Never Let Go

The parking lot became a battle ground in a matter of seconds. The X-men poured from the jet and engaged the incoming combatants with the intent to put them down long enough to get their teammates and get out. Growls and blasts clashed in the air and Logan turned from the four he easily put to the ground looking for his Cajun. He saw the cinnamon hair flashing as the lithe boy dodged a blow from Creed, just barely. The Canadian's heart swelled and he let out a roar as he headed for the shaggy feral.

Remy did his best to dance around the bigger mutant striking at any opening he got with the force of his staff. He was looking for the chance to hit Creed with a concussive blow. If he charged the bo just enough the force of the freed energy would shockwave the bigger opponent but the placement of the blow was important. Otherwise all he would do was knock Creed down.

Creed was toying with the boy and felt his beast growing more angry as he caught repeated pockets of the boy's scent, permeated with Logan's scent. He bared his teeth as he slashed at the kid.

"Spread yer legs for 'em like the whore ya' are?" he growled He caught the edge of Remy's elbow sending the boy shifting and putting too much weight on the injured leg. The Cajun faltered, his eyes flashing at the barbed words and then squinting as the pain ripped through him. He went to roll with his tumble and then suddenly Creed was hit by a blur of snapping teeth and flashing claws with the force of a mac truck.

Remy managed to bounce to his feet again but the effort had hurt like a son of a bitch, he leaned on his staff panting through the intense throbbing as Logan pinned Creed to the pavement with his claws through the bigger feral's shoulders.

"So bub, do I rip yer head off now or do I let the fearless leader blast ya to a pile of ash?" Logan asked in a grin of sharp teeth. He played on the fact that Creed had a harder time fighting off Cyke's laser blasts. There was a final sound of scuffling and thumps, then Bobby appeared at Remy's side. "Hey, you ok, man?" he asked his worry tinging his voice. Remy looked at the blonde boy with an arched brow.

"Oui, Bobby, jus' need ta catch my breath." he said and wondered at the frozen mutant's apparent concern for the Cajun. The Iceman clapped the thief on the shoulder and then nodded as he saw Beast approaching as well.

"Ok, I'll let Henry look after you while I go get your bike on the jet." he said giving the redhead a friendly look and smiled wide. Remy was a bit shocked but nodded at the boy.

"T-Tanks Bobby." he said and then looked back to his lover still holding Creed to the ground. Scott had made sure the other attackers had been grounded before sending Jubilee and Storm to ready a quick departure. He and Hank went to retrieve the missing team mates while Bobby hefted the bike and rolled it toward the gangplank.

"Wolverine, hold him for a few more minutes." Cyclopes said in his leader voice. He turned to look the Cajun over for a few seconds and then nodded to the boy.

"Gambit, go with Beast and let him tend to your injury." he said. Remy was further stunned by the team's attention on him. Remy's first instinct was to resist though to be honest the Cajun knew he was feeling the strain of the fight. His leg was wet with the blood oozing from the reopened gashes in his flesh. He was feeling the trembling in the muscles and he could only lift his chin in defiance.

"Don' let him go Cyke, he is lookin' to cause damage. He ain't gonna stop at de innocent people in dis town." he said as Beast reached him grasping the boy by the arm and looking him over. The blue mutant could smell the blood on the boy. Though not as sensitive as Logan's, Henry's nose could smell a great deal on the Cajun and his eyes flashed to the feral still pinning Creed down.

"Ahem, this way my cajun friend." he said, a small smirk turning the corners of his mouth up. Remy looked to resist and Beast simply picked the smaller man up and tossed him over his shoulder. While the doctor distracted the boy Scott bent to jab the dart of sedative into Creed's neck. Logan locked his eyes on the yellow ones as they began to droop. Once the big feral was out Logan pulled back and retracted his claws. Scott handed him a pair of genoshian cuffs and then nodded his head.

"Cuff him and we will take him into custody. Gambit is right, he will tear apart this town in his anger at losing his prey." Logan blinked and then shrugged at the younger mutant's apparent understanding of how a feral's rage worked. Scott gave a slight smirk.

"I haven't been just ignoring you all these years, I've picked up a few things." he said making Logan chuckle as he cuffed Creed and they both lifted his lax body and carried him to the jet. Once they cleared the gangplank Storm began to lift off. The sirens of the local human police could be heard rapidly approaching.

They dumped the unconscious mutant in the holding cell and went to see how Gambit was doing. Bobby had secured the bike in the cargo hatch before they took off. Now the icy mutant was standing at Hank's elbow as they struggled with the fighting Cajun.

"Remy please, just lie still and let me clean the wound, it's bleeding again." Henry said his voice infinitely patient with the difficult boy.

"Non! Where is Logan? You didn't leave him did you? Let Remy up!" he demanded, the exhaustion of the weeks of suffering, thinking Logan was dead and the events of the past few days had taken their toll on the resilient boy. The few hours of sleep had been a drop in the bucket and the fight had taken the little bit of reserve he had left. Now Remy was suffering exhausted hysteria. He was convinced they were going to leave Logan behind just as they had Left Remy in the deep freeze.

Logan could hear the boy kicking up a fuss. He shook his head as Scott gave him a strange frown. Shouldering past Bobby, Logan held up his hands palms out.

