Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: This is a response to an lj prompt about Erik being hurt as Shaw flung him to the pipes. It will be Charles/Erik and of course AU.

Now beta-ed by Arcana Major

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oOo

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Charles struggled against the intense pounding in his head. The remnants of Shaw's dying conscience fading slowly. He could really have used some rest after such an intense experience. He had never felt someone die, especially in such an excruciating manner. However, there was no time to even think about that. So he managed with some effort to get to his feet and drag himself to the beach where the rest of his fellow mutants were fighting.

His arrival coincided with Erik's who was, effortlessly, levitating the dead body of his nemesis. Normally he would have felt him before seeing him but that helmet had cut him off.

No, Erik had cut him off.

Admitting that to himself made his heart tighten in his chest. He was afraid. Not of Erik, because he believed that the magnetokinetic would never intentionally hurt him. He was terrified of what that disconnection between them may mean and where it could lead.

Upon the sight of their dead leader; Angel, Azazel and Riptide stopped fighting, looking up at Erik with apprehension and a tinge of awe. Their expressions were partially mirrored by the rest of his own team. Although, Charles suspected his own held nothing but sorrow.

Letting the body drop, Erik started talking about brotherhood and union between mutants against humans.

But Charles was only listening in part, his own heartbeat deafening to his ears. He had expected something like this would happen. But he had clung to the hope that he could get through to Erik, like a drowning man to a life-preserver. The tightening in his chest increasing as anxiety seized him.

He observed the man in front of him move with slight, deliberate moves; his voice tight, probably due to the intensity of the situation. Erik's eyes were cold, colder than he had ever seen them, but there was also something else in them that Charles could not quite place.

"The real enemy is out there. I feel their guns moving in the water."

Please don't. Don't do this Erik!

He tried desperately to project the thought to his friend but found nothing. As if Erik was a void. An absence.

"...they are running scared my fellow mutants." Erik motioned towards the ships, "Go ahead Charles, tell me I am wrong."

That brought Charles to full attention. He eyed his friend carefully before bringing his fingers to his temple, trying to ascertain if Erik was indeed right and fearing that he was.

It took no effort to verify hisstatement. And Erik, who had been studying him carefully, picked up the sudden widening of his eyes as confirmation. As he nodded, Charles felt everyone's fear flare. Moira, who had been following him, turned on her heels and run towards the wreckage of their plane, no doubt to try and contact the ships.

But the missiles were released.

Everyone stared in fear as the airborne weapons quickly closed the distance between the ships and the island.

Then Erik raised his hand.

One by one the missiles froze in the air. Suspended as if by invisible strings.

It was to be expected that Erik would be able to do that after lifting the submarine but everyone let out a breath of relief. Not Charles though. He was too anxious now, he knew that this would be the most defining moment of his life. Everything depended on Erik's next step. Would he disable the missiles or would he retaliate?

As his eyes roamed the face of his friend, Charles noted the tightness of his lips. Suddenly Erik's effort to maintain control of the missiles was obvious in his face. The telepath now noticed that the magnetokinetic's hand was clutching his side.

"Erik are-" he begun but was cut off as he found himself gazing into his friend's eyes and something clicked in his mind, a recognition. What he had seen in Erik's eyes was pain, pain that he had tried to hide.

If it wasn't for that blasted helmet-

His thoughts were interrupted as an explosion was heard and the wave knocked him down and a few feet away. Immediately he searched mentally for the others and was relieved to find all of them, even Moira who had just returned to their side, safe but anxious. Their anxiety seeped into him and scurrying to his feet he searched for the one he couldn't reach.

His anxiety escalated to panic as he saw Erik on his knees, one hand supporting him, the other keeping the rest of the missiles in place. He hurried back to his side and with horror he saw blood coming from his friend's mouth.

Erik's eyes were slightly unfocused as they found his. Pain was etched on every line of his face.

"Charles," he spoke, the strain becoming evident from the tightness of his voice, "You have to leave. I don't know how much longer I can keep them in place."

Frantically, Charles shook his head as soon as the first words left his friend's mouth.

"No! Erik. No!" he almost yelled.

Erik coughed, blood spraying on the sand.

The missiles moved a little forward.

"Azazel! Please, can you help us?" Charles's desperation took control of him as he turned to the devil-like mutant. Tears pooling into his pleading eyes.

Hesitantly the man nodded. Relief washing over Charles, he motioned to the others to come to him. Quickly the linked hands. Charles grabbing Erik's before taking Azazel's.

Take us to a hospital.

He whispered into the teleporter's mind, not sure if he was implanting a suggestion or simply asking.

It must have been the latter since, he received a nod of agreement.

Then, they were gone.

The missiles, now released from their invisible hold, devastated the island.

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oOoTBCoOo

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