"Alex may I have a word." Charles walks over to Alex.

"Of course professor." Charles motions for Alex to sit down but Alex remains standing.

"How are you feeling?" Alex doesn't respond at first and the room continues to remain in silence.

"I'm fine." Alex stumbles over his words and Charles looks concerned.

"Alex I don't even have to read your mind to know that you're not fine." Charles yells.

"Then why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Alex throws his hands in the air.

"Why haven't you said anything?" Charles crosses his arms over his chest.

"I know you have a lot on your plate and I didn't want to burden you with a petty illness." Alex shifts his gaze to the floor and puts his hands in his pockets.

"But that's just it Alex mutants rarely get sick this could be something serious." Charles says his voice laced with worry.

"What do you want me to do?" Alex seems a bit frightened.

"Let Hank examine you tonight just to be sure." Charles gives him a reassuring smile noticing Alex is scared.

"If I say yes will you let me leave." Charles nods his head and Alex storms out of the room. Alex bumps into Erik on the way out but keeps walking muttering things to himself.

"What was that all about?" Erik looks at Alex as he walks away.

"I hope nothing too serious." Erik looks a bit worried. "Alex is sick."

"Should he be training?" Charles shrugs his shoulders.

"I tried to tell him to take a break but he refused." Charles sighs. "Can you keep an eye on him? I don't want him to overwork himself even if it's just a minor illness."

"I'll do my best." Erik makes his way to the weight room knowing that's Alex's favorite place. As he enters he sees Alex leaning against the wall for support.

"You alright?" Alex looks up to see Erik hovering over him.

"I'm fine." Alex tries to move away but almost falls and Erik catches him before his head hits the floor.

"You were saying." Alex stares at Erik and Erik sees the pain in Alex's eyes. Erik runs his fingers through Alex's damp hair and pulls him closer to his body.

"I don't feel right." Alex mumbles into Erik's shirt and as he pulls away black dots swarm his vision.

"Let's get you to bed." Erik slowly tries to help Alex up but Alex leans forward and vomits on the floor.

"I'm sorry." Alex says before he blacks out. When Alex awakes he sees Hank, Erik, and Charles talking but their voices are muffled. He tries to sit up but a sharp pain shoots throughout his body and he cries out in pain.

"Alex you need to calm down." Hank is gently pushing him back down.

"What did the tests say?" Hank looks away knowing that Alex will be devastated.

"You have cancer." Erik beats Hank to the punch.

"Get out!" Hank is taken back but Erik stands there as if he was expecting Alex to act this way.

"You're not going to question or...

"I said get out." Alex snarls. Charles leads Hank and Erik out the door and gently closes the door behind him. Once they leave Alex lets the tears fall and cries himself to sleep.


"What do you want me to say?" Erik stands there puzzled.

"Anything that'll bring him back to us." Charles says. "He can't face this alone."

As Erik makes his way to Alex's room he's surprised to see that the door is wide open. As he cautiously makes his way inside he sees Alex pacing around the room.

"Charles sent you to fetch me then." Alex stops pacing and looks at Erik.

"He's worried about you…we're all worried about you." Erik admits.

"Well your wasting your time." Alex pinches the bridge of his nose.

"You haven't been out of this room for two weeks Alex you're just making your situation worse." Alex rolls his eyes. "This isn't healthy."

"I thought you would understand." Alex says.

"Understand what exactly?" Erik asks.

"I'm dying Erik I don't want to cause you any more pain." Alex looks away as the tears start to fall.

"What are you talking about?" Erik moves closer to Alex.

"The more time I spend with you guys the more you all will get attached." Alex lets out a strangled sob. "I'm just trying to make it easier to let go." Erik wraps his arms around Alex and Alex continues to cry.

"You should be living life to its fullest." Erik rubs his hands up and down Alex's back trying to calm him down. "Don't mind us."

"Would you be willing to do something for me?" Alex pulls away from Erik's grasp.

"Depends on what you want me to do." Erik seems intrigued.

"Will you help me find my brother?"