Disclaimer: This fan-fiction is not written for profit and no infringement of copyright is intended. Betaed again by the wonderful Wanda W. Thanks!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

To be honest, Logan had been hoping he’d get to use LeBeau as a human shield.

It was the only reason he could conjure to let the bastard live, given what he’d done to Marie. But unfortunately, judging by his nose Gambit was actually holding up his end of their bargain. Leading them to safety and getting them the Hell outta Dodge. That being the case, Logan couldn’t actually make with the snikt. Yet.

Yet being the operative word here, bub, the beast within him growled. But you and me both know the swamp rat ain’t gonna be useful fer long-

He clenched his hands more tightly against his sides then. The atmosphere was so tense you coulda cut it with a knife. Behind him Kitty and Kurt were watching his back, Pryde bringing up the rear and almost completely phased despite the strain it put on her. Kurt teleporting every so often in front of Gambit and “accidentally,” spraying brimstone all over that expensive French cologne of his. It was weird seeing the elf being so vindictive, but then Marie had always been a favourite o’ his, what with his bamfing outta that jet t’save her. And the fact that she never seemed bothered by how different he looked. So Logan supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that he was pissed at the swamp rat bastard-

Not that Marie’s former husband was really reacting to the attention none.

Remy really was one cold bastard. Eyes kept firmly front and centre, one charged-up playing card alight in his fingers. Occasionally gesturing for a stop or nodding them through passage-ways so narrow you’d think a rat would have trouble fitting by, let alone a full grown man- But never slowing down. Wouldn’t even glance at Marie despite the fact that she was silent, eyes closed, limp against Logan. Soon as he’d picked her up she’d dropped outta consciousness like someone had flicked her off at her source. Not that Remy cared none. Logan found it scary as Hell: The sass and swearing were as much a part of Marie as her gloves or her Southern drawl, but now- It was like carrying a corpse across his shoulders. Her body pale, feverish. Breath coming so shallowly that another man mighta thought she wasn’t breathing at all. He didn’t wanna think on it but he couldn’t get the idea out of his head: Something was wrong with her. Something to do with Essex. Because even if she hated his guts, the Marie he knew would be fighting him. Showing claws and spitting bullets, and if she wasn’t-

Hell, if she wasn’t he didn’t wanna think on what he’d do. But he doubted Gambit would survive it. Or anyone else.

“Dat’s enough,” LeBeau’s whisper intruded then.

The Cajun gestured to a rusting metal door to his right. Making his playing card burn brighter. “We gonna have to step inside one o’ de labs,” he said, “Ah think they using de telepaths t’try catching up wid us-”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Kitty muttered.

“An’ for dat fine display o’ New York manners, petite, you get to poke your head inside here and make sure we don’t got no company, oui?” Kitty acquiesced gracefully: She flipped the Cajun one finger instead of two as she darted through the wall. Letting a beat pass, punctuated by some surprisingly colourful language, and then swinging the door open wide and letting them in. Wolverine sniffed experimentally- he wouldn’t have even thought about entering the enclosed space if Kitty hadn’t gone in first- and then gestured roughly for the Cajun to enter ahead of him. Making sure that he’d be surrounded by X-Men if he wanted to get stupid and play. Or betray them to Essex, whichever came first-

But Gambit didn’t move. Even though it was his idea, he didn’t seem to want to enter. “Haul ass, swamp rat,” Logan rumbled sourly, “You waiting fer a fucking invitation?”

“You say de sweetest things.”

“Do ‘em too.” And he slashed at the Cajun, sending him darting forward and nearly tripping over Kurt. LeBeau shot him an annoyed look but didn’t retaliate: The noise of a fight would bring the entire compound in here, they both knew that. So Logan made sure to smile extra pretty, even as the other man muttered vindictively about his pauvre con self. The room smelt stale, the sickeningly cloying stench of disinfectant and anaesthesia overlaying the iron tang of dried blood and piss. The beep and whoosh of heart-monitors ghosting through the dark, the green lights of computers flickering like lost souls. The walls were lined with containment chambers, glass coffins like the tank he’d nearly died in at Alkali Lake, and even without his enhanced senses, Logan knew those chambers weren’t empty-

“He don’t listen in here,” LeBeau said quietly then. His expression just for a second haunted. “Father, he don’t wanna hear the ones he sends here. It’s telepathically shielded, so we can rest for a minute-” His voice turned cold. “And try some damage control with Marie.”

“So something is wrong?” Logan set Rogue gently down by the door and placed himself protectively in front of her. Kitty was hunting through her bag for her comm, trying to send an update to Storm while Kurt watched the door. And Logan. Which proved just how smart the elf was-

The Cajun’s cold eyes met his. “Ah know what he’s doin’,” LeBeau responded evenly. “She bin inside wid him too long, he started t’get his hooks inta her. Dat’s why she’s being so quiet.”

“She calling him fer help?”

Gambit’s handsome face twisted into something ugly. “He makes us believe dat we’d all die without him. His way o’ making sure nobody tries to run.” For the first time his eyes drifted to Marie and he shook his head, disgusted. “She’s pleading with him t’forgive her for being taken away right now,” he muttered, “Down on her knees and begging-”

Without even thinking about it Logan’s teeth drew back in a snarl. “My Marie don’t fucking beg,” he ground out. “You got that?”