"Easy kid, I'm right here." he said and Remy visually relaxed. His hands stopped fighting with Henry and the boy looked Logan over.

"You ok Cher?" he asked in a small voice. His heart was coming down from it frantic beating fit. Nodding Logan pushed the boy back down on the exam bed.

"I'm fine, Remy. Now let Hank take care a ya. Yer bleedin' like a stuck pig." he said and then nodded to the hovering doctor. Henry watched the two with curious eyes while Bobby and Scott looked on it abject astonishment. The Wolverine was being...nice...gentle...and none of the three missed the slight pet to the boy's long red tresses.

Henry was the first to snap out of the stunned silence. he moved to the Cajun's bedside. "Ok Logan can you help him out of his duster?" he said as they pulled the long coat from Remy's frame. The large, wet, red blotch on the back of his leg made Bobby gasp and Scott grimace. The med area of the jet was not very roomy and with both Logan and Hank's bulk already taking up a lot of room it was cramped.

"OK you two go up front please, I need to tend to Remy with more room." he said and Scott nodded his head.

"Let us know." he said and pulled Bobby with him as they left the bay. Henry glanced over at Logan who was now easing Remy onto his side after divesting him of the duster.

"Alright gentleman, Let's take a good look at this leg." He said and moved to attend the wound.

****

The flight went by in sort of a blur for both Logan and Remy. Henry managed to stitch up the deeper parts of Remy's wound and bandaged the leg after administering an antibiotic the thief's body could process.

Logan stayed by his side the whole time talking to him and keeping the red and black eyes focused on himself instead of Henry's flashing needle.

Half way back to NY Creed woke up. He snarled and bashed against the cell bars screaming his frustration at the suppression cuffs. He caused such a ruckus that Scott had Beast dart him again.

'Ro called ahead to let the masion know they were coming back with their team mates in hand and a hostile to be locked down. Jean's concern could be heard in her voice.

"Bringing Creed here will cause big waves. We will have to be vigilant." she said handing over the coms to Charles while she and Rogue got the containment cell ready.

They landed as the sun was setting and the rust colored light lit the side of the mansion in an eerie manner. Once the Blackbird was parked and the engines powering down the team went into action once more. Logan reluctaly left Remy's side to help Scott with Creed. Jubilee ran ahead opening doors and clearing the way of any on lookers. Bobby and Hank helped Remy to the med lab despit his protests. Ororo shut things down and hurried to join the others.

In the detention wing of the lower level, the two mutants moved quickly to set the huge feral on the cot and then began to back out of the space. Once they cleared the threshold Rogue activated the forcefield and Creed was secured. Jean came to stand next to Scott and she reached for his hand.

"What are we going to do with him?" she asked and Scott looked from the slumped form to his wife. His mouth seemed tight and drawn.

"We are going to see if he can be helped in any way and if not...." he said and licked his lips nervously, a tick that was out of character for him. Jean's ginger brows pulled together.

"If not then we will hand him over to the government is what you are trying to say." She said and then others stilled knowing it was the last possible resort they wanted to stoop to but knowing Sabertooth's record it didn't look like they had much choice. Scott clenched his teeth and looked from the slumped form to his team.

"Alright, people. Constant surveillance on him and the cell. I want the mansion on alert, keep the kids about their schedules but be ready to get them out should he get free." the leader returned to Scott's voice before he left to speak with Logan.

In the lab Remy was sullenly submitting to a further inspection by Hank. The blue mutant could tell the boy mostly needed sleep. His gentle eyes turned to Logan and he nodded his head.

"I trust that if I release M. LeBeau to your care, Logan, he will be sure to get some rest and food?" the doctor said and Logan grunted in affirmative. Beast nodded back and then with a vile of pills for Remy to take, Logan helped the boy down and guided him toward the elevator.

"Tanks Henri." Remy said softly as they left the lab.

Scott caught up with them in the hall. "How is the leg?" he asked and Remy gave a brave smile.

"Take more den dat to keep dis Cajun down." he said and Logan grunted.

"He needs to sleep, doc's orders." he said and his blue eyes scanned Scott. "Yeah Slim, I know ya want a debrief, yer gonna have to come up and get his in his room cuz I ain't lettin' him wander about." he said seriously. Remy's heart pulsed warmly as his belly tightened. He hadn't been sure Logan would be so demonstrative of their bond.

Scott nodded at Logan's terms and then followed them up to the third floor. Once Remy was laid in his bed with plenty of pillows and blankets the pair informed the leader of all that happened since they had last seen him.

The story was full of questions on all sides and they were all left with a questioning and an unease.

"OK, then we will have to be ready for Sinister to counter, at the very least to get Creed back." he said and stood to his feet. His gaze moved over the pair and he seemed to find the match fitting. They were very much alike, both stubborn both haunted by their pasts. But where Logan could be stoic Remy could be light hearted and that was a good balance. They shared enough in common and had already been rather close. His mouth turned up in a rare smile. "Make sure he gets rest, Logan." he said and then turned for the room. When he reached the door he looked back smirking at Logan.

"Guess we both have a thing for redheads." he said a soft chuckle slipping out as he closed the door. Remy looked from the closed door to his lover with shock on his pale face. Logan blinked for a beat and then laughed deeply.