"Y' two go. Remy watch de petite." Gambit shooed Logan and Scott out of the Mansion. Betsy and Warren were on their honeymoon and weren't expected back for a few more days. Xavier was at a conference with Hank and Bobby in Colorado. Cable had been convinced to go visit Domino for the week. To be fair, he'd been caught by the unstoppable team of Jubilee and Gambit in matchmaking mode. He'd had no choice. Bishop and Storm were spending Valentine's Day in the city and Sam had taken Jubilee to meet his family.
The end result was the Remy was soon in the Mansion alone with both Rachels, baby and adult. "Don' y' have somet'ing t' do?" Remy asked as the adult version watched him critically as he fed what could possibly be her younger self.
"I am doing something. I'm watching a Cajun being out-stubborned by a baby."
"Brat." She raised an eyebrow and Remy was forcibly reminded of Jean. She noted the quick way his eyes left her face and wondered, not for the first time, if he'd had a crush on her mother. He concentrated again on persuading the baby to drink the formula, purring at her in French. Rachel didn't know French. Thus, she couldn't be the baby. "Go on. Go find y'self a boyfriend."
"I thought that was your job."
"Gambit need a candidate or two. Remy set y' up wit' a nice t'ief, non?"
"No."
"He be blond an' have muscles like y' brot'er. He be real lonely, chere. Don' know anybody."
"No thieves."
"Raven might 'ave someone. Remy ask her f' y'." He cooed at the baby again. "Tres bon, petite Rachel." Rachel rolled her eyes.
I refuse to be jealous of myself.
"Don' need t' get jealous, chere. Remy coo at y' too if'n y' wan'. Mebbe y' let him feed y' too?" He leered at her.
"I'm going shopping before this turns into something Dad'll kill you for." Remy snickered.
"Be fun t' ruffle 'is feat'ers f' y', Remy dink. Been too good lately." Rachel laughed.
"Thanks, but no thanks. You've got the com-link. Call if anything needs attention.
"An' send de Avengers, non?" She smiled.
"Works for me. Stay out of trouble." Remy waved her off. She shook her head. She couldn't help feeling that leaving him alone in the house would be dangerous. She mentally reviewed her room. She'd check for her jewelry later.
****
Scott tapped his fingers nervously on the table as they waited for lunch. Logan shook his head. Stop worrying.
I can't.
The Cajun's not gonna let anything happen to her. Ya know he'll fight with all he's got.
That's what worries me. He's more worried about the fight then just getting the baby and running.
He updated the security grids. Sinister can't get in.
Yeah. But what about the Marauders? They know him.
No one knows him. He's taken Creed in a fight before and he'll call for help. Just relax and enjoy yer steak.
Logan refrained from trapping the tapping fingers beneath his own hand. The waiter was getting nervous as it was. Yer scarin' the frails. Scott frowned at him.
I hate that term. Logan shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
What're ya feelin' guilty about now?
Arclight.
Ya hadta do it.
But…
If ya'd let 'er live she'da killed that gel. And if ya'd let 'er survive the fight she'da come after ya and killed ya. He paused. Or maybe the Cajun or me. 'Course we'da killed her. Maybe that'd've been better. Then ya'd stop feelin' so damn guilty. And maybe ya'd stop broodin'.
Like you or Gambit have any right to talk. Every time you lose it, you feel miserable. And Gambit broods. Sulks on the roof and not even Storm can make him come in.
The food finally arrived and silenced the tapping fingers.
****
Storm settled under Bishop's arm as the carriage plodded through the snow covered park. The snow was beginning to melt and the first few crocus flowers were poking their purple heads above ground. There were purple flowers braided into Ororo's snow white hair.
At their feet were their packages. The day had been pleasant and they had reservations at the Tavern on the Green for dinner. Storm hummed faintly too herself and snuggled closer. For warmth, she informed herself. Bishop smiled down at her. "You're beautiful." She blushed.
****
Scott relaxed as he dissected his steak. He and Logan chatted aimlessly over a lingering dessert. And for the first time in months Logan was blessed by a true smile from his mate.
****
Rachel dropped her bags and ran through the house. "Gambit! Remy!"
