Summary : While Kimble gets an unexpected visitor, Remy learns more about Babette's mysterious Master. Part 23 of my Kimble series.

Notes : Rated M for language, violence, and sexual situations.

AU but only because I chose to change a few things in my dear friends' histories for simplification, nothing drastic so please forgive. I've been working on this story for years so I do ask that you don't use any of my non-Marvel universe characters without my permission. I love my Siskans as I do my children.

Updated 10-20-13 to add (break)s as needed and fix my continually poor writing skills, lol.

(One)

Logan prowled the grounds, loping bent over and low to the ground. It was full dark, but he was still out here working. He had almost perfect night vision and really didn't need much light to work. It was quiet out here, peaceful. He was a creature of the outdoors and his body was in tune to the woods around him, the night air, and the animals nesting in the ground below him. He had no time to fully enjoy where he was, however, he was working. He was impatient, wanting to get this done quickly.

Kimble had been home for five days and the attacks from the bounty hunters against the Mansion were slowing down considerably. The jerks of the world were realizing they weren't going to get any closer than the outskirts of the property without taking some damage. It wasn't keeping Wolverine from enhancing the fortifications around the house. He was installing over a dozen new cameras and motion detectors. There were also some well placed booby traps. He had to be careful, there were a lot of deer and other animals out here, ones that had a legitimate right to be here without being blown to bits.

The heightened sense of alert was still in force at the Mansion. Regular patrols of X-men covered both the grounds and the skies. It would be some time before Logan saw fit to back off on that. The constant attacks on the house had quieted any protests his teammates might have had at having to pull so much extra duty. This house had been a sanctuary to most of the folks here and they would do anything to protect it.

Wolverine slowed his pace, he had seen some bent branches that were out of place. He paused and pawed at some tracks near by on the ground, it had snowed a little an hour ago and these impressions were fresh. He sniffed at them and sighed. Right. He knew it was too good to be true that Sabretooth was gone for good. This was his smell, his shoe size, and these tracks were made only a few minutes ago.

Funny thing, this was Creed's scent for sure, but it wasn't exactly the same. Wolverine scooped up some of the mud and snow and held it to his nose, a puzzled expression crinkling the lines of his face. The same and yet not the same. Creed was somehow chemically different. Whatever the case, so far Creed hadn't come too close to the house, they were in the back twenty acres. Now that he had the scent, Logan tracked him swiftly, feeling the backs of his hands start to itch in anticipation of the coming brawl. These two could never meet without bloodshed.

It didn't take long for Wolverine to catch up with his quarry. He came up behind the man, slow and quiet, not jumping in right away. He wanted to see what Creed was up to first. If Sabretooth knew he was being stalked, he gave no sign. He would walk a few paces and then stop, walk a few more paces and stop again, as if he was lost or confused. He next crouched down and bent over low, his hands down to the ground and grumbling softly as if he was debating with himself. He was dressed lightly in spite of the cold, he was in the usual leather, but with a notable exception - he didn't carry a single weapon. Creed had his lovely built in Ginsu knife claws, but Logan had always known him to carry a gun or two as a backup just the same. Not today.

He had been through a lot, had Victor Creed. He had been found in the alley not by SHIELD or Jael, but by Mary. She'd had second thoughts after taking off like that and came back. She couldn't deny the feelings she had for her boss, they had shared too much too recently and it drew her right back again. Too late, she found the command truck destroyed. Being rather quick to notice it was from the inside out, she realized that Kimble must have done it. She followed the crowd of people racing down the street towards the Stadium, but then caught sight of Gambit and Kimble being airlifted out from between two buildings by Max. She couldn't stop it from happening, nor could she keep Kimble from being rescued, but ran over to the alley anyway. She hadn't seen Creed anywhere, but had an idea from Kimble's condition that Victor must have given chase and didn't fare well. Sure enough, she found her boss, or what was left of him. She couldn't hide her surprise. She saw the charred smoking hole in Creed's chest and realized that Kimble, not Remy had done this.

She swallowed her fear and dragged Sabretooth off as best she could, using all of her skills. In all the confusion after the Stadium went up, she wasn't seen as she hotwired a car and managed to get him back to a safehouse on the other side of town. She didn't dare try the loft, it was sure to be watched. She tended to her lover best was she was able, but he was still, lifeless. Knowing of his regenerative capabilities, she washed him and put him to bed, praying for him to wake.

