Wanted: Captain Remy LeBeau

Carlington paced the grand foyer, in front of the exuberant double doors that served as a front door to the Duke's luxurious estate. Glancing every so often at the door as if he were expecting someone to throw open the doors and rejoice in spotting the Duke's only child. With his hands behind his back and even strides, he waited. One, two, three, four, turn and one, two, three, four and turn again. Over and over he paced for hours, fearing the worst of his daughter at the mercy of horrid pirates and raging storms of the sea. Fresh white coat and pressed white breeches. A white silk shirt with ruffles as lapels and a tight scarf tied around his neck. Coal black shoes that clicked at every step on the polished marble floor and shone until a glow from the windows filled with sunlight, twinkled at every bend in leather.

A young guard in red dashed in and halted a step before bumping into the Duke. A dumbfounded look on his face gave away how he was not expecting the gentleman to be standing there, waiting for him. He was a well-groomed young man who fancied the brown hair and brown eyes look with a hint of stoicity in his stance. He also fancied the Duke's daughter and had been secretly plotting to ask for her hand in courtship. He waited for the Duke to acknowledge him before stating what the Duke had feared hearing.

"Any word or sight of my daughter?" Carlington paused in mid-pace and stared at the boy with cruel expression.

The young soldier shook his head and answered in a voice he had never before known he posessed. "None, sir. Only an empty collapsable has washed up to port. The marks on the side suggest that it had been through a terrible storm and most fear she--" The boy choked as the sheer look of anger on the Duke's face was enough to kill a man where he stood.

A long deep sigh pressed an action from the enraged man. "Ready me 2 ships and gather the finest guards to aid me in my quest to find my daughter and the vile creature named 'Remy LeBeau'. I give you twenty minutes to be at the docks with a worthy bunch or I'll have you in irons." Glaring at the boy who bowed and backed his way out of the house, closing the doors behind him, he turned on his right heel and briskly walked up stairs to fetch his sword and pistol.

Grabbing a double edged steel sword elagent woven gold handle, he slipped the scabboard into his belt and shoved it to the left side while forcing his pistol into his breeches, in the front. He had laid them out on his bed while he changed to wear a royal blue jacket and black breeches. Staring at his velvet comforter, he imagined having the young captain of the "Gambler's Spice" a prisoner, naked atop it. "I shall have you as my trophy, LeBeau, as your father was merely a temporary. But first, I shall have my daughter returned to me unharmed, or your Captain Logan will be beside you, on my wall." He growl through his teeth and swung at the fading image of Remy naked on his knees, staring coolly at him.

Turning back on his heel to hurry out the door and down to port, Carlington let his mind fantasize at the many equations of Remy LeBeau begging for his life at the end of Carlington's sword. Some were over the top and some just barely breaking reason but, all had the same ending..... enslavement or death.

As ordered, the two warships were chosen and equipped with twenty of the finest soldiers the young lad could find. He met the boy on the pier in front of the first ship's gangplank. "I will sail on the first, and you will take command of the second. No time to waste in catching that no good son of a whale's bile!" The Duke had only stopped and looked over the two ships, not paying any attention to the young man who flinched at the thought of commanding his own ship into battle, and possibly death.

The young man spoke out of turn due to nerves and fright of meeting this captain the Duke had been so enamored with. "Me? In battle, sir?" He half expected to be sent to the gallows for his insubordination but only shivered more as the Duke turned to stare plainly at him.

"Perhaps I'll send you to the firing squad if my daughter is harmed in this silly delayment. My child was to be returned to me as promised by that blasted 1st Mate of his. Now, I do not need to take the word of a pirate to ensure my child's safety but if ever you wish to approach my daughter in courtship, the first thing to do, is prove yourself worthy. Am I understood?" The Duke raised his voice and came to stand nose to nose with his young soldier who visibly started to tremble in his wake.

"Aye sir."

"Good. Follow my lead." Carlington turned and strolled up on deck of the first massive ship to shout orders at the crew. "Find me the Gambler's Spice or I'll have your heads on a chopping block!"

