Betrayal - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Valerie Jones
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 26

Charles looked up at the polite knock on his study door. He called for the owner to come in and was unsurprised to see Cyclops step into the room.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"Of course not, Scott. Is something on your mind?" Charles pushed aside the reports he was reading. Hank's progress was steady but slow. If he had discovered anything remarkable, he would have hung himself from the ceiling fan and told Charles about it in detail instead of just leaving the papers on his desk. An errant thought returned to him and he hid his smile. The contractor who had installed the fans had wanted to know why he wanted his house to have structurally reinforced ceiling fans that could carry four hundred pounds of downforce. Charles had never explained since the poor contractor would probably have understood a blue furry mutant who liked to hang upside down while expounding theories far less than he understood the original request.

Scott settled himself in one of the chairs that faced Charles' desk, and Charles dragged his attention back to the present.

"I was wondering if you've decided what to do about Gambit," Scott said without preamble.

Charles had wondered when the question would come. "Is there something I should be doing about him?" he responded innocently. He was well aware of Scott's feelings towards the young Cajun.

Scott's eyebrows dipped. "I know you asked us not to say anything to him about this thing with the Witness, but don't you think it needs to be dealt with?"

Charles smiled to take the sting out of his words. "I think you're overreacting, Scott. After all, the Witness was nothing more than a danger room projection."

"Yes, but it still seems. . . . . suspicious."

"You were the one who cautioned me not to put too much store in the Witness, weren't you? Not to trust him?"

"Uh, yes." Scott was obviously uncomfortable with the questions. "But that still doesn't explain Gambit's actions. If he had concerns about the Witness, he should have said something instead of sneaking around and destroying the program."

Charles leaned back in his chair. "Scott, you have had two children, now, return from possible futures as adults-- Cable and Rachel."

Scott frowned at the new direction in the conversation, but nodded.

"And as I remember, neither you nor Jean reacted particularly. . . . rationally. . . . to meeting either of them, knowing who they were." Charles could tell from Scott's expression that he didn't like having to concede that point. "They represented futures that hadn't turned out the way you wanted, and I remember Jean often saying that Rachel's presence made her feel like she couldn't control her own future because it had already been decided for her."

Scott nodded at this, but slowly. He seemed to understand the point Charles was leading up to. Charles decided to spell it out anyway.

"Now consider that Remy has had to face a future version-- not of a child, but of himself. And I doubt that self is who or what he wants to become. I am sure he has felt much the way you and Jean have in the past when dealing with such things."

Scott sighed. "I guess you're right, Professor. I wasn't looking at it that way. I suppose I wouldn't be too happy to meet a future version of myself, either. Especially under these circumstances." Another thought seemed to strike him. "Do you think Gambit knows anything about this? Our. . . . deaths?"

Charles answered him honestly. "I don't think he knows anything about it. Not now, certainly. But I also believe that he sits in the very crux of the matter despite that ignorance. I think that was the warning the Witness was trying to give us."

Scott stood. "You kind of liked him, didn't you?"

Charles smiled. "Would it ruin your opinion of me if I admitted it?"

He didn't give Scott a chance to reply. "I think he is probably a very remarkable man. I would have liked more of a chance to know him."

Scott didn't seem particularly reassured by his words, but Charles left the conversation there. Scott was like a son to him, more so than any of his blood children had ever been. He was confident that Scott would eventually conclude, as he had, that Remy needed their support. And he would come through. Charles knew that Scott's few attempts to build a friendship with Gambit had not been as productive as he might have liked, but he had faith in Scott, that he would find a way to win the young man's respect. Perhaps even his trust. Gambit was, in Charles' private opinion, the most self-sufficient lost soul he had ever met, but still lost for all of that.

"Professor?" Scott was looking at him with concern written in his features.

"What is it?"

Scott shrugged. "Nothing, sir. You just seemed sad all of a sudden."

Charles waved his concern away. "It's nothing important."

"If you say so." Scott left quietly. Charles stared at the door for several long moments before returning to his work.