The Briefing Room was silent. Utterly, completely, and totally silent. Cyclops stared at each X-Man in turn, judging their reactions. "This tape was delivered by messenger early this morning. When he was asked, all the boy would say is that a big man with funny hands had paid him to deliver it. Cadie, Gambit, it's adressed to you two."

The two Cajuns exchanged glances, and the others watched a whole conversation being spoken without even a word. They seemed to have a body language all their own, but soon Gambit nodded to her and she turned to Scott. "Don' s'pose dere be a return address, neh?" she said lightly. "Y' can play it now, if y' want."

Cyclops nodded and started the tape, and everyone focussed on the viewscreen.

Sinister's face filled the screen and Cadie went white. Wolverine took her hand in his, letting her know he was there, not saying anything. Rogue did the same for Gambit.

"This is not a request, children," he was saying as she began to listen. "You two must return to me as soon as possible. I will allow you three days from the receipt of this message, and if you have not returned, there will be repercussions. Severe repercussions. I dislike having to resort to these mundane methods of persuasion, but as the saying goes, 'whatever works.'" He paused, and the view shifted to show a child of perhaps five or six sitting at a table, playing with blocks. Cadie gave a small anguished cry. "Return within three days or this will be your last sight of the child alive." The screen went dark.

Cadie sat still, stunned, unable to make a sound, not entirely aware of her surroundings. Her mind was racing. *Non, dis can' be, he tol' Cadie he killed de boy, he wouldn' have lied 'bout dat. But den how he get de film, hehn? He _must've_ lied t' Cadie, must've been plannin dis from de start. Got no choice now, an he know it. Cadie got t' go back.*

Gambit watched her, seeing what the others wouldn't be able to see, watching the subtle shift and flow of emotions on her face. He could read her because his empathy seemed to be fine-tuned when it came to her, as hers did to him. *Mus' be a fam'ly t'ing,* he thought, then quickly dragged his concentration back to her. Her face was drained of all color and he could feel her sinking deep into despair.

He took her cold face in his long fingers and forced her to face him, to look at him. "Petite, Remy take care o' dis fo' y', jus don' y' fret, okay?" he said softly, so softly only she and Wolverine could hear. "Remy get de boy out safe, y' know he can. Don' y' fret none, Remy take care o' ever't'in."

They both looked up when Cyclops spoke again. "There was a com-code included with the tape. You're to use it to contact him and give him an answer." He let the paper flutter to the table. *Times like this I really hate this job.*

#It will be all right, Scott. You'll think of something.# His wife's thoughts were laden with support and encouragement. #We certainly can't let them go through with this. He'd kill them. Or worse.#

#It's the 'or worse' that scares me, Jean,# he thought back to her. He was watching the scene before him, trying to formulate a plan. #And here I am, watching this poor girl's heart break, watching Gambit killing himself trying to reassure her, watching Logan getting ready to slice and dice somebody because someone he cares for is threatened. And I'm the one who has to make the decision whether or not to send them back or not. _I'm_ the one who has to decide whether that child lives or dies.#

There was a pause, and then she was back, obviously disturbed. #They both have their shields up tight. I can't get even a trace of their thoughts. They're so heavily shielded it's like they're not even there.#

He considered that, and then he spoke aloud. "Gambit, Cadie, you know we won't let anything happen to him. You don't have to do this. We can hit him when he makes the exchange."

Gambit looked around at Scott and shook his head, but it was Cadie's voice that answered, and he almost physically flinched from the chill in her voice and the hopeless expression in her eyes. "Non, Scott, dere won' be any exchange," she whispered brokenly and Logan growled as he put his hands on her shoulders. "He have t' keep Paul dere t' make sure Cadie don' run. An' Gambit, he won' go if Cadie can't. Been dere, done dat already. Dis time, Sinister win. No oder choice."

She gave a broken, bitter laugh. "Ironic, non? De one time Cadie need t' run away, she can'." She started to sob and Wolverine took her in his arms, murmuring to her, as Gambit placed his hand on her back.

"You've got three days to make up your minds," Scott reminded them. "Please don't give up hope yet. There's always an alternative, we just need to find it." He hated the words, they sounded so false, but they were all he had to offer them.

Everyone began to file out of the room, leaving Remy and Rogue, and Cadie and Wolverine to their grief.