“Logan…” Kurt began.

“She don’t beg, elf. She just fucking don’t.” And he turned angrily away, hands clenched with the stress of not touching her because he didn’t wanna upset her. Didn’t wanna transfer what was inside his head to hers. He was so fucking worried about her… Her face suddenly grimaced in pain and his own followed suit. Kurt looked away at the intimacy of the sight. “Anyone wants t’insult my girl,” he rumbled darkly, “and they’re asking fer a gutting. Understood?”

Gambit snorted. “Yoh girl is mah wife, homme.”

“You never been any kind of a husband to her.”

Gambit’s expression got uglier. “She never bin no kind of a wife t’me.”

He was in LeBeau’s face again in an instant. Claws at the Cajun’s throat. “The fuck did you say?” It was so much easier to be angry at Gambit than think about what was wrong with Rogue. “You dump her soon as her mutation comes back,” Logan spat, “you get her involved with this fucking cult, you watch her being tortured by that bastard you call Father and now you talk this shit about her-”

For the first time that cold bastard façade cracked. “You don’t know nothing about dis, you self-righteous sonofabitch,” Gambit snarled, the air around him crackling with barely suppressed rage. “You don’t know nothing about me an’ Marie!” And suddenly he swung for Logan, his fist crashing squarely into his jaw, the blow more a product of frustration than intent. Knocking Wolverine back before he swung viciously out, his own temper taking over. The beast within him itching to make someone pay for what had been done to Marie. They tumbled backwards into one of the desks, the crash of their impact echoing loudly and immediately Kurt bamfed between them. Grabbed Logan’s arms, holding him back, before he could kill their only way outta Dodge. “Get back,” Nightcrawler hissed at Remy, “Get back, if you vant to keep breathing-”

“He no bother me, homme, he welcome to try playing-”

Kurt’s tail flicked out, striking the Cajun hard across the face, cutting his cheek. “You may not care about your vife, Remy,” he snapped, “but I vish to return to mine. Now valk avay.” Gambit flinched and the elf tentatively loosening his grip on Logan, now his temper was under control. Wolverine nodded to him, shooting Gambit a vicious look and then returning to Marie. Stroking the hair from her face, his sense of helplessness tearing at him worse’n the adamantium tank ever had done. If she didn’t come back to him… LeBeau stalked into the shadows, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Glaring across at Nightcrawler, but not saying a word. He looked pissed at the universe as a silence descended. An accusing silence.

Which Logan knew was everyone’s favourite kind.

“Ah love mah wife, Kurt,” LeBeau said eventually. Eyes on his cigarette. Mouth working like the words were bitter in his mouth. “Ah took care o’ her. Why you think Ah let dem keep me here when Ah could walk out? Why you think Ah never tell dem where she is when Ah can fucking guess?” And he shot Logan a vindictive, furious look, his expression almost feral. His face leaving no doubt that he knew exactly why Marie had gone back to the Wolverine. “Ah no care if her mutation come back,” he whispered. “Ah never cared. But the Old Reliable returning, it was a warning.” He shook his head disgustedly. “He reminding me de Family always come first-”

Suddenly he looked away.

“So Essex vas responsible for her mutation’s coming back?” Kurt asked quietly. It made sense, Marie had been well for four years even as everybody else died around her: There had to have been a reason.

LeBeau nodded. “He always wanted Marie. Said she was unique, good for the breeding programme-” Logan growled at that, he didn’t like it none but Gambit seemed beyond hearing him- “Wasn’t no accident, me running into her in New Orleans. Wasn’t no accident, me following her back t’Westchester neither. And so long as we were married, then mah baby girl was immune.” The black and red eyes met Nightcrawler’s fiercely, anger and shame fighting in their depths. Pleading too, like Kurt’s understanding could make it alright, but he seemed to instinctively know that absolution was beyond his grasp. Logan suppressed a flash of empathy at the thought. “Only accident was actually falling for her,” he muttered eventually, looking away. He couldn’t hold Kurt’s level gaze for long, but then few sinners could. “Dat wasn’t part o’ de plan. Ah did everything Father asked, but Ah couldn’t- Ah wouldn’t let him hurt her. Not de woman Ah loved.” Another card was glowing in his hands now- The Queen of Spades. He just kept staring at it. “Ah wouldn’t condemn her to de life Ah had,” he said. “Not Marie.”

And he let the card turn to ash in his hand.

