AN: First let me say how sorry I am that it took me so long to update. It has been a very bad year for me and it's not looking to get better anytime soon. All of these family problems and other things have sent me into a depression and I don't feel like doing much. This is actually the first thing that I have written in months. Saw the trailer for the next X-men movie and I got my inspiration back. I hope people are still reading this. I am going to update Possibilities next. Hopefully before Christmas depending on my situation.

AN2: Charlie is a small cameo. I needed another mutant so I used her. The first person that tells me what she's from I will write a 'situation' or scene with the boys that they would like to see ;) No smut though. Sorry. Good luck!

Chapter 17 At Last

Things moved very fast after that. Within the hour after that phone call there was a large helicopter at the mansion and Erik was suited up heading towards it. He stopped when he heard people following him. He turned around and wasn't surprised to see Alex and Sean with determined looks on their faces.

"You boys can't…"

"We're coming with you," Sean said with his usual briskness.

"It isn't safe," Erik tried to reason with them.

"It hasn't been safe for Hank for months. I need to be there," Alex argued.

Erik let out a long sigh. He knew that it wouldn't be that easy to talk the boys out of going but he couldn't let them go along either. He hadn't lied to them when he said that it would be too dangerous. He could just see Charles over their shoulders looking anxious. He needed the boys to stay with the other man where he didn't have to worry about them. He hated himself for what he was about to do but it was the only way.

"You're emotional and you're still learning to control your powers. What if you lost your temper? Lost control of your powers? You could end up hurting someone on the rescue team. You could end up hurting Hank." By the end of Erik's little speech both boys looked stricken. Erik had a feeling it would have hurt the boys a lot less if he had knocked them out.

"Hank…he…ah…he's blind without his glasses. I had the Professor make these for him," Alex said as he reached into his pocket and pull out a glasses case. Erik took it and put it in his own pocket.

"I promise that I will bring him back to you," Erik said as he gently grabbed Alex by the back of the neck and made the boy look him in the eye. He didn't let go until he got a nod out of him. He then looked over at Sean and saw pure loathing in his eyes. He knew that after his little speech that Sean would never forgive him for. Whatever headway he had with the boy he had now lost. He would rather have Sean hate him though than have him or Alex get hurt.

Erik hurried into the helicopter. Time was running short. Even though they knew where the group and Hank was now didn't mean that weren't in the process of trying to get away. He knew that none of them would be able to handle if he returned without Hank and he was afraid that it would destroy Alex.

He looked out the window and watched as the three people on the ground got smaller and further away. The last several months had been a blur and he didn't have a chance to reconnect with Charles like he had wanted and now he doubted that he would. Whatever he had with the man was also lost. Erik had to admit that he was jealous of what Alex and Hank had.

He knew that Charles was hurt and he just left him there with the boys. Of course he had thought about them but he never contacted them. He was too angry about how things turned out. With how Alex was dealing with Hank being gone; Erik knew that Alex would never leave Hank injured somewhere no matter how angry. The same was with Sean. The relationship, no the family that they had created was what he wanted. It was what both him and Charles had wanted and they both had lost that. Sure he had met other mutants that joined him and there was Raven but he couldn't look at her without thinking of Charles as for the others. They were all so lost in their own misery they were too busy to really help each other at least on that level.

"Erik we need to come up with a plan. We'll be there in an hour," John said breaking into his thoughts. Erik looked over at the boy…man. It was hard to think of someone that was barely 21 as a man but that was what he was. John was the newest member of the group. His mutant power wasn't overly dramatic but it came in useful. He was able to see in infrared when he had his eyes closed.

"Can you 'see' from this far up?" Eric asked him. John gave him a cocky grin before closing his eyes and looking out the window.

"I can see a heard of twenty deer running below us," John said then opened his eyes and looked at him. "I should be able to see them through the building too if I try. It makes it easier to 'see' now that the sun has set. "

"From what my Intel has told me there are between twenty and thirty people in their group at a time. Hardly more and hardly less together at a given time but their number is at least fifty maybe more," Serena said. Her power was different and wasn't useful in a fight but it would be useful to Hank. Her power was similar to Charles but instead hearing people's minds she heard people's bodies. She would be able to tell from a single touch how hurt Hank was.

