OBJECTS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

A knock on Captain Matthew Ess's office door, from a young officer in a blue suit, had made the man end his phone call to the mayor. "Come in." The slightly greying, late-thirties looking man sat up to his desk and snuffed a cigarette into an ashtray that sat atop a stack of 3 well-filled filefolders. His office had been small, and slightly cramped with numerous stacks of files and boxes that lined the floor. Cleaned out, it would have been at least the size of a small motorhome.

"Captain, you'll never believe who's sitting in Interrogation, right now." The young officer opened the door and poked his head in. He was mostly excited, but also tried to contain his joy from the curious captain. The clean-cut, well-built officer stood nearly 6 foot tall, and was somewhat lanky. His brown eyes sparkled with joy but calmed when the captain lit another cigarette and sat back in his chair.

"Who?"

The officer stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. "The prized posession of Jacob Collins- Remy LeBeau." He smiled as he said the name and then watched the captain stop what he was doing and stand up.

"Logan bring him in?" Ess walked around his crowded desk and avoided the boxes on the floor as he came to stand in front of the young man. His blue eyes blinked calmly at the man as his teeth bit into the cigarette in his mouth.

The officer shook his head as he opened the door and followed the captain out of the room. "He's in room 3. He just walked in and asked to speak to you. We could bust him and sit on him until Collins comes for him. Then, we'd have both of them." They stepped upto the door and stared at the young man inside, through the window. Two plain clothed detectives were in the small, empty room, with Remy and questioning him as if they had caught him doing something illegal.

"No. My guess is, Logan asked him to do this out of sparing the kid jail time. He came in on his own, we treat him with respect. Not many of Jake's toys make it through the door, let alone have the courage to wait for me. I don't know what Logan's got planned, but this kid is a Hell of a pawn." Ess stared at Remy before opening the door and entering the room. As he closed it behind him, one of the detectives was finishing telling Remy that if he didn't start talking, there'd be a jail cell waiting for him. "That's enough, Roberts. He's here on his own, so we treat him with respect. Now, if you'll excuse us, gentlemen, Mister LeBeau and I need to have a chat." He said as he watched the two men grumble and leave the room.

Remy sat in a chair, relaxed, with his hands neatly folded in his lap and watched quietly as the older man sat down across from him. The metal table that separated them was full of papers from a file that the detectives had gathered on the Cajun. He hadn't said anything to the other two, and was debating on even talking to the captain. However, he had promised Logan to make a statement in order to free himself from becoming an accomplise in the 'Collins' situation'. His auburn hair had been pulled back into a low ponytail, and his clothes had been a very high priced black Armani. Black sunglasses shaded his eyes, and covered the suspicious stare over the other man.

Ess smiled and reached out to shake Remy's hand and introduce himself. "I'm Captain Matthew Ess. I know you've been in my station before, but I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of meeting the most prized posession of Jacob Collins, before. I must admit, I admire your lack of oppression in coming here. But, then again, I guess in your line of business, I'm sure you take risks like this all the time. And, I'm betting our mutual friend had you come talk to me. Is that right?" He waited for the young man to accept the handshake and nod in affirmation.

"He tol' me t' tell ya 'bout Jake. But, I do it on one condition, no? Don' wan' t' go down wit' Jake. I help ya, you keep Remy safe, oui?" Remy sat forward and pointed to the door.

The captain sighed and started putting the papers back into the file. "I can't promise anything solid. However, I'm told you are trying to quit prostitution. I'll see what I can do." Ess stopped for a moment. "You're taking a very risky limb here, Remy. I'm sure Jake won't like you talking to me. But, you've always been gutsy, based on what I've read from your file. Getting caught, last year, with a US Senator and pleading innocent to drug charges while under arrest. You've also had a few run-ins with the FBI and CIA on drug trafficking and slave trading, but managed to talk yourself out of jail time. Being arrested for exhibitionism on a boat in the middle of Lake Pontchartrain. And that's just in Louisiana. Jake's way of life has made you a very rich little toy, Remy. Why go straight and walk away from your $90,000,000 lifestyle, just like that?"