-----------------------------


Remy twitched and briefly opened his eyes to view his surroundings before being lost to oblivion once more. He was subconsciously aware of the four other people in the room, what they were discussing, he couldn't tell though he was pretty sure it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation. It must have been the fever that blurred the voices and sounds, or it was the heat eminating from his body that fuzzed over the characters in the distance. Either way, he fought himself to be apart of the discussion. Shakey and clammy, his hand reached out for the nearest person he could find, and found Logan reaching back.

He could barely lift his arm and hold it there for someone to take but eased as Logan was there to carry his remaining stregnth for him. Tired whispers and conversations with invisible halucinations became one-sided and odd as he wasn't sure what he was saying or hearing in return. Groan after trembles before full shudders of pain that intensified with every turn and squirm of long, slimey ropes in his bowels.

"Hang on, kid." A thick and calloused hand patted the back of Remy's boney left hand. A weak smile glazed his sincerity. His gaze fell back to Tristan. "It has to be done now. I strongly doubt he has a later, if this gets any worse."

Tristan nodded in worried agreement. "Any idea as to how, though? If he had ingested them, he could easily spit them out. Since they were introduced another way, that isn't so easy." He felt that if he rationalized the problem, it would seem less of a serious note.

"A lot more messy." Logan turned to stare directly at Storm and a smile adorned him like a halo in Hell. "Unless you have a better idea, I could" holding up his right hand and making a fist, he claws shot out from in between his knuckles. "operate but, it'd be very painful and the kid might not make it."

Storm tilted her head to the left and watched the young Cajun for a moment, thinking. "I do have a better idea. But don't go far, I may need you, if one escapes." Holding out her left hand, palm down, and spreading her fingers widely, she made her way towards Remy. Her eyes aglow and fingertips fizzing and sparking tiny static flares as she placed her palm flat on Remy's sweat-ridden stomach.

"What's she doin?" The girl asked, startling herself as well as the man behind her. "She's gonna kill him!" As the girl started to move forward in attempt to break up the scene, Tristan grabbed her by the arms and held her there.

"Just wait." He whispered into her left ear. "Storm knows what she's doing."

The girl struggled even more at being held there to watch the display. "But-..."

"Hush, child." Storm's voice broke in but hadn't faltered in her actions.

Remy groaned and tried to roll away from the pain the electricity was causing but was only held there by two strong hands from Logan. "Stop. Stop. Please, stop." A whisper was all his mouth would allow. His eyes closed tightly in pain and he concentrated on the feeling in his stomach as if he were trying to remove it from his body.

Her hand had started to glow, causing his flesh- where she touched him- to glow as well. Eyes white and fixed on the Acadian, she tensed and concentrated harder, feeling the worms turn this way and that to escape the lightning that surged through them. Her hand only pressed harder as Remy turned and curled into a balll, screaming that it hurt and he wanted it to stop, immediately.

The girl turned, horrified at the scene, and buried herself into Tristan's chest. "Ah can't watch!" Wrapping her arms around him, she closed her eyes and tried to cover her ears with his arms that wrapped around her. The sight sickened her and the cries from the young captain did their best to make up for the lack of sight. Her tears fell onto his coat and her sobs got lost in his chest.

Tristan had closed his eyes as well, holding the girl. He reopened them as he heard a *SNIKT* and a loud hiss before the window opened and Logan tossed the dangling serpant from a claw, into the waters below. "Is that all of them? Are they done?" He asked in a shakey tone that he hadn't realized escaped.

Storm relaxed and the lightning faded. "That is all of them." She released Remy and turned away from him as he had calmed into a peaceful but exhausted sleep. "He will be fine in a few hours." Her eyes fixed on the young girl who had unleashed herself from Tristan and turned to stare at the boy.

A knock on the door came to break the sudden silence. "Mister Loomis, sir."

"Come."

Will had opened the door and took a look around before returning his eyes to Tristan and informing him of the news. "The rain has stopped and morning is a few hours away. We should get underway before the Duke catches up." He waited for the Mate's orders but silently wished he knew what was going on with the young captain.

"Inform the men to reverse and sail out of the passage." Glancing at Logan before finishing, he looked back to Will and smiled. "Tell them the Captain is will be fine."