"Right," Erik said as he ran a hand through his hair. "You stay back then. You don't know how to fight and we can't risk you getting hurt." The woman pursed her lips but nodded in agreement. "And you…" he looked towards John and once again the man gave him that cocky smile.

"Don't forget that I know how to fight. I've been training in martial arts since I was four," John told him looking smug. Erik shook his head. He knew that John could fight but he was too cocky. He was worried that that cockiness was going to get him killed.

He looked towards the other two mutants that volunteered to join them on his mission. He hadn't known them very long and had met them while looking into the group that currently held Hank. They both had lost friends to them and had a score to settle. That made them helpful but it made them also equally as dangerous. It was their abilities that made them really helpful. Paul could teleport short distances and Charlene or Charlie as she liked to be called could start and control fire. Both of them though had a really good grasp of their powers.

Serena pulled out the map of the abandoned mountain hotel that they were using for a base and they went over the plans and going over different scenarios. By the time they did that they were already approaching the hotel. They decided to do a quick fly by to see if John could get a reading on the place.

"There's something wrong," John said with a frown as he looked out the window.

"What do you mean?" Erik asked with a very bad feeling.

"They just left. I can see the heat that their vehicles left behind," John said his face scrunched up in concentration as he looked at the building with sweat starting on his forehead. "But I can see something or someones inside as well. They look to be on the third floor."

"Damn! We'll have to split up. Land the chopper!" Erik snapped. The pilot did so without question. Erik wasn't really sure who he was but since Charles hired him Erik knew that the man could be trusted.

"We'll follow the vehicles," Charlies volunteered. Paul then grabbed her hand and there was a small swoosh noise as they disappeared down the road.

"Let's go check this place out," John said as he looked at the building his eyes still closed. "I see a heat signature on the top floor but it's faint."

"Do you think it's residual?" Serena asked.

"No it's to steady for that," John said as he opened his eyes. His normally pale eyes now were bloodshot and he had tears streaming down his face.

"You two stay behind me," Erik said as the three of them headed towards the building. "And John no more using your powers unless absolutely necessary." He knew that the smaller man was at his limit when he didn't argue.

The old abandoned hotel was dirty and had nothing left in. It was pretty much picked clean. Eric slowly made his way through the building with his gun drawn. He hoped that they would find Hank here or that Charlies and Paul would be able to rescue him from the vehicles. He would like to take one of them hostage and get information from them but Hank was their top priority.

"This place is terrible," Serena said with a shudder. "How could they stay here is beyond me."

"It may be terrible but it's smart. There's only one road that leads to and from it. Not to mention that it's in the middle of nowhere," John answered.

Erik hated to admit it but John was right. The group was smart. It unnerved him how they were able to avoid being found until now and they still managed to escape barely but it happened. It was almost like someone was warning them. The idea that there might be a traitor amongst them, Erik shook his head. He couldn't lose control. Not with so much at stake but if there was a traitor no matter who they were they would be dealt with. Harshly.

They didn't talk anymore as they cautiously made their way through the building. They had yet to run into anyone. He knew John said the place was empty except for that one spot on the third floor but it still made Erik edgy.

"Whatever it is, is in the last room down this hallway," John said once they reached the third floor. "Do you want me to 'see'?" Erik looked at the other man and saw how red his eyes still were but he didn't want to be taken unawares either. He nodded.

"They're still there and yes it is a person. It looks as if they are lying down and whoever they are their alone. Going by their body temp they look to be on the cool side," John said as he concentrated on the room.

Erik nodded in understanding. He then cautiously turned the doorknob of the room only to find it locked. It was a cheap lock and only to a second for him to use he powers and destroy it. He slowly pushed the door open and peaked inside. He immediately put his gun away and hurried in the room.

Hank was lying on what to be a very hard cold metal table half cover with a thin dirty sheet. That was troubling enough but had him really worried, for all of them, was the condition that Hank was in. He looked considerable different than the last time he had seen him.

"Is that Hank?" Serena asked as she hurried over to the boy. Erik nodded as he looked down at him. "But he…what did they do to him?"

"I don't know but those bastards will pay for it," Erik growled.