Remy closed his eyes and took a moment to gather himself. "Jus' call it, lack of interest. Never wan'ed t' do all dat," He waved a hand at the file. "but I owe him all dat I've done fo' him takin a swamprat like me, in. No here t' tell y' wha' ya already know. Remy's here t' give yaes, es, if ya wan' dem." He reached into his inside left jacket pocket and took out a little black adress book and tossed it onto the table, making sure it landed in front of Ess. Leaning on the table and clasping his hands together, Remy let the seriousness seep into the conversation.

Ess also sat forward, and listened. "You have my attention." The man picked up the somewhat thick book with gold-lined pages and leafed through it as Remy spoke. A few names had caught his attention and a few others made his brow start to perspire. Still, he listened and nodded.

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A loud crash and an equally loud scream of pain disturbed the silent house. A frail and battered Cajun had been thrown against the closed door to Jake's bedroom. His right shoulder hit the door first, followed by his head before sliding down the door and sitting dazed on the floor.

Jake grabbed him and pulled him to his feet by the shoulders. Getting within an inch of Remy, he screamed at him. "What the FUCK were you doin at the cops' station?? I can't give you space without gettin a phone call from a friend, tellin me about one of my sluts goin to see the cops- willingly! Why were you even in town, without Logan?"

"Shoppin...."

"Bullshit!"

Remy cringed and turned his head away from him. "Saw somet'in happen. Reckon Remy should help out. Dat's it. Didn' tell dem not'in else." His nose dribbled blood, as well as the right corner of his mouth. His suit jacket had been taken off, and his shirt was torn open. The blue material of the cotton shirt had been stained from the blood that ran down chin, from his mouth, and onto the material.

Growling, Jake released Remy's shoulders only to grab hold of the auburn hair and push him to the floor before kicking him hard in the stomach. "Do I need to escort you everyfuckingwhere, Remy? You're pretty damn stupid! Goin into the cops' station, let alone wandering around town by yourself!" He was still yelling at the boy on the floor, before kicking him again and listening to a howl of pain from Remy. "You're still a whore to them! You always will be. Is there a brain is that fucking head, boy?" Jake reached down and grabbed hold of Remy's shirt with his left hand, and then backhanded him across the face with his right.

"Desole, Jake. But, was important, no?" Remy said as he was picked up off of the floor and drug across the room by the arm. Feeling Jake's rage, he hadn't made any attempt to let his own show through the cool facade as the door was opened and he was tossed into the wall, opposite the bedroom. He sat curled on the floor, wiping at his tears, and then picked himself up and headed down the dimly lit corridor.

He walked into the spacious kitchen and over to the icebox. Reaching inside and taking out an ice pack from the door, Remy stopped in midmotion and waited as the other body in the kitchen came closer to him. As he shut the freezer door and placed the pack just above his right temple, a hand was laid on his left shoulder. A sharp hiss escaped him as he was being slowly turned around.

"I had a feelin this would happen." Logan took in the sight of the passive boy. "You okay?" He asked as he rubbed a light thumb over the dried blood on the Cajun's lip.

Remy nodded.

Logan led him back to his room, which had been located down a corridor, behind the kitchen. Closing the bedroom door, and watching the young Cajun walk over to and sit down on the bed, Logan sighed to himself. He kicked himself for not thinking, in advance, what the outcome of Remy going to the police, would have on Jake. Now he knew, and it was too late to do anything about it. As he was now being watched, by the boy, he walked over to his bathroom and wet a cloth to clean the Cajun up.

Remy sat on the side of the bed, facing the door. He held the ice pack to his head and sighed. Closing his eyes as Logan sat down on the bed, beside him, he winced and braced himself as he was being washed. "I tol' him 'bout de party, an gave him de names, like y' say. Say he don' know if he can help Remy. Goofed too much, in de past, cher." He paused and placed the pack on the bed, beside him. "Tired of doin dis, Logan. Tired of bein here. When can Remy be free? When can he live his life?" Remy flinched slightly as Logan knelt in front of him and stared at the young man, who had started to tremble.

"I know. It'll all be over soon, though."

