CHAPTER 16
 

 He couldn't remember ever being this tired before. Gambit had to wonder if the dizziness he was feeling was from loss of blood or just mental and physical exhaustion. At least the gash across had stopped spouting blood everywhere. His head continued to spin, though.

 He barely caught the scent through his tired senses. The remains of cigar smoke and the outdoors. He knew he ought to know who smelled like that, but couldn't get his brain to worked straight. He turned to see Wolverine pushing his way through the bushes. Remy wondered if Logan knew he was there. Logan's back straightened as he caught Gambit's scent. He whirled around to  face him.

 "Cajun!" he cried. "There y'are. Cyke's got the whole team lookin' for you!"

 Remy took a precarious step toweards him. But his knees buckled. He would have fallen flat on his face had Logan not caught him.

 "I meant ta do dat," he offered.

 "Sure ya did, Gumbo," Logan snorted.

 He pulled the Cajun's arm around his shoulder and put his arm under Gambit's to help support Remy's weight. It was a little awkward  considering Remy was nearly a foot taller than Wolverine. But they managed. Walking slowly, he helped Gambit in the direction of the X-mansion.

 "Where we goin'?" Gambit asked dumbly.

 "The mansion," Logan answered.

 "I knew dat."

 "Yeah. Huh, right," Logan grinned.

 "You know somethin', mon ami?"

 "What?"

 "I t'ink dat was de worst horror movie I've ever seen."

 "Cajun?"

 "Yeah?"

 "You really been hangin' around Hank too much."

____________________________________________________________________________
 

 Robin stood in Alex's bedroom. A fire blazed in the ancient fireplace. She had had a hell of a time clearing out the dust to get the fire going. In her  slender fingers she clasped two pictures. One was of Alex. She had been pleased to get that picture. Most vampires couldn't be caught on film and Robin cherished the fact that Alex had been on of the few who could be. She had been standing next to him when it was taken, but no one would have known by looking at the photo. She couldn't be seen on film.

 The second was a polaroid of the young mutant, Remy LeBeau. He had been walking down a crowded street, his head turned slightly behind him so only the side of his face was shown. He had probably no idea the picture had been taken. Robin threw both picture in the fire. She watched silently as the paper curled and twisted in the flame. She would never forget why Alex was dead.

 Quietly she murmured in the darkness, "My vow to avenge thee, my love." The fire winked and spat in response.

 
      END?
 
 

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