Will smiled. "Aye sir." He bowed to he ladies and left silently, closing the door behind him.

"What about me?" The girl spun around to flash a quizzical look at Tristan, reminding him she was still the Duke's daughter. In all the excitement, she had forgot that she was not from their world of piracy and chaos.

Tristan sighed as he looked at her.

"Ah'm not goin back down with the rats!" She added, backing up and refusing him to lay hand on her.

Tristan was becoming annoyed with the decisions he was facing but, inevitably chose what he thought the captain would choose. "Then, stay and look after the captain. But, you are not to set foot outside this door under any circumstances. Your father may not care to point the guns away from his prize but, he will take great pleasure in trying to dispose of the captain, himself. The care you give the captain will keep you above the 'rats.' Logan and I will check up on you to make sure he is still in good health. Disappoint us, and.... well, I give Logan complete allowance to put you in your place."

She nodded.

Logan and Storm followed Tristan out to oversee the ship get underway and make arrangements in case battle ensues. Logan had taken one last look at the sleeping Cajun before glancing back at the girl and then shutting the door behind him. "Think she'll take care of him?" He turned and gave Tristan a definate uncertain look as they made their way towards the poop deck.

"I believe after what she has seen from him, she owes it to him to be his charge and companion." Reassuring them as well as convincing herself, Storm climbed the steps in front of them men.

-----------------------

Carlington sat aboard The Prestige, the first of two very powerful ships, and awaited for news of sight of the Gambler's Spice. His quarters had been luxuriously perfected with such exuberance that certainly threatened to outdo even the Queen's royal presence. Red and violet velvet drapes lines the walls and windows, fancied with elegant white lace and gold silk ropes. Polished oak tables and bedframe complimented the boquets of roses and candles that awaited to shower his daughter's return to safety. He sat in a plush chair, at the table in the middle of the room, and stared out at the sea, through the open windows.

A knock came on his door and he sighed in annoyance of the interruption of solitude. "Enter." The bark of command had made him smile in relief of guard he had always kept.

The door opened and a young cabin boy of at least 13 entered to give report of his findings. With short auburn hair and deep green eyes, he reminded the Duke of a woman he knew in America's colonies. "Sir, Master Tatrum has sent me to fetch you if he saw the pirates." His voice was shakey and young as full maturity hadn't set in completely.

"And?" Carlington turned around to stare at the shivering boy.

The boy hesitated, staring back at the Duke. "She's been spotted. The ship you seek, sir." Stepping aside as the man stood and brushed past him, mussing his hair with his hand, he smiled as the Duke mumbled his good work. "Aye sir, thank you sir."

Carlington ran up the stairs and stopped beside the First Mate, Mister Tatrum, and grabbed the scope out of his hand to get a better view of their target. "Tatrum, where is that blasted boy?" Holding the glass up, Carlington scanned the waters until he stopped on a small bump in the ocean. "Ah, there you are, Remy. I want my daughter, and then I will see you split in two if I have to pull you apart, myself!" Not waiting for the other man to speak, he smirked, lowering the glass and shoving it back into the man's hands before turning and heading back to his cabin. "Mister Tatrum, get me to that ship before dawn!"

"Aye sir!" Tatrum, a younger man of 38, with a wife of only a few months, had reluctantly agreed to set about the task with his old friend from his University days. If it were up to him, he'd have never let the ship leave the docks, daughter on board or no. But, it was Carlington's only child and therefore, he agreed to go and bring her back safely. Turning back towards the object in the distance, he started shouting orders at the men to sail faster and ready the guns. his longish brown hair blew across his face and as he moved the locks back behind his ear, he looked through the glass and guess-timated how long it would take them.

Being accustomed to the seas and traits of a pirate, Tatrum knew several tactics to use to gain the upper hand. Since growing up in a university town such as Cambridge, he was a crafty man who knew more than most gave him credit for. His sea-faring days hadn't started until Carlington decided to have a trip to the Colonies of America, for some fun. There, he had to pry his friend from a young woman they had met in a shoppe. Journeying back and forth over the course of five years, the friendship abruptly stopped when the woman came to him with news of marriage to a handsome young man from Louisiana. His casual dress was that of an officer's uniform, red jacket with dozen of decorations gleaming from his left shoulder, and blindingly white pressed long pants.

