A Soul Divided: Part Eight

by Kerri

Jean watched Storm walk through the kitchen, a note in her hands. The weather goddess's face was sad and angry all at once. "Something wrong?" she asked.

Storm looked up. "No. Nothing is wrong. If you will excuse me."

Jean was concerned, but didn't pry. If Storm wanted help she would ask for it.

Cyclops sat in the rec room, a piece of paper in his hands. He stared at it, unable to comprehend it. Gambit walked by the doorway, then doubled back. "Hey, homme."

He looked up dazedly at the Cajun. "What?"

"Y'okay?"

"Yes." He shook his head to clear it. "I'm fine."

After a few seconds looking at him, Gambit shrugged and left.

Angel sat in his room on the windowsill, reading and re-reading the note he found under his door this morning when he awoke. The contents made him apprehensive, but he couldn't refuse. It wasn't in him to refuse. He looked out at the wide blue sky. Not in him at all.

Charlotte made her way up to the third floor, pausing to check if anyone was around. The hallway was empty. She tried the doorknob, it was open, and slipped into Gambit and Blade's room.

Wolverine saw her just as she closed the door behind her and moved back out of sight. What was she doing? He knew Gambit wasn't in there, he's seen him downstairs not that long ago. He couldn't have been that wrong about her, could he?

He waited until she left, sneaking back out with something bundled up in her hands. She looked up and down the hall, then dashed back off. Somethin's up.

Charlotte waited until everyone had retired for the evening, then went down to the Danger room. Unlike the workout room in her reality, this one didn't have computer hologram programs to simulate fight situations. This was a glorified sports arena.

She got inside, then quickly changed into the clothing she'd swiped from Gambit's room earlier, along with his bo. If she was going to do this, it had to be as convincing as possible. There was no way she could act like Blade, but dressing like her should help.

She did try to pick a more concealing outfit, but it just wasn't possible. Thank the gods Blade's clothes were a tight fit, she wouldn't be falling out of it. The one piece spandex had enough cutouts in it to qualify as a two-piece bathing suit. She was barefoot to give herself added control. She wasn't going to give over victory, it had to be earned.

Wolverine slipped into the control room to see what she was up to. He found her changed, the staff out and swinging, as she went through the practice motions. The lights glinted off the shiny adamantium staff as she spun it dangerously close to her back, her arms, her sides.

The door opened and Angel entered the room.

Oh, Lord, he was gonna kill her.

Then Storm entered, and Cyclops after her.

It was gonna be a blood bath. "Gambit, get down here, NOW!"

"Hi, nice of all of you to accept my invitation."

"What is this about?" Storm asked.

"I thought I made that clear." Charlotte gave her a look. "You all want a piece of me. Here's your chance and it's even your choice. Powers or no powers, weapons or not." She smiled grimly. "Three against one, I'm game for it."

"Even if we agreed to this, why would you do it?" Angel demanded.

"'Cause I can? Hey, I'll even give you first shot."

"This is ridiculous," Cyclops said.

"Aw, too much of a gentleman to hit a lady?" Charlotte swung the bo over her head and took a quick jab at him. He jumped back from it, then surged forward, fist ready to smash her.

She didn't block or duck. He pulled himself back at the last moment.

"You won't do this to me!" he nearly shouted at her.

"You want to blast me, do it!" she shouted back. Without warning she turned on Angel, catching him behind the knee. He retaliated with a blow to the face.

She pulled back and wiped her face. Her mouth stretched into a grim smile. "Well, first blood. Time to rock."

Gambit stood next to Wolverine in the control room. "What she doin'?"

"She's givin' them a chance to get even wi' Blade."

"Dey kill her."

"I don' think so. She's good."

"But she not fighting back."

She wasn't. Oh, she hurt each of them plenty, but didn't take the openings to press the advantage. She fought just enough to keep them going, waiting for one to get up off the floor before continuing. She bled from several open wounds, bruises were already forming on her face and body, but she didn't give up.

The fight was brutal, no one pulled any punches, but it wasn't long before they ganged up on her. She blocked one blow and didn't see the other coming. Angel's fist smashed against the side of her head knocking her to the ground. The room whirled around her in an amazing show of lights. Pain streaked through her head as she crashed into the hard floor, the blackness exploding behind her eyes. The staff rolled away from her outstretched hand.

Wolverine started from the room, but Gambit held his arm. "Wait a minute. Look."