The den was in shambles. There were deep gashes in the paneling and a scrap of fabric was pinned to the wall by a throwing knife. She ran for the nursery. It was in the center of the house. The most protected, with extra security.
She found a smudge of blood on the doorframe. The baby and several of her blankets and diaper bag were missing. Rachel shivered at the wind coming through the open window. A single strand of red-gold was caught on the frame.
She took a deep breath and called for help.
****
"Creed," Logan growled. He sniffed at the bloodstain. "Fuck." His nose twitched. "He's followin' the Cajun's bloodscent," he explained.
Without another word he jumped out the window. Scott took the more orthodox way out and reassured himself he did have on his battle visor. Remy's bike was gone. He started the jeep as Rachel slid in with him.
Logan met them at the gate and took shotgun as Rachel crawled in the back with the carseat. The trail led them away from the city. "Where the Hell's the brat headed?" Scott muttered.
"Someplace where he can fight or hide," Rachel said.
"The cops," Logan contradicted.
"What?"
"They're all over this stretch. Maybe he's got a safe house around here."
"Tell me that group of squad cars aren't around a crashed cycle."
"Nope. Looks like a murder. Pull over." The cops stared at them. Logan waved one of them closer.
"If you'd keep moving…"
"We're lookin' fer a friend o' ours. He's on a motorcycle. Went up this way. Just wonderin' if there's any crashes ya know 'bout?"
"No, sir. No motorcycle crashes reported. Good luck."
"Better find him. He's got my daughter with him," Scott muttered and the cop grinned against his will. As they pulled away, Scott asked, "What did you see?"
"A cruiser. Two cops dead."
"Fuck."
"Creed?" Rachel asked.
"Yep." They rounded a hill and saw a house. "Turn in here." They pulled up to the house and were greeted by a disk of blue.
"Sinister," Scott hissed.
"Shit."
"Rachel, stay here. Call for reinforcements if we aren't back in half an hour."
****
Scott and Logan were surprised to materialize in a bedroom instead of the lab they were expecting. A bedroom without doors, Scott noted sourly. Sinister closed the book he'd been reading as the tesseract closed behind them. "It's about time. If you don't take better care of your toys you won't be allowed to play with them any longer," he chided.
Baby Ray was in an antique wooden cradle. She cooed at the presence of her fathers. "Where's Gambit and Sabretooth?"
Sinister smiled, revealing sharp teeth. "Neither of them would be pleased to have their names linked." A small movement in the bed drew their attention. A hand reached for the cradle that was next to the bed. Sinister shook his head. "The child is fine, Remington." He tucked the hand under the blanket. "Take the child home. Her three month physical is perfect. She is developing normally. I'll return LeBeau when he awakens."
"And Creed?" Scott pressed.
"Has made one too many mistakes. He has outlived his usefulness. He won't bother you again. Wolverine, I find myself in need of an assassin. Would you be interested?"
"No way, bub."
"Then, leave before I change my mind."
"We'll take the Cajun with us," Logan stated.
"You will do no such thing." Red eyes smoldered at them. "The boy needs rest. He saved your child's life."
Gambit sat up, rubbing his eyes with the knuckles of his undamaged hand. "Rachel?"
"She is well. Sleep now."
"Non, de ot'er one."
"She's waitin' with the car, Gumbo. Comin?" Remy blinked at him.
"Where M. Toot'?"
"The labs," Sinister stated.
"Y' gon' t' let Remy watch, oui?"
"I'll send you a video for your birthday." Sinister lifted Remy's bandaged hand and checked that the splints were secure. He settled the immobilized wrist back into the sling. "Have McCoy change the dressing on your side and remove the stitches when the marks heal a bit. Have him check your wrist and hand in two weeks, to make sure it is healing properly. Don't allow him to put a cast on." Remy made a talking hand. Sinister batted it away. "Do you truly want to go through physical therapy again?" he demanded.
"Non," Remy shivered.
"No gymnastics until you heal. Summers, take him off active duty until the claw marks heal." Scott raised a brow.
"Sure," he said.
"Can you stand?"
"Oui." Sinister gestured for him to do so. Remy wavered a bit and Sinister frowned. He shook his head and sighed.
"If you would learn to use the brain in your skull," he started.