As the Duke reached his cabin and stepped inside, he shoved the dooors closed and stomped over to his grand king sized bed and stopped to pace a few times before huffing down on the corner. His mind had been reviewing the best possible way to eliminate Logan and Tristan and even moreso, Remy LeBeau. Muttering under his breath as he envisioned the easied way to have his fun as well as torture with each of them, and then hoping they wouldn't be any wiser until it was too late was like a child on Christmas morning.

-------------------------

Remy groaned and rolled onto his back from his right side. Rubbing his left hand against his stomach, and pressing down in some spots, his eyes shot open as his heart beat faster. "I'm dead!" He sat up and looked about himself in a panic. He was still in his bed and his shirt was still damp from the sweat of fever but, there was no fever nor any movement from his stomach. His eyes grew wide as something moved towards him out of the corner of his eye.

"Hush now. You're still alive, just... the icky serpants are gone." The girl said, quietly. She paced her steps to him as not to scare him even more into thinking he was under attack, and so far it had worked.

Grasping the white sheet that had been draped over him, a pinkish charge sparked the sheet but was gone before he could hold it. "Where's Logan? Tristan?" His eyes were still blurry from the sickness but seemed to fade as if he were waking from a long night's rest.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, beside him, and soothed his hair back from his face. "Shh, it's alright. They're outside, lookin for......" She had to stop herself from saying the name she knew would only scare him more. "They're lookin for land."

"Don' lie to an empath, girl." A sigh as he lay back down and stared at the ceiling. He hadn't cared if she was telling the truth or not and could have cared even less that it was her staying with him.

"Ah'll fetch you some water." She stood up and looked at him, waiting for him to apologize for snapping at her, even if it was the politest way he could put it.

Remy breathed and turned his head to watch her. "Non, wait. I'm fine. Please..." Holding his hand out to her as she had stopped in the middle of the room and turned back to him, he waved her back to him. He yawned out of being exhausted from the fever and lack of restful sleep for nearly a week. "Told Tristan ta throw you off de ship. Now, here you are, again."

"He did." She whispered, hurt at his words. "But, they needed me 'cause I knew what mah father did." Coming to sit back down, beside him, she smiled as he had smiled a relieved smile.

"Merci, cherie." Remy closed his eyes and rolled onto his left side before reopening them to look at her. "S' your name, girl?"

She bit her lip a moment. "Rogue." A hint of a smile as she sat more onto the bed. "Ah saw your mother and..... father, when Ah touched you. You musta been so sad when she died." She paused for the look he gave told her to hush. She had changed the subject but only from his mother to hers. "Mah momma was a beautiful lady. Real nice, too. But, she passed away when mah little sister was born. Ah was 7, when that happened." Turning her head away from him, she closed her eyes so that she couldn't see if he was listening or not. Composing herself as his nurse, she cleared her throat and stood up to turn back to look at him. "Ah'll fetch that water."

The water pitcher and bowl sat on a small table kitty corner from the bed, along the far wall. Pouring the water into the bowl and soaking a heavy cloth, she rung it out and turned back to see him sit up again and watch her. "Ah took care of mah sister when she was ill but then, it only got worse and she caught pnuemonia. She was six when father and Ah laid her beside momma."

Remy was silent, careful and listening to every word she said. He wasn't completely sure what she saw in him but, it was something too horrible for her to be foul towards him. He waited for her to sit back down on the bed and urge him to lay back down before patting him down with cool water. "Why you doin dis?" He had caught something in her eyes that told him pity, or at least a meak understanding of what her father had done to him.

Setting the cloth in her lap and moving the damp locks of hair from his forehead, she answered. "Ah just.... felt like Ah owed it to you. Plus, that man with the claws is kind of scary."

He chuckled. "Dat's Logan. He won' hurt ya. Jus' scare ya is all." His eyes fell on her gloves as she raised the cloth, again. "Why ya wear dose?"

"When Ah take them off, things happen." She paused in her task and lowered her eyes, shying away from him as he took her free hand in his.

