AN: Sorry for the long long year delay in updating this. I have a few chapters outlined, and plan to get them posted and the story finished over the summer. Thanks for all your patience feedback and reviews.

Chapter 14 – Solace

Logan gives an amused smirk as Remy sets out several steaming warm drinks with his usual cheerful flamboyancy. Raven holds a mischievous twinkle in her eyes curled up against Charles, who in turn is leant against Erik. The metal manipulator has a rather possessive arm wrapped round the telepath's waist, and yet in spite of the domesticity of the scene Erik's green eyes are cold as he follows the Frenchman's motions.

Whack.

Charles jolts, jostling everyone and Erik twists round rubbing his head, "What was that for?" He demands angry eyes turning on Logan who has just cuffed him across the back of the head.

"Consider Remy one of the family now kid, we wouldn't want any accidents to occur hmm?"Logan drawls in warning amusement.

Erik hisses and ducks as the warrior reaches out to hug him, Raven suddenly concentrating very hard on the cup in her hands as she struggles not to laugh at the idea of anyone calling Erik kid.

"Accidents?" Remy questions lightly, Logan chuckles, snagging him as he walks round and tugging him onto his lap. He whispers softly into the energy wielders ear and a knowing smile lights his features. Charles blushes and looks away.

Raven can't help it any longer she giggles, and just like that the tension evaporates.

Logan coughs gruffly feeling the tension of metal stretching in his limbs,"why don't you rookies explain just what the hell is going on?"

So at some silent signal Charles picks up from after they left Logan, to their suspicions confirmed on finding Alex, and their reunion with Victor.

Silence reigns until Remy drops his cup, bone china clattering to the floor.

"Stryker?" He swallows anxiously looking at Logan who growls lifting his hand and extending his claws, "Stryker is the one who made me into this."

"Oh my..." Charles murmured, turning to look at Erik, "This is so much worse than we considered..."

"You can say that again Rookie," Logan runs a pale hand down his face, "We've now got a war on two fronts. Chose your fate - a life of slavery or a slow lingering death."

"No," Charles shakes his head, "not if we get to Stryker first."

Logan shakes his head, "Charlie don't you see that is what he wants. From what you've said this Emma is a strong telepath but no where near your level. She's the lure. With you we have some protection, without you we have none." Erik's grip tightens on Charles's waist, "He's right Charles. Stryker has been after you from the beginning, and its seems he doesn't need you alive to complete his plans."

"No," Remy shakes his head remembering, "he has a way of replicating abilities. He tried to create the perfect mindless soldier obedient to his whims once before."

"You say he can replate abilities?"Charles asks, "but the level of engineering for that to occur in a body without rejection is beyond anything that we-" He is cut off by Erik.

Is it Charles? What about us - our blood? The very reason I'm talking to you like this. Why couldn't Stryker have discovered the perfect conditions to merge desired mutant abilities with all the resources at his command - especially if he had access to Logan or Victor's healing blood as a catalyst.

Even with his own conclusions Erik was still desperately hoping that Charles who was the expert in the subject would reject his suggestions as ludicrous. His hope fell as he saw the sudden truth in beautiful sky blue eyes. Raven felt it too, her grip tightening on her brother's arm. He wrapped his arm round her.

"I wish it were not possible," Remy voices quietly.

Logan taps his hand on the table, "Charlie you need to find Victor. Can you do that?"

Erik tugs the smaller man close, "No, he can't" he answers cutting the younger man off before he can respond. Raven stands beside him her yellow eyes bright in sudden anger, "they've only just got back."

"So?" Logan growls, "Do you think this is a game? Stryker may be gone but the people pulling the strings are just going to move into a higher gear, and we have no idea when and where Schmidt is going to attack."

"He's right," Charles answers quietly, "I need to do this."

"Charles..." Erik broke off meeting the younger man's gaze. "He has to be stopped," Charles replies, "and I'm the only one who can find out where and what is going on." What would you have me do?

Wait, we'll figure something else out, Erik answers, We're nowhere near ready, the other's are just kids like you said. They are lambs going to face wolves.

Charles shakes his head, Logan's right. The more time they have the worse it will get.

Erik sighs standing and offering Charles a hand up, a little time now won't make a lot of difference.

Charles asks looking up at Erik in confusion as he picks up on a memory of Victor appearing to knock Moira out.

Too late he realises at Raven's startled exhale, he has been distracted. Erik's fist catches his jaw with skilled precision.

