The crisp air hit my lungs the second I stepped off the plane. I'd forgotten how cold it gets in Westchester. Been in the Bayou too long, I s'pose. I figured someone'd be here to meet me, but I didn't expect the kid. Jubilee stands there, a little away from the throng of people, watching me, waiting for me to come to her. So I did. My duffel bag is thrown over my shoulder, and the tattered remnants of my jacket hang underneath it. Its been a hard "vacation". She wrapped her slender arms around me when I got close enough.

"Hey Gumbo," she whispered, burying her face in the soft black knit shirt I'm wearing. I stroke that short silky black hair. I know she's trying not to cry, so I take her arm and lead her to what looks like Wolverine's jeep.

"You drivin' now, petite?" I try to seem interested. She smiles. Good.

"Yeh, Baldy let Rogue teach me," she suddenly looks embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." I shake my head.

"Hush, don' worry 'bout dat, it's over now," I assure her. Honestly, I still feel a pang every time I hear that name, but...she can't be with me, and that's what I have to live with. I get in the driver's seat, and wait for Jubilee to buckle her seatbelt. She looks tired. Really tired. Haggard even.

"When's the last time you slept?" I order. She looks at me funny. Like I'm the last person she expects that from.

"You sound like Scott." She comments. I wait for her answer, and she sighs.

"Not last night...I dunno," she slouches in the seat, and glares at the dashboard like it doesnt matter. I nod, feigning that I'm okay with it.

"I'm gonna stop an get a drink, you want sum'ting?" She seems to perk at this.

"Surge," she answers sweetly, naming the most sugary caffienated drink I know of. When we stop at the 711 she waits in the car. When I bring the can back, I open it for her, and in one swift movement drop a small amount of powder in the drink. She never even notices. Halfway home she's snoring like a bear.

The Mansion is quiet when we arrive. I carry her still unconscious form upstairs to her room and drop her in bed. Poor thing. Things must really be bad, if they're lettin' her lose all this sleep. Once I deposit Jubilee I head down to the Med Lab. Thats where everyone will be. Sure enough as I creep through the door all eyes turn to me. Wolverine nods a welcome. Scott tightens his jaw, but attempts a smile. Storm mouths "hi" and Rogue carefully looks at the floor. I dont know where Jean or the Professor are. In the bed lies a sleeping Robert Drake, trying to recover from massive wounds sustained while fighting the Brotherhood. His whole body is covered with burns. From Pyro, I assume. I wonder why he didn't Ice up? Beast walks in wearing his lab coat. He places a large paw on my arm before continuing to the bed. He checks Iceman's vital signs, and it must not look good because he purses those blue lips and turns a knob on one of the machines hooked to the young mutant. Wolverine beckons me to follow him from the room.

"Where's Jubilee?" he asked, as if he already knew the answer.

"Sleeping," I reply.

"You drugged her," he looks as though he's just making conversation.

"She need de rest," I finish. He nods.

"How's de kid?" I continue, looking back toward the Med Lab.

"Doesn't look good." I already knew that. They wouldn't have called me if they thought he was going to be alright.

"They attack de Mansion?" Wolverine nods.

"We caught one of 'em, that Toad guy. He's in the holding chamber downstairs." I follow Wolverine to the kitchen where he makes two sandwiches and hands one to me. He's being awfully nice. It's not like him. Jean walks in and pours herself a cup of coffee. She looks funny. Not like Jean at all. Her hair is messed up, and she's shaking, and she has that skittish wounded animal quality about her. Wolverine growls suddenly, and she takes her coffee and dashes from the room. I raise an eyebrow.

"The reason Bobby got hurt so bad, is cuz Jean used his body to save herself." Alright, now Im interested.

"What?"

"Toad was going to rape her. Pyro was holding her down. They'd already gotten a collar on Bobby, and were holding him. Jean freaked and took hold of Bobby's mind and forced him to jump at Pyro, so she could get away. She says her mind shut down, and she just acted on instinct." My eyebrows were raised almost off my head now. I turned to the door where Jean had exited.