"Y' wouldn' be patchin' Remy up, an' Remy'd've cleaned out y' computer banks an' made a fortune."
"Seconds before he died a slow, lingering death on the dissection table."
"True. M' boots?"
"Under the bed." Remy bent and pitched forward onto his knees. He refused to ask for help as he struggled them on one-handed. Scott handed the baby to Logan and knelt down to help him tie the hiking boots. He helped the younger man stand up. Sinister handed Scott the torn trenchcoat and disappeared.
"And we get out of here how?" Scott asked the thief. Remy sighed.
"Encule! Cul!" he spat at the place Sinister had been. "Dis gonna hurt. De car at de farmhouse?"
"Yes." Remy closed his eyes and looked for Rachel on the other side of the wall. He found her. He muttered under his breath and placed a hand on the wall. A tesseract appeared in the pink that usually signified Remy's charge. Logan was the first through with the baby. Followed by Scott and Remy. Remy lingered. He touched the wall and retracted the hole. v"How?"
"Partial graft," Gambit hissed. He slid down the wall. "Gonna need a hand." Scott helped him to the car. "Alo, chere. Enjoy y' shopping?"
"You're insane."
"But I get t' sit wit' such a beautiful femme." Before he could go for the backseat, Scott grabbed his collar.
"Keys." Reluctantly, Gambit handed them over to Logan's waiting hand. "Front seat."
****
"You. Me. Office. Now." Scott ordered. Rachel was settling the baby and Logan was flexing his claws. Gambit, for once didn't argue. "Sit." Scott settled behind his desk. "How long have you been making portals?"
"It's not teleportin'. It only work on a wall or somet'ing." Scott regarded him steadily. "TK augmentation. It hurts!"
"And?"
"Only f' emergency use. Remy already manipulate molecules. De hole be molecules movin' as fast as de air, dey become like de air an' den y' can walk t'rough it."
"So it's an application of your charge that doesn' explode."
"Oui… non, not completely. Also have t' use de TK dat M. Essex planted int' moi. Dat's what keep de touch o' de body from blowin' de wall out. Make a hole f' de body by pushin' de charged molecules away."
"Why did Sinister add the TK?"
"He… So dat if Remy get trapped, he can get out. An' get de ot'ers out if de com-link go out."
"The Marauders."
"Oui," Remy whispered.
"You still work for him don't you?"
"Non!"
He ain't lyin'.
Good. "Really?" Scott drawled.
"Non. De only t'ing he ask Remy t' do after Creed cut him up, is t' watch out f' Scotty an' Cable an' Baby Rachel." That startled Scott and Logan.
"To watch out for me?"
"Oui. Y' his hope f' de future. After… Thanksgiving he feared dat wit'out Jeannie he'd lose y' too. De last time y' lost her, he sent y' Madelyn. Dat didn' work out. Dis time he send de baby so Poc won' be watchin' f' her. One o' dem gonna kill Pocky.
"Why is he fixated on that idea?" Scott leaned back in his chair.
"Poc left him vulnerable t' y' blasts f' some reason. He dinks it be because he can' protect 'gainst it himself."
"What else is he vulnerable to?"
"Not'ing. Mebbe de petite Summers frer." He shrugged. "An' it be very hard t' manipulate de homme."
"You seem to do a good job of it."
"Lived and worked wit' him f' almos' four years. Didn't have a social life in college, 'cept f' Guild dings an' goin' t' art showings. Half de time he go wit' me."
"Why?"
"Couldn' control de charm well. Or m' charge when dere be strong emotions." Remy stared at the carpet. "Learned quicker dan M. Toot' when not t' cross him."
"Arclight called you 'pet.'"
"Oui. Dey all did. M. Sinister's favorite. Teacher's Pet." He shrugged. "Dat be before I actually work wit' dem. When Gambit be playing Remington Montgomery, lab assistant."
Baby Ray interrupted with a wail. Scott went to her. I'm puttin' the Cajun ta bed.
Fine.
How's Ray?
Hungry. Find out what painkiller Sinister gave him, makes him talkative.
Logan's laughter filled the link…. Kid says it's a mix of Tylenol and Advil and somethin' Sinister won't tell him.
Sounds like the stuff I've been taking for my headaches. Should come in handy.
TBC