The other three stopped the fighting when she went down, everyone breathing hard and hurting. Storm's uniform was ripped and bloody, as was Cyclops. Angel's skin showed bloody grazes and bruising. Not once had Charlotte touched his wings, they were still intact. Cyclops limped slightly from a blow to his thigh. Charlotte hadn't struck any joints, jaws or heads.

Storm made her way slowly to Charlotte's side and knelt down next to her.

Gambit and Wolverine both held their breath.

Storm brushed the hair from Charlotte's face. "I believe we should call Henry to come see to her. She is unconscious."

Charlotte regained consciousness gazing up into Beast's face. "Dr. McCoy, I presume?" she asked groggily.

"How do you feel?"

"It's not dinner and dancing, but what is?"

He looked into her eyes, checking her pupils. "Why did you take such a rash action?"

"Do what?"

He looked at her.

She sighed. "I had my reasons." She tried to look away, but his kind dark eyes wouldn't let her. "I ran Logan's words around in my head. He was right."

Wolverine sat up. He was sitting in a chair out of her sight, not sure if one of the others would feel the fight wasn't done. Gambit sat in a chair next to her bedside.

"He said I can't save everyone. I can't. But I can help some, starting with family."

Jean's face appeared over Beast's shoulder. "It was very dangerous. You could have been killed."

"Nah, never happen," Charlotte gave her a half smile. "I had backup plan B. Begging for my life."

Jean chuckled at her. Gambit patted her hand.

"When can I get out of here?"

"Not for a few days. You've got some nasty bruises, and I think you've cracked a few ribs."

"Not me, I think those were Warren's contributions to the discussion. I'll heal soon enough. I've got some more invitations to send out."

"No more. There is no one left here who hates you."

"Not me, Blade. Gotta give you, Logan and Kurt the same chances."

"No more." Jean repeated firmly.

"What about me?" Beast asked mildly.

"I think I'll teach you to wrestle Indian-style. You'll like it. No pain, lots of full body contact." Her eyes closed again.

Magneto stood at the door of the med lab the next morning. "May I speak with you?"

She looked up from the book she was reading. "Sure." She set it aside and waited for him to be seated in the chair next to the bed. Hank insisted she stay down, she insisted she get up and get some clothes on. They compromised. She was fully clothed and resting on the bed.

"I don't appreciate what you did last night." He touched the bandage on her arm. She didn't pull away; they were making progress.

She shrugged. "It needed to be done." She felt uncomfortable trying to explain her motives. She vaguely recalled him in the med lab last night, frowning at her like a disapproving grandfather.

"You didn't have to," he reminded her.

She looked away. "These people are not the people I work with, I fight with and love, but they are close enough to be dear to my heart."

"If we are unable to return you to your reality, would you consider becoming part of our team?"

A wave of anguish washed over her. "I can't think in those terms. A person with half a soul is no good for your team. The best part of who I am is locked in my reality. I have to get back, whatever the cost. I have Logan, my son, my friends. I have a good life there, working for something I'm trying believe in."

"Xavier's dream?"

"Yes. Peace between humans and mutants."

"He talked of it all those years ago."

"You never told me how he died. What happened to him and how did you come to have possession of his family home?"

"He was killed by the very people he was trying to help. He was trying to protect a group of people from an insane mutant. When the danger was over, the humans turned on him, killed him. He left me his sole heir. I tried to continue his work, but it grew increasingly difficult. The price we paid was too high."

"You just gave up?"

His eyes flashed. "I didn't just give up. I spent more than 20 years trying to make the dream work. It didn't, and it doesn't. Perhaps in your reality, but not here."

"I apologize, I have no right to pass judgment. I learned about your mutant rules and regulations the hard way the other night."

"I understand." He reached out and gently touched a scrape on her cheek. "You are the only casualty from last night's exercise. I've been told you didn't use your powers during the fight."

"Neither did they, which probably saved my life. I'm glad I didn't hurt anyone and even more glad they didn't kill me."

"You've given them something to think about. They all seem less...bitter."

"They are my friends."

"I am the only one you do not consider friend, am I not?"

"Actually, Magnus is my friend. He makes me uneasy at times with the way he can separate who he is from what he does. Here, you're not so bad." She gave him a slow grin.

He smiled back. "Good. Will you join us for lunch?"

"No." The smile was gone. "I don't think it would be appropriate." She wasn't ready to face the others right now.

"It is your choice. Please reconsider." He stood up, gave her a slight bow, and left.

[next part]

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