"Jean...did that?" I was incredulous. Wolverine nodded. I could tell underneath his cool demeanor he was seething. I turned back, suddenly aware that Wolverine was still talking.

"Professor's on his way back from Washington right now, you mind goin' ta pick him up at the airport?" I shook my head.On my way back out the door I saw Jean again staring at the cold fireplace the still full cup of coffee in her hand. I shook my head. The world had gone all to hell.

My bike roared down the highway as I neared my destination. I could see the jets landing and taking off in the distance. I hoped the Professor wouldn't mind riding my motorcycle. The other cars had been locked down in the hanger, and I hadnt wanted to bother anyone to ask permission. He was waiting alone at the terminal. I inclined my head slightly as I made my way through the crowd to him. I shoved the dark sunglasses farther up the bridge of my nose.

"'Ello Charles, " I greeted him, immediately wheeling him toward the exit. The bald man's usually passive face was strained with apprehension.

"How is he, Remy?" he asked me. I could hear the fear on his tongue. I sighed, wishing I could lie.

"I 'tink it's just a matter of time," I said softly. I felt his whole body sag in the chair.

"Robert," he murmured. He held his head in his hands. I had never seen the man so weak, so vulnerable. I was almost touched that the trusted me enough to show it. Very few people trust me that much. When we reached my bike I carefully lifted him onto the back. I strapped his legs to the seat, and folded up his chair, strapping it to the back. This wasn't the first time I had to make odd accommodations on my bike, so I was prepared. I drove quickly because I could sense his urgency to be at Bobby's side. I thought about what it must feel like for him. Bobby was the baby of his team. The youngest. Even if he recovered, all that would be gone.

When we arrived, I lifted him back into his chair and stood on the driveway watching him make his way up the ramp and into the house. It was such a beautiful day outside. The
leaves were a myriad of colors: oranges, pinks, reds...the breeze was gentle, the lake water still with cold. I turned from the beauty of nature back to the Mansion that seemed to have a shadow of doom cast over it. My lanky legs carried me back inside and I waited in the living room for the news. I don't like watching people die. I knew it would be crowded in there anyway, so I just waited on the couch. After a few minutes I went to the Med Lab door and peered inside. Ororo, her cheeks wet with tears, came to the door.

"Not long now," she whimpered. Wolverine had his hand on Scott's shoulder, showing the man the first warmth Id ever seen him. Scotts head was bowed, tears streamed down his face. I nodded and ducked out again, heading toward the stairs. Jubilee would want to be here. When I reached her room and pushed open the door, I could see her slight frame curled around a stuffed doll. I think Shadowcat had given it to her along time ago. What did she call that thing...Bamf? I think that was it. I went to her side and carefully lifted her off the bed. Her eyes crept open as we walked to the stairs.

"Gambit?" she asked bleerily.

"It's time, chere," I said gently. I watched her tiny Asian features crumple.