Charles stumbles, seeing stars strong arms lift him from his feet as the world dims to a hazy black. Why? He asks dizzily, and the warm lighthouse of Erik's mind wraps round his own shielding out the world. Victor needs to fight this battle, consider it his purgatory.

"Erik!" Logan growls catching his arm, "You've bought a few hours fair enough, but you know I'm right."

The metal manipulator shakes his head, "I've done more than that Logan. Did you think we told you all our secrets? Charles is not going to search for Victor, and you should have more faith in your brother."

"Faith?" Logan growls, "My faith was shattered when he deliberately killed one I loved. When he gave in to his instincts and became the animal he is today."

"Did he though or was it all Stryker?" Erik asks his words stopping the elder warrior in his tracks, "I won't deny he is feral but do you truly know if willingly betrayed you?"

Its has gone 1 o'clock in the morning, and yet there is still a light burning in the dungeons of the mansion being used as a makeshift laboratory.

"Where did you get this?" Hank asks in surprise. Logan shrugs, "Does it matter? I just need to know if it could be use to control someone."

Hank blinks, "Control someone?"He frowns, "I wouldn't know...it's theortically possible, but the technology is lacking as far as I'm aware. If a chip were so designed it could be implanted in a body to replace nerve impulses. For instance a person unable to walk-"

"No...I mean could it control a person - make them do something they wouldn't normally do? Could it make a perfect obedient mindless soldier?"

Silence falls in the laboratory.

Logan finds himself reconsidering his opinion of the boy genius as Hank straightens, and carefully sets the chip into a glass dish.

"I'll run some tests."

"You're not dismissing the idea," Logan answers neutrally. Hank gives a wan smile, "I would like to say that it's simply not possible but I know better working for who I did." Logan snorts, "and here I thought you were just a wet behind the ears rookie."

"So did they," the young scientist answers gathering his tools.

He jumps looking into Logan's amused eyes as the warrior peers back round the door, "thanks kid."

Hank shakes his head tiredly, gaze flicking back to the long chemical formulas of the potion diagram he is hoping will cure his feet. It didn't matter what the others' thought, they were not lumbered with a mutation that they were forced to hide because of its ugliness. In that aspect he truly admired Raven, she would always be able to fit in.

He blinks as gentle fingers lift his chin. "What's wrong Hank?" Raven asks softly.

"Aren't you tired of hiding?" He asks, "don't you want to be able to go out into the world without worrying if your control will slip?"

The shapeshifter steps back, "oh Hank I don't want to have to hide, but that doesn't mean I want to be normal. My ability is part of me - as is yours. You should be proud of it and yourself."

Hank turns away, "Its alright for you to say that - you can be anyone you want to be, while I will always be ugly." She holds her breath catching his hand as he opens a silver case inside which rests two green vials. "Hank...no don't do this," she pleads. He looks at her sadly, "Raven I'm not like you or the others. My ability is not something advantageous - its a liability."

She releases his wrist, "It's your choice, no one will take that from you." Hank exhales and nods gratefully, "Thank you."

He blinks however as she sits down on the desk, "What are you doing?"

She gives a cheeky grin, "Hey I've read that book you gave me Dr Jekyll...maybe you'll unleash your inner monster instead. Someone's got to be on guard against the mad scientist."

"Mad scientist? Is that what you think of me?"

"Who else would do this without trying it on a test subject first?" Raven notes wryly. Hank laughs bitterly, "Who else is there to test it on? Everyone else has embraced their abilities Raven, and I won't take that away from them."

Her hand folds over his once more, "Maybe you won't but say this works - what's to stop someone copying your research?" She asks carefully. Hank shakes his head, "I won't let them. I worked for the CIA for years and they never learned of my mutation, I know how they work and how they think. I'm not that careless Raven."

She gives him a last hug before settling down, "I'll be here, no matter what," she offers.

The soft chorus of birdsong wakes him.

Erik feels the glistening sunlight pour in through the large window, and can't help the possessive contraction of his muscles as his gaze is captured by Charles, curled beside him, and relaxed. Erik's heart swells with a tide of emotion, as the younger man shifts, and Erik feels the hazy blur of Charles's mind begin to coalesce into an awakening coherence.

"Morning Liebling," Erik greets warmly, leaning to press a kiss against his cheeks. Charles opens his eyes and blinks at him for several long moments before raising a sleepy hand - there is a swish of fabric as the curtains slide shut blocking out the glaring sunlight.

Its not morning yet, Charles announces sleepily, curling closer. He has gotten much better at controlling his telekinesis. Erik presses his lips to the wavy hair, inhaling deeply. Hmm, just because you can't see something doesn't mean it is not there, Erik teases pressing soft kisses to the telepath's pale flesh, working down the duvet to expose more skin.