"They even have him strapped down," John said as he began undoing the straps holding the boy's ankles. Erik then noticed for the first time that his wrists were held down by leather straps. He was so upset by what they had done to the boy he had failed to notice that small detail. He undid the strips and swore when he saw had red and raw Hank's wrists were.

"How bad off is he?" Erik as he ran his fingers through the boy's hair in a fatherly fashion.

"He's very malnourished and underweight. His heart rate and breathing are on the slow side but steady. John he's freezing see if you can find some blankets. Clean ones if you can."

"On it," John said as he quickly left the room. Serena didn't speak again until he was out of hearing range.

"There's something else," Erik said not liking the look on the woman's face. She bit her lip and nodded.

"I can't quite tell what they did but it's like they tried to change him…something with his blood," the woman said quietly. "I think they might have been trying to…"

"Cure him," Erik said as he looked down at the still quiet boy. It would make sense going by Hank's appearance. He looked almost like he did when Erik first meet him. What most people would consider normal. Except for the fact that his hair was still blue and fur still covered a good portion of his body. It started at his lower chest and went down until a little past his knees.

"I brought some blankets. I actually found a linen closet so they should still be fairly clean," John said as he hesitantly stepped into the room. "Is the kid going to be okay?"

"He will be," Erik said as he took the clean blankets and gently began to wrap them around Hank that being when the boy began to stir and soon opened a bright pair of yellow eyes. Hank's body went tense.

"It's alright," Serena said calmly. It didn't seem to work though as Hank's body became even more rigid. Remembering what Alex said about Hank being blind without his glasses. He reached into his pocket and pulled them out.

"Hank its Erik," he told the boy as he carefully slipped them on his face.

"Erik?" Hank asked as his eyes came into focus. "Must be dreaming."

"No I'm real and I've come to get you out of here," Erik told him.

"Alex? Sean? Where are they?" Hank asked his eyes blinking tiredly. "Did they get them?"

"No they never got them. They're safe," Erik reassured the boy.

"Safe?" Hank asked again.

"Yes. I promise," Erik told him. With that said Hank once again slipped to unconsciousness.

"With everything he's been through and how much pain he's in his first thought is for his friends," John said in amazement.

"That's what happens when you form ties with people. Their needs come before your own," Erik said as once again wrapped the boy in blankets. "You two look around the room see if you can find any clues that they might have left behind."

They didn't find much but more than Erik would have thought. They ended up finding a few files and a couple of vials of different colored liquid.

"Once we get Hank back home me and the others can come and really check this place over," Serena said as she carefully wrapped the vials in some towels. Erik nodded his agreement as he carefully picked Hank up in his arms. Serena was right Hank was way underweight. Even though Hank was light Erik was feeling the strain by the time they reached the helicopter. They were quickly greeted by Charlie and Paul.

"You found him," Paul said. "Is he alright?"

"He will be," Erik said as he stepped up into the chopper and gently laid Hank down on the bench seat. "Did you find anything?" he asked as he heard Serena talking quietly to John.

"We managed to track and stop one of the cars but…" Charlie said.

"But by the time we reached the driver he was already dead. It looked as if he took some kind of poison. We wrapped his body in a tarp and put it in the back," Paul explained.

"We searched the car and didn't find anything useful. It didn't even have license plates," Charlie added.

"At least we got Hank back," Serena said a first aid kit next to her as she began to clean and wrap Hank's sore ankles. He looked slightly behind here and saw John lying down on the opposite bench with a cold compress over his eyes.

"Right," Erik agreed as he began to clean and wrap Hank's wrists.

Now that they had found Hank and they were safely in the chopper heading back to the mansion it finally began to sink in what exactly happened to the boy. Hank went through the same torment that he had. The one thing he wanted to protect other mutants from he had failed at. What made it even worse was that it happened to a child. A child that he had failed in so many ways.

"Is John alright?" he asked trying to distract himself as he began to work on Hank's other wrist.

"He will be after he gets some rest," Serena said as she gave him a kind smile. "He shouldn't go back to the hotel with us anytime soon though."

"Alright take him back home and take some volunteers back with you. None of the children though and I want everyone in pairs while they search the place or go anywhere for that. I don't want any more mutants caught," Erik said.

"The kids are going stir-crazy. You never let them go anywhere," Serena said quietly.

