"Non, ne me laissez pas ici (don't leave me here)…s'il vous plait…"

Logan was awoken hours later by the sound of Remy's soft
sobbing. The boy was curled into a tight ball by his side, crying
and shaking, having a nightmare. Reaching out tentatively, Logan
laid a hand on Remy's shoulder and swore softly as the boy flinched
away from him, reflexively trying to make himself smaller.

"Rem, it's Logan, wake up," Logan whispered, trying not to
startle the frightened boy. Remy hadn't gotten to the point where
he'd wake himself up and Logan wasn't sure how to go about doing it
without scaring him.

His French was rusty at best, but he knew what the boy was
dreaming about…the same thing he always seemed to be having
nightmares about anymore. Being left behind in Antarctica without so
much as the shirt on his back. Feeling his heart clench at the
thought of what the boy must have gone through, Logan tentatively
reached out and stroked his fingers through Remy's bangs, relieved
that this time the boy didn't flinch away.

"Come on, Rem…wake up…it's just a dream, you're safe," Logan
whispered, brushing his fingers across one knife-sharp cheekbone,
relieved to see Remy's eyes flutter open slightly at the touch.

Remy sighed and turned his face into Logan's touch. While
this was a big improvement over waking himself up screaming, he still
would have given anything to be sound asleep in Logan's arms rather
than awake, trying to shake off another nightmare. His heart was
still pounding and he doubted he'd be able to get to sleep again
soon, not even with Logan there to cuddle him.

"Rem, will you do something for me?" Logan asked softly,
feeling the boy's lingering terror through the lingering empathic
link they shared.

"Anythin', cher," Remy replied, snuggling close to Logan
again.

"Good. Then what I want you to do is let me do for you what
you've always done for me when I'm hurting. I know your empathy
works in reverse too, so I want you to push all that pain and fear my
way," Logan said quietly. Smelling Remy's growing fear, he added, "I
know it'll hurt, Darlin', but it's alright, I got a healin' factor
and a lot of will power. I know what I'm getting into here, don't
you worry yourself about that."

"I can't do dat, cher…", Remy started, not sure how to
explain to Logan that he couldn't do that…he wouldn't wish that sort
of pain on his worst enemy, let alone someone he loved. He couldn't
imagine subjecting Logan to that sort of torment, even if it did mean
that he'd get the first good night's sleep he'd had in months.

"Yeah, you can, Darlin'," Logan insisted, "I know you can.
You just don't want to because you don't think it's fair."

"Mais…"

"Please Rem, I want you to do this…for me."

Remy knew Logan meant every word he was saying, and that the
older man could handle it, but it would mean purposely hurting
someone he loved, and he couldn't even conceive of doing such a
thing. But at the same time, he knew that Logan was offering him the
only solace he knew how to offer, and Remy felt that he should trust
Logan enough to do this if it was what the other man wanted.

"Give me your hand, cher," Remy said softly after several
long moments, taking Logan's hand in his own and closing his
eyes. "Alright, relax. You ready?"

Logan braced himself for the initial rush of sensation, "I'm
ready, Darlin'. Go ahead."

In spite of his attempts at preparation, the rush of pain,
both physical and mental, hit him hard enough to knock the air out of
Logan's lungs. Forcing himself to breathe slowly and to calm
himself, he allowed his healing factor to eliminate the empathic pain
in his wrists. Gritting his teeth as he forced himself to get his
emotions, Remy's emotions, under control, he opened his eyes to get a
look at the boy's condition.

Logan had thought the change in the boy they'd achieved
through meditation was incredible, but he had to admit, looking at
him now, this change was so much more drastic that it was impossible
to even compare the two. Remy's eyes were still closed, and his
shoulders had relaxed along with the rest of his posture. He looked
somehow younger and more beautiful than ever, and it made every
painful emotion Logan was feeling worth it to see such a change
wrought in the boy.

As soon as Logan had himself under control enough to be able
to function, he squeezed Remy's hand and smiled gently as the boy
slowly opened his eyes, looking drowsy and unmistakably
unburdened. "Feel better, Darlin'?" Logan whispered, giving the
boy's hand another gentle squeeze.

Yawning and blinking drowsily, Remy managed a nod. Relieved to see
that Logan appeared to be doing alright, Remy allowed himself to give
in to his newfound relaxation. "That's my boy," Logan replied
softly, "Now go on to sleep, Darlin', okay?" Nodding unsteadily,
Remy let his eyes drift closed, giving into the wonderful drowsiness
and warmth he was feeling.

Smiling to himself, Logan watched the boy sleep. All the tension was
gone from his face and he looked both impossibly young and inhumanly
beautiful. He'd never realized before just how much tension the boy
was constantly carrying around, but seeing him for the first time
without it, Logan was amazed at the boy's strength and courage.

"I love you, kiddo. I'd do anything for you…this is just the
beginning, Darlin', just you wait and see," Logan whispered, brushing
a stray clump of hair from in front of his sleeping lover's eyes.

END

"Give Unto Me"

I've been watching you from a distance
The distance sees through your disguise
All I want from you is your hurting
I want to heal you
I want to save you from the dark

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Why should I care if they hurt you
Somehow it matters more to me
Than if I were hurting myself
Save you (save you)
I'll save you

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Fear not the flame of my love's candle
Let it be the sun in your world of darkness
Give unto me all that frightens you
I'll have your nightmares for you
If you sleep soundly

Give unto me your troubles
I'll endure your suffering
Place onto me your burden
I'll drink your deadly poison

Fear not the flame of my love's candle
Let it be the sun in your world of darkness
Give unto me all that frightens you
I'll have your nightmares for you
If you sleep soundly