Creed was oblivious to it all, his healing factor going into hyperdrive and blacking him out. He did eventually revive and wake, but not where he expected to. He found himself bathed in bright white light and drifting upwards through a dark black sky. The light was a vacuum, lifting him up. There was soft music and singing and he was surrounded by beautiful voices promising peace, hope and love. He had an idea where he was now, he just couldn't believe it - he had finally died. What he couldn't figure out was where the fire and brimstone was – he knew there was no way he was going to get into Heaven, he was the worst sort there was.

He wasn't alone in this marvelous light, he saw someone coming down towards him, a woman. He didn't recognize her, but wasn't afraid. She was very beautiful in the light, a magnificent creature with long blonde hair and a streaming, white dress. Her eyes were a tawny brown, like his own. "Kristalay," she whispered.

"That ain't my name."

"Yes it is," she replied, reaching out to him. "Kimble looked into your soul and saw the man who lives there. He saw my son."

As much as physical intimacy with strangers vexed him, he welcomed her touch. She was so beautiful. "Yer...yer my mother?"

"Yes. I didn't get to know you and I'm sorry for that."

"My pop got a fancy chick like you? How was that possible? He was a total asshole."

"He wasn't always that way. I'm sorry, but I fear he blamed you unjustly for my death. I died bringing you into this world. I was all he'd ever wanted."

"I doubt that," he replied, remembering Thomas Logan's eye for the wife of Jonathan Howlett.

This woman just smiled at him as if she could read his thoughts. "She was his compensation. I'm sorry things worked out the way they did for him and for you, but perhaps now I can make it up to you."

"How's that?"

"By giving you this message. I understand that your life hasn't been easy, but, my darling Kristalay, most of the mess has been on account of your own actions. You were put here on this world for a purpose. You had best get your act straight or you'll miss that destiny."

Creed snorted at her. " 'Scuze me? I ain't buyin' inta no destiny crap. What is this? Some kinda fuckin' flashback from all the dope I've used? I'm a loser, darlin'. I always will be. Now get the fuckin' Devil ta come down here and fry my ass, I ain't got all day!"

"A little spitfire, you are," she laughed, patting his head like a dog. "That's good. Your disposition will serve you well."

"Look lady, I don't know who ya think ya are or what the fuck yer talkin' about, but -"

Creed gasped sharply when she boldly silenced him by leaning forward and kissing his forehead. The moment her lips touched his skin, his mind was filled with images. He saw a ruined city, unrecognizable in its disheveled state, the buildings surrounded by war - he could hear the whining of rockets and the heavy artillery explosions from a nearby battle. The air was thick with smoke and everywhere was the scent of burning things. Victor whipped his head around, using all of his senses to try and take it all in, and then he heard them. Lions. He heard the roaring of lions. It was loud, like it was coming from right around him, but he saw no animals anywhere.

He snarled when he was passed quickly by another man and was shocked to see it was Remy. Gambit looked as bewildered as he was, the thief was stumbling about and tripping over things in his panic and haste to take it all in, not his usual graceful self. Victor saw Gambit running and was filled with the urge to follow him, the animal inside of him unable to resist the thought of the chase. He lunged forward, but jerked to a bone wrenching halt, held back by restraints. He felt a harness around him, someone was controlling him. There came a voice from behind him then, a powerful voice shouting, "Fly, my pretties! Fly!"

Suddenly Victor was free with a metallic click, the snap of a leash being freed, and he was running forward. He stumbled and fell to his hands and feet but managed to maintain his pace. Somehow he was on all fours and yet loping forward easily with grace and speed as if he was always meant to be that way. He was exhilarated and found himself snarling and then...roaring. Roaring like a lion. He knew now that the roaring he had heard was himself - he was the lion. And not just any lion, he was powerful and mighty, his hair was long and streaming, his fangs and claws unnaturally long. He was leaping forward, leaping in great gains and bounds, a god in the body of an unstoppable engine of death.

Gambit was right in front of him in a flash, he had caught up to the thief quickly, and Remy quailed at the sight of him, something that filled Victor with an immense satisfaction and feeling of pride. Remy stumbled once more in his fear, this time crashing over ass over tea kettle, his arms raised in a pathetic and useless defense, but Creed didn't falter. He leapt over the fallen thief and continued his quest. He wasn't after such small and paltry prey. No, he had a much better target in mind. It was...