Remy sat up as she pulled away from him and stood up. "Dat was you, in my head...? I felt you beside me in my dreams."

"Not dreams. Your memories." A knock came at the door and the door opened, allowing her to turn and wipe her eyes of the tears.

Logan stepped in and glanced at both of them, thoroughly, before closing the door behind him and advancing in Remy's direction. "Feelin better, kid?" He came to stand next to Remy and smiled, relieved that the boy was awake and sitting up on his own.

"Oui."

Noticing the girl, Logan tilted his head towards her and narrowed his eyes at her. "She treatin you okay?"

Rogue sighed quietly and waited for Remy's reply, wishing she wasn't in the room as they had decided to talk about her, in front of her. With her hands behind her back and a stare at the floor, she half expected to hear Remy tell him that she was annoying to him and he wanted someone else in her place. Since the only collapsable was gone, her biggest fear was that Remy ordered her thrown over the side of the ship.

"De girl's fine, Logan. But, could use somethin to eat." He patted his own stomach and winked at her when she blinked at him in disbelief. Now that the snakes were removed, he was showing his own appetite and could tell she was hungry, as well.

Logan glanced at her as he sat down on the bed. "Right. I'll have some food brought up, and tell Tristan yer awake. Just thought I'd check up on ya."

Remy nodded and smiled.

Before Logan stood up, he leaned over and kissed Remy's lips, forgetting there was someone else in the room. He stood and flashed a condescending glare at the girl as a cautionary tone in case she got brave enough to try something while he was gone. "I'll let Tristan know yer okay and be back in a bit with some food. We're gettin underway so, I may be a few minutes longer." Kissing the young Acadian again, he turned and left.

As the door latched shut and she heard Logan's heavy steps away, Rogue stepped closer and sat back down on the bed. "You should lie down until he comes back." It hadn't been as an order but more of a request to save his stregnth. She wondered just how far she was allowed to go before Remy became tired of her and threw her out of his quarters.

Remy sighed and slowly laid back down, not lifting a gaze off of her. As his head hit the pillow, he closed his eyes for a rest but blinked open as he heard her get up and rinse out the cloth before returning to his side. He was warm again but, not from the fever coming back.

"He- he kissed you...? Is he mad?" Her voice was soft but surprised and she flinched as Remy opened his eyes again to look at her.

He sighed, seeing the redness in her cheeks made him smile. "Remy's kissed lotsa boys, cherie. Logan is just de one he's kissin now."

"Oh." Rogue turned away, blushing more. "In your mind, Ah saw you doin..... more than just kissin men. Do you- um- like that?"

Remy frowned and rolled away from her. "Dats Remy's business." Shivering slightly and curling his body into a ball, he yawned to himself.

-------------------------

"Carlington will be on us by morning, if not before. The ship is fast but, not as fast as to outrun a Schooner. We may have to barter with him for his daughter. Or, if worse comes to worse, use excessive force." Tristan stood at the rail and looked through his spyglass at the followers. He lowered it as Logan came to stand to his right. "Has she strangled him yet?" Squinting at the distance from lowering the glass before looking over at the man.

Logan was silent. He took a moment to stare in the direction of the ships heading their way, before answering. "Nope. But, he's awake, and hungry. Sittin up, talkin her ear off, prolly."

Tristan laughed. "He was always good at talking."

They shared a smile as they both turned around to wander down to the berth of the ship and fix a platter for Remy.

A platter of breads, fruit, cooked pig and vegetables had been prepared by the cook and brought up by the two men, along with a jug of red wine. Logan held the platter while Tristan followed behind him with the wine. It was a good sized platter, and neither man thought Remy could possibly eat the entire serving but they settled on taking as much as they could.

Knocking on the door, Logan was greeted by the young girl who seemed relieved that he was back. "Hope yer starvin, kid. The cook didn't know when to stop cookin when he heard you were feelin better." He waited for the girl to clear off the table before he set the platter down and looked over at Remy, who sat up and viewed the meal. He walked around the table, to where Remy was sitting, and carefully picked him up and carried him to a chair only two steps away. "Get the plates, girl." He hustled her from her spot by the door, across the room to a small cabinet at the end of the bed.