"I would rather have that than…" Erik said as he looked down at the unconscious boy.

"Don't worry I'll explain it to them. Would you like me to talk to Raven as well?" Serena offered.

"That probably would be best," Erik said with a sigh.

Raven was having a difficult time dealing with the whole situation. She refused to talk to Charles and Charles didn't want to upset her further so the two of them still hadn't talked. It didn't help matters that it was Hank who was missing. He knew that the two of them had become friends and on some level he had a feeling that Raven had strong feelings for the other boy. She had become livid when she heard that Hank and Alex were now together. She even blamed Alex for Hank's abduction.

"Are you going to be okay?" Serena asked him kindly.

"I need to contact Charles. Let him know that I'll be back with Hank," Erik said instead of answering her.

Charles watched with the boys as the helicopter got further and further away. The emotions coming off of them were almost overwhelming and they were the same emotions they had been feeling for the past three months but now there was hope and that was heartening.

"Are you boys hungry?" Charles asked not really sure what to say. Not surprisingly Alex shook his head and when Sean didn't say anything he knew dinner was a lost cause. Alex only ate when Sean forced him to. "Come on let's go inside and wait. It's going to take them at least an hour to get there."

"Do you think that they'll make it in time?" Alex asked as he still looked up at the sky.

"They should," Charles told him hoping that they did. He didn't think either boy could handle it if they came back without Hank or if the worst happened; which was becoming a real fear. He then slowly wheeled himself into the house hoping that the boys would follow. They talked quietly amongst themselves for few minutes before final joining him.

Charles knew that he hadn't been there for the boys and that he let them down. The last few months hadn't helped much either. They were so focused on getting Hank back that he hadn't had a chance to make up for his past mistakes. Not that either boy seemed to mind. Alex spent most of his time worrying about Hank, feeling guilty, and keeping Sean calm that the boy did seem to care about him or Erik. Sean on the other hand spent most of his time and energy being strong for Alex and keeping his worry for Hank hidden but under all of that was a strong anger focused on him and Erik. It felt as if the boy might actually hate them both.

"Can I get you boys anything?" Charles offered. He needed to keep them all distracted otherwise he was afraid that they would worry themselves sick.

"What if they don't make it or what if we made a mistake and Hank isn't there?" Alex countered.

"Then we try again. We won't stop until we find him," Charles told him. The boys then shared a sad look. How much time does Hank have? Him and Erik had tried to keep the more gruesome details from the boys. Like how in the last three years at least five mutant deaths all pointed to them.

Sean then did what he had been doing the last several months distracting Alex and taking care of him emotionally. As the two boys talked and watched out the window he felt very much the outsider. He had been close to them once especially Hank when he really thought back to it. He was one of the first of the kids that he met and he even let the boy down then by outing him. Despite that Hank still helped him by building the sphere and helped locate the others. He then spent a lot of time with the boy building things that would help the other mutants and just in general.

What happened to Hank and the boys wasn't their fault and it wasn't Erik's fault. It was his. They choose to stay with him. Then even tried to help him deal but he ignored all of their efforts of help and slowly they stopped trying. He had to find a way to make it up to them. To earn back their trust.

'Charles…' Erik called breaking into his thoughts.

'Erik! Did you find him?' Charles asked.

'We found him,' Erik said sounding weary.

'Is he alright?' Charles asked not liking the feelings he was getting from the other man.

'He's alive but Charles they…can I show you?' Erik asked. Charles mentally nodded. With their previous relationship and with how much mental communication they had been doing the last few months meant that they could communicate and share information easily as if they were talking in the same room. It almost meant that Erik could completely block him now even without that damn helmet.

Erik then showed him Hank and he felt sick at what he saw. How those people could experiment on anyone they didn't consider normal much less a child was beyond him. What he did know was that these people had to be stopped. Erik then briefly explained what else had happened and what they planned to do now before ending his discussion with Erik.

When he was done he saw the boys looking at him expectantly. He was happy that they had found Hank but he didn't know how to explain to them what had been done. He couldn't even comprehend it how did he expect children to but they had already been through a lot and they were the ones that Hank would need if he was to get through this.

"Did they find him?" Alex asked hope shinning in his eyes.

"Yes and they are on their way…" Charles started to say and watched at some of the tension left their bodies.