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Rachel knocked on the door twice before she opened it to find Jake's room a mess, and Jake nowhere in sight. Closing the door behind her, she made her way to the bathroom, where the vanity light had been on. "I thought I'd find you here. Did you and Remy have a lover's spat?" She stood in the doorway and observed her brother, sitting on the step with his head in his hands, and staring at the white carpet.

"Don't worry about it. It's between him me.\me." He turned to glance back at her. "What do you want?"

She took a moment to examine the situation. On the floor, in front of him, was an elastic band and a half-empty syringe and one of his sleeves had been rolled up. Kneeling behind him, and rubbing his tense shoulders, she debated on telling him where Remy was at the moment. "Aw, and I was hoping you two would be the perfect couple. What will you do if he decided to break it off and find someone else?" Her tone had become a mild sarcastic as well as sympathetical.

Jake folded his hands and held them up to his chin, resting them on his knees. "It won't be Remy that ends this. And, if he ever finds someone else, they won't get far. Why do you suddenly care about what happens to Remy?" He closed his eyes and listened, while letting her continue to rub his shoulders.

The vanity light had been inbetween bright and soft and stared down at them from over the mirrored wall. It hadn't really bothered the two so much as the light from over the small space that separated the vanity from the shower. She wondered why he sat in this room, instead of on his bed. She also wondered what the Cajun had done to upset Jake so much, that he needed help in "calming down". Working her thumbs down between his shoulderblades in a light massage, she decided to tell him. "I was just downstairs, and I saw poor Remy in the kitchen with someone. Remy looked terrible, and the other man thought so too. So, he led Remy to his bedroom and well...... I just assumed....... your toy is playing with another man,
brother dear."

"What are you talking about? With whom?" Jake stood up in a huff and turned around to stare at her. She had been somewhat too fancy to be ready for bed. He'd guessed she was still trying and failing for attention from the man she obviously wanted, but he hadn't cared. Her brown eyes sparkled into his, and the cool tones of her cream coloured evening gown accented her light bronze skin.

She stood up and smiled in a smug tone. "What if I were to say, the protectee was repaying his protector, in your own house?" Her smile faded as she was pushed aside and started following her brother out of his room and down the hall. "Jake...? Jake!" She called after him. "I'm not sure it's wise to burst into Logan's room while you're clearly not thinking straight. Whatever he did to piss you off, I'm sure he needs time to calm down, as well." She caught up to him at the top of the stairs and stopped him from continuing. She smiled nervously. "Besides, maybe it's good for him to work out his pain of the situation on someone else, before he comes back to you. I'm sure Logan is more than capable of getting the brunt of it. Just-.... think about how you intervine. Need I remind you, you still sleep in another's bed, as well?"

Jake lost all expression as she talked. She was right. It wasn't fair to Remy if he- himself- had another, yet told Remy he was Jake's, alone. His half-fried mind told him to continue on his first notion, but the realization of what Rachel was saying, told him to rethink the first. He sighed, but continued down the stairs in a slower fashion.

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Remy kissed the older man as they sat on the bed. His body was now turned towards Logan's and his hands had played at the soft white material of Logan's shirt. He moved to stand in front of the man and ease him back to lay on the bed. The kisses continued down to the older man's buttons. Taking a button into his mouth and pulling it off before raising his head and spitting it out, watching it land across the room, and then doing the same to the others until the shirt was open. His soft hands casually spread the material as his lips kissed their way down his chest.

Reaching his hands up to the Cajun's slender shoulders, only to be caught by the boy and placed over his head, on the bed, Logan watched Remy continue undressing him. He moaned quietly as the boy unbuttoned and unzipped his trousers with only his teeth. A warm mouth enveloped his erection as a hand caressed the base. The hand stopped only to return after a few moments as the boy had shed his own clothes. A tongue was working at him, sliding up and down mercilessly. Teeth nipped at the crown before the tip of the tongue stabbed playfully at the slit.

As warm liquid filled his mouth, his tongue had begun to spread it over the hard length. Another orgasm pushed it's wp inp into his mouth, and Remy greatly obliged a second coating. He stopped and stared up at Logan. His eyes glowed faintly as he stood up and crawled up, over Logan. "Shhh, cher... I make it feel so good." He whispered as his lips kissed the older man and his entrance was sliding down over the wet manhood. He broke the kiss and hissed in pain. He started a slow rhythm and stared into Logan's dazed eyes.