“So you disappeared to save her?” Kurt’s prompted. His voice gentler than Logan’s would have been asking that question, but he seemed to realise that Remy needed to explain himself, whatever else his crimes. Confession being good fer the soul. Besides, if he was talking then he and Logan weren’t going at each other like a couple of rabid coyotes, and that was just best for everyone-

LeBeau closed his eyes. “Remy trying t’ throw dem off de trail. Got de ADA involved, knew Father would try t’steer clear o’ the Iceman cos he might smell a rat.” Logan looked up: Suddenly Bobby Drake’s visit to the Mansion made sense. He’d been tipped off to look into LeBeau’s disappearance. “Ah also knew once Papa Wolverine over there got word o’ what had happened he’d drag her back t’dat nice safe Mansion o’ his,” LeBeau continued. “Knew dat without me there Marie would let him. Dat’s why Ah left. Figured Father could tie hisself in knots chasing me, but ma belle femme would be outta his reach.” He gave a bitter laugh. “At least, Ah thought so. Didn’t realise de petite had gone and turned telepath til Amahl started making her see things. Creating dat damn pet shadow o’ hers, convincing her she was dangerous. Dat she would hurt her precious Wolverine.” His face twisted again, jealousy marring the handsome features. Now it was Logan who couldn’t meet Kurt’s gaze. “By de time Ah figured out Amahl had lured her outta de Mansion it was too late: She’d left wid de bastard t’come here.” His eyes rested accusingly for a moment on Logan. “Ah shoulda known she’d do anything t’save you. Mah wife always did love you.

But Ah try to save her anyway.”

Logan realised in that moment that though he didn’t like thinking of the Cajun as human, after this he might haveta start. Shit.

“Ah’m many kinds o’ bastard, Logan,” the Cajun muttered then, “and Ah know when Ah die where Ah’m going. Just like you know you going there too. But Ah wouldn’t hurt Marie, and you know it. You can believe anything o’ me, but not dat.” And he turned away, apparently needing privacy in his grief.

It was so quiet even Logan barely heard it. “Ah’m sorry,” he said.

It didn’t often happen but Logan’s sense of contrition reared its ugly head. Not because he thought LeBeau shouldn’t pay fer what he’d done all those years ago in Madripoor. Not even because he entirely believed the selfless routine: Remy had jerked Rogue around since the day they were wed. Made her cry, and that just wasn’t good enough behaviour if you were lucky enough to be married to Marie, in his opinion. But in this one thing, he had tried to act honourably. He had tried to save the woman he loved, at great cost to himself. Logan had to give the man respect fer that. Not congratulations, but respect. Because finally the Wolverine understood how come he’d never smelt deceit on LeBeau in all the times he’d seen him with Rogue: He loved her. He really, truly loved her. Just like Logan did. In this one small thing, they were the same.

Now that was a fuckin’ bone-chilling thought.

“Can she be saved?” Logan asked quietly then. He didn’t wanna ask and yet he had to know. They both did.

“Remy no sure.” Gambit shook his head, sighed. “Ah thought seeing you again mighta jerked her outta it. Can’t imagine Father’s instructions would be stronger than what she feels for you.” A bitter smile twisted his features. “There are hurricanes pack less punch than you two, Ah always knew dat.”

“She said I wasn’t t’touch her,” Logan muttered. “Said Essex wouldn’t allow it- And the thought o’ my skin on hers seemed to upset her. He tell that to all his girls?” And for a second he knew that Remy was thinking of Madripoor, of that poor little snow-made girl he’d killed. They’d killed.

They both looked away at the same time.

“Ah no think so,” Remy answered. “Programming means you never say no to him, but Ah’ve never heard…” And suddenly he trailed off.. Eyes narrowing. “How’d you track her here?”

Logan looked at his feet. He hated talking about this. “I got flashes of her,” he said. “Because we’re- Because o’ the link.” Gambit frowned, not understanding and he fought the urge to growl. How the Hell could he explain this? “The New Reliable takes mutations and flips ‘em,” he said eventually. “When she got mine last time it made her like me but- But different. Whenever she gets a mutation the New Reliable changes it til it’s more efficient than it was before. With her telepathy, I guess it figured we’d make a better team if we could link without skin-on-skin contact…” He trailed off. Suspecting that last bit came off kinda, sorta proud. Where was Hank when you needed him? Because that sounded like three kinds o’ horse-shit t’him-

But Gambit merely frowned. Curious. “Ah thought telepaths couldn’t get inside yoh head?” he asked.

Logan shrugged. “Marie can. She’s my-” And he stopped himself. He’d nearly said She’s my mate, but he didn’t think it’d be wise saying that to Gambit right now. Even if it was the truth, he didn’t wanna explain it was a Wolverine thing.

His silence wasn’t fooling the Cajun any though. “Like Ah say, more punch than a hurricane,” he drawled. “But if your link is strong enough t’work without touch, den Ah think Father was worried. Thought maybe you’d over-ride his programming if you got her back and opened up her mind. Can’t see no other reason why he’d give an instruction like dat, it’d be easier t’tell her to get close t’you and put a knife in yoh back-”

“Zat’s comforting,” Kurt chimed.

“Gambit only telling de truth.”

“So you think if he touches her it’ll jolt her out of it?” Kitty asked from behind them. She was folding the comm away, her written message to Storm apparently sent. Logan wondered how much she’d heard, though knowing the pum’kin, it was probably everything. Gambit nodded and her smile widened slightly. “So we open the link and Pod Person Marie goes away? We get the genuine article back?” She gestured to Marie’s barely-conscious form. “Then what are we waiting for? Lay one on her, sensei. Go on over there and wake Sleeping Beauty up.”