Sabretooth gasped as he was jerked violently out of his pleasant vision and back to the light. He felt a profound disappointment. He had been so powerful as that lion, as that great shining God of the Hunt. He wanted to go back there so badly, he couldn't stop himself from complaining with a deep throated whine.

The woman who claimed to be his mother was still there, embracing him. "Do you accept this fate, my son? You can have it if you want."

"Yes!" he found himself responding without hesitation. Already the memory was fading, but not the glory of it.

"Then you have something left to do."

"What's that?" he asked...and then she told him.

Creed had snapped awake back in the real world, gasping for air and almost sobbing from the heavy weight of his own body. In the light he had been so free, unburdened by pain. Here, he was in agony. Zander's sword had not been gentle and his healing factor was exhausting itself trying to help him. The pain was horrible and he cried out again, shivering all over from shock and hurt. Soft hands came to him and her smelled her, his Mary. He pulled her to him greedily and she was there.

It took some time but he did recover enough from Zander's harsh treatment to be able to get up and walk, but it had taken a while, his injuries were severe. His lung had been punctured and his heart severely lacerated. He had lost a lot of blood and he was quite weak. Some of his other internal organs had been fused by plasma and burned, the hardest injury for his body to recover from. He didn't really remember much of his rough encounter with Zander nor of his dream of the light. He had no idea Mary had disappeared on him during the operation at the stadium and when she realized this, wasn't about to remind him.

Once he had revived a bit, Victor couldn't sit still. Mary tried to get him to see reason and wait until things calmed down before venturing out but he wouldn't listen. He didn't remember all of his strange dream, but was obsessed with one thought only - Kimble needed to see that he was alive. He had to keep that promise he had made to the boy, the one about coming after him. His Siskan was suffering and he was afraid for Kimble. He didn't know how he knew this, he just did and had to stop it. He had to get to Kimble.

As soon as he was well enough, after four days had passed, he set off to find his Siskan. Mary did her best to help him but they hadn't gone far when they got jumped by some SHIELD agents who had been looking out for them. Mary had been right, it was too soon to go out. Fury was on the lookout for Creed and Victor had stumbled right into his trap almost from the moment they left the safehouse. Fury knew if Sabretooth was on his own, he hadn't gotten far and had spread his best people out, watching for him to rear his head.

Mary was taken in the ambush but Sabretooth managed to escape by cutting and running, something Fury hadn't expected and hadn't prepared well enough for. Creed abused a few of Fury's agents, but found he couldn't bring himself to kill them for reasons he couldn't hope to explain. He slashed his way free and took off for Xavier's, he had been to the Mansion on many occasions in search for Wolverine and knew the way well enough. He made his way here quickly, knowing he didn't have much time left. What was left of Fury's team was right behind him and Jael was sure to be out there as well. He had to do this quickly. He had to get to Kimble and he was running out of time.

Now, just outside of Xavier's mansion, Creed finally caught scent of the X-man tracking him, not the least bit surprised to see it was Wolverine. They shared the same tracking and hunting abilities, it being in the blood, you see. These two were not only mortal enemies, they were half brothers as well, Logan had learned.

" 'Lo, Dog," Logan growled, using Creed's boyhood pet name. He had so much he wanted to say to this man, but now that the time had come, he found that words escaped him. Too much had gone on between them for an easy reconciliation. This night's trespass didn't facilitate the matter.

"James," Sabretooth whispered softly, confirming what Jael had said about his own head being cleared as well. "Got yer brains all fixed up, I see."

"Yeah. Little present from Jael."

Wolverine waited for the inevitable taunting and insults to begin, but Creed was oddly silent, adding nothing more to his greeting. He didn't immediately engage in battle, never even raised his hands in fact, but turned instead into the trees, weaving a path towards the house.

Logan stood for a moment, stunned. This was not normal. Up close, the change in Sabretooth's scent was much more noticeable. It nagged at him, making him uncertain about how to proceed, but didn't stop him from doing his job. He took after his prey, catching up once more. He leapt and pounced on Victor, automatically popping his claws. He just loved a good brawl with Creed because they both had powerful healing factors, he never had to hold anything back. This time Sabretooth turned to face him, howling an inarticulate savage challenge.

(break)

Henry looked up from his book in the library when he heard a loud ragged howl and then screaming. He had come up here for a moment's peace, a getaway from the frustrating demands of Kimble's problem on his poor, weary brain. He could do nothing to ease Kimble's pain and the Siskan's unending misery weighed heavy on him. He could think of nothing to repair the poor guy and it pained him to be so helpless. Beast's recess in the library was doomed to be brief, the sounds of the battle gearing up outside couldn't be mistaken for anything else.