Remy's hands held Logan's wrists, and his tongue played with Logan's while his body was steadily increasing the movement to bring the man beneath him to another climax. His breath caught as he winced a few times as Logan had bucked his hips up, wanting a faster movement. "Easy, cher. I get dere, soon." He whispered into the mouth. He gasped and cringed as his pace increased, again. Breaking the kiss and sitting up, he began playing with Logan's taut stomach and chest.

Logan simply stared at him in mute lust. His fingers slid lightly up the slender arms of the boy, and down his back to the boy's hips. His senses were being pushed back to him, and his mind was being told to forget about the rest of the room and focus solely on the boy above him. Not that he had objected to it in the first place, but he wondered why. His thoughts were becoming jumbled and finally stopped as a tremour wracked his body and forced him to arch his hips up, again, into the warmth of the boy.

Panting, and accepting the man's orgasm, Remy bent over and kissed him. Snuggling into Logan's chest, and sighing as the older man wrapped his strong arms around him, Remy closed his eyes for a moment. "Ya hol' me, cher? Don' wanna be alone."

"Okay." Logan held him tightly and kissed the top of the auburn hair.

A few minutes had passed and Logan heard even breathing coming from the young man, telling him he was asleep. Easing himself out of bed, he excused himself to the bathroom.

Remy's eyes opened as he heard the shower start and a door close. A twinge brushed his mind and he sat up to look back at the doorway. The door was open, and Jake was leaning against the frame, on his right shoulder. His arms were crossed and his legs were crossed at the ankles. Their eyes met but neither of them said a word. He watched Jake like a hawk as the man came into the room and shut the door behind him. Jake's fingers brushed Remy's cheek and then his lips.

"It seems you aren't completely healed, my love. Yet you find the time to fuck my driver." Jake said, flatly.

Remy looked at him. "At leas' Logan won' hurt Remy. Feel fine, Jake. Ya better leave 'fore he comes back." His tone was hushed and nearly emotionless, he couldn't help letting the anger show through. He hadn't bothered with explanations of why he was in Logan's room, or even why he had romanced the driver. He merely sat there, casually, and watched Jake's expression.

Pushing the young man down, and pushing a finger between the slender legs, he slid the tip of his index finger into the boy's tight passage. He smiled as the boy hissed. As he removed his finger, Logan had come out of the bathroom and stood in the doorway. Jake smirked and sucked on his finger, his eyes never left the boy. As he turned around, Jake met Logan's eyes and they stared at each other for a moment before continuing. "I'll excuse this, this time. Again, I'll consider termination."

"Leave, Jacob." Remy hissed.

As the door closed behind the man, Logan stepped into the room and crawled up onto the bed to sit besiemy.emy. "What'd he mean by 'not completely healed'?" He asked, ending an awkward silence.

Remy shivered and avoided the other man's gaze. "S' no important."

"Does it have anything to do with those visits to Millbury?"

He cringed and nodded. "He heal Remy wit' a laser, but it hur's. But, Millbury aint de only one responsible for de pain. Y' remember ya took me t' see Xavier?"

Logan nodded.

Remy continued, in a hushed, embarrassed voice. "Xavier was helping Remy to overcome an addiction, no? Sex addiction. Poppa t'rew me out cause o' a certain power dat Remy has. Xavier wants sex, but only if Remy is clean. So, he do all dis stuff to Remy, an' make Remy act a certain way dat he don't want to. But, af'er all dat, he puts Remy on dis machine an' makes Remy sit, eat, sleep, walk wit' dese t'ings dat--...... dey hurt. So, I tell Jake, an' he take me t' see Millbury. He healed Remy but, hard t' recooperate when ya whole life is sex, non? De pain from Millbury was worse dan Xavier. Xavier never used electricity in Remy's--" His sentenced ended as a sharp pain stabbed at the back of his head. Logan was somewhat disgusted, but it hadn't been directed towards him. He also felt Logan's pure sympathy, and understanding of pain.