"But…" Sean said.

"But," Charles said explaining as easily as he could about what happened to their friend.

Alex nervously paced the hallway outside the room that Hank was in. After the Professor explained what had happened to Hank things moved incredibly fast and incredibly slow. It seemed to take only moments for the helicopter to arrive and he was on his way out to meet it with Sean in tow when the Professor stopped them saying it would be best for all if they got Hank settled in his room and checked over by the doctor before they saw him. Alex had never been so close to punching the man and he thought that Sean was actually going to.

The Professor insisted though. He told them that it was the same doctor that took care of them when they were young also saying how Hank needed to be looked over and how much better for him it would be for him so Alex reluctantly agreed. He wanted to do what was best for Hank. That didn't make the waiting any easier. He was constantly checking his watch. What felt like hours was only minutes.

"Have you heard anything yet?" Erik came up and asked them.

"No we haven't even seen him," Sean answered. Alex wasn't really paying attention as he continued to pace. He knew that they still had to stop the group that took Hank and that Erik and the Professor were making plans to do so but he didn't care about that now. Hank was what mattered. He knew that Hank was on the other side of that door but he couldn't make himself believe it and he wouldn't until he saw him.

"He'll need you to be strong," Erik said quietly. Alex looked over at the man and saw something haunted in his eyes but he didn't have much time to contemplate it as the bedroom door opened and the Professor and the doctor came out.

"I'll analyze his blood and those vials you gave me and be back in a few days with the results and to check on the boy," the doctor said.

"You boys can go on it. Just keep it quiet Hank needs his rest," the Professor told them. It was obvious that the man wanted to talk to the doctor and Erik alone. At this point though Alex could care less what secrets were kept from them all that mattered was that he had Hank back. He found himself hesitating outside the bedroom door though. He was suddenly worried that this was some cruel dream and when he walked in he would find the bed empty or worse he would wake up.

"It will be alright," Sean said as he opened the door for him.

Alex took a deep breath and stepped inside. The room only had a small bedside lamp on and the curtains were drawn. Hank was lying on the bed with a soft quilt pulled halfway up his chest. Alex's heart broke at the sight of him. The Professor explained what happened but he really didn't believe it. Alex then sat down in the chair next to the bed and immediately picked up Hank's left hand in his own being careful of the bandages.

"What did they do to him?" Sean asked as he sat in the chair on the other side of the bed.

"His hands are like ice," Alex said while running his fingers through his blue hair. It was shocking to see him looking so similar to what he did when Alex first met him but he didn't care what Hank looked like he just wanted him back. And he had him back and like Erik said he would have to be strong.

"Here," Sean said as unfolded the blanket that was on the end of the bed and used it to cover Hank up to his chin. Alex kept his one arm out though afraid that if he let go of Hank's hand that the other boy would disappear on him.

"I am never going to let him out of my sight again," Alex said.

"This isn't your fault," Sean said for what must have been the thousandth time. Alex had a hard time believing it as he looked down at Hank looking so pale and vulnerable. "It will just upset him more if he thinks you're blaming yourself."

"I know," Alex said as he tried to push his feelings away. What mattered now was getting Hank better. "I will look after you I promise." Alex then placed a chaste kiss on Hank's forehead.

Alex hadn't even realized that he had fallen asleep until he felt Hank move under him. He instantly woke up and looked down at the other boy.

"Alex …" Hank said his yellow eyes looking confused. "Did they get you? Where's Sean?"

"Where both fine," Alex said as he picked up Hank's hand and then pointed to the other side of the bed. "Sean's sleeping over there." Hank turned and seemed to relax once he spotted the sleeping Sean.

"Then where…" Hank said his face scrunched up in confusion.

"Where at the mansion," Alex explained to him as he ran his fingers through Hank's hair. He had lost count of how many times he had this conversation with his boyfriend over the last few days. This time though Hank seemed fairly lucid and he wasn't panicking. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Erik came…" Hank said as he swallowed thickly. "Just a dream."

"It wasn't a dream. We got you back. You're safe now," Alex tried to reassure him.

"We've had this conversation before," Hank said some life returning to his dull eyes.

"A few times," Alex told him with a smile.

