Part Eighteen
Several weeks later...
Cadie sat alone on the dock, thinking. *Y' got no
choice, y' know dat. Got t' go. Got Assassin's after you, T'ieves'
Guild gon' cast y' out 'cause y' failed. Can't stay here an make
trouble for y' friends. Won' put 'em in any more danger.*
She was so deep in her thoughts, she didn't hear
him approach. "Looks like somethin' serious, darlin'," he said softly
as he sat beside her, looking out over the water. "Wanna tell me about it?"
She looked away from him, out over the water. "T'ink
y' already know what I'm t'inkin' about, homme." She took out a
battered pack of cigarettes and lit one, silent. Wolverine grinned.
"Guess that answers if you mind if I smoke." He sat
with her, not attempting to touch her, or even speak. They sat in
silence for a time, until she got the courage to speak. He had to
strain to hear her words, they were so soft.
"T'inkin 'bout where t' go, mon ami. Can't stay here."
"Why not?" he asked pleasantly. "Thought Jeannie was helping you through this."
She rose and walked stiffly across the dock. She
wouldn't face him when she spoke. "Y' know that ain' the problem,
Wolverine. Yeah, she's helped me learn t' control a little better, an'
she's helped me with the worst o' my grief. But I still can't stay.
Please, jus' let me go, hehn? I slip 'way, no one ever know Cadie even been here."
He moved to stand behind her and gently placed his
hands on her shoulders. Not threatening, or trying to move her. Just
lightly resting his hands there, reassuring. "I'd know, darlin'. So
would the others. You're pretty special to Gambit, y'know. Gumbo'd
miss you if you left."
*Oh non. Please. Don' say dese t'ings, Logan. Can't
listen t' dem, can't let you persuade me to stay.*
She shivered as he rubbed lightly. "I can't stay here, cher, please don'
ask me," she whispered. "Too much danger for ever'one if I stay, non?"
He gently turned her to face him. "We look after our
own, Cadie. Always have, always will." He looked into her eyes, and
she looked away quickly, afraid of what he might see.
"I'm not one of de team, Wolverine. Not one of y'
own, as y' put it. Compris? Y' not responsible for what happens t' me, hehn?"
"You wearin' those lenses, Cadie?"
She nodded slowly. He took her chin in his hand and
turned her to face him again. "Then look at me," he said softly. He
kept her chin in his hand as she tried to lower her eyes again. "Cadie, look at me."
She gave in, tears sparkling in her eyes as she
looked into his. "Don' ask me t' stay, Logan, please," she whispered.
"Ain' safe, not for anyone. I got t' go."
He dropped his hands quickly and stepped back. "I ain't ever forced a woman ta do
somethin' she didn't want," he grated. "Suit yourself, kid."
She watched as he walked away, tears streaming down
her face. *Cadie, y' done it again haven't you? Gon' an hurt someone
'cause o' y' pride. When you gonna learn, hehn?*
She heard his Harley roar out of the drive as she
headed for the house again and sighed. *Hurt him bad, girl.* She went straight to the
room she'd been using and opened the suitcase she'd bought the day before.
She felt someone watching her and whirled, and saw
Gambit leaning against the doorframe. "Where you t'ink you goin,
petite? Y' stayin right here wit' us, compris? Gambit protect you.
Always have, always will. Non?"
"Not dis time, mon ami. Y' can't. Not 'gainst
Assassins. I got t' go, won' put ever'one in danger." She turned back to her suitcase.
He grabbed her arm, hard, and spun her around. "Now
you listen t' Remy, hehn? Y' be safe here. Y' t'ink anyone in deir
right mind gon' take on me an Wolverine both? Y' need t' be here,
chere. Y' don' need t' be alone wit' all dis grief y' feelin. An don'
tell me y' worked it t'rough, I know better. Nobody get t' you t'rough
de X-Men, chere. Y' jus' runnin away again. 'Fraid ta face somet'in."
"T'ink y' know so much bout me, hehn? Why y' t'ink
I'm runnin, den? I'm tryin t' protect you, an all y' friends. Dat's all."
He shook her gently, his strange eyes fixed on hers.
*Good t'ing I still wearin de lenses.*
"Y' runnin jus like y' always run, Arcadia Benoit.
Y' was runnin when I found you, now y' runnin again. Jus like always.
Too 'fraid t' face makin any kind a life anywhere. Stayin on de run
make y' feel safe, nobody get too close, hehn? Now we all y' friends
an y' runnin from us. We got too close t' y' an y' t'ink you gotta run
away." He dropped his hands and turned angrily. "Den y' jus go on an
run, petite. We won' force y' t' stay here. Y' jus 'member y' can
always come back, if y' want." He was almost through the door when he
turned and spoke again. "Jus next time, petite, use de door, non?" Then he was gone.
She sat on the side of the bed, considering his
words. *Is he right? Am I jus runnin away? But if I stay, what I do
here, den? Not part o' de team. Dey wouldn' want me anyway.*
#Cadie that's not true.#
She jumped, then settled again, and anger tinged her
thoughts. *Who tol y' y' could read my t'oughts, Jean?*
#When they are that strong, Cadie, it's awfully hard
not to. Why would you think we wouldn't have you here? You saved
Gambit and Logan both. That to me proves you have the heart for what we do. And we have
already discussed it. All of us discussed it. And we'd like you to stay.#
She sighed. *You people are very determined, non?
All right, I'll stay. On one condition.*
She could feel the woman waiting for her reply.
*Don' try t' keep me here, I decide t' go later, hehn? I want t' be
free t' go if I t'ink I need to, wit'out havin t' explain t' anyone.
Compris? Dat's my condition.*
She could almost see the other woman's smile. #I
don't see a problem with that, Cadie. You won't be a prisoner here.
None of us are. We stay together because we are a family. All of us.
That includes you, now. And I'm glad you're staying. I don't think you'll regret it.#
Jean's "voice" faded and she was alone again. *Now I
guess I should go after Wolverine.* She heard another bike in the
drive and smiled. *Dis end up like ol' times, Remy. Haulin y' outta
bar fights. An if I don' miss my guess, y' goin t' meet up wit' dat
pint-sized powerhouse, so I should find de two o' you together.*
[ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 ]
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