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The next morning, Remy was gone from Logan's room before the older man had even thought about waking up. When he did, however, a note was left on the pillow where the boy's head had lay. It told him a simple thank you in regards for trying to help the young man out of his perdicament. And that he was sorry for not staying. Logan examined the note. And then the handwriting itself. Beautiful fluid strokes with a tinge of shakiness in the letters. Painfully small and well thought out. The way the boy signed his name, with such delicacy and effortless strokes, it had been proven clear to Logan that the boy was still begging for help, but was afraid.

His phone rang from inside the drawer. He pulled it out and answered it. "Yea?" Logan sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with his index finger and thumb of his left hand, the phone was just barely held to his ear by the right.

"Nice little book the kid gave me. Best damn read I've had all year. You wouldn't believe who this kid's been fuckin. Charles Xavier, Senator Kelly, Erik Lensherr, not to mention half of City Hall. Plus, a few other names I recognise." The voice on the phone spoke immediately, pausing to turn pages as he read the names off. "I must be in the wrong business. All this kid has to do is make sure his dick aint broken and go to work. This case needs to be wrapped up as quietly as possible, Logan. The media will have a field day. All of our jobs are at stake, just by holdin this book of gold." Stopping to light a cigarette, the voice waited for the man's reply.

Logan cleared his throat and reached for the clock for the time. "Yea, well... our jobs aren't nothin compared to that boy's life on the line, just for handin that gold to you. He wasn't really happy to have to part with it. In fact, it took a lot of convincin to get him to even take the book. I'm sittin again till I see an opening. And, it just might be that one's been presented. Remy said somethin 'bout a party sometime soon. I figure, we could get most of them in one sweep."

The voice sighed in thought at the idea before eventually agreeing. "And, Logan...? DA is gonna want the kid to testify, if he wants left out of the prize. Which means, you're gonna have to bust him too, and then release him as a witness. IF all he did was sex, we can't hold him on the other charges. Logan, tread lightly on this. Jake is anything but civilized."

"Right. I'll call ya in a few days and let ya know the details. Oh, and, uh, have Hank stand by. I've been informed of a few things that he might need lookin into." He ended the call and placed the phone back into the drawer before shutting it. Getting out of bed and heading for the shower, Logan yawned. His mind went over the events of the previous evening, but found they were somewhat fuzzy to him, as if he had one too many. He remembered Jake had told him about Remy's kinetic energy ability, but what was the other power that Remy spoke of? Shrugging, he started the shower and then closed the bathroom door before stepping into the shower.

His head was slowly clearing. The only problem was that he still couldn't figure out why he had felt so fuzzy. It just didn't happen to him. He remembered bits and pieces like how the boy's kisses felt like soft silk and tasted like fresh buttermilk. The boy's body was also a blessing. Washing his hair and self, he found that his head was hurting at the slightest scent of soap. A headache was something that very rarely happened, at least to him. As he got out and dried himself off, his head had started to clear and he thought about the previous night. Jake had been so calm, as he stood there, at the end of the bed and stared at Remy. But why, when Logan was specifically told NOT to touch Remy at all.

As he dressed, a knock on the door came. Zipping his trousers and holding his shirt in hand, he answered it to find Remy standing there, in black jeans and black silk shirt. To top the outfit off, the boy wore big black shades over his eyes as if he were hiding something. Logan's eyes narrowed as the scent of blood caught his nose. "What happened?"

Remy didn't answer, but asked for Logan to take him somewhere. His voice was somewhat shakey, and his hand trembled as he raised it to adjust his shades. "I know someone dat might help. We take de Limo, no? She work up town."

Logan sighed and thought for a moment. He nodded and told Remy he'd be right out. "Where's Collins?"

"A car picked him up, half hour ago. He say he be back later."

Logan nodded and told him that he'd be right out. Closing the door and finishing getting dressed, he wondered where the kid wanted to go now. And, who he'd found to help. Shaking his head, Logan figured he'd know in a while.

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"So where to?" Logan asked as he waited for the gate to open.

Remy gave him the directions and then sat back in the seat. He caught Logan watching him in the rear view mirror, and reassured the man that he was fine. His expression for most of the drive had been unreadable to Logan. Not even Remy knew what he, himself, was up to. A name on a folded piece of paper, in his hand, was what reminded him of where he knew he had to go.

