A/N: First of all, profuse apologies for the frankly unconscionable length of time since the last update. You know how it goes, real life intruded, as did a succsession of minor health issues which were time consuming to get under control followed by a total loss of motivation and before you know it it's been a couple of years since you last wrote anything. Anyway, I promised I would never leave a story unfinished and I meant it so here it is at last, the newest chapter. And I promise the next one won't take as long to arrive.

Chest heaving from the effort, breath coming in short strangled bursts between sobs, Charles gave into to the emotions that raged through his body, threw himself on the bed and cried until his throat was sore, his head was pounding and every single muscle ached, unaware that the man on the other side of the door could hear each and every wretched sound he made and that he too had eyes that stung with tears.

On his side of the door Erik fought back the tears. He didn't deserve the release, albeit brief, that they would give him. Not after what he'd done to Charles, not after the way he'd hurt him. The sound of the other man's desperate, ragged sobs clawed at Erik's chest leaving him open and raw and in more pain than he thought it was possible to feel and still be living. But he would not cry, he refused to, he would not diminish Charles' suffering by giving in to his own. Instead he berated himself for being so stupid and selfish and unprofessional and tried to remind himself that the best thing he could do for Charles now was take Sebastian Shaw down for good.

He had no idea how long he sat there with his ear pressed against the wood, listening to Charles cry himself to sleep but it felt like an eternity. Only when the younger man finally quietened and Erik was as sure as he could be under the circumstances that he wasn't going to do himself any harm, did he head back to his room.

He really needed to talk to Moira.

Pacing back and forth at the foot of his bed with his phone against his ear Erik was trying very hard not to shout.

"Jesus Moira, I know these things take time but you've had over a week. How many Raven Xavier's can there be for fucks sake?"

"Erik." Moira's voice was flat and even, professional, as always. "Erik, calm down."

"NO. You don't get to tell me to calm down okay." He was becoming agitated in spite of his efforts not to. "You don't get to do that. You don't know what it's like here, you don't know what he's like. He's..." He ran his free hand through his hair and sighed heavily. "The kid's falling apart Moira. He's on the verge of a damn nervous breakdown, or..." He trailed off, unwilling to think any further in that direction. "And I think I just made things a whole he'll of a lot worse."

"What did you do Erik?"

"It doesn't matter what I did. What matters is if we don't get Charles out of here soon he's not going to be any use to us against Shaw."

Now it was Moira's turn to sigh.

"Okay, look, don't get excited but we might have a lead. Only might."

"Really?"

"Like I said, only might. It could turn out to be nothing but we've discovered information on a Raven Darkholme and her brother Charles Xavier Darkholme."

For a long moment Erik remained silent while he processed what Moira had just told him.

"It's them." He said at last. "It has to be, it's too..."

Moira cut him off.

"Don't get your hopes up, all we've really got is a pair of death certificates dated thirteen years ago but we figure the names are enough to warrant further investigation."

"Thirteen years? They'd have still been in school then. What was the cause of death?"

"Massive trauma to the head and chest resulting from a traffic collision. It seems the driver of their school bus had a heart attack behind the wheel one morning and drove the kids into a row of gas pumps. The driver, twelve kids, three gas station customers and one employee died, all burned beyond recognition when the pumps exploded. They had to be identified through their dental records. Convenient huh?"

"Son of a bitch." Erik mumbled under his breath. Then a little louder. "That sick son of a bitch had a bus load of school kids murdered so no one would look for the two he really wanted."

"Now Erik, we don't know that. Maybe it really was just a tragic accident. It does happen."

"You really believe that?" Moira didn't answer, didn't even attempt to. "No, I didn't think so. Christ. " He flopped down on the bed and threw one arm over his eyes. "So where does this leave us?"

"Nowhere until we know for certain one way or another. Look, we've got a small army digging into it, we should have something pretty soon, maybe by tomorrow?"

"Okay, thanks. I'll check in when I can."

He ended the call without a goodbye and for a long time he lay still where he was trying to gather his thoughts.

After his conversation with Moira, Erik decided to brave Charles' door once more. At first he just listened, for any kind of clue as to Charles state of mind but other than the occasional shuffling noise to indicate he might be awake he heard nothing. At least he wasn't crying anymore. Erik didn't think he could handle any more crying.

He took a few deep breaths, steeling himself for more shouting or throwing then raised his fist and knocked hesitantly on the door. Nothing happened so he knocked again. Still nothing.

"Charles. Charles I... Are you awake, are you okay?" Again he was greeted by silence. He scrubbed his hand across his face and sighed. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now and that's okay, you don't have to talk, all I'm asking is that you listen, please, just listen." This time he didn't bother waiting for an answer, he kept talking, just hoping that Charles was indeed awake and okay, physically at least. "I'm sorry, I really am. I was an asshole, I forgot who I was and where I was and I hurt you badly and for that I really am truly sorry. I would never hurt you on purpose. I... I want to help you." He paused for a very long moment, not in anticipation of a response but to consider his next words. He wanted to tell Charles everything, he wanted to tell him the truth about why he was there, about the case, about how he could provide the key to Shaw's demise but at this point it was too big a risk. What if Charles told Shaw everything out of fear? No, he had to keep his secret for a while longer but... he owed Charles something. "I care about you Charles, I care about you a lot and I'm going to help you okay, I'm going to help but there are other things going on here, things I can't tell you about, not yet. I promise you though, I will get you out of here, I will find somewhere safe for you, you have to believe me."

Charles promised himself he wouldn't cry any more for Erik fucking Lehnsherr but even now as he sat hunched over on the edge of his bed listening to the other man's apologies he couldn't stop the tears from once again rolling down his cheeks.

He sounded so sincere and Charles, in spite of everything, wanted so desperately to believe him but if experience had taught him anything it was that he couldn't trust anyone, not even himself. People lied, people were selfish and cruel and Charles was less than nothing to all of them.

Erik wasn't going to help him, of that he was sure so rather listen to more lies he lay down, buried his face in the pillow, clapped his hands over his ears and did his best to ignore Erik's so very nearly convincing promises.

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