"Can't tell what's real anymore. When I sleep I'm there and when I'm awake I'm here or is it the other way around?" Hank said looking very upset.

"Oh Hank," Alex said his heart breaking at the sight. "Trust me you're here and you're safe." Alex then pulled his hand closer so it was near his chest when Hank got the oddest look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Your heart. I use to dream about you coming to get me but I never felt your heart," Hank said as he continued to look at their clasped hands. Alex then took Hank's hand and placed it over his heart.

"I am real and not a dream. You're safe now," Alex told them.

"Safe," Hank repeated and sounded for the first time like he actually believed it.

"He's awake?" Sean said as he woke instantly alert. Alex nodded and Hank turned his head to look at him.

"Sean? You okay?" Hank asked that confused tone back in his voice.

"I'm fine," Sean said with a chuckle not at all seeming upset or stressed unless you really looked for it. It was frightening how well Sean could hide him emotions if he wanted to. "What about you? Do you need anything?"

"Thirsty," Hank said quietly.

"Thirsty," Sean repeated. "Would you like some water?" Hank nodded slowly. "Alex why don't you help him sit up."

"Of course," Alex said as he gently put his arm behind his back and lifted him forward and then slipped behind him so Hank's back was resting against his chest all the while berating himself for not asking if Hank needed anything.

"Small sips now," Sean said as he held a cup of water to his lips. Hank managed to take a few small sips before turning his head away looking exhausted. He shared a worrying glance with Sean. Hank had hardly drunk anything since they found him and he hadn't eaten anything.

'Alex is Hank awake?' the Professor asked. Alex looked down at his boyfriend and saw that he was awake but looked as if he was fighting sleep.

'For the moment,' Alex told him and smiled when Hank grab his hand of his own accord.

'How is he?' the man asked hesitantly.

'He seems coherent but really tired,' Alex explained.

'Would be alright if me and Erik came to see him? Just to visit,' the Professor said. Alex knew why he was asking. Last time the Professor and Erik came it was with the doctor and it hadn't gone well as Hank panicked and then got lost in some nightmare. No one could say or do anything to calm him down.

'I'll ask him,' Alex said and then turned his attention back to Hank. "The Professor and Erik want to see you. Is that alright?"

"You and Sean will stay?" Hank asked a hint of fear in his voice.

"Of course. There's no way you could get rid of us," Sean answered with a smile but there was something cold in his eyes. He knew that Sean no longer trusted the men and there was no way he wanted Hank alone with either of them.

"Then it's okay," Hank said still looking uncertain.

'We heard,' the Professor said.

"They're on their way," Alex said. Sean grimaced but didn't say anything. A few moments later there was a knock on the door making Hank tense. Alex rubbed his hand up and down Hank's back enjoying the feeling of the familiar fur that still covered part of his body. The door slowly opened and the Professor and Erik came into the room.

"Hello Hank. We just came to see how you were doing," the Professor said quietly keeping his voice calm and even.

"Hello," Hank said as he scooted closer to Alex something that Alex didn't think was possible. He then got that confused look on his face as he looked at Erik. "You…you came…you got me out…"

"You remember?" Erik asked with a hint of hope in his voice.

"Alex said it wasn't a dream," Hank said as he looked at the men.

"Alex is right. It wasn't a dream," Erik said looking upset and that haunted look was back in his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" the Professor asked.

"Confused. Tired," Hank said and then as if to prove his point yawned.

"We'll let you get some rest then," Erik said and then quickly left the room.

"Call if you boys need anything," the Professor said as he pointed to his head. Alex gave a quick nod and then the man wheeled himself out closing the door as he left.

"Hank I am going to be lying down over there," Sean said as he pointed to the cot that had been brought into the room. Him and Sean had been taking turns using it when they became too tired to sit. Hank looked where he pointed and then nodded.

"Hey Alex?" Hank asked after Sean was lying down.

"Hmmm?" Alex asked feeling the most relaxed that he had in a long time.

"Could you lay with me?" Hank asked.

"Gladly," Alex said and then kissed the top of his head. He maneuvered them so they were both lying down comfortably; Hank laying his head right over his heart. "No nightmares tonight." Alex pulled the blanked up so it was covering both of them. "I'm right here and I'm not going to let you go again."