there, but I hardly noticed them.

It was around the fourth hour when Lana came up to me. I was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, so she sat down beside me. Her lizard like, clawed hand laid on my shoulder.

"Hey Leah, how you doing?" Lana asked gently.

I shrugged. "I'm not the one in surgery."

Lana gave me that 'tell the truth, you twit' look and I sighed.

"I'm fine, just worried about him." I answered.

Lana gave me a hug. "He's going to be fine, Leah. There's some of the best doctors in there."

I gave her a weak smile, but didn't respond. Lana, of course, had no idea what kind of condition Remy was in or what his fate was going to be. She was just being her caring self by telling me what she thought I wanted to hear. Lana's just awesome like that.

I hugged her back, "Thanks Lana."

The waiting room began to fill again. Lana would have probably offered to stay with me, but other people wanted to come in.

"I'll be praying for him." Lana stated.

"Do you think it will help?" I asked quietly. My family wasn't religious, and I didn't consider myself as someone with faith. I liked to think there was a reason for everything and some all powerful being looking after me, but I couldn't believe it.

"Of course. I have a direct link to the big guy and he always listens to me." Lana replied with a smile. Seeing my doubtful look, she laughed and sang. "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so!"

"You keep praying Lana." I said softly. She gave me a little salute on her way out.

Hey, Jesus or God, or whoever, I thought loudly (as if that would make Him hear me better). Can you do me a solid and help the doctors save Remy? I really like him. At times, I think I…like like him. I really need him to be in my life. Please, let him live. He doesn't deserve to die because of me. Please.

Dad broke off his conversation with Angel to come sit by me. Instinctively, I leaned on him and he wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders. I tucked my head under his chin and squeezed my eyes tightly shut.

xXx

I was awoken by a slight weight being pressed onto me. I opened my weary eyes and blinked dumbly at the dim light that illuminated the hallway. Dad was still on the floor beside me, snoring (it didn't bother me. Since I was a kid I found his snoring calming in a way. It let me know he was nearby). I looked up to see Hank laying a blanket over us.

"Sorry my dear, I did not mean to wake you." He apologised in his calm, Oxford accented voice.

"It's fine." I said equally softly. "How'd it go? Is Remy-"

"We stopped the bleeding and repaired what we could." Hank answered. "We just got out of surgery a few minutes ago."

I checked my watch and saw that it was almost four in the morning. Hank looked exhausted, but before I could let him go, I had to know more.

"So he's going to be okay?" I asked, trying to keep the quiver out of my voice.

"He is stable." Hank answered. I let out the breath I'd been holding. "We do not anticipate any more difficulties with his stab wounds, though his recovery will take some time and will be painful."

"Remy's tough, he can handle it." I replied loyally.

"Of course. Our concerns are not so much as with his abdomen wounds so much as the ones on his face." Hank said sadly. "I'm sorry Leah, but none of us are plastic surgeons. We did what we could. And as soon as he's ready, we'll find him someone to help."

I hadn't even thought about his face. Well, of course I thought about it because I was worried about the pain he was going through and if his eyes were damaged. But I didn't think of what he'd look like after. All I cared about was him surviving. That's still all I care about.

"Can I go see him?" I asked.

"He's asleep Leah, as you should be." Hank helped me to my feet. "You can come back in the morning to see him if he's up to it. Now, let me help you to your apartment."

"But-"

"He'll be okay by himself, trust me. Dr. Reyes and myself will be sleeping down in the MedBay to keep an eye on him." Hank said as he led me away. "Trust us to look after him Leah."

"Okay." I sighed. "But what about Dad?"

We both looked back to where Dad was still snoring on the floor.

"I would wake him up, but I'm afraid he'd stab me." Hank answered, giving me a small smile. "Don't worry, we'll look after him too."

"Thanks Hank. I owe you one." I stifled a yawn and leaned on my godfather's large blue arm.

xXx

Hank left me at the door way of my family's apartment and we said good night. Mom was crashed on the couch, too exhausted from helping in the surgery to make it to her room. I brought her out a couple blankets and laid them over her, knowing how she hated to get cold.

I trudged into my room wearily. I kicked off my ruined heels, wincing as they rubbed my new blisters (not to self, even if you're on a date, wear sensible shoes because you are probably going to be attacked and will have to run in them). I was too tired to change out of my dress, which was in pretty rough shape after a run through the woods and a fight with Daken. Despite it being red in colour, I could still see Remy's blood on it. I was going to just sleep in the dress, but after seeing the blood, I changed my mind. I clumsily freed myself and kicked the tainted dress into the corner to worry about later. Wearing just my strapless bra and panties, I prepared to crawl into my bed.

But a sparkle caught my eye and stopped me.

On my bedside table was that damn ring. That damn ring Eric and I found years ago as children. It sat on my bedside table, it's very presence mocking me.

I picked it up.

While the stab wounds had obviously come from Daken, the injuries to Remy's face came from a different source. And of course it didn't take a genius to figure it out.

Despite my fatigue, I clenched my hand into a fist over the ring. I stormed to my large bedroom window and opened it. With all my strength, I threw the ring as far as I could. Looking down, I saw a timber wolf looking up at me.

I pulled my curtains shut and went to bed.

xXx

I made myself wake up, despite my longing to sleep longer. I wanted to see Remy as soon as I could, so I forced myself out of bed and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Trying to be quiet because Mom was still passed out on the couch, I left the apartment and hurried down to the MedBay.

I let myself in. The Bay only had a couple students occupying it (it always had one or two students. It seems like super powered teenagers have a knack for getting themselves hurt). I went to the section which had rooms for more critical cases. All the rooms had open doors, except for one. Since the others were empty, I knew which one Remy was in. I put my hand on the metal handle.

"Good morning Leah."

I looked over my shoulder and smiled. "You should still be asleep."

"Ah, I wish I was. But unfortunately, duty calls." Hank sighed.

"Poor guy." I said sympathetically. Nodding to the room, I asked "Do you know if Remy is up yet?"

Hank looked uncomfortable as he answered. "He is-"

"Great-"

"But he's not seeing anyone right now." Hank finished.

I frowned a little and Hank led me away. "Well, I know he's gone through a lot, but-"

But what? I thought.

"Are you sure he won't see me? Just so I can make sure he's okay?" I finished weakly.

Hank sighed. And from that sigh, I got a lot. In the past year, I had come to know my godfather pretty well, and I could read him even better.

"He won't see me then." I frowned.

Hank made a face and shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my eyes.

"What are you hiding?" I asked.

"Remy is still tired and under the influence of the pain meds and sedatives. I'm sure he'll be more agreeable in the afternoon." Hank reassured, though his eyes told me he was fibbing to make me feel better.

"Well, then I'll just wait out here till he feels up to it." I said stubbornly.

"No you won't, you got training." Dad said, coming down the hall. Cap followed him and waved at me in a greeting.

"You've got both of us today." Cap explained.

I looked between the three men, deciphering their neutral faces. They were hiding something. And they were trying to cover it up by distracting me by training with both my mentors.

"But Remy-" I started to say, but my mentors took me by the arms and practically dragged me away from the room.

"Will be resting. Now come on," Dad said, "we got work to do."