"Bobby?" she clutched my arm. I held her tight as I carried her to her dying friend. She seemed so young. We entered "The ROOM" as I'd begun to think of it. As much as I didn't want to be there, Jubilee needed a hand to hold, and Wolverine was busy with Scott who's wife was not present. I didn't put her down, and she didn't try to get down. He porcelain arms rounded my body, and I knew she wanted me to dwarf her. To be a man, and take all the pain away. Ive met a number of women who want this from me, but never in this respect. Jubilee, like every other woman, likes to be safe. Her hand snaked out and caught hold of Bobby's. Professor Xavior sat at his right, his eyes unreadable behind the tears. Ororo stood with her face in her hands, completely silent. I knew behind her hands she was screaming. Rogue sat on the floor in the corner, completely alone since she'd told me that she just couldn't do it anymore. Couldn't feign that we were together when we'd never be. I knew what she meant. It had been too long for both of us. Too long, and too many secrets, and too many fights and misunderstandings. I hated to see her like this though. Her mascara had created black smudges beneath her eyes and her face was puffy and red. She hiccuped with a hysterical desperation, and the water poured in rivulets down her face. I wished someone would go to her. Hank stood over Bobby casting a protective shadow. I could see the tears in his eyes, but he wouldnt cry until it was over. I knew that the other teams had been contacted, but no one had arrived yet. The life beat has slowed. Bobby's face was passive, he'd never woken up after the fight. The wounds would never heal. The casket would be closed. Jubilee shuddered in my arms. Bobby sighed, and the heart monitor stopped beating. Hank moaned. Jubilee became limp in my arms. I looked down to see she had fainted. Professor Xavior sobbed. Scott dropped to his knees on the cold tile floor and was retching. Wolverine stood beside him. Maybe he finally respected the man. Ororo stood perfectly still, but I could hear the tempest beginning to unfold outside. Rogue darted away. I could hear the door open to the outside. I saw the young charred body in Beast's arms and a tear slid from the crevice of my demon eye. I carried the little girl back to her room and covered her up in bed. I wondered again where Jean was. I sat downstairs on the couch. Waiting. Wondering. Rogue came back, drenched and shivering an hour later. Storm's downpour was still in full force. Her lips were ashen, and she slid to her knees when she got inside. I went to her and brushed a lock of soggy hair from her face. Feeling like the only stable X-Man I picked her up and carried her to one of the upstairs bathrooms. Carefully, though I wore gloves and my battle-suit under my jacket, I undressed her. She seemed to protest at first, but she was too tired and too cold to really care. I ran the tub with warm water, and finished taking off her panties. Id never seen her naked before. She was a beautiful woman, but now I realized I wasnt looking at her with lust, I was feeling concern. Maybe the fire had dwindled away after all. I pulled her close, and lifter her into the bathtub. She sighed as her body temperature began to rise. When her face and returned to its normal color, I drained the bathtub and helped her out, wrapping a robe around her. She let me lead her to her room, and cover her as I'd done with Jubilee. When I returned downstairs, fully exhausted and in search of food, I heard Xavior. He was yelling at someone. I peeked around the corner and saw Jean. She looked worse than I'd ever seen her before. Her hair was matted, and face miskept.

"What the Hell were you thinking Jean?" screamed Professor Xavior. I could feel the rage coming off him in waves.

She trembled. "They were going to...they were going to...I just got so scared," she was visibly shaking now.

"You sacrificed Bobby!!!!" he roared. Jean shook her head.

"No, I just...I couldn't let them...they were going to..." she fell to her knees and vomited.

"Get out." Xavior said quietly. Her eyes widened, and he turned his wheelchair and disowned her.

I lit a cigarette. I wasn't supposed to smoke inside, but who cares. I lay in my bed, confused, exhausted. Jean was gone. I dont know where. I doubt Scott knows. Not that it really matters, he could never have forgiven her for what she did to Bobby. The others have been questioning the Brotherhood member they caught, Toad, but so far he hasnt told them more than a few bad knock knock jokes. I heard a noise outside, and a moment later Jubilee let herself in. She crawled into bed beside me. She'd been doing this for the last few days since Bobby died. I guess she doesnt want to be alone, though I cant imagine why she'd come to me instead of Wolverine. Well, yes I can. The first night she did this, she tried something. I felt her hand venturing somewhere it shouldn't be, and she tried to kiss me. I think maybe she thinks that eventually I'll be persuaded to do what she had in mind, but I'm not that kind of man. She can stay here if she wants, but I won't become a pedophile just so she can escape the pain the easy way.

The funeral is tomorrow. All the teams will be here. Bobby's family. I may not. Bobby was a good kid, and he didn't deserve this, but I'm not good with funerals. I can leave Wolverine to take care of Jubilee. I feel her hand sliding down my chest again. I almost dont want to stop her. I wish that I could get away from the pain for just a little while too. But I do, and my hand tightens around her wrist, and pulls her to a more appropriate place. Yeah, I'll leave in the morning. Maybe go back to Orleans...maybe somewhere new.

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