Remy sat and waited patiently for Rogue to get two plates and hand them to Logan. He eyed her and then Tristan who stood behind her, leaning against the windowsill. A sigh of hunger, patience, and exhaustion accented the moment while Logan dished Remy's plate full of bread and meat and fruit. "Dats enough fer now, Logan." A small voice and a hand on Logan's right wrist as the man stood beside him, gathering food.

Rogue slowly inched her way to a chair, across the room, and sat down. She bumped the back of her head slightly on the pommel of the sword that leaned against the back of the chair, forgotten like she was. Folding her hands and laying them in her lap, she watched Remy pick up a slice of sourdough and bite into it. As Tristan poured a half cup of wine, her hunger spoke up. In her brief time from seeing Remy on the cart, tied down, to where he sat like a king, she had taught herself to stay out of their way. She sat there like a living statue, back straight and hands neatly folded while her eyes fixed on Remy eating a piece of meat from a pig leg.

After taking a drink, Remy excused the two men back to their posts and thanked them for the food. Waiting until they closed the door, he promptly put down the meat and waved her over to the table, a bite still in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed as he sat back and waited for her to come. "Come. I don' take prisoners, cherie. Come, eat. Remy can' finish all of dis on his own."

She sat down across from him and stared at the platter, lifting a careful glance at the young captain who sat back in his chair and waited for her to gather food. The empty plate was handed to her and she immediately started piling on sliced ham and pineapples and cherries and buttered bread. She even accepted a cup of wine, poured to her by Remy. Pausing for a drink of the liquid, Rogue swallowed and stared at him. "Ah didn't think the Captain dined with people."

Remy smirked. "Poppa taught me dat it's rude to eat in front of people. Respect de help, dey'll respect you back." He waited for her to have her first bite before he resumed eating. They ate in silence, each eyeing the other when the other wasn't looking. Taking a bite of bread, he felt a sensation from her that she wasn't able to hide. An innocent feeling of a crush flattered his emotions like a feather on a ticklish spot. He blushed as she seemed to let her attraction grow into lust as he was sure she was still thinking about the kisses between he and Logan.

The first to push away from the table was Remy. He hadn't thought he was that hungry but, he hadn't thought he could eat that little. Finishing his bread and meat, he sat there and waited patiently for Rogue to get through. He sat back and folded his hands in his lap while watching her daintily nibble on her second slice of buttered bread. "Please, don' stop just because I stop." He covered a yawn and waved her to finish. Pushing his chair out from the table, he tried to stand up and walk over to the bed only to find that standing up was the easiest part of the task. Sitting back down and sighing in an annoyed fashion, Remy waited for her to stand up and come to his side to help him over to the bed.

With her arm around his back and his arm around her shoulders, they moved slowly towards the side of the bed and turned around to sit down. She helped him to lie down and then covered him with his thick royal purple comforter that had been placed at the end of his bed. Tucking him in and feeling quite like his mother, Rogue stepped back to sit in her chair at the table and watch the captain sleep. A million thoughts ran through her head about what would happen if her father caught up to the Gambler's Spice. How would she act to her father barreling through the door, sword in hand, only to find his daughter protecting his prey? Another question plagued her that she could not answer, why would she protect the ruffian who kidnapped her?

She was almost asleep when Logan and Storm quietly entered the room, peering in to see Remy asleep in the bed and Rogue curled up in the chair, at the table. She lifted her head up to watch Logan sit beside Remy, on the bed, while Storm came closer to her. "Ah didn't do nothin to him." She blurted the words out before she heard what the white haired woman had said.

"I know child. Come, let's let the boy sleep while you have your own quarters with me." A soft yet firm whisper as the woman helped the girl to stand up and guide her to the door, closing it behind them.

Remy rolled over and opened his eyes to see Logan smiling down at him. "Come snuggle wit' me, Logan. Remy's cold." Lifting up to scoot over, Remy waited for Logan to nod and slip off his boots before climbing in behind him and letting the Acadian press his back against his chest. He felt Logan's hand on his stomach and sighed as they settled down together to sleep.


TBC...