"Erik!" Charles hisses as the curtains slide back open blue eyes snapping open in sleepy annoyance. Laughing Erik grabs the poorly aimed pillow before it sails over his head, "Oh? Are you sure you're ready for a pillow fight this early in the morning?"

"Hmm..." the younger man mumbles, completely oblivious to the danger he is in.

"Oh...so it's trouble you want huh?" Erik smirks.

A few intense moments later, and a fully awake Charles now has his breath back. He blinks realising the familiar blanket in his mind hasn't lifted, and casts a searching glance at the man pinning him lazily down against the sheets. "Erik...why are you shielding me?" He asks carefully.

"So you don't do anything stupid," Erik responds, "and you need the rest."

The night before comes back to Charles then. He frowns, and reaches to test his jaw where there is a fading lingering ache. No doubt faded to a faint bruise by now. "You hit me!" He glowers.

"Well yes," the metal manipulator responds, "still sore? I should make it up to you."

"Erik that's not the point..." the younger man breaks off with a groan as Erik's fingers settle in the nape of his neck emitting a soothing warmth that dims the lingering pain.

"No?" The metal manipulator teases, "We are stronger together Charles, you've taught me that. Whatever is to come we will face it as a team, and in the meantime we will help prepare the others."

"Prepare...you mean train them? Erik you saw Schmidt somehow he's gotten stronger and-"

"Well you can either send them away for their safety or respect their choice that they made in coming here. They want to learn to control their abilities, and they want to have a purpose. Having Schmidt as a target will help them focus."

"Really..." Charles answered frowning at the metal manipulator's smirk, "I see what you're doing!"
Erik's grin widens, "isn't that what you've always wanted to create a safe haven for our people?"

The kitchen is quiet despite the late morning.

Raven briefly stops by setting up a familiar tray of food for Hank before leaving once more for the laboratory.

Angel sighs shaking her head, that girl was just setting herself up for heartache.

Darwin gives an amused chuckle at Sean's off key singing, and Alex's barely audible sleepy growl as he enters the room.

"You look grumpier than normal," Angel notes softly.

Alex scowls at her, "Yeah you try being awake when you've spent half the night up. I'm sure this place is haunted."

"Haunted?" Darwin questions in amusement. "Yeah - you didn't hear? Sounded like creaky bed springs to me," the energy wielder muttered obliviously to himself, "I don't know what Hank is working on down there..."

Angel choked dropping her toast as she looked back towards the doorway. Perhaps Hank wasn't as oblivious to Raven's overtures as it seemed..?

"Yeah well you insist on sleeping in the dungeons," Sean coos back at him, ducking Alex's angry swipe with warm laughter.

"I think Raven's got things in hand," Darwin snickers.

"Yeah well Raven can tell bozo to-" Alex blinks his face flushing bright red, "Oh. Right. Raven and Hank really?" He swallows and sets his head down on the table, "It's too early for this shit."

Angel, Sean, and Darwin burst into laughter.

"What's going on here?"

"Erik! You're back!"

The metal manipulator was not expecting the sudden rush of limbs that entangled him, and fought to keep a stern expression on his face. He was saved when the small group realised Charles was behind him, and he stepped aside letting them gather the smaller man up, and pull him over to the table, blocking out their chattering as he did so.

"Prof! Where have you been? What's going on?"

After several minutes of isolated interrogation Charles frowns, "Where is Raven?" He asks.

A sharp intense silence fills the room.

"Ahh she will be with Hank," Remy declares entering the room in a graceful sweep, "I don't know why she bothers trying to feed him up. I doubt he remembers to eat half the time as it is...we really should make some sort of rule for mealtimes." A low chattering starts up again, until Remy steps forwards a sly grin in his eyes. "Don't I get another hug?" He asks innocently of Charles.

The others fall silent as Erik growls.

The young scientist wakens to a nightmare, and takes a horrified taking a glance at his beast cat like body in the mirror, "The Serum didn't work..." he swallows closing his eyes only to open them at the hand that settles on his shoulder - a blue scaled hand.

"Raven?" He asks, and the shapeshifter smiles at him softly as she sets down a breakfast tray, "Hank it did work. This is who you are meant to be - beautiful strong...mutant and proud." She whispers her fingers reaching up to stroke his ear...and that feels strangely pleasant. He senses her truth, and her desire now and reaches up to lift her against him. "Beautiful..." he murmurs back and her eyes light in wonder.