A second later, the house alarm went off and Henry joined some of the others in the race to get outside. They ran for the tree line as a collective, well oiled unit, each in sync with the others. Jean, Scott and Henry, all members of the first squad Charles ever put together. They found the two bitter warriors half a mile away, dripping in each other's blood and covered in wounds that would have felled any ordinary man.

"He's mine! You didn't want him!" Creed bellowed at Wolverine, slashing out with his claws again. He didn't pay the others any mind but circled his brother, snarling.

"You ain't touchin' him, ya sick freak! Get outta here!" Logan shouted. He was in full defense mode and charged the intruder head on, oblivious to the blood that flowed anew. Some small part of his brain registered that in spite of his bold words, Creed's challenge wasn't full of the rage and sincerity as it should have been. It was a taunt, but it was for killing time, not for shining him on.

Scott raised his hand, calling for a halt, and his teammates obeyed, not eager to get in between these two, and waited to see who would end up on top. This wasn't the first time these two had clashed by far and it was best to let them sort it out. If they were lucky, Logan would do the most damage and bring Victor down, sparing the rest of them the risk of serious injury.

It was clear that in spite of his bold trespass, Creed wasn't putting up as robust a fight as ususal. His movements were sluggish and sloppy, he was nowhere near being the lion of his vision, he was like an old man slugging it out with a teenager and seriously outclassed. He retreated a few steps after an expert strike by Logan's claws, he was slashed across the chest and legs and bleeding hard, but amazingly, didn't fall. It was a testament to his strength and will that he was even still standing at all, he had a mission and would see it done. "Kimble belongs ta me, runt! Just ask him! Just ask him if he wants ta come back with me!" he bellowed, gasping for air. He bravely advanced a step in spite of his horrible wounds.

Logan fearlessly shoved him back with a derisive snort. He could see Sabretooth was barely standing and was no longer a real threat. "Kim thinks yer dead and I ain't of the mind ta change that! You ain't nuthin' but a loser an' a criminal! I got another cell waitin' fer ya if ya wanna stay that badly! Won't take me but a minute ta get SHIELD on the phone ta come get ya after!"

"I ain't leavin' without him," Sabretooth growled, backing off a bit.

Logan panted for breath, his nose flooded with his half brother's altered chemistry. Already he could sense Creed's anger waning and then it hit him. Emotions have a chemical marker, that was how he could "sniff" out a person's mood and intentions. His nose was so powerful, he could even smell it if someone was lying. He had smelled Gambit's emotional unease and he was smelling the change in his arch enemy as well. Victor wasn't carrying around his usual truckload of angst and fury and it was enough to change his scent. For the same reason, Logan also knew he was lying now. He had come here for Kimble, but not to take him away.

"What are ya really doin' here?" Wolverine asked, lowering his tone but not his claws.

He never got his answer. Creed became aware they were no longer alone – he had caught sight of the threesome from the house standing nearby - and his smell jacked up again as he went into a defensive posture. He knew better than to try and run so he just stood there, grinning and showing his fangs.

"Give it up, Sabretooth," Cyclops cautioned, a hand on his visor, ready to fire. "You've got no chance."

Creed just chuckled wryly and held his bloodied hands up in surrender. His breathing was rough and phlegmy, his lungs and heart hadn't recovered fully from being skewered by Zander and this skirmish hadn't helped. He was weak from blood loss and exhausted from traveling so far in his weakened state.

The others stood about nervously, Sabretooth's lack of resistance wasn't normal and obviously the guy had something up his sleeve. They circled him suspiciously, surrounding him and giving him no outs, no one budging an inch.

Once the man was blocked off, Jean took charge. She came quite close, probing him with her powerful and telepathic mind. Logan might not have had a clue why Sabretooth was here, but she was going to find out if she had to rip him apart. This man had done too much damage to them in the past to deserve much mercy from her. She came at him, rudely barging past his first metal defenses and freezing him in place.

Oddly enough, he didn't really fight her. He smiled at her instead. "Hey, Red," he grumbled softly, like a purr, unable to hide some affection and attraction to her. He shared his brother's affinity for redheads and always would.

