The Vengeful Soul

by Kerri G.

Part 7

Remy stirred restlessly, eyes blinking in confusion. A soft moan passed his lips. "Stormy?" He looked up at the face that appeared in his field of vision. "Charlotte?"

"Got it right that time," she said, brushing his hair off his forehead. "How you feel?"

"Better, I t'ink. Water."

"Good. Had to bring you back to the mansion, you were getting out of control. Hank thought it would be best." She held a cup for him, mopping up his chin when it spilled.

"De team --"

"They're not all here right now, so don't worry. No one's going to bother you."

"Wolverine say you protect me."

"Yep. It's an old Quapoan tradition. If you save someone's life, you are responsible for them. Personally, I never put much stock in that, people can live a hell of a long time." She smiled at him. "Besides, you're not that much trouble."

"Sorry, chere." He was trouble everywhere he went.

"Don't be sorry." She settled back down in her chair and took his free hand, the other had the IV Hank inserted earlier when he calmed down.

"Why? You never told me why you helped me?"

"Let me tell you a story."

He closed his eyes, too tired to feel frustrated that she didn't answer him again.

"Once upon a time, a relatively young woman embarked on a journey to a magical city to visit friends. They were very special friends. She'd made their acquaintance some years before when she was sent by the ambitious overlord for special instruction in the art of covert appropriation.

While she was in the magical city, a young boy attempted to steal her wallet from her coat pocket. He was a very handsome young boy, about 9 years old, and he had a very charming smile. She could tell he would grow up to be a very handsome and fascinating scoundrel with the ladies.

Unfortunately, he was captured by the woman, as she had special powers of her own. The boy wasn't worried about getting caught. He believed that he would be able to charm his way out of the situation, but the woman was very hard to charm. She insisted on taking him home and speaking to his parents.

Much to her surprise, the young boy's adopted father was the friend she was coming to visit. Instead of being punished for what he attempted to do, the father punished the young boy for being unable to steal her wallet.

She tried to speak to the father about the boy's actions, assuring her friend the boy would get better in time. Her friend knew it was very difficult, if not impossible, to steal from a telepath, so he relented his harsh punishment. Instead, he told his son and his friend that while she was visiting the magical city, the young boy would be her guide, her companion, her errand boy, and anything else she might need while she was there. During this time, he was to steal her wallet if and when an opportunity arose.

The father was a very wise man. His actions provided the young boy with an opportunity to redeem himself and practice his skills. Sadly, the boy was unable to complete the task.

The young boy was an excellent guide and he did show his father's friend many interesting sights in the magical city, most of which were probably not listed in the guide book as places to visit. He took her to hear the music, to where the best food could be found, the most interesting hiding places and escape routes that he and his friends used. They had a very good time.

When her time came to leave, she was very sorry to say goodbye to her friend and his son, but it was time for her to go. She promised she'd come back to visit but she never saw the young boy again. When she did return to the magical city, he was no longer there.

She always knew, though, in that vague way one knows inside, that she would see the boy again. She just didn't realize that one of those times she would find him on an ice field in the Antarctic."

It didn't register for a long moment, then his hand tightened on hers. "Dat was you?"

"Yep, that was me. Nearly 20 years ago."

"When I asked him 'bout you, de old man told me if I could steal from you I be a good t'ief." His shoulders shook a little with faint laughter. "I 'member I had a crush on you, chere. Henri laugh at me when I told him I would marry you when I grew up. I forget 'bout you soon enough, t'ough."

"Now I'm hurt," she laughed softly with him.

"Dat why you save a worthless life?"

"I went after you because you needed help, whether you wanted it or not. Maybe it meant more to me to help you because of who you are, but I would have done it for anyone. Whatever happened to cause the situation doesn't matter. To me you're still the young scamp that tried to pick my pocket."

"Not a boy no more, chere."

"No, you're not, but it might take me awhile to remember that. In the meantime, you just concentrate on getting back on your feet. Let me take care of all the pesky little details."

"Why de team let me back here?"

"Not all of them know yet, but I'm sure they will soon. I was set to take you back home, but Jean asked me to stay the night. Xavier is supposed to be back tomorrow." She glanced up at the clock. "Today. She's hoping he'll be able to defuse the problem."

"An' Cyclops okay with dat?"

"He's not here right now, but I can imagine he won't be too happy about it."

He looked down at their entwined hands and saw the knife on the bed. "Dere been problems?"

She followed his gaze. "No. The only one I had a fight with so far is Logan."

"Huh? He hit you, chere?" He thought they were close. Was the issue of his guilt coming between them?

"Not that kind of fight. We were just working off a little steam. You're going to have to make some decisions. Not right this moment, but soon. When you recover you'll need to decide what you want to do."

"Rogue here?" He had to know.

"No. Storm said she took off right after she returned from Antarctica. Bobby went with her. No one knows where they are right now." Hold the anger, don't let it out.

"De others?"

"Well, the only outright hostile person in the mansion at the moment is Angel." And, the gods bless him, he'd been doing his best to antagonize her all night, occasionally passing by the med lab doorway to glare at her and Remy. Charlotte found herself looking forward to another fight. Life could be good sometimes. Before she left, she was going to take him up on his challenge.

"T'ink maybe dey got a right to feel like dat?"

"No, I don't. I don't see anyone here pure enough to cast the first stone. When one shows up, I'll step out of the way and let the sinless one knock you on your ass. I may even hold their coat. 'Til then, no one's going to bother you until you're back on your feet and can take care of yourself. Then you can get the crap knocked out of you everyday if you want."

"You goin' to keep everyone away?" This delicate woman taking care of him, keeping away the bogeyman? It was enough to make him laugh, if it didn't hurt so damn much. It was enough to know he wasn't alone, much as he deserved it.

"Now, did I say they had to get through me? Storm's the scary one. Only the gods know what she'd do if someone hurts you."

Just past 8:00 am Hank looked over his patient, then his patient's keeper, peering at the dark smudges on Charlotte's face and neck. She slept bonelessly, like a child, the exhaustion finally overtaking her long enough to let her body rest. He gently untangled her hand from Remy's, which roused the Cajun to opening his eyes, and lifted her over to the next bed. It was a good thing he reminded her to adjust the door lock to allow him in, he'd never have gotten her to awaken long enough to lift the shield.

"Good morning," he told Remy. "How are you feeling?"

"Like someone use me for combat practice," Remy complained softly. "I hurt all over."

"You are going to hurt much more before you feel better," Hank warned.

"T'anks, I need to hear dat. Where's Stormy?"

"She's is most likely still asleep, the hour is still quite early for most after our late night activities. However, no one will be able to enter until Charlotte awakens and releases the lock on the door."

He gave Hank a confused look. "Lock on de door?" He could see for himself the door stood wide open.

"The only condition Charlotte imposed on Jean's request for her to stay last evening was that she psi-lock the doorway against any antagonists."

"She t'ink of everyt'ing."

"It appears so."

Storm got their attention from the doorway. "Professor Xavier has arrived."

The men looked over at the sleeping woman. "I believe the professor will have to await Lady Charlotte's convenience," Hank answered.

That should go over with the head man pretty good, Remy thought to himself, leaning back. Did she save his life just to have Xavier throw him out officially?

End Part 7.

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