Logan pulled up to the tall, sky-scraper and got out of the car. He walked around to the right side, to let the kid get out on the pavement, instead of in traffic. As Remy stepped out, he told Logan to wait for him and that he'd hopefully be out soon. To which, Logan nodded.

Remy made his way into the building and past security. Slipping into the tiny lift, he pushed the 7th floor button and stood there, calmly. When the doors opened on his floor, he stepped out and walked up to the chest-high desk and asked for the person who's name he had written down.

"One moment, please." A young woman, slightly older than Remy, spoke to him before picking up the phone and talking to someone. "Ms. Munroe, a young man is here to see you. He says his name is Remy LeBeau. I'll tell him." Her blonde hair had been pulled back into a long braid that came down to the bottom of her ribcage. Her violet eyes met Remy's as she told him to have a seat, and he will be called in a few minutes. Her voice was something of interest. Light and squeaky at times, but pleasant nonetheless.

"Merci." Remy smiled and moved to sit in the middle of a row of chairs against the wall, to the right of him.

A few minutes later, a beautiful ebony Goddess opened the door to her office, behind the receptionist desk, and came to stand in front of Remy. "How did I know it would be you? Did he send you?" A creme coloured buisness dress with matching high-heels and long white hair done up neatly in a bun. She did look like a goddess. Her eyes examined Remy as he stood up and smiled at her.

"Non. He didn' send me. Need your help, girl. Please, we talk in de office, no?" Remy shook his head slightly and motioned to her office door.

She led him into her office and told him to sit down and explain why he was there. She leaned against her desk and folded her arms, awaiting his explanation. She had known his name, and who he was, but she had never seen him. He was quite handsome and well-mannered. Yet, there was some form of jealousy as she looked him over. "I knew Jake had been into beautiful lovers, but I never thought someone like you, in your profession, would be sleeping with my ex-husband. If you're here to gloat, you'll find yourself escorted out. I'm giving you 5 minutes to explain, and don't tell me he wants me back."

"Non, non, chere. I'm here t' ask ya, why y' loved Jake." Remy smiled, nervously.

The woman straightened her position. "How dare you! You dare to come into my office and ask me that question. Get out!" Thunder roared behind her, and lightning flashed, nearly blinding the startled cajun.

"Wait! Wait, girl. Remy jus' wan' t' know what Jake was like, before all dis. Didn' mean harm. Sometimes, in de night, he calls your name, chere. When he's angry wit' Remy, he tells me t' be quiet, only he don' say Remy's name. I know we're no friends, but was hopin t' at leas' find out if he loves me,- or you. Dat, an' I may need y' help." Remy held up his hands in hopes to calm her. He explained the details to her, about Logan and how they were about to bring Jake in for his numerous crimes.

She handed him a card with her name and office address on it. Telling him to bring Logan by the next day, and she'd consider lending a hand in Remy's proposition. "I'll see what I can do. You are a very gutsy boy, Mister LeBeau. Jake has certainly picked his prize well."

"Merci." Remy bowed and left her office.

As he walked up to the car, where Logan had been resting, he handed the driver the card and told him about who he had been to see. "Ororo Munroe is Jake's ex-wife. She told me t' bring you back t'morrow, an' you can tell her how y' gonna bring him in. She's a lawyer. Mebbe, she be on Remy's side?"

Logan nodded as he read the card. "Good thinkin, kid."

On the way home, both of them had sworn not to mention their outing to anyone. Logan was also becoming more and more worried about the Cajun, who had apparently put his life on the line to have his lover arrested. He wondered if the kid had even realised what he was doing, and how much trouble he had managed to sink into. Again, the kid's expression was as blank as a new piece of paper. The only hint of emotion came when they had passed a storefront window and a father and child were looking into it, at a trainset that ran. Logan caught the sigh and had to ask. "Why are you doing this? I mean, you said you'd never leave him, but here you are, tryin to destroy him. Some kind of redemption?"

"Oui." Remy sighed and continued to stare out the window.


TBC..... yep, again!