Jean was well trained, a soldier in a pretty wrapper. She wasn't about to be fooled by his passivity. She had seen enough of his handiwork right up close to never trust this man ever again. She had been here when the Professor so foolishly took this monster in when he had asked Charles for help in stopping his rages. What he had really wanted was a piece of one of Charles' telepaths, or so it had seemed. Psylocke, the poor girl, had been eviscerated. She had nearly died in Jean's arms, a harrowing experience for a telepath. Sabretooth then broke out from the Mansion's holding cells and later disappeared, only to show up months later, not the least bit upset or contrite about what he had done. Jean was not about to make the same mistake of underestimating this man.

Jean reached out and entered Sabretooth's mind, startled by the lack of resistance. He obviously wanted her here, it was the point of the fight with Logan it seemed, and he didn't fight her at all. It didn't mean his mind wasn't a mess. Like most Weapon X people Jean had encountered, his mind wasn't wide open, it was encased in a shell, a framework that divided it and kept things hidden. She saw this as a solid object she could manipulate – she found herself in a house with many rooms.

This was a familiar device, he had a mental frame work identical to Logan's and its familiarity gave her confidence. The Weapon X project that had so horribly violated Wolverine's body with Adamantium and ripped his memories to shreds, had run Sabretooth's mind through the same gauntlet and it came across the same in this mental sphere she was now in. The difference was, Creed never had Logan's desire for control. His house was painted red with fresh blood, reeked of carrion and the charnel house smell of death. There was the constant sound of screaming, the voices of those he'd senselessly murdered over the years. He didn't let her walk around far in the blood covered corridors of his mind, but allowed one door to open, inviting her in.

Jean was no fool. She braced herself for anything and entered the room cautiously, not sure what she would find. Once inside, she discovered not a room per se, but an open clearing surrounded by trees. Creed had given her another forest, not unlike the one they were in now. She saw a vision of Creed on his knees in the grass, he was covered in blood and screaming with horror, a ripped up corpse in front of him. He had been compelled to kill this man, driven by urges he could not hope to control. He had his head back, screaming in mental agony as tears poured from his eyes. He hadn't wanted this, but it happened anyway. He just couldn't stop himself. Blood covered his mouth and teeth, it looked as though he had eaten part of his kill. Jean struggled for inner control as her mind reeled from revulsion.

She turned as she suddenly saw Kimble walking confidently from the trees of Creed's mind out into the field, a small wistful smile on his face. He came to where Creed was sobbing and screaming and gently lay his hands on the big man's shoulders, leaning down to whisper in his ear. The image of Kimble's inner peace and confidence of bearing was so startling and beautiful, Jean couldn't tear her eyes away from him. If this is how he should be, no wonder Remy is so upset, she couldn't help but think.

Kimble spoke to Creed, his voice soft and lovely. "I loves ya, Kristalay. I'll loves ya ferever, m' beloved Master. I'll takes yer pain, I'll takes it all."

At the sound of Kimble's words, all of the screaming in Sabretooth's mind abruptly stopped, the silence of it almost deafening. The man in the field shivered with relief and then was bathed in a falling stream of beautiful, peaceful light that came from the sky. It was a most pleasant light, filled with sparkling glitter lights that twinkled like fireflies, blinked with the most benevolent love and happiness, a love that washed all of the blood and horror away. Sabretooth sobbed with joy and clung to the pilot who had made all of this possible, a gesture of surrender and gratitude. Kimble gave him a gentle kiss and the big man fell asleep in Kimble's loving embrace, his mind finally at peace. Jean stepped back with a smile, she now knew why Creed had come.

"Jean? Are you okay?" Cyclops asked his wife. She had been standing still, alarmingly close to this monster without speaking a word, her eyes slightly glazed as her cheeks had flushed.

Yes, I'm fine, Jean responded to her husband telepathically so Creed wouldn't be able to hear. To the rest of the team she said, I saw into his mind. It's true, what Gambit said. Kimble's been healing him somehow. He came here for Kimble, but not to take him away. Creed knows he'll never get away with Kimble alive, so he came here to let Kimble go. We should do this, Logan. Kimble's been beating himself up because he thought this man was dead. When he sees Creed's alive, it could be enough to get him out of his decline. Creed's being here could still be a trap. We have to be careful.

"All right, bub. Let's go," Wolverine grumbled, tugging on Creed. The big man had quieted as Jean had worked him over and he didn't fight him. He said nothing more as Wolverine and Henry carefully manhandled